Happy hump day!  Lists, and toys, and tips – oh my…

• Going overseas? How you pay for your purchases can determine your exchange rate. This article from the Seattle Times gives you important info that could save you hundreds of dollars.
• Finding unique and authentic mementos to bring home is a highlight of many trips.  But many items sold overseas will be promptly confiscated by Customs; find out exactly what in this article from Conde Nast Traveler.
• Mommies with Style wrote about Buddie Packs, travel packs created for kids to keep the little buggers occupied.  You can choose gender and age range; they’re not anything you couldn’t put together yourself, but aren’t you busy enough?
• Air travel these days is a royal pain.  Doing it with kids does not make it more pleasant, so anything that makes it easier is a godsend. Over at Aviation, a list of the Top 10 Easiest U.S. Airports to Get to – all in large cities that can offer you a luxury vacation.
• If you’re into celebs, and into luxury, and into green (we mean eco-minded lifestyle, not cash), then you’ll be interested to hear that Leo DiCaprio is collaborating with the folks at Four Seasons on a green hotel in Belize.  Read more at Luxist…

The Beach House, copyright Escapevillas.com

The Beach House in Manuel Antonio is situated steps away from the beach and a short stroll from the shops, restaurants and nightlife of Manuel Antonio. (more…)

If you haven’t been to Panama yet, you really should put it on your list of places to visit soon. A construction boom rivaling Miami’s is evident throughout the city, and has moved out to areas on the Pacific coastline as well. What’s more, Panama City ‘s cosmopolitan atmosphere – complete with excellent restaurants and sophisticated boutiques – hasn’t come about at the price of authenticity, as in Cancun and other Mexican resort areas.

Now there are those who will tell you you must see the canal. We are not one of them. We have admittedly been to Panama and had an excellent time and the closest we came to the canal was viewing it in the twilight as we sped along the Amador Causeway. But if you feel you must see the Canal – and drag your children along to ooh and aah at it with you – then there’s a book you might want to drop on your 9 to 12 year old before arriving, aptly named The Panama Canal by Rachel Lynette. It does have a textbook feel to it, but will give your youngster – and perhaps you – the lowdown on how that task of gargantuan proportions actually got completed. (more…)