RSSJul|27|2011
More Stay-cation Ideas
Posted by Noemi as Travelogger
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 …
Jul|20|2011
Ideas For A Great Stay-cation
Posted by Noemi as Family, Health & Wellness, Spa, Tips
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 …
Jul|13|2011
Finances Tight? Go On A Stay-cation
Posted by Noemi as Family, Tips
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 …
Jun|23|2011
Little Passports: Impart The Love For Travel To Your Kids
Posted by Noemi as Family, Website
I don’t have kids – yet. One day, I really hope to have my own (two should be enough) and I want to share with them the world. The easiest and most creative way of doing this, in my mind, is to cultivate their imagination through reading. Indeed, one can travel the world just by reading.
Of course, reading alone will not be enough if I want my kids to experience the real deal. Still, reading is a good place to start, especially if the destinations I have in mind are of a totally different nature from what the kids are (going to be) used to.
That’s where this cool web site comes into the picture. I just discovered Little Passports, a web site founded by two moms who wanted to share the world (and its diverse …
Jun|16|2011
Top Five Places I Want To See Before I Die
Posted by Noemi as Around The World, Destinations
I don’t think I am going to die soon. Well, I certainly hope not. I have places to go, things to do. I did run across an article at the Huffington Post about dream destinations. It is not a new idea – people write all sorts of lists about things they want to do and places they want to go to before they die. I thought I’d have mine in black and white as well. So here goes.
1. Paris – I have always wanted to go to France. My fascination with this country began in grade school when I won a book titled “Let’s Travel to France” in a raffle draw. The rest, as they say, is history.
2. Israel – This is another place that was very much part of my childhood. Bible …
Jun|09|2011
How to Afford Trips in Tough Economic Times (Part 2)
Posted by Noemi as Backpacking & Budget, Tips
In the previous post, we took a look at 2 tips that can help you afford to go on a vacation despite the fact that money might be a little tight. To recap, the two tips are to reconsider your priorities and to consider going on a trip closer to home. Here are some more tips for you.
Always be on the lookout for special promos
Travel agencies, hotels, and airlines always have some sort of promo going on. Despite the economic problems – or maybe because of them – businesses in the travel industry seem to be giving a lot of incentives to travelers. Just last month, we were able to get free tickets to a domestic flight (round trip!). A local carrier, Cebu Pacific, gave away some 50,000 seats absolutely free – no taxes, no …
Jun|02|2011
How to Afford Trips in Tough Economic Times
Posted by Noemi as Backpacking & Budget, Tips
We are used to traveling at least twice a year. I guess it has become sort of a tradition for us. Traveling is the way that we are able to get away from the stresses of our daily lives and it also provides us something to look forward to. This year, however, it has been tough trying to get things together. We have not been exempt from the economic crisis that has been going on for quite some time. We were able to go to a nearby beach in May and August but have not been able to arrange anything else. I do know, however, that it is still possible to at least have one or two trips despite the tough financial times. If you are thinking about how to manage your own …
May|25|2011
Car Rental Tips
Posted by Noemi as Tips, Transport
Not too many people have great stories to tell when it comes to car rentals. With the way gas prices are today, it might not really be a good idea to drive around on your vacation. Still, if you must have a car then you might as well rent one. Here are some tips to help you save when renting a car.
Book as early as you can.
Just like with plane fares and hotel accommodations, the earlier you book, the better chances of getting a good deal. This is especially true if you are planning on traveling during peak season. The nearer your date of travel is, the higher the demand will be, and the prices will probably shoot up.
Try booking for more than a day.
Car rental companies normally give better rates for extended rental …
May|18|2011
Gift Ideas: Best Travel Books
Posted by Noemi as Books
Still thinking of what to give your friends this Christmas? You can never go wrong with books, especially if your friends love to travel. The Guardian has a feature article today about the best travel books according to some of the leading travel authors today. You can’t get any better than that, can you? Here are some of the books in the list.
Empires of the Indus by Alice Albini
Chosen by William Dalrymple, this book is described as “a fabulously thoughtful, learned, perceptive and stereotype-breaking book which follows the Indus from its delta on the coast of Sindh up to its source in Chinese-occupied Tibet.” He got me at “stereotype-breaking.”
The Man in Seat 61 by Mark Smith
This was chosen by the author of the first book on the list, Alice Albini. Why did she choose …
May|11|2011
More Places To Visit Before It’s Too Late
Posted by Noemi as Around The World, Destinations, Eco-Friendly
This is the continuation of the list that I started in the last post – places that might not be here tomorrow so we should visit them while we can.
Little Green Street isn’t in the center of London, but maybe that’s why it survived so long — it’s one of only a few intact Georgian streets left in the whole metropolis. These two-story brick houses may have survived the Blitz in World War II, but the inexorable march of gentrification is another thing altogether.
London is a premiere tourist destination as a whole but so is this little area within the city. Indeed, with development going the way it is, we might not get to see Little Green Street in its original form pretty soon.
Michoacán Monarch Biosphere Reserve, Mexico: Monarch butterflies face a variety …
