Seriously, when in Japan, make sure you bring your credit card. Well, I am talking about Tokyo of course. This is the place to find the latest trends and styles but be warned that you may need a cash advance credit card to buy all that your heart desires!

A country where retail culture is strong and growing everyday, it is hard to believe that Japan is officially in recession. But do remember to bring enough cash too as there are many shops that won’t take credit cards at all. I find shopping a little too expensive for me except for local labels like MUJI and UNIQLO. My hubby is so happy to learn that we are within our travel budget but little does he know that I’m saving my shopping for hong kong!

Finally, I’m here in tokyo with my family and we are enjoying ourselves! Apart from tired feet and aching backs, I am enjoying winter here and the adventures that start each new day.

We have been out most of the time and by the time we get back to our hotel (our serviced apartment), we are flat out. Hubby and myself brought few books here for the trip and we have yet to find time to read them. All the books we read are Japan related ones and that’s all we have time for at the moment.

Traveling around in Japan is fun and can be both daunting and challenging if you are phobic towards crowds and busy streets. The Japanese seems rushing all the time and it’s hard to find a train line without crowds and people! The trains are very efficient which makes Japan a very easy place to travel. But it can be challenging if you are traveling with a young child by yourself as many train stations do not have escalators or elevators.

I hope to compile a travel report to Japan when we are done with our family vacation in Japan. For now, I’m looking forward to a good soak in Hakone tomorrow!

One of the ways to avoid putting on excess weight during your travel vacations is to plan activities that involve walking and outdoor recreation. When we travel as a family, we tend to go on foot more often as we feel that walking can allow more exploration. Then again, it depends on where your travel destination is.

Walking tours are becoming popular in many destinations and you can find out how to go about it by doing your travel research before your trip. If you have time, visit a travel forum and ask the locals on some walking tours in your destination and that way, you will find that you don’t even need to pack your diet pills in your luggage. Your walking activities should be able to keep you trimmed and healthy throughout your trip. Just don’t forget to invest in a pair of good walking shoes if you are going on any walking tours!

FREE SHIPPING at TheWalkingCompany.com with $100 purchase

This is going to be Clayton’s first Disney vacations and I bet he is excited! Well, I don’t think he’s a big fan of Mickey and Donald Duck and looking back, I was a real fan!

If you are planning for a family vacation, you really need to make sure that there are enough recreational activities to keep your active kids happy and busy. Otherwise, your vacation won’t be much of a restful one! It is better to let them expand their energy in thrills and adventures than to be all worked up when they start to get restless and quarrelsome among each other. If possible, every kid should experience a Disney vacation at least once in their childhood. This will bring much memories as they grow out of their childhood years.

Almost everyone who has been to the US for vacations will try to sneak into one of the factory outlets in the country. With so many outlets to choose, these are the best places to buy clothes, shoes, watches, luggages, toys, bags and just about alot of designer labels at a good discount.

I recalled buying lots of children’s pyjamas at Gap last year and my hubby went goo goo over the men’s stuff and Oakley watches. The Japanese packed the Coach outlet stores and Le Sportsac stores too! I find myself missing the good shopping in US… I can’t wait to spend more time in these factory outlets next time. This time, with our own rented car and schedule…

DH sounded kinda surprised when I told him that I would be bringing a laptop for our family vacation. It’s not so much of working during the vacation but with a laptop, I find it easier to check my emails and do simple stuff like searching for places of interest, travel ideas, downloading our photos to free up camera memory…etc

I once knew of a friend who brought along his tape drives during his trip cos he was planning to do some work. Then again, it was possible as he was taking a driving holiday which made it easy for him to chuck everything into the car! Then again, I always believe that it is good to learn how to travel light. This way, you can be more mobile and less burdened by your heavy bags and luggages. If possible, do your laundry when you are planning longer trips and this way, you can avoid bringing too much! Don’t forget to buy yourself a good luggage!

Sometimes I wonder what is the difference between one category of hotel room to another. For instance, I was checking out The Langham Hong Kong in Tsimshatsui and was wondering the difference between the Grand room and The Grang Langham room and was told about the DVD player and iHome audio deck facilities.

The nice thing about each of these luxury rooms is that there is a 37″ plasma TV and those who appreciate home theater lighting and setting will find this a big plus! If you spend enough time at the Trip Advisor, you will find that there are lots of good reviews about The Langham Hong Kong as well as its sister hotel, The Langham Place Mong Kok. If you are after luxury for your next business trip or personal vacation, these two Hong Kong hotels are known for its quality service and pure luxury!

It may sounds weird but many travelers are very detailed when it comes to picking their favourite accommodation when they travel. I knew of a friend who even went to the detail of telling me that the hotel he was staying in had a Moen. For a moment, I thought that was so funny.

As for me, I would notice cleanliness, room size, hotel service and the hotel amenities once I visit a new hotel. Two days ago, we were at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel Kuala LUmpur for two nights and it was disappointing to note that the hotel room we were staying in was in need of a serious upgrading. Not only was the bathroom looking a little tired and the bathroom accessories need a change as well. The bathroom tiles looked like they needed a scrub and the carpets weren’t clean enough for a five star hotel. I thought the service had kinda droppped since the last we first stayed at the Mandarin Oriental Kuala Lumpur five years ago and wondered if it had anything to do with the economy meltdown.

I personally think that the service and overall ratings at the Mandarin Oriental Kuala Lumpur had paled compared to The Traders Hotel Kuala Lumpur, which offers a better service, cheaper rates and a better view of the Petronas Twin Towers, if you ask me.

Check the best room rates at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel or the Traders or any other Kuala Lumpur Hotel here:

The internet is a great place for all kinds of resources especially for the holiday makers, travelers and vacationers. You can search online accommodation, car rental and holiday homes rental anytime of the day, 24/7, 365 days a year! The well of information is amazing.

I used it alot to read travel reviews while some of my girl friends use the internet to search for health reviews, diet pill reviews like alli and others. For those who make hotel decisions based on reviews, you will find yourself avoiding mistakes that some travelers had made. Hotel comparison search tool becomes very popular for those who want to pick the best accommodation hotel deals for their travels, for business or for leisure. With today’s sophisticated technology, searching for the best hotel rates is made easy with the click of a button.