Tuesday, April 29, 2008

Beautiful Holiday|How To Plan For A Self-Drive Holiday

Do you like to be hurried along on a package tour? I don't. And that's why I enjoy going on flexible self-drive holidays. But a DIY vacation may be remembered for the wrong reasons if it is not planned properly.

Here are some tips for planning your own successful self-drive holiday.

1. Begin planning early. Where do you want to go? What do you want to see? Where will you be staying? If you belong to a travel organization, pick up brochures and a current map detailing the area you want to visit. The Internet is an invaluable tool when planning your holiday. Check out customer reviews of hotels and points of interest.

2. Plan the driving route. Mark on the map the places of interest you'd like to see. Check out points of interest in the cities, such as museums, amusement parks, and shopping. Points of interest along scenic byways that might be less traveled might include parks, quaint small towns, and historic sites. Talk with each family member to see what would be of interest to them so everyone gets to contribute to the holiday plans. Don't forget to include time each day for meal stops and fresh air breaks.

If you are driving overseas, check if they drive on the same side of the road as back home. You might want to rent an auto-transmission vehicle if the road system differs greatly from what you are used to. Then, you don't have to grapple with gear shifting and driving on the correct side of the road!

3. Make reservations for the places you are going to stay along the way. Keep a folder with all of the contact information, confirmation numbers, and dates of arrival and departure for each overnight stay. Ample rest is essential for a relaxed trip, so make sure to allow for it each night.

4. Your vehicle is going to take you several miles on your holiday, so be sure to have the oil checked or changed, fluids filled, tires filled, and the windshield wipers replaced if needed. Always bring along a tire jack, the spare tire, jumper cables, simple tools, a flashlight and flares. Membership to an auto club is a good investment, just in case you need a tow or a new battery away from home.

5. Travel supplies for the family are crucial for enjoying the trip. A cooler stocked with fresh snacks like carrot sticks, yogurt, cheese sticks, bottled water, and fruit will save you time and money. Other snacks that travel well are granola bars, trail mix, animal crackers, and nuts. Keep wipes and napkins handy for quick clean up.

6. Bring along a first aid kit with the basics: bandages of varying sizes, antibiotic spray or cream, gauze, ace bandages, and pain reliever.

7. A camera is a must on holiday! Bring along extra memory cards, power cords, rechargeable batteries and charger or extra film, so you won't pay outrageous prices along the way for your camera needs.

8. Carry cash, a credit card and a debit card. Of course, make sure your bank has ATM's along your route. A credit card is always a good idea because some establishments won't take debit cards or cash. However, for those farmer's markets or small towns along the way, cash might be a good idea.

9. Other items to bring on holiday to ensure success: an excellent and current atlas, a cell phone with charger, emergency phone numbers for family members, insurance cards (car and hospital), and activities to do along the way. If you are traveling with children, bring along games, books, stickers, and crayons for a successful, and quieter, trip.

10. Maintain a sense of humor. There will be times when a plan may change. And there will always be that occasional hiccup. Before traveling, decide that you will the funny side of any bad situation rather than let it ruin your vacation.

A successful self-drive holiday is just around the corner for you. Have you started planning yet? Enjoy the process and pay attention to the details, and you'll be sure to have a great time together as a family seeing the sights and enjoying the journey.

Gabriel Tan writes about his home city at http://www.etour-singapore.com See his suggestions for do-it-yourself tours in Singapore and southern Malaysia

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Gabriel_Tan

Beautiful Holiday| Sunrise in Guanaja

Guanaja Honduras is a stunning tropical gem. A small island, only three by eleven miles, it is located in the Bay Islands off the northern coast of Honduras. When I was growing up in the Pacific Northwest, little did I know that someday I would be opening my eyes to a sunrise in Guanaja!

So we are here, my husband, our little Maltese dog and me. We came down to visit this Central American beauty for our birthday celebrations, only two days apart.

I am sitting in the living room of our little bungalow on the ocean, only steps from the water. Yesterday, I tried to figure out how far we really were from the water, probably under a hundred steps, but down here in Guanaja things like that are not all that important. What matters most is that as I sit on the couch there is no need for art work because Mother Nature has provided a stunning show piece! The pristine clear waters of the Caribbean Sea are right at my door step.

The sounds are and smells are spectacular, also. When the gentle waves caress the shoreline it brings back childhood memories of going to the beach and listening for hours to the crashing waves of the Pacific Ocean, this, for me is a relaxing sound. It is better than any music I have ever heard. The slightly briny smell of the salt water is like perfume. In the far distance I can hear a fishing boat making its way out to work for the day. The throbbing of the diesel engines can be heard a long way over the water. For me, this is paradise.

Morning comes early here. I guess, because we are closer to the equator, the days begin early here, in fact the rooster starts to crow at 4:30am. The crowing is the signal that the inky black sky with the dazzling stars will begin to fade, and the sky will start to turn gentle pastel colors, until the fiercely bright sun rises out of the sea to begin a new day. What more do you want out of life?

I know that some people thrive on the hustle and bustle of the big city life. They love the intense rushing about and the noise of the city, the smells of big industry, but not me. Give me the peaceful sound of the ocean surf, the gentle colors of the Caribbean sky, salt air and the camaraderie of good friends. The wonderful pictures that Mother Nature gives us, is all that I need to feel at one with the world.

A sunrise in Guanaja Honduras is priceless. It is something that only a few very privileged people ever get to experience. Get on an airplane in Miami and a couple of hours later you will be in this tropical paradise to see for yourself.

By the way, you know that rooster that crows at 4:30 am? I think I am going to have a chat with that bird and maybe order chicken for dinner tonight!

Denise Clarke a retired Paramedic, is now a blogger, writer, photographer and internet researcher. Follow her latest adventures by visiting her blogs:

http://www.Guanaja-Honduras.blogspot.com

http://www.Fish-Guanaja.blogspot.com

Sign up for Latest Guanaja News at:

http://www.Honduras-Guanaja.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Denise_Clarke

Beautiful Holiday|Are You Concerned About Safe Travel?

There are some concerns about travel safety that, as the traveler, we have absolutely no control over. Thousands and thousands of passengers were stranded when American Airlines grounded their MD-80s for safety inspections. I'd been through something similar, at Newark, when Continental ran out of time on getting their puddle jumpers inspected and grounded them all.

My husband and I enjoy traveling. We have done a fair amount of domestic and international travel over the past few years. Some of our destinations have been greeted by friends and family with "You are going to be out in the middle of WHERE?" or "Didn't you know that city isn't safe? or even "ARE YOU NUTS?" But we went anyway, We arrived safely, stayed safe and returned home safe.

While a traveler has no control over everything that can happen, one can certainly stack the odds in their favor. What are some of the things you can do?

1) Work with an experienced travel agent. Once when I mentioned an exotic destination to an agent, she replied "There is NO WAY I'm sending you there". It wasn't until later, after I had done some research on my own, that I realized how right she was. At that time the location was very unsafe for tourists.

2) Go with a group. I know a lot of people like to travel independently but the fact is there IS safety in numbers. This is a particularly good option if you don't know the local language.

3) Rather than wandering on your own, arrange a city tour with a local guide through your hotel.

4) Don't do anything you wouldn't do at home.

The author and her husband have just finished visiting 6 continents. The 7th, Asia, is on the schedule. You'll find more tips, suggestions and resources at http://informationforsafetravel.blogspot.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Diane_Robbins