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Editor, Dunhill Vacation News asked:


I remember watching a comedy special where George Cariln, in his usual ‘things that make you go hmmm’ way, posed the question; “What exactly is better then sliced bread?”  Having never really given it much thought, until George brought it to the forefront, I feel that long weekends have got to be somewhere in the mix.  And on the doorstep of the unofficial end to summer weekend, I would like to list 5 reasons why I feel this way:

5. A reason to grill – as if you really needed one.  Look at the Food Network and the majority of their shows during these long breaks from work talk about getting out there and grilling.  Rain or shine, this exercise will make you feel like you’re doing exactly what you should be doing at the exact time you should be doing it.

 

4.  Not having to set your alarm.  If you have been trying to catch up on some sleep during the week, this might be your best chance to do it.  I know, they say that you can never catch up on any lost sleep, but not having to worry about getting jolted out of bed by loud bells or annoying buzzing noises is certainly a good start.

3. Sundays all of a sudden don’t seem so bad.  I never really minded Sundays.  To me, it has always been a huge speed bump in the week.  After running around all week, then on Saturday catching up on all the things that you couldn’t catch up on all week, the beginning of the week is a nice reason to just relax.  Throw in the fact that alarm clock won’t be haunting your dreams in the morning, and Sunday is the new Saturday.

2. Road trips!  There is a scene in the Movie, Animal House, where the fraternity brothers of Alpha Delta Phi thought it would be a good idea to take a road trip, and it was!  Road trips help to serve two purposes, one to get away and two to experience the adventure in getting there.  I have always found that some of the best vacations I have ever had were short 3 day getaways where getting there was ¾ the fun.

1. One extra day of doing whatever the hell you want.  You’re the boss and there is no one that can tell you what to do.  With the occasional ‘honey-do’ list, which by the way is not something that is better then sliced bread, you are free to do any of these things, or simply be a beach bum and let it all hang out!

Labor Day weekend is here; and it is a celebration of all us laborers that make this country the greatest country in the world.  Celebrate it any way you want, but do celebrate it…we’ll see you when the coast is clear!

There is plenty of ideas here – flight, hotel, car rental – for your long weekend getaway, or any getaway. DunhillVacations.com, one stop shopping for all your travel needs.

Tabitha Naylor asked:


If you are searching for vacation rental properties, you are in luck. There are a few places that you can search repeatedly to find hundreds of properties listed for sale. And the best part: most of the time, you will never even have to leave your home.

A good starting point when searching for vacation rentals is with a real estate agency. This is one of the best methods since realtors know where all of the properties are located, and will be able to work with you in order to make sure that you get what you want. You can tell the real estate agent exactly what you want, including price, and they will show you properties that suit your needs.

If you do not want to deal with a realtor, you can search for properties on your own. This is best done on the internet. When searching for vacation rentals online, you may want to visit the sites of the realtors in the areas that interest you. By taking this approach, you will be able to see all of the properties available without ever having to talk to anyone on the phone.

You can supplement your internet search by browsing generalized sites that will search every listing in a specified area. If you are uncomfortable with the idea of dealing with a realtor, this may be your best option, since you will get the most results in the shortest period of time.

Of course, you can also utilize newspapers and homes magazines. Even though this is not as popular as it once was, you can still find plenty of vacation properties this way. If this is the method you plan on using, just make sure you search one of the larger newspapers in the area, which will give you access to a greater number of properties.

And, for those who love to pound the pavement, you can always drive around looking for properties. Of course, this is amore outdated method of searching than the newspaper, but it can still be an effective. And, as a bonus, if you find a unit that looks particularly enticing, you can always stop by and ask questions.

Overall, finding properties for vacation rentals is a relatively easy task. In most cases, you should be able to find hundreds of potential properties without ever leaving home. Regardless of which way you search, you should always be able to find something that you like.

Melanie Hudson asked:


The crown jewels of Hawaii, the Maui islands, are renowned in the world for their unspoiled beauty and for their popularity with world’s most hard to please guests. Maui island became a synonym for modern, environmentally conscious vacations.

The nature seems to have given its best to this part of the Hawaii, with Maui flourishing on the rich soil of volcanic origin and draining its energy from nearby hills which also protect the island from winds of Pacific. Long evening walks and the sun drowning into the Pacific, scenes matched only by Hollywood’s most romantic pictures. The total effect is just too appealing. Maui really casts the spell over its visitors.

This place has turned out to be one of the most popular vacation destinations for people from all over the globe. As a matter of fact, over two million people from the US and Canada alone visit this place annually. Maui really stands out in terms of popularity, luxury and attraction.

The consequence of popularity is skyrocketing interest in Maui vacation homes. They are ideal for those who want to cherish the beauty of this place without being hindered by any hassles of the world around us. Maui vacation homes can be found in populated Maui center as well as special vacation home communities which have been designed solely for the purpose of vacation home seekers.

For true relaxation with nothing but privacy all around you and with the all present touch of the beautiful nature, vacation homes alongside the beach should do the trick. Not everyone needs the privacy of a vacation home in Maui, but than again Maui vacation homes offer many advantages to those luxury hotels usually found on Maui.

There are so many things to do in Maui that you can hardly manage your events. Maui vacation homes are just what they promise to be, the facility that gets as close to that “home feeling” as possible. If you like to prepare your own meal, wash your own clothes, if you like to enjoy the luxury of your own apartment, Maui vacation homes have it all.

A special kind of hospitality and ambient can be experienced in top extravagance Maui vacation homes. Among others there are some mind blowing vacation homes in Maui, traditionally designed but equipped with high class furniture, spacious rooms, extraordinary beautiful surroundings, very own luxury bbq, swimming pool, xxl bathrooms, sauna, private club rooms with luxury furniture and mandatory billiard, to mention just few of the highlights.

Regardless how well equipped the true pizzazz to the overall experience is ensured through the beauty of the island itself. The island has thousands of interesting spots to offer and Maui vacation homes are always situated near one of them. When searching for the suitable vacation home, there is always clearly stated the distance to the sea, with luxury vacation homes in Maui this usually means a stone throw away from the beach.

Not only does the island itself offer many activities, the character of the Pacific climate makes Maui a Mecca for water sports especially wind-water sports. The Maui vacation homes come in a wide range of varieties. They are sure to meet your budget plans as well, however varied they be.

Syd Z. Nohcud asked:


Buying your first vacation property – be it a family summer vacation camp or perhaps a more elaborate upscale lakeside chalet or condo is a dream that often comes to light during weekend or summertime visits to friends or family who are so equipped. Spring and summertime is such a short season that a getaway retreat – that is far away from it all – and provides solace away from the demands of the city, the office and the business is more than desirable – from a multitude of standpoints – be fishing waterskiing or hunting spot, recreation, a family gathering and outing place – or just plain fun and relaxation.

However from both a financial and property owner’s perspectives if you are planning on taking that big plunge to research, purchase and invest in a summer or second property there are a number of both practical and logistical considerations to delve into.

First of all as with any real estate the key words are location, location and location. It is basic and more than important to do your research on defining the geographic areas on where both your ideal and practical location of your summer cottage or property may be. You may love the Whiteshell , but find after several jaunts that the 1 ½ hour jaunt out of Winnipeg seems a lot longer after repeat trips and end of the weekend summertime traffic jams on the highways – all with other working spouses on their way back for the Monday start of the work week. It may seem fine once or twice; it may even seem fine for an occasional early morning drive in to work. However in your case a closer, yet less scenic cottage setting – say at Gimli or Winnipeg Beach. Also take into account if you have recently moved your regular home as well. What was now a short jaunt to the lake of 40 minutes from the perimeter may now have added to it an hour jaunt across the city as well? Be realistic with the location of your cottage. Ordinary practicality is the key – not only to you but also for the family. On the other side of the fence if your employment is as a teacher – and you or your spouse have the summer months off then a cottage at Lake of the Woods – may be very practical. On top of that the long distance may increase your solitude and keep unwanted guests away. It’s not a short or easy jaunt to their cottage after all. Especially now when people add in gas prices for the highway trip to the equation of their costs of a day at the lake.

It can be said in summary that a summer vacation cottage, camp or year round vacation property can be great. It can be a most relaxing haven away from home in the city, the city with all its hustle and bustle as well as the office and its pressures. Cottages are often for family. Often children have their best memories, in retrospect of the fun times spent with their friends and family at the lake during summer vacations. A vacation property is a big investment now and for the future not only in a financial sense but also for peace of mind and the time and recreation that the family can share together. Take the time to evaluate your summer vacation cottage property or year round second property fully and with practical measures in mind. Its well worth the time spent. After a vacation property is a real estate purchase.

Buying your first vacation property – be it a family summer vacation camp or perhaps a more elaborate upscale lakeside chalet or condo is a dream that often comes to light during weekend or summertime visits to friends or family who are so equipped. Spring and summertime is such a short season that a getaway retreat – that is far away from it all – and provides solace away from the demands of the city, the office and the business is more than desirable – from a multitude of standpoints – be fishing waterskiing or hunting spot, recreation, a family gathering and outing place – or just plain fun and relaxation.

However from both a financial and property owner’s perspectives if you are planning on taking that big plunge to research, purchase and invest in a summer or second property there are a number of both practical and logistical considerations to delve into.

First of all as with any real estate the key words are location, location and location. It is basic and more than important to do your research on defining the geographic areas on where both your ideal and practical location of your summer cottage or property may be. You may love the Whiteshell , but find after several jaunts that the 1 ½ hour jaunt out of Winnipeg seems a lot longer after repeat trips and end of the weekend summertime traffic jams on the highways – all with other working spouses on their way back for the Monday start of the work week. It may seem fine once or twice; it may even seem fine for an occasional early morning drive in to work. However in your case a closer, yet less scenic cottage setting – say at Gimli or Winnipeg Beach. Also take into account if you have recently moved your regular home as well. What was now a short jaunt to the lake of 40 minutes from the perimeter may now have added to it an hour jaunt across the city as well? Be realistic with the location of your cottage. Ordinary practicality is the key – not only to you but also for the family. On the other side of the fence if your employment is as a teacher – and you or your spouse have the summer months off then a cottage at Lake of the Woods – may be very practical. On top of that the long distance may increase your solitude and keep unwanted guests away. It’s not a short or easy jaunt to their cottage after all. Especially now when people add in gas prices for the highway trip to the equation of their costs of a day at the lake.

It can be said in summary that a summer vacation cottage, camp or year round vacation property can be great. It can be a most relaxing haven away from home in the city, the city with all its hustle and bustle as well as the office and its pressures. Cottages are often for family. Often children have their best memories, in retrospect of the fun times spent with their friends and family at the lake during summer vacations. A vacation property is a big investment now and for the future not only in a financial sense but also for peace of mind and the time and recreation that the family can share together. Take the time to evaluate your summer vacation cottage property or year round second property fully and with practical measures in mind. Its well worth the time spent. After a vacation property is a real estate purchase.

Manjari Singh asked:

The beaches of Goa with it’s spectacular beauty is enamored all over the world. The 125 km long Goan coastline is dotted with many beautiful beaches. It is the perfect destination for a romantic honeymoon or an ideal vacation. It is the firm favorite for the holidaymakers from across the world. Each year thousands of tourists from all over the world visit Goa. Beaches here are quite versatile by nature. From hippy parties all along night to the silent and lonely world, beaches here offer all kinds of atmosphere to the visitors. Some of the beaches are commercialized and have all kind of upmarket, massage parlours, gyms, night clubs and while in some there is no sign of habitation. Most of the beaches organizes water sports like parasailing, jet skiing, windsurfing and boating. One interesting fact about beaches is most of them have been named after the closet villages.

Anjuna Beach:

It is often regarded as mother of all beach in India itself. This beach was discovered sometimes around 50′s and 60′s by the group of travelers and since then have become ideal destination of every holidaymakers who visits Goa. With calm waters of Arabian sea slowly waving around the shore, this beach is most famous for its full moonlit hippie parties. Specially during Christmas and new year time this place is full of parties. Parties are mostly centered around Shoe bar which is in the middle of beach. Anjuna beach is so large that it has been divided into north, south and middle. Majority of bars, hotels and restaurants are in north Anjuna, in the middle Anjuna there is flea market and in south is Little Anjuna beach. Flea market is held every Wednesday, where one can buy traditional Gujarati, Kashmiri and Tibetan handicrafts. One can have delicious Goan cuisines beginning from mouthwatering prawns to heavenly pork vindaloo. For sightseeing in Anjuna there’s Albuquerque mansion which was built in 1920, another being Mascarenhas Mansion which has beautiful balconies. Chapora fort gives it a historic angle. They say party never ends in Anjuna beach, only condition is that sooner you grove into the party mood.

Calangute Beach:

This is beach also known as ‘Queen of Beaches’ offers you the calm serenity to escape from party land Anjuna. This beach was first spotted by hippies in the 60′s and very soon it became very popular. By 70′s many European tourists started flocking here. Many Bollywood stars too have been charmed by this beach. Superstar Raj Kapoor got inspiration for his movie ‘Bobby’ after visiting this beach. Pristine surroundings and golden sands gives this place a stunning view. Unlike Anjuna here bars closes by ten pm with only few hippie joints remain opened. So, there is hardly any nightlife in Calangute. It is not the ideal place for those party animals. It is one of those beaches which offers lot of water sports. One can go for parasailing, water sailing, water skiing and bump rides. Some boat operators offers dolphin and crocodile spotting trips, island trips and fishing expeditions. One lazy around sun bathing or walk in the calm demeanor of this beach. Church of St. Alex is one of the must see place of this serene beach. One cant dare to amiss hundred of stalls in beach selling different varieties of sea food. This beach is popular among all group of people including many family visitors.

Baga Beach:

Baga is small beach located between its more illustrious cousins Colva and Calangute on either side. This beach is an extension of Calangute and it is hard to make out where one ends or begins. Best thing about Baga is its less crowded than its nearby beaches. The meeting of Baga river and sea here is an stunning sight. As white waves gushes through brown sand to wash your feet marks,a calm feeling will swallow you. It is the best place for restful moments if you want to get away from the hustle-bustle of Calangute and Colva beach. With its uncrowded nature this beach is popular among those tourist who wants to pursue their hobbies. Fishing and water sports is the most popular one.

Colva Beach:

Colva is one of the longest beach stretching around 25 km along the Arabian Sea. It has large presence of coconut palm along its coastline. This beach had the distinction of being retreat zone of the high society of Margoa during pre-colonial era. Few can match the scenic beauty of Colva with sky, sand and land blending a enigmatic natural beauty. This beach gained popularity quite late compared to other beaches of Goa. But off late it has emerged as the major tourist attraction of the South Goa. It is the perfect place for those who seek solitude in their holidays. There is long mile of virgin territory comprising of soft sands, shining sun and music of the waves. Just grab your favorite book and tie the swing net in between coconut tree and laze around in the calmness. Even though lots of foreign and tourist from rest of India throng this beach, it is very popular among the locals. Bull fight which takes in old rice field with no barricades is another showpiece of Colva beach. With local Konkani music playing and lots of local humor, bull fights usually takes place from October to May end.

Condolim Beach:

Starting from Fort Aguada and merging with Calangute beach towards end, it is one of the longest beach located in north Goa. This beach is quite peaceful and is very popular among the foreign tourists. This beach is quite long and straight and is backed by scrub covered sand dunes which is very popular among the tourists. A lot of tourists from Pune’s Rajneesh ashram visit this beach, yoga and meditation is also popular activity on the beach. Village Candolim is known for fishing. You can either request and join the villagers in their fishing expedition or go fishing on your own. Here nightlife is almost non-existent. Fort Aguada, Chapel of St. Lawrence and Condolim church are some of the major tourist attractions. Being less crowded this beach is best place to try out water sports. This is place where first revolt against Portuguese erupted.

Benaulim Beach:

This is the place to get closure to the nature and remain totally untouched. It is one special place for Christians as it the birth place of venerable Father Joseph Vaz. The best thing about Benaulim is its still an undiscovered beach. Unlike other beaches commercialization has not creped yet. This is the best place for sun bathing and getting tanned. One can go for swimming too. Though its quite beach during evening and weekend it can get crowded with locals pouring in. The main attraction of this beach is dolphin spotting trips. It is pretty cheap too. Church of St. John Baptist situated atop hill is the ideal place to visit in Benaulim. Water sports like parasailing, jet skiing and wind surfing is available too.

Stuart S. Travel asked:

You are going traveling. You have lots of expenses to cover. You need to pay for your air fare, your accommodation, your food, your travel while away, cultural experiences and the list goes on. You want to save money so you decide not to bother with travel insurance. You are going on the trip of a lifetime so nothing will go wrong. It’s an unnecessary expense so you don’t need it. Wrong. Very wrong. Traveling with out insurance can be the biggest mistake you make when organizing your trip and a very costly one.

What is travel insurance? Well there are two kinds of insurance to look at when traveling.

1. Travel insurance, (sometimes called trip insurance) which covers cancellations, delays, lost baggage and emergencies.

2. Travel medical insurance protects you against any medical expense while traveling.

Ideally, you need a combination of the two when traveling.

Imagine these scenarios:

You are in Darwin, Australia when a cyclone hits the area. The city is devastated by the cyclone and all services shut down. You have to be evacuated and sent home. Your travel insurance will cover you for this. You do have travel insurance don’t you?

Your luggage goes missing in India. You need to buy new clothes and fast. Can you afford it in your budget? Of course you can, you took out traveler’s insurance – didn’t you?

Or what if you go surfing in Hawaii and take a big wipeout? You are so severely injured you need surgery and major medical assistance, and then are airlifted home. But that’s okay – your travel medical insurance covers all that. You have got it, haven’t you?

Travel insurance is there to protect you in case bad things happen on your trip. It is a necessary expense. Overseas medical costs can be astronomical if you are not insured. And if you are injured in a developing country, medical attention may not be as good as at home. If you are insured you can get flown home and attended to at no cost.

Every year the government deals with thousands of cases of travelers being injured, falling ill or dying overseas. This is a distressing situation for all involved, but made even worse when the travelers are not insured, often leaving them with huge bills to pay. Hospitalization in other countries can cost over one thousand dollars a day. Medical evacuations can be in the hundreds of thousands of dollars and if you die in Europe, it can cost over ten thousand dollars to bring your body back home. If you do not have travel insurance you have to cover these costs yourself (or your family will have to find the money).

Travel insurance is a cost you need to budget for. If you don’t take it out, your medical expenses could cost a whole lot more. Insure yourself and travel safe.

This article is brought to you by: Stuart S. Travel – Your Online Travel Guru

www.stuartstravel.com

Traveling Mum asked:

When friends and family call me crazy for traveling with my toddler and preschooler to cities like Chicago, New York, and Toronto, I just laugh. My kids have munched on picnic treats while watching the Chicago Symphony Orchestra at Millennium Park, clambered up the monkey bars in the shadow of the arch in Washington Square Park and peered through the glass floor on the observation deck of the CN tower. Though it wasn’t always easy navigating the city streets with two little ones in tow, it was well worth the trouble. I had a fantastic time and I could tell from the way they talked about the trips for months afterward that my kids had a great time too.

The city is full of fun and educational activities for children. From skyscrapers to top-notch museums, kids can see and experience things that are simply unavailable in small towns. Though city travel with small children can be challenging, with careful planning and attention to detail everyone can have a good time. Here are a few tips to help the trip go smoothly:

Take a stroller. Even if it’s been a while since your child has used a stroller, you’ll be glad you brought it. City trips tend to involve a good deal of walking from spot to spot and a little one can tire out easily. With a stroller he can ride in comfort and you won’t worry about losing him in a crowd. I’ve found that the inexpensive umbrella strollers work much better than the large, heavy-duty strollers complete with food trays and cup holders. Umbrella strollers fold up smaller and are lighter, making them more convenient for toting up and down flights of stairs or carrying onto the subway.

Make frequent stops at playgrounds. The best part of visiting a city can be simply strolling around, popping into unusual shops, watching the people and enjoying the city energy. Remember that while your toddler or preschooler might be very patient, he’s got his limits. I’ve found that stopping to play for a few minutes at playgrounds that we happen upon is a great way for the little ones to work some of their energy off. They also love the novelty of playing on different equipment than the same old stuff found at the parks back home.

Bring a travel pack of wipes. Even if you’re not a germ nazi, you’ll be glad you did. Those city playgrounds, banisters and benches can be extremely dirty, but after cleaning the little one’s hands up with a wipe you’ll feel more comfortable about letting her dig into a tasty hot dog from a street vendor.

Choose your eateries carefully. If you’re eating at a nice sit-down restaurant, make sure it’s noisy enough to absorb your child’s prattle. I learned that one the hard way when, tired out from our long drive, we decided to eat at our Chicago hotel’s in-house restaurant, the kind of place with a hushed atmosphere and waiters in white gloves hovering about. Naturally my two-year-old decided to belt out the “itsy-bitsy-spider” over and over again. We wound up having the meal sent up to our room. The next night we chose a popular, lively Italian restaurant where the little guy was no louder than anyone else in the place.

Plan activities for kids. Big cities offer all sorts of interesting and educational activities for children of all ages. Do a little research online and in guidebooks ahead of time to find a few age appropriate sights for your child. Has it been over twenty years since you took part in any of these activities yourself? You just might find yourself enjoying seeing the tyrannosaurus rex skeleton at the natural history museum and watching the polar bears glide through the water at the zoo.

Plan activities for adults. Destinations like art museums can still be on the agenda, but keep in mind your child’s limitations and be ready to cut the outing short if need be. Try to engage him at the art museum. Ask questions like: “What do you see in that picture? Do you see a boat? What picture do you like best in this room?” Visit any children’s exhibits the museum might have and ask at the information desk which exhibits are the biggest hits for kids.

Take the bus or subway. Mass transit is an adventure for a small town kid. After the trip is over, he’ll talk about it as much as the dinosaur bones. Try to avoid traveling at rush hour, though, when the sardine can atmosphere might be overwhelming for a little one.