When I read these top travel tips for solo vacations, I was inspired to plan my own summer beach getaway- alone. I’m looking forward to some solitude and some great shopping and dining. I can see myself chatting it up with other travelers and meeting new people. I do think I will find all of the safety suggestions very useful.

Top Travel Tips for Solo Vacations

Are you filled with wanderlust, but sticking close to home because you lack a like-minded companion? Solo travel is an extraordinary, accessible opportunity that can involve big or small adventures, easy or difficult as you choose.

You can do what you want, when you want, how you want, where you want. You pick your own pace, budget, itinerary and can always change your mind on a whim, never having to negotiate. The experience can be liberating and thrilling, igniting a rewarding sense of accomplishment, and the detachment from your “real” life is often therapeutic.

When entering a new place on your own, you may notice more than you do when you travel with others. I strike up conversations more easily when I’m solo, something I’ve done in dozens of countries across six continents. But not all destinations are right for solo travelers. Here are some tips.

—Visit walkable destinations connected by trains, buses, ferries and flights. Getting around this way will be straightforward, prices will be per person, and you increase your odds of meeting others, unlike destinations best seen or reached by car, where there may be fewer interactions. I’ve found places outside the U.S. and Caribbean are sometimes more friendly to individuals, with reduced-fare single-person rooms. Youth hostels are great for 20somethings and travelers of any age on tight budgets who crave conversation and don’t need upscale accommodations.

—Traveling offseason can save a lot of money. One year in October, it was cheaper for me to spend a week in Costa Rica than to visit the Adirondacks in upstate New York. The off-peak flight, local transport and single accommodation in Costa Rica was less than the car rental and pricier double rooms during fall foliage season here.

—If you can’t fly nonstop, turn your stopovers into perks. I’ve visited Fiji, Iceland, London, Paris and Rome, at no extra cost, all on extended layovers.

—Be respectful, inconspicuous and dress to blend in. Local fashion norms vary, but I typically wear jeans with subdued colors, dark shoes and subtle accessories so as not to attract undue attention.

—English has become the world’s second language, but learning to say hello and thank you in the local tongue goes a long way.

Traveling alone isn’t for everyone but if you are you thinking you might be up for it, remember these top travel tips for solo vacations.

Click here to see more travel tips

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Resorts 360 Secrets is a travel club that offers travel specials and deals throughout the year, today we are featuring an opportunity to discover Bora Bora on a romantic vacation for two.  Book some scuba diving excursions, exotic dinners on the beach, and a lot of alone time.

Romantic Vacation To Bora Bora

Welcome to this edition of “Travel Times” the monthly newsletter of Resorts360! In this edition we will announce some of our new club features, explore the beautiful Tahitian Island of Bora Bora, and end with a famous French Polynesian recipe, Poisson Cru.
Bora Bora Beauty

The islands of Tahiti are the epitome of scenic beauty. Nestled in the South Pacific, these islands make up a tropical paradise that will leave you breathless. The combination of the clear blue waters and the lush natural wildlife make Tahiti one of the most desirable and must-see destinations in the world.

Tahiti’s most exquisite island has to be Bora Bora. Known as Tahiti’s “Romantic Island”, Bora Bora is the perfect destination for Valentine’s Day! Not only is the island exceptionally stunning, but with all of the activities and excursions offered on the island, we guarantee this trip will be one you will never forget.

Start your day basking in the sun and relaxing on the picturesque white sand beaches. Then partake in one of the many onshore excursions, like snorkeling, paddle boarding, or kayaking. Later in the day make sure to explore the island for all of its hidden treasures. Mount Pahia and Mount Otemanu are all that remain from a once active volcano and make for an exciting mid-day hike.

At sundown, unwind and enjoy a delectable dinner for two paired with the most perfect glass of wine followed by a romantic horseback ride along the beach.

This dreamlike Utopia may seem too good to be true, but it’s one of the only places in the world that certainly surpasses all expectations. Make sure to book your overwater bungalow this Valentine’s Day and surprise your loved one with this heavenly escape.

Click here to search for accommodations in the beautiful Bora Bora. Then remember to add some excursions to your trip by visiting our Activities and Excursions page under Services.

If you can see yourself in paradise, enjoying the treasures and pleasures of Bora Bora is definitely for you. Take the next step and start planning your romantic vacation to Bora Bora. Click here to find out how to save money by joining our travel club.

Copyright © 2012 | Resorts360

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Travel experts report that consumers want to expand their greener lifestyles into more eco friendly vacations. What makes a vacation “eco-friendly”? The definition of eco-friendly is rather broad and can include a wide range of options. I found an article by Rania Walker on Our Kids.net, a resource for families which provides tips for greener traveling.

What Makes A Vacation Eco-Friendly?

Eco-friendly is a term that is hard to define. Even as a television producer who worked on many green features and interviewed many notable experts in the field, to claim that something or someplace is eco-friendly can be cause for debate. We can discuss green cleaning practices, carbon credits or outdoor adventures.

For my purposes here I am going to highlight eco-travel ideas and activities that I personally think are good resources for those who would like to take an eco-friendly vacation, as well as ideas to help make your travel footprint eco-friendly.
Top Five Eco-Friendly Destination Resources:
Canadian Trails—A great compilation of hiking, biking and sports trails across the country.
Treehouse Cottages—These a growing attraction across the world, but here is one from Perth, Ont., made entirely of recycled and reclaimed materials.
Eco-Volunteerism Travel—That’s right, there is volun-tourism and now there is eco-voluntourism.
Eco-lodges—These locales across the globe offer the best eco-lodges, hotels and resorts that are certified “Green”.
Eco-tours—Discover all the beautiful places, people and wildlife this planet has to offer on your next adventure-focused eco-holiday. Click here to read full article…

Ir’s kind of exciting that there is an increasing demand for eco-friendly travel services. Now that we know a little more about what makes a vacation eco-friendly, I’m predicting  the trend will continue to grow and develop.

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Looking for travel planning tips for a memorable family vacation? I can’t decide if parents who travel with kids arecrazy or brilliant. I think it is probably both. It takes so much planning and organizing just to get out the door for a family vacation. When my kids were younger, I recall road trips and plane rides were more fun when I was prepared for anything. In fact “over prepared” was the word my spouse used many times, however she never complained when I would replace my frustrations and anxiety with smiles and quiet just by getting more organized in my travel planning.

You’ll find useful tips and advice in this article found on the Milwaukee-Wisconsin Journal Sentinel

Travel Planning Tips for a Memorable Family Vacation

Whether you’re traveling by car, plane or train, here are a few travel survival tips to ensure a smooth journey during your next vacation:

* Keep a snack stash. Hunger is the happy traveler’s kryptonite, as moods can go south quickly when you’re in need of a snack. The type of snacks you choose is also important, as snacks overloaded with sugar might not help you feel satisfied for long – and sugary snacks can also leave your kids with lots of energy and nowhere to burn it off. Try stocking up on healthier snacks that are convenient for on-the-go situations…

* Take a clean-up kit. Hand sanitizer, napkins and hand wipes can help keep everyone – and the inside of your car – clean during your trip. If you have younger children, keeping a bag with a change of clothes easily accessible can help you weather any bad spills or accidents.

* Don’t forget the fun. Car games can make the time fly by for children. If you’re driving, games like car bingo and the license plate game are fun ways to help your child discover the scenery. To combine food and fun, use pretzel bits as bingo pieces or a tasty game of tic-tac-toe. Bringing pads for doodling is never a bad idea either, and washable markers are always a good option since they won’t easily break like crayons or colored pencils might.

* Make it easy to get some shut-eye. If you have a longer trip planned, bringing smaller travel pillows and blankets to help your passengers rest when they get sleepy can help keep everyone happy. You may also want to consider sun-blocking screens that still allow the driver to see out the window – although a comfortable pair of sunglasses for the little ones can also help.

* Keep travel-friendly technology handy. Smartphones and tablets make great travel companions for adults, giving you access to helpful maps, restaurant reviews and tourism sites. You can also scan the Web for travel-related games for the kids. Follow Snyder’s of Hanover on Facebook and Twitter for road trip snacking tips, and look for game ideas and travel tips on the brand’s Pinterest board.

It’s tempting to bring along several of the kids electronic games and tablets to keep them busy but use them sparingly. Try to find creative ways to enjoy each others company on a long drive. Think of how we entertained ourselves before technology was available. You’ll find your kids don’t miss their stuff if you lead by example. Keep these travel planning tips for memorable family vacations in mind next time you go crazy and pack up the kids for “fun”.

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Break your work addiction with a real vacation before YOU start breaking down. Vacations are tough for workaholics because they are uncomfortable with forced relaxation. Most people enjoy kicking back and doing nothing once in a while but workaholics can’t seem to balance their work and personal time.

Enjoy these tips from Tamar Chansky writing for the Huffington Post Healthy Living section.

Break Your Work Addiction With A Real Vacation

Now you might be saying to yourself, defensively: “Hey, whoa there, I do take vacations. Look at my passport. I’ve been all over the world!” But was it a vacation or a fakation? What is a fakation? It’s when much to the total frustration of the loved ones around you, more than half your luggage has a titanium case and you’re more concerned about bringing the chargers for all of your devices than about recharging your life.

On the outside you are as hooked up technologically as you are back home, and on the inside, all the same neurocircuitry of work: pressure, deadlines, productivity is lighting up. Meanwhile the circuits for pleasure, unwinding or even those that feel a ping or a pow of experiencing something new, still have the dust covers on them. Unused.

What is the problem with vacations? Why are some of us so averse to something that others long for and dream about? Yes, it is, for sure, leaving all our work behind and feeling the anxiety that things aren’t getting done, or are getting done wrong, or worst of all: getting done better. But it’s more that other anxiety. The quiet kind. The pink sand kind. The nothing to do all day but sit in a chaise lounge and look out at glints of sunlight dotting and dancing on the deep blue sea. The gaping black hole of inactivity that threatens to swallow you whole — in other words, the absolute hell of forced relaxation.

Do’s:

Take the time to create auto-reply vacation emails. Yes, it’s a pain to do, but it gives you an instant buffer in people’s expectations that you will write right back.

If you’re not able to unplug entirely for your vacation, designate a set time each day when you’ll check email. If you need to ease yourself in to it, designate two to three times a day, but then walk away from the phone, so to speak, during other times.

Power in numbers: Make this a group effort, whether you’re traveling with friends or family, make a pact for accountability and support to unplug, together.

Allow time to adjust. The first day is that hell of inertia. Don’t misinterpret the meaning when you don’t feel great right away. Tell yourself that by the second day, or soon thereafter, you’ll start to settle in and even enjoy the discoveries you are making.

It’s okay to be busy on a trip — if you exercise everyday back home, schedule it on your vacation. If you need to fill up your schedule with activities, fine. Remember it’s not all about the hammock.

Repurpose your efficiency for a new goal, if you are all about the action: organize outings, make a packing list, research restaurants.

If you find that you bring all of your electronics, books, supplies, only to find that it is more of a security blanket that remains untouched, see if you can bring a smaller “blanket” each time (i.e., fewer books, computers etc). In time you may be able to leave it all at home. Click here to find out what the don’ts are…

Don’t take anymore “fakations”. Break your work addiction by taking a real vacation and get the most out of it by letting go of your everyday routine and beginning to smile a bit more. Leave your stress at home and go enjoy yourself doing whatever it is you love to do (except work.)

Learn how you can save money on vacations with a resorts360secrets travel club membership or sign up for our travel newsletter.

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Do you ever get home from your vacation and wish you had taken better photos? It’s a very common problem, because most of us just take those “everyone stand in front of this or that and smile” photos. Those are great but wouldn’t you love to take vacation pictures that really tell a story, and help you record your emotional connection to the land and the people you are with.

We found these useful tips in The Journal Sentinel, where Gail Fisher shares how to take the best vacation photos. Fisher who was at one time, a former senior editor for National Geographic and the Los Angeles Times is more than qualified to advise us on memorable snapshots.

Take Vacation Pictures that Really Tell a Story

Be a backpack journalist. With technology these days, it’s easy to have a picture or video camera on hand at all times – just like backpack journalists, who have creative control over the stories they tell since they act as reporters, videographers and producers. Travelers can take a similar approach. Consider capturing both still and video images, and spend time interacting or talking with locals who may be able to tell you stories beyond what you’ll read in travel books.

Tell a visual story. Whether you’re an aspiring videographer or enjoy capturing everyday life on your digital camera, it’s all about telling a great story to help translate the feelings you experienced at that moment to others. Go beyond shooting famous landmarks and traditional subjects. Find and capture everyday moments and people who can help bring to life the area’s culture, history and story.

Take your time. Never be satisfied with your first shot. Instead, consider taking several photos to get yourself comfortable with the subject. Then, get creative by trying different angles, camera settings, lenses and lighting. If your schedule allows, return to your point of interest at different times of the day to capture new elements. Early morning light and the ‘golden hour’ before dusk is a favorite for most professional photographers.

Remember to take vacation pictures that really tell a story. If you spent hours each evening cooking, singing and talking around the campfire then don’t forget to capture the glow of that memory by shooting few close up shots of the fire as well as close up shots of the marshmallows on sticks, feeding each other smores, and thoughtful faces staring into the fire. What ever your story is, tell it with images.

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We want consumers to know that our travel club offers valuable reward points for timeshares. Timeshare scams crop up all the time usually disguised as clever but fraudulent programs that promise to help timeshare owners get out of their contracts through a sale or transfer.

This recent article in The UT San Diego warns consumers about timeshare scams which is very important. Our concern is for those who want to get rid of their timeshare and have no real options.

Travel Club Offers Valuable Reward Points for Timeshares

Timeshare scammers continue to change how they lure victims, but the core of their schemes remains the same.

Fly-by-night companies promise to sell or transfer ownership of timeshare properties in exchange for hundreds to thousands of dollars in up-front fees, but end up not delivering the promised services. Timeshares, which number about 72,000 in the county, are properties owned by several owners who have the right to use the property during agreed-upon times.

Even though these dubious practices have been around since the 1990s, owners, especially the elderly, still get conned out of millions of dollars every year, according to the San Diego division of the FBI, which recently sent out a consumer alert on the matter. Victims are quick to say yes to these companies because they’re desperate to shed properties. Many have lost a spouse or can no longer afford the maintenance fees.

“What typically would happen is, they’d crop up and burn out,” said Mario Collura, an Oceanside-based timeshare broker and owner of TRI West Real Estate, referring to timeshare scammers. “They’d call so many people and collect so much money, they last anywhere from a year to three years, then they’d go away.”

One solution is to learn how you  Resorts360secrets offers valuable reward points for timeshares. It is so easy to Trade in Your Timeshare for Travel Reward Points at Resorts 360. Timeshare owners can exchange their timeshare weeks for travel reward points through Resorts 360’s V.O.I.C.E. (Vacation Ownership Interval Compensation Exchange) program. For complete details click here then Services/V.O.I.C.E.

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Do you dream about taking a trip around the world? The Chicago Tribune recently published this update from by Ed Perkins on RTW airfare, what does it cost to travel around the world? You can plan a DIY trip around the world or get the help of an expert. Either way there are some super deals and for a trip this big you might consider joining a travel club to reduce airfare and hotel costs.

What Does it Cost to Travel Around the World?

DO IT YOURSELF: For the simplest RTW trips, BootsnAll found that your best bet is just to log onto Kayak (or some other aggregator or OTA) and search individual flight segments.

I’ve done a few RTW trips and have developed some basic guidelines:

– Allow enough time — three weeks at a bare minimum, better four weeks or more. Any less and your experience will consist mainly of continuous jet lag.

– If you hate sitting up all night in an economy seat, travel westbound — you can build complete RTW itineraries without any overnight red-eye flights.

– If you like to minimize hotel costs by using overnight flights for long hauls, travel eastbound — you can arrange three or four nights on planes (feh!).

– Even if you’re frugal, consider doing RTW in business class — flying 25,000 miles confined to a sardine-can economy cabin can be daunting.

GET THE GUIDE: Obviously, RTW is impractical for many of you because of the time and the cost involved. But if you can swing it, RTW could be the trip of a lifetime. If you’re interested, be sure to download the BootsnAll guide.

(Send e-mail to Ed Perkins at eperkins(at)mind.net. Perkins’ new book for small business and independent professionals, “Business Travel When It’s Your Money,” is now available through www.mybusinesstravel.com or www.amazon.com)

See the full story here…http://www.chicagotribune.com/travel/sns-201203200000–tms–travelpkctnxf-b20120320mar20,0,4770189.story

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If you are trying to step up your fitness routine, you might want to consider a fitness vacation. Not just any fitness vacation but a luxury fitness vacation that will whip you into shape with professionals to help you up your game and to help you relax and be pampered in every way.

On this trip, Beachcomber Tours is teaming up with fitness guru and famous Gladiator Kate Staples to teach a wide range of workout routines. The staff at the Paradis Hotel will be at your beck and call.

Luxury Fitness Vacation Will Whip You Into Shape

Beachcomber Tours teams up with fitness guru Kate Staples (Zodiac from Gladiators) at Paradis Hotel & Golf Club, Mauritius

Luxury Mauritius travel specialist Beachcomber Tours has teamed up with former ‘Gladiators’ star and fitness guru Kate Staples, to offer guests a rejuvenating week of fitness in the glorious Mauritian sunshine.

Between 4th – 8th June, Kate will run a daily Fitness Camp at Beachcomber’s luxury Paradis Hotel & Golf Club, on stunning Le Morne Peninsula.

Suitable for both avid fitness enthusiasts and complete novices, the dynamic hour long sessions will include a fusion of core balance and conditioning, yoga positions, group exercises, short distance jogging, circuit training, obstacle courses and mat work-outs. It’s a wonderful opportunity to get fit and feel great in a stunningly beautiful setting, leaving you guilt free to indulge in all the fantastic facilities Paradis has to offer, from mouth watering cuisine, luxury accommodation and a world class spa, to a host of land and water activities.

Kate’s an ex-British athlete whose achievements include breaking 42 national records. She became something of a national treasure through her role as Zodiac in the hit TV show, ‘Gladiators’.

Together with legendary decathlete Daley Thompson, Kate set up Adventure Boot Camps, which run fitness boot camps around the UK. The programmes offer professional fitness instruction, nutritional support and motivational training – including fun and energising activities out in the fresh air.

A week at the luxurious Paradis Hotel & Golf Club costs from £1,740 per person sharing on a dinner, bed and breakfast basis. This price includes Economy Class flights from London and private hotel transfers. The hour long, fitness sessions will cost £20 per morning or £80 if you book up for the full week, from Monday 4th June to Friday 8th June 2012.

Jump start your commitment to better health and nutrition with a luxury fitness vacation that will whip you into shape. Sign up for our newsletter to receive all the best travel deals and advice.

Click here for more details

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“Are people who travel more romantic?” I think travel and romance naturally go together because traveling is about excitement, pleasurable experiences and relaxation which enhances romantic feelings. Along with many other benefits of traveling to new places perhaps people who travel are more romantic with their partners. Vagabondish published an article by Amanda Kendle, a travel blogger who travels and writes extensively. Amanda points out eight advantages that travelers have in the romance department.

Are People Who Travel More Romantic?

I believe travel can change you in many positive ways and just one of the many is that it can make you a more romantic partner. Forget about memorising poetry books or learning to cook your partner’s favourite meal – just hit the road, get traveling and you will learn how to be as romantic as your partner could ever imagine! Here’s how:

Knowing About Romantic Places

Romance is a bit like real estate – location, location, location. Once you’ve traveled the world a little, you’ll build up a collection of romantic places to add to whatever story you may want to tell your partner. Wherever you are, if you can describe what a moonlit night in Paris is like or explain how you spent a peaceful morning watching giraffe by a waterhole in Africa, you’ll have your partner enthralled. And promising to take them with you, or take them back there, is definitely going to win you romance brownie points.
Giving More Romantic Gifts

Exposing yourself to shopping adventures beyond your local department store will increase your options for giving gifts substantially. After discovering all the different kinds of things you can buy around the world your gift choices will become much more imaginative. You’ll have much better odds of picking exactly the right thing for your partner. Alternatively, you might have become very wise about giving gifts of experience and start providing air tickets or accommodation as gifts (and who could say no to that?).

If you’ve taken the opportunity to travel widely, I believe it will give you the ability to make your future dreams much more concrete – this is certainly what happened to me. If you’ve successfully navigated your way around the world once or twice (with or without your partner), they are much more likely to believe that your common dreams of sailing the Greek islands or living for a year in China are able to come true.

So many people I’ve talked to who’ve traveled extensively say the same thing – traveling far and wide makes you really believe that you can do anything. It opens all those doors that seemed to be firmly shut when you sat at home in the place where you grew up. The world’s not as big as you think, so dream large and you can do almost anything! What partner couldn’t love the romance of this attitude?

Since people who travel are more romantic, don’t be shy, use your travels to incorporate romance into your relationships and hopefully travel even more.

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