My brother is getting ready to take a trip with my parents. Typically he packs about one suitcase for every one or two days he’s going to be away. It’s pretty ridiculous. My parents and I have tried to give him some packing tips but he isn’t interested in listening. These are tried and true tips, so I’ll share them with you.

Check the current rules on what you can bring and what you can’t. Don’t bring anything with you that isn’t allowed on the plane as it wastes time and you’ll end up having to get rid of it anyway.
Know the size and weight limits for bags, as well as the number you’re allowed.
If you use a 35mm film camera pack your unused film in your carryon rather than your suitcase so that it doesn’t get ruined in screening.
Keep absolute necessities including meds in your carryon. That way, in case something happens to your suitcase you’ll have the things you really need.
Fit as much as you can while keeping matching pieces together by rolling or folding outfits together and placing in the suitcase.
If you know you’re traveling extra light in one direction but will have more returning, pack one suitcase inside the other on your trip out. That way you’ve got a place to pack the stuff you’re bring back on the return trip.
Tag your bags and make them easily distinguishable from others.
Leave early when departing for the airport to allow for traffic, weather and any last minute stops.

Feel free to share any other tips that you’ve used, I’d love to hear them!

Every summer when we go on vacation to Watkins Glen NY we stay at a KOA. The prices are great and the campground terrific. This year, any paying guest registered at select KOA campgrounds for Friday 05/09/08 will receive a free night of camping for Saturday 05/10/08. Registered guests will also receive an entry into a drawing for prizes. The annual Come Camp and Care With Us weekend is held to help promote and support the KOA Children’s Cancer Camps.

I live in a well established family neighborhood. I also live in an area where public transportation stinks. I live at the seashore, in an area that relies on heavy tourist traffic for the economy. Any time weather permits it’s very common to see kids riding their bikes, people riding their bicycles to work and people riding bicycles on the boardwalks. It’s an economical method of transportation, a great way to stay fit and a good way to have fun. Now that my son’s older he’s always looking for ways to get somewhere faster. A motorized bicycle was something he suggested we consider right before Christmas. Not being terribly familiar with them I went online to learn more.

On the Bicycle Engines website I learned that you can actually add bicycle engines to an existing bicycle. The site is easy to navigate and contains helpful areas such as customer product reviews, maintenance guide and frequently asked questions (where I spent most of my time). The faq section was very informative and worth checking out for those new to motorized bicycles. We thought the video section was neat. If you have any doubt that putting an engine on an existing regular bicycle works, just watch some of the videos. Everything the site sells is nicely organized and easy to find because it is classified as either for a 2 stroke or 4 stroke engine, and then further classified as an engine or a part. Parts are then grouped by what type of part they are into another subcategory.

If you’re considering converting your bicycle to motorized to use around town, to get to work or on vacation, the Bicycle Engines site is worth a look.

When you travel are you content staying in a hotel room? Or are you like me, and miss the comforts of home? I like to travel, but it’s always seemed to me that the part I like about going places is seeing and doing things. The part that I don’t like about traveling is typically the room. I have a hubby that likes to just relax and watch tv sometimes. I have an eight year old that loves to take over the floor with his cars and trucks. I have a twelve year old that comes complete with baggage, usually a skateboard and video games. I like to have a refrigerator when I travel, for milk and a little food. If we had everything we wanted or were used to to make ourselves comfortable we’d be at home, because most hotels just aren’t made for family living. That’s one of the nice things about vacation rentals, they’re more than a room. My family has already decided that if we all go away together again we’re going to consider a vacation rental. Some are so big they can easily hold a family of twelve or so. Some even allow pets! And you can save a lot of money by not having to eat every meal out. In the end when you compare cost, there’s a real chance that the vacation rental home will cost less than staying in a hotel. So tell me, have any of you ever stayed in a vacation rental? Did you like it better than a regular little hotel room?