January 22, 2006
Popular travel spots
On Jan. 4, Carlson Wagonlit Travel Associates unveiled the 2006 results of their annual Travel Trends Survey. Carlson Wagonlit Travel polled 363 of their travel associate owners, managers and frontline agents throughout the United States. The survey was conducted from November 28 to December 16, 2005.
Las Vegas remains king of domestic destinations and Caribbean cruising continues to be the hottest international option for travelers. Caribbean cruising was followed by the Riviera Maya in Mexico with 51.2 per cent while Cancun in Mexico was third with 49.3 per cent. Jamaica was ranked 4th and Puerto Vallarta made a leap into the top five from its 12th position in 2005. The surge in travel to Puerto Vallarta and the western coast of Mexico has been attributed to the aftermath of Hurricane Wilma.
Top 10 Domestic Destinations: 2006
1 - Las Vegas, NV 79.6%
2 - Orlando, FL 71.3%
3 - Maui, HI 58.1%
4 - Honolulu, HI 57.9%
5 - New York City, NY 40.8%
6 (tie) - Anchorage, AK 19.0%
6 (tie) - Phoenix/Scottsdale, AZ 19.0%
8 - Kauai, HI 16.3%
9 - Fort Myers, FL 16.0%
10 - San Francisco, CA 12.7%
Top 10 International Destinations: 2006
1 - Caribbean Cruising 76.3%
2 - Riviera Maya, Mexico 51.2%
3 - Cancun, Mexico 49.3%
4 - Jamaica 34.7%
5 - Puerto Vallarta, Mexico 30.6%
6 - Rome, Italy 25.6%
7 - London, United Kingdom 23.4%
8 - Punta Cana, D. Republic 22.6%
9 - Cruising Mexico 19.0%
10 - Cabo San Lucas/ 16.5%
Los Cabos, Mexico
Top 5 Cruise Destinations: 2006
1. Caribbean (Western) 30.6%
2. Alaska 24.8%
3. Caribbean (Eastern) 20.1%
4. Caribbean (Southern) 8.8%
5. Mexican Riviera 5.8%
We used to vacation in St. Martine years ago. Has anyone been there lately? If so, what are your thoughts on vacationing there?
Posted by: StarBird1 at January 24, 2006 2:51 AMWe used to vacation in St. Martine years ago. Has anyone been there lately? If so, what are your thoughts on vacationing there?
Posted by: StarBird1 at January 24, 2006 2:51 AMAnybody wanna experience the African Safari
15 DAYS SAFARI ‘KENYA EXPLORER’
Nairobi/Masai Mara/ L.Naivasha/L.Nakuru/Mt.Kenya/Amboseli/Tsavo East/Tsavo West/Mombasa
Day 1: Nairobi
Arrive in Nairobi, where you’re met and transferred to your city hotel, Hilton or similar on bed & breakfast basis.
www.sunbreak-travels.com
Day 2: Nairobi / Masai Mara
After breakfast depart for Masai Mara, one of East Africa’s most famous reserves, The Mara consists of undulating hills and great rolling grasslands that sustain some of the most varied wildlife in Africa, if not the world. Arrive in time for lunch at Mara Sarova Luxury Camp or similar. Afternoon game viewing, where lion, elephant, cheetah, giraffe, buffalo, wildebeest, gazelle and other plains game abound, not forgetting the hundreds of species of birds. Dinner and overnight in your lodge.
Day 3: Masai Mara
The whole day is dedicated to game spotting in this sprawling reserve. You can watch a lion, cheetah or leopard hunting or feasting on its kill. Option of a visit to a Masai village or a hot-air balloon ride that starts at 06.00 am and ends with a Champagne breakfast on the plains. What an exhilarating experience! All meals and overnight at the lodge.
Day 4: Masai Mara / Lake Naivasha
After breakfast we head for one of the Great Rift Valley fresh-water lakes, Naivasha, arriving at the Lake Naivasha lodge for lunch. Option of a boat ride or bird watching with the resident ornithologist. Dinner and overnight at the lodge.
Day 5: Lake Naivasha / Lake Nakuru
Breakfast and depart for Lake Nakuru national park, famous for its millions of seasonal pink flamingos and other aquatic birds. Game drive en route to Lake Nakuru lodge for lunch. Afternoon out for another game tracking session around the lake, where rhino, zebra, gazelle, buffalo, leopard, and waterbuck can easily and closely be spotted. Dinner and overnight at the lodge.
Day 6: Lake Nakuru / Mount Kenya
After breakfast we head north to the Mount Kenya region, stopping at Nyahururu (formerly Thomson’s) Falls. Continue to Mountain lodge, a “tree hotel”, arriving for lunch. Here you can observe wild animals from your verandah / balcony as they come to drink at the water holes. Dinner and overnight at your tree hotel.
Day 7: Mount Kenya / Amboseli
Breakfast and route for Ambos Eli national park, driving through lush coffee and tea plantations. Lunch will be at the famous Nairobi Carnivore restaurant, renowned for its succulent steaks of game meat. Continue to Amboseli, game spotting as you enter the park. Dinner and overnight at Amboseli Serena lodge or similar.
Day 8: Amboseli
Full day is spent game tracking in this magnificent park, right on the foot of Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest in Africa. Early morning there’s a chance of spotting its snows.
All meals and overnight at your lodge. Game here includes Cape buffalo, hippo, gazelle, hartebeest, zebra, wildebeest, lion, cheetah, herds of elephant and plenty of other plains game. All meals and overnight at your lodge.
Day 9: Amboseli / Tsavo West
After breakfast we head south to Tsavo West national park. Tsavo is the largest park in Kenya, and is split into East and West by the Nairobi / Mombasa highway. Arrive in Ngulia Safari lodge for lunch. Afternoon game drive in the park. Common spots include: herds of elephant, buffalo, ostrich, gazelle, impala, giraffe, zebra and the accompanying predatory cats. We’ll also visit the Rhino Sanctuary. Dinner and overnight at the lodge.
Day 10: Tsavo West / Tsavo East
Early morning game drive to watch predators on the hunt. After breakfast we head for Tsavo East, with a visit to Mzima Springs. Here, there’s an underground viewing platform to observe crocodile, hippo and the various fish under water. Continue to Tsavo East, game viewing en route to Voi Safari lodge for lunch. Afternoon out game spotting where gerenuk, cape buffalo, red elephant, lion, cheetah, zebra, gazelle, and plenty of other plains game can be spotted. Dinner and overnight at your lodge.
Day 11: Tsavo East / Mombasa
Early morning game drive to observe animals as they head to the water holes and the swamps to quench their thirst. It’s also the time when the big cats are on the hunt. Back to the lodge for breakfast after which depart for Mombasa, arriving at White Sands Beach hotel or similar, where you’re booked on half board basis.
Day 12 to day 14: Mombasa
You have three days to relax at the beach and enjoy the hotel facilities. Optional excursions will be proposed by our representative. These will include Mombasa city tour, Dhow trip, and visit to historic Malindi, visit villages to observe and learn some of the locals’ lifestyle, culture and traditions.
Day 15: Mombasa / Nairobi
Depending on your international flight schedule from Nairobi, you’ll be transferred to Mombasa airport for your domestic flight to connect on your home-bound flight in Nairobi.
From – Euro - 2, 648 per person you could enjoy this memorable holiday.
The price includes:
• Transfers apt / htl / apt
• Bed & breakfast in Nairobi Hotel
• Transport in a safari-designed vehicle
• Domestic flight – Mombasa - Nairobi
• All park entrance fees
• Full board accommodation whilst on safari
• Services of our professional driver/guide
• Half board accommodation in Mombasa Beach Hotel