Why wait?

If you’ve ever fallen in love, you must be familiar with that cherished feeling that never really goes away. A feeling of affection and warmth, always with some seasoning of passion. When love knocks on your door, your mission is to invest in it in ways that are emotionally rewarding.

Work, children, responsibilities all in some way or another, do not allow couples to enjoy their nurturing love. This however  can easily change. Whether you just met your soul mate, or you were lucky enough to be married to them for years, there are numerous affordable ways in which you can live and rekindle your love, whilst getting some precious “just us” time.

A romantic retreat for two

Surprise your girlfriend with a weekend getaway at some sublime island resort; a peerless gift she will never stop bragging about to her girlfriends! Indulge your senses in a paradise-inspired destination, where you and your lover will be the epicenter of the world, receiving luxurious services and relishing your love for each other. What better alternative is there than the unequaled romantic getaways, at Sandals Resorts.

Just picture it, being just the two of you, with all the time and luxuries in the world to pamper each other. It’s a luxurious gift,  for your priceless love. Go ahead then, indulge in beauty, serenity and passion in the most idyllic place on earth, besides, you know you both are worth it.

Tying the knot

You’ve passed the initial stage of your relationship and now both of you are committed to  your love. What better way to officially declare your love and loyalty than holding the perfect destination Wedding at Sandals Resorts?

Whether you are looking for the perfect wedding location or a heavenly resort to spend an exquisite honeymoon, you can never go wrong with the most luxurious dream Honeymoon Destination! Throw the most amazing party, your enemies will envy and your friends will want to imitate!

Going Back

Rekindle your love and passion by showing your partner how years do not make love fade but grow stronger. Rediscover one another by escaping in a world of peaceful beauty and matchless luxury. Have your share of bliss and utter pleasure and let the world re-discover how madly in love you still are at the most dreamy beachfront of the world.

A love that lasted so long can only be matched up with the most extraordinary place on earth. So, renew your Vows and Reaffirm your love with a Sandals vacation. You won’t regret it, we promise.

Special offers for LifeCrust visitors:

• Save up to 65% plus 1 night Free and your Companion Flies Free at Sandals Emerald Bay
• Free Catamaran Cruise when you book 6 nights or more at Sandals Montego Bay! Discount Code: KATT23

Every one of us is as crazy as a kid when it comes to spending holidays and special days out somewhere exquisite. And at the same time, quite a few among us sit in the comfortable couches at their homes, planning for a holiday experience which would never happen. But nevertheless for our own Virtual Traveler this is no joy-killer (Though this habit might be a spoiler for her family/friends)!

The Gateway To The Paradise of Love!

The traveler bone mayn’t be a part of all of us but everybody enjoys a little leg-shaking now and then! And it is not just some moments that one enjoys out there but the random painting by a local artist, or your ethnic dress which you never wore, or maybe that green stone bracelet that you never forget to wear are the reminders of a time-period spent in ecstasy.

Travelling is not always fun-agreed! But in the same spirit it is hard enough to deny the delight of reaching the destination. And with Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, love is all the excuse you need to sneak away to gorgeous tropical settings! And the good part is the amazing deals that are being offered for lovers on a vacation.

Spending a beautiful day out with your beloved reading poems together with a glass of wine in Machu-Picchu is definitely not a very casual idea- something that sounds like an actual surprise rather than the regular celebration styles, especially after you gift a finely woven tapestry or for that matter an African tribal mask. Quite unusual you say, huh?

That’s what usually happens; we start with a New Year’s resolution to save money for a Eurotrip, or a one-month long trip to Southeastern Asia, but then we end up using this money on shoes, bags and crazy nights out! (Guilty as charged!)

Too close to home? Travelling cannot really be compared to other experiences, every way you choose to look at it you can only find gratification, meaningfulness, rest and peace, an eye-opening experience- to say the least!

When we travel, especially outside our own country we get to touch, witness, see and hear the most astounding people and places. We get to truly know a culture different, but so much more attractive than our own.

What you can gain from travelling around the world

We get to see how others;lives, what they value and what they don’t. Ultimately we make comparisons and see how our life could be changed for the better. You put everything into perspective, your life so far, your values and beliefs, your whole mentality goes under scrutiny.

Travelling has so many advantages, getting out of one’s familiar places and into unknown cultures, becoming acquainted with different mentalities and amazingly strange customs, can only be magnificent!

Next time you got the urge to get yet another pair of skinny jeans, think twice, what if that money were invested in a trip? Paris, Milan? What about India and the Caribbean? There are so many places you could go, you should really have started ages ago!

Paris: A must-see

Don’t panic though, it only takes a moment of seriousness and determination to finally commit to saving for travelling abroad.

Once you go out there once, you will get addicted.

You will find yourself obsessing over the unknown, the yet to be discovered, tasted and seen. The places to go and the sights you will see are infinite and of limitless beauty. Why make do with fleeting and not really deeply gratifying purchases, when you can buy yourself a truly lasting gift? That of going around the world and gathering, experiences, wisdom and pleasures.

Whether you’re a frequent traveller because of business or leisure, there are some invariable things everyone should attend to for safe and healthy travelling experiences.

Eat healthily

Travelling safe and confident

Even snacking doesn’t need to be fat –laden, you can be smart be pre-packing healthy and nutritious snack to nimble on when hunger cravings hit you on the train or plane. During travel opt for unprocessed, fresh foods, like fruit and vegetables than that 12000 calorie burger.

Exercise when possible, so what if you’re in a 9-hour long flight? This is no excuse for not moving around! For proper blood circulation and sustainable energy levels, you need to take advantage of every opportunity to move around, even if it means just a 1 minute walk to the bathroom.

Hydration; especially when travelling by plane, dehydration is a big issue, plan in advance by drinking plenty of water and having some always readily available. It’s also recommended that you have a rich moisturizer at hand and regular eye drops for refreshing your dry eyes.

Be medically prepared

If you’re going to a transatlantic trip or to a third world country, it is highly advices that you  become aware of all health precautions and actions you need to take. Immunisation to certain diseases like malaria, yellow fever, bird flue and so on might be necessary.

First aid travel kids should also be part of your luggage. Take with you medication you need to take, but also to address any impromptu injury or illness such as diarrhea, nausea, dehydration and so on.

Don’t forget to take sun block and insect repelling-gels to avoid sunburns and bites. Avoiding any risky behavior during and while travelling is also essential for keeping yourself safe and healthy.

All these tips with the ‘be medically prepared’ tip being an exception, should be followed not only during transportation, but for the whole stay of your travel. This will ensure that your body will remain strong, thus protected it from exhaustion and illnesses.

TicketSpot is an online resale marketplace for major music and sports events. From Madonna to the New York Yankees, and from Broadway musical Lion King, to a J.Lo music extravaganza, it has it all. It is like no other online event ticket provider, it’s actually not a Box Office platform, or venue.

Superstar Concerts as they should be, with you there!

TicketSpot is in fact used by thousands of ticket sellers for directly and cheaply selling their little magic pieces of paper through the TicketSpot Online Exchange platform. Independent sellers seeking to make their tickets available for sale, use TicketSpot, which works as a mediator between you and a mind-blowingly cheap ticket to Jay-Z (or perhaps Tim McGraw?).

Individuals wishing to re-sell their tickets do so through TicketSpot, and those (pretty much the rest of us) who want one can find it on TicketSpot, even when everywhere else a concert is sold-out.  TicketSpot renders the concept of a sold-out ticket invalid. One can relatively easily find those last few tickets still available! Sounds good right?

TicketSpot at a glance:

• Affordable- cheap tickets to any event imagined; be it Justin Bieber, or the US Open Tennis Championship, you can find that one single ticket left; it’s going to be here at TicketSpot.
• Convenient- You no longer need to scavenge the Internet for ticket offers, all major sports events and cultural happenings are happening at TicketSpot.
• Smart- A Red Sox game just sold out? Well maybe, elsewhere, at TicketSpot you can (almost ) always find one.

Why go all dark-alleys on finding a ticket that’s on high demand when you can safely and securely purchase tickets from TicketSpot?

This summer make a pledge to never miss out on a major concert or sports event ever again! It’s easy now!

“You never know, I might need that 18^th t-shirt you cry out in your defense.”

But do you really? Going on a 6-day trip means that if your tshirts are double-digit you need to reevaluate your packing skills.

Don’t worry though, following these tips will leave room in your luggage for bringing back souvenirs and still allow be confident that you have enough outfits to last you for the whole vacation.

A neutral streamlined palette

That means

your favorite LBD dress,

blue jeans,

basic shorts and blouses.

This already gives you at least three nights’ outfits. Unbreakable rule: Don’t take anything that’s new, or never been worn- you know you will be reaching for familiar items you feel comfortable with.

This also means you should definitely pack those 3 summer dresses you’ve been practically living in all summer!

Shoes, bags and accessories

The three items rule applies here: flip-flops for the beach, flat sandals for touring and walks, a pair of high heels for nights out.

As for bags, be honest, all you need is your beach bag, a glamorous goes-with-everything little purse and a versatile carryall bag for afternoon sightseeing and a shopping!

Since you will be sticking with the three-items rule, in the accessories section you’re allowed to go big (you deserve it for showing so much restrain!). Since you clothing palette will be limited to earthy pastels, you can liven up your outfits with overstating, bulky accessories.

Being organized is key when it comes to travelling light

Be creative

Packing light ultimately boils down to how creative you are fashion-wise. Picking an airy white dress that can be worn as a dress (what else!) but can easily be stuffed into a pair of shorts for a fresher, second day outfit.

Or that bodycon little black dress which you can dress up for a clubbing spree and the next day wear with a vintage tee on top making it part of a two-piece outfit.

Extra Space Saving Tips

Scavenge your luggage for secret storage places.

Take a canvas tote bag for all those souvenirs you know won’t fit in your luggage anyhow!

Don’t fold clothes, roll them making little cylinders for saving space and ironing time!

Take washable clothing items that you can hand wash if such a need arises

Double check if your clothing choices properly coordinate!

Anything but travel size toiletries are strictly forbidden! That includes your perfume as well!

Trip Mapping

Whether you’re traveling by car or train, you can give them some maps and other info (the Internet can help  a lot here) so that they can draw personalized map of the things they would like to see before arriving to their destination.

It could be anything, from other cities’ monuments, to tunnels and bridges. Designing their own map will give them the impression of responsibility, they will actually feel part of the trip, as their instructions (hopefully right ones)  is what will be guiding you to your destination!

Buzz Words

This attention-sharpening game can be very entertaining for kids and adults alike. The first player chooses a word, they all start to listen carefully to the radio. When the word comes up they shout out buzz. The first to shout, wins!

Road Tripping

Peek-a-boo's fun, but it gets old too fast

License Plate Games seem to always fascinate kids. First, spot a license plate and jot down its letters, everyone (driver that means you too!) has to come up with a phrase using the letters, the only person left with sentence ideas gets to pick the next license plate!

Scavenger Hunt

Prior to your departure get in teams and list down must-see places/things/people/activities. Each team member keeps their own scavenger hunt list and ticks the things they saw, railway tracks, a cow, billboard ads and so forth. By the end of your trip you might as well use this to make a vacation memory jar!

Dry-Erase Paddles

Other things you could do for your kids’ entertainment, include printable large-scale puzzles (if they’re themed according to your trip, it’s better), hangman and connect the dots games. Hint: If you got  dry-erase paddles, this will definitely be more eco-friendly and less messy than having to print out sheets of activities for them!

Practice on your acting talents by choosing a theme to role play during the trip. You could be pirates, tourists, popstars. This game requires a lot of imagination and some preparation from you; find relevant songs, props, even movies to watch that all relate to the theme you’ve chosen.

You’ve arrived at your destination, you’re free at last! Now its time to see what the kids can do at the vacation spot!

Let’s see if these traveling types is something you recognize (in others, or yourself!)

The All-Pumped-Up Traveler

You are not simply excited, you are over the heels with your trip; adrenaline buzzing in your veins, your heart racing from the moment you pack your bags, to the moment of returning back home.

Clues:

• Taking pictures of absolutely everything, a Mc Meal, a pair of matches, a dust bin, anything useless and uninteresting; this type of traveler frames it.
• The all-pumped-up traveler, once on a trip, transforms into a tireless android, restlessly and mercilessly dragging whoever happens to be with them in all their big and small adventures.
• If you can name every single street, museum and bistro, in a city you’ve visited 5 years ago, you are likely to be the all-pumped up traveler.

The Adventure-Seeker

The adrenaline addicted traveler

Devoted nature lovers, adventure-seekers see every destination as an opportunity to physically and mentally immerse in the unknown culture, in the best way possible.

Naturally born leaders, these travelers avoid anything tourist-y and commercial and go instead for the unique, thrilling, original experience a country has to offer. Always on a budget they are well informed on the cheapest ways to get by whilst exploring the world. Alternatively called the true-traveler.

Clues:

• Backpack. It’s the type of traveler always on stand-by, awaiting the next adventure to call in.  Natural propensity for doing things the hard way; experimenting and adrenaline-addicted, this traveler claims that the more difficulties they face, the more worthwhile their trip is.
• Prefers physical activities, seeking to engage in local activities and customs to better grasp their culture. Immersion is everything.
• You are a true traveler if you have been planning a road trip for a year now and are about to spend an indefinite time at your destination(s), including hostel accommodation.

The Let’s go Over the Board Traveler

Usually these travelers are withing the 25-35  age group. Saving money all year, they travel abroad to escape work and have fun. Usually the journey’s incentive is partying, clubbing and shopping all three in exuberant amounts.

Especially if we are talking about the ladies; either the main reason for traveling will be shopping in the first place, or shopping will inevitably become the journey’s focal point.

Clues:

• This one’s excitement is fueled by luxury brands and labels she/he cannot find in her/his own city. Or alternatively she/he is seduced by the tireless partying and night life offered.
• Daily plans include (scarce, if any) sightseeing and fierce, relentless shopping. This travelers solely travel during summer months preferring European hot spots like Spain, Greece and Italy.
• They exclusively prefer glamorous, trendy destinations. If upon returning back home you barely remember your journey and all you can talk about is the shoes and bags you bought, this is you!

 
Have you identified your traveling type yet?

Let me repeat that, you are in Paris! As soon as you realize how lucky you are, we’ll see what are the best ways to relish this extraordinarily beautiful city.

Culture

From Louvre to the Advertising Museum and the Museum of Modern Art, there will surely be something that speak to your idea of culture and education. Friendly advice, opting for less popular museums will be way more thrilling, see for example the Museum of philosopher August Comte, or the Museum of Fashion and Textiles, you will not regret it!

Activities

If you feel museums are somehow boring and for pretentious people, (we feel you) there are plenty of other activities you can engage in, like shopping and window shopping (who can afford to buy luxury brands these days,really?)

Weird as I might sound, people-watching is a thrilling thing to do in Paris: everything here seems to be in maximum: the food, the love, the elegance, the joy, the romance, the wine! So pick a lovely bistro and delight in watching Parisians strolling around the city aimlessly, in their fashionable clothing and delightful accents. Not a frequent sight in stressful American cities, isn’t it?

SightSeeing

Every single guide you get, will give you the standard advice regarding sightseeing; the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame, Sacre Coeur in Monmarte, Versailles and so on. Of course these are worth seeing, no doubt, but if you are more of a out-of-the-ordinary type of person, these tourist-y activities don’t seem to touch you at all. Worry no more, we picked a couple must-visit places for the hard-to-please person inside you!

For instance, you can visit St Germain’s antique market at the Left Bank. It’s the Latin quarter of Paris, packed with small antique shops, where small vintage treasures await discovery! For the incurable vintage-addict don’t miss on visiting St Ouen and Porte de Vanves, for a different taste of what flea markets and antique shops are like in Europe!

Tasting Paris in a single, mouthwatering bite!

Nature

What most people love about Paris is its abundant little green sanctuaries dispersed throughout the city. One can stumble upon while strolling around marvelous royal gardens and small oases.

From the infamous Jardin du Luxembourg and The Bois de Vincennes, to the Jardin des Tuileries, this city is jam-packed with wonderful greenery, ideal picnic spots and never-ending aimless stroll pathways.

Food

What’s a trip without local food? To properly and indelibly taste Paris, you need to savor some of its most renowned pastries; think of rainbow colored macaroons, apricot cream-filled butter croissants, fruity champagne and of course, France’s trademark bread, the baguette.

Have you been there? What did I miss?

So, how can you travel without emptying your pockets? Read on for how to globe-trot like a pro.

Booking early

Really early. This simple tip can save you hundreds of dollars. If you know where you going and when, why not book your tickets months ahead? You can also look for online deals that refund you if someone else has lower fare prices. Other airlines and agencies have collaborations with companies and banks so you can earn credit card bonuses and points by using their services.

Either way, with a little careful research you can save a lot of money just from your tickets’ cost.

Group Traveling

Going on group holidays can be tremendously fun. Imagine gathering up all your buddies and going away for two weeks! Apparently, the planning part can can be a rather intimidating task, however given the amount of money you will save (many agencies offer discounted packages and deals if you are booking for a group) and the extra amount of fun your friends will bring along, it can’t be that hard to do.

So gather up friends and family and enjoy your holidays on a discount. The amount of money you will save will be relevant to the amount of effort you put into finding the best deals. Don’t be ashamed to negotiate prices you’re given, be daring and ask for a small discount, or for any additional facilities, most hotels have such policies if you are bringing along many other people.

Alternative Traveling

Vacation is often associated with going abroad, however this doesn’t have to be like this any longer. You can travel inland on less money and with as much fun as if you were traveling in another continent.

Now its your chance to visit towns and big cities of your country, others cross oceans to get to! Its high time you appreciated and enjoyed your own country’s natural beauty and magnificent cities.

More Tips

Switching transportation means.You might are used to the ease and luxury of traveling by air, or on lavish train cabins, but if you are willing to explore other more mainstream traveling methods you will be saving hundreds of dollars. Think of taking your own car, or rent a car to drive along with friends.

Accommodation doesn’t need to be costly. Relive your student years by opting for alternative accommodation facilities, like going camping or staying at less expensive hotels and hostels.

Sightseeing, museum visits: look for free or discounted tickets, go on special free entrance days

Cutting back on travel expenses

Be realistic, skeptical and pragmatic: agencies often charge you a lot of money for activities you can do free of charge.

Be aware of travel package with hidden charges and cancellation fees.