Patti's blog

Tamarindo, Costa Rica

2008-01-23T10:20:00.000-08:00

Tamarindo was the next stop on the boys tour of Costa Rica. Unlike Arenal, Tamarindo has ample places to go out at night, and is generally a younger crowd. Their favorite place to go out to at night was a reggae bar where there was dancing, pool, foosball, and locals skate boarding on an indoor half pipe. There was not only ample things to do at night, but there was also a ton to do during the day. This is where they decided to spend most of their time on the beach. They rented surfboards (about $5 for two hours) each day they were there. Tamarindo is generally a good place to go for surfers. There are plenty of places to surf in Tamarindo itself as well as other surf spots within driving distance including Witch’s Rock and Playa Avellanas.

When they weren’t surfing, they were either relaxing on the beach or on the hotel lawn. In Tamarindo they stayed at the Tamarindo Diria, a favorite of those at TheBigDay who know where to go. The hotel is very relaxing; it touched the beach, had places to lay out, and even had people walking around the grounds giving massages (for a small fee of course). The room the boys had at the Tamarindo Diria was relatively small, but it had top class furnishings and an awesome balcony overlooking the Pacific Ocean.

Costa Rica Travel - Arenal Volcano

2008-01-09T12:58:00.000-08:00

Since I work for TheBigDay honeymoon registry and travel agency, I sent my son on a vacation trip to Costa Rica for his college graduation. He and 3 of his friends spent 8 days traveling around the country. He was thrilled with every apsect of the trip, but really liked the Arenal Volcano area.
Arenal is a quick four to five hour drive northwest of San Jose. When they first arrived the guys were stunned to see a giant volcano without any snow! The volcano overlooks the town of La Fortuna (a small town with a few restaurants and shops) as well as Lake Arenal. Arenal is the perfect place for the traveler who wants to take in the natural beauty of Costa Rica, and wants to relax while doing so. You can go on jungle hiking tours, horseback riding, relax in the hot springs, go on a canopy tour…etc. They spent most of our time hiking through the jungle looking at the howler monkeys and all sorts of interesting animals you don’t get to see in the US.

The highlight of their time in Arenal was the canopy tour that they went on. If you’re looking for a scenic ride through the trees, this one isn’t for you. The guides start you off on two cables that are 20 meters long. These are only 5 feet or so off of the ground and are meant to teach you how to stop and handle yourself flying through the air. After the first two cables, the guides ask if you wish to continue because once you go on the next cable, there is no other way to get back to the starting point other than finishing all of the cables. The most daunting cable was 400 meters long and 200 meters off the jungle floor where you travel at almost 45 miles per hour!!!

Take a trip to Costa Rica and check it out.

Fiji Dream Vacation

2007-11-27T14:01:00.000-08:00

I am seriously thinking about taking the family, all five of us, to Fiji in February. It will be the first vacation we have had all together since 2001. That being said, it needs to be awesome. One of the coolest places I have looked at is Malolo Island Resort. Not only does it have a family bure, it has tons of things to do both for the young guys and “the parents”. We could all snorkel, then while the boys are wakeboarding or knee-boarding, Dad and Mom can just plain old water ski. Can you imagine telling friends “I went water skiing in Fiji”? Dad and the boys could go fishing and I could do the Dolphin Safari. My friend Aruna, who is a Fijian native, says the food is excellent. I am putting Malolo at the top of my list.

TheBigDay.com rolls out a new look

2007-07-18T13:04:00.000-07:00

The new look to TheBigDay honeymoon registry is complete and ready to use. Couples can now navigate the registry, check out the romantic travel or get advice from our experts at the click of a button. We are really excited about our new look and want to share with all who are interested in honeymoon registries or romantic travel.

Travel to Tahiti - Know Before You Go

2007-02-19T14:39:00.000-08:00

Photo Courtesy of Tahiti-Tourisme

When traveling to any country it is helpful to do your research and know what you are in for. Tahiti, as a country, is a group of islands rich in culture as well as aesthetic beauty. Before you travel to Tahiti you may want to check out the weather trends, laws or customs. TheBigDay has many travel specialists who travel to Tahiti regularly and have helped compile the latest and greatest information in their Tahiti Travel Guide. Not only is the guide abundant in all types of helpful hints, it has a surplus of beautiful pictures.

Anniversary Registry Arrives on the Web

2007-02-13T14:31:00.000-08:00

Now all of us who are settled and whiling the years with our better half can celebrate our special event like the new comers. TheBigDay.com has announced their new anniversary registry to help our family and friends remember our date with us. What could be better than renewing the romance with an anniversary celebration?

Overwater Bungalows

2007-02-08T15:36:00.000-08:00

Whenever I think of traveling to somewhere romantic, I think of a tropical Island, clear blue water and sunny skies. I would love to travel to any of these magical places and stay in an overwater bungalow. There I would be able to have the full feeling of being part of the sea life without ever getting wet. Snorkeling is one way to see the treasures blow the water, but think of how cool it would be to view them all while sitting on the sofa and looking through your glass floor.

Registro de lua de mel

2007-01-10T14:27:00.000-08:00

Registro de lua de mel in Portuguese means honeymoon registry.
Did you know that TheBigDay honeymoon registry is world-wide? Couples from anywhere on the planet can go online and sign up for their personalized wedding registry. TheBigDay has customers from over 120 countries throughout the world. Couples can also receive gifts from friends and relatives in any country.
Teste o registro e tenha divertimento.

Budgeting for the perfect honeymoon…

2007-01-04T09:28:00.000-08:00

So, you are planning on getting married to that special someone and have set the date. You are getting pricing for invitations, wardrobe, flowers, cakes, reception etc. Where do you get the information to start budgeting for the perfect honeymoon to go with your perfect day?? TheBigDay travel specialists can give you the pricing on travel to any destination from Mexico to Fiji, but what about the rest? Well, the sensible way to go about it is to define what it is you will need and then price those needs out just as you have priced out the other wedding essentials.
What do I need you ask? Well here are a few suggestions (keep in mind these items can go onto your bridal registry):
Travel itself – transportation to your destination – airfare, train fare, etc.; hotels; meals – breakfast, lunch and dinner (including tips) hint: some destinations are “all inclusive” meaning that they may include all meals, beverages, taxes and gratuities (tips); transfers to and from airports or trains; cost of tours and activities (including equipment rentals; admissions to museums, shows etc.). It is a great idea to contact a travel specialist at theBigDay to help you plan the ideal trip.
Clothing – do you need beach wear, ski wear, hiking boots, sun glasses?
Travel basics – luggage, passport fees (photo, processing fees etc), inoculations and medical items.
Auto expenses – rental; gas; cab fare, etc.
“Back at the Ranch” expenses – house sitting; child care; pet sitting.
Miscellaneous – camera; sun screen; airport/flight entertainment – magazines, books, snacks.
When you add everything up, your “guestimates” should give you an idea of what amount you will need to set aside for your honeymoon.
Don’t know where to go? TheBigDay travel specialists can help you with this also. They have knowledge of the best places to either rest and relax after the wedding hubbub or do all the exciting things you’ve both wanted to try.
Planning is the key to a successful, low stress honeymoon.

Global Volunteer Network Foundation Partners with TheBigDay

2006-11-29T13:16:00.000-08:00

TheBigDay has recently joined in a partnership with the Global Volunteer Network Foundation. GVN is an organization that provides volunteer positions throughout the world. The GVN home office is located in Wellington, New Zealand and has a staff of eighteen whose role is to facilitate the placement of volunteers and to support the work of GVN partners.
GVN volunteers now have the opportunity to sign up with TheBigDay.com to create a registry to help fund their travel to the destination where they have chosen to volunteer. The registry is an easy way for family and friends to give financial help for transportation costs.

Jax’s dream vacation would be….

2006-08-23T16:33:00.000-07:00

A trip to Africa. Maybe a safari in the heart of Southern Africa; Botswana perhaps. Possibly a trip during the spring here, which is the winter there. Winter in Botswana begins in May and ends in August. May through August is also the dry season when virtually no rainfall occurs. Winter days are sunny and cool to warm; perfect for a dog with no fur. On safari Jax could go on a guided safari where he could ride in an open vehicle, feel the wind flow through his few hairs and enjoy seeing Africa's largest concentration of elephants, as well as hippos, buffalos, puku, antelopes, lions and other creatures. He may even see the African Wild dogs, an endangered species of canine which is almost as unsightly as some think Jax is.
African Wild dogs have spotted coloration on their coat. Each coloration is unique so that no two animals have the same pattern. Once spread out across most of Africa, African Wild Dogs (also know as the Painted Wolf and Cape Hunting Dog) are threatened with extinction. Experts estimate that fewer than 5,000 African wild dogs now exist in the wild, and many packs no longer have viable breeding populations. They are dying out.
After seeing animals by land, Jax may want to take a game-viewing flight that flies over the maze of waterways that make up the largest wetland delta in the world. Next he could go on a night game drive where spotlights help find more hippos, herds of impala resting, serval and genit cats, hunting lions, hyena and leopard. Jax would, of course steer clear of those big cats. Although he has been known to chase a cat or two, African cats are totally out of his league.
Jax is a great dreamer, since he spends most days sleeping.
Well, I guess that about wraps up this weeks thoughts…
Dream on....

Jax says “give ePostcards a try”

2006-08-17T09:04:00.000-07:00

Since Jax doesn’t have pose able thumbs, it is difficult for him to handle writing a postcard about his dream travels. Don’t even go there about putting a stamp on it. (The sticky stuff wreaks havoc on what little hair he has on his paws.) Now TheBigDay has solved the problem. Jax can go to TheBigDay website and use the ePostcards. He can find great pictures of all of the resorts and use the Parachute into Paradise function to send all his doggie pal’s and their owners to his fantasy vacation spots. Jax can send all of his friends on a virtual trip using Google Earth; so simple, you don’t even need thumbs. Join Jax on a free virtual trip to your favorite vacation get away.

Celoso?

2006-08-03T11:16:00.000-07:00

Jax knows you wouldn’t take a pet on your honeymoon. Still, theBigDay's Lyndsey Mullins recently took her honeymoon trip to Mexico and Jax was jealous. Not of the new husband, Dusty. Jealous because Mexico was where he wanted to go.

He was hoping to meet up with a Xoloitzcuintli, otherwise know as a "Mexican Hairless Dog". The Xoloitzcuintli is a breed of dog whose origin goes far back into history and was regarded as the earthly representative of the god "Xolotl" (where the name obviously originates). Native Americans adored the Mexican Hairless. They used the dog for companionship, for medicinal purposes (contact with its warm, moist skin was considered a cure for headaches and even insomnia), and even for food! (YIKES) Jax thought they could compare notes on their ancestors and see if they had anything in common. He was also hoping to catch a few good rays, improve his tan and rid himself of a few unsightly tan lines. Maybe next time…..

If you'd like to plan a trip to Mexico like Lyndsey did, make sure you look at the great packages TheBigDay has to offer on Mexico

Poor Jax

2006-07-25T09:07:00.000-07:00

Jax is really sad!
Jax had his heart set on a trip to Hawaii. He was ready to contact Ann Lile at TheBigDay who is a Hawaii travel expert. Not only does Ann have great knowledge of Hawaii and activities do to there, she has great online brochures and virtual tours to help in the choice of the right place to stay.
Why is this all in the past tense? Well… Jax cannot enjoy a vacation in Hawaii unless he is quarantined, yes kenneled (oh my, the K word). The Hawaiian law requires that dogs and cats have a minimum quarantine of between 5 and 120 days. Besides not liking being cooped up, do you know what that kind of down time would do to his tan? Jax will have to settle for looking at the Hawaiian travel packages on TheBigDay’s web site.
Ann had some interesting places in Mexico on her blog, so maybe Jax should plan on a visit to Mexico and brush up on his Spanish just in case he runs into a Mexican hairless.

More Info From Jax...

2006-07-17T13:06:00.000-07:00

Your friends say Tahiti is THE place to go? Jax agrees and says ask Michelle Ziettlow here at TheBigDay. She is an expert in Tahiti travel and was there last November. Did you know Tahiti is considered a floral paradise? Polynesian people wear at least one flower behind their ear or a flower stuck in their hair. Others wear flower crowns on their heads for special occasions and add a garland of flowers to give a festive air to their clothes. Flowers are also a greeting sign in Tahiti. Since Jax doesn't have much hair, he limits his flower enjoyment to the great smell. Jax wants you to remember these Tahitian flower rules:

Worn behind your right ear, it means you are single and available.

Worn behind your left ear: you are married, engaged or otherwise taken.

Worn behind both ears: you are married but still available.

Worn backward behind your ear: you are available immediately.

Michelle is also familiar with cruises, having taken a Caribbean cruise in March.

Jax Says.....

2006-07-13T08:52:00.000-07:00

Jax says " If you want a tan like mine, try a vacation in the Caribbean." How to get there? Jax recommends contacting Dave "the travel man" Seeberger at TheBigDay. Dave is a Caribbean travel expert and can tell you the best places to go for fun and sun to work on that tan. Jax also recommends you pack your sunscreen. So take it from the other kind of "hot" dog, Dave is the best.

How About Fiji???

2006-07-03T13:35:00.000-07:00

Does your ideal honeymoon have you and your new spouse relaxing on a warm sunny tropical island beach? How about Fiji? Aruna Halpin at TheBigDay is the one to talk to. Being a native of Fiji, and with family ties there, she will be able to help give you those tips only one who knows the location intimately can give. Aruna is undeniably the best travel expert on Fiji here at theBigDay. Let her fulfill your dream of a perfect honeymoon.

2006-06-28T11:17:00.000-07:00

Where To Go, Where To Go?
Are you caught in the dilemma of wanting to take that once in a lifetime honeymoon trip but don’t know where to go? TheBigDay travel specialists can help give you information on different destinations to help you make an educated decision.
Ah, a once in a lifetime trip to Europe sounds interesting? Here at TheBigDay, Ed Lee is your go to guy for Europe. He has traveled extensively through out Europe and can guide you through and help steer you towards your fantasy destination.
TheBigDay has travel specialists who have expertise through out the world. They are pleasant, informed and ready to guide you to the perfect place to spend that special time and get a great start on your new life together.

2006-06-20T14:50:00.000-07:00

Registering for Your Wedding
The time has come to get to that all important duty: creating your registry. How in the world do you know what to register for?
Whether you choose to create a registry at TheBigDay or elsewhere, the choices you give your wedding guests will affect how they feel about their gift to you. A wedding gift is an expression of a very personal and emotional feeling toward you and your partner’s new life together.
Try to choose items that are not only important to you, but will give the gift-giver a feeling that their gift has made a difference to you. Meaningful items on your registry will make gifts much more personal.
Make sure to be thoughtful of all ranges of gift-giving budgets. Your boss may be able to afford something extravagant but your Aunt Lucy may feel bad if there is nothing on your registry she can afford.
Make sure you only put things on your registry that you really want, or things you really want to do. It is inappropriate for you to ask a guest to buy you something, return it and keep the cash, therefore it is not right to have Cousin Fred buy you the Hot Air Balloon ride, then choose not to go. Their gift to you was for your experience, not the cash.
Because your wedding guest bought you something they felt was special... remember to show them how beautiful, romantic, and memorable it really was for you with a photo. Include a photo related to the gift that your guest bought in your thank you note. The most important thing is that your family and friends know that their gift really meant something to you.

2006-06-20T14:23:00.000-07:00

Registry Etiquette
With all of the new forms of registries out today, it is hard to know just what the proper Honeymoon registry etiquette is. Times have changed, and it is hard these days to figure out what's correct. Everyone has the same goal - to let you have the best possible wedding experience.

Here are a few suggestions to help make sure you give the right impression:

Tell people about your wedding website by sending e-postcards or printed announcement cards.
Sending a small announcement card letting guests know where you are registered is fitting but never mention wedding gifts in the wording of your wedding invitations. Also, even if you don't want gifts, it is inappropriate to mention it.
Bridal showers are an exception to the rule telling people about your registry. The person organizing your shower telling people where you are registered is much different than YOU telling people.
Let your family and the wedding-party get the word out for you.

Remember the more people who know about your registry, the easier it will be for them to give you that special gift.

2006-06-20T10:29:00.000-07:00

I hope you were all up and tuned into Fox Good Day L.A . May 19th. Anchor Jillian Barberie says TheBigDay “is a great idea”. Fox news reporter Lucy Sanchez goes into more detail talking to theBigDay customer Margo Black, who praises the registry and the idea of replacing traditional pots and pans as gifts with honeymoon travel. No matter who you are, or how much money you make, your wedding guests are going to buy you wedding gifts. Not only is gift giving traditional, it is a way for them to show their love for you and help you celebrate your wedding, starting your new life together off with something memorable. Why not do as the Blacks did and get signed up for your registry at TheBigDay to have that trip of a lifetime for your honeymoon.

Keep up with TheBigDay’s popularity at the theBigDay in the news.

Tikal Guatemala - a great place to travel

2006-03-10T11:30:00.000-08:00

Family Trip to Guatemala

Some History:
From 250 to 550 a.d., Tikal was a wealthy metropolis of 150,000 people and covered over 20 square miles. It was a seat of power for the great Jaguar clan lords. The ruins of Tikal include more than 3,000 structures extending over six square miles and including palaces, temples, ceremonial platforms, ball courts, terraces, plazas, avenues and steam baths. The ancient Maya began building Tikal around 600 B.C. The city was at its height in the Maya Classic Period, approximately 200 AD to 850 AD, after which no new major monuments were built. Sometime in the ninth century, for what is now believed to be a combination of cultural and environmental reasons, the city was abandoned to the jungle - the last date carved into the monuments was 869 a.d. The most prominent surviving buildings include six very large step pyramids supporting temples on their tops.
A unique blend of burnt limestone and water was used as mortar to cement the blocks together the Maya used no beasts-of-burden, no iron tools to cut stone, and no wheels for transport. The massive stones were used to record the events of the time. Many are covered with glyphic writing, and pictures.
Mayans calculated that one Earth year was a little more than 365 days, an estimate that differs by only .002 of a day from today's modern estimation of a year. Another fantastic example of their obsession with time and accuracy concerned the planet Venus. The Mayans calculated a Venetian year to be 489 days, accurate to within two days of the modern estimate.

If you are willing to chance it, tourists today can climb all but Temple I. The stairs are just as they look, small, rickety and unkept. The reward from the top is a view that is priceless. One can see both the massive jungle and the Tikal structures.From the top one can hear howler monkeys but cannot tell how close they are.

Temple II is over 125 feet tall and faces another almost identical temple (Temple I) across the plaza.. Temple II was constructed sometime after Temple I, in the middle of the 8th century AD. Both of these temples have very little space inside. The only rooms were those located at the top. The relative shortage of interior space supports the belief that these buildings were reserved for religious and ceremonial use, and only for the highest nobility in the society. Another amazing feature of these temples is the unbelievable acoustics. Anyone can speak between the tops of the two temples without raising their voice. Again if you climb, be prepared for little support.

Temple IV, is stone structure built by Ah Cacau's son around 741 AD. It towers 212 feet above the jungle floor, making it the tallest structure in North America before the construction of the skyscrapers in the late 1800's. Looking out from the top of the Temple IV, over the jungle canopy, it is possible to see the Great Plaza and Mundo Perdido in the distance.

Mundo Perdido is thought to be the oldest of all the structural complexes found in Tikal, and has many unique characteristics. Mundo Perdido has experienced periods of building and rebuilding. Its earliest structures were dated prior to 500 BC, making it perhaps the original center of Tikal. Today, researchers theorize that this part of Tikal was more of a calendric ceremonial complex, differentiating it from the other temple structures that were built to memorialize the dead. It is believed that this area was accessible not only to the royalty, but also to the common people. Watch where you step!!! you may be in for a surprise.

Fun Facts:

Leaf Cutter Ants march in large numbers to a tree, wearing a path into the jungle floor sometimes inches deep. Each ant bites off a leaf section several times its own body weight and carries it back to the nest, sometimes as far as a mile away. At the nest the ants chew the leaves and spit them out creating a compost where mushrooms grow. The ants harvest the mushrooms and feed the colony. If the leaves are too dry the ants put them outside the nest overnight to gather moisture, if they are too moist they leave them out during the day. If the leaves get soaked, they throw them out and start over. These insects are farmers.

Advice:

Stay on the path

Be in shape and don't be afaid to climb.

Highlights of my Life

2006-03-10T11:13:00.000-08:00

These are three of my favorite people. They are my Guate (Guatemalan) babies.