Page 40 May 2015 By Michelle Donati-Grayman If you’d prefer to spend your vacation cycling across Spain rather than sipping a fruity drink on the beach, you aren’t alone. It’s called active tourism, and it’s an emerging travel trend that incorporates adventure, culture and philanthropy into your vacation. The travel industry has taken note, creating thousands of off- the-beaten-path itineraries for travelers to choose. “There are parts of this world you just can’t see aboard a motorcoach or cruise ship,” said Amy Moreno, senior travel manager of AAA Arizona. Active lifestyle trips are designed for travelers who want to incorporate their active lifestyle into a vacation. Components may include activities such as cycling, hiking, canoeing, paddle boarding, trekking, camping and zip lining. AAA Arizona started offering active lifestyle packages in November 2013. The full-service travel agency ranks the activity level for each itinerary on a scale of 1 to 5. A trip that receives a 1 rating will involve walking or hiking a couple of miles a day. On the other end of the spectrum, the eight-day Mount Kilimanjaro itinerary receives a 5 rating, as it requires a high level of fi tness and involves heavy exercise at high altitudes. From solo travelers to families, itineraries are available for all ages, abilities and price points, depending on the length, complexity and level of accommodations. A four-day safari adventure in South Africa, for example, where you’ll experience the largest and most diverse wildlife areas on the continent, starts at $499. Other itineraries are more costly, like the 11-day expedition to the South Shetland Islands and the Antarctic Peninsula – where you’ll encounter majestic whales, thousands of penguins and stunning landscapes few have ever witnessed – for $8,199. All trips are led by professional guides, with an average group size of 10 to 12. The bene fi t of a small group is that the guide can slow things down or speed things up depending on the group’s needs and interests. However, it also means travelers need to book out a bit further as trips tend to fi ll up quickly. Travelers have the option of selecting a level of service that meets their needs. Accommodations include camping, dorm- style living and luxury Five Diamond resorts. “Travelers want their personal interests incorporated into their trips,” Moreno said. “Active lifestyle trips give them the opportunity to do just that.” — Michelle Donati-Grayman is an Arcadia resident who works for AAA Arizona. AAA is the largest leisure travel agency in North America. Mountain bike along Lake Arenal with breathtaking volcanic views on an action-packed Costa Rica adventure. The road less traveled: Active tourism is on the rise Costa Rica’s Selvatura Park is home to several tree top bridges with lengths ranging from 150 to 510 feet. Be a part of Arcadia Home & Design , a special pull-out section in the June edition of Arcadia News . This go-to guide features captivating stories about families, homeowners and their homes in Arcadia. Contact Roni Mier at 602-840-6379 or roni@arcadianews.com for more information. summer 2014 Mid-Century Modern a new look at Bounty Backyard A Outdoor Sanctuary Soothe Your Senses with Your Own fall 2014 El Chaparral Arcadia Sweet Home Porch Give Your the look of Fall 2015 Home & Design Guide Themes OCTOBER - ART & FURNITURE Ad space and design 9/14 @ Noon Print-ready art due 9/17 @ 5 p.m. DECEMBER - DESIGN & DECOR Ad space and design 11/13 @ Noon Print-ready art due 11/17 @ 5 p.m. JUNE - YOUR INNER SANCTUARY Ad space and design 5/15 @ Noon Print-ready art due 5/18 @ 5 p.m. AUGUST - CONSTRUCTION & REMODEL Ad space and design 7/14 @ Noon Print-ready art due 7/17 @ 5 p.m. 50,000 affluent readers are waiting to discover you.
Page 41 May 2015 By Michelle Donati-Grayman Before travelers even arrive at another country, some travel terms may already sound like a foreign language. “Like any industry, travel agents have their own vernacular when it comes to fl ights, hotels, airlines and cruises,” said Amy Moreno, senior travel manager for AAA Arizona. To help decode the lingo, AAA offers up de fi nitions to common travel jargon: • BAR – Short for “best available rate,” it’s the lowest nonrestricted rate available for a hotel room. Nonrestricted means the rate has a fl exible cancellation policy. • Day guest – Travelers who have an extra-long layover can opt to pay a reduced day rate for a temporary hotel room to shower, recharge or use the property’s amenities or spa. • Open jaw – This is a type of fl ight where a passenger fl ies into one city and out of another, but the city of origin remains the same. Open-jaw fl ights tend to be more popular overseas but can take place anywhere. • Rack rate – This is the regular price of a hotel room before any promotions are put into effect. • Red eye – A red eye is an overnight fl ight. • Repositioning cruise – When a cruise ship needs to get from one side of the world to the other to adjust for the changing seasons, a repositioning cruise is developed. An example of a repositioning cruise is Alaska to the Caribbean to the Panama Canal. Prices are slightly less expensive than traditional cruises because more of the days are spent only at sea. • Shoulder season – This is the time period between peak and low season when demand is less. Rates tend to be lower and crowds are fewer, but travelers might not have the best weather to enjoy their vacation. • VAT – Short for value-added tax, this type of consumption tax is most often used in Europe. It is similar to a sales tax that adds a fi xed percentage of taxation on products and services at each step of production. • Wave season – This “season” takes place the fi rst three months of the year when cruise lines heavily promote the year’s bookings. While great promotions are available, it still depends on the location and time of the cruise for the best time to buy. “It’s helpful to have a working knowledge of some common terms to make your plans smooth sailing,” Moreno said. — Michelle Donati-Grayman is an Arcadia resident who works for AAA Arizona. AAA is the largest leisure travel agency in North America. Navigating unique travel terms One appointment. Expert doctors. Convenient services. 4350 E. Camelback Rd., Ste F100 Phoenix, AZ 85018 t FPSAZ.com Because caring for your health has always been our passion, we’ve made the following services conveniently available in our office. t&YDFMMFOUDBSFGPSBMMBHFT t4BNFEBZBQQPJOUNFOUT t0OTJUFDMJOJDBMMBCPSBUPSZBOE9SBZT t%FSNBUPMPHZBOE0QUPNFUSZTFSWJDFT t#PUPYBOE0CBHJTLJODBSFOPXBWBJMBCMF Celebrating 45 years of family care .'BNUPQN and Saturday 7 a.m. to noon. .BSL"8ZTF .% Kate Montgomery, FNP "MMBO(PMENBO %0 %BWJE"OEFSTPO 0% Optometrist %BWJE'SBODZL %0 5&.D$BVMFZ .% 5ZMFS4PVUIXFMM .% "OESFX3BDFUUF %0 $FSUJĕFE%FSNBUPMPHJTU +BNFT-FBQ 1"$ Physician Assistant "MJTIB"SDIJCFDL %0 +FOOJGFS'SBODZL 1"$ Victoria Rhodes, P.A. 8BMUFS,PQQFOCSJOL .% $IBSMFT-FWJTPO .% The Arcadia News Health & Fitness Guide is the perfect way to promote your practice or business to the affluent, educated and health-minded readers of the Arcadia News . The Health & Fitness Guide is mailed in the Arcadia News six times per year to homes in the Arcadia/Biltmore/Camelback Corridor. It is also distributed at over 70 retail locations. Contact Roni@Arcadianews.com today to find out how you can save up to 46% on your ad investment! 2015 Health & Fitness Guide Themes G U IDE How to reach 50,000 potential patients or clients... advertise in FIT SS NOVEMBER - SENIOR HEALTH Ad space and design 10/14 @ Noon Print-ready art due 10/19 @ 5 p.m. JULY - COSMETIC PROCEDURES Ad space and design 6/14 @ Noon Print-ready art due 6/17 @ 5 p.m. SEPTEMBER - KIDS HEALTH Ad space and design 8/14 @ Noon Print-ready art due 8/17 @ 5 p.m.