travel

Packing Tips For Your Italian Vacation

2009-12-24T16:56:00.000-08:00

What am I going to Wear? Will undoubtedly be at the top of your thoughts once you book your trip to Italy.

After over 30 years of wrestling with this dilemma, here's my advice:

Think simple.

Italian women dress stylishly without a lot of fuss. Color coordinate, be neat, and all shall be well. Also, remember that the days of porters scurrying to help travelers carry their luggage are long gone, so over packing will end up being a drag on your trip. You can always hand wash, or get to a laundry or dry cleaner while you're there. Plus, what's the hardship in having to buy extra clothes or shoes in Italy?

Don't pack:

- Your hairdryer: Even budget hotels have them.

- Spike heels: They get stuck in the cobblestones.

- Shorts: You'll feel odd unless you're biking or on a beach.

- Sneakers: Meaning your gym shoes or white sneakers. That said comfortable shoes are very important, as you'll be doing lots of walking. Check out Ecco or Arches for good styles. Rubber soles are best for hill towns, where leather slips on the slopes.

Do pack:

- An umbrella: To always carry with you on "iffy" weather days. You'll regret having to buy one from eager street vendors who jack up the price the moment the sky opens.

- Tissues: To double as toilet paper. There will inevitably be places that are lacking.

- Band Aids: In case of foot blisters.

- Travel-sized toiletries: This is the stuff that can really add weight, so bring only what you need. Hotels generally supply shampoo, conditioner, and body lotion.

- A lightweight duffel bag: To fill with souvenirs for your return trip.

- A copy of your passport, credit card numbers, and toll-free numbers to call in case of credit card loss. Give another copy and your itinerary to someone who can easily be reached, so they can be sent to you if necessary. Before you go, call your bank and credit card companies to give them a heads up, as in these days of high security, they may block your card if they aren't forewarned about your foreign spending.

Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Susan_Van_Allen

Rajasthan Tour Packages

2009-12-24T16:55:00.000-08:00

In the tourism map of India, Rajasthan is considered as a royal state, which is gifted with glorious history, culture, art, hospitality, beautiful landscapes, exotic flora and fauna, hill stations, lovely lakes and of course the royal grandeur. The myriad tourist attraction and places of this state entices a large number tourist from all over the world to take a Rajasthan India tour to explore its extra ordinary beauty. Indeed, Rajasthan India tour is the complete package for an amazing vacation to cherish the holiday moments for lifetime. Rajasthan tour packages offer you to explore magnificent cities like Jaipur, Jaisalmer, Udaipur, Jodhpur and many more. These cities are dotted with wonderful temples, beautiful palaces, frescoed havelis, fascinating forts, lovely lakes and many other charming tourist attractions.

There are verities of tour packages associated with Rajasthan India tour, which can be covered through the Golden Triangle Tour Packages, Rajasthan forts and palaces tour and Rajasthan Wild Life Tour. A tourist can see numerous attractive and huge heritage sites of Indian history in Rajasthan by availing the Rajasthan tour packages. Rajasthan boasts of massive and beautiful forts and palaces along with natural beauty of Thar Desert. The royal charm of pink city of Jaipur, sand dunes of Jaisalmer and many other heritage destinations of this state such as Bikaner, Mandawa, Pushkar and Kota provide you some awesome experience of your lifetime where you will definitely enjoy these valueless glimpses.

Jaipur, which is the capital city of the state, is popularly known as Pink City of India is the gateway for Rajasthan India tour. In Jaipur, you can visit all three forts of this city namely- the Amber, the Jaigarh and the Nahargarh. You will also visit other charming sights of Jaipur like the Hawa Mahal- Palace of winds, the City Square & Palace, and Albert hall museum. Evening of Jaipur is quite lovely & you will enjoy much to watch it. Similarly, the City of Lakes i.e. Udaipur is other fascinating destination in the state. Tourist certainly gets wonderful memories of their trip to Rajasthan, that keep them cherished throughout the life.

Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Monia_Puneyani

A Chance For the Irish to Know Ireland

2009-12-24T16:54:00.000-08:00

Staycation is the new buzzword in Irish tourism circles and the great hope for the industry in 2010. A multitude of surveys have thrown up reams of data that all lead to the conclusion that Irish people are going to holiday in Ireland next year. A stay at home vacation has been abbreviated to a staycation. Instead of the sunny Costas of Spain or the delights of the long haul destinations like Barbados and Mauritius, Irish people will spend their holiday time and money in Ireland in 2010.

The affluence of the last 15 years has meant that the wonderful sights and attractions of Ireland are not actually known to many younger Irish people in the 30-40 age brackets. Their travel experiences have all been abroad to the extent that they don't know their own country. Money was no object in the good old boom days and the more you had the further you went. Ireland certainly didn't figure on the horizon in the eyes of the beautiful young things, who were Irish and earned their money here, but spent it elsewhere in strange and sometimes unpronounceable currencies.

They possess more knowledge about the art galleries and museums of Florence and Paris than, say, the magnificent Chester Beatty Library in Dublin. They are very familiar with the Acropolis of Athens but know nothing about the magnificence of Newgrange in County Meath. The scenery of Austria is ever so familiar to them and yet they have never taken the stunning journey that is the Ring of Kerry or the incredible drive through Connemara. They rave about Lake Garda in Italy but have never seen the Lakes of Killarney. They toured the Rhine on a cruiser but never ventured as far as the Shannon River and cruise through beautiful Lough Ree or Lough Derg down to the chic ambience that is the town of Killaloe in Clare. They know the Swiss Alps and the Pyrenees but have never experienced the exhilaration of a walk along the wonderful Wicklow Way.

Out of the desperate doom and gloom that exists in Ireland comes a chance for people to explore their own country and in doing so, perhaps kick start a new prosperous era in the tourist industry that is so badly needed. It is now up to that industry to play its part in taking advantage of this silver lining around this particular cloud by offering value that will open the eyes of the staycationers

Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Seamus_Maguire

Smooth and Safe Travel Tips For Women

2009-12-24T16:53:00.000-08:00

All travelers must be careful when traveling; however women should adhere to the following advice. In today's society, Women do not want to rely on assistance from people that they are unfamiliar with. They want to appear confident while traveling.

Before leaving your home, be sure you can manage your luggage on your own. This means your luggage is in good shape, can easily roll on wheels, you can lift it on and off of the bed (to mimic the luggage carousel at the airport) and is the weight limit for your airline rules. You do not want to be stuck taking clothing out of your suitcase in a busy airport check in because the weight limit is not too high, nor do you need a zipper that breaks.

Additionally, it is advisable that you bring only one over sized bag/purse onto the plane with your ticket, a light jacket, wallet, snacks and any additional carry on items in there. It is not a good idea to juggle too many "carry ons"- one bag is easier. You could even put a mini laptop into this carry on as well. If the laptop is out of it's protective sleeve, it doesn't even have to come out of the over sized carry on bag at the x-ray machine. One has found that having to remove shoes, cell phone etc at the security checks, keeping an eye on one bag going through the conveyor belt is easier that a purse and multiple" carry ons". Remember- No one else will be with you to be sure that others do not accidentally take your items.

Bringing food onto an airplane is necessary these days- unless you want to be at the mercy of the airline and what they are offering. Women should plan early and pack foods at home which are light with digestion. A plain bagel, bottled water, pretzels and mints, do not give you an upset stomach during turbulence-nor make me feel hungry later on. You don't want to be going to the restroom on the plane, and worried about leaving your articles at your seat. Drinking alcohol is also not a wise idea. With bathroom trips and feeling light headed- it doesn't add up to safe travel.

Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=James_Reinhard

Are You Messed Up With the Whole Process of Obtaining a Visa to India?

2009-12-24T16:52:00.000-08:00

Are you messed up with the whole process of obtaining a visa to India? Still have no way out? Then let us help you out with it...The whole process is easier than you thought...The long boring queues in front of the Indian High commission are still there since the outsourcing of the Indian Visa service in 2008. So all you got to do is apply for an Indian Visa through a consulate and let the experts take care of it then onwards.

Things would be a lot easier if you have your documents ready and up to date. Check it and double check it before you submit. This will certainly keep unnecessary delays and rejections at bay. Before applying for an Indian Visa, we suggest you to be aware of the different categories.

* Indian Tourist Visa
* Indian Business Visa
* Transit Visa
* 5 year Indian citizen Visa

To obtain any of the above Visas directly through the Indian High commission or else where the following documents will be common and essential. The other documents may vary accordingly. Your valid original passport(s). It must be valid for at least the next 6 months, with at least two blank pages remaining.

Two recent, quality, identical Passport Sized Photographs (45mm x 35mm) glued to the indicated space on the application form. (Please make sure that it is taken against white background). A completed Indian Visa Application Form. Please ensure the signature is identical to the one on your passport.

Getting a Visa for India in UK is a less complicated process compared with the other nations. You just need to fill a single application form but make sure that the details you provide are correct and clear. Further, we highly recommend you not to book flights or travel accommodations before obtaining your Visa. The Indian High commission and it Consulates have the authority to ask you for any additional documents if required or to reject any Visa application on a basis they see fit.

Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=David_Alwis_Smith

Soak Up Culture on an Irkutsk Holiday

2009-12-24T16:50:00.000-08:00

Russia has a number of destinations perfect for those looking to soak up some culture on a holiday of a lifetime.

While St Petersburg and Moscow are perhaps the best known ones, Irkutsk in Siberia gives its bigger counterparts a run for their money when it comes to offering a fascinating Russian holiday experience.

Irkutsk's roots go all the way back to the 17th century, but it was some 200 years later that it really came into its own as a cultural hotspot.

The 19th century saw a number of exiled nobles, artists, officials and other figures head to Irkutsk for intellectual stimulation after being banished to Siberia for having a hand in the Decembrist revolt against Tsar Nicholas I.

Irkutsk flourished as a result and is now home to numerous churches, museums, arts venues, restaurants and other establishments offering all manner of interesting diversions for those on Russian holidays.

Its museums are mainly based at universities and include the Geology Museum, the City History Museum, the Sukachev Art Museum and the Irkutsk Regional Museum.

Architecture-wise, there are several pre-industrialisation wooden buildings from the 19th century still standing in the city centre, while its 18th and 19th century churches and cathedrals - including the Ascension Church, Saviour Church, Epiphany Cathedral and the Our Lady of Kazan Church - are also fascinating to gaze at.

In terms of nightlife, the focus is more on cafes and restaurants than on bars and clubs, with establishments serving up cuisine from around the world.

However, tourists are recommended to taste traditional Russian fare while in Irkutsk, especially bliny, which are rich pastries stuffed with fillings like fruit or cottage cheese.

When it comes to day trips and longer getaways that use Irkutsk as a base, visitors have several options to choose from.

The famous Lake Baikal - one of the biggest and oldest lakes in the world - is easily accessible by train and is worth a visit for its gorgeous scenery.

Elsewhere, the nearby Sayan Mountains offer some equally stunning vistas, while the village of Listvyanka is particularly popular among tourists visiting the area.

Visit Intourist to book holidays to Russia. Intourist, the Russian travel specialists, has been opening the gates to travellers wanting to experience the enigmatic spirit of Russia, Ukraine and the Baltics for over 70 years. We have an extensive network of offices, hotels and suppliers and are proud of our unrivalled know-how and ability to provide you with the most reliable, up-to-date, specialist knowledge on Russian holidays available anywhere on the market.

Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dipika_Patel

Philippine - Filipino Values

2009-10-23T11:18:00.000-07:00

Values may be defined as those standards of which a group or society judges the desirability and importance of persons, ideas, actions and goals. Values are shared convictions or beliefs in what are considered contributory to the welfare of the group. From these definitions, we can clearly see how values are affected by society and, in turn, how society can be affected by the values held by its members.

Two of these traits are positive traits and show the strengths of the Filipino character: Katapatan and Pakikipagkapwa-tao. The other two seem to hinder the advancement of the Filipinos. These are the "Bahala na" attitude and the "Kanya-kanya" syndrome.

Pakikipagkapwa-tao and Family Orientation: This indigenous Filipino trait is the regard for the dignity of others and being with them. It consists of all levels of interaction with one's fellowman in times of crisis, like illness and death. This is embodied in the concept of neighbourliness like mutual visiting and exchange of food. Pleasant attitudes are also exhibited towards relatives and friends such as extending moral and emotional support. This is also evidenced in the insertion of many light scenes wherein there is light-hearted bantering, jokes among friends and kin.

Because of the Filipino's collective nature, they have a deep sense of concern for one's dignity and respect. This pakikipagkapwa-tao is manifested in their sensitivity to other people's feelings. This is often evidenced in the relations among the characters. Polite language, soft pleasing voices and meek manners are employed to avoid open disagreement with others. Personal relationships are likewise almost always important in any transaction among the characters.

Katapatan: The Filipino virtue of righteousness in thought and deed. In a person, this virtue strengthens him against cheating and lying. It results in the cooperation and trust among neighbors, friends and co-workers. This positive character trait is dominantly displayed in Philippine movies and television by its leading characters. Viewers are attracted to the character and story because righteousness is considered a rare trait nowadays and the expression of this in the leading protagonist gives them hope in siding with the good.

Bahala na: Extreme reliance on higher force or fate. Bahala na is a common expression among Filipinos which rests on the fatalistic outlook and strong dependence on spirits. It literally, the Bahala na means "Leave it to God." The abundance of superstition can further encourage the superstitiousness of the Filipinos. This can promote the lack of initiative among Filipinos. Rather than relying on one's own effort and industry to solve problems, one leaves his fate to gods or "spirits". This trait also encourages the Filipino to be matiisin or being too patient for long suffering.

Kanya-kanya: A negative Filipino trait is a selfish and self-serving attitude. This is often elicited when one's peer has gained honor or prestige. Most if not all of the conflicts in the Filipino stories are a result of envy and jealousy. This "crab mentality" that characterizes many Filipinos is counter-productive.

Certain negative behaviors may be picked up by the youth if they are consistently exhibited and are not shown in the end to have negative consequences. At the same time, an understanding of the strengths of the Filipino character would help in recognizing the traditional and positive Filipino values that should be perpetuated.
Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Stan_Mckey

Factors to Consider When Buying Luggage

2009-10-23T11:17:00.000-07:00

Each year, many people hit the roads or the skies, but I wonder how many are using luggage that truly fits their wants and needs? Some travels are, but most probably are not. But you know better, you know that your luggage can have an impact on the ease of your travels. So what factors should you consider when buying suitcases for yourself or your family?

• Size: Size is important for a number of reasons. Most airlines even have a size requirement for checked bags; if yours is any bigger you need to pay an additional fee. Most importantly, ensure your suitcases, like Hartmann luggage, are big enough for your needs. If traveling for pleasure (like for a romantic getaway or a family vacation) be sure to leave extra room for souvenirs that you are likely to buy.

• Number of Suitcases: Now, if you are just buying a suitcase for yourself, you can get away with buying one single piece of luggage. However, if your entire family needs some suitcases, it is in your best interest to look at sets, like Hartmann luggage sets. Often times, you get a discount when buying in a set. Moreover, sets tend to have different sized suitcases and the smaller ones may work perfect for your children. Also, most sets come with some type of carryon bag.

• Style: As you can imagine, suitcases come in every color and style imaginable. You can get plain and simple, sleek and trendy, and much more. Choose a color or design that best fits your wants and needs. However, also take ease of spotting into consideration. If your Hartmann luggage looks like everyone else's, it may go around the baggage claim area a couple of times before you actually realize that it is your bag!

• Quality: Think back to your last trip, how many times did the car trunk accidentally close on your suitcase or how many things did you bump when wheeling your bags through the airport? I am sure a lot. It is no secret that travel bags take a lot of abuse. You need a suitcase that can standup to this abuse, as well as normal wear and tear. For that reason, opt for bags that are made from strong and durability materials. When buying, be sure to read the online description or the box to get information on this material; just because it looks nice it does not mean it actually is.

• Cost: When it comes to costs, who does not want to save money. However as previously stated, quality should be more important when buying bags for travel. Consider a quality suitcase an investment that pays off in the end. With a bag that is able to withstand abuse, wear, and tear, you can use it for years (meaning there is no need to buy a replacement every one or two years). To gauge quality, look at the warranty offered because good manufacturers will offer you more than just the standard one-year warranty.
Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Serena_N_Ericson

A Trip to San Francisco

2009-10-23T11:16:00.000-07:00

Muir Woods: Tour operators will start their journey from Ferry building and then other places like Marin Headlands, Muir Woods and Muir Beach overlook, Sausalito and then drop you back from where they started the journey. This trip is for 5 hours.

Muir woods National Monument is one of the oldest and tallest living things on earth. Coast Redwoods are the main attraction in Muir woods-one of Northern California's most noted national parks and the nation's seventh national monument. Coast Redwoods are the tallest living things some reach as high as 368 feet tall. Most of these trees range in age of 800-1000 years old. The coast redwood has been able to mature and have survived fires due to their thick bark.

Napa valley wine tours: Napa valley wine tour is a stress buster. You can enjoy the country's most scenic and productive valleys. This place is one of Northern California's greatest attractions. This is home to some of the greatest wineries in the world. This trip is for 8.5 hours. Places that you can visit in this trip are 4 Napa Wineries, 1 picnic lunch, 50-minute Ferry Cruise. The four wineries that you can visit are Domaine Chandon, V.Sattui, Andretti Winery and Flora Springs Winery.

Major benefits of Wine country Tour shuttle are: You can have your lunch in Napa Valley, Separate Tour Guide from driver, No motor coaches and Premier wineries only.

Private San Francisco Tours: Many tourists want to enjoy the trip on their timing. They can either take a shuttle bus or a 12-passenger luxury shuttle van with leather seating. Some benefits of Private tour are as follows: Tourists can choose their own tour times, Change the itinerary, free San Francisco Hotel pick up and drop off, free refreshments, bathrooms on board available by request for buses and separate tour guide from driver.

With the help of Tour guide, tourists can plan their San Francisco tour itinerary. They will recommend unique stops that you might not do on a regular tour as well as great places to stop for lunch either in San Francisco or Sausalito. Tourists can stop in a particular location if they want to have a look at it. Tour operators will pick up tourists from their hotel and again drop after the trip. Private San Francisco Tours tend to move along quicker when the group is smaller and tourists can enjoy the benefit of knowing everyone on board.

Monterey Tour: This trip includes Carmel, 17-mile drive; Cannery Row, Fisherman's Wharf and the famous must see Monterey Bay Aquarium. Tourists can enjoy Monterey tour because the buses have Flat screens, Direct TV entertainment, Poker tables, games and kitchen, bathroom and luxury seats. From the bus you can see Pacific Coast Highway, Half Moon Bay, Silicon Valley, Santa Cruz, Mansions of Rich/Famous and Steinbeck Locations. Tourists can enjoy their trip!
Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jeffadd_Adams

Various Travel Accessories For You

2009-10-23T11:15:00.000-07:00

The latest things to have are travel accessories. Try and stock up these new arrivals for the ultimate style and panache and of course utility. They are available in most travel and luggage stores. They are going to change your travel forever.

Compression Bags
You can save up to a super 80% of your luggage space if you resort to plastic compression bags. Packing becomes a lot simpler easier and definitely cooler. They are reusable and you can go on using them for quite a few years.

Non Slip Security Wallet
A non slip security wallet is the accessory that you mast carry when traveling. It is a lot like a regular wallet but with the added advantage of having a non slip rubber attachment on one side that catches on to the side of your pocket on the inside and thus does not slip out any way. It also blocks pick pocketing ventures. But to let this be effective you should always carry it around in your front pocket. If you carry it in your back pocket it won't work as effectively as when you carry it in your front pocket.

But of course you can any way convert your regular wallet to a non slip wallet by wrapping it in two rubber bands. Of course you could also try and prevent pick pockets by using a chain attached wallet that will thwart any foray into your pocket, security isn't very difficult with this.

Secret Waist Wallet
A complement to the non slip wallet is the secret waist wallet that kind of fits snugly into your shirt or blouse or underneath them. It is still quite easy to access. Of course the whole purpose is defeated if you lift your short or blouse in public as the potential pick pocket gets a good view of where your wallet is located and resort to his handy work to recover it from there. A public washroom stall is the best place for taking it out and it serves your security concerns.

Elastic Security Socks
There elastic stretch socks which are extremely effective and have a hidden zipped pocket on the inside. They stay up and are make it very difficult for the pick pocket to locate where the wallet is exactly.

Female Security Purse
For females there is of course the security purse with a steel cable attached to the strap. If a thief is trying to cut the strap and steal the bag, the steel attachment prevents this attempt.

Pocket Pillow
These are of course very easy to carry and very easy to inflate and use. The measurements are 6 inches by 4 inches by 1 inch. When inflated the measurement changes to about 19 inches by 15 inches. It makes sleeping easy while traveling.

Some countries for the particular configurations they use need you to carry electrical adaptors and converters. Try and check at the airport what all is allowed into the place you are traveling and the permissible weight to avoid trouble when you land there. Try and pack the travel accessories into the hand luggage
Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Simon_Johnnson

Travel Club Membership

2009-10-23T11:14:00.000-07:00

A travel club is a great vehicle to utilize when it comes to traveling. A Membership can offer deep discounts on your travel to virtually anywhere in the world. These discounts are sometimes not limited to airline, hotel and cruises, but can also include tours and even condominiums. Some travel clubs offer travel assistance in planning your travel. This assistance varies from one travel club to another. When choosing a membership you will want to be sure that the travel club offers concierge services. This will ensure that you will receive white glove services from a knowledgeable representative that has your best interest in mind.

Knowledge is important and especially when it comes to your travel. There are differences in the way travel clubs operate. Some offer structured travel where you enjoy deep discounted travel but on specific trips and with specific dates. Few offer the flexibility to travel when you want to and to where you want to.

Rarely will you find a membership that will offer true wholesale travel to virtually anywhere in the world along with the flexibility that you need combined with concierge services. While it is rare, there are memberships that are available that will provide you with all of these benefits. As you explore your options, it could be helpful to find out if the customer services representative is incentivized for booking your travel verses rendering excellent customer services. Being rewarded for rendering excellent customer services will benefit you the travel club member much better.
Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jon_Dallas

Keep Your Luggage Safe With Personalized Luggage Tags

2009-10-23T11:13:00.000-07:00

If you are planning to make a long trip, either by air, sea or rail, the only form of identification for your baggage is with Personalized Luggage Tags. In order to make the maximum and have a successful business or leisure trip, it is vital that you have your baggage when you reach your destination. This will only be possible with the help of luggage tags.

The present day travel cases and luggage sets are very much similar to each other in size, style and colour. A person who travels frequently will agree to this statement. Due to this, baggage can easily be taken away by mistake as they come off the luggage carousel. It is a common occurrence due to these similarities. The simple solution to a very common problem is the use of Personalized Luggage Tags.

Of course you will always have the option of moving away from the standard bags and purchase one with a difference; there are many with unique, also colourful and attractive designs. This is one way of not having your luggage confused with another. But not everyone will like to have a case of bright colours and vibrant designs.

Considering the large volume of travellers today, these tags have become a great asset and supporting device in keeping a good track of their belongings. There is a wide choice of designs to select from, and one will be surprised to see the great number of styles, colours and designs that are found in shopping stores as well as online stores. It might be wise to choose unique designs with bold colours as your Personalized Luggage Tags, as it will help your luggage to stand out from the rest and identifying will be much faster.

Past experiences of lost or misdirected luggage has now proved the value of luggage tags. Great emphasis is now given to this little piece of information, and travellers totally depend on their tags to ensure safe arrival of their baggage.

Here are a few points on the importance and uses of custom made luggage tags:

• In order to have uniformity, it is best you have similar tags especially in design. Ideal when you are travelling with your family or in a group.
• In the event of lost luggage or baggage being misdirected, luggage tags will help authorities to contact the traveller immediately.
• A mode of proving that the luggage belongs to you.
• Custom made tags are stronger, bigger, durable and visible when compared to the standard tags which tend to get damaged soon.
• They are perfect as a promotional product.
• Most luggage tags have a privacy flap to keep away your personal information from others.

Personalized Luggage Tags is an "all-important" piece of information. Most often than not, travellers put off filling in their tags until the last minute of their journey. It will good to take your time and complete these tags by filling in all your details without being rushed, as it is vital for long distance traveling.
Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Paul_Sung

Whale Watching in West Cork

2009-10-23T11:12:00.000-07:00

Over the last number of years West Cork has recorded over 12 different species and as a result has become a popular destination for people who enjoy whale watching.

During the 1990's the Irish Government declared the coastal waters of Ireland a whale and dolphin sanctuary and each year Ireland attracts more and more whale and dolphin watching enthusiasts from all corners of the world.

Whale watching in Ireland has definitely taken off and in particular in Cork, this is due to the many species that call West Cork their home over half the year. During the month of May the Minke Whales arrive off the Irish coast followed by the Fin Whales who traditionally arrive in June or July. Both species stay through the months of August and into the autumn and early winter months, because of this, Cork provides some fantastic opportunities to view these large marine mammals along its stunning coast. The Humpback Whales traditionally arrive during the month of August or during the early autumn months but are not as predictable as the visitors before them.

Catching a glimpse of these magnificent mammals is certainly the highlight of any whale-watching excursion, there are also some fantastic opportunities to see some Bottlenose Dolphins, Risso's Dolphins and porpoises that arrive to the coast during the summer months. Throughout the year the following species can also be seen on the West Cork shore: Killer Whales, Basking Sharks, Long-finned Pilot Whales, Atlantic White Sided Dolphins and White Beaked Dolphins.

Seals are also another common sighting and there are two species that you are sure to see on the coast of West Cork, they are the Atlantic Grey Seal and the Common Seal. The Seals are a very common sight in the Baltimore area in particular.

Whale watching boat trips are a common sight in Cork and offer an ideal opportunity to view these wonderful mammals up close, whilst touring the spectacular unspoilt Cork coastline. Cork is famous for its natural rugged beauty and spectacular peninsulas, such as the remote Beara Peninsula, Mizen Head Peninsulas and Sheep's Head Peninsula.

West Cork is a popular tourist destination with much to see and do, from its rugged landscapes, colourful villages and towns peppered along its coastline, to amazing wildlife, its people and much much more, a visit to West Cork is a must.

West Cork also attracts a thriving population of common and uncommon seabirds and is a very popular destination for bird watching. Only this year an Ivory Gull from Arctic Russia was sighted 60 miles offshore in Baltimore Harbour and stayed for a week!

Whale watching is an absolutely fantastic experience and if you have not tried it already then you really must. What better place to conduct such a wonderful experience than in the spectacular surroundings of West Cork.
Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Breda_Quirke

Packing Before You Travel

2009-10-23T11:11:00.000-07:00

When you plan to travel, it is wise to pack relevant travel items in advance in order to avoid hassles in the last minute. To begin with, packing in advance ensures that the traveler carries out the duty in a relaxed mood and does not rush or is not pressed to hurry.

This means that the person planning a trip can pack leisurely, relax and even have a cup of coffee just before the commencement of the trip, and be guaranteed of safe, alert and comfortable travel. Secondly, advance packing enables a person to determine what is required and avoid forgetting some of the most essential items for the journey or packing items that may not be required throughout the entire trip. It is noteworthy that if a person packs in a rush, he or she may leave some items, only to remember them after covering some 30 or 300 miles of the trip. Packing in advance also enables people to plan their trips and determine what kind of snacks to carry where to make stopovers, and the items required at each stopover. This includes the activities to be carried out at each point.
Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Levi_Quinn
In order to have a successful road trip, one needs plan beforehand to determine all that is required by the traveling party. Planning will ensure that items that can be bought along the way are not carried in order to avoid unnecessary filling of the car. One of the vital things to consider during packing is clothing. It is important to pack comfortable clothes and shoes. Along this line, the person doing the packing should consider using outfits that have been tried before in order to avoid injuries or blisters as a result of putting on tight clothes or shoes in the course of the trip. While packing clothing, one should consider the prevailing weather. Chilly nights need button denim shirts and light blankets while hot afternoons need light clothing such as T-shirts. It is important to avoid over packing if laundry services can be found at the destination.

For hygiene purposes, it is important to pack some antibacterial wipes for cleaning spills in the car or sanitizing hands after handling some of the car's dirty parts such as gas tank. Towels are needed for use after having meals and are handy just in case there is any mishap in the car.

The road trip is not complete without nice snacks. Packed snacks will save travelers the hassles of stopping by restaurants and candy shops to buy packs of chips, fruits or sweets. Thus, the traveling group should consider carrying some freshly dried fruits, nuts, spread, cream cheese, carrots, and salads. Cold foods can be comfortably packed in a compact cooler.

For electronics, it is important to carry phone and iPod chargers, laptops, GPS devices, and travel alarm clocks. Additionally electronic game devices will be handy for entertaining children in the course of the trip. One also needs to pack some items to be used at the destination such as sunglasses and bathing suits. When all these items are packed in advance, there is no doubt that the trip becomes very enjoyable.

The Airplane as Your Office

2009-09-10T02:48:00.000-07:00

Business travel very often involves long hours in flight to the city where your work will be done. For most business people, this is lost productivity time that can be torture if you cannot get work done in flight. How often have you said to yourself or to a coworker, “That’s all right, I will just work on that on the airplane.” That is a noble intent but circumstances inside an airplane cabin, especially in coach, can make the fulfillment of that commitment hard to accomplish.

Like anything else, if you are going to redeem the time while you are in the air, you should come prepared with an agenda of work you can get done in that setting and with your expectations well in check before you even check in. Let’s face it, the cabin of a domestic airplane is not designed for business productivity. You may have a myriad of distractions from crying babies to a talkative neighbor. The airline personnel have quite an agenda of items to interrupt your time with and then there is the turbulence and the narrow seats that dictate that whatever you are going to get done is going have to be done in a place of very little space availability.

To expect that you will have the seat next to you to spread out your work or that this will be the flight of perfect peace and quiet is to set yourself up for frustration and disappointment. So to be prepared to achieve some level of productivity on an airplane, be aware of these limitations and design your work so you can use that time within those constraints, not in spite of them.

A basic necessity to use to realize some level of concentration in flight is a good set of ear plugs or an earphone and an ipod. You can use that device to pipe music to your mind that can be conducive to concentration and thought. Now earphones sufficient to block out the kind of distractions you will encounter on an airplane will have to be pretty sophisticated. So don’t cut corners on this purchase. It will pay you back over and over as you use them to block out surface noise in airplane cabin.

The best way to walk off of that airplane with a sense of accomplishment is to set your goals before you board and make them goals you can attain. You cannot expect to be able to open up your laptop and work peacefully in coach. It is very possible you will be able to do that but you may find turbulence, an active population around you or other factors may make such work very difficult to do. So to be sure, prepare a project to work on using your laptop but don’t be disappointed if it turns out to be too difficult to attempt. And above all avoid having a deadline you have to hit using the time during your flight to make up for lost time on your deadlines. That will only make the flight frustrating and result in an angry and worn out business traveler.

The best form of work you can assign to yourself is analysis or reading. If you have a document or some documents to review, the confines of an airplane seat accommodate that work just fine. Business reading is easily the best form of work to do in flight. Using those head phones to block out the world, you can lay back with a book, a business magazine or a report and take your time to study it or read lengthy blocks of that material during a long flight. In a two to three hour flight, you can read entire chapters of a business book and come off the flight with a tremendous amount of food for thought to take into your businesses meetings at your destination.

It is possible to redeem the time in the air by accomplishing some solid work. But the key to getting success at that goal is to be realistic about what can be done in an airplane seat and tailoring your expectations and goals accordingly. If you do that, you will be happy with how you used the time and the flight will go by much more quickly as well.

source:Ezinearticles

Take the Family With You

2009-09-10T02:47:00.000-07:00

Business travel can be rewarding, interesting, profitable and broadening for the business traveler. But there are some downsides to the life on the road especially if you must travel for business often. Besides the occasional airport delay or layover and the ever present issue of how weather affects your business trips, it is always hard to say goodbye to your family as you go out of town to accomplish the mission of your business trip.

For many business people, one solution is to take their family with them on business trips if the nature of the trip will accommodate such arrangements. Few would deny the road weary business traveler the joys of having family with them on a challenging trip. And for your family, not only does this mean more time with you, it can be a big adventure for everybody involved.

Taking your spouse on a business trip is entirely different scenario than if you are planning a trip to include the spouse and children. In that your spouse is an adult, can rent a car and plan a day without help and mold his or her schedule around yours, a spouse can be a huge plus to you because you have that familiar face to greet you in the hotel room when you return from your business affairs of the day. And there is a strange vicarious enjoyment to be had as you are working hard to know your spouse is taking in the pleasures of the local area which you will hear about that night.

Taking the kids on a business trips gets to be more of a logistical challenge and there are some real limitations to the kind of trip that will work as a full family outing. One of the big factors in determining if this trip is a good one for the whole family to enjoy is location. If the trip is to a popular destination such as Orlando or California where your spouse and children can find plenty to do each day, then it’s a good situation for bringing the family along.

Other locations that make great choices to include the family are historic and memorable cites such as New York, New Orleans, San Francisco or some of the great overseas destinations like London, Paris or Rome. If the children have your spouse to guide their tours, those trips with you can be events to remember and tremendous learning experiences that they will be talking about to their grandkids decades from now.

Obviously, the time of year for your business travel is a determining factor on whether the children can tag along. Summer business trips work well for such plans but if your travel will interrupt the children’s school schedule, it usually is not feasible to include them. Now in a case where there is significant educational benefit to the trip, there may be some concessions to be made to the children out of school if they will gain valuable experiences from the trip.

But all of these factors, including just including your spouse on the trip will hinge on one important factor that only you can determine. And that is how much time you will be able to spend with the family when you are working and traveling. It is well known that business travel also frequently means long yours and then business dinners and negotiations that can go into the night. If you are going on a trip that such dedication to the task is necessary, it’s best not to bring the family. It does them no good to come along on an exciting business outing only to find themselves never seeing you until the flight home. They will feel frustrated and you will wonder what value there was to the expense and trouble of bringing them if you could not enjoy them except to kiss them good night in their hotel beds and good-bye in the morning.

But if all of the factors fall into place, taking the family along on an occasional business trip can take a humdrum trip and put some real fun into it. So keep your eye on that business travel agenda you have. There may be a few junkets where the family would fit in nicely.

source:Ezinearticles

Staying Healthy on the Road

2009-09-10T02:44:00.000-07:00

You can tell an experienced business traveler from one who is new to the experience. It is easy for someone new to business travel to participate in excesses on the road. As business traveler, you are an adult and you are trusted by your company to conduct yourself in a businesslike fashion during your time out representing the firm. But it is easy to let the idea of an expense account and free time in a far away town get the best of you and to let yourself go as you travel.

These kinds of excesses are the types of behavior that you will see an experienced business traveler avoid. If you are setting out on a lengthy business trip perhaps lasting many weeks and traversing many cities, the road itself can take a toll on your health and well being. The disruption to your normal life patterns, the hard work and the stress of making connections and moving from town to town can introduce levels of fatigue that can take a toll and even lead to illness on the road. And there is no more unpleasant experience than to be ill while traveling for business and to still have to do your duties despite your poor health.

It is for this reason that observing some strict rules of good living on the road will pay off over the life of the trip and make the rigors of travel much less serious. Much of the discipline of business travel involves simply introducing a daily routine to your life that includes some healthy activities so you can keep your physical, mental and emotional state in good shape and ready for business each and every day. Some simple but effective rules to live by for a healthy business travel experience include…

* Sleep routines. A good nights sleep is something we take for granted. And to get into a rested state takes more than just a bed and an alarm clock. You have routines at home that you use to cycle down toward rest. Adapt those to life on the road and allow yourself that hour before bed to get ready to rest as well as ample time to rest as well as sleep. Both are necessary for good health.

* Regular exercise. Most hotels have an exercise room or pool you can use to get some motion into your muscles. Sitting in airplanes or conference rooms can cramp your muscles and keep you from maintaining good flexibility. Even if it is nothing more than taking a walk after dinner or doing some simple exercises at night in the hotel, give your body some movement so stretch those muscles and get some fresh oxygen into your blood.

* Time not working. For the sake of your mental health, take some time just for you. If you are in a town that has some fun things to see, get away from the business side of business travel and go to the zoo or a museum or see an attraction to give your mind a break from the stress of business. And take a few hours at night to relax in the hotel and read a book or watch your favorite TV show. You need that mental down time to recuperate and process all that is going on during your trip.

* Good foods. Don’t cave into the temptation to eat fast food. Look for restaurants that will serve you well-rounded meals. Make sure you eat fruits, dairy, vegetables, breads and good healthy proteins each day.

* Don’t drink. Alcohol, while fun, is a huge drain on your body’s resources. The time drinking and recovering makes demands on your body that take away from your stamina and ability to stay healthy each day. So avoid alcohol other than perhaps a glass of wine at night. You will survive the trip so much better if you are careful about your alcohol consumption.

Some of these ideas seem almost ridiculously simple. But if you have done any business travel at all, you know that sometimes the simple requirement of a healthy diet and some time to yourself to exercise and rest can be elusive in a busy work schedule. But if you make it a priority to live well on the road as you do at home, you will come home ready to deal with home issues without having that long time to recover from the trip.

source:Ezinearticles

Never Completely Out of Touch

2009-09-10T02:41:00.000-07:00

The problem with business travel, to put it bluntly, is that you are not in your office. If you are a manager or a project leader, your need to stay in touch with your team and what is going on at all times is crucial. It would seem that this need is at cross-purposes with the idea of business travel. But with modern technology and a bit of coordination on your part, you can maintain a reasonable level of connectivity to your important projects and team activities even while driving in the rental car or waiting out a flight at the airport.

The actual technology you use to stay connected may change over time. Whereas in the past we could only use pay phones at airports, we have evolved technologically so you can travel and access your network via your cell phone, wireless PC or an assortment of other devices. So the first step is to identify the type of technology that satisfies your need for connectivity as well as enabling you to work productively in diverse locations such as the airport, your airplane seat or your hotel room.

As you conduct a technical review of the available technology, be careful to research the durability of the equipment you are taking on the road. You may be able to afford the most sophisticated equipment on the market today. But if that equipment cannot survive the rigors of travel including being banged around in your luggage, exposure to heat, cold and moisture or just about any other harsh condition you might throw it into, it isn’t going to be the kind of equipment you want by your side on a long business trip.

Once you settle on the equipment, you should configure it or have it configured for internet access as well as the ability to tap into your corporate intranet and network. It is crucial that you can communicate with your team and access corporate files so you can stay on top of what is going on with your projects at home. For example, if you have your project team file status reports each Friday morning, you must be able to review those and give directions for action items to take that come from those reports quickly and efficiently, even if you are on a ten hour flight from Europe.

To manage your phone contacts, the idea of just putting the “out of office” auto-answer on your office message service is so last decade. Instead, you can forward your office phone to your cell phone and receive your phone calls in remote so you can conduct your business as though you were on site throughout your trip.

There is adequate technology available currently for you to be able to access and operate your desktop computer back on your desk at the office even while traveling. One such service is gotomypc.com. But there are many such services or your IT department may have a methodology to enable that access that you can use if you get them involved in your trip planning. By accessing your PC daily or several times daily, you can activate your instance of Microsoft Outlook or whatever your email software is and read and respond to important business emails as you relax in your hotel room after your business meetings out of town.

These are just a few of the technologies that make it possible to perform virtually any function from remote that you could have done only in the office in the past. So don’t accept the limitations of the road. Investigate how to be fully connected as you go about your business travel and the outcome will be that you can keep all of your important business projects moving forward simultaneously.

source:Ezinearticles

Moving Through Airport Security Quickly

2009-09-10T02:40:00.000-07:00

Ever since homeland security has become such an issue, moving through airport security has become more difficult. As a seasoned business traveler, this part of your business trip requires some savvy preparation and your knowledge of the system so you can sail through security at the airport as quickly as possible. But the ability to navigate airport security quickly is not something that comes easy or without some significant planning and training.

The biggest problem of getting through security is not you, it’s the other people who did not come prepared for this process. If you get stuck behind someone who is completely stumped by what is expected of them, it can take forever to get through the system. So the first priority is to hit airport security when the crowds are low. The easiest way to accomplish this is to take the first flight of the day out of that airline. This will be the time when there are fewer people in the airport than anytime of the day.

Usually it is only business travelers who are at the airport at six a.m. so they will be the ones that already know how to handle security and the lines will move much more quickly. Like them, you have already learned the most recent rules about what will pass through security and what will get you stopped. You will need your driver’s license and boarding pass several times as you move through the process. So have that out early on and ready to show it often. Don’t put that information away until you are on the other side of security and ready to go to the gate. That one-step alone moves you along quickly through the different checkpoints of airport security.

Usually airport security uses a queuing system to handle the crowds. That means that usually it is one long line moving up to the gates and then that line splits into several gates where various teams work the travelers through the scanning stations. As you are standing in line to go through the gates, keep an eye on the different stations. Some stations will stop more people or their equipment is too sensitive so it is moving slower. You may notice that a new team has arrived and is preparing to open a new station. With a bit of maneuvering in line, you can hit that new station as it opens and move through fast before the lines accumulate there.

This is also a place to do a bit of profiling. While it is not ok for police to profile, you can look over the people ahead of you and profile those who will either be detained for scanning or will be a big problem when they are ready to put their stuff on the belts. Certain ethnic groups might get scanned more often. It’s sad but true. We all want racial equality but if you can avoid being behind that person, you might get through security faster. Also, avoid “amateur travelers” who have lots of kids, the elderly, people in wheelchairs or anyone who looks like they are confused by this process. You can be a hero and help someone out if you have plenty of time. But as the lines split up to go to the different stations, you can simply avoid being behind people who will slow up the process and go to the fast lines to get through more efficiently.

You can cut down on how much you get scanned before you get to the airport. Wear slip-on shoes that you can get off quickly and back on quickly. Boots and tie shoes just slow you down. Keep the amount of “stuff” you are carrying through security to a minimum. Put your wallet, keys and other pocket material in your briefcase or purse before you even get in line. In that way you are down to shoes and that item to move through security and you can move more quickly.

These tricks of the trade can make the beginning of your business trip much less of a problem and get you to the gate more quickly. The security personnel will appreciate that you know what you are doing and you will reduce your stress and move along to your business goals with less anxiety and a greater focus on your objectives.

source:Ezinearticles

Light on Your Feet

2009-09-10T02:38:00.000-07:00

Its one thing to show up at your business meeting prepared mentally for the meeting and with all of your business needs at your fingertips. If that was all business travel entailed, that would be challenge enough. But to carry off a successful business trip, you have to think about your personal needs, medical needs and everything you might require. The ability to travel light on a business trip is truly a refined skill that takes into account the ordeal you might go through at the airport, the potential for lost baggage and what you really do need once you get to your destination.

Many travelers have a firm ethic about not checking bags. The result is you see almost a comical effort by travelers to drag huge bags onboard and jam them into overhead bins. As a business traveler, your ability to relax and pass through the airport system with little fuss is paramount. When you take bulky bags on board on an airplane, you exchange the time at baggage claim for a huge hassle in getting your bags on and off that airplane.

It’s best to balance what you really need at your destination with the problems of taking too much on board. To reduce your anxiety about baggage claim, leave plenty of time between your travel plans and your business appointments at your destination. If you have several hours or a day before you must make your business contacts, you can relax and go through the baggage claim process without anxiety.

The other problem with baggage claim is lost luggage. So to assure you will have the basics when you get to your hotel, lost luggage or not, pack a very small bag to take on board. In that bag, only take your basic requirements. Include your medications, contact lens supplies, sample sizes of toiletries, underwear and one change of clothes. Then you have what you need for one night and the next days meetings while your baggage catches up with you.

To pack light, do a good inventory of what you really do need. There are some economies you can utilize to greatly reduce the bulk of what you are going to take without sacrificing your needs and ability to look good when you make your business contacts.

* Wear a basic outfit. If you have a suit or other garment you know will be your anchor piece, wear it on the plane. You can also wear a coat or jacket that you might need there and then fold it and use it for a pillow on the plane thus keeping it out of your bag. That coat is not considered part of your carry on but it helps you reduce your baggage bulk.

* Economy of space in your bag. Compress what you pack and use every empty space. Pack socks into shoes and roll your clothing rather than lay them flat to squeeze the empty air filled space out of them. You can always iron and get pressed any outfits that get wrinkled in route once you are at your destination.

* Mix and Match. Take outfits that can be used over again with a different pant or shirt combinations.

* You can get it there. Don’t take anything that won’t get guaranteed and frequent use. If there is something you might need, remember, you can buy it there in a drugstore or nearby store. So don’t let anxiety make you over pack.

These steps can reduce your packing problems and result in a workable travel system that will reflect that you are well organized and ready for the road. And there is no better feeling than to come home and realize you used everything you took and needing nothing else while you are on that important business trip for your company.

source:Ezinearticles

Is Now a Good Time to Panic?

2009-09-10T02:37:00.000-07:00

The unfortunate thing about business travel is that, unless you are able to fly by private jet, you will have to use public transportation to travel any significant distance at all. That means you are going to have to deal with airports, security procedures, crowds of “non business” travelers around you at all times and the inevitable delay or canceled flight.

As a business traveler, you have a mission to complete. This is not necessarily an adventure nor is it something you are doing for fun. Its business and you handle it as business. If you travel frequently on business, you have a standard process you go through to handle waiting for flights and how to store and retrieve travel documents when they are needed.

Most of time we had handle the presence of large crowds around us. After all those families on vacation, groups of teenagers on spring break or young couples on honeymoon have as much right to the airways and the airports as you do. But everything changes when flights begin to get canceled, especially if you are in a situation where so many flights are canceled and large amounts of people are going to be stranded in that airport overnight.

When such a situation begins to loom, it is easy to sense that feeling of panic rise up as you sense it happening in those around you. Inexperienced travelers may have no idea how to handle this situation. But as a business traveler, you are there doing the bidding of your company. You probably are on an expense account of some sort and you should have good credit that you can use to navigate this situation. So if you see an airport shutdown situation happening around you, you may ask yourself that question, “Is this a good time to panic?” The answer is no. But it is a good time to act fast so your needs are met.

It is always a good idea to keep your wits about yourself in an airport situation so you can take action early if you see an airport shutdown situation beginning to happen around you. The thing to remember is that you are the one in control here and you do not have to let yourself be put at the whim of the airlines or the airport. But detecting the crisis coming early is the key and taking quick action.

Often as flights begin to get canceled, you may find yourself in long lines to try to rebook flights or find a solution to the problem. Realize that if the airport is stopping all flights due to weather or other reasons, there is no resolution waiting for you when you get to the front of the line. And staying in line will only add to your sense of crisis and panic.

So get out of that line! You have resources to make accommodations for yourself. The last thing you want is to have to pass the night in that airport. If you can get another form of transportation, you can still get to your destination albeit a little late. But rental car agencies are going to be flooded with people who, like you, are looking for a solution. So the earlier you can diagnose the situation as not acceptable and get a car, the faster you can leave the airport and head for a hotel or for your destination.

Use the same strategy in booking a room at a nearby motel or hotel. If you can get to private accommodations for the night, you can work, make your phone calls and preserve your energies so you are able to conduct business well once the crisis is passed. But the key is don’t panic, devise a solution quickly and put your plan into action efficiently so you can redeem as much of the day as you can because of your wise use of resources.

source:Ezinearticles

Insider Tips for Business Travel

2009-09-10T02:34:00.000-07:00

gAs with any area of specialization, there are business travelers who always seem to know what they are doing and those who constantly seem to be in a state of crisis. The business traveler who has been at it a while figures out some insider information that not many travelers know. These little travel secrets make the world of difference when traveling. And you can bet they are not going to share this information with just anyone because this is the kind of information that can change the nature of your business travel forever.

Your laptop is a crucial piece of equipment as you travel. In an airport emergency situation, your wireless laptop can be used to change reservations so you can avoid those long lines to get on the next flight out. You can reserve a rental car or snag one of the few remaining hotel rooms in town right from the comfort of a seat at the airport. Then the savvy business traveler can casually stroll to his or her designation as others around them panic because they knew how to leverage technology and the internet to bail themselves out of a crisis situation.

But one aspect of using your laptop to rescue yourself when the airport is in shut down is the limited power of laptops. To see your battery go dead just when you needed it the most is like watching your ship sink as the sharks circle the lifeboat. What not many people know is that there are open electrical outlets in airports that are there for cleaning crews if you know where they are. Usually these outlets are just under the windows that overlook the landing strips so if you can secure a seat near these outlets, you can charge up your laptop and keep your lifeline to the world alive.

Business travelers also know how to take full advantage of resources that are made available to business travelers exclusively. Find hotels that cater to the traveling businessperson. These hotels will not have amenities for families nor are they trying to bring in busses of teenagers on the way to camp. So you can find a hotel with much fewer young people making noise and being a nuisance when you are trying to focus on business.

In addition to using businesses that cater to the business traveler, take advantage of frequent flyer and priority clubs that many airlines and hotels offer. If you are going to travel a lot, you can rack up some credits on those clubs, which can result in upgrades to first class, better accommodations or free services when you stay at your selected hotels. They win because they capture your travel dollar. You win because you get pampered for a while.

You can gain a lot of convenience and reduce your hassles by using a less popular airport to come into town. By utilizing an airport in a smaller town near by and renting a car, you get out of the congestion of traffic and can drive to your destination without that exposure to the masses all pushing and shoving to get through the major hubs.

Extra copies of travel documents can speed things up a lot especially if you are leaving the country. Often when you are going through customs, you must surrender your passport so the customs agent can make a copy. So you make a copy before you get there and give it to them. With a quick scan, they can confirm that it is a legitimate copy and have you on your way much quicker.

Don’t overlook how public transportation can bail you out of dealing with a lot of traffic in large city situations. In Washington or New York, the subways work exceptionally well. If you can get out of the airport area via mass transit, you can find a rental car location in town and conduct your business with less wait and without the traffic jams you would face at the airport. Plus airport rental car sites are more expensive than those in town.

These little tips can go a long way toward making your trip less of a hassle, less expensive and more successful. By knowing how to get around the big crowds and use the resources made available to business travelers, your trip will be more efficient, more relaxed and more successful.

source:Ezinearticles

Flying Into Danger

2009-09-10T02:33:00.000-07:00

It’s not something we like to talk about but bad things happen to good people, even good business people who are just out on the road to pursue the prosperity of their company. But in some cases, there may be some real travel threats on your route to your business destination. This is especially true today in the age of terrorism where a trip to Europe or the Middle East can mean some very real danger may loom as you travel.

It is our job as responsible adults to think about the dangers that could happen on an upcoming business trip and assess that danger and either approach the business objective differently or prepare accordingly. The first step if you suspect that your next business trip may be hazardous either from political unrest, bad weather or other reasons, is to do an honest review of the importance of this trip. If you can accomplish he goals of the trip without putting yourself or your business associates in harms way, that would be preferable to a potential disaster on the road.

If it looks like the trip is still a go, be sure you learn all you can about your destination, recommended safety precautions and the nature of the potential danger. The US State Department keeps their web site up to date on the nature of potential security risks at http://www.travel.state.gov.

The next step for preparing for a business trip that may be hazardous is to double and triple secure your documentation. You can make copies and scanned images of your important personal documents such as your passport, visa, driver’s license and other crucial identification cards that you must have overseas. By leaving copies of these at home where a contact person can access them and uploading digital copies to a public folder that you can access anywhere you can find the internet, you give yourself a safety net should those documents disappear. Also review the status of your travel documents and get y our renewals done now if there is any chance one of them will expire as you are out on the road.

If you are traveling to one or many foreign countries, make yourself familiar with the location and phone numbers of the US embassies in those countries. By having that information on your person as you move from country to country, you are ready to move swiftly should you need to call on them to help you out of a jam.

If you do encounter trouble and require medical help, you should have on your person your crucial personal data that can be used to quickly get you help. You can print up a card with your name, names of who to contact in an emergency, blood type, medical details such as allergies that should be noted, important medicines that you may have that can help you if you are in physical need and anything else a lay person might need if you are in a far away place in critical need. For even more security that this card is able to communicate your critical data, you can have it translated into the language of the country you are visiting so there is no delay as local health or public service persons work to get you help.

The more you do to prepare for your trip, the better prepared you will be to respond to trouble or even avoid trouble entirely if it occurs. By understanding the local customs and what to do in an emergency situation overseas, you can respond calmly and quickly to crisis and secure yourself, your business associates and property early and quickly. Then if danger does rear its head, you will be well prepared to lesson its impact on you.

source:Ezinearticles

Controlling Business Travel Costs

2009-09-10T02:32:00.000-07:00

Sometimes when we are traveling on business, it is easy to let costs get out of control. But if you are working from a per diem or have other constraints on your travel budget, you should learn some cost cutting methods that you can put into effect that won’t make your life miserable on the road.

These cost-cutting ideas are not just to stay out of trouble with the budget people back at the home office. Often businesses have a set budget for business travel and once it is gone, no further trips can be made during that budget year. So if you anticipate the need for more business trips in months ahead, it is prudent to keep an eye on costs as you go so you can conserve that limited budget to facilitate important trips yet to come.

Economizing on the road can be difficult because you are put right in the middle of the hospitality industry which, while good at making you feel comfortable and providing for your needs, hotels and restaurants are also good at running up your tab. But there are some easy ways to sidestep a lot of unnecessary spending so you can stretch your business travel budget.

* Eat before you go. Airport restaurants or snack bars are notoriously overpriced. So even if you are leaving early in the morning, have breakfast and get well satisfied before leaving home so you don’t have to buy food en route.

* Wise packing. Think through your life in the hotel and on the road. You can buy travel sizes of almost everything you will need. Moreover, you can pack some light and easy to carry snacks such as trail mix, candy bars or nuts that can be used to tide you over during the trip until you can get a good meal. By being self-dependent during the trip, you save a lot by not using airport services.

* A hotel is just a bed, a shower and a TV. When booking your accommodations, think about where you should stay. If you don’t need a luxury hotel, don’t book one. If you are just staying the night in one place and then moving on, a clean, well run motel can take care of you just as well as the executive suite at the Hilton.

* Share that ride. If you are traveling as a party or you are meeting business partners at the destination, you can share cabs or rental vehicles and save business costs as well as conserve on burring fossil fuels unnecessarily.

* Markets and delis. You can even eat economically in a big town like New York or Orlando by using the same sense you have at home. By taking an early trip to a nearby grocery, you can stock your room with fruits and travel foods and cut down on the amount of meals you have to eat out.

* Public transportation. If the town you re traveling to has safe and workable subways or other public transpiration, that can be much more efficient for you than renting a car. Washington DC for example has outstanding rail transport that you can use rather than rent a car.

By using some of the same good common sense you use at home to keep expenses under control for your home budget, you can not only live inexpensively on the road, you can actually live better. And by not allowing yourself to be overcharged for some very basic goods and services, you will feel better about your business outing and become known in your company as a smart traveler.

source:Ezinearticles

Business Trips Don’t Have to be All Business

2009-09-10T02:29:00.000-07:00

It’s important to know your objectives on a business trip and to set out with those goals in mind and to accomplish them. But along the way, something rather amazing happens when you travel on business. You may get to go to some pretty amazing places and get chances to see things you would have never sought out if you have your wits about you as you travel.

Business trips don’t have to be all about business. There are times when you have completed your work and you can take in some of the local color, attractions and good food as part of your visit to an area. The first resource to tap to find out what is really cool to enjoy in the city or town you are visiting are the locals. If you go to a far away town to conduct business with a partner or vendor, they are often more than happy to show you the lay of the land and what is fun to see and do in town.

If you can secure the evening of a local in your destination town, you can get quite an amazing tour of the area and see things that tourists may never find. It isn’t that hard to woo a local to be your guide. If you have expense account money, you can arrange to buy your guide dinner on the company dime. They get a good meal for free and you get a guided tour of the area. The first lobster I ate in Boston happened when a person in the office I was working with took me to see the sights and find the best lobster in town. She got a great meal and I enjoyed the local haunts of one of the great cities in the country.

But don’t be afraid to be a tourist if you are in a great city and you want to see the big sites. If you are in New York and you want to take the tour of the Statue of Liberty and the boat ride around the island, by God, you just do that. It can be a fine memory of your visit to the town and after all, you worked hard on your business objectives while in town so your entitled to some relaxation.

One of the best ways to get some free time to enjoy the local events and attractions is if you are there on Friday but your work must be continued on Monday. Most businesses would rather pay for two nights in a hotel and meals rather than fly you home and back out again. So you can keep your rental car and have two days to simply be a civilian for a while and really explore the local haunts.

To find those unique events in town that not many know about, read the local paper and look for those little local culture or arts papers like the Village Voice in New York. These papers will carry details of festivals going on around the area, what is happening in the clubs and theaters in town as well. You may find a regional celebration not far away that you can be part of and pretend to be a local for a few hours and have plenty of fun along the way.

If you do have a couple days to explore, don’t be afraid to travel a bit to see some things not that far away. On the east coast, a trip up Highway One will move you through some of the most scenic New England towns you can imagine. And you can linger and take a whale watching tour if you want to. If you already have a rental car, usually it is no more expense to use it to see the state or go to the coast nearby where you are doing business. At most it might cost you a tank of gas and for that you may get so see one of the great sights in the country.

Take advantage of your business travel to see the world, have some fun and as the song says “stop and smell the roses along the way”. If you do, you will come home with successful business to deliver to your company and a nice set of new memories to keep for a long time to come.

source:Ezinearticles

Business Travel on Short Notice

2009-09-10T02:27:00.000-07:00

In any travel situation, the further in advance you can plan your trip, the better you will do on all of your accommodations. But in the world of business, it often occurs that you have to get to a destination immediately and the ability to move swiftly is critical to the success of the business goal. The good news is that you can do some preparations well in advance for short notice business trips so you are not caught completely without a plan.

You don’t want to have to flounder around about how to book a flight and where to stay if the business journey looms suddenly and immediately. Short notice business trips seem to be endemic of certain industries and job descriptions so if you know you will go through this drill often, you can make some arrangements far in advance so you have a checklist of just what to do when you find out that you must be at your destination virtually immediately.

First of all, in a short notice travel situation, economy takes a second priority. Your employer knows that if you have to book full fare on an airline to get to your destination at a specific time, the higher expense is unavoidable. Make sure that your company travel policy has some clauses to put aside travel budget limits in such a scenario.

The part of the trip where you will have the least “wiggle room” will be airline accommodations. Of course, you can use the big internet search tools like Travelocity or Orbitz. In general, those are good places to start to find what airlines do have flights at your specified times. But once you pick an airline, working through the airline’s web site directly will show you the most options they can offer and sometimes provide you with better fares, even on short notice. Be sure you watch the travel details closely so you don’t find yourself enduring long layovers that are going to jeopardize the tight timetable of the business meetings you need to attend. If necessary, spend the money on nonstop flights to assure that the business goal of the trip is top priority.

Do your homework about hotel accommodations well in advance. If there are likely destinations that you could be called upon to go to quickly, you can do your research on the closest hotels to the business site so you cut down on commutes once you are there. By having your target hotels bookmarked and the phone numbers on file, you can quickly call and set up your accommodations in a matter of minutes. But if you find that your best choices for hotels are booked up on the days you will be at your site, call them anyway. A good hotel will call around to other hotels in the area and get you a room as close to your destination as possible. They can save you hours of frustration searching for a replacement room.

Rental cars are usually not as much of a problem. It’s a good idea to call ahead and get a reservation but short of a major convention or sporting event in town, there are so many rental car agencies that you should be able to find a car to rent even if you don’t start your search until you are on the ground at your destination city.

You can make other preparations for the possibility of a short notice business trip like having your toiletries and personal affects you always travel with packed and ready to walk out the door. By having your travel clothes ready to go, you can virtually walk home and walk out in a matter of minutes for a short notice business trip because you are that well prepared.

source:Ezinearticles

Battling Travel Anxiety

2009-09-10T02:25:00.000-07:00

The classic anxiety story about travel involves being on the road for a while only to suddenly remember that you forgot to turn off the oven. While that is a domestic story, there is just as much or more anxiety that can go into getting on the road for a business purpose as there is for private travel. The details that must be taken care of to put a business trip on the road can be overwhelming.

It is easy to develop an anxiety complex when going on a business trip and get to where you are in a constant state of stress and worry that you have forgotten something or that there is an important detail that was left undone before you left. This stress anxiety can be destructive to your business goals for the trip. So you need some basic concepts that you can go back to just before the business trips gets underway and as you get on the road so you have some ammunition to combat travel anxiety en route.

* Call in the troops. One big way to stop travel anxiety in its tracks is to utilize your business partners to help you prepare for the trip. It is likely that a number of people in your chain of command or in your department have a vested interest in seeing the trip you are setting out to accomplish is a success. Use their help to plan the trip and to develop detailed check lists of what has to happen before you leave and what has to go with you. Then on the day before you depart, meet with those associates and review those lists. As you check off each thing, insist that your associate initial the list to validate that the detail was taken care of. Then take the list with you. By consulting it often, you can calm yourself that you did take care of all the details along the way.

* Did you forget your head? Ok so you have a good system in to make sure all of your business needs are covered, the next level of anxiety comes when you are sitting on the airplane and you wonder if you packed everything you need for travel personally. There are a couple of antidotes to this type of travel anxiety. First of all, use a similar check list system to assure you have what you need on the flight. You can develop a travel check list that you maintain and update from business trip to business trip. As you use that list each trip, you will discover any missing items or things to do and update the list. And by checking each need off as you take care of it before you travel, you can calm that nervous system of yours that you have done everything so its time to relax.

* What do you really need after all? Second of all, if that check list system has dozens of items and issues on it, much of that can be eliminated by that simple question. The truth is there is very little you really need that you cannot get there if you forgot something at home. You must have your airline tickets, your driver’s license and credit card and any special medication that cannot be found at your destination. If you have plenty of credit, there really is little else you cannot buy at your destination point if you forgot something or other. Comfort yourself that the trip won’t grind to a halt if you forgot something.

* But what if? That question literally can drive you insane. If you let yourself start thinking about whether the plane will crash or if your dog dies while you are away or the hundred of other “what ifs” that might happen, you will turn into a ball of anxiety before the first flight is done. So the answer to “but what if?” is “that has not happened so far and the odds it will happen this time are remote.” Use some logic and adult thinking to combat emotional urge to worry.

The urge to worry is natural in all of us. Its part of your urgent desire to do well on the road. But make one of the things on that check list of things that must happen for this business trip to be a success just one word which is “RELAX”.

source:Ezinearticles

Are Travel Agents Obsolete?

2009-09-10T02:23:00.000-07:00

It seems you cannot watch television for more than an hour without seeing an advertisement with William Shatner talking about Travelocity or that silly gnome talking about Orbitz. These travel web sites have been very successful at facilitating travelers to book their own airline and hotel reservations online. So with this huge push from the internet to take over the travel industry, one has to ask, “Are travel agents obsolete?”

If you have browsed some of these travel sites, you have observed that they are amazing in the diversity of travel options that they make available. And it is impossible to deny that many thousands of people have taken advantage of these services. As a business traveler, however, your needs are somewhat different than the typical airline passenger.

There are some very specific services that a living and breathing travel agent can provide that simply cannot be replicated by an automated web site like Travelocity or Orbitz. Some of those services that a seasoned business traveler would be hard pressed to live without include…

§ Focus. You as a business traveler are not arranging this trip for entertainment. You have specific business objectives in mind. So if you must take time away from preparation for your business task to worry about travel itineraries, hotel and rental car reservations and the like, that is time that you are not being productive for your business. If you can call a talented travel agent who knows your travel profile well and delegate those arrangements to that agent, they do their job in finding just the right accommodations for you and you are freed to do what you do best, focus on your business and the upcoming business trip.

§ Economy. It is difficult to find that balance between finding the accommodations that fit the demanding schedule of a businessperson on the road and is respectful of the companies travel budget as well. If you use an automated online travel service, you may have to sacrifice convenience, schedule or location for economy. A good travel agent will work hard to get you the right itinerary while getting as close the corporate travel cost restrictions as possible. And they will do it without taking up a lot of your time.

§ Back up. You don’t need help if your trip goes completely as planned. But if you encounter problems on the road, you can find yourself in need or rescheduling flights and finding new accommodations to work around canceled flights, weather issues or other unexpected interruptions to your plans. These travel disasters are not mindful of your tight deadlines to meet your business goals. But if you have a travel agent who is dedicated to providing you service, he or she can find those alternative routes and resources to do all they can to get you to your destination so you can conduct your business on time.

§ That personal touch. You may have travel preferences that you want to achieve with each trip you take. A travel agent has your profile and your travel history so they can do what they can to accommodate your preferences. But moreover, if you have specific special needs such as a diet limitation or a need for accommodation due to a disability, it will be a travel agent that sees to it that your needs are provided for and you are well taken care of on the road.

§ Complications. If your travel itinerary involves making connections with other business partners who are traveling from diverse offices, complex travel schedules and itinerary challenges that just cannot be described to the generic screens of an online travel service, you can explain these complications to your travel agent and they can work with other travel agents working to organize the meeting and see to it that your itinerary meets your requirements.

While the online travel services do provide a valuable and affordable alternative to the general traveling public, it is easy to notice their limitations if you are trying to book a trip that is tricky or if you have specific needs that the screens do not anticipate. That is why working with a human travel agent guarantees that this travel professional will dedicate themselves to the task of making sure your trip works to your specifications and that you get to your destination ready to conduct business and be successful in your achieving your goals.

source:Ezinearticles

A Corporate Travel Policy that Works

2009-09-10T02:21:00.000-07:00

It is a myth that employees who travel on business resent the corporate travel policy. The truth is that employees like to know what is expected of them and how to comply with a corporate policy as long as that policy is fair and gives them the ability to do what they need to do on the road. So a well thought out corporate travel policy is a benefit to the company and the business traveler alike.

If it has been given to you to put together a corporate travel policy, your mission from the stand point of the company is to develop a policy that standardizes business expenses, eliminates waste and excess on the road and puts some controls around that part of the business expense picture. So there are some definite focus areas you should include in the stated corporate policy including…

* Reservations. The business can utilize a travel agent that is looking for the best deal for the company. The best rates can be identified and taken advantage of but only while making sure the business traveler’s needs and the business objective of the trip are satisfied. Requiring that employees utilize the corporate travel agent again is not unfair and it clarifies for the employee how to handle the situation.

* Use of credit. It is a bit of effort and expense to set up corporate credit cards that you can require your traveling employees to use. But by trapping expenses to the corporate account, you can get a record of a most of the business expenses that the employee is incurring. Many of the expenses of travel such as airline and hotel can be directly billed back to the company thus taking the issues out of the hands of the business traveler.

* Travel rewards. If you have your corporate travel coordinated by an internal or external travel agency, corporate accounts with the major airlines can be established so the frequent flyer miles can be collected by the business. As such, the business can redeem those miles and realize those benefits as a significant discount to apply against the travel budget.

* Per Diem. Your corporate travel policy must communicate clearly to the traveling employee what their limits are for hotel, rental car and meals on the road. You want to head off before it starts any tendency by the employee to go overboard with daily expenses. This part of the policy should be reviewed annually to update to current costs.

* Reporting. One of the chief complaints employees have about corporate travel policies are that the expense reporting system is cryptic and hard to fill out. You will give the employee a standardized form that each traveler in the company must fill out to get reimbursed for expenses while traveling. But review these forms and even design your own so the format is understandable and you have categories to cover all types of expenses the employee might encounter.

Along with these general categories, your corporate travel policies should include some leverage for employees who are faced with exceptional situations. Room and food expenses can vary widely depending on where the employee must travel. So you don’t want to set the hotel limit to $125 per night because it is reasonable to stay in a comfortable hotel for that rate in Lincoln Nebraska but enforce that same limitation for an employee who must do business in New York City.

By creating a policy that in general protects the corporate budget but is also workable to employees who are about the company business, you will have a tool that will serve both company and employee interests and enable business travel to be what it was always intended to be – a productive, business focused activity that achieves the goals of the enterprise.

source:Ezinearticles

Why Air Travel Just May Be the Most Important Part of Your Trip

2009-09-08T11:56:00.000-07:00

Are you in the process of preparing for a trip that requires you to travel by air? If you are, you should know the impact that your air travel experience can have on your vacation. Unfortunately, this is something that many individuals do not think of until a complication arises.

For starters, traveling by airplane is important to the overall success of your trip, as it is how you will get to your destination. If you miss your flight, you may, literally, be out of luck. Depending on the situation at hand, you may be responsible for buying your own replacement tickets. For that reason, you will always want to arrive to the airport early. You will also want to make sure that you follow all airport rules and restrictions, especially at airport security checkpoints.

Another one of the many ways that your air travel experience can impact your vacation is by ruining it. Remember that your vacation starts and ends with a plane ride. If you have an unpleasant experience, like with a rude airline attendant or a problem at an airport security checkpoint, your vacation will likely get off to a bad start. This can have a significant impact on your mood, as well as how you look at the rest of your vacation.

Your air travel can also have an impact on what you get to do and see while on vacation. This is impacted by the money that you have. When booking a flight for your trip, be sure to compare prices. The less you spend on your airline tickets and the less you spend on food and snacks at the airport, the more money you will have to put towards your vacation. This may mean that you can stay at a vacation resort as opposed to a traditional hotel. It may mean that you can enjoy dinner at a nice restaurant, as opposed to a fast food joint. It may also mean that you get to participate in activities or visit attractions that weren’t previously on your to do list because of costs.

As you can see, there are a number of different ways that your air travel can impact your vacation. With that being said, it is important to remember that you do have some control. There are a number of steps that you can take at the airport and while in-flight to help ensure that you have a pleasant experience, as well as a great vacation.

As a reminder, it is important to not only know all airport security rules, but to also follow them, especially when packing. If you do not bring any prohibited items, especially in your carry-on bag, you will likely get through airport security with ease.

Be sure to follow all directions given to you by airline attendants. If you are supposed to stay seated in-flight, be sure that you do. If you have to go to the bathroom, ask an airline attendant for advice; however, do so politely. Better yet, make sure that you go to the bathroom beforehand. As previously stated, there are always steps that you can take to improve your travel.

Finally, don’t let anything get you down. Of course, customer service is important and all airline attendants and security personnel should be kind and treat you with respect, but also remember that we all have bad days. For that reason, don’t take anything too personal.

source:Ezinearticles

Traveling By Plane: The Importance of Familiarizing Yourself with Restrictions

2009-09-08T11:55:00.000-07:00

Are you preparing for a trip, namely a trip that requires air travel? If you are, you may be looking to start packing your bags soon. Of course, this is a great thing to do, but there is a step that you may first want to take. That step involves familiarizing yourself with all airport rules and restrictions.

As nice as it is to hear that you should take the time to familiarize yourself with all airport rules and restrictions, you may be wondering what is so important about doing so. In actuality, you will find a lot. Familiarizing yourself with all airport security rules and restrictions can have a significant impact on your travels.

One of the most common mistakes made by air travelers is bringing items that are prohibited. These items may include a pocket knife, scissors, or other sharp objects. Although you may find a few small exceptions, it is generally best to leave all sharp objects at home or at least pack them in your checked luggage. In fact, do you know what will happen if you are caught at airport security with a prohibited item that looks dangerous? Chances are, you will find yourself detained. You will be asked to give up the item, like your pocket knife, but you may also be asked a series of other questions, to ensure that you are not a danger to other travelers.

As previously stated, you may be asked to give up any items that you have in your bags that are actually prohibited. This not only includes sharp objects, but many everyday items as well. For example, the TSA has strict rules on liquids being in carry-on luggage. As for drinks, you are advised not to bring anything with you to the airport. There are some exceptions to this rule, like small bottle of juice or formula for your children. Everything else should be purchased at the airport, past a security checkpoint. As for health and beauty products, only small travel sizes are allowed and they must be kept separate. If not, you may be required to throw away your things, which can result in wasted money.

Another one of the many reasons why you are urged to familiarize yourself with airport security rules and restrictions before leaving for your flight is because of the dire consequences. As previously stated, you may be detained and asked questions if you are traveling with anything out of the ordinary or you may be required to throw away prohibited items. Another consequence of not knowing and following all airport security rules is missing your flight. In fact, that is why all travelers are encouraged to arrive at the airport well before their flight leaves, to account for security problems and other delays. If you miss your flight due to a misunderstanding at a security checkpoint, your airline should help you make other arrangements.

Now that you know the importance of familiarizing yourself with all airport security rules and restrictions, you may be curious as to how you can go about doing so. The good news is that it is relatively easy to do so online. Your best source of information, perhaps, is the online website for the TSA. Their online websites is located at www.tsa.gov. There, you will find a large amount of information, including a detailed list of prohibited items, other airport rules and restrictions, as well as general travel tips for air travelers.

Another great way to familiarize yourself with airport security rules and restrictions is by visiting the online website of your departing airport. Most will follow the same rules set in place by the TSA, but you may also find other rules and restriction in place for that specific airport, such as with parking. These rules and restrictions, should they exist, should be clearly outlined on an airport’s online website. All airport websites can easily be found online, with a standard internet search.

source:Ezinearticles

Tips for Last Minute Air Travelers

2009-09-08T11:54:00.000-07:00

Have you recently decided that you would like to take a last minute trip? Whether you are interested in visiting Hawaii, California’s wine country, or another popular vacation destination in the United States, you will want to get started with your planning right away. With last minute trips, you have the same number of travel arrangements to make, but in a much shorter period of time.

Speaking of making your travel arrangements, you will want to go with an airline that is known for its affordable rates. You may also want to choose an airline that you have traveled with before, as this often results in less surprises. If this is your first time traveling by air, you may want to quickly ask your friends or family members for airline recommendations or even warnings.

In keeping with reservations, if you don’t have time to examine all of the airlines individually and their rates, you may want to turn to online travel websites. When doing so, go to the bigger name sites, as they are typically more reliable. Online travel websites allow you to search for flights with flexible timeframe windows. You should also receive quotes from a number of different airlines. For last minute travelers, online travel websites are one of the best ways to get the best deals in the quickest amount of time.

It is also important to remember not to overpay. Unfortunately, this is something that many last minute travelers end up doing. If you are flying out for an emergency, like to see a sick loved one, you may want to make your travel arrangement right away and at any cost. However, if you are simply just looking to take a last minute vacation or a quick weekend trip, be sure to price compare. As previously stated, online travel websites are an easy way to do so. They can allow you to compare the rates and flight times of multiple airlines, all in a few minutes worth of time. For that reason, you should never have to pay more than you need to, even at the last minute.

Once you have your travel arrangements made, you will want to quickly create a checklist for yourself. This is important, as many last minute travel plans are rushed, including packing. As soon as you have five or ten minutes free, sit down and create a checklist for yourself. Do you need to bring your digital camera or laptop computer? How many changes of clothes do you need? Be sure to check each item off of your checklist as you later pack it. This will help to prevent errors and confusion.

It is also important to take the time to familiarize yourself with airport security rules and restrictions. When rushing to plan a last minute trip and pack, you are more likely to make mistakes. You can visit the TSA’s online website to get a quick summary of air travel rules and restrictions. You can also use your best judgment as well. For example, you know your shoes will be removed, so wear comfortable and easy to remove shoes. Also, leave all sharp objects at home or at least pack them in your checked luggage, as opposed to in a carry-on bag.

As for arriving for your flight, all last minute travelers are urged to think like everyday travelers. Just because you made your travel plans at the last minute, it doesn’t mean that you should arrive at the airport at the last minute. Generally speaking, you will want to arrive about an hour and half before your flight is scheduled to leave; however, it all depend on your departing airport. Larger airports sometimes recommend arriving three hours in advance.

The above mentioned tips may be able to assist you when looking to plan a last minute vacation or a last minute weekend trip. By taking the time to at least know what you are doing, your trip can go off without a hitch; in fact, it can appear as if it is a trip that you have been planning for months!

source:Ezinearticles

The Pros and Cons of Vacation Packages

2009-09-08T11:53:00.000-07:00

Are you interest in taking a trip or a vacation soon? If you are, will you need to book reservations on an airplane? If you will, you will find that you have a number of different booking options. One of those options, which typically comes highly rated and recommended, involves making your travel arrangements in the form of a vacation package.

Although vacation packages do come highly rated and recommend, for the most part, many travelers are still unsure about buying them. This is most often the case with first time travelers. Many are unsure if vacation packages are really in their best interest. When trying to determine if booking your next travel arrangements in the form of a vacation package is a good idea, you will want to examine the pros and cons of doing so.

As for the pros or plus sides to booking your travel arrangements in the form of a vacation package, you will find that there are a lot of them. One of those plus sides is that vacation packages are easy to find, especially online. Vacation packages are most commonly offered for sale through online travel websites. These online travel websites can be found with a standard internet search. Online travel websites are websites that allow you to compare airfare, hotel accommodations, and car rental reservations. Using online travel websites, to book a vacation or even just airline reservations, has a whole set of benefits on its own.

Another pro or plus side to booking your next travel plans in the form of a vacation package is the money that you may be able to save. While there are no guarantees, consumers are typically rewarded for making all of their travel arrangements at once. This is neat, as many travelers already feel rewarded because of the time they are able to save by booking all of their travel arrangements at once. As for saved money, the discount that you will receive will all depend on the vacation package that you are purchasing, as well as who you are making that purchase from. Whether you receive a $5 discount or a $50 discount, you may be pleased with the savings.

Another one of the many reasons why vacation packages come highly rated and recommend is because they come in a number of different formats. No matter what your travel needs are, you should be able to find a vacation package that can accommodate to you and your needs. For example, do you need to book a flight, make reservations at a hotel, and reserve a car rental? If so, you can do so. On the other hand, if you only need to book a flight and rent a car, you can still find vacation packages that allow you to do so. While most major online travel websites will only include motel, hotels, and vacation resorts in vacation packages, there are specialty travel websites out there that focus on other lodging options, including vacation homes.

Although there are a number of pros or plus sides to booking your travel arrangements as a vacation package, it is also important to note that there are a number of downsides to doing so as well. Two of those downsides are the restrictions that you may be faced with, as well as the fact that you are not guaranteed to receive any discounts, although most will offer them. As for the restrictions that you may be faced with, not all cities and towns in the United States have accommodations that are needed for vacation packages, like a car rental company or a hotel. With that said, most can be found nearby.

As you can see, there are both a number of pros and cons to making your travel arrangements in the form of a vacation package. What you are encouraged to do is take these above mentioned pros and cons and apply them to your own personal wants and needs.

source:Ezinearticles

Online Travel Websites: Can They Really Save You Money?

2009-09-08T11:52:00.000-07:00

Are you interested in taking a trip or a vacation soon? If you are, you may be looking for ways to save money. When it comes to finding great travel deals and discounts, many individuals are told to visit online travel websites. With that said, many are still left wondering if online travel websites can really save them money.

When it comes to determining if online travel websites can save you money, there are a number of important points to keep in mind. Generally speaking, yes, online travel websites can save you money, but you need to proceed with caution. If you are not careful, online travel websites can actually end up costing you more money in travel costs, like with airline reservations.

The best way to find affordable airline reservations and other travel arrangements is to know what you are getting. This is important to the overall success and satisfaction of your trip. For many individuals, online travel websites can be tricky to use, especially with a number of rules, restrictions, and exceptions. When you buy a ticket on an online travel website, make sure it is for an actual set of tickets; do not purchase any standby tickets, as you may not be able to fit onto the flight in question.

In keeping with knowing what you are getting, it is important to thoroughly examine any airfare quotes that you may receive through an online travel website. What many do not realize is that most online travel websites charge consumers a fee for using their services. This fee is often hard to notice, as it is typically included in with the quoted airfare rate, but that does not mean that it will not exist. Keep an eye on online travel websites and the fees that they charge, as they should be reasonable, but not too high.

In staying with costs, you will want to compare prices, when looking to buy airline tickets on an online travel website. What you will want to do is examine similar flights on different online travel websites. Since most travel websites charge different fees, you will likely see some differences, but be cautious of any huge price gaps. Significant gaps in quoted prices are a good sign that you are being overcharged or at least over quoted.

In addition to buying airline tickets through an online travel website, you may be interested in booking a stay at a hotel or booking a reservation for a car rental. When doing so, you will likely end up buying a vacation package. Vacation packages are nice, but they are designed so it is easy for consumers to overpay or at least walk away without getting a good deal. When you are quoted a price for a vacation package, the name of the hotel in question should disclosed. Quickly visit the website for that hotel and perform your own private quote. Do the rates match? Are you getting a good deal or not?

In conclusion, online travel websites are a nice way to make travel arrangements, especially where airfare is considered. If you are careful and watch every step that you make, you can use online travel websites as a quick, easy, and convenient way to book your travel arrangements, including your airline reservations, while saving money at the same time.

source:Ezinearticles

Important Air Travel Tips

2009-09-08T11:51:00.000-07:00

Are you preparing for a trip that requires air travel? If you are, you may want to take the time to familiarize yourself with a few helpful tips. Some of these tips are outlined below for you and, when properly implemented, they may be able to save you both time and money.

Before leaving for the airport, as well as before packing your bags, be sure to familiarize yourself with airport security rules and restrictions. If you keep a close eye on the news, you may already know most of the rules, but you may still want to visit the online website for the TSA before leaving. This will result in you making it through airport security a lot quicker. Also, when you pack your bags based on existing rules, you are less likely to have to throw away any prohibited items, which can cost you money.

When packing your bags, be sure to pack with care. This is extremely important with your checked baggage. If you will have liquids in your checked bags, like shampoo or lotion, be sure to wrap them in a plastic grocery bag. This will be a lifesaver if anything spills or breaks open. If packing items these items in a carry-on bag, make sure that you are following all rules. For example, only small travel sizes are allowed and you are required to keep them separated in a plastic ziplock bag.

In keeping with packing your bags, be sure to keep anything of great value or importance in your carry-on bag. Laptops, digital cameras, and camcorders should not go into checked luggage, as the chances of damage are quite high. You never want to be separated from something that is valuable. Be sure to keep your carry-on bag with you at all times, never leave your bag unattended at the airport.

Speaking of the airport, be sure to arrive early for your flight. Generally speaking, you are asked to arrive about an hour and half to two hours before your flight is set to depart; however, you may want to do a little bit of research first. Most airports will outline on their websites how early you should arrive. Those larger in size may recommend arriving two hours or more early. It never hurts to be early for your flight, even too early. Always remember that you never know with wait times, especially where airport security is involved. Always arrive earlier than normal on weekends or holidays, as they are usually busy travel times.

Buy all snacks that you may want or need to eat ahead of time, not at the airport. As for drinks, you will want to buy them at the airport though. Unless a drink is for a child, chances are it will not make it past airport security checkpoints, but dry snacks will. Buying dry snacks and candy ahead of time can prevent you from having to pay outrageous prices at the airport. If your flight leaves during breakfast, lunch, or dinner time, try to eat a full meal before you arrive at the airport, as this can also save you a considerable amount of money.

When buying your airport tickets, be sure to give yourself enough time at layovers. Generally speaking, fifteen to twenty minutes or less isn’t a good idea. Most flights can average a ten minute delay. Yes, if you miss a connecting flight, you will be provided with other arrangements, but these alternative arrangements can through a wrench in the rest of your travel plans.

If you will be traveling with young children, you will want to arrive at the airport even earlier. This will give you the opportunity to teach your child about the airport security screening process or even watch others go through, so that your child will not be scared. For children just learning how to walk, strollers are a good idea, as they allow you to quickly move around airports, especially during short layovers.

source:Ezinearticles

How to Save Money When Traveling By Air

2009-09-08T11:49:00.000-07:00

Are you getting ready to take a trip? If you are, will you be traveling by air? If you will be, you may be nervous about the costs of doing so. Any type of travel can be expensive if you are not careful, but air travel can be the worst. With that said, it is important to know that there are ways that you can save money.

One of the best ways to save money when traveling by air is to compare airline fares. This allows you to save money right from the start. Also, if you have more than one airline to choose from, which most travelers do, be sure to price compare. Also, being flexible with the dates and times that you can fly can also result in a little bit of money saved.

Speaking of flights, be sure to choose an airport that is close to your final destination. This is important if you must rent a car or take a bus or a cab. Ending up close to your destination should result in saved money as well as saved time, by eliminating unnecessary travel. On that same note, you will want to experiment with airports that are close by. For example, did you know that a simple thirty minute drive may result in huge price gaps, depending on the airport in question?

As for packing your bags, be sure to know airport security rules. You will want to use your best judgment, but you can also learn more about airport security rules by visiting the online website for the TSA. Don’t pack anything that is sharp or buy a drink to take with you to the airport, unless it is for a child. Chances are, you will have to toss these items in the trash, which, essentially equals money lost.

Although you will need to be careful with bringing liquids to the airport, you will want to bring snacks with you. Most snacks are okay, as long as they are dry food. Great items include fruit, chips, and crackers. Stop and pickup some of these items at your local grocery store before your trip or, better yet, buy them when they are on sale. Snacks and candies are usually very expensive at the airport and their costs can easily add up

As for parking at the airport, see if you have a close friend or family member who can drop you off and pick up back up when you return. This will allow you to save yourself a considerable amount of money on parking, especially on extended trips. If you must drive yourself, like if your flight leaves or comes in when most people that you know are at work, be sure to examine all of your options. For example, outdoor parking is usually much cheaper, as opposed to indoor garage parking. Also, the farther away you are able to park, the less money you will likely have to pay.

If your flight has an in-flight movie and you want to watch, buy the headphones. Yes, this will cost a couple of dollars, but most standard headphones will not work with airport movies and seats. If you do buy the headphones though, be sure to save them, as you can use them on another flight, like your return flight. Also, if you already have a set of headphone that you purchased on an airplane before bring those, as they will likely work.

To save yourself a couple of dollar on headphones, don’t watch the movie. Instead, bring other stuff to keep you occupied. Great items include portable DVD players, laptop computers, books, magazines, music players, and portable gaming systems. When using electronic items, be sure to have extra batteries on hand. As for a laptop computer, charge your laptop at any layovers you have.

As you can see, there are a number of different ways that you can go about saving money on your next trip. In all honesty, as long as you use your best judgment and plan ahead, you shouldn’t have to incur to many additional costs.

source:Ezinearticles

How to Make It through Airport Security with Ease

2009-09-08T11:47:00.000-07:00

Are you in the process of preparing for a trip? If you are, does your trip require that you travel by air? If so, you may be concerned about airport security checkpoints. Even everyday individuals, who mean no harm, experience some nervousness and uncertainty when they think of airport security. The good news, however, is that there are some steps that you can take to help get you through airport security with ease. A few of these tips are highlighted below for your convenience.

The best way to pass through airport security with ease and without experiencing any complications or delays is by knowing all airport security rules and restrictions. Although you will want to use your best judgment, you will also want to take the time to visits the website for the TSA, which is located at www.tsa.gov. There, you will find all that you need to know about airport security rules and restrictions, such as prohibited items, as well as tips to help you.

As for making it through airport security with ease, there are many professionals who recommend purchasing your airline tickets well in advance of your trip. Apparently, you are less likely to be stopped and fully screened by airport security when doing so. For many, last minute travelers send off signals or red flags. Even if this is untrue, there is still no harm that can come from booking your airline reservations in advance.

Next, it is important to make sure that you are carrying proper identification with you. Most airline workers, especially those at the ticket counter, will ask to see a form of identification. For adults, this identification needs to include a picture. State identification cards or driver’s licenses are ideal. For domestic travel, children can often get away without showing identification.

Before you leave for the airport, go through your luggage one more time. This is particularly a good idea with your carry-on luggage. Do you see anything that looks out of the ordinary? If you do, you may want to leave that item at home or else pack it in a checked bag. Anything that looks suspicious, even though it may not be, may hold you up at airport security, resulting in unnecessary delays.

All air travelers, including children, are required to remove their shoes before walking through the metal detectors. For that reason, you will want to remove your shoes ahead of time. You will need to do so anyways, so get started earlier, which can help to keep the security line moving along in a timely fashion. Also, be sure to wear comfortable and easy to remove shoes.

In addition to shoes, all air travelers are required to remove certain clothing pieces, such as belts, jackets, and possibly even bulky sweatshirts. For that reason, you will want to come to the airport dressed simple, yet comfortably. You will want to remove these items ahead of time and have them ready to place in a security bin.

Also, make sure that when you pack your carry-on luggage that you have all liquids in a separate bag. In fact, the TSA has a 3-1-1 policy that they follow. This policy states that small liquid containers, like those for liquid makeup or contact lens solution, must be three ounces in size or smaller. Each person must put all liquids in a one quart ziplock bag and one bag is permitted for each person.

If you are traveling with young children, you will want to take steps to prepare your child for the airport security process. Make sure they are wearing comfortable and easy to remove shoes and jackets, as they will still need to be removed. If your child can walk, they will need to go through the airport metal detectors themselves, so be sure to talk about doing so with your child. In fact, you may want to arrive at the airport a few minutes early so that your child can see others going through airport security with ease.

source:Ezinearticles

How to Find the Best Vacation Package Deals

2009-09-08T11:46:00.000-07:00

Are you in the process of planning a trip? If you are and if your trip will require air travel, you will find that you have a number of options when booking your travel arrangements. One of those options is to purchase a vacation package.

Although vacation packages do have their pros and cons, there are many travelers who buy them, as well as recommend them to others. There are two main reasons for this. The allure of vacation packages is that you often receive a discount and that it is easy to book multiple travel arrangements all at the same time. Although you will find some variations, vacation packages should include more than just airline reservations. Depending on the package in question, they may include overnight accommodations and a car rental as well.

If you are interested in booking your next travel arrangements in the form of a vacation package, you may be wondering how you can go about doing so. The good news is that you have a number of different options. Just a few of the many ways that you can go about finding and buying vacation packages that include airline reservations are highlighted below for your convenience.

The first place that you will want to look at is some of the major online travel websites, like Orbtiz. These are travel websites that focus on large areas, such as both domestic and international travel. Many of the well known vacation travel websites will give you some freedom when looking to buy vacation packages. For example, if you already have your overnight accommodations arranged, like if you are staying with friends or family, you can still book a vacation package that only include airline reservations and a car rental.

As a reminder, be sure to visit travel websites that are well known for their great deals and good reputations. These websites can easily be found with a standard internet search. If you are concerned with the reputation of an online travel website, you can easily do a little bit of research first online. There are many websites that are designed to assist travelers, as well as online message boards where other travelers, just like you, talk about online travel websites. To help save you the best money, you may want to compare similar vacation packages offered by different travel websites. When doing so, have a pen and paper handy so that you can easily record your findings.

In addition to well known travel websites, you may also want to visit specialty websites. These are travel websites that focus on a particular area, such as Hawaii or Florida. Many of these smaller travel websites are still trustworthy and reputable websites and many also offer vacation packages. In fact, depending on where you look, you may find a vacation package that includes a stay at a vacation rental, like a vacation home. These types of vacation packages can sometimes be hard to find, but they do exist.

If you are traveling to a vacation destination that is popular or well known, like California wine country or Hawaii, you may be able to get vacation packages through vacation resorts and hotels. While many of these packages may only include overnight accommodations, a car rental, and a few nearby activities, you may be surprised with what you find. As a reminder, you may have the best luck when dealing with large or well known hotels and vacation resorts, as they are the ones more likely to have vacation packages for sale that include airline tickets.

As a reminder, vacation packages come in a number of different formats. Even if you have purchased your airline tickets, you may still be able to benefit from a vacation package. There are some vacation packages that only include overnight accommodations, like a stay at hotel or vacation resort, and a car rental. These types of packages are ideal for those who have found a great deal on airfare independently or for those who have already made their airline reservations.

source:Ezinearticles

How to Find the Best Online Travel Websites

2009-09-08T11:45:00.000-07:00

Are you interested in planning a trip in the near future? If you are and if your trip will require airline reservations, you may want to checkout online travel websites. Online travel websites are a great way to quickly make travel arrangements, as well as convenient way to compare prices.

One of the most commonly asked questions, concerning online travel websites, is which website is the best. Before focusing on ways that you can find reputable, reliable, and trustworthy online travel websites to do business with, it is first important to know what to look for. For starters, you will want to look for great rates. Online travel websites are designed in a way that you should save money, so never pay more than what you need to.

You will also want to look for online travel websites that partner with most major airlines. When you search for flights on a travel websites, you should be present with a number of different options. In addition to different times, dates, and layovers, you should also be present with flight quotes from different airlines. This is likely to improve your chances of truly finding the best deal.

Depending on your travel needs, you may also want to search for online travel websites that offer vacation packages. For example, are you looking to book a flight to California, rent a car, and stay at a California hotel? If you are, you should be able to find a vacation package that fits your needs. Vacation packages are a nice way to make travel arrangements, as you may be able to save both time and money.

Ease of use is also important, when looking for the best online travel websites to do business with. When making important travel arrangements, like airline reservations, you do not want to be confused. For that reason, all travel websites that you use should be easy to navigate and understand. Hard to navigate websites can result in you making errors with your travel arrangements or you may even miss out on the best deals.

The above mentioned features are all features that you will want to look for in online travel websites. As for finding the best travel websites, like ones with good reputations, you have a number of different options, starting with yourself. You can easily test out a number of online travel websites to see what they have available. These websites can be found with a standard internet search. Remember low rates and ease of use. Be cautious of any websites that are difficult to navigate and watch out for fares that seem higher than normal.

You can also learn more about the best online travel websites to do business with by asking those that you know for recommendations. Over the past few years, online travel websites have increased in popularity and many people use them. Ask any friends, family members, neighbors, or coworkers in passing if they have ever used an online travel website to book a vacation before. If they have, which one did they use and would they recommend it to others? This approach is nice, as it requires little research on your part.

You can also use the internet to research online travel websites to find the best ones. You can do this by performing a standard internet search, with a phrase like “best travel websites.” You may find business articles where the top online travel websites are listed. You may also be connected to online message boards where travel options, including online travel websites, are being discussed. This is a great way to get ratings and reviews.

The above mentioned approaches are all great ways to go about learning more about online travel websites. Doing so can help to ensure that you are doing business with an online travel website that will provide you with the best deals, as well as the best quality of service.

source:Ezinearticles

How to Find Cheap Air Travel Rates

2009-09-08T11:44:00.000-07:00

Are you in the process of planning a trip? Whether you are flying to Hawaii, Europe, or another destination that calls for air travel, you may be looking for information how you can save money. Better yet, you may be looking for cheap air travel rates.

The first step in finding cheap air ravel rates is to know that they do exist. Unfortunately, many individuals do not know or even truly believe that there are ways that they can save money on the cost of traveling by air, but you can. Depending on where you look, you may be able to save one hundred dollars or more on just one trip!

As for how you can go about finding cheap air travel rates, you will want to turn to the internet. When using the internet, you will find that there are a number of different approaches that you can take to find cheap airline tickets. First, you will want to start with online travel websites. Many allow you to compare flights with different airlines. You are also often able to compare flights with one airline, but with a flexible time or date window. This approach is one that you will want to examine. Many travelers do not realize that the same flight can cost more money on a Saturday than it would on a Wednesday and so forth.

In keeping with using online travel websites to help you find cheap air travel rates, you will want to visit a number of them. If you don’t already know of a number of online travel websites, you can easily find a few by performing a standard internet search. Examining multiple online travel websites and their rates is important, as they will likely vary. For example, many online travel websites charge you a fee for using their services. This fee is typically included in the price that you are quoted, but since different travel websites charge different fees, you will find some price differences.

Another great way that you can go about finding cheap air travel rates, while still using the internet, is by examining popular airlines individually and independently. This can be time consuming, but still worth it if you are able to find a great deal. First, examine airlines that provide flights from your starting point to your destination. Then, compare prices. Remember that being flexible, in your destination and travel dates and time can result in you saving money.

When comparing prices, either for airlines individually or with online travel websites, be sure to write down all quote rates. Other information that you will want to write down includes the airline, date, time, and the name of the online travel website the deal is being offered on. This will allow you to easily compare to find the cheapest air travel rates, without making any errors.

If you find a good deal, try to buy your tickets right then and there. It is important to remember that prices can change and at the drop of a hat. Also, airlines that are offering great deals on flights may have their seats fill up quickly. That is why you will want to act fast if you see a great moneysaving air travel rate.

As an added tip, if you will be traveling with young children, namely those who are two or younger, you may be able to receive a small, but helpful, discount. Children under two have the option of sitting on the lap of an adult, but many airlines will offer discounts to help fill up all seats. To see if an airline will offer you a discount for traveling with a child under the age of two, contact them directly. If you are given a small discount, be prepared to buy your tickets then and over the phone.

The above mentioned ways are just a few of the many ways that you can go about finding cheap air travel rates. As a recap, comparing airlines, travel websites, and flight dates and times is likely to result in you finding the best deals.

source:Ezinearticles

How to Buy Airline Tickets Online With Ease

2009-09-08T11:43:00.000-07:00

Are you in the process of planning a trip that requires air travel? If you are, you may be wondering about booking your reservations. Of course, you can contact an airline over the phone to book a flight, but you can also use the internet. In fact, you are encouraged to use the internet, as it is an easy way to find and buy airline tickets.

When it comes to buying airline tickets online, many travelers wonder how they can go about doing so. Particularly, travelers wonder how they can buy airline tickets online, but with the smallest amount of hassle possible. The first step in doing so is knowing what all of your options are. For your convenience, a couple of your online air travel booking options are outlined below.

Before focusing on a few of the ways that can find and buy airline tickets online, it is first important to examine method of payment. Most websites will require a credit or a debit card that can be processed as a credit card. There may also be certain rules and restrictions, such as a policy that states your name or the name of someone else buying a ticket must be on the credit card used. If you plan to use a debit card, be sure to speak with your bank first, as you may have daily limits attached to your account.

It is also important to quickly touch on prices. Not all online websites will charge the same fees. In fact, some websites may list the exact same flight for a different price. Airlines themselves are known for varied rates. For that reason, you will want to take the time to price compare before officially booking your airline reservations. Honestly, there is no reason for you to pay more money than you need to. The good new is that you can compare prices at the same places online that you will go to for buying your tickets.

Speaking of your options, one of your options for buying airline tickets online is directly through the airlines. You can easily find most airline online websites by performing a standard internet search. For example, if you would like to fly United Airlines, your standard internet search phrase should be just that. When visiting the online website of an airline, most will allow you to search for flights based on date, time, destination, and departure location. Right next to the quoted price, you should see a link that will take you to a secure checkout. This is where you can pay for your tickets.

The greatest pro or plus side to booking your airplane reservations directly from the airlines themselves is the hassle. You know straight forward what you are getting. There is no having to wonder if the website you are doing business with is reputable. You are also more likely to get any questions that you may have about your flight later on answered and in an accurate and timely manner. Many travelers like the comfort and peace of mind that comes along with direct reservations.

Online travel websites are another one of your options, when looking to book and pay for your airline reservations online. They operate in a manner that is similar to most airline websites. For example, you can search for fights based on your starting point, your destination, and your date. You should be presented with a number of different flight options, including those from different airlines. In this aspect, online travel websites are nice, especially when looking to compare price to find the best deals. The only downside to using online travel websites is the uncertainty that many face. With that said, millions of travelers use online websites and are pleased with the results.

As highlighted above, you have a number of different options when looking to book and pay for your airline reservations. The sooner that you get started with doing so, the sooner you can start focusing on other important aspects of your trip, like fun activities and attractions at your vacation destination.

source:Ezinearticles

Factors to Consider When Making Air Travel Arrangements

2009-09-08T11:42:00.000-07:00

Are you interested in taking a trip in the near future? If you are, will you need to fly to get to your intended destination? If you will, you will want to make your travel arrangements soon, namely your airline reservations.

When it comes to booking a flight on an airplane, it is important to remember that you do have a number of options to choose from. That is why it is not only important to familiarize yourself with these options, but also to take a close look at your own personal wants and needs. For that reason, there are a number of important factors that you will want to take into consideration, when looking to book a flight for your next trip

As previously stated, you have a number of different options when looking to make airline reservations. This is an important factor to remember and to take into consideration. No matter how large or small the airport is that you are arriving to and departing from, you should have some options. For example, most airports have at least two airlines or more that provide service to their area. That is why you are encouraged to examine flights from different airlines, read reviews, as well as compare prices.

In keeping with your options, it is also important to remember that most airlines have flights coming in and out of airports at all different times. For example, if you are flying from New York to Atlanta, you should have, at least four or five, different flights to choose from throughout one single day. When choosing a flight for you to book a seat on, examine times that are convenient for you. Also, keep in mind busy travel times. Early in the morning, airports are likely to be busy and flights are likely to be full, due to business travelers.

Your seating arrangements are another factor that should be taken into consideration, when looking to book a flight for your next trip. When making your reservations early, you will have more freedom to choose the best seat. Almost all airlines do give you the freedom to handpick your seat. If you have a family and you all want to sit together, make sure you choose a flight where you are able to do so. Do not assume that an airline attendant will be able to fix your seats for you later on. If a flight is too full to give you your hopeful seating arrangements, examine other flights at an earlier or later time.

Cost is another factor that should be examined, when looking to make air travel arrangements. You should always compare prices. Never pay more than you have to. In all honesty, why would you want? It is also important to mention that any money saved on the cost of tickets can be used to better your vacation, like by having extra money for entertainment or souvenirs. Online travel websites are a great way to quickly compare flights, airlines, and their prices.

Layovers are another important factor that should be taken into consideration, when looking to book a flight for your next trip. Make sure that your layovers are long, but not too long. You will want to make sure that you have enough time to get off your current flight and make it to the boarding gate of your connecting flight. If not, the rest of your travel plans, including any other layovers and flights that you may have, may be messed up. As for making sure that your layovers aren’t too long, doing so is likely to reduce the amount of money you spend at an airport.

The above mentioned factors are just a few of the many that you will want to take into consideration, when looking to book a flight. Perhaps, the greatest point to remember is that you always do have options with flight dates, times, and costs.

source:Ezinearticles

Destinations Popular For Air Travelers

2009-09-08T11:41:00.000-07:00

Are you interested in taking a short weekend trip or an extended vacation? If you are, you will find that you, literally, have an unlimited number of destinations to choose from. With that being said, you may be looking for some travel advice. If so, you will want to continue reading on. Below a number of destinations that are popular for air travelers are outlined.

Hawaii is one of the most common destinations flown to the United States. There are a number of different reasons why air travelers fly to Hawaii. Perhaps, the greatest reason why is because doing so is really the only way that vacationers can get there. Another reason for the popularity of Hawaii is because of all that you can do see. Hawaii is known for its breathtakingly beautiful beaches and all of its beach related activities.

In keeping with traveling by air to Hawaii, did you know that you have more air travel options than just arriving on the island? You do. Hawaii is comprised of a number of different islands. A few of these popular islands, which are known as popular vacation destinations, include Maui, Oahu, Kauai, and Big Island. There many helicopter tours in the area that can get you up in the air, as well as inter island flights, which can help you explore just about every aspect of Hawaii.

Europe is another popular vacation destination for those traveling by air. In addition to Europe, other foreign countries are also popular destinations. Foreign trips and international flights have increased in popularity over the years. For many travelers, it is actually much more affordable to travel overseas then originally though. Many international airlines offer some pretty decent deals and discounts on airfare. International travel, namely overseas travel, is ideal for those looking for fun, but with educational benefits as well.

Perhaps, the only downside to traveling to Europe is that you will need a passport to do so. Unfortunately, if you do not already have a passport, you may be in for a long wait. If you are looking to take a trip now or in the next few weeks, you may want to examine your other options.

Speaking of your other options, one of those options is traveling to California. California is another popular vacation destination for air travelers. This is because California is located on the west coast. For many parts of the country, California is just too far of a drive without a motor home and lots of time to spare. Due to California being a popular vacation destination for air travelers, you are likely to find some really great travel deals, especially when looking online.

As for why California is a popular vacation destination for air travelers, there are a number of different reasons. Many who travel to California are hoping to get a glimpse of celebrities that live and work in the area, many want to travel to the beach, and many others want to stop and take a wine country tour.

As previously stated, California, Europe, and Hawaii are popular destinations for those who travel by air. They are also a few of the destinations that you may want to consider for your next trip. As a reminder though, you have an unlimited number of destinations both in the United States and around the world to choose from.

source:Ezinearticles

Cheap Air Travel Rates: Do They Exist?

2009-09-08T11:40:00.000-07:00

Are you in the process of planning a trip? If you are, you may be concerned with the cost of doing so, especially if your trip requires flying. Whether you are traveling a long distance, like to another country, or if you are flying with a large family, you may be concerned with costs. Of course, it is normal to be worried about the cost of flying, but you should take a little bit of comfort in knowing that there is such a thing as cheap airfare rates.

When it comes to cheap airfare rates, one of the most commonly asked questions involves finding them. There are many individuals who are unsure as to how they can go about finding cheap airfare rates. What many do not realize is that doing so is often much easier than originally though. Outlined below are just a few of the many ways that you can go about finding cheap airline reservations.

Before focusing on a few of the many ways that you can go about finding cheap airline tickets, it is important to know what to look for. This can sometimes be difficult, as we all often have different views as to what is cheap and what is not. With that being said, there are some signs that you will want to watch for when looking to find cheap and affordable air travel rates.

One of the best ways to go about finding cheap air travel rates is to know what all of your options are. When you know where to look, you are more likely to see success. Online, you will find a large number of online travel websites. These are websites that not only offer airline reservations, but hotel accommodations, and car rentals as well. Online travel websites, themselves, come in a number of different formats. For example, there are the larger, known sites that operate on international levels, and then there are smaller travel websites that tend to focus on a specific area, such as California.

What is nice about using online travel websites to find cheap airfare rates is that it is easy to do. Typically, all you need to do is key in your intended dates of travel, your starting point, and your destination. You will then be provided with information on a number of flights, often from a number of different airlines. This information should be quoted with a price. In addition to offering everyday low prices, many online travel websites also have great daily deals or specials on specific flights, such as a flight from New York to Las Vegas.

Although online travel websites are a great way to find cheap travel rates, you will want to checkout the airlines themselves. All airlines have online websites. Many will regularly offer deals and discounts on many of their flights. These deals and discounts are likely to change often, so if you see something that catches your eye, you may want to snatch up the deal real quick before it is gone.

By taking the two above mentioned approaches, you are sure to come across cheap airfare rates. Even if you can’t come across any amazing deals or discounts, you can still price compare airlines and specific flights to at least prevent yourself from paying more for your airline tickets than you need to.

source:Ezinearticles

Air Travel: Your Booking Options

2009-09-08T11:39:00.000-07:00

Are you looking to take a trip or a vacation that will require you to fly? If you are, you will need to make your airline reservations soon. When doing so, you will find that you have a number of different options. A few of your options, as well as the pros and cons to each, are highlighted below.

One of the easiest ways to book travel arrangements, including airline reservations is to use the internet. When using the internet, many turn to online travel websites. In fact, online travel websites have increased in popularity over the years. When using an online travel website to book your airline reservations, you need to enter in the number of travelers, your intended dates of travel, where you will be leaving from, and your destination. You will then be provided with a list of flights that meet your needs. All of these flights, which often include different airlines, should be compared.

As previously stated, online travel websites are easy to use. That is just one of the reasons why they are so popular. Even inexperienced internet users can buy airline tickets from a travel website with ease. As for the downside to using an online travel website, many charge you a small fee for using their services; however, this fee, if it is charged, is often added right into the quoted airfare rate.

In keeping with the internet, you can also book your airline reservations online, but directly through an airline. When doing so, you will need to visit the online website of an airline that you know services your departure and arrival locations. These websites can easily be found with a standard internet search. Next, you will need to enter in your intended dates of travel, your starting point, and your destination. This is similar to what you need to do to use online travel websites.

As for the pros or plus sides to making your airline reservations online, but directly through an airline company, there are a number of them. The internet makes planning a trip and buying airline tickets easy and convenient. There are many others who take comfort in knowing that they are buying their tickets directly from the source. As for the downsides to buying your next set of airline tickets this way, you will find that it can be difficult to compare prices. In fact, if you want to compare the prices of different airlines, you will need to visit multiple websites to do so.

Another one of your options, when looking to buy airline tickets, involves doing so over the phone. Most airlines will allow you to make over the phone reservations. Once you have the phone number needed to place your reservations, it is relatively easy to do. This option is ideal for those who are concerned with internet security, like individuals who have computers not protected by anti-virus software. Truthfully, the only downside to this method of booking is the time that you may have to spend on the phone; it can be quite long.

As outlined above, you have a number of different options, when looking to buy tickets for your next trip or vacation. Regardless of which approach you take, you will likely need to have a credit card or a debit card that can be processed as a credit card.

source:Ezinearticles

Air Travel: Why You Should Research Airlines and How to Do So

2009-09-08T11:38:00.000-07:00

Do you need to book a flight soon? Whether you are looking to take a vacation, visit a sick loved one, move, or take a business trip, it is important to remember that you do have a number of different options. No matter where you are flying to or from, you have a number of different flight options, often all on the same day.

As previously stated, you have a number of options when looking to travel by airplane. In addition to having different flights departing at different times, you may also have different airlines to choose from. With a number of different airlines to choose from, you may be wondering what you should do. Of course, you will want to choose the shortest flights or those that have convenient departure and arrival times for you, but you will also want to examine the airline in question. Before booking a flight, you should do a little bit of research first, especially if you have multiple airlines to choose from.

When it comes to researching airlines, many travelers wonder exactly why they should do so. It is important to remember that your air travel experiences can have a significant impact on the overall success and enjoyment of your trip. This is particularly important if you have and will be traveling with children, as you may need more help and flexibility. Is the airline in question known for catering to and extending extra help to families or those with disabilities? They should be if you are looking for a pleasant time in the air.

As nice as it is to know that you should examine airlines and their reputations, you may be wondering how you can go about doing so. The good news is that you have a number of different options, starting with those that you know. Ask any friends or family members for advice. Which airline did they travel on? Did they have a good experience? Would they recommend the same airline to you? If you are traveling with children, be sure to ask other parents about their experiences.

The internet can also be used to learn more about an airline, their reputation, and how travelers are treated. When using the internet, you have a number of different approaches that you can take. There are many professional magazines and other consumers related companies that rate and review businesses, including airline companies. How did the airline that you want to fly on rate? What are the pros and cons of flying with them?

In keeping with using the internet to research airlines that you can fly with, you will want to look for ratings and reviews from people just like you, everyday travelers. This is relativity easy to do online. Many consumers talk on online message boards about their good and bad experiences with an airline. There are also many who file complaints with consumer reporting agencies and other similar online websites, which will make the information available for public viewing. This information can easily be found with a standard internet search. For example, you can search the phrases “Delta complaints,” “American Airlines, complaints,” and so forth.

Since it is relativity easy for you to examine airlines and their reputations, especially when using the internet, you will want to do so. After all, it is important to remember that choosing the right airline can have a significantly impact on your trip.

source:Ezinearticles

Air Travel: What You Can and Cannot Carry-on a Plane

2009-09-08T11:36:00.000-07:00

Are you the process of packing for an upcoming trip that you have scheduled? If you are, does your trip call for air travel? If it does, you may first want to take the time to familiarize yourself with TSA’s rules and restrictions, concerning prohibited items. There are a number of benefits to doing so.

As previously stated, there are a number of benefits to familiarizing yourself with what items are allowed aboard an airplane or allowed in carry-on bags before you start packing for your trip. One of those benefits is that you will be able to pass through airport security with ease. This, alone, has a number of benefits, such as not missing a flight, no embarrassment, and no hassle to deal with.

When it come to familiarizing yourself with the items that are allowed aboard an airplane, namely in carry-on bags, you have a number of options. Most airports will clearly outline what is allowed and isn’t allowed; however, you shouldn’t wait until the last minute to familiarize yourself with these rules. Instead, you will want to visit the online website for the TSA. This website can easily be found with a standard internet search. A few of the rules and restrictions that you may find, concerning prohibited items, are outlined below for your convenience.

One concern that many individuals have is with sharp objects. Generally, sharp object that can be used as a weapon are prohibited from being carried on a plane. With that said, you will find exceptions to this rule. For example, cuticle cutters, cigar cutters, kitting needles, and crochet needles are allowed. Scissors are also permitted in carry-on bags, as long as they are less than four inches long and have blunt ends.

In keeping with sharp objects, disposable razors are allowed in carry-on bags, but many other sharp objects aren’t. For example, box cutters, loose razor blades, and swords are not allowed in carry-on bags. As for knifes, they are prohibited, unless the knives in question are plastic or non-sharp butter knifes.

Generally speaking, no sporting equipment is allowed to be carried on a plane, in carry-on bags. This is because many pieces of sporting equipment can be used as a weapon, especially when in the wrong hands. The TSA prohibits the carrying of baseball bats, ski poles, pole cubes, and hockey sticks. If you must bring these items with you, they must be checked in an appropriate sized case or bag.

As for children’s toys, you will find that most items are allowed. However, there is some concern with certain toys. The TSA allows the carrying on of transformer robots as well as toy weapons. With said, toy weapons are only allowed in carry-on bags if they do no look too realistic. If you are a parent, it may be best to use your best judgment and leave all toy weapons at home, as there are many more things for your child to do on an airplane.

As for walking canes, as well as other medical equipment, like wheel chairs, they are allowed. However, there may be some extra rules and restrictions, as well as steps taken. For example, airport security may thoroughly check a walking cane, especially one that has two detachable parts. This is done to ensure that no weapons or dangerous objects are concealed.

As for electronics, you will find that almost all are allowed aboard an airplane in carry-on bags. These items include camcorders, laptop computers, cell phones, pagers, and PDA systems. In fact, airports often recommend keeping these items in carry-on bags, as storing them in checked baggage is often risky, in terms of damage.

The above mentioned rules and restrictions, concerning items prohibited aboard an airplane in carry-on bags, are just a few of the many rules that apply. As a reminder, you should take the time to familiarize yourself with all airport rules and restrictions before you starting packing for your trip.

source:Ezinearticles

Air Travel Tips for Parents with Teens

2009-09-08T11:35:00.000-07:00

Are you the parent of a teenager? If you are, are you in the process of planning a trip that requires air travel? If so, you may be looking for tips that can help you and you family have a nice and pleasant flight.

When traveling with a teenager, you will find that you are very lucky. This is due in part to your child’s age. Teenagers are likely to be more pleasant and cooperative on flights, especially when compared to toddlers and preschoolers. Still, you may be looking for some extra tips, just in case.

One of the first things that you will want to do is teach your child the importance of watching what is said at the airport. With security concerns, it is not uncommon for travelers to be detained for a closer look, even just when joking. Many teens do like to joke around, so be sure to let your teen know the danger of doing so. Make sure that they know not to repeat certain words in an airport, such as knife, gun, bomb, or terrorist. Your teenager may already know this important piece of information, bt there is no harm in providing a quick reminder.

If you let your child pack their own bags for your trip, be sure to give them a quick look over. The checking of your teen’s carry-on luggage is extremely important. Does your child have anything in their carry-on bag that may result your family being stopped at an airport security checkpoint? As for checked baggage, make sure that your child’s bags are not overfilled. Also, make sure that they don’t put anything of great value or importance, like a digital camera or a laptop computer, in a checked bag, as damage can occur.

You will also want to make sure that your child has a drink or snack for the trip. This is particularly ideal for short flights or picky eaters and drinkers. Although many dry snacks, like chips, are okay to pickup before arriving at the airport, drinks are another story. Due to a limit on liquids, have your child get a soda, water, or juice at an airport store, namely one that is positioned after you have passed through all needed security checkpoints. This approach may cost more money, but the end result is much less hassle.

Since all passengers are allowed a carry-on bag, you will want to make sure that your child brings things that interest them. For example, books and magazines are cheap ways to keep teens occupied on an airplane ride. Extra items that are perfect for teens include handheld video gaming consoles, DVD players, and MP3 players. There are some locations in the United States where you can rent these items if you or your teen doesn’t already own them. When using anything electronic, be sure to bring a few extra batteries and keep them in your purse or in a carry-on bag.

As highlighted above, there are a number of steps that you, as a parent, can take to ensure that your next family flight is pleasant for you and your teenager. Although teenagers are more likely to be pleasant and cooperative, the above mentioned points can still provide you with much needed assistance, as well as comfort and peace of mind.

source:Ezinearticles

Air Travel Tips for Parents of Young Children

2009-09-08T11:34:00.000-07:00

Are you the parent of an infant, toddler, or preschooler? If you are, are you also in the process of planning a trip that requires air travel? If you are, you may be dreading your upcoming flight. After all, complications are all that many parents can think of. With that said, there are a number of ways that you can make flying with your young children not only easy, but fun as well.

For children under two years of age, you will first want to examine the pros and cons of getting them their own seat. Many airlines allow children under two to sit on the lap of an adult. Getting an extra seat for a child under two will cost money, but you may be able to get a small discount when contacting the airline in question. On the other hand, you will be able to have your own seat, which will be nice. Most car seats can fit into airline seats. Speaking of which, if you need to bring a car seat or a stroller, it will need to be scanned by airport security.

As for strollers, they are a good idea, even for children who can walk. Most parents of toddlers are urged to give them a close look. Most airlines will require you to handover your stroller before boarding a plane. Once you arrive at your destination, your stroller should be waiting for you at the gate. Using a stroller makes it easy for you to move around the airport and quickly. This is ideal if you must hurry, like if you have short layovers.

Also, be sure to bring some formula, juice, and snacks for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers. Although you will find some restrictions, most airport security officers will allow a child’s drink to pass through, as long as it is a small quantity only. As for older children, like toddlers and preschoolers, you should be able to buy juice, water, and snacks at an airport store past security checkpoints. Doing so is nice, as they are no security concerns about doing so.

It is also important to bring a bag for your child. This bag should be filled with items that interest them. Depending on the age of your child, great items include books, stickers, coloring books and few crayons, small toys, and flash cards. These items will have to be scanned through airport security, so try to leave anything, namely toys, at home that may cause complications or delays.

Speaking of airport security, it is important to talk about the screening process and prepare your child for it. For many toddlers and preschoolers, the whole ordeal can seem a little bit overwhelming and scary. Your child will likely have to walk through the metal detectors themselves. If you are traveling with another adult, have one go through first, so that your child can walk towards a familiar face. You may even want to arrive at the airport early. This gives and your child the opportunity to watch others go through the screening process first.

As for the flight itself, toddlers and preschoolers may love having a window seat. If someone in your traveling party is assigned a window seat, try to let your toddler or preschool sit there instead. As for the bag full of goodies you brought, refrain from giving everything to your child all at once. This is likely to reduce boredom. For children who may have their own seats, portable DVD players and laptop computers are advised. They are a great way to keep a fussy child occupied. If using a laptop computer, be sure not to choose a movie that will exceed the laptop’s battery life, as this may result in a very unhappy child.

The above mentioned tips are just a few of the many that can help you, as a parent, when traveling by air with young children. For addition tips, just use your best judgment. As a parent, you should know what will help to keep your child interested and happy.

source:Ezinearticles

Air Travel Tips for Families

2009-09-08T11:33:00.000-07:00

Are you interested in taking a family vacation soon? If you are, you may be looking for some guidance, especially if you and your family will be required to travel by airplane. As stressful as it can sometimes be planning a trip and flying with a family, especially one that is large in size, there are a number of steps that can be taken to ensure that everyone has a fun and pleasant time.

One of the first things that you will want to do, when looking to plan a family vacation, is to make your airline reservations early. You will likely be better off when doing so, for a number of different reasons. Perhaps, the greatest reason is the comfort and peace of mind that you may get from knowing that all of your travel arrangements are made and out of the way.

As for packing for your flight, you will want to make sure that your children’s bag are packed and properly. Not only will you want to make sure that they have all needed supplies for your vacation, but you will also want to make sure that they have items for the airplane ride as well. Each person gets to have one carry-on bag. You will want to make sure that each of your kids have one.

Speaking of carry-on bags for your children, be sure to fill them will fun activities for the plane ride. What you will choose will all depend on your child’s age. For example, younger children may benefit from books and a few small toys. For older children, portable DVD players, handheld video games, toys, and magazines are a great idea.

You will also want to make sure that you have extra snacks on hand and in your carry-on bags. This is important, as you don’t want to have to spend too much money at the airport. It can get costly to feed a whole family, even just with snacks. For that same reason, try to have everyone eat a full meal before you leave for the airport. This step combined with snacks can help to reduce hunger, possibly resulting in shared meals during airport layovers, which can also help you save money.

As for drinks, do not bring any with you to the airport, unless you have a newborn or an infant. If you have a baby, bring one prepared bottle of formula, but make sure to have some dry formula powder with you to prepare during a layover. Drinks, with the exception of drinks for kids, are not allowed past airport security checkpoints and they will have to be thrown away. When buying drinks at an airport store, past security, look for items that are reasonably priced or see if some family members, like you and your spouse, can share a drink.

As for when you arrive at the airport, be sure to stay together. Also, be sure to set ground rules with your children. These rules should include sticking together, not speaking to strangers, and so forth. In fact, you will want to help each other out. For example, if you have an older child, like a teenager, let them help you with finding the right gate, carrying bags, or keeping any younger children occupied. Your trip will likely be much less stressful when everyone works together.

source:Ezinearticles

Air Travel: The Importance of Comparing Airfare

2009-09-08T11:31:00.000-07:00

Do you need to book a flight? If you are looking to take a vacation, you may be. When it comes to doing so, you will find that you have an unlimited number of options. There are thousands of airports across the country, as well as multiple airlines that service those airports. Since you will likely have a number of different options, you are encouraged to compare prices before making any official reservations.

As nice as it is to hear that you should compare airfare rates before making your travel arrangements, you may be wondering why you should. For starters, you will get more travel options. When comparing flights and airlines, in general, you are likely to come across flights that you may not have otherwise seen or known about. In addition to getting a better deal, you may also find flights available with a different airline that has more convenient times and less layovers.

Another reason why you should compare prices when looking to buy airline tickets is because you can save money. What many people, especially first time travelers, do not take into consideration is price differences. Although you will find some similarities, different airlines charge different fees. That is why it is important to price compare. While the amounts of money that you may be able to save will vary, any savings, even just ten dollars, is enough for many.

Another important point that many travelers do not think of, when examining the importance of comparing prices, is the money that can be put towards travel. When you spend less money on your travel arrangements, such as your airline tickets, you have more money that you can put towards your vacation. Depending on the amount of money that you are able to save, you can enjoy a nice meal, add an extra activity to your to do list, upgrade your overnight accommodations, and much more. This is always an important factor to take into consideration, as saving money on your airline tickets can enable you to better your trip.

As nice as it is to know that you should compare airfare before buying your airline tickets, you may be curious as to how you can go about doing so. One of your first stops should be an online travel website. Online travel websites are nice because they let you compare flights from different airlines, all at the same time. With that said, not all online travel websites are the same; therefore, you may even want to compare travel websites and the rates that they offer. What is nice about using online travel websites to compare airfare rates is that you can also pay for your tickets through them as well.

As nice as online travel websites are, you may be looking to go straight to the source. When doing so, you will want to visit the online websites of airline companies. If you have to fly out of a specific area, like Albany, New York, you will want to visit the online websites of airlines that you know fly in and out of that airport. Then, you will want to compare prices. This process of comparing prices will take a little bit longer than using online travel websites, but many take comfort in knowing that they are doing business directly with the airline company.

source:Ezinearticles

Air Travel: The Importance of Booking Your Flight Early

2009-09-08T11:30:00.000-07:00

Are you interested in taking a trip or a vacation? If you are, will you be required to fly? If so, you will want to make your travel arrangements, namely your airline reservations, as soon as possible. Generally speaking, the earlier you can do so, the better. This is important, as there are a number of benefits to booking your flights early.

Perhaps, the greatest benefit of booking your airline reservations early is the comfort and peace of mind that you will get out of doing so. It is no secret that traveling, especially by air can be stressful. By having your plans made well before your trip, you are less likely to be nervous about your travels. There is no having to worry about later seeing an increase in travel costs or full flights.

Making your airline reservations early and well in advance of your trip also gives you the opportunity to accurately compare prices and airlines. This a great way to find the best deals. In fact, you should never make airline reservations without first checking and comparing prices. When booking a flight, it is important to remember that you will have choices and most of your choices will come with different price tags.

Speaking of which, that leads to another benefit of making your airline reservations well in advance of your trip. You typically receive better deals when making your travel plans early. With that said, if you later check flight prices, after already purchasing your tickets, and notice a decrease in prices, be sure to contact the airline in question. When asked, they may refund you any price differences.

Making your travel plans early and well in advance of your trip can also give you the opportunity to make other travel plans, especially those that are associated with your airline reservations. For example, do you need to have someone pick you up from the airport? If so, you will want to give them enough notice, which, in turn, should give them enough time to make arrangements. If you must drive yourself to the airport, take the time to examine all of your parking options, as well as costs.

Also, when making your travel arrangements early and well before your trip, you are likely to have more flight choices to choose from. This is an important fact that many travelers do not take into consideration. You will want to remember that most airports have multiple flights going to your destination. In fact, in addition to multiple times a day, there are also likely to be different airlines offering flights as well. This is ideal for travelers who are picky or limited with their travel times.

In keeping with your options, making your airline reservations well in advance of your trip will also give you better seats to choose from. Most airlines will allow you to handpick your own seat, so you will want to get started early. This is especially important if you want something in particular, as such as a window seat or an aisle seat. Also, it is important to make your flight reservations early if you are traveling with children or if your larger family all wants to sit together.

As previously stated, making your flight arrangements early can allow you to make other travel arrangements, like having someone pick you up from the airport. Also, you will find that early flight reservations give you the opportunity to focus on other parts of your vacation, like the activities you can enjoy or the attractions that you want to visit.

As outlined above, there are a number of benefits to booking your travel arrangements, namely your airline reservations, well in advance of your trip. As a recap, doing so often provides you with comfort and peace of mind. Additional benefits include the ability to accurately price compare, getting the best seats, as well as having more options in terms of your departure and arrival times.

source:Ezinearticles

Air Travel: Is It Right for You?

2009-09-08T11:26:00.000-07:00

Are you interested in taking a vacation? If you are, you may be required to fly. There are many popular vacation destinations, such as Hawaii, Europe, and the Caribbean, that cannot be reached any other way. With that in mind, if you are looking to vacation within in the United States you may have more options. For that reason, you may want to first decide if traveling by airplane is really right for you.

When it comes to determining if air travel is really right for you, for your next trip, you will first want to look at your destination. Just because you do not have any oceans to cross, it does not mean that you don’t need to fly. For example, if you are looking to travel from New York to California, it may be within your best interest to fly. This is particularly true if you are limited on the amount of vacation time that you have available from your work.

Your budget is another factor that you will want to take into consideration, when trying to determine if air travel is right for you. For example, there are many other cheaper alternatives for those who must travel a short to medium distance. For example, if you will be traveling from Texas to Nevada, you may be able to buy tickets for a bus or train. There are many different options when you look for them. For many individuals, riding a bus or a train is a much more affordable option. Perhaps, the only downside to this approach is the time that you will spend on the road. For many, it would just be convenient to drive their own car.

Speaking of driving your own car, if you are looking to avoid flying, you will want to examine your alternative option of driving yourself. As previously stated, keep your location and distance in mind. Also, it is important to take the cost of your trip into consideration. Many of us automatically think of gasoline and the cost of it, but it is also important to take the cost of vehicle wear and tear into consideration. For that reason, many end up renting a car for their trip. However, it is important to return back to traveling by air. For long distance trips, the cost of renting a car can be the same, if not more than hopping on a flight that only lasts a few hours

What does all of this mean for you? It does mean that you will likely be better off traveling by airplane if you are looking to travel in the United States. With that said, there are some exceptions to this rule. For example, you should never fly if you can drive to your destination in an hour or two, as doing so can be considered a waste of money. Also, if you are a motor home owner or if you can find an affordable rental nearby, you may want to drive to your destination instead, as doing so can sometimes be better than flying.

For the most part, the only individuals who should have trouble flying are those who suffer from claustrophobia or a fear of flying, even flying is safe. Individuals with other disabilities, including the need of an oxygen tank or those who are wheel chair bound, can still fly to their destination, as many airlines will go out of their way to provide needed accommodations and services.

source:Ezinearticles

Air Travel and Pets

2009-09-08T11:23:00.000-07:00

Do you have to travel by air in the near future? If you do, are you a pet owner who needs to bring your pet along with you? Although most of us leave our pets at home, you may not want to do so or your purpose for travel may be to move, as opposed to taking a fun filled vacation. Regardless of your reasons for wanting or needing to travel with your pet or pets, there are a number of important points that you will need to keep in mind.

The first step in traveling with a pet is to make sure that you can do so. Although a good number of airlines will allow pets on their planes, not all will. You may be in a predicament if you plan to depart from a small airport with only one or two airlines. If they do not accept pets or if their rules and restrictions are too much for you to handle, you will want to examine other nearby airports, especially those that are larger in size.

When traveling by air with your pet or pets, it is important to remember that you will be charged an additional fee. Unfortunately, many first time pet travelers believe that they can use their pets and their pet carriers to count towards as a carry-on bag or a checked bag. This isn’t how it works though. You will, almost always, be charged an extra fee for traveling with a pet. This extra fee will likely depend on the airline in question and well as your pet’s location, such as in the cabin or in the baggage compartment.

That leads to another important point. Even with some of the airlines that allow pets, like cats and dogs, aboard their flights, not all allow pets to be in the cabin with other passengers. This is particularly common on small planes where allergies may be a big concern. If you cannot part with your pet, be sure to search for an airline that will allow you to keep him or her in the cabin with you. With that said, remember that the size of your pet will also play a huge factor in your options.

Regardless of where your pet is stored for the plane ride, you will need to have a pet carrier or crate for them. Many airlines have specific rules and restrictions on what type can be used. Resections often include materials used, as well as size. Most will provide you with that information when asked. Speaking of pet crates and carriers, it is important to make sure that you give your pet enough room to stand and move around a little bit. In fact, most airlines will refuse to transport pets that they feel are unsafe from small pet crates and carriers.

It is also important to make sure that you get your pet checked by their vet. You will want to make sure that your pet has all required vaccinations and that they are fit for travel. Also, all airlines require that you receive a health certificate, which will state that your pet is healthy and safe for travel.

The above mentioned points are just a few of the many that you will want to take into consideration when traveling with a pet. Added tips include booking direct flights, making sure your pet’s collar is marked with the proper identification, as well as their pet carrier.

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source:Ezinearticles

Why the Timing is Right - Become a Travel Agent

2009-09-04T13:06:00.000-07:00

Why the sudden surge in interest for the travel industry? Here are a few facts to consider when looking at a travel career as a career option.

Here are the facts:

1. Travel is a $7 Trillion dollar industry expected to double to $14 Trillion within the next decade.
2. This lucrative industry is currently growing 23% faster than the global economy.
3. A key factor in this growth phenomenon is the stream of baby boomers that are retiring, or getting ready to retire.
4. Baby boomers are retiring at a rate of 1 every 8 seconds.
5. Travel was rated the number one thing these baby boomers intend to do when they do retire.

When considering a career in the travel industry, there are several options available for those looking to work from home.

There is an increased demand for qualified travel agents, due to the explosive growth of the industry as a whole. To become a certified travel agent, your options are not limited to the traditional brick and mortar setting. Many reputable travel agencies now offer options for the individual looking for a legitimate home based business.

While doing your due diligence in researching whether this industry is a fit for you, consider that there are excellent income opportunities available to work from home.

If your goal is to work as an independent travel agent from the comfort of your own home, consider working as an online travel agent.

Here are some companies that you can research, that offer excellent training. Some of the companies will hire you as an employee, while others offer the freedom of being your own boss, and setting your own hours.

Do your due diligence!

1. Research each company carefully, and make it a priority to understand the compensation plan.
2. Know what training is available, and whether the company will offer you the opportunity to become certified.
3. Does the company have IATA, IATAN, ARC and CLIA affiliations?
4. What is the initial investment? Are there additional costs associated for licensing, or becoming certified?
5. If you are considering a work at home position, what kind of support is offered?

Are you a right fit for the travel industry?

Lets break down the qualifications that will determine whether you are suited for this challenging, but rewarding career.

Travel agents should have a minimum of a high school diploma.

Travel agents should have a love for travel. Enthusiasm and a love for working with people are crucial elements for success in this industry.

Travel agents should possess excellent multi-tasking and organization skills.

Great communication skills, as well as computer skills are essential.

Travel agents should possess a professional, courteous demeanor when working with suppliers, and the general public.

Attention to detail and accuracy are very important. Some sales ability is very helpful as well.

Now, the benefits of becoming a travel agent

The benefits of becoming a travel agent are many. I have listed the top three.

Travel agents save up to 80% on travel to many of the worlds exclusive resorts and destinations. These discounts include, but are not limited to:

Complimentary upgrades Hotel room upgrades and discounts

Car rental discounts and upgrades

Cruises

Theme park discounts

Vacation Packages

FAM trips, also known as familiarization trips. Suppliers want travel agents to have first hand knowledge of their facilities, so that the travel agent can make a recommendation based on personal knowledge and first hand experience.

The supplier will offer discounts and other perks, and roll out the red carpet to ensure the travel professional has an outstanding time.

Tax Benefits for individuals who chose to do this profession as an independent travel agent. Consult your CPA or tax professional for more information regarding this benefit.

Summary: How Do I become a travel agent?

In summary, becoming a travel agent can be a lucrative and rewarding career. Should you decide that you possess the skills and abilities needed for success, you can look forward to a promising career.

Get Started: Do a search online using the keywords: become a travel agent, how do I become a travel agent, or online travel agents.
source:Ezinarticles

What Is A Home Based Travel Agent

2009-09-04T13:04:00.000-07:00

Many people are unclear about the travel industry. Travel agents are often thought to be the same as real estate agents. Becoming a travel agent or more specifically a home based travel agent is an exciting career change or retirement option. Some people do it full time while many do it as a part time business.

A travel agent books travel for customers and is paid by suppliers a commission on the booking. For bookings that suppliers do not pay a commission on, a travel agent also can charge the client a service fee for his/her time. An example is if you were to book a hotel for a client, the hotel would then send a check to the agency after the client checked out. Most hotels pay 10% of the price of the hotel before taxes and fees. A $100 per night hotel reservation would mean $10 a night for the travel agent who made the booking. This hotel would cost the same whether the customer uses a travel agent or books through the hotel directly. In many cases the travel agent can get a better price. It costs the customer nothing to use the travel agent unless the travel agent charges service fees.

Can anyone do this? In order to work with suppliers, you must have an account set up with the supplier. Most require an agency to hold an IATAN, CLIA or ARC number. IATAN stands for International Airlines Travel Agent Network. CLIA stands for Cruise Lines International Association. ARC stands for Airline Reporting Corporation. Each of these memberships requires different things including sales, money in the bank, experience or training in the industry, and membership fees. Many will require Errors and Omissions insurance of $1,000,000 or more.

For the average travel agent, membership is not a possibility with some organizations so the agent will team up with an agency and work as an independent agent or outside agent. There are also advantages of working with an agency because most travel agents cannot make enough in sales with a particular supplier to obtain higher commission levels and bonuses. Working with an agency with many agents can increase the commission percentages the agent gets because of the joint sales of all the agents at the agency. Support is also a very important aspect of being a successful agent. Agents who do not work with others tend to feel more isolated and have to learn to do it all solo. Since no agent can have the experience of being everywhere in the world or staying at every hotel or resort, having others that you can get advice from is really helpful.

The future of travel agencies is always questioned. The truth is the industry has changed in many ways. Some changes were for the better, some for the worse. Many airlines have cut commissions for travel agents. However, there are many other suppliers who are paying travel agents more than they were ten years ago. Cruises used to be booked by only the rich and now people in every income book cruises. Each year more and more people go on cruises. Most people say they want to go on a cruise at least once and many who go on their first come home to want to book another.

You can earn commission on many travel reservations.

* Hotels
* Rental Cars
* Tour Packages
* Cruises
* Some airline tickets
* International airline tickets
* Travel insurance
* Ground transportation including limos
* Attraction tickets
* Train tickets

People all need travel arrangements at some point in time. Those who take road trips need hotel reservations. Those who need to travel for business need airline tickets, rental cars, and hotel reservations. Families want to experience vacations with their loved ones. People visit family and relatives. Most people who win money say they are going to spend it to take a nice vacation. Newly married couples go on honeymoons. You are not selling something that is hard to sell. People contact you for help, you are not calling them or approaching them trying to sell them something they don’t want.

Educating the public is the main thing any travel agent must do. Most people put travel agents into the same category as real estate agents. They believe it costs additional to use a travel agent. This is untrue. In many cases a travel agent can get a better price than the general public through the suppliers who work only with travel agents. Many people do not know all the options for booking a vacation. A good travel agent does. Once people are educated on how a travel agent gets paid, they are more willing to work with travel agents. If a person knows that if he or she let you book a hotel and it will cost the same price regardless, she or he will work with you. It is important to let people know how you can help them save time and money on their travel arrangements.

So how do you get into the industry? Many people think they must go to school or become certified. This is not true. You can get into the industry and begin training. I don’t recommend anyone spend thousands on a travel school until he or she knows this is a career that he or she will really want to pursue. The truth is you do not have to spend thousands to get trained. There are many courses free to travel agents from suppliers. There are also organizations such as ICTA (Institute of Certified Travel Agents) who offer courses as you get more years experience in the industry. CLIA also offers courses. There are some agencies that will offer training. Even if you decide this is a career you would like to pursue, you do not need to spend thousands to become an educated and competent travel agent. There are many courses you can take with suppliers and organizations to get a better education in travel. I truly believe a hands’ on approach is the best way to become a better travel agent. Learning to work with suppliers and how to find the information your clients need is an important part of becoming a good travel agent.

How can you find an agency to work with? There are a few organizations dedicated to independent travel agents. NACTA and OSSN are the top organizations. NACTA stands for National Association of Commissioned Travel Agents. OSSN stands for Outside Sales Support Network. You can also search online for home-based travel agent programs. I would never recommend anyone spending a lot of money to start this business. It is key to first try and see if it is something you would really want to do and get training before you invest too much money into it. Get involved in the industry first and see if it is really a career that is best for you.
source:Ezinarticles

Travel Pre And Post Internet

2009-09-04T12:58:00.000-07:00

Travel Pre Internet:

I've been travelling for over 40 years - by thumb in my early days, by boots in the Scouts, a Lambretta came next and then my first old banger followed by newer old bangers to the beaches of the Costa Brava.

My thumb, boots, bikes and bangers took me all over Europe and the UK before finding that a charter flight to Spain on an old 'Connie' could get me to the beaches and bars a lot quicker and allow more time to enjoy the local travel opportunities by horse and cart and the occasional bus and train.

'Go West and Prosper' seemed to be a good idea so instead of taking an 8 hour flight I took an 8 day transatlantic crossing from Tilbury to Montreal on the Stephan Batory of Polish Ocean Lines ensuring that jet lag did not trouble my travel plans. Some years later I crossed the pond again on a ship but this time it was 5 times bigger and I travelled in style on the QE2 and dined in the Queen's Grill somewhat removed from my earlier experience. I highly recommend ocean voyages but cannot see myself on one of the modern cruise ships going from port to port with constant line-ups to get on and off to buy t-shirts. However, I have done 10 Windjammers and a Star Clipper cruise in the Caribbean which were all memorable (let's hope Windjammer Barefoot Cruises recover from their woes). But I digress.

I had read that Canada is a spectacular country, from sea to shining sea, and my entrance into the St. Lawrence River to Montreal and then heading west in an old Econoline van from the Great Lakes, across the Prairies to the Rocky Mountains before ending up whale watching off of the Pacific Coast of Vancouver Island was a trip of wonder to a bloke from London. Today the scenery is still spectacular and the best way to go is still by road so rent or buy a car, motorhome or motorbike, take the train or tour bus but remember the maps, a fly rod, good boots and take your time.

My favorite part of Canada / USA for adventure travel has to be Northern BC / Alaska, to hike the Chilkoot Trail in the steps of the goldseekers of 1898. The Northwest Territories to canoe the Nahannie River and the Yukon to drive from Dawson City to Chicken, Alaska. If you like the outdoors and can put up with a few bugs, cast a fly and scale a few hills or drive on endless dirt roads sharing the space with moose, caribou, elk, bears and eagles, then these are the places to put on your list. The pleasures and experiences in driving to Inuvik on the Dempster Highway or to Prudhoe Bay on the Dalton Highway or even the Canol Road can only be felt by doing them. I would have mentioned the Alaska Highway but now it is an easy drive unlike the aforementioned.

Today the costs of driving these distances may mean that sharing the journey with others is required, but RVing or simply vanning and camping is a great way to see beyond the horizon. Some enroute adventures now need to be booked in advance whereas when I hiked Denali and the Chilkoot Pass it was just a case of turning up, registering with the local ranger office and heading on out. A little more forward planning is needed for today's traveller and cost considerations of lengthy flights or drives have to somehow be countered with more careful planning. In the days of reasonable gas prices I would not even consider the driving or flying costs and have driven to Key West from the northwest coast, down the west coast to the Baja and to the west coast from New York. I once even flew my 1946 Fleet taildragger from the Pacific to the Atlantic and back using around 5 gallons an hour of avgas. Before the oil and credit crisis I drove from Rio de Janeiro to Lima, down to Tierra del Fuego and back to Rio covering over 15,000 miles of spectacular scenery and with no consideration about the cost of gas. South America should be on your itinerary too! Some other memorable drives that may now require a mortgage with the gas companies include London to The Nordkapp, Norway, Skippers Canyon in New Zealand and the loneliness of the far north of Australia and the amazing coast of Western Australia stopping by at Monkey Mia and Wave Rock.

We tend to forget that the real cost of travelling is often less today than over the 40 years of my travels. In 1977 my round-trip airfare from Canada to Australia cost over $1700 in 1977 dollars so today it is far cheaper to fly, even with the airlines gouging for fuel, extra baggage, no service and no pleasure. The 'Big Mac' method of price comparison as developed by The Economist newspaper gives us a good gauge for most expenditures of today compared to yesterday but my $1500 cost to get a private pilots licence in the 1970's seems cheap by comparison to today, but obviously not when using this Big Mac principle. Other travel costs are also far cheaper today but this should not mean that travellers should disregard the many methods of saving costs that can then be put to extended or improved travel experiences

Travel Post-Internet:

In my 40 years of travel I have had to use travel agents to make even the simplest of reservations and buy tickets, not even thinking to ask them if they had "been there, done that?" It was just a case of there being no other options to buying travel. Now we have unlimited choices and can seek out better travel agents, better prices, better selections and information about anywhere in the world for our travels - without even leaving home.

The Internet now gives travellers ideas and options of Where to go, When to go, Why to go, What to do, Who to book with and How to save money and offset costs. We can search and find experts for every travel option. If we are comfortable with the Internet we no longer have to go to a travel agent to make reservations and buy tickets except to book with some of the larger travel companies that still produce glossy brochures and offer all inclusive packages or tours that only sell through the agency system. The Internet also allows those of us who are smart enough to know when to seek out a top travel agent with knowledge, experience and expertise (KEE skills) of destinations and activities about where to find them. There is no longer any need to only use our local agents when we can find one somewhere else in the world. When we do not need 'the knowledge' and can do it ourselves we simply surf the web so that we can book directly with tour and travel operators wherever we have decided to go.

Some travel agents operate their own tours, some are both wholesale and retail, some limit consumer selection by only selling their 'preferred' suppliers and some have professional consultants with years of experience invested in gaining knowledge, experience and expertise and are worth their weight in gold to the savvy traveller. Beware though, as some are also called destination specialists and some of these designations merely require the agent to take a rudimentary test offered by tourism offices, destination marketing groups or even tour operators and in my opinion can harm the reputation of the travel industry. A specialist is not necessarily an expert.

Travel is probably the most used commercial aspect of the Internet and if retail agents want to harness this exciting medium to offer 'the knowledge' and their 'kee' skills to a global audience, not just their local community, they must embrace the changes that are happening. Travellers now have the ability to seek answers to the 5 W's of travel and the important 'How to' save money and offset costs by having information just a click away.

And then it occurred to me that even internet travel prices often include a commission element even when sold directly to the consumer. If we book directly with operators we should not have to pay full retail prices as we are doing for ourselves what a retail agent would normally do for us. A dilemma for the operator is that to show a both a retail and a cost price option could deter many agents from selling the services as travellers could use an agent for free advice and book directly with the operator to get a 'net of commission' price. Obviously this two tier pricing is not often available but travellers who do not need advice should also not be penalized by retail pricing. A new way had to be found and I think I have found it!

The need for fairer fare prices is why I developed the Top Travel Voucher program at The Top Travel Club and I even found a dot com for it. All travel selections on the site are at 'net of commission' prices for members who handle there own travel arrangements directly with the operators linked on the club website using our voucher program.

I am inviting travel operators from around the world to join this program, from B&B's, Motels, Hotels, Luxury Lodges, Eco Resorts, Beach Resorts and Tour and Adventure Operators who want to promote their products and services to travellers who are comfortable with direct bookings and reservations.

I am also inviting Travel Agents with knowledge, experience and expertise of destinations and activities to showcase their skills to a global audience of travellers and to the members of this new travel club. I am leery of 'specialist agents' and only want experts to showcase their services.

This opportunity is available to the travel trade at no cost except for them to offer net, wholesale or outlet prices to club members and visitors to the website using top travel vouchers. I believe this program offers fairer fare prices to direct-booking travellers. The operator would normally be paying commission anyway but now travellers get the savings because they make their own arrangements.

The Top Travel Club opened in mid-April 2008 offering thousands of top travel vouchers for travel in over 70 countries with around 150 travel operators onboard. Every week we add more travel operators with more choices for members. Currently you can get savings on accommodations, adventure travel, boat charters, culinary tours, hike, bike and dive tours, auto and RV rentals fishing lodges and guides, safaris, vacation rentals, single travel, women only and dude ranches. Members get the vouchers free of charge by paying an annual membership fee and non-members can buy the vouchers on the internet at Top Travel Sites at deeply discounted prices to the face-value. The future growth will include restaurants, travel clothing, travel insurance and the opportunity to access air ticket consolidators who want to deal directly with consumers.

The way I have travelled and the way I see travel is that consumers should have unlimited access to every travel opportunity with the ability to do their own due diligence or to find a professional who can offer quality advice and services at fair prices, and to find all of this without needing endless hours of searching.

To find out more about the new way of cost offsets for travel please go to The Top Travel Club and my apologies for some of the spelling (traveller / traveler) but that is what I was taught. As long as we all understand the meaning, vive le difference!
source:Ezinarticles

Travel Insurance - How To Get The Best Value Travel Insurance

2009-09-04T12:56:00.000-07:00

If you are an occasional traveler you'll probably buy your insurance from the travel agent. But if you travel more than twice a year, it is much more cost effective to have one insurance lasting all year round, than buying one every time you travel.

Think ahead, plan ahead. Annual travel insurance easily pays for itself with just a couple of trips. But not all insurances are worth the same and as always cheapest is not necessarily the best. More on this later.

Annual travel insurance is not compulsory but it gives you the peace of mind case of illness and loss or damage to property and many other events. Where is the best place to buy annual travel insurance?

1. Your bank is probably the first place you'll try. Banks have in recent times become highly competitive and in order to retain your business, may offer better rates. For example my bank has upgraded my checking account to a premium account and for that I pay $20 per month.

As a result I get several privileges including free, worldwide, comprehensive travel insurance. But here is the best part ... I get all this free travel insurance not just for myself but also for any member of my family traveling with me including my parents and siblings.

I said free because I am already getting other benefits which are worth a lot more than $20 per month if I were to buy them individually. I also save a lot of time as I never have to look around for insurance. So don't ignore your bank.

2. Credit card companies also offer similar insurances, with some added advantages. In case of theft or loss of your credit card, they will supply you with an emergency one, often within a few hours.

In addition to travel insurance offers, there is another advantage in checking your credit card company's terms. If you book your travel using your credit card, pretty much all card companies give excellent cover against many of the things that can go wrong.

Some credit card companies also have specialist travel departments which not only give you travel discounts but also give you even better protection, i.e. better travel insurance and at a much lower cost. But note that all insurance offers exclude you making a claims, for the same item, to multiple sources even if you do have multiple insurance cover.

For example, let's say you have bought travel insurance separately and you have bought your travel ticket using your credit card. If your luggage is lost, you can almost certainly make a claim to either of the two sources but not to both at the same time.

The reason is that the insurance companies have suffered massive fraud in recent years. Allowing multiple claims simply encourages fraudsters to have multiple insurances and make multiple false claims.

For example, they can take an already damaged suitcase on a long journey knowing that it will fall apart. They can then claim damage and loss of property from multiple insurers.

3. Insurance companies are a popular and obvious source for annual travel insurance. If you drive a car or have home insurance get a quote from your insurance company. Remember, because you are already a customer, your car insurance often entitles you to a very good discount.

Here's a tip: if they don't give you a competitive insurance, tell them that you will be looking else where for a good package. Let them know you will be looking for a package that includes great home insurance, excellent travel insurance and also good car insurance.

Listen, fear of loss WILL make them bend over backwards for you and if they don't? Here's another tip: When you talk to any other source to get your competitive travel insurance, make sure you mention your other assets that you could be insuring with them, such as your car, home, home contents, etc.

This won't work with travel companies but works absolutely beautifully with most insurance companies. I have done it many times and saved myself thousands of dollars, yes thousands, over the last few years.

The insurance industry is massively competitive. For once, this works in favor of the "little guy" (you and me), so let's use it.

4. Certain types of home insurance may also give annual travel cover. Do look into pretty much any insurance cover you have. Some home insurance policies include some forms of travel cover including loss or damage to your property while away from home.

Tip: even if you live with your parents, ask them to check their policy for you. You will be amazed to see that even "your" property is covered while away from home.

Just one word of caution: do not assume what is covered or the level cover. If you are not sure just ask the insurer. If the cover they describe seems even better than what you expected based on the policy document, then do ask them to put their clarification in writing.

Why? When any major loss occurs, the insurer will send a local expert to assess the damage. These guys are called loss adjustors. Their job is to save money for the insurance company. And I tell you from bitter personal experience, they take no prisoners.

They will screw you down to the ground, if you don't get things in clear black and white writing. Just do it. It takes minutes to request clarification in writing but can save you thousands of dollars when you have one of these mean loss adjustors arguing with you over the policy.

5. You can also buy last minute travel insurance from travel agents and airlines at the airport. Expect to be taken advantage of, heavily! Needless to say, this is one of your most expensive options. Just avoid ending up with this option, see to your insurance long before you need to travel.

Now here's the thing. Travel insurance policies are not all identical. As well as considering price, you absolutely must read the terms and conditions carefully. For example, the upper age limit of some insurance companies may vary.

Some companies may limit the number of annual trips, whilst others may have no limit at all. Look, most travel insurance policies cover a range of events and claims. But as they say, the devil is in the detail.

The problem you will definitely face with some really cheap policies from unknown and possibly disreputable companies is what they put in the fine print. You know what I'm talking about? ... all those tiny little statements they put on the back of the form? Or if you are buying insurance online (and you should), notice all those pages of really small text they ask you to agree to?

Well, that's where they bury lots of little conditions and limitations. Most people don't read all the terms. Do yourself a huge favor and on this occasion, do read it all. If the insurance policy terms are full of "weasel words" or complex language, just move on and do not buy.

All insurance companies are quick to point out how many millions you can claim in "total", in case of a serious accident. But they all limit the amount per item within your claim. So claims for loss of cash will be capped and so will claims for electronic devices, clothes, etc.

This means that with the cheaper policies you will have a really low limit. For example, if you claim for a mobile phone and an MP3 player, you may find that the limit on personal electronics is not enough to even pay for "one" of those devices, let alone both. Don't wait for an unfortunate event to show you the flaws in a dirt cheap policy. That is the worst time to find out and it is a time when you need the most help.
source:Ezinarticles

Train Travel

2009-09-04T12:55:00.000-07:00

Train travel is an ideal means of transport in the UK and the rest of Europe. Rail travel is fast, practical and convenient in both urban and more rural areas. Railway stations often allow for car hire services if you need access to a car or perhaps need to venture to an area not accessible by train.

Rail travel is often convenient even if you have flown partway to your destination. Train travel works well for personal or corporate travel, and can be an economical way to transport staff to a conference, event venue, or meetings. It can also be a luxurious and comfortable way to transport clients quickly and efficiently. Train travel is a viable option for conferences, annual meetings and other events throughout Europe. You may be pleasantly surprised to learn that you can easily opt for rail travel to or from the UK and mainland Europe.

Booking rail travel is easy thanks to online interfaces that offer planning, scheduling and trip organisation services. Both personal and corporate travel arrangements can be made easily and practically online. Whether you need to simply book a rail ticket or opt for a full package, both can be done with little effort. Corporate travel to events including annual meetings, conferences, and other events can be planned quickly and easily. Many online trip organisers even allow you to book airline tickets, car hires, rail travel and accommodations in one step. A well planned trip can be especially important for group travel, or for corporate travel arrangements. Discount on rail fares are even available for groups of more than ten.

Eurostar services offer fast check in and a short trip between London and Paris or Brussels. Eurostar allows you to travel in high speed comfort, with champagne, drinks, and food available at your seat in Leisure Select and Business Premier Classes. Business Premier may be an ideal choice for corporate hospitality or business travel to general meetings, conferences and PR events. Business Premier offers even faster check in services as well as additional business amenities. Standard class offers affordable and practical travel between London and France. Eurotunnel can also offer those travelling by car a helpful and cost effective rail option as you simply drive your car onto the shuttle and make a short 35 minute trip via shuttle to Calais, France.

Train travel is ideal in many ways as a corporate travel option, or even for corporate hospitality events. Comfortable rail travel is convenient and practical, and some train travel routes even offer wireless internet access and charging capabilities for laptop computers. If you are transporting important clients for PR events, product launches or exhibitions, rail travel can be an excellent choice. Train travel is an ideal choice for corporate hospitality, allowing your clientele to use their travel time for business needs or work.

While train travel works well for shorter trips, it is also ideal for longer trips. Sleeper cars are available on some train routes, allowing for a comfortable night's sleep. While train fares can be quite economical, first class seating in the UK and Europe will allow travellers an enjoyable and relaxing ride to their destination. Long distance train services are most apt to offer first class services. These may include more comfortable seating, tables, upgraded décor, meal services and more. Business travellers will also appreciate access to first class lounges in many train stations with wi-fi, power outlets for charging mobile phones, laptops and other electronics, comfortable spaces for meetings, and more.

Rail travel can be more convenient than air travel today, particularly in terms of check in times, and some travellers may simply prefer train travel. Passengers are allowed three pieces of luggage on trains in the UK, two larger items and a smaller piece of hand luggage. Excess luggage may be carried for an extra cost, as can some larger items. Check in via many rail travel companies is quite quick, with Eurostar and others estimating a less than 30 minute check in time. Business travellers in particular may find this speed and efficiency helpful.

If you are planning a corporate event, a product launch, PR events, an annual general meeting or perhaps a corporate conference, offering train travel as an option can be ideal. Train travel is both affordable and comfortable, and can offer the kind of luxury business travellers often prefer. Ample conveniences and accommodations for business travellers will appeal to your clientele. Online booking technology can allow you to schedule your event, book accommodations, rail travel, car hires, and air travel in one easy step. Consider consulting a corporate hospitality specialist to assist you in this sort of planning and make your event a true success. Your clients, employees and others will find train travel an ideal way to begin and end any event.
source:Ezinarticles

The Internet Advantage for Local Travel Agents

2009-09-04T12:53:00.000-07:00

Travel and the Skeptical Public

There is no question that the internet has changed the travel business. Online airplane reservations and electronic tickets combined with the loss of the commission structure has taken a primary travel function away from traditional travel agents and automated the service. People can shop for hotel and car reservations on their own, on the web. Consumers can book vacation arrangements and cruises with a mouse and a keyboard.

And they can also get badly burned. It seems that the anonymity of the web has spawned unscrupulous business operators in every industry and the travel business is no exception. Travel has had its share of stories about unfulfilled promises due to airline strikes and cruise line bankruptcies. In fact, insurance companies now routinely offer travel insurance that covers a consumer's loss if a trip that has been paid for fails to materialize. Add fraudulent travel websites to the mix and the result is an entire industry that is suspect in the public's eye.

An Opportunity for the Independent Travel Agent

All of this can work to an honest travel agent's advantage. Oddly enough, the way that a travel agent can capitalize on public use of the internet for travel and public distrust of travel businesses in general is to utilize - the internet.

The web is a made-to-order medium for advertising vacation packages. Photos of beautiful, historic and exotic locales combined with visual or audio descriptions are tremendous sales tools; there is no reason why an independent travel agent can't use the same tools that Carnival Cruises or Expedia uses. The technology is simple, the software well established. An independent agent can apply all of the sales technique found in the enormous, faceless travel sites.

The additional service that an independent agent can supply is personal service. It is fair to speculate that with the advent of "help lines" for websites functioning around the clock with overseas operators, perhaps a customer shopping for travel arrangements will place more faith in a travel service that has phone availability during business hours only. Certainly an 800 number is desirable, but a number with the agent's local area code will lend an air of credibility to the transaction. Real personal contact has become important in the faceless, nameless world of the web - an independent travel agent can provide that.

The Independent Travel Agent - Guaranteed to be Genuine

The problem is so widespread that there is an entire website devoted to travel fraud at http://www.fraud.org/tips/internet/travelfraud.htm. Many of the situations for which this site provides warnings can be put to rest by an independent travel agent offering personal service. Someone who books an expensive vacation is going to want confirmation on reservations, reassurance on bookings and details on the destination site. An independent agent can provide those things; perhaps most importantly an independent travel agent can have the same voice provide additional information every time a customer calls.

The net result, so to speak, is a travel site that provides the sizzle of online advertising, the convenience of online contact and the reassurance of personal customer support. An independent agent doesn't necessarily have to compete with the "online specials" and other gimmicks found on major travel sites. The security provided by personal service will make the price worthwhile. An independent travel agent can make the internet an extension of the traditional personal service, rather than a replacement for it.
source:Ezinarticles

Save and Profit From Your Own Online Travel Booking Engine

2009-09-04T12:51:00.000-07:00

Now is your chance to finally profit and save big from the largest market shift in history. That is the Travel Industry Shift from the Brick & Mortar to the online Click & Mortar.

Are you ready for a good time off rate for your next vacation? If you are watchful for the cheaper prices, mull over using the internet and booking online using an online travel website. These online travel websites are becoming in demand with holidaymakers and travelers nationwide.

Usually, you will come up with cheaper rates, cheaper prices in airline and traveling fares. Online travel websites are qualified to accommodate their clients with cheaper pricing because their over-heads are normally less than your standard travel agency who maintains a big staff, have to pay a lease for their office space and have to furnish equipment for the travel industry. Utilizing the internet, travel entrepreneurs can cut their expenses by spending exclusively over the internet or by telephone.

Online travel websites are providing instant communication over the internet, where conventional travel agents have to check and research travel information. So, travelers are benefiting from instant travel information, services and the convenience of booking all travel online and not needing to leave the home or work place to book their travel.

Now travel enthusiasts can use these online travel websites to select their own vacation destinations, stops, routes, dates, and basically plan their own vacation to fit their particular needs. As you continue to read this article, you will find my resource box at the bottom with a link that will show you how you can profit big from this huge market shift in the travel industry. This is made possible with your very own online Booking Engine website.

So, there are numerous advantages for travelers to use online travel websites instead of a conventional travel agency. Online travel websites will allow you to plan and select your vacation or destination and then select the most affordable flights or passage to your selected vacation destination. Select an online travel agent with industry experience, this means that they will have sufficient expertise and knowledge, contacts and additional to guarantee you get the least expensive deal possible.

Use the internet to set up your next vacation, save yourself time, money and gain from the convenience of online shopping and booking. Online travel websites are becoming a big business in the travel industry. These online websites have practical, informative and helpful websites for their patrons to compare prices and find useful information on their vacation destination and their selected online travel website's choices and services in the travel industry.

Join the travelers of the world and originate your plans and bookings for travel and vacations by using an efficient, professional online travel agent. Save money, time and take advantage of creating your own vacation structure. Decide on the best vacation for you, and let professional online travel websites get the cheapest travel rates available.

I hope you have gotten some good ideas from this article and are able to use them.
source:Ezinarticles

Online Travel Agent Secrets That Saves Clients 100s to 1000s of Dollars Off All Travel - Part 2

2009-09-04T12:49:00.000-07:00

More massive travel savings are always given to the best planner of travel. The best planners use a travel agent. Question, who do you think would get the best rate on an all-inclusive travel package to Jamaica, you or the travel agent? Nine times out of ten, the travel agent wins. Why is that, you ask? They're the professionals of the industry, and no matter how many times you've already visited, received published discount rates, shared laughs with the host of the hotel, it doesn't amount to power of a true travel professional.

One phone call to the front desk, and travel agents discounts are eagerly rolled out the travel professional, no questions ask. But here's how you can benefit! An excellent travel agent can offer you some of these same perks that can save you hundreds easily. Here's more travel agents secrets revealed.

Early Bookings: Lets be real, 50 percent of travel is done within a months' time of planning. So you are never getting any good specials unless rooms need to be filled to max out vendors(hotels,cabins,etc,) sales. A travel agent has immediate excess to this information, so that you can save up to 60%, from just 2 weeks planning.

Avoiding Fees: Since the increase of fuel has rapidly affected all parts of our global economy, being educated about the extra charges for luggage, bookings fees and how to avoid these fees alone are priceless. Did you know as of now, cruise lines will charge you extra fuel charge per day ranging from $2-$9 per person. Airlines are charging $15-$50 for extra luggage, and each airline is different. Travel agents can inform you on which airlines charges the less, and even ways on how to avoid those fees altogether. Think you can do better than that, within minutes?

Negotiating Prices. Travel agents book hotel accommodations for major companies with hundreds to attend, so they get special rates given to them all the time based on credibility. Therefore, having your personal travel agent negotiating a family vacation package for 5 at the same hotel he/she has just booked an event for 200 people sounds quite rewarding as appose to you fussing, trying to get a $20 discount. Me personally, I would let the travel agent do their job, I couldn't win that argument without those expertise.

Often, online travel agents get bombarded with travel promotions and sometimes have to choose a guess of their choice to go on a 5-Day Carnival Cruise for $90. Wouldn't you want to be a good personal friend with an online travel professional and ask him/her, "are their any travel promotion you have going this month"? My email inbox probably has over hundreds of offers like this right now.

Simply stated, whether it's airline travel discounts, Disney travel discounts, student travel discounts, or just a family vacation package, you want the best for your money. Work personal with a good certified travel agent, and you'll always get the best deals, period.
source:Ezinarticles

How to Make Use of Travel Agents to Help Plan Your Trip

2009-09-04T12:48:00.000-07:00

There are many advantages of planning vacation with a travel agent. Travel agents are experienced not only with destination but also with all important things that must be taken care of. With their experience and exposure, you get free access to travel tips such as free holiday tips, airline travel tips, cheap airfare tips, travel insurance tips, budget destination tips, travel planning tips, international traveling tips and many more.

Travel agents have resources, contacts and links to plan holiday within budgets and help you out in case of emergency. They can provide best airline travel tips and packages according to your budget. Most travel agents offer the travel package that consists of everything from airfare to toll taxes. The following travel tips will help you in finding a good travel agent and exactly what to expect from a travel agent:

Tips and Advantages of Touring through a Travel Agent When you plan a travel or holiday with a travel agent, you get free access to many travel tips and benefits that help you in enjoying your holidays. Some of them are:

• Airline travel tips

When you organize a trip with some travel agent, you get tickets on discounted prices from multiple airlines. Travel agents have tie-ups with airlines and provide discount on tickets.

• Hotel travel tips

Travel agents can book hotels in advance. You should ask your travel agent to book a hotel well in advance to avoid last minute hassles. If you are visiting multiple vacations, book hotel at all places. This could save you heavily on your travel budgets because hotels charge exorbitantly when they see a traveler in need.

• Tips For Seniors

Travel agents also organize group tours for different age and vocational groups. The group tours are not only cheaper but safe also, especially for seniors. The benefit of group tours is that you never feel alone. You will soon find friends out of the fellow travelers. Group tours have a fixed schedule, so most of the destinations and important places are covered up within the budget.

• Travel tips for historical visits

Travel agents employ guides to explain historical monuments to tourists. Knowing the past heritage and visiting a monument arouse interest and make your visit memorable. Most guides know how to operate DV cams and still cameras. You can ask them to shoot you with your family or take a few snapshots. This could save you substantially because the cost of guides can be spread over the entire group.

• Women’s Travel Safety Tips On Tour

Criminals are always looking for innocent travelers for cheating or for sexual assaults. When you are planning a travel with travel agents, you have free access to travel safety tips for women traveling alone. Moreover, the travel agents have contacts and information on police, hospital, embassy and law that can come to your help. In case of emergency, a travel agent is better equipped than you to handle those situations.
source:Ezinarticles

Employee Discount Travel

2009-09-04T12:46:00.000-07:00

Everyone loves to travel, but many can't afford to. That's why it is nice when companies have a program that allows for discount travel. Employee discount travel is part of a growing trend that allows anyone who is employed at a company who participates in the employee discount travel program to go on an affordable and enjoyable trip as an individual or with family.

Employee discount travel is a part of the fringe benefits that are offered to employees by their company A company works with different travel agencies and gets special deals in return that employees can benefit from. In other words, if a company handles all corporate travel through a certain travel agency; in return; the travel agency will give certain discounts to the company's employees.

If you actually work for a travel agency, the benefits of employee discount travel are even greater. In this case, the company may even reimburse the expenses related to travel borne by the employee like hotel accommodation, food and intercity travel. Many companies also reimburse the cost of international calls made by the employee to clients on the trip for official purposes. If the employee is on a long travel program, companies are ready to provide him with discount coupons to supermarkets and eateries that would make his travel more economical.

Not to forget the contribution and the policies of the airline and railway industries, that offer their employee and their family members free air and rail tickets to travel any where in the world. Moreover, the railway employees are offered first class tickets not only for them but also their dependant family members.

To help the company provide employee discount travel facility; there are many other companies that serve as agents. They carefully select those companies that would like to forward discounts and travel related services and gain popularity and match them with companies who want to offer employ discount travel.

Employee discount travel is a facility used by a company to retain talented employees.
source:Ezinarticles

Discount Travel and Internet Booking

2009-09-04T12:45:00.000-07:00

Discount Travel is the word of the Travel Industry and it has made many Persons who cannot travel otherwise also to travel to distant places. All of us want to travel the whole World and it is impossible for many People who are not that much affluent to spend huge amounts on their Travel.

How can everybody do that is the most asked question? The introduction of discount Travel has made travel easy for many travelers. This allows all the travel lovers to travel without hurting their Bank balance because the Discount Travel has made them travel at a fraction of their original cost, and it has become cheap.

The most important development in discount Travel has probably been the widespread availability of cheap Flights. Many Companies use the yield management system that allows Prices to vary wildly depending on when you book your Flight. If you book far advance your fair will be less. And you can enjoy your Travel at a lower Fare. Booking Online makes it possible to look through all the dates available for Months in advance and choose the one that will be cheapest for you.

Third-party price comparison Websites allow you to then compare the Fares from different Airlines that fly on the route you’re looking for, meaning that you can fly with the cheapest Airline on the cheapest day with very little effort. Regardless of whether you are planning a business trip or a much anticipated family Vacation, the cost of Travel can be significant.

If you learn how to find the best travel deals, then you can put some extra bucks back into your wallet where they belong. Companies understand that while traveling the traveler just need a bed to take rest and nothing else. So they search for cheap Hotels. This is economical and comfortable.

This made the hotel owners to build rooms with a bed or a dormitory. This will be cheaper during long travel. This type of Hotels is called budget Hotels. Budget Hotels are exploding in popularity all around the World, making it cheaper to stay abroad today than it has ever been before in History.

If you like to travel and if you have less money you need not worry because there are lot of agencies which can arrange you for a part time job in the place where you want to Travel. Even students who like to visit a Country go to the Agents and ask for studies and part time job.

So Discount travel along with advancements in the Communication and Travel Industry have changed the Travel Industry completely and has become more Customer friendly.
source:Ezinarticles

Choose Travel Membership to Ease Your Travel

2009-09-04T12:43:00.000-07:00

In today's world travel has become a part of life to enjoy and relax, in spite of busy schedules and routine work. Who would not love to travel when it is so exciting to meet different people and enjoy their cultures? Nothing happens unless you plan at the right time. So one must consider few things while planning your travel otherwise, no doubt your travel can be expensive.

Travel is the best choice to spend time quality time with family and friends. But it includes a lot of expenses. Planning your vacation with the best travel membership will ensure you relax able vacation. Choosing the best travel deal can save you lot of time and money. You can find comprehensive travel guides all over the internet. This travel guides are a great resource for your adventurous travel. You can also find the best travel membership packages with affordable prices. You can enjoy your vacation by choosing the best travel deal depending upon the budget.

Travel membership is great for traveling. There are many travel sites that offer travel memberships with thousands of time share resort properties, no maintenance fees is charged and you can gain VIP access to peak season weeks. Along with all these facilities you can also enjoy the customer service. There are also lifetime memberships scheme which you can take advantage of and enjoy lifetime of world's finest luxury travel membership resorts.

It is advisable for vacationers to refer to free travel guides online to know more about all-inclusive resorts and the packages available and make arrangements for your travel. Remember an unplanned vacation can lose your thousands of dollars? So, plan your travel in advance and take advantage of the low travel expenses.

It is better to find a solution before anything goes wrong. If you want to make your travel exotic and memorable one, then it is necessary that you take precautions by just having a travel membership. Travel membership will ease your travel in many ways. From airline to cruise, from car rental to excursion package you can save lot of money.

So, first consider few things and research upon which is the best place to look up for information? What is best source of guidance to assist you in a travel and get started to experience a memorable travel now!
sorce:Ezinarticles

Become a Home Based Travel Agent - Network Marketing Travel Agents May Earn Higher Incomes

2009-09-04T12:41:00.000-07:00

As more and more people are turning to owning their own home based business for supplemental and full time income, there are also more and more people looking to becoming a home based travel agent. Many people assume that there is not much money to be made, and that the travel industry is declining. This is not true. Even though the rate of financial growth in travel has slowed -- the financial earnings and the overall money spent on travel continues to increase year after year. There is still money to be made in being a travel agent -- especially if the agent specializes in a certain niche, such as specializing in group vacation packages and in group cruises.

If a person wants to train at home to become a home based travel agent -- they may wish to consider becoming certified through a training programs that teaches both the travel service business and the network marketing business. These travel agent training programs provide full company support and team support by other independent home based agents. Another reason a network marketing affiliation is beneficial to the travel agent is because this type of program provides the agent with various non-traditional avenues to earning a very high level of residual income. The network marketing certification program teaches the new agent how to become a fully certified IATA recognized agent. In addition, the program also teaches the agent how to market "exclusive travel memberships" to clients and individuals. The sale of these memberships then provide the agent with a steady, recurring and growing residual income base. The network marketing program also financially rewards their home based agents who refer others to the agent training program. When an agent recruits another new agent to the training program, an upfront commission is earned, and a residual override commission is also earned. The residual override commission is earned month after month on the set up of the new agent's home based travel agency.

The network marketing travel agent certification program is a fairly new approach to training to become a travel agent. However, an individual can become a fully certified agents and also receive all the tools needed to set up their agency. One of the tools provided is an exclusive booking portal so that the agent can earn 70%-90% of the travel commissions earned that are booked from the agent's home office. Full professional training and ongoing career development training is also provided to the travel agent networker -- at no additional cost. The on-going training consists of instruction on how to build a successful and income producing home based travel business. Trainings are held on how to approach groups and businesses to propose group trips or incentive trips. Trainings are also held on how to specialize in a niche area of travel, such as how to specialize in luxury cruises. All of these trainings are done through live teleconference, so the home based agent may access the trainings from their own home during convenient evening hours. Furthermore, the travel agent networker also is placed on a team of other home based travel agent networkers-- so the new agent is always supported by an upline mentor who desires to help the new agent become profitable in their travel business as soon as possible.

When a travel agent becomes certified through a program offering the two combined business models (the network marketing plan and the certified travel agent plan), the agent is then positioned to potentially earn $100,000 a year or more in not just one way, but in three ways --

(1) through earning commissions on travel booked for clients,

(2) through earning residual income on the sell of exclusive, deep-discount travel memberships (these membership provide monthly destination trips for members at as much as 80% off the lowest internet rates) and

(3) through residual override commissions on the travel business completed by other travel agencies in the agent's referral network.

In conclusion -- to anyone considering becoming a home based travel agent, I highly recommend that you consider becoming certified and opening your agency through a program that truly provides you with the training and the tools you need to

(1) receive your certification, and

(2) actually realize an amazing and steady income that may even put you in retirement many years early -- so you can then enjoy the freedom and attain the resources needed to have even more travel and vacation experiences for yourself!
source:Ezinarticles

A New Era In Travel

2009-09-04T12:34:00.000-07:00

First, I want to get right to the meat and potatoes and show you a very logical opportunity that just makes sense not matter how you slice it. Here are some important facts:

The travel industry is by far the largest industry in the world. It accounts for about 7 trillion dollars a year world wide and about 1.3 trillion in the US alone. In the US that calculates to about 2.4 million dollars a minute or 40 thousand dollars a second. The travel industry is growing 23% faster than the world economy and will continue historical growth for the next 18 to 20 years. This of course is because of that group of people born between 1946 and 19 64 known as the almighty baby boomers. This group has changed every industry they have ever touched and they are entering retirement at the rate of 1 person every 8 seconds for the next 18+ years. When people retire, they want to travel. That is why the industry is expected to double in the next decade. The industry size and growth capacity is enormous. If we took telecom, health and nutrition and financial services, all of which generate billions of dollars in the direct marketing industry, and you combine them, it wouldn’t come even close to the size of the travel industry. It is always a smart move to be positioned in front of a growth industry and there has never been anything of this magnitude in the entire history of American business.

Barry Diller, the owner of Comcast bought Expedia.com for 5.1 billion dollars. Some holding company that I am not familiar with recently bought Orbitz.com for 5.6 billion dollars and Donald Trump has invested I don’t know how many millions building his online travel company from scratch. To me, that is a clue. They know its coming and they want to be in front of it. But the beauty of this opportunity is that those companies can’t compete with us. We are going after the prize of being the largest internet travel company in the world and create 10,000 millionaires inside of 10 years. I know that might sound grandiose, but stay with me because once you understand our business model, it will be very clear as to why it is not only realistic but very probable.

Right now, about 82% of the US population already books their travel online. The travel agency community has shrunk by 200,000 + travel agencies in the last 10 years because everyone is adopting the internet as their travel agent. It’s convenient. That is why Expedia, Travelocity, Orbitz, Priceline etc…have all be trying to brand themselves to grab a piece of the market as this transition occurs from brick and mortar travel agencies to click and order travel agencies. Not only do they want a piece of the existing market, more importantly they want to get in front of what is to come. Expedia.com for example is spending about 5 million dollars a week for marketing. About 80% of the revenue that comes in the door is being reinvested into their branding efforts. But, 20% of a whole lot is still a whole lot. It’s a great business model. But there is one problem; people are booking their travel with faceless corporations and there is no relationship in the equation anymore.

With YTB, you own a full service online travel agency with more extensive features than anyone else. From airline tickets, hotels, all inclusive vacation packages, cruises, golf tee times, Broadway show tickets, sporting events, ski passes, concert tickets, amusement park admissions, travelers insurance, buy foreign currency, just about anything travel and entertainment related and with every major travel provider in the world. We don’t sell something kind of like Carnival, Disney, Sandals, Frontier Airlines, Alamo etc…that is exactly what we sell. As a matter of fact, last year we booked over 10,000 weeks on Carnival Cruiselines making us the #3 booking agent in the world for Carnival. They treat us good!

All we have to do is point people to our website and YTB pays us 60% of the commission. The competition can not compete with this distribution model and here is why: We are bringing relationships back to an industry that the internet has been taking away. The convenience of online booking is still the same; it’s just that people can now put a face to the website. They book their travel as usual. They get to stay in the same hotels, the same all inclusive vacations, the same cruises, the same car rentals and they pay the same price, maybe even a little better. The difference is you. Here is a good example; my Mother will never go to another travel site because I’m her son and since nothing changes except for who gets paid, she books with me. It’s not like the telecom industry where Travelocity or Orbitz is gonna send my Mom a check for $50 bucks if she switches back. And, if one of my buddy’s books their travel with someone else, they can forget calling me the next time they need help moving. This is a perfect business model for the travel industry because over 80% of all vacations are already booked through a recommendation.
Now about YTB and why I have made a life-long commitment to this company: YTB is a 6 year old publicly traded company. They are seeing a 400% growth rate, eclipsing 1 billion dollars in travel bookings this year and have recently made it in the top 50 travel agencies in the world. The industry is taking notice because we came out of nowhere. The first few years was putting it all together. It was just in this last year that we moved into a perfect position to dominate the industry. YTB has also acquired a bank and 3 car dealerships, with many other auto manufactures coming soon. This part of our business goes live on June 1st. Just as travel has migrated to the internet, so are auto sales. When people purchase a vehicle, they usually go to the internet to research it. Because of the internet, many consumers know what the dealer cost is and suggested retail price before they even walk onto the car lot. And some people know more about the details of the car that they want than the sales person does. The dealerships are turning into nothing more than showroom/service centers because of the internet. It’s just heading that way. People are now going to be able to purchase a car, new or used from their local dealerships and you get paid because they were recommended from your website. There is a $500 commission paid for every purchase and we get 60% of that commission. We simply point people to our website and everything is done for us. Just as YTB is in front of the internet travel trend and is quickly and undeniably becoming the largest travel agency in the world, they are doing it with cars as well. There is a whole lot more coming with this company!

One of the things that I was taken back by was the fact that YTB has protected those of us in the field. They are the first company in the history of direct marketing that has filed a bill of rights with the SEC along with other state and federal regulatory agencies that insures our income for life. They can’t change our pay or take it away. If by chance they merge with another company, that company has to honor our income or the merger can not take place. Too many times people have invested years of hard work only to have a company change things up and either decrease or even eliminate their income. With YTB, that can’t happen.

Another thing that they did was issue a 100% no risk written guarantee to earn no less than $6,000 in the first year of following their system or they’ll pay you the difference. So if by some crazy chance you only earned $2500 in your first year of following their system, not only would you already be profitable, YTB would still write you a check for the $3,500 difference.

Right after I went out to St. Louis to see the company, I met up with a friend in Chicago who has been working with this company for close to 3 years. His income that month was a little over $125,000 and growing by at least another $5,000 each month. Now we both know it is not common to hit checks like that but it does happen when people are in the right place at the right time and ready for the opportunity. $125k a month is almost an impressive income but what really got me was that more than $73,000 of that was purely residual. I have seen quite a few checks like that being passed out in direct marketing over the years but I have never seen that kind of ratio. Typically, money like that is mainly derived from one time bonuses.

Every once in a while a phenomenon occurs in the direct marketing industry and there is no doubt that YTB is one of them. The industry has stood up and taken notice. And the interesting thing is that most people are not really aware of what is being done behind the scenes right now. But, it is almost a cliché in this industry to hear about how companies are going to be the next billion dollar giant and how the company owners are great business people with impeccable integrity. I was almost to the point of jumping up and strangling the next hypester who told me that. With YTB, you only need to allow yourself to see it for what it is and the rest of the story unfolds itself.

Now, here is the benefit. By owning an online travel agency, you are engaged in the travel profession. This gives you access to a side of travel that the average consumer never gets to see. You are allowed insider vacation packages that are deeply discounted, courtesy upgrades only available to those in the travel business, not to mention that since you are in the travel business, you get to write off your leisure vacations as well. And, you also get paid 60% of the vendor commission back on your own travel.

So to sum this up:

1. We are in an industry that people are already sold on.

2. We are in the largest industry in the world that is doubling in size.

3. We get to create additional tax write offs.

4. We get to travel like an insider.

5. We have a no risk guarantee to make a profit.

6. We have a bill of rights to protect our income forever.

The total cost is a one time $449.95 and a monthly licensing fee of $49.95 to maintain the hosting and back office functionalities of our travel business. We a have over 300 + people at the home office working for us on a full time basis. There will be close to 1,000 employees by the end of the year. We just point people to our site and YTB does the rest. YTB is also building a 130,000 square foot facility in Greater St. Louis and you are more than welcome to visit the home office. Almost every Tuesday, they have what is called the Red Carpet event. Every week, between 800 to 1200 people fly out to take a look at the company. The day starts with a tour of the facilities and meeting the employees. Then they charter everyone over to the convention center where they lay out a huge buffet lunch. Shortly after everyone eats, they give a presentation on the business model. It is a very dynamic event but the impressive thing is that they don’t hype it up. They give people a very objective look at why this makes sense. I haven’t had one person visit the company and not get involved.

As questions come up, don’t hesitate to call me anytime day or night. I am passionate about this business. We are showing people how to travel a lot better for less money, be able to write it off on their taxes and get paid to do it. It’s pretty much that simple. For those of us who are a little more entrepreneurial, there is a much more significant opportunity available. We are riding a trillion dollar market through an 18 to 20 year growth spurt and then binding it all together for sustained success through relationships. It just makes sense.
source:Ezinarticles

Why is Trump in the Travel Business?

2009-09-02T20:06:00.000-07:00

Why are people like Donald Trump getting in the online travel business? (You can see it for yourself at his Trump.com website.) The reason is because he is a business man in the business of making money. And he knows how huge this market has become. Even basketball great, Magic Johnson has started his own home based travel agent network.

This is no longer a secret among those wanting to make money with a growing business. Travel is the largest Industry in the world. A $7 trillion dollar industry that is growing 23% faster than the world's economy. And even in this failing economy, people still need a vacation. They are finding a way to save enough money to still travel.

But why lean towards an online travel business, instead of the old brick and mortar travel agencies? Simply because companies like Travelocity, Priceline and Orbitz have put so many of them out of business. We live in a hurry-up world now. No one has the time to make an appointment with a travel agent, and then try to keep it. And then you end up settling for the trip they planned for you, based on what the average person wants to see.

When you're booking through an online travel booking portal, you can plan a vacation in the comfort of your own living room. Without time limitations, and the pressure of making your decision based on the two or three packages put in front of you.

There are some very good travel portals out there now, that are very easy to follow, and easy steps to complete the booking totally on your own. If you can read, and follow direction, you can book your own travel, and save money in the process. An email confirmation, with your confirmation number will follow, so you can double check and insure that everything has been booked to your liking. You also have contact numbers in case you have any concerns, or if changes are needed before taking your vacation.

Now that you know how easy it is for people to book travel on their own, you may understand why over 80% of the people are booking their travel online. But don't limit yourself to only the big guys like Travelocity. The rest of the competition is out there for a reason. They are very competitive, with even better prices in a lot of cases. They are proven to be very helpful in keeping the prices of some of the other companies in line. And some have a travel booking portal just like the booking engine used by the major travel companies. So there is no reason not to give the little guy a chance. And you have everything to gain, if you find a better deal.

Some of the online travel agencies out there also give the individual booking travel, the opportunity to start their own travel business with their company. Of course the benefit to the buyer is in the commission paid on any travel now booked on their very own travel booking site. However, start-up costs could keep folks from starting their own travel booking business when realizing companies like Trump Travel charge a healthy $10,000 for their booking engine. But if you do your research, you can also join companies for only $200.

The choices in travel are many, both in the area of booking travel and starting your own travel business. I suggest doing your research first, ask questions if you can, and make the decision that will be best for you and your future.
source:Ezinarticles

Truth in Travel Pricing

2009-09-02T20:04:00.000-07:00

None of us should be surprised at these quotes from a travel article in the TimesOnline.co.uk (Oct 2008) by Stephen Bleach:

"Massive discounts on cruises were exposed as a con last week after leading line Fred Olsen admitted it had not sold a single cruise at full price for a year."

A further quote from the managing director of the line, Mike Rodwell:

"the big American operators started it and the rest had to follow."

Another surprise. On the same laptop page as this excellent article were three Google ads offering:

"Cruise Deals. Search The Top Online Cruise Deals. Read Reviews & Book Online Today." Followed by:

"Cruise Discounts 75% Off, All cruise lines, all destinations." And another:

"Huge Alaska Cruise Sale, Free Upgrades, Exclusive Deals & More with Guaranteed Lowest Prices!"

The travel operators behind these advertisements must think the travelling public is naive or even stupid but they would probably not use them if they did not work.

Also, these Google ads were run against a very negative, but truthful article about misleading advertising for cruises.

The travelling public continues to be treated with disdain by travel operators and advertising companies, not only by cruise lines and airlines but by all types of travel suppliers. What could be more misleading and false advertising than an airline advertising their fares in headlines that shout out:

"$49. one-way to Smithville" IN LARGE PRINT, and then:
'based on return purchase, plus all taxes, surcharges for fuel, surcharges for security, checked baggage is extra, seat selection fees, and on and on and on." And by the way, have fuel surcharges been reduced enough?

Not only cruise prices and airfares but also consider hotel pricing that often requires much investigation as regards the offered discounts:

"75% off! But off of what? A rack-rate that is rarely charged?

And, why can you often get cheaper rooms at an online reservation office than at the hotel front desk even when you are in their lobby and ready to book?

Next in line for pricing questions could be the packaged holiday market. How many of these are sold at the brochure price? Or, as with the above cruise line, are packaged tour operators simply following the lead of others?

Not only is the public being mislead by questionable advertising and pricing practices but once captured by a cruise line, airline or packaged resort operator they can be open to additional gouging whilst onboard the ship, aircraft or resort.

Apart from the onboard costs of alcoholic drinks which should be at duty-free prices (i.e. cheaper than onshore). Extras, such as shore excursions can also be more expensive when purchased onboard rather than ashore or even pre-departure using the internet. Similarly with resorts that have onsite booking agencies for off-resort activities. The prices are often cheaper when purchased directly from the operators or again at pre-departure directly over the internet. Airlines however, who are charging for all sorts of basic amenities from blankets, pillows, soft drinks and soon even water may not be free, have a more captive audience (the movie, ConAir comes to mind) and will continue to be the most reviled part of the travel experience.

There is hope for the future but so far only in Europe. In 2009 new rules for advertising standards will come into effect offering more protection for travellers. We must hope that these new rules will eventually spread to the rest of the world with further improvements to protect consumers worldwide.

In the travel industry. Where has the originality and creativity gone? Where are the leaders? Where has "lead, follow or get out of my way" gone? Only the followers know.

Another aspect of travel pricing is when consumers want to handle their own travel arrangements directly with the operators of hotels, lodges, tours and transportation. The pricing should reflect the fact that the products are being purchased directly from the source and not at the retail level. In other words, reduce the price by the commission that would have been paid to an agent, broker or retailer and give the traveller a direct booking discount. This action could encourage more travellers to make their own direct bookings, leading to more business and a competitive edge for the operator.

Of course, the traditional distribution channels have to be protected as many consumers require help and assistance and as yet not everyone has or wants the internet.

Travel providers do not normally show different prices on their websites as this could lead to potential clients seeking advice at the retail level and then booking directly with the operator to get a discounted price. It is unfair for retailers to lose their commissions when they have performed services for their travel-trade clients.

Consumers on the other hand, if they do not need expert advice or booking services, should have the opportunity to go directly to the source and get a direct booking discount.

Originality and creativity has returned to the travel industry. Travel providers are now able to offer travellers a direct booking discount service by using a new travel voucher system that has been introduced. With a website and the internet they can now reach out to the global travel community, not just travel agency or local traffic.

Any travel operator, from the smallest b&b to the grandest lodge or luxury tour, can offer this service. The voucher values represent the normal commissions that would have been paid out to sellers of travel but now will be given back to the buyers of travel. And, the discounted price does not have to show on their websites.

The service is leading with this new initiative and now wants to promote the thousands of small travel providers and other businesses around the world that do not use selling agents and therefore do not have sales commissions built into their pricing. The operators of the voucher service suggest that lower yields with higher volumes of direct booking discount travellers may achieve better overall returns.

Members of a new online travel club can get these vouchers free with membership and non-members can purchase them at deep discounts to their face values at another similar website. At present there are vouchers covering travel in over seventy countries from b&b's to adventure and luxury tours.

The Club operators say that they do not charge businesses for listing their services as long as they participate in issuing vouchers enabling members to get direct booking discounts.

There are many directories linking the world of travel to the world of travellers but this new concept offers a directory with discounts on every travel selection if you are willing and able to handle your own travel bookings and arrangements directly with the listed operators.

The club operators are aware that many travel operators will continue to adhere to the business style of Mike Rodwell of Fred Olsen Lines and will continue to follow rather than lead and it is unlikely that they will ever be represented by this travel club. They are also aware that there are enough independent travel businesses that will find that their new business style of expanded selections and direct booking discounts is a better way of offering travel directly to consumers around the world.
source:Ezinarticles

Travel Online - The Com Way

2009-09-02T20:03:00.000-07:00

Online travel has truly become the best way to get deals on airfares, car rentals, cruise lines and travel packages. The reasons have everything to do with the competition that is so readily available for you to review with the click of a mouse.

Today, the best way to find travel deals is through the .com websites of today. This article will give you an idea of where to start if you are interested in the online travel available via the com travel industry.

What is the Online Com Travel Industry?

It is a term that I use to describe the influx of websites that have been created for the simple purpose of finding the traveler the best deal possible. This has to do with the way in which online travel reports and comparison shopping has ingrained itself into the online community of deal shoppers. This has transcended over to the online travel industry. This is why I call it the online com travel industry, and it is bound to save you a lot of money.

Travel Online via Com

So we know that the .com in travel makes it easy for you to find the best deals on travel. But where to start? There are a lot of travel websites out there that end with the famous com. Where should you begin your travel deal conquest?

Travel Search Engines and Travel Websites: The Facts

There are two types of online com travel sites that may appear to be similar but I assure you they are different. Here is what they are and here is how they are different:

The travel search engines are going to search hundreds of travel websites to find you the best deal, sort of in the same way that any search engine tries to find you the best websites that relate to your search query.

The travel websites are going to provide more flexibility and for the time being, seem to have more travel package deals available.

Your Best Bet When Dealing with the .Com Travel Industry

The best solution is to try some of the various travel websites available, in both the travel search engines and the standard travel websites. Travel search engine websites include Mobissimo, SideStep and Kayak. Standard travel search sites include Orbitz, Travelocity, Priceline and Expedia.

All of the online com travel industry sites are going to have something unique about them. The best thing to do is to search all of them and eventually you will decide you prefer one or two of these sites. You may eventually have one favorite travel search engine site and one regular travel site that you will use to find all your online travel deals. That part, is going to be up to you.
source:Ezinarticles

Travel Guide

2009-09-02T19:58:00.000-07:00

Who likes taking vacations? Of course, that would include approximately 99 percent of the population. The 1 percent would more than likely be workaholics that just do not like taking work along with them on vacation. And, no matter who you are, you probably like getting that travel deal.

Travel deals can come from the actual airplane flight, a hotel discount, car rental savings, cruise packages, and you can obtain travel deals from travel guides.

What are the most popular travel deals? The most popular travel deals include

1) last minute labor day deals or otherwise last minute getaway for the holiday weekend savings. You can save up to 70 percent on these last minute getaways for the holiday weekends. Usually, these featured deals include both air fare and hotel packaged-savings. A lot of times the travel package deals come with flexible departure dates from Thursday to Saturday. Of course, the travel packaged-deals expire within a limited time offer period, usually a weekend only packaged-deal.

2) Compare and save on air fare. Now you can see if you are getting a good travel deal. A lot of sites offer this option of compare and save on air fare and other flight services. Example, you can compare and save for Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year air fare flight rates. Often, you can get last minute travel deals with last minute packages from $199, United States dollars.

Other popular travel deals. Looking for a travel deal to London, Paris, Venice, Barcelona to New York, Arizona, or other popular hot vacation spots? Frequently, Norwegian Cruise Line, Westin Kierland Resort and Spa, and Continental Airlines offer hot deals on travel packages. You will find offers for travel credits, one way, round trip, pre-purchase, and other fantastic travel deals. Some popular travel deal destinations can include Atlantic City, Boston, Chicago, Las Vegas, Miami, New York, Orlando, San Francisco. Some popular international travel deals include travel locations such as Aruba, Bahamas, Cabo San Lucas, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Paris, and Puerto Vallarta.

Popular travel deal sites. You can search and find travel deals with carrentals.com, Orbiz, Delta Air Lines, Travelocity, Expedia, travel.yahoo.com, travelchannel.com, travel.nytimes.com, cnn.com, and County Visitors Bureaus. For US citizen traveling abroad, try travel.state.gov. For car rentals, you can search and find deals from $10 and up for a weekend car rental deal. For hotels on sale nationwide, you can search and find deals from 30% off. For last minute fares, you can search and find weekend air fare deals. For county visiting bureaus, you can search and find hotel discounts and gift card options. Travel guides, travel magazines, travel zoo, train travel, last minute travel, cruises, and airlines offer many appealing travel deals.

Take advantage of all the travel deal options. To do this, you may want to explore package deals, not just a particular travel deal for flights, hotels, car rentals, cruises, and vacations. There are many available travel deals for many popular travel destinations in the United States and Internationally. Search all travel destinations if you are not set on one particular vacation hot spot. You will find different travel deals for various hot spots, vacation location destinations, throughout the travel holidays and seasonal travel deals as well.
source:Ezinarticles

Top 5 Travel Tips - Eye Opening Vacation and International Travel Tips

2009-09-02T19:56:00.000-07:00

Before we jump let me point out that I not going to cover the typical surface travel tips. Instead we are going cover the principle travel tips and discover what mind set is needed to gain the best experience wherever you go.

Some of these travel tips will be hard for you to apply but after 8 years of traveling the world I have found these 5 travel tips to become a motto and guideline for me. I hope that you take them in and really consider them the next time you take off to gain more experiences.

Travel Tips #1 - Be open and don't plan everything out:

"Do it with the locals." This is a huge travel tip to follow when traveling. You can never beat the knowledge of a local and I would highly suggest to avoid sitting at your computer and trying to figure everything out.

The KEY is to get a few travel tips about the area. The next step is to myspace or facebook some locals down there and ask them what's cool and if you could meet up for a day or two to have some local fun with them. Most locals will love this opportunity and the experiences you have from that are priceless. I still remember a time in the Brazil where I did this and ended up in some tribe in the Amazon being taught Capawara by a Capawara Master. I could have never planned that from a desktop.

Travel Tips #2 - Immerse yourself in the culture:

Everyday you should be trying something new but more importantly you should constantly be stepping out of your comfort zone.

One of the best travel tips I can give you is this "Give yourself all the experiences you can h." Experiences are directly relate to your personality and ultimately the quality of life you are going to have.

Here's some interesting information. When you're out of your comfort zone you fall into what's called the state of dissonance. The body and minds goal is to become comfortable again so as it starts to eliminate the state of dissonance and creates comfort again. When this process happens the body mind and expands, personality grows, lessons are learned and you can now handle more situations in life. Next time you travel try not to create a home away from home and instead let whereever you are at impact you.

Travel Tips #3 - Chose your travel companions wisely:

This travel tip is an all encompassing principle in life. It has become apparent in these last few years of traveling that the quality of life and our fulfillment and happiness is greatly effect by the support and relationships around us.

I have seen to many travelers take off on a journey with someone that shares the same dream to travel but completely different lifestyle and it ruining the trip for them. The sad part is you find these people in amazing place completely involved in this drama scene instead of being involved in the beauty and culture.

The moment this became apparent was 3 years ago in Costa Rica. I was sitting on the beach in a surf town named Montezuma. The sun was beginning to set and it was one of those perfect conditions for a beautiful one.

While sitting there a hostel roommate sat down next to me and after a few questions about his travel he began to release all of this built up baggage he was holding in about his travel companion. While sitting there watching this beautiful sun set I realized he had no clue it was happening. The truth is not everyone is a good travel companion for you but when you do travel with the right one your traveling and experiences are going to be 100 times better.

Travel Tips #4 - Tie up any loss ends and disconnect from your life at home:

Technology was supposed to give us freedom and instead it has started to control us. Most people can't go more then three days with out checking email or their personal site, 5 minutes with out responding to a text message and a few days with out checking in with their peeps.

The point to catch here is where ever you are physically at in life is REALITY. Anything that's in not present such as home, old friends, family, old lifestyles is a memory and more importantly only a thought. There is a famous quote I love to reflect on:

"You can clutch the past so tightly to your chest that it leaves your arms too full to embrace the present." ~Jan Glidewell

This is a very important principle in life and travel. You have a certain amount of energy a day, you can either place that energy on a thought in your head or you can place it on the experiences in the present. Where you consistently place your energy will determine who you are and how much fulfillment you get out of life.

Travel Tips #5 - Focus more on the experience then a trophy picture to show your friends:

This travel tip ties into travel tip #4. What I always find fascinating is the amount of people that go out traveling just to take pictures and show them off to their friends back home. Pictures are great for reflection and to keep your memory bank full of good moments and they are not good when it turns into competition and distractions from the moment.

Bonus Travel Tip - Don't over pack

This is the simple travel tip but it shocks me how much happier I am when I apply this. Ten pair of shorts, 20 shirts, your favorite 3 pairs of shoes and your massive bag of everything you could possible need is what I call unnecessary and mental hassle to take care of.

I prefer to buy cloths along the way to better immerse my self in the culture and to pack light with one the top 10 necessities. This makes your more mobile and free from lugging that useless crap around. Next time you travel consider writing a list of the 10 thing that are the most important things to have on your travel and let go of the rest.

After 8 years of traveling I found these travel tips to be of up most importance. As I was saying before some of these are going to be hard to apply but if you decided put the effort in an apply these travel tips you are going to find yourself having more experiences and more fulfilling adventures.
source:Ezinarticles

The Benefits of Using an Online Travel Agency

2009-09-02T19:54:00.000-07:00

Most people who go on vacation like to book trips through a travel agent in order to take some of the stress out of the planning process. Travel agents can also help you save money on flight, hotel rooms, cruises, and more; but what about online travel agencies? While people worry that Internet travel agencies could scam you or provide low-quality service, there are actually a number of benefits to choosing an online travel agency, providing that you pick the right one.

First and foremost, with an online travel agency, you can work with the place that has the lowest prices without geography limits. In other words, you have more options! When you opt to choose a travel agency in an offline setting, you are limited to the handful of companies that operate in your neighborhood, or at least within a reasonable distance. People who live in major cities might especially be affected by the high prices of brick and mortar travel agencies. Online, there are not proximity limits. The travel agency with which you work might actually have headquarters thousands of miles away, but if they have the lowest prices, you can still work with them over the Internet.

The increased number of choices does not just help you save money. It also means that you have limitless possibilities when it comes to travel. The travel agencies in your areas probably can book dozens or even hundreds of different trips, but there will be limitations. Even if an offline travel agent can plan a vacation to an obscure destination for you, it is not likely that he or she will be an expert in travel to this location. Online, you can find a family or an individual who has been there and will plan an amazing vacation for you. There are few places in the world where you can't travel if you work with an online travel agency.

Another great aspect of working with an online travel agency is that you can shop for your vacation package any time of the day or night. Brick and mortar business usually close soon after the end of the regular business day, and many are not open for long hours on the weekend. The Internet is open 24 hours a day. While you may not always be able to call a customer service representative, especially if you like to do vacation planning at three in the morning, you can always check out packages offer on travel websites. This is especially handy for parents who need to plan after the kids are in bed, people who work odd hours, and those living in rural locations where the nearest travel agency office is a fairly far drive.

One of the often-overlooked benefits of an online travel agency is the control you have to make your own choices without outside influences or pressure. When you visit an office, many travel agents have the same tone as used car salesmen. You have to remember that these people are often working under some kind of commission program. Instead of making an hourly wage, they earn a percentage of your total vacation price, and even if they do have a salaried job, they may get incentives from travel companies (hotels, cruise lines, etc) for selling amount every month. Many travel agents get to go on free trips for every ten or twenty vacation packages they sell. So, you might feel pressured to book a trip when you are not done exploring your options or upgrade certain aspects, even though you do not have the money. Online travel agencies typically take a more hands-off approach. That does not mean that they won't help you, of course. Most are more than willing to answer questions via email or over the phone. However, when it comes to working with an online travel agency, you do not have someone looming over your shoulder, trying to make a sale as you check out your vacation options.

Also, when you work with an online travel agency, you usually have more payment choices. Today, some offline travel agencies offer payment plans, credit card payments, and so forth, but this is not always the case. When you work online to plan you vacation, however, you can always find a type payment that will work for you. Some even have payment programs that allow you to earn points for every dollar you spend, which can go towards gift certificates or future trips.

Be aware that there are still scammers posing as online travel agencies and other travel sites, and you always need to read the fine print of any website where you make a purchase. However, online travel agencies are often a less expensive, easier, and more convenient way to book a vacation.
source:Ezinarticles

ruise Agent, Travel Agent, etc. What's In A Name?

2009-09-02T19:52:00.000-07:00

Travel professionals go by many names. cruise agent, travel agent, trip advisor, travel consultant, cruise planner, trip planner, travel planner and travel advisor are a few such designations. Of course, including the word professional (such as professional travel planner) adds to an already long list.

A key question is whether these descriptions are important to the traveling public. A secondary question is whether the travel professional thinks they are important.

How about you, do you care about the title of the travel professional you use?

Regardless of how you answer, (yes, no, it depends, or it doesn't matter), the bottom line is whether the services offered met your needs. Are you a "happy camper" at the end of the day? Are you encountering many hassles in planning your trip or vacation?

Did you use a travel consultant?

Or...

...did you use a travel planner? Is there a difference?

Clearly, some titles suggest more of a specialized service, such as cruise agent. Undoubtedly, a travel professional uses a label to show his/her area of specialization. However, no one would suggest that only a cruise agent provides the required services in a superlative way.

A travel professional referred to as a travel agent (or any other designation) may have the capability of doing a superb job, even though that job deals with cruising.

What about the reverse? Can a cruise agent perform the over-all functions of a travel agent, and do so equally well? That depends of course on the background and experience of the agent.

Many travel professionals use multiple designations. Simply because you find a travel professional through the designation of, say, travel consultant does not mean that the same person cannot also be located through the designation of travel agent. You may want to contact a cruise planner, but you may get a great travel agent.

Therefore, it seems the most important question is whether you can identify a travel professional, which is right for you regardless of label.

For information on identifying the right travel professional for you, see the author's article at EzineArticles.com titled "How to Identify Your Perfect Cruise Agent".

Note: You have permission to reproduce this article if the entire article is reproduced, the article remains unchanged, the author's resource box at the bottom is included and all links remain intact.
source:Ezinarticles

Last Minute Travel Deals - 9 Ways to Find Last Minute Travel Bargains

2009-09-02T19:51:00.000-07:00

Let's say you've got to "get out of Dodge" quickly. You need to find a flight now but you'd still like to find some last minute travel bargains.

In the past you might have had to bite the bullet and pay whatever the travel agent was asking, but nowadays, with the internet, it's even possible to find last minute travel deals.

If you've been looking at the travel industry there's a lot of competition on the net. That's really good news for travelers. We now have a lot more options for finding last minute travel packages. With a little bit of research we can compare the cost of airline tickets, hotels and car rentals. And with a little bit of luck we can even find a choice of last minute travel specials.

Here are 9 things to do for you to have a shot at getting those elusive last minute travel bargains.

Be Flexible
# While it might not be convenient, if you can travel a day or two earlier or later than you planned you can usually get cheap airfare deals.
# Also, if you can leave early in the morning or perhaps take the "red eye" you could save some money.

Don't Panic - Check Out Several Travel Websites

It's not a good idea to freak out when you're looking for last minute flights. Take an extra half hour to look.
# Check out several sites. You could find discounts that will save you a lot of money.

If you want to find one of the last minute travel specials it's usually not a good idea to jump on the first thing you see.

Fly on Tuesday or Wednesday

If your schedule permits, try to book your flights mid-week. That's usually the slowest part of the week.
# You can often save at least 25% on your airline tickets by flying on one of those days.

Sign Up For Travel Alerts

This you're going to have to do in advance. Airlines email people that are on their travel alerts list about last minute travel bargains.
# So sign up today in case you might need it tomorrow.

Subscribe to Online Travel Newsletters

A lot of sites that are related to travel have newsletters.
# Some of them will let you know when there are last minute travel deals. They'll send you an email when they find any last minute travel bargains that meet your criteria.

Look at Airlines Websites

Some airlines only post their last minute travel deals on their own website. Some airlines don't post last minute travel specials on any website.

But because some do...
# when you check directly on the airlines' websites you might find one of the last seats on a flight you want that you won't find anywhere else.

Look for Package Deals

This could help if you're traveling with someone.
# Sometimes you'll find last minute travel packages that cover your airline tickets and hotel reservations, but they're usually for double occupancy.

See If There's Another Airport Nearby

If you're flying into a major airport, check to see if there's a smaller airport nearby.
# Often flying into a smaller airport can save you both time and money.

Find A Good Travel Agent

Again, this is something you'll have to prepare for. Internet reservations have cut into travel agents' income.
# A lot of times, in order to generate a loyal clientele, travel agents will use their inside information to find last minute travel bargains and pass them on to you.

If you find a travel agent who goes out of their way to help you, consider using them for making travel arrangements for you in the future. They could be worth their weight in gold.
source:Ezinarticles

History of Travel and Tourism

2009-09-02T19:45:00.000-07:00

2000 years Before Christ, in India and Mesopotamia

Travel for trade was an important feature since the beginning of civilisation. The port at Lothal was an important centre of trade between the Indus valley civilisation and the Sumerian civilisation.

600 BC and thereafter

The earliest form of leisure tourism can be traced as far back as the Babylonian and Egyptian empires. A museum of historic antiquities was open to the public in Babylon. The Egyptians held many religious festivals that attracted the devout and many people who thronged to cities to see famous works of arts and buildings.

In India, as elsewhere, kings travelled for empire building. The Brahmins and the common people travelled for religious purposes. Thousands of Brahmins and the common folk thronged Sarnath and Sravasti to be greeted by the inscrutable smile of the Enlightened One- the Buddha.

500 BC, the Greek civilisation

The Greek tourists travelled to sites of healing gods. The Greeks also enjoyed their religious festivals that increasingly became a pursuit of pleasure, and in particular, sport. Athens had become an important site for travellers visiting the major sights such as the Parthenon. Inns were established in large towns and seaports to provide for travellers' needs. Courtesans were the principal entertainment offered.

This era also saw the birth of travel writing. Herodotus was the worlds' first travel writer. Guidebooks also made their appearance in the fourth century covering destinations such as Athens, Sparta and Troy. Advertisements in the way of signs directing people to inns are also known in this period.

The Roman Empire

With no foreign borders between England and Syria, and with safe seas from piracy due to Roman patrols, the conditions favouring travel had arrived. First class roads coupled with staging inns (precursors of modern motels) promoted the growth of travel. Romans travelled to Sicily, Greece, Rhodes, Troy and Egypt. From 300 AD travel to the Holy Land also became very popular. The Romans introduced their guidebooks (itineraria), listing hotels with symbols to identify quality.

Second homes were built by the rich near Rome, occupied primarily during springtime social season. The most fashionable resorts were found around Bay of Naples. Naples attracted the retired and the intellectuals, Cumae attracted the fashionable while Baiae attracted the down market tourist, becoming noted for its rowdiness, drunkenness and all- night singing.

Travel and Tourism were to never attain a similar status until the modern times.

In the Middle Ages

Travel became difficult and dangerous as people travelled for business or for a sense of obligation and duty.

Adventurers sought fame and fortune through travel. The Europeans tried to discover a sea route to India for trade purposes and in this fashion discovered America and explored parts of Africa. Strolling players and minstrels made their living by performing as they travelled. Missionaries, saints, etc. travelled to spread the sacred word.

Leisure travel in India was introduced by the Mughals. The Mughal kings built luxurious palaces and enchanting gardens at places of natural and scenic beauty (for example Jehangir travelled to Kashmir drawn by its beauty.

Travel for empire building and pilgrimage was a regular feature.

The Grand Tour

From the early seventeenth century, a new form of tourism was developed as a direct outcome of the Renaissance. Under the reign of Elizabeth 1, young men seeking positions at court were encouraged to travel to continent to finish their education. Later, it became customary for education of gentleman to be completed by a 'Grand Tour' accompanied by a tutor and lasting for three or more years. While ostensibly educational, the pleasure seeking men travelled to enjoy life and culture of Paris, Venice or Florence. By the end of eighteenth century, the custom had become institutionalised in the gentry. Gradually pleasure travel displaced educational travel. The advent of Napoleonic wars inhibited travel for around 30 years and led to the decline of the custom of the Grand Tour.

The development of the spas

The spas grew in popularity in the seventeenth century in Britain and a little later in the European Continent as awareness about the therapeutic qualities of mineral water increased. Taking the cure in the spa rapidly acquired the nature of a status symbol. The resorts changed in character as pleasure became the motivation of visits. They became an important centre of social life for the high society.

In the nineteenth century they were gradually replaced by the seaside resort.

The sun, sand and sea resorts

The sea water became associated with health benefits. The earliest visitors therefore drank it and did not bathe in it. By the early eighteenth century, small fishing resorts sprung up in England for visitors who drank and immersed themselves in sea water. With the overcrowding of inland spas, the new sea side resorts grew in popularity. The introduction of steamboat services in 19th century introduced more resorts in the circuit. The seaside resort gradually became a social meeting point

Role of the industrial revolution in promoting travel in the west

The rapid urbanisation due to industrialisation led to mass immigration in cities. These people were lured into travel to escape their environment to places of natural beauty, often to the countryside they had come from change of routine from a physically and psychologically stressful jobs to a leisurely pace in countryside.

Highlights of travel in the nineteenth century

· Advent of railway initially catalysed business travel and later leisure travel. Gradually special trains were chartered to only take leisure travel to their destinations.

· Package tours organised by entrepreneurs such as Thomas Cook.

· The European countries indulged in a lot of business travel often to their colonies to buy raw material and sell finished goods.

· The invention of photography acted as a status-enhancing tool and promoted overseas travel.

· The formation of first hotel chains; pioneered by the railway companies who established great railway terminus hotels.

· Seaside resorts began to develop different images as for day-trippers, elite, for gambling.

· Other types of destinations-ski resorts, hill stations, mountaineering spots etc.

· The technological development in steamships promoted travel between North America and Europe.

· The Suez Canal opened direct sea routes to India and the Far East.

· The cult of the guidebook followed the development of photography.

Tourism in the Twentieth Century

The First World War gave first hand experience of countries and aroused a sense of curiosity about international travel among less well off sector for the first time. The large scale of migration to the US meant a lot of travel across the Atlantic. Private motoring began to encourage domestic travel in Europe and the west. The sea side resort became annual family holiday destination in Britain and increased in popularity in other countries of the west. Hotels proliferated in these destinations.

The birth of air travel and after

The wars increased interest in international travel. This interest was given the shape of mass tourism by the aviation industry. The surplus of aircrafts and growth of private airlines aided the expansion of air travel. The aircraft had become comfortable, faster and steadily cheaper for overseas travel. With the introduction of Boeing 707 jet in 1958, the age of air travel for the masses had arrived. The beginning of chartered flights boosted the package tour market and led to the establishment of organised mass tourism. The Boeing 747, a 400 seat craft, brought the cost of travel down sharply. The seaside resorts in the Mediterranean, North Africa and the Caribbean were the initial hot spots of mass tourism.

A corresponding growth in hotel industry led to the establishment of world-wide chains. Tourism also began to diversify as people began to flock alternative destinations in the 70s. Nepal and India received a throng of tourists lured by Hare Krishna movement and transcendental meditation. The beginning of individual travel in a significant volume only occurred in the 80s. Air travel also led to a continuous growth in business travel especially with the emergence of the MNCs.
source:Ezinarticles

Does The Internet Benefit Small Travel Businesses

2009-09-02T19:43:00.000-07:00

Yes, of course it does, but as much as it should?

When you think of the number of travel directories and websites available to travelers you would think that this is a world free of the normal conventions of business but unfortunately it is often bound by restrictions that travelers would not appreciate. Pricing of travel is one of the conventions that are not yet totally free of restrictions and understandably so due to distribution considerations.

Travel businesses using the traditional distribution chains for the sale of their products need to allow for the payments of commission to various levels of middlemen, Inbound Tour Operators, Wholesalers and Retailers, all who need to take a percentage for their efforts in enabling travel services and products to reach the consumer.

Websites however, reach directly to consumers and enable them to make direct bookings with travel providers but they can still incur the costs attributed to these middlemen. But, to place a two-tier price for each product could deter the agents from representing products so a new way had to be found. This is where TopTravelSites stepped in with their newly developed service for the travel provider who wants to continue with the traditional supply chain but also wants to encourage travelers who are comfortable with making their own arrangements directly with providers and who do not need the services of travel agents, just the internet.

The service called TopTravelVouchers gives travelers a 'fair fare price' on direct bookings but the provider still incurs the cost of commission.

This new price format is achieved by the travel operator issuing a voucher in exchange for marketing, promotion and deliverance of travelers directly to their websites to make their bookings. The voucher is sold to travelers at deeply discounted prices to their redemption values enabling the traveler to be the beneficiary of a 'nearly net' price for the travel package or service. The operator of TopTravelVouchers does not have the normal costs that are attributable to retail and wholesale agents such as shops, reservation systems, brochures and high staffing and is thus able to encourage travelers to book directly with their clients and to get a price saving for their efforts. It is in effect a travel agent that does not sell travel, only travel vouchers, which are to be used towards travel purchased from the travel companies who are participating in the service.

Many travel businesses do not use middlemen, often due to the small size of their travel operation, but they would still be prepared to pay a commission or fee for a referral or a sale. They still need to make travelers aware of their products and services and to be able to offer encouragement and a reward gives them an opportunity to reach out to travelers who prefer to deal directly with operators.

There are thousands of smaller travel businesses around the world ranging from B&B's, Family Boutique Hotels, Small Tour Operators, Adventure and Eco Tours that are rarely seen by the vast majority of travelers. These operators are not found in the glossy travel brochures or represented by travel agents but they often have excellent products and services which can be seen on their websites. Many of them are willing to pay a commission to a seller of their products but are not able to get travel agent representation. This new voucher system allows them to encourage and reward travelers who prefer to handle their own arrangements directly with the operators by offering a price that reflects discounted commission costs and thus savings for the do-it-yourself traveler.

TopTravelVouchers sell at three price levels according to the savings on each: $30, $50 or $100usd or equivalent currency if purchased outside of the USA. They may often be purchased in multiples, benefiting families or groups and at the time of this article there was a voucher costing $100usd with a value of 1,500euros (around $2,000usd) offered on a small ship cruise in Greece that is also a small travel operator not normally represented by the agency system.

Travelers are given 100% money-back guarantees if the vouchers are not used within 1 year of issue but maybe this should be for two years as the vouchers are normally valid for 2 years. Even after the completion of travel and travelers are unhappy with the quality, the voucher cost is reimbursed by TopTravelSites and the problem taken up with the travel operator.

It is obvious that this service will only work for TopTravelSites if supported by the world of travel providers who need to expand their representation as the retention of only a small percentage on each sale needs to be followed by high volumes of voucher sales but it is a unique service offering benefits to both travelers and the smaller travel businesses in the travel industry utilising the logical use of the internet for direct bookings.

If you want to see the current voucher offers you can visit them at toptravelsites.com
source:Ezinarticles

Details About Working With an Online Travel Agency

2009-09-02T19:41:00.000-07:00

When you are looking to book your next vacation or your next business trip, you may be considering using an online travel agency. Before you decide to do so, however, you should be aware of what to expect from an online travel agency so you can determine how best to match that to your own unique needs. There are several different levels of service in which to classify online travel agencies, the level you need depends on your trip requirements as well as your personal travel and leisure preferences or desires.

Quite simply, you should be able to find an online travel agency that can fulfill any expectation you may have. Whether you prefer self-service travel plans where you do all of your own searching and booking, or a full-service online agency that handles every detail on your behalf, there are many options available. Depending on the type of travel you will be undertaking, there are also various options that you can consider among online travel agencies. Some specialize only in travel packages, while others offer a la carte menus of travel services for you to pick and choose.

There are several expectations, however, that are universal to all online travel agencies. These have to do with the minimum level of service provided and the quality and competitiveness of the types of travel being sold. It is best to qualify the online travel agency on all of these expectations before you choose to enter into partnership with them for the travel you are seeking to plan.

The first universal expectation that you should have for your online travel agency is having a variety of destinations and packages available to choose from. It does not matter what specialty the agency might have, from full-service travel to niche travel such as cruises or unusual destinations. No matter what is being sold, you always want to partner with an agency that provides options. While the first option you see may very well end up being the best choice or the best value, you will have no means of determining that unless other options are available for comparison. Good self-service travel sites will readily offer you comparison information. Full-service online travel agencies should compile that same information and present it to you when you are in the process of making a decision.

The second universal expectation you should have when using an online travel agency is that they offer the same basic types of vacations from more than one carrier or provider. For example, you can choose between two major airlines for the same New York-to-Miami flight leg of your trip. If an online travel agency represents only one brand, they are not truly a travel agency; instead, they are a representative of that brand. If only one brand were offered, customers would have no means of evaluating whether the services and products offered were of value or were worthless. Having a number of providers to choose from when selecting hotel or airfare or cruise line shows that the travel agency is actively updating its site with the best prices and options currently available.

The third universal expectation that you should have for your online travel agency is price competitiveness. Although travel agencies sometimes charge fees to travelers in order to off-set their cost of doing business, those fees must be fair. The charges for the actual travel services you see published through online travel agencies should be no more than what you would pay if you went directly through the provider, and, in fact, less if bundled with other services.

The final universal expectation that you should have for your online travel agency is a service-level guarantee that ensures you get what you pay for and are treated in a courteous and appropriate manner. Online travel agencies should also offer some form of a guarantee for your purchases that no foreseeable action on their part or the part of the service provider will interrupt your travel. They cannot warrant against freak or random occurrences, but they can ensure that their own offerings are solid before offered.

Perhaps the best thing about using an online agency is the availability of customer reviews and feedback you can read before making a final purchase. Another nice convenience, for repeat customers, is the ability to create your own customer profile that allows you to save certain options in your preferences that will streamline future vacation planning. You can save time and hassle by storing any corporate or membership discount numbers, frequent flyer numbers and other pertinent information on your customer profile.

The expectations you hold for the online travel agency you select as a partner may be varied. If they can uphold these four basic standards of quality, you can be assured that you are getting sound representation and the best deals available.
source:Ezinarticles

Business Travel Management -- Travel Tips In A Terrorist World

2009-09-02T19:38:00.000-07:00

No longer relegated to film noire roles, real-life bad guy terrorists troll constantly for new and sinister ways to disrupt global trade. Major targets? Transportation, energy, trade, and capital. Reality check for business travel management is that government can no longer provide complete protections for the traveling public.

Results? Business travel management is forced to enter a sobering re-thinking of priorities including keeping track of personnel, evaluating political risks in international travel, refining travel insurance risks and even incorporating corporate security and training programs in order to upgrade skills and responses to threats.

Yes, money matters and corporate travel management policies will constantly focus on discounts and expense control. But what's changed is now money factors have become dilute against the backdrop of 9/11 attacks in America, London subway bombings, Bali nightclub bombings, train bombings in Spain and even more grisly examples where organized society is confronted by non-state independent terrorist militia and suicidal fanatics.

Corporate Travel Management Specialists For A New World -- Travel Safety And Travel Intelligence. Security, employee training, business traveler tracking and more are being conducted through technology-enabled centralized corporate travel management firms. No longer is business travel management merely the hunt for group travel discounts and frequent flyer miles programs. Lives are at risk.

Learning The New Ropes -- Business Travel Seminars. Businesses regularly use seminars to teach the latest techniques in travel security. For example, Westerners are taught to avoid placing identifying stickers on luggage, or to wear clothes with logos that might readily identify themselves as Americans or Brits. Low key anonymity equals lower risk business travel.

What Happens When Terrorists Attack -- Surviving Captivity. What about being captured by terrorists? Travel management pros now regularly pass along detailed guidelines for surviving captivity, how to cope, what to expect, what to say, understanding political and ideological motivations of terrorists.

Travel Intelligence -- Real Time Employee Tracking Data Access. Business travel management experts stress real-time data access, beginning with meticulously planned and documented business travel plans...providing hour-to-hour movement details in advance...along with hotel and meeting venue contact access information, cell phones, names of customer contacts and more.

Pre-Flight Advice -- Tip On Carry On Gear. Check to verify with your travel management advisors, but you'll soon be restricted to bare-bones carry on gear. Cell phones, lap tops, food, beverage, backpacks, even books may become banned as permitted carry on gear, following attempts in August by Pakistani and British terrorists to plant IED's (improvised explosive devices) in 10 flights departing to the USA.

Pre-Flight Advice -- Tip On Airport Parking. Leave nothing to chance. Security delays, busy flights, limited on board services means that business and leisure travelers need to pre-book airport parking needs at least several days in advance of your scheduled departure. Get your business travel management experts to lock-in reservations for airport parking, car rentals and related needs throughout your travel itinerary.

Pre-Flight Advice -- Tip On Airport Hotels. Airport security restrictions plus limited carry on allowance means significant "down time". You'll need to identify airport hotels that are technology enabled, offering you high speed web access to your business files, emails, as well as webex video conferencing so that you can contact customers, home office, prepare reports and presentations, plus stay in contact with family.
source:Ezinarticles

Are Travel Agents Necessary in Today's Online World?

2009-09-02T19:31:00.000-07:00

In today's technology-filled world, we have easy access to all kinds of information. We're able to research, compare, and book travel right in the comfort of our own home. In the past, we relied solely on travel agents to find the "right" flight, the perfect hotel or the deepest discount for us. I doesn't seem that long ago that I would drive to the travel agency to pick up my "paper" airline tickets. So, the question is, with all of this information so readily available, has the role of the travel agent become obsolete? What services can they offer that we can't do for ourselves?

I believe that travel agents today still offer services and information that we can't get online. Granted, some things such as booking a simple flights, most people can successfully manage on their own. A travel agent however, can recommend smaller, alternative airports that the discount carriers use. This alone can save you quite a bit of money. However, the key thing that travel agents today offer is their first-hand knowledge and experience. In planning a cruise vacation, I want to talk to a travel agent who's specialty is cruising. They have traveled on many different cruise lines and can give me much more insight that a brochure or web page can. The same thing goes for tours and specialty travel such as luxury, adventure, villa rentals, etc.

The question is, since there are travel agents and agencies everywhere, how do you find a reputable one? There are several things you can do to help you in your search. The first thing is the most obvious - Referrals and recommendations. Now, just because your friend has been going to a particular travel agent for years doesn't mean that this agent is right for you. Perhaps your friend primarily books cruises and you are planning a trip to Africa. Don't be afraid to ask questions. Have they ever been to the destination you are looking to visit?

The second thing I look for is certification and professional associations. Many travel agencies require their agents to have passed the Travel Agent Proficiency exam or "TAP". This test was developed by The Travel Institute and the American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA) to provide a national standard of entry-level proficiency for the travel industry. The International Airlines Travel Agent Network (IATAN), is another measure of credibility. An IATA number identifies an agent and their agency as a bona-fide travel professional who now may qualify for reduced rates or other industry concessions.

Finally, check to see if they are a member of the American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA). The ASTA is the world's largest association of travel professionals with over 20,000-plus members. Ask your travel agent if they are a member or you can search the ASTA website to find an accredited agent near you by simply putting in your zip code. There is an excellent "advanced search" feature that will let you query by destination or specialty. All of travel agent profiles will not only display name and contact information, but will also give information on their areas of expertise and languages spoken. Using an experienced travel professional not only has the advantage of having your travel planning for done for you but you will also gain valuable insight and possibly a discounted rate to boot!
source:Ezinarticles

7 Steps to Having the Travel Job of Your Dreams - Travel Jobs Tips

2009-09-02T19:27:00.000-07:00

Getting a travel job is not hard. In fact, its easy and getting a travel job can be one of the most exciting times in ones life. There are definitely steps you need to follow if you want to land a great travel job instead of just taking what ever you can get.

I have compiled a 7-step process in the past 8 years of working travel jobs and I have land every travel job I've wanted when I follow these travel jobs steps. Most importantly, I have loved every travel job since then.

Travel Job Step #1 - Write down your skills and passions.

The first travel job step is to get a piece of paper and write down your skills and your passions. Take about 10 minutes on both topics. Remember this is the base, it's really important you are honest with yourself and you really define what is it that makes you happy and feeling at your best. Once you have your two lists move on to travel jobs Step #2.

Travel Job Step #2 - Match up and pull out the top 3

You are now going to match up the passions with the skills. NOTE: Focus on passions more then skills, you can always learn a skill. Don't under rate yourself; every single job has a human being with the exact same genetic make up as you. None of us are super hero, you can have any job you want. After it's all through you should have a list of three travel jobs that you would LOVE to have.

Travel Jobs Step #3 - Find the top 5-10 jobs in the areas to want to travel to

The goal here is to be active instead of re-active. Meaning, don't have the "take what ever you can get" mentality. Instead, take what you have defined as the ideal job and find that position. I do this by taking the places in the world that I've always wanted to go to and then search for the keywords of my ideal travel job. The key is to not search for the travel job but to search for the service or involvement that travel job would offer. For Example: If its glacier guiding in Alaska, I would write "Alaska glacier tours."

Travel Job Step #4 - Write down the 7 most important qualities

Now you should be looking at 5-10 of your top dream travel jobs. If you look at them and get an overwhelming sensation of excitement then you have a good list. If you don't get that then keep searching. The next step is to search through the companies and combine the 7 most important qualities that company is going to want in an employee. Try to make half of them obvious qualities such as; easy to get along with, reliable etc... and the other half that is specific such as high level of endurance, certifications etc...

Travel Jobs Step #5 - Create specific resume, contact and submit to ALL

Your travel job resume should have 5 things:

1) A feeling about who you are
2) experience in specific job
3) qualifications
4) 2-3 references to contact
5) hit hard on the seven qualities that the company will find of high value.

Do all you can to contact the hirer and talk to them before submitting your resume. You goal is to get along, if you can make them laugh and then submit. A small conversation will create a connection above other applicants. Now you want to submit to them all at once so the opportunities will come to you all at once. When that happens your attitude changes and you come across as a more desirable person to want to have. If you only have one travel job you are going for then you are going to naturally come across more needy.

Travel Job Step #6 - Questions - Qualify - Questions

Qualifying is the key to separating yourself from the majority of people. This is an area most people fail when it comes to getting travel jobs. Qualifying is the best way to show that you have value to offer and it's also important you don't get caught up in the wrong job. When you qualify you become the buyer and they become the seller, that is a much better position to be in.

Travel Jobs Step #7 - Take the travel job and have fun.

This is a hard step for some. Some people can't seem to let go and give themselves the experience. They keep making up excuses to why they can't go yet and after a while that travel job excitement is numbed by the day-to-day routine and the opportunity fads away.

If you get a feeling of excitement when you think about doing that travel job then do it. That's your signal, let that be your guide. There was a study done with old people and their fulfillment in life and one of the questions was:

"What do wish you would have done when you were younger?"

The #1 answer was, "I wish I would have taken more risks"

It's your life, and only you can choose how you live it.
source:Ezinarticles