Vacation Packages - Travel Deals

Everyone loves a top 10 list. Everyone also happens to have a list of places that they would like to visit. I know that my list is pages long. The cool cats at Travelocity have compiled a top 10 list of the most booked flight and hotel destinations on their site. Maybe your list jives with theirs? Or maybe not.

1. Las Vegas – Sin City has always been a fan favorite and since you can always get a deal there it is a popular one with budget travelers.

2. Montana – This one surprised me. I didn’t take the Travelocity crowd as being an outdoorsy one. Montana is a lovely state and as a former resident I can tell you that you will have your breath taken away each time you visit it.

3. Mexico – Sun. Cancun. No really surprise our next door neighbor is popular.

4. Caribbean – Same as Mexico only the rum tastes better.

5. New York City – Is there a better city in the world for a four-day weekend? I haven’t found one. The Big Apple is a great place to visit.

6. Florida – Another state I used to live in. People apparently like sunshine and/or wacky stories about alligators eating people.

7. California – More sunshine, more wackiness, plenty to see and do.

8. Hawaii – I’m surprised this wasn’t ranked higher. Who wouldn’t want to spend a few days in paradise?

9. Chicago – The Second City is anything but that. Probably would be ranked higher if the winters weren’t so bloody cold.

10. Europe – You mean to tell me that more people book trips to Chicago than to all of Europe? I don’t believe that, but then again I don’t work for Travelocity.

Top 10 Vacation Destinations!

You can’t go more than 100 yards in Greece without tripping over something historic. People have been walking around Greece for ages and they are always leaving behind stone ruins that will make you stub your toe if you run into them. Those stone ruins are a big reason why people visit the country, but even if you don’t enjoy looking at antiquities you will still have an excellent time in Greece.

It is a country that is rich in geography to go along with all the culture. The beaches are fabulous, the waters warm in the summer and the islands are simply enchanting. There are parts of the country that are brimming with tourists and will make you wonder why you ever left home, while there are parts of the country that are virtually unknown to outsiders. Such is the nature of Greece.

Because of its attractions and because it is a hit with tourists, you can usually find a decent deal on vacation packages. European Destinations currently has some tasty offerings on vacations ranging from 6 to 10 days in length. Just make sure to pack some sturdy shoes. It sure does hurt bumping into a 3,000-year-old ruin with open toed sandals.

Different people travel to the Caribbean for different reasons. Some go to sit on the beach and to soak up the sun. Others go to throw on an oxygen tank and to see what those creatures are up to underneath the sea. Still others go to lap up the culture of the region. And others go to escape the long arm of the law. If you are one of those escaping the long arm of the law types this deal probably isn’t for you. If you are one of those people who legally want to go to the Caribbean, read on.

If you act fast – by fast I mean before March 31, 2007 – you can get $100 off of a Caribbean vacation package. All you need to do is whip out your MasterCard, book a flight and hotel trip for five days or longer through Travelocity, punch in the magic code Caribbean100 and you are on your way to a relaxing vacation away from the everyday hustle, bustle and bank robbing stress.

The offer is particularly attractive since it includes hotel options that range from simple to ritzy in places like Barbados, Bermuda, Puerto Rico and St. Lucia.

What Day Dreams are made of: Save $100 on Caribbean vacations

Back in the good old days if you had $50 to spend in Mexico you could live high on the hog for weeks. That isn’t the case as much nowadays. Mexico is not nearly as cheap of a travel destination as it used to be, especially if you are in one of the resort areas like Puerto Vallarta. Still, if you get away from the tourist traps and go out to a local market you could purchase some local items for $50 and come away with a handful of goods that will forever remind you of your vacation south of the border.

Vacation packages to Mexico remain a hot item even heading into the busy travel season. United Vacations are the ones offering you the $50 bonus and they are so generous that they will give you a bill with Grant’s face on it for every person in your party who signs up to come along for the ride. Heck, they’ll even throw you a fill bills if you decide to say adios to Mexico and hola to the Caribbean instead.

The offer is good throughout the year except for those busy holiday weeks in the winter.

You have to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. It is a national law to pretend you are Irish for the day. You have no other choice. You do have a few choices for how to spend March 17 this year, however. You could spend the day in a dive bar in Hoboken drinking green beer and listening to people around you who you can’t understand because they are so drunk. Or you could spend it in a dive bar in Dublin, drinking good beer and listening to people around you speaking with an accent that you can’t understand.

Not much of a choice, really. Choose Ireland.

United Airlines actually has a somewhat reasonable deal on St. Paddy’s vacation packages even this late in the game. You can flight to Dublin, stay at a hotel for four nights and enjoy those legendary Irish breakfasts all for around $1,000 depending on where you fly from. In addition, if you use the promotional code – EUFREETOUR – when you book it you’ll get a $100 in free tours. A tour guide could come in handy while you are wondering the streets of Dublin drunk and wondering what those pretty old buildings are all about.

Best of all you won’t have to listen to anyone put on a fake accent. That is always the worst part of St. Paddy’s Day in the States.

European Vacations
Escape to Ireland for St. Paddy’s Day!

With limited vacation days, a paucity of funds in the bank and the various responsibilities that come with life, it is sometimes difficult to travel abroad. This is a reality that has taken my nomadic instincts a lot of time to get used to, but finally I have reconciled with the notion that I can’t just quit my job every year and then travel for three months.

Instead, I am all about maximizing the vacation time and the money that I have. I try to do a lot in a little amount of time and if I can do it without having to spend a bundle than I consider it a success.

If you are like me, you might just be interested in a 7-day, 6-night vacation package to London and Amsterdam. The reality is that you could spend a year exploring either city, but if you are willing to accept the fact that you will only be getting a taste of things than this is quite the bargain. It includes airfare to both cities, hotel stays and breakfast.

It isn’t ideal but it is pretty good and for the busy person without a ton of cash on hand it could be an excellent way to get in a bit of international travel.

Search for other vacation package deals and save on your next trip.

As I sit here staring out the window at the 1,234th straight day of gray clouds, I can’t help but wonder if the sun has disappeared for good. I also can’t help but feel a bit on envy towards those of you who are wearing sunglasses and sitting by the pool while you are reading this blog. Your golden tan skin is the essence of good health. Your carefree attitude the sign of relaxation. There are no bags under your eyes. You are not tired. You will live forever.

While that fantasy is playing on continuous loop in my mind, allow me to present a sunny deal for those who are not so fortunate to live in warm weather climes. From now until December 10, 2006, Priceline is offering steep discounts on flights and hotels vacation packages to warm, delightfully sunny locations. We’re talking mega bucks off of trips to Hawaii, Florida, Central America and the Caribbean. Whether you are in the mood for a short little weekend getaway or a full on vacation, this is a great opportunity to reintroduce yourself to the sun.

With the money you’ll save, you could even invest in a home tanning lamp so that you get enough Vitamin E (or is it Vitamin D?) all year long.