Travel Packing Check Lists - Make Your Trip & Life Easier
Here is our travel pack list & reminders of what to do before you leave for your vacation. Plus, we provide a checklist to remember what to consider packing. That way you hopefully won’t overpack or forget anything you must take with you.
This is a great article to print out and use while planning your trip.
Before You Leave Travel Packing Reminders:
- Plan ahead: Sit down and prepare a travel pack list of what you’ll need, what you plan to do while in Florida, and what you must take and do before you go
- Start looking for Florida travel deals
- Research where you are going in Florida
- Research reviews and do your homework (best deals, what to do, where to stay, etc…)
- Shop for everything you’ll need or want to take
- Start an exercise program to get your best beach body (if that is in your plan)
- Search for and check dates and information on important documents
These include, Id’s, passports & visas, pet information, etc…)
Book your airfare, car rental, and lodgings (make sure you know all the terms and conditions when booking. Ie. Cancellations, refunds, and so forth - Check weather in the area you are visiting
- Know your credit card information, limits, & amounts
- Have your banking information & debit cards up to date
- Contact anyone important to let them know you’ll be out of town
- Visit your doctor or dentist to ensure your health
- Accomodate for your pets (whether you take them or leave them behind)
- Plan for someone to check your house and collect your mail & newspapers
- Reconfirm everything we’ve mentioned and your travel pack list
- Obtain travelers checks at your bank
- Get all your medications and prescriptions you need
- Have car checked and tuned up if you take your own vehicle
- Lock up your valuables in a safe or safe deposit box
- Pay the bills, take care of house stuff (plants, cut grass, utilities, etc…)
You don’t want to look like you’re gone - Pick up dry cleaning and finish any last minute errands
- Start packing what’s on your travel pack list - Make sure luggage is marked
- Double check all documents…make copies if necessary
- Relax, you should have everything…
- Recheck your travel pack list and you’ll be fine.
Here are a few more tips to live by…
Carry-on Items:
Be sure you carry on valuables, cameras, film, documents, wallet (money in general), coupons, tickets, itenerary (with all pertinent information), brochures, maps, guides, reading materials, baby stuff, kids stuff, medications you must have, and anything in particular that you find important. If you think you should carry-on, then do. Don’t be like Focker.
Medications:
Have your meds in the original bottles, have doctor letters if necessary. Remember airlines are scetchy about certain items (if you fly).
If you drive having this information is important if you get pulled over and asked by a cop.
Film: We recommend you buy a digital camera or camcorder. Film is a pain and can get damaged easily.
I know that may be an added expense, but if you shop around, you can find a great deal. We just want to ensure you retain the priceless memories of your Florida trip.
If you must have film, our best recommendation is buy it when you get there. Pack it wisely (in your purse for instance), or develop it before you return home.
Pack Light:
You can check if the hotel has a laundry service. Plan ahead. Make a travel pack list, check it twice. Wait- isn’t that a song? Just kidding. Bad humor, it’s that doing a travel pack list can get boring.
But, it is important. Anyway, just pack intelligently. Take some extra money to shop if you absolutely forget something. Learn to fold, be creative, and lay everything on your travel pack list out.
As an idea, the two of us take a big piece of luggage and one smaller one. Then we carry a backback, small carry-on bag, or briefcase and we fit everything we need from our travel pack list.
Some of the major things to remember to pack include, money, documents, clothing, toiletries, electronics, things to keep you busy, other personal/individual items, and of course the kids (if you have them).
This is just a portion of what to remember. There are lists available online to use and check off items/things to do as you plan your vacation.
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Joe Collinsworth is founder of Discount-Florida-Vacations.com, a fun and informative website offering travel tips, budget travel ideas, checklists, articles, and experiences to make a trip to Florida or anywhere a wonderful time. You can visit us and tour Florida and print out our checklists at… |
Published by admin on December 19th, 2008 tagged EzyTrip2Go2 | Comment now »
Vacationing in Destin, Florida
Sitting majestically along the coast of the Florida Panhandle, Destin is part of one of the most gorgeous stretches of beaches in the world. A relative newcomer among the popular vacation destinations of the Emerald Coast, this city is fast becoming one of the best places to go for sun, sand, and relaxation along the Gulf of Mexico. Make your way to Destin, Florida for your next vacation, and the multitude of golf courses, the beautiful beaches, and the abundance of water activities will keep you coming back year after year.
As a part of the Emerald Coast, Destin is blessed with the same attributes as the other cities that line the southwestern corner of the Florida Panhandle. The beaches have sugar white sand, whose color is caused by the Appalachian quartz that arrives at the coast from the mountains, that is perfect for a stroll along the water or for simply throwing down a towel and catching some sun. The most distinct feature, however, is the sparkling emerald-green water, which creates the area’s namesake hue from the sugar white sand that lies beneath the crystal blue water. Whether you want to build a sandcastle, play in the water, or work on your suntan, the beaches of Destin can accommodate your needs and look amazing doing it.
One of the best places in Destin to swim and simply enjoy an all-around exciting day is Henderson Beach State Park. Located off the Emerald Coast Parkway, this park is bordered by the Gulf of Mexico and lays claim to over 6,000 feet of shoreline. While swimming is the most popular activity on the beautiful beach, visitors can also enjoy a nice picnic lunch in the afternoon or cast out a line on one of the docks. If you want to break up your day and experience more than the water, there are nature trails for hiking and wildlife viewing is not an uncommon activity as dolphins regularly emerge from the waters this area.
Since you are visiting some of the most breathtaking waters in the world, why not take advantage of the numerous water adventures and sports at your disposal. Snorkeling is a popular inshore option since the exceptional water quality makes it easy to catch sight of vibrant yellow angelfish, manta rays, and loggerhead sea turtles. If you want to venture offshore, rent a wave runner for some action-packed excitement on the water and to view the impeccable shoreline of Destin. For those looking for a more calm experience, rent a kayak and create your own adventure by paddling into the open waters and exploring different nooks and crannies.
The Destin area is home to some of the finest year round courses in the country, meaning the hardest part any golf enthusiast’s vacation will be deciding which courses to play. While there are over ten courses in the area, there are two that stick out as both visually stunning and worth your best effort. The Emerald Bay Golf Club, designed by Bob Cupp, borders the Choctawhatchee Bay on the back nine and has a unique design that provides for an unrivaled experience. The Sandestin Raven Golf Course was designed by Robert Trent Jones, Jr. and presents a difficult test of golf through marshes, wetlands, and pine trees. There are dramatic changes of color throughout the course and players will face a variety of shot options that will undoubtedly lead to an exciting round.
While enjoying the beach and the emerald-green water of the Gulf of Mexico is probably your top priority, you will need accommodations that make it easy to spend your time soaking up the sun on the sugar white sands. For easy access to the beach and everything this amazing city has to offer, look into Destin vacation rentals for your next trip to the Florida Panhandle. You will find a wide selection of waterfront homes that have all the amenities you need for a relaxing, water-filled vacation away from the stresses of everyday life. Begin your search for the perfect home or condo rental today, and learn what a difference it makes to have all the comfort of home at your fingertips during vacation.
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HomeAway.com has the most comprehensive selection of vacation rental homes on the Internet. For an alternative lodging option, consider Destin vacation rentals for your next trip to Florida’s Emerald Coast. |
Published by admin on December 14th, 2008 tagged EzyTrip2Go2 | Comment now »
Harbor Springs Vacations
For an idyllic vacation that has a New England-feel without the crowds, try venturing to Northern Michigan and the picturesque city of Harbor Springs. With its small town atmosphere and ideal location on the shores of Lake Michigan, you can capture the restful vacation you have been dreaming about. So pack up the family and get ready for the beauty and ambiance that causes visitors of Northern Michigan to come back year after year.
Upon arrival in Harbor Springs, one of the first things you may notice is the historic Little Traverse Lighthouse on the Harbor Point peninsula. This lighthouse reminds one of the striking lighthouses of New England, minus the crowds and the gusting winds. As you take in the breathtaking views from the Harbor, take a stroll along the city pier for a pleasant afternoon under the warm summer sun.
Water activities are plentiful in this region since the lake is clearly the centerpiece of the splendor that drives families here in the summer. You can simply take a walk along the cool beach, dipping your toes in the water occasionally, or, if you prefer a little more excitement, get out on the water for a day of thrills and fun. The expanse that is Lake Michigan can be quite shocking at first, however once you get beyond the fact that it is much larger than you initially expected, you are ready to feel the wind in your face. Renting a motorboat or sailboat is the best way to really experience this sparkling blue lake, so venture outward for an exhilarating day.
For such a small area, downtown Harbor Springs is surprisingly bustling in the summer. There are four blocks of shops, with a large number of upscale boutiques, a couple of small town coffeehouses, numerous art galleries, and a few of the always popular fudge shops. Northern Michigan fudge shops are a staple of the area as every visitor makes a trip to their favorite one at least twice during their stay. There are also popular, must-see restaurants such as Mary Ellen’s, which is a 50’s-inspired soda fountain that maintains its original appearance, and Bar Harbor, which draws yachtsmen in off the lake with its world-class hamburgers.
Located a few miles away from the downtown area are both the Nubs Nob and Boyne Highlands ski resorts. The Nubs Nob recreation area offers cross-country and downhill skiing on its 246 acres. There are 43 runs to keep visitors entertained and some slopes run upwards of a mile in length. Boyne Highlands has 50 ski trails, which are serviced by 10 lifts, in addition to a terrain park and recently expanded cross-country ski trails. However, Boyne Highlands is not just a winter destination as this mountain resort offers three championship courses for summer visitors of Harbor Springs. One course that any avid golfer simply will not want to miss is the 18-hole Heather, which is considered one of the most scenic and picturesque courses in the country.
An entire vacation in Harbor Springs is easy to imagine when you consider the amazing golf courses, the beautiful weather, the shimmering lake, the bustling small town, and the surrounding large cities, such as Petoskey, that are begging for exploration. For the most convenience during your stay, try a Harbor Springs vacation rental. Your vacation home allows you easy access to Lake Michigan while also placing the attractions of this charming small town within walking distance. Spend a day in Petoskey searching for a souvenir state stone, then return to your vacation rental and watch the sun set over the bay from the privacy of your patio. This is your vacation, so experience all the beauty this area has to offer at your own pace and with all the comforts of home at your fingertips.
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HomeAway.com has the most comprehensive selection of vacation rental homes on the Internet. For an alternative lodging option, look into a Harbor Springs vacation rental for your next trip to Northern Michigan. |