Archive for October, 2008

It might be notorious for its late-night party scene, swanky beach hotels with steeply priced drinks and the beachgoers who wear barely-there $300 swimsuits, but vacationing Miami-style doesn’t have to cost a fortune.

From $3 beers to staying at a hostel for $34 a night to $7 bike rides along the Florida Everglades, visitors looking for deals have lots of options in the area.

Lodging

If you’re adventurous and on a tight budget, consider staying in a hostel. Rooms can house anywhere between three and 14 travelers, sleeping on bunk beds, from $18 a night per person to about $40, depending on season and room size.

Miami Beach

The Lincoln Road pedestrian mall is perfect for strolls and people-watching. You’ll find dozens of restaurants and shops, along with locals walking dogs or weaving through the crowds on roller blades.

For a quick bite, check out Pizza Rustica (667 Lincoln Road, other locations on Washington Avenue), where you can get a huge slice of gourmet pizza for about $5.

This is also a great spot for club-goers looking for something to fill their stomachs after a few drinks since it’s open from 11 a.m. until 3 or 4 a.m.

Regardless of where or how far you are traveling, it is always a good idea to take precautions against illnesses of all descriptions.

Eating a lighter diet, awareness of conditions of food outlets and handy medication are the basic stepping stones. Follow these travel tips to keep illness at bay while traveling:

Maintain hygiene: Check your accommodation and surroundings carefully, and try to make an alternative arrangement if it’s full of dust and dirt.

Pack your luggage in a neat, hygienic bag. Don’t leave your bag in strange places, and always keep it in dry areas.

Using bathrooms: Always take precautions when you are using public bathrooms, as this is where viruses like to hang out. At airports and stations especially, make an effort to find a rest room that is neat and clean. Flush water using your toes instead of your hands. Dry your hands with paper towels.

Wash your hands: Wash your hands with soap and sanitizers whenever you get the chance. Don’t rub your face, eyes and nose with your hands. Dry your hands after washing to prevent picking up infections from unsavory surfaces.

Now’s a prime time to enjoy a cozy bed-and-breakfast. Whether you want to trek a nature trail or shop along a dock, these places offer a great escape.

Santa Barbara, California

For those who dream of living in Santa Barbara, staying in one of its 15 B&Bs is the next best thing.

Find 100-year-old Victorian inns, France-inspired cottages, and Craftsman-style country homes nestled within exclusive neighborhoods.

One standout, the Simpson House Inn, sits amid English gardens and has garnered accolades as one of the best B&Bs in North America.

Troncones, Mexico

Minutes from the popular Ixtapa and Zihuatanejo resorts, Troncones has an attraction all its own. The small village has emerged as an eco-retreat with more than 10 boutique inns.

Choose from beachfront bungalows, waterfront rooms, private suites and villas. Most inns offer yoga sessions, spa treatments and snorkeling and surfing lessons.

Read more at CNN

Planning on a family vacation? Take extra care if you’re traveling with children, especially if you’re taking infants or toddlers. Here are a few tips:

Select destination: Help your children explore their destination by giving them travel guide books. Preferably choose a destination that has a temperate climate.

Study the environmental conditions before leaving. Make sure they have child-friendly facilities.

Transportation: Choose child-friendly transportation. If the destination is far away, fly rather than going by road. Keep a bag on you which contains all the things you need for your kids.

If your child is suffering from ear problems, consult your doctor and take precautions before traveling.

Teach your children how to sit and move in an aeroplane without hurting themselves. Pack special blankets, stuffed toys and a teething ring if you are going with infants. If you are traveling in a car, bus or train, take precautions. Book the tickets in advance to get comfortable seats.

Packing: Pack luggage in a trolley suitcase if your children are old enough to carry it. List the important items before you start packing. Carry cribs, diapers, extra dresses and baby bathing items for infants. Pack story books and lightweight toys to entertain your children.

Sure you have to drag a diaper bag (not to mention stroller, car seat and a generous supply of Goldfish) everywhere you go, you haven’t had a full night’s sleep in you can’t remember how long and the dire economic news makes you wonder how you’ll ever pay for preschool, much less college.

But then there’s the bright side — travel-wise, anyway. While everyone else is up to their ears in carpools, homework and soccer games, you’re free to get out of town.

You gleefully avoid traveling during the crowded (and pricey) school break weeks, which means you not only pay less, but garner more attention for your little darlings and better service for you, too.

You’ll curry favor from co-workers for working those weeks they desperately need off.

The best part: You’ve got your pick of places to go this fall — some just a short drive or train ride from home — that not only won’t bust the budget but will welcome diaper-wearing, Goldfish-toting babies and toddlers.

Choose smart and you can grab a bargain, especially right now as the travel industry trots out an array of deals with plenty of extras thrown in.

Worried about how to pack all your luggage for a long trip? Here are a few packing tips to pack your luggage comfortable way and ensure that you don’t carry too much weight.

1. Don’t pack more than you can carry by yourself!

Porters and trolleys may not be available during your trip, so try to fit all your luggage in a baggage that you can carry. Pack the total luggage in one or two bags only.

2. Choose the right suitcase or bag

Make sure your bags are firm enough to protect your clothes. It may tear while you are carrying it. Choose a good quality bag with strong and long straps, which is not likely to tear.

To avoid shoulder and back pain, pack your bag in a rectangular shape instead of pear shape.

3. Packing clothes and other essentials

Pack clothes, shoes, underwear, hairdryers, and other essentials in one bag.  During winter, carry sweaters and woolen clothes.

In your shoulder bag, pack your cosmetic bag, camera, jewelry and a book to read while traveling. Place delicate items in the middle of the suitcase. If you want to pack a belt, place it around the edge of the bag without folding it.

Dying to go on an exclusive beach holiday [Beach Trips], but not sure where to go? If you are a nature lover, there are plenty of beautiful spots all over the world to choose from. Here are a few of the best:

Virgin Islands: Buck Island National Monument is one of three underwater national monuments in US Virgin Islands. Catch a thrill by swimming behind a giant sea turtle, or go on an underwater trail. Visit grottoes, and be mesmerized by the unique coral and thousands of tropical fish.

Hawaii Island: Oahu, with its 880 acres of coast, is the most visited beach in Hawaii Island [Hawaii vacation]. Go for snorkeling and surf lessons in many pools in one of five bays. Protected by a lagoon and mountains, Oahu beach is also a good spot for horse riding.

An African safari is a true adventure — a journey crafted in the tradition of wealthy 13th-century traders who first hunted the plains of Africa for wild game trophies to hang on their walls.

Today, travelers hunt for photo opportunities instead of occasions to kill, but they encounter the same scenes that have fascinated explorers throughout history: thousands of zebras migrating across emerald grasslands, flocks of florescent flamingos creating a field of color across a shining soda lake, lions feasting on a hard-earned kill.

Many travelers trek to Africa in search of the “big five”: buffalo, lions, leopards, elephants and rhinoceroses.

The chance to get close to these animals in their natural habitats is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, but your trip to the Africa is anything but a trip to the zoo.

Safaris can be physically taxing and strenuous, and you may not see all the animals you expected. Since most safari destinations are in developing sub-Saharan nations, travelers must take certain safety and health precautions.

If you’re planning a safari (or just dreaming about it), be as prepared as possible. Get some good guidebooks, talk to friends who’ve been to Africa and research, research, research.