People who are on a Cruise Vacation and are not usually gambling type people often get drawn  into the casino at some time during their cruise. Take care ! If you’re on a budget, it’s probably a good idea to stay out of the casinos on board. Generally, they’ll suck your money away and you’ll be left with empty pockets and a dazed look on your face!

However, if you like a good game of blackjack or Texas Hold ‘Em, you should be sure to set a limit for your gambling and stick to it at all costs. Even if you were “that close” to hitting a royal flush, don’t spend all your cruise money on the tables.

If you must gamble, make a side bet for the dealer. They want you to win. If you are not as skilled at Blackjack, they will be more inclined to tell you when to hit or stand if you have attempted to place a side bet. Yes sometimes you both will lose, but that is why they call it gambling.

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“Baby let me take you on a sea cruise”
The lyrics to Frankie Ford’s song “Sea Cruise” seem to echo the sentiments of many people when planning a vacation. Some think it’s out of the realm of possibilities when considering a vacation on a budget, but not anymore!
Many people, including myself, think that cruising the open seas on a luxury ship is a vacation we can’t even dream of. However, with some careful planning and saving, a cruise is definitely within the realm of possibilities!
The cost of cruising has dropped dramatically over the last few years, and it’s become affordable for almost
everyone as a vacation alternative. But many of us could afford to cruise even more often if we could just cut down on all the extra onboard and on-shore costs, above and beyond the actual cruise fare.
There are hundreds of tips out there on how to save money on your cruise. Whether you get advice from family and friends, the Internet, or your local travel agent, they all are valuable. The only problem is how do you remember them all? This book has taken the best tips from several sources and put them in one convenient place – HERE!
Almost anyone can take a cruise vacation that’s everything depicted in the movies and on television. You can enjoy The Bahamas, Hawaii, Mexico, and even Alaska aboard luxury cruise ships with all the amenities of a resort on land.
The key to making the most of your cruise vacation is to know where you can save money without sacrificing fun or rest and relaxation. Many cruises are all-inclusive, but that doesn’t necessarily mean “ALL inclusive”. There are
extra charges for items on board as well as activities and shore trips.
You deserve to enjoy your vacation and all that comes with it, and you can do it on a budget! What could be better than that?
So sit back and read up on the best ways to save money on your cruise. Gopher, Julie, and Doc from “The Love Boat” won’t be there, but YOU will be!

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Going on vacation can be very costly if you don’t do your research before you go. There’s the transportation, the lodging, where to eat, and what to do. Today we’ll discuss free things to do when visiting Orlando.

If you are staying close to Disney World but not in a Disney hotel, you can still enjoy the Disney amenities for yourself for free. You can park at any of the Disney hotels and use the free transportation to travel to and from the individual resorts. The themed resorts like the Royal Pacific, The Wilderness Lodge, and the Grand Floridian are enjoyable to walk through. You can take the monorail to and from the Grand Floridian and Wilderness Lodge. The hotels also have different decorations depending on the time of year.

Down Town Disney is free and offers a lot to enjoy. There are the Disney stores, other fun shops and the river area. You can take a boat ride through the river and see the beautifully landscaped Disney hotels as you pass. The boat from Down Town Disney to Port Orleans takes an average of 30 minutes and is free top ride. Port Orleans is also very beautiful and looks like houses from the late 1800’s in Gone With The Wind.

Old Town in Kissimmee is only 10 minutes from Disney and is a lot of fun. They have lots of stores, rides like bumper cars, go carts, and thrill rides. It is free to park and walk around. There is Crusin on Saturday nights. They average 400 entries of classic hot rod and crusin cars. Grab a spot on Main Street and watch the cars cruise by.

Celebration is right next to old town and is not just a town but an experience. Enter the most perfect place on Earth. The houses are well manicured and all sit perfectly inline going down the street. Walk around the down town area and enjoy the stores, music, and the movies if you have time. It’s free to park and walk around.

If you are staying close to Universal Studios and Orlando, there are lots of free things to do here as well. Universal City Walk is always free to walk around and parking is free after 6pm. There are plenty of shops to keep you busy for a couple of hours. Visit the Hard Rock Hotel, The Pacific Island Resort, and The Portofino Hotel while you are there. They are all well designed and are a great way to have casual conversation with your friends. Universal also has a free boat service that will take you from City Walk to the different hotels.

The Gaylord Hotel is a great place to visit. Parking is not always free but if you have a group of people it definitely pays for it self. Designed after the famous Gaylord Hotel in Nashville but with a Floridian flare. It’s a great place to enjoy the outdoors inside year round. The entire center area of the hotel is covered by a giant glass ceiling. There are lots of tress, waterfalls, and a ship that sits on the water and doubles as a restaurant. You can easily walk around for 2 to 3 hours with out getting bored.

If you like to shop, there’s the Mall at Millennia, The Florida Mall, and The Fashion Square Mall all close by. It’s only free if you don’t buy anything.

Park Avenue in Winter Park is just north of down town Orlando and is a beautiful place to slow down and enjoy the atmosphere. Visit the unique shopping and high end stores as you take in beauty of the tree lined streets. It’s free to look.

Harry P.Leu Gardens isn’t free but I thought I would let you know about it. It is only around $4 a person and is worth the small investment. Located just north of down town Orlando off of Virginia Drive, it takes you right out of the city while still being in the city. Walk the path of beautiful native Florida landscape and stop to smell the roses in one of Central Florida’s largest Rose gardens. Take the tour of Leu Gardens house that is included in admission.

There are lots of state parks in Florida and many are free, the ones that aren’t don’t cost very much though. Visit Big Tree Park in Longwood which is 15 minutes north of downtown Orlando if you want to see the oldest Cypress Tree on record at over 2,000 years old.

Lake Eola in down town Orlando is a great place to walk as you can walk around the entire lake in less than an hour. Take in the natural beauty of the historic trees along with the skyscrapers that circle the lake.

Cranes Roost in Altamonte Springs Uptown Park is a free enjoyable experience. It is located about 20 minutes north of down town Orlando but is worth the visit. It is a well decorated park that circles Cranes Roost Lake. Walk across the long boardwalk that crosses the lake while you listen to contemporary music playing in the back ground.

There are many other free things to do in Orlando just get creative. You might have the experience of a life time.

Shawn Hickman
http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-tips-articles/free-things-to-do-when-visiting-orlando-florida-106736.html