Thursday, July 27, 2006

Summer Rafting Tips : Do's & Don'ts

travel guide for you

Summer Rafting Tips: Do's and Don'ts By J. Foley

If you have never done whitewater rafting before, you are probably a little nervous. You have seen it on TV, and what you've seen makes you think it's too damn difficult. Will you be able to keep your balance? Will you do the right thing at the right moment? Can you keep your cool?

Well, you can rest assured. Rafting looks more difficult than it really is. Even complete novices usually do pretty well the first time, provided of course that the water isn't too difficult, and they have expert guidance. Still, you'll do well to keep some tips in mind – some basic do-s and don't-s of this terrific and exciting adventure sport.

First, clothing. What sort of clothing should you bring to your summer rafting trip? Synthetic is best for almost all types of water-based sports, and rafting is no exception. Cotton stuff may be comfortable in the summer, but it's best to avoid them when you're going rafting. Avoid jeans. Also, wet suits and spray jackets are only useful in the winter or if the weather is too chilly. Give them a pass during the summer months, and save the cost.

Footwear is a somewhat neglected part of rafting gear. Your concentration, performance and comfort depend largely on what you have on your feet. Watersport sandals are best if you can afford them, but high-quality tennis shoes will do the job. You don't really need wetsuit booties in the summer.

If you want to preserve fond memories of your daring adventure, you shall need a camera. But make sure it's waterproof! Not the whole stretch of water will be rapids – you shall have plenty of opportunity to click away on calmer water. But still the single-use waterproof varieties are the best for this kind of thing.

Also, if you do not want to leave pictures of horrible sunburn to posterity, you had better bring along generous measures of sunscreen. And adding a pair of sunglasses to your gear will help you to cut the glare from the dazzling water, as well as make you look cool on the pictures!
Before starting out on the raft, make sure you're getting all that you paid for. For example, there's the PFD. You may not be all that great a swimmer, and you're feeling a bit nervous about capsizing and getting in the water. Can you handle it?

Well, you shouldn't really have to worry. The fee you paid includes the charges for a PFD – a personal flotation device. This is usually provided in the form of a life jacket that spreads over you chest and back, with a hole in the middle through which you insert your head. Make sure that you have it on before you get on the vessel.

What's more, there are probably a number of kayaks waiting somewhere close by to pick you up as soon as you hit water. And there are expert guides either on your boat itself, or within a distance of one or two boats. If you want to be sure of having a guide on your own boat, you can usually arrange it by talking to the organizers in advance.

travel guide for you
Article written By J. Foley
http://travelguy.typepad.com/travel_guide

Friday, July 21, 2006

Tips For Planning A Disneyland Vacation

travel guide for you

Tips for Planning a Disneyland Vacation By J. Foley

For many people, planning a Disneyland Vacation
is part of the fun of the vacation itself! For others,
however, it can be a headache. Before you start
planning your vacation, determine whether or not you
are really up to planning the trip yourself or not.

If you don’t want to plan your own trip, you have
several options. Of course, you can have a travel
agent make all of the arrangements for you, but for
the best Disneyland experience, you might be better
off using the Disney Vacation Planning Services.
Either way, you can have every single aspect of your
trip planned for you. Once you get there, all you will
need to do is follow your Itinerary.

If you prefer the fun involved in planning your
Disneyland vacation yourself, there are some things
that you absolutely must not leave out of the planning
stage. Before you can decide what you will be doing at
Disneyland, you must determine which dates you will
be there. The parks offer different things at different
types of the year, with many different themes and
entertainment to choose from.

Once you know when you will be at Disneyland, the
next step is to figure out what you will be doing each
day that you are there. Once you’ve set up your travel
arrangements and your hotel reservations, there are a
few more things you must consider.

Food is one thing you might want to arrange in
advance. Disneyland is a very popular place, and
having reservations at some of the more popular
restaurants is recommended. These reservations can
be made well in advance – before you ever leave home.

When planning which attractions at Disneyland you
want to visit, use a map of Disneyland as a guide.
This will make it easier to schedule time for
attractions that are near each other. You want to see
and do as much as possible, so as much walking or
travel time as you can.

Keep your budget in mind. Often, by making
arrangements through travel agents or through the
Disneyland Vacation Planning Services, you will be
able to get better deals – which can save you money.
Look for these deals, and save as much money as
you can on your hotel and food. If you have small
children with you, keep their priorities in mind – they
have less interest in where they will sleep and the
food that they will eat, and more interest in what they
will see and do!

travel guide for you
Article Written By J. Foley
http://travelguy.typepad.com/travel_guide

Saturday, July 15, 2006

Alasken Cruise Ship Travel : Small Ship Or Big ?

travel guide for you

Alaska Cruise Ship Travel – Small Ship Or A Big ? By J. Foley

If your idea of a cruise ship travel is with a giant ship with more than 2000 passengers and 7 to 8 stories with shopping malls, cinema houses, casinos etc, you are only partially right. There are cruise ships, which are like the above-mentioned ships. However, there are other smaller ships that can be easy on your pocket as well as offer a memorable experience. It all depends on how much you are willing to spend. If you are one of the guys with loads to spend, you can go for the first type, if not then go for the second one. Browse through the differences in the services that both offer as well.

The Smaller ships
Smaller vessels or ships will offer you a much personalized experience. You can get much closer to the shore; experience the wildlife at first hand and also dock at much smaller docks, which do not allow bigger ships to dock. Smaller ships even include on shore excursions in their basic charge itself. Of course, you will not have the big casinos, hotels and shopping malls in the small ships. However, if you are looking for a romantic vacation, there are many small ships that offer pretty good services on your cruise ship travel.

The Big ones
Big ships will obviously make you spend big as well. You will not get an opportunity to get very close to the wildlife. The best you can see is some Bald eagles and maybe a humpback whale. The onshore excursions are not included in the package and you will have to pay for every thing extra. You might not notice this until the final bill comes. Then you will see that even the small things that you did have ballooned up the expenses.


They have bigger amenities and are a much grander affair. Ballrooms, casinos, discos, cinema halls, shopping malls, health clubs, massage facilities, your own private deck, private lounges, swimming pools and formal nights are just some of the basic things. Your kids will also have a great time with escorted tours, magic shows etc. However, there will be 2000 people getting down on a beach as compared to a small ship where you will have only 100 on the beach.

On your cruise ship travel, with smaller ships you can visit some of the places that you can only dream of visiting in a big ship. Get real close to some of the aboriginal art. Smaller ships fill up real fast so make sure you book well in advance.

travel guide for you
Article Written By J. Foley


Thursday, July 06, 2006

Disneyland Vacation For Toddlers

travel guide for you

Disneyland Vacation for Toddlers By J. Foley

Disneyland was designed for kids of all ages – and
toddlers are no exception! There are many things
that you can enjoy with your toddler – so many
things in fact, that unless you will be staying for
several days, you won’t have time to do them all.

Start with Toon Town. Here is where you will find
your toddler’s favorite Disney Characters, including
Mickey and Minnie Mouse. All of the Characters
have homes in Toon Town, full of things that will
amaze your toddler, and make them laugh.

Your toddler will definitely enjoy the Disneyland
Railroad. This is a great way to get around the park,
because there are stations in New Orleans Square,
Toon Town, Tomorrowland, and on Main Street. This
will amuse your toddler, and give you a chance to
see some sights and rest a bit.

Its A Small World is very appropriate for toddlers.
Music and colors will keep your child mesmerized
while you enjoy a relaxing ride across the water. The
Storybook Land Canal Boats is another good choice,
as it will take you through the miniature villages that
your child will be quite familiar with from their story
books.

Rides that you and your toddler must not miss
include all of the rides in Fantasyland, King Arthur’s
Carousel, Dumbo the Flying Elephant, the Circus
Train, and the Mad Tea Party. Rides that are
appropriate for youngsters, but that may cause a
little fear are the rides that are dark. These include
Peter Pan’s Flight, Pinocchio’s Daring Journey, Alice
in Wonderland, and Snow White’s Scary Adventure.
Buzz Lightyear is a popular ride for all toddlers.

There are other areas of the park that have
attractions and rides that are appropriate for toddlers.
Remember that Disneyland is a place for kids of all
ages. Pay attention to the height and age requirements
for each attraction, and avoid taking your toddler to
rides that they will not be able to enjoy. This will only
cause your child disappointment.

Stick to the areas where the toddler appropriate
attractions are located as much as possible. As an
adult, you realize that some rides are simply not safe
for small people – but your small person will not
comprehend this! Your Disneyland vacation should
be enjoyable for everyone, and Disneyland has
made sure that there is something for everyone at
the park. It is up to you to keep your child happy,
and to keep them interested in the rides and
attractions that they are meant to enjoy.

travel guide for you
Article Written J. Foley

http://travelguy.typepad.com/travel_guide

Saturday, July 01, 2006

Family Fun At Newport Beach

travel guide for you

Family Fun In Newport Beach By J. Foley

No matter what type of family getaway you have in mind,
you'll always find something for everyone throughout
Newport Beach. From young to old and everyone in
between, Newport Beach easily combines the best of family
fun with activities to keep everyone entertained for
hours and hours.

One of the most popular family activities in Newport
Beach is going to the beach. During the summer months,
the beach is a very popular resort and getaway spot for
the entire family. You and your wife or your friends can
enjoy swimming, boat riding, or even hitting the waves on
a jet ski. With temperatures in the summer hitting 75
degrees and above, nothing breaks the heat better than
the beach.

For the kids, the beach holds many different activities.
They can build sand castles in the sand, play around in
the water, or simply bask in the glorious sun. If they
get tired of playing in the sand, you can simply go back
to your hotel room and enjoy the fun of the safe yet
confined swimming pool.

Another popular activity in Newport Beach for the family
is the Balboa Fun Zone. There is something here for
everyone, with the Fun Zone keeping kids entertained the
entire time they are there! If you've never experienced
the Fun Zone before, you'll be in for the treat of a
lifetime!

The Balboa Fun Zone is comprised of many different areas,
including restaurants and beaches. There is so much to
do here that you'll probably have to come back over the
course of several days to see everything that the Fun Zone
has to offer.

Another activity that yields a lot of fun in Newport Beach
is rollerblading. You can rent rollerblades from many
different providers, from kids sizes to adults. There are
also many places to use your rollerblades, including the
sidewalks along the beach. If you like rollerblading,
Newport Beach helps to set a new standard of fun.

When it comes to the kids enjoying themselves, nothing
will please them more than the Toy Boat. Located at 3331
East Coast Highway, the Toy Boat is the best place in
Newport Beach to take the kids. There are hundreds of
thousands of toys and activities here to keep your kids
and probably yourselves entertained for hours.

After you have a day of family fun in Newport Beach or
the surrounding areas, you can stop and have a relaxing
meal at one of the fabulous restaurants. The food here is
to die for, giving everyone in your family a chance to
eat their favorite food.

With something for everyone, it's hard to believe that
Newport Beach is actually an undiscovered vacation spot
for many. The area has so much to offer, that it's just
a matter of time before people start to discover
everything the area will provide them with. When the time
comes for your getaway - make sure you give Newport Beach
a try - you'll be glad you did!

travel guide for you
http://travelguy.typepad.com/travel_guide