Category: vacation

5 reasons to take a Caribbean vacation in 2016

by hotelsetc, posted in travel, vacation

At this time of year many people are still putting together their last minute plans for vacation, or planning ahead for later in the year, but the obvious, and difficult decision, is always in terms of where to go. While the US is full of great places to get away for the weekend or take an adventure, let’s face it; nothing beats the excitement of boarding a plane and taking off for some place tropical.

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Here are 5 reasons to take a Caribbean vacation in 2016:

Variety and quality of resorts

Few places in the world can rival the Caribbean when it comes to the variety of resorts; from the budget vacation packages on Aruba, to the high end luxury hotels in Punta Cana, there are options to suit all styles of travel, all budgets and standards.

In fact, it is not just the variety of resorts which is so appealing, but rather the quality. Whether you decide to go all out and book Live Aqua in Cancun, the more modest Barcelo in Punta Cana, or something even half the cost, you can usually expect a high standard in the Caribbean, with spacious rooms and friendly staff.

Affordable Caribbean vacations

As mentioned above, there are many affordable options in the Caribbean and some islands are less popular, and cheaper than others. However, the real advantage when you book a Caribbean vacation online is not just the selection or the number of providers offering to help you out; but rather the re-emergence of travel membership clubs.

Hotels Etc is a travel club which offers their members a simplified process in which you sign up, pick a destination, and make huge savings. Yes, it really is that simple. Hotels Etc provides hotel discounts and vacation packages with between 60 – 80% off. You can sign up for a free trial here.

Things to do in the Caribbean

Another highlight of a vacation to the Caribbean is the wide variety of things to see and do. White sandy beaches are synonymous with every destination, but there are also many options to take adventure tours and participate in local activities.

Volleyball, golf, tennis, scuba diving, snorkeling, and boating are just a few of the activities available from most resorts, while there are usually some excursions to parks, reserves or natural attractions in the nearby area.

The beaches and relaxation

Maybe this should go without saying, but it certainly should not be ignored; the Caribbean is home to many of the finest beaches in the world, where white powdered sands stretch on a far as the eye can see, next to an alluring ocean, with several shades of blue.

The beaches in the Caribbean are the ultimate place to unwind, relax and forget about the stress of modern day living. With no distractions and the soothing sound of the ocean, this truly is the highlight of any Caribbean vacation.

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All Inclusive savings

Hotel discounts and package offers are the best way to get your vacation off to the right start, but all inclusive resorts can also play a big part in the success of a vacation. With so much included in the cost of an all inclusive vacation, planning a trip could not be more convenient; food, drinks, spa treatment, laundry, even tours; an all inclusive vacation in the Caribbean is hands down, the easiest way to save on costs, and the best value for money vacation.

Sign up now for Hotels Etc membership and find out how 4 million members are getting their dream vacations, at affordable prices.

Aruba: One of the best Caribbean vacations 2016

by hotelsetc, posted in travel, vacation

Located just off the northern tip of South America, Aruba is a relatively small island with many beaches, fine cuisine and quality resorts, but it also offers a more adventurous package vacation for anyone opposed to sitting around a glorious pool all week, and feasting on the amazing foods.

An island of great wind

Some might say, Aruba is a slightly “windy” island, but take away this refreshing breeze, and you may be left with a desperate hot and almost unbearable heat. Truth is, the weather in Aruba is almost perfect year round and being situated just shy of the hurricane belt, ensures for a lot of sun and literally no rain, regardless of when you decide to visit.

Naturally, amazing seafood will feature on any trip to Aruba and while the service is sometimes reviewed as being “slow”, one must remember that island life has a tendency to be much more laid back than in the big city, and the food is almost always worth the wait; Aruba was the most recent recipient of the Trip Advisor award for fine dining.

Activity central, while the resorts in Aruba offer a secluded and peaceful setting in which to relax, Arikok  National Park is one of the many areas around the island which offer the opportunity to hike, explore and venture into the outdoors. White sandy beaches are as common as the sun in the sky, while much of this coastline is rugged and untouched, adding an unexpected variety to a road trip or tour outside of the main resorts.

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The budget island

Aruba is often considered a budget vacation, or a budget island and it certainly lives up to this title in terms of the cheap vacation packages, but this most certainly does not mean it lacks in any quality. Close to $100 million has been invested in the Aruba hotel industry over the past few years, and this growth is only expected to continue with the increased popularity of the island. All the big names have arrived, the Riu, the Marriott, the Hilton, to the Holiday Inn; there are budget accommodation n Aruba but the prices are generally quite low so staying in the most popular hotels in Aruba is usually possible for most budgets, most especially if when using hotel discounts.

Scuba diving, snorkeling, fine dining and stunning national parks, Aruba is one of the fastest growing islands in the entire Caribbean, and with an abundance of  affordable hotel options, it is also becoming one of the most popular destinations, a fine statistic considering the competition. May, June and July are the most popular months to visit the island, but given the consistent weather, Aruba is worth a vacation at any time of year.

Hotels Etc is a travel club which offers the best hotel discounts and more for Aruba and you can sign up today, for a free trial with access to all the best vacations in the Caribbean 2016.

7 ways to save money when you travel

by hotelsetc, posted in travel, vacation

Affordable vacation packages, cheap flights, amazing hotel discounts, free activities – everybody wants to find as much value as possible on vacation, and to help you do that, here are 7 ways to save money when you travel:

Consider an “open jaw” flight itinerary

“Open Jaw” is a term given to a flight schedule which arrives in a particular city, but then departs from an airport in another location. For anyone traveling to Cancun for a one week each vacation this will not be as relevant, but for anyone planning to see Europe, South America, Asia etc and hoping to do some overland travel, flying back from an alternative city is a great option.

Not only is the airfare less expensive, but an open jaw ticket also saves you the extra cost of returning to your trip starting point, never mind the inconvenience it causes to get back there.

Avoid traveling during peak season

Spring break, Christmas and school holidays are always more expensive and in order to ensure the lowest possible cost of a vacation, it is always a good idea to avoid travel at peak season.

Many of the best vacation packages to the Caribbean, or anywhere for that matter, will have more availability outside of this time meaning the rates for hotels, flights and anything tourism related, will be much more affordable. When you consider some of the best hotel discounts which can be found during these times, it is quite often the case that a vacation at this time will provide much more value, with less crowds, cheap hotel rooms and low airfare.

Best Hotel discounts

Save money when you travel by turning off your cellphone data

Have you ever arrived home from vacation to an insanely big phone bill? It happens. Availing of international roaming, checking your emails and even sending a few text messages can prove to be a large unnecessary cost on your vacation.

With every resort and hotel being fully equipped with free Wi-Fi, there is really no reason to be wasting money on expensive tariffs while on vacation. Skype, Facebook, and email are all capable of calling and sending instant messages from the local Wi-Fi which is entirely free.

Avoid renting a car when staying in the city

Renting a car can be a wonderful idea which can make travel outside of a destination convenient and highly enjoyable. However, if you are visiting a destination with plans of exploring the city, there really is no need for the added expense of having a car at your disposal, .

Even a train or bus ride around the city can make a family trip seem like more of an adventure, not to mention the fact that not having to worry about a car parked out on the street can reduce stress. Leave the car at home, discover the city on foot, and live adventurously on your next vacation.

Be careful with tipping

It’s good to tip, it’s only right, and everybody appreciates it. However, North Americans are the only people’s around the world who are generally known to tip more than 10 – 15 %.

Tipping extravagant amounts every time on vacation can be an enormous cost in itself. For example, if you have 3 meals a day and tip 25% each time, you are not far off paying for a fourth, non existent meal on every day of the vacation.

By all means tip, but within reason, you need to have some money left when the vacation is over.

Use Hotel discounts

In this modern age of technology, there s no excuse for not knowing about the huge hotel discounts being offered by travel membership clubs. Recent laws may have prevented Expedia, Orbitz and other travel brands from providing discounted cruises, packages or hotel rooms, but where they have lost their value, Travel clubs have taken their place.

Stop wasting time, and money by getting signed up for a travel membership with Hotels Etc and start saving up to 60-80% on hotels rooms, packages and much more.

Research free things to do at your destination

Not everything costs money once on location, in fact many of the best activities are free. A quick search online for travel blogs, reviews or trip reports will often result in a number of fun and completely free activities to help you save money on vacation.

A secret beach, a nearby mountain hike, a free walking tour or visit to some local landmarks. Even a trip around a lesser known part of town can result in cheap eateries, hidden attractions, and the free excitement that comes with not knowing where you are going.

All of the above are simple ways to ensure your vacation provides enough value, without leaving you in debt on the return back home and a great way to get started with saving money for future travels, is by signing up for Hotels Etc here.

The best vacation packages: Two reasons why timing is everything

by hotelsetc, posted in travel, vacation

Budget is always the main concern for most people when it comes to booking a vacation, but that most definitely does not mean you should ever decide against staying in the best hotels in Mexico, the best resorts in Varadero or dining in the top restaurants of Punta Cana. The truth is, timing is everything when it comes to finding the best vacation packages to the Caribbean or anywhere else, and if you also avail of hotel discounts, you can quite easily organize a dream vacation without even having to worry about it breaking the bank.

Aside from using hotel discounts, there are two simple factors which most people ignore, and they  could end up being the simple factors that help you save even more money on the next vacation.

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1. Don’t’ worry about when everyone else is taking their vacation

Unfortunately, most of us are easily influenced by what everyone else is doing and there is already enough advertising and marketing online nowadays to know that some of the most popular times to take a vacation, are Spring break, Christmas or at the height of the summer months.

However, is it really necessary to travel at the same time as everyone else? Most resorts or travel destinations are open for at least 6 months of the year and offer a full service regardless as to which month you decide to join them.

So if you really do want to save money and afford the best vacation packages, don’t worry about when everyone else is taking their vacation. If you consider the shoulder months when the weather is just as nice, there are less crowds and more availability, chances are, you will find that dream vacation for the fraction of the cost.

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2. Don’t wait for last minute packages

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but there is generally no such thing as a last minute vacation package. It is not impossible, and on a rare occasion they do come about, but 99% of the time you will end up with no vacation at all if you take the route of waiting until the last moment. The best time to book the best vacation packages is right now, and the facts are that hotels, flights and almost any service is priced according to availability which means if you book early, you will not only get to choose the best option, but you will also receive it at the best price.

Although airlines or charter flights will not always be announced as far in advance as say, flights to Europe, you can at least book your discounted vacation approximately 6 – 8 months before departure and take comfort in knowing that it’s likely you got the best hotel deal.

Ultimately, by avoiding these two pitfalls you are ensuring the best possible time for booking that dream vacation, and then providing you avail of the best hotel discounts with a Travel club such as Hotels Etc, you should have no issues affording the best vacation package, without it breaking the bank.

Vacations: Spend less, save more – Hotels Etc.

by hotelsetc, posted in travel, vacation

How would you like to vacation and spend less and save more money? There are some little known secrets that can help you save a lot of money on vacations.

Source: Vacations: Spend less, save more – Hotels Etc.