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Hassle-Free Traveling with Kids

January 7, 2008 by admin Leave a Comment

A family vacation can be a source of wonderful memories or a potential disaster. This article will help keep you from needing a vacation from your vacation.

Occupied children are happy children. Make sure your kids have plenty of age-appropriate activities for car trips or plane rides. Even a trip that seems short for an adult can seem long and boring for a child, so make sure kids have something to do during any travel time. Keeping kids entertained doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg. A new coloring or activity book can keep kids happy, especially if you introduce it as a special treat. Books, portable movie players, and video games are also good ways to keep kids occupied. You may be enthralled by the scenery, but it isn’t fair to expect children to have the same appreciation. Bring a book or a game so you and the other travelers can enjoy the view.

It’s important that you and your spouse enjoy the vacation, but make sure your destination provides something for children to enjoy. Most cruise ships provide children’s spaces and activities for younger passengers to make friends and have fun while their parents enjoy the rest of the ship. Almost any destination can be made fun and interesting for children, but if you’re staying at a resort, make sure there are facilities available for children.

Sharing a hotel room can be easily managed. If children don’t want to share a bed, use extra blankets and chairs to make a “special bed” or ask for a cot, especially if you have more than two children staying with you. For older children, a second hotel room might be the best choice. The kids will enjoy getting their own room, and you’ll be able to enjoy some alone time. Regardless of the number of people in the room, try to make a schedule for showering and bathing and remind children that certain items are being shared. If necessary, divide up the towels in advance.

Look ahead to see what museums offer children’s exhibits or displays. Many children enjoy seeing local wildlife in zoos or aquariums. Use activities like this as a reward or a treat for going to an attraction that’s more interesting to Mom and Dad. Smaller children may not be able to walk long distances and may have difficulty with a new routine. Keep things like walking distance and usual meal and nap times in mind when planning activities. Also, keep your children’s interests or school subjects in mind when planning excursions. These activities can keep a child happy and entertained as well as reinforce learning.

Bring nonperishable, easily transported snacks to save money and avoid meltdowns. Children may become irritable if hungry, and they may be tempted by high priced theme park or museum food. Having a few granola bars or pieces of fruit available may make everyone happy.

For theme park visits, consider traveling while school is in session. There will be fewer crowds and shorter lines for your children to wait in. Also consider the time of year. During the summer, theme parks in Florida can be incredibly hot and humid. Finding a temperate, less crowded time can prevent unhappy children and a miserable experience for you. Children of any age will enjoy the experience, but again remember that young children may not be able to walk all day. Rent a stroller or be prepared to carry them.

By planning ahead, you can make a family vacation something you and your children will fondly remember for years to come.

Filed Under: Travel Tips

Improve Your Vacation With A Few Simple Tips

January 6, 2008 by admin Leave a Comment

Going on vacation is much more than just simply packing and leaving. Planning the your trip ahead of time is very important and how you feel is greatly determined by how well you plan. The tips below will help you prepare for your vacation and to have a great time!

Getting the best flight deals really takes some patience and shopping around. Do not just book the first flight that you see! Many times, switching dates or airlines can either decrease or increase ticket costs. Consider all factors and use several websites to compare costs such as Expedia, Travelocity and Kayak. Taking your time will ensure that you do not rush into unfair prices and get the deals that you seek.

Consider what you will need to take with you on your trip. Make a list of the absolute necessities. Remember, you are only going on vacation and it is not permanent. Only pack what you will for sure use, especially if you are traveling by plane. Most airlines have a maximum weight allowed and charge you quite a bit of money if you go over this limit. Packing only essentials will ensure you do not have a lot to carry around and save you money while traveling.

It is imperative that the hotel you wish to be staying at is reserved in advance. If you are traveling during the holidays, this is especially important. Most hotels get booked quickly during rush times and this can leave you in a less than desirable area if you are not careful to book ahead. Make sure that you choose a hotel chain that you are already familiar with or read reviews to ensure that what you see online is what you will experience in person.

Every place on earth is famous for one sightseeing attraction or another. Do your research if you are traveling to some place exotic or just somewhere interesting. The Internet has a wealth of information available to those travelers who seek it. Consider which landmarks are tourist attractions, museums that are historical in nature and which restaurants are native to the area. Making a list of attractions like the latter mentioned ensures that you have a well-planned trip and you will enjoy yourself as well as learn something new!

Whether we like it or not, there is always a chance that your luggage will be lost, stolen or misplaced. Making sure to write all of your contact information inside and outside will ensure that your luggage will make it safely back to you or if in case it should be misplaced, it will be found. The best policy is to print it clearly in ballpoint pen or print out labels using a computer. Weatherproof these labels somehow with a laminating machine or purchase pre-made luggage tags that are widely available.

When you travel to a new place, you are more than likely going to feel overwhelmed and even lost. While a map or GPS device comes in handy, the easiest directions are the ones you memorize. Make sure that you memorize the location of your hotel and take notes of what it is located next to. Most hotels are located near airports, landmarks or shopping centers. Keeping a mental note of a few store names or recognizable landmark traits will ensure you find your hotel without fail each time.

Having a wonderful vacation does partially depend on which hotel you book and airline you choose, but another good portion depends solely on you and your research. Make sure you prepare for your trip ahead of time and leave room for error. Apply what you have learned from this article to ensure you have a good time traveling!

Filed Under: Travel Tips

If Suitcases Could Talk

January 5, 2008 by admin Leave a Comment

If suitcases could talk, they would tell you the best ways to pack for your vacation. If you pack your bags properly, packing is easier, more efficient, and unpacking will be a breeze.

Split up your valuable items. It is foolish to carry all of your money, jewelry, or important documents in one place. Always carry a bit of money on your person, that is, in your pocket, sock, or other clothing item. This is for emergencies like getting stuck in a hurricane, or being mugged of your wallet or purse. Pack some valuables in each bag, so that if a bag is lost or stolen, you are not stuck.

Before leaving on your trip, take a few minutes to scan all of your important documents. Send them to your own email address, as well to a friend’s email address. Just make sure you completely trust your friend before doing it! Important documents includes your birth certificate, national ID card, drivers license, social security card, and passport. It doesn’t hurt to include airline and hotel reservation information as well.

If you are traveling through an airport in the United States, make sure that you use small, travel-size bottles to store toiletries. This is a good idea in any country, to save space, but in the U.S. it is mandatory unless you want to give that nice TSA agent a full bottle of Pantene shampoo to take home with her.

Plastic bags are your friend. If airport security has a question about the contents of your suitcase, using see-through plastic bags helps you get through security checkpoints easily. It is also nice for you to be able to quickly find what you are looking for, especially after a long flight.

Plastic bags are also good for packing your clothing. You can get space bags, which you can compress to make more space in your suitcase. If you pack coordinated outfits, you can put each outfit into a space bag, making it easy to choose what to wear, and there will be less mess since you do not need to rifle through your bag looking for matching shorts or socks.

Cardboard makes an excellent suitcase divider. There is no need to purchase expensive dividers for your suitcase. Your suitcase simply asks that the cardboard you use for dividers is clean and free of odor.

Pack your shoes individually in Ziplock bags. The wisdom of this will become clear once you have waded through some mud in an unexpected rain storm, right before you have to pack your shoes back in the suitcase to go home. You will want to free the shoes from the bag as soon as you get home, as leaving moist shoes in a plastic bag any longer than necessary is not a good idea.

Going on a trip is usually fun, but packing can be a nightmare. Following these packing tips will not only make your suitcase happy, it will help your travel experience go more smoothly and your unpacking experience less unpleasant.

Filed Under: Travel Tips

How to properly pack for a trip

January 4, 2008 by admin Leave a Comment

Although going on a vacation is fun, packing for it may not be. But, with a plan that you can thoroughly follow, packing can be made simpler. The article you are about to read is going to give you advice on how to do just that.

Create a list of things that you have to pack. Do not rush with this list; spend time on it so that you do not forget to write down anything. It may be helpful to go room by room in your home to see the things you want to bring for your vacation. Also, if you are going to be traveling with other people, help them create their own list of what to pack.

Start packing a few nights before you are set to leave. With so much going on the day before and the day you leave, packing should be the last thing on your mind. You do not have to do all of your packing in one night either; spend a little time each night packing and you will find that you are not overwhelmed by the process.

Do not put anything in your suitcase that you are not likely to use. A big mistake people make when they are gathering their things for their vacation is over-packing. All this does is weigh down your luggage, making it hard to carry with you. Also, it is important that you leave enough room in your luggage for any items you may acquire while on your trip.

When you are packing, each time you put an item from your list into your suitcase, check it off the list. Make sure you do this every single time you put something in there. You do not want to have to remember what items you already put it and what items still need to be put it. Avoid this by simply crossing something off the list when it goes in your suitcase.

Do not put anything in your suitcase that you are going to need during the flight; these items should be placed inside of your carry-on bag. You will become very frustrated when you go to reach for something, only to find out you put it in your suitcase. Items that belong in your carry-on bag include snacks, books, your laptop, portable DVD players and chargers for your electronic devices.

Before you leave for the airport, double check your luggage and carry-on bag to make sure you have not forgotten anything. Even with a thorough list, it is possible to forget things, especially items that cannot be packed until last minute, such as your toothbrush. By double checking, you are ensuring that you have everything you need.

As was mentioned in the beginning of this article, going on a vacation is fun, but packing may not be. However, now that you have been provided with the above advice, you will find that packing is a lot easier than you ever thought it could be. Enjoy your vacation!

Filed Under: Travel Tips

Handy Tips for Traveling Abroad

January 3, 2008 by admin Leave a Comment

Taking a vacation to another country can be a very exciting experience, particularly if it is your first time doing it. You need to keep in mind the fact that you should try to embrace any country you visit and take advantage of what it has to offer. The following tips will help make your visit as enjoyable as possible.

When you are traveling to a country and you are not fluent in the native tongue there, you should make sure that you take along some type of translation tool. Trying to walk around with a minimal grasp of the language is not a wise idea, particularly if you get into an emergency situation. Even if you know the language a little, you should carry one just in case.

Be sure to do some research so you know exactly what the local customs are in that country. You do not want to do anything that is considered common where you are from, but may be considered offensive in the country you have traveled to.

Always find out what the tipping practices are in the country you are visiting. While some countries have a certain percentage that is calculated and up to your discretion, there are many countries where tipping is not encouraged. This is because some countries pay higher wages to workers and/or a tip may have already been added to the bill automatically.

Never be rude to anyone in the areas that you travel too. It is not very nice to make fun of people if you see that they do things a bit differently than normal. You should try your best to understand the differences before you travel, and be polite to them regardless of how it seems they are acting toward you.

Driving is not the same in every country so it is important that you find out what the rules are for the roads you are planning to drive on. You do not want to make a signal that is common in your country and it means something totally different where you are.

Do all of the research that you can before going anywhere. While exploring and finding new places is great, you do not want to get lost in a country that you are not familiar with. Map out places where you would like to visit and do not stray too far from there.

Every place has its own culture and you should do your best to follow the cultural norms. While you do not want to embrace it in a way that others may find offensive, you would like the people around you to know that you have made an effort to fit in with them.

Keep in mind that traveling to another country may be a once in a lifetime experience, and you do not want to ruin it by doing something that would make anyone get offended where you are traveling to. With the advice given here, you should be able to have a good time traveling to almost anywhere.

Filed Under: Travel Tips

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