“The car represents freedom, mobility and the control you feel over your destiny/destination,” Callie Khouri, screenwriter of Thelma & Louise.

For many vacation travelers, nothing beats the romance, discovery and convenience of the road trip.

While flying will save you time and an opportunity to earn airline miles, With the continued accumulation of ancillary airline fees, tighter seat configurations, baggage restrictions and airport security delays the road trip just makes sense for many.

Some advantages to road tripping include: You can leave on your schedule, pack as much as you want and you can stop and stretch anytime. In addition, in today’s stress filled world where everyone is consumed by their own distractions, a road trip can be the perfect thing to bring a family together.

Generally if you are traveling 600 miles or less, from an economical standpoint, it is probably more cost effective to drive. Given this, another advantage to road tripping can be cost savings!

These facts may help explain why road trippers make up 85% of leisure travelers and spend $170 billion annually during their journeys. Further, of this 85% populace, 78% said they would drive even if other forms of transportation were available to them (as reported by Project 85, a recent study by Mandala Research and Solutionz).

What often is not as well known however, is that even with apparently simple road trips a qualified travel professional can be extremely helpful.

Why?

Because these travel professionals, like Travel N Relax, often have access to consolidated rates on both hotels and car rentals that can save the traveler money. Further, these professionals will have current up-to-date knowledge of the hotels along the way – from EconoLodges to Four Seasons – that can best fit your personality, desired overnight location and budget.

With this advice and information, going on the road for a relaxing vacation will be even easier and more rewarding for you. You will be able to head off peacefully knowing that your departing in the perfect rental car and have been booked at hotels that match your desires and pocketbook!

While these are just a few of the insights available on road trips we realize you might have others. If so, we would love to hear from you! Your thoughts and comments are always welcome!

There are very few words in the English language that inspire as much disappointment, upset and dare we say anger, as the words “Hostile Takeover.”  Indeed, these two words can understandably lead to distrust, and make even the nicest of people bristly.

Given that, it is certainly no wonder why some consumers may tend to avoid working with a Travel Professional. Indeed, if the consumer is an avid “do it yourselfer,” who enjoys putting together their own travel packages, then to use a Travel Professional may seem like a hostile takeover to them – where the travel consultant is doing nothing for them except taking away their pleasure and joy.

We at Travel N Relax certainly understand this concern, and it is specifically for this reason that we base our business on what we call “client collaboration.”

What is client collaboration? Quite simply it is bringing our clients into the travel planning process and connecting them with the suppliers so that it provides our guests with a more meaningful travel experience where they can become more connected with their travels. In this process it enables our guests to take part in more of the travel planning process with us!

True travel advisors, we believe, should provide clarity, confidence and capability for our guests. Rather than the dates, rates and space business – which a client can find by themselves on any number of online booking engines – our job is to help filter through all of the slash-and-burn pricing, travel “deals,” offers and other “noise” that you will find in the online marketplace, and to offer you instead true transparency, absolute best value and unlimited variety. Additionally we provide our guests with the human connection to the suppliers that an individual cannot find on their own.

That said, rather than a “Hostile Takeover” of the travel planning process, we in fact welcome our guest’s involvement in the process and encourage it! We believe that by participating with us in this process, the guest often feels more empowered and gains a richer travel experience then they could otherwise attain.

On the flip side, we also realize that some do find it a hassle to do trip planning and for them we have you covered too! For you we are happy and able to do the whole process for you.

Whatever you prefer, our desire is to offer you the most “Hassle Free” travel experience and to that end we will work with you to provide whatever level of trip planning you wish for us do.

At Travel N Relax our one goal and our mission is to deliver memorable experiences to everyone who vacations with us. Client collaboration is just one step we take to make sure we accomplish this!

Amusement Parks are supposed to be places of fun and frolic. Whether you are visiting Disneyland or Universal Studios, Magic Mountain or Busch Gardens your time at these family fun destinations should be one of enjoyment and pleasure.

Given that, dehydration, sunburn, nausea or accidental injuries can ruin a family outing fast. For that reason we present some tips from Elizabeth Ringas, a Richmond, Va.-based representative for the club American Coaster Enthusiasts:

Sip water all day long. You’ll prevent symptoms of dehydration — including dizziness, headache and fatigue — and potential digestive issues. “Don’t wait until you feel thirsty and then try to gulp a whole bottle at once,” Ringas says. Avoid caffeine and alcohol.

Slather on sunscreen. Reapply it at least three times daily, or even hourly if you’re on lots of water rides.

Dress appropriately. Don’t wear clothing with hoods or strings, which could get tangled on equipment. Tie back long hair.

Check ride safety in advance … Visit www.saferparks.org for a nationwide database of safety complaints as well as general tips.

… and in person. Skip attractions that don’t look well-maintained, creak or have worn safety straps. Also, be sure ride operators are paying attention.

Follow all rules. If you’re shorter — or taller — than the required height for a ride, don’t try to sneak on. If you’re not supposed to put your hands outside a car, don’t.

Don’t pig out. To avoid motion sickness, limit foods that are greasy, fatty, spicy or high in sugar. Unless you’re sure of your stomach, wait about an hour after eating to get on big rides (see a show or play games instead). Note: Sitting at the front of roller coasters also can help with nausea.

Don’t force kids on rides. A frightened child might try to jump off while a ride is in motion. Also take plenty of breaks — exhausted riders may skip safety steps or lack the strength to brace their bodies as needed on hills and curves.

By following these simple steps you can assure yourself both a Hassle free vacation escape and a good time!

In our last few posts we have been looking at the impacts of Hollywood on the State of Hawaii. Today we felt we would come back to the “Mainland” to visit the “Home of Hollywood” – Los Angeles.

Los Angeles or “LA” for short is a magnificent family fun destination full of endless family adventures that can cover all spectrums of the budget.

While most immediately consider LA to be a highly expensive place to visit, there are in fact many family suitable things to see in do in this amazing metropolis.

Among these spots, Hollywood itself awaits the movie fanatic (and others with a love for film). Sid Grauman’s Chinese Theatre at Hollywood and Highland Boulevard’s is famous for both its architecture and the hand and footprints of star’s that reside in the sidewalk outside the door. Here too one will find Celebrity impersonators who prowl the sidewalk, posing for photos with the passers-by (for a small tip). Of course the world-famous Hollywood sign (originally built to advertise a new subdivision that was going to be built in that location) is also near by as are many famous movie studios such as the Walt Disney Studios (closed for tours) in nearby Burbank.

Almost as much of an icon as Disneyland or the Hollywood sign are Los Angeles beaches. Each has its own character and personality so you will want to pick wisely to determine the best beach for you!

When you are ready to get back to more culture Downtown Los Angeles is an often overlooked and underappreciated spot. Nowhere else in the metro area encompasses so many aspects of the city’s colorful history as downtown Los Angeles does. From the Asian feel of Chinatown and Little Tokyo to the Spanish history and culture of Olvera Street – El Pueblo de Los Angeles – where the city began in 1781, downtown LA is a mish mash of different cultures and flavors. As with most major cities LA also has an interesting Fashion and Theater district as well as a quality open air market. Children will enjoy the Angels Flight which is billed as the as the “shortest railroad in the world!” Also in this area is the Los Angeles City Hall famous for its roles as the Daily Planet on the Superman television series and the location of Joe Friday’s office on Dragnet.

Those with an interest in History and nature will enjoy the La Brea Tar Pits that offers a fascinating look at life in Los Angeles before the people moved in. The still-oozing tar pits have trapped and preserved a mind-boggling array of creatures over the past 30,000 years, including woolly mammoths, dire wolves and sabre-toothed cats.

As might be expected in a city of about 3,792,621 this listing only very lightly skims the surface of all that there is to see and do in Los Angeles and its surrounding areas. Of course the city also offers the world famous theme parks, multiple National Recreation areas and nearby national parks, historic areas and really pretty much whatever else your personal interest might be from “A” – Aquarium of the Pacific – to “Z” – Zuma Beach!

Suffice to say Los Angeles truly makes up one of the best family friendly vacation destinations the United States has to offer you and we encourage you to visit and experience it.