The Coolest Memories come from the Warmest Places!
December 22, 2008
Do you ever recline on your couch and reminisce about all those terrific days you spent strolling through the Seattle streets on a January evening, holding hands with your loved one and playfully kicking the snow as you walk?
Yeah, me neither. No one creates some of their fondest memories in the freezing cold. No one searches for a vacation spot, lies out on the beach and hopes to get frostbite. And no one – no one – plans a romantic getaway to a destination that requires they bundle themselves up in 4 layers of clothing.
Instead, when I plan my travel, I look for places that I know to be warm, safe, and relaxing. The point of travelling is to find yourself in a place you wish you were every day – a haven where even work feels like play, and wherever you go you’re always in the right place.
Finding the Right Place
It took some trial and error, but I found my haven in Wailea and Makena on the island of Maui. Every day I found something to do, and every day was a tremendous pleasure.
The most alluring aspect of Wailea and Makena can be summarized by one word: Golf. They have the most phenomenal golf courses with such breathtaking beauty. I almost regret golfing, because for those few seconds that I watched the ball, I had to take my eyes off the scenery. If you see nothing else in Maui, see the Wailea Blue, Gold, and Emerald Courses. The great artists of the Renaissance could not have designed a more perfect golf course.
In Makena, the Makena State Park looks like a beach that will never end, with the most attractive men and women on the planet relaxing in the sunlight at all hours of the day. Unlike the beaches of California, Makena’s beaches are so vast, while Makena’s population is so small, that on any day of any week you can find a spot on the beach to relax with friends and family.
In Los Angeles, you spend half the time trying to find a spot on the crowded sand, and the rest of the time avoiding the kids running carelessly over your towels. In Makena, the only limit to the size of your spot on the beach is the distance you can throw a Frisbee.
But the greatest memories on Wailea and Makena are not formed during the day – they are formed at night. At night, the air is still warm and fresh, and although the sun has gone down, it feels as though the day has barely begun.
Night in Wailea is as exciting as the day. You can have a romantic evening at the Mokapu beach, complete with the privacy of the darkness as your blanket. Or you can find a place to chat it up with the locals – men and women that purchased a home in this tropical paradise to live their vacations for the rest of their lives.
And in Makena, you can eat at Capische restaurant, or stroll alongside the beautiful houses and simply enjoying their splendour. Rarely will you find a location where the aesthetic quality of the homes matches the aesthetics of the beach, and the inviting atmosphere and safe streets will likely keep you wishing for more during all hours of the night.
Both Wailea and Makena are more than just vacation spots, analogous to any other warm climate region – they are the apex of what travel was meant to be – a way to relax and forget all the pressures of life, while creating long-lasting memories that will endure through even the most stressful time periods and give you a place of refuge should you ever find yourself struggling to get through the day.
Maui may be an island several thousand miles from where I live, but whenever I find myself wishing I could be anywhere other than where I am, the memories of Maui become my home.
Volker Weiss – Maui Realtor(R/S) specialist focusing on Wailea condos. Make your vacation last forever, check out Wailea Beach Villas. For immediate help call VW directly at 888.572.6888
Conquering the Frustration of Real Success!
December 21, 2008
At one point it was hard work. There was a time when every dollar I spent was a dollar I didn’t have. A time when good food consisted of a corn dog from the local 7-11. A time when the closest thing I had to a stereo was two car alarms going off on both sides of my studio apartment.
But I finally made it. I hit the big time. My worries began to consist of whether or not to take the Yacht out in the late afternoon. Whether or not to drive the Lamborghini Diablo to the mall or slum it in the Cadillac Escalade. And whether or not my wife is going to be ogled by college kids while my sons drive through the streets in their custom made AMV’s.
I was at the point where I tipped 20′s to baristas just to make my wallet lighter. I bet thousands at the races on the horse with the limp, just to laugh hysterically as everyone stared at the only guy brave enough to cheer for the horse that came in dead last.
I had nothing I didn’t own, nothing I couldn’t buy. And, once that happened, nothing that could make me happy. Without value, my possessions became meaningless. It was more painful to look at them than it was to purchase them. I gave away most of my belongings to friends and family, and sold the rest to whoever asked me for them.
With my family (always supportive) in tow, I searched for that little bit of meaning I had lost. Back before I had money, I used to cherish the corn dogs that constituted a “healthy” meal. Now a bite of even the most expensive Italian cuisine was meaningless.
And so, with nothing left to buy, I decided to take to traveling. I thought that leaving my surroundings and enjoying a change in environment would help my regain my soul, but I found that the appeal of most vacations spots was nothing but more materialism. France was nothing if you could not enjoy the food. Asia had its trinkets that made it special, and that specialness was lost on me. Even the landmarks in Italy seemed like nothing more than large structures. I owned large structures. I did not need to see large structures.
It appeared that traveling was ineffective. My stress was beginning to rub off on my family, as they began to stay inside, rarely finding any of their own joys in our traveling adventures. It looked like this would be the way I would spend the rest of my life.
That is, until I found Maui.
When I stepped off the plane and onto Maui’s soft, warm sand, I could tell this place was different. It seemed that even the sun was pleased to be there. The scent of the air was as wonderful as its beauty, and the wind was as calm as its inhabitants.
Although we had several suitcases full of clothing, it appeared that all the clothes we needed could have fit into a single backpack. A pair of shorts, sandals, and the occasional shirt were all I needed to enjoy the Hawaiian sun. My wife found herself wearing nothing but a bikini and a skirt, even in the evening. It was as though materialism was inexistent, because in Maui, less was more.
We stayed at an amazing hotel in Wailea, but we could have slept outside and been equally as comfortable. The air was crisp and comforting no matter what the hour, and even my kids found themselves up all hours of the night, because the only difference between night and day was a light blanket of darkness.
In Maui, I finally felt renewed. Material goods were not only unnecessary, they were a nuisance. I slept well for the first time in years thanks to the soothing comfort of the ocean waves. In Maui, I managed to recapture the appreciation for what I had – a great family, a great life, and the ability to enjoy my surroundings.
My family and I canceled our return trip for almost a month before we decided it was time to head back. But I guarantee we will be going back soon. Though I won’t guarantee we will make the return trip.
Volker Weiss – Maui Realtor(R/S) specialist focusing on Wailea and Makena real estate. To conquer their frustration, successful people have purchased oceanfront property in Maluhia at Wailea. For immediate help with unbearable frustration call VW directly at 888.572.6888
Maui Condo Rentals
August 26, 2008
South Maui Condos
By Peter Emerson
Enjoy sunbathing and sea surfing in South Maui — the perfect place to spend a summer with its balmy sun, miles of beach stretches and quiet old villages set in nooks and corners of the Maui Island.
South Maui is basically three beach areas namely Wailea, Makena and Kihei. Each of these t areas comprises quaint villages, where you can rent out condos for your seaside vacation. South Maui is between central and East Maui, and the prefect beach holiday for any family. It is the ideal spot for weddings, with its blue skies and warm sunshine.
Mauiownercondos.com acts as an agent between you and the condo owners, saving you time to spend on leisure activities, instead of hunting the perfect condo rental in South Maui. You can book in advance online, choosing from the photos, facts and information about south Maui condo owners posted on this website.
Or check in at a condo on the Maui Vista Resort in Kihei, and view the glorious sunsets and sunrises from your apartment. For less than $150 dollars per night, you can spend a nice holiday on the tropical resort that spreads over 10 acres, walk to the beaches nearby or avail the pool, lanai and barbecue facilities. Actually, Kihei condos are very popular, since this area is highly developed with restaurants, housing areas and a six-mile beach that is ideal for swimming, surfing and picnics.
But for those who prefer a quiet holiday in tune with the nature, a condo rental in one of the villages of Wailea or Makena will be refreshing. For example, Tropical Wailea Grand Champions Condominium has luxurious and neat rooms, tennis and golf courts, pools and whirlpools with the added advantage of easy access to beaches and the backdrop of hills. Stay for not less than 5 nights, spending $90 dollars per night.
Maui Condos provides detailed information on Maui Condos, Maui Oceanfront Condos, Maui Luxury Condos For Sale, South Maui Condos and more. Maui Condos is affiliated with Kauai Rentals.
Maui Car Rentals
August 25, 2008
Tips on Renting a Car in Maui
By Jack S. Blacksmith
Are you taking a vacation to Maui? Maui is a beautiful island with year around nice weather and activities to keep you busy. You’ll surely enjoy the beautiful beaches and majestic mountains on this Hawaiian island more if you are able to drive around the island. Consider renting a car so you can explore Maui. Other than tour busses, Maui has limited transportation options and taxis are expensive. You’ll be able to come and go as you please and visit areas that are unreachable by other forms of transportation. Here are some tips to renting a car in Maui.
Unique Rental Business
Renting a car in Maui is different than mainland car rental in the mainland. Since it’s an island there are not usually one way rentals which mean a different drop off and pick up location. Recently, a ferry service began operation between Maui and Oahu but the rental company may not allow you to bring your car to other islands. For this reason you’ll be picking up and dropping off your car at the same location.
In addition, since Maui is small in comparison to other large cities on the mainland there are fewer car rental companies to choose from. The major car rental chains have offices, such as Hertz, Alamo and Avis but there aren’t smaller independent companies. This means that you’ll probably be paying more for a rental on Maui than in most other locations. Don’t let this discourage you from renting a car though since driving around the island is a “must”.
Another factor that makes Maui different for rental cars is the limited availability and variety of vehicles. There are the basic vehicles to choose from but if you’ll be traveling in peek season and you need to have a certain kind of vehicle you’ll need to plan ahead. For example, if you’ll be traveling with your family or have large pieces of luggage such as golf clubs then you’ll probably need a full size car, minivan or SUV.
To ensure you get the car that you need and the lowest rate, it’s best to book early. Don’t wait until the last minute or you may be stuck with a rental that’s too large or too small and out of your budget. If possible, try to prepay for at least one day of your rental. This will help guarantee your rental and some agencies give you a discount if you prepay.
To find a car rental in Maui, search online using a travel website such as Travelocity or Orbitz. You can specify the dates you wish to rent and the site will display available rates and models from various car rental agencies.
Jack Blacksmith regularly produces online reports on issues dealing with car hire at malaga airport. With his writings on rental cars at malaga airport the columnist expressed his capability in the field.
Maui Vacation on a Budget
August 25, 2008
How Do You Travel Around the World on a Limited Budget?
By Terrie Bryan
Are you a college student on a budget who would like to do a little traveling and immerse yourself in a variety of cultures? Or maybe you have just always dreamed of being a “world traveler” and yet you have never really had the means to do so. Maybe you think traveling around the world is only a pipe dream. It’s a goal that many people have but most never realize this dream.
The fact is, with some planning and careful strategies and a budget in mind, you can make your dream a reality. One way is to use couch surfing, the new wave of travel. What is this? It is basically an Internet website that connects travelers to each other. You can contact people personally and get help with your itinerary when you’re planning to be in their area, and in addition you can even meet up for coffee or a drink, or you can make plans to stay at their home on their couch, hence the name couchsurfing. Of course you don’t have to actually stay on their couch, but it’s just a term to mean an extra bed, the floor, or somewhere you can rest for the night.
Is couchsurfing safe? Well the members of the site have references sort of like feedback on eBay. But of course there is always a risk so you need to check things out pretty carefully.
Another way to travel the world without breaking the bank is to search out discount or student airfares to each place you visit and when you get there, get a temporary job to make a little money that you will use to head to your next destination.
You can also find a traveling buddy to share costs. Traveling will be cheaper this way as you can split everything except the airfare.
When possible, travel by train or bus. It’s not as fun or as quick, but you will actually see and experience a lot more by doing so. And you’ll save money too.
Be sure to plan your itinerary and try hard to stick to it. Impromptu excursions can be costly so limit those. While you may not want to stick entirely to less expensive locales, making shorter stops in expensive countries and significantly longer stops where the cost of living is cheaper is a great way to save money.
Search the Internet and stay in hostels for the cheapest rates. This is also a great way to meet other budget-minded travelers who may have some good ideas for you to save money.
Almost any city in the world has a lot you can do just by walking. So plan to do a lot of walking or make use of public transportation.
Last piece of advice is to have a great time and keep a travel diary with photos. You’ll want to remember every minute of this time in your life when you were able to travel around the world without breaking your budget.
There’s no reason you can’t travel the world even on a limited budget. Learn how to find airline travel cheap. Go now to http://www.the-cheap-traveler.com to find out how.
