1)    Food costs: The first and foremost reason for picking up an all-inclusive holiday package is that all your food and drinks will be paid for in the price of your trip. Thus, all your three meals which are breakfast, lunch and dinner, are all paid for in your holiday package and mostly they will be available to you as a buffet. This kind of arrangement comes very handy in situations when you have kids in tow and in between meals, snacks and drinks are also provided to you free of charge.

2)    Children’s Clubs: This part of the package especially suits the requirements of families who go in for holiday. The cost of using the Kid’s Club will be included in the price of the package. Children’s Clubs are great for the kids as they get to meet new friends and the parents get to relax and unwind.

3)   Inclusion of facilities and entertainment: Sports facilities and entertainment are included in the holiday package. The sports facilities in every hotel are different but you can get unlimited access to some of the common sports such as volleyball and tennis. Every resort and hotel arranges for a distinct set of entertainment for their guests and you can be a part of this through all-inclusive package holidays.

4)   Holiday reps: When you book your holidays through a holiday company, you can get in touch with the holiday representative in case of any problems or emergencies. Usually, most of the holidays go on without any problems but as you can reach out to your holiday rep, it makes matters more convenient for you.

5)     Easy to budget: Budgeting of your vacation is made quite easy and effective using the all-inclusive holiday deals.

All-inclusive holiday deals are a convenient way to enjoy your holidays and making use of discounts is definitely going to be very helpful while booking your holiday. If you are looking for economical all-inclusive packages, you can check out the Travelocity coupons for all your travel requirements such as hotel bookings, airfares and rental cars. 

While I was on my computer the other day, (looking at some treadmill ratings and reviews), I was struck by the idea of researching some good holiday travel tips which were fairly worthy of being written about and shared. After all, I myself traveled to a relative this last Christmas and trust me on this – it was NOT hassle free!

Do not travel on peak dates.

Look at all of your possible options when it comes to the airline you will use.

Remember to book ahead of time, as early as possible, wherever possible.

If you have connecting flights, look into them carefully to avoid undue stress – as well as the potential for missing the connections.

Leave for the airport at the earliest possible time to avoid traffic and delays.

Look into airport information and statistics. You may want to opt for the smaller airports which have fewer flights, fewer delays and fewer people moving through them.

Pack what you need wisely – and don’t forget your toothbrush!

Guests enjoying a relaxing mountain vacation in one of their cabins can take advantage of such amenities and extras as a fireplace, large flat screen TV, outdoor dining area, free wireless Internet, and a hot tub. Some cabins feature a pool table or a home theater room, and many cabins are pet friendly and welcome your four legged friend. Of course, the cabin that you choose to stay in will have a fully equipped kitchen, allowing you to save money by preparing your own meals.

There are plenty of things to do and see in the Gatlinburg area, one of the most popular tourist destinations in the country, attracting over 9 million visitors every year. While many tourists visit in the winter for the excellent skiing, the area has plenty of things to do year round. Downtown Gatlinburg is full of shops and restaurants, as well as family friendly activities such as putt putt golf, game arcades and go carts. Within easy reach of the town is Dollywood, Dolly Parton’s very own theme park, with a great selection of rides, including the world’s best wooden roller coaster, shows and shopping opportunities.

Of course, many people visit the area to enjoy the great outdoors, and staying in one of the resort’s cabins & chalets in Gatlinburg allows you to do that without sacrificing the comforts of home. The Gatlinburg area offers unlimited opportunities for hiking, horseback riding, fishing, zip lining and white water rafting and tubing. There are also two championship golf courses within a 15 minute drive of the resort.

The most visited National Park in the country, the Great Smokies, is on their doorstep, and this area comprising over 10,000 unspoiled acres is a major draw for visitors to the area. Both the park’s main entrance and the Sugarland visitor center are just a 15 minute drive from the Elk Springs Resort. If you are ready to plan your family vacation to the beautiful Great Smoky Mountains in Gatlinburg, contact Elk Springs Resort 1088 Powdermill Road Gatlinburg, TN 37738 |865-233-2390. This will be a vacation that your whole family enjoys and remembers for years to come.

Amelia Island is located in northwest Florida, just north of Jacksonville. This is a pretty quiet spot, with nice beaches and great restaurants and shopping. If you want thrilling nightlife, Jacksonville is just a short trek down Interstate 95.

Anastasia Island is located at St. Augustine. Here, you’ll have all the benefits of a quiet island with wide beaches while being close to all that St. Augustine has to offer – history, museums, restaurants, outlet malls, and shopping centers. You’ll definitely want to tour the Old City and check out the ancient fort.

Anna Maria Island is located just south of Tampa and is absolutely stunning! The water here is crystal blue-green, and the beaches are clean and white. The island has several beaches, ranging from kid-safe to exciting. There’s not much nightlife on Anna Maria, but Sarasota is just a short drive away.

St. George Island is located in the Gulf of Mexico, off the coast of the Panhandle. The atmosphere is upscale, and the beaches are gorgeous. St. George Island would be better suited to family vacations than it would be for a rowdy spring break for college students.

The Florida Keys are a long chain of islands, connected by bridges. Each key has its own personality. If you’re looking for a wild party atmosphere for your spring break, you can’t go wrong with Key West.

And, knowing Kauai intimately, finding it at the very top of that list doesn’t surprise, either.  What’s so special about Kauai?  Here is an abbreviated list:

#1 – It comes by its nickname – The Garden Isle – quite honestly.  Plants absolutely thrive here, especially on the rainy North Shore and the island’s verdant East Side.  You will see trees, plants and flowers that just about knock your eyes out.

#2 – There’s incredible natural diversity on its mere 562 square miles.  In contrast to the North Shore’s rain forest, you simply need to drive a couple of hours to the island’s West Side to find dry, almost desert-like weather.  (While you’re there, be sure to check out beautiful Waimea Canyon – dubbed “The Grand Canyon of the Pacific” by Mark Twain.)

#3 – Last, but certainly not least, the edges of this little garden-oasis in the middle of the Pacific Ocean make up Kauai’s incredible beaches.  Wherever you go on the island, you are absolutely assured to find a beautiful beach nearby.

What’s not so easy to find, however, is a Kauai beachfront condo to rent.  While many rental units afford an ocean view, there’s a difference between “oceanfront” and “beachfront.”  The former simply means you can see the ocean from the property – often from high atop a rocky cliff – while the latter means the property abuts a beach you can walk on.

For our money, the best Kauai beach condo resort is Kaha Lani – Hawaiian for “heavenly place” – located on the East Side of the island.  Not only is it a beachfront location, it’s about a five-minute walk to the rock-enclosed ocean pool at Lydgate Park:

Kaha Lani is secluded, surrounded by soothing waters – not to mention stunning scenery – and most certainly a lovely place to spend a honeymoon or any other kind of Kauai vacation or holiday.

If you’re into saltwater angling, you’ll find Naples fishing to be a rewarding experience. You can fish from the Naples pier, or if you’re so inclined, you can cast a line right from the beach and do some surf fishing. For the more adventurous angler, kayaking into the backwater and sneaking up on big reds or snook is entirely possible. If you’re really serious about catching big fish, check out Naples fishing charters. Naples fishing charters take guest anglers on several different types of fishing trips, including backwater fishing, nearshore fishing, and offshore fishing.

Another great thing about Naples is its unique location. When you’re visiting or vacationing in Naples, you’ll be near numerous islands that lie just off the coast of Florida. Some of the larger islands have bridges that connect to the mainland, so you might want to round up the family and spend a few hours on Sanibel or Captiva, both famous for their variety of beautiful seashells. You might also like to visit Marco Island.

There are also many, many tiny islands – hundreds, in fact – many of which are completely uninhabited. Ever heard of the 10,000 Islands of Florida? They stretch from the southern tip of Marco Island to Lostmans River, in the Everglades. This is a real wilderness area, with a myriad of sloughs, mangroves, oyster bars, and shallows that support a wide range of birds, wildlife, marine life, and fish. It’s a true “back to nature” adventure. Remember, though, that it’s easy to get lost here. You might want to hire a guide, just to be safe. Why not hire a knowledgeable guide for fishing or for wildlife viewing? In fact, many guides will be able to include both fishing and wildlife into your 10,000 Islands and Everglades adventure.

Many people may say, “But it’s expensive to rent clubs at the course…”, but I would argue that it’s not only more convenient, but a lot cheaper too.  Just think of how much it costs now days to bring along an extra bag on an airplane.  You might be paying thirty dollars or more one way for that extra bag and that’s if you have a small bag.  If you’re bringing a heavy stand bag, you might find yourself with a much more expensive bag fee than that.  I stopped bringing my clubs along with me before bag fees even existed so there’s about a zero percent chance that I’d bring them along now.  You’ll also need a golf travel bag, which is just another expense you’ll need to tack on when bringing your own clubs.

You can argue that you won’t golf as well with someone else’s clubs and you’d be right, you’re not as likely to go out and shoot well.  But vacation is meant to be fun and relaxing, and not about how well you can golf.  I suggest hitting the golf course with relaxation in mind when on vacation.  Leave the competitive play at your home course; it will be there when you return.

Trust me, it’s worth leaving your clubs at home next time.

Weather in Phuket and Koh Samui

Thailand has two monsoons – Phuket’s driest weather is from October to April, while that time is the wettest for Koh Samui.  Both islands are primarily beach destinations, so although its not cold in the wet season – who wants to spend a holiday on the beach in the rain? 

Flight Connections to Koh Samui and Phuket 

Phuket is in the south of Thailand while Koh Samui is closer to Bangkok. If you are flying from Australia or New Zealand Phuket is a cheaper, quicker and more convenient location. 

Flying to Koh Samui-  will invariably require a change of flights, customs and probably a stop over in Bangkok. There are very limited airlines flying to Koh Samui, so the conenction is also quite a lot more expensive than most internal flights in Thailand. 

Phuket is Thailand’s largest island, and has a long history-  its wealth grew from tin mining and the spice trade long before the trade in vacationers took off. Koh Samui, on the other hand was a remote rural backwater before the first backpackers arrived in the 1970′s.  

If history and local culture is your thing – than Phuket will have more to offer you than Koh Samui. 

Either island though will offer you that genuine Thai smile, fantastic food, and warm clear waters. 

That’s not to like about Thailand – whether you choose Phuket or Koh Samui – its a winning choice either way!