Here are the Pros:

• Trains run frequently and are on time. (So don’t be late!)
• Trains run to major tourist destinations as well as small towns.
• Be spontaneous. You can jump on a train and quickly go to a new destination with ease.
• Multiple train passes to choose from. Tickets range from one that allows you to travel whenever and wherever, or get a cheaper one that lets you travel on certain days and times or you can even get one that allows multiple people to travel with it!

And with anything there are going to be the Cons:

• Seats are not guaranteed. You can make reservations ahead of time, but this will make spontaneity less possible.
• Can’t pass through non-participating countries. For example, you can’t travel from Paris to Dublin without purchasing a ticket in addition to your EuRail Pass.
• Not all rural areas are covered by the train. If you want to see a small town you may have to buy an additional bus pass or even rent a car to get there.
• Prices can be a bit high. A Second Class ticket for two weeks will run you about $388 dollars. If you’re traveling with a family this price will add up quickly.

Now that you’ve read the pros and cons of rail travel, you may be asking yourself if this mode of transportation is right for you. We’ve got you covered! Here’s our list of who is best suited for a rail pass:

• People who can, and want, to do plenty of rail travel. Do your math and see if the price of the ticket will be well worth it depending on the destinations you choose.
• People who travel light and can carry their belongings easily.
• People who are willing to be spontaneous and willing to deal with lack of seats at times.

The train would not be best suited for you if:

• If you’re not going to do much train travel don’t waste your money.
• If you plan to pack more than you can carry on your back then it may become too difficult lugging around all that baggage.

Do also be aware that theEuRail Pass does not cover sightseeing tours or luxury trains, but you can make reservations on France’s speed railway, TGV, for those tours and luxury trains. Now that you have all the information go plan your next vacation!

1. Airport Express

This little gadget from Apple was originally marketed as a device for extending the range of Wi-Fi, or for streaming music from your computer to a home stereo system, but now all you have to do is plug it into an outlet and you have your own private Wi-Fi domain. This allows for privacy because you can even enter a password to keep your neighbors down the hall of your network.

2. Canon Powershot SD1100 IS Digital Elph

This 8-megapixel, ultra-light camera with image stabilization  is perfect for quick, good quality snapshots. This camera is smaller than a pack of cards and perfect for slipping in your pocket and going.  Don’t be fooled by its small size, this camera delivers high quality, sharp images each time. In our opinion, it’s well worth the money for amazing snapshots of your vacation.

3. Franklin 12-language Global Translator

This must-have little gadget has 12,000 pre-programmed phrases and 450,000 words stored in its memory. It’s compact, which makes it easy to carry, but the tiny keyboard requires time to type phrases in. Also, this machine will speak for you so you won’t have to embarrass yourself by trying to pronounce words.  List handy tool retails for $229.95 and, in our opinion, is money well spent for the frequent traveler.

4. Tumi Ultra Slim Universal Power Adaptor Kit

The amount of chords we have to carry around to keep our cell phones, computers, ipods, cameras and razors charged is getting a bit annoying, but with this product you can charge all your electronics at one universal charger. This adaptor comes with an array of tips that fit almost any laptop or USB device – and it comes in a fancy leather-trimmed carrying case! This handy item retails for $195.

5. Kindle: Books to go

Anyone who likes to read on the road will be desperate to get their hands on one of these. This 10.2 ounce device holds about 1,500 books. If you have access to an Internet connection you can even add more books from Whispernet. Do be aware that you’ll have to “power down” this device upon take-off and landing on airplanes. To travel with your entire library will cost you a cool $379.

6. Asus R300 Handheld Personal Navigator

This personal GPS is lightweight and about the size of an ipod, only it’s square. not only does it give driving directions, but it will also give pedestrian, bike and bus routes. it will also hold music files, photos, videos and SD cards. You can even hook it up to your car and transmit directions through the FM transmitter. This is a handy tool to have when you have no idea how to get where you’re going. It will only cost you $299 (cheaper than most big name brands).

7. Wine Skin

Due to flight regulations banning any liquid over 3 ounces in a carry-on bag is leaving many people distraught over knowing how transport that great bottle of wine back home. Have no fear, your new safety skin is here. Simply place the bottle in the bubble wrap bag and seal it air-tight. The bubbles prevent the bottle from breaking during turbulence and the seal prevents any liquid from leaking out and ruining your suitcase. You can get a 5-pack for just $11.95.

8. Gorillapod Digital Camera Tripod

This bendy tripod composed of more than two dozen plastic “leg joints” that connects to your cameras tripod mount hole can be twisted and wrapped around pretty much anything. Now you’ll be able to attach your camera anywhere to take a picture of yourself without seeing your arm or having your head take up the whole shot. It even comes in seven different colors and will only cost you $19.95 for amazing camera angles.

9. Travel Space Bags

Wondering how you’ll fit 3 weeks Worth of clothes into a 22-inch carry-on? Don’t stress, with these bags all you have to do is pack your clothes into them and then suck the air out of them.  This is a true value because you can get two bags for $7 at the Container Store. And ladies, now you can have the perfect outfit for every occasion while on vacation. 

10. Adventure Medical Kit

We know this isn’t really classified as a “neat gadget,” but better safe than sorry, right? This ultralight kit was designed to live at the bottom of the pack and has watertight pouches to ensure contents are clean and dry. It’s got all the necessities: wound care strips, antibiotic ointment, sterile dressings, trauma pads, knuckle bandages, adhesive tape, alcohol swabs, aspirin, antihistamine, gloves, forceps and even duct tape. If you get hurt you’re covered. They even sell ones geared specifically towards campers and women. You can pick this up at REI for only $27.00.

Located closer to Africa than Italy, Sardinia’s turquoise sea and white sandy beaches rival the tropics. Sant’Antioco & San Pietro, off the coast of Southwestern Sardinia, are charming islands as yet unspoiled by too much tourist development. The seaside resort of Santa Teresa di Gallura offers all the attractions of the coast without the sometimes-soulless glitz of the Costa Smeralda. Further east, Palau & Arcipelago di la Maddalena are pretty laidback, too: the archipelago itself comprises a national park with loads of island-hopping opportunities.

Away from the coast, the scenery can be similarly stunning with a pastoral quilt of forested mountain peaks, valleys of citrus groves and pastures of happily grazing cattle and sheep. In contrast, the urban scene can be disappointing. Some towns are, frankly, dull and depressing with breeze-block buildings and graffiti. Others, like medieval Bosa in the west, are impossibly picturesque with their pink-and-golden buildings flanking the river. Alghero, in Northern Sardinia, has a fascinating Catalan history (the language is still spoken here) and a delightful old centre; the lively town of Iglesias also retains an appealing Spanish legacy. Calgliari is historic and cosmopolitan at the same time, while the equally historic Oristano is quietly elegant. Traditional culture thrives most vigorously in the heartland where the elderly women are still draped in black; here tourists are rare – stared at – but ultimately welcomed.

Across the landscape are scattered 7000 nuraghi, strange conical stone fortresses seemingly built by a Sardinian Fred Flintstone. Curious temples, tombs, mysterious menhirs and remains of entire Bronze Age villages complete the prehistoric cartoon.

Sardinia distinguishes itself in the kitchen with hearty pastas and a love for pungent local cheeses, like pecorino and smoked ricotta. Sardinians also produce notable wines and a head-splitting firewater, filu e ferru.

Avoid visiting during broiling, crowded July and August, as well as in winter when the island goes into hibernation and many restaurants and hotels are closed. The best times of the year to visit are in the spring, when the wildflowers are in bloom, and during the early autumn when the temperatures are still pleasantly warm and most of the tourists have left.

Ibiza, Spain

Ibiza is the most extreme of the islands, in landscape and visitors.

The Greeks called Ibiza and Formentera the Islas Pitiusas (Islands of Pine Trees). The landscape is harsh and rocky, and the island receives little rainfall. Alongside the hardy pines, the most common crops are olives, figs and almonds. Perhaps surprisingly, about half the island (especially the fairly unspoilt northeast) remains covered by thick woods. Indeed, driving around the back roads of the north is to plunge into a rural idyll – not what one associates with Ibiza at all!

A rugged coastline is interspersed with dozens of sandy beaches, most consumed by intensive tourist developments. A few out-of-the-way beaches remain, but in summer you won’t be doing much solitary swimming.

Ibiza’s beaches and laid-back attitude first became a major drawcard in the flower-power heyday of the 1960s – while North America’s hippies were ‘California dreaming’, their Euro‑pean counterparts were heading here to tune in, turn on and drop out. It’s hard to believe that in 1956 the island boasted only 12 cars!

Initially for the hip and fashionable, Ibiza (a mixed World-Heritage site because of Ibiza city’s architecture and the island’s rich sealife) soon latched on to the money-spinner of bulk tourism and started shipping in summer sun-seekers by the thousand. Today the island populace of 111, 100 watches on as millions (more than four million passengers are registered annually through the airport alone) of hippies, fashion victims, nudists, clubbers and package tourists pour through S’Illa Blanca (the White Island) each year.

Birthplace of the rave, Ibiza is home to some of Spain’s most (in) famous clubs. The outrageous summer scene is complemented by a diverse collection of bars.

Away from the bars are the woods, coastal walking trails and quiet (if not deserted) beaches that allow you to elude Ministry of Sound–style madness. Places such as Santa Eulària d’es Riu and the small resorts and coves of the northeast are ideal for family holidays.

Interesting websites include, www.ibiza-spotlight.com and www.ecoibiza.com.

Around about 20 beautiful and comfortable hoteles rurales (rural hotels) in renovated country houses are scattered about the island’s north.

Corsica, France

Shaped like a bunch of vine-ripened grapes, Corsica (Corse) ripples with mountain ranges covered in vivid green chestnut and pine forests, pastures and fragrant maquis scrubland. Grape cultivation dates back over 3000 years, with exceptional vineyards on the island. Bastia, in the north, is famed for its laidback feel and lively spirit, without being heavy on tourism.

Corsica’s coastline curls around 1000km of chic seaside towns like Ajaccio, plunging cliffs at Golfe de Porto and glistening beaches and bays at Calvi. The silhouette of Bonifacio’s cliff-top citadel morphs seamlessly into the serrated limestone cliffs rising up from the sea. But until the early 19th century, the coast was considered worthless, susceptible to invasion. Corsicans took shelter in the mountains, and even today it’s Centru di Corsica, encompassing the town of Corte (Corti), that defines the culture. Typical Corsican cuisine consists of inland victuals like cured sausages, cheeses and lamb seasoned with wild herbs. Fishing traditionally took place around Cap Corse (the rugged ‘stem’ in the northeast). Away from the coastal resorts and bustling ports, the interior – which often stays snow-capped until July – is still where you’re most likely to encounter Corsica’s language, Corsu, as well as its distinctive customs and festivals.

The mountains make for exhilarating hikes, the most famous and challenging of which is the legendary GR20. (The death-defying switchback roads make for some dizzying driving, too.)

Pick your timing carefully – Corsica swells to bursting with summer visitors; all but withering in winter when many activities, accommodation and transport services slow or cease. The wildflower-filled spring and red-hued autumn months let you experience this Île de beauté (island of beauty) at its best.

Marrakesh, Morocco

Capital of the south and epicentre of Moroccan tourism, Marrakesh is changing fast. Once the hub of camel caravans from the south, Marrakesh remains exotic, but just as Moroccans craved modern housing, Euro­peans arrived dreaming of old houses in the heart of the medina. This happy exchange has transformed the place, bringing money and work to a city that lives off its looks and its wits.

You want a first–class upgrade on your next trip—who doesn’t? But airlines have made it more expensive—and more confusing—to snare one.

In recent months, many big carriers have changed their upgrade rules, adding more restrictions and upping fees. More changes have already been announced for next year. So now is a great time to take a close look and compare airlines’ programs.

Continental Airlines Inc. and Delta Air Lines Inc. fliers should pay particular attention because Continental is leaving its SkyTeam partnership with Delta this month and joining the Star Alliance with UAL Corp.’s United Airlines and US Airways Group Inc. That means customers of Delta and Northwest will lose some opportunities to earn miles and will see their reward trip options shrink. United and US Airways partisans, however, stand to gain. New York will be a prime battleground since Continental and Delta customers will likely want to choose one or the other, but the changes may lead to frequent–flier program jockeying across the country.

“I fully expect Continental to bring not only their frequent fliers but also some of their former colleagues’ frequent fliers as well,” said Glenn Tilton, chairman and chief executive of United.

Some airlines say competitors have even been surreptitiously dropping promotional cards in their airport clubs trying to entice travelers to switch. If you want to switch, airlines will match your elite–level status in a competitor’s frequent–flier program.

Picking the right program can depend on a host of factors, from the service each airline offers at your hometown airport to the size and reach of the carrier’s alliance network so you can earn and burn miles wherever you like to go. But for many road warriors, upgrades are by far the most enticing reward in a frequent–flier program: They are a better value than redeeming miles for tickets, and they greatly improve your travel experience.

International Upgrades

The apple of most every traveler’s eye is the international upgrade—moving to a cushy business–class seat that lies flat for sleeping without spending many thousands of dollars. Under financial pressure, airlines have made international upgrades more expensive, just as they have upped the price for checked baggage or reservation changes.

AMR Corp.’s American Airlines, Continental and US Airways have all added “co–payments” to mileage awards, charging frequent fliers both miles and cash for upgrades. United will add co–pays in January.

US Airways is among the more–expensive for trans–Atlantic upgrades, charging 30,000 miles plus $300 for a one–way upgrade to Europe. Continental charges only 20,000 miles plus a $100–to–$500 co–pay, which varies based on the fare you paid for the coach ticket. The cheaper the fare, the higher the co–pay.

Delta, including its Northwest Airlines subsidiary, takes a different approach: It severely restricts the discounted coach fares eligible for an upgrade, forcing you to pay hundreds, or even thousands, of dollars more for a coach ticket to qualify for the chance to use miles for an upgrade. Only the three highest classes of coach fares (Y, B and M) are eligible for international upgrades. (And you still have to use 25,000 miles one–way.) For a New York–Paris trip in February, for example, Delta’s Web site offers coach fares as low as $592 plus taxes, but if you want a coach fare that’s eligible for a 25,000–mile upgrade, you have to pay $2,530 plus tax. (A discounted business–class ticket on the same flights is only $3,312 plus tax.) If you want to make sure you’re buying a fare that is eligible for an upgrade, Delta lets you drill down on its Web site to search by specific fare class.

Matthew Bennett, who publishes the newsletter First Class Flyer, says Delta’s cheapest upgradeable international fares are often $1,000 or more than the lowest upgradeable fares on other airlines. Sometimes other airlines cost more in miles, but the cash savings makes them more attractive. American, he notes, lets customers upgrade from just about any coach fare.

San Diego tax lawyer Chris Cooke frequently flies Delta and almost always gets upgraded on domestic flights, but international trips are a different story. “Since I virtually never travel in one of those [highest fare] classes, I’ve never been upgraded on an international Delta flight,” he said. On a New York–Dublin round–trip earlier this year, he sat in the coach cabin being knocked by passengers visiting a nearby bathroom and wondered why the airline wouldn’t offer one of the many empty business–class seats.

“I got about two minutes of sleep,” he said.

As airlines have added co–pays, most carriers have made more fare classes eligible for upgrade. And some have reduced the miles required for upgrades, deadening some of the sting of the cash payments. Continental and other airlines say a big advantage of the co–pay system is that travelers don’t have to buy tickets at higher fares just to be eligible, and then end up sorely disappointed if no upgrades end up becoming available. Typically, upgrades get confirmed after tickets get bought and at least a day before departure.

“The co–pay is roughly equivalent of buying into a higher fare bucket,” said Mark Bergsrud, senior vice president of marketing programs at Continental. But customers only pay the higher price if they actually get the upgrade.

Domestic Upgrades

In general, Continental and US Airways have the best domestic upgrade programs, offering them free to elite–level frequent fliers when seats are available. Delta comes close, but offers free upgrades only to elite–level customers who have tickets in certain fare classes. (But more classes of tickets are eligible for domestic upgrades than for international.) Frequent fliers on American and United can snare upgrades by trading in the 500–mile electronic coupons they earn by flying or buy directly from the airline.

But, like international upgrades, the best way to upgrade on a domestic trip these days is to pay, unless you have super–elite status and are sure to get it for free. You can upgrade coach fares with miles, usually 15,000 one–way, and some airlines require a $50–to–$150 co–pay.

Another way to land in the first–class cabin: Buy a “Y–Up” coach fare that comes with an instant upgrade. Airlines offer coach fares with instant upgrades to help customers evade corporate–travel prohibitions on buying first–class fares. You end up paying several hundred dollars more for a ticket, but usually save hundreds of dollars off a first–class fare.

American’s Web site shows fares with instant upgrades, if available, when you search by “schedule and price.” FareCompare.com offers a tool that lets you search from your departure city for all destinations.

The cheapest upgrade of all can be the last–minute splurge: Buying an upgrade at the airport. Airlines have been experimenting with selling upgrades to customers at check–in, after elite–level frequent fliers have claimed first–class and business–class seats. Prices vary considerably: American charges $45 for every 500 miles of a flight, so a 1,500–mile flight would cost $135 to upgrade, one–way. United charges $77 for every 500 miles on domestic trips. Delta says its domestic upgrades sold at check–in are priced $50 to $150; Continental says its upgrades start at only $25 for short flights and top out on domestic trips at $250 for routes like Los Angeles–Honolulu and Houston–Anchorage.

Most airlines offer the upgrades only at airport kiosks and counters. US Airways, however, offer a unique deal: You can call 24 hours before departure at the airlines reservation line, 800–428–4322, and try to snag an upgrade. Price: $50 to $250 for domestic flights; $300 to $600 for trans–Atlantic trips.

The tropical storm season lasts from May to December; the rainy season extends into January with peak precipitation in September. February to early May tend to be drier with only occasional scattered showers. Although large hurricanes are rare, they have struck near to Cancun in recent years, Hurricane Wilma in 2005 being the largest. Hurricane Gilbert also made a devastating direct hit on Cancún in September 1988. Hurricane Dean also made its mark on the city

If you plan on parking in the nightlife area of Cancun or in downtown Cancun, it can be frustrating to find a parking spot.

A common rule of thumb for night driving is not to drive in the first place. Driving at night can be very dangerous especially in areas that are well away from the city. These areas may not be lit very well or may be completely unlit. Some of the common scenarios can be cars without their headlights on, robbery, potholes, and even jaywalkers among others.

A few tips and recommendations for driving in Cancun if that is necessary:

• Get insurance, and then get some more insurance. Driving in Mexico is pretty crazy. It’s not as bad as most Central American and Caribbean locations, but it is crazy all the same. Accidents happen, especially to tourists. Your personal insurance will probably (almost certainly) not cover you in Mexico, even if you were under the impression that they would. Be sure you check the deductible as well, because often the deductible is 10% of the value of the car, and rarely would repairs in Mexico cost anywhere near that.

• Check and double check for dings and scratches. Even AVIS, Budget, Hertz, Europcar and the other big rental car companies will charge you for stuff that you didn’t do. When you start your review of the car before you take it off the lot, mark every single ding, dent, and especially window crack. If you don’t mark them, you will probably be charged for them.

• It is common practice in Mexico for transit police to remove the front license plates from cars when they have a parking violation (and there are some weird rules that aren’t posted). If this plate is taken you will have to go to the police department, pay your fine and then retrieve your plate, it’s a real pain. Often, renters don’t even notice that the plate has been removed and return their car to the rental company without the tag. The company will charge you a bunch of money to get it back. Some rental car companies are removing the front license plate and putting credentials on a piece of paper in the front window. You might ask if a car like that is available. Additionally some mount the license plates with one way screws (AVIS and Budget do this I think), but I don’t know how effective that is.

• Highway 307 out of Cancun is really a pretty good road. Try not to drive when it is raining, the road floods unexpectedly and is generally very slick. In towns, especially Cancun, there are pot holes everywhere. These are probably the most dangerous part of driving in Mexico and do the kind of damage that car rental companies will get you for.

• Watch out for topes. These are speed bumps, or speed mountains might be a better word. They tend to crop up in the middle of the highways before you enter towns and occasionally have signs that warn you, but more often than not signs are not displayed or are obscured in some way. These are extremely good ways to maintain the speed limit and you will find that after hitting one going sixty, your eyes remain constantly on the road and you watch your speed.

• Unconventional bypasses — It is very common in Mexico for the highway to split into two different lanes in the same direction when passing through a town (Playa del Carmen and Puerto Morelos are two examples). The inner lane is for left turns and those people passing through town. The right lane is called the ejidal (community) road and is for access to any of the roads on the right side. If you get on the bypass, you CANNOT turn right and if you get on the ejidal, you CANNOT turn left. You also cannot change lanes through town, you have to make the decision where the road splits.

• If you get in an accident with a taxi or bus, call or wait for the police. Never argue with a taxista or bus driver, they are union and really stick together. Usually they will just accept a little cash for the damage and you can go on your way, this can be decided on your own (most taxi drivers speak at least a little English) or with a policeman present.

• Often two lane roads will have huge shoulders on the right and left. These are for you to move to if a car comes up behind you. If a car comes up behind you on one these roads, simple pull over a little and they will pass. You can signal that it is safe for someone to pass by turning on your left turn signal (I know it sounds weird, but that’s the local custom). Additionally, if there are cars coming in the other direction, it is advisable to pull over a little onto the shoulder so that they can freely pass as well, they will assume that you are going to do so and start their pass even before you do.

• Windshields — Perhaps the most common type of problem that renters face is broken windows. Trucks have virtually no laws that govern how they can carry materials and in the Peninsula there are lots and lots of limestone mines. You can watch these limestone pebbles bounce out of the back of dump trucks up and down 307, bounces 5 or 6 feet high even on the third or fourth bounces. Windshields getting broken is extremely common.

• Gas stations — Occasionally gas station attendants will avoid resetting the gas pump after the last person and try to charge you for the last bill and yours. I have never actually experienced this, but do notice that attendants in the Mayan Riviera and Cancun are now showing you (and making sure that you look) that the pumps have zeroed out before they start pumping.

Because of all the outs available during a vacation you may think packing isn’t a very high priority.  This may be true in some cases, but if you are planning to take a cruise, you thought wrong.  On a cruise ship you are stuck on the ship except for 2-3 pre-determined stops along the way.  Therefore, you need to make sure you have everything you need; the captain will not turn the ship around for you, no matter what class you paid for.  Even worse, if you forget something crucial, the shops on the cruise ship will charge you an arm and a leg for the products; they are well aware they are the only means of commodities on the open sea.

For this reason we have drawn up a blue print for what you need, and what you need not forget before departing for the ship.  There are three major things you need to think about: clothing, necessities and what type of luggage you should and can bring.

Travel Documents, Identification and Wallet Items:

• 3 copies of airline tickets, cruise tickets, passports/visas, and itinerary – pack 1 copy in carry on, 1 copy in checked luggage, and leave one copy with someone at home. Alternatively, you can scan the documents and email an electronic copy to yourself so that you can access them from any computer terminal. (I usually do both – “just in case”)  This may seem like over-kill, but once again, you are on a cruise ship, not an airplane or train.  Once you’re on the boat, you’re stuck.  We want you to enjoy your trip, so having all these back-up documents will make enjoying your vacation easier.
• Identification documents are the second most important papers you need.  This will include a passport and visas if necessary.  Some cruise lines will accept proof of citizenship in lieu of a passport, but be sure to check with that specific cruise line before taking this approach.
• Pack a written list of your medications, including the name of the drug, dosage and times taken, in case they are lost.
• Medical documents are the third most important, and in most cases just as important to those of you on regular medication.  Be sure to bring your medical insurance cards and medical history, especially if you are traveling alone.  You will need a copy of your prescriptions and a list of all the medicines you are taking.  Remember on the boat they may only sell generic drugs, so as long as you have your prescriptions, the cruise can obtain you specific medications in case of an emergency.
• For medical and emergency reasons, make sure you leave a way to contact you at home if anything happens.  If you contact the cruise line they will give you emergency contact information for anyone watching your house, friends, or family.
• A pre-paid phone card if very important.  You may think while on vacation you have no reason to call back home; wasn’t that the reason you left in the first place?  Although the isolation may be your goal, usually on an amazing vacation you can’t wait to get back and tell your friends and family of something spectacular you saw or experienced.  Sometimes the updates can’t wait.  For this reason, buy a pre-paid phone card before you leave.  I suggest either a 20 minute or 60 minute card, depending on how much of a telephone junky you are. 
• ATM/credit cards are not a necessity, but if you bring them with you, make sure you call the credit card company ahead of time and let them know you are traveling.  If they see over seas purchases without being notified, they may freeze your account on grounds of suspicion.
• Cash or traveler’s checks are a good way to bring lots of money without the worries of losing a wad of cash or your credit card.  As long as you have not signed the check, even if lost you will have lost nothing until cashed.  Make sure you keep the receipt for these checks in a separate location if they happen to get lost.  For this reason have contact numbers for whomever needs to be called if you lose these documents.
• Since most cruises leave the United States, be sure to have a currency conversion chart.  Although most convertion kiosks have their own charts, these are not consistent everywhere in the world.  It is good to know that currency exchange is dictated by markets and change daily.  Due to this, you must have your own conversion chart to make sure you are getting an appropriate exchange wherever you are, never trust an over seas teller.
• Although it may seem unlikely, at some stops along the cruise you may want to rent a car.  For example, on many Caribean cruises, many passengers find themselves wanting to take a tour of the islands they make stops at.  Although there are tour busses available, some travelers may want to rent their own car.  For this reason make sure you bring your driver’s license and auto insurance card.

Travel Necessities: Personal Hygiene

• Ear plugs aren’t only important for flying, but cruising as well.  Remember you are confined to the spaces on this boat; therefore there are very little spaces of privacy outside your room.  Even if you find privacy, it won’t last long; the ruckus of excitement will surround before you know it.  Ear plus will help you get away for that half hour you need before heading to dinner.
• Because toiletries are so expensive on the boat itself, you should bring your own crash-kit for basic vacation survival.  A basic kit I would suggest would include: Q-tips, cortisone, Vaseline, antibiotic cream and anti-diarrheal medication.
• Pain killers such as aspirin, Tylenol or Advil.
• Hand wipes are good to have in your car, when you fly, boat, or any sort of travel where your hands may become sticky for some reason or another.
• DO NOT forget sun screen, there is nothing worse than lying out on a beach in pain because your back is too burnt.  Along these lines, also bring a pair of sun-glasses, there will be many sunsets to enjoy, so be prepared.  I might add that even if you are planning a trip to Alaska or some icy dreamland, don’t think you won’t need your sunglasses.  The reflection off the snow is one of the easiest ways to get sunburned, ask any experienced skier.
• Bring bug spray, not for the boat, but for those tropical destinations you will be investigating on your pit-stops along the way.

Travel Necessities: Electronics and Gadgets

• Plug adapter or power converters are good for traveling, but not crucial for cruise ships.  If you have certain electronics you MUST use during your vacation buy a converter just incase.  All other necessities on this list will have to be plugged into this converter if you run into a foreign wall plug.
• Make sure you bring your cell phone and charger.  I usually keep mine turned off, but it is nice to have in order get new phone numbers or call your cab when you return to the port.  The same goes for your PDA or laptop; bring a charger.
• It is good to have a camera while on your journeys.  Manual and digital cameras are good for any vacation.  If you are taking a digital camera be sure to bring a charger and extra memory cards.  If you are using a manual SLR camera be sure to bring extra film.  Travelers often run out of film or memory halfway through their vacation.
• If you are a reader, make sure you have a nightlight.  Reading on the deck opposed to your bedroom is a peaceful experience that needs a light.
• There is always a workout are or gym on board a cruise ship.  Do not forget your iPod.  With all the kids and chaos around you, working out to your favorite music will be something you yearn for if you forget your iPod or portable music player.
• An obvious item that is necessary for any trip is an alarm clock, preferably battery powered.  Some cruises put you on a tight schedule to keep up with.  You may have to eat at a certain time, and certain events only take place on certain days during certain hours; so bring something to keep you on point.
• For those of you bringing a lot of electronics with you, bring a power strip and/or battery charger.  I don’t suggest bringing so much with you, but some of us must work during our “vacation” and it is understandable to always be prepared.

Other Helpful Items Specific to Cruise Vacations:

• Zip loc bags of all sizes and even garbage bags, for emergencys or wet clothing.  Crazy glue, duct tape and clothes pins may seem like overkill, but the faster you can take care of a catastrophic situation or even something small that breaks, the more time you will have to enjoy the rest of your vacation.
• A swiss army knife or any tool like it is very good for traveling.  Make sure you put it inside your check in bag due to security measures.  A swiss army knife can give you corkscrew for wine and knifes and scissors for any handy work you may need to be doing.
• I like to bring a shoe horn anywhere I travel to, but it is not necessary
• Playing cards are a classic check list item when on vacation.
• An underwater camera may seem silly, but if you are going to the Carribean there are photos you will regret not being able to capture if you did not make this purchase.

The List: Clothing you Need and Clothing you Don’t

• Remember before you start packing check out the cruise newsletter to find out what dress code for dinner is each night.  Different cruises have different restrictions based on how expensive they are and what kind of reputation that particular line exemplifies. 
• On most cruise ships there will be at least two formal nights.  On these nights most dining halls require nice dress attire.  If you feel this is a hassle no worries, most cruise ships also have tuxedo rentals for men.  The buffet hall is usually open every night, so if you really don’t want to get dressed up you don’t have to. 
• To many people’s surprise dining room dress code can be very strict on a cruise line.  For women you can’t wear shorts, t-shirts, cut offs, tank tops, jeans, or be bare-footed.  For most nights, the dress code will be casual.  This is what you’d wear to your favorite “casual” restaurant, such as: sun dresses, a casual dress, casual pants such as khakis or cargo pants, but remember, no jeans.  For men, polo shirts, button-up shirts and casual pants (not jeans) are fine.   
• During the day, anything goes!  You can wear shorts, t-shirts, capri pants, jeans, cargo or khaki pants, running shoes, flip flops and sandals.  The only dress code during the day is when going swimming.  When walking from your cabin to the pool you have to wear something over your swimsuit and you have to wear something on your feet.
• If you plan on working out during your cruise, don’t forget your gym clothes.  Every cruise ship has a modern gym for those of you who don’t want to squander your exercise routine during your vacation.
• Footwear should include walking or running shoes, sandals, and dress shoes for formal dinners.
• You should probably also bring one hat, a jacket, and a sweater.  If you are worried about some of your garments, the cruise ships also have dry cleaning, so don’t worry about anything getting ruined.  If something gets lost, you’ll probably see it on the culprit hours later.

What Type of Luggage Should I Bring?

• If you don’t live near a cruise port, you’ll normally have to fly (or drive in some cases) to your destination.  Before you start to pack, remember that you have to carry everything with you in the airport and around the cruise terminal.  Because of this make sure your main luggage has wheels.  Try to limit yourself to 1 piece of checked luggage, 1 carry on bag, and 1 personal item.  You can also take a garment bag, but be careful with these because the hooks can get caught on many places while you are boarding. 
• There are of course weight restrictions for each airline.  They are specific depending on what airline you fly, so make sure you call either the airline or your travel agent ahead of time for information. 
• Your name and address should be on a piece of paper inside each bag and on luggage tags on the outside of each bag.  Fill out your cruise tags and place them on your luggage; any “old” airline/cruise tags should be removed.  Your Carry-on Bag & Checked Luggage should have locks.  Mark all luggage with some “bright” tape or wool pompoms for easier retrieval at the airport & the cruise terminal.  Of course you can choose other radical ways of making your bag stand out but the point is, make sure your luggage isn’t generic.  Last but not least, make sure you bring extra luggage tags just incase anything happens to your original ones. 

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(honoluluadvertiser.com) — Hawaii hotels experienced the fifth consecutive month of record low occupancy in June, when the rate fell by 5.8 percentage points to 63.1 percent.

In the latest report from industry analyst Hospitality Advisors LLC, the occupancy rate for the first half of the year was the lowest recorded since the survey began in 1987. It reflected the 9.8 percent drop in visitor arrivals to Hawaii reported by the state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism.

Although O’ahu hotels led the state in occupancy at 67.8 percent, that number was 6.4 percentage points below a year ago, according to Joseph Toy, Hospitality Advisors president and chief executive officer.

With visitor arrivals down for 13 consecutive months, Hawaii hotels have cut rates and added deals to try to fill up rooms but the discounts have dropped revenues.

Deep discounts reduced the average daily hotel rate 16.6 percent to $171.97.

“It’s just been something that’s completely unprecedented in the market,” Toy said.

The steep decline indicates that the traditionally busy summer season has not brought recovery to the state’s largest private industry, he said.

“Despite the steep discounting of room rates in the market, hotel occupancies during what would normally be our busy summer season are at record lows, and the impact on hotel revenue and Hawaii’s tax base is tremendous,” Toy said.

“With such weak performance, we still do not expect to see any foundation for recovery until mid-2010.”

Toy said Hawaii is experiencing a slump that is reflected throughout the industry and at destinations across the country and internationally.

“Similar to most destinations, we have experienced a tremendous pull-back in the market, unlike anything we have seen before,” he said.

Hotels on Kauai suffered the most in June, dropping 10.3 percentage points in occupancy to 61 percent, with the average daily rate falling by 17.1 percent to $180.26.

Maui experienced the sharpest drop in average daily rate at 19.3 percent, falling to $227.35.

Toy noted that in the first half of this year, Hawaii hotel room revenues fell by $339 million to $1.22 billion, representing a steep 21.8 percent decline compared with the first six months of last year, according to Toy’s Hawaii Hotel Flash Report.

This loss was driven by a combination of a 7.8 percentage point decrease in occupancy to 66 percent, and a 12.6 percent decrease in the statewide average daily rate to $181.13.

But Toy said Hawaii is holding its own compared to tourism markets across the nation. Although Hawaii slipped to fifth place in hotel occupancy among major U.S. destinations, it remained second behind New York City in average daily rate.

Hawaii’s budget market posted the highest occupancy for the first six months at 74.7 percent and had the smallest decline from the prior year at 4.6 percentage points. The luxury hotel segment had the steepest decline in average daily rate — 13.5 percent, to $256.92, compared with $296.95 a year ago.

All islands reported losses in occupancy and rates for the first six months of the year. Maui suffered the largest average daily rate loss at 13.3 percent, to $242.36, with occupancy falling by 9.6 percentage points to 64 percent. The Big Island had the lowest occupancy in the state at 55.6 percent with an average daily rate of $187.07.

O’ahu fared best, but still saw occupancy drop by 5.4 percentage points to 70.9 percent, with a 12 percent decline in average daily rate to $150.69 for the first half of the year.

The luxury price segment achieved the highest occupancy at 68.1 percent, but was down 6.8 percentage points from the prior year.

The hotel survey is compiled by Smith Travel Research in conjunction with Hospitality Advisors.