We’re All Going on a Summer Holiday
Summer 2009 is fast approaching and many decisions on what to do are being thrown around. The best idea for summer is a vacation, many western students have ideas about the ideal summer vacation.
Western State College Students Opinions 
Where do Western students like to go on summer vacation? For most of them, the ideal vacation would be somewhere warm and out of the Gunnison Valley.
Brittney Hoots, a junior, would like a place that’s warm where she can wear flip-flops. “As long as my best buddies and a margarita are there,” she added.
Some like Lacey Pope, a senior, want to go out of the country. She wants to head off to Italy, while junior Austin Gollibith wants to see the Fiji Islands. “They are a beautiful and amazing place to relax,” he added.
Of course while out-of-the-country travels might be a little unrealistic and pricey, those students wanting to go demonstrate one theme: they want relaxation somewhere they have never been before.
All of the Western students asked replied somewhere far away from the stresses of everyday life. Some like Hoots don’t care where it is, as long as there are no real life responsibilities involved.
Some, like junior Tyler Green, want vacation to not just be about relaxation, but about realizing a goal. “I wanted to go to Vegas,” Green said. He accomplished that goal and would like to go again in the near summer future. The reason? To go somewhere that sounds like both and escape and somewhere that’s a dream destination.
Dream vacations are what students want, especially Western students who are looking to have fun in a bigger city.
Dreaming of that ideal vacation is a fun past time, but why not make it reality. The following is a list of great holiday destinations that are feasible:
Top Holiday Destinations 
When picking a travel destination, the type of experience you are looking for will help determine your final destination. Whether you need something family friendly, romantic, or a good place for a party, there are top destinations for every need. According to Travelocity.com, the number one travel spot for their users is Las Vegas, followed closely by numerous ski destinations, Mexico, and the Caribbean. Number ten on the list is Europe, with London, Rome and Paris ranking as the top spots across the big pond.
While Vegas appears to be a hot spot for Travelocity users, the wild Nevada city may not be the best place for a family retreat. Ezinearticles.com cites Disney World as the number one family vacation spot, with the Atlantis Resort on Paradise Island in the Bahamas pulling in at number two. While Disney World boasts four giant theme parks as well as two water parks, the Atlantis Resort has plenty for kids and adults alike. With 11 swimming pools, a six story water slide, and a Discovery Channel Camp, the kids can stay busy while mom and dad enjoy one of the resorts 21 restaurants, 19 bars, or the Atlantis casino.
If the pocketbook is not an issue, there are several secret celebrity hot spots where you can rub elbows with the rich and famous. According to hotelresortinsider.com the number one spot for silver screen legends is Portofino on the north-west coast of the Italian Riviera. This small fishing village turned vacation hot spot was the scene for Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor’s widely publicized love affairs, and offers hotels as low as 80 Euros ($104) a night. If you want to go all out, check into Turtle Island, Fiji. The private island accomodates no more than 28 guests at any given time and has housed celebrity couples Britney Spears and Kevin Federline and Jessica Simpson and Nick Lachey. A night in this island oasis costs $2,000 according to thecelebritycafe.com, or you can shell out $300,000 to reserve the entire island for one week.
Vacations don’t have to be about digging deep in your pocket there are many options you can look at to find cheap deals. If you need to fly but don’t think you can afford it think again.
Flight Options 
Vacations can be taken any where you desire but if you wish to go a little further than normal a plane flight is a great option. Not all airlines are cheap but if you do your research you can get major discounts.
Each year a company called SKYTRAX holds an international survey to find out which airlines are doing things right and which are the best. This year, the awards ceremony was held in Hamburg, Germany on April 1. Over 500 people attended the ceremony to see which airlines were considered the best in various categories.
These categories ranged from the “Best Low-Cost Airline” to the “Best Cabin Staff”, and were also broken down into categories concerning which ocean was being traveled over or which section of the airline people are flying in. Below are the top winners.
More than 16.2 million travelers participated in the 2008 survey during an 8 month period. The participants represented more than 97 different passenger nationalities.
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Airline of the Year 2009 |
Key Award Winners |
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1 |
Cathay Pacific |
AirAsia |
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2 |
Singapore Airlines |
Malaysia Airlines |
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3 |
Asiana Airlines |
Emirates |
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4 |
Qatar Airways |
Thai Airways |
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5 |
Emirates |
Virgin Atlantic |
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6 |
Qantas |
British Airways |
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7 |
Etihad Airways |
Asiana Airlines |
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8 |
Air New Zealand |
Singapore Airlines |
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9 |
Malaysia Airlines |
Etihad Airways |
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10 |
Thai Airways |
Qatar Airways |
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The awards were also broken up into regional categories. For the cheapest North American Airline, the winner was JetBlue Airways, followed by WestJet and Southest Airlines coming in third place.
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NORTH AMERICA |
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Rank |
Airline |
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1 |
jetBlue Airways |
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2 |
WestJet |
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3 |
Southwest Airlines |
As far as the best place to buy tickets online, most agencies claim to have the greatest discounts on flights but those discounts are often eaten up by hidden fees and taxes. The best advice is to shop around. Look directly at the airline’s websites as well as at the discount travel sites. Compare, compare, compare.
If you are a spontaneous traveler, sign up for a Travel Newsletter like TravelZoo, websites like this send weekly email alerts of discounts and the best deals. You can choose from the discounted options or book your own dream vacation.
As a student, there are specialized websites that will give additional discounts such as STA Travel and StudentUniverse.
Student Universe claims to be “the number one destination for cheap student travel and especially cheap airline tickets for students.” Stating that “student discounts are important to us, it’s what we do. You can book airline tickets, rail tickets, hostel rooms and travel insurance.”
Getting a cheap deal on a flight is a great feeling and allows more money to be spent at your actual destination. Before arriving at that destination though certain documents should be taken care of.
Passport Information 
For those who are traveling outside of the country this summer, don’t forget your passport. There are a couple of ways to apply for a passport if you do not already have one.
According to the U.S. Department of State website, you must apply in person if you are applying for your first U.S. passport, if you are under age 16, if your previous passport was issued when you were under the age of 16, if your previous passport was lost, stolen, or damaged, if your previous passport was issued more than 15 years ago, and if your name has changed since your passport was issued.
The steps to submitting a passport application in person is as follows: Complete and submit application; Submit evidence of U.S. Citizenship; Present identification; Pay the fee; Provide two passport photos. If you visit iafdb.travel.state.gov, you can enter your zip code and find Passport Acceptance Facilities near you.
If you need to apply for a U.S. passport in Gunnison, stop by the post office located on 200 North Wisconsin. The USPO- Gunnison is open Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
As of Sunday April 19, the U.S. Department of State website stated that the routine service applications are being processed in approximately four to six weeks. For expedited services, applications are being processed in about two to three weeks.
Current fees for submitting a passport application in person are 100 dollars for age 16 and 85 dollars for under age 16. When submitting passport application by mail, the fee is 75 dollars for all ages.
According to the website, “currently, it is taking 5-7 days for passport applications to be tracked online.” To check the status of your application online you will need your last name, birthdate and last four digits of your Social Security Number.
Any U.S. citizens traveling outside of the country will need a valid U.S. passport, so apply early. Many passports take up to six weeks to receive by mail. For more information or to print an application for a U.S. passport, visit travel.state.gov/passport or USPS.com.
Getting your passport taking care of is a step by step process that is necessary if leaving the country. When exiting your country you should also consider other factors that concern your safety.
Tips to stay safe 
When travelling overseas it is important to keep in mind a few things. According to travelstate.gov, you should Register with the State Department so they can better assist you in an emergency, sign your passport, and fill in the emergency information, leave copies of itinerary and passport data page with friends or family, check your overseas medical insurance coverage, familiarize yourself with local conditions and laws and take precautions to avoid being a target of crime.
Taking these small precautions will ensure a much happier trip. Nathan Kirwin, WSC student from Australia believes, “It’s important to take care of all paper work and medical stuff before leaving your country. My travel agent helped me with all the little things and got me prepared”.
Summer 2009 should not be wasted, prepare the best summer vacation yet. Plan thoroughly, carefully and diligently and you should have the time of your life.
Western State Writers Spring 2009 