America's Top 10 Ski Rental Home Destinations From TripAdvisor.com

Rental homes can be a great accommodation choice for groups of travelers looking to spend a week or more in their destination. According to the TripAdvisor Vacation Rentals Calculator, groups of four or more can potentially save thousands of dollars by staying in a vacation rental as opposed to a hotel in these top ski destinations. In addition, rentals offer many of the comforts of home to travelers, including full kitchens, large living rooms, multiple bedrooms and even fireplaces for those chilly winter nights.

 

Top 10 Ski Rental Home Destinations:

 

Located in the Eastern Sierra region of California, Mammoth Lakes has long been one of the West Coast’s premiere destinations for winter sports. Whether travelers enjoy skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, sledding or simply sipping hot cocoa from the lodge, the town’s Mammoth Mountain has them covered. In addition, there is a wealth of vacation rental options for travelers looking for the perfect base camp for their winter trip.
Straddling the California and Nevada state line, Lake Tahoe is a scenic destination year round, but it really shines in the winter with its numerous downhill and cross country ski areas, as well as unique activities like dog sledding and sleigh rides. For travelers looking to warm up after a day on the trails, the area also boasts six casinos where they can try their luck.
While travelers flock to this Victorian-style town each winter for its many nearby ski resorts, Breckenridge also offers visitors a wealth of dining, shopping and spa options. Breckenridge Ski Resort itself provides more than 2,300 acres of terrain, giving skiers and snowboarders plenty of room to explore and enjoy. With many vacation rentals in the area offering ski-in/ski-out access, it’s easy to get out and hit the slopes early.
Surrounded by the San Bernardino National Forest in a region just northeast of Los Angeles, Big Bear Lake is a resort community that is perfect for a winter vacation rental stay. Visitors have access to a wealth of winter fun options including skiing, snowboarding, horseback riding, downhill inner tubing and snowshoeing, ensuring that there won’t be a dull moment whether they’re out on the slopes or enjoying time together at their cabin.
Home of the 2002 Winter Olympics, Park City has cemented its place among the top winter vacation spots across the country with its premier ski resorts and its many winter activities, ranging from snow tubing to heli-skiing. Add in plentiful vacation rental options and travelers have a fantastic destination for enjoying the snow without breaking the bank.

Ellen Barone is an American writer and wanderer. She co-founded and publishes the group travel blog YourLifeIsATrip.com and is currently at work on her first book "I Could Live Here".

Take A Walking Safari Through Kenya's Masaai-land

‘Walking Wild’ in Laikipia Masaai-land is a walking safari experience through some of Kenya’s best wildlife-viewing habitats, and some of the most stunning landscapes in Africa.  

A wide variety of game including the “Big Five”, over 420 species of birds, Reticulated Giraffe, Cheetah, numerous different antelopes, and endangered species such as the Grevy’s Zebra and Sitatunga, may be seen.

Professional guides lead the 3 to 6-day Walking Wild safaris starting on the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, recognized as one of Africa’s top safari destinations.Walking Wild treks across Lewa to Il Ngwesi and Lekurruki depending on the number of days, with all nights spent camping out under the stars.

The focus of the safari is learning about the ecosystems as well as the local Masaai culture. Guests will be shown tracking techniques and other vital bush skills, as well as how to identify and understand the behavior of the insects, plants, and animals they come across. Laikipiak Masai will join the guests to give insight into Masaai customs.

Learn more at www.bush-and-beyond.com

 

Source: Adventure Media, LLC

photo courtesy of Bush and Beyond.

Ellen Barone is an American writer and wanderer. She co-founded and publishes the group travel blog YourLifeIsATrip.com and is currently at work on her first book "I Could Live Here".

Utah Ski Resorts Roll Out a Storm of Improvements for the 2010-11 Winter Season

My brother and his family relocated to Sandy, UT, this year and you can bet I’m happy to have a guest room within shouting distance of some of North America’s finest ski mountains! Check out what’s new and improved at Utah’s 13 ski resorts this winter…

Utah ski resorts have been busy adding new terrain, on-mountain enhancements, luxury accommodations, programs and packages to complement the destination’s astonishing accessibility and 500 annual inches of The Greatest Snow on Earth®. Entering the 2010-11 winter season, Utah’s resorts boast some of the most significant resort improvements in the US.

 

NEW TERRAIN

The Canyons Resort has added new terrain to the southern end of its resort property.  Iron Mountain, adjacent to Dream Peak, will open 300 acres of northwest facing terrain. Ten runs ranging from intermediate to advanced intermediate will be cut and nearly 300+ acres of naturally gladed tree skiing will be available. The new terrain brings the resort to 4,000 total skiable acres and makes it the fourth largest ski resort in the US.

Park City Mountain Resort added three new Adventure Alley runs allowing intermediates the thrill of skiing or riding through the trees. The Resort has also continued to glade Crescent Ridge, enhancing the advanced skiing experience.

Powder Mountain brings 1,000 additional acres of expert chutes and bowls to the 2,000 acres of terrain already in use by the Snowcat Powder Safari.

Ellen Barone is an American writer and wanderer. She co-founded and publishes the group travel blog YourLifeIsATrip.com and is currently at work on her first book "I Could Live Here".

TRAVEL IN THE NEW YEAR: Travel Trends for 2011 From Kensington Tours

Exciting New Destinations and New Ways to Rediscover the Classics
Nicaragua, Safari Houses, Iceland, Private Nile Cruises and Far Beyond Sightseeing…

 

With the end of 2010, private guided tour company Kensington Tours, polled its team of destination experts to see what trends they saw on the horizon for travel in 2011. Their team, which coordinates thousands of private guided tours to more than 80 countries worldwide every year, came back with a variety of insightful tips for vacation planning for the new year ranging from hot new destinations to exciting new ways of experiencing old favorites.

 

1. Safari Houses – Private African Paradises
Villas aren’t just for Italy anymore. “A growing number of luxury villa rentals and safari houses have sprung up particularly in South Africa and Botswana,” says Brad Crockett, Kensington’s Senior Africa Expert. “They are going to become very popular for families and groups of friends seeking more exclusive safari experiences.” 
http://kensingtontours.com/Tours/Africa/Southern-Africa/South-Africa/10-Day-Southern-Africa-by-Villa

 

2. Second Layer Vacations – Beyond Sightseeing
Coming on strong in well traveled Europe are “second layer” vacations that focus on experiential travel over more traditional sight-seeing. Kerstin Sowden, Kensington’s Senior Europe Expert notes “travelers are looking for affordable alternatives to group travel and set itineraries. Demand for tailored experiences like personalized adventures tracing family roots, active adventures, epicurean journeys and multi-generational family trips is spiking.”  http://www.kensingtontours.com/Tours/Europe/Western-Europe/Italy/8-Day-Italy—-Family-Style

 

3. Nicaragua – The Next Costa Rica?
”With its great mix of tropical rainforests, vibrant culture, colonial history, heavenly beaches and amazing, affordable properties, Nicaragua is working its way up the hot list,” says Brandi Merchant Kensington’s Senior Central American Expert. “Currently more like the Costa Rica of 20 years ago, Survivor Nicaragua is putting the country in the spotlight and driving a spike in enquires.” Adventurers can enjoy exotic wildlife safaris, horseback riding, volcano hikes kayaking through mangroves, surfing, fishing, zip-lining, exploring cloud forests, relaxing in hot springs, scuba diving, touring colonial towns and even tree planting!

Ellen Barone is an American writer and wanderer. She co-founded and publishes the group travel blog YourLifeIsATrip.com and is currently at work on her first book "I Could Live Here".

'Tis The Season for Holiday Packages From Fairmont

DECK THE HALLS AT FAIRMONT HOTELS & RESORTS THIS HOLIDAY SEASON  

 

If you’re scouring the globe for the best place to reunite with family or escape the holiday rush, Fairmont Hotels & Resorts has a full selection of activities, packages and celebrations to choose from:

 

United States

In Boston, The Fairmont Copley Plaza offers a variety of packages to make the holiday season bright.  For a gift buying getaway, the city’s Faneuil Hall Marketplace is a premier shopping spot featuring over 125 shops and restaurants within three impeccably restored 19th century buildings. The Faneuil Hall Marketplace Holiday Shop & Stay Package is available from November 20 to December 30, 2010, and includes an elegant guestroom and a VIP welcome packet full of special incentives, offers and interactive experiences with the Faneuil Hall Marketplace merchants. Rates start at $219 USD per night.  For those who want to explore the city in a more leisurely way, the hotel also offers its Twelve Days of Christmas Package from December 14 to 30, 2010. The package includes an elegant guestroom, Sleigh Ride a traditional Holiday CD from the Boston POPS, and a late check-out of 4:00 p.m.  Guests can plan a full day of shopping, dining and enjoying the festive holiday season with rates starting from $209USD per night.

 

In California, Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa has a wonderful holiday season in store for guests.  The Inn is once again pleased to offer authentically local Wine Country Winter holiday activities that promise to delight guests of all ages. A complete schedule of holiday events are planned including Victorian carolers, (seasonally-inspired) cooking demonstrations, wine tastings and S’mores by the outdoor fire-pit with special guest appearances.   With the Water and Wine package, revelers can enjoy organically sustainable wine, bath house passes to the resort’s famed geo-thermal bath house, daily docent-guided hikes and a Farm-to-Fork dinner for two at the Michelin-rated Santé dining room. Package is valid for stays until December 30, 2010 with rates starting from $449 USD per night.

Ellen Barone is an American writer and wanderer. She co-founded and publishes the group travel blog YourLifeIsATrip.com and is currently at work on her first book "I Could Live Here".

Bring The Kids To Egypt With Thomson Family Adventures

It is hard to impress kids these days. In today’s world of high-tech marvels ancient and natural wonders are often overlooked. Thomson Family Adventures is taking family travel through Egypt in a completely new way by bringing to life the history that kids learn in school and discovering the power and mystique of ancient Egypt. See the pyramids in the morning light, explore the great temples of the Nile Valley, snorkel in the Red Sea, and experience the silent majesty of the desert.   

Egypt: Valley of the Nile begins in Cairo with tours of the archeological collections of the Egyptian Museum where the golden treasures of King Tutankhamen are found. This region is home to Egypt’s most impressive archeological sites- the Great Pyramids, the Sphinx, and the medieval Khan el Khalili Bazaar. In Luxor, site of ancient Thebes, view the great temples and monuments of the Upper Nile. The tour also gives kids (and adults) a break from the Egyptian antiquities in the town of Sharm el Sheik for a relaxing few days of outdoor activities- swimming or snorkeling in the Red Sea with its’ great coral reef, a hike on Mt. Sinai, a camel ride in the Valley of the Mandar and a dinner with the Bedouin. Depending on the time of the year adventures abound.

Thomson Family Adventures Egypt: Valley of the Nile tour is a 10Day/9Night experience that runs various dates from February through December. Per person land cost is from $4,190 per adult, $4090 per teen/child; internal airfare $400.  

For additional information, contact Thomson Family Adventures at 800-262-6255, or visit www.familyadventures.com.

Learn more about Thomson Family Adventures as general manager, Jim Kackley, and I chat about what’s new in family travel in a recent radio episode of Travel Talk with Ellen Barone.

Ellen Barone is an American writer and wanderer. She co-founded and publishes the group travel blog YourLifeIsATrip.com and is currently at work on her first book "I Could Live Here".