Jul 11th, 2010 at 7:30PM:
Does all this sweltering Summer weather have you feeling sweaty this week? Why not cool off for a second with today's refreshing Gelato photo, courtesy of Flickr user Leslie at The L-List. Taking photos of your food while you travel can be a fun way to remember a particularly great meal or a special ingredient you just don't want to forget. In the case of today's photo, there's also plenty of ...Click on a label to read posts from that part of the world.
vacation posts
Photo of the Day (7.11.10)
Jul 11th, 2010 at 7:30PM:
Does all this sweltering Summer weather have you feeling sweaty this week? Why not cool off for a second with today's refreshing Gelato photo, courtesy of Flickr user Leslie at The L-List. Taking photos of your food while you travel can be a fun way to remember a particularly great meal or a special ingredient you just don't want to forget. In the case of today's photo, there's also plenty of ...Exploring a city via pub crawl - Dining out tip
Jun 22nd, 2010 at 5:13PM: I have found there's no better way to get to know a new city than to take a tour of its downtown entertainment or bar district, which is why I generally like to go on a "pub crawl" one night when I travel.
Start in a local pub or bar, have a drink or two, and move onto the next one. I find it more enjoyable to find the truly local establishments, and not the national franchises. It makes for a ...Video: The weirdest hotels in the world
Jun 21st, 2010 at 2:20PM: Want to try something different this vacation? How about staying in one of the weird hotels in the world? Whether you want to unleash your inner mermaid or spend time repenting your sins in prison, these hotels offer everything for the truly strange-at-heart. On the flip side, at least you don't have to worry about showing your friends boring old vacation pictures...
Do you ever wonder how ...
Give dad a custom vacation from Kensington Tours this year
Jun 7th, 2010 at 8:30AM: Father's Day may still be a couple of weeks away, but if you're struggling to figure out what to give dad this year, than Kensington Tours is here to help. The travel company, which specializes in private guided adventure travel to more than 80 countries around the globe, has officially designated a Vacation Valet who is prepared to help create a custom itinerary to fit your dad's needs.
...Stick to a budget - Dinging out tip
May 3rd, 2010 at 2:04PM: Stick to a budget.
It's easy to overspend on food on vacation, because you get excited about trying new dishes or regional specialties. Try setting yourself a budget for each meal ahead of time, and go into the restaurant mindful of your goal.
We've found it helpful to set budgets before we even leave on a trip, because once you're in the moment, it's easy to spend more than you planned.
...Five reasons to unplug your vacation
Apr 9th, 2010 at 12:30PM: We don't get all that many vacation days. Even if you think your hard-earned three weeks is cushy, you've got nothing on Europe where they typically have weeks and weeks more -- even Singaporeans get 30 days. Surveys like this one have proven that Americans don't even take all their vacation days. I understand this; there's always a fear that you won't get ahead as quickly or that people will ...The other Florida
Apr 8th, 2010 at 4:00PM:
Most people visit Florida for its theme parks and party beaches, but there is another side. The state is a place of incredible natural beauty and home to some of the most powerful and influential people of the 20th Century. If you're looking for something beyond the "usual Florida vacation," keep reading for some of our favorite outdoor spaces and hidden cultural treasures.
John Pennekamp ...Have a road trip scavenger hunt - Road trip tip
Mar 31st, 2010 at 6:35PM: Planning a family road trip? To avoid hours of boredom, plan a "scenic scavenger hunt."
It's easy. Just write down a list of 100 things you might see along the way, like landmarks, buses or bridges. The first person to complete the list wins.
For preschool kids, substitute magazine photos and trim the list to twenty familiar objects. For older kids, include a challenge: require them to ...Pack a dry erase board and markers - Cruise Tip
Mar 29th, 2010 at 8:54AM: Packing a dry erase board and markers and attaching to your cabin door accomplishes two things:
1.) it makes your cabin door stick out among the long hallway of cookie-cutter doors, and
2.) it's an easy way for your family to communicate their whereabouts.
Before going on your vacation, attach heavy-duty magnets to the back of the board with a glue gun. Because cabin doors on cruise ships are ...Roll the dice, make decisions - Traveling with kids tip
Mar 16th, 2010 at 2:21PM: When traveling with the family, there will inevitably be disputes over things like the television station, choice of restaurants, and who gets the pull-out couch.
Bring a pair of dice along, and let everybody roll the dice to make decisions. Whoever gets the highest roll wins. ...Documenting a vacation via postcards - Souvenir tip
Mar 8th, 2010 at 5:50PM: When going on vacation with your family or friends, you often have special memories of different locations or attractions. An inexpensive way to capture those memories is to purchase a postcard from that location and immediately have each person write down on the back of the postcard their favorite part of the attraction. Be specific.
When you get home, collect the postcards and add them to an ...Laminate maps and printed directions - Road trip tip
Mar 8th, 2010 at 11:14AM: Passengers eat, drink, and frequently move in and out of the car during a road trip. A paper map or set of printed directions easily gets shoved into a seat during a stop, or worse yet, ruined if food or drink is spilled on it. Upon arrival, directions and maps are even more likely to get misplaced or damaged. To keep maps and directions safe during the trip, laminate them.
For around $30, a ...Ask for a map of the ship - Cruise tip
Feb 24th, 2010 at 11:49AM: Most cruise ships have several floors with long hallways, multiple restaurants and rooms that look alike from the outside. Multiple levels and a variety of things to do means there's more to remember, including where your room is located. Ask for a map and mark the room's location as well as other areas you will be frequenting, such as the dining hall.
Make sure that everyone in your party has ...Dining out tip: sacrifice all for just one night
Feb 22nd, 2010 at 10:30AM: On my last trip to the Virgin Islands, I ended up in the best restaurant of my life. Of course the bill came out to $200, but the meal was so memorable that I was happy to sacrifice quality meals the rest of the trip.
Rather than spend in the middle lane day in and out on vacation, get a burger and a salad here and there and go absolutely nuts at the highest recommended restaurant in your ...Check into a suite - Hotel tip
Feb 22nd, 2010 at 8:14AM: When booking accommodations, travelers should compare the price of a suite to the price of adjoining rooms. Suites are larger than standard rooms, often accommodate six or more people, and are frequently the same price -- if not less than -- two side-by-side rooms.
Larger families and small groups often find suites more spacious, more comfortable, and easier on the budget. ...Challenge your family to a food "dare" contest - Dining out tip
Feb 18th, 2010 at 10:19AM: We go on vacation to be someplace different. Yet many people eat the same old foods on vacation as they eat at home. On your next vacation, challenge your family to a food "dare" contest. Here's how:
Go to a local marketplace or anywhere serving local foods.
Ask each member of the family to find one food for everyone to try.
Pick an outside area for a picnic and be sure to photograph the ...Grab a book of matches before leaving the room - Hotel tip
Feb 13th, 2010 at 12:52PM: When visiting a foreign country, especially one with an unfamiliar language, grab a book of matches from the hotel where you're staying as soon as you arrive.
If you get lost in town during your stay, and you know just a little of the language, the book of matches will be a great way to show locals where you need to go, and have them direct you to the right place. ...Traveling with jewelry - Packing tip
Feb 11th, 2010 at 4:33PM: If you're going on a cruise or traveling for a special occasion, you'll undoubtedly pack a few pieces of jewelry. Finding a matching set of earrings in an overstuffed travel-size jewelry case can be frustrating.
To avoid this problem, follow these tips:
Pack each pair of earrings, necklace or bracelet in its own container.
Fill old film canisters or prescription pill containers half-full ...Exchange traveler's checks before going to dinner - International travel tip
Feb 11th, 2010 at 10:00AM: When dining in a foreign country, exchange your traveler's checks for local currency before going to a restaurant.
While traveler's checks are pretty much accepted everywhere, don't expect the restaurant employees to be adept at exchange rate calculation.
My best friend and I learned this the hard way dining at our first restaurant in Europe. We received far less change than we were owed and ...Take a mask, take some photos, send them home - Souvenir tip
Feb 1st, 2010 at 1:55PM: If a close friend or family member is unable to go on a trip with you, enlarge a photograph of their face and attach a paint-stirrer to the back with duct-tape. Take pictures of you and the face in key locations on the trip, such as at monuments and attractions.
You can then send the photos to the person in a letter to remind them that they're there in spirit! This souvenir idea is both ...
