Air fare nightmare!

Decided on the spur of the moment to book a holiday in July as I have 2 weeks off work, so I grabbed the laptop and went onto the internet to gain inspiration for our next destination. Anyone that knows us will be aware that we've been all over the world and people keep saying there can't be many places left to visit - this is of course ridiculous coz the world is a massive place but I guess the countries and cities on our wish list have reduced somewhat.

Swimming with dolphins in their natural habitat has always been at the top of my ambitions list, a very common one I know, but as a huge animal lover who has already been on a couple of safaris, this has got to be the ultimate experience. This is how much it affects me: when I watch people swimming with dolphins on the tv or I see photos or listen to people talking about it, I literally well up with emotion. It sounds crazy but I just can't help it. Interacting with dolphins in a captive environment is a big NO NO for me, despite the fact that you'd be able to touch and ride on them in that situation (in the wild you are not allowed to touch, it's very much on the dolphins' terms whether they want to interact with YOU).

Anyway, I found a great website that does a three-day dolphin experience with other extras thrown in which is located in Panama City in Florida. I'd never heard of this place - the only Panama City I know is the capital of Panama!! I found it on the map and it's about half way between Jacksonville and New Orleans on the Gulf of Mexico. Aah I thought! That'd be good if we could combine the dolphin experience with New Orleans, hire a car and travel around a bit. That's the kind of holiday I prefer - I detest package holidays and hate being stuck in one place for too long. So I then checked flights to the nearest airport: Tallahassee which produced zilch!
After trying New Orleans, and as far away as Orlando, all flights are well over £600 in July. Ouch! Doing quick calculations in my head, this was gonna turn into a very expensive trip (again)! Flights, airport tax, travel insurance, accommodation, dolphins, car hire, food, drink, petrol and entertainment means finding at least £3000 I think.

Feeling a bit down after looking at those flight prices, I tried to think of something else we could do which would be cheaper. So what did I google? Holidays to Namibia & the Galapagos Islands!!!!!!!!!! Somehow a cheap holiday to Bognor never appeals!

Anyway, we both agreed we'd rather do the USA/dolphin trip so maybe we'll have to grit our teeth with the cost and just do it! Watch this space.