MIKE SELVON asked:


An African safari is an experience that is sure to exhilarate and satisfy anyone who has a sense of adventure. There are many different types of Africa safari adventures that you can embark on. Many people use the services of an African safari travel company to make the arrangements for them, while others enjoy membership in an African safari club where they can meet and get to know fellow adventurers.

Whatever approach you choose to take for your own Africa safari travel, it is important to gather as much information as possible before making final decisions and travel arrangements for the safari that you want to participate in. One of the first decisions that should be made is the area of Africa that you want to visit. Africa is a vast land and a safari in one area can be a completely different experience than a safari to a different area of the continent.

Once you are feeling good about the possible part of the country that you intend to travel to for your Africa safari, the next step will be selecting your guide. This is particularly important if this is your first safari and the safari guide you choose can literally make or break your experience.

Before you choose a guide for your adventure you must make sure that guide and the African safari tour company that he is associated with are fully versed and experienced in the area you have chosen. For example, if you decide to visit Kruger in South Africa, then the guide must have a broad knowledge about that specific area of Africa and the types of wildlife safaris that are typically carried out in that area.

It is unfortunate but true that many people have ended up going on an African safari with inexperienced guides and have returned from their safari holidays having had a negative experience. But, having a bad experience is not the only concern, because traveling with a guide who is not experienced, skilled and professional can also result in putting you in dangerous situations, which can put your safety and your very life at risk.

The internet is an invaluable tool to use in researching African safari companies, the exact services they offer, and the background and experience of the safari guide staff that they have. Through doing research online, you should be able to find all of the information that you will need about what the various elements of a good African safari are. With that information, you can also prioritize what is most important to you to see and experience.

During your online research, you will encounter a number of Africa safari travel companies who specialize in preparing and leading African safaris. It is a good idea to contact these companies directly and ask questions regarding the amount of time they have been in business and the experience level of their safari guides. While many of these companies provide an email address for you to contact them, you will most likely be able to get a better feel for their services in general if you call and speak to someone directly.

It is also a good idea to speak to other people who have been on an Africa safari and ask them for recommendations of destinations, as well as companies that can provide guides. While there is a great deal of information that you can gain from a safari company’s website, there is nothing better than speaking to a person who has used their services. Taking that extra step before you book your African safari holidays can help assure you have the best possible trip.

Dean Caporella asked:

Is it better to wait before grabbing a last minute cruise deal? This question is often bandied around and the simple answer is yes and no.

Yes, you can get some great cruise deals if you wait until the last minute and no, if the cruise is scheduled to sail during peak holiday periods. Waiting until the final minute would not be a good idea.

Plan Your Trip

Planning for a last minute cruise deal is probably the best advice but how do you plan for a vacation if you are not completely sure there will be spots available when the cruise is just about ready to depart?

The usual practice is for great deals to be available when bookings first open and booking through travel agents is the best course to take. Once the opening flurry settles down cheap prices will not be as readily available.

Be Flexible

Being flexible with your travel arrangements and concentrating on the off-peak times is the key to getting good last minute deals. Cruise companies don’t like sailing with empty staterooms as it means lost revenue and the off-peak season is a great time to find the best deals.

If you are planning a trip to the Caribbean for example, the period from September to the end of the year can present excellent late opportunities.

Online Deals

The internet is a terrific source in finding those last minute bargains. It wasn’t too long ago when you needed to rely on the cruise companies themselves and travel agents to find a good deal at the last minute and while the latter is still a viable way of sourcing out great deals, going online has presented a myriad of opportunities.

With the massive increase in ships taking to the waters over the past ten years so too has the number of specialist websites increased. Many of these sites specialize in late minute deals and finding one to suit your travel needs is becoming increasingly easier.

Joining a newsletter list is another great way to ensure you are kept in the loop. If an online service is offering you the opportunity to get on their mailing list then it will pay to do so. This will enable them to keep you up-to-date on what deals are on offer as well as news on cruises in the future.

Waing until the last minute to score a great cruise deal will take a little patience on your part but by being kept informed by sources such as those mentioned above will give you little to be concerned about.