Tuesday, January 29, 2008

Condominium Hotels Gain Popularity

You can spend a vacation, a season-or the rest of your life-in the lush desert of Southern Arizona and reap the benefits of a resort residence at the same time.

You can live in one resort, with all of the resort amenities, year round or use as a vacation home. If you choose, you have the opportunity to place your suite in a rental program. This is a relatively new concept in vacation home ownership that's becoming more popular at desirable destinations across the country. Resort residences can be found in major cities and at resorts.

The resort is in Green Valley, Arizona, 20 minutes south of Tucson, in a scenic area at the base of the Santa Rita Mountains. It looks over the Canoa Ranch Golf Course, a par-72 championship course designed by Lee Schmidt and Brian Hurley. The Torres Blancas golf course, designed by Lee Trevino, is close by. Every resident of Canoa Ranch Resort Condominiums enjoys preferred rates and priority tee times at both courses without ever having to purchase a golf membership.

The condominiums are clusters of three-story Santa Barbara-style buildings, each housing two-bedroom suites. The homes range from 1,500 to 1,726 square feet depending on the three available floor plans.

Each residence is upgraded, completely furnished and professionally decorated, including granite countertops and stainless steel appliances. Everything is included, from furniture to flat screen digital televisions to dishes and kitchen appliances. The homes have high-speed Internet access, voice over IP phones and premium cable television. All you need to bring are your clothes, your laptop and your golf clubs. Housekeeping services are optional.

The Grill on the Green restaurant is part of the Canoa Ranch Golf Course; a pool and outdoor patio are part of the amenities. The community of Green Valley provides shopping, restaurants and retail services. The Tucson International Airport is less than 30 minutes away.

Imagine bright clear night skies, mountain vistas and pleasant weather year round in your own resort residence in Arizona. The hotel is part of the Wyndham Hotel & Resorts and is managed by Aimbridge Hospitality. Fairfield Homes, Inc., a long-time Arizona company, is the developer.

For more information call (877) 625-1642 or visit www.canoa ranchresortcondos.com.

More and more Americans are enjoying the high life in the high desert at resort-condominium combinations.

(NAPSI)

How Much Did You Pay For Your Plane Ticket?

Because of the emphasis on price competition, consumers may choose from a wide variety of air fares. Some airlines are trying a "back to basics" approach-offering flights at bargain basement prices with few extras. For fare information, you can contact a travel agent, another ticket outlet or an airline serving the places you want to visit. Ask them to tell you the names of all airlines flying there.

A travel agent can find virtually all airlines' fares in his or her computer. Or, if you prefer you can call each airline to ask about the fares they charge, particularly any special promotional fares they may be offering at the time. You can also pay attention to newspaper and radio ads, where airlines advertise many of the discount plans that apply to your city.

Finally, be alert to new companies serving the market. They may offer lower fares or different services than older established airlines. Here are some tips to help you decide among air fares:

Be flexible in your travel plans in order to get the lowest fare. The best deals may be limited to travel on certain days of the week or particular hours of the day. After you get a fare quote, ask the reservations agent if you could save even more by leaving a day earlier or later, or by taking a different flight on the same day.

* Plan as far ahead as you can. Some airlines set aside only a few seats on each flight at the lower rates. The real bargains often sell out very quickly. On the other hand, air carriers sometimes make more discount seats available later. If you had decided against a trip because the discount fare you wanted was not available on the desired date, try again, especially just before the advance-purchase deadline.

* Some airlines may have discounts that others don't offer. In a large metropolitan area, the fare could depend on which airport you use. Also, a connection (change of planes) or a one-stop flight is sometimes cheaper than a nonstop.

* Does the air fare include types of service that airlines have traditionally provided, such as meals or free baggage handling? If you have a connection involving two airlines, will your bags be transferred? Can you get advance seat assignments? If you are stranded, will the ticket be good on another carrier at no extra charge? Will the first airline pay for meals or hotel rooms during the wait?

* Many discount fares are non-refundable; if you buy one of these fares and later cancel your trip, you will not get your money back. Some fares also have a penalty for changing flights or dates even if you don't want a refund. You may also have to pay any difference in air fares if your fare is not available on the new flight.

* Some airlines will not increase the fare after the ticket is issued and paid for. (Simply holding a reservation without a ticket does not guarantee the fare.) Other airlines may reserve the right to collect more money from you if the fare that you had purchased goes up before departure time. Find out from the airline before you buy your ticket what its policy is on assessing fare increases after the ticket is purchased.

* After you buy your ticket, call the airline or travel agent once or twice before departure to check the fare. Fares change all the time, and if that same fare goes down before you fly, some airlines will refund the difference. But you have to ask.

Differences in air fares can be substantial. Careful comparison shopping among airlines does take time, but it can lead to real savings.

Larry Westfall gets to Thailand whenever he can and is the author of Pattaya Crazy | Newbie"s Guide to Pattaya
Submitted by: Super Article Submitter

After the Game: A Guide to Manchester’s Best Hotels

Manchester is a bustling city known for its lively sporting culture. It is for this same reason why the city is a common spot for travel. Thousands of people, locals and foreigners alike fill the city each year all for the sake of experiencing the thrills of football matches and other sporting events.

The City of Manchester Stadium or Sportscity, as it is famously known is one of the biggest sporting venues where several sporting events including football, are held each year. The stadium was then adopted as the home of the city’s football club.

Another sporting venue is the Manchester Velodrome. It is an internationally known sporting facility where most track cycling events take place each year. The center was developed through the joint efforts of the English Sports Council of Manchester City and the British Cycling Federation.

Other sporting facilities or venues like the regional athletics track are also located in this area. The residents here are blessed to be conveniently living in an excitement filled area. Being one would guarantee you to a comfortable seat on match days. For most sports enthusiasts who don’t live in this city however, staying in nearby hotels is a common convenient choice.

Manchester boasts of quality and affordable hotels. These hotels are perfectly situated near the above mentioned sporting venues, making them an ideal place for people to stay in during the events.

The Travelodge Sportscity is one of these hotels. It is only 1.5 miles from Sportscity. You don’t have to worry about being late for any scheduled game or football matches of your favorite team.

Express by Holiday Inn is a modern hotel located about 3 miles from the city of Manchester and a mile off the M60 and M67. Express offers facilities and services that are relatively affordable and satisfying. A newly opened fitness club is located next to it.

Holiday Inn Manchester Central Park is a 4 star hotel. It is located near the City of Manchester Stadium. It offers a wide range of hotel facilities including 83 well appointed rooms, all of them spacious and air-conditioned.

Lastly, is the Citi Place. A cozy hotel located just minutes away from Sportscity. It offers rooms that have a free wireless internet access, digital televisions and shared bathrooms.

There is no reason for you to miss any sporting events in the city of Manchester with all these hotels around. Take your pick now and enjoy all the fun and games this city has to offer.

Steve is the owner of Hotels in Manchester City. For more information please visit: Manchester | Sport

$1000 For A Cheap Holiday Cruise

Have you every thought about where you would like to spend your holiday? Maybe you expect it to be a cheap holiday vacation, but you certainly don't expect it to be cheaper than $1000 for you and your family. You may never have thought of a cruise of the Greek Isles. What a wonderful cruise with stops in Athens, Bari, Corfu, Crete, Dubrovnik, Katakolon, Santorini and Venice. Consider planning a seven day cruise around a holiday. The Greek Isles are so beautiful any time of year, but you should leave around Easter or Memorial Day, in order to get a cheap holiday.

In Venice, Italy, one thing that will take your breath away is Saint Marcus Square. It is a beautiful and fascinating place to spend the day. After you have seen Saint Marcus Square as well as the Saint Marcus Church, located in the Saint Marcus Square, you can then take a Venetian boat ride in the Grand Canal under the famous Rialto Bridge. It will be a day to enjoy and remember.

When you arrive in Athens don't expect to see men wearing togas walking the streets. Places you should pay a visit are the Acropolis and the Constitution Square also known by the name Syntagma Square. The city of Athens is both modern and ancient at the same time. Gazi is the hip new area of the city with crowded taverns, bars and clubs.

If you want to avoid tourist crowds then December till the end of March is the best time of year to visit Athens. Do remember that some restaurants or places that you have planned to visit may be closed during the off season period. July, August and September are considerably more elaborate and busy than the rest of the year. During this period everything is more expensive in Athens, especially in the tourist areas. If you want to enjoy nightlife then this is the time of the year to visit Athens.. You will meet people from all over the world who come here to have a good time all through the night on terraces all over the center. You will experience Greeks dancing the sirtaki and drinking ouzo. You will have a blast in Athens before returning to the cruise ship.

Your cheap holiday will certainly be a fantastic one and will definitely leave you wanting more. you can easily afford to go back every year and do try to visit a new area every time you go. The greatest thing about a cruise holiday is that you never have to spend valuable time looking for a hotel.

You can have a great time on the cruise ship as well. They have entertainment and lots of fun activities for everyone. You might even enjoy a day on the deck with a warm sea breeze blowing gently across your face.
Do not wait any longer for the next cheap holiday. The cheap Greek Isle cruises are very posh and with the beautiful interiors, you will enjoy the cruise vacation more joyfully.

SaraJ digs the british supergroup duran duran. In her sparetime she enjoys writing. Lately she has been writing articles for a children website called børnesko.

Alaska Ski Vacations

Alaska, which has always been a source of awe and mystery, has some of the best skiing in the world, and the Alyeska Resort is one of the finest resorts in the state. With a top elevation of 2751 feet and a 2501 vertical drop, the area gets an average of 631 inches of snow annually.

Although this is some of the best skiing in the world, you won't find the slopes overly crowded, and there are no long lift lines. There are nine lifts, including six chair lifts and two surface lifts, and one cable car line. There are 68 trails for beginners, intermediates, and experts, with the majority of the trails designed for intermediate skiers.

Night time skiing is allowed, which makes your ski experience more adventurous and thrilling. You will see snow capped mountains, hanging glaciers, and of course, the famous Northern Lights. This resort is ranked number nine of the top twenty-five killer ski trips by Skiing Magazine.

The season begins at the Alyeska Resort in mid November, and runs through mid April. This area of Alaska boasts the longest daytime areas in the United States, with approximately sixteen hours of daylight each day during April. During December, however, there are only about seven hours of daylight - which makes night time skiing necessary if you are going to get in the time that you want to spend on the slopes.

The Alyeska Prince Hotel is the place to stay! Here you will enjoy elegant rooms and fine dining. Nightly entertainment is available as well. There are other nightlife spots in the area as well, that are not associated with the Hotel.

If tubing interests you, then visiting the Glacier Tubing Park is an absolute must! Featuring two lanes of terrain and a surface lift, everyone in the family will enjoy spending time at the tubing park. The Alyeska Terrain Park is a must for snowboarding enthusiasts. Other winter activities that can be enjoyed in and around the Alyeska Resort include flight seeing, helisking, ocean cruising tours, dog sledding, ice climbing, back country skiing, mountaineering, and polar bear viewing.

At the Alyeska Resort, the ultimate winter vacation can be experienced. Brave the elements, then return to the Hotel for some pampering. Get a taste of what Alaska is really like, and what skiing is meant to be! There are activities for the entire family to enjoy, and there are many area sights and attractions to be enjoyed as well. This really is an awesome winter family ski vacation!


About the Author:
Pham writes on a variety of subjects and recommends Free Articles for more information on your subject.

A Cheap Italian Vacation

Tourists should consider, various alternatives, before deciding on which one, would be a nice vacation. A vacation in Italy is the most popular one today. If one plans ones trip with inaccurate information, then he/she might be surprised in the most uncertain manner. Before making trips make sure to know well, about the cheap/feasible Italy vacation details. Vacation in Italy is perfect, for both budget conscious tourists and big spendthrifts as well. Tourist can get a cheap Italy vacation rental out here without much difficulty.

Visiting this destination, may be well in the cards which certainly would surprise, many tourists and visitors. Hotels, and airfare, are the main monetary aspects of Vacations in Italy. There are other options available like motor homes and RV vans which are somewhat a, cheaper alternative to hotels. Tourist may opt for vacation in Italy during a season when they can find cheaper airfares seasonally. If the tourist is planning to fly directly from the main international airport, such as London, or New York, then it could punch a big hole in your pocket. After the summer all airfares drop considerably. During these season services are better, probably because there are a few people to focus on and serve. And almost for everything, the wait is shorter. June, through August, of summer is the peak season. So if a tourist wants a cheap vacation in Italy, he/she must plan to go in September. Tourist can truly explore Italy and experience its peoples life style, a visit off season would be the in thing. If they visit Italy in an off season as during this time Italy becomes more explorable. The good thing about the off-season is that in these seasons the crowd is also less and the whether is also cooler. During this season, discounts are offered for concerts and guided tours, apart from airfares and hotels being cheaper.

Alternately way make your vacation in Italy cheap by making use of local transportation instead of a taxi. Other ways a for cheap vacation in Italy is to for go hotels and try out various Italy vacation rental and Italy vacation package. An alternative to these are, the farmhouses and motor homes that are also not expensive. Tourist can take these motor homes for few days during their trips .This motor homes have all the comforts needed. One can also opt for Villas in Italy, as Italy is famous for its villas and there are villas all around Italy. Keeping these things, in mind a tourist can most certainly get a good and cheap vacation in Italy.

Vacation in Italy, is a good place to start your vacation. You can start their vacation planning selecting Italy vacation rentals and popular itineraries, choosing from a wide range of Italy vacation packages. You may further customize it to suit their requirements and conveniences. You can view some of the most beautiful places in Italy dating from the period of the Venetian merchants.
http://www.italy-vacation.com