Disney Theme Parks Reward People Who Volunteer

Vacationing at the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando is always a fun, exciting and extremely memorable experience. In fact, there's so much to see and do there, a family can spend several weeks exploring The Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney's Hollywood Studios, Disney's Animal Kingdom, and all of the other activities within the WDW Resort, and never have a chance to experience everything.

The WDW Resort is always growing and evolving. So, each time someone returns, they're sure to find something new. Yet one thing always remains consistent - many of the rides, shows and attractions within the Disney theme parks are designed to tap into our imaginations and inspire us.

I just returned from a visit to the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando (which is one of my favorite vacation destinations), and participated in the launch of the "Give a Day, Get a Disney Day" program. This program was designed to inspire one million people to do at least one day's worth of volunteering this year. In exchange, Disney will award each volunteer with a free, one-day ticket to a Disney Word or Disneyland theme park.

If you're interested in registering for this program, visit www.disneyparks.com. You can choose to volunteer at any of more than 10,000 organizations nationwide. So far, more than 600,000 people have registered to participate in the "Give a Day, Get a Disney Day" program.

During my Disney visit, I learned about some exciting new attractions and events happening at The Walt Disney World Resort over the next few years. For example, they're expanding Fantasyland within The Magic Kingdom, creating a one-of-a-kind resort for dogs (so people can travel with their pets to Disney World), and they're launching new cruise ships as part of Disney Cruise Lines -- but that's only the beginning!

This coming summer, the classic Main Street Electrical Parade will be relaunched within The Magic Kingdom, followed by an all-new fireworks display. And, they're relaunching the entire ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex this month. Oh, and in 2011, they're redesigning the popular Star Tours attractions (located within Disney's Hollywood Studios). And if you're a fan of Tower of Terror, you'll soon notice some all-new special effects being added to that thrill ride.

Thanks to a wide range of discounts and promotions offered by Disney, there's never been a better time to experience a WDW vacation! For example, you can save 25 to 40 percent off of standard rates for WDW Resort hotels between April 11th and June 3, 2010. Check out the DisneyWorld.com website for details, or call (407) W-DISNEY.

Save Money On Last-Minute Travel

Check out my article which ran in yesterday's New York Daily News newspaper for tips on how to save money booking last-minute travel - CLICK HERE!

St. Lucia - A Wonderful Vacation Destination in the Caribbean

While I've had the opportunity to travel to most of the Caribbean in recent years, only a few destinations have stuck out in my mind as being favorites, and one of those destinations in St. Lucia. The island was absolutely beautiful, the locals are incredibly friendly, plus there were so many exciting and memorable things to do.

Direct flights to St. Lucia are affordable, and available from several East Coast cities, including New York City and Miami. Plus, you can choose from a wide range of resort (and all-inclusive resort accommodations) at various price points. The thing to remember, however, is that you should always be on the lookout for money-saving packages or special promotions when visiting any Caribbean destination, such as St. Lucia. Simply by searching the web, you can easily find incredible deals at places like the all-inclusive Coconut Bay Beach Resort & Spa (866-978-6226, www.cbayresort.com).

With its 254 guest rooms and suites, Coconut Bay Beach Resort & Spa is truly an all-inclusive resort destination. Yes, everything - including activities, all dining, drinks, access to the private beach and pools, entertainment, etc.) is really included (with very few up-charges or additional fees). The resort offers an amazing kids program, multiple swimming pools, a gorgeous private beach, tennis, an entire building dedicated exclusively to adult accommodations (plus a separate building with family-friendly accommodations), a lovely spa, several on-property fine-dining restaurants, plus plenty of on-property and nearby activities. All of the resort's buildings are also wired with Wi-Fi, and the guest rooms have cable TV.

Another great thing about this resort is its proximity to the airport. While many of the resorts on St. Lucia are located up to a one hour drive from the airport, Coconut Bay Beach Resort & Spa is located about five minutes from the airport. So, you can literally get off the airplane, collect your luggage, and be on the beach or sunbathing at the pool in well under an hour.

Coconut Bay Beach Resort & Spa is a beautiful, three-star resort. It's not over-the-top luxurious, but it is extremely clean, comfortable and very nicely equipped, plus the service is top-notch. Up until about five years ago, the Coconut Bay Beach Resort & Spa was a Club Med property, however, it's now under new ownership. Over the past few years, the resort has undergone massive renovations, and new additions are constantly being added.

This is a great family-friendly destination, or a perfect destination wedding or honeymoon resort. Thanks to the function space, it can also be used for business meetings or retreats.

One of the really special things about Coconut Bay Beach Resort & Spa is that it's home to 2 Elements - a kite-surfing and windsurfing school that's one of the very best in the world. In fact, the exact location where this resort is located is considered one of the world's top kite surfing hot spots, because of the perfect combination of wind, water and beaches.

If you want to learn how to kite surf, expert private instruction is available. Plan on investing about 10 hours during a five day period into lessons (at an additional cost of $400.00), after which you will be able to kite surf! This is one of the few resorts in the world that has its own kite surfing school right on the premises. If you're not sure this sport is for you, you can sign up for a free kite surfing introductory lesson, or watch expert kite surfers do their thing right from the resort's private beach.

When you're ready to explore St. Lucia, Coconut Bay Beach Resort & Spa has teamed up with a handful of top-notch local tour operators, for sightseeing, scuba diving, fishing, snorkeling, kayaking, off-roading on an ATV, windsurfing, bicycling, boating, and zip lining - all of which are available on St. Lucia (within a 5 to 30 minute drive from the resort). And, if you sign up for a tour through the resort, all transportation is arranged on your behalf.

In terms of sightseeing, St. Lucia offers some incredible places to visit, from historic fishing villages, to a tropical rainforest. There are also mineral baths and sulphur springs, a volcano, incredible water falls, a wildlife preserve, the Piton mountains, and botanical gardens, all of which are well worth visiting.

As you plan a trip to St. Lucia, you'll definitely want to spend at least five to seven days here, so choosing an all-inclusive resort, like Coconut Bay Beach Resort & Spa, makes perfect financial sense when it comes to planning the budget for your trip, since you know the majority of your food, drinks and on-property activities will be included. If you're traveling with kids, they'll absolutely love the Kids Klub, which offers supervised camp-like activities, an on-property water park, plus a playground (all included in the resort's all-inclusive price.)

To find the best deals for the Coconut Bay Beach Resort & Spa, check their website, or visit one of the popular online travel services, like Hotwire.com or Travelocity.com. Discounts on accommodations, guest room upgrades, and free resort credits, are among the special deals you'll find online.

Compared to all of the other potential Caribbean destinations you can visit, St. Lucia is definitely one of the very best and most affordable. Yet, the accommodations, food, service, and selection of activities are all excellent. It really is the perfect, tropical destination for a family vacation, a romantic getaway, a honeymoon or even a destination wedding. So, if you're thinking about taking a trip to the Caribbean, seriously consider St. Lucia as your destination. You won't be disappointed!

Photos (c)2010 Jason R. Rich. All rights reserved.

Florida Getting Just What It Needs...Another Theme Park!

On January 21, 2010, Merlin Entertainment announced big plans for the Winter Garden, Florida region - a new theme park! Joining the ranks of Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando and SeaWorld will soon be Legoland Florida.

Merlin Entertainment has purchased Cypress Gardens, and plans to open Legoland Florida on the site by the end of 2011. This will be a 145-acre theme park that will be fully renovated and redesigned, and then expanded over the next several years - probably to include resort hotel accommodations.

Legoland Florida is targeted to kids, between the ages of two and 12, and like its sister park in San Diego, California, will provide at least one full day's worth of entertainment once it opens. Currently, there are four other Legoland Parks in the world, all of which have become very successful catering to kids and their families.

The new Florida park will be located about 30 minutes from Orlando, and will initially feature more than 50 rides, shows and attractions, plus the life-size Lego models that these theme parks are famous for. (The theme parks are based around the Lego building blocks which are so popular amongst kids.)

There's already so much for kids to do in the Orlando area, and later this year, Universal Orlando's Islands of Adventure will be opening The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, which is probably the most anticipated theme park attraction ever created. The Legoland Florida park will cater to a slightly younger audience, and will no doubt, quickly become a popular day trip for families visiting the Orlando area.

Currently, within the Walt Disney World Resort, there's a Lego Store open within the Downtown Disney area. It features a handful of life-size Lego models, a Lego activity center, plus a chance to purchase the most popular Lego toy products.

Airlines Implement New Carry-On Luggage Rules

Thanks to the Northwest Airlines terrorist attack attempt on Christmas Day, the major airlines and Transportation Security Administration (TSA) are reacting in a way that will once again impact all passengers - making flying even less convenient and comfortable.

This time, passenger carry-ons will be impacted in terms of what can be brought onto an airplane, and when items from a carry-on can be used during a flight. For example, one airline is insisting that all passengers remain seated for the final hour of a flight, and will no longer allow laptop computers to be used during that period.

As you go through security at any airport, plan on longer lines as TSA personnel will be looking closer at all carry-on bags and their contents. So, leave ample time in your schedule, and arrive to the airport at least 90 minutes early for a domestic flight.

Before packing your carry-on in preparation for an upcoming flight, check with your airline to determine if any new rules have been implemented. You'll discover that new guidelines and rules are being implemented daily. You can also check the TSA's website at www.tsa.gov.

UPDATE: January 12, 2010 - I recently took a trip which involved visits to several airports across the country, and didn't notice too much of a difference in security, in terms of how long it took to get through security check points. I understand from speaking with several people, that New York airports have experienced delays at security check points, but this doesn't seem to be a nationwide problem, despite the recent security threats.

The Fox World Travel website (http://www.gofox.com/tools/waittimes.php) offers an online airport wait time calculator which will help you determine how long it should take to get through airport security, based on the day and time you travel, and which airport you're flying out of. A realtime calculator is also typically available from the official TSA website (http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/waittime.shtm), but it's currently "under construction."

TIP - While the wait times may not be longer, the TSA security personnel are clearly paying more attention to carry-on luggage. So, if you load up your carry-on with lots of electronic items, such as a laptop computer (or netbook), camera, iPod, eBook reader, noise-cancelling headphones, portable DVD player, plus adapters for your cell phone, and other devices (such as strangely shaped USB thumb drives), your bag may wind up getting hand-searched, which could delay you by five or 10 minutes.

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Travel Tip - Avoid Travel Delays

The number of flight delays and cancellations among the major airlines is staggering and seems to be increasing with each passing month. While delays caused by bad weather can't always be avoided, some airlines are notorious for delaying or canceling flights for no apparent reason, and then blaming imaginary weather or air traffic control problems to avoid having to take financial responsibility for the problems they cause for their passengers.

Before leaving home, check with your airline to insure your flight is running on-time. When you do this, don't just ask about your initial flight, however. If you're making a connection in another city, make sure your connecting flight(s) are running on-time as well. You may discover that getting to your connecting city will be easy, but there are significant delays in that connecting city, which could dramatically delay your travels.

If you determine this to be the case, ask the airline to reroute you to your final destination before you leave your home city. This might change your travel itinerary, but it could save you many hours of sitting in an airport waiting for a connecting flight to depart.

There are several ways you can confirm a flight's status before your departure. You can call the airline directly (via its toll-free phone number). You can go to the airline's website and click on the "Flight Status" (or equivalent icon). Or, you can visit the FlightView.com website, which offers real-time flight information for all major airlines, plus real-time information about major airport problems across the country. (This website also works well on an iPhone and many other wireless phones and PDAs.) Services like Travelocity.com, Hotwire.com and Orbitz.com, for example, also allow web surfers to track flights.

If you need to change your travel arrangements, contact the airline directly. On the same-day you travel, if you need to be re-routed due to bad weather or flight delays, there is no charge to do this. You may, however, have to fly stand-by. If this is the case, make sure you won't get stuck in a connecting city if the flight you want to get on is full.

Every month, the Bureau of Transportation Statistics publishes a report that details the on-time performance of every major airline. You can also track the overall on-time performance of a specific flight to see how often it gets delayed or cancelled. This website can be found at http://www.transtats.bts.gov/OT_Delay/OT_DelayCause1.asp.

Dealing with flight delays can be extremely frustrating. If you determine what problems you might encounter before departing and can get the airline to reroute you to avoid those problems, you might luck out and reach your destination on-time, or at least with minimal frustration. Good luck! Depending on what airline you're flying with, you'll probably need it!

"An overwhelming 77 percent of consumers who said they had flown in the last three months experienced flight delays or cancellations, according to a recent poll conducted by AIG Travel Guard. Nearly 28 percent experienced moderate delays, another 27 percent were met by slight delays, 18 percent had been subjected to extensive delays and four percent stated their flight had been cancelled...Sixty-five percent of consumers polled had been delayed up to five hours, with another 10 percent having been delayed up to 24 hours or longer."

B&N's Nook eBook Reader: The Perfect Reading Tool For Travelers...Or Not?

When I first heard about the Barnes & Noble Nook eBook reader back in early-November, I immediately went online to www.bn.com, and placed a pre-order for a unit. In the past, I had refrained from purchasing an Amazon Kindle, because it was a first-generation product, and it seemed to have some limitations. According to the preliminary marketing and advertising for B&N's Nook, many of those limitations were overcome...at least in the ads.

About a week ago, I finally received my Nook eBook reader, which is priced at $259.00 (plus $39.00 for the case). As an avid reader, and someone who is constantly traveling, I looked forward to having one device on which I could store a handful of books to read on airplanes and when traveling. Admittedly, my expectations for this device were high.

Does the Nook work? Well, yes. The programming has some bugs, but basically it works. You can download eBooks, and then read them on the Nook's display. However, the unit itself is very slow. It takes several minutes to boot up once it's turned on, and loading books from memory, and then turning digital pages as you read is also very slow (almost to the point of being frustrating).

The battery life is also much shorter than B&N advertises, and the overall design of the unit has its own set of minor problems. For example, the unit's weight is off-balance, based on the way someone would hold it in their hand while reading. And, that cool looking, full-color, touch screen at the bottom is over-sensitive. When the menu screen is on, many of the menu options are counter-intuitive. Plus, when the lower screen is off (when you're actually reading), it appears black. Thus, if you're actually reading using light from an overhead lamp, it causes a pretty major glare and reflection which is distracting. Plus, the touch screen gets finger prints on it that also causes a glare when the light hits it. I find myself wiping off the lower touch screen several times during each reading session.

In my opinion (as someone who loves using all of the latest gadgets, and who is literally hooked on my iPhone and iPod Nano, for example), I have to admit that the B&N Nook has not lived up to expectations at all. Yes, it works. But, the overall unit design and more importantly, the programming and user interface, could have, and should have been much better designed.

My first big problem with the unit occurred when I tried to purchase, download and read the new Stephen King novel directly from the Nook. Nowhere did it say the book wasn't yet available. (As it turns out, the release date is on December 24th). Anyway, the Nook accepted my order for the book, and kept trying to download it. Because it was apparently a pre-order, the download would not work, but all I received as a generic error message stating that the unit could not connect to the network. After spending almost an hour on the phone with B&N's technical support people, they were able to tell me there's a bug in the Nook's programming and that they'd need to adjust my online account somehow before my Nook would again work properly.

So, while the concept of the Nook is great for frequent travelers, this first generation of the product still needs some fine-tuning. Unless they drop the price of the unit considerably, I strongly recommend holding off, and waiting for the next generation of eBook readers to become available. I understand Apple will be releasing some type of digital tablet device in early-2010, that'll allow people to read eBooks, plus it'll run iPhone apps on a larger screen and surf the net.

In terms of the Nook, I am also a bit disappointed with the selection of eBooks, as well as the digital versions of newspapers and popular magazines that are Nook compatible. Many of the most popular titles an avid reader would want aren't available (at least not yet). The initial ads for the Nook stated that dozens of major daily newspapers and magazines would be available in digital format upon the Nook's release. Well, it's been several weeks since the Nook was officially launched, but the selection of digital newspapers and magazines that's currently available is small and totally unimpressive.

Again, the Nook does work. However, with just a bit of extra work on the designers' part (and maybe if they tried a few focus groups with actual end users), the unit could have been so much better.

To sum this up, I don't hate the Nook, but I'm not overly impressed with it either. My expectations were not met, and in my opinion, the cost of the unit is too high. The $9.95 cost of most downloadable books, however, is very reasonable.

So, if you're considering the purchase of a Nook, I'd hold off, and see what comes out next year.

New York, New York Photo Montage

Gaylord National Resort: The Perfect, Family-Friendly Holiday Getaway

For most people living on the East Coast, getting to Washington, DC is a quick and easy trip. Well, this holiday season, Christmas on the Potomac River will be better than ever. So, if you're looking for a quick, easy and inexpensive weekend getaway for the entire family, head to the DC area!

The Gaylord National Resort in National Harbor, Maryland (just 15 minutes from Washington, DC), has gone all out to celebrate the holidays with incredible decorations, fun activities throughout the holiday season, and plenty of festivities for the entire family.

In addition to a massive Christmas tree and holiday decorations, The Gaylord National Resort offers its own ice skating rink, free holiday concerts, holiday themed scavenger hunts, nightly fountain shows, plus the incredible ICE! attraction.

Dozens of ice sculptors have worked for over a month to create a massive winter wonderland, made entirely of ice. In fact, more than two million pounds of ice were used to create 10 life-size holiday scenes.

This attraction is indoors, however, to keep the ice from melting, the temperature is kept at a chilly 9-degrees (F). Ultra-warm parkas are provided to visitors.

Plan on spending at least 20 minutes exploring ICE!, which is a memorable attraction for the entire family. Admission is $19.99 for adults and $13.00 for children, however, special package deals (starting at just $185.00) are available from the Gaylord National Resort, which include a night's accommodations, four ICE! tickets, four ice skating tickets, breakfast for the kids, and more. Call (888) 703-9725 or visit www.ChristmasOnThePotomac.com for details.

If you can't make it to the DC area between now and January 10th, ICE! is also being presented at the Gaylord Resort properties in Orlando, Nashville and Dallas.

I had the chance to get a sneak preview of the ICE! attraction about three days before it opened to the public, and it was truly amazing! Check out the photo montage below. And, while you're in the DC area, consider a visit to Mount Vernon, the home of President George Washington. A wide range of special holiday events are taking place there as well.

Exploring Long Island's Wineries

I am spending a few days exploring Long Island as I do research for a new, full-length travel guide, called The Insider's Guide to Long Island. It'll be published by Globe Pequot Press in 2010.

Anyway, I took the ferry today from New Haven, Connecticut to Orient Point, New York, and then explored Long Island's wine country this afternoon.

Tonight, I am staying at the lovely and upscale The In At East Wind (631-929-3500, www.TheInnAtEastWind.com), which is near the "entrance" to the North Fork's winery region. If you're in New York City, Connecticut or Massachusetts, for example, this is a great weekend getaway destination that's easy to reach and stunningly beautiful.

There are more than 50 wineries that are open to the public in this region of Long Island, and each has tours, tastings and events happening throughout the entire year. For more information about Long Island's wine country, visit www.LIWines.com.

The following are some photos from today's adventures in Long Island.

Hocking Hills, Ohio Fall Foliage (October '09)

The following video contains a montage of photos from my recent trip to Hocking Hills, Ohio. As you'll see, it was a truly beautiful place to visit, especially during peak fall foliage...Enjoy!

The Inn & Spa at Cedar Falls: A Get Back-To-Nature Getaway Featuring Four-Star Accommodations

Last week, I had the opportunity to spend a few days exploring the Hocking Hills, Ohio area, and stayed at a wonderful place called the Inn & Spa at Cedar Falls (740-385-7489, www.innatcedarfalls.com).

Located about 50 miles from Columbus, Ohio, this lovely inn offers four-star luxury, gourmet cuisine, and a wide range of outdoor activities, not to mention extremely friendly, personalized and attentive service.

The Inn & Spa at Cedar Falls in not a traditional hotel or motel, nor is it a run-of-the-mill B&B. It's a family-owned and operated, small resort complex that's comprised of nine guest rooms, 12 cottages, and five cabins. There's also a casual dining room that serves gourmet cuisine, and a full-service day spa on the property.

Situated on 75 acres, this inn is surrounded by gorgeous woods. However, a stay here is anything but rustic. In fact, what you'll find are four-star quality accommodations with intimate guest rooms and cabins, which contain all of the amenities and luxuries you'd expect from a Four Seasons or Ritz-Carlton. However, instead of a massive resort or hotel complex, what you'll find are cozy cabins, and a small cluster of buildings constructed to replicate 1840 log houses.

The guest rooms, cottages and cabins are decorated with antiques combined with fine furnishings that are extremely comfortable. Yet, what you won't find within the guest rooms (or cabins) are televisions, Internet access or telephones.

Thus, the Inn & Spa At Cedar Falls is truly a wonderful place to get away, explore nature, and enjoy the outdoors, without really having to "rough it." The beds within the cabin I stayed in was adorned with imported fine linens, and was incredibly comfortable. In fact, I don't remember ever sleeping so soundly in any hotel, motel or inn, anywhere in the world.

For those addicted to technology and the modern world, don't worry! There's a large flat screen TV, telephone service and Internet access available within the Inn's main building, so you're not totally isolated. However, your cell phone won't work in the area, so you'll feel as if you're cutting the cord with civilization as you embrace the natural surroundings and have a chance to simply relax.

What's nice about the Inn & Spa At Cedar Falls is that it's located a very short distance from Hocking Hills State Parks, which contain countless miles of hiking and biking trails, plus attractions like waterfalls and Old Man's Cave, Ash Cave and Cedar Falls - all of which are stunning beautiful places to visit, even if you're in inexperienced hiker.

In addition to the outdoor activities offered at the Inn and the nearby State Parks, there's plenty to do indoors as well. For example, there's the day spa, plus an ongoing schedule of cooking classes, wine tastings, and other types of classes - all taught on or near the Inn.

Nearby, you can also play golf, learn the art of basket weaving or glass bead making, or take a free tour of the world's only remaining washboard factory which was founded in 1895. The Columbus Washboard Factory (740-380-3828, www.columbuswashboard.com) is an historic place to visit, however, it's also a working factory that manufactures and distributes over one million handcrafted washboards per year. (Yes, there are people in the world that still use these things to do their laundry manually.)

While the tour was extremely interesting, what really caught my attention was the fact that The Columbus Washboard Factory was actively involved with providing a laundry solution for U.S. soldiers currently stationed in Iraq, Kuwait and other countries that lack modern amenities, like washing machines.

I invite and ask everyone reading this to make a $25.00 donation to The Columbus Washboard Factory to help cover the cost of just one Washboard Troop Kit, which includes everything needed for a soldier to wash their clothing while stationed in the desert, for example.

Donations can be made online (www.columbuswashboard.com), by telephone (800-343-7967), or by mail (Kuwait Fund, c/o The Columbus Washboard Company, 14 Gallagher Avenue, Lohan, Ohio 43138).

Just $25.00 can make a huge difference in the daily life of a U.S. soldier who wants and needs to wear a clean uniform, and who otherwise would be unable to get their clothing laundered, sometimes for weeks at a time.

Anyway, getting back to the Inn & Spa At Cedar Falls. This inn truly offers a wonderful place to relax. It's perfect for romantic getaways, anniversary celebrations, weddings, corporate retreats, guys or girls-only weekends, and family vacations.

The cost for accommodations at this inn ranges from $125.00 per night (for a guest room) to $289.00 per night for a luxurious private cabin in the woods. The inn is open throughout the year and offers off-season rates and specials.

If you're within driving distance of Logan, Ohio (the Hocking Hills region) where this inn is located, it truly is a perfect vacation destination. However, if you need to pay for airfares to Columbus, Ohio, and then have to rent a car, the price of the weekend or week-long getaway goes up considerably if you're coming from the east or west coast, for example.

What I discovered, however, is that people visit the Inn & Spa At Cedar Falls year after year, not just to experience nature and the wonderful accommodations, but also because of the highly personalized service.

The innkeepers, Ellen Grinsfelder and Terry Lingo, make you feel at home with their hospitality and gourmet cooking. You'll immediately feel like you've made close friends as you interact with Ellen, Terry and the entire staff. It's a level of personalized attention and service you won't find at traditional hotels or motels, or even most B&Bs.

During my stay at the Inn & Spa At Cedar Falls, I learned that the inn is part of the Select Registry Distinguished Inns of North America (800-344-5244, www.selectregistry.com). Established in the 1960s, this organization's members include only about 400 of the very best and most upscale inns and B&Bs in The United States.

To become part of this organization, an inn must adhere to very strict quality and service standards which are above and beyond what you'd expect from most hotels or even upscale resorts.

So, if you're looking for superior accommodations that are not part of a hotel or motel chain, seriously consider booking reservations at any of the inns that are part of this organization. Inns which qualify to be part of the organization are located with all 50 U.S. states, as well as parts of Canada.

All-Inclusive St. Thomas Get-Away Discounts

A few months ago, I visited the lovely Wyndham Sugar Bay Resort in St. Thomas and had a wonderful time. One of the unique things about this resort is that guests can pay by the night (like a traditional hotel), or the resort offers a very attractive all-inclusive option, which includes meals and most activities. (See my August 25, 2009 blog entry for details about my trip to this resort.)

I just learned that the resort is offering a 35 percent off discount on its all-inclusive rates. This option allows you to save money and calculate all of your vacation expenses in advance. What's nice about this resort is that it's suitable for people of all ages (plus honeymooners, families travel together, seniors, etc.), plus there are several excellent restaurants right on the property, so you're not stuck dining at the same place for every meal. (Oh, the food was top-notch, by the way, in each of the restaurants.)

Because St. Thomas is part of the U.S. Virgin Islands, when you travel there as a U.S. citizen, you do NOT need a Passport. A valid driver's license is all that's required. Plus, direct (and affordable) flights are available from many U.S. cities. If you're planning a trip to the Caribbean, St. Thomas is a wonderful destination, and the Wyndham Sugar Bay Resort is definitely one of the nicest resorts on the island!

Seeing Broadway Shows Doesn't Have To Cost A Fortune

For the past few days, I have been in New York City taking photos and gathering information for an interactive New York City travel guide iPhone app which I am developing in conjunction with Bizmosis. The app is called BizTravel (for business travelers), and it'll be launched in early-2010.

Tonight, I went to see my good friend Diana DeGarmo star in the off-Broadway show The Toxic Avenger, and she was absolutely fantastic! This show was really funny and entertaining, albeit a bit quirky. If you're visiting NYC, I strongly recommend seeing this show, especially if you're traveling with teens, or you're a fan of the 1984 movie (which has become a cult classic).

If you look at the box office ticket prices for any off-Broadway or Broadway show, you might think that seeing a show as part of your NYC trip is simply too expensive. Well, this isn't the case at all! For starts, in the heart of Times Square is the TKTS Booth, which sells same-day show tickets at up to 50 percent off.

In addition, surrounding the TKTS Booth are people distributing discount coupons for individual Broadway and off-Broadway shows. Today, for example, there were at least a dozen of these people giving out coupons offering $25.00 tickets for various popular shows, including The Toxic Avenger.

There are a bunch of amazing shows currently playing on Broadway. While you probably won't find half-off tickets for the Broadway shows that sell out night after night, like Wicked, these shows have daily lotteries at their respective box offices, during which a limited number of $25.00 seats are offered to those who attend the seat lottery in-person.

To participate in the Wicked ticket lottery, for example, show up at the box office (Gershwin Theater, 222 West 51st Street) at least 2.5 hours prior to showtime and add your name to the list. Two hours before each performance, the lottery is held. There's a two ticket per winner limit, and you must be present for the actual lottery to purchase your $25.00 ticket(s) if you win. For more info about the Wicked ticket lottery, click here.

Instead of waiting in potentially long lines at the TKTS Booth, you can also go online, visit www.broadwaybox.com and/or www.playbill.com/club (if you're a member of Playbill's "club," and receive special codes which you can use at a theatre's box office to obtain a significant discount on New York-based show tickets (up to 50 percent).

Just some of the wonderful musicals currently on Broadway include: Billy Elliot, Bye Bye Birdie, Hair, In The Heights, Jersey Boys, Mama Mia!, Mary Poppins, Rock of Ages, Shrek The Musical, The Lion King, The Phantom of the Opera, West Side Story, and Wicked.

I haven't seen Rock of Ages yet, but Constantine Maroulis, who, like Diana DeGarmo, I got to know from my involvement with American Idol a few years back, is getting a lot of positive notoriety for his amazing performance in this musical. I have seen first-hand how talented Constantine is, so I have no trouble believing he's absolutely amazing in this show.

Off-Broadway, in addition to The Toxic Avenger, I recommend Alter Boys, Blue Man Group, Stomp and The Fantastics. If you want guaranteed seats for any of these shows, you'll need to reserve them in advance and pay full-price. However, if you have some flexibility in your schedule or you want a bargain, check out which shows are offering same-day discounts at the TKTS Booth in the heart of Times Square. The selection is typically extensive (unless it's a holiday).

Oh, and speaking of American Idol contestants, Anthony Federov is about to once again star in Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat for a limited time (October 10th - November 1st) in Seattle, Washington at the Fifth Avenue Theatre. Click here for a video promoting that show.

Abilene, Texas Big Country Balloonfest

This week, I've had a chance to visit Abilene, Texas for the first time. I've already seen and experienced so much, which I'll write about shortly, but so far, the highlight of the trip has been attending the 15th Annual Big Country Balloonfest this morning.

The day started at about 6:30am (before sunrise) as the pilots of about a dozen hot air balloons prepared for take off and went for a flight.

I was lucky enough to be a passenger aboard the "Blew Bayou" hot air balloon, owned by Beau Hand and piloted by James Tucker. Needless to say, this was an exciting and truly amazing experience.

From my hotel room (at the Courtyard Marriott in Abilene), I put together a short video and photo montage using my new iPod Nano and photos I took using my regular camera...Please take a look below, and enjoy!

More details from my trip will follow shortly. In the meantime, if you're thinking about vacationing in Texas, check out the website for the Abilene Convention and Visitor's Bureau at www.abilenevisitors.com or call (800) 727-7704.

Pet Travel Tip: In Case of Emergency

Many people, including myself, often travel with a pet. While it's easy to pet-proof your own home and keep things that could be dangerous for your dog out of his reach, the task can be more difficult when visiting hotels, for example.

If you travel with your pet, keep the phone number to the Pet Poison Helpline handy...just in case. This hotline is available 24/7. If your pet eats something poisonous or dangerous, and you can't reach your own vet immediately, this hotline is staffed by veterinarians who can help by providing life-saving guidance.

Call (800) 213-6680, or visit The Pet Poison Helpline's website at www.petpoisonhelpline.com. There is a flat fee of $35.00 per incident, which includes a follow-up phone consultation. The group which operates this hotline has handled more than 750,000 cases involving pet poisoning.

When traveling with your pet, do some research in advance. Determine where the closest veterinarian office and animal hospital is, based on where you'll be staying. Also, be sure to pack a copy of your pet's medical records. Help4Pets.com is an excellent (annual fee based) resource for finding nationwide referrals for all of your pet's needs.

Buying and Selling Airline Frequent Flier Miles

My article about buying and selling airline frequent flier miles appeared today within the "Your Money" section of the New York Daily News newspaper. To read the article online, click here.

The Broadmoor Resort & Spa in Colorado Springs: One of America's Top Resorts

One of the perks of being a travel writer is that I get to travel...a lot. Over the years, I have had the pleasure of staying at thousands of hotels and resorts across America and around the world. (Yes, it's a tough job, but someone has to do it.)

Anyway, one of my all-time very favorite resorts continues to be The Broadmoor Resort & Spa in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

There are several reasons why The Broadmoor is among my favorites, and a resort that I consistently recommend and rave about.

First, the resort is located about 6,000 feet above sea level in the beautiful Colorado mountains, so the surroundings are visually breathtaking. Using its surroundings as a picturesque backdrop, the resort's landscaping team does an amazing job making all of the resort's public areas look like beautiful parks - complete with a lake, plush green lawns, colorful flower beds and an abundance of trees. No matter what the season, strolling around the grounds of The Broadmoor is always a pleasure.

Combined with the beautiful setting, The Broadmoor offers extremely luxurious and spacious guest rooms and suites, all of which utilize the very best of amenities to insure absolute comfort. This is a five-star resort for good reason, and from the moment a guest checks in, it's easy to see why.

The resort's restaurants are also top-notch, featuring award-winning chefs, diverse menus, and one of the most extensive wine lists in the country. For example, I had dinner tonight at The Tavern, which is considered one of the resort's more casual restaurants, and the food and service was amazing. In fact, this "casual" restaurant is vastly superior to what most five-star resorts consider their fine-dining restaurant. (Yes, it's that good. But, the formal restaurants here are even better.)

Oh, and speaking of service, you won't find more personalized, friendly and attentive service anywhere. The Broadmoor has a long history serving very famous and prominent guests. It has developed a reputation for its superior service.

So, to sum things up, The Broadmoor offers a visually stunning setting, top-notch accommodations, extremely memorable dining experiences, and consistently personalized service and attention to all of its guests....but that's just the beginning.

The Broadmoor is also home to three championship (and beautifully manicured) golf courses, which golfers come from all over the world to experience. There's also a world-class day spa (The Spa at The Broadmoor, 719-577-5770), a tennis club (Tennis at The Broadmoor), a fully equipped fitness center, multiple indoor and outdoor swimming pools, a specialized (supervised) children's program, a movie theatre, and countless other indoor and outdoor activities designed to make anyone and everyone's stay a memorable one.

For business travelers, the resort has full convention, catering and meeting facilities which are state-of-the-art and able to handle groups of almost any size, plus a business center.

With all that it offers, The Broadmoor is literally the perfect destination for a romantic getaway, family vacation, destination wedding, honeymoon, business gathering, or golf vacation. It's ideal for "girls only" getaways that fully utilize the spa, or "guys only" weekends which include golf and spending time at the upscale and sophisticated bars and lounges. It's also a wonderful place for extended families to come in order to celebrate any holiday or experience a reunion.

In addition to the organized kid/teen activities hosted by the resort, The Broadmoor is just minutes away from an impressive zoo and other attractions that are ideal for families. Oh, and getting to The Broadmoor is extremely easy from virtually anywhere in America. It's located just minutes from the Colorado Springs Airport, and about 90 minutes (by car) from the Denver Airport.

This weekend (until Tuesday), I am enjoying my second visit to The Broadmoor, and so far, my stay has been every bit as enjoyable and comfortable as my first experience here was a few years ago. This time, however, I brought along my Yorkshire Terrier, Rusty. This is a very pet-friendly resort. In fact, when we checked in, waiting in the suite was a plush dog bed, a food and water bowl, gourmet biscuits, and a special "Guest of The Broadmoor" dog tag for Rusty. When it comes to pet-friendly resorts, The Broadmoor understands how to make dogs and their owners comfortable.

For more information about this very special and award-winning resort, visit www.broadmoor.com, or call (800) 634-7711 or (719) 634-7711. Obviously, being an ultra-luxurious resort, the standard rates are high (but worth every penny). However, throughout the year, especially during non-peak travel periods, The Broadmoor offers special rates and promotional packages which make staying here much more affordable. Check the resort's website to learn about promotional rates and when they're available.

...More to come as the weekend continues!

Photos (c)2009 Jason R. Rich. All rights reserved.

"Animals" Video: A Montage of Animal Photos From My 2008/2009 Travels

Try Something New, Adventurous and Fun in St. Thomas

It's one thing to visit a tropical vacation destination, such as St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands, and simply sit at the beach or pool in order to get an awesome tan. That's certainly a lazy, but relaxing way to enjoy a trip.

Others might prefer to party, drink and dance the night away (and then sleep most of the day), while some people might opt to take full advantage of their vacation by trying new, exotic, and/or a bit adventurous activities that they couldn't or wouldn't experience at home. If this is what you're looking to do, at least for a few hours during your vacation, keep reading!

Whether you're visiting St. Thomas and staying at a resort, or its one of the ports-of-call you'll be visiting during a Caribbean cruise, one way to really enjoy a few hours and experience something unique (that very few other vacation destinations offer) is to take a Breathable Observation Submersible Scooter (BOSS) tour. (It's like riding a Segway, but underwater. And, it's a great alternative to scuba diving or snorkeling, especially if you don't consider yourself to be an adventurous person or risk taker.)

In St. Thomas, to participate in a BOSS tour, call Aqua Adventures, LLC at (340) 777-3549), visit www.bossusvi.com, or check with your cruise line's shore excursion desk. The company works directly with several major cruise lines, including Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, Princess and Carnival.

Riding a BOSS may seem a bit scary, and you might think it requires a lot of physical strength and skill, but this is not the case at all!

No experience is needed, and you don't even need to know how to swim. If you can breath on land, sit still, and press a button with your thumb while holding onto handle bars, you'll be able to ride a BOSS with no problem whatsoever. During my tour today, a 10-year-old girl and several older people did it with no trouble. (That's me in the photo to the left, by the way.)

As I just mentioned, I had the chance to try this today, and it was a lot of fun! It was truly a memorable experience. I'd recommend this to anyone looking to try something new and who wants to see the Caribbean's marine life up-close, but who is not a certified scuba diver. (Riding a BOSS is easier than snorkeling and less physically taxing.)

The Aqua Adventures tour itself lasts about 3.5 hours, although participants only spend about 30 minutes riding a scooter underwater. The rest of the time is spent aboard a comfortable 60-foot, custom-built dive yacht. Free snacks and non-alcoholic beverages are served throughout the voyage. When not riding a BOSS scooter, participants can relax on the yacht or go snorkeling (all of the equipment is provided).

The cost of the tour is about $115.00 for adults and children alike, but I assure you, the experience is well worth it. You'll want to bring along an underwater camera or purchase a disposable underwater camera aboard the boat for an additional $20.00. Although, this is not an experience you will forget anytime soon. It's a totally awesome experience and well worth the time and money!

Throughout the tour, you'll be instructed and guided by a crew of skilled, experienced, friendly, funny and highly-professional certified divers and boat captains whose collective goal is to keep everyone safe, while also insuring an amazing time is had by all.

Currently, Aqua Adventures only operates in St. Thomas (not elsewhere in the Caribbean). Due to the popularity of this tour, it often books up well in advance, so make your reservations early - especially during peak travel seasons.

When you show up at the dock ready to experience your tour, along with an underwater camera, be wearing a bathing suit, and bring a towel, hat, sunglasses and sun block. Everything else you need will be provided. On the boat and scooter you'll be barefoot. If you wear prescription eyeglasses, you'll be able to wear them throughout your tour (even while riding the scooter).

So, the choice is yours. If you're visiting St. Thomas, you can do what every other tourist does and have a run-of-the-mill vacation experience, or you can participate in a BOSS tour with Aqua Adventures, and try something unique that you'll be able to tell all of your friends and family about when you return home.