Play Our Planet

If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!

Even in this day and age of computers, technology, and advanced last-minute deals, finding great vacation packages can be a challenge. The problem lies in the offer. May this hasn’t happened to you, but a lot of times I cannot find the offer that was tempting me to click on the ad in the first place. So what happened? The travel agency really thought I wanted to go to Lincoln Nebraska, not Las Vegas, Nevada? Or I really wanted to pay $900, that’s OK, even if the ad said $99? Are sneaky ads just trying to lure us in so they can get us all excited and then hit us with the real vacation cost? Don’t be surprised if that getaway deal you received by email doesn’t even come close to what you expected.

Spring break was a good example . With spring comes oodles of spring-breakers looking for an affordable vacation getaway. My teenage nephew joined the madness this year. He and two of his close buddies were trying desperately to find an affordable vacation. They wanted four nights in the southern part of Florida. Well, just like the rest of us, they got online and started searching. My nephew saw an ad for discount hotels all over the United States, with really good deals in Fort Lauderdale, Daytona and Miami. He clicked on it, ready to lock in a reservation.

To his dismay, all the prices were jacked up unbelievably high . Hey, remember this is spring break we’re talking about here. Everyone wants an affordable vacation on a beach for spring break. It’s not like Florida hotels will be hurting for business. They get it from someone, somewhere, no matter what.

The funny thing my nephew did encounter was the age issue. They informed him that he had to be 25 to get a room. Haaa, I’ve never even heard that one before. I’d say that the hotel is trying to keep spring breakers out! I can’t say I blame them.

What’s your next destination for fun and relaxation? If you really want to get that affordable vacation and enjoy it to the fullest, I suggest serious planning in advance. Try a year in advance or more. If that’s not possible, use websites that compare the top travel sites and locate the best deals; there is a lot of competition, which is a good thing. I can recommend Sherman’s Travel and Travel Zoo. This is what I do, and I tend to get the spots I’m looking for. It’s all about recon work and planning ahead.

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

I have been outdoor rock climbing for years . Finding the right rock climbing equipment was pretty easy after I got used to it. There are so many people who review rock climbing equipment, and so many respectable sources in the area, that I pretty easily learned what I needed to take with me. Ironically, outdoor camping equipment is a little bit harder to find.

Since camping gear is a little bit less specialized , I had expected it to be easier to make choices. Wouldn’t you think there would be specific kinds of camping equipment that fit the bill? In reality, because it is less specialized there seems to be more conflicting opinions. Since I had never picked out outdoor camping gear before, I was confused by the variety of options. I made what I thought were the best selections. Unfortunately, not all of these selections worked out for me.

The first time I took my camping equipment on a rock climbing trip , I found this out the hard way. And I had decided to take no risks at all; I got the best camping gear that I could find – or at least what I thought was the best. I got a very well made tent that was certified for Arctic conditions. I bought a mummy-style sleeping bag and a lot of other survival-type camping stuff. Unfortunately, I made all of the wrong choices.

Although the camping equipment that I got was really good , it was completely inappropriate for rock climbing and for the weather. It was too heavy, too hot, and too bulky. Having the wrong outdoor camping equipment on a rock climbing trip can be very dangerous. Every spare pound that you are carrying counts, so taking too much stuff up with you is always a bad idea. I learned the hard way the pitfalls of picking out the wrong equipment. And I was really ticked off at myself, which did not help. The last morning I even dumped the sleeping bag, much to the glee of my buddies (they all know what a tightwad I am).

This is why you should always pick out outdoor climbing equipment with the help of an expert in the area. If you are just taking an overnight in a place that is easy to get to, mild, and close to civilization, it doesn’t matter. You won’t have to worry about having the best stuff. But if you are going on a serious outdoor adventure, you should do some serious planning. When you’re in the middle of the woods, remember, you can’t go to back to the outfitter to get the right gear.

So here’s my two cents. Don’t go to Walmart or Target. Either go to a specialty store where you can talk to someone who knows what you need, or get online with a reputable company. I can recommend Moosejaw personally; fast, reliable, and pretty fun people with which to do business. Altrec is good also. Rock on.

Bookmark It

Hide Sites