Tips for Planning Your Summer Vacation

Even though the global economy has shaken the travel industry in the last couple of years, many signs signal that there is a recovery trend. People are laying down the fear of uncertainty, and are trying to plan their upcoming vacations and chill-out from the exhausting year.

The recovered economy means that many are ready to spend on summer vacation again. But, that doesn't mean that now people are splashing all their savings on a week of joy and relaxation. More than ever, everybody is trying to save on a great deal. The best value for the money is always the key criteria for a deal.

In this article, some useful tips for planning your great summer vacation.

Skip the middleman. Reaching the travel agencies is a classic approach for finding a place to rent a property for your vacation. Leaving aside all the advantages of this approach, if you want to find a nice deal, you got to skip the middleman and cut its margin in the value chain. Agencies are taking their margins for matching you as a traveler with the vacation property owners. There are plenty of online portals that will help you find your ideal destination, or wanted place at an affordable price. You can find homes, condominiums, villas, cabins, bed and breakfasts, all-inclusive resorts by reviewing the property costs and rental agreement quickly and easily prior to the booking.

Plan early but wait on deals. If you are planning a honeymoon trip, waiting is a risky strategy. Otherwise, booking the lowest-price room or vehicle and then upgrading on the spot can lead to better deals. Also, If you're expecting for a payout from your credit card issuer in the form of cash back, gift cards, or airline miles, that payout can be used to fund your summer vacation.

Group with friends. Gathering with your friends for the summer vacation can bring you extra fun and extra cost savings. Besides the wonderful time with your beloved ones, you can look for a vacation rental property from the owners for rent, like a villa, cabin, apartment or a hotel and share the costs. You will have the all privacy and convenience that a property would bring, and will save agreeing terms with the owner itself and bypass the agencies' fees.

Bring "everything". Packing your own stuff, like food, clothes and accessories is a job for the ladies, I guess. Nevertheless, note that there always will be something that is missing. But the most important thing is to pack the right attitude. Let the "what if" and live the adventure. If this is a vacation to get away and relax, then focus on activities and thoughts that will be relaxing. If your goal is to reconnect with family and build memories together, that can be done regardless of circumstances. If your goal is to sight-see and take in some special attractions or shows, then plan ahead and make the reservations needed and make sure you are all set for the challenges.

Exoticism "Little Netherland" in Semarang

Building PT Pelni (Indonesian National Shipping) is located on Jl. Tantular MPU 25, Semarang is included in the Old City section of Semarang.
This building was originally occupied by NV BOUWMAATSCHAPIJ. ie company engaged in the Expedition Ship Loads.

This building is located on the banks of the river, because at that time the river navigable vessel with a large size, so that the ship can be docked and do the loading and unloading in front of the office.

Pelni, short for Pelayaran Nasional Indonesia, is the biggest shipping company providing transport between Indonesia's many islands. Those with time on their hands or unwilling to fly to e.g. Kalimantan, Maluku or Papua eventually end up in a Pelni office.
The Pelni office building in Semarang originally belonged to Pelni's predecessor in colonial times, the KPM, Koninklijke Pakketvaart Maatschappij (Royal Shipping Company, since 1888). The building went over to Pelni after the government of the Republic of Indonesia in 1957 decided to nationalize Dutch assets in the country.

Gedung Lawang Sewu - Semarang

Gedung Lawang Sewu, “the building with a thousand doors”, is The iconic building of Semarang. In October 1945 Gedung Lawang Sewu was the scene of the five-day “Battle of Semarang” between Indonesian independence fighters and Japanese soldiers who refused to surrender. The complex was constructed in phases from 1904 to 1919 and served as head office of the Dutch East Indies Railway Company (“Nederlandsch Indische Spoorweg Maatschappij”) until 1942. In that year the Japanese invaders took over the buildings and used the basement as a prison, where several prisoners were executed. Six railway employees died in the battle and are commemorated by a monument in the yard.

After the Dutch relinquished sovereignty the Indonesian army as well as the Department of Transportation used the complex before it was returned to the Indonesian Railway Company. By then it was in a state unfit for use as a head office. The buildings stood empty for decades, in the 1970-ies. Unfortunately we do not have any pics of that time. It is said that a daughter of dictator Suharto intended to convert Gedung Lawang Sewu into a hotel, but these plans came to nothing because of Suharto's fall from power.

The decaying buildings attracted lots of tourists, domestic and foreign. For a small entrance fee one could roam through them from cellar to loft. Not surprising considering its history, Gedung Lawang Sewu is believed to be haunted. Adventurous youngsters dared each other to stay a night in the basement. One could even buy blurred photo's of the “ghosts”. In 2007 an Indonesian horror movie was shot on the site.

But there is good news in the end. By 2009 the Railway Company with support of the provincial government had developed a master plan for restoring and utilizing Gedung Lawang Sewu. Our photo's from June 2009 show the street-facing walls newly whitewashed - that was all the work having been done at the time. Three years later two of the four units in the compound have been fully restored.

The main L-shaped building “A” - the first one to be constructed from 1904 until 1907, that determines the status as landmark - had its leaking roof thoroughly repaired. Cracked tiles of ancient Dutch manufacture have been replaced by locally produced replicas. Missing doors have been replaced, electric lighting been refitted, and so on.... The two towers stand shining white again, but have not been put to their original purpose; they hold big water containers that used to provide running water to the building.

Building “A” is now closed to the public, awaiting to be put to good use: library, commercial exhibition centre, railway museum. A smaller building “C” at the back has also been restored. It houses a display on the restoration work and the office of the site manager.

At present an inventory is under way on the work that needs to be done on the I-shaped building “B”, which was added from 1916 to 1918. For one thing, its basement is flooded due to seeping ground water.

Crowne Plaza Semarang Hotel

Whether you're a tourist or traveling on business, Crowne Plaza Semarang Hotel is a great choice for accommodation when visiting Semarang. The hotel lies 1.0 km from the city center and provides accessibility to important town facilities. A well-kempt environment and its proximity to Paragon City, Thamrin Square, Duta Pertiwi Mall give to this hotel a special charm.

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InterContinental Hotels Group is renowned for its quality services and friendly staff, and Crowne Plaza Semarang Hotel lives up to expectations. The hotel offers access to a vast array of services, including 24-hour room service, meeting facilities, shops, laundry service, car park.

Crowne Plaza Semarang Hotel is home to 270 bedrooms. All are tastefully furnished and many even provide such comforts as coffee/tea maker, television, bathrobes, daily newspaper, in room safe. The hotel offers an excellent variety of recreational facilities, including outdoor pool. Crowne Plaza Semarang Hotel is an ideal place of stay for travelers seeking charm, comfort and convenience in Semarang.

Jl. Pemuda 118, China Town, Semarang, Indonesia 50130

Directions
Head east on Jalan Penciran Timur 2 toward Jalan Petek then take the 1st right to stay on Jalan Penciran Timur 2. Turn left at Jalan Dorang and turn right at Jalan Layur. Turn left again at Jalan Harun Tohir and take the 1st right onto Jalan Pemuda.

What's nearby?

• Tugu Muda (1.0KM)
• Tanjung Mas (6.5KM)
• Komplek Taman Budaya Raden Saleh (4.0KM)
• Tay Kak Sie (6.6KM)
• Pasar Johar (1.8KM)
• Lawangsewu (1.5KM)
• Jamu Nyonya Meneer (4.6KM)
• Simpang Lima (1.5KM)
• Masjid Agung Semarang (2.5KM)
• Museum Perjuangan Mandala Bhakti (2.6KM)

Nearest transport	Kerata Api Train Station (0.7 Km)
Area recommended for	Business, Restaurants, Shopping
Distance to airport	Achmad Yani International Airport (4.3 Km)
Customer comments	"Clean and comfortable room" , "Great breakfast buffet" , "Well trained staff"
Top attractions in the area	Paragon City (0.1 Km) Central Java Tourist Office (0.2 Km) Masakan Tio Ciu (0.6 Km) Lawang Sewu (0.7 Km)

Hotel Ciputra Semarang

Hotel Ciputra Semarang is a luxurious hotel convenient to Semarang's international airport. With easy access to the commercial and financial districts of Semarang, Hotel Ciputra Semarang is a popular choice amongst business visitors to the Indonesian capital. Offering superbly appointed rooms with all the modern luxuries expected from a 5-star establishment, the hotel also features outstanding business and corporate facilities, including secretarial services and state-of-the-art audio and visual equipment for conferences and board-meetings.

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Built above the Ciputra Mall with over 250 retail shops plus an enormous choice of restaurants and eateries, Hotel Ciputra Semarang is an easy choice for visitors to Semarang, whether on business or pleasure.Hotel Ciputra Semarang is a luxurious hotel convenient to Semarang's international airport. With easy access to the commercial and financial districts of Semarang, Hotel Ciputra Semarang is a popular choice amongst business visitors to the Indonesian capital.

Offering superbly appointed rooms with all the modern luxuries expected from a 5-star establishment, the hotel also features outstanding business and corporate facilities, including secretarial services and state-of-the-art audio and visual equipment for conferences and board-meetings. Built above the Ciputra Mall with over 250 retail shops plus an enormous choice of restaurants and eateries, Hotel Ciputra Semarang is an easy choice for visitors to Semarang, whether on business or pleasure.

Simpang Lima, P.o. Box 1288, Jawa Tengah, Simpang Lima, Semarang, Indonesia 50134

Nearest transport	Kerata Api Train Station (2.0 Km / 24 min walk)
Area recommended for	business, restaurants, shopping
Distance to airport	Achmad Yani International Airport (5.4 Km)
Customer comments	"Good size/clean rooms" , "Great clean rooms" , "Great price"
Top attractions in the area	Ciputra Mall (0.0 Km) Simpang Lima Plaza (0.2 Km / 3 min walk) Simpang Lima (0.2 Km / 3 min walk) Diponegoro University (0.6 Km / 8 min walk)

How to plan a budget vacation trip

Some of your trip costs, for example, visa and visa expenses, travel insurance, and so on, are consumptions you can't curtail and on the off chance that you are arranging a get-away a long way from home, you might likewise need to include the expense of air charge.

Then again, travelling deliberately is the way to capitalize on your cash and spare your well-deserved money wherever conceivable. Here are a few proposals on the best way to arrange an excursion on a restricted spending plan while keeping it composed and straightforward!

Where are you about to go for a vacation this year? It appears like a casual question yet picking the right destination is the first and the most essential stride to guarantee that your get-away does not break your bank. The vacation destination you pick and the term of the stay choose the expense of your excursion. You can begin by settling on what you and your family might want to do on this excursion. Let's assume you wish for some sun and sand during the current year's late spring break, work out a rundown of shoreline destinations and afterward settle on a place that the family might want to visit.

Your next undertaking is to discover who is putting forth the best bundles to this destination at the least costs. Trawl the Internet and check out travel portals to do a far reaching relative study before you wrap everything up. Online travel information storehouses, for example, Agoda.com and many others  can provide you a reasonable thought regarding the best deals . An old, yet unbeaten, system to eliminate your travel expense is keeping away from an outing during the top seasons. Along these lines, if conceivable, go during the low season and you will have the capacity to appreciate the same get-away at a cut rate and catch a calm and comfy getaway.

For the individuals who are adaptable about the spot they holiday in or are not ready to decide, a great approach to get the best deal is to approach the neighborhood travel specialists and get some thought of what sort of bundles they are advancing this season. Pick a bundle that suits your inclination and is well with your time allotment and you will have the capacity to secure a superb manage generally less inconvenience.

If you do not mind travelling in a group, another awesome approach to see more at a lesser cost is booking a group visit instead of a customary occasion bundle. "In spite of the fact that an altered bundle gives you a chance to holiday at your own particular pace, gathering visits are considerably more practical. They cover more places in less time and deal with all costs like food, car transfers, accommodation and transportation at a lesser expense.

Taking a holiday bundle is advantageous, yet may be costlier sometimes. Rather, on the off chance that you have time and are prepared for some exploration, fabricating your own particular excursion can be both fun and cheap. Regardless of the fact that you are benefitting of a holiday package, thinking about the spot you are flying out to is an absolute necessity, particularly, when you are in a remote land and don't have a travel operators at your service.

The following thing on your list ought to be convenience. At the point when searching for a lodging in a prevalent holiday spot, amplify your inquiry territory and take a gander at the lesser well-known districts and rural areas. You will discover more choices that will spare a couple of bucks from your financial plan too. Nonetheless, do read the reviews before checking-in. On the off chance that you are travelling alone and are not so choosy about room service, staying in an hostel can likewise be a decent approach to cut down your convenience costs. Likewise, try to discover a hotel room with kitchenettes and services like free breakfasts, cheap buffet lunches, free spa and exercise and gym, and so on.

Put resources into a decent travel manual or attempt Wikitravel.org to research about such places.

Another benefit of knowing about the spot you are going to travel is that you can give the lavish touring visits a miss and make your own agenda. One of the most ideal methods for going about it is going to the nation's official tourism site and read their suggestions. One all the more approach to spare a couple a bucks is purchasing multi-day or various coupons to places of vacation spots.

Packing Tips For Summer Vacation

To aid in making packing a little more pleasant, listed here are a few ideas that may help.

1. Categorize Items
Some resources suggest divvying up everyone's luggage into groups. Each individual can have his or her group, and within those groups there can be sub-categories. Then there can be a category for common accessories. For instance, your teen's checklist might include toiletries, leisure (such as an iPod), casual clothes, dress up clothes, night time clothes, footwear. Dad's checklist may well look a little different, and could possibly include dress clothes, everyday clothes, evening clothes, maps and/or GPS, books, and toiletries. For shared stuff, pick out one sizeable duffle bag or suitcase in which you could put your common things.

2. Lists for Regular Travelers
For those who vacation frequently, possessing a stand-by checklist tends to make a big difference. Consider building a checklist of items you will usually take with you, whatever the nature of the holiday is.

Additionally for frequent vacationers it assists to have specific travel items set aside for travelling only. Have a look at a toiletry case with travel-sized items which comprises of everything, allowing you to just get that case and know you're taken care of. The same would go for first aid or other healthcare supplies.

3. Roll, Don't Fold
An interesting event occurs if you firmly roll clothing instead of folding them. So long as you smooth the garments while you roll them firmly, they are not nearly as susceptible to wrinkling. You may even discover that you can fit far more clothing into your bags this way.

4. Little Things
It's really easy to not remember the little things. Listed below are some ideas for little items that tend to be missed, but which could make or break a holiday.

• Camera
• Antibiotic gel
• Band-Aids
• All prescription drugs (also, be sure you have enough to carry you through your holiday, and check out if/where you are able to refill at your vacation spot)
• Sunglasses
• Insect repellent
• After-bite treatment (along the lines of Cortisone ointment)
• Feminine products

5. What Is Available at Your Travel destination ?
Before you start packing, check out and consider just what will be available at your destination. There could be soap, toothpaste, and towels, for example. There can also be shampoo and conditioner. It will save lots of space if you don't pack the things you don't need!

I hope these tips will help to assist you in your decision in making the correct choice.