2. Coordinate your clothes around one or two basic colors. This cuts down on the number of clothes, shoes and accessories. It also leaves space for purchases made throughout your trip.  And don’t   forget to check the weather forecast of your destination before you pack!

3. Most flights to Europe are overnight flights. Eat light the evening you are flying and once onboard. Arriving with a full stomach can add to the sluggish feeling associated with changing time zones. Also, try to get as much sleep as you can in-flight as you often will be arriving early morning with a full day ahead of you.

4. Carry essentials in your carry on bag in the event that your luggage gets delayed or lost. Essential items are any items that you cannot replace, or you require within your first 24 hours of arrival. The more connecting flights you have, the greater the probability of your bag being delayed or going missing.

5. When traveling alone, and looking to make new friends, bring or wear items that identify your interests or where you are from. It’s a great way to identify new friends from the same background or similar interests.

6. If you are traveling with young children, insert a slip of paper into their pockets with relevant information (your cell number, hotel name). Adjust the information for every country you visit. Also, always keep recents photo of your children in your wallet – in case you lose them in a crowed area, and need help locating them.

7. It’s not very fun arriving at your destination tired and jet-lagged. Book a massage in advance at your hotel upon your arrival. A massage has an incredible effect of making you feel restored, and energized! The cost of the treatment may be worth a day of not feeling sluggish.

8. When travelling overseas with a multi-destination itinerary, you know you are going to breeze through at least a couple of books. Surrender the weight, but not the entertainment. A Kindle or iPad weigh less than most hard cover books, take up very little space, and store hundreds of ebooks and much more.

9. Plan out the museums and galleries you plan to explore on your holiday. Download a Gallery Guide (many are free!) to your smart phone before you depart for your trip. They will already be stored in your phone, and will require no roaming or wifi to retrieve.

10. Buy travel insurance. You never know when an unexpected situation will arise before or during your trip. The most common types of purchased insurance are emergency medical, cancellation and interruption, and baggage, and  there are packages that cover all of these.

Contact Kevin at kvisser@travelonly.com for help with your European adventure! He can help with cruises, tours, flights, hotels, insurance or anything else you need!

TravelOnly has a division that specializes in marathon travel packages.  Not only will you get your marathon entry (which can often be very difficult to secure), but all of your travel arrangements are also taken care of.   You can even add on an exciting and well organized tour or cruise, where you will get to meet and travel with like-minded fitness and health enthusiasts.  What a way to celebrate the completion of a marathon!

Upcoming packages include:

BMW Berlin Marathon in September 2012

ING Miami Marathon and Post Race Cruise in January 2013

Rome Marathon in March 2013

Rejkyavik Marathon in August 2013

Contact Kevin at kvisser@travelonly.com or 877-335-1781 for more details!

Here is a list of 30 Fun Things to do in Vegas Besides Gambling, many of which are low cost or even free:

1. Shark Reef at the Mandalay Bay Aquarium
2. Try some Thrill Rides on top of Stratosphere
3. Fire guns of all types at the Gun Shoppe
4. Try Beer Pong, and if you are good you can enter the World Series of Beer Pong!
5. Sirens Pirate Show at Treasure Island
6. Circus Circus Adventuredome
7. Attend a Trade Show
8. Experience the Nightlife
9. Shop at the Outlet Malls
10. Lion Sanctuary at MGM
11. Pamper yourself with Wellness and Spa
12. Play for hours at the Pinball Hall of Fame
13. The Skywalk at the Grand Canyon
14. Vast array of Fine Dining
15. Bellagio Fountain
16. Enter a Poker Tournament (Yes, it’s gambling, but win or lose, it’s still a real Vegas experience! Plus, skill is a factor! )
17. More shopping at the Fashion Mall
18. Enjoy the rejuvenated Old Vegas and the Freemont Experience
19. Ride the Rollercoaster at New York New York
20. See the amazing Auto Collection at Imperial Palace
21. Watch or try the Bull Riding at Gilley’s
22. Pool Parties at Tao Beach (Venetian) or Rehab (Hard Rock)
23. Catch a Boxing match. What’s more Vegas than that?
24. Speed freely at the Richard Petty Nascar Driving Experience
25. Amazing engineering marvel Hoover Dam and Lake Meade
26. Play year round Golf!
27. See a show, the variety is unreal
28. Visit M&M World - 4 stories of chocolate heaven, even a 3D film!
29. Walk the entire strip.  Great exercise, and the sites and sounds will amaze.

And of course… you can always

30.  GET MARRIED!

Do you have any more Vegas experiences to add!?

Here are the Top 10 Cruising Trends for 2012:

1. 10 Day Cruises – More and more cruisers feel that 7 days is just not long enough, and many of the major cruise lines are adding more longer sailings to their offering.  Another benefit of longer cruises is that ships can venture further from the embarkation port.

2. All Inclusive -  Some cruise lines are starting to include drinks in the fare, and Transat is now offering the all-inclusive Pullmantur line.  The high end Regent line even includes shore excursions and can actually be more cost effective than mid-range lines when you consider everything that is included.

3. Enrichment Programs – More than ever, people want to learn, and many cruise lines are offering guest speakers, seminars, classes, and other programs to enhance the experience for clients.

4. Emerging Destinations – More countries are realizing the benefits of opening their ports to cruise traffic, and frequengt cruisers are demanding newer and more unique destinations.  Adventure and expediation cruises are hot right now.  Asia, Africa, South America, and even the Middle East are becoming more accessible to cruisers.

5. Ship board activities – Cruise lines are getting more and more creative with the activities that they are offering.  You can now do a high ropes course on Carnival, ride a huge waterslide on Disney, and have a simulated F1 experience on Costa.  You can also ice skate, surf, watch movies on deck, have a picnic on real grass, and so much more!

6. More adults only areas – Families are enjoying cruises more and more, and that also means that adults are looking for more space to relax in peace.  Many cruise lines are expanding their poolside  adults only areas.

7. Major Ship Renovations – New ships come out all the time, and to stay competitive and recoup their investment, cruise lines are spending big money to keep older ships looking fresh and appealing.

8. Extending Port Stays – Cruise lines are breaking free of the daytime port stop model and offering more over night stays for the ports that justify it.

9. Customizable Shore Excursions – Many guests have shown willingness to pay for the perfect shore excursions, and cruise lines and tour companies are working to accomodate them.

10.  More Partnerships with Major Brands – Look for this to continue to become more prevalent as cruise lines go for that edge over the competition.  For example, NCL has been adding names like Blue Man Group, Legends in Concert, Cirque, Howl at the Moon Dueling Pianos, and Nickolodeon, and Carnival has partnered with Guy’s Burger Joing, Punchliner Comedy Clubs, EA Sports Bars, and Hasbro.

We are preparing to take our 4 year old on his 8th International trip (and our 1 year old on his 3rd!), and have learned a few things from our past experiences.

1.  Flight – The key here is keeping kids occupied and entertained and the time will fly by.  Bring favourite toys, movies, video games, and snacks.  Pack a few surprises as well.  If you can, book an airline with seat back entertainment – kids love the novelty, and the power of controlling their own screen.   Also, always pre-book seats, even if you have to pay a small fee to do it…  the risk of not sitting together makes the cost worthwhile!

2.  Food – Part of the joy of visiting a resort is not having to worry about food prep and clean up… yahoo!  Just make sure you choose a resort with plenty of dining options, or one that is close to affordable off site restaurants.  Read some reviews and make sure that people have been happy with the food, as this can sometimes make or break a vacation.  Also, with access to bountiful buffets, it might be a good chance to implement a ‘try one new thing’ rule!

3.  Pools – Even if you are headed on a beach vacation, don’t discount the pool.  Ocean water can be rough, and some days you just want to avoid getting sand on everything and everywhere.  Plus the pools are typically more centrally located and closer to activities, food, and drinks.   Look for pools wth zero entry (beach style), shallow children’s pools, and even splash pads or mini water parks.    Bring some balls, inflatables, and other toys, and if you have done some shopping you can leave large items for the next family to arrive if you like.

4. Kids Club – Look for resorts that have age and stage appropriate Kids Clubs for your children.  Even an hour or two once a day or so can provide some fun engagement and interaction for your kids (and maybe even a break from the sun), and a welcome break for you.  Talk about it with your kids ahead of time to reduce anxiety, start with short stints, or even stay with them the first time.   Great Kids Clubs can really add to the overall vacation experience for your kids and help to make sure it IS a vacation for all.

5. Safety – A vacation should never be a vacation from safety or common sense.  Be wary of balcony railings, bring outlet covers to keep little fingers safe, and enforce similar rules regarding safety to what you have in place at home.  Remind your little ones that they ALWAYS always need to be able to see you and should never go in the water without telling you.  Research your vacation spot ahead of time, and you will be much more relaxed when you arrive.

Free Dining at Disney

Disney has brought back it’s Free Dining Promotion!   Book a Value Hotel to receive the Quick Service Dining Plan, and a Moderate or Deluxe Hotel booking will get you the Standard Dining Plan.  Arrival date must be any time between August 25 and September 29, 2012.  Your package must be booked by May 18, however space allocated to the promotion is limited and will likely not last until then.

With the wide variety of Character meals and unique dining experiences available to you at Disney, the Dining Plan is essential, and this promotion will save the average family of four over $100 per day.

Contact Kevin at kvisser@travelonly.com or 877-335-1781 to book – he is a Disney Expert and helps you plan every aspect of your trip!  Kevin will give you a daily plan, tons of tips, and will even make your Disney Dining reservations for the week, providing you with a summary snapshot of your time at Disney before you go.

Starting in June 2012,  Transat is including direct flights and transfers that connect with Pullmantur’s 7 night Western Mediterranean (round trip Barcelona)  and Greek Isles / Turkey (round trip Athens) sailings.

Alcoholic beverages, beer, wine, juice, bottled water, tea, and coffee are included…at no extra charge.   On a typical cruise. the costs of these drinks can really add up, as frequent cruisers know all too well.

Making the package even more attractive for families is the fact that kids under 16 sail for free.  Also, Pullmantur has a single parent policy where only one adult rate is paid when a single parent travels with one or two children.

Flight and cruise packages start at just $2000 per person for 7 nights, a bargain for a European cruise, but particularly when you can drink for free!

If you’d like more information or a quote, contact Kevin at kvisser@travelonly.com or 877-335-1781 today!

• Research Local Specialties- In a foreign country, we sometimes encounter dishes that look delicious but are otherwise a mystery.  Knowing how they are made will make it easier for you to manage your meals when you are there.
• Healthier Happy Hour – Stay away from cocktails that are creamy or have a high sugar content.  Drinks made with pure fruit juices are a good alternative, and staying hydrated with water throughout the day is a must. Some good choices include Sangria, a Marguerita, or a Mohito.

• Breakfast Buffets – The huge selection of carbs can be tempting, but try heading to the fruit section first.  Tropical delicacies like Mango, Pineapple, Melon and Papaya are a real treat, and are also excellent fuel for your body!
• The Evening Meal – The huge and tempting selection, and the small amount of time for digestion before bedtime can really get us into trouble.  Try the salads first, and avoid creamy sauces, breading, and fried food.  Tropical seafood can be a real delight, and it is healthy too.  Freshly grilled or barbeques dishes can be a good choice, as can meats marinated in local spices, such as Jerk Chicken.  Yes, you are on vacation, but common sense and self control are still important.
• Be Careful – in destinations or properties where potable water is not available (other than bottled), avoid lettuce and fruits that you cannot peel yourself.
• The Dreaded Dessert Buffet – One sweet dessert is temptation enough, but the dessert buffet can be a killer.  If you just have to try more than one of the choices, take very small portions.  Also, I can’t say enough about the fruit… a great choice for dessert as well!
• Stay Active – You are bound to ingest at least a few extra calories while away, and you can counteract that by doing some sort of physical activity at lease once or twice a day.  It’s not that hard – go for a walk on the beach, participate in some of the organized hotel activities, go snorkelling and swimming, or even pop into the hotel gym.

Now that you know your vacation won’t necessarily explode your wasteline, contact me to help find the ideal resort at the best price for you!

Punta Cana, Dominican:  Dreams Palm Beach,  Dreams Punta Cana

Mexico:  Dreams Cancun,  Dreams Tulum Resort & Spa,  Dreams Puerto Aventuras Resort & Spa,  Dreams Riviera Cancun Resort & Spa.  Dreams Los Cabos Suite Golf Resort & Spa

Dreams resorts are perfect for families and couples, and feature beautiful pools and beaches, fine dining without requiring reservations, excellent entertainment and activity program, and no wristbands!

Book January 1 to 31, 2012 for Travel February 1 to April 30th, 2012

Contact Kevin today at 877-335-1781 to start working on your winter getaway to one of the fabulous Dreams Resorts, or to one of many other great Caribbean properties!

Savings are in CAD and are per stay. Not applicable to groups.  Not combinable with any other offer or promotion.   Bookings must made more than 14 days in advance.

“One of sour, Two of sweet, Three of strong, Four of weak.”

Not clear enough for you? How about this:  One part lime juice, two parts sugar, three parts of your favourite dark rum (like Barbados own Mount Gay Rum), and four parts water.  Dissolve the sugar in the water, add the rum and lime juice, and blend well.  Serve on ice with a little bit of nutmeg!

Or… you could just head to the Caribbean and get it right from the source!