Archive for July, 2010

So many people plan their work year around the vacation they are going to take. They spend all their money on one week of fun and relaxation and then it’s back to work again. But is there a better way to maximize your vacation days? Is there a way you can take more than one vacation without breaking the bank to do it? The answer is simple. It’s the perfectly crafted art of the weekend getaway.

When the words “weekend getaway” come up most people think it involves somewhere in the same state for a night or two. This isn’t the case. A weekend getaway is more of a mini-vacation. It can be anywhere in the country for a just 2 or 3 nights and it can leave you feeling relaxed and refreshed.

When you take a big vacation it can be great but it can also leave you wanting for more and counting the days until the next year when you can afford the money and the time off to do it again. But a Friday through Monday weekend getaway to a fun destination like Vegas or Miami would cost you a fraction of the money and would only cost you two vacation days to take. This would afford you the opportunity to do this every few months.

The other problem with a long vacation is you have to pick one place and make that the place you go for the whole year. If the vacation turns out to be a bust due to wheather, service, or illness then you have wasted your whole year’s vacation on one shot. However, if you take multiple vacations, even if something were to go awry then there is always another vacation to look forward to.   Many people don’t care of choosing equipment for travel,  next time try taking electric cigarettes with you!

There is no right way or wrong way to do a vacation. It is completely up to the person who is taking the vacation but there is more than enough reason to take a few mini vacations and have vacations to look forward to all year long.

An all-inclusive vacation can be the perfect getaway where you know exactly what you are paying for; or will you? All-inclusive usually means that lodging, meals and activities are included in the package price but there can be extras that you need to look out for.

Find out what the extras are in your package. If your package states that drinks are included, find out what type of drinks. You may have the option of getting alcoholic drinks but will pay extra for bottled water or soda. You may also have to pay extra for top shelf liquor. The same can be said of meals. Find out if there is a certain time that the restaurants are open, if it is a buffet only and if there is an extra charge for additional luxury items such as lobster tail with your steak. Some all-inclusive resorts have certain hours that they serve the food that is included in your package deal. Find out if that is the case so that you have extra money available if you want to outside of the resort or at a time when they are not serving meals.

Find out about luxury services such as spa treatments, water equipment rentals and excursions that take place off of the property. These can often have additional fees you may not be aware of until you arrive and plan to utilize them.

If you are quoted a certain price for your all-inclusive trip, simply as about the extras and always carry an additional amount of money to cover these items. Even if you are told that everything is included, it’s a good idea to take more money with you in case of emergencies or activities you or your family want to participate in that is not covered in your package.

With so much technology to be utilized, it’s easier than ever to stay in touch with friends and family while on a vacation no matter how far away you travel. From Smart Phones to computer programs, there’s something for everyone to use to be able to stay in touch and it’s easy and fun to use. Even if you’re on a cruise in the middle of the ocean you can still stay in touch with technology on board that allows you to access the Internet and a cell phone tower. Be sure to know the costs involved first since cell phone service is higher on board than with your normal plan and Internet access can be costly as well.

Sign up for instant messengers or utilize their texting service if you own a smart phone. There are various forms of instant messengers that are compatible with smart phones. Just be sure the other party has the ability to use the same service. Texting can be even easier since the other party does not have to be signed in to a third party application in order to get your message. While there are costs involved with texting depending on what type of cell phone plan you have, it is still an affordable way of staying in touch and keeping up with what is going on back home.

Smart phones also allow you to check into popular social networking sites such as MySpace and Facebook. As long as you have a data plan (Internet access) you can access all of your favorite sites and share some of the fun you’re having. Again, if you are in a foreign country be sure you are fully aware of any rate increases. Some carriers may charge for International roaming and Internet while others allow texting for free as long as you are texting to another person with the same type of phone such as two Blackberry phones using a Blackberry PIN.

As the days get closer to your next vacation your mind is no doubt racing with things to remember. Everything from calling a friend to watch the house, to getting a sitter for your pet, to telling the mail carrier about your leaving the city. There are a million things to do to give your mind less stress before you head out on your vacation, but what about doing something to alleviate the stress you have from a potential disaster vacation? This is often forgot about once the trip is booked and paid for, no one remembers to double check and plan ahead for a stress free vacation.

Best thing to do is call the hotel and the airline to make sure that they have your reservation on file. I know you may have an email or a confirmation number that you feel puts you at ease but it is amazing how easy these places can lose that information especially if there was a computer failure or bad weather. It’s best to call ahead and look a little foolish than to be standing in line at the airport without a flight or a hotel to go to.

Traveling light is always recommended. Find out ahead of time what the carry on policy is for the luggage through your airline. The more you can bring on the plane the better. The last thing you want to risk is that someone is going to lose your luggage and you end up using a pay day loan to replace what you brought. However, if it looks to be inevitable that you are going to have to check your bags than you might want to consider checking them all, except for your multi-media bag. This just makes it more enjoyable to only have to carry that through the airport rather than an oversized suitcase that might have trouble getting on the plane in the first place.

Traveling doesn’t ever have to be a nightmare if you are just smart enough to plan ahead for it and enjoy your vacation without stress.

If you and your family plan to travel on vacation but need to stick to a strict budget, there are ways of making that easier. While vacations are supposed to be fun, budgets are not. However, with a little planning in advance, you can enjoy your trip while sticking to the funds you have allocated for your trip.

Make a list of all of the expenses you can think of. It doesn’t matter if you are traveling to a theme park and will be staying in a hotel or if you are taking a cruise and have all-inclusive amenities; there are still extra expenses to take note of and plan for. In fact, it may be easier if you take one day at a time to plan your list because different days usually mean different expenses. On day one you may have air fare or gasoline costs, plus your hotel room. Day two can mean shore excursions while on a cruise or tickets and attractions at a theme park.

Keep in mind additional costs you may encounter. Even all-inclusive vacations like cruises have extra expenses. You will have to normally pay for parking if you drive to the port, soda cards while on board, extra costs to use the spa or purchase photographs and souvenirs and shore excursions; just to name a few. If you are traveling to a theme park you may encounter extra costs for certain attractions, souvenirs, snacks and parking as well.

Every vacation is unique and you will have different costs for each one but knowing some of the basics that you may have to pay will help you not go over your budget and come up short on cash. A few stops at convenience stores while on a road trip can really add up and rarely do people add in that type of expenses. Take note of everything and then add an additional amount for the extras.

There are many things that need to be taken care of at home while you’re off on an exciting vacation so that you can come home to a calm and peaceful house. Here are a few things that you may need to remember when going on a trip. Even though you are realizing your dream home through FHA home mortgage, the below tips will surely help during the long run.

Make sure to have your mail placed on hold or have someone pick it up for you. This goes the same for newspaper delivery. One of the biggest signs of a person not home is a yard full of newspapers or a mailbox stuffed with mail that can be seen. If you have someone checking your home or house sitting, have them bring in the mail and newspaper daily.

Make sure your bills are up to date or arrange payments in advance if you are going to be away when they are due. This way you don’t come home to your water or power being shut off and it will help you avoid late or reconnection fees.

Make your house look lived in. Set your lights on a timer or invest in a security system that will alert authorities to any behavior that is out of the norm. If you have arranged for someone to check in, have them leave a light or television on a different times of the day. If possible, make sure a vehicle is parked in your driveway while you are gone so that your home has that lived-in look.

Be sure your pets and plants are taken care of. If you are not taking pets to a kennel, arrange for a friend or neighbor to feed and give water to your animals and water or check on any plants you may have. It can be safer to leave your pets home than to use a kennel as long as you have someone you can really trust with their care.

Last but not least, straighten up before you leave so that when you arrive back home you can relax and take it easy rather than having to clean up.