RSSMay|31|2008
Update on the Singapore F1 Night Race
Posted by Noemi as Around The World, Asia, Cities, Destinations, Festivals, Historical, Travelogger
The date of the race is fast approaching and even if it is still several months away, it seems that anyone planning on going to Singapore that weekend should be prepared to pay a hefty price. I did not buy tickets – for the plane, hotel, and race – last month when I first posted an entry on the night race because I was not sure if my finances could handle it. Now that September is looming nearer, I decided to check out the prices yet again to see if something could be done.
I shouldn’t have been surprised, really. As with any other event, the closer it gets to that event, the more expensive and difficult it is going to be. I tried looking at various online hotel booking sites and found very few available …
May|31|2008
Take A Closer Look At Travel Costs (Part 2)
Posted by Noemi as Hotels, Tips
In the previous post, we took a look at how you can save some money and avoid spending more than you should with regard to airfare. This time, let us take a look at the other major cost associated with traveling – accommodations. Before we go on, let me ask you this – what kind of accommodation do you usually book? Are you the type of person who likes comfortable and luxurious hotels? Or are you the type who can “rough” it out at hostels and lower budget accommodations?
I suggest that you decide the answer in your mind and IF you do think that you could hack it out in a hostel, then you just might save TONS of money in accommodations. To be honest, I have not made up my mind with regards to this. I …
May|27|2008
Take A Closer Look At Travel Costs
Posted by Noemi as Air Travel, Tips, Transport
Summer time is almost here and I bet that you are planning to go on a vacation sometime soon, that is, if you have not made your plans yet. Have you taken a closer look at how much your vacation will cost you? You probably know in the back of your mind that there could be hidden costs to everything but you might not have taken the time to plan on how to deal with them as of yet. If so, I suggest doing so. With prices going up all over the place, it is but prudent to look for ways on how to slash a bit of your travel costs.
Have you booked your airplane tickets yet? If you have not, then I suggest looking at budget airlines first. More than considering budget airlines, be on the constant …
May|25|2008
Wake Up In A Different European City Everyday…
Posted by Noemi as Around The World, Cruises, Europe, Transport
Doesn’t that sound like a dream? I would surely want to have this experience at least once in my life. Well, alright, maybe more than once. Yet is it even possible? You bet! The only thing that I see that is hindering me (and many others, perhaps) from living this dream is the cost. Then again, that’s what savings are for. We just have to set this goal and start saving our way to a European cruise.
I actually saw this ad in Yahoo Travel for Norwegian Cruise Line and what they call “freestyle cruising.” So what is this all about?
The idea of freestyle cruising is to let you do whatever you want to do while on board. You know how, in some cruise ships, you have a schedule to follow while …
May|22|2008
Averting Tantrums On The Road
Posted by Noemi as Family, Tips
At the best of times and situations, toddlers can throw tantrums. How much more when the whole family is on the road? Being crammed up in the back seat is definitely not the ideal situation for kids. This is definitely not something that parents look forward to as well. So is there a way to avert disaster before it happens? Of course!
The number one thing parents must remember is to bring along things that would keep the kids occupied. Books, music, toys, and a whole lot of creativity and ingenuity will do the trick. I would like to place special emphasis on the last point. As the parent, you must be able to monitor your child’s needs. You must be able to gauge his or her mood. Better yet, you must …
May|20|2008
Can I Drive?
Posted by Noemi as Family, Tips, Transport
I can’t remember how many times I asked my dad this question when I was a teenager. Somehow, driving holds a certain allure for teens. When – and I say when, not if – your teenager asks you if he or she can drive on your road trip, what should your response be?
Teresa Plowright from About.com thinks that this should be taken as an opportunity to allow your child to practice his or her driving skills – and I couldn’t agree more, provided that some conditions are met. Indeed, what better way to teach your child how to drive responsibly than when you are in the car with him or her, on a real trip?
In her article, Teresa presents some tips on how to encourage your child to be a responsible driver. One of …
May|18|2008
Weekend Trip To Niagara Falls
Posted by Noemi as Americas, Around The World, Destinations, Family
Though it is not quite the time to go on vacation yet, who is to hinder you from taking a quick trip this month? Personally, I like taking short trips every now and then in order to get away from the stresses of every day life. This benefits everyone in the family and gives each member a boost of energy to get them going.
One destination that would be perfect for a weekend trip is the Niagara Falls. Of course, this would only be feasible if you live relatively near the area. Then again, if you have extra funds, you can always hop on a plane for the weekend trip.
The Niagara Falls is one of the most frequented tourist spots – both on the Canadian side and American side. There is more to do than merely catch a …
May|18|2008
American Idol Summer Camp
Posted by Noemi as Events, News, United States
Do you have a teenager who is a huge fan of American Idol? Are you still planning on what he or she can do for the summer? Well here is something different and exciting – the American Idol Summer Camp, which was launched last year, is going to be held once again this year and the next.
What is the Camp all about? Last year’s Camp was full of activities for children aged 10 to 15 years old. The concept of the Camp is to bring children together in a non-competitive environment (much unlike the popular TV show) and help them learn techniques with regard to “singing, dancing, acting, song writing, audition and performance techniques, personal style, video production, set design and more.”
I’d say that even if you child is that not big a fan of American …
May|16|2008
Take Advantage of Audio Books
Posted by Noemi as Family, Tips
Do you place a lot of weight on education? I sure do! That is why I was really excited when I read a post on Boots N All about audio books for kids and how they can be used to quell boredom on long trips.
Perhaps you have heard of Audible, which is one of the biggest audio books companies. They have a special section for kids called – surprise! – AudibleKids. From this site, you can download a wide variety of audio books that can keep your children amused while on the road.
I am sure that you have had your share of tough road trips wherein you can barely control the children in the back seat. Boredom can cause a lot of complications. From whining to nagging to fights erupting – all …
May|14|2008
Gutsy Mamas: Travel Tips and Wisdom for Mothers on the Road
Posted by Noemi as Books, Family
“It has always taken courage, stamina, and self-sacrifice to be a mother, and this is especially true in our hectic modern world. Indeed, bearing a child and giving birth are the very definition of gutsy. As a woman, it also takes guts to travel boldly…”
These are the opening sentences of the book by Marybeth Bond, with the same title as this post. I ran across a preview of the book on Google Book Search and before I knew it, I had spent a considerable time reading it. In celebration of Mother’s Day – albeit a late one – I thought of featuring the book in this blog so as to give you a peek into its pages.
The book talks about traveling from the eyes of a mother. More than that, it details the unique experience of …
