Tips for a Perfect Family Road Trip

By Gertie Magwood

Getting the family together for a road trip can be quite an exercise. And between heavy traffic, bored or uneasy children and driver fatigue, the process of "getting there" can try anyone's diligence.

But some unhurried planning - for everything from fuel costs to rest stops - will make the experience pleasant rather than frustrating.

AAA offers the following advice for families planning their next road travel.

Before You Go

* Take some time to plan your journey from starting to end. Plan your travel online using www.aaamaps.com for point to point driving directions. If you do not have access to the Internet, contact your nearest local AAA travel office for a custom-made triptik.

* Calculate your gas costs. If you are looking to pinch a penny on fuel, visit www.fuelcostcalculator.com. This website helps motorists calculate the price of fuel for their journey depending on the specific vehicle's make, model and year.

* Give your car a checkup. Have your vehicle checked by a registered auto technician. To find a AAA Approved Auto Fixing facility in your area, visit www.aaa.com.

* Do not forget, timing is everything. As you plan your travel, make time margins for traffic jams, road building and other factors that may cut down your required speed.

On the Road

* Begin fresh. Rather than leaving early after staying up late backpacking clothes and loading your vehicle, get plenty of rest the night before your trip. Driving drowsy is highly dangerous and leads to many collapses and deaths each year.

* Be safe. Make certain that all passengers are secured properly with safety belts and child safety seats as necessary. Choose the proper child safety seats for your children and make sure the seats are properly set up. Up to 90 percent of child safety seats are incorrectly installed.

* Keep your family connected. If you are traveling with children, they'll need something to keep them busy. Be sure to get games and books to help them pass the time. Many vehicles now feature on-board DVD players that can help keep children entertained for hours.

* Stop periodically to stretch your legs. Take a break every two hours or every 100 miles, particularly if you are traveling with children and pets. To deflect driver fatigue, make arrangements to alternate with other drivers. - NU - 31363

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Move Around the world from the comfort of your computer. Explore special destination, cities and exotic places. I have found this to a very useful site - travel destination

Packing Tips Good for Any Groom

By Milton Kenny

Gentlemen, listen well. If you somehow think you can show up to your own honeymoon dressed like a slob, then you're in for a big shock. Somewhere along the way guys mistakenly began to believe that they could just show up to their honeymoon wearing whatever they feel like. Sadly, this is not the case. For many women, the honeymoon is an extension of the wedding itself. What this means for you is that the honeymoon is not your standard issue "run of the mill" trip. Any notion you had of packing a handful of items and darting out the door should be dismissed immediately for your own good. There is advice aplenty for what women should pack for their honeymoon, but men rarely receive any advice on what they should be packing.

This list should serve as a good beginning point to help grooms think through what it is that they will need to bring with them for their honeymoon. As you begin to organize your trip, you will likely think of all sorts of small items that you may need to bring. That is a good thing.

Do Yourself A Favor-Don't Rush: Whatever you do, don't wait until the last second to begin packing. Waiting until the last moment to do your packing will likely cause you to stress out. This could lead to a fight with your bride. Now that is a horrible way of beginning a honeymoon! Think carefully about what will need on your trip a good month in advance, and then pack your bags at least a week in advance.

Dress the Part of a Gentlemen: Nothing makes the ladies swoon like a sharp dressed fellow. Keep this in mind when packing. A few slick outfits for your fine dining experiences is a very good idea. Your bride will also appreciate the effort you have shown as well.

Say No To Creases: The crease is your enemy. The last thing you want is to arrive at your honeymoon destination only to find that all of your clothing is completely creased. After all who feels like ironing after a ten-hour or even a twenty hour travel day? To keep this from happening, pack clothes that don't wrinkle easily. Consider dry-cleaning an outfit. Dry cleaned clothes are more resistant to wrinkles and creases.

Sexy, Sexy: Oh yes, your bride will appreciate a sexy surprise from you. A couple of pair of sexy men's underwear can go a long way.

Pack To Avoid The Pharmacy: Contemplate your pharmacy needs well in advance, and make sure you have condoms and lubricants handy. Running from place to place in an unfamiliar city looking for such sensitive items could prove stressful.

The Carry On Bag-Your Backup Plan: A smart travel knows the value of packing a couple of days of clothing in their carry on bag. This way if your luggage is lost you still have a change of clothing.

Use Your Hotel: Don't feel that you have to lug every toiletry that you might need. Usually hotels have an assortment of the most commonly used items, such as shampoo and soap. - 31363

About the Author:

Milton Kenny is San Diego based writer who tackles all sorts of tough men's topics, such as weddings, groomsmen gifts and honeymoons.

A Guide for the Perfect Groom's Wedding Toast

By Milton Kenny

Weddings are much, much more than just walking down the aisle and saying "I do." The groom's responsibilities at the wedding are not over after the vows. There is one more wedding tradition that all grooms must endure, the wedding toast. Wedding toast can be tough for grooms that finding public speaking difficult, but there are tips toward creating a great wedding toast. It always helps to display some originality and humor as well as a sense of romance. These three speech elements are, in fact, critical to the overall success of a groom's wedding toast.

One of the first facts you should know about the groom's wedding toast is that the father of the bride's speech usually precedes it. Don't let this intimidate you. Hopefully your father-in-law had a couple of good things to say about you, but if not, carry on soldier.

Above all else, remember to thank people for being at your wedding. If you do this, you truly have won much of the battle. Your groom's speech needs to focus on thanking all of those people who helped make your wedding possible. It's a good idea to write down who those people are as it will help you write your speech. Once you have written down who helped make your wedding possible look and see if there are any funny or heart-warming short stories about those individuals and their contribution to your wedding. Find those stories and you have a big chunk of your speech. Now, just keep in mind that a good groom's speech should probably not exceed five minutes. Why only five minutes? Because there will be many other speeches at your wedding as well.

Of course, try not to leave anyone out of your speech. Wedding mistakes of this nature can often wound ego, but no pressure.

The Guests. Some of your guests likely traveled just to see you get married. Keep this in mind when you are thanking people for their time. Also many of your guests have given you some pretty nice gifts, so why not thank them?

Thank Those Who Lent An Extra Hand. A special thanks to individuals such as your best man or bridesmaids is always a good idea. More than likely were instrumental in making certain that your wedding was a success.

The Bride. Of course, you should thank your bride and tell her how much you love her. Everyone expects it and people will feel horrible if you forget.

The Bride. Only a mad man would not thank their bride. Don't forget to tell her how much you love her.

-Whatever you do, don't try and be someone else. No one wants to see your Steve Martin impression.

-Don't act like someone you are not.

-Keep a cheat sheet on hand and don't be afraid to look at it.

-Make a cheat sheet and keep in on hand.

-Write your speech out and practice! - 31363

About the Author:

Milton Kelly offers etiquette suggestions on topics including weddings, proper manners and groomsmen gifts.

Nipping Relationship Problems in the Bud

By Diana Has

Great relationships don't just happen. Both partners should work to make it happen. And "work" is the right term, since it's not always easy and smooth sailing. Even when you deeply love each other, there are times when you will be at loggerheads. This is normal. But you can strive to keep a clean slate, so that the disagreements don't pile up and cause deeper problems in your relationship.

The first step is to sit down and talk about common points of disagreements. The usual sources of quarrels would be money, house chores, sex and a lack of communication. When both of the partners have discussed these matters, it would be easy to refer back to what you both have agreed upon when things get heated up. It's really difficult to think in a logical manner when you are angry.

To deal with relationship problems at its very roots, here are a few simple steps:

Communication is key. Talk is definitely not cheap when it comes to strengthening relationships. When partners talk about their thoughts and share what they feel with their partner, it opens up avenues by which you can forge deeper ties. Sometimes, because of the everyday business of life, partners fail to communicate. Schedule appointments by which you can talk with each other. And when you are communicating, set some rules for you to follow. Don't generalize - avoid using the words "you always" or "you never".

Make time for some lovin'. The sexual aspect of your relationship should never be taken for granted, no matter how busy you are. Again, set a date for this - you will find your excitement and anticipation building up as your "date" draws near. Of course, you should also be open to spur-of-the-moment things. The main thing is that you enjoy each other.

Establish money matters. How you spend your money as a couple is an important thing for you to establish in your relationship. This includes how bills are paid, what portion of the money is allocated to savings, what goals you have (big and small purchases).

Organize chore responsibilities. Discuss the different jobs around the house and who is responsible for it. This is to avoid resentment felt by a spouse because he or she feels that he or she is doing more of the housework. Try to be fair about the work distributions. - 31363

About the Author:

Read more on common relationship problems and discover runway modeling

Honeymoon Advice & Tips

By Ledley King

Honeymoons are more often than not an afterthought to the planning of the wedding itself, when, as far as memories go, they are of equal, if not greater, importance.

First determine what your objectives are for the time you'll be away and what you can and can't live without. Where do you want to go? Do you want to relax or be active? What are your priorities? Beautiful weather, sightseeing, adventure, cost, etc.

Visits to exclusive islands or resorts remain the most popular choice, and for good reason. They mean that you can spend quality time with each other whilst relaxing from the busy timetable of the previous six months and taking in beautiful surroundings.

Another option is to take a cruise; they offer an equally peaceful, relaxing time whilst at the same time allowing you to take in a range of destinations. Should you prefer a more active honeymoon, you could try a mountain resort or an adventure travel trip (such as backpacking or a safari).

Regarding honeymoon locations, these are some of the most popular: Argentina, Australia, Bahamas, Bali, Belize, Bermuda, Brazil, Canada, Caribbean, Central & South Africa, Chile, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Egypt, Fiji, France, French Polynesia, Greece, Hawaii, Italy, Kenya, Madagascar, Maldives, Mauritius, Mexico, Morocco, New Zealand, Seychelles, Spain, Thailand.

Whatever type of location and honeymoon you decide on, look to make reservations at least 6 months beforehand so that you'll have the pick of the rooms, and can begin planning for your time away.

As soon as your hotel is arranged, starting researching and booking restaurant seats, tickets, tours, and various other activities that require advance reservations, particularly so should you be traveling in the summer months (bear in mind that different locations will have different peak seasons). Try not to over-plan though and make sure there is plenty of free time, in the first few days especially, in which you can just enjoy each others company without any other distractions.

Your overall objective should be to make your honeymoon different to an ordinary vacation. In addition to normal vacation items, try packing some fun extras, like lingerie, bubble bath, candles and romantic music. - 31363

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Next : Honeymoon Locations

Travel To New Zealand: The Destination For All

By Dorcas Chras

The land down under and to the left a bit is the stunningly beautiful archipelago of New Zealand. The native Maori call it Aotearoa, or the land of the long white cloud: we know it as New Zealand. This small and sparsely populated nation packs quite a punch in the travel stakes: from adventure sports to culture and cuisine. If you are planning to travel to New Zealand, you need to know the must sees and must dos.

New Zealand's travel hub is Auckland, so you will more than likely begin your trip here. While in Auckland book cruise of the Auckland Hauraki Gulf to see whales and dolphins frollicking in the wild in one of the world's most biologically diverse marine areas. Feeling brave? Strap on a harness and scale the Auckland Harbor Bridge on a climbing tour. This is a truly unique way to see the city and acts as a warm up to some of the other exciting activities that New Zealand has in store for you.

From Auckland head directly to Queenstown. Queenstown is New Zealand's capital of action. For adrenaline junkies this is your paradise: you can choose between jet boating, bungee jumping, skiing, snowboarding and other rush inducing activities.

After speeding about Queenstown, it is time to take it down a notch or two with a tour of the Queenstown wine trail. Many of the country's wines are produced in the vineyards outside of Queenstown and there are tours that will take you to sample the best drops.

From Queenstown you can travel through the beautiful scenery of Otago to New Zealand's highest mountain, Mt. Cook. Taking a helicopter ride over the mountains is a once in a lifetime experience and a chance to appreciate the magnificent beauty of New Zealand.

Maoris are the indigenous New Zealanders and they have retained their rich culture and heritage in the face of colonization by the British. While in New Zealand do not miss the opportunity to get acquainted with its indigenous culture.

Ko Tane is a living Maori village located inside the Willowbank Nature Reserver outside of Christchurch. This is the perfect place to see how Maori lived before the Europeans arrived. Here you can see many Maori ceremonies, dance and traditions come to life before your eyes.

On the northern island, Rotorua is the place to go to see some fierce geothermic activity in action. At the Wai Ora natural hot springs in Rotorua you can soak in the mineral mud baths and enjoy the healing powers of the spa that have been used by Maori people for around one thousand years.

New Zealand has so much to offer a visitor: fun, action, great food and wine, natural beauty and rich culture all rolled into an accessible and cost effective location. Travel to New Zealand and you will arrive home with lifelong memories. - 31363

About the Author:

Planning to travel to New Zealand, then visit Dorcas Chras's site on how to choose the best New Zealand holidays and vacation ideas.

Why You Should Pick Tanzania as Your Next Travel Destination

By Andrew Muigai

With an amazingly large number of animal parks, white sand beaches, a beguiling island and very hospitable people, Tanzania is definitely a top destination for those that seek to have an unforgettable travel experience. The Solid standing mountains surrounded by dense tropical forests, bird havens and ancient sites are all the more a compelling reason to take up your vacation in this expansive East African country.

Serengeti National Park is to Tanzania what Maasai Mara is to Kenya and the Kruger National Park to South Africa. It covers a good 14,763 sq km (5678 sq miles) reaching up to the Kenyan border. Serengeti is claimed by many to be the best national park in Africa and I guess it's as a result of the 35 species of plain-dwelling animals, including wildebeests, zebras, gazelles, cheetahs and lions, which feature in the spectacular Serengeti migration between November and May.

The Serengeti Wildebeest Migration was rightly given a place among the Seven Wonders of World given that this annual event happens no where else in the world . During the migration, thousands and thousands of these African animals start their journey all at once in search of an appropriate mating zone; for territorial conquest and also grazing land. This spectacular event also features prey-stalking predators both in dryland and across the Lakes and chances of survival, needless to say, only favor the strongest.

The Ngogongoro Conservation Area , rising high above the plains of Serengeti, spans from Lake Natron to Lake Enaysi to Lake Manyara. Resting in this Conservation Area is the active volcanic Mountain-Ol Doinyo Lengai, that in the beautiful Maasai language means Mountain of God and that whose last eruption was in 1983. The Ngorongoro crater is six hundred and ten metres deep, twenty kilometers in diameter and covers an area of three hundred and eleven square kilometers. Save for the Impala, the Topi and the Giraffe, this crater shelters the majority of plain dwelling mammals and it goes without saying that there is nowhere else in Africa that you will find as many predators concentrated in one area as in the Ngorongoro Crater. Should you decide to take a hike in this area, the sighting of the endangered Black Rhino should be most rewarding not to mention birdlife that includes flamingoes that are attracted to the area by the soda-containing crater floor.

There are so many other parks that we'll have to summarize to give space to other great wonders in Tanzania but we have to cover the Selous Game Reserve first. This park is so big it out-sizes Switzerland and takes up to one sixth of Tanzania's total surface area to make it one of the biggest parks in the world. This UNESCO World Heritage Site has a high concentration of elephants and lots of stalking lions and other game.

Other parks include Lake Manyara, Arusha National Park,Mikumi National Park, Tarangire, Ruaha, Katavi, Mahale Mountains, Rubondo Island and Udzungura Mountains and Gombe National Parks. There are Marine Parks at Kilwa Reserve, Latham Island Reserve, Rufigi Delta and Tanga Coral Gardens. Proposed National Parks include Kizulo Plateau and Saadani. Now, this is definitely a very large selection option for you so knock yourself out and make the best out of your trip.

Tanzania is also home to Africa's highest mountain, Mount Kilimanjaro, whose climbing is no mundane task. With thousands of tourists having traveled from far off places to come and conquer this African giant, the enchanting snowy peak of Kilimanjaro will by all means allure you to reach the top where a captivating bird's eye view over an Africa lying in Magnificence will be awaiting you.

Spanning across over fifty Kilometres and with a depth of a hundred metres is the Olduvai Gorge which is a historical canyon that was the discovery site of three species of hominid fossils that date back to as early as over three million years ago. The way Olduvai came up was as a result of a river eroding rock in the area following which layers of volcanic soil were exposed and it here that Dr. Louis and Mary Leakey made the discovery of hominid fossils. Also standing in the Olduvai Gorge is a museum that has many ancient discoveries.

It is in Tanzania that you will find Lake Tanganyika which is the world's longest and second deepest fresh-water body. It is around this Lake that traditional dhow fishing boats are built and this lake is also the gateway to Gombe National Park and Mahale Mountains National Park. You should be on the look out for a pleasantly mesmerizing feeling that comes with being around the grandeur of this Lake.

Lastly, for the little space assigned this article, you have to visit Zanzibar. It is probably one of Africa's most famous and amazing Islands. It's one of the tropical islands in the Indian Ocean known for its striking beaches and laid-back island culture. Palm trees gently sway in the breeze pointing you to traditional dhow boats that tempt you to explore this mysteriously charming paradise. Zanzibar was built on its fishing and spice trade and this remains the case to date. The strong Arabic influence is not only reflected in its people but in the island architecture particularly in historically significant Stone Town. Zanzibar is the kind of place that doesn't need much talking about because it simply speaks for itself.

Finally, in one sentence: Africa is blessed with many wonderful destinations, yet few of this beat Tanzania which you should seriously think of as you choose your next destination. - 31363

About the Author:

Visit the author's travel website www.africapoint.com for useful resources regarding Tanzania Vacations including Tanzania Hotels and Flights. Africapoint is an online travel agency that also organizes tours safaris in Tanzania and a number of other Countries in Africa.