* Book ahead of time! The sooner you book, the cheaper your cheap vacation will be. A cheap vacation often can’t be booked last minute, so make plans well ahead of your anniversary date for your cheap vacation. You may even want to plan for the vacation a year ahead of time, especially if you’re planning on going somewhere extremely exotic or somewhere that gets really busy.

* Think cheap! For a cheap vacation, start thinking cheap! Instead of booking a hotel room, why not book a campsite? Instead of going to some large city, why not go to a smaller mountain town? A cheap vacation can often be found outside of a hotel walls.

* If you want to book a hotel for your cheap vacation, keep an eye out on the rates. A lot of times the rates on hotels will change weekly, due to specials that the hotel has going on, allowing you to get a true cheap vacation. If you want to book a very cheap hotel room for your cheap vacation, see if you can get weekly updates on the hotel that you’re looking at. This will often get you the best price.

* Bundle everything up! A lot of sites have bundle options that you can get. Instead of booking just a hotel room and a car separate, you can book everything together, allowing you to save money to get a cheap vacation from both the hotel and the car agency.

* Go with someone else for a true cheap vacation! You may think that going with someone else on your anniversary cheap vacation may be a bit tacky, but in reality it can be really fun, especially if you’re going somewhere expensive. If you’ve got some friends who are close to you, why not book a cabin in the woods together for a cheap vacation? Make sure everyone has their own rooms, though, so that you don’t invade everyone else’s space during your cheap vacation.

* Talk! Before you book a cheap vacation in some exotic locale, make sure that you both want to go to the same place and have the same type of cheap vacation! Quite often a husband will book a cheap vacation without consorting his wife, or vice versa, and then they both become miserable and no one is happy. Make sure you talk to each other about what you would like to do on your anniversary so that you can both enjoy yourselves.

Planning a cheap vacation for your anniversary is possible, especially if you take the time to think outside of the box and plan for your anniversary and cheap vacation early.

Barcelona has been dubbed La Gran Encisera – the Great Enchantress. With its medieval romantic style, it’s hustle and bustle and the history and art; it’s a great destination spot for travelers.

Many of the historic hotels are located in the Gothic Quarter, a stretch of streets with a romantic gothic style, making the hotels’ locations convenient to sight seeing areas.

Tip to a Better Rate in a Historic Hotel in Barcelona

If you find yourself in Barcelona in a time that it is not busy and your hotel is not so full, you can usually bargain for a better rate. Business travelers can often get up to forty percent off the suggested price. Talk with the hotel attendants; don’t be afraid to ask for a discount.

Suggested Historic Hotels in Barcelona

While there are many beautiful historic hotels in Barcelona, one of the most convenient ones is the Hotels Condes De Barcelona. With over 150 guest rooms, each with an avant-garde style, the hotel is uniquely situated in a historic Nouveau building. The artistic beauty is astounding and each piece inside the hotel is customized specifically for the hotel. Located in the center of the city, it offers the convenience of public transportation for guests and is within walking distance to some of the city’s most popular destinations.

Another grand hotel is the Hotel Gotico. The deluxe hotel is a short distance from El Prat Airport, it is located in the heart of the city center and the Town Hall and the Palice of Autonomic Government. With it’s location right in the middle of the commercial district, a traveler will find everything they could want to see near by. With renovated soundproofed rooms, you’ll get a good night of sleep and the history of the hotel will keep the adventure of visiting Barcelona alive. Ask for a complimentary tour or ask about suggestions of sights to see in the city. The staff is knowledgeable and helpful.

For a moderate priced hotel, the Mesón Castilla offers a Castilian fascia. For the best atmosphere this small hotel offers a convenient position to shops. It offers attractive views of the city and modest sized rooms. Its antique filled interior offers a history of its own.

How to Pick the Right Historic Hotel in Barcelona

When you travel to Barcelona, picking the right hotel for you may be important. If you are going to be in Barcelona for a short while, it would be better to select one that is closer to the areas of the city you plan to see. Having your hotel closer to your sightseeing destinations makes it convenient to get there and back from your hotel.

If you plan to stay longer and see much more of Barcelona, you might consider reservations at two hotels, one on one side of the city for the first part of your trip and another hotel on the latter part and on the other side of the city. This lets you enjoy two different hotels within the tourist areas of Barcelona, making it even more enjoyable.

For more historic hotel suggestions, contact your travel agent or visit Turisme de Barcelona.

Identify activities that all family members can enjoy
There should be something for everyone. From petting zoos to shopping malls, identify the must-do activity for everyone involved. Some clans use a family meeting to pre-plan the trip. This is also a great time to obtain agreement that vacations are give and take and involve compromise. It is usually impossible to please everyone all the time.

Make plans that are age appropriate
It is unrealistic to embark on a long car trip with very young children. They will be miserable and so will you. Small children do much better with short trips that include plenty of opportunity to play. Likewise, most teenagers will be bored with stops at museums and areas of historical interest; they prefer the shopping mall. You will save yourself a lot of misery if you understand the attention span and interests of your children.

Be prepared to wait
Whether by plane, train or automobile, travel can involve delays and waiting. Bring games, books, and other time fillers in case there is time to kill. Make “getting there,” half the fun with all understanding that some glitches while traveling are the norm, not the exception.

Beware of too much togetherness
You don’t have to spend every minute of every day together. Part of a great vacation is also getting some time alone to reflect and think. You can also team up with different family members based on interests. It allows an opportunity to reconnect in new ways.

Expect the unexpected
While annoying at the time, some of the best memories and funniest stories are the things that aren’t expected. Like adjusting the motor on the boat and watching as it falls to the bottom of the lake or raccoons loose in the cabin. These events are the fodder for stories around the campfire for years.

Keep a sense of humor
Try to enjoy the special moments of just being together taking time to laugh and play. It’s a funny thing. I have worked since I was 16 years old and can barely remember one workday from another. But I can tell you the details of every vacation from the last twenty years.

What steps are necessary to prevent these things from happening? How can you take care of your passport? Below are 16 practical tips you can follow to acquire your passport, keep it in your possession, and preserve it in good condition.

Before You Leave On Your Trip

1. Check to see if you even need a passport.

Countries can, and often do, change foreign entry requirements. If you arrive at the airport without the required documents, you’ll be denied boarding privileges. And, of course, This isn’t covered by travel insurance.

Currently, more than 80% of the world’s countries require a valid passport for entrance. It’s important to verify the foreign entry requirements for the country you plan to visit as early as possible.

2. Apply for your passport early.

You should apply for a new passport at least 90 days before your departure date. For a renewal, begin the process 8 to 11 months before your passport expires. Why so early? Many countries require that your passport have six to eight months of validity remaining before they will issue a visa.

3. Fill out the correct form correctly.

Each type of passport service has specific criteria that must be met. Make sure you get the right application form, and then fill it in carefully. Double-check each entry. Ask a friend or relative to verify it as well. Errors made on the application form can lead to delays, or even rejection of your passport request.

4. Follow the specifications for the required documents exactly.

When applying for a new passport, the most frequently used documents are a certified birth certificate for proof of citizenship along with a valid driver’s license for proof of your identity.

Your birth certificate must be a certified copy with a registrar’s raised, embossed, impressed, or multicolored seal, registrar’s signature, and the date the certificate was filed with the registrar’s office, which must be within 1 year of your birth. No photocopies are accepted. Your driver’s license must be more than six months old.

For a passport renewal, your previous passport serves as both proof of citizenship and proof of identity. To be valid, it cannot be mutilated, altered, or damaged in any way.

You must send two identical passport photos taken within the last 6 months. These passport photos must be 2 x2 with a plain white or off-white background. They have to be a full-face view with the head being from 1 to 1 3/8 inches from the chin to the top of the head. The photos can be either color or black and white.

5. Sign both the passport application form and your check.

Surprisingly, many people forget to sign either the passport application form or their check to Passport Services. Once again, check everything twice, or even three times.

6. Request additional pages.

Are you a frequent flyer? Request a 48-page passport (at no additional cost). It will allow you to travel longer before having to replace it.

7. Sign your passport and fill out the emergency information.

When your passport arrives, check to see that all the information contained in it is correct. If it is, sign it and fill in your current address and the name of a person to contact in case of emergency. If not, return it to the State Department for correction.

8. Make two copies of your passport and photos.

Give one copy of your passport to a friend or relative who can be easily contacted in case of an emergency. Take the other copy and the extra photos with you on your trip. If you use an online document storage service, you can scan your passport and upload a copy. That way, you can access it from almost anywhere in the world.

While You’re Away

9. Always keep your passport in a safe place!

Never leave your passport in your baggage, backpack, purse, car, hotel room, or anywhere else! When you must carry your passport, keep it in a money belt or inside coat pocket. Upon arrival at the hotel, put your passport in the hotel safe.

10. Never lay your passport down anywhere.

Passports placed on a counter, phone booth or table can be easily forgotten or stolen. Practice the habit of immediately putting your passport away after using it.

11. If you travel as a family or as part of a group, don’t let one person carry all the passports.

The odds are much greater for one person carrying all the passports to lose them or have them stolen than for all the passports to be stolen or lost if each individual owner carries them.

12. Never let anyone leave your presence with your passport.

When you’re checking in at the airport, passing through customs, exchanging currency, or doing anything else that requires you to show your passport, never allow the person examining your passport to leave your presence. If the person starts to leave, call their attention and request to accompany them.

Law enforcement records show that U.S. passports are sometimes used for unlawful entry into the United States or by criminals abroad seeking to establish another identity. You would be pretty embarrassed if your name were associated with illegal activities.

13. Immediately report the loss of your passport.

If you are careful and follow the tips above, you shouldn’t have any problem with the loss of your passport.

If it does occur though, immediately notify the local police and then proceed to the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate. Take the copy of your passport and extra photos with you. You will be issued a temporary passport that you can replace upon returning to the United States.

After You Return

14. Schedule your passport renewal.

Check the expiration date and make a reminder to renew your passport at the proper time. Remember, you should begin the process 8 to 11 months prior to the expiration date. Put the reminder somewhere where it won’t be forgotten.

15. Check the number of blank pages remaining.

Some countries require a blank page for their visa. If you plan a future trip on which you will visit various countries, you might need the same number of pages as countries to be visited.

If you do not have an adequate number of pages but your passport is not due for renewal, you can request additional pages.

16. Store your passport in a safe place.

If you have a safe in your home, keep your passport there. If not, consider a safety deposit box at your local bank.

Follow the practical tips above and you can easily avoid passport problems and more fully enjoy your international travels.