Travel tips to get some REST!

My vacation checklist always includes REST.  Literally, but also as an acronym.

Recharge: Have a nap. Get some fresh air. Locate the nearest hammock! Relax. You deserve a break.

Explore: Time to put on those walking shoes and see the sights.

Savour: Eat local food. Try the house specialty. Ask the locals for recommendations and try something new.

Treat: Splurge on a better brand of wine. Have dessert or treat yourself to a cognac. Get the suite instead of just a room. Indulge just a little. Whatever it is that makes you feel special and the vacation affordably more memorable.

Fast 5 Travel Tips: Plan that epic trip

1. Define YOUR epic.  Is it walk the Abbey Road crosswalk like the Beatles did? Is it have a beer in Ireland on St. Patrick's Day? See the Superbowl? Go to the Kentucky Derby? See the fountains of Bellagio with 10 friends from the rail, like they did in Ocean's 11?  Swim with Dolphins? Learn to surf in Hawaii? Climb Pike's Peak in Colorado? Or see the original Starbucks at Pike Place, Seattle?

2. Find someone who supports your dream. Is there a friend or family member who shares your enthusiasm? If not, find a forum or chat group or on-line blog that can fuel your fire.  Borrow books from the library that inspire you and relate to your dream. Even if your goal is Pike's Peak, you will find benefit from reading books about climbing Mt. Everest.

3. Research the cost. What is a realistic cost for airfare, hotel, and activities? Now you can start your budget planning and find ways to start saving. So if "Drink beer on St. Patrick's Day in Ireland" is your goal, and you estimate $1600 for the trip and you can save $100 per month, then you know you have a realistic chance of fulfilling this dream March 2016.

4. Plan milestone rewards. If your goal is to climb Pike's Peak in Colorado, reward yourself with hiking boots or new gear when you reach your exercise and training milestones.

5. Make the commitment.  Book the time off work. Colour the dates on the calendar. Add a countdown APP to your phone. Anything that makes it visual and inspirational. Even if it seems far off into the future, you CAN and WILL get there, one day at a time.

Once you achieve your goal, share it. Inspire others. Then set a new goal for yourself. I know that I feel happier and more purposeful when I have a goal to work towards or something specific to look forward to.

Fast Five Travel Tips: Should I book?

You will hesitate. You will second guess yourself. You will rationalize and stress....but you really want to book that vacation. Here are 5 tips that may help your decision process along.

Whether you are worried about a particular destination, or a hotel or a luxury expense, ask yourself these.

1. Do I need to change my perspective/recharge/de-stress?  A vacation, any vacation, will do that.

2. Will it take away anything from my life or cause hardship?  No? Then why not go.

3. Will I be safe? Am I in good health and insured?  You should live before life takes a plot twist.

4. If not now, then when? Years pass in a blink of an eye. You know this. Work will wait.

5. Price drop guarantee or not.... will $25 change my life or potential to enjoy this vacation?

If you are wondering which destination to choose? Rationalize it down to 2 choices. Then flip a coin. While the coin is in the air...... your heart will tell you where you really want to go.  Ignore the coin. Listen to your heart.

Disney Cruise: Part 10... Tips & Tricks

Just a few things I've picked up, that you might benefit from: (no particular order)

1. Pack light. There are 3 guest laundry rooms on board. It costs $2.00 to wash & dry a load. I would much rather do an hour of laundry once in 7 days, than pack twice as much. 
2. Wear bright colours. You're on a fun ship! You'll look better, and feel better in your photos. 
3. Bring Disney pins for trading. Pin-trading is an official activity. Buy them on eBay (20 for $25 usually) rather than $8 each on the ship. See... even if you get ugly random Disney pins off eBay, you are TRADING them for things you like. 
4. Drop off an 8x10 photo mat at Guest Services with a couple bags of candies (for the staff) and they will ensure the characters (you pick Fab 5 or Princesses) autograph it and return it to your room. It's the perfect match to the on-board family photo you're going to buy anyway and you just by-passed the lines. 
5. Buy your family cute Disney t-shirts before the trip. Get them on-line at the Disney store during a sale, or even at Wal-Mart and I bet no one asks you to buy them a $30 t-shirt on board. 
6. You can bring a bottle of wine, or bottles of water,  onto the ship in your carry-on luggage. No liquids in your crew handled bags. 
7. There are complimentary post cards for you in the desk, in your stateroom.
8. You can pre-order your room service breakfast. There are door-hanger order forms in your desk drawer. 
9. Plan to bring about $25 in "singles". You will need them for the crew that handles your luggage in port. (They are pretty forward about tips.) Plus, you will need them for your room service orders. 
10. Bring your pirate costume (but no fake weapons). People really get "into" pirate night. But, even if you think you're a hot mama - don't wear your bedroom "pirate wench" costume. Seriously!! It's a family ship. LOL
11. Best view of the fireworks on pirate night.... Deck 10, aft, port site. That's ship speak for the back of the top deck, on the left side of the ship.
12. All the game show answers..... all Disney based. Brush up on your character and movie names.
13. Staterooms mid-ship tend to be less affected by motion. 
14. There is a really good selection of tea at the self-serve beverage station. Oh yeah.... there's a self-serve 24 hour beverage station on Deck 9 (Wonder & Magic Ships).  Coffee/tea/soda/milk
15. Charms are a great collector item. At $5 each, a bargain too. 
16. If you need adult time with your spouse... it's called Exotic Rasul at the spa. $85 for a private couple's shower.  Simply plan to drop your kids off at the Kids' Club for an activity.
17. If you need time away from other people's children and their screeching, there is an adult-only dining room, coffee shop, lounge and pool. 
18. Decks 10 & 4 have walking tracks. 
19. There is a duty free shop. You can purchase liquor any time, but will only receive it upon disembarkation. (When you get off the ship.)
20. Your stateroom host (generally a man) will tidy your stateroom twice a day. He will also magically set up the kids' bunk beds each night, transforming the sitting area in your cabin into a kids' bedroom. 
21. Don't be surprised to see the same 5 movies on your TV all the time. It's Disney programming 24/7 not live TV.

For the real authorities on everything Disney.... see the obsessed, but really knowledgable and helpful people on the Disboards. It's a chat forum for everything Disney. 

That's not me BTW!