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Happy New Year from Everyone @CheapOair

Some Ideal Gifts For Christmas This Year

Christmas is not only about carols singing and bells ringing, its way more than that. It’s about spreading love and cheer among your family and friends. The best way to show your love and care is to gift them something valuable which they can cherish for years to come. Gifts matter, but thoughtful and creative gifts make the occasion more enjoyable. Christmas gifts are anticipated by everyone especially those by families and family members. Here are a few creative ideas which can help you in reciprocating your love towards your family:

For a husband

Males love anything which is the latest in technology, whether it is a new mobile, or a mac. Leather belts and braces are an all-time favorite of office-going men. If you are concerned about his physical health, you can always hire a fitness trainer for him, as a Christmas gift. Photo Slide Scanner will also be an ideal gift for your husband.

For a wife:

The best gift ever for a wife is her husband helping her in Christmas preparations and shopping. Women love jewelry. But if you want to buy a cost-effective gift, you can always make her happy by gifting things like cakes, chocolates and flowers. You can take her out for a dinner on the Christmas Eve at some beautiful place.

For children:

Boys love games. If you have a boy who is in his adolescence, he would live to have a PlayStation as a Christmas gift. If he is in his growing years, you can gift him a bicycle which he can ride to his school. Halo Reach for the XBOX 360 is a good choice for boys. Girls like clothes, especially in their growing years. You can buy a beautiful long gown for your daughter. If you have a college going daughter, you can always gift her beauty or spa services voucher.

For the family:

The best gift for a family can be a special painting of the complete family or a sculpture that symbolizes family unity. Christmas gifts need not be expensive, they must touch the hearts. If your family is Catholic, a new Bible will definitely be a prized possession. A one year subscription to the family’s favorite magazine would be a great idea.

You can also take your family on cruise holidays from Christmas till New Year. You can rent a fully furnished apartment or a cottage for an extended stay with your family at a popular holiday destination. They will always cherish this getaway for Christmas. 

Baljinder Kaur is Writing content for websites dealing in vacation rentals. These websites offer condominiums and <furnished apartments for rent whether you are on a vacation with your family or on some office work.

Quick Guide to Christmas Markets in Poland

Every season as November turns into December, the central squares in many Polish cities are transformed into cozy outdoor Christmas markets (Jarmak Bozonarodzeniowy). Dozens of vendors sell locally-made sausages, cheese, honey and crafts from behind wooden stalls, and Christmas trees taller than most of the surrounding buildings become the focal point of the squares.

Christmas markets originated in the Germanic-speaking regions of Europe during the Middle Ages; however, the tradition has been assimilated and adapted into Polish Christmas culture.

The markets are one of the best places to find the products and ingredients central to a traditional Polish Christmas dinner. Carp, bought fresh (and sometimes live) so the scales can be dried and kept for luck, is the main Christmas Eve dish in Poland. And oplatki, thin wafers which are broken and shared as a symbol of family and friendship, are sold alongside traditional Polish staples like kielbasa and pierogi.

The main market square in Warsaw hosts the biggest Christmas market in Poland. With a focus on regional products, the program also includes live musical performances throughout the month of December. Another major market is held in Krakow. Thousands of lights illuminate one of the only major medieval town squares in Poland that resisted destruction during the Second World War.

If you’re in southwest Poland in December, head over to Wroclaw; the market in the former German city includes an outdoor stage with live musical and dance performances. Or, head north to the Christmas market in Gdansk and spend the holiday on the coast. Smaller markets are held in the secondary cities of Torun and Lodz as well.

Mulled wine (grzaniec), the most popular element of Polish Christmas markets, can be found in the central stalls. The warm mugs, wafting scents of cloves and cinnamon, are a great way to thaw frozen hands on a chilly December evening.

Jenna Makowski is a freelance writer who seeks experiential and local travel. She blogs at http://jennagmakowski.com/

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

How to get a Holiday for Free

Holidays; it seems that we spend our lives scrimping and saving for them and as soon as we get back, we want another one. It seems like a hefty financial outlay for such a fleeting, transitory experience for which we have little to show aside from a few ropey photographs, but studies have shown that, in Britain at least, a holiday is one of the few things Brits are unprepared to give up, even when cash is tight.

It is this reluctance that means Britain’s travel and tourism industry remains strong even in uncertain times, but while many of us need a holiday to keep us sane, that two week summer break is undoubtedly having an effect on our finances, whether that’s the ability to save, pay off our debts, or shell out other essentials. Wouldn’t it be nice if we could get our finances in check and take that holiday?

Sound crazy? Well it shouldn’t there are in fact many ways to bag yourself a free holiday, or at least holidays at massively discounted rates, and I’m not talking about catching a bus to Turkmenistan. Here are five ways you can wrangle yourself a very cheap, or if you’re lucky, a free holiday;

Competitions

Ok, so you don’t have time to spend all day watching day time television waiting for Lorraine Kelly to spring a painfully simple question about the capital of France to which millions of people will enter, no fear, there are easy ways. One of these is Competwition, a little known site at present that has daily competitions across a number of verticals including travel and leisure. Simply Tweet to enter, no phone calls, no silly questions, no fuss.

Work for a Travel Company or Airline

Really love travel? Why not work for a travel companies, many multinational travel firms have bases in the UK (often located near airports) and depending on exactly what job you do for them, holiday concessions or free travel are amongst the perks you can enjoy. Of course working as cabin crew is another option, a fairly well paying job which has a low barrier to entry, and one where lengthy stopovers in desirable locations are the norm, particularly on long haul carriers.

Become a Travel Blogger

What? Geeks that sit at home on the internet all day writing blogs can get free travel? You betcha! If you put in the work and create (or get someone to create you) a nice, user friendly site, have some writing talent, and the time to update it regularly, you could become an influencer in the travel industry and get picked up by a large company who want you to write about their holidays! Making and maintaining a successful travel blog is easier said than done, it takes time, but the cash investment is fairly minimal.

Complain

Didn’t like your recent holiday? Complain. Travel firms have just much accountability as any company to provide you with a satisfying and valuable experience. Take heed, only complain if there was a genuine issue with your holiday, doing so otherwise could land you in hot water. If there is genuine gravity behind your claim, then make it known, you may just get an apology, but you may get a free holiday…

Coupons

Groupon, if you’ve haven’t heard of it yet, is an online group buying system whereby huge discounts are offered on a number of experiences including meals out, spa days and yes, holidays. Granted the products on offer are not always international getaways, rather weekend breaks in country houses, but a holiday’s a holiday right? All that’s required is that enough people sign up for the deal for it to be valid, so get all your friends and family on-board (or not if the only reason you go away is to escape their evil clutches!)

Joe is a travel blogger and serial bargain hunter, he’s currently looking for deals on Flights to Australia. You can follow Joe on Twitter @joe__johnson__

Luxurious Things to Do in Miami

There is plenty to do in Miami. You can frolic along movie stars anywhere in South Beach with beautiful people and ice cold drinks. There is plenty of excess in Miami but why no take it to the next level by……

Buy Some Art

Miami is a phenomenal melting part for very unique art deco designs and artwork. Visit one of the many various art galleries and museums to find that exclusive piece for your new living room or office.

Exclusive Golf

Try your best for a hole in one at Biltmore Hotel’s Donald . The Par 71, 6800 yard championship golf course is a masterpiece of luxury golf.  The course has received many acknowledgements for it’s resort layout which has brought many famous actors, musicians, and golf pros.

Stay @ Mandarin Hotel

This luxurious sanctuary is a staple for luxury travel and accommodations in southern Florida. This hotel boasts a 15,000 square foot luxury spa with 17 treatment rooms, suites, Pilates and Yoga Studios, separate male and female saunas and steamrooms, and Oasis Beach Club for outdoor massages.

Rent a Luxury Car

If you want to draw the attention of the crowd in Miami rent your favorite exotic car and take it for a ride in South Florida. Make a couple pit stops and cruise down Ocean Drive. Be sure to get the brightest color possible. Nothing says status more than a Ferrari on Ocean Drive except for……..

Charter a Yacht

Cruise to the open sea and be sure to invite plenty of people for your excursion. There is no better way to enjoy Miami than aboard a crewed yacht. Treat yourself to a dream along a luxury chartered yacht.

 

Worldwide Yacht Charters

Trekking To Everest Base Camp

This is a guest post by Mike from The Cheap Route Travel Site.

The summit of Everest is one of the most fascinating places on earth; it’s the top of the world, and 99.99999% of people will never be healthy, wealthy, or fortunate enough to see it.  Take it down to the foot of the giant mountain, at South Everest Base Camp in Nepal, and that 99.9% shrinks rapidly.  Trekking to Everest Base Camp is now fairly feasible for the adventure traveler.

To start with, you have to fly into the most dangerous airport in the world, the Tenzing Hilary airport in Lukla, Nepal.  After surviving this flight, we then went through a deadly earthquake, followed by landslides which took out a major bridge along the base camp trail.  Because this bridge went down, it meant we had to climb around it, up and down the mountain, along a mud soaked make shift pathway on the edge of a cliff in the pouring rain.  The pouring rain meant the streams had filled up and were now waterfalls, often times overtaking the pathway on their way down the mountain.  Meanwhile a plane crashed killing all 19 people on board during a scenic flight of Mt. Everest, the same kind of plane we still had to use on our return flight to Kathmandu.  I’m sure not all Everest treks are this wild, but it was a huge relief to be back in Kathmandu alive.

On top of the hidden dangers mentioned previously, the hike was fairly difficult.  Going 12 days with only a couple showers, hiking all day at elevations higher than most people ever experience in their lives, getting sick from the altitude, losing your appetite completely to the point where you nearly throw up trying to cram food down your throat; none of these things are particularly fun.  South Everest Base Camp is located at 17,598 feet, which makes breathing difficult and normal things like putting on your shoes take your breath away.

Now, during those 12 days there were a lot of moments where I wished I was off the mountain, and a lot of time spent in pain or with discomfort.  There were also a lot of “Wow” moments; the scenery was absolutely amazing, the risks were exhilarating, the challenge was character building, and sitting at the foot of the tallest mountain in the world was unforgettable.  Don’t let my complaints steer you away from your own trek to Everest Base Camp.  Just know it’s not all fun and games, but after you return to civilization you’ll look back on it as one of the coolest things you’ve ever done.

About the Author: Mike travelsthe worldsharing his photos and writing about his travels.  For more info on trekking to EBC, visit his Everest Base Camp Trek Guide.

Five Cemeteries to See Before You Die

There’s nothing like a cemetery jaunt to check out dead strangers. Morbid? Nah. Cemeteries offer peaceful surroundings and history, plus you’ll leave feeling good about your life—being that you still have one. These five cemeteries offer an odd, almost “lively” twist on things.

Sonny Bono’s Grave
31705 Da Vall Dr., Section B35 Grave 294, Cathedral City, CA

It’s time to pay tribute to Salvatore Philip Bono, the bowl-cut sporting, fur-vest wearing icon who sang opposite Cher. Rumored to have been killed when he mistook a tree for Cher while skiing at Tahoe, Bono is buried in the aptly named Palm Springs town of Cathedral City. Just look for flowers, phony mustaches and varied keepsakes left by his still-faithful fans. You may even see a “God's Got You Now, Babe'” placard. Despite what his epitaph says, for Sonny, unfortunately “The Beat doesn’t Go On.”

Coon Dog Cemetery (aka Coondawg Cemetery)
SR-247 @ Coon Dog Rd., Tuscumbia, AL

Since 1937, this spot has been a popular final resting spot for hunting dogs. The qualifications for burial here are tougher than for humans at Forest Lawn: the owner must claim their pet is an authentic coon dog; a witness must declare the deceased is a coon dog; and, in a macabre open-casket ritual, a member of the local coonhunters' organization must be allowed to view the coonhound and declare it as such. Bring along this handy age calculator to figure out how long Fido and Buster really lived (it’s less depressing): 

Human Years          Dog Years

10 years                     8 months

13 years                     10 months (adolescent alert)

24 years                     3 years
32 years                     5 years
40 years                     7 years
48 years                     9 years
56 years                     11 years
64 years                     13 years (senior alert)
72 years                     15 years

Doc Holliday's Grave
Palmer Ave. @ Cemetery Rd., Glenwood Springs, CO

Truth be told, I never learned much about of Doc Holliday; when I think of the Old West, it's always Wyatt Earp who comes to mind. Wow, does that change at the gunfighter's grave. Earp himself said Holliday "was the most skillful gambler, and the nerviest, fastest, deadliest man with a six-gun I ever saw." Oh, and Holliday was a dentist, too. Color me impressed! Time to pay your respects.

Buffalo Bill's Grave
987 1/2 Lookout Mountain Rd., Golden, CO

Keeping with the Old West theme, here’s another interesting “venue.” While Buffalo Bill's Grave and Museum does have a bit of a Disney feel, the grave itself, perched atop Lookout Mountain, offers an instant trip back to the time of gunfights and brothels. Bill garnered his moniker as he was an adept buffalo hunter, no easy feat being that this creature can reach 2,000 pounds.

Wooldridge Monuments at Maplewood Cemetery
N. Sixth St. @ E. Cemetery, Mayfield, KY

Check out this monument of eighteen figures of sandstone and Italian marble with the interesting name of "The Strange Procession That Never Moves." Horse trader Henry G. Wooldridge moved to these parts around 1840 and later chose to commemorate his family, pets and himself with life-sized statues grouped around his tomb. Beware: it’s kinda like The Stepford Wives meets Chinese warrior statues.

Christopher Gil is Vice President—Editorial & Production for MAD Maps, the premier publisher of scenic road trip content. Check out www.madmaps.com to see all of their print and digital offerings.

 

 

My Amazing Experience in Tribal India

 As I rode through a remote tribal area of Orissa, India, my guide spotted a group of women sitting in a field. We got out and sauntered over to see what was transpiring and learned that the women were priestesses of the Kondh tribe. They were preparing a curative ceremony for a boy about nine years old from their village. They did not mind our presence and allowed us to stand there and witness the entire process while I photographed each activity they undertook. First, the head priestess partook of some intoxicating liquid and eventually chanted until she was in a partial trance.



    As the ceremony progressed, the child emerged from the village accompanied by his mother. Each of them carried a live bird, one a pigeon and the other a chicken. The birds were handed over to the women who fed both of them rice in order for them to be full and satisfied before being sacrificed as part of the ceremony. Some rice was placed on the boy's stomach, hair and lips which the birds gleefully ate. The satiated animals were then relieved of their innards and eventually sacrificed. These guts were then rubbed onto the shoulders and belly of the child. After a period of chanting, water was pored over the boy to cleanse him.

    Next a man emerged from the woods whom I assumed was the child's father. He carried a small bow and several arrows and directed the young man to shoot in various directions in order to casting away the evil that caused his illness. The man then withdrew back into the woods. Soon the boy, cleansed and naked, and his mother walked back to the village under the cover of a white sheet I hope he was cured. I was overwhelmed. Another wondrous experience in Third World.

 

My travel to remote corners of the world provided me important lessons and helped me grow as a person. As a life-long educator, my observations about the value and meaning of such travel has made my lectures thoughtful and informative. My memoir, What's an American Doing Here? begins with childhood thumbing through pictures in an old World Book Encyclopedia to my development as an enthusiastic voyager to some of the least likely destinations imaginable. Imagine being stranded in a flash flood in the mountains of Western China or being robbed by bandits in the Guatemalan jungle. Envision yourself joining a dance at a funeral in West Africa or becoming a guest of honor at a wedding on an island in rural Indonesia. From Voodoo to Candomble, from elephant parades to Silk Road market towns, I have explored places where few American tourists tread. I spent most of my life teaching children, directing schools and writing about my philosophy of education. In my retirement I transformed those skills to become a lecturer, consultant and author. You can access my website at http://www.travellectures.com/index.html