Alitalia - Travel Deals

When you think of relaxing vacation destinations around the world the chances are that Israel isn’t the first spot to come to mind. The images most of the outside world sees of the country are ones of bloodshed, violence and fear. The perception is that it is a dangerous place to be in a dangerous part of the world.

This perception does have its merit and as is the case whenever you travel to a foreign land you should be prepared to change your plans depending on the security situation on the ground. That said, plenty of people do travel to Israel and they do have a relaxing, sage and pleasant time.

Tel Aviv is an especially popular spot. It has wonderful beaches, fun nightlife and a relaxed feel to it despite existing in a country that is always on edge. It also happens to be an easy place to travel to thanks to airlines like Alitalia. For under $700 you can fly from New York to Tel Aviv. While you are there you can stay at one of any number of modern, affordable hotels. If you are on a tight budget, there are also some excellent hostels in Tel Aviv that are a great value.

Cairo, Egypt has been described as many things, but no one has ever called it dull. The intellectual heart of the Middle East and one of the historic cradles of civilization, Cairo is a sprawling city of chaos and calm. It is part Africa, part Arabia, part modern and part antiquity and 100-percent worth a visit. If you want to be fascinated on your next holiday, look no further than Egypt.

Alitalia has one heck of a deal on flights to Cairo. You can fly round trip from New York, Boston or Chicago to Egypt’s capital for less than $500 if you book your ticket by December 27, 2006 and fly between January 15 and February 28th, 2007. This airfare is at least a couple hundred dollars cheaper than what you’ll usually find for flights to Cairo so it behooves you to consider traveling to Egypt this winter.

While you are at it, you could make it a truly memorable adventure by taking part in a nine-day tour from the Red Sea to the Dead Sea. If you combine the mayhem of Cairo with the calm of a Red Sea resort and the history of a place like Petra, you might just have found the perfect trip.

Some people are really into the New Year’s holiday. I am not one of those people. I find that there is always a lot of pressure to have the time of your life and usually you are lucky to just have a good time. People who normally don’t drink very much end up drinking too much. People who normally do drink too much feel compelled to drink even more. The service at restaurants usually stinks because the wait staff would rather be partying elsewhere instead of serving a bunch of drunk people. Frankly, I have had the most fun staying at home and watching Dick Clark. Yes, I am officially an old fart.

Even though it isn’t my favorite holiday I understand why people dig it. The New Year brings new opportunities and the chance to remake yourself into the person you want to be. That is all well and good and if you feel compelled to party in the process than go for it.

Celebrating the New Year in another country is certainly one way to build lasting memories. It also affords the opportunity to see how other cultures get wasted and how the wait staff in other places don’t want to be working. Don’t let my negativity get you down. You can have fun on New Year’s and that fun can take place in a cool destination like Rome. Book your ticket by December 19, 2006 and you can usher in the New Year in Italy for less than $400 round trip from New York.

I’d like to wish a happy and joyous 2007 to one and all. Thanks for reading the blog.