Stop Blisters With This Quick Easy Remedy

We’re all likely to do a whole lot of walking while on vacation.  More often than we’d like, this leads to pesky blisters forming on our feet.  As soon as you feel the tingle of a hot blister spot, try this fast, effective remedy.  Whip out your lip gloss (or chap stick for the guys) and coat the area with your lip gloss.  The gloss will make the area slippery, allowing your shoe to move smoothly over the skin, eliminating the friction and thus preventing the blister from forming!  An extra bonus is the cooling effect of a mint flavored gloss cooling the area and giving quick pain relief.  Perfect.

Calling All Campers, Hikers and Sportsman – Learn to Cook In The Wild

Do you love the smell of a crackling camp fire, and the camaraderie of folks gathered around to watch the flames dance as food slowly roasts on a spit?  Do you love to barbecue, add your special sauces, and feed the whole neighborhood?  Do the fragrant aromas of freshly baked sourdough bread send you into ecstasy?  Do you think you have what it takes to be a professional “Camp Cook”?.  Well you can find out in Philipsburg, Montana, home of the Royal Tine Camp Cook School. Read more

Choose Fiji Over of Tahiti To Save a Bundle

An exotic South Pacific vacation is at the top of most of our dream vacation lists. Having spent time in both Tahiti and Fiji, I can tell you without hesitation,”Go – these destinations will knock your socks off”.   The islands are every bit as enchanting and sensual as the pictures would have you believe!

Two concerns typically hold us back; the long flight and the expense.  While there are few solutions to making the flights seem shorter, there is news on the pricing front.  Earlier this month the Fijian government devalued the Fijian Dollar by 20%.  Today the US Dollar will buy you 2.24 Fijian Dollars (more than double), while Tahiti uses the Euro for its currency -  1 Euro will cost you $1.32 in US Dollars.  The US Dollar will definitely bring you far more luxury buying power in Fiji.  Couple the falling rate of the Fijian Dollar with  the declining number of tourists taking extended vacations this year, and the scene it set for some dramatic pricing initiatives.

In years past Tahiti took the top limelight for exotic luxury resorts and private island retreats, but Fiji has been introducing ultra luxury resorts of their own in recent years.  Names like Jean-Michel Cousteau, Vatulele, Nukubati, Castaway, Namale, and Nukubati Island Resorts (just to name a few) all have the WOW factor.  A quick search on Expedia for availability in Fiji in late June (enter Nadi as the destination) revealed lots of hotel rates in the $50 – $300 per night range.  A similar search in Tahiti (with Bora Bora as the destination) showed most rates in the $600 range.

So the moral of this story is be aware of foreign exchange rates and travel where your dollar will purchase ultra luxury at a great price - in this case say Bula to Fiji!

Free Family Travel Guides From Trip Advisor

Great new (free) Family Travel Guides are available for download from the good folks at Trip Advisor.  I just got an email (about a dream trip promotion) and added on the bottom of the email were links to their new Family Travel Guides for the USA.  I took a quick look, and they are really terrific! The guides provide quick lists of where to Stay for Less, Dine For Less, and Free Attractions.  Here are the links: East Coast Guide , Midwest Guide, West Coast Guide.  You may need to register on the Trip Advisor site for access – but you should be a member of this site anyway, as it is the top internet travel site for traveler reviews.

The Out Islands of the Bahamas Are Heavenly In Spring

It’s been a long cold winter and you haven’t had a good dose of sunshine and sand between your toes in a long time. Spring breezes may have you itching to dig in the garden, but for me, Spring brings yearnings for crystal clear waters lapping on endless miles of pristine beaches. Yes my friends, May and June are the perfect months to fly off to the Out Islands of the Bahamas where temperatures are in the 80′s and life is a beach!  Grab your flip flops and several bathing suits and you’re ready to go.

If your vision of the Bahamas is Nassau and Paradise Island, you have a whole new world of soft adventure waiting to explore.  There are roughly 700 islands in  the Bahamas chain, and one is more beautiful than the next.  Read more

World’s Oldest Running Play Returns Again in 2010

Once every 10 years the sleepy valley of Oberammergau in the heart of Bavaria welcomes the world for it’s performance of The Passion Play.  Don’t be intimidated by the name, just say Ober-Am-A-Gow (like cow).  The play was first performed in 1633 as an offering to God with a plea to be spared from further deaths from the bubonic plague.  Following the performance, no one else in the town died from the plague, and the villagers vowed to perform the play every 10 years in thanks.  The tradition continues today as players prepare for it’s 41st enactment in 365 years .  The 5 hour play is performed in two sessions 2:30-5 pm and 8-10:30 pm, with lavishly costumed actors, singers and musicians numbering over 2000.  The call for actors has already gone out, causing all the men to cease shaving from Palm Sunder April 2009 until the completion of the performances. Read more

Always Toss A Bandanna In Your Bag

A colorful bandanna can be one of the most useful items you bring on vacation – here are some of my favorite uses:
Tie one on the handle of your suitecase so you can pick it out easily in baggage return
Use it as a washcloth in hotels rooms that don’t supply one
Dip in water, slip in a plastic bag and bring to the beach to cool yourself down
Make an impromtu table cloth for an on the go snack in the park
Drape over the bedside lampshade for some instant romantic atmosphere
Tie it around your neck or wrist for some immediate pizazz to your outfit
Go cowboy and use as a mask if you run into dust or foul air
Make an instant head scarf – great when you enter a church
Two tied together makes a decorative belt
Wrap up those precious sea shells you found on the beach
And it’s an always handy hankerchief, bandage or even a sling!

A Super Getaway Deal for New England Golfers!

We’ve just received word of a fabulous 3 day golf getaway that will have you thumbing your nose at the recession and taking off to enjoy one of New England’s premier golf resorts with unlimited golf privileges. The Bethel Inn Resort, located just down the mountainside from the Sunday River Ski Area in Bethel Maine, combines traditional historic inn elegance with all the comforts and ammenities the 21st Century can offer.  Book your getaway before April 30, 2009, and enjoy an incredible 3 day package which includes 2 nights lodging, 2 full country breakfasts, a four course dinner, use of resort’s health club, heated outdoor pool, saunas, whirlpool, hot tub, tennis courts, lakeside beach, canoes and kayaks, and OH YES, did I mention 3 DAYS OF UNLIMITED GOLF on their championship hotel course!  All this splendor is just $199 per peson mid-week or $239 per person on weekends and holidays.  I bet you’re thinking it’s a short term offer right??  Well fear not, these packages are offered from May 8th right through to October 18th.  So you could visit for Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, 4th of July, cool off in the mountains in hot, hot August, or be dazzled during the fall foliage season.  BUT, you must reserve your getaway by April 30th to get these special prices.  Visit the Inn’s website or give them a call at 800-654-0125.

Choose The Right Credit Card When You Travel

Having just returned from a lengthy trip to a foreign country, I had the opportunity to access my ‘every day’ credit cards to be sure we were bringing cards that would save us the most money while providing the best coverages.  Let’s be honest, all cards are not created equal – some are good for auto insurance coverage, some for currency conversions and others for their frequent flyer points.  For a fast, convenient way to compare which credit cards offer what services, visit a site like CreditCardFlyers.com where you can compare card services side by side.

Here are my tips for making sure you bring the best credit card on your next trip.

#1 Let’s discuss Chip and Pin authorizations.  About 2 years ago Europe changed from signature verifications to pin authorizations for credit card transactions.  Unfortunately the USA did not follow suit, so our credit cards are not fully compatible with the European system.  In most instances you won’t have a problem, but we did encounter some difficulties when buying from smaller merchants.  Plan ahead, and be sure your card has a four digit pin assigned to it.  Read more

Museums in France Are Free to Anyone Under 25!

Just in time for the busy summer travel season, France has eliminated entrance fees at its national museums and monuments for anyone under the age of 25. (Makes you want to be a college student again doesn’t it!).  French President Sarkozy also announced further investment of 100 million euros per year for museums and heritage properties.  The new free admission policy was due go become effective on April 4, 2009.  Museums with free entry to the under 25 set include the ever popular Louvre and the Musee d’Orsay in Paris.  Here’s a terrific guide to the National Museums and Momuments of France put out by the French Postal Service.

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