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A fun family vacation is an opportunity many Americans take for granted – at least once a year. There are so many travel options available to us that it can actually be difficult to decide.

Certainly finances are a determining factor for many who simply seek a relaxing trip. However, there are an awful lot of golf enthusiasts who would also pay whatever it takes to find available tickets to the US Golf Open.

So if you’re planning to visit Farmingdale, NY for the 2009 US Open Golf Tournament, then keep reading for some travel and planning tips that will help your golf vacation go a bit smoother.

About the Golf Course

The next US Open is taking place at the Bethpage State Park, a facility known for its five world-class and public golf courses. The Open will be taking place at the Black Course, which also hosted the Open in 2002.

The park also offers tennis facilities, hiking trails, picnicking, biking and horseback riding.

Hotels and Accommodations in Farmingdale

Farmingdale is a small town and community. However, thanks to the popularity of the golf courses and the appeal of Bethpage State Park, there are a number of hotels within 10 to 50 miles of the resort.

The Marriott Courtyard Republic Airport Hotel

This Marriott hotel is the closest hotel to the US Open and serves both Farmingdale and Melville. The rooms are decent and the hotel offers a 24-hour fitness facility, free wireless Internet, and an outdoor patio and fire pit for guests. During the Open, the hotel will be operating shuttle services to and from the course.

The Long Island Hilton

Located in Melville, the Hilton Long Island is just a short drive from the US Open golf course in Farmingdale, NY. This is a full-service hotel offering an on-site restaurant, 24-hour room service, a fitness center, wireless Internet and numerous meeting facilities.

Sheraton Fourpoints at Plainview

Just a 20 to 25 minute drive from the Black Course and Farmingdale, the Sheraton Four Points is a new hotel in Plainview, New Jersey. The style is similar to a Holiday Inn Express and designed for the traveler on the go. There’s an on-site fitness center, free parking and golf shuttles during the Open.

Fun Stuff in Farmingdale

There’s more to do in Farmingdale than see the US Open. If you have a few extra days, try checking out the American Airpower Museum, take a drive to the Hamptons or visit AdventureLand. Adventureland is a family theme park that features 30 rides and attractions that are great for the kids.

Getting to Farmingdale, NY

There is an airport in Farmingdale, NY, but it’s small and not easily accessible unless you’re flying by private or corporate aircraft. Your best bet is the La Guardia airport which is roughly 30 miles or 40 minutes from Farmingdale, NY.

Scoring Tickets to the 2009 US Open

Unless you already have your tickets for the 2009 US Open golf tournament, you’ll have to go through a third-party seller. The PGA has already closed applications for its random drawings for tickets.

For outstanding Golf Prints and Posters showcasing the U.S. Open, see our U.S. Open Golf Gallery.

Those with poor planning skills, or a severe shortage of time, often find that a travel vacation is something that works out very well for them. These are often very easy to find, a bit cheaper than putting everything together separately, and make travel much easier. Those with families often love these because there are a lot of family-orientated packages geared towards the whole family. Finding these is easy, but deciding on the right one is a little harder.

Most of the time, a good travel vacation package spells everything out up front for the person buying the trip. That means you will know exactly what you are getting, and how much it is going to cost you. Families should be careful with all-inclusive packages that do not spell things out. Some find that this means that their travel vacation package includes a few meals, but they are on their own for others. It might not cover most taxes either. This is important to find out.

A travel vacation package does not have to be for families though. There are many out there for couples, and some that are just for honeymoons. Before you take one of these, think about what you are getting for the money. My husband and I took one of these for our honeymoon, and chose one due to the price. This was a mistake. Our honeymoon was a nightmare because of it. You will always find a great travel vacation package, but look into it before you commit your money and your time.

There are always extra expenses attached to any travel vacation package, but some deals are better than others. As long as you understand the cost of your travel vacation package, plus taxes, and what expenses might still be added once you arrive, you aren’t going to be caught unaware and under prepared.

There is nothing saying that you can’t ask questions before you accept a travel vacation package. If you don’t have the time to do this, you might want to hire a travel agent to find the best deal for you and to fill you in on the details. You can tell them what you need and what you hope to spend, and they will find the best deal they can. It is also a great idea to check up on any location by looking online for reviews from other travelers. Had I done this, I could have avoided a rather rotten honeymoon.

Don’t forget to browse our fascinating selection of Travel Prints and Posters.

Cruise ships are a fun and engaging way to see numerous ports of call, enjoy a variety of activities and travel through beautiful regions. Cruise ship travel is, by nature, markedly different from any other form of vacation. So, you need to plan accordingly.

From packing to medical considerations, preparing for a cruise vacation goes beyond the basics of swim trunks and guide books. To learn about how best to prepare for a cruise vacation, keep reading for great tips on everything from packing your suitcase to warding off seasickness.

What to Pack on a Cruise Vacation

Ultimately, what you pack is going to depend on your cruise destination. An Alaskan cruise will require different clothing than a Caribbean cruise at the height of summer. That said, don’t let land temperatures fool you.

Particularly during the winter months, some cruises (like those leaving from L.A.) can be quite cold. Regardless of the forecasts on land, always pack a wind-resistant jacket and at least one set of clothes that will allow you comfort up on deck when things get chilly out at sea.

You’ll also need proper identification and proof of purchase to board a cruise ship. These will be required at every port-of-call, so pack your papers (including your health insurance) in a water-resistant envelope that’s small enough to carry with you if you plan to leave the ship.

Medical Considerations

You will most likely need travel health insurance for your next cruise vacation. When purchasing travel insurance, try to find one that’s geared specifically toward cruises and the legal intricacies of international waters.

Secondly, pack any needed medications. You may even want to pack extras or a spare if you intend to go to shore. For example, an asthmatic may want to pack one inhaler to carry in a pocket and another backup inhaler just in case.

Most cruise ships have a medical clinic and doctor or health professional on-board the ship, but this is typically a stopgap measure, not a full-proof backup.

Finally, if you’re prone to motion sickness, you can prepare for your voyage with basic ginger root. An herbal remedy, ginger root has been proven to help with seasickness while avoiding the side effects common with many pharmaceutical motion sickness remedies. Herbalists recommend taking the ginger root starting a few weeks before you actually leave on your cruise.

What You Should Leave Behind

Always leave behind a full travel itinerary and emergency contact information with family and friends. Most cruise lines offer an emergency number that can be used by family and friends in case they need to get in touch with you urgently.

See also our colorful, eye-catching Travel Prints & Posters Gallery.

No matter what part of the globe you’re from, you’re probably going to be taking a vacation soon. Can you remember how happy you were with how your last vacation pictures turned out?

The irony is that it usually takes just as much time to shoot outstanding vacation pictures that it does mediocre ones.

So, what’s the secret to capturing better vacation shots?

It’s pretty simple, really. Here’s how to take phenomenal vacation photographs in ten easy steps: Take a few seconds before immediately snapping off 5 pictures and ask yourself these questions:

1. Am I about to be attacked by a wild animal? (It may not be photo-related, but if the camera is also eaten, then…)
2. Could this photograph improve if a circular polarizing filter was used?
3. Do I have the right image in my viewfinder? Think of the view as though you were about to crop the final image. Is there way too much extraneous material in the image (or far too little)? Having up to 20% more in an un-cropped photograph is a good idea, but much more than that could begin to degrade the resolution after the photograph is cropped.
4. Is there a better angle?
5. Would this picture be much more spectacular if taken at another time of day or night (assuming of course, that you could return then)?
6. If I re-position myself, could I include something in the foreground (or background) that would improve the photo?
7. Would the photograph be more effective if taken using a portrait (vertical) perspective rather than a typical landscape (horizontal) perspective?
8. Do I want to be in this photo? If so, use a tripod or ask a stranger to take the shot.
9. Would the picture be better if I had people (or no people) in the shot?
10. Are all my settings correct (at a minimum, consider: ISO, metering mode, fill flash, and white balance).

Realize that you probably don’t go on that many vacations per year. Therefore, doesn’t it make a lot more sense to take a few extra seconds before taking your pictures and be very satisfied of your vacation pictures? Otherwise, the same old mediocre alternatives are still available.

See our colorful, eye-catching Travel Prints & Posters Gallery.

All Inclusive Caribbean Vacation

If you want the best all-inclusive travel Caribbean resort, then you ought to look for more than just a room with sun, sea, and sand. Hey, it’s not called all-inclusive for nothing you know.

You want your all inclusive travel Caribbean resort to have, if not everything, then at least, something really close. A buzz on the beach by day, a dining room open to the night air, water sports and other activities to go crazy on, a lounge deck within earshot of the waves for a relaxing afternoon, and a comfortable to retreat to – all that is available if you choose your all-inclusive travel Caribbean resort well.

More and more people are pampering themselves at all-inclusive travel Caribbean resorts where everything they could ever want is right at their disposal. What’s more, lots of these all-inclusive – about 79% – of them are beach front properties or sitting near lakes and other bodies of water where the views are spectacular.

Below are our top choices when it comes to all-inclusive travel Caribbean resorts:

Breezes Bahamas

Located on the eastern end of Cable Beach, Breezes Bahamas is the epitome of warm breezes wafting across an azure sea. This all-inclusive travel Caribbean resort was previously the venerable old Ambassador Beach Hotel. In 1995, the world-famous Super Clubs took over management and the resort underwent major renovations.

Breezes all-inclusive travel Caribbean resort is truly all-inclusive. At Breezes, almost everything you could ever want is included. Room accommodations, all meals, all snacks, unlimited wine or beer with lunch and dinner, as well as alcoholic drinks, mixed with premium brand liquors at each of the four bars, the list just goes on and on.

Club Med Turkoise

An island all-inclusive travel Caribbean resort, Club Med Turkoise is located directly on the white sand beach of a desert island called Providenciales in the Turks and Caicos, Caribbean. Unlike what you may expect of a tropical island, Turks and Caicos do draw the card with its breathtaking beauty and the astounding view of the beach and sea surrounding it.

With miles of white sand and translucent turquoise water, Club Med Turkoise all-inclusive travel Caribbean is the ideal for sports lovers and scuba divers. There are a total of 298 rooms, all beautifully appointed with comfortable accommodations, 3 meals a day, including unlimited beer, wine and soft drinks with lunch and dinner, most sports, and nightly entertainment.

Le Sport

“Give us your body for a week and we’ll give you back your mind.” That’s the line Le Sport at St. Lucia uses on their clients. And indeed, this all-inclusive travel Caribbean resort does just that. With its quirky outlook on how an all-inclusive travel Caribbean resort should be, Le Sport has been helping the weary business traveler relax, suing a combination of holiday treats and intense pleasure of personalized rejuvenation.

Convinced to go? Read the vacation packing checklist tips before you go there.

Don’t forget to browse through our enticing and colorful Caribbean Prints & Posters Gallery.

Travel Malaysia Tips

If you’re thinking of a business trip or personal holiday, you should travel to Malaysia. Why Malaysia? What does Malaysia have that other countries do not? I am a Malaysian and I can give you genuine reasons why Malaysia should be your destination of choice for business or pleasure.

Firstly, the cost of living is low but the standard of living is high. Malaysia has all the modern facilities and infrastructure that you find in New York, London or Paris but at only a small fraction of its costs. In fact Malaysia has more kilometers of highway than the whole circumference of the earth! Not to mention exciting tourist destinations such as the Petronas Twin Towers, Petroscience Center, Suria KLCC, Midvalley Mega Mall, Starhill Gallery, the National Museum, the Lake Gardens, Palace of the Golden Horses etc.

Secondly, the country enjoys peace and stability socially, economically and politically. Since its independence in 1957, Malaysia has experienced rapid growth. Its economy has evolved from a primary industries-based economy into a robust and competitive diverse economy that sees Malaysia as one of the world’s top producers of microchips, automobiles, electronic equipment, food-based products and natural resources. In fact, Malaysians treat their country’s visitors very well. This is why tourism plays such a big part in Malaysia’s economy. This means that you can enjoy your stay in Malaysia with complete peace of mind and be pampered by the genuine warmth and hospitality that is uniquely Malaysia.

Thirdly, the country is free from all natural disasters. No other country in South-East Asia has such stable climate and ecological conditions except Singapore (which used to be part of Malaysia). In Malaysia there are no earthquakes, hurricanes, typhoons, volcanic eruptions, tsunamis, cyclones etc. So when you are in Malaysia, you will enjoy its warm and sunny weather with a constant day-time temperature of about 30 degrees Celcius and night-time temperature of about 27 degrees. Even during monsoon season (late November through to December), its rainy weather is mild because the country is shielded from the full effects of the South West monsoon by the island of Sumatra (part of Indonesia) on its West.

Fourthly, the country is a blend of East and West. You will find all the Western modern amenities ranging from large shopping malls to state-of-the-art business facilities and plush hotels. At the same time, you will also discover the Eastern culture and lifestyles of family businesses, small shops, simple wooden houses in small villages where respect for the elderly, discipline for the children and a sense of personal modesty is practiced.

Fifthly, the people of Malaysia live in peace and harmony. They are a true model of inter-racial, inter-religious and inter-cultural unity. In fact, Malaysia is known as the Rainbow nation of Asia for precisely this reason. In Malaysia, you will witness the lifestyles of the various races that live there such as the Malays, Chinese, Indians, Kadazans, Ibans, Dusuns, Muruts, Dayaks, Bajaus and about 35 other indigenous ethnic groups. You will be awe-struck as you watch colourful cultural dances, mesmerizing displays of fashion, art and craft and be spell-bound by the fascinating array of local cuisine. As mentioned above, Malaysians are naturally hospitable people.

As a Malaysian, I warmly introduce you and welcome you to my country, Malaysia. When you come to Malaysia, you will have a most memorable stay whether for your business or holiday.

Preparing for a travel? Read this packing checklist for vacation.

Don’t forget to browse through our enticing and colorful Malaysia Prints & Posters Gallery.

If you love golf, a golf vacation might be something that you like to do on a regular basis. For the avid golfer, the thought of going on vacation where you do nothing but golf is the idea of heaven. Here are a few things to consider before you take your next golf vacation.

Golf Vacation
First, it’s always good to go on vacation with people who share your love of golf. Most often a golf vacation turns into a buddy trip, but there’s really nothing wrong with that. But make sure that you pick a destination that everyone can agree on. Take a vote if you must, but be sure everyone wants to go to the same place and that everyone can afford it.

You will also want to take into consideration everyone’s playing abilities when you plan a golf vacation. Someone with a 3 handicap will enjoy a challenging course while a person with a 13 handicap will likely just get frustrated and mad on the same course.

As a general rule when planning a golf vacation, you should consider the courses first and the accommodations next. Resorts, especially those with quality golf courses, are expensive. But all in all, if golf is a main purpose or highlight of your trip, decide where you want to play first, and then decide on accommodations.

You can take a golf vacation where you stay at a hotel to gain access to a course and then move to a less expensive hotel later. It’s an inconvenience to have to repack and move during the trip, but can be well worth it in order to play top courses while not spending the entire vacation at posh resort prices.

Even if you are staying at a resort hotel which gives you access to its courses, find out how far ahead of your arrival date you can book tee times. All courses have specific rules for when they will make tee times, which you should take note of and follow carefully. More about Sports.

Don’t forget to browse through our enticing and colorful Famous Golf Courses Prints & Posters Gallery.

Geilo in Norway stands 800 metres high, and has one of the highest ski lifts in the world, stretching 3,887 feet. Geilo is positioned three and a half hours from the capital city, whilst having good road and rail links to the village. Set amidst amazing scenery just off the banks of Fjord, Geilo is at the heart of Norways Winter Wonderland. Maintaining its reputation as an excellent family resort, Geilo has seen visitors from Europe and beyond since early 1900s. Geilo remains unspoilt, with true Norwegian character firmly intact.

Geilo in Norway
With more than just skiing facilities Geilo is home to the 4 star Highland Hotel, as well as numerous lodging houses, and the famous Holms Ski Bar. Although primarily a ski resort Geilo also offers sleigh rides, wildlife adventure tours, ski orienteering, tobogganing, snow shoe walking, dog-sledging, kite-skiing, night-skiing, snowboarding, freestyle snowboarding and much more.

Norway Vacation
Geilos reputation as one the worlds top skiing resorts lies mainly in its ability to cater for family vacations. With over 10,000 families visiting the slopes each year, Geilo also offers excellent tuition in packages it refers to as the Family Starter Pack. This involves tuition for your entire family for the equivalent of $200 a day. This means, that not only can your whole family learn together, but is also means that families with no skiing experience, can go along and after the first day, they will be able to ski on their own.

Geilo has also increased its reputation amongst Snowboarders in recent years beating off Lillehammer, Voss and Hemsedal in its bid to host the Norwegian Snowboarding Championship. With four sides of mountain each dedicated to snowboarding and skiing, Geilo is now able to call itself Norways first skiing location to offer 5 runs dedicated to snowboarding. With 110 runs in total, Geilo has 14% expert allowing experienced skiers to enjoy themselves on the slopes, whilst maintaining the rest of its facilities for intermediates and beginners that account for a larger number of their yearly visitors.

Travel Resources
Geilo also offers exceptional value for money with weekly family packages starting from $1000 including accommodation, bed and breakfast. The element that stands out the most about Geilo is the way it caters for families, with crches, family diners, and especially their Christmas bonanza which includes Santa visiting the slopes with his reindeer on Christmas day, and the time leading up to christmas. Geilo never fails to be fully booked for Christmas, with so many families choosing to bring their children along to experience Christmas within this winter wonderland.

Don’t forget to browse through our enticing and colorful NorwayPrints & Posters Gallery.

When it comes to skiing and winter sports, Europe has more than its fair share of amazing resorts. From the greatly priced, to the more than reasonable, Europe has it all, and has so much to offer any skier. If you’ve never been to Europe on a skiing holiday, or if you’re looking to expand your experience, you’ll find something that catches your eye without too much research, and you might just end up joining the legions of skiing fans that wouldn’t go anywhere else in the world for their vacation.

Great European Skiing Destinations
On mainland Europe, you have such a varied selection. From the world famous French skiing resorts to Austria, Switzerland and the tiny principality of Andorra, youve got such a wide range of skiing to choose from. France is known the world over as the true home of skiing, and the French really know how to do a quality vacation. With naturally amazing resources, and scenery that can take your breath away, France is an ideal location for a skiing trip. Why not try the Courchevel resort, which has four different ski resorts within one, providing the perfect blend of quality and affordability in a skiing trip. From the grossly overpriced 1850 resort, the playground of Europes film stars and playboys, to the seemingly remote 1350 at the bottom of the hill, you have so much to choose from in Europe’s finest skiing country. With the kids or with your friends, France is truly a destination that will make for a memorable skiing vacation.

Skiing Destinations
Or how about some of the Italian resorts? Italy, famous for being the cheaper way to ski, also benefits from a diverse range of resorts, like the tiny Alba resort, as well as some larger, more sizeable areas to ski. Famous for passion and a depth of culture, Italy is the ideal place to take a skiing break in Europe, and the weathers good too! Or how about Italy’s neighbor, Croatia? A rising European nation, youll find a Croatian holiday outrageously good value for money, not to mention top quality. From the international standard ski resorts to their world class restaurants, Croatia is certainly a country on the up, and its skiing facilities can only improve as more and more tourists flock to their slopes each year. Additionally, Bulgaria is an excellent skiing destination to take the kids. With open arms, you will be welcomed by the Bulgarian people, who are more than eager to tell you about their rich and deep past, and welcome you as part of their future. In these expanding and developing European nations, you will come to appreciate the value of tourism, and the quality of treatment and service they are prepared to offer for your investment.

Travel Resources
How about Austria for your skiing trip? When we think of skiing, we often imagine the Alpine ideal, with breathtaking scenery and fresh, clean air. Well, it simply doesnt come much better than Austria, and if youre looking for a skiing destination that has it all, why not try Austria for that touch of class with your skiing. Or why not pop over to Switzerland for their Alps experience? Skiing the alps in the home of chocolate and cuckoo clocks, you will be amazed at how picturesque this modern nation has managed to be, whilst still becoming a world leader in financial industry.

Don’t forget to browse through our enticing and colorful Europe Prints & Posters Gallery.

Oregon is famous for the ski slopes found around the state, and if you are planning a ski vacation, you should definitely consider Timberline Lodge, located near Mt. Hood in Oregon. There is quite a bit of history in the area, starting with the lodge that was built during the Great Depression by a master craftsman. The Timberline Lodge also has a bit of more recent history attached to it. Part of the movie, The Shining, was filmed here. Many of the outside shots were done at Timberline Lodge.

Oregon Ski Vacations
The lodge is entirely hand made, and well preserved. The hand woven draperies and the hand hewn beams add to the rustic charm and history of the place. The lodge sits in the middle of 1400 acres consisting of 35 trails. The trails are perfect for beginners, intermediates, and experts. The top elevation at Timberline Lodge is 8504 with a vertical drop of 2501. There are six chair lifts to accommodate skiers.

One of the most unique things about Timberline is that it is the one place in the United States that offers year-round snow skiing. Palmer Snowfield is part of the Timberline Resort, and it is permanently covered with snow. Beginners are not always allowed on Palmer snowfield the conditions are considered each day when making this determination.

Skiing, snowboarding, hiking, snowshoeing, and lodge tours are the main attractions at Timberline. Here, it is all about the powder! Mt. Hood is an active volcano which is considered to be dormant. Occasionally, tremors are felt, and steam vents are often visible. The Cascade Dining Room is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner each day, but the hours do change with the seasons. Other fare can be found at the Rams Head Bar, the Blue Ox bar, the WyEast Kitchen Cafeteria, the Market Caf, and the Mt. Hood Brewing Company.

Rental equipment is not available at Timberline. You must bring your own equipment. However, smaller items such as gloves and goggles can be purchased at the lodge, along with some clothing items. There is a snowboard and ski school on the premises, and private and group lessons are available.

If the idea of a rustic ski vacation appeals to you, as opposed to trips with accommodations that are a bit fancier, then Timberline Lodge in Oregon is the place to be! Again, it is definitely all about the history and the powder here. However, whether you ski or not, you must not miss the Magic Mile, which offers a panoramic view of the Cascade mountains that cannot be matched! More about Ski Vacations and Travel.

Don’t forget to browse through our enticing and colorful Travel Prints & Posters Gallery.