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Archive for the ‘Vacations’ Category

For vacationers, a trip to Disney World is always enticing, but now more than ever, people are clamoring for Disney’s vacation packages. Compared to past rates, which were criticized for actually being higher than the cost of buying components of a package individually, today’s vacation deals are not only convenient – but economical too.

There are several different vacation packages to choose from for 2006. The 2006 Magic Your Way Vacation Package is the most affordable and it includes accommodations at the Disney Resort, the Magic Your Way Base Ticket (which grants entrance to one theme park per day and can be upgradeable to a “park hopper” ticket as well), and a Magic Plus option or with an extra cost, a No Expiration option.

Likewise, if you (or your travel agent) books a package online, a Disney Photopass will accompany it, and is essentially a voucher for a 5” x 7” photo of you and your fellow vacationers, snapped by a professional photographer. Other goodies that you can qualify for online include a meal voucher for Planet Hollywood Dining and Merchandize. The voucher can be exchanged for an entrée and non-alcoholic beverage from a select menu.

Another vacation deal is the 2006 Magic Your Way Package Plus Dining and it includes accommodations to Disney owned and operated hotels and the opportunity to experience several unique dining locations across the Walt Disney World Resort. Every day, at participating Walt Disney World restaurants, you can receive one table service meal with an appetizer, entrée, dessert, and non-alcoholic beverage, one counter service meal with entrée, dessert and non-alcoholic beverage, and one snack (ice cream, popcorn, medium soft drinks, etc).

Disney’s Magic Your Way Premium Package is a fancier, deluxe package and includes just about everything: hotel accommodations, breakfast, lunch, dinner, and unlimited access to golf, miniature golf, water sports and other recreations. Also, purchasers of this package are admitted to Cirque du Soleil’s exciting La Nouba, and various park tours and the like. As well, children from four to twelve years old can participate in selected resorts at the Disney Children Activity Center.

The grandest package of all is Disney’s Magic Your Way Platinum Package. In addition to the benefits of the premium package (like hotel stay, breakfast, lunch, dinner, recreation, and a ticket to Cirque du Soleil), you will also receive a spa treatment, extra recreational opportunities – including private golf lessons, a reserved seat to the exciting fireworks show Fantasmic!, unlimited childcare in the Child Activity Centers, a ride on the Fireworks Cruise, itinerary planning services, in-room child care, the Platinum Plan keepsake, and turndown service.

For groups of eight or more, there is a special package called Grand Gatherings. There are extraordinary benefits offered here that small groups simply can’t take part in – special events can be booked, like the International Dinner and Illuminations Desert Reception, Safari Celebration Dinner, Good Morning Gathering, and Magical Fireworks Voyage.

Nevertheless, an important thing to know is that standard full-price Disney vacation packages presented by tour operators are convenient, but there are no “bargain” prices. More often, Disney World packages are to be purchased through Walt Disney Travel Company or the WDTC.

Congratulations on taking the plunge and hiring a 4X4 for an awesome off-road African adventure!

As a newbie to the wonderful world of 4-wheel drive, you’ll fall into one of two camps – those who think they know it all already, and those who are totally terrified and have no idea how to handle ‘their’ Camel-man-mobile safely, let alone get the best out of it!

This article is for you, whichever side you fall; never be too proud or too petrified to learn, for your sake and the sake of your passengers and fellow off-road track users.

Speed & Momentum

If you hit a spot of trouble DON’T accelerate – it can get you into a worse position. Slow down and take it easy – this helps you to keep traction and your tyres will work for you instead of spinning aimlessly.

When approaching an obstacle, you need momentum. The trick is to start a little way back to gain the momentum you need. This is a skill which you will master over time.

Limits

Don’t try new tricks when you’re out alone. Test your limits when you’re with more experienced drivers.

Mud

Use a stick to test a new mud hole for depth and softness. Remember a soft hole can prove impossible to escape! Enter the mud hole with a little momentum and if you feel that you’re getting stuck turn the wheel left to right to gain traction. Once you’ve gone as far forward as you can try reverse out.

Windows

Keep the windows up to avoid a mud shower or a face full of dust.

Stuck

If you are truly stuck, try letting a little air out of your tyres for better traction and when you get out of the ditch don’t forget to fill them up again.

Stalling

If you stall with your tailpipe under water, get towed out and pull the spark plugs before starting the engine again. A cylinder full of water can destroy an engine. When the plugs are out, however, the water will be safely ejected.

Obstacles

Go slowly over obstacles. Pull the hand brake a little for tension on the drive line to slow the vehicle and enable you to accelerate gently over.

Steering

Always hold the steering wheel with thumbs out when you’re off-road. If you hit a ditch or obstacle the wheel could spin too fast and hurt your thumbs. Keeping them out helps prevent injury. Keep your hands and arms inside the truck to avoid accidents.

Tools & Spares

Keep the following with you:
A hi-lift jack
Steel wire
Spare tyre and plug kit

Safety

Wear a safety belt
Don’t travel alone
Have a cell phone on you
Don’t drink alcohol when driving
Get back on the tar road before dark
Give fellow 4X4 drivers on the track plenty of space
Don’t race or churn up the soil needlessly.

Respect

Respect the land, the other people using the trail and the vehicle! Douse campfires, don’t litter (this includes cigarette butts), stick to trails so as to avoid damaging the plant life.

Leave your ego at home and remember it’s about having fun!

Dynamism and physical activity are the fundamental requirements of a true sporting holiday. Sport lovers are often demanding of an active holiday with plenty of physical activity and well-being for the body and the mind.

Doing physical activity also on holiday is the special mission of the Hotels for sport enthusiasts. From triathlon to bicycle racing, these hotels propose the active holiday and make sure that every sports need is satisfied.

The hotels on the Adriatic Riviera offer four ways of practicing sport while on holiday:

- Cycling holiday
- MTB holiday
- Triathlon holiday (Cycling + Swimming + Racing)
- Holiday in the swimming-pool (swimming)

The Hotels for sport enthusiasts offer targeted services for each type of holiday.

Hotels for riders and bike services for road racing holidays and mountain bike holidays: technical equipment, specialized guides, cycling-tourism tracks, and participation in the various cycling races organized locally.

These are the bike facilities:

- bicycle storeroom
- Pre and post-training buffet
- A minibus
- Cycling itineraries (maps of the itineraries in the inland area) selected and divided according to level of difficulty.
- Technical assistance – Tailor-made bicycle hire
- Fitness and massages
- Laundry service.

For the triathlon enthusiasts, there are special cycling/swimming/racing tracks to train every body part and experience the adrenalin of sport at 360°.

The service for triathlon are:

- bicycle facilities
- bicycle guides
- swimming facilities
- running facilities

The hills over Riccione, for example, are particularly suitable for cycling and the Province of Rimini can provide cycling-tourism maps that will guide bike lovers.

For those who feel like “fishes”, Riccione offers the opportunity of swimming in the heated swimming-pool with swimming instructors.

The swimming services are:

- Large pool:
- Olympic-sized pool
- Packed lunch
- Assistance (for example advanced swimming lessons)
- Towels and bathrobes
- Special agreements

In addition to all this, relax treatments, from massage to sauna, are the best way to relax the muscles after the tiring but enjoyable sports activities.

The Adriatic Riviera and the Hotels in Riccione are the ideal dimension for sports people who, while on holiday, want not only to enjoy the inland, the food, the beaches and the entertainment offered by the local area, but also and, first of all, want to keep in shape through the many chances of doing sport.

To live a special sportive holiday the Sport Hotel in Italy and especially in Riccione propose a lot of event during the evening to relax an to be ready for the next sport activity.

This kind of holiday is very diffused in Italy and every year a lot of cycling lovers choose a bike holiday to live between sport and nature.

Italian Regions offer a lot of bike itineraries, from the mountain to the sea and during their journey the guest could participate to important cycling races in Italy. The Nove Colli for example is one of the most famous race that gives fame to Marco Pantani.

Italy and Italian bike hotel could offer an complete sport holiday full of activity, history and emotion.