America's first luxury railway, the American Orient Express, has changed its name to GrandLuxe Rail Journeys to reintroduce itself to luxury travelers seeking an adventure that offers optimal sumptuousness mixed with a dose of 1940's nostalgia. The best of the past and present is combined for refined trekkers to experience "rail" good times.
Most trips are at least seven days long and offer various vistas for sightseeing along the way. The GrandLuxe Mexico tour is a nine-day excursion with eight days by rail. For all trips, the fine-dining menus are based on the cuisine of the locales being visited. The Mexico venture begins in El Paso and makes stops at Chihuahua, the site of the Mexican Revolution, the golden beaches of Mazatlán, Guadalajera, Copper Canyon, and the oldest known city of North America, Mexico City.
The decorum of the rail cars is an opulent retrofit of the Hollywood heydays of the 1940s. A domed observation car offers passengers a panoramic view. The ambience of the piano lounge and the dining cars leave guests expecting to see Humphrey Bogart, Lauren Bacall, Clark Gable and Mae West discussing an upcoming film project with John Ford and Orson Welles.
Becoming a member of the GrandLuxe's Golden Rail Club is a great way to get on track for substantial savings on future rail cruises. Members can save up to $1,000 per person booked on the same trip. Additionally, there is a 10 percent discount applied on all on-board purchases, complimentary wine served at dinners, and a newsletter filled with upcoming events.
Friday, March 6, 2009
GrandLuxe Rail Journeys for 'Rail-Time' Luxury
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Pros and Cons of Timeshares
Buying a timeshare certainly has its share of pros and cons, and chief among them is money. There are arguments both ways as to the value of timeshares. A timeshare is when you pre-pay for vacations at a particular resort or locale, and then you are guaranteed a specific time period for your vacation each year. It also can include more than one week in certain situations. But what are the pros and cons of timeshares?
Pros – For one, you always know when and where your vacation will be. You do not have to worry about reservations, or your favorite place getting booked up. This certainty is wonderful if you regularly vacation in the same place every single year, and you will often save money under these circumstances.
Another great benefit of a timeshare is the fact that it is already furnished with those things that you will need. This includes appliances, towels, lamps, furniture, and so on. Most timeshares already are fully furnished and stocked with everything you need of this nature.
Upkeep is another attractive option for timeshare owners. You pay a maintenance fee for the timeshare that takes care of the timeshare which collectively pays for any repairs, security, and other needs the property may need. Compared to owning a property, this amount of money is quite negligible in comparison.
As a money maker, timeshares can be quite profitable if you are careful and know what you are doing. Many people invest in a timeshare for the sole purpose of renting it out. This is profitable if you are doing it in the right way, but you must be careful in your dealings.
Cons – Many of the same things that are pros can also be cons if you are not careful. The potential downfalls of the timeshare market are varied, and can be devastating to someone that does not understand how they work.
One of the biggest issues are maintenance fees. At times, they can rise or fall depending upon the repairs and problems that may arise within a timeshare. For example, if the heating system goes out, and the maintenance fees do not cover it as they stand, then the fees will rise. You have to be prepared for these unexpected occasions.
The other major drawback for a timeshare are the many cons working the market. You should always research the company that you are dealing with extensively before purchasing a timeshare. The last thing you want is to get stuck in a financial black hole from your timeshare purchase. There are a number of scams on the market.
If you do not properly network with others, a timeshare is very limiting on your vacation options. Timeshares can be traded or exchanged in certain cases, but you would need to have people to do this with. For this reason, it is good to get to know others in the timeshare market so that you have some options for flexibility.
Finally, the biggest con of timeshares is the money commitment. While this is negligible if you are a regular visitor to a particular location, it can be significant if you are not. Timeshares are really for people that are going to return to the same vacation spot year after year at the same time. This scenario is sure to keep you happy with your timeshare. If you, however, like to shake things up every so often, then timeshares are far to constricting.
Timeshares are really what you make of them. The pros and cons of timeshares are completely up to you in most cases. It is a matter of looking at all the details, and deciding if there are more pros than cons before you make the purchase. Research is the key.
by Rodney Southern
Cruise National Parks on a Budget
The country is dotted with lots of cool and remarkable national parks. Bold travelers only have their backpacks filled with food and activity stuffs, then gather up their tent and set it up in the campsites of national parks and relax in their chosen resting destination. These parks are awesome getaways for fishing, summer hiking, or simply being one with nature.
This kind of travelers may appear to have no itinerary set in place for their travel, however, they are actually backed up by a good plan how to spend the day in their course of travel. Planning begins by choosing one among the famous national parks in Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, Yosemite, and Zion, which are literally crawling with campers during peak summer months. Part of the plan is to make early reservations.
Go online if you want to book your chosen campsite. If you are too busy to do this, travel agents can be enlisted to make the reservations for you from their own system. They can also book you hotel properties in national parks, campsites, and cabins.
Take note that not all national parks offer camping in the wilderness, though there are cabins that are available for renting. Cabins are cheaper alternatives to hotels or motels and they keep you closer to the park. If you are planning to make early bookings at a national park, it pays to do some research first; more importantly, if you are setting up tents or paying for chic hotel room.
Do not forget to consider the season and weather conditions if you are planning to go to national parks. Temperature in these places can go high because of their locations, which are usually in the mountains. This should prod you to bring the necessary clothing, depending on the weather.
If you plan on going to Yosemite National Park, there are certain portions of the place that always have snow. Many visitors are even surprised to see fresh snow in some areas of the park.
Choose campgrounds that provide accessibility. Avoid campsites that require bone-breaking hiking just to get to these places. Carefully consider these things first before you book your reservation.
Camping outdoors by choosing national parks can be quite an exhilarating and a fulfilling experience that will make each nerve in your body come alive. Always remember that in choosing outdoor travel spots, you can still be able to enjoy such moment, even if you are only cruising your way through nationals parks in a limited budget.
by Gary Eugene
