Choose Dallas: 4 Types of Trips to Take in the Big D

Going away on business or planning a couples retreat? Either way, Dallas has something for everyone. If you're heading to the land of big hair, big egos and big guns, here's a few ideas of where (and how) to spend time.

For a Relaxing Retreat:

If wouldn't be Texas without rustic beauty, hunting and luxurious amenities. Nestled on 11,000 acres in the foothills of Texas Hill Country, Rough Creek Lodge and Resort is equipped with 57-guest rooms and suites with exclusive cabins and guest houses. The resort is equipped with fine dining, a spa and facilities for shooting, fishing, golf, horseback riding and more. The lodge resort is located about 70 miles (90 minutes) from Dallas, but Toyota rental cars are available around the city and airport.

If traveling outside of the city isn't what you have in mind, look to stay closer to the heart of Dallas by reserving a room at the Maple Manor Hotel. It's rated the '#1 romantic hotel in Dallas,' and with all the weddings held there, the five-suite bed and breakfast oasis is sure to be conducive to love.

For Those Away on Business:

One of the most recognizable landmarks and unofficial symbols of Dallas, Reunion Tower offers sight-seers a 360-degree view of Dallas and the surrounding areas. The tower stands 561-feet tall, according to Emporis.com, a global provider of building information, and houses an observation deck and revolving restaurant Five Sixty by Wolfgang Puck. Though it should be noted, the tower opens at 5:30 PM and is only available for those to participate in the (rather expensive) lounge and dining experience, while taking in the view.

For Relationship Training:

If a relaxing retreat isn't enough and it often isn't enjoy Dallas while helping your relationship heal at a couples counseling camp. According to Marriagebootcamp.com, director Jim Carroll designed the program to help couples work through issues using games, drills, competitions and skits. Focusing on application instead of lecture, the purpose of the intense four-day camp is to help couples solve root problems and decide "whether to stay and heal or make peace with the outcome," according to the site.

*In 2013, Marriage Boot Camp will be held in Dallas on the following dates: Jan 23-26, March 6-9, April 10-13, June 12-15, July 17-20, Sept 11-13 and Nov. 13-16.

For History Buffs:

Housed in the building where the (in)famous shots were fired, the Sixth Floor Museum is a historic exhibition of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. The museum is located on the sixth floor of the Dallas County Administration Building, formerly the Texas School Book Depository. Using footage, audio clips and eyewitness accounts to reconstruct the tragic event, museum-goers can get a good idea of what happened the day of, and even see the exact window Lee Harvey Oswald opened fire upon the motorcade. If you have doubts about Oswald being the true shooter don't worry, a travel review guide, Lonely Planet, noted the museum doesn't shy away from conspiracy theories. Open daily except for Thanksgiving and Xmas day, adult admission is $16 with discounts for seniors, youth and children.

Packing Tips for Getting Through Airport Security Quickly

We all know the difficulties of maneuvering the security zones at airports nowadays. You feel you've timed the trip just right only to be thwarted by the long lines of clueless travelers that are most certainly the opposite of prepared. But it's difficult not to feel just as clueless as the next guy when our friends at the TSA are constantly altering the rules. It seems all but the most frequent of travelers tend to find themselves reading (and re-reading) the regulations the night before a flight. 

Questions abound. Will the x-ray's harm my camera? What about my laptop? Should I wear these knee-high lace-up boots? And perhaps, most importantly, what do I do with this bottle of water I just bought? Lucky for you, we have some packing tips to get you through security quickly and with some semblance of sanity remaining when you reach the gate. 

Don't Over Pack

With most items under some element of scrutiny and checked baggage becoming pricier per pound, be sure to pack only what you need. Not only will this clear clutter for your own sake, neatly packed layers allow items to be seen more clearly during scanning. A jumble of clothes and innocent items can be easily mistaken for contraband. 

Tote Your Technology

Pack your digital cameras, computers and i-everything in your carry-on rather than checked baggage and pack it on top. You will need to take these out for screening, so keep e-items accessible. If you're still lugging around undeveloped film, be sure to let security workers in on the secret to prevent exposure during the x-ray process. 

Liquid Courage

The TSA's standing on liquids has been as fluid as your Ziploc bag's contents. Currently, the ruling is a catchy "3-1-1." One plastic bag that is one quart in size containing only 3.4 oz size containers of liquids or gels. Products such as lotion, hairspray, and liquid makeup are all included in the rule. Luckily the beauty product industry is hip to the rule and now sells most products in true travel sizes of 3.4 ounces or less. Certain items, such as medications or baby formula aren't subject to the size rule, but be prepared to declare them. For all liquids, ensconced in clear plastic or not, keep them handy so they can be sent through the screener with the rest of your items. 

Dress to Impress

The security team that is. After all that careful packing, be sure to wear clothing that will cause the fewest snags as you snail through the line. Rather than donning that pull-over sweater, opt for a cardigan that can easily be removed. Tuck metal items into coat or sweater pockets so when it comes off, they come off. Please wear shoes without laces. No one wants to wait for the time it takes to untie and then retie a pair of shoes, least of all you. Pick a pair of boots that zip, or better yet, slip-ons. They're the simplest option and offer the added bonus of allowing you to slide them off and settle in on long flights.

Hopefully, with a bit of preparation and some forward thinking, the security area of your home airport won't be the most exhausting part of your trip. Unfortunately, however, you will have to toss that bottle of water. 
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This article was contributed by Kyle Telenko, a writer for a website providing homeowners insurance quotes, homeownersinsurance-qutoes.org. Kyle primarily writes about home and travel insurance, but also writes about home maintenance tips and travel safety.

It's Never Too Early to Plan Your Honeymoon

You're engaged. You're meeting with wedding planners and caterers, and you're browsing in bridal shops and touring potential venues. You think planning the wedding is the hardest part and the honeymoon should be a piece of cake. It's just a matter of deciding where you want to go and booking a flight. Right? Wrong.

Even if you think that planning the honeymoon is easy as pie, plan that in advance too. A year or more before the wedding, start thinking about when you'd like to travel.  Some people like to honeymoon immediately after their weddings, while others prefer to wait a while. This is also the time to discuss where you'd like to go, what you can afford, and what sort of accommodations interest you. Think about it, talk it through together, and do your research—but don't dawdle, because scheduled flights can only be confirmed up to eleven months in advance.

Plan Ahead

One of the most common pitfalls engaged couples face is failing to attack their honeymoon planning with the same enthusiasm they're dedicating to wedding plans. Failing to start honeymoon planning in time could mean that you might have to spend this one-in-a-lifetime trip in a place that wasn't your first choice, or that you can't afford, or that your dream property is booked up. Also, if you don't have enough time to compare travel insurance policies, you might run into trouble if you have to cancel or reschedule anything, or if bad weather hits. Anything and everything could go wrong.
Is there a timeline we should use when planning our honeymoon?

Book the Transportation

Up to 9 months before the wedding, you should have booked your flight and accommodations, and secured them with a credit card. Set up a folder to keep all your documents organized, and check into whether you'll need any immunizations or special medications. Be sure to tell your travel agent or booking specialists that you're going on a honeymoon—you may qualify for better deals. To save some money (after all, weddings are expensive), you can compare travel insurance rates and prepare ahead.

Renew ID

3 to 6 months before the wedding, make arrangements to obtain or renew your passport and visas if you're traveling internationally. Ask a friend to watch your house, and reserve a place for Kitty and Fido at the kennel. Get any immunizations you might need, and book any excursions you plan to take or shows you plan to see.

One to two months before the wedding, confirm all your reservations and put a hold on your wedding registries, so gifts don't arrive when you're not home. Organize your luggage, read through government websites so you know what you can't take with you, and buy guidebooks. Prepare a list of items you need to pack, and make sure you have enough money in your bank accounts to cover your expenses.

Pack Your Bags

One week before the wedding, pack your bags and make sure you have all the cash and traveler's checks you need. Photocopy your government documents, like passports, and leave them with a trustworthy friend or family member. Place your mail on 'hold' at the Post Office, and deter burglars by canceling the newspaper and putting timers on your lights.

It takes a lot to pull off a major trip like a honeymoon, and you can never begin planning too soon! Use these tips and enjoy your time in the sun. Before you know it, the honeymoon is over and it's time to settle into the everyday hum-drum of being married.

How To Find A Secret Hotel

For some travelers it is a bargain, for others it is a bit of fun. Over the last few years, four and five star hotels in capital cities have been offering what appear to be superb deals. Online booking agents provide a brief description of anonymous hotels in various locations. Take a gamble, book into a hotel that appears to suit your needs and receive a discount of between 35% and 50% on the room price. You find out the name of the hotel only after your booking is accepted.

Secret hotel deals work on customer and seller psychology. Hotels can`t cut their room prices like a high street discount store is able to. They have fixed costs whatever their room occupancy. They don`t want to have unsalable, empty rooms, but if they fill their rooms at deeply cut prices, their running costs increase and they stand to make a loss.

Four and five star hotels build a reputation on the back of quality and service, rather than price. Customers gambling on a secret deal are looking for this service. Those travelers who just want to find a cut price hotel for the night tend to opt for a budget chain hostelry in a less elegant part of town. If the secret hotel offers a free bottle of wine on arrival, their customers may be tempted to use the hotel`s restaurant rather than going out for dinner.

Major city hotels depend highly on business traveller trade and tend to adjust room prices to reflect this. Prices are higher during the week than at weekends. If a city centre hotel has weekend rooms on offer via an online agency, the discount may not be as great in cash terms as its seems as a percentage of the perceived room price. Customers, for their part, can easily find out the name of a hotel from the booking agency`s online description, hotel websites in the city in question and a variety of search engines. So they may not be opting for too secret a deal, but they keep the perception that they are buying value for money.

Mystery hotel deals began as weekend room offers by capital city-based hotels. The business is spreading to regional cities, as well as countryside and beach resort hotels that have greater mid-week room availability than at weekends. Booking times vary. Customers may be able to reserve a room up to three months ahead in some hotels, or just a day ahead in others to take advantage of a sudden cancellation. Just fill in the online booking form and sites such as secrethotels.org will arrange your bargain break.

A Somewhat Stress-Free Airport Departure is an Achievable Dream

Traveling through an airport is no piece of cake, but if you prepare for everything well in advance and decide to travel light, the odds are that things will go swimmingly. Every traveler's dream is to get from the sliding doors, through check-in, past security, and to the plane in ten minutes. With everything from security checks to problems with your ticket as possible curve balls, your airport adventure has a 50/50 chance of being an experience from hell. Instead of clicking your heels together and wishing it all just came true for you, it's a good rule of thumb to be prepared. Like a well-oiled machine, using these tips will help runs things a little more smoothly when you're trying to catch your flight.

Take Carry-On Luggage Only

USA Today highly recommends traveling with carry-on luggage exclusively. This eliminates wasting time on check in and saves time by avoiding the huge wait for luggage. Weight limits for many airlines have been decreased. Some airlines have a weight limit of 50 pounds total for checked luggage. You might as well pack carefully and save time with an efficient carry-on package.

Keep Electronics Secure

When you are at the airport, be careful not to use a Wi-Fi public hotspot with insufficient encryption. If you do, someone could possibly discover your personal information and try to use it. When you use a public wireless network, you should assume that anyone can access your computer. Lifelock's experts provide advice on how to secure your computer and protect your data from hackers while using a wireless device.

• Use a Firewall -Those users who have Windows XP with Service Pack 2, Windows Vista and Windows 7 have firewalls built into their operating systems.


• Hide Your files – Check the network's website and read their privacy statement to learn about the type of encryption they use. If they lack this information, you would be wise not to use the network. If you don't have an operating system with encryption tools, consider getting one.


• Don't Type Personal Information – When on a public network, don't ever enter your credit card, banking information, social security number or password.
  


• Disable Wireless - If you are not using the Internet, simply turn off your wireless network.

Dress For Success

USA Today also recommends dressing for the easiest passage through security. Avoid metallic jewelry and other metallic items. Wear shoes that easily slide off. Shoes with complex lacing and buckles can leave you barefoot and hopping around for more minutes than they're worth. Don't forget to wear socks to protect your feet from being totally bare and exposed to airport bacteria. Make sure you have a convenient, but safe, place to stow your ID and boarding pass, which may be asked for more than once.

Know TSA Rules

TSA has many rules regarding security. Those who are not aware of them can slow down the process for everyone else. The TSA rules, which can be downloaded for viewing, change frequently, so it's a smart idea to regularly keep up on them. The categories for prohibited items are:

• Sharp objects


• Sporting goods


• Guns and firearms


• Tools


• Martial arts and self defense items


• Explosive and flammable materials, disabling chemicals and other dangerous items


• Other items

See, airport experiences don't have to be so hard. A well-planned, well-prepared traveler is a happy one. Heeding these tips will help you go from stop to stop in no time and off to your destination.

Hawaii's Enchanting All-Day Farmers' Markets

Most people don't need their arms twisted to consider visiting Hawaii. The beautiful beaches, laid back atmosphere, amazing scenery, and warm weather attracts tourists year-round to the Hawaiian Islands. What many people may not know is that when the sun goes down and the sunbathers and surfers abandon the shores, there is still plenty to do in Hawaii. The islands are home to enchanting nighttime farmers' markets that are a must-see for tourists.

What to Expect at a Farmers' Market

Farmers' markets are a place for the local vendors to set-up concession stands and make goods available for purchase. Although local produce and other food items from local farms are staple items for sale at farmers' markets- visitors may find a range of goods for sale from used farm equipment to flowers.

Farmers' markets are a great place for people who enjoy fresh, organic food to shop. Farmers all also on hand to answer any questions about growing practices.

A typical farmers' market is not just a place to pick up groceries. Travelers and locals in Hawaii can find ready-to-eat Hawaiian specialties next to stalls selling locally grown fruits and vegetables. Flowers, craft items, and clothing may also be found. The charm of a farmers' market is not limited to delicious food. Storytellers, musicians, artists and performers contribute to a festival-like atmosphere. Attending Hawaiian markets can be equally relaxing as entertaining.
Farmers' markets are important for the local economy in Hawaii and all over the United States. Small farms rely on these markets to bring in a significant portion of profits. Locals also view markets as opportunities to catch-up with the news of their friends and community, and opportunities to meet new people.

What to Bring to a Farmers' Market

When traveling to a Farmers' Market, be sure to have a personal shopping cart and some canvas shopping bags. This will free your hands and make shopping a real pleasure, not just a rush to empty your hands from all those bags of produce you are sure to buy.

Summer Holiday Locations

Summer is the ideal time to go away on holiday. The school holidays coincide with the summer, so this is usually the time that families with children pack their leisure wear and head for somewhere exciting. Even young couples or singles take to the road at this time as the weather is generally great and places look their best.

Scotland in the summer is an exciting place with an extraordinary variety of activities. The cities have excellent accommodation ranging from cheap hostels to luxurious hotels. Public transport is on hand and cars are easy to rent. The nightlife is vibrant and there are a large number of very good restaurants, pubs and clubs to entertain you. The Edinburgh Festival is one of the most popular in the world.

But the true charm of the country probably lies in its stunning natural beauty. Lochs and hills, cliffs and forests form part of the only remaining true wilderness in the UK. Whether you live in one of the many charming self catering cottages, a farm house or a comfortable caravan, your day trips will excite and amaze you. Beach cottages are the ultimate homes in which to relax. Visiting the islands will enchant you with interesting archaeological sites and snow white beaches. Golfers will rejoice to know that there are 550 courses to choose from. And whisky lovers will find enough distilleries to visit to last them for a lifetime.

"When a man is tired of London, he is tired of life". Samuel Johnson was right - the capital has so much to see and do that it would take you an entire year to explore it all. The Natural History Museum and the Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew are just two of the fascinating places to visit; and of course the Tower of London, Buckingham Palace, the London Eye and many more. The shops in London are legendary - whether you visit the famous ones like Harrods or the quaint little shops in Camden Town, you can spend days in a daze of retail therapy.

Visiting the theaters for the many excellent plays will keep you busy every night for weeks. Some of the longest-running plays can still be seen, such as The Phantom of the Opera. Transport to and in London is varied and very well-developed. Accommodation outside the city centre is cheaper yet still very good.

Alternative places to visit for a great summer holiday include the coast of Spain with its stunning beaches and lively party life. Portugal will give you much of the same but at a fraction of the cost. France offers a fascinating contrast between the sophisticated cities and the rural towns. Italy and Germany are also geared towards tourists. For a cheaper and very different experience, visit Romania or any other of the previously communist countries.

For those holiday makers who enjoy activity weekends, going backpacking or cycling in the UK or Europe, or camping in nature could be the ideal holiday. You could either join a tour group or grab a map and compass and go off by yourself. Stopping to swim in the heat of the afternoon or fishing for your supper that you can fry over your own fire is adventurous yet relaxing.