King Arthur Travel

National Hot Spots for Vacations

2012-01-12T01:28:00.002-05:00

Top 10 Cities in the USA

10. Washington, D. C.
9. San Diego, California
8. Honolulu, Hawaii
7. New York City, New York
6. Seattle, Washington
5. Miami, Florida
4. Los Angeles, California
3. San Francisco, California
2. Las Vegas, Nevada

And the #1 most popular USA city

1. Orlando, Florida

Top 5 States in the USA

5. Hawaii
4. New York
3. California
2. Nevada

And the #1 most popular USA state

1. Florida

Rules of the Road with Kids Aboard

2011-12-03T00:50:00.010-05:00

Make it your child's vacation. Plan around their schedule. Adults usually like doing kids things more than kids like doing adult things.

Plan with your child, from the vacation idea itself, to transportation, route, restaurants, hotel, and so forth.

Your normal routine, while traveling, is probably going to have to get altered a bit. Everyone needs some down time, nap time, and quiet time. In fact, if you can keep the times very similar to your normal ones at home, you'd be much better off.

Give your child responsibilities during the trip and the drive there. He can research the area, as well as help with map directions and reading.

Ask the hotel, or look through the information you can find about the hotel, about the accommodations, dining, and special children's services.

Bring along familiar items from home such as a child's blanket, a nightlight, or a stuffed animal. In fact, it's best if your child could decide on what to take that he really wants.

Build anticipation and excitement, prepare the kids by announcing a special point of interest in the near future, or a special restaurant where you will have supper.

Interesting tips for when traveling: rotate seats every so often, always wear seatbelts (even when not mandatory), inform everyone of your plans and changes to them, make and try to stick to a driving schedule.

Before you go you can also: Make your own passports, postcards, or even a travel certificate for each child.

Take along a box or backpack with some goodies and toys for the kids. Include inside such things as: maps/guidebooks, stationary/postcards, disposable camera/film, timer for games, stickers, pens/crayons, photo album, notebooks, paper, glue sticks, washable markers, dice, books or sing-along music on tape or cd, brainteaser books, pillow, sunglasses, hat, favourite toy or stuffed animal, hole punch for postcards, travel alarm clock, sweatshirt, first-aid kit.

On long car rides, the whole family can participate in license plate games, such as spelling words in found plates, or license plate bingo.

An old car ride game is "Next!" Everyone looks straight ahead, and guess the colour of the next vehicle to pass, as well as the style of vehicle (motorcycle, bus, truck, convertible). for each correct answer, you get 1 point for colour, and 3 points for style.

Tongue twisters, which have to probably be written down in the first place, are also great ideas for fun and laughs.

Games you can play on paper including paper versions of such classics like Battleship, word search, Scrabble, connect the dots, finish the drawing (draw a line first, then finish it into whatever that line reminds you of).

You can keep a journal, either daily on paper, a recorded one on tape, one with photographs, drawings, or postcards, one with souvenirs or samples such as leaves, or even an interesting video diary.

Exercising while traveling, or while at the rest stops or overnight stays, is a very important thing to do. You can play games with jumpropes, sidewalk chalk games or drawings, and stretching and moving around your various body parts.

Of course, if you decide to rent a car or hotel room, make sure to do that first at www.kingarthur.myttn.com where you can get some of the best rates available online!

Year-round Family Fun at Ski Resorts

2011-11-28T01:15:00.005-05:00

Ski slopes and resorts have such beautiful and varied facilities that they make excellent family vacations in spring, summer, autumn, and winter.

When the powder has melted and the temperature risen, many ski resorts gear up for their second season. The fact that more ski areas are keeping their doors open in summer and autumn means that you can book a chalet or lodge at very reasonable rates and participate in a wide range of warm-weather, outdoor activities. You'll also find organized children's activities, health clubs, golf and tennis programs, hiking, river rafting, and even outdoor concerts for a 20 to 50% discount from winter rates!

These same resorts also cater to families when the snow is falling, but at higher rates. Steamboat, Colorado, however, often lets children 12 and under ski, sleep, and rent equipment free of charge, with one paying adult. At Purgatory, Colorado, kids 12 and under ski free with parents any day of the week. At Okemo Mountain Ski Resort in Ludlow, Vermont, kids 12 and under stay free in a condo, and those 6 and under also ski free!

For more ski location ideas, go on over to www.kingarthur.myttn.com today!

Kids on Board, Part G

2011-11-22T00:38:00.004-05:00

As if you don't have enough ideas for games during a long auto drive, here are a few more:

Going global. Get a compilation of music from around the world and play a little from each country. Perhaps everyone can guess where the song is from.

Leave it to Mother Nature. There are some very pleasant, calming nature recordings available. Try that for a short time instead of music. It should bring at least a couple moments of quiet and sanity back to the car!

Before the trip, you can create a countdown calendar. Or during the trip, you can have locations and time times you expect to be there, maybe even on a map.

What's in common? Think of two things that have something in common and announce the two chosen items. The others take guesses at what the object is.

For the other car ride game ideas, check out my previous Kids on Board sections. And for travel ideas, check out www.kingarthur.myttn.com where you can even find car rental rates that are less than many others I've seen!

Kids on Board, Part F

2011-11-17T00:37:00.004-05:00

J-Day. Choose a letter and tell all the names you can that begin with that letter. For an added twist, use animals or foods that begin with that letter.

Double your fun. Search road signs and license plates with double letters. For each sign or plate you see, you get a point.

Name that colour. Name a crayon colour, then go around the car riders and make the name interesting, such as candy apple red or ocean blue.

Relatively speaking. Choose one word and keep it a secret. Alternatively, write out various words individually on slips of paper and randomly choose a paper. Tell your carpoolers five words that are related to you secret word. For example, for "chocolate" you could say "brown, sticky, candy, bar, and melts". The first played to guess your word gets to choose the next word. You could give each person a guess after each clue, if you want.

Word of the week. Each day in the car, choose a word that nobody else knows and tell what it means. Go around the car giving a sentence with that new word.

Name that tune. You can give clues, point values, progressively harder songs, and a speed round even!

Sound machine. Making silly noises is something kids often greatly enjoy doing. Sing a song using only a certain noise, not words. Everyone will surely be laughing!

A grand band. Make a sound-making instrument to play int he car, or use something simple like your lips, hands, or fingers.

While I work on the last, and final, part of this series, why not get some great travel ideas, and deals, over at www.kingarthur.myttn.com today?

Kids on Board, Part E

2011-11-12T01:13:00.003-05:00

I Spy is a perfect game for all in the car to play. You can even make it more difficult by picking things like cats, balloons, and such.

I Know a Hero. Kids have many heroes, both real and fictional. One child begins with "I have a hero who..." then describes something about that hero. Everyone takes a turn guessing. Whoever gets it right gets to choose the next hero.

Paper Bag Presto. Hide an item in a paper bag and pass it around. Each person tries to guess what it is by shaking it and feeling it through the bag. Use tricky items like soap or a ball of yarn at times.

Mystery Box. Take a box filled with something special and tie it closed. Pass it around to each person who gets to ask one question about it. If he knows what the item is, he wins. Otherwise the game stops until either another trip, or a certain length of time has passed.

Scrambled Town. Have the kids rearrange the letters in the name of a street, town, building, river, or other landmark. The one who uses the most letters wins.

Tongue twisters are also great fun for kids of all ages. Perhaps they can even make up their own!

For more game ideas, stay tuned.

For travel ideas, go on over to www.kingarthur.myttn.com today!

Kids on Board, Part D

2011-11-05T00:22:00.002-04:00

Lucky Numbers. Each person gets a number. The goal is to find the license plates without your number on it. If your number is 5, then any plate without a 5 gets you a point. The person with the most points at the end is the winner.

Birthday Bingo. Everybody loves his birthday, and this game focuses on that date. Each person gets their birthday in numbers, either 1-7-86 or 01-07-86. Search on license plates for those digits or combinations of digits in order. Whoever finds their correct numerical birthday wins.

10 Points. Find license plates that add up to ten. If you do, you score 10 points. The person with the most number of points at the end wins!

Who or What Am I? choose a person or a thing. Give one hint, and have one person guess. Give another hint, and have a second person guess. Once someone guesses, start with a different person and the winner gets to choose the person and give the hints.

There are so many more ideas I've discovered coming up. Perhaps you can think of some more. And while you're creating the games, why not be sure to rent that car and hotel over at www.kingarthur.myttn.com today!

Kids on Board, Part C

2011-10-31T00:29:00.003-04:00

My own map. At home, give kids paper and pencil to draw out a map of your route, adding street signs and landmarks as they come to them. They can compare their maps with a real one that you brought along too.

True friends. Talk about what a true friend really is. Imagine the greatest friend on earth. What do real friends do for you? How do they help you? How can you be a true friend to others? Tell what you can do with your friends. Who is your best friend and why?

Quotation of the day. Bring along a copy of a quotation book. Every day read a quotation or two and discuss what it means and how it applies to each person. Search for quotations at home and in school and discuss those too.

I see, you see. One person says what he sees. The next person says what he sees. They go back and forth quickly, but cannot repeat anything that has been said already.

20 questions. Or Animal, vegetable, mineral. It's always interesting!

All grown up. Imagine what it would be like if you were all grown up. What would be your occupation? Where would you live? What kind of family would you have? What kind of clothes would you wear to work? What would you like as birthday presents?

Repeat after me. Say a sequence of numbers or words (related or not) that are out of order. Each person repeats the sequence back to you and scores a point each time it's right. Then you continue by adding on more and more to the sequence.

Road sign addition. Add up the numbers on a road sign that you see. Find out which person has the highest-totaling numbers.

I can't wait to type up more ideas for traveling in cars with kids. Of course, many of these events can be done in trains, planes, and boats as well. And you can book all of them at www.kingarthur.myttn.com today!

Kids on Board, Part B

2011-10-24T01:19:00.005-04:00

As I just finished watching Game 6 of the World Series, I found it interesting that my next suggestion for keeping kinds entertained during car trips is called Doubles and Triples. You have to keep your eyes on the ball, or specifically the license plates. Look for plates that include double or triple letters or numbers, such as AAA123 or AGU111. Whenever you see a set of matching letters or numbers, you score a point for each letter. You can also look for plates that have consecutive letters or numbers, again like AAA123 or now let's try ABC930.

One things that all children have with them is their imaginations. Challenging children's imaginations teaches them to solve problems, create exciting solutions, and ultimately entertain themselves.

Time flies. Time flies when you're having fun, so put your children's minds to work and decide what would happen if time really could fly. Give each child a chance to decide what they would like to go in slow motion, fast forward, and pause. To when would they go backwards in time, and to when would they go forwards?

My favourite things. Each passenger, or child, gets to take turns naming his favourite person, food, thing to do, clothes, toy, and so on. Explain why that is your favourite. This should get everyone excited enough, and may even last the entire length of your trip!

I'm special because. Build everyone's self-confidence and awareness of their special qualities by giving each person a chance to say something that is special about themselves and special about someone else.

Making up jokes and punchlines is always fun, and kids think mostly everything is funny.

Best friends. Each person gets to tell who he would like to have as a best friend and why.

As if that wasn't enough to whet your appetite for family travel, you might want to consider booking that rental car and hotel over at www.kingarthur.myttn.com today! And the kids can help!

Kids on Board, Part A

2011-10-19T01:24:00.002-04:00

Are we there yet? How much farther do we have to go? I'm tired of sitting in the car. I'm hungry. When are we going to be there? Are we there yet?

No matter how old your children are, once they're in the car, they all will want to know "Are we there yet?"

There are positive things you can do to teach a child how to travel in a car successfully.

Quiet on the set! Pretend you're filming a movie about a carpool, and everyone is a star. Let everyone talk, and then you say, "Quiet on the set!" and everyone gets silent. Being silent will become a habit, don't complain!

Chain gang. Make a paper chain before your trip and have your child remove a ring after every so many minutes. Alternatively, give them strips of paper and have them make the paper chain. When you arrive, your child can count how long it took by the number of chains attached or removed.

Knock, knock. They're always fun to make up, and remember ones you've heard before.

A to Z, What do you see? Search for something that starts with the next letter of the alphabet.

There are lots more ideas, alphabetical or otherwise. And there are lots of cars that you can rent, and hotels at which you can stay, over at www.kingarthur.myttn.com !

How to Have the Best Time, and Make Sure Others Have the Best Time, on a Cruise (Cruise Etiquette)

2011-10-17T01:36:00.013-04:00

On my last cruise, Royal Caribbean's Oasis of the Seas, I wrote down such a detailed evaluation that I was able to give RC Corporate my comments on each event and activity in which I participated. What I seem to have neglected, however, is to get everyone's name, and maybe country/state, which would help the company know about whom I was writing.

First things first. There are a LOT of people onboard. You just have to accept that there are crowds and masses of people all over the place at times. Some events are more popular than others, and some are actually less popular and less crowded. One of the first things you'll notice is when you go to your first evening meal in the main dining room. You will probably be sitting with some strangers. You might not be able to move to another table, so you will have to get used to that. And, most likely, you will develop a nice friendship with your table mates. You can talk about the events you did that day, and those that you are planning that night. You can talk about the food and certain places to see onboard and on land. It will help a lot of people if you were to be nice to your table mates and include them in many of your conversations.

Another point which I noticed on this last cruise was that many people took videos and flash photographs of performances. For safety(flashes can temporarily blind dancers) and copyright(infringement) reasons, you really aren't supposed to. And sometimes you would end up getting in people's way to photograph something, too. And, if you can't see the show, there isn't much point of going. Is there?

Since there are so many people in certain places at certain times, you really have to be aware of your surroundings. Don't block passageways or push people over to get by. And when you see someone, such as in the elevator, at least smile and say, "Hello," which is the the most basic, common, and internationally well-known form of normal, human courtesy.

There are so many events onboard, you really should take advantage of as many as you can. Granted, some do start at 7am, such as stretching class in the gym, but many of them are so fulfilling and rewarding. And you will get to meet even more of your fellow passengers and wonderful crew and staff members. But only if you go. And, if you do go to that stretching class, you might actually return for, besides the usual workouts, some wonderful, and highly educational seminars there too.

And don't forget that many cruise ships are sailing on Sundays, which means they just might offer a religious service or recorded video sermon. That will fulfill you too.

If you're going to a show, don't arrive late. Some of the shows are only 15-30 minutes long to begin with. And certainly don't stand around in the aisles or rows when you do go in, especially late because it’s impossible to see through people.

There are so many musical events, groups, and performances all over the ship, you will have to find at least one style or group that you prefer. And make sure to frequent them and report in your evaluations that you enjoyed them so much. In fact, make sure to report all the good that you can remember in your evaluation. There really DO get read, and taken VERY seriously.

The Captain's Reception is always well-attended. Sometimes too well-attended. But it's nice to get to see the captain and officers and to mingle with them, with the customary champagne in hand. Of course, you don't have to drink if you don't want to.

Note, despite news reports of violence and terrible natural events such as earthquakes and hurricanes, the ports are relatively safe and secure, and most likely not well-damaged. I wouldn't advise going off on your own, of course, but even a small group should be fine.

When the ship does stop in port, even if you've been there before, I still suggest getting off the boat and onto dry land, even if it's for only an hour or so. You can go to a nearby beach or browse the shops at port, and get a wonderful photograph of your ship there, too.

You can always come back onboard early, and there are events going on onboard even while in port. At one of my early returns in port, i opted for a line dance lesson, for example.

Even during events, especially many of the major performances onboard, you get the opportunity to observe things other than the actual performance. You can people-watch the audience before and after, which is often entertaining in itself. But during slow, or uninteresting, parts of the show itself, you can always focus on the very talents that created such amazing sets, scenery, props, and definitely the costumes. Many of them are absolutely amazing!

Of course, if you don't like something, you can always leave early and go to one event or group that you liked before. They do enjoy repeat customers! And you'll likely even end up making new friends with other regulars as well as the performers themselves.

Sometimes the port itself, of the nearby area, isn't all that great. You can always return back to the ship early, since they still have those events going on. And there is still lots of food, and this time lots of room and space, and almost no lines!

Have backup plans available, too. Sometimes events are cancelled for one reason or another, so you should always have some other event to go to, or you can just go back to your room. And order room service, why not?

As I continue to go through my comments, I always seemed to make suggestions on how something could have been made better. The cruise lines really do appreciate the extra help in making their cruises, and cruise events, even more successful. So, by all means, write down your constructive suggestions in your comments.

Despite cruise lines having the reputation of causing people to gain weight with all of that really good food, or usually really good food, there is no rule anywhere that you have to gain anything at all. In fact, this last time, I actually managed to lose a pound while onboard. There is probably a wonderful gym (which is incidentally quite full at the beginning, but quite empty at the end), a jogging track, dancing events, and other move-making activities onboard. If nothing more, with all of the motion of the ocean going on, you will at least be able to work on your balance as you walk from the bow all the way back to the stern.

Of course, you don't always have to stay active either. You can just sit down and watch some really good shows and performances as well. I stress the term "sit down" because, for some reason, some people like to arrive late to a 15-minute special performance and stand in the aisles and rows.

Another tip I learned from cruising is that you really do want to get involved. You can interact with your fellow passengers, of course, but have fun and interact with the staff and crew as well. They work incredibly long and hard, and a friendly smile will really help them.

While you are being spoiled, sometimes it's nice to take advantage of it all. Stay in your room for one of your meals, perhaps breakfast on the balcony. You can get room service any time of day or night, and before midnight it's free! And there are many other free options onboard, such as the traditional shuffleboard, which I believe should be played at least once per cruise to really keep the nostalgia going. Many ships even offer golfing, rock climbing, and some great pools and water slides. You can really take advantage of them all, plus have lots of time for ship photographs, if you return early from your port stay.

Keep working on your daily routine activities. The gym won't be open much longer! In fact, by the end of the cruise, it's almost empty, so there's really no reason to not go back there.

Another thing you might want to do is take photographs, videos (when allowed), and notes, especially for demonstrations and the like. There is an awful lot to remember sometimes! Incidentally, the notes are also great for remembering people and events which were either good or bad for when it comes time to comment.

And when it does come time to comment, please do it. Give as much detail, names and events, as possible for each comment. And don't be completely generic for everything. Surely everything wasn't excellent, nor was it all horrendous. You can even include suggestions for how to make things better. Or why you liked something or someone so much.

All in all, the most important point I can make about having a good time is just to do it. Enjoy yourself. Oh, and make sure to book it first, at the best cruise place online, www.kingarthur.myttn.com today!

Shopping in London

2011-10-11T01:26:00.003-04:00

London is still one of the most lively shopping cities in the world. Within just a few minutes' walk, you can find both vast department stores, with glittering window displays, and tiny cluttered rooms where one customer fills almost the entire shop. All over London there are plenty of places tucked away down side streets, as well as markets for antiques, crafts, food, and clothing.

In central London, most shops open 9-10am and close 5-6pm, with some closing earlier on Saturdays. Those open until 7 or 8 is on Thursdays on Oxford Street and the West End, on Wednesdays in Knightsbridge and Chelsea, and every day in Covent Garden.

Most stores accept credit cards, but John Lewis and Marks & Spencer, as well as street vendors and small shops, do not. And traveler's checks are also accepted, but they would be worth more if they were in British sterling.

VAT, of value-added-tax of 17 1/2% is added to everything except books, food, and children's clothes. Fortunately for consumers, it's usually included in the price. Take your passport into the shop when you're shopping and fill out the form to have the VAT returned to you. You give a copy of it to Customs when you leave.

Biannual sales are in January/February and June/July when stores mark things down considerably. In fact, in world-famous Harrods Department Store, lines start forming outside well before the store even opens!

Harrods actually has 300 departments and around 4,000 on staff. The food hall is exquisite and famous for it. Harvey Nichols has designer brand high fashion, and its food hall is one of the most stylish in London.

So, now that you're familiar with London shopping, why not head on over to www.kingarthur.myttn.com and book a vacation to there!

Cruising on Your Own Boat, Part 4

2011-09-21T02:04:00.003-04:00

What about cruising is unhealthy?

Outdoor life, vigorous lifestyle, freedom, ocean air, the beach, the sun and sunlight, fish, swimming, and cruising (at 7 miles per hour). Nothing bad in the bunch! With moderation regarding the sun, of course. Sure, you can get a cold, but the number of close contacts with the landlubbers is considerably less than in your typical office. Injury is the bigger risk. Make sure the hatch is open before coming up the stairway. Be extra cautious around the stove. Wear shoes on deck. And the biggest one? Hold on, hold on, hold on!

Watch the sun, though. Since you'll be on the water most of the time, there won't be much opportunity for shade, so get in the shade when you can, and definitely always keep up on your sunscreen and lip balm. Even wear long sleeves sometimes. They do make lightweight, breathable long sleeve shirts, you know. And long pants as well. Also, make sure to use whatever awnings you have onboard, as well. They will cast must more shade, which is why they're there in the first place! Another problem you might come across is windburn. To avoid that, make sure to frequently use moisturizer on your face.

Cruising on your own boat with children can be quite an adventure in itself. They have a tendency to dash to the rails, but you must protect them by tethering them with a well-fitting safety harness. Life jackets are best in tender boats, and when the water is especially rough. If you have small children, you should also fence the deck with secured netting, which will also keep in their toys.

Perhaps you are interesting in cruising on a larger boat. Well, let's get it first booked at www.kingarthur.myttn.com today!

Cruising on Your Own Boat, Part 3

2011-09-15T00:53:00.004-04:00

Now you have to figure out what to take, and where to put it all in your seriously limited space.

If you're going to warm climates, your clothes would take up much less space, fortunately. You really should takes only clothes that are washable, wrinkle-free, not delicates. Cotton is good. with ventilation and all, but it can mildew and it doesn't wash well in salt water. Nylon is warm during the day, but great at night, and it's very washable. Polyester blends don't wrinkle or shrink so easily. Wool is very warm, but don't get it wet! Going barefoot on the ship, and on the beach, is quite popular, so you really don't need all that many shoes. Perhaps a pair with a rubber sole for when you're on the deck.

Only two pairs of sheets is really necessary, and only one set for guest bedding. You don't have to worry about special plastic dinnerware, either, because, as long as you keep your dishes secured, you shouldn't be breaking any of them. Stainless steel silverware is best for washing in salt water. And, certainly, you want to bring along a pressure cooker.

One thing you will have to get used to onboard is NOT hanging up most of your clothes. Their constant swinging in a closet would wear them out very quickly. However, for things you either must hang, or hide in a hanging position out of the way, please use only smooth plastic hangers only.

Fresh foods can be either canned or bottled ahead of time, or they can be prepared so they don't grow rotten too quickly. Some foods can also be dehydrated, or purchased in supermarkets already dehydrated.

For more ideas on cruising on your own boat, check back to some of my previous blogs. And for ideas on cruising on large cruise ships, and other vacation options, check out www.kingarthur.myttn.com

Cruising on Your Own Boat, Part 2

2011-09-12T00:31:00.003-04:00

When a boat is underway, someone has to be responsible for getting the boat safely to the next destination. When to depart, what route to take, and what sails to set. Must pay attention to the weather, the boat's location, and avoid danger. You have to be decisive, not demanding. Anyways, if you go cruising, go as an equal and make the most of the experience.

Everyone's rights onboard: You have the right to sail on a safe boat. You have the right to essential equipment in working order. You have the right to expect the captain to be competent and knowledgeable. You have the right to sail on only tranquil seas. And you have the right to be dry, rested, and well-fed.

Space onboard is limited, but it can still be quite comfortable. Ventilation is one key issue for true boat comfort. You must have two ventilators, one for taking dry air in, and the other for pushing moist air out. Good lighting and shades/covers are also something that must be taken into serious consideration. Light colours really make the small space look considerably larger, and busy patters are torturous on the eye when the boat is in motion. For fabrics themselves, though, your best options are preshrunk cotton, synthetic, or a mix of synthetic and natural fibers.

And then there's the issue of water, actual drinkable fresh water. You'd be surprised what you can do with saltwater instead of fresh, though, such as toilet water and dish water. Footpumps for sink water, and handheld spickets for shower water, are both great options to look into. For hot water, you can heat some on the stove, the old-fashioned way, or using a deck-mounted day tank painted black and plumbed into the galley. You just have to refill it every other day. You can also catch some rain via catchments or route all of the deck water into the tanks.

To learn more about cruising, on a massive cruise liner, go on over to www.kingarthur.myttn.com

Cruising on Your Own Boat, Part 1

2011-09-08T23:38:00.005-04:00

Rather than trying to make time, and get to a distant location hundreds of miles away, start off slowly to get your body used to the rhythm of the boat and it's incredible rocking. You don't have to rush to get anywhere, because you're already there, on your boat!

You will likely meet many other boaters on your trip, so make the most of it. And it makes the get togethers, although infrequent, a lot more interesting. You will probably meet all kinds of people from all over the world!

And, since you're on your own boat, you're also on your own time schedule. You can stay for just a few hours, or as long as a few months. You will need money only for food and souvenirs. Never for lodging, too!

As far as storms are concerned, well, it's all in a day's work. Take them seriously, sure, but don't let them worry you. Even the worst storm out there won't blow off the roof, or blow out your windows. Besides, the natural rain water will help to fill up your reserves!

And, once you get used to it, you will not so much mind the lack of electricity all the time. However, the hardest thing for people to get used to is the smaller-sized refrigerator. And the severe lack of space, but you're not on your own boat for spaciousness, you're on for adventure and to see various places!

And, definitely, never forget he sunscreen. You will probably be like most of the rest of the boaters eventually, and go inside at the hottest part of the day, anyways.

For physical dangers, most boating accidents are from alcohol, powerboats, or just plain stupidity. And not a whole lot of boats sink, either.

If you're in port, you're never alone. There are always people around who can help, or at least call for help, if you need it. Besides, boaters tend to be a lot friendlier than, say, the people down the street from you.

Cruising, especially on a sailboat, often makes you return home healthier than when you left. The air is also cleaner; swimming is excellent for your muscles; jogging is much harder on beaches; and there is no stress from traffic or your job!

What is there to do, though, when you get bored? With good weather, ports come alive with people all over the place socializing, shuffleboarding, sightseeing, and shopping. If you're staying onboard, you can read, listen to music, sunbathe, work on your crafts, bake, do artwork, study a specific interest, learn a foreign language, keep a journal, learn to play an instrument, and of course do boat maintenance.

Cruising on your own ship is quite an adventure, and I hope to continue sharing that adventure throughout the next few blogs. If you prefer cruising on the big liners, however, make sure to book it at www.kingarthur.myttn.com

Preventing Jet Lag

2011-08-29T14:42:00.003-04:00

Wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothes
Exercise and eat well before the flight
Sleep well before the flight
Before boarding, or just after, set your watch to the destination's time
Try to sleep on the plane if you are arriving before 2pm
Drink 8-12oz. water every hour during and after the flight
Walk around the plane cabin at least every other hour
Use earphones or earplugs to block out unwanted noises
If possible, eat on the plane at your destination's mealtimes
Help your body adapt by going to sleep at your local time
After arrival, get as much sunlight as possible
Eat a high-protein meal to stay awake, or a high-carbohydrate meal to sleep
Eat snacks throughout the day to adjust to the time change
Take a mid-day nap, no longer than an hour, if you need to
Don't drink much caffeine
Start your mornings with a nice walk, or low-impact exercise

Of course, you will need to book that multi-time zone flight first, and at www.kingarthur.myttn.com today!

Are We There Yet? Part V

2011-08-11T10:06:00.004-04:00

Sometimes you need other alternative vacation ideas, especially if you are a single parent, or have an only child. Why not go on a vacation with another family? The kids can be off playing among themselves, and the parents can be off doing their own thing. (Which is why family cruising is so popular!) The issues that arise, though, is where do all the kids sleep? Perhaps in the same room if they behave, but in separate rooms if they tend to get too rambunctious. Also, you need to decide ahead of time who pays for what, if everything is split evenly down the middle, or what. Of course, you do want at least a little time alone with your own family, too.

If you decide to trek up the mountains for a family ski vacation, you might want to remember a few things. Let them perfect their own skills a little bit more each season and at their own pace. Skiing is sometimes rather expensive, so do take advantage of ski lessons, and perhaps consider a smaller skiing destination or lodge. Of course, check if there are any family rates available.

Perhaps you are opting for a theme park, maybe one with fuzzy characters. Certainly book a character breakfast (they're not cheap!) if your child wants to see and hug many of them. Of course, if your child doesn't want to hug any or gets scared, you shouldn't force him, either. They'll grow a little next year for it, perhaps. Can't force them to go on a certain ride, either. If you have more than one child, you might have to alternate between rides for each of them. Maybe you can even find one all 3 of you together could enjoy.

National parks have ranger-led hikes and discoveries for kids. The secret to enjoying a national park is to slow down and take it easy. There is no need, really, to rush. Book your vacations to the most popular national parks well in advance, a year ahead of time, if you can.

So, now that you know some great family travel ideas and tips, make sure to book that family vacation, or get ideas for future trips, at www.kingarthur.myttn.com today!

Are We There Yet? Part IV

2011-08-04T11:06:00.003-04:00

Many families can't, or won't, stay home during holidays. Your family is expecting you, or your vacation lodging has been booked many months ago. And now you finally have time off work! One secret, which is probably the most obvious, but often the least followed, is to travel on days that AREN'T the peak travel days. Be prepared for delays and long waiting times. Kids, especially, need something to keep their little minds occupied for longer periods of time. You can even read books to them, or they can read to themselves or you! Now would also be a good time to tell stories of your childhood holiday events. And, please, don't have the kids wait all day for the main meal, but instead give them a snack a couple of house before the meal, which would probably end early for them so they can play before dessert.

Mixing work and play, especially with kids in tow, is never easy, but it's sometimes necessary. Actually, business trips are often quite good for the kids. They get to see their parents in different lights, and get to see and sometimes participate in the adult world, which is itself a big deal to them. Of course, you would have to make sure that your children are able to attend. Perhaps one parent would be able to sit with them while the other goes to a meeting, or you and your spouse can share babysitting while the other does a part of the reception. Alternatively, you can always bring along a sitter, or use the hotel's children's facilities and sitting services if they are offered.

Traveling as a single parent, or as the only parent with your child, is often an event of its own caliber. These such travelings often produce a stronger bond between the two of you. Also, make sure your child does keep in contact with the other parent, so your child doesn't feel guilty about having a good time.

Traveling as a step-family is another story altogether. You have to figure out who stays in what bed/room with whom. You also have to make time for the child to spend with his natural parent. Try new activities and visit new places as a group, and sometimes go back to the usual activities as the separated parts of the family.

There are lots more to talk about when it comes with traveling with your family. Keep your eyes posted for the next issue. While you're waiting, though, head on over to www.kingarthur.myttn.com to get some great family vacation ideas!

Are We There Yet? Part III

2011-08-01T11:48:00.003-04:00

By now, you must be quite excited about traveling with the family. Bear with me as I have come across a few more great ideas from Eileen Ogintz's book "Are We There Yet?"

Traveling with toddlers can be an adventure in itself for everyone. You just need to slow down (at times when they're not running off), and see things from their perspective, instead of expecting them to see everything from your, adult, perspective. They need a lot of time to play, and often it's the same ride or toy over and over and over again. And especially keep an eye on them around the hotel pool at all times!

Disabled travelers can take comfort in knowing that numerous places are now very accessible and that they can often travel in the best of style.

Don't let rain ruin your vacation by not having a plan that you are forced to stick to. Be open to sudden, unexpected surprises during your entire itinerary. Bring along some cards or games for the family to play at down times. You can always do indoor events like the malls, restaurants, and arcades. And teenagers, well, they usually end up doing whatever they want, anyways. Who knows? They might want to hang around with the family now that they're on vacation!

Why do kids, and also adults, get sick on vacation? It's often because they don't get enough sleep, eat the proper foods, breath clean air (airplane culprits), or stay away from people who insist on traveling while still ill or have colds. Of course, they can also get hurt or cut, too. Check with your hotel if there are local hospitals or emergency rooms, if an incident arises. Make sure to take all of your, and your children's medicines with you, as well as their related generic prescriptions just in case. If you or your child has a special condition, such as asthma, before your trip, try to find a specialist in your vacation area, just in case. Babies aren't best in the Caribbean, because of the possibility that their young bodies might not be strong enough to fight the tropical diseases, or weather conditions. Everyone needs to drink a lot of water in the Caribbean!

It only gets better. Keep on the lookout for more great family travel tips! And make sure to book that family vacation only at www.kingarthur.myttn.com today!

Are We There Yet? Part II

2011-07-28T00:42:00.003-04:00

When traveling with children, especially during meal times, you must remember that kids usually don't care about "atmosphere/ambiance" as much as they care for their food served quickly and in a familiar fashion. And, when they're done, they would prefer to get up and leave instead of sticking around for a pianist's entertainment or a floor show. What to do. Well, you can have a picnic, cook in your own room if it's permitted, or even have a sitter for your younger kids while you take the older ones out for a more formal dinner.

Now that you're filled up, another thing to consider is educational travel. You can take your children out of school for your family vacation, especially if you bring along their homework, which had better get done now what all of that extra time and that relaxed attitude. Travel, itself, is educational. Journal writing, postcard sorting, math (souvenirs and restaurants), geography (maps), children's, art, history, and science museums, and zoos are all wonderful things to do and places to see that could be education for your children. For the whole family, really.

Now I've arrived at the part of the book entitled "Stresses and Strains." The first part, and what a strain it is, is about traveling while pregnant. You can do mostly anything up to about your sixth month, but you still have to plan your vacation very carefully. You will certainly require more rest/free time and a more relaxed-paced schedule. Take along some extra pillows, especially for those terribly uncomfortable seats you'll almost surely encounter. By the way, some cruise lines and airlines might not let you board if you are over six months pregnant.

Taking the baby, post-pregnancy, is another story, however. Just remember that traveling with an infant isn't like traveling with your new spouse. Taking your parent to babysit the child isn't always a given, either, remember. They do have lives of their own, too. Here's something I never knew: pediatricians recommend NOT using sunscreen on children under 6 months, just shade. Also, it's best to have a suite or connecting rooms, because a small, quaint inn or bed and breakfast room will not give the baby enough room quietness to nap.

It's quite an event to travel, and even more so with children, but it's always rewarding in one way or another!

So, when you're ready to book that vacation, pre- or post-baby, make sure to do it at www.kingarthur.myttn.com first!

Are We There Yet? Part I

2011-07-22T12:41:00.002-04:00

I've found this great book from Eileen Ogintz, and I just had to share some of the great ideas I got from it!

Some people book their next vacation, which is a repeat of the current one, while they are still on their vacation. It's always great to plan as far ahead as possible. You can even involve the kids by having them send away for the information, as well as help plan out the map directions, hotels, and restaurants.

Your kids can help you pack, or at least pick out the clothes, by putting them and their toys and whatnots on their bed or in a box from which you would transfer them to their suitcases. Then they can't complain about what they're taking! And, while you're thinking about clothes, make sure to have laundry facilities nearby your hotel or room. Travel toys and games, travel books, and travel bags are all necessities when traveling with the children.

Surprise items, wrapped or unwrapped, in a grab bag sort of thing, is a great diversion now and then from the long monotony of a long drive, flight, or trek. Always include, outside of the grab bag, water bottles, and snacks that aren't sticky or sugary, although lollipops are good options, especially when used as silencers!

Airplanes are certainly really good places to have snacks, grab bags, books, and other things I've mentioned. And, especially if you have younger kids, bring a change of clothes in their carry on in case they spill something. And, believe it or not, many kids do fly alone. They usually sit near the front with their toys and the staff look after them, and often the adults around even play games with them too. Younger kids can't make connections, and all kids must have someone meet them at the arrival airport.

42 Cruise Port Options

2011-07-17T00:05:00.003-04:00

1-Antigua
2-Argentina
3-Aruba
4-Bahamas
5-Bahrain
6-Barbados
7-Belize
8-Bonaire
9-Brazil
10-British Virgin Islands
11-Cayman Islands
12-China
13-Columbia
14-Costa Rica
15-Curacao
16-Cyprus
17-Dominica
18-Dominican Republic
19-Egypt
20-Florida
21-Greece
22-Grenada
23-Haiti, private area
24-Honduras
25-Jamaica
26-Malaysia
27-Malta
28-Mexico
29-New Zealand
30-Oman
31-Panama
32-Puerto Rico
33-St. Kitts
34-St. Lucia
35-St. Thomas
36-St. Maarten
37-Thailand
38-Tunisia
39-United Arab Emirates, Dubai
40-Uruguay
41-Venezuela
42-Vietnam

With so many amazing options, why not book that cruise right now at www.kingarthur.myttn.com? You'll be glad you did!

Family Travel Hints, Part E

2011-07-11T00:49:00.002-04:00

Another important part of your family vacation is one that is often neglected or forgotten. You really should plan for at least one religious activity somewhere in your itinerary. You could attend a religious service, have a family devotional time, pray, and listen to sermon recordings and/or religious music.

Each person in the group should also have his own watch, so that someone is always keeping an eye on the clock. You would need to know when to leave, return, and when to meet up at a designated location.

A personal trip diary or scrapbook is another think you should consider for each child. Included could be daily entries, sketches and doodles, or a collection of shells, rocks, and even postcards.

Every vacation can be a complete learning experience. Before you leave, you can research the location, such as its history and people. During it, you can visit tourist information centers, and local people, vendors, and workers. After it, you can read up some of the materials you've collected during that exciting vacation.

Here's another little thought that never occurred to me. Why not take a friend of your child's along? Especially if your child is an only child, or if there is a great difference between ages of your children. Perhaps your child's usual babysitter or nanny would be a welcome, and sometimes necessary, guest.

When you return from the trip, or at the end of the day when you review the day's events, let your child take the lead in the conversation sometimes. In fact, some things children consider important or memorable are parts you just might have forgotten or thought of as unimportant.

There is so much to do before, during, and after a vacation with your family. I hope these past 5 entries really gave you some ideas. I'm already starting to use some in planning my next one. And I'll be doing that planning over at www.kingarthur.myttn.com !

Family Travel Hints, Part D

2011-07-08T00:52:00.003-04:00

As your family travels together, it might be interesting to talk about famous travelers or traveling events, such as Columbus, or the Apollo missions. Read up on them before the trip, or have the kids read about them beforehand. You can also follow, talk about, or research famous routes, such as the infamous Route 66. Perhaps you can even take a new form of transportation, such as a riverboat or train.

Also, when you're traveling, sit in different seats each time, so you get a different view, perspective, and in the case of front passenger seating, the assignment of looking at the map and for road and exit signs.

Map reading and giving and receiving directions is very important when traveling, as well. If you have the directions written out, someone in the back seat can say it while someone else in the back can read the map while the front passenger can look for the signs.

Sometimes things get broken or cracked during vacations, so it's best to take with you a repair kit that could include: glue, spot remover, shoelaces, sewing kit, tape, Swiss Army knife (only in your checked baggage, of course), compass, extra keys, and a car emergency kit.

Traveling at night is a common option that many people use, but before you decide to drive at night, you must figure out if your children can sleep in the car at night and if both parents can see and drive well at night. Someone who suffers from motion sickness usually does fairly well at night.

Also, make sure to make reservations, for everything from the flights, to the hotels, to the car rentals, to the restaurants, especially during busy seasons.

In fact, a great place to reserve the hotel, flight, and car rental at the same time is over at www.kingarthur.myttn.com . Do it before it's too late!

Family Travel Hints, Part C

2011-07-05T00:38:00.003-04:00

As you drive along the highways, do prepared to stop frequently. In fact, the younger the children with you, the more frequently you will have to stop. Always stop when someone: needs to use a rest room, is getting motion sickness (Walk around a bit, and focus on distant objects to help you recover.), gets very frightened or senses personal danger (even if it's as simple as crossing a stream), asks you to slow down, or expresses interest in taking a moment to enjoy an aspect of beauty (You may have missed it yourself otherwise.).

Each day, find something to laugh about. Of course, don't laugh at a family member or friend, although that is acceptable if that person is laughing at himself. Don't laugh at things that are crude or rude.

Include in your luggage a small bag or suitcase that is devoted to all things fun. Include in it such things as joke books, a lengthy storybook, a ball, a Frisbee, marbles, jacks, a yo-yo, colouring books and crayons, and a few magazines. You can even keep the contents a secret, and open it only once in a while during your vacation to come up with a fun surprise.

A vacation is a wonderful time to reinforce family memories and historical experiences. Stories about, or from, grandparents give a great insight into the past. In fact, so would stories about yourself, about your child's earlier years, or even previous events as a family.

Play some music that each family member likes for an equal amount of time, say 20 minutes. If the family wants to hear more of that kind, of course, by all means play more. You can always sing along!

Verbal travel game options include "I Spy", "A to Z" (look for words beginning with the next letter, or have a running theme such as animals), and "License Plates" (see how many different states you can find).

Puppets, handmade or professional, even such things as simple as socks or airplane sickness bags, are tremendous distractions, especially for younger children.

Of course, there are many other ideas on what to do on vacations, but before you even figure out what to do, you first have to figure out where to go! Head on over to www.kingarthur.myttn.com and let's see to where you first get to take that vacation!

Family Travel Hints, Part B

2011-06-28T00:52:00.002-04:00

As much as you can, build some type of action into your family vacation. You don't necessarily have to be active while your child is. Let them play on the monkey bars, the water park, the trampoline, or even just running down the dock and back.

En route to your destination while driving, make restroom, gasoline, and meal breaks time to exercise and stretch.

Adults tend to focus more on the things to do, schedules to keep, and lists to check off. Kids, on the other hand, more enjoys doing the activity rather than mastering or completing it.

After an event, or at the end of the day, talk about the experiences as a sort of debriefing. Ask what was seen and done. Ask what was liked best. Even ask imaginative questions, such as "Would you like to live in a place like that?"

Nothing goes completely right all the time, so you have to use the conflicts as opportunities. You have to establish rules (such as kids can have input, but parents make the final decision), take a time out for a few minutes before a rational debate. You can always debrief this incident later, too!

Don't forget to bring your manners with you too. Even in new situations, such as a formal dinner event, classical concert, or theatrical performance, be sure to prepare your child for the new experience, and inform him how to act and behave. And, certainly, treat your hotel room as if it were your own home, not leaving messes all over the place.

Safety precautions could include a meeting location in case someone gets lost, holding hands to stay together, and the phone number of your hotel.

Take along a few family items, such as favourite music, photographs, pillow/blanket, or night light.

Since traveling together as a family unit is often more constraining than it usually is at home, make sure to give everyone a little space and privacy when it's necessary.

So, when you're ready to go on an exciting family vacation, make sure to book it as a family, and find all the information you will need at www.kingarthur.myttn.com !

Family Travel Hints, Part A

2011-06-22T00:36:00.002-04:00

Stay on a Schedule

Stay as close to your normal sleeping and waking hours as possible. It might only be going from 7:00am to 5:30am, but that will make everyone react differently. Take some time at the end of your day's activities to wind down, not go straight to bed. Nap times are also important, especially if they are a part of your child's normal routine.

Child-made Decisions

Give your child reasonable choices to make throughout your vacation. Perhaps the option of swimming or playing in the park. Also, your child will really enjoy picking out, or at least having some say in picking out, your actual vacation destination, such as a campground, beach, or city.

Personal Travel Bags

They can be used for souvenirs, memorabilia, snacks, toys, books, sunglasses, or other personal items. Whatever kind of bag it s, it should have a closure so nothing can fall out. Pack it early, for sure.

Limiting Daily Activities

Just a couple of unusual events per day should be sufficient.

Stay Within Your Budget

Set daily limits on what you will spend, but if you happen to go over one day, be sure to cut back that much on the next day's activities. Never promise to your children an event or destination, because you might not be able to fulfill that promise due to cost concerns. Here's a good thought: put aside some extra money for emergencies, but if you don't use it, have one last surprise fling on your last day or night!

Phone Home

Every few days, check with the house sitter and answering machine. Call your office and friends, when you feel the need, too.

Something For Everyone

You don't have to do all activities as a group, but each family member should have something special as an event of his own. Split up and do something each portion of the group would like, if you have to.

Don't Over-expect

Instead, downplay and understate the vacation. Don't say it's going to be awful, of course, but don't say it will be the best one ever, either. Even make fun of the dud event of the vacation, the one that just didn't turn out right, or well, at all.

Make sure to book your exciting travel at www.kingarthur.myttn.com today!

Oasis of the Seas, an Evaluation

2011-06-15T01:42:00.005-04:00

In the order of Royal Caribbean's Guest Satisfaction Survey, here are my grades for various parts and functions of the ship and it's related shipboard lifestyle.

Dining Rooms
Food, overall, 90
Selection, 83
Service, 83

Windjammer Marketplace, buffet
Food, overall, 84
Selection, 89
Service, 86
Other complimentary restaurants/eateries not listed in the survey, 88

Specialty Dining
Chops Grille, 88
Giovanni's Table, 85

Accommodations
Stateroom Attendant, 82
Stateroom Accommodations, 84
Stateroom Cleanliness, 94
Room Service, 74
Ship Overall Appearance, 85
Ship Overall Cleanliness, 80

Entertainment/Activities
Cruise Director and Staff, 76
Ice Show, 88
Live Music, 80
Disco, 74
Hairspray, 91
Come Fly With Me, 86
Splish Splash Aqua Show, 82
Oasis of Dreams Aqua Show, 86
Activities, overall, 82
Quality of Activities, 78
Variety of Activities, 79
Sports Deck, 85

General
Guest Services Staff, 83
Itinerary/Ports of Call, western Caribbean, 85
Labadee Staff Friendliness, 77
Photographer's Service, 80
Shops Onboard Service, 82
Shops Onboard Merchandise, 83
Art Actually, 81
Fitness Center Experience, 88
Interactive TV, 78
Pier Check In Experience, 88
Pier Check In Friendliness, 86

Now, for the most important figures:
Dining Experience, overall, 78
Helpfulness of Personnel, 80
Friendless of Personnel, 83
Value for Price Paid, 85 (If we all say that it was bad, would we get it for a few hundred dollars cheaper? ;))

Overall Vacation Experience, 80

Extreme State Facts

2011-06-10T09:52:00.001-04:00

First State: Delaware, which became a state on December 7, 1787
Most Recent State: Hawaii, admitted in 1959
Most Populous State: California, 33,871,648 people (2000 US census)
Least Populous State: Wyoming, 493,782 people (2000 US census)
Biggest City in the USA: New York, New York, with over 7,000,000 people
Birthplaces of the Most Presidents: 8 Presidents born in Virginia (William Henry Harrison, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, James Monroe, John Tyler, Zachary Taylor, George Washington, and Woodrow Wilson) and 7 Presidents born in Ohio (Ulysses Simpson Grant, Rutherford Birchard Hayes, James Abram Garfield, Benjamin Harrison, William McKinley, William Howard Taft, and Warren Gamaliel Harding).
State with the Most Bordering States: Missouri with 8 bordering states (Arkansas, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Tennessee) and Tennessee with 8 bordering states (Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Virginia)
Longest State Names (commonly used name): Massachusetts, North Carolina, South Carolina
Longest Official State Name: The State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations.
Shortest State Names: Iowa, Ohio, Utah
Biggest State (Area): Alaska: 656,425 square miles
Smallest State (Area): Rhode Island, 1,545 square miles
State that is Farthest North: Alaska
State that is Farthest South: Hawaii
State that is Farthest East: Maine (although some of Alaska's Aleutian Islands cross the 180-degree longitude line, and are technically farther east than the other US states).
State that is Farthest West: Alaska
Geographic Center of the Contiguous USA: Smith County, Kansas
Geographic Center of the Entire USA (all 50 states): South Dakota
Highest Point: Mount McKinley, Alaska, 20,300 ft (6,194 m) above sea level
Lowest Point: Death Valley, California, 282 feet (86 m) below sea level [this is the lowest point in the Western Hemisphere]
Longest River: Missouri River (it is a tributary of the Mississippi River and is 2,540 miles long)
River with the Biggest Volume of Water: Mississippi River (2,348 miles (3,778 km) long)
Biggest Lake: Lake Superior with an area of 31,820 square miles (82,414 sq km)
Biggest Island: The Island of Hawaii, with an area of 4,038 square miles (10,459 sq km)
Tallest Waterfall: Ribbon Falls in California, with a height of 1,612 feet (491 m)
Waterfall with the Greatest Volume of Water: Niagara Falls in New York
Coldest City: International Falls, Minnesota, with a mean temperature of 36.4 degrees F.
Snowiest City: Blue Canyon, California, with 240.8 inches of snow each year.
Hottest Temperature in the USA: California (134 degrees F at Greenland Ranch on July 10, 1913)
Coldest Temperature in the USA: Alaska (-80 Degrees F on January 23, 1971, at Prospect Creek)
Most Snow in 24 Hours: Colorado, 76 inches (192.5 cm) fell in one day at Silver Lake, Colorado
Most Rain Each Year: Hawaii, 460 inches (1168 cm) fall on Mt. Waialeale, Kauai, Hawaii, each year
Biggest Hailstone: Kansas, the largest hailstone in the US was 44.5 cm (17.5") in circumference. It fell in Coffeyville, Kansas.
Strongest Wind: Mt. Washington, New Hampshire, where gusts of 231 mph (372 kph) have been recorded.

Cruising With Kids on Alternative Ships

2011-05-24T01:38:00.002-04:00

Rivers have an allure all their own. Whether winding through farmlands and pastures, or cutting a bold swath through town, rivers connect directly to the heartland of a nation, revealing the soil of its cities and the charm of the countries. River trips, including steamboat, barges, and yacht cruises are alternatives for families searching for cruise vacations. No matter what vessel or itinerary you choose for your trip, the river is just as important as any port. River-watching is a time-honoured sport. The waters change with the light, the width of the channel, and the green of the banks. Like other water vacations, river cruises come in all sizes. Steamboats range from authentic midsize vessels to small reproductions, to big, brassy, modernized ships. For full pampering, you can book a deluxe vessel where sophisticated service and meals are as important as the guests.

And when you're ready to book that river cruise, make sure to book it at www.kingarthur.myttn.com first! I look forward to seeing you in the river-laden cities of the world!

Cruising With Kids on Windjammers

2011-05-21T08:57:00.004-04:00

Windjammers follow the winds and anchor in small harbors off coastal islands. Although all vessels are equipped with modern navigation equipment and radios, windjammers are powered by the wind. You don't have to navigate, rig the masts, or swab the decks, but you can help if you want to!

Who should go on a windjammer? Don't expect the comforts of Cunard, but do expect camaraderie, a reasonably-priced vacation, and the ability to get to ports smaller than the large cruise ships can go to. Also, don't look for deck chairs, but instead just sit anywhere you find a spot, even if it's on the deck itself. It's all part of the windjammer experience. Cabins are small, and headroom is often lower than usual, but you can't expect a lot of room on normal cruise ships, either! Definitely pack light, though!

So, what is there? The allure that has drawn sailors and explorers for centuries--the feel of the salt spray, the stars at night, the thrill of being under full sail, the friendliness of being in a small group of only 25 to 40, and the allure of sailing 19th-century style.

Make sure to book your next exciting cruise vacation at www.kingarthur.myttn.com!

Cruising With Kids in Hawaii and Alaska

2011-05-19T10:43:00.002-04:00

Hawaii

No tour of Hawaii is complete without a visit to the Big Island of Hawaii. This is the Hawaii of legendary volcanoes and landscapes of lava-striped earth. Mount Kilauea is still active and sends hot red lava streaming across roadsides. Also available on island are snorkeling, lush tropical gardens, and wonderful waterfalls.

Your children will never be bored on Maui. Kids love the snorkeling and the mountain-side cycling and the beaches while adults usually prefer the golf, spas, and scenic drives.

Oahu and its famous Waikiki Beach is not only the most populated, it's also the most popular and the most historic, complete with the U. S. S. Arizona Memorial, Submarine Memorial Park, and Bishop Museum, which showcases Hawaii's history.

Alaska

A cruise to Alaska treats you to glacial ice fields, pristine lakes, and panoramas of snow-capped mountains. Whether you hop aboard a float plane for for a bird's-eye-view of Misty Fjords National Monument, or take a raft along narrow inlets and coastal waterways, Alaska's expansive landscape impresses.

Warning, though. If your children like swimming, it would be much better to opt for a cruise that includes a heated swimming pool, as the Alaskan waters are definitely too cold for much frolicking. And make sure to bring rain gear and warm clothes, even in the summer.

Now that your Hawaiian and Alaskan interests have been piqued, let's get your family's cruise booked at www.kingarthur.myttn.com today!

Cruising With Kids in Mexico

2011-05-17T18:18:00.003-04:00

A cruise offers families a wonderful way to sample some of Mexico's best resort towns, and in some cases, the real country beyond the resorts. A number of western Caribbean itineraries feature stops in Playa del Carmen, on the Yucatan mainland, as well as Cancun, Cozumel, and other exotic ports.

The Mexican Riviera, also known as the Gold Coast, or at least Mexico's western coastline, include resort cities such as Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlan, Puerto Vallarta, and Acapulco.

Many cruise ships sell bottled water to take on shore because the Mexican sun is so hot and often dry, and especially children need to stay hydrated. Even canned soda is better than nothing, in this case. Just skip the local ice.

I hope that was enough to whet your whistle for a great Mexican cruise with your wonderful children! Now, make sure to book that very, and most exciting, cruise at www.kingarthur.myttn.com today!

Cruising With Kids in the Caribbean

2011-05-12T01:38:00.004-04:00

The Caribbean offers families the perfect tropical setting for a great vacation--miles of white sand beaches, coral reefs for snorkeling, a gentle climate, and warm, crystal clear waters.

Children who cruise the Caribbean with their parents also learn that all the islands are not alike. Cruising the Caribbean offers an ideal introduction to the islands because a cruise allows children and parents to sample a variety of destinations while learning about each island's unique characteristics.

So, when you're ready to cruise the exotic Caribbean with your children in tow, make sure to book that cruise at www.kingarthur.myttn.com first!

Cruising With Kids: Kids' Program Registration Forms

2011-05-09T00:44:00.006-04:00

There should be a registration form for each child on each ship, and there usually are. If not, please ask for one. The forms shouldn't be only the usual name, age, parents' names, and room number, though. Actually, you're more than welcome to add any additional information in writing, especially if your child is too young or too shy to tell the counselors themselves.

Writing down the extra information is actually very important, because with the large number of children, the staff would likely not remember every detail of every child. Besides, the counselor you register with might not be your child's counselor during the cruise.

Here are some ideas about what to add to the kids' program registration form:

A-The names and signatures of the only adults and/or siblings who are allowed to sign your child into and out of the program

B-Food and drug allergies and preferences

C-Child's nickname, which probably most children prefer, rather than the formal full first and last, and often middle, name

D-List names of special items, such as bathroom terms and other situations. Also, if the child's teddy bear has a name, it's good to let the counselor know what the name is, so at least they know who the child is talking about, and they will likely allow the stuffed animal into the group room.

So, now that that's settled, make sure to book that cruise at www.kingarthur.myttn.com first, then register for the amazingly exciting children's programs onboard!

Cruising With Kids: Cabins, Curfews, Keys, and Freedom

2011-05-05T00:49:00.004-04:00

One thing young children relish about a cruise is the freedom. Often, in the relatively safe environment of a ship, parents allow their kids more freedom than they have at home. Some children join and leave the activities program on their own, freely moving about the ship. While your children treasure this privilege, it can make it hard for you to find them and vice versa. First, if appropriate, give each child his or her own cabin key. Then, keep a note pad in a designated, central location in the cabin (perhaps on top of the bureau) on which each family member--parents included--specifies his or her intended shipboard location and expected return time. That way your child can simply read "in aerobics class at the gym until 3 p. m." and easily reach you, and you can find your child too. Admittedly this, like most things, may be harder to do with a teen, but that's what curfews are for.

Always establish times to be in the cabin to dress for supper, get ready for shore excursions and stops, and go to sleep. This eliminates many frantic searches and much worry.

So, when you're ready to embark for the tropical lands, or better yet when you're ready to book your fabulously exciting family cruise vacation, make sure to do that at www.kingarthur.myttn.com first.

I look forward to seeing you in the tropical beaches of the world!

Cruising With Kids: Assessing Children's Programs

2011-04-30T23:37:00.005-04:00

When choosing a children's program, or a cruise that includes a children's program, there are a few items you really should consider to ensure that your little ones will indeed have a good, big time.

Frequency

Not all ship's children's programs run on every cruise. Make sure that the program operates for the sailing you booked. Some cruise lines even offer the children's program only when a minimum number of children are booked!

Ages

Make sure that the children's program is at the appropriate age level for your child. Although the major cruise lines, and the best programs, have enough counselors to separate the ages, some still group the younger ones with the older ones. And then it's not so much fun anymore.

Hours

Some ships have blocks of time or only intermittently scheduled activities. Such are best for teenagers who want to do other things or just hang out during the day. If a young cruiser encounters a 3 1/2 hour empty time block, however, he will certainly become bored, and then it's back to you babysitting again. As far as evening hours are concerned, though without a program, you will either need a babysitter (for an extra charge, of course), or take your children to the evening entertainments, or return straight to your cabin after supper.

Facilities

Most ships do have designated children's areas, and this is for everyone's benefit. The children know where to go. The parents know where there kids are. And the teenagers can get away from both the little kids and the parents.

Staff

Enough staff workers means enough age-appropriate divisions and activities.

Safety

Areas for small children should have gates so they can't get out, and so unwanted people can't get in. There should also be a sign-in and a sign-out procedure.

Port Hours

Some children's programs are working when the ship is in port, but other children's programs are not. You might have to take them along on your shore excursions, or leave them on the ship with their newly-found friends.

When you're ready to book that exciting cruise for your children, and yourself, make sure to do that at www.kingarthur.myttn.com!

Provisions for a 7-day Midsize Cruise Ship

2011-04-28T01:38:00.004-04:00

• 24,236 pounds of beef
• 5,040 pounds of lamb
• 7,216 pounds of pork
• 4,600 pounds of veal
• 1,680 pounds of sausage
• 10,211 pounds of chicken
• 3,156 pounds of turkey
• 13,851 pounds of fish
• 350 pounds of crab
• 2,100 pounds of lobster
• 25,736 pounds of fresh vegetables
• 15,150 pounds of potatoes
• 20,003 pounds of fresh fruit
• 3,260 gallons of milk
• 1,976 quarts of cream
• 600 gallons of ice cream
• 9,235 dozen eggs
• 5,750 pounds of sugar
• 3,800 pounds of rice
• 1,750 pounds of cereal
• 450 pounds of jelly
• 2,458 pounds of coffee
• 1,936 pounds of cookies
• 2,450 tea bags
• 120 pounds of herbs and spices
• 3,400 bottles of assorted wines
• 200 bottles of champagne
• 200 bottles of gin
• 290 bottles of vodka
• 350 bottles of whiskey
• 150 bottles of rum
• 45 bottles of sherry
• 600 bottles of assorted liqueurs
• 10,100 bottles/cans of beer

Fortunately for everyone, you don't have to sleep among such incredible provisions!

Book your next cruise, and partake of some of these provisions, at www.kingarthur.myttn.com today!

Traveling Solo 7: Rewards of Traveling Solo

2011-04-24T01:16:00.002-04:00

Although there are challenges when traveling by yourself, such as dining alone, advance research, and more careful planning, traveling alone really says nothing about your except that you are independent and adventurous. Actually, rather than felling sorry for you, many people will actually be jealous about your spirit of freedom.

Travel partners can cause great friction due to different interests of each person, and different stamina levels of each person, or even different patience levels of each person.

Solo travel, however, means you can tailor the vacation to your own tastes, energies, and timetable. You co go where you want, when you want, and do what you want.

Being alone, you can try different things, different foods, different activities.

Actually, traveling alone does help your competence, assurance, and independence.

There are so many other reasons why you should consider traveling, even if it's alone. And why not just do it, and discover for yourself some of your own favourite reasons for traveling alone! Just make sure to first book it at www.kingarthur.myttn.com.

Traveling Solo 6: Safety in Travel

2011-04-23T01:20:00.002-04:00

When you are traveling alone, safety in hotel rooms is a concern. Ask for a room near the elevator, not at the end of a hallway. Ask for someone at the front desk to accompany you to your room, especially if you are in a larger hotel. The employee would then go into the room first and check the bathroom, behind the curtains, and on the balcony. Make sure there is a lock on your balcony door, and a peephole and chain on your room door, as well. Rather than posting your maid service requested card on your door, which announces you are not in for everyone to see, call the housekeeping department instead.

Use that door peephole whenever anyone arrives, and if you don't recognize the person, call the front desk for identification and verification. Don't directly accept anything, but instead have it left at the front desk. When in the elevator alone, stand next to the floor button panel and push the next button if something is strange in that elevator. Close the curtains and put a light on if you expect to arrive after dark. Ask the hotel staff to identify bad parts of town on your travel map. Don't keep all of your money and identification with you together in the same place. Have keys and payment/cash ready before they are immediately needed. Don't let a stranger touch you or any of your belongings.

So, now that you know some of the tricks to safely traveling when traveling alone, make sure to book that solo vacation at www.kingarthur.myttn.com!

Traveling Solo 5: Four Favourite Single Cities

2011-04-17T15:55:00.005-04:00

Amsterdam

The seventeenth century mingles in quite well with the modern shops, boutiques, and restaurants of contemporary Amsterdam. Everything from Rembrandt to "red lights" abound in this Northern European city. Fortunately, the size of the city is relatively small, so you really only need to walk most places.

Montreal

At least you don't need to learn French, for there are so many English-speaking people in Quebec. Their local subways are great, and clean! You can go on a self-guided tour, and even scout out their local museums for more Rembrandts. Plus, there are lots of stores, and great French restaurants, most of which take American dollars!

Paris

Sure, France isn't known for being American-friendly, but Paris seems to do quite well in accepting American tourists, including those who are solos. Many people even speak English to help you, although don't count on the local taxi drivers to. Trains and buses are numerous, and inexpensive. And, of course, Paris has so many museums all around the city to help in your artistic appreciation endeavors.

New York City

In this thriving metropolis, you can find something for everyone of every age. Bus and subway routes might be a little confusing, but Manhattan, at least, is divided up into grid-like streets and avenues, and in a very orderly fashion. You can easily walk almost anywhere!

SO, now that your taste buds have been whetted, let's get you booked for your next wonderful vacation in one of these wonderful solo-friendly cities at www.kingarthur.myttn.com today!

Traveling Solo 4: The Singles Scene

2011-04-13T23:29:00.002-04:00

With the number of single travelers growing so rapidly, it is only natural that enterprising folks will find ways to serve them. Here are some of the possibilities for single travelers of all ages.

Newsletters/Web Sites

Connecting: Solo Travel News, cstn.org, annual Single-Friendly Travel Directory
Solodining.com
travelchums.com
Travel Companion Exchange, travelcompanions.com

Trips for Singles

There are tours designed especially for singles, the the number of companies offering single trips is increasing every year.

The Single Gourmet
Cruise Tours
Backroads
The World Outdoors
Windjammer Barefoot Cruises
Nike Amherst Tennis Camp
Outdoor Adventure River Specialists, Inc.
Seascape Sailing Party, Ltd.

Young Singles can use Contiki Holidays, contiki.com

Resorts lovers might enjoy Club Med (Bahamas, Bora Bora, Turks and Caicos, Cancun)

SuperClubs/Breezes

Le Sport, St. Lucia

Sure, you can go to the websites of these companies, and do everything yourself, including the worries and problems. Or, you can go to www.kingarthur.com for some of the best deals imaginable, and if you can't find anything there, my contact information is always available too!

Traveling Solo 3: Join a Tour

2011-04-12T00:21:00.003-04:00

Tours and tour packages relieves you of the chores of getting around on your own, choosing hotels, deciding where to eat, and planning sightseeing. And you don't have to keep track of your luggage! Tour buses have very nice seats and extra large windows, and are a very good deal financially.

On the down side, however, you cannot set your own schedule or veer from the set plans very much. Breakfast, and departure, are often set a little earlier than most people are really used to. You don't have to participate in everything, of course, but you do have to be ready on the bus when it's time to depart! Also, due to space constraints, smaller, boutique-style restaurants and events are not part of the tour. After all, you can't really fit 50 people in a place that holds only 30.

General Tour Operators

Globus/Cosmos. Littleton, CO
Mayflower Tours. Downer's Grove, IL
Maupintour. Summerlin, NV
Trafalgar Tours. Long Island City, NY
Tauck World Discovery. Norwalk, CT
Abercrombie & Kent International, Inc. Oak Brook, IL

When you're ready to book that solo group tour, make sure to do it at www.kingarthur.myttn.com, and feel free to contact me if you can't find what you're looking for!

Traveling Solo 2: Spa Vacation

2011-04-07T23:52:00.003-04:00

Because spas provide a you-centered vacation, that is dedicated to making you look and feel better, they are perfect for solo travelers and a large number of guests choose to come alone. Don't confuse a spa vacation with the spa facilities at a hotel, though. The hotels provide some wonderful services, but the vacation provides you with a lifestyle. The vacations sometimes even provide cooking demonstrations!

Usually, a spa day begins with a brisk, pre-breakfast walk. Daily exercises, which are often you choice of, rather than everyone does it all, include aerobics, body conditioning, yoga, and stretching. Most spas also include water-based workouts and muscle-building training. Between workouts come the massages, whirlpools, saunas, steam baths, facials, hydrotherapy, and herbal wraps. Evenings include special speakers, how-to training, and tips on establishing good health habits at home.

Spas range from weekly rates of $2,000 on up to $7,000. And, seeing how truly beneficial they are, it really is recommended that you do stay for at least a week.

Rancho La Puerta, Tecate, Baja Mexico, MEXICO (guests are actually met at no charge at the San Diego Airport.

Canyon Ranch Health Resort, Tuscon, Arizona.

Canyon Ranch in the Berkshires, Lenox, Massachusetts.

New Age Health Spa, Neversink, New York.

The Golden Door, Escondido, California.

Cal-a-Vie, Vista, California.

Green Valley Spa and Resort, St. George, Utah.

Lake Austin Spa Resort, Austin, Texas.

The Oaks at Ojai, Ojai, California.

The Palms at Palm Springs, Palm Springs, California.

Jimmy Lesage's New Life Hiking Spa, Killington, Vermont.

Red Mountain Spa, St. George, Utah.

The Spa at Grand Lake, Lebanon, Connecticut.

Rio Caliente Hot Springs Spa and Nature Resort, Guadalajara, MEXICO.

Ixtapan Hotel and Spa, Ixtapan de la Sal, MEXICO.

So, when it's time to get that TRULY relaxing and motivating vacation started, make sure to book it at www.kingarthur.myttn.com first! And, if you can't find what you're looking for, my contact information is right there too!

Traveling Solo 1: Sports Camps

2011-04-02T01:37:00.004-04:00

It's easy to get to know others when you are learning new techniques together. Which sports are offered? Almost any that you can name! For getting the most enjoyment out of your sports camp vacation, make sure to break in your new sneakers before you go on that vacation, bring along a lot of sun protection, and start an exercise routine at home, at least a month before your vacation.

Tennis-Total Tennis Saugerties, NY, Swarthmore Tennis Camp Swarthmore, PA, Nike Amherst Tennis Camp Amherst, MA, Van der Meer Tennis Sweet Briar, VA, Topnotch at Stowe Resort and Spa Stowe, VT, John Newcombe Tennis Ranch New Braunfels, TX, Ramye Tennis School Oweneboro, KY, New England Tennis Holidays North Conway, NH, Kilington Tennis at Cortina Inn and Resort Killington, VT, Gardiner's Resort Carmel Valley, CA, Inn at Manitou Ontario, CANADA, Gunterman Tennis Schools Manchester Center, VT.

Golf-The Original Golf School Mt. Snow, VT, Golf Digest Schools Trumbull, CT, Craft-Zavichas Golf School Pueblo, CO, John Jacob's Golf Schools Scottsdale, AZ.

Horseback Riding-Tanque Verde Ranch Tuscon, AZ, Vista Verde Ranch Steamboat Springs, CO, Lazy Hills Guest Ranch Ingram, TX.

Baseball-All-Star Adventures Hallendale Beach, FL, Randy Hundley's Fantasy Baseball Camps Palatine, IL, Los Angeles Dodger Adult Baseball Camp Vero Beach, FL, New York Yankees Fantasy Camp Tampa, FL.

Sailing-Steve and Doris Colgate's Offshore Sailing School Ft. Myers, FL, Annapolis Sailing School Annapolis, MD.

Scuba Diving-Bonaire Government Tourist Office, Cayman Islands Department of Tourism

Fly-Fishing-Orvis Fly-fishing Schools Manchester, VT

Kayak/Canoe/Rafting-Nantahala Outdoor Ctr. Bryson City, NC, Dvorak's Whitewater Paddling Seminars Nathrop, CO.

Downhill Skiing-just about every ski lodge has lessons

Cross-country Skiing-again, most every ski lodge has lessons, most prominently in Jackson, NH

Mountain Climbing-Colorado Mountain School Estes Park, CO

Whether you want to paddle, climb, ski, sail, fish, throw, hit, or whatever, make sure to book your vacations at www.kingarthur.myttn.com first, and if you can't find what you are looking for there, I have even included my contact information for you right there too!

International Tipping

2011-03-27T00:48:00.007-04:00

Africa/Middle East

Dubai-10% mandatory tip added by the government to hotels, restaurants, and bars. Parking valets and porters get $2.50 or so.

Egypt-included in restaurants. $1-2/day for housekeeper. $1/bag for porter. $10-20 for concierge for the best service. Cabs 10-15%. Guides $20/person/day.

Israel-included in restaurants. 40-80c for concierge. $2.40/bag for porters. $1.20-2.40/day for housekeeper. 10-15% for taxis. $3-3.75 for driver guides.

Jordan-5-10% for waiter. $1.50/bag for porter. $1.50/night for housekeeper. 10-15% for taxis. $30/person/day for tour guides. $30/day for a private driver.

Morocco-may be included in restaurants, otherwise 10%. $2/bag for porter. $10 for the concierge at the beginning of your vacation. $5/day for housekeeper. $15/day for private drivers and tour guides.

South Africa-10-15% for waiter. $1/bag for the porter. $1/night for housekeeper. $3-5 for the concierge. taxis and private drivers 10%. tour guides $10/person/day.

Central and South America

Argentina-10% for waiters. 20 pesos for the porter. round up for taxis. 10% for drivers. 30-60 pesos for a full day guide.

Brazil-tip included at restaurants. $2/bag for porter and per day for housekeeper. no tip for the concierge. $20-50 for private driver's or tour guide's full day of service.

Costa Rica-tip is included at restaurants. 50 cents-$1/bag for porter. $1/day for housekeeper. tip cabs if you have luggage. tour guides should get $5-10/day for each person.

Mexico-10-15% in restaurants. 10-20 pesos/bag for porter. 20-50 pesos/night for housekeeper. 50-150 pesos for the concierge. 100-200 pesos/full day for each person on a tour.

Peru-10-15% for waiters. 50 cents/bag for porter. $2-5/night for the housekeeper. tip the concierge only for special favours. cabs don't get tips, but private drivers get 10-15% and guides get $2/person per day.

Asia and the Pacific

Australia/New Zealand-10-15% in restaurants. $1/bag for the porter. $10-20 for the concierge. $1-5/day for the housekeeper, the more money, the messier you are. 10% for cab drivers. $50/person/day for a private guide, but $5-10 for a bus tour guide. $20/day for a private driver.

Cambodia-$1 per diner for the waiter. $1-2/bag for the porter. everything else is included at the hotel. $1 for taxis. $2/hour for private drivers. $10-20/day for tour guides. $2 bills are very special and lucky to the Cambodian people.

China-tipping is not usually done, or at least not in front of people.

India-15% in restaurants. $1/bag for the porter. $5/night for the housekeeper. $1-2/day for a car and driver.

Japan-another non-tipping in front of people country.

Thailand-$1/diner for a waiter. $1-2/bag for the porter. everything else should be included with your hotel bill. $1 for taxis. $2/hour for private drivers. $10-20/person/day for tour guides. Like Cambodia, $2 bills are highly prized.

Europe

France-10% in coins for restaurants is what the locals do, but it's not required. 1 euro/bag for the porter. 1-2 euros for the housekeeper. 10-15 euros for a restaurant reservation by the concierge (half paid when you get to the hotel and half at the end). 25-50 euros/person/day for the tour guide. 1-2 euros for taxis.

Germany-10-15% for waiters and bartenders. 3 euros/bag for the porter. 5 euros/night for the housekeeper. 20 euros for a helpful concierge. 10% for taxis. 15% for private drivers. 20 euros/half day or 50 euros/full day for private tours.

Greece-for restaurants, round up to the nearest 5 euros. 1 euro/bag for porters. $1/day for the housekeeper. round up to the nearest euro for taxis. 20 euros/day for private drivers. 2-5 euros/person for group tours. 20 euros for personal tours.

Italy-10% for restaurants, but no more. 5 euros for porters. 1-2 euros/night for the housekeeper. round up for taxis. 15-20% for a private tour. and, despite what is assumed a custom, you do not tip the gondolier.

Russia-10% for the waiter, directly, and not left on the table. $3-5 for porters. $2-3/night for housekeepers. $10-20 for a concierge's good service. 10% for cabs. $20-30/full day for private drivers. $35-45/full day for private guides.

Scandinavia-Either it's included in the bill, or it's not done at all.

Turkey-10% for waiters, but in cash. $2/bag for porters. $10 for a very helpful concierge. Round up for taxis. $25/day for private drivers. $5-10/day/person for tour guides, but $20 for private tour guides.

United Kingdom-10-15% for restaurants, if it's not already included. 1-2 pounds/bag for the porter. 1-2 pounds for the housekeeper. no more than 10% for taxis and for guides and private drivers.

Now that that's out of the way, let's get you booked at www.kingarthur.myttn.com today for the start of your most exciting vacation ever!

Traveling With Relatives

2011-03-23T00:36:00.003-04:00

The biggest reason for traveling with relatives is the opportunity to bring an extended family closer together. It's an opportune time for grandchildren to spend time with their grandparents. It's even a way to show how much you love and care about your parents and/or other relatives.

There are, of course, disadvantages of vacationing with your relatives too. For one, you lose your privacy, especially if your family gathering is large. There is also more preparation and time needed for planning and getting to that vacation destination. Sensitive, touchy, or shaky relationships are also not helped by a group vacation together.

When planning on traveling with relatives, you must find out what kind of travelers they are. Do they expect and often go on extravagant luxury, or would a simple stay at a Best Western suffice?

As always, when traveling with other people, you must figure out who is going to pay for what.

Health limitations for your relatives much also be paid attention to. How much walking is required on the trip? What is the altitude (for those who have trouble breathing)? Will the weather be very wet or very hot or very cold? Will a range of food options be available?

You must also look into possible activities and assignments for everyone on your trip. Don't leave anyone out, well, except for the babies and toddlers.

Now that you know how to survive traveling with others, let's first get you booked at www.kingarthur.myttn.com for the vacation of your life!

Traveling With Children

2011-03-19T00:38:00.001-04:00

The benefits of traveling with children would include such things as being able to reconnect with them if you are unable to see them for a while; it's an incredible learning experience for the children in areas such as society, culture, language, art, geography, and general lives abroad; and traveling with others' kids would give your kids some people closer to their own age to relate to.

Disadvantages would include the extra time required for the kids to get ready, the extra cost for taking them, and the extra responsibility for caring for them, especially if the kids are not your own.

When traveling with an infant, pack as much as you can in your checked baggage. Of course, you can always drive if the location is only a few hours away.

Make sure the hotel you choose has space for your children, as well as accommodations to keep them from climbing up the wall.

Toddlers are best suited for such places as cruises, the day-care-center next door to the hotel, and picnics instead of five-star dining. Sometimes you'll also have to explain to them that they just can't take all of their toys, but will instead be returning home to them. Also, it's a good idea to at least attempt to organize your day before it arrives, so the little ones don't get too confused.

Taking school-aged kids is often an adventure. Let them pick the restaurant now and then, but don't get stuck with hamburgers only. Let them pack for themselves, but make sure to check what they have before you get to the airport with a package full of toys. They can even help you plan your vacation with ideas on destination, transportation, and hotel.

Vacationing with teens is another story altogether. They usually require more adventure and excitement. Sometimes you have to let them go off on their own too, but make sure there is contact abilities and money and protections in place.

Traveling with other people's kids is sometimes similar, but you must be sure that you have much more control and oversight over them and their activities. When traveling with kids of divorced parents, make sure to get the permission of both parents. Before you go, make sure you know the kids' medical histories, allergies, food preferences, normal bed times, movies they're allowed to see, and religious observances such as praying before meals. You must also set ground rules and assign responsibilities for not only your own children, but also for your accompanying children. Like traveling with friends, you much also decide prior to the trip who will pay for what.

Of course, the first thing to do when planning on traveling with children is to book that vacation at www.kingarthur.myttn.com .

Traveling With Your Friends

2011-03-15T17:37:00.003-04:00

One of the main advantages of traveling with friends is conversation. Before the vacation, while waiting for the airplane to depart, during, such as in a restaurant or during an excursion, and after, through memories and reminisces.

Disadvantage, however, would include such things as a lack a privacy, lack of timeliness due to late friends, and an inability to have time alone.

When planning a vacation with friends, you must first compare budgets. You can figure whatever daily spending amount that would be acceptable for each of you, but do make that amount known at the beginning. You will have much too much difficulties traveling with someone who is going to spend too much, or too little, compared to you.

Are your personalities and habits compatible? Sometimes your differences can be endearing and stimulating, but at other times they can be frustrating and more pronounced.

For best results when traveling with friends, remember these tips: Have one person make all of the reservations; form the sleeping arrangements before you get to the hotel; dining options are always interesting, especially with people's unique dietary requirements; and you don't have to do everything together, of course, but you should share the driving.

The first thing before going on that vacation with your friends is to book it at www.kingarthur.myttn.com . I look forward to seeing you, and your friends, on the beaches of the world!

Traveling With Your Boss

2011-03-13T22:49:00.002-04:00

Whenever you travel with your boss, you have a special opportunity to get to know each other better. The rapport that you build with him will likely carry over to your job, and you won't be forgotten when the opportunity for a promotion comes up. You can also use traveling time together to discuss the company's direction and your place in its future.

The disadvantages of traveling with your boss is that you will be stuck with him throughout the flight and the meeting meals with the clientele. You also might get spoiled, because traveling with the boss often means first class flights and expensive hotels. You'd be let down next time.

To make things better, and save a little money while you're at it, you can share a room to cut half of those expenses. You can stay a day or two longer to get those cheap airfare rates. You can even drive to save on airfare altogether. However, many companies request that you give them back the airline miles that you accrued during you business vacations.

To save some time, you might want to opt for an overnight flight, which would save your most productive hours for the light of day, although in this case, it's best if you are able to sleep overnight on the plane. Sometimes business takes longer than the usual 8 hours, so you have to be ready and willing to spend 10-12 hours working sometimes, too.

No matter where your business vacation takes you, and no matter what personal plans you may have, business meetings and meals always have the priority.

Other tips you should remember when traveling with the boss? Don't be late. Don't check baggage. Don't gossip about the office. Don't ask for a raise while traveling. And do dress appropriately.

Of course, if your boss is having you make the reservations, make sure to book your business vacation at www.kingarthur.myttn.com first!

Traveling On Your Honeymoon

2011-03-11T01:53:00.001-05:00

Unlike other vacation plans, a honeymoon takes on a life of its own even before you get to the destination. You have so many ideas in your head how things will be done, how things will look, and how things will work out. Only when you get there will you realize that you probably have overplanned some of your vacation.

It's often the husband who is the less romantic of the two, and as a result the wife has to find some way to still enjoy herself, but also to coax him a little into having some romantic time with her too.

How to make the most of your honeymoon? Don't have a long flight after your wedding reception. Stay near the airport if the flight is early in the morning. If you like different things, make some time for each other them, even if it's a few days for one thing and a few days for another.

Romance isn't about location or weather, but instead it's about your point of view.

To prevent many mishaps on your honeymoon try these: Have enough money, in different forms. Ex-spouses are sometimes a bigger part of a marriage than they seem to be. Don't take your past emotional baggage along with you on your honeymoon. Parents who come from long distances just for the wedding do not have to join you on your honeymoon, but they should also not be ignored. Be very careful when bringing one or both spouse's children. They could be a welcome addition to the family, but not necessarily to the honeymoon.

Delayed honeymoons are sometimes necessary, but they can be just as good as the more traditional and timely ones.

No matter what you plan for your honeymoon, make sure to book as much as you can at www.kingarthur.myttn.com before anything else!

Traveling With Your Lover

2011-03-05T00:01:00.003-05:00

Many traveling couples are married, but there is an increasing number of unmarried couples. What is it like traveling with your lover?

Like married couples, traveling with your lover brings a sense of security, companionship, and shared experiences. However, being unmarried on a travel adventure, you get to see each other in unfamiliar surroundings, reacting to different situations and people.

The disadvantages of traveling with a lover are that sometimes you just spend too much time together. You learn very quickly about the other person's bad habits and annoying personality traits. Staying in the same cabin together might also push people too quickly into advancing their relationship.

If you will be traveling with your lover, it's very important that right up front you decide who will pay for what. Airfare, hotel, cruise, tips, meals, excursions, souvenirs. Those sorts of things.

Also, you need to know how many cabins or beds you will require. Not every set of lovers sleep in the same bed, after all.

Also, traveling with your significant other can also be a great way to patch up your relationship by taking you away from your usual routine, friends, locations, and situations.

So, whether you're going to travel with a spouse or a spouse-to-be, first you must book your cruise at www.kingarthur.myttn.com !

Traveling With Your Spouse

2011-03-02T18:40:00.002-05:00

You get the feeling of security when traveling with your spouse, especially if you lose your money somehow, your spouse would be there to help pay for the rest of the trip. You'll have a dance partner, and someone to keep you company when you're ill.

On the other hand, you're also less likely to meet others than if you were single, and less likely to do everything you want to do when you want to do it.

You'll have to negotiate and make compromises, too. Such as "We can go to the opera today if we go to the beach tomorrow." Of course, you don't always have to do everything together, either.

You also have to consider your budget. It's often necessary to save as much as you can on a vacation, but it's also very important to splurge on at least one thing during your stay.

Leave time to shop in your schedule, but remember that not all parties are crazy about shopping, so make sure there is an alternative for the displeased spouse. Just don't buy more than you can fit in your suitcases, or more than the store is willing to ship home.

Traveling with your spouse would also help if you dislike air travel, or get motion sickness. He would be a great distraction for you!

Traveling with your spouse can be an ordeal, but it can also be the best opportunity for two both of you. First, before you can enjoy that amazing vacation with your spouse, though, you have to book that vacation at www.kingarthur.myttn.com !

Top 10 Things to Know About Your Destination Before You Go

2011-02-28T00:28:00.003-05:00

So you've chosen your vacation destination - booked the tickets, found a hotel, and bought the guidebooks or downloaded the apps. Whether you like to plan your itinerary in advance or play it by ear, there are a few things you should research in advance to make your arrival - and your trip - go smoothly.

1. Best way from the airport to the city - This should be your first order of business - figuring out the most efficient and/or least expensive way to get to your hotel before you find yourself being hounded by taxi touts at baggage claim or standing in the rain waiting for a bus that comes every two hours. London's Heathrow Express is a great compromise between an exorbitant taxi ride and a long Tube ride with transfers, but other cities may have cheap cab fares (find out approximately what you should pay before you get in the car) or excellent public transportation systems connecting with the airport. Check out any guidebook for the best info and check if your hotel offers pick up service for a good value.

2. How much money to start with and in what denominations - Now that you know how to get to your hotel, you'll need to pay for your transfer. No matter the exchange rate, you should find out how much money you will need at the beginning. Lonely Planet's Cost Index is great for determining about how much cash will cover a taxi ride, a meal or two, and other expenses for your first day or so. Some countries will give you large bills that are hard to break - try entering an odd amount like 130 to get some smaller bills or visit a newsstand to get change.

3. What's the tipping culture - So you're in the taxi, money in hand to pay the driver, do you tip? In many countries, like Turkey, people don't generally tip taxi drivers, perhaps rounding up to the nearest lira or two, so a 38 TL fare would cost 40 TL (taxi drivers here are so loathe to give change they may eat the cost of a 52 TL fare and give you change for the 50). Likewise for restaurants and cafes, 10% is standard in many places outside of the US and often included in the bill. Figure out what's appropriate and do as the locals do to avoid stiffing or overcompensating for service.

4. A few key phrases in the local language - This is a necessity in some countries, and always a courtesy to know a few words of a foreign language. "Please" and "thank you" and "where is the bathroom?" will always be useful, while "another one" and "check" will usually result in good things.

5. When to leave for the airport when you depart - It's hard to think about going home when you're enjoying vacation, but knowing how much time to allow for your departure can help you to maximize your last day. While your airline might tell you how far in advance to arrive, better to ask someone who really knows how long to budget, like your hotel concierge.

6. What's legal - Learning about the local laws can save you headaches and money. In some cities, it's fine to bring a bottle of wine or beer into a park for a picnic, but in others, public drinking can get you fined. In some cities, jaywalking comes with a steep fine, while it is overlooked completely and frequently done in others. Knowing what's legal can also help you avoid (or seek out, depending on your proclivities) potential danger areas such as red light districts.

7. What days museums are free or discounted - Visiting a museum on a free day might allow you to see something you'd otherwise miss due to the admission price, and free nights are often packed with locals and fun events. Find out what days you can get free to help plan your itinerary.

8. The real value of a transit or tourist pass - Many cities have a museum or tourist card that you can purchase to get free admission at many sites for a set time. But before you invest in a pass, check out if you really want to go to the included places and if you'd have enough time to really enjoy visiting them all. Similarly, public transportation passes can be great in a city like New York, where a Metrocard can save you time and money, but if you prefer to walk or cab around town, you might skip it.

9. Where to get help if you need it - Registering with the U.S. Department of State when traveling abroad seems unreasonable, but it is very important in case of a disaster in locating citizens, as well as to help Americans abroad in trouble. Leave your travel details with friends back home, carry the contact details for your embassy and credit cards and check your insurance policy for coverage away from home.

10. Can't-miss tips from locals and travelers - Here's where social media can really help you have a great vacation - before departure, ask your travel-savvy friends on Facebook and Twitter what their don't-miss recommendations are for what to see or where to eat. Even if they are well-known attractions, having a tip from someone who's been there will help you prioritize.

Now that you know what you need to know about where you're going, let's get you booked today at www.kingarthur.myttn.com !

Cruising: What to Do if.....

2011-02-25T13:49:00.002-05:00

Your luggage doesn't arrive at the ship-If you opted for the cruise line's air/sea package, it's the cruise line's responsibility for getting your luggage to the next port. If you bought them separately, well, it's your problem then, but I'm sure the airline will do what they can.

You miss the ship-Again, the air/sea package will have the airline get you to the next port. If the ship is just pulling away as you get to it, however, see the ship's port agent immediately.

Your cabin is too noisy or has no air conditioning or has plumbing problems-Tell your cabin steward immediately, or if he doesn't help, tell the hotel manager.

You do not like your dining room seating time-Only if there is room in the earlier or later seating do you really have an option. Ask the maitre' d' for help.

You want a smaller table instead, such as for two-Again, see the maitre' d' about it.

A port of call is deleted from that cruise's itinerary-The captain has final say in the matter, and he will not sail to a port if the seas are too rough or if there is some major event at the port, such as a recent terrorist attack.

You are unwell or get hurt onboard-There is a qualified medical staff onboard, although a surgery would probably require you to get airlifted to a proper hospital.

You have a problem with a crew member-Tell the hotel manager or chief purser and insist on a full written report of the incident(s) which would be done by the staff (deputy) captain.

The ship's laundry ruins your clothes-Tell your cabin steward then report it to the purser's office as a formal complaint. Note, however, the laundry papers that you filled out before say that they cruise line is responsible to the tune of only $1 or so per item.

You have unknown charges on your bill-Look over your bill carefully and see the purser if there is a problem. Ask to see the charge slips themselves. Make sure to get a copy of the bill after the changes have been made, too.

Of course, if you have a wonderful time, or there is something or someone that you specifically enjoy, make sure to tell about that too! Tell a supervisor, tell the person involved, tell the cruise line in a letter..... They take all comments very seriously, and they also love it when you come to them as a recent booking with www.kingarthur.myttn.com . So do it today!

Extra Costs to Your Cruise

2011-02-23T00:48:00.003-05:00

After the September 11 attacks, many people have stopped cruising, and because of that cruise lines have significantly lowered their rates to encourage travelers. However, to help them recuperate some of the losses due to lowered fares, they have raised their prices on some items. However, some ships are much more all-inclusive than others, namely the smaller ships don't have you pay for all of the extras.

Port charges, tax, and gratuities are the three largest add-ons for your cruise before you even get on the ship! Shore excursions, soda and alcohol (unless you have a pre-paid plan), internet access, and spa treatments are other things that can add to the cost. Here is a short list of some of the other add-ons, all of which, of course, are optional, but often recommended and/or of special interest to you:

Alternative dining $10-35
Baby sitter $5-7 per hour per child
Bottled water $2.50-7
Washing $1.50-3 per piece
Dry cleaning $3-8 each
Fitness class $10 each
Hair care $20-40
Ice cream $2-5.75
Soda $1.50-3
Photographs from onboard photographers $10-27.50
Tuxedo rental $85
Dinner wine $7-500

Even though there are some additional expenses, some of which cannot be avoided, there is still very little reason why they would cost more than a comparable hotel in a major city! Enjoy your next cruise, especially after you saved so much money by booking on www.kingarthur.myttn.com

River Cruising: Why and Why Not

2011-02-19T00:03:00.001-05:00

River cruising is one interesting alternative to the typical ocean-based cruises that have become so common. Why should you consider taking one, and why should you consider looking elsewhere?

Why River Cruise?

You'll wake up in a different place each morning, usually very near the center of town.

There is no need for that annoying tendering and taking small boats.

River cruising is at a more relaxed pace, allowing you time to unwind.

River cruising, unlike ocean cruising, is most often so smooth you won't feel much any rocking at all.

The food is great, but so is the service.

Meals are included, and sometimes so are lunch and dinnertime wines.

Almost all rooms have a river view, rather than interior wall views.

Some shore excursions are included.

You usually said during the day and dock at night, allowing you more sights.

Dress code is usually casual.

There are no casinos or art auctions.

There is probably no television, and almost certainly no bingo.

Why Not River Cruise?

Since river water levels often change, sometimes they're too shallow to cruise on.

The beds are less than 6 feet long.

Wearing white is a bad option if you are on the top deck or behind the funnels.

Smokers often mix with nonsmokers, despite whatever rules or set aside locations are put in place.

The passengers very possibly speak different languages.

So, if you decide a river cruise might be something that really interests you, why not check out some options at www.kingarthur.myttn.com today?

Honeymoon Cruising

2011-02-13T23:51:00.002-05:00

Honeymooners often opt to cruise for not only the usual cruise reasons, but also because as newlyweds, they can also get special treatment, attention, and services. Once you're married for a while, a cruise is also an excellent way to celebrate an anniversary.

No ships that I am aware of have a bridal suite, like many hotels do. but most, if not all, have double, queen-, or king-sized beds for the happy couple. They also have tables for two in the dining room, and many of the public dining areas, in case you do not want to share your meals with other people. Book and request the tables early, as they are very limited.

Many cruise ships depart on Sundays, so the more common Saturday weddings will not be impacted. In fact, the cruise line can also arrange for you to stay that night in a hotel near the ship.

Sure, you can share your honeymoon on one of the amazingly gorgeous behemoth floating cities, but for a more intimate honeymoon experience, you might want to look into opting for a smaller vessel, such as those by Seabourn, Regent, Silversea, or Windstar.

The forward part of the ship, although a little noisy with wind, is the most secluded and not the best lit area of the ship. What a great place to get a nice little cuddle.

A cruise line's honeymoon packages often include:

a private captain's cocktail party for honeymooners only

a set of crystal champagne or wine glasses

complimentary champagne or wine

honeymoon cruise certificate

champagne and caviar for breakfast

flowers in your suite/cabin

complimentary cake and even

special t-shirts

Not all are available on all ships, of course. Check ahead to see what you get offered, or have to pay a little extra for.

To avoid and confusion or complication, take a copy of your marriage certificate with you since your passports will probably not have been amended yet.

If you will be getting married at a port, such as Bermuda or Hawaii, and will be taking your wedding dress with you, you should be able to hang it up in the dressing room on the side of the main auditorium stage.

So, when you're ready to book that honeymoon cruise, make sure to do it at www.kingarthur.myttn.com first!

Onboard Chefs and Galley Workers

2011-02-12T00:18:00.002-05:00

Unless you have a superstar visiting guest hosting a major event, which is only occasionally onboard a cruise ship, you may not really consider the amazing accomplishments and incredibly abilities of onboard chefs and the other galley workers.

Celebrity chefs either come onboard for a special event, namely a theme for boutique foods, or a celebrated chef actually opening his own restaurant onboard. Most likely the restaurant would be an additional cost, potentially of $25 or more, per person. most likely, the smaller cruise lines would have a special chef-hosted or chef-created restaurant.

The executive chef, who is occasionally a celebrity chef, plans the menus, orders the food, organizes the staff, and arranges all of the meals on the menus, making sure not to repeat meals every week or longer! He also purchases local foods and makes them into a special of the day.

The galley is never quiet, always preparing for the next day or a meal later that same day. Some of the galley departments include:

Fish/Seafood Preparation
Meat Preparation
Vegetable Preparation
Sauce Preparation
Soup Preparation
Cold Kitchen (cold dishes, salads, sandwiches, buffet carvings)
Bakery and Pastry
Pantry (cheese and fruits are prepared and sandwiches are made)
Dishwashing (they would put the local fast food places to shame)

Of course, there is only one way to experience such exciting and delectable cruise cuisine, and that's to first book it at www.kingarthur.myttn.com. Bon appetit!

The Ss to Ws of Life Onboard

2011-02-08T01:43:00.004-05:00

Here are some more interesting tips and pieces of life onboard a cruise ship. See what more you can learn from these:

Security. Due to recent terrorist activities and threats, security onboard (and getting onboard) have been heightened dramatically. Your stateroom will likely have a safe, but you can also use a safety deposit box at the purser's office if necessary. Each person must also carry his shipboard id card, which allows admission to the craft, as well as the stateroom.

Ship Etiquette. Some ships have designated areas for smoking, while others do not allow smoking anywhere onboard. You are not allowed to video any of the professional entertainment (for copyright reasons), or take photographs of most of the dancing and performance numbers (for safety reasons). Oh, and nobody wants to see you in shorts or a bathing suit in the dining room.

Ship Injuries. Hold on to railings as often as possible, especially on stairwells. Watch for raised thresholds into some areas too, especially your cabin's bathroom. Rubber sole shoes, not leather or high heels, are safest, although not always the most fashionable. NEVER throw your cigarette or ashes over your balcony. They may start a fire a floor or two below!

Shopping. Shopping lectures about the next port of call are basically sales pitches for specific stores which give commissions back to the person and cruise ship. Keep that in mind, because some of the information can still be quite valuable.

Spas. A relaxing massage may be just right before bed, but the spas close early, usually before suppertime. Exercise gear, saunas, steam rooms, and beauty salons all inhabit the same area of the ship. Granted, they are separated. Massages, body scrubs and wraps, and facials are only some of the services available there.

Sports facilities. Basketball, jogging, miniature golf, shuffleboard, volleyball, and ofter water and golf events are also available on many ships.

Television. You might not get many station options, but you will always have something to watch, including many recordings of recent shipboard games in the main theatre.

Wine and Liquor. Although you can buy your own bottles from ports, you cannot open them onboard, and they will be confiscated and tagged and returned to you before you leave. You can, however, take your ship-bought glasses of beer and wine wherever you want onboard.

When you're ready to experience the amazement that is a cruise, make sure to first book it at www.kingarthur.myttn.com !

The As to Ss of Life Onboard

2011-02-02T00:21:00.014-05:00

Cruise Ships are such incredible vessels, and vacationing aboard one of them is such an incredibly opportunity. Here are only some of the facilities available onboard many of these massive vessels.

Air-conditioning. Often a little cooler than you're used to, but after a day in the hot sun it's really refreshing.

Art Auctions. It might be nice to pick up a souvenir, but watch out for the shipping rates. Besides, it's often reported that so many of the works of art are copies of others.

Baby-sitting. For an hourly fee, sitting may take place either in your room or in the kids' areas.

Beauty Salon and Barber Shop. Make your appointments as soon as possible.

Bridge Visits. Not often allowed anymore.

Cash-free. Everything gets set up into an account which is charged to your credit card on the last day of your cruise. Make sure to check the paperwork for accuracy.

Casino Games. Lessons are available.

Comment Cards. I think they should be mandatory. Cruise lines do want feedback, for both good and bad experiences and staff interactions.

Daily Program. Usually delivered the night before, the program tells about entertainment, social events, and hours of various departments and sections.

Disembarkation. The least favourite part of the cruise. Put your luggage outside your room the night before, and prepare yourself for an early breakfast before being corralled into a crowded room for an hour or more.

Gift Shops. Souvenirs, gifts, toiletries, logo-clad items, and jewelry.

Health/Fitness Facilities. Every ship has them, but sometimes they are a bit difficult to find. Spa services and specialty exercise classes such as pilates are extra.

Laundrette. Some ships have them. Others opt for doing your laundry for you. Most often it's for a fee, of course.

Library. Every ship has one, although some are open all day while others are open only a couple of hours.

Lido Deck. Buffet, pools, hot tubs, and many activities.

Lifeboat Drill. It's mandatory for everyone. You will probably have to wear your life preserver, which is not comfortable and does not look all that attractive. However, if you are the ONLY one not wearing it, then who will look bad?

Mail. You can get stamps and postcard from onboard your ship. They will be mailed out at the next port of call.

Medical Service. Although available on all ships, some have more and better-qualified people.

Movies. In room, on a large outdoor screen, or in a special movie theatre.

Photographs. They're often all over, or in a special very well-traveled area of the ship. Photographers are not allowed to take tips, but you might be able to give them a little gift, or perhaps a group gift for the photography department.

Religious Services. Some ships have chapels. Some ships have non-denominational services. Some even allow religious leader guests to host denominational services.

Room Service. It's so far free on most ships. And often available 24 hours a day.

Sailing Time. Although it's posted as to when the ship will depart a port, you really must be back at least a half hour before then.

As if that's not enough, wait for the next blog! While you're waiting, put some of this new found knowledge to work when you book your cruise at www.kingarthur.myttn.com!

Cruising's History

2011-01-30T01:19:00.002-05:00

The whole idea of cruising actually started in 1835 when an advertisement in the Shetland Journal proposed an imaginary cruise from Scotland to Iceland, the Faroe Islands, and Spain. Arthur Anderson, the founder of the paper, just two short years later founded (with Brodie Wilcox) what would later be called P&O Cruise Lines. Later, in 1840, Samuel Cunard started his sailings from Liverpool to Halifax.

In the 1930's, Prohibition actually helped American cruise lines because only a few miles out to sea you could drink as much alcohol as you pleased. Of course, shortly after the only "booze cruises" came along were the addition of ports of call. Throughout the 1930's many countries started their own cruise lines and quite the battle ensued.

As the 1960's wore on more people opted to fly instead of cruise, and passenger lists shrank dramatically causing a great number of cruise companies to go out of business, or nearly. However, cruising itself never did die.

Transatlantic cruises might have become less frequent, but the Caribbean and Bahamas, on the other hand, became quite the rage. When smaller cruise ships were added, they could go on to smaller ports in the Caribbean, since airports were much harder to find in the much smaller Caribbean nations.

Today cruising hasn't changed much. It's still big on hospitality (when most of it before used to be primarily shipping). Modern ships are larger, air-conditioned, and include stabilizers, a high level of safety and hygiene, and emphasize their fitness facilities.

Future cruising can go one of two ways: Either large resort ships, or smaller and more personalized ships. Some ships have even been stretched, by actually cutting it in half and installing more accommodation and public rooms.

If you want to become part of the history of cruising, why not start everything by booking at www.kingarthur.myttn.com first?

What Cruise Brochures Don’t Tell You, Part 2

2011-01-28T00:33:00.006-05:00

If you are interested in personal hygiene onboard more than the average person, you can rest assured that many ships have removable shower heads, but many do not. Ask first if this is of particular importance to you.

You can take your own bicycles and golf clubs, but remember there is very limited room in your cabin for them.

Expedition cruises are often offered on smaller vessels which are specially designed with ice-breaking hulls. They're created and ideal for small groups.

What is called "Alternative Dining" is a dining option(s) in another area of the ship, apart from the main dining room. The paid locations are quieter, more intimate, and have higher quality food, presentation, and service.

The dreaded Norwalk virus. Young children only rarely get it. Adults and older children get it somewhat more commonly. In fact, it's next to the common cold as the most common illness. Make sure to wash your hands thoroughly and sanitize them before you eat, and take special care when you are considering ordering salad, shellfish, or fruit. Even the water can be a potential source.

As far as security is concerned, cruise ships are safer and more secure than most land-based vacations.

You don't have to leave the ship during any port of call. If you do stay onboard, you will have a great deal of room and quiet all over the place. Even spa treatments on port days are less expensive on some ships.

Now that you know more about cruises than the brochures let on, why not book it at www.kingarthur.myttn.com today?

What Cruise Brochures Don't Tell You, Part 1

2011-01-21T02:00:00.004-05:00

Cruises are a very good deal when compared to most land-based vacations because they include so much: food, entertainment, accommodations, lectures, lessons, fitness center, movies, and unpacking only once!

Cruises usually last a week, but some are as short as two days while others can last a couple of weeks, or a month, or even an around the world cruise totaling over 100 days! Some people even stay onboard certain ships (with the occasional shore venture) the entire year!

Although the NYC attack of September 11, 2001, caused some disruptions in travel, forcing even some cruise ships or cruise lines to go out of commission, most of the cruises are back in full swing, perhaps with adjusted itineraries or other ports or departure. As a result, most freebies on cruise lines are either non-existent or are now payment-required. Drinks and spa treatments have increased in prices as well. Still, though, the vacation is truly worth it.

Most cruises, especially the large ships, are just not relaxing, despite the brochures claims. Which isn't to say that it's a madhouse everywhere aboard. However, even on the largest 5,000+ passenger ships, you can almost always find a little niche where you can sit down and rest, and often it would even be reasonably quiet. On the lido deck late at night, for example. Or at breakfast in the main dining room (not the buffet).

Cruises and cruise ships are so vastly different, from the sheer quantity of passengers, to the size, to the qualities of food, entertainment, service, and facilities.

Even if your cruise price is advertised as a respectable $499 per person, keep in mind: tips not included; shore excursions can be expensive; drinks aren't always included; taxes and fees are extra; transportation to and from the ship are rarely included; and the least expensive rooms are usually in the worst locations of the ship, such as near the night club or laundry room.

European cruises are more money than Caribbean ones because: fuel, food, transportation, shore excursions, and port charges are all higher.

Despite anything that may have been upsetting in this article, and the next, cruises are still wonderful values and very exciting vacations! Make sure to take the first step, though, and book it at www.kingarthur.myttn.com today!

Learning Vacations at National Parks

2011-01-19T00:44:00.002-05:00

There are 391 places in America's National Park System where you can visit. And your next trip to one of them can also be quite educational. The Parks offer natural beauty as well as history and numerous outdoor activities.

Park activities, mostly outdoor, include such excitements as kayaking, camping, horseback riding, hiking, cycling, and viewing wildlife.

There are also Park ranger-led programs available. Most parks offer narrated hikes, wildlife tours, and campfire talks, all of which are interesting and educational. The Junior Ranger Program, offered at most of the parks, gives children an opportunity to learn Park history via games, puzzles, and activities.

Our national parks are treasures that should be explored by everyone-so get out there and experience your parks!

And don't forget to book that vacation to stay in the area at www.kingarthur.myttn.com before you leave!

Turn Your Family Vacation into Real Education

2011-01-17T01:29:00.005-05:00

Whether you're going skiing in Wyoming, museum hunting in Paris, sailing to Tahiti, or camping in South Carolina, when you take your kids on vacation with you, make sure to include opportunities for educational and teachable moments as part of your family vacation.

Learning can be found anywhere and everywhere, and can be quite a bit of fun, especially when it's not in a scholastic setting. Just don't try to structure the learning much. Just let things progress naturally.

Children often enjoy helping others in official capacities, and love having titled positions, such as a "Junior Travel Agent." Include your child while you are planning the trip. He can help compare hotels, flights, auto rentals. He can help research places online and at the library. He can even help you read the map, which is invaluable when you're on a driving vacation! Also, why not have your child write to the state tourism bureau for information?

Reading is not good during only the transportation sections of your vacation, but it's a great resource for learning about the place you're going via tour books, a story that took place there, or common phrases in the local language.

Follow what your child learned the previous year in school, as well as inquire what he will learn next year. Perhaps a location on your vacation might have some special significance to what he learned or will learn.

Other ideas for excursions include going on a factory tour to see how things are made, visiting a museum's gift shop first for postcards of things that are in the museum then finding them in the museum itself (you can even teach your children about art that way, too!), or tracing your family history using local records.

Vacation scrapbooking is becoming a common hobby for many people, and why not include your children in it. They can learn not only scrapbooking and organization, but also photography, collecting (postcards, menus, and brochures), and writing (stories about what the family did and the places that they went.

Finally, talk about what you see with your children. Counting lambs in passing fields, observing the foreign dress styles, and otherwise building your child's natural curiosities are great ways to make your family vacation an educational one.

Of course, before you have that educational experience, you have to first book your travel at www.kingarthur.myttn.com !

Bus and Train Travel with Kids

2011-01-15T01:42:00.002-05:00

Buses and trains are great for babies and older children and teenagers, but they are not exactly the best for those younger children who are no longer babies. If you can't break up the long train ride into more manageable sections, treat it instead like a plane ride. Just have available drinks, snacks, and something to entertain themselves, perhaps even books.

Although more roomy than airplanes, buses are usually the most crowded and least comfortable means of transportation. In fact, you might even have to hold your child in your lap the entire journey! Even if your 2+ year old can travel for free in your lap, it's MUCH more worthwhile to pay for an additional seat for himself. Take a small blanket or throw if you will be traveling overnight, just in case.

If you have the choice between a bus and a train, seriously consider opting for the train, which even has sleepers for overnight travelers. Children, in fact, greatly enjoy sleeping on trains.

When the journey itself is over, make sure to spend time resting and relaxing, or running around somewhere to expel all their pent up energy. Unpack, go for lunch, and just give yourselves a little time to get that extensive trip out of your systems.

Older children may bore more easily on extended transports, but they will usually manage better for longer. Have a treat for the younger kids after every hour or hour and a half, even if it's only a piece of fruit or a handful of nuts. Certainly take the opportunity to get off the bus for fresh air and stretch and move around during some of the longer stops.

When you're ready to start planning your next vacation, which may include a long bus or train transport, make sure to book that vacation at www.kingarthur.myttn.com first!

Flying With Kids

2011-01-12T01:03:00.002-05:00

It can be rather difficult flying with kids, but if you prepare yourself and your child(ren) for the event, it will likely go much more smoothly. Older kids can amuse themselves with drawing, games, and toys. And for the child to be personally offered a drink is always something special to them. Teenagers prefer the in-flight entertainment and music options, plus their own music and book selections.

At the Airport

Arrive and check in as early as possible. Parents with small children will get the opportunity to board first, so don't worry. If your child has a toy they can't be without, put an elastic around its neck and put your child's wrist through the loop so you won't have to carry it around everywhere. You can also attach a whistle to your child's jacket which they will use ONLY if they get separated from you, or at least that's the idea.

What to Wear Onboard

Layering your clothes is usually the best option. Sometimes those air vents in the plane are quite chilly. Take a change of clothes in your carry on in case you need to change on the plane, or when you arrive complete with soup stains and pudding drips. It's also good in case your luggage gets delayed or lost.

Where Should You Sit?

Bulkhead seats, with the more legroom and room to play, often include other parents with children. However, the armrests don't move, so you or your child cannot lie across the seats like he could in other rows.

On long flights, look for seats in the middle section of seats, because there you would be more likely to have room to stretch out. You can even go scouting with your kids to look for other seats with more room for stretching out.

Getting Comfortable

Lip balm, moisturizer, and even a small spray container of water will take away that awful dry and tight feeling on the very dry-aired plane's atmosphere. Put a light materialed item over your child's nose and mouth, like a bandit, in the dry air makes their throat sore or irritates his sinuses.

Eating and Drinking

Snacks, sandwiches, fruit, and yogurt are all great options to hold them over until it's time to eat. Avoid things that tend to crumble or get smashed up.

Time Zones

Plane trips can often be tiring and disorienting, especially for kids. Try to adjust yourself to the new time zone as quickly as possible, and if the kids need a nap, it's fine, but don't let them sleep until a normal bedtime either, otherwise you will have a wonderful wake up call at 2:30am! If you arrive in the early morning, have the kids sleep an hour or two around noon before waking them up and keeping them up until a more appropriate hour later on.

It's amazing what a little planning can do to help improve your flight! And the best planning you can do for any vacation is too book it at www.kingarthur.myttn.com today!

Top 5 Family Travel Tips

2011-01-07T00:34:00.002-05:00

One-Don't think everything will be absolutely perfect. That is only a very rare occurrence. Don't expect everything to be horrible either, though. For example, if you have trouble finding your hotel, don't stress out, but instead call it "neighborhood exploration."

Two-Bring your medications and your everyday medicines such as cough syrup, aspirin, and allergy medicine. Baby wipes are great for toilet seats, hands, and hot faces. Don't forget a nightlight and a small box of detergent.

Three-Time your departure. Flying at night when you have young children might be best to get them, and you, to sleep most of the flight.

Four-Plan your flight by booking seats in the best configuration for your family, either rows in front of each other, across the aisle from each other, or on opposite ends of the plane from each other! If you have a child who is a bit too upset or loud or rambunctious before boarding, have one parent stay behind until the child cools down, then board with the rest of the family.

Five-Toys with too many small or loose parts is not the best options. Art supplies and paper, however, are great options!

Of course, the best travel trip I can think of is to book your vacation at www.kingarthur.myttn.com today!

Needed Documents for International Travel

2011-01-03T00:00:00.003-05:00

If you are planning on traveling internationally, even to Mexico, Canada, or the Caribbean, there are some documents you absolutely must have with you. Passports are required for cruising and flying.

It takes upwards of eight weeks, usually closer to six, to get your passport your first time. For speedier services, or an emergency, you can get it in three weeks or less if it's an emergency and you pay a fee. TO apply, you much go in person to a place that handles passports, most often the post office. Bring two identical photographs of yourself of the specified size, proof of American citizenship and a photo ID. If a child is under fourteen, he must appear in person with both parents or guardians and his appropriate documents. Both adults must show a current, valid ID and sign a consent form. If the child is too young to sign, of course a parent is allowed to sign for him. If a parents is unable to go with the child, he may fill out a special form and have it notarized. Passports are valid for ten years for adults and children 16 or 17, and for five years for those fifteen and under.

You need a Visa to enter specific countries. Check ahead of time to see if your intended country is on the list. Some countries demand a visa if you are just visiting, others if you are staying for a while. Australia, for example, insists on visas for travel, but if you are staying less than three months, you can apply for it and receive it online. Some countries require your passport to have as many as four blank pages in it.

Once you at least apply for your travel documents, you can book your travel at www.kingarthur.myttn.com for some of the best travel deals imaginable!

What to Pack for Family Travel

2011-01-01T17:50:00.004-05:00

The rule that you're really supposed to follow when packing for any vacation is the less you take, the better off you are. Of course, traveling with children, especially babies, means you have to take considerably more than normal. Try to rent out a crib or something if the hotel you stay at doesn't have one included.

Although a fanny pack is often a sign of a tourist, it does keep your hands free to carry the baby or hold the toddler's hand. In fact, when the kids are old enough, they can even carry their own backpacks and suitcases. They seem to like their own special one.

Money, passports, and jewelry are a little too valuable, so please carry them in a very safe and secure place on your person, or in a safety deposit box at the hotel or in your room, if necessary.

Also, don't be afraid to use the local laundromat when you need to. That's an experience in local culture if there ever was one.

Take at least three full outfits per person, preferably things that can be layered and mix-and-matched and are also washable. Of course, if you drop anything, a stain-remover stick will be very beneficial to you.

Snack foods are always a good idea to take for when the need arises. Just make sure it is either non-perishable, or something that will last long enough after your vacation is over.

Wet wipes is also something not often considered, but they're great for hands, mouths, pen marks, and toilet seat cleaners. While you're at it, a roll of toilet paper might also be an intelligent choice, just in case.

When you're ready to finally make your vacation ideas into real plans, make sure to book them at www.kingarthur.myttn.com first!

Top 10 Places You're NOT Allowed to Visit

2010-12-28T02:13:00.004-05:00

10-RAF Menwith Hill, UNITED KINGDOM. This Royal Air Force base is the largest electronic monitoring site in the world. If there is a plot hatched or a missile launched, they hear about it first. Whether or not they tell is another story.

9-Club 33, Disneyland, Anaheim, California. This club is so exclusive, with a Member's only VIP section in the New Orleans Square section of the park. The waiting list is so long, it's over a decade to make it through!

8-Bohemian Grove, California. It looks like a normal campground from the outside, but you have to be one of the handful of the most powerful people in the world just to get in.

7-Vatican Secret Archive, VATICAN CITY. Although you can order most of the papers, the "secret" ones actually belong to the Pope himself.

6-Lascaux Caves, FRANCE. Only a handful of scientists can enter this cave which is lined with paleolithic artwork scrawled on the walls.

5-Pine Gap, AUSTRALIA. This is the only Australian location that won't allow people to enter, or people to fly overhead lower than 18,000 feet.

4-Metro 2, Moscow, RUSSIA. Built by Stalin, this is a secret underground system for use by only the Russian Secret Service.

3-Room 39, Pyongyang, NORTH KOREA. Believe it or not, this is a North Korean government-controlled front for drug dealing and smuggling.

2-Mezghorye, RUSSIA. This is where Russia keeps it's "deadhead" nuclear missiles. It is so well-protected that an entire two battalions are stationed there.

And the number one location in the whole world where you cannot go is.....

1-Area 51, Nevada. This American Air Force test site might be famous, but it's extremely closely guarded. In fact, because it's kept so secret, there are conspiracy theories ranging from alien work to secret weapon research. Of all we know, it could be where they go to hang out to get drunk and play cards, but who's to know?

Top 10 Cleanest Countries

2010-12-24T00:24:00.002-05:00

The numbers are the country's score on the "Environmental Performance Index." The letter grade is that old-fashioned school grade to show how relatively close some of them are.

10-Columbia, 76.8, C

9-Cuba, 78.1, C+

8-Austria, 78.1, C+

7-France, 78.2, C+

6-Mauritius, 80.6, B-

5-Norway, 81.1, B-

4-Sweden, 86, B

3-Costa Rica, 86.4, B

2-Switzerland, 89.1, B+

And the number one cleanest country in the world is.....

1-Iceland, 93.5, A-

Top 10 Youngest Countries

2010-12-19T00:02:00.004-05:00

10-Croatia. Created October 1991

9-Bosnia Herzegovina. Created April 1992

8-Slovakia. Created January 1993

7-Czech Republic. Created January 1993

6-Macedonia. Created April 1993

5-Eritrea. Created May 1993

4-East Timor. Created May 2002

3-Serbia. Created July 2006

2-Montenegro. Created July 2006

And the youngest country in the world is.....

1-Kosovo. Created February 2008!

Top 10 Smallest Countries

2010-12-18T00:04:00.004-05:00

As if Rhode Island isn't small enough for me, here are the ten smallest countries on the face of the planet:

10-Maldives Islands, Indian Ocean 115 square miles

9-Seychelles Islands, Indian Ocean 107 square miles

8-St. Kitts and Nevis, Caribbean 104 square miles

7-Marshall Islands, Pacific Ocean 70 square miles

6-Liechtenstein, Europe 62 square miles

5-San Marino, Europe 24 square miles

4-Tuvalu, Pacific Ocean 9 square miles

3-Nauru, Pacific Ocean 8.5 square miles

2-Monaco, Europe .7 square mile

And the number one smallest country on the entire globe is...

1-Vatican City .2 square mile!

Just for the record, Rhode Island is 1,044.93 square miles. How are these others for small!

Top 10 Hottest Places in the World!

2010-12-16T14:04:00.003-05:00

If you don't like the 21 degrees with a chance of flurries, how about a little bit of heat? Here are the top ten hottest temperatures ever recorded on Earth.

10-Agha Jari, Iran. 128 degrees

9-Ahwaz, Iran 128.3 degrees

8-Tirat Zvi, Israel 129 degrees

7-Areouane, Mali 130 degrees

6-Timbuktu, Mali 130.1 degrees

5-Kebili, Tunisia 131 degrees

4-Ghadames, Libya 131 degrees

3-Death Valley, California 134 degrees. You just knew it was here, didn't you?

2-Al' Aziziyah, Libya 136.4 degrees

And the hottest temperature ever recorded on the face of the planet is....

1-Dasht-E Lut Desert, Iran 159 degrees!

Top 10 Most Dangerous Cities

2010-12-09T00:47:00.003-05:00

Although some of these are still popular despite the dangers lurking around nearly every corner, you should seriously consider what protections you have when you visit one of these ten international cities of danger:

10-Rio de Janeiro. Despite being the future host city of the Olympics, it still has it's share of problems. However, things have been getting much better recently, and I totally expect this city to be falling off this list soon enough.

9-Detroit. Apparently a bad reputation isn't the worst of their problems; it's actually true!

8-Karachi, Pakistan. With wars all around and their own serious problems and security issues, this one shouldn't be too much of a surprise.

7-Grozny, Chechnya. Refugees may be returning, but this Russian area is just still too problematic.

6-New Orleans. It seems like ever since Katrina and the failed infrastructure New Orleans has seen its share of problems. Unfortunately, much of its problems are coming from within.

5-Cape Town, South Africa. Despite such a beautiful country and such amazing residents, the city and country is having some serious issues.

4-Mogadishu, Somalia. Pirates and corruption. Who needs more reasons?

3-Baghdad, Iraq. Actually still central to much of the conflict in the Middle East, Baghdad just can't seem to get much better.

2-Ciudad Juarez, Mexico. Neighboring El Paso, Texas, is doing very well and still remains reasonably safe. But, over the border it's a completely different story.

And the number one worst city due to some unbelievable dangers of murders, rapes, corruption, and who knows what else...

1-Caracas, Venezuela. Missiles, floods, axis of evil support, unemployment, failing health care, corruption, murders, rapes.... The list practically has no end!

Top 10 Worst Tourist Destinations

2010-12-07T12:11:00.002-05:00

If you can't decide where to go on your next vacation, here are the top 10 locations which you should seriously avoid:

10-North Korea, and I have a feeling this will soon be going up the list

9-Sudan, I haven't heard much lately, so we'll see what happens with this one

8-Guantanamo Bay, why would anyone want to go here anyways?

7-The Congo, a notoriously difficult place for anyone for sure

6-Antarctica, which is becoming more popular but nevertheless still very dangerous

5-Zimbabwe, which even I didn't realize was bad enough to be so high up this list

4-Afghanistan, which is finally having more good weeks than bad and I expect it to be falling down the list fairly soon

3-Chernobyl, yes, there is still some residual nuclear mess in the area

2-Somalia, although many of the pirates are at least at sea rather than on land

and the #1 place you should seriously avoid if you can help it...

1-Baghdad, at least until the whole mess gets straightened out a little bit better

Hopefully you have some safer vacation ideas other than these 10. Make sure to book your pleasant vacation at www.kingarthur.myttn.com today!

Top 10 Most Popular Tourist Destination Countries

2010-12-05T17:28:00.003-05:00

If you have trouble deciding where to go on your next vacation, here are the top 10 most popular tourist destination countries.

10-Mexico 21,500,000 annual visitors, although this may be subject to change

9-Malaysia 23,600,000 annual visitors, one I never would have expected

8-Germany 24,200,000 annual visitors, how many are there for the beer?

7-Turkey 25,500,000 annual visitors, I never knew it was this popular

6-United Kingdom 28,000,000 annual visitors, and can you blame them?

5-Italy 43,200,000 annual visitors, with so much there I'm not surprised

4-China 50,900,000 annual visitors, although I have a feeling that this will change soon too

3-Spain 52,200,000 annual visitors, which is another one that I never realized was so popular

2-U. S. A. 54,900,000 annual visitors, isn't that convenient?

And the #1 most popular tourist destination country is...

1-France 74,200,000 annual visitors! Who knew pomme frites and The Louvre were so popular?

So, when you are ready to take on one of these very exciting locations, or perhaps another that didn't quite make the list, make sure to book it at www.kingarthur.myttn.com first!

8 Reasons You Need a Vacation

2010-12-02T00:08:00.002-05:00

Despite the fact that the United States has one of the lowest number of vacation days in the world at only 13, medical and social experts insist that vacations are actually vital to your life and your work. Here is what they have come up with for reasons for actually taking that long-awaited vacation.

1-You would live longer? Vacations actually lower your stress levels, which alone can add years to your life. Framingham actually had a study of 12,000 men over nine years and discovered that those who took more frequent vacations actually had less stress, and women were actually 8 TIMES less likely to develop heart disease!

2-Vacations actually renew and reinvigorate your. A full third of workers actually feel better and more productive about their jobs after they return from a vacation. And, naturally, if you feel good about your job, you probably won't burn out.

3-As I mentioned before, vacations dispel your stress and refuel your body.

4-Vacations obviously get you out of any rut at work that you may be encountering. And getting out of that rut will actually "ignite innovation," according to psychologist Maynard Brusman. Creativity very frequently occurs outside of work and working hours.

5-Although the typical vacation lasts only a week, those who actually vacation for at least 10 days instead are actually more satisfied with their jobs than those who vacation for only 7 days.

6-With the new lack of stress, you'll have more family and friends time that you would never have back at the office. Vacations strengthen marriages and friendships, and of course children enjoy them as well.

7-Even after only a three days on vacation, people actually sleep an average of an hour more each night, and when they return home, they are still sleeping an hour more!

8-You can finally enjoy life!

Now that you know you really NEED to vacation, let's get it booked. Simply go on over to www.kingarthur.myttn.com today!

9 Tips for Surviving a Long Flight

2010-11-26T23:25:00.006-05:00

Sooner or later you will experience a flight that is longer than your usual 2 or 3 hour flight. Some last as long as 12 hours, and others even 16 hours or more! How can you possibly survive such a long period of time? Here are some very good ideas to help you get through those obscenely lengthy flights.

A- Dress very comfortably. Wear loose clothes so you can move around in your seat and in the aisles with much more ease. Make sure to wear socks and bring a thin blanket with you in case the airline no longer carries them, and sometimes the air is rather chilly up at 30,000 feet.

B- Don't eat salt or sugar before or during your flight. Sugar makes you tired, and salt dehydrates you. Bring a couple of energy bars, rather than feasting on airline peanuts and pretzels.

C- Drink water, especially while you are in flight. In fact, it's best for you to have a small cup of water every hour you are in the air. Of course, stay away from alcohol, which is itself a dehydrator. Also, to help prevent unnecessary dryness, use some moisturizer, at least on your face.

D- Charge all of your batteries before you leave home. Although, there are a number of airports which special "charge stations" where you can plug in and recharge what you need.

E- At least attempt to sleep on the plane. Use a good medication, earplugs, neck pillow, eye masks, of whatever you need to help you to fall asleep. Bring your own chamomile tea to really help you relax naturally. When you are not napping, however, do so exercises in your chair or walk around the cabin to stretch at least every 2 hours.

F- Don't sit in the last row if at all possible. They are closer to the engines and the rear bathrooms, making them rather noisy and smelly.

G- Paper or plastic. Take paperbacks or magazines, rather than hardcover books, or instead opt for those plastic computerized books which are often compact and are becoming considerably less expensive now.

H- Take only one carry on bag if at all possible, preferably with enough empty space to be able to hold also you magazine, water bottle, and airport souvenir. Your hands will be free, and both you and the people behind you in the security line, will be much less stressed.

I- How do you fight jet lag? Before you fly, make sure to sleep well, exercise, and don't drink alcohol before you get on the flight. If you are flying east, go to bed progressively earlier than normal the week before you fly. If you are flying west, go to bed later. When you arrive at your final destination, do your best to stay awake until their night time.

And where else can you book the most reasonably long-distance airfare available today? At www.kingarthur.myttn.com today!

5 Best Cruise Ships for Water Activities

2010-11-23T01:32:00.003-05:00

Although you are in the middle of the ocean, the closest most cruise ship passengers get to the water is many decks above it. Here are some ships that actually get you into the water!

Safari Explorer (American Safari Cruises)

Let's start with the smallest of the group. It's basically a 36-passenger yacht that cruises hidden coves and inlets in Hawaii. Water sports offered include kayaking, water skiing, snorkeling, and even sailing small vessels. Guests include naturalists who lecture on local culture, fauna, and boatmanship. This ship even has a wine library for tastings and whirlpool tubs and balconies!

Sea Dream II (SeaDream Yacht Club)

A retractable marina complete with snorkeling equipment, waterskis, sailboats, personal watercraft, and all sorts of other water paraphernalia, is the foci of the exterior while marble baths and multijet massaging showers are the favourite parts of the interior.

Star Clipper (Star Clippers)

Unlike the other ships in this group, Star Clipper actually has guests raise the sails, climb the masts, and even sometimes actually steer the ship! Sailing, sportfishing, and diving are all exciting options on this amazing ship.

Ti'a Moana (Bora Bora Cruises)

On another small vessel, kayaking and snorkeling are actually assisted by local guides, so you're almost sure to get a much better and much more attractive experience. The company might not be popular in the States just yet, but the many followers who use them hail from Australia, Europe, and South America. The Polynesian decor really highlight the best the region has to offer. Meals are not at set times, which is often good if you are going for a later-timed water event. Note: The crew actually washes your bathing suits every night to be ready early the next morning!

Wind Surf (Windstar Cruises)

The big daddy of the ships for today's theme, Wind Surf is able to hold a bit more gear, and considerably more passengers. Even with a full load of 312, though, there is still ample room onboard for their sports platform completely stocked with sailboats, banana boats, water skis, and snorkeling, kayaking, windsurfing, and diving gear. And the best part of this ship out of the water is the fact that it has TEN masseuses onboard. And, at set schedules, you can even steer the ship for a time while the ship's at sea.

Why wait any longer to get into the water? Book your vacation today at www.kingarthur.myttn.com !

Blog #100 Special Edition

2010-11-20T09:22:00.002-05:00

www.kingarthur.myttn.com

King Arthur Travel

100th blog special event!

If I get at least 8 bookings in 4 months, which is by March 21, 2011, someone will win the following certificates:

$500 in casino benefits in Las Vegas

3-days for you and a guest in your choice of American/Mexican destinations

$1,000 in restaurant savings

$1,000 in grocery savings, and

if i get 10 bookings, I'll even throw in a cruise!

Where else can you get a 1 in 8 chance of receiving almost $3,800 in prizes, or a 1 in 10 chance of receiving almost $5,000 in prizes?

Only at www.kingarthur.myttn.com and only until March 21, 2011!

Good luck!

Arthur

P. S. There are sometimes small taxes or fees that need to be paid, but you would have to pay them anyways. :D

The 6 Best Ships for Land Lovers?

2010-11-17T09:45:00.005-05:00

These six cruise vessels are the best options for those who like to spend longer time at port and/or to scout unusual destinations:

Arethusa (Grand Circle Cruise Line)

The smallest of the six, the Arethusa goes to the Red Sea, which is quite novel for any cruise ship to do. The land-and-sea itinerary combines Luxor, Saudi Arabia (which is rather new to boating tourists), the Sinai Peninsula, Petra, Amman, and the Dead Sea. Some programs include a Bedouin camp lunch, a carpet making school visit, and a Jordanian family dinner.

Azamara Journey (Azamara Cruises)

The largest of the six, the Azamara Journey sails routes that are almost never on regular cruises' itineraries. Their Panama Canal cruise includes shore excursions in San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua, a trip to the summit of the Mombacho Volcano Cloud Forest, and another to the mouth of the cone at Masaya Volcano National Park.

MS Fram (Hurtigruten)

The only cruise ship to visit western Greenland, the MS Fram includes shore excursions to places usually accessible only by helicopter. Hike the Arctic hillsides, drive a dogsled, and get very close to natural glaciers. The autumn in the Northern Hemisphere brings the ship down to Antactica, and therefore has stops in Britain, Canadian Maritime, the Eastern states, and even Central and South America!

Nautica (Oceania Cruises)

Long port stays make this ship's itineraries particularly attractive. The Black Sea, Mykonos until almost midnight, and overnight stays in Saigon, Hong Kong, and Shanghai are some of the most exciting stops.

Viking Surkov (Viking river Cruises)

River cruising is becoming much more popular, and much less expensive, especially compared to hotel rates in Moscow and St. Petersburg. You can spend 4 nights in Moscow and 5 days in the Svir and Volga Rivers cities, as well as 3 days in St. Petersburg, and that's just on the river cruise! In the vilage of Kishi, the Transfiguration church has 22 domes and no nails! Historians and political scientists are onboard to help you get as much learning out of your vacation as possible, too. Note, Moscow's port is almost an hour away from city center.

Yangzi Explorer (Abercrombie & Kent)

A brand new ship, the Yangzi Explorer hosts an expert in river history, geology, culture, and politics. Highlights include the Three Gorges lock system, and a daytime cruise of the Xiling Gorge.

It's not fun and exciting only onboard a cruise ship, but as you can see, a lot of the excitement is also on land too! Book your next cruise today at www.kingarthur.myttn.com !

4 Best Cruise Ships for Nature Lovers

2010-11-12T23:19:00.005-05:00

Kapitan Khlebnikov (Quark Expeditions)

As if the name doesn't suggest exotic enough locations, Kapitan was one of the first vessels to bring nonscientists to Emperor penguin rookeries, circumnavigate Antarctica, and transit the Northeast Passage. Kapitan is truly an icebreaker. You get to places which are otherwise inaccessible, and when the ship can go no further, onboard helicopters and Zodiacs can! The Kapitan also has luxuries which include a heated indoor pool and sauna. Animals seen from the decks include polar bears, musk oxen, and the rare Leptev walrus. All voyages include scientific experts.

MS Hanseatic (Hapag-Lloyd Cruises)

Five star amenities abound onboard the Hanseatic. Solomon Island snorkeling, Papua New Guinea jungle walks, and Komodo dragon visiting are highlights of their 25-day "So Close to the Gods" trip. Their 21-day Japan to Alaska voyage include crested murrelets on Rishiri To, Japan, sea eagles and brown bears on Siberia's Kamchatka peninsula, and rare whiskered auklets in the Aleutian Islands. Also included on your itineraries are necessities such as parkas, bicycles, fishing and snorkeling gear, and microscopes. Note: This is a German Cruise line, so practice up or bring your bilingual dictionary with you.

National Geographic Islander (Lindblad Expeditions)

The smallest of the vessels, carrying only 48 passengers, has exclusive access to National Geographic field sites in the Galapagos Islands. There is no sleeping late, however. You actually have to get up by 7:00 to prepare for a very full day. Kayaks, Zodiacs, snorkeling gear, and wet suits all await your usage during your explorations. On land, you can see tortoises, sea lions, and blue-footed boobies. A pre-dinner discussion in the lounge even gives you a review of the day's exciting events.

Spirit of Endeavor (Cruise West)

Cruise West's smaller vessels are able to get into the Alaskan waters' wilderness or narrow fjords and shallow inlets. Also unlike the larger vessels, Spirit of Endeavor also makes more frequent port stops, giving you much more time to explore the lands. Humpback whales are so frequent and expected that Cruise West will refund you $250 if you don't see a whale in their summering spots. Stops also include national forests and parks, small seaside towns, and other Alaskan, Western Canadian, and Northwest American ports.

When you are ready to book one of these exciting nature-loving cruises, make sure to check out www.kingarthur.myttn.com first!

3 Best Ships for Romance

2010-11-11T10:51:00.003-05:00

Paul Gauguin (Regent Seven Seas Cruises)

French Polynesia is no stranger to this romantic vessel. The staff sets up a hammock for your nap after setting up a meal on a table in the sand of a gorgeous tropical beach. Room service will also bring your meal directly to your balcony, which have the rooms onboard have. You can even get a helicopter to take you to a private island or a much more remote dining destination. Libraries and lounges onboard make for a pleasant quiet atmosphere, while most areas around the ship showcase beautiful artwork and photographs.

Royal Clipper (Star Clippers)

The Royal Clipper is a replica of a 1902 windjammer, and showcases that history in the most lovely, romantic way possible. In the wheelhouse, the captain himself shares exciting sea stories every morning. Balconies are hidden on each side of the bow, and a track up the mast to the crow's nest reveals a comfortable settee. Note: no casinos or floor shows, but instead the focus is on impromptu guitar and steel pan shows under the sails.

Wind Spirit (Windstar Cruises)

The smallest of the three ships, this 148-passenger ship has more room than people. Chaise lounges don't clutter the decks, but they are very sufficient to section off your own area. The hot tub is always romantic, especially under the stars. And on this ship, also, you can get to the crow's nest, but this time for a lounge on a hammock. Because of it's small size, the ship is able to take you to much less crowded ports where you can often get on your own there as well. As an additional bonus, a sports deck drops down at the stern to allow for scuba diving and snorkeling when the ship is anchored near a coral reef.

Forget all the other chit-chatter. Before you get too romantic out there, make sure to book your next cruise on one of these amazing and romantic cruise vessels at www.kingarthur.myttn.com today!

3 Best Ships for Late Night Partying

2010-11-07T15:10:00.002-05:00

Some cruise ships often have the reputation of being known otherwise as "party ships." And sometimes, that can ring quite true. Just as some colleges are known for partying more than others, some cruise ships are known for the same. Here are three that Conde Nast Traveller recommend.

Carnival Freedom (Carnival)

This large ship has the large party atmosphere to match. There is a great poolside band and nightly parties on the lido deck. (That's the deck with most of the pools, for those who have not yet cruised.) This new ship is not concerned with high class, but is instead focused more of the fun and the festivities aboard. Crazy Olympic pool parties, Karaoke Madness, The Newlywed Game, and even adult comedy shows abound on this massive vessel. With 22 bars and lounges, and music ranging from disco to easy listening, the Carnival Freedom surely is a massive party on the sea!

Crystal Serenity (Crystal Cruises)

Serenity is known for its more luxurious night life. The Galaxy Lounge puts on amazing Broadway shows while the Avenue Saloon hosts white-gloved waiters with finger foods while you listen to some great jazz or piano music.

Easy Cruise Life (EasyCruise.com)

The smallest of the three, Easy Cruise Life is a no-frills party ship with the emphasis on "party." Unlike the other ships, this one is famous for arriving before noon, but staying until early morning, which even leaves party hours in port! Late night djs even help you to continue the party for hours afterward. Note, also unlike other cruise lines, the food on Easy Cruise Life is not included.

Book your party today at www.kingarthur.myttn.com !

4 Best Ships for Multigenerational Family Cruising

2010-11-04T11:12:00.003-04:00

It's one thing to go on a cruise with people your own age. It's another to go with people younger or older than you. But it's an entirely new story to go in a multi-generational group. Here are What Condes Nast Traveler chose as the 4 best cruise ships for multi-generational travelers.

Carnival Splendor (Carnival)

Carnival is amazing with kids, and they keep them well taken care of and protected. The kids really enjoy their time onboard the Splendor with programs designed for them (Camp Carnival-Ages 2 through 11; Circle C-Ages 12 to 14; and Club O2-Ages 15 to 17). The spa is very large, for adults who like to be pampered. There are 4 separate pools, for kids of all ages, I guess. And there are 22 completely different bars and lounges onboard that one ship for those of legal drinking age. The Promenade Deck and interior halls are favourite walking places for the older generations, too.

Crown Princess (Princess Cruises)

The Captain on this amazing vessel is legally able to perform your wedding ceremony, should you desire in the ship's beautiful chapel. Kids greatly enjoy colouring their own t-shirts, teenagers perform in their own talent show, and other adults participate in activities that include the golf simulator, wine tastings, and their ScholarShip at Sea program. The Sanctuary is an adults-only retreat with massage cabanas, waiters, and lots of room to relax. Note, connecting cabins are only via the balcony.

Liberty of the Seas (Royal Caribbean)

The largest of these four amazing vessels, Liberty has numerous connecting rooms in multiple categories. The water park and miniature golf course is a big hit with the 12-14 year old group. Adventure Ocean is created just for the younger group, and they do enjoy their scavenger hunting and science classes. There are two whirlpool on the edge of the ship in the adults only section.

Noordam (Holland America)

The Loft and Oasis decks are those most popular with the teenagers because they are exclusively for their own use. The Loft has a television, internet, video games, and karaoke, all set in a New York City apartment theme. Oasis is a sundeck complete with waterfall, a snack machine, and dancing. The size of this ship is small er than the others, which means the grandparents don't have to walk so far to get to supper. Activities for the other adults include a demonstration kitchen, library, spa, salon, and the Crow's Nest which is a daytime lounge and a nighttime club. Two very nice pools are also included.

Book your next cruise at www.kingarthur.myttn.com today!

Travel Photography: Travel Hints

2010-11-02T00:09:00.004-04:00

As I conclude my series on travel photography, I thought it best to end with tips for traveling with and acquiring photographic items.

X-Ray Machines

Most likely, your camera will be safe from a couple of passes through the machine. However, higher speed film and film that had been exposed more than 5 times, does have a risk of ruin. On the other hand, x-ray machines used on checked baggage is considerably stronger and far more frequent (due to terrorist threats recently), and there is a very good chance that your film can be damaged beyond repair. So, the best thing for you to do is to actually carry on your film and photographic equipment. Well, at least the film. Your film can be hand-inspected if you request, although it will take a bit extra time for the already overburdened guard. In some international countries, you have to let it go through the machine, whether you like it or not.

Checking Equipment

Unless you have a small point-and-shoot camera (which you wrap in a thick wool sweater in the center of your suitcase), don't check your camera, equipment, or film!

Film

How much film should you bring? Some need only two rolls a day, if even. Some upwards of 15 rolls, or more! Always bring more than you need. And, if you're fortunate enough to have digital cameras, make sure to bring extra memory cards, just in case.

Batteries

They're not always easy to find or even available in tourist areas. Bring extra.

Customs

Some countries limit the amount of film and photographic equipment you can bring across their border. Bring receipts for film and cameras, and register your camera with the U. S. customs before leaving your home airport.

Processing Film

You can have your film processed abroad if you want, but keep in mind that some places are less expensive, and some are more expensive. You can even make your own postcards!

Buying Equipment Aboard

This isn't exactly the best idea, but it's sometimes necessary if yours gets damaged or lost. However, you can always pick up a few disposable kinds just in case, and for excursions where you wouldn't take your good equipment, such as rafting and rainy day hiking.

Minitripods

Always a good idea in lieu of those large clunky things. Some are only 6 inches high and can be rested vertically as well as horizontally. Beanbags, believe it or not, are also used to hold up and cushion long lenses.

Now all you need to do is book that amazing photographic vacation at www.kingarthur.myttn.com !

Travel Photography: Cruises

2010-10-28T10:47:00.003-04:00

After reading so many tips on how to photograph different places and group sizes, I think I'll make it much easier for you to photograph your cruise by making a simple list:

1-Lighting is all over the place onboard a cruise. Bright upper decks, shady interior rooms, and even the rainy weather and rough seas can play a major part in your photographs.

2-If your camera allows them, bring wide-angle and telephoto zoom lenses, accessory flash, and both fast and slow film speeds. Point and shoot cameras are fine when you are more interested in eating the midnight buffet than photographing it, which is certainly something you must do at least once.

3-Alaskan inland passages, Bahamian islands, and European rivers are huge scenic opportunities. So is coming into and leaving port, which are usually at not the best times (such as arriving at 7:00am and departing at 10:00pm).

4-When you can, work from the upper decks and on the less windy side.

5-Plan when and where you will photograph by looking through the ship's daily calendar first.

So, now that you're ready for that cruise, waste no more time and book it at www.kingarthur.myttn.com today!

5 Best Ships for Gourmet Dining

2010-10-26T17:02:00.004-04:00

One of the most impressive things I have found on my cruises is the amazing array and quantity of choices of food. Not only that, though. I was completely overwhelmed by the quality of the food too! Here are five other ships where cuisine reigns supreme.

Crystal Symphony (Crystal Cruises)

Sushi might be the specialty of the house, especially since this ship has two Nobu Matsuhisa restaurants, but the exquisite wineries of the world cater for this ship that serves up some of their best masterpieces. Their Ultimate Vintage Room hosts very high-priced specialty dinners with a 7-course meal and 13 very rare wines. Of course, if you just want an ice cream cone, you will still have your choice of 30 options on deck 11!

Eurodam (Holland America)

The second-largest ship on today's list, the Eurodam really gets to shine with such exciting things as their Culinary Arts Theatre, Restaurants Tamarind and Canaletto, and private poolside cabanas. The theatre hosts cooking demonstrations and classes, lectures, and candy making. The restaurant Tamarind focuses on multi-Asian specialties while Canaletto chooses Italian.

Norwegian Jade (Norwegian Cruise Line)

Choices abound onboard the Norwegian Jade with twelve restaurants (french, Italian, Tex-Mex, Spanish, Japanese, multi-Asian, sushi, steakhouse, and of course a buffet). Although the food cannot be rated as highly as some of the others on the list, the range and quantity of options for such a reasonably-priced cruise onboard the Norwegian Jade certainly makes up for it many times over.

River Cloud (Sea Cloud Cruises)

This 90-passenger cruise ship uses produce directly from the ports of call and showcases some amazing treats of local delight. Itineraries include wine-tasting and vineyard tours, famous chef-prepared meals, and even classical music concerts. Unlike the others on this list, this specific cruise ship also takes a great deal of pride on the decor of the suites which have teak and marble all over.

Seven Seas Voyager (Regent Seven Seas)

Famed French culinary institute Le Cordon Bleu is the training course for the chefs onboard this vessel, especially in their supper-only Signatures restaurant. La Veranda makes tantalizing North African cuisine while Latitude's focuses more along the lines of a family-style French and Vietnamese infusion. Compass Rose even has some delicious vegetarian entrees in a spa-style restaurant. Some itineraries even include cooking workshops and farmers' market tours.

If you like to eat, and who doesn't, you will love cruising! Book today at www.kingarthur.myttn.com !

3 Best Luxury Cruise Ships

2010-10-22T13:43:00.004-04:00

Cruises, especially those of the past, give the impression of luxury living and fine dining onboard an exquisitely crafted work of art. Fortunately, some modern ships maintain such luxury and help every guest relive the times of yesteryear with the luxurious life.

Seabourn Legend (Yachts of Seabourn)

It's known as "Caviar in the Surf" for a reason. Uniformed stewards carry trays of caviar and champagne for the appetizer course of the ship's beach barbecue! By the end of the first day, they know your name, and by the end of the second, they know your favourite chair and wine. Attendants even draw your bath for you, complete with your preferred soaps and oils. You can even have a fabulous flambe under the stars after a delectable dining experience.

SeaDream I (SeaDream Yacht Club)

Only 55 couples are onboard this ship, plus the staff of only 95! They personalize their service just for you. Always someone around. They even clean your sunglasses, spray you with cold water, and offer to massage your shoulders before you need to ask! And the chef is also known for asking for your favourite meal, and places it on the menu just days later! There is nothing onboard for children, so they're also out of everyone's hair.

Silver Whisper (Silversea)

Personalized pillow choices are only the beginning! Your minibar even includes your favourite drinks (even alcoholic), and it's complimentary. The most expensive suites even come complete with a professional English butler. Yes, even though the cruise line is technically Italian. The butlers unpack (what a chore you don't have to do!), reserve a vehicle for you in the next port, and even arrange for a cocktail party right in your own stateroom suite. And for an additional fee, you can have a six-course meal complete with specially-chosen wine pairings created by professional sommeliers.

When you are ready to experience such an exquisite lifestyle onboard such exquisite ships, make your reservations immediately at www.kingarthur.myttn.com !

6 Best Ships for Onboard Learning

2010-10-18T01:04:00.004-04:00

There are a number of reasons why people go on cruises, but only a handful of passengers go for the educational experiences onboard. The smaller vessels are far more equipped and have a much more educated clientele than do most of the larger ships when it comes to instruction and education onboard.

American Queen (Majestic America)

Although most Mississippi River cruises are populated by gamblers, the American Queen is more populated by historians. Civil War battlefields in Minnesota, Iowa, Illinois, and Missouri are frequent visitor favourites, while Mark Twain fans can relive his childhood in his own hometown. Even Native American and Amish farms are evident along the scenic itinerary. And there is always the prides of Iowa, the John Deere mansions.

MV Mozart (Peter Deilmann)

Classical music fans agree that the best place to study and hear it is right at the source of the composers' inspiration, on the Danube River. Daytime sightseeing of such relics as concert theatres and famous pianos (such as the one belonging to Beethoven), and evening classical music concerts are just what each passenger enjoys.

Oberoi Zahra (Oberoi Hotels)

This small ship which cruises the Nile River includes both Thai massages for your body and an onboard Egyptologist for your brain. Unlike the other Nile cruise ships, the Oberoi Zahra sails for a full week at a much more leisurely pace. Even each guide isn't for the entire ship of 54 passenger, but instead stay with just 6 people or so per guide. And specific to this ship is a stop at Dendarah Temple.

Queen Mary II (Cunard)

Certainly the largest of the educational vessels, the Queen Mary II have rotating guests that travel onboard as guests of the cruise line. Famous novelists, scientists, bridge lecturers, and planetarium workers abound onboard this especially lovely and massive vessel. Even London's Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts hosts a special onboard acting class for those wishing to participate.

River Countess/Dutchess (Uniworld)

Eastern European rivers are not ignored by these exciting ships which travel longer itineraries and to far more countries than do the others. Local universities provide lecturers on Eastern European history.

Seven Seas Mariner (Regent Seven Seas)

This particular cruise ship has a worldwide itinerary, and world-class educational experiences ranging from photography to yoga to French cuisine. Classes and lectures range from food and wine to architecture and onward to literature. Unfortunately, though, some of the classes have fees, but they are well worth it when you see who is teaching them and the quality of small group education that you receive.

When you are reading for the exotic and educational experience of a lifetime, make sure to book it at www.kingarthur.myttn.com first!

Travel Photography: Signs

2010-10-14T01:17:00.003-04:00

This might not sound like very important photography around your own hometown, sparing the neon orange, a $500 fine notice, or those very important street signs, but when you travel abroad, you occasionally come across a rather interesting sign. One you'd like to remember in a photograph. They can provide a timeline or an interesting theme in themselves. And some of them can even be rather humourous.

Sometimes the most humourous ones are totally accidental or occur due to an odd coincidence or a warped juxtaposition. In Germany, for example, you might see a sign for the restroom that is directly next to the sign for the exit, and the exit sign shows a silhouette of a man running! Rather a humourous position, don't you think?

Of course, signs that are not in your native language can also be interesting, especially if you were to take a large group photograph of them in a place like a Hong Kong neon lighted area, or a European tour with the same words but in different languages.

Finally, the best use for sign photographs is to show the progression of your vacation. Signs that show a dramatic location (Equator, Southernmost point in the Continental U. S.), city and state limits and welcome signs, unusual names of towns, areas or business, and driving distances. Signs that highlight specific locations where you visited such as museums and hotels are also very important to complete your travel photography collection. Of course, historical markers are also very interesting if that is what interests you.

Signs are more important than you realized now, aren't they? Find some great travel deals to find some great signs only at www.kingarthur.myttn.com today!

Travel Photography: From the Air

2010-10-10T23:50:00.004-04:00

It's one thing to see a close up shot, and another thing to see a vista view. But it's an entirely different kind of photograph when the subject is miles beyond the window of an airplane. As long as it's not cloudy or foggy out the window, you can get some amazing photographs from right there in your window seat. And if your pilot points out interesting views from one side or the other of the plane, make sure to take advantage of it with another of your wonderful photographs!

The windows in most planes are too thick for sharp photographs, but if you keep the developed size no more than 5x7 you should be fine. Also, get as close to the window as possible to avoid blur, but don't touch the window or else you will get vibrations instead. Also, try to get whatever photographs that you can at takeoff and landing, when things are less hazy and considerably closer.

Often available are lower altitude flights such as by small planes, helicopters, and even hot air balloons. You can get much closer to your photographs' subjects than you can with a jumbo jet liner. And the fares are often rather reasonable. Sometimes you can even open the window to get an even more unobstructed photograph!

And before you get on that commercial jet liner, make sure to book that flight and the rest of your vacation at www.kingarthur.myttn.com today!

3 Best Cruise Ships for Children

2010-10-07T01:33:00.004-04:00

Travelling with kids is an adventure in itself, but cruising with them is a totally different story. Most cruise lines offer something special to keep the kids happy and entertained. Here are the three that Conde Nast Traveler chose as best for kids:

Disney Wonder

Naturally, Disney is always a huge hit with kids, and families with kids. Both infant and toddlers greatly enjoy the Disney cruise experience. And they also change the babies' diapers! Swim diapers aren't allowed in any except the wading pool. And for those who can't swim, they can use the fountains to splash around in. Even the family staterooms have two toilets for no impatiently waiting toddlers! The waterslide leading into a Mickey Mouse head pool is almost as popular as the Animator's Palette restaurant with walls that change from black and white to colour. The pirate's party is a great event, even if you have to bring your own costumes. And to top it all off, Disney just can't break the habit of shooting off fireworks. Even the nightly entertainment is age-appropriate with the kids' viewing earlier one more adapted to them.

Royal Caribbean Freedom of the Seas

As I have suggested in my Carnival vs. Royal Caribbean blog entry, Royal Caribbean is better suited for teenagers and well-behaved children. They have activities that include a rock-climbing wall, a FlowRider surf park, and an ice rink. I doubt the little kids would enjoy them all that much. Also, to appeal to the teenage crowd, they have their own private teen only areas, where parents and adults are forbidden. The staff members are known to keep the kids under control while also treating them with respect. (Where the teens' staff were on my last Royal Caribbean cruise, I don't know!) They even get to play some great video games and musical jam session instruments. The younger crowd can take part in acting, snowball fighting, and a barbecue, while the older crowd would be deejaying, card gaming, and night clubbing.

Ruby Princess

It's the latest in Princess Cruise ships. And do they ever go over the top for the kiddies! 3-7 year olds have scavenger hunts and ice cream parties. 8-12 year olds get to participate in pajama parties, kids-only suppers, and even Nintendo Wii games. Of course, the teenagers get just what they expect too: hip-hop dance lessons, air hockey contests, and nightclubbing too! And, lucky them, the 8-12 year olds get to accompany their parents in the actual ship's kitchen to wear those funny hats and aprons while they make pizzas, roll sushi, and decorate cakes.

So, when you're ready to book that most exciting cruise with your kids, make sure to check out www.kingarthur.myttn.com and look out for the best prices!

Travel Photography: From Land and Sea

2010-10-04T11:48:00.004-04:00

Transportation is an important part of your vacation, and sometimes the transportation itself can be quite photographic. Whether by one of the high-speed Japanese bullet trains, the romantic gondolas of Venice, or even the traditional jitneys in the Philippines, you will always be getting around wherever you are. And photographs from and of these exciting transportation modes really adds that extra bit of authenticity and location to your catalog.

By the time you arrive at your destination, you will have already passed all sorts of interesting things that would merit your camera's use. Of course, in those cases, the regular point and shoot cameras work best, since they take time only to turn them on.

When you actually arrive there, however, you still will have the opportunity to photograph your immediate area, as well as the actual transportation vehicle that you used to get you there. Instead of taking a picture of just the ship or train, try to get a different vantage point that shows the surroundings of the ship or train as well. It adds much more visual interest than you may realize. Especially when you are on a cruise ship, you don't realize how truly massive the ship is until you are far enough away to see the local stores and docks surrounding it. "Overwhelmingly massive" for sure!

Of course, before you go on your next exciting photographic vacation, and find some of these interesting land and sea transportation vignettes, you just have to book your vacation at www.kingarthur.myttn.com !

Researching Your Vacation

2010-10-01T00:49:00.004-04:00

One of the most important aspects of photographing your vacation has nothing to do with cameras, lenses, or film, but it has everything to do with your pre-vacation research. Studying about a location and planning where you will be taking your photographs will greatly enhance the pictures that you do take. You probably won't get to everything on your list, but at least you won't miss any important details or events.

Of course, the best way to learn about a new vacation location is to read up on it in every book and online resource that you can find. Magazines, newspapers, guidebooks, blogs, and online articles are great sources of information. There are also books and journals and language tapes to help you learn more and adjust yourself to your vacation location.

There are travel websites all over the internet, and many of them can help you in your vacation location research. The show you pictures of specific location and objects, inspiring you to take your own. Some websites also include schedules of events and hotel information too!

Also, some of the best sources of location information are the people who actually have been there. Most people really enjoy telling their vacation stories, especially those who have been on a cruise ship. It takes just the mention of a location to get many of those vacation travelers started. Also, on the internet, there are websites and chat rooms complete with people who actually live in the location. Why not get some first-hand knowledge of the sites?

So, while you are researching your vacation, you probably also want to save some money. Why not book on www.kingarthur.myttn.com and use your savings for more travel books?

Travel Photograhy: Travel Journal

2010-09-29T00:37:00.003-04:00

Your vacation photographs should not be just a hodgepodge of random snapshots from throughout your trip, but rather a chronological progression of your vacation, or perhaps a storyline of sorts. Arrange your photographs in the framework of beginning, middle, and end. It makes them so much more interesting.

As you take your photographs, it's best to keep a journal of what the subject is and where and when it was taken. Doing so will help when organizing your photographs later. You can use the date/time stamp on your camera for the beginning and end of each roll, if your camera has that possibility.

Although a chronological order is usually the best for a photographic travel journal, sometimes surprise and discovery add extra excitement to your photograph collection. Common view of famous landmarks can be interspersed with close up shots. Portraits can be mixed with groups. And ordinary scenes can be mixed with aerial photographs. Perhaps you can have a theme, or a section of your journal that is theme-specific, such as museums, animals, or portraits.

Although most people put photographs in their travel journals, feel free to add in other trip mementos such as labeled restaurant napkins, postcards, and even photographs from others! They might have a view that you didn't consider. Perhaps they might have a specific scene, location, or object which you were unable to get or were unaware of.

Of course, the first step to any successful travel journal is to book you vacation at www.kingarthur.myttn.com !