Summer is fast approaching. And when summer time comes around, school will soon be out and the kids will be stuck at home, bored stiff. They will endlessly ask for things to do so be prepared with a really long list. Better yet, why not go on a family vacation? Summer is definitely the best time to go on a vacation and have quality family fun.

Don’t be scared of the seeming numerous things that you have to do and prepare before you can actually go. Let this article help you from the planning, choosing the places to go and do, and the things that you have to pack with you. Stress, be gone! It’s time for you to get excited.

For starters, think about where you want to go and what you want to do. Don’t forget to consider your budget, of course, because everything pretty much relies on how much you are willing to spend. To make everything more fun and exciting for everyone, you should involve your kids with the planning. Find out their interests and what activities they enjoy doing. If they’re old enough to read, you can look at brochures together. If you’re dealing with toddlers, you can try showing them pictures of the places you’re thinking of going. Making them involved will up the anticipation and they’ll definitely look forward to your family vacation.

Here are a few suggestions on where to go and what to do:

1. Theme Parks – it’s great to go to theme parks because the entire day slips by so fast. You’re not left to worry what to do next because there’s never a dull moment in theme parks. The best part is you don’t have to go anywhere else. It’s a one-stop-shop. Some theme parks are even so big that you wouldn’t get to see and experience everything in a day.

2. Water Parks – When the temperature’s soaring, you need to cool down. What’s the best thing to do? Head to where the water is! What’s great about water parks is that they give your usual swimming-by-the-pool a twist – literally. They have slides of different heights, water falls, waves, and geysers. It’s a fun way of beating the summer heat.

3. Beaches – no matter which beach you choose, the kids will love to play in the sand and swim in the waves. So if your budget’s tight, you don’t have to go to fancy resorts. Just head to the beach and soak up the sun.

4. City Tours – go somewhere you’ve never gone to before. If you’ve got kids who already go to school, ask them which city they want to go to that they’ve taken up in school. There are lots of great cities around and each one is welcoming you to do a little sightseeing and experience their local hospitality. Historical cities are your best bets because of their educational value. Most cities also have museums for kids that they’ll love to roam around in. And don’t forget to taste their local dishes.

5. The Great Outdoors – are you in for a nature trip? The Great Outdoors is the best place to teach your kids to appreciate flora and fauna in their natural habitat. Depending on how adventurous your family is, you can check adventure companies for packages designed for families. If you want to do it on your own, you can always check out National Parks. You can go hiking, camping, fishing, rafting, canoeing, or kayaking.

6. Other Side of the World – if your budget permits, why not go on a family travel to other parts of the globe? Your kids would sure love to experience firsthand the places they only read in books and learn from school. It’s like going on a city tour on a larger scale. Just be sure to secure the necessary documents for travels abroad.

7. Train Tours – Hop on the tourist express and explore different places while on the railway. Some tourist trains even transform themselves for holidays and special occasions. Maybe you’ll get to go on a special trip.

Upon reaching a decision on where to go and what to do on your family vacation, you’re probably thinking what’s next? You can try having a dry-run. Especially for families who’ve decided to go on a nature trip, you might want to stretch those muscles to prepare for the outdoors. If you’ve signed up for a hiking trip, you might want to start the kids with walking short distances, then on to longer ones, so that they would be up for your adventure.

It would also be a great idea to read up on your destination. You can engage the kids in a little reading time by going through brochures or books about the place or places you’ll be seeing. It will pique their interest on the upcoming trip and at the same time, educate them all the more. If you have older kids, they can go online for more information.

When packing clothes for your trip, consider the weather or climate in the place or places you’re visiting. Take note if you need waterproof clothing or airy, breathable pieces. If you’re going on an outdoors adventure, better be equipped with the proper gear and gadgets.

Among the most important things that you should take with are the following:

1. First Aid Kit – there are ready first aid kits available in the market. You can easily grab one. But just in case you would like to make your own first aid kit, there are first aid kit lists online for your perusal and/or printing.

2. Medications – this could refer to vitamins, antihistamines, anti-asthma, or medicines for daily maintenance. Do not rely on the medicine’s availability in the place where you are going. It’s better to be prepared than sorry. Also, include bug spray and other insect repellants to your kit.

3. Extra eyeglasses – this is especially important to those who are blind as a bat without their glasses on. You never know what incidents may happen, so it’s better to take your extra pair with you since you’re never sure if there’s an eye doctor who can immediately produce one for you where you are going.

Other things that you may also want to bring are photocopies of important documents such as driver’s licenses, passports, and significant phone numbers.

If you’re traveling to exotic places, don’t forget to consider taking vaccinations. Also, pay attention to travel advisories given by the authorities.

]]> http://varezo.com/tourists/435/family-vacation-time/feed/ 0 http://varezo.com/tourists/384/tips-on-how-to-budget-travel-the-world-with-your-family-in-tow/ http://varezo.com/tourists/384/tips-on-how-to-budget-travel-the-world-with-your-family-in-tow/#comments Tue, 23 Jun 2009 15:20:58 +0000 admin http://varezo.com/tourists/?p=384 Budget travel and family travel are usually considered as two polar opposites. And in some instances, this can be considered as the Bible truth. However, there are ways you can enjoy a family vacation on a shoestring budget.]]>

Budget travel and family travel are usually considered as two polar opposites. And in some instances, this can be considered as the Bible truth. However, there are ways you can enjoy a family vacation on a shoestring budget. There are certain things you would need in order to pull this off. One: your proposed budget. Two: a plan. And lastly: each and every family member’s utmost cooperation. If you have all three, you can budget travel to almost any part of the world with your family in tow, have a grand time and still save some money on the side. Here are some tips on how you can pull this off.

1. Set aside a certain amount of money for your travels. This is necessary especially if you are planning to fly into your proposed destination spot. Aside from transportation costs, you would also need money for food, incidental expenses and of course, emergency money. The key here is to actually work within your budget, so setting up your budget proposal for the entire trip should really be first and foremost on your list. Once you have a proposed budget, it is easier to narrow down your choices of destination spots to go to, what kind of lodging establishments you can afford, the length of time you will be on this trip and modes of transportation you will use.

2. Even on a shoestring budget, you can take your family out of the country. You just need to research extensively the places where you can take them that you know for certain will not break the bank. More importantly, you will find things to do within that particular place that you know everyone can enjoy. Airplane fares are usually cheaper during the off tourist seasons, but there are some airlines that do offer discounted rates for group travelers. Book your airline seats several weeks in advance, if possible. The same goes when it comes to lodgings. Lodging establishments in various countries usually offer more than affordable rates when it comes to family or group packages after the tourist seasons end. Again, the key here is to book or reserve rooms early. Fortunately, many global airlines and lodging establishments can be accessed to from the web.

3. One of the best ways of getting family friendly travel and vacation discounts is to ask a travel agent to help you with your getaway plans. Although you can probably do most of the online research on your own, there are just some budget travel deals that only professional travel agents have access to. If you can find someone you can trust, tell him or her your proposed budget, and the location where you intend to take your family to. You can compare notes later on when it comes to budget constraints and destinations. However, it is important that you should have the last say in the matter. Try not to feel obligated to reserve or book seats or lodgings, especially when you do not like the area, price or locations that the travel agent is recommending.

4. You might also want to include the rest of your family when it comes to budget allocation. You might propose a vacation savings plan where you ask every member of the family to regularly contribute a little something to the pot. Or, you can ask your older kids to save up on their own incidental expenses (to buy souvenirs, trinkets or whatnots) during the entirety of the trip. Older members of the family (sister, uncle, grandparent, etc.) can pitch in by paying for food for at least one meal (or more!) or pay for entrance tickets to some of the locations you all want to go to. Allocate a small amount of money for your younger kids and tell them what their spending budget is. This is a good way of teaching them the value of money while keeping the purse strings tightly knotted.

5. Try to find lodgings that will allow you to store, prepare and cook your family’s own food. We all know how overpriced hotel meals are and dining out may not always be better or cheaper. Fortunately, there are some family resorts and inns that let their clients prepare their own meals. Make sure the rooms you will get have a refrigerator, a stove and a microwave that you can use. Once you have everyone settled in, go shopping for groceries. Not only is this a far healthier option, but you can also save a lot of money by closely monitoring your food expenses too.

6. Plan where you will take your family once you have chosen your destination. You do not have to set up a strict schedule as to where you should go and how many minutes you should stay in one venue. However, for the sake of shaving off a few dollars from your traveling expenses, you may want to know beforehand just how much you are bound to spend in one place, and stick to that budget. Some of the things you need to consider are traveling expenses; rates of entrance tickets; incidental expenses like money for snacks, sweets or water; and even shopping money for trinkets and souvenirs. You would need additional spending money if you are taking your kids on carnival rides or similar forms of entertainment. Naturally enough, there are various tourist spots that you can take your family in for free, but some of them may not exactly be that appealing to the kids or the grown ups, for that matter.

7. Encourage everyone to pack lightly. Traveling light has many advantages. First, this gives your family more mobility. This is great especially if the lodging accommodations are not exactly what you signed up for and you would rather find someplace else nicer or cheaper to stay. The same goes when it comes to finding a tourist spot to visit. Secondly, you do not have to worry about excess baggage if your family is indeed flying in or flying out of the country. Lastly, traveling light means you and the rest of your family members can take public modes of transportations, aside from taking the cab, or hiring a car. Cab fares may not seem much per ride, but expenses can pile up in a hurry especially if you are visiting several spots in one a day. Also, you need to contend with gasoline prices when it comes to hiring a car.

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]]> http://varezo.com/tourists/384/tips-on-how-to-budget-travel-the-world-with-your-family-in-tow/feed/ 0 http://varezo.com/tourists/13/you-need-to-relax/ http://varezo.com/tourists/13/you-need-to-relax/#comments Sat, 10 Jan 2009 10:29:34 +0000 Matthew Prank http://varezo.com/tourists/?p=13 In the olden days (1995 or before) it was easy to get away from it all. We didn’t have cell phones, email, texting, 24 hour news sources, etc. We didn’t have all that stuff and if you went on vacation you were unreachable, able to really get away. Heck, if you went to the grocery store or shopping you were able to get away. Now the convenience of these devices cannot be denied, but it has made relaxing a lost art form for some people. We need vacations!]]>

In the olden days (1995 or before) it was easy to get away from it all.  We didn’t have cell phones, email, texting, 24 hour news sources, etc. We didn’t have all that stuff and if you went on vacation you were unreachable, able to really get away. Heck, if you went to the grocery store or shopping you were able to get away. Now the convenience of these devices cannot be denied, but it has made relaxing a lost art form for some people. We need vacations! The chances to put aside all the distractions of our 21st century lifestyles, in order to reconnect with those we love, relax and not think about anything except the moment and those around us.

Relax comes from the Middle English word, relaxed, meaning “to make less compact” and in our day to day lives we become compact. Our worlds get squeezed into little boxes with work, social activities and keeping up with daily events being the focus. So when I say relax in this article I’m referring to taking you to a state away from these things. For some people it applies in the conventional sense, laying by the pool and reading a book, but I mean it in the sense that you are focusing on those around you and what’s around you, not on those who are trying to contact you or the world events that it makes no difference if you know about or not.

It starts before you leave…Get your house in order, pay the bills, change your voicemail message and let your boss, co-workers and friends know that you will be away. This can be tough, about a week before my vacations start, I’m already starting to lose focus and interest…You have to stay strong. Start making a list of what you need to do a week or two before you leave. You’ll find yourself using your spare time to tackle things on the list instead of watching TV or daydreaming. Don’t change your home answering machine or cell phone message to something stating that you’ll be gone and for how long, it gives dishonest people a timeframe to know when they can rob you.

What you pack can make a big difference with regards to how you feel on vacation. Bring comfortable clothes, don’t bring clothes that you have to worry about ironing or you’ll worry about ruining. You won’t be running into anyone you know and you’re not there to impress people, you’re there for yourself!

Now, that you’ve got everything in order and are ready to leave, it’s time for what can be the most stressful part of the trip, traveling. When talking about stress there are only two categories of travel; air travel and everything else. The friendly skies aren’t so friendly these days and delays due to weather, equipment or overbooking are inevitable. Airlines will undoubtedly treat you poorly or lose your luggage. While taking deep breaths or making fists with your toes are useful techniques to calm you down, so you don’t kill a ticket agent or flight attendant, they can only go so far. Air travel today is what it is, so go in with low expectations, and if things go half-way good, you’ll be pleasantly surprised. An easy way to protect yourself is with travel insurance it’s surprisingly inexpensive and that way if things go too bad at least you’ll get some cash back. Also, prepare for the worst by taking a change of clothes with you on the plane, just in case.  It’s also a good idea to stay current with airline security requirements.

Do you a favor…don’t check your messages while waiting to board the plane, waiting for a connection or first thing when you land. Don’t start off with bad habits, once you leave your house you are on vacation and need to start acting like it.

You’ve arrived at your destination and at this point, until you return home, the best advice I can give is to start acting like a kid. Kids are Zen masters of relaxation. From stretching out, instead of sitting up, to “planning” a day’s activities, think back to when you were a kid and it’s just like riding a bike, you never forget. Some other rules to remember are to leave your cell phone in the hotel or if you do take it with you, then turn it off. My theory with this is that when you have a day planned, you don’t want it ruined, so why would you take, or leave on, the one device that has the power to ruin it. Bad news will still be bad when you return and not getting it the second it happens isn’t going to make it better.

Interacting with others is the one area of relaxing where there is no technique or golden rule to follow to stop stress from building up or to keep you from losing your cool. I get mad at family members once in a while, they have a way of knowing what buttons to push and complete strangers doing dumb, inconsiderate or being just plane rude things can really set me off. If that happens, do what you need to do (short of something that gets you thrown in jail). If yelling helps, then yell; if going to your happy place (a bar for a drink, the beach or just being alone) helps you chill out, then do it. The object is to not let it consume any more time than it has to. Take deep breaths, take a nap, do push-ups or anything to get over it and when you’re over it you’re back to being the fun loving kid on vacation.  It is also never a bad idea to schedule some time apart.  It’s great to schedule some time just for you, to do whatever you want.

To keep the trip special keep a record of it. Pictures, videos or a journal are all good ways to keep the memories fresh and enhance the experience with time. I’m not saying you need to put a photo album or video journal together. No one takes pictures, videos or writes about the bad times and I’m not one to do photo albums, but just looking through pictures brings back the good times you had and can give you a mental vacation right in your home long after the trip is over. If you don’t believe me, go look at pictures you took on previous vacations and you’ll see what type of mood they put you in.

We go on vacations with those we have fun with and/or love, to places where we can relax, enjoy the natural beauty or be immersed in a culture. Focus on those people and things, not on what you left behind… that stuff will all be waiting for you when you return.

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]]> http://varezo.com/tourists/13/you-need-to-relax/feed/ 0 http://varezo.com/tourists/9/budgeting-your-vacation/ http://varezo.com/tourists/9/budgeting-your-vacation/#comments Sat, 10 Jan 2009 10:23:51 +0000 Matthew Prank http://varezo.com/renters/?p=9 Everyone loves going on vacation, and needs to, at least once a year. The romantic getaway with the wife/husband or girlfriend/boyfriend, the family vacation the kids will remember for the rest of their lives, the ultra fun vacation with friends. But these are tough times and every dollar, euro or whatever counts. I’M HERE TO TELL YOU THAT VACATIONS ARE JUST LIKE LIFE. MONEY DOESN’T EQUAL HAPPINESS!]]>
Everyone loves going on vacation, and needs to, at least once a year. The romantic getaway with the wife/husband or girlfriend/boyfriend, the family vacation the kids will remember for the rest of their lives, the ultra fun vacation with friends. But these are tough times and every dollar, euro or whatever counts.

I’m here to tell you that vacations are just like life.

More money doesn’t equal happiness!

You can have a vacation with memories that will last a lifetime at a cost that doesn’t take a lifetime to repay. So, in order to get the most experience for your money and not have all that tension you lost on the trip return once the bills come in, here is the way to make it happen.

Budget

Start with how much you can afford, or are comfortable spending. The last thing you want to do is go on vacation and be worrying about how much all of its costing or to turn into a cheapskate or penny pincher. This defeats the purpose, you won’t be able to enjoy yourself or relax and worst case, it will put you in a bad mood and ruin everyone’s trip.

Experience

Next decide on what your goals are for the vacation. What do you want to do? I really advise against being specific. For instance, instead of saying “we’re going to Disney World” try “let’s hit an amusement park” or “I want to go to the ocean” becomes “I want to be on the water”. Don’t forget if you’re traveling with others their needs and desires have to be considered too. This is especially true with kids (and some adults). If you go somewhere and someone in your party is unhappy or bored the whole time, it can ruin the vacation for everyone.

If this is the year you have to take the kids to Disney, then go (as long as you can afford to). If you can’t afford it, then tell yourself that, and then let the people you’ll be traveling with know. People vacation with those they like or love and they’ll understand. The kids will understand too and need to learn that not everyone is a Rockefeller, in addition to the importance of budgeting. The conversation may not be one you want to have, but not having it can lead to a much tougher conversation down the road. Now, if realizing you need to stay on a budget and can’t afford to fly first class or stay at the 5-Star Resort has you bummed out, then use this time…to get over it! Don’t start with a bad attitude, this is your vacation, your time away, and planning it should be fun, exciting and relaxing too.

That’s it, once you have thought about and decided upon a budget and what you want to do, the sky’s the limit, let your imagination run wild, just stay within your budget. If you’re reading this then you have all the resources you need to plan a great vacation.

The costs of every vacation can be broken down into 4 different expense categories:

1. Location = Travel Expense
2. Lodging Expense
3. Meals Expense (Food and Drink)
4. Fun Money

Go in order from 1-4, starting with location because the travel expense is generally going to involve the biggest expense and is the area where you can cut the most cost. Location is also going to have a huge affect on the lodging expense, which is another large one and one where a lot of money can be saved.

First, search for places that meet everyone in your party’s needs. You probably have some places in mind and the Internet is a great resource for finding those places you may not know about. Remember, flying is not a pleasurable or cheap experience these days and if you have a family the costs are multiplied. Think of the alternatives….Instead of Disney World as your goal, go with amusement park.

There are parks scattered across the U.S. and the expense of flying or driving would cost you time and money that could be used more productively. If your goal was oceanfront, think about lakefront. Resort Lake communities are all over and the money saved in travel, lodging and incidentals can make a big difference. Searching a State’s tourism bureau and using Google to search for these spots is easy, fun and everyone can take part.

Lodging is the other area where thinking outside the box and a little effort can mean saving a huge amount of money and can often lead to a more comfortable and relaxing stay. Hotels are convenient to book, but are cramped and the additional charges you’ll be faced with, meals, parking, tips, etc. add up quickly and are tough to budget. In this situation the Internet can really come in handy, by searching for vacation property rentals. A lot of people bought investment homes or second homes in the recent housing boom and need to rent them out. Their pain is your gain, you’ll save money, have more space and more freedom. Hotels have rooms that they have to rent out and the closer you get to your travel date, the better the deals will get. So, if you want to live a little on the edge, and it doesn’t look like finding occupancy is going to be a problem in the area you’ve chosen, then wait to book to see if the prices don’t come down.

Meals and drinks is another area where the costs can really add up. If you’re staying in a hotel/resort, check their restaurant prices online and get the name of local restaurants and check their menus too. Anytime you can cook, BBQ or buy packaged drinks/liquor on your own, you’ll save a ton. This is another upside to renting a vacation home or condo as opposed to staying in a hotel.

Fun money is what you’ll need for souvenirs, amusement parks or the other activities you plan on. Once again, the Internet will give you ideas of what’s available and the contact information needed to check pricing, location, etc. Don’t be afraid to call/email the hotel or property owner and ask about local attractions.

Using this approach will open you up to new ideas, new places and new experiences. You won’t have to worry about money (you worry enough about that in your day to day life) and a little planning will go a long way. It’s not where you go, it’s who you’re with that determines if you have a great time, so plan a trip that allows you to leave your worries at home, relax and enjoy.

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