19
March
2012

5 Must Have Travel Essentials

Today traveling is a frequent business necessity as well as a well deserved vacation experience. With just a few small simple items added to your travel accessories you can avoid frustration and delays.  These everyday items have several travel uses, many that you may not have thought of.  Add these must have travel essentials for simple and enjoyable travel.

1 – Travel Mask:

  • Fight off headaches
  • Block light out from cracked drapes
  • Block out annoying light from TV, clocks, and alarms
  • A “do not disturb me” signal

2 – Ear Plugs:

  • Block out noise on the airplane and a noisy hotel room
  • Be undisturbed so you can sleep in
  • Block out partners snoring

3 – Flashlight:

  • To read and not disturb your sleeping partner
  • Make the way to the bathroom without turning on lights
  • Finding things in your suitcase when your partner is sleeping
  • Use to see or signal during a power failure, fire or disaster
  • Looking under beds for lost items or to check that you aren’t leaving anything behind

4 – Plain Alcohol Hand Sanitizer:

  • Ward off germs and viruses
  • Eye glass cleaner
  • Sanitize phones, remotes, door handles, etc.
  • Clean minor cuts
  • Clean white boards including permanent marker

5 – Zip Lock Bags:

  • Prevent Spilled liquid items
  • Put dirty clothes in
  • Carry candy and goodies
  • Organize jewelry
  • Use as packing cubes
  • Dry bag for water sports
  • Put wet swimming suits and clothing in
  • Keep bugs out of clothing and packed items
16
March
2012

Hotel Room Categories and Accommodation Requirements

There are different hotel room categories or hotel room types. Hotel rooms come in a variety of bed configurations. Each category of bed configuration or category of accommodation is charged at a different room rate. You may see a deal, special or rate quote that appeals to you but it is best to check to see that the rate quoted is for bed arrangement, number of people and category of accommodation that you want. It wouldn’t do to book that rate and then find out it was a single bed if there were more than one person supposed to be staying in the room.

Here are some of the bed configurations hotels and resort accommodations come in:

  • Single – One bed
  • Double – May be 2 single beds, 2 double beds, or 2 queen beds
  • Twin – 2 single beds
  • Triple – May be 3 single beds or 2 double or queen beds with one single bed, roll away bed, or sleeper sofa
  • Quad – Bed arrangements that will accommodate 4 people, usually 2 to a bed
  • Suites – Larger Rooms that may include another room, sitting area, kitchenette, Jacuzzi or Deck. Depending on the accommodations the number and size of beds may vary.

Categories – Hotel rooms and resort room categories differ as well. The more prestigious the category the larger or more amenities it may come with. Some types of categories are standard, deluxe, jr. suite, suite, executive suite, presidential suite, two bedroom suite, view or balcony, kitchenette or apartment.

The room position – What area of the hotel it is located in, whether it has views, is it near elevator or amenities like the pool or restaurant.

Amenities – Jacuzzi, bathtub, shuttle service, balcony, Mini bar use, breakfast, snacks, gym, swimming pool, restaurant or hair salon. The list is endless and different with each hotel or resort.

 

Before booking a hotel, resort or other accommodation make a list of your requirements:

Number of people in your group:

Number of rooms, beds and sleeping arrangement:

Room category:

Where in the hotel you want the room:

Amenities:

If you have this when you book your room or consult with a travel agent you will get what you want in your accommodation. Even though you book online or with a travel agent always check directly with the hotel to see that they have your reservation correct and that it includes everything that you had requested or believed was to be included in the price. Be sure to check if there are any undisclosed charges or fees that are not included in the rate that you have been quoted. Pre-planning and requesting what you require will reduce your travel frustrations and you won’t be shocked, disappointed or upset when you arrive at your hotel or resort.

15
March
2012

Hunting for Your Next Vacation?

I may not be a British traveler but it pretty much lined up with what my favorite vacation travel wants entail except I would look for a couple beach vacation spot closer to my departure point in the USA in the middle of winter with activities that included snorkeling.

This is a good graphic to help you decide what is most important to you when you look for a place to take your vacation. Once you have a list of the things that are important to you then it is easier to go shopping for the best destination, happy hunting.

12
March
2012

Why I do the Travel Show – Why I’m not on the Travel Channel

I get questions as to why I am not on the Travel Channel. The reason is I need more viewership to get that chance. I hope that one day they will see my show and ask me to join their group of shows. I want people to get a taste of the wonderful places there are in the world to enjoy so that they will go there and experience it for themselves. Plus people miss so many things because they don’t know they are there. So I hope I introduce fun things that they would otherwise miss. I try to include information that makes your travel easier, more comfortable and so you are prepared ahead of time. Please share my videos with anyone you know that would enjoy them. Thanks again!

11
March
2012

Travel to Unique Historical Dolmens in Drenthe Holland Netherlands

I so appreciate viewers and readers who respond and give me information that I can pass on. That way more people get to see special unique areas of the world that we would otherwise miss. Here is one that my Youtube subscriber DeadLikeSilence told me about. Thank you from all of us for telling me about the Dolmens and zoo in North Holland.
In the province of Drenthe Holland Netherlands is a unique sightseeing stop. It has 53 of the 54 remaining dolmens in the Netherlands. The word Dolmens came from two word meaning “Stone Table.” Dolmens are megalithic tombs (tombs with Large Stones covering it.) I understand that biking or walking is an awesome way to go and see the Dolmens. Just outside of Borger is a megalithic tomb museum and tourist information center where you can get a route map to follow. There are 16 of the Dolmens (hunebedcentrum – Dutch name) in this area.
Also I hear that they are building a zoo in the Drenthe province that will be the biggest in Europe. It is in a village called Emmen.
I will definitely add this to my next visit to Holland Netherlands.