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Feeling over-worked, over-tired and under-paid?  Need a cheap travel destination to get away from it all? Stop wondering and start packing! Being the workaholic that you are, you’re probably expecting to have to do a ton of research, but it’s easy once you know a few insider tips. 

There are many cheap travel destinations out there, but these few are exceptionally cheap. Don’t be afraid, though – they have all the beauty of an expensive trip. Costa Rica is the second smallest country in Central America.  This makes it very easy to see most or all of the country in just under a few weeks. 

There is no part of the country that has a greater travel time than 10 hours by car.  While in Costa Rica, visiting the beautiful capitol San Jose is super easy due to its great bus service.

Also while in Costa Rica, make it a point to see all of the breathtaking mountain views, sunsets over the beach, and sparkling rivers.  You can see Costa Rica in all of its beauty at absolutely no cost to you! 

Another priceless tourist attraction is the Montverde cloud forest. Sleeping over is at no great cost, either.  You can find hostels as cheap as $8 per night and hotel rooms as inexpensive as $15 per night in San Jose.

Margarita Island, Venezuela is another cheap travel destination and yes, the name of it is foreshadowing what’s to come. If you’re looking for a great margarita at the price of a cola, then you’ve come to the right place.  Speaking of drinks, a beer in beautiful Margarita Island generally goes for about $1.

Nightlife on Margarita Island just may be your deciding factor.  They have great discos which feature authentic Latin/Western music.  A lot of local clubs feature live music that you can swing your hips to. 

Hostels are modestly priced here as well. They’re not as cheap as Costa Rica, but they generally go as low at $13 a night. Meals here might as well be free.  A fresh seafood meal goes for around $7.00 and is delicious.

Another great thing about Margarita Island is its infamous 320 sunny days out of the year.  Being so beautiful, it’s suggested you take in a little scuba diving, fishing, tanning, or riding horseback as daytime fun.  Here, you can buy authentic souvenirs such as wicker items from the natives at local markets.

Cheap travel destinations like these make your quick getaway as enjoyable as possible.  It’s always great to be able to go away for a week or two and not have to worry about it burning a hole in your pocket.  Enjoy your well-earned vacation! 

It’s so easy to give your kids a few dollars and send them on their way. They probably even came to you and asked for money to hang out with their buddies. But, many times what they really want is time with you. They don’t want to interfere with your busy lifestyle so they take the easy way out by going out. You make it easier for them by handing over the money, no questions asked.

Today’s rapid paced world makes it difficult to find spare time to meet with your family much less spend quality bonding time. Everyone is always on the go and you see each other in the morning before the day’s activities begin and at night when everyone comes home; but then it’s time for bed.

Even meals are too often eaten standing up or at a fast food restaurant. There’s no time for conversation and that includes both talking and listening to your children. It’s the wise family that schedules time to be together.

Set aside at least one night a week for the family to be together, alone. This doesn’t mean the kids can invite friends over on that night. Take the phone off the hook or any activity or conversation will be constantly interrupted. If you’ve not done this all along and your kids are older, it will be difficult at first but soon everyone will look forward to it.

What you do is not that important. But, it’s important that you’re together. Talk to your children, asked them questions, be interested in their world and get involved if needed. Listen to how they spent their day and the problems and successes they had.

Board games for the family can be fun and entertaining. If you’re watching your budget, most board games can be found inexpensively at discount stores and yard sales. You probably already have the basic games such as cards, dominoes and checkers. Younger children love for someone to read to them. If they’re older, read with them and share what you’ve read afterwards.

Work together on crafts or cooking. Building something together is a great way to discover each other’s talents and converse at the same time. You probably remember when your dad helped you build a model airplane or go-cart. Perhaps it was memorable times in the kitchen with mom baking a cake or preparing dinner together.

Always compliment your children and emphasize the positive not the negative. Let them know you’re there for them anytime, anywhere. Hugs are always nice to enforce the positive and so are notes left unexpectedly on the refrigerator or lunch box.

All together, time doesn’t have to be spent at home but try to plan outside activities that allow interaction. A camping trip or fishing expedition would be fun and inexpensive. You could even camp out in the back yard.

Your kids probably are involved in many school sports, plays and festivals they would love for you to attend. Giving children your time and love is not expensive and one of the most worthwhile investments you’ll ever make.

What You Need to Know to Stay Safe

There’s nothing like seeing new things and experiencing different cultures, but sometimes this can come at a price. Traveling abroad can be serious business unless you know how to stay safe. Here are some things to keep in mind the next time you have to travel abroad.

Check out weather patterns – Check out the weather patterns for every place along your route. Plan for possible plane delays if the weather seems to be iffy in one or more areas.

If there’s a chance of severe weather, like a hurricane, for your destination then plan on going another time if possible. Play it safe and don’t risk getting caught in severe weather like that.

Check for security concerns – Find out what’s going on within the country you plan to visit. Are there any political arguments that could lead to an all out war? Don’t get caught in the middle of a battle if you know ahead of time that a war could break out.

Research the culture of the country you’re planning to go to. Different countries have different cultures. Don’t assume that the country you’re planning to go to will accommodate your cultural beliefs.

You may ultimately offend someone in another country by what you deem to be innocent behavior. This can cause them to retaliate against you. Know as much as you can before leaving for your trip.

Learn their language. Learn as much of their language as possible. Some people can take advantage of you if they think you don’t have any idea of what they’re saying. It can also help to eliminate any misunderstandings, which may cause violence.

Check with your health insurance company. Find out if your health insurance will cover medical costs abroad. Don’t just assume they will. If they do cover medical costs abroad, find out what they do and don’t cover.

Reserve your stay at the more popular tourist attraction hotels. These are more likely to have better security than ones that are off away from the tourist spots. Don’t wander away from hot tourist areas because you can be an easy target for the locals. If you have a trustworthy guide, then it’s okay to explore – but only with them. Never go off alone.

Don’t advertise yourself as a tourist. Try to wear clothes that will make you blend in with the locals. If you choose to rent a car while abroad, don’t go for anything too flashy. It will only scream out to the locals that you’re a tourist and you then become a target.

Traveling abroad to another country can be a safe experience if you take precautions before you leave on your trip and don’t let your guard down when you reach your destination. Respect the locals and their cultural beliefs and try not to offend anyone. They’re more likely to welcome you then and may even protect you if needed.