Travel Products and Services - Travel Deals

You know that important email from your boss that you couldn’t get to in time because you were on an airplane crusing at 35,000 feet? Soon you might not have that excuse. Alaska Airlines plans to test out wireless internet service on flights starting in Spring 2008.

The technology will provide customers with a unique entertainment and business network at 35,000 feet. Passengers with Wi-Fi-enabled devices, such as laptop computers, PDAs, smartphones and portable gaming systems, will have high-speed access to the Internet, e-mail, virtual private networks and stored inflight entertainment content.

Unlike air-to-ground services, Row 44′s satellite-based system is designed to function over land, water and across international borders, enabling service throughout Alaska’s route system in Alaska, the Lower 48 states, Hawaii, Canada and Mexico.

There is no word on how much this will cost travelers but I’m hoping it is prohibitively expensive. In a world where we are all connected to computers and handheld devices 24 hours a day, it is kind of nice to take a seat on an airplane and to get away from it all.

It also means we are moving one step closer to the use of cell phones on planes, which in my mind will be the official beginning of the end.

You almost can’t go a day without someone somewhere mentioning that the world is becoming a smaller place. With the explosion of telecommunications and advancements in transportation infrastructure, you can go just about anywhere you want on our planet as long as you have the time, money and desire.

Another popular subject these days is the homogenization of global culture. As more and more companies spread their global tentacles, the more places start feeling the looking alike. Or so the argument goes. You can find out whether or not this is actually happening by experiencing the various regions of the world. One of the best ways to do this is by embarking on an Around the World travel advantage.

As daunting as that might sound, and as expensive as you might think it would be, the fact is that with today’s travel infrastructure in place it is actually quite simple. It also doesn’t have to be something that puts you in debt for the rest of your life. A smart traveler knows how to make her money last longer and knows a great deal when she sees one.

Around the world airfare for less than $2,000 is a great deal. Now it is up to you to decide how small the world really is and how similar or unique our cultures have become.

One of the joys of travel is arriving in a new place and trying to picture what it would be like to live there. What it would be like if you weren’t merely a tourist staying at a hotel or hostel, but a resident living in a home, taking public transportation and eating in restaurants where only locals eat.

While this fantasy won’t ever come true until you actually pick up shop and move to another city or country for good, there is a way for you to get an authentic taste of what life in another destination is like. You can take part in a home exchange program.

How it works is that you agree to allow another person to stay in your home for a holiday while you stay in yours. It is a win-win for both parties. You get an affordable place to stay, while also having someone watch over your place while you are gone.

There are any numbers of websites that provide this type of service. One of the best and the most cost effective is HomeExchange.com. For about $100 a year, you can search listings from around the world and set up home exchanges with a click of a mouse.

If you are looking for a different holiday experience the next time you travel, consider taking part in a home exchange.

There are some people who love New Year’s Eve and then there are the rest of us. No matter how you plan it the night always turns out to be a disappointment. The restaurant you choose is too crowded and the servers don’t want to be there. The bar you go to is full of people who are way too intoxicated. The quiet night at home watching the ball drop with Dick Clark is depressing not matter what you might tell yourself otherwise. Indeed, New Year’s is a holiday that is all too often lacking.

It doesn’t have to be that way. You can ring in 2008 by doing something you will remember for the rest of your life. BootsnAll is organizing a bicycle tour through Vietnam. This ten-day, all-inclusive trip is nothing short of awesome. Run by a cycling company that knows Vietnam better than anyone, you’ll have the opportunity to pedal through the countryside at a relaxed pace. You’ll meet local residents along the way and you will be exposed to authentic Vietnamese culture.

You can’t beat the price either.

Start 2008 right by taking part in a memorable expedition to a country whose people are known for their hospitality and whose beauty is second to none.

The vast majority of people who visit Alaska do so during a narrow time window in the summer. That is when the state is alive and when you don’t need to strap on the snowshoes to walk around. The summer is without question a beautiful time to visit the Last Frontier, but those in the know also say that early Autumn is delightful.

The crowds are gone, the animals are still out, the viewing of the Northern lights is the best it is all year and the prices are cut rate. For example:

Beginning August 28 and throughout the rest of the season, *stay at any of Denali Park Resorts’ lodges at half the price and get half off any of the Explore Denali excursions. *The Explore Denali excursions offer guests an opportunity to hike within the park boundary or explore further a field on a van tour and are customizable to guests interests.

The outings allow guests to see the amazing colors of Alaska in the fall and the best of the park and wildlife. This package, which features lodging at McKinley Chalet Resort, McKinley Village Lodge, Denali Bluffs Hotel, or Denali Grande Lodge, represents an incredible *50 percent savings*, costs $329.00 per room for two-night lodging and tickets for two on any Explore Denali excursion, and runs through the end of the season, Sept. 18.

Reservations must be made in advance and are based on availability. Rates are based on double occupancy, additional charges will apply to additional guests.**

You can visit Denali Resorts to learn more about the awesomeness of an Alaska autumn and to book your reservations.

The Shenandoah National Park is a great little getaway destination. Located just 90 miles from Washington DC, the park is a different world than the one you find in the nation’s capital. It has a natural beauty that is something behold, and it offers a serenity that is much needed when you spend most of your time in the rat race.

August is a great month to visit the Shendandoah National Park. The weather is nice and the savings are sweet. Witness some of the deals that you can snap up this year:

*The “August Hiking Package” *includes $49 room rate on traditional lodging at Skyland Resort and Big Meadows Lodge on Mondays through Thursdays only when booked in conjunction with a Guided Hike. Guided hikes take place every Tuesday and Wednesday for the month of August. The package represents a savings of 48 percent.

*Room rate available only in conjunction with a guided hike reservation at Skyland Resort or Big Meadows Lodge. Guided Hiking rate is additional at $74 – 99.00 per person which includes guide fee, bag lunch, map of area trails, transportation to starting point. Limited number of rooms available for each hiking date.

*The “Summer Family Package” *is $158 for double occupancy and includes one night of lodging at Skyland Resort or Big Meadows Lodge, a choice of horseback riding or admission to Luray Caverns and American Celebration on Parade and breakfast for two. The “Summer Family Package” offers visitors a savings of 25 percent.

*Valid Sunday thru Thursdays excluding Sun, 9/2/07 at Skyland Resort & Big Meadows Lodge in traditional rooms. Horseback ride reservation can be made at time of booking or at check-in. Vouchers for Luray Caverns and American Celebration on Parade admissions issued at check-in. Rate includes taxes & surcharges. Meal gratuities not included. Child’s rate includes breakfast, horseback ride or attraction admissions. Pony ride
for children under 4’10″ tall.

For these deals and more information about the park, visit www.visitshenandoah.com

Feel like reserving a campground spot instead of joining a group? Reserve a space at Shenandoah River State Park Campground.

Ahhhh, Paris. The Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame, the Arc de Troomphe, the endless streams of tourists waiting in line to buy tickets….

There is a reason why Paris is so gosh darned popular. It is a special city. Its sites, sounds and smells are like nowhere else in the world and come summertime the rest of the world descends upon Paris. The crowds and the waits can be quite a drag. They can make even a Parisphile walk away wondering if it is worth it.

It is worth it and it can be done with minimal hassle. One way is to travel to Paris during the down months. Go there in October. Try your luck with February. Just don’t go there in the middle of freakin’ July.

If you schedule dictates your life and you can’t avoid traveling to Paris during the high season, the very least you can do to make your experience more enjoyable is to purchase a Paris Pass in advance. A Paris Pass is your ticket to most of the places you want to go in the city. It saves you money in the long run and most importantly it can help you avoid some of those dreaded lines.

Time is money as they say. The Paris Pass is both a time and money saver.