Posts made in August, 2010

Top Five Travel Tips for an Adventure Tour

Posted by admin on Aug 25, 2010 in Travel Agent | Comments Off

Adventure touring can really test your mettle, whether you are traveling on your own or with your family. Part of the fun of an adventure tour is the inherent danger of the activity – but that’s no reason to be foolish. There are ways that you can reduce dangers and increase the fun quotient. These are five top tips to get the most out of your adventure tour.

1. Follow the Boy Scout motto – be prepared by planning ahead.

There’s an old saying – measure twice, cut once. When you plan ahead, you’ll be prepared for most of the mishaps that can happen on a wild outdoor adventure. One of the best ways to be prepared is to book your tour with a reputable and experienced tour company. A responsible adventure tour agent will provide you with all the information that you need to prepare yourself properly for the tour you book through them. If they don’t provide information like a list of documents and items you should bring with you, ask. If they don’t have one to offer, you might reconsider booking a tour through them.

Extra: You’ll need the basic documents, of course – passport, travel visa and return tickets – but as international security increases around the world, you may require additional documentation to cross some borders. Other documents you may need to present include vaccination certificates and proof that you have booked accommodation. If you are traveling with children, most travel agents strongly suggest that you bring proof that you have legal custody of the children.

2. Bring your own first aid kit.

Along with any prescription medication, you should also bring along any medications and medical supplies that you are likely to need – especially if you’re picky about brands. You won’t find any nearby pharmacies when you’re out in the middle of the Amazon highlands – or the Appalachian trails. If you’re on an organized adventure tour, your tour guide should have a first aid kit and basic medical supplies, but it never hurts to be sure you have the things you need with you. Especially in a foreign country, there is no guarantee that your favorite brand of painkiller will be available.

Extra: An ounce of prevention, says the old adage, and it’s doubly true when you’re vacationing away from “civilization”. Bug spray and sunscreen are a must, as are enough cleaning solution for contacts, or an extra pair of eyeglasses. Pack along your favored brand of pain reliever, a wrap-around bandage and an ice pack.

3. Check health and travel alerts.

If you’re traveling overseas, do yourself a favor and keep up to date on the health and travel alerts issued by the U.S. State Department. Informed travel is safe travel. There are many things that might affect your safety on an adventure trip – besides the dangers you are looking forward to braving. Extreme weather conditions, the political climate and health alerts can all make a difference in your planning. Be aware, and keep yourself informed so that you know what you may be facing.

Extra: You can research your trip and sign up for notifications about travel and safety alerts at allsafetravel.com. The site tracks safety, health and weather alerts issued by governments around the world to provide accurate information that is up to the minute for your destination.

4. Check in with your health insurance.

Are you covered if you break your leg in Nepal? Trip and travel insurance is a must when you’re traveling, but be sure that you know what will be covered. Your trip insurance should cover more than just treatment for an illness or accident. Look for repatriation coverage, and be sure that your policy covers you for any activities that you plan on doing. Many travel and trip policies specifically exclude extreme sports like whitewater rafting and rock climbing, or even skiing.

Extra: Bring along written prescriptions for all medications that you take regularly and keep them separate from your medications themselves. Check with your travel agent about riders on standard travel and trip insurance to extend coverage beyond the standard coverage.

5. Take what you bring and leave what you find.

In other words – leave nothing behind. It’s basic hiking advice. Eco-tours and other adventure tour agencies emphasize the importance of preserving and protecting the environment. Make a point of cleaning up after yourself when you stop and camp. If you bring it in with you, take it out when you leave, and if you find it on the trail, leave it there.

Extra: The best souvenirs to bring home with you are photos and memories. There’s no better use for extra weight allowance than extra batteries for your video or digital camera.

Travel Packages: Get the Best Bargain Deals

Posted by admin on Aug 25, 2010 in Travel Agent | Comments Off

Stress has become a part of the every day life of every human being. When stress mounts from all the things we do everyday, it’s time to have a real getaway. For this, you have a variety of cheap travel packages available to suit your needs.

If you would like to get away to Mexico, Cozumel, Cancuun, Hawaii, the Caribbean or other such great places, can you really afford them? Would you believe that there are vacation packages costing you for less than $300? Yes, there are all-inclusive most affordable travel packages that you could go with them. All-inclusive means airfare, drinks, meals and star-rating accommodations are all included. To make the things even better, cash back sites and e-shops have emerged as weeds over the web space, creating a competition among various portals for offering the best and cheap deals to the travelers. You can make the most of this opportunity created by this boom and can book your travel package online.

The best method to enjoy your vacation is to take up travel packages after comparing those from various travel agencies, hotels and airlines and selecting that are cheap and that can suit your travel needs. As better deals are now available on vacation packages and airfares, you can set your sight on trips to distant places to see what others have to offer. You can always have a look at various vacation packages available over websites. Packages offer you savings over vacation arrangements when purchased individually, irrespective of whether you plan to leave immediately or plan for a vacation well in advance. Travel packages offered by travel agents are available in various forms in abundance; but the one that is best needs to be chosen. You can also compare the rates offered by various travel agents to choose the best one.

Some of the dream vacation packages offered are:

Las Vegas vacations, Disney vacations, Mexico vacations, European vacations, California vacation packages, Florida vacation packages, Cheap Hawaii vacation package, Cheap Caribbean vacations, New York vacations and ski vacation packages. Most travel packages include airport transfers, accommodation, food and sight seeing for creating a perfect holiday plan that can relieve you from all the worries.

You can also check out some cheap vacation packages by clicking on websites offering Last Minute Travel Deals and Vacation Deals and then talk to the travel agents for comparison. Such travel packages are vital and offer you peace of mind in the first place. You need to pay attention to the monetary aspect also apart from the comfort factor while choosing a travel package. Some travel packages offer exciting discounted rates to some exotic locales. You need to do a little bit of planning and research for your dream vacation to have an enjoyable trip. These travel packages include almost everything from airport transfers to 5-star accommodation and from meals to sight seeing. These packagers take upon themselves to create that perfect holiday plan for you, relieving you from all causes of worry.

By taking up a vacation package, you need not slog down for the preparations as you used to do earlier in the absence of travel packages. You can bring in a lot of smile for you and your family by choosing a travel package that involves less effort and less time to be spent upon.

World Travel For Pretty Much Nothing at All

Posted by admin on Aug 25, 2010 in World Travel | Comments Off

Maybe you’ve realized that I find a way to see several places and you’ve thought to yourself “Boy, I wish I had the amount of money to accomplish this!”

The truth is, so do I. And the second truth is that I don’t. In the past a few years it’s been the exception in lieu of the rule for me to have a work. I do not possess any savings. I’m struggling with debt up to my ears (but am constantly deferring my student education loans) yet even so in the previous year, I’ve managed to travel on three continents, have a very fabulous marriage ceremony while in the Sahara, and get several little side trips and excursions in too.

How do I undertake it?

Honestly, I am not sure, but the following is some of what I’ve identified about how to travel for almost nothing. Inchallah, it’s going to inspire one or two of you out there to get off your butts thus hitting the road like you’ve always wanted. If it does as well as your life changes forever, at any time donate a couple of bucks using my paypal donate button over in the left side of the website. Every small amount assists in keeping this Vagobond and his wife on the go.

A trip to the market in America costs most than I spend on almost all of my escapades. World Travel and Tour doesn’t have to be expensive. The fact is that, there’s lots of times that it’s at no cost.

Of course the travel agencies, cruiselines, and airlines don’t want you to know that. Major hotels and resorts live off of people that do not know where they would stay without Hilton or Marriott to house them. Those people and the talking heads in the media earn their salaries selling trips to all-inclusive resorts and big time guided tours of places you can walk through totally free.

They are banking on the very fact that your imagination stops at your credit card which most people are just too damn scared to take a risk once they leave the confining comfort of their own home. I’m gonna spoil that misconception. Unless those guys start sponsoring me, I will keep offering tips and tricks that open the entire world back to you.

Nothing holds you back in excess of fear. Concern with the unknown. FDR said it right, we have nothing to fear but fear itself. Face it, you’re gonna die and you’re likely to lose everything. Most of us do. You will have almost no control about when that’s going to happen. Those things makes a lot of people miss out on the benefits of travel is that they think they are able to control it and so they stay at home watching Jeopardy until they die of a coronary. They know the geography of the world, but they’ve never seen it. If you don’t open the door, you will not see anything but the television.

Tip #1 for Low cost World Travel:

Forget about all of that routine that arises from you looking to overcome your own dead end. The best thing about living is totally new experience and you may have as much as you choose for free. If you step away from your societal imposed responsibilities, you find that this world opens up and provides you with more fulfillment than you’ll ever find trying to get your future security at the expense of the present.

When you start breaking free of your routine, you will discover that the wonder of new faces and destinations, taste amazing new foods, and find out secrets about yourself and the world that you never expected to find.

Every completely new wonder unfolds before you such as a road that is hidden from view and as with any road, a whole new experience usually connect you with another and another and another. If you walk the road of travel, you’re able to experience life in a different way at the time you take a package vacation or proceed through the daily motions in the ‘home’. The fact is that, the world is your home, only if you choose to accept it.

Sunsets are free. Mountaintops don’t cost you a thing. Walking via a public market takes no dime. Striking up a conversation with someone working beside a road you’re walking down lead to adventures you can’t imagine. Just finding yourself in a new place will give you more insights about yourself as well as the world than all the new clothes, fancy meals, or well rehearsed tourist trips can ever offer you.

Your mentality stands out as the major why world travel costs a lot. Change it and you’ll know that few things are as affordable.

Own a Travel Business- Unlimited Paid Vacations

Posted by admin on Aug 25, 2010 in Travel Agent | Comments Off

When starting a home business there are many industries to choose from. There is health and nutrition, affiliate marketing, adsense and more. But why would you go for chump change in any of thos when you can join the elite in an industry that grosses more than all others combined. At $7.1 trillion dollars a year travel is by far the most profitable and secure. Owning an online travel business can be fun and exciting but beware when choosing a company.

Expedia, hotwire, and other online distributors handle over 80% of all travel bookings. Travel is now done at home instead of driving to a brick and mortar establishment.

Let’s face it, as technology advances, human interaction is slowly taken out of the equation. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, because now instead of paying more to a Certified Travel Agent to book your trips, you can become a CTA yourself and save thousands every year while even making money off the trips you book.

Another fact that makes this industry so appealing is that there is very little competition in online travel. There are few travel companies compared to the thousands that market the next “wonder vitamin”. The others are big ticket, $1000-$3000 dollar programs that mostly use the travel perks as an excuse to have money exchange hands.

Some online travel companies get caught up in recruiting agents and lose the travel aspect of their business. Without the travel aspect, these companies can be shut down for being a pyramid/ponzi scheme. One of the major online travel business suppliers has recently lost its IATA credentials. This means they are no longer authorized to book through Marriot Hotels, Hyatt Hotels, and Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines. If you cannot book travel with every distributor then YTB (Your Travel Business) may not be for you.

What is recommended when looking to start an online travel business, check out how they book travel. See how you are certified, don’t be an RTA, or referring travel agent; you want to be a CTA so you can book directly with suppliers and save the most money. Most important factor is that your travel company is based around travel and not just recruiting. I hope to see you all on a cruise sometime enjoying life, cheers to your success.

Consequential Travel Tips #1

Posted by admin on Aug 24, 2010 in Travel Agent | Comments Off

CONSEQUENTIAL TRAVEL TIPS # 1 WRITTEN BY DONNA TOUCHETTE  /  DMT Travel

EXTRA LUGGAGE– It may be possible to purchase the right to check a third bag, at a cost of something like $125. In high capacity travel times however, it may no longer be possible to elect this option, at any price. Again, don’t be stymied at the gate. Check with your airline in advance.

TAG YOUR BAGS…INSIDE AND OUT — It is surprising to note how many people arrive at the airport with no identification on their luggage. Wiser travelers will have at least two external tags securely affixed to each piece of luggage, and one taped inside the cover of each bag for good measure.

 WHAT TO WEAR FOR SMOOTHER CHECK-IN — Almost all clothing accessories, including shoes, belts, hats, sweaters, jackets, etc. must be removed and sent through the x-ray machine. Simplify matters for yourself by wearing such items that are relatively easy for you to remove and re-don. On another note, wear at least one garment that has secure button-down or Velcro pockets suitable to keeping your passport, wallet, pen, glasses and other critical items safely on your person. A travel shirt such as Ex Officio, safari pants with good button pockets, and/or a photo journalist style vest or jacket can be very helpful in securing important items.

CARRY-ON LUGGAGE — As of now travelers in the USA are limited to one carry-on bag, plus the equivalent of a purse, laptop bag, or small backpack. You are advised not to test the capacity limits, as your carry-on may be denied boarding, or forced to be checked. Plan and pack accordingly.

 HURRY UP and WAIT — Early arrival at the airport for check-in is now more important than ever. You will avoid many problems and much distress simply by arriving at the airport check-in counter a generous two hours or more in advance of your flight departure. In fact, on some recent Singapore Airlines flights, they asked that you check in 3-1/2 hours prior to flight time.

CONNECTING FLIGHTS — When planning connecting flights, allow at least three hours for you and your luggage to change planes, especially when making an inter-airline connection and/or clearing Immigration and Customs .I know that sitting around the airports for that long is no fun but cutting this too close can ruin a great trip before it even begins.

 FALL-BACK OPTION — Avoid scheduling the last flight that will connect from your home airport to the major gateway. If your flight is late or cancelled due to weather or mechanical issues, your entire vacation may be placed be in jeopardy. If at all possible, book an earlier flight for a safety cushion.

 YOUR PASSPORT if you’re planning on vacationing in another country, you’re going to need a valid passport. If this is your first passport, you’ll need to apply in person at least 5 weeks before your planned departure. You can go to your local county courthouse, a U.S. Passport Agency, a probate court, or certain post offices. For more information, click on: http://www.dmttravel.com. Be sure to make two photocopies of your passport before you go on your trip. Bring one with you and leave the other with a friend.

 TRAVELER’S CHECKS try to avoid carrying large sums of cash when you are traveling. Bring only the credit cards you plan on using and pick up some traveler’s checks before you go. If you need to cash a traveler’s check while you’re on vacation, be careful! Banks have been known to charge up to 20 percent of the travelers check’s face value. Try to find a bank that sells the same brand. Your fees will be lower and you can save that extra money for souvenirs.

 MEDICAL PREPAREDNESS Prepare a medical kit to take along. Be sure to include any prescription medications, (take a few days extra of your prescription medication, you never know when your trip might be extended) also bring medications for stomachache, earache, pain, and diarrhea. You should also carry a copy of your eyeglass or contact lens prescription, and an extra pair of both.

 RESTRICTIONS WITH CARRY-ON BAGGAGE The Transportation Security Administration (a division of US Department of Homeland Security) has recently revised its restrictions on items in carry-on luggage for flights originating in the US. Due to enhanced security measures liquids, gels, lotions and other items of similar consistency will not be permitted in carry-on baggage. These types of items must be packed in your checked baggage. These are some tips to avoid spills inside your suitcase:* Liquids and gels should be in plastic containers, stowed inside clear zippered plastic bags for ease of inspection by TSA officials .For the perfect travel container visit www.dmttravel.com/accessories.html* Squeeze all the air out of any liquid or gel containers to avoid leaks, as products expand in flight.* Pack liquids and gels near the hinge of a suitcase to minimize movement .These are some notable exceptions:* Baby formula and breast milk are allowed in your carry-on baggage or personal items. You can take these through the security checkpoints and aboard your plane. However, you must be traveling with a baby or toddler. All items including formula or breast milk will be inspected.* Liquid prescription medicine with a name that matches the passenger’s ticket, up to 5 oz. of liquid or gel low blood sugar treatment, including juice; and up to 4 oz. of non-prescription liquid medications including saline solution, eye care products and KY jelly are permitted.* Gel-filled bras and similar prosthetics* Gel-filled wheelchair cushions* Life support and life sustaining liquids such as bone marrow, blood products, and transplant organs carried for medical reasons. More details are published on the Transportation Security Administration web site. Make sure to visit http://www.tsa.gov/ for the latest restrictions before packing your carry-on luggage and reaching an airport security check point

.HEALTH INSURANCE WHILE TRAVELING when traveling overseas, check your health insurance. Many policies won’t cover you once you leave the U.S. If you need insurance, there are a number of companies that offer travel coverage plans. Please call me at 888-339-4400 or contact me at groupspecialist@hotmail.com and we can discuss which plans will meet your personal needs.

 AIRLINES’ SEAT POCKETS before you stick your hand into the seat pocket in front of you, think about what the last few passengers may have left in there. They are the dumping ground for everything from rotten food to used diapers. It may surprise you to learn that aircraft are given a deep cleaning only once a month. How is still the question? Planes are lightly cleaned between flights (obvious trash picked up, crumbs brushed off) and cleaned overnight (toilets, galley, seatback pockets emptied, floors vacuumed). So before you put your hand in someone’s used Kleenex, think twice before reaching into the seat pocket – and don’t even ask me about the pillows and blankets.

 GETTING THE BEST SEAT ON THE PLANE why do airlines only reserve seats for you if you remember to ask? By the time you remember, the good ones are gone. To get the better coach seats, you want to avoid the restrooms and galleys because they’re busy with lots of traffic. The seats in the last row and in front of exits often don’t recline, Middle seats are cramped. Bulkheads have more leg room, because no one reclines into your lap, Window seats have a view but less head room or aisle access. Show up when the counter opens to get the desirable exit row.

 TRAVEL AGENTS VS. ONLINE BOOKING who can take care of refunds and changes when you have booked your trip online? Don’t be surprised when the answer is no one. All that time spent online is doubled when you have to get on the phone and make a change. Forget the refund, as online specials are usually non-refundable. Need help overseas? I cringe for you. Internet specials are great until you have a problem or need to make changes. That is where travel agents are lifesavers, especially if you are out of the country. Definitely go online to do research. Compare prices and look at hotel photos and airline seating charts. But for an expensive or complicated itinerary, use a travel agent. And pack their cell phone number.

 YOUR CREDIT CARD IS REFUSED OVERSEAS you having dinner at the Eiffel Tower when your credit card is refused. Furious, you spend an hour calling home to discover your card was shut down due to suspicious activity- someone has been using it in France! Since no one called the credit card company back when they left you a message at your home, the account was frozen for your protection. It was not for your protection. You have limited liability. It was the credit card company covering their rear and they do it all the time. To avoid this, call your credit card companies and inform them of your travel dates & destinations, take travelers checks and travel with more than one card.

 PROTECTING YOUR PASSPORT Now that you have your passport for travel to the Caribbean and Mexico you need to take steps to avoid it being lost or stolen. Immediately make several copies. Leave one copy at home, put two copies in your carry on bag, and leave one copy with someone who could fax it to you if yours is lost or stolen. In case yours disappears, a copy of your passport will significantly speed up the time it takes to get a replacement, especially overseas. I prefer hard copies but some people scan their passports to file on their laptop. In your hotel, put your passport in the hotel safe with the majority of your credit cards and carry one of the copies with you for shopping and money changing. 

SHIPPING TIPS if you use a credit card for a purchase or service overseas, keep your receipts and double check your bill. There are thousands of mistakes on international credit card purchases, but unfortunately, there’s very little recourse. One common problem is receiving defective merchandise that has been shipped. The law only protects you if it was shipped within your home state or if you lived within one hundred miles of the mailing address. Therefore, don’t ship without good insurance. And what about the merchant who adds extra zeroes or moves the decimal point to increase the charge? This happens all the time. You must notify your credit card company in writing within 60 days. You’ll also need to send a copy to the appropriate federal agencies as well, and believe it or not, the Director of Tourism of the offending country. Often the promise of bad publicity from an American tourist can nudge the merchant to withdraw.

 DECLARE YOUR ITEMS you are required by U.S. Law to declare all items acquired in other countries. That includes repairs to items you took with you and any gifts you may have received. You’ll fill out a customs declaration form when reentering the United States. Keep a record of what you acquire abroad and keep your receipts. Take the necessary time to register any foreign-made jewelry or electronic equipment at the customs office before you leave, to prove you didn’t buy them on the trip. Appraisals, receipts, insurance policies, and permanently affixed numbers are proof of prior ownership. If you fail to register these items, you may be required to pay a duty on them when you return home. The most important thing you can do is be informed. Believe me, this is the one situation where honesty is the best policy! For more tips and all your travel needs visit: http://www.dmttravel.com.

Donna Touchette