Travel

Alcudia is one of the most popular resort towns in Mallorca, located at the northern end of the island and one of the most attractive places to visit in Spain. It’s the perfect travel destination whether you’re traveling alone for some “you time” or a special occasion with friends and family. Even though Alcudia is a small town, there are still plenty of things to do. Mallorca is filled with rich sights and culture for everyone. The alluring features of Alcudia are the gleaming stretches of sandy beaches and dramatic cliffs.

___________________________________________________________________

Relax on the white sandy beach

The best beach in Alcudia is certainly Alcudia Beach. This stretch of pristine fine sand is the longest beach in Mallorca and matches the beauty of other world class beaches. The white sand and turquoise sea compliment the golden sun on the horizon. Alcudia Beach is shallow and calm, making it fabulous for child-friendly activities. If action is more your style, this beach is the best spot for windsurfing and paragliding. ___________________________________________________________________

Explore the charming town of Pollensa

Just a 15 minute drive from Alcudia is Pollensa, one of the most beautiful cities in Mallorca. In the city center lies the ancient origin of the city. This medieval town has existed for thousands of years since the Roman Empire. The old town of Pollensa is illustrated in a charming atmosphere with winding cobbled streets and distinctive yellow houses.

The feeling here is that of community and adventure. Wander past El Calvari, a sprawling stone staircase leading up to the top of the city. Lastly, the food scene here is something not to be missed! Unique restaurants and shops offering the local flavours and atmosphere.

___________________________________________________________________

The best place to stay in Alcudia

Make sure not to miss this experience of a lifetime. Including breathtaking views, high end finishes and amenities to make you feel like a star. By far the best place to call home while in Mallorca. Budget friendly accommodations for the whole family as well as luxury celebrity getaways for your escape from reality. When you travel to Majorca with kids this private villa makes it super easy and comfortable to fit the whole family.

___________________________________________________________________

Visit the ancient city

Walk through the best-preserved medieval town in Mallorca, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the very best things to do in Alcudia. The oldest part of Alcudia was founded more than 2,000 years ago and is surrounded by a remarkable city wall from the 13th century. The old town offers numerous elegant restaurants, cafes, and little shops that are definitely worth visiting to get that local taste or souvenir.

When you enter the grand city gates, you’re welcomed by a network of quaint, narrow streets. The whole area is filled with ancient medieval buildings and Roman houses. The history here is alive and beaming. Every brick in the Roman built wall and every doorway along the lively streets tells a story. Climb up one of the historical city walls for a dramatic view of the surrounding area!

___________________________________________________________________

Sunset boat trip with the dolphins

Not all your time in Alcudia should be spent on land, why not spend a day at sea? You can find many types of boat adventures. How about a sunset trip or a diving trip? Seize the opportunity to sail with a catamaran, a speedboat, or a glass-bottom boat. Sail past the intriguing Cap de Formentor and watch the dolphins having fun in the ocean waves. Want to explore more? Catch one of the ferries sailing to the surrounding island of Menorca. Just an hour and a half to Ciutadella from the port of Alcudia. The options are endless and sure to make lasting memories.

___________________________________________________________________

 

Are you planning a family vacation but have a tight budget? Fret not! You do have fun options besides the usual hotel staycation or the grandparents’ house for a short getaway. With some planning and creativity, you can cut vacation costs without having to cut any of the fun. We have some ideas for planning a family vacation on an economical budget.

1. Search for discounted vacation packages

Look at family vacation packages being offered on discount sites like Groupon,

Travelocity, Orbitz, Living Social and CheapTickets.

2. Signup for online fare alerts

Start planning your vacation as early as 6 to 12 months in advance. Sign up for fare alerts at websites like Kayak, DealBase or TravelZoo or book budget airline tickets in advance. Some budget airlines offer promotional deals that you will not find on comparison travel sites. Air fare prices will shoot up during peak holiday seasons. So be the early bird to grab your cheap seats on non-stop flights.

3. Take advantage of off-peak pricing

Many vacation destinations can be even more charming, more relaxing and definitely less expensive during off-peak periods such as during non-school holiday periods, non-festive seasons or on regular weekdays.

4. Book mid-week flights

If you have the flexibility in your plans, try flying and checking into hotels mid-week instead of from Fridays through Sundays to get cheaper rates. Your best bet to fly during public holidays are on Thanksgiving, Christmas or New Year’s Day.

5. Cut back on little extras

Remember what your frugal parents used to do when planning holidays during your younger days? They would call a long list of hotels to find the ones with free breakfast or where kids get to stay for free or have free meals. Better yet, book a room with kitchen facilities so that you could cook a few of your own meals.

6. Travel on a recreational vehicle (RV)

There’s just so much fun having the entire family crammed into an RV – traveling the open road, having the freedom of driving, waking up and doing everything without having to follow rigid timings as would have been the case had you booked a holiday from a travel agency. You’ll get the chance to explore the nation’s wealth of national parks, scenic roads, mountains, hills and seaside. You’ll get to experience the adventure of camping and sleeping under the stars. Think about how much you’ll save on hotel and air fare.

If you need your RV transported to your holiday destination, finding a trusted RV transport service to move your RV at a reasonable price isn’t always a simple task. However, the task of moving your RV is made easier at Shiply. You can find a vast selection of RV transport services on Shiply, often at rates up to 75% cheaper than usual. All it takes is to fill out a simple online form and the quotes will be emailed to you within minutes. Shiply has been used by millions of people worldwide and you’ll get to read reviews from previous customers. For more details on how best to transport your RV, click here to find out to plan your adventurous holiday on an RV!

 

When you have children, travel isn’t always the most straightforward of operations. You have to meet certain deadlines, you have to remember to pack certain belongings, and you have to keep the kids happy whenever they get bored, tired and restless.

If you’re not careful, the stresses that you encounter as you drag your family across the globe could end up wreaking havoc on your vacation experiences. To ensure that stress isn’t afforded the opportunity to blight your next holiday, be sure to put the travel advice listed below into practice.

Here are three ways you can take the stress out of traveling:

Book transport to the airport in advance

Booking your airport transport on the day that you are due to travel is the last thing that you want to do. Leaving everything to the last minute in this sense is a recipe for disaster, simply because you might end up missing your opportunity to book a taxi; you could contact all the firms in your local area, only to find that none of them are available at the time that you need them. Should this happen, your chances of missing your planned flight will no doubt increase tenfold. One thing’s for sure — this delay in your travel plans isn’t going to do any favours for your stress levels!

Quite simply, it’s essential that you act sensibly and book your journey to the airport in advance. Once you schedule your pickup with an industry-leading provider of airport transport like Premium Minicabs, you won’t have to worry about being late for your flight. As stated at premierminicabs.com, they will guarantee you a swift, seamless, and stylish journey to the airport every time you and your family ride with them.

Attempt to book direct flights

Connection flights might be cheaper in some instances, but they’re almost always a whole lot more stressful. When you have multiple flights to catch, you run the risk of missing crucial connections and, in turn, you put yourself in danger of disrupting your travel schedule. If you want to avoid the stress that is caused by schedule disruption, you should attempt to book direct flight packages as and when you are able to do so.

Prepare your kids for the journey

If your children haven’t traveled extensively in the past, especially, it’s crucial that you sit them down and prepare them for the journey ahead. Talk to them about the plane ride, make them aware of how long it is going to take to get to your vacation destination, and make sure they understand the importance of remaining vigilant while they are away from home. Once you speak to them about these essential matters, they’ll no doubt find it easier to cope with whatever issues the journey has in store for them.

Do you want to enjoy a stress-free traveling experience and, in turn, a relaxing vacation? If so, it’s absolutely essential that you put all of the advice laid out above into practice.

Have you ever wondered how other cultures celebrate the holidays? If you’re a curious holiday lover, then it’s a rewarding question to ask. Learning how others celebrate and show gratitude can be so uplifting and inspirational.

China has celebrated the holidays for centuries, long before religious holy days and rituals came along. However, celebrations are all about the spirit, and no one does spirit better than the Chinese.

From December 6 to January 26 in the Mets’ home stadium of Citi Field, the very first Hello Panda Festival will shine through the nights. It’s going to be the largest lantern festival in North America. Plan on attending and tell people you got to see the beginning of what we hope will be an annual festival.

Hello Panda

The CPAA is a state-run Chinese company that promotes Chinese cultural events and exhibitions. Its North American branch is putting on this holiday bash, hoping to together all people from all traditions. The “cultural” part embraces the fine art of Chinese lantern making, food, arts, music, and other aspects of the culture.

Lanterns

Lanterns have been the basis of Chinese symbolism and celebrations from time immemorial. Variously colored lanterns mean different things like joy, success, or social status. The colors are interesting, too, with red meaning joy, energy, and good fortune. Blue lanterns indicate illness or decreasing energy. The lanterns can be made of silk, bamboo, paper, and metal.

With that in mind, picture it: the tallest Christmas tree in the world made entirely of lit lanterns. Life-sized dinosaurs, wild animals, a castle from fairy tales, and a 98-foot illuminated tunnel. Oh, yes, and pandas. Lots of pandas. Lantern theme parks will be lit with 300,000 LED lights.

But wait! There’s more! You can’t walk through all the exhibits, interactive shows, performances, and lights without sampling foods from around the globe. Asian, Mexican, continental, and of course, Chinese foods will be available for those who want to sample the tastes of the world.

Six immense heated tents will house the traditional as well as modern live performances, art galleries, and holiday items in a market. Music and dance performances in Latin, hip-hop, pop, and more can be sampled along with exquisite global cuisine.

While you’re enjoying the culture, you can even try participating yourself. Instructors will show you how to do paper cutting, embroidery, make art out of cotton candy, and sugar painting. Be sure not to miss learning dough sculpting. Maybe you can take home your own stegosaurus.

Where To Stay

Here’s a tip for traveling to NYC: staying in Manhattan is actually the worst idea. It’s congested and expensive. Just across the Hudson River, there are numerous hotels in Jersey City, NJ. It takes essentially the same amount of time to get from Jersey City to many destinations, including Citi Field.

There are many great hotels to choose from. The Hyatt House Jersey City offers you breathtaking views of the Manhattan skyline. Large, modern suites, free Wi-Fi and breakfast, and a fitness center round out its amenities. The Holland Hotel is a great budget option. Located close to the Holland Tunnel and the PATH train, it’s quite convenient. And the newly-renovated rooms offer a nice guest experience.

Conclusion

There will be over 120 lantern displays for you to enjoy: tall, short, dragons, pandas, gingerbread houses, figures, trees, flowers, Santa and his reindeer — all of this in every color of the rainbow. The night will be alight with the wonder of a different culture in all its tradition and magic. Happy Holidays, Chinese style!

 

 

Some people look forward to Halloween all year long. The people at Busch Gardens in Tampa, FL may put themselves in that category as well. They have been hosting a killer event known as Howl-O-Scream for the last twenty years every Halloween season.

Howl-O-Scream runs from September 20 to November 2 this year. Howl-O-Scream 2019 should be particularly scary as it celebrates “20 Years of Fear” with sinister surprises at every turn. Brave guests can explore horrifying houses, terrifying scare zones, and thrilling rollercoaster rides in the dark for 22 select nights. The park promises to unearth some long-buried Halloween icons of the past while unveiling new nightmares that will haunt you for years to come.

When you go to Howl-O-Scream, you can expect many spine-tingling scares. Some of the unique events The Residence, a suburban home overrun by domestic demons; Death Water Bayou: Wrath of the Queen; Motel Hell: Infestation, where the exterminator turns on you; Simon’s Slaughterhouse; and much, much more.

Area resort hotels start taking reservations for this particular event early in the year as they know that people are going to line up for it, but there are still spots available. You should work on reserving your spot and then take a look at some of the other things that you can do while visiting Orlando.

Sea Life Orlando Aquarium

Consider checking out the marine life that has made the region so famous in a safe and family-friendly way. The Sea Life Aquarium in Orlando has many of the species that you are familiar with and perhaps a few that you are not. You and your family can enjoy spotting the creatures that you would normally see out in the ocean. Gain some knowledge about these majestic creatures in this very fun experience.

The Florida Mall

Check out some of the best shopping opportunities in the entire South at the Florida Mall. This is the kind of place where you can find shops of all types. You can move from shop to shop at your leisure and kill some time while you are waiting.

Orlando Science Center

Grow your brain knowledge when you visit the Orlando Science Center. It is the best place to go to get your children excited about science and the world around them. There is so much to see and do and it is changing all the time. New exhibits come around throughout the year to keep things fresh. If you are ambitious about it, you can sign up ahead of time to reserve a birthday party for your child. The museum hosts these kinds of things for your child and all of his or her friends.

Try Out An Escape Room

Escape rooms are gaining in popularity throughout the country and there are some great ones in Orlando. Escapology is a premier escape room in that area. You can try out their various rooms to see if you can solve the clues. These are best done with a group of people, so you may want to see if you can get other people attending the Howl-O-Scream to come along with you.

It is important to know that first-time escape room customers often have difficulty figuring out the clues they need to get out of the room in an hour or less. It is difficult but a lot of fun.

Area Accommodations

Orlando is packed with great hotels for the whole family. One popular pick is the Hyatt Place across from Universal Orlando Resort. It offers 24/7 on-site dining and free shuttle service to area attractions for your convenience. There’s also a heated outdoor pool for when you want to just lounge around.

Hilton Orlando is another popular pick. This sprawling hotel covers some 26 acres and features seven dining options, two pools, a lazy river, and tons of other fun activities right there.