Dubrovnik Map

Whether you’re embarking on a water vacation or a family vacation, it’s going to be a special time we’ve taken, we tend to remember them best with photos. Here’s some ideas to enhance your vacation as well as your memories of them.

LOCATION PREPARATION

Since you know where you’re going (that’s a minimum requirement), doesn’t it make sense to check out the location before you get there? Create a list of attractions, accommodations, special points of interest, amusement areas, shopping, etc. A good source to help you do this is the “Places and Travel section” of msn.com.

Next, figure out the photo opps for each appropriate venue. Anyone can take a “so-so” photograph of the kids at an amusement park. But wouldn’t you rather capture a WOW masterpiece that could be hung over the mantle?

Whether you’re going on a family gathering or a skiing vacation, check out the books written about the destination and highlight the best photo opportunities BEFORE YOU GET THERE.

If you’re taking a hiking vacation to a more remote area, scout out the national parks in the area. The great thing about national parks is that the scenery is so breathtaking, that an average picture looks outstanding… just because of the location. Do an Internet search for possible photos at the National Park Service or simply do a Google search on the location. Phenomenal shots will present themselves all over the place!

PHOTOGRAPHY PREPARATION

Here’s a typical scenario… you’re up at the crack of dawn (OK, not realistic for many of us, including me, but go with me here) and you’re just pulling into the most scenic overlook for 400 miles as the sun is starting to break the horizon.

You instinctively stop the car, grab your camera and your tripod, and look for the optimum location to set up. There’s just one tiny little problem… You Didn’t Take Your Tripod on this family vacation. Rather than smack yourself on the forehead, why not plan for these things now, by constructing a list BEFORE you leave?

Your list should include AT LEAST the following:

Tripod
Do I need to repeat – BRING YOUR TRIPOD? It doesn’t take up much room, and it allows you to capture entirely new categories of pictures that wouldn’t be possible without one

Memory
Bring all the memory you have. But don’t stop there; also pack your portable storage devices if you have any.

Flash
If your camera has a hot shoe, bring your external flash, and any additional equipment that can be used to help with bounce flash. Also, don’t forget to use it during the daytime to make your pictures really come alive.

Shutter Release Cable
Remember your external shutter release cable for those long exposures. How else are you going to get that “angel-hair” look of the waterfalls without camera-shake ruining the photo?

Remember the Basics
Don’t forget the basics like: batteries, battery charger, camera bag, and additional lenses and filters (if applicable on your camera).

User Manual
And just in case you need it, bring the manuals for your equipment. It’s only when you start to use things that you realize you forgot how!

Finally, don’t get so wrapped up in taking the perfect picture that you don’t enjoy the trip. And, remember to use the tripod so that you’ll be in at least some of the shots.

When it comes to skiing and winter sports, Europe has more than its fair share of amazing resorts. From the greatly priced, to the more than reasonable, Europe has it all, and has so much to offer any skier. If youve never been to Europe on a skiing holiday, or if youre looking to expand your experience, youll find something that catches your eye without too much research, and you might just end up joining the legions of skiing fans that wouldnt go anywhere else in the world for their vacation.

Great European Skiing Destinations
On mainland Europe, you have such a varied selection. From the world famous French skiing resorts to Austria, Switzerland and the tiny principality of Andorra, youve got such a wide range of skiing to choose from. France is known the world over as the true home of skiing, and the French really know how to do a quality vacation. With naturally amazing resources, and scenery that can take your breath away, France is an ideal location for a skiing trip. Why not try the Courchevel resort, which has four different ski resorts within one, providing the perfect blend of quality and affordability in a skiing trip. From the grossly overpriced 1850 resort, the playground of Europes film stars and playboys, to the seemingly remote 1350 at the bottom of the hill, you have so much to choose from in Europes finest skiing country. With the kids or with your friends, France is truly a destination that will make for a memorable skiing vacation.

Skiing Destinations
Or how about some of the Italian resorts? Italy, famous for being the cheaper way to ski, also benefits from a diverse range of resorts, like the tiny Alba resort, as well as some larger, more sizeable areas to ski. Famous for passion and a depth of culture, Italy is the ideal place to take a skiing break in Europe, and the weathers good too! Or how about Italys neighbor, Croatia ? A rising European nation, youll find a Croatian holiday outrageously good value for money, not to mention top quality. From the international standard ski resorts to their world class restaurants, Croatia is certainly a country on the up, and its skiing facilities can only improve as more and more tourists flock to their slopes each year. Additionally, Bulgaria is an excellent skiing destination to take the kids. With open arms, you will be welcomed by the Bulgarian people, who are more than eager to tell you about their rich and deep past, and welcome you as part of their future. In these expanding and developing European nations, you will come to appreciate the value of tourism, and the quality of treatment and service they are prepared to offer for your investment.

Travel Resources
How about Austria for your skiing trip? When we think of skiing, we often imagine the Alpine ideal, with breathtaking scenery and fresh, clean air. Well, it simply doesnt come much better than Austria, and if youre looking for a skiing destination that has it all, why not try Austria for that touch of class with your skiing. Or why not pop over to Switzerland for their Alps experience? Skiing the alps in the home of chocolate and cuckoo clocks, you will be amazed at how picturesque this modern nation has managed to be, whilst still becoming a world leader in financial industry.

Most travelers know that some of the best bargains are in the off-season, when poorer weather or the start of school makes vacationers scarce.

So when do you travel to get the best deals? That depends. Peak season varies from region to region. Summer airfares to popular maintain areas, parts of Canada, and Europe can be high. But summertime travel to warm weather destinations…Florida, the Southwest, parts of Mexico, and the Caribbean…can be a bargain. If heat isn’t a big deal to you, why not take advantage of lower costs? Summer in the United States is winter in Australia and the Galapagos Islands (as well as a lot of other places), so travel deals are available. Yet you can see and do many of the same things as in the peak season.

Midweek stays at resorts are often less costly than weekends; but city hotels that cater to business travelers have high rates during the week and bargains on weekends. The best airfares often require a Saturday night stay unless it’s a local hop. You’ll sometimes find better domestic fares in the middle of the week or during off-hours on weekdays (late at night, early in the morning). Weekend flights almost always cost more. Here’s the catch: If you have to take off two days of work in order to get a midweek flight or book a midweek resort stay, and you lose either pay or vacation time, what have really saved? You’ll need to consider those factors as well.

SEASONAL SAVINGS
When it comes to lodging, consider the “shoulder” season..the time between peak and low travel periods. If you book a stay early in shoulder season, you can get a deal and probably still have the benefits of the same weather and opportunities available during peak season.

But sometimes programs are not available in shoulder season. At many guest ranches, for example, families can cut costs in June and September, but there may not be a supervised children’s program or as many children to make friends with. If you have older kids who would be out riding with you anyway, this is an excellent time to visit a guest ranch, as it’s often less children’s program so you could get in adults-only time, the money you save by traveling during the off-season may not make up for that loss.

YEAR-ROUND BARGAINS
Keep in mind that deals can be had at almost any time of year and that bargaining skills are not just for use in foreign marketplaces. At many hotels it’s standard practice to quote callers the highest rate first. Reservationists are often told not to volunteer deals unless specifically asked about them. To get a better deal after a rate is quoted, ask if there’s a better price available. There usually is. If you’ve seen a special deal in a newspaper or flyer, you should mention it. Ask about discounts for group members. You’re likely to have the best luck bargaining with reservationist at the hotel itself as opposed to those at a nationwide number, but try both. If no one will offer a deal, find a different hotel. You can almost guarantee that your costs will come down if you negotiate. After booking your stay, check periodically to see if new deals have come up in newspaper travel sections. Ask your travel agent to continue checking airfares in case of special promotions. But don’t obsess about it. Vacation is all about letting go and being laid-back. At this point in time you might also consider.

TRIP INSURANCE
Did you know in advance the last time your child got sick? Probably not. And it’s a sure bet you won’t know the next time either. In the everything-that-can-wrong-will-go-wrong scenario, picture your child breaking out with chicken pox the day before you’re scheduled to leave. And then there’s the possibility of lost or delayed luggage, theft of baggage or important documents, and medical mergencies en route. These delays it’s hard to tell which airlines have come out of bankruptcy and which are just filing. The same is true of tour operators. So what happens when the company you shcedule with goes belly up? You’re out of luck unless you purchased travel insurance (some credit cards include travel coverage, too, so check yours). Most curise lines, tour operators, and many outfitters will either offer a specific insurance pachage in their information kits or be able to suggest one. Travel agents can do the same thing for you. You will not get your best deal from those vending machines at the airport, so try to arrange for insurance when booking your trip.

Of course, some unforseen problems are not covered by travel insurance, such as your boss’s deciding at the last minute that this is a bad time for you to be away. Read the fine print so you know exactly what you’re buying and what it covers.

Check with your travel agent, cruise line, tour operator, or outfitter for refund policies. Some offer no refunds. Others give refunds on a timeline the closer to the trip date you cancel, the less money you’ll get back. Find out what the refund policy is before you decide to sign up. At this point in time you might also consider.

TIPPING
Paying gratuities is usually a voluntary gesture that’s based on performance and service. Many people who work in the travel industry depend on tips as a major part of their compensation. Tour guides, for example, make a decent living only if they make decent tips. If you travel with a guide in a city, on a river, on a walking or beking tour you should tip unless the service is not notably poor.

Some tips, however, are built into the pricing structure and are included on your bill. There are ranches with mandatory tips for wranglers and other staff, and there are retaurants that automatically add a gratuity to food bills. And with some types of travel–cruise ships, for example–tipping falls just short of mandatory. Exactly what’s expected will usually be spelled out in the brochures.

It’s a good idea to check guidebooks and consulates about attitudes towards tipping in foreign countries; what we mean as a than-you might be taken as an insult in some cultures. And it’s important to note that some resort have a policy of no tipping. When in doubt, always ak. Have you considered.

Are we there yet?” “Mom, he’s touching me!” “Well, she’s looking at me!” “Are we there YET?” “I’ve gotta go!” “Aren’t we THERE YET?”

It’s phrases like these that drive fear into a parent’s heart, and make you wonder why you ever thought taking a family vacation was going to be “fun!”

So what is a parent to do? Traveling with kids doesn’t have to be a bad experience. Instead of deciding to leave the kids home for the next “family” vacation, relax! You can make traveling with the kids an enjoyable and stress-free experience by following these simple tips:

1. When possible, travel at night and let the kids sleep. But be cautious, because it’s easy to get tired. If you find yourself getting sleepy, roll down the windows, play music, or better yet, find a safe place to pull over and take a 20 minute nap.

2. Plan your trip during the day with stops about every 90 minutes. By planning ahead, and using travel planning software, online trip planning sites or travel associations, you can find — and stop at — kid-friendly places such as parks with playgrounds, historic monuments or view areas where everyone can get out and walk around for a few minutes. Giving the kids even a 15 minute break will give them a chance to “get the wiggles out” and work off some energy.

3. Bring along some sing-along music. Although your kids may groan at first when you start singing, they’ll soon join in, especially if the songs are either well-known, absurd or “gross.” Think of your own childhood favorites, or camp songs. Singing can really help to pass the time, and creates happy memories later on. To help cut costs, you can even record your own CDs? If the kids don’t know the words, create sing-along books for everyone by typing them in your Word processing program and printing them out.

4. Create a goodie-bag. Good ideas are travel toys and games, bubbles, inexpensive art books and pencils, even the latest in collectible cards or action figures. (To save money, look for seasonal sales or buy something every payday.) To cut down on arguments about sharing, you can set a time limit for playing with each game, before everyone has to switch. Individual presents can be wrapped or not, and given out at whatever schedule fits your needs and your kids’ boredom levels. You can even choose particular games for particular stops, such as bubbles, Frisbees or small balls, which will encourage running off energy.

5. Bring along individual “quiet time” activities. These could include an art box (keep the supplies inside an inexpensive plastic shoe box), postcards or writing paper, or even a journal given to each child at the beginning of the trip. Encourage them to write letters, or record their thoughts and feelings. You can also bring along hand-held games, or inexpensive CD players and earphones, so that everyone can listen to the music or books of their choice. Depending on the space you’ve got and the length of time you’ll be gone, each child could have their own box or backpack, to keep their things organized and accessible.

6. If your trip is going to include a lot of sightseeing, pack a backpack with sweaters, hats, swimsuits (if in season), extra socks and even towels, in case anyone gets wet — accidentally or on purpose. Keep the backpack in your trunk, so you can just grab it and go. Most kids, if given the chance when near water, will really enjoy getting wet, and it saves on the wear and tear of your vehicle if you plan ahead. Also be sure to pack extra water and travel snacks such as energy bars, nuts or travel mix. You can add to your child’s enjoyment if you also include things such as a magnifying glass, binoculars, a disposable camera and their own travel map.

7. Include a “kid’s activity” at least once every day. This may be something as simple as going for ice cream after visiting a museum, or going to a water or amusement park. There are often lots of great free or inexpensive activities in most places in the States. To find them, you can check ahead of time with local Chambers of Commerce, on city Websites, or with your travel agent. To help keep the expenses down, don’t forget to check for “two for one” coupons, or discount tickets that are often available at local fast food restaurants or in local papers. Also, many family style restaurants offer a “kids eat free” night, which could be a special treat.

8. Don’t forget about the travel games you probably played as a child. There is “Letter Bingo” where you look at road signs and billboard ads to find the letters of the alphabet, or “License Plate Alphabet” where you go through the alphabet in order. You can also create easy bingo sheets that you print out with clip art of common sites you’ll see on your trip. Your kids will be more inclined to play along if they know that your parents used to play the exact games with you. (Grandparents are SO much cooler than parents are…)

9. Let your kids help to navigate, narrate and create information about your trip. There are so many great resources online these days that can help you make your trip even better. Letting your kids get involved helps to make it more enjoyable for them. For example, let one child be the “trip navigator” each day. They have the responsibility of looking at the map, and making sure that the right exits are taken, or how much farther to each destination point. (If you really want to get creative, the navigator could wear a special hat or badge; the narrator could have a “press badge” or carry a reporter’s notebook, etc.) Older children can create written entries into a journal or even in a Blog, talking about the daily activities and sights. Another option is to bring along an inexpensive tape recorder, and let each child record their impressions of the different places you see or things you do. Younger children can draw pictures, or use a disposable camera.

10. Start collecting postcards. Postcards are inexpensive, and your kids will enjoy getting to send them to their friends or other family members. Postcards are also a great addition to your family photo album after the trip. You can cut them up, or even write about specific experiences on the backs of them, to help everyone remember what you did and where you went.

11. Create a scrap book at the end of each trip, using the postcards and pictures the kids took. Letting them help to decorate and put the journal together is a fun after-the-trip activity.

12. Above all, give yourself a break. There is no such thing as a “perfect” family vacation. Inevitably there will be things forgotten, things broken or other “unexpected” problems.

By planning ahead, and making every effort to get your kids involved in the trip, and giving the things to do to keep them occupied and interested, there will be less stress and everyone will have a better time. Have a great trip!

Wine tasting is not a sport and not a hobby… It is an experience. Many choose a wine tasting tour as a modern way to spend holidays, as wine tasting tours usually include going to the country side, where one can enjoy ambience, relaxation and good company. This tends to be a physically and mentally rejuvenating experience. Depending on the continent and country, wine tasting tours are sometimes located on the most beautiful beaches, then other times inland and in hills, where grapes are growing all year round.

One might think that full appreciation of a wine tasting tour will benefit only true wine lovers, but after a third glass we can most certainly conclude, that everybody will blend in and feel great. It is best to start with local wine tours and then build up to wine tasting vacations in more distant territories.

For wine tasting beginners or if going abroad, it is best to take a guided tour to places where wineries are located. These tours usually include renowned and well-known wineries and guided wine tasting sessions hosted by professional wine experts. These sessions can be an exceptional eye opener for the novice, but also for the experienced wine enthusiast. One gets to taste a wide variety of wines at the places where they are manufactured. Also much can be learned about wine making, storage, food matching and also about history of the wine and wine lovers from local history – especially in Europe where this frequently includes kings and aristocracy.

The best thing is that there is also food served besides wine, and this completes an enjoyable event. Wine tasting tours can go on for hours, and if you attend organized tours – which is an exceptional way to spend your vacation – you get to travel around from winery to winery and learn about new places that often astound you with their beauty.. You also meet new, like-minded people so you can share your findings, thoughts, preferences and tastes. Guided tours include everything already organized – your meals, the wine that go with the meals, your hotel rooms, transportation and lastly the wineries to visit for the tasting sessions.

To attend a wine tasting session you do not need any knowledge as there are no prerequisites. Everybody can attend as sessions are guided, and one learns everything on the way. If you are a complete beginner, it is best to look around and copy behavior of others. This especially includes sipping the wine slowly, keeping it in the mouth for a few seconds, while moving it around all areas of your mouth and tongue, so that every taste sensor comes in touch with it. You can also close your eyes and most of all try to get as much feedback from your sensors as possible – and then compare your findings to what your guide is describing.

Wine tours are not only about wine tasting. Ultimately at the end of every tour you can buy wine that you liked, and for many this is a start of their own private wine collection. Attending such wine tasting session also teaches you a lot about the way the grapes are cultivated and collected, about local folklore, and finally how grapes get processed for the wine. The bottom line – while enjoying these tours you will have the best time ever. After a few local tours you really might consider a wine tour as a way to spend your holidays and after you have returned from your first wine tasting tour, you will probably make a list of all the continents and countries you want to visit to continue your quest for good taste.

There is no better escape then lying on a beach in a beautiful, tropical city. You get to feel the heat of the sun beaming down on your body, making you bronzed and sun kissed. Once you get home you have a gorgeous tan that everyone will be jealous of. Not only is getting a nice tan a great part about the beach, but you also get to feel the cool, crisp water hitting your feet every once in a while. Also, you can feel the refreshing wind coming off of the ocean that gives you a great breeze to beat the heat. Going to the beach is a wonderful time, but just not any beach. We are lucky to be in a world where we have some of the most breathtaking beaches known to mankind. There are some really beautiful beaches in our world that we just have to visit.

Most Beautiful Beaches
The next time you are planning a great vacation, you can make sure that you are going to be visiting one of the most beautiful beaches out there. A lot of factors go into making a beach wonderful. First of all, the water needs to be a clean, blue color. No one wants to go swimming in water that looks all mucky and that you can’t see what is at the bottom, even when you’re on the shore. The sand also needs be a stark, clean white color. The sand should look untouched and should feel soft on the feet. Some shorelines have harsh sand that hurts your feet. You can’t walk barefoot through it which is one of the main ideas of walking through sand.

The location also needs some breathtaking scenery for you to enjoy. In Croatia, most the resorts are decorated so beautifully that it accentuates the beautiful beaches so well. You can’t help but look at pictures online and wish that you were there to take it all in. That is why you are so excited to plan a getaway since you can finally be in paradise, if only for a short while.

Visiting some of tropical hotspots across the world will remind you how lucky we are. We have some of the most beautiful beaches ever and there’s really no time like the present to visit one. If you are in need of some rest and relaxation in a warm environment, then plan a trip to the beach. Once you’re lying on your back, listening to the lull of the water and feeling the sun on your skin, you’ll be so glad you made the effort to escape the city for a little while.