Category Archives: Travel

Atlantis, The Palm: A Great Family Vacation Destination!

Travel, , ,

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Busy parents need vacations more than anyone else.   Can I stop there?  🙂

Have you run into the same issue as I.. you search for a family friendly vacation and most of the vacation destinations are theme and amusement parks?  If you are a busy mom but you still want to have a luxury vacation and want to bring your kids with you, then you will want to consider Atlantis, The Palm in Dubai.

Atlantis, The Palm - Dubai travel

Atlantis, The Palm, offers amenities for parents as well as lots of fun things for the children. Don’t worry about having a room designed for a toddler.  The luxury suites at Atlantis, The Palm in Dubai will have you feeling like a king and queen. Mom and Dad can schedule massages and spend time next to the pool while the children are safely looked after by their babysitting service.  There are websites that are the Best At Dubai Holidays.   Websites are often the best way to plan a vacation because they are easy to share with your family and to see all of the amenities in photographs!

The rooms have balconies with a choice of king or queen beds, and large bathrooms with walk in showers and separate tubs.  There is cable/satellite television, mini bar, bathrobes and slippers. You will stay in the lap of luxury!  A deluxe upgrade will offer you views of the Arabian Sea or a view over the beach across the Palm Island with Dubai skyline.

Just a few Atlantis, The Palm amenities

  • A sprawling water park
  • Fitness center
  • Spa
  • 20 restaurants and bars
  • Brilliant view of the azure waters of the Arabian Gulf
  • Cable/satellite TV
  • Fully stocked minibar
  • Bathrobes and slippers
  • Turn-down service
  • and much more!

You may opt for Imperial Club rooms and there are some fabulous benefits!  You will have use of the sauna, steam and jet pool, 2 complimentary head, neck, and shoulder massages per stay, and special rates for cabana rentals at the pool beach and Aquaventure.   Why on earth would you pass any of that up?   It also includes complimentary access to Atlantis Kids Club where your kids can enjoy from 10 am until 6 pm daily. Fun for them and time for you. The amenities are too many to mention but it is guaranteed that they will all make your stay the most relaxing and refreshing vacation you have had in a long while. It is almost guaranteed that it will be the best family vacation you have ever had.

Travel Tips

Travel can be tricky when you travel with your family.  The flight to Dubai may be a long one, so here are some tips for traveling with your children.

  • Children often get board on planes. The fact of the matter is that each child can carry a personal bag on the plane. Make a custom activity bag for each child containing several activities they love.
  • Put a travel pillow in each child’s bag so they can take a nap on the plane. It is a great idea to try and avoid naps before you leave so children will be tired and can pass some time sleeping.
  • Always check the weather before you pack. Make sure you are packing for the conditions. Most weather websites will give you an extended forecast. This will ensure that you don’t over pack.

If you are looking for a great getaway, either for the whole family, or just you two then Atlantis, the Palm in Dubai is the place for you. It is a great cross between family fun and adult relaxation.

Enjoy!


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Review: A Travel Satchel That Is Stylish And Functional!

Fashion & Style, Style Guide, Travel, ,

I received a Rakuda bag for the purpose of this review. This post was made possible by Mom Spark Media. Thoughts are my own. I only review select items that I would buy for myself and my family.

Summer means travel and travel means packing, travel bags, and luggage.  All of that often equates to heavy lifting and discomfort which I really don’t like.
My suitcase and carry-on bag on my trip to Indiana last week were both nothing less than crazy and crazy-heavy respectively.  Sorry Delta, but my luggage may have been a tad over the carry-on limit.

I’m addicted to bags.  Purses, tote bags, travel bags, backpacks, you name it.  The coat closet by our front door is more of a bag closet.  That is not because I LOVE collecting bags.  I’m not a fan of collecting things.  It’s because I am searching for the perfect purse and travel bag.  I have looked for purses and travel bags that are stylish, comfortable, light weight, and durable, for the past few years.  My sister Grechen, who is basically my personal shopper, will tell you how picky I am when it comes to purses and bags of any sort.   During my quest, I’ve learned that weight often wins over style or function and I might not get the bag that I hoped for, thus the dozens of bags in our coat closet.  However, in the case of the satchel I received from Rakuda, all of my requirements are met.  This satchel (ie travel bag) has a classic style, it is very light, and it has all the pockets I need, as well as a wide, adjustable strap for comfort. In other words, this is a pretty awesome bag!

Rakuda Satchel review

What I Consider When Choosing A Travel Bag:

Style

  • If you’re not a fan of trendy purses that will look good for just a few months, you might want to considering buying a bag that is a classic style to use for travel.  Considering buying a bag that will look good with black and brown outfits.

Comfort & Functionality

  • Your travel bag should have at least one exterior pocket so you have easy access to important things like a phone or camera.
  • The main interior pocket should have a wide opening so items inside are easy to get to quickly.
  • A long strap for cross-body use will help with comfort on long days of tours. The purse strap should be wide and soft so that it doesn’t dig into your shoulder.

Weight & Durability

  • The weight of a bag is a huge factor when travelling.  Whether it’s the weight of luggage or the bag you’re carrying while touring your destination, it’s important to make sure the bag is as lightweight as possible so you don’t have to strain and you’re not uncomfortable just to make it through the day.
  • Make sure that your travel bag is made up of materials that are durable such as high quality leather and strong canvas.  These materials won’t tear or fall apart easily and can usually hold up in all types of weather.

Watch my brief video about the Rakuda Satchel

 

Things I Carry In My Travel Bag:

It took a few years for me to realize that I don’t really need to carry as much in my travel bag as I thought I did.  Do I really need magazines, a charger for my iPad and iPhone, an external battery for both, a water bottle, my large wallet, a notepad, my large sunglasses case, a first aid kit, and 4 different snacks?  Not really.

Here is what I carry in my bag/purse while I am out and about on trips:

  • Wallet
  • iPhone
  • Water bottle
  • Chapstick
  • iPad Mini
  • Small Moleskine notebook
  • Pens
  • A few cosmetic items (powder, nail clippers, lip gloss, etc)
  • Charger and external battery for iPhone and iPad (I can’t stop carrying these, although I’ve tried.. I am a charging addict)

What is the Rakuda Satchel Great For?

My son Sebastian (13 years old) took the satchel out of the box and ran before I could even look at it.  He claimed it as his own and started gathering things to put in it.  He gathered a sketchbook, pencils, his favorite aviators, his Camelback water bottle, Kashi snack bars, iPhone, and earphones and was packed like he was ready to go on a safari.  That being said, you can rest assured that this satchel is great for both men and women.  My son really wants the Desert Tan Cargo Backpack and with the 40% promo code (see below) Rakuda is offering now, he just might get one!

  • Travel bag – The Rakuda Satchel is really a great travel bag.  Your wallet, a map, sunscreen, snacks, a water bottle, your phone, and an iPad will fit in this bag.
  • Camera bag – When used as a camera bag, the camera can be stored in the main pocket and an extra lens can easily be stored in the exterior magnetic enclosure pocket.
  • Dad diaper bag – This is a great bag to use as a Dad diaper bag when Dad is taking a quick trip to the park or mall.  A couple of diapers, a box of diaper wipes, a sippy cup, your wallet, and even a change of clothes for baby will fit comfortably in this satchel making it a great Dad diaper bag.

Get 40% off your Rakuda purchase through June 30th!

Rakuda is offering 40% off all products when you use promo code Rakuda40 through June 30th, 2013!  Visit RakudaBags.com.

Learn More And Connect With Rakuda:

 

I received a Rakuda bag for the purpose of this review. This post was made possible by Mom Spark Media. Thoughts are my own. 

Review + Giveaway – Must Have Gadget for Bloggers Who Travel: WorldCard Link Business Card Reader

Blogger Resources, Business, Contests, Gadgets, Travel, , ,
GIVEAWAY!
Win a WorldCard Link Business Card Reader!
Scroll down to enter.

I’ve been an online publisher since 2001 and I’ve been blogging since 2005.  I have attended a lot of conferences over the years and one thing that I could have used was a business card scanner.

This is one of those must-have gadgets that once you have, you don’t know how you did without.

Bloggers, when you’re at a social media or blogging conference, how many PR and blogger business cards do you collect?  

Most bloggers at a conference will collect anywhere from 100-500+ business cards.   What do you do with all of those business cards when you get back to the office or home?  I’ve heard everything from “stick them in an envelope”, “put them in a notebook”, and “store them in a box”.

Tell me.. how do you easily find a contact when their information is stuffed in a box or envelope somewhere?  It’s not easy and most of us don’t take the time to sift through our office to find business cards from the last conference we attended.

That is why I love WorldCard Link’s business card scanner for the iPhone.  This gadget is as amazing as it is small!

WorldCard Link Business Card Reader for iPhone

Your iPhone plugs in to this incredibly intuitive and useful device.  After that it’s simple to scan every business card you’ve collected at a social media conferences such as BlogHer, or other conferences.  Extremely portable, the WorldCard Link can be stored in just about any small bag such as a purse, briefcase or even a large coat pocket. Easily stowed away in a carry-on bag, the card reader goes wherever it is needed.

The genius of the device extends to how it maintains the information received from the business cards it scans. The WorldCard Link can connect to a preferred cloud based server such as Google Contacts, iCloud or even Dropbox. This makes it immensely easy to sync up with other contacts to maintain a coherent structure to anyone’s databases and client lists. In the fast paced world of business, it allows for a simple means of taking care of something that can quickly become too large for easy organization.

win an iphone business card readerIn the professional world, business cards are handed out by just about everyone. WorldCard Link Business Card Reader can help iPhone users maintain a powerful but simple database to house the information scanned from these cards. Thanks to cloud based servers, it will free up a professional from having to enter contact info themselves, as well as having to carry around all those business cards.

WorldCard Link is a complete business card manager for iPhone users. It comes with an ergonomic iPhone dock and an app. With iPhone on the dock, as soon as you put a business card on the other end of the dock, the app will smoothly capture all contact info for storing on the phone and sharing over the cloud. No more hand type in business cards.

Bloggers, this is a must have for your next blog or social media conference!

WorldCard Link

  • is easy to use
  • is convenient
  • is small
  • is affordable – $39
  • is  master information gatherer
  • can sync contacts to the cloud
  • can search contacts on FaceBook, Twitter and LinkedIn
  • can scan horizontal and vertical business cards
  • and more!

Learn more about and buy WorldCard Link business card reader here.

See WorldCard Link in action in the video below!

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Win a WorldCard Link Business Card Reader!

We are giving a lucky reader a WorldCard Link device to keep!

To enter, leave a comment relevant to this post below.

For example, tell us where you would take your WorldCard Link device, how many business cards do you have to scan initially, how would WorldCard Link make your life easier?

Be sure to tell us everything you do in the comments so we can count all of your entries!

Earn extra entries:

Contest rules and terms

  • Entries accepted through 11:59pm EST June 5th, 2013.
  • Open to U.S. residents only. No P.O. Boxes.
  • Your email address may be added to our weekly email newsletter list. We will not send you spam and you can unsubscribe anytime.

 

I was provided with a sample to review and a unit to give to a lucky reader.  All opinions are my own and were not influenced in any way.  I only write about products and services that I would buy.

4 Reasons Kids Should Wear Sunglasses + 4 Cute Pairs of Kids Sunglasses!

Age 5-7, Age 7-10, Ages 10-13, Alicia's Corner, Health, Travel,

On a perfect summer day you and your children are walking into Disney World. You’ve been planning this adventure for months. On your way into the park, you do a last minute check of your bag. Do you have everything? Food, extra clothes, sunblock, and a pair of Ray-Ban Junior glasses?

Why would your child need a pair of sunglasses? For the same reason you need them, for protection from Ultraviolet (UV) rays.

Many people are aware that UV rays can cause sunburns, skin damage, and even cancer.  Less of us are aware that too much sun can cause sunburns on the cornea.  This is a painful reminder to kids and adults to wear sunglasses, but it heals eventually. What doesn’t heal over time are the long-term effects of too much UV. UV is a contributing factor to eye diseases like cataracts. When parents protect their child’s eyes with high-quality sunglasses, they reduce the risk that their child will develop eye problems later in life.

Now all of this may be a lot to think about on a summer day at Disney World.  But during the spring and summer months it is especially important to protect your baby or older child from too much sun. Unfortunately, children are at more risk for eye damage than adults. They are still growing and have less natural eye protection. They are also outside more than adults and have greater sun exposure than Mom and Dad.

How Not Wearing Sunglasses Can Be Harmful for your Child:

  1. Squinting requires muscle activity and can be a contributor to a child’s headache and twitching eyes because (contraction of the muscles).
    Adults should keep in mind that wearing sunglasses will cut down on crows’ feet around their eyes.
  2. UV exposure is harmful to the eyes as well as the skin – Source: Webmd.com
  3. After a long day in the sun, your child’s eyes may be bloodshot, swollen, and light-sensitive. – Source: Webmd.com
  4. Many ophthalmologists educate parents about not only the long-term health risks from UV exposure, such as cataracts, but short-term benefits of wearing sunglasses such as being able to see better in very sunny situations such as on the beach or in an area with a lot of concrete sidewalks such as Disney World, a popular summer vacation destination.

Fortunately, several companies make kids’ sunglasses that are stylish, cool and kid-proof. Ray-Ban Junior, RealKidsShades.com, and Julbo Kids Sunglasses, all offer excellent eyewear options for children.

Here are a few kids sunglasses worth taking a look at

 

Kids Sunglasses

1 – Ray-Ban 65mm Shield Sunglasses (Big Boys) Grey/ Green One Size at Macy’s

2 – Julbo Looping III Sunglasses – Girls’ at REI

3 – Chili’s Jellie Sunglasses at REI

4 – Baby & Kids Sun Smarties Sunglasses with Strap at One Step Ahead

When shopping for your children, look for glasses that are designed for kids with a pair of straps. Adult glasses may not offer the same level of sun protection.  Ray-Ban Junior offers the same level of quality they have on their adult products, but sized for kids.  Julbo Kids Sunglasses offer fun, functional products that are shock-resistant with customized kids frames.  At RealKidsShades.com, you can find products that are comfortable, durable and cool. All these companies offer straps for their glasses.

It can be tempting to buy a pair of toy shades for your little one. Toys only give your baby the illusion of protection during hot summer months. Vendors like RealKidsshades.com offer quality products that have 99-100% UV protection and sturdy construction.

Now is the time to teach your children to take care of their eyes by using quality sunglasses. Just like eating right, if you set the example now, you’ll be giving them a great foundation in life.

 

 

 

Travel Tip: The Parking Spot has Airport Parking Covered!

Travel, ,

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of The Parking Spot. All opinions are 100% mine.

When we fly out of town we always worry about airport parking.  Where are we going to park our car? Is it somewhere safe?  Can we reserve ahead of time?  How long is it going to take us to get from the parking area to the airport?  One place that knows how to do it is Parking Spot!

The Parking Spot is a national chain with 34 facilities at over 22 airports.  We have not only 1 The Parking Spot location but 3 at Atlanta Hartsfield Airport where we fly out of!

Some of the things that make The Parking Spot great are:

  • Friendly shuttles every 5-7 minutes
  • Covered, open-air and valet parking available (select locations)
  •  Always open
  • Fast and easy check-in & check-out
  • Well lit, fully-fenced
  • Luggage assistance available
  • Complimentary chilled water
  • Complimentary USA Today until 9am, Monday-Friday
  • Airport parking reservations available
  • Car care services, including car washes and oil changes available in some markets

You can earn free parking at The Parking with The Spot Club!  You will earn one free day for every 7 paid days.

Here’s how it works:

  1. Pick up a Spot Club card from the Parking Spot cashier. You’ll earn points for that stay and every time you present your Spot Club Card. If your company participates in the Spot Club Exec program, your travel manager can give you a card.
  2. Register your Spot Club Card. This will allow you to manage your account on-line, including seeing parking activity and printing award certificates.
  3. Use your Spot Club card on every stay. Use it at entry and you don’t need to pull a ticket. Use it at exit with your credit card and use our automated check-out lane.
  4. Link your Spot Club card to a credit card. This optional service enables you to exit The Parking Spot using just your linked Spot Club card to earn points and pay for your stay. All you need is a registered Spot Club card and a valid credit card to create a linked card.

If you are looking somewhere to park for your next vacation or business trip you should check to see if The Parking Spot is at your airport.  You can make your airport parking reservations online.

You can follow The Parking Spot on twitter @TheParkingSpot and like them on facebook.

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