Making clothes? If you enjoy backpacking AND sewing, go for it. As for myself, I started buying gear again after the first hundred tedious hours of sewing . Then I discovered that there are some backpacking clothes you can make cheaply and quickly.

Making Hand Warmers

Stick your hands inside a pair of socks and mark where your fingertips and thumb-tip are, using a pen or marker. Then cut holes where the marks are. You now have hand warmers that leave your fingers free. Mine weigh about an ounce, but this depends on the socks that you use. You can use these under other gloves or mittens in colder weather, and when you remove your mittens to tie your shoes, you won’t totally expose your hands.

Instant Insulated Vest

Buy 1/2″ poly batting at any fabric store. I bought mine at Walmart. This is the stuff that is used to make pillows, stuffed animals and quilts. It comes as a big sheet, rolled up in a bag, usually for less than ten dollars.

Open it up it and cut a piece out, roughly two by four feet. Cut a hole in this for your head, and wear it like a tunic, but under your jacket. Making clothes doesn’t get any easier than this, and the vest will be among the lightest backpacking clothes you own. My own weighs just four ounces.

My vest, along with my homemade balaclava, kept me warm as I went over glaciers, to the top of 20,600-foot Chimborazo, in Ecuador. It also went to the top of Mount Shasta in California, and on other trips. Originally, I made it as a disposable vest, but it’s held together for years now. Wear two for extra warmth (always under a wind-breaking layer) and you’ll have more insulation than a sweater would give you, for half the weight.

Making A Ski Mask From Old Clothes

Use any old thermal underwear top or bottom, preferably made of polypropylene. Just cut off a leg or a sleeve, then pull it over your head. Mark where your eyes and mouth are with a pen or marker, cut the holes and cut off the extra length. You just made a balaclava.

I used a sleeve from a very stretchy polypropylene top for mine. It weighs less than an ounce, lighter than anything I can buy. You can sew the top shut, as I did, or just pin it shut with a safety pin. Making backpacking clothes doesn’t get much simpler than this.

I collect ideas for backpacking clothes or equipment that can be made at home, but if it can’t be explained in a paragraph, it’s probably too complex and time consuming for me. I prefer backpacking to sewing. When it’s as easy as the three items here, though, even I will start making clothes.

Steve Gillman is a long-time advocate of lightweight backpacking. His tips, photos, gear recommendations and a free book can be found at The-Ultralight-Site.com TheUltralightBackpackingSite.com

Summer is usually the ideal time to take a vacation since the weather is warm and the kids are out of school. The lure of a cruise can be hard to pass up especially since Caribbean cruises can be deeply discounted in summer. The Caribbean has a hurricane season from about early June to late November so before you purchase your dream holiday it is important to keep some things in mind.

Cruise ships are very safe but they aren’t indestructible. There have been a few tragedies involving cruise ships in the last decade. This isn’t meant to scare you but make you aware that Mother Nature dictates your holiday especially in the hurricane season. Cruise ships are equipped with technology that can forecast weather conditions so don’t be unduly concerned.

Cruise lines will always but the safety of its passengers first and will never intentionally go through a storm. Cruise lines can skip or change a port of call with little or no compensation. If the weather is severe they may cancel a cruise all together in which case they will give you a voucher for another cruise at a future date. While understandable, a canceled trip can mean a missed vacation especially if your family’s vacation time is limited and not flexible.

Check with the cruise line company or your travel agent for information on changes due to weather. You can also purchase travel insurance but make sure you read the fine print and understand what is covered; some cover none or very little in the case of acts of God.

A storm may not be enough to cancel a cruise and you can still have an enjoyable time. There are activities on the ship that are indoors including exercise classes and shows. Make sure you bring some books and consider bringing a portable DVD player and movies to keep the family occupied.

Make sure you bring sea sick pills. Even if the weather is nice, the waters are sure to be rough. If you get sea sick, head to the center of the ship where swaying is at a minimum.

So your holiday plans are not totally spoiled, have a backup plan in case the cruise is canceled. Plan your embarkation port as a fun city such as Orlando. If your cruise is canceled then you can still head to Orlando and your family can enjoy Disneyworld. Also consider some enjoyable road trip options if the airport at your port city is closed.

Lastly, if you travel in the hurricane season plan for inclement weather and don’t get upset if it rains the entire time.

The columnist Johnathan Bakers is interested in problems associated to Alicante and Benidorm. Recording his experience in detailed writings on

If you want a vacation where you will be treated like royalty, where you will be pampered with spa treatments, surrounded by luxury and be within a short distance of a high end shopping district, then a Beverly Hills resort may be for you. All of the resorts that we have stayed in have been discrete in keeping the anonymity of its guests and have done their best to keep the paparazzi at bay.

I have also found that Beverly Hills resorts have been appropriate for just about any family dynamic from families with children to honeymooners to those with pampered pooches. The sole purpose of the resorts is to make sure that you are comfortable, that you want for nothing and that your stay is memorable so that you will want to come back again and again.

There are many different resorts in Beverly Hills from luxury high rise hotels to spas to the infamous Beverly Hills Hotel. It goes without saying that you definitely get what you pay for when you stay at a Beverly Hills resort. These resorts are not for those who are looking for a discount vacation, they are for those who want to feel special, feel important, be treated well and are willing to pay for it.

For me, the air is always full of energy in Beverly Hills. Whether I am shopping on Rodeo Drive, dining at a café or sipping a drink by the pool I always feel like I am in a different country and there is an air of mystery surrounding those around me.

When traveling to Beverly Hills, I try to stay at a different resort every time and I have never been disappointed. More memorable hotels have included the Four Seasons and the Peninsula Beverly Hills. Everything was excellent from the accommodations to the food to the staff.

Whether you are traveling alone, with family or are planning a romantic vacation, the resorts in Beverly Hills are sure to not disappoint you. From fine dining to beautiful accommodations to helpful staff, it truly will be one of the most memorable holidays you will ever take.

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If you want to enjoy a vacation in a vibrant and exciting destination that has a great deal to offer in terms of attractions, sights, entertainment, culture, history, and recreation, then Spain could be the perfect place for you. There are so many unique and charming areas to select from in this country that you will be spoilt for choice when it comes to deciding where to go for your holiday. This country is part of Europe, and a great deal to offer in terms of colourful Spanish culture, rich and varied history, adventure, fun, and opportunities to relax. And with a detailed map of Spain you can enjoy making a more informed decision with regards to which part of the country you wish to visit in order to enjoy the trip of a lifetime. No matter which are you visit in this country you will find plenty to keep you busy and entertained, so you can look forward to a diverse and full itinerary throughout your time here. Whether you are travelling along, with a partner, or with a group of family, you will find that the great choice of wonderful destination within this country makes it easy to find the ideal place for you.

Enjoy a wonderful choice of exciting destinations. If you are planning on travelling to this destination, it is a good idea to work out which area you want to visit based upon your tastes, hobbies, and preferences. For example, if you are looking for nightlife and excitement, along with fun-packed beaches and an array of entertainment, then somewhere like Benidorm could prove ideal for you. If, on the other hand, you want to enjoy exploring rich history and enjoying the diverse and exciting culture, you may find places such as Seville or Madrid more suited to your tastes. By studying a detailed map of Spain you can decide on the are you wish to visit, and then see which other destination are close by so that you can spend some time exploring other nearby areas, cities, and towns whilst you are there. This will make it easier to draw up an itinerary in advance, which means you can enjoy a more organized trip, enabling you to make the most of your time in this destination. You will find many exciting destination to visit in this country, so no matter what you want to get out of your time here you should have no problem finding the ideal place for you and your family.

You won’t have to pay a fortune to enjoy time in this country. No matter where you are travelling from, you can look forward to some really affordable deals on travel to Spain these days, which means that you can enjoy a wonderful and relaxing time without having to worry about overstretching your budget. The Internet is an excellent place through which to find some real bargains when it comes to travel, and you can look forward to deeply discounted deals on everything from hotels and flights to travel and health insurance for your trip. You will be able to compare what’s on offer with total ease and convenience from the comfort of your own home, and once you have found the right flight and accommodation deals to suit you it is just a case of making your booking online, which can save you a great deal of time and inconvenience, as well as enabling you to benefit from slashed prices.

The author Robert Carlton is especially passionate about news relating to Spain and spanish culture. His comments on alicante-spain.com/spain.html detailed map of Spain can be encountered on his webpage in addition to other websites.