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Tag: holiday travel

  • Holiday Traditions from Around the World

    It may be Black Friday (America’s official kick-off to the holiday season), but remember that there are plenty of ways to celebrate the holidays that don’t involve breaking the bank.


    If you’re looking for something new to do this year, take a cue from cultures around the world and integrate some of these activities and practices into your annual holiday traditions. Luminarias Shed a little light on what’s important this holiday season - like spending time with friends and family - with the Hispanic tradition of luminarias or farolitos. These are small lights or lanterns (often times a candle set in some sand inside a paper bag) that line driveways and streets during the holidays. Traditional luminarias are made with brown paper bags weighted down with sand and lit from within by a votive candle that is firmly placed in the sand so as not to tip over. They are usually arranged along streets or in multiple rows to create elaborate displays. This tradition is imbued with significance for many Roman Catholics, who believe the lights will lead the spirit of Christ to their homes. [caption id="attachment_4693" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Luminarias in Albuquerque, NM"]luminarias[/caption] An interesting twist on this tradition is to make ice luminaries to decorate outside your home for holiday parties. These follow the same idea as a traditional paper bag luminaria, but the bag is replaced by ice. For instructions on how to make these, see: http://www.theheartofnewengland.com/LifeinNewEngland-Ice-Luminaries.html Holiday Greeting Cards In France, holiday greetings are sent in the form of cartes de voeux (literally “wish cards”) that are decorated with bells, ivy and holly and given for the New Year. Inside, the sender writes a personal message wishing the receiver all the best in the new year. Holiday cards can get expensive, but making one’s own is a great alternative. You can also hand deliver them to save on postage.  After all, who wouldn’t like to receive a handmade card around New Years, after all of the holiday hubbub has died down? With the proliferation of e-card companies online have come endless options for sending free, personalized holiday wishes. Some families I know also send out an email with a festive holiday letter attached. This is a great way to stay in touch with family and friends far and near during the holidays. Making Holiday Decorations Making your own holiday decorations can be a great way to connect with different cultures (and perhaps relive past travels) while beautifying your home for the holidays on a budget. Deck your tree with Japanese origami ornaments. These can be made by punching a small hole and threading a string through any handmade origami piece. Purchase some beautiful paper and go for it! Make a traditional German lebkuchen (gingerbread house) or adapt it to make it your own. This can be a fun family project for a snowy afternoon. For ideas and instructions, see: http://www.lamiematinale.ca/index.php?id=71&L=1 International Culinary Traditions Make a traditional French Bûche de Noël (Yule log cake). These are typically made of chocolate and decorated with frosting made to look like bark and candy mushrooms. They are relatively easy to make and a definite crowd pleaser. For a good recipe, see: http://www.joyofbaking.com/YuleLog.html Whip up a batch of Mexican Bizcochos, flat cinnamon-flavored cookies or Polvorones (also known as Mexican wedding cakes or pan de polvo) -- pecan short bread cookies rolled in powdered sugar.

  • Tips for Saving Money on Holiday Travel

    Yes, it’s that time of year again. Time to start thinking about all of the (often costly) details that come with holiday travel.


    For a variety of reasons, it’s true that the holidays are simultaneously one of the most joyful, stressful and costly times of year. Here are some tips for keeping holiday travel costs low, which will inevitably help to decrease stress and hopefully increase your holiday joy. Start planning your travel early. Whether you’re flying, driving or taking a train, make sure to start planning your travel early. There are several advantages to doing this. The more you research, the better fares you’ll be able to find. Use these travel deal websites to get you started. See if you can redeem any of your frequent flyer miles for holiday travel (you never know). Also, remember that lots of people ask for time off from work over the holidays. Getting your request for time off early will improve the changes of getting your vacation days (instead of having to take unpaid vacation - which just adds insult to the injury of holiday expenses). Holiday travel tip: When booking flights, make sure you leave enough time for transfers (which make take longer due to increased holiday travel traffic). [caption id="attachment_4627" align="alignright" width="225" caption="Going home for the holidays? Here are some tips to help you get there on the cheap."][/caption] Get creative. Airlines tend to increase prices over the holidays, so get creative in your trip planning. Could you take a few days off on either side of the holiday? This may improve your chances of finding a better airfare. Staying in one location from Christmas through the New Year holiday (if you can swing it) will obviously be cheaper than hopping on a plane for both holidays. Think about moving your holiday celebration by several days or so. Perhaps you could celebrate Christmas on Dec. 22th instead of Dec 25th - your chances of finding affordable airfare will be greater. Holiday travel tip: Book your flight for late or early in the day, not during peak hours. Though waking up early (or staying up late at night) might sound painful, the payoffs are pretty great (shorter lines, less people to deal with, perhaps even more room on the plane). Pack light. Especially if you’re only leaving for a long weekend, try to pack everything you can in your carry-on. This way you can avoid having to pay fees to check your bag. Make sure that your carryon meets the size and weight requirements of the carrier you’ll be flying as well as security requirements (less than 3 oz. bottles of liquid, etc.).

    An additional perk of just bringing a carry-on is not having to worry about losing your bag or having to wait for it at baggage claim (which allows you to get to the celebration faster). Holiday travel tip: In order to pack lighter, think over your clothing for each day carefully. Remember, pants and sweaters can be worn more than once. Rethink your holiday travel habits. Do you always rent a car when you go visit your family? Perhaps you could forgo this luxury this year.  A family member could pick you up from and drop you off at the airport. Perhaps someone you know has a car you could borrow for an afternoon or two when you’re in town. Or if the place you’re going has reliable public transportation, that’s even better. Do you tend to bring a lot of gifts for family and friends when you travel? Perhaps it’s time to rethink this as well.  After all, it’s miserable to try to figure out how to pack all of those gifts in a carry-on. Holiday travel tip: Consider shipping larger items to your destination in advance, or buy small no-fuss items like gift cards for your loved ones. Even better, consider donating to a charity in the name of your friends and family members or doing something special together (a homemade meal, a movie outing with nieces and nephews) while you’re in town. After all, your presence is the best holiday present to those who care about you.

  • Quirky Labor Day Holiday Activities – Events Around North America This September Long Weekend

    With Labor Day rapidly approaching, Americans are making plans about where to spend their holiday weekend.

    But if you're stuck for inspiration, consider these quirky Labor Day activities for your September vacation. Maryland is famous for its crabs, so it's no surprise to see a crustacean themed celebration taking place over the long weekend. The National Hard Crab Derby and Fair hits Somers Cove Marina in Crisfield from September 3 to 5. The festivities feature crab cooks facing off, aspiring beauties competing for the title of Miss Crusty, crab picking, and boat races. Tickets cost $5, and $2 for children under 12. Mendota, Illinois isn't a common tourist destination, but the town comes alive over the Labor Day holiday period. At the annual Sta-Bil National Weekend, contestants race customized mowers around a course in a number of speed classes. The spectators get pretty rowdy, especially when the machines top 60 miles an hour! After watching this madcap event, you'll never think about tending your lawn in the same way again! If you've got a taste for a more tropical destination, visit the Hawaiian island of Oahu for the Queen Lili-uokalani Outrigger Canoe race. On September 4 and 5 paddlers from around the globe will compete in the 18-mile races. The fun doesn't end when the races are over either; that's when the island enjoys a post-event luau and dancing by torchlight. For a vacation that's further afield, consider crossing the border and heading to the Hot Air Balloon Festival in Gatineau, Canada. From September 3 to 6 balloons of all shapes and sizes take to the skies. There's also live music, market stalls, and the Agropur Night Glow show featuring illuminated character balloons for the kids. So why just take the same old vacation you always do? Make 2010 the year where you venture from the well worn tourist track and enjoy a Labor Day Weekend you'll never forget.

  • Labor Day Holiday Deals | Save Money with Accommodation Packages Across America

    The upcoming Labor Day holiday is the perfect excuse to take a well deserved getaway, with many of America’s hotels offering some great travel deals.

    If golf is your game consider a trip to SpringHill Suites Orlando Lake Buena Vista in Marriott Village.

    The Florida resort is offering a package which includes deluxe accommodation and two rounds of golf at either Hawks Landing or Grande Pines for every night you stay. Rates start at $255. Use the code GOF if booking by phone to take advantage of the deal. If you're more of a gourmand than a golfer, head to Pinehurst Resort in North Carolina. The resort is tempting budding foodies to join the five-day celebrations of its annual Labor Day Food and Wine Festival. From $292 per night you can enjoy a room in the resort, breakfast in the morning, entry to all seminars, and evening wine receptions. If you hope to impress a mini princess, a night at the Embassy Suites in Dallas is the way to do it. The hotel is offering a Day Out with American Girl package from $139 a night. This price includes a cooked breakfast to start the day, transport to the Galleria Mall, two tickets to enjoy the mall's indoor ice skating arena, and an American Girl doll bed. golfer The Broadmoor at Colorado Springs is another great option if you've got little ones to consider. The resort is offering three and four-night family escapes over the Labor Day long weekend. These deals include your choice of a free horseback trail ride or Garden of the Gods Jeep Tour, bike and paddle boat rental, free movie tickets, free meals for children aged 10 and under, and discounts on other local attractions. If you've got romance in mind consider The Inn at Pelican Bay in gorgeous Naples, Florida. The luxury inn is the perfect place for pampering with its romance package. This includes two days and one night staying in one of the inn's plush rooms, deluxe continental breakfast for two, and a bottle of red wine. No matter where you find yourself come September 6, make sure you remember to take it easy and enjoy all the holiday has to offer!