Family Travel | Melbourne's Bays

Pop the Question in Victoria

: Image by magdalena_b via Flickr

Victoria, Australia offers some of the most delightful coastline in the world, from the Great Ocean Road to the bays and peninsulas surrounding the cosmopolitan city of Melbourne. Traveling to Victoria offers a chance for a real holiday of a lifetime and, for young couples, makes the perfect destination for a romantic getaway.

The city is Melbourne has a reputation for its European feel, café culture and dedication to the arts, and makes a great starting point to explore all that this wonderful state has to offer. Spend time strolling the streets, visiting the beautiful open city spaces or take advantage of some excellent shopping opportunities before you hit the open road.

Heading out of the city you will be able to access some of the most stunning scenery Australia has to offer. Try Mornington Peninsula just outside of the city for swimming or surfing on the beaches at Port Philip and Western Port. This area is also a favorite escape for city dwellers who flock to the local wineries for a little Victorian rest and relaxation.

Head along the coast to Philip Island, home of the world renowned Grand Prix racing track on one side, and a plethora of exciting wildlife on the other – including an excellent procession of Fairy Penguins that makes a daily spectacle for visitors. If you are a fan of nature, then why not head for Wilsons Promontory two hours outside the city. This national park area offers some stunning surroundings with mountain walks that provide great opportunities to spot flora and fauna.

With all these excellent locations available in Victoria, it will be impossible not to fall in love, making Melbourne’s bays and peninsulas the perfect place to pull out that Tacori box and finally pop the question.

Filed Under: Accomodations, Family Travel, General Tagged With: Australia, Great Ocean Road, Melbourne, Mornington Peninsula, Port Phillip, Victoria, Western Port, Wilsons Promontory

Budget Your Vacation on a Prepaid Debit Card

A vacation is not a vacation if you cannot save enough money for it. Worse, if you cannot enjoy the well deserved vacation because you are not in control of your spending. Using a prepaid debit card will not only save you dollars, but will give you the piece of mind that you really can afford this break and will not be hit with vicious prepaid credit card bills on your return.

A prepaid debit card is just like a credit card in looks and function with two major differences. You are not borrowing money you don’t have and you will not have exorbitant interest charges and late payment fees to worry about. You can load money onto it to save for that vacation and use it to pay for airline tickets, hotel bills and rental car fees. Make sure you have a little extra on there for the unexpected “must have” souvenir and unexpected expenses that always crop up on vacation.

Using the card on holiday stops you from overspending while on vacation. You can only spend what you have available. If you run short you can easily top up with a simple online transaction and transfer money from your checking account into your debit card. It is a no hassle simple way to control you vacation spending and the best part is that when you come home, you will not be buried under credit card debt.

Take out a pre paid card today and start saving now for your next vacation. When the times comes to take a break, feel the freedom that real financial independence is able to offer and really enjoy your vacation. Planning today means you stay out of debt tomorrow.

Filed Under: Family Travel, Money Tagged With: Business, Credit card, Debit card, Financial services, Money, Prepaid, Stored-value card, Transactional account

Australia a Nature Lovers Paradise

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Spanning a whole continent to itself, Australia offers nature lovers a wide array of natural beauty and adventure. Regardless of the type of natural adventure being sought, Australia will fit the bill. Here are some can’t miss adventures.

The Australian Alps
Spanning two states and a territory halfway between Sydney and Melbourne lays the Australian Alps. Filled with natural beauty, the Alps offer a wide variety of leisure activities for nature lovers. Fishing, skiing, hiking and adventure are all possible in this beautiful land. The area offers Mount Kosciuszko for mountain climbers and in the winter the same slopes offer challenging skiing. During the summer months, the area offers ample hiking and fishing with beautiful mountains and plant life as a backdrop. Next, wildlife lovers can find kangaroos and wallabies in the woodlands, wetlands, and granite rock outcrops in this gorgeous region.

The Great Ocean Road
Winding between mountains and beaches along the Southern Ocean, this road connects Geelong to Portland. In addition to breathtaking views of the oceans, travelers along the road will also experience historic ports, sandy beaches, whale lookouts, beautiful mountain peaks, and rainforests. The rugged landscape also offers old volcanoes, waterfalls, and limestone caves. Plus visitors will experience a wide variety of animal life including koalas, kangaroos, emus, and a plethora of waterfowl. Finally towns that dot the road offer great food and wine plus plenty of Aboriginal culture.

The Great Barrier Reef
Whether lured by sailing adventures on the great seas or snorkeling among the sea life, the Great Barrier Reef offers something for everyone. Stretching more than 2,000 kilometers along the Queensland coast, the barrier reef can be seen from space. But visitors to the region will find beaches, rainforests, and great ocean charm.

Australia offers nature loving visitors with plenty of opportunity to experience God’s earth.

Filed Under: Attractions, Family Travel Tagged With: Australia, Great Barrier Reef, Queensland

Organization and Time can Save Money on all Kinds of Things

We are always in such a hurry. Generally, our entire society never takes the time necessary to organize and plan for important events. We may stress over them and put them off, but we don’t take adequate time to prepare. Therefore, when these big stressful events come before us, we hate the entire experience surrounding them even more. Without proper planning and time to prepare these events can also end up costing us much more time and money in the end. This is especially true in the case of things like going on vacation and moving.

So, you know you’ve got to go on a big road trip, or you know you’ve got to move to a new place. Rather, than procrastinating the experiences, perhaps you should actually take the proactive approach and meet such experiences head on and way out in front. With way out in front, this means give yourself lots of lead time. Don’t wait until two weeks before a vacation date or move date to start planning. Properly planning and packing for a big move can take months. Properly planning for a decent family vacation or a long vacation can also take months.

No one enjoys packing boxes. However, the more prepared you are and organized the easier and less stressful a major move can be. There are great websites like moving quotes that can help you with moving information and ideas to make it more affordable. When vacations, doing research on the internet, planning itineraries, and talking to travel agents really can make a big difference in your stress level while on vacation. If you really get stressed, go on vacation with a tour group. You may actually save money because you won’t be wasting time trying to find all the places you want to see. You can let your tour guide do the work for you.

Filed Under: Family Travel, Vacations Tagged With: Organization

What to Wear Around Australia

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Australia is a great place to go on a cruise ship. Royal Caribbean offers lots of options for you to consider. However, there are three big things that you should consider when you go anywhere in Australia. For one thing, the entire continent is just one big island. This is especially pronounced (and pretty fun to think about) if you are on board a cruise ship. You can check out Melbourne, Canberra, Sydney and a whole host of other cities (as well as some quaint little towns along the way), and explore nearly everything that Australian civilization has to offer. But of course, there are some other things.

One other thing is the weather. While it is true that most of Australia doesn’t get that much snow (being a generally warm desert, for the most part), it can still get pretty cold. At night time, especially in the winter time, wearing a jacket is a pretty reasonable thing to do. The myth that Australia is always warm can be cruel to the unwary vacationer. And in coastal areas, the rain can pop up with jarring suddenness. If you carry around a rain coat (which they call a slicker, because they have that adorable Aussie English) or an umbrella, you’ll likely find that they’re worth the additional burden.

Another thing you need to realize is that Australia is a lot like Europe. The culture demands dressing “smartly.” If you aren’t looking fashionable, you might not want to walk around outside, lest you look like some kind of mentally deficient freak. While there probably won’t be anybody pointing and laughing if you dress like a “slobby American,” when people don’t point and laugh it can actually be a lot worse. Just be warned that if you go out (as in, out of your cabin), dress well. If you couldn’t afford nice clothes, you couldn’t afford a cruise.

Filed Under: Adventures, Boating, Dining, Family Travel, Tourism Tagged With: Australia, Canberra, Cruise ship, Melbourne, Royal Caribbean, Royal Caribbean International, Sydney, United States

Your Green Vacation is Just a Click Away

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Making travel plans with the environment in mind has never been easier, with more and more tourism providers offering eco-friendly ways to minimize vacation impacts. From offsetting carbon generated by transportation, green hotel stays, to giving back to local communities in destinations all over the world utilizing western technologies like hydroponic systems, traveling green isn’t just a fad—it’s the way of the future.

The most impacting part of most vacations is the transportation required to get there and around once you arrive. Fly guilt-free by offsetting carbon emissions associated with flights of any length by using any number of online carbon calculators; many major airlines today allow customers to purchase carbon offsets directly on the booking portal, with just a couple of clicks of the mouse. Car rental agencies and cruise ship operators are also jumping on board by providing offset opportunities.

Consider reducing impacts of the on-the-ground transportation in the destination by choosing greener modes, like public transport and bicycles. Staying in accommodations that are located in walk-friendly neighborhoods allows travelers to explore attractions with minimal impact.

Impacts from accommodations can also be staggering, when water usage, energy used to heat, cool, and light large resorts (including pools and spas), all the way to how food is sourced is taken into consideration. Besides offering guests the chance to purchase carbon offsets to mitigate carbon emissions, many major hotel chains are reducing their environmental impacts by changing the way they operate. Travelers can also look for ‘eco-certified’ hotels, that have made efforts to incorporate sustainable practices into daily operations, from using compact fluorescent lightbulbs, converting to solar and wind power to greening their supply chain.

Travelers can support their destination’s community by dining in locally run restaurants, buying fair-trade gifts and souvenirs, and visiting attractions staffed by local residents. Tourism dollars that stay in the local economy ensure long-term sustainability, can provide opportunities for residents to improve their livelihood, and offer incentives to preserve their environmental and cultural heritage.

With a little research, and a few clicks of the mouse, travelers can feel good about their vacations, and make a difference in communities across the globe.

Filed Under: Family Travel, Fun Places, Tourism Tagged With: Carbon offset, Environment, Greenhouse gas

The Family Reunion in Sorrento

Bay Activities for Everyone

You’ve been planning a family reunion for months and everyone agreed that Melbourne’s bays and peninsulas is the best place. Now you need to choose a town with relaxed tourism that will both entertain and leave a wonderful lasting memory for the group. Take a look at Sorrento, where there’s a coastal ambiance with colorful boats, unspoiled beaches and natural attractions. Swim with the dolphins and seals that await you along the shore, or charter a boat for a half-day of fishing. Sink your toes into the warm sand while sipping your favorite beverage and catch up with the family news.

You’ll be Charmed by Sorrento

Sorrento is a favored destination for those who want old-world charm, historic landmarks and a unique shopping experience. You’ll find that close-by Portsea and Blairgowrie will all offer pleasant diversions with world-famous cakeshops, a bicycle path along the bay and tucked-away cafes to chat in style. Take your large group for a snorkeling excursion, travel on the Queenscliff car and passenger ferry across the bay, then be back by days end. You’ll have your choice of eateries, bistros and up-scale fresh fish restaurants. Visit the many art galleries or spend the day wine-tasting at local wineries, then send a case home where it will wait for your return.

When the Sun Goes Down

The nightlife is kinetic when the sun goes down–you won’t want to miss the authentic pubs, live music and entertainment that line the chic Ocean Beach Road. Dance all night, stop by the arcades or catch the latest movie, you and your family will love the variety of activities after the glorious sunset over the water. When you wake at sunrise, travel along the rugged coastline to the ocean reserves, and take the children to Port Phillip Bay where they can play safely in the patrolled shallow water.

Filed Under: Family Travel, Fun Places, Tourism Tagged With: Melbourne, Oceania, Tourism

Take the Family to Historic Sorrento

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Choosing the Right Vacation Spot

Everyone wants something different for the family vacation this year. Your teenagers want to spend time at the arcade, go to movies and go to the beach. Your husband wants to go sportfishing and hit the pubs for darts and a cold brew. You want to browse book stores, antique shops and peruse the art galleries. So what fabulous place can the family travel to, where you’ll get what everyone is looking for and more?

An Activity for Everyone in your Group

Travel to Melbourne’s bays and peninsulas where the beautiful and picturesque town of Sorrento can be found. This favorite destination has earned a reputation for offering water sports for all enthusiasts, like snorkeling, swimming and surfing. Your family will love swimming with the dolphins and seals, then dipping their toes in the warm sand of an unspoiled beach. Lounge with a cool drink as you enjoy the colorful boats on their way out to sea. Take a stroll along the famous Sorrento strip with historical 19th Century buildings, mixed with great arcades for the kids. Don’t forget to have a latte at a sidewalk cafe in between all your browsing through bookstores, unique shops and gift stores.

Friendly Atmosphere on Melbourne’s Bays and Peninsulas

Remember half-day and full day boat charters are available near the pier for fishing all year round. Don’t be surprised if your spouse brings home fresh fish to BBQ and savor after a challenging day out on the bay. Everyone will enjoy the Queenscliff ferry for a cruise around Melbourne’s bays and peninsulas. Tourism is an art-form in the charming towns close to Sorrento and all the locals have big smiles for those who travel any time of the year. You’ll never tire of the seaside ambiance, casual sophistication and the fun activities for everyone in your family.

Filed Under: Family Travel, Fun Places, Tourism Tagged With: Fishing, Queenscliff, Tourism

Traveling But Short on Cash? No Fax Payday Loans Can Help You

Travel can really be a lot of fun. You’ll get to see new places and you’ll be able to check out areas of the country and the world that you haven’t seen before. You can also meet new friends and make great memories when you travel – but it’s not free. Even if you hitchhike or backpack and you camp out all the time, there are still costs. You have to eat, for example. Most people also travel only on their vacation time because they have steady jobs. A job can seem like a drag, but it might actually be to your benefit.

If you want to have money to travel and you have a good job, you can apply for no fax payday loans and get quick money to use on your next adventure. Borrowing money from family and friends is a way to fund your trip, as well, but that only works if these family members and friends have money that they’re able to loan. They might not want to loan you any money, either, because they could be jealous that you’re out traveling the world while they’re stuck at home.

No matter how you decide to get your travel money, how carefully you spend it can have a huge effect on how much and how often you get to travel. Booking early, shopping around carefully for the best rate, and making some sacrifices can help you to travel more frequently and get much further on your travel budget. Be sure to ask about discounts anytime you book a flight, a hotel room, or anything else for your trip. You might not get a discount, but you won’t know until you ask. Don’t be afraid to question the price. Sometimes you can get a lot better deal simply by asking if there are available options that will cost you less money.

Filed Under: Family Travel, Travel Tagged With: Loan, Payday loan, Travel

Unwind in Melbourne

Find Tranquility in Melbourne

When you want to relax and take a leisurely few days to unwind, find the tranquility at the bays and peninsulas of Melbourne. You’ll have plenty of time to experience the natural surroundings, national parks, wetlands and St. Kilda’s Botanical Gardens. Eat at charming cafes along your route as you travel by bicycle, stopping at unique shops to buy gifts for loved ones back home. Follow the path from South Melbourne to Mordialloc on the southern peninsula. Walk along the Yarra River bank promenade then explore an unspoiled beach, but don’t forget your camera.

Scenic Bays and Peninsulas

There are so many wonderful choices to cruise the bay, like the historical Queenscliff ferry that can bring you to Sorrento or Port Phillip Bay. Take the day to enjoy a maritime museum, one of the many art and crafts outlets, or browse a quaint bookstore. Rent a car, then drive past the south-eastern shores of Port Phillip Bay and taste one of the world famous cakes. Wherever you go, you’ll discover some of the best arcades in Australia among the historic buildings of interest. Whenever you decide to visit, each season brings another dimension to the local activities on the bay.

An Old World Ambiance

Experience breathtaking wildlife as you snap photos in the wetlands, then stop by one of the many wineries for wine tasting.. Take a walk through art galleries, stop at the many wineries for tasting, then explore the wetlands. When you’re ready to dine, try one of the many fresh seafood restaurants before stopping by the Crown complex. The Crown was originally hailed as the largest casino in the Southern Hemisphere and you’ll be thoroughly entertained. There are many interesting, exciting things to do in the towns along Melbourne’s bays and peninsula’s. Try scuba diving, sunbathing on warm sandy beaches, charter a fishing vessel for a half day or visit the national park for sightseeing. Melbourne will entice all of your senses with fine food, friendly locals, unique shopping and attractions. Get the latest from melbournesbays.org to see what events are happening along the bays and peninsulas.

Filed Under: Attractions, Family Travel, Travel