Discount Florida Vacations Blog

2006-12-21T06:38:00.000-08:00

Hello all

I haven't posted here in a while b/c I have been working on other projects.

We have recently had a baby and are on a path to try and stay home with him full time.

Follow our progress, tips, and strategies in our new blog

Build Your Empire by following along with us. Its not the finish line, but the journey we're interested in.

Have a happy holiday season and even better 2007.

Joe and Angie

2006-04-03T13:47:00.000-07:00

Well beach bums

Tonight is the big game between Florida and UCLA. Unfortunately I didn't have either team for the final four, but that is the way March Madness goes.

I believe UCLA has the edge but it will be a good game none the less. Sorry Florida fans!!

So, grab some brews and grub and enjoy the game. We'll be back to post in the next few days.

Til next time,

Joe

2006-03-29T15:05:00.000-08:00

Now that vacation planning season is upon us (and has been if you are me)
and tax time is almost over, spring break is here, and the summer months
are shortly approaching many of you are probably scouring the net and outside sources
for deals and such.

Am I right? However, the popularity of travel sites has grown exponentially in the past few years which makes it easier and harder to search for, trust, and book a deal. The good news is that with more sites competing for your business there are an array of deals out there. They want to make money so they are trying to be the best in the industry to get your business.

On the other hand, there are a lot of terms and conditions to read now that you must do to protect yourselves. An uninformed/unprepared traveler will ensure headaches that you don't want. Examples include, paying for things you didn't want, non-cancellation/refund policies, crappy routes for airfares, terribly dirty hotels,
car rental issues, and so forth. You get the idea. I am not trying to paint a horrible vacation picture, just putting it in your mind to enjoy the planning process for your trips, but be careful of who you deal with.

So, on our website we have compiled our favorite travel sites that we have used or others have used with great success. There are hundreds out there and maybe there are some that are better than what we use, but I would be lying to you if I posted them here without knowing about each of them. If you would like to tell us your stories of booking online or off, let us know by contacting us at our site,
www.discount-florida-vacations.com (link to the right).

If you haven't visited us yet, or found our review page for travel websites,
then here is the just of our top 5 favorites...

Our #1 site for finding Florida hotel or airline reservation discounts is Trip Advisor.
I just discovered this gem and believe it is your place to research Florida!

Find the best Florida vacation deal, compare prices and read what other travelers have to say at TripAdvisor

Read what one traveler had to say about Trip Advisor:
Joan from the Midwest...
Great site for getting a true idea of where to book!,
I have booked several B&B based on the reviews I read on TripAdvisor and I have always found exactly what I was expecting or better! This is a fantastic site for getting true experiences from other travellers. I higly recommnend it, it will allow you to find truly excellent lodging and accommodations! I would not book anywhere without checking this site first!

Expedia gets a lot of praise from experts. This is a great place to
comparison shop. They provide excellent customer service, flexible search options, and have
been highly rated for satisfaction, price, and overall recommendation.
The site is very easy to use and provides a detailed privacy policy.
Overall, they are a safe choice and if price isn't your main concern, a great spot to
find hotel, car, & airline reservation discounts.

Travelocity is a close tie with Expedia. They offer many unique extras and alerts
available when prices drop (with FareWatcher emails). There is a booking fee, but it
is minimal. Hey, they have to make money somehow.
They have been rated one of the best for their privacy policy, disclosure information,
easy to search, great customer service, and extra tools and destination info.
Travelocity might not have quite the inventory, but you can still find hot hotel,
car, and airline reservation disounts there!!

Orbitz is a good choice to check. They provide a great privacy policy, they're well
organized, easy to navigate, and have useful tools to help make your search easier.
Just note that a credit card is required, the disclosures are lacking, and
you need to read the fine print.
There is a booking fee, but if you find a lower rate on the same
reservation within 24 hours, they will give you a voucher to use another
time.

Kayak is a search engine. They received 5-star ratings from consumers. Kayak is
very user friendly, provides low rates consistently, and are quick & accurate at
finding Florida hotel, car, & airline reservation discounts. One of the best for airfares, not
as good for car rental.
You can also get frequent flyer points with Kayak, where you can't with other sites.

Sorry so long but important info to know.

Visit their sites for more info or to start planning

Til next time beach lovers

Joe

2006-03-28T06:01:00.000-08:00

hey there beach bums!

I have recently received a great story from a family member who took their 3 kids to Orlando and Disney. So if you have plans to head that way this spring or summer, then this article is for you. They highlight their time and what they liked and disliked.

So, here it goes from Michelle...

The best thing about Walt Disney World Florida was a restaurant called, Fish Bones!!! All the steaks and such were cooked on an open pit fired grill at the front of the restaurant! Everyone had an awesome Calamari (Octopus)...and we all had some of the best steaks in the world!!!

It was located there in Orlando right off the main strip, one block down!!! There was valet parking or you could park yourself, yet it was casual enough for us with jeans and shorts! If I could fly anywhere in the world for dinner tonight, Fish Bones is where I'd be!!!

Cocoa Beach wasn't far from Orlando & Walt Disney World Florida, 45 - 50 min., and the drive was beautiful. The bridge going over was awesome! So long and wide open...WOW, is the word!

There was plenty of public parking and the Florida beaches were breathtaking! The kids had a great time playing on the beach and we enjoyed lounging and walking along the coast.

We stayed in a Florida time share in Walt Disney World Florida. It was across the street from the Sea World entrance. We wanted to do the Sea World Swim with the dolphins and such, but I guess they are booked 10 and 12 months in advanced! So, get your tickets early!! It would have been amazing though!

We went to Walt Disney World Florida and it was so-so and cost LOTS of $$$$$$! Our 9 and 10 year olds had a great time, but it wasn't the place for a 2 yr. old!!! It was soooo hot for all of us and the lines everywhere were rediculous!!!!

You can now put your ticket in this machine at each ride instead of getting in line and it prints out a ticket for you with a future walk up time to come ride the ride but, some of them were HOURS away.

I think we were all kinda disappointed in the day! And sooooo much money was spent there, I know I already said that but, it's the truth and just...I'll stop there!

We wish we would have tried some of the other theme parks in Walt Disney World Florida. Maybe the Spring and Fall, maybe even Winter would be the time to go so the weather is more tolerable! We recommend hitting the pools and Florida beaches during the summer and choosing other activities accordingly!!

The main strip in Orlando had tons of stuff to go and do!!! Shops, outlets, festivals with TONS of rides, we did this the last night and should have done it all week! They had race tracks, three or four different levels, you had to be a certain age or height to get to the next level! It was so neat! The name of it was something like, Fun World? Anyways, it was a blast for all of us!!

The Ron Jon Surf Shop was amazing in Orlando and Cocoa Beach!!! Just BEAUTIFUL! They were on the main strip in both cities! The strip in Orlando was just packed with sooo much, especially at night! Live music, shops, food, drinks, magic, so on and so on! We had fun at City Walk in Walt Disney World Florida!

Our pool at our time share had activities for the kids every three hours, during the day. From painting projects, to ice cream socials, races - in and out of the water, face painting, nature walks - sunrise and sunset, scuba lessons so on and so on!

Some of the activities were free, some were a few dollars and there were some that were a bit more costly! It just depended on what the kids were interested in and how old they were! There was also babysitting services and movie night for kids and then parents! We let the kids do some of the stuff but, we had a lot going on already!

Hope you enjoyed.
We are currently looking for good news articles relating to travel,
so we'll get those relevent ones posted ASAP.

Til next time,
See you in Florida

Joe

2006-03-26T08:58:00.000-08:00

Howdy Florida Beach Bums!

It has been quite a while since I posted, but I am back. Our baby boy
is expected any day and I can't wait to get him on the Florida beaches and have some fun with my first born.

It is also tax season and as a first year accountant, I didn't realize how much work it would be.

Finally, I completed a milestone- 10 years since high school and I finally finished college!! No more spring break trips for me, but I will be back to update our site and continue to battle the big Florida sites and give our visitors what they want. Great travel information for the Florida beach and travel lover.

So, although I don't have a lot of news for today, I will be updating this blog
again with Florida news and such for you vacationers heading down sometime soon!

Til next time,

Joe

2006-02-15T05:26:00.000-08:00

Welcome race fans!!

Thought we'd give a mention to one of racings biggest events coming this
weekend, the Daytona 500.

Festivities going on all week and we wanted to share a USA today article about the race and so forth.

I'm not a big race fan, but my late father and step mother were and I know they would be perched on the couch or down in Daytona watching the race themselves.

So, enjoy your trip if you are heading down for the race and come back and tell us your stories...

Fast lap leads Jeff Burton to Daytona 500 pole
By Nate Ryan, USA TODAY

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Considering he captures pole positions about as often as America elects presidents, Jeff Burton hadn't forgotten the last time he qualified first in NASCAR's premier series.

"There was a Busch race right after that," he said. "There was no time to celebrate, no time to do anything. (While they were taking photos), I remember thinking, 'I've got to get out of there.' "

The Richard Childress Racing driver had plenty of time to savor the moment Sunday at Daytona International Speedway. He will open his 13th Nextel Cup season at the front of the Daytona 500.

On a blustery day at the 2.5-mile oval, Burton swept to his third career pole — and first in 189 races — with a 189.151-mph lap in the No. 31 Chevrolet. Defending race winner Jeff Gordon's No. 24 Chevy qualified second at 188.877 mph, followed by the Robert Yates Racing Fords of Dale Jarrett and Elliott Sadler.

Only Burton and Gordon locked in their starting spots. The rest of the field for Sunday's 48th running of the Great American Race will be set after two qualifying races Thursday.

"It's a big, big deal to be on that front row," said Gordon, a four-time champion whose crew was shuffled after finishing outside the top 10 in points last year for the first time since 1993. "Sometimes it takes some beatings before you really get things turned around."

Burton, whose previous poles came at Richmond International Raceway in September 2000 and at Michigan International Speedway in August 1996, also is rebuilding.

The South Boston, Va., native is mired in a 148-race winless streak and hasn't been ranked in the top 10 the past four seasons. He won 17 races and was a perennial championship contender for Roush Racing between 1997-2001 but has only nine top-10 finishes since joining Childress' team 50 races ago.

"I'd love to say, 'All's right in the world and everything's perfect from here on out.' But I'm smart enough not to," Burton said. "Hopefully, this isn't the highlight of our year. Today went well, but when they drop the green flag, they don't care who's on the pole anymore."

The qualifying times of Jimmie Johnson's No. 48 Chevrolet and Terry Labonte's No. 96 Chevrolet were disallowed after failing postrace inspections. Johnson had originally qualified fifth, Labonte was 28th. The No. 96 car is owned by Roger Staubach and Troy Aikman.

Both cars will start at the rear in Thursday's qualifying races. NASCAR spokesman Jim Hunter left open the possibility that their cars could be confiscated by the governing body. Additional penalties also could follow

NASCAR officials said someone illegally altered the rear window on Johnson's Chevrolet after it passed through pre-qualifying inspection. The infraction was discovered when the car was presented after its qualifying run for a second inspection. Labonte's car was found to have illegal modifications to the carburetor.

Childress had one of the strongest teams in the sport until longtime driver and friend Dale Earnhardt was killed in a crash during the 2001 Daytona 500. Kevin Harvick had a good season for RCR after replacing Earnhardt the following week at Rockingham, but the team has struggled in the years since.

Childress was determined to turn things around, making numerous personnel changes and radically improving the team's equipment since the end of the 2005 season. This was the first big test.

"Yeah, it's emotional," Childress said. "We've struggled for the last few years. We've got to put it all together and we've got to start winning."

The drivers will start Thursday's first qualifying race in the back of the field, but NASCAR spokesman Jim Hunter left open the possibility that their cars could be confiscated by the governing body. Additional penalties also could follow.

"These were serious infractions," Jim Hunter said. "I don't think we would disallow the times if this was not serious."

The top 35 teams in last year's standings are guaranteed starting positions in the race, leaving just eight positions for the rest of the entries. The two top-finishing non-qualified drivers from each of the Thursday's races will make the field, along with the fastest remaining drivers from Sunday's time trials.

Among the other big names before the disqualifications, top 2005 rookie Kyle Busch was 10th, followed in 11th by older brother and former series champion Kurt Busch, making his debut for Penske Racing South. Reigning Cup champion Tony Stewart was 18th, 2005 runner-up Greg Biffle 25th, third-place Carl Edwards 26th and fan favorite Dale Earnhardt Jr., 39th.

The fastest of the drivers not guaranteed a starting position was two-time Daytona 500 winner Bill Elliott, eighth at 187.715. Travis Kvapil and Hermie Sadler, 19th and 20th, were next fastest among the entries who must drive into the race.

Those three will make the 43-car field, either by racing in on Thursday or because of their qualifying speeds.

The Associated Press contributed to this report

Daytona 500 lineup

At Daytona International Speedway

Daytona Beach, Fla.

Lap length: 2.5 miles

Good stuff.

Til next time with more spring break and summer events.
Be sure you visit our site www.discount-florida-vacations.com
to find out more of what's going on for your Florida trip.

Joe

2006-02-11T13:36:00.000-08:00

Hello Beach Bums and Travel Lovers.

Spring Break '06 is almost here so I recently wrote an article with tips
and to-do's for this years party fest!!

The big spots are always down in the caribbean, Florida, Mexico, Bahamas,
Jamaica and more...

So start planning now if you haven't yet and ensure you will have an awesome time and safe trip.

So, here it goes.

It’s almost here!! Spring Break Vacation Time is right around the corner!

The time is almost here when you take that last exam, pack your bags, and head on spring break for the time of your life. Although it’s still a couple months away, you should already be planning your trip, which of the top destinations you are heading to, and learning as much as you can so you are safe but still have a great vacation.

Hot bodies everywhere!! You're away from the parentals and ready to have fun, get some sun, sip on some cocktails (right age of course), and get away from home, the exams, responsibilities, and anything else students deal with.

There are a few things you must take care of before you go to the spring break beaches Florida. Obviously, you'll want to get a student travel package to make planning your trip to the Florida beaches easy and cheap and read over our tips and resources of things to do and remember to have a spring break to remember (Hopefully?!!).

Hey, I know what being a college student is like- long, boring classes, tests and papers that won't quit, working a part-time job that you hate, and having no money with a lot of stress.

So, without getting long winded, here are some tips for you spring breakers to remember before you head out and while you are at your travel spot…

1. Pick your top destination. Students usually travel on a budget so it’s important to know costs and so forth and always over-prepare. At least take Dad’s credit card just in case!! Some great spring break spots include, Florida, Cancun, Bahamas, South Padre Island, Arizona, and more. Whether East Coast, South, West Coast or Overseas, you’ll have a great vacation.

2. Pack wisely. Get everything you need before you go on your trip. Beach wear, beach accessories, club clothes, plus all your other travel needs. You don’t want to leave anything behind.

3. Search for travel deals. There are tons of websites and places to find a good deal. Be smart and do your homework on this one. I know you do enough research already but you’ll have a much better time if you hunt for deals and also read the terms and conditions before you book. Know what you’re getting into.

4. Be careful. Whether in your home country or not, be smart and watch out for suspicious activities or items. Things can get out of hand when you are in a foreign location and there are people out there waiting to prey on young college students. Also, drink responsibly.

5. Get in shape. Not mandatory, but right before spring break I always see the gyms fill up. You want to look good right?

6. Finally, make your money work for you. You can have one heck of a trip without spending a ton. Trust me. Be sure you keep important documents safe and have a travel budget so you don’t go overboard. I know I sound like a Dad, but one time we had to cut some corners to make it home from our trip to Florida.

There are many more spring break travel tips to go on, but this will give you a good idea of what you need to take care of before finals hit and you’re ready to head out. Most importantly have fun!!

Til next time and be sure to visit us at Discount-Florida-Vacations.com

Joe

2006-01-28T12:47:00.000-08:00

Hello Hello Florida beach bums!!

I am in a good mood today b/c it is nice in Jan up hear in the midwest and things are going good with work and our website.

Anyhow, here is an article I wrote recently about traveling first class at discount rates. It is summed up but currently I am doing more research on how to really get deals and still find luxury. We deserve it right? Some of these tips will not only help you while planning your trip and traveling, but also in other areas of life.

So here it goes...

Go 5-Star at Discount Rates...

Tips & Tricks for Finding a Discount Hotel Rate!!

How would you like to stay in a 4 or 5-star Florida hotel and receive a discount hotel rate? Of course you would.

When picking a hotel for your vacation, there is always something to remember...

You get what you pay for! There is a huge difference between a luxury hotel and a cheap motel. Although you may not plan to be in your room often, you still want to take finding a hotel very seriously.

This article is set up to provide you with tips on finding a discount hotel rate in luxury -type spots. You will learn that with a little extra effort, you can have a fine hotel for a fraction of the cost!!
Let's not waste time dilly-dallying around and get to the meat of finding a discount hotel rate in a high class hotel...

Top tips for living in luxury on your vacation!!

· Select a few hotel companies, build a relationship, and cash in on your loyalty. Quality and service varies among hotel chains. They will reward you for being a good customer if you make that aware to them. Remember, they are in business and want you to stay at their hotel! The hotel business is very competitive, so use that to your advantage. Please be friendly though- especially if they do upgrade you. Take care of them.

· Take advantage of the flexibility in rates. Finding a discount hotel rate is easy with a little persistence. Ask, Ask, Ask. Research pays off also. Just do your homework and do it at the right time and you'll be in good shape for finding a discount hotel rate.

· You're the one in control- so use that advantageously! Contact them after you book your discount hotel rate. Time your travel and check-ins appropriately- right time of year and time of day. Also, weigh out the various options- book yourself or using a travel agent and package deals versus separate rates.

· Make friends at each travel spot! In the real world, it is not what you know, but who you know that counts a lot. I have seen people get anything they want by building relationships. The hotel staff gets yelled at, treated like crap, and probably doesn't make enough money to deal with that kind of abuse. If you come in and brighten their day, they will be more than happy to help.

· Try to get into concierge or club levels of your hotel. These spots will not only save you money, but will provide an array of amenities you will want to take advantage of.

· Finally, if you aren't happy, go somewhere else. They don't want you to leave, so if you nicely show your dissatisfaction, many times you'll receive what you wanted in the first place- a discount hotel rate in a luxurious hotel.

It is to your advantage to use the competitiveness of the hotel industry against them.

Our best advice is to research as best you can. Once you pick a spot, secure a discount hotel rate, then follow the steps above of building relationships and asking for travel deals.

Remember, you never know unless you ask. Many people think they are being rude by asking, but it isn't what you say that matters - it's how you say it that counts!!

All in all this is a basic overview of how to obtain a discount hotel rate in 5-star hotels. Don't count them out. It could make the difference between an excellent vacation and a frustrating one.

Hope you enjoyed!

Til next time,

Joe

PS. If you are impressed by our website or want to mention some things we could add, please let us know. If you would like to create your website and begin to make extra income or be able to stay at home and work then check out

Site Build It!. It could just change your life and allow you to travel more and have more freedom.

PSS. We are currently looking for businesses who would like to advertise and take advantage of our focused traffic for your benefit. If interested check out our
page at Advertise Your Florida Business and contact us from there!!

2006-01-22T06:32:00.000-08:00

Hello beach bums!

I have been busy with tax season which is slowly creeping up on us. So make sure you don't screw yourself out of a nice refund and get those done asap.

Anyhow vacation season is looking good especially since I live in the cold of the midwest, so since I had a minute I thought I'd share some info about Florida I have come across recently.

Recently I came across the site myspace.com and found some interesting people and friends that I have't seen in years. I joined a cool group about Florida and beach lovers and a couple of great guys shared there expereiences about Florida and why they love it.

So here is Eric and Robbs stories- short but informative nonetheless...

oh so bright beaches....bright white sand...bright blue bright green water yo...
restaurants condo's hotel's resorts clubs all the way, as far as the eye can see,
up and down the coast...sandbars=fun...party central? definitely....tourists? thumbs down...
they make me sad! =( tourists do some pretty dumb things...lol - just don't act like idiots folks
uhh i live on the pan handle near destin and ft walton... i would have to say it's pretty much the coolest place on earth? lol ok well maybe not but close...hmm tourists....iunno they always think it's a grand spectacular to feed the seagulls....

I grew up in Jacksonville but currently live in Lawrenceville, Ga. I frequent
Jacksonville and Daytona Beach at least once a year when I go back home to Florida
and the one thing that makes them great is A1A. It links the whole Florida east coast
just cruising from Jacksonville all the way down to Daytona Beach you can stop at any
beach in between and even visit a true beach town like Flagler beach. A1A is a great
coastal highway to see the Atlantic coast beaches.

As soon as I get more stories, I am going to compile them and put them on our site,
Discount Florida Vacations.com

For now I hope you enjoy the little tid bits others are beginning to provide us about Florida and travel. We'll get some new articles and news up soon, so stay in touch.

Til next time,

Joe

2006-01-07T12:00:00.000-08:00

Hello everybody,

I am not sure who reads this b/c the comments I get are from other websites that provide various comments, but I figured it was fun to do and 2006 will be a big year for me and my family not to mention business.

Personal:

We are expecting a baby boy come April.
I am graduating college - finally in March.
I have a job lined up upon graduation doing Accounting and Tax work.
My wife is working on ways to start her own business from home.

Business:

I have spent the greater portion of the holiday season revamping and updating the site- Discount Florida Vacations.com and things are rolling along nicely.
Visit us once in a while to see what's new and plan your trip to Florida- heck you might find some cool info or find good deals.

I will begin continuing this blog hopefully on a once a week basis with more articles, news, and so forth about travel and Florida. I have come into some good sources that offer up to date info and I hope to forward that on to you all beach lovers.

Site Build It is the tool we use to build our site- they are great and offering a two for one on websites right now, so if you are interested in building your own money machine, then see the link on the right-->>

Spring Break and travel time is coming up, so we will be in touch about those times.

For now I just wanted to say happy new year and let's make 2006 better than '05!!

Til next time

Joe Collinsworth

2005-12-18T10:08:00.000-08:00

Man this month has been crazy!!

I am gearing up for the holidays, tax season (i'm an accountant)
and my final quarter of school.

travel time is here and its important to stay up to date on what's going
on for the holidays.

my beloved father passed away also this past week, so we had to say goodbye
that has been a sad time for all of us.
we'll miss you dad.

as for anything else, i'll be back after the holidays to get things rolling with this blog again.

WE have been making a ton of changes to our site
Discount Florida Vacations so make sure you stop by to check that out and plan your travels to Florida for family or to get away.

As for now, everyone enjoy your time and season and see you soon

Joe

2005-12-08T19:24:00.000-08:00

Happy holidays beach bums out there!!

Hope your season is well and you are having fun with family and shopping.

Remember for those of you traveling during this time to plan ahead and book accordingly. Airports are a mess and travelers come out of the woodworks.

See our favorite links to the right for deals and info and such.

Anyhow is an article I wrote that people seem to enjoy. Since I had a few extra minutes between commercials of one of my favorite holiday movies, "Scrooged"
I thought I'd write.

So, here it goes...

Reasons We Love Traveling To Florida & You Will Too!!

I think that we have been to over a dozen beaches and cities in Florida. It seems to be the place we choose whenever we travel for a number of reasons. Maybe you have a certain destination you love, and like us, want to venture out and try new vacation spots.

So, without further ado, here are our reasons we love traveling to the best Florida beaches & you will too…

Florida has some of the best beaches in the world. You have an array of places to choose from that will provide you different activities, beauty, and fun each time you go. Whether you go to the Gulfcoast of Florida, the Atlantic Coast, or The Keys, you will get everything you want and need out of your trip. Plus, if you get bored or tired of one coast, which probably won’t happen, try the other coast. The Keys are one vacation spot you must visit at least once.

Perfect for anyone. Whether you are a family taking your children, an older couple taking time together, a group traveling with friends, a student wanting to party on spring break, or a couple wanting to find romance, Florida will offer it all.

Orlando and Disney World. Who doesn’t want to visit this magical place? With so many attractions to choose from and things to do in Orlando Florida, you can’t go wrong. There is shopping, adventure, romance, great food, entertainment, and everything you can imagine from a Disney extravaganza.

Variety. Again, if you are looking for multiple vacation ideas, Florida is your spot. There are plenty of things to do in Florida. This ranges from relaxing on the beautiful beaches, sunsets, fishing from piers, driving down the A1A highway, visiting some of the most luxurious spots in the world (like Palm Beach), shopping that will have your heads and wallets spinning for weeks, boating, jet skis, other water activities, golfing, and more.
Enjoy great food, entertainment, nightlife, gorgeous architecture, history, people, and so much more.

The Weather. The weather is great. Yes, there are hurricanes and you should plan your vacation wisely. This is typically between August and October, however we have been seeing a string of hurricanes beginning earlier in the summer. Otherwise, you will receive weather that is awesome. Excellent fun and sun!

You have many options on where to stay and how to get there. Stay in a beachfront condo or home instead of a hotel. Venture off into the woods in one of Florida’s great campgrounds or rent a houseboat for the week. Florida is fairly convenient for everyone for flying and perhaps even driving (depending on what part of country/world you live).
We always suggest, and do ourselves, fly down because you get there quicker, and rent a cool car for your vacation. You will have fun touring around town and exploring.

This leads us into our favorite reason…
Cost. Traveling to Florida is quite inexpensive. It can be as luxurious as you want, but if you are looking for an affordable vacation, Florida provides that too. If you are like us and on a budget, taking a vacation is something you must plan ahead and save for. Plus, you want to be able to enjoy and do everything possible. If you worry about money the whole time, your vacation becomes less relaxing and stressful. Don’t let that happen. If you can’t afford to visit an exotic island this year, don’t fret, go to Florida and have a wonderful time!!!

Til next time,

Joe

PS. Favorite holiday movies include Family Man, Scrooged, Xmas Vacation,
Anything Christmas Carol, and the oldies that we watch every year.

2005-12-02T19:54:00.000-08:00

Hello everybody.

I hope your holidays are going well and time with family is spent.

I just wanted to update cause its been over a week that I am taking some
time off this blog to spend time with family and update our site

discount-florida-vacations.com

We are continuing to add great content and work on getting it seen by more
visitors because we know how valuable a resource it can be for travlers to
Florida.

So, happy holidays and if you have anything for us, please contact
us at our site.

Joe

2005-11-23T15:40:00.000-08:00

Hello everyone,

Happy holidays to you and I hope that you'll have a nice time. Sorry it took so long to post, but school and work have kept me from visiting Florida and my site a whole lot.

Below you will find an article that has gone over well and I thought you might benefit from. I am considering using this topic for an ebook, so let me know if you might benefit from that!!

Here we go...

Tips for Luxury Travel on a Penny Pincher’s Travel Budget

Not all of us are rich! Wouldn’t we like to be though? Then we can wipe away a travel budget and go all out in style on our vacations. Well, with just a few of the tips in this article, you can take luxurious trips on a tight travel budget. So, if you have champagne taste on a beer budget, then this article is for you!! Plus, you deserve it. You work hard for a living and get one vacation a year if you’re lucky, so be a smart traveler, go for the gold, and get the luxury deals that are out there waiting for you.

Planning your vacation will be the most important aspect of obtaining great 5-star deals and accommodations without spending any more money than if you went lower star. So, without further ado, let’s not waste any time and make traveling well but cheap easy to follow…

Here are just a few of many tricks that will allow you to travel in style…

#1. Build Relationships and Be Loyal: Cash in on the flexibility and leverage you have in the competitive travel industry. They want your business! Think about it this way. Let’s say you provide a service. Wouldn’t you typically charge less and give first class service to your friends than some new guy off the street? I know we all figure we’ll give first class service to everyone, but this isn’t the case. Remember, it’s who you know that gets you pretty far in this world. We reward those who are loyal and we know well. This is the idea behind frequent flyer programs and such. This works in all aspects of the travel industry, not just airlines.

#2. Choose the right travel specialists to work with: Whether you book online or with an agent, be sure you’ve asked a lot of questions and done your research. They aren’t all equal. But, don’t chase huge discounts, consider service and quality and not just price, and understand whom you choose to work with. This way you’ll know how to get deals in luxury accommodations.

#3. Turn Problems into Opportunities: Stick with a few quality companies and if they make an error, be sure to take advantage of that- but be nice and don’t take advantage of them. These companies want to maintain a high level of quality and rely on their customers to provide constructive feedback and satisfaction/dissatisfaction. Also, if someone is not willing to work with you, find someone who will or somewhere else to stay. I once learned that a smart individual will find opportunity in times of turmoil and be a problem solver not problem maker. If you go at it at this approach, you’ll spot opportunities to improve your vacation and improve other travelers’ vacations by strengthening a weakness!

#4. Ask, Ask, Ask and Then Tell: I have learned in business and life that you will never get anything unless you ask. See if they can upgrade you. Perhaps your special occasion will allow you to travel first class or maybe they have a suite instead of a two double bed room. The point: don’t be afraid to see if they can do better. Also, whether they are helpful in your upgrades or not, say thank you and how much you appreciate their help. These little words can go a great distance and leave a lasting impact.

#5. Timing is Important: You can’t expect to get first class travel during busy times. So, time of year travel is important if you want to get the luxury you deserve.

The Internet is a vast sea of information and can be a great tool when planning your trip. Have fun with it, but do a few little things and you can have a vacation that only the wealthy take advantage of. Remember, you deserve it!!

Hope you found some wisdom from my years of travel experience!

Til next time and don't pig out too much...

Joe

2005-11-16T15:22:00.000-08:00

Hello everybody,

Just a note that this week is finals week at school so I am studying
tremendously to finish up!

No new posts til next week for anyone who happens to read my thought and
ideas!

Til next time,

Joe

2005-11-12T09:54:00.000-08:00

Hello everyone,

Keeping this blog up has been a stretch, but it is fun when I have
time to do so and thanks for taking time to read and post comments.

Right now I am gearing up for next years travel season and holiday season.

I am currently adding content and resources to benefit you, the traveler.

So, don't forget to sign up for our RSS feed to keep in touch.

We are also considering adding a cruise section since there are a couple
of majore ports out of Florida.

Plus a real estate section for finding a vacation home or investment
property.

Tell us what you think!

No new news right now, but keep in touch with us and we'll keep you up to
date on whats going on for travel to Florida!

Til next time,

Joe

2005-11-05T07:51:00.000-08:00

Hello beach and Florida lovers.

We wanted to let you know that we recently found a new travel site that has been around a while, but one that you should check out before booking your trip- Trip Advisor. They offer real reviews from people like you and me- where they have nothing to gain, but want to get good and bad news out about various locations and hotels and such...

Find the best deal, compare prices and read what other travelers have to say at TripAdvisor!! You'll be glad you checked them out- this link will direct you to their Florida home page.

Ok, so now on to other stuff. I found a recent article you might enjoy. It's more fun and fits the budget mind perfectly.

The Best Experiences You Can Have for Free (or Almost Free) in Florida
By Lesley Abravanel

No need to empty your wallet. Here are the top 21 ways to enjoy the Sunshine State without shelling out the big bucks. The most expensive item is ony $10.

See the Boys of Spring (Statewide): Although Florida has the big-league Florida Marlins in Miami and the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in St. Petersburg, the whole state goes baseball crazy during spring training from mid-February through March. Great seats close to the action are a bargain compared to what you'll pay when the Boys of Spring get home.

Experience Cuba on U.S. Soil (Miami): Stroll down Little Havana's Calle Ocho, 8th Street, to get a flavor of Hispanic culture. Stop at Versailles, an iconoclastic, gaudy Cuban diner humming with old-timers reminiscing about pre-Castro Cuba, local politicos trying to appease them, and a slew of detached people only there for the fantastically cheap and authentic Cuban fare. Watch expert cigar rollers make handmade stogies at one of the many cigar factories. Overlook the purely American fast-food joints in favor of a much more flavorful Little Havana bodega.

Relish the View from Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park: You haven't truly seen South Florida until you've checked out the view from the southern point of Key Biscayne. Whether it's the turquoise water or the sight of Stiltsville -- seven still-inhabited aquatic cabins dating back to the 1930s, perched smack in the middle of the Biscayne Channel -- it may take a little coercing to get you to leave.

Everglades National Park: Unfettered by jet skis, cruise ships, and neon thong bikinis, the Everglades are Florida's outback, resplendent in its swampy nature, which is best explored via an airboat that can navigate its way through the most stubborn of saw grass, providing you with an up-close and personal view of the land's inhabitants, from alligators and manatees to raccoons and Florida panthers.

Drive along A1A: This oceanfront route, which runs north up from Miami Beach, through Sunny Isles and Hollywood, and on along the entire eastern edge of Florida, embodies the essence of the state. Especially in South Florida, where you'll discover time-warped hotels steeped in Art Deco kitsch alongside multi-million-dollar modern high-rises, A1A is one of the most scenic, albeit heavily trafficked, roads in all of Florida.

Eye the Estates on Palm Beach: The winter playground for the Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous set, Palm Beach is lined with jaw-dropping palatial estates, including the biggest one, which belongs to -- who else -- Donald "You're Fired" Trump. While many of them are hidden behind towering shrubbery, head south on South County Road, from Brazilian Avenue, where you will see some of the most opulent homes ever built. Make sure someone holds the steering wheel if you're driving, because you will do a double-take.

Catch the "Green Flash" at Sunset (Key West & the Gulf Coast Beaches): Key West and the beaches of Southwest Florida and the Tampa Bay area face due west, thus providing glorious sunsets over the Gulf of Mexico and a chance to see the elusive "green flash" -- a quick burst of green light just as the top of the sun dips below the horizon. It costs not a cent to wander down to the shore and keep a sharp eye peeled. Or for a few bucks, grab a drink from a beachside restaurant or Gulf-front bar.

Walk or Ride Along Wildlife Drive (Sanibel Island): The mangrove swamps, winding waterways, and uplands of Sanibel Island's J. N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge (tel. 239/472-1100) are great places to see alligators, raccoons, otters, and hundreds of species of birds. You can see many of the creatures from the 5-mile, one-way Wildlife Drive, which costs $5 per vehicle or $1 per pedestrian or biker. A naturalist will explain what you're seeing on a 2-hour narrated tram tour -- a very good value at $8 for adults, $4 for children 12 and under.

Stoop for Shells (Sanibel Island): Okay, you'll have to pay a $3 toll to get here and a small fee to park your car (or lock your bike to a tree for nothing), but you can stroll Sanibel Island's world-famous shelling beaches as long as you want for free. After a few hours hunched over in the "Sanibel stoop," you're sure to go home with a prize find or two.

Stroll Among the Millionaires (Naples): Olde Naples residents love to stroll out on their ancient city pier to fish, catch a sunset, or look at Millionaires' Row, a string of magnificent mansions along the town's lovely beach. Now a state historic site, the pier is open 24 hours a day and is free, although it will cost you a few quarters to park in the nearby municipal lots. When you're done ogling the wealthy from the Naples Pier, you can walk among them while window-shopping in the ritzy 3rd Street district nearby. Naples is so Midwestern-friendly that nobody will care if you maxed out your credit cards just to get here.

Walk, Jog, Bike, or Blade Along Bayshore Boulevard (Tampa): A 7-mile promenade with an unmatched view across the bay to Tampa's downtown skyline, Bayshore Boulevard reputedly has the world's longest continuous sidewalk. It's a favorite for runners, joggers, walkers, and in-line skaters. The route passes stately old homes of Hyde Park, a few high-rise condos, retirement communities, and houses of worship before ending at Ballast Point Park.

Trip Out in Sideshow and Psychic Towns (Gibsonton and Cassadaga): Who needs $10 a minute 1-900 numbers when you can walk around Cassadaga for free and get a look into the past and future? The small town near Orlando is a throwback in time but also a look ahead into your future if you encounter one of the many psychic mediums who live and work in this tiny 'psychic' town. Although private readings with psychics cost big bucks, there's always someone roaming the streets or hanging out in the general store who will be happy to give you a thought or two for free or for a penny. It's all definitely freaky. In Gibsonton, you'll see a freak show of a literal nature, as it's the home to many a retired circus acts and carnies, including the late Lobster Boy, and a living bearded lady or two.

See What Circus Money Bought (Sarasota): Adults pay $9 or $10 to get in, but you'll have three "rings" to visit at the FSU Ringling Center for the Cultural Arts in Sarasota (tel. 941/359-5700, or 941/351-1660 for recorded information), which houses the phenomenal collections of circus master John Ringling. A pink Italian Renaissance villa is filled with over 500 years of European and American art, including one of the world's most important collections of grand 17th-century baroque paintings. The Ringling's 30-room winter residence displays their personal mementos. And the Circus Galleries are devoted to memorabilia from The Greatest Show on Earth.

Visit a Virtual Stepford Town (Celebration): There was no need for a remake of the '70s classic, The Stepford Wives, especially considering that there's a similarly eerie town in Orlando known as Celebration. A planned community to the max, this pristine, picket fenced in Victorian-style utopian town has rules on everything from proper porch decor to car etiquette. Enter at your own risk.

Search for the Fountain of Youth (St. Augustine): Ponce de León never found it and some say that today, Botox is the real fountain of youth, but a stroll through the nation's oldest town may give you new perspective on the inevitable and positive effects of aging. You'll have to pay a few dollars to enter sites such as the oldest store and the oldest jail, but you can freely stroll these narrow streets for hours. Poke your head into antiques shops, peer into lush yards surrounding ancient buildings, and watch the boats out on the Matanzas River.

Visit a New Breed of National Park (Jacksonville): The Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve isn't one chunk of land; instead, it's a vast, intriguing system of sites on both sides of the St. Johns River. The prime attraction is the Fort Carolina National Memorial (tel. 904/641-7155), the site of a 16th-century French Huguenot settlement. It's on the edge of the 600-acre Theodore Roosevelt Area, a beautiful, undisturbed wood- and marshland rich in history and wildlife. On the north side of the river, the Zephaniah Kingsley Plantation (tel. 904/251-3537) was an early 19th-century manse owned by Zephaniah Kingsley, a white man who married one of his slaves and then moved her and his family to Haiti to escape racism at home. Admission is free to all the park's attractions.

Walk the Streets of a Charming Victorian Town (Fernandina Beach, Amelia Island): Amelia Island might be an exclusive, money-on-the-hoof kind of place, but you need not a penny to stroll around the gorgeous 50-block area of bayside Fernandina Beach. This charming small town is filled with so many Victorian and Queen Anne homes that it's listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

Massage your Feet on a Talcum-Like Beach (Northwest Florida): Admission is free to most of 100-plus miles of powdery, snow-white beaches that make the Panhandle special. And just a few bucks will let you into the Gulf Islands National Seashore at Pensacola, the Henderson Beach and Grayton Beach state recreation areas at Destin, the St. Andrews State Recreation Area at Panama City Beach, and St. George Island State Park near Apalachicola. You won't soon forget the time you spend on these protected sands and dunes, all consistently ranked among the nation's finest beaches.

Imagine Yourself Under Five Flags (Pensacola): You'll have to pay to go into its homes and museums, but there's no admission to walk the streets of Historic Pensacola Village (tel. 850/595-5985). The original part of Pensacola resembles a shady English colonial community, but America's second oldest city saw the flags of five nations fly over its quaint streets. Some of Florida's oldest homes are here, along with charming boutiques and interesting restaurants. During summer, costumed characters go about their daily chores and demonstrate old crafts, and archaeologists unearth the old Spanish commanding officer's compound.

Visit the Blue Angels & Top Guns (Pensacola and Fort Walton Beach): Next to the Smithsonian Institute's National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C., the next best places to see our nation's warplanes on display are at the National Museum of Naval Aviation in Pensacola (tel. 850/452-3604) and at the U.S. Air Force Armament Museum in Fort Walton Beach (tel. 850/882-4062). Admission to both is free. They cost a few dollars, but the naval museum's IMAX films will make you believe you're flying in a Blue Angel's cockpit.

See Where Johnny Weissmuller Played Tarzan (Tallahassee): Wakulla Springs, 15 miles south of Tallahassee, is so jungly that some of the 1930s Tarzan movies starring Johnny Weissmuller were filmed here. Today they are within the 2,860 acres of Edward W. Ball Wakulla Springs State Park (tel. 850/224-5950), which means you'll have to pay a few dollars to get in. You can also pay $4.50 for adults, half price for children, to take glass-bottom-boat sightseeing and wildlife-observation tours. You can swim in the lake formed by the springs, but watch for alligators!

Yes, this is long but informative.

Til next time,

Joe

PS. Please take a minute and let us know how we can make our site better and stand out. To be the leader we need your feedback b/c it is you we are working for. Is there something you'd like to see on our site or something that we could make better? We aren't trying to be everything to everybody, but are working on doing the best for you!!

2005-11-01T08:06:00.000-08:00

Hello everyone,

I was thinking the other day about travel and why we love it so much? Is it for the adventure, relaxation, time with loved ones, change of scenery, or all of the above.

We work so hard day in and day out. Many times my best friend and I reminice about high school and college and remember how easy we had it. Nothing to worry about.

So, starts my quest for success and how I can spend more time doing what I love- travel, helping others, and spending time with those that I love!!

A few years ago when I was in my first round of college studying exercise science, I was looking for ways to make some extra income. All my life I knew I wanted to be an entrpreneur- not b/c of the rewards it can bring but b/c of the journey that you must travel through.

So, I started with a Network Marketing company- you know one of those "pyramid schemes"

I sat there with my now wife and a good friend who invited us to visit an office where some 25 year old making a ton of cash told us how we could do it too. Naturally being competitive, we said what the heck and whipped out the credit card and began a journey that we had no idea where it was going.

THings got off to a really good start- we made money right away, got friends involved (which was a mistake), and had a ton of fun. We even quit school for a bit, got married, and moved to another city to help expand.

I was living the life- so I thought. You know though I did get some tastes of the good life that some of the top people were living and I once read in a Rich Dad book that success leaves clues and gives you glimpes so that when you hit setbacks, you continue on knowing it's out there.

Is this journey a scary one? Of course, but here is how I look at it- Picture yourself at 75 sitting in a rocking chair looking back on your life.
Question yourself- did you do all that you wanted or did you play it safe? Did you experience? It's like the stories of when someone hears they have 6 months to live and now they start to live! Why?

So with that thought in mind I kept going even when things got tough. After a year with the company, much time away from my wife, and things not going in the direction I wanted, I called it quits- which was very hard to do.

Man was it a weight off my shoulders. Yet, I wasn't finished- Although scared to jump back in, I decided to learn more and immerse myself in learning various ventures from real estate, to futures trading, to internet marketing, to building a business.

What did I take away from the company that eventually got shut down?
I learned a lot of valuable skills and lessons. I learned integrity and honesty are bar none and I learned that you have to keep improving and put yourself in unfamiliar water to grow and get to where you want to be.

It took me a few years to get back on the horse and start a small website about Florida but I did and it is working- all thanks to Site Build It.

Now my wife and I are expecting our first baby and thinking of ways to get her started on the same journey. What the hell, we may fail until we're 75, but we'll learn a lot, do it together, and have a heck of a good time along the way.

What does this have to do with travel? Well travel is a by-product of your successes. Do you go on vacation once a year or at all? Do you scrounge just to do so? Yeah us too...

It sucks, you feel like you can't even enjoy the vacation sometimes. That's why we became experts at budget travel- hence the website...
Discount-Florida-Vacations.com

Anyhow, I hope you enjoyed this exerpt- I plan on doing more if it helps some of you get off your butts and take action. Life isn't always about taking the easy road and playing it safe. The rat race will suck you hard before you even know it.

Good luck

Joe

2005-10-29T07:03:00.000-07:00

Well hello and welcome to the weekend...

It looks like we have a record hurricane season. That is a bummer for travel and locals who live in the red zones. Our prayers still go out to them.

We are about to enjoy one of my favorite holidays- Halloween. I love to watch all the scary movies I watched as a kid, curl up on the couch, tend to costume parties where I will be my favorite character this year- Roy E Munson!, and rev up for the rest of the holiday season...

With that being said, here is an article I wrote about planning for holiday travel.

Enjoy!!

Holiday Travel- What You Must Know!!

With the summer months past us it is time to start thinking of the holidays and end of year celebrations. So, students, families, parents, and anyone- listen up!!

Obviously things have changed in travel and the world over the past few years, so it is even more important today to plan ahead and prepare for holiday travel well before it gets here.

Kids are going crazy because they are out of school, you’re studying for finals, working overtime to help pay for everything, people from all walks of life are planning their trip at the same time, both of you are working hard on everyday life, and people are out in abundance shopping, preparing, and running around like a chicken with its head cut off…
Welcome to the holidays & busy travel season!!

So, with that being said, while you have time and the season is yet upon us, start thinking about the necessary steps in planning for the holiday season. Whether you are going or others are coming to you, everyone should know this.

First, off plan now for your vacation! This is of the utmost. You’ll have shopping, cooking, preparing, work, kids, spouse, finals, and so forth to do… so waiting to plan your travel needs will be just another headache when it should be fun.

Some things you should be doing now include…

Searching for cheap plane tickets or finding car rental discounts
Finding a hotel or rental to stay in- unless you’re going to bunk up with the family which, depending on your family, could be good or bad- remember the Griswold’s
Putting together a to do list- shopping, packing, preparation, etc…
Where are you going for your trip? New York, Florida, Europe?
Or, are they coming to you?
What it is going to cost- a travel budget is a must
You’ll need items to keep everyone busy and amused
And plenty more…

Obviously this list is just a starter. Everyone’s situation is different and you need to plan accordingly.

A lot of people will be traveling during this time. Snowbirds head south for the winter. Millions of families are working to get together for this time of year. Students are on winter break and trying to get home to their families. You get the idea.

The holidays are a wonderful time of year, but are quite hectic with regards to schedules and such. This is when the most people are traveling and you don’t want to be stuck in a situation that causes your holiday season to be a memorable one—for the worst.

If you think I’m kidding, just remember the movies, “Christmas Vacation,” or “Planes, Trains, & Automobiles,” or any other holiday movie that turns out to be a nightmare for everyone involved.
Plan ahead and prepare for headaches and it will make things much, much easier.

Don't forget to visit us at...

Don't forget to visit us at
www.discount-florida-vacations.com

We have recently switched to a new travel site- Trip Advisor.

They offer real reviews from other travelers and places to find those hot
deals.

Til next time,

Joe

Happy Halloween

2005-10-26T11:12:00.000-07:00

Hello all

It looks like Miami airport is opening up and power is starting
to be restored in Miami.

This is a shortened version of the news and you can find more
at Yahoo or any other source for now regarding
Hurricane Wilma.

Til next time,

I will have more coming soon regarding articles and such

Joe

2005-10-23T09:39:00.000-07:00

Good weekend all,

I hope this time of year has you settled in nicely and reving up for
the holidays.

Here is another article I wrote recently that seems to be getting more rave reviews.

I am also condidering writing an ebook about travel and wanted to know your thoughts? Send me comments here or at my website under the contact link.

Anyways, here is an article for you- hope you enjoy!!

Make Planning Your Vacation Easy With These Simple Steps…

Planning your vacation can be quite easy and enjoyable when you follow these simple steps. Plus, you don’t want to forget anything while planning your vacation.

So, let’s not waste any time, and get down to the business of planning your vacation!

#1. Where are you going to go? There are many great destinations all over the globe. It will depend on your goals and plans for your trip. For example, are you going as a family? Are you going for romance? Are you a student traveling on your break?
Are you traveling with a group? Do you have a pet to consider? Are you getting married or going for your honeymoon?
These are all important questions as they lead to customizing your trip accordingly.

#2. When are you going to go? Consider off-season to on. Also, think about things like
the weather. For example, our site is about Florida. Right now there is a hurricane and it’s very hot. Time of year will be important for availabilities, crowds, weather, prices, and so forth.

#3. Get all your travel needs, tools, and necessities ahead of time. That old saying, “Failing to plan, is planning to fail.” In this case you will not get the good deals, have as much fun, and enjoy your vacation if you don’t plan.
Some items you’ll want to round up include, maps, guides, coupons, luggage, checklists, travel activities, insurance, etc. Take care of all this and you will feel comfortable and confident while traveling.

#4. Figure out your Budget. There are many ways to save money and get deals while planning your trip. Whether you are planning way ahead of time or going last minute, finding deals on everything travel is possible. You just need to know where to look.

#5. How are you going to get there? Fly, drive your own car, or rent a car? Different travels require different types of transportation. It depends on the distance of your trip, schedule, budget, and so on. Remember what Clark W. Griswold and his family went through while traveling across country to Wally World in the family truckster- “Vacation.”

#6. Where are you going to stay? If you think a hotel is the only option, you’re wrong. There are condos, homes to rent, camping, RV parks, houseboats, villas, and more. As a traveler you have many viable options to choose from.

#7. What items will you need to take? If you go to the beach, for example, what will you need? What activities will keep everyone busy while traveling? Just consider what items you will need while you enjoy your vacation.

#8. What do you plan to do while on vacation? Are you going to golf, hike, fish, rent a boat? What kind of day trips do you have planned? How much are you going to eat out and eat in? These are important to consider so you get things like discount tickets, make reservations, take the proper equipment, and figure it into your budget.

#9. Don’t forget about your pet. Are you taking them or leaving them behind? You want to ensure your beloved family pet is well taken care of during the trip. There are a few things to do and consider before you leave.

#10. Finally, have fun! Planning a vacation is exciting. I mean we all work 50+ weeks a year for the one to two weeks off. You can have a great trip no matter how much money you have. Vacations are a necessity, not a luxury.

Til next time,

Joe

P.S. Don't forget to visit us and sign up for our RSS feed at
Discount-Florida-Vacations.com

2005-10-18T13:33:00.000-07:00

Hello everybody,

Hope you enjoyed the article below. Have more coming and still want to do my success series as it relates to travel and living life not just to work.

Anyway, heads up again for yet another hurricane- Wilma- heading towards the Gulf perhaps.

Don't know for sure, but thought I'd warn you. News pieces are all over the place, so if you are traveling to those areas, pay close attention.

Good luck and see you again soon,

Joe

2005-10-15T08:53:00.000-07:00

Good morning!

I have recently written some articles that have helped others with their vacations and other websites have begun to post my articles on their websites for their visitors.

Who would've known that a C writer at best is being complimented on his writing style and website content.

Anyways, here it is- hope you can use one or more of these tips...

How to save money while planning your vacations to Florida!

Planning a vacation can be fun, yet a frustration if you have little time, money, or patience. I think many of us suffer from a lack of patience. It can be quite simple if you follow some steps. Remember, you are going on vacation! Get excited! Use your time to plan, to get away from the stresses of your daily life.

Here are a few tips we suggest you follow when planning your trip and saving money!!

1. Figure out where you are going & what you must do while there. There are many great destinations in Florida from the Panhandle, to the Gulf coast, Atlantic Coast, Orlando, or the Keys. They also offer so many things to do, that it’s a good idea to plan ahead of time some activities.

2. Sign up for online e-zines: These are online magazines or newsletters that you sign up for and receive on a regular basis. Make sure they have an opt-in and opt-out policy and don’t share your information.

3. Are you going as a family, with friends, or for romance? How you get there, where you stay, what activities you want to plan will revolve around whom you travel with. There are locations in Florida set up for different types of vacations.

4. Get coupons & Ask for deals. I don’t care how much money you have. Traveling with coupons and discount sources only saves you money on your travels. Even if you go more luxurious, you can save money with these two tips. Ask to get bumped, ask for first class, ask for off-season specials, ask for senior citizens discounts, etc. Just ask.

5. Do your homework and shop around. We have found literally hundreds of online travel sites. Use the well known ones that are recommended. Read consumer reviews, be patient, and make sure you read all the terms and conditions, whether you book online of offline.

6. Join groups such as AAA or AARP. You can also save money by obtaining a frequent flyer credit card and earning points through spending. Just be smart with your credit and don’t go overboard.

7. Rent from an owner. Yes, there are options other than staying in a huge chain. Sometimes, the best deals and nicest places are from someone who is renting out their vacation home.

8. Travel in the off-season. Book early, book late, and name your own price at travel auction sites.

9. Referrals are the oldest, and in my opinion, the best way to do anything. There are people who will recommend hotels, things to do, places to go, that you would have never found otherwise.

10. Using credit cards can save you money and free up cash for other adventures. There is a right way and a wrong way to use them. A vacation is a necessity, not a luxury.

Also, prepare a budget, get all your necessities ahead of time and shop for them, and have fun while planning your trip. Yes, there are a few things you need to take into account, but if you follow a system of steps, planning will be easy. In addition, be realistic about prices, but don’t think you can’t get great deals on your vacations to Florida.

Don't forget to visit us at Discount-Florida-Vacations.com
and sign up for our rss feed to stay up to date on whats going on and how you can save money while having a wonderful vacation...

Til next time,

Joe

2005-10-12T15:53:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone

Just wanted to let you know I am not posting anything new for a few
days.

Working on revamping the site to make it more clear and better for my visitors.

I am working on rolling out a newsletter and alert opt-in.

For now, if you have anything newsworthy about Florida travel, please let us know.

Also, we have set up our RSS Feed, so if you would like to sign up for that to keep up with updates, go to our site and sign up now. It's really easy.

Til next time,
sorry so short-

Joe

2005-10-06T17:37:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone,

You know we love to travel and miss our time in Florida,
so I have been doing a lot of thinking lately about my future.
I am 26 years old, married, and have a baby on the way.

I was watching that classic movie, "Dazed and Confused" and the seen where
they are on the football field talking about high school. The main guy says something like, "if these are the best days of my life, then I might as well kill
myself now."

So, I have started reading the new book from
Rich Dad Poor Dad called, Don't quit your day job and it has me wondering
about the rat race, providing for my family, investing in other than mutual funds,
and building an empire that I can leave behind.

Is the rat race pulling me in? I am working hard on my website and it is starting to create passive income for me! I am in the process of revamping pages and making it look cleaner and more crisp.

How many of you out there wonder if you were destined for something better?
How many of you are going after it?

Anyhow, I guess just doing something and taking action is half the battle. I read a lot on success, business, investing, and so forth and realize that there are no secrets to doing more than getting by.

Sorry to ramble- just getting stuff off my chest.

Back to Florida and travel- The holidays are coming up and you better start planning for the seasons. Snowbirds and such head down to Florida in the winter, so plan ahead and make sure you'll get a great deal by visiting us!!

www.discount-florida-vacations.com
Write that down- Van Wilder

Til next time-
I hope to have some more news and reports on travel and soon
we will be implementing a deals and alerts section to our site

Stay tuned for anyone who reads this-
Thanks

Joe

PS. Pick up that book at
RichDad.com. It was worth every penny. It is more important now than ever to take control of you finances and more importantly, pass on the wisdom to your children- Leave them hanging and you'll see them struggle.

Like the saying goes- "Give a man a fish and he'll eat good that day, but teach him how to fish and he'll eat good for a lifetime!!"

2005-09-30T10:25:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone,
I was thinking this week about posting something relating to success. I have been reading a lot about how to develop my site, my life, and everything else.

Traveling once a year and having to do it on a budget can stink sometimes. So, I guess I am going to do a series based on some things I have put together about
how we can do things like travel, spend more time with loved ones, etc... and better our lives overall.

There is only so much you can post in a week about travel news and any articles I find relevent go directly on our site.

So, I will hopefully post the first part tomorrow and see how it goes- don't worry I won't neglect what I started this blog for- travel and Florida, but want to expand out on some thoughts I've been having about how we all can travel more often and live fulfilling lives.

Til next time,

Joe

2005-09-28T10:04:00.000-07:00

Hello Florida travelers and beach bums!

I found a nice little article relating to travel and frequent flier miles.
Not a bad little read.

School has been ok so far and can't wait to travel again. The Mrs. is now 3 months along and been sicker than a dog.

Looking for more ways to better the site. I am contemplating a few things while I test out Yahoo YPN and put up some picks.

Anyhow, here is the article...

South Florida Business Travel by Mike Seemuth

Make the most of your frequent-flier miles

Treat frequent-flier miles from bankrupt airlines more like cash than savings. Make them go as far as possible now rather than accumulating them indefinitely.

Delta Air Lines and Northwest Airlines are the latest troubled carriers to enter Chapter 11 bankruptcy with a promise to honor the frequent-flier miles they have issued -- though they could be relieved of their obligation to honor miles and other liabilities under bankruptcy court supervision.

Short of declaring its frequent-flier miles worthless, a bankrupt airline also could devalue its miles by restricting redemption opportunities through stingier rules or reduced flight schedules.

So a customer with fewer than 25,000 frequent-flier miles from Delta, say, should consider redeeming them to upgrade a purchased ticket to a higher class of service instead of saving miles to reach the 25,000 minimum required for a free ticket.

Remember that redeeming miles for a ''free'' ticket can entail out-of-pocket expenses, including the government-imposed September 11 Security Fee of $10 per passenger. Airline fees also may apply. Delta, for example, will charge a customer $50 for using Delta SkyMiles to acquire a seat on a flight 14 days or fewer in advance of the departure date. (There is no charge 15 days or more in advance.) Other airlines with frequent-flier programs also charge various award-travel fees.

Spending miles for upgrades today rather than saving them for free tickets tomorrow not only minimizes exposure to a future devaluation but miles also may go further when redeemed for an upgrade. Airlines assign varying values to their frequent-flier miles depending on what they are redeemed for, starting at about a penny per mile.

To compare how far your miles would go when spent on a free ticket or an upgrade (or anything else miles can buy), divide the dollar value of the two by their prices in miles.

For example, Northwest recently offered round-trip flights from Miami to Detroit for $360 in coach class and $840 in business class. Redeeming 25,000 miles for a coach seat on that flight would be worth 1.4 cents a mile ($360 divided by 25,000). Redeeming 5,000 miles for a one-way upgrade to business class would equate to an exchange rate of 4.8 cents a mile (the $480 price difference between the two classes divided by 5,000).

Getting upgrades also may be preferable to redeeming miles for membership in an airport lounge club. Membership in one, Delta's Crown Room Club, is available to members of Delta's SkyMiles program at exchange rates of less than a penny per mile.

Trading and transferring miles are alternatives, too, but neither is free. Transaction fees usually apply when miles issued by one airline are traded for those of another airline, through an exchange such as website Points.com, or when miles are transferred from one account to another within the same frequent-flier program.

Til next time

Joe

2005-09-24T11:15:00.000-07:00

Here is a news story that may deter or alter your travel plans for fall.
Remember to budget appropriately and plan well...

Gas, hurricanes and plane ticket prices affecting fall travel plans
By Aisha I. Jefferson

When it comes to choosing vacation destinations this fall, the hurricane season, rising gas prices and airline ticket prices will play a bigger role than people want in where they will travel, according to travel experts.

Travel expert Edward Hasbrouck, author of "The Practical Nomad" travel book series, said people can expect greater increases in air fares and in hotel prices in the coming months in this country than elsewhere in the world. Hasbrouck cites Hurricane Katrina evacuees, along with potential Rita evacuees, being displaced in hotels across the country who could cause prices to increase because room availability may be low.

Hasbrouck also predicts Delta Air Lines and Northwest Airlines filing bankruptcy on Sept. 14 will shake things up some.

"The direct effect of the bankruptcy for both the airlines in bankruptcy and other airlines is likely to be higher fares," Hasbrouck said.

Travel expert Candyce H. Stapen, on the other hand, said it is hard to judge whether Delta's bankruptcy will affect ticket prices, but said buyers should beware.

"I would be cautious about booking a flight on Delta right now because nobody's going to know if they're going to be running or not," said Stapen, who specializes in family travel and has authored 26 books, including "National Geographic Guide to Family Adventure Vacations: Wildlife Encounters, Cultural Explorations and Learning Escapes in the U.S. and Canada."

But the threat of high airfare prices is not keeping Clayton and Henry county residents home this fall.

Assistant manager Joyce Thompson with AAA Travel Agency in Morrow, said many Clayton County vacationers travel to the Smokey Mountains, or to the New England states to watch the leaves change colors. Thompson said Walt Disney World in Orlando is another popular spot for families desiring to vacation this fall season.

Stapen, agreed with Thompson, saying normally in the fall, people have a love affair with their cars and want to look at foliage. Some travelers will choose to drive rather than fly because it is less expensive, but rising gas prices have dampened some driving plans, Stapen said.

That is why Stapen suggests that families wanting to travel should consider staying in-state. She suggests they visit state parks and living history museums, such as The Port Columbus Civil War Naval Center or Historical Westville in Lumpkin, Ga.

Travel consultant Sha Hetzler with Lighthouse Travel in McDonough pointed to Savannah, the Forest Hills cabin resort outside Dahlonega and the north Georgia mountains as close destinations that Henry County residents are traveling to.

Hetzler said many people like to go to the northern part of the state to view the leaves changing colors. She said her agency considers driving four to eight hours to be within driving distance, with many people departing for Port Canaveral in Florida or the port in Mobile, Ala.

Stapen said the Internet is a good source for searching for great deals, and said Orbitz.com is a site that should be considered.

Travel experts said choosing the best time to travel all depends on where vacationers are headed.

Early October is good for those who are not concerned with gas prices, and desire to drive to the Northeast to look at foliage, Stapen said.

But if you are looking for a good deal to the Northeast, and don't mind that trees are bare, Stapen said early November, before Thanksgiving, is good because the ski season has not started yet, and hotels, even good ones, may be in a slump.

Stapen said traveling to Disney World in the fall is recommended because theme parks generally are less crowded during this time than in spring.

"You'll be less stressed with your kids. Just pick a hotel that has an indoor pool," Stapen said.

Although Disney World is a hot spot, Stapen said travelers should be leery about traveling to southern Florida until the hurricane season is over. Stapen said travel to the Gulf Coast region should be avoided as well. The hurricane season typically lasts from June 1 to Nov. 30.

While McDonough resident Lee Wheeler hopes her husband gives her the OK to book their vacation for them to Cancun, Mexico next month, she isn't worried too much about traveling to that region during hurricane season.

"I will not travel if it's bad (weather)," Wheeler said, adding that she will purchase travel insurance that will allow her to cancel her plans for any reason prior to departure.

Hope this helps

Joe

2005-09-24T06:24:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone and good Saturday.

Say your prayers for those on the Gulf Coast again. Man, this sucks.

Now that we are all settled into fall and getting ready for things like Halloween- I am going as Roy E Munson this year from the movie Kingpin- he's a legend!! It is time to start thinking of holiday travel.

We have stopped adding pages at this time on Discount Florida Vacations! and are focusing on providing you the best sources to book your trip and get deals. Not to mention, you can do any shopping for beach and travel necessities from some of our trusted sources that we use and highly recommend- many are companies you know, but maybe didn't know that you could get quality stuff there?

Any feedback would be great! We have been getting a few responses of how to better our site and many of you have provided positive feedback and told us you enjoy our site and find it helpful- Thank You Very Much!!

If you are traveling now, just be wary of the weather as hurricane season starts to wind down- slowly, and don't forget to visit us at Discount Florida Vacations! to plan your trip or just have fun before you go- work days are long and we try to help you put yourself in Florida before you go to Florida!

Til Next time everyone have a great weekend

Joe

2005-09-21T15:22:00.000-07:00

Hi everybody,

I just wanted to say thank you to everyone who visits our site and
reads our info.

We are working our hardest to provide fun and excitement about Florida and
travel, while giving you tips and ideas to vacationing.

We have just received a jump in our traffic ranking by one of the Web's traffic analysis sites. We are now in the top 1% of all sites on the web and still growing.

Thanks again and soon we should have some more news and updates.

For now be aware of the storms and travel issues!!!

Joe

2005-09-19T15:12:00.000-07:00

Hello to all!

Hope everyone had a good weekend- Ours was good- finishing up cookouts and getting ready for the fall.

I actually watched an entire football game on sat- notre dame and msu! it was a good one and had some beers!!

I know you are supposed to write on these things more often than I do but that is almost impossible with my schedule right now!

New news includes, another storm hitting the keys- God forbid it turns north again towards the gulf coast. Be aware of what Rita is doing if you are heading to Florida this week!

We are looking for another partner to work with- another travel site possibly. I would like to compare the site we partnered with to others.
If anyone has a recommendation on a site they like, let us know by posting a comment.

We have been working with Yahoo's new publisher network- It has been impressive so far and I am very excited about it coming out of Beta.

Other than that stay tuned for fall travel news and updates. We are always looking for good info and stories relating to Florida travel!
Hopefully, once the school schedule simmers, I will be able to get more on our blog.

Let us know what we can do better at our site.
Discount Florida Vacations- We have over 70 pages of content and working on getting more pics up.
We are wanting to make it better and needing stories and feedback. We believe that our site will help those looking to visit Florida from two beach lovers.

Again, if you have a certain online travel site you like, let us know and why!

Til next time

Joe

2005-09-14T05:51:00.000-07:00

Hello Florida travelers! Just wanted to post some news for the fabulous travel season.

Looks like the Hurricane moved north (which I'm sure you've seen), but be aware
of high surf and rough currents on the Atlantic Coast.

We also found info regarding the Red Tide in the Gulf. This is why my pregnant wife stayed out of the ocean when we were in Sarasota. It did cause some itchiness to the eyes and coughing- we weren't aware it was there and wasn't as bad said officials.

However, here is a story to keep you informed none-the-less.

NAPLES, Fla. Sep 13, 2005 — A tenacious red tide bloom that has lingered in the Gulf of Mexico off Tampa Bay all year now is being blamed for recent fish kills 100 miles off southwest Florida, state biologists said.

Tests of samples taken Monday confirmed the presence of the toxic algae that can be deadly to fish, said Jeremy Lake, spokesman for the Florida Marine Research Institute in St. Petersburg.

Strong westerly breezes are aggravating the problem by washing the dead fish ashore and causing some respiratory problems for people, he said.

"The red tide is there, but in low concentrations," Lake said.

Crews in both counties have been cleaning up hundreds of dead fish every day from the beaches since last week, officials said. In some places, fish were washing up as fast as workers could remove them.

The massive red tide bloom that has plagued coastal waters this year from Honeymoon Island north of Clearwater to south of Sarasota has been extra toxic and deadly to sea life, scientists say, the worst in more than 30 years.

Fish, sand dollars, sponges, crabs, coral and other undersea life suffocated as the red tide this strain is called Karenia brevis choked off the oxygen in the water. Bottlenose dolphins, sea turtles, manatees and birds that swim through it, inhale the nerve-impairing toxins in the surf spray or eat contaminated fish also have perished.

Divers and fishermen have reported a 2,000-square-mile "dead zone" void of undersea life off Pinellas County, where the worst of the red tide is concentrated.

Remember, we aren't an official news source. Just want to provide relevent articles and information regarding Florida travel. There is always news and updates everyday regarding Florida. We just try to look for news about travel and vacationing.

If you have anything please post a comment here about news.

Also, gas prices are still out of hand, so plan that in your budgets when traveling. Be safe, have fun, and come back with stories for us!!

Til next time

Joe

Come visit Florida with us!

2005-09-12T13:46:00.000-07:00

Hello,

Just wanted to let everyone know that our Sarasota trip is
live on the site with a page dedicated to our day boating-
man was that fun!!

Fall is here and I am excited about the holidays, finishing school,
and getting this website bigger and better for my visitors.

Pics of the trip will be going up this next few weeks- spent an hour
at the photo store waiting for them to download.

No new news today but will keep you posted- school is keeping me quite
busy.

10 weeks and counting- Angie (my wife of course) is pregnant and things
are looking good so far!! I can't believe I am going to be a Dad.

Already planning our next trip to Florida after tax season and graduation
from college with my parents. Don't know where yet, but it looks
like we'll have a little one with us- also going to fly this time-
I hate that drive!!

til next time- sorry so short- will update more and find some
recent news shortly

Joe

2005-09-08T10:13:00.000-07:00

Hi everybody.
I hope this blog finds you well. School has started back up.
We are praying for those in the south wishing we could do more or give more.
Back to work and summer is over. I love fall but hate the winter! Oh well,
just time to visit our site and feel like you're in Florida anyhow.

However, I just found this news article about another storm coming.
Man, does Mother Nature and those up above hate that area?

For those of you heading to Florida, be careful, have a safe trip and come
back with some stories for us.

I am in the process of adding pictures and updating the site to include
our trip and so forth. We had perfect weather, wonderful views, relaxation,
quality time, and came back refreshed for the fall and end of 2005.

So, here is the story and we'll keep you updated with new stuff as it comes
and if you hear of something before we do, let us know!!

Ophelia stalls, may bulk up

Storm stationary off Cape; winds up to 60 mph

BY CHRIS KRIDLER, FLORIDA TODAY
and The Associated Press

Forecasters' cloudy crystal ball is giving few clues to where Tropical Storm Ophelia might meander in the next few days.

Wednesday, tropical storm warnings were discontinued south of Cocoa Beach, where surfers were enjoying big waves.

At 11 a.m. EDT today, Ophelia's top sustained winds were 60 mph - 20 mph stronger than 24 hours earlier.

The center of Ophelia was near latitude 28.6 north, longitude 79.6 west or about 60 miles east-northeast of Cape Canaveral.

Ophelia is stationary and little overall movement is expected today.

The National Hurricane Center said Ophelia could become a hurricane by the weekend. Forecasters suggested the storm could linger off the northern coast of Florida, as computer models’ tracks were widely contradictory.

Warm waters offered fuel to strengthen the storm, but shear was slowing its intensification, forecasters said.

"All interests in north Florida and southeastern Georgia should monitor the progress of this developing cyclone," Lixion Avila wrote in the hurricane center's forecast discussion.

"We have to wait and see what (Ophelia) is going to do. The possibilities are endless," said Steve Letro, meteorologist in charge of the National Weather Service Office in Jacksonville.

"This one is going to keep everybody on the edge of their seats for quite some time," Letro said.

Brevard County can expect more squalls of rain and waves
breaking 6 to 8 feet onshore, with offshore waves building to 10 to 15 feet over the next few days, said meteorologist Scott Spratt of the National Weather Service in Melbourne.

As long as the storm keeps moving away, flooding isn't much of a concern, he said, but beach erosion is.

"It looks like the worst erosion would be Cape Canaveral northward up through Volusia County," Spratt said.

The weather service called for a 60 percent chance of rain today in North Brevard County, with north winds of 20 mph to 25 mph and gusts to 40 mph in the afternoon. Stronger winds and more rain were possible Friday.

In South Brevard County, the rain chances were similar but decreasing slightly on Friday, with winds today and Friday of 15 mph to 20 mph from the northwest.

"Looks like over the next two days, we're just going to see a slow northward or northwestward motion, parallel to the coast," Spratt said. Beyond that, Ophelia's path is too uncertain for the Space Coast to relax its guard completely.

"When you've got something like that sitting over the warm, toasty water, you've got to be very, very careful," said John Madura, head of Kennedy Space Center's weather office.

Kennedy Space Center planned to remain in its lowest level of hurricane alert until the slow-moving storm passed, NASA spokesman George Diller said.

"It's going to be lulls punctuated by brief bursts of excitement," he said of the storm.

2005-09-04T19:32:00.000-07:00

Well summer is just about over and I am back from
Sarasota and our vacation.

It was wonderful and I have tons of pics and new content
to add to the site in the next few weeks.

Pray for all those who got devastated by Katrina
and stay safe over the Labor Day weekend

Heck who can go anywhere with these dang gas prices?

The site will be updated over the coming weeks and although
fall is here, its never to early to start planning that next
Florida trip!!

Til then
Joe

2005-08-26T06:36:00.000-07:00

Good morning and TGIF!

Just wanted to let anyone know who visits our blog and our site
that we are heading out to Florida til Labor Day.

Summer is wrapping up. Say a prayer for those who have been devastated
by the hurricane and hopefully things will look good after the fact.

Have a great rest of August and look forward to giving new pics,
info, and so forth when we get back from Florida!!

Til then

Joe

Don't forget to visit us @
Discount Florida Vacations!!

2005-08-24T06:15:00.000-07:00

Here is a news article that came up this morning. Not good
for those of us looking to head to Florida this weekend...

MIAMI - Tropical Storm Katrina formed Wednesday morning in the Bahamas and moved toward Florida, threatening to hit the state with winds of 70 to 75 mph and heavy rain when it makes landfall Thursday, the National Hurricane Center said.

A 200-mile stretch of Florida's east coast from the Seven Mile Bridge in the Keys north to Vero Beach was under a tropical storm watch, meaning tropical storm conditions were likely within 36 hours. The storm is expected to slowly cross the state and could cause flooding as it dumps a foot of rain or more in spots before heading into the Gulf of Mexico.

At 8 a.m. EDT, the season's 11th named storm had winds of 40 mph and was about 70 miles southeast of Nassau and about 250 miles east-southeast of Florida. It was moving to the northwest at 8 mph and was expected to strengthen and that it could reach hurricane strength of 74 mph.

Eric Blake, a hurricane center meteorologist, said Floridians in the watch area should consider putting up hurricane shutters, particularly in coastal and exposed areas. He said all residents should stock up on hurricanes supplies such as water, batteries and generator fuel.

"It's time for South Florida to start taking precautions," he said.

The Florida Panhandle was hit by Tropical Storm Cindy and Hurricane Dennis earlier in the Atlantic hurricane season, which began June 1, and four hurricanes last year, which caused $19 billion in insured wind damage. Actual damage was about double that, experts said.

In an average year, only a few tropical storms develop by this time in the Atlantic, Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico. The Atlantic hurricane season ends Nov. 30.

Be careful and travel wisely,

Til next time,
Joe

2005-08-22T14:58:00.000-07:00

Discount Florida Vacations!!

Hi everyone,

If you have any news, info., stories, reviews, etc...
relating to Florida visit us and tell us or post
your comments here! We are looking for ways to help others
travel and who doesn't like to talk about their experiences?

Thanks in advance

Joe

2005-08-21T15:35:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone!

I hope your weekend is going well.
I am looking for help...

I am searching for new ideas for my site. More fun things
that would fit and be different than what others do.

In the pipeline I have a few things planned..

things like more pics (after our trip)
a stories, favorites, reviews section,
more day trips and adventurous stuff
memorable moments
real estate
cruises
links to other destinations
etc...

What do you guys think? any comments would be great.

take a look at our site- link of discount florida vacations
on the right side and tell us what you think.

til next time

Joe

2005-08-15T18:26:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone,
Hope you had a good weekend. 10 days until our Florida trip.
I can't wait to have new pics and updates for the site.

Have some outstanding news I must share...

My wife and I are going to have a baby!! We have been trying for almost
2 years and finally voila! The soldiers are still strong!!

Anyways as this summer winds down I have been reflecting on this year so
far and how things have been going.

After our first two years of marriage were tough- network marketing failure,
living in another city, broke as a joke, and trying to find our way, we
decided to sit down after X-mas each year and put together our goals for
the upcoming year.

Things have been going well. We bought our first home which is as perfect
as you could picture it. We look forward to our next being our first rental
property. You see I'm not big on company retirement plans- I want to have
control over my finances. I keep seeing too many people losing and being frustrating
as they get older.

I started this website. Things are great with it so far. The system is working
quite perfectly. The only way is up.

I am on the home stretch for school. Two quarters to go and I am done!!
Accountant- If you would have told me 10 years ago I wanted to be an accountant
or any type of financial guy, I would have argued with you.

Ang is doing well with the pregnancy so far and with her job. She is good
at what she does and will probably head up one of our companies one day- she's good
at the real estate thing.

I am still working at Outback, which isn't so bad. Biz is sporatic but the
people there are cool. I love talking to others about relationships. Some guys
and girls for that matter just don't get it, but we all learn the hard way
sometimes right? It is exciting to be moving on to the next phase of my life.

Life is crazy and if you aren't paying attention, it will pass you by.

If you aren't happy with your life try doing something I learned...

Picture yourself at 75 years old sitting on the porch in a rocking chair
enjoying a beautiful day. You start looking back on your life...

Did you do everything you wanted? Do you have regrets? Would you do things
differently? Did you accomplish all you wanted? Were you happy?

If you are afraid to be in a position at 75 and looking back wishing you did more
then that is a sign- WAKE UP!! So far in my 26 years I have done everything I
wanted and have no regrets. I look forward to the future, being a father,
achieving wealth in all forms, and helping others along the way!

Sorry to ramble, just thought I'd share some of whats in my head- hell that's what this darn blog is for anyhow.

Don't forget to check out our site
and I will see you next time...

Stay classy (as my fav- ron burgundy says)

Joe

2005-08-13T04:46:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone. Weekend is here!! Today is our annual family/friends
pool party out at my parents. It is so much fun!!

Anyhow this post is about a hurricane roaring up the Atlantic toward
Florida- Irene. It hasn't reached the strength of a hurricane yet, but
seems to be on that heading.

(CNN) -- Tropical Storm Irene -- the ninth named storm of the 2005 hurricane season -- was packing winds just below hurricane strength late Friday, and was expected to become a hurricane Saturday, forecasters said.

As of 11 p.m. ET, the storm was about 300 miles (483 kilometers) southwest of Bermuda and about 590 miles southeast of Cape Hatteras, N.C., according to the Miami-based National Hurricane Center.

The storm had maximum sustained winds of near 70 mph, with higher gusts, and was moving toward the northwest at about 10 mph, the center said.

Irene was expected to turn toward the north-northwest on Saturday and its speed was expected to decrease.

Tropical storm-force winds, of 39 to 73 mph, extended outward up to 85 miles from the center of the storm.

Should Irene's winds intensify to exceed 73 mph, the storm would become this season's third hurricane.

Irene is forecast to turn away from U.S. coast, CNN meteorologist Chad Myers said.

Of the storm's path, he said, "I know this looks like a direct line to New York, but so far, so good. It doesn't look like that's going to happen because the westerly winds pick it up and turn it back off to the east into the ocean."

The first 10 weeks of the 2005 hurricane season -- which began June 1 -- have been especially active.

Two storms grew into powerful hurricanes: Dennis and Emily, which were blamed for more than 37 deaths.

Three of the storms made landfall in the United States -- Tropical Storm Arlene, near Pensacola, Fla., on June 11; Tropical Storm Cindy, near Grand Isle, La., on July 6; and Hurricane Dennis, near Navarre Beach, Fla., on July 10.

According to the hurricane center, the five named storms that developed in July were the most ever recorded for the month, and it was the first time since 1916 that two major hurricanes developed during July.

The seven named storms during June and July also set a record. The official hurricane season lasts until November 30.

So, if you are traveling to the East Coast of Florida, be careful. Make
sure you stay up to date on what is going on. We don't want your vacation
ruined either way you go!!

Til next time- have a good weekend

Joe

PS. I saw Wedding Crashers. Now I am a huge favorite of Vice Vaughn, Owen
Wilson, Ben Stiller, Will Ferrel, and all those guys.
It was funny, but no Anchorman (which many people said). I did like it
and will watch it again and again though!!

2005-08-10T07:11:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone,
Here is a recent article that I wrote that might interest you
travelers. It has been getting great reviews on other websites, so I thought
I'd post it here since I'm not putting my articles on our website...

Fun things to do on your vacation!!!

That’s the intent of this article, to wake up some ideas in your head, and plan for things to do in Florida and any of your travels.

When we venture down to Florida or anywhere for that fact of the matter, we first figure out what activities we definitely don’t want to miss. Here is our list of favorite things to do on vacation…

1. Sit on the beach and play in the ocean. This is a no brainer. We love to walk the beach, bathe in the sun, play in the waves, and watch the beautiful people.
What types of things do you do on your vacation? What activities do you have planned? Do you relax, go active, or a little of both?
2. Play golf. Golf is a great game. There are excellent golf courses all over the world to choose from and you can even plan an entire golf vacation.

3. Go fishing. Deep sea fishing or fishing from a pier is a blast. If you have never done this try it once, you’ll love it.

4. Other sporting activities like scuba, snorkeling, water skiing, parasailing, renting jet skis, or whatever. There are a ton of water activities to choose from.

5. Day trips and tours are awesome choices. Rent a boat for the day. Take a barefoot cruise. Venture over to Orlando and go to Disney World or any theme park. Dinner cruises, exploring, hiking, tours at local sites, and anything else that you can think of.

6. Go shopping! Yes, the ladies will love this one and probably already have it planned. I hate to shop, but it is actually fun when I am on vacation. It wears me out though. Take some extra money and visit the local shops, find souvenirs, and spend some of that hard-earned money.

7. Drive around. We have rented convertibles or motorcycles for a couple of days and just explored the area. One time, we went from Miami to Key West and spent the day there. Another time, we traveled up the A1A highway along the Atlantic Coast of Florida, enjoying the luxurious homes, yachts, and views. You can even do this as a weekend getaway. Find a cool spot that’s only 6 hours or less away and take off. We always have fun doing this.

8. Take in local entertainment, events, restaurants, and such. Go dancing, find the best watering holes, do something romantic, party likes its 1999. Remember, you are on vacation and it’s time to have some fun and do stuff you don’t usually get to do at home.

The list is as endless as your imagination. These are just a few general ideas that we always plan on doing. Be creative and try new things.

Enjoy your trip, have a good time, and tell us your stories!!!

Hope you enjoyed,

See you next time,
Joe

PS. Hide and Seek is a good movie- psychological thriller!

2005-08-07T06:26:00.000-07:00

Hello to all,

We watched Mr. and Mrs. Smith last night. Borrowed the DVD from
a friend who bought it in New York.

Not the best movie. I give it a C and I usually like movies. Parts
of it were slow- the story was pretty cool and the action was good,
but the Mrs. fell asleep before the end. It was O.k.

Anyhow I am catching up on rest this weekend- thank goodness.
I heard of a new book I want to read...

What rich people know and desperately want to keep a secret.

If anyone has thoughts on that let me know...

Just looking forward to Florida and finishing another quarter
of school!

Til next time...

Joe

P.S. I am working on pics of us so hopefully will have those
up shortly

2005-08-05T09:37:00.000-07:00

work work work.
how many of you can feel that?

i haven't even been able to go see new movies out
like wedding crashers and such...

we are trying to save for our upcoming trip to Florida.

anyhow we have a lot going on this month
annual auel pool party at my mom and stepdads
with cornhole, booz, and great food!!

birthday parties, jimmy buffet concert in cincinnati
and more...

sept is my 4th wedding annvy to the woman i love more than
anything- looking forward to that- some people didn't even
give us 6 months ha ha!!

other than that work work work so sorry so short.

until next time

joe

2005-08-03T17:52:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone. I thought today, who would read my blog if you don't know
who I am? Sure you can read our about us page at our site
Discount Florida Vacations
or the profile I threw together that lists a few things about me.

But why not let you in on my world. Who I am, what I like to do, why I do what I do,
and so forth...

That's what a blog is for anyway right? So, besides news and updates, we want
to let our visitors or those who haven't found our website yet know that they are
dealing with regular people trying to live out our dreams and provide help to
others.

So, who is Joe? I am in my mid twenties attending college (finally finishing) in
Ohio. I have lived here for most of my life and enjoy it for the most part- winters
stink.
After wading through many majors I have decided on Accounting and Finance
b/c of my beliefs on business. Heck, Accountants make pretty good money
and everyone needs one right?
I am married with a dog (golden retriever- we think?- pics on the site) whom I love
both very much.

Things I enjoy...
Travel of course, reading- will post favorite books later, watching movies- especially
funny ones, exercise, playing with my dog, business, real estate, investing, self help,
and things like that, drinking beer (one of my favorite hobbies), hanging out with
friends, 4 wheeling and anything adventurous- that won't get me killed of course,
family, and so much more...

I will try anything once and am looking forward to the life ahead of me.

My goals are to have successful businesses, help grow the CPA firm I work in one day,
travel everywhere, buy luxury cars and homes, grow as a person and help others, have
money working for me, enjoy time with my family, retire young, and live life
to the fullest- work hard play hard!!

I am a pretty simple guy.

Soon, I will be talking about my Site Build It journey and how I got to the point
I am in my business life. Lots have happened from Network Marketing failure,
to ebay business, to dropping out of school, to being a mortgage broker, to selling
jewelry - hated that- to going back to school, to getting an internship, to utilizing
site build it twice, to taking a commodity trading course with a floor trader to much much
more...

So, with that being said, I hope that you know me bettter, enjoy my blog and my website,
and continue in each week to see what I have to say...

PS. Comments are welcome. Just remember that I hae feelings and this blog is set
up to have fun. If you have comments about our site, please go there and contact
us directly. I have worked very hard on it and like to hear feedback to make it
better and more competitive.

List of favorites:
Books:
Rich Dad, Poor Dad: What the Rich Teach Their Kids About Money--That the Poor and Middle Class Do Not!

This book changed my outlook on money and my future. Things look brighter
and my path is being set. If you desire more out of life, check it out.

Body for Life: 12 Weeks to Mental and Physical Strength

Awesome book that helped me and my wife get in our best shape ever.
(maybe not right now though- lol!) Bill Phillips is the master.

Awaken the Giant Within: How to Take Immediate Control of Your Mental, Emotional, Physical, and Financial

I love Tony Robbins- even if some think he's cheasy. This book has helped
me through some tough times.

I don't read a lot of fiction, but if you have any suggestions let me know!

Favorite movies coming soon- there are too many to list now:

Until next time...

Joe

2005-08-03T15:42:00.000-07:00

Here is a recent news post I found that might interest you
travelers.

Summer winds down, airlines drop prices
As the busy summer travel season heads into its final weeks, many airlines are discounting tickets for travel in late summer, autumn, and early winter.
Be prepared to move fast to book a cheap seat. Several airfare sales are scheduled to end this week, and preferred itineraries may be unavailable.
Here's a sampling of deals, and please note, all quoted fares exclude tax and fees:
• AirTran has cheap tickets for sale until 11:59 p.m. Tuesday for travel dates through Nov. 16, including one-way fares as low as $89 for service from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport to Milwaukee, Wis. For the lowest fares, AirTran advises traveling on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays.
• American Airlines' Florida and Eastern U.S. Fall Sale put economy-class service on sale for travel dates from Sept. 6 to Dec. 14 (except for a Nov. 22-28 blackout period). Discounted round-trip fares for service from Miami included $258 to Los Angeles and $178 to Boston and New York's LaGuardia and JFK airports. Round-trip fares for service from Fort Lauderdale included $118 to LaGuardia in New York and $178 to Los Angeles. Tickets must be purchased seven to 14 days in advance, depending on the destination.
• ATA is offering introductory fares of $94, each way, to promote its new Miami-Chicago service. ATA will start operating two daily round-trip flights between Miami International Airport and the Midway airport in Chicago, starting Oct. 29. A third daily round-trip on the same Miami-Chicago route is expected to be added to the airline's schedule on Dec. 13.
The low-fare tickets will be available for travel from Oct. 29 through Feb. 14, 2006, and must be purchased by Aug. 16. Blackout dates in November, December and January apply. The discounted fare is based on a 14-day advance reservation.
• JetBlue is running a clearance sale that includes cheap fares for service from Fort Lauderdale. The discounted fares apply to travel dates from Sept. 6 to Dec. 14 (except for a Nov. 22-28 blackout period) and require customers to buy their tickets by Aug. 10. One-way fares for service from Fort Lauderdale include $49 to Washington, D.C. (Dulles), $89 to Long Beach, Calif., and $59 to Boston, JFK and LaGuardia airports in New York, and to the airport in Buffalo, N.Y.
• Southeast Airline put Fort Lauderdale and the rest of its markets (except Orange County, Calif.) on sale. Ticket purchases must be made by this Thursday to qualify for Fort Lauderdale fares as low as $39, one way for travel dates from Aug. 18 through the end of the current Southwest schedule of flights. [The airline is currently accepting reservations through Dec. 12.] From Fort Lauderdale, Southwest is offering one-way fares of $39 to Birmingham, Ala.; $49 to Albany, N.Y.; $59 to Cleveland, and $79 to Houston, among other destinations.
LOEWS HOTELS OFFER
FOURTH NIGHT FREE
The Loews chain is offering a free night's stay for every three paid nights for a limited time at select properties. The offer is valid through Jan. 31, 2006.
Participating hotels include Loews Miami Beach Hotel, the Don Cesar Beach Resort in St. Petersburg, and 14 other Loews properties in such major cities as New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles.
Not all rates qualify for the ''Fourth Night Free'' offer. Certain blackout dates, time of arrival and length of stay requirements apply.
LAN, JAPAN AIRLINES
TO CREATE RECIPROCAL
FREQUENT FLIER PLAN
LAN Airlines and Japan Airlines received approval from the Japanese government to form a reciprocal frequent flier program.
The arrangement covers 1.4 million members of LANPASS, the frequent flier program of Santiago, Chile-based LAN, and 17.3 million members of JAL Mileage Bank
It allows LANPASS and JAL Mileage Bank members to accrue and redeem mileage on each other's air networks.
Mileage accrual will be applicable for flights on and after July 1. Application for LAN award tickets will be accepted starting today for flights on and after Aug. 15.
Japan Airlines award-ticket applications have been accepted since July 1 for flights on and after July 15. JAL serves more than 200 airports in 35 countries and territories worldwide.
EARN MILES
FOR HOTEL STAYS
Guests of the Marriott hotel chain who belong to its customer-loyalty program, Marriott Rewards, can now convert their credit in the program to award travel on Air France/KLM.
With the addition of Air France/KLM, members of Marriott Rewards who wish to redeem their hotel-loyalty credit for flights now have 26 airlines from which to choose.
Send tips and share your business travel experiences with Mike Seemuth at humidity@herald.com

I hope that helps. Remember if you are planning to travel, read through our
tips and places to find a great deal.

More to come....

Joe

2005-08-03T08:58:00.000-07:00

Good morning everybody who reads this.
I just wanted to remind everyone who filed and extension on
their taxes to have them done by August 15th.

That is coming up quickly, so don't wait til the last minute-
unless you owe of course.

Anyways, thats it for now b/c I have work and a test to take
so I am looking for current news and posting some cool info.
later tonight!!

See you then
Joe

2005-08-01T07:23:00.000-07:00

Here is a list of some events around Florida for the month of August...

Summer Jazz Festival in West Palm Beach- thru the 28th
Summer sizzler beach fest- St Augustine Beach- Aug. 6th
Bike Fest in Plant City on Aug. 6th
WaZoo Beverage Festival in Tampa on Aug. 6th- This is one event that I would love to attend. Beer, Food, Entertainment, & Fun!
Music Fest on the Water in St. Petes- Aug. 7th

There is always something going on somewhere. Find something to do on
your trip. We will keep you updated with what's going on!!

Til we meet again,

Joe

2005-08-01T07:15:00.000-07:00

Since hurricane season is approaching and there have already
been hurricanes tearing up the gulf and atlantic, I thought it obvious to
mention that here.

Be careful in your travel and expect that a storm of sorts may disrupt your
Florida travels. Plus, we are going to the Sarasota area at the end of this
month, so I am praying for mother nature not to hit us.

Also, what's with all the shark attacks? The best thing is to be careful.
It looks like the last one was in Daytona. The thing to remember is,
there are millions of people visiting the beaches all the time. There are expected
to be accidents even though it is tragic/unfortunate.

Again, be careful and watch where you are going.

With that said, we will keep news and information as up to date as
possible here, with thoughts and opinions of what's going on!!

Til next time,

Joe

2005-08-01T05:57:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone. I am starting out this new blog and wanted to
see it in action. Let me introduce myself...

My name is Joe and I am a student, business owner, soon to be accountant,
and enjoy a variety of stuff.

This blog is in conjunction with my website discount florida vacations.
We hope that you'll check us out and enjoy the content and help as much
as we did creating it!!

Let us know what you think. We will be updating this weekly to biweekly
with world news, events, travel news, and personal/biz stuff that is
happening.

We hope you enjoy-
stay classy LOL!

Joe aka. Roy E. Munson