If you can not remember the PIN numbers of credit cards, write them down using a simple code, such as the addition of family birthdays to numbers. I would add my own, my wife, my oldest child, and then my youngest child's date of birth of a 4-digit PIN. The numbers and order are easy to remember. A thief can do anything with numbers.
When you ga traveling remember to get Lever 2000 anti-bacterial wipes. Its great for the hands and face.
Mentawai Island (take from www.surfing-mentawais.com)
Toraja - IndonesiaTips For The Right Holiday Travel Package
It is not usually wise to be traveling during holidays as these are the times when almost every other person in the world is traveling. It is of course best to plan ahead or book ahead and go to your destination early to avoid all the hassle but if you’re one of those last minute people or probably one of those who can’t really avoid it, you should follow the next few tips for a better journey and maybe a cheaper stay.
- Holiday travel packages were never made with only one person in mind; no two people are alike, keep this in mind because the agencies that packed them have kept these in mind, use this fact to haggle your way into cheaper or sometimes better deals. Even if there are ready made packages, you can ask for extra perks especially if you’re staying for more than a week.
Tanah Lot - Bali - Indonesia
- Be careful of travel agents. Travel agents may give you the best deal for your package, which normally include airfare, lodgings and transportation, but a really good agent can be really flexible. One example would be if you want a rental car for the first half of your trip but you want to get rid of it by the second half, a good agent can arrange this for you, sometimes for a cheaper price.
- Be sure that the package you want is available, you don’t want to get pulled into something that ends up being sold out, some people give out too-good-to-be-true packages which end up being “sold out” in the end, so before you make a deal or transfer a morsel of cash, make sure that it is still available.
- Be sure to know exactly what airline and route your taking, you won’t want those unpleasant layovers which can be a real pain, not to mention delay your schedule.
- A good sign of a good package is one that is very flexible, as said before, no two people are alike, and a good package should reflect that, it should allow you to choose between destinations, as well as brands and lodgings without changing the price. A choice in which rental car to take is also a sign of a good package.
- Finally, it’s good to ask for discounts that you might get if you do certain stuff, like stay in the hotel for more than a week, or sign up on the internet instead of by phone. Research first before you cough up the money for down-payment; make sure you’ve exhausted all possible discount generating ways before you decide on a package.
Things You Can't Do Without When Traveling
When you goes on a trip either for business or for pleasure, you want it to be a memorable and enjoyable experience. To help travelers enjoy the trip, here are a few tips you must always keep in mind, travel “must haves” that one must never leave home without.
1. Itinerary
Prepare and plan on paper the places one will visit and then make the make the necessary arrangements in advance to make the trip a memorable one.
2. Essentials.
Personal things such as the ticket, passport, toothbrush, clean underwear and money nearby preferably for easy accessibility.
3. Clothes
By checking the weather forecast for the trip, one will be able to bring the right clothes for the trip. Preferably clothes that can be used for various occasions. And those that do not run and can be easily washed.
4. Shoes
Given that traveling will require a lot of walking seeing the various places, one should wear a good pair of comfortable shoes that wont strain the feet.
5. Medication
One should always bring insect repellant. If one is under medication, one should bring enough medicine for the entire trip.
6. Locks and keys.
For personal protection, one must make sure the luggage one will be using for the trip have locks and keys and spares hidden in case it gets lost.
7. Extra Bag
Bring an extra bag which can be used as a day bag while going around and the same time, one will be able to use it in bringing home some of those souvenirs.
8. Map
Obtain a map to be familiar of the destination where one is traveling and so that one will not get lost.
9. Insurance
If one would prefer to drive instead of taking the public transportation, it is advisable to get insurance for the rental vehicle one would use for the entire trip.
Before leaving the rental company, one should check the car for any damage before accepting the unit and if there is damage, one must insist that the rental company take note of it before leaving the lot.
10. Label
Given the many instances of passengers inadvertantly taking the luggage of another passenger, label the inside and outside of the luggage. It is advisable to only write the name and not the address. In any case if the luggage is lost, one should leave the address only to the carrier one is flying on.
Have a pleasant trip!
(take from www.eastcapetours.com)Before stepping on that plane for a marvelous safari adventure, plan like there's no tomorrow. You will thank your self for being precautious when faced with untoward incidents.
Here are the important things you should consider when going on a safari travel:
1. Remember that it is one challenging endeavor.
Planning a safari can be one of the most exciting feats one can ever manage to make happen. It is not one of the generic travels, usual jetsetters indulge in. Though you are provided with a tour brochure and a tourist guide, it still is better to research on your own regarding the various itineraries.
2. Best spots for safari should be spotted.
The most suggested parts of Africa to enjoy safari include East and Central Africa, Southern Africa and Indian Ocean Islands.
3. Prepare for the climate.
It is a must to know the seasonal trends and how they will affect your travel. But also remember that the weather is fickle-minded so you can never really accurately predict the outcome of your travel if you will base it one the weather alone.
If you are going to visit East and Central Africa, long rains start early in April to early June. Short rains abound during late November to December.
Southern Africa has its rainy season from late November through mid-April for the safari areas. However, during that time, it will be summer in Southern Cape.
When one prefers Indian and Ocean Islands he or she can expect the seasonal trend to be more like of that of Southern Africa. In these islands, summer rains last from November through April. Cyclones can also be experienced during those seasons. From May to October, the dry season occurs.
4. Choose your activities.
Among others, safari traveling offers these fun-filled activities:
a. gorilla trekking
b. sailing
c. birdwatching
d. participatory camping
e. self driving
5. Know what you can afford.
When choosing a trip, budget constraints should never be overlooked. Decide on a price range that you can work on. To make your budgeting more effective consider the level of luxury of your safari travel, length of your trip, activities, accommodations preferences, meals and season.
6. Determine your travel style.
Do you prefer your safari to be more luxurious, moderate or rustic? Will you let kids tag along? Are you traveling with a group or will you be one bold, independent traveler? Will you travel by air or road? What about your guide and your vehicle?
Answering those questions will more or less improve your overview of your dream safari travel.
Have fun!
Planning Your Own Educational Trip
If it’s just for school, for your kids or for the neighborhood kids, it’s nice to have a purposeful educational trip that will surely be enjoyed by the children as well as teach them. Of course there is the usual trip to the museum or the so-so factory, but educational travel doesn’t necessarily end with the destination, one should also consider the preparations as well as the child before you uproot them from their playgrounds.
Who should plan the Trip?
If the trip is an out of school activity, whether organized by you or the neighborhood parents, there should always be somebody or a group of people willing to dedicate a snippet of their time to organizing, everything, destination, transportation, food, lodgings (if any) as well as the children involved.
What to Bring
A pack list is also essential before a trip. Here are a few things that should be in your or your child’s bag when you go on an educational trip.
- Snacks –there should be lots of drinks and walk foods that you can eat even while walking.
- First aid kit – an accident can easily happen, a small trip or a scratch should be mended easily. A medicine pack can also be handy for parents who develop headaches, or for children with stomach upset.
- Extra clothes – children are very active, and sometimes even parents can be over-active, so it is necessary that both bring a set of clothes for those unexpected spills.
- Walkie talkie – If your child can handle it, a walkie-talkie or a cellular phone can be very useful if he gets lost.
- Name tag – Attach a name tag to his shirt or to his bag containing your contact number (without a name) so that whoever finds him can contact you.
- One of his favorite toys – A good thing to distract a child when he gets uneasy during travel would be one of his favorite toys.
- Wipes and tissue- For that easy cleanup whenever you need it.
When you get there
Fall in line, and make travel buddy’s of two or three; the one buddy should be responsible for the other so as to prevent anyone getting left behind. This is best done with kids who don’t normally play together so they can bond and get to know each other more.
On the trip home
Encourage sleeping; after a long walk children can get cranky when tired, so bring some milk with you so they can sleep through the trip home.
Maintaining Good Health While Traveling
Imagine planning a trip weeks or maybe months in advance and when the time comes that one gets to actually travel, for some reason, one gets sick along the way and instead of enjoying the trip seeing the sites, one has nothing to do but just rest in the hotel room instead of having fun. Surely, that is something no one wants to experience and here are a few tips one can keep in mind to avoid it.
The best medicine before going on any trip is being in the best possible shape. By doing some biking, aerobics or long walks, one is able to condition the muscles for those long tours. Doing some research about the place one is visiting and reading up on the destination, the culture and the places one wants to visit, makes planning the itinerary less stressful.
By obtaining information on the weather or climate so as to pack the right clothes for the trip and the condition of the drinking water are just some examples one can also work on. By purchasing water purification tablets before going to a place with suspect water sources, one is able to avoid getting any sickness from the water.
Each of one of us has dietary preferences, and by giving advice to the travel agent the type of food to be served during the flight, it can surely avoid any indigestion problems. If one is taking medication, it is best to pack sufficient stock for the trip and must also check if the medication one is carrying is allowed in the place where one is going to avoid any problems with customs.
Now all the preparations have been made, it is onward with the trip. It is best to have a good meal before going on a long trip. Check-ins in airports is long and it will take some time before the airline gives the meals to its passengers.
On a long trip that could take hours by any mode of transportation, it is best from time to time to stretch or walk around to circulate the blood in the body. If one suffers motion sickness while traveling, it is also advisable to take the proper medicine at least an hour before the trip for the medicine to take effect.
Water is important and if one is unsure of the tap water, it is best to order bottled water from the establishment. One should just be sure that the bottle is still enclosed before opening to make sure the bottle is safe for drinking.
After taking all the necessary measures, there is no doubt that the trip will be a memorable experience.
Keeping Your Valuables While Traveling
Traveling, be it just across state or to another country is always a great experience. To help people enjoy it rather than having an untoward incident such as losing one's passport or other items such as luggage, it is best to be prepared to avoid such things from happening.
An essential item for any passenger traveling is the passport. This, aside from cash and the tickets must be nearby at all times preferably in a small handbag or purse for easy accessibility. If it is possible, one should memorize the passport number just in case for some reason it gets lost.
There is a high probability that when one travels, one usually uses the same bag for various trips. It is best to remove all the old destination tags and just have the new destination tag attached to avoid confusion.
Also, for personal protection, one must have a lock and key for the bag and have it labeled both inside and outside the bag to avoid having another traveler from getting the luggage by mistake.
Depending on the length of the trip, one should just bring enough bags that one can carry. If the trip will take a few days or longer, choose a more appropriate bag to bring along. Taking such precautions will make the person feel comfortable and not helpless or immobilized when one is also not certain where the taxi stand or the bus stop is located.
While traveling, one should be careful of the surroundings. One should never let a stranger look after the luggage because it is possible that they will put something in it or even steal it.
During the trip, one should choose a hotel located on a well-traveled street. Usually, the more expensive the hotel, the better the security. The first thing to do when entering a hotel room is to check the windows, sliding doors and connecting rooms if there are any and make sure it is secure.
Most hotels have a small vault in the room and safety deposit box, which is complimentary. When leaving the hotel, it is also advisable to leave the room key in the lobby and just claim it when entering the hotel room.
Do not answer the hotel room door before verifying who it is. If someone claims to be a hotel employee and one does not recall making any request from the help desk, it is best to call the front desk person first to verify.
Most importantly, make sure the hotel room door is locked at all times.
Keeping Lives Safe on the Road
Accidents do happen unexpectedly, but they can be avoided.
However, despite the fact that a lot of people are trying their best to avoid it, still, many are in danger in the road while traveling. They will never know when an accident will take place. In fact, it seems that the number of people who gets into accidents while traveling is continuously growing.
(picture take from www.naturesave.co.uk)So, where does the problem lies? Is it on the driver, the car manufacturer, the government, or is it fate for most people who get into accidents? In reality, nobody can really tell who to blame. The only choice people have is to continue driving safely and avoid accidents.
However, in the event that accidents happen, the only way to solve the mishap is to deal with it. Here’s how:
1. Emergency numbers in one’s mobile phone are extremely important.
People just don’t realize this yet, but the emergency numbers stored in their mobile phones are vital to one’s life, especially when away from home or while traveling.
Surveys show that people who usually survive in accidents are those who were attended to immediately by health experts. This goes to show that immediate actions are important so as to save people who have met accidents.
2. Panic is the number one killer in an accident.
The reason why many people do not survive in an accident is because they tend to panic first. They get so panic-stricken that they can no longer clear their mind and think of ways how to deal with the dilemma. That is why it is extremely important to stay calm when accidents and happen and think of ways how to solve the problem.
3. Prevention is still the number one remedy.
Today, car accidents are currently the top most causes of death, usually within the age bracket of 1 to 37. Hence, the majority of the drivers, who are prone to accidents, are young. Usually the causes of accidents in young people are speeding, reckless driving, not wearing seatbelts, and drunk driving.
And so, it is important to observe traffic rules and regulations so as to prevent road accidents while traveling. As they say, an ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure.
How to Survive While Traveling
In one way or another, aside from the business purpose that some travelers pursue, traveling is known to be one outlet for the adventurous aspect of a lot of people. Sure, traveling can be one heck of a fun activity. However, one is never sure on what untoward incident that can be encountered while enjoying the sights and scenes during the trip.
To avoid getting caught off guard while traveling, here are a few tips to ensure survival while traveling:
1. Know your water.
Ever heard of the traveler's diarrhea? This condition is caused by contaminated water that a foreigner has drunk. Aside from that diarrhea, a list of diseases abound due to contaminated water. To prevent getting any of those water-borne diseases, make sure you boil your drinking water for at least 10 minutes.
2. Milk will do.
Remember that thing they say regarding milk as the complete food? It still is true. As long as you boil it for at least 10 minutes too, like water, it will serve as one of your best sources of nutrition. Local processed milk products may not be safe for your tummy, better opt for a more popular brand of milk product.
3. Vitamins Schmitamins.
Bringing vitamins will help in warding off many of the diseases that an unguarded (with resistance-building supplements) person may be so prone to. Multivitamins can be more convenient to bring than separate vitamins for various needs.
4. Battling extreme temperatures.
Doing one's homework before going to any foreign country will save one from a lot of trouble. These troubles may include temperature or weather induced inconveniences. An online consultation will inform one what to bring to gear up against any problem that may be caused by the weather or temperature.
If you are to go to one of the warmer spots of the world, your luggage will benefit a lot since you don't have to bring a heavy and thick wardrobes. Now if you are about to visit a place like Antarctica, one tip is to choose well your clothes so as not to stock up much on those that you will not be using that much.
5. Taking care of your skin.
Don't forget your bottle of moisturizer if you're going somewhere cold. A sunscreen will be very indispensable too. A lotion or anything that will ward off insects is one must-have that should never be overlooked either. One best advice that is applicable too even when you're not traveling that much is to avoid getting sun exposure as much as possible.
How to Get Jetlag-free Travel
People who travel a lot experience jetlag. Athletes, who travel to different countries for their tournaments, attribute their poor performance on jetlag. Business people, who go to various places for business meetings and other matters, hold jetlag as responsible for their bad days. This goes to show that jetlag affects not only the physical condition of the body but the entire individual.
Jetlag, basically, refers to the condition of the body being disoriented. More often than not, jetlags are a result of crossing time zones which affects the internal body clock of an individual. Some of the common symptoms of jetlag are inability to sleep at night, loss of drive, malaise, tiredness, inability to concentrate, and headaches.
Generally, the severity of jetlags is dependent on the direction of the travel. Most experts say that the occurrences of jetlags are lesser when people travel westward than eastward. This is because the body rhythm is extended up to 27 hours when a person flies westward. In turn, the body is able to catch up with whatever changes in the environment
Moreover, the so-called “circadian rhythm” is greater than 24 hours when a person travels westward. This is because the time of the day is lengthened, thus, giving more time for the body to adjust.
In reality, there are no quick fixes to “cure” the signs of jetlags. However, there are ways to deal with it so as to start healthier in the new environment.
Here’s how:
1. Staying outside during the day is recommended to cope up with jetlags. This is because the person’s body clock will be able to adjust at a faster rate if it will become accustomed to the new surroundings. Usually, natural light aids in coping up with jetlags.
2. It would be better for a person to adjust their bedtime schedules so as to prevent the severity of jetlags. In this way, their body clock will be able to cope up with the changes in the time setting.
3. It is best if people will start eating, sleeping, and doing their usual activities patterned to the local time setting of the new place and not from the usual time they do it back home.
4. For people who travel because of some important event like the athletes or the entrepreneurs, it is best if they travel way ahead of time to their event schedules. This is to give them more time to adjust and get accustomed of the area.
So, jetlag is not so much of a problem. It is just a matter of adjustment and coping up. After which, you can enjoy the new scenery.
How To Get Cheap Travel Tickets
With planning, foresight and a little bit of hard work, you can go ahead and have that dream vacation the economical way. Here's how:
· Search the internet, call airline agencies and watch the news to keep yourself up to date on discounts. There are a lot of promotional fares offered by airline companies that are new in the industry.
· When you do travel a lot, sign up for frequent flier miles.
· Ask about student fares or senior citizen discounts.
· Keep a flexible travel schedule. Go with the flow. If the promo states that they only give discounts every Tuesdays, then set your departure on Tuesday. Generally, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays are the days that have fewer reservations, so it in on these days that tickets are sold cheap. Monday is usually the busiest day of the week.
· Do not go ahead and make reservations to the first airline company you see with promotions. Take the time to source out a variety of options. Take the time to find out if the promotion is indeed the cheapest in your area. Ask the clerk about other offers available. When checking through the internet, make sure you check at least five sites before you decide where to buy your tickets.
· You can have the option of purchasing tickets trough consolidators. These are people who buy a whole block of tickets and resell them at certain discounts. This helps the airline fill up still available seats. The travel section of the newspaper is the place to check for ticket consolidators.
· Try flying on off peak hours schedule. Usually if you take the before seven in the morning flight or the after seven in the evening flight, tickets are at their cheapest. This too, will be a wise decision since it is at these times that airlines are not overcrowded, thus getting more space for yourself and your luggage.
· Be sure to inquire if the airline offers travel packages. Some airlines do offer packages such as car rental discount or a hotel room discount that comes with the travel ticket.
· When you are flying off season, be very sure to ask about certain standby fares.
· Have an early booking. Promotions are usually offered when one reserves a ticket three weeks beforehand. Remember that due to over crowding during the holidays, you may not use your frequent flier miles. So book in advance if you plan to travel during the holidays.
· Staying with only one airline on your entire trip may too, give you discounts. Airlines offer special rates to round trip tickets or connecting flights.
Have a safe trip and enjoy!
How to Enjoy the Best Places under the Sun
There are people who are fond of traveling. They like to go to places where they can recharge their souls, unwind, release the tension from work, and simply enjoy what life has to offer.
And there are people who are more of the adventurous type who would rather enjoy the day exploring the forest canopy in Costa Rica or discover the beauty of the wilderness of Siberia.
However, whatever adventure travel most people would like to experience, it is always best to observe safety measures and precautions so as to avoid risk or perils of traveling to unknown lands.
Here’s a list of tips for adventure travelers, whether they want adventures that are more inclined to wilderness or just the typical family adventure most people would love to experience:
1. It is best that people should know what the type of travel adventure they are getting into.
Adventure travel may provide the kind of adrenalin rush most adventurers long to experience every time they get out of their territory. It is the feeling of newness and uncertainty on what will happen that gives them the satisfaction and gratification that they need.
However, it is still important for them to know what they are doing. After all, traveling always involve risky activities especially to those who are set to gain adventure experience.
2. Have a fixed set on the adventure travel destination.
Because of the vastness of locations and adventure locations available today, people might get confused on what areas are best for their adventure travel.
One good tip is to choose a location that can baffle those adventurous minds and mystify the eyes with great mystery.
As much as new and exotic places can be adventurous, it is still best to stick to the classical and typical locations. It would be really risky to try areas which no one has ever dared to go to.
3. Consider the budget.
Adventure traveling can be pretty expensive especially when it entails going to places that entails great adventure packages.
So, it would be better for adventure travelers to shop around first and compare prices before deciding on what kind of adventure travel to take.
Indeed, adventure travel can be one of the most exciting and gratifying travel one can experience. However, with the exotic places, wilderness, and virgin forests that one might consider, it is a must that every travel must know the proper way how to protect themselves and what to do first before trying the place out.
After all, it should be safety that should always be on top priority.
Getting the Most Out of Your Travel Deals
The lowest and the cheapest travel deals are not always the best deal. Today, travelers could be overwhelmed by the numerous travel deals being offered. Therefore you should weigh all options before choosing the right one in order to get the most out of it.
The greatest secret to getting an affordable airfare or best travel discounts is to know your budget and what do you really want. Additionally, you should shop and compare deals until you run out of options and choose the best among them.
And importantly, always plan ahead. Nothing is too early when it comes to vacation planning. This will give you ample time to search and choose.
Whether you're a business traveler or planning a family vacation, here are some travel tips to save you money and choose the best deal:
1. Buy your ticket directly. Travel agents usually charge between $15 and $35 per ticket.
2. Buy your ticket all at the same time instead of buying one at a time. Booking fee may be discounted.
3. Booking for a package tour could be a wise choice for some destinations.
4. When planning a more complex trip, a travel agent can save you more time and money.
5. Compare prices online for the best deal. There are websites that help travelers to shop and compare. Some also provide travel tips and guidelines.
6. Play the seasons. Some travel destinations are cheapest at certain times or season of the year. Booking for an off-peak season also would give you the best deal.
7. Be flexible with travel dates and times. Some airlines and hotels offer substantial discounts if you book one or two days earlier.
8. Smaller airlines often have lesser fees. Additionally, small airlines don't necessarily mean smaller airplanes.
9. Alternative airport also could provide you with substantial discounts. Ask your travel agent about it.
10. Plan ahead. The earlier you book, the better deal you will have.
11. Buy trip insurance. Insurance will not only save your life but also could save you money. If you end up being sick in foreign country, your insurance back home might not cover it. Thus you might end up using your vacation budget on hospitalization.
12. Sign up for hotel and airline awards programs. Chain hotels usually have award programs; take advantage of it especially if you are a frequent business traveler.
Finally, never stop bargaining, always explore the possibility of lower airfare, lower hotel rates. However, it is important to weigh and compare all options since not all cheap travel deals will give you the travel value you deserved. Travel will be more enjoyable if you get the most of your hard earn vacation budget.
TICKET INFO
Reservation
Advance reservation is compulsory on the following services:
1. TGV
2. Eurostar
3. Thalys
4. TGV Lyria
European High Speed trains are a big success!
To guarantee the onboard seats you want and to have the chance of maybe getting discount fares, you’ll need to make sure you book well in advance, so plan your trip as soon as you can.
Look for the train composition board on the platform, these are very useful as they show you where exactly you will have to stand on the platform to get on your carriage. Look on the board for the number or letter corresponding to your carriage number and then follow the signs on the platform.
Once in your carriage, find the seat number indicated on your ticket, drop off your luggage in the appropriate area (either on the racks at the end of the carriage or above your seat), and relax!
If you need any additional information please go to the Railteam info points or regular information desks.
How to find my way at the station?
Download the maps of the major Railteam stations and see how easy it is to access the Railteam network.
How to find your train?
1. Look carefully at the information indicated on your ticket, including:
- Train number
- Departure time
- Carriage number
- Seat number
2. Departure boards will help you find out which platform your train leaves from.
In some stations, in France for example, trains will only be displayed 20 minutes prior to departure.
Validate your ticket:
In France, before boarding your train, you’ll need to insert your ticket into dedicated punching machines located near the platforms.
Boarding:
Due to specific boarding procedures, you’ll be asked to arrive at least 30 minutes prior to any Eurostar departure.
There are no boarding procedures for any other Railteam service, although for a stress-free journey, we advise you to be cautious and arrive a little early!
Find your carriage and your seat:
Discover the variety of services available onboard …
Take from http://www.railteam.co.uk
Five Important Tips In Traveling Europe
Traveling through Europe is definitely an exciting experience. To ensure a smooth and enjoyably safe tour, here are some tips for your Europe vacation.
1) Documents.
* All of the people in Europe, including tourists, are obliged to own documentation for personal identification.
* Since the increasing number of terrorists that try to enter Europe, the checkpoints on all borders have been strictly controlled. All tourists, depending on which country in Europe they intend to visit, should always have their passport and visa wherever they go.
* When you are unable to surrender your valid visa or passport when authorities ask for it, you would be deported or even jailed.
2) Languages. There are 320 mixed spoken languages used in Europe today.
* Out of the 320, the most used and important are the Baltic, Celtic, Romance, Germanic and Slavonic languages.
* Majority of the people in European countries speak multiple languages besides their mother tongue. English is used daily for politics and business.
* Learn to speak the native tongue for important questions and courtesy you would need in your tour.
3) Electricity.
* Majority of the European countries make use of 230 volts that operate in 50 Hertz.
* Prevent plugging a device intended for 60 Hertz into a 50 Hertz outlet.
4) Cars and driving.
* To be able to drive a car in all the countries in Europe, you should be 18 years old and have a valid driver’s license.
* It is illegal for a driver not to wear a seatbelt. This is also applicable to everyone inside the car.
* Majority of the countries in mainland Europe have right-hand traffic. Left-hand traffic is used only in Ireland, Cyprus, Malt and the islands of England.
* The insurance of all cars is obligatory. If your car has been pulled over, the insurance certificate is always asked for.
5) Planning your necessities is important. This includes transportation, food, and hotel accommodations.
* Food in Europe may come expensive. But if you plan ahead and check your travel guide, you could always search for a reasonably priced meal around your area. There are hundreds of local markets and groceries for your food supply.
* If you are planning to take the train (UrbanRail, RailTeam) call the station for a reservation.
* Always arrive at least 30 minutes before the train schedule to ensure that you will not miss the train if ever you get lost on the way to the European station.
Traveling in a foreign European country should not be a hassle. Plan ahead. Know the native tongue and have the best time of your life.
Create Your Own Travel Discounts
Hotel and rental car owners don’t just offer you discounts at random, you have to ask for it work for it, and sometimes, these discounts aren’t even worth it, well unless you’re looking to traveling during off peak season where there is at most a 50% discount. But let’s face it, we travel during peak season because this is the season when we actually have time to travel.
So aside from waiting for your favorite hotel’s tirade of discounts during off peak season, when you can’t really travel and then end up not traveling at all, why not take the initiative and find your own ways to cheap travel, make your own discount.
- Check detour flights other than the straight one you’re bound to get when you inquire. You can get cheaper overall prices if you choose to book two flights instead of one. Some people have been able to save as much as $2000 by doing this.
- It is always better to buy food at the grocery and cook it yourself rather than eating everyday at a restaurant. You won’t want to spend all of your pocket money on food. Restaurants tend to have cheap and sometimes unhealthy food, ensure your own health as well as your pockets health by cooking your own, that is, after all, the reason why there’s a stove in your hotel room.
- Travel to places which boast of natural beauty but have lower costs of living, prices here tend to be lower. Take the Philippines or Malaysia for example, both have great views and tourist spots but come without the hassle of overpricing, English speaking natives are also a plus for these countries.
- If you’re planning to stay for more than a week, call the hotel that you’d want to stay in and ask for week long stay discounts, these can range for percentages off your room price or even a “free day.”
- Package deals usually save a lot, airfare and lodgings combined into one are usually cheaper compared to paying for them separately. Some travel agencies even provide trio packages which include airfare, hotel and car rental, you can save a lot if you have the industriousness to canvass.
- Find web-only discounts or coupons which some hotels and airline owners provide especially for those willing to reserve online. You can save as much as 50% on your travel costs by going this way.
Choosing Your Best Travel Destination
If you are planning to take a vacation, be sure to know what you really like to do, this will make your trip more meaningful. Mostly, travelers go for a trip that their friends recommend, but is it what they really want? It's never too early to plan and know what your heart desires.
It's nice to ask yourself these questions before starting to plan your vacation; do I want to relax? Do I want adventure or a learning experience? Do I want to get away from my job? Once you know the answers to these questions, then you are ready to plan your trip.
Vacations are needed for our emotional, physical and mental balance. Vacations give a person a chance to relax, renew his energy, and free him from his daily routine. Vacations could be far away or close to home. Wherever the vacation may be, it does the same thing. It is the satisfaction that is more important than the destination.
Generally, there are some different types of travel according to activities involved. Here are some of them:
1. Responsible Travel. Traveling doesn't always have to be self-serving. With responsible travel, one could have enjoyment as much as respecting the local environment and the people.
2. Rediscovering nature. Rediscovering travel is all about nature and everything in it. It revitalizes the soul while smelling and feeling nature.
3. Tribal cultures. In today's world of high technology, it is wise to experience the simpler life of the tribal people who live close to nature in the same way for the past thousands of years.
4. Responsible Diving. Diving not only let travelers appreciate what is down the sea but also making the traveler more aware of the conservation effort.
The country one is planning to travel to also leaves a great mark on the traveler's diary. Here are some of the most popular destinations today:
1. Thailand.
Thailand is also known as Siam. It is an Asian country bounded by Burma, Laos, Cambodia, and Malaysia. Behind the back draft of Thailand's jungles of bamboo, rubber trees and vines are the Five-star hotels of modern conveniences. In some parts of the country, elephants are still being use to lift timbers and buffalos are still being use in farming.
2. China.
China is now the second largest country and fastest growing economy in the world. Most parts of China are still unexplored by tourist; however, the eastern portion is now popular to western tourist. First class hotels now offer highest class of amenities and dozens are still being built/
3. Italy.
Italy is a boot-like shape country bounded by Switzerland, Austria, France, and Slovenia. The main attraction of Italy is St. Peter's Square where the Pope resides.
4. Caribbean.
Caribbean is an archipelago of islands, 2000 square miles across. Most of the islands are plateaus and eruptions of underlying mountain systems. It has nice beaches of crushed coral and white or pink sand and the water at the shore is a deep blue.
The success of any vacation will not depend by how much the traveler spent or its destination. It is how the traveler enjoyed it and how he was able to achieve his primary goal of "getting away from it all."
Choosing the Best Travel Accommodation
There are many things to consider when choosing your travel accommodations. The decision could make your trip fun or a disappointment. Choosing the right hotel is a must. Most travelers spend more time in airline ticket reservations and bargains but less time in choosing the right accommodations. Thus they may end up on the wrong side of the bed during their stay.
To get the most out of your hotel accommodations, remember to book as early as possible and make your dates more flexible. Hotels that specialize business people will consider weekends as off season. Family vacationers could tap into these special packages during weekends. Primarily, you should choose your hotel based on name, amenities, features, price, packages and location.
Here are some considerations in choosing your best travel accommodations:
1. Accommodations should be family-friendly. Always ask if your hotel offers children activity areas with educational and fun activities supervised by duly-trained care-givers.
2. Your hotel should provide a swimming pool for children, daycare service, crib rental and child-proof electrical outlets.
3. Stay in a hotel that has electronic room-key cards and has a security viewer installed on their doors.
4. Make it a priority to choose a room on the upper floor.
5. If you're the one who likes to spend more time in your hotel room and the balcony, you should ask for the available amenities and the conditions of the surrounding environment.
6. Depending on whether you're on a private or business trip, ask your hotel about the availability of laundry service, hair dryers, coffee makers, newspapers, free meals, fax machine, bar, cable television, parking, shuttle service, internet connection, etc.
7. The hotel property layout and its location may speak more of its surrounding environment. Noisy locations such as construction on adjacent property, car traffic and noisy waterfalls are not specified on hotel flyers. So be sure to ask about it.
8. Beautifully landscaped surroundings with trees, flowers and inner courts also enhance your travel pleasure. Moreover, gift shops and restaurants all add up to a wonderful travel experience.
9. The location of your hotel with respect to main attraction is equally important. It could save you money on taxi and bus fare.
10. Make sure that the room service is provided 24 hours a day.
11. Check out the room itself. Is it brightly colored or classical? It sets the mood of your travel.
In order to get the most out of your travel, whether for business or family vacations, be sure to know everything about the hotel you are planning to check in to. Ask friends and relatives who have been there. Don't just depend on the hotel's webpage which is undoubtedly biased. Having to stay in a hotel which you don't like could ruin your trip.
Checking Accessories That You Need In Traveling
So, finally you have found the time for your deserving break. You have already planned what to do on the big trip. Everything seems to be prepared. But what happens when you forget your favorite digicam and you only discovered it when you’re already nearing the point of your destination?
Why does it happen that every time you go out of town, you always forget an item or accessory that you only remember after you left the house? If you are lucky, you usually forget small things like a toothbrush, where you can buy one in the nearest store.
But what happens if you forget, for example, your digicam? Or how about your raincoat in a rainy season? How about the travel supplies you usually forget? If you’re lucky, it’s a simple accessory like a toothbrush, which any hotel will have in their gift shop. But what if you forgot a more important product, for example, a rain coat? Or a backpack you’ll be using for a hiking trip?
What are all the travel accessories you need?
When going on trips, whether it is big or small, check out if you have a complete set of your travel accessories. What accessories should I bring? Among the most obvious are:
- Suitcases
- Travel clothing
- Toiletries
-Travel appliances (electric razor, travel alarm, hairdryer)
These, however, are just the basic accessories. You will see that the more you travel, the more you need things other than suitcases, toiletries, and travel clothing and appliances. For example, did you think that you should have brought a small nice neck pillow in a long train ride or flight? Or, what if you get bruised from a hiking trip, do you have a first-aid kit close at hand?
Here are some accessories that you might want to bring when you take your next trip:
- Binoculars
- Music player
- Mini-flashlight
- Camera
- Clothing steamer
- Mini-umbrella
- Luggage rack
- Door alarm
- First-aid kit
It would not be surprising that you might have additional options to this list, or you might have a list entirely different from the list above. And when you check out stores and Internet sites that sell travel accessories, you would learn that there are many products out there that you thought you never needed but turned out to be the contrary!
Asian Travel Tips
Asia occupies a quarter of the earth’s land mass, it spans a lot of time zones. Having a single travel guide for all of Asia is virtually impossible. Asia like any other continent, has its certain hot spots, here are basic travel tips for a few of the most happening countries in Asia.
Vietnam
The country’s recommended tourist spots are Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, which are both modernized. All tourists in Vietnam, except Thai and Philippine Nationals need a tourist Visa before entering the Country. Health wise, Malaria is prevalent in Vietnam, it would be best to bring with you anti-mosquito lotions to prevent being bit.
Indonesia
Aside from the usual prohibition of narcotics and deadly weapons, Radio cassette Players are banned in the Island of Bali, which is a prime tourist spot in Indonesia. Any object with Chinese characters written on it, are also prohibited in Bali.
Thailand
Thai people are very religious and very loyal to the monarchy. You would often see pictures of the king around the cities, never make fun of him. The Thai also consider the head as the highest part of the body, whether spiritual or physical. Refrain from touching anybody in the head, and try not to point at anything with your foot.
Malaysia
It’s best to bring light and cool clothing in Malaysia. You would usually find food stands in the cities selling the local delicacies, “teh tarik” a creamed tea, and “roti canai” a type of pancake, are a must try when you do encounter them. Malaysia has many religions, you would usually see, a variety of Christian churches, Muslim Mosques and Buddhist and Hindu temples may be present in each city.
Philippines
The Philippine has 7,107 islands and islets; beaches are the main tourist spots in the country. There are several museums and Historical Landmarks in Manila, the country’s capital. Boracay Island is the boast of the country which has white sand beaches. You’ll find a “tiangge”, which is a sort of bazaar with stalls that sell almost anything, in most parts of the country, even inside malls. Tiagges are a good place to find souvenirs as well as cheap goods.
General Tips
Each country in Asia has its own currency, although up-end establishments will accept dollars, there are very few of these around. It is best to have your money changed at the local bank. Some hotels also offer money changing, but usually at a lower exchange rate.
Pickpockets are present in most tourist spots, so be careful with your valuables. Separate money from checks and credit cards, have two sets if you can so that you won’t be left dry if you fall victim to a pickpocket.
Cheap Reservations without the Hassle
- Plan your vacations on off seasons, Hotel rates, even airline and car rental rates are lower during this time due to lower demand. You can get as much as a 50% discount if you book a room during off season, so try and call the hotel if they have off season discounts and ask them when the discounts will be effective.
- Some hotels give discounts to certain people like students, military contingents, Senior citizens, honeymooners etc. Ask for these discounts and what their details, you can save a lot with these.
- Ask if your kids can stay for free, if you’re with your family, sometimes hotels can allow up to two kids for a two bed room provided that the kids are within the age limit.
- If you’re not very particular with hotel locations, you can access name-your-price websites for car rentals and hotel reservations. They’ll do the haggling for you and you’re sure not to over-budget.
- Some hotels and even car rental companies, give “free days” if you use their services for more than a week. Ask about these certain perks if you’re planning a long stay.
- Make sure that the room fees are the only ones you’re paying for. Some hotels have surcharges and extra fees that aren’t mentioned in room rates and then suddenly pop-up on check-out. Before you reserve, ask about these, and if upon check-out you suddenly find yourself with fees that you didn’t know about, refuse to pay it.
- You can also exchange frequent Flier miles for hotel lodgings so if you have an expiring miles card, or a miles card that you’d just want to get rid of, ask the hotel if they honor these exchanges.
- Sometimes, hotels provide free airport pick-up you can use this as bargaining tool. Ask for a free pickup when haggling so you’ll get something extra even if you pay the full price.
- If you’re planning to travel during peak season, always call in advance, rates tend to get higher as the season approaches.
- Sometimes, weekend rates are lower than regular fees, or vice versa, ask your agent, or ask the hotel yourself if they have these, then you can schedule your trip during these times and be able to avail of the discount.
- Always ask for a confirmation number when you reserve a room, so that they can’t say that they didn’t receive your reservation.
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