Taking a Road Trip, Going on a Pilgrimage

Dan Austin, author of the Road Trip Pilgrim’s Guide, talks about how to choose a road trip and how to live in rough when camping during a pilgrimage in this podcast. A pilgrimage is personal journey. For example you may go on a journey to Israel. You may be seeking adventure on your pilgrimage. You may even seek romance. In any case, a pilgrimage is a journey that changes you in some way.

Pilgrimages or road trips do not have to be long, difficult treks. You can drive, take a train, or even fly to get to your pilgrimage. For example, if you have never been out of your country, flying abroad will certainly be a life-changing experience. I recently learned that celebrity Tyrese Gibson is on a pilgrimage to Israel. He is currently spending five days in Tel Aviv. He plans to walk for five hours in the desert and visit the dead sea. Thanks for sharing that with me, Tyrese.

That sounds like my kind of a pilgrimage. I’m not sure if I am up to walking for five hours in the desert, but it will be worth it. Austin lists some other pilgrimage which are of interest:

Temples

Healing Shrines

Sacred Mountains

Holy Wells

Hot Springs

Pop Culture Shrines

Hey. Stop! What are pop culture shrines? Oh, well, Graceland where Elvis lived, The Field of Dreams, the baseball field portrayed in the U.S. movie, and yeah, Las Vegas. So, anyone can take a pilgrimage. Going to Las Vegas is certainly a life-changing experience.

In his book, Austin also tells us where and how to camp, where to find a shower, and ugh.. how to handle a belligerent drunk. Yes. The book is entertaining, and useful, even if you are not on a pilgrimage. I plan to read it on while on the beach. I already feel inspired about this entire pilgrimage thing. If you were going on a pilgrimage or a road trip, where would you go?

Listen to the podcast with Dan Austin.
The Road Trip Pilgrim’s Guide

The Road Trip Pilgrim’s Guide, $14.95 U.S., is available through most books stores and at Amazon.com.

You can also listen to my radio show here:

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Get to secret to getting through the airport on time, how to handle security checks, and what will make you least likely to be checked while in the airport, prevent jet lag and keep your children entertain while on the plane. Pilot Karen Kahn also discusses how to pack light and the thought process that goes into packing, since many airlines are now charging for extra check-in baggage. Dr. Kahn divulges secrets to handling airport check-in, airport security and flights in this podcast. Dr. Kahn is extremely knowledgeable on this topic, so you don’t want to miss this.

Interview with Pilot Karen Kahn

I also have a mp3 version of the podcast. Be warned. There is about 10 seconds of dead air space in this version.
Interview with Pilot Karen Kahn, mp3

Listen to all of my Radio Shows! You can also choose to listen in live.

Myrtle Beach has it all. You can count on having an action-packed evening, thanks to the clubs and bars lining the boardwalk. If you are not into the club-scene, Myrtle Beach has great family parks and activities, too.

Some attractions at Myrtle Beach include:

Family Kingdom Amusement Park

Myrtle Waves Water Park

Nascar Speedpark

Hard Rock Park

Pavilion Nostalgia Park

Where to Stay

Myrtle Beach is divided into five areas: North Myrtle Beach, Central Myrtle Beach, South Myrtle Beach, Litchfield/Pawley’s Island, and Conway. You can find accommodation information on the Myrtle Beach Convention and Visitor’s Bureau.

Dining

Myrtle Beach has great seafood, but you will find international flavors represented in more than 100 eateries in Myrtle Beach. From Japanese food to Mediterranean food, there are plenty of choices to satisfy your appetite. Search for restaurants in Myrtle Beach.

Discounts

Are you planning a visit to Myrtle Beach and are looking for a few coupons to help you save money? Well, you are in luck. The Myrtle Beach Convention and Visitor’s Bureau has coupons and discounts to help you out.

Rules and Laws

There are some laws that are specific to Myrtle Beach. Make sure that you review the rules so you know what to expect before you go.

Kayaks are not permitted between April 30^th and September 15^th in certain areas.

Beach umbrellas and other beach paraphernalia must be at least 10 feet behind lifeguard stands, and they can’t obstruct the lifeguard’s view

Boaters are restricted to certain areas (away from swimmers)

It’s against the law in Myrtle Beach to change your clothes (from bathing suit to street clothes, or from street clothes to a bathing suit) in public restrooms? I wonder if it’s OK to change in the stalls? This is the code from the law:

It shall be unlawful for any person to undress or to put on a bathing suit, change from a bathing suit to normal clothes or change from normal clothes to a bathing suit in any public lavatory or toilet room in the city without obtaining permission or consent from the owner or proprietor. (Code 1980, § 7-10-13)

Glass bottles are not allowed

Technorati Tags: myrtle beach,vacation in myrtle beach,dining,discounts,beach vacation

Photo by Curtis and Eric, Flickr Creative Commons License

Planning to visit Mexico? Get discounts on spa treatments, a lobster dinner, or your favorite hotel. Save money for your beach vacation by getting a free VIP Distinguished Visitor Card from the City of Rosarito Beach, which near San Diego. It is located just across the U.S. border and about 30 minutes away from San Diego.

Well-traveled beach

This beach receives more than a million tourists every year, it’s a popular place for a beach vacation. The prices are lower compared to California and well-known Mexican destinations like Tijuana. There is a low crime rate and the unemployment rate is also low, so Rosarito Beach is considered a safe family beach. It’s a good spot for a family beach vacation.

The VIP Card

So the new mayor, to make the beach even more hospitable for beach vacations, has created a Distinguished Visitor Card. The card grants the holder discounts to hotels and shopping from merchants who agreed to participate in the program.

The distinguished visitor card is free and will be mailed to all those who request it. It may be sent to either your home or your business. Newcomers to Rosarito Beach will also be happy to learn that the card has useful information, such as phone numbers and links to Tourist Assistance. So, as long as you have your card and maybe your cell phone, you can call someone to help you out on your beach vacation.

To use the card, just present it to any merchant where the card’s log is displayed. Visit Rosarito Beach VIP to get a VIP card of your own.

Facts on Rosarito Beach

• The water is safe to drink; it is purified
• Dollars are accepted, so are credit cards and ATM cards
• English is spoken almost everywhere
• U.S. car insurance may not be valid in Mexico
• You can take home up to $400 worth of merchandise, duty free
• Common prescription drugs are over the counter and cheaper than in the U.S.
• There are five hospitals
• You can call 078, the State Tourist Assistance Hotline from any phone and reach a live person
• You don’t need a passport as long as you are a U.S. citizen visiting for only 72 hours and you drive across the border. To re-enter into the U.S. you do need to have proof of citizenship, like your birth certificate, for example.

Have you been to Rosarito Beach? What was your vacation like there? Keep it clean, don’t make me sorry that I asked.

Technorati Tags: beach vacation,mexico,rosarito beach,vip card,discount card,discount,travel,trip

Prices for airline tickets and other travel tickets are rising due to increasing fuel costs. You can, however, get dirt cheap tickets if you know where to look. Prices may have risen, but you still need to travel. Don’t let inflation keep you from going on a vacation or spending a stress-free time with your family. Here are some suggestions for finding the least expensive, dirt cheap tickets on the web.

Give yourself plenty of time
Look for your tickets as soon as possible. The more advance notice you have, the more likely that you will get the best price. Shoot for searching for tickets months before your event or activity. If you can look for tickets nine months in advance of your trip, that’s all the better.
Go straight to the airline’s site
Most people believe that discount tickets on sites like Expedia.com are always the best place to get the cheapest tickets. Airlines, however, sometimes have dirt cheap tickets, or the cheapest tickets that you could find anywhere. Many airlines have features that allow you to check several different dates for the cheapest tickets. Look for several different dates and several times for your trip. Oftentimes red eye flights have the cheapest tickets.

Look for tickets during off-season periods
Try to travel during off-season periods rather than peak travel times. For example, airline tickets are more expensive during the Christmas holidays in the United States. You may be able to find reasonable hotel rates because people tend to stay with family rather than spending a night in hotel during the Christmas holiday. You need to travel when others would prefer to stay at home. Travelers, for example, love to travel during the spring for spring break.

Use Search Engine Power
Use the power of the Internet to search for dirt cheap tickets. If your state has several airports, consider searching for tickets from several different airports (especially if you will have no problem driving to the airport, getting a shuttle, or paying for parking). Search engines such as Expedia, Orbitz, and Cheap Tickets,
can help you search for the lowest prices for several dates at a time.

Are you trying to go to a concert or a sporting event, only to find out that the events are too expensive? You can get cheap tickets for entertainment events like games, plays or concerts by following a few guidelines.
Check your local newspaper
Sometimes newspapers advertise discounts for theatrical events. Free weekly publications sometimes have discount tickets to various local events. You simply have to diligently check the ads. Remember to look for information regarding deals in the local paper. It’s possible to learn that you can get ½ off Wednesday tickets, purchased through Ticketmaster.

Search the web
There are some places on the web which specialize in cheap concert tickets.

Cheap Tickets
This group has cheap tickets for dozens of cities and venues. The top concert tickets or posted on the front page. The beauty of this site is that you can search for cheap tickets for a variety of events by state. So, if I wanted a listing of several different types of events in my state, I could go to Concerttickets.org and get a good idea of what’s going on.

Best Show Tickets
You definitely need to know what you are looking for when you visit this site. Best Show Tickets lists events rather than listing cities and states. We can find cheap tickets by carefully searching, though. I found $15 hockey tickets near the goal on this site.

Ebay
There is a plethora of cheap tickets available on ebay.com. Be careful, though. Purchase tickets from people with positive feedback. Ask questions about the tickets before you buy them. You need to know how and when you can expect to receive your tickets, why the person is selling the tickets, and where the tickets are located. It’s helpful to have a good map of the venue.

Craig’s List
Craig’s List is a great place to find people selling tickets locally. Simply, check the ads in your city.
Radio Stations

You can win free tickets from radio stations, but I wouldn’t count on that as a sure thing. Some radio stations have point systems. You answer a few questions on the radio station’s web site, or you visit web sites from sponsor companies. You earn points that can be traded in for event tickets or other prizes. For example, V-103 at www.v-103.com has a loyal listener program in Atlanta.
There is no reason to sit at home. Get out and enjoy yourself. You can find cheap tickets to a variety of events. You only need to look!

Photo by Todd/Hryckowian Flickr Creative Commons

With the high price of fuel, it’s a good idea to save money by getting a cheap vacation rental this vacation season for your family.Vacation rentals offer you the chance to have large bedroom and full kitchens with modern appliances. A vacation rental can be considered to be your home away from home. Typically, it’s best to rent directly from the owner, saving service fees that are charged by rental agencies.Sky Auction states that it guarantees that you will have the best prices available if you use their site. Sky Auction allows you to bid for vacation rentals. The prices are set by owners. I’ve seen some rentals with a starting bid of $1. Pictures of the vacation rentals are posted on the site as are the rules (no pets for example) for making the purchase. Winning bids are charged immediately, so you must give up your credit card number to participate in the bidding process. Take your time and read all of the information about the vacation rental before you bid. Pay special attention to t the taxes and service charges!Hotel Stays
This site has vacation rentals in the United States and abroad, if you happen to live outside of the U.S. Again, you will be connected with actual owners so you can get a good price without a rental agency as a middle man. Your first stop in the site should be the owner specials .

Owners who are highly motivated to rent their homes post special deals here. The top 50 deals are conveniently listed on the site.

Home exchange swap
Yes. You can actually swap your home with another family. Read home and location descriptions, swap dates, and exchange homes with others. This is a cheap way to get vacation rental. Of course, you have to be comfortable with having people you don’t know living in your home, as well as being comfortable living in another person’s home. Browse the site, there are plenty of people willing to swap homes. Some of them have testimonials indicating that they have had good experiences swapping homes!

Go for it
Just because money is tight does not mean that you have to cancel your vacation. Vacations help relieve stress which will pull you through tough times. If you really want to get away, you can get a cheap beach vacation rental or even swap a home for almost nothing at all.