Have you ever caught yourself parenting in a way that you vowed not to? Do you hear words coming out of your mouth that you hated hearing from your parents? I have experienced this occasionally in parenting my two children, surprisingly it is more often now that the oldest is in college and the youngest is a senior in high school. I want to protect them from parties that get out of hand and from exposure to drugs and alcohol. In order to do this I repeat some of the lectures that my mother gave me. I hated listening to them and I hate preaching them, but my children seem to be staying out of the party scene so it must be working.
When my son was home for winter break he mentioned that he was getting together with a group of friends from high school. They had all gone to different universities so they had not seen each other for a while. As he was leaving he said they were going to coordinate going on a spring break cruise. When he left my husband and I discussed this. When I first heard him say spring break cruise I felt a panic in the pit of my stomach. I know that not everyone gets into trouble during spring break and I also know that my son has made responsible decisions so far in his life, but I did not like the idea of him being away from home, in foreign countries, at nineteen. My husband did point out that with spring break cruises they would not be driving anywhere so that took out the concerns about vehicle problems or accidents. Also there are many activities that are available on cruises that he enjoys. We have been on cruises in the past and know that the alcohol can add up fast, so we decided we would warn him about running up a bar bill and make it very clear that we would not pay for a bar bill.
When my son came home from visiting with his friends he said that the spring break cruise may not happen because each of the universities has a different week off. They were going to try to plan the trip at a time when the majority of kids were available to go. He said that if it turned out to be during a time when he was in school he would make different plans with friends from college. We decided to save the lecture about being responsible until we know what he is doing.
There comes a season that every college student across America looks forward to. It’s when the climate warms up, the flowers start to bloom and the trees fill out. Clearly I’m talking about spring. So, why do college students get so excited about Mother Nature’s work? That’s an easy on. Spring is also a time when students have a solid nine days off. This means rest, relaxation, and of course oodles of partying. Are you up to date on the finest spring break locations? If not, don’t give it a second thought. I’m about to fill you in.
While California is known for it’s wealth of sunny weather and mild temperatures, it’s not as big as other areas when it comes down to spring break locations. Think more along the lines of Cabo San Lucas and Cancun, Mexico. These are two of the favorite hot spots for spring breakers living on the West Coast. It only makes sense that they trudge down into Mexico, which is not far away in the first place. Just make certain you have your passport ready prior to heading out. While foreign lands can be great for vacations and downtime, you’ll surely want to get back home without any trouble when you R&R is through. As for the East Coast, spring break locations tend to vary. Being a North Carolina native myself, I can personally state that college spring breakers flock to Myrtle Beach on a yearly basis. This has been a major spring break destination for years and is continuing its reign as one of the champions. I reckon college students just love the touristy feel and easy access to the ocean. The Grand Strand is where it all goes down in this popular beach town.
For those seeking out the most posh spring break locations, you’ll likely want to check out Miami and South Beach, Florida. These two sunny paradises rank high on the ideal spring break locations list. There are beaches and club scenes galore all over Miami. Just be sure you bring enough cash to afford the hotel rooms and cover charges. As you probably already guessed, Miami is not exactly a cheap city to party in. Regardless of what spring break locations tickle your fancy, who you’re with will always make the difference. Just remember to have a safe and exciting spring break this year.
Many people want to get away from the hustle and bustle of modern urban life and spend their vacation in a remote and beautiful place. With this in mind, Tibet trips have been popular with western tourists since the 1960s. It’s the nearest thing to Shangri-la with mountains, temples, monasteries and friendly people.
Known as the roof of the world, this country has gone through political upheaval and tourism is an important part of the economy. To go on Tibet trips, non-Chinese nationals need a special permit to gain entry. The main language is Tibetan, very difficult for foreigners to learn, and some Mandarin Chinese is also spoken.
Tibetan cuisine has not really caught on in the rest of the world but there are many good Chinese restaurants. Trying local delicacies is all part of the adventure however, and most visitors sample the local beverage of Yak Butter Tea. Momos is another staple, which are dumplings with a meat or vegetable filling. Lots of young backpackers embark on Tibet trips. There are also organized tours by jeep with a driver supplied. Other tourists like to explore the country by bicycle.
The capital city of Lhasa is a two hour drive from Lhasa Gonggar Airport, where international flights come in from Katmandu in Nepal. The best way to get around the city is by cycle rickshaw, bus or taxi. Accommodation is of a good standard in hostels and hotels. There are also plenty restaurants and traveler cafes. Tourists like to browse round the street market for bargains and see the monasteries and teahouses.
One of the most popular landmarks in Lhasa is the Jokhang Temple. The original construction dates from the 7th century and was expanded over the years. It contains many treasured statues. Potola Palace is another must see item on the itinerary, when visiting the capital on Tibet trips. The Dalai Lamas have lived here during the winter since 1755. The tombs of the Dalai Lamas are placed here and the palace contains rare relics and antiques
Mount Kailash, a mountain that is revered by Buddhists and Hindus alike, is well worth a visit. Pilgrims and tourists walk round the mountain, an excursion that demands a good level of fitness and takes three days. The journey is helped with the hire of porters and yaks.
Qomolangma National Nature Reserve covers the Chinese side of Mount Everest. It’s possible to drive to base camp on the mountain on Tibet trips and visitors mostly stay in private houses. This spectacular location includes Rongbuk Monastery on the north face of Everest and is the highest monastery in the world
Cheap Cruise Deals
If you would like to travel cheaply, you have to realize one basic fact about the travel industry: they want to fill up every possible spot, something which they rarely manage to do. Sure, they will sell cruises, hotel vacations, airline tickets, and whatever else for high prices when they can, but they will also sell them for quite a bit less when they have to. Finding the cheapest cruise deals is all a matter of savvy shopping. You have to know where to look, you have to look there often, and most importantly, you have to be flexible about your travel dates and destinations.
There are many different cheap cruise deal sites to look at. I have a friend who is sort of a connoisseur of cheap cruise deals, and she clued me in about a lot of these websites. Many last minute travel companies offer new sales once a week. If you’re willing to wait until the absolute last minute to decide where you are going to go for your vacation, you can take advantage of these bargains. Sometimes, you can save as much as 50% off the regular rate if you are lucky and spot the right cheap cruise deals.
Another great way to get cheap cruise deals is to travel in the off-season. Everything costs more during the summer time with the exception of chips to ski lodges. If you are willing to take some time off in the winter, you can still have a great time and save money. We took an Alaska winter cruise last year and were completely stunned. It was one of the best times we’ve ever had. Of course, it required some sacrifices – no sunbathing for one thing – but it still was great. We got to go whale watching, and to explore some of the most fascinating territory in the entire United States.
There are also cheap cruise lines that are there to help the budget traveler out with great discount tickets. With these kinds of cheap cruise deals, of course, you get what you pay for. You will not have the same degree of luxury, so they are not really for people who enjoy being pampered. If the main attraction for you is going on the water, however, they are definitely worth considering. You can save some money and have a great time while you are at it. What could be better than that?
One great thing about the Christmas holiday is that you can do whatever you want, for the most part. Though not everyone celebrates Christmas, a majority of employers and school districts have time off at this time of the year, and there are times when these Christmas holidays are longer than a few days. That means that you can do more than just spend the day with your family, you can take a vacation if you like, or do just about anything else.
Many like to spend the holidays with family, but not everyone lives near family for many reasons. Children leave for college, and many times they may find a great job where they have gone after graduation, and decide to stay. They may even start their own families there. That means that each year for Christmas they must decide if they would like to travel to see family, and many of them do. Many companies understand this, and that is why you may have off more than just one or two days for the holidays.
You don’t have to visit family for Christmas holiday though, you can go just about anywhere you wish. If you have a yearning to learn about different cultures, there may be no better time than this to go. You could travel anywhere in the world to see how they celebrate Christmas, if that is something that is common within that country. If you want to see a Christmas in the middle of summer, you might want to consider traveling to Australia. You can also go to places like Asia or South America for your holiday.
Even better, your Christmas holiday doesn’t have to have anything to do with Christmas if you don’t want it to. You may not celebrate for personal or religious reasons, and you would like something special to do. You can take this time of the year when you may have a vacation from work to see any part of the world you wish, or perhaps just to get in a few days of skiing. Many travel companies have specials this time of the year, but plan early. Travel in December can be iffy because of high demand. You are better off planning and booking your reservations for flight and hotel early to ensure you get the dates you want at reasonable prices. Talk with your travel agent or look for specials online to get the best deals possible.