Summer Vacation Time?

Its hurricane season again. For those that are not familiar with the time frame, the season runs from around the end of May beginning of June all the way through November. The seasons on average ramp up slowly and have a peak in late August early September and then start to calm down again. As I just said, its on average. Each season is different and the only thing that you can count on is that the season will happen. Now with every season comes the seasons predictions and this one is no different. The predictions for this year seem to point to an average season, lighter than in the recent past which is a good thing if the predictions hold true. So as travelers, what does this mean to us? The way we look at it in our house is this. Its a great time to find bargains, and this year is no exception. In fact, this is the year to find the bargain of bargains. Hotels, resorts, and cruise lines are worried with the economy and are doing just about anything to fill their rooms. We have a vacation booked that was just one of those things that we couldn't let pass because of the price. A trip to Cozumel for 8 days in an all inclusive resort for $900 a person which includes flight. And you know what, there are others that even did better than us.

Now, being hurricane season, there is one thing that we make sure to do that we sometimes have let slip in the past. We got trip insurance. When doing this, you have to be very mindful of what you want and what you need. We wanted insurance that covers trip cancellation and what is called trip interruption. This way we can get any unused portion of our vacation reimbursed. Currently with the swine flu problems that have not been making things better for airlines, hotels, or vacationers alike, it just adds another reason to have insurance. And the best thing is that the insurance is affordable. We got all the coverage we wanted for about $40 a person. That's paying right around 5% of the cost of the trip for peace of mind. Alone, that makes me feel better.

Hurricane Season Predictions Are In

The experts have consulted their crystal balls and are predicting an average season for the Atlantic. Storms to hit land that progress to getting names is expected to be around 12 with half making it to hurricane size. Of those, only 2 are expected to be a category 3 or bigger. This should come as good news compared to years past as the cruise lines struggle to get passengers on board. The decrease in numbers comes from the cooler temperatures in the waters where the hurricanes usually form. I wonder what the over/under is in Vegas on the numbers?

Great Cruise Deals Easily Found

Just poking around, I have found 4 day cruises for under $200 per person. That's $50 per day! We all know why the deals are there and yes they are working. Carnival Cruise Lines recently announced its January and February numbers and bookings are up slightly. Don't think that the cruise lines are hurting to much. If they aren't filling ships, they will be hurting, but so far that has not happened and the deals that are out there are the reason. They know that once on board, that most passengers will make the best of the discounted rate with alcohol purchases, pictures and souvenirs. Carnival also announced a profit over the last quarter, which means that people are spending on board. It may not be as much as in the past, but they are still spending, and like I mentioned previously, they have a little more to spend when they got a good deal on their cabin. Many people budget a set amount for vacation that they plan on spending, so if they save on one area, the money usually get spent in another. The cruise lines are betting on savings on the cabin being spent on board the ships and you know what, it works for everyone. As passengers, its fun to have a little more to spend on board and you can have more fun for the same amount of money. So if you have the time, and are looking for more bang for your buck, a cruise is a great way to go and you don't have to search far for those deals that used to be elusive.

Think Safety at Spring Break

It's that time of year when all the college students take off to burn off some steam. And as with this time every year, you have to think safety first when on spring break. Whether you are in Daytona or Mexico, its a good thing to pay attention to your surroundings. If traveling outside the county, check and see if there are any warnings for the area you are going. Play it safe this spring break and make it a good one.

House Swapping is Big

You may have read recently about how people are doing house swapping as a way to sell their homes. Well, its not just for sellers and buyers, it is for vacationers as well. If you live in an area that has attractions that may appeal to others, you may be able to swap homes with someone that has a house where you want to visit. There is a membership site called homelink that allows you to do just that. The site requires an annual fee so it isn't for everybody. But for those that do it, it can be a great way to decrease expenses when on vacation. Imagine swapping houses with someone from Europe or South America. It can happen if that's what you are looking for. You may be worried about your house and I have to agree that is a valid fear to have however you have to remember that the other family is doing the same thing with their house for you. Still it would be smart to put away things that you don't want touched etc... Like I said, this would not be an option for everyone, but for some, it could save major cash in hotel costs.