Mexico - Royal Hideaway Resort Playacar

Mexico - 5 diamond Royal Hideaway Playacar

If you are looking for a romantic getaway from winter, why not try the adults only, all inclusive, all suite Royal Hideaway Playacar. This AAA 5 diamond resort, with six pools and a stunning beach is only 45 minutes from Cancun, but a world away from reality. Amenities include exceptional first class service, fresh fruit tray upon arrival, air conditioning with individual climate control, one king or two queen beds, ceiling fan, clock, marble bathrooms, Etro® amenities, mini fridge, coffee maker, scale, safety deposit box, satellite television with remote control and DVD stereo system with CD player. Don’t shovel today; fly off to paradise.

Mexico- Royal Hideaway Resort Playacar

Mexico - 5 diamond Royal Hideaway Playacar

If you are looking for a romantic getaway from winter, why not try the adults only, all inclusive, all suite Royal Hideaway Playacar. This AAA 5 diamond resort, with six pools and a stunning beach is only 45 minutes from Cancun, but a world away from reality. Amenities include exceptional first class service, fresh fruit tray upon arrival, air conditioning with individual climate control, one king or two queen beds, ceiling fan, clock, marble bathrooms, Etro® amenities, mini fridge, coffee maker, scale, safety deposit box, satellite television with remote control and DVD stereo system with CD player. Don’t shovel today; fly off to paradise.

Mexico - Surf's Up

If you have always wanted to catch the big wave, but have never been surfing, Mexico can offer you a great opportunity to try this sport.

Surfing lessons are available for the novice just north of Puerto Vallarta at Punta Mita. The waves are gentle and they are slow and long. Lessons are available at Tranquilo Surf. 

If you know how to surf and are looking for a little more excitement, maybe Troncones is the place for you. It is just an hour away from the fishing village of Zihuantenejo. Again, there are lessons available and you may be able to find the secret places of the surfing specialists.

For those who love to surf and have no fear, head to Puerto Escondido to try your skill (and luck)with the Zicatela pipeline. Watch the daily show from the beach as the towering peak is challenged by experts or give it your best shot. Surf gurus can take you to some lesser waves more suited to your skill level, if you don’t have good insurance

Vail, Colorado - Great Skiing this winter

With all the fresh new snow in the high country, plan a ski trip to Vail and if you want 5* service, be sure to try the new Four Seasons Vail. Beautiful inside and out!

Australia - The Great Ocean Road

Australia’s Great Ocean Road

The Great Ocean Road is the largest war memorial in the world. Tourists and locals, alike travel this road to see the incredible scenic beauty along the 151 mile stretch of road between Torquay and Warnambool, Australia.

The Twelve Apostles

Many don’t realize it was built by soldiers who returned from World War I between 1919 and 1932. It is dedicated to the casualties of the war and winds along the coast past the natural beauty of sites such as the limestone monuments of the Twelve Apostles and sheer, dramatic cliffs. You can see places that were only accessible by sea or rough bush track before the road’s construction.
Visit Victoria and make the entire drive from Melbourne to Adelaide in South Australia. You won’t regret it!

Australia - Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary

This Christmas (or anytime) give a gift that is unique and makes a difference. You can adopt an animal at the Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary in Queensland, Australia.  With hundreds of native Australian animals, there is always a need for food, conservation, breeding, research, medical care and habitat maintenance. This organization is not for profit and you can be sure your gift is appreciated and well used. When you visit, you can feel proud to have contributed to the natural bushland and rainforest setting for the native wildlife of Australia.
 

ASTA - American Society of Travfel Agents - advice

ASTA Cautions Against Travel Offers That Sound Too Good to be TrueWith the craziness of the holidays, sometimes it’s easy to forget common sense when it comes to special offers and prizes. ASTA is cautioning consumers to carefully evaluate any travel offer before spending their hard-earned dollars and offers the following suggestions to consumers when evaluating any travel offer:

• Retain a healthy dose of skepticism. Be extremely skeptical about unsolicited e-mail, postcard and phone solicitations saying you’ve been selected to receive a fabulous vacation or anything free. Be especially wary of firms requiring you to wait at least 60 days to take your trip.
• Do your homework. Some offers might sound great on the surface, but be sure to read the fine-print. Certain offers impose so many requirements and restrictions, such as black-out dates and companion fees, that you will either never have the chance to take the trip or you will end up paying more than had you made the arrangements on your own or used an ASTA travel agent
• Run a “background check.” Consumers should vet the companies from which they purchase travel services. They can do this by searching for the company on the Better Business Bureau’s Web site or by checking to see if they are members of ASTA. Other sites to check are http://www.complaintsboard.com/ and http://www.ripoffreport.com/.
• Keep private information private. Never give out your credit card number unless you initiate the transaction and you are confident about the company with which you are doing business.
• Get the facts. You should receive complete details in writing about any trip prior to payment. These details should include the total price; cancellation and change penalties, if any; and specific information about all components of the package.
• Follow up. Once you have the complete details of your trip, contact the hotel and transportation companies on your own to make certain the reservations have been made.
• Know where you stand. If you insist on replying to an e-mail or calling a 900-number in response to a travel solicitation, understand the charges and know the risks.
• Know when to fold ‘em. Know when to walk away. High-pressure sales presentations that don’t allow you time to evaluate the offer, or which require that you disclose your income are red flags to be heeded.
• Protect yourself. Always pay with a credit card if possible. Even legitimate companies can go out of business. Under the Fair Credit Billing Act, credit card customers have the right to refuse paying for charges for services not rendered. Details of the Fair Credit Billing Act can be found at the Federal Trade Commission’s Web site.

Read more tips at TravelSense.org.