Traveling With Mom: 5 Tips For Your Sanity

We all know our mothers can be a handful. They have the best intentions for us most of the time, and want to make sure we are doing things right. As much as we love our dear Mothers; traveling with them can seem more like a chore than a vacation.

Here are 5 tips on how to make the best of and enjoy your travels with Mom.

1. So of course you're an adult now (legally), but when it comes to your Mother; you will always be her baby. She will always want to teach you things, and give you her input. When you're under the big bright sun on the beach, don't be surprised when she busts out the only tube of SPF 150+ ever manufactured in  North America and start rubbing in all over you every 5 seconds. It'll be a much better trip if you don't put up a fight about it. Let her be a Mom.

2. When your Mother refers to the resort staff as "the help" just take a deep breath and let it go. Understand that she is from a different era, and this is what was an accepted term at the time. You won't be able to change her way of thinking.

3. So you're on vacation, you'll want to sleep eh, maybe like 12-14 hours?? Well, your mother more than likely won't find this acceptable.  She'll want to spend every single moment bonding with you. Make sure you give her at least a little if not most of your time. The best time is between the hours of 3 and 8 p.m.

4. Once dinner time rolls around, keep in mind you're mother will view this as the prime time to ask you about your personal life in hopes you will be willing to divulge in all the details surrounding college life, or any other situations you have going on. It'll probably seem more like an interrogation from "Law & Order", and she might even try to tell you highly disturbing stories from her freshman years to make you feel comfortable telling her about yours. Best thing to do in this case? Just smile sweetly, and eat your meal.

5. All in all: Don't forget that your mother has generously allowed you to come along on this exquisite trip along with her. Keep this in mind when she asks you "don't you think you're going to be cold in that?" when she sees you walking in your revealing two-piece bathing suit. Even if you are in Miami, momma always means well.

We won't have our mothers in our lives forever, so when it comes to traveling with them; let her be herself and care for you the way she does. It may get annoying from time to time, but she has your best interest at heart.

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How to Remain Sane While Traveling With The Kids On the Road

Now traveling on a long road trip with your children might sound a bit hectic, but families should view trips like this as rare opportunities to make memories with the little ones without the interruption of television, homework, internet, phone calls and texts, and their friends.  

Here are a few helpful tips to ensure a fun-filled road trip for you and your brood.

 Babies and Toddlers-

•  ·         Prepare yourself. Make sure to keep a lot of wet wipes handy, diapers of course, paper towels, and trash bags. Make sure extra clothes are within reach. We all know babies can make quite the mess of themselves.
• ·         Know your family’s road trip patterns. Each family differs from the way they react on road trips. Many families decide to dress their little ones in pajamas and begin their journeys after dinner once traffic dies down and when it’s bed time for the kiddos to sleep on the way. Other families prefer an early morning departure to enable they arrive to their destination prior to their children’s cranky afternoon hours.
• ·         Dress appropriately for the drive.  It would be wise to dress you baby in clothing that is comfortable, and easy to undo. Save the frilly little dress from grandma until you arrive to your destination.
• ·         Water is best for road trips. Fill those sippy cups or bottles with plain ol’ h2o. Some children can down a bottle of juice of milk on the road, and then throw it up not even half way through the trip. It’d be best to give the thirsty babes only water at least until you hit a rest stop.
• ·          Don’t work against a tot’s schedule, work with it.  Drive during nap time, and stop for meals when they’re hungry. Try to avoid going to see sites during the nap time period it’ll be no surprise that your three-year-old is tired while you’re trying to tour the children’s museum during his/her usual napping hours. 

Grade-Schoolers-

•  ·         Keep them entertained. Bring along some of their favorite toys and games. Their favorite movies. Make sure that you bring the hi-tech toys as well as some of the low-tech ones. You can never go wrong with coloring books and crayons! Make it extra special by surprising them with a few brand new toys.
• ·         Avoid squabbles at all costs. If you’re driving with multiple children in the car, try to manage a meltdown by keeping them separate for most of the trip. If you have a child who is old enough to sit in the front, make him/her trade places with the adult passenger (if there is one). Have the adult ride in the rear with the other child. This will give each child important one-on-one time with each parent or relative.
• ·         Make a border, use the baby. If you’re a parent of three, place the littlest child in between the older ones. This will create sort of a buffer between the older ones to curb any fighting, and gives them both a chance to play with the youngest one.
• ·          Have a picnic. Instead of passing through a drive-thru on the way, opt to pack lunches and stop at a local or state park. Bring a Frisbee, and pause for a game or two.
• ·         A late afternoon arrival is optimal. Try your best to make it to your destination before dinner. Everyone will be looking forward to an out-of-car experience after a long day on the road. Arriving before dinner will allow you and the kids to take advantage of the swimming pool or play area. 

Tweens and Teens-

• ·         Share music. Music soothes the soul. Hook up your teen’s personal iPods or MP3 player to get in tune with the songs you may have in common. Music surely soothes the soul.
• ·         Let your teenager pick sites to see during your trip. Knowing how much teens can procrastinate, they probably didn’t put much thought into your trip; even though they will more than likely express strong opinions about it. When you make your way to the highway, let your teens take over the guidebook and travel apps so they can choose the sites to see and places to eat.
• ·         Listen and talk to them. Let your teens know about the stories you have about when you were their age. Kids love to hear about what you were up to when you were at point in time that you were their age. The car is an ideal place to let loose and allow your teens to express themselves as you look ahead. This allows them to feel judged less than an eye-to-eye conversation. You’ll learn a lot about your son/daughter on the open road. 

While you are stuck stressed out and worried about your timeshare expenses, you could be out enjoying the scenery with your children and making better memories with them. Don’t waste another minute of your time being stuck in an unruly and unfair timeshare contract. Get out now with Transfer on the Spot.

iPhone App ‘Tripomatic’ The Pocket Sized Travel Guide

Finally travelers are able to carry the world in their pocket. The iPhone app Tripomatic is a free service that offers travelers a way to see what there is to do and places to go in over 400 destinations all over the world. Tourists will now be able to build their own itinerary on the go, prior or even during their trip. Custom activities may also be added. 

There are many fun and helpful attributes to this app which was created by husband-and-wife team Lukas and Barbora Nevosad after much frustration on their own vacations where their trip-planning turned into nightmares. One of the notable functions of Tripomatic is the Shake-to-locate task which enables travelers to find nearby attractions simply by shaking their iPhone device.  Tripomatic is quickly approaching the top spot for best trip-planning app all over the world. 

For iPhone users who love to travel this would be a phenomenal tool for them to use. iPhone users who are stuck in a timeshare contract may not be as lucky. Timeshares hold families back from taking real vacations all over the world. If you are looking for a way out of your timeshare for good, Transfer on the Spot is here to help.

Spring and Summers Most Famous, Interesting and Diverse Wine Festivals

Calling all wine connoisseurs, it’s time to shake of the winter chills and enjoy spring and summertime with a glass or three of wine accompanied by artisanal foods and cheeses. 

Here is a list of all the diverse, interesting and famous wine festivals across the country. 

Kapaula Wine and Food Festival- For the past 31 years in Maui, this three-day event occurs in early June. Over 200 wines are celebrated from every region in the world. The wines are paired with fresh seafood from the pacific and traditional Hawaiian cuisine. Festival-goers will not only enjoy the wine tastings and delicious food, but also the scenic oceanic views of The Kapalua Resort.

Nantucket Wine Festival- In Massachusetts you find the beautiful island of Nantucket. Every year top winemakers, chefs, and celebrities gather together to celebrate a couple of life’s amazing pleasures:  superb wines and delectable cuisine. This festival takes place May 16-20, and has been going on for over 15 years. It is the nation’s most celebrated wine and food events. 

Finger Lakes Wine Festival- New York is the home to the annual Finger Lakes Wine Festival. This three-day event showcases 600 wines from the state’s best 80 wineries, in addition to many ales and lagers from local and regional microbreweries. The festival is held in the historic Watkins Glen International race track which is home to the United States Gran Prix. You will see many guest wearing togas as they eat regional dishes paired with Champagne and mimosas, guests will be able to learn how to cook from top culinary artists, enjoy blues and jazz music from over 25 bands on several stages, wander through a beer garden, or ride in a pace car. 

Kohler Festival of Beer- The Kohler Festival of Beer in Wisconsin is held June 1-3. Although it’s not wine, none of the over 1,000 guests really mind. There will be tastings from over 30 brewers, a home brew competition, and lively entertainment. 

Food and Wine Classic in Aspen- Food and Wine magazine hosts an annual fundraiser in the majestic Aspen Mountains that features cooking demonstrations, featuring twelve culinary superstars along with 45 tasting seminars with noted wine authorities. The festival takes places annually in the month of June.  

While unhappy timeshare owners are stuck in their contracts; travelers from all over the world are enjoying festivals such as these aside from many other adventures the world has in store. Get out of you timeshare now with Transfer on the Spot.

US Tourism Campaign Launches To Encourage Visitors

With the first ever US tourism campaign, countries such as Japan, Canada, and the UK (all top spending tourists in the U.S. come from these countries) will get the first taste of the many sites there are to see in the United States. 

As of Tuesday, Brand USA has created print, web, and video ads displaying tourism ministries much like the ones we see here at home of countries like Italy, China, or Israel.  This is a first for the U.S. as it has never marketed itself as a tourist destination to people living in other countries. 

In the last decade, tourism has increased around the world; however U.S. tourism has fallen mainly due to the security measures and visa procedures that became more complicated after the Sept. 11^th attacks.  Brand USA is now working with government agencies in order to make travel to the U.S. much easier than it has been the past 10 years. 

Within the next few weeks, advertisements will be spread throughout the countries of Brazil and South Korea with more countries to soon follow. 

Potential tourists will see sites in the ads that include the Redwood Preserve in California, and New Orleans French Quarter which soundtracks feature a song by Rosanne Cash (daughter of the late Johnny Cash) called “Land of Dreams”. 

There are so many beautiful places to visit in the world let alone the USA, so why would anyone want to be stuck in the same timeshare year after year wasting their finances on maintenance fees and special assessments? There is a solution to your timeshare obligations. Transfer on the Spot has the way out of your contract.

Adventure Tourism: Icelandic Volcano Tours

After the 2010 eruption of Eyjafjallajokull in Iceland, many adventure travelers have been turned onto Volcano tours. One of the world’s most unique experiences for adventure travelers would be the tour of Thrihnukagigur which is considered has been considered dormant(not extinct) for the past 4,000 years. 

In order to tour the inside of this dormant volcano, tourists will be lowered by an open elevator system which looks similar to one used for wash windows on skyscrapers. Tourists will be lowered about 400 feet into the volcano to the reservoir that supplies the molten rock that erupts to the surface and becomes lava. 

There are many exciting opportunities such as this to travel and experience around the world. Why would anyone want to continue being stuck in a timeshare contract? Get out now, and see the world. Transfer on the Spot has the fastest and most effective way out of your vacation ownership obligations.