City ❀ Country ❀ Beach
The way prices are these days with everything, there are some simple, practical, and realistic ways you can save money for vacation. If you have a family of four or more, you will especially want to know these money saving tips. There are ways to …
If you’ve been hesitant to cruise, fear no more. Let me tell you why now is the best time to cruise! We’ve cruised many times before and now more than ever, it is the best time to do so. Here is why. My top reasons …
If you’ve never cruised before, Carnival makes for a great first-time cruise. If you have cruised before, but have never been on Carnival, then this line makes for a great alternative. And, if you’ve cruised before on Carnival, then you know exactly what I’ll be talking about and you might even recognize some of our shore excursions.
Our family decided to cruise with Carnival because, even though we are experienced cruisers, we had never cruised with Carnival before. Hence, this is our perspective on being Carnival Cruise first-timers and our desire is that you might take our experience so that you can make the most out of your Carnival Cruise experience.
You might be wondering “How did you choose which Carnival ship?” For us, it was very simple. We didn’t want to pay for airfare and since we live in Florida, there are a few options that were close enough to drive to. However, in our case, we had a friend drop and pick us up. If you can do that, that’s perfect!
We chose our closes port which was Tampa. From there, we looked at our travel dates. We knew we wanted to cruise in the summer and for an entire week. The next step was to see the destinations. We chose a ship that was landing at 3/4 destinations most of us had never been to. Ultimately, we chose the Carnival Miracle ship and we were not disappointed! Now, come dive in with me to our first-time Carnival Miracle Cruise experience!
Carnival has this option called “Faster to the Fun.” Many people that I know had recommended this. If you purchase this you will be able to board & disembark before everyone else! There are many advantages to do this because you can be among the first to get to your room, eat lunch, have the pool basically to yourself, and relax. We did this and it was well worth the extra $90! This price is per cabin, not per person.
The ship inside is absolutely beautiful! I kind of went camera happy, but I hope you can see exactly what I mean. Let’s start with the food! You have the option of eating at the buffet’s or in the dining room. We ate mostly in the dining room for most of our cruise, but we did hit the buffet a few mornings.
The way the buffet stations are broken down is by the type of food. For example pasta, desserts, pizza, American, Chinese, salads, etc. You can literally eat something different every night. Or, as I mentioned before, you can head to the dining room and have a sit-down meal with your very own requested (optional) waiter.
Having a balcony makes a big difference. Everyone has a preference, but there’s something about being able to step outside instantly. This is my opinion, but I would not recommend a balcony if you have young children. The rails are high, but I would not feel comfortable. Seeing the sunset with my feet up is a great way to end the day!
It is so true that the cruise director works A LOT! He or she literally can either make your cruise experience a dud or awesome. We had a fantastic cruise director! Even if you don’t get off the ship, there is always something to do. You will never be bored!
The shows are spectacular! I honestly did not expect them to be good, but I was very surprised. The cast works very hard to do about 4-5 different shows while you’re on board.
If you’re looking for an excursion to do at Grand Cayman, I have a great one! We took the Stingray City tour. When it comes to excursions, you have two choices. One is to stick with Carnival’s recommended excursions. The second is to explore your own excursions online. We preferred to stick with Carnival’s excursions, except two and you’ll read about those further down, because if for some reason you are late getting back to the ship, Carnival will actually wait for you before they sail away. If you choose the latter, you will need to find a way back home or to the next port on your own. This is the reason why I strongly recommend you carry your passports, not your copies when you get off the ship.
A cabin cruiser will take you out about 30-45 minutes away to a sandbar that seems out in the middle of nowhere. The cruiser crew will provide you with a snorkel & mask in case you don’t have your own. The crew knows exactly how to handle the stingrays. They are not maltreated in any way. The stingrays will be brought to you with food. It was very cool to feel the suction of their mouths literally feeding out of your hand!
The water is cold the first time you get in, but you’ll get used to it. You absolutely cannot beat the crystal clear water though! The entire experience lasted about 3 hours. This is great because this leaves you with plenty of time to shop back at the port.
Mahogany Bay is located on an island off the north coast of Honduras. It is officially a part of Honduras.
This port had one of the BEST views while docking. You can see what I mean!
The excursion we took was NOT offered by Carnival Cruise. Therefore, we decided on Daniel Johnson’s Monkey & Sloth Hangout in Roatan based on rave reviews from others on TripAdvisor. We did this one because the one that was offered by Carnival was sold out. Seems like many people had the same idea as us to hold & hug a live sloth! This company offered very reasonable prices AND it included roundtrip transportation to/from the port. You will spend a max of 1.5 hours here leaving plenty of time again for more shopping or riding the ski-style chair lift!
This was our most adventurous excursion by far! This one was once again by Carnival. I was in awe to actually see these ruins in person! We took the Lamanai Mayan Ruins & River Boat Safari with Lunch. I suggest if you do this tour to pack an extra snack and water. Also, if you have a picky eater or someone who likes a big meal, I suggest you pack even more snacks.
This tour will take you the entire day. You will start your journey by hopping on a bus ride that will take about 1 hour. It will not seem like a 1-hour ride if you end up with the same tour guide that we had – Bernie.
Once you arrive, you’ll go on a powerboat where everyone is required to wear a life jacket. It was so much fun! If you can, try to get upfront seats so you can see exactly where you’re going. And, hold on to your hats!
Once you arrive from the boat, you have officially arrived at Lamanai. It is a bit remote and you will then need to do quite a bit of walking from here on until you see the Mayan Ruins. Make sure you’re wearing a good pair of sneakers!
While you’re walking, the same tour guide that was on the bus will be the same tour guide throughout your entire journey. Keep vigilant while walking because you’ll see some cool things along the way!
As we arrive at the Mayan Ruins, again, I am in awe. To think that these have been here for so long and the civilization that preceded us is interesting to me. There is so much history & culture even now among these ruins. Make sure you don’t take this time for granted and soak it all in while you’re there. You won’t just see one, you’ll see a few of these. Bernie, our tour guide, was excellent in giving details & historical facts!
This is the point where if you don’t feel comfortable climbing or are afraid of heights, you can sit this one out. You have the option of going up the ruin. However, there is a backway that they want you to go to. This is a great place to get your camera ready!
As you head back, it is time for lunch at a really nice palapa (like a tiki hut). We had chicken, rice, plantains, and juice.
Arriving at Cozumel is like arriving at a party. It is very festive! There is music, shopping, and people dressed in traditional Mexican clothing. There are MANY photo ops that will make for some great photos memories!
Mr. Sancho’s Beach Club is not a part of Carnival’s excursion list. I honestly think it should. We were so happy to book this! It was very popular among Facebook travel groups I’m a part of and TripAdvisor.
We took a taxi ride and there is a price list that is listed depending on how many are in your party and where you’re going. This makes it easy for everyone. We were charged $17 each way and there are four of us. Mr. Sancho’s is only about 15 minutes away from the port.
***Make sure you get there early to stake out a good spot for you or your family!
We booked the “All Inclusive Day Pass” back at home prior to arriving. You can book it with just $5 per person online. You can pay the rest when you arrive. With the all-inclusive option, you can drink and eat to your heart’s content. You can either order what you want with your waiter and have it brought to your table/beach chair or walk up to the buffet. The food and service are fantastic!
There are 2 pools with swim-up bars, hammocks, great snorkeling, massages (extra $), kayaking, lockers, cabanas, inflatable water park (extra $), horseback riding (extra $) and shopping on site. As you can see, there is something to do for everyone.
We had staff come around with macaws and iguanas in case we wanted a photo. Because we had photos with macaws already at Mahogany Bay, we decided to get a photo of our son with an iguana. This iguana had a diaper on! Bring cash because these photos were $10 with your camera or $15 with their camera.
The pools are absolutely beautiful, but if you have younger children make sure they’re in earlier in the day, before lunch. It can get a little wild later in the day with adults swimming and drinking.
Snorkeling time!
Horseback Riding
Carnival Cruise has a lot to offer. If you’ve never taken a Carnival Cruise, you should at least go on one once so you can experience it for yourself!
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WARNING: This post may not be pretty, but it’s the truth. Feet & toe photos up ahead. Also, I am not a doctor. Please consult your podiatrist/doctor if your feet hurt for whatever reason. Everything I mention on this post is solely based on my …
There is no reason why children shouldn’t enjoy the benefits of traveling as much as you do. In fact, there are many reasons why travel is great for children and let me explain why.
Do you remember the movie “Home Alone?” Macaulay Culkin played Kevin in this popular Christmas movie. He was accidentally left alone at home while the family went on vacation, but that’s not the main focus of the movie. The main focus of the movie is how Kevin survives when left alone at home.
Let’s hope that never happens to you or your children, but whether you’re alone at home on any day or the house is left alone while you’re on vacation, take these steps to secure your home so that you can spend your precious time with peace of mind that everything is good back at home.
Getting a video doorbell is a great idea because if anyone ever steps onto your property or rings the doorbell, you will have immediate access from your smartphone to see who was there. You can even talk to the person in real time.
Additional security cameras can be purchased for around the home to cover whatever areas you are most concerned about. These areas can also be seen from your smartphone. You can also get crime alerts from your neighborhood which is a great feature. We have and highly recommend the “ring” video doorbell & cameras.
This is a great idea because you never know if immediate access to your home is necessary. If you have pets that can stay home and you don’t want them in a shelter, this is the best way to go. Someone can come in to walk the dog and feed the pets.
Make sure you NEVER leave your house key anywhere outside. This is not a safe alternative. Many thieves look around and under things to find a way in. However, if you had a video doorbell, you could see all of this from anywhere you are in the world! Also, have the person who has your key bring in your mail as frequently as possible and those newspapers/flyers that are thrown on your driveway. Leaving these newspapers/flyers on your driveway is basically announcing to the world that no one is home. We are also very fortunate to have a great friend and family member watch our home and pets while we’re gone.
I suggest this for two major reasons. First, your lawn won’t be overgrown by the time you get back. This will make your life much easier. And second, if you don’t maintain the upkeep, it’s another sure sign that no one may be home. It basically is a calling card for a break in.
Control your lights by a remote/timer and have them come on/off at certain times of the evening. The goal here is to have it look like there are people at home. For example, you can have your lights automatically come on when the front door is opened. You can also have the lights dim in the evening before bedtime. This is an added layer of protection!
Honestly, there are many good-hearted people in the world, but it only takes one creeper to ruin your world. Be careful what you say on social media. Do not say you’re away from home! One way to avoid this is to not take a photo and say that you’re having a wonderful time. Also, don’t tag your location.
I understand you want to share your experiences, especially with loved ones. Social media is great with that, but you can always talk & share photos all about your trip once you get home. This is the same with any videos you take while you’re on vacation. Wait until you get home. A countdown on social media of when you’ll be leaving for your cruise, flight, road trip may seem like fun, but you need to think like a burglar. A countdown for your fun trip is a burglar’s itinerary of when they can schedule their next
Ok. Let me be more specific. If you already have a dog, great. But, if you are planning on getting a dog, get a dog whose natural instinct is to protect. We have a German Shepherd and she is the best guard dog ever! She is playful, sweet, and calm when she knows you. However, if she doesn’t know you she will bark her head off until she does. Truth be told, she has scared the living daylights out of many delivery truck drivers!
First of all, why would you even have your valuables visible on any given day?!? This one makes common sense. If you ever have someone you don’t want in your home, you need to make it very hard for them to find your valuables.
Here’s a tip. It might be a good idea to purchase from Amazon the “Campbell’s Chicken Noodle Soup” stash can! This is a great product because who doesn’t have a multitude of cans in their pantry? If you mix this in with a tiny mark somewhere on the can (so you don’t really accidentally try to open it to cook with-yikes!) then you’ll be good to go.
If you do the bare minimum, at least fake it. Put some fake alarm company signs on your yard. Place some “Beware of Dog” signs around your fence. Place some fake video cameras around the perimeter of your home. A burglar may think twice about coming inside if they think these things are in place. The phrase “working smarter, not harder” really comes in handy here!
This is a wonderful service most police stations or sheriff’s offices graciously provide nowadays for added security especially if you feel uneasy in your own neighborhood. It deters bad news from happening before it happens. Check out this sheriff’s office website about Vacation House Checks. Take a look so you can see what is offered and check with your own local sheriff’s office or police station for more info.
Before leaving home, double check all the locks on your doors and windows. If you have a sliding glass door, make sure to get a security bar. This is great for unwanted guests and an extra security measure for your young children to keep them from wandering outside.
This may sound strange, but if you’re used to keeping your blinds open keep them open while you’re gone. You want to avoid any kind of change, abnormality, or irregularity. But, if you’re used to keeping them closed or you’re someone that sometimes the blinds are open and other times they’re closed, then keep them closed. The point is to not make it obvious that you’re not home.
Have you ever tried any of these tips? Even though it may be an unpleasant memory, did any of these or perhaps other security measures not mentioned here ever come in handy? I can tell you, that numbers 1 and 6 have come in handy a few times for us so far!
When your vacation is long over, make sure to keep your memories alive for years, if not forever, by following my 10 pieces of advice. Let’s face it. It’s hard to remember everything all the time. I like to do these things because when I’m …
This post contains no advice from any medical perspective. These are solely my opinions. If you’re like me, I have “vacation anticipation.” It’s a term that means you just CAN’T WAIT until your vacation and everything you do that leads up to it makes you …
Calabogie Peaks Resort is an escape of its own because it has everything you want in a vacation! Forget renting a car. You don’t need to! However, if you do rent a car, make sure to check out my post on what to do near Calabogie “Ottawa, Canada | You Ottawa Go Here, Eh? A Snowy Christmas Vacation.” If you need a place to eat, check out Shooters Bar & Grill located just six minutes from Calabogie Peaks Resort!
This ski resort is situated in on the eastern side of Ottawa in between Toronto and Montreal. It is about 1.5 hours away from the Ottawa International Airport. It is in the Greater Madawaska area of Ontario and overlooks the beautiful Calabogie Lake. The mountainside of Calabogie absolutely makes this resort top notch because it is great every season.
You don’t need to go to Calabogie Peaks Resort only during the winter months. They have many activities & amenities year round to make even the hermit crab want to come out and play. I will show you the winter activities here, but some of the other season activities include tennis, swimming, canoeing, kayaking, hiking trails, golf and more. There is no shortage of ‘what to do’ here.
Since this is a ski resort, the rooms feel like a mixture between a lodge and a condominium. We stayed in a two story king size and sofa bed room. There are other options, but this fit our family the best. I thank God there was a fireplace in our room! It kept me warm in our -11˚F weather. If you’d like a fireplace, which I highly recommend if you’re visiting during the winter months, you need to call the resort directly and request one.
Our family had never been skiing before and it is something we wanted to try. Honestly, I thought it was way harder than I thought it would be. Putting on those ski boots was really hard and hurt my ankles after a while of skiing. However, I did not fall! I was proud of myself. The resort is awesome for skiers! I might sound like a novice here, because well, I am. It has a ski lift, a conveyor belt for you so you don’t have to ski your way up the bunny slope, and all the equipment you need to rent for your day in the snow.
My favorite activity was tubing. That was my thing! I might not have been good at skiing, but tubing was easy and a lot of fun!
Whether you’re in the mood to stay inside and enjoy the comfy fireplace, go outside and enjoy the scenery, do any of the onsite activities, or just play in the snow, Calabogie Peaks Resort has it all at every season.
