Give dad a custom vacation from Kensington Tours this year

by Kraig Becker on

Father’s Day may still be a couple of weeks away, but if you’re struggling to figure out what to give dad this year, than Kensington Tours is here to help. The travel company, which specializes in private guided adventure travel to more than 80 countries around the globe, has officially designated a Vacation Valet who is prepared to help create a custom itinerary to fit your dad’s needs.

Kensington has named Brad Crockett as their official Vacation Valet for Dad, and he is ready to help apply his years of experience in the travel industry to create an unforgettable vacation experience. Whether your dad is an experienced global traveler or this is his first time abroad, he’ll have a custom designed itinerary that has been developed with his interests in mind. Best of all, these custom trips are surprisingly affordable, ranging from $200 to $2000 per day depending on your destination and options.

Of course we all know that every dad is different and each has their own idea of what constitutes a great travel experience. Fortunately, Kensington has the resources to deliver those experiences to even the most demanding traveler. For instance, if your dad is an adventurous traveler, then perhaps he’d enjoy trekking in the Atlas Mountains of Morocco or hunting with Pygmies in the Congo. Is he a history buff? Then let Kensington send him on a tour of famous battle fields in Vietnam or on an archaeological expedition through Egypt. Other options include exploring Kenya by motorcycle, dog sledding in the Yukon, white water rafting in Peru, or fly fishing in Chile. And for the dad who’s passion is golf, Kensington can even arrange a trip to the British Open in Scotland, including rounds of golf and whiskey tasting.

If you have one of those dads who already has everything, perhaps this year you can give him something that he has been lacking in the form of an international adventure of a lifetime. For more information go to Kensingtontours.com.

Stick to a budget – Dinging out tip

by Gadling Staff on

Stick to a budget.

It’s easy to overspend on food on vacation, because you get excited about trying new dishes or regional specialties. Try setting yourself a budget for each meal ahead of time, and go into the restaurant mindful of your goal.

We’ve found it helpful to set budgets before we even leave on a trip, because once you’re in the moment, it’s easy to spend more than you planned.

Note that budgeting doesn’t have to mean eating boring or familiar dishes; choose restaurants that don’t cater to tourists, and you’ll find lower menu prices in many places.

Five reasons to unplug your vacation

by Annie Scott on

We don’t get all that many vacation days. Even if you think your hard-earned three weeks is cushy, you’ve got nothing on Europe where they typically have weeks and weeks more — even Singaporeans get 30 days. Surveys like this one have proven that Americans don’t even take all their vacation days. I understand this; there’s always a fear that you won’t get ahead as quickly or that people will think you’re “taking advantage.” Unfortunately, in many office cultures, this can be true.

And so, you feel pressured to stay available, even on your vacation. Your away message reads “available by Blackberry.” You ensure your hotel has high speed internet so you can get a little work done. You know what that is? Vacation sabotage. For sending to your boss, or maybe your spouse, here are Five reasons to unplug your vacation:

1. You’ll sleep better.
Part of the importance of vacation is to get some long hours of sleep. That iPhone buzzing, the little red Blackberry light flashing, even the knowledge that you might have a new message, especially if you’re vacationing in a different time zone; these are all things that can mess with your sleep. Though you might have withdrawl for your first night or two, with no one counting on you to be available and no deadlines looming, you’ll sleep much better.

2. Time to think.
For many of us, a day of work is a day of putting out fires. We may come into the office in the morning with a good idea, but by noon there have been several crises and we’ve forgotten all about it. This isn’t the path toward innovation. By unplugging yourself, you allow your mind time to ponder your work experience from the outside. You might be surprised at how you can simplify or improve a business matter by stepping away from it. Unplugging will help you reenter your workplace with fresh eyes, an invaluable commodity.3. Physical and emotional health.
There’s a lot to be said for taking a step back from the stresses of work. Not only can you find new ways to do a better job, but the time also gives your poor mind and body a break. Balancing the stresses of modern day life and work, both physical and emotional, can be quite a juggling act. Don’t bring your laptop and spend time hunched over it like you would back home; unplug and get a massage or lie on the beach — it may be the only rest those muscles get until next year. Furthermore, don’t worry so much about everything, which is what being available will inevitably cause you to do. Constant reminders of what you’re missing at work will interfere with your relaxation. A vacation should be a break from physical and emotional stresses — it’s what you need to have you feeling refreshed when you’re back in that office or cubicle.

4. Your family.
Your vacation may be the longest stretch of time you get to spend with your family … ever. Use the time to get to know them, play with them, love them and don’t waste their time looking for a good wifi signal or make them wait while you answer an email. Staying available and working can lead your family to feel that the vacation is some kind of favor you’re doing them and that you don’t want to be there. That’s not good.

5. You earned it.
Take your vacation days. Take them, and maybe we can get our country’s mindset about these hard-earned days back on track. Request them on one of your good days, so that your request gets returned to you with a smiley face and a “You deserve it” scribbled in the margin. You do deserve to not answer your Blackberry or iPhone while you are trying to unwind. Time things so that your bosses view your unreachability as a reward, not an inconvenience.

The other Florida

by Gadling Staff on

Most people visit Florida for its theme parks and party beaches, but there is another side. The state is a place of incredible natural beauty and home to some of the most powerful and influential people of the 20th Century. If you’re looking for something beyond the “usual Florida vacation,” keep reading for some of our favorite outdoor spaces and hidden cultural treasures.

John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park
The Florida Keys have always been one of our favorite places, and John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park is one of the reasons. The coral reef encompasses 70 nautical square miles off the coast of Key Largo, and the park includes mangrove forests, tropical hammocks and numerous beach habitats. 100-feet offshore from Cannon Beach there are remnants of an early Spanish shipwreck, and with sailing, diving and snorkeling tours leaving several times a day, it is a great place to experience the magic of the Keys.

St. George Island State Park
In a state known for its white sand beaches, St. George Island State Park is one of the most pristine. A long barrier island between Apalachicola Bay and the Gulf of Mexico, St. George is a place of sand dunes, sea oats and sunsets. It is tranquil and unspoiled. There’s also no shortage of activities, with boating, fishing, swimming and all the things you want from a beach minus the crowds and high-rise condominiums.

Keep reading below for three more Florida favorites…

Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park
It would be a shame not to see manatees while in Florida. The Homosassa Springs have always attracted them, and today the park is a key part of the state’s manatee rehabilitation program.

In addition, the park has many of Florida’s other native wildlife species. The rangers offer wildlife encounters and presentations throughout the day, and the freshwater springs and cypress swamps offer a beautiful environment for kayaking.

Edison & Ford Winter Estates
Located in Fort Myers, the Edison & Ford Winter Estates were the winter quarters of Thomas Edison and Henry Ford. The grounds, gardens and houses, including Edison’s workshop, are open to the public. This is a chance to go back in time and see how two influential men lived a simple yet elegant lifestyle in the days before air-conditioning.

The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art
Situated on the shores of Sarasota Bay, the grounds of this unique Florida attraction is much more than a circus sideshow. Though John Ringling was one of the seven siblings who created the Ringling Brothers Circus, his former Florida estate includes lavish gardens, an art museum with several large paintings by Rubens and yes, even a circus museum. Ringling had an opulent lifestyle. From the imported marble floors to the exquisite furnishings, this is the place to see just what money could buy.

From lavish estates and art to beautiful natural scenery, Florida has lots to offer the visitor sick of roller coasters and mouse ears. Chart a course for the “other Florida” on your next visit.

Have a road trip scavenger hunt – Road trip tip

by Gadling Staff on

Planning a family road trip? To avoid hours of boredom, plan a “scenic scavenger hunt.”

It’s easy. Just write down a list of 100 things you might see along the way, like landmarks, buses or bridges. The first person to complete the list wins.

For preschool kids, substitute magazine photos and trim the list to twenty familiar objects. For older kids, include a challenge: require them to provide one additional fact about each item they find.

Have fun. And by the time you reach the end of the road, you won’t be at the end of your rope.