Unique Destinations for Every Kind of Spring Breaker

It is no secret that popular spring break destinations book up fast and attract crowds of drunken college kids. Whether you are a student who wants a break from the traditional “trashy” spring break, or a family wanting to find some place different and appropriate to take the kids, lesser-known destinations offer exactly what you are looking for. Check out some of our recommendations below:

Saint Augustine, Florida

Located just two hours north of Orlando and one hour south of Jacksonville, St. Augustine offers plenty of beautiful white sandy beaches. Awesome beaches away from increased prices and bunches of drunken college kids…who doesn’t want that? When you are finished at the beach, walk around this city’s historic downtown and enjoy the great food and fun bars.

Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin

Think Wisconsin during the spring time is way too cold for swimming? Not if the water parks are indoors! The Wisconsin Dells is basically a city full of hotels with indoor water parks and theme parks. When you get bored of one indoor water park, just walk next door to another one! Whether you enjoy lazy rivers, wave pools or monstrous slides, the Dells will certainly deliver. Order a margarita and book your flight to Wisconsin!

Punta Cana, Dominican Republic

Dream of a Caribbean retreat away from the crowds? Punta Cana offers the luxury of a variety of all-inclusive resorts which means you can put your money away and relax as soon as you arrive. Swimming, boating, scuba diving and alcohol are all usually included in resorts. Step outside of the box and party spring break style with the natives at nearby local clubs and bars.

Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.

Forgo Cancun and book your stay in Puerto Vallarta. This city is perfect for the adventurous spring breaker on a budget. Secret beach coves and beautiful waterfalls are abundant. Once the sun sets, local bars debut their “can’t be beat” happy hour prices that are sure to be a hit with everyone. Night owls can let loose at the fantastic dance clubs and beach parties. Dancing in the moonlight isn’t to be missed!

 

No matter where you choose as your spring break destination, don’t forget to make your free online reservation with Team Parking!

 

In-Flight Entertainment 101

Unless you are one of the lucky few who can sleep on a plane, you are going to have to get creative in order to pass the time between take-off and touch down. Banish the boredom of flying for hours on end by planning ahead for your next flight with these creative ideas:

·         Download movies to your smartphone before leaving home. You won’t need internet connection to watch them.

·         If you are traveling around the holidays, take this uninterrupted time to write out your Christmas cards. If you are flying to or from your honeymoon, use the flight to get a jump start on your thank you notes.

·         Organize your digital photos on your computer. This way, you will know just what folder to go to the next time Great Aunt Iris wants to see “that photo of you with the monkey.”

·         If your travels are taking you to a foreign land, check out some language books from the library and learn the native tongue on the flight over.

·         Bring a notebook and make up short stories about the people sitting around you. Describe the person, where you think they are going and what you think they are doing.

·         Want to feel productive? Use this opportunity to polish your proposal or work on next week’s homework.

Plan ahead with Team Parking! Make your free online parking reservation with us the next time you fly out of Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport.

 

Ten Tips for Flying with Children

Flying with children can be a daunting task, whether you are an experienced flyer or first time traveler. Fortunately, some strategic planning can help make flying with children a fun and relaxed experience for you and your kids. Here are 10 tips to make your life a little easier:

1.      Let your child have her own carry on. She will feel like a “big girl” and you can fill it with little distractions and snacks to keep her busy during the flight.

2.      Plan around your usual routine. If you can, plan your flight when your child is most calm and pleasant. Only you know when your child takes naps, eats meals or becomes fussy.

3.      Know your TSA rules. Kids under the age of 12 do not have to take their shoes off for TSA security. In addition, baby formula, breast milk and medications are allowed in excess of 3.4 ounces in reasonable quantities for the flight and do not have to be placed in a clear zip-top baggie. You must tell the TSA officer you are carrying these liquids at the beginning of screening.

4.      Spring for a seat. While airlines allow you to hold your child on your lap until they're 2 years old, this is hard on a long flight. If you can afford it, buy an extra seat for the baby.

5.      Don’t take out the toys too soon. If you buy your child new books or toys for the flight, wait until the meltdown begins and then bring out your secret weapon.

6.      Suck it up. If you don’t usually let your kids watch TV or play games for extended periods, now is the time to suck it up and realize it won’t do permanent damage. Knowing they are being allowed to do something that is usually off-limits is a huge draw.

7.      Bring a spare shirt for yourself. Spills and spit up are inevitable. You will appreciate the clean smell around your upper body.

8.      Snacks and sippy cups. Pack durable snacks that are familiar to your child. Don’t forget to pack an empty sippy cup so you can fill it with juice or water mid-flight.

9.      Magazine scavenger hunts. Make a list of 10 things such a woman or a hotel, and have your kids find them using the magazines in the seat pockets.

10.   Who cares what other people think. Say hi to everyone and be cordial, but remember there is a good chance that you won’t see these people again. You are doing your best to make the experience pleasant for everyone and that is all that matters.

Stress less! Reserve your parking today with Team Parking.  

Surviving Airport Security

 

Getting through security can be one of the more stressful parts of air travel. However, a lot can be done to streamline the process, if you know what you’re doing. To make your excursion through the airport as efficient and comfortable as possible, keep in mind the following advice:

·         Plan ahead. Pack your bag of liquids and your electronics in an easy to access exterior pocket. A good TSA experience starts at home.

·         Dress for success. Security is going to make you take your shoes off. You know this. Avoid wearing knee-high lace up combat boots! Wear shoes that are easy to slip off and a belt that won’t set off the metal detector.

·         Stash your stuff early. It is pretty likely that you will have a bag or purse on your person during your journey through the airport. Avoid fumbling at the checkpoint by sticking your personal items in one of these convenient bags well before you get in line.  

·         Order your items. For example, put your shoes on the conveyer belt first, then your laptop, followed by your bag of liquids, and finally your coat. This way you can put your shoes on first, pick up each item as it is scanned, and finally put on your coat and make your way to your gate.

·         When in doubt, leave it out! Unsure if an item is prohibited or not? Put questionable items in your checked luggage or leave them at home.

Don’t forget to make a reservation with Team Parking to ensure a stress free trip.

 

 

 

 

 

Documenting Your Trip

 

Your far flung travels mean nothing if no one else ever knows about them! Whether you are traveling to a beautiful Caribbean island for a family vacation, or you are taking a business trip to Italy and venturing abroad for the first time ever, you will want to document your experience. Here are a variety of ways you can show the people back home that you are having a much better time than them while they are stuck at work:

·         Start a blog. If you are going to be traveling for a long period of time, at least a month or longer, consider starting a blog using a platform such as Tumblr, Wordpress or Blogger. This method is great for people who enjoy writing and is a good way of documenting your trip and communicating with friends and family back home.

·         Journal. Write interesting things down as they happen; kind of like blogging the old fashioned way. Keeping a journal is a quick, low tech way to document your vacation and will give you something useful to do in what would be otherwise wasted time.

·         Create photo albums online. Use a dedicated photo site such as Flickr, Picasa, Photobucket or even Facebook to upload your digital photos. These days, you can even upload directly from your smartphone! Share these albums with family and friends over the internet and never worry about losing undeveloped film again.

·         Create a scrapbook. A scrapbook is a combination of blogging, journaling and photo album creation. Save newspapers, bus tickets, restaurant menus anything and everything and combine it all in a beautiful scrapbook that you will cherish for years to come.

Most importantly, don’t forget to leave your car in the care of Team Parking during your trip.