• GOLFING - Hit the links on some of the world’s most amazing golf courses with some even built around the ancient Mayan ruins. One of the more popular courses is the Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course. This 18-hole, 72-par championship course provides gorgeous views of the area. Some holes are also lined with natural vegetation and wetlands of the area.
• MAYAN RUINS – El Meco is found just north of Cancun. From here, you can see a breathtaking view of the Chacmochuc Lagoon. Ruinas El Ray is located in Cancun’s hotel zone. This area is famous for the hundreds of iguanas that make their home in these ruins. If you go at the right time, you can see the park rangers feeding these lizards. 
• SWIMMING WITH DOLPHINS – Instead of just viewing them through the aquarium glass, slip into the water with these majestic animals. You can choose the type of interaction you want, from petting the dolphins to being pulled through the water by one. There are several companies you can go through to set up this excursion. Most of these companies use facilities on the island of Isla Mujeres, which is about a 30-minute ferry ride from Cancun.
• ADVENTURE TOURS – Choose your adventure! Swim with the fastest fish in the ocean (the sailfish) or with the enormous but harmless Whale Shark. If water isn’t your thing, hike through the jungle to see ancient Mayan ruins or take a bird watching tour. Most tours will pick you up right at your hotel’s front door for a day of fun.

No matter what you choose to do with your time in Cancun, you will leave feeling refreshed and relaxed! We would love to hear your favorite activity in Cancun! Post in the comments section below.

San Diego Zoo
Take a full day to explore this world-famous zoo, which includes a 4,000 bird sanctuary. Explore the zoo on the three-mile guided bus tour or hop on the Skyfari Tram and get a bird’s eye view. The children’s petting zoo lets you get up close and personal with animals such as sheep and goats. And you can even feed a giraffe if you visit on a Saturday or Sunday!

San Diego Wineries
One of the best kept secrets of San Diego – the wineries! Most of these wineries are located only about 45 minutes to an hour away from downtown. Enjoy the spectacular views from the vineyards while you take a guided tour. And then unwind as you sample the different varieties of wine offered. You can even schedule transportation to and from the wineries so you don’t have to worry about driving! A few of the more popular wineries include the Bernardo Winery, Falkner Winery, and Fallbrook Winery.

San Diego Zoo Safari Park
The park began more than 20 years ago as a breeding facility for the San Diego Zoo’s large animals. Today, the 2100-acre sanctuary is open for visitors to view the large animals roaming in settings similar to their natural habitats. Tour the African plains or Asian Savanna by way of trams, carts, segways and even zip lines!

USS Midway Museum
Step aboard the longest-serving Navy aircraft carrier of the 20th century and explore a city at sea. The USS Midway Museum is an unforgettable adventure for the entire family. Put on your headphones and take the family audio tour, which will guide you through more than 30 locations on the carrier. For the brave souls, the museum features three types of optional flight simulators for all ages.

Balboa Park
You can’t leave San Diego without visiting Balboa Park! As you walk through the park, stop to take a ride on the carousel or hop on the miniature train for a 3 minute, ½ mile scenic trip. Pick up a souvenir from the United Nations Building, which is used for educational and administrative purposes. And the San Diego Zoo is located in the northern part of the park so you can cross these two sites off your sightseeing list in one day!

La Jolla Kayak
For the adventurous adults, La Jolla Kayak offers fantastic opportunities to kayak or snorkel around the sea cliffs, the Seven Caves, and the Underwater Park in La Jolla. Certified tour guides will help you explore the beautiful Southern California coastline.

LEGOLAND®
Geared toward children ages 2-12, LEGOLAND® is built for fun!  With more than 50 rides, shows, and attractions, kids will be entertained for the entire day. Dig for fossils or climb inside the Megga-Egga-Saurus on Dino Island. In Fun Town, children can explore a town scaled down to their size. Join a hilarious race to hose down a burning building at the Fun Town Fire Academy.  For the young inventor, visit Imagination Zone where you can create your own vehicle out of legos and race it against others. LEGOLAND® also has its own water park. Plus, there are action-packed live shows and great restaurants all throughout the park. Join in on the fun!

Sea Life Aquarium
Located next door to LEGOLAND®, the Sea Life Aquarium presents a view of the underwater world easy for a child to understand. In the newly opened Octopus Garden, you can view several different types of these amazing creatures. Kids can also enjoy play zones, fun facts and quiz trails throughout the aquarium.

You may want to consider purchasing a temporary cell phone once you arrive at your destination, allowing you make calls at the local rate. Your service provider can give you information on where to obtain these phones. No contracts are necessary and many come with pre-paid calling time already loaded.

Another option is to rent a cell phone. Most companies will ship the phone directly to your house and include paperwork so you can ship it back when you return.

Here are a few companies who offer these services:

• Travel Cell  877-CELL-PHONE (877-2355-74663)
• PlanetFone 888-988-4777
• Cellular Abroad 800-287-5072

It pays to do a little research before heading overseas. That way you will be spending your money on souvenirs instead of phone bills!

Before you go, check with your bank or credit card company to make sure your card will work in Europe and let them know that you’ll be making withdrawals while traveling.  Otherwise, they might freeze your card if they detect unusual spending patterns.  Some banks automatically block US debit card use in certain countries (including the UK) to protect against fraud.

One other thing to remember when withdrawing money using a credit card from an ATM: it’s considered a cash advance. If the balance is not paid off, it will start to accrue interest. Many times, credit card companies charge a higher interest rate on cash advances.

The most notable differences to travelers will be:

• Hotels, exchange booths, and local banks will only be able to change a maximum of $1,500 USD cash per person per month into Mexican pesos. Previously there was no limit.
• Businesses (including restaurants, shops, and Destination Management Companies) will only be able to accept a maximum of $100 USD cash per transaction – but the number of transactions per customer is not restricted. Certain businesses may not be able to, or may choose not to accept American dollars for any purchases. They would still accept Mexican pesos.  For example, if a traveler wants to purchase an excursion that costs $150 US dollars per person, the traveler will only be able to pay $100 of this amount in USD cash and the remainder will need to be in another form of payment (credit card, pesos, etc).
• Airlines are advising they will only accept Mexican pesos and credit cards for any fees, including baggage fees.

Other payment methods such as credit cards of all types and all issuing banks, Travelers Checks, Mexican pesos, and non-American foreign currencies (such as euros or Canadian dollars) are not affected in any way by this new law.

If you should have any questions about the new regulations, contact AurTravel. They are here to help you plan your next great getaway!

1)    Save time. With a private charter, there is no need to arrive at the airport two hours ahead of your schedule in order to make it through the security line. Private transportation usually has its own security checkpoint which is less hassle. It also cuts down on the total travel time, as you’ll be able to avoid the headaches and boredom of long layovers.

2)    Flexibility. Whether traveling by yourself or with a large group, you can schedule your departure time around your schedule instead of depending on the schedules of commercial airlines.

3)    Convenience. Have you ever arrived at your destination but your luggage didn’t? No need to worry about that with a private jet! You can rest assured that your luggage will arrive at the same time as you. Many private transportation companies also offer door to door service – they’ll pick you up at home and deliver you to the airport.

We’d like to hear from you if you’ve traveled by private jet. What do you think are the best benefits?

If you have an upcoming need for a private jet, contact AurTravel to help you out. With our knowledge in the industry, our Travel Designers can find the best pricing for you and help plan your trip from beginning to end.

Photo courtesy of Matt Mordfin

Several companies have developed apps for smart phones with airport terminal and gate maps. Some apps also include airport restaurant information along with customer reviews.

The USA Today Travel section reviewed several of the travel apps. Click here to read what they found. We’d love to hear from travelers on what apps you’ve found useful when traveling. Post your thoughts in the comment section below!

• Let the AurTravel agents research the best hotel deals in or around your city. They can also tell you which hotels have the best amenities. Relax, enjoy room service, and pamper yourself at the hotel spa!
• Be a tourist in your own town. Put together a list of the places you would like to visit around the area. These include restaurants, zoos, golf courses, and more that you pass by on your way to work everyday and always say, “Someday, I’d like to go there.” Now is the time! Research those locations to see if they are offering any deals or planning any special events during your vacation time. If necessary, purchase admission tickets ahead of time.
• Leave the laptop at home and keep your time on the cell phone to a minimum. This is a mini vacation – treat it as such.
• Bring your camera. Candid shots are the best! And they’ll remind you of all the fun you had right there in your own town.

Happy Staycationing!

 Below is some helpful information on applying for a passport for the first time.

If you have not applied for a passport previously or are obtaining a passport for a person under the age of 16, you must apply in person at an Acceptance Facility or Passport Agency.

You’ll need to fill out Form DS-11, which captures contact information, personal history, and physical attributes. Do NOT sign this application, though, until instructed to do so by the Acceptance Agent.

When applying in person, you will need to bring evidence of U.S. citizenship. This evidence will be sent in along with your application. You will receive it back when your passport is delivered. This can include:

• Certified birth certificate issued by the city, county or state
• Consular Report of Birth Abroad or Certification of Birth
• Naturalization Certificate
• Certificate of Citizenship

Next, you’ll need to present identification, as well as a photocopy of this identification. This can include:

• Naturalization Certificate
• Valid Driver’s License
• Current Government ID (city, state or federal)
• Current Military ID (military and dependents)

Bring along two passport photos. Some passport acceptance facilities are equipped to take and process photographs while you’re there. Do NOT attach these to any forms you are submitting. Requirements for photos include:

• Identical
• In color
• 2 x 2 inches in size
• Printed on thin, photo-quality paper
• Taken within the past 6 months, showing current appearance
• Uniforms should not be worn in photographs except religious attire that is worn daily
• Do not wear a hat or headgear that obscures the hair or hairline
• If you normally wear prescription glasses, a hearing device, wig or similar articles, they should be worn for your picture
• Dark glasses or nonprescription glasses with tinted lenses are not acceptable unless you need them for medical reasons (a medical certificate may be required)
• Full face, front view with a plain white or off-white background

And finally, make sure to bring your checkbook, as you’ll pay the passport processing fee at this time. The current fee for a first-time adult passport book is $110 plus a $25 execution fee. For minors (under the age of 16), the fee is $95 plus a $25 execution fee. If you need expedited delivery, there is an additional fee. Click here for all fees associated with passports.

The Acceptance Facility or Passport Agency will then submit your information to the U.S. Department of State. Usually, it takes about 4-6 weeks to receive your passport. If it’s during a high travel period, it can take up to 10 weeks. Make sure to allow yourself plenty of time before your travel date!

As of March 1, 2011, the U.S. Department of State has updated many of their forms. If applying for a passport after this date, make sure to use the most up-to-date forms. To access all forms, as well as more information on rules and regulations for applying for a passport, visit the U.S. Department of State’s website.

Below are some questions to consider when booking an all-inclusive trip:

• What are your favorite activities? The resort you choose should have those activities available.
• Are all meals included?  Some packages are just for breakfast and dinner, while others include lunch.  Snacks may or may not be included as well.
• Are all beverages included?  Resorts may include all non-alcoholic and alcoholic beverages all day long. Other beverage options may include only non-alcoholic beverages, wine and beer only.  
• Are all on-site activities included?  Beach resorts may only include non-motorized water activities. Ski Resorts may/may not include other activities like tubing and skating on a limited or unlimited basis.
• Is evening entertainment included or are optional evening activities offered and the cost involved. 
• Do you need to tip or is that included in the price?
• What offsite activities are offered and how do you make reservations for them?