hotels articles

Considering buying a second home or vacation home? Great idea! You’re about to join one of the fastest growing trends in the United States and the world. And, if it’s a condo hotel unit that you’re thinking of, then you have a unique opportunity to get in on the ground floor of a very exciting, new type of real estate investment, one that shows tremendous potential for the future.ÂÂ

Why are condo-hotel units garnering such rapid appeal as vacation homes? Take a look at this list of the top ten reasons, and then we’ll go into more detail on each one.

Top Ten Reasons to Buy a Condo-Hotel Unit

1. Vacation “free” any time.
2. Enjoy Luxury Accommodations.
3. Avoid maintenance headaches.
4. Secure your place in the sun.
5. Generate rental income.
6. Get in on the bottom of the condo-hotel craze.
7. Gain appreciation potential.
8. Secure easy mortgage financing.
9. Save on taxes.
10. Diversify your investments.

1. Vacation “free” anytime.
When you own a condo hotel unit, you can use it as a vacation home anytime, unlike timeshares when you can only use your property one or two weeks out of the year.ÂÂ

2. Enjoy luxury accommodations.
Most condo hotels are first-class, extremely luxurious properties with numerous amenities. They are operated by the best, most respected names in the hospitality business such as Marriott, Hilton, Ritz Carlton, Starwood and Sonesta.

3.  Avoid maintenance headaches.
Unlike owning a second house or a condominium, when you own a condo-hotel unit, you never have to worry about repairs and maintenance. The management company handles it all for you. You enjoy all the fun without any maintenance headaches.

4.  Secure your place in the sun.
Places like Miami Beach, Fort Lauderdale and Key Biscayne are completely built up. Oceanfront property is a very limited commodity. If you want to know that you’ll always have a place to come for recreation and even retirement, the time to buy is now.

5. Generate rental income.
When you’re not using your condo hotel unit, you can allow it to go back into the hotel’s rental program. The hotel management company is responsible for renting it out for you. The revenue is usually split evenly after some adjustment for expenses. Part of the beauty of condo-hotel unit ownership is that you never have the bother of finding tenants or dealing with them.

6. Get in on the bottom of the condo-hotel craze.
The concept of condo-hotels as vacation homes is fairly new and not very well known…yet. However, every indication is that condo hotels are here to stay. Already the success seen in South Florida where the concept originated is now spreading to places like Las Vegas and Orlando.

Investors who take the plunge early have an opportunity to get in before word spreads and more buyers come on the market and drive up prices. Furthermore, unlike timeshares which are virtually impossible to unload, the resale market for condo-hotel units looks exceptionally promising.

7. Gain appreciation potential.
Those same baby boomers who drove up housing prices from Los Angeles, California to Burlington, Vermont are now entering the second home and retirement home market in vast numbers. In addition, the post-boomers are getting in on second home ownership. They see second homes as the newest symbol of status, the best way to reduce stress, and a direct route to quality family time.ÂÂ

And let’s not forget international buyers. The British, Mexicans, Latin Americans and Canadians as well as affluent citizens from many other countries are shopping the U.S. for second homes.

So when thinking about appreciation potential for a second home, gaze into that crystal ball and you’ll see that it clearly reveals a rapidly growing number of people with the desire, income, wealth and borrowing power for acquiring second homes. There’s little doubt that in the future the prices of properties that are located in popular areas like Miami Beach, Key Biscayne and Fort Lauderdale will make today’s prices look like bargains.

8. Secure easy mortgage financing.
Lenders like the condo hotel concept. They are ready, willing and able to make mortgages on condo hotel units as second homes or vacation homes.ÂÂ

9. Save on taxes.
Owning a second home opens an array of possibilities for additional federal tax deductions and tax-sheltered (or tax-free) income. In some cases, you can even reduce or eliminate various property taxes, income taxes and other fees levied by state and local governments. Naturally, you should discuss your own situation and tax-saving possibilities with competent tax counsel.ÂÂ

10. Diversify your investments.
The ups and downs of today’s stock market is dizzying. With strong appreciation of second-home prices expected in many locations, you might consider diversifying your investment portfolio with real estate ownership-especially real estate that will add happiness to your life. If the stock market drops, your second home will not only help preserve your net worth, it will give you a fun place to vacation.

Number One: A cruise agent works on your behalf, but the cruise lines pay them commission to handle the booking process on its behalf.

The cruise lines expect the booking agent to serve as the point of contact between them and you. This is great for the cruise lines. By dealing with professionals rather than millions upon millions of individual customers the cruise lines increase their own productivity.

There’s More.

Because of the travel planner’s desire to have your business, s/he is willing to do more, a lot more, than just the booking process.

Free enterprise and competition working for you.

If you are to have a successful cruise, what the agent does before, as well as after, you cruise is very, very important.

At the beginning, your cruise agent should do a profile of you. In other words, a good agent should gather lot of facts and information about you. After you return home, your agent should gather facts about the experiences you had.

It is the actions of the travel agent in providing assistance to you based on the facts and information gathered that are the real reasons for you to use their services.

A travel professional has many, many resources and contacts to assist you. Avoid the hassles. Allow someone else to lessen your burden.

You should not, however, expect an agent to provide you with services worth thousands of dollars if they only receive a hundred dollars in commissions.

This is overstating the facts to make a point.

A weekend trip or a heavily discounted trip does not make much commission. Shore excursions and other added features help to increase commissions, but…

…your real value to a travel agent is that of a repeat customer.

A good agent in turn will provide the necessary extra, extra services to keep you as a customer. That is their real value to you.

Number Two:

KNOWLEDGE of the product line is the second great reason to use a cruise agent.

The product line of course refer to the many cruise lines and ships that want your business. The product mix is always changing. However, a professional planner knows where and how to quickly acquire the necessary information.

Number Three:

The third great reason to use a professional cruise agent is EXPERIENCE. It is through their own experience that they can truly prepare you to enjoy your experience.

The three elements of Free Services, Knowledge, and Experience are an unbeatable combination to provide you with a powerful cruise experience from the planning stage through your meeting after you return home.

You are in safe hands with a professional cruise agent.

Set your Sails, and have a fantastic time!

If you’re planning a Caribbean cruise from June through November you should know that you will be cruising during hurricane season. Why would you choose to cruise during hurricane season? Price is one reason. Typically your best deals are during the fall months from late August to mid December.

Statistically speaking the chances that your particular cruise is going to be affected by a hurricane are slim. However, it does happen. Cruising during these months requires you to be flexible. Itineraries can be disrupted by even the mere threat of a storm. Usually the cruise lines whose Eastern Caribbean itinerary appears to be in the path of the storm will simply switch over to the Western Caribbean schedule and vice versa. If the cruise line can’t find a port then the ship spends those days at sea. You will not get a refund for the missed ports of call as the cruise lines reserve the right to change the itinerary. The cruise lines strategy has always been to avoid a storm and they have specific hurricane storm emergency response plans to help them do this.

Best thing to do if your cruising during this time is to plan ahead. Arrive at the port of embarkation at least one day prior to departure in case difficulties arise, especially if your cruising out of Florida. Also prepare for the possibility that you might arrive home a day or two late. The ship will wait out at sea if the hurricane is threatening Florida.

Buy insurance, whether through the cruise line or an independent provider and make sure the policy covers disruption in case of weather-related events.

If the cruise is actually canceled you will get a refund. However, it’s very rare for the cruise lines to cancel a cruise.

Cruise and Travel expert specializing in Honeymoon Vacations.

You don’t need to have a bundle of money for you to enjoy what others are taking great pleasure in – like going on a cruise. All you need to have is the right timing and motivation to get into something that you deserve – a much-awaited break from the everyday distress you’re encountering.

There are things you need to keep in mind as you plan your cruise.

Shop Around

Nowadays the internet has been a good venue which offers different types of information such as directing people to sites where they can find cheap cruises. Do not jump into the first cheap cruise package you come across, instead bookmark it for further review and evaluation.

Apart from using the “cheap cruise” keyword when you run the search engine, why not try “affordable cruise.” You may also key-in other alternative words which are synonymous to the word “cheap”.

The internet is not the only option. You can also opt to look over the yellow pages and call travel companies within or nearby your area. Try to let them orient you of their different cheap cruise packages. Additionally, you can ask for friend’s referral, especially if they have been into a discounted cruise.

Type of Cheap Cruise Package

Most cheap cruise packages are being offered during the following circumstances:

- Off-peak season. There are months which are less traveled. During these months, most travel companies reduce their traveling fees to draw people’s attention in considering cruising.

- Cruises which are repositioned. Due to higher demand to a certain place, there are travel companies which reposition their destination. By doing so, they keep the prices low.

- Introductory Cruises. Most travel companies which introduces their cruise ships give discounts to anyone who wish to go out for a cruise.

Getting Ahead: Ready to Pack

Once you are done and you have carefully chosen the most suitable cheap cruise package for you, it is time to consider the things you will need for your much-awaited vacation.

Most travelers go wrong when they try to pack, instead of saving money; they tend to overindulge on some unimportant things such as:

- Clothes. A pair of new attire for your cruise is enough. You can use your existing clothes to use for your cruise. By doing so, you will be able to cut off your expenses. These days, the prices of clothes are getting expensive every time you visit the mall.

- Other belongings. It is best to keep your belongings countable and easy to carry. Choose bags or shoes that most likely will be utilized. Check with your travel company the itinerary so you know what important belongings to pack.

- Credit cards. You are in a budget cruise. Bringing credit cards will tempt you to splurge on unnecessary items. Hence, it is recommended that you bring cash instead of credit cards. By doing so, you will be able to properly allocate your funds depending on the available money on hand.

Let no one and not even a thing ruin something beautiful, like taking a cruise. It is not money that can keep you away from getting what you want. When you have the eagerness, the motivation and proper mindset then you can overcome any barriers. Adding with it, are careful planning and research so that you will obtain your goal.

Cruise to the Galapagos Islands on the boat of your choice

Discovered by accident, the Galapagos Islands are home to some of the most unspoiled flora and fauna in the world. 600 miles from the Ecuadorian coast, they are almost enchanted islands. A cruise to the Galapagos Islands is the best way to enjoy their charms, and Magic Globe can offer a range of vessels for your trip:

The Mistral – Motor Yacht
The Alta – Yacht
Isabela II – Cruise Ship
The Coral I – 18 cabin motor launch
Sky Dancer – diving vessel

The wonders of a cruise to the Galapagos Islands include meeting a variety of wildlife, such as sea lions, iguanas and the giant land tortoises. Add to that a myriad of wonderful birds, and nature lovers will find themselves unable to choose which island they love the best. Fortunately, with a cruise to the Galapagos, you not only get to see the islands in full, but also to find out more about them, by stopping off at visitor and information centres as well as the best swimming and snorkeling spots.

Call Magic Globe on 0870 011 0270 to find out more about your cruise to the Galapagos Islands.

Cruise to the Galapagos in comfort and style

If you are thinking of booking a cruise to the Galapagos Islands, you’ll want to be sure that you’ll be comfortable and well-fed whilst you’re away. All the boats used by Magic Globe offer comfortable, well-maintained accommodation, with en-suite bathrooms, bar and dining facilities. Larger boats have swimming pools or hot-tubs, and there are sun-bathing decks on all boats. The bars and kitchens are well staffed, and food is fresh, healthy and exciting.

Beware! Cruises are not “all-inclusive”! While family cruise vacations can be the perfect family vacation, most of the cruise lines have policies that, if you are not aware of them, will shatter your vacation budget.

As a general rule, most all of theses policies regard charges or prices for merchandise and services. You need to be conscious of them to keep your family cruise vacations budget from blowing up.

Here are eight that I bring to your attention:

In-Cabin Child Care
You want to go out as a couple and leave your kids in the room? Nearly all of the cruise companies do offer in-cabin babysitting, but generally on a restricted basis and for a charge, usually in the neighborhood around $8 per hour with a two child maximum. Also, there are only a limited amount of babysitters, so it is important that you make reservations for these sitters as soon as possible.

Programs for Kids Under 3
Generally speaking, there are no formal kid’s activities for kids under 3 years of age and they generally are prohibited from entering the Kid’s Program areas. Much of this has to do with health rules and hygiene, but be aware that you will have to pay for sitters.

Sodas
Almost all of the cruise companies charge for sodas. Most have an “unlimited sodas” card or program available for purchase for those under 18. The cost is generally somewhere around $4.50 to $5.00 per day plus a 15 percent tip. By itself, this alone could blow family cruise vacations budget if you do not know about it.

Children’s Activities While the Ship Is In Port
Most of the family cruise vacations companies make you pay for any children’s activities services when they are in port. And in many cases, the kids prefer the activities on ship more than what is planned in the ports of call. Yes, the cruise lines know you will get out your wallet to make your kids happy, but it is an added expense that you need to budget for.

Slumber Parties and Afternoon Socials
Many of the cruise lines ask you to pay for afternoon parties and such. For instance, Celebrity charges $6.00 per hour per child for the evening Slumber Party from 10:00 P.M. - 1:00 A.M. daily. The same company charges the same rate for children ages 3-12 years old to participate in their Afternoon Party from 12:00 P.M. - 2:00 P.M. on days in port.

Excursion Tours and Trips
For the parents and adults on board, it is important to know that excursion trips generally have large extra fees to pay if you want to participate. Understand also that most of these tours or trips are very good and worth the price. But use this rule for your family cruise vacations budget: If you get off the ship, be prepared to pay. In some cases, there is a possibility that you could save money if you plan your own tour through a travel agent or a third party tour company while in a port rather than the ones the cruise companies have arranged.

Port Fees and Additional Fees
Also, when booking family cruise vacations, make sure that the total that you are quoted includes all port fees and any additional taxes or fees. Many of these could run as much as the cost of the cruise itself.

Tips
Be prepared to add a 15% tip to just about everything that you eat, drink, or do. Remember that many employees of the cruise lines work for tips, so reward good service with god tips. And budget for that, too.

While these nine items are not terrible, good vacationers need to be aware of these costs associated with a cruise so that they can be managed.

The bottom line is this: If you know about the costs ahead of time, you can budget for them early. You want the memories of your trip to last a lifetime, not the bills paying for it.

The Alaskan cruise will take you into the wilderness, allowing you to see some of the most beautiful landscapes and oceans out there. The good news is that there are several cruise lines that now offer these cruises and more and more people are falling in love with what Alaska has to offer. To help you to get started with your planning, here are some tips that you may need to get you started.

· When can you actually travel to Alaska? Although winter time is not the best time to travel, you can visit anytime you would like to. The Alaskan cruises, though, usually run from May to September when the waters are easily traveled.

· Which cruise line should I use? There are many cruise lines that run through this line. It is your best bet to consider which fits your budget as well as your specific entertainment and travel goals. The Alaskan lines offer many wonderful choices in entertainment and sight seeing even some of which offer specific choices.

· When should I plan my vacation? It is best to start planning early, in the off seasons. Many people make reservations for their Alaskan cruise well in advance especially if you are traveling in the summer months when space is limited. If you go in May or in September, crowds are less likely yet you still should plan ahead.

The Alaskan cruise offers many adventures. It is not just a boat ride into the cold waters. You will find many enjoyable things to do and to see in Alaska, all of which will allow you to enjoy the things that interest you. When planning your Alaskan cruise, make sure to check out several opportunities so that you can find the best part for you. You can even do this on the web.

In light of the unrelenting spate of terrorist threats and attacks targeting the vulnerable aviation industry since 9/11, security agencies across the world have embarked on a war footing with radical steps taken to enforce stringent security measures to ensure safety of passengers especially on international flights. With the unearthing of the latest, most heinous plot to blow up several passenger airliners in the UK resulting in the deaths of thousands of innocents, this resolve to beef up security has only been further heightened leaving no room for any lapse that can be taken advantage of by unscrupulous terrorists.

This amounts to clamping down on seemingly trivial items such as beverages and lotions. With the hitherto innocuous hand baggage being presently the most used, convenient tool in the wicked scheme of things, governments and airport officials have now laid down strict guidelines with regard to carry-on luggage in passenger aircraft. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has specifically listed certain requirements and procedures to be complied with and the co-operation of governments the world over has been sought in the implementation of the same. These new regulations, which apply specifically to flights operating in and out of the US, can be stated as follows:

From the prohibition of sharp instruments such as knives and box-cutters post 9/11, passengers have now been prohibited from bringing on board in their carry on luggage liquids and semi-liquids of the consistency of gels, creams and lotions that have been shown to be potentially explosive. Even ordinary beverages with soda and residue have made it to the banned list creating a quite a stir earlier unheard of. However, exceptions to the case have been made with permission granted to such items as baby formula for a traveling baby and essential medicines on condition that the name marked on the prescription matches that on the ticket. The banned substances must be checked in with the passenger’s baggage.

Most Airline companies, in keeping with stringent measures have stipulated that all passengers have to arrive at the airport for security scan and check as early as possible irrespective of whether it is for a flight on an international or domestic route. The present tense atmosphere prevalent ensures that every passenger and his hand-baggage, which should be kept to, a ‘minimum’ is subject to intense scrutiny prior to clearance to board an aircraft. While the procedure adopted for the same may seem tedious and time consuming, most passengers are today unfazed and prefer the heightened security to ensure their safe travel across the oceans.

On the flip side, recent trends over the last month has seen paranoia creep into the minds of officials in the US and UK, a result of which innocent persons of Asian ethnicity or the infamous brown skins are being sidelined for special scrutiny. Only just a couple of days ago, a young, pregnant Pakistani woman was detained for allegedly carrying “suspicious” material. Not before flights were grounded and much inconvenience was caused to the hapless young woman was the material proved a hoax on further inspection at the laboratories. Such incidents have become commonplace with many intermittent delays in flights and one only wonder whether or not air travel will ever again be a pleasurable experience.

As a beach lover, the prospect of traveling to a Caribbean island without beaches put this island on the bottom of my vacation list. But, over time the prospect of spotting humpback whales, walking through gingerbread house villages, and interacting with locals who have a perpetual sunny disposition eventually led us to spend four days on the tiny island of Saba.

Getting to Saba involved flying out of Miami to Dutch St. Maarten, and then taking a small plane to Saba. My husband wanted to take the ferry, however I wanted to experience landing on one of the smallest runways in the world.

The view of Saba from St. Maarten was of a large, cloudy mountainous island in the near distance. As the plane approached the island, the clouds seemed to lift, and before us was a giant green mountain with a halo of white clouds over head. This green giant mountain appeared to have no opening for a landing strip, and on the coastline, another amazing site - Not a Beach to be Found!

Then suddenly the plane started descending directly into the mountain, and the majority of our fellow passengers literally gasped in unison - I was speechless. The plane then made a sharp turn, hit the breaks extremely hard, and all we could see on our decent was the green mountain, and huge, ragged cliffs on both sides. The skill of the pilot can only be commended as we slowed down just in time before running out of runway. As my husband and I gained our composure, he gave me one of those dirty looks, and I mentally made plans to cancel our flight back, and instead take the ferry back to St. Maarten.

Stepping foot on Saba at the airport was awesome. I was still wondered how in the world we dropped into this green mountain, when our cab driver approached smiling broadly. There are only three types of transportation on Saba, hitch hiking, taxis or car rental. This is one of the few places in the world where hitch hiking is perfectly legal. There are approximately ten miles of concrete roads which are secured to the mountainside with stone walls, and we passed many hitch hikers. Saba is known as a nature, and eco-tourist destination, with plenty of hiking trails, and over 25 excellent diving sites.

I liked the simplicity of Saba. It’s located on just five square miles, and the only road on the island is aptly named “The Road.” There are four mountainside villages, and exactly ten feet of concrete road around the entire island. Five miles seems small for an island, but the more interesting fact is that the topography of the island is vertical, rising to 2,855 feet.

The locals of any island set it apart, and on Saba the locals are extremely happy. They live in quaint, colorful gingerbread houses, with very neat, tidy gardens. Saba is one of the cleanest places in the world. You will not find litter of any kind here, and everything seems to be in its place. Each village is filled with the same gingerbread replica, the only difference being color of the house, and garden display. The island is surrounded by coconut, banana and mango trees, and you often imagine that you are in a true gingerbread fairyland.

As one of the local women told me, “My garden is my life, it is an expression of who lives in this house, and it makes me extremely happy to wake up each day and see my works.” I could feel her pride as she took me for a stroll through her tropical garden of hibiscus, oleander, orchids and bougainvillea. She invited me in to her gingerbread cottage, and everything was just as neat inside as out.

On one of the coffee tables was a bowl of huge cashews, and I commented on the size, and how much I loved them. We talked for over an hour, and upon leaving she asked me to wait, and then went into the kitchen. She returned with a whole sack of cashews. Upon seeing my surprise, she went on to say that while cashews cost a lot where I come from, they grow them by the bushel on Saba.

As you interact with the locals, you find they are well read, and many have traveled extensively. In fact, my fondest memories of Saba are my conversations with local residents. They love to talk about their islands history, world history, current world events, nature, and fishing. After they meet you, they are also inquisitive about your culture, and views on life. They love the fact their island is basically unknown in the Caribbean chain, and the low tourism numbers keep the island in pristine shape. While they are gracious to visitors, they do not want to see their island turn into a commercial enterprise.

In reality, there are few accommodations on the island of Saba, and they have no plans on the drawing board for more hotels or other development.

The island men are hard working farmers and fisherman, who take great pride in their island, and the preservation of its nature. The island women have been known worldwide for their intricate patterns called Saba Lace. I knew about this history of the lace, but could not resist a proud, elderly woman retelling the tale.

The lace industry started on Saba in a very interesting way. Back in the 1800’s the woman islanders decided to promote their business to the U.S. and other capitals around the world. They came up with the great idea of writing down the addresses of companies from the shipping labels off of packages and shipments sent to the island. They continually wrote each and every company about their island lace product (including samples), and eventually they became a global enterprise.

We stayed at Juliana’s, a small 12 room inn on the Windward side of the island. This was the perfect location, and was within a few minutes walk to some of the best restaurants on the island, a wonderful spa, hiking trails, and a museum.

Our accommodation was far more than I expected, and offered a most spectacular ocean view and a romantic hammock for two on the balcony. The staff was more than accommodating, and went beyond the service I’ve paid for in five star hotels. When I commented on the service to the manager, he simply stated it was their job to get to know their guests, and from that knowledge anticipate their every need.

I had never seen a humpback whale, and had planned this trip in March to time with the arrival of the humpbacks. Sadly to say, I never got to witness the humpback in person, but you could hear the strange mating calls. One of the locals took us out in his boat, put a monitor in the water, and we could hear the clicking sounds - but no sighting. Another tourist staying at our inn was also on the two day quest for whale sightings. On the third day I decided to go hiking, and of course she goes out again, and comes back with wonderful pictures of the humpbacks.

As I headed up the stone steps to Mount Scenery, the highest point at 2,854 feet, I had no idea I was missing my humpback whale sighting opportunity. The staff at the inn packed me a wonderful box lunch, and one of the cleaning women gave me a heavy sweater. She explained that the summit could be quite cold on certain days.

Signs along the stone step path way describe the different types of plants such as elephant ears, orchids, begonias, palms and other tropical plants. To be honest, half way thorough the climb I was ready to stop because my feet really hurt, but the group pushed me on. When we finally reached the summit, the views, packed lunch and sweater were all well worth it. The trip down was only relieved by a well conceived reservation made that morning for a massage at the spa.

By the time our fourth day on the island ended, I felt sad about leaving this gingerbread fairyland. My husband, who had thoroughly enjoyed himself with the local men and their story telling, remarked that he couldn’t believe I was sad leaving an island with no beach. Well, to be fair to the island of Saba, that is not exactly true.

Saba does have one beach, and that’s another fairyland story. Well’s Bay Beach is a seasonal beach, that appears only once a year, for a brief period in the late spring. It’s called the “Disappearing Beach“, and people actually flock to this place once a year, and rejoice in strands of course black sand.

When one of the locals took me to the place where the beach appears, I didn’t have the heart to tell him that this unsightly, rocky cliff where strands of black sand appear once a year is just another Saba type fantasy. As a traveler who has sunned on the finest beaches in the Caribbean, I would not be caught dead fighting over strands of course black sand for one day. However, returning so much of the kindness I had been shown on the island, I just smiled and stated that it was a pity I had not planned my vacation for the once a year disappearing beach event.

Whether you’re piloting a 40-foot sailboat or a canoe, the United States Coast Guard requires that every boat carry certain safety equipment. The equipment is not expensive or hard to find and may save your life in an emergency. Boaters who carry the standard safety equipment are statistically far more likely to survive a boating emergency than those who don’t.

The Coast Guard requires that there be a personal flotation device for each person present on the boat. Although the Coast Guard does not mandate that the personal flotation device actually be worn, some state laws require them to be worn at all times when the boat is underway by children under a certain age. Most reputable marinas will be able to provide you with information on applicable state laws regarding personal flotation devices. Additionally, if a boat is more than 16 feet in length a personal flotation device that can be thrown into the water, like a life ring, is required by the Coast Guard.

Every boat, of all sizes, must have a whistle or horn. This noisemaking device serves to warn other boats of your presence and to use as a distress signal in case of emergency. Boats larger than 39.4 feet must carry both a bell and a whistle. The whistle must be able to be heard at a distance of one half a nautical mile. The bell must be at least 7.87 inches in diameter.

Visual distress signals for night time use, such as emergency flares, are required on all boats traveling coastal waters, the Great Lakes, and any connecting body of water that is more than two miles wide. Larger boats are required to carry a daytime visual signal as well. Besides flares, other visual distress signals include flags, flashlights, water dye markers, and smoke signals.

Boats larger than 26 feet must carry a Coast Guard-approved fire extinguisher. Boats with no motors such as canoes or row boats and boats less than 26 feet that don’t have permanent fuel tanks are not required to carry a fire extinguisher.

The Coast Guard recommends, but does not require additional safety items. These include a blanket, oars in case the motor is disabled, a bucket for bailing and a first aid kit. Other useful items include rain ponchos and a tarp or plastic garbage back to keep yourself and your boat dry in a storm.

Finally, the Coast Guard recommends filing a plan with a responsible party before you leave so that there is at least one person on land who knows where you plan to be.