Sometimes you don't feel like planning the details of your next vacation as if you were budgeting for tax season. Sometimes, you just want to find something affordable, and go.
You could visit a travel agent, or hunt for package deals on discount websites. You could rent the condo, lay on the beach, visit Disney World - but - there are other options.
If you're a bit on the adventurous side, or want outdoor activities from hiking to kayaking in your next vacation, sporting goods company REI offers adventure travel trips on every continent (yes, even Antarctica) for those daring enough to go outdoors when they get away from the office.
They offer the classic outdoor destinations like the Amazon, Everest, and Machu Picchu, but they also offer trips throughout North America that don't necessitate the international flight.
The level of activity involved on each trip varies, and they indicate the amount of activity on a 1-5 scaling system, which allows you to determine whether mountain biking through the Sonoran Desert is for you, or Kayaking over Loon Lake is more to your liking.
The cost listed for trips generally include the activities and at least some of the accommodation and meals, but this will undoubtedly vary depending on the trip as some start at a few hundred and increase to a few thousand. The cost does not cover transportation to the trip location. So if you're flying from Atlanta, travel cost to and from is not included.
REI does, however, offer a discounted rate on the adventure trips to REI members. "The key to budget travel is to plan in advance. When it occurs to family trips, globetrotting, well-deserved trips and/or going to see new spots we have never been before, the fact of cost and budgeting is generally in the back of our mind. Arranging and expending our travel budget correctly is a consideration for most families. Curbing expending and prices, while still delighting your vacation to its fullest, is the key to certain achievements and fiscal obligation. Your pocketbook and family will thank you! The thinking regarding saving money while travelling is simple: Even if your personal finances is extremely small, you can still take a break and enjoy life! Simply put, life is just too short to never step out of the door or departing the homestead! Also recalling that while traveling, no matter whether on a funds or not, even the smallest of things can all add op to a large vacation or travel charge!..". Fortunately, a lifetime membership with the company costs only $20.
Before deciding on a trip though, check out the reviews - REI provides space on the website for users to write their post-trip thoughts.
Now, while what the company offers sounds like a vacation with little hassle, the very thing that makes it work is also its detracting factor. These trips are group-based, so if you are looking for a chance to get away and figure it out when you get there, this may not be for you.
And if you want a vacation without strangers joining your mountain biking adventure, then you may want to look elsewhere. As listed in each itinerary, these trips are planned out in advance, with group sizes of approximately 4-15.
With that said, what REI is doing by offering these group-based outdoor adventure trips is undeniably unique and attractive.
The question now is, are you willing, are you daring enough to kayak through, for example, the Galapagos Islands?
Machu Picchu Volunteer Vacation - Conservation with REI
www.rei.com/adventures/trips/latin/mpv.htmlWork on critical conservation projects in Peru's Machu Picchu Historic Sanctuary with REI and Conservation Volunteers International.
RealAdventures - Accommodations, Adventure Travel Tours ...
www.realadventures.comGreat accommodations, active adventure travel & unique vacations. Exciting destinations, cool adventures, and relaxing getaway....
Baysider Travel Travel Vacations Beaches Activities Hotels ...
www.baysider.comPlan your next trip or vacation with Baysider.com and visit Bays, Beaches, Resorts, Hotels and many Attractions world-wide.
Chile Torres-del-Paine Volunteer Vacation. Preserve Patagonia
www.rei.com/adventures/trips/latin/pav.htmlRating: 5/5 11 reviewsWork on critical conservation projects in Chile's Torres del Paine National Park with REI Adventures and Conservation Volunteers International.
0 comments:
Post a Comment
Click to see the code!
To insert emoticon you must added at least one space before the code.