Travel Tips to Save Money on Vacation

Before leaving:
Credit Cards
Be sure to call your credit card company to notify them your travel plans. This will help to avoid confusion and a potential freeze of your funds while abroad.

Passport
Many people assume their passports are valid, only to be proven wrong as they arrive at the airport. Be sure to double check that all passports and visas are up to date before booking any international travel.

“Grazie!”
Preparing a few common phrases of courtesy and gratitude is a must. Travel is apt to go much more smoothly when politeness and effort are concerned.

10 Things You Should Know When Traveling Abroad

Whether you’re an avid traveler returning to a familiar overseas location or visiting a foreign country for the very first time, there are always a few international travel tips that are absolutely indispensable.  The experts at Select Italy, the country’s premiere Italian travel resource, have provided advice for exploring the other side of the pond confidently, efficiently and safely with these travel tips.

1. Understand Travel Documents
Each country has different visitation requirements, so it is vital that you understand which documents are required for your trip.  Make sure you have a valid visa (if needed), and that your passport is up to date.  Also, make sure to apply for these travel documents well in advance as the registration process may take longer than expected.

2. Locate the American Embassy
It’s important to know the location of the US embassy when traveling overseas because it can be helpful for a variety of unfortunate situations, from losing a passport to legal issues.  Also, register with the State Department’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program prior to departure; the agency can assist if something should go wrong.

What You Need to Know Before Traveling to Europe

These days, hopping on a plane and jetting off to Italy for a much-needed vacation is not uncommon at all, and with the expanding global market of large and small companies, the number of international travelers is ever on the rise. However, no matter whether it is your first or fiftieth time on a flight to the beloved boot, there are always extra steps to the process as well as different practices and particularities of the foreign country that might not just line up with what you are used to experiencing. This process will most likely include a few pre-travel questions, ones that we are ready to answer.

What do I pack?
 European plugs look different and have different voltage
Besides the obvious clothes and shoes for the weather, terrain, and future activities (need help deciding what to wear? Read one of these posts for autumn, summer, or spring), there are a few other considerations when packing for an Italian vacation. First things first: place your passport where you won’t forget it, preferably in your carryon or handbag. There have been far too many travelers who’ve had to rush home from the airport in the hopes of not missing their flight to retrieve a forgotten passport at home. European converters are also a must, as well as the chargers for your phone, camera batteries, and computer. A word of caution to the well-groomed: notice how straightener and hair dryer are not on this list. Although most hair dryers are safe with the converter, most hotels in Italy will provide you with one, and American straighteners often cannot handle the higher voltage of Italian sockets, resulting in an irreversibly fried piece of expensive hair-styling equipment.

5 Ways Travelers Get Ripped Off On Currency

When you are planning your European trip of a lifetime, the last thing you want to worry about is getting a bad deal on your currency exchange or being blatantly ripped off by a less than honest currency company.  You just want to plan where you are going to walk, sunbath, jet ski and eat!

Whether you are traveling to Italy or Croatia for business or for pleasure, it pays to be a savvy consumer when shopping for currency deals and making your money work for you abroad.

Armed with some truths about the currency exchange process, how best to change your money and what to avoid, you’ll have more money in your pocket, total peace of mind and a smug expression every time you get your wallet out.

9 Cool things we did in Austin, Texas

Earlier this year I took the family to Austin, Texas which has to be one of the coolest places (in my admittedly limited experience) in the USA. Here are some of the things we enjoyed most when we were in Austin.

1. Swim in Barton Springs Pool
Just down the road from our holiday rental house through HomeAway was Barton Springs Pool, a stretch of river fed by natural springs, that had been dammed to make a fresh-water open-air swimming pool where you can swim all year round.  At one end there are some shallows and in places it’s a bit weedy around the edge, but you can’t complain because that’s where the rare salamander live. There are changing rooms and grassy banks on both sides where you can sit and sunbathe. The kids loved jumping in with a squeal off the bouncy diving board and I enjoyed a few languorous lengths which took a rather long time since the lake is quite big, followed by a few chapters of a good book sitting on the grassy banks.  At the end you can peer over the dam wall to the shallow river areas where families have paddled their kayaks up from the main river and are stopping for a picnic.

family holiday in Playa de la Arena (Tenerife)

A laid-back resort
Resort-wise, Playa de la Arena is a bit of a quiet customer on the west coast of Tenerife. It doesn’t party hard like full-throttle Playa de Las Americas, 30 kilometres away – and, frankly, that’s the appeal. You get all the bars and restaurants you need without the non-stop pace. And with its craggy coastline and mountain views, the place looks pretty good, too.

Beach life
The small beach at Playa de la Arena comes with Tenerife’s trademark black sands. It’s also got a Blue Flag to its name, so it’s spotlessly clean. The water here gets deep quite quickly but lifeguards are on hand to keep an extra eye out. Further out to sea, watersports get a good look in. And when you need a snack, the flower-lined prom is stacked with bars and restaurants.

family holiday in Puerto de Santiago (Tenerife)

The west coast
Puerto de Santiago is a former fishing village-turned-quiet family resort, sandwiched between the busier Los Gigantes and Playa de la Arena. Behind it are brooding 500-metre-high dark cliffs. In front is a bijou beach of black volcanic sand. And across the bay you’ll spy the lost-in-time island of La Gomera.

From beach to mountain
Puerto de Santiago’s beach is small but perfectly formed. But if you’re after a little more space, Playa la Arena is on your doorstep – it’s a 2-minute walk away. Or head to the Teno mountains and the sweet mountain village of Masca. Lovely walking trails through lizard and cacti country fan out from its village square, where the tiny, stone houses have hardly been touched by time.

family holiday in Tenerife

Tenerife - north and south
Out of all the Canary Islands, the biggest – Tenerife – arguably has the most going on. Travel to the island’s top half and you’ll find no end of greenery to get lost in – banana plantations, pine forests, you name it. Head south, meanwhile, and you’re in holiday central, with everything you could possibly want at your fingertips.

Buzzing beach resorts
Take Playa de las Americas. The top attraction in this purpose-built resort is the white-sand beach, but its waterpark, 18-hole golf course and string of places to dine out are the other plus points people tend to reel off. As for its buzzing strip of bars and clubs, it’s turned the place into a bit of a party Mecca. It's got some stylish new cafes and shopping centres, too. Next-door Los Cristianos, meanwhile, is home to two beaches, some sleek shopping malls and plenty of al fresco eateries. It’s the quieter of the two, but there’s plenty going on, including a busy Sunday market.

Family Paradise in Portugal: Martinhal Beach Resort & Hotel

If you have young kids, you know that the opportunity to eat a meal in peace, or even drink a cup of coffee while it is still hot, is something to be savored. That’s why I love the analogy that the Martinhal Beach Resort & Hotel in Sagres, Portugal uses to describe a stay at their property: they pride themselves on providing the type of vacation where parents can finish their cappuccino with the foam still on. And it’s not just a clever marketing strategy. I earned myself several foam mustaches to prove it that it is possible, even with 2- and 4-year-old boys in tow.

Located on the southwest tip of Portugal, this region is best known as the site of a navigation school built and financed by Henry the Navigator, where some of the explorers who participated in the Voyages of Discovery received their nautical training. But after our stay at Martinhal, it is difficult to imagine why you’d ever leave to seek out new worlds. What more could you want from a place that features easy access to a beautiful beach, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, a spa, play areas, sports facilities, and kid-friendly restaurants?

Martinhal Beach Resort & Hotel Review

What stood out to me most about our stay at Martinhal was some of the unexpected details. For example, unlike some family resorts which are decorated with cartoon characters and bright colors, Martinhal has very tranquil surroundings. It is set within a nature preserve and it will be the last development in this area. As the property was being built in 2010, landscapers preserved the natural fauna and replanted these throughout the property. It has a very peaceful and authentic feel. Inside the buildings, including the villas, you’ll find earth tones and custom designed furniture using Portuguese materials. While it’s all toddler-proof (I speak from experience), it’s still aesthetically pleasing to parents.

Tips for Planning a Family Vacation to Alaska

As my kids are growing older and more independent, our family is discovering that we enjoy trips with built-in physical activity and Alaska is the ultimate adventure trip. My family vacation in Alaska with kids was a mix of small ship cruising and independent travel, but regardless of how you visit the 49th state, there are a few key planning tips for summer travel. And in Alaska, nature ultimately decides how you prepare for your trip.

Travel Planning Tips for an Alaska Vacation with Kids
These tips focus on planning a vacation to Southeast Alaska with emphasis on an Inside Passage cruise, a popular choice for families.

Best Age for Kids
An Alaska cruise works well for multi-generational trips because there are excursions for all activity levels and on the large cruise ships supervised kids’ club entertain and contain children of all ages. Small ship cruises which typically carry less than 100 passengers, are best for ages 6 and up for safety reasons and the activity level of the excursions. There may be some kids-only activities, but during periods of downtime the kids entertain themselves with board games and card games. It’s also important to note that the small ships have varying levels of physical activities from skiff excursions to strenuous hikes so there is an activity for everyone.