Come to the Black Forest
January 2nd, 2008 Subscribe To Our Feed
Southwest Germany is a region of outstanding beauty with numerous forests, lakes and waterfalls. Tourism is the chief industry in the Black Forest in Baden-Wurttemberg on the edge of the Rhine river. The wooded, mountainous area has several tall peaks, the tallest of which is the Feldberg, standing at 1,493m. The trees are mainly pines and firs, some of which are grown on a commercial scale. Unfortunately, the forest has been depleted due to mass logging and the effects of acid rain. The Lothar Cyclone in 1999 also did its share of damage, destroying acres of trees on the tops of mountains.
Five rivers, including the River Danube and its source, run through the Black Forest. There are paths to cater for hikers, mountain bikers and cross country skiers. The area is a haven for wildlife, including owls and eagles. Other more unusual animals are to be found due to commercial enterprise. Visitors can ride a camel at Rotfelden and ostriches are reared on a farm at St. Peter.
There is a tradition of regional cuisine in the area and some food items have become internationally famous. Black Forest Gateaux is still on the menus around the world. The original chocolate cake recipe is still adhered to in the land of its birth with ingredients including whipped cream, cherries and liqueur. Black Forest Ham is also popular at home and abroad. The smoked ham is seasoned with pepper, juniper berries, coriander, garlic and other spices.
Culture and history are celebrated in the region. This can be seen at the open air museum named Vogtsbauernhofe. It re-creates the life of 16th and 17th century farmers with replica farms. There is a long history of making timepieces in Germany and the German Clock Museum at Furtwangen traces the history of clock making and watch making. The collection includes cuckoo clocks, musical clockworks and mechanical musical instruments.
One of the most popular towns in the Black Forest is Baden-Baden. The 83m telecommunications tower, known as the Fremersberg Tower dominates the skyline. The view can be taken from the observation deck and there is an adjacent restaurant. The town contains the Festspielhaus, which is the largest opera house and concert hall in Germany. Major opera and ballet productions are staged there. The town has a fascinating history, as can be seen at the ruins of the Roman Baths and the Hohenbaden castle ruins dating back to 1102.
To take advantage of deep discount resorts in the Black Forest and around the world, you may want to join Global Resorts Network. The membership offers deep discount luxury ski, wilderness, golf, beach, and year round resorts without the troublesome maintenance fees, exchange fees and blackout weeks associated with timeshare ownership. We will even pay you a referral for telling a few friends about our luxury resort membership. Click on F.A.Q. to find out what our membership offers, and take your time to review the audios and videos on the rest of our website as well.
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Cruise Line Jobs - Is Working On A Cruise Ship The Perfect Job?
November 23rd, 2007 Subscribe To Our Feed
The popularity of cruise line jobs continues to increase at a rapid rate in fact, 2008 is an exciting time for those looking for work on a cruise ship.
The past year has seen close to 50,000 new jobs created as cruise lines continue to increase services and produce more ships. The popularity of cruise holidays comes as no surprise given the affordability factor of water-based holidays.
Once upon a time, planning a cruise vacation meant saving big time for a once in a lifetime holiday however, that has changed and it’s not uncommon to see people take a vacation on the high seas almost once a year.
One of the appealing factors about cruise line jobs is the ability to save money. In other words, while your accomodation and other day-to-day expenses are virtually taken care of, spending months on a cruise ship means you can put money away easily.
There are two main areas of cruise line jobs. Being part of the operations and maintenance crew and the entertainment and hospitality crew. Which are you best suited to?
A Brief Look At Cruise Line Jobs
Here are four categories of cruise line jobs which may suit you. If you are experienced in a particular area then your chances of landing work will be increased. Keep in mind, a cruise ship, like a passenger plane caters to people and safety is always a big issue. Landing a job on a cruise ship means satisfying several important criteria.
- Operations and Maintenance… you could work in the engine department or the deck department. These areas are responsible for the safe, mechanical running of the ship and include the captains, engineers, motor men, sea men, and security personnel.
- Entertainment…In the entertainment department you might work as an event planner, featured entertainer or behind the scenes as a stage hand or assistant to the event planner. Another area of entertainment is the casino, for which cruise lines have become very popular. Any job you could get in a land-locked casino is available on a cruise ship.
- Hospitality… how about serving food and drinks to all the happy cruisers? Many cruise lines are famous for their food and drink and the jobs available in preparing and serving them are numerous. Just imagine a floating restaurant and all the staff that would be needed to make it run smoothly.
- Specialized Fields… these would include areas such as medical. Not everyone is a qualified MD however support staff positions could suit your background. These specialized cruise line jobs will be a lot harder to get into than those mentioned above.
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Cheap Cruises - Why Your Travel Agent May Be Your Best Cheap Cruise Option
November 17th, 2007 Subscribe To Our Feed
Finding cheap cruises has almost become a past time for many regular travelers who recognize the value in taking a holiday on a cruise ship.
When you compare the price of a cruise to many other vacations you simply cannot compare the value you get on a ship.
Shopping For Cheap Cruises
It will be difficult to find cheap cruise deals during the high season. This includes the summer holiday months and the various school breaks. However, concentrating your efforts from fall through to spring means getting on a ship for a bargain price.
Booking ahead for these times of the year is a sensible approach. Companies offer attractive deals considering many people prefer to stick around at home during the festive season.
Online vs. Travel Agent For Cheap Cruises
Online booking is now part and parcel of taking cheap cruises however, there are times when it’s definitely more beneficial to speak with a travel agent.
When shopping online the price advertised is the price you get. With a booking agent, there are deals available which will not be advertised online and without checking, then you could be missing out on some great savings.
When looking at niche cruise lines or vacations with land embarkations then you’ll need to speak with a representative. These are a little more complicated than the average straight forward cruise.
Other times requiring contact with a specialist is if you are a returning customer. Some cruise lines offer returning customers upgrades to a more expensive level as a way of rewarding them for their patronage.
Discounts can also apply to senior citizens while discounts could also apply to you if you are part of a special organization such as the armed forces.
How To Shop And Compare
Our advice is to shop online and get a guide of the prices available for advertised cheap cruises. When you have a list of possible options contact your travel agent. Better still, have a list of travel agents and spend a little time on the phone.
Start with the initial price listed and simply ask if that price can be bettered.
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Carnival - Why They Put The Fun Back Into Cruise Trips
November 14th, 2007 Subscribe To Our Feed
Great Cruises Carnival’s Paradise in the Caribbean The Non-Smoking Cruise
There is fierce competition among the various cruise lines around the world and this is not surprising considering the growth spurt in the number of people taking cruises today.
As a first time cruiser, how do you select your destination and ship if the whole experience is new to you? One of the best options for people taking their first vacation on water is booking a holiday on a Carnival cruise fun ship.
Carnival cruises lives up to it’s tag as the fun ship and covers a variety of destinations including the Bahamas, Caribbean, Alaska and Hawaii. Obviously, if you are after an intimate trip then perhaps one of the niche cruise lines may be a better choice for you.
Carnival cruises range in length from 3-17 days but as a first timer, taking a shorter trip of four days is a great way to “get your feet wet.”
How To Find A Cheap Cruise Deal
There are several ways to shop for a cheap cruise deal but the combination of online resources couple with travel agents is hard to beat. Shopping online will present you with plenty of options.
Once you’ve done this, make a list of travel agents within your location and then see whether they can better the prices listed online. If you are flexible and can travel during the non peak times then you’ll do even better. Getting a cheap cruise deal during the summer holiday months and school vacation periods can be tough.
Carnival Cruise Lines
Alternatively, either go to the Carnival cruise website or call them directly and get on the newsletter or mailing list. One of the great advantages with Carnival is once you’ve shown them some loyalty, then they reciprocate.
For example, previous travelers with Carnival will continue to travel with them to take advantage of the upgrade service they offer to past customers. This is a great way to experience even better value for you money.
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Honeymoon Cruises - 4 Unbeatable Cruise Destinations
October 25th, 2007 Subscribe To Our Feed
So what are the best honeymoon cruises on offer? Destinations such as the Caribbean, Tahiti, Europe and Hawaii quickly spring to mind. Here’s our top four honeymoon cruise destinations to consider:
1. Europe is a perfect setting for honeymooners. It’s just about on top of everyones preferred romantic holiday destination because of it’s history and romantic settings. Whether you want to visit the Greek Isles or the French Riviera or simply include Rome as part of your itinerary, Europe is hard to beat for a first time getaway together.
2. The Caribbean has many exotic attractions and for a couple very much in love, it’s an ideal setting for honeymooners. Caribbean cruises include either eastern or western Caribbean excursions with stops at locations such as St. Thomas, St. Maarten and Cozemel in the west.
3. Tahiti is one of the most beautiful destinations on the planet and while a cruise to this part of the world can be a little costly, it’s well worth it. Apart from the activities on the ship, Tahiti offers some of the most romantic locations with the most lasting impressions being left by the crystal clear waters.
4. Hawaii will make any top cruise list and for a couple on a honeymoon, it’s just perfect. Visiting islands such as Maui and Kauai, the beauty of honeymoon cruises to Hawaii is you get to spend a lot of time on the islands themselves and they are very affordable. Seven night excursions to Hawaii can be bought for under $1000.
As with shopping for any cruise deals, shopping for honeymoon cruises is no different. Booking well ahead makes good sense and by shopping around and comparing prices you’ll give yourself the best chance of landing the best deal. Remember, most of the top cruise lines service the areas mentioned above so don’t limit yourself to just one company or service.
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Cheap Cruises - The Best Time To Shop For Cheap Cruises
October 18th, 2007 Subscribe To Our Feed
The art of finding cheap cruises is relatively easy today. The term cheap cruises has almost lost it’s meaning because the simple truth is, cheap prices for cruises today are almost standard.
There has been a revolution in recent years with companies putting bigger and better ships on the water enabling more people to be able to take advantage of cruise holidays.
Finding Cheap Cruises
However, there are still some “secrets” to nailing cheap cruises which many won’t be aware of. One of the best times of the year to look for cheap cruise deals is the second half.
If you have a little patience and can be flexible with your traveling times then waiting until the last few months can be very lucrative in terms of making savings.
With the presence now of online booking facilities and information websites the competition is fierce for the vacation dollar. This is also true among the various cruise lines who simply want to fill their cabins before their ships leave port.
Closeout Cruise Deals
Some of the savings one can make are substantial.
Closeout deals are basically so-called because the end of the year is approaching and with so many cruises scheduled to depart from the various ports around the world, cruise lines look for a last minute rush on cabins.
This is especially so in the northern hemisphere with winter in full flight and the festive season approaching. Many people prefer to stick around home with family and friends and cabins are usually much more available.
Where To Find Closeout Deals
You could simply phone the cruise lines themselves however, a prudent shopper of cheap cruises will head to their local travel agent or simply phone around.
The other excellent source of closeout deals are the online booking services and websites. Like office-based travel agents you also have the option of being alerted to possible deals via regular newsletters
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