The Crazy Travel Guy

Most Popular Destinations in the World – 2015

October 1, 2015 crabbwc Air Travel, Vacations

Are you planning to take an off-season trip this fall? Or maybe an exotic holiday vacation? Are you thinking of an international destination? Do you wonder what the most popular destinations in the world are this year?

This is a great time to travel. If you are looking for the tropical, warm-weather spots like the Caribbean or looking to do a European trip, you will see that the top destinations are showing that many travelers are heading to a variety of destinations.

According to aaa.com European destinations are going to be popular due to several factors. According to AAA:

“Travelers heading to Europe will enjoy favorable currency exchange rates, making now an excellent time to plan a trip overseas,” said Bill Sutherland, AAA Senior Vice President of Travel and Publishing. “Unique experiences such as river cruising are incredibly popular as well, as travelers look for opportunities to immerse themselves in a destination’s local culture while enjoying a hassle-free vacation experience abroad.”

AAA goes on to list London, England as the number one spot for tourist travel for this year. Their list includes several European cities such as Rome, Paris, Dublin, Amsterdam and Praque. Their list is rounded out with warm-weather destinations. Here is their list:

London, England
Rome, Italy
Cancun, Mexico
Paris, France
Dublin, Ireland
Amsterdam, Netherlands
Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
Montego Bay, Jamaica
Vancouver, British Columbia
Prague, Czech Republic

Other sites such as CNN.com differ, as they seem to lean more toward Asian destinations. According to CNN the number 2 destination is Bangkok with several other Asian cities in the top ten. They do, however, agree with the fact the London is the top destination. It is also predicated that London will have the most visitor spending at $20.23 billion in 2015.

CNN takes its list from a MasterCard travel study which ranks 132 destination cities across the globe. It is based on overnight, international visitors and spending across the border. Here is their list:

London 18.82 million
Bangkok 18.24 million
Paris 16.06 million
Dubai, UAE 14.26 million
Istanbul 12.56 million
New York 12.27 million
Singapore 11.88 million
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 11.12 million
Seoul 10.35 million
Hong Kong 8.66 million

Whatever you international destination, please keep in mind the thing you need to know before taking an international trip. Passports, checking the State Department’s site for any advisories, notifying credit card companies and insurance are all thing you need to consider when planning your trip. Check out this article for a more comprehensive check list.

Good planning can make your trip more enjoyable as you will have less stress and be prepared for any unforeseen incidents. Above all, have a good time and enjoy!

Should I Get Travel Insurance?

September 21, 2015 crabbwc Savings, Travel

No one like to think about insurance. That is especially true for travel insurance. Many travel agents today will not even ask their clients if they want insurance for fear of losing the deal. Many people considered it a rip-off and not necessary.

This is not so true anymore. People are realizing that they potentially have a lot to lose when traveling today. Smart travelers are considering the right insurance an essential item when planning a trip. Some even consider it downright irresponsible to leave home without it. So when you ask yourself “Should I get travel insurance?” think long and hard before you say no.

There are many reasons why you should have travel insurance. Here are a few:

Your flight can get cancelled and totally wreck your plans
Your baggage can get lost
Your passport or wallet can get stolen (You need emergency cash)
You get sick
You get injured
Your cruise line, airline, or tour operator goes bankrupt
You are forced to evacuate your hotel, cruise or resort due to storms or disasters (hurricanes, wildfires, etc.)
Rental car accidents
Trip cancellations
Peace of mind (probably the most important)

I am sure there are other reasons but these are the ones that come to my mind. Most of them are related to recovering your financial losses, but knowing you are cared for in an emergency situation can be priceless.

What should you look for when buying travel insurance? The first thing to consider is what coverage you may already have. Some credit cards offer varying degrees of protection if you use them to book your travel. Some car insurances cover your rentals. You may have adequate life insurance coverage and don’t need any extra. Make sure you check all of these out before deciding what travel insurance you need.

So what are the types of travel insurance? Here are some of the basics:

Medical – If you travel out of the country your health care insurance probably won’t cover you. This includes foreign-flagged vessels such as most major cruise ships. I would strongly consider getting this if that is you situation.
Trip Cancellation – Most booking d3eals you get today are non-refundable. If you have a big investment in your trip you should get this insurance. Less than $100, not so much.
Baggage – Damaged, stolen or lost it’s good to have some reimbursement to get those new clothes you have to buy when you arrive.
Evacuation – Natural disaster or civil unrest can be very unsettling. And very expensive to relocate to safety. This can cover those costs.
Death – Think regular life insurance. For your loved ones in case the worst happens on your trip.

Should I Get Travel Insurance?

It is very hard to put a price tag on peace of mind. Just remember to make sure you get what you need but only what you need. Do your research so you can have peace of mind in knowing you are covered as well as not spending more than you had to.

Why Are Airline Tickets So Expensive?

September 15, 2015 crabbwc Air Travel, Savings

If you were flying over the Christmas holidays from the West Coast to the midwest you may have seen an airfare for over $1,000. This probably made you ask the questions ‘Why are airline tickets so expensive?’. There may be several reasons why you may think so:

Planes are huge flying machines that are expensive to maintain
There are hundreds of people working at airports. Think of the salaries!
Airports are expensive to build and keep up (they are huge!)
It’s Christmas and the airlines know you want to travel really bad
Look at the cost of jet fuel
They are greedy

Well, maybe these are all minor factors but if you examine them closely (fuel prices are down but not airfares) you will find that these are not the main reason. Why are airline tickets so expensive? Why do the airlines charge for checked bags and many other incidentals that were once free? Because they can. And there is good reason they can.

This reason can be found in this article from Slate. It seems that many of the airlines share the same investors. Here is an excerpt:

Although we think of airlines as independent companies, they are actually mostly owned by a small group of institutional investors. For example, United’s top five shareholders—all institutional investors—own 49.5 percent of the firm. Most of United’s largest shareholders also are the largest shareholders of Southwest, Delta, and other airlines. The authors show that airline prices are 3 percent to 11 percent higher than they would be if common ownership did not exist. That is money that goes from the pockets of consumers to the pockets of investors.

So you can see that it is not int the best interest of these companies to compete against themselves. They want prices high across the board and a price war is the last thing on their minds.

To put it another way, what we have is collusion among the major airlines. An article from The Jamaican Gleaner outlines this. It says:

The United States government is investigating possible collusion among major airlines to limit available seats, which keeps airfares high, according to a document obtained by The Associated Press.

The civil antitrust investigation by the Justice Department appears to focus on whether airlines illegally signaled to each other how quickly they would add new flights, routes and extra seats.

And it goes on to say:

Thanks to a series of mergers starting in 2008, America, Delta, Southwest and United now control more than 80 per cent of the seats in the domestic travel market. They have eliminated unprofitable flights, filled more seats on planes and made a very public effort to slow growth to command higher airfares.

So in other words there is really no competition between major airlines anymore, in effect creating a monopoly. The same investors own all of the airlines and call the shots while the smaller airlines have gone out of business. Only a few remain and offer deals but they are not major players.

Also remember that the airlines are corporations and are in business to make money. They don’t care whether you can afford to fly or not as long as they are still packing the airplanes. As Frank Werner, an associate professor of finance at Fordham University’s business school says:

“As for people who can’t afford to fly, the airlines really are not interested any more than Daimler-Benz is worried that many people cannot afford to purchase a Mercedes

What can we do? Unfortunately not much. We can refuse to fly but that is not practical. We can call our congressman but the airline lobbies are some of the most powerful lobbies in Washington so it will be difficult to get them to listen to you.

It’s not hopeless though. Fly the smaller guys if you can. Talk to people and make them aware. Start a social media campaign. The more public awareness and outrage that happens the more the powers that be will notice.

And be smart when you fly. This is the system we have today so try to work it the best you can by doing your research when you must fly. Technology can help travelers find the lowest available airfare. Use it to your advantage. Be flexible. These can all help you save

However, if the airlines are in fact colluding with each other to keep fares high, they are certainly not making it easy for everyone to fly the friendly skies.

Things to do in Savannah GA – Southern Charm

September 9, 2015 crabbwc Southern Destinations, Vacations

There is no doubt about it, Savannah is one of the most beautiful and historic cities in the south. With its stunning restored homes, great riverfront, historic squares and lovely oak tress it is an unforgettable city. There are many nice restaurants there with plenty of Southern cooking as well as tasty seafood. Quaint pubs and coffee shops can easily be found. You can do the tourist thing or jump off the beaten path. You can see that there are many things to do in Savannah GA.

Growing up in the Savannah area as a kid I never appreciated it’s beauty an history. It seemed like a slow town with not much to do. But going back in my later years I have come to view this city in a new light. The city has done a wonderful job in promoting its assets so now you can enjoy a day on River Street, drive or bike through the squares, tour the cemeteries (there are even ghost tours) and check out the restored mansions.

The beach was always nice at Tybee Island and on the way you can stop at historic Fort Pulaski for some more history. You can also check out the town of Thunderbolt where my grandfather used to operate a shrimp boat and we could go and watch them process the shrimp (and enjoy fresh shrimp cooked any number of ways). Skidaway Island is lovely with it’s oak trees. I could go on and on.

This article found in Travels A Dance Away captures the essence of things to do in Savannah Ga. As you read this you can feel her passion for the city. There are many wonderful photographs and the charm and beauty of the city can be seen and felt. Enjoy!

Things to do in Savannah GA

Things to do in Savannah, Georgia in one day!

http://www.travelsadanceaway.com Thu, 04 Jun 2015 12:00:49 -0700

Instead of painting my house and getting it ready to sell, like I should be doing, I’m eating a macaron and writing this blogpost on a little city that has SO much charm and beauty… Savannah, Georgia! I wish I could bottle up the …

Read more …

Please be sure to visit this gorgeous city and check out not only the mani tourist sites, but take time to walk around and enjoy the ambiance of this laid back southern city.

Best Family Vacations – East Coast

September 5, 2015 crabbwc Vacations

If you are looking for a travel destination on the east coast you will find a wide variety of opportunities to have fun with your family. From the tropical beaches of Florida to the rocky shores of Maine there are countless places for a week long vacation or a quick weekend getaway.

If you are headed north where you will find places like Cape Cod, the Hamptons, or one of Maine’s classic beaches. Taking a more southerly route could take you tp places such as Virginia beach or Myrtle Beach.

So if you live in the East you should take advantage of some of these wonderful spots. For family vacations east coast destinations can provide city beaches or more remote peaceful destinations. The choice is yours.

The following article found in lovetoknow list 8 popular east coast vacation spots. Each one had it’s unique properties so just from these 8 you could find a great place for your family vacations. I’m sure you will find one right for you!

East Coast Vacation Spots – Travel – LoveToKnow

http://travel.lovetoknow.com Thu, 08 Mar 2012 20:52:30 -0800

The East Coast is a great destination for a family-friendly vacation or a romantic weekend getaway. Whether you looking for a feature-packed city beach destination to enjoy with the kids or if it is a quiet nature setting that you seek, there’s sure …

Read more …

Best Places to Travel in September

September 1, 2015 crabbwc General, Vacations

Fall is a wonderful time to travel. The weather is starting to turn cooler and the crowds are usually thinner. Many parts of the world have brilliant fall foliage. There are festivals and fairs happening all across the globe.

If you are looking to take a trip this fall and want to know the best places to travel best places to travel in september in September then you need to check out these destinations from Fodor’s. They have listed 14 travel destinations from which you can choose when planning your fall vacation.

So if you haven’t taken a fall trip before now is a good time to start. It is a totally different experience from the usual summer vacation and one which I am certain you will find enjoyable.

Happy travels!

14 Best Places to Go This Fall | Fodor’s Travel

http://www.fodors.com Thu, 29 Aug 2013 09:30:45 -0700

Why Go Now: A fall trip to Portland will feed your body and your mind. After culinary luminaries like Michelin-starred chef April Bloomfield and Chris Cosentino descend on the city for annual food fest Feast (September 19-22), …

Read more …

Planning a Disney Vacation on a Budget

August 26, 2015 crabbwc Kids, Savings, Vacations

Do you think a Disney vacation is totally out of reach? It is probably every child’s dream to go to Disney World. So what can you do to keep it from being your nightmare? Or do you have a Disney addiction but find yourself unable to return because the prices keep going up and up?

Yes, we are aware that Disney is one of the most popular places in the world. Disney is aware of that and they are also aware that they can charge just about anything they want and people will gladly hand it over.

So what can you do about it?

Here are a few tips on planning a Disney vacation on a budget and enjoying yourselves without breaking the bank.

Look for Discount Tickets
Daily admission to the Magic Kingdom at Disney World is $105/$99 and not much cheaper at Disneyland. For a family of four that is a pretty big outlay. If you are staying more than a day you can save money by buying a multiple day ticket. If you are a member of AAA you can sometimes get discounts through them. Many companies offer discount tickets to their employees so it would pay to check that out. So it definitely makes sense to buy tickets ahead of time. Check online (but not Disney’s site) at places such as Undercover Tourist. You could save a bundle.

Save on Food
Eat breakfast in your hotel room. Bring your own snacks to the park. You can even brown-bag it to an extent. If you do dine in the park look for the counter service stands, they are usually cheaper. If you are really into food and you are a big eater you might check out the Disney Dining Plan. Do plan on splurging on at least one nice meal if you can swing as that can be part of the total experience.

Do One Park a Day
The adult ‘park hopper’ pass lets you visit multiple parks in one day. However, the cost for one day is $142 compared to the $105 for a day at the Magic Kingdom but the daily prices drop for longer stays. There is plenty in each park to stay busy for an entire day and unless you are totally sure you will need to visit multiple parks stick with the one-park pass and avoid the needless expense.

Save on Your Accommodations
Another way to save is to consider the value hotels. If you are staying in the park there are several moderate and value resorts available. There is even a campground. You may think it would still be pricier to stay on site but if you consider the free transportation opportunities you can eliminate the need for a rental car (if you didn’t drive). You can also sometimes get ticket deals if you didn’t buy them in advance. But don’t stay in the pricier hotels, if you are spending all day in the parks that is definitely a waste of money.

Buy Souvenirs Ahead of Time
If you really want to save money do NOT buy the overpriced merchandise sold inside the Disney theme parks. Shop the local stores or look online before you travel. You can even hide them from the kids until you get there and dole them out daily. This could also help eliminate the wanting of the high-priced merchandise that they will see at all the shops.

Do some Free Stuff
Spend one day in the hotel at the pool, sometimes kids are just as happy being able to play in the pool all day. Take in the sights at the resorts. Ride around on the monorail. There are free playgrounds around the park, younger kids don’t know the difference and will still have fun.

So by planning ahead and budgeting you can keep your costs as low as possible. Don’t miss out on the experience of seeing your child’s delight meeting the characters and seeing the sights for the first time. And knowing you saved a bundle will be the second best part of the trip.

How to Get a Refund on a Plane Ticket

August 21, 2015 Chris Croft Air Travel, Savings

You’ve planned your trip to the last detail, booking hotels and waiting until the exact moment that airfare was lowest to book. Then the unexpected comes up and you must change your plans. If this is the case you may find yourself stuck with an airline ticket that you can’t use. You probably booked online and got the cheapest fare, which is usually non-refundable. Is there anything you can do? Would you know how to get a refund on a plane ticket? You probably won’t get a full refund (since it is non-refundable), but there still may be some ways to recoup some of your costs.

The 24 hour rule
If it has been less than 24 hours since you booked you are in luck. The U.S. Department of Transportation regulations require that, as long as you’ve booked a non-refundable ticket 7 days ahead of your flight, you’re entitled to hold your reservation and the fare and change or cancel your reservation within 24 hours of booking, without paying a cancellation fee. You can either cancel the reservation or change it within that window. If you decide to change it you will have to pay the fare difference, but there is no penalty.

Rule 260 – The ‘Involuntary Refund’
There is a rule in airline contracts of carriage that states if the airline refuses to carry you for any reason, or if your flight is delayed more than a designated length of time, or if your flight is canceled, you can apply for a full refund. This applied even for non-refundable tickets. So if you bought a ticket and you have passed the 24 hour rule limit you can still avoid the cancel/change fees if something happens to your flight like being canceled or severely delayed. You still have to check in for your flight, but it may be worth your time to show up at the airport and hope something happens.

Change of Schedule
You can also get a refund if there’s a significant schedule change before your departure. For example, if your flight is moved from 10 a.m. to 7 a.m., or they change the layover time or cause you to have an overnight stay. It could even apply on a change from non-stop to connecting flight. Just remember that the airline man not notify you it there is a qualifying change, so it would be in your best interests to check the flight schedule to see if there are any changes. If there have, call the airline and tell the the change is not good for you. Just make sure the change is significant as just a few minutes does not qualify.

If all else fails, review your airline’s policy on ticket exchanges. You may not get a full refund but you may be able to get a voucher for another ticket though you will probably pay an exchange fee. Also, if your reason for needing a refund is an emergency, check with your airline’s website or representative. If you have to change plans due to illness or death in the family the airline may have more lax rules on exchanges. Just make sure you can provide documentation to prove the emergency.

Of course, if you are worried about losing your money on a ticket you can’t use you can always buy a refundable ticket or make sure you buy travel insurance. You will pay more for the ticket or extra for the insurance but it will give you peace of mind if you are risk-averse.

Theme Parks in the Southeast – Georgia

August 18, 2015 Chris Croft Kids, Vacations

The southeastern United States has a rich heritage of theme parks in practically every state. Found in these parks are some of the best roller coasters in the world, water parks where you can get as wet as you please, and parks where families can just enjoy a day together.

Today we begin our tour of theme parks in the Southeast by looking at four amusement parks in the state of Georgia. In case you are driving down from the north, I have listed these starting from north with the first one being near the Tennessee border to the last one being near the Florida border as they are all along Interstate 75. I will leave it to the reader to decide which one are best. I am sure you will find something that will provide days of thrills and adventures for your whole family.

Lake Winnepesaukah

This is a traditional amusement park that has lots of Southern charm. It is located on the border of Georgia and Tennessee. It is just a few miles from Chattanooga and is usually referred to as being in that city, though it is technically in Georgia.

Lake Winnepesaukah or Lake Winnie surrounds the lake from which it gets its name. This is an old park, in fact it has been in operation since 1925. Families will enjoy it because of it large selection of family friendly rides. You will find the classic amusement rides in the park as well as some thrill rides which have been added more recently.

Attractions include the Cannon Ball wooden coaster, a boat ride (with a drop) which has been there since 1926 and a 1916 PTC antique carousel. One of the latest attractions is a 14-story freefall ride. There are also bumper cars, kiddie coasters, train rides as well as some of the standard attractions.

Prices for 2015 are $33.95 adults one day pass, $16.95 children (ages 1 and 2) and seniors (55 and older). The price includes unlimited rides and access to both Lake Winnie and the water park.

Six Flags Over Georgia

Six Flags is the largest regional theme park in the Southeast, featuring 11 heart-pounding coasters and the all-new Hurricane Harbor water park which is included with park admission. It is located on 230 acres just west of Atlanta. The park has over 40 rides and attractions with coasters such as Goliath, Superman, Ultimate Flight, Batman The Ride, The Georgia Cyclone and a stand-up freefall tower called Acrophobia. There are also a ton of things to do with the smaller kids, there are shows to see and they also have over 100 acres of landscaped gardens.

So if you are looking for the extreme roller coaster thrills or want to take the little ones, you will find something at Six Flags. The great shows and great rides have kept four generations of families returning year after year to this world-class theme park.

Prices for 2015 are $61.99 for adults, $41.99 for children under 48″, children 2 and under are free.

Save money on the 5 best attractions in Atlanta with Atlanta CityPASS

Fun Junction

Fun Junction (formerly known as Dixieland Fun Park) is a smaller amusement park located in Fayetteville just south of Atlanta. It was established in 1990 and was originally just a fun center but it has grown to be the third largest amusement park in Georgia.
According to their website, Fun Junction offers over two dozen family attractions, 3 miniature golf courses and go kart tracks, The major rides are the Screaming Eagle coaster, the Drop Zone, and the Giant Swing.

This park is different from the others as you purchase individual tickets for rides and attractions. Tickets sell for $1 each and rides can cost anywhere from 2 to 8 tickets each.

There is a $5 parking fee but you do get 5 ride tickets with your parking pass.

Wild Adventures

Just before you leave the state, located in a more rural area, you will find Wild Adventures. Wild Adventures is near Valdosta, Georgia and just a few miles from the Florida line. However, don’t let the rural setting fool you, This park which began in 1996 as a small petting zoo has grown to become on of the Top 50 theme parks in North America.

Wild Adventures has one of the largest collection of rides of any amusement park in the South. There are eight roller coasters and seven water rides, It is home to hundreds of exotic animals and there are live concerts and seasonal festivals. The Splash Island Water Park is included and it has attractions such as a 20,000 square-foot wave pool, lazy river, speed slides, tube slides, children’s play area and the Wahee Cyclone,a five-story multiple rider tube slide.

Daily Ticket prices for 2015 are $46 for adults and $41 for children ages 3-9 and guests 55 years of age or older.

Fun Things to do in Florida With the Kids – LEGOLAND

August 14, 2015 Chris Croft Kids, Vacations

If you are planning a vacation in Florida with the kids you are probably either thinking about Disney or the beach. But I want to mention another newer fun place that I am sure you have heard of: LEGOLAND.

Maybe you have already thought about LEGOLAND (and maybe you saw my earlier post where I gave you a video about it) and were wondering what age kids would enjoy this park. Well, the LEGO group created this theme park with children in mind. They seem to have specifically targeted the 2 to 12 age group. So there will be a lot of rides, shows, restaurants and large gardens for them to explore. However, this doesn’t mean you can’t bring an older child along. There are several offerings available for each age group that you might want to check before making your plans.

For the youngest crowd – LEGOLAND has Duplo Village. Here the toddlers can put out fires like a fireman, fly a plane and ride a train, and climb and slide all over the Duplo Farm. In addition, there is an indoor play area and a water playground outside. There is also Fun Town which offers a double-decker carousel.

If you have tweeners – LEGOLAND Florida has something called Heartlake City that is based on LEGO friends. There are interactive shows to enjoy, a place called Stephanie’s Newsroom (which is great for photos), Mia’s Riding Adventure which is a circular-motion ride, and Heartlake Mall where, naturally, you can purchase all sorts of LEGO products. They may also enjoy the LEGO World of Chima, which is presented by Cartoon Network. It features a water ride and a 4D movie experience.

For the teenagers – LEGOLAND may or may not be for them, but all is not lost. There is a water park which has features like water slides, wave pools, and lazy rivers to float down. They also have cabanas available for rental.

LEGOLAND Florida! Check out LEGOLAND Discounts!
So if you are looking for fun things to do in Florida with the kids don’t be afraid to bring the whole family to LEGOLAND. It is a great way to spend a day or two and you are still close to beaches and other large attractions in the state. LEGOLAND also has it’s own hotel and you can get early entrance to the park by staying there.

This article originally appeared in family vacation critic.

How to Plan a Beach Trip

August 11, 2015 Chris Croft Kids, Vacations

It is summer time and many of us think that summer is not complete without at least one trip to the beach. Of course, most of us don’t have a clue about how to plan a beach trip successfully. So we wind up getting sunburned, rained on, hungry, thirsty, spend too much… Should I go on?

So it doesn’t matter if you have rented a condo at the beach or you are more than an hour from it, planning ahead can help you have a more relaxed day so you can enjoy your time rather than spend it worrying.

Here are seven tips compiled from around the web and from personal experience. Hope these can help you have fun on your beach day.

Check out the weather forecast
You don’t want a rain out on your beach day, and if it is too cool you could be miserable. See what the rain chances are. If you are going to a place like Florida then be prepared for afternoon thunderstorms, get there early. If it looks bad all day then reschedule.

Prepare for the sun
Make sure you have sunblock and be generous with it. Put it on before you leave the house. Put it on again when you arrive. Put it on when you or your kids come out of the water. Make sure you have sunglasses to protect your eyes. A hat is also a good idea to protect your head. A beach umbrella can also help. A sunburn will make you tired and sore, and the long term effects are bad. So please protect yourself and don’t forget about the kids.

Be comfortable
If you are making a day of it you will need to stay as comfortable as possible. So to avoid being miserable remember to bring along the essentials such as towels, blankets, umbrellas and beach chairs. Make sure you have two towels per person- one to lie on and one to dry off with. Blankets are even better to lie on as they are usually larger and thicker. The ultimate comfort is a beach chair or even a chaise lounge (don’t forget the umbrella). Many people bring a book to read or their own music to listen to.

Dress properly
Yes, you know you need a swimsuit but that is not all. You can wear your swimsuit under comfortable clothing like a tee shirt and shorts, a beach coverup or a sundress. Make sure you have something extra in case everything gets wet and and it starts getting cooler. Flips-flops or sandals are usually the footwear of choice. Also make sure whatever you wear into the water (swimsuit, shorts, shirt, etc.) is made of material that dries quickly. And here is a little tip: extra clothes make a nice pillow!

Bring fun stuff
This is extra important if you have kids, but it can also help your enjoyment. Things like Frisbees, volleyballs, footballs can keep the whole family entertained and are beach traditions. Things like skim boards or surfboards can also be fun. Just remember to keep an eye on the kids as they may get too daring. Smaller kids love just a pail and shovel to dig in the sand or to pick up shells. Oh, and don’t forget to build a sandcastle.

Pack water and snacks
It is easy to get dehydrated in the sun so make sure you have plenty of water. It is recommended that you have 1/2 gallon of cold water per person. So bring a cooler with ice and keep the water in it. Also use the cooler for pre-made sandwiches and fresh fruit, which also helps with hydration. Carry snacks such as chips and pretzels, and avoid the candy. Bring garbage bags for your trash and put your trash in it immediately. You don’t want to attract the birds (seagulls can be quite a nuisance) and you certainly don’t want them hanging around..

Rest when you get home
A day in the sun can sap your energy. Don’t plan anything big after you get home or back to you rental. A nice calm dinner and off to bed early is the best medicine to end the day.

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