Vacation Home Rentals

posted by Vacation Home Rentals on Apr 27

So, have you packed a bright, tropical Hawaiian shirt for your next cruise yet? Nothing says ‘vacation’ more than a colorful Aloha shirt and, as you pack yours for your next trip, spare a thought for this piece of fashion history’s colorful past…

Hawaiian shirts were popular long before Elvis Presley wore a red aloha shirt on the album cover for the “Blue Hawaii” soundtrack in 1961. In actual fact, the modern Hawaiian shirt came to be in the early 1930s.

A Chinese merchant named Ellery Chun of King-Smith Clothiers and Dry Goods, owned a store in Waikiki. Ellery started to sew brightly colored aloha shirts for tourists fashioned from old kimono fabrics he had leftover in stock.

The Honolulu Advertiser newspaper quickly coined the term ‘Aloha shirt’ and Ellery trademarked the name. The first advertisement in the Honolulu Advertiser for Chun’s Hawaiian shirts was published in June 1935. Local residents and as you’d expect…especially those in the surfing community, as well as tourists descended on Chun’s store and bought every shirt he had.

Withina short space of time, major designer labels sprung up all over Hawaii and began manufacturing and selling Aloha shirts en masse. Retail chains in Hawaii, even mass produced Hawaiian shirt designs to use as their employee uniforms. At sites like Hawaiian Shirts Central you’ll see some of the best examples of Hawaiian clothes and apparel.

Following World War II, many servicemen and servicewomen returned to the United States from Asia and the Pacific islands with hawaiian shirts that had been made in Hawaii since the 1930s. Then as the tourists started flocking to Hawaii post WW2 in the 1950s, the colorful tropical-print shirts for men and sundresses for women became standard souvenirs for travelers.

In 1962, a professional manufacturing association known as the Hawaiian Fashion Guild started to promote Aloha-style shirts and clothing for use in the office / workplace, particularly as business attire. In a campaign called ‘Operation Liberation’ the Guild delivered two aloha shirts to every member of the Hawaii House of Representatives and the Hawaii Senate. This was a success because soon a resolution was passed in the Senate recommending that aloha attire be worn throughout the summer in Hawaii.

In 1965, Bill Foster, Sr., the then president of the Hawaii Fashion Guild, led a campaign lobbying for an official and regular “Aloha Friday”, a day when all employers would allow their staff to wear Hawaiian shirts on the last business day of the week. In 1966 Aloha Friday officially began in Hawaii and has since spread worldwide – although now-a-days it is commonly referred to as ‘Casual Friday’.

posted by Vacation Home Rentals on Apr 26

Camping Stove Buying Guide

Camping is a fun ordeal, but you’re going to need some way to keep your food warm. That being said, it’s time to find a way to not only warm your food but to do it efficiently. So howdo you go about selecting an appliance to use in the wilderness?

When you are on the trail, you will find that a fire doesn’t always cut it, especially when it comes to cooking. You could use the fire, but now we have more convenient ways. When you are buying a camping stove however, you will need to make sure that it actually meets your needs. But that’s the question isn’t it? What’s in a good camping stove? How can you know that you are making the correct choice?

The cost makes a difference

The first thing you need to take into consideration is the price you are paying. You would imagine that all camping stoves cost the same price but actually the prices are hazy. For instance you can pay $12.99 for a small portable model, but if you want a larger model, then you might want to go for something a bit more expensive.

Sizing it Up

As always it depends what you want to cook and how many people you want to cook for. There are actually many different sizes. For instance you could go for one that is small, or you might choose one that is the size of a regular grill. Whether or not that is actually convenient really depends on the purpose. Generally though, the camping stoves will have two burners and support medium sized pans.  Remember that you don’t always have to go for the biggest and most expensive pan out there! Think about what you need!

An issue of brawn

There are some camping stoves that are powered by electricity, but the majority are powered by gas. This is much more convenient for campers who don’t plan to be near civilization or use any sort of electricity. Choose sensibly and make sure you go for a camping stove that will meet your requirements.

Shop and Compare

Don’t wait until it’s time to hit the trail before you start shopping for a good camping stove. When you shop, take your needs into account. For example what is the time you need it to last? For instance there are some stoves that can last for up to six hours, and there are a few that will only last for about two. This of course is dependent on the intensity of the burner so make certain that you look at the highest cooking time.

So what we have here are a few things that you will need to look for when you are shopping for a camping stove:

• Convenience – The stove needs to be able to support your cooking habits yet be portable enough that you can carry it easily.
• Capability - The length of time that you can cook your food is important. If you want to eat a lot you need one that can cook for longer hours. You can always carry extra butane, but it would be best to have one that lasts.
• Durability - You want a stove that can last for a long time, and that means you might have to go a bit out of your comfort zone when it comes to the pricing. In addition to that you must ensure that its water tight and will continue operating in the face of elements.

When you stop, make sure you take these things into consideration. Be sure that you are getting the right stove for the right job. Accomplish this and you will definitely have a great camping and cooking experience.

Done w/ Camping Stoves? Read More About Butane Stove…

posted by Vacation Home Rentals on Apr 26

A Disney Vacation and the Costs Involved

The cost of Walt Dinsey World accommodations may be one thing that is sure to bother you when you are planning your trip. Accommodations you choose will take a large portion of your vacation budget. It would be wise for you to conduct enough research and find lodging that will suit the needs of your family. The choice you make can either fill the vacation with stress or make it great.

What are the Choices?

This is dependent on the timing of your visit. Weekends and holidays are the time when Walt Disney World is at its busiest. It is possible the you will end up paying more than what you can afford. It is also no surprise to find most properties sold out during this season. You will nevertheless be able to find properties located off the Disney property. These will be a better choice for you if you are traveling with your family. In these cases, the size of your family traveling with you will make a difference. Properties that can have room for large groups of people are available and not difficult to find either. Before you leave you need to make a decision about the type of accommodation you need.

What are your best Affordable Choices?

Families, in many cases, choose condos and vacation homes during a vacation to Walt Disney World. These are places that have the capacity to accommodate 5 to 15 people. This type of hotel is the best for you, if you have a large family that will require multiple rooms. The place will be affordable, which will help you save some money as well. They are usually equipped with kitchens, which offer you cooking facilities and help you save some money on eating out for every meal. Some expenses in the form of transportation costs will have to be borne though. However, your overall savings will be more than that of the transportation costs. Of course, if it is just you and another person, you may find cheaper accommodations on the Disney campus.

Staying on Properties of Walt Disney

This is actually an extremely affordable option when you consider the costs of travel to and from off-site properties. Staying at Walt Disney World has its advantages. You will not be privy to the perks that Disney offers from other offsite properties. Disney also handles all expenses related to travel from the airport and within the campus. Without doubt you will save some money with the convenience of the promotions that Disney offers to its patrons.

Conduct a Research before you Leave

Before you head out on your Disney World vacation, be sure to research every detail of your travel plans. Compare all prices being offered, before you book your vacation. Also consider the fact that Disney offers discounts to people from certain professions. When you book your vacation directly, make a mention whether you belong to one of these categories. You can save some extra money by doing this.