Starting to Plan a Big Holiday

When it comes to a big holiday, there are many different things you want to research before you book or put down any deposits.  Here are a few of those things if you are feeling overwhelmed.

Planning (Photo credit: Bohman)

Location

If you don't know where you want to go, you need to decide.  Of course, depending on the type of holiday you want to take will determine the type of location.  If you aren't picky, you may want to look at other considerations first such as time of year or climate.

Time of Year

Are you restricted to when you can and cannot go on holiday?  If so, that may be one of the first things to consider.  For me, my work restricts me between the beginning of November and the end of February so it can be difficult for me to take a tropical holiday to Mexico.  That said, it's still nice to go to those places in March.   Make sure you consider the time of year in your destination too.  For instance, the Caribbean is cheaper in October/November, but it is also hurricane season.

Weather

If you have more freedom in when you can travel, the weather at your destination may play a big factor.  For those who want to escape the cold at home, there are many options as anything in the southern hemisphere is in the opposite season or close to the equator is warmer.  But, if you are like me, there is a limit to how much heat I want to deal with so going somewhere that is going to be +40 when I am there is not an option.

Budget

How much are you willing to spend on your trip?  What all does that include - getting to your destination, accommodations, food, sightseeing?  Or is that budget just to get to your destination and accommodation?

If you are feeling overwhelmed, it is a good idea to talk to a travel agent.  You can walk into any travel agency and they should be willing to help you or you can talk to friends and family and see if they can recommend anyone for you to talk to.

Buying Unconventional Souvenirs

When you think about souvenirs, you think about magnets, pins or postcards.  While there is nothing wrong with these items, they just sit around.  Sure, a magnet is practical in that it can hold stuff on your fridge or other magnetic surface but how often do you look at them Even the pictures you take, how often do you look at them unless you end up framing them and putting them on the wall or some other place that you see often.

A "Souvenir" store in London, England Photo credit: Wikipedia)

You may wonder what I am referring to but here are some examples that I have bought:

Gloves - When I was in New Zealand, the weather was cool.  While I had a hoodie, my hands were still a bit chilled.  I found a shop that was selling gloves and I bought a pair.  I still use them to this day, almost 10 years later.  And when I put them on, I think of New Zealand.

Clothing - Just like gloves, clothing is something practical that can remind you of your holiday.  When I was in Australia, due to all the cookies and other goodies I was eating, it was necessary to buy some new clothing.  I still have some of those clothes hanging in my closet; one pair of pants hit the bin as I wore them out.  You may also need to buy clothing because those items that you packed are not weather appropriate for where you are travelling.

Umbrella - I don't tend to bring an umbrella when I travel but I will take rain clothing.  But when I was in Australia, it seemed to rain constantly and I wanted an umbrella.  I still use it to this day as I like the way it folds down and gets very compact.  It stays in my work bag for that reason.

Toilet Plunger - This one is a little odd, I will admit that.  I recently went to Ohio to visit my friend and we were in Target.  I saw a colourful plunger that was on sale for $5 and I needed a plunger.  While its an odd souvenir, and not one I really want to use, I do see it when I go into the washroom and it makes me think of Ohio.

Luggage - I don't know about you, but I tend to shop a little bit more than I should while on holidays.  This was definitely true of my trip to New Zealand/Australia as well as my trip to Southern Ontario in 2010.  I ended up having to purchase an extra suitcase to bring everything home.  While I do not use these bags often, when I do see them or use them, I think of those trips.

I challenge you to purchase unconventional but practical souvenirs.  Share what you have bought in the past in the comments.

South Island Continues - Last Post 3

Roadside fruit stands.  These are all over the place!   Look at those bags of apples, you sure don't get those here.

Fox Glacier.  A glacier beside a rainforest.  First you hike into the rainforest and work up a sweat, then you walk the glacier and cool down.

Taking the train from Greymouth to Christchurch.  Had a quick stop here to stretch our legs.

Spent one of my last days in New Zealand at Hammer Springs.

More of the South Island - Post 2

I wish I could tell you where this picture was.  All I know is that it was somewhere on the south island.  I think the bus likely stopped or I got an awesome picture through the window.

These guys swam with us for a bit while we toured Milford Sound.

Another shot from Milford Sound.  I will have to tell about us being snowed in later on  :)

Queenstown, Adventure Capital of the South Island

South Island, New Zealand - Part 1

There was so much going on on the South Island.  This will be post one of two for the highlights

The ferry going from Wellington to the South Island.

Grapes growing for wine

Seal colony as we approach Kaikoura

Swimming with Dolphins in Kaikoura.  I will be putting up a separate post on this at some point.

Yellow eyed penguin, they are not friendly to each other.

North Island, New Zealand

There are some of the highlights from my journey in the North Island in New Zealand.

This was a tree I found when wandering around in Auckland.

Took a boat trip out to the Hole in the Rock, it was based out of Paihai.  The boat trip itself was about 3 hours.

The beach at Paihai.  The sand flies were bad though.

The Luge track in Rotorua.  It was great fun!

Geysers in an area called "Craters of the Moon" in Taupo

Wellington.  The round building is called the Beehive

Pictures are Coming!

(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

 

I know when it comes to traveling, pictures are the best.  Everyone wants to see them.   But I haven’t gotten any ready quite yet but my next post should have a few.  But keep in mind I have a lot of photos and to sort them and find some to post is a bit time consuming.

• New Zealand/Australia/Fiji –  1250 pictures


• Thailand/Malaysia – 1900 pictures


• Mayan Riveria – 400 pictures


• Dominican Republic – 250 pictures


• Southern Ontario - 550 pictures

I will be sharing pictures from New Zealand/Australia and Fiji first.  Mainly because I am able to find the blog I had back then and with a few modifications, I can post those to start.   Be prepared for some heavy picture posts although I may limit myself to a dozen or so per post.

I plan to write some explanations and stories which I think are really important.  I know many times when I am looking at someone’s pictures I wonder why they took that picture or at least what it is of.  So that is what I want to share with this blog.  I know I have some great pictures that I love to show off – a koala with baby in its pouch, a waterfall and more.  And there are many I have to figure out where they were and what they were.

Remember that some people will be fuzzy/blacked out due to not having their permission to post their pictures.  I figure this is the easiest method for me, now to figure out how to do that in a program as I am not very good with those types of things.