Some folks may choose a summer vacation so they have time to work around their house, performing many projects that cannot be done in winter weather. Working vacations are often taken by those whose children are no longer attending school during the winter months or those that have no desire or financial means of taking the time away from work. Taking summer vacation can give them the uninterrupted time they need to perform major work around the house, inside and out.

Some professions encourage staff to take vacations during the summer months, when the type of business there is a decline in customers.  Other companies or service providers though do all their business in the summer so this is not a good time for them.

I love going on summer vacation no matter where that may be and usually it is during my fall or winter time of year so I can experience a brief but wonderful relief from the cold for at least a little while. See the picture of my holiday in Hawaii during December.

Depending on the destination, planning  on summer vacation times can take anywhere from a few days to a few weeks, and the long nights of winter are the ideal time to make plans and reservations for a vacation once the weather breaks.

Possibly the best time to take a vacation in the warmer parts of the country are during the winter months as the prices are generally lower ad the crowds are thinner. Although many of the nearby attractions may not be open, there will not be as many people to contend with, providing more privacy.  For example I like to go to Hawaii in November when it is out of season and less expensive and the weather is not as hot.

If you are going on summer vacation this year why not think of next year now.  Go on your summer vacation in off season for your destination, still enjoy the sun but have less crowds and less expense.  Take advantage of cheaper flights as well and a good place to compare these are at Cheapflights.com.  Look at different dates and see the difference it can make on your vacation money.

Many hotels and tourist spots have special facilities for seniors and often at an discounted prices.  Older people should always be alert to their surroundings, first because they don’t know the place and may not have any knowledge of its culture if traveling overseas, and second, seniors can be vulnerable and seen as an easy mark for thieves.  Also when booking a hotel ask about whether the shower is in the bath, that can make a big difference if you have mobility problems or if you are like me and afraid of falling in a slippery bath.

Seniors should make sure they carry all the appropriate documents they needed just in case a problem may occur like identity cards, passports, visas and a driving license. Make sure to make photocopies of these entire documents and keep it on a safe place. Ensure that all your documents are valid and as much as possible take out the original documents.

Choose if you want to travel by train, bus, ship or plane. It’s better to use airplanes if the destination is far and time is short.  Also vacation travel with friends or in a group is perfect. Organized groups for seniors are often more slow paced and perfect for your needs and is a safe way to travel.

Before the trip, get a thorough physical checkup.  When going on your vacation travel it's good to  know you are healthy and fit to avoid being on a trip to all the hospitals where you’re going.  Get vaccinations if needed.  Don’t forget to bring your medicines with you and make sure to include your prescriptions. This also applies to your glasses as well and I like to take a spare pair if I have one.

It’s better to prepared everything you needed on a vacation travel ahead of time to avoid unnecessary stress and regret later.

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When you want to have a vacation, luggage is the most important thing to carry, well if you don’t have luggage where will you put all your personal things?  So it’s a must.  On buying luggage, you must consider if it is light to carry, expandable or does it have wheels, in able for you to move more quickly and be less tired.  Also you have to consider what your bag weighs before you add anything so the lighter the better.

Buying luggage in plenty of time before you leave is very vital because if you wait until the last minute it could ruin your dream vacation travel. No one wants a suitcase that breaks open in transit.  If you have plans to have some vacation soon then before you buy tickets think what luggage you will need.

If you’re planning to have a vacation travel for less than a week, then small luggage like a weekend bag or a small roller suitcase is best for you. But if you have more than a week or two, you need to buy bigger luggage so that you can bring more clothes and the essentials you can't do without.

Buying luggage can cost a lot of money, so it’s significant to consider you’re buying before you make it. Luggage can be both trendy and convenient but remember that it will quickly damage depending on its usage.  If you travel less, you should consider durability and practicality.  If you travel a lot, you should not only consider an item for it’s cost but how long it will last you.  Designer luggage is more durable and it is well made but you pay for that as well but it can be worth it if you travel often.

Evaluating cost, design, toughness and practicality will help you choose just the right luggage for your vacation travel needs and will help assure you that the luggage that you buy is an excellent one.

Last minute luggage buying is not advisable. Admit it, we are fond of last minute shopping, but you need to plan on buying luggage ahead of your travel schedule in order for you to make the right decision.

Remember, your luggage is your biggest companion when you’re on vacation travel.  Take care of it and make sure your luggage is always near you, if not, it might get lost, so be careful and don't wait until the last minute to buy it.  Check out great luggage on Ebay...Deals are on ESSENTIAL LUGGAGE on this site and also see some great deals to the right ------>

Words for the Music

I hope you enjoyed and the music which was very uplifting wasn't it.  I will be doing some reviews of the Philippines in posts in the future.

I stayed at an airport hotel overnight and took a shuttle to the dock and unloaded by bags with the porter.  It took around 1.5 hours to board, go through the scanner, get my picture taken and find my cabin.  I had an inside cabin and was sharing with someone the group had assigned me. The ship was a bit confusing in its layout and as it was so big (well the biggest I have been on).

The first day was at sea and it was formal night and the show was a dance show which was quite good but didn't quite flow.  Second day was in Grand Cayman and was by tender to dock.  At this port I did the Stingray tour which was just incredible. The water was warm and the creatures so silky but a little scary at first.  You go about 20 minutes by boat out to the sandbar.  Don't forget to take an underwater camera (I had a disposable one that worked fine).  The singles group had a 70s night and karaoke in the Paris Hot Lounge so taking an organized singles cruise can mean you have company and activities which is great.

Third day we docked at Roatan and I did the tour of the west side of the island.  We went to beach and shops, butterfly farm and botanic gardens. The people speak English and Spanish and eat the local iguanas (although they are protected).  Tonight was black/white attire and cabin crawl with the singles.  On fourth day we docked at Costa Maya and I took the Mayan Tour.  The ruins were very interesting bit it was very hot and humid there.  I spent the afternoon in the pool bar with a frozen Martguerita and with other singles from the group.  It was formal night again tonight and we all had pre dinner drinks in the Winston Bar.

We docked at Cozumel on the fifth day. Very pretty town and after shopping I went with a friend to Carlos and Charlies and had margaritas and joined in the conga line and danced a bit.  You have to try it!  The last day was at sea so I relaxed for awhile on deck in the sun.   By afternoon though we had a salsa lesson in the One Step Lounge which was quite fun.  The theme tonight was Caribbean and karaoke in the Paris Hot Bar where everyone was taking pictures of the groups we had spent time with during our cruise.  On debarkation day it took about an hour and I got a taxi fairly easily.

I really enjoyed this trip and it was a lot different being on a singles cruise.  I would recommend it to anyone traveling alone.  You can join in as much or as little as you want.  The Valor is a beautiful ship and I hope to travel on her again.

I hope you like roosters waking you up in the morning as they are everywhere.
This is a great place to get married or have your honeymoon.
You can catch the local bus around Rarotonga which is $4 one way or $7 return.
If you want flexibility then hire a motor bike or car.  We hired a small convertible which was a lot of fun.
All the dogs are medium to large size and not on leads.  This is probably due to interbreeding.
It has the best weather, not too hot or cold and is the perfect beach vacation.
You have to get a driver's license from the police station which costs $20 if you want to drive.When riding a bike you don't have to helmet if you go less than 25 kms.
Buy fresh local fruit like bananas and pawpaw (papaya) from roadside stalls.
Take an underwater camera.   You can get disposable ones.  The fish and coral are worth capturing.
Make sure you credit card will work in the automatic teller machines.  Banks on the island are ANZ and Westpac.
Take plenty of sunscreen and a hat.  This applies really to all summer vacation travel destinations but its summer all year round here.
Do a cultural dinner and show.  Most resorts hold them.
Sunday a lot of the shops are closed so don't wait for Sunday to buy those souvenirs.
Take your own snorkel gear.  You can snorkel anytime and anywhere you want then.  Most resorts have them but they won't allow you take them off their property.
Visit the Cultural Markets on a Saturday morning in town.  A lot of the same stuff but it is a good atmosphere with native dances and music as well.

These are my own observations but I encourage you to research the internet for others as well as this will give you a better idea of what to expect and what to do and not do at Rarotonga.  Whatever you do this has to be the best vacation travel destination I have been to.

When we arrived at the Banyan Tree we were taken into the main building to check in and were given some refreshments while this was being checked in.  We had some ginger and lime chilled tea which was so refreshing.  We were escorted by buggy to our Valley Villa and it was spectacular even at first sight with an outside spa and lounging deck, four poster bed with mosquito net, window seat and sunken shower/bath with separate vanities.

Every day we were left some fruit delicacy and my favorite was local banana and cinnamon. We tried out The Cove which was an Italian restaurant and was very pleased with the views and the food.  We also had dinner at the Saffron and enjoyed that with its lovely ambiance. We had breakfast the first morning at Tree Tops Restaurant but it was a bit expensive so we opted to eat on our deck the rest of the time.

The whole Banyan Tree Resort is a very peaceful place and wherever you want to go you can get a buggy to take you there.  The resort is hilly and if you stay in the valley villas you will welcome the ride.  We used the pool and the beach area and walked across from there to Ansara Resort which is a sister resort.

My partner had a massage and I had a pedicure while we were there and we loved the attention the professional staff gave us at the Spa.  They really look after you there with a time to relax before your treatments with a refreshment and also another afterward.  We never felt rushed.

We spent 3 nights here but could have stayed a week.

Liked:  Peaceful, beautiful surroundings
Disliked:  Breakfast a bit expensive
Tip:  Explore every part of the resort and take the buggies

The room was OK although a little on the small side but clean.  We were only staying two nights and we didn't have breakfast included or eat at the restaurant so I cant comment on that.  We ate most of our meals at Knotsford Terrace which was a short walk away.  There were a few good shops I liked in that complex and some good eateries which were reasonably priced.

We also walked down to the harbor and caught the Star Ferry across the harbor which was a nice experience and I would recommend it.  Shopping of course is good in Hong Kong and this hotel is walking distance from the main shopping district. The location of the hotel is really very convenient to whatever you want to see in Hong Kong.

There is an Airport Express stop (free bus that takes you to the train station) across the road from the hotel and I recommend that you use this to get to the airport as you can check your luggage in at the train stop all the way through, so you don't have to check them again at the airport.   I loved the train experience and would use it again rather than a taxi or shuttle as I have done before.

This hotel is not 'flash' but if you are looking for a convenient location then this one is quite satisfactory.  If you are staying a week then I would look for something a little better.  There are a lot of choices in Hong Kong for hotels at different qualities and prices to suit your needs.  Just remember to stay near the shopping or the harbor or both because to me that makes Hong Kong so special.

Liked:  Convenient location
Disliked:  Smallish room
Tip:  Take the Airport Express Bus to and from the airport