5 Trips You Should Take If You Win The Lottery

Admit it you buy Powerball or Mega Millions tickets when the jackpot is some huge amount. And then dream about what you would do if you won. Pay off your mortgage, make sure your parents are taken care of, put money in college accounts for the kids. Take a trip. Because money isn't an issue here are some trips that you may want to put on your list.

1. Around the world by private jet- You will do it in 26 days, not 80 and fly in Abercrombie & Kent's private  Boeing 757 with lay-flat seats and only 50 passengers. Dedicated flight crew with you the whole trip and tour directors. Visit in one trip, cruise the Amazon River and visit Easter Island are few of the highlights along the way. On some trips you will be joined by A&K's founder.

2. Cruise to Antarctica- It is an ultimate bucket list trip, the scenery and wildlife will be etched in your memory forever. There are ships that cater to more adventurous travelers and others that are pure luxury. All will have polar experts on board that will allow you to gain more understanding of this continent.

3. African Safari- There are so many options here, the traditional Kenya/Tanzania trip to see the Great Migration and South Africa if you are not wanting to spend 2 weeks in the bush and see Cape Town and some of the great South African Vineyards. You can tag on trips to Uganda/Rwanda to see the Silverback gorilla, Botswana for Chobe National Park, one of the largest concentrations of game in Africa and Okavango River Delta. And don't forget Victoria Falls on the border of Zambia/Zimbabwe. Scheduled safaris are usually small groups since the camps are not large. And safaris can be tailored made to fit what you want to see.

4. Galapagos Islands- If you are in to wildlife this is the trip for you, because the majority of species only live here and the best way to see the islands is by cruise ship. These are smaller more intimate ships where you go off in small groups to explore the islands. Galapagos Giant Tortoise, Galapagos Iguana and the Galapagos Penguin. Once again these cruises have experts on board to enhance your experience.

5. World Cruise- Unpack once and see the world, that's what you can do on a world cruise. The typical world cruise is around 100 days and departs in January, great way to get out of the snow for us Northerners. Many cruise lines offer these types of cruises, from the familiar Princess, historic Cunard and the ultra luxury ships of Crystal & Regent Seven Seas. 100 days too long, you can book segments of the world cruise that concentrate on a  region that interests you.

These are my top 5 picks, what are your top picks for money is no option travel?





















































































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Now is the Time To Start Your Holiday Travel Plans

When it comes to holiday travel, flexibility is the key to getting the best rates and maintaining your sanity.

Travel off-peak to pay less and avoid the crowds.  For example, everyone wants to travel the Wednesday before and the Sunday after Thanksgiving.  Consider taking an extra day off on either end to get a better deal on your flight and avoid congestion on the roads and at the airport.

Another way to beat holiday travel stress is to create unique traditions.  The calendar says Christmas is December 25th, but talk with your family who are gathering from out of town, and see if everyone can agree to celebrate the holiday on an alternative date, perhaps the weekend before or after.  Flying family members could save a bundle, and the driving crowd will avoid highway crunch time.  Keep in mind that flights usually cost less if you travel on the actual holidays: Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day and New Years Eve.

If you're lucky to have friends or relative overseas, or just wanted to travel abroad, embrace opportunities to make international holiday memories.  Take advantage of this alternative home base and make it this year's "home for the holidays."  It will probably require more work and expense than driving over the river and trough the woods, but you won't regret it!

If you plan to travel overseas, check your credit cards.  Not only to confirm your credit limits and currency transaction fees, but also check your daily limits at ATM's. They offer the best value for obtaining local money.

Call for a replacement card well in advance for your trip, and while your at it, ask about international fees.  Some cards have no fees, so check with your credit card companies now, during the planning stages of your journey.

Maybe most importantly, don't wait to the last minute to book your flights and hotels.  People are traveling again, and flights and destinations are booking up earlier than ever.  Start the holiday season right by giving yourself the gift of stress-relief when it comes to holiday travel planning.