Las Vegas has to top every stag’s dream destination wish list, but if the budget is a bit tighter than that there are some good alternatives to be had.

While Vegas hotels are notoriously extravagant, and have extravagant prices to match, keeping it simple is a better option. All lads on tour really need is a comfortable place to rest their head, grab a shower and maybe boil the kettle for a cuppa in the morning, so group accommodation at a Travelodge is ideal. Whirlpool baths and mood lighting are likely to be surplus to requirements.

Even if Vegas is vetoed, there’s no reason why you can’t enjoy great casino action. Those heading to London will find themselves spoilt for choice, but you’re sure to find a good casino in every UK city.

The Genting casino brand has 44 casinos UK wide, so check out its website which has a handy casino finder, to find one where you’re headed. Genting also have ten Genting Clubs, which are great ‘everything under one roof’ venues for a classy stag do.

A typical Genting Club will have a state of the art casino, a restaurant and a late bar for you to enjoy. You’ll find Genting Clubs in Blackpool, Birmingham, Manchester and Derby, as well as six other locations, so there’s sure to be one within easy travelling distance.

If you’re new to casinos then it’s worth knowing what to expect in advance. There’s a helpful ‘first visit’ section at gentingcasinos.co.uk, so circulate the link around the stags.

There’s no need to worry about an 11 hour flight to Vegas. You can have a great casino experience in any UK city. Book smart and save with stag weekend packages through Travelodge, and you’ll have all the more money to spend on chips.

There was once a question or a survey on how long can you keep up without an internet. Though basically I can live without it, it’s not a basic need per se but honestly I can keep up to a week without the internet. Longer than that I guess I’ll be restless, bored, curious, etc. I haven’t been without access to the internet for more than 3 days.

Internet and all online activities such as gaming, blogging, browsing, etc. both has it’s positive and negative effects. It’s quite addicting for one so there should be some control over it. That’s why for younger internet users, it is specifically important to guide them and let them know which sites are not allowed.

I really cannot imagine now life without internet, I use internet for work and leisure purposes. At work I need to be updated for versions of the different standards and source out for suppliers and distributors. For leisure, I browse the internet for latest on the entertainment world, what’s new in the fashion scene and new releases of gadgets, games like www.tomandjerrygames.co, books, magazines, television shows and movies from Warner Bros.

It also bridged communication barriers between family and friends, even those you’ve never seen or heard for a long time. Gone are the days of the snail mail where you have to wait for weeks or even months to receive a letter, now with just a click you can send the same.

But the most satisfying use of the internet for me is blogging. I began blogging for more than 3 years now and I don’t have plans of stopping. I learn how to express my endless stream of ideas and thoughts, share most of what I know and also earn from it. It’s not much but it’s a satisfying feeling.

Of course, there were negative sides like identity fraud, inappropriate contents (for adults only sides but are accessed by minors), cyber-sex, cyber-bullying, people becoming lazy and complacent, etc.

Good or bad, it boils down to self awareness and control.

I don’t know what’s the hold of Jollibee over kids that whenever asked where they want to eat, they would immediately say Jollibee!  I guess I was like that too back then.

I love Jollibee so I am not complaining here (though sometimes I would want to eat somewhere too). I just try to order different items each visit.

welcome to Jollibee!

Champ

(juicy burger patty with lettuce, tomato, cheese and special sauce)

Palabok

(glass noodles with meat strips, shrimps, chicharon, egg and sauce)

chickenjoy

(crispy fried chicken and rice)

coke float

What’s your fave Jollibee item?

I wasn’t able to go street food hopping, so when I chance upon Sondyda on SM City Naga Supermarket I bought several orders of Kikiam and Fishballs.

My nephew and I feasted on it when we got home. The next day we headed back to Sonyda and ordered the same plus their Sago.

Kikiam (3pcs/stick) = P12

Fishball (10pcs/stick) = P12

I forgot how much is their Sago. I can always buy kikiam and fishballs form supermarkets but I cannot make the same sweet and spicy sauce.

Everyone wants to give their kids a head start in life, and learning to ski in childhood can be much easier than trying to tackle the skill as an adult. This is because children have a wondrous ability to soak up new skills and adapt to new environments, as well as an enviable fearlessness and appetite for adventure.

Family ski vacations offer a great opportunity for quality family time, on and off the slopes. Children will also experience a completely different landscape and climate to what they are used to in the UK; seeing snow-clad mountain ranges and real winter wonderland surroundings. All round, ski breaks are a fantastic option for a family holiday that involves learning new skills as well as relaxing and having fun.

Neilson Holidays offer family friendly hotels in some of the best ski resorts in the world. In Andorra, for example, a ten pin bowling alley, games room and four bedded accommodation await at the Princesa Parc hotel in Arinsal.

In the French Alps resort of Le Deux Alpes you’ll find the Aalborg hotel which offers high quality day and evening childcare for children ages four months to 12 years. This means that the kids can enjoy indoor and outdoor activities with new friends, while mum and dad tackle some of the more challenging slopes – or even relax in the spa!

Whether you want a hotel with lots of family leisure facilities, one which offers great childcare, or simply the one that’s nearest to the ski school meeting point, there are some fantastic family friendly hotels to choose from.

Enjoy family ski breaks with your little snow angels and they’ll be overtaking you on the slopes in no time. Ready, steady, ski!

Get away this summer with last minute package holidays in Ibiza. One of the Spanish Balearic Islands, Ibiza has a resort to suit every type of holiday maker.

In peak season an Ibiza holiday promises sensational sunshine and temperature highs of around 30 degrees C. If you prefer your weather a little tamer, May to June is a more comfortable time to travel. Before the height of summer strikes, temperatures average around the mid-twenties.

Booking an Ibiza holiday can mean you reach your holiday destination in under three hours. One of the quickest short haul flights, Ibiza is a handy location when travelling with young, restless children.

Ibiza beaches are renowned for being fantastically maintained. Despite the flurry of tourism every year, Ibiza currently has 15 blue flag beaches scattered across the island. The soft pale sands and sky blue waters meet the very best in seaside standards.

Most coastlines have their own beach bars and eateries. Grab a picnic lunch on the sand so your day bathing by the stunning shores isn’t to be disturbed. Prices vary and are payable locally, so do take some spare cash if you plan to eat out.

Despite recent, successful efforts to promote Ibiza as an all-round family destination, late night entertainment in San Antonio is still thriving. The stretch of clubs, pubs and bars in the West End of San Antonio provide everything a party lover needs to dance until dawn.

Those who love watersports will feel right at home with Ibiza’s array of available activities. The more adventurous holidaymaker may like to take a trip to Peurto de San Miguel. Here you will be able to explore the caves of Can Marça, the ultimate in island exploration

Look online for great deals on last minute package holidays this summer and make the most of your Ibiza holiday.

This post brought to you by Whitney Farms. All opinions are 100% mine.

Back home, my mom maintains a little garden with flowers and some vegetables. She takes pride whenever her flowers bloom or whenever her vegetables are harvested. During my recent vacation we had vegetables and fruits directly from her garden like jackfruit, guava, squash and other green leafy vegetables I don’t know how it was called. My mom got help with Whitney Farms® to produce all those food. They all taste great which I can just conclude because it was organically produced, freshly harvested and cooked.

If only I have a place to have my own garden or a little piece of organic soil, I want to plant my own vegetables too. It would be healthy and cheap to have organic plant food. You could even sell it to your friends and neighbors since the market for organic foods are high. That’s killing two birds in one stone.

Why Whitney Farms®? It has 25 years of gardening experience and are 100% natural plant foods and soils. You get more organic produce than when using other products. Try it for yourself and avail of their $3 off promo coupon. I’m sure you would make the switch as did my mom and her friends.

After I completed my last minute visit to the dentist and some shopping for pasalubong, we were hungry so we decided to have an early lunch (around 11am) at Mang Inasal at LCC Mall in Iriga City.

Chicken Paa Spicy

I missed eating Chicken Inasal, though it cannot be compared to my fave Jo’s Chicken Inato in Cebu and Tacloban (I could eat there everyday and wouldn’t mind), Mang Inasal is accessible (every town or city I guess) and that’s their advantage. The servings are huge (plus the unli rice promo) and the price is affordable.

Ensaladang Talong

The loads of bagoong is an overkill. I just brush the excess aside and still enjoyed my fave veggie.

Iced tea, soup and sawsawan (toyo at kalamansi)

Halo-halo

My mom like the halo-halo here compared to other fast food chains, and I can agree. Just enough of everything.

Can I have this at home? I haven’t found one on the streets, are they already extinct?

Mamang Sorbetero

This was a long overdue post, I learned about Agoda and booked the hotels for our Boracay vacation as early as February. I made several cancelations and changes on our initial bookings without almost any hassle or wasn’t charged for it.

For Day 1:

I booked 2 rooms with extra bed each (for 6 pax) at Levantin Resort in Balabag Beach. Got instant confirmation.

Later on I was informed that 1 relative cancelled out.

I sent a request to cancel one room.  Got instant confirmation and the refund after 3 days.

A week before I checked and learned that the max person in one family room is only 3 so I decided to get another regular room for 2 pax. Got instant confirmation (again).

For Day 2 & 3:  

I booked 2 rooms (for 8 pax) at Deparis Resort in Station 2. Got instant confirmation.

Later on I was informed that 1 relative cancelled out.

I sent a request to cancel one room.  Got instant confirmation and the refund after 3 days.  

That left us with 1 room (for 4 pax) and since we were 5 pax I plan to pay the extra person once we got there.

Day 4:

We were undecided whether to stay in Boracay or in Kalibo since we have an early trip the following day so I didn’t made any booking.

If I’ve done the bookings over the counter or by travel agencies I’m sure I’ll be fined. 

Good points with Agoda

1. Option to pay thru Paypal or Credit Cards
2. Instant confirmation
3. No cancellation fees – check first the fine print
4. Lower room rates – I didn’t notice the difference but maybe on some hotels
5. Refund after 3 days or less
6. Reward system – you get points upon booking and writing a review which you could use later on next bookings

I will definitely use Agoda again.

And you can download the Agoda apps on your iPhone too.

Recently I’ve been in the look out for new coupons or deals from different online sites. Why not if I could get great discounts and bargains? Some are shy to use coupons and vouchers but I feel proud whenever I get a good one. It means I am wise on anything about money matters.

One I particular site BestOnlineCoupons.com offers different Expedia coupons, discount promo codes, and special deals such as Expedia coupon code 2012, Deals 2 and http://www.geekalerts.com/expedia-coupons/. Check out their selection of great offers.

On my recent vacation back home, I met up with friends and treated them to dine out using vouchers I got from different group buying sites. They are amused and shocked that those are available and actually legit. They also said they will try to get some coupons or vouchers too. I am quite happy to share it to them so they may benefit from it too.

And it really looks like it was a positive experience. All the vouchers I purchased are used up except for one which I gave to my cousin for them to use because I really don’t have time even if I wanted to. I was given a go-signal that it would be transferable.