Archive for April, 2009

 
Tuesday, April 28th, 2009

When it comes to traveling to Florida, some people are able to go all-out and arrive in style, staying at luxury resorts and sipping champagne on top Florida beaches.  Others, however, may not have as much money to spend.  Fortunately, it is possible to visit Florida, no matter what your financial situation.  But if you’re planning on traveling to Florida on a budget, there are a number of things you’ll want to keep in mind.

First, look at your travel options.  Flying is certainly the quickest way to reach Florida, but it may not be the cheapest.  In today’s world, you have to pay for just about everything, including your checked baggage and any snacks or drinks you want on the plane.  And while there are some airline specials that will save you money, you often have to fly out on specific days or take early morning flights to qualify for the lowest rates.  Even then, you won’t be able to take as much luggage as you’d like or bring back as many souvenirs when you fly.

If you have a few extra days to spare, you may want to consider taking the bus.  While it certainly takes longer to get to Florida, bus tickets can be much cheaper than airline tickets.  There are a few things to consider, though.  First, buses often break down or get delayed, meaning you may not make it to Florida in the time you anticipated.  Second, luggage may get shuffled around if you end up missing a bus or have to take a different bus.  This can be annoying, too.  And, finally, just like the plane, your luggage may be limited to one large bag or by weight.

Driving to Florida may fit within your budget, but there are some extra costs here that you need to anticipate, as well.  First of all, you have to purchase gas.  And while gas prices in the U.S. are no longer approaching $3.00 a gallon, it can still be expensive to drive all the way to Florida, especially if you live on the West Coast.  Even living in the Mid-U.S. – Texas, for example – you’re still looking at a two or three day drive.  During this drive, you’ll need a place to stay, which adds more hotel costs to your trip.  However, if you’re willing to stay at budget hotels or take along your camping gear and camp out, you may not have to spend that much money while driving.

However, you’ll also need to consider the wear and tear on your car if you’re planning a Florida road trip.  If your car needs thousands of dollars in maintenance just to make the trip, or if the drive would put you over your mileage limit on your lease, you may want to look at renting a car to get there.  Of course, this is yet another expense that you need to consider in your budget.  After adding in gas, a rental car, and the extra lodging costs, you may find that it really is cheaper to fly to Florida.  Of course, driving is its own adventure, and you can see other sights on your way to Florida.

As you can see, you have several different options for traveling to Florida on a budget.  In the end, your decision should be based on cost, as well as other factors.  If you want to do a lot in Florida, fly there so that you’ll have more time.  If, on the other hand, you’d rather see some sights on your way, take the bus or drive.

 
 
Tuesday, April 14th, 2009

Are you and your children looking for something to do during the upcoming summer vacation?  If so, you’ll find the perfect summer getaway at the Wisconsin Dells.  The water parks in this area are some of the best in the country, and they’re sure to get your family up and running to experience some of the world’s best water rides.  Best of all, you’ll find that the rates are much more affordable than big destination getaways in other parts of the country!

With all of the fun and excitement of the Dells at your fingertips, you can be sure that you and your family will have the perfect waterpark experience – no matter what your water ride preference may be.  In fact, so many people began referring to the Wisconsin Dells as “The Waterpark Capital of the World,” that they trademarked the name!

If you’re looking for a location that will allow you to get all of your waterpark experience done indoors – where you won’t have to worry about sunburns and sunscreen – you might want to check out the Kalahari Resort.  This indoor waterpark is the largest one in Wisconsin, and it’s recently been updated to help accommodate the growing tourist demands.  The new space has a Ferris wheel, go-cars, bowling, and even a laser tag arena so that even members of the family that don’t want to get wet can still find something exciting and fun to do.  Of course, if you want to go outside and have fun in the sun, you can do that too, as the Kalahari also has an attached outdoor waterpark for your use. 

You might also want to consider visiting America’s largest waterpark – Noah’s Ark Waterpark.  This enormous park has more than eighty different activities that all members of the family can participate in, including over forty waterslides in the waterpark alone.  There’s also an additional area for those who don’t just want to get wet where you can choose from mini-golf, bumper boats, restaurants, and stores.  With all of this variety and selection, it’s no wonder that so many people come to Noah’s Ark year after year in order to explore it completely.  In fact, if you’re going to be in the area for a few days, it might be a good idea to set aside more than one afternoon to take in this tremendous waterpark.

No matter what your preference for water sports and activities may be, you’re sure to find what you’re looking for at the Wisconsin Dells.  There are so many different recreational options available that no member of your family will feel left out or be unable to find something that they like.  Of course, there are plenty of other waterparks in the Wisconsin Dells area, besides the two discussed here.  If you and your family would love to experience the fun and excitement of a variety of world-class waterparks – without the hassle of travelling from place to place – the Wisconsin Dells could be just the thing for you.