In that spirit, we’ve put together some bizarre travel ideas for you to consider. Keep in mind that these are largely untested, and you can try them at your own risk:

1. The “George Washington Slept Here” trip. All over New England, you’ll find little bed and breakfasts that claim to have hosted famous people. Find as many as you can, and visit them. Take pictures of the room the person is said to have stayed, and talk to the proprietor about the visit.
2. The “Go North For The Winter” trip. Florida is for pansies. Where you want to go in February is Hudson Bay or Anchorage.
3. The Alphabet trip. For this trip, you need a good old-fashioned state road map or atlas that lists the cities in your state. Starting with the nearest “A” city, visit one city in your state that begins with each letter of the alphabet. Take a picture with your family at each of the city limit signs. Extra bonus coolness if you visit them in alphabetical order.
4. The Dartboard trip. For this trip, you need a map of the region you live in. Put it on the dartboard and throw a dart. Visit whatever town is nearest where the dart landed.
5. The “Get Lost On Purpose” trip. Drive at least 100 miles from your home. Without using GPS or a map, try to find your way back home without using any Interstates or even state roads. Only use back roads, and avoid any town along the way.
6. The McDonalds 500. Just about every state has at least 500 McDonalds restaurants. Find them all. Works best in Rhode Island.
7. The Staycation. The recession has brought this dumb-ass word into our language as people try to have fun at home. Put a new spin on the staycation. Go to someone else’s house – preferably a neighbor – and set up a tent in their front yard. Have S’mores at night. Dig your own latrine.

Photo via theotherway

For a long time, when I was in my 20s, I wouldn’t even consider staying somewhere that charged me more than $70 a night. Only one time – when I was 23 – did I stay somewhere more expensive, and that was because a friend of mine decided to treat several of us traveling together to a night at a nicer place.

Then, I started traveling for work and my perspective changed. My employer encouraged me to stay at nicer hotels. I had no compelling reason to choose a Super 8 over the Hampton Inn.

Eventually, I came to appreciate and prefer nicer hotels. Today, I won’t book a cheap hotel, and I get travel insurance just in case something happens to the hotel before I’m able to check in so I won’t lose my deposit.

Here are some of the things you get in a more expensive hotel you won’t get in a lower-end place:

1. A nice breakfast. Yes, I realize you can drive somewhere from any hotel and eat a nice breakfast. I get that. But there’s just something about being able to go back to your hotel room and brush your teeth after eating a nice meal.
2. A better bed. It’s not a hard and fast rule, of course. Occasionally you’ll get lucky and the Econolodge will have just replaced a mattress. On average, however, the bed at a nicer hotel will be much more comfortable and less likely to leave you aching in the morning.
3. A place to work out. Now, when I was in my 20s, I was in decent shape just by virtue of the fact that I was a young man. When I hit 35, though, everything was drooping much farther than I hoped. A place to hit the treadmill or Nautilus machine is a great boon, especially if you travel a lot.
4. A nice pool and hot tub. You’re less likely to have a nasty germy mess in a nicer hotel.
5. Room service. Yep, it’s expensive, but having tiramisu brought to your room at 11 at night is really an experience. You can’t get that at a cheap motel.

Photo via Wolfgang Staudt

So, let’s give it a shot. Let’s put some of this misinformation to bed, once and for all. Here are some of the top cruise myths out there today:

1. Cruise ships are overcrowded. Yes, space on a cruise ship is at a premium. No, your cabin won’t be as big as your bedroom at home. But, what you have to realize is that a cruise ship, while it will seem crowded at times, is no more crowded than many other places. And, cruise lines have figured out how to schedule events and meals such that you’re almost never faced with too long a wait to do anything in particular. In addition, there is always a quiet spot somewhere on the ship where you can get away to relax a bit.
2. Cruise ships are boring. This is a common concern. A cruise usually provides you with as many or as few activities as you like. There are fitness centers, classes, dances, contests and all sorts of other entertainment, not to mention the time that you can spend in exotic locales when the cruise ship is in port.
3. Cruise ships make you seasick. While it’s possible, seasickness on today’s cruise ships is a relatively rare thing. And, even if you do feel motion sickness, there are plenty of over-the-counter remedies at your disposal.
4. Cruise ships are full of germs. Yes, any place that has thousands of people is going to have germs. However, a cruise ship is no worse or better than most schools or place of business. Your own sanitation practices will help protect you from most viruses or bacteria you might come into contact with.
5. You’re going to get stuck dining with people you don’t know or like. While some cruises have traditional seating, others have open seating that lets you dine wherever you like. Most cruise ships today also offer alternative dining menus and restaurant choices.

You really have no excuses left. Call your agent, get your travel insurance in line and get yourself on a boat today.

Photo via jimg944

Of course, it’s been a long and hard winter, and chances are pretty good that last year’s road trips are a distant memory. Unless you made a good packing list, you may not even know where to start in terms of what to bring with you.

In addition to the obvious things like the children and their clothes, here are some must-haves for your family trips this spring and summer:

• A Frisbee. No, I’m not joking. You need a Frisbee. When you’re driving across country and stop at a rest area to stretch your legs, spend five minutes tossing the Frisbee around. Your body will loosen up, and it will help you not feel so stiff and cramped on the trip.
• Medical stuff. Yes, you need your first aid kit, of course. You should also bring phone numbers for your doctors. You should pack some Tylenol for both the kids and the adults. On top of all of that, though, you should pack some other basic medicines, such as Imodium and Benadryl. The last thing you want to do is to try to find a Walgreen’s at 3 AM in Podunk, Tennessee while your kids are sleeping at the motel.
• A rubber door stop. This will give you an added level of security in your hotel room. Obviously, a hotel room with a deadbolt is even better, but you can’t really bring a deadbolt with you.
• Antiseptic hand gel. They even make it in a spray now. After you’ve touched the Biggest Ball of Twine in Minnesota, you’ll want to clean your hands. You don’t know who touched it last.
• A compass and a map. Better yet, just bring your GPS. As just about anyone who’s ever had one can tell you, they’re totally worth the money.
• Travel insurance. If you leave your Digital SLR camera on the airplane and the attendants don’t find it, you want to make sure it can be replaced. Travel insurance is relatively inexpensive and can save you all sorts of money, not to mention time and headaches. (That’s why you need the Tylenol, of course.)

Photo via Kamoteus

Fortunately, you’ve come to the right place. Here are some of the most important things to keep in mind when you’re getting ready to get on the boat:

Your Carry-on is key

A cruise ship works a bit differently than, let’s say, checking into a hotel. When you check in for a cruise, you’re checking in with everyone else. The ship is going to get literally thousands of pieces of luggage over the course of just a few hours. What this means for you is that it can be several hours before your bags get to your room on the boat.

Your carry-on should include everything that you and your family will need to get through the first day. Pack your swim suits, your camera, any medications you’ll need for the day, a change of clothes and your toiletries. If your cruise ship loses your bag (which happens more often than you might think) you’re set at least for a day.

Follow the dress code

You don’t want to just haphazardly throw a few outfits into your suitcase and call it good. You need to recognize that there are varying dress codes for each cruise or cruise line. You might need a formal outfit, which would be a dark suit for men or a cocktail dress for women. You might need an informal outfit, including a jacket and slacks or a dress or pantsuit. “Resort casual” dress includes things like khakis for men and skirts or a flowing pants outfit for women. There is also casual dress. Make sure you have enough of each type.

Sporting equipment

If you’re going to play golf or go diving while you’re on your cruise, check to see if you may be able to rent equipment from the ship or from your particular port destination, rather than trying to transport your own. It may be cheaper to rent than to try to fly in your golf bag and then have it on the ship, as well. Space is also at a premium, so you may not want to take up space in your state room for a bag.

Other concerns

If you’re bringing anything electrical, make sure the ship has standard 110-volt outlets. If you’re going on a Mediterranean cruise or a cruise elsewhere in Europe, you’ll need an adapter. You should also find out what the ship has available as far as laundry services. It’s also worth bringing extra hangers, an insulated mug, an extension cord, pens, pencils, papers and a highlighter, and some zip-loc bags to store things like sunscreen or wet bathing suits.

Travel insurance

It’s also worth mentioning that travel insurance, especially on a cruise, is an important purchase. If you can’t make the cruise before it departs or if there’s a problem, you want to make sure that your investment is protected.

Photo via milan.boers

I’m not complaining or pointing fingers, mind you; I’m one of the most impatient people I know. It’s inevitable, of course, but it’s never fun.

The worst kind of delay has to be travel delays. When you’re stuck in an airport, you’re really stuck. It’s not like you can go back home. God forbid, but if a connecting flight is delayed or canceled, you could wind up stuck in a strange town that wasn’t even on your itinerary overnight.

Fortunately, there are some things you can do to best handle a travel delay:

1. Get travel insurance. No, travel insurance won’t keep a flight from getting delayed. However, it can be a real boon when a flight is delayed. If you find yourself stuck overnight, travel insurance can cover lodging for you while you wait out the delay. Some travel insurance plans will even help you find a hotel and pay for the cab ride from the airport.
2. Be cool. The last thing you need in the middle of a travel delay is to be pissed off. Yeah, it’s not all right. But you need to maintain your composure. It will help reduce your overall stress level, and it will get you farther with the airline or the airport personnel. Use some relaxation techniques, such as deep breathing, or listen to some relaxing jazz on your MP3 player.
3. Call your reservations center. In many cases, you’ll get through to get a new flight much easier by calling the airline’s reservation center than you will waiting in a line to talk to an agent at the airport.
4. Know your rights. You don’t have many, but you should know them. Each individual airline may have different policies about what they’re willing to do when you have a delayed flight.
5. Be patient. I know. We’re not patient creatures by nature. Just remind yourself that, no matter what happens, within a few days at the most you’ll be safe and sound at home.

Photo via seanmcgrath

Fortunately, there are some things you can do to recognize a crappy travel agent before you sign:

• Crappy travel agents only accept cash. As a matter of fact, almost all legitimate travel agents will accept other forms of payment. If at all possible, you should pay with a credit card. In addition to your travel insurance, the card protects you against certain losses. For example, if your airline goes out of business or your agent tries to abscond with your funds, you have some recourse with your credit card company.
• Crappy travel agents won’t discuss their commissions. There are basically two ways that travel agents make money: by charging you a booking fee or by accepting a commission from a travel company. The agent should be willing to discuss what kinds of bonuses he gets if you choose certain products or options. If they can’t be upfront about their interests, what makes you think they really care about yours?
• Crappy travel agents aren’t members of peer organizations. While there’s no national accrediting agency, there are some organizations a travel agent can belong to that suggest their competence. The IATAN and the ASTA are both good indications that your agent is knowledgeable and competent in the field.
• Crappy travel agents get bad reviews. Check with the local Better Business Bureau, or with online sites that offer reviews of travel agents. While even the best travel agents sometimes will get a bad review, if the bad seems to outweigh the good, it should be a definite warning sign.
• Crappy travel agents add fees after you book. A good travel agent will tell you if there are fees or surcharges before you make your booking decision, not after the fact. Even if the fee is small, the fact that they waited suggests at least a shade of dishonesty.
• Crappy travel agents don’t know a thing about where you’re headed. Chances are pretty good you’re going to vacation in a popular location, at least if you’ve been talking to an agent. While you can’t expect an agent to know everything, if they’ve never heard of Cancun you might think about calling a competitor.

Photo via jfrichard

While you can’t always avoid a flight delay, there may be some things you can do to lessen the risk that one will happen:

Know the market

Some airlines have much worse track records than others when it comes to being on time. Of course, they don’t necessarily publish their performance stats on their website, especially if their numbers are less than stellar. You can visit the website for the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, however, and get information there. There’s all sorts of data there that can help you know not only which airlines have a history of being late, but what specific flight numbers usually are or aren’t on time.

Go direct

Yes, it’s more expensive to fly direct. Sometimes, you’ll have to drive a couple of hours to an airport if you want to get a direct flight, too. But if you want to avoid delays, or avoid the risk of missing a connecting flight and being stranded, consider flying a direct flight. If you can’t fly direct, make sure there is enough time between your flights to handle the first flight arriving late.

Set up notifications

Most airlines and travel websites now offer you notifications that can let you know about flight delays or gate changes. You can have these notifications sent to a cell phone or email address, usually. Of course, unless the flight is delayed before you leave home, you may already be at the airport when you get notified.

Don’t go last

If you book the last flight of the day and there’s a cancelation or a delay, you’re going to be stuck overnight. You won’t be able to get on the next flight out until the morning. Try to choose a flight that’s at least a couple of hours before the last flight of the day.

Remember that delays will inevitably happen

You need to plan accordingly. If your itinerary is so tight that you need the flight to arrive at a certain time in order to make an appointment, you have a problem. Make sure there’s enough time in your schedule to accommodate a flight delay. You don’t want to miss your cruise ship departure just because the flight ran 15 minutes behind schedule.

Photo via UggBoy

Here are the things you can’t miss on your Cancun trip:

1. The Beach. Sure, you’re not going to party all night on the beach around a bonfire, but you should put your feet into the sane at least a little bit. Some of the best beaches are behind hotels and resorts, but are still public property. You might consider Mujeres Bay, or if you want to make a road trip you can head 30 miles South to Rancho Lomba Bonita.
2. Ruinas del Ray. This small Mayan fishing village is a wonderful place to take in a little bit of Mayan culture and history. The bigger Mayan cities can take all day to visit, but Ruinas del Ray will give you a real feel for the culture without having to go far or spend the whole day there. Nearby is Xcaret, which is billed as an “eco-archeological theme park.” It has more Mayan relics, as well as an aviary and aquarium and displays of local flora and fauna.
3. Isla Mujeres. This little spot lets you get into the water and see some real sea life up close and personal. One of the features is Dolphin Discovery. Here, you take a short scuba class and then you can actually swim with the dolphins, or go snorkeling with rays, tropical fish and even tame sharks.
4. Shop. After all, you go on vacation to get away from work and responsibility, not from shopping. There are duty free shops, such as UltraFemme, that feature things like perfume and jewelry imported from Europe. Another popular destination is the open-air mall, Las Isla Shopping Village.
5. Golf. Whether it’s the Golf Club at Pok Ta Pok or whether it’s one of the several courses designed by Jack Nicklaus, golfing opportunities abound in Cancun. Bring your clubs with you, or rent some from the pro shop. Whatever you do, get out on the links, at least for an afternoon.

Photo via Christian Horcel

Following are ten vacation renters planning tips:

• Carry less on board the plane- Most vacation homes come with washers and dryers. Also, often laundry detergent is provided. This means you don’t have to pack as many clothes.

• Check for endorsements- Look for seals of approval on the property from the Better Business Bureau or Triple A.

• Verify if a security deposit is required- Make sure you review and understand the security deposit policy of the company.

• Use the space- Most vacation homes and condos can be from 400 to 10,000 square feet including outdoor living spaces like lanais. That’s a lot more space than most hotel rooms.

• Consider cost- Often, on a per night basis, the cost to rent a home is less expensive

• Save on dining out- Instead of eating out for every meal, you can use the kitchen and/or the barbecue grill to cook and eat nutritiously. You can also purchase package liquor to cut down on your bar bill.

• Ask about after hours service- Check and see if there’s a customer service and 24/7 emergency number.

• Entertain- You can rent a home with swimming pools, whirlpools, game rooms, DVD players, etc.

• Purchase travel insurance- Consider travel insurance in case you need to cancel the trip because of illness or unforeseen circumstances.

• Look for specials- As with everyone else in the travel industry, vacation rentals have weekly, off season and other special amenities you can take advantage of.

Photo via AnyaLogic