Welcome to Unknown Coordinates. This site documents our vacations from around the world to help you learn about cultures and other countries. We travel around the United States and the world and give insight about how other people live. We give recommendations, for hotels, flights, packages, agents, cruises, and local activities to help you decide the perfet vacation for you and your family. Sponsor our vacation and get your product seen around the world. unknowncoordinates.com
Welcome
to Unknown Coordinates
The Oliver family made plans to discover the world, one city
at a time. With so many vacations under our belts we decided
to leave our mark on the internet....through videos and pictures.
This is the beginning of our adventures....
Eric's Skydiving Video
This is Eric's video of the sky diving trip.
We drove to Lumberton, MS to go sky diving with Gold Coast Sky Divers. After spending few hours with them our time finally arrived. I went first and this is the video proof of my jump. We were at 14,000 feet (that is almost 2 1/2 miles up). Enjoy.
We are going to California in 6 days. Finally....we get to go on vacation after missing out for over a year now. Kelly has always wanted to see LA so we are going to celebrate my 25th birthday there. We are both stoked and are trying to figure out a good celebrity party to crash (if that is even possible). So, if you are a celebrity and you want to have someone special crash your birthday, evening, morning, or casual party then please by all means flip us an email. We would gladly crash it for you.
We plan on traveling there by flying with United Airlines (look for a review once we get back) and I have made plans like the nerd in Eurotrip to make sure that we see everything that LA has to offer within a week. We will visit all of the to do things in our Travel Tips to Los Angeles and maybe knock something off our bucket list.
Of course since it is a vacation I will probably not add any new content to the site until we get back, but you can expect a lot of pictures of Hollywood and LA when we return. Hopefully we will be able to spot some stars and get to act like the paparazzi for a few days. Wish us luck and we will see you on the other side.
Have you ever wanted to travel to Paris? Of course you have, all of us have....but we all know how expensive it can be to take a European vacation. Traveling to France can leave a big hole in your budget, so you need to plan accordingly to make sure that you can afford to make this dream come true. We have thought of some ways to save a few dollars to make your overall trip a little more fun and a lot less expensive.
Stay Outside of Major Attraction Areas
Normally, an attraction city is where you would spend the most for your time. If you spend your money on a hotel outside of major attraction areas you can save money that may help you see more of the other sites the city has to offer. When looking for a hotel Paris you should always have an open mind. Try to stay off of the beaten path in order to see something that you can tell people about or better yet, save you some of that hard earned money.
Find Good Sightseeing Tours
One of the best ways to make sure you see all of Paris is to find a great sightseeing tour guide. A good tour guide can show you some of the best things that Paris has to offer. They can also tell you that some of the best places to visit in France are free and outside in the warm sun. You can find great Paris day tour anywhere within the city limits. Always try to schedule ahead of time online to make your reservation and maybe even save a few more dollars.
Paris Love The Teens - Mid Twenties Visitors and Students
If you are a young tourist or a student of any age in Paris you will notice that you a favored more then others. Once you step off the plane you will notice that you get discounts of all that is Paris. You get discounts on bus rides, train rides, museums, etc. Take advantage of your age or your student status and always bring a valid ID where ever you go....you never know when you may need it.
Going to Cannes (not cheap, but worth it)
Some people go to France just to see one of the French Riviera's most well known cities, Cannes. When traveling to Cannes you are in for a real treat. Cannes is known for the Cannes Film Festival, luxurious shops, grand hotels, and even grander apartments. Accommodation Cannes can be found around the corner from museums, villas, and pretty much anything that you would want in a vacation. You can shop till you drop all over the city using their ferry from Nice harbor, you can take a rail car or bus. Now you know where you can spend all of that money you saved.
When we travel we try to not forget anything but in the rush of planning and packing we tend to forget some pretty simple, yet required items. Whether you are traveling locally or traveling abroad you need to keep some things at all times. We have prepared the top 10 things to keep in your travel luggage or backpack to make your life easier, cleaner, warmer, etc. You can check out our checklist to make sure that you have all the items you will need period. Now, without further ado, I present the top 10 things to bring on a vacation.
A Camera or Camcorder
Of course this is one of the top required items to take with you on a vacation, but you would be surprised about how many people forget this essential item. Without a camera you would only have memories or you would have to buy a one time use camera when you arrive. It would just be better to keep your own so you are not having to spend anymore money then you already have.
Moist Towelettes
I know, this is not on of your top priorities, but this little item can keep you from getting sick and missing half of your vacation. You can keep these sanitary items in your pants pocket, a purse, and even your small baggage. These antibacterial towels will help you prevent germs from spreading and can keep you healthy throughout the whole trip.
Backups of Important Documents
One of the biggest things to worry about when traveling is theft. If you have your Passport or other important documents stolen you should carry (in a separate location) a backup of all of your documents. Either a print out or a scanned copy that is on a jump drive. Either way can help authorities identify you. It may not get you back across the border, but it is a better start then having nothing at all.
Fake Wallet
One key thing to bring with you that can help you avoid having to use number three would be a fake wallet. You can have a fake wallet that holds a few dollars and some old IDs in your back pocket. This would be the easiest choice for a thief and wouldn't hurt you to much. You should NEVER store your extra cash and you fake wallet in the same place. If you keep a fake wallet in your back pocket then maybe you should keep your real money in your sock or a safe place.
Most thieves would not think to look in more then one place if they already have your wallet with some cash in it. Remember, most thieves are not bad people looking to hurt you, but are people down on their luck....of course this is not the definition of every thief, so be careful when you think you may be in a bad situation.
Playing Cards
Even if you are on vacation you may not be able to do everything exciting all the time. So in the case of a off day or a rainy day, bring a deck of cards to play with. You can spend time with your family playing cards or you can play by yourself, the prospects are endless. Of course, do not let this activity distract you longer then it is suppose to so that you do not miss anything from your vacation.
Guidebook
Bring a local guide book unless you are familiar with the area. If you are not familiar with the area then you can use this guide to find good places to eat, sleep, and play without wasting a lot of time looking around. A guide book is not the most necessary item, but can prove to be on of the most useful. Also, make sure you buy a guide book well before the trip starts to ensure you are somewhat familiar with your to do list. Remember, plan ahead to save a headache later.
Sunblock, Sunglasses, and a Hat
Not only do these items help you stay fashionable on your trip, but it helps you to stay out of the sun. Sunburn can really dampen your spirits when you are meant to be having fun on vacation. Many times, people forget to either apply sunblock or wear protective clothing and they end up sitting in their cool room trying to fan a sunburn away. Also, don't forget that you can get sick from sun exposure. Another little downer from not using sunblock or protective clothing.
Plastic Bags
You always need to store something and what better way to store it then in a protective zip lock baggies. The uses for a zip lock bag are endless. It can be a storage container for food (better if you are in the wild), a waterproof container for your phone, camera etc, and it can even double into a place to put old, used clothes.
Small Bottles
Most airports now do not allow you to carry anything that is larger then 3oz. To make sure you go through security quicker at the airport I would condense all of your big bottles into smaller, clear bottles. This helps keep you from slowing up security and allows you to save space in your luggage for other items you may need throughout the vacation.
Travel Journal
This is not the most important thing to bring, but can be great if you are a blogger like me and you want to tell people about your experiences. Keeping a travel journal will help you remember those parts of the vacation that went by to fast. Spread the word about restaurants, hotels, hostels, agencies, and so on by remembering them and remembering the people who helped you have a wonderful vacation.
The world is a beautiful place to see, but sadly most people do not ever get to experience that beauty. The world is such a big place with so many places to go that many people think they will never get to see it so why try....well, we have compiled a list of the best places to visit in 2010. We think that everyone should at least try to visit one of these places this year or in the years coming, because, well, who wouldn't want to go to an exotic island or a rustic old world city? Hopefully this article will help start some of the excitement of wanting to travel or at least spark a interest in a far away land.
Islands / Beaches
Everyone wants to visit a nice, clean, cool beach with blue waves that never end. All over the world there exists such places that do just that. Whether you are surfing at the Caballeros Beach in Peru, or you are enjoying the laid back Lamai Beach in Thailand. The world is mostly covered in water so I think that it would be easy to find a great beach that is only a few hours away, or at least a short plane ride.
Santa Marta, Colombia Santa Marta is one of the oldest cities in South America. Santa Marta not only provides a great beach with crystal blue water, but it also has jungles, rivers, and friendly locals to boot.
Miami Beach, Florida, USA I will always list Miami as one of the best beaches in the world to visit because it was one of my first "real" vacations to a beach. The water was cool, clean, and crystal clear. I hope to go back soon. I miss the nightlife, the food, and the sea breeze.
Caballeros Beach, Punta Hermosa, Peru Peru is well known among surfing enthusiasts and is world renown as one of the best places to hang ten. Peru has some of the longest waves in the world....quite a good thing to boast in the world of surfing. While in Peru, Kelly and I, were going to visit this beach, but since the travel time was over 4 hours to get there by bus we decided not to....I regret that decision and have made a note to visit it next time we visit Peru.
Lamai Beach, Koh Samui, Thailand Think about a tropical paradise where coconuts fall from the trees, where the beach has slow calming waves....well, that is Lamai Beach. This beach is where people go when they dream....who knew it really existed.
Old World Civilizations
When we were kids in school we learned about all of these places that offered adventure around every turn, places like Cairo, Egypt and Machu Picchu, Peru. Remember when you said how cool it would be to visit a real tomb of a long lost Egyptian Pharaoh, what happened to that attitude? Make this year the year you fulfill one of your childhood dreams.
Giza, Egypt Egypt had one of the oldest, most well known civilizations in the world. They built great works of art as well as structures that many still argue about how it came to be. Become a part of history and see how it all started.
Rome, Italy Rome is probably one of the most well know cities the world over because of it rich history or tyrants and leaders. The modern world pretty much started in Rome. Empires have risen and fallen, the world was conquered and lost, modern knowledge was sparked....this was the place to be thousands of years ago....times have not changed to much.
Machu Picchu, Peru Seems like I have an avid fascination with Peru, and well, I do. Not only because Kelly is from there, but because they have a great history and a rich heritage. They have had civilizations that have vanished seemingly over night. One of the landmarks that the Incas left behind was the great city of Machu Picchu. A worldly treasure....
Modern Meccas
When you are visiting the world you need to keep in mind that there are some places that do not rely on old world technology, but lead the world in innovations and technology. Some of those places include Dubai, UAE and Hollywood, California, USA (Hollywood.....???, really, well stay tuned for why). The future is going to start with these places.
Dubai, UAE Ever heard of Dubai? If not then you soon will. Dubai has become one of the most ambitious, innovative cities in the world since they found they were sitting on top of one of the richest oil reserves in the world. They offer the world's tallest building, the world's largest man made island, the world's largest man made snow park (in the middle of a desert), and is constantly improving. This of course makes this new tourist attraction one of the world's most expensive....but if you have the money I would highly recommend Dubai to you.
China, all of it China is one of the largest countries in the world, so it shouldn't be to hard to land anywhere in it. If you do manage to go to China, I would recommend Beijing. Host of the 2008 Olympics, Beijing has quickly become one of the world's tourist destinations. Not only do they offer such worldly advances as the Great Wall of China, the Ming Tombs, and the Forbidden City, they offer places like Shanghai, a newly emerged shopping mecca.
Hollywood, California, USA Now, you may not think about Hollywood as an innovator, but they lead the world in film production and they create some of the classics that break records in the box offices. They seems to have hit a slump with all of the classic remakes, but I am sure that they will pull out a winner in the next few years.
Party Time
What list would be complete without acknowledging that we go on vacation to party. There are plenty of great vacation destinations around the world that allow you to do just that. In America we have Las Vegas, where you can forget the whole trip if you want to...just ask the guys from "The Hangover".
Las Vegas, NV, USA Las Vegas is the city of sin. You have some of the world's greatest gambling establishments, live shows, and you pretty much have the entire world at your fingertips (at least a pretty good replica of it). You can drink, play, eat, and dance the night away all in one place. How cool is that? Also, remember, what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas.
Munich, Germany Munich has the ultimate way to get shit-faced in a hurry...they have a yearly festival called Oktoberfest. In case you do not know what Oktoberfest is.......let me paint a picture. Scantly clad German girls shoving boot sized beers in your face....drinking games, bratwurst sausage, and pretty much all the alcohol you will need in a lifetime....served over 16 awesome days. My head hurts just thinking about it....but it would be worth the hangover afterwards.
Cancun, Mexico This is mainly for the frats boys and girls, but during Spring Break, this place comes alive with beer, tiny bikinis (sometimes topless), and your run of the mill wet t shirt contests. Considering that the price to visit Cancun is not expensive and actually being there is not expensive, I would recommend this to anyone wanting to go get drunk, or visit a beach with scantly clad women everywhere.
Conclusion
In conclusion I hope that I pointed out a variety of places for everyone to get their ultimate vacation on. Whether you are looking to relax, party, or enjoy history....you have many options. I know that there are plenty I missed, but these would be my picks. What would be yours. Add you comments below.
In our next part of the series "Travel Tips" we are traveling to Los Angeles. This summer Kelly and I plan to visit this beautiful city to see what the west coast has to offer. We plan on going to the Hollywood sign, the farmer's market, the Grauman's Chinese Theatre, the Grove mall, maybe a Dodger's game (not a fan, but you just can't pass a chance to see a pro team play), just to name a few. I have high hopes for this trip.
How To Get There We usually get the best deal using an on line retailer for travel....and will most likely do the same for this vacation. We figured our trip will be a couple grand since we do not want to stay to far away from the major attractions and we want a rental car. I hate being stranded, so I always rent a car unless I can drive there from my house. Plus we figured we would bring some spending money since we will probably eat at every well known restaurant there and of course Kelly will have to go shopping. Hopefully I bring enough for that. LOL. We will book our hotel, rental car, as well as I plane tickets together to save a few dollars. Also, the price is not that bad.
Home Of The Stars Hollywood, where the movies are made, where to stars are born....where I will try out for a screen role...seriously, its not often you get a chance to do it! Hopefully I go to Hollywood and walk out a super-duper-mega star. Don't laugh, a man can dream....
Anyways, *sighs*, I want to get my photo taken in front of the Hollywood sign. I hope I can, everyone does, it's kinda like going to Paris....you just got to take a picture in front of the Eiffel Tower. Maybe we can play paparazzi for the day and take some awkward yet nice photos of some of the a-listers....Ashton Kutcher....Kelly wants a picture, think you can make it happen?
Also, on the topic of the home of the stars and since I am a big movie buff, I want to go to the Grauman's Chinese Theatre. You can see the stars arrive on the red carpet and you can see their hand and footprints in the cement surrounding it (walk of fame anyone?). You always see it in the movies, now I hopefully will get to see it in person.
Visit Live Tapings I have always wanted to be in the live taping of a sitcom or late night show. I think I will make special arrangements to make that happen. I do not know what show I want to go see....any recommendations?
Shopping....*sighs* I have a feeling I will be a broke man once Kelly gets a view of the shopping you can do in Cali. Come on ladies...say it with me "RODEO DRIVE"! This is a must stop on Kelly's to do list and since it is located in Beverly Hills, I guess I will have a view...lol. I have heard that window shopping there is just as fun as actually buying something, but I doubt that excuse will work.
Conclusion.... In conclusion I think this vacation will be one of the most entertaining and hopefully our trip itinerary gave you some ideas about what you want to do when you go there. If not, just remember, like I say with everyone of these posts....plan ahead. Make sure you have enough cash to make the trip as well as have some fun, make sure you know where you wanna go and how to get there, and last but not least, remember that the stars are people to....people that love cameras...so bring plenty. Happy travels.
In our next part of the series "Vacation Tips" we are visiting Miami, FL. We went to Miami a few years ago and I have always wanted to go back. We only stayed for two days, but it was a great two days.
You can see our Miami vacation here. As you can see from our story we had a blast. I have searched the internet for tips to help you and us (when we go back) to better enjoy your stay. Good luck with your trip and hopefully we can help you enjoy your stay.
Rent A Car When you fly there you should definitely rent a car. The city is beautiful and I really enjoyed driving through it. The traffic was not that bad, but some people do not know how to use their blinker, but they were far and few between. With a rental car you can go where you want when you want without having to wait on a bus or pay taxi fares. Even though paying for parking was kinda expensive it beats a taxi ride. Next time we go I am bringing the GPS to help me find my way around. If you drove then more power to you.
Walk The Beach I loved the beach there so much that I want to fly back just to go swimming. When you walk the beach you can see the beauty of Miami without the hussle and bussle of the city. You can pretty much walk to whole city on the beach. They have inlets to let you get back to the city all over the place, so don't worry about getting lost. I loved the sites and smells of the city from the beach. We could see the restaurants and clubs from our cozy spot of the beach. Of course, there are other benefits from being on the beach, like the water is crystal blue, the sand is gritty (kinda like salt), and you have plenty of people to chat with.
Try Peruvian Restaurants Some of the best food I have ever eaten has been made by my wife. I highly recommend Peruvian dishes to anyone wanting to try real spanish food. I cannot remember the name of hte restaurant we went to, but the food was good. It was the first time I tried ceviche, Chicha Morada (purple corn juice), and Inca Cola. Kelly was absolutly in love with the food, the atmosphere, and the people who worked there. The restaurant we went to was right off the beach on the last street before you get to the coast, if anyone knows the name of the restaurant please post it here so I can give them credit where credit is due.
See The Everglades We did not have enough time to see the Everglades when we went, but it is definitely on the to do list for next time. Take a ride on an airboat and see aligators as well as the natural wildlife of the Everglades. I have heard it is cheap to visit, but I have not confirmed that yet.
Visit The Seaquarium Once again I did not take the time to visit the Seaquarium, but I have heard it is one of the "must visits" if you are in Miami. The Seaquarium is basically an outdoor aquarium with killer whales and trained dolphins. I have been told as of this article publish date that the admission price is $29.95 for adults and $22.95 for children (3-9). It is recommended to spend atleast half a day there enjoying the wildlife while you still enjoy the sun.
Visit The Monkey Jungle At The Monkey Jungle it is a role reversal, the humans are the ones walking around in wired cages while the monkeys are playing outside watching you. The monkeys are able to run around the cages and some even climb over the cages at their leisure. You can feed the monkeys with dried fruit and peanuts
Again....Plan, Plan, Plan Kelly and I did not have enough time to plan this vacation thourghly and that is why we missed out of some pretty exciting things. Next time we will go on our own terms and maybe we can have a little more fun while we are at it.
This is kinda a tip list for us as well as for you. Hopefully you will see some of pictures from the above locations in our future vacation articles. If you have anything else to add please feel free to add it in the comments below.
Finally finished with the new version of the website. I was going for a grungy look that had a Wordpress feel to it. Although it may look like a wordpress layout it is actually all me. I have made the entire website a little more user friendly with a search feature that searches blog posts as well as recommendations and vacations.
Kelly and I are very excited about the new look and I hope that everyone likes it. Please comment on the new look and tell us what you think. Good or bad, we can take it.
This is the first part of a continuing series of our travel tips for families and individuals who want to travel the world without the hassles that come with it.
First we will discuss one of our favorite places in the world. Disney World in Orlando, FL. These Disney World tips will help you get there, get situated, and have fun without having to worry. Trips to Disney World can be very stressful on both the parent and the kids because of poor planning and because of the big price tags on the products and tickets sold at Disney World.
Drive There If You Can Driving to Disney World is not as stressful as some people think. Every time I have went to Disney World I drove (well, my dad did the first two times I went). Although for us it was a eight hour trip from Mississippi we stopped often at little shops and different attractions on the way. One attraction was the Ripley's Believe It Or Not in Orlando. This place is prefect for little kids and teens because it lives up to its name and shows weird things from around the world.
Stay On Disney Property Although this is not the cheapest way to live Disney, it is one of the most convenient because you do not need to rent a car or drive your own throughout your stay, you have special perks like early and late park access, and you can rest whenever you need to. If you cannot afford to go to one of the water parks then staying at a Disney hotel will help you there since most have swimming pools for guests.
Purchase the Park Hopper The park hopper is a life saver that keeps you from getting bored and having to stay at one park per day. If you get bored with the park you are at then just leave it and go to another park without having to pay again. One ticket to get you in all the parks as many times as you want. Having the Park Hopper ticket will also help you plan better since you can complete all rides at the smaller parks then go to another park and spend the remaining part of the day. Kelly and I rode every ride at all parks in 4 days using this method.
Go During A Special Event Kelly and I went during our anniversary and received all kinds of cool things, including an autographed card from Mickey and Minnie that was hand delivered to our room. They also gave us buttons that we pinned to our shirts that let everyone know it was our anniversary. We felt special since everyone we met wished up a Happy Anniversary and gave us special benefits.
Fast Pass Saves Time If you want to ride Splash Mountain and the wait is 2 hours long I recommend getting a fast pass to help you out. You may have to come back in two hours, but you can do other things instead of having to wait all day in a line. Get a Fast Pass for the bigger rides and then go enjoy the smaller rides without a line.
Visit Attractions Outside The Parks If you are getting burnt out with the constant rides and lines then I suggest you go to the water parks or Pleasure Island. Remember when you visit these parks you are limited to one park per day of stay. So if you visit both water parks in one day that means you have one less day to visit them. Basically 4 days equals 4 water park visits, use 2 visits in one day and you have 2 visits left for the remaining 3 days. This includes access to Pleasure Island or the FREE game room for kids.
Eat Lightly At The Park The food at the parks are very expensive, during our 2008 visit the price of a sandwich was at least five dollars. Try and buy the meal plan if it will help you, it adds a chunk of money to your total price, but you will save in the end compared to eating at the parks.
Book Off-Season Booking during the winter months or early spring will save you money and time waiting in long lines. Kelly and I went in April and noticed the lines were smaller then when I went just a few years before in July. It was not as hot and the park price was a little cheaper. It all depends on you, but it is always recommended to visit during the off-season.
Plan, Plan, Plan Kelly and I started planning our trip 1 year in advance and it was the smoothest trip to Disney World I had ever had. We planned the food, the park visits on certain days, the spending money, and the after hours experience. We had a blast with our planning and we will spend as much time planning every time we go.
We hope our little guide helps you plan your visit. If you have anything to add please feel free to add it in the comments below. Good luck on your trip and be watching here for more tips from Kelly and myself.
