No matter where you plan to getaway from it all - be it a Caribbean vacation, a ski vacation or a luxury resort vacation - the sooner you start planning, the better.

Travelers that search early for vacation deals are more likely to get them. Booking early gives you the advantage of choosing non-stop flights, the hotel you want to stay at and the best rental cars, should you and your fellow travelers need one.

If you’re planning a winter vacation there’s no reason not to start searching for the perfect getaway now.

Now is the time to start planning your next ski vacation!

There are many options for those that love the great outdoors in the wintertime, and not all of them cost a small fortune or require a trip to Aspen, Colorado.

Winter vacationers can choose from a number of different types of accommodations, including hotels, motels, ski resorts and vacation rentals. For those that aren’t looking for an overnight stay, a day pass comes in handy.

Since skiing is a popular sport you can find ski resorts in Ohio, New York State, Michigan, Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin and just about every other state in the US.

Ski offerings differ by location. Most ski resorts offer lift tickets, ski rentals, ski lessons, bunny hills for beginners or specialty hills for snowtubing - the sled, revamped.

Just like amusement parks, some ski resorts offer season passes for frequent guests. Hours and availability depend on weather, as conditions must involve snow (or the ability to manufacture it.)

There’s no time like the present to start planning for your first -or five hundredth- time on the slopes!

The Oasis of the Sea has no shortage of things to do while on board. The vessel
features shopping, entertainment and dining. The ship has seven night sailings to the eastern Caribbean with ports of call in Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas; Philipsburg, St. Maarten; and Nassau, Bahamas. Beginning on May 1, 2010, Oasis of the Seas will alternate its Eastern Caribbean itinerary with the Western Caribbean itinerary, which will call at Labadee, Royal Caribbean’s private beach destination in Haiti; the new port of Falmouth, Jamaica; and Cozumel, Mexico.

Modifications have been made to accommodate the massive ship in many ports of call, including dredging and larger welcome centers.

The vessel features 7 different “neighborhoods” including the gardens of Central Park with plenty of “green space” for those that enjoy an afternoon in natural settings. The Aquatheater will offer the largest freshwater pool ever on a cruise ship. Surfers will enjoy the Flo-Rider surf simulator. The Boardwalk is meant for families and romantic couples as it rings with nostalgia.

The Oasis of the Seas is 16 stories high with 2,700 staterooms that can accommodate up to 5,400 guests.

Adam Goldstein, President & CEO, Royal Caribbean International stated,
“Royal Caribbean is proud to introduce a number of industry ‘firsts’ on a level and scale that the world has never seen before Oasis of the Seas is the ultimate expression of the creativity and imagination found on all of our ships, providing guests with a collection of experiences that will offer an incredible cruise vacation.

To find out more, please visit Oasis of The Seas

JetBlue, a discount carrier that operates in 53 markets, just announced plans to sell travel pillows and blankets on flights that are at least 2 hours long. The airline will offer The World’s Cleanest(tm) travel pillow and blanket kit for $7.00 per kit. The kit includes a $5.00 coupon towards a future purchase at Bed, Bath and Beyond. Unlike the recycled blankets and pillows they used to offer, the World’s Cleanest Travel pillow and blanket will block all micro-toxins larger than one micron in size, such as dust mites, mold spores, pollen and pet dander.

Brett Muney, General Manager of Product Development for JetBlue Airways said, “Replacing our old, recycled pillows and blankets with this state-of-the-art, high-quality take home kit is an eco-conscious, health-conscious and customer-conscious decision. We are constantly seeking ways to enhance the in-flight experience for our customers, and providing them the option to purchase The World’s Cleanest travel pillow and a fleece blanket at an affordable price delivers on that promise.”

JetBlue recently began charging $15.00 for the first article of checked baggage and began offering seats with more legroom at a higher fare.

Mom Inventor Tamara Shay Tannas explains what gear you can get for the whole family. Suit up before your next family vacation.

It’s hard to determine where the sky ends and the sea begins.

Famous beaches in Punta Cana include Macao Beach, Ubero Alto, Arena Gordo Beach, Cabeza de Toro, Bavaro Beach and El Cortecito. Along these beaches you will find a number of all inclusive resorts and boutique hotels.

Visitors can swim, enjoy both motorized and non-motorized water sports, scuba dive, snorkel or take part in a game of beach volleyball.

Other things to do in Punta Cana include safari tours, ATV Excursions, the Bavaro Runners Tour which gives guests a glimpse into the countryside of the Dominican Republic. There are also beach markets where you can buy trinkets from local craftsmen and women. For those that enjoy the nightlife, there are nightclubs and dining nearby.

If you spend anytime off resort, you will notice that the Dominican Republic is a bit rough around the edges, the average annual wage of Dominican’s is around $6,000.00 - so tip well if you receive stellar service. Every bit helps!

Chances are, you’ll be enchanted with the DR and you won’t run out of things to do while you stay.

As of April 11th of this year, there has been a high-level security alert warning people against travel to Port Au Prince. The nation is undergoing violent strife, and the city is unsafe for travelers.

The United States State Department issued even a graver warning on April 30th., 2008.

This Travel Warning is being issued to advise American citizens to defer non-essential travel to Haiti until further notice. The civil unrest of early April has subsided, but the political and economic conditions that precipitated these events have not been entirely resolved. Conditions may occasionally limit Embassy operations to emergency services. Americans are also reminded of ongoing security concerns in Haiti, including frequent kidnappings of Americans for ransom. This supersedes the Travel Warning for Haiti issued on April 11, 2008.

In early April 2008, there were violent demonstrations, looting, transportation disruptions, and up to seven reported deaths in Les Cayes and Port-au-Prince. Some American citizens were temporarily stranded in isolated locations and could not safely travel until calm was restored. Because political and economic conditions precipitating the civil unrest have not been resolved, American citizens should defer non-essential travel to Haiti.

So, right now, any non-essential travel to Haiti and Port Au Prince is being warned against.

There are two primary ways people visit Cancun.

1) All-inclusive Resorts
2) Cruise ships which stop in nearby Calica

The forays into Calica almost always offer access to the Xcaret Nature Park, which is well regarded for its’ natural beauty.

For those looking for a cheap vacation package in Cancun, most will look to the benefits of all-inclusive resorts. Cancun, like most tourist destinations in the Caribbean, sports some of the cleanest, bluest water imaginable, where avid snorkelers take in the sights. In fact, many types of recreational sight-seeing are available, and are easily set up with your resort.

Cheap Cancun vacation packages are generally sold in the configuration of 4 days, 3 nights. You can configure your vacation for whatever days you want to go, but you might have to be flexible in order to get the savings. Certain times of the year are cheapest, but that doesn’t alway make them the best days to travel. Do a “reality check” before booking.

Lastly, if you’re an American resident, you’ll need a valid passport to travel to Cancun.

“We are excited to welcome Frontier Airlines to Durango. Frontier has a finite amount of aircraft available, so we take this as a compliment that they are expanding to our city,” said Durango Area Tourism Office Executive Director John Cohen. “The three inbound and outbound flights will have a
major positive impact on tourism as Durango becomes more accessible. It’s never been easier or more economical to get here from Denver and all over the country.”

Flight service to Durango started today. Here is flight information for this new route:

Visitors that present a Frontier boarding pass at the Durango Area Visitors’ Center will receive free gifts and coupons from local businesses.

To find out more or to book a flight, please visit Frontier Airlines.

“This summer, SkyWest Delta Connection is pleased to offer Gillette and Rock Springs passengers access to mountain resorts, national parks and beyond from SkyWest’s largest hub,” said Mike Thompson, SkyWest’s vice president — market development.

“We are very pleased to have SkyWest serving the communities of Gillette and Rock Springs,” said Amber Schlabs, Aviation Business and Marketing Manager for WYDOT Aeronautics. “We have sought to bring a stronger presence of SkyWest in Wyoming for some time and look forward to a
long-term partnership with the airline.”

Skywest will have two round trip flights daily. Here is the planned schedule that begins on July 7, 2008:

To find out more about this or any other flight service that Skywest offers, please visit Delta Airlines.