A Working Woman's Tips On Vacations

December 14, 2007

Buy Cheap DVDs Online: Explore San Francisco

Filed under: Buy Cheap DVDs Online — Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , — Kim @ 10:27 am

Finally, an entertaining travel guide !!! Not only did this DVD thoroughly help me plan my family reunion/trip to San Francisco, but I ended up buying another copy for my parents as a souvenir AFTER the reunion as well, so they could have a special DVD memento of the city they grew up in.

And of course, they absolutely loved it. The camera-work of this film is brilliant! I was so impressed by the amazing shots, incredible color, and such a great original score.

This DVD really makes San Francisco come alive right before your eyes. Also, there is a special bonus slide-show near the end that shows unbelievably powerful photos of the San Francisco Earthquake of 1906.

It is really something to marvel at how this city has not only stood the test of time through such catastrophe, but has become an even more amazing and inspiring U.S. city.

Explore San Francisco. Explore San Francisco is a unique visual tour of the city of San Francisco captured from land, sea, and air. Our three guides (a sports car driver, a speedboat captain and a helicopter pilot) take you on an enthralling trek that reveals one panoramic splendor after another.

Come and enjoy a ride in their dynamic vehicles and you’ll discover the city in a whole new way! These cinematic tour guides offer perspectives of 16 of San Francisco’s finest landmarks: the Bay Bridge, SBC Park, Yerba Buena Park, the Ferry Building, Civic Center, Chinatown, North Beach, Coit Tower, Pier 39, Alcatraz, Lombard Street, Alamo Square, the Palace of Fine Arts, Haight Ashbury, Golden Gate Park and the Golden Gate Bridge.

Learn about the city with expert commentary that enhances the thrilling experience of Explore San Francisco. You’ll gain a true sense of the city’s breadth and beauty as the helicopter skims over the landscape and the sports car cruises its streets.

Venture into the Bay in a high-speed motorboat for an indelible memory of all the gifts the city has to offer. Explore San Francisco is your magic carpet ride to historical places, cultural places, fun places and places you want to see simply because they’re breathtaking.

This DVD includes an original score, high-energy transitional map sequences between locations, and exciting footage of the vehicles themselves. And as a bonus, Explore San Francisco contains a photo slideshow of the city as well as a visual featurette about the 1906 San Francisco earthquake.

Explore San Francisco is a valuable souvenir for those who have visited or ever dream of visiting one of America’s most inspiringly beautiful cities.

5 Romantic Travel Resolutions For New Year

Filed under: Travel Resolutions — Tags: , , , — Kim @ 12:19 am

New year is approaching ! A new year always means a chance for a new start. You and yours can begin this new year by making some travel resolutions together, regardless of your time and budget restraints.

Put aside those old travel habits and make some new ones! Let this be the year that your travel plans focus on fun, fantasy, and festivities!

Plan a Real Vacation. No, it doesn’t have to be an around the world cruise or first class getaway. But if you can afford it, what are you waiting for? It does have to be an honest-to-goodness vacation, though.

No cell phones, no laptops. Mark the dates on the calendar and keep it just like you’d keep any business appointment. The business of romantic travel, though, is a fun one and an activity that the two of you can plan for months.

Involve Each Other in the Trip Planning. All too often, one partner gets the job for planning a trip…and that task quickly becomes a bore. Plan your trips together! Anticipation is half the fun. Visit a travel agent. Collect brochures. Buy a guidebook. Rent a video about your destination. Search the internet for information.

Do Something We’ve Never Done. Here you can be as mild — or as wild — as you dare. Go whitewater rafting. Rent a houseboat. Take a hot air balloon ride. Spend the night in a local bed and breakfast. Learn to scuba dive. Dance the whole night away under the stars. The choice is yours

Take One Mini-Vacation Every Month. Whether it’s for the night or just for the night out, plan one tiny slice of a vacation every single month. The only rule: you must pretend you’re on vacation.

Book a night at a local bed and breakfast. Call your local hotel and find out their non-peak nights (in business-oriented cities, it’s usually Friday and Saturday) then plan a short romantic getaway.

Go to at Least One Festival. Special events take place at just about every community around the world. Whatever your interests — from square dancing to sandcastle building — you’ll find a festival celebrating with a day or two of fun and food.

If you don’t have the time or budget to go far, contact area chamber of commerce or tourism offices within a day’s drive of your home for their calendar of events. If you can, extend your trip into a long weekend. If you’ve got the time and resources, check out some of the major fun festivals: Carnival, Mardi Gras, Rio’s Carnivale. Don’t forget your costume!

December 10, 2007

10 Tips For Thrifty Travel

Filed under: Thrifty Travels — Tags: , , , , , , , , , , — Kim @ 10:19 am

1. Be sure to have a budget and schedule so you can plan your trip realistically.

2. It’s often cheaper to purchase flight tickets or buy tour packages early at travel fairs.

3. If possible, especially if you have non-schoolgoing children, travel during low season.

4. Buy travel insurance for unexpected delays and medical emergencies. You never know what could go wrong.

5. Buy food and water at grocery stores or market places instead of hotels and touristy sites. Always carry some snacks with you.

6. Book hotels within walking distance from town so you can save on transport. Check accessibility of public transportation.

7. Opt to stay in B&Bs, which offer double the warmth and cultural intimacy for half the price of a hotel.

8. Use an up-to-date guidebook to find your way around. Saving money by not buying one is penny-wise and pound-foolish.

9. If you must shop, flea markets are cheap sources of funky, fun souvenirs. Bargain when travelling within Asean countries.

10. Consider going to attractions that don’t require entrance fees eg. parks or open-air concerts.

December 8, 2007

How To Travel With Food For The Holidays

Filed under: Travel Tips — Tags: , , , , — Kim @ 9:22 am

Preparing food to share at the holiday festivities is a common practice in our society. However, you need to be able to travel with the food so that it will remain delicious when you arrive at your destination.

Foods can move around causing them not to look as pretty when you arrive. You also don’t want the food to tip over and get all over your vehicle. This can be extremely messy as well as be quite frustrating.

There are some wonderful containers out there that allow you to transport foods for the holidays without too much trouble. They are insulated containers that will keep the foods hot or cold.

Many of them come with a covering that zips up around them like a suitcase. They even come with a handle. You should consider placing these items in a box so they won’t have as much room to move around while you travel to your holiday destination.

You do need to be very careful about food spoiling when you transport it for the holidays. You definitely don’t want to get anyone sick due to food poisoning. If it will be hot or you are traveling a long distance avoid foods such as potato salad with mayonnaise that can easily spoil quickly.

Be prepared for delays too because the amount of people traveling on the roads over the holidays can result in the food being in your car for hours more than you had originally anticipated.

You can also place such items in a cooler with plenty of ice to keep them cold while you are traveling your holiday destination. Make sure you keep an eye on the amount of ice in the cooler and then refill it as necessary. If you are carrying breast milk for an infant along for the holiday travel you need to keep it cold in a cooler as well.

You may find it is much easier to ask the host of the holiday gathering if you can prepare the foods you want to contribute to the dinner upon your arrival. This way you can bring all the ingredients and prepare them without worrying about them moving around or spoiling.

If you need some refrigerated items you can ask the host to pick them up for you and then pay them later. This is much easier than trying to fight your way into a packed grocery store around the holidays or finding them closed.

The downside to this is that you may be preparing foods in a kitchen you are unfamiliar with. The oven may bake at a different rate than yours so make sure you keep a close eye on baking times.

You should also bring other clothing to change into once you have completed your kitchen duties. This way you don’t have to worry about getting food on them that will make you self conscious as you sit down to visit with other guests.

Many people that travel for the holidays want to bring food to share with others. It can be your famous cheesecake or your mom’s recipe for sweet potatoes.

Make sure you plan ahead to have all the equipment and utensils you will need to safely transport foods for the holidays. You are better off arriving empty handed than with food that has been in compromising conditions during the course of travel.

December 5, 2007

Useful Tips To Make Holiday Travel Easier

Filed under: Travel Tips — Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , — Kim @ 2:40 am

The holidays can be quite hectic but they are often a time when people travel to see family and friends or to take a well deserved vacation.

Following some useful tips will help ensure you have the best time when you travel during this time of year.

Being prepared for things to go wrong is the first step in minimizing the damages and getting on with your holiday travel plans.

Make sure you have all of your tickets and confirmation numbers in a specific place. It is a good idea to make a copy of the information as well as the contact number for your tickets and place it in another location.

This way if you lose the originals you will have all the necessary information to take care of it. You should call about a week before your travel dates to make sure your reservation is still active for all modes of transportation and your accommodations.

It is common for flights, trains, and buses to get delayed over the holidays due to security issues, weather, and trying to meet the needs of the volumes of people using such modes of transportation over the holidays.

Make sure you have plenty of money, food, drinks, and necessities to get you through these delays. They can range from a couple of hours to a few days. If you will be traveling a long distance you should consider bringing along activities to pass the time, especially if you are traveling with children.

If you take prescription medications you need to make sure you have them clearly labeled. You may get questioned about them if they aren’t in the bottle you picked them up at from the pharmacy.

It is a good idea to have a written note from your doctor regarding the medication as well. Makes sure you have enough of it for the entire trip including any delays that may occur.

Lost luggage is one of the biggest problems when people travel, and it compounds during the holidays because of how busy everyone is. While you really can’t prevent your luggage from getting lost, you can do your best to make sure you have all you need in the mean time.

Make sure each person traveling in your party has clothing in all of the suitcases instead of making one for each person. This way everyone will have a chance to have some items should a bag or two get lost in the shuffle.

Clearly identify your luggage so that you will be sure to get yours upon reaching your destination. Too many bags look the same and many people are in a hurry when they travel for the holidays.

Place a colorful ribbon or colored tape on your bags if you carry the styles and colors that are very popular. If you travel often you should consider some unique looking luggage that will stand out.

Traveling during the holidays needs to be as smooth as possible to ensure you will enjoy your trip. By taking the time to follow these tips you can help make that happen.

There are plenty of horror stories out there about people not being able to get to their destination for the holidays or they didn’t have the items they needed upon arriving. Don’t open the door for your holiday vacation to fit into this grim category.

December 2, 2007

Planning Your Vacation Carefully Can Save Money

Filed under: Save Money On Vacations — Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , — Kim @ 11:41 am

Just because you are planning to go on vacation does not mean you have to take a vacation from saving money. The good news is you don’t have to. There are so many vacation bargains and deals out there, it’s difficult not to save money with a little planning.

Here are some of the opportunities to save significantly while planning a vacation getaway:

The Scoop on Frequent Flyer Programs. Airline frequent flyer programs can provide free tickets, free upgrades and many other perks.

Before you join specific programs, compare them carefully to make sure you get the maximum benefits for your favorite destinations. They can vary widely from program to program.

Finding Good Hotel Deals. Yes, great deals on hotel accommodations are available, if you do your homework and keep your opinions open.There are steps you can take that could save you up to 50 percent off the rate you would get by picking up the phone and calling the reservation desk.

Renting a Car. If you are planning to rent a car for your vacation or a weekend trip, you can save money by knowing the questions to ask and knowing how to avoid hidden charges and fees. Here are some points to consider and questions to ask when you reserve a rental car.

Disney Deals Hunter – Save on Food at Disney. If your vacation plans include a visit to one of the Disney resorts, one of the biggest expenses can be feeding your family. There are other ways you can save on food during your Disney vacation and still keep everyone happy, including yourself.

Theme Park Savings. Just like other businesses, theme parks and amusement parks are in competition with each other to attract customers and that is good news for the bargain hunter. Do your research. Theme parks offer membership benefits, package deals and discount tickets to get you to visit their park instead of the competition.

Major cruise lines put a halt to bargain hunting. All of the major cruise lines — Norwegian, Royal Caribbean, Carnival and Celebrity — have all changed their policies restricting the deals that travel agencies and online travel sites can offer. But discounts and bargains can still be found. You have to know who to ask.

What to Look for When Shopping for Luggage. There is a lot of cheap luggage on the market, but a lower price doesn’t always mean it’s a bargain. Here are some tips on what you should consider before choosing luggage for your next vacation.

Cheap Eats – Save on Dining Out. A major expense during a vacation can be the cost of eating out most of the time and prices are notoriously high in major tourist destinations. There are ways that you can save while eating out, whether you are on vacation or just taking a break from the kitchen.

November 28, 2007

Plan A Trip To Sausalito, California

Filed under: USA — Tags: , , , — Kim @ 6:32 am

Sausalito is a small town of only 7,500 residents, best known for its spectacular waterfront views. It’s a quiet, charming town that some say reminds them of the Mediterranean.

Music fans may be interested to know that performer Otis Redding wrote his hit song “The Dock of the Bay” in Sausalito, where he had rented a houseboat in late 1967 to get some peace and quiet.

What to Do in Sausalito, California?Most Sausalito visitors restrict their visit to a stroll past the art galleries and souvenir shops along Bridgeway.

To get a different point of view, take a walk north along the waterfront, past the yacht harbor. Along the way, you’ll find the Bay Model, a three-dimensional hydraulic model of the San Francisco and Delta covering over 1.5 acres.

Best Time to Visit Sausalito, California. Any time is fine for a Sausalito visit, but it’s truly spectacular when the air is clear and San Francisco is visible across the bay.

The annual Sausalito Art Festival, held over Labor Day weekend, draws a broad selection of artists and craftsmen.

Sausalito, California Dining. My favorite Sausalito dining spot is Spinnaker, a restaurant with one of the Bay Area’s best views. Try to arrive shortly before sunset and watch the lights come up in San Francisco during your meal. Other restaurant options include Scoma’s and the Water Street Grille.

For a less expensive meal, get sandwiches from the deli on Bridgeway, take it across the street, take a seat on the rocks and enjoy the view.

Sausalito, California Lodging. While Sausalito is rich with charm, it’s short on places to stay, and is usually visited as a day trip from San Francisco. If you want to stay overnight, try Casa Madrona, The Inn Above Tide, Hotel Sausalito or Gables Inn.

Check prices on a number of websiteS at the same time and find the lowest one.

November 25, 2007

Cruise Holiday Tips for Smooth Sailing

Filed under: Cruise Holidays — Tags: , , , , , — Kim @ 4:33 pm

Is anything more luxurious than taking a cruise holiday?

Traveling to exotic locations on a luxury ship, catching sunrays, and breathing the salty breezes can renew and replenish anyone, no matter how shopworn from the cares of work.

However, a cruise holiday requires planning in order to be the best it can be. Check out these tips to have a cruise experience you will remember.

So where do you start when planning a cruise holiday? First, what is your budget like? Do you need to hold down expenses? Then here are a few tips for economizing on your cruise holiday. (more…)

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