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Guidelines for the Best Hotels

Planning for the perfect vacation can be challenging, and especially when you have decided to go somewhere new and exciting. Though it is easy to keep going to the same hotel in the same location time and time again; sometimes you want to break out and explore the new places you have always dreamed about visiting. This is where using some ways and means to help pick the best hotel for your needs, wants, desires and budget can make for choosing your hotel easier.

Check Independent Hotel Ratings

You can get great, first hand experience and feedback by reading through reviews written by real travelers who have an unbiased opinion of the hotels. This can give you the nitty gritty when it comes to the good, the bad and the noteworthy aspects of each hotel you are considering.

Hotel Chains and Facilities

If you are gun shy about choosing a hotel that has only one location, or if you are leery about small facilities; looking for a national or even global chain can help you get a level of quality and service that is more unified. Because chains have certain standards they strive to adhere to, choosing a chain hotel for your trip can get you the room you want, routine discounts and guaranteed services; all which are backed by a corporation dedicated to hotel travelers.

Location

Once you choose where you want to travel, you can also save some money on your room by opting to move a little further away from the big attractions of the area. For example, when going to an island or beach, staying a few blocks away from the water can result in big savings. The same holds true for major cities, where hotels on the outskirts of town can be less costly compared to downtown, prime properties.

Rates and Discounts

When it comes to crunching budget numbers for your vacation, the hotel portion can quickly add up to a big chunk of your allotted budget. This is why seeking out or even asking for discounts can work to your advantage. You can find discounts, package rates and even promotional specials to cut your hotel costs, which can sometimes translate in to enough of a savings that you can afford to stay even longer. You can also ask for discounts if you belong to any groups or associations that routinely receive such benefits as hotel discounts.

Boutique Hotels

If you really want to make the most of your trip, and experience a different and more unique hotel option; perhaps a boutique hotel is the option for you. Boutique hotels can be independently owned or part of a chain. The benefit of such a hotel is they are more geared towards pampering and personalized services, which can make your trip all the more special. The included services found at most boutique style hotels far surpass even the highest quality resort, as they treat each guest as a special patron.

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What To Pack In Your Backpack For Your Overnight Wilderness Backcountry Trip

So you’ve decided to take your first backcountry wilderness backpacking trip? You do realize this trip is away from civilization and not a simple two-day jaunt to the Holiday Inn. So you want to pack items which you feel are necessities along with some items which probably better fit into the comfort category. And you also realize you are going to have to carry these items on your back up and down the hills and mountains of the wilderness trails. So what do you bring along for the trip? What is really necessary and what is for comfort, and how much of both can you take?

Backpacking boils down to a balancing act of how much weight are you willing to carry to how much comfort do you want? Remember every extra ounce carried on your back is one extra heavy ounce at the end of the day. So the less weight you carry the easier the task. How much obviously is dependent on how long you plan on being out, how far you intend ongoing and how much weight your physical limitations can handle. There is plenty of lightweight gear in the market place today to help shed some ounces if you can afford this option. But you don’t have to be a “lightweight gear” freak to keep your pack weight down. I started backpacking in the mid 1970’s (pre-lightweight gear days) and managed my pack weight quite well.

Keep the “lightweight gear” philosophy in mind as you decide what you must have on your trip and avoid taking “everything but the kitchen sink”. As you become more experienced you will soon discover that some of the items you deemed necessary today will not even be considered in the future. For a 2-3 day trip a 60-65 liter pack will probably suffice. Longer trips may require the larger 70 liter packs and up. For a rule of thumb keep your packed weight (weight of items plus pack) to 30-40 lbs. for a 2-3 day trip. And weigh everything you are planning to carry prior to the trip to get your pack weight within this allowable weight. Too much weight makes a person more vulnerable to falls, back, leg, knee and foot problems.

Develop your personal backpacking checklist and use it to double-check yourself before every adventure, no matter how experienced you consider yourself an expert. Ten miles from the trail head is not a good time to find out you forgot fuel for your cook stove!

Basic items:

  • Pack
  • Tent (a 1 man tent weighs approx. 3 lbs and a 2 man tent weighs approx, 5 lbs)
  • Sleeping bag
  • Sleeping pad
  • Stuff sack
  • Water bottles
  • Water filter/tablets
  • Multi tool and knife
  • Flashlight and batteries
  • Map
  • compass or GPS
  • Food for each meal plus extra emergency rations
  • Stove
  • Fuel

Clothing:

  • Underwear
  • Socks
  • Pants and shirts
  • Head gear
  • Rain gear
  • Sunglasses
  • Boots
  • Campground sandals
  • Jacket
  • Thermal layering
  • Sleeping clothing

Personal items:

  • Sunscreen
  • Lip balm
  • Prescription medications
  • Tylenol, antacids, diarrhea meds, etc
  • Pillow
  • Walking stick
  • Toilet paper
  • Hand sanitizer
  • Insect repellent
  • Toothbrush
  • Biodegradable soap/shampoo

Safety items:

  • Extra flashlight
  • First-aid kit
  • Fire-starter
  • Water purification tablets
  • Pack cover
  • Whistle and signal mirror
  • GPS or compass
  • Emergency shelter
  • Survival knife

Additional items:

  • Plastic bags for trash
  • Repair kits for tent, stove, sleeping pad, etc.
  • Small trowel/shovel
  • Extra layers of clothing
  • Cell phone
  • Weather radio

Too much gear never used on the trip is a waste of hiking energy and too little gear needed on the trip makes for an unpleasant adventure.

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Four Oahu Adventures to Enjoy When Staying at Ko Olina

There are few things that you need when you visit a place as beautiful as Hawaii but yet there are so many more things to enjoy along with the spectacular natural surroundings. In fact, for those who visit the Island of Oahu there are many things to do without even having to sacrifice time in the natural surroundings that the area is so well known for. When visitors stay at the Ko Olina Resort there are numerous opportunities for serenity and peacefulness but there is also plenty of opportunity for outdoor adventure like none other you will experience anywhere else.

Imagine waking up to a new adventure every day in one of the most scenic wonders of the world. Whether you enjoy mildly adventurous activities or intense heart pumping exploits, daytime adventures or nighttime rendezvous’, and regardless if you love the water or would rather be on land you can find something to do at the Ko Olina that will renew your childlike adventurous side. Four adventures in particular are especially enjoyed by those that visit the beautiful Ko Olina Resort.

1. Snorkeling – Often when people think about Hawaii they picture fabulous blue-green waters and white sanded beaches and this is exactly what you can expect to see in Oahu. The sparkling waters are in fact one of the reasons why so many travelers come to visit the island and also why many of those visitors decide to try snorkeling. What better place for your first snorkeling adventure than the Ko Olina Resort located on one of the most beautiful of the Hawaiian islands?

2. Scuba Diving – Just as Oahu is a prime place for snorkeling it is also the perfect place for a more deep water adventure. Scuba diving is a popular activity on the island not only because the waters are a natural wonder in their own rite but because the marine life is something unique to be experienced as well. Ko Olina offers numerous scuba diving adventure opportunities to be experienced alone or with your whole family or group of friends.

3. Hawaiian Luaus – What would a trip to Hawaii be without experiencing a Hawaiian luau? The luaus that take place at Ko Olina on the Island of Oahu though are one of a kind and give visitors a taste of what a luau is truly all about. In addition the back drop is the fantastic Paradise Cove which offers sights to see itself.

4. Star Gazing – You may not hear many travelers mention star gazing in Hawaii but if they had visited Ko Olina you probably would have. The resort offers a spectacular star show that is perfect for wondrous child in anyone, regardless of age. The Stars Above Hawaii show allows visitors a unique perspective into the ancient history of Hawaii.

There are so many exciting things to do in Hawaii both on land and in the water. When visiting the Ko Olina you have a first class ticket to all that is most spectacular on the beautiful Island of Oahu while hardly having to leave the resort grounds, which is what vacation should be all about.