An energetic walk that covers mule tracks by road, and hills via stone steps, Cinque Terre offers an immersion into the area called by many the most beautiful part of Italy and one that is best visited by foot. Accommodations are in a former 16th-century Franciscan monastery with a state-of-the-art Wellness Spa and in a hotel with its own sandy beach.  Priced at US $3795 per person, based on double occupancy, the seven-day/six-night walk takes place on September 21-27 (women only) and October 5-11 and includes 6-8 miles of walking per day.  A single supplement is priced at $470.   

 
A World Heritage site, Cinque Terre or “Five Lands” sits near Genoa in Liguria, in a corner of Northern Italy originally forged by the Romans as trade routes. Linking five enchanting villages set in the cliffs and harbors of the Italian Riviera, the pathways and rocky terraces of the area offer views of pastel houses that reach from hilltop to the blue Ligurian Sea, terraced vineyards, and olive groves. A food mecca, the region is synonymous with olive oil, basil, pesto and the dessert wine Sciacchetra.  Of particular interest to women, the Walk features a tour of Rapallo’s lace museum; lunch in elegant Portofino; shopping in Sestri Levante, a town known for its fine linens; a crossing of the Riviera di Levante by boat, rail and cable car; and a visit to a mountaintop monastery. Days are punctuated by meals of local delicacies, wines and limoncello between walks covering three to five miles. Dinner is a lavish affair preceded by a cocktail hour designed to further foster conversation and friendship.
 
The Wayfarers, named one of the “Best Outfitters on Earth” by National Geographic Adventure, marks its 25th season with 83 diverse Walks through 15 countries.  All Wayfarers Walks are US dollar guaranteed, so travelers can book with no worries about fluctuating exchange rates.  The Wayfarers 2008 schedule includes Walks in England, Wales, Scotland, Ireland, Croatia, Czech Republic, Slovenia, Austria, France, Italy, Spain and Switzerland and the United States.
 
About The Wayfarers
Offering an eco-aware “walking” holiday of both culture and fitness, The Wayfarers’ newest Walks/hikes include South Africa, Slovenia, New Zealand and California. A new women’s-focused program with Girlfriend Getaways and Mother/Daughter walks adds shopping, museums, spa treatments, and more.  Other popular walks are the Founders’ Walk on the Isle of Wight, Croatia, Austria, Amalfi Coast, and Czech Republic.  Now in its 25th season and named one of the “Best Outfitters on Earth” by National Geographic Adventure, The Wayfarers offer exclusive entrées into homes and gardens otherwise closed to the public, graceful accommodations, outstanding cuisine, and meetings with local residents. Walks range from 5-12 days and are rated easy to challenging, with distances of 4-5 miles, 6-10 miles or 12-15 miles per day.

For information and booking visit  www.thewayfarers.com or call 800- 249-4620.  

Source: The Wayfarers

The key is to plan ahead. Travel insurance, like all insurance, is predicated on the occurrence of unforeseen events. You need to purchase travel insurance before your trip for maximum coverage and peace of mind protection against the unexpected. “It only takes one bad travel experience for a person to understand that trip insurance is not a luxury, it’s a necessity,” explains Grace. “Travel insurance is your best defense against many of the most common risks affecting travel today.”

Trip Cost Protection: It happens all the time. Just before your family vacation, one of the kids gets sick, forcing you to cancel the fun-filled get-away. Travel insurance protects your financial investment so you don’t pay for a trip you cannot take.

Travel Delays/Missed Connections: A delayed flight can strand a person for hours or even cause them to miss a connecting flight to a vacation cruise. These events occur often and can wreak havoc on your itinerary not to mention your wallet for hotel accommodations, meals, and transportation caused by weather-related delays and cancellations.

Pre-existing Medical Conditions: If you, a traveling companion, family member, or business partner have a pre-existing medical condition (injury, disease or illness), trip insurance is a must. But plan ahead as the majority of travel insurance policies require that you purchase your policy within 7 to 21 days of your initial trip deposit to be eligible for pre-existing medical conditions coverage.

Hurricanes & Severe Weather: Mother Nature can be a powerful force to reckon with especially if you are traveling to earthquake, hurricane, or flood prone areas. Travel insurance provides coverage for weather-related trip cancellations, delays and interruptions as well as vacation rentals, resorts, and hotels made uninhabitable by weather.

Supplier Default: Most of the major U.S. travel insurers provide financial default/bankruptcy protection if you purchase your travel insurance plan within 7 to 21 days (varies by company and plan) of your initial trip deposit. Although some travel insurers will provide coverage for suppliers that have declared bankruptcy but continue to operate, once a company ceases operations it becomes a foreseen event and insurance can no longer be purchased.

Tour Operator Cancels: Travel insurance does not provide coverage if a tour operator cancels due to a lack of participants. However, some insurance companies do offer a Cancel For Any Reason policy that allows you to cancel your trip for any reason you choose, up to two days prior to your departure.

Unemployment: Most travel insurance policies will cover an unexpected loss of employment. Plans vary by company but all specify coverage for lay-off of a full-time employee.

InsureMyTrip.com allows consumers to review, rate, compare, analyze and purchase travel insurance from all the leading U.S. travel insurance companies in a completely secure environment. To learn more about the protection plans that best suit your vacation travel needs, visit http://www.insuremytrip.com/ on-line or call (800) 487-4722 to speak with a licensed travel insurance professional.

About InsureMyTrip.com
Established in 1995, InsureMyTrip.com is the leading, consumer-oriented online travel insurance aggregator worldwide. Featuring insurance comparisons from the top industry providers, InsureMyTrip.com is a unique, one-stop resource designed to meet consumers’ comprehensive travel insurance needs all in a secure environment. InsureMyTrip.com also specializes in providing integrated technology solutions for the travel insurance industry, with over 2,000 private-labeled and co-branded travel-related websites around the globe. InsureMyTrip.com is headquartered in Warwick, RI with
additional offices and data centers in Connecticut and Oregon.

Source: InsureMyTrip.Com

Read the full article at Fodors.com 

Click here to read the full article

Hostelworld.com recommends the following environmentally friendly hostels, which, truthfully, are anything but inconvenient.

Gyreum: Sligo, Ireland

Enigmata Treehouse Ecolodge: Camiguin, Philippines

Port O Call YHA: Port Douglas, Australia

Eco Beach YHA: Apollo Bay, Victoria

Hedonisia Hawaii, Hawaii Big Island, USA

HI Boston Downtown: Boston, USA

HI Washington DC: Washington DC, USA

Reykjavik City Hostel: Reykjavik, Iceland

Grampians YHA Eco-Hostel; Grampians, Australia

Deepdale Backpackers Hostel, Burnham Deepdale, England

Built around a partially covered stable courtyard and dating back to the seventeenth century, Deepdale transcends time, mixing old world traditions with new age amenities. Located on a working farm, which in 2004 was voted the most beautiful farm in Britain, the hostel engages in all forms of environmental and energy conservation including the use of solar panels for all accommodations. Deepdale is currently working with major universities to explore new forms of environmental approaches such as water recycling, wind turbines and bio-diesel fuel.
http://www.hostelworld.com/hosteldetails.php/DeepdaleBackpackersHostel-BurnhamDeepdale-531

Source: The Castle Group, Inc. 

Who hasn’t felt a bit lost trying to pick a hotel, with little information and no visuals to help? Or disappointed by a hotel room that doesn’t live up to the impression it made when it was reserved?  Now there’s a website where you can check out your hotel before you book.  TVtrip.com has 115 destinations, 5530 hotels, 494008 reviews, and 4937 videos of hotels in popular destinations such as Madrid, Beijing, Paris New York, San Francisco, Miami and Chicago, so you can “check out” your next hotel before you check in.

A World Heritage site, Cinque Terre or “Five Lands” sits near Genoa in Liguria, in a corner of Northern Italy originally forged by the Romans as trade routes. Linking five enchanting villages set in the cliffs and harbors of the Italian Riviera, the pathways and rocky terraces of the area offer views of pastel houses that reach from hilltop to the blue Ligurian Sea, terraced vineyards, and olive groves. A food mecca, the region is synonymous with olive oil, basil, pesto and the dessert wine Sciacchetra.  Of particular interest to women, the Walk features a tour of Rapallo’s lace museum; lunch in elegant Portofino; shopping in Sestri Levante, a town known for its fine linens; a crossing of the Riviera di Levante by boat, rail and cable car; and a visit to a mountaintop monastery. Days are punctuated by meals of local delicacies, wines and limoncello between walks covering three to five miles. Dinner is a lavish affair preceded by a cocktail hour designed to further foster conversation and friendship.
 
Priced at US $3795 per person, based on double occupancy, the seven-day/six-night walk takes place on September 21-27 (women only) and October 5-11 and includes 6-8 miles of walking per day.  A single supplement is priced at $470.   
 

The Wayfarers, named one of the “Best Outfitters on Earth” by National Geographic Adventure, marks its 25th season with 83 diverse Walks through 15 countries.  All Wayfarers Walks are US dollar guaranteed, so travelers can book with no worries about fluctuating exchange rates.  The Wayfarers 2008 schedule includes Walks in England, Wales, Scotland, Ireland, Croatia, Czech Republic, Slovenia, Austria, France, Italy, Spain and Switzerland and the United States.
 
About The Wayfarers
Offering an eco-aware “walking” holiday of both culture and fitness, The Wayfarers’ newest Walks/hikes include South Africa, Slovenia, New Zealand and California. A new women’s-focused program with Girlfriend Getaways and Mother/Daughter walks adds shopping, museums, spa treatments, and more.  Other popular walks are the Founders’ Walk on the Isle of Wight, Croatia, Austria, Amalfi Coast, and Czech Republic.  Now in its 25th season and named one of the “Best Outfitters on Earth” by National Geographic Adventure, The Wayfarers offer exclusive entrées into homes and gardens otherwise closed to the public, graceful accommodations, outstanding cuisine, and meetings with local residents. Walks range from 5-12 days and are rated easy to challenging, with distances of 4-5 miles, 6-10 miles or 12-15 miles per day.   www.thewayfarers.com, 800- 249-4620.                   

Despite these statistics, Americans do see the value in vacation, with more than one-third (39 percent) reporting they feel more productive and better about their job upon returning from vacation and 52 percent claiming to feel rested, rejuvenated and reconnected to their personal life. Work responsibilities are one of the biggest deterrents to taking vacation, with 18 percent of U.S. adults responding that they’ve cancelled or postponed vacation plans because of work and 29 percent admitting they have trouble coping with stress from work at some point in the vacation cycle. Additionally, nearly one quarter (24 percent) report that they check work e-mail or voicemail while vacationing. That figure is up from only 16 percent in 2005.

“The research is clear, despite leaving vacation days unused, Americans believe in the restorative power of taking time off, as well as their employers attitudes around taking the days they earn,” said Paul Brown, president, Expedia.com. “Regardless of the number of vacation days Americans receive or how they want to take them, Expedia aims to provide travelers with planning tools that allow them to book their perfect trip at the right price backed by our Best Price Guarantee.”

Americans Lose the Global Tally

Expedia analyzed the vacation habits of employed workers in the U.S., Canada, Great Britain, Germany, France, Spain, Italy and for the first time, the Netherlands and Austria. Canadians receive an average of 17 annual days, two less than 2007 but still three more than Americans. Among the European countries studied in the past, all workers receive more vacation days in 2008 than 2007. Great Britain has a two day increase over 2007, with 26 days, and Germany, Spain and France all saw increases of one day, receiving 27 days, 31 days and 37 days respectively. Employed workers in the Netherlands and Austria are awarded an average of 28 days in 2008.

Gender Differences

When it comes to making vacation a priority, Expedia research saw a shift in attitudes toward taking time off among women and men. In 2007, men were more likely to feel guilty about taking time off from work (39 percent versus 30 percent of women). However, in 2008, women are more likely than men to feel guilty about taking time off from work (38 percent women versus 28 percent men), and men are more likely than women (16 percent versus 11 percent) to take a 2-week vacation.

For complete survey results visit http://www.expedia.com/vacationdeprivation.
 

Source: Expedia, Inc.

“”This makes traveling with one of our small groups to, for example, British Columbia, a value compared to piecing the same components together by you,”” says Dan Austin, founding partner and Director.

“But there is some fleece, the warm fuzzy kind, involved,” he says. “We’’re giving away fleece vests to folks who book any of our Canadian adventures from now through the end of May. The North End “all climate wear” vest retails for $65.”

““We’’re using this as a booking incentive to remind folks that you need not cross an ocean for a truly exotic vacation with an international feel,”” he says.

Matt Delany, the company’s British Columbia specialist, says that this easy-to-access, culturally and naturally textured region is an emerging destination for ALA who specializes in immersive, multi sport adventures for families and adults.

His favorite highlights on trips in and around the Whistler region include:

• •Hiking through the coastal temperate rainforest into Joffre Lakes to witness the hanging Matier Glacier melting into aquamarine waters of the lake below.
• •Rafting the Elaho River in the Paradise Valley, fed by cascades and waterfalls from four pristine glacial systems.
• •Gazing out from the alpine heights of Whistler to the distant Coastal Range, surrounded by massive ice fields, towering peaks and vibrant wild flowers.

For details please see Whistler – British Columbia Wilderness Adventure and Whistler Family – Mountains, Meadows & Wildlife Adventure .


Another one of ALA’s BC destinations is Vancouver Island. The programs include kayaking, biking, wine-tasting and touring the world-class Butchart Gardens in Victoria. Follow these links to: Vancouver Island – Beaches, Black Bears, & Boreal Forests  and Vancouver Island Family – Northwest Family Adventure.


All of these 6-day / 5-night multi-sport vacations that combine adventure with high-end accommodations are fully guided and nearly all-inclusive. The per person, double occupancy rates, exclusive of air to/from Vancouver (Whistler trips) or Victoria (Vancouver Island trips), start at $1,998 with child and single supplements available.

ALA manages all of the arrangements in its selected destinations. Small groups are held at just 12 guests with a generous 1:6 guide-to-guest ratio. Rates include first-class accommodations, meals, expert guides, all necessary equipment, entry fees, ground transportation and more.

Austin-Lehman Adventures (ALA) is also the “go-to” company for planning and setting up a private, custom vacation throughout the Americas and Southern Africa.

To get a copy of the 2008 catalog as well as information on ALA’s 40 unique luxury, multisport, adult and family active adventure travel itineraries call toll-free 1.800.575.1540, or e-mail info@austinlehman.com. To review current trips, schedules and itineraries you can log onto www.austinlehman.com.

Source: Widness & Wiggins PR

 
Available from from June through September, the 110-foot MV Ocean Explorer takes the boys and their tackle through the famed Inside Passage between Port Hardy and Prince Rupert, depending on where the fish are biting. Four fully rigged 17-foot skiffs take keen fisherman directly from anchorage to the top secret fishing spots along the coast. Whether it’s trophy chinook salmon, king-size halibut, northern coho, dungeness crab, jumbo prawns, lingcod or red snapper you’re after, the crew aboard the Ocean Explorer guarantees your catch or the next trip is free!
 
While taking a break from fishing, the boys are invited to climb into one of the kayaks provided to explore the nearby inlets and bays and watch for some of the local wildlife that inhabit the area. Pristine water, towering mountains, deep fjords and a temperate climate make the area prime habitat for bald eagles, whales, dolphins and sea lions.
 
The only fishing experience of this kind in the area, the Ocean Explorer boasts nine private staterooms, lounge, a state-of-the-art galley and hot tub ensuring all the luxuries of a home away from home. After a long day on the open water, the men are welcomed with the culinary talents of Executive Chef David Weslowsky. David, the on board chef, serves up unforgettable meals that feature the finest and freshest of Pacific seafood, fruits and vegetables and fresh baked pastries. After a gourmet meal, the “Guys Ultimate Fishing Getaway” is wrapped up with all hands on deck for a nice long soak in the hot tub under the stars and to share fish stories.
 
For more information or reservations for the “Ultimate Guys Fishing Getaway” package, call Adventure West Resorts at 1-877-GO-WEST (1-877-346-9378) or visit www.adventurewestresorts.com/ocean.
 
Adventure West Resorts is a multi-faceted destination experience provider that delivers an authentic Canadian adventure. Experience the unexpected with Ocean Explorer Sportfishing, Adventure Fjord Heli-skiing and Elkin Creek Guest Ranch. For more information and reservations, call 1-877-3-GO-WEST (1-877-346-9378) or visit www.adventurewestresorts.com.

Source: Ki Communications 

THINGS TO CONSIDER…BEFORE YOU GO

When planning a holiday, don’t ask your travel agent for a lot of different brochures as all of the same information is available online. In fact, most travel companies have a website which will contain an electronic version of the brochure you are interested in. Travellers can utilise the internet for their research and this will provide a broader range of information about your destination.

Select hotels based on their demonstrated green credentials – many internet booking engines now offer information on eco-friendly hotel options. These accommodations have introduced eco-friendly practices and have made efforts to reduce their energy and water consumption and waste production.

If you intend to visit areas of natural or cultural significance, ensure you plan the visit with tour guides who have environmental accreditation – this will ensure that the visit does not have any negative impact on the surroundings.

Speak to your travel agent or visit the tourism website of your destination to learn more about their public transport system – in some destinations it is easier (and certainly less expensive) to use public transport than to rent private vehicles or hire taxis.

When booking your flight, ask your travel agent to organise an electronic ticket. It saves paper and ensures you are less likely to lose your documents when you travel.

Remember to unplug all of unnecessary electrical appliances (TVs and audio visual equipment, kitchen appliances such as kettles, microwaves and toasters) in your home prior to departing. These items still use energy when they are in off or standby mode. By unplugging them, you will decrease your home’s energy usage as well as reduce your electricity bill.

THINGS TO CONSIDER…WHILE YOU TRAVEL

Use the online check-in counter at the airport – most major airports offer this service, saving time in long queues and unnecessary paper.

Take advantage of public transport air transfers that are available upon arrival in your destination. Most major airports have this as an option, and in some instances (see London Heathrow www.heathrowairport.com for an example) coach transfers take you directly to your hotel.

When checking in to your hotel, ask the staff about the hotel’s environmental policies and what they can do as a guest to assist them (not having your sheets and towels changed every day to cut down on water usage etc).

Always turn off the lights in the hotel before you go out and explore the area.

Use a digital camera for photos – you can review the image instantly and decide whether they wish to keep it or need to shoot the photo again. Using traditional film-reliant cameras can lead to excess paper use, and often results in photos that you don’t want to keep.

Rather than send postcards from your destination, email friends and family e-cards. Most national tourism boards have e-cards available on their websites with images of significant landmarks. Doing this saves paper, postage and the CO2 emissions from the postcard’s journey.

Take advantage of the local restaurants in the area you are visiting. It is a fantastic way to experience the authentic culture of a destination, ensures you are supporting the local population, and assists the environment as the food was produced locally and hence hasn’t required excess transportation.

THINGS TO CONSIDER… WHEN YOU HAVE COMPLETED YOUR TRIP

Take advantage of the public transport options available upon your return home – most new airports are equipped with efficient transport services that will take you at least part of the way home.

If you struggled to find eco-friendly options at any of the accommodations you stayed in, send an email to let them know that you think they should consider adopting some of the other practices you have seen – it is only when customers take a stand that organisations start to change their practices!

Encourage others to take advantage of the responsible travel options you discovered – there are several good travel blogs where delegates can post their thoughts and recommendations.

Inform your travel agent of any positive/negative behaviour you witnessed while travelling – they are an invaluable source to people booking their trips and when it comes to accommodation, flight and tour options they encourage or dissuade travellers based on their former clients’ recommendations.

Source: EC3 Global 

Q: Where does one begin in India?

Q: How are the south and the north different?

Q: What are the accommodations like throughout India?

Q: What are the benefits of private, custom travel to India with Asia Transpacific Journeys?  

A: Going with a knowledgeable, reputable travel company will assure consistently excellent quality in lodging, transport, logistics and local guides. Additionally, a custom journey can be crafted around a traveler’s unique interests, such as the arts, yoga, cuisine, trekking, wildlife, tribal cultures, spas or schools.

About Asia Transpacific Journeys
Asia Transpacific Journeys is a Boulder, Colorado based Asia travel company and Asia tour operator specializing in Custom Journeys and Small Group Trips to Asia and the Pacific region since 1987.  Outstanding service, long-standing connections in Asia and deeply insightful cultural interpretation make them the Asia travel company of choice for the American Museum of Natural History, The Harvard and Yale alumni associations, the World Wildlife Fund, as well as discerning individuals, their families and friends. The recipient of three “Top Travel Specialists” awards for 2007 from Condé Nast Traveler magazine. Journey Beyond the Ordinary ™ http://www.AsiaTranspacific.com

 
Do you eat to live or are you one of us who lives to eat? There’s a lot you can learn about a country and a culture through its food and wine. Be adventurous! Try it all - from snails and candied fungi to jellyfish and grasshoppers. The taste may be as good as the stories you’ll have to tell! Here are some 5-star epicurean adventures to die for:
 

        British Columbia - Okanagan Valley: Canada’s Wine Country

What better way to toast a day of hiking and biking amidst stunning vistas, meandering riverside pathways and hillside vineyards than with a glass of the finest local wine? How about making the toast while soaking in an outdoor hot tub? Austin-Lehman’s Okanagan Wine Country adventure vacation was named one of the “World’s 25 Best New Trips for 2007” by National Geographic Adventure Magazine. BC’s Okanagan Valley, aptly dubbed the “Napa of the North,” has yet to be widely discovered. Surrounded by snow-capped mountains, it’s been called one of the finest grape growing regions in the world - and an ideal setting for an active 6-day wine tasting adventure. Click HERE for more information

        A Taste of Argentina: The Adventurous Cook’s Tour

Cook and eat your way through Argentina with Myths and Mountains! Discover a world of wines and gourmet food in South America’s hottest destination. Join renowned gastronomist Alejandro Frango for an appetizing round of in-depth culinary workshops in Buenos Aires. There’s also wine-tastings in Mendoza and dinner at one of the top 10 restaurants in the world. It’s a spicy sampling of empenadas and mate teas, parillas and asados, Malbecs and Merlots. Add a dash of hiking and horseback riding in the Andes to whet up an appetite for this tasty adventure! Click HERE for more information.

        France: La Provence Complete (Cycling Adventure)

Sun-drenched Provence, land of endless pleasures, is the ideal choice for an indulgent epicurean get-away from EURO-Bike & Walking Tours. Enjoy charming market towns, world-renowned cuisine, majestic landscapes, and some of Europe’s most beguiling hotels. Experience the famous wine regions of Cote du Rhone, Gigondas, and Chateauneuf-du-Pape and indulge in a special dessert wine from the village of Beaumes-de-Venise. Bicycle on quiet farm roads surrounded by olive groves and vineyards, stopping at roadside attractions dating back to the Bronze Age. Then relax at exclusive hotels, savoring gourmet meals and outstanding local wines. Click HERE for more information. Ask about the special discounts on fall departures!

        France: Provence - Pathways of the Impressionists (Walking Adventure)

Walkers on this trip brought to you by The Wayfarers, can step into foodie heaven with a symphony of flavors created by renowned Provencal Chef Edouard Loubet. The landscape that once inspired the impressionists now provides the essential ingredients for one of the top young chefs in Europe. Passionate about using only the freshest seasonal produce, Chef Loubet earned his first Michelin star by the time he was 25. During the trip, you will dine in the eponymous Restaurant Edouard Loubet at La Bastide de Capelongue - and enjoy the best of Provencal cuisine. Chef Loubet makes his own red and white wines which accompany the meal. Click HERE for more information.

        

        Peru: Trekking to Machu Picchu - Lodge to Lodge

Now you can travel like Inca royalty and experience all the rave of Peru’s nuevoAndean cuisine at 12,000’ in the Andes with Wildland Adventures. The new Machu Picchu Mountain Lodges Trek is a 6-day luxury adventure that features a physical, cultural, and spiritual journey traversing ancient footpaths through the high Andes en route to the legendary ruins of Machu Picchu. Trekking from lodge to lodge you’ll enjoy the eclectic mix of Spanish, Arabic, African, and Asian influences that give rise to delicious Peruvian gastronomy paired with Peruvian, Chilean and Argentine wines. Click HERE for more information.

        Croatia: Gourmet Delights Sailing the Dalmatian Coast

Explore Croatia’s charming island towns, isolated swimming coves and local vineyards and wineries with ROW Adventures. A seasoned Croatian guide and crew will fully immerse you in the local culture and history. Enjoy world renowned Dalmatian wines and Mediterranean cuisine on a vintage 11-day small yacht tour. Fresh fruits, vegetables, meats and seafood are paired with local wines for an epicure’s delight.  Click HERE for more information.

Source: Trusted Adventures  www.trustedadventures.com. 

Accommodating this exploding trend, Travelocity has compiled a list of pet-friendly places for travelers who can’t bear the thought of leaving Fido behind as well as a few animal-themed attractions for the wildlife lover.

“Travelocity found that one in four people travel with their pets, showing that this is a big part of the growing travel market,” said Amy Ziff, Travelocity’s editor-at-large. “Travelers are no longer limited to walking their dogs in the backyard or local park. Now the entire country can be their pets’ playground.”

With special menus, a kitty concierge, a doggy translator and more, Travelocity’s editor-at-large Amy Ziff names some of the best hotels for pet lovers and animal experiences in North America.

San Diego, CA: This spot tops the list as a year-round pet lover’s paradise. There are a number of pet friendly hotels, from the boutique Hotel Solamar to the W San Diego, which is part of the chain’s PAW (pets always welcome) practices and has special events like doggie happy hours and menus. But it’s not just the hotels that embrace animals — Sea World, with the legendary Shamu shows, swimming with Dolphins, shark encounters and more, tops the list for animal interaction. The San Diego Zoo’s animal park has a summer Roar N’ Snore overnight program where visitors can sleep in the park for extra access to the animals. There are also numerous pet-friendly beaches, dog-runs, salons, and restaurants.

Boston: Beantown has a reputation for making way for our furry and feathered friends with the Boston-based book Make Way for Ducklings. There are the Swan Boat Tours and the Boston Duck Tours which guarantee a view of the area’s more active feathery friends. Beyond the gardens and the commons, Boston has pet friendly hotels such as the Fairmont Copley plaza with a canine companion named Catie. For more animal sightings, visit the Franklin Park Zoo with gorillas, warthogs, Cotswald sheep, Pilgrim geese and more. Zoo details: http://www.zoonewengland.com/.

Chicago: It’s home to the Shedd Aquarium, the world’s largest indoor aquarium featuring Beluga Whales, Black Piranha and Leafy Dragons. It opened in 1930 and added the Oceanarium in 1991, nearly doubling its size. Enjoy a stay at the Hotel Monaco and partake in the Guppy Love program, which makes a Goldfish every guest’s companion for the duration of their stay. Or, consider a Canine cruise for dogs and their people, operating Sunday mornings June - September through Mercury skyline cruises at www.mercuryskylinecruiseline.com. Walk along Magnificent Mile, Lakefront Trail, or the Riverwalk Gateway to learn the city’s history.

Denver & The Mountains: Though the mile high city and surrounding mountains are welcoming to visitors of all kinds, remember to keep pets hydrated at high altitudes. The Monaco hotels in Denver have a line of pet paw-licies that detail special pet services from gourmet canine cuisine to massages and pet-sitting. The Teatro will serve pets food in a personally-monogrammed dish and walk them as needed. When in the mountains, try spotting elk, moose, deer, coyotes, cougars, black bear, hawks and more.

Miami / Ft. Lauderdale: Miami’s SoBe catwalk is full of pooch pride. Dine at the News Cafe with your furry friend or window shop. The Ritz-Carlton, Royal Palm and the Aqua welcome pets as well. Broward county, the Greater Fort Lauderdale area, boasts more than 70 pet-friendly hotels, numerous parks and recreation areas and even restaurants that cater to pets. For pet R&R, check them into the Camp Canine Country Club & Spa in Ft. Lauderdale or the Tail End Pet Resort & Spa in Davie. Pets dine on gourmet fare from Bone Appetit in Ft. Lauderdale or Three Dog Bakery in Plantation. There is even canine couture found at Tea Cups in Hollywood.

New York City: Home to the most notorious of dog shows, the city is over-run with dog lovers each winter for Westminster. From Central Park to Battery Park and Hudson River Park to Washington Square Park, dog runs are as common as play grounds in Manhattan. Visit www.urbanhound.com for the low-down on playing with pets in the city. Visit the famous Central Park zoo featured in Madagascar and the bigger Bronx Zoo as well. Hotels like 70 Park, the Muse, the Affinia 50 (and all other 8 Affinia properties in Manhattan) as well as the five W hotels all welcome pets. The Affinia hotels run a Jet Set Pet program with a special welcome and extensive list of services whereas the W’s offer signature programs including robes (for you and your pet), treats, and a Where-to-Woof guide of dog parks, groomers and pet boutiques.

San Francisco: Take pets to the Golden Gate Park Dog Run, Mountain Lake Park or the Presidio. Even enjoy a jog at Baker Beach, Fort Funston or Ocean Beach — just be aware of the strictly enforced leash laws. Visitors and their pets can hop on and off the public transport while seeing the sites. Numerous local hotels such as the W San Francisco and the Kimpton hotels are pet friendly. Perhaps the most notable treatment is at the Fairmont where guests can sign up for the Doggy Translator which enhances pet communication.

Puerto Rico & Vieques: These destinations are a diver’s delight — for lovers of the deep blue ocean and all of the creatures beneath the water. Not only does the Caribbean offer coral reefs and brilliant fish, they have bioluminescent bays for nighttime dives as well. Bays can be brimming with phosphorescent single-cell animals that glow in the water when they are agitated or moved. Witness the phenomenon from two bays in Puerto Rico: Fajardo and Guarnica. In Vieques, the healthiest of the bio bays in the Caribbean is Mosquito Bay. Stay at Puerto Rico’s Normandie House.

Washington, DC: Even our nation’s capital welcomes pets. The White House has a history with animals from Calvin Coolidge’s pet raccoon that was purportedly walked on a leash to Woodrow Wilson’s herd of sheep. There have been gifts as outlandish as a herd of elephants and tiger cubs. So, it should come as no surprise that the Mall is a two-mile long playground for pets (although no pets are allowed IN the monuments). The city’s National Zoo is a great place to visit more than 2,400 kinds of animals. The city has numerous pet-friendly hotels including the Fairmont, Hotel Palomar, The Topaz, The Rouge, the Monaco and more.

Vancouver: Rover can roam the stunning city of Vancouver and enjoy many of the parks — even off leash! Local dog lovers have united to develop the Vancouver Dog Owners’ Association Web site with useful information including where and when to take pets to the park and which are leash free. Also check out the Doggy Style Deli on Denman Street specializing in a dog diet akin to “raw food.” Dine in or take out with meals that range from $2.50 - $6. There are many pet-friendly hotels including the Fairmont, The Delta Vancouver, The Sutton and the Metroplitan. At the Pacific Palisades Hotel, the V.I.Pets program welcomes dogs for free and offer biscuits, a Frisbee, pick-up bags, dog bowls and plenty of places to take pooches.

Even if Fido can’t come along, some great animal sightings, experiences, and festivals include:

    —  South Dakota Bear Country (Rapid City, SD)

    —  Ostrich Festival (Chandler, AZ)

    —  Camel Racing (Virginia City, NV)

    —  Sting Ray City (Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands)

    —  Sail with your pet on Cunard’s QM2

Travelocity’s editor-at-large also has a number of tips for traveling with pets:

    —  Check with your vet before traveling as it can be stressful to
        furry friends. So, make sure it’s OK and they have what they
        need (including a letter that documents they are up-to-date on
        their shots and vaccinations).

    —  Be aware that while many hotels welcome pets, some charge
        extra. The Fairmont’s fees are from $25-$40 and the W has a
        $25 fee and a non-refundable $100 cleaning fee.

    —  Traveling with pets can be stressful so take care to acclimate
        them. Bring items from home to comfort them. Consider Comfort
        Zone’s spray & diffusers, for more information visit
        www.petcomfortzone.com.

    —  If flying with a pet, make reservations in advance and get an
        airline-approved container.

    —  For U.S. dog parks, visit
        http://animal.discovery.com/features/dogpark/map/map.html.

    —  For pet forecasts, including the best time for walks, visit
        www.weather.com.

    For more information visit: www.travelocity.com/animals.

Source:  Travelocity
Travelocity is committed to being the traveler’s champion — before, during and after the trip and guarantees everything about a customer’s booking will be right. If it’s not, Travelocity will work with its partners to make it right, right away. This customer-driven focus, backed by live 24/7 phone support, great prices and powerful shopping technology has made Travelocity the fifth largest travel agency in the U.S. — booking $7.4 billion in travel worldwide in 2005. Based in Southlake, Texas, Travelocity also owns and operates Travelocity Business(SM) and GetThere(R) for corporate travelers, lastminute.com, a leader in European online travel and ZUJI, a leader in Asia-Pacific online travel. Travelocity is owned by Sabre Holdings Corporation (NYSE:TSG), a world leader in travel commerce.