Cheap Travel – How To Save Substantially On Travel, Vacation And Entertainment Packages

An increasing number of individuals utilize the internet to make travel reservations. Potential travelers often make their arrangements through the company or website offering the lowest prices. Popular sites such as Hotwire offer highly discounted rates on various types of travel packages. However, these types of sites do not disclose certain information such as name of hotel or airline until after the customer has made the non-refundable purchase. Alternative travel agents generally offer similar rates to one another. However, it is possible to save significantly on your travel, vacation packages and entertainment.


Every day, thousands of tickets and fares become automatically discounted by companies due to unclaimed or unsold status. Tickets are discounted by travel companies and direct providers for a variety of reasons such as unclaimed status, unsold status, discontinued status, midnight fare recalibration status and more. These tickets are then sold to travel customers for up to 90% off the original price.


Previously, these types of direct discount purchases were generally only available to authorized travel agents. However, there are currently internet databases which provide these tickets for purchase to members. Anyone is eligible to join these sites. Members are provided with a searchable database of discounted flight tickets, vacations, cruises and entertainment packages. Flights and cruises are available to hundreds of destinations worldwide on every major airline and cruise line. A variety of travel options are accessible, including trips to exotic destinations, family holidays, romantic getaways, weekend deals and more. Entertainment packages include tickets to sports events, concerts, theater plays and many more. Upon sign up, users are given access to the database which usually contains listings of thousands of available packages. Members book directly with special discounts through wholesalers, travel discounters, last minute specials and air couriers.


Unlike more popular discount sites, users are provided with full details before purchase. Buying through unclaimed ticket databases provides consumers with huge travel savings. Now individuals previously considering a vacation but were unable to afford it may now have the opportunity. Regular travelers can also benefit from the significant cost savings.

Smart Travel Tip: 7 Things To Look Out For When Dealing With A Travel Agency

Many people are looking at price when searching for a discount travel agency, however, there are some other things you need to watch out for that can save you time, money and headaches when using a travel agency to plan your trip.


1) Check to see if the agency is a member of ASTA (American Society of Travel Agents). Agencies who are members must follow strict rules of conduct. If you should have a problem with your agency, it will be easier for you to file a complaint.


2) Make sure their offer isn’t too good to be true. The travel industry is very competitive and some agencies will promise you the moon. Make sure they can deliver what they promise before signing up.


3) The agency should disclose their full contact information. You should easily be able to find their name, address, phone number and email address. Call the phone number and see if a real person answers. If their contact information isn’t readily available, you should take your business elsewhere.


4) Some discount agencies will promise you low rates to get your business, then hit you with hidden fees. Since you are budgeting for your trip, you don’t want to be hit with a larger bill than you planned on. Be sure to get all agency rates and fees on paper to avoid surprises.


5) Respectable travel agencies will bend over backwards to make sure you are well taken care of, especially if you have medical needs while traveling. An agency out for a quick buck will not provide you with great customer service, so ask questions about how they will accommodate your special requests before signing.


6) A good travel agency will be there to help you during and after your trip to make sure everything is going smoothly. If you have a problem during your trip, the agency will be available to assist you. Fly by night services will disappear after you’ve handed over your money. Check out the agency’s reputation before you commit to a deal.


7) A good travel agency will have access to all kinds of information about the city and/or country you are visiting. They are one of the best insider travel tip resources around whether you need a business travel tip, family travel tip, an air travel tip, or a travel packing tip.

Traveling With Teenagers - the Right Way

Traveling with a teenager doesn't always have to end in tears. It can be a positive time for the whole family, filled with laughter and excitement. Follow the practical tips in this guide, and you'll turn your vacation with your teen into a positive bonding experience.

Traveling with teenagers can be a positive adventure. Contrary to common belief that traveling with a teenager is stressful, trips with teens when spent with a lot of laughter and enlightening or inspiring conversation can be really rewarding. Travel with a teenager does not have to mean long periods of silence punctuated by the echo of the headphones slowly making your teenager hearing impaired. However, the expectation and accompanying attitude that you pack is most likely what your teenager will deliver in return.

Teenagers are known to be highly self-absorbed individuals who are pulling away from their families in any way they know because they want nothing but for them to turn into a full fledged grown up enjoying full fledged rights and responsibilities. This is only partly true. Travel with an adolescent is a valuable chance for you and your teen to break away from the usual routine in life, everyday expectations, responsibilities, and endeavors. Growing up is a difficult thing for teens thus a little break from the usual life they have is proven to be rewarding for both of you.

Do not Push, Stay Calm, Curb Forced Humor

Do not try to be funny. Yes, every teenager relates well to a little sarcastic humor, but do not try to be their friend and crack yourself up with some low down jumblespeak that you believe your adolescent will appreciate. Be yourself. Be a parent. Let them slowly open up during the course of the trip. If you are ramming your good time down their throat then chances are that you will be spending your good time alone or watching them try rather diligently to spoil it. If you relax and just bring up interesting points along the way, whether it is about the trip or life in general, and really listen to their responses during that four second break in between CD tracks, you will create solid ground from which to move forward as the trip does.

Teenagers know that parents tend to believe that they are generally irresponsible individuals. They know that you are praying that they are not having sex, doing drugs, drinking, or downloading horrifying material off the internet while simultaneously suspecting that they are when your back is turned. Expect your teen to push a few buttons and rattle your chains once you have stepped into their zone or broke through their sound barrier even for awhile. The more you take their behavior in stride the less they will push and the greater the chance for a real connection to occur.

Understand Music is Essential

For any teenager traveling with one or two parents in a car for any period of time there is an absolute need for them to zone off into their world and crank their music just a little louder than you want it. Most teenagers process life procedures and daily encounters this way, thus allowing them to do things their way can help pave a smoother way of connecting with them especially when the track is over.

Ask, Tell, and Listen

Ask your teenage real life questions. If you value their opinion, genuinely, you and your kid can have some pretty unique and in depth conversations that lead to a better understanding and more committed method of communication. It is important to respond to your teens with a notion that you do not have to agree with them all the time just to show you love them; rather, make them feel that they have the right to speak openly and you will listen and, most importantly, they have the capacity to think what is right. You and your teenager are going to be trapped together for the duration of your trip. You can either bring along a great attitude and connect with each other or you can forget your great attitude at home and pretend that there is not a boat load of stress and tension marring your trip. When trapped with an adolescent, parental attitude is the key to success.

The Top 7 Money-Saving Tips When Using an Air Travel Finder

An air travel finder can be the best tool you ever use, and with these top 7 money-saving tips you will get the best deals possible on you air travel:

1. Make your reservation as early as possible. At least 14 days in advance, but aim for at least 21 days in advance. After this time, the air tickets can easily more than double in price.

2. Be flexible with your travel time. Changing the day or the time of day can drastically reduce the price of your air travel. The best day to fly on is Wednesday, which is also the best day to book the flight on. The cheapest time to fly is early morning or late evening.

3. Fly during the off-season. Prices are a direct result of supply and demand. As demand goes down, prices go down as well, benefiting flyers.

4. Shop all the airlines. This is the most possible using a couple of key air travel finder companies that I recommend on my site. Being able to check all the airlines at the same time can get you the best deal.

5. A stopover instead of a direct flight can result in huge savings.

6. Membership in some clubs like AAA can get you discounts. With air travel prices at an all-time low this isn't as influential on the price as it is shopping between the airlines themselves. You get much better deals using an air travel finder to check prices of the different airlines against each other.

7. Look into air travel packages. Purchasing your air travel, hotel, and rental car through the same place usually gives a huge discount. Using a bigger air travel finder will allow you to do all of this on the same website. I have recommendations for this on my site as well.

The prices on air travel tickets are a direct result of competition, inventory, and demand. Competition is the airlines competing with each other. Inventory is how many seats are left open on a given flight. Demand is how many people are looking for air travel tickets. By choosing the least-crowded flights that are the least in demand, you get the lowest price. It's really that simple.

As you can see, there are many ways to get better prices. If you use a major air travel finder and choose the best days and times to fly, you can often get unbelievable deals and save a hefty amount of money in the process.

Travel Insurance Put at Risk by Lone Travellers

A rapidly increasing number of Britons is putting their travel insurance at risk by booking different parts of their trip separately, a new study carried out by Marks & Spencer (M&S) Money has recently revealed.

According to the research, an increase in internet availability and usage is responsible for the new numbers: an entire half of British holiday makers book their travels independently instead of using a travel agent. But the drawback of shunning the traditional package holidays is that travel insurance policies may not cover all aspects of an individually booked trip, says M&S.

Commenting on the popularity of self-booked holidays, M&S Money revealed, perhaps unsurprisingly due to the recent surge in internet use, that as many as 78% of people with internet access use it to research holiday costs and destinations. According to the study, the most popular reason for a trip abroad is now to see family and friends, rendering the package holiday obsolete.

The research revealed that 29% of Brits now book every element of a holiday separately, meaning that no one company holds overall responsibility: the flight, hotel, and activities are all individually and separately organised. Consequently, travel insurance becomes less reliable. In the past, a travel agent would have been responsible for the entire holiday and, if a flight was cancelled or delayed causing a traveller to miss a later flight, the travel agent would organise alternative travel. However, taking control of booking means taking control of cancellations and delays and can result in extra costs – travel insurance does not properly cover a DIY holiday in the same way it would do a package deal.

According to M&S Money, 35% of UK travellers encountered a cancelled or delayed departure during their last trip, 21 per cent of whom were travelling independently and were not covered by insurance. These statistics highlight the importance of adequate travel insurance for solo holiday makers.

The recent chaos at Heathrow's Terminal Five is an example of how travel plans can unexpectedly change. When at the opening day of Heathrow’s new £4.3 bn terminal was blighted by countless cancelled flights, baggage delays and a temporary suspension in check-in, many travellers’ insurance deals did not cover the situation.

Following this unfortunate episode, some insurers have downright stopped offering cover for lost luggage or delayed flights to travellers going through Terminal 5 at Heathrow.

“We cannot insure for events that have already happened," explained a spokeswoman for Direct Line, one of the insurance firms that have taken this stance. She then added: "Insurance only covers events that the customer is not aware of at the time of purchase. People calling up on our travel insurance quote line were told this specifically.”

In response to this gap in the market, M&S Money has decided to introduce an insurance policy specifically for holiday makers who book it themselves.

"As independent travel has grown we have identified changes in how customers travel and book holidays. This has changed what they need from travel insurance." said Brendan Cook, chief executive of M&S Money.

M&S’s innovation seems to stand alone however, in a sea of insurance companies which are not answering to the current needs of modern travellers. A possible affecting factor may be the recent increase in budget holiday use. Budget flight companies offering unbelievably cheap deals are notorious for ‘giving you what you payed for.’ In other words, they often loose baggage, delay and even cancel flights. This has caused an upsurge in travel insurance claims which the insurance companies have found difficult to follow.

Langkawi: Heaven of Ecotourism and Travel Adventure

Langkawi situated just off the northwestern coast of Peninsular Malaysia comprises a group of 104 tropical islands during the low tides and 99 Island during the high tides. The main island Langkawi, is 47. 848 Hectare followed by Pulau Dayang Bunting and Pulau Tuba while some of the others appear to be mere dots in the emerald green ocean when viewed from the air.

In Langkawi a nature adventure had a true-blue naturalist as their guide. The guide’s name is Irshad Mobarak. Dubbed the Jungle-wallah (Jungle-fellow) of Langkawi ( http://www.junglewallah.com ), he is perfect for the job as he possesses vast knowledge about Langkawi’s wildlife, gleaned from years of trekking and observation of its jungles, mangroves and wildlife.

Some people think the beauty of Langkawi lies in its pristine beaches. Others like the duty-free shopping. But Irshad and his team of naturalists at Natural History Tours ( http://www.wildlangkawi.com ) reckon that the edge Langkawi has over places like Bali and Phuket is its jungle and wildlife.

As such Irshad and his team have been actively involved in preserving Langkawi’s natural environment. His social-responsible company provides real ecotourism experiences such as nature walks, birdwatching, jungle-trekking and mangrove tours in kayaks or motorized boats without the “gimmicks” activities involve.

His pet peeve is the eagle-feeding sessions at the mangrove swamps of the Kilim River. While it is quite a sight to see dozens of white-bellied sea eagles and brahminy kites circling in the sky and swooping down on their food, Irshad feels it’s bad for the birds.

“What you’re doing is habituating the eagles to take food from humans when they usually feed on fish. Now they are given chicken guts, and these are from farm-bred chickens fed with antibiotics and hormones, making it unhealthy. It may affect their bone development and the integrity of the shells of their eggs.” Irshad said contaminated feed could kill a lot of birds, as each feeding attracts between 50 to 100 birds.

Not only is Irshad fully acquainted with information on the wildlife in Langkawi, he is also great at handling children. His “young explorer club” is a hit for student’s summer program in Malaysia and tourists traveling with their children. “The trick is not to bore them to death. You can be much more informative with adults, but with children, you need to make it more experiential. They need to touch and smell and conduct experiments.”

Irshad, who’s especially love birds, said Langkawi has recorded 190 species of birds, including brown winged kingfisher, black hooded oriole and mountain hawk eagle. The mountain hawk eagle which can be identified by its very pronounced crest with two feathers can only be found in Langkawi and Irshad has recorded 3 different individual here.

The relatively small and cut-off habitat of an island like Langkawi allows for many of its flora and fauna to evolve into unique species over thousands of years. But it also possessed a danger of Habitat-fragmentations. One of Irshad ongoing project is planting figs trees closer to the road so the canopy on either side of the road will meet and become close enough for animals to cross over. “This is one way to counter the negative effects of habitat fragmentations and we hope to see the results in 10 years,” Irshad said. Visitor can also get involve in this program by purchasing trees and plant it during their visit to Langkawi ( http://www.treesfornature.com )

Who is the Jungle-Wallah of Langkawi?

In the 80s, the Negri Sembilan-born Irshad was a decathlete and rugby player employed by a major bank institution. He worked for five years with the bank in Kuala Lumpur, only to discover the corporate world was simply not his cup of tea.

The turning point in his life came during a vacation in Tioman Island between 1981 and 1982. He realized that what he really wanted was to be closer to nature.

“So I quit my job, traveled and bummed around for a couple of years,” said Irshad, and then he found Langkawi. The island’s beauty and mystique inspired him to embark on his own study of its ecosystems.

“I saw the potential for nature-related work. I got a job as recreation manager at Datai and at the same time was involved in conservation work,” he said. Soon, a new position was created for him, that of a Resident-naturalist. And today, after 19 years, he is so well-versed in the subject, he is considered an expert. He has trained many individual who is now employed by other hotels as their own Resident-naturalist and some of them work as independent nature guides.

Irshad considered himself very lucky because his work, his hobby and his passion are all fused into one. He also believes that taking care of the natural environment is an integral part of being a steward of the Earth. He is recently won DiGi Amazing Malaysians Award 2007, an award for Malaysians who were nominated by the public for their passion and dedication in heritage conservation.

Your Travel Destination - Choosing Your Best Travel Destination Is Easy

It's nice to ask yourself these questions before starting to plan your vacation:

Do you want to relax?

Do you want adventure or a learning experience?

Do you want to get away from your job?

Once you know the answers to these questions, then you are ready to plan your trip. Vacations are needed for your emotional, physical and mental balance.

Vacations give you a chance to relax, renew your energy and free you from your 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. These are 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 you are planning to travel to also leaves a great mark on the your life. Here are some of the most popular destinations today:

1. Thailand. Thailand used to be 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. The 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."

What Type of Travel Insurance Fits You Best?

Before leaving for a trip many individuals will take great care in planning all aspects of their vacation. They will often carefully research their travel options and choose everything to make sure it fits within a scheduled itinerary so that nothing is missed.

However, there are certain unexpected events that can happen on any trip which cannot be planned for. Unexpectedly your vacation may be ruined by severe illness, accidents, robbery, natural disaster or any other number of events. However, if you purchase travel insurance before leaving you will be able to deal with these situations without losing a lot of the money you invested in your trip. Consider the types of travel insurance available to you carefully so that you can get adequate coverage without having to pay for something you won't need.

Single Trip

This form of travel insurance is ideal for those who don't travel frequently since it provides coverage only for a specific trip. However, there are still many other policies available for those who don't fit into this category. If you don't need single trip coverage then your decision for travel insurance coverage can become a lot more difficult with the options you have to choose from.

Annual

The most convenient and cost effective option for those who take more than one trip each year is annual or multi-trip travel insurance. You should read the policy carefully when purchasing this type of travel insurance as some of these policies may have limitations on the trip length such as excluding trips over thirty days. There are some policies that may also exclude holiday travel. It is always important to read the fine print before purchasing any insurance policy.

Family

Family travel insurance is good for those who are traveling with kids or their parents. The benefits of this policy are that you don't have to buy separate travel insurance policies for each member of the family since everyone is covered as whole. There are different premiums depending on the family travel insurance policy you are choosing. Some companies vary premiums based on the number of children covered on the policy, while other charge flat rates.

Business Traveler

Another travel insurance policy that assumes you travel several times a year is business travel insurance policies. The typical business traveler should choose this policy option. One feature of this policy that isn't found in other insurance policies is the fact that should you have an emergency that prevents you from taking the trip; the company can replace you with another employee under the colleague replacement coverage.

Cheap Travel Insurance: How to Save Big Time on Coverage

When you plan to travel abroad nowadays, you might be totally surprised how abundant cheap travel deals are being offered both online and offline. That is, if you haven't contacted your travel agents lately or if you have been hibernating in your own country for years or simply don't feel the need for traveling. Anyway, the bottom line is that traveling abroad today is not very expensive as it was before.

Surely, it can be the reason for a celebration. But before you start contacting your travel agents for a quick booking of your trip, you have to realize that when travel is being offered at cheap prices, more and more people are traveling. And when people travel, it increases the risk for people getting involved in an accident. It should not be a problem if these traveling population buy travel insurance to protect them in case things would not go as planned. But the bad news is, travel insurance is neglected - the very reason why people lose their appetite for traveling in case something happen.

Normally, when people talk about travel insurance, they are speaking about wings falling off in mid air or plane unable to properly secure its landing gear. Although these kinds of scenarios are possible during travel and need to be taken into consideration for buying travel insurance, there are more minor incidents where you need to be prepared with and be covered like trip cancellation, trip interruption or delay, medical emergencies including doctor's fee, hospitalization, and emergency evacuation, and property damages and losses.

In addition, the general perception of the travelers with travel insurance is that it is expensive. This causes travel insurance to loose its appeal to travelers. But this thing would stop because like travel fares becoming cheap, insurance are getting the right price it deserves.

And to know more on how to maximize you trip while providing you with peace of mind here's how to get cheap travel insurance you need:

1. Check online for your cheap travel insurance. Usually, the Internet has more to offer when you are looking for cheap travel insurance. One great advantage of searching here is that you can compare instantly the quotes, different cheap travel insurance sites offer. You can check all the available coverage and single out your best choice. With a little time and work, getting cheap travel insurance is not a hard task.

2. Avoid buying cheap travel insurance directly to travel agents. Instead buy it directly from insurance company. Since travel agents earn big commissions, the cheap travel insurance you though was cheap, it not cheap at all. One more point: you can get travel insurance from travel agents twice as high compared to travel insurance companies.

3. Check your existing insurance. Usually, your home insurance would cover your trips abroad. If it does, identify the coverage you need to have that is not included in your existing insurance. This would give save you a lot.

4. Ask for the cheapest rates. Oftentimes, people tend to settle for the insurance that is suggested by the representative of the company. To get the cheapest rates, all you have to do is ask for it, chances are it would be given to you.

These are some of the best ways you can do if you are shopping for cheap travel insurance. But of course, there is no better way to save is to be careful all the time.

Looking for a good airline travel deal?

If you are a bit free spirited and adventurous, the chances are that you will be able to travel to many exciting destinations that you would not otherwise be able to afford. You can get airline travel deals to all kinds of exotic destinations all over the world, provided that you are a little bit flexible. My schedule has always provided me with the luxury to pick up and go when I want, but at the expense of a great deal of disposable income. It is one of those paradoxes that everyone is bound to run in to at some point in their life: those who have lots of time, have little money, while those who have little money have lots of time. Not having a lot of money, however, should not stop you from going anywhere that you want to go provided that you keep a good eye out for airline travel deals, and are at ease with last minute travel every now and again.

I have taken advantage of many airline travel deals in my life, which have let me go to places which would normally be out of my price range. I have gotten air ticket deals to Argentina, Portugal, Spain, and even Sweden. The only problem with these great airline travel deals is that they tend to come at the expense of convenience. They are often last minute travel deals, are occasionally carried by second or third string airlines, and do not always allow you to chose the destination that is at the top of your list. But all of that suits me fine. I am quite flexible about where I go, if you want to know. What matters most to me is to have the freedom to travel abroad and check out new places which I have never seen before. And airline travel deals let me do that just fine.

If you are looking for good airline travel deals, here is the advice that I have for you. It is easer to find out about the destinations of air ticket deals which are being offered and see if they are right for you then it is to wait for that one particular destination or other which you had your heart set on. After all, lets face it: there are places all over the world which are fun to explore, so why hold yourself back just because you are unfamiliar with this or that destination.

Choosing Your Best Travel Destination

Mostly, travelers go on a trip recommended by friends, but is this what they really want? It's never too early to plan for your trip and to do what your heart really desires.

Here are several questions to ask yourself 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 can be far away or close to home. Wherever the vacation may be, it does the same thing. It provides satisfaction, which is far more important than the destination itself.

Generally, there are some different types of travel according to the 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 experiencing everything there is to know about nature.

3. Tribal cultures. In today's world of high technology, it is wise to experience the simpler life of the tribal people who have lived close to nature in the same way for thousands of years.

4. Responsible Diving. Diving not only lets travelers appreciate what is in the sea but also helps make the traveler more aware of efforts concerning conservation of our natural resources.

Plan your travel to a country that will leave a great mark in your traveling 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 used 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 tourists; however, the eastern portion is now popular to western tourists. First class hotels now offer the highest class of amenities and dozens more 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 on how much money the traveler spent or the destination. The final outcome will depend on the degree of enjoyment experienced by the traveler.

How To Choose A Travel Agent You Won't Regret

When it comes to making travel arrangements a travel agent can either make the process a dream or a nightmare. If you travel on a frequent basis finding a good travel agent that is reliable and trustworthy can be as important as a financial planner or a dentist. Here are a few tips to help you find a good one that won?t have you pulling your hair out while you are trying to plan a relaxing vacation.

One of the reasons for enlisting the services of is the fact that they can generally get better deals than the public due to the relationships they have formed with travel related companies such as airlines, hotels, and rental car companies. Their ability to get better deals is a great reason to use them but I like to use a travel agent just for the convenience. I can just call them up and tell them where I want to go and they will call me back with three or four choices to consider.

Like anything else, the key to finding a travel agent you can rely on is research. You can start out by asking friends and family for referrals of travel agents that they have enlisted the services of. Another excellent tool at your disposal of course, is the internet. With the internet you can find a list of agencies in your area and peruse their sites along with reviews and testimonials of their service. Look for forums and message boards where travelers talk about traveling and their experiences with travel agents. Even though everyone will have different opinions you can rest assured that a travel agent that gest good remarks from most people will be someone you can work with.

Another key indicator that can help in your search to find a good travel agent is whether they belong to the American Society of Travel Agents. The reason this is important is that allows the travel agents the ability to network with other members of the group such as cruise lines, airlines, hotels, and many other travel related companies. There are also certain minimum qualifications that must be met and maintained which means that the person involved will be more conscientious than one that is not a member.

It is perfectly right and acceptable for you to interview the prospective agent and ask questions of their qualifications and experience in order to make up your mind if they are the right agency for you and that they will be able to satisfy your travel needs. You should also ask them for references of clients who have used their services so you can get a third part?s take on them. By doing these things as you look for a travel agent it should help you to find one that will be good for you.

Cheap Travel: The One That's Right for You

Cheap travel has become more and more popular to people who want to experience the feeling of being on another country at a price they could afford. But somehow with too many cheap travel companies offering virtually the same package, many are confused and cannot differentiate the good ones from the better ones. Since each cheap travel company offers different type of cheap travel, finding the right one for you can take you a while. But with proper know-how on the ways to get your cheap travel, you can cut the time and have your itineraries going.

Here are some of the useful ways to get cheap travel that is right for you, easily:

1. Identify where you want to go. Where you would go should come from you. This is the first step you should take when you are planning your cheap vacation. This would be the ground of all the things you need to have for your cheap travel. For, this you can identify what type of activities you can do, what type of coverage you should have, and what are the equipments you need. This would also tell you how much your budget should be. Know where you want to go and it would make your cheap travel planning run smoothly.

2. Know what you want. When you are buying cheap travel package, you can always have the choice of letting your travel agent work for you. They will do their job, that's guaranteed. But would it be better if you know what you want before speaking to them? In this way, you can surely enjoy your travel vacation for in the first place; it is you who knows what exactly do you want.

Part of it is knowing what type of cheap package do you need: The type of flight you want. The date you want to fly. The length of the whole trip. The ways you want to spend it. And the accommodation you wish to have. If you know all these, you and your travel and agent would be having an easier time finalizing things.

3. Set your budget. Although cheap travel is indeed cheaper that regular travel, you still have to set your budget. Because if you don't, you might not be aware that in the end, what you think is cheap is not cheap anymore. Set the budget and the total cost of your travel. If your budget does not fit your destination or the things you want to do while at the vacation, you can always search for companies or agents that offer cheaper rates.

4. Your coverage matters. Many would disregard the importance of the insurance while traveling. If you know how important insurance is, then you know that you need one.

5. Itineraries are included. If you already know where you are going, know what you want, and have set your budget, you must now identify the itineraries of your trip. Usually when you consult travel agents, they would offer you different cheap travel ideas for you to choose from. Select one that matches your desired itineraries. If they offer none, you can always select from the list of available destination and match it to your desired itineraries.

With these things on hand, you are now ready to experience the overseas traveling without spending so much.

How To Choose Your Best VacationTravel Destination

Planning to take a vacation? Do you know what you really like to do? it could make your vacation even more meaningful. Many travelers go on a trip that friends and relatives recommend, but is it what they really want? You should start planning early and know what you really want to accomplish.

Ask yourself the following 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? When you know the answers to these questions, then you are ready to plan your trip.

Vacations are essential for our emotional, physical and mental balance. You give yourself a chance to relax, renew your energy, free from the 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.

There are many different types of travel according to activities involved. Some are listed below:

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. Responsible Diving. Diving not only let vacationers appreciate what is down in the sea but also making them more aware of the conservation effort.

The country of travel also leaves an indelible 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. There are nice beaches of crushed coral and white or pink sand and the water at the shore is a deep blue.

Your vacation success will not depend on how much you spent or on the destination. But how well you enjoyed it and how you were able to achieve the primary goal of "getting away from it all."

Responsible Travel in Asia

Responsible travel is a new way of travelling moving away from the mass tourism. Responsible travel means respecting and benefiting the local people and environment at your destination. It is about minimising your impact on the local culture and environment and maximising your connection with the local people and environment. It is about making a positive contribution during your trip and having the most rewarding and inspiring travel experiences of your life.

Responsible tourism can be defined as travel that takes into consideration the the following issues.

Environment: Responsible travel is travel that minimises the negative environmental impact and makes a positive contribution to the conservation of the natural and human heritage.

Cultural: Responsible travel is travel that respects the local culture and traditions and promotes a greater understanding between travellers and the locals.

Economic: Responsible travel is travel that has financial benefits for the local community and operates on the principles of fair trade.

This kind of travel is very popular in Asia. There are a lot of opportunities to join an eco tour and engage yourself in eco tourism in Asia. China, Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam are just some of the wonderful destinations on offer in Asia.

Travelling around Asia has become very easy and cheap with many low cost airlines connecting you between many destinations around Asia. Also Asia is a very cheap travel destination so you will get a lot more for your money.

Responsible tourism starts before you even set off on your travels. Research your destination before you leave. Find out about the culture or religions and make sure you respect the local sensibilities. You will find that the local people will very much respect the fact that you make the effort to understand and respect their traditions.

Asia is overflowing with customs and little etiquettes. It is very important to try and adhere to these. Not only will local people feel respected, they will respect you in return, allowing you a fuller experience. After all you are a visitor in their country.

When you are travelling try to travel independently instead of in large group tours. This will result in low impact, helping to sustain the local culture and environment. It will also enable you to have a much more meaningful travel experience as you will get much more opportunities to meet the locals and see more of the country off the beaten track.

Always ask before taking a photo of anyone in Asia. Pointing at your camera with raised eyebrows will usually suffice. Respect their wishes if they decline your very kind offer.

Try and learn a little of the local language. Even just some basic greetings and thank you. You will find that people respond very well to this. This will give you the chance to talk to the locals even if it just to say hello or thank you.

Visitors to religious and historic sites should pay particular attention to the following: be sure to dress appropriately and follow local guidelines, be mindful of your manners and local etiquette and never remove anything from religious or historical sites.

Responsible travel in Asia is an amazing experience that will last for many years to come.

Responsible Travel Tips

Here are some ideas to becoming a responsible traveller. It doesn't take much, but it will make all the difference to your travel experience, as well as the country you will visit.
So before you leave for Ecuador, consider the following ideas:
* Read some of the information on this website: we specialize in responsible travel in Ecuador. We might be able to point you in the right direction.
* Read guidebooks: find a guidebook that shares information about the country and its environmental, social and political issues. Lonely Planet and Rough Guides are good places to start.
* Ask around: do you know people who have visited Ecuador? Can they give you some ideas? Of course, if that's not the case, feel free to contact us!
* Choose your destination carefully: have you thought about the quality of the hotels you picked in terms of sustainability? Have they received awards or certifications from reputable eco-friendly institutions? Some touroperators are more conscious of the environment than others. Look at their website and ask them to see if they are a responsible touroperator.
If you are already in Ecuador, consider using the following tips to becoming a responsible traveller.
* By exploring alternative travel choices, you can have a unique trip and avoid leaving negative marks on cultures, economies, and the environment.

* Be respectful of local citizens’ privacy. Ask permission before entering sacred places, homes, or private land. Ecuadoreans are very hospitable, but mainly to people who treat them with respect.
* Be sensitive to when and where you take photos/video of people. Always ask first. Since Ecuadoreans are religeous and appreciate their privacy, this is the right way to do.
* Learn a few words of the local language and use them. You can do this at one of the many Spanish schools in Quito . Or go to one in other areas.
* Choose locally-owned lodges, hotels, and B&Bs. Use local buses and car rental agencies. Eat in local restaurants, shop in local markets, and attend local festivals/events.
* Avoid obvious displays of wealth or handing out money. Such activities create immediate barriers and build resentment between you and local people. Especially in the countryside Ecuadoreans don't have a lot of money to spend. So try to blend in.
* Minimize the use of resources. Don't insist on a daily bath, because water is a scare commodity in Ecuador. Just like electricity. Even in major cities electricity is not always available.
* Remember that Ecuadoreans have different ways of thinking about the concept of time, this just makes them different not wrong - cultivate the habit of asking questions (rather than the Western habit of knowing the answers). Latin America is a bit more laidback than most western countries.
* Enjoy your time in Ecuador!