Top 7 destinations during Spring Break

By Randy Colt

Whoever invented the Spring Break should be given a Nobel Prize. It’s that one time of the year when we’re allowed to loosen up and just have fun. There are just so many places to visit during your Spring Break, but if you’re smart, you’ll book a flight to one of these 7 prime destinations.

Miami

Nothing screams Spring Break more than the beach. Miami’s long strip is definitely not a sleepy spot especially at this time of the year. In fact, Miami probably doesn’t wait around for the Spring Break to happen. It’s a hot party spot all-year-round. If you want to see and be seen, don’t miss out on the South Beach or So Be. Just take note that Miami is also known as the place where the beach is just as lovely as the people you’ll see on the beach so you might want to shape up.
 
Enjoy great dining and clubbing spots when you find yourself in this part of the world. The culture is also very interesting on this strip. Spot a group of Cubans just chilling in the sun, or rich locals tanning their already perfectly tanned bodies. Check out the cocktail mixes of the most popular clubs here and make sure you’re with your own brand of poison as you watch the beautiful Miami sunset.

Amsterdam

If you want to get a taste of true freedom, you might want to visit Amsterdam. Notorious for its “live and let live”  motto, the city legally allows controversial and supposedly illegal acts like smoking weed and even prostitution as long as it doesn’t harm any of its denizens.  As a result, Amsterdam also has one of the world’s richest art scenes. With its residents able to think freely on their toes, expression at its highest form is celebrated.

What Spring Breakers love about the city, though is not the diverse art scene as much as the leniency of life in general. It’s true that while drug and alcohol trafficking is legal, it’s still regulated, but compared to other parts of the world, the leash is pretty lose here. The drinking age is 16 opposed to other countries’ 18- or 21-year-old brackets. There are also about 1,000 bridges and 160 canals to explore on your lazy days when you just want a quick boat ride or a stroll across the country.
 

San Diego
 
This city can probably be considered a Spring Break haven with enough sprinkling of beaches, its mild climate at this time of the year, and its scenic downtown streets. If you’re travelling with kids, it would probably be a good idea to drop by SeaWorld. There are also plenty of beach bars for good but cheap eats by the sea. Come night time, San Diego bustles to life especially at the Pacific Beach where the club scene is simply happening. Explore Garnett and Grand Avenue for the best clubs in the area.

If you want a more posh evening out with a date, you might want to go downtown to the Gaslamp Quarter. Hipsters also flock the rooftop of the W hotel with its famous Beach Bar. No stilettos necessary for the ladies in this hot spot. You can wear your flip flops or be more daring by being barefoot. You might also want to go to San Diego’s actual beaches and start a bonfire. These are the best spots in the city for a booze fest.
 

Koh Phangan, Thailand
 
If you’ve frequented Thailand during the Spring Break in the past, you might have gone to more popular beaches like Phuket and Koh Samui. These days, though, you’ll probably get more bang for your buck at the Koh Phangan island. Try to book your stay during their Full Moon Parties and join 30,000 moon-worshippers at the beach. Don’t think this would look like a cult, though. Techno music is the craze during these Full Moon Parties, and you get to dance barefoot with your glow sticks in hand. If you can’t book a flight to catch these world-famous parties, don’t worry. You can still get the same experience at their New Age beachfront cafes. What’s the best part about coming here? The beer is cheap and the beaches are really pretty.
 

Dominican Republic

Spring Break is all about having fun, but no one really wants to bust their pockets while they’re travelling. The Dominican Republic is fast becoming a favouring among Spring Breakers because of the enticing package deals offered by airlines and travel agencies. The other reason is that it’s in the Caribbean, and who doesn’t want to be in this part of the world at the most ideal time of the year? While you get to enjoy pristine, white sand beaches, the night life here is far from dull. There are Vegas-style casinos, impressive and highly cosmopolitan night clubs, and resorts built to please both families travelling with kids and all-adult groups. You can go horseback riding, golfing, diving, and surfing while you’re here, too. There’s never a dull moment in this Spring Break hot spot.

 
Gulf Coast

If you want to give back this Spring Break, then you should definitely consider going to the Gulf Coast this summer. There is plenty of work to be done after 2005’s Hurricane Katrina hit, and the BP oil spill in 2010. Simply contact Historic Green (www.historicgreen.com) and see how you can help the organization. This used to be one of the most beautiful spots on Earth, and it would be great if you can help to resuscitate it. After a hard days’ work, there are also plenty of jazz bars to frequent in the city. It’s a more noble way of spending the Spring Break.

Montreal

With everyone flying off to the south for the Spring Break, you might want to go the unbeaten path and explore Montreal. This is just off the border of Canada, and it’s a good place for gambling and booze fest. You’ll have to be over 18 years old to enjoy what this city has to offer. If you came here with your school buddies on a road trip, you might want to take the road pilgrimage along the East Coast. You’ll find plenty of night clubs here—some of them bordering on the very naughty. If a sophisticated Spring Break is more to your liking, Montreal also has a lot to offer for the highly cultured. Check out the Mont-Royal, or go for the city’s posh ski resorts up the mountains.

Posted via email from Supreme Clientele Travel

Top 10 destinations for the Spring...

By Randy Colt

Spring is definitely one of the most celebrated seasons around the world. After all, who wouldn’t want to highlight the beginning of life? There are ten specific spots in the world you should not miss out in if you want to experience the best of this season. Come and see them for yourself.

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Keukenhof, Netherlands
 
You might not be familiar with this area between Amsterdam and the Hague in Netherlands, but Nothing screams spring more than a field full of tulips, though, and this is the best place to see them. Aside from tulips, Keukenhof is also home to a multitude of spring flowers, and it is undoubtedly the best spot in Europe to be in during spring if you’ve come for the scenery alone.  If you like your scenery polished, frequent the area’s best gardens. There’s plenty of bulbs in the wild, too, if you want a more rustic taste of this Dutch territory.

Northern India
 
In India, they celebrate “Holi” or the coming of Spring, and it’s certainly one of the world’s most colorful festivals for the season. Aside from much eye-candying during the festivities, you would also appreciate the essence of the celebrations, as locals welcome the triumph of goodness over evil.
 
You will want to bring your camera as you explore the streets of Nepal and other areas of Northern India, but make sure your gear is water- and possibly shock-proof. Don’t wear anything you’re scared of ruining too. This celebration of colors is more than just a light show. You may be splattered with paint, colored water, or colored chalk even if you’re safely on the sidelines.

Bluebell Woods, England
 
If you’re an English local, then you must know the bluebell woods in England like the back of your hand. This is a very popular spot during the springtime because of the number of bluebells growing like grass in the area. The vibrant color of the flowers is easily Britain’s clue that winter has passed and the season of love is here again. Most of the people who come here are photographers, out to get some unique pastoral shots. It’s also a good spot for a family picnic and afternoon out. 
 
There are plenty of bluebell spots in the country, but you don’t have to reinvent the wheel just to find them. You may contact the Woodland Trust for their exact locations. Just in case you can’t wait for the bluebells to bloom, you might want to give the woods a visit anyway and spot snowdrops in full bloom. These pretty white flowers are the fitting prelude to the England’s famous blue blooms. 

  
Hong Kong’s Lantern Festival
 
While half of the world’s population is probably flying off to Hong Kong for this spring’s lantern festival, it’s still worth a try. Watch and join locals as they let go of thousands of paper lanterns in the night sky. Hopefully, the spring climate would remain mild and clear, and no rain would get in the way of your lantern-lit skies. What’s the best part of this festival? If you watched Tangled with your kids, you’ll know how special this festival of lights is. Spring is also the season of love, so if you’re traveling with a special someone to Hong Kong, lighting up a lantern and wishing for your future together would be an extremely romantic gesture.

 
El Castillo, Chichen Itza, Mexico
 
If you want to get to know Spring more, you can go deeper than just admiring the pretty parades of colors and lights. You can go to Chichen Itza, Mexico, and marvel at how advanced our Mayan forefathers were at their time. Each Spring, El Castillo in Chichen Itza drives droves and droves of travelers to look at the marvels of this giant pyramid. From March 18 to 22 of this year, you will be able to witness the descent of Kukulcan, the Mayans’ snake deity.  Of course, we’re not really looking at a deity, but at the genius behind the construction of this pyramid.

The alignment of the sun and the positioning of the pyramid allows for the formation of feathered serpent shadows on El Castillo’s northern staircase. For the terribly scientific, the magical quality of the shadow play might be overlooked, but no one can deny how well the Mayans artfully manipulated the Spring Equinox.

 
Cherry blossoms in Japan
 
One of the most iconic festivals during the Springtime is probably the Cherry Blossom Festival in Japan. Aside from the beauty of the cherry trees at this time of the year, also a sight to behold are the colorful kimonos adorned by Japanese men and women. Fireworks usually follow at night and there are night markets during this festival. Most travelers frequent Japan during this time of the year to experience the country’s strong cultural roots. There are also numerous other blooms to admire aside from cherry blossoms.

Beltane Festival, Edinburgh
 
If you plan to celebrate Spring by exploring the pagan roots of your forefathers, festivities can’t get more pagan than the Beltane in Edinburgh. This is held annually at the Carlton Hill every April 30, and you can expect rituals celebrating fertility. Bonfire dances, drum poundings, the procession of the May Queen and the Green Man, and spectacular fire displays are bound to wow you during these festivities.

 
Naghol in the Pentecost Island, Vanuatu
 
If you want to know what inspired bungee-jumping in the past, the answer is the Naghol or land diving ritual in the Pentecost Island. This ritual is practiced by locals entering manhood. It is also held to give thanks to the island’s rich yam harvest during this time of the year. A tower is usually built out of yam trees, and liana vines are tied to their ankles. Participants have their heads just grazing the ground. No outsiders are allowed to perform the ritual, and guests must be very respectable while witnessing the Naghol.

“Black Sun” in Denmark
 
If you want a somewhat eerie but beautiful experience of Spring, you should go to Denmark’s Tonder Marsh. Over one million birds migrate here during the spring, blocking out the sun, and creating the “Black Sun” effect in the sky. This usually occurs during mid-March or mid-April, and you can witness this during the sunset. Birds don’t follow the human calendar, though, so if you want a close to 100% sure sighting of the phenomenon, it’s best to consult a guide.

 
Mardi Gras in Rio de Janeiro and New Orleans
 
Of course, everyone knows that Spring is also the time for Mardi Gras—that wild street party which has everyone on a booze fest. This celebration is held globally to celebrate “the pleasures of the flesh” before the Lenten Season begins. The best street parties, however, are in New Orleans, Louisiana, and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Pack your best costume in your backpack, and make sure you’re prepared to drink your heart to its merriest.

Posted via email from Supreme Clientele Travel

Fares expected to soar through summer

Don't expect relief from high gasoline prices by flying to your spring break vacation. Airfares already are up this year, and every sign is they'll remain high for summer vacation, too.

The same $100-plus price tag on a barrel of crude oil that's driving up prices at the pump is pushing up the price of jet fuel, prompting airlines to raise ticket prices across their systems twice since the start of the year.

The result is fares that were 4% higher Thursday than on New Year's Day, Rick Seaney, chief executive of FareCompare.com, which closely monitors prices, calculates.

By Frank Pompa, USA TODAY

"Even at the $4.48 (per gallon pump price) I paid a week ago, it was still less expensive than flying," says Lou DeLuco, who drives twice a month from his home in Phoenix for business in Los Angeles in a 2004 Malibu.

Gasoline was at $3.80 a gallon nationally on average Tuesday, according to AAA, although it's above $4 in places such as California.

The national average is edging toward the July 2008 peak of $4.11, when crude oil hit $145 a barrel before the financial collapse, according to the New York Mercantile Exchange.

Airlines, with jet fuel making up about 35% of operating costs, are in the same situation as drivers when crude oil prices rise.

Last year, airlines paid an average of about $3 a gallon for kerosene-type jet fuel. That was the highest average in decades, according to the Energy Information Administration. Last week, the price hit $3.20 a gallon.

"Fuel remains our largest and most volatile cost," says John Heimlich, chief economist for Airlines for America, the trade industry group representing the nation's biggest airlines.

U.S. airlines spent about $50.5 billion last year on fuel, up from $38.8 billion in 2010, and they raised ticket prices nine times last year, largely to offset those costs and make a profit. All major U.S. airlines except American, which sought bankruptcy protection in November, posted a profit last year .

But Southwest Airlines, the most consistently profitable U.S. carrier, said Tuesday that high fuel prices will keep it from posting a profit for the first three months of this year.

Strategizing on costs 

To protect themselves against jumps in oil prices, most airlines hedge against them by buying a sort of insurance called an option. These options allow airlines to lock in a price for a portion of their fuel for several months at today's prices. So long as prices rise, options are valuable in keeping prices more stable. But if prices remain flat or fall, options are another expense for airlines.

US Airways hasn't hedged its fuel buying for years. And Frontier, after hedging last year, isn't following that strategy so far this year.

Bryan Bedford, chief executive of Republic Airways, which owns Frontier, said in a March 1 earnings call that Frontier could have "really good margins" if fuel averaged $3.30 a gallon this year and could still be profitable at $3.50 per gallon.

"It's going to remain to be seen what happens with fuel prices and fare adjustments," Bedford says.

Key to the airlines' profitability during times of surging oil prices is that they continue to balance supply and demand by not expanding the number of flights they have beyond people's willingness to fly — and pay for it.

Dealing with high fares

Airline tickets will be pricey this year, but travel industry analysts have some advice for dealing with them.

Plan ahead. Try to buy several months ahead of time for trips inside the USA and as much as five months ahead for international travel.

Watch for sales. Even with high ticket prices, airlines will have spot sales to fill seats on planes flying some routes. Sales tend to start on Tuesday and end by Thursday.

Be flexible. Spring prices should ease after Easter until Memorial Day. Vacation-time fares from June through early August will be more expensive. Prices are expected to drop after school starts in late August, especially for tickets to Europe. When the London Olympics end Aug. 12, ticket prices could plunge several hundred dollars for a September or October trip.

Try different cities. Seek less-expensive destinations. For Europe, rather than flying into London or Paris, consider Barcelona, Dublin or Zurich.

Sources: BestFares.com, FareCompare.com, and Airfarewatchdog.com.

Planes were 83% full last year, according to the federal Bureau of Transportation Statistics, as airlines adjusted the number of seats they made available by the number of flights they scheduled and the size of aircraft they flew on routes. Planes were 69% full in 2001.

To keep planes full, says Michael Derchin, an airline analyst for CRT Capital Group, the airlines reduced capacity, or supply of seats, in the fall.

"So far, demand has been pretty strong," Derchin says.

For demand to stay strong, business travelers need to continue to fly. They are the most lucrative group of travelers because they're willing to pay higher ticket prices to fly in business and first class, and they'll pay a premium to fly at the last moment.

Business travelers aren't cutting back on travel in large numbers — yet.

But if fares continue to rise, Kevin Mitchell, chairman of the Business Travel Coalition, which represents corporate travel managers, says he thinks the situation could change toward the end of the year.

Carol Powell, 55, of Colts Neck, N.J., already is concerned about the prospect.

Powell, who works on environmental issues for a large corporation, says the business-class tickets to Brazil that she bought two weeks ago for a trip at the end of this month were $8,300 instead of the usual $7,000.

"I'm going to have a hard time with my budget this year," she says.

"I'm going to take the trips I need to take, and then at some point, I'll have to stop because I'll be out of money."

If people want to fly for vacation this summer, Tom Parsons of BestFares.com says, they need to be patient.

He advises people to look into a window from April 9 through early June in which there'll be a bit of a break in fares.

For travel later in the year, he says to look in the next few months to travel to Europe after the London Olympics close Aug. 12.

"The game this year is going to be, play within the airfare sales," Parsons says. "If you try to buy a summer deal right now, I think you'd be dollar-foolish."

Seeking alternatives 

Down the line, airlines want to wean themselves from high crude oil price jumps and use alternative fuel, perhaps made from sweet sorghum, grasses or trees.

Biofuels would reduce carbon emissions from fossil fuel that are increasingly penalized, such as through a European carbon-trading plan that charges airlines for a portion of the fuel that they burn.

Airlines, manufacturers such as Boeing and airports joined with the Agriculture Department in 2006 to develop biofuels.

The goal is to grow a fuel, have it work in a plane and be available at airports for airlines to rely upon.

The Air Force spurred the process by setting a goal that half its fuel be from something other than petroleum by 2016. An F/A-18 Super Hornet flew with half biofuel in April 2010, and a Seahawk helicopter powered by half biofuel flew in September 2011.

United and Alaska airlines flew the first commercial biofuel flights in the United States in November 2011.

"We don't want to be the only industry left behind with no alternative," says Heimlich of Airlines for America.

But the day of flying routinely on fuel made from plants is years away, because suppliers are still developing the fuels and airlines are still testing them to ensure they're safe.

Staying high; costs, that is 

In the meantime, consumers should be prepared to pay more to fly unless the price of oil drops, and the Federal Aviation Administration doesn't see that happening. The FAA predicts oil prices will stay above $100 a barrel this year and shoot up to $138 in the next 20 years.

Oil's price volatility is preventing even some experts from predicting where prices will go the rest of the year.

"You can bet that if oil goes up by some substantial amount because of geopolitical issues or because of shortages, you're going to have to raise the price of tickets," says Bob McAdoo, who analyzes airlines for Avondale Partners investors.

Right now, Farecompare's Seaney predicts that summer prices will be "expensive — but not overly expensive."

But he says, "At the end of the day, it'll be potential travelers who control prices by making the big decision to fly or stay at home."

Posted via email from Supreme Clientele Travel

Disney Cruise Line christens Disney Fantasy in New York

By Theresa Norton Masek

Disney Cruise Line christened its fourth ship, Disney Fantasy, during a star-studded christening celebration March 1 at the Manhattan Cruise Terminal in New York City. The event included performances by Jerry Seinfeld, Neil Patrick Harris, Nick Cannon and Heather Headley, but godmother was singer Mariah Carey. Similar to the New Year’s Eve celebrations in Times Square, Carey led the audience in a countdown that triggered a 6-foot-tall bottle of champagne in the Atrium Lobby to erupt and shower onlookers with confetti and streamers as a traditional bottle of champagne broke against the ship’s hull.

The Disney Fantasy will sail from Port Canaveral on seven-night Caribbean itineraries that alternate Eastern (St. Maarten and St. Thomas) and Western (Grand Cayman, Costa Maya, Cozumel). All itineraries will include a stop at Disney’s private island, Castaway Cay.

The Muppets are featured onboard in an interactive quest to find missing show props. The AquaDuck is a 765-foot long water coaster. New features include AquaLab, a water play area for kids, and a new respite for adults called Satellite Falls.

Two new Broadway-style shows include “Wishes,” a 45-minute musical about three best friends, and “Disney’s Aladdin — A Musical Spectacular.”

Posted via email from Supreme Clientele Travel