Travel Memories and Stress Free Vacation are So Rewarding

I was sitting here just refecting on the vacations we have taken over the years.   The memories that you create on Vacation with your family and friends are something you JUST CAN'T and WON'T forget.  Memories of a Stress Free Vacation are so rewarding.

Traveling Throughout Live is a Journey and we each must choose our own path.  Have you ever wondered how you ever got into the line of business you are in.   More important - have you really taken advantage of the time that you earn to be off work.

Vacation is such a precious time and you should start planning your day trips or family get aways soon.  Time is ticking and I hear many people say "I WISHED I HAD GONE TO......."  It is never too late to just pack up your car, get on a plane and be on your way.  Some great sites I suggest for research are National Park System  http://www.nps.gov/index.htm and http://www.nps.gov/getinvolved/index.htm.  You can actually be involved in may ways to help preserve our parks.  National Geographics has a great site for seeing the world through aminals and amazing and fun Vacation Spots.  http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/travel/?source=NavTravHome

If you plan enough ahead a small vacation can be affordable.  I encourage people to take some time to time to research a location that they are interested in, set up a travel saving account (similar to a Christmas Fund).  Many of the tour operators I as a Professional Travel Agent allow as little as $50.00 per person down to hold a vacation to Hawaii.  Buying travel On-Line you have to pay everything on a credit card right now.  Not my idea of helping counsel people on how to Plan a Stress Free Vacation.

Involve your children in deciding where to go for your next Family Vacation.  Give your kids the opportunity to do some research on their computer and see what fun activities they can find.  While traveling in the National and State Parks there are great resources for Family Involvement.

Arm Chair Travel turns into a reality when you put a Plan into Action.  If you need some help with ideas of where to go next - feel free to contact me  Jeanne Felix, Travel Agent  http://travelatheart.com

Road Trip Traveling Across America - Rest Stops and Welcome Centers - Sightseeing- Where to Next

We have been on a Road Trip for 6 days and it is amazing all the resources that are available for the Road Warrior. The best advise when doing long distance driving trips is to be prepared for ANYTHING. Be flexible in your plans and routes. Never know if there is a National Park or State Treasure that you might want to make a side trip. Check out your Rest Stops and Welcome Centers for Great Information and Free Maps.

Gas: I think the best tool for finding the best gas prices is GasBuddy.com. We have found that gas prices fluctuate quite a bit depending on the state your are traveling through. The Interstate Exits usually offer the best gas prices. We have experienced $3.19 - $3.75 across the heart of America. The octane is a little lower in some states, so be sure to check the specs on your vehicle.

Rest Stops: I always say to stop by the Welcome and Visitor Centers as you enter into the State you are visiting. The Maps that you pick up will show the Town and Directions to pertinent information. Rest Stops are a very vital part of traveling. You need to stop to rest, relax or have a picnic. Important to rest some after putting the foot on the pedal for so long. Most Rest Stops are indicated by the Exit Number and along the freeway you will see signs of the "NEXT SERVICES...so many miles away. Great Help when you are getting tired or just need a break along the way.

Important Site Seeing Information: If you check your smart phone or the websites of The Department of Transportation of the states you are planning on visiting you can gain lots of Travel Information. Don't miss the sites and parks of our Nation. There are so many beautiful places to see and experience. Do the exploring as a family and that will build Child Hood Memories of your children for years to come.

Rental Cars: Make sure if you are planning a road trip that your rental car company will allow you to travel in all states. When Renting at the International Airports, they usually will not limit the travel areas for your car rental. When Renting a Vehicle at a Local Agency be sure to ask them what states you are able to travel to..... THIS IS VERY INPORTANT. Be sure to check with your insurance company when renting and what you will be covered on when you rent a car.

Camera: Never fear if you forgot your camera just just use your Smart Phone, but down load them to save your memories. Memories can be lost if you don't take steps to protect your pictures. Download often and be prepared if you accidently lose your phone.

Dining: Dining is something that is a personal choice. Some Eat and Go, others need to break up the trip with a indoor dining experience. What ever your choice, make sure that you leave some room for low calories snakes along the way.

FINAL NOTE: Keep your mind busy with reading sign and making stops often. You are on a trip so enjoy it and see the sights. Allow lots of time as things will change along the way. After this trip, start planning your next trip. Need ideas give me a call or check out my facebook Travel Tips Page http://www.facebook.com/travelagentjeannefelix. Happy and Safe Travels Jeanne Felix, Travel Agent and Fun Counselor

For Traveling Vacations -Smart Phones helps Keep Your Travel Memories Safe and Updated via Social Media

Have you ever taken a trip and forgot your computer?  Well life will not come to an end and you don't have to be too far away from being connected.  Internet Cafe's and Hotel Internet Connections  are Everywhere in the World. Being Connected via Social Media is a way to communicate and share your trip as you go.

When Traveling in Europe we found that many people were traveling around the world without having their computers or  might have forgotten their cameras.  There is no problem in this picture.  You can travel in most countries and have the availabily to use your Smart Phone and just travel with a larger chip to capture all your memories.  We have traveled all over the world and have never found a problem getting connected to facebook, twitter or email accounts.  I only have one warning.  When using a Internet Cafes bring lots of money with you and always log out of your accounts when you are done.

Wanted to let you know that the keyboards in Europe are quite different.  Before you start downloading your pictures or writing an email be sure to ask about the @ sign and the underscore are located in different places.  Have the attendant help you answer your questions before you get started. 

If you are traveling overseas I highly recommend bringing a small computer so that you have a secure connection and you can download your pictures as you go.  We have had people try to fix things on our camera and lost valuable pictures that you can never ever replace -  gone (PUFF).  Your memories are so important and you need to protect them at all costs.

I have had clients loose their phones, but had uploaded their pictues to Facebook and they were sure glad they did.  Facebook allowed them to create albums so this is where Social Media can save the day.  Being connected is wonderful for sharing and caring, but it can also preserve your memories in case of a lost camera or phone.

We take a 10" computer with us and our smart phones are our cameras. Happy Travels and hope this information is helpful. Today is Tomorrow's Memories.