We’re thinking of buying a condo or home on a beach near Lake or on an island. Any idea if they run well? Q. have any suggestions as to a good area where we should begin our search?
Chuck’s Answer: If it were me, I’d research the listings for your target city at the top sites (VRBO.com, Homeaway.com, etc.) Then I’d pick up the phone and call a few owners and be straight with them: “I’m considering buying a condo in your area to rent. Can you give me any advice?”

Naturally, some vacation rental owners won’t talk with you , but some will. And of the owners who talk with you, you’ll have to filter what they say because they may or may not be telling the whole truth. Still, at the end of your exercise, you’ll know much, much more than before you started.

The rental markets in different parts of Florida are considerably different (Keys, Panhandle, East Coast, Gulf Coast, Disney Area). For example, peak rental seasons in the Disney area are Summertime and school holidays when kids are out of school. But in most other parts of Florida, peak seasons are in the winter when travelers are trying to escape the cold.

In the past several years, several popular indoor water park hotels have been built very near Cedar Point. Recently we’ve stayed at the Great Bear Lodge and Castaway Bay, which have large indoor waterparks.

Check out these hotels near Cedar Point.

Congratulations, you’ve found the one, said your vows, and you’re ready to get out of your hometown and have a great honeymoon. While you’ve been getting lots of marriage advice from everyone and their mother, here’s a good tip that you might actually use. When couples go honeymooning, a hotel seems like the inevitable. There is, however, another option. You can live in a gorgeous vacation home during your honeymoon.

There are many great reasons to choose a vacation home over a hotel. First of all, you’ve just had to endure every one of your friends and family probably since the moment you started planning your wedding. The two of you could use some serious alone time. In a vacation home, there is no one but the two of you. No 12 o’clock ‘housekeeping’ calls, no distracting noise from the next room, and no snobby hotel clerks to answer to. It’s just you and your sweetheart.

Many great vacation homes offer a pool just like a hotel, however, the pool is all yours. You don’t have to share it with other guests, or wait until midnight to take a romantic swim together. And, if you decide to have guests on your honeymoon, with a vacation home, you will have plenty of room. You won’t be cramped up inside a stuffy hotel room.

The good vacation homes are located in the perfect place. You will be just a few minutes away from all of the great places that you might want to visit. Then, when you’re ready to give up on the sights, you can return to your vacation home and enjoy the peace and quiet with your spouse. The homes are beautiful as well, and offer the finest amenities, like big-screen televisions with DVD and cable. They are beautifully furnished and you will be surrounded in luxury. Guys, this is definitely a winner and your woman will love you for it. She will feel like a queen in the vacation home you choose.

You don’t have to stay in a stuffy hotel where you will be surrounded by hotel guests or shut up in your tiny room. A vacation home offers an affordable, lovely atmosphere to spend your honeymoon. After all, before long you will be back in your real home and back to the jobs, family, hustle and bustle. Make this time of your life memorable. Forget the hotel, and get an amazing vacation home. You’ll thank yourself later.

            The blue man group is the newest group to hit Universal Orlando, and it’s a show that you certainly don’t want to miss.  The show has an ‘out of this world’ quality.  That’s not a bad thing by any means.  You will most definitely be entertained.  The show is a combination of music, lights and some comedy. 
 

            At one point in the show, you may feel as if you are in some other world, with the amazing colored lights flashing and bobbing, and the drumming.  Then at another point, you find yourself laughing at these incredible blue men.  There is a point in the show when the blue men interact with a couple of members of the audience, and it makes for some great laughs.
 

            The costumes the blue men wear are comprised of latex caps which make them look bald, and tons of blue paint on their faces and heads.  They wear black clothing as well.  The blue men work with fluids, lights, and some unidentifiable things.  They make such a great mess that the people in the front row are given plastic coverings to protect themselves from flying liquids, paints and food.  Food?  Yeah.  In one past show, the Blue Men Group actually made an attempt to provide an audience member with a romantic dinner using a Twinkie.  This should give you some idea of what it’s like to see them live.
 

            If you’ve seen the Blue Man Group before, you will be pleased that along with their own theater in Universal Orlando, they have come up with some new acts for this venue.  The Blue Man Group never talks.  Throughout the whole performance, they manage to entertain, make people laugh, and create a spectacular show without uttering one word.
 

            One of the greatest things about the Blue Man Group is that you can feel free to take your entire family to the show.  There is nothing that is ‘adult’ about the show.  You don’t have to feel nervous about taking the kids to the show, unless they are very young and might be scared of big blue guys who play with colored lights and paint.  Most children actually love it because of the bright color and unusual sounds.  This is one show that is unlike any other.  If you haven’t seen this show, it is most definitely something that you should do.  It’s a guaranteed good, unique time! 

Sea World in Orlando, Florida is a 200 acre marine life park that features daily animal exhibits, attractions, and many other amazing things. If you’ve never considered visiting Sea World, then you most definitely should. There’s good news for those of you who have been there before as well. There are some great new features that are remarkable.

This is one of the greatest places to take the family when you’re on vacation in Orlando. Kids love seeing the scheduled animal performances and interactive lessons. The adults will be surprised at how much fun they will have as well. At the waterfront, there are several places to grab some good food, take a minute to rest your feet, and catch a street performer doing his or her thing.

If you decide to visit, one of the things that you must do is visit the ‘Journey to Atlantis.’ This is a water splashing water coaster that features 2 steep drops. These are guaranteed to get your heart racing and your blood pumping. Sea World is also one of the best places to see endangered Manatees. These gentle giants are dying in large numbers due to the injuries from boat propellers. The people at Sea World rescue Manatees and give them a great home.

One of the greatest parts of Sea World is The ‘Odyssea.’ This is a half hour long show that features an acrobatic show that’s sure to delight the kids and the adults. It’s an underwater themed show, and has been compared to Cirque de Soleil. Kids will love posing a picture with beautiful Clydesdale horses, and being able to feed the dolphins. At the ‘Dolphin Nursery,’ tourists can see the newly born baby dolphins, and watch them swimming around in the water.

The best thing at Sea World, and something that all families and individuals should see is the ‘Pets Ahoy’ display. This show features all different kinds of animals, from dogs and cats to skunks and pot-bellied pigs. They put on a great show that is funny and charming, and show off many learned behaviors. Many of these animals were rescued from the local animal shelters. It truly is one of those things that you just have to see to appreciate it. It’s incredible. Sea World is an amazing place to visit, with so many great things to see. This place definitely gets an A+.

One, it’s all about the timing. Airlines know when people are most likely to travel, and they set their fares accordingly. That means that if you’re limited to traveling only during school vacations your chances of getting any kind of super-cheap fare are extremely unlikely. If your family vacation hinges on cheap flights (and cheap rentals), you may want to consider talking to your kids’ teachers and taking the kids out of school for the week. That way you can get a better deal on your flights, vacation rental, and the lines will be shorter pretty much everywhere you go.
Second, as much as possible, keep your dates flexible. To get the best airfares, you need to sign up for the “special deal” notification lists from the airlines, and you have to be ready to pick up and go at the airline’s whim.
Lastly, if your life doesn’t allow you to keep your travel dates flexible, consider signing up for a fare alert service like Travelocity’s Farewatcher alert. I use this service a lot, but I also rarely book my flights more than two weeks ahead of time. It gives you a bit more leeway time to pack and go, but can still be somewhat restrictive.

Important things first:

Make three copies of your tickets, passports and itinerary as well as your health/trip insurance papers. Put one copy in the bag you carry, one in the bag that will be checked and leave one with a person at home whom you can easily contact.

Pack any prescription medicines that you take regularly. Do not take them out of the bottles that they came in from the drug store. Also, be sure to take a supply of any over the counter drugs you may need. Although most cruise ships have OTC medicines, they might not have the brands you prefer.

Take your driver’s license and auto insurance card if you think you will be renting a car.

Don’t forget your glasses (an extra pair if you have one is also a good idea) and your sunglasses. If you wear contacts be sure and take not just the lenses but enough cleaning supplies for the length of your trip.

If you are taking a cell phone along be sure to take the charger and a current adapter if you have one. Since some cell phones can’t be used in foreign countries, it is advisable to pick up an appropriate phone card, too. Buy a phone card even if you are not taking a cell phone along.

Hopefully, you won’t need to lug a laptop but if you do again don’t forget the charger and current adapter.

Sunblock, a trip length supply of your favorite moisturizer, band-aids, antibiotic ointment and medicinal spray are always good ideas.

A small sewing kit for unexpected wardrobe emergencies can be an outfit saver.

Now for the not quite essentials:

If it’s a warm weather cruise, take a sweater or jacket that goes well with your daytime and off the ship clothes and one for more formal on board events.

If it’s a cold weather cruise, a pair of light thermal underwear can make the difference between turning blue and enjoying your trip.

Whether it’s warm or cold, take at least one pair of shoes with skid resistant soles after all you will be on a ship.

Go through each outfit you plan to wear and make sure to take all of the required items. Try as often as possible to combine items to make multiple outfits. The same pair of pants can be worn for both day and evening wear by changing the shirt and accessories worn with it.

And, remember, you are going to be living in a small space with all your belongings for the whole time you are away. You will enjoy the whole cruise more if you can live in a relaxed, uncluttered environment and packing to come home will be so much less stressful the less you take. After all, it is a vacation.

Don’t do it!

Even if you intend to rent a vehicle from either agency, Just Say No” to your airline “helper” and dial the rental company’s toll-free number directly. (Come on, you can do it!)

What seems to be a polite and convenient referral to a frequent-flier partner might result in your paying more than you have to for a rental car.

Here’s what may happen: you’ll get a really, super-duper, rock-bottom, lowball price over the phone, but when you arrive to pick up the car, the “helpful” counter person will try to convince you to sign up for a lot of extras.

This isn’t news, but it’s something we tend to forget: car-rental employees — even if they say “we try harder” — are salespeople. And what they’ll try harder to do is load you up with as many extras as possible…regardless of whether you really need them.

The most common “overcharge” is for insurance that is already provided by your credit card. Check with your credit card company before you travel to find out what coverage you already have.

Be a Control Freak

There’s what you can’t control (fees that you can expect to pay above daily rental rates are outlined below, but there’s also what you CAN control — rejecting costly options and demanding (in the nicest possible way) your discounts.

AAA and AARP Have A-1 Discounts – Use ‘Em!

If you belong to the American Automobile Association and the American Association of Retired Persons, and other similar groups, you may be entitled to discounts up to 25%, depending on the size of the car, the location and the time of the year…as well as which organization you belong to.

Damage Waiver – Take It or Leave It? (Leave it!)

Don’t be confused: CDW (collision-damage waiver) — also known as LDW (loss-damage waiver) — is not insurance. CDW relieves you of responsibility for damage or theft of a rental car and you are probably already covered by your personal auto insurance policy.

Credit cards often provide this coverage free for 15 to 30 days.

Let’s Get Personal

Personal-injury insurance is for protection for injuries to you or your passengers in the event of an accident. Your own health insurance or the personal-injury coverage in your auto insurance policy is usually sufficient

Personal-effects coverage protects you against the theft of anything left in the car — like your suitcase, a camera, or even golf clubs. Sounds good, but if you have homeowner’s or renter’s insurance, you’re probably already covered. Check your policy for exceptions/exclusions which may include computers, furs and jewelry.

Insurance That’s a Liability

Liability insurance coverage (at about $10 per day) is usually a duplicate of coverage in your umbrella homeowners policy.

It’s Cool to Re-Fuel

Never buy fuel from the rental company if you can avoid it — you’ll usually pay up to a dollar more per gallon. You best bet is to ask for the car with a full tank and then return it full, after purchasing an affordable (but car-friendly) fuel.

Not-So-Secret Agents

Travel agents can scan their computer screens and see who’s offering short-term deals in the city you’re heading to. They also get free upgrade coupons for domestic rentals from the car-rental companies. If they don’t offer you one, ask for it.

Late Fees – Not Just at the Library

Keep your eye on the clock — most rental companies allow a 59-minute grace period (or less!) after a rental period is over. If you’re a renter-come-lately, you’ll pay exorbitant hourly rate until you reach an equally hefty per-diem rate.

Pick ‘n’ Choose

Comparison-shopping is critical, so get quotes from several companies before you make your reservation. Tell one company what another is charging to encourage them to “match” or “beat” their competitors’ rates.

Don’t Be Scared…Be Prepared! (Expect the Unexpected Fees)

Additional charges, such as airport taxes, facility-use fees, and premiums levied by off-site car-rental companies, are par for the course. Consumer Reports Travel Letter has said that these taxes and fees can pad your bill from 10 percent in Memphis to a staggering 26 percent in Phoenix. (Ouch!)

Be sure to ask about these charges when you make your reservation so you don’t get an unwelcome surprise when your credit card bill arrives.

Although Walt Disney died in 1966, his Roy saw to it that his brother’s dream was realized. EPCOT, another of Walt Disney’s projected theme parks, “where you can touch the future and travel the world,” is most easily identified by its massive silver sphere. Comprised of two themes, the Future World, and the World Showcase, EPCOT opened on October 14, 1982. The Future World’s attractions focus on “fun” science; see future innovations, test drive automotive prototypes, have yourself shrunk as you navigate a 3-D world, and more. The World Showcase allows you to travel from country to country and experience different cultures. On May 1, 1989, Disney-MGM Studios opened, a theme park dedicated to the golden age of Hollywood as well as the history of television. Quickly following its heels was Typhoon Lagoon and Pleasure Island Water Parks on June 1st. On April 1, 1995, Blizzard Beach was opened. Initially intended to be a ski resort, for the obvious reasons, even round-the-clock snowmaking couldn’t stand up to the Florida weather. Legend has it, while higher-ups were trying to figure out what to do with the now-useless park, along came an alligator, belly-first down a rush of water.” “Ice Gator,” quickly became the official mascot of the Blizzard Beach Water Park. Disney’s Animal Kingdom, opened on April 22, 1998, and consists of “wild” animal parks themed by their natural habitats. Animals from all over the world can be found there. There’s also DinoLand USA, where kids can be archeologists and hunt for fossils.