TravelInfos

Its nothing like New York, but its all about family! There is no question about it: for the biggest Thanksgiving event in the country, head to New York City for its annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. If you can’t make it to the city, Mom used to say, sit down and you will see the arrival of Santa Claus on TV.

That still hasn’t changed. The old turkey day gets off to a traditional start watching thousands of Macy employees and volunteers begin their march down Broadway. It’s a fantastical procession filled with colorful floats, marching bands, and at least a dozen giant helium balloonsto the delight of the millions of spectators that turn out or tune in to watch. Every race, color, ethic nationality celebrates this American traditional Thanksgiving. Mom keeps basting the turkey but stays attentive to the spectacle on television. This is one Americas pure moments to share year in and year out, either live or by television, with family and friends alike who come to visit.

That was there and here is now. While we still visit the TV on Thanksgiving mornings, were in South Carolina and there are plenty of other things to do on a beautiful fall day, especially on Hilton Head.

How would you like to be fishing, golfing, taking in a spa treatment before filling up on the big Thanksgiving feast or strolling down the beach? A Thanksgiving getaway to Hilton Head sure beats the usual family tradition (once in a while). The island is located about 30 miles from Savannah and about 100 miles south of Charleston, with first class resorts and spas, world-class dining, and miles of sandy beaches to walk and maybe get a late fall tan. Fishing and golf in Hilton Head are major draws, and a multitude of championship courses including the world renowned Harbour Town golf links will easily tempt you away from watching holiday football.

If you want to stay in a vacation house for this special family event, there are some of the most beautiful homes available right on the beach. So if you’re hoping to spend Thanksgiving somewhere a little more low-key, where you can sit back and relax, Hilton Head Island is your place to be for an easy-paced yet memorable Thanksgiving.

Hilton Head Island has a timeless feel; it didn’t even have electricity until 1951, and its second golf club wasn’t opened until 1967. Now, with more than 30 golf courses and countless tennis courts, it’s a vacation destination for the sports nut.

All in all, Hilton Head Island, South Carolina is one of the most beautiful places in the world to visit and explore. A stressless time getting here will assure you the best vacation for the entire family to enjoy. So get prepared, then relax and get into the vacation mode.

But whether you gather in New York, South Carolina, or wherever in America, Thanksgiving promises a feast prominently featuring turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes and plenty to drink and share in good holiday cheer and thank one another for being family and thats what life is truly all about.

You have decided to take a safari and without hesitation I would advise a Serengeti Safari in Northern Tanzania. A Safari across the endless plains of the Serengeti to witness the last, great migration on earth is an unforgettable experience. The whole safari across the huge Serengeti is a package with an abundance of animals rivaled no where else in Africa. It is compounded with majestic landscapes and the fascinating tribes you meet. It is here you will realize that you are in Africa proper.

The great migration safari in the Serenegeti comprises of hundreds of thousands of wildebeest in a never ending cycle of movement, closely followed by the predators looking for an easy meal. The Wildebeest follow the rains and migration is therefore as unpredictable as these rains. It is the last remaining great migration on our planet, and as such, it is a must to take a safari to witness first hand this great event.

Many safari companies try to predict the whereabouts of the animals. The success of this is dependent on three main things. a. The rains being on time. b. The rains lasting long enough to influence the animal to move. c. The experience of the company organizing migration safaris in the Serengeti. The problem with these predictions is that in recent years the rains have not been on time or they have even failed, leaving some safari-makers with clients in the wrong lodges in the wrong area of the Serengeti. Recently many people on safari in Kenya [as the migration crosses the border and for a short time the migration is in Kenya] experienced the failure of the long rains and with this failure most of the animals remained in the Northern Serengeti, leaving many people on the safari not only in the wrong lodges but in the wrong country!

How to solve this problem involves a little work on your part, in researching your subject and booking your safari vacation with care. Below are a few simple steps as a basic guideline.

1. If you are wanting your safari from late July through to the end of September/October then it is necessary to book well in advance. This time of year is so busy that most of the lodges will become full.

2. Have you heard of overcrowding in the Serenegeti? If you have, the chances are the safari took place between these over crowded summer months and most probably the safari was in the Seronera Valley, in the central Serengeti. This area of the Serengeti has a good, reliable concentration of animals with a year round water supply. Many safari companies [especially the bargain priced safaris] are lazy and send their clients to this part of the Serengeti only. This ensures lower mileage, bigger profits and happy clients because of the abundance of animals. Do ensure your safari includes two areas of the Serengeti. One should be the south or the north of this huge park, depending on the time of year and where the migration is heading.

3. If you have the luxury of booking when tourists are few in Tanzania, then try to leave the actual booking of the safari until a few weeks before your departure. If it is low season, March through to the end of June, then the safaris [that is the accommodation and to a lesser extent transport] are at bargain basement rates. Keep checking on the whereabouts of the migration and then book your accommodation through a quality operator accordingly. Safari operators should be able to get luxury accommodation cheaper than your booking directly – this is how the safari operators make their profit.

4. Unfortunately the easiest way to a successful migration safari in the Serengeti is also the most expensive. Book a luxury safari in a semi permanent luxury tented lodge. They are semi permanent as they move several times per year as the migration moves. This almost guarantees you will be up close and personal with the great migration.

[Do not let the tent bit put you off. They are huge tents with double beds and furniture and even en-suite bathrooms. Some boast of private butlers for each tent. They are small camps and have an intimate relationship with the surroundings.]

How it is possible to keep a check on the whereabouts of the migration is easier said than done. There are many sites that claim to have regular updates but some I checked recently are almost two years past their sell by date. I would suggest keeping in touch with two or three of the small boutique tour operators in Tanzania they have vehicles with drivers who are returning from the Serengeti every week and so know the movements of the animals. They will not mind keeping you well informed of what is happening in order to [hopefully] get a safari booked.

Take time and plan your safari carefully as the planning is a part of the adventure. Take time to research a little and make sure your ground operator in Tanzania is willing to make your safari special. Many of the safari operators are [rather sadly] only bothered about making a quick buck and the clients wishes are of no concern to them. Beware of such companies as they exist at the luxury end as well as the budget end of the spectrum. Tanzania and the Serengeti are amazing. Ensure that with careful planning your safari experience will be an exciting and memorable one.

If you’re looking for a vacation spot with a little bit of everything, Koh Samui should be your port of call! This Thai island lies off the east of the Kra Isthmus and as Thailand’s third largest island, it has enough to do to entertain even the most discerning tourist. With plenty of beach-front resorts that will have you living just meters away from the water, let this island show you some of the best of what Thailand has to offer.

If you re a nature lover, be sure to take advantage of the many day trips into mountainous jungle interior of the island. Keep an eye out for the waterfalls, especially for Na Muang and Na Muang II. The former is 18 meters high while the later stretches up a dizzying 80 meters. While the former can be accessed by vehicle, the later can only be reached via a 30 minute walk. If possible, see both of these natural wonders during your stay. If you are interested in some of the wildlife of Thailand, Koh Samui has a crocodile farm, a monkey theater, a butterfly garden and an renowned aquarium, and that’s just for starters!

When you’re tired of the wildlife, check out the nightlife! Koh Samui boasts many bars, discos and cabaret shows, especially in Lamai and Chaweng. Check out the Raggae Pub and the Bauhaus for dancing that can last until dawn. For live music, head down to the Beach Pub at Secret Garden. This stretch of beach has become an international gathering place for professional and semiprofessional musicians, and live sessions take place every Saturday afternoon, attracting large crowds of people, all ready for a party!

One of the best reasons to make Koh Samui your vacation destination is the water; the waters of this beautiful island are crystal clear, making for some of the snorkeling and scuba diving in the world. If you’ve never gone scuba diving before, there’s not time to start like the present; you’ll find plenty of schools scattered along the coastline that are willing to teach you.

If you ave an interest in physical sports, come to Koh Samui to take a look at the the Thai martial art, Muay Thai boxing. This martial art has become the known all over the world for it’s intensely fast action and close combat fighting style; in Koh Samui, you can see matches that will show you what this form of boxing is truly capable of. Chaweng Stadium holds matches every Monday and Friday, while you can see fights every Saturday at the Lamai stadium.

To see what life may have been like more than a century a go, be sure to visit Koh Samui’s oldest standing house in Ban Thale. This structure was made out of teakwood without the use of any nails. Constructed of teak planks and adorned to with traditional Thai woodcarvings, this house can show you some of the decorative motifs and styles that can still be seen in Thai design today.

Koh Samui has a lot to offer, so make sure that you plan a vacation there soon. Between the tranquil beaches and the lively bar scene, there really is something for everyone!