1. Airport Transportation

With the heightened security measures at airports across the country – and especially at New York airports – it’s far too much of a hassle to drive yourself to the airport. When you have to park and drag your luggage to a shuttle and into the airport, it can add another hour to the time you have to allot for pre-boarding. Whether you’re looking for JFK airport transportation, or need a ride to LaGuardia or Newark, a limo service can be just the ticket. You can go in style in a stretch limo, or opt for the more practical Town Car. If the whole family is heading to the airport, a limo in New York can be a seven-passenger van or even a 19-passenger limo bus.

2. Weddings

A stretch limousine in New York may be standard for the bride and groom, but a limo service can also be a godsend for the bridal party and even for out of town guests. The best limo companies have worry-free wedding packages and coordinators who can ensure that everyone will get to the church (or synagogue or mosque) on time – and then to the reception and back to their hotels.

3. Tours

If you’re visiting the Big Apple and want to take in the sights, a New York limousine service can show them to you in style. Depending on the number in your party, you can use a limo, a sedan, a van, or a bus to enjoy all that New York has to offer. You can create your own itinerary, and rest assured that the driver will double as a professional tour guide. The best services provide complimentary refreshments and snacks, and even have drivers who can give tours in languages other than English.

4. Sporting Events

When you and your buddies are going to a game, the last thing you need is that hassle of driving and parking at the event. Plus, if you want to knock back a few beers, you certainly don’t want to be behind the wheel after the game. A New York limousine can take you to Yankee Stadium, Madison Square Garden, or Flushing Meadows and back again in style.

5. Business Meetings

Whether you’re in town for business, or are hosting out-of-town colleagues or potential clients, a New York limousine service can help ensure that attendees will get to your meetings on time. A good limo service has experienced drivers who are knowledgeable, discreet, and familiar with the needs of the business traveler. If needed, some limo services also have armored vehicles in their fleet.

This is just the tip of the iceberg, but rest assured that a New York limousine service isn’t only for the wealthy. There are many occasions when a limo can take the hassle out of transportation.

Airfare can be one of the most costly and unavoidable aspects of travel. Air travelers are constantly in search of a good deal. Numerous methods exist to get discounts on your next ticket. First, leave or return in the middle of the week—Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday—and stay at least seven days to get reduced price fares. Check out alternate airports for departure or arrival to see if they offer cheaper prices, and if your plans are flexible, consider letting yourself get bumped for a cash reward or free ticket. Search discount travel sites online, which seek out bargains for you in a variety of ways, and check fares on budget airlines, not just the major commercial carriers. You can also use reverse bidding sites like Priceline to find a deal. Finally, start earning frequent flier miles without even flying by filling out surveys, staying in certain hotels, or simply using a specific credit card.

Another expensive part of traveling is ground transportation. Whether you travel by bus, train or automobile, there are ways to save money. You can find deals on rental cars online, but make sure you have a discussion with the rental car companies about insurance, road side assistance, and other pertinent matters beforehand if you are unclear. You can also rent Recreational Vehicles at surprisingly low prices, especially when you consider that you won’t have to spend money on a hotel. Experienced riders can find deals on motorcycles online as well. If you plan to use mass transportation, buses are a surprisingly inexpensive, if time-consuming option, and deals can be found on subways, trains, and ferries online. Rail passes in Europe and North America can be purchased before your trip to save money if you plan to stop in multiple destinations.

Finally, once you’ve flown, driven, or sailed to your destination, you’ll need a place to stay. Extended stays at hotels at weekly rates are one affordable option. Timeshares, home exchanges, house sitting, and hostels are other bargain options. Motel coupons can be found online, while a cheap bed and breakfast that doesn’t have a presence online can be found in the yellow pages. Some universities offer discount lodging in their dormitories. Retreat centers and monasteries also offer inexpensive ways for travelers to find rest and relaxation under certain guidelines. For more intrepid travelers, staying in national parks in tents, cabins, or RVs can be an inexpensive travel option, and if you plan to stay frequently or for an extended period of time, you can purchase a park pass to save money. RV travelers can also stay in free campgrounds across the country and can buy a pass to save money on RV parks. Finally, some travelers who face a serious lack of funds sleep for free in airports, although rules regarding this lodging option have changed since September 11, 2001.

One of the best ways to find travel discounts on all of the aforementioned aspects of travel—from airfare to lodging—is through memberships in a variety of organizations. Have your kids ever roped you into buying one of those Entertainment books that cost anywhere from $20 to $50 but offer a variety of coupons and discounts? Well, the next time you’re offered one, buy it. Not only will your money go to a good cause, you can benefit from the discounts on everything from airplane flights to hotels to rental cars. Without even realizing it, you may also already have memberships that could save you money on your next trip. AARP, Costco, and the military are a few of the organizations that offer bargains. Even a student or teacher’s ID can lead you to discounts. Use the resources you already possess to seek out the discounts necessary to make your next vacation a memorable and affordable event.

Most people have a love-hate relationship with winter. It is by far the coldest of the seasons, giving many people a reason to despise it. Winter can be one of the most fun and beautiful times of the year if people know how to enjoy winter activities.

For people in many parts of the world, winter means snow. If you happen to live in an area that has many months of snow you can enjoy many months worth of ways to enjoy the it. Find someplace to learn to ski or snowboard or try to ice skate at a local outdoor rink. Some will prefer to enjoy the snow and cold by ice fishing on a loca lake that has been taken over by ice. Whatever you prefer, commit to making the most of the cold winter months at it will be spring before you know it.

Spring is perhaps the most beautiful of the four seasons. The snow melts, the gray skies turn blue, the trees and flowers begin to bloom after a dormant winter, and people who shied away from winter come out and enjoy the weather. Children enjoy warmer recesses during school and adults enjoy walks in the park on their lunch breaks. Baseball games happen in local parks and gardens begin to be planted. Spring can be just as enjoyable as any of the seaons.

Summer. Just the word brings a smile of excitement to the faces of most school aged children. It is the greatest of all the seasons for those who prefer not being in a classroom each day. Summer means freedom, friends, and hour after hour of outside fun. Woods get explored, lakes are swam in and elaborate tree forts are made. Bicycles can be ridden and neighborhood games of all kinds begin. For adults, summer can mean looking forward to more family time, enjoying weekends at a cabin or even taking an extended family trip. However it is spent, summer is usually a favorite among the seasons for most people.

Feelings are mixed as summer turns to autumn, the last of the four yearly seasons. Children are torn between their desires to continue enjoying the magic that is summer and their excitement about beginning a new school year. Many adults look upon autumn with fondess. It feels like a new beginning. Days become cooler and the bright greens of summer become the beautiful rainbow of fall colors. Autumn is a time to enjoy long walks in a park or a cool evening on your front porch swing.

The four seasons are all great. There are fun things to do and great memories to be made no matter what the time of year. The seasons provide variety and endless amounts of fun for people of all ages.

As an adult, I have continued to vacation to Florida with my own family and our friends. We go to a condo every spring for two weeks and we love it. I never tire of Florida vacations because they are absolutely beautiful. I love walking with my daughters along the water and playing football with my sons along the beach. My absolute favorite thing to do each year on vacation, however, is spend a day fishing on a charter boat.

My childhood dream has been coming true each year for the past twenty years. In fact, I think I have been fishing on a deep sea charter boat nearly thirty times since I first dreamed about doing it. I have been on the charter boat with my father, my father-in-law, my wife, our children and several of my closest friends at different times in the past twenty years. I just cannot get enough of fishing on the charter boat in what seems like the middle of a huge ocean.

If you’re looking to vacation to Florida any time soon, then I suggest you make your way to the Gulf of Mexico and get yourself on a charter boat fishing excursion as soon as possible. You’ll absolutely love the feeling of spending a day at sea and of catching the biggest fish you can possibly catch. A charter boat fishing experience is truly one of the best parts of a Florida vacation, so don’t go without taking at least a day for this.

Do a little research and see what kinds of fishing charter boats are available in the area you will be visiting. Look for great deals by taking a large group with you or by going on an off day. Charter fishing is a great hobby to develop, so make plans to experience charter fishing for the first time.

• Decide upfront why you are going and what you want to get out of the trip.

• Money has the potential of destroying the best of friendships, let alone create problems if your travel companion is a mere acquaintance. Its best to decide what, where, and how much you will be spending on mutual expenses.

• Prepare a tentative itinerary; places you want to visit, things to do and time to be spent at each location.

• Travelling with some one has benefits, but even then, you should get sometime to yourself. Make allowance for time that each will be spending on their own.

• Every one enjoys different aspects of travel. It’s good to figure out each others preferences before getting stuck together on a rather costly trip. Some of us are night people while others can’t keep their eyes open after dark. Some like everything decided and planned, others are more spontaneous. Some like to indulge in the culture while others prefer to immerse in the sights only. Make sure you and your companion share some views, if not all, regarding travelling.

• Unless you are a 100% sure about the person you are travelling with, pack some earplugs, they can be a life line during an otherwise sleepless night.

• Have an open mind & a generous heart. Give the other person some space & make the most of your solo time as well. Have fun and keep it enjoyable for both.

Medical Emergencies: If you fall sick or are injured during your travel, your travel insurance will give you financial coverage.

Flight Cancellations: If your flight is cancelled or delayed then your travel insurance should help. Depending on the cover available, a room for the night and even alternative travel home can be included.

Pre-existing Medical Conditions: Even if you have a pre-existing medical condition and it flares up while you’re on vacation, as long as you’ve advised your travel insurance company prior, you should be covered.

Damage or Loss Of Personal property: What are you going to do when your luggage gets stolen? Yes, it happens, all the time. There are organised gangs that work in airports doing just that. Guess what? You need travel insurance.

Loss of Cash or Traveler’s Check’s: You’re in a foreign country far from home. You either lose, or have stolen, your entire holiday fund. You’re going to need help and quick. Again, travel insurance is a must.

Emergency Evacuations: What with global warming and economic pressure more and more holiday destinations are being built in potentially dangerous territory. Who would have wanted to be in Thailand on that Boxing Day? Travel insurance will help if you have to get out quick.

Car Crash: It can be very difficult driving on the wrong side of the road in a strange country. Accidents happen.

Okay, there you have it. 7 good and solid reasons why you need travel insurance the next trip you make. The other alternative of course is to not take out travel insurance, or to stay at home. Now, there’s an idea. But seriously, as always when taking out insurance, especially travel insurance, read the fine print. Importantly, find out before you go what is excluded, not just included. So, always read the fine print. For example, accidental coverage is not provided in case of drunken driving, driving under the influence of narcotic substances etc. Exclusions are also provided for accidents during risky sports like bungee jumping, car racing, scuba diving, white water rafting, flying (except as passenger in regular airliners), gliding, skiing, bike racing, diving, mountaineering, windsurfing etc. The list goes on (insert for your favourite potentially dangerous sport here). That means in case of accidents in these situations the insurance company is not liable to pay any amount to the insured.

I’ve found that there are a number of places where you can leave your car nearby airports that can make airport parking quite easy. They will shuttle you over to the airport after you park and get you when you return.

For instance if you are going to Fort Lauderdale Airport there is parking lots which are 1.2 miles away from the airport. They offer free transportation and luggage assistance to and from the terminals. Look for great rates at www.airportparkingreservations.com.

They also have a shared ride service for $15.00 at Fort Lauderdale, Miami International and West Palm Beach airports where approximately four people are sharing a car. Depending on the other passengers and the order which you are in, it can be up to two hours when you’ll get home. Still this can be a good way to go and it is convenient and right at the terminal.

When you leave your car at a designated place for airport parking nearby, some places have covered parking and outdoor options and the prices differ so it is good to check and compare and decide for yourself what works best for your budget. You can also decide on whether or not you want to use the economy parking at the airport. For instance, albany airport has an inexpensive economy parking lot. In certain areas you want to check the lighting in the parking lots, how often the shuttle runs and if you get assistance with luggage or not.

Additionally some car rental or even car repairs centers will make an arrangement for parking so that is another thing to investigate when you are looking for a place to park and save a little money. Usually parking for a week will have a discount price so always enquire about that.

Now I no longer feel awkward asking someone for a ride for an early morning or late flight because the airport parking options are much very convenient. You can find these around most airports.

Choosing a tent for camping is the first task for any camping trip. What type of weather conditions are you expecting? Always be prepared for the worst, rain, wind, and cold. There are three season and four season tents available. Four season tents are heavier than three season tents. They tend to have more poles than three season tents to help them withstand wind and snow fall. Of course, most of us are fair weather campers. A three season tent will be fine for us. So, now, what style of tent do you want?

What style of tent you want may depend on how much backpacking you’re going to do. If you’re a pack backer you’ll want to keep your load as light as possible. A tarp tent may be the one for you, or if you’re camping in summer a lightweight warm weather tent may work.

If you’re the type of camper who likes to “rough it” at a drive up base camp area then the weight of a tent will not be an issue for you. You will probably be more concerned with how many people will be sharing your tent. A two man tent will most likely be uncomfortable for two large adults and all their gear.  Those with camping experience say that you’ll want to look for at least 30 square feet of floor space per person. They say that you should divide the number of people a tent says is it’s capacity by 2. If you’re traveling with young children you definitely want to look into a larger model of tent. You’ll want a large area inside your tent, especially as you may experience some inclement weather and have the children inside the tent for long periods of time. It would be nice if they had an area to play their board games.

Before you spend your hard earned money on a tent go to your neighborhood camping store where you can actually see the tents set up. Walk around in it. Lie in it. Stand up straight in it. Make sure that the tent you choose will meet all your camping requirements before you get to your campsite.

Cooking Essentials For Camping

• Water
• Can Opener
• Food
• Pots and Pans
• Ice Chest
• Charcoal
• Matches
• Paper Plates
• Plastic Eating Utensils
• Spices
• Salt and Pepper
• Garbage Bags
• Drinks

Don’t Forget About Clean Up After Cooking

• Dish Soap
• Dish Towel
• Large Tub For Washing Up Cookware

Be sure that you plan meals that are easy. Hot dogs, hamburgers, and sandwiches are some of the easiest low maintenance camping meals that you will find.

Sleeping Essentials For Camping

• Tent
• Sleeping Bags
• Pillows
• Extra Blankets If Needed

Personal Hygiene and Shower Essentials

• Toothbrush
• Toothpaste
• Towels
• Wash Cloths
• Soap
• Shampoo and Conditioner
• Hair Brush and Hair Accessories
• Razor and Shaving Cream
• Toilet Paper
• Small Mirror
• Deodorant

Clothing Essentials

• T- Shirts
• Shorts
• Jeans
• Jacket
• Raincoat
• Socks
• Underwear
• Boots
• Tennis Shoes
• Swimsuit

Miscellaneous Essentials

• Bug Spray
• Binoculars
• First Aid Kit
• Fishing Gear
• Hunting Gear
• Oil Lamps
• Flash Lights
• Deck of Cards
• Screen Room
• Knife
• Extra Batteries
• Cell Phone
• Battery Powered Fan

Camping is a lot of fun, and the more prepared you are, the better your trip will be. Be sure and print this list out so that you will not forget anything important for your camping trip.

Camping is a great way to enjoy the outdoors and spend time getting reacquainted with your family. Great family camping getaways are easy to plan and inexpensive vacation options. Nature is everywhere, so you don’t need to travel far for your camping trip. You can journey to a national park, drive to a local campground, or pitch a tent in your own backyard.

Camping 101 begins with the planning. This part of the trip is half the fun. Call a family meeting to decide where you’d like to go. Depending on your budget, you can plan to load up the trunk with tents and sleeping bags, pull a camper or drive an RV. The point is to treat your family to an unforgettable outdoor adventure, so it doesn’t matter how you plan to camp or where you intend to go.

If you are new to the camping experience, it’s probably a good idea to start out slow. Book a weekend campsite to get the feel for the camping lifestyle. Get used to cooking over a wood fire and sharing your space with wildlife, before you venture too far away from the comforts of home. Many campgrounds provide fun activities like pools, playgrounds, fishing or recreational boating, so check your local listings to see what adventures lie ahead.

Once your kids (and you) recover from the shock of having no television or Internet access, you’ll all have an eye-opening experience. You’ll realize the nature is fun. Camping opens the doors to a world of new activities, like swimming, rock diving, boating, fishing, hiking, catching butterflies, searching for fossils, and going wherever your energy level and imagination can take you. Campgrounds and remote parks are all filled with wonderful ways to enjoy the best nature has to offer. If you want to boat or water ski, many campsites offer these and other items for rent.

Don’t expect to bring along your everyday dinnerware and automatic coffeepot for your camp out. Remember, you will be roughing it, so pack accordingly. Bring plastic dishes and cutlery that can be washed and reused, but won’t break in transit. Make sure you have enough sleeping bags, pillows and extra clothes. Pack the food you’ll need, plus a little extra, and keep a supply of ice on hand for perishables like meat and dairy. If you’re bringing tins of beans, remember a manual can opener or pack your Swiss army knife. If you’re not sure what to bring, ask an associate at your local sporting store to help you choose your camping needs. Call on friends who like to camp, and ask them for advice.

Just like your old scoutmaster used to say, “Always be prepared”. Make a list and check it three times before you leave on your camping trip. Make sure that there is enough food and fresh water for everyone. Bring food that can be easily prepared on your campsite. Pack clothing for all kinds of weather. Don’t forget sunscreen, bug spray and hygiene items. Toilet paper and paper towels are absolute necessities. Bring along some soap and toothpaste, but leave the hair gel and makeup at home. Mother Nature doesn’t care what you look like. She just wants you to enjoy your stay.