vacation deals near me

As someone who has travelled almost extensively alone, a part of me is nervous about traveling with someone else (and a bigger part of me is excited). Traveling with another means compromise, something that I haven’t quite yet mastered, although I am certainly getting better. While travel is amazing, at times it is hard: Long delays, lack of sleep, jet lag, motion sickness, ruined plans, lost luggage, and exhaustion are just a few of the dangers you might face. It would be so easy for a small problem or disagreement can quickly turn into a full-blown fight under the stress of traveling.  Follow these five tips to make your trip together more enjoyable and memorable—in the good way! Slow down and relax. It’s not a race to get the best photographs or see the most stuff.  Slow down and take the time to truly enjoy things together.  Don’t be afraid to sleep in or take a lazy day, and don’t try to fit too many activities into your trip.  A well-rested traveler is a happy traveler, and lac...

Since the earthquake here in 2011, Christchurch has been a different place. Both in terms of the culture that’s developed, but also in the fact that a lot of Christchurch’s infrastructure is still damaged. Many travellers still use Christchurch as an international entry point for New Zealand, and the south island. If you’re visiting Middle Earth but need a little inspiration for what to do in Christchurch, I hope you’ll find these tips useful. ©Ewan Munro 1) Go to Lyttelton: This quaint, small seaside port is a little insight into how New Zealand was a few years ago. If you’ve got access to a car, you should also make the trip around to Cosair bay, a small bay that is popular for swimming during summer. There are a lot of great walks around this area, and a few within Lyttelton as well. The tunnel from Christchurch to Lyttelton is pretty old and looks quite cool. There a few delicious cafes in Lyttelton, too. 2) Walk Around the City Centre Considering it’s almost been three years ...

I’m proud to be a New Zealander, although I haven’t given the Hobbit or the Lord of the Rings movies much attention. Where else in the world could you find such diverse and stunning landscapes in such a small area of space?  More than 250 locations were used in The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit films, many of which are easily accessible.  New Zealand’s stunning landscapes and forests are the ideal travel destination for nature lovers and bibliophiles alike.  Make sure to see these four film locations on your nature travels in New Zealand! Tongariro National Park This national park is smack dab in the center of the northern island, and is home to the spectacular volcanoes of the LOTR films, such as Mount Ruapehu as Mordor.  Many other scenes were filmed here, and most are freely accessible via hiking paths.  Visit Mount Ngauruhoe (a secondary peak of Ruapehu and the movie’s Mount Doom) by hiking along the Mangatepopo track, which can take between 3-7 hour depending on where you sta...