2/24/2012

Staycations Save More Than Money


Staycations Save More Than Money

n 2010, we traveled with our four children to a beach location and, yes, we have photos of sun-kissed children and gorgeous tropical sunsets to help us remember our vacation. What the photos don't show, though, is all the work that goes into a family vacation. I spent four months planning the trip, two weeks packing for the trip and two weeks recovering and doing laundry after the trip. Our vacation photos don't reveal the cost of schlepping our family across the country either. Our costs fit neatly in the range of what an average American family spends on a vacation -- $1,000 to $1,600 -- according to surveys by AAA, "Money" magazine and Visa.
In 2011, we've decided to try the latest vacation trend: staycationing. We're staying put. No packing, no airports, no uncomfortable hotel beds. We're not alone in that choice.
As gas prices soar and incomes shrink, more families are opting to stay home. Gasoline prices have spiked recently because of increased demand from developing countries and Middle East unrest. Fred Rozell, a gasoline analyst at the Oil Price Information Service, predicted at The Huffington Post in December 2010 that at least 15 states would see gasoline prices exceed $4 a gallon by Memorial Day 2011.
While the unemployment rate may be going down, wages are not keeping up with increasing inflation, meaning that many families are still feeling a financial pinch, according to a March 2011 article in "The New York Times."
But money isn't the only thing to be saved by planning a staycation. Kaamna Bhojwani-Dhawan, founder and CEO of Momaboard.com, said, "A staycation is sometimes more fulfilling than an exotic destination because you can focus on family members without the distractions of travel logistics."

Make a Plan

The first step is to develop a plan for your staycation. Structure it just as you would a regular vacation with defined priorities and goals.
The key to a satisfying family staycation, said Jana Lusk, an Austin, Texas, mother of four, is getting the kids involved in the planning. "Nothing makes a kid feel more important than contributing his opinion and being taken seriously," she said.
Lusk suggests brainstorming ideas as a family and letting each child choose an activity. Decide ahead of time what is most important to you and make specific plans so you don't get sucked into routine tasks and activities.
Bhojwani-Dhawan recommends breaking up the time into four parts: Spend 25 percent of the vacation doing activities, 25 percent catching up with family and friends, 25 percent on personal time (yoga, massage, pottery class) and 25 percent working on a family project.
Decide ahead of time how to handle mealtimes and routines. Some families prefer to eat every meal out, eliminating the chore of cooking. On the other hand, if you like to cook, a staycation can allow you to spend time in the kitchen making special dishes you normally don't have time for. Fire up the grill; try an exotic, ethnic dish; or make homemade ice cream.
"Leave the laundry and unnecessary cleanup. Unless a typical household task has to be done, don't do it," recommended Judy Woodward Bates, author and radio and television guest.
A staycation is not the time to clean out closets or do major home projects, but if the sight of unmade beds and piles of laundry seems anything but relaxing, institute a 30-minute "quick clean" every morning and evening to corral the chaos.
Tell friends and co-workers that you're going on vacation, but be vague about the specifics. Set your email and phone to relay messages that you are out of the office and limit time spent on your computer. The point of a staycation is to relax and refuel

Make It Meaningful

Once you've developed an overall plan, narrow your choices to provide a good mix of activities.
When selecting activities, strive for a balance between recreational, fun activities and learning opportunities, said Lusk, whose family visited an animal shelter and learned about responsible pet ownership. She said her family has had similar learning experiences at botanical gardens, museums, public libraries and historical landmarks.
Lusk also advocates service projects as a worthwhile family project.
"Teach kids early where the opportunities are to make a difference, then make a difference together, as a family," she said. "Nothing builds self-esteem better, and these are incredible experiences and memories that cannot compare to just another vacation."
The Law family of Gilbert, Arizona, spent part of their vacation working at an orphanage. They painted, made repairs and played with the children.
"The experience was unforgettable," Patrick Law said. "The kids were so happy to see us and so grateful for every small thing they had. We have gone on a lot of family trips, but none that left an impression like that one did."

A Hassle-Free Vacation

Time away from work and school responsibilities is important for parents and kids alike. Through vacations, families reconnect, create memories and refuel.
However, planning and implementing a vacation are often stressful and costly. A 2010 study by Visa found that over 50 percent of Americans don't take all their allotted annual vacation time. In addition to pressing work responsibilities, the financial burden of going on vacation, as well as the time required to plan a vacation, are likely reasons for not taking time from work.
Staycations offer the benefits of a vacation without the stress of planning or the cost. By reducing travel, food and lodging costs, families can spend money on memorable activities instead. Staycations allow families to plan ahead and keep better control of their finances.
I'm excited about the prospect of a family staycation. It offers all the things I want in a vacation -- adventure, relaxation and time to reconnect with my family -- without all the things I don't want -- crowded airports, big credit card bills and the incessant cries of "Are we there yet?"
Who knew I could find Shangri-la right in my own backyard?

2/19/2012

Nile Cruises Luxor-Aswan 2012

Nile Cruises Luxor-Aswan 2012






Nile Cruises Luxor-Aswan 2012



Nile Cruises Luxor-Aswan

Nile Cruises Packages & Tours between Luxor & Aswan are amazing experience to add to your Egypt Tour . Summit Tours Offers the best Nile Cruises Tours and packages , starting from Luxor OR from Aswan , on board the top cruises of Egypt , sail & cruise the River Nile between Aswan & Luxor , and through Esna , Edfu and Com Ombo ( Kom Ombo ) . Our rates are out of competition and include sightseeing ( Karnack & Luxor Temples , Valley of the Kings & Queens , the temple of queen Hatshepsut ,and the Colossi of Memnon - Edfu Temple - Kom Ombo Temple - the High Dam and the temple of Philae ), guiding, transfers, and on Full Board Basis with daily evening animation.

Description:Click to Enlarge : Nile Cruises : Summit Tours Egypt Photos

Click to Enlarge : Nile Cruises : Nile View from cabins while sailing : Summit Tours Egypt Photos

Click to Enlarge : Nile Cruises : Suite Type Cabins : Summit Tours Egypt Groups Photos
Nile cruises and tours of Egypt, views on some of the attractions and architectural highlights of Egypt . About 5,000 years ago, a remarkable way of life, or civilization, grew up along the banks of the Nile River in Egypt. For tens of thousands of years the focal point of Egyptian life has been the River Nile. Egypt is correctly said to be the gift of the Nile and Egypt's two most important areas are the Delta and the Nile Valley. The ancient Egyptians believed that the waters of the Nile came from a "mysterious heaven of plenty". All of Egypt depended on the Nile for water, food, and transportation.






03
Nights/04 Days From Luxor (every Saturday)

04
Nights/05 Days From Luxor (every Saturday & Monday)

03
Nights/04 Days From Aswan (every Wednesday & Friday)

04
Nights/05 Days From Aswan (every Tuesday)

07
Nights/08 Days From Luxor (every Saturday & Monday)

06
Nights/07 Days From Aswan (every Wednesday)



Nile Cruises Packages : Program One

Nile Cruise Tour : 03 Nights / 04 Days From Luxor (every saturday)

Nile Cruises : Program 3 Nights 4 Days : From Luxor : Egypt Tours : Summit Tours Photos


1ST DAY Luxor
A.M : Embarkation before lunch.
P.M : Afternoon free at leisure.


2nd DAY Luxor / Esna / Edfu
A.M : Cross-to the West Bank visits the Necropolis of Thebes Valley of the Kings ,the temple of queen Hatshepsut ,and the Colossi of Memnon.
P.M : Sail to Esna Cross the lock.
Sail to Edfu and overnight.


3rd DAY Edfu /
KOM OMBO / SWAN
A.M : Visit the Temple of Hourus in Edfu,Sail to Kom Ombo
P.M : Visit the Temple shared by the two Gods Sobek and
Haroeris,sail to Aswan and overnight .


4TH DAY Aswan
A.M : Disembarkation after breakfast ,Visit of the High Dam and the temple of Philae.




Description 03 Nights / 04 Days
Rate In USD
5 *
4 *
Rate per person in DBL
$370
$325
SGL Supplement
$222
$198
TRPL Reduction
$27  
$27  






Description: Description: Nile Cruises : Program 4 Nights 5 Days : From Luxor : Egypt Tours : Summit Tours Photos







Nile Cruises Packages : Program Two

Nile Cruise Tour : 04 Nights / 05 Days From Luxor (every saturday & monday)

Nile Cruise : 4 Nights 5 Days from Luxor : Egypt Tours : Summit Tours Egypt Photos


1ST DAY Luxor
A.M : Embarkation before lunch.
P.M : Visit the Temple of Karnak and the Temple of Luxor
&Overnight.


2nd DAY Luxor / Esna / Edfu
A.M : Cross to the West Bank visit the Necropolis of Thebes Valley of the Kings ,the temple of queen Hatshepsut ,and the Colossi of Memnon.
P.M : Sail to Esna Cross the lock .
Sail to Edfu and overnight .


3rd DAY Edfu /
KOM OMBO / SWAN
A.M : Visit the Temple of Hourus in Edfu ,Sail to Kom Ombo P.M : Visit the Temple shared by the two Gods Sobek and
Haroeris,sail to Aswan and overnight .


4TH DAY Aswan
A.M : After breakfast ,Visit of the High Dam and the temple
of
Philae.
P.M : View of the Elephantine Island by felucca (sailing boat ) and visit the Agha Khan Mausoleum Overnight in Aswan .


5TH DAY Aswan
A.M : Disembarkation after breakfast




Description 04 Nights / 05 Days
Rate In USD
5 *
4 *
Rate per person in DBL
$494
$442
SGL Supplement
$296
$265
TRPL Reduction
$36  
$36  






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Egypt Classic & Historical Tours 2012

Egypt Classic & Historical Tours 2012






Egypt Classic & Historical Tours 2012



Egypt Classic & Historical Tours
Egypt Tours and Travel Services : Egypt Classical & Classic Tours : Egypt Historical sites Tours Including Cairo - Luxor - Aswan - Abu Simbel and Nile Cruises
Summit Tours takes you to the most wonderful Egypt Classical Tours and Egypt Classic Tours to visit the Historical sites and places in Egypt . Start your Egypt Tour in Cairo , visit the Great Pyramids & Sphinx , The Stepped Pyramids of Sakkara & Memphis, then Cruise the Nile on board our wonderful Nile Cruises , enjoy the historical places in Luxor & Aswan sailing through out Esna , Edfu & Com Ombo with an opportunity for Abu Simbel Excursion by road or by air . Select the best Egypt Tour program that matches your time and budget from the best tours to Egypt listed hereunder . For Sure you will enjoy your Egypt tours with any of these programs with our best Egyptian Egyptology Guides .Click at the listed tours below to select your favorite Egypt tour .

Click to Enlarge : Egypt Classic Tours : Nile Cruises : Summit Tours Egypt Groups Photos

Click to Enlarge : Egypt Classic Tours : Cairo & The River Nile : Summit Tours Egypt Groups Photos

Click to Enlarge : Egypt Classic Tours: Luxor : Summit Tours Egypt Groups Photos



06

Nights- 07 Days by Train & Plane Cairo - Luxor - Aswan - Cairo
07

Nights- 08 Days by Plane Cairo - Luxor - Aswan - Cairo
07

Nights- 08 Days by Train Cairo- Luxor -Abu Simbel - Aswan - Cairo
08

Nights- 09 Days by Plane Cairo- Aswan-Abu Simbel- Luxor - Cairo
:  
08

Nights- 09 Days by Train Cairo- Luxor - Aswan -Abu Simbel - Cairo
09

Nights- 10 Days by Train Cairo- Aswan- Luxor- Cairo
09

Nights- 10 Days by Plane Cairo- Aswan-Abu Simbel- Luxor- Cairo
10

Nights- 11 Days by Train Cairo- Aswan- Luxor - Alexandria - Cairo
10

Nights- 11 Days by Plane Cairo- Aswan- Abu Simbel-Luxor- Cairo


Egypt Tour : Program One(STC01)

Click to Enlarge : Egypt Classic Tours : Denmark Aagaard Groups : Summit Tours Egypt Groups Photos

Click to Enlarge : Egypt Classic Tours : The Great Pyramids & Sphinx by Night : Summit Tours Egypt Groups Photos

Click to Enlarge : Egypt Classic Tours: The Egyptian Museum : Summit Tours Egypt Groups Photos
06 Nights - 07 Days by Plane Cairo - Luxor - Aswan - Cairo

Day 01 :
Arrive Cairo international airport meet & assist, then transfer to hotel, overnight.
Day 02 :
After breakfast, start full day tour visiting (Pyramids - sphinx - Egyptian museum - Citadel - Khan El Khalili bazzars), then transfer back to hotel, overnight.
Day 03 :

From day 03 till day 06 on board of Nile Cruise with Sightseeing.


Day 06 :
After breakfast, disembarkation from Nile Cruise, free at leisure in Aswan (Optional Abu Simbel trip by Plane with visits) transfer to Aswan airport to fly back to Cairo, arrive Cairo meet & transfer to hotel, overnight.


Day 07 :
After breakfast transfer to Cairo international airport for final departure.




Program includes :
  • 03 Nights Cairo on B-B basis.
  • 03 Nights Nile Cruise on F-B basis including sightseeing.
  • 01 full day tour in Cairo as per above program .
  • All entrance fees for all above visits as per program .
  • All transfers in Cairo & Upper Egypt.
  • English speaking guide during tours & Sightseeing .


Program Excludes :


 Rate for the program in US Dollars :
Hotel Class
Rate per person in Double Room
Single Supplement
2-5
6-19
20 Up
5 * Hotels
$799
$778
$765
$395
4 * Hotels
$698
$676
$668
$288
3 * Hotels
$598
$587
$568
$198






Description: Description: Description: Description: Description: C:\Users\tosh\Desktop\images\booking.gif








Summit Tours
Al Obour City - Al Hay Al Awal
Mahalya A5 - Villa Number 20 - cairo - Egypt - 11828
Tel. : ( 002 - 02 ) 447 88 921 ( 5 lines ). Fax : ( 002 - 02 ) 447 88 920
WebSite :www.summittoursegypt.com