Travel advice,guide trips,travel health,travel literature,finding cheap airfare,hotels,hostels,cruise,itineraries and destination information to inspire you from Lonely Planet. http://www.searchtravelguide.info Wed, 10 Mar 2010 06:21:50 +0100 FeedCreator 1.7.2 http://www.searchtravelguide.info/general/travel-insurance-do-not-go-abroad-without-it/ Your choice of a travel insurance policy is probably the most important decision you will make in planning your holiday. You will enjoy peace of mind on your vacation knowing that any unforeseen circumstances, such as a hospital stay due to sickness or accident will be taken care of. In addition, while many travelers have health insurance, it sometimes does not cover them outside of their network or outside of the United States. Most medical plans will not cover medical expenses abroad, which is why travel insurance coverage is vital to avoid financial disaster. Always check the details of your insurance coverage before you travel. Additionally, with out the proper medical insurance, you will not have a say on where you will be treated if you were in an accident. Generally, comprehensive travel insurance policy costs 5 to 7 percent of the price of your trip. Your policy may also provide reimbursement for lost luggage, some degree of medical evacuation insurance, accidental death coverage, medical expenses, personal liability, cancellation, loss of baggage and theft. Your policy should also include all the details of how to make a claim. Not all travel insurance plans are created equal. The cost varies from company and policy to policy. Policies may be purchased for individual trips or as an annual policy for all trips taken in the year of insurance. If you purchase an annual travel insurance policy, it will cover you for one year from the start date you choose. In some cases, it might be your best option to purchase a trip cancellation waiver and a third party travel insurance policy. Credit card companies usually provide what is called travel accident insurance, which covers accidents but not incidents of serious... articles - General Fri, 27 Mar 2009 16:19:42 +0100 http://www.searchtravelguide.info/general/how-to-be-safe-while-traveling-single/ If you want to meet new people, find a mate, increase your awareness, experience personal growth, lower your blood pressure or just relax. TRAVEL! You can try an all-inclusive resort that will give you the safety of communal living, yet flexible enough to provide you with a detail experience of your chosen destination. You can increase your experience encounters by signing up for tours offered by your resort. These mega resorts offer tours for shopping, sightseeing, night life, educational and adventure. If you would rather travel to 2, 3 or more cities then a cruise may be your best choice. There are single cruises that are high end, (meaning they won't make you feel like you are on the prowl)! Safety is a serious issue and should not be taken lightly. Listed below are 15 tips to increase your safety factor: 1. When you check into your hotel, give your Bellman a $5.00 to $10.00 tip. Tell him your name and ask him a question about your stay at the resort, Keep this conversation, brief and professional 2. Use the Hotel safe for money, your travel documents and jewelry. If you use your room safe, be sure you know how to operate the safe properly. 3. Always try to originate your cab ride from your hotel. When away from your hotel try to avoid asking strangers for directions. If you get lost or need help, go to the nearest Hotel (the larger the better) and ask for help at the Front desk! 4. Select your 'return trip cab' with caution and always be aware of your surroundings 5. Invest in a body purse or use a money belt. 6. Do not flash cash, foreign or domestic. If you are not sure of the money exchange, it is OK to leave a little extra money on the table. 7. When meeting... articles - General Fri, 27 Mar 2009 16:19:42 +0100 http://www.searchtravelguide.info/general/create-your-own-travel-discounts/ Hotel and rental car owners don’t just offer you discounts at random, you have to ask for it work for it, and sometimes, these discounts aren’t even worth it, well unless you’re looking to traveling during off peak season where there is at most a 50% discount. But let’s face it, we travel during peak season because this is the season when we actually have time to travel. So aside from waiting for your favorite hotel’s tirade of discounts during off peak season, when you can’t really travel and then end up not traveling at all, why not take the initiative and find your own ways to cheap travel, make your own discount. - Check detour flights other than the straight one you’re bound to get when you inquire. You can get cheaper overall prices if you choose to book two flights instead of one. Some people have been able to save as much as $2000 by doing this. - It is always better to buy food at the grocery and cook it yourself rather than eating everyday at a restaurant. You won’t want to spend all of your pocket money on food. Restaurants tend to have cheap and sometimes unhealthy food, ensure your own health as well as your pockets health by cooking your own, that is, after all, the reason why there’s a stove in your hotel room. - Travel to places which boast of natural beauty but have lower costs of living, prices here tend to be lower. Take the Philippines or Malaysia for example, both have great views and tourist spots but come without the hassle of overpricing, English speaking natives are also a plus for these countries. - If you’re planning to stay for more than a week, call the hotel that you’d want to stay in... articles - General Fri, 27 Mar 2009 16:19:42 +0100 http://www.searchtravelguide.info/general/10-tips-when-traveling-by-car-with-children/ With the rising costs of airfares and the increasing time it takes to get through security at the airports; more and more families are deciding to travel by car for their vacation. Most of us with young children are returning to the days we grew up in where we traveled most places by car with our parents. We started asking other friends for how they make the trip go easier and how they beat the Are we there yets? , here's ten tips to help your car vacation go a lot easier: 1. Decide do your kids do better in the early morning or evening hours for traveling? Which ever it is plan your travel to match, for this us our kids don't travel well in the morning they do much better if we leave after 2:00pm and travel into the evening. 2. Stock your car with favorite pre-bagged snacks for everyone, even parents, a cooler with lots of water and favorite drinks, colored pencils, crayons, a few coloring books, sticker books, travel games, and a travel journal for older kids. 3. Take along Gameboys games, personal CD/cassette players (even for little kids), and you can get books on tape from the library. 4. Do consider a portable DVD player, this makes 5 or 6 hour a day seem like 2 hours. It also cuts a lot of the unnecessary stops as the kids are involved in the movie playing. 5. To avoid the difficulty of hauling in a suitcase for every person into a hotel for the 1 night stops. Pack a 3 day bag into which each person contributes 3 days worth of clothes. This way you take one suitcase of clothes in every three days. 6. Do pack a lightweight table cloth for outdoor... articles - General Fri, 27 Mar 2009 16:19:42 +0100 http://www.searchtravelguide.info/general/5-common-techniques-for-getting-luxury-discount-travel/ The majority of people are not financially well off, but would like to be. Sometimes you can temporarily live like the “rich and famous” and enjoy the excitement of luxury travel. So, as the saying goes, if you have champagne taste on a beer budget, let’s get going. We’ll explore a few techniques on how you can enjoy luxury travel on a budget. A laid out plan will be the most important aspect of obtaining luxury deals and accommodations without spending any more money than a lower rated resort. Travel in style with the following strategies. Technique #1. Find Affinity And Loyalty Programs. Capitalize on the flexibility and leverage you have in the competitive travel industry. Many companies want your business and offer lots of incentives to compete for your travel funds and to keep you as a customer. For example, if you provide a service, you typically look out for your best customers and give extra perks to keep them coming back. These companies reward travelers who remain loyal to them with unadvertised specials and extras. This is the general idea behind frequent traveler programs and such. Technique #2. Select The Right Travel Specialists To Work With. As you’re researching destinations and comparing pricing online, note that all online travel companies aren’t equal. Lots of agencies have preferred status with suppliers who can in turn pass on these deals to you. Again, this is just like we talked about earlier, only this time, the companies and suppliers are getting the great deals to pass on to you. Technique #3. Turn Problems Into Opportunities. Choose a few top-notch companies that you would like to use over and over again so that you can obtain loyalty bonuses and discounts. If they make an error, take advantage... articles - General Fri, 27 Mar 2009 16:19:42 +0100 http://www.searchtravelguide.info/general/finding-the-best-deals-on-hotel-lodging/ There is no doubt that hotel costs are among the biggest part of any vacation budget, and the failure to find affordable lodging has harpooned many an otherwise well planned vacation. One of the keys to enjoying a great vacation without breaking the bank is striking the best possible deal on the roof over your head. Fortunately, the internet has made the process of finding a great hotel deal much easier. There are some great hotel, motel, and bed and breakfast deals out there, and the internet has made them easier to find than ever. Booking ahead is essential, as is shopping around. You simply cannot expect to simply show up at a hotel and get a good rate. Most hotel chains reserve their best room rates, and they limit their numbers. Once those low cost rooms are booked, they are simply no longer available. It is also important to book ahead because it can be difficult to gauge the demand for lording in a particular area, even if you are familiar with your destination. Special events of which you are unaware could cause a spike in hotel demand, and hotel prices, and leave you either paying an arm and a leg for a place to sleep, or, worse yet, find yourself without a place to stay at all. It is also important to take advantage of all discounts to which you may be entitled, and not be shy about asking for discounts. Many hotel chains and independent hotels offer discounts to those in the military, senior citizens, and members of travel clubs like AAA. If you think you are entitled to a discount, be sure to ask, and be sure to verify that the discount has been applied when you arrive. In... articles - General Fri, 27 Mar 2009 16:19:42 +0100 http://www.searchtravelguide.info/general/how-to-cross-time-zones-without-jet-lag/ Imagine counting down the days towards a great trip-that took careful planning and saving-only to step off the plane and want to sleep for three days. Or landing in Dubai and going straight to a meeting where all the participants are discussing very important deals, only to be falling asleep at the conference table. Jet lag is a common drawback to long-distance travel; symptoms include exhaustion, dry skin, dehydration, muscle tension and time confusion. Here, associates from Marriott International-many of whom spend more than half their time traveling-offer their advice on how to fight the fatigue that comes with crossing time zones: 1. Don't drink alcohol before or during the flight. Alcohol adds to the dehydration and fatigue. 2. Drink a significant amount of water during the flight and upon landing. Water will cut down on the dehydration and can also help with muscle fatigue. 3. As soon as you step on the plane, set your watch for the time that matches that of your destination and sleep according to the location to which you are flying. Thus, if getting on a plane in the afternoon while it is late at night in the city you are flying to, then it's time to sleep. 4. While sleeping on the plane, sleep as long as possible to create a nighttime sleep experience. Use earplugs and light-reducing eye covers if needed. 5. Elevate your feet as much as possible during your flight. 6. Upon arrival, a shower will help refresh and revitalize you. Then, adhere to the local time and try to avoid napping. 7. Try to stay up as late as possible on the first night. If your schedule will require many late nights, try to stay up until at least midnight. 8. Expect the second day to be the most difficult. Remain... articles - General Fri, 27 Mar 2009 16:19:42 +0100 http://www.searchtravelguide.info/general/how-to-find-a-cheap-rental-car/ Are you fed up with paying in more of $40 a day for a wholesome letting car when out of city on trip. I have forever been skeptical of web sites such as Priceline and Hotwire, however after a recent experience I now swear by them. I was able to pick up a stuffed-dimension Chevrolet Impala in Los Angeles for only $18 a day, through a foremost company. That is fewer than the colors value you would pay for a compact car on Travelogues, or soon through a letting car company's web setting. With your savings, acquire the vehicle indemnity selection, and have instance of thinker that if anything happens, you can just move away. I suggests that you first do some examine, and ensure out the prices for a charter car on sites such as Velocities, Expedia, or Orbits, as well as glance the major payment car company web sites for specials. Log onto Priceline.com, and show the location of your payment, and your dates and time. Make assured you elect these suitably as you will not be able to change them once your suggest has been accepted. When it comes to charge, you will most expected not be able to get a significantly cheaper penalty on a small compact, or wealth car. Where the savings come is when renting a larger car. So, why not go in comfort and want bursting-magnitude, premium or even luxury, and make a proposal at, or a little fewer than the average untaken speed for a thrift car. For example, a complete-mass car on Alamo.com will run about $45 a day, so why not submit $20. Often if your proposal is not accepted, Price line will regularly make an oppose apportion, stating that you can certify your selection by upping your suggest... articles - General Fri, 27 Mar 2009 16:19:42 +0100 http://www.searchtravelguide.info/general/some-good-to-know-camping-tips/ Going camping at last and trying to leave all the work back home. Nothing else but fun moments ahead of you. This is the dream of everyone working hard and who does not have any time for friends and relaxing. Even if only for a week-end, a camping trip can work wonders on your mind . But before getting into the car with your friends, make sure that you don’t forget to bring along any useful things, as they cannot be of any use left back home. You must think ahead and imagine any possible situation that can occur ... after all , camping places can sometimes be very remote, and there is no neighbour you can ask for a spare pillow! All campers should bring their own lanterns, batteries, as these are very important on a camping trip . Backup batteries are always an excellent idea, because at least someone always gets short of batteries. And, most importantly, make sure they are fresh. Stools with a canvas seat are quite smart for taking on a tent camping week-end. They can be easily folded and put in the car. Folding lawn chairs are always welcome. At least one of the campers must remember to pack a rainfly. Otherwise , you may end up having dinner in pouring rain. The rainfly must be properly installed, so that it will never cause problems during storms or string winds. Wet clothes should be hung on a clothesline, tied between two trees. The sleeping bag must also be hung in order to air out. Never forget to bring axes, as you won’t be able to light a fire without one. And never forget to take toilet paper with you. It can get very hard to find some at the camping places, as they... articles - General Fri, 27 Mar 2009 16:19:42 +0100 http://www.searchtravelguide.info/general/travel-tips-before-you-travel-to-a-foreign-country/ There are many things that you can do to pre-prepare yourself and your family for travel . By being as prepared as you can be, you are setting yourself up for a great getaway that will minimize any unpleasant circumstances that sometimes arise with travel. In order to have the best vacation possible, I’m going to share with you the must know tricks and travel tips before you travel . The very first thing you must do is RESEARCH. You want to learn as much as you possibly can about your destination prior to arrival. Yes, this is going to require some time and effort on your part but it is going to be more than worth it. This is the only way to truly understand what it is you want from your vacation and what you want to do on your vacation. Here are some things that you should always know about your destination. Weather - You need to know what you should be packing and planning for. Paperwork and Documentation - Know what is needed to travel to your particular destination. Know if there are any diseases common to the area you will be traveling to – this way you are able to take preventative measures. Costs of local items – You want to be able to properly plan your budget; remember to include taxes and tipping. Holidays and festivals – check to see when these occur for your destination as you may find limited services on those days. The best holidays are the ones we are most prepared for. Do yourself a favour; make it a habit to always know as much as you can about your destination before you travel. It’ll make all the difference in the world! What are some other things that you can do to... articles - General Fri, 27 Mar 2009 16:19:42 +0100