You don’t have the time. You don’t have the money. The recession has got you down. The litany of excuses on why golfers hesitate taking a golf getaway these days is seemingly inexhaustible.

My advice: Start planning your next golf getaway now.

Maybe these words by golf great Ben Hogan will get you going. “As you walk down the fairway of life you must smell the roses, for you only get to play one round,” said Hogan.

Photo by Ed Schmidt Jr.

So, how do you start the planning process?

First, answer these questions:

·     Whom should I go with?

·     What is my budget?

·     When is the best time to go?

·     Where have I always wanted to tee up?

·     How can I get the best rates?

·     What type of courses do I like to play?

·     What type of experience do I want in terms of other resort amenities?

·     Do I want to walk or ride a cart?

·     Do I want a resort with caddies?

·     Do I want to visit a golf destination with a variety of courses or a secluded resort?

·     Do I want to drive or fly?

·     Should I use a golf tour operator?

Obviously, the previous list is a short one just to get you started. No doubt, other questions will come to mind.

The most important component in designing a successful golf getaway is determining the type of trip theme you want to execute. Are you seeking a romantic getaway with your spouse where golf is just one of many activities you’ll pursue, or do you want a trip with your golf buddies where you’ll chase the white dimpled ball from sunrise to sundown and throw down a few brewskis afterward? Other getaway themes include family trips, where you play golf while your spouse and kids enjoy other resort activities; a golf instruction getaway, where you attend a resort golf school for an intense, multi-day program to upgrade your skill level; a walking-only golf experience at a resort that features a caddie program; and a budget trip, when the sole concern is saving money.

If the entire planning process proves to be too time-consuming and confusing, I suggest contacting a tour operator that specializes in golf excursions. Some of the best I’ve worked with previously, include: Haversham & Baker, Golfpac, PerryGolf and Myrtle Beach Golf Packages.

For more golf travel tips, check out http://www.thegolftravelguru.blogspot.com.

Photo: cogdogblog

If you’re trying to shrink the carbon footprint of your summer vacation plans this year, you’ve probably run headlong into a number of tricky transportation issues. Drive or fly? Bus or train? Economy or first class? It’s enough to make a person want to take a trip to the nearest coal-fired power plant. Alone. In a Chinese-made Hummer.

Or you could download the new “Getting There Greener” guide released by the nonprofit Union of Concerned Scientists, which tackles many of the questions plaguing would-be ethical travelers. You can even download a handy spreadsheet that ranks various transportation choices from best to worst, depending on how many travelers are going and how far a distance they plan to cover.

To get you started, here are five tips for greener travel:

1. Go Direct: Detours and stopovers use a lot of extra energy, so plan shorter, more direct routes.

2. Stay Out of the Hot Seat: Flying economy averages half the carbon footprint of a seat in first or business class.

3. Fly Solo: For single travelers and couples, a nonstop coach flight will usually burn less carbon than driving.

4. Bus is Best: Travel by bus or motor coach is almost always greener than either driving (even a hybrid) or flying.

5. Get a Trade-in: If the vehicle you own is a carbon hog, try renting a more efficient one for your journey.

What have you done to make your travel more green? Reply in our comments section, and take our travel poll.

In October, I traveled to Bucerias (a 30-minute drive north of Puerto Vallarta), Mexico, with my husband, daughter and husband’s parents. I’m a big fan of multigenerational travel as our extended family lives in Scotland, so we only see them once or twice a year. When they do come to visit, we find ourselves trying to return home from work at a decent hour, planning what to cook for dinner and thinking about weekend activities. Taking a trip together allows us all to relax, spend time catching up and hanging out, and enjoying the benefits of built-in babysitting!

Bucerias is a charming, low-key fishing town set on eight miles of gorgeous sandy beaches, which are frequented by locals on the weekend. The charming town center provides a great flea market, local art galleries, great restaurants and friendly locals. Bucerias has seen a lot of property development, with resorts and vacation homes still under construction—go now while it still holds its charm!

Casa Bella Vista, the house we rented, was gorgeous—we really wanted to pick it up and take it home with us! It was an airy three-bedroom house with a swimming pool, offering great views over the town and out to the Bay of Banderas, and situated only two blocks from the beach. The maid came a couple of times while we were there, and although there was an option to hire a chef, we decided to stock up at the nearby Mega (supermarket) or local mini mart and also try the local restaurants.

Our 2-year-old loved the swimming pool, but we did manage to extract her and the rest of the family for a few day trips. Hopping on the local AMT bus, we ventured into Puerto Vallarta and explored the old town and the Malecón boardwalk, noted for its metal statues and sand sculptures.

We also organized a couple of day trips through Vallarta Adventures. We took a family trip to Yelapa, a little village of less than a thousand people, which can only be reached by boat. The trip included a hike to the Cola de Caballo waterfall, time to relax on the sandy beaches, then snorkeling at Majahuitas cove on the way home. The next day, my husband and I left our wee one with her grandparents and embarked on an outdoor adventure in the heart of the Sierra Madre Mountains—move over James Bond! This was a thrill ride from start to finish—a speedboat trip to a secluded beach, followed by an off-road truck expedition, then a mule ride, followed by a series of zip lines through the jungle canopy, rappelling down waterfalls and plunging into pools. It was so much fun and I was most impressed with the professionalism and safety protocol of the guides.

In the evenings, we explored the restaurants of Bucerias, which were excellent. Close to our house were several expat-run restaurants including Mark's Bar and Grill (Asian/Mediterranean), Sandrinas (Greek/Mexican), Espressions (British!), and Rissos (Italian). We also enjoyed Famar (Mexican with fantastic margaritas) and authentic restaurants on the beach near the town square.

We would definitely return to Bucerias. In fact, on our last day I discovered an art gallery where you could sign up for a mosaic workshop and learn to break tile, which I’d love to do with my daughter.

If you consider a trip to Bucerias, here are some points worth noting:

1. October is the rainy season—it rained a few times in the evening, and it was quite humid.

2. People will try to sell you timeshares as soon as you get off the plane. Don’t be fooled by the promise of free trips.

3. Take bug spray—you’re next to the rainforest!