Andrew Jackson Statue SC Stock Image

SC Stock Image by Bob Pardue www.parduephotos.com - All Rights Reserved

I’ve lived in South Carolina all my life and, although I sometimes neglect this state as having photo opportunities once in a while I do shoot some SC stock pictures. d:-)

This photograph shows a statue of Andrew Jackson as a boy on his horse at the state park in Lancaster. I hope you enjoy it.

Caption and Description: Stock photo showing Statue of boy on horse monument at Andrew Jackson State Park and boyhood home place in Lancaster, South Carolina USA. Jackson was the seventh US president and played a key part in the American revolution. He was also referred to as Old Hickory.

Relevant Keys: travel, tourism, statue, statues, sculpture, sculptures, carving, likeness, monument, monuments, boy, horse, nostalgia, history, historic, home place,  boyhood home, homeplace, museum, musuem, Andrew Jackson State Park, Lancaster, South Carolina, SC, USA, Old Hickory, 7th, seventh, US president, presidents, head of state, colonial, historic, tourist attraction, destination, yellow leaves, color, colour, outdoor, day, overcast, Fall, Autumn, horizontal

If you are looking for a photo source for your magazine, newspaper or school textbook, then you can license this rights managed stock picture  and other SC images here.

The Truth about All Inclusive Family Vacations

As you read this, there are a number of online websites that are passing out all inclusive family vacations to consumers just like you. If you are new to this game, some of the sites are travelocity.com, orbitz.com, priceline.com and expedia.com.

There are several advantages to all inclusive vacation packages. First of all, as the name implies, all inclusive vacation packages are a single payment.

You pay the travel agency or company a flat fee per person, and instantly, your travel, hotel or lodging, rental transportation (if needed) and, in most cases, meals and drinks are covered. In one step. Obviously this is beneficial for those of us who are discouraged from traveling due to all of the planning that needs to be done to arrange a trip.

With these packages, all of these details are taken care of, allowing you to enjoy your trip, stress-free.

These professionals deal with plane tickets and airfares, as well as hotel bookings. This way when you book a flight to a chosen vacation destination, you can be certain to book a specific lodging of choice also. It just depends on how much you are willing to spend and where you wish to stay. There are countless all inclusive family vacations and package deals to choose from year round.

Just remember that depending on where it is you wish to go, prices can vary dramatically. Seasonal changes are common as well.

If you are looking for a resort style website that provides data on all inclusive family vacations, you should take a look at greatwolf.com, resortvacationstogo.com or even breezes.com. While you may not have heard of these, you probably have seen a commercial or two for Sandals.

This is a common provider of all inclusive family vacation packages, as well as couples retreat options. It all just depends on what type of getaway or summer resort deal you are looking for. Therefore initially you should think about the type of vacation you desire, along with the number of people going.

Never settle for the first all inclusive family vacation deals you encounter. There is plenty to be explored, and the more you research, the more likely you will be to get the vacation package deal you are after.

When you find the holiday package you want, go ahead and book it in advance. You need to do this because these package deals change all the time with updates, and many will not be available if you choose to wait. Furthermore, the prices on vacation packages can change dramatically in no time.

If you choose to wait a month before you book the vacation, you might end up paying a great deal more just to get the same all inclusive deal. A lot of it is merely about timing.

Enjoy your holiday!

Bob Pardue, www.parduephotos.com

Sullivans Island South Carolina Stock Images

Photo Copyright Bob Pardue www.parduephotos.com - All Rights Reserved

Jean and I love traveling and photographing the low country area in SC. As you can see here, the scenery changes within hours and you’ll find a different mood with each change. When we visited Sullivan’s Island this photograph was what we saw. I just had to snap it quickly before the image faded.

Caption: Stock photo shows couple walking on beach at Sullivans Island, South Carolina, USA. Concept of peace and romance.

Key phrases: man woman couple person people feelings love romance romantic intimate walking on beach walk walks purple haze beach big rocks beautiful scenic landscape Sullivans Island South Carolina SC USA low country eastern seaboard southeast southeastern north america seashore sea ocean sand travel traveling tourism vacation holiday destination attraction outdoor day dusk horizontal

If you decide to travel to South Carolina, be sure and take in the beauty of Sullivan’s Island while you’re there. I’ll bet you will get the same serene and romantic feelings I experienced.

This is just one of many images I took while on this particular trip. If you need to license this or other photos from the area just let me know. You can email me to order direct from photographer or you can ..

License this low country stock picture at Alamy

Either way, I’m happy you stopped byand hope to see you again soon!

Bob Pardue, Carolina Travel Stock Photographer, parduephotos.com

Holiday Travel Package Deals

No matter if you do stock travel phography as I do or if you just want to take the family on a nice holiday vacation, you’ll appreciate getting the best packages for your money. Here are a few tips.

Everyone needs a vacation once in a while. You know, a little break from the monotony of nine to five work days, routine chores, school and all the other daily stresses life can throw at you. This is why great priced travel package deals are so important.

You can plan an all-inclusive vacation ahead of time and then proceed to relax, stress free for a couple of weeks. Unlike back in the day, you can know seek out travel package deals to virtually anywhere you wish to go simply by accessing the right websites. If you did not look for travel specials online in the past, you will start now.

So, you have a vacation destination in mind, but you are not sure how to go about finding the right hotel room, getting the lowest air fare, and acquiring a taxi service from the airport to the lodging destination. Don’t fret about these minor details. Not only can you get all the travel package deals from the comfort of your own home, but you can compare the rates of competitors in the process.

This is always recommended, because it can be difficult to determine in the beginning who is offering the best possible rates available. Things change all the time at the drop of a hat.

Now, as for the best sites that offer travel package deals around the clock, you can choose from travelocity.com, expedia.com, priceline.com, and orbitz.com. All of these are major travel websites that can potentially provide you with the cheapest travel package deals to where ever you wish to go.

 These helpful sites essentially compare rates concerning hotels and airlines. They then display a list of options that pertain to your travel plans. Now, just so you know, these travel package deals change a lot.

This means you can look at expedia.com or priceline.com one day and see an excellent rate on airfare and hotel rooms, but them two days later the rate may be higher. Muchdepends upon demand. If there is a major conference or event and a lot of people are seeking out travel package deals, then the rates will naturally be higher. This is why it pays to compare each of these travel sites.

Shop Early for Vacation Travel

Purchase your travel packages in advance. Do not wait until the last minute to book a flight to Hawaii, along with a hotel room. This will generally cost you more money.

Booking travel package deals in advance is a great way to save some extra cash. Cash that you could take along for other travel expenses, such as dining out.

The truth is the odds are in your favor now with travel websites at your beck and call. With these sites all competing for your attention, each of them must strive to offer the lowest rate around. Clearly you want to pay as little as possible for vacation packages. Have a happy holiday.

Bob Pardue, Travel Stock Photographer for Carolina

Stock Image of Halloween Pumpkin Patch

Stock Photo Copyright Bob Pardue www.parduephotos.com - All Rights Reserved

Right outside of McBee, South Carolina is a roadside pumpkin patch with a giant head guarding it. I couldn’t resist photographing it.

Caption and Description of Image: Stock photo of giant pumpkin in roadside patch in South Carolina, USA.

Keywords for holiday stock photo: pumpkin patch giant sc south carolina usa halloween all hallows eve fall autumn harvest holiday fruit food big carved jack o lantern pick for sale roadside vendor stand festive orange fruit squash pumpkins Cucurbita pepo round deep yellow color colour outdoor day overcast horizontal

 

You can license this rights managed Halloween stock image of pumpkins. Just contact me by email or call 803-810-2003 for more information.

Thanks for stopping by and have a great fall season!

Bob Pardue, Stock Photographer, parduephotos.com

Stock Photographer’s Guide to Travel Newsletters

As a travel stock photographer, I am constantly on the go so thought I’d share this with you about using newsletters. Hope have an enjoyable trip!

Whether you travel for business or pleasure, travel newsletters can provide a wealth of travel information, some of which can be used now and some of which can be compiled into a gigantic reference resource that’s useful for years to come.

Even the armchair traveler, who may only be able to take infrequent trips, can benefit from what can be gleaned from a good travel newsletter.

Most travel websites offer a free travel newsletter – it’s just good business for them. By providing valuable information that keeps you reading, when it comes time to take a trip, their readers are most likely to book a trip through them.

While business travelers most often book through their corporate travel agent, they’re missing out on a lot of insider information if they don’t also look to a few good newsletters as well. For example, these news letters often include feature articles on boutique hotels, so much more warm and friendly than the national chains, quite often at a substantial savings and equipped with all the usual business traveler services.

Hot Vacation Spots and Last Minute Travel Deals

Other tidbits might include links to the best hot spots in a given destination. Business travelers can make a good impression on a client by entertaining them at one of of those little out-of-the-way gems unknown to his competitors.

The active pleasure adventurer, booking a trip on his or her own, can find out about the hottest last minute deals available this week or month, right through his email travel newsletter.

Features

The best travel newsletters are those which deliver great feature articles in every issue. You, the subscriber, can compile these articles into categories and use them as a ready reference when you’re contemplating a trip. You can categorize them by destination, travel resources, travel gadgets, or restaurant or hotel reviews.

Do remember that this is copyrighted information, so you can only use this information for your own personal use. You can share your travel newsletter with a friend, but only when you pass it on in its entirety.

These lovely newsletters make for good reading, even if you can’t make a trip right now. If you follow every link in each issue, you’ll be able to dream and learn in a single sitting.

If you’re into travel research or history, you can find tons of resources, ranging from historical information to tips on etiquette in foreign countries. For example, did you know that giving someone a big ‘thumbs up’ is a ghastly insult in certain Middle Eastern cultures?

One traveler learned this the hard way and was hard pressed to make amends, following this particular breach of etiquette.

Most of these periodicals also regularly throw in a couple of links to traveler freebies they’ve dug up during the month.

Travel sites always keep up on the latest travel gadgets, from a hand held GPS device for road trips to photo upload mechanisms with new and improved features in a smaller size. This saves you lots of time tracking them down and keeping up to date.

So, no matter if you travel as a photographer as I do or, if you are just looking for a nice holiday weekend, your travel news is just a flip of the page away!

Enjoy Life!

Bob Pardue. Professional Travel Stock Photographer, parduephotos.com

Stock Image Stono River South Carolina

Stock Image Copyright Bob Pardue www.parduephotos.com - All Rights Reserved

Jean and I love traveling throughout the low country of South Carolina with swampy marshlands and meandering rivers the landscape changes constantly.

See more Stono River Images Here …

This rights managed image of the Stono River located on James Island is no exception when it comes to the beauty of this southeastern state.

Caption: Stock photo showing Stono River from James Island near Charleston South Carolina USA. The swamps and marshlands are a favorite for visitors to the low country area of SC.

Words used to locate this travel image: Stono River James Island Charleston South Carolina USA SC county park parks reeds water marsh swamp low country, life preserver,  travel, tourism, attraction, attractions, destination, vacation, holiday, peaceful, outdoor day sunny blue sky scenic landscape color colour  horizontal

Hope you enjoyed my SC photo and will come back to visit soon!

Bob Pardue, Travel Photographer from South Carolina

Stock Image Kings Mountain Military Park SC

Stock Image Copyright Bob Pardue www.parduephotos.com - All Rights Reserved

I love historic parks, especially in South Carolina which is why Jean and I traveled up to Kings Mountain Military Park to shoot some stock pictures to add to the gallery. Enjoy …

Caption and Description: Stock photo shows monument at Kings Mountain Military Park South Carolina USA. The park is a favorite for SC visitors.

Main Keywds: monument tower Kings Mountain Military Park South Carolina SC USA battlefield battleground Revolutionary War historic site October 7 1780 heroism patriotism travel tourism vacation destination attraction outdoors day sunny autumn color colour horizontal

You can see more Kings Mountain stock images at Alamy .

Hope you enjoyed your visit and make sure to bookmark so you can come back to the stock photo blog often.

Bob Pardue, SC Travel Photographer

Cool Ideas for a Tropical Beach Vacation

Winter is coming fast so where do you escape for your holiday? Well, here are a few tips for vacationing with the sand between your toes.

Tropical beaches and tropical islands are located within 23 1/2 degrees either north or south of the equator.  They enjoy warm weather year round with plenty of sunshine and warmth. 

Depending on where you are headed, there are many tropical destinations around the world, including Hawaii, Fiji, the Caribbean, and Bora Bora.

Hawaii
The Aloho State of Hawaii offers you several different islands and beaches.  Oahu Island is the most popular, home to the infamous Waikiki Beach and Honolulu, the state’s capital. 

Maui offers you several luxury resorts, 16 golf courses, and a 10,023 foot volcano.  Molokai and Lanai can  be reached by ferry from Maui, or you can simply fly there from Honolulu.

Hawaii’s Big Island is the largest of all islands, featuring Volcanoes National Park, with amazing waterfalls and breathtaking beaches.  Kauai  known for it’s tropical vegetation and has even been used for setting of many Hollywood movies.

Caribbean Islands
The Caribbean Islands are comprised of many different large and smal islands, including the Bahamas, Jamaica, Barbados, the Virgin Islands, British Virgin Islands, and Anguila, just to name a few.

The Caribbean Islands offer splendid beaches, crystal clear water, and warm weather.  The vacation activities include diving, swimming, snorkeling, sailing, and even fishing.

Fiji
The island of Fiji is comprised of many tropical islands that are famous for their azure waters and sandy beaches.  There are several resorts for you to choose from, including the Fiji Islands Resort and the Yasawa Island Resort.

Stock Photo Copyright Bob Pardue www.parduephotos.com - All Rights Reserved

South Carolina

Not exactly tropical but you can find normally great weather most of the year in beautiful Myrtle Beach, SC. This low country resort is just filled with sandy beaches, all the golf you can play and all the first class shows you can see such as the Carolina Opry and Alabama Theater. And, you don’t even need a passport to visit South Carolina!

Hope these ideas help with your vacation choices this year. Have fun and don’t forget the suntan lotion!

Where to Buy Travel Stock Photos

If you’ve been a travel  photo buyer or editor  for your magazine or site any length of time, you probably realize how much the photography industry has changed. 

Many professional photographers are now using high-quality digital cameras instead of film for their photos. This includes stock images as well. 

Where to Buy Travel  Stock Photos

The Agencies

One way to find stock photos quickly and easily is through a stock agency Web site. 

These agents provide several benefits.

-They offer a large inventory of stock images from many different photography genres.

-You can choose from a variety of styles, license types, colors, photo sizes and quality. 

-It’s usually easier to search for specific photos through a stock agency site than a general search engine.

-You don’t have to sift through hundreds or thousands of photos sent to you by mail.  Unfortunately, postal mail doesn’t come with a search box!

Buying Images Direct from Photographers

Another way to find stock photos on the Web is to buy direct from the photographer. 

You might need to work with a photographer one-on-one if you need photos in a specific location or with a specific theme, and are unable to locate the photos you need, or if you have a specific assignment you need done quickly.

High-Res Quality and Size

Probably one of the most confusing aspects of buying digital stock photos for travel or lifestyle is how to determine the size and quality of an image. 

When you receive photo submissions by postal mail, you have the actual photo in hand, making it easy to determine if the quality and size are adequate for your project.  However, with digital photos it’s not always that easy.

Different Formats

JPG (or JPEG) format, which is one of the most popular formats for digital stock photos, enables the photographer to reduce an image’s size tremendously for display on the Web and keep high-res photos on file to send to the client when needed.

Most photo stock agencies require that pictures be of top quality before they’re accepted.  This eases your worry about quality in many cases, but always make sure the size of the image fits your needs before making a purchase.

Hope you enjoyed your visit. Bookmark this page to use these tips to locate great digital stock photos and I’ll post more from my collection from time to time. See you then!

Bob Pardue, Professional Travel Stock Photographer – parduephotos.com

Stock Image Dixie Stampede at Christmas

Stock Image Copyright Bob Pardue www.parduephotos.com - All Rights Reserved

Ahhh. Christmastime! Jean and I travel to Myrtle Beach, SC almost every year in December and take in the decorations for the holidays. On this trip I noticed the beautiful Christmas tree in front of the Dixie Stampede building located on the north side of town.

Thought, since the season is fast approaching, I’d share the stock photo with you.

Caption Information: Stock photo showing Caucasian woman from 45 to 55 years looking up at giant Christmas tree at Dolly Partons Dixie Stampede attraction building. Tree and theater are decorated for the Christmas Holidays at Myrtle Beach South Carolina USA. 

Christmas tree out front shows the spirit of the holiday season. Dixie Stampde show entertains audiences with a 32 horse show including trick riding buckboard racing and a patriotic finale. December brings in its Christmas show and presentation. This is a Myrtile Beach SC feature attraction and fun for the entire family.

Main Kwds: Bob Pardue caucasian woman 45 55 years red striped top view look marvel standing looking up Dixie Stampede Dolly Parton show entertainment 32 horse show trick riding building theater theatre Christmas decoration decorated giant Christmas tree tall large December family fun family show presentation holiday holidays ornaments attraction Myrtle Beach SC South Carolina beach east coast coast Grand Strand Southeast USA US travel tourism vacation outside blue sky clouds winter holiday destination family families full length side view female 1 one person lifestyle

Hope you enjoyed this image and, as always you can license it for your magazine or brochure for editorial use by sending an email to stock@bobpardue.com or by calling 803-810-2003.

Also, I offer this image through Alamy Images where you can download it through their automatic process.

Go here to see this and other Dixie Stampede building images ..

Please come back to the photo blog soon and see more of my photographic work from SC and other areas of the USA.

Best, Bob Pardue

Find a Last Minute Travel Agency

When you are getting ready for a trip or vacation you don’t always plan the way you should. Time creeps up on you and all of a sudden your holiday date is next week. What to do? Why, find a last minute travel agency to make the cheap last minute deal for you of course!

Organization Thrown out the Window

organization. You need to know what to pack, where to go, what to do, and how to get there. You need to know the best travel deals, the best and the worst in dining, and the best in the worst in bargains of things that you want to buy for people back home.

You need to get the best deals for travelers in not just going to and from a place, but in staying there. Some travel agencies can help you out, while others are just plain nasty.

How can you weed out the bad ones and get yourself the travel experience of a lifetime?

First, if you are looking for a travel agency, look at the affordable deals that the travel agency posts, especially when it comes to your travel deal of choice: last minute travel.

Many travel agencies will naturally not favor last minute travel. It can be taxing on resources as they scramble to get you a good deal on plane fares and hotel accommodations.

They will be panicking the same way that you are, with your packing and your planning. They will not like to be harassed! But if they offer some discounts already for last minute travel, it means that they have planned their company well and already foresee your needs.

Pick this kind of company: the kind that anticipates travel problems.

Second, pick a company that is up front about its fees. You will get a lot of fees for last minute travel, from the hotel to your tickets, from the travel agents to your taxes.

Some travel agencies can keep these fees a secret by showing you discounted rates, and then mentioning hidden fees but never telling you how much you are going to be charged.

Do not be afraid to ask travel agencies about these hidden fees, and do not be afraid to walk away if your travel agent never gives you details on what these hidden fees are. Your agent should have nothing to hide!

Tried and true

Third, pick a company that actually has a reputation. In other words, do not be ashamed to consult with your friends. You need to get a company that has worked for a lot of people, not some travel agency that seemed to pop out of nowhere.

A last minute travel agency that has a reputation for being on top and has cheap deals will also have a reputation to uphold, so they cannot simply take money from you and make your vacation or trip a horrendous experience.

Fourth, always scout around for a lot of travel agents. There will surely be many travel agencies in your area: some big travel agencies may have a lot of clients and they might not be able to give you the attention that you need for last minute travel, but they could also be used to catering to people who are on last minute travel quandaries.

Smaller agencies can give you the personalized service that you need, but they might not be used to handling last minute travel arrangements. Look for many travel agents and then have an agency that exclusively handles your last minute travel needs.

Last minute travel can be a big hassle, but if you know what agencies will work well for you and get you the best and cheapest last minute deals, you won’t have too big a problem.

Thanks for dropping by and have a great vacation or holiday!

Stock Image Palmetto Fronds Baskets Charleston

Stock Photo Copyright Bob Pardue www.parduephotos.com - All Rights Reserved

When visiting Charleston, South Carolina you’ll find plenty of shopping but none compares to the handmade palmetto fronds baskets seen on display from a sidewalk vender in this stock image. There are plenty of baskets available so be sure and pick one up on your next visit to the low country.

Caption: Stock photo of local palmetto fronds baskets at Charleston South Carolina, USA. The fronds and basketweaving are a part of low country SC black heritage.

Main Keywds: palmetto baskets for sale palmetto leaves basket palmetto fronds basketweaving indigenous craft african caribbean basketmaking baskets from Charleston SC black culture Charleston SC USA South Carolina travel tourism vacation holiday low country eastern seaboard Southeastern old south color colour outdoor day sunny vertical

If you decide to license this rights managed stock photo you can do so direct from the photographer by email or by calling 803-810-2003.

Or, you can instantly download this photo at Alamy Stock Agency .

Thanks and hope to see you again soon!

Bob Pardue, Travel Stock Photographer parduephotos.com

Bad Economy and Last Minute Travel Deals

Travel Lifestyle Photo by Bob Pardue www.parduephotos.com - All Rights Reserved

You want to travel but are afraid the bad economical situation will hurt your pocketbook. Here is a quick tutorial for traveling on a tight budget.

Here you’ll learn how crazy cheap it is to travel these days. And not just domestically but internationally. That’s right. There are all sorts of last minute travel deals to be had. If you know where and when to look, you can score some incredible vacations.

How would you like to spend seven days cruising the Caribbean on just thirty-five dollars a day? That’s right. There are seven day Caribbean cruises being sold for $250 dollars!

Trust me, over the last few months, I’ve not only cruised the Caribbean for thirty-five dollars a day, I’ve flown my girlfriend to New York City for the weekend, eaten in some of the best restaurants and stayed in some of the best hotels for a fraction of the cost.

Would you like to spend a few days in the Big Apple, take in the lights around Broadway and dine in a four star New York City restaurant, and not just any four star New York City restaurant but Tom Colicchio, of Top Chef fame’s restaurant “Craft”.

Well, you could be well on your way to doing so–and cheaply. Turns out Chef Tom, in an effort to keep the customers pouring in, has created what he calls a “poverty menu”. That’s right. A menu for the budget conscious customer.

Just imagine after an evening meal at “Craft” slipping off to a luxurious four star hotel for just $100-$150 dollars a night. Amazing considering the average four star hotel in New York City can run nearly $500 dollars or more a night.

I know this all may sound to good to be true. But trust me, it isn’t. All you need are a few simple tips to turn your last minute travel deal into a reality.

If you follow some of the rules I lay out, you’re sure to be on your way to discovering some great last minute travel deals.

These are some things to remember: 

Shop around …
Don’t settle for the first few last minute travel deals you spot. There are incredible amounts of airline and travel sites competing for your business. Let this work to your advantage. These companies desperately need people like you to fill the seats of their planes, cars and rooms.

Call the airlines directly….
Airlines know that if they save the best last minute travel deals for themselves and you book directly through them, they get brand recognition. It’s worth the phone call.

In order to find great last minute travel deals, hop the following sites regularly…

• Bidding for Travel.com
  Travel Zoo
  Orbitz
  Hotwire
  and Priceline

These sites are great resources. And remember the best flight deals are scheduled for weekdays, not weekends!

All of these sites have great deals that can be had with a little determination and timing. So, now you have no excuses. Make the most of this recession and find a way to get away. Don’t you deserve a break from the hum-drum of everyday life?

Stock Image Loom at SC Cotton Museum

Stock Photo Copyright Bob Pardue www.parduephotos.com - All Rights Reserved

There are so many interesting places and attractions in SC when you go a little off the beaten path. I am seldom dissapointed and the South Carolina Cotton Museum is no exception. We had a cotton mill in our town when I was younger but I never dreamed there would be exhibits I could turn into editorial stock photos later.

Caption : Stock image of loom exhibit at South Carolina Cotton Museum in Bishopville.

Main Descriptive Wording : cotton museum spinning machine loom dolphing textiles plant museum  museums mill manufacturing mills plants factories display exhibit making cloth fabric thread threads manufacture  Bishopville SC South Carolina historic building cloth fabric Mallow Qutun southeast mill factory industry industrial tourism old nostalgia Americana color colour indoor vertical

This rights managed travel stock photograph can be licensed direct from photographer, Bob Pardue. To get more info just email Bob or call 803-810-2003.

Thanks for stopping by and hope you enjoyed the pic.

Bob, parduephotos.com

Deal on the Best Family Vacation Destinations

Taking the family on a holiday trip is sometimes stressful, especially when not well planned. This blog post is about how to find the best deal for your travel destination and I hope it relieves some of the headaches of getting ready and saving some money.

I have yet to find a single person that didn’t like to go on a vacation no matter if they are planning a road trip or just flying off to a distant destination to relax. And why wouldn’t they?

A travel holiday can be a welcome break for your everyday life. A chance to go some place new and exotic, someplace warm and relaxing or some place fun and exciting.

There really is nothing better than some time away from the rat race - except maybe a good vacation deal. Finding discount vacations  isn’t as difficult as you might think. Here are three steps to help you find destinations that are right for you and your pocketbook, even if you leave at the last minute.

The first step to traveling cheaply is to be flexible with your travel methods. I’m not suggesting hitchhiking, but if you can piece together your method for reaching your destination, you can find some good deals.

For example, you might really want to visit New York City, but the airfare from your local airport is through the roof. You might be able to name your own price by flying to a nearby city and renting a car one-way or finding an affordable bus ride.

If you’re willing to spend a little more time, you can save a lot of money.

For the cheapest and best family vacation, go off-peak. Everyone wants to go see New Orleans during Mardi Gras, but New Orleans is a beautiful city year-round.

Many popular destinations have peak seasons – and the prices and costs to get there peak also. Sometimes going as little as a week or two before or after a peak season can net you a spectacular vacation deal, without giving up very much at all. Also, remember all the last minute deals you can get online if you know your travel dates.

Finally, planning a road trip or family getaway is essential. Have a packing list and a checklist of things to do and places to see. You’ll thank yourself for it.

About Last Minute Vacation Deals

 Airlines and hotels hate empty seats and rooms. If you wait until the last minute, airlines will slash their ticket fares substantially to make sure that they make back some money on it.

And of course, if you plan a year or more ahead, you can get a good ticket price and that always equals one thing – money in your pocket!

Finding a vacation deal isn’t rocket science. The key to having fun is to relax and to be flexible, be open, and have some patience. Do some research. Make your next family holiday a vacation for your wallet too  by finding a good vacation deal! Bon Voyage!

Stock Image Ripley’s Haunted Adventure Myrtle Beach SC

Stock Photo Copyright Bob Pardue www.parduephotos.com - All Rights Reserved

The grand strand is always one of  my favorite places to visit when I travel to Myrtle Beach, SC. There is something familiar and soothing about this stretch of highway. I visited the area many times when I was young so it’s nothing new but always refreshing.

Here is a stock image I created during one of my expeditions to the low country I hope you’ll enjoy ..

Caption – Stock photo of Ripleys Haunted Adventure and Gay Dolphin sign on the Grand Strand in Myrtle Beach South Carolina, USA. This is one of the most visited streets when people visit low country SC.

Essential Key-words – ripleys haunted adventure building gay dolphin sign souvenir halloween haunted house attraction destination vacation holiday trip scary ghosts halloween fun house shop store blue red yellow boulevard myrtle beach horry county low country eastern seaboard southeast south carolina sc usa america  building color colour outdoor day blue sky sunny tourism horizontal

Thanks for visiting my travel blog. If you would like to use this picture of the Myrtle Beach Haunted Adventure building  for your publication or book you can license it and other photos of South Carolina direct from the photographer by email or by calling 803-810+2003. I look forward to working with you.

Best,

Bob Pardue, SC Freelance Photography

Stock Image Old Cotton Press South Carolina USA

Stock Image Copyright Bob Pardue - www.parduephotos.com - All Rights Reserved

On a lonely stretch of highway near Bennettsville, SC I spotted this old cotton press standing in a yard. I didn’t even know what it was until I read the information but it made a great stock picture for my travel collection.

Caption: Stock photo of an early cotton press located in South Carolina USA. The machine was built in 1798 and thought to be the oldest in existence.

Key: old cotton press south carolina sc usa 1798 oldest history antique nostalgia americana plant vegetation farming cash crop indigenous white fabric raw industry outside day regional southeast southeastern color colour outdoor day sunny blue sky horizontal

You can license this SC travel stock photo direct from the photographer by email or by calling 803-810-2003 and ask for Bob.

Hope to hear from you soon!

Bob Pardue, Travel Stock Photographer – parduephotos.com

Travel Plans Changed to Niagara Falls NY

I had planned to go on a photo assignment to Florida Keys but, with the threat of a tropical storm or hurricane, Jean and I decided north would be the better choice this trip.

We are now going to shoot stock images in the Niagara Falls, New York area so please contact me by email or by calling 803-810-2003 if you have editorial photo needs for your magazine, book or travel brochure.

I’d love to shoot some photos and post them for you to view when I return with no obligation on your part.

We will be on this assignement August 17-21.

I will try and check my emails on the road when possible so please be patient if you don’t hear back right away.

Thanks for stopping by and I hope to talk with you soon about your photo needs.

Best,
Bob Pardue, parduephotos.com

Stock Image Georgia War Veterans Memorial Atlanta GA

Stock Image Copyright Bob Pardue www.parduephotos.com - All Rights Reserved

The city of Atlanta Georgia is always an exciting place to visit. The streets are busy but you still get the feel of southern hospitality from the people.

On this trip I created this photo of the War Veterans Memorial with the statue of Vietnam soldiers out front. This is from my era so always holds a special place in my heart.

Image Description: Rights managed stock photo showing sculpture of Vietnam soldiers at Pete Wheeler Georgia War Veterans Memorial, Atlanta, GA, USA.

Main Wording: statue sculpture art Pete Wheeler Georgia War Veteran museum soldiers tribute city travel tourism museums vacation holiday trip atlanta ga georgia attraction usa color colour outdoor day overcast horizontal

If you decide to license this photograph please call 803-810-2003 with your usage requirements so we can talk. It is available for editorial use in magazines, travel brochures, school books, etc.

Thanks for stopping by and happy traveling in Georgia!

Bob Pardue, Images in the Southeast – parduephotos.com