Travels Bureau

Travel Tips

2008-12-15T10:52:00.000-08:00

Things To Do Before Your Flight

You completed your travel booking – the airline tickets are booked, hotel is reserved and car rental reservations are complete. Now it's time to get organized. The trip planning process includes everything from buying your plane tickets to packing to making reservations at your destination. Before you head to the airport to catch your flight, make sure you've taken care of everything on your trip planning list.

Call your credit card company

Many credit card companies have identity protection plans in place that help protect travelers from theft and fraud. In some cases, this means travelers must contact their credit card companies before traveling to ensure the card will work in another destination. This is usually only necessary for international travelers, but it can't hurt to place the call for domestic travel, too.

Place a stop or hold on mail and deliveries
Daily newspapers, magazines and mail will pile up while you're on vacation. Do yourself a favor and place a stop on all automatic deliveries. Simply call the newspaper circulation department and let them know you'll be placing your delivery on hold for the time you're away.

In an effort to keep your mail from overflowing in the mailbox, and to help protect against identity theft, have the post office hold your mail for the time you're traveling. Your nearest branch will have a form for you to fill out and you can pick up your mail upon your return.

Emergency phone numbers
This rule applies for those who might need to reach you while you're away, and those you might need to get in touch with while you're traveling. Before you leave, take some time to write out two lists: one for home and one for away.

Home: Leave contact phone numbers with family members and friends in case they need to reach you while you're traveling.

Examples include:

Phone number of the hotel(s) where you're staying
Airline flight information and phone numbers
Phone numbers of the people you're traveling with
If you're traveling with a group or tour company, leave the company's contact information.
Phone numbers for doctors/veterinarians, if necessary

Away: While you're away, it's a good idea to keep a list of emergency travel numbers with you. Those contacts include:

Credit card companies
Doctor's office
Airline phone numbers
Your Embassy in the country you are visiting

Set up pet care
If you have furry friends at home, make sure they are well provided for before you leave town. This includes leaving emergency phone numbers, and also some extra tasty treats to keep animals happy in your absence. Here are a few other must-do's before you drop off your pet:

Call the local pet kennel or pet sitter and ensure a reservation is in place for the time you'll be away.
Make sure all medications for your pet and the veterinarian's phone number are packed with your pet before you leave.
If your pet has particular rituals, make sure to leave specific instructions with the pet care provider.

Cash out
Never leave town without some cash – domestic or foreign currency! If you're traveling within the country, make sure to hit the bank before you leave. Taking cash with you will ensure you don't pay ATM surcharge fees in another destination.

If you're traveling international, it's a good idea to carry some of the local country's currency with you. Take enough cash for cab fare or transfer fees so you don't have to go in search of an ATM when you arrive.

Pack maps, guide books, public transportation schedules
Before you head out into the unknown, do a little research and bring along some guides. Do you know what to do in the event the public subway system is not working? If you missed the bus at one bus stop, how do you get to the next stop? Maps, guide books and transportation schedules can be very handy when it comes to travel.

Check the weather
Before you zip up the suitcase and head to the airport, do one last check of the local weather in your destination. Just because you're traveling to a beach destination doesn't mean it's going to be sunny all week. The weather has a funny way of changing last minute and you don't want to be caught unprepared. The day before you leave, check the weather conditions and make any necessary adjustments to clothes and amenities.

Make reservations
If you're planning a spa vacation, golf getaway or just a romantic dinner for two at your destination's top restaurant, it's a good idea to make reservations before the trip. The hotel concierge is a good source for recommendations if you're unsure where to book. Call the hotel before your trip and ask the concierge to send you a list of restaurants, golf courses, spas or other entertainment activities in the area.

Pack your essentials
Double check before leaving the house that you have all necessary essentials to travel with. Do you know where your passport is located? Did you pack all your necessary medications? The best way to ensure you've packed everything necessary for your trip is to make a list of your daily needs for one week. List everything from your medications to the credit cards you use. When it comes time for packing, refer to your list so you don't forget anything important.

Plan your first days at your destination
This is especially helpful if you're traveling somewhere new and unfamiliar. If you're traveling internationally, you'll need a list of things to do at your destination to help fight off jet lag. Take a look at local guides and find out what shopping, attractions and restaurants are near your resting place. Take a walk around your hotel and get familiar with amenities like the health club, spa, fitness center, swimming pool, restaurants and bars. Planning ahead will help make a hectic first day seem a little more organized.

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Disneyland Resort and Disney Adventure Park

2008-11-27T03:47:00.000-08:00

If you're looking for action and adventure in the Newport Beach area, the Disneyland Resort is everything you need. Bigger and more magical than ever, the world famous Disneyland is just a short ride from the Little Inn by the bay. With the addition of the California Adventure Island, the Disneyland Resort is better than ever.

For kids of all ages, Disneyland is where the dreams come alive. From riding the many rides to the magical parade and seeing the enchanting characters of Disney in person, no place on earth can capture the wonder and magic like Disneyland.

With everyday excitement and the seasonal events like the fireworks display, Disneyland Resort will keep kids of all ages enchanted for hours. Best of all, Disneyland Resort has something for the entire family.

You can also learn about past and present California at the Disney Adventure Park, as well as learn about the colorful history that makes California what it is today. Things such as the California Gold Rush and the Hollywood Golden Years are all included at the Adventure Park.

There are plenty of family activities to be found here as well, such as the Muppet Vision 3D, Twilight Zone Tower, and several others. From enjoying the rides to exploring everything in the Disneyland Park, you can spend hours and hours here and still not discover all of the magic.

When you get hungry, be rest assured that the resort has plenty of places to eat. You can stop and eat at one of the restaurants or simply grab some food from one of the many vendors. There are all kinds of treats here as well, from caramel apples to cotton candy.

What was once a tourist attraction giant, has become even bigger with the recent addition of the Disney California Adventure Park. The park has become very popular as well, helping to add an extra bit of kick to the resort.

Although there are many reasons to visit Newport Beach, few are bigger than either the Disneyland Resort or the Disney Adventure Park. Both are great for the entire family, and both will provide days and days of cutting edge entertainment.

If you plan to visit Newport Beach or a nearby area, you shouldn't hesitate to take your family to the Disneyland Resort. It's a short distance from the Little Inn by the bay in Newport Beach, which is more than worth that extra bit of time.

100th Anniversary of Christmas Boat Parade at Newport Beach

2008-11-17T12:13:00.000-08:00

Picture million dollar yachts, kayaks, electric boats and other watercrafts gliding through the Newport Harbor - and you have the Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade. The parade features dazzling holiday lights that light up the bay, amazing the nearly one million visitors that crowd Newport Beach and Newport Harbor. What makes this year's parade more spetacular is the celebration of its 100 years of Christmas Cheer.

From December 17 - 21, 2008, there's going to be more than 200 vessels participating in this holiday celebration. Several of these vessels will be decorated for the season, playing music and displaying Christmas decorations and costumed carolers. In the past, some yacht owners have spent as much as 50,000 dollars in decorations for their yacht.

Over the course of 14 miles, the yachts and watercraft will amaze the spectators. For years, the Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade has dazzled spectators and locals. All along the beach, the parade provides views for restaurants, locals, private home owners, and even those on public beaches.

Along with the private boats, many charter companies offer the chance for parade goers to participate in the parade and view the "Ring of Lights", a group of spectacular homes all around the harbor. The "Ring of Lights" is a popular addition to the parade, with prizes given for those who have the best decorations on their homes.

The parade, in previous years, starts off at Bay Island at 6:30 pm and finishes at the same site at approximately 9:00 pm each evening. But the 2008 Parade will feature a new starting and ending point, located off Bay Island. The parade itself will run the same route as last year - it will just start and end in a different place. This will change the time at which the parade passes points along the harbor from previous years.

The 2008 route and schedule can be found here >>2008 Route Map and Schedule

The reasons for the change are explained here >>>2008 Route Change Details

Experience San Diego

2008-11-10T04:59:00.000-08:00

A Visit to San Diego for the first time can be quite overwhelming, especially when you consider that there are so many things you can do. Taking a decision about what to do when there and where to go can be quite time consuming, which is where we can help. Listed below, are the best eight spots in San Diego, you just simply must experience.

1. Trolley ride: San Diego may not have the best public transit system, but they do have the well known trolley. Experience the city better; simply buy an all day trolley pass- you'll see more of San Diego this way than you ever thought possible. The highways here can be quite intimidating, making the trolley the ideal way to travel.

2. Hitting the beach: The beach is where the action is, no matter what season you visit, the beach is one area that personifies the entire San Diego lifestyle. Whether you are watching the tide come in or soaking in the sun. From Mission Beach to the Belmont Park rollercoaster - make sure you hit the beaches here.

3. A taste of fish taco: This may sound strange to you but the fish taco is one of the best foods in San Diego. Deep fried, battered fish encased in a corn tortilla is one of the foods that once you try it the first time-you'll crave anytime you come back!

4. The Old Town: A must visit is the Old Town State Historic Park, a visit to the place brings back the past. Here you'll find snippets of Old San Diego everywhere you look. Although there are many fine restaurants here, take time to visit the Old Town Mexican Cafe because it serves the best Mexican food around San Diego.

5. The Pandas Haven: While Sea World and Legoland has their share of animals, the San Deigo zoo is no stranger to Pandas. When you visit the San Diego Zoo, visit in the morning - when the pandas are most active. The zoo is a tourist attraction, with the baby Su Lin, which is quite a feast for the eyes.

6. Balboa Park: After you check out the pandas, take a trip to the jewel of the city - Balboa Park. The atmosphere is breathtaking here, no matter when you visit. However, a visitaion on Tuesdays in most museums accords you a free admission. After you visit a while, dine at the Prado Restauraunt and experience great food in a great setting.

7. Nightlife at the Gaslamp: For eating, dancing, or just people watching, the Gaslamp Quarter in downtown San Diego is the place to be . You can experience the best of life in San Diego here, with food to fit every taste.

8. A trip to Mexico: San Diego borders Mexico, with Tijuana being a metropolis in its own right. A trip to Tijuana or Baja Mexico is perfectly safe day or night, no matter what you have heard. Note that they have their own laws; have your passport with you and enjoy everything that this foreign paradise will provide you with.

A Family Ski Vacation Plan

2008-11-07T04:50:00.000-08:00

It’s time to plan the family vacation – and everyone wants to go skiing. Don’t worry, skiing isn’t as expensive as you might think, and there are numerous resorts that cater to families, offering a variety of packages designed to save you money. The problem will be choosing the destination.

Most ski resorts have websites. Start the planning process by accessing these websites to determine where you and your family might want to go for your family ski vacation. There are many different things to look for when choosing a resort. The absolute most important thing to look for is a ski school if someone in your family will need instruction. While most resorts do have ski schools, some don’t. Don’t make the mistake of choosing a destination where one or more of your family members won’t have fun, simply because they don’t know how to ski.

Next, take a look at the slopes, lifts, and trails. You want to make sure that the resort has something to offer everyone in your family. If the resort only caters to beginners, an expert skier will become quickly bored. If you have a snowboarder in your group, and there is no snowboarding park or terrain, that snowboarder will not be happy. There are resorts that serve all winter sports – so make sure that your families interests are covered.

Lodging is the next thing to look at. You want to be comfortable, so where you will sleep at night matters a great deal. In most cases, there is a hotel right at the base of the slopes – but this isn’t necessarily the best or most affordable place to stay. Find out what your lodging options are for the area, and choose the one that is right for your family and your budget.If you will be staying farther away from the slopes, make sure that there is transportation to and from the slopes each day!

Your family will have many more interests that you will need to search for before deciding on a particular destination and resort. Some of those interests may be dog sledding, sleigh rides, snowmobiling, snowshoeing, or horseback riding. Resorts do offer these activities, but some don’t – so be sure to ask about the winter activities, as well as the planned events during the time that you will be at the resort.

This will help you plan a ski vacation that your family will enjoy and remember for the rest of their lives.