Archive for the ‘Recreation & Travel’ Category

Your Zippo Lighter And Your Traveling Escapades

Sunday, July 6th, 2008

Women Trekkers

At the risk of sounding redundant, the best gifts for women struck with wanderlust are passport leather holders, Swiss Army knives, Zippo lighters and money belts. Like travelers’ cheques, these items come in handy in the most compromising situations, especially for women who enjoy the adventure of traveling alone to distant places to foster their spirituality, or to have some slices of life’s adventures.

Unlike men, lady globe trotters need to take extra safety measure. Fortunately, there are ways to make their travel safer - researching about the country’s traditions, habits, and taboos, contacting friends who might have relatives and distant close friends living along their travel route, getting better accommodations, and getting expert travel advice might save them a lot of future problems.

If you also suffer from wanderlust or pining to have the experience of a lifetime by traveling by yourself, be ready for some travel rips. As a lady traveler, you’re prey to thieves, gigolos, and other maniacs on the loose. These tips will help you out of sticky times or draining circumstances:

* If you’re harassed by a big bad wolf, prepare your lighter. Light that cigarette without warning him that your lighter’s flame can be very dangerous to his facial hair!. Fuss over him and beat a hasty exit while he’s busy saving the last of his eyebrows.

* If your passport and travelers checks are stolen, run to the nearest tourist police office. Either you come on tough, or break in tears. The former works well after you have passed around that pack of cigarettes and offered them your lighter. But make sure the guys smoke, or you’ll find yourself in bigger shit.

* Should the village, be ready to part with your personalized Zippo and cigarette lighter case as thank-you gifts. But many won’t take these “gifts.” They will happily bring you to the police station.

* At the bus station, practice your Zippo lighter tricks to stop that garrulous seatmate from telling you about his exploits. He will get the message.

* If a stranger keeps on following you, scare him off with a sudden flare from your Zippo, and before he can recover from the surprise attack, run like you never have before!

* If pangs of loneliness catches up with you, go on a tourist trip around the area. Your Zippo lighter tricks will start conversations and you’ll find it easier to befriend others traveling on their own.

Revisiting A Beloved Summerplace: Martha’s Vineyard

Sunday, July 6th, 2008

Off the coast of Cape Cod, Martha’s Vineyard gleam in the sun and continue to reign as the perfect summerplace since the 1800s. It’s also here that flushed men’s wallets are emptied and credit cards are swiped to the max to be able enjoy the islands charms. But no matter the cost, Martha’s Vineyard remains the perfect summerplace in the heartland.

Martha’s Vineyard Six Towns

Martha’s Vineyard is a large island of 6 town - Oak Bluffs, Edgartown, Vineyard Haven, West Tisbury, Chilmark, and Aquinnah. The place is a tourist’s haven of picturesque towns, stretches of the Nantucket Sound, warm summer afternoons, fresh evening breezes, and lively nightlife and shopping. There is glorious chow and bottomless drinks all worth the calories and the dollars in leather wallets.

Once you arrive the shoreline of Vineyard Haven, bobbling wooden colorful boats and the two tall ships of the famous Black Dog Company will salute you to America’s favorite summerplace. Where to go? Once you gun your car off the ferry, you will have several choices. There are lots ofplaces that can nourish your passions - shopping, sun bathing, dining on seafood, movies, nature tripping, touring historical places, and celebrity house gawking.

Those in the know prefer to put up tent in designated areas instead of checking into tony hotels. They dine in off-the-beaten tracks where hearty meals and drinks are served - all fit for royals with fat wallets and checkbooks.

Oaks Bluffs - Here, you will find the celebrated gingerbread houses, throbbing nightlife, and a bustling Circuit Avenue where the commercial strip is situated. Take home one of those canvas men’s wallets and passport wallet, quilted bedspreads, home decor, Indian printed cloths, and much more.

Edgartown - A quaint New England Village with olden houses and a white church with tall spires. The plush enclaves in Edgartown offer pricey dining. But there’s a cheaper place that boasts of tempting colonial flavors - mugs of draft root beer, the wheat ale topped with blueberries, and addictive fries in the Kelly House Hotel’s tavern.

Vineyard Haven offers tasty seafood and the Net Result offers cheaper prices. Gorge on lobster, crab cakes, and sushi and gratify your sweet tooth at Mad Martha’s ice cream parlor. For movies, catch the recent blockbusters in New Haven and Edgartown, if sun, sea, and sand start to weary you.

Want a laidback summer? Chilmark, West Tisbury, and Aquinnah are the towns to stay. You won’t see the usual row of houses, but a tapestry of lush green woodlands, dirt roads, and the famed colorful rock faces in Gay Head (Aquinnah).

Bike, hike, swim, dine on food, gulp all the drink, and have all the fun and leisure. At the end of summer, only your wallet may or may not be emptied, but what the heck? You had a long hot but enjoyable summer.

Cruise Ship Family Travel: Safety Advice To Keep Your Mind At Ease

Sunday, July 6th, 2008

Family cruise vacations are a wonderful way to engage the whole family in a trip that’s relatively all-inclusive and offers a range of activities that appeal to family members young and old. However, before you depart on your big family cruise vacation, you need to consider a few crucial safety tips.

To learn how to really enjoy yourself and have a fun and safe time on your next family cruise, keep reading for the top family cruise safety tips from the experts.

1. Check your ship’s report card

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has a department called the Vessel Sanitation Program. That program inspects ships on a regular basis for cleanliness, food preparation, hygiene, water control, rodents and disease prevention. Upon inspection, each ship is given a report card that is then made available on the CDC web site.

Before you book your next cruise, look up your specific ship’s report card to check their grade.

2. Put safety first

Before you book with a cruise line, even a “family” cruise or a “kid” cruise, always make sure you know the cruise line’s policy on child safety. If they don’t have one or if it isn’t readily available to you, then they are not the cruise line for you.

Ask about their daycare employees, the activity counselors and the children’s guides - are they qualified to work with children? Do they have first aid certification? Have they been thoroughly screened? What background checks has the cruise line done? How does the cruise line keep track of every child when parents aren’t present?

3. Be diligent, especially on shore

Admittedly, a cruise can feel very safe. It’s an enclosed environment, but that doesn’t mean parents can fully let down their guard. Kids can still fall, slip, get hurt, wander into unsupervised or dangerous areas and generally do what kids do.

Despite the childcare, the amenities available to you and the enclosed space, never forget that you’re a parent. If you’re going on shore with your children, keep a close eye on them and try sticking to cruise ship organized activities.

4. Have your papers in order

Before you leave, make sure that everyone has a passport. If any of the children have a different last name from yourself or your friend, or if they’re traveling without one parent, be sure to get copies of their birth certificates or custody agreements or a letter that states you’re allowed to bring them outside the country.

Also, make sure everyone is properly insured for travel, including cruise destinations which have specific legal implications because of international waters and the various ports of call. Keep all this paperwork in a safe place.

Planning For That Hong Kong Disneyland Trip

Sunday, July 6th, 2008

Every child hopes of going to Disneyland someday. And the child in you wishes to set foot on the famous home of Mickey Mouse and his friends in Hong Kong or in Tokyo. With the relatively lower air fares today, a number of people can actually realize this dream. Just take note of these few travel tips before you embark on the plane that leads you to Hong Kong Disneyland.

1. Spend at least one day for Disneyland alone. Hong Kong is one of the best cities for shopping, but don’t let this occupy all your days in the country. Remember that you are there primarily to enjoy the rides and all sights in Disneyland. To some, one day may not be enough. But on the average, one day is a conservative amount of time for you experience the thrills of its rides and attractions.

2. Don’t be a “kill-joy.” Certainly, a Disneyland trip comes with the fact that you need to be in exhilarating rides. Because of this, you should not go there if you are half-hearted about getting into that rollercoaster ride. Just make sure you have all your valuables secured, so you don’t end up losing them. A magic wallet or a travel wallet is a great way of keeping your much-needed cash in place while you enjoy the wonders of such a magical place. Leave your business card cases in your hotel as such will not be used in the park where Mickey and his friends tread.

3. Don’t forget the map. Disneyland will provide you with a map. Make use of it and make sure you know how to read it. Go to the places or sites that best interest you. Better yet, plan your trip ahead so you will have a clear direction as to which attraction to check out first. Familiarize yourself with the nitty-gritty of going into those sites as well to save time and energy. Nothing is more disappointing than going back and forth a certain direction because you were not able to properly read the map.

4. Enjoy. Whether you are just window shopping in Hong Kong or having the time of your life in Disneyland, you should not forget to enjoy. Even if you fall short of your budget, enjoy still. After all, the trip is all about enjoyment and not of fretting.

Once you keep all these gentle reminders on your mind, the magic that Disney and his characters bring will surely shower you in your stay at Hong Kong Disneyland.

Tips In Taking That Much-anticipated Vacation

Sunday, July 6th, 2008

Who is not busy? It would be almost impossible to get a “no” for this question. You will always hear somebody complaining about how demanding his work is and how hard it is for him to balance professional and personal life. Basically, every working professional spends almost 75% of his time at the office.

Because of this, people are finding it difficult to take a leave and get that vacation. You’re probably one of these people. You probably have planned for a beach outing with your friends or your family, but were unable to convert that plan into a reality because of your busy schedule. On the other end of the spectrum, your family or your friends may have already expressed their frustration over the constant rebooking and postponement of these plans. They are becoming increasingly impatient because summer is almost over.

The great news is it is not yet too late to take that late summer vacation. You can still get the best hotel and plane rates. What’s more, because most people have already been through their much-anticipated summer holiday, airline providers will give out promotional fares to selected destinations.

As soon as you have your hotel and tickets taken care of, your next primary concern is your itinerary. Obviously, this will depend on your chosen destination. But summer is usually spent at the beach where you can brag about your newly-toned body and skimpy swimwear. Others, however, engage in extreme sports like white water rafting, rappelling, and mountain climbing.

All these summer activities certainly do not require you to bring your laptop attache or just your attache case. These will certainly be out of place in this kind of outing. Plus, your friends and family will not let you attend to your emails and work stuff anyway, so why bother taking them with you in what is supposed to be a “work-free” treat to yourself. You can bring your pocket business card holders, though, as in any outing, there is a possibility of bringing them along.

Another equally important thing to remember when taking that vacation is the “mandate to enjoy.” Enjoy every second of it as it is not always that you will have this chance. Seize the moment, as others put it, for the next opportunity may still be far behind.

Summer Destinations For Couples: Practical Vacation Help

Friday, July 4th, 2008

If you are interested in scheduling a romantic vacation with your partner, you have a number of different options to choose form.

When picking a romantic summer vacation destination, you will need to consider what romance means to you. For many individuals, there are certain activities, settings, or events that may ruin the mood. To find the perfect romantic getaway destination, you are encouraged to examine what you need and want to get out of your trip.

If you are looking for a romantic vacation that offers a beautiful tropical climate, you might consider Barbados. Barbados is an island located in the Atlantic Ocean. It is an eastern Caribbean island. Barbados is well-known for its amazing coastal vacations. These coastal vacations are ideal for romantic summer vacations. In addition to its beautiful coast, Barbados has a collection of unique shops, restaurants, and entertainment venues.

Tahiti is often referred to as “the most beautiful island in the world.” Located in the Pacific Ocean, just below the Equator, Tahiti offers romantic summer vacation getaways like no other. The environment in Tahiti is almost always warm, inviting, and romantic. With a large number of romantic resorts, restaurants, and themed activities just for couples, you are sure to enjoy a romantic getaway in Tahiti.

The Pocono Mountains, located in Pennsylvania, is another popular summer vacation destination for couples looking to escape their daily activities. Pocono resorts are most often known for their wintertime activities; however, the resorts are open all year long. While the temperature may not be tropical, Pocono resorts are ideal for those looking for privacy.

Despite Paris’s weather variations, the capital of France is often considered one of the most romantic cities in the world. Once you arrive in Paris, you will see that romance is in the air. In addition to hotels with a romantic theme, you will find a number of amazing tourist attractions. The Eiffel Tower is a place where many couples reconnect and reaffirm their love for each other.

Tahiti, the Pocono’s, Paris, and Barbados are just a few of the many popular summer vacation destinations that are designed for lovers. In addition to visiting a specific destination, you can schedule a romantic cruise. A large number of popular cruise lines offer cruise ships that are designed specifically for couples. Aboard a cruise ship you are likely to find a number of exciting, relaxing, and romantic activities.

In addition to onboard activities, cruise ships often dock in a number of ports. A cruise ship with a romantic theme is likely to select ports with romantic settings. Depending on the cruise ship in question, you are often allowed a few hours or a whole day to explore the port. For many couples, this exploration often feels like a whole separate experience.

The above mentioned locations are popular summer vacation destinations for couples. If these locations are out of your reach, do not worry. There are thousands of other summer vacation destinations for you to choose from.

If you are planning a wedding, it’s important to think carefully about your choice of wedding MC. To help you pick the right person do check out these articles:
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How to mc a wedding
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Great British Holiday Places - Dronfield In The Peak District

Thursday, July 3rd, 2008

To the north east of Derbyshire is the quaint town of Dronfield. The town is situated halfway between the city of Sheffield to the north and Chesterfield further south.

Dronfield has an ideal location and is the envy of many other towns and cities across the UK with an absolute plethora of breathtaking natural beauty in all directions.

With the Peak District in close proximity on the one hand, many local Derbyshire beauty spots close by on the other, the Pennines a short drive away, and if you really want the hustle and bustle of city life you have the eighth largest and also the highest city in England right on your doorstep what more could you possibly ask for.

Dronfield is therefore ideally placed as a base for Peak District holidays or for exploring the local region

It is said that the name of the town originally derives from the open land where there are many Drones(male bees) although this could possibly be just a quaint old wives tale as well.

The town is bordered on the west side by beautiful open countryside adjoining the Peak District National Park approximately three miles away which by all accounts is the most visited national park in the world..

Although the town, over the last 30 years, has grown immensely, from the traditional fine old buildings of outstanding quality and beauty that make ideal Peak District luxury hotels and Peak District holiday cottages, to a mixture of today’s modern housing it still retains an olde worlde ambience not found in many modern cities

Due to it location, it is no wonder that township has possibly the largest privately owned housing estate in North East Derbyshire, but yet is still maintained to keep the high quality of the town.

Given its close proximity to the city of Sheffield, Dronfield has great appeal to the commuting workforce looking for residence outside the cities boundaries in a more rural location, but Dronfield has been under threat more recently to merge or come under the jurisdiction of Sheffield itself and even the county of South Yorkshire.

For the Dronfield residents this was totally unacceptable, and it is in the main thanks to the efforts of the local community a proposal was turned down to try and merge Dronfield, into Sheffield which caused a sigh of relief all round

Thankfully, all the lovely old traditions remain a part of Derbyshire, and will be enjoyed by the future generations growing up.

Important Details For Vacationing Together With Your Household

Monday, June 30th, 2008

There is little more fun than a family road trip, or taking a vacation with the people you love. Although it can seem stressful at times, it actually can be a great experience for all of you if you travel well-prepared, that is.

Travel in general can be a trying time, but heading out with an entire family is downright maniacal if you don’t get ready properly before you leave.

Start the vacation adventure by first seeking all participants’ opinions on places to go - children included. When you involve the children in your decisions about what to see and where to go, you will inevitably make them more excited about the trip.

Plan some activities for every age group, and make sure they understand that everyone’s interests will attempt to be accommodated.

Before leaving, give the older children some tasks for which they can take charge. For example, you might place the oldest child in charge of coordinating all the games and toys they need. Let the little one pack his own carryon bag or bag for the car to own a little responsibility.

When everyone has something to do, the plans become internalized and can loosen up more time for you to concentrate on packing the suitcases, the food, coordinating the hotel, and other everyday essentials.

Since space is at a premium with so many people traveling, try your best to pack light and only take essentials. Of course depending on the size of your family, this could still add up to a lot of stuff - so find out what the hotel provides, such as portable cribs and rental strollers, so you can leave the big items at home.

Instead of packing entire bottles of shampoo and soaps, buy travel size containers to bring along smaller amounts. Every little bit of salvaged space helps.

The objective of your trip is to have a good time, so make sure you are prepared for emergencies as well. Always keep your doctor’s number on hand, and carry a first aid kit wherever you go. The kit should include pain reliever, fever reducer, ointments, prescription medication, insect repellant, and anything you need for allergic reactions.

Traveling with the family can be fun - a lot of fun - and you want to remember it all with fond recollection. So definitely bring along your camera and camcorder. These are the memories you will cherish long after your children are grown, much less beyond the vacation itself.

Cheap Cruise Offers - Discover How To Get The Best Cruise Deals

Sunday, June 29th, 2008

One of the best ways to get on board a cruise ship for the least amount of money is to take advantage of cheap cruise offers which are starting to become popular within the industry.

The big winner of course will be you. Cruises for a lot less than they would normally cost can entice even the toughest shoppers but the thing to remember that with these offers being so attractive it may be a case of being first in first served.

Basically, a cheap cruise sale is an offer from cruise lines for a limited period of time and on a set day. These cheap cruise sales tend to reflect the economy as well as with more ships to fill and more cruises to cater for, cruise lines are stepping up their publicity machines to attract more travelers to fill their state rooms.

But whatever the reason, you have a great opportunity to get onboard at attractive prices. Carnival Cruise Lines is one company offering these cheap cruise sales and as just about the most recognized cruise brand on the waters, they are getting strong interest.

Cheap Cruise Sales

The best way to stay informed on cheap cruise offers is to sign up for a cruise lines newsletter. Or simply get on their email list. If you are really serious about getting these offers then you’ll need to verify the cruise lines address with your spam filters because many will get filtered out given the catchy headlines that accompany these emails.

How many cruise lines should you sign up with. For US based travelers definitely Carnival and Royal Caribbean but if you have traveled with another line then as a past guest you will more than likely already be on their list.

While the aim is to attract people on board ships in the short term, many if these sales also offer the opportunity to book up to nine months ahead. So if you were planning to vacation at a later date you can lock in a cheap cruise price.

Cruises ranging from 3 to 4 day sailings from under $300 to 8 day excursions for less than $600 make them irresistible. From the USA, destinations include popular places in Mexico, the Caribbean and the Bahamas.

Speaking about fuel prices, the prices quoted may not include extra fuel surcharges and you will need to clear this up when booking.

The cheap cruise offers also offer the incentives of upgrades but only within the time specified. That’s why it’s important to be on a mailing list to know when they are having a sale and for how long.

Family Beach Vacation In Maui: Essential Guide

Saturday, June 28th, 2008

Located on the southwest side of Maui, the Fairmont Kea Lani Maui overlooks the amazing waters off of Polo Beach. The beach here is the center of all water activities such as snorkeling, sailing, kayaking, and even windsurfing.

Visitors here can play on any of the Wailea Golf Club’s three championship golf courses or enjoy a game of tennis at any of the 14 courts the tennis center offers. Parents that are tired can get some much deserved personal time with a massage at the Spa Kea Lani.

The resort accommodations are either suites or villas, so there is no need to squeeze your entire family into a tiny room. There suites here are a minumum of 840 square feet and offer a separate living room and marble bathroom with a separate tub for soaking.

The private two levels villas here are minutes away from the beach and are between 1,800 - 2,200 square feet as well. The villas are ideal for larger families as they offer a full service kitchen and a private courtyard with a plunge pool and barbeque for grilling out.

Keiki Lani is also the hotel’s activity center for kids as well. It’s a state licensed facility for children between the ages of 5 and 13, giving parents a break from watching their kids. Here, children can enjoy painting coconuts, building sand castles, exploring the tide pools, learning how to dance hula, and even making real flower leis. The activity center can accommodate up to 19 children, so be sure to call ahead and reserve a space for your children.

The rates for a stay start at approx. $325 per night for a suite. One of the benefits of a family vacation here is the special deals that are almost always available. The Fairmont Kea Lani Maui has several packages available for family vacations.

If you are planning to explore the island with the children, you’ll save a lot of money by taking a package that includes a free rental car. This way, you can explore the island whenever you like.

For a family vacation, Maui is truly a one of a kind destination. There are so many different things to do here for everyone in your family, even if they are indeed hard to please.

Once your family experiences Maui and everything there is to offer, you’ll never look at beach vacations the same way again. Maui has that kind of power - especially when it comes to warm weather and pleasing people from all over the world.
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