Back from Paradise...

Picture taken at sunset...

Well I’m back. Sorry for the delay, but its hard to get back into the swing of things when you’ve been lying on a beach for a week. And yes, I have a gorgeous tan. Now, on to business…

In keeping with the subject here are my “Top Ten Tips for a Fantastic Vacation…”

1. Location, location, location. Where you go will set the tone for the trip from the get-go. If bare asses and breasts are not your thing, scratch Hedonism off the list.

2. Protection. And by this I mean the sunscreen kind. Nothing is worse than spending the first few days of your vacation in intensive care because you forgot the SPF 30.

3. Choose your TC wisely. Your TC (Traveling Companion) is a very important part of the equation. If you are traveling with a friend, make sure you give her half the counter space in the bathroom. And the closet. And the dresser. On the other hand, if you can, travel with a man. All he needs is enough space for his shaving cream, deodorant and toothbrush.

4. Pack light. Yes, I know, those of you who know me well are laughing your asses off. But as TC can tell you, I came and left with one suitcase for a week. Which is quite an accomplishment. I did manage to bring nine pairs of shoes for seven days, but that’s another story.

5. Make friends. This comes in handy when TC is off doing his/her own thing (cause let’s face it- you can’t spend 24 hours together). So while I was relaxing alone on the beach, I met a terrific couple (from Matawan, NJ no less) on their honeymoon. They asked me to join them for lunch and the rest is history. I’ll be moving into their condo within a week.

6. Drink responsibly. Besides the fact that you will wake up with a wicked hangover, too many daiquiris may result in too many instances where you are saying and doing things you wish you hadn’t. And when someone suggests to “keep the party going” by drinking through your hangover, that’s never a good thing.

7. Be adventurous. When you are away from home there are lots of opportunities to do things you normally wouldn’t do. Take advantage of it. Snorkeling, scuba, jet-ski, etc. And special props go out to TC for taking part in the cliff-diving. TWICE.

8. Bring a camera. You only have one chance to capture the moment (see cliff diving above), so make sure you have a camera on hand. If you have one of those tiny video cams, bring that along too. Just don’t bore your friends and family with insisting that they “have to see” your tour through the Amish country.

9. Be prepared. Like a good boy scout, always be prepared for the climate you are going to. My first night on vacation I wore my usual perfume and I spent the rest of the night fighting off pests. Unfortunately, I am not speaking of the men, but the bugs. Morale of the story: bring OFF. Lots of it.

And most importantly….

10. Have a good time. Everything may not go according to plan, but when does it ever? You paid a lot of money to get where you’re going, so sit back, soak up the sun, have a margarita and enjoy! And for those of you wondering, yes I did...