Family Vacation Spots in Israel

photo credit: www.travelmania.com

The holiday season is the most anticipated season by the whole family. The Christmas spirit is alive in the chilly air and the spirit of giving is once again awaken inside our warm, busy hearts. So don on your coats, winter gloves, ear muffs, scarves, boots and all those winter clothing necessities that this season requires. After doubling the weight you carry around and feeling like an astronaut with all those winter attire, the whole family readies themselves to pack pounds and pounds of roast beef, ham or turkey to start the New Year. But wouldn’t you want to trade all the heavy, uncomfortable clothing for just a swimming trunk and a pair of sunglasses? Or how about changing your menu this season from the loads of bad calories to succulent fruits and mouth watering fresh catches of the sea?

This is not an easy choice for most people. The idea is uncomfortable since we are so used to this unending cycle. But isn’t it worth a try? In the end, family is all that matters and the kids will undoubtedly enjoy the snow angels made in the powdery white sand beaches.

Israel offers breathtaking beaches and the numerous luxurious hotels in Eilat is just a walk away from the fine beaches of the gulf. Families can enjoy excellent Mediterranean cuisines. Plenty of restaurants in Israel also offer dishes from all over the world - Italian, Asian, Western and French flavors. There are so many to choose from. The hotels in Eilat are surrounded by pubs and promenades for the whole family to enjoy and a mall is accessible just within the area.

The Dead Sea is one of Israel’s prides since it is one of the few natural wonders that exists in the world. Because of its high saline properties, the Dead Sea is known to have special cosmetic and health benefits. The Dead Sea hotels offer a view and a walk to this great wonder. Families can enjoy this ancient wonder with a short distance away from the world class luxurious hotels that offer exquisite, world class service. Some Dead Sea hotels are situated near the ancient biblical historical sites. These sites will provide historical and biblical facts will surely add delight to the imagination of your children. A few Dead Sea hotels offer a stunning view of the Dead Sea and the Moav Mountains. This could be the perfect place to relax and bond with the whole family.

There are no limits to what Israel has to offer. The Israel official tourism website gives visitors all the information every tourist needs, plus bookings and family travel packages that fit perfectly for the whole family.

Get ready to get wet this season and share the solemnity of the Israeli night sky. Relive this great celebration as it has always been celebrated for thousands of years.

Specific Interest Vacations - Jewish Travel

The holidays are coming! It is usually the beginning of these BER months that people start planning their holiday vacations. The last few months of the year is when people start cramming on their research for a great vacation destination where they would want to spend their holidays at, making itineraries for the different places they wish to visit and activities that they can do. Reservations are made over the phone or the Internet to secure them of the much-needed transportation and accommodation.

For the Jewish and Samaritan communities, however, the holiday planning has long started. In fact, the Rosh Hashana, the Jewish New Year, kicked off this year on the sunset of the 29^th of September and will run until nightfall of October 1^st. For every Jewish or kosher holiday, thousands of Jews look for a great kosher resort to getaway to. For ever devout Jew, a kosher holiday spent in one of the kosher resorts around the world is one of the best experiences they can ever have. Kosher resorts maintain Jewish traditional standards to cater to every need, including spiritual, of their visitors. Aside from the Glatt kosher meals, kosher resorts also hold Shabbat services during the Rosh Hashana enabling the visitors to do their daily obligations of their prayer recitals. Traditional practices are always present in kosher resorts, depending on which Jewish holiday your getaway falls on. If you head to a kosher resort on Passover , you can be sure that Seders are observed.

Kosher vacations have different tours that take you to the most breathtaking, beautiful and pristine places all over the world! Some take you to different excursions in Costa Rica, the Amazon and Incas in Peru, a safari adventure in South Africa, a hiking trip in the Canadian Rockies or a smooth sailing cruise over the Panama Canal. Various activities are offered to holidaymakers of different age groups. There are whitewater rafting, volcano exploring, hiking, horseback riding, snorkeling and other water activities, and so much more! Families with teenagers in tow will be thrilled to know that camps are offered for their teens to join.

The travel destinations, the fun and adventure-filled activities and the mouthwatering local cuisine combined with the traditional Jewish practices are what make kosher resorts popular among the Jewish community. Year after year, these resorts find themselves fully-booked with people who wish, not only to have a grand time, but to get away from the busy city and surround themselves with a tranquil environment to do their religious obligations. It may be too late for the readers who were not able to make travel arrangements for the Rosh Hashana, but there is nothing to feel down about. The Jewish New Year is not the last Jewish holiday of the year. There are more to look forward to before the year ends. So, go right ahead and work on your travel plans. Head off to a kosher resort and get ready to have one of the best holidays you have ever had!

Fitness Vacations: Are they worth it?

More and more people are now getting into the phenomenon known as a fitness vacation. It’s all about getting away form the hustle and bustle of everyday work life, breathing in the fresh air, kicking up your heels, but not to sit back into an easy chair, but rather, to engage in an activity that promotes sweat and heavy breathing.

Doesn’t sound like a vacation to you? Read on.

Fitness vacations are all about removing yourself from stress by sweating it out of you through exercise and a series of activities designed to both test your physical limits and recharge your being. It takes the idyllic setting of vacation spots and combines it with a regimen you would normally find in a gym, allowing you to detoxify, distress, and invigorate yourself in as little time as a weekend off work.

This is the latest trend sweeping the fitness industry, with an estimated millions of people getting into it since 1997, and that’s in the United States alone. True to it name, fitness vacations are not places wherein you can indulge in the usual vices you get to see in pictures of a vacation, such as alcohol, smoking, and even fatty foods. Fitness vacation venues are typically crosses between your local gym, spa, and your favored vacation spot Normally, vacations are popular places for binging on exotic foods that will either give you gastric agony or travel straight to your gut and thighs and make you move up one or two sizes in your wardrobe. This is not the case with fitness vacations, as these places are typically staffed with people who are attuned to your dietary intake, and make it their business to help you eat well and in the proper proportion.

The popular question now regarding the issue has become the worth of fitness vacations. Are they really worth what they charge? Just like typical vacations, these physical fitness outings are not exactly on the cheap side f the budget list. Being that most of these venues are located far removed from the usual commercial and work locales, getting there alone is a budgetary consideration. Add to that the total expense of actually going through the entire vacation and fitness programs that they offer there.

The bottom line in the expense issue boils down to what the experience would actually benefit you. Consider the cost of applying for membership in a local gym, which of course, you may not actually go to at all, then consider the cost of preparing a dietary routine that is decidedly healthy for you, which you may not really follow religiously at all, and then consider the overall expense of a vacation in an exotic, idyllic, and far off location, which may even turn up to be an absolute disaster.

A fitness vacation in a reputable institution may turn out to be worth every single bit of money you spend there, as they will monitor your dietary intake, make sure you stick to whatever fitness regimen you are supposed to accomplish, and at the same time, you find yourself in a stress-free location where you can get to recharge your weary being.


Fitness Vacation Ideas

Adventure and Fitness Spa Vacation Ideas

When you think about it, spas and fitness are a natural mix. Adventure and fitness activities are great vacation ideas that will stimulate both the body and the mind. They de-stress you and allow your body to release built up tension.

Fitness and adventure spa vacations will combine the best of both worlds, luxury and adventure. After a vigorous workout you could enjoy a relaxing massage and facial. Keeping your body in shape does not have to be all work and no play with fitness spa vacations.

Whenever you are looking for vacation destinations that come with well-rounded rejuvenation, you have to know that there is only one thing to consider: the spa. One thing to note though, not all spas or all vacationers are created equal or have the same interests. Still, with all the existing options, you are guaranteed to find the perfect spa vacation destination that will fit your personal traveling needs.

The first step in doing this is to find out what your family is looking for in a vacation. Does everybody want to relax on a beach? Go hiking on a mountain? Visit a national park perhaps? Or some could prefer playing at a waterpark, shopping, or visiting museums and cultural sites.

Then ask yourself how you like to spend your time. Take a little time to think about what you like doing before planning your trip. Do you prefer the water, or the mountains? Lying on the beach, or rock-climbing? Adrenaline rushes or visiting an art museum?

Also establish how far you want to travel and the means of transportation. Will you be traveling by plane, car, train or by boat?

After taking all these into consideration, narrow down your choices to a couple of vacation destinations that can satisfy most of your vacation needs.

Find out about hotels and resort choices in the area. Make sure that they offer the particular facilities that your family is looking for, such as a swimming pool, kid's programs or a spa. This is also a good time to find out about the hotel's reservation and cancellation policy.

Plan your vacation budget , adding up transportation, accommodation, dining and entertainment expenses. Decide how much you've got to spend and don't forget to include extras like tourist attractions, getting around, souvenirs and meals (which are typically more expensive in Europe than in the states - dinner can cost upwards of 50 Euros per person, especially in metropolitan cities).

If your budget is smaller, consider visiting Eastern Europe, looking for packaged tours, or, if you're flexible, book a "last-minute" trip which can often save you 30% or more. Check out the current exchange rate between your currency and that of the country you'll be visiting to have a better idea of what your vacation is going to actually cost you. Whenever possible, travel during an off-peak season to save even more.

Use the resources that are available to make your trip special and save money:

Today's travelers have numerous options when planning their vacation. You can use the Internet to find out more about the cities or countries you want to visit, check out prices, even book your flight or hotel room. If you're visiting a place for the first time, check with a travel agent, talk to someone who's a "been there, done that" on an Internet Forum, or contact local chambers, commerce or travel councils to get more information about where to go, what to see and what to do.

Make all the necessary reservations, such as hotel rooms, airline and car rental reservations. Remember to book golf tee times, spa treatments, activities and special tours. Call your resort to confirm dining reservations.

It may be a good idea to purchase travel insurance in case you need to cancel your trip, especially when traveling with young children.

Make a shopping list of all the items that you have to purchase before you go. Making that perfect last-minute swimsuit purchase can be a nerve-racking experience. When planning your trip, look at your wardrobe and pack as lightly as you can. Take only what you'll really need, and remember that if you forget or end up needing something, chances are you can get it once you reach your destination. Print out your travel packing list.

Finally, one of the most important things to remember when planning your family vacation is that vacations are supposed to be fun. Focus on spending time with your family and not on over planning the daily activities. Have fun! Get organized, make your plans and expect the best. That way, once you're on your way, you'll be able to relax and enjoy yourself. But remember, there are very few "perfect" vacations, so if something does go wrong, try to relax and "go with the flow" as much as possible.

Experienced travelers say that sometimes their best vacations have been the ones where the unexpected happened.

Fitness Vacation provides you with physical and mental rejuvenation by combining fitness and health programming with exciting worldwide travel. You will explore some of the world’s most popular and exotic travel destinations, integrating touring with exciting and challenging physical activities, stress reduction, healthy nutrition and wellness education in a group motivated atmosphere. The result is a stronger and healthier you!