Month: May 2022

What to Pack When Traveling Out of the Country

When in doubt, leave it out! Commit this to memory! You don’t have to pack your entire closet when you travel out of the country. While you may want to take every toiletry you own, you can buy items in other countries. Believe it or not, you’ll be able to find toothpaste and toothbrushes in other countries. You’ll be able to find articles of clothing as well. If you want to avoid additional charges for your luggage, pack as light as possible. This way, you’ll have extra money to spend on more important items such as food, transportation, and souvenirs.

What to Pack When Traveling Out of the Country

Essential articles of clothing. What part of the year are you traveling? Winter? Spring? Summer? Fall? If you’re traveling during the summer, you don’t need to pack a lot of clothing. If you’re traveling during the winter months, you’ll want to pack a heavy sweater and clothing that can be layered. In fact, you could probably leave the heavy sweater at home and purchase one during your travels. Bring a jacket with you whenever you travel along with a good pair of walking/hiking shoes. You’ll want to pack a pair of dress pants/skirt/dress that doesn’t wrinkle. Pack a couple of shirts that can be layered. You want to pack as light as possible because you could pay extra if your luggage or backpack exceeds the weight limit.

A map. Bring a map with you. This may seem archaic but GPS may not work in some countries. It’s better to bring a good ol’ fashioned map with you.

A compass. Again, GPS may not work in some countries. A compass will guide you in the right direction.

Essential toiletries. Believe it or not, if you travel to the UK, you can purchase toothpaste and other toiletries. You can find just about anything when you travel. Bring the absolute essentials such as contacts and solution and glasses. Bring your favorite shampoo and conditioner. Pack your favorite facial cleanser and makeup remover. Only bring what you may not be able to find in other countries.

A language translator. If you don’t speak the language, it will behoove you to bring a translator that will translate key words and phrases. You’ll be able to converse with the locals, and they’ll appreciate you for trying to speak their language.

A guidebook. You may want to purchase a guidebook if you’re not familiar with the country you’re traveling to. Make sure it’s up-to-date with the latest information about nightlife, popular tourist spots, and other pertinent information.

Copies of your pertinent travel papers. Bring a copy of your passport, driver’s license, credit cards, and travel itinerary. Give copies to your family and or friends.

Essential electronic gadgets. If you must bring your laptop, netbook, iPad, MP3, iPod, cell phone, iPhone, digital camera, or other gadgets, make sure you’re prepared to carry them around. Unless, of course, you lock them up in the hotel’s safe.

Your common sense! You’re a foreigner in a foreign land. The laws and rules of your ‘home’ country won’t transfer to the country you’re traveling to. Make sure you know where to find your country’s embassy (U.S. Embassy) and study the laws. Make sure you’re familiar with territorial boundaries. If you’re unsure, don’t travel by yourself, hire a travel guide.…

Arenal, Majorca – Resort Guide

The lively resort of Arenal is located about 15 minutes from Palma. This Majorcan resort is popular with younger people looking for exciting nightlife and a nice quiet sandy beach to recover on during the day. For the more daring there is a nudist beach at Es Trenc which is just a short distance from Arenal.

Arenal is a purpose built resort and has been developed around a small fishing village. There lots of hotels and apartments here, most of which are near the resort centre and the beach. The golden sandy beach here stretches for more than 3 miles and is backed by beach huts. The main beach here is Playa de Palma and offers very safe swimming conditions, this is a Blue Flag beach. A promenade lined with hotels,restaurants, bars and shops connects Arenal to the resort of C’an Pastille. A mini-train runs along this traffic-free promenade.

There is no end of nightlife here, including clubs featuring international DJ’s, karaoke bars and British style pubs. The numerous restaurants and cafes in the resort offer traditional, international and fast-food.

For the more energetic visitors the resort offers various watersports, mountain-biking and tennis. Watersports on offer include scuba diving, windsurfing, water-skiing, pedaloes and a sailing club. Majorca’s largest waterpark, Aqualand de Arenal, is located here in the resort. The waterpark has more than 20 water attractions, slides, rides and three childrens areas. The resort is home to a fantastic Jurassic Park themed 54 hole mini golf course, Golf Fantasia which is a great hit with all the family.

Arenal enjoys a typically Mediterranean climate with hot summers and mild winters. July and August see temperatures around 26C with up to 11 hours of sunshine a day. During May and June temperatures average around 23C, the coldest month being January when temperatures drop to as low as 8C to 13C. Holiday packages to the beautiful island of Majorca are always available through the internet. When planning your next holiday to Majorca look-out for the many cheap holidays that are available throughout the year.…

Tips On Flying With an Infant or Toddler

Traveling and especially flying with a little one can be a scary thought! With a little preparation, it won’t be as bad as you think. As a matter of fact, it may even be easier to travel now than you think! Here are a few tips that can help you plan for that upcoming flight.

Buy It When You Get There

No need to pack all the diapers you need for the duration of your trip. Save luggage room, especially now that you have to pay for luggage, and buy diapers, wipes and formula when you get there. Pack enough to last you a couple of days only (in case you get stranded at the airport,esp during the winter) and carry them on with you. Same with other necessary toiletries. Formula is allowed on the plan as long as you let security know that you have it. They will open it up and run some magic wand over it and send you on your way.:) If you carry powdered formula, save a bottled water or two just for making bottles (you will have to purchase these after passing security). If your baby is eating solids, pack a couple of disposable spoons and some instant cereal in a zip-loc bag to get baby through. Any small finger snacks like teething biscuits, goldfish, and cereal will work great for a toddler and give him/her yet another thing to do while sitting. These are easier to pass through security, because it won’t matter if it gets opened.

If you or your baby or toddler needs medication, please be sure to have that on hand in case of emergencies as well.

Extra Clothing

Make sure you bring a couple extra changes of clothes for your baby and maybe even an extra shirt for yourself. Accidents do happen and you will be glad you brought it if you do end up delayed for some reason. Bring your usual burp cloths plus one more.

Bring Toys

Bring a favorite toy and purchasing a couple of new toys can really help keep little ones from getting bored which ultimately ends in fussiness.

Bring the Stroller

Bring a stroller and check it in at the gate. If you are also taking a car seat and checking it in at the gate or using it on the flight, figure out a way to hook the car seat to the stroller using the latch belts or additional rope/string. I usually hook it to the handle of the stroller. You could even use a small bungee cord. Toss any hand carry luggage or purse in the basket at the bottom of the stroller or hang it over the handles. You may also want to buy one of those bright red gate check bags for our strollers. It keeps them clean and the bag folds up really small and hooks to your stroller.

Slip Through Airport Security

Wear snap, Velcro shoes or slip-on shoes if at all possible. Avoid shoes with laces because it slows down the process of getting things back in order. Wear clothing without metal embellishments on it and avoid belt buckles. Do wear clothes or pants with pockets or carry a fanny pack to keep your plane tickets and ID there for easy access when going through security and boarding the flight. Wearing your baby will give you an extra hand when having to put the stroller and all your carry-ons through. You may or may not be asked to remove the baby and put the sling through, but by then all your stuff should be through security.

Strollers and car seats will need to go through the x-ray machines. So be prepared to collapse them and put them through. Many airport in the U.S. have a handicap and family accessible line at security for those within little children, strollers and car seats. Take advantage of it and avoid waiting in long lines.

Get On Last

Flight attendants allow families with little kids to aboard the plane first. We always do the opposite. I let the kids run around or bounce on my lap as long as they can before I confine them to a small space where they have to sit still for long periods of time.

Any Empty Seating?

I recommend if you can at all buying a seat for your child. It helps the infant, esp a toddler to realize that it is a time for being still and entertain him/herself AND it gives mom and/or dad a needed break from a squirming child on their lap. Of course, it really is a safer way to travel in case of turbulence or worse on the plane. If I can not afford at all to buy a seat …

Difference Between a Plasma TV and LCD TV

If you have recently started looking for a new TV, you know that choosing the right TV that meets your needs can be a difficult decision. Plasma TV and LCD TV are the two main choices in the TV market. Before you select one of these types of large, slim, and flat display TVs, it is important to understand the difference between the two so you do not regret your purchase.

Plasma TV

Plasma TV technology is loosely based on the fluorescent light bulb. Between the plates of glass there are very small cells where such gases as ionized neon, argon, and xenon are injected and preserved in plasma form. When the ionized (electrically charged) gas is in its sealed plasma form, they produce the colored images green, blue phosphors, and red. When the Plasma TV set is being used, the gas is electrically charged at specific intervals which then hit the colors (each group of red, green, and blue phosphors is called a pixel) and produces the image on the television. Plasma TV technology make use of the burning of phosphors to produce the image. Plasma TV advantages include: high quality image, better contrast ratio, color accuracy, and color saturation, the display of the color black is quite vivid, and viewers are able to clearly view the television image at different angles. Plasma TVs are available in a larger screen size than the LCD TVs. Plasma TV disadvantages include: screen burn of static images, excessive heat production, and the glass screens are fragile.

LCD TV

LCD TVs use different technology than plasma televisions. LCD panels consist of 2 layers of clear material, which are polarized and then ‘glued’ together. One layer has been coated with a specific polymer that holds the individual liquid crystals. An electrical current passes through each crystal which permits the crystals to allow light in or block the light in order to produce and display the television images. LCD crystals require an external light source for the image to be created by the LCD so that it is visible to the person watching the television. LCD TVs are not as good at tracking motion as Plasma. They have poorer contrast ratio and individual pixels can burn out resulting in small, visible, black or white dots to appear on the screen. The big screen sizes are not as common as with the plasma. The advantages of LCD TVs include: less power is needed, less heat is needed and generated, they do not emit radiation, they have increased image brightness over plasma, perform better at higher altitudes, they are lighter in weight, and they have a longer display life.

For many people, it is essential that they have the right television. Today, Plasmas and LCDs are used all over the world When you understand the differences between the LCD TV and Plasma TV which includes the advantages and disadvantages of each one, you will be in a better position to get a TV that meets your personal needs and preferences.…

RV, Mobile Home and Trailer Parks – What Are Differences and Similarities?

Before I begin to note similarities and differences, I want to define what mobile home parks, trailer parks and RV Parks. Trailer Parks are a designated area where many trailers are located in a small community. The trailers are a rectangular shape and have smaller front rooms, kitchens, bedrooms and bathrooms to accommodate the size. Often, yards are shared, or there are no yards. Mobile Home Parks are a designated small community of mobile homes. Mobile homes are generally wider and feel more like a real home inside, especially if they are a double wide mobile home. They are more square-shaped and the living areas are larger than a trailer. In trailer parks, there are generally only trailers and in mobile home parks, there are usually mostly mobile home parks. RV Parks, however, are intended for RVs.

RVs, or Recreation Vehicles, are a home on wheels. Some RVs are pulled behind another vehicle and some RVs are motorized and are a home and vehicle all in one. Incidentally, there are over 13,000 privately owned RV Parks nationwide and 1,600 state parks in the USA. Cutting right to the chase, there are a few differences and a few similarities. The first difference I see is that RV Parks were intended for short-term stay, while mobile home Parks and trailer parks were intended for long-term stay. Second of all, RV Parks are intended for tourists and Mobile Home/Trailer Parks are intended for locals. As far as similarities go, in some parts of this country, and in Australia, mobile home/RV/trailer parks can be used interchangeably. Another similarity would be many trailers/RVs/ mobile homes in tight quarters. In regards to the amount of time that is usually spent in RV Parks vs. Trailer/Mobile Home Parks. If you’ll notice in RV Parks versus mobile home/trailer parks, there is not a lot fee. There is no point to have a lot fee if the tenants are only staying a few days. However, there is a point to a lot fee if the tenant stays a few years.

Many choose to live in Trailer/Mobile Home Parks because mobile homes and trailers can cost upwards of $10,000 to move and trailers are a similar price (according to my sister who lives in a mobile home). Often, trailers and mobile homes are not easy to sell and not easy to get lending for, which is another reason for tenants to want to stay living there long-term. RVs can be a lot easier to move – often you can unhook your hookups, pay the RV Park fee and be on your way. I’ve never seen an RV Park with a yard, but I’ve seen some trailer/mobile home parks with yards – a sign of permanence right there. After talking with my sister, mobile home/trailer parks don’t mention what to do in the area for fun, which signifies they are intended for locals who already know what is in the area. However, in all of the RV Park websites I’ve been to, activities of nearby are mentioned. Some tourists know activities in the area, but most don’t, so they need all the help they can get. Many RV Parks, or RV Resorts I should say, have more amenities like swimming pools, activities for the kids, etc. Some mobile home parks have similar amenities, but mostly over 55 communities. Some amenities are meant for luring tourists into the RV Parks, that aren’t found in trailer or mobile home parks.

To start with similarities, in France, one cannot stay in either an RV Park or a mobile home/ trailer park for more than three months, even if they own the land. In Australia they are all one and the same and known as “Caravan Parks.” RV Parks, mobile home parks and trailer parks are similar as well in the fact that many people can live in their dwellings in a small amount of space. From the street while driving by, it may even be hard to tell the difference. Also, many places even in USA, trailer parks have RVs, trailers and mobile home parks. Due to lifestyle and financial changes, many are starting to live full-time, whether traveling or not, in RVs. Some stay in RV Parks, but many are choosing to stay in trailer parks. This depends on location, however. Some trailer parks not only house the regular trailers, but also travel trailers and other RVs. However, more and more RV Parks are now including the option of monthly, as well as weekly and daily rates. The monthly rate would be a lot fee, in effect.

So, all in all, mobile home parks, trailer parks and RV parks are family. They may or may not have a lot fee. They …