Travel Tips, Travel Tips, Travel Tips?

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Rising gas prices, air fares, hotel rates… bills, bills, bills… But none of these are keeping travelers off the roads to get their much deserved vacation. According to the triple-A, around 35 million Americans traveled during the Memorial Day weekend – A hundred thousand more than last year’s. The number only says that there’s no stopping the common American from hitting the road to take a break. But how does one cope with all the spending to make sure that there’s enough left to go back to the normal life they left off? How does one prepare for traveling and avoiding hassles during and after their vacation?

Hotel rates are up between 5 and 10 percent.; Airfares, 14 percent; a gallon of gas? More than a higher than last year. So what’s an American to do? Here are a few tips:

1. Awareness of Peak Travel Day Fees – Peak travel day fees are applied when there is a higher demand. These hidden travel fees increase the price of your flight, especially during the months of June, July, and August. During these months, every day is almost considered as a “peak” day. And the only way to avoid it? – postpone your vacation until the end of the summer, which is quite a hassle since you don’t want to ruin your kids’ summer vacation.

2. Bargains — There are lots of cheap travel packages going to the Caribbean, Cancun and Las Vegas during the summer months.

3. Travel Tips from CBP – They say that people who read fast get ahead. This might be true, except for some information that you really need to remember and digest like the tips from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). Here are some CBP tips that you should remember before you go:

a. Have all the required travel documents for the countries you’re visiting. To add, identification for re-entry to the U.S. Passports are also required for re-entry.

b. Declare everything you are bringing in from abroad. This includes items that are bought in a duty free shop as these items are also subject to U.S. duty fees and other restrictions.

c. Be cautious when buying something from a street vendor. Some merchandise can be classified as counterfeit or unsafe and you may have to surrender it to the CBP when you get home.

d. Know that things bought abroad for personal use or as gifts are eligible for duty exemptions. But if you’re going to resell them, they are not eligible.

e. Have a quick look at the list of prohibited merchandise (such as ivory, tortoise shell, absinthe, and counterfeit items) and restricted merchandise.

f. Be aware that many foreign-made meds are not FDA-approved. You cannot bring these meds into the U.S. Also remember that, when traveling abroad, bring only the amount of medication that you’re going to use during your trip.

g. Cuban-made products are a big no-no.

h. Don’t bring any food into the U.S. without checking to see if it’s permitted. To add, exotic pets like live birds, whether it’s for your personal use or for commercial use, may be restricted and/or quarantined.

i. You also have to remember that CBP officers can inspect you and your belongings without a warrant. This may include your luggage, vehicle, and personal searches. This is meant to enforce U.S. laws as well as protect legitimate travelers.

4. Maintain Your Tires – Most people would opt to go on a road trip instead of flying, so a good advice to take is to check if your tires are properly inflated. Estimates show that U.S. motorists could save up to 700 million gallons of gas each year just by maintaining their tires properly. To add, tuning-up and putting the correct motor oil in your car can improve fuel efficiency by up to 4 percent.

5. Find a Cheap Vacation Rental — Looking for a cheap vacation rental near your intended destination can save you money, especially if you’re going out with a large group. Instead of booking a hotel during peak season, try to look for a vacation rental that has all the amenities that you need.

 

Travel Wrap for Travelling

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The words travel wrap, to me give me the feeling of warmth, snuggling down with a good book or a mug of hot chocolate.  It says a warm blanket, folded at the end of the sofa ready to wrap you up on a cold winter’s night, or a shawl you can wrap round your shoulders.

But of course a travel wrap is not really for home it’sis really for travelling, whether it be a car blanket that you keep in the boot for emergencies, or a shawl you use on a long train journey, or a kids blanket to help the children to sleep on a long flight.

A wrap or travel blanket for the car is great to keep in the boot all the time, it can be used as a picnic blanket if you have not packed one, or if you are on a long journey and the passengers want to sleep, a rug to keep them warm.  They are also fantastic for emergencies in the cold weather, if you break down or get stuck in snow, they can be essential, especially if you cannot use the car heater.

A travel wrap can simply be a really wide scarf or pashmina that you can wear on the journey but you could also can stretch out over you or wrap it around your shoulders on the train or plane.

A wrap can also be a really great solution for travelling with kids, they often get cold if they are young and can’t yet walk and if they are still sleeping in the day, so a blanket that you can have with you all the time in the buggy or car seat is a really good idea, you can take is out when you get on the train or plane and use it on the journey as well as travelling to the station or airport.

These days you can get travel wraps for kids that are shaped and fit into a seat and have holes in to allow the straps through.  They can be left in the car seat or buggy all the time so you always have it with you if you need it.  They can be wrapped or unwrapped, which is great for travelling when often the temperatures change dramatically as you move in and outside, air conditioning, cars in cold weather before they warm up.  It also means if the child is sleeping you can wrap and unwrap them as often as you like without waking them up.

It is always worth having a travel wrap, or something that can be used while travelling.  They can have so many uses and be left in the car or buggy so you always have it with you.  Make sure you get one that is useful to you and that you can keep especially for travelling.

Safety Tips for Budget Travelers in Foreign Countries

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There are many things to keep in mind when traveling, whether you are a budget traveler or not. You obviously want to keep what money you have for your trip rather than lose it or have it stolen. You also want to keep yourself and traveling companions safe from harm. Here are some tips to follow to ensure your trip is safe and enjoyable in a foreign country.

 

1. Have a valid passport and all visas required for your trip. Make two copies of your passport. Keep one in a separate part of your travel luggage and the other leave with someone at home.

2. Be aware of any travel warnings for the country you are visiting. Find out about security and safety conditions in your destination.

3. Secure travel insurance!

4. Ensure you have been vaccinated against any infectious diseases prominent in the area you will be traveling to.

5. To make sure you can be contacted in case of an emergency, make a copy of your itinerary and leave it with someone at home.

6. Travel light and don’t pack valuables that you wouldn’t want to lose. Leave your jewelry at home but take an extra pair of glasses if you can’t live without them.

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7. Remember you are a foreigner when you travel. You are a guest in their country and therefore should abide by their laws, and to a certain extent, their customs. For example, if you are a female traveling in an Islamic state, be considerate of your dress. 

8. Try not to bring too much attention to yourself when traveling. Don’t go out looking like a tourist with a flashy camera and expensive clothes. Try to blend into the scenery.

9. Travel in a group where possible and in well known areas. There will be times you want to get off the tourist track, so make sure you always have a traveling companion with you.

10. Only carry small amounts of cash on you. Your credit card and travelers checks will pay for most things.

11. Watch out for pickpockets! Wear a money belt and keep your purse/wallet in the front of your body. Report any loss or theft immediately to the local authorities.

12. Don’t leave your luggage unattended. Apart from having it stolen or items from it taken, you could also become an unsuspecting drug courier.

13. If traveling with a partner, pack half your clothes in their luggage and vice versa. This way if one of you loses your luggage, you will still have some clothes. 

14. Lock your luggage and label everything.

15. Lock your hotel room. Keep money and valuables with you, not left unattended in your room.

16. When using public transport be aware of possible theft. If you are traveling overnight, secure your luggage and sleep on top of it if possible. It is not uncommon for tourists to be drugged while on trains and buses so don’t accept gifts of food or drink from strangers on public transport. 

 

If at any time you feel unsafe, whether it is on the streets or in your accommodation, get out. Follow your instincts. Stay safe when you travel by being aware of the dangers and obeying the laws of the country you are visiting.

 

This article is brought to you by: Stuart S. Travel – Your Online Travel Guru

www.stuartstravel.com

Holiday Travel around the Globe Magellan’s route.

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Article by Johnie Traveler

There are some thinks what the peoples usually want to do and also many what they don’t, but from such reasons they are forced to do. It is just a way of living. But all of us will agree that it’s only few thinks on the planet that all the peoples are willing to do, any time everywhere. One of them is holiday travel. Traveling for fun and relaxation, regardless of the destination, cause in present days, traveling guide sites provides answers. Because of that we are here to make a virtual tour, traveling to approach the moment of satisfaction on the journey of all who visit this site. Travel stories virtual or real are from long time ago. Try to remember the “Around the world in 80 days”, the famous book of Jules Verne.Our virtual tour of holiday travel will be related to the real places what we will try to present you. So, please fast the seat belt and get ready to enjoy. We will start from Portugal because of the reason that from this place in XV century Fernando Magellan Portuguese navigator starts his trip around the world. Honestly it was not really holiday travel trip but pure challenge. Portugal, westernmost country of Europe located In Iberian peninsula and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the west and south and by Spain to the north and east. His capital Lisbon or known as white site, try to find out why. There are several reasons to make holiday travel in Portugal, Architecture, Cinema, Gastronomy, Music, Painting and Sport. Try to explore some of them and your dreams will become truth. It is on your own and we are continuing further as the Magellan did before few centuries ago.Next destination South America Brazil, one of the hottest destinations for holiday travel today. Copacabana and other known beaches on the planet. It is homeland of Coffee, Sugar cane, Carnivals and Football. Having holiday travel in this country is more than event. Going on the south as Magellan did, next visit of our Holiday Travel is Argentina. It is big country with rich history. Country is known for music, Argentina’s tango myth or reality. Argentina’s food, wide variety of Indigenous and Creole creations, which include empanadas, loco (a mixture of corn, beans, meat, bacon, onion, and gourd), the latter considered Argentina’s national beverage. Why don’t you taste it? Football here is way of living.Next step is to jump over the pacific, big challenge even for today’s traveler. If you take ticket on some modern cruiser than your will be in better position than seaman from XV century…Next destination is Manila Philippines… It is country of volcanoes’ and lakes. You can see Spanish and Chinese influence everywhere. There is interesting architecture all across Manila, serving as evidence to its multicultural past. If you spend your holiday travel here, don’t miss to pay attention to the Enchanted Kingdom, Divisioria market, and Nayong Filipino cultural park, Chinese cemetery, Splash Island and many others. Magellan finishes his history travel here, but the rest of the crew has continued further.Next destination what we will recommend is India. It is very difficult to mention what the ordinary travel might expect if he pass his holiday travel in India. India is quiet different story. It’s story by itself and has nothing common with the others. It is country of contrast, country where extreme poverty and extreme wealth live a few meters distance. We will have courage just to mention some of them Taj Mahal, Qutub Minar, Red Fort, Lotus Temple, Himalaya, Golden temple, India gate. You have to have several holidays’ trips in this country if you like to fill a small portion of the traveling potential of this country. To have holiday travel in India, first you need to prepare yourself.Next continent to visit is Africa known as black continent, and South African Republic as first target point, often informally known as the Transvaal Republic. It is country of diamonds, ecotourism and world FIFA 2010. Beautiful climate allows a very large number of national parks. There is cape Good Hope, which is dividing point between Atlantic and Indian Ocean. And at the end of this virtual trip we will get back to the starting point. Try to imagine Holiday Travel cruise starting from South Africa and ending at Portugal. You will travel close to Ghana, Ivory Coast, Guinea, Nigeria, Senegal, and Togo… etc. Finally we are back to the starting point but approaching from the east side and with one day additional in our travel diary

CRIME PREVENTION WHILE TRAVELING

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Safety and security are always a concern when you travel. Everyday, travelers venture into large metropolitan cities both domestic and international. No matter where travelers go, they will end up in locations where street crime exists. It is even more prevalent in countries where unemployment, poverty, and overpopulation exist. In some countries, a traveler’s watch can equal a few months salary. Often criminals specifically target travelers if they are women, or because if they carry an expensive equipment, and will often not return to prosecute if the criminal is caught.

A person who travels alone, most likely turns to be a victim of the petty crime. Person travelling alone faces more risks when compared to a person travelling with someone or groups. All over the world, we could see travelers facing crimes. We cannot just say that, travelers are targeted only for their jewels or a lump sum of money. Petty crimes take place even for a penny. The most stolen items are cash, jewels, credit cards, mobile phones, cameras, passports and even sometimes your wardrobes. Criminals are wiser than us. At times, a petty crime may end up in losing lives too. So, it is advisable to travel in groups rather than traveling alone. Though losing our money or other belongings may be a great loss losing a passport is worse. While travelling to countries abroad, passport plays a major role to depict our identity.  So, passports have to be kept very safe from getting into the hands of the criminals.

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One of the best ways to prevent crime is to visit your own government’s international travel safety information and warnings website. You’ll find up-to-date travel information, details on potential safety issues ranging from pickpocketing to terrorism, even weather warnings. Gather knowledge about latest travel warnings and be alert of your surroundings during your trip. If you are concerned about the safety situation, avoid border cities and unpopulated areas.

When traveling with children, teach them to tell your name, house address and contact numbers, which will be very useful if they get lost or get into the hands of the strangers. But advise them not to pass on this information to casual enquirers or over phone. Don’t leave them alone in crowded places. For toddlers who are yet to communicate clearly, tie an identity tag or card.

In many big cities, you may be approached by strangers asking you your place, your details and so on.  Unfortunately, when you travel alone you have to be wary of people and trusting someone you have just met is a risky business.  You have to remember that <personal safety </a> is a must.

Finally, the important thing is that, travelers should be bold enough to report to the cops, when they are affected by criminals. In many popular destinations, you could find tourist police who can help you. Don’t get panic in disastrous situations. Traveling not only involves handling risky situations, but also contains lot of delightful experiences.

How to get Travel Codes and Save Money on Your Travel

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Article by Yoo Travel

Travel codes are a great way to get discount travel no matter which way you decide to move from state to state, or country to country. Travel codes are specialized codes that are set aside for specific groups of people so that they can get discount travel tickets for trains, planes, car rentals, and even ferries.

Travel codes are usually available through websites to help students, for instance, receive any additional money saving vouchers that will help them get home. In most cases, these travel codes are located on the school’s website. If you are in college, the travel codes for your school are located on the school’s web pages listed under travel code application, travel discount application, or something that depicts an application for discount travel. People in the military are often able to find these travel codes on their government website pages.

All you have to do is fill out the application, which takes only a few moments, and your discount travel code is then emailed directly to you. When you go online to book your mode of travel, you enter the travel code for your school or military until that was emailed to you and you will receive an instant discount.

Almost every organization offers travel codes. Churches, high schools, and even some animal rescue groups offer these handy little codes to help you get discount travel. There are some websites that offer these codes to the public so that anyone can save some money. Hotel website, train websites, and even some airline booking sites will offer a travel code voucher application right on their website so that you can receive the offers without being in school or the military.

These codes are particularly useful when gas prices are on the rise. Some gas companies even offer discount travel codes right on their site to help you spend less on the petrol you need to get back and forth. It is within everyone’s power to reduce their travel costs for one or all family members by looking for these travel codes.

If you make it a habit to find the discount travel codes on the appropriate website, you can save hundreds or even thousands on travel expenses, which can ultimately save a vacation or make it possible to take the much needed business trip. The more ways that we all can find ways to save money on travel, the better, as the decline of summertime travel is part of the decline of our economic state. Being able to afford more travel is simply beneficial for everyone.