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4 Things You Should Do When You Arrive at a Hotel

SavvySugar — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 00:51:54 PST

It's tempting to make a beeline for the resort pool when you first reach your hotel, but there are a few things you should try to do first if you want to make the most of your vacation. Stay healthy, prepared, and adventure-ready by performing these four must-dos as soon as you arrive.

Cozy up to the concierge. Before you race to your room, take the time to meet with the concierge and gather any necessary maps, brochures, and handouts. Avoid spending unnecessary cash by asking about local deals or special offers available through the hotel.
Investigate the WiFi situation. Is it free or is there a daily charge? Don't wait until there's a must-get-online crisis to call the operator. Find out the hotel's Internet policy right away and set up all user and password information on each of your devices to dodge any complications or hidden fees.

Read on for more handy hotel tips.

Escaping Winter's Chill? 10 Sweet and Sexy Suits For Beach-Going Mamas-to-Be

Natasha Dantzig — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 06:45:25 PST

Cute suit! Under the best of circumstances, bathing suit shopping isn't a favorite activity of many women. Every flaw - perceived or otherwise - is magnified under the horrific changing room lights; and that's when you're not pregnant! Expecting mamas face a whole new set of challenges when looking for that perfect babymoon suit, with comfort - physical and emotional - a top priority. Keep reading for ten suits to fit different mamas-to-be swim style: whether it's sweet, sexy, covered, or total bump baring.

What to Wear on a Warm Weather Holiday Vacation!

Allison McNamara — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 03:30:10 PST

It's getting cold outside, which means it's the perfect time to take a warm weather vacation. Take a break from chunky knits and scarves, and opt for neoprene stripes, cropped bright blouses, and tribal print maxidresses. So if you're heading out on a warm winter retreat, we've put together 3 stylish outfits to keep you looking polished in the sun. On Allison: Tibi dress, Equipment blouse

10 Perfect Finds For a Stylish Beach Getaway - All Under $100

Hannah Weil — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 13:29:51 PST

If you're lucky enough to get away someplace warm this Winter, the last thing you want to do is stress over what to pack. Basically, you should look as carefree as you feel on a beachy vacation, albeit with a hint of glamour. To help you do just that, we've culled a few of our sand-and-surf essentials, the kind of pieces that will take you from lounging at the pool to dinner in town with ease - because, really, that's what vacation's all about. Click through for our 10 perfect pieces to pack, from embellished sandals to punchy coverups - and nothing's over $100. Step inside and start plotting your Winter getaway.

7 Easy Ways to Make Vacation Bliss Last

Emily Co — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 03:05:14 PST

All good things come to an end, and that includes vacation as well. Settling back into work is hard especially when you're missing the sun and sand or whatever you immersed yourself in during your travels, but the vacation bliss doesn't have to end. It's said that people reap more benefit from multiple short vacations rather than one long one, because we derive most of the pleasure of our trip from planning. Personally, I think there are plenty of happy aftereffects as well.

I recently took a trip and am determined to make the happy travel buzz last for a good while. Here are some simple strategies I've been using:

Put Your Memories on Facebook: Upload your images and videos of the trip onto Facebook and watch the discussions begin! It's fun to see friends commenting back and forth on pictures and videos, and it'll be a constant reminder of the special moments you captured of your trip with your camera.

Buy Souvenirs: A souvenir is a physical memory of the fantastic time you had on your travels. Leave it around your house or at the office to inspire some awesome daydreams. Reader Lovely_1 puts it best when she said, "I like to buy something nice for my home that i can display. Then when someone comments on it I can be like 'Oh, I got that in Fiji!'"

For more ways to memorialize your trip, read on.

5 Ways Flexibility Can Cut Travel Costs

SavvySugar — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 05:00:56 PDT

When it comes to bargains, it pays to play it cool. High maintenance travelers can be as finicky as they want while on vacation, but that approach won't get you the cheapest trip while in planning mode. Think flexibility when organizing a vacation, and the deals will come to you.

Pack Your Pedals to Bike at Your Vacation Destination

Susi May — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 10:42:33 PDT

I love a beach vacay, but after two days of lounging on the sand I am itching to move. Many beach towns have bike shops that rent to tourists, but I give the beautiful (and heavy) cruisers a pass and rent a road bike - at some stores you can arrange a rental for an entire week. Almost as important as packing your cycling shorts (riding with a chamois keeps everyone happy) is to bring your shoes and pedals; they are a set and literally made for each other. And there is no guarantee that the beach-town bike store will have pedals to match your cleats.

You can remove your pedals yourself with a pedal wrench (one costs anywhere between $15 and $25). Just remember the pedals are threaded differently; the right one is removed counterclockwise and the left side pedal removed clockwise. Not into DIY bike maintenance? Your hometown bike shop can help you too for a minimum labor charge around $5. Only thing is, you will have to drive or walk your bike home, unless you have an extra set of pedals to spare. If you have room in your suitcase, pack your seat too. I have found rental bikes can have mighty uncomfortable saddles. Be sure to check out Map My Ride for routes at your vacation destination.

Do you ride while you're on vacay?

Pack Your Bags: Crewcuts's Jenny Cooper Tells Us What to Pack For a Family Vacation

Rebecca M Gruber — Fri, 05 Aug 2011 05:20:44 PDT

August is a month of travel for many families - a time to pack everyone up and head to the shore for a few days or weeks of relaxation and bonding before the hectic school year begins. With family vacations in mind, we turned to Jenny Cooper, head designer at J.Crew's Crewcuts division, to see what she'd bring on a family trip. A mom of two boys - Walker, 9, and Miller, 6 - the Brooklyn mama knows a thing or two about packing light and giving her tots some leeway with their travel bags. Keep reading to see her picks!

What to Eat, Wear, and Do on Your Next Long Flight

Leta Shy — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 10:16:49 PDT

Whether you're jet-setting out of town to beat the heat or searching for it, Summer vacation can mean a few dehydrating, monotonous, or stressful hours on an airplane before you reach your rest and relaxation destination.

If you're gearing up for a long flight, make sure you're prepared so you can make those hours as healthy as they can be. Before you go on vacation, read these tips to make sure you have a healthy and safe flight.

Germ fighter. The air in there may not be as dangerously full of germs as you may think - in fact, airplane air is often filtered more often than the air in most office buildings - but that doesn't mean you're not more susceptible to diseases when you're up in the sky. While the coughs and sneezes of your fellow passengers may not make you ill, the fast turnaround times between flights means that certain areas on planes don't regularly get disinfected like they should. Carry a bottle of hand sanitizer for a quick wipe down of your area when you first sit down.

Read on for more tips on having a healthy flight.

Make the Most of Your Trip With These 3 Tips

Emily Co — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 12:17:20 PDT

We all need vacations sometime during the year, because they make for a great break from the daily grind and are great for our mental well-being to boot. The New York Times provided several tips from travel experts on how one can maximize the benefits of trips. Here are a few of my favorites:

Take some time to chill before vacation. Most of us often work ourselves to the bone right before vacation, and perhaps we're trying to make up for the time we're going to be spending out of the office. Al Gini, the author of The Importance of Being Lazy, recommends travelers take a few days to unwind before heading off to their trips. Setting aside a day just for packing or making last-minute plans is highly recommended.
Have a happy ending. Try to end your trip on a good note, do your best to plan a great activity before your flight; make your last memory one of the best. Pack the night before your departure so you can enjoy your last activity and not have to rush. Book reservations at a quaint restaurant you've been eager to try or take one last leisurely walk to soak in the local sights.
Shorten the length of your trip. It's been advised that taking a couple of short trips can be more beneficial than taking one long trip, as one of the best parts of travel is the anticipation. Jeroen Nawijn, a tourism research lecturer at Netherland University, tells the Times that he "found that the length of stay has very little influence on how people feel during a trip or afterwards."

Do you have more tips for a happy holiday?