Can you remember when was the last time you had a wonderful and relaxing vacation? If it’s been a while, you may want to consider taking another vacation sooner rather than later. Why? Because vacations and holidays are playing an increasingly important role in people’s mental and physical health.
Recent research has shown that if people go on vacation every year, they can reduce the risk of developing serious illness. Stress in both the workplace and at home can affect a person’s mental and physical health in many ways.
Whatever relaxing vacations you want to take, from all-inclusive resort vacations or exotic beach vacations, to luxury cruises and cruise tours, you can dramatically reduce your risk of heart attacks and many other life-threatening medical conditions. The catch is that you need to take at least one vacation each year. Just as the cumulative effect of not taking vacations can make you sick over time, conversely, taking two to three weeks of vacation each year can help keep you healthy.
It seems that the stress of our daily lives caused by a number of factors may be contributing to this phenomenon. As a result of this recent economic downturn, the workplace is probably the biggest reason or factor.
One of the main reasons this happens is this electronic age we live in, where we’re so tied to our jobs that we feel like we’re at work even when we’re not even there. We are literally just a phone call, email, or text away from work.
Many people feel like they’re on a speeding treadmill and can’t seem to get off. They may be working as hard as they can to try to succeed in their own business, or they may be constantly worrying about how long their job will last in these times of recession. It is worry and uncertainty that can consume everything and make people seriously ill over time.
This accounts for tremendous stress, sleep problems, depression, and a host of other stress-related medical conditions. Even not eating properly or drinking too much coffee or alcohol can make the problem worse.
It seems obvious that many families have had to reduce, or even completely eliminate, vacations due to the cost of travel, although the costs of many vacations have actually come down in recent years.
However, some vacations may be less expensive than others. Here are some holidays that may not break the bank.
Perhaps the most relaxing vacation you can take is a luxury cruise. It can also be the best value for your vacation travel dollar for several reasons.
First of all, you basically live on a floating hotel complex. You’ll enjoy all the benefits and comforts of hotels and resorts, all combined into a neat, affordable and hassle-free vacation. If you have never been on a cruise before, maybe now is the time to live this great experience.
Another great benefit is that you are in control of how many activities you actually want to participate in. Or you can just kick back and relax on a comfortable lounger in the wonderfully warm sun and take a refreshing dip in the pool next to you. You don’t even have to get up for another drink or some delicious snacks, as the waiters on deck are always on hand. What an amazing stress-free vacation!
You don’t even have to unpack and repack your travel luggage over and over again as you sail to ports located in different cities or towns along the way. All you have to do is enjoy all the comforts on board.
The only other cost to consider is a cheap flight to the port where you can board the cruise of your dreams.
However, if you live reasonably close to a cruise line port, you can probably drive there and save a significant amount of money. Even if you have to spend the night in a budget motel halfway to your cruise line’s port, it’s probably still cheaper than airfare, especially for a couple or family.
Check out this list below to determine if you live near any of the following cruise line port cities in the US. The list is in alphabetical order for the East and West coasts of the United States.
Cruise ports on the East and Gulf coasts of the United States. in alphabetical order they are Baltimore, MD, Boston, MA, Bayonne (Cape Liberty), NJ, Charleston, SC, Fort Lauderdale, FL, Galveston, TX, and Houston, TX, Jacksonville, FL, Miami, FL, Mobile, AL, New Orleans, LA. New York City, NY, Norfolk, VA, Philadelphia, PA, Port Canaveral, FL, Port Everglades, FL, and Tampa, FL.
The ports of the west coast of the United States. in alphabetical order they are Astoria, OR, Los Angeles, Long Beach, San Diego and San Francisco, CA, Seattle, WA, Seward and Whittier, AK.
And in the aloha state of Hawaii, the ports of Honolulu and Maui.
For Canadians, there are only two main cruise ports. They are located in Montreal, Quebec, in the east, and in Vancouver, BC, on the west coast.
All-inclusive vacations at many wonderful resorts in places like Mexico and the Caribbean are also among the best value for your money in vacation travel. These vacations include your food and beverages.
Other money-saving travel deals are cheap vacation packages that usually cover your flight and hotel or resort accommodations. However, food and drinks are usually not included.
Taking a relaxing two to three week vacation every year that you are employed in the workforce is one of the best recipes to help you maintain good health.