only backgroundI'm a wife, mother and grandmother. I'm opinionated. I contradict myself frequently. Most of all, I love my kids. I believe in them. I fight for them. They're weird and wonderful. If you want to know more, here's a bunch of other stuff from my old site.
Archive for the ‘Travel’ Category
Yes, I know I’m getting older. It isn’t just the creaking bones, the failing eyesight or that strange old lady who keeps staring at me when I look into the mirror. It’s my entire life.
I’ve always loved the ocean and have tried for years to get my husband to consider vacations in very warm weather. My love for all things tropical is what got us to Hawaii back in 2001 and kept my husband going back each winter. (Yes, I encouraged him.) We’ve tried to plan Disney vacations so the kids could have fun and we could stop by a beach for a day or two but that never happened. The best we could do was Cedar Point in Sandusky Ohio, and the beach of Lake Erie.
Anyway, as I’ve been searching online for masonry work for my husband, I’ve found myself drawn to areas that have mountains. There’s something about a mountain cabin that leaves me feeling warm and fuzzy. Maybe I’ve been watching too many Bonanza reruns or something, but I’m feeling very rustic lately.
Okay, someone slap me before I book a camping trip or something. Because you know I’ll regret it if I do.
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Let me tell you what I learned about packing for a trip. My friend Deb clued me in and I just can’t believe I didn’t know this already. Yes, Deb travels far more than I do. But I do travel. I just tend to take very large suitcases.
On my recent trip to Orlando, I didn’t want to check a bag since the airlines now charge for every single checked bag. Trying to fit everything into a carry-on when you want to take extra shoes and a slew of makeup is not easy. That’s where Deb comes in. She told me to roll my clothes instead of folding them.
No kidding? Really, no kidding. It worked. I fit much more into my bag that way. I had room for the extra shirts I picked up while at the conference, a couple of promotional pens, some cool swag and even a little luxury item I bought myself at the airport Lush shop.
If I get to travel to Hawaii next year I’ll take a checked bag but it’s still good to know how to pack my carry-on better. After all, I’ve had bad experiences with the airlines and my luggage in the past and I don’t want to take any chances again. I’ll pack important stuff in my carry-on from now on.
I learned a lot of other stuff this past weekend but I still haven’t had a chance to sort through everything and write about it. For now, I’m just thrilled to have learned the best way to pack a suitcase.
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Preparing for a trip is always so much fun. Seriously. I love the preparations. I love packing. I love everything about travel. Well, almost everything.
This trip, I’m trying to fit everything into a carry-on so I don’t have to pay extra for checked luggage. I’m doing okay so far but I’m not going to have room for any of my “special” food. I’m sure I’ll be able to find foods that I can eat safely but I won’t be preparing them myself and I really don’t want to return home with extra weight and needing diet pills or a trip to the fat farm.
Anyway, I’m not terribly happy that the airlines have upped the prices on airfare to offset the rise in fuel prices and ALSO are charging for checked luggage. Why both? It’s kind of like when the food industry repackages a product, raises the price AND makes the container hold less. Heck, they even charge for food AND a cup of coffee in flight now. It’s all a ripoff, if you ask me.
It sure is a good thing I like to travel or I might just keep myself at home and go nowhere.
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When I don’t want to work and my mind needs to escape, I usually get online and surf. Sometimes I look for homes for sale, either in my area or in a place I’ve always wanted to visit. Sometimes I check out vacation mountain rentals, Caribbean villa rentals or cruise lines. Other times I check out the lastest in plastic surgery or the newest Prada bags.
Right now, I can’t seem to get my mind to stop thinking about next Thursday. My husband and my son will be coming home from Hawaii. My son has lived there since 2005; my husband goes there every year, for anywhere from eight months to 3 months. This time, he’s beent there since March. We’re not sure if he’s going back or not.
The biggest difference about this trip to Hawaii was that I didn’t go over for a visit. With fuel prices so high, airfare was just to expensive. I’m not sure why but it didn’t bother me as much as I thought it would. Maybe it’s because I would have had to be away from Kendyll for that long.
And won’t she be excited to see her Pappy and Uncle Spank?
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I still haven’t booked a flight to Hawaii. I’m waiting to see how long my husband will be there and hoping the price of air fare comes down. I hate when my plans are so unsettled, though. In the meantime, I’m looking around online for interesting and new adventures for this trip, if this trip actually happens.
I’ve seen most of the sights on Kauai, loved Spouting Horn and Kipu Falls, and visited beaches from Polihale State Beach Park to Ke’e Beach. This time, I really want to do some Island hopping to get an idea of the differences between the islands. I’m not sure if I’ll make it to the smaller islands, although Lanai and Molokai seem to call my name every time I’m on Kauai. I do want to finally visit Maui, though. And I want to do some underwater exploration, too, beyond the little we do on our own near Hanalei Bay.
In my search for information on Maui Snorkel I found some great packages. I know you learn a lot by exploring on your own but mostly you learn what not to do the next time. Opting for one of these great packages ensures a much more pleasurable trip. Not only are meals included but all equipment you need, including underwater cameras, is available, too.
The package I like best is the morning excursion. That one includes both breakfast and lunch as well as an open bar. While snorkeling gear is included, they also offer scuba and snuba gear for an additional rental fee. I really want to try Snuba since scuba diving with the Pride of Maui requires diving certification. All this takes place on a 65-foot Catamaran with stops at both Molokini Crater, an ancient submerged volcanic caldera, and Turtle Town where you’ll be able to get up close to the amazing Green Sea Turtles.
My second choice, maybe in addition to the first, would be the sunset cruise, which just seems so romantic. In all our trips to Hawaii, we’ve never really done anything truly romantic. I think it’s time and the dinner cruise with the colorful Maui sunset sky as a backdrop would be perfect.
I know we can carve out a 4 day mini-holiday from my 16 days in Hawaii for some snorkeling in Maui and a romantic cruise. The Pride of Maui makes it all so easy and convenient, and the prices are a real bargain. Even better, I noticed that by making reservations online, they offer even more savings. In fact, the prices are so reasonable that I might be able to afford that quick jump to the Lanai and Molokai, too.
Keep your fingers crossed that I make it to Hawaii this summer. This is going to be my best trip yet!
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When Brian decided to go to Hawaii to work, it was kind of sudden. He had less than a full week to decide, pack and go. That’s fast. I’m not sure where most of our luggage had gone over the past year but all I could find that quickly was MY luggage. So guess what Brian took with him? Yep. My luggage.
We both agreed that I’d keep my eyes open for good deals on new luggage but I just can’t seem to find what I want. I did see a Delsey carry on that might work but I was hoping to buy a two piece set rather than each piece separately. I’m trying to do this as economically as possible.
I think the carryon is the biggest challenge. I need to have a place for my laptop but it also has to double as an overnight case since I’ve ended up in Hawaii without my main suitcase – and a change of clothes – before. There is no way I want to go through that again!
I’m sure I’ll find the right luggage eventually. I’m just getting excited, planning for this trip.
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No way! That was my first thought when my husband made his request today. He called to tell me about the job he’s doing and the wonderful weather. He mentioned again that he’ll be there long enough for me to fly over at least once, maybe twice, this year. Sounds good; I love Hawaii.
And then he told me that when I come over, I should leave a little extra room in my suitcase for (are you ready for this?) a few of his air tools! No kidding. He wants me to leave out some of my favorite sun dresses and sandals so I can haul air tools to Hawaii? Is he serious?
You realize, of course, that it isn’t going to happen, right? My memory is getting really flaky with age so that’s one thing that I’m going to forget to pack. SHHHH! Don’t tell him.
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I’ve been thinking about my travels this year and I’m kind of excited. I hope to make it to Hawaii to spend time with my husband and son sometime in July. Of course, they’ll be working every day so I’ll mostly be on my own to do my own thing. Then in September I’m planning on a trek to Florida where I’ll meet up with some of the most wonderful women (and people in general) of the blogosphere.
It occurred to me, though, that neither of those trips are really luxury vacations. In Hawaii, I’ll be cooking for my guys and cleaning and washing clothes. I don’t mind that, of course, but it isn’t like being pampered. In Florida, I’ll be attending workshops and speeches. I know it’ll be loads of fun and very educational, but again, no real pampering.
That’s why I’m wondering if I can squeeze in another trip, time-wise or financially, where I get pampered and just get to relax. Sounds heavenly, doesn’t it? If only….
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I’ve been checking various sites almost every day, looking for the best prices on flights to Hawaii. I’m not sure but I think I’d like to take at least one kid with me, probably the youngest. Airfare right now is just so high!
For the price of one roundtrip ticket, I was able to take three of us to Hawaii in 2005! That’s an amazing increase in cost, mostly due to the cost of fuel. At these prices, I won’t be able to afford any additional travel insurance at all. Luckily, we have a place to stay when we get there, so that’s one less expense.
I’m almost tempted to rent bicycles while we’re there instead of a car, though. I don’t even want to think about gas prices on the island!
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It’s been close to a year since my last trip. That’s just entirely too long to wait to travel again. I have no idea whether my husband will be going to Hawaii to work but I’m still keeping my fingers crossed. I really want to go back.
If my husband goes over for work, and I join him for a few weeks, I’m hoping to stay overnight in Honolulu this time. I’ve spent only one night there previously and that just isn’t enough time. I’d like to get to know the island just a little better. That’s why I’ve been checking out flights as well as hotels this time. The easiest way to check on hotels that I’ve found so far is using the free rate comparison tool at HotelsCombined.com.
By selecting my dates and the city, I was able to search over 30 different sites to get the best prices available. WOW! That’s a real time saver. No wonder HotelsCombined.com received an honorable mention at Seomoz.com’s 2007 Web 2.0 Awards. The hotel rates I’ve found so far are excellent.
Just because I’ve always wanted to island hop but never got the chance, I also typed in Molokai because that’s the island (along with Lanai) that I’d really like to visit. I just love the smaller islands. I was surprised to find that HotelsCombined.com also lists available rates at hotels on these smaller islands! Very cool.
I don’t want to get my hopes up too much because, as I mentioned, I don’t know if my husband will be going to Hawaii to work this year or not. My son will be coming home in March for a visit so no matter what I’ll get to see him. That’s good. I’ll just keep HotelsCombined.com bookmarked for now and hope things work out for an after Easter trip.
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