8 Worst Case Travel Scenarios

What happens if you crash your rental car? Wind up in jail abroad? Relax – these situations are unlikely (your chances of being arrested abroad, for example, are roughly just .006%). Still, it never hurts to know how to cope or, better yet, avoid disaster entirely.

Bad things can happen to good travelers. And while these worst-case scenarios are just that – things that could throw you for a serious loop, but most likely won’t – that doesn’t mean some prevention and damage control won’t go a long way should something go wrong on the road.

Budget Traveler’s tips come from the people who handle these types of situations routinely – doctors, state-department officials, guidebook directors. Across the board, preparation is your friend.

But even if you don’t have time to do everything it’s recommended the one thing you should always do is write down the number and website of the local consulate for where you’re going – it turns out that they’re useful for far more than just replacing a stolen passport.

Read more via 8 Worst-Case Travel Scenarios | Travel Deals, Travel Tips, Vacation Ideas | Budget Travel.

Delta Named Top Tech-Friendly U.S. Airline

Delta Air Lines has been named “Top Tech-Friendly U.S. Airline” by PCWorld magazine for its airport recharging stations, in-flight Wi-Fi on more domestic flights than any other carrier and smartphone apps with innovative features including baggage tracking and airport check-in.

The publication also highlighted Delta’s 24-hour customer service via Twitter from @DeltaAssist, as well as the ability to book tickets directly from Facebook.

via Delta Named Top Tech-Friendly U.S. Airline 

Budget-Friendly Trips & Tips: Traveling with Tweens and Teens

Let’s face it – tweens and teens are sometimes the most difficult family members to please on a vacation. Your toddler may eventually quiet down with a nap, but your 10-17 year-old will immediately and repeatedly let you know what he or she thinks.

When they’re unhappy, tweens and teens complain incessantly… making every movement from grabbing a hamburger to hitting tennis balls… an apt occasion to remind you of your dotty decision to book such a loser of a destination or resort. I know. I’ve been there. But now I’m smarter. After years of traveling with tweens and teens, I’ve discovered some ground rules and some budget-friendly getaways for these painfully hard-to-please offspring.

I’ve also come to value these getaways.  Over doughnuts in the airport lounge, or dinner at the highway stop, you might just find out why your high-schooler skips history or what it really feels like to come in third in the swim meet.

Continue reading article

Disney’s Aulani Resort Free Night Offer

A family resort with a touch of Magic!

Aulani, Disney’s Resort & Spa in Hawaii is offering a sixth night free plus complimentary breakfast when guests book a five-night consecutive stay at the oceanfront resort.

Guests can extend their stay and also enjoy complimentary continental breakfast daily in the resort’s lounge. The continental breakfast features a selection of fruits, pastries, coffee and hot teas.

Guests will also have the opportunity to learn some Hawaiian language in the popular ‘Ōlelo (“Word”) Room lounge which features wooden sculpture representations of common objects and labels that convey their Hawaiian names.

 http://resorts.disney.go.com/aulani-hawaii-resort/

Image courtesy of Disney Aulani Resort

Meet Your Bags At the Destination

It’s hard for families to travel these days with the added cost of airline baggage fees. If you are planning a family vacation, and traveling in the U.S., here’s a service that may save money . . .  Linda 

 Bag Voyaage will transport your bags from a residence, a hotel, or even a place of business to your chosen destination allowing you to travel hands-free.

View the Video Bag Voyaage

Bag Voyaage offers convenient luggage shipping throughout the continental US and Canada. Are you traveling one way? Are you traveling round trip? Do you have multiple travel destinations? With any selection, Bag Voyaage adds value to air travel!

http://bagvoyaage.com/

Opinion: Big Cruise Ships Are Safe

The terrible tragedy of the Costa Concordia has raised a lot of questions about cruise line safety and even the notion of are the big cruise ships that cruise lines like Costa, Carnival or Royal Caribbean sail still safe.

While there is no doubt in anyone’s mind that what transpired in Italy with the Concordia was absolutely awful, I think it’s time to rid ourselves of the notion that cruise ships aren’t safe.

via Opinion: Big cruise ships are safe | Royal Caribbean Blog.

Discover Camping, Hiking, Mountain Biking & Other Outdoor Trails

AllTrails is a user-driven platform that records the best places to hike, climb, camp, mountain bike, run, and participate in other activities typically taking place in the great outdoors.

It also lets you view reviews, share photos and take notes of where you went and what you did. It has been described as the ‘Yelp for those who enjoy outdoor pursuits’.

Today, AllTrails has announced a partnership with National Geographic aimed at building the most comprehensive online platform for outdoors enthusiasts, which will see the launch of a co-branded service available at alltrails.com.

 

Kids Think Technology is Fundamentally Human

Growing up with the Internet gives today’s children a very unique view on the way the world works — one that is vastly different from that of older generations.

These kids, the ‘digital natives,” are raised with modern technology deeply embedded into their lives, and form a natural understanding of its benefits.

This deeply rooted acceptance gives kids a unique perspective on how technology can be further used to make our lives easier, and helps researchers predict future needs for innovation.

What can we learn from the digital natives?

via Kids Think Technology is Fundamentally Human.

10 Free U.S. Adventure Activities

Sail Boston Harbor, Yoga in Bayfront Park, Ice Skate in Chicago and 7 more!

10 Free U.S. Adventure Activities — National Geographic

Chasing Waterfalls Isn’t Always Dangerous

Amberr Meadows – Writer, blogger and travel editor is a Georgia girl from Atlanta, and working on her first novel.

I stopped by her blog recently, and was surprised to find out about the many waterfalls in Georgia. I am constantly amazed at all the beautiful sites here in the U.S.  Next time I visit my sister-in-law, I plan to make a trip to the Georgia waterfalls – Linda

Head over and read Chasing Waterfalls Isn’t Always Dangerous

After stopping by the blog, you might want to cast your vote for Amberr in the Shorty Awards

 

Evernote Hello – Best App For Remembering People You Meet While Traveling

 

I could have used this on my last trip – will definitely download this app! I remember faces, but admit to being terrible with names

 Evernote Hello is a new application from the developers of that other nifty application for taking notes (Evernote, if you didn’t know) but this will change the way you remember who you meet while traveling the world.

Read the review

 

Best Cruise Ships for Kids

What You Need to Know About Cruising With Kids Under 10

Generally, the minimum age to sail on a cruise is 6 months; longer exotic itineraries often require children to be at least 12 months old. If sharing the same cabin with parents, children’s fares are typically priced as third and fourth passengers, which cost less than the regular adult fare.

Most ships will have cribs or Pack ‘n Plays for use during the cruise if you make a request in advance.
But if cruising with babies, definitely bring all your own gear (diapers, formula, lightweight stroller, and baby food) — unless you’re sailing with one of the few lines that allows you to pre-order supplies and have them delivered to your cabin.

Check out 23 ships at Frommers – all have a few things in common: drop-off age-specific programming and well-stocked playrooms, plus after-hours group babysitting (usually starts at 10pm) or private babysitting (usually $6-$8 per hour per child).

 

Spring Restaurant Week in Vegas and New York

 

Las Vegas is launching a new spring version of its Restaurant Week from February 27 – March 4.  Normally the event runs in the summer from August 27  - September 2.

 The event offers diners the chance to experience fixed-price menus at top Vegas restaurants costing $20.12, $30.12 or $50.12.

$4 to $6 of each meal goes to benefit Three Squares, a charity providing food assistance to southern Nevada residents.

Restaurants who have currently announced their participation include:

Aureole at Mandalay Bay – $50.12
Brand Steakhouse & Lounge at Monte Carlo – $50.12
Charlie Palmer Steakhouse at Four Season Las Vegas – $50.12
Diablo’s Cantina at Monte Carlo – $30.12
Fix Restaurant & Bar at Bellagio – $50.12
Stack Restaurant & Bar at Mirage – $50.12
The Steak House at Circus Circus – $50.12

More restaurants are expected to join in  - Visit www.helpoutdineoutlv.org/restaurants/menus for further details.

New York Restaurant Week

 

 

New York City’s Restaurant Week is already underway and runs through February 10 with three course meals priced at $24.07 for lunch and $35 for dinner at more than 300 restaurants.

 

Visit www.nycgo.com/restaurantweek for more information

Also this New York local website gives extra tips and info for Restaurant Week and much more

10 Questions to Ask Before Booking Your Next Family Trip

Family travel writer Rainer Jenss shares his New Year’s resolutions when it comes to planning trips with his family.

He says . . .  For 2012,  instead of making the usual bucket list, I’m concentrating mostly on which places and activities are going to benefit my kids and enrich their lives.

With that in mind, here are a few questions when evaluating a trip idea:

Read full article – via 10 Questions to Ask Before Booking Your Next Family Trip – Intelligent Travel.

Parenting & Travel Conundrums – World Tour of the Web

Parenting at home can be tough enough. Add a messed up sleep schedule, oodles of time spent together in cramped spaces, time change crankiness, and judgemental onlookers — and travel with children might seem like a foul idea at best and a recipe for mania at worst. But it’s not all bad, right?!

This World Tour of the Web focuses on the highs and lows of parenting in general, and parenting while traveling in particular.

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Great articles! 

- What Is the Point of Having Kids if Your Life Ends When Theirs Begins?

- Why Travel with Kids and Family Travel Are Important to Me

- Highs and Lows of Traveling with a Tween and a Teen

- 9 Life Lessons Children Learn from Travel

- You Can Take a Teen to the Lake, But You Can’t Make Her Swim

- Raising Kids Who Travel Well

Read via Parenting & Travel Conundrums – World Tour of the Web.

Save Up to 35% at a Disneyland Resort Hotel

 Stay and save up to 35% most Sunday through Thursday nights at a Disneyland Resort hotel when you travel between January 2 and February 29, 2012.

Travel must be complete March 1, 2012. With this Winter offer, you’ll enjoy being just steps away from both parks and the Downtown Disney District.

 Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel has just completed room upgrades throughout the hotel. Be among the first to stay in these newly redecorated rooms! Special rates are available for the nights highlighted in the calendar below.

Head over to Disney’s site for more info

Also check out other Disney specials on the site

 

About $400,000 In Coins Forgotten at TSA Checkpoints

WOW! Airline passengers leave about $400,000 a year in coins they forget to — or choose not to — take with them as they scramble to catch flights, according to the Transportation Security Administration.

In 2010, that loose change amounted to $409,085.56. That’s $376,480.39 in dollar coins, quarters, dimes, nickels and pennies, plus foreign currency worth $32,605.17.

Read via About $400,000 in coins forgotten at TSA checkpoints in 2010 – USATODAY.com.

Caribbean Family Travel Deals

Check Out Our Top Hotel Deals Below

 Bahamas - Nassau Beach Hotel, Wyndham Nassau Resort, British Colonial Hilton Nassau, Nassau Palm Resort & Conference Center, One & Only Ocean Club, Riu Paradise Island, Sheraton Cable Beach, Atlantis Paradise Island Royal Towers & Coral Towers, ,

 Nassau Bahamas Top Hotel Deals

 Barbados - Cobblers Cove, Coral Reef Club, Royal Westmoreland, The Sandpiper, Tyrtle Beach, Almond Beach Village, Sandy Beach Resort, Bougainvillea Beach Resort, Hilton Barbados, Kings Beach Village, The Savannah, Settlers Beach, Sandy Lane

 Barbados Top Hotel Deals

 Cayman Islands - Villas on the Galleon, Silver Sands, Grand Caymanian, Discovery Point Club Condos,  Westin Casuarina Resort and Spa, Morritts Tortuga Club & Resort, London House, Plantana Condominiums, Hyatt Regency Grand Cayman Resort

 Cayman Island Top Hotel Deals

 Jamaica - Beaches Boscobel, Beaches Negril, Beaches Sandy Bay, Franklyn D. Resort, FDR Pebbles, Holiday Inn Sunspree Montego Bay, Starfish, Sunset Jamaica Grande, Coyaba Beach Resort, Half Moon, Round Hill Hotel & Villas, Wyndham Rose Hall Golf and Beach Resort,

Jamaica Top Hotel Deals

Puerto Rico - Courtyard by Marriott Isla Verde Beach Resort, At Wind Chimes Inn, Wyndham Condado Plaza Hotel & Casino, Wyndham El San Juan Hotel & Casino, Hampton Inn, Hyatt Dorado Beach Resort and Country Club, Wyndham El Conquistador Resort & Golden Door Spa – Puerto Rico, The Westin Rio Mar Beach Resort and Golf Club,

Puerto Rico Top Hotel Deals

St Lucia - East Winds, Stonefield Estates, Jalousie Hilton Resort & Spa, Villa Beach Cottages. Windjammer Landing Beach Resort, Almond Morgan Bay, Almond Smugglers Cove, Coconut Bay Beach Resort, Papillon St Lucia,

St Lucia Top Hotel Deals

St Martin/St Maarten  

Dutch - Little Bay Resort, Caribbean Princess Condos, Coco Beach Club, Wyndham Sapphire Beach Club & Resort, Divi Little Bay, Westin St. Maarten Dawn Beach Resort & Spa,

French Le Flamboyant Hotel & Resort, Grand Case Beach Club,  Hotel Beach Plaza

St Martin & St Maarten Top Hotel Deals

Steamboat Springs: Lots To Do On And Off Slopes

 If you think Ski Town USA is only about the skiing, think again. Winter in Steamboat Springs can be a time to try everything from fly-fishing to hot-air ballooning to skinny dipping in a remote natural hot springs.

Want some indoor activities? How about Pilates, knitting classes or throwing a bowl on a potter’s wheel.

All that variety exists because of the balance Steamboat has struck as a vacation destination and a town in its own right. In fact, the number of hotel beds is nearly equal to the number of residents — about 12,000.

Find out more via Steamboat Springs: Lots To Do On And Off Slopes

Review: The Sheraton In Los Cabos Mexico ~ Family Travel Perfection — Child Mode

Family Travel Perfection

 

This is a resort that has the best of both worlds, it is super kid friendly while remaining chic and sophisticated.  I understand that it is difficult to cater to all the needs and demands of families.

Moms want it all when they travel, they’ve worked hard to get there and some might say they expect perfection.

via Review: The Sheraton In Los Cabos Mexico ~ Family Travel Perfection — Child Mode.