For a start you should pack your travel items and clothes according to the research you have done to ensure that you won’t need to make any unnecessary purchases when you get to your destination. On a recent trip we didn’t know that the restaurant only allowed men to wear long pants to dinner in the hotel restaurant; we only discovered this when my husband arrived with only shorts in his suitcase! A little planning would have saved us having to buy an expensive pair of pants just so he could eat the meals we had already paid for!

Make sure that items such as shoes have been worn in before you go on vacation. There is nothing worse than blisters to ruin your vacation and make you miserable.

It is better to be comfortable than to look the part. If you decide to only pack your designer label clothes you might find that you are spending money on cheaper more comfortable clothes when you reach your resort. Don’t forget sun tan lotion can ruin clothes so leave your best clothes at home and put some older more comfortable items in your case.

Use common sense when packing and take into account the climate of the places you are visiting but still allow for changes in the weather by taking additional clothing so you can stay warm and comfortable at all times. Throw in a light sweater and a pair of long pants or jeans and you’ll be ready for any eventuality.

Many people go on vacation fully intending to make shopping a part of the experience but as with shops anywhere, and even in your own locality, you know that there can be some big variances in prices and you will only be able to get the bargains you are after by talking to people prior to your holiday. Make sure you know the locations of the discount shopping malls before you travel.

If you don’t know anyone who has been to the places that you are visiting then use the Internet and visit travel websites to find the information. It can save you a bundle of cash that can be spent elsewhere or saved for another trip.

When you reach your destination, talk to people and in particular other travelers as quite often people will visit the same holiday spots many times and get to know the best places to go. That sort of information is invaluable and is a good way to save money provided you get advice from more than one person confirming what you hear.

The thought of a luxury spa vacation sounds extravagant and unreasonable, but these kinds of vacations really give a thousand and one rewards to your mind and body. Luxury spa vacations offer fun and adventurous physical activities and sumptuous mouthwatering meals that are nutritious and delicious. Most importantly, luxury spa vacations guarantee that you go back home from the trip, wherever that may be, looking and feeling way better than the state you were in prior to the trip.

This exclusive sun soaked paradise is known as Los Cabos. Whether you want to take part in the exciting nightlife or soak up the warm rays on the pristine Golden Beaches, this paradise has something for honeymooners, single travelers and whole families to enjoy. Down in the most stunningly gorgeous part of Mexico where the sea of Cortez meets the Pacific Ocean there is a land of fun and excitement. From the warm waters to the sizzling nightclubs, from the World class golf to the World famous fishing, you can find it all in Baja’s most exclusive destination.

On the east coast, laid-back San José del Cabo provides a quiet retreat from the high energy of Cabo San Lucas, with narrow streets and charming colonial architecture. Bridging Cabo San Lucas and San José del Cabo is the 17-mile Los Cabos Corridor, a strip studded with world famous golf courses and high-end resorts, bounded by pristine beaches of endless white sand. San José del Cabo boasts miles of back-country roads, trails and secret springs to explore; San Jose del Cabo is peaceful and perfect for relaxing on a sandy beach or at the tempting cafes and bars that invite you to an authentic Mexican meal with exotic beverages. You could also wander the narrow streets in a happy state of disorientation, talking with the locals and bargaining for a perfect deal. San José del Cabo, founded as a mission in 1730. Admire the Spanish colonial architecture and art galleries in an atmosphere rich with Mexican history and folklore..

On the west coast, fast-paced Cabo San Lucas Mexico is alive with busy restaurants, shopping and a frolicking party atmosphere. The city is well known for its warm waters, abundant fish and famous geological rock formation, El Arco. Cabo San Lucas, once a small fishing village, enjoys a worldwide reputation for its endless variety of restaurants, bars and nightclubs, as well as the beauty of its beaches. Cabo is also host to the largest marlin tournament in the world. Cabo San Lucas is the generally agreed upon dividing line between the Sea of Cortez and the Pacific Ocean. The famous arch appears to separate the cool waters of the Pacific from the warm and quiet water of the Sea of Cortez.

There are lots of resorts that will fit your vacationing needs – some world hotel franchises, and others native. Either way, you’ll find the best vacation spot for yourself, your significant other or your family. There’s the Alamanda Inn or the Wyndham Rose Hall resort which are lodgings that are quite popular on the shores of Montego Bay. If you’d like to stick with a trusted world class resort, then there’s the White Sands and the Ritz Carlton.

Other resorts in the area are the Half Moon resort and Pebbles resort. If you’re interested in taking some time off for some peace and solitude, you can visit resorts on Runaway Bay which is also part of Montego Bay. There you’ll find the Gran Bahia Principe and the Villa Sunflower Beach Resort.

These are only a few of the most popular places to stay in Montego Bay. You will never have a problem finding a good resort as there are just so many to choose from, each offering what every tourist needs – a little mix of fun, rest and relaxation.

Why should you travel to Jamaica?

It is a large expanse of beaches, home of the Rastafarian lifestyle, has cool blue rivers reaching up to more than 100 in number, filled with thick history, home to the Blue Mountain Range, and it’s in the Caribbean. How can you go wrong with a place that already mirrors paradise? Going for holidays to Jamaica is a great idea.

If the greens, reds and golds of the Rasta men don’t capture your heart, then maybe the music will. Jamaica is the home of reggae. With a few days of absorbing the carefree lifestyle, you’ll never want to leave. There’s a kind of magic that thrives only in Jamaica, in the quaint historical towns and in the one-with-nature attitude of the people.

Music runs through the veins of the Jamaican lifestyle. To them, it doesn’t matter whether you’re a native or a tourist. Once you’re in Jamaica, you need to breathe the Jamaican way of life. Should you be in the mood for pampering, there are lots of 5-star resorts scattered along Jamaica, the 3rd largest island in the Caribbean.

One trip will make you want to come back for more. That’s how they do it in Jamaica. It’s a place to forget the problems of the real world. After a few days or weeks on the island, you’ll be refreshed and ready to head back to conquer another year of work.

As an interesting historical aside, the guy it was named for, never actually made it completely around the world. Ferdinand Magellan, a Portuguese maritime explorer in the service of the Spanish crown, led the expedition credited with the first circumnavigation of the earth.

He was actually attempting to find a westward route to the “Spice Islands” of Indonesia but was killed in the Philippines in route. It was the Spaniard Juan Sebastian Elcano, having taking command after Magellan’s death, that led the few remaining crew back to Spain 3 years later.

But as is typical in historical accounts, it’s generally the “top dog” that gets the credit, so most people have never heard of Elcano. To be fair, it was indeed Magellan that kept pushing on when his crews wanted to turn back, and his death did provide a distraction which allowed the remaining crew to escape. Anyway, I digress.

As the new namesake of that intrepid explorer, this new ship, the Magellan of Seas will go much further, doing so incredibly faster, and all while providing far more luxurious surroundings than poor ol’ Ferdinand could’ve ever envisioned.

I mean not only has it got all the usual top-end amenities, but comes with it’s own retractable marina, a helipad complete with 2 Bell Jet Helicopters, and even an observatory for checking out all those spectacular constellations and nebulas that are visible no where better than nighttime in the middle of the ocean.

As you’ve no doubt guessed, this type residence is a bit pricey. In fact, if you don’t have a few million bucks lying around gathering dust, this may have to remain a dream. Prices range from just under 3 million to over 16 million, plus an “annual assessment” of several thousand to over a half million bucks. How’s that for a homeowners association?

Actually it’s the monthly fees that pay for utilities, insurance and crew. The big numbers are just buying you a spot. Oh and that spot is supposed to be guaranteed for 100 years, although the last 50 may see her permanently docked like the queen Mary.

Okay, so here’s some good news. The Magellan offers fractional ownership in increments of 2 weeks or a month. So while an average place runs 5 or 6 million plus about 200k annually, you can just take a piece. That brings the cost for a single month down to only a half million with a measly 15k assessment.

Of course that sort of makes it like a time share – a fairly costly one, but it does offer a way in. But then you have to wonder if lowering the bar will let too many of us riff-raff types in. Yup, there goes the neighborhood.

Yes that was very tongue in cheek. I thought this was a cool idea upon first hearing of it, and I still do. Unfortunately, it’s somewhat out-of-reach. I’ll just have to commiserate with the other riff-raff and stick with buying my cruises a week at a time.