While I was in Malaysia for a conference, I met lots of people. After a few jugs of beer, I got to know this New York couple pretty well. When they knew my favourite past-time was traveling, they started talking non-stop of their Royal Carribean cruise to the Caribbean islands. The more I hear the more puzzled I became. Their voyage seemed too luxurious for a pair of junior executives. Not only did they relax in the sun and have fun in the casino like other cruises, they said they rode high on the waves on wave runners, flew like birds through the sky on parasails and gone chasing after the dolphins. So, they also got me pretty excited when they said the cruise company they bought from had tickets starting from USD649. I had never actually been on a cruise holiday. Sure, I took a boat out previously but it was just a one-day trip. Going for a full-fledge cruise holiday will be a totally new adventure for me.

Naturally, I dug for more information when I returned. Comparing all the information I’ve collected and the one the couple recommended, I had to say they made a good choice. There is this 7-Night European Cruise that’s really tempting, with prices around USD800-USD1000+ between August to November this year. The ship will travel through a few historic cities starting from Venice. The other interesting one is the7-Night Mediterranean Cruises round-trip from Celebrity cruises are excellent for lazy people like me. It says “If your idea of a true vacation is not to lift a finger, then Celebrity Cruises is just for you!.” That’s cool. I can just imagine staying in a first class floating hotel with fine dining, shows, performances, games with an Vegas-styled casino to try my luck on. However, I couldn’t quite imagine having one staff member attending the two of us for the entire duration. Still, the idea of having the service of a personal butler at my beck and call thrilled me immensely. That’s the kind of lifestyle that Brad and Angelina or Tom and Katie is having.

Then again, the Norwegian Cruise Line‘s freestyle cruising concept is rather appealing too. While I probably need to bring my Sunday best for the celebrity cruise, I can probably get away with my sloppiest shorts and flip flops here. I was told I can choose any time to eat and forget about being punctual and ,wear whatever I like and leave my evening stuff at home. Such free spirit style suits me but oh well, I guess I’ll have to talk to my charming companion first. In a confined space like a ship, there’s no escape from a quarrel or a flight literally if we ever got into one. And I’ll hate it if the disagreement is about the cruise.

Looks like I got to toss a coin between Oktober Fest or a Cruise if I still can’t decide in a couple of weeks time. Got to get the significant other to apply leave too. Still, before I open my mouth, there’s one hurdle I must cross. My boss. The last quarter is usually the busiest. He hates seeing any one of us taking off when others are working their butts off. So, I got to cook up a really hot story to get him to sign on the leave form. And I got to give him 2 months’ notice because he said he “appreciates advance notice very much” Drop me a note if you got any tip to charm the boss. I live for vacations.

Do you consider Wall Drug Store a tourist trap?

Personally, I haven’t been there. However, I have scores of friends who stopped by with their kids. According to the parents, the kids had a marvelous time exploring the Mining Company – supposedly a mining and panning simulation and digging for gem stones and fossils in the bonanza box. Of course, they took pictures at Mount Rushmore and the famous (or is it infamous) 25 footer T-Rex that roars every 10-12 minutes. If the kids love it, is it a waste of time for the adults to drive all the way just to see a mall selling western items?

The Wall Drug Store got its start during the Depression years when Ted Hustead started offering Free Ice Water tothirsty travelers. If you look at the above picture, check out a very small white sign which has “The ice water store” stated in black. Since then, Wall Drug Store has been the rest stop of choice for motorists in South Dakota ever since. Today, Western-themed statues—from Wyatt Earp to General Custer—fill the halls of the 76,000-square-foot shopping complex, which also includes a modest water park, a mining-and-panning simulation, a 25-foot T-Rex, a 520-seat western art gallery restaurant and more.

Why do people call it a tourist trap? My friend said “Drive so far and see nothing but a giant mall doesn’t make lots of sense”. Oh well, I guess it all boils down to the objective. Do you want to see a piece of living history and relive a bit of the olden days nostalgic? If so, the trip might be OK. Otherwise, think twice, the bottom line is it is indeed a giant store selling western stuff.

Honestly, what is so great about that? The bell tower of the Cattedrale on the Piazza del Duomo in Pisa, Italy, may be architecturally interesting, but does it justify a half-day of travel from Florence in order to see it? Sure, it is slanted and according to the experts, it is still slanting. Compare to the time you can spend elsewhere in Italy, is the trip to Pisa worth it? Of course, it will make perfection sense  if your intention is to have a photograph “holding” the tower up before it finally collapse. Otherwise, think twice, or even thrice, to jockey through the crowd to have a Kodak moment.

Related Post: Leaning Tower of Pisa Safe for Next 300 Years!

When you think about going on a holiday, what are you most afraid of?

- over priced souvenirs
- horrible restaurants
- dishonest tour guides
- over priced “attractions”

And this is exactly what Fisherman Wharf – crowded stretch of San Francisco waterfront from Ghirardelli Square to Pier 39 – offered.

But I tell you, what does Fisherman’s Wharf offer other than restaurants and souvenir shops? I mean, you could get a glimpse of the Alcatraz just driving along the Bay bridge …

If you still want to go there, go grab a hotel first before you even start packing your bag there. Understood that it’s not easy to get rooms during peak seasons. Good luck.