Travelogger

What to Do During a Tsunami


If you’re planning a trip to an exotic place like Sri Lanka any time soon, then you might have a nagging thought in the back of your mind: “What would happen if there was a tsunami while I was on vacation?” The truth is, you would be justified in considering the risk of running into this devastating weather anomaly, as recent events seem to have proven that it’s not as much of an anomaly as we’d like to think. You don’t have to board the plane anxiety-ridden, and wondering if you’ll make it back to your home country in one piece – but it is nice to be prepared, if only to set your mind at ease. Take a very basic precautionary measure and read this list of advice for what to do during a tsunami, then you can rest assured that, if the worst does happen, you’ll know what to do.



Preparing for Travel to Sri Lanka


Sri Lanka is a lush island, referred to by many as a tropical paradise. If you’re planning a trip to Sri Lanka, then you are in for an intoxicating journey into a land that, in some places, time seems to have forgotten, while in other places, is a modern cityscape, bustling with people. When you visit Sri Lanka, you truly are getting the best of not two, but a multitude of worlds, from scenic coastline beaches to hauntingly spiritual ancient sights. Ensure your best chances of having a smooth and safe vacation by taking the right precautions before you ever board the plane. Here are tips for preparing for travel to Sri Lanka:

Vaccinations. It is very important that you get the appropriate vaccinations before you leave for Sri Lanka. Be sure you are up to date with your polio, tetanus, hepatitis A & B, typhus, and yellow fever vaccinations. As well, bring some malaria pills with you, especially if you are traveling during the rainy season (when mosquitoes are most abundant).



5 Warm Vacation Destinations to Beat the Holiday Blues


The pending holidays can make many people cringe as they envision all the upcoming stress. Sometimes the best thing to do is get away from it all and lie on a beach somewhere while the remaining people you know put up with presents they do not want; crazy dysfunctional families; fattening food; squealing children; and large, pushy crowds. Why not do something out of the ordinary this year and consider one of these 5 warm vacation destinations to beat the holiday blues.

warm destinations

Anse Source d’Argent – Seychelles

East of Africa and northeast of Madagascar in the Indian Ocean amongst a cluster of one-hundred and fifteen islands sits the country of Seychelles. One of its crown jewels is Anse source d’Argent on the island of La Digue, a beach that some describe as surreal. With the entire population weighing in at about eighty-nine thousand, there is no such thing as crowds. Is definitely a paradise with calm, pink sand beaches surrounded by worn boulders and tropical vegetation. You will not find large resorts here, just a place to let your blues float away.



Averting Tantrums On The Road


party horn
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 …



Go On A Cruise ALONE!


I wrote something about going as a solo traveler some time back, and I think it’s time to tackle this topic again. This is because I just found out something about cruise lines offering more solo travel deals these days. I have always wanted to go on a cruise but they’re just way too expensive for me. If this trend of lower prices for solos on cruises goes any further, then I just might find myself going on a cruise one of these days!

This is what I found out from Reuters:

“The tour industry is making way for the single traveler,” said Margie Jordan, spokesperson for the American Society of Travel Agents. “This is nothing that’s going to go away. The single traveler is going to have as many opportunities as anyone else.”

For years most travel …



Getting Bumped From a Flight Is Not that Bad


080205_bumped_flightThese days, not too many people are flying – at least not as much in the old days. This means that airlines are offering fewer and fewer flights, even in the peak of summer. As such, it is still possible that you get bumped off your flight. Alternatively, you can also have your flight canceled. Either way, you might find yourself grounded at the airport.

Some people do not mind being bumped from their flight or having their flight cancelled. This is especially true for those who are in no particular hurry. And why not? More often than not, people in this position find themselves getting a lot of freebies. But this is not always the case. And if ever you do find yourself out of a flight or your flight gets cancelled, …



Good Reads that Make It OK to Stay Home


I have not had a trip in 3 months and I have been feeling really bad about it. We were supposed to go to the beach last week but our circumstances prevented us from doing so and we had to cancel flights that we had booked in advance. The next trip we are planning isn’t due till the end of the year – not really too far in the future but far enough for me. Anyway, in order to find some solace, I looked up some books that would help me cope. To my delight, I discovered a couple that have great potential.

One is Don’t Go There! Written by Peter Greenberg, the book’s full title is “Don’t Go There! The Travel Detective’s Essential Guide to the Must-Miss Places of the World.” He lists “which …



More Stay-cation Ideas



Did the stay-cation ideas I presented the last time appeal to you? If not, here are several more which you can consider.

Book a night or two at a local hotel
This option may still cost you a bit of money but not as much as if you were to go on a vacation in a far away destination. What I like about staying in a hotel for a couple of nights, even if it’s in my home city, is that you can relax more than you can at home. You do not have to clean up and the amenities are really nice. You can frolic in the pool, exercise in the gym, soak in the tub, and so on. You can even use the day to walk around the city as if you were tourists – this can be so much fun!

Camp …



Ideas For A Great Stay-cation


In the previous post, we were introduced to the idea of a stay-cation – at least I was. Anyhow, I got into this whole stay-cation mode and did some thinking to come up with some ideas for a great stay-cation. Here are some of those things.

Create a home spa
If you have lots of girls in the home, then this would be a perfect thing to do. Trust me, even fathers would love the idea once they have experienced pampering. So anyway, you could set up a home spa in one room in the house. Build up the mood and ambiance by decorating the room. Get some cheap scented candles and oil burners, put on nice relaxing music. You can give each other foot scrubs and massages. Of course, you might want to take …



Finances Tight? Go On A Stay-cation


Yes, you read that right – a staycation. This is the new buzzword that is going around in the hospitality and travel industry. So what is a staycation? I think the name is pretty much self-explanatory. To give you something “official,” though, here is the definition from the Urban Dictionary:

A vacation that is spent at one’s home enjoying all that home and one’s home environs have to offer.
Even though I live and work in New York, I don’t always get to enjoy all it has to offer, what with my work commitments, but I sure did have an awesome time here during my spring staycation.

Clear enough? I know a lot of families who have opted to go on staycations this summer because of the crazy economic situation these days. And what’s …