Toronto Vacations

Packing for vacation scares many people. Packing for your vacation is such a drag :you just want to be whisked away direct to your destination: no packing involved! Not very likely, so read on for my best tips instead.

Vacation Packing Tip#1; If you “might” need it don’t take it.
If you are taking something “just in case” or because you “might need it” - leave the item at home. After many years of travel, I am yet to use anything that I took “just in case”.

Vacation Packing Tip#2 Put all your Must Have Items on the Bed
Look hard and long at them. Then select the half that is most important to pack :put the rest back in the cupboard: you may have the right amount of stuff. If you have problems with this approach put all your “essentials” in a bag and go for a 30 minute walk: see the point now?

Vacation Packing Tip#3 Don’t take specialist clothing
Do not take any piece of apparel which you can’t use in multiple ways. If you need a sleep shirt take something that you can sleep in and either use as a beach cover up or as a silky evening top. I have had tankini’s with tops that doubled as a an evening top (bra included too nice!).

Vacation Packing Tip#4 Don’t take Denim
Denim is never the answer. Its bulky, its hard to clean, it takes forever to dry and it has a certain reputation which will still get you turned away from clubs if you are wearing denim. Leave it at home

Vacation Packing Tip#5 Don’t take the Medicine Cabinet
Take a bare minimum of drugs with you. You can buy almost anything you need at almost any location: there is no point being kitted out with 6 months supply of cold remedies if you are off for 10 days at the beach: and don’t have a cold Take any prescribed medicines you need but also take their name and their generic equivalent; you may well find what requires a prescription at home you can get over the counter for a fraction of the cost in many countries.

Mary has a passion for traveling well and loves to share her Vacation Packing Tips with anyone who will listen. Mary is a passionate believer in that “less is more” in travel as well as life and hopes that you will find some useful tricks at http://vacationpackingtips.info

If you are thinking that it is time to plan a major family holiday, and if any of your children were fans of the movie, “The Lion King,” then an African family safari can be an adventure that the whole group can enjoy. However, you will have to seek out an African safari tour operation that has both the experience and the inclination to cater to family safaris.

Some of the family-friendly services that are offered by African safari tour companies are baby-sitting, special menus to appeal to the kids, and specially trained guides for the family. Some family safaris will even make arrangements to have special children’s activities, such as a bush treasure hunt, African-inspired crafts like bead-making, or bedtime stories told by authentic African storytellers.

Certainly, there are parents who worry about taking their children into areas where they have an increased chance of contracting a disease, such as malaria. But, there are a number of game reserves in South Africa which are considered safe. Another viable option is taking a “road trip” on well-kept roads in Namibia or South Africa, and enjoying a less structured type of family safari.

One of the challenges that parents might encounter during a safari is convincing a youngster, who loves to cuddle up with his favorite stuffed lion at home, that the mother lion preening her cubs cannot be petted or even approached. This can be one of the more difficult things to get across, especially for children who have never been on wildlife safaris.

Even with the challenges that are bound to come up, a safari for families is not only possible, but also great fun. As long as family wildlife safaris are undertaken safely and are conducted under the watchful supervision of an experienced safari guide, who knows how to handle and cater to the children in the group, they can be an experience that will provide lifelong memories.

Many parents who have never considered taking African safari holidays with their children in tow might be surprised to learn that family safaris are one of the most popular types of vacations for children, from the ages of four to eighteen. There are many African safari tour operators, African tourist bureaus, and adventuresome parents who have successfully undertaken various Africa safaris with their children and claim that is was the experience of a lifetime for the entire family.

Parents who put effort and time into researching the best destination and the best safari travel operation to handle the arrangements for their family safari will more often than not be rewarded with a wonderful trip that each family member will enjoy and remember for the rest of their lives. Asking people who have been on a safari with their family to give you a recommendation for a safari travel company is a good place to start planning your adventure.

Italy is a very popular travel destination for many visitors. Here are some quick how to tips for Italy

Italy Travel Hints

• The most popular tourist season is June through September: aim for May or October and you will enjoy smaller crowds and still have good weather.
• Pack light - you won’t regret it. One small bag that you can easy carry yourself on and off planes, trains and up and down stairs will give you a lot more freedom. Don’t expect every hotel to have an elevator - they don’t.
• Most long-haul flights arrive in Rome or Milan and these gateways will give you the best selection of discount flights. You may get a better over-all cost looking for a cheap flight into London or Amsterdam and then connecting on to Italy using a local European budget airline such as EasyJet or Ryan Air.
• If you do use a low cost airline check how far out of town the airport they are using is and how much it will cost you to get back into town. Few of the cheaper airports will be as convenient as Rome’s Fumcino airport where you can catch the Leonardo Express train to Rome’s Termini Station for Euro11
• Don’t worry about not speaking Italian - if you speak French or Spanish you won’t have a lot of problem. Even if you don’t patience, acting, sign language and a sense of humor will get you a long way.
• Train Travel. If you are going to use the Eurail pass for discounted train travel within Europe you need to purchase your pass before leaving home. Do you figures carefully though, many of the passes are not good value unless you are traveling from one end of Europe to the other. Also if you are over 26 you will have to travel first class on an Eurail pass while second class is comfortable and available for tickets bought in Italy.
• Italy has a fairly low rate of crime. Be careful of pickpockets in major cities but there is probably less violent crime than in your home town. Be aware of your surroundings in large train stations and popular tourist sites. The Romans never carry a bag slung over a shoulder but hung diagonally across the body - and you should too.

Enjoy your Italian vacation: hopefully these Italy vacation tips have helped

How much to tip in Medan

Before we get into tipping, you may want to know the value of your money in Medan Indonesia, no not just the exchange rates.

Minimum Wage in Medan
This is just an indication to the value of money and tipping in Medan. The standard minimum wage in Medan is about Rp980.000 a month which is around Rp38.000 (USD 4.00 ) a day. Some smaller retail and service industry even pays lower than minimum salary of Rp500.000 / month.So you can measure how much your tips are worth.

There are many times, tourists are the victims of extortion in Indonesia, hence, takes extra precaution. The amount of Rp 50.000 is a big sum as tips in Indonesia, hence do not fall into the trap.

Tipping at Restaurants & Hotels
Many restaurants and Hotels inn Medan have the standard 10% service charge plus tax directly charged to your bill. So technically, you are not required to give any extra.
Nevertheless, if you are feeling well served and generous, you may want to give extra tips to the waiters or waitresses.
There are no hard and fast rules on how much to tip in Medan compared to USA where 25% of your bill is expected.

For restaurants, the standard tipping is around Rp 5.000 to Rp 10.000. You may give more if you bring more guests. Rp20.000 should be a big tip.
Hotel porters and bellboys, probably the same aroung Rp5.000 to Rp10.000 depending on the amount of luggages you have for them to help you with.

Tour & Tour Guide
If you took a unusual vacations package to Medan, you may be faced with Tour Guides: I would suggests Rp 50.000 each, for the driver and the guide ( for private tours ). This is based on the standard 3D2N tours. If you feel that you would like to show your appreciation, then really it’s up to each individual. If you are traveling on a group tour, then this should be optional.

Taxi Driver:
This is not expected. But sometimes due to the limited amount of change Indonesia such as the Rp100, Rp500 coins. You may just let them keep the change.

Airport:
Although it is clearly stated that the porter charges Rp 2.000 for each bag, many expect more of about Rp5.000 for each bag now (yes they will ask for more).
So be prepared. There was once, I was feeling generous and gave Rp20.000 for 3 bags and they still ask for more!
You will need the help of the porter if you have many luggages.

Remember, tipping in Medan Indonesia should be based on your own appreciation of service you received and your own financial ability. The amount stated here is just a general guide.

For the latest news and buzz on Medan Sumatera Utara in Indonesia, please visit www.MedanTalk.com where you can find out more about Medan from the locals

You can also download special city guide and budget travel guide at MedanKu.com - The Pride of Medan Indonesia

Ever felt that your usual means of relaxing, be it hitting the bars, seeing movies, playing sports or games, have also become routinary as to be ineffective? Have you felt that the rare ones like Auckland harbour cruises, spelunking,  and world tours, are simply too expensive? Well, nice news! A boating holiday will give you just as much funny without being spend too much. In fact, it can cost you almost nothing at all.

Thought for a Boating Vacation

Vacations are essentially meant to remove you from your routine, via a change of environment and activities. Therefore, a vacation destination very different from familiar surroundings, people and activities is best. This is something a boating vacation can give you.

Imagine lazily drifting down a river with a buddy. You see nature at its basic best: deer drinking at the bank, a tortoise sunning on a log, trees changing color in autumn. Peace, quite and harmony are everywhere. They ease your psyche and soothe your mind. You feel tranquility in your soul. Is this Nirvana? No, it is a boating vacation.

As you eat your lunch in the shade of some hackberry trees, a curious fish comes up near the bank to investigate a morsel you dropped in the water inadvertently. Would you still remember the installment on the car that is soon due in such a situation?

Or, you are with your family in a houseboat. The sun set is coming, and you all sit on the boat’s roof to look it. Suddenly a fish leaps out of the water, silhouetted by the copper sun. The photo may be there for just a second, but its memory will keep forever in you and your family’s heart. Such magic is what a boating vacation is all about.

No Plans

A boating vacation should not be planned. Beyond the necessity of clothing, food, shelter and safety, it should be unrestrained of any rule. Spontaneity and freedom should be the hallmarks of any activity, the members of the trip having license to do what they want to do within reason. After all, a boating vacation is just like any vacation in terms of fun and enjoyment, therefore treat it as such.

Just Go!

So check out that boat you wish to buy, or a friend’s you want to borrow. Spruce it up, prepare the gear you need to take, and when the great day comes, just get up and go! Hit the river or the lake with your pal, your mate, or your family. Go and enjoy that charter boat in auckland harbour that will ease your mind, and make you want to do it again soon, perhaps very soon.

About the author: Haiming Jiang is a SEO website designer in Auckland, New Zealand