Travel Ideas

by: David Chandler

So you may be asking yourself, why would I want to rent a condo while on vacation? Although condos are a little more expensive than a normal hotel would be, you get more included with the full package, and when you really break the price down you are getting more bang for your buck.
PRIVACY - there is always someone there to see you when you leave or return and with whom.
CONVENIENCE - staying in a condominium not only gives you the same flexibility as you would have in your own home but also you are usually fairly close to the attractions.
Some of the things that may be included with your condominium is: Central Air/heat, Washer and Dryer in Unit, Kitchen is fully supplied; swimming pools & spa, Clubhouse with game room and fitness center, Cable television in bedroom and living room, DVD players, big screen TV’s.
The idea of being able to have more than four people is as aspect that will go far. No more having to get two rooms for a family or group of six. Many places also provide some sort of Internet access whether it be wireless for your laptop or a provided computer system. Babysitting and/or maid service can be provided as well.
One of the other advantages that really our attention is that you have the comforts of being able to cook, do laundry and just relax. You can choose from one or more bedrooms, and can get extra beds if needed.
Most of the rental condos that we found will allow you to put six people in a one bedroom.
PRICE - if you are planning your vacation either as one family, or as a two family group then the cost per person of renting a condominium home is quite small; if you vacation on your own, or as a couple, then renting a condominium home may well work out to be more expensive.
Some people will try to weigh the cost of a stay in a condominium against a couple of weeks in a low budget motel. There is really no comparison, especially when you look at the advantages and cost over the long run, including being able to cook instead of eating out every meal. Some motels and hotels actually work out to be more expensive, especially if you choose to stay in a suite.
Taking everything into consideration staying in a condominium while on vacation may be the best choice you have ever made.

About The Author

David Chandler
For more information, visit http://www.CondosInfoCenter.com.

by: Dave Kitt

When visiting Las Vegas for the first time it can be quite overwhelming. The following tips can help you enjoy your vacation and relieve unwanted stress.
Before You Leave - Book As Much As You Can Online
Las Vegas is an extremely busy place. The last thing you want is to plan your dream vacation only to find out everything is sold-out when you get there. Las Vegas Hotels, Las Vegas Shows and Las Vegas Tours are the reason people go to Las Vegas.
TIP: Book ahead and you will be guaranteed to enjoy your stay.
Choosing Your Las Vegas Hotel
The main Las Vegas strip is approx. 5 miles from end to end and the most economical way of getting around is to walk. You can take the new monorail or a taxi but these can add up and take away from your fun money. Also, if you are there to sight-see the vast hotel properties you will miss out by taking alternate transportation.
TIP: Book a hotel in the middle of the Las Vegas strip. These hotels vary from very economical (Imperial Palace) to very posh (Caesar?s Palace).
Flying Into Las Vegas McCarran Airport
You finally made it. Your hotel is booked, your shows are booked and your tours are booked. Now you just want to get to your hotel and relax for a bit. Simple, right? Wrong. Depending on when you get in you will be faced with a wait for a taxi cab and if it is during the day in the summer the heat will almost kill you and if it is late at night the cold will also get to you.
TIP: If your travel plans do not include hotel transfers and you are traveling with a partner or a group, send someone outside to stand in line for a taxi cab while the others wait to pick up the luggage. At peak times, waits can be as long as an hour for a taxi cab. Also, do not be afraid to ask the attendant if there are any hotel shuttles you may take, as a lot of times these shuttles leave with many empty seats available.
Getting to Your Hotel by Taxi Cab
TIP: Do not ask your driver to take the strip. It will cost you as you sit in long lines of traffic that seem to move backwards. Taking the #15 will reduce your cab ride substantially as it bypasses the strip and has many exits that will get you to your hotel much faster. Why waste your money?
Checking Into Your Hotel
When checking in to your hotel, don?t be afraid to ask the Front Desk if there are any free upgrades available. Depending on the time of the year some hotels are not always booked to capacity and will gladly give you perks when asked politely. Why stay in a standard room if a deluxe room is available at no extra cost. You will appreciate a Jacuzzi tub after walking the strip all day.
TIP: Unless your room has a view, try to stay in the lower floors where you can access the main floor by taking the stairs. At peak times you can wait 5 - 10 minutes every time you want to catch an elevator. It can wear on your patience after awhile.
2005 © ikrave entertainment group inc., All rights reserved.

About The Author

Dave Kitt is a frequent traveler to Las Vegas and from experience has compiled these tips to make your trip more enjoyable.
To book all your Las Vegas needs please visit:

www.lasvegas-hotels.ca

www.lasvegas-shows.ca

www.lasvegas-tours.ca
dkitt@ikrave.com

by: Brian Allen

The travel industry has been going through some significant changes over the last few years. Mom and Pop travel agencies are quickly being replaced by online booking engines like Orbitz or Travelocity.
But there is one problem: 80% of all vacations are taken at the recommendation of a friend. Now of course this is a good thing, except that Orbitz and Travelocity don’t have very many friends.
The travel industry came up with a good hybrid solution: give the consumer a chance to partner with these big booking engines and become a travel agent themselves, with all the benefits and none of the drawbacks, so they can refer their friends and family and everyone wins. This new type of travel agent is known as an Associate Travel Agent, or ATA for short.
ATA’s get all the benefits of a normal travel agent, such as commissions, free upgrades and discounts, and FAM Trips (more on FAM Trips in a minute, they’re fabulous!). But ATA’s don’t work at a traditional travel agency, don’t work set hours, and don’t have to go to years of expensive schooling to get their credentials. You can literally become an ATA in a single day, and you still get the same IATA and CLIA ID card that gets you all the same benefits.
There are lots of books and websites on how to become a travel agent, and they are well worth looking into. The benefits are absolutely incredible, not the least of which are lots of vacations and a good income.
I’m going to start with my favorite benefit: FAM Trips. These are “familiarization trips” that are hosted and subsidized by tour operators, government tourist boards, and private resorts at a fraction of the normal cost. They want you to come on the trip and have such a good time that you go home raving about it and send all of your friends, family, and clients back at the normal rate (remember, 80% of all travel occurs exactly that way).
In a word, FAM Trips are unbelievable. Consider this one from FAM News: 10 days in China, including all accommodations, transfers, flights, an english speaking guide, most meals, and the royal treatment, all for $666! The airfare alone costs over $1,000. And because they want you to send your friends and clients on the same trip, it isn’t a stripped down, no frills excursion at rat-infested motels. They pull out all the stops to make sure you have a great time and get back home raving about it to all your friends.
There are thousands of FAM’s going on at any given time, all over the world. Some are simple, like a weekend ski trip in Colorado including 2 days of skiing and rentals, a 2 hour lesson, meals, 3 nights in a nice lodge, and entertainment for only $199, and some go all out, like 11 days in Morrocco for $1,400.
FAM Trips aren’t the only benefit of being a travel agent. You can also earn big commissions on travel that you book, and you’re given a website to send people to so that when they order their travel you get the same commission as if you’d booked it yourself. You can also refer someone who can become an ATA themselves and you earn a $40 bonus, and can earn bonuses and commissions on what they produce, kind of like building your own virtual travel agency.
Everyone who likes to travel and could use a little more money should look into the opportunity of becoming an Associate Travel Agent provides. For many people its the ideal lifestyle, combining the perfect blend of freedom and travel with money and business.

About The Author

Brian Allen is an Associate Travel Agent living in St. George, Utah. He helps others learn about becoming a travel agent and offers consulting and free tools for maximum success as a travel agent. He can be reached at http://www.TravelAgentToday.com.

by: Walt Bargener

Plan Ahead for Travel to Europe
Most people who plan a trip to Europe expect it to be fun. It can be if you take the time to plan for as many contingencies as possible before departure. A few tips that could help you are:
1. Plan sooner, not later. Now is the time to get the best prices, the best seats, and the best schedules. Delays limit your options. Check out promotional offers through airlines and travel agencies and remember to use those frequent flier miles!
2. Get necessary documents ready. Make sure your passport is current. Find out if any countries on your itinerary require a visa for entry. For those that do, request visas well in advance of the trip to avoid last-minute delays. Bring copies of your birth certificate, immunization records, and driver’s license. They aren’t required in most European countries, but they will help to identify you if your wallet or passport are lost or stolen.
3. Go to the doc for an exam. Ask if there are any areas of Europe under any kind of health alert. Bring your records, prescriptions, and immunizations up-to-date. Get instructions for any chronic ailments that may be problematic. See your pharmacist to assure you have sufficient quantities of medications for the trip as getting refills in Europe could prove difficult.
4. When planning your Europe itinerary, get complete information about hours of operation for sites or departure and arrival times for tours and transportation. Get information on currency exchange rates, what common terms would be useful to recognize in the languages of the countries you’re visiting, locate maps of the areas you’re travelling in, and any other information you feel you need to insure an efficient and satisfying trip. You may want to get a book or two from the library about the countries you’ll be seeing. Getting a recording for language study is also a good idea. Like everything else suggested here, do these things long before you depart for Europe.
Europe is a great place to visit. There is a lot of living history and tradition that is waiting to be experienced by you. Do the hard work now so you can take it easy later when you’re supposed to!

About The Author

R S Europe founder and administrator, Walt Bargener invites you to subscribe
to his newsletter at http://www.rseurope.com/.

by: Cara Goldsbury

So you?ve finally decided to head to Walt Disney World. With so much to see and do, it?s important to come prepared. Here are some excellent tips to make your trip one that will be remembered for a lifetime.

Plan ahead. Decide ahead of time what your priorities are and make a plan of action.
Get to the parks early! It?s amazing, particularly in busy season, how many of the popular rides you can knock off before half the ?World? gets out of bed.
Take the time to rest in the middle of the day. Stay at one of the Magic Kingdom or Epcot resorts, allowing a return in the middle of the day for a nap or dip in the pool.
Call exactly 90 days prior at 7 AM Orlando time for priority seating if breakfast at Cinderella?s Royal Table in the Magic Kingdom is tops on your child?s list. The only way you might get away with sleeping in and booking a bit later for this highly coveted character breakfast is if you are traveling in extremely slow season.
Come prepared for an afternoon shower during the rainy summer months even if the sky looks perfectly clear in the morning. Rent a locker to store your raingear and circle back if skies start to look threatening. However, if you?re caught unprepared, just about every store in the parks sells inexpensive rain ponchos.
Use Fastpass, Disney?s free, nifty timesaving device. It?s offered at all four theme parks and is a great way to save hours of waiting in line. Just insert your park pass in one of the machines located at each individual Fastpass attraction and receive a ticket printed with a designated one-hour window in which you may return and enter a special line with little or no waiting.
Pre-arrange priority seating, Disney?s answer to dining reservations, by calling 407-WDW-DINE. On arrival you?ll receive the next table available for your party size, thus saving hours of frustration and waiting.
Allow plenty of time to reach the theme parks each morning. It?s easy to miss your breakfast priority seating is you don?t allocate enough time.
Be spontaneous. If something catches your eye, even if it?s not on your daily list of things to do, stop and explore. If not, you could miss something wonderful.
Realize the limitations of your children. If they?re tired, take a break. If their feet hurt, get them a stroller (forget that they outgrew one years ago). If a ride scares them don?t force the issue. Such precautions will make your day and the day of other park visitors a lot less stressful.
Bring pagers, 2-way radios, or cell phones. If your party plans on splitting up, they are a perfect way to keep in touch.
Wear broken-in, comfortable footwear. Better yet, bring two pairs and rotate them. Nothing is worse than blisters on your first day and then nursing them for the remainder of your vacation.
Most importantly, slow down and enjoy the magic. Resist the urge to see everything at breakneck speed. You can?t possibly cover it all, so think of this as your first trip to Disney, not your last. There will be time to pick up all the things you missed on the next go-round.

About The Author

Cara Goldsbury is the author of The Luxury Guide to Walt Disney World: How to Get the Most Out of the Best Disney Has to Offer available at 800-247-6553, www.luxurydisneyguide.com, Amazon.com, or your local bookstore. Visit her at www.luxurydisneyguide.com.

info@luxurydisneyguide.com

by: Andrew Kress

If you?re a stockbroker, the center of the world is New York. If you are a commodities trader, it?s Chicago.
But if you?re a golfer, the center of the world is?a little further south.
?You actually feel it when you step onto the course? says Brian Montgomery, who has been to every Masters for the last decade. ?It?s like being in an art museum or a history museum?and if you really live for golf, this isn?t just church, it?s St. Peters Cathedral on Christmas Eve.?
For as those who have walked the course will tell you, there is no place like Augusta.
?It?s pristine, not like other tournaments, no paper, no advertising, just green everywhere and So perfect. I mean, you see it on TV, and you think, I could do that, then you see the course and you think: ?Par Four?!? FOUR?!? That?s like a?NINE. And these guys come out and do it in four and it?s just amazing.?
Masters week is divided into two parts. The first three days are the practice rounds. This just gives the golfers a chance to relax, get their swings loose after a plane trip and plan a strategy for the course.
Said one recent attendee ?I love the practice rounds?The players are out there and they?re just more relaxed?they are joking with the crowd, I?ve even seen people get pictures with players.?
But after the practice rounds end, the atmosphere changes. ?On the first day, it?s just VERY serious. For most players this is the biggest event there ever was or will be, so every shot is a serious shot.?
?I live for this,? says Montgomery ?I saw Crenshaw win the week after Harvey (Penick, his mentor) died, I saw Tiger Get his first, and it?s not just that history gets made here some years, it gets made here every year.?

About The Author

Andrew Kress is an event planner for Island Events Inc., Specializing in Event Ticketing and Event Planning for coroprations, companies and private groups. For more ideas or help in obtaining event ticketing, go to www.islandevents.cc

andy@islandevents.cc

by: Sharon Jacobsen

Although it’s many years since I left my home in London I still occasionally use The Tube, as the London Underground is affectionately known.
Hold on. Affectionately? Does anybody actually hold any affection for the network of tunnels that run beneath the surface of our capital, or the rolling stock that runs through them?
They?re over-crowded, far too warm and stuffy (the temperature in the tunnels is about 10 C higher than at ground level), and the views are pretty dire. In central London, all you?re likely to see is the dark walls of the tunnels, although if you?re lucky, you might just get a glimpse of another train passing in another tunnel through one of the gaps between them. Funnily enough, contrary to popular belief, the majority of The Tube is actually over ground. Not that there?s much scenic stimulation along those stretches either. You might see some fascinating factories, some interesting piles of rubbish that have mysteriously grown along the sidings and a few back gardens, but nothing much else.
Anybody who?s ever regularly used The Tube during peak hours will tell you that using this particular form of transport can take great courage and will power. The platforms are crowded to the point where those at the front, closest to the lines, can find themselves fearing for their lives. We?re warned to stand behind the line, which is painted about three feet away from the platform edge, but with all those people behind you, all wanting to get forward and have a chance of getting on the next arriving train, the platform edge can quickly become dangerously close.
Having a position at the front doesn?t necessarily guarantee you a place on the next train though. Oh, no. Whether or not you?ll actually get on it will depend largely upon where on the platform you?re positioned and whether or not the carriage doors will be in front of you when the train stops. If you happen to be standing between two doors, then you?re very unlucky indeed. One way around this is to look at those ?stand behind? lines. As the rolling stock on each line of the underground are generally of the same type (the trains differ from line to line) and stop at more or less the same point (note: more or less? this isn?t an exact science), the ?stand behind? lines will be more worn where the doors are likely to be. Find those spots and you?ll have a better change of boarding the next one, unless of course the lines are freshly painted, in which case, bad luck.
This next point should be obvious to everybody but unfortunately, my experience tells me that this isn?t the case. When the train stops, even if you?re lucky enough to be standing in front of the doors, LET PASSENGERS OFF THE TRAIN FIRST! Don?t just push your way on, even if others are doing so. It?s bad manners and can cause nasty accidents.
Once on the train, you?ll no doubt have to stand as there are few seats compared with the amount of passengers being transported during peak hours. It?s standard etiquette to offer your seat to elderly passengers and those carrying small children, whether still in the comfortable confines of the womb or otherwise. Anybody else will have little chance of finding a seat. The more experienced underground travellers have their strategies though; they’ll target a seat. Those reading are unlikely to be travelling just a few stops, and although they could have been travelling for ages already, they rarely make good targets. Study people?s faces. If they look bored, they?ve probably already been there a while so maybe they?ll be alighting soon? Mind you, people do get very bored very quickly on The Tube, so they could just as easily have joined the train at the station before yours.
When it comes to seats that are vacated during the journey, there?s a general unwritten rule. Whoever is standing closest to a seat that becomes available has the greatest claim to the seat. He/she can choose to offer it to a fellow passenger, but it?s against etiquette to make a dash for a seat where the privilege of sitting obviously belongs to another.
Speaking of unwritten rules, there are a few others that should be observed if you don?t want to unduly annoy your fellow passengers. The one that?s probably more annoying than any other, is the subject of occupying seats unnecessarily! Bags and other inanimate objects do not have the right to a seat. Sure, if the trains relatively empty, by all means pile them on a seat, but don?t imagine you can do this during peak times, even if you enter to train at its station of origin where seats are still aplenty. Rather than have a small child occupy a seat, you might consider holding your toddler on your lap, too. Mind you, the rush hour on The Tube isn?t the best place for small children to be, so your best bet would be to wait a couple of hours before making your journey.
Getting back to those bags, another point worth thinking about is what to do with large bags if you have to stand. Do as seasoned tube travellers do, and put them between your legs. No, I don?t mean stuff it up your jacksy, I mean place your bag on the floor and straddle it, one foot on either side. It?ll take far less room this way than if you stood beside it, because your feet still won?t be much further apart that the width of your torso. Standing with your legs apart also make balancing easier, and when those trains are dashing through winding tunnels, swaying from side to side, you?ll need all the balance you can get. An added advantage is that should anybody decide to steal your bags, having body contact with it means you?ll be more likely to feel it being moved.
Body contact. Yes, that?s another subject. I wish I knew how many times I?d felt a ?lump? being pushed against my backside on a crowded tube. Please?if anybody who’s guilty of this is reading, is it really necessary? I understand that the jiggling motion of the train whilst pressed closed to the body of a member of the opposite sex might cause a sensation that could lead to embarrassment, but it surely isn?t necessary to make a show of it?
On some lines, and at certain stations, a voice will tell you to ?mind the gap?. The posh female voice is known as Sonia, because she ?gets on ya nerves? and ?the gap? is a terrifyingly wide opening between the platform and the train door. Being of voluptuous proportions, I?ve never had a fear of disappearing down the gap, but the thought of getting my leg stuck down there has been pretty scary. For goodness sake pick up small children and carry them.
The deepest part of the system is at Hampstead Heath (Northern Line), where the rails are approximately 220 feet below the surface. Being the deepest part of any line, you?d expect to find the longest escalator here wouldn?t you? But you?d be wrong, because of all the 409 escalators, the longest is actually at Angel station, where the escalator is 197 feet long with a vertical rise of 90 feet. That?s one awesome escalator!
Whilst on the subject of moving stairways, I have to tell you that sometimes they don?t work and you have to walk up them, like it or not. There?s nothing quite like getting off a crowded tube train, feeling hot and sweaty and probably in need of murdering somebody, only to be presented with an out-of-order escalator that appears to be several miles long. Unless you?re ultra fit, it just isn?t funny. If they are moving, please remember to stand on the right hand side allowing those who want to walk up or down access to the left. You’ll find that passengers often feel the need to run down escalators, causing danger to not only themselves but others travelling the escalator with them. It’s a bad habit that you shouldn’t indulge in.
Despite being uncomfortable at times, The Tube?s a relatively safe means of travelling around London. The most famous accident must surely be the Moorgate disaster, back in 1975, when 43 people were killed. The second disaster was in 1987 at King?s Cross, when a fire killed 31 people. There have been no other major disasters. There have been a few bombs placed on tube trains over the years, but none have actually exploded on packed trains. The 253 miles of railway is, however, renowned for its suicides. Jumping in front of a tube train seems to have been a fashionable way of killing oneself for quite some time now.
Using the tube is relatively inexpensive with a trip for an adult costing anything from ?1.00 to ?3.60, depending on the length of the journey. This is measured by zones, with zone 1 being within central London. The more zones you travel through, the more they’ll charge you. Logical really. Child fares are available for those under 15, under five’s travel free.
If you need to know which zone you’ll be starting from or how many zones you’ll be travelling though, ‘TubePlanner’ is a useful site to visit (www.tubeplanner.com). The journey planner here is actually easier to use than the one on the official London Underground site (www.thetube.com), although don’t tell them I said so. You’ll be able to access information such as quickest route, journey time and the fare. You can also look up tourist attractions and find out exactly how to get to them.
Those who use the tube often will always complain about it, but the truth is, without it, London would come to a stand still. The streets of London are already chock-a-block with traffic as it is so any attempt at transporting 900 million passengers over ground each year would lead to nothing less than chaos.
It may not be perfect, but it’s by far the quickest and most convenient way of travelling through London. And hey…. even the map’s easy to understand!

About The Author

Sharon grew up in East London but moved to Norway at the age of 19, returning to England in 1998. She now lives in Cheshire with her partner and two of her three children. Besides writing, she is currently studying Social Science with The Open University, runs a web site where women in the UK can meet other women for platonic friendship (www.friendsyourway.co.uk), potters in her garden, knits and reads everything she comes over.

s.jacobsen@friendsyourway.co.uk

by: Bruce Whittaker

Good wildlife camera equipment on safari can make the difference between pictures you will be proud to show your friends and family when you get back and ones where it’s difficult to figure out exactly what you were photographing because it’s only a fuzzy black dot surrounded by green vegetation.
I take wildlife photographs for a living and I have had to quickly figure out what the best cameras and lenses are to get the job done effectively.
Digital or Film - Which is better for a safari?
Wild animals are very unpredictable. That’s one aspect of safari photography that makes it so exciting because you never know what you are going to get but this also means that the number of pictures you need to take to get a keeper increases.
And if you use film that can become very expensive whereas with a digital wildlife camera you can take as many as you want and then just delete the ones where the lion has ducked behind a bush, the cheetah has blurred because the autofocus locked onto a twig in front of it and the exposure of the hippo was way off because of the reflected sunlight in the water.
You can also make consistent use of bracketing to get the perfect exposures without worrying about cost or running out of film which can be a problem in certain remote areas of Africa where safaris take place.
So more is better in this case but what about quality? The fact is that digital quality is fast catching up to film unless you fall into the professional category and are going to be selling your safari pictures or entering them into competitions. In that case it might be better to stick to film because the trained eye will be able to spot the difference but in most other cases digital quality is more than adequate.
Digital also gives you valuable feedback while you are still on safari so that you can try and improve on that elephant picture with the ear cut off the next day. You also have a lot more control over the final product because you can use software like Photoshop to enhance and fine tune your pictures.
Digital SLR or Compact Wildlife Camera
A safari is the dream trip of a lifetime and it’s a great opportunity to get some fantastic wildlife pictures but it’s not necessary to buy the latest and greatest digital SLR and lenses to get them unless you are planning to take nature pictures for a living or are a serious photography enthusiast and are going to make regular use of the camera and lenses after the safari anyway.
The cost of a digital SLR wildlife camera is high compared to a compact but that is only half the story. The lenses that you need to purchase for decent wildlife photography often cost more than the camera itself making it a very expensive business indeed.
And a bulky camera body and multiple interchangeable lenses do add to the weight of your luggage and the inconvenience of carrying everything around with you.
Digital compact cameras on the other hand are not extremely expensive and the results that you can obtain from them are almost on a par with a digital SLR camera and you don’t have to worry about any additional lenses if the compact you buy has a decent zoom covering the range from 80mm to about 300mm. There are a few of them on the market that do have lenses like this and the range of the zooms increase every year.
And compact cameras live up to their name by being relatively small and light and one lens means no additional weight or carrying and no time wasted changing to another lens to suit the situation.
The Best SLR Digital Wildlife Camera for Nature Photography
If you have decided to go with a digital SLR then by all accounts the best one to purchase for wildlife photography at the moment is the Canon EOS 20D due to the blinding speed of its shutter release (near instantaneous) and its continuous shooting speed of 5 frames per second to a maximum burst depth of twenty three frames. It also powers up in next to no time at all.
This wildlife camera is as fast as you will ever need to freeze wildlife action and get the picture in the can before the animal moves off into the undergrowth.
There are other SLR cameras that are nearly as good like the Nikon D70 and the Pentax ist D so take a look at them too before making a decision.
The Best Compact Digital Wildlife Camera for Nature Photography
Canon comes up trumps again in the compact camera category with the Canon Powershot S2 IS. The factor that makes this camera ideal for safari wildlife photography is its huge 12X optical zoom lens (36 - 432mm equivalent) with a built in image stabiliser which cuts down on blur when using such a massive zoom lens.
A 5 megapixal sensor is more than enough to produce stunning safari images and as long as you can live with a slight shutter release lag and power up delay this compact wildlife camera is perfect for a safari trip.

About The Author

Bruce Whittaker
Five essential wildlife photography tips that will help you improve your animal pictures rapidly and remarkably..http://www.african-safari-pictures.com/wildlife-photography-tips.html
The best wildlife camera to take with you on a photographic safari..http://www.african-safari-pictures.com/wildlife-photography-tips.html

Must Read Tips For Shopping & Booking Your Travels Online

by: Joe Collinsworth

Booking & shopping online has proven to revolutionize the travel industry. There are many pros to utilizing online booking sites to plan your trip. Bottom line is, it saves you time and money, both important factors when planning your trip.
Before you go booking your trip online, read our tips on doing so to ensure you find the best deals and are protected in the process?
1. Shop around:
This has been our motto from the start. We are finding that prices change all the time, so it is important to look around for the best travel deal.
Besides searching our site, we have provided our favorite sites (with reviews) for finding the best deals.
Don?t get paralysis on analysis though. We recommend you pick a price (be reasonable though) and search until you find it- once you find it- take it!!
2. The more flexible you are the better:
Hey, I know when you travel with kids or a group of people, being flexible isn’t an option.
If you can be flexible, it will help, that’s all. Things like flying on certain days (like Saturday or mid-week), or specific times (10pm-6am for example) could be a benefit.
3. Join Frequent Flyer Programs:
This is a travel tip. You don’t have to fly every other month to benefit from these programs. If you use credit cards, you might as well get something back.
Heck, we pay them enough in charges that you deserve something in return. Just pick your favorite airline(s) and sign up for an airline mile card!
4. Read:
Sign up for e-zines.
You can set up a free email account if you don’t want these piling up in your in-box. Many of them have an opt-out section that allows you to quit receiving emails once you are done.
They usually provide up-to-date alerts on what deals are out there. Also, you might want to look into a few information products about traveling on a budget or getting great deals!!
There are experts out there who have been there and done that and know how to take advantage of great opportunities.
5. Know all the terms and conditions:
This is a very important cheap deal travel reminder.
For example, you will want to know if your quotes are locked in immediately or how long you have til you must decide, what their refund policy is, cancellation policy, if their site is safe when you enter your information (if you see a golden key or padlock at the bottom in the toolbar, then you will be fine), changes you might need to make, and so forth. You don’t want to get trapped into something that you can’t get out of.
6. Get Coupons:
Getting your hands on coupons can save you tons of money off various travel necessities. You can find valuable money savers with coupon books.
Other cheap deal travel tips to consider…
7. Check a few sites & once you find your price, go bid at an auction site like Priceline, at a lower price.
8. Book all in one. Sometimes if you book your airfare, car, & hotel or a combo of the three, you can get a better cheap deal. Don’t be afraid to ask!!
9. For flights, you can also do things like get bumped/stay over, fly out of another airport in your region (consider gas & driving and if that’s worth it), & consider 1-2 or more connections (no-stop flights can be expensive).
Bonus tips when shopping online in general?
? Do online shopping with companies you know. We provide some places that give you a good start. You can also compare offline or with major retail chain’s websites.
? Keep your passwords private and choose them wisely.
? Keep good records. This protects you if something arises.
? Check out the company?s security policy and privacy policy. These are typically located at the bottom of the page. Or, look under site map or company information.
? Read the legal terms. These policies let you know what they do with any information you provide.
? Get their contact information. Try it out if need be. Make sure you know how to get a hold of someone.
? Make sure before you purchase, you read their return/refund policies.
? Review all descriptions of products, shipping & handling terms, and any other pertinent information you want to know. This should all be outlined for you.

About The Author

Joe Collinsworth
Discount Florida Vacations is a total Florida vacation guide offering fun, sun, tips, ideas, checklists, help, recommendations, resources, and experiences for anyone traveling to Florida.
You can find excellent information or plan your trip with us at? www.discount-florida-vacations.com
midwestentrepreneur@yahoo.com

by: David Leonhardt

It takes a special person to travel with kids ? a parent. Children have their own needs. Their idea of a vacation is more “adventurous” than a parent’s. They need constant stimulation and they can get as tired as they are tiring.
There are many top ten type lists of tips for traveling with children: how to ensure they eat well and drink enough, how to dress them for weather variances, how to provide the stimulation they need, how to make sure they don’t drive off with the family car and leave you stranded in the Mojave Desert, etc.
This list is how to travel in comfort ? without tying the children to the roof rack — which hopefully will reduce your stress.
Make sure you have plenty of room while traveling.
This is easier said than done. On a plane, everybody is cramped. On a train, everybody is cramped, although a little less so. On a bicycle… don’t even try it.
If you are driving, get a mini-van. Sure, you might be more of a “car” type, and you might have resisted buying a mini-van so far. But pick up a rental van for the vacation just to give the kids a little more room for fighting. (Make sure it has a roof rack, just in case.)
Reality check: Cram enough people into a tiny space and watch everybody get stressed and enraged. See my humorous but true article on hippo rage: http://www.thehappyguy.com/hippo-rage.html .
Accommodations along the way can be tricky. Usually it involves a cramped motel for just long enough to sleep, then back in the cramped car (or somewhat cramped mini-van). This is not anybody’s idea of a home away from home.
An accommodation alternative is to camp. When not sleeping, you have all the space in the world (unless you have to huddle under the tarp while the storm passes through). I love camping, but not everyone enjoys a good early morning wake-up wrestle with a grizzly as much as I do, so a motel might be required.
Make sure you have plenty of room when you “get there”.
My childhood vacations, often involved wandering around lost. Assuming you are actually heading for a destination, make sure to have lots of room when you get there. This part is easy. But it requires thinking outside the box. Forget hotels, motels, and inns. Look for private rental homes.
Probably the biggest destination for families is Walt Disney World in Florida. Good news ? Orlando, Kissimmee and the surrounding area is just teeming with private vacation homes for rent. In Florida they call them vacation villas, and they offer all the space of home (without having to fix a leaky sink or oil the door hinges or mow the lawn.) Here are some examples of vacation home rentals in the Disney area: http://www.lastminutevillas.net/Disney-vacation.html.
Sharon Baillie is a private villa owner in the Kissimmee area outside Orlando, just a few miles from Disney World. “Our guests enjoy the spaciousness of our 6-bedroom home ( http://www.lastminutevillas.net/new5beda1pg1.html ). They love the private pool and the private yard in which they can relax,” she says. “Parents love the space for children to run around outside, and we leave a box of toys in the garage. So while the parents rest, the children play ? and let their parents rest!”
Be prepared for “children being children” events.
Sometimes, stress hits you from behind when the unexpected happens. Like a cut or a scrape … or a child getting sick. Sharon Baillie told me that is why she tells all her villa rental guests where the first aid kit can be found, and exactly where to go for medical attention. This is particularly helpful for her many guests from abroad who are unfamiliar with the US healthcare system.
She also makes sure her guests are informed about local pollen and viruses in Florida, so that parents can be prepared. Stress is so much more enjoyable when you are prepared for it, don’t you think?
Booking tickets to theme parks and making reservations for just about everything in advance, makes the trip less stressful. There is little more difficult than managing young children while trying to get into a theme park or show that requires prior booking.
And to prevent wandering around lost, pick up a AAA Triptik in advance ? not that it ever helped us.
Try having your children baby-sat. This might mean bringing along a nanny, such as a grand parent (It’s a tough job, but somebody has to do it.). The car might be more crowded, but if you’ve rented a spacious home for the week, it could just be doable. The other option is to hire a local baby-sitter once or twice. Vacation Home owners can set this up for you, and some hotels might be willing to, too.
When you are single, you can go on adventure vacations. When you are a parent, you get vacation adventures. Here are three of mine: http://www.thehappyguy.com/family-vacation-adventure.html
So there you have it. Three ways to reduce the stress of traveling with kids, so you can actually relax on vacation. After all, isn’t that what vacations are supposed to be about?

About The Author

David Leonhardt is a freelance writer, and an online and offline publicity specialist. Contact him at:

mailto:info@thehappyguy.com

or visit his website at:

http://www.thehappyguy.com

For Florida vacation villa rentals:

http://www.lastminutevillas.net

For Orlando vacation home rentals:

http://www.orlandovillaowners.com

Info@TheHappyGuy.com