On which beach would you most like to be stranded?

Inevitably whenever I meet someone for the first time I get asked “where are you from”? When I respond Hawaii, 100% of the time (without a doubt), 2 things come out of their mouth:
1) Why are you here?
2) Do you surf?

I always answer the first question differently depending on my mood, but the answer to number 2 is always “no”. That being said, I did spend a lot of time on the beach….and my favorite is Makapu’u beach, Hawaiian for “bulging eyes”, which is located on the island of Oahu.

Why that beach?

I’ve always loved this beach for three reasons. The first is the view from the beach…it has two islands that sit a few hundred yards offshore. One is called Rabbit Island, because it looks like a rabbit hunched over…and the other one has no name, at least that I know of. As a child I remember thinking how cool these little islands were and wondered if I could swim to them. The second reason I love was that I used to work across the street from the beach at a place called Sea Life Park, which is Hawaii’s version of Sea World, complete with dolphins, sea lions, penguins and a feeding tank. Every morning during my summer job I would swim at that beach, body surf and dream about….nothing. The last and most important reason I love this beach was that I got married there.

What’s the perfect soundtrack for your beach?

My wife had the bright idea to have a singer perform for us before and after the wedding. I was hesitant at first but I gave in…and I’m glad I did. The woman sang “White Sandy Beaches” by Makaha sons of Niihau, which was our wedding song.

The other song Makapu’u reminds me of is “She sells sanctuary” by The Cult. When I worked at Sea Life Park, I would run 3 miles before going to the beach in the morning and that song was my personal “Eye of the Tiger”.

What’s the perfect drink for your beach?

Veuve Clicquot, which we drank after we exchanged vows…or a bud light (no one from Hawaii drinks Mai Tai’s)

What three other things would you bring with you?

1) slippers (flip flops)
2) poke (seasoned raw ahi)
3) my wife

James Djunaidy is a Business Analyst for Travel Channel.

According to travel writer Judy Grimes 2010 is the year of the travel deal.  However, she may be kidding. (video below)

While Grimes is focusing, relatively, her focus on the upcoming year don’t let that keep you from taking a trip this fall or winter.  Travel deals are pretty good in 2009, too.

Also, please note that I believe the part about living alone.

Grimes is actually Kristin Wiig as a “Travel Expert” on SNL’s Weekend Update.  I’ve met more than a few travel writers in my time, and thankfully Wiig’s take is pretty far-fetched.  Just kidding.

Or am I?

Photo from NBC/SNL

From the time I was old enough to talk and walk, my mom made sure I knew that the world was a much bigger place than my safe bubble of Bethesda. And that there was so much to see, hear and smell. There was no food too exotic and no such thing as a picky eater. If she gave me eel to eat, I ate it. Fifty-eight years into it, she still needs to see what the rest of the world holds.

My dad was — and still is — documenting every moment of every trip. While my siblings and I moaned in embarrassment every time my dad posed us for a picture, I am forever grateful. The latest technology has allowed me to look back through my life and re-live it through pictures and video. And if you know me, you know a camera is never far from my side.

My brothers and sisters are my partners in crime. We have circled the globe together. If they have the vacation time, any city, state, or country I throw out there, they’re in. We have spent 12-hour plane rides together, five-hour ferry rides, and countless car trips. And we haven’t killed each other yet.

Chau Hoang is part of the well-oiled machine that is production management at Travel Channel.

Don’t Forget To

1. Check Passports & Visas are valid: Essential if you want to get out of the country in the first place!

2. Tickets: Without at least a booking reference number you may have trouble even getting on the plane

3. Lock all windows and doors: Simple enough, but often overlooked, and no one wants to come back off holiday to find their home is bare.

4. Money: Even if you remember your tickets and passports, if you’ve forgotten your wallet your holiday could be riddled with problems. Even if you don’t have any local currency with you most airports will have cash machines you can use your credit card with.

5. Book time off of work: The enjoyment of your holiday can be instantly forgotten if you get back to work to find that no one knew you were going! Ensure you’ve cancelled all your appointments and cleared as much work as you can. If possible leave a day to two when you return for planning and catching-up.

6. Insurance: Not included in every holiday, so do make sure you’re covered. Accidents can happen.

7. Transfers: If your holiday doesn’t include them make sure you’ve arranged some yourself. If your holiday does include them make sure you know who you should be meeting and where.

8. Ensure mobile phone is activated for use abroad: But check the tariffs first or your phone bill could match the price of your holiday.

9. Make all luggage easily identifiable: There’s nothing worse than losing your luggage on holiday, so make sure you can instantly tell yours apart from everyone else’s. You may feel stupid with a pink ribbon tied round your case but at least you’ll know it’s yours (and so will everyone else).

10. Turn off central heating: Don’t waste your money by leaving the heating on for 2 weeks (even if it does keep the cat warm).

11. Set up time switches for some lighting to come on at night: Scare off those burglars!

12. Dispose of fresh food in fridge: Get rid of anything that’ll go out of date or you’ll regret it when you come back.

13. Set Sky Plus for favourite programmes: Can you afford to miss Deal or No Deal?

14. Water any house plants: Do this before leaving, or better yet, give your neighbour a spare key and ask them to help you out while you are away.

15. Cancel milk and any daily paper deliveries: Who wants to come home to a pile of old newspapers and sour milk?