You and your bike...where to next?

Biking Vacations

Thinking about a biking vacation? If so, you are not alone. Active vacations, including biking, are definitely on the upswing. Individuals, couples and families find that a biking trip allows them to enjoy a vacation that includes plenty of outdoor time, great scenery, physical fitness and bonding with companions.
Biking vacations offer the active traveler the chance to experience a destination on a different level and pace than most travel affords. Bikers see the world at ground level, and view the landscape and countryside as an integral component of the trip, not merely as a corridor from one destination to the next. Whereas transportation is often just a means to an end, biking is both means and end, enriching the travel experience with an opportunity for a close-up encounter with the destination, traveling companions and inhabitants.
Biking vacations provide a unique opportunity to engage in a physical activity for the entirety of a vacation experience. However, the biking vacation is not only about a daily grind. Most tour operators design flexible itineraries and an individually oriented pacing that allows the traveler to enjoy the trip without a sense of urgency about speed or distance. There are many different types of biking tour operators and an itinerary for bikers of all levels. The biking experience often entails great lodging and fine food along the way...so losing weight might be a bit more difficult than you think.

A biking vacation is for you if

• You enjoy active vacations
• You enjoy biking excursions at home
• You want to spend your vacation time out of doors
• You enjoy both personal accomplishment and cooperative activities while vacationing
• You want to experience a very "different" type of vacation

There are many different types of biking vacations. The three variables that make up the matrix from which a traveler may choose are destination, pace and companions. A good travel consultant is a key component of choosing the right vacation from the right tour operator. There are many possible tour operators and options from which to choose, and each has a different story to tell regarding its own history and experience with biking vacations. Work with your travel consultant to choose the biking vacation that is right for you and your traveling companions.
Tour operators provide logistical support, routes, itineraries, equipment, food, portage, accommodations and emergency aid are only some of the responsibilities undertaken by a tour operator offering a biking vacation.It is important during the planning stage to select a tour operator that offers an experience that matches your own preferences, and those of your companions.
It is important for the traveler considering a biking vacation to inquire as to the terrain of the destination. Climate, altitude and accumulated daily elevation (the total number of uphill feet in a day) all greatly impact the totality of the biking experience. Remember to consider each of the above factors as they might affect every traveler in your group. If one of your party is less experienced than others the trip is likely to be a very different experience for individual members unless the tour operator is prepared to accommodate disparities in ability.
Accommodations vary greatly not only from one tour operator to the next, but from one itinerary to the next. Examine closely the types of hotels, B&Bs or other lodging used by the tour operator on your particular itinerary. The overnight stays are as much a part of the experience as any other component, so make sure you are satisfied with the choices offered. Likewise, food quality is another variable of the typical program. Most meals will be included in the price of the tour, but make sure of any gaps in the offerings! Some tour operators will offer special dietary consideration for vegetarian or other cuisines.
Companies providing biking vacations typically segregate riders by experience and fitness. Many offer several different daily options and routes involving how much time is spent on the bike, the difficulty of the route, and the distance to be covered during a given day. Additionally, some tour operators impose age limits on riders. If you are traveling with riders under the age of 18, inquire as to the company's policies for children and families. It is important that the traveler be comfortable with the available options, so ask your tour operator.
Most tour operators provide a pace van to shuttle riders along parts of the route where the rider would prefer not to bike or if a rider requires lift assistance. The shuttle van also serves as a water and meal station on some routes and as a repair or emergency vehicle if necessary. Not every tour operator provides a van. If you feel that a shuttle van would assist you and your companions, especially to equalize varying degrees of fitness over some routes, establish its availability during your research.
Participants typically have the option of either bringing their own bike or using one provided by the tour operator. If having your own equipment is important to you, be sure to determine the tour operator's policy and discuss it prior to booking. Determine the shipping policies of the airline you will be using to travel to your destination, and insure your bike for its full value. If you are going to use the tour operator's equipment, check in advance to ensure that you are comfortable with the make, model and sizing, as well as with the general condition of the equipment.
Regardless of the pace and route, a biking vacation will make modest demands on a traveler's physical conditioning. In considering whether a biking vacation is for you, take stock of you willingness to spend most of your day in the out-of-doors, in a bike saddle being very active. Some riding and exercising in advance of your vacation will help ensure that you do not spend your first nights on the road nursing sore muscles!
Your tour operator will probably suggest a training schedule prior to your trip that will match the rigour of your chosen itinerary. Some biking activity three times a week for several weeks before your travel is a must in order for you to fully enjoy the experience during your vacation.
It is worthwhile to take time prior to your trip familiarizing your self with your routes. Although it is likely that your tour operator will provide you with a daily briefing, your own mental preparation and physical training will be easier to supplement if you know in advance the general course and terrain of your daily schedule while on the trip. Ask your tour operator to provide daily schedules with route guidelines in advance, if possible.
Finally, discuss with your personal traveling companions the various options on the trip and make sure that each is comfortable with the varying degrees of skill, fitness and desired pace represented by each member. It is important that the individuals that make up your personal traveling group are each in agreement that it will (or will not!) be appropriate for each biker to set their own pace and daily distance. Discussing such matters before you arrive at your destination will make your biking vacation much more pleasant on yourself and on the other participants.
The climate of the destination will determine your clothing selection. To the extent possible, pack lightly. Be sure to take equipment that is important to your comfort or protection such as your helmet (if not using the tour operators equiment), biking shoes and rain gear. Most excess luggage and equipment will be carried in the shuttle van during the course of the trip.
Are biking vacations safe? Any travel entails some degree of risk. However, biking tour operators are very much aware of the inherent risks of being in the out-of-doors and seek to minimize the risk riding in unfamiliar destinations.

Here are a few tips that can help you ensure that you enjoy your biking vacation with the maximum value and minimum risk:

• Prepare for the trip by making sure that you can physically handle the course, pacing and terrain you have chosen.
• Your tour operator will ultimately indicate that you are responsible for your choices, so be objective in your estimation of your conditioning.
• Learn the rules of the road. If you are not in Kansas anymore, you might be in Killarney and that oncoming traffic means you have forgotten that you are supposed to be on the left side of the road. Other localities are more or less bike friendly than your home routes, so get good local advice and follow it!
• As always, stay hydrated.
• Wear a helmet!
• Wear a helmet! (intentionally repeated!)
• Respect the local inhabitants. You are their guest.
• As with any vacation, travel insurance covering trip cancellation, trip interruption and medical emergencies is a good idea.

Biking vacations are available the world over. From a road not far from your home, to the most far off reaches of the planet, it is highly likely that an organized biking vacation exists. Even a brief list would include most of the countries of Europe and the UK, all 50 states of the US, Canada, South America, Africa, Australia and Asia.
In Europe, France, Italy and Switzerland, as well as England, Scotland and Ireland are all favorite biking destinations. In North America, the western United States, New England and practically all of Canada are offered by a multitude of tour operators. The Asia-Pacific area opens new and exciting possibilities in Vietnam, China and Cambodia. Practically any country that you would want to visit offers some biking vacation opportunities.
The seasons of your destination will determine the most comfortable time for you to undertake your biking vacation. Your personal budget will comprise the other half of the "when" question and answer. In general, your best values are in the shoulder season: that period between the highest, peak travel months in your destination and the lowest, off season. Typical shoulder season weather is a bit cooler than peak seasons yet much more affordable. Low seasons, while very inexpensive, tend to be uncomfortable...too hot, too cold, or too wet. Balance off the cost of the trip with your comfort and you will find value!
The world awaits, so get in gear! Contact Travel Leaders Rice Lake and get ready to go.

Is Russia on your Bucket List?

Easy Pace Russia

By: Elaine Post Director of Sales East for Insight Vacations and Insight Vacations

I just returned from Insight Vacations Easy Pace Russia program. It was a fantastic experience. We spent 3 nights in St. Petersburg & 3 nights in Moscow & used the train to get between the cities. Since we spent so much time in each area, we had ample time to see all of the sights & also to explore on our own. All of Insight’s Easy Pace programs require a minimum of 3 nights in each city, which allows you to really get to know an area.
One of the highlights of the trip in St Petersburg was our visit to the Hermitage Museum located in the Winter Palace. The Winter Palace was the residence of the Russian Czars & was built during the span of 1754 to 1762. The array of artwork by the masters was mind boggling; with over 3 million pieces of work from the Stone Age to the 20th Century. Peter the Great’s summer residence at Petrodvorets, with its fabulous gardens, is also not to be missed.
Moscow exceeded my expectations. Red Square & the Kremlin were wonderful. Gum’s Shopping Center at Red Square was amazing; built in 1893 brings you back to the time of the Czars. Another thing that wowed me there were the subways. It is hard to believe that a subway could impress anyone, but in all of my travels & there have been lots, I have never seen anything like what I saw there. The station at Red Sq built by Stalin has bronze sculptures throughout. You would think that you were in a museum, rather than a subway station. The other stations also had fabulous art work.
I also found the food to be quite good. Breakfasts were huge buffets with a vast array of choices. Typical Russian dinners were borsht (a hot beet soup) & beef stroganoff (Created by the Duke of Stroganoff because he had no teeth & needed something soft to eat). Salads & desserts are also included. Lots of vodka toasts occur, as well, at dinner time.
Shopping is great with the dollar getting a great exchange rate against the ruble. Picking up a matriochka (stacking doll) is a must. I brought 2 home.
Russia should definitely be one of the places on your list to see. If you want to have a fantastic time, make sure you experience it with Travel Leaders of Rice Lake and  Insight Vacations.

Hawaii and Funjet Vacations...more for your money!

Upgrades and Activities in Hawai'i Create the Experience

By: Sarah Kneisler and Funjet Vacations

Any vacation to Hawai'i is a special vacation due to the nature of the destination. It's rare that in such close proximity you're able to visit six different islands with six unique experiences. There are a few things that you can find across each island such as history, culture and natural beauty, however the most important similarity is the Aloha Spirit. This welcoming, friendly feel you're surrounded with lays the groundwork for building your vacation dream and creating memories that will last a lifetime.
From my experience travelling to the islands more than eight times in the last three years, I can share a few tips to make your Hawaiian vacation experience even better. You'll notice many hotels offer room categories with breakfast included, which is an upgrade everyone should take advantage of! Sheraton Maui Resort has an amazing breakfast which you’ll need to fuel yourself for a day of exploring the island. Plus, when you select the Breakfast category with Funjet Vacations you're getting other amazing values included in the price such as 3rd night free and a room upgrade. Even though you may not plan to spend all of your time in your room, it's an experience like no other to wake up or go to bed in the evening and see the ocean from your lanai. Are you really experiencing Hawaii the way you dreamed of if you're booking a room without an ocean view?
There's no better time than now to book. With Funjet Vacations you'll find exclusive offers saving you money on room upgrades to enhance your experience, car rentals to get you around the island, a complimentary lei greeting and more! Funjet also offers a wide variety of activities on all of the islands including my favorite, Bike & Hike. You don’t even need to do all of the research yourself — trust the expert advice of a travel agent for a truly unforgettable vacation experience. Contact Travel Leaders Rice Lake to help you find great values, save you time and ensure you have the vacation you dreamed of taking.

Hawaii and families...a perfect combination!

3 Big Benefits to Booking a Condo with a Travel Agent

By: Outrigger Condominium Collection

Recently we've all been hearing a lot of our clients telling us that they are booking a condo directly with an owner, rather than with a travel agent, because it costs less.
Before you make that decision, let us explain the benefits of booking through a travel agent and a reputable management company, like Outrigger Hospitality. Here are three great reasons to book with a travel agent.

1. You will be able to check-in and check-out at the front desk of the property vs. having to go to another off-property location, like a realty office, to pick up the key.
2. You will enjoy regularly scheduled housekeeping services.
   • With owner-direct bookings, the unit may only be cleaned only after the guest leaves.
   • If you need or want certain types of housekeeping or maintenance services during their stay, and if they booked direct with the owner, they may have to arrange for these services themselves, via the owner or the owner's representative. If you book through the agent, we'll take care of this for you.
3. You will have overall peace of mind knowing that you have an experienced travel agent behind you if you need assistance to make your vacation experience match your expectations.

It's your vacation and your time to relax. Let us book your condo for you. Give Travel Leaders Rice Lake a call to book your next Outrigger getaway to any of the Hawaiian Islands.

The old and new in San Francisco and Monograms

Uncover San Francisco's Beat Trail with Monograms

By: Monograms

As anyone who strolls down Jack Kerouac Lane can guess, San Francisco is a city that relishes its literary memories. In the 1950s, a flood of free-spirited writers rejecting the leaden conformity of Cold War society traveled here to create the “San Francisco Renaissance.” These bohemians congregated in the low-rent Italian neighborhood of North Beach, frequenting the smoky jazz bars and cheap pasta joints in the area. The most famous resident was Kerouac, author of On The Road, who coined the term “beat generation” to describe his restless friends. (The name came from underground slang, and mixed a sense of being downtrodden and rebellious, Kerouac said, with “beatific” and saintly; San Francisco newspaper writer Herb Caen later transformed “beat” into the popular term “beatnik” a few years later). Kerouac arrived here with his friend Neal Cassidy, who appears as the character Dean Moriarty in On the Road, and the poet Allen Ginsberg, who debuted his epic poem Howl at a riotous reading in the neighborhood Six Gallery, a literary event that turned into a famous all-night party. Today, the City Lights Bookstore (cnr. Columbus Avenue and Jack Kerouac Alley) is one of the city’s most beloved shrines: It was founded in 1952 by the beat poet Lawrence Ferlenghetti, and remains one of America’s great bookstores. After browsing the collection, pull up a chair at the Vesuvio Bar next door; in the ‘50s, this was the beats’ favorite watering hole. It was here that Kerouac was way-laid on his way to meet the great author of Tropic of Cancer, Henry Miller; while the elderly Miller waited, Kerouac became too drunk to leave. Kerouac’s boozing and willingness to push himself to the limits would finally be his destruction: He died of complications due to alcoholism in 1969, only 47 years old.
Let Monograms and Travel Leaders Rice Lake help you build the perfect vacation to San Francisco!

Traveling Well to Israel by Collette Vacations

  Thinking of heading to Israel for "your next journey"? Here is a post from Collette Vacations who offers specialized trips to Israel.   

Traveling Well to Israel

By: Collette Vacations

Shalom!
Welcome to Israel...a land where Abraham forged his covenant with God...and today is a nation that has defied unbelievable odds to become an ancestral homeland for Jews and a place where democracy has flourished.
For the first time traveler to Israel, it is like a walk through history. Here three continents (Asia, Africa and Europe) and two seas convene making the country a blend of cultures, customs and traditions. Here was a crossroad to ancient routes of commerce and a home to diverse peoples reflecting the flood of conquering armies striving for eminence in this much-desired small country. Canaanites, Hebrews, Babylonians, Persians, Greeks, Romans, Arabs, Crusaders, Ottoman Turks and the British—each made their stand, briefly flourished, and were swept away leaving in their wake fortifications, castles and royal palaces. From sheikhs’ tombs with whitened domes to ancient synagogues decorated with colorful mosaics and the graceful arches of Crusader churches, Israel is an amazing feast for the senses.
Rooted in religion—though a majority of its people is quite secular—the old Walled City of Jerusalem is of great symbolic importance for Judaism, Christianity and Islam and their histories entwine on its labyrinthine streets. Walk along the Via Dolorosa or Way of Sorrows to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the site of Jesus, the Christian Messiah’s, crucifixion, burial and resurrection. Observe the solemnity of the Western Wall, the only surviving remnant of Judaism’s most sacred shrine, the Temple Mount. Gaze in awe at one of the world’s great architectural masterpieces, the Dome of the Rock, which was built over a rock said to retain Mohammed’s footprint. It is of particular veneration because of the belief that it is the place that had been visited by Mohammed, the Muslim Prophet, on his miraculous night journey which had taken him from Arabia to heaven.
Ancient and modern, secular and sacred, Israel beckons visitors with its magnificent sites, holy places and warm Mediterranean climate. And while Israel is a land of dynamic contrasts with age-old sacred shrines alongside futuristic skyscrapers and posh resorts with swaying palms alongside desert wasteland…it is its own unique Israeli blend—a fitting description for a nation that continues to confound expectations.
What time of year is best to visit Israel? Anytime of year is beautiful in Israel! Israel enjoys long, warm, dry summers (April-October) and generally mild winters (November-March) with somewhat drier, cooler weather in hilly regions, such as Jerusalem and Safed. Rainfall is relatively heavy in the north and center of the country, with much less in the northern Negev and almost negligible amounts in the southern areas.
Regional conditions vary considerably, with humid summers and mild winters on the coast; dry summers and moderately cold winters in the hill regions; hot dry summers and pleasant winters in the Jordan Valley; and year-round semi-desert conditions in the Negev.
Weather extremes range from occasional winter snowfall in the mountain regions to periodic oppressively hot dry winds that send temperatures soaring, particularly in spring and autumn.
Who are the Israelis?

• Population of 7 Million
• 79% are Jewish
• 15% are Muslim
• 6% are Christian, Druze, Buddhist and more

Official languages:

• Hebrew, Arabic
• Almost everyone speaks English

Short Distances: - Israel is basically the size of New Jersey.

• Tel Aviv-Jerusalem: 50 minutes
• Jerusalem-Dead Sea: 45 minutes
• Jerusalem-Masada: 90 minutes
• Tel Aviv-Haifa: 90 minutes
• Jerusalem-Tiberias: 2.5 hours
• Tel Aviv-Eilat: 4 hours

Preparing for the Trip

• No visas required
• Just a passport with validity of 6 months
• All major credit cards accepted
• Accessible ATM’s
• 3.5 Shekels = $1

Electricity The electric current in Israel is 220 volts AC, single phase, 50 Hertz. Most Israeli sockets are of the three-pronged variety but many can accept some European two-pronged plugs as well. Electric shavers, traveling irons and other small appliances may require adapters and/or transformers, which can be purchased in Israel.

Israel: A Journey to the Holy Land

10 days
Tel Aviv • Jaffa • Caesarea • Tiberias • Sea of Galilee Nazareth • Jericho • Dead Sea • Masada • Qumran • Jerusalem • Wailing Wall • Bethlehem • Church of the Nativity • Mount of Olives • Mt. Zion

Did You Know?

• Israel has 4 seas, 6 micro-climates, mountains, valleys, lush pastureland and deserts, all in a space the size of New Jersey.
• Jerusalem is Israel's "Washington, D.C." and Tel Aviv is Israel's "New York City." Jerusalem, the capital, is home to three quarters of a million people. The Tel Aviv metropolitan area, Israel's center of business, culture, fashion and entertainment, is home to four million people.
• Mount Hermon is 10,000 feet high, Jerusalem is 3,000 feet above Sea Level, and the Dead Sea is the lowest point on earth. Because it is 2,000 feet further from the sun's rays – even the fairest skin tans at the Dead Sea shore, but doesn't burn.
• 75% of Israelis are Jewish, 25% are Israeli Muslims, Christians, Druze, Baha'is and Buddhists.
• Israel's official languages are Hebrew and Arabic and almost everyone speaks English.

A Taste of Israel: Filet of Sea Bass

Ingredients

• 4 fillets of Sea Bass (5 ounces each)
• 3.5 ounces of Spinach Leaves
• 3.5 ounces of Cooked Chickpeas
• 3.5 ounces of Blanched Green Ful (Fava Beans)
• 3.5 ounces of Baby Arugula
• 4 Thyme Leaves
• 1 Garlic Clove
• 1/2 cup of Olive Oil
• 1 grilled Eggplant
• 1 tablespoon of Sour Cream
• Salt
• Pepper
• 1/2 Lemon

Cooking Instructions

1. Cream of Eggplant: Burn the eggplant on an open flame. Cut in half and scrape out the inside. Throw away the peel. Mix the eggplant with salt, pepper, lemon juice, and 1 tablespoon olive oil to taste. Mix in a blender with 1 tablespoon of sour cream until it becomes a smooth cream.
2. Tomato Coulis: Slice an X into the top of the tomatoes. Boil in water for 1 minute. Remove the skin, cut into quarters, and take out the seeds. Put on a tray and sprinkle 2 tablespoons olive oil, pepper and salt to taste. Bake for 2 hours in the oven at 200 degrees.
3. Fish: Season fish with salt, pepper, and 2 thyme leaves. Heat a tablespoon of olive oil on a sauté pan. Place the fish on the pan and sear on both sides until brown. Take the fish off the pan and put on a baking sheet. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and cook fish for 4 minutes.
4. Vegetables: Fry spinach in a sauté pan with 1 teaspoon of olive oil. Season the spinach with salt and pepper. Let sit until it reaches room temperature. Sauté cooked chickpeas, fava beans, 1 garlic clove, salt, pepper, and 2 thyme leaves in a pan with 1 tablespoon olive oil on a low flame for a few minutes. Add tomato coulis and 1 tablespoon water and cook for another few minutes.

To Serve: Place the cooked chickpeas and fava beans in the center of the plate. Place the fish on top, then place the fresh arugula leaves seasoned with salt and pepper on top of the fish. Pour the cream of eggplant on the side.
Contact Travel Leaders Rice Lake today to start planning your Israel journey.