The annual cherry blossom festival is underway in Washington, D.C.. From March 27 to April 11, an abundance of cherry blossom petals can be viewed all across the city. The event attracts about half a million out of town travelers, so there are sure to be crowds of people at the various attractions associated with the festival, including a parade and the 50th annual Sakura Matsuri on April 10--both free. CNN (via Budget Travel) has five tips to help you make the most of the experience.
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A trip is almost not worth the expense if you are feeling sluggish and groggy the whole time, but with these healthy traveling ideas you will want to hit the ground running. Upon arriving at your destination, you will notice that this is the hardest part of the voyage to overcome; the first day. Most of the time this is due to the fact that you have traveled into a different time zone, or have traveled at an odd time of day or night and your schedule is just plain off. There are several remedies to fix this jet lag (or car lag). Beating this traveling woe starts well before you even leave. This means that it is necessary to keep the 48 hours before your departure clear and stress free so you can prepare yourself. Don't schedule any friends over or any exhausting events in this time period.
During your travel, especially if you are on board a plane, try to get as much sleep as possible. Often times this little trick can just about wipe away any jet lag you might feel so long as you keep well hydrated and limit your alcoholic drinks and caffeine. So whether you are going to land day or night, you will be up for anything and will be able to maximize your vacation time. As soon as you get off the plane or drive in to your destination most people can't quite bring themselves to just sit down and relax (probably because that's been the deal for hours). Fresh air and a slow walk are the best medicine for a just-arrived traveler.
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With peak winter vacation time approaching and the holidays creeping up fast, finding ways to save money on vacation are essential. It can be challenging to buy great gifts for everyone on your list, take care of normal living expenses and make it out to your favorite ski spot all within a number of weeks. That's why it is adventageous to plan ahead, budget, and follow some simple vacation ideas.
Families are stretching their travel dollars to the fullest extent this year, and many have devised a plan for making the bucks last. Gadling came up with a list of valued tactics for getting the most out of their holiday season without sacrificing a great winter vacation. Here's a synopsis, with one or two of our own pointers mixed in:
Photo Credit: John Wardell (Netinho)
You may not know it, but that feeling that you get as soon as you return home from an especially relaxing or inspiring vacation is called a travel hangover. Though this phenomenon does not happen to everyone, when it does occur it can mess up the happy homecoming you were hoping to experience. Controlling the travel hangover can easily be done, as long as you follow some simple tips.
Sometimes no matter how hard you try to put a smile on your face when you walk in your door from a long and satisfying vacation it can be hard to return to normal life. Your friends and family may not be able to relate, and getting back into your normal routine and schedule can be just plain stressful. Gadling came up with some great ideas to keep out the travel blues and let in the comforts of home:
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Simply follow these iPhone travel tips and you won’t have any surprises when viewing your next bill. While it's true most phone companies in the U.S. now have nationwide calling plans, "roaming" charges don't happen that often. Even if you're planning a trip to Mammoth, Killington or Williamsburg, make sure you know the details of your plan before using your phone out of your typical calling area. And, of course, f you’re planning a trip to Italy or Jamaica, normal phone usage may make an unusual impact on your bill.
International Roaming and Data Usage
Unless you travel abroad on a regular basis, most U.S. residents do not pay for international data usage under their normal plans. It is considered International roaming when you make a call or use data on your phone from an International location. Your domestic coverage does not cover this type of usage. Additional fees apply for even the most standard activity.
Checking your email, browsing the Internet, or updating Twitter requires data usage. Turn your International data roaming to "off" to avoid a $0.0195/KB charge for data use. This setting inhibits typical downloads and email, but does not block text, video, and picture messages. Be aware that text messages are $0.50 to send, and video and picture messages are $1.30 to send. Here are three other crucial iPhone travel tips:
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As the holidays approach and the New Year begins peak travel time calls for hours spent in the car, so make sure to protect your most precious cargo with these car seat safety tips. Nothing is more important for a parent or guardian than knowing that their little ones are safe and secure, and the truth is most adults do second guess their car seat skills at one time or another. There are so many different kinds of car seats, booster seats, and infant safety seats that it can be hard to stay up to date with the laws and most effective belt and seat positions.
By ensuring you have followed these steps to a tee you will be taking the life of your child into your own capable hands instead of gambling on the crazy holiday road conditions and drivers. Don't leave for Grandma's house without first brushing up on these important car seat safety tips:
If your toddler or infant weights less than 20 lbs, he or she should be in a read facing seat. Period.
Social networking sites like Twitter have done a lot to keep us closer with friends and acquaintances. But they can also take you further – saving you money by keeping up with travel deals, avoiding long phone negotiations with airlines, and helping you stay in touch wherever you are in the country. Twitter is a powerful tool in planning your next vacation. It’s all about Search and Follow!
Before you Go – Follow!
Instead of checking Travelocity or British Airways every day or subscribing to a lot of newsletters, you can follow them on Twitter for the latest updates on their travel deal and last minute sales. Check out American Airlines' Twitter feed (@AAirwaves) for domestic flights. @BritishAirways features special packages that only last until midnight and @UnitedAirlines offers “Twares” – fares available only on Twitter. Or let @TheNegotiator do the work for you by following him – Priceline’s official Twitter feed. Simply search under "Find People" and type in your favorite airline – or several favorite airlines.
You can also follow hotels and rental sites for the latest deals in lodgings. @TheBestWestern sprinkles in travel tips, fun facts and polls along with their latest rates.
There comes a point when the urge to see the world becomes impossible to resist. There are places you dream about, there is music playing you’ve never heard, there are flowers growing you’ve never seen.
When you’re a single woman, going to far off lands and having adventures overseas can give you pause. Headlines and cautionary tales warn women to tread carefully once we cross borders.
Sure, traveling has its risks. So does crossing a street or hiding under your bed (ever swallow a dust bunny?). Traveling is an experience that enriches and fulfills us as nothing else can. Whether you head out for a year of trekking solo across the Himalayas, or take a day trip away from a travel group to kiss the Blarney Stone, there are common sense rules both men and women follow when they travel- and a few precautions which are exclusively for savvy Jane Bonds like yourself.
Location, Location, Location
The first part of having a safe trip is realistically appraising where you’re headed. You should know what areas are considered dangerous at night and understand a little bit about the culture. If you are going to tour parts of Africa, Pakistan or the Middle East, you should know you’ll encounter cultures with a very defined protocol for women. Do a little research on what is considered appropriate to wear and don’t try to start any new trends! Even what you consider normal behavior might be considered inappropriate- sustained eye contact can be seen as rude or flirtatious.
An excellent resource for sounding out the cultural norms of your location is Journeywoman, which has a breakdown of many different cities in addition to a search engine that lets you type in a location and pulls up any reference to that city within the site. This is a great jumping off point for investigating different areas before you get on a plane.
What to Wear
Experienced travelers know better than to wear expensive clothes or jewelry. Nothing screams "direct me into an alley and take my wallet" like a rope of pearls and a Frommer’s Travel guide. Things you might feel comfortable having out in the open like cameras and expensive cell phones should be used discreetly in developing countries. A large map is also a bad idea. The iPhone map application can be indispensable when you’re traveling, try looking directions up at your hotel and then draw out your route on a business card before you hit the street. Keep small bills in your handbag with the strap diagonally across your chest, and larger bills in a money belt or neck pouch. Don’t leave valuables like your passport in laying out in your hotel room. Its also good to have xeroxes of your passport and airline tickets in case they are lost and stolen.
Being a savvy traveler starts long before you hit the road. Obviously the more planning you can do from home, the more relaxed you’ll be during your actual vacation. Whether your ultimate destination is a cosmopolitan city, remote mountain town, or , you will end up spending the majority of time in your vacation rental . An inadequate, remote, or overly expensive rental can poison your whole experience of a place. Avoid these common mistakes when booking your vacation rental and get the best possible start on your travels.
Wherever your destination, traveling is always going to surprise you with unexpected situations, unforgettable experiences, and unimaginable adventures. That’s why we go! Knowing the pitfalls lets you plan better, but even the best-laid plans can go delightfully astray – and thats half the fun. But having a comfortable base for your adventures – a home away from home – will give you the stamina to enjoy the unexpected. Get started today see how enjoyable and rewarding planning your dream vacation rental can be.
A couple years ago, your precious child morphed into angry, sullen, cynical creature who can no longer bear to stand in line at the grocery store with you and can text faster than they can talk.
Family vacations that were once so easy can now be wrought with tension. How can you make your much-anticipated vacation a time for the whole family to connect? With a little extra effort, you can travel with teens and not lose your sanity, your dignity, or your savings account.
Plan Together
Let your teens know well in advance when you’re going to head out of town, and where you’re headed. A surprise vacation can step on the toes of a party or school event they’ve been planning for and dreaming about – an offense so great in a teenager's mind, you can be sure everyone's time will be ruined, not just theirs.
Encourage your teen to feel more adult and in control by letting them plan an activity or outing on the trip, like a trip to a museum or theme park. Give them a budget and allot an afternoon for the entire family to do something that interests them. See if you can enlist their tech skills in finding travel deals on Twitter – or see if they’re game to upkeep a Twitter feed of the family’s vacation.
Wherever your travel destination may be, there’s usually a university or college in town or in the area. A tour of a campus, even a school they’re not considering, can inspire your teen to achieve the grades a first-rate school requires.
Keep Up the Pace!
Surliness and boredom go hand in hand. If you have a range of available activities, you can wear down the gloom and sarcasm of even the world-weariest teen. Its hard to be sarcastic when you’re busy swimming with a dolphin or learning how to canoe. Does you teen like history? Do they need a lot of active sports? Keep a busy itinerary ready, but don’t let your schedule run your vacation – be flexible to spontaneous activities or moments where the family wants to simply relax poolside.
It's All About Space
Your visions of sing-a-longs on the road are soon squashed when you see your teen throwing on headphones as soon as they get in the car. That’s perfectly normal behavior for any teen. In fact, you might want to keep a stack of AA batteries or an iPod charger on hand and let them pick out a couple magazines for when they need a little emotional escape hatch during the trip.
If you really want the whole family engaged on a drive, try downloading a podcast you know they’ll enjoy that everyone can listen to together in the car.
Once you get where you’re headed, you’ll want to make sure everyone has enough space in your rental. This is one place you don’t want to cut costs. Giving yourself and your family the privacy and space they need will greatly enhance your vacation. Especially with teens, who are not at an age to share a bed with little sisters or brothers. And if you’re all sharing the same bathroom, you will spend hours in your room waiting for your turn in the shower. Don’t do it! Make sure there’s room enough for everyone to have a little personal space.
Local Cuisine
Adults know a vacation is no time to take a diet seriously. But teens – especially teen athletes and teen girls – can be very picky about eating or feel tremendous pressure to eat only certain foods. Encourage them to try local specialties but don’t force your teen to finish their plate of beignets or that last croissant. See if you can find a rental with access to a gym, and remind them the best way to burn off calories is to walk around sight-seeing!
A Chance to be Super Un-Cool
Remind your teen this is their chance to be super un-cool. They have the rest of the year to be anxious about running into their friends and dressing right. For the next week or so of vacation, its all about Bermuda shorts and relaxing. This is their chance to wear a tri-corner hat in Williamsburg or squeeze into a photo booth with their little sister or brother without worrying about everyone laughing about it the next day in homeroom. Do your part by giving your kids time off – restrain yourself from nagging about grades, upcoming college choices, or that pre-SAT course they need to sign up for. Even if you tour a college campus, keep the experience positive and encouraging. Teens are under as much pressure as adults, they just have less practice dealing with it. Take a moment just to get to know your teen and let them get to know you – creating closeness as a family is a big part of why we go away on vacation. And developing that kind of bond may even make life a little less crazy when you get back!
Use these tips and you and your teen will enjoy your next vacation!
