Memorial Day Weekend 2014

How was your Memorial Day Weekend? Leave us a comment  telling us how you honored the men and women who have served. For many, Memorial Day Weekend marks the beginning of Summer-time activities!

Did you know that Disneyland was open for 24 hours between Friday and Saturday of Memorial Day Weekend? Disney Parks threw an all-night party with all of your favorite Princes, Princesses, Heroes, and Villains!

Check out our Disneyland Tours! Or visit www.lassentours.com for all of our tour itineraries! We hope to see you on your next 3-day weekend!

Funny Travel Stories and Jokes

Going on a trip can lead to some fun and unforgettable moments! In honor of National Joke Day, here are some funny travel stories and jokes! Enjoy!

These characters from Universal Studios and Disney never cease to make us laugh! Who’s your favorite funny character? Visit our website to book a trip to Disneyland or Universal Studios!

From http://www.scaruffi.com/travel/jokes.html:

• A client called in inquiring about a package to Hawaii. After going over all the cost info, she asked, “Would it be cheaper to fly to California and then take the train to Hawaii?”
• I got a call from a woman who wanted to go to Capetown. I started to explain the length of the flight and the passport information when she interrupted me with “I’m not trying to make you look stupid, but Capetown is in Massachusetts. “Without trying to make her look like the stupid one, I calmly explained, “Capecod is in Massachusetts, Capetown is in Africa.” Her response … click.
• A man called, furious about a Florida package we did. I asked what was wrong with the vacation in Orlando. He said he was expecting an ocean-view room. I tried to explain that is not possible, since Orlando is in the middle of the state. He replied, “Don’t lie to me. I looked on the map and Florida is a very thin state.”
• I got a call from a man who asked, “Is it possible to see England from Canada?” I said, “No.” He said “But they look so close on the map.”
• Another man called and asked if he could rent a car in Dallas. When I pulled up the reservation, I noticed he had a 1-hour lay-over in Dallas. When I asked him why he wanted to rent a car, he said, “I heard Dallas was a big airport, and I need a car to drive between the gates to save time.”
• A nice lady just called. She needed to know how it was possible that her flight from Detroit left at 8:20am and got into Chicago at 8:33am. I tried to explain that Michigan was an hour ahead of llinois, but she could not understand the concept of time zones. Finally I told her the plane went very fast, and she bought that!

And now some jokes for travelers:

• Q: Why is it easy to get into Florida?
  A: Because there are so many keys.
• Q: What is round at each end and high in the middle?
  A: Ohio.
• Q:What did the sea say to the shore?
  A:Nothing, it just waved!
• Q: What did Tennessee?
  A: The same thing Arkansas.
• Q: What is smarter, longitude or latitude?
  A: Longitude, because it has 360 degrees.

Do you have any travel jokes, riddles or funny stories? Share them in our comments!

A 7-Day Lassen Tour: Day 5 at Disneyland

For our 5th day of the tour, guests had the option of spending a full day at Disneyland! Disneyland is a huge theme park located in Anaheim, California. Our tour guides collected our admission money and had our tickets ready for us so that we wouldn’t have to wait in line once we got to the park. Once we arrived, we could either go off on our own, or stay with the tour guide, who would bring us around to the most famous rides and attractions before going off on our own.

Known by many as “the happiest place on Earth,” Disneyland opened in 1955 and has remained a popular destination ever since. Millions have come to this park to meet their favorite Disney characters, ride the rides, watch the shows, and take photos in front of the famous Sleeping Beauty Castle.

Disneyland is made up of several districts, so there is something for everyone!

Enjoy shopping and horse-and-carriage rides on Main Street or enjoy the futuristic feel of Tomorrowland.

If you have kids, Mickey’s Toontown is a must-see spot where you can visit Mickey and Minnie in their houses.

In Fantasyland, enjoy famous rides such as It’s A Small World and The Matterhorn while being immersed in a district inspired by classic Disney animations like Snow White and Cinderella.

Critter Country’s is well known for Splash Mountain, and Frontierland is great for anyone who wants to feel like they’re in the wild west.

New Orleans Square is where you can fin the Pirates of the Caribbean ride and the Haunted Mansion.

Lastly, Adventureland is the place to go if you want to take a Jungle Cruise, visit Tarzan’s Swiss Family Tree House, or ride the Indiana Jones Adventure attraction, a personal favorite!

Don’t forget to grab a good spot to watch the awesome parade in the afternoon! This is where you can get some great pictures of your favorite Disney characters on colorful parade floats! The fun parade also features dancers in costumes and music!

As you can expect, Disneyland has a ton to offer! Anything less than a full-day spent at the park probably means that you wouldn’t have time to see it all. Plus, those who stay until the end of the day get to enjoy the famous watershow, Fantasmic!, and the spectacular fireworks show that marks the end of a magical day.

Enter Our Contest to Win 10% Off Your Next Tour!

Hey everyone!

Do you want a discount on your next trip? Do you have an account on Facebook? Lassen Tours has some exciting news…

We’ve decided to hold a contest! Go to our Facebook page, “Like” us, and fill out a submission in our Contest Tab to be entered to win 10% off your next Lassen Tour. This contest is only open to our Facebook fans, so become a fan, and invite your friends to enter, too!

The winner will be chosen at random and will be notified on July 26, 2013.

Lassen Tours provides tours across the United States and Asia. To learn more about our tours, visit our website at www.lassentours.com.

Find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/lassentours1

Good Luck!

A City Within A City: San Francisco’s Chinatown

San Francisco’s Chinatown is not only the oldest, but the largest Chinatown in the United States. Annually, Chinatown attracts more tourists than the Golden Gate Bridge. What makes Chinatown such an awesome experience for visitors to the Bay Area?

Stepping foot in Chinatown is like stepping into a whole new city. Don’t drive through – this is something that is best experienced on foot. Colorful streets decorated with banners, statues, and signs, and lined with lively shops will keep you busy and entertained. The main entrance to Chinatown is the “Dragon Gate” located on Grant Street a short walk from Union Square.

A tourist can find just about anything in Chinatown. Weave your way between other tourists, watch elderly locals playing the Asian game of Go at tables in Portsmouth Plaza, duck into small shops packed full of Chinese knick-knacks and souvenirs, and sample some ethnic snacks and tea. You can find stores featuring herbal remedies, markets stocked with fresh fruits and vegetables, and bakeries with lines stretching down the sidewalk, not to mention temples and museums.

For those looking for a few trinkets to pick up and take back home, there are a countless number of shops geared toward tourists selling everything from plastic Buddha figurines to jade jewelry and imported tea sets.  Find dollar stores and other inexpensive shops all over Chinatown. There are also plenty of higher-end stores for those of you looking for a more valuable purchase.

Another thing that San Francisco’s Chinatown has going for it? Great food. San Francisco is known to many for its great cultural diversity and vibrancy, which can be experienced through eating at the various ethnic restaurants around the city. The food that is served in San Francisco rivals the best around the world! Visitors flock to Chinatown for the authentic and delicious food that can be found around every corner. Have you ever tried dim sum? What about a lotus seed paste moon cake? These are just some examples of the culinary experiences that attracts foodies from all over the world to Chinatown in San Francisco.

No matter where you are from, Chinatown is a one of a kind experience. This neighborhood will enchant you and make your journey to San Francisco that much worthwhile. If you like to wander and explore without any itinerary, Chinatown is the place  for you!

Find a Lassen Tour that stops in Chinatown here.

Gadgets to Take on Vacation

When you think about how entwined technology is in today’s society, it can seem refreshing to step away from it all for a little while. However, there are a number of gadgets that can come in handy on a long trip, especially to keep your family and yourself entertained on a long bus or car ride! Here is a list of things you may want to consider taking with you for entertainment in between destinations.

 

 

1. Laptop: If you’re a blogger, a laptop is a pretty essential piece of equipment. Even without an internet connection, you can download your pictures and write blog drafts. You can also use your laptop to watch movies or play games while you’re waiting to arrive at your destination. On the way home, a long ride is the perfect opportunity to go through and edit your photos.
2. Tablet: If you don’t have the need to type a lot, a tablet is a great alternative to bringing a bulky laptop. You can play games on it, watch downloaded shows and movies, and play your favorite offline games to keep yourself entertained. You can even buy a memory card reader for your tablet so that you can download you photos onto it and clear up some memory for your camera!
3. Portable DVD Player: DVDs are a great way to keep kids entertained in a car or bus. Portable DVD players are usually less expensive than a laptop or tablet. Bring your kids’ favorite movie along and they can spend a couple hours watching it! Having a DVD player is also handy if you want to use your laptop or tablet, and want to have something else for your kids to use.
4. E-Reader: Hard copy books can take up a lot of room in your luggage or carry on and can add quite a bit of weight. Investing in an E-Reader such as a Kindle or Nook allows you to bring all your current reads with you on the go! Download some books on the city you’re on your way to and read up on the best attractions and places to eat!
5. Camera: You want to remember your vacation, so don’t forget to take pictures! Read this blog post for travel photo tips!
6. Handheld Games: Another great way to keep the kids (or maybe even yourself) busy on a long car or bus ride. Handheld game devices are easy to carry around. Just make sure that they aren’t playing the whole trip!
7. Portabe WiFi: Do you get internet withdrawal symptoms? You can purchase a Portable WiFi device and have a connection while on the road! A data plan for these devices can be pricey, so only invest if you know you’ll be needing internet for work or other important issues. Remember, plenty of places offer WiFi for you to use (including many hotels)!
8. MP3 Player and Headphones: Put together a new playlist for your trip, and have fun listening to it on the way! People tend to nap on long drives on the bus. If you don’t  have anyone left awake to talk to, listen to your favorite music while taking in the sites outside of your window!
9. GPS Device: You’re phone may have a GPS device, or you may have one for your car. Not only are these handy when you’re attempting to drive to someplace you’ve never been to before, but they become pretty useful when you realize you’ve been walking around for hours and don’t know how to get back to the hotel!
10. Cell Phone: Stay connected. If you’re traveling in a group, make sure that you have each other’s cell phone numbers. That way you can find each other if you ever happen to become separated! Cell phones are also a great way to update people at home on your trip!

    Lastly, don’t forget your chargers and extra batteries!

Remember, always keep an eye on your valuable possessions! If you don’t need to take it with you, it may be safer to leave it at home. Utilize the safe provided in your hotel room, and don’t ‘flash’ your electronics or money while you are out in public.

Technology can be a huge distraction. Try to make at least some time everyday to enjoy your destination technology-free!

Don’t have any long bus rides planned? Visit Lassen Tours and find a tour to someplace you’ve always wanted to see including the Grand Canyon, New York, San Francisco, Yellowstone, and Las Vegas!

Traveling With Young Children

Is it worth it to travel with young children?

Why travel with children who are too young to remember it? Many new parents are faced with the decision on whether or not to ahead with their vacation plans, or to postpone the best trips until their children are older.  For those of you who love travel, it can be hard to be discouraged by others who tell you that it is not worth it to bring your infants or toddlers along with you when you travel. However, when you think about it, traveling as a family, even when your child is very young, can be very rewarding!

First, think about this: you don’t have forever to spend with your kids. Time flies, and you have to make the most of it! If your child ends up moving out at 18, that means you only have 18 summers together. It’s hard to find vacation time, so take advantage of any opportunities you may have!

Your children may not remember the trip when they’re older, but you surely will! Take pictures, and enjoy the moment. Taking your kids with you is a great experience and gives you time to bond! If you’re traveling with a baby, you will most likely be able to take them to places without paying for an extra admission. And since they are too young to make decisions, you can plan what you want to do, where you want to eat, etc., and just take them along!

At the time, your kids may not be able to appreciate the vacation the way you can, but they do get something out of it. A huge amount of brain development happens before the age of five! Take your kids with you to new places for the same reason you read to them – because they can learn from it! Exposing them to new people and places at a young age can help them learn to be more accepting of differences and can help them become more worldly when they’re older. It’s true that traveling with young kids comes with highs and lows, but although they may not be able to remember what you did on the vacation, the experience can help mold them into the person you want them to be when they’re older.

Have you ever traveled with an infant or toddler? Let us know your experience and share your thoughts on the subject in the comments!

Tips for Great Travel Photos

Taking pictures of your vacation is easy these days. Whether you are using a disposable camera, a fancy DSLR, a compact point-and-shoot, or your phone to document your travels, the pictures you take can help you relive your adventures and share them with those who didn’t come along!  Here are some tips to make sure you get the best photo-memories out of your trip!

1. Equipment: If you are going somewhere interesting, bring your camera! Make sure it’s charged, or that you have spare batteries so that you can snap away! Having an extra memory card for your camera doesn’t hurt either. Keep in mind that big, bulky equipment can be a hassle to carry around; you may want to opt for a smaller camera if you plan to be out and about all day. Also, make sure you know how to use your camera and the important features. Knowing how to zoom in and out and how to turn on the flash can make a huge difference in how your photos turn out!

2. Take pictures that are unique to your experience:  It’s fine to get some photos of famous landmarks and buildings, but if you want to look back on what made your trip special, make an effort to take photos of your personal experience! This means taking pictures of yourself, your travel companions, interesting meals, the street vendor you bought souvenirs from, the farmers’ market you discovered, friendly locals, interesting shop windows, etc.

3.  Composure: Try taking pictures from different angles. Try crouching down, standing on your tip-toes, and getting at eye-level with your subject in order to find what looks best to you. Don’t take too many random photos – find a subject and then take a picture of it! Find interesting ways to incorporate your friends and family into shots. Emphasize how huge or tiny a monument is by taking a photo of someone next to it as a reference.

4. Review you photos: Check your photos out on your display right after you take them. Make sure they aren’t blurry. You may discover that you need to retake a picture with some adjustments in order to make it turn out the way you want it to. Here’s a tip if you have trouble holding your camera still: steady your hand by resting your elbow on a table, handrail, or other object while you take the picture. Don’t be in a rush to delete your photos unless you ran out of memory. You will make better choices on what photos are worth keeping once you download them onto your computer, laptop, or tablet and can view them on a bigger screen.

5.  Edit and share your pictures: Basic editing can go a long way in the way your pictures look. You don’t need to be a Photoshop pro! Learning how to crop a photo and how to edit the brightness and contrast can make your pictures look even better.  Share your favorite pictures on your social media accounts, email pictures to family back home, or even set aside some time to make a photo album or scrapbook! Make sure to take notes of what the subjects of your photos are. This way, you can caption your photos with the names of the interesting food you ate, the cities you visited, and the people you met on your tour. You’d be surprised how easy it is to forget these things, especially if you had a long trip with many experiences.

Remember, don’t experience your whole trip through a camera! The most important thing to focus on isn’t your subject through a lens, but on having an awesome travel experience! That being said, make it count when you do take photos by keeping these tips in mind.

Reasons to go on a Bus Tour

Sure, there is that sense of adventure and spontaneity when you set out to plan a trip on your own, but for those of us that want to enjoy a hassle-free getaway while getting the most bang for our buck, a bus tour may be the way to go! Here are a few reasons why you should consider booking a bus tour:

1. Bus tours are a great way to meet new people. You already know you’ll have one thing in common – travel! It’s not uncommon to make new friends with people in your tour group, especially if you take a multi-day tour.
2. Pre-planned itineraries make your life easier. Planning your own trip can take a lot of time and effort. Tour companies take the hassle out of your vacation by planning all the stops for you! Check out some pre-planned itineraries at http://www.lassentours.com/.
3. Your tour will be educational. Experienced guides will know the ins and outs of all the destinations you stop at. By the end of the trip, you will know all sorts of facts that you may not have been able to learn otherwise!
4. Guides make it easier to get by in a foreign country. If you aren’t familiar with the language or customs of the place you visit, it’s easy to run into problems. A tour guide  can really put you at ease in these situations!
5. Buses will get you to where you need to go. Tour buses like the ones used by Lassen Tours are comfortable, roomy, and makes it easy to get to all your destinations on schedule. You won’t need to worry about driving for long hours; in fact, you could even take a nap if the drive is going to be especially long!

With all that being said, if you’re planning a vacation this summer, bus tours are definitely something to look into! Feel free to comment with your bus tour experience!

Summer Travel

Summer is quickly approaching! School will be out and it will a perfect time for that family trip you all deserve! Have you decided where to go? Lassen Tours offers inclusive tour packages to popular destinations around the world! Check out lassentours.com and get your plans rolling! We offer one-day and multi-day packages in order to fit your specific needs and abilities to travel. We are also proud to offer bilingual tours and an experienced and knowledgeable staff!

Remember to follow @lassentours on Twitter, and to like our page on Facebook! Also, be sure to follow this blog for travel tips, inspiration, tour experiences, and more information on the tours we offer!