Fun Family Travel Vacation

More money was spent on travel during the first part of this year than last year around that time. There was actually a 4.5% increase in spending on air travel from the first quarter of last year. This occurred at the same period when the prices of air travel rose by 13.3 %. . Travelers also spent more on accommodations even though, while the cost of travel accommodations decreased.

Does this translate to more travel for you and your family? Our family has gone on two mini-vacations that were one tank road trips from our home. Each was a long weekend stay at a hotel but fun everyone. For families with kids, travel can be a lot more expensive so we all try to find the best deals, no matter if the economy is going up or down. We tend to travel more when the hotel deals are better. Many hotels and travel destinations offer special deals for residents in the state. Sometimes those deals will extend to residents in neighboring states.

It is positive to that there is more spending on travel, but that does not translate more employment. Although there was increased spending on travel there was a decrease in employment in these areas. Air travel employment saw a 1.4 % decrease and travel accommodations saw a 1.5% decrease in employment.

With the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, tourism in the Gulf States is taking a hit. What that will mean for the final tourism data is left to be seen. Although some of the beaches in these areas are affected by the oil spill some still have not be touched. With the oil spill deterring tourists, hotels in these areas are offering more discounts. There are still some fun options and activities for families to enjoy.

But wherever your family decides to travel this summer, or the rest of the year, have fun and I hope you get deep discounts.

Source:BEA

Hotels.com is holding a photo contest that has a grand prize of a vacation for life.  Contestants submit a photo that is supposed to show why they need a vacation.  Web site visitors vote on the photos.  The grand prize winner gets a $102,250 toward a lifetime of vacations.   Those that vote and do not enter a picture are also entered for a daily drawing to receive a small handheld camcorder.  

That is seriously a great prize.  I would probably use some for a vacation, pay bills, and then save whatever is left over.  This is of course after paying the tax on the prize money.

With the purchase of two full-priced adult tickets one child can travel for free on Crystal Cruises.  The offer is good for the 14 day holiday cruise to the Caribbean on Crystal Serenity.  As of this post, the starting cost of a ticket is $7,995 and can be as much as $46,930.  The cruise starts in Miami and visits several of the Caribbean islands: St. Thomas, Barbados, St. Lucia, Antigua, St. Maarten, Curacao, and Turks and Caicos. 

Crystal Cruises –Crystal Serenity Itinerary

Sundance Vacations is giving away several different vacations for two. Nomination are submitted on Facebook and votes come from Facebook friends.  Winners of the Mother’s Day Cruise Giveaway have already been announced.   You can still nominate someone for the Father’s Day Sundance Vacation Cruise Giveaway or an Armed Forced Force Appreciation Giveaway.

To nominate someone for one of Sundance Vacations’ free cruises, members of the Sundance Vacations’ Facebook community simply submit a photo of their nominee and a brief essay that explains why that person should win. The nomination period will last two-weeks for each contest and Sundance Vacations’ Facebook friends will have one week to vote for the winner of each contest on the Facebook Fan Page.

Each of the six cruise giveaways is based on upcoming holidays including Armed Forces Appreciation and Father’s Day. Nominations for the fourth contest, in honor of Armed Forces Appreciation, close on May 26 and voting starts on May 27; so join Sundance Vacations’ Facebook Fan Page, tell your friends, and enter now to win!

Winners of the Sundance Vacations Cruise Giveaway will receive:

• Sundance Vacations voucher for a four-day, three-night cruise for two;
• Cruise leaves from ports in Ft. Lauderdale, Miami, or Los Angeles;
• Round-trip airfare for two (not to exceed $800 total) to port city;
• One night’s stay in the port city.

Although we may get distracted by technology, there are real advantages that save us all time. My travels are simplified since getting a GPS; we probably argue a lot less about which way to turn. Several different iPhone apps are available to make traveling a lot simpler.

SwamiCity is the first free travel app series to combine the features of 30 individual apps in one easy-to-use interface. This unique application fills the gap between tourists and residents by providing multiple areas of interest, including:

• Events
• Flights
• Weather
• News
• Attractions
• Hotels
• Shopping
• Clubs
• Tours
• Theatre
• Museums
• Galleries
• Performing arts
• Movies
• Dining
• Wi-Fi hotspots

SwamiCity has released 8 travel apps to date, covering the metro areas of: New York, Los Angeles, Washington, DC, Atlanta, Chicago, Boston, San Diego and San Francisco. Major cities coming soon include: Las Vegas, Hawaiian Islands, Dallas, Houston, Seattle, Miami, Philadelphia, New Orleans and others.

Shutterfly and American Airlines teaming-up to have a AAdvantage Miles “Picture the Stories” Sweepstakes.

During the sweepstakes, which lasts until June 1, customers can view six destinations, and travel-focused Shutterfly photo books, including images from six travel experts sharing their tips on how to tell great travel stories. After looking at the photo books, which feature different travel destinations and activities that can be booked on AA.com, customers can register up to seven times for a chance to win the sweepstakes. One lucky grand prize winner will receive 500,000 AAdvantage miles, $500 to use towards the purchase of a digital camera, and 1,000 Shutterfly prints.

Lighthouse Key Resort and Spa is pleased to announce its “Buy One Vacation, Get A Second Vacation Free” deal.

Travelers who reserve Lighthouse Key Disney area vacation condominium rentals during May 2010 travel dates will receive the same number of nights in September 2010 for free.

Those taking advantage of the vacation special will also receive a certificate from The Spa at Lighthouse Key valid for use on their return trip in September. The certificate grants users who purchase any spa treatment, 50% off a second spa treatment of equal or lesser value.

September is a slower month for travelers in the Orlando area and you can expect to see specials during that time of the year. If you do decide to go in May and then return in September, you should see some discounts occurring at the attractions and theme parks in the area. You might just decide to have a relaxing time with the family, instead of going to the theme parks. Because there will be less people, you probably will get a lot more relaxing and quiet time.

Lighthouse Key Resort has many different condo rentals available. Condos may be the right option for families because there is a lot more space to spread out. One-bedroom, 2-bedroom, 3-bedroom, and 4-bedroom condo rentals are available at the resort.

You will not get the daily cleaning of the condo, like you would expect from a hotel. They do say on their web site that they clean the condo before your stay and after you stay at the condo and resort. You can also request a cleaning of the condo at an extra charge.

Lighthouse Key Resort and Condo does not provide free breakfast that so many hotels now offer. If you have to feed a large family, the costs can add-up. Of course, you could always make you own breakfast in the condo’s kitchen.

There are definitely negatives and positives to staying in a condo instead of a hotel. Weighing the pros and cons and seeing what is the most important for your vacation experience and wallet will help you decide what is best for you and your family. The buy one vacation rental in May and then get one free in September is an option to consider for your family-it could work it for you in the long run.

To promote their new web site, Wichita Mid-Continent Airport is holding a travel photo contest.  The airport is asking patrons to upload their favorite digital images from vacations, mission trips, sporting events or any adventure that originated from the airport. Photos submitted between March 1 and March 21 will be judged and the person submitting the best photo will be awarded two round-trip airline tickets to any destination in the continental United States. The winner of the contest will be announced on or about April 5, 2010. You must be a legal resident of Kansas to enter the travel photo contest.  Complete contest rules can be found at http://www.adventuresareabreeze.com.

Traveling families have more options when it comes to cruise vacations. Cruise lines have been catering more to families with children and the special needs that they have. Norwegian Cruise Lines have teamed up with Nickelodeon to provide a themed family cruise that children will enjoy.

Beginning in April on Norwegian Jewel and this summer on Norwegian Epic, Nickelodeon and Norwegian experiences for the entire family will include: character meet and greets; interactive game shows; and more. The three-year partnership also includes select specialty Nickelodeon-themed cruises each year, featuring Nickelodeon TV stars, show premieres and continuous themed-entertainment on the ship.

Each cruise will feature live Nickelodeon-themed interactive shows, including: SlimeTime LIVE! with Nick’s signature slime; Nick Live! Poolside entertainment; character breakfasts and meet and greets; Nick-themed dance parties; and more. Nickelodeon-themed elements will also be incorporated into Norwegian’s Kids’ Crew program.

In addition to the year-round programming on Norwegian Jewel and Norwegian Epic, special Nickelodeon-themed cruises will be offered annually where families can immerse themselves in everything Nickelodeon all day, every day. These unique cruises will include: special appearances by the Network’s live talent; show premieres; more live game shows; even more opportunities to visit with kids’ favorite Nick characters; and much more. The first of the Nickelodeon-themed specialty cruises is scheduled on Norwegian Jewel later this year. More details and an on sale date will be released soon.

To book a cruise on Norwegian Jewel, Norwegian Epic or any of Norwegian’s ships, go to www.ncl.com, call 800-327-7030 or contact a travel professional.

You may really enjoy those family cruise vacations that offer room for the family, but sometimes you might want to travel solo. Or there may be the occasion when you are planning a large family reunion. Some members of the family may want to have their own solo cabin without having to pay an extra. Norwegian is one cruise line that is offering cabins designed for those that want to cruise solo. Norwegian Epic’s Studios are the first staterooms designed and priced for single occupancy, starting from $799 on the ship’s seven-day alternating Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries. These specially designed and priced Studio staterooms available on all of Norwegian Epic’s sailings with no single supplement.

The Studios on Norwegian Epicare a private key-card access complex on two decks consisting of 128 staterooms and the Studio Lounge. This unique and thoughtfully designed concept provides comfort and convenience for the solo traveler. Each Studio stateroom, at approximately 100 square feet of living space, features a contemporary design with a full-size bed and separate areas for the bathroom, sink and shower. In addition, guests in the Studios have private access to the exclusive Studio Lounge. Here, guests can grab a cup of coffee in the morning, meet up with fellow cruisers and plan their day or relax with a drink in the evening. Since many of the Studio staterooms are connecting, there is also the opportunity for friends to travel together while giving each their own private space.

Norwegian Cruise Lines