LilSugar

Not Content to Lounge? Our Favorite Healthy Vacation Destinations

Michele Foley — Tue, 22 May 2012 14:50:32 PDT

Vacations are meant for relaxing, but sitting around all day can get boring pretty quickly. Whether it's a morning yoga practice on the beach, a spectacular hike, or biking through wine country, choosing a fitness-minded hotel or resort definitely has its perks. Planning your own vacation? Consider one of these fit destinations in your decision - all of which have been tried, tested, and approved by FitSugar's own editors.

5 Tips For Planning a Summer Vacation With Friends

Laura Marie Given — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 03:05:48 PST

Traveling with pals is a blast, but trips can get complicated when the group isn't organized. It may seem easier to simply send a few texts and start booking, but a little bit of prepurchase prep can help to keep people happy. Even better? Planning ahead of time allows for more ideas and more research, so you're more likely to have that incredible vacation you're hoping for.

Have a prep session. Get the group together to talk about destination ideas and travel dates. Skip long email threads or one-on-one phone calls to make sure that everyone's voice is heard and no one has to be the middleman.
Assess budgets. Once everyone has agreed on the big picture, discuss the nitty-gritty details. It may feel a bit awkward, but encourage your pals to be open about their budgets so the group can set realistic expectations for the trip. Try creating a minibudget plan for the vacation, or keep things simple by deciding on a maximum spending amount.
Divvy up responsibilities. Let each person take charge of a different travel duty to make sure everyone has a say in the particulars of the trip. For instance, one friend can research hotels while another checks on flights. Depending on how specific you'd like the plans to be, others in the group can look up local restaurants or fun things to do during the day.
Hunt for discounts. Before too many things are set in stone, do a quick search across the Internet to find any relevant deals or discounts. Heading somewhere tropical? See if there's a price cut on parasailing. Going to a big city? Call the tourist center to see if you can get discounted tickets to shows or attractions in advance.
Host a booking party. Sometimes anticipating a vacation can be almost as fun as actually taking one, so make the most of it and host a get-together for the group. Take that time to book all at once so everyone is on the same page, then boost excitement by serving festive drinks or watching a movie that relates to your plans.

Have you ever planned a trip with friends? Share your advice in the comments below!

Tired Traveler? 8 Tips to Get Your Baby Back to Sleeping

Kate Stahl — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 09:15:41 PST

It's prime vacation time! While your pre-baby trips probably involved stocking up on sleep, travel with a lil one can be anything but restful. Just ask me: my 9-month-old was sleeping 12 hours a night last week, but since we arrived in Florida a few days ago, I'm back to 3-4 hour stretches. Torture. Luckily, one of the fellow guests at our resort is a pediatrician, and she helped with a few tips to get my go-go baby - and yours, too - back on the right track.

Try to arrive before bedtime so your lil one has time to acclimate. Let her explore the new room, and explain where you are and where everyone will be sleeping.
Bring a white noise machine or fan to mask strange new noises.
Follow your at-home bedtime routine; give your baby a soothing warm bath, read books quietly, nurse in a darkened room . . . whatever usually works for you.
Try to re-create her sleeping location as best you can by bringing a crib sheet or blanket from home (even a worn shirt of mom's can help). Also make the new room's lighting as similar to home as possible. Keep clicking for four more tips.

5 Ways to Rent a Vacation Home Online

Kristy Korcz — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 12:22:47 PDT

Who says you have to stay in a stuffy hotel the next time you want to getaway? These five websites can offer much more than sample-sized soaps in your bathroom. The charm, personality, and comfort of a real home, apartment, or bedroom from a local can give you insight into your destination that a concierge can't. Plus, you may find that you can rent out your own place for a good chunk of change. Check out these sites before you book your next vacation.

Airbnb - This site lets regular people rent out their homes, apartments, spare rooms, and couches for tourists and vacationers to call their own while they make their way through town. What's more, Airbnb just started offering sublets, so if you find yourself in a new city for an extended period of time, you can get great deals through a real homeowner.
Jetsetter - Gilt's brand new vacation home rental site caters to the more upscale of renters, but does "fabulous" quite well - you can rent Richard Branson's 14-bedroom Necker Island estate for a mere $54,000 a night.
VRBO - Promoting vacation rentals by owners, this site connects you to thousands of available rentals worldwide and even offers vacation protection in case of unforeseeable events, foreclosure, and double bookings.
HomeAway - This site lets you browse and book vacation rentals and homes in thousands of cities across the globe. Lots of photos and clear pricing structures make it easy to book.
Inhabit Vacations - Hand-selected apartments, villas, and rental properties in several world cities - from San Francisco, Paris, Bermuda, Portland, and more - ensure that you have the best of what each city has to offer.

5 Geeky Vacations to Take This Summer

GeekSugar — Tue, 24 May 2011 03:11:35 PDT

Sure, Hawaii, Costa Rica, and Florence all sound good, but why not go somewhere made especially for Geeks? The pros: you won't be the only one in the room with more than one gadget, there's plenty of free WiFi, and zero anxiety about being disconnected. And after visiting all the spots on my list, you'll have earned yourself a Foursquare Jetsetter badge!

Shirtless Gavin Rossdale Soaks Up the Sun With Zuma and Kingston

Katie Henry — Wed, 18 May 2011 10:41:37 PDT

Gavin Rossdale and his boys, Zuma and Kingston, continued to enjoy their relaxing vacation in Cannes today. The hot dad stripped off his shirt, revealing some ripped abs while evening out his tan as the kids played in the pool. The Stefani-Rossdales are making the best of their stay in the South of France, yachting with friends, jet skiing, and observing the beautiful sights from their luxury suite. Gwen and Gavin went from bikinis and pool gear to formal wear on Monday for Brad Pitt's star-studded The Tree of Life premiere. Their family just wrapped up a stay in the UK, but they're heading back to LA in the coming weeks. Gwen needs to be in California by June 7, when she's scheduled to host a private tea to raise money for Japan relief.

Naomi Campbell Does Lunch on a Yacht in Her Bikini

Allie Merriam — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 06:39:23 PDT

Naomi Campbell was back in another bikini from her extensive collection yesterday while on a yacht off the coast of Miami. She joined friends and her main man Vladislav Doronin for an al fresco lunch on the boat, with plenty of champagne on offer for all. Naomi seems to be enjoying a stay in Florida with lots of time to throw on her two-piece for afternoons in the sun. It's her latest tropical getaway with Vlad, after the duo were spotted together in Phuket, Thailand, last month.

Brooklyn Decker Dons a Mismatched Bikini For a Day Out in Miami

Allie Merriam — Sun, 27 Mar 2011 15:46:41 PDT

Brooklyn Decker showed off her brand-new haircut after chopping off 10 inches last week while in Miami, and she also had time to flaunt her bikini body on the beach Wednesday! The Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition model looked right at home on her deck chair, but she's apparently since gone home to North Carolina to spend time with her family and cheer on her musician brother. She was ready for the downtime after a whirlwind few months of double work duty, traveling the world to show off SI's latest issue and premiere Just Go With It alongside Jennifer Aniston.

Naomi Campbell Hits Miami in Her Bikini!

Allie Merriam — Sun, 27 Mar 2011 12:09:58 PDT

Naomi Campbell chilled on the back of a yacht yesterday while out for a ride near Miami. The supermodel was clad in a printed bikini for her afternoon in the sun, which she shared with another two-piece clad pal and her boyfriend Vlad Doronin. She enjoyed some rest and relaxation after a recent stint in France, where she hit the runway for Louis Vuitton with Kate Moss during Paris Fashion Week. Naomi's all about luxurious getaways when she's not busy with work, having traveled to Cabo in Mexico and Phuket, Thailand in the last four months alone.

Speak Up: Which Fitness Retreats Are Your Fave?

FitSugar — Sat, 21 Aug 2010 03:00:07 PDT

I'm asking for your help; Summer is ending soon and I need vacation suggestions. I'm debating going glamping, but I kind of want to try a fitness retreat, which is something I've never done before. And even though I can turn any vacation into a fit one by renting a bike, going on a hike, or spending hours walking and sightseeing, I'm looking for something a little more structured.

I've read about surf retreats, bikini boot camps in Costa Rica, and mountain biking in Moab. I know that yoga retreats are becoming more popular, and that resorts like Canyon Ranch offer all sorts of spa and wellness packages. My problem is that I don't know anyone who's ever gone on a fitness retreat. If any of you have tried it, I'd love to hear your thoughts! Tell me what you think in the comments below, and maybe you can help end my last-minute vacation anxiety.