tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-41194745298149038652024-02-18T18:04:39.075-08:00Tour And Travelpretyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15122842845916888618noreply@blogger.comBlogger30125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4119474529814903865.post-8007876112180666612017-10-20T00:57:00.000-07:002017-10-20T00:57:15.398-07:00Travel Essential for Family Summer Getaways<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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As soon as the temperature rises, school's done for the year and about any cold beverage or dessert is being craved, you'll know it is time to dust off your straw hat, swimming gears and of course try fitting in those swimwear. Yes, it's summer! The one season we will be enjoying the 2 month vacation from school as well as look for that family destination to savor the sun, the sand and the sea.</div>
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But, before we all get excited, let me give you tips on the travel essentials to bring for your chosen (if not favorite) summer getaway. Grab your pen and paper and take down this list.</div>
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Travelling with Family Must-Haves:</div>
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Travel Documents. If you plan to travel here in the Philippines, make sure you bring your valid IDs for documentation of possible verification. If you will be travelling outside the country, then passports, visa must come in handy.</div>
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Funds. Importantly, you must bring cash and/or your credit cards for all the payments. However, you must be cautious enough not to bring too much cash at hand as we know robbers may be eyeing on you. So basically, practice being safe at all times specially when withdrawing at ATMs. Better yet, keep a note in your mobile phone or a little notebook where you write down your budget and possible expenses so you would be able to track down in/outs of your money and keep the whole vacation on budget.</div>
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Medicines, medical tools and first aid kit. If you or any of your family member have an existing medical condition, make sure to always bring enough and a little extra of the maintenance medicines. You may not be able to find an immediate pharmacy on the place you will going and you may need prescription as well, so keep that with the medicine kit. You can place this in a pouch or a small bag that you can bring with you at all times while travelling. This goes with your first aid kit. At least, make sure that the first aid kit contains medicines for common illness like headache, stomach pain, loose bowel movement, anti-allergy as well as band aids, betadine iodine, alcohol, cotton swabs and a nail cutter. You will need to bring also blood pressure monitor and blood sugar monitor in case you have diabetic loved ones.</div>
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When travelling with kids or babies, this will be a different story. You will pack another set of essentials just for them. Clothes, diapers, wipes, feeding bottles, sterilizer, just no name a few. So keep that in the list too!</div>
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When you will be commuting for the travel, make sure you have all commute stops planned. If you will need to be travelling by plane, you must be making the booking ahead of time. While, when you travel by land, make sure you will know the bus stops, etc. And when you will be driving, Google maps and GPS will be your best friend. Plan and make your research ahead of time. And when you are driving, make sure that your motor vehicle is at its best condition with enough fuel, air and water.</div>
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Accommodation at destination. Make sure you have booked ahead for resorts and hotels as they might not entertain you via walk in. Sometimes, you can save time and money by booking or making your reservations online.</div>
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Clothes, swim wears. Make sure you bring enough appropriate clothes. To save some space in your bags though, consider bringing lightweight clothes and learn how to pack smartly.</div>
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Gadgets, camera. What would capture your memorable summer but bringing in your mobile phones for your selfies! Bring in your digital cameras or action cameras too! Keep your gadgets in waterproof pouches in case you want to bring them while swimming.</div>
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Padlocks. For security reasons, make sure your bags have padlocks. Make sure you attend to you belongings as just about any establishment have no responsibility on your belongings in case of loss.</div>
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Snacks, water. Due to the hot season, we tend to be dehydrated. So make sure to pack some snacks and water while travelling to fill up that energy.</div>
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Toiletries, cosmetics. These are important too. Make sure you have napkins, tissue paper, wipes. Your toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, body wash, shampoo, conditioner. Sunblock and sunburn recovery lotion. You may want to have travel kits where you can keep these essentials so you won't need to bring the big bottles of shampoo. Just take a portion and place in these travel kit containers and you can refill those on your next travel destination.</div>
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This is my list when we go travelling. I will be making a series to this to include some more tips on my next blog. You may need more than this essentials, make sure to customize and tailor this list to your own needs and situation. Meanwhile, enjoy you summer destination and make memories!</div>
pretyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15122842845916888618noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4119474529814903865.post-39535616466462343562017-10-04T03:30:00.000-07:002017-10-20T00:57:34.812-07:00Travel Planning for Long Weekends<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<strong>WORK! WORK! WORK!</strong> We all are very much occupied from Monday to Friday while continuously working at our desk with full dedication. Do not spare time for ourselves even when we are at home, What all we do after such a long tiring work is to eat and take rest during weekends, subsequently prepare ourselves for another upcoming Monday with all the tiring work grind again for rest of the week.</div>
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Who doesn't want a break from routine? Who doesn't want a long weekend to enjoy with family/friends? Who does not want to rejuvenate so to face the tiring and routine lifestyle again in office?</div>
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Everyone wants a break from hectic routine. Everyone wants to have fun and relaxation without being tensed about work, meeting deadlines and stressed out due to the pressure of meeting expectations.</div>
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<strong><u>Pre Planning for Long Weekend Outing</u></strong></div>
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But then again, while going for a long weekend, escaping from your daily routine comes with a price of planning and packing in advance.</div>
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Planning requires many things to be considered beforehand. What should I carry with me? What should I wear on the journey?</div>
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What kind of dress should I pack for the party, the dinner, and trip to explore the city?</div>
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There are many things, you have to plan to go for a long weekend outing.</div>
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Packing these kinds of stuff is not a difficult or tiring task; the difficult task is to decide.</div>
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It is to choose which garb to pack. Let us help you a little in this weary task.</div>
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Here are some ideas that you might want to consider for attires to be packed.</div>
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"Travel and change of place impart new vigour to the mind." Travelling is something which we all love. But even during travel, we have to clinch what clothes we want to wear. As it is very much important for us to be comfortable even during travel. These are some of the garbs you might want to take a look to determine from.</div>
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<strong><u>Dress by default</u></strong> - You never want to dress up like a bum or a hobo to go on a journey. You won't want to overdo your look, but you won't even want to look like someone who just woke up from the bed.</div>
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<u><strong>Dress up comfortably</strong></u>- Dressing up comfortably is a must. You won't want to wear your tight jeans for travelling. Wearing some trousers, joggers who have some room in them are ideal to wear for a journey. Wearing fitting t-shirts or shirts in which we feel tight is never comfortable to wear for an expedition. It would be best if you go with your loose tees to wear for a trip.</div>
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<strong><u>Use quality luggage</u></strong> - Luggage is a vital thing for your travel. You would always want a luggage which would keep your clothing safe, keep you organized and at last your luggage should be able to take thumping here and there and still protect your gadgets. Luggage should be easy to carry and light in weight.</div>
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<strong><u>Comfortable shoes</u></strong> - Wearing comfortable shoes is as crucial as wearing a comfortable attire. You can never expect to have a comfortable journey wearing your heels or wedges or even your many straps boots. Wearing sports shoes & sneakers is the best option to go with other than slippers/floaters. Both slippers and shoes would be very comfortable for you to wear and remove whenever you wish without doing much work.</div>
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<strong>Some travelling tips and tricks that'll help you a lot -</strong></div>
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<li style="line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><strong>Pack less</strong>: Do you really need six pairs of heels, an iron and 6 jeans? Travelling with the least luggage should be your goal. Take less and you'll travel faster and easier if travelling by flight then even cheaper.</li>
<li style="line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><strong>Learn a little:</strong> Learning a new language never hurts. So learn few words o the local language and have the courage to use them. Just a few words will go a long way; locals tend to warm to those who try communicating to them in their own tongue.</li>
<li style="line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><strong>Hoodie: </strong>Always pack a hoodie in your luggage. Hooded tops make excellent travel garments, just slip up your hood to retreat from the world of noise and light when you want to sleep.</li>
<li style="line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><strong>Bring your earplugs: </strong>If silence is golden, then ear plugs are worth their weight in platinum. For a long trip, invest in some good noise cancelling headphones. They are worth every penny to tune out a noisy road, snoring man or chattering people.</li>
<li style="line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><strong>Pack reading stuff: </strong>Always pack some stuff that you can read on your long journey, be it a paperback or Kindle. Kindle are made for long travels, no more carrying heavy paperbacks, increasing your luggage weight and have many books to read.</li>
<li style="line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><strong>Roll your clothes while packing rather than folding them.</strong></li>
<li style="line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><strong>Carry Sun glasses & Sun Screens to take care of yourselves from intense sun beams</strong></li>
<li style="line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><strong>Carry little extra cash</strong>: Always carry cash, while travelling. Not too much as it can get stolen and you'll always have ATM to take out some cash. Carrying some cash is required as what if the ATM you go to stopped working or doesn't have cash. So have some cash with you that you can use when necessary.</li>
<li style="line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><strong>Keep balm / Mosquito repellent: </strong>Balm not only soothes your sore muscles after a lot of travelling but also works as an insect repellent, mosquito repellent is other must have in the travel.</li>
<li style="line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><strong>Wake up early: </strong>Rise before sunrise, it's a magical time for clicking photos due to soft diffused light. Have the best attractions to yourself while avoiding crowds.</li>
<li style="line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><strong>Don't feel embarrassed: </strong>Even if you do something embarrassing, don't feel embarrassed. Laugh at yourself with others. Don't be afraid if things are screwed up. You will definitely look like a fool while travelling to new places. But it's worth enjoying every moment.</li>
<li style="line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><strong>Take a lot of photos: </strong>Great photos are ultimate souvenirs. You meet those people once so capture with your camera in a form of photo.</li>
<li style="line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><strong>Back up: </strong>Keep a backup of your documents like passport, driver's license, etc. backup your files and photos of your computer on an external hard drive and online with some storage in the cloud. You never know when your laptop, wallet or luggage might get stolen.</li>
<li style="line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><strong>Get lost: </strong>Write down the name of your hotel so you can catch a taxi back if needed, then just pick up a direction and start walking. Explore the place on your own. You'll get to see how people live and work in different regions, the actual part of the town with your own eyes rather than other tourist or someone else's eyes.</li>
<li style="line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><strong>Eat local food: </strong>Going to a new place and not eating their local food, that's absurd. Go, eat and explore their taste and delicacies.</li>
<li style="line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><strong>Break out of your comfort zone:</strong> Go on a solo trip. Break out of your comfort zone, meet new people, interact with them, learn from them and make some lifetime memories.</li>
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Have a wonderful time!</div>
pretyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15122842845916888618noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4119474529814903865.post-36520025019133721032017-09-21T02:30:00.000-07:002017-10-20T01:00:22.134-07:00What To Expect From Executive Car Services<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Chauffeured executive car services are luxurious ground transport offering exceptional customer services. The commuting experience is always extraordinary because most of the car service companies have the most luxurious cars including limos to give clients the most comfortable rides. Apart from ensuring that you travel in style and convenience, the services can help you retain your professional image in the eyes of your high profile clientele. But what exactly should you expect when you hire the executive car service?</div>
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1. Style and luxury</div>
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Besides having the most comfortable car for your ride, you should enjoy the services of a professional chauffeur. The chauffer should be well groomed but he also should be polite and friendly. The car should be in good condition and impeccably clean inside and out. Remember that you are paying for luxury and comfort and that should be exactly what you get and nothing less. Choose a company that can deliver.</div>
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2. Punctuality</div>
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The chauffeured car services should be delivered on time all the time. The chauffer should be professional enough to get to the pickup location several minutes early; lateness is not acceptable when it comes to the executive car services and your service provider should know this. In fact, the chauffeur should have the necessary knowledge of the road network in the area and have helpful tools that make navigation easy, so the chance of lateness are eliminated no matter how heavy traffic could be on one route.</div>
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3. Hospitality</div>
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The chauffeur is there at your service and he therefore should deliver the best customer services. Apart from opening and closing the door after you, he should handle your luggage and answer any questions or requests that you may have. Most companies fortunately have very well trained chauffeurs who have people skills and patience. Some of the service providers are so professional that they will also have special items like champagne complimentary for the ride. You can also have your preferred music played on request. Do your research if you must just be sure that you will be accorded the customer service that you truly deserve.</div>
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4. Safety</div>
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Safety should be top priority for any serious car service provider. The chauffeur should be a careful driver who follows all the road rules and trained to manage handling larger cars such as limousines safely. The driver should also have the license and the car should have all important safety equipment and features to ensure that you enjoy the safest ride possible.</div>
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5. Commitment</div>
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Professional chauffeur service providers understand how important commitment to clients is and they therefore structure, everything to meet with your every need. You should therefore be attended to with dedication when using the services from any given place and time. The company should do everything possible to create a good and lasting relationship with the clients to turn them into regulars. By the end of the ride, you should be impressed enough to feel that the company qualifies to be your provider next time you need the executive transportation.</div>
pretyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15122842845916888618noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4119474529814903865.post-11192165557476457492017-09-05T10:00:00.000-07:002017-10-20T01:03:14.559-07:00How to Plan The Best Food Vacation of Your Life<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC_JaBcfaKlV-xGMqKlZIOcjbaFeEmboKVjV5h-xfquLY_b3kXAIPalgSVTo9ZMweFKC_6Vf_9g9HbIlBruUG4xmmLtGROkpNXF01Q9oALyx_5kzEk8kMg7CCukB-SqUg1Np2Zm7Gl6yg/s1600/How+to+Plan+The+Best+Food+Vacation+of+Your+Life.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC_JaBcfaKlV-xGMqKlZIOcjbaFeEmboKVjV5h-xfquLY_b3kXAIPalgSVTo9ZMweFKC_6Vf_9g9HbIlBruUG4xmmLtGROkpNXF01Q9oALyx_5kzEk8kMg7CCukB-SqUg1Np2Zm7Gl6yg/s320/How+to+Plan+The+Best+Food+Vacation+of+Your+Life.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Travelling is an extremely rewarding experience. But, it becomes all the more amazing when great food is thrown in. After all, isn't food the best way of getting to know a country's culture and eventually, becoming a part of it? If you love food and would do anything to combine it with the joy of travel, then you are at the right place. Below, we give you some tips on how to plan the ultimate food vacation that will satisfy both your inner wanderlust and foodie.</div>
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<strong>Decide what cuisine you want to explore</strong></div>
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Before embarking on a food journey, it's important to make sure that you know what you want. Whether you want Italian, Chinese, Indian, or Lebanese, it's crucial to make the decision so you can prepare for the trip ahead. Once you have decided on the cuisine, start planning for your trip. Begin by budget <strong>flight tickets, cheap airfares</strong>, and affordable accommodation. This way, you will be able to save money that can be then spent on food.</div>
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<strong>Make a list of the places you want to visit</strong></div>
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There are many apps these days that will give detailed information about restaurants in different countries. All you have to do is go through them and pick the few best ones. Read the reviews and understand what you would like to eat. Sometimes, it's possible that you might have a penchant for an unpopular dish. This step is important because when you finally hit the road, you don't have to waste time looking for places to eat. You just have to take out your list and follow it. You can also jot down the most popular dishes of the places you pick if you want to save further time.</div>
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<strong>Take care of your health beforehand</strong></div>
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It's important to ensure that you are in the best of your health before you begin your food vacation. Get tested for allergies to that you know what ingredients might harm you. Also, if you have digestion or any other problem that could be aggravated by food, then take proper medication for it. Carry your medicines with you so that you don't face any difficulties in a new place. Sometimes, your body may take time to adjust to a new cuisine especially if it's spicy or completely different from what you are used to eating. So, keep all the appropriate medicines in place before heading out.</div>
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While you follow the tips given above and go to all the restaurants you have earmarked, don't forget to go to the small streetside place. There, you will not only find amazing food but will also get to hear wonderful local stories.</div>
pretyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15122842845916888618noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4119474529814903865.post-60893635301825142182012-11-03T05:10:00.000-07:002012-11-03T05:10:00.422-07:00World Wide Travel Insurance: Travel Without Tensions<span id="articlebody" itemprop="articleBody"></span><br />
Is your travel plan taking you out <span class="IL_AD" id="IL_AD4">of Europe</span> this holiday? Then, you definitely need a worldwide travel insurance policy for yourself and your family members.<br />
Many people are traveling out of their country or continent to far
off places. Traveling worldwide is not a new phenomenon. With the fast
growing up of speedy transportation facilities, people in large numbers
are traveling to distant countries; the countries you are not familiar
with. What if you fall ill there? What if your flight gets cancelled due
to some or other reason? You might not have any idea of the costs of
treatment in that country. It may be much higher than your home country.
The solution to all these problems lies in purchasing worldwide travel
insurance.<br />
Worldwide Travel insurance is of various types:<br />
<span class="IL_AD" id="IL_AD3">Single Trip</span> Travel insurance: Be it visiting Ibiza or the Caribbean islands, single trip
world wide insurance is the best insurance to purchase if you are
planning to travel for once a year. You can buy this policy for yourself
individually or for all your family members.<br />
Multi-trip or annual travel insurance: This is the perfect policy if you and your family like to travel more than once a year.<br />
Adventurous travel insurance: Are you planning to go for tracking in the Great Himalayas of India, or go on a trip to the <span class="IL_AD" id="IL_AD2">Sahara desert</span>? Whatever may be the reason, if you like adventurous travel, buy adventurous worldwide travel now.<br />
<span class="IL_AD" id="IL_AD1">Business travel</span> insurance: If
you have to travel frequently to different countries for your business,
then business world wide travel insurance is the best policy for you.<br />
It is good if nothing happens to you during your world wide travel,
but no one can envisage what is in store in their future. Any incident
can happen; so it is better to purchase world wide travel insurance than
be sorry.<br />
To search for the perfect quote you need to do a lot of research. You
have to find out about the various companies that offer world wide
insurance, and then you have to find out their rates, compare them, and
finally purchase them. All of these require a lot of time and patience.
But now with the internet facilities this work is made easier and less
time consuming. Browse through the pages and purchase for yourself world
wide travel insurance.<br />
<br />
By <span class="article_author_line"><span class="article_author_line">Henry Bell</span></span><br />
pretyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15122842845916888618noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4119474529814903865.post-16811830284380305922012-10-27T05:08:00.000-07:002012-10-27T05:08:00.186-07:00Travel Wise: Selecting A Virtual Travel Specialist<span id="articlebody" itemprop="articleBody"></span><br />
Gone are the days of relying on your neighborhood <span class="IL_AD" id="IL_AD4">travel agent</span>
or spending the first day of your vacation hunting for a local
outfitter or guide. Reliable travel specialists are located in virtually
every corner of the world and can now be accessed on the web.<br />
Whether you are searching for a <span class="IL_AD" id="IL_AD1">tour operator</span>,
travel agency or outfitter, the following tips will help you weed
through the plethora of travel specialists hawking their wears online.<br />
<i>Websites</i><br />
The design and content of a company’s website speaks volumes about the way they do business.<br />
• A travel specialist’s website should provide information that is useful, informative and fun.<br />• The contact information, including a phone number and an email address, should be easy to locate.<br />•
The site should also include all relevant information, such as the cost
of an excursion, maps and directions. And, for those engaging an
adventure specialist, a <span class="IL_AD" id="IL_AD2">packing list</span>, either directly in the content or in the form of an FAQ (frequently asked questions).<br />
<i>Visible track record</i><br />
Great website but how do I know they can deliver? Assessing a travel specialists credentials is not as difficult as it sounds.<br />
• Many industry associations and tourist boards list members and accredited agencies on their websites.<br />
• Check references, read testimonials from previous clients, pose questions on a travel forum.<br />
<i>Knowledge and experience</i><br />
Nothing can be a substitute for knowledge and experience.<br />
• Determine the agency or outfitter’s knowledge of your travel
destination as well as the type of adventure you wish to experience.<br />
• Find out how long they have been in the business and whether they
are accustomed to organizing tours for singles, families or seniors.<br />
<i>Location of the outfitter</i><br />
If they are not located in the country you will be traveling to you may also wish to understand:<br />
• Who will sort out any problems, accidents, or emergencies that may arise during your holiday?<br />• When was the last time they biked down that country road?<br />• Or how they will obtain a refund for the boat tour that was cancelled due to inclement weather.<br />
<i><span class="IL_AD" id="IL_AD3">Client service</span></i><br />
If communicating with the specialist is a challenge there is a good
chance your trip will turn out to be a disaster. Select a specialist
that is committed to organizing quality trips and returning satisfied
clients.<br />
• How quickly does the agency or outfitter respond to your emails and telephone calls?<br />• Are they eager to assist you with the planning of your vacation?<br />• Do they go the extra mile to customize your itinerary?<br />• Does the proposed itinerary reflect your interests?<br />
<i>Cost vs. Value</i><br />
Get more than one proposal and compare.<br />
• Find out what is and what is not included in the price.<br />• Determine the location and quality of the accommodation.<br />• How many meals are included and whether they are buffet or a la carte.<br />• Is the trip fully guided or will you be touring on your own?<br />• In addition you will want to know what, if any, sightseeing is included and whether you will have any free time.<br />
<i>Conditions</i><br />
Make sure to read the fine print before you commit. The terms and
conditions should clearly spell out your responsibilities as well as
those of the specialist.<br />
• What is the company's policy on reservations, deposits and cancellations?<br />• Can a tour or excursion be cancelled for a lack of bookings?<br />• Who is responsible for additional payments in the event of a currency fluctuation?<br />
<br />
By <span class="article_author_line"><span class="article_author_line">Ann LoCicero</span></span><br />
pretyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15122842845916888618noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4119474529814903865.post-67518708209687673352012-10-20T05:06:00.000-07:002012-10-20T05:06:00.545-07:00Travel To Austria – Your Year-Round Travel Destination<span id="articlebody" itemprop="articleBody"></span><br />
So you want <span class="IL_AD" id="IL_AD3">to travel to</span>
Austria. Well, you've made a wise choice. Austria is considered one of
the top year-round travel destinations. Because of its beautiful Alps,
winter sports are quite popular in Austria, providing Austria with high
tourist attendance in <span class="IL_AD" id="IL_AD4">the winter</span> and giving you a reason to travel to Austria any time of the year.<br />
If you want to travel to Austria, here are some quick facts you should know when you go.<br />
Austria – The Region<br />A land-locked country, Austria is located in
Central Europe. It is a mountainous country with an area of 83,855 km2.
Austria consists of nine provinces: Vorarlberg, Tyrol, Salzburg,
Carinthia, Styria, Upper Austria, Lower Austria, Burgenland, and Vienna.
Approximately 99% of Austrians are of Germanic ethnic origin and 78%
are Roman Catholics. As for the terrain, the Alps occupy the southern
and western regions of the country, and numerous forests, valleys,
lakes, and rivers can be found throughout Austria.<br />
The Weather<br />When you travel to Austria, it's important to have an
idea about the weather and Austria's seasons. Austria has four distinct
seasons: spring, summer, autumn and winter. Summers are generally warm
and pleasant with cool nights. Rain does occur during the summer season
but the showers are normally short. Austria's winters are sunny, with
reliable and frequent snowfalls. Winters are also cold and accompanied
by warm and dry winds in some parts. However the weather overall is
changeable throughout the year, so when you travel to Austria, pack
appropriately.<br />
The Culture<br />When you travel to Austria, you'll quickly realize why
Austria is widely recognized for its rich cultural past and present.
Austria's affluence of artistic achievements is obvious in its
architecture and structures like the Stephansdom (Saint Stephen`s
Cathedral), Schönbrunn Palace, Hofburg Palace, the "Goldene Dachl" in
Innsbruck, Melk Abbey, and the "Loos-Haus" or the "Hundertwasser-Haus".
Austria is also the birthplace of composers Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart,
Ludwig van Beethoven, Franz Schubert, Johann Strauss Jr., Johann Strauss
Sr., and Johannes Brahms. Like most European countries, Austria has a
rich culture and affluence that awaits anyone who decides to visit.<br />
The Activities<br />If you pre-plan your activities for your trip to
Austria, here's a heads up. Because of Austria's mountainous terrain,
two of the more popular activities for tourists tend to be skiing in the winter
and hiking. There are a number of different resorts to fulfill your
skiing desires. If you prefer flat terrain to hills, cross-country
skiing opportunities are also available anywhere where there's
sufficient snow and few buildings. As for hiking, there are thousands of
kilometers of <span class="IL_AD" id="IL_AD2">hiking trails</span> that
will allow you to explore the Alps and its breathtaking views. If
you're looking for things to do when you travel Austria, skiing in the winter and hiking are two very popular and exciting Austrian activities for tourists.<br />
Austria has a lot to offer travelers and those who want to travel
Austria. From its rich culture to mountain activities, Austria is the
answer to those who want to <span class="IL_AD" id="IL_AD1">travel in Europe</span> year-round.<br />
<br />
By <span class="article_author_line"><span class="article_author_line">Frank Johnson</span></span><br />
pretyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15122842845916888618noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4119474529814903865.post-65874297130456926782012-10-13T05:04:00.000-07:002012-10-13T05:04:00.674-07:00Pet Friendly Travel – 10 Tips For Hassle-Free Travel With Your Pet<span id="articlebody" itemprop="articleBody"></span><br />
In the United States
alone, over 60 million households have one or more pets. Pet owners in
15 million of those households travel with their pets, and the majority
stay in pet-friendly lodging. Fortunately, pet friendly hotels, condos
and <span class="IL_AD" id="IL_AD1">vacation home</span> rentals do
exist. If you will be traveling with your pet, here are some pet
friendly tips to remember for safe and trouble-free travel.<br />
1 - When you make your reservation, double-check that pets are
allowed. An important advantage of reserving online is that you can see -
in writing - whether or not pets are permitted and any restrictions.
Online, you can print out your reservation receipt that includes the
"pets allowed" information. Verbal reservations leave more room for
misunderstanding and miscommunication. If reserving by telephone, ask
the reservation person to mail you a confirmation receipt that includes
the “pets allowed” information.<br />
2 - Is your pet an experienced traveler? If not, you should begin
getting your pet more accustomed to traveling. Begin by making your car a
fun place for your pet. Get in the car with them, play with them, give
them a treat – have them enjoy being there with you. Then take a short
drive with them. Gradually increase the length of time and distance that
you drive with them. Before making a long trip with your pet, the idea
is to have them comfortable with being in the car for extended periods
of time.<br />
3 - Remember that securing your pet while traveling in the car is
crucial for their safety and yours. Consider purchasing a dog safety
harness for your pet to use while traveling in the car. If you have a
station wagon or SUV, you can purchase a vehicle barrier that keeps your
pet confined to the rear area. They are usually sold at pet stores or
are available online.<br />
4 - Be sure that your pet has an identification tag and wears it
while on the trip. The tag should have your pet's name, your name and
phone number. If possible, use your <span class="IL_AD" id="IL_AD2">cell phone number</span>, a home number and the number of where you will be staying.<br />
5 – Carry a photograph of your pet with you on your trip. If your pet
should ever become lost, you’ll be able to show others exactly what
your pet looks like instead of just relying on a verbal description.<br />
6 - Check with your vet for any recommended vaccinations appropriate
for your trip - exposure to ticks while hiking, exposure to other dogs
while boarding or heartworm prevention if your dog will be exposed to
mosquitoes are examples of important preventative measures to take
before your trip. If your pet is a dog, have an up-to-date rabies tag
for your dog's collar. If you decide to day board your dog while on
vacation, you may be required to show paperwork proof of the rabies
vaccination.<br />
7 - Once you arrive at the pet friendly lodging, inform the check-in
person that you have your pet. You can inquire if there are any
restricted areas where your pet should not be taken. Pet friendly
lodging staff should be very accustomed to answering these kinds of
questions and will appreciate your awareness.<br />
8 - In your hotel room, condo, cabin rental or vacation home rental -
never let your pet use the furniture or beds to sit, lay or sleep on
unless you've covered the furniture or bed with your own cover. Place
your pet’s food and water containers on a mat or newspaper in the
bathroom, where cleanup will be easier. When staying in pet friendly
accommodations, you may choose to feed your pet outdoors.<br />
9 - If you'll be leaving your pet alone in the room or vacation
rental, make sure the front desk or rental agent knows. Be sure that you
leave your pet secured in their travel container or crate if
housekeeping staff will be entering the room at any time to clean. You
certainly don't want a housekeeper to enter and be surprised or even
attacked by your pet! A pet may also run out of the room when
housekeeping enters if left unsecured.<br />
10 - Be very careful in warm or hot weather with leaving your pet in
the car. Even when the outside temperature is only in the 70’s or 80’s,
the interior of a vehicle can reach 100 degrees and higher, especially
when parked in the sun. It doesn’t take long at these temperatures to
cause serious or even fatal harm to your pet.<br />
Traveling with pets and staying in pet friendly lodging can be lots
of fun - after all, your pet is part of your family too. Just using
common sense and planning ahead makes for an enjoyable and surprise-free
vacation.<br />
<br />
By <span class="article_author_line"><span class="article_author_line">David Buster</span></span><br />
pretyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15122842845916888618noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4119474529814903865.post-4382579403798943612012-10-06T05:03:00.000-07:002012-10-06T05:03:00.324-07:00Travel Writing - 4 Ways to Make Money As a Travel Writer<span id="articlebody" itemprop="articleBody"></span><br />
Have you ever wanted to travel the world and <span class="IL_AD" id="IL_AD2">make money</span>
for writing about what you see? It's not as hard as you may imagine.
Using a few underground techniques, you can be making a healthy income
in no-time flat for writing about traveling the world!<br />
Here are the ways you can make money as a travel writer:<br />
1) Traditional Method: Selling Your Stories To Travel Magazines and Newspapers<br />
This is the most common and most well-known method. Ironically, it also pays the least of all the methods.<br />
You can take two paths when selling your article to a magazine. First
you can query a magazine on their interest about a particular subject.
If interested, they will agree to buy your article if it meets their
standards. The second method is to write the article, then try and sell
it.<br />
To find magazines and periodicals that purchase travel stories, go to the library and check out the most recent <span class="IL_AD" id="IL_AD1">Writers Market</span> and you'll have over a dozen periodicals that pay anywhere from a few hundred bucks to a few thousand dollars for an article.<br />
The risky side to this is that there are no guarantees of payment,
and you must either have a great story or be a great writer to make this
work. Not impossible, just tough.<br />
2) Writing For Other People's Blogs<br />
If you can write a 400-1500 word post on any given subject, you can
sell the post to a blog at a set price. Heres why: Blogs constantly need
new content. It's how they stay fresh with their readers and how they
stay well-ranked in the search engines.<br />
However, writing a new post every few days is a difficult task! If
you take over that task for a blog owner, you're going to be saving them
a TON of time and effort, providing their readers with great value, and
making an income for a project that is relatively easy for you to
complete.<br />
You can get paid anywhere from 20 bucks to a few hundred dollars for
this kind of writing... and it's a LOT easier to do that writing for a
magazine.<br />
Think of it: You spend a day writing 5 articles and sell the articles
for $30 dollars each. Now you've made $150 dollars for a couple of
hours of work and everyone is happy.<br />
3) Writing for Your Own Blog<br />
Another option is to write your own blog and use your travel stories
to drive traffic to it. You'd be surprised at the number of bored,
lifeless people who want to live vicariously through someone traveling
the world. You can then monetize your blog by selling adspace or <span class="IL_AD" id="IL_AD3">selling products</span> related to your blog. This sounds basic, but it has made many-a-traveler tens and even 100's of thousands of dollars per year.<br />
4) Completing Writing Projects on 'Project' Sites<br />
There are literally hundreds of writing projects posted every single
day on Elance, Guru, DoMyStuff, and other 'project' posting websites.<br />
All you have to do is set up a free account as a content provider,
then answer people's requests for writing projects. Once you're done,
the funds will be electronically deposited into <span class="IL_AD" id="IL_AD4">your bank account</span>,
and you can withdraw the money from any ATM in the world. You can then
pick up another project... or complete several projects all at once!<br />
Many projects go for $1000+ dollars, so it doesn't take a lot of
these to be able to travel well and travel often. You can even do the
work on the airplane ride to your next destination!<br />
If you have any writing skill at all, you will be able to pick one of these methods and become a well-paid traveler.<br />
<br />
By <span class="article_author_line"><span class="article_author_line">John Beede & Tyson Hale</span></span><br />
pretyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15122842845916888618noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4119474529814903865.post-23017888255821692552012-10-04T05:01:00.000-07:002012-10-04T05:01:00.219-07:00A Review of the Prestige Travel Service (PTS Travel) Income Opportunity<span id="articlebody" itemprop="articleBody"></span><br />
Whether you have a real
love of seeing everything that the globe has to offer, or you simply
love thinking about exotic locations while never leaving your cozy home,
the idea of being <span class="IL_AD" id="IL_AD3">a travel agent</span>, someone who gets everyone where they are going, can be quite an attractive one. It is this idea that <span class="IL_AD" id="IL_AD1">Prestige Travel Service</span>
(PTS Travel) is founded upon, and if you've ever wanted to help
travelers get where they are going, they might have the perfect plan for
you. When you are considering getting involved in what Prestige Travel Service (PTS Travel) is offering, take a look at some of the important things to keep in mind below.<br />
Essentially, Prestige Travel Service (PTS Travel) can be started
simply because you are looking for a deal on your own travel, whether
you are traveling for business or pleasure. You can earn commissions
through working for your friends, family and co-workers, and you'll find
that by integrating travel into your life, you can see even more of it.
The idea of being an independent <span class="IL_AD" id="IL_AD4">travel agent</span> can help you launch your goals and see the world all at once, so don't delay.<br />
With Prestige Travel Service (PTS Travel), you will be <span class="IL_AD" id="IL_AD2">working from home</span>,
independently. As long as you have a phone and an internet connection,
you can make sure that you are in a position to take advantage of this
unique opportunity. Many people this opportunity the one that they
devote all their time to, and as such, you'll find that many people make
a full time living from the proceeds. If you've ever wanted to be our
own boss and ensure that you got to make your own dress code, this might
be just what you are looking for.<br />
There are many reasons to work for Prestige Travel Service (PTS
Travel), but you'll find that the independence is definitely high on the
list. You'll find that not only will you be working independently on a
day to day basis; you'll also be in a position to make your own rules
when it comes to when you want to work and how much effort you want to
put in. While the effort that you put in will most definitely reflect
your paycheck, this is still entirely up to you.<br />
With Prestige Travel Service (PTS Travel), many people have made
helpful inroads into their retirement. Many people are concerned that
their retirement money won't stretch very far, and this is the perfect
opportunity to supplement their funds. With the ability to work full or
part time, excellent tax benefits and generous deductions, there are
many people who have entered into this opportunity in order to make a
life long connection after they have retired.<br />
If you love travel and are hoping to have some of it subsidized, or
you simply want some extra money to pay for luxuries to keep you afloat,
this is a great opportunity. Take a look to see if it is for you, and
if you decide it is, don't delay!<br />
<br />
By <span class="article_author_line"><span class="article_author_line">Brian Garvin</span></span><br />
pretyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15122842845916888618noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4119474529814903865.post-45559279566017807632012-10-02T05:00:00.000-07:002012-10-03T05:01:00.603-07:00Budget Travel Tips : Packing Clothing to Travel Light<span id="articlebody" itemprop="articleBody"></span><br />
What clothing should
you pack when you must carry all of your luggage yourself and you want
to travel light ? Take a "bare" minimum of clothing with you. Dress
comfortably and casually. Choose your clothing for its practicality. In
warm climates loose lightweight cotton clothing will feel better against
your skin than sticky synthetic fabrics and tight-fitting clothing. If
you plan to visit tropical regions you can protect your skin from too
much exposure to strong sunlight and disease-carrying mosquitos if you
resist the urge to wear as little clothing as possible. You'll be far
safer with long-sleeved shirts, high necklined tops and long trousers.
Just keep to light colored, lightweight natural fabrics and
loose-fitting clothes to maximize the comfort of your clothing.<br />
Casual comfortable clothing, especially if you veer towards the
sloppy, will also decrease your odds of being marked as a wealthy target
by local thieves who work the tourist spots. If you want to look a bit
more dressy for the evening, add a thin, weightless, colorful scarf to
your simple neutral-colored day clothes. Leave your jewelry at home.
It's heavy, bulky and could attract thieves. If you're a clothes horse,
try to resist the urge to pack one set of clothing for casual daywear, a
fancier set for restaurants at dinnertime and a third set for an
elegant evening out. You'll just wear yourself out trying to be
fashionable if you must drag all of these outfits around from locale to
locale. Don't worry about being seen in the same set of clothing two
days in a row. No one but your travel partner (or the hotel clerk) will
see you more than once anyway and, if your partner is practical, he or
she will also be wearing one set of clothing throughout the trip.<br />
As to clothing choices, in general I wear one comfortable,
loose-fitting pair of casual trousers and assume that if I get caught in
the rain, it won't kill me. I'll dry out soon enough. I pack no spares.
Extra pairs of pants or skirts can add considerably to your luggage
load. Pick something in a neutral color that will go with anything else
you'll be wearing. Trousers with plenty of pocket space are a plus,
especially if you might be buying small odds and ends in souvenir shops,
or a little junk food, as you stroll around sightseeing each day.<br />
To travel light, I just pack one or two spare tops that are
lightweight, comfortable and can easily be rolled up, as folding causes
more creases than careful rolling. I pack just two pairs of underwear
and socks for an entire trip. It's easy enough to wash out underwear,
socks and shirts in hotel rooms and hang them up to dry for later reuse
during the same trip. The choice is simple. For a two week trip you can
lug fourteen pairs of underwear everywhere you go, or you can lug just
two and regularly wash them out with soap and water in a hotel room
sink. I suggest packing two pairs, not one, so that there is still a
fresh change on hand for days when you may arrive in a place one evening
and plan to move on to another town the very next morning, allowing for
too little drying time. When you hit a larger city like Paris or London
or Rome, where you plan to stay put for at least a couple of days, you
can catch up on all your washing and know that clothing has plenty of
time to dry, even if the air is damp.<br />
Pack thin, lightweight natural cotton underwear and socks that breath
and won't require as much drying time as heavier cottons or other
fabrics. In summer weather clothing can dry out very quickly. In cooler
damper months you might be running a radiator and that can double as a
heat source for drying. Just be careful not to put wet things directly
against radiators or electrical appliances and be careful, too, not to
let wet items of clothing drip onto hotel room carpets. Wring clothes
out well and keep them hanging in the shower until they no longer drip.
Don't use new brightly colored clothing items that might drip colored
dyes that can <span class="IL_AD" id="IL_AD1">stain bathroom</span> floors, <span class="IL_AD" id="IL_AD2">floor mats</span> or carpets in hotels.<br />
Pack plenty of plastic bags. They take up little space, are
weightless, and will be useful in a hundred different ways, from storing
opened packaged foods to keeping your laundry well organized. For
example, I'll use one bag for clean clothing such as underwear and
socks, a separate bag for dirty ones (if I have to move on before
clothing can be washed and dried), plus a third for items of clothing
that have been washed, but are still damp when the time comes to vacate a
hotel room and tackle the next leg of a journey. At the next stop they
can be hung up to finish drying. By the way, washing clothes with
ordinary soap eliminates the need to transport any additional type of
cleaning agent.<br />
If you'll need some sort of warmer clothing to wear on cooler days or
on cool evenings, carry one item only. It can be used whenever you need
it. Keep it lightweight, nonwrinkling and non-fussy. For example, a
single cozy sweater or sweatshirt in a color that does not show off dirt
is a very practical, soft and warm choice, far more practical that a
bulky jacket (unless you're doing some real cool weather or winter
traveling). When not in use, you can tie your sweater around your waist.
That way you can keep it with you while you sightsee on days when the
temperature is variable. If it remains tied around your waist you'll
feel it less than if you add it to the weight of your backpack and it
can even double as a pillow on long, drowsy train rides.<br />
If you're traveling at a time or to a place where you'll need rain
gear, a thin fold-up plastic poncho or rain coat is the least onerous
thing to take with you. It can go right into your pocket and can easily
be whipped out in case of a sudden shower. For city travel it's very
easy to duck under <span class="IL_AD" id="IL_AD3">awnings</span> or
into shops, making bulkier rain gear unnecessary. Sturdier rain gear or
umbrellas are only needed for places where you expect serious rain or a
lack of quick access to shelter.<br />
Keep sleepwear light and minimal, as well, and if you absolutely must
have slippers to wear while in your hotel room buy a pair of cheap,
thin, weightless fabric slippers that can be slid into your pack without
adding extra bulk.<br />
Do not pack an extra pair of shoes. Shoes are the ultimate in
unnecessary extra bulk and weight when considering travel clothing. In
the movies the leading man and leading lady who are off on a journey
appear in a different set of clothing and a new pair of shoes in every
scene. Clearly, they are not carrying their own luggage around with them
and, in fact, their bags never look quite large enough to even hold
everything they wear. So much for the difference between movies and
reality. I never pack extra shoes. I take my chances and figure that if
my shoes get wet, I'll find a way to dry them out. I simply wear one
pair of thoroughly broken in sneakers that offer good support in the
soles. Nothing could be less practical than tight shoes or high heels,
and the toll that they take on your feet may severely limit your
enjoyment of a trip. How long can you walk around picturesque towns or
stand around in museums when your feet hurt ? Wear low-heeled sturdy,
but presentable, shoes with solid arch support. Wear shoes that have
already been broken in and are comfortable enough for hours of daily
walking but - beware - even shoes that you are accustomed to walking in
daily can cause blisters when you're suddenly walking far more hours
each day than normal. Keep a few bandaids or callous pads handy. Be sure
that the shoes you choose for the trip are lightweight. Hold them in
your hand and compare the various pairs of shoes that you're considering
for the trip. When you expect to take thousands and thousands of steps
each day of a trip, plus carry a backpack around each time you travel
from one tourist destination to another, it's extremely counteractive to
do it in a pair of shoes that themselves are heavy and require
additional effort for every step that you take.<br />
Try out some of these tips for traveling light by packing very little
clothing, and then see what you think. You may never want to pack all
sorts of stylish outfits again. You and your clothing can still look
nice, just focus on quality and not quantity. See your clothing more for
its function than for its fashion and you'll be free to enjoy the joys
of traveling light.<br />
<br />
By <span class="article_author_line"><span class="article_author_line">Barbara Freedman-De Vito</span></span><br />
pretyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15122842845916888618noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4119474529814903865.post-16621065052168650572012-09-30T04:58:00.000-07:002012-10-03T04:58:54.748-07:00Comparing Online Travel Services To Your Local Travel Agent<span id="articlebody" itemprop="articleBody"></span><br />
Sites such as Expedia,
Orbitz, and Travelocity claim to offer the best price - sometimes even
guaranteed. They may even claim to offer the best rates on a <b>luxury world cruise</b>,
a trip that travel wholesalers publicly prefer to be sold by agents.
Others offer to beat any price or to match it. The emergence of online
travel sites have put many agencies out of business, and claim to have
conquered the consumer base by offering quality product at a lower cost.
The volume done by these sites is said to make up for their marginal
profit. But these are no more than half-truth cover stories. Let us
debunk these myths one at a time.<br />
<b>What it the Product Difference?</b><br />
When you call your local travel agency and ask for a price quote on an air and <span class="IL_AD" id="IL_AD1">hotel luxury</span> travel <span class="IL_AD" id="IL_AD3">vacation package</span>,
most consumers will check against one of the more popular travel
websites to see what prices better. True, two thirds of the time, you
will find that the Internet will beat the travel agent price by about
$150. So what is the difference? The travel website will assure you that
it is the same package. They will even give you the exact same flights.
But when you book with Orbitz or Expedia, they often do not take the
seats off of the availability list immediately like travel agents do.
This makes it easier for your flight to be over sold. And because your
seats were the last tickets to be issued, you will be the first
travelers to be bumped on an overbooked flight.<br />
In addition, your hotel room will be in a “less requested area.” This
means that while your room will be the category promised, you might
have the ocean view room next to the <span class="IL_AD" id="IL_AD4">ice machine</span>
or the ocean view above the resort nightclub. You may find your room in
the only wing that did not receive renovations. And the worst part is,
once you arrive and discover your room to be lacking, the help desk with
the Internet travel sight can do nothing to help you, if you even get
through in the first place. The resorts and hotels are aware that you
are going to be in the most unfavorable rooms, in fact, that is why they
sold them to the Internet travel site at a discounted rate in the first
place.<br />
<b>How do These Sites REALLY <span class="IL_AD" id="IL_AD2">Make Money</span>?</b><br />
Travel service sites proudly proclaim that they are able to further
save customers money by selling large volumes of travel and collecting a
smaller fee. There is some truth to this. Orbitz and Travelocity do
have a large volume of travel reservations made, but what little they
make in commission they make back in changed or canceled reservations.
When you book your package, the price may not cover a number of other
fees, such as a daily resort fee, an out of state car fee or some other
taxes and fees that are asked to be paid at the airport, resort or
cruise ship. Agencies will include this in their pricing.<br />
And heaven help you if you have a change in plans. Depending on which
site you book with, small changes to your itinerary can cost you
between $50 to $100. Most travel agencies offer a travel insurance that
covers you and your travel companions if you should have to cancel for a
medical or personal emergency.<br />
American Express Travel offers a cancel for any reason insurance that
even covers your airline tickets. These Internet booking engines are
now beginning to offer "insurance," but it rarely covers cancellations
in full. Should you have to cancel your Internet trip, you might get
less than half of the total cost of your vacation, or none at all.<br />
So buyer beware! The Internet is a beautiful thing, but for travel
arrangements, it is not always as good as it seems. Your local travel
agent is there to offer the customer care you need back at home while
you’re traveling abroad. When it comes to planning <i>luxury travel vacation</i>,
you are truly better off using a travel agent. You will be guaranteed
your place on a plane. If you don’t like your room, your travel agent
can have it fixed in a matter of moments. And should there be a problem
or if you should need to cancel, your travel agent will fight the battle
to reschedule your plans at the lowest cost possible. Travel agents are
not focused on quantity, but quality. In this day in age, travel
agencies stay afloat with their repeat clients, who swear by them. So
travel safe, not sorry, and call a travel agent to hear more benefits
that each agency offers their clients.<br />
<br />
By <span class="article_author_line"><span class="article_author_line">Virginia Morgan</span></span><br />
pretyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15122842845916888618noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4119474529814903865.post-25468150068360990272012-09-23T04:56:00.000-07:002012-10-03T04:56:19.172-07:00Bollywood’s Own Stars And Sights: Travel To Mumbai - Travel Information<span id="articlebody" itemprop="articleBody"></span><br />
Situated on the Arabian
Sea, at the very western edge of India’s subcontinent, lies the
country’s most populous and prosperous metropolis. Mumbai, formerly
Bombay until 1995, is a massive island city bursting with life at every
turn. Mumbai is home to the Hindi film and television industry, also
known as Bollywood, and offers hundreds of movie houses including the
largest IMAX dome in Asia.<br />
Travelers to Mumbai may find themselves struck by the incredible
disparity in wealth and lifestyle among the island’s inhabitants;
however, most travelers will also notice a general friendly cheer during
their daily excursions. Almost all of Mumbai’s population is not native
to the island, which creates an eclectic mix of ethnicities, beliefs,
cuisine and culture that has encouraged acceptance among most of the
people.<br />
Mumbai from the Outside<br />
Mumbai has one of the most heavily traveled ports in India, making the large Bombay metropolis India’s <span class="IL_AD" id="IL_AD4">commercial</span>
and financial capital. Visit the spectacular Gateway of India, the
magnificent basalt structure built for King George V and Queen Mary in
1911 that greets nearly all travelers arriving in Mumbai by boat. From
here you can catch a ferry to Elephanta Island to witness the most
famous and intricate cave temples of Maharashtra. For people watching,
head down to the Marine Drive Chowpatty and enjoy the beach breezes,
shop the street-side vendors and get yourself a relaxing head massage.<br />
Within the city limits lies Sanjay Gandhi National Park, which serves
as a necessary sanctuary for breathable air in the north of Mumbai.
Make sure to catch Bombay’s famous prowling leopards during your visit.
There are also many walking and boating tours available as a means to
experience the city. This is the best way to get your initial bearings
and learn the general history and architectural background of
Mumbai/Bombay.<br />
A Bombay Treasure Island<br />
The Mumbai municipality is a literal <span class="IL_AD" id="IL_AD3">treasure hunt</span> for the adventurous explorer. Centuries of history are written in the architecture, museums, bazaars and <span class="IL_AD" id="IL_AD2">personal accounts</span>
littered all about the lively neighborhoods. St. Thomas’ Cathedral is a
reminder of the British rule in Bombay and also the oldest English
building in the city. The remarkable contrast of the whitewashed church
against the detailed and ornate backdrop of Mumbai is a noteworthy
sight. Visit the Prince of Wales Museum, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj
Museum, and discover ancient remnants of Maharashtra while inside an
architectural landmark set among splendid gardens.<br />
Mumbai, and certainly all of India, is the place to be your
adventurous self. The first step is finding airfare to Bombay right here
on cFares. Once you touch down on the tarmac in Mumbai, indulge your
senses in the flavors of curry, the treats of street vendors, and the
delicacy of fresh sweet pastry. Expand your senses and stretch your mind
in a <span class="IL_AD" id="IL_AD1">yoga class</span> or meditation
session, many of which are open to the public. This is your opportunity
to discover the most unique and welcoming city in India, dive in!<br />
<br />
By <span class="article_author_line"><span class="article_author_line">John Binder</span></span><br />
pretyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15122842845916888618noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4119474529814903865.post-64889105208129967492012-09-16T04:49:00.000-07:002012-10-03T04:50:55.508-07:00<span id="articlebody" itemprop="articleBody"></span><br />
Today was our
relocation day: we moved from our vacation apartment in Solana Beach in
San Diego to the chic Sofia Hotel in downtown San Diego. On another
brilliant day we arrived at the hotel at about 10 am, but our room was
not ready yet, so we decided to embark on some brief local explorations.<br />
Seaport Village’s Victorian, Mexican and East Coast style
architecture and its four miles of meandering cobble-stoned walkways
create an inviting waterfront environment for shopping and dining. The
assortment of merchandise includes souvenirs, clothing, kites, wind
chimes and unique gift ideas. Galleries and art retailers round out the
offering, and live music is offered frequently throughout the year. An
original 1895 carousel with hand carved animals enchants adults and
children. Culinary options include four fine dining restaurants and
thirteen casual eateries.<br />
An outdoor exhibit of oversized globes currently adds extra interest
to Seaport Village. “Cool Globes – Hot ideas for a cooler planet”
features 40 inspiring globes that depict simple solutions to global
warming. The globes were designed by local, national and international
artists and have been traveling on the road in places such as Chicago,
Washington D.C., San Francisco and will be on display in Los Angeles and
London in 2009.<br />
Further north of Seaport Village is the Embarcadero which features
the USS Midway, an aircraft carrier that was in operation between 1945
and 1992. It was donated as a museum ship and has been moored on San
Diego’s Navy Pier since 2004. Visitors can tour the ship’s flight deck,
mess hall, bridge, flight control area, officers’ quarters, sickbay and
portions of the engine room. Evening events are frequently held on this
massive ship and a café adorns the rear of the ship. A portion of the
ship overlooking San Diego Harbor can be accessed free of charge while
admission to the rest of the ship is $17.00.<br />
San Diego has long been a centre for the US Navy and the area around
the USS Midway features many reminders of military history including the
Battle of Leyte Gulf Memorial, dedicated to a historic naval battle in
1944. The Bob Hope Tribute, also called the National Salute to Bob Hope
and the Military, is an impressive collection of larger than life-size
bronze figures that commemorate Bob Hope’s five decades of support in
entertaining soldiers, airmen and sailors, starting in 1943.<br />
The National Salute consists of 16 figures on a circular plaza that
surround a sculpture of Bob Hope, entertaining the crowd in front of a
microphone. The surrounding figures are authentic depictions of military
personnel from different eras including World War II, the Korean War,
the <span class="IL_AD" id="IL_AD4">Vietnam War</span>, the Cold War era and the first Persian Gulf War.<br />
Among the many pieces of public art along this waterfront walk, one
of the most stunning is “Unconditional Surrender”, a 25-foot sculpture
of a sailor kissing a young nurse. The sculpture commemorates the moment
when World War II was finally over, and joy and euphoria swept the
world. Inspired by a famous photo of the V-J Day Celebrations on Times
Square, this sculpture by Seward J. Johnson is on loan to the San Diego
port until the end of February of 2009.<br />
Further north along the waterfront is the Cruise Terminal, located at
the B Street Pier along North Harbour Drive. San Diego is a port of
call for many major <span class="IL_AD" id="IL_AD2">cruise lines</span> including Carnival, Holland America, Celebrity, Royal Carribean and <span class="IL_AD" id="IL_AD1">Princess Cruises</span>.
Almost 620,000 cruise passengers arrived in San Diego in 2006. Local
harbour cruises can also be accessed in this area, and a central office
of the San Diego Convention and Visitors Bureau is located right across
the street from the cruise terminal.<br />
Now it was time to head back into the head hotel and finally check
in. Within less than ten minutes I had arrived at the Sofia Hotel. The
front office staff was very friendly, and our suitcases had already been
brought up to Suite 602, a Deluxe Studio Suite. Our sleek modern
bedroom was enhanced by a sitting room with a second flat screen
television and an ergonomic desk. Our bathroom featured a full bath with
a luxurious shower head, and a vanity area complete with fresh orchids
in the bedroom area.<br />
Always driven by my curiosity, I managed to convince two of the
hotel’s employees to give me a tour of the entire hotel a few minutes
later. Brian Wells from the front desk and Danny Miranda, a bellboy,
graciously agreed and started by explaining the history of the Hotel
Sofia to me. Two of the hotel’s towers were built in 1926 and opened a
year later as the Pickwick Hotel. The property was part of the Pickwick
Corporation, a company that provided 22 stage coach routes in
California. The design was Neo Gothic and in 1928 two additional hotel
towers were added.<br />
From 1928 to 1944 the hotel even became the location of a
broadcasting station called KGB (no association with the former Russian
secret service agency). In 1929 Pickwick Stages merged with the
Greyhound Corporation. During the 1940s and 1950s the Pickwick Hotel
remained a popular tourist and entertainment location, and locals and
guests alike enjoyed the Piccadilly Lounge. During the 1950s city
council required the decorative architectural elements to be removed
from the façade, to prevent potential injuries during an earthquake.<br />
From the mid 1950s to the mid 1980s downtown San Diego experienced a
protracted decline and lost its luster as a retail and entertainment
destination. Now under new ownership, the Pickwick Hotel started to show
its age as well.<br />
New owners Ken Winslow and Harki Parekh purchased the property in
1986 and systematically started to repair the hotel over the next 20
years. With the opening of the immensely successful Horton Plaza retail
mall, the rejuvenation of the historic Gaslamp District and the
construction of Petco Park, downtown San Diego became a desirable
destination again. The location of this hotel was absolutely ideal for
us in our discoveries of downtown San Diego.<br />
After this brief introduction of the hotel’s history, we stepped
outside the hotel, which is located at the intersection of West Broadway
and First Avenue. The statue of the businessman outside the entrance
was dedicated to the Center City Development Corporation and City
Council as a way of thanking the city for revitalizing this entire
district. Brian pointed out that Horton Plaza and the Gaslamp District
are literally just a 10 minute walk away. The Sofia is also just seven
blocks from the waterfront and the Port area.<br />
Talking about history, the Sofia Hotel became a member of the
Historic Hotels of America last year and is the only historic hotel in
downtown San Diego. A photo in the entrance area shows the radio towers
that used to adorn the hotel in 1934 where 50,000 Watts of airwaves were
beamed out all over San Diego.<br />
In a hallway to the left of the lobby we stopped to admire some
pictures of the renovation. Brass pictures of the designer, the
architects and the owners adorn the wall. One of the pictures shows the
renovation, and the unique thing about the entire remodeling process was
that the owners kept 12 housekeepers as well as Brian and Danny on
staff to help with the demolition. The team removed carpets, ceiling
fans, sinks and toilets from 242 <span class="IL_AD" id="IL_AD3">hotel rooms</span>,
and 720 old doors were ripped out. Danny and Brian said it was great to
keep their jobs during the renovation phase and to participate in the
transformation of this hotel. Their sense of ownership and pride of the
newly restored and glamorous Sofia Hotel was obvious.<br />
Less than three weeks away from Christmas, the lobby was aglow with
holiday decorations. Brian added that the hotel currently features a
total of 14 Christmas trees, all decorated by the owners. Real orchids
adorn the common areas as well as all the hotel rooms. At the back of
the lobby facing the entrance is a painting of a young girl on the
beaches of Coronado. This girl, Ken Winslow’s granddaughter, is named
Sofia and was the inspiration for the new name of the completely
remodeled hotel. A cozy sitting area invites guests to sit down and
relax by the fireplace.<br />
To the left of the lobby is the business centre which features three
brand-new desktop computers, high-speed fibre-optic Internet, colour and
black & white printers and fax capabilities. This business centre
is available to the guests 24 hours a day.<br />
Strolling back out into the lobby we turned right into “Currant”, the
sleek modern 120-seat restaurant on the- main floor of the Hotel Sofia.
Established in 2007, Currant offers upscale American-French cuisine and
is open every day for hotel guests and the public. High ceilings,
graphic tiles, elaborate chandeliers, uniquely-styled furniture and a
private room secluded with sheer curtains, offer a sophisticated
ambience.<br />
Heading upstairs now we were on the mezzanine level where several of
the Sofia’s awards are proudly on display. Within less than two years
since its reopening, the Sofia Hotel has won two Best of Citysearch
awards as well as an Expedia Insider’s Select Award. This distinction is
only granted to the top 1% of hotels. The restaurant has also won some
awards, and the Sofia has also garnered an ASID Design Excellence Award.<br />
Around the corner Brian and Danny took me to two state-of-the-art
conference rooms that are equipped for video conferencing and
projection. The larger boardroom holds 32 people while the smaller
20-seat boardroom is anchored by a massive antique wooden table. Down
the corridor we stepped into the Yoga and Fitness Centre, an amenity
that is open 24 hours a day. The hotel even has its own yoga trainer and
offers guests TVs, DVD players, fresh towels, bottled water, and
infused orange water. The Sofia Hotel has even produced its own yoga
DVD!<br />
After the common facilities Brian and Danny took me to room 633, a
corner room. A standard room with a queen bed, this room offers an
excellent view towards the Port of San Diego. A smaller-size but
well-designed room, it features high-quality beds, therapeutic queen
pillow tops and luxurious down comforters. A flat-panel TV, digital
safe, ironing board and iron, and blow dryer add to the amenities. A
coffee maker and a microwave allow guests to look after their most basic
needs. Ice machines on different floors provide the necessary cooling
power for a private evening retreat with champagne.<br />
The hallways are decorated in a sophisticated sage green colour
scheme and the carpet is of upscale quality. After the renovation, the
number of rooms was reduced to 211 guest rooms, down from the original
242 rooms. The extra space was taken up by the conference rooms and the
yoga / fitness studio.<br />
Steps away in suite 601, Brian illustrated the conveniences of a
private bedroom featuring a queen size bed and a sofa pullout bed in the
sitting room. A queen-size suite can therefore accommodate up to four
people. High-tech reading lights can be angled in any direction, and the
alarm clock radio comes with an Ipod / MP3 docking station. Flat panel
TVs are available in the bedroom and the sitting room. All the vanity
areas feature attractive dark wood cabinets, all adorned with real
orchids. Upscale soaps and toiletries pamper the guests, and bottled
water is complimentary.<br />
To conclude the tour, Brian and Danny gave me a few tips for
exploring San Diego: Balboa Park, the San Diego Zoo, Seaworld, Old Town,
Seaport Village and Coronado are among the most popular local tourist
attractions. The upscale area of La Jolla and the Scripps Institute of
Oceanography are a little further afield. I was already looking forward
to joining tomorrow morning’s tour through the Gaslamp District, offered
free by the Sofia Hotel. A visit to Balboa Park would round out our
adventures in San Diego.<br />
Not only had we found a great central location in San Diego; by
staying at the Sofia Hotel we had also connected with local history and
discovered a unique place that has tastefully preserved a 1920s property
and brought it into the new millennium with top-notch modern amenities.<br />
<br />
By <span class="article_author_line"><span class="article_author_line">Susanne Pacher</span></span><br />
pretyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15122842845916888618noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4119474529814903865.post-80058293901404122292012-09-09T04:54:00.000-07:002012-10-03T04:55:07.451-07:00Cheap Annual Family Travel Insurance: Travel Without Tensions!<span id="articlebody" itemprop="articleBody"></span><br />
The growth of fast and
speedy communication system has given a boom to traveling industry. Many
people are traveling at regular intervals to different places, be it
home or abroad. Earlier, people went for holidaying only once a year,
because of the harassment and the price involved in traveling. But
because of the presence of this speedy and cheap transportation system,
families all over UK have started traveling more than once a year.
However, emergencies may happen any time; you might need emergency
medical <span class="IL_AD" id="IL_AD3">treatments</span>, flight cancellation. All these can empty your <span class="IL_AD" id="IL_AD4">savings account</span> to a great extent. Therefore you should definitely buy a cheap and affordable <span class="IL_AD" id="IL_AD2">family travel</span> insurance policy for you as well as your family.<br />
Who does not want their family to be safe and secured, either at home
or when they are not at home? But, we are no God! Misfortunes do
happen; instead of crying over what has happened, we can prevail over
those misfortunes. A Cheap and affordable annual travel insurance will
assist you in overcoming this.<br />
Many people in UK are not so much enthusiastic about buying a family travel insurance policy because they assume that a family travel
insurance policy is only for the wealthy few. But, that was the case
some years back; today with the coming up of many travel insurance
companies, the cost of family travel insurance has also drastically come
down. So before any misfortune strikes and you lose all your money, be
secured with a cheap family travel insurance policy.<br />
Cheap annual family travel insurance will not only ensure the safety
of your family when you are traveling with them, but also when they are
traveling alone with some other groups. Say for instance you can get
coverage for your child who is traveling in school trips, or your wife
who is traveling with her friends.<br />
Wherever you are planning to go, it is advisable not to step out of
your homes without a cheap family annual travel insurance. A thorough
research of <span class="IL_AD" id="IL_AD1">the market</span> has to be
undertaken, if you want a cheap family annual travel insurance. This
study and research is now made much easier with the internet facilities.
You can compare any number of companies that are offering you with
cheap family travel insurance and purchase the best policy out of all those policies. So go get cheap family travel insurance now!<br />
<br />
By <span class="article_author_line"><span class="article_author_line">Henry Bell</span></span><br />
pretyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15122842845916888618noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4119474529814903865.post-39932652268920577912012-09-02T04:57:00.000-07:002012-10-03T04:57:32.324-07:00Life’s A Peach, And So Is Georgian Travel - Georgia Travel Information<span id="articlebody" itemprop="articleBody"></span><br />
Georgia is deeply
entrenched in United States history, big business corporations, and
welcoming hometown hospitality. The Peach State is overflowing with
American heritage, monuments, battlefields and museums as well as sandy
beaches and forested <span class="IL_AD" id="IL_AD2">hiking trails</span>. Travel down south this season to Georgia for a truly revolutionary experience.<br />
Gone With the Wind… Not Quite<br />
Georgia is probably most famous in history for its Civil War
participation in the Confederacy. Union General Sherman’s "March to the
Sea" burned just about everything from Atlanta to Savannah. The battle
and the following massacre of fire inspired the famous novel and movie,
Gone with the Wind, which takes place in Atlanta’s neighboring Marietta.
Travel to the Marietta Gone with the Wind Museum to see the greatest
collection of memorabilia and historical accounts related to the event.
The museum is located on Marietta Square, a historic location surrounded
by unique boutiques, exhibits and parks.<br />
Interestingly, Sherman agreed not to burn Savannah after the mayor
allowed his troops full run of the city. What results today is one of
the only southern cities with authentic antebellum architecture and the
colonial charm of Georgia’s first city. Savannah is an eclectic and
often open-minded Georgian city, notorious for its parties and drinking
and well rounded with Savannah College of Arts & Design, numerous
theaters, countless annual festivals and a plethora of historic sites
that are still standing.<br />
Travel Georgia’s Guaranteed Getaways<br />
Georgia offers an amazing array of activities and outdoor spaces,
including the beautiful green and rugged paths of the Appalachian Trail.
Hike portions of this winding trail or start from the beginning in
Springer Mountain. Jekyll Island was once the prestigious private club
getaway for the likes of the Vanderbilts and Rockefellers; but today its
5 miles of beaches, resorts and condos are open to the public. Vacation
with Georgians during the summer and enjoy golfing, fishing, or
snorkeling.<br />
Also a bastion of modern history, Georgia features the legacies of
national and international figures such as President Jimmy Carter and
civil rights pioneer Martin Luther King, Jr. The capital city of Atlanta
hosts the <span class="IL_AD" id="IL_AD3">Martin Luther King Jr</span>.
National Historic Site, which preserves his childhood home and church
among other exhibits. The Jimmy Carter National Historic Site is located
near Plains, Georgia, and preserves such places as Carter’s home,
school and railroad depot for generations hence to enjoy.<br />
When you book your <span class="IL_AD" id="IL_AD4">airfare</span> to Georgia you will also be able to visit the solemn <span class="IL_AD" id="IL_AD1">Trail of Tears</span>
National Historic Trail, the very same trail that the Cherokee Tribe
took when they were forced to relocate to the west in 1838 while some
4,000 individuals perished along the way.<br />
Travel to Georgia is a journey through time with all the luxuries and
amenities of the perfect vacation along the way. From the mountain
trails to the sunny beaches and rural countryside to major metropolises,
Georgia is ready for you.<br />
<br />
By <span class="article_author_line"><span class="article_author_line">Elyse Morgan</span></span><br />
pretyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15122842845916888618noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4119474529814903865.post-55788670717690171342012-08-26T04:53:00.000-07:002012-10-03T04:53:48.752-07:00The Travel Junkie And The Benefits He Can Get From Travel Reward Credit Cards<span id="articlebody" itemprop="articleBody"></span><br />
Fond of traveling? Always on the go? If you're the quintessential jet setter, then you definitely should go for this - travel <span class="IL_AD" id="IL_AD3">reward credit cards</span>.
It's the brand-new, ultimate solution to the ultimate globetrotter who
always needs to be on the go. But what really are travel reward credit cards and how 'beneficial' are they for the cardholder?<br />
Getting to Know Your Travel Credit Card<br />
Travel reward credit cards give airline mile rewards to cardholders
for availing the card. The cardholder accumulates points depending on
the dollar amount of his purchases with the credit card. Once the number
of points has been reached, the cardholder is entitled to an airline
travel or any such related reward. There are actually three categories
or types of travel reward credit cards, the airline miles earning card,
the travel point card, and the hybrid card, a combination of the first
two types. Airline mile earning cards earn 1 mile for every dollar spent
while a travel point card earns 1 point for every dollar spent. The
points can then be redeemed at the credit card's travel agency. The
hybrid card earns 1 point for each dollar spent and can be exchanged for
airline miles or used as travel points.<br />
The jet-setter or the <span class="IL_AD" id="IL_AD1">frequent flyer</span>
should consider an airline mile card or a hybrid card. With an airline
mile credit card or a hybrid card, one can avail of free trips in first
class even faster. Cards like Aerogold Visa and Royal Bank British
Airways Platinum Visa can convert those economy trips to first class. On
the other hand, for those who are not <span class="IL_AD" id="IL_AD2">frequent flyers</span>,
the ideal choice to go for is the travel point card, or even the hybrid
card. While these cards may not give free trips in a year, it can,
however, provide discounts on your travel needs. As they offer points
for every dollar spent which are redeemable as cash equivalent discounts
through the credit card company's travel agency or reward center. Most
cards offer $50 off for every 5000 points redeemed. These discounts can
come in handy when the times come for that much-awaited trip or
vacation.<br />
Depending on the type of card, the reward may also cover purchase of gas, <span class="IL_AD" id="IL_AD4">auto rentals</span>, hotel accommodations and even purchase in shops and boutiques.<br />
They also provide cash advances when you're on the road. There's also
travel insurance that would include worldwide emergencies like medical
evacuation, lost luggage, and emergency expatriation.<br />
Travel Reward Credit Card SOS<br />
The important thing with travel reward credit cards is you determine
the frequency of your travels as well as your own spending habits.
Before choosing which credit card to go for, assess the possible uses of
these travel reward credit cards. Then, look for cards that offer the
biggest savings on the types of purchases that you most probably will be
making. If you're not the only one traveling, travel reward credit cards
offering airline or car rental perks are good to go because it
benefits, not only you, but your travel companion as well. Know also the
schedule and value of the travel rewards these credit cards offer.<br />
Of course, don't forget to read the terms and conditions, like the
airline miles you gain for every dollar spent, or the airline miles you
need to accumulate before qualifying for a free airline ticket or other
rewards. And lastly, they come with an annual fee, so check to make sure
that you know the charges to your account.<br />
<br />
By <span class="article_author_line"><span class="article_author_line">Mario Churchill</span></span><br />
pretyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15122842845916888618noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4119474529814903865.post-53983643017123977212012-08-19T04:32:00.000-07:002012-10-03T04:48:58.655-07:00How a Graco Quattro Tour Deluxe Travel System With Snugride32 in Townsend Can Be Useful<span id="articlebody" itemprop="articleBody"></span><br />
Shopping for a quality <span class="IL_AD" id="IL_AD1">baby stroller</span>
to give as a gift or for personal use can be an off-putting task, but
it can end up interesting & even fun once you get updated about <span class="IL_AD" id="IL_AD4">stroller</span> trends and innovations. It’s amazing how the baby stroller has evolved throughout the years. Nowadays, people have different ideas about the `perfect’ stroller, mainly because they intend to use it in different ways. Some need an all-terrain stroller,
while others require only a basic model for occasional use. Then, there
are other factors like the age of the child, and safety features that
are deemed essential. Style, color and fabric also come into the
picture. The Graco Quattro Tour Deluxe Travel System with Snugride32 in
Townsend is a great find as far as satisfying these criteria is
concerned. It’s more than a nice stroller. It’s a godsend for most moms who need baby gear that can aid them in a big way.<br />
Before you purchase the handsome vessel that doesn’t come cheap,
though, with the end in view of using it as well for a future offspring
(which the Graco line may very well answer), know that stroller safety standards are regularly reviewed, so you may have to invest on a more updated set of wheels for a future child.<br />
In any case, Graco Quattro Tour Deluxe Travel System is one of the
sturdiest and smoothest rolling wheels you can find. It can accommodate
your baby’s growth. The Quattro Tour Deluxe Stroller is made of aluminum tubing which ensures long use. The travel system’s infant <span class="IL_AD" id="IL_AD2">car seat</span> comes with foam liner that absorbs energy and gentle cradles baby's head. The car seat
has a lock-off and adjustment dial and is crash tested to meet and
surpass US safety standards. If your baby, like most tykes, needs a few
toys to hold his attention and avoid tantrums or fidgeting, the stroller comes with several handy features like a tray where you can put baby snacks or safe toys. Before buying a stroller, though, check that there are no small parts that may be hazardous to your child.<br />
Babies who love napping on the go or are easily lulled to sleep in their stroller also benefit from a Graco stroller’s adjustable canopy with window & <span class="IL_AD" id="IL_AD3">sun visor</span> shades. Of course, smart moms know better than to be strolling around when the sun gets really scorching.<br />
Once you’ve purchased a good quality stroller, you still need to remember some precautions. For one, make sure the stroller
is fully locked before taking it on the road. Graco Quattro Tour Deluxe
Travel System offers front swivel wheels which can be locked, and with
suspension to make it seem like baby’s gliding away. A secure harness
that may be adjusted as baby grows comes with the travel system.
Moreover, efficient one-touch foot brakes add to the important safety
features.<br />
Indeed, when it comes to choosing baby gear for your precious infant,
it pays to go for a reputable brand or manufacturer with a track record
in churning out quality innovations. Opt for a zippy baby stroller which is the result of intensive research, with features that offer tons of convenience for both mom & child.<br />
<br />
By <span class="article_author_line"><span class="article_author_line">Cindy Rhyes</span></span>pretyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15122842845916888618noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4119474529814903865.post-22591715888329131512012-08-12T04:30:00.000-07:002012-10-03T04:31:24.653-07:00Detroit Travel: A Walking Tour of Brush Park and Dinner at the Ren Cen<span id="articlebody" itemprop="articleBody"></span><br />
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After
having learned so much about architecture during my morning walking
tour of downtown Detroit, we embarked on another urban discovery: a
walking tour through Brush Park, one of Detroit’s historic residential
areas with a location very close to downtown. Bob Goldsmith, our local
expert from Detroit Tour Connections, met us at 97 Winder Street,
location of a recently restored <span class="IL_AD" id="IL_AD3">bed and breakfast</span>, and started explaining the history of the area to us.<br />
In its Victorian heydays, Brush Park was an affluent neighbourhoood
with numerous mansions for upper-class families. The area’s beginnings
date back to the 1850s when local entrepreneur Edmund Brush started
subdividing his family’s property. Construction activity peaked in the
1870s and 1880s, and in 1906 one of the last mansions to be built was
renowned Detroit architect Albert Kahn’s personal residence.<br />
The neighbourhood stretches for 24 city blocks and originally
included about 300 homes of which 70 were Victorian mansions. As
transportation and the use of the automobile expanded in the early 20th
century, people started moving further afield, and the Brush Park area
started on a long road of decline. Many of the houses were subdivided
into smaller apartments during <span class="IL_AD" id="IL_AD2">the Great Depression</span>, and during the post-war years numerous houses were abandoned altogether and fell into disrepair.<br />
Many of the abandoned mansions started to attract criminal activity
and in many cases the city moved to demolish the homes, leaving large
empty lots of land behind. This phenomenon is commonly referred to as
“urban prairie”. At the turn of the new millennium, less than half of
the original structures were still standing in Brush Park.<br />
Bob, a true Detroit connoisseur, came equipped with a series of
articles about the various historic structures, many of which outlined
the new owners’ story and the cost and extent of the renovation effort.
Brush Park was truly an interesting experience, with its mix of
beautifully restored mansions that might sit right next to a burned out
ruin which in turn might be located adjacent to an empty plot of land
where one of the former buildings had been taken down.<br />The highlight
of our tour was when a local resident invited us to come inside her
apartment: Lisa Rush, a friend of Bob’s, recently bought a renovated
studio apartment in one of the historic apartment buildings in Brush
Park. As we were walking through the neighbourhood, Bob called her and
she invited us in to show us the apartment. She even offered us to use
her washroom if we needed to.<br />
Lisa’s apartment is a sleek studio with a living room area and
features a kitchen with an island and a bedroom area that are all
aligned in a long rectangular space. Off to the side was the bathroom.
Lisa is a member of Preservation Wayne, a non-profit organization
dedicated to preserving, promoting and protecting Detroit’s defining
neighbourhoods and structures. Lisa was just celebrating with a few
friends, and I was amazed that she would invite three complete
out-of-town strangers into her beautiful apartment. This local
connection was definitely unexpected and totally exceeded my standard
expectations of hospitality.<br />
Walking further north on John R Street we turned left and walked by a
mansion that is owned by a University of Windsor professor who restored
a beautiful Victorian era home that dates back to 1870. Similar to
Lisa, this professor has also invited Bob’s tour participants into his
personal home to show them his art collection. A welcoming attitude like
this where locals open their private homes to complete strangers would
probably be unheard of in many other places.<br />
We also saw two churches, right next to one another, one boarded up
and out of use for several years now while the neighouring church was a
fully intact impressive Richardson Romanesque sandstone building. A few
steps further up the street is the Bonstelle Theater, which was
originally designed by Detroit architect Albert Kahn as Temple Beth El
in 1903. Historic buildings abound in this area of Detroit.<br />
On our way south on Woodward we stopped at the upscale Zaccaro’s
Market at 3100 Woodward Avenue which offers a variety of delicatessen
and fresh, <span class="IL_AD" id="IL_AD1">organic foods</span>. Detroit has a marked absence of large supermarkets, so stores like Zaccaro’s fill in an important need for local residents.<br />
Our tour was slowly coming to an end and Bob took us back to Winder
Street. This walking tour had certainly started to introduce us to some
of the historic and socio-economic issues of Detroit as well as some of
the recent rejuvenation efforts that have happened over the last 10
years.<br />
After a coffee inside the stunning Guardian Building and a brief rest
at the Westin Book Cadillac Hotel my travel partner Linda and I were
ready to head out again and decided to explore another Detroit landmark:
the Detroit People Mover. This 3 mile (4.5 km) long transportation
system hauls people through downtown Detroit on a single-track one-way
loop. It only moves in one direction (at present in a clockwise
direction) and encompasses 13 stations throughout the central business
district.<br />
We entered the People Mover at the Renaissance Center, and the two rail cars were absolutely packed due to a Detroit <span class="IL_AD" id="IL_AD4">Red Wings</span>
game. Detroit is a big sports town, with six professional sports teams,
the most well-known of which include the Detroit Tigers (baseball), the
Detroit Lions (football) and the Detroit Red Wings (hockey). Fans
dressed in red hockey jerseys were entering the vehicle, and things were
getting crowded. For tourists, the heavily subsidized People Mover
transportation system is a great way to get around the downtown area and
even do some sightseeing from the elevated vantage point. At a cost of
only $0.50 per ride it is an absolutely affordable and fun way to see
different parts of the city.<br />
The entire People Mover loop took us about 20 minutes and brought us
right back to where we started. We went inside the Renaissance Centre,
the world headquarters of General Motors since 1996. The seven building
complex includes the 73-storey Marriot Hotel which is the highest hotel
in the Western hemisphere. The top of the Marriott is crowned by the
Coach Insignia restaurant, which is also the largest rooftop restaurant.<br />
We admired the large GM showroom on the main floor as well as the
five-storey Wintergarden, an airy glass enclosed space which provides
access to the Riverfront and a great view of Windsor across the river.
Now hungry from all our explorations we headed straight to the rooftop
to see if we could have dinner at Coach Insignia.<br />
Although the restaurant was packed and we did not have a reservation,
we were able to get a seat by the bar and were fascinated by the
gorgeous view over the Detroit River, Windsor and the Detroit business
district. Belle Isle was visible in the north and the Ambassador Bridge
dominated the view in the south. We enjoyed a tasty series of vegetarian
appetizers of which the asparagus with sauce hollandaise and the Caesar
salad truly stood out.<br />
We spent a fabulous evening at the top of Detroit and enjoyed the
slowly sinking sun and the golden glow it cast over the city. Tired and
satisfied after a long day of explorations we headed back for a good
night’s sleep to the Westin Book Cadillac Hotel. We definitely needed to
rest up since tomorrow our discoveries would take us to The Henry Ford
Museum and the recently renovated Detroit Institute of Arts.<br />
<br />
By <span class="article_author_line"><span class="article_author_line">Susanne Pacher</span></span><br />
pretyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15122842845916888618noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4119474529814903865.post-80620572066784978772012-08-05T04:28:00.000-07:002012-10-03T04:29:37.234-07:00Kenya Tour And Vacation Travel: Your Ultimate Tourist Guide<span id="articlebody" itemprop="articleBody"></span><br />
Airport Nairobi<br />
Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) is approximately half an
hour’s drive from Nairobi City centre. Taxis are readily available but
establish the fare before getting into the vehicle as there are many
drivers who will approach you for business. The JKI Airport is a busy
hub for both the Kenyan tour and vacation travel and the East and horn
of Africa region.<br />
The state-controlled Kenatco taxis work on a fixed rate using
reliable and clean vehicles. Other taxis tend to vary: some appear to be
old wrecks and as they do not come under the control of the municipal
councils, you may find they are not insured. Always check first. Most
Kenya tourist hotels have their own <span class="IL_AD" id="IL_AD1">minibus transport</span> for your Kenyan tour, which can be arranged through reception.<br />
Mombasa Airport<br />
The new Moi International Airport on the Kenya coast is approximately
10 minutes from the city centre, although most of the Kenya tourist
hotels are situated to the north and south coastal regions. Allow an
extra half-an-hour to your journey to the south coast because of the
Likoni ferry crossing. The traffic Jam at the ferry has been a pain to
many travelers on their Kenyan tour, especially during departures. Most
visitors on their Kenyan <span class="IL_AD" id="IL_AD4">beach vacation</span> prefer to arrive and depart from Moi International airport.<br />
Important airport fees<br />
For international departures there is an airport tax to pay of $20
and Kshs 200 for internal flights which is normally included in the
price of your ticket. This is mandatory for either Kenya vacation and
business travelers.<br />
Kenya Car hire company<br />
Most international <span class="IL_AD" id="IL_AD2">car hire</span>
companies are represented in Kenya in addition to some of the
enterprising locals. Some rates may vary on a daily or weekly basis
depending on type of vehicle ranging from four wheel drives to small
saloons. Vehicles travel on the left-hand side of the road-and most cars
are right-hand drive. A current driving license with photograph is
accepted for up to three month’s stay. Self-driven Four wheel cars are
also on hire for the do-it –yourselfer Kenyan beach, wildlife or safari
vacationer.<br />
Public transport in Kenya<br />
City buses operate in Nairobi and Mombasa at reasonably low rates.
However, avoid peak hours as most transport is crammed full. Fares are
paid to the conductor.<br />
Trains transport in Kenya<br />
There is a rail service from Nairobi to Mombasa and Kisumu where
first and second class accommodation is available. The train is
especially a favourite of the 6-14 day Kenyan vacationer who wants to
sample a lot of the country offering.<br />
Kenya Communications and Postal Services<br />
Post offices are identified by the words posta Kenya and mail posting
boxes are red. Usually you can buy stamps at post offices, stationers,
souvenir shops and hotels. Post office hours of business are from 8am to
5pm Monday to Friday and from 9am until 12noon on Saturday at main post
offices.<br />
<span class="IL_AD" id="IL_AD3">Telephone services</span> in Kenya<br />
Telkom Kenya provides advanced telecommunication services that include voice data, internet,<br />
and
multi media, whilst cellular mobile services are provided by Safaricom
(0720/0721/0722/0723) and Kencell communications (0733,0734).<br />
Faxes, telexes and emails can be sent from your hotel via the
operator. International calls can sometimes be dialed direct or operator
assisted by dialing 0195 or 0196. Telkom Kenya also runs a few
international public assisted call offices in selected areas in major
towns.<br />
Public payphones are fully automated. Simply pick up the handset and
follow the digitalized prompts on the screen to make your call. Card and
coin phones are available. Phone cards of different denominations may
be bought from Post Offices or international call offices in major town.
You can also make use of hotel phones but the charges are usually 100%
more. Local dialed calls cost a minimum of Kshs 5, so have plenty of
change on your Kenyan vacation travel.<br />
As from 4th July 2003, all Nairobi area codes changed so check if the number you are calling is still operational.<br />
Kenyan Currency<br />
Kenya’s unit of currency is the shilling (Sh/s) (slang: Bob), written
1/-, 2/50 etc. Divided into 100 cents (c). There are copper coins of 50
c and 1/- and silver and copper coins of 5/-, 10/-, 20/- and 40/-. Bank
notes are available in denominations of 5/-, 10/-, 20/-, 50/-, 100/-,
200/-, and 1000/-.<br />
Currency restrictions<br />
There are no restrictions on the movement of currency into or out of Kenya for currency transactions.<br />
Banking Hours<br />
Banks in Nairobi and other large towns open from 9am-3pm Monday to
Friday and 9am-11a on the first and last Saturday of each month. 24 hr
access to your account can be facilitated by ATMs country wide.<br />
Banks in Mombasa and the coastal areas, open and close half an hour
earlier. Some banks at the international airports open round the clock
every day as do the new foreign exchange bureaux. This is to ensure that
the Kenya Traveler accesses currency at point of arrival.<br />
Credit cards accepted in Kenya<br />
All the major international credit cards are accepted in Kenya and
most ATMs can accept any international VISA and MASTERCARD credit cards.<br />
Standard chartered bank’s computer network allows access to over 60
‘Moneylink’ ATMs situated at all its branches, major shopping malls, gas
stations and other strategic locations countrywide. Holders of VISA
cards can also link up to their home bank or credit card account through
money link ATMs around the clock.<br />
KCB have 55 visa and visa electron compliant ATMs available 24 hrs nationwide accepting international credit cards.<br />
Travelers’ cheques in Kenya are also readily recognizable and accepted at most places.<br />
Voltage<br />
All regions in Kenya are supplied with 240 volts AC. Some safari,
wildlife and beach lodges have independent power generators which may
carry. The plug in use through out Kenya is of the three square pin,
13amp type.<br />
Security in Kenya<br />
As in other countries, it is always advisable for a traveler to hand
in their passport, traveler’s cheques, excess money and any other
valuables at hotel reception desks for placing in their safe for
security. Alternatively, where available, you will find a safety deposit
box in your hotel room.<br />
It is a sensible precaution not to walk alone in isolated towns or
beach areas, particularly after dark. Ask for advice from your hotel
manager or tour representative if you are with a package holiday
company.<br />
Kenya Hotels Bill payment<br />
Most Kenyan hotels expect vacation and business travelers to pay in
convertible foreign currency such as US dollars. However, in some Kenyan
tour lodges and hotels, tourists may have the option to pay in Kenya
Shillings or credit card if this method is preferred.<br />
Tipping<br />
Tipping is not mandatory but not forbidden as in some other African
countries. Tipping is entirely at your discretion and most hotels and
restaurants include a 10% service charge to the bill.<br />
Clean safe Water<br />
Nairobi and Mombasa hotels are virtually 100% safe for drinking water
for Kenyan vacationers. However, if in doubt, a variety of bottled
water is available in most places. Most isolated lodges keep filtered
water in jars or flasks which is a direct warning that tap water is not
safe, even for brushing teeth.<br />
Water Conservation<br />
Shortage of water due to inadequate rainfall means that you should
ensure that you try and conserve water as much as possible. Responsible
travel calls for sustainable and conservative use of water and energy
resources in your Kenyan tour.<br />
Kenyan Visa requirements<br />
Most incoming Kenya tourists whether for business or pleasure, now
require a visa irrespective of nationality. Multiple and single entry
visas are available. The single entry fee is US$ 50 (Correct at time of
writing this article) or the equivalent in local currency and can be
obtained upon arrival at the airport.<br />
Visa applications can be made at any Kenya High Commission or Embassy
prior to traveling. For more information contact your nearest Kenya
High Commission or Kenya Embassy.<br />
<br />
By <span class="article_author_line"><span class="article_author_line">Robert Muhoho</span></span>pretyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15122842845916888618noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4119474529814903865.post-69503406940299317412012-07-29T04:26:00.000-07:002012-10-03T04:27:07.566-07:00Travel Chicago - Tour The Must See Sites Even Local Chicagoans Visit!<span id="articlebody" itemprop="articleBody"></span><br />
The allure of Chicago
is completely understandable. Located in the middle of the country
amongst corn fields and pressed up against Lake Michigan, this fast
paced action packed city is full of excitement. The winters are cold,
but the summers are hot and fun-filled. There is more to do in Chicago,
than someone could possibly complete in a lifetime.<br />
But, for those travelers interested in seeing some of Chicago’s favorite sites through its residents’ eyes, please read on.<br />
<b>Signature Room at Hancock Tower</b> - The top of the Hancock Tower provides one of the most amazing views of Chicago around. The <span class="IL_AD" id="IL_AD3">Sears</span> Tower may be taller, but the Hancock is closer to the lake and offers views of the Sears
Tower itself. Skip the observation deck and instead make a trip to the
Signature Room. You might run into local Chicagoans during brunch when
prices are quite reasonable. Drinks are similarly priced to other
lounges, so a nightcap is always a fun option, but dinner will set you
back quite a bit. The restaurant is actually one floor above the viewing
deck so you can enjoy an amazing view while eating and drinking.
Location: Michigan Ave<br />
<b>Chicago Blues and Jazz</b> - Chicago has long been well known as
home to some of the world’s best Blues and Jazz musicians. This fact
became evident even to non-music lovers in the 70s and 80s with classic
movies such as <span class="IL_AD" id="IL_AD1">the Blues Brothers</span>
and Adventure in Babysitting. For music fans, a trip to Chicago is not
complete without experiencing some good blues or jazz. There are a wide
variety of blues clubs located on the South Side and Jazz clubs such as
the Green Mill in uptown, which has said to be frequented by Al Capone
and other Chicago notables. But, if you are in town, check out the
Chicago Blues Fest held in early June. Other summer music festivals
include the Chicago Jazz Festival, Chicago Gospel Music Festival, and
more. Location: The Green Mill is located at 4802 N. Broadway Ave.<br />
<b>Tru Restaurant</b> - Charlie Trotter’s restaurant has made a name
for itself throughout the United States and the world as the best place
for a multi-course tasting menu. But locals know that the knew up and
coming restaurant to beat is Tru’s restaurant. A four party visit will
involve up to 12 courses, with each member of the party receiving
different selections. Wow! One imagines how the cooks can possibly keep
up, but throughout your 3 hour meal, you will never be disappointed by
the wait staff or the chef. Location: 696 N. St. Clair St.<br />
<b>Chicago Museum Tour</b> - Chicago has some of the best museums in the country. The <span class="IL_AD" id="IL_AD2">Art Institute</span>
has one of the most amazing and large collections in the world. Take a
walk through the museum on a Tuesday, when admission is free (although
donations are always recommended) and if you are a movie fan remember
the walk by Ferris Bueller. But, the Art Institute isn’t the only great
museum in Chicago. The Museum of Science and Industry is a great museum
where you can actually walk through a sub, and of course the FieldMuseum
home to the Sue the largest T-Rex skeleton in the world.<br />
<b>Chicago Architecture Tour</b> - Chicago’s name in architecture,
began in the 1800s and continues today. If you want to take a walk and
see the great architecture of Chicago, there is more than a day’s worth
of sites. You can begin with famous buildings by <span class="IL_AD" id="IL_AD4">Frank Lloyd Wright</span>
(check out the Unity Temple at 875 Lake St) and Louis Sullivan (Visit
his famous Carson Pirie Scott flagship on State St). The Monadnock, and
Mies van der Rohe’s Post office are also well worth a visit. For some
modern masterpieces, visit the Illinois Institute of Technology’s campus
to see Mies’ Crown Hall, Rem Koolhaas’ Campus Center, and Helmut Jahn’s
new Dorms. A visit to Millennium Park is also worth a trip, where you
can see one of Gehry’s latest and soon Renzo Piano’s addition to the Art Institute.<br />
Chicago is home to some of the most city proud residents. And there
is no wonder why- there is so much to see and do in Chicago! Check out
the favorite tourist sites, but if you are interested in seeing some of
the local’s favorite Chicago sites, check out the list above and see
some of what truly makes Chicago special.<br />
<br />
By <span class="article_author_line"><span class="article_author_line">Michelle Linden</span></span><br />
pretyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15122842845916888618noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4119474529814903865.post-4141475131895520382012-07-22T04:23:00.000-07:002012-10-03T04:23:29.852-07:00Detroit Travel: A Bicycle Tour Through Corktown and Mexicantown<span id="articlebody" itemprop="articleBody"></span><br />
My discoveries of
Detroit were slowly but surely coming to an end, and I had seen so many
interesting places already in my whirlwind tour over the last four days.
Just before I was ready to hop across the border to Windsor again, I
had one more adventure on my schedule: a biking tour of Southwest
Detroit to cover Corktown and Mexicantown.<br />
After a filling breakfast at the Inn on Ferry Street I took their
complimentary shuttle downtown to Rivard Plaza, right next to the
Detroit Riverwalk. At 10 am I met Kelly Kavanaugh, co-owner ofWheelhouse
Detroit, Downtown Detroit’s first bike rental facility for more than 30
years. Wheelhouse also provides bicycle repairs and service and offers a
variety of tours of different Detroit neighbourhoods.<br />
Wheelhouse Detroit was founded by friends Kelli Kavanaugh and Karen Gage, two young women who have been active in the Detroit <span class="IL_AD" id="IL_AD3">non-profit</span>
and urban planning scene for years. Equipped with advice from fellow
entrepreneurs, start-up funding from the city’s micro-credit program and
their own savings they embarked on their entrepreneurial venture and
bought 30 bicycles which includes comfortable cruisers, city <span class="IL_AD" id="IL_AD1">mountain bikes</span>, kids bikes, trailers and even a tandem.<br />
Their bikes are made by Kona, a philanthropically inclined manufacturer that donates bicycles to <span class="IL_AD" id="IL_AD2">non-profit organizations</span>
in Africa. Along with other people I have met over the last four days,
Kelli and Karen are an example of the new breed of Detroit entrepreneurs
who combine their love for the city with hard work and entrepreneurial
creativity.<br />
On a brilliant but rather cool and windy October day Kelli and I
headed off westwards along the the Detroit Riverwalk and quickly passed
the General Motor Renaissance Centre and Hart Plaza, the civic centre of
Detroit. The Detroit International Riverfront covers an area stretching
from the Ambassador Bridge to Belle Isle and encompasses numerous
parks, restaurants, retail shops, skyscrapers and residential areas
along the Detroit River. Hundreds of millions of dollars have been
raised in the last few years to revitalize this extensive area.<br />
The Detroit Riverwalk is a recreational multipurpose path that
stretches 5.5 miles (almost 9 km) along Detroit’s riverfront and
provides separate lanes for pedestrians and bicyclists or inline
skaters. Wheelhouse Detroit is located inside Rivard Plaza, an outdoor
space that features the Cullen Family Carousel, an inlaid granite map of
the Detroit River, fountains and gardens. Rivard Plaza was opened in
June of 2007 and also features the Riverwalk Café.<br />
Cycling west on the Riverwalk, Kelli started to tell me about her
venture and about her passion for cycling in Detroit. As the city is
quite spread out and a lot of the traffic concentrates on the city’s
characteristic sunken expressways, the downtown area is surprisingly
free of traffic congestion and cycling-friendly. In my past four days in
Detroit I did not encounter any traffic jams downtown, a surprising
experience when you come from a congested place like Toronto.<br />As we
pedaled against the wind we passed by several more Detroit landmarks -
Cobo Arena, the Cobo Convention Centre and the Joe Louis Arena - home of
the Detroit <span class="IL_AD" id="IL_AD4">Red Wings</span>. Leaving the downtown area behind we headed into southwest Detroit.<br />The
first neighbourhood that greeted us was Corktown, Detroit’s oldest
neighbourhood, so named after the Irish immigrants from County Cork that
settled here. The houses in this area date back to 1834 and feature
nicely restored Victorian homes, many of them brightly painted. Corktown
also has many cool gathering spots and eateries, including the funky
Zeitgeist Gallery, a bar called Nemo’s which was voted No. 3 “perfect
sports bar in the US by Sports Illustrated , and LJ.’s – a hip karaoke
place, as well as a wide range of other diverse restaurants.<br />
We snaked our way through this pleasant neighbourhood and crossed
over a railway bridge that provided a perfect view of one of Detroit’s
most stunning architectural structures: the Michigan Central Depot, also
called the Michigan Central Station. Although now abandoned and in poor
condition, the Michigan Central Station is a railroad station that was
built in 1913 for the Michigan Central Railroad. Its main Beaux-Arts
train station is flanked by an 18 storey office tower, a monumental
building whose outline dominates South-West Detroit’s skyline. Due to
its sheer size and its magnificent architectural detailing, the Michigan
Central Depot is still one of Detroit’s most impressive buildings,
despite its sad current state.<br />
Past the railroad bridge we arrived in Mexicantown, a vibrant
neighbourhood that has undergone significant economic growth in the last
few years. Kelly showed me the Michigan International Welcome Centre, a
brand-new commercial development in close proximity to the Ambassador
Bridge. 85 businesses will welcome visitors in The Mercado, and they
will cater to locals and out-of-towners alike with a broad assortment of
merchandise.<br />
Further west we cycled by a long strip of Mexican restaurants that
include popular eateries such as Mexican Village, El Zocalo, Evie’s
Tamales, Lupita’s and Xochimilco. A ride through this neighbourhood
revealed an extensive collection of late Victorian homes fronted by
large trees. The main streets in the area are Bagley Street and Vernor
Street which are flanked by numerous storefronts and eateries.<br />
Away from the main thoroughfares and tucked into the neighbourhood is
St. Anne De Detroit Catholic Church, the eighth church in this location
whose cornerstone was laid in 1886. The church was originally founded
on July 26, 1701, two days after Antoine Mothe de la Cadillac (the
founder of Detroit) and his French settlers arrived. Today it is the
second oldest continuously operating Roman Catholic parish in the United
States. Nowadays the congregation includes many Hispanic parishioners
who come together to worship in this impressive Gothic Revival
structure.<br />
One stop on our bicycling tour included the Hotel Yorba, which
inspired the hit single by Detroit garage rock band “The White Stripes”.
Today this former hotel provides subsidized housing. We started cycling
back to the main road and passed by Clark Park, a large public park on
Detroit’s southwest side. Cycling back east on Vernor we saw another
strip of Mexican-owned businesses.<br />
On the way back we made a stop in front of the Michigan Central
Station where Kelly explained that this is the departure point for the
annual “Tour de Troit” event, a 40-mile cycling tour of Detroit that has
been attracting biking enthusiasts since 2001. Both Kelli and her
business partner Karen have been actively involved in helping to
organize this popular biking event. Attendance increased from 650
participants in 2007 to 1100 participants in 2008. Kelly explained that
biking is definitely taking off in Detroit. The Tour de Troit event also
raises funds for dedicated bicycle trails.<br />
We now turned onto Michigan Avenue, one of Detroit’s main
thoroughfares. Stopping regularly we had a look at various bars, cafes
and galleries that populate this stretch of the road. One of our final
stops was at the Old Tiger Stadium, the former home of the Detroit
Tigers baseball team. The stadium was originally opened in 1912 and
unfortunately partially demolished in 2008. A group of dedicated local
citizens is fighting to keep the remaining portions of the stadium
intact.<br />
Our tour concluded with a ride through Detroit’s downtown business
district and ended back atWheelhouse's location on Rivard Plaza. Given
that I am an avid bicycling enthusiast myself, exploring Detroit on two
wheels was a real highlight of my five-day stint in this city. Bicycling
is simply the best way of discovering a city – allowing you to cover
great ground at manageable speeds while getting much needed exercise.
Being able to easily stop anywhere is a great added benefit for an avid
travel photographer like me.<br />
Now thoroughly invigorated I thanked Kelli for introducing me to a
completely different side of Detroit and set off to have lunch in the
open outdoor space in front of the Wintergarden at the Renaissance
Centre. The “RenCen”, the international headquarters of General Motors,
consists of seven skyscrapers centered around the 73-story central tower
that holds the Detroit Marriot Hotel. This structure has also been the
highest building in Michigan since 1977.<br />
The top of the hotel holds Coach Insignia, a fine dining restaurant
with the most fabulous views of the city. In 2003 GM renovated the
entire complex at a cost of $500 million which added the five-story
Wintergarden, a light-flooded glass-enclosed atrium that overlooks the
Detroit River. I grabbed my lunch, went outside and enjoyed the fall sun
and the magnificent view across the river to Windsor while reflecting
on my five action-packed days in Detroit.<br />
Shortly after I called the shuttle service of the Inn on Ferry Street
and minutes later I got whisked away. I made a final stop in Greektown,
one of Detroit’s most popular entertainment districts. Most of the
houses along Monroe Street date back to the Victorian era and today
feature restaurants and cafes on the main level. The Greektown Casino is
a major attraction in the area.<br />
This exciting morning had concluded my visit to Detroit. I picked up
my suitcase, hopped in my car and took the Detroit-Windsor Tunnel back
to Canada. On the way back to Toronto I reflected on what an exciting
and fascinating destination Detroit had been. During these past few days
I got to see so many different facets of Detroit, and I had a chance to
meet several people who are truly passionate about their city. It’s
always great to get to know a city from the perspective of an insider.<br />
I had had a thoroughly great time in Detroit and over the past five
days I had seen so many things I had never expected. And I realized
there were so many more places I didn’t get to see.<br />
<br />
By <span class="article_author_line"><span class="article_author_line">Susanne Pacher</span></span><br />
pretyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15122842845916888618noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4119474529814903865.post-68406344155303039552012-07-15T04:21:00.000-07:002012-10-03T04:21:47.084-07:00Adventure Travel Tour Guiding Among Best Summer Jobs<span id="articlebody" itemprop="articleBody"><span class="IL_AD" id="IL_AD2">Adventure travel</span>
companies are similar to land tour companies. Guides give guests the
time of their lives while they are in Alaska for vacation. Seasonal work
with adventure companies is available for people wanting to see the
country from a slightly different angle.<br />
<br />
College students and other adventure seekers can come to Alaska and work their way across the country. Adventure travel
is popular for those people that are looking for a more active type of
vacation. Guests no longer want to sit on the sidelines and just observe
the happenings. They want to get involved. This is where adventure
touring comes into play.<br />
Adventure tours allow guests to view the unspoiled nature of Alaska.
They can take a wildlife excursion to view Alaskan bears, caribou,
moose, and Dall sheep. Seeing the land from a zipline is breathtaking
and fun for the younger visitors to Alaska.<br />
<br />
Some adventure travel is associated with wilderness lodges. Guides
lead guests on bicycle tours, hiking trips, and river rafting tours. A
guide needs to be able to troubleshoot problems with equipment and
medical situations during the adventure. You may be called on to take
fishermen out for a day on the lake or guide a hunting party.<br />
<br />
Adventure travel companies lead all sorts of tours. Eco-friendly
tours are conducted to national parks and preserves in Alaska. These
tours allow guests to see the country but are more for learning about
nature and its components. Tours are conducted on land and along bodies
of water.<br />
Adventure travel jobs are varied. Workers can choose from several guide positions: jeep guides, nature guides, kayak guides, <span class="IL_AD" id="IL_AD4">white water rafting</span>
guides, bus escort, bus driver, canoe guides, bicycle leader,
backpacking guide, fishing guides, rock climbing, walking guides, and
wildlife jobs. Depending on where you work in Alaska, you could be a
skiing guide.<br />
<br />
Travel companies also need to fill office positions within the
company. Tours have to be organized and the logistics of travel worked
out before guests arrive for their adventure. People in these support
positions work hard to see that the jobs of the others are a bit less
hectic. These positions include bookkeepers, administrative assistants,
and booking agents. Adventure companies associated with lodges need
administrative help at the sites. These positions give seasonal workers a
chance to see Alaska as well.<br />
Room and board are provided by the adventure travel company for their
workers. Toru guides travel with the guests from place to place. Guides
associated with adventure lodges are housed in staff quarters and
provided with gourmet meals like those enjoyed by the guests. Workers
can also use the facilities available to guests and enjoy adventures as a
perk of their employment.<br />
<br />
When applying for job openings with an adventure travel company, play to your strengths if you can. Any experience that you have in a particular area, say fishing, white water rafting, and mountain biking, will help to acquire a guide job with an adventure company. This is not a requirement but it helps.<br />
Let's look at a job as a canopy guide for example. The position
requires that guides lead guests through the zip course. They are
responsible for the <span class="IL_AD" id="IL_AD1">safety and training</span> of the guests while they are in their care. Guides also keep up with inspections of the <span class="IL_AD" id="IL_AD3">equipment used</span> and the course followed.<br />
<br />
It sounds like a lot, but most employers are willing to train guides
for the job. Generally, they are looking for people who are outgoing,
possessing customer service skills, and are willing to work hard. Many
tour guide training programs are punctuated by skills assessments and
tests before the worker is allowed to guide a group. Interviews allow
employers to size up workers to see if they possess the skills to make
it in a position with the company.<br />
<br />
Sometimes certifications are needed for various positions. You can
learn this ahead of time by studying job descriptions. If you have
narrowed down the position you want, take steps to fulfill the
certification requirements after you apply for the job. This shows how
serious you are about working and will impress the employer during an
interview.<br />
<br />
By <span class="article_author_line"><span class="article_author_line">William F. Edwards</span></span></span>pretyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15122842845916888618noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4119474529814903865.post-44410733598831718372012-07-08T04:17:00.000-07:002012-10-03T04:18:14.056-07:00Expert Travel And Tour Tips For The Napa Valley<span id="articlebody" itemprop="articleBody"></span><br />
Traveling to the <span class="IL_AD" id="IL_AD1">Napa Valley</span>? Here are some important travel tips to keep in mind as you prepare your trip.<br />
The Napa Valley is Northeast of San Francisco and about the same distance from SFO airport, Oakland airport and Sacramento airport.<br />
<br />
Speaking of distances, here are some travel times to other Northern California destinations:<br />
• Napa to San Francisco about an hour and a half to two hours.<br />• Napa to Carmel/Monterey about three and a half hours.<br />• Napa to Yosemite Valley about 4 hours.<br />• Napa to Mendocino about 3 hours or so.<br />• Napa to Reno about 4 hours but more in the Winter.<br />• Napa to Los Angeles about 6 and a half hours.<br />
<br />
Sacramento Airport – This is definitely your airport of choice if you
are flying in AND your local airport has flights that go there. It is
so much easier to exit the terminal, get a <span class="IL_AD" id="IL_AD2">rental car</span>, be on your way and drive to Napa (about one hour door to door).<br />
<br />
If you arrive early on a weekday, you will encounter some commute
traffic as you head toward Napa – so, your drive will take more than an
hour.<br />
If you are leaving Napa mid-afternoon on a weekday, ADD extra time to
your travel plans to make sure you are able to get to the airport on
time.<br />
Can’t avoid San Francisco or Oakland airports? <br />
Here are some travel tips.<br />
These airports are on major commute corridors.<br />
SFO – Unless you are arriving around noon or leaving about 3:00 PM or
traveling after about 6:00 PM you will be DEEP in the middle of commute
traffic. On a good day the trip will be about an hour and 15 minutes.
On a bad day it can be over 3 hours of travel time. Plan <span class="IL_AD" id="IL_AD3">according to</span> your arrival time.<br />
Oakland Airport – Unless you are arriving around noon or leaving
about 3:00 PM or traveling after about 6:00 PM you will be DEEP in the
middle of commute traffic. On a good day the trip will be about an hour
and 15 minutes. On a bad day it can be over 3 hours of travel time.<br />
<br />
No, that’s not a typo, both airports are about the same distance from the Napa Valley and use the same freeways. So, plan according to your arrival time. Or, better yet, use the Sacramento Airport.<br />
Other considerations include whether a major sports game is being
played on the day you are arriving or leaving or whether there is major
earthquake retrofit work going on one of the bridges you are crossing.<br />
Speaking of bridges, tolls are $5 on the Golden Gate, $3 on the Bay
Bridge and the Carquinez Bridge. Both the Bay and Carquinez toll rates
are currently under review and will likely go up.<br />
<br />
Some freeways allow you to use a commute lane if you have two or more
and sometimes three or more people in your vehicle. Watch for the sign
to tell you if you have to have two or three total occupants in your
vehicle. The ticket costs a minumum of $271 if you are pulled over by
the Highway Patrol.<br />
If you have more time or are already in San Francisco or neighboring
towns, another beautiful drive is to travel over the Golden Gate bridge.<br />
<br />
It is typical urban traffic in town, can be congested during weekday
commute times, but is a nice scenic drive once you head East on Hwy 37
and turn <span class="IL_AD" id="IL_AD4">North</span> on to Hwy 121.
This route is about 10 miles longer but can be about the same time or
even less than the other routes because of less commute congestion.<br />
The Napa Valley is a gorgeous international destination to visit.<br />
With a little thought and preparation, you will have a wonderful visit.<br />
Have a great trip.<br />
<br />
By <span class="article_author_line"><span class="article_author_line">Steve Sands</span></span><br />
pretyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15122842845916888618noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4119474529814903865.post-87490095317021312592012-07-01T04:13:00.000-07:002012-10-03T04:15:13.977-07:00South India Tour Travel Holidays<span id="articlebody" itemprop="articleBody"></span><br />
South <span class="IL_AD" id="IL_AD2">India tour</span>
that a trip to India makes you with beach tour, wildlife tour South
India, Monuments, temples, cultural and art gallery tour, South <span class="IL_AD" id="IL_AD1">India sightseeing</span> tour, ayurveda and backwater tour that provides beautiful scenic views and stay in luxury beach resorts in South India.<br />
<br />
South India Tour includes Enchanting Kerala tour that includes tour
to Cochin, Munnar, Thekkady, Kumarakom, Allepey, Trivandrum,
Kanyakumari, Trivandrum while South India tour accommodation consists in
5, 4, 3 star hotels that you can select as per your budget. Apart from
enchanting Kerala tour a trip to India offers you with Culture &
Heritage exotic South India tour and South India Pilgrimage Tour that
includes tour to Bombay, Goa, Belgaum, Badami, Aihole, Hospet, Hassan,
Madikeri, Mysore, Bangalore, Chennai, Kanchipuram, Mamallapuram,
Pondicherry, Trichy, Thanjavur, Madurai, Rameshwaram, Coimbatore, Ooty,
Nagarhole.<br />
<br />
India Tour packages includes adventure tour where you have chance to
experience mountaineering, camping and rock climbing on the various
mountain ranges in India along with adventure sports. Apart from this it
also includes Wildlife tours that takes you to wildlife safaris and
visit the wildlife sanctuaries of India. India is also known for <span class="IL_AD" id="IL_AD3">cultural diversity</span> which you can experience during classical <span class="IL_AD" id="IL_AD4">India tours</span>, fair and festival tours and arts and crafts tours which offer you the scope to experience the cultural diversity of India.<br />
<br />
India is a vast country with different states and tourist destinations and sightseeing places. Golden Triangle tours under India tour
take you to renowned tourist destinations in north India and central
India where you can visit to tourists places at Delhi, Agra, Rajasthan,
and Varanasi, Khajuraho, Amritsar, Mandawa, Sarnath, Mumbai and other
tourist spots. It also includes South India tour to visit Bangalore, Mysore and Ooty under south golden triangle tour.<br />
<br />
While South India tour you also get chance to Visits to the Holy
Saints of South India that takes you to tour to Puttaputhy, Tirupati,
Chennai, Madurai, Kanyakumari, Trivandrum, Delhi. This tour is starts
from Delhi where you visit to red fort, Raj Ghat, Jama Masjid, Humayun's
Tomb, Safdarjung's Tomb and Qutab Minar. After Delhi tour you get
chance to visit to Sri Sathya Sai Baba Ashram at Puttaparthi. After
Puttaparthi South India tour takes you to Tirupati where you visit to Lord Balaji Temple. After this India tours
get its way to Mahabalipuram where you visit to Kanchipuram and
Kamakshi Temple. After mahabalipuram you visit to Kanchipuram which is
the most famous of the 'temple cities' of Tamil Nadu. Here you get
chance to visit kanyakumari and Mata Amritanandamayi Ashram at
Trivandrum.<br />
<br />
A trip to India also provide complete tour to palms and backwaters
Kerala that include tour to Cochin, Periyar, Munnar, Kumarakom,
Alappuzha, Kovalam, Trivandrum. This tour consists scenic route filled
with plantations of rubber, cardamom, cocoa, green pepper and areca nut,
to the wildlife reserve at Periyar together with Spice & Handicraft
shops and shopping at Ernakulam. Visitors can also go for famous hill
station at Kerala and visit to Kumarakom near Kottayam and stay in one
of the backwater resorts. Tour to South India takes tourists to Kovalam
that is famous for beach of Kerala, with three adjacent crescent beaches
and international beach Resort with full of Coconut trees. You can also
take your way to Trivandrum that provides most scenic views, Ayurvedic
Massage, Water Sports, Kathakali dance performance and backwaters, is
among the most beautiful states of India.<br />
<br />
By <span class="article_author_line"><span class="article_author_line">Prabh Singh</span></span><br />
pretyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15122842845916888618noreply@blogger.com