The Sims 2: Bon Voyage/Walkthrough

Sick and tired of the same old lifestyle? What your sims need is a holiday and with Bon Voyage, you can take three. Go to the beach to sun and surf, camp in the mountains or experience the nature of the far east. It's your choice.

New Features
The Sims 2: Bon Voyage brings many new features, objects, and socials to the game. Most notably is the ability to go on Vacation, and the three vacation island resorts. Beach lots can also be created.

Vacations
Sims can now book vacations to any of the vacation islands you create in the game. They can stay in hotels, campgrounds, or vacation homes which they now can buy. They can learn greetings, dances and massages, and gain mementos while they're away. There are new community lots selling exotic food at new stalls, and a few surprises in store such as the Temple of Jumbok IV and The Swashbuckling Shipwrecker.

Sims can now take photos wherever they are, and pose for them too. On the computer, they can order prints of their pictures and put them on display on a wall or on a table. By going on tours they can find secret lots where they can unlock special rewards. Even better, there is the possibility of unlocking Bigfoot, and you can lure him back home to become a playable character.

New NPCs
There are a whole ton of new non-playable characters, such as Fire Dancers, Masseuses, and the Unsavory Charlatan who attempts to pickpocket your Sims. The Tour Guide will help you around the vacation resort and let you book tours. The Bellhop will deliver room service around-the-clock and the Ghost Captain will scare your Sims silly if they dare to plunder near his pirate ship.

Other Additions
In Build Mode, you can now build Pagoda Roofs on your Far East-themed houses. You can also place objects on roofs. Clothing booths can also now be used to change in, as well as trying on clothes. There are also new turn-ons and turn-offs added to the game.

When your Sim visits a community lot, he or she can now decide who goes with them and who doesn't, rather than everyone having to go. Sims can now also invite their friends to stay a few nights as houseguests, to get to know them better. Death on community lots is also handled differently now.

Going on Vacation
The first step to going on vacation is to pick up the phone or go on the computer. Select Vacation...Book Vacation. Play around with variables such as guests and the amount of days to see the price, when you're done, pick a location and a hotel. They range from luxury hotels featuring gourmet restaurants (if Nightlife is installed) to a weathered campground where you have to catch your own food (if Seasons is installed). No matter what you choose, it's an experience you'll never forget. Alternatively you can purchase a vacation home to stay at. Simply choose Real Estate...Purchase Vacation Home from your phone or computer and select the desired home. Each place comes with two homes although you can add more.

Checking In
Checking in varies between the three accommodation types.
 * Hotels: Select the rooms you want for your sims by clicking on the doors. The nightly rate also shows up. You can even select all of them if you want. Then click on the hotel desk and select Check In. the nightly price for staying there will show up. If you no longer want a room during your stay, just click on the door again and select Unreserve Suite. You no longer have to pay for the room for the rest of the stay.
 * Campgrounds. Campgrounds are simple. Select a tent and click Check In. You now have access to all the tents for the stay and, best of all, it's free accommodation. Sure there's no room service but it doesn't prevent your sims from experiencing the wonders of nature as they rough it out.
 * Vacation Homes. Vacation homes have no checking in. When you arrive there, you're already set to go. Vacation homes function like homes away from homes but have no bills, no school and no work. Just rest and relaxation. What more could you want.

What To Do
On your memories panel, there's a new tab called Vacation Mementos. Every time you do something on vacation such as learn a new dance or try a new food, you get a memento. These should give you some idea as to what to do on vacation. There's even a memento for ordering room service. Here are some hints on how to earn mementos.
 * To learn a greeting, wait until a local greets you, you will now have gesture social. Repeat this to adept people and eventually, you'll do it like a pro.
 * To learn a dance, wait until some locals or tourists are dancing unfamiliar steps, then click on one to join in.
 * To learn a massage, click on a massage table and select Learn Massage. There's a unique massage for each vacation.
 * To win a game, select the desired activity booth such as the Mahjong table or the Logrolling station and click on the appropriate interaction, then wait until you're competing against another sim. You won't win any prizes, just the satisfaction of a job well done.

Other Stuff
Some ideas for activities not on the vacation mementos
 * Health spas. Each location has it's own health spa. Relax in the hot springs or the sauna.
 * Souvenirs. Purchase some souvenirs from the souvenir rack to display when you get. The right combination of souvenirs could even have a special effect.
 * Jewelery. Your sims can wear jewelery. For pre-created sims, go to a jewelery rack and select Buy Jewelery, then choose from the menu that appears. Your sims can then wear it when they get home.
 * Beaches. You can now place beach lots. Select the Lots and Houses bin in neighbourhood view then select Empty Lots. You now have a new beach lots menu. From there, pick a lot and place it between water and a road. When it turns green, click again and the lot is placed. There's lots to do on the beach, build a sandcastle, go swimming or simply watch the waves.

Going Home
When it's time to go home, click on the hotel desk or tent and select Check Out, then click on the phone and select End Vacation. The shuttle then comes to take your sims home. Back at home a good vacation could have some special benefits. You could be easier to talk to, experience a promotion or even get an extra want slot. As well, you can tell other sims about the vacation or share a new ability with them. There's so much to do with this new expansion pack.