“Sleeping with the fishes” is something you might hear in old gangsters movie from Hollywood’s hay-day. But, today the phrase is no longer a euphemism; it can be a reality at the ultimate extreme vacation destination.

If you are looking for something a little different on your next vacation…here are some underwater luxury resorts offering the finest accouterments and the best views on the planet.

Jules’ Undersea Lodge is an aquatic hotel located off the coast of Key Largo, Florida. In the 1970’s, this converted lodge was the La Chalupa research laboratory, which primarily functioned to explore the continental shelf off the coast of Puerto Rico.

This undersea lodge is accessible only by scuba diving 21 feet beneath the shimmering blue Atlantic Ocean. Once emerging from beneath the structure into a seven foot “moon pool,” you will find yourself in the lodges’ wet room where you remove your gear, take a hot shower, and embark into the rest of the underwater habitat.

The lodge accommodates up to six people comfortably. In fact, comfort is key at this resort as it provides the same luxuries land-dwellers have become accustomed to. Amenities include a DVD player, a refrigerator, a microwave, a fully-stocked galley, air conditioning and even a local pizza delivery service. Some packages, which range upwards of $1,195, include a “mer-chef” who scuba dives down to the habitat and prepare a world-class meal.

If you don’t know how to scuba dive, the facility offers a three-hour class that teaches the basics of navigating the undersea world.

Since the habitat is built five feet from the ocean floor and is surrounded by the Mangrove Lagoon, you will have a spectacular view of the indigenous underwater life including oysters, sponges, snappers, and barracudas just to name a few of the breathtaking aquatic residents.

The Poseidon Undersea Resort is currently under construction near the Eleuthera Island in the Bahamas and is scheduled to accept its first undersea guests during the later part of 2007.

Unlike Jules’ Undersea Lodge, you won’t need to get wet to enter this luxurious resort as all guests will enter via an underwater tunnel.

Upon completion, the Poseidon will offer panoramic views from over 60 percent of the rooms using acrylic windows that offer a glimpse into Bahamas’ underwater world.

During your stay beneath the sea, the Poseidon will offer every luxury including lounges, swimming pools, a library, submarine tours, and wet locks for the avid scuba divers.

Starting at $1,500 per night for a 550 sq ft suite, this experience of a lifetime is worth the price. But, if you want to go all out and really go extreme, book the Poseidon’s Lair, which is a private undersea bungalow nestled 1,000 feet below the ocean’s surface and is only accessible via private submersible. This extreme package priced at $20,000 a night, comes with your own private submarine captain and butler.

Poseidon will be billed at the world’s first sea floor resort complex and will be unique, exclusive, and rest-assured, will earn all of its five stars.

The Hydropolis Hotel, which is currently under construction of the coast of Dubai in the United Arab Emirates is also an undersea resort and is accessible via an underwater transparent train tunnel. The train will take you 66 feet below the Persian Gulf to the dome-shaped resort that promises to offer every luxurious amenity.

The Hydropolis will boast 220 luxury suites upon its completion and rates will be as much at $5,500 per night.

One of the many unique features of the Hyrdropolis will be the hotel’s two translucent domes, which will house a concert auditorium and a ballroom that pierces the ocean’s surface and will feature a retractable roof.

So when planning your next vacation, think outside of the box, or in this case, under the sea for the extreme vacation of a lifetime!

Click to Comment   |  Comments (0)  

So the next time you are on a crowded airplane, if you are feeling extremely brave, randomly ask some of your seatmates how much they paid for their ticket.

If you asked three different people (and none of them punched you in the face for being a “nosy Nelly”), you’d likely hear three different fares. How can this be? If you’re all on the same plane at the same time going to the same place, shouldn’t all of the fares be the same? Not necessity, because in an effort to freight around as many passengers as possible while making the most money possible, airlines use a complex (and seemingly mystical) pricing structure Your task, as a savvy consumer is to always find the best airline deals that could save you a lot of money.

Here are some tips:

• Book online Most airlines now charge you a fee if you call a reservations agent to book over the phone however, booking online is free and gives you all the options you will need for your flight, including seat selection at time of booking, checking in online a day prior to departure, and even upgrading your ticket.
• Find the best deal The travel industry usually announces their “e-fares” on Tuesdays, so this is your best day to grab a deal. Unfortunately, this is not a closely guarded secret, so if you are planning a trip, try to hop onto your airlines or travel provider’s website as soon as possible on Tuesday morning. While the “e-fares” vary from week to week, they generally feature cheap tickets during a destination’s “off season.” For example, since most people flock to Las Vegas in the winter and eschew the overheated strip in the summer months, you will likely find the best “e-fares” June through August.
• Sign up for newsletters Sign up for the major airlines’ newsletters. Their e-fares will come to you rather than you having to go to their site. Subscribing to multiple air carriers’ newsletters will allow you to compare fares and get the best deal.
• Be Flexible While most people’s hectic lives mean they can only travel on certain day, keeping a flexible schedule could save you big bucks. For example, departing on a Tuesday or Wednesday will usually get you a lower fare than departing on a Friday. Your fare generally gets even cheaper if you stay-over on a Saturday. Since most of us like to travel on weekends, airlines generally charge a premium for their Saturday and Sunday flights and reserve their best deals for the weekdays.

Once you have your cheap ticket, don’t spoil the good feeling of having saved a lot of dough by having a stressful time once you get to the airport. Face it; about 30% of your valuable fun getaway time will be spent commuting to and from the airport, security screenings, baggage claim, airline check-ins, and the actual flight itself. Try to make this as easy and enjoyable on yourself and create the effect that this is an extension of the plans you have made in your destination.

To help with this, follow this tips to help make the journey as fun as the destination:

• Avoid the gate wait Sitting in that cattle call line at the check in gate can be very stressful, as the line seems to move slower than molasses. But you can avoid this line altogether by checking in on-line the night before, or by using one of the self-serve kiosks at the airport to check-in. The kiosks may also have lines, but they won’t be nearly as long as the service counters. Both services will allow you to check-in, change seats, upgrade your travel, and print your boarding passes.
• Allow extra time Don’t rush your journey thru the airport. Allow yourself the extra time you may need to get thru the security screening process so you won’t have to run to your gate. If you find you have some time before your flight, take in what the airport has to offer. Most major airports feature a combination of shopping malls and museums. Do a little shopping and take is some of the local art. Make the airport a fun extension of your journey to your final destination.

One final tip, don’t forget to take advantage of your frequent traveler cards. You will be surprised how quickly you can begin reaping the benefits of your travel. Who knows, you could get the best travel deal of them all: a free trip!

Click to Comment   |  Comments (0)  

All major airlines, car rental companies, hotels and resorts offer some type of frequent travel program. Believe it or not, they are worth the five minute effort of signing-up online.

Several major hotel chains are actually the parent owner of other smaller venues that will all accept the same frequent stay card The Ramada Hotels are a good example. Not only can you earn points by staying at a property bearing the Ramada name but also at Days Inn, Knights Inn, and Travelodge just to name a few. The card also provides discounts at Budget and Avis for car rentals.

You don’t have to be a road-warrior to rack up the benefits from a frequent-flyer program. While you may not earn that free flight to Australia or a luxury suite at a five star resort if you only travel a couple of times a year, you can still use your points for discounted airfares, or even seat upgrades For example, I only flew Delta once last year; not enough points to get a first class ticket, but enough to earn a free one-year subscription to a major magazine.

A lot of these frequent traveler programs allow you to “double dip” your points; meaning if you stay, let’s say at a Hilton hotel, you can also designate an airline partner. Not only are getting points for the Hilton program but you are also earning points towards that free flight or first class upgrade. Several credit cards also allow you to double-dip. Purchase an American Airlines ticket with an American Airlines credit card, and you’ll earn twice the miles.

Most airline frequent traveler programs will allow you to purchase points to add to the points you already earned or to transfer your points to another program member.

If you love a weekend getaway to Las Vegas, like I do; definitely sign up for all of the “slot club cards” as you can. All of the casinos participate in some type of frequent gambling program.

In Vegas, these cards are the only sure bet. Before you start gaming, place your card in the slot machine, or hand to the dealer if you are a card player. You earn points for every dollar you spend within a certain timeframe. Win or lose, you’ll rack up points before you know it, especially since there are no clocks in the casinos and it is easy to lose track of time.

As you accrue points, you become eligible for “members only” promotions such as free rooms, buffets, and even cold hard cash. Simply call the number on the back of your card to redeem points and to take advantage of the casino’s promotions.

The next time you book a hotel or airline, sign up for their frequent traveler program. It only takes a few minutes and your earn benefits before you know it.

Click to Comment   |  Comments (0)  

Summer is here; the kids are out of school and are antsy. Where can you go without having to take out a second mortgage on your home to afford? Try a theme park.

For the admission price, a theme park can make a great vacation destination this summer at an affordable price, if you plan ahead and do a little creative budgeting.

Definitely check out the theme parks’ websites. You will find a lot of discounts including on-line-only tickets offered at a great discount, discounted season passes, or multi-day / multi-park tickets at a reduced rate.

When getting your theme park tickets, be on the lookout for hotel discounts. Most of the parks have contracts with nearby hotels where guests can stay at a discount. If you decide to book your own hotel, check with the hotel staff to see if they offer a shuttle service to the theme park. Not only will this alleviate some of the stress of driving in an unfamiliar city, it will save you up to $20.00 in parking fees.

If you are a theme park enthusiast and have a few days to spend in Southern California, I would suggest the City Pass. The pass is a multi-park pass that includes admission into Universal Studios Hollywood, Sea World and a three-day park hopper pass to Disneyland and Disney’s California Adventure. At $199 for adults and $159 for children, it is a definite value!

Of course, once you get your admission into the theme park, your expenditures are far from over. Once inside you’ll be tempted to spend your hard-earned green on food, drinks, and souvenirs. This is where the creative budgeting comes in.

Before entering the park, take your family to a nearby restaurant off the venue grounds. A simple meal of burgers and fries for a family of four could cost your up to $60.00 inside the park gates. So eating prior to entering the park will save you a nice chunk of change.

If possible, take a break outside of the park midday for lunch or dinner. Universal Studios Hollywood offers City Walk right outside its gates, which features a wide-variety of restaurants with affordable prices (at least, compared to the prices inside the park.) Similarly, Downtown Disney located near Disneyland has restaurants, shops, and entertainment venues, most of which are much less expensive than their counterparts inside the theme park.

Souvenirs can be tricky. Souvenirs can be a lot like those impulse items that are strategically placed next to the cash register at department stores, they seem tempting at the time, but chances are if you pass them up you won’t miss them later. Before you buy that $50.00 t-shirt with the theme park’s name embroidered on it, ask yourself if you or you kids will ever wear it again. Instead, the best souvenirs of your theme park trip are pictures from your camera. Sipper cups and t-shirts wear out and will be forgotten over time, but pictures are affordable and last a lifetime.

California offers several top-notch theme parks including The Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, Universal Studios in Hollywood, SeaWorld in San Diego and Knott’s Berry Farm in Buena Park, just to name a few. Knowing which theme park to choose depends on your families’ personal preference and how old they are.

To help you decide which one to choose, here’s a summary of some of California’s top parks:

Six Flags Thes parks are 90 pecent roller coasters and are geared toward the adventurous adults and teenagers over 48 inches tall. So if you have young children, this may not be the best option for you since attractions for the younger park-goers are limited.

General admission is $59.99 for adults; $29.99 for children. However, to illustrate the deals available on-line, at the time this article was being written, Six Flags was offering a 25 percent discount on all adult tickets purchased through its website.

Disneyland Resort and Disney’s California Adventure Of course, when you think of theme parks the name “Disney” automatically pops into our head. The Disneyland resort in Anaheim is a great choice for a fun-filled family theme park adventure. Between the two major theme parks and the nightlife of Downtown Disney, there is something for the entire family. The Disney Resort offers a wide-variety of ticketing options including multi-park tickets, multi-day tickets, as well as hotel/theme park combos. Visit their website see which ticket combo is best for you.

Knott’s Berry Farm Located in Buena Park, just a short drive from the Disneyland Resort, Knott’s Berry Farm is a themed venue taking you back to the old western days including cowboys and a real steam-powered train. This is a good choice for a family theme park vacation as the rides are diverse enough for the young and old. The park offers many wares reminiscent of the days of the wild-wild west such as pulled taffy and an outdoor BBQ.

SeaWorld SeaWorld, in the beautiful ocean city of San Diego, offers several eclectic attractions. Though well-known for its shows featuring whales performing choreographed tricks, SeaWorld also offers several rides including a water roller coaster and smaller rides and attractions for the youngsters. Combined with the San Diego Wild Animal Park, this is a great fun-filled trip for the entire family. Sea World offers one day tickets and combo tickets that include the theme park, the San Diego Zoo and Wild Animal Park, check out their website for web-only discounts.

Universal Studios Hollywood As the park’s name implies, the attraction is still an active studio where TV shows and feature films are filmed and produced. But the studio also operates as a full-service theme park. This park definitely has something for the entire family. The attractions are entertainment themed, of course, including attractions such as Back to the Future, the Ride, Jurassic Park, and live-action stunt shows. Much like the Disney Resort, Universal Studios offers a wide variety of ticketing options to suit any sized families’ budget.

Click to Comment   |  Comments (0)  

Just ninety minutes and a world away from Los Angeles is Santa Barbara, a quaint seaside town with Spanish architecture, history, shopping and fun activities, making it a fun getaway for Los Angelinos and tourists from around the globe.

Perhaps the first thing you’ll notice in Santa Barbara is that unlike much of Southern California, this town certainly has a sense of history. Long the home to Native Americans who used plank canoes called tomols to navigate the Pacific Ocean and nearby Channel Islands, Europeans first settled in Santa Barbara in the 1780’s.

It was Spanish settlers who constructed the area’s first mission in 1786, potions of which remain today. The current structure, built in 1820, is modeled after a Latin temple. This 7,567 square-foot structure boasts two 87-foot high twin towers. Portions of the structures are still in use by Franciscan monks. The site also contains a museum with period pieces and many original 18th and 19th century Mexican artwork. Guided and self-guided tours are available daily.

But the Mission certainly isn’t Santa Barbara’s only building of historical significance you’ll want to see. Sterns Wharf was originally built in 1872 as a rail and cargo shipping hub, and was for a time the longest deep-water pier between Los Angeles and San Francisco. After the shipping ceased, the pier was converted into a tourist attraction where visitors can dine, shop or even go parasailing. The wharf is one of Santa Barbara’s most recognizable attractions.

Santa Barbara also boasts another unique historical distinction: It is home to El Paseo, Southern California’s first shopping mall. Dating back to the early 1920’s, this mall still offers many unique shops. Proving that the shopping trend didn’t end with El Paseo, State Street serves as Santa Barbara’s main shopping drag, where you can find 50 shops crammed into just two blocks. It is a shopper’s and a people watcher’s delight.

During the summer months, Santa Barbara has no shortage of people to watch as residents from Los Angeles and San Francisco alike flock to this popular destination for a weekend getaway. For a more relaxed atmosphere, try visiting the city in the fall or winter months.

No matter when you get there, consider leaving your car at home. Santa Barbara is both pedestrian and public transportation friendly. Traveling to the city via plane, train or even boat can make getting there half the fun. Visit santabarbaracarfree.org to plan your trip, and register to get discounts at some of the city’s hotels and restaurants, a free tourist kit.

Experience a different world right in the middle of California.

Click to Comment   |  Comments (0)