Traveling by Car with Children

Nowadays, Air travel cost a fortune. As a result of increasing rates of airfares, more travelers are deciding to visit the nearest vacation spots, specifically the ones that can be reached by car. Traveling with car not only helps you save money; it can also be a very fun and thrilling experience for you and your family members too.

However, traveling by car with your kids can be really challenging, especially if you are not ready. When traveling with your kids, ensure you are completely prepared. Ask yourself some questions, do you plan to do a long road trip with your children, or is it going to be a short drive? Do you have a strict budget, or can you afford to spend a little more? If you want to travel with your kids while saving some money, then here are some tips to help you out:

• Before leaving, prepare everything. Pack your bags, water, food and clothes for your children. You should also pack travel journals, toys, crayons and other things to maintain your kids busy during the ride. The last thing you want is for them to become agitated and hyperactive!
• You may also consider bringing fancy gadgets like mobile phones with games, handheld game consoles, mp3 players, etc to keep them entertained.
• Another idea is to install a portable DVD player in your car – watching movies will keep them still for certain.
• Stock up on snacks for everyone. Remember that children want to travel with a full stomach. Choose for healthy snacks, like granola bars, rather than potato chips.
• Make sure to keep your car travel to a six to eight hour range of time since kids can be a challenge to travel by car with.
• Don’t load too much stuff into the car since it can lessen the space for your kids. Make sure to provide spacious seats for your children as well when doing a road trip.
• Choose a travel time that your children would prefer before traveling.

Traveling by car is more affordable than traveling by plane. You’ll be able to save more money and you will get to experience many great things too. Keep in mind, always stay safe and do not forget to have fun when it comes to road trips


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Travel Quote of the Month: by Daranna Gidel

"You lose sight of things...and when you travel, everything balances out." - Daranna Gidel

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Two Days (48 Hours) in Phnom Penh

Phnom Penh commonly gets shadowed by its smaller but more renowned sister City, Siem Reap, which acts as an entrance to the ancient civilization of Angkor. Travelers stop in Phnom Penh to transfer to Siem Reap, and several overlook the wonders of this charming French-colonized city with its not-so-secret austere history.

If you are planning a tour to Cambodia to see the wonders of Angkor Wat, make sure to give yourself a at least two days to visit the capital city. There are things to do in Phnom Penh; however here is our suggested itinerary for 2 days (48 hours) in Phnom Penh:

First Day

Start your day in Phnom Penh Adventure by allocating the morning at the Royal Palace. Appreciate one of the best samples of Cambodian architecture in the country before noon. Even though the king’s quarters are closed for public viewing, the Silver Pagoda and central compound of the Palace is open for visitors to awe about.

Eat lunch at one of the Cambodian restaurants around the city. If you are in doubt as to where to stay, take a leisurely walk to Central Market and have a taste of how the locals eat. The market is sheltered in an Art Deco building, an exceptional landmark of the city, and has a wide range of products on offer. This is the ideal place to train your haggling skills.

After you have filled your tummy and fulfilled your shopping habit, hail a tuk-tuk to bring you down to Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum. The museum is located in the old prison grounds, where its buildings were cautiously preserved with the old prison cells still in one piece. The secret prison was where Pol Pot, leader of the Khmer Rouge, kept his detainees and tormented them, even killing some in the process. Depressing as it may be, this place brings the existence of the horrors of the Khmer Rouge regime to life.

Make the most out of your tour and visit one last attraction of the day by going to Wat Phnom, the sacred Buddhist sanctuary of Phnom Penh. Legend has it that a rich widow discovered four bronze statues of Buddha in a tree. She took it as a sign and constructed a shrine to guard the statues. Shortly, more people started visiting the place to pray and give offerings.

Not distant from Wat Phnom is Sisowath Quay, home to many bars and restaurants and located next to the Tonle Sap River. Take a seat by one of the roadside restaurants and relax the night away with a couple of drinks while people-watching. You want to be careful of the children selling magazines and souvenirs along the dock. Buy something from one and you may find yourself with a group of kids surrounding you.

Second Day

Learn more regarding the Cambodian culture by taking a visit to the National Museum. It has an entire range of Cambodian artifacts from the 12th century that endured the Khmer Rouge era. You must hire a guide for this as it is greatly lacking in information for tourists. The architecture itself is a beautiful structure to commend.

The National Museum is that far from the Foreign Correspondent’s Club in Sisowath Quay. Take a seat for lunch and adore the view of the river and soak in its atmosphere. Go for the Khmer dishes such as fish amok rather than the usual Western affair.

After lunch, take a tour along Choeung Ek Killing Fields. It might be the farthest sightseeing spot from the heart of the city, but it is a must-see that you totally can’t miss. You can hire a tuk-tuk for a return trip, and the travel time must not take more than 45 minutes per way. Its secluded location is not a plain accident; the Khmer Rouge planned it per se so that the mass murder would go without being seen by others. The majority of the victims who died here were brought from the Tuol Seng Prison. Pay your respects at the stupa after your tour around the Killing Fields.

End the day and your trip in Phnom Penh with a movie at The Flicks Movie House. For only US$3.50, you will be able to watch all the most recent blockbusters the whole evening. The screening of movies regularly start around 4pm during the weekends and 6pm during the weekdays, therefore you can simply end your trip lazing about on their mattresses and cushions with cheap food and drinks. But we suggest reserving a spot before heading down.

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Tips for a Cheap Holiday

Planning an incredible vacation does not essentially mean you ought to expect an enormous hole in your wallet after the fun is over. With proper planning, you will be able to stretch your budget to make your holiday the ideal one, although you do not have money growing in your garden.

As a result of the development of internet travel services, there are several options available and ground rules to follow that will help you save money with your vacation. Would you like to experience all the enjoyable aspects of a vacation without spending too much? If so, read these travel tips and ground rules.

Set a budget

Make sure to set a budget before booking anything at all. Through your financial plan, you will be able to recognize the type of vacation that best suits your budget. Consider other countries if your expected budget is unsuitable for the destination.

Online deals and promotions

Check out promos and deals on the Internet if you want an affordable vacation. There are numerous travel company sites that offer a wide variety of cheap travel packages. Whether you are buying plane tickets, booking accommodation or purchasing tour packages via these travel sites, availing their deals and promos will absolutely help you save a lot of money.

Affordable destinations

Choose an affordable travel destination if you want to save money on your vacation. Remember, that some destinations are normally pricier than others. For instance, New Zealand is without doubt a pricey option compared to somewhere similar to Thailand. If you want to know where these low-priced destinations are, do a research on the Internet or you may ask your friends for their advices and let them share their experiences with you.

Non-peak seasons

Travel during non-peak vacation months. During these months, airfares as well as hotel rates are more affordable than usual. You might be under the idea that non-peak seasons are equal to crazy winds, rainy days, and plain bad weather, but that is really not the case. Non-peak seasons can see excellent conditions as well, depending on the region you are looking at – it is just that 80% of the world’s population would probably be busy working during the time as it is not a holiday period like December or June.

Book earlier

Hotel accommodations and airplane tickets are a lot cheaper if they are booked ahead of time. If you are able to plan and book your vacation early, chances are you will save a lot of money.

Consider weekday getaways

Since most vacation goers travel on the weekends, car rentals, hotel accommodations, and airplane tickets become extra expensive on the weekends. So consider traveling during weekdays instead if you want to have an affordable vacation.

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How to Pack Light and Be Alright

A vacation is intended to be relaxing; however we all hate the preparation needed prior to the actual trip. And for many of us, packing is a chore. What do we bring? What to leave behind? And do we really need that? Here are few tips and tricks on how to get over that obstacle and come out alright at the end.

Clothes

The most important thing to remember when packing clothes is to bring separates that match with just about anything. For instance, instead of bringing that trending bright colored jean, bring your staple dark navy wash that goes with almost any top. This way, you don’t need to have a different bottom for every top. If you are going to a place during autumn or winter where the weather can get crazy, always make sure you have a cover all to keep you warm. Remember that it is easier to unwrap layers off to get cool, than to try and stay warm in the wrong clothes.

Tip: Bring clothes that can play dual roles. For instance, scarves are a great light-weight item that are easy to pack and brighten up any outfit. More than just an accessory, thicker ones can double as a wrap for chillier days and silk patterned ones make great halter-tops when artfully tied. And since the chances that you won’t be doing any laundry when you travel, scarves are a great cover up for a top that has a small stain.

For a trip that’s a week long, 3 bottoms and 6 coordinating tops (3 dressy tops and 3 casual) that you can mix and match should be sufficient, exclusive of what you are wearing when you are travelling. Pack a beautiful dress that passes for smart casual, just in case you are going to a nice restaurant or the theatre. If you want to pack even lighter, dresses and jumpsuits are great one-piece ensembles that you can fit in as well. You can change the whole look up with smaller, easier to pack accessories.

Shoes

No matter where you go, you only need maximum of 3 pairs of shoes:

1. A good pair of walking shoes or sandals
2. Dressier shoes for nicer restaurants or events
3. A casual shoe that is easy to get in and out for leisure time

Tip: Most of the time, combining item 1 and 3 is easy, which means you only need 2 pairs of shoes. And if you wear them when you are commuting, you only need to pack one other shoe – your dressier pair. As with your clothes, bring those that would match well with most of your outfits.

On the other hand, if luggage space you are after, wear the bulkier shoe when you are traveling. Such as, if all you need are sneakers and flip-flops wear your sneakers and pack your Havaianas.

Toiletries

These days, there are strict regulations regarding to what you can bring on board with you. For toiletries, you can’t bring an aerosol or liquids that amount more than 100ml. They also need to be kept in a clear plastic bag so the contents can be seen.

Nowadays, you can simply buy a travel pack of essentials that are already packed in a clear, see-through pouch. But if you do not want to keep buying these each time you travel, invest in clear plastic containers that you can transfer your toiletries into and re-use it.

Tip: Be a sample hoarder. Little sachets of shower gel, moisturizer and foundation are really useful as compared to bringing a jar or bottle of the stuff. Once more, packing two-in-ones also help in reducing your luggage. For example, bringing a scented moisturizer let you to skip the bottle of perfume, while a tinted moisturizer allows you to skip foundation for a light coverage. Most moisturizers also come with SPF these days, so you can leave the sun block spray/lotion at home.

When it comes to make-up, cream lipsticks can also double up as a cream blush. Copper-toned eye shadows also double up as great bronzers when mixed with a little moisturizer, whereas a pearlescent one makes a great face highlighter.

There are numerous ways to get creative with how you use things. Keep the tips above in mind the next time you are packing for your vacation and watch the luggage space free up and get lighter. After all, who does not love a bit of free space to take up with new buys?

Image courtesy of Stuart Miles / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

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5 Things to Do in Bintan

In case you're headed to the excellent island of Bintan, Indonesia, here are 5 must do that each guest have to try.

Water Sports

As a beach destination, an evident yet unquestionably pleasant option is water sports. Choose from wakeboarding, jet skiing, diving, snorkeling and many more. For thrill seekers, take the well-known Banana Boat challenge and check whether you can stay floating. A visit to Bintan is simply not complete if you did not try at least one water activity.

Outdoor adventure sports

If you had rather stay dry and water is not your thing, don’t be troubled. Bintan also offers many outdoor adventure sports, like flying fox, archery, rafting, paintball and even all-terrain vehicle (ATV) rides. FOCUS adventure is a company that specializes in team challenges like Pyramid or Hourglass, which makes the destination ideal for company retreat and team building too.

Golf

With the picturesque landscape and abundant natural greenery, playing golf in Bintan is a must, with some offering a scenic background of the South China Sea. If you have never tried playing golf before, golf classes and clinics are as well available. Enjoy a full or half game in a location of your choice – it’s no doubt that the island is recognized for having one of the best golf courses in Asia.

Spas & Massages

After a long day of outdoor adventure, water sports or golf, it is time to chill out with a soothing spa and massage which is available all over the island. Ease your tired muscles while taking in the stunning views. A must try are the traditional Indonesian oils and blends that are health-oriented, and the delectable spiced tea that is normally served after each treatment.

Mangrove tour

Bintan also offers an opportunity to commune with nature. Look at the mangrove tour that educates guests more about the eco-nature of mangroves and its natural life. Try to spot local inhabitants like kingfishers, monkeys, mud lobsters, otters, and yellow-united mangrove snakes. There are likewise a group tours that take you to the town of the "Orang Laut" (Sea People) and even night tours where you can wonder about pretty firefly displays.

Image Source: bintan-resorts.com

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