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Finding Your Luxury Resort

I’ve visited several luxury resorts over the years. All boast impeccable services, but I think the definition of “luxury” is subjective. To some, absolute privacy coupled with the constant availability of service are paramount to the experience, but only a very few can afford such luxury. Once you move into the more reasonably priced resorts, such as those you’d find peppered on tropical islands, you run the risk of falling prey to over exaggerated website photos and staged testimonials.

I once stayed at a so called luxury resort on the island of O’ahu, which turned out to be nothing more than a converted apartment building with no room service, bugs in the sink, scratchy towels and a “spa” in the basement, that was more scary than it was luxurious. So how are you supposed to know? Short of stating the obvious… that you have to rely on experience and word of mouth to find what you’re looking for, I’ll offer these three tools of advice. First, look for the resorts that don’t pack in the visitors. If you stay at a resort that has hundreds of rooms, but only one pool, logic tells you what you’re going to get. Second, just like when you were picking a college, look for employee to visitor ratios. If there’s only one masseuse on staff, you’re in trouble.

Lastly, before you put in for your vacation days at work, pick a few possible weeks and ask the resort how booked they are for the weeks you are interested in. Then, pick the one where the resort is emptiest. If there are less people, you’ll obviously get more attention and more private access to the facilities. If you do enough research, you just might find yourself having an expensive, luxurious experience without the price tag.

Making the Most of your Allowance by Packing Smart

For travelers, the news of the airlines charging more for luggage is not welcome. To save money, time and room, there are some great tips to make the most of your luggage allowance by packing smart.

While the fee may seem unjustified, it does make people stop to think about what they need on a trip versus what they want. How many times has an item been packed for a trip only to never be used?

Packing habits throughout the years has also not been the best. Packing a suitcase meant stuffing as much in there as possible without regard to organization or how neatly those items are going to be coming out of the suitcase. Wrinkled clothes do not get worn on vacation, or any trip for that matter. People would rather go out and buy something new than to deal with them. Had the packing been done properly to begin with, wrinkled clothes would not be an issue.

So, in thinking about how to make the most of your luggage allowance by packing smart, start with the way clothing is folded. It is proven that if clothing is rolled instead of folded, it stays more wrinkle free. Rolling also takes up less room than folding creating more space to take more items in one suitcase rather than two which saves an additional fee.

Organizing the suitcase is the most important tip to making the most of your luggage allowance by packing smart. Think about what will be needed first making sure to pack it on top so there is no need to rummage through to the bottom of the suitcase disturbing the other items creating wrinkled and bunched up clothing.

Once the art of packing is learned and more tips are learned and utilized, people will be asking themselves how they were able to function with the old way of packing. When it comes down to it, making the most of your luggage allowance by packing smart is beneficial in more ways than just avoiding the added fees.

Packing For a Holiday: What Not to Forget

We’re often stressed and in a hurry when packing for a holiday! It can be a real nightmare! Writing a list of items you will need can make things much easier. There are certain items that you definitely do not want to forget when packing for a holiday.

Don’t forget to pack proper clothing! Clothing should be appropriate for the climate, season, and customs of the area you are traveling in. In more conservative countries, you may not be allowed into churches or other tourist spots if not dressed properly.

Don’t forget prescription medications when traveling. They can be difficult, and in some cases, impossible to replace while in an unfamiliar locale. Also, carry a copy of the prescription(s) with you in case the medication is lost during travel.

Don’t forget to pack plane/train tickets and your passport (if needed). You’ll also want to remember to being along any hotel confirmations and maps that you may need for the holiday.

Don’t forget to pack money and a couple of credit or debit cards. You won’t get far if you don’t have a source of payment. It is wise to take 2 credit or debit cards in case one is lost, damaged, or eaten by the ATM machine.

Don’t forget to pack your insurance information. You’ll need proof of car insurance if driving to your destination. People often forget to pack health insurance information. On the off chance that there is an accident, you will need your insurance card(s) and phone numbers or email addresses of your physician and/or a family member.

Forgetting to pack items for your holiday can ruin your trip. Make it easier on yourself and prepare a list in advance. Check off items as you pack. All that is left is to relax and enjoy your holiday!