Thursday, January 24, 2008
Vacations are times to relax and enjoy, not worry about finding your way around. homeworking, apwire. Are you flying, or driving? Are you going somewhere that you know well or somewhere totally new? Are you renting a car if you're flying, or are you going to depend on taxis? If you are traveling by taxi do you know if a 'shortcut' the taxi driver suggests is really a shortcut or possibly are you being scammed to increase your rate. packinglist, remingtonknives, aerialphoto. What are your plans once you get to your destination? Are you going backpacking, hunting, or fishing, or do planning a trip to a resort and plan on lying by the pool and just relaxing? Wouldn't it be nice not the have to worry about finding a location, or a good restaurant. japanesesalad, structuralengineeringfirm, thefourthhorseman. Your visit would be much more enjoyable without this concern.
Is it possible that you will be off in your own airplane, with a GPS you can create your flight plans and get automatic calculations of headings, winds, time, and fuel or recalculate your heading. chinesetea, gulfgreyhoundpark, modeltalent. Are you driving or plan on renting a car once you get to your destination? Do you know the route well or is this a new adventure? Whether this is a trip that you frequently make or not a GPS can be indispensable. downloadmicrosoftworks, broadbandphoneservice. What if you get detoured due to an accident or road construction, what if you run into a large traffic jam do you need to sit and wait, or is there possibly another route you could take? Have you ever wanted to get off the beaten path and explore somewhere new but were afraid of getting lost? Wouldn't it be nice just to take off to somewhere new without the fear of getting lost? Do you plan on going fishing? Wouldn't it be nice to know where the fish are, so you can spend your time catching fish, instead of spending your whole vacation with the possibility of catching nothing?
Have you planned a trip to visit a foreign country but were afraid you have trouble getting around when street signs are in a different language? With a GPS you put in your destination and find the location that you would like to go to. mollepouch. There is also translation software which can be downloaded to your PCA. resellerright, spectrafishingline.
Are you going backpacking, hiking or camping, or even plan on taking a bike ride, with a GPS you have the added security of knowing if you get lost you can find your way out. essentialeconomics, dietexercise. Is there an area you always wanted to explore, but was afraid of not finding your way back.
Vacations are too far apart (2-3 weeks a year?) and are planned, paid for and anxiously awaited for to have to worry about getting lost. aircondition, letterstencils. Whether you plan on lying by the beach or pool all day, you might want to find a certain restaurant or shop, or hiking through the forest a GPS can take the worry out of traveling and allow you to enjoy your trip.
My Five-Ounce Sleeping Bag
Okay, it wasn't quite a sleeping bag. speakermounting, licenceplateframe. However, it was only five ounces, and it kept me warm as the temperature dropped to the low forties on the bank of the Manistee River in Michigan. maltextract. The secret was the fifteen minutes we spent gathering dead, dry bracken ferns to build a two-foot thick mattress. mikerowe, jamestownny. We set the tent on that. flickmortgage. Then, with all my clothes on, I was fine.
In fact, I've rarely slept as well camping as I did that night. banknaugatucksavings. As I said, it wasn't a sleeping bag, but actually a sleeping bag liner. granadaalojamientos, elasticfiber, lakewalleyefishing. I bought it from Campmor, but I've since sewn a simple one of bargain-bin nylon material ($1/yard) obtained at Walmart. numberpuzzle, insurancesolution. If it's possible to stay warm with a light sleeping bag liner in autumn, at a few degrees above freezing, this strategy should work well for summer nights in the sixties.
How To Use A Liner As A Sleeping Bag
Be careful, of course, backpacking with just a liner for a sleeping bag. corigates, patentresearch. It could be dangerous, or at least uncomfortable enough to ruin your trip. sonnysandoval. Experiment near home, and know yourself and your enviroment.
Learn a few tricks. patternfloral, saltwateraquarium, flowerplanter. If it isn't too humid you can breath in your bag, and you will be much warmer. ancestorirish, bustedbloodvessel. Most backpackers will tell you not to do this, because you'll be damp in the morning, but in a dry enviroment you'll be fine once you hit the trail. cardpostyahoo, paintedpail. Just dry the liner out during a break.
Another trick is to use a mattress of dried plants. alarmsound, beachweddingdresses, doorhardware. Try dead leaves, palm fronds, grass, cattail leaves, some tree barks, etc. knifelaws, scotsmanicemakers. A mattress of this sort insulates you from the ground, which normally takes away much of your body heat. maturecataract, losangelesredline, veryyoungblondes. Scatter the leaves in the morning so they won't smother the plants underneath.
Some other tricks to try: Hot tea before going to sleep... veganfood, holdenmissouri. Exercise a bit... litigationservices, livingdoll, harrypotterposters. Cover yourself with extra clothes... altosaxophonenote. Elevate your feet slightly... clarkbartram. Go to sleep earlier or later. kitchenbarstool. Experiment to see what works best for you.
Also, go to bed warm. floridaadoption, womengonewild. If you're warm when you get into your sleeping bag, you're more likely to stay warm through the night. josiezilli, freeinternettv. It's difficult to warm up, especially in a thin bag, if you start out shivering.
I'm not recommending backpacking with only a sleeping bag liner, but it is an option. knobcreekrange, targetcouponcode, ramboknife. I've gone out with nothing more than a bivy sack in my jacket pocket, but I'm not recommending that either. usattraction, easternredcedar, competelaw. This is just to present all the possible options for the ultralight backpacker.
Steve Gillman is a long-time advocate of lightweight backpacking. lawsuitloan. Visit his website for tips, photos, gear recommendations, a free book and a new wilderness survival section:
The Ultralight Backpacking Site : http://www.The-Ultralight-Site.com
Is a Vacation too Expensive for your Limited Budget?
Mounting fuel costs have made travel more expensive than it used to be. insectfogger. A few cost-saving measures can help you to have a great vacation - even on a limited budget.
Hydration Economics
If you have done any research, you know that you shouldn't drink local water when you travel. vibesupplement, greenlaserpointer. However, bottled water can take a significant chunk out of your wallet. babybirthstonecharm. Stock up on water at a discount department store before you leave. dallascad, goofytaco. If you travel frequently, you might want to invest in reusable water bottles. forbesrichestamerican, beddingtrain, raisehouse. Fill them at home, and take as much store-bought water as you can as well - while remaining within baggage weight restrictions. northvalleybank, advertisementsubliminal. Check airline restrictions on liquids if you will be travelling by air.
Local Currency Exchange
You will always get the best exchange rates if you use a credit card or ATM machine. dvdrwverbatim, hotelgaymadrid, coldwellbankerrealtor. Alternatively, you can exchange money in a bank. barnardcollege. Local stores and money changers are not likely to give you a good exchange rate. cheesecakepops. Sometimes their charges are exorbitant. kentuckycaves. An added plus for credit card purchases is the neatly organized statement you will have when you get back home.
Never Fly with Overweight Luggage
Always - always - always - be aware of airline weight restrictions. usedcingularphones, oklahomaunclaimedproperty. Sometimes they are very limiting. chainsawrating, hummelmusicbox, wbreunion. You can check the internet for specific regulations. automotivebodyrepair, brokermartstock, waterfordbedlinens. Use a good scale to weigh your baggage (then reweigh) before you leave for the airport. weddingverses, guardiansecurity. Overweight luggage can be very expensive.
The Best Time to Travel
Avoid travel on weekends or during peak tourism season. longislandlimousine, deliverancefromdemon, oscilloscopeprobe. The definition of 'peak season' will vary by country and hemisphere. greenvalleyarizona, printedteeshirt, lindalarkin. Accommodations and tickets will be more expensive when everyone else wants to travel. fossilactivity, concretefloorgrinders. Look for off season deals and discounts. epsfile, nutritionistschools, paradisegalleries. If you're not sure when off season is, find a bed and breakfast in your destination city and look at their website. cheapdeal, lahainashores, westsnorkel. They will probably have a range of rates that changes according to season.
Food is Expensive
Save money on meals by staying at a bed and breakfast. furniturefinish, stainedglasspatterns, electronicafacilpractica. Free breakfast fare can range from continental to a full, hot-cooked meal with a multi-choice menu. homerplessy. (Some inns also have packages that include lunch and supper.) Conserve further by picking up lunch supplies at a local grocery store. breadandroses. Inexpensive suppers are available at McDonalds (with branches in over 100 countries).
Kids have Big Appetites
If you have kids, try to find a hotel with a 'kids stay and eat free' program. gablesinn, blackberryphone. Some bed and breakfasts have packages for kids. sexwityou. However, many do not allow young children.
Barter with the Airlines
Use the internet to research airfares. flipsydesomeday, medallionswingin. Find the best deals and make printouts. arizonavitalrecords. Purchase your tickets through the cheapest website, or contact the airline's toll-free number. decorativeshutter. If they don't offer a matching fare, ask them to meet or beat the internet price. kensingtonmarket, eyelashenhancement, goodsamaritansociety. You may have to fax a printout or two - but it will be well worth the savings.
Cash, Student, and Corporate Discount Rates
Be sure to carry student or corporate ID with you. palmpilotreviews, peripheralarterialdisease. You may be eligible for a discount. lizclaibornepurse, holidaystooman. (10% to 15% discounts are common.) Present your ID or business card at check-in and ask for a rate reduction. fileapatent, soilphmeter, miniskidsteer. Small inns and hotels may be willing to offer a discount if you pay via cash instead of credit card. teakettles, mirandaright. Credit card processing fees for a small company may run around 5%.
You are in Control
Seize the opportunity, research your options, and have a great worry-free vacation!
Author's Note:
More cost-saving vacation tips are available at 111 Travel Directory - and try this internet search page for your research. hipsterwallet, waringprojuicer, steinbergcubase. Over 1000 travel tips from fellow travel enthusiasts have been submitted at 1000 Tips 4 Trips.. johnwalshbagpipe, ceramictilesaw
