Important Vacation Information & Travel Tips

Current Travel Warnings

U.S. Department of State

Travel Warnings are issued when the State Department recommends that Americans avoid a certain country. The countries listed below are currently on that list. In addition to this list, the State Department issues Consular Information Sheets for every country of the world with information on such matters as the health conditions, crime, unusual currency or entry requirements, any areas of instability, and the location of the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate in the subject country. ... more >

Source: U.S. Department of State

Get Fluent Fast!

Six-year-olds are not the only people who can soak up a new language practically overnight. With the help of The Michel Thomas Speak/Get Started Kit ($24.50, books.mcgraw-hill.com), you'll blend in with the locals whether you're headed to Paris, Rome, or the Spanish-speaking home of your husband's family, just 72 hours before you go. Thomas, the soothing, encouraging voice behind each lesson, taught new languages to A-listers like Princess Grace of Monaco, Sarah Ferguson, Ronald Reagan and countless others. His philosophy: Kick memorization, verb tenses and standard language rules to the curb. His method: a soothing voice with a relaxed, easy-going tone. ... more >

Source: TravelingMom.com

Stress Less Travel

10 attitude adjustments that’ll squash stress and make your next family trip a pleasure: (1) think “trip,” not “vacation.” Depressing as this may sound, you’ve got to let go of images of rest and relaxation. This is NOT your kick-back-and-relax honeymoon, nor is it a let-it-all-hang-out spring break with college pals. Taking your fam on a trip is all about boosting connections, creating memories and getting a breather from routine. Love it for that and milk it for all it’s worth. You can sleep in when you get home. ... more >

Source: TravelingMom.com

Luggage Fitness

Choosing the right luggage, packing smartly, and doing a little preventive physical exercise can help save your back when you hit the road. Want to save your back the next time you run through the airport in time to board your plane? The key, says Michael Zimring, M.D., medical director for the Center of Wilderness and Travel Medicine at the Mercy Medical Center in Baltimore, MD and co-author of Healthy Travel: Don't Travel Without It, is to keep in mind that choosing the wrong luggage or being careless when lifting your bag can wreak havoc on your back and spine. What's a traveling mom to do when she has back-to-back conventions and family vacations scheduled? We asked Zimring for some advice. Check out his back-friendly travel tips. ... more >

Source: TravelingMom.com

News Bulletins & Other Notices

A great guide for everyone looking to get a passport, renew a passport, or simply make changes to an existing one. U.S. Department of State website offers some great information regarding everything that is needed for a passport, including all the fees. Offers a step by step on how to apply for one by mail. A great informative tool for anyone looking to obtain a passport. ... more >

Source: U.S. Department of State

Family Travel Deals..."it's a garage sale out there!"

A stress free look into some of the years best deals! From All-Inclusive vacations including air to the Caribbean, cruises throughout Alaska, a great hideaway spot in Colorado; and even trips to Hawaii are all on sale. I have compiled some of the best offers to some of the best places that will leave the whole family anxiously awaiting their next vacation together. ... more >

Source: Dunhill Vacation News

Tips for a Great Family Getaway

Make the Family Getaway One to Remember

Growing up, my family and I would always take our annual vacation to one of two places –either the mountains of Vermont or to that euphoria place where all the little kids dream of going – Walt Disney World. Aside from the one time that two families rented an RV and discovered the United States together, our family vacation was filled with re-connecting with one another. ... more >

Source: Rich Gonzalez

Planning Your Next Road-Trip

The first time that I took a road-trip, I was hooked. I loved the feeling of the unknown after every bend in the road. Although I wasn’t nearly as interested in getting to where I was going then I am today, the same thrill rises to the surface when I climb in and hit the road! ... more >

Source: Rich Gonzalez

10 Reasons Why You Need a Vacation

I do things almost off the cuff – making the adventure of whatever it is that I’m doing that much more enjoyable. Traveling has always seemed to be more of a necessity then an option – so coming up with reasons on why you should do it was quite foreign; foreign, but surprisingly not too difficult. If you are just looking for an excuse to take your vacation, here are 10 pretty good ones. ... more >

Source: Rich Gonzalez