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Do you love to take vacations but don’t have a lot of money? Then learning how to budget your traveling can get you more vacations every year!

Today with the economy the way it is, budget travel is becoming more and more of a necessity and more merchants are offering great deals to those that can accommodate the restrictions. Aside from travel deals, you can also do some things to keep your costs low and save on the overall trip.

First off, you need to prepare a travel budget. This means deciding what is important to you and where you can cut back a bit. For instance, some travelers are comfortable spending a bit more for a better class of hotel, while others prefer to save money by using budget accommodations and spend the money they saved on sightseeing or a special meal for the family.

Next, figure out a budget for the various aspects of your vacation, such as hotel, airfare, rental cars, sightseeing, gasoline, etc. Once you have a good idea of what each element of the vacation should cost, it is time to start shopping around for the best deals.

Once you have figured out what is most important to you, it is time to start finding out how to get the best deals. Often, admission deals on area attractions are the easiest to come by, since many theme parks, museums and other destinations run specials to attract out of town guests.

To get big discounts on area attractions, the best place to start is the web site of the attraction itself. Be sure to check the web site for any specials, such as two for one deals, free admission for children, special reduced admission days, etc.

Certain orgainzations such as the military, AAA and senior citizens groups offer discounts on lodging, attractions and travel. Most AAA offices sell discount admission tickets to theme parks, museums and other popular attractions within driving distance, and most AAA offices sell discounted admissions to popular attractions like Walt Disney World as well. The key to making your travel budget stretch farther is to ask about, and take advantage of, all discounts that may be available.

If you are driving on your vacation, make sure you get your car serviced and that it is in peak condition. This can really save you some money as things like under inflated tires and worn spark plugs can cause your gas mileage to go down thus costing you more in gas money.

A good map can also be a money saver, since it will keep you from driving around in circles and wasting gas. Finding your way easily to and from the hotel and the surrounding area will make your vacation more pleasant and less costly.

Finding good deals on your vacation travel and destinations can be a bit of work but it will be worth it in the long run with more enjoyable and more frequent vacations.

Lee Dobbins writes for Travel Cents where you can read more articles about
traveling on a budget.

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I’ll never forget the look on the face of that Colombian campesino man. My wife just explained to him in Spanish that what I am holding under my arm is indeed a surfboard, despite the fact that we were standing in a Colombian village that was located somewhere in the middle of the Andes Mountains, hundreds of miles away from any ocean. After hearing this news the man made a joke about us getting bad directions. He then flashed a smile that revealed a mouth full of rotten teeth. Soon after that he shook his head, tucked his hands into the front pockets of his hand-woven Inca style poncho, turned, and moved on down the only street in his town. When the man reached the center of town a gust of wind swept down the street and blew the black fedora hat off his head. As I was watching him chase after it through a cloud of dust, I thought to myself; “I gotta’ get to the ocean.”

I was beginning to feel like a fish out of water. Surfers cannot stay away from the ocean for too long, or they start to “dry out”. As I was standing on that dirt street in that dusty little town, I realized that I had not seen the ocean in over a month. More importantly, I had not surfed in it. Halfway through a two month excursion across the country of Colombia, in South America, we were on our way to a small Caribbean beach resort on the northeastern edge of the country for a much needed break from the madness we had experienced so far on that trip. We had spent the holidays traveling from Bogot

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Mozart`s birthday will be celebrated all over the city with music, films, and several other, sometimes surprising themes.

You will find five special themes all over Vienna.
Mozart Friends and Enemies
Mozart Viennese and Cosmopolitan
Mozart Art and Love
Mozart Life and Death
Mozart Yesterday and Today

Each of these special Mozart Themes contains four different events and a special children’s programme. The events, covers orchestral concerts, chamber music, Songs and aria, readings, cabaret, cinema, New Music, and sacred music. There will be a wide range of cultural performers . The most important concert halls and theatres will host favourite performers, international stars, and young talents.

Most of the famous performers are well known also outside the borders of Austria and are not only local cultural celebrities.
In addition to this attractive cultural programme for everyone, other highlights will be offered in a large marquee on the Stephansplatz. Finally, the “Mozart Tourists” will regroup in the early evening at a large sound installation on Maria-Theresien-Platz.

Choose your events and you will wander from theatre to theatre through the wintry streets of Vienna and experience a range of new encounters with Mozart.

Free admission to the Sound Fusions. Each event ends in the evening with a Sound Fusion on Maria-Theresien-Platz between the Museum of Art History and the Museum of Natural History. Help yourself to a cup of hot punch and enjoy a new look at Mozart’s music.

The authors name is Jeff Conrad and he lived in Vienna since 12 years.Walking through this city is like travelling through a time machine and find yourself back in the years before 1850.www.travelguidevienna.com

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You don’t want to spend your entire Disneyland Vacation standing in long lines. This can be avoided by using Disneyland FastPass. FastPass can be obtained from machines located near the rides that accept FastPass.

This doesn’t mean that you get to immediately move to the front of the line. It is more like scheduling an appointment for the ride later in the day - at which time you actually will move to the front of the line. In the meantime, you are free to go enjoy other sites and rides around the park.

When you obtain a FastPass ticket, you will be given a one hour time in which to enjoy the ride. For instance, your FastPass ticket may say 11am to 12pm. This means that you can show up and move to the front of the line between the hours of 11am and 12pm. You must have your Disneyland ticket in order to obtain a FastPass ticket.
At Disneyland, FastPasses are available for Indiana Jones, Splash Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Roger Rabbits Cartoon Spin, Autopia, Space Mountain, and Buzz Lightyear.

One source of frustration for many visitors at Disneyland is the long lines for the rides. You can literally spend several hours of the day standing in line to ride popular attractions. These lines can be avoided in one of three ways.

Get to the park early. The lines are shorter in the morning when the park first opens. Instead of jumping in line for the first ride you see, head for the rides that you really want to ride the most - the most popular rides. Another option is to purchase FastPass tickets for the rides that offer them. Again, do this early to ensure that you get to ride those rides earlier in the day.

The third option to avoid long lines at Disneyland is to ride many of the popular rides later in the evening, while the majority of people are enjoying the entertainment. Disneyland has nightly entertainment, and this is a good time to find shorter lines. Of course, it will mean that you probably miss the entertainment, so if you can use one of the other options for shorter lines at Disneyland, you should probably do so.

#1 Disney World Resource
Maximize Your Enjoyment on the Vacation of a Life Time


Disney World - Resorts - Tickets - Tips
http://www.thewaltdisneyworldguide.com

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PART 2.

Oh how Colombians love their music. The type of music coming from the smoothie vendor boom-boxes always seemed to set the distinctive tone of that town. They always played the music that was popular in that particular area. Whether it was “Salsa”, “Coste

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Travelers to Jacksonville Florida have many options for lodging in the area. If you are traveling to Jacksonville on business or pleasure and need a place to stay, don’t overlook the Jacksonville Beach hotels. Located about a half hour from downtown Jacksonville, Jacksonville Beach has more hotels than any of the other local beaches, and most of them are oceanfront - serving up our beautiful wide sandy beaches as your playground away from home. All of the Jax Beach hotels are within walking distance, or a short $5 cab drive from some of the best restaurants and nightlife Jacksonville has to offer.

From Beach Blvd. north to 16th Ave, 1st Street is the place to be for hotels, dining and dancing, shopping, and just hanging out in general. For the traveler, Jacksonville Beach hotels include such well knowns as Quality Suites, Best Western, the Comfort Inn, Holiday Inn, and the Fairfield by Marriot. For the adventurous, a vanishing breed of mom and pop hotels still exist, for now, on the strip. Paradise Alley and the Surfside Inn offer somewhat cheaper lodging than the big boys, and also seem to have less of a corporate feel.

Join me as we review the Jacksonville Beach hotels one by one, and you’ll see the variety of lodging possibilities the Jacksonville hotel scene has to offer. Jax Beach: oceanfront lodging at it’s best!

With 143 rooms, the Holiday Inn Sunspree Resort at Jax Beach is one of the larger hotels in the area. Recognizable by the huge whale and tropical sunset murals facing 1st Street, the Sunspree is a full service family resort, with the “Windows on the Ocean” restaurant offering oceanfront dining for breakfast and dinner. There is the “Marketessant” in the lobby that offers snacks and souvenirs, and the Reef Lounge is a favorite of locals to come in and shoot some pool. The large swimming pool is just in front of the lounge, and a few steps down and you’re on the beach! As a Sunspree resort, during the summer months there is an activities program for the kids. This Jacksonville Beach hotel landmark is at the top of our tour, located between 15th and 16th Avenues North.

Just behind the Holiday Inn, and owned by the same Shaner Hotel Group, is the Marriott Fairfield Inn & Suites. Not being on the ocean, the Fairfield caters to the traveling business person. Equipped with high speed internet access in the rooms and lobby, there are also several Jacuzzi Suites available to help you relax after a hard days work. A swimming pool and hot tub outside, the Fairfield and Holiday Inn encourage their guests to share their amenities.

Next door is the Comfort Inn, best known for its huge faux rock waterfall swimming pool. Plenty of fun for the kids, the Comfort Inn Oceanfront also caters to adults, with the famous Kokomo’s lounge, for shooting pool and weekly Karaoke. Out of towners can really get to know the locals here. The Tiki Bar and deck, between Kokomo’s and the sand dunes, is a great place to hang out in the sun with your favorite cold beverage. Summer weekends commence with live local bands outside, accompanied by plenty of dancing beach goers on the deck.

Continuing south down 1st Street we come to a pink one story “motel” type building called Paradise Alley, on 8th Ave N. A mom & pop establishment, the Paradise is owned by a lady that refuses to sell out. The rooms are theme based, and are decorated with a nautical flair. Dinner and lunch is served on the outside deck on 1st Street, a popular hang out in the summer offering live music and over 100 domestic and imported beers. Paradise Alley’s southern neighbor used to be the popular watering hole First Street Grill, but will soon be another towering oceanfront condominium.

Another place that you can’t miss is the elegant Casa Marina. A great place to get married, the Casa is right behind the dunes at 6th Ave., and is the north end beginning of the boardwalk Old world charm, elegance, and romanticism sum up this Spanish looking castle like structure. Dining at the Casa includes an inside formal dining room, and an oceanfront courtyard and veranda, serving a “new beach cuisine” for lunch and dinner, and a killer Sunday Brunch (in season). The Casa’s newest addition is the Penthouse Lounge and Restaurant. Sitting on top of the north wing with an outdoors covered deck, the Penthouse has some excellent views of the Atlantic Ocean and the boardwalk, and is becoming a favorite happy hour destination. Even if you don’t stay at the Casa Marina, you gotta check it out!

If you want to be where the action is, the Best Western is smack dab in the middle of it. One of the smaller hotels in Jax Beach, its oceanfront rooms all have balconies right above the Boardwalk. A great ocean view and a great place for people watching! Being in the middle of the Strip, you can park your car inside their ground floor garage and walk to all the great restaurants, clubs, and shops that JB has to offer. High speed Internet access, an outdoor swimming pool, and whirlpool tub rooms are also available.

Located oceanfront on the southern end of the Seawalk Pavilion, the Quality Suites is the newest hotel in Jacksonville Beach. Their pool is on the south side nestled between the hotel and the lifeguard station (no drowning here), and across the street is the ever popular Sneakers Sports Bar. All of the 72 rooms are 2 room suites with oceanfront balconies, and some of them are whirlpool suites. High speed Internet and a business center make this upscale Jacksonville hotel a favorite of corporate travelers.

For business or pleasure, if you’re looking for some great Jacksonville hotels, Jacksonville Beach is the place to be. Conveniently located, Jacksonville Beach hotels will make your stay in Jacksonville fun and memorable. Find out why Jax Beach is oceanfront lodging at it’s best!

Jacksonville native Michael Talbert lives, works, and plays in Jax Beach. A web
developer by profession, visit Mike’s
hometown at http://JaxBeach-Pier.com
.

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The worlds gambling capital has been the center for adult entertainment for more than half a century, and more recently Las Vegas has also become a centre of tourism and family orientated attractions. Las Vegas is known worldwide as a must see travel destination. There is no other place where you can have a drink and sample of different cuisine and play a slot machine or video poker game 24 hours a day. It also possesses an overload of bars, bed and breakfasts, clothing and gift shops that are also prime spots for cruising. In Las Vegas, it is impossible for you to get bored since in this city, something new is always coming up. That is why this city is special.

Meanwhile, the ultimate obstruction to most people to take their dream Vegas travel is the price. Even domestic trips are not affordable for the majority. And since traveling also includes hotels, foods, and entertainment and not only limited to plane tickets, the price would surely sum up. So more often than not, traveling remains a dream.

But if the price is only reason why you hinder yourself from traveling, then there is already a solution. Cheap travel companies offer relatively low travel cost compared to regular travel agency. An in the effort to bring you closer to your Las Vegas travel, these companies would help and guide while making important decisions regarding the trip. And when you make deals, you are assured the have a decent yet cheap trip to Las Vegas.

How to get cheap Las Vegas travel?
Looking for a cheap Las Vegas travel has never been so easy. Not too long ago, traveling to Las Vegas only means to contact your travel agent and have your trip arranged for you. When the agent is done then you are ready to go. But now, there is another option.

With the availability of the Internet, all you have to do is log on. The Internet is a rich source of travel sites that offer cheap travel to Vegas. Google your keywords and choose from several cheap travel Las Vegas travel company. When you have selected your site, you can get an instant quote. And if you want, you can already pay for the cost it suggests. Sign up and the next thing you know, you are in Las Vegas.

Also, for first time Las Vegas vacationers, it is always advised to book your trip ahead as much as possible. Ask for the cheapest rate and decide what you think is the best for you. Although online sites offer step-by-step procedure when you schedule your trip, it is always wise to have a planned vacation at the back of your mind.

What is good about cheap Las Vegas travel is that it gives you all the options of traveling like the regular Las Vegas travel. You can choose the schedule of your trip, your preferred itineraries, and price of your ticket. You can even get travel insurance with cheap Las Vegas travel. Now you don’t have to worry about the unforeseen expenses while enjoying the lights and sounds of the city.

Travel cheap to Las Vegas. Not only you will see the extravagance of the city but also you can experience the real Vegas- larger than life.

Cheap travel to Las Vegas - its’ easy, it’s fast, and it’s cheap

S. Stammberger is the owner of Robbies
Cheap Travel. Your guide to sales, specials, and hot travel deals.

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I know a man who can take you to Narnia.

Well, not really Narnia, but to the very spot in England where Narnia was born in the mind of C.S. Lewis, author of “The Lion, the Witch & the Wardrobe”, which was recently released as a major motion picutre by Disney, and the entire Chronicles of Narnia series.

His name is Ron Brind who was a childhood pal of Lewis’s stepson Douglas Gresham and a frequent visitor to Lewis’s former Oxfordshire home in the 1950’s.

This wonderful tour takes place in Oxfordshire, England, and visits places of interest including Lewis’s former home ‘The Kilns’ and the beautiful Holy Trinity Church, Oxford, which was Lewis’s final resting place.

The tour duration which is approximately 3 hours and commences from outside the Randolph Hotel in Beaumont Street, Oxford, which is noted for its connections with Colin Dexter, who wrote the very famous Inspector Morse novels, and frequents the Randolph. En-route you will see the remains of the old ‘City Wall’, Magdalen College from Longwall Street where Lewis was elected a Fellow in 1925, Magdalen Bridge, where the famous Oxford May Day celebrations take place, and Magdalen College School, which was attended by Doug.

You will be taken through Headington to see one of the former homes of J R R Tolkien and to The Kilns, Lewis’s former home which was purchased jointly in October 1930 by Mrs Moore, Jack and Major Lewis. A short stroll away is the lake that yielded the Punt from the murky depths, owned by Lewis. How did the Punt get there? Find this out on the tour!

In leaving the Kilns, the tour passes a local watering hole used by Jack and Warnie and travels to Holy Trinity Church in Headington Quarry, where the vicar Mr Tom Honey will, subject to commitments, allow you to see inside this beautiful building. Outside in the Churchyard you will see the grave of C S Lewis and Mrs Janie King Moore, mother of the writer’s close friend Paddy Moore.

You will also see the entrance to the Mayfair Suite at the former Wingfield Hospital, today the Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre, where Jack and Joy’s marriage was blessed in a bedside ceremony in December 1956 because her death was thought to be imminent. The penultimate stop will be Oxford Crematorium to see the memorial plaque to Joy Davidman in cloister 2 and if you wish knowledge of exactly where Joy’s ashes were scattered.

The tour finishes at the Eagle and Child pub in Oxford’s magnificent St Giles thoroughfare. This famous watering hole was regularly used by Lewis and his circle of intellectual and literary friends known as ‘The Inklings’. It is here that you will be presented with a personalised Certificate recording your visit to ‘The Kilns’ - a memento of your tour and a reminder that the Lewis legacy lives on.

So even though he can’t take you as far as Narnia, he can take you to the very places where Narnia was conceived and born. And if you’ve seen the Disney movie titled “The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe”, it’s likely that you would love to see where and how Narnia was born.

Duane Shinn is the author of over 500 music courses and operates http://www.playpiano.com where he offers a free newsletter on piano chords. Find out about his recent trip to Narnia by going to:
http://www.picturesofengland.com/oxford/cslewistours/index.html

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Just over a month after the First Street Grill’s final New Years Eve bash, another popular eatery on the Intracoastal Waterway closes its doors for the last time on February 3rd. The Lighthouse Grill, located at the San Pablo River bridge on Beach Blvd. has been sold to Chase Properties, Inc., whose plan is to offer multifamily housing with Intracoastal access on the 2.4 acre waterfront site.

The new development, called Lighthouse Point, will consist of 37 townhouses designed in a West Indies tradition, and will sell from $650,000 to 1.5 million. Residents will also have the opportunity to own a boat slip on the property.

After denying a proposal to construct an 80′ high, 94 unit condominium on the property two years ago, the city of Jacksonville Beach approved this project as the buildings fall under the cities 35 foot height limit, a restriction passed overwhelmingly by voters in the 2004 election that has until now been seldom enforced.

The trend in Jacksonville Beach has been for developers to buy up large parcels of land, tear down the existing structures, and put up 7 to 10 story condominiums. As a result, many of the popular restaurants and night spots that helped define the character of Jacksonville Beach have disappeared.

The most recent casualty was the First Street Grille, an oceanfront eatery and gathering place at 7th Ave. North. First Street Grille closed on January 1st after hosting a huge new year’s party attended by many local patrons of the establishment. First Street Grille will be fondly remembered for its excellent Florida cuisine, it’s popular happy hours, and for the dancing behind the dunes to the tunes of live oldies bands.

A circuit judge ruled in October that the developer who owned the property, Lee Underwood, had vested rights in the parcel because his decision to purchase the land was based on the government’s position about the properties present and future status. A similar case was decided on January 9th, allowing developer Scott Gay the go ahead for a 10 story condominium at 10th Ave and 1st Street. Several other property rights cases are currently pending in the courts.

Arising from the dust of the First Street Grille will be the Acquilus III, a seven story oceanfront condominium. Underwood also owns the property across the street on which the Dolphin Depot is located. An old two story beach house that was transformed into a restaurant, the Dolphin Depot is a popular upscale dining establishment with a very creative menu. According to the same judge that ruled on the First Street Grille property, the rights for this parcel are not vested. Nevertheless, one could safely assume that the Dolphin Depots days are also numbered.

In early 2004, a proposal to develop Beach Marine, the public marina across the street from the Lighthouse Grill, into a 550 unit condominium resort and private yacht club was soundly defeated by city council. As a result spawned the group Beaches Watch, a collection of Jacksonville Beach citizens that began the citizen’s initiative, a referendum requiring a city wide height limit of 35 feet on all new construction. The city council proposed a similar amendment, but would allow high rise construction on the oceanfront only. In November, the citizens initiative won by an overwhelming majority of over 70%.

High rise construction and development in general has by no means slowed in Jacksonville Beach since the vote. Seven to ten story condominiums are presently being erected from 3rd to 1st Streets as investors continue to win their vested property rights in the courts.

While Jacksonville Beach is quickly becoming a world class destination, many of the locals will have to find alternative places to meet and hang out, perhaps going north out of the city to Atlantic and Neptune Beach where the casual ambience and beaches lifestyle does not seem to be threatened.

Michael Talbert, a native of Jacksonville Florida, lives, works, and plays in Jacksonville Beach. For an online tour of Jax Beach, visit his website, JaxBeach-Pier.com.

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The perfect vacation, La Jolla, Spanish for “the jewel,” will quickly become a precious gem of your heart. Boasting some of California’s most beautiful terrain and attractions, La Jolla (pronounced la hoya) is also the home of exquisite arts, restaurants, activities, and shopping. Just a short drive north of San Diego, you won’t need a passport to visit this exotic paradise.

The average April temperature is in the high-60’s. Even in December, temperatures stay around 65 degrees. The average temperature for August is a mild and breezy 75 degrees. Regardless of when you visit, you’re almost guaranteed perfect vacation weather.

How do you pick the right vacation rental? Answer a few questions. How many people in your party? How long are you staying? What do you want to do during your stay? How much money do you want to spend?

You can choose to stay on the breathtaking beaches, especially if you want to surf, windsurf, or swim. Between January and March this area is great for whale watching. Of course, the sunset in La Jolla is the main attraction. Stay near “The Children’s Pool” area, close to amazing offshore reefs perfect for scuba diving and snorkeling. The area, also known as “Casa,” is just a short walk away from town. Catch a glimpse of wildlife on Seal Rock, just offshore, which is home to seals and sea lions.

Here, there is a fine line between a luxury vacation and a business trip in La Jolla. Even the fiercest workaholic can find leisure and entertainment. The golf courses have ocean views. It’s easy to plan a fantastic family vacation around your business trip. Legoland, the San Diego Zoo, many aquariums, and Disneyland make great day trips to bring out the kid in all of us.

Endless entertainment awaits you at La Jolla. The area thrives with gourmet restaurants, music, and theater. Nightclubs, wine bars, and comedy clubs entertain all sorts of pleasures. The La Jolla Playhouse opens its doors to award winning performing arts.

Boutique shopping makes Beverly Hills jealous. Girard Avenue and Prospect Place boast dozens of unique shops. Shopaholics are sure to find the right gift and La Jolla visitors won’t be able to leave without a souvenir from this dream vacation.

The tranquil coastline turns hiking into a spiritual journey. Windsurfing, surfing, and even skydiving are better with the picturesque Pacific Ocean backdrop. Not up for so much activity? Try a relaxing day of spa pampering or sunbathing. La Jolla boasts many exclusive luxury spa resorts. The dramatic panorama of scenery is an indulgent place for weddings, holidays, anniversaries, and private romantic getaways.

La Jolla satisfies many interests, including the more sporting activities. Yellowtail, shark, and rock cod and other invigorating sport fishing trips are available almost year-round. A short drive to San Diego wins big with professional baseball and football, and minor league hockey.

Whether you’re traveling alone for business or taking the family on vacation, La Jolla will take your breath away. With so many attractions, you’ll have to come back again to do it all. And with La Jolla residents expressing such wonderful hospitality, you’ll always feel welcome.

Copyright (c) 2006

Jessica Deets researches the internet and finds helpful information. You can find more information and fun stuff at http://www.lajollaview.com

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