| | |  Travel & Outdoors | November 2009 
What to Do at Your Vacation Destination
 The Spectrum
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 |  | Figure out what exactly you want from your vacation and let your travel agent take care of the details for you. Have a great vacation and don't forget the suntan lotion! |  | | |
After you have arrived at your dream destination how are you going to spend your precious time? You don't want to waste any of your time so where do you start. A great vacation comes with planning in advance and with knowing what is available at your destination.
While you are choosing your ultimate destination, find out exactly what there is to do in that area. Your travel agent can tell you what to expect and give you ideas on what is available to do.
Travel agents travel extensively and have probably been to your destination and have first-hand knowledge about the area. Your travel agent can also pre-book activities as part of your travel package, which is usually less expensive and guarantees that it won't sell out.
On cruises you are able to plan your shore excursions before you sail, which is a very good idea. The best shore excursions usually sell out before the ship even sails. Your travel agent can help you choose the best excursions for you while at the same time helping you complete your pre-cruise documentation.
For a week-long trip I will usually plan three days of organized activities and then leave the rest of the time for spur-of-the-moment fun or for relaxing on the beach. Don't schedule so much to do on your vacation that it wears you out and you come home feeling like you need to recover.
Know who you are purchasing your excursions from. Make sure they are a well known company and that you know exactly where you will be going, what you will be seeing and what is included (meals, entry fees to sites, etc.).
I have had some fantastic excursions that I will never forget. In both Maui in Hawaii and in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico we took fabulous whale-watching trips. The whales came right up to the boat at times and the huge animals were amazing. I always love to go to the Polynesian Cultural Center on the island of Oahu in Hawaii with its spectacular evening show.
We took a trip to Cancun with Pleasant Holidays tour company and we took a fantastic excursion to the ancient Mayan ruins at Chechen Itza and the interesting surrounding sites. It was so easy to have everything taken care of and to not worry about anything.
In Cozumel, Mexico, we enjoyed a snorkeling excursion to the Palancar Reef where you drift with the current over beautiful coral and fish. In Brazil I loved my tours of the incredible city of Rio de Janeiro and the magnificent Iguassu Falls in the interior of the country.
We really enjoyed seeing the Russian Folkloric Dances on an excursion in St. Petersburg, Russia. We customized a tour of Copenhagen, Denmark, for my family reunion that took us to the sites that were most important to us.
In Rome, I took a city tour that took me to all of the great sites and then the following day I went back to some of the more interesting sites for a closer look. If you are in a big city make sure to at least take a city tour, you will learn so much and see places that you might not have known about.
I would also recommend going on an escorted tour when going to top destinations like Italy, Israel, South America, Russia, China and others.
Figure out what exactly you want from your vacation and let your travel agent take care of the details for you. Have a great vacation and don't forget the suntan lotion!
Travel Tip: Trips make for great family reunions. You can strengthen relationships, have fun and explore together at an interesting destination.
Travel Deals: Princess Cruise Lines: 10-day Panama Canal cruise departing Dec. 10 starting at $899 balcony; 10-day Tahiti departing Dec. 8 starting at $599 inside; Mexican Riviera seven-day departing Jan. 2 starting at $629 balcony; Southern Caribbean seven-day balcony departing Dec. 6 starting at $649 departing Jan. 3 starting at $729; Cunard Cruise Line seven-day Atlantic crossing on the Queen Mary 2 starting at $499 inside, $699 balcony. All prices subject to change and plus taxes and fees.
Gary Sorensen is the Southern Utah Manager for Morris Murdock Travel. For more information contact Morris Murdock Travel at 595 S. Bluff St. in St George; 628-3633 or gsorensen(at)morrismurdock.com. |
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