Destinations

With new relaxed travel guidelines, Cuba is once again becoming a hot travel destination.

Ever since President Obama re-opened travel to Cuba, traveling to that compelling country has been one of the hot international destinations. If you’re looking to make the trip, just be ready for some of the idiosyncrasies of the trip – both planning and the actual travel.

• Cuba doesn’t have 2011 era travel booking system. It may take a week or more to process reservations.
• Don’t expect to have a Spring Break-style trip – or any type of free-wheeling adventure. In order to travel to Cuba, you have to go through an approve tour company, and The U.S. Treasury Department stipulates that tours must “have a full-time schedule of educational exchange activities that will result in meaningful interaction between the travelers and individuals in Cuba.”
• Lastly, the trips are expensive – from $1500+ for a weekend to $4000+ for a week.

What do you get? An incredible all-inclusive trip to Cuba with local guides, staying at top-notch hotels and eating some of the finest food in Cuba. You’ll get to meet the locals, eat, drink and smoke local delicacies, and undoubtedly have a great time.

What do you think? Would you take a trip to Cuba?

Though often thought of as an exclusively European attraction, nude beaches are actually quite prevalent and popular in the United States. Unfortunately, unlike our European counterparts, nude beaches in the U.S. are under pressure from government and private forces due to a perceived lack of morality with nudity. So, if you want to experience the thrill of a nude beach this Summer without flying to another continent, visit one of these beaches – the top ten nude beaches in the U.S., and hurry!

10. Collins Beach, OR

Collins Beach is located just north of Portland, Oregon on Sauvie Island. Combined with nearby clothing-optional Rooster Rock State Park (the oldest officially designated clothing-optional beach in the U.S.), Collins Beach is one of the more popular and nicest nude beaches in the U.S.

9. San Gregorio, CA

The oldest continuously active nude beach in the U.S., San Gregorio is located on the Pacific Coast south of San Francisco. A crowded and popular beach, San Gregorio features two miles of soft sands and tide pools, and is privately owned – and an admission is charged.

8. Baker Beach, CA

The best thing about Baker Beach (besides its proximity to San Francisco) is the view!

7. Wreck Beach, BC

Okay, so Wreck Beach isn’t technically in the United States, but since it’s just outside of Vancouver, British Columbia, it’s close. And it warrants inclusion on this list because it’s hugely popular (over 500,000 visitors per year), extremely beautiful, and it’s one of the most well-known clothing-optional beaches in the world.

6. Mazo Beach, WI

Not all nude beaches have to be on the coast! Mazo Beach in Wisconsin sites on the shores of the Wisconsin River and can get extremely popular on hot summer days. There are constant struggles to keep the beach open and clothing-optional, but so far attempts at closing the beach have failed.

5. Little Beach, HI

On the island of Maui, Little Beach is one of the most beautiful beaches on this list, and in the world. It’s only 1/8 of a mile long, and was very popular in the 1960s with traveling hippies. Now it’s popular with naturists from around the world.

4. South Beach, FL

Not only is South Beach one of the largest and most popular beaches in the U.S. (and the world), South Beach also has a long standing policy of tolerating topless sunbathing. Thanks to the roaring night life and beautiful beach, South Beach is a true destination for people around the world.

3. Gunnison Beach, NJ

Across from the entrance to New York Harbor, Gunnison Beach has awesome views of lower Manhattan and Verrazano Narrows Bridge. Gunnison can get enormously popular on sunny weekends – crowds can approach 5,000 visitors or more. But with lifeguards, official signs, food vendors, bathrooms and showers, Gunnison Beach is a great place to have some fun.

2. Black’s Beach, CA

The most popular nude beach in the U.S., Black’s Beach is perfect for watching the waves, watching surfers, and watching hang gliders. The only drawback to Black’s Beach is the hike down – it’s quite steep, but well worth it!

1. Haulover Beach, FL

Why is Haulover Beach number one on our list? It’s popular, with over 1,000,000 visitors per year – it’s teeming with sexy South Floridians. It’s also well maintained, with BBQ grills, refreshment stands and lifeguards. But our favorite thing? It used to be a nasty place, full of drug dealers and drug users. But a nudist group work with the local government and cleaned it, turning it into one of the finest nude beaches in the world!

Las Vegas has some odd attractions. You can shoot machine guns, you can visit the Atomic Testing Museum, you can ride a gondola, you can even jump off the Stratosphere (I’m referring to the SkyJump). And now there’s a new off-the-wall activity in Vegas: Dig This, the Heavy Equipment Playground.

Dig This opened on April 1, 2011 and gives big toy aficionados the chance to pilot bulldozers, diggers, and other fun Caterpillar. You just have to watch a short training video, put on a hard hat, and you’re ready to go! It’s a little odd for sure, but it totally seems like fun!

http://blog.visitlasvegas.com/2011/05/12/dig-this-a-playground-filled-with-heavy-equipment-only-in-vegas/

Written by three od the most well-known Las Vegas food critics, Eating Las Vegas is the gourmand’s guide to food in sin city. They even have sections on Best Cheap Eats, Best Old Vegas Spots and more! A must have for Vegas aficionados!

View at UnicaHome

Rent a convertible in sunny Southern California for only $250/week – how much fun would that be? Available locations include Los Angeles, San Diego, Palm Springs, Ontario and Orange County. That’s a great price, you just have to book by May 22!

View the deal at Thrifty.com

I came across this cool site from Howard Hillman – it’s his list of the Top 100 World Wonders that you should see before you die, what he calls the Hillman Wonders of the World.

I think it’s a good list, but one hundred is a lot of things to see! What do you think? Are there sights that you add or remove from his list?

Hillman Wonders of the World

Want to spend New Year’s Eve in Las Vegas? Everyone should at some point – it’s the party capital of the world, after all! Unfortunately, it can cost an arm and a leg to stay in Vegas on New Year’s Eve, and the tickets to the big parties aren’t cheap, either. Luckily, there occasionally some package deals that might help you save some money. The first one I’ve found so far this year is for Luxor Las Vegas.

The Luxor New Year’s Eve Party Package includes tickets to the Luxor New Year’s Eve Celebration (along with an open bar and free food), plus other special offers. To stay from Dec. 30th to Jan. 3rd costs $1,125. Four nights including an all you can eat and drink New Year’s Eve Party for a little over $1,000 seems like a decent price.

The Monte Carlo New Year’s Eve Package deal just came through. Here are the particulars: 2 nights, all you can drink at their New Year’s Eve party, $25 spa credit, and free party favors. All that for $279 per person. That’s a pretty good deal.

If I find more, I’ll definitely post them on the blog. Keep checking back!

Yeah, I was surprised to hear about it myself, too. The new Vdara Hotel and Spa in Las Vegas is on The Strip in the new City Center Plaza, and it’s a completely non-smoking and non-gaming hotel! I love Vegas (which is a little strange for a non-gambler), but the thing I hate the most is the cigarette smoke. To actually have a hotel that is completely non-smoking and conveniently located is awesome.

Next trip, I’ll definitely take a look at Vdara. Have any of you, my wonderful readers, every stayed at Vdara? Opinions? It looks to be a little expensive, but I think it might be worth it!

Vdara Hotel and Spa

Southwest Vacations is jumping on Fall travel quickly, posting four new promotions this week.  Here they are:

Flight to the Fight Sale: In this Las Vegas package you get the standard flight, hotel room and car (if you want it), but your package also includes tickets to the Mayweather/Ramirez fight at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.  Book by Sept. 14.

Friends Fly Free to Orlando: Book a package to Orlando and every other person flies free, every other night is free, and every other Sea World/Universal ticket is free! Book by Sept. 28.

Friends Fly Free to Las Vegas: When you book a Vegas package including airfare and hotel, every other person flies free, get one hotel night free (if you stay at least 4 nights), get a free Loughlin tour, and half-off select activities. Book by Sept. 28.

These end up being good deals, especially if you take advantage of the discounted event tickets, as those tend to be very expensive.

According to this recent AP article, travel to the Hawaiian Islands has slowed by 8.2 percent through July, and revenue is down $1.1 Billion so far this year (compared with last year).  Those visitors that do visit the islands stay fewer nights and spend less money than in previous years as well.

What does this mean for you and other budget-minded travelers?  There is going to be a big slate of new promotions this fall!  If you’re looking forward to some Hawaiian vacation deals, they’ll be coming in the next few months.  We’ll keep you posted on all the lastest deals, but start saving your pennies now – you might be able to use them on a fantastic vacation before the year is done!