4 Cost-Saving Tips for International Traveling

International travel offers cultural enrichment, delicious food and drinks, incredible historical settings, and a sense of adventure and exploration like no other. The cost of such an adventure can quickly add up but don't let that stop you from booking one. Here are some cost saving tips to consider when planning your next vacation overseas.

Reconsider Your Departure City

Flying from a large international airport, such as Newark in New Jersey, LAX in California, or George Bush in Texas, can cut airline ticket costs when traveling internationally. You may be able to skip an additional stop or layover if you leave from a large city's international airport that is within a couple of hours of your home.

Book Airport Transportation

After you book your ticket from a departure city, do some research about that airport's various services. For example, it is more economical to book Houston airport transportation services than to park a car at either of the city's airports. This may not save a whole lot of money in the long run, but the money you save would definitely pay for a few meals or museum tickets in a new country.

Fly Round Trip

If you are starting your trip in London, England, then you should also finish in London, England. When traveling internationally, plan your trip soin a circle, meaning you start and end your trip in the same place. This way you book a round trip ticket, which will always save you money. From there, take trains, buses, or domestic budget flights to travel to different cities or countries.

Decide What's Important

Divide your vacation budget into categories, such as eating, touring, sleeping, and traveling, and then decide what percentage of your budget you want to put in each category. This way you can plan to spend your hard earned money at Michelin star restaurants rather than five star hotels. You can book second class train tickets and have more money for private tours of museums. Decide what you want, plan a budget, and then stick to it.

International travel is expensive, but there are several ways to save money here and there. Most importantly, have a great trip.

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3 Tips For Planning the Perfect Baby Shower

Planning a baby shower can feel as monumental as planning a wedding. After all, you are responsible for the last soiree before the mom-to-be brings new life into the world. Tackle this exciting responsibility by following these few keys steps to create a memorable event.

1. Know the Basics

Start your planning process by determine a few key factors: who, what, when, where and how. Anyone close to the expectant mother can host a baby shower, and it doesn’t need to be a one-person job. Team up with some friends to throw your BFF the shower of her dreams. The shower should be held when the mom-to-be is between 28 and 35 weeks pregnant. You want her energetic and excited for the big event! Finally, determine a locale for the party. There are countless options from churches, restaurants, private home or event spaces.

2. Choose a Theme

Forgo the frilly pink lace or blue elephants for a theme that is really personalized towards the expectant mother. If she loves to read, curate a theme based on her favorite children’s stories and have guests bring literary-themed gifts such as a rocking chair for story time or a personalized ABC book. If your friend is welcoming her second baby and has all the essentials, throw a diaper-themed party to ensure she is well stocked for at least the first few weeks.

3. Have Some Fun

aWhile opening presents, eating and socialization may fill the majority of the baby shower; planning some fun games and activities can make the party more memorable. Tailor these activities to your BFF’s interests. Does she enjoy movement-based games? Or would she rather listen to the quirky advice of experienced mothers? If the party is not a surprise, see if your friend would like to follow the current trend of a gender reveal.

Throwing your BFF a baby shower is the perfect way to celebrate the mom-to-be in your life. Following these few steps will ensure that this day will be a shining highlight in her new family’s journey.

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How To Plan a Successful Fundraising Event

When your company, business or group needs to raise support, a local fundraising event is a great way to earn money while connecting with your community and getting your name out to the public. However, without the proper approach and the right planning, it could turn into a stressful situation. Even worse, you could end up earning very little for your effort or even taking a loss if you don't make the right choices. If you want to plan a truly successful fundraising event, be sure to follow these three steps for every type of fundraiser, big or small.

Work With a Party Planning Company

You might think that hiring someone to provide a good or service is counter intuitive, but working with party planning companies ny can help you create the type of event that generates more income. If you want to attract more people, these professionals can help provide an experience that stands out and draws more donors to your door. It's also important to think about number of guests you'll be working with. You may actually save money by hiring a pro instead of trying to accumulate the supplies yourself.

Advertise Early

When it comes to fundraising, last-minute advertising could ruin the entire endeavor. Make sure you're sending out invites and posting the event at least four weeks early to give people a chance to clear their calendars. On the other hand, make sure you're sending reminders close to the event as well. Keep your fundraiser on the forefront of your guests’ minds for better attendance.

Know Your Audience

Plan an event that caters to the needs and interests of your target audience. If you work with a lot of families, consider a kid-friendly carnival with inflatables, games and tasty snacks. A formal dinner may go over well if you focus on business professionals. If young adults are interested in your business, host a cocktail mixer with a DJ. 

A well-planned fundraiser can be very lucrative in many ways. With the right attention to detail, you could have a successful event for your organization.

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Three Tips for a Fun Wedding Day

Your wedding is an incredibly important event that signifies an amazing commitment between two people. While marriage is a serious thing and is even sacred to many, it's also cause for some major celebration! Here are three ideas to help you make the most of your wedding day by keeping things fun and memorable at your reception.

Pick Your Reception Music Carefully

For starters, live music creates an exciting atmosphere and is an extra source of entertainment for your guests. Consider some local wedding bands NYC and see if there's a group that fits your style and tastes. If live music isn't your style, make sure you evaluate your DJ just as closely as you would a wedding band. Attend some upcoming gigs or ask for videos to help you get a better feel for their personality, and make sure you're very involved in picking the set list.

Include a Unique Activity for Your Guests

Surprise your friends and family with some special activities throughout the event. Hire a caricature artist, rent an adult-sized bounce house or set up a station with different games your guests will love. Be sure to include options that will appeal to all of the age groups you've invited to your big day. If your reception lasts for more than four hours, plan to order pizza for the guests that stay late to dance the night away.

Serve Extra Sweet Treats

Wedding cake doesn't have to be the only dessert option at your reception. Set up some tasty sweet treat stations so your guests can indulge whenever they want. An ice cream sundae bar is a delicious option that can still partner well with a slice of cake. A candy station gives guests the option to take home some sweets to enjoy later and can even serve as a wedding favor. For winter or outdoor events, set up a s'mores station for a special dessert option. 

Your wedding is something worth celebrating! Find creative ways to make the day exciting for you and your guests.

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