Dates have been confirmed for the 5th Annual Arkaroola Down Under Star Party in January 2010.  It will take place around the new moon - January 14th to 17th 2010.

 A star party is a gathering of people interested in Astronomy, from experienced to beginners, from professionals to rank amateurs, or for anyone at all with any interest in astronomy.  If you have ever looked up at our wonderful night skies and asked 'why', then a star party is a great venue to learn some of the answers.

Arkaroola's three privately owned and professionally equipped astronomical observatories are used for the event, with access to all of Arkaroola's viewing equipment. Attendees are also encouraged to bring their own telescopes. A wide variety of astronomy related workshops and lectures are held during this three-day event.

Why not join Scott Calvin Vacation's Arkaroola Star Party Tour in January which will also spend time at Wiruna's Monthly Star Party Gathering, as well as touring around the many treats of south eastern Australia?  http://www.scottcalvinvacations.com/astronomy/arkaroola-star-party-tour-of-australia.html

Scott Calvin Vacations has been featured in the popular Indian newspaper The Telegraph.

The feature says:

Scott Calvin Vacation is a premium travel outfit that has won accolades from The New York Times and travel magazines such as Conde Nast Traveller. They have a five-day The Rocky Mountain Snowmobile Tour in Western Canada. Priced at £2,025 (or Rs 1,49,721 for twin-sharing), the package includes services of a snowmobile guide, a 2009 model, 550cc snowmobile for five days (fuel included), extreme snow-suit, boots, helmet, accident insurance for snowmobile, airport transfers, accommodation and all meals in a mountain lodge that features a 60ft indoor pool, a sauna, massage treatments, hot tubs, a 4-star restaurant, a pub with entertainment and much more. If that’s not enough, a hot spring visit, one barbecue and a welcome cocktail are also on the cards.

To read more on the articles in the Indian Telegraph click here

October 14 - 17, 2009

The Enchanted Skies Star Party, held in Socorro, New Mexico, offers a unique Southwestern Astronomy experience. With many exciting features, the Enchanted Skies Star Party includes a unique opportunity for a night of observing at an elevation of 10,600 feet. They continue a decade-long tradition of presenting outstanding lectures by leading professional and amateur astronomers.  On Saturday night everyone gathers for an evening of great food, Southwestern entertainment and excellent, dark-sky observing. Socorro's dry, high-desert climate, dark skies, and friendly small-town environment provide an excellent dark sky observing experience. Go along for dark sky observing, astronomy workshops, door prizes, lectures, and insider tours. Nightly observing, lectures, and camping will take place at the Etscorn Campus Observatory and at our official "Dark Sky Site," the El Camino Real International Heritage Center, located only about 30 miles South of Socorro.

Scott Calvin Tech the sister company of Scott Calvin Vacations, has launched Travel 2.0 software. Scott Calvin Tech offers affordable travel website solution software for leisure travel companies wanting to grow and manage their businesses more efficiently to maximize profits and stay ahead of the competition but all at a budget and particularly in a recessive market place - we help you reduce costly staffing overheads, gain profits and we take away the headaches of technology leaving you to succeed in creating and delivering the best travel products for your customers.

In a statement the company management said "“Travel 2.0” web solution software provides you the power to seamlessly integrate your business products with a powerful online content management website using the latest Web 2.0 technology. Your customers can shop and book your travel products from your web site directly and you can update all your prices and product with smooth functionality in a multitude of currency options. Our web solution software and integrated online unique 3 step sales tool engine allows small to medium specialist travel business entrepreneurs to manage their website, product, pricing, reservations and offer online secure booking to their customers, quickly and simply".

If you have a travel business online and you are interested in this product then please visit www.scottcavintech.com now

A website you may like for UK customer is called ukoffer.com is the UK`s leading independent offers and discount vouchers site with a unique ratings system and a large, fast growing consumer audience. The site provides fresh, constantly updated discount vouchers and special offers in all major retail categories, some of which are exclusive.

Air Canada announced today that in response to decreasing fuel prices the airline is eliminating all second checked-bag charges implemented this spring and incorporating fuel surcharges into its advertised base fares on North American flights.

"Although the cost of fuel remains highly volatile and far above historic norms, the recent retreat in oil prices is enabling us to reinstate our previous baggage policy. We are eliminating the second checked bag charge on North American Tango and Tango Plus fares, reflecting our customers' expressed preferences. Further, Air Canada is making its pricing more transparent by removing add-on fuel surcharges for flights within North America and instead adjusting its base fares to cover the total cost of fuel," said Ben Smith, Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer. "These initiatives are made possible by the recent relief from all-time high oil prices and even though fares will remain dynamic, Air Canada is committed to everyday low prices and will continue to match the lowest fares in the marketplace."

With the measures announced today Air Canada will:

• Eliminate starting September 23, 2008, the $25 fee for second checked bags that was introduced May 15 for Tango and Tango Plus fares within North America. Air Canada becomes the first major North American carrier to remove second checked bag fees introduced this year to help offset record high oil prices.

• Incorporate into its advertised prices the one-way, add-on fuel surcharge that currently ranges between $20 and $60 on domestic and U.S. transborder flights. Starting September 18, 2008, Air Canada will adjust its published fares to include the total cost of fuel in its advertised base fares. This will provide customers simple, transparent and low fares always available at www.aircanada.com.

• Starting October 14, simplify its excess baggage fees by introducing a single $75 fee for travel within North America ($100 international) for overweight and/or oversize pieces. This new policy replaces the standard industry practice of imposing individual fees for each situation. For bags exceeding the free allowance, the excess piece fee will now include any applicable overweight or oversize fees. A 10 per cent discount on excess piece fees is offered when fees are paid while checking-in online at aircanada.com or at an airport self service kiosk.

Air Canada will continue to review its policies to determine what adjustments are to be made so that, against a backdrop of high and volatile fuel prices, it continues to provide the products and services that respond to customer demand.

Boeing [NYSE:BA] successfully completed a high-pressure test, known as 'high blow,' on the 787 Dreamliner static test airframe at its Everett factory.

The test is one of three static tests that must be cleared prior to first flight. During the test, the airframe reached an internal pressure of 150 percent of the maximum levels expected to be seen in service - 14.9 lbs. per square inch (1.05 kilograms per centimeter) gauge (psig). It took nearly two hours to complete the test, as pressure was slowly increased to ensure the integrity of the airplane.

"We had every confidence going into this test because of the extensive work we've done on larger and larger pieces of composite - from small coupons to fuselage sections," said Pat Shanahan, vice president and general manager of the 787 program. "Still, it's very rewarding to see a whole airplane being tested and having the results we expected.

"I am so proud of the team that has worked on this program and the progress we are making."

UNWTO is pleased to welcome the Kingdom of Norway as its 154th Member State, representing the 45th Member State within UNWTO's Regional Commission for Europe. The Membership in UNWTO is part of Norway's national strategy for the tourism industry, which highlights the importance of the further development of the sector as a vehicle for economic growth, in addition to traditional industries such as fishing, agriculture or oil.

Norway's tourism strategy aims at increasing the revenues from the tourism sector, support rural communities through year-round jobs in tourism and to establish Norway as a sustainable destination, in line with one of UNWTO's major objectives. From 2000-2006 international tourism arrivals to Norway registered an average growth of 4.1% per year, reaching for the first time almost 4 million international tourists in 2006.

In 1947, Norway was one of the 19 founding members of the International Union of Official Travel Organizations (IUOTO), the organization which preceded the modern UNWTO. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Norway officially submitted its application for full membership of UNWTO on 8 September 2008. In accordance with the UNWTO Statutes this membership enters into immediate effect.
 

Airship Ventures today announced that the largest airship in the world, the 246 foot long Airship Ventures Zeppelin has left Hamburg, Germany aboard the 530 foot long container ship 'Combi Dock I' and is on its way across the Atlantic. 

One of only three Zeppelins in the world, and the first to come to the USA, the airship is expected to arrive at the port of Beaumont, Texas, on or around October 12. The ship will then be off-loaded, and after some re- assembly and flight checks, flown cross country. The historic journey will take the ship through Texas, New Mexico and Arizona before entering California and crossing the Rocky Mountains at Banning Pass. Traveling up the coast for a dramatic San Francisco entrance through the Golden Gate Bridge, it will then land at its new home - the historic airship hangars of Moffett Field - some two weeks after arrival at the port.

Brian Hall, Airship Ventures president, commented "There is nothing quite like a ride in the Zeppelin. Imagine being gently lifted into the sky, a birds-eye view of life 1000 feet below. You will gain a new perspective of our world, and your place within it. We call it an "Altitude Adjustment." Alex Hall, Airship Ventures CEO continued, "While this historic flight represents the start of operations here in the United States for the Zeppelin, it is the culmination of nearly two years of hard work by teams at both Airship Ventures and Zeppelin Luftschifftechnik."

Scenic "flight-seeing" tours will be offered aboard the Zeppelin from several Bay Area locations, with itineraries showcasing the San Francisco Bay/Silicon Valley, Sonoma/Napa wine regions, and Monterey/Big Sur coastline. The airship will also be used for a variety of technological and scientific research missions.

The spacious cabin comfortably accommodates the pilot, flight attendant, and up to 12 passengers with luxury features including oversized panoramic windows, an onboard restroom with window, and a unique 180-degree rear observation window and "love seat" that wraps the entire aft end of the cabin.

Round-trip rides from historic Moffett Field will begin in late October 2008, with flights from Oakland International and Sonoma County Airport starting in November. Ticket prices vary based on flight duration and destination, starting at $495 per person. Packages are available for group charters, corporate events, and custom tours.

News by Travel Industry Wire

When it comes to magnificent scenery, natural beauty and outdoor recreation, Colorado Springs has it all! It is home to "America's Mountain", Pikes Peak, where Katharine Lee Bates wrote the poem "America the Beautiful". Early pioneers use to paint their wagons "Pikes Peak or Bust", and nowadays folks can race to the top in cars, drive, hike, take the Cog Railway or run in the annual Pikes Peak Marathon. Colorado Springs also boasts two of the "Top 100 Events in North America" as rated by the American Bus Association (ABA): The Pikes Peak or Bust Rodeo July 9-12 and The Colorado Balloon Classic Aug. 30-Sept. 1.

Day 1:

Stretch your legs and take a leisurely hike through the Garden of the Gods Park. Start with the 12-minute film of "How did those Red Rocks Get There?" at the Garden of the Gods Visitor & Nature Center. FREE self-guided tour through the park, either hiking, biking, horseback riding or driving. Lunch at the Garden of the Gods Trading Post or nearby in the Historic District of Old Colorado City. Visit the many museums or shop at the various galleries and novelty shops. Evening Chuck Wagon Supper and Western Stage Show at the Flying W Ranch. Stroll through the authentic 1800s western town before supper.

Day 2:

Hiking at Seven Falls to the top, watching the Native American dancers or hiking the many trails in North Cheyenne Canyon (10 minutes from downtown). Picnic lunch overlooking The Great Plains and the City of Colorado Springs. Visit the African Rift Valley exhibit, at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo and hand-feed the giraffe herd. Continue up to the top of the mountain to the "Will Rogers Shrine of the Sun" for breathtaking views of mountain scenery.

Day 3:

Add an all-day or half-day, thrilling white water rafting trip on the Arkansas River in either Buena Vista or Salida to experience the infamous "Brown's Canyon" rapids. Dinner at a local Mexican Restaurant in one of these quaint mountain towns before returning to Colorado Springs. (75 mi/120 km)...

Day 4:

Morning train on the Pikes Peak Cog Railway to the summit of Pikes Peak (3 hrs. roundtrip). Lunch and shopping in Historic Manitou Springs. "Manitou", a Native American word for "spirit", describes this quaint mountain community. Enjoy a self-guided walking tour of the nine mineral springs throughout town, an "1881-Lantern Tour" in Cave of the Winds or visit the historic Cliff Dwellings and Miramont Castle Museums. Finish the day at one of the local dinner theaters in Manitou Springs. (6 mi/10 km)

Day 5:

Jeep tour on the 4-wheel drive back roads to the Historic Gold Mining Towns of Cripple Creek & Victor. Ride the Narrow Gauge Railroad for the 4-mile scenic tour. Travel underground (304 m) for a mine tour at the Mollie Kathleen Gold Mine. Stroll the historic streets and attend a matinee or evening Melodrama Show. Try your hand at gambling at the casinos, visit the Historic District Mining Museum and the new Pikes Peak Heritage Center with state-of-the-art, interactive exhibits of the geology, history, fauna and culture of the Pikes Peak Region. Have dinner in one of the casinos before returning to Colorado Springs. (34 mi/54 km)

Day 6:

Rent bikes and explore the many bike paths in the downtown area of Colorado Springs. Visit the weekly Farmer's Markets, sip coffee at one of the various outdoor coffee shops or lunch at one of the many outdoor cafes. Bikers can easily ride from one museum, such as the newly renovated Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center with world-class exhibits, to the other in the downtown area, and there are many parks with streams and lakes for a picnic lunch. Bike paths connect to the Fountain Creek Nature Center where bird-watching enthusiasts can view the great blue herons. More advanced bike riders can experience the many mountain bike paths in the mountains (15 min. from downtown) or take the Santa Fe Trail to the U.S. Air Force Academy. Have dinner at the "World Famous", 5-Star Broadmoor Resort and take a leisurely stroll around its beautiful lake.

Day 7:

Full day trip to Canon City and the Royal Gorge Canyon. Take the morning train of the Royal Gorge Railroad (2 hrs. roundtrip) which offers spectacular views along the Arkansas River at the bottom of the canyon, whose walls rise 304 m. above the train (this historic railway also offers gourmet dinner, lunch trains and murder mysteries). Watch river rafters from outdoor boxcars then travel to the top of the canyon to the Royal Gorge Bridge & Park to the world's highest suspension bridge, aerial tram and incline railway. Another tour option would be to hike in the Dinosaur Fossil Quarry to view a Jurassic dinosaur graveyard or add a half-day, white water rafting float trip on the Arkansas River. Have dinner on the Royal gorge Railroad or in Canon City or Pueblo before returning to Colorado Springs. (45 mi/73 km)

Day 8:

Breakfast in Woodland Park (18 mi/29 km) then visit the new Rocky Mountain Dinosaur Resource Center, host to dinosaur marine and flying reptiles and fish of North America's late Cretaceous world before continuing west into the mountains to the Wolf and Wildlife Center. Guided tours allow viewing of wolves in a natural setting. Additional options are horseback riding at the M Lazy C Ranch, then enjoy an outdoor, chuck wagon Cowboy supper and entertainment or additional hiking in the Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument. Option of fly-fishing at the historic Ute Trail River Ranch or the Tarryall River Ranch. (45 mi/73 km)

Day 9:

Leisurely breakfast before your departure from either the user-friendly Colorado Springs Airport (20 min. from downtown) or Denver's International Airport. (80 mi/129 km). Optional day tours are available in Denver....

Many areas of Texas were not affected by Hurricane Ike, but if you are traveling in the state or have plans to visit Texas in the near future, please consider confirming hotel reservations and flights.

Areas impacted by Hurricane Ike are in the recovery phase. Conditions in these areas are improving daily however; restoration of services is not complete in many areas heavily impacted by the storm.

 Travelers should closely monitor the current situation in these communities before traveling to them.

Hit the water on the Space Coast - go surfing or take in the view on a nature cruise.

The Space Coast tells the truth, the whole truth. Not even a hint of exaggeration in its name: if there's one thing the Space Coast has, it's lots of space. And not just what you experience at Kennedy Space Center. Step outside and the space is wide open and drenched with water, water everywhere.

So, it comes as no surprise that outdoor pursuits concentrate on, in, or near the Space Coast's spacious waterfronts - the Atlantic Ocean, Indian River, Banana River, St. Johns River, plus countless lagoons, creeks, canals and streams. Here I diagram three days of active fun where the main ingredient is water.

Day One

Start your visit with an overview of local ecology and history on a morning cruise with Island Boat Lines. Two-hour excursions depart from Cactus Flower Restaurant on a portion of Intracoastal Waterway known as the Banana River and heads through estuary dolphin habitat to Cocoa Beach's mangrove 1,000 Islands. You get a visual, auditory and olfactory introduction to birds roosting, hunting and dining along rookery islands and backyards. Bring your binoculars for a close look at pelicans, herons, ospreys and anhingas. On warm days, look for manatees in the water.

Linger at the Cactus Flower Restaurant for authentic Mexican lunch waterside, the quintessential backdrop for any Space Coast meal. For a more intimate interaction with the region's rich wildlife, work off lunch with a kayak trip. A good place for beginners to start, Brevard Zoo takes you on half-hour guided tours of either its African portion, where only water separates you from giraffes and ostriches, or Florida wetlands, where you'll spot local birds and small alligators.

For those more experienced, the zoo offers a four-hour tour at Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, a 140,000-acre mass of untouched habitat for hundreds of species of land and water fauna.


Day Two

Time to hit the beach, Beach Boy-style. Meaning: with surfboards. Haven't a clue? (Not to mention a board?) Sign up with a local surfing school for a group or private lesson. Then head to any one of the area's surfing hotspots for a day of shredding the waves. Cocoa Beach Pier is most famous and happening, and the site of Easter's Surfing Festival. You can rent or buy your equipment nearby at super-sized Ron Jon Watersports.


Cocoa Beach makes a convenient spot to anchor your water-seeking stay on the Space Coast. Several chains, such as Hampton Inn, are central to the long, watery coast line. If you're surfing-obsessed like my family, however, try the new Ron Jon Resort Cape Caribe in Cape Canaveral.

Day Three

Head to Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge with a picnic lunch for a morning of wetlands exploration by car and foot. Drive the wildlife trail and main road across estuary, scrub, and pine flatwoods to the Manatee Observation Deck, where the docile, blimpy marine mammals gather. For a guided birding tour of the refuge - home to bald eagles, rare Florida scrub jays, and 320-plus other species of birds, hook up with the Audubon Society.

Continue eastward through the refuge to reach the inimitable, breathtaking beaches of Canaveral National Seashore. Free of development (other than launch pads and other space center structures that loom in the distance like a desert mirage), it goes on for 43 miles along a narrow strip of land where birders, surfers and fishermen converge. Go ahead, though, do nothing but soak up a tan if that's how the mood strikes.

Explore the history and landscape of these undisturbed areas along the Gulf Islands National Seashore.

I sometimes have to remind myself I'm on Planet Earth when I drive through the National Seashore, especially the part that engulfs the road between Pensacola Beach and Navarre Beach. If I let it, the undulating dunes and stark white sand will take me back to the snow drifts of Minnesota, or to footage of the moon landing. Then glimpses of the shimmering emerald waters bring me back to Florida, to the upper Gulf coast, where the sand doesn't get any whiter or softer, or the dunes any more spectacular.

Gulf Islands National Seashore protects 5,842 acres of public land and 18,953 acres of water along 52 miles of Gulf and bay shoreline around Pensacola. The seashore is not continuous, but spread out over three Florida islands and some mainland coast line. National parks and other protected public-use areas provide access to the intriguing terrain and opportunity for playing in the seductive sand.

The largest parcel lies within Fort Pickens at the west end of Pensacola Beach on Santa Rosa Island. During the Civil War, the Union and Confederacy divided Pensacola. While Rebel forces occupied Fort McRee on nearby Perdido Key and Fort Barrancas on the mainland, Federal troops moved into Fort Pickens, one of only three Union strongholds in Florida. In later years, the fort gained attention when the government sent Geronimo and his band there for incarceration. Tourists by the boatload would sail by in hopes of a glimpse of the mighty American Indian warrior.

The massive brick fort and its ruins spread over the park's 1,742 acres. The island slims down as you enter the park, to let you glimpse views of both the Gulf and the bay. At Langdon Beach, battery remnants begin to crop up among the dunes. Picnic shelters are found both on beach and bay. A Dune Nature Trail snakes through this sea- and wind-whipped environment that turns magnolias, pines and oaks into bonsai versions. Wild flowers and sea grasses add color to the searing whiteness and sightseeing for bicyclists following a 2.2-mile bike trail.

The actual fort structure occupies the very western tip of the island. Here, visitors can travel back in time through the archways and tunnels, to the escarpments, casements, bastions and cannon. Tours can be self-guided or guided. On certain nights, candlelight tours add an element of historical authenticity and eerie romance.

East of Fort Pickens, between Pensacola Beach and Navarre Beach, the Opal Beach Area Gulf Islands National Seashore is less facilitating, but perhaps even more alluring with its uninterrupted stretches of wind-sculpted dunes rippling as far as the eye can see. Salty wind off the Gulf sends the fine sand blowing across the road like sugar coating. Signs warn motorists not to leave the road. The unheeding sometimes get stuck in sand drifts. Nearly eight miles of road traverse this departure from civilization, with only an occasional parking lot and restroom facility to mark human presence and allow access to the Gulf.

On the mainland side of Santa Rosa Sound on the Gulf Breeze peninsula, Naval Live Oaks Reservation accounts for 1,337 acres of the national seashore. It has a small beach, but the emphasis here is on nature hiking and education. Five miles of trail penetrate live oak and gray squirrel habitat and pass the shell middens left by ancient American Indian cultures. The visitors' center holds exhibits on archaeology and the harvesting of live oak trees.

The patch of National Seashore occupied by Fort Barrancas lies also on the mainland at Pensacola Naval Air Station, overlooking the entrance to Pensacola Bay and Fort Pickens, erstwhile enemy camp. You can tour the fort on your own or with a guide.

To the east of Fort Barrancas, on Perdido Key, Gulf Islands protects 1,041 acres of stunning dunescape. The Johnson Beach Day Use Area supplies access to the seashore at Perdido's east end. It's a popular spot for beach-goers, but you can easily lose the crowds on the six miles of beach. Fort McRee once stood sentry at island's end, but remains have been cleared away or have long since slipped into the sea.

By Chelle Koster Walton and Visit Florida

United Offers Daily Nonstop Flights between Denver International Airport and Heathrow

For US airlines, these are desperate times. And legacy carriers are behaving like desperate creatures, slashing capacity and closing hubs. It's all in vain, says airline expert and CEO of Airsavings, Raphael Bejar. 'It's years too late and millions of dollars too short.'

Struggling to keep pace with deteriorating market conditions and bloated costs, US carriers are instituting a mix of cost-cutting and fee hikes, passing the exorbitant buck of air travel onto consumers. "I'm surprised it took this long," says Bejar, one of Europe's most outspoken proponents of the low-cost airline model, "for US legacy carriers to recognize their model is broken."These measures may seem like sensible economic reactions -- costs go up, so do prices. But that rationale is built on a faulty premise says Bejar -- the supremacy of the legacy carrier business model. Some are even lashing out at low cost airlines, like AMR's CEO, Gerard Arpey, who says, "The industry has been hurt by some airlines growing faster than conditions warranted, that impact has worsened in light of recent economic trends and soaring fuel prices." American fliers, says Bejar, are running out of sympathy for carriers to whom they were once loyal.

Millions of Americans, however, aren't familiar with the low-cost airline culture that has been evolving across the pond for a decade. They should be says Bejar, it's time for US travelers to seek an alternative to the disastrous state of air travel options -- by demanding low-cost travel. His company develops revenue strategies for low-cost carriers with a "no-frills" approach to flying. Offer the basics -- safety and a seat at low cost -- and let the customers pay for everything else. And so far that's worked well, low-cost airlines have outgrown legacy carriers by 25% in Europe and 15-20% in the US.As US carriers continue alienating customers with fee increases, there'll come a point when consumers snap. "How many times can airlines increase baggage fees to keep up with rising costs -- 20, 30 times? There have been 12 fee increases already this year, there'll be a backlash soon. The market here is seeking a different product than what's offered by the legacies," says Bejar. He feels American fliers are ready for a new era in air travel.According to Bejar, US legacy carriers have ignored a key aspect of low- cost airlines' success -- ancillary revenues. Successful LCCs, like Southwest and JetBlue, have transformed no-frills air travel into a customizable experience, and have been rewarded with growth and profitability. They've been quick to respond to consumer demands for low prices, while implementing mechanisms that allow passengers to set their own priorities. They've stripped down flying to its elemental core and sold each fragment back to willing customers.

Bejar's company develops solutions that allow airlines to do just that, with speed and efficiency. If legacies are to survive, they must adopt a similar strategy -- quickly.The low-cost airline is the future, says Bejar. While it may be a shock for millions of US passengers accustomed to flying old school, and despite less aggressive growth for the rest of '08, the low-cost model, which will undoubtedly be copied by legacies carriers, is the only way forward.

Crucial time for operators to lead route development

More than half of those that can get away still check in with work once a day.

Last year, Mary Schellhammer and her husband Paul left behind their Spotsylvania, Va., personal-chef business and took an extended summer vacation  in Europe. Next year, they're planning a two-week trip to Alaska. "We try to do a big trip every two years," Schellhammer said. During the off years, they travel around the country for weeks at a time in an RV. Yet, for most U.S. small-business owners -- and Americans in general -- that kind of vacation time is becoming increasingly rare, recent surveys show.

Less than two-thirds of the nation's small businesses owners planned to take at least a full week away from work  this summer, according to an OPEN from American Express survey of 600 businesses with fewer than 100 employees. This spring, a full 60% of U.S. consumers said they had no vacation plans over the next six months, according to the Conference Board. Americans also tend to take much shorter vacations -- just 13 days on average -- compared to the rest of the world, the World Tourism Organization reports. That's less than half the average number of vacations days in Japan, Canada, Britain, France, and Italy, according to the agency.
 
So why are so few U.S. business owners taking time off? Nearly half of the owners surveyed by American Express said they were worried an important client or customer would receive bad service while they were away. Of those that planned on taking summer vacations, a full 54% said they would check with their business at least once a day, compared to 25% who said they wouldn't, the survey found. "Business owners tend to take on all or most of the responsibility for running their firms," said Susan Sobbott, the president of OPEN from American Express. "Given their concerns about the state of their companies while they are away, many find it impossible to truly disengage from their business during a vacation."

Instead, the survey found, many entrepreneurs try to mix business with pleasure, though the rates vary by gender and size of business. A full 38% of women business owners said they combine work with their vacations, compared to 27% of men, the survey showed. In addition, owners who run smaller firms -- those that make less than $200,000 in annual revenue -- are also more likely to take working vacations, the study found. To make the most of a vacation, Alice Bredin, a small-business consultant for OPEN, suggests owners give key clients a "heads-up" before leaving, or try to schedule trips during business downtimes. Those who simply can't get away this summer should try to reward themselves with other downtimes, such as a going to a museum or a ballgame, or trying out a new restaurant, Bredin said.

Streets Smarts: Get Lost

By: Norm Brodsky

No reader of Inc. needs to be reminded of the challenges of going into business. I wonder, however, how much you have thought about the challenges of getting away from it. I've been thinking about them lately, and not just because I sold a majority interest in my company to a private equity firm last December. Long before the sale, I had set a goal for myself of spending 16 weeks annually -- yes, that's almost a third of the year -- traveling or skiing or simply taking time off. I reached the goal three years ago, and I have continued the practice ever since. Along the way, I have become increasingly aware of the mistakes other people make when they take a break from their companies.

Those mistakes fall into two broad categories that roughly correspond to the age groups of the people involved. The first group is made up largely of younger people who think they are taking a vacation when in fact they have simply moved their offices outdoors. They spend most of the time doing work. The second group includes all those baby boomers for whom vacations are no longer enough. What they really want is a change in lifestyle. But because they haven't done the necessary planning, they wind up alienating their customers, undermining their employees, and damaging their businesses.

Now, I will admit that I haven't always been as strong a believer in the importance of taking time off as I am today. For eight or nine years after starting my first business, I took breaks only when my wife, Elaine, forced me to. She would go to Florida, where we had a second home, and I would join her on the weekend -- maybe. If the technology had been available, I would probably have been one of those poor souls sitting on the beach with a BlackBerry in one hand, a cell phone in the other, and a computer on my lap. Or I would have been doing deals while riding a ski lift up the side of a mountain. It took a long and painful trip through Chapter 11 to make me realize the dangers of becoming consumed by the business. Looking back, I could see that I had gotten in trouble in part because I had lost perspective. My business obsession had clouded my judgment and kept me from asking important questions about what I was doing and where I was going.

I should note that I'm not saying it's always wrong to be engrossed in your business. Until a company reaches viability -- when it can sustain itself on its own internally generated cash flow -- you really can't afford to spend time away from it. (See "How to Succeed in Business in Four Easy Steps," July 1995.) But thereafter, you have a choice. The first go-round, I chose to spend almost every waking hour thinking about my company. By the time I started the second company, I was open to the idea that I would be better off spending less time on it, not more.

But I didn't have a clear sense of how much better off I would be until I actually started doing it. Not that it came easily. It took time and determination to tear myself away from the business on a regular basis. I started out taking one week of vacation per year and gradually worked up to four, timing my breaks to coincide with the periods when business was slow. The more time I took, the better I felt, and the more I appreciated just why vacations -- real vacations, on which you clear your mind and don't think about business at all -- are so important. I would come back from one feeling rejuvenated and able to take a fresh, uncluttered view of the business. I could see issues and problems with a clarity I hadn't had before. It was obvious to me that I was a bigger asset to the company on my return than I had been when I left.

As a result, my thinking changed. I would hear people saying, "I haven't taken a vacation in five years," as if it were a badge of courage. I might once have agreed. Indeed, I might have said it myself. Now, increasingly, I saw it as a badge of stupidity. Though people liked to portray themselves as making sacrifices for their business, they weren't, in fact, helping anybody by not taking vacations.

I was comfortable with my four weeks of vacation until about 11 years ago, when the company reached an important stage in its development, and I realized I had to make a fundamental change in my role. Up to then, the senior managers had all reported to me, and I had my hand in every pie, but I could see that wasn't going to work anymore. The company needed things I wasn't any good at providing -- systems, order, structure, stability, predictability, and so on. In a word, it needed management, and I hate managing. To me, it's boring. But I knew I would wreck the company unless I made room for it. That's what I hadn't done with my previous company, and I had no interest in repeating the experience. I knew I had to get out of the way and turn the operations over to my executives.

But I also recognized that for the transition to succeed, I would have to find new ways to contribute. Stepping back, letting other people make decisions without me, biting my tongue when I thought they were wrong -- none of that came naturally to me. If I didn't have something else to focus on, there was a real danger that I would fall back into old habits and wind up undermining the process. The answer, I decided, was to have new goals that I could get excited about and to undertake projects that played to my strengths. As it happened, Elaine and I had begun thinking about how we really wanted to spend our time. With one eye on my life outside the business and the other on my changing role in it, I came up with the long-term goal of eventually being able to take off four months every year.

These days, I know a lot of businesspeople my age who would like to be able to do that. The problem is, most of them haven't laid the groundwork. They take a vacation in Florida or in the Rockies, and they fall in love with the life there. They want more of it, and they think it's just a matter of taking additional vacation time. They don't prepare their customers or their staff for the change. They leave messages on their answering machines saying, "If you need help, contact my assistant." That's fine if you're gone two to four weeks a year. Customers can accept the idea of dealing with your assistant while you're on vacation. But four months a year is not a vacation. It's a major change in the business. If customers have always dealt with you in the past, and if your staff doesn't have the training and the experience to take care of their needs, those customers are going to be very unhappy. And you're going to pay a heavy price.

From that standpoint, I was very fortunate to have established my goal as early as I did. It took a good seven years for me to reach it, and I had to relinquish many things along the way, which wasn't easy. The last loss was one of the most difficult: I stopped giving tours of our facilities to prospective customers. Understand, I absolutely loved giving the tours. But if I was going to be away from the business for 16 weeks a year, I couldn't have people waiting on me to do tours. What's more, I needed to make sure that customers didn't expect or count on my constant presence. I wanted them to bond with other people in the organization, and the tours were an important part of the process.

So I began training other people to do them. For a year, I made a point of taking managers and salespeople along with me whenever I gave a tour. Next, I had one of them lead the tour while I came along for support. When I could see they had mastered the tour, I stopped going on it. The managers would do it and then bring the customer to my office, where I would make a presentation and do the close. Then I began letting the managers do that part as well while I looked on. Finally I bowed out of the process altogether.

In the meantime, I gradually increased my time away from the business. I added a couple of weeks every year, which meant deciding what else I would give up. By the time I was taking the full 16 weeks, the company could run perfectly well without me. When I was there, I could focus on making contributions that would enhance the business, and yet I could leave knowing my customers would never notice my absence and my staff could handle whatever came up.

All that added up to peace of mind, which would have been reward enough. As it turned out, however, there was a bonus that I discovered during the process of selling a majority stake in the company to Allied Capital, our new private equity partners. I told Allied's people up front about my work schedule. They were both taken aback and impressed. They were used to dealing with founders who couldn't bring themselves to let go. The company's ability to run without me increased the value of the business in their eyes, because it removed any doubt that the business could succeed without me. Unlike other founders, I was not a potential vulnerability; I was an additional asset. So I got a better price for my stock in addition to a lot of free time. That's something you might bear in mind the next time you're trying to decide whether to take a vacation.

Norm Brodsky is a veteran entrepreneur whose six businesses have included a three-time Inc. 500 company. His co-author is editor-at-large Bo Burlingham.

Vacations of Steel

So work is making a mockery of your fitness goals? Lose the stress and a few pounds at these retreats.

It's a sad truth: Putting in long hours at the office might make your company look more attractive to investors, but it does nothing for the way you look in a bathing suit. Perhaps a vacation is in order. Whether you prefer pampering yoga-and-wellness spas or killer boot camps, these fitness retreats will help you get in shape while you get away.

Om It All Away

Turks and Caicos

The Regimen: This private island resort is a favorite among the harried Hollywood set and anyone else seeking tranquility and posh accommodations. The COMO Shambhala spa offers daily yoga and Pilates classes in an airy studio overlooking the water. For a more intense mind-body experience (i.e., five hours of yoga a day), plan your trip during one of the weeklong yoga retreats, featuring instruction from yoga masters such as Rodney Yee and a special menu of whole grains, raw foods, and local fish.

Workout With Southwest Flavor

 New Mexico

The Regimen: This new outfitter offers a grab bag of outdoor activities distinctive to the northern New Mexico setting. You can choose to hike through Bandelier National Monument, white-water raft down the Rio Grande, climb the towering Tent Rocks, go horseback riding, or try mountain biking. At the end of the day, you'll bunk down at one of three nearby luxury inns, where you can recharge with heated stone massages and refuel on lobster and shrimp enchiladas.

Beyond Shuffleboard

Cruises

The Regimen: Dispel forever the image of the sedentary cruise-ship passenger when you hop aboard one of Crystal's health and fitness cruises. Destinations and program schedules vary from year to year, but you might find yourself biking in Belize or exploring St. Barts on horseback. Onboard, you'll find a wide selection of yoga and dance classes, as well as tai chi taught by the founders of the Tai Chi Cultural Center. Adding to the holistic vibe is the 6,000-square-foot spa and fitness facility, designed with feng shui principles in mind.

Spartan Boot Camp

California, USA and Majorca, Spain

The Regimen: These boot camp spas are designed to purify the mind and torture the body. Oprah is a fan, and Renée Zellwegger came to one of them to lose two sets of Bridget Jones pounds. Whether you visit the Ashram in Spain or California, the weeklong retreats will test your endurance. A typical day involves several hours of yoga and 16 arduous miles of hiking through the mountains. Meditation, weight training, pool aerobics, and a daily massage are also integral to the body makeover regime.

The Scenic (Uphill) Route

 Wyoming

The Regimen: Bored with your StairMaster? Climb something more interesting, like the stunning summits of the Teton Range near Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Popular guided jaunts include a nine-mile hike up the Hanging Canyon trail and a trip up Mount Woodring, a 11,590-foot peak with views of Mount Moran and Grand Teton. When you're done pushing your body to its limits, settle into a base camp like the nearby Four Seasons Jackson Hole.

Bikini Boot Camp

Mexico

The Regimen: The beach is your gym at Amansala's weeklong co-ed "bikini boot camp." On the sands of Tulum, your days can start with a power walk and ab workout or Pilates and strength-training classes. Then you can paddle kayaks in the turquoise waters of the Caribbean, go snorkeling in the cenotes--swimming holes fed by underground rivers--and tour the area's Mayan ruins. Cool down at sunset with Mayan clay treatments, massages, and yoga. Rest assured, no one will bark at you at this boot camp.

Workers Scrimp on Vacations

A survey finds more employees plan to scale back or work remotely during their summer holidays.

While the economic downturn is prompting many U.S. workers to scrap summer holiday plans, a growing number are planning to bring the office with them on vacation, according to CareerBuilder.

Based on a survey of nearly 7,000 employees nationwide, the Chicago, Ill.-based online recruiting firm estimates that up to a fourth of U.S. workers will maintain contact with their employers over this year's summer holidays, up from 20 percent last year. While some said they felt guilty skipping out on co-workers, others feared losing their jobs.

The survey also found that some 15 percent of employees didn't use all of their days off last year.

Sales reps were the most likely to check in during a vacation, followed by financial services and IT workers, the survey found. In fact, a fifth of IT workers reported that they were required by their employers to maintain contact.

"Unfortunately for some workers, getting away can add unnecessary stress to their lives," said Rosemary Haefner, CareerBuilder's vice president of human resources, in a statement.

According to AAA, fewer workers this year are planning trips during Memorial Day weekend. A recent survey by Newton, Mass.-based Tripadvisor found that the number of Americans planning to use at least half of allotted vacation time this summer was down four percent from last year.

How to Shield Yourself from Business Travel Nightmares

Take an honest assessment of the scenario and think through the whole trip. Only then should you decide whether to go and how to plan the trip.

Business travelers need to be prepared for the most likely -- and even unlikely -- scenarios. From how to dress to efficiently pass through security checkpoints to how to quickly get in touch with your family if you're stranded, here are tips that work.

I ask myself five questions when a travel nightmare looms:

• Should I cancel my trip?
• How long would I be stuck?
• When will planes be flying again?
• How do I get in touch family and business partners?
• What can I do to protect myself?
  
  

BEFORE YOU LEAVE...

(1) Make an honest assessment about whether this trip is necessary. If travel to your destination is not advisable, don't go. Instead, conduct business via audio-, video-, or Web-conferencing.

(2) Check State Department warnings and advisories at: http://www.travel.state.gov.

(3) If you must go, ensure that key documents (passport, driver's license, identification card) are up to date and won't expire during your travels.

(4) Scan and email your important documents to yourself (e.g., passport, vaccination card, driver's license). If they are lost or stolen, you can get copies via the Internet.

(5) Leave a photocopy of your passport and itinerary with a family member or friend at home. Thus if these are lost or stolen, copies can be sent to American officials overseas.

(6) Create an ID card and carry it with you at all times, including data like your age, hotel, how to contact loved ones, blood type, and other important medical data. If possible, have the information written in the language of the country you're visiting.

(7) If you must travel, always carry your important numbers. In fact, print out copies or download to your PDA a list of airline, car rental, and hotel phone numbers, embassy phone numbers, and international dialing codes.

(8) If traveling internationally, buy or rent a global cel lphone and/or PDA in case you need to look up information or contact loved ones quickly. Many U.S. cell phones won't work abroad.

(9) Bring back-up batteries for your cell phone and PDA in case you are stranded.

(10) Know the location of the nearest American embassy or consulate. Make sure a family member of friend at home also has immediate access to this information in case you need U.S. government assistance overseas.

WHILE TRAVELING...

(11) If you are traveling to a place where there is unrest, register with the local embassy or consulate upon arrival.

(12) "When in Rome, do as the Romans" is still good advice. Familiarize yourself with local customs and laws - and then follow them!

(13) Carry a card with the name, location, and directions to your hotel, in the local language. If you need to return to your hotel immediately, you can simply show the card to a taxi, bus, or hotel courtesy driver.

(14) Carry vital personal belongings with you at all times, such as prescription medication and eyeglasses - and bring extra along. If you get stranded at an airport during a weather delay, or your luggage is lost, you'll have immediate access to your medicine. It's also a good idea to bring a copy of your prescription or a note from your doctor when traveling with medication, especially if you must carry items such as syringes or painkillers. Make sure your loved ones (and perhaps your employer) know of your medical requirements and have phone numbers for your physician or health care provider.

(15) In case of a travel crisis, let your loved ones know as soon as possible that you are safe. If phones are out, try e-mail or text messaging.

(16) If traveling to a hot spot, schedule regular check-ins - a phone call, an instant message or e-mail - with your loved ones. If your loved ones don't hear from you or cannot reach you at a scheduled check-in, it raises a red flag that you may be in a pickle. They can act quickly on your behalf by contacting the appropriate officials.

(17) If you are traveling with others, create a crisis plan in advance. Select a central location where you'll meet should you get lost or separated. Talk with all group members about safety and security, and discuss any special problems in the regions you will be in. You might also want to share cellphone and hotel information, as well as contact information for each other's next of kin.

(18) Carry an internationally accepted credit card and/or travelers checks with you in the event money becomes a problem. Never travel with large amounts of cash. If your personal property is lost or stolen, you are usually minimally responsible, or not responsible, for fraudulent use of your credit cards or travelers checks. Once cash is lost, however, it's gone.

(19) Download phone numbers for your card companies and credit bureaus to your PDA or add them to the "phone book" on your cell phone. If your wallet or credit cards get lost or stolen, you will be able to cancel them immediately.

(20) Know where safe harbors are in the country you are visiting - the embassy, an American media outlet, neutral zones, homes of friends, or family members. Hopefully, you'll never need to put these tips into action.

But being prepared will pay rich dividends if you ever face that travel nightmare.