Archive for September 15th, 2006

Borrego Springs is a small town in the middle of the Anza Borrego Desert State Park. Everyone there is proud that it is the largest state park in the US. The small town is located in a desert valley thus you can imagine how hot it can get during the summer. In fact, when looking over places to stay and eat, many mention that they are closed during the summer. I don’t blame them. We planned a one night stay a few weeks in advance. Borrego Springs Resort seemed the choice that combined reasonable prices and solid comfort so we went there ….

We made our way into town from Julian. Once on Borrego Springs road you would imagine that there would be a sign directing you to the resort. Well, no. Luckily, we spotted Tilting T drive as we sped down the road and made a quick turn. After a short drive we arrived at the resort and checked in. The resort was clean and basic. Our room was quite large. It had everyting we needed apart from a safe. The bathroom was well furnished. The bed was very comfortable. They only had very large pillows making it difficut to sleep if you are used to small pillows. The view outside the room displayed the desert in all its autumn beauty. The weather was perfect during our stay which helped. In the evening we spent some time at the pool. The pool was also very basic, not really resorty, but served its purpose. A full golf course is adjacent to the property but we did not take advantage of that. In the morning, continental breakfast was included. It was not very good. The coffee was bad. The view from the Arches restaurant though, where breakfast is served is absolutely magnificent. Service was quite solid.

All in all, for the price, this was a pretty good place to stay. When visiting Borrego Springs again, we would strongly consider staying here again. Note: The web site for the resort is very well done and looks much better than the actual place.

1112 Tilting T Drive
P.O. Box 981
Borrego Springs
CA 92004
888-826-7734

Michael Philip is one of the editors and contributors for the SeeTheGlobe.com SeeTheGlobe.com web site. SeeTheGlobe.com SeeTheGlobe.com is a travel information web site and community. Reviews of restaurants, hotels, airlines and other travel resources are provided from first hand accounts.


Storage of Your Camping Gear

You have bought the good quality camping gear for those great adventures with the family; now you need to look after your investment so you may use your gear over and over and have it ready and in good condition for the next outing.

Mostly commonsense, but things are not always that obvious and there is always just the right [ or the wrong place ] for your gear depending upon how much gear you have and where you live.Obviously tucked away underneath the house may not be the best way to care for those material items such as sleeping bags and tents, etc

Tents;

Tents should always be stored in a dry place away from insects and mice that may eat or live in your investment without your permission.

Before packing your tent away , make sure it is completely dry inside and out; this will prevent mould and mildew and that rotting smell that will spoil a good nights sleep.If you get caught in the rain and have to pack up your tent wet, just wipe,dry and air it out when you get home otherwise the fittings and stitching will get stressed and possibly rot.Make sure the tent pegs are always packed in their own bag with no sharp ends sticking out to tear any fabric and pack them inside the tent; otherwise they will get lost somewhere just when you need them.Check that all the fittings and fabric is in good condition as well.Don’t put your tent under a pile of heavy items in case some of the poles get broken.The tent that you have is to be your home away from home so it is important that it be maintained correctly and more so if the weather becomes bad.

Sleeping bags

These are usually fairly robust but don’t like dampness at all, they could use a good airing at times although just stored in a dry place away from insects and mice is all they need.

Stoves and Lighting

Ensure these are all clean and in good working order and carry a spare bulb/mantle for those bits that may get damaged or broken and of course check that the tanks are in stable condition [not rusted or damaged] and even make sure the tanks are full if the next use is not too distant.Protective cases will stop damage that may arise from being incorrectly packed or just an accident of some sort ,and these are fairly important in the case of gas lighting with their brittle glass components.

First Aid Kits;

Stockup the various items and possibly carry extra of those items you know you may need/use more than usual.

Backpacks;

These are robust and only require a nice dry spot

Cooking Gear;

Gather all your cooking gear together and replace all those things that just disappear or become unuseable for some reason and give them a rough check that they are all clean and easily found.

Your cooking gear is great if it is self reliant and you don’t have to raid the kitchen and find the things you need every time you go camping;once again sturdy containers for storage are important.

Keeping all your gear organized and ready can save you lots of time when it comes to packing the car for your next trip away as you will have lots to remember and should be start of a great memorable camping adventure.

When packing the family car to get away, it is best to pack the heaviest things at the bottom and the things you may need readily available [ like jackets etc, in case the weather gets bad] to be put upon the top.

A little advanced preparation will save lots of headaches later
and ensure a happy,comfortable and safe camping adventure for you and your family.

The authur; Donald V. is the webmaster of campingandgear.com campingandgear.com where a comprehensive selection of quality brand name camping gear can be found.


Here are a few booking tips that will help you save money on your next trip or vacation.

Flights

When you book your flight 21 days or more ahead of time, you can pay less. The airlines realize you won’t have a choice but to pay a higher price when you have to fly at the last moment. If you want to take advantage of lower fares, you must purchase tickets from 3 to 21 days in advance. If you plan to make a transcontinental trip, you must purchase at least 21 days in advance.

Expect airlines to offer either a 14-day advance purchase fare or a 7-day advance purchase fare. Sometimes they offer special 3-day advance fares, which take place during airfare wars and don’t last long. You won’t have to wait on hold forever to get info and make your reservations when this happens.

Car Rentals

Booking your car rental early can also help you save money. The car rental agencies know when their competitors have booked all their cars through a sophisticated revenue management system. Agencies will take advantage of this system by charging higher rates when rentals are in high demand. You don’t have to worry about rate increases cause by this situation if you booked early.

You can save money by renting your car at locations away from the airport. There may be less taxes and fees in these other locations. When you rent in the afternoon or Thursdays with a Saturday night stay over, you will usually get the cheapest rates.

Hotel Rooms

You will save money on your hotel room if you reserve in advance. You can get low price guarantees for hotel rooms these days because the competition online makes pricing competitive.

Better rates are available if you buy a non-refundable room. But remember that once you buy it you can’t cancel it no matter what your reason.

Online Help

Many online resources are available to help you save money on your trip. Priceline.com is one such site that will help you get deals on airfare, car rentals and hotel rooms for your next trip. Remember, planning long before your target departure date will help you save much money.

Copyright © 2007 by L Chan

Discover little known money saving travel tips & tricks that you can immediately use for your next trip or vacation. You can only get them by subscribing to the free


So your finally going on that oft dreamt about vacation and your destination is….Mexico, ole’! The allure of Mexico is appealing for many reasons. You have the acient ruins of the Mayan temples, the big city life of Mexico City, and let’s not forget the beaches! Mexico is known for its fabulous resorts and luxurious beaches with a dash of fantastic night life. Spring breakers have known this for years and often decide to go back, albeit on a much tamer vacation then when they drank tequila from a stranger’s shoe for a tee shirt.

Mexico hosts a wide range of natural wonders that appeal to many of those that want to explore outside their home countries. You have mountains, volcanoes, and sea life that can’t be found anywhere outside of the waters of Mexico.

Some of the more traveled Mexican destinations include Acapulco, Cancun, Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlan, and Cozumel.

Acapulco is rated as one of the top tourist attractions in the world. It is also Mexico’s largest beach resort. It is home to some of the world’s finest hotels, as well as miles of beautiful white sandy beaches. As in most tropical climes, Acapulco offers a wide range of water activities such as snorkeling, deep sea fishing, and scuba diving. If you are going for the golfing then you won’t be disappointed as Acapulco has fantastic courses with a wide range of difficulty for all players. You can rent a boat and sail the coast for a long weekend or even a daily excursion. Acapulco is also a great family vacation center and you can’t be the romantic getaways. Most of the hotels offer an all-inclusive package for couples and families at fantastic prices!

Cancun, what can you say about Cancun? It is one of the world’s most famous resort destinations. Cancun has grown into a large city and one of the world’s most popular vacation getaways. When looking for a vacation destination most people consider Cancun as their top pick for its great nightlife, access to the Mayan ruins, a theme park within a half hour drive, and the fantastic resorts and beaches.

Puerto Vallarta is another Mexican treasure. It is without question a tropical paradise. Like Cancun, there is plenty to local historical sites for the history buff in you. Book yourself a guided tour to see the Sierra Madre Mountains and take in some of the most exotic wildlife you could ever see on a tour. Fishing, sunning, and scuba diving are great ways to pass the time during the day and plenty of bars and nightclubs to dance the night away. Another popular past time of Puerto Vallarta is the shopping. You will love perusing the many high end boutiques as well as the local craft booths that make up the shopping district.

Mazatlan is THE destination to visit if you are going to Mexico for the fishing as one of the world’s greatest ports. The waters are known as being the perfect depth and temperature for fishing. Some of the other popular activities available in and around Mazatlan include surfing, tennis, golf, and fishing. It is also known for the malecón. The malecón is a long winding stretch that runs through nearly the entire city and covers roughly five miles of beach. Mazatlan is also home to a Mardi Gras type festival that is held before Ash Wednesday and lasts for five days.

Cozumel is Mexico’s most populated island. It is a popular attraction for snorkeling or scuba diving. Cozumel has some of the most beautiful coral reefs you could ever imagine.

Without question Mexico is one of the best travel destinations worldwide. It does not matter if you prefer to swing in a hammock while waiting for your next buffet to begin or climbing the steps of the Mayan ruins, get out and live life like you mean it!

Darren Slaughter writes for mexicovacationideas.com mexicovacationideas.com