How to Plan a Holiday Trip

Each year, millions of people gather their bags and set out on a holiday trip. Whether it’s to grandma’s house, a family reunion or simply a holiday getaway, these yearly trips can often be the source of dread and stress. The thought of being trapped in the car with restless children along the way or the possibility of costly flights is enough to make anyone consider staying home. 【小题1】

Plan out the route for your car trip. If you’re planning on driving to your holiday destination, a little planning can help make your trip easy and uneventful. 【小题2】 Remember, it’s likely that you won’t be the only person on the road during the holidays, and traffic is always a factor. Alternate routes or shortcuts can help reduce time spent in traffic jams and get you to your destination sooner. This information can also come in handy in case of road construction or other situations that might block your primary route.

【小题3】 Although traveling by air instead of car can be much more expensive, it can be quicker and more convenient. Start planning your trip early to take advantage of advance purchase discounts and avoid sold out flights. Many airlines become extremely busy during the holidays so booking in advance can also help ensure that you get the flights that you want. High traffic destinations such as New York, Los Angeles or Atlanta can be extremely crowded during the holidays. 【小题4】

Consider your luggage needs. If you’re traveling by car, the issue of luggage is only important with regards to the amount of room needed. Before you begin packing, think about how many people will be in your vehicle and how much room they will need to travel comfortably. This could affect the number of bags that you can take along. 【小题5】 Not only is the possibility of lost luggage an issue, but most airlines now charge extra for checked baggage.

After seeing the famous movie series Pirates of the Caribbean(《加勒比海盗》),Alexander     Marchenko，a 38­-year­   -old businessman from a small Russian village，decided to build his very own copy of the Black Pearl pirate ship.

Marchenko has traveled all over Russia,and believes that there is no other land more beautiful than his hometown.He decided to take advantage of the beautiful environment and build a hotel.

He had noticed the other restaurants and hotels in the area all looked the same way，so he tried to come up with something special that would attract visitors. He was wondering what kind of hotel he would build when the Black Pearl came into his mind. He decided to build his own Black Pearl ship. Without any ship building experience，he went online and downloaded photos of famous ships to use as guides. And he started working on it immediately. It’s been two years since he worked on his ship. Now，his own Black Pearl is starting to take shape on the Yenisei River.

The 21­meter­long vessel is made of wood produced locally,and the ship's“captain” plans to add all the tiniest details(细节)of the original Black Pearl. Right now,Marchenko is working on the interior decorations(内部装修)．He spends most of his time in the workshop,making all the little designs by hand. So far,he has spent 3.5 million rubles.

Marchenko hopes to finish the work this summer. Judged by the attention his ship is getting in its current state; he believes that upon completion，tourists will flock to see his wooden wonder.

I used to be the most determined resolution-maker. Even as a child, I was always goal-centered and loved the feeling of accomplishing things, and every January 1st, I would sit down and write out my resolutions (目标) for the upcoming year. And what resolutions they were! I always picked big goals, like: In the New Year, I will lose 50 pounds! And run a marathon! And study scripture (圣经) every day!

The problem? I’d start out strong, but by February or March, I’d be out of willpower and I’d slide quietly back into my old habits. Every winter, I’d feel guilty and ashamed, looking back at all of the amazing things... I think one of my biggest problems with New Years resolutions was wanting to “dream big” but not having the skills and ability to do those things.

Now I take the opposite approach I’m all about the little goals. First, little goals are easy to set. Instead of saying I’m going to run a marathon, I’ve decided I’m going to run 20 minutes three days a week. Second, little goals are easier to accomplish. Every time I check one of my mini goals off my list, I feel a burst of pride and accomplishment. It’s a great feeling, and I don’t have to wait until the end of the year to enjoy it!

The other great thing about making small goals instead of resolutions is that you can build small goals on top of each other, adding the achievements together. For instance, recently I decided to make sure I ate five servings of fruits and vegetables a day. After a few months, this became a solid habit.