Riding the Amtrak is a great way to get to one place from another.  You don’t have to worry about flying and it’s just like driving, but you can enjoy the scenery without having to worry about the roads.

So, if you’re planing an Amtrak trip, there are a few pointers that you should know about, before you hop on board, especially if it’s your first time.  You will find that by following these tips, it’s going to make your traveling a lot easier!

#1 Go for a non-stop train

Just like flying, you don’t want to stop at a few stations.  You may find this route may be a little cheaper but it’s going to cause you a lot of headaches, trust me on this one!  You may find that you will stop at your first stop and you will have to wait for a few hours, and yes, I’ve heard of people waiting days as well to get the next train to come because of delays.  Spend the extra money and get a non-stop trip.

#2 Don’t squeeze your trips

On some trips, you’re not going to be able to do a non-stop trip and I can understand that.  Instead of trying to squeeze your other stop by a few minutes, you’re not going to want to do this. Instead, stay the night, or maybe wait a few hours in between to allow yourself a lot of time.

#3 Review your routes online

There are a lot of routes that you can take and if you don’t want to have a boring trip the whole time.  Instead, do some research on your trip and see what routes offer the best scenery.  Check out Amtrak’s most scenic routes to see which one caters to your wants and needs.

#4 Always reserve your trip

Amtrak makes it easy for you to reserve your trip online.  Just like booking a flight, or anything else, it’s always best to reserve the whole trip to ensure that you get your seating.  If you show up at the train station looking for a ticket, you may find that it’s booked, or it’s going to cost you double to what you would have paid online.

#5 Bring entertainment and snacks

Just like an airline, you’re going to want to keep yourself entertained.  You don’t want to have 18 hours ahead of you without any type of entertainment.  Bring books, magazines, dvd players, and more.  This is going to make your trip fly by.  You will also want to make sure that you bring snacks to eat, because the train food can get pricey.

#6 Show up early

The train is going to leave with, or without you.  Get to the train station at least one hour ahead of time.  This will ensure that you’re there and ready to board, when it’s ready.

#7 Bring only 2 carry-ons

Amtrak only allows you to bring 2 carry on bags on board.  Make sure that you check in all other bags if you’re going to bring more.  In order to avoid this headache, I would recommend that you try to limit yourself to the 2 bags that they recommend.

These are the top tips that I can recommend that you can use when traveling by train.  BidonTravel.com has another great tips page as well if you want to check it out to get even more tips and advice!

As I write a few posts on backpacking, I thought I’d write up a small checklist that you can scour through, before you head out on your trip.  Since you don’t want to miss out on anything, it’s essential that you’re prepared.  This is definitely the case, especially if you want to backpack in extreme climates.

Your Backpack Checklist

Backpack

Bags (Garbage / Storage)

Binoculars

Camera

Compass

Clothing (be aware of your climate to adjust to the temperatures)

• Short sleeve shirts
• Shorts
• Gloves
• Long sleeve shirts
• Long underwear
• Pants
• Socks
• Underwear

First Aid Kit

Food

Hiking Boots

Insect Repellent

Light (Flashlight, etc)

Map Field / Guide

Sleeping bag

Stove with fuel

Sunblock

Tent

Toilet paper

Toothbrush with toothpaste

Water Bottle (check to see what’s recommended per day)

Whistle with signal mirror

With this checklist, you’re going to find that these are just your necessities, and there are going to be other things that you may need.  To make it easier, what you will want to do is simply think about what you’re going to do on a daily basis and go from there.  Every backpacking trip is going to be different and each climate is going to need it’s own thing.

As long as you’re prepared and you bring what is mentioned above, you should be okay.  Remember, it’s essential that you bring only what you can carry.  After walking for a few miles, a backpack can put a huge burden on your back and feet.  Have fun and be sure to print up this list when you’re ready to take your trip!

In the past, I wrote up a post on the best airline blankets on the market today.  It didn’t dawn on me until after I wrote it is that a lot of people search for airline blankets, but they wanted heated ones that you can bring along while you travel.  So, I decided to help those out that are out there looking for a blanket that not only keeps them warm, but heats up as well, making it a win-win!

Roadpro 12-Volt Polar Fleece: This is one of the highest rated blankets over on Amazon.  It’s made of 100 percent quality polar fleect and it can plug directly into a lighter/power socket.  It’s ideal for those that are in the car.  Unfortunately, you can’t plug it in anywhere on the plane, but can still work as a great blanket.

12V Travel Blanket by Trademark Global: This blanket plugs into your vehicle’s 12V plug and it perfect for everything ranging from a car, all the way up to a RV.  It can be yours for less than $30.

Trillium WorldWid 12-Volt: This highly rated blanket is 100% soft and made of high quality polyester fleece, that makes any ride fairly cozy.  The LED indicator light makes it easy to determine if the heater is on, or off.

MAXSA Innovations 20013: This 42×58 inch size cover fits 2 people.  It has an automatic temperature control, and the timer will automatically turn off after 30, or 45 minutes.  Made of luxurious 100% fleece.

Now, before you can yell at me and say that you can’t heat them up on an airplane, I know!  What I’m recommending these for is for the sole fact that since you’re probably not going to fly a lot, you probably would want to use this blanket both in the air, and while you take a road trip.

These blankets aren’t going to break the bank, and I would recommend them for those that constantly argue in the car over the A/C and heat.  What you will find is that these blankets are a great investment and they will most definitely keep your warm!

Backpacking is a fun time for anyone and if you’re looking for a new backpacking backpack, you’re going to be overwhelmed from looking both online, as well as offline.  What I have found when I start my search at my local store is that the selection is fairly slim, and the prices are just out of this world.  This is why I always recommend that you consider an online retailer.

Listed below are a few backpacking backpacks that you should consider.  These are highly rated, and the prices are fairly low.

• Teton Sports Fox 75+10L: Great backpack with high marks.  It has contoured shoulder, lumbar, as well as hip pads.  The height is adjustable to accommodate your torso length.  It has a top-loading main compartment, sleeping bag compartment, as well as 2 side pockets.
• Teton Sports Score 3400: Another highly rated backpack isn’t going to break your budget either.  This bag can be yours for less than $70.  This is a lot cheaper than what you’re going to find in your local sporting goods store.  Has a capacity of 3,400 cubic feet, and is very similar to the above 75+10L model.
• High Sierra Summit 45 Frame Pack: This bag is a little higher in price, but you may find that it’s well worth it .  Compared to many other bags and the prices that they have, this is going to be slightly higher by $20-30.  This bag is made of nylon, has a front-loaded sleeping bag compartment, with padded backpack straps and adjustable load-lifters.
• NEW CUSCUS 5400ci Internal Frame Backpack: This backpack is actually one of the cheaper ones that I have researched.  You can grab this one for less than $40 and the reviews are very good on it.  Has a 5,400 cubic-inch capacity, a large main compartment as well as 2 side zippered pockets and 2 front zippered pockets and more.
• High Sierra Long Tail 90 Frame Pack: The last bag on our list will run you about $100 – $250.  It’s made of nylon, comes with a drop-bottom sleeping bag compartment and divider.  It also has a very cool molded foam back with Airflow channels that will keep your back cool and dry!

There are hundreds of other backpacking bags out there, but I would recommend that you check out these 5 before you start your hunt at your local sporting goods shop.  If you always wanted to, you could test the bag at the store and see if online retailers beat the price.

We all would love to live the life of luxury, and whether you want to stay in one of these hotel rooms, or you want to know which hotel offers the most expensive room.  Here’s a list that you can check out to find the most expensive hotel rooms in the world.

• Imperial Suite, Park Hyatt: This 750 square foot suite runs over $15,000 a night!  Located in the heart of Paris, France.  Comes equipped with a steam room, as well as a whirlpool.
• Roytal Suite, Burj Al Arab Dubai: This two story hotel roam boasts a magnificent view of  Dubai.   Marble floors, a master bedroom with a rotating bed, as well as your own private elevator.  It’s all yours for $18,000 a night!
• Bridge Suite at the Atlantis: Everyone loves the Bahamas, but if you want to stay here, it’s going to cost you over $25,000 a night.  It has 10 bedroom and fills up the entire space linking one hotel to another.
• Ty Warner Penthouse at the Four Seasons: Located in Manhattan, this massive suite gives you a 360 view of the downtown.  It has 9 rooms and will run you more than $34,000!
• The Fairmont Hotel in San Fran: A 6,000 square foot suite in the heart of San Francisco’s Nob Hill.  This room can hold over 50 people, and is going to run you $10,000 per night.
• The Bellagio in Vegas: This $6,000 a night private villa comes equipped with your own private pool, as well as butler service.  It has 3 bedrooms, a kitchen, and more.
• Grand Resort in Athens, Greece: This three bedroom suite is going to cost you over $35,000 a nigh!  It has 2 pools, a marina, as well as access to a private chef in the kitchen.

This is just selection of the most expensive hotels in the world.  Be sure to check out a few of these websites for a bigger list…

• StyleCrave:  10 of the World’s Most Expensive Hotels
• HostpitalityGuild:  Worlds Most Expensive Hotels
• AOL Travel:  10 Most Expensive Hotel