Wrinkles are a bride’s worst nightmare when it comes to her wedding dress. Flying out for a honey moon or taking long trips for your wedding destination doesn’t make it easy to keep a wedding dress in tact. If you follow this guide on how to travel with a wedding dress, you can keep your dress wrinkle free during your exciting but stressful travels.

Along with learning how to travel with a wedding dress, these tips can also apply to different types of dresses such as ball gowns, prom dresses, and evening gowns.

In a garment bag as a carry on

Before you decide to bring your wedding dress on the plane with you in a garment bag, call your airline to see if they will allow you to carry such a large garment on the plane with you. Whether or not they allow a garment bag as a carry on depends on the airline, as well as the specific flight, and even possibly the size of the dress. You need to call the airport beforehand and see if they allow you to hang clothes.

Some flights even specialize in providing a large hanging closet for purposes such as this one. A reader of our blog says that her sister did this when she got married in Cabo San Lucas and reports that it was, “a good way to ensure the dress stayed hanging and wasn’t folded in any way.” If the airline allows you to hang your dress, you will also need to make sure that your flight is not too full. Some flights will not allow you to hang clothes if the flight is too crowded.

After calling in beforehand and taking proprietorial actions, Wrap your dress in a white cotton sheet before you place it in the garment. Make sure that you don’t put the dress in with any other garments, as you want to be extra sure that your white dress doesn’t get any sort of discolorations.

In a wheeled carry on

Sometimes wedding dresses are larger than carry on regulations for certain flights. If this is the case, then a wheeled carry on may solve your issue on how to travel with a wedding dress. In order to keep your dress as safe as possible, use tissue paper to stuff between the folds of your dress to prevent creases and wrinkles. this may be the most important step you take in order to keep your dress looking fresh and new. Secondly, lay a white cotton sheet over the top of the dress and tuck down the sides to cover the dress once again. The durability and convenience of a wheeled carry on with provide you with the assurance that your dress will not be touched. It also provides you with a free pair of hands to make your travels safe, easy, and convenient.

Purchase a small handheld steamer

Remember what your dress looked like when you tried it on for the first time after it was perfectly fitted? It will look like that again, if you take all of the precautions when traveling with a wedding dress. A handheld steamer is an inexpensive way to make your dress look brand new. Wrinkles can easily be ironed out with a handheld steam just by simply hanging the dress and running the steam any over issues. It is recommended to run the steam over the entire dress, as it will provide it with a consistent wrinkle-free look that will keep you smiling all the way till you say “I do”.

Carry on box

Many stores sell boxes specifically for wedding dresses so that they fit in the overhead compartment. These kits come with protective tissue paper and a Ph balanced highly stable box. You can find these boxes in all shapes in sizes to suit your needs and wants during your travels. Wedding boxes are popular amongst brides since you can have it customized to your wedding colors and style. They also are built to fit perfect in an overhead compartment on an airplane. You can find some wedding dress travel boxes here if this sounds like it will fit your style.

The beautiful country of Costa Rica has been a honeymoon favorite for many years now. With exotic rainforests and pristine beaches, the tropical getaway is a great place to spend those precious first days as newlyweds. There are many cities and resorts in Costa Rica that can provide lasting memories, so be sure to do your research to find your perfect honeymoon location.

One beautiful city to check out is Puerto Viejo de Talamanca in the Limon province of Costa Rica. This has been described as a ‘beach lover’s paradise,’ so if you’re looking to soak up some sun, then this is the place for you. The town has quickly become a tourist hotspot with plenty of hotels, shopping, bars, and restaurants to keep you entertained when the sunscreen runs out. There are great surfing opportunities, so if you want to ride some waves, then Puerto Viejo is definitely the honeymoon destination for you.

Not Interested In Beaches?

If beaches aren’t quite your speed, consider checking out the picturesque town of Grecia. This clean and friendly community is located northwest of San Jose amidst mountain landscapes and beautiful vistas of the local plant life. The town boasts an interesting gothic church made of deep red metal imported from Belgium in the 1890s, as well as several museums and a serpentarium with more than 50 species of snakes from all over the world. Another tourist attraction is the nearby waterfalls of Cataratas Los Chorros.

Although exploring towns like these on your own is exciting, sometimes making your own plans for the honeymoon can be quite overwhelming.

One way to ease the stress is to look for specialty packages specifically for honeymoons. Many hotels have already done the planning for you so your vacation can be relaxed and fun. Often hotels and resorts will include things like free couples massages, candlelit dinners, and tickets to a local attraction at a discounted price in the all-inclusive package. When doing your research, be sure to ask about package deals as this is a great way to save a little money and still experience everything that you want to do.

Resorts and Eco-Tourism

One resort that has some great options is the Tabacon Grand Spa Thermal Resort, which is located in La Fortuna de San Carlos, in the middle of the rainforest at the Arenal Volcano National Park. This beautiful location offers many different activities, and the resort has four different honeymoon packages to choose from: the Romance, Adventure and Relaxation Package; the Tropical Honeymoon Bliss Package; Natural Wonders Package; or the Seduction and Adventure Package.

This is great since some couples may want to relax in thermal springs while others want to go hiking through the rainforest. This resort has options for everyone.

If you are interested in eco-tourism, be sure to check out the Selva Verde, a lodge and rainforest reserve located about 45 minutes northeast of San Jose. Set on nearly 500 acres of rainforest, the lodge is a great place for nature enthusiasts and the environmentally conscious. The lodge uses a composting system, solar panels, and extensive recycling and biodegradable cleaning products with no environmental damage. They have traditional rooms, rainforest bungalows, and rainforest suites with two bedrooms and a full kitchen. While Selva Verde does not have specific honeymoon packages, they do have several package options that include hiking the Almendro trail, a volcano and waterfall hike, whitewater rafting, zipline canopy tour, horseback riding, and bird watching. Be sure to check out this unique and environmentally-friendly location that draws ecotourists from all over the world!

As you can see, Costa Rica has a multitude of options for all types of honeymoons. With both relaxing romantic experiences and adventurous nature explorations, Costa Rica can accommodate it all. Whether you choose the beaches of Puerto Viejo or the eco-friendly rainforest hikes of Selva Verde, you’re pretty much guaranteed to have a great honeymoon in the amazing country of Costa Rica.

This blog post is intended as an informational tool, not an endorsement of the companies or products mentioned.

Going on vacation can take a hefty toll on your bank account. However, many travelers don’t know how to travel cheaply and get the most out of their money. Let’s look at some expensive travel items and ways in which you can get the same luxury experience without the giant price tag.

Managing the Cost

We chatted with Pete the Planner, Author of Change Your Financial Life in Just 60 Days, and got very sobering advice, “If you can’t afford it, don’t go.” He suggests saving money over time for that dream vacation. One of the highest costs associated with traveling is airfare. Plane tickets are expensive, and the prices fluctuate constantly, making it difficult to know if you’re getting the best deal possible.  Look at as many different airlines as you can to find the one with the best prices.

You can also use websites like kayak.com to help compare the costs. Compare the prices of a roundtrip ticket vs. buying a one-way ticket to get there and a one-way ticket back. Sometimes one or the other will be much cheaper. Be sure to look for hidden fees like baggage and taxes when you’re buying, since most prices listed are the base amount before those fees are applied.

Another important aspect of getting discounted plane tickets is when you buy them. Buying your tickets four to six weeks before you travel may result in the cheapest cost. Prices are often less expensive in the middle of the week as well, so shop on weekdays and, if you can avoid flying on a weekend, do so. Also, check the season of your destination. Plane tickets are often much cheaper during the shoulder season (the time between summer and fall or rainy season and dry season) when the weather is still fairly nice but tourist traffic has decreased.

Getting Around your Destination

Once you’re at your destination, getting around can have a hefty price tag as well. If you’re visiting Europe or somewhere with comprehensive public transportation, look into buying multi-day passes for the metro, rail system, or buses. Buying the pass can be much cheaper than paying by day since you get unlimited access for those days. Even if you decide not to buy a pass, a metro or bus will usually be less expensive than taking a taxi.

If you are in a country or city that lacks public transportation, renting a car could be your best option. Compare the prices between a one-way car rental (where the pick-up city and drop-off city are different) and a regular rental (where you return it to the same place you rented it). The one-way car rental is usually much more expensive, so consider making your vacation plans start and end in the same city.

Choosing a Hotel

Hotels can also be expensive. However, there are a few good ways to soften that blow. Look at prices in a smaller town that is near the big city. Usually these hotels will have cheaper prices, and the short drive can offer you charming sights you might have missed by staying in the city.

If you made a reservation already, consider calling a smaller hotel chain and asking if they will give you a free night if you switch your reservation. It never hurts to ask, and you might end up with an unexpected deal.

If the hotel prices are just not what you want, consider looking into a home exchange. There are many websites and reputable companies that will arrange these for you, and it can be a great experience to stay in an actual house while traveling. You get accommodations that a hotel just can’t offer, like a full kitchen, and it’s fun to ‘trade lives’ for a brief amount of time. Be sure to do your homework, though, and thoroughly research the person(s) who will be living in your own house.

As with most things, researching your options is going to be your best bet to finding the deal of the century. While vacationing can be expensive, it doesn’t have to be if you use these tips and tricks on how to travel cheaply and have a great experience with an even better price

We’ve all read tons of packing lists and blogs about what to bring on the vacation, but rarely is the actual packing process addressed. Instead of resorting to the theatrics of cramming everything in and sitting on the suitcase top to close it up, try using some of these handy tips and tricks for how to pack your suitcase.

When it comes to packing clothing, there are several different schools of thought. Your primary goal should be to reduce the amount of luggage real estate taken up by your clothes. There are a few techniques that are used to do this.

The Traditional Fold Method

The traditional fold technique is generally not recommended for maximizing space. If you do decide to fold, the best advice for folding is to make sure that you smooth the item to be folded so it is wrinkle-free and ready for folding. This works best for heavy and bulky items like jeans and sweaters, as well as jersey type fabrics that don’t hold wrinkles. A downside to folding is that it often creates wrinkles, and stacks of folded clothing often leave small unused spaces in the suitcase.

The Rolling Method

Another way to deal with clothing is to employ the rolling method. This involves folding the item in half. Then, starting at one end, you tightly roll the fabric, smoothing the wrinkles out as you go. This method works great for keeping dresses and skirts wrinkle free, and it makes packing easier, as you can fit rolled clothing along the sides of your suitcase. Another bonus is that the TSA can easily see all of your clothes if they choose your bag for inspection. Unfortunately, sometimes rolling does not work well for bulky items like jeans or sweaters. The rolls can end up being very big and taking up a lot more space than necessary.

The Bundle Wrapping Method

The last technique is one known as bundle wrapping. This one is a little bit more confusing than the others, as it involves a distinct process. Basically, you want to start with the items that wrinkle easiest like dress shirts. Lay the first shirt out flat on the floor with all wrinkles smoothed out. Then place the next shirt flat on top of this, alternating the direction so that it extends above or below the first item. Be sure to align the collars. Place slacks and skirts horizontally, and alternate directions with each piece. After you have the clothes laid out, then select some sort of rectangular object to use as a core to your bundle. A book would work, or a pouch containing your toiletries. Place the core on top in the middle, then tightly wrap the clothing around it to form an easy to manage bundle that has maximized the space in your suitcase. Although this makes an extremely compact and easy to handle bundle, one of the downsides is that in order to get to your clothing, you must undo the entire bundle to retrieve one item. This would involve completely unpacking your suitcase upon arrival, which is a bit of a hassle.

As you can see, each method has its benefits and drawbacks. Consider using a mixture of the different methods to maximize that space. Perhaps a bundle of your slacks, skirts and dresses, with the sweater folded on the bottom and t-shirts rolled and tucked in the sides would work better than just one method. Use your judgment and fit the method to your clothing and suitcase.

A Few Parting Tips

Although clothes take up the most space, packing accessories can eat up those inches as well. Shoes are the biggest culprit, although toiletries and electronics are a close second. First of all, try to wear your heaviest and bulkiest pair of shoes while traveling. When you pack the other shoes, make sure you wrap them in a plastic or cloth bag. This is so when you re-pack them, they don’t spread dirt and debris all over the inside of your suitcase. Put them heel to toe, and don’t forget to stuff them with small trinkets or socks to maximize all of the space. Toiletries can be tricky, but placing them in a plastic bag or a mesh pouch is the best way to contain them. Try not to use any holder with a stiff shape, as this takes up the most room. Make sure that the container you use is see-through for easy inspection. There isn’t much you can do to reduce the size of electronics, so consider leaving everything non-essential at home. Make sure that with all shoes, toiletries, and electronics you place them at the top of your suitcase in case the TSA inspects your baggage.

With your newfound knowledge of packing techniques, you can now fit more in and not have to worry about how to pack your suitcase or keep the zipper from bursting on your bag. Keep experimenting with the different packing methods, and don’t forget to have a blast on your vacation!

Carnivals, festivals, and celebrations happen every year all over the world. They offer travelers and locals alike great opportunities to explore cultures and meet new people. Carnivals usually have specific themes and unique attributes. For instance, the Carnival of Santa Cruz de Tenerife features some of the best dancing in all the carnivals around the world. Knowing this, you expect that the attendees must love to dance. The big celebration in Venice revolves around an elaborate masquerade, where those in attendance don impressive masks in a bid to win prizes and show off.

For music lovers and aficionados, the Trinidad and Tobago Carnival might provide you with a better scene because it is known for having the best music. We reached out to the travel and tourism team for Trinidad and Tobago to ask a few questions. They were gracious enough to provide us with some great insight for our upcoming Interactive Carnival Guide. they also sent us this great overview video about Trinidad Carnival:

Knowing where these great carnivals are located is not enough. You need more details so you get a feel for each carnival and can make an informed decision about which one to potentially attend. Besides determining which carnival best suits your interests, you need to consider your budget and the logistics of getting there and back.

Things That You Should Think About:

When is the carnival taking place?

The first thing you need to consider is whether you can actually travel during the time of carnival. You may have to take time off from work, so be sure you schedule it far in advance. If you can't make it this year, don't worry. All of the carnivals listed above happen annually, so you can plan ahead for next year's celebration. Or maybe you can find another carnival that you can work into your timeframe.

	What does it cost to attend?
	Some carnivals are cheaper than others. In fact, some are free to attend, though you'll stay have to pay for your lodging and meals. In some cases, carnivals are broken up into different events that you will have to pay for in order to attend them. This can add up quickly, so do some research beforehand to determine which events you can and want to attend.

Where can you stay?

Obviously, some hotels cost more than others and with a major carnival going on, you can expect high rates. And, because carnivals are popular destinations for travelers, hotels will book up quickly. Make sure you can afford the price increase, and be sure to get your reservation in well in advance. If hotels are out of your price range or you want a different experience, consider staying in a hostel. Again, book well in advance.

	What is the food like?
	Research the food of your destination by reading travel blogs or even reaching out to locals on Twitter. You want to get the most from your trip, and eating local fare can make a big difference. However, remember your budget and plan accordingly for the cost of meals.

	Is transportation accessible?
	You want to see the city and its sights, and the easiest and most effective way to do this is with public transportation. Some cities have better systems than others, so make sure you research your options beforehand. Furthermore, if the carnival you are attending is spread out over several locations, your access to public transportation is even more important.

	Is it safe?
	You need to think about the safety of the place you will be visiting and how foreigners are treated. You should also consider insurance that will keep you safe and secure as you travel.

	What travel documents do you need?
	In some cases, these carnivals might require you to have a visa, which means you need to get travel documents like passports, birth certificates, photos, and proof of financing. Be sure you understand what is expected of you before you actually leave home.

Carnivals are one of the best ways to get to know a new culture and meet new people as you travel. Before you start making your plans and deciding which carnival you want to attend, be sure you take all of this information into consideration and choose the best carnival possible!

The United States offers thousands of travel destinations for families. A trip to Disney is almost a rite of passage for many children. Throw in New York, Washington D.C., Yellowstone and other natural wonders and the obligatory beach vacation and you could spend the rest of your life touring the U.S. and not see everything. But many parents long to expose their kids to the wonders the rest of the world has to offer. Unfortunately, that can get expensive in a hurry. Finding Cheap International Family Vacations can be challenging, but it’s not impossible.

Where to go

When searching for cheap International family vacations, destination is one of the biggest considerations. Lots of parents would love to take their kids to Rome, but Italy, like most of Western Europe, can be costly. When budget is a concern, think tropical.

Beach resorts often offer package deals which can save families a lot of money. Search for all-inclusive deals that cover your flight and hotel. Depending on your destination, some of these packages will also include meals and activities as well. Whether your choice is Cancun, The Bahamas, or Central America, package deals are easy to come by. Do your homework and you can save a lot of money.

Cruises are another great way for families to save money while traveling internationally. Cruise costs vary depending on your destination and which cruise line you take, but there are many things that are usually included with your ticket. As a general rule, all meals are included on a cruise, along with use of the facilities like workout rooms and most of the on-board entertainment like shows and kids programs.

You will pay extra for internet access, tips, photographs taken by cruise staffers and a host of other smaller items. Most cruise lines will offer complimentary coffee, tea, milk and juice, but soft drinks and alcohol will cost extra and can add up quickly. You may be able to purchase daily soft drink passes at the beginning of the trip which can add up to big savings.

Search for the best deals and make sure you fully understand what is and isn’t included with your ticket to avoid a costly mistake.

If you have your heart set on Europe, it can still be an option. Places like Ireland and many Eastern European countries are a lot less expensive than traditional destinations like France, Italy or England.

Where to Stay

If a cruise or all-inclusive beach locale isn’t your choice, you’re going to need to find accommodations once you reach your destination. If you’re traveling to Europe, check out Eurapart, which lists budget options for hotels, train and rail passes, and even information about long-term rentals. Another great option is Airbnb, which allows travelers to rent rooms, apartments, or even entire houses from private individuals at greatly reduced rates. The site offers rentals from Paris, Texas (really) to Paris, France.

The other big advantage of renting an apartment or house is the ability to prepare your own meals which can mean big savings and also allow you to become a temporary resident of your destination.

What to Pack

Believe it or not, packing correctly can save you money. According to the fee schedule on Delta Airlines website on January 7, 2013, a family of four each checking two bags each could pay as much as $650 in baggage fees alone on a round trip to Europe. PACK LIGHT! Once you know where you’re staying, check to see if you can rent or borrow things like irons, hair dryers, curling irons, etc. In some instances, it may be less expensive to purchase items like small appliances and even clothing once you reach your destination than to bring them with you. In addition, if you purchase a hair dryer abroad you won’t have to worry about a power converter and you can simply leave it behind when it’s time to go home.

Cheap international family vacations are still possible and the experiences you share with your family can last a lifetime.

The decision to study abroad can be a life-altering one. Spending an extended period of time on your own in a foreign country changes your outlook on life and exposes you to things you would never see had you stayed home. If you have made that decision and are looking for a destination, consider Japan. The research required to learn How to Study Abroad in Japan can be more difficult than other countries, but the experience gained can make you glad you did the extra work.

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So it turns out the Mayans were wrong and 2013 will actually happen. Not that we have that squared away, the next question is where to go. Deciding on a destination varies greatly depending on budget, travel experience, travel style and many other factors, but the fact remains that choosing a vacation spot can be one of the most fun parts of any trip. With that in mind, here are some of the Top Destinations for Travel in 2013.
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Having a baby is a major life change, but for some, it’s not as scary as the prospect of Air Travel with Infants. New parents face a big adjustment in their traveling style. The addition of a third person who is completely dependent on you can make you feel like you’ve never traveled before. But planning, patience and extra time can make the trip a lot less stressful.

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With a trip to Europe approaching, many people excitedly focus on the sites they will be seeing, which rail pass to buy, and other issues concerning getting around. The seemingly simple act of packing is sometimes neglected until the last moment. By then it can be too late.

How to Pack for Europe can be more difficult than it appears. Mistakes can cost you time and money, both precious commodities on any trip.

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