jeglick+3.1INF+Final+Draft

= Jill Glick = = Instructor: Dr. Archibald = = English 110.50A = = 3.1 INF Final Draft = = 10 November 2008 = ** Getting Away from It All and I’ll Show You How ** Do you feel like some days you just need to get away from it all? I’ve got the perfect solution - sunshine, warm tropic breezes, and a refreshing drink as you relax listening to your favorite songs. You deserve a vacation like this and I’m here to show you how to make it happen. Because the internet can get to be information overload, I’ve narrowed your search down to a few exceptional internet websites.

You first need to pick a destination and with all this cool weather, let’s go someplace warm; how about an excursion to the United States southernmost point – Key West, Florida. It’s described as paradise with fabulous sunsets, spectacular snorkeling and diving in the only living coral reef in the U.S., and just good-time fun. Peter Frank of [|www.TravelandLeasure.com], suggest “fishing”, “kayaking” and watching the “sunset at Mallory Square” where you’ll witness the “legendary freak show - the contortionist,” “the fire juggler,” and “the escape artist” while sipping your drink as you meander along the pier. You must experience it at least once in your lifetime.

We don’t want to go when it’s crowded which also increases the cost; so let’s research when would be the best time to go. A great site to visit for an excellent destination overview is [|www.smartertravel.com]. It states that for Key West, “The best months to save money are October, September, and August (in that order), during which fewer people visit due to wet weather. The most expensive months are March, February, and April (in that order), but room rates can also be affected by special events and festivals at any time of the year.” I always try to plan well in advance, at least six (6) months ahead. We’ll base our dates on the first week in June 2009 and you need to be a little flexible so that you can get the best airfare. According to Fodors.com, in general the lower costs days are midweek; “these days typically see fewer passengers and quite often you'll get cheaper fares.” This is due to business travelers flying on a Monday and Friday and the weekends are traveled more heavily by families. We’ll shoot for Wednesday or Thursday with a return date of the following Tuesday or Wednesday.

One of best sites to compare airline flight schedules and pricing is [|www.Kayak.com]. This search engine will explore all the airlines that service the cities that you will fly to and from. To keep our costs low, it’s best to travel through major airports; we’ll use Baltimore, MD and Miami, FL. Also, we want to do this as soon as possible. Keith Melnick, Kayak’s executive vice president of corporate development, states that airlines try to “predict demand” from “both high-paying business travelers and leisure travelers looking for a cheap flight” and ticket pricing is based on this. Airlines only have a certain number of seats at discounted prices so it’s important to try purchasing them as quickly as possible. Kayak.com can also check nearby airports, which I recommend, to see if you can get a better price. Once you decide which flights would suit your needs, go directly to the airline site to book your tickets. You can get a larger selection of scheduled times and sometimes even cheaper prices. Good news, I found us a great price, an AirTran flight from Baltimore, MD to Miami, FL for $165 round trip, leaving on Thursday, June 4, 2009, and returning Tuesday, June 10, 2009.

We need a rental car to drive from Miami, FL to Key West and [|www.carrentals.com] is an excellent site to use for this search. There’s really not too much to this website, just choose which vehicle you’d like to drive and see which rental agency offers the lowest price. Again, use the car rental company website. Reserve a vehicle but check back on a regular basis for a better rate. Car rental prices are constantly changing and the insurance they offer is expensive and you may not even need it. Check your auto insurance to see if you already have rental car coverage. Also, some credit cards include this insurance; however, you must use the credit card to purchase the rental car. We can rent a Toyota Corolla from Rent Max for $186.46 which includes all the fees. Since we’ve saved money on the airfare, you may want to spend a little more for the rental car and go for a convertible. Imagine driving down the Florida Keys in a convertible and feeling the freedom of the breeze hitting your face; it may be worth the upgrade.

Where should we stay? The website [|www.tripadvisor.com] is a great site to get people’s opinions on the best places to stay. The hotels are ranked based on traveler’s ratings and they’re pretty accurate. Members will provide valuable insight that you don’t get from the hotel’s webpage. Some even provide pictures of the hotel and surrounding area. You’ll find a few people complaining about a hotel but it’s important that it has many more responses with positive feedback. You’ll find even the very best hotels will have someone with a complaint. Once you’ve narrowed down your hotel choices, use [|www.hotels.com] or [|www.kayak.com] to get a general idea for the best price. I like using these sites because based on your wants, you can choose the price range, star ratings and guest ratings. Also www.hotels.com provides you with guest’s opinions. Use the above sites to gather detailed information; however, you will want to go directly to the hotel’s website because you can normally get a better price. You should be able to get a comfortable and affordable hotel with 2.5 to 3 stars for approximately $90 to $140 per night.

I have found that [|www.fodors.com] is wonderful site to ask general questions; for instance, what to do, where to eat, or what’s the weather like during a certain period of the year. It’s amazing the responses you’ll receive. They can be from people that live in the area to people that have visited there once or many times. I value their opinion and have used it frequently and haven’t ever been misled. Getting directions before you go is very important. [|www.aaa.com] is wonderful for accurate information. I’ve tried other sites and even a GPS but still prefer using [|www.aaa.com]. It provides you with directions to and from your destination, the time it will take, mileage, and a complete detailed turn-by-turn map. If you choose, it will even include restaurants, rest stops, gas stations, hotels and attractions to visit along the way. This website may require a membership but it’s worth every penny.

For additional savings, do a web search for discount codes or if you’re a member of BJ’s, Costco’s, AAA or another club, check with them first because they may offer additional discounts. Some people like to call a travel agent to make their travel arrangements but why spend the extra money when you can learn about the area you’ll be visiting plus you can get better deals by doing it yourself.

We all benefit from a vacation away from our daily routine and these web-pages can help you make it happen at an affordable price. Take the time, book your vacation, learn about your destination and then once you get there, kick back, put your feet up while sipping refreshing drink as the sun warms you and the tropical breezes take you away from it all.

Works Cited “Best of the Florida Keys - Florida Keys | Travel + Leisure.” 10 Nov 2008 .

“Car Rentals from CarRentals.com.” 10 Nov 2008 .

“Cheap Flights, Airline Tickets, Cheap Airfare & Discount Travel Deals - Kayak.com.” 30 Oct 2008 .

“Fodor's Travel Talk Forums.” 23 Oct 2008 .

“Hotels in Key West, Travel, Tourism and Key West Vacation Reviews - TripAdvisor.” 30 Oct 2008 .

“Hotels.com - Key West Hotels - Hotel Deals in Key West, FL.” 30 Oct 2008 .

“Welcome To AAA Central Penn.” 10 Nov 2008 .

“When to visit Key West - SmarterTravel.com.” 30 Oct 2008 .