REPOST: Why You Really Shouldn’t Skip Your Vacation Days

Vacations are a privilege given by employers to their employees. However, some people like to just skip their vacation days. This article from Care2.com gives us five reasons not to.

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Still have vacation days left in the bank for 2014? Start planning a getaway—here are five ways taking a vacation is good for your health, happiness, and even work and home life.

Planning a vacation boosts happiness

Here’s a convincing case for taking—or at least planning—a vacation every two months: researchers found that just the anticipation of a vacation boosts happiness for eight weeks. After the getaway, happiness levels go back to what they were…meaning it’s the perfect time to start planning the next one, right?

Going on vacation makes you a better employee

Can taking a break from your job make you better at it? One study of Ernst and Young employees found that performance evaluations improved by eight percent for each additional 10 hours of vacation time they took. Those who took frequent vacations were also less likely to leave the company.

Vacations can boost your energy

All that relaxing can actually make you feel more energetic. In one study, researchers found that 94 percent of people had as much or more energy after coming back from a trip. 55 percent came back to work with higher energy levels than before the trip.

Vacations may keep your heart healthy

In one study of 13,000 men at risk for heart disease, those who skipped vacations for five years in a row were 30 percent more likely to have a heart attack than those who took at least a week off every year. And other research found a similar correlation for women—women who vacationed once every six years or less were more likely to develop heart disease and twice-a-year vacationers.

Vacations can strengthen family bonds

Planning a trip for the whole family can grow your relationships and improve your everyday home lives. 97 percent of parents reported feeling like their kids learned new things about them during a family trip. The majority also felt that a family vacation made the family more excited, relaxed, and affectionate.

Learn more about the benefits of taking a vacation by following this Lagniappe Destinations Twitter account.

REPOST: Advent As It Was Meant to be Celebrated: In Europe

Christmas is one of the most anticipated holidays of the year and it is the perfect time to take a vacation with your family. This article by James Ruggia of  Travel Pulse shares the many fun activities you can do on a trip to Europe.

PHOTO: The Freiburg Christmas Market typifies markets throughout Central Europe where family fun trumps shopping. |
Image Source: travelpulse.com

Pretty soon Black Friday will make its annual post-Thanksgiving hash of Christmas tradition as the buying frenzy turns picking up a gift into the equivalent of trying to dig the puck out from behind the net against the Philadelphia Flyers. So if your idea of Christmas doesn’t correspond to throwing forearms and body checks at Walmart, you might consider these European holiday suggestions from tour operators and river cruisers. 

In Europe Advent runs approximately, depending where you are, four weeks from the end of November through Christmas. Forget the crowded parking lots and clotted highways. The Christmas markets in Europecome with a scent of pine, cinnamon and all spice as the Glühwein wafts out of the hot vats and the roasting nuts are purchased in small bags as you look through stalls at hand crafted nutcrackers and toys.

"For Europeans, Christmas markets are very special social events,” said Harry Dalgaard, the president of Avanti Destinations. “The markets are where locals go to hang out with their friends, have a drink and some seasonal dishes, listen to choirs and bands and watch dancing. It's like a community party that you can keep returning to.”

Avanti specializes in tailored land-only itineraries and is offering several Christmas market options. They suggest a four-day/three-night Munich vacation, priced from $495 per person double, with a Christmas market pass, sightseeing tour, daily breakfast and roundtrip transfers to the train station.

“The train system in Europe makes it possible to use cities like Munich and Nuremberg as hubs for quick daytrips - or evening trips - to see the Christmas markets in other towns,” said Dalgaard. “From Munich you can easily visit Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Augsburg, Ulm. Avanti’s Nuremberg Christmas market vacation is priced from $559.

PHOTO: Christmas markets in Europe offer something a bit more pleasant than Black Friday at Walmarts. | Image Source: travelpulse.com

If a tour is more up your alley, Insight Vacations’ 2014/2015 Winter & Spring Europe Collection also features Christmas markets. “Our Signature Events have been bought to the forefront in the popular Christmas market itineraries,” said Insight President Phil Cappelli. “This year, our guests won’t just be visiting some of the best markets in Germany, Austria, France and Switzerland – they will have the chance to meet a market stall holder in Dresden and learn about Glühwein and Stollen bread.”


CroisiEurope's Holiday Cruises, priced from $495 per person, feature both Christmas markets and New Year’s cruises. These short cruises can be added onto other European journeys offering not only markets, but local Christmas Eve masses, New Year's Eve dinners and city tours.

For instance, the Venice and the Venetian Lagoon at Christmas: Journey along the Po, from $971 per person double, adds a private boat excursion to the islands in the lagoon before heading to Venice for a tour of St. Mark’s Square and midnight mass at St. Mark's Basilica.

The four-day Christmas in Alsace: Potter Villages and Revue at the Royal Palace, from $533, explores the Rhine while visiting the Potter Village and the Christmas market in Strasbourg. The five-day New Year in the Bordeaux Region on the Gironde and Dordogne River, from $1,278, explores Bordeaux with Chateaux tours and a New Year’s dinner.

Emerald Waterways’ 15-day Christmas Markets, from $3,960 to $7,705 per person double, visits more than 25 markets, departs from Amsterdam on Nov. 29 and concludes on Dec. 13 in Budapest. Emerald Waterways also offers travelers a chance to experience the Christmas Markets on shorter sailings with two, eight-day itineraries: Amsterdam to Nuremberg, departing Nov. 29, and Nuremberg to Budapest, departing Dec. 6. Prices for the eight-day sailings range from $2,080 to $3,955.
Scenic Cruises’ Christmas Market Cruises include the 15-day Christmas Markets River Cruise departs Nov. 24 from Budapest to Amsterdam with fares of $6,555 to $10,045 per person double, while the16-day Christmas River Cruise sails the reverse route on Dec. 15 and is priced from $7,235 to $10,760.

Shorter sailings are also offered: the eight-day Christmas Market Danube Discovery Cruise on Nov. 24 travels from Budapest to Nuremburg at $3,530 to $5,350; and the eight-day Treasures of the Rhine Christmas Markets Cruise on Dec. 1 sails from Nuremburg to Amsterdam at fares of $2,975 to $4,440.

 Land cruising by rail is another way to visit the markets. Vacations By Rail New 2015 brochure includes nine-day tour that visits to four of Europe’s best Christmas markets Munich, Nuremberg, Salzburg and Vienna. Prices start at $2,195 per person double.

If you’re headed through France you might treat yourself to business class on La Compagnie, a new boutique, all business-class airline, which is offering a pre-holiday special for two people traveling together between New York and Paris Priced from $2,599. It’s valid until Dec. 12 for travel completed by Dec. 15. The airline features business class lie-flat seats, inflight entertainment provided on Samsung Galaxy Tablets, an amenity kit, and dining service created by Michelin-starred Chef Christophe Langrée.

Discover the hottest destinations and the most useful travel tips by following this Lagniappe Destinations Twitter account.

It’s a beachy world: Five reasons people love the waters

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Fresh air, serenity, and waves crashing over the shore… Can this setup get any better?

For travelers, these are just some of the best ways to describe a perfect vacation on the beach, which does not only offer loads of fun but also a good way for living a healthy and peaceful life. Here are a few motivations to rest easy on sand and under sky:

It enhances mood. Studies show that beaches are good mood enhancers. Dr. Matthew White, in a BBC article, explains that being near the waters enhances physical and mental health by reconnecting a person to the environment.

It relaxes the mind. Studies also show that elements that embody the sea, such as sounds of crashing waves, are many people’s idea of relaxing. These, according to scientists, are evocative and influential to how people feel.

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It offers a restorative environment. An article published in Medical Daily highlighted studies revealing that natural environments like beaches provide more restorative benefits to people than gyms and entertainment venues—making the beach one of the best places to contemplate and rejuvenate body and soul.

It is therapeutic. Sea water contains high levels of minerals that offer therapeutic and detoxifying effects so the body can heal.

It decreases depression. A beach vacation helps unplug the mind, body, and soul. Experts suggest that letting go of technologies such as smartphones and tablets while on the beach can further its benefits. 

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Indeed, the beach is a magical place that can help people stay fit both physically and mentally, so future travelers must consider spending their time on the beach once in a while, especially during stressful periods.

Get more insights on leisure and travel from this Lagniappe Destinations page.

Backpacker secrets: A guide for newbies

Backpacking is one of the most economical options for people who want to travel the world. Apart from it being easy on the finances, this type of travel challenges vacationers to venture on a trip they have never experienced before. The thrill comes from lodging in inexpensive hotels, enduring long trails, and immersing in nature and its stunning scenes.

For starters, however, the preparation for this journey might need a little more effort compared to conventional trips. Here is a short guide for first time backpackers on roughing it:

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Do physical training before travelling. An average backpacker carries about one-sixth and one-third of his or her own body weight. Hence, cardiovascular and muscular training are keys to survival. The training should include aerobic exercises like walking, running, biking, and swimming.

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Map out the trip. Knowing the distance to be covered per day directs time and energy toward efficient allotments. The plan should factor in fitness level, the weight of the pack, the terrain, and the condition of co-travellers.

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Complete gear and plan meals. Websites like www.backpacker.com brief travellers on the right equipment for backpacking. Meal planning avoids food and water shortage. It helps to research on the destination in order to find out from where to source food and water in case they run out.

Let travel expert Lagniappe Destinations guide you to the most memorable vacation. Learn more tips and ideas by visiting this blog.

REPOST: 5 Simple Tips For Taking Killer Instagram Travel Photos

This Huffington Post article shares pointers from Foto Ruta on how to capture beautiful travel photos for Instagram.

When you're visiting a beautiful new place, it's perfectly natural to want to capture the moment with a camera to take it home with you -- or Instagram it, so you can share it with your friends immediately.

Well, creative tourism startup Foto Ruta (that's Spanish for "photo route") is here to help optimize this combination of exploration and photography. The company provides informational tours that come with tips about how to capture each destination on camera. Currently, they run tours in Buenos Aires, Barcelona, London and Santiago, as well as pop up events in New York City.

Sound like fun? We thought so. But, if you can't get to one of these destination spots, don't fret -- Foto Ruta gave The Huffington Post a few tips for taking photos on smartphones, no matter where you are. And the photos below -- all taken with iPhones on Foto Ruta tours -- are stunning examples.

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Create a mood. Smartphone photography is as much about creating an image as capturing it. Think about what mood you want to convey in your picture, and then select an app or filter that enhances it.

 

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Move your body and think about viewpoint. Using creative angles to frame your shot will take an ordinary photo to new heights. Think of using a bird's-eye perspective, or get down to street level.

 

Image Source: huffingtonpost.com

Get close. Really close. The iPhone and most Androids have increasingly improved technology for capturing detail and focusing up close. Test the limits of your camera, and try some macro shots. You’ll be impressed with what you can create.

 

Image Source: huffingtonpost.com

Crop instead of zooming. Using your smartphone’s digital zoom can result in a loss of quality. If you’re far from your subject, take the shot and crop later.

Image Source: huffingtonpost.com

Look for the light. The lower the light, the more grainy the photo will be. So if you want a crisp picture, look for where the light is -- and play around with it.

Image Source: huffingtonpost.com

All the things you need to know about having the best vacation ever are featured on this Lagniappe Destinations blog.

Family vacations need not be expensive

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Admit it: you and your family would most definitely want to pack your bags and travel if it weren’t for what would normally be prohibitive costs. But with good planning and decision-making, you won’t need to break the bank to get that dream vacation.

Plan itineraries and book your flights and accommodations early. No one wants to be hassled over last minute changes. Hotels and airline companies release promos about six to ten months out. Make sure to check deals with your local travel agent. Consider as well how your family will go around the area, so be sure to book a car rental service or research on public transportation lines way ahead. Estimate as well if bringing the family car would be more economical.

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Apart from transportation and accommodation expenses, food is the priority budgeting concern. Instead of relying on your hotel or buying fast food, check the local market or deli for quick meals you can prepare yourself. You can be sure that it’s more budget-friendly and you’ll have a wider choice for food and snacks.

Lastly, family activities need not be entirely about paid tours and entrances. Find out if the area has a public park or a beach that doesn’t charge for tags. Visiting small historical sites has the same effect of appreciating the place’s culture and history. Balance this with the paid tours and everyone wins. After all, no one wants bored family members in what is supposed to be a fun vacation.

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Learn other family travel tips by visiting this Lagniappe Destinations Google+ page.

Plan and book vacations early

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It’s one of the worst kept secrets. The best travel deals can be availed when you plan and book your vacations early. Even travel agents encourage their patrons to do this.

It’s easy to understand why. First of all, booking early means discounts. Depending on the money that can be saved, one can upgrade to better amenities for flights and hotels. Early bookers can easily avail of special deals since airline and hotel companies frequently give out promos to ensure they meet their quota, especially during non-peak periods.

Booking early also means that there are a lot more options to choose from. Whether booking for a flight or accommodation, the chances of getting choice seats or suites are high. In fact, early bookings sometimes get the benefit of free upgrades and additional amenities.

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So, when is the right time to book? When is early the right kind of early? Travel agents usually announce promos from September through October. This is so because summer trips would have been concluded right before this time. Like buying décor immediately after the holidays, expect to get bigger discounts during this period. Check in frequently with the local travel agency and decide seven to six months out. Otherwise, prices would start reverting back to regular rates.

By booking early, one not only gets discounts and other privileges. It’s also for peace of mind. After all, vacations are a time to relax and recharge without having to worry about anything.

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Get more tips on how to enjoy your vacations best from this Lagniappe Destinations page.

Visiting New Orleans: Five unusual tourist attractions

New Orleans is a melting pot of cultural influences: European, Caribbean, African, and more. The largest city in Louisiana, New Orleans has plenty to offer tourists looking for adventure, relaxation, music, wine, and great food. But a big part of what makes New Orleans unique from many other Louisiana cities are the many strange attractions that can be found all over the city. Listed below are five unusual destinations in The Big Easy.

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1. St Louis Cemetery No. 1 is New Orleans' oldest cemetery and arguably the most famous. All of the graves in this cemetery are colorful above-ground tombs.

Many famous New Orleans residents were buried here, among them, Marie Laveau, New Orleans' Voodoo queen. Her tomb is littered with offerings and covered with X marks drawn by admirers who believe that if they do so, Marie Laveau will grant them a wish from beyond the grave. The actor Nicolas Cage also purchased a plot here, and had a large pyramid-shaped tomb erected on it.

Image Source: neworleansonline.com

2. The Carousel Gardens Amusement Park's centerpiece is an antique, 19th century carousel, one of 100 left in the United States and the only one left in the state of Louisiana. The carousel is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Children of all ages will enjoy riding one of its 54 carved animals or any of the park's 17 rides.

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3. Blaine Kern's Mardi Gras World is where more than 80 percent of Mardi Gras floats are made. Visitors can tour the facilities and view works in progress, try on outrageous Mardi Gras costumes, and learn about the traditions surrounding the famous annual parade.

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4. The Pepper Palace in the French Quarter is a store that sells all things spicy: hot sauce, salsa, pickles, and even habanero-flavored pralines.

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5. The Steamboat Nanchez is the only authentic steamboat left on the Mississippi River. Guests can go on a cruise and enjoy listening to live jazz music while dining on Creole food and local beverages.  

Lagniappe Destinations is a vacation community with properties in Louisiana, South Carolina, and Tennessee. For more travel articles, subscribe to this blog.

Three must-visit eco-adventure destinations in Colorado

"Take nothing but memories, leave nothing but footprints," or so the saying goes. Ecotourism is defined as travel to a pristine, natural area for the purposes of:

• Education

• Support for the area's conservation efforts

• Providing sustainable benefits to the community

• Appreciation for and sensitivity towards biodiversity and local culture.

Being an eco-tourist is no more difficult than being a regular tourist, and can be more meaningful and memorable.

Colorado, with its acres of lush forests, hundreds of miles of nature trails, and 42 state parks, is frequented by eco-tourists all over the world. Listed below are three of Colorado's eco-adventure destinations.

Image Source: marbletourismassociation.org

1. The Colorado Trail runs for 438 miles, traversing the Colorado Mountains and passing through seven national forests, five rivers, and several elevation changes. The Western part of the trail is the most pristine, and trekkers are treated to beautiful views of the surrounding mountains and forests and wildflowers. The Colorado Trail Foundation's team of volunteers offer supported treks for hikers wishing to hike the trail in segments.

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2. Rocky Mountain National Park offers breathtaking views of mountains, more than a hundred lakes, montane forests, and grasslands. The park is surrounded by three national forests and has four distinct ecosystems. Wildlife viewing is a popular activity. Some of the animals that call the park home are elk, mule deer, mountain lions, otters, and large yellow-bellied marmot squirrels. The park offers a "Rocky's Junior Training Program" for budding eco-adventurers.

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 3. The Hallam Lake Nature Preserve in Aspen is a 25-acre nature preserve and environmental center. The preserve, which features a nature trail through wetlands, aspen forests, and wildflower meadows, offers eco-friendly activities like bird-watching (the area is home to golden eagles and the great horned owl,) nature crafts, and classes on organic gardening and herb cultivation.

All three destinations accept volunteers to help with conservation, allowing eco-tourists give back to the environment and the community in return for the chance to experience the wonders of nature in one of the country's most beautiful states.  

For more travel-related articles, like this Lagniappe Destinations Facebook page.

Summer is here: Ready, set, travel

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The seasons offer different travel experiences. Spring provides a wonderful escape. Autumn inspires a romantic getaway, while winter presents a cozy retreat. As for summer, it is all about fun-filled adventures. Thus, it comes as no surprise that airlines are expecting a jump in travel this summer. After all, 10 of the 15 busiest travel days of the year take place in the summer.

The bright outlook in summer travel also bids well for travel booking companies. Travel firms, especially companies like Lagniappe Destinations that offer vacationers a unique collection of destinations at reasonable packages, will reap not only good business but loyal customers, too.

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But perhaps, the fun of summer vacation is best experienced by those who are ready for all kinds of adventures. Whether cooling off in these bargain destinations or relaxing in popular vacation spots, summer is best enjoyed by those who are willing to travel anywhere their hearts desire.

This may be the surfing community of Mission Beach in San Diego, California, or the multiple theme parks in Orlando, Florida. It may also be South Carolina’s Myrtle Beach, which is one of the top summer destinations of 2014. And though Aspen is popular during the ski season, there is something to behold in this famed Colorado destination.

As this Huffington Post article reiterates, summer leaves little excuse for not traveling. Indeed, “It's the ideal season to get up, get out, and explore the planet.”  

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Let travel expert Lagniappe Destinations design your most memorable summer vacation. Learn more about the company’s lineup of premier resort destinations at LagniappeDestinations.com.