Many families take vacations during the holidays, but travel isn’t necessary for you and your family to enjoy a “holiday of a lifetime.” However, since interests range so widely among different people, we will break this article in half and give you six top tips for a holiday vacation, and six top tips for general holiday wonderfulness!
Since the first set of tips does involve some cost (perhaps a great deal), the tips will focus on getting the highest value for the money, which is a bit different than just trying to spend the least amount of money. For penny-pinchers, of course, these tips will serve as pointers to money-saving deals and ideas. There is a lot to be learned about traveling on a budget, by everyone, regardless of what you want to spend.
The other “general” holiday tips will concentrate on bringing the family together, as opposed to spending money and not getting involved in any more than wrapping a present. The holidays are for kids and families, first of all, so there will be some ideas on how to have fun and enjoy other. Since most people get to the end of their lives and wish they’d spent more time with family, following some of these general, family-oriented tips truly could be a life-changing experience.
Vacation and travel tips
Here are the best six tips for setting up a holiday vacation of a lifetime:
Stop searching and be found – The advent of RSS (Real Simple Syndication) news feeds means that news, information and web resources will be sent to you by subscription. When you find a great source for tickets, lodging or vacation packages, look for the small, orange, square button in your browser toolbar, or search the site for “RSS,” then click and set up your “feed.” In Internet Explorer, your feeds can be found in your IE favorites area.
Let your email help – These same sites may also send regular newsletter or sales announcements by email, and sites without RSS will normally offer this service. Subscribe to some good, reputable sites and the information will be delivered to you daily, weekly or (sometimes) on a schedule of your choosing.
Comparison shopping – There are various sites, like traveljungle.com or travelsupermarket.com, where you can compare offerings from travel agencies and brokers from around the world. That holiday vacation of a lifetime just might be part of a package deal that you will find this way.
Forget the hotel bill – The less you spend on accommodations, the more you can spend skiing or sailing or trekking around the island of Malta. If “home exchange” sounds like a strange concept to you, do some Googling and you will discover that it is a low-cost way for travelers to trade their house in New Jersey for a small villa in Spain. Homes can even come with a car, or household help, as part of a package deal, so check on this option carefully at such websites as Digsville. This site, like similar ones, has listings around the world. A beachfront bungalow in the South Pacific, a ranch home in the wilds of Australia or an apartment in central Tokyo can be yours with the right trade, the right timing and the right arrangements.
Skip the driving – If you're going to vacation in a big city, you can probably have a great time without a car. Driving a car overseas can be stressful and public transportation, bikes and taxis are all possible replacements. This is also a good way to “go native” and see how the locals really live day to day.
Discount dining – If your vacation trip will be a few weeks or more, consider preparing some of your own meals. You can save a good deal of money since eating out three times a day can add up quickly. Shopping at local markets and food stores is also a fabulous way to learn the language, interact with the local culture and meet the “real people” of the country, instead of the country’s tourism professionals.
Family holiday tips
There are more ways to create a memorable holiday season than traveling. Staying home and enjoying family is always a popular holiday plan. Here are some interesting tips on creating a holiday to remember.
Create gift certificates – You can make your own gift certificates to give people what they really want, or really need. Try giving a coworker a certificate for a home-cooked meal, or gift certificate of babysitting so a friend or family member can enjoy a day or night off. For children, you can make gift cards for family bike rides, board game tournaments or breakfast in bed. Not only are these gifts cost-effective, they promote the bonds of friendship, and isn’t that a great gift?
Turn on the tunes – After a holiday dinner, you can work off some of the pumpkin pie by dancing as a group, playing musical chairs or having “the youngsters” show the “old timers” all the new dance steps. Conversely, parents can teach their children the dance steps that were popular in “the old days.”
Energetic kid stuff – You can design a family “obstacle course” in the back yard that could include hula hoops, calisthenics, jumping jacks and other activities. No one has to compete with anyone else, it can just be for fun – as well as some great photo opportunities.
Walk together for a good cause – Find a charity walk-a-thon to join together, as a couple, a family or even in a neighborhood contingent. If you find an event a few months into the New Year, it can help participants stay motivated on their New Year's Resolutions.
Healthy cooking feast – Get the family and/or a group of friends together for a healthy holiday meal, where everyone can participate in making the holiday feast. You can enjoy a party atmosphere while learning healthy new recipes for the New Year.
Stories, new and old – Sit together around a fireplace, or the after-dinner table, and have everyone tell a personal story with a holiday theme. Even better, talk about the stories that you are creating that very day, and imagine how it will be 10 or 15 years hence to talk about this particular night.
It’s all about people
The holidays do not have to be an over-commercialized nightmare of buying, wrapping, giving and getting presents. Not all gifts come in packages, and people of all ages can stand to learn this lesson again, even if for the 100th time: Holidays are about people, the people you live with, love and would miss if they moved (or passed) away.
Be grateful for family, friends and community during the holidays. Whether you travel to the Bahamas, or no farther than your living room, what matters is being grateful for the time together and using it to best advantage. Be slow to anger, quick to forgive and ready to do a kindness, and your holidays will be special whether you have a dollar or a million of them. Remember what is truly valuable, and you will keep things in their proper perspective.
Tourabout.com empowers your search of thousands of all inclusive vacations from the world's best vacation destinations. Visit us online and you won't need to spend hours searching dozens of websites to find the trip you’re looking for.
Hotel Basel
Romantic hotel in historic castle with excellent restaurant, located in Binningen, near Basel, Switzerland.
Embassy Visa Consulate Information Allembassyonline – Directory and search engine for embassy, consulate, visa, travel search worldwide.
Jan 11, 2009
15 Things No Traveler Should Leave Home Without
Whether your trip is a three hour ride to Dublin, OH or a 13 hour flight to Dublin, Ireland, there are certain items that every traveler should pack. This list doesn’t include those essential items – passports, money, ID, prescriptions, eyeglasses, contacts, hearing aids, etc. – that we’ll assume you’re smart enough to think of on your own. This list covers the things you might not think about, as well as some items that will just make any trip to anywhere a little more enjoyable.
1.) Travel plan – Unless you’re taking a packaged tour of some sort, you’re going to have to put some thought into your holiday. Now, you don’t have to lay out every second of every day, but having a general idea of what you’d like to do, places you’d like to visit, events you’d like to attend and activities you’d like to try once you get there will make the trip much less stressful and more relaxing.
2.) Maps and guides – These will help you execute your travel plan. You can locate the sights, navigate the streets, motor the roads – in short, organize your travel plans so that you don’t waste time, miss any important times or “must see” items on your itinerary.
3.) Camera – A good, lightweight, small digital is the way to go. Just remember to pack an extra card or two, and batteries. Nothing ruins that perfect sunset like not being able to capture it for posterity.
4.) Portable electronic translator – Learning the language is always the best route to go, but even the best language course may not cover everything a traveler needs to say. Do your homework, though, as this is one item that can be a pricey waste of time and money, especially if it doesn’t include the language you need or is too cumbersome to use.
5.) Digital voice recorder –You can use it for everything from remembering what time you need to be at the train station to which market stall had the best price on souvenir t-shirts. They come in handy for recording directions given by the concierge, the guy on the street or the cab driver, too.
6.) iPod, mp3 player, handheld video game, novels, puzzle books or other personal entertainments of your choice – From waiting at the airport or train station to avoiding talking to the guy next to you on the bus, these can make the time go by that much faster. Don’t forget to bring batteries, chargers and other necessities to make your electronic “toys” last the trip.
7.) Power converter kit – If you travel out of country to various destinations a great deal, one of the multi-unit kits would be your best option. Otherwise, you can just get the converters specific to your destination. There’s nothing like remembering the hair dryer, then not being able to use it.
8.) Snacks and water bottles – These aren’t just good for the airplane, train or bus. When that “great” little restaurant turns out to be a disappointment, or the rain ruins your planned day at the beach, having some comfort food from home can ease your pains. Traveling can be very dehydrating, too. Remember to drink adequate water.
9.) First Aid kit – You don’t have to be stuck in the wilds of Africa to need emergency medical supplies. Traveling can involve scrapes, sprains, headaches, dry eyes, chapped lips – you name it. Taking your own supplies can save you the trouble of finding what you need in a strange place when you’re not at your best.
10.) LED pen – These nifty little critters have many uses to the traveler. They are smaller and lighter than your average flashlight and don’t require batteries. They can illuminate your book on the plane so you don’t disturb your seatmate, light your way in an unfamiliar hotel room or ship cabin, or guide you down a dark beach path without worry.
11.) Microfiber wash cloth and towel – Lightweight and easy to roll or fold into compact sizes, these make an excellent addition to your carry on. Hotel towels can be scratchy or thin. You can avoid an unexpected allergy to foreign laundry soap. You can even enjoy a refreshing wash-up in a public washroom without having to worry about drip drying or using paper towels. Add a bottle of hand sanitizer or wet wipes to your carry on, too, just in case there’s no water available.
12.) Laundry wash kit and clothes pins – Several travel companies sell wash kits so you can hand wash your clothing and hang it up in your room to dry. Not only does this save on laundry service fees, but it allows you the luxury of packing less clothing for the trip. The clothes pins aren’t just for your socks, either. Hold curtains closed, clip receipts together, convert hangers for pants or skirts – you name it.
13.) Handle scale – While not as essential as some items, if you tend to over pack, or under pack and purchase items while you are traveling, one of these can really save you time and money. With the newer airline weight restrictions, paying $10 for a scale you attach to your luggage handle is certainly better than the $25 or $30 dollar fine for overweight bags.
14.) Travel alarm clock – Jet lag is no one’s friend, and oversleeping is always a possibility when your body is out of sync with the local time zone. Most of these cost less than $10, and some even have a snooze function, for when those 5 extra minutes make all the difference.
15.) Pen and journal – The low tech essential every traveler should include on their “must have” list. Don’t trust your memory to safe-guarding your holiday experiences. You don’t have to be Hemingway to jot down your impressions of a new sight, sound, taste or adventure, either. A few words a day can create a lasting memento no photo or postcard could ever match. 12-volt-Travel.com offers everything you could ever think of in travel needs. From the 12 volt lcd tv, jumpstart systems, flashlights & accessories. Visit us online.
1.) Travel plan – Unless you’re taking a packaged tour of some sort, you’re going to have to put some thought into your holiday. Now, you don’t have to lay out every second of every day, but having a general idea of what you’d like to do, places you’d like to visit, events you’d like to attend and activities you’d like to try once you get there will make the trip much less stressful and more relaxing.
2.) Maps and guides – These will help you execute your travel plan. You can locate the sights, navigate the streets, motor the roads – in short, organize your travel plans so that you don’t waste time, miss any important times or “must see” items on your itinerary.
3.) Camera – A good, lightweight, small digital is the way to go. Just remember to pack an extra card or two, and batteries. Nothing ruins that perfect sunset like not being able to capture it for posterity.
4.) Portable electronic translator – Learning the language is always the best route to go, but even the best language course may not cover everything a traveler needs to say. Do your homework, though, as this is one item that can be a pricey waste of time and money, especially if it doesn’t include the language you need or is too cumbersome to use.
5.) Digital voice recorder –You can use it for everything from remembering what time you need to be at the train station to which market stall had the best price on souvenir t-shirts. They come in handy for recording directions given by the concierge, the guy on the street or the cab driver, too.
6.) iPod, mp3 player, handheld video game, novels, puzzle books or other personal entertainments of your choice – From waiting at the airport or train station to avoiding talking to the guy next to you on the bus, these can make the time go by that much faster. Don’t forget to bring batteries, chargers and other necessities to make your electronic “toys” last the trip.
7.) Power converter kit – If you travel out of country to various destinations a great deal, one of the multi-unit kits would be your best option. Otherwise, you can just get the converters specific to your destination. There’s nothing like remembering the hair dryer, then not being able to use it.
8.) Snacks and water bottles – These aren’t just good for the airplane, train or bus. When that “great” little restaurant turns out to be a disappointment, or the rain ruins your planned day at the beach, having some comfort food from home can ease your pains. Traveling can be very dehydrating, too. Remember to drink adequate water.
9.) First Aid kit – You don’t have to be stuck in the wilds of Africa to need emergency medical supplies. Traveling can involve scrapes, sprains, headaches, dry eyes, chapped lips – you name it. Taking your own supplies can save you the trouble of finding what you need in a strange place when you’re not at your best.
10.) LED pen – These nifty little critters have many uses to the traveler. They are smaller and lighter than your average flashlight and don’t require batteries. They can illuminate your book on the plane so you don’t disturb your seatmate, light your way in an unfamiliar hotel room or ship cabin, or guide you down a dark beach path without worry.
11.) Microfiber wash cloth and towel – Lightweight and easy to roll or fold into compact sizes, these make an excellent addition to your carry on. Hotel towels can be scratchy or thin. You can avoid an unexpected allergy to foreign laundry soap. You can even enjoy a refreshing wash-up in a public washroom without having to worry about drip drying or using paper towels. Add a bottle of hand sanitizer or wet wipes to your carry on, too, just in case there’s no water available.
12.) Laundry wash kit and clothes pins – Several travel companies sell wash kits so you can hand wash your clothing and hang it up in your room to dry. Not only does this save on laundry service fees, but it allows you the luxury of packing less clothing for the trip. The clothes pins aren’t just for your socks, either. Hold curtains closed, clip receipts together, convert hangers for pants or skirts – you name it.
13.) Handle scale – While not as essential as some items, if you tend to over pack, or under pack and purchase items while you are traveling, one of these can really save you time and money. With the newer airline weight restrictions, paying $10 for a scale you attach to your luggage handle is certainly better than the $25 or $30 dollar fine for overweight bags.
14.) Travel alarm clock – Jet lag is no one’s friend, and oversleeping is always a possibility when your body is out of sync with the local time zone. Most of these cost less than $10, and some even have a snooze function, for when those 5 extra minutes make all the difference.
15.) Pen and journal – The low tech essential every traveler should include on their “must have” list. Don’t trust your memory to safe-guarding your holiday experiences. You don’t have to be Hemingway to jot down your impressions of a new sight, sound, taste or adventure, either. A few words a day can create a lasting memento no photo or postcard could ever match. 12-volt-Travel.com offers everything you could ever think of in travel needs. From the 12 volt lcd tv, jumpstart systems, flashlights & accessories. Visit us online.
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