Travelers and those who are living in another country are bound to experience a little homesickness from time to time. Plus every one experiences at least one major case of homesickness just about the time the culture shock gets to be too much for him or her.

It’s natural to miss your family and friends, even the culture that you grew up in when experiencing new places. Sometimes it’s a slow build to missing people other times travelers who thought they were completely acclimated will develop a sudden rash of homesickness. Symptoms are, missing one’s family and friends, the desire to seek out any other person or symbol from your country, loneliness, mild depression, an unwillingness to deal with the surrounding culture and maybe even a refusal to leave one’s room.

Some simple treatments you can use when this ailment develops are; making that costly phone call, sending emails to all of your friends and family, or if you don’t have access to the computer, writing a couple of long letters in which you pour out all of your frustrations and misery. You can decide at a later time if you wish to send them or an amended version. Also take a little time to yourself and don’t feel guilty about it. Treat yourself to some of your favorite treats like chocolate and pizza; even if you have to make it yourself so it’s just like those from home.

You should also take lots of pictures of loved ones with you to help offset homesickness. If you have an album filled with pictures you can look at friends and family whenever you want and you can also show off your loved ones to locals which should help you to make friends in foreign places.

Whatever you do, don’t force yourself to over do it in an effort to avoid homesickness. You can get out into the local culture and try to enjoy yourself. Develop an appreciation for the new experiences you are gaining and know that you won’t always be away from home.

Gail Leino is known throughout the internet world as Mrs. Party. She has become the internet’s leading authority on selecting the best possible party supplies with clever themes. Her simple party planning approach demostrates how to use proper manners while teaching etiquette with organizational skills. She shares lots of interesting fun facts. See travel vacations for more tips and holiday spot destinations.

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Las Vegas is much more than loud slot machines, and
noisy casinos. Seriously, there is so much more to do than
gamble and eat from block-long food tables. Las Vegas is
home to the some of the finest entertainment, attractions,
shopping, and golf courses in the world.

Your entertainment options are unlimited in this city
known as “America’s Playground”. There are thrilling
roller coasters, dolphin and magic shows, and street shows
such as Treasure Island’s life-like pirate battle. You can
even tour Egypt in a simulated ride. There are places to
bowl, enjoy a leisurely spa, shop ’til you drop, and even
get married. The possibilities are almost overwhelming, so
make sure to plan, or have some sort of idea what you
would like to see and do while you are there.

You will definitely want to put a trip to Fremont Street
on your schedule. Fremont Street is a short walk from
downtown Las Vegas and is a brief stroll from many of the
hotels or you can ride the public transportation which is
extremely clean and passenger friendly. Look overhead as
you walk the 4 block long Fremont Street Experience and
you will be amazed by the over 2.1 million lights and the
state-of-the-art sound system in the canopy built 90
feet above street level.

If you are vacationing and wanting to spoil yourself, then
you have come to the perfect place. Many of the spas offer
fitness centers. In addition you can treat yourself to
facials, massages, body wraps, saunas, heated whirlpools,
steam rooms and other treatments, including tanning.

Don’t dare forget the fountains at Bellagio. It is one of
the most memorable and spectacular sights in Vegas or
maybe even the world! You will be hypnoized as the water
takes on a life all it’s own and shows off in perfect
synchronization to opera and broadway favorites and
everything thing else in between. Best of all this show is
no charge as it can be experienced from the open sidewalk.

When you are there at Bellagio, make time to tour their
gardens. You will begin to relax, even as you enter this
tranquil oasis. With over 85,000 square foot of space the
conservatory has 1,200 exotic plants and flowers such as
lilies and orchids. Every month, the fragrant displays are
changed to keep everything fresh.

On May 15, 2005, Las Vegas will be celebrating its 100th
Birthday! It’s an historic event that has events to
offer everyone. The Centennial Celebration Committee has
committed to commemorate the 100th birthday by hosting a
birthday party that~s brighter and bigger than the neon
lights on the Las Vegas Strip! The party actually started
on December 31, 2004 and will last the whole year.

With all the resorts competing for your dollars, you will
be able to find cheap or at least heavy discounts on meals
and rooms. Seniors and students can find special airfare
and accomodations to please their budgets. Las Vegas is a
resort whereby you can spend as little or as much as you
want and have a great time.

Daytime or nightime, Las Vegas is a super place to
bring the whole family to vacation or just get away with
a special someone. And with the BIG party planned,
what better time than the present?

Elizabeth Ann Wares is founder of Airfare X an
excellent resource site dedicated to information on Airfare

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Ah, the hype the advertising executives will come up with to get your attention. Gigantinormous. Gigantic and Enormous all rolled into one. Travelocity coined a new word just to get your attention. Aren’t they clever. They are having a Gigantinormous sale.

• You save $100 instantly off your reservations when you book one of their Flight+Hotel TotalTrip packages or one of their Last Minute Deals packages. The reservations must be for two people or more and there is a three night or longer stay required.
• The package must be booked by November 16, 2006 and travel must be done before January 7, 2007.
• To get the $100 discount, you need to enter the promotional code GIANTSALE when checking out.
• After you make your reservations for your initial travel, Travelocity will send you another promotional code good for $200 off your next qualifying Flight+Hotel TotalTrip package for two or more people with a minimum stay of five nights.
• To take advantage of the $200 off offer, you must book by March 31, 2007 and the trip must be taken by July 31, 2007.

So it’s time to do a little comparison shopping. How does their Gigantinormous sale hold up against their competitor’s prices? Since I’m wondering if this is a way to save on holiday travel, I’m going to find the price for a fictional family of four (2 adults plus 2 kids - ages 5 and to fly from Chicago to Philadelphia for Christmas.

Travelocity’s Deal

Plane Reservations - American Airlines leaving Chicago O’Hare at 10:55pm on December 23rd, direct flight to Philadelphia International; American Airlines leaving Philadelphia International at 11am on December 29th, direct flight to Chicago O’Hare

Hotel Reservations - Best Western in Center City - one room, two double beds

Travelocity’s bottom line after Gigantinormous discount $1568.01 for flight, hotel, taxes and fees.

Expedia’s Deal

Plane Reservations - American Airlines leaving Chicago O’Hare at 12:40pm on December 23rd, direct flight to Philadelphia International; American Airlines leaving Philadelphia International at 4:15pm on December 29th, direct flight to Chicago O’Hare.

Hotel Reservations - Expedia could not get me reservations at my hotel of choice Best Western in Center City - so I choose a comparable three star hotel in Center City - Club Quarters.

Expedia’s bottom line - $1,760.58 for flight, hotel, taxes and fees. Almost a full $200 more than Travelocity’s price.

Hotwire’s Deal

Plane Reservations - American Airlines leaving Chicago O’Hare at 2:15pm on December 23rd, direct flight to Philadelphia International; American Airlines leaving Philadelphia International at 8am on December 29th, direct flight to Chicago O’Hare.

Hotel Reservations - Hotwire could not get me reservations at my hotel of choice Best Western in Center City - so I choose a comparable three star hotel in Center City - Doubletree Inn

Hotwire’s bottom line - $1864.00 for flight, hotel, taxes and fees. Almost a full $200 more than Travelocity’s price. Almost a full $300 more than Travelocity’s price.

Priceline’s Deal

Priceline’s best price with undisclosed flight details (including a possible plane transfer) and a comparable three star hotel in Center City was $1,659 for flight, hotel, taxes and fees.

The winner - Travelocity by a Gigantinormous $200-$400 savings.

Now, the savings are just on the initial trip booked with Travelocity. If you add the additional $200 savings on a future trip booked with Travelocity the savings may be even greater. Of course, any wise traveler would comparison shop even with the $200 discount.

US Air’s Offer - Not Quite Gigantinormous, but a Savings Non-the-Less

US Airways is extending an invitation to its frequent flyers to escape from the chilly fall weather to the warmer climate of the Caribbean, Mexico or Central America. They have special fares to these destinations if you book now and travel before December 15th. There is a minimum three night stay associated with the offer.

In addition, you will receive a $25 gift card for each seat booked that can be used for a later flight with US Airways or one of its affiliates. The e-mail said that this offer is only good for members of their frequent flyer program.

So it seems as if this season’s deals are coming in the form of save a little now, save a little more later. The deals may be truly good for those who are planning to travel both sometime this fall and again later on in the year or early next year.

This article on discount travel packages has been brought to you by daily air travel.

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