Avoid Travel Nightmares with Advance Planning

**By Meryl D. Pearlstein**

Who can forget the advertising tag line "Don't leave home without it"? If you start your vacation planning with this in mind, you'll have a better chance of avoiding many common vacation spoilers. Here are some tips to prepare you for the vagaries of vacation roulette:

Assume that something will delay your trip, whether it's by plane, train or automobile.

Weather delays, mechanical failures and traffic foul-ups all can blow out even the most finely tuned schedule.

Always pack a carry-on or a piece of accessible luggage with enough clothing, snacks, supplies, medications, toys and other necessities to steel you through a six-hour delay (minimum). Also, try to
leave a little flex time at both ends of your trip.

"Acts of God" do happen. No one could have foretold all the varied, counterintuitive weather effects from El Nino or the rash of tornadoes and fires of late. Items such as candles, matches, flashlights, folding umbrellas, ponchos, bug repellent, sunblock and a Swiss Army knife should always travel with you. You may not be able to buy them when you arrive. Prepare a packing list in advance.

How many times has your camera stopped working just when you find the perfect sunset, or when your child shakes hands with Mickey Mouse for the first time? Always bring along an extra battery, film and the directions for using your recording equipment. If you're nervous about experiencing a machinery meltdown, pack a couple of disposable cameras with you. The print quality is actually quite good, and you don't need any special ability to use them.

Pre-book as much as you can. Unless you're one of those travelers who lives and dies by spontaneity, you can save yourself a lot of disappointment by doing some homework.

If there's a restaurant you're dying to try, call for reservations before you even pack your bags. No one will fault you if you cancel later. And this one comes from the school of experience: If possible, reserve any midtrip accommodations in advance, or you may find yourself driving in search of a bed and a meal for many more miles than you had planned. Or you may end up staying in an RV park next to a swamp instead of in that cute bed and breakfast you had hoped for.

*Traveling with her two sons and husband has given Meryl Pearlstein a chance to "live" all over the world, something she's always longed to do. Meryl has been a writer from her earliest days on her junior high school newspaper,then working in marketing and advertising, and later as a travel publicist and travel writer. Meryl also drags her clan to restaurants throughout Manhattan where she critiques the ever-changing NYC food scene for Gayot.com. A Bostonian who remains true to the Red Sox despite her NYC residence, Meryl also writes for Fodor's Guide to New York, and has written for www.ClubMom.com, the Boston Herald, Global Traveler, Fortune Small Business online, GQ, and New York Magazine.*

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[Source: Family Vacation Survival Guide - Posted by FreeAutoBlogger]

The "Insider's" Guide to Beaches Resorts: Resort Activities

**By Susan Finch**

Beaches offers its guests the opportunity for adventure, without leaving the convenience of the resort. It's an ideal atmosphere for families who get a little stir crazy after a few hours of relaxation, and also for guests who don't want to venture too far. Activities on the Jamaica and Turks and Caicos properties vary slightly, but generally offer the same or similar activities for solo excursions and family fun. All activities listed are also included in your stay, so you're free to try new activities without worrying about restricting your budget to just one adventure.

Jamaica and Turks and Caicos boasts some of the most esteemed snorkeling and scuba diving in the world, so don't miss out on the chance to join an elite club of divers. For an additional fee, scuba divers can get certified directly at Beaches. A certified instructor offers in-depth training for the most inexperienced novices and seasoned divers alike. You can get certified and start diving the very next day and start exploring underwater caves, ominous shipwrecks, marine life, and more. Special boat trips also introduce guests to the most pristine and tranquil spots to flex their diving skills.

To work off some of those all-inclusive meals, hit the water with canoeing, kayaking, and hydro biking and start sailing across turquoise waters. Windsurfing, sail boats, and hobie cats are also on hand to enjoy your stretch of sand and surf while showing off on the water. Beaches Sandy Bay also offers water-skiing to guests, a rare adventure for even the most experienced sports enthusiast.

If you want to spend your time enjoying less adventurous activities, there's still plenty to do. Start with a glass-bottom boat ride to relax right on the water without ever venturing past your air-conditioned view from the inside. On resort, get the while family involved in a friendly game of beach volleyball, table tennis, shuffleboard, billiards, croquet, and board games. Daytime and evening tennis are also available for practice or a spontaneous competition with guests. And for kids who want their own thrill-seeking fun, turn them loose at Pirate's Island water park.

Don't forget to check out the resorts' fitness centers complete with state of the art equipment, nautilus machines, treadmills, and more. For an additional fee, you can also head to the spa for a special stone treatment, facials, pedicures, sports massages, and special services for both men and women.


*Susan Finch is a freelance writer who has also worked extensively as a film and video editor on advertising, film, and corporate campaigns. As the daughter of a commercial airline pilot, she spent her childhood traveling and enjoying all the free perks while living in Atlanta. Her husband, a graphic designer, also has the travel bug and they use every excuse to hit the open road.*

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[Source: Family Vacation Survival Guide - Posted by FreeAutoBlogger]