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Traveling during the holidays can be a lot of work. So many people travel during this time of year that it can actually be downright exhausting not to mention stressful. Here are some easy and quick packing tips to simplify your holiday travels.

Bags
Focus on getting all your things into one soft side small bag. Yes, one that fits under an airline seat in front of you and is roughly 9″ + 14″ + 22″ = 45″ total. Yes, it can work and will do for any travel better than you think. Picture this: you’ve been standing for hours in the line for you plane and it arrives 90 minutes late which means you’ll have to dash from one end of O’Hare to the other to catch you connecting flight home and be back at work Monday morning. You won’t make it if you checked you luggage and it will be slow if you have to lug more than one bag on your run. Get the picture?

Travel light and pack a single bag you can carry.

When you pack you bag roll your clothes and pack them firmly together with other articles cushioned in between them. This gives everything a good chance of arriving at you destination in pretty good shape even if you are not. Do this with fancy clothes, too. They’ll look just fine when unpacked and hung up.

What To Pack
Take basic outfits. Spread these out on your bed. Before you pack. Make sure pieces can be inter changeable to make several outfit combinations.

Coordinate shoes, stockings, undergarments, jewelry (minimal) and other accessories so that they go with all outfits. The idea here is to keep these things to a minimum.

Pack efficiently. Put socks inside of shoes. Put shoes inside of plastic bags. Put jewelry and any medications in a little pouch or ziplock bag that will slip between rolls of clothes. Put shampoo, conditioner and other toiletries in a ziploc bag, too. Take a large plastic bag for dirty laundry.

Before you leave decide that you will take your dirty laundery home. This is fine for a short 3-5 day holiday trip. In emergencies you can do it where you are staying but for the most part forget about it and take it home to do the week you return.

Returning Home
A great trick to complete a trip is return to a clean, organized home. Especially after the jostling of a holiday trip its best to put your feet up and relax. It is wonderful to return to washed laundry, a clean kitchen with counters cleared, trashcans and newspapers taken care of by neighbors or friends.

Traveling over the holdiays can actually be a fun adventure if you take time to plan ahead, so you can enjoy the actual journey. There are many nice people to meet along the way, new things to see, quiet time to read and relax. Find things you can do while traveling that you haven’t had the time to do while at home.

For example, take a book you’ve been meaning to read or pack CDs you haven’t been able to listen to yet. Fill the time with all sorts of activities you usually put off and make the most of your holiday travel experience.

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• Drivers will find gasoline prices moderate in Canada and low to moderate in Alaska, thanks to the oil pipeline.

• Restaurant prices run higher everywhere; budget about 20% more than you’d need in urban Canada or the U.S. Motel and hotel costs are similar to those down south; don’t be afraid to bargain during the off or shoulder season.

• Cruise fares are complex and bewildering, but if you’re prepared to do the homework and cost comparison required, you can obtain remarkable deals. It’s possible to snag an inside stateroom for a seven-day cruise between Vancouver and Seward, Alaska, for under $700 per person. This includes stateroom and meals, but no alcohol or shore excursions. Still, it’s a deal that’s hard to beat. For a romantic getaway, consider traveling in the early shoulder season and apply the savings to upgrading to an outside stateroom with a veranda.

Norm:

If you had to choose 6 unequalled venues in Alaska and the Yukon Territory for a romantic getaway, honeymoon or wedding destination, which would you choose and why?

I noticed that you had mentioned to me there is some great hot springs just south of the Yukon border on the Alaska Highway and in central Alaska. Perhaps, you would like to elaborate as how this venue qualifies as a unique romantic destination?

Nancy:

Only 6? That’s not easy; I’ll have to commune with my inner travel agent! OK, here goes.

For more information, my book Going Places: Alaska and the Yukon for Families explores each of these destinations in greater detail. Government Web sites are another good resource.

• Glacier Bay National Park & Preserve, Alaska

It’s accessible (Alaska Airlines offers service to Gustavus, just outside the park) and offers a taste of just about everything the north has to offer. Although Gustavus has excellent B&Bs, for honeymooners I recommend staying at Glacier Bay Lodge, the only accommodation inside the park, which offers rustic comfort (get a room with a view of Bartlett Cove), fine dining, and activities like kayaking, fishing, biking, guided boat tours of Glacier Bay, and free guided hikes with park rangers. Go flightseeing high above the bay to get a look at the enormous icefields that generate the glaciers. If time allows, extend your trip to Juneau (a gorgeous, 3-hour ferry trip south) to visit Mendenhall Glacier, tour superb museums, shop for Tlingit art and take a boat tour to Tracy Arm-Ford’s Terror Wilderness. The lodge is open and tours are offered between late May and early September.

• Haines Junction, YT

Come again? You may never have heard of it, but this tiny town perched at the edge of Canada’s spectacular Kluane National Park has a lot to offer–location, location, location, as they say in real estate. It’s highway-accessible from Skagway (4.5 hours), Haines (3 hours) and Whitehorse (1.5 hours). The national park’s main visitor centre is in town along with a superb small European-style inn–the Raven–with 12 spacious rooms and one of Canada’s top restaurants. Also in town are several decent motels and an excellent bakery and cafe. From here, you can access excellent hiking trails for all levels of fitness, and explore the largest protected wilderness in the world. You will need a vehicle. If you don’t have one with you, rentals are available in Haines, Skagway and Whitehorse. Or book a stay with one of the area’s full-service resorts and let them take you exploring. NOTE TO CANADIANS: For reasons no one seems able to explain, Canadians are not permitted to bring a vehicle into Canada, which they have rented in the US. Luckily, Whitehorse has many rental outlets.

• Homer, Alaska

On the southwest of the Kenai Peninsula, Homer is the better part of a day’s drive from Anchorage. It’s tiny (about 4,000 residents) but with city-sized amenities–such as one of Alaska’s best bookstores, a first-rate museum, and exceptional arts and crafts galleries. Homer Spit, which extends 4.4 miles into scenic Kachemak Bay, is studded with cafes and shops. At the far end, with Homer’s best view, is Land’s End Resort, a great destination for honeymooners. Book a suite or rent a luxurious condo. The restaurant is first rate. Soak in the hot tub at the water’s edge and watch the sea otters float by.

• Denali National Park & Preserve, Alaska

First the bad news: Unless you are lucky enough to win the road lottery that allows you to drive deep into the park in mid September, you will have plenty of crowds to contend with. The good news is that it’s worth it. Not only is this closest you can easily get to Mount McKinley, wildlife viewing and spectacular scenery are among the best in Alaska, and accommodation choices are superb and varied. At the park entrance you can find many choices at all price ranges, some with views to die for. To get away from the crowds and closer to the natural world of Denali, consider a stay deep inside the park at the beautiful, rustic Kantishna Roadhouse or Denali Backcountry Lodge.

• Alyeska Resort, Girdwood, Alaska

This Japanese-owned hotel offers sheer, unabashed luxury. Plus it’s 40 miles from Anchorage and a day trip from Portage Glacier and the Kenai Peninsula. In winter come for skiing, tubing and snowboarding; in summer, for golf, hiking and wildlife. Any time of year, enjoy the first-class amenities that include a superb health club and pool and a tram up to a mountaintop restaurant This is a popular spot for weddings, well equipped to handle even lavish affairs. The high season here is winter; summer stays can be quite moderately priced. For a cheaper romantic getaway,

• Muncho Lake, BC

OK, it’s not in the Yukon, but so close! This gorgeous turquoise lake lies in the northern Rocky Mountains–a little-known but enchanted region where caribou and stone sheep wander the highways, fishing is excellent, and crowds are nonexistent. The Northern Rockies Lodge offers fine accommodation and European dining and arrange fishing and other excursions. Hiking and fishing are great here, but the number-one romantic attraction is nearby Liard Hot Springs Provincial Park, 34 miles up the Alaska Highway. A boardwalk trail leads from the park’s parking lot to two large hot springs pools. TIP: A short walk from the first, most popular pool is the second hotter and deeper pool that’s more secluded and less visited, a great destination on a drizzly day. Stopping at the springs is a tradition for just about everyone who drives the Alaska Highway. If you don’t want to bother with a vehicle, the lodge (it’s owned by bush pilots) will fly you here from the US or Canada.

Norm:

You have also mentioned to me that Asian tourists in recent years have been flocking north in winter on aurora-viewing packages. Could you elaborate as to what these entail and what can someone expect to see?

Nancy:

These are great fun and growing in popularity every year. For some years, Chena Hot Springs Resort, a rustic but delightful spot a few hours drive from Fairbanks, Alaska, has been offering such packages.

The resort has always been a favorite getaway for Alaskans for winter sports like cross-country skiing and snowmobiling. The resort has several indoor hot pools, but the favourite is its hot-springs lake outdoors. Bask in the warm waters, surrounded by snow and subzero temperatures, while you gaze up at the aurora overhead.

Winter packages include rides on a “snow catch” to view the aurora. The “aurorarium,” nicely heated, offers a comfortable vantage point to watch the light show. Yukon and Alaska tour companies now offer aurora-viewing tour packages, usually three or four nights.

Norm:

In recent years cruises to Alaska have become very popular. Could you tell our readers why and do you have any preferences as to which cruise to take?

Nancy:

• The answer is simple. Some of Alaska’s most spectacular attractions are to be found along the Inside Passage. Yet, because they are separated by water and most are inaccessible by road, the only way to reach them is by plane or boat.

• Another reason: cruise travel is a remarkably flexible way to plan a vacation. No matter your age or fitness level–honeymoon couples, large wedding or family-reunion parties, toddlers, college students, and retirees–anyone can enjoy a cruise. There is onboard entertainment (usually casino gambling, art auctions, Vegas-style shows, and gala dining), programs for kids, shore excursions to sample the principal attractions of major ports of call and whales, bald eagles and other wildlife to view, all from the comfort of the ship.

• Cruises permit access to a beautiful but remote and rugged part of the world in sheer luxury. Visiting Alaska, I often encounter visitors who are making their third or fourth trip, but whose first was by cruise ship. Considering the bargains available, it’s also one of the most cost-effective ways to visit the north.

• For those unfamiliar with Alaska, I recommend taking a one-way cruise from Vancouver, BC, that includes a visit to lovely Sitka (round trip cruises rarely stop at Sitka). Finishing at Skagway, Whittier, or Seward, visitors can make their way to Anchorage for a couple of days and even tack on a short 2-3 day train trip to Denali before flying out of Anchorage back to Vancouver or the point of origin. TIP: check out one-way airfares offered by the cruise lines. They are often cheaper than anything you can arrange on your own.

• Amenities among the biggest cruise lines tend to be similar. For a romantic getaway on a major line, I like Royal Caribbean, Radisson or Silver Sea. If you can do without a pool and gambling, try one of the smaller lines like Cruise West or, Lindblad (if your wallet can handle the strain).

NORM:

How far in advance should a couple prepare themselves for their honeymoon, romantic getaway or wedding in Alaska and the Yukon Territory?

Nancy:

• We’re trending out of my area of expertise here, but let’s take a wedding first. If you need lodging for 20 or 30 people, you’ll find a wide range of options, many of which can be booked with no more than 6 month to a year’s notice–the amount of advance planning most weddings require. If, however, your guest list includes 80 or more, you’ll find fewer suitable destinations and those you do find will need to be booked as soon as possible. A popular choice for weddings, such as the Alyeska Resort, can be booked far in advance.

• For a honeymoon, if you want the top suite at the Captain Cook in Anchorage, a remote but popular resort such as the Kantishna Roadhouse in Denali or a first-class suite on a popular cruise ship, the sooner you book the better. Otherwise, six months should be adequate.

• And for a romantic getaway, surprisingly you can often make spur of the moment plans–especially if you’re willing to travel in May or September–and find topnotch options. TIP: if you’re looking for a great place to roost during the summer high season, try towns along the Inside Passage. Because most tourists visit via cruise ship or ferry and don’t spend the night, you can often find excellent accommodation in Ketchikan (try the WestCoast Cape Fox Lodge with a spectacular view of Tongass Narrows), lovely Sitka (the Westmark Sitka is a good bet) or Haines (the historic Hotel Halsingland has several antique-studded suites). But in Juneau, the state capital, if the legislature runs a summer session the top hotels–the Goldbelt and the Baranof–are likely to be booked solid.

NORM:

What resources are available on the Internet pertaining to weddings and honeymoon vacations in?

Nancy:

Again, this is not my area of expertise. The ALYESKARESORT.COM has a wedding and reception planning page on its website. Anchorage has several wedding planners, but I’m not aware of any in Whitehorse. However, a nice thing about the north is the informality and ease of booking and planning a trip. And maybe it’s the long cold winters, but even tiny communities in the Yukon and Alaska usually have up-to-date web sites and are more than happy to help you find what you’re looking for.

NORM:

Is there anything else you would want our readers to know about Alaska and the Yukon Territory?

Nancy:

Just one more tip–for adventurous-minded couples with more taste (and wanderlust) than money, consider touring the Inside Passage via the Alaska ferry.

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There are a few things you should know when taking a vacation and how to make sure your always getting the best deal before you go. This could be whether you like to drive, fly cruise or even travel domestic or internationally. I have traveled all over the world for pennies on the Dollar, my last vacation I took was a 6 Day Carribbean Cruise for only $299.00. Yes for less than $300.00 dollars, you and your family can take one of your dream vacations. The great thing about this is that we take these kind of vacations all the time and we never pay full price for our vacations, and in some cases we get to travel for free.

The fact of the matter is that many people do not know how to get these great benefits when they travel, they just know how to go to websites, such as expedia, orbitz, travelocity and other related highly advertised booking sites online and book their vacation or travel.

Traveling sounds to several people as a luxury that only a few can afford and that needs saving over some months in order to go for the desired vacation. But this isn’t actually necessary. With some careful thinking and plenty of preparing, you could absolutely imagine to go for budget travel discount air fares and hotels.

Naturally, budget travel discount air fares and hotels stands for dissimilar things to several people. Some people would think about a budget vacation by backpacking and camping. This kind of traveling can be done on a budget really easy. But when you are trying to get a luxury vacation for a lower cost the real skill rises up.

Studies estimated that the ordinary family expends over $2,200 a year on vacation. This is a big amount. If you could save just ten percent of that amount, consider how it will summate all over the years.

It is fact, that paying more doesn’t really ensure a more beneficial vacation. Whenever you are going traveling, you will always meet other families, some of which have paid more than you for their holiday and others which have spent less for their vacation.

When it comes to getting budget travel discount air fares and hotels your main key to success is planning. There are a lot of things that you can influence such as when you book, how you want to go for vacation, whether you choose a package deal or build your own package. All of these things can have an important affect on the cost of your vacation. First and last, each of these details are within your control!

The first Question is: When to Book

A lot of people know exactly when they’re intending to go to travel. When it comes to planning budget traveling this is a factor you can benefit from.

Determining on when to book is a bit like a game. Although a lot of travel agencies will provide lower prices and discounts for early booking, you may notice that they offer good deals of last minute bargains as well.

There are a lot of things that you had better followed when determining what is the best date to book for best financial gain:

Are you really flexible in terms of dates that you considered for going?

Are you flexible enough in terms of spots that you have considered to visit?

Will you pick out a package deal or will you build your own agenda?

Are you looking at a popular spot where many tour or flight companies travel?

First of all, if you’re flexible enough in terms of dates and location then you will almost take advantage waiting until the last minute to book your vacation. Naturally, last minute bargains are something you cannot trust upon and if you’re set on traveling to a certain spot at a certain date then last minute traveling is far too insecure.

If you are planning on creating your own bundle then you have to be well aware that you’re taking various gambles. For instance, you have to consider your air fare, transport and hotels. Although you may get an perfect last minute flight, but you didn’t find any bargain when it comes to the car hire or accommodation. In point of fact, you may find out that paying a high price for other components of your vacation will finish up out balancing any last minute savings you’ve made.

Generally, if you are considering to go on a particular vacation, you may notice that last minute deals are just not available, for instance a cruise with a specific line or a spot that is only provided by a couple of companies. A cruise company will provide vacations for a fixed price, although they may provide their vacations through various agents who may provide.

Just remember there are a lot of ways where you can travel at wholesale prices whether it be airfare, hotel, rental cars, or even cruises. There are many ways people everyday can save as much as 85% every single time they travel.

For more information you can give me a call at my office 240-645-9718

To find out how you too can travel and save up to 85% every single time you travel go to

http://specialtravelperks.com

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The travel industry offers a lot of jobs and it is perhaps one of the more steady and flourishing industries today. It is tied in with the tourism industry. In fact, they are often considered the same industry. Even with the terror threats of post 9/11 and the current economic downturn, the travel and tourism industry has remained steadfast and still going strong. It can only slow down so much because people have the natural compulsion to travel.

People are nomadic. Maybe we are just wired that way because in order to survive, our ancestors had to look for greener pastures in various locations. Man is instinctively compelled to travel and explore and the majority of us would like to travel, at some point in our lives.

The thing about traveling however, is that it’s seen as too expensive even though it has become faster and more efficient. Fortunately, within the industry of travel and tourism, people are now getting the opportunity to work while traveling. Technology has made the world smaller and jobs are opening up for people who can work as travel guides, security providers, and hospitality workers.

The type of jobs involved in travel and tourism industry are diverse. Whether your expertise is in sales, hospitality, IT, or entertainment, the industry has an opening for it. So it will not matter what field you are into, you can still work and travel around the world at the same time.

List the things you can and like to do so you can have a general idea of what travel and tourism careers you can choose to apply for. Also, take note of your qualifications, your training, your degree, and certifications. That will come handy in your job hunt.

Fortunately, looking for jobs is rather easy. With the Internet, you can find jobs online. Almost all companies that involve careers in tourism and travel have websites. Some offer online applications and resume submissions. There are also third party agencies capable of providing job placements. Many “middle-man agencies” handle the recruitment process for other organizations.

If you lack education, you can still find entry-level jobs in the hospitality industry. You can work as a bellhop, food server, or bartender. The job may pay a little less but there are usually opportunities for tips and other incentives. And if you are doing well with your job, the chances of promotion and moving up the career ladder are very likely.

If you have traveled, you probably noticed that attendants are just about anywhere; in airplanes, ships, ferries, and any kind of transport vehicle. You can also find work like that. The qualifications differ in each company and sometimes, they are not as strict with their requirements. As long as they see you fit and have a suitable personality, the job can be yours.

Travel and tourism jobs have wonderful opportunities of employment. If you know how to deal with the constant nomadic way of life, you can embrace the lifestyle of travel and exploration. Wanting jobs with travel is not enough; you need to understand and realize that, like anything else, it has pros and cons.

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Bring First Aid Kit

One important travel safety tip is to bring along a first aid kit. This is important so whether you get hurt while traveling to your destination or once you get there, you will have at least the basics so if it is small enough that you can take care of it on your own, you will have the essentials to do it.

Especially if you have children that are going to be traveling with you, make sure that you have the tools that you are going to need to protect them.

Keep Valuables at Home

Another important travel safety tip is to keep your valuables at home. Don’t bring any jewelry or valuable papers along with you on your trip, because they are likely to get lost. Instead you will want to leave everything that is of value and that you really don’t need to take with you at home where they will be safe.

Keep Money Put Away

Another travel safety tip is to keep your money safely tucked away. You don’t want to be flashing your money around everyone when you are on your travels, so try to avoid doing this as much as possible. If anything you should bring along credit cards and travelers checks so that if you do end up losing them they will not be as easy for someone to spend and you can just cancel them if you need to.

These are just a few travel safety tip ideas, and so you really want to take some time and learn even more. The more educated that you are on traveling the better off you are going to be, and the more fun that you are going to have on future trips.

These are all great tips, and are going to ensure that you have the best, most enjoyable trips in the years to come. There is a lot of other information that you can use as well however, and which will be worth learning about. Just make sure that you are willing to take the time to learn.

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Tip 1 – Pack Right

Depending on their age, children should pack or help pack some of their own things. You may however suggest them what type of clothes (preferably comfortable and loose) they should be carrying. Very useful for everyone in the family are pants that become shorts when the bottom parts zips off. You may think that you need everything but if you are really crunched for space, don’t pack anything that you can buy at your destination. Do bring some hand wipes, tissues, books, hard candies, paper and gum, markers, and a surprise toy for each child in a carry on bag.

Tip 2 – Protect Your Family’s Health

Bring along any medications your family requires, make sure they are well labeled and in their original containers. If you are traveling out of the country, check with the public health authorities if you need to get additional vaccines. They will recommend you the necessary vaccines, depending on where you are traveling to and for what duration. Make sure to get Travel Insurance, no one expects an accident to happen, what if your family is at the beach enjoying your Caribbean vacation and your child cuts his foot open on a rock or you suddenly have an appendicitis attack?

Tip 3 – Arrive Early at the Airport

Plan your arrival at the airport in such a way that you have plenty of check-in time. This will avoid last minute delays and take away a lot of stress, especially with today tighter security checks. Also, arriving early will allow your family to ensure you have seats together, allow time to purchase any last minute items, and give your little ones time to adjust to new surroundings.

Tip 4 – Select Seating Carefully

First row in the economy class are best coach seats to fly with children, as you get a lot of leg room. This is essential as you may need to stretch or walk around with the children if they get cranky during the travel. If you are unable to book seats in the first row, place the children between two responsible adults, away from the aisle. Young children should not sit in an aisle seat. The carts used for meals service take up almost the whole aisle, and a little could get hurt. Sitting near the galley and lavatory can also be convenient, especially if you want a bottle warmed or will be making frequent trips to the bathroom.

Tip 5 – Keep Them Occupied

Wondering how to keep kids busy on the flight? First off, pacifiers, gum, and bottles will decrease air pressure on the children’s ears. To keep a child interested during a long flight, bring his favorite toys and some new toys to spark their interest. Older children will love to have books, hand held game players or MP3 players to keep them busy.

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Personal time is a right of being a person.  Each of us has the capacity to nurture others but that type of care takes its toll.  

A car is filled with gas to make it run.  Eventually the gas runs out and your car won’t move unless the car is replenished with fuel.  The same goes for you.  Emotional issues can develop when you don’t take the time to take care of your emotional well-being, not to mention the physical results of emotional neglect.

Mom time refuels the tank so that you can give to your family as well as yourself in equal measure.  Don’t be ashamed to sit for fifteen minutes doing nothing.  In the springtime, relaxing in a hammock under a tree is the perfect getaway from the pressures of the day.  Reading a book for 30 minutes can also seem like heaven to many moms.

Here are a few tips to help you fit in much needed “mom” time:

1. Get up early if you have to.

When you have kids, the day begins at a hurried pace.  Once you hit the ground running, there is no stopping you.  Waking 30 minutes to an hour ahead of time means quiet solitude to drink your coffee, read a book, meditate or listen to music.  

2. Turn ordinary experiences into major events.

When you take a bath, add candles, bubble bath, quiet music and/or an inflatable bath pillow.  Your regular bath has now become a spa level experience.  If you watch a movie, turn out the lights, pop a bag of microwave popcorn and curl up on the couch.

3. Ask your significant other for help.

Kids love their mothers but time spent with dad is important too.  Let them bond with dad while you go shopping for a new outfit or root around in the garden.  Since the time is yours, do whatever you like.  

4. Use the Boy Scout motto.

Always be prepared and you can spend more time in a relaxed mode.  Fix lunches the night before.  Iron clothes for the next day and place backpacks by the front door so kids can grab them on their way out.  The fewer things you have to do throughout the day, the calmer you will be with your family and not experience burnout.

5. Take exercise breaks.

When you get a few minutes the last thing you want to do is exercise but getting a little physical activity in your day has far-reaching implications.  Exercise helps you to think clearly and stretches the muscles.  Also, stress will drain away as powerful endorphins are released into your system.  Do jumping jacks during a television commercial or jog to the bus stop to pick up the kids.

6. Laugh at regular intervals.

Keep a funny calendar cube on your desk or subscribe to a daily joke site.  Laughing releases stress and can lift your spirits significantly.  It also keeps the abs tight.

Moms, take care of you.  Your family would miss you if you were not around to love and care for them.  You owe it to yourself and you deserve a break from the daily hustle and bustle.

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