vacations Archives — Thrifty Mommas Tips

Everyday Adventures is Changing the Way I Think About Travel

Paula — Tue, 31 Jul 2018 14:18:23 +0000

This post contains affiliate links as a service to readers. If you make a purchase via one of the links I receive a commission at no extra cost to you. Everyday Adventures is one of those books you come across that totally changes the way you look at something. I’ve always loved to travel. Getting out and exploring the world around me has been a passion of mine for life, and for as long as I can remember, I’ve chased the horizon. Recently, I realized there might be a different way to explore the world while I traveled and even while at home This book Everyday Adventures from Lonely Planet will help you see travel differently. The ideas for adventure within this book are fun and simple and often they cost absolutely nothing at all but time. Everyday Adventures – Exactly What the Title Says Everyday Adventures is about keeping the spirit of exploration and discovery alive even when we aren’t on trips. I figured this book might be travel anecdotes and stories, but what I found inside was unique. This book is devoted to the idea that you don’t have to travel far to explore. You need not spend a fortune either. This charming and fun book reminds us that the reason we travel is not to find the traveler spirit, but because of it. As I read this book, I realized that while travel had started out as an extension of my adventurous and curious side, it need not be the only time I ever allow myself to be adventurous. Sometimes adventures can be found in your own backyard. Follow Your Senses focuses on exploring your neighborhood using your senses in themes like Memory Lane and Urban Foraging, where you learn to spot the edible plants in your neighborhood! Social Adventures encourages us to learn about the people of our area the same way we would if we were traveling, opening up our eyes to a new way of looking at those around us. Challenge Yourself is all about getting out and interacting with our surroundings. Explore an airport or help out in the community to learn something new about your area. Cultural Odysseys invites us to explore the culture that we most often take for granted – our own community’s. Roll the Dice is all about taking a chance. That’s all I’ll give away about it. Lonely Planet Books Are About Making Connections Here’s what Lonely Planet has to say about their book: Weave a little wonder into daily life with these fun and challenging activities – and experience your local area in a whole new way. Invite friends on a social adventure, follow your senses somewhere new and embark on a cultural odyssey. Lonely Planet shows you how to embrace the traveler spirit and discover a new side to where you live. For each activity, we tell you what to bring and provide simple, easy-to-follow instructions to make it a success. You’ll also find a case study from someone who’s completed it, as well as surprising facts and anecdotes that shed light on the history and science behind each quirky quest.</em></em></p> Final Thoughts: I love several of the great ideas here. For instance step outside your door one afternoon or evening and turn left, then right, then left and alternate until you are somewhere entirely new. Keep exploring. Or post to social media asking your friends and followers what adventure you should take. Then make it happen. Change the Way you see the World with Everyday Adventures Every now and then it’s nice to have a reminder to see things differently. This adventure guide of sorts will help you uncover inexpensive everyday adventures near home. Try some out and embrace something new. When you look at the world through a different lens, you suddenly see all the things you, and that’s what makes

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Planning an Off-Season Disney World Vacation to Save You Money

Paula — Tue, 01 May 2018 12:00:44 +0000

Believe it or not Disney World doesn’t have to be expensive. One excellent way to enjoy all that Disney offers while still maintaining a budget is planning an off-season Disney World Vacation. Visiting your favorite Disney location on the off-season not only reduces the crowds, it also saves you money. Keep the following Disney travel tips in mind when planning the trip. You’ll probably save even MORE money… YAY! This is actually the only way we have ever done our trips to Disney. I am a deal hunter when it comes to planning affordable family vacations and I need to make my money go as far as possible when we travel. So, Disney off season is the only way to go as far as I am concerned. Planning an Off-Season Disney World Vacation Pick the Perfect Time Whether you opt for Disney World, Disneyland or another Disney park, they tend to be at their busiest when school is out. This makes perfect sense, right? So, schedule permitting, avoid going during the summer months and holiday breaks. January and May are often considered to be ideal times to enjoy a quieter adventure at Disney World. In fact they are perfect months for Off-Season Disney World. Take time to verify there aren’t any special events going on during you’re preferred time frame. Otherwise, there’s still the potential for large crowds even when you decide to visit in the low season. We have found mid to late April to be excellent that way as well. Twice we visited in April due to my daughter’s sensory processing disorder. Go in With a Plan In order to get the most out of each day you spend at Disneyland or WDW, it’s important to plan out as much of your trip as possible. Fortunately, Disney offers several resources to help families prepare for their upcoming magical adventure. Requesting a DVD from the official Disney website is totally recommended. This free resource is jam-packed with tons of planning info that not only assists you in putting everything together; it gets your whole group even more excited as well. Another great option is to download the My Disney Experience app, available on Google Play or the App Store. The versatile tool helps you plan your vacation and stick to your itinerary once the fun begins. Stay Off-Site Staying in a Walt Disney resort is sure to keep the magic going even after you leave the park for the day. However, booking your stay there is generally rather pricey. To remedy this, simply choose a nearby off-site hotel with better rates. This can be a good way to save money any season but it works brilliantly if your mission is Off-Season Disney World. Even after you factor in extra transportation costs, you still come out a winner almost every time. If you’re visiting Disney for a special occasion such as a birthday or honeymoon, don’t be afraid to mention the fact to a front-desk staff member. He or she may be willing to offer some type of discount or help you to find other local services at lower rates. Bring Snacks Although it wasn’t always the case, Disney parks now allow guests to bring snacks inside the gates. Large backpacks are perfect for this! Keeping energizing snack food on hand really aids in eliminating impulse buys when hunger strikes. In addition, supply everyone in your group with reusable water bottles. Refill them (at no cost) at various quick-service restaurants and water stations conveniently located throughout all of the parks. Pack Everything You Need For Off-Season Disney World Vacation Memories The more detailed you are with your packing list, the less chance of forgetting something you’re really going to need later. Purchasing these essentials on the trip takes money out of your budget that could no doubt be used on other things. However, there is good news! You don’t need to worry about basic first aid supplies on your Disney vacation. In the event of minor injury, supplies to include Band-Aids, aspirin, cough drops, thermometer strips, Powerade, tissues, EpiPens (and a whole lot more) are all available at various first aid stations scattered around the park. A Final Word or Two About Off-Season Disney World Of course, these aren’t the only ways to save money on an off-season Disney World vacation. But, it’s a good place to start. As a rule, the more time you devote to initial planning and research, the better off your trip finances will be!

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Decorate Your Home with Canvas Prints from Canvas Champ

Paula — Sun, 06 Aug 2017 11:09:16 +0000

Decorate your home with canvas prints! No, I don’t mean paintings. I mean photo canvas prints. They’re an excellent way to commemorate family memories without the same old boring frame on the wall or 8″x10″ on the counter. With photo canvas prints, you can decorate your home with something unique. They’re quite attractive, with a photo quality image and that great canvas texture we all know and love. Decorate Your Home with Stylish Prints I have a few photo canvas prints in my home. They’ve become my simple way to add photographs to my walls or table tops and I like the look of them. I also love that I don’t always need frames. A mixture of photos with and without frames makes me happy actually. So this one from Canvas Champ fits the bill. Over the last several months I have been building a gallery wall of photos. There are a few framed ones, and a couple wit inspirational travel quotes, but many are canvas prints. I’m happy to have found another great source for them – Canvas Champ. Canvas Champ gives me that canvas print feel that I love so much without a huge price. I like Canvas Champ, so I’m adding another print to my home. This time I chose one of our pictures from a recent family trip. We took it in Phillipsburg, St. Maarten while we were on an excursion called The Amazing Race in the local port. We saw quite a bit of St. Maarten while we raced around together looking for clues. We came in second last I think, but we had a TON of fun. That’s worth remembering with my next canvas print from Canvas Champ. For more on that cruise you can read this Harmony of the Seas cruise ship post here. Decorate Your Home with a Huge Variety of Prints I’m doing a fairly straightforward print, but the thing that I really love about Canvas Champ is that they have a wide variety of ways to decorate your home. You can go for a straight photo transfer, but you can also choose from: Wall Displays Photo Collages Photo Mosaics Pop Art Panoramic Canvas Prints Canvas Photo Retouching Rolled Canvas Printing Large Canvas Prints Enlargements on Canvas [clickToTweet tweet=”Simple and affordable photo canvas prints make great gifts. AD” quote=”Simple and affordable photo canvas prints make great gifts. “] You can also take advantage of specialty prints, accessories, and more. In addition to that you can print from Instagram or Facebook, which is what I think I might do next. Canvas Champ is an affordable, fast, resource for decorating your home in a unique way. I love it, and I think you will, too. I received a print for consideration on this site. My opinion is all my own.

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Be a Summer Hero – Parkbridge Resorts Twitter Party – RSVP Now – #ParkbridgeLife

Paula — Mon, 24 Apr 2017 15:00:10 +0000

There’s so much to love about summer. The longer days can be magical, even if you wish there were many more of them. Make the most of all the hours, all the days from May through September. Bring your A game, but don’t worry if you haven’t booked your vacation yet. This week, we are going to help you figure out what you need to know to be a summer hero. Join the Parkbridge Resorts Linked Moms twitter party this week and be a summer hero for 2017. Parkbridge Resorts will help you build beautiful memories this season. We have loved every single visit to Lakes of Wasaga, in winter and summer too. In 2014 we visited Lakes of Wasaga for the first time. The kids brought a good friend and we spent time swimming, having great food and playing near the beach. WE loved the grounds and even spied a beaver near the one lake on site. We have done a couple of summer stays now. And we have happy memories of these fun times with family. Every Family Day in February we return. Our winter stays are some of our most memorable. We spend the weekend skiing nearby and then collapse exhausted late at night. The Lakes of Wasaga, Georgian Bay cabins and ski chalets are warm and perfect for apres ski. Plus the fully stocked and well appointed kitchens mean we can cook a big protein rich breakfast and comfort food for dinner too. That’s vital when you spend hours on end skiing. Parkbridge, Canada’s leading owner and operator of land lease communities, believes in affordable, comfortable and secure places to live, vacation and retire. Parkbridge has four types of properties: Cottage & RV Resorts, Retirement Communities, Family Lifestyle Communities & Marinas. You can rent or buy. They have locations in Alberta, British Columbia, Quebec, and Ontario. They currently operate 124 communities in Canada! The Lakes of Wasaga cabins are amazing, clean and spacious. They are heated, safe and family friendly. You can easily spend a week or two there as many have fully stocked kitchen areas. We found everything we needed every time we stayed here. So a family could easily sleep 5 to 6 in a cabin the size of the one we had. There are many nearby stores if you need to run out and grab some food to cook in the well equipped kitchen. [tweetthis]RSVP now for WEDS. April 26 at 8 p.m. EST #ParkbridgeLife – prizes ARV $1200 plus.[/tweetthis] As well, Parkbridge has are options to purchase a cabin as well. You can rent, or buy which makes this a really appealing way to manage a yearly family vacation or an entire season of glamping. There are amenities for people of all ages and each Parkbridge community is unique. Stay a week, a month, an entire summer or longer. You can rest all summer long when you know your property is being well maintained by the team at Parkbridge. If you have ever contemplated cottage ownership but worried about upkeep, well here you have much less to worry about that way. At Parkbridge your home away from home is taken care of when you are away. You can learn more about Parkbridge Lifestyle Communities this month at our Linked Moms twitter party April 26 at 8 p.m. EST. There are more than $1200 worth of prizes!! RSVP now for the possibility of winning a prize. The grand prize will be a three night stay at Lakes of Wasaga. There are 3 VISA gift cards as well. Follow along right away with #ParkbridgeLife hashtag on Twitter. Follow Parkbridge Resorts on Twitter too. Date: Wednesday, April 26, 2017 Time: 8:00pm -9:00pm EST Hosts: @ParkbridgeLife Co-Hosts: @LinkedMoms @Inkscrblr @DownshiftingPRO Questions: @LinkedMoms Hashtag: #ParkbridgeLife Prizing eligibility: Canada Only Over $1,200 in prizing ONE 3 Night MINI STAY at Parkbridge’s Lakes of Wasaga Resort and 3 $50 Visa Gift Cards will be awarded. RSVP NOW. I am working with Parkbridge Life again this year to share their great accommodation options with readers. As such I am compensated. Please join us for a great chat on Wednesday night!! An InLinkz Link-up

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Teen Travel – When Are They Ready To Go Solo?

Paula — Sun, 26 Mar 2017 12:57:13 +0000

Solo Teen travel is something that most parents will have to deal with at some point. In this day and age of spread out families, international job opportunities, and easy long distance travel, solo teen travel is becoming more common. The question becomes this: How do you know when they’re ready to travel on their own? Maybe your teen has taken the bus around town or the train to an Aunt or Uncle’s Home a few cities away. They have most definitely done a bit of family travel with you their parents. But as for flying on their own, well that’s a whole other ballgame. I mean airports alone are terrifying even to many adults. So what’s the right call and when? Solo Teen Travel – When is the Right Time to Travel Without You There is no set way to decide if your teen is ready to take a trip on his or her own. However, there are some general rules of thumb that can help you figure out if they meet your personal criteria for them to head off into the wide open world without you there. Responsibility How is your teen doing on the responsibility front? Do they get their homework done on time? Can they keep track of everything? Are they able to manage some of their own money without being absent minded or overly distracted? Did they earn some of their own money with an after school job in order to get the chance to travel? How are they doing at their after school job? No problems at school? All of these questions are important because they show you the level of responsibility your teen is able to handle. Behaviour Is your child a good kid? Do they stay out of trouble? Can you trust them to make good decisions? Do they stay cool under pressure? These are all important things to consider. Good behaviour and the ability to remain calm are two things that will serve your child well throughout life and during solo teen travel. [tweetthis]Is your teen ready to travel alone? How will you know? #travel[/tweetthis] Common Sense This one is a bit of an X-factor, but it’s important nonetheless. Common sense is more subjective of course, but there are a few things to be considered. Does your child understand that giving out personal information or information about their itinerary to strangers during the course of a conversation is a bad thing? Do they have an adequate amount of caution concerning travel and the things that could potentially happen during travel? Emotional Stability Is your child emotionally stable enough for teen travel? That probably sounds like I’m asking if your teen is going to have a breakdown mid-trip, and in a way, I guess I am. Honestly, I know some adults who would never leave their town unless they were forced. If there are adults with a ton of life experience who have severe anxiety when they travel, then it’s not a long leap to consider if your teen can handle the stress. Solo teen travel is a tough thing. They’ll be away from their parents, they’ll be making their way through the great big world, and they’ll be doing it alone. They will be traversing airports, boarding, planes, and luggage pickup by themselves. It’s a big deal, so know if your teen is emotionally ready for it a big question to consider. Teen Travel – It’s no Small Thing Solo teen travel is a big deal. It’s their first foray out into the world with no backup. They will be responsible for traversing the airport, security, boarding, the flight, disembarking, luggage pickup, and all of the other hundreds of tiny things that happen in between all of those things. It is absolutely vital that you are sure they’re ready for it. Of course it’s all subjective, but the above tips should give you a bit of a road map to decide if solo teen travel is something in your son or daughter’s immediate future or if they might need a little more time and scaffolding.

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Tallahassee Florida – Five Must See Destinations #travel

Paula — Fri, 17 Mar 2017 12:28:43 +0000

Tallahassee Florida is the seat of the state’s democracy and home to two well known universities – Florida State University, and Florida A&M University. Although known for its collegiate football, Tallahassee Florida is also the trade and agricultural center of the Big Bend region. If you’re planning a trip to Florida, Tallahassee has a few must see destinations. They might not be as recognizable as their college football teams, but are no less exciting. Tallahassee Florida – More than College Football Tallahassee Florida might be known mainly for The Gators, but there is so much more to see here than just stadiums and the gridiron. The city has a lot to offer the curious traveler. This Florida destination is home to top museums, an historic downtown and two Capitol buildings. Visitors will discover a lively music scene and great dining options. Newest major amenity is Cascades Park, a sprawling downtown green space. St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge Established in 1931 as a wintering habitat for migratory birds, St. Marks is one of the oldest refuges in the National Wildlife Refuge System. Encompassing more than 70,000 acres spread out over the counties of Wakulla, Jefferson, and Taylor, there is no shortage of wildlife and gorgeous scenery. St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge includes coastal marshes, islands, tidal creeks, and estuaries of seven north Florida rivers. While you’re there, take a detour over to the St. Marks Lighthouse, a historical lighthouse completed in 1831 and still in use today to aid vessels on the Apalachee Bay. Tallahassee Antique Car Museum Although this establishment is called a car museum, there’s so much more to see at this historic transportation museum in Tallahassee Florida. In addition to a mind blowing number of classic and antique cars, visitors can view historic boats, pianos, and more. Into history and pop culture? Picture this – a Batmobile Exhibit and Abraham Lincoln’s hearse! Alfred B. Maclay Gardens State Park Take a stroll through the Maclay gardens and be enveloped in the beauty and scents of these gorgeous ornamental gardens. First planted in 1923 by Alfred B. and Louise Maclay after purchasing the property for their winter home, the Maclay Gardens are beautiful. They continue to be a masterwork in ornamental planting. Stroll through the picturesque grounds along the signature brick walkway and enjoy the park’s secret garden, reflection pool, wall garden, and hundreds of camelias and azaleas. It’s a painted landscape for the senses. Railroad Square Art Park See the artistic side of Tallahassee Florida at the Railroad Square Art Park. Housing more than 50 studios, galleries, and small shops, Railroad Square is the heart of Tallahassee’s artistic community. Railroad Square Art Park and culture district is a creative haven for many artists in the Tallahassee area, and it’s all waiting for the artistically inclined visitor to Tallahassee Florida. Take a leisurely stroll through the area and take in all the art, culture, and cuisine it has to offer. If you happen to be there on the first Friday of the month, enjoy the Square’s First Friday Gallery Hop. Knott House Museum The historically minded should take a tour of Knott House when they visit Tallahassee Florida. Knott House historical home was constructed in 1843. It has seen the end of the Civil War, the Emancipation Proclamation, the Civil Rights movement, and everything in between. Knott House has been perfectly preserved. Stepping inside is like stepping 170 years back in time. Tallahassee Florida is More than Sports It’s true, Tallahassee Florida may be known for its colleges and being the state capitol, but there’s so much more to see. These five spots are only a few of the wonderful places you can find in Tallahassee Florida. Whether you’re into the arts, history, nature, or even those sports, Tallahassee Florida has something for you. Curious about how to see Tallahassee on a budget? Here are 31 ideas for budget friendly Tallahassee at less than $10: Budget-friendly Tallahassee

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Seven Questions To Ask Before Choosing a Cruise Line

Paula — Tue, 20 Dec 2016 10:55:08 +0000

This season I have been running a cruising series here. I know it’s fun to plan holidays as soon as the cool weather hits and some of us are big travel planning junkies. (WINK) I write a fair bit about travel and one of the things first time cruisers ask me most is what cruise line should I choose? That’s a hard question to answer for another person without a few basic facts. Do a bit of brainstorming about your needs and your travel style before you start searching in earnest. Asking yourself these seven questions before you choose your cruise line vacation will help you have a successful experience. Seven Questions to Ask Yourself Before Choosing A Cruise Line: How big is too big? Listen, cruise lines can vary from 2000 on a ship to 4500 or more and 21 floors. Last year we opted for the Norwegian Escape and we loved it – but a cruise ship that has 21 floors and 4500 people is not a place where little people can be left unattended. Think about that when booking. The size of the cruise impacts everything – from how long it takes to board to port excursions, lineups and dinner time. If you hate to wait, then I think you should never choose a cruise line with 4500 people on it. The Norwegian Escape was more than efficient and great for our cruise in 2015, but that size cruise would not be very romantic in my opinion. And, although we loved so much about the activities on board, my teen rescued multiple lost children every day at the waterpark. She is a sensitive gal and she would see some little person suddenly begin to panic every day when they looked up and saw that Mom and Dad were missing. We would then contact activities staff who would circulate the info around the ship and wait for panicked Mom or Dad to show. If I had a toddler I would use the kid’s clubs as opposed to risking losing them even for a short time. What kind of cruise vacation you want? There are as many cruise ships as there are types of travel – maybe even more actually. So where to start? Romance? Family travel? Party cruise? LGBTQ? Multi-generational? Special needs? Well, we do family travel so I can tell you that Norwegian and Carnival do family travel very well. Obviously Disney is family and multi-generational travel as well. Celebrity clients skew a bit older in my experience and there are a lot of diehard return cruisers on Celebrity. MSC and Holland America also skew older so if you are traveling with teens maybe that’s not the right one for you this year. Royal Caribbean is marketing to a younger demographic. They really don’t seem to want young families, but love millennials and teens. So if that’s your crowd then maybe that’s the best choice for you. This is the one we are choosing to cruise with next. Their ships have some fun activities for kids in my age range 12-15. That’s one of the reasons I decided to choose Royal Caribbean this season. Where do you want to go? Some cruise lines are experts in the Caribbean and some are experts in European cruises. A few are both. Disney has a stunning Caribbean itinerary and they also have a gorgeous Alaska cruise option. I am confident that with the Disney service either option would be a great vacation choice. I am excited to hear how a very good friend and her family enjoy Disney’s Alaska MSC for instance has some smaller ships with a more intimate feel and they tend to do more European cruising. Each cruise line appeals to a slightly different age group. Ask yourself where you fit before you book. Who are you traveling with? Is this a family cruise? Is it a two week Mediterranean or European Cruise that’s just you and your partner? All the various cruise lines have a reputation and an expertise as well. Each cruise ship caters to a different demographic and some lines are more accustomed to handling people with various special needs and mobility issues than others are. Some are all about activities and some are all about entertainment. The high ropes activities on the Norwegian Escape last year and the waterslides on board were the thing that tipped the scales for me. WE LOVE that kind of stuff on board. What is your budget? Yes cruise lines vary in cost wildly. Royal Caribbean for instance is more expensive that Carnival. Decide how high you can go and then stick to it remembering too there are always extra fees on a cruise ship. Carnival is one of the more economical options. Also if you have already cruised once with several of these cruise lines there are incentives to return year after year. Are there food allergies in your group? How does each of the major cruise lines manage on board allergies? Disney is brilliant at handling allergies. I suspect most cruise lines are now sensitive to many dietary needs and allergies too. BUT if you have a family member with allergies this is one that you really need to check. What are the ports like? Some cruise lines offer 4 and 5 ports on a cruise that is port intensive and 7 days long. If that is your style, then know that you can find that on Norwegian, Royal and also Carnival. Don’t forget to ask friends and relatives which cruise line they enjoy most. Word of mom and travel go together perfectly. I have not been a passenger on all of the cruise ships out there. At the time of publication, I had not yet tried Royal Caribbean (but we did in 2017 – Harmony of the Seas) and Celebrity cruise line too because I have heard a lot about them. Royal always looks like a lot of fun. And Disney Cruise lines have not yet proven affordable for us. One more thing – don’t forget to check with your network of friends, families and neighbours. Their previous experience with a cruise line is one of the most valuable ways to inform your decision. Which cruises have you taken and what was your experience like?

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Don’t Forget to Pack These for Holiday Travel #ChurchandDwight #Giveaways

Paula — Mon, 19 Dec 2016 08:04:12 +0000

Let’s be honest holidays can be very stressful and overwhelming for many. So it helps to have a plan. This year we are planning a trip again soon. So shortly after we do our family gathering and entertaining here we will head off for some rest and relaxation. I am excited about that. But I know many families find the holidays and travel exhausting. I have found it helps to prepare. Also it helps to have a few necessities from Church and Dwight on hand during the holidays. First, keep the stain remover at home and handy for when unexpected messes happen. I use OxiClean™ Versatile Stain Remover for all manner of laundry stains. And if you are embarking on holiday travel don’t leave home without these: 1. Gravol™: Did you remember to bring plenty of books, movies and games for your upcoming flight or car ride, but forget about the winding roads and nausea that your trip has in store for you? Gravol™ Ginger tablets, lozenges or liquid gels are made with naturally-sourced, certified organic ginger and will help treat motion sickness, nausea, and upset stomachs. Keep them in your purse or carry-on and you will be good to go! They are easy to swallow and non-drowsy, ensuring you are energized and ready for a great vacation. 2. Rub A535™: After a long day of sightseeing and exploring count on Rub A535™ to soothe all your aches and pains. Rub A535™ is the perfect example of an item you may have in your cupboard but may forget to pack! It will help soothe sore muscles and ensure you are ready to tackle whatever your next adventure is! Rub A535 comes in handy for beach vacations too – don’t say you have never woken up with back pain after falling asleep in a lounge chair! 3. Running Shoes: Of course pack your fancy shoes or your flats. You want to look fashionable, right? But, trust me on this you will need closed toes shoes for many activities. If you are doing a cruise, or a beach vacation and you love to do fun activities with your family, then bring your running shoes. We have been caught previously with kids insisting flip flops are good enough. Well, if you plan to rock climb, hike, take any active excursions of any sort, you will be sitting that out. 4. Batiste™ Dry Shampoo: New carry-on laws and weight restrictions mean packing all of your essential personal care items can be challenging. Luckily Batiste™ Dry Shampoo is lightweight and ideal for your suitcase. With no water required and just a few quick sprays, Batiste™ Dry Shampoo saves you time while travelling by refreshing your hair between washes! Batiste™ Tropical Dry Shampoo has a coconut and exotic fragrance and will leave your hair feeling clean, revitalized and vacation ready! I have a teen who uses this stuff a lot. It’s perfect for ski trips too. 5. Snack food: Whether you are going to an all-inclusive, or renting a cottage for the week, treats are a must! Don’t be caught with angry little people or teens. Carry snacks with you. We tend to carry celery everywhere. Husband and daughter LOVE it. I sometimes grab a gluten free energy bar for myself and we carry some granola bars too. Overall, every vacation should leave you feeling rejuvenated and ready for whatever the year has in store. Remember to stay organized, and always pack your everyday items. I also love these Arm and Hammer SpinBrushes and their toothpaste all year round. Enter now to win a holiday gift related to travel or cleaning from Church and Dwight. What one thing do you not leave home without? I am a Church and Dwight ambassador and as such have received compensation to post and share. My opinion is all my own and it is also truthful. Entry-Form

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What to Pack for a Cruise – 5 Must Haves #Travel

Paula — Tue, 18 Oct 2016 08:35:47 +0000

What to pack for a cruise. It’s something you’ll be thinking about for some time once you decide to take a vacation on the sea. Of course there’s the standard swimsuits, shorts, etc., but there are a few things you don’t want to be without. Every diehard cruise lover knows there are a few cruise hacks and products that simply make the sailing smoother. Not really essentials but cruise hacks for packing. A few of these are oddball things you might not think of, but trust me they can make your cruise so much sweeter. So if you need to know what to pack for a cruise, read on. What to Pack for a Cruise – The Lesser Thought of Necessities We all know the standard packing ritual. You know… clothing for all weather eventualities, toiletries, etc. All the standby stuff. But on a cruise, there are some other things that will serve you well – IF you realize that you need to bring them with you, that is. Magnets or Decorations for Your Door This sounds frivolous, but trust me it’s not. When you are on a cruise the boat is often massive and if you cruise as a family there are times you are going to be heading back to the room by yourself. Maybe the kids are old enough to have a room key. But all the doors look alike. FOR REAL. Stick some cute cruise magnets on your door and everyone in your party will know which room is the right one. Also, your neighbours are going to love it too. Our last cruise was on a Norwegian Cruise line ship with 21 floors. Not all those floors were people, but a good number were. So hard to find your room when there are so many people!!! I loved seeing the magnets on the door of the room next to ours because then I knew I was back home – well, to my temporary home at sea anyways. [tweetthis]What do these have to do with cruising? I’ll tell you – #travel [/tweetthis] Clothes Hangers If you’re going on a long cruise, you’ll want to pack some clothes hangers. The average cruise closet has around 8 clothes hangers, which probably isn’t enough if you’re going on one of the longer, two week cruises. Make sure you throw a few extras in your bag for insurance. We have gotten by with the hangers in the rooms, but closets are small and we travel with a teen and a tween and trust me dresses need to be hung up. A Big Old Refillable Coffee Mug and Or Water Bottle For one thing, cruises can be high traffic. For another thing, you don’t want to be going back and forth and back and forth every time you need a refill on your coffee or water. Trust me on this. Pack an empty water bottle or stainless steel coffee mug. Not a fancy one either, because if you lose it then no worries. If you want to know what to pack, and you’re not a morning person, take it from me. You need this. This is useful for kids too. If they have their own water bottle they can fill it up and stay hydrated during at sea days when whipping down the waterslides. Power Strip If you’re like me, you have a phone, a tablet, and a laptop. If you’re like me you will also be bringing several of these items with you on your cruise. Even the nicest cruise ship only has a couple of outlets in a room, so pack a power strip to make sure you can quickly and easily charge all your devices and keep the memories flowing through Facebook and Instagram. That will also ensure your teen isn’t fighting over the outlets with her sister. (OH YEAH they find stuff to fight about everywhere.) Bathroom Door Organizer Even the nicest cruise ship doesn’t have the space to give its occupants an overly large bathroom area. It pays to maximize space at all times. To that end, add a bathroom door organizer to your “what to pack” list. You can take advantage of all that vertical space, stay organized, and still have enough room in your bathroom to do everything you need to do. Ear Plugs Ear plugs are an indispensable part of any packing list. Want to know what to pack? It’s always ear plugs. For any trip. A cruise ship is all about maximizing passenger count to maximize profits. Which means lots of people close together. This is really only a problem when it comes to bed time. We have never had trouble with noise on a cruise, but if you are a light sleeper then you might consider bringing them for safety sake. You might need these to drown out the sounds of all the other passengers around you. What to Pack for a Cruise? All the Stuff Above Packing for a trip seems like a no-brainer, and generally speaking, it is, but cruises are altogether unique. Since I know that first time cruisers rarely understand all the ins and outs of cruising, I decided this “what to pack” post would be of help to them, especially. So what do you think? Did I miss any lesser known cruise items? What special items do you make a point of packing for a cruise? This what to pack for a cruise post is part of my Cruise Series. To read the other posts start here: Cruising – How to Book a Cruise Cruise Dining Packages Are They Worth It? And don’t forget THE BEST Cruise Ship Waterslides in the World.

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Cruise Booking Tips – What to Look For Before You Set Sail

Paula — Tue, 04 Oct 2016 12:27:35 +0000

Cruise booking is a big deal. You’ll be saying yes to a full week out on the sea, or on the ocean, where you’ll be at the mercy – good or bad – of the cruise line you booked with. It’s important to do your homework before you put the money down on your cruise vacation. You want to have a blast, not get blasted, with a disappointing vacation. There are a few smart cruise booking tips I have collected from the numerous family cruises we have booked and taken. So, I thought I’d share them with readers in hopes that they enjoy the experience as much as we do every single time we hit the amazing cruise ship waterslides and the buffet. KNOW before you go and use these fun cruise booking secrets to make for smooth sailing on board. Cruise Booking Secrets for the Uninitiated For first time cruisers, the cruise booking process can be a bit daunting. There are several cruise lines, and they all look great in their commercials. Of course, the travel agent wants to make a sale, as well. When you go through this process, you want to ask your friends and family for reports on what they liked about different cruise lines. You need to google reviews and check TripAdvisor and other sources. I scan Pinterest and check in with a group of travel influencers I trust. Here are some of the more important things to watch for. Pricing Shop around for pricing, and don’t take the first thing that comes along. Many of the sites used for hotel deals like Priceline, Orbitz, Expedia, and the like also have cruise rate sections as well. Before anything else, hit the travel sites and research deals. You can save a ton of money. I have found some excellent deals, even last minute. Of course last minute flights these days will eat up your savings so be cautious there too. Ports of Call You’ll want to make sure that the cruise you take fits your style both on and off the ship. Research ports of call to ensure that the excursions offered on the cruise match up with your interests. We often choose cruises based largely on the ports of call we want to see. The last Norwegian cruise vacation we took was based on the ports of call and also price, and the many amenities offered on board. Amenities Not all cruises are created equal or created for the same demographic. Be sure to inquire about the amenities and atmosphere when cruise booking. For example, if you have children, you probably don’t want to go on a cruise without kid friendly features like play areas, game rooms, kids’ dining, and the like. The same holds true for a couples’ cruise. Water slides? Yes please. We book cruises with our family and I always pick ones with kickbutt features. I love waterslides and so do my kids. On our last cruise there was also a rocking kid’s club, a mini golf, a high and low ropes course, walking track, many shows and a zip line plus a pirate’s plank that extended you over the sea and then swayed wildly. My husband loved that! [tweetthis]What do you look for when you choose to cruise? #travel #cruising[/tweetthis] Ratings Always, always, ALWAYS look at ratings and reviews for the cruise you’re thinking of booking. Look on travel sites and other community-centric sites to find the best and most accurate ratings for your prospective cruise. You can’t beat real life experiences to help you make a decision. Types of Cruise Related closely to amenities and atmosphere are types of cruises. Cruises come in a lot of variations from everything like musically themed cruises to celebrity cruises and the standard family cruise situation. When cruise booking, make sure to find the one that fits your family in the same way that you’d check for amenities. Cruise Booking – The First Step is the Most Important Cruise booking is the single most important part of your seafaring adventure. If you pick the wrong cruise or pay too much for it, your entire trip and all the memories associated with it will be marred. Don’t let that happen! When cruise booking, do some homework, take your time, and be patient. Those are the keys to a successful cruise and a vacation to remember. We happen to love cruises and have done a couple of brilliant ones together as a family. The excursions are amazing and the food and service top notch. Read more about why I love Cruising.

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