How to Enjoy the Family Roadtrip this Year

April 20th, 2012 Tushar Mathur

Every spring the countdown to summer vacation begins. And every year the same dread of what happens when you’re 250 miles away from home realizing you left the garage door open or your car overheats or the kids get sick. How do you avoid the infamous, “Are we there yet?” Whatever happens on the road stays on the road, right?

Wrong. If you’re dreading your families annual roadtrip, or making one for the first time here are some simple tips on how to have fun, stay safe, and enjoy your vacation without all the hassle.

  1. Tune up your car before you head out the driveway. Fill your tires, vacuum out the dirt, change your oil and get any needed maintenance out of the way. If your car is up to date on all of its maintenance, you’ll feel safer driving long distances.
  2. Pack emergency supplies. Water bottles, blankets, snacks, toilet paper, BandAids, flares, a flash light, hand sanitizer, baby wipes and a small cooler will all help in the event of an emergency like a dead car battery.
  3. Bring interactive games for your whole family. Road Bingo, flashcards, books on tape, a portable DVD player or iPod can keep everyone entertained when your halfway there. A good playlist can keep spirits high even if you’re far from your destination.
  4. Use metal cookie sheets as backseat desks. Whether your child wants to write, play cards, color pictures or eat a snack a metal cookie sheet creates a perfect surface and it’s easy to store under the back seats.
  5. Keep a journal as a family. Give a particular day or event to each child to record in the family journal. Keep the journal in the car so that as you drive from destination to destination your kids are excited to put down their most recent memories. If you have the money, buy each child a cheap digital camera or disposable camera so that they can record their favorite sights and memories from the trip and add it to a family scrapbook at the end. This gives them the ability to notice things you might be too busy to appreciate.
  6. Using your smartphone, record your family having a conversation in the van. Let your children interview each other about where you’re headed and what you’ll be doing when you get there. Post this to Facebook or a private blog so that family and friends can follow and see where you are.

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What’s The Right Riding Holiday For You?

April 20th, 2012 Tushar Mathur

Horse riding can be a truly memorable way to spend your holiday. It’s a great chance to see some impressive landscapes, learn some new skills, and spend some time together as a family. Taking a horse is a great way to see the outdoors as you’ve never seen it before.

The first question you have to ask yourself, however, is just what sort of riding holiday you want to go on? Here are some of the options worth thinking about:

Riding Holidays

These holidays tend not to involve too much planning and don’t need much in the way of specialist packing. You simply head out to some scenic spot in California, Mexico, Spain or South Africa, go out on short rides during the day, then enjoy the fabulous food and wine that are available during the day.

Horseback Safari

Horseback safari is a once in a lifetime experience. Nothing can quite top the wonder of watching a towering herd of giraffe, or getting close to grazing elephants while on horseback. If you’re going as a family, it’s easy enough to find horseback safaris through areas with no dangerous game, so that they’re suitable for all kinds of rider. However, for more experienced riders you can go out to places where you might see buffalo, or even lions.

At the end of the day you’ll return to luxurious safari lodges or tents if you feel like living the high life, or just to a bush camp with a long drop loo and a bucket shower if you feel like the simple life.

Ranch Holiday

Now this is more like it. If you’re going to be riding on horseback for your holidays, you might as well play cowboy. These holidays normally take place in some truly stunning parts of the world, you can choose a guest ranch, where you can simply enjoy the fantastic mountain vistas, or if you fancy something a bit more authentic, you can go to a working ranch and get the chance to be a real cowboy. Although I’d advise you don’t bring out your John Wayne impression, all the same.

Riding Expedition

This is a proper piece of exploration. Riding expeditions can involve a bit of hardship, but the payoff is an experience that you will never forget.  You’ll need to spend a bit longer thinking about the clothes and equipment you need to pack for these trips, which will usually involve a fair amount of camping outdoors with limited toilet facilities. However, you’ll also get to see some absolutely breathtaking views, and get to see the countryside from an entirely new perspective.

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Holidays in India 2012: Destinations to Visit for Indian Holidays

April 20th, 2012 Tushar Mathur

Need to know where to spend the holidays in India. The diverse country of India is home to a number of tourist destinations that are sure to make your holidays a memorable and fun filled one.  To start planning on where to celebrate your holidays in India for 2012, here are some of the great places that you can visit.

Corbett National Park – Gandhi Jayanti Holiday

Corbett National Park is considered as the first and the finest national park in all of India. The national park is located at the foothills of the Himalayas in Uttranchal, India.

The Corbett National Park is home for a variety of animals but is well known for its tigers, leopards and elephants. The national park was once considered a favorite hunting ground by the British people. It is named after Jim Corbett, a renowned hunter – turned conservationist. The Corbett National Park is a great place to enjoy the Gandhi Jayanti holiday for those who appreciate the beautiful wonders of nature.

Dal Lake – Independence Day

Pristine waters and magnificent view, these are but two of the best ways to describe the Dal Lake. Considered as one of the most beautiful lakes in India, the Dal Lake is bordered by mountains. Beautifully crafted and uniquely decorated houseboats are used to explore this top destination for the Independence Day holiday in India for 2012.

The Himalayan National Park – Republic Day

The Himalayan National Park is home for 30 species of mammals and about 200 species of Birds. The magnificent park is a favorite destination for the Republic Day holiday and perfect for those who want to explore the wild and for those who are seeking adventure. The Himalayan National Park is also frequented by mountain climbers and adventure seekers.

The Taj Mahal

Considered as one of the best architectural wonder in India, the Taj Mahal is a testament of the never ending love of Shah Jahan to Mumtaz Mahal. The Taj Mahal is a huge complex of gardens and beautifully designed structures centered by a large temple.

This top destination is always a great place to spend any Indian holidays and obviously a great place for those who appreciate the wonders of architecture.

City Palace

Considered as the largest palace in Rajasthan, the City Palace is an architectural marvel built in the city of lakes and romance. The palace is built overlooking the beautiful view of Pichola Lake. Like the Taj Mahal, it is a perfect place to enjoy any Indian holiday.

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Top 5 Outdoor Sports Weekend Destinations

April 20th, 2012 Tushar Mathur

There is nothing like travelling in the great outdoors to refresh the mind, body, and spirit.  Whether it be hiking, climbing, or walking on new trails, taking time to be outside can be great.  I know amidst the hustle and bustle of busy lives, taking a weekend to just get outside and play can be a wonderful refresher and I truly believe that the UK provides some of the best outdoors sports weekend locations in the whole world.  Below are just five of mine and my family’s favourite locations for an outdoors weekend in the UK.

Grendon Lakes

At the top of my list when it comes to the best UK outdoor destinations is Grendon Lakes.  The one-hundred and fifty acres of this park has something for everyone.  Whether it is hunting or fishing or even paintballing, there is so much to do to keep your activity level up and your family busy.  Located in Northamptonshire, the options are literally endless at this site.  You can take advantage of all of the amenities of modern life at the clubhouse or camp in the peaceful area between the twelve lakes situated on the property.  Endless possibilities make this site one of my favorite destinations in the UK.

Brenscombe Outdoor Centre

Brenscombe Outdoor Centre in Dorset is another location that makes for a great stop.  Travelling here for business and corporate weekend getaways, I was amazed at everything they had available to participate in.  Climbing, high ropes courses, and kayaking are all options to participate in as well as powerboat courses.  If you are looking for a family getaway or business adventure, try this great outdoor location and you may just find yourself as pleased as I was.

Argyll

Argyll, Scotland is another great location to travel to, especially for the avid kayaker.  Seafreedom Kayak is the place to go for those who want to spend their weekend out on the water.  Kayaking is available, with all the supplies, and the trip can be taken all year round.  Kayaking on the waters during a cold winter day is an experience that all should have!

Llandovery

Llandovery is home to another family favourite of mine: Llanerchindda Farm.  This family business is located on fifty acres of beautiful land.  The food is fantastic here with traditional Welsh cuisine offered throughout the day and a three course dinner offered every night!  These homemade meals are a great ending to a day filled with clay pigeon shooting, photography, fly fishing, and more, it is a highly recommended spot for all outdoors fanatics.

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Kings, Castles and Revolutionaries

April 20th, 2012 Tushar Mathur

Northamptonshire and its county town lie at the heart of England, within easy reach of many major cities.  The city and county have a long history and it can be an excellent place to take a short break – or a longer one.  Thanks to its central location it’s easy to access, but remains an attractive area, featuring typically English rolling countryside, which is combined with the attractions that a modern vibrant town has to offer.

Revolutionary sympathies

Early records indicate that the name of the town dates back to Anglo-Saxon times and originally appeared as Hamtunscire, meaning “home town shire”.  Hamptun, as it later appears was altered to Northampton to distinguish it from Southampton on the south coast.  George Washington, of revolutionary American fame, belonged to a family that had emigrated from Northampton in the mid-seventeenth century.  His ancestors had previously been highly regarded – one had been mayor of the town several times.  Perhaps revolutionary feelings run high in Northampton; the town declared for the Parliamentarian cause early during the English Civil War.  As a result you’ll have to look a long way to find the historic castle, which was demolished by Charles II on his restoration to the throne.

Royal Connections ancient and modern

Luckily for modern day visitors to the county and town of Northampton, Charles didn’t destroy all of the castles in the area.  Hidden amongst the attractive countryside are ancient hill forts and the ancient Roman Road, Watling Street, also runs through the county.  Rockingham Castle and Fothringhay Castle have strong Royal connections – William the Conquerer built the first and Mary, Queen of Scots lost her head in the second; literally.  Fotheringhay is now a romantic ruin while Rockingham remains intact and is an impressive example of the fortifications that earned William his nickname.  Althorp House, the childhood home of Diana, Princess of Wales, is also located in the county and is also open to the public.  Althorp features a range of attractions, tours and events throughout the summer season.

Industrious Pursuits

During the mediaeval era, the town of Northampton was an important centre for the wool trade – this trade was crucial to England at the time.  It was this trade the laid the foundations for England’s wealth and power, making the small Kingdom a big player on the mediaeval political scene.  Boot and shoe making followed as major industries and the town grew rapidly during the nineteenth century thanks to it’s location on the major new rail networks that were being developed.  Today the region remains an important centre of commerce, thanks to its central location, with excellent links to major transport links.

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Travel Ready: Planning Your Worries Away

April 20th, 2012 Tushar Mathur

Travelling is by a nature a mixed bag of the tiny anxieties and enormous soaring highs which come with the everyday aspects of planning a long journey. From checking out at the potential weather upon arrival, to looking up a countries general views on clothing, planning ahead can often be misconstrued as a less important aspect of travelling.

This lack of planning is not always an issue for travellers, considering that a large portion of what makes travelling enjoyable is the uncertainty of new places and cultures. This can extend into many different aspects of travel when you think about what can be gained or lost by creating a strong preconception of a place before even travelling there. Television and film alone often do this enough and even the most seasoned traveller might be right to consider taking a trip with little or no research into local culture, with the exception of currency conversion rates and local sightseeing hot spots.

There are however several things which can be worth taking into consideration before settling on the airport and travel style that you wish to use. For example travelling by taxi can be incredibly cheap when compared to long term stays in some airport car parks. But after a little research it quickly becomes clear that Liverpool airport parking is comparably cheap to use for long term stays, in particular when travelling to European or eastern European countries. This fact, coupled with the personal nature of travelling to the airport by your own means, before continuing on your journey makes researching the potential cost of certain travel aspects remarkably worthwhile.

Potential Research Problems

Whilst too much research into the particular cultural differences of your destination can cause some pleasant surprises to disappear before your arrival, there are countries which carry certain cultural expectations even for visitors and therefore it is worth taking time to research such places. A good example of this is the ‘tipping’ culture in America, which has come about due to some people’s wages being so low that tips make up a large portion of their overall income. Bar tenders often get paid very little other than what they make in tips and therefore in many bars and restaurants tipping is expected, especially for new comers.

Useful Areas of Research

Another example of worthwhile research is the expected dress codes of some countries. In some countries, or even different areas within the same country there are specific dress codes which are expected to be upheld, particularly by women.

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How to Plan an Affordable Summer Vacation with Your Teens

April 20th, 2012 Tushar Mathur

Summer time is here! And with it comes a lot of excitement from those who are lucky enough to have a break. Of course, as a parent, it is likely that your summer “vacation” is more about working overtime to care for kids who are at home from school while still handling your normal day to day responsibilities than it is about relaxing. That means you need a break, too. Do yourself and your restless school-free teens a favor by packing up and heading out on a family summer vacation. Think it will cost too much to take your rowdy bunch away for a while? Think again. Here are some great tips for how to plan an affordable summer vacation with your teens:

Set a budget. It’s only natural that your teens will want some spending money while you are on vacation. Just remember that a little bit here and there can add up fast. For that reason, you need to set a budget BEFORE you even embark on your journey, and you need to make your teens aware of it. If they want extra money, give them the option of working a summer job to stash cash before the big departure date.

Thrifty vacation ideas. Teens are old enough to enjoy things that younger children can’t. One great vacation idea for families with teens is book rooms on a cruise ship. Believe it or not, you can find summer cruise specials for incredibly low prices – much lower than the Disney vacation option – and what’s more is that cruises are generally all-inclusive, meaning you won’t have to come out of pocket for food and entertainment while on board. Also, consider renting an inexpensive timeshare on a beach. Teens are generally happy to wander around and find their own entertainment, so you may be able to do a family vacation on the cheap simply by renting a beach-front cottage and letting your teens loose.

Save on food. Sure, teens love food . . . but not necessarily the kind that comes with five-star ratings. You can save a lot of money on your vacation by skimping on the fancy dinners out and instead opting for fast and easy meals that your teens can cook wherever you are staying. Even fast food is cheaper than a seat at a nice restaurant, and most teens will tell you that they’d rather have a burger than escargot.

As you can see, there are some very simple things you can do to trim your spending come summer vacation time.

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South Lake Tahoe: A Vacation Spot for Any Season

April 20th, 2012 Tushar Mathur

There are many beautiful places in California, but few as delightful as Lake Tahoe. It is one of those special spots that nourish my soul. It’s hard not to be awed by the clear water reflecting mountains covered with spiky pines.

For a vacation, South Lake Tahoe is a paradise. There are quaint shops where you can pick up souvenirs of your trip and a great miniature golf and amusement area for the children. Although known more for it’s spectacular ski slopes, Tahoe is equally desirable for a summer getaway. There are all the wonderful warm weather activities you find in a great vacation spot – hiking, boating, water skiing, swimming or just lazy days on the sandy beaches to fill your hours. You can take a leisurely cruise around the lake on the big, white paddleboat or watch the wild geese waddle around the fringes of the lake.

By cmiked

If your taste runs to the excitement of the casinos, just cross the street at the state line in the middle of town. Unlike the bright lights and glitz of Las Vegas, these casinos blend tastefully with the surroundings.

Be sure to take a short drive along either the California or Nevada side of the lake. That gets you away from the tourist area, and the scenery is spectacular. Even in June the highest mountains were crowned with snow.

There is a wide selection of motels in the area. I stayed in a condo at the beautiful Lakeland Village Beach and Ski Resort. Although moderately expensive, it was well worth the price with 19 wooded acres, two outdoor pools, a children’s pool, laundry facilities, tennis courts and a private beach. The view was splendid, and I loved the pine tree growing through the front porch. It pleases me to see construction that takes the surrounding environment into consideration.

By absurd_hero

A caution here, the condos are not a very good idea if you have small children along. I spent entirely too much time trying to protect my 2-year-old daughter from the stairs. The stairs were also a challenge for me. If you have problems walking or climbing stairs, I would recommend that at Lakeland Village, you consider requesting a room in the lodge rather than one of the three story condos. But for families with older children or teens, you can’t beat Lakeland Village. The condos have fully equipped kitchens with everything you might need, including dishes, cooking utensils, microwave, full-size refrigerators, full-size coffee makers and dishwashers. These condos are often owned by individuals and used by the Village for vacation rentals.

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Exploring San Miguel, El Salvador

April 20th, 2012 Tushar Mathur

Burrowed in between Honduras and Guatemala is a country with a history as rich as any other in Central America. Settled in the early 1500’s by Spanish conquistadors, their influence still very evident today, El Salvador became a hub for the Spanish gold, coffee, and spice trade. There is no better example of their impact on the land than in the cuisine. An eclectic mix of traditional Spanish, South American, and native dishes make up the many flavors one is sure to experience when dining in this tiny nation.

The great author Francisco Gavidia wrote about his birthplace in only they way he could. In his writings he admits to being manipulated by the smells, sounds, and music of his motherland, a common reaction shared by most vacationers. It would be easy to find these same practices anywhere in Central America, but ask any of the locals in El Salvador, and they’ll let you know you came to the right place.

San Miguel is the fourth most populous city in El Salvador, but the center of agricultural and textile production. Many believe it to be the heart of the Salvadorian state. This thriving economy has achieved much in the last decade. A surge of investors and private organizations have flooded the area, creating jobs, tourist attractions, and consumer dwellings, yet still, San Miguel has it detractors.

A stigma has fallen upon this piece of ancient history. Unfortunately, travelers are finding in hard to brush aside the stories of gang violence and poverty that supposedly consume the land. Salvadorians do not agree with this impetuous portrayal of their citizens, and work very hard to display their humility. Tourists are welcomed with open arms and locals willingly provide an almost obligated sense of care and companionship. You can find so much beauty in the place; one really just has to look.

Students would find a wonderful alternative from the confines of their classrooms in the many archeological and geological sites. El Salvador houses 22 volcanoes, 8 of which are still active, and many structural remnants of the pre-Columbian era. It is also home to some of the world’s best beaches. The Azul Surf Club is a perfect example of the large surfing community that has immersed upon the coastlines. Watermen from all over agree that the beaches and San Miguel are some the most relaxing, as well as exciting in the world.

The nightlife in most areas can be compared to the dive bars we’ve all seen in clique American film portrayals of underprivileged Spanish countries, but the vibe is quite the opposite.

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How to Survive Travel With Kids

April 20th, 2012 Tushar Mathur

Traveling with children can be very stressful if you do not approach it in an organized way. Everything must be taken into consideration. Before making any plans, make sure that  where you’re going and what you’re doing are appropriate for your family’s needs.

1. Hotels
Before searching for a hotel, you should first decide what your family looks forward to when staying away from home. You need to have a firm grasp of your budget and what you want. To make the stay more relaxing, choose a hotel within your budget that has the most amenities your family looks forward to, whether that’s a pool, WiFi or what have you.

2. Older Children
If you have older children, chances are they are going to want time away from their family to relax alone. Figure out how much you can budget for your older child to do the things they want to do. This will be extremely appreciated by them, and will give you some time to relax!

3. Family Outings
Everyone in your family has their own agenda when they are vacationing. However, as a family, you need time together that does not involve rushing around and getting ready for school or dinner. Plan outings that are appropriate for all of your family and budget them in – perhaps an interactive museum or even a movie. A day at the beach pleases virtually everyone!

4. Packing
Packing may seem like the most stressful part of the trip. Do some research on the weather in the area you are planning to vist a few days before you leave. Check again the night before you leave. Also pack a few things for the unexpected breach in weather plans too!

5. The Trip
Whether you are traveling by plane, train, or car, make sure you pack plenty of things for each of your children to do. For instance, make sure your oldest child has their iPod, or pack a portable DVD player, so that they can stay occupied. They will appreciate this more than they will be willing to admit. For younger children, pack a few toys and books. Try not to choose anything noisy for the trip though, so they don’t annoy the other passengers. This is the perfect time to present a new toy or travel game! Something educational is always beneficial. Don’t forget to pack your younger children’s comfort items either. It would be a very uncomfortable trip if you found yourself hundreds of miles away, or 30,000 feet above the ground, before you remembered you two year old’s favorite cuddle buddy – and then had to pay the consequences in screams and tears.

6.

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