Posts made in June, 2010

Basic Guide To Budget Travel

Posted by admin on Jun 30, 2010 in World Travel | Comments Off

The world of budget travel is one of the most exciting and interesting, and in today’s world traveling on a budget is becoming more and more of a necessity.

Keeping costs low while traveling is important, whether you are a solo traveler seeing the world for the first time or a family with a carload full of kids heading for the beach or the theme park.

When it comes to coming up with a travel budget, the first step should be to decide what is important to you and where you can cut back a bit.

For instance, some travelers are comfortable spending a bit more for a better class of hotel, while others prefer to save money by using budget accommodations and spend the money they saved on sightseeing or a special meal for the family.

As with other aspects of finance, it is a good idea to create a travel budget. Determine a budget for the various aspects of your vacation, such as hotel, airfare, rental cars, sightseeing, gasoline, etc. Once you have a good idea of what each element of the vacation should cost, it is time to start shopping around for the best deals.

Once you have determined what is most important to you, it is time to start determining how to get the best deals. Often, admission deals on area attractions are the easiest to come by, since many theme parks, museums and other destinations run specials to attract out of town guests.

To score big discounts on area attractions, the best place to start is the web site of the attraction itself. Be sure to check the web site for any specials, such as two for one deals, free admission for children, special reduced admission days, etc.

If you are a member of the military, a senior citizen or a member of an organization such as AAA, there are often additional discounts available.

Most AAA offices sell discount admission tickets to theme parks, museums and other popular attractions within driving distance, and most AAA offices sell discounted admissions to popular attractions like Walt Disney World as well.

The key to making your travel budget stretch farther is to ask about, and take advantage of, all discounts that may be available.

If you are driving to your destination, one great way to make your travel budget go further is to make sure your car is in tip top shape before embarking on your trip.

Small details, such as under-inflated tires or worn spark plugs can really eat into your gas mileage and end up costing you a bundle, especially on a long road trip.

A good map can also be a money saver, since it will keep you from driving around in circles and wasting gas.

Finding your way easily to and from the hotel and the surrounding area will make your vacation more pleasant and less costly.

No matter how you save money on your next vacation, having a budget and sticking to it will help you enjoy your vacation more, and worry less about paying for it.

How to Win Free Travel Competitions

Posted by admin on Jun 27, 2010 in World Travel | Comments Off

If you want to see the world but have limited means or you have travelled before and caught the travel bug and every day is spent saving for your next big adventure; why not try to win a holiday abroad. It’s not as ridiculous as it sounds, today with thousands of companies using the internet to reach their clients they are doing anything to stand out from the crowd. Hundreds of travel agents and travel companies advertise through the internet, combined with dedicated competition listing sites it’s easier than ever to enter loads of good travel competitions.

The internet has been the major changing factor now that you can enter so many travel competitions from the comfort of your own computer you actually stand a chance of winning. All you have to do is spend ten minutes searching your browser under headings like holiday competition or Online Competition you will find loads of companies running competitions to send the winners to fantastic destinations around the world. The guardian runs a regular competition to some of the mot exotic places on the globe.

At La Manga Spain we are giving you the opportunity of a life time, you could be the lucky winner who could take 3 of your friends with you on a break to La Manga Resort in Spain. You don’t have to be a genius or spend hours filling in forms, you don’t have to buy anything, in fact entry is completely free, all you have to do is refer a friend to our weekly E-mail. That’s not the best bit though. For every additional person you add we will re-enter you into the draw meaning for every person you recommend your possibility of winning will go up equally. There’s no limit to the amount of time you can enter so add as many as possible.

Should you be lucky enough to win this travel competition you will receive a week’s accommodation in the exclusive Los Olivos apartments at La Manga Resort. These luxy apartments will make a fantastic place to base your self during your stay, play golf tennis or go horse riding, simply sit by the pool or explore this magical area of Spain,

The beautiful Calblanque national park is right on your door step and a must travel destination for any nature lovers. Murcia, Cartagena and many interesting villages and towns can all be reached in under an hour. La Manga Spain would make a perfect travel destination especially if you have won the holiday with out having to pay a penny.

La Manga Club in southern Spain is one of the world’s great holiday resorts. The Club has been voted resort category winner at the prestigious World Travel Awards 3 times in the past 5 years.

La Manga Club in Spain is an exclusive purpose built resort in the Costa Blanca region. It is surrounded by the beautiful rolling Murcian hills, the Mediterranean Sea and the unique Mar Menor lagoon. Much time and consideration went into the development and design of the resort it has been built with great consideration of the natural setting. Both buildings and grounds compliment the existing landscape of this wonderful area of Spain making the club a spectacular place to stay during a holiday.

Made up of individual communities there truly is a property to suit every requirement. La Manga Club is entirely self sufficient with shops, supermarkets, restaurants, bars, banks, petrol stations and loads of sporting and leisure facilities, virtually anything you can image is catered for.

Travel Guides In The Digital Age

Posted by admin on Jun 24, 2010 in World Travel | Comments Off

Since the world turned digital many things have changed. Music went from being stored on records to CD, film from VHS to DVD, and now television has gone from analogue to digital signal. Books, too, are beginning to succumb to the effects of technological progress, not least in the form of Kindle and its ilk – portable digital book devices which store downloaded books inside them.

However, the thing I wish to focus on is the validity of travel guides in the digital age. I don’t raise this point in relation to technology like Kindle, but rather as a point in relation to the nature of the internet. Today it is possible to get a huge amount of information from the internet, and perhaps one of the most freely available information sources on the web is on the topic of travel.

Every country wants to promote itself on the global marketplace to encourage tourism and this means more and more officially sponsored websites are popping up which provide all manner of detailed information for a visit to the locale. Japan provides one excellent example of exactly this sort of website. However, alongside these there are also unofficial, but equally detailed, guides being provided by those who wish to make money through advertising on their website. And then there is the Wiki Travel guide – the travel equivalent of Wikipedia.

Wherever you want to travel in the world you can find out about it on the internet at the press of a button. In minutes you can have all the fundamental knowledge you’ll need for visiting any place, anywhere, any time. So where does this leave the travel guide? Is it an outdated type of book?

Simply put, I say no. There are a host of reasons why a travel guide is still an excellent purchase. You may be able to get your information online, but can you vouch for its credibility as much as say, a Fodor’s or Dorling Kindersley guide book? Does it have the same authority? If comparing to a government sponsored site then there’s also the matter of, for want of a better phrase, government propaganda – all the over-hyping that will go into trying to sell you a place to visit.

Beyond this there is also the matter of having reference material available at all times. Checking up on where you want to go online is one thing, but what if you want to change plans mid-way through the day and don’t have another source of information to consult? This is just one practical reason to having a travel guide, but there are others. Knowing that the book is written by somebody who has actually been there, and that recommendations are on good authority, also comes in handy. And usually a travel guide provides a depth of information which you wouldn’t so easily be able to access on an immediate basis simply by searching the internet.

These are just some of the reasons that travel guides are as valuable as they ever were if you’re planning a trip abroad, and on this basis it looks as if this humble cornerstone of world-travel and holiday-making is firmly here to stay.

Is Travel Insurance A Rip-Off?

Posted by admin on Jun 21, 2010 in World Travel | Comments Off

Is travel insurance a rip-off? That is a simple question with a complicated answer. To properly understand this issue, you should first understand what travel insurance is. The definition of travel insurance is fairly straightforward -it’s short term insurance that covers you while you are on vacation. Travel insurance coverage depends on the parameters of the policy, but in general it extends to lost or broken luggage, thefts that happen during your vacation, medical needs that might arise during your vacation and lost personal items.

There have been many documented occasions of travel insurers being downright fraudulent. The internet is rife with examples. Many people have complained about travel insurance that travel agencies or airlines recommend for them being absurdly expensive, difficult or impossible to use, or even non-existent. In some cases, class-action lawsuits have been filed and have been paid to fraud victims. Many people have claimed that exploitative travel agents offered them vacation packages at seemingly steep discounts, only to force them to purchase overpriced travel insurance packages.

That said, not all travel insurers are bad, and buying travel insurance is not always a bad idea. There are many reputable, well-organized, established travel insurers out there. The best thing you can do if you are considering travel insurance is do your homework. Compare different travel insurers’ rates and coverage packages. Read the fine print. Check consumer reports and fraud awareness websites.

Here is a brief list of circumstances in which you might find yourself where traveler’s insurance can be a big help. If you suspect you might run into one or more of these problems during your trip, then traveler’s insurance is probably a good idea.

Your flight is canceled. If you are flying during a very high-volume holiday season and the weather is predicted to be particularly bad, traveler’s insurance might come in handy.

Your bags are lost and you have prescription medication. You need to have an emergency prescription filled. If you have critical medical needs, then traveler’s insurance is absolutely a good idea. You will want to be sure and have a quality, proven insurer with strong medical coverage. Regardless, you will want to put any prescription medications in your carry-on in case your luggage is lost.

Your passport and wallet are stolen and you need emergency cash and a new passport. It isn’t easy to predict a theft, but if you are traveling to an area where you are at greater risk of having your wallet stolen, insurance is a good idea.

A hurricane forces you to evacuate your hotel, resort or cruise. Certain areas of the world are more susceptible to hurricanes, especially during a few months of the year. If you are traveling to one of these volatile locations during hurricane season, insurance could bail you out if a storm comes.

A terrorist incident occurs in the city you’re planning to visit and you want to cancel your trip. Terrorism is a horrific, tremendously unfortunate reality in today’s complicated world. It’s horrible to think about, but if you are traveling in a particularly volatile part of the world, travel insurance might ease your mind.

How To Backpack And Travel Safely In South America

Posted by admin on Jun 18, 2010 in World Travel | Comments Off

Becoming a victim of crime is a possibility no matter where you travel nowadays – even when you stay at home! However, being aware of some of the popular scams and tricks that criminals and opportunists use to victimize tourists can help avoid problems that could ruin a good trip.

South America is a popular destination for world travellers and especially for backpackers, adventure enthusiasts and those taking a gap year. The country certainly has plenty to offer and a wonderful variety of landscapes from tropical beaches to the spectacular Andes Mountains, Amazon rainforest, Iguazu Falls, active volcanoes, and fascinating wildlife of the Galapagos Islands. Many travellers choose to take in the exciting and colourful fiestas and carnivals, or visit the sites of ancient civilizations. (Tip: To avoid disappointment, tickets to visit the Inca Trail and ruins at Machu Picchu should be purchased in advance).

The best travel advice is to do lots of research and set off armed with as much knowledge as possible. Take a quality guide book and Spanish and Portuguese phrase books. Chances are that nothing bad will happen but, unfortunately, travellers are vulnerable and criminals know it. They will take any opportunity to separate you from your money and possessions! The most common crimes anywhere in the world involve theft and pickpockets and theft of passports is a huge problem worldwide. Care should be taken in places where it is easy to be distracted and forget to watch your belongings, such as airports, internet cafes, on public transport or while renting a car. Avoid using public transport at night or walking alone at night in isolated areas.

Thieves have been known to target tourists by pretending to be police officers, tour operators, taxi drivers, or other officials (for example, a real police officer will never ask to see your wallet!) Taxis should be booked in advance with a reputable company, when possible. So called ‘express kidnappings’ are a problem in some areas where victims have been held captive and their bank accounts emptied before they are released. Female travellers should be especially cautious, especially when walking alone at night, on public transport, and in isolated areas, as rapes have been reported. Be on guard also for spiking of drinks – a problem which has become more prevalent. Avoid accepting drinks from strangers, leaving drinks unattended, and make sure that they are poured in plain view.

Be aware that many shops, bars, restaurants, and hotels may not accept credit cards in South American countries. Watch for counterfeit money and bogus ATM machines. In Peru, in particular, some ATM machines do not release credit and debit cards automatically unless a button is pushed – and instructions are not always written in English! It goes without saying that travellers should avoid all contact with illegal drugs or drug trafficking as the penalties are severe, involving imprisonment for long periods in extremely unpleasant conditions.

All travellers, especially those with pre-existing medical conditions, should have a thorough check-up and necessary vaccinations before leaving home. Diseases like yellow fever, dengue fever, cholera, and malaria are problematic in many areas. Evidence of valid inoculations may be required to travel between some countries in South America.

The above tips are just a sample of the knowledge travellers should be armed with before setting off. The British Foreign and Commonwealth Office ‘Know before You Go’ campaign is an excellent resource for travellers. Their ‘Travel Advice by Country’ section contains current travel updates and advisories and the Travellers Checklist is another useful tool. Young travellers should pay attention to their Gap Year information. Avoid attracting the attention of police, keep the locals happy, and impress your travel companions with your awareness of local customs, laws and expected etiquette for each country.

Adventure travellers and adrenalin junkies will find plenty of outdoor activities and thrills. Activities like kayaking, white water rafting, surfing, hiking, mountain biking and mountaineering are popular. Care should be taken to ensure that the correct travel insurance policy is purchased which will provide cover for any potentially hazardous sports activities. Chile and Argentina are popular destinations for downhill skiing during the UK summer months and, again; don’t forget that additional insurance coverage may be needed.

Many areas in South America are remote with limited access to good emergency medical facilities. If a medical emergency should arise, medical care or evacuation and repatriation may be necessary. Without comprehensive travel insurance the costs could be astronomical and mean the end of any further world travel plans for a very long time!