Varezo - Vacation Planning Resources

Nantucket – The Faraway Land

Matthew Prank — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 20:05:50 +0000

Nantucket lies 30 miles off the coast of Cape Cod, Massachusetts and while once the world’s largest whaling port with Herman Melville’s character Starbuck describing the inhabitants in Moby Dick, Chapter 14 thusly: “Two thirds of this terraqueous globe are the Nantucketer’s. For the sea is his; he owns it, as Emperors own empires.” Nantucket is now a sleepy small community in the winter and bustling paradise in the summer. Not everyone can afford this destination location, but if you have the means and are looking for a great romantic getaway, family vacation or even a spot for a family reunion, then Nantucket should be given serious consideration.

Plan on a vacation of at least a week, because unless you fly to the airport on the island (airport code ACK) made famous in the sitcom “Wings”, there’s considerable time necessary getting to the island. If you fly to Boston’s Logan International Airport (airport code BOS) you will need to rent a car or use a taxi or limo service to get you to one of the ferry docks for the two hour ferry ride. These ferries do not leave often and if you have a vehicle it limits your options even more, so you will need to plan ahead and possibly even arrange for a taxi upon arrival to the island, depending on where you are staying. Once you do arrive you’ll find it very much worth the effort.

The old historic district downtown offers a large collection of quaint streets with plenty of stores that allows for a good two days of walking, window shopping and eating. Surrounding this is an equal number of quiet streets with beautiful homes where you can look for your vacation home to purchase (might want to stop by the real estate office first and get an idea of how much properties are selling for because it’s going to be hard to find anything under $1 million). Local favorites include Nantucket Reds shorts and lobster rolls and with the collection of furniture, antique and clothing stores you’ll have no problem finding mementos to take home with you.

If you are staying outside of the town, then you’ll probably be staying in a gray house with while trim. All of Nantucket is listed as an historical place and building codes make sure all existing and new structures conform to its history and picturesque appeal. The places to rent range from small one rooms to estates complete with 5+ bedrooms, guest houses, pools, etc. and are great for even the largest family reunions. Most have beaches within walking distance and there is a bus line that operates with frequent stops and that can take you downtown, to the public beaches or anywhere in between.

In addition to walking the historic district, shopping and eating, the beaches offer a great way to spend your days and fishing from the beach can prove very productive. There is usually a cool breeze off the ocean that goes great with the warm sun. Bikes are provided with some rentals, but can also be rented and touring the island (or at least a part of it) by bike is highly recommended. The island has a limitless supply of picturesque locations to stop and relax or capture on film. You might want to even consider hiring one of the local photographers for that next Christmas card or family portrait. When the sun go down it can get pretty chilly (into the 50s), so you’ll need to pack some long pants and jacket or sweater.

Nantucket is a beautiful place where you want to be surrounded by people that are very special to you. While the location offers more than enough to keep you very busy; the weather, appeal and attitudes will most likely have you enjoying the place with loved in the simplest of manners.

For more detailed information on Nantucket check out Nantucket.net and NantucketOnline.com.

Key West Florida – Laid Back Lifestyle, Southern Charm And Caribbean Flavor

Matthew Prank — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 18:23:56 +0000

Different people want different things from a vacation, whether you want to be pampered, seek adventure, experience romance, just lay on a beach, party continually, site see or experience a culture different from your own; Key West can provide any or all of these and more. Let’s start with getting there, while Key West has its own airport, the drive down along the keys from Miami or Fort Lauderdale offers history, scenery, good food and the smell of the salt air; and all of them work together to get you in the vacation mood. Once there may not need your car again depending on where you stay. If you are staying close to Duval Street, then there is enough to keep you busy within walking distance. If you get tired of walking or are not staying close to Duval Street, then there are also plenty of bikes and electric golf cart type thingies for rent and rickshaw taxis to get you anywhere you need to or want to go on Key West.

Eclectic is the best word to describe the place, in that it offers so much in so many areas associated with vacationing. Duval Street provides the shopping, partying and a lot of the restaurants (parents might want to be a little careful because some of the sights might not be appropriate for the smaller children like transvestite revue bar, topless bar, etc.). The surrounding side streets hide most of the better restaurants, sight-seeing treasures (the Hemingway House, The Harry Truman Little White House and Shipwreck Historeum to name a few), and miles of quiet streets for nice walks.

Being surrounded by ocean Key West excels for fishing, jet skiing, parasailing and beaches for fun in the sun activities and means you will never get bored. Top this off with a great end to every day and beginning to every night in the form of “The Sunset Celebration”. Mallory Square on the West side of the island is a spectacle for the whole family every night with street performers, musicians and kiosks selling all manner of stuff in celebration of… THE SUNSET… and it’s quite a sunset. More tranquil settings to watch the sunset can be found North of Mallory Square. Add to all of this is a wonderful (I thought it was wonderful) mix of people that I’ve never found anywhere in the world.

Let’s start with those of you who like to relax and/or be pampered. You’ll have to pay a bit more (although not in comparison to other vacation locations) to stay at one of the upscale hotels or resorts which offer vacation amenities (spas, room service, concierge to help you with information and to schedule activities) but you’ll be treated to amazing views, all the good food you can eat and plenty of spots to relax and soak it all in. I have to recommend The Reach Resort because not only was the quality of the property, staff and service excellent, but they have their own private beach (which is rare for hotels in Key West), with an attentive staff that provides chairs, towels, food and all the drinks with umbrellas you can handle. Being a block off of Duval Street and on the East side of the island puts everything within walking distance, and allows for quiet evenings (if so desired). If going on a family vacation or romantic getaway you won’t go wrong staying on this property.

Adventure seekers have plenty of options in the form of para-sailing, jet skiing, deep sea fishing and scuba diving. You can either schedule ahead of time or book when you get there. A testament to the diversity to Key West is that it is also a great place for romance. There are plenty of quiet spots for walks, dining and relaxing and plenty of good times so every night can be a fun date night.

If you haven’t been to Key West then put it on your list because it is truly a unique place that offers a lot in a lot of different areas, so no matter how you like to spend your vacation Key West probably has what it takes and will surprise you in other areas.

Central and South American Tourism Bureaus

Matthew Prank — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 16:04:53 +0000

One of the best resources to use when planning a vacation is the tourism bureau for the country you’ll be visiting. Here’s a list of all the tourism bureaus for Central and South America.

Realize that these are marketing sites and may not contain information relating to customs, regulations, travel advisories or social issues in a country or region. For information relating to these topics, it’s best to search our blog for information and refer to our Travel Information section.

Central and South American Tourism Bureaus

Eastern and Western European Tourism Bureaus

admin — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 16:01:37 +0000

One of the best resources to use when planning a vacation is the tourism bureau for the country you’ll be visiting. Here’s a list of all the tourism bureaus for Eastern and Western Europe.

European Tourism Bureaus

African Tourism Bureaus

Matthew Prank — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 15:57:54 +0000

One of the best resources to use when planning a vacation is the tourism bureau for the country you’ll be visiting. Here’s a list of all the tourism bureaus for Africa.

African Tourism Bureaus

Asian, Middle Eastern and South Pacific Tourism Bureaus

Matthew Prank — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 01:24:09 +0000

One of the best resources to use when planning a vacation is the tourism bureau for the country you’ll be visiting. Here’s a list of all the tourism bureaus for Asia, the Middle East and the South Pacific.

Asian Tourism Bureaus

Mid East Tourism Bureaus

S. Pacific Tourism Bureaus

Citizen Tourism™

Matthew Prank — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 21:10:42 +0000

The ten years from 1999 to 2009 have tested the citizens of the United States in many different ways. Starting with the 2000 presidential election that divided the populous of the country 50/50, then the attacks of September 11th united the country only in horror and sadness, followed by seven more years of divisive politics an unpopular war and the formation of what seemed to be two Americas and finally culminating a deep recession and another divisive election. Democrat versus Republican has sparked an animosity amongst the population not seen since the Civil War and has forced every facet of our society to take a side, extending beyond individuals to companies, media outlets, entertainers and occupations/hobbies, all have been branded, willingly or not, liberal or fascist.

The irony with this visceral reaction one side has for the other is that it is born of the same love each has for the Country. That is to say that each side cares so deeply about the Country that they cannot stand to see it taken in, what they feel is, the wrong direction. The point in all this is to not focus on how we think others are screwing things up, but to focus on what we can do to move the Country forward and this is the idea behind citizen tourism™. Redirecting the energy people have put into yelling at politician’s on TV or in town hall meetings and arguing with family, friends and strangers can be put into doing something that even your staunchest adversary could agree is good for the Country.

We were the nation of innovation and perspiration built by people who risked everything just to make it to our shores and said just give me a chance and I’ll do the work. Now it seems the worst of us are lost in our cyber worlds, apathetic to the perils of the nation and the best us care about what’s going on and will share views with like-minded friends and voice their outrage at the TV, but don’t want to have to do anything or sacrifice. Anyone who volunteers will tell you that there is a certain gratification gained and a palpable feeling of satisfaction involved with the work and while your idea of a relaxing vacation may not include volunteering; it may benefit you physically, mentally and patriotically.

Cleaning up garbage along the road, in a nature preserve or in a vacant city lot; planting trees to bring back a forest long since clear cut or to change a vacant lot into a city park are all ways people can make a difference. People risked everything to come to this country in order to be given a chance and to give their children a chance and people need to start doing more and demanding their representatives do more to create these types of opportunities that lead to a better tomorrow.

Think of a day when you can take your children to Yellowstone National Park and in addition to taking in all of the natural beauty, you can all participate in maintaining the park or help in restoring a piece of it. The budgets of the federal government, state governments and local municipalities are stretched to the limit and funding for anything but the absolute necessities will be eliminated or cut back and it has already impacted every community negatively and will continue to do so.

Be you Democrat, Republican, Libertarian, Independent or whatever, start taking an active role (beyond just voting) and actually doing something to make the United States a better place for all.

The Staycation

Matthew Prank — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 20:41:50 +0000

The term staycation hasn’t been with us for more than a couple of years and in the current financial crisis people and families are torn between needing to get away for a while and managing their budgets. The objective of a staycation is to take what your immediate area has to offer and do what you want to do. Needing to relax is more important than ever, you’re decisions are more important and you need to be able to focus and think rationally and that only happens in minds that are not over worked or stressed out.

So you need some time away, but don’t have the cash to go anywhere. Whether it’s just you or the whole family, start with blocking out some time by scheduling vacation days with work; now you are committed. The next step is to find out what each person you are traveling with would enjoy doing during some of that time. Lastly, research the options in your area and don’t let the word research scare you. This is going to be a fun project and if your kids are old enough they can research the activity that they have chosen. You’ll want to know what the hours of operation are, the cost, supplies needed, any restrictions (like are strollers allowed) and plan each day accordingly.

If the children have drastically different preferences for activities or choose expensive activities, then it may make a lot of sense to divide and conquer. The kids are happy doing what they enjoy, you get to enjoy some “quality time” with one of your children when they are their best. The other idea is to set a limit as to how much a child’s activity can cost. If one child’s activity is cheaper, then their day may get to include dinner at their favorite restaurant, a stop at the ice cream stand on the way home or even a new fishing pole to take to the lake that day.

The cost will be so dramatically less expensive then traveling somewhere, that you can probably have an expensive date night at a nice restaurant, go to a play, stay in a local hotel with a pool for the kids, go to a local amusement park or have one overnight trip with the rest of the time spent locally.

If you are the type of person that never sits still, then you won’t have a problem thinking of things to do and will have a great time. If you are the type that can spend an entire weekend on the couch, then the biggest risk associated with staycations is treating it like it’s a weekend and never getting off the couch or running errands and doing housework, so you end up not doing anything fun. That’s why I think planning staycations is important for these people, because it’s easier to follow through when you have plans.

One last piece of advise to consider is about those you enjoy spending time with and have fun with them. If that means dinner with the next door neighbors or seeing family, then great; but this isn’t a holiday, so you don’t have to go see family if you don’t want to. I’ve found that it doesn’t matter what I’m doing, if I’m around people I enjoy, I’m always having fun.

Adult Vacations

Matthew Prank — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 20:21:26 +0000

Romance or erotica?

Vacation opportunities abound where you and your significant other can rekindle romance or, on the wilder side, unleash all your fantasies.

For the romance part the most important thing is location. First, pick a place neither of you have been, this takes each out of their comfort zone and forces you to rely on the other a little more. Make sure it is a place that offers something for each of you, if your man is a football fan and you take him in October to a B&B for a weekend of antiquing, there will not be any romance. One of the best activities to share together is walking, so pick a place where you will want to walk a lot. Locations centered round small towns, neighborhoods and/or nature, where you will walk to shop, grab a bite to eat, party or just take a walk at night, have the right ingredients for romance.

You can’t stay in the bedroom the entire time. So activities you can do together can be a lot of fun, even activities neither of you have done before. Golf, tennis, eating together, shopping, swimming/laying on the beach and walking are all great distractions. Time apart is cool too, if there is something the other person would rather not experience, then separate for a while. Don’t be afraid to be honest with the person, if you really don’t want to do something, tell them.

Along those same lines, fights are inevitable, normal in relationships and you should to expect to have at least one. So don’t worry about disagreeing, enjoy the passion and it gives you a chance to remember how you used to “make up” after fights.

Here’s a piece of advice, if you are going somewhere to celebrate, (anniversary, birthday, etc.) have a least one surprise for your partner. Flowers when you get in the car, dessert or champagne delivered to the room one night, a new shirt and you can never go wrong with something sexy for the evening.

For the erotica seekers, I would not travel to a destination offering something that I had not done before and knew I enjoyed. If it’s “been there done that and wanna go back”, then the sky is the limit. Adult entertainment is the most developed part of the Internet, so you will have to wade through some erroneous sites and will need to check the validity of any site before making reservations or paying for services.

If you are looking for just an erotic evening then search for escorts in the area, just be safe, the safe decision never turns out to be the wrong decision. If you have a lifestyle you enjoy, from nudism to sexual preference to fetishes or whatever, and want to plan a trip to immerse yourself in it, then you may be limited by destinations, but you’ll be able to find what you are looking for.

Types of Gambling Vacation Alternatives: Picking The Right Gambling Vacation

admin — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 14:47:07 +0000

There are quite a few men and women in this world who love to play the lottery or buy scratch-offs and who want to take it up a notch when on vacation by playing a round of slots or black jack or poker or craps or roulette. Gambling is a way of life. And at times, weekend casino trips do not seem to suffice, and online gambling seems like a poor man’s alternative for real full blooded gambling. The only way out during this time is taking a full fledged gambling vacation to quench your the thirst.

While going out on a gambling vacation a few things which you need to take into consideration are booking a hotel room or accommodation in advance, hiring a rental car, booking an airplane ticket all of which ould set you back by quite a lot.
When you go on a gambling vacation, you have multiple choices before you in terms of destination, the kind of budget you can afford, the kinds of games you want to play, how many days you want to spend etc.

When you go on a gambling spree on a gambling vacation, you become an intelligent and conservative gambler. You are also able to make smarter choices as you have to make your betting money last for the whole length of your trip.
There are many different kinds of casino vacations from which you can take your pick. You can either settle for gambling vacations conducted by reputable travel agencies who will take care of everything once you pay them the fare.

You won’t have to worry about plane tickets, accommodation, food, visa or entry fee as your travel agency will take care of everything. Or else you can arrange your own trip by yourself. This will be a lot cheaper, but you shall have to make your own arrangements.

You can either go on a gambling vacation within USA and your top choices should be Las Vegas, Atlanta city, Connecticut. Las Vegas is the undisputed number one gambling hot spot in the world.

Or you can travel abroad to Macau or France or other European countries where gambling is legal. Macau in Southern China is fast catching up with Las Vegas.
Or you might head for the Bahamas – the original big daddy of gambling. And in these global gambling hot spots, you shall find countless world renowned gambling hotels and resorts.

Or you might settle for gambling on river cruises or gambling on ocean liners. There are plenty of river boat casinos and ocean casino cruises from which you can choose.