Are You Beach Centric, or Pool Centric?
I am writing this post from the balcony of my oceanfront room at Iberostar Grand Paraiso in the beautiful Riviera Maya, Mexico. I have stayed at this resort two other times but this is the only time I’ve had an oceanfront room. (When traveling as an agent as a guest of the resort, one happily accepts the room one is assigned.)
I have spent many hours on this trip parked out under a palapa on a lounge chair having my hours of leisure reading interrupted by an occasional dip in the Caribbean Sea. The beach butler also intruded from time to time.
As I walk through the resort to find wireless signal to check on the office I have to walk past the main pool. There are many more people at the pool than at the beach. There are also countless more people actually in the pool than there are actually in the ocean. I would wager, however, that almost every person in and around the pool asked about the beach quality when choosing this resort.
Almost 100% of people we talk to ask about the beach itself when choosing a resort. Many of those same people barely spend any time there.
What makes so many more people spend their time at the pool when they’re in a beach destination? I would guess it has to do with proximity to the pool bar, lack of wildlife in the pool, and the fact that walking to and from the pool doesn’t involve getting all sandy. (Which is also ironic because getting ones toes in the sand is one of the thing people fantasize about when anticipating a vacation.)
Part of choosing the right vacation is knowing what kind of vacation you actually want. Are you pool centric or are you beach centric? Which is actually more important to you? Do you know?
If you’re one of the many many people who spend their vacation days at the pool rather than the beach, then stop agonizing over how long the beach is and how soft the sand it. Concentrate on the pool.
Where do you stand on the pool / beach issue? Tell me in the comments.
Six Unusual Items to Take on Vacation
Some things obviously need to get packed. Your toothbrush, your underwear, your camera. There are some less obvious things that you may have never considered that might make your vacation even better.
A clothespin: Don’t you just hate how the blackout drapes in so many hotel rooms insist on letting in that little crack of light? I mean, half the reason to go on vacation is to be able to take a nap in the middle of the afternoon, right? A clothespin is just what the doctor ordered. Use it to securely fasten the sides of the drapes together and you can sleep the day away.
Baby Powder: Even if your diapering days are long behind you, baby powder can work wonders on vacation. We all like to dig our toes in the sand, but isn’t it the worst to find that same sand between those wonderful high thread count sheets at night? A sprinkle of baby powder makes the sand magically vanish from your body. Put it in your beach bag and use it when you’re ready to come in.
A Big Plastic Cup: Especially if you’re vacationing at an all inclusive resort, bringing a large cup helps cut down on your trips to the bar. Try to bring an insulated mug like a “Bubba Keg”. These will keep your alcoholic or non alcoholic drinks cold and available for hours.
Half of the clothes you were going to bring: Especially for a beach vacation, you probably won’t go through the clothes you think you will. Especially these days with baggage fees, less is more.
A Color Copy of Your Passport: If you’re leaving the country, pack a color copy of the picture page of your passport in your luggage. This serves two purposes: 1) If you get separated from your luggage it serves as identification to help reunite you and 2) If you lose your passport a copy of it will help you expedite the replacement of it.
A Pen: You wouldn’t think such a commonplace item would be considered unusual to take on vacation. But, if you don’t believe me, just glance around the plane on your next international flight when it’s time to fill out the customs forms. If you want to be really popular, take two pens.
A Power Strip: Many couples and families travel with lots of electronics. In some hotel rooms, power outlets aren’t exactly plentiful. bringing a power strip can be just the thing to keep the peace when cell phones, laptops and gaming systems all need more juice.
What about you? What’s the most unusual item you pack for vacation?
A Vacation is NOT a Luxury
You NEED Your Vacation.
You’ve probably always thought of a vacation as a luxury. When times get tough, sometimes luxuries are the first things to get crossed off the priority list. Luxuries have a way of that falling off the list when life gets in the way.
Perhaps, though, a vacation is more than a luxury. Have you ever considered that a vacation might very well improve more than just your sleep deprivation?
Would your work life be improved by some fresh ideas? Would your relationships be improved by a new perspective? Maybe, instead of a luxury, a vacation is the very thing you need to blast through the wall you’re facing.
Vacations allow you have fresh ideas. A change of scenery and a change of routine may give you the fresh perspective to allow the solution to that problem to float to the surface of your thoughts.
On vacation you’ll get extra rest. That alone makes your brain work better. You’ll be in different surrounds, around different people and eating different food. You never know what might inspire the idea that will change your life.
When you find yourself in a challenging situation, consider using a vacation as a way to a solution.
Your Invitation to the Royal Wedding
Want to attend the royal wedding, but weren't invited?
Are you interested in going to the royal wedding, but don’t quite have the budget? Maybe you lost your invitation? Cunard Cruise Line is offering an alternative.
Cunard Cruise Line will be broadcasting The Royal wedding live while you are at sea. Cunard is a leader in European luxury and will pull out all the stops to make sure you have your own royal event while on board.
Says Cunard:
29 April 2011, the day of the Royal Wedding
Guests on board Cunard’s three ships — Queen Mary 2, Queen Victoria and
Queen Elizabeth, need have no fear of missing one second of the historic union of the future King and Kate Middleton.
Each of the three ships feature Royal Court Theatres — West End in style and West End in size — where the wedding ceremony will be broadcast live.”
Cunard’s President, Peter Shanks cites, “Cunard is a company with an enviable heritage and unparalleled links to the Royal family – our ships were named either by Her Majesty The Queen or by her apparent successor, HRH The Duchess of Cornwall. It follows then that our passengers are likely to have an above average interest in the pageantry of a Royal wedding. We intend to cater for that and ensure they do not miss one minute.
How a Groupon Could Improve Your Next Vacation
Use a Groupon on Your Next Vacation
You do know what a Groupon is…right? From their website: “Groupon negotiates huge discounts on popular local goods, services and cultural events. Then we offer the deals to thousands of subscribers in a free daily email. The deals are activated only when a minimum number of people agree to buy. So our subscribers get a great deal and the business gets a ton of new customers. Win-win.”
I just counted 166 cities across the US and Canada where they offer Groupons every single day. Many of those cities might be ones where you might be taking a vacation or weekend getaway. Some cities are popular vacation spots like New York City, Miami or San Francisco. Others might be ones where you’ll plan to visit while visiting friends or relatives.
In any case, when you know you’re going to be visiting a certain city in the coming months, I recommend checking in daily for the Groupon offered in that city. I’ve been keeping my eye on several cities for a while now and I’ve seen all sorts of things.
For instance, restaurants are offered frequently. You’d need to be careful and only buy a Groupon for a restaurant that you would actually go to. For instance, if you’re visiting New York City you wouldn’t want to invest in a Groupon where the restaurant is located way out in Brooklyn. The time it would take to get to the restaurant would cancel out any savings you might have had.
I’ve also seen lots of sightseeing opportunities as well. I’ve seen bike tours, spa days, wine tastings…all sorts of things.
So, next time you’re planning a trip to a city in the US or Canada, check out Groupon!
Have you used a Groupon in a city in which you don’t live? How did it work out?
Buying Your Trip is Only the Beginning
Where will you book your trip?
You’re looking for a vacation. You think you know what you want to do. You’ve perhaps spoken to an agent. You’ve looked around online. You believe you’ve found the best deal. You’re ready to lay the money down and take the big step of buying your vacation.
Whew! Glad that’s over!
Or, is it?
The fact is that the purchase of your vacation is only the beginning of the process.
You may not know it now, but questions are going to occur to you that you didn’t think of before you bought your vacation. Not only that, but its very possible that some circumstance in your life will shift causing an adjustment to your vacation plans.
What will you do then?
It really makes a difference where and how you book your trip. It matters where you will call to ask questions or get help when you need it. Not just for big things either. Asking about your airline seat assignment, asking about a bedding request, a question about the tennis courts, a question about restaurants, these things are simple when you book with an agent.
Then what happens after your trip? What if something happens that needs attention during your trip that needs to be addressed afterwards? You need an advocate to whom you matter. Book direct with a hotel or online travel company and getting help after a trip can be a challenge.
It matters where and how you book your trip. Where will you book yours?
