So, let's play a game. Your job is to come up with a list of things you absolutely, without a doubt, without fail must do while you're visiting Red River, New Mexico. How long would it take you to compile a list that you were confident would be the essential Red River activity package? The truth is that Red River, like so many other small towns, may not be top of mind enough for most people to rattle off even just a few things that are "musts" while you're visiting.


In fact, there's a very good chance you may never visit Red River, which is a real shame. This mountain town is the perfect embodiment of everything you've ever wanted from a vacation destination in the American Southwest without the hoopla of so many more popular areas. Unlike other places, Red River has activities that span the entire calendar year, which means you can visit anytime and still get the best it has to offer. This mountain oasis looks as though it has been curated in a museum to represent a time in this country that was less hectic, which sounds nice and relaxing.

Don't let that fool you, though. If you and your family are big fans of adventure, you'll get more than you handle. You want to claim you've hung out in the Rocky Mountains? Check. Is sea level just a big yawn? Well, maybe being nearly 9,000 above it will put a smile on your face. If only your travels lead you to hanging out in one of America's premier national parks, right? Boom. Welcome to Carson National Forest, boss.

There is an abundance of activity throughout the calendar year, and this is due to the tireless work of the town's leaders. Most destinations in the area are content with a busy ski season and then lie a bit dormant throughout the rest of the year. Red River has taken the opposite approach. They not only have a killer ski season, but they've made sure spring, summer, and fall all are stacked. Moreover, with the tremendous backdrop of Mother Nature they have, they really pull out all of the stops with the outdoors interactions.

Not if, but when you make it to Red River, here are five things you must do while you're there:

Wheeler Peak Hiking Trail - Hiking to Wheeler Peak (elevation 13,161 ft.) is about four miles each way with an elevation gain of almost 3,000 feet. You're going to put in some work.

Four-Wheel & ATV Tours - Red River Offroad puts you in the driver seat of some all-terrain vehicles to explore all that the area has to offer.

Hidden Treasure Aerial Park - Zip line adventures with three levels of difficulty, and a grand finale called the Ultimate Descent that'll really test you.

Red River Ski & Summer Area - This place is an institution, in operation for nearly six decades. If you're looking for year-round fun for the whole family, look no further.

Pan for Gold - You can actually pan for gold in certain areas. Pioneer Canyon, Placer Creek, and Bitter Creek are known hotspots.

Red River, New Mexico may not be the first place you thought of for a vacation destination, but it sure may be the last.

Author: Morris Raymond




Are all-inclusive vacations right for you? They may be if you don't want to deal with the hassle of trying to book every leg of your journey separately. A vacation involves more than booking a hotel and airfare or bus fare. There are a variety of other expenses to consider, including food, tips, car rental or taxi fares, entertainment, shopping, sightseeing, and so forth. It doesn't matter where you choose to go, you will need to eat and drink at the very least. Even if you don't rent a car, you will still need a way to get back and forth between the airport and subway.

Why not just invest in an all-inclusive vacation that involves an airport shuttle? Many resorts offer this service in vacation packages.

What is included in these vacation packages varies from one hotel to the next. "All-inclusive" can be a bit subjective. Typically, you can expect the room, beverages (non-alcoholic and alcoholic), meals, and a few activities. Some of the packages focus on a particular activity or theme: all-inclusive honeymoon packages, golf packages, spa package, etc.

If you're traveling with your family, it might make sense to look for packages that include meals and kids' activities. This way, you can trust that everyone will be well-fed and that the kids will have plenty of fun to keep them occupied, without having to pay for everything separately.it will all be included in the initial price.

Other Considerations With All Inclusive Vacations

Another thing to consider is Wi-Fi. This is especially important if you need to stay in contact with business associates even while on vacation. Don't just assume that you'll have Wi-Fi access at any hotel you stay at. While you probably will, there is no guarantee that it will be fast and reliable. At some resorts and hotels, you may be required to specifically request for premium internet. Just take care of this right at the start by looking for all-inclusive vacations that guarantee free, fast Wi-Fi.


Before settling on a package, be sure to read reviews from other tourists as well as the neighborhood itself. Most people prefer staying a large resort in a beach town, whether it's in Phuket, Bali, Mexico, the Caribbean, CA, FL, etc, although there are some great offers at ski resorts, entertainment cities like Vegas, Disney, and in beautiful valleys. Tourist season plays a role in the cost of all-inclusive vacations. Regardless of where and when you want to go, make sure you carefully read the fine print so you'll know exactly what is included with that initial price.

Author: George Botwin


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After arriving at the airport arrivals halls, there are many different options to reach your hotel. The cheapest option is likely to include the public bus or train service, but that isn't going to be the most convenient, especially if travelling with a lot of luggage or with small children. A more relaxed and stress-free option is to look at booking a taxi or private transfer.

Here are the five of the most practical options to get to your intended destination:

Private transfer

The option to pre-book a private car will make the onward journey stress-free and eliminate issues related to queuing. The majority of the private car services will give the option to choose the preferred type of transport, which can range from a standard estate car to a limousine or a minibus.

Taxi transfer

The price and queuing time at the taxi rank can be difficult to predict. Also, it can be quite expensive if there is quite a distance to reach your intended destination. If you are arriving at the airport at a quiet time it may be more appealing to simply head to the taxi rank, but at busy times it will often benefit to make prior arrangements.

Shared transfers

The shared transfers are likely to be a more economical option compared to the private transfer. They are great at getting you to your hotel or other destination, but may not be the best choice for larger groups or those travelling with a lot of luggage. Also, it is worth taking into consideration the regular stop along the route will extend the travel time.

Uber

Uber is now widely available in major cities throughout the world and a car can easily be organised once your luggage is collected and you are ready to leave the airport. The app can give plenty of useful information, such as the pickup location and whether a flat fee applies to your particular city.

Car rental

Car rental at the airport is likely to give the desired flexibility for those travellers that want to visit a variety of places over a period of time. Any decent airport will give easy access to booking a suitable car through one of the many reputable brokers.

Overall, the airport transport is just one more expense that is added to a business trip or holiday, so it makes sense to look at the different options to see which is able to give the most appealing package.

Author: Leo Eigenberg


What was your last airport transfer experience like? Please share with us in the comments.


Imagine yourself flying to South Korea to finally watch a K-pop girl group for the first time, in person. The concert ticket is bought and you're ready to catch the fever and enjoy this unique and exquisite musical experience. Unfortunately, upon arriving in Seoul, you were informed that for a certain reason, the concert won't push through.

What if you are attending a Digital Start-up Conference in Berlin, but before you board the plane, you were informed that for a number of reasons, the organizers were prevented to set up and it cannot push through.

In cases of events cancellation, travel insurance can definitely help as it offers coverage for cancelled events.

For a claim to be valid, the following conditions should be met:

* The event cancellation should be beyond the control of the insured.

* The event cannot take place before your flight back to your home country.

* The organizer should provide a written confirmation that the event was cancelled.

There are two (2) circumstances that can occur when availing this insurance coverage.

These are:

1. Event was cancelled before departure - If you were informed before travelling to the venue, the maximum sum insured per person shall amount to £400 for Unused Event Tickets and specific limits as indicated in the insurance policy that covers unutilized travel arrangements such as flights, accommodations, and excursions, as well as other additional travel expenses associated with the trip.

2. Event was cancelled after arrival at the country/city of destination - For this case, up to 50% of the travel costs and seven (7) days of accommodation will be covered by the insurance policy.

Since this is an additional cover, do check if your standard or comprehensive policy has this feature. If it doesn't, you can always contact the insurer to include this feature.

It's noteworthy that your claim cannot be considered if the event is re-scheduled before your flight back home. Also, the insurance should only indemnify those that are not reimbursed by the organizers. The claim also doesn't include costs of food and drink, as these are regular, recurring, everyday expenses.


To experience an event cancellation, especially one you have financially and emotionally (significantly) invested in, it can be heart-breaking. That's why it's worthwhile to ensure that we are able to recover our pre-payments upon the occurrence of this cancellation and one can do that through the purchase of the right travel insurance policy with event cancellation cover.

Author: Anna Stafford


Have you had any personal experience travelling all the way to a concert venue and finding out the concert had been called off? How did your travel insurer handle it? Let us know in the comments.

The United States is a country that is going through a bit of a rough patch right now, and with any period of trials & tribulation come dips in how much people want to travel. Even with what seems to be a lack of enthusiasm for travelling in this great country, Texas tourism seems to be weathering the storm better than even the most grizzled travel experts could have predicted. The question is simple - why? How is it that the Lone Star State is able to maintain a steady movement of travellers across its borders when other states are seeing lulls?

It's best to think of the Texas tourism boom as more than just a current blip. In fact, the campaign to make Texas a premier destination for out-of-towners has been in full swing since the 1960s. At the time, Texas was seen as nothing more than a relic of the Old West, and it certainly didn't help that there was a presidential assassination in Dallas in 1963. Times were tough for the state, and even its own residents were seeking greener pastures.

Finally, an organization named the Texas Tourist Development Agency was created with the sole purpose of making Texas seem like the place to be. With only a little over $100,000 in the mid-1960s, the agency got to work. By 1970, tourism numbers had begun to skyrocket, and revenue had broken a billion dollars.

Since then, the agency has been absorbed by other offices in state government, but Texas's tourism boom still holds steady, and when you step back & look at things, you can understand why. For starters, Texas is very business-friendly. Generous tax breaks and subsidies have attracted some of the biggest brands on the national, and international, scene. This migration of businesses into Texas has certainly made its mark. For example, in the last decade, the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex was second only to New York City in terms of the amount of construction for retail, warehouse, office, and rental spaces. Real estate, retail, and economic experts not only noted the historic length of the boom in Dallas/Fort Worth, but they were also in agreement that there was no slowing down anytime soon.

The jump in businesses making their home in Texas has meant better job numbers for both residents and non-residents. The uptick in employment numbers usually positively impacts the retail markets, too.

Perhaps the neatest reason Texas has found itself so high on the list of satisfying places to visit or call home, is that no matter where you are, you can always find a hidden gem of a town with a lot of hospitality and charm to offer. Moreover, you're not really more than a day-trip's distance from the major cities of Texas (e.g., Dallas, Austin, Houston, San Antonio), and with hundreds of thousands of miles of roadways, Texas is the ultimate road-trip destination.


Texas tourism is certainly seeing a new era of explosion, but in reality, the Lone Star State has been on the rise for the better part of six decades. All this means for you and your family is that when you decide to visit, you'll be right on time.


Author: Morris Raymond





Here is our travel pack list & reminders of what to do before you leave for your vacation. Plus, we provide a checklist to remember what to consider packing. That way you hopefully won't overpack or forget anything you must take with you.

This is a great article to print out and use while planning your trip.

Before You Leave Travel Packing Reminders:

Plan ahead: Sit down and prepare a travel pack list of what you'll need, what you plan to do while in Florida, and what you must take and do before you go
Start looking for Florida travel deals
Research where you are going in Florida
Research reviews and do your homework (best deals, what to do, where to stay, etc...)
Shop for everything you'll need or want to take
Start an exercise program to get your best beach body (if that is in your plan)
Search for and check dates and information on important documents These include, Id's, passports & visas, pet information, etc...) Book your airfare, car rental, and lodgings (make sure you know all the terms and conditions when booking. Ie. Cancellations, refunds, and so forth
Check the weather in the area you are visiting
Know your credit card information, limits, & amounts
Have your banking information & debit cards up to date
Contact anyone important to let them know you'll be out of town
Visit your doctor or dentist to ensure your health
Accommodate for your pets (whether you take them or leave them behind)
Plan for someone to check your house and collect your mail & newspapers
Reconfirm everything we've mentioned and your travel pack list
Obtain travelers' checks at your bank
Get all your medications and prescriptions you need
Have the car checked and tuned up if you take your own vehicle
Lock up your valuables in a safe or safe deposit box
Pay the bills, take care of house stuff (plants, cut grass, utilities, etc...) You don't want to look like you're gone
Pick up dry cleaning and finish any last minute errands
Start packing what's on your travel pack list - Make sure luggage is marked
Double check all documents...make copies if necessary
Relax, you should have everything...
Recheck your travel pack list and you'll be fine.
Here are a few more tips to live by...

Carry-on Items:

Be sure you carry on valuables, cameras, film, documents, wallet (money in general), coupons, tickets, itinerary (with all pertinent information), brochures, maps, guides, reading materials, baby stuff, kids stuff, medications you must have, and anything in particular that you find important. If you think you should carry-on, then do. Don't be like Focker.

Medications:

Have your meds in the original bottles, have doctor letters if necessary. Remember airlines are sketchy about certain items (if you fly).

If you drive having this information is important if you get pulled over and asked by a cop.

Film: We recommend you buy a digital camera or camcorder. Film is a pain and can get damaged easily.

I know that may be an added expense, but if you shop around, you can find a great deal. We just want to ensure you retain the priceless memories of your Florida trip.

If you must have a film, our best recommendation is to buy it when you get there. Pack it wisely (in your purse for instance), or develop it before you return home.

Pack Light:

You can check if the hotel has a laundry service. Plan ahead. Make a travel pack list, check it twice. Wait- isn't that a song? Just kidding. Bad humor, it's that doing a travel pack list can get boring.

But, it is important. Anyway, just pack intelligently. Take some extra money to shop if you absolutely forget something. Learn to fold, be creative, and lay everything on your travel pack list out.

As an idea, the two of us take a big piece of luggage and one smaller one. Then we carry a backpack, a small carry-on bag, or briefcase and we fit everything we need from our travel pack list.

Some of the major things to remember to pack include, money, documents, clothing, toiletries, electronics, things to keep you busy, other personal/individual items, and of course the kids (if you have them).

This is just a portion of what to remember. There are lists available online to use and check off items/things to do as you plan your vacation.

Author: Joe Collinsworth



Consider a new way to explore the world in this vacation, if you are tired of traditional vacationing and lying on a chair along the swimming pool. You can start your vacation appreciating wildlife with a Tanzanian safari. If your closest coming across animals is in the zoo, here you will really appreciate the nature, the wild fields of unexplored land and the wild free-running animals. Tanzania safari is a total stimulation of the senses, thus taking your mind away from the mundane responsibilities and bringing you closer to nature. A safari is an entirely new way of vacationing and the deal here is total relaxation by means of doing nothing. If you go to Tanzania there will not be a minute of dullness. There is so much to see and so much to do there. It might just bring you back the enthusiasm in your vacation.



You will have the chance to be very close to such a live breathing wild dangerous animal that will certainly get your blood boiling. Through the Tanzania safari, you can learn about the habitat and history of the wild animals you see on documentaries. Since some of these animals are in declining numbers all over the world, it gives the exclusive chance to encounter these wild animals where you can go close to see them. Lions are very dangerous and their large size and aggressive demeanor pose a threat to cattle and smaller stock. They are one of the flagship animals for the country and are very valuable for Tanzania's tourism and research. They are also preying on zebras, hartebeest, and bongos. Large carnivores in Tanzania have reduced populations but they are still very dangerous for farmers and livestock.


Spotted hyenas are also one of the endangered and at the same time extremely dangerous animals to be seen in conservation. They can be seen in almost every Tanzania Park and are sometimes blamed for decreasing population in some rhino families. Being on this safari, you can get across a praying hyena. Another endangered animal you can spot during the safari is the cheetah - the fastest animal on earth. These beautiful creatures are diminishing in numbers and the loss of their habitat is the number one reason for that.

There are some popular wild African dogs and you can meet some of them along your exciting journey. They are also among the animals that experience a huge contraction to their geographical range.

Tanzania safari is the best way if you want to know about endangered animals. Through it, you can get information about their lifestyle. That is a great alternative for everyone.


Author: Mitchell Sue