Travel Ideas

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: Centerprises

The following is a List that I have gathered through years of experience and research. They don’t neccessarily apply to an Outdoor Adventurer. You Pick and choose your priorities according to your destination and the length of your stay. Visit http://www.thecampingguide.com for more information and the necessary gear for your trip.
Gear Essentials

Day Pack (X)
Flashlight (X)
Compact Binoculars (X)
First Aid Kit (X)
Sunglasses
Multi-tool (X)
Watch
Sunscreen (X)
Water bottle (w/ filter (X)
Hat
Whistle
Map or Travel Guide (X)
Compass or GPS receiver (X)

(X) = available at: http://www.thecampingguide.com

Pre-Departure

Passport
Visa if needed
Health Documentation
Transportation Tickets
Frequent Flyer Cards
Emergency Information
Insurance
Hotel Reservations
Traveler?s Checks
Currency (both local and American)
Credit Cards
Guide Books and Maps (X)
Trip Cancellation/ Medical

Information

Copies of Passport, ID and Documents
Special Event Reservations

Travel Gear

Main Travel Bag (Duffle/Luggage, etc.)
Packing Accessories (clothes, small stuff and toiletries)
Security (Passport carrier, luggage locks/ tags)
Document Organizer
Everyday Bag

Everyday Basics

Travel Clothing
Raincoat/ Umbrella
Travel Footwear
Visor or Brimmed Hat
Camera, binoculars (scopes) (X)
Radiation Shield for Film
Video Camera, Tapes
CD/ Cassette Player
Electric/ Phone Converters
Travel Alarms
Language Books
Reading Materials
Address Book
Travel Journal
Pen/ Pencil
Scarf/ Bandana
Games/ Playing Cards
Snacks
Hand Sanitizer/ Towlettes
Travel Neck Pillow
Eye Shade/ Ear Plugs
Portable Door Lock
Tissues/ Toilet Paper
Keys

Maintenance Items

Flashlight Batteries/ Bulbs (X)
Matches or Lighter (X)
Extra Batteries
Sewing/ Repair Kit
Duct Tape
Travel Iron or Steamer
Sink Stopper for Hotel Sinks
Zip-Close Plastic Bags

Travel Health

Travel Health Booklet
Pain Reliever/ Aspirin (X)
Cold Medicine (X)
Contact Lens Items
Diarrhea Medicine
Motion Sickness Medicine
Laxative
Insect Protection (X)
Sun Protection (X)
Antibiotic Cream
Malaria Medication
Personal Hygiene Items
Personal Prescriptions

(X) = available at: http://www.thecampingguide.com
Visit http://www.thecampingguide.com for more information and the necessary gear for your trip.

About The Author

Centerprises - are the owners of the http://www.TheCampingGuide.com which offers Camping, Hunting, Outdoor Gear and Information in General about the Great Outdoors.

TheCampingGuide@sbcglobal.net

by: Roger Dalton

Costa Rica is a wonderful place to visit with your family or even alone.
Many couples honeymoon in Costa Rica combining romance, adventure and mystical visits to volcanoes, rainforest’s, waterfalls, and secluded beaches. Our goal here is to provide a condensed guide that you can print and take with you to use for reference. For more detailed information about Costa Rica our website is the best information source on the web.
Country Information
Costa Rica is in Central America north of Panama and south of Nicaragua. The Pacific ocean borders the country to the west and the Caribbean to the east.
The citizens of Costa Rica are affectionately called Tico’s and Tica’s. In all of Latin America, the Tico’s are most like North American’s in their thought process. There are many cultural differences but tourism and tourists in general are welcomed warmly in this country.
Costa Rica has the highest literacy rate in Latin America. Every four years elections are held with 95% of the population participating in the voting process. Costa Rica has had no military forces since 1946. 27% of the country’s budget is spent on health care. Although there are demonstrations occasionally civil unrest is not present. Costa Rica is considered to be the “Latin American success story”.
The country has 110 volcanic craters, six active volcanoes,mountain ranges throughout the central portion of the country and secluded beaches with rain forest filled with wildlife butting right up to the shoreline.
Temperature varies with elevation. Humidity is present and noticeable, especially at sea level. Mosquitoes are obviously part of any rain forest but are not as noticeable as most parts of Florida, for instance due to the natural predators maintaining an ecological balance not found in places like Florida. (Bring repellent with Deet however!)
Costa Rica has a wet and dry season. The wet or “green” season is from May until November each year. During this time rainfall is more prevalent in most regions (Guanacaste province is the driest area in the country) with sunshine typical in the morning hours with showers in the afternoon and at night. Green season is when hotels offer discounts and crowds are minimized. As mentioned earlier, the northwestern portion of Costa Rica is the best “green” season destination due to rainfall considerations.
General Information
Entry requirements for visitors differ depending on your country of origin. US citizens, Canadians, and United Kingdom tourists need a valid passport but do not require a visa. The maximum stay under these conditions is 90 days but can be extended an additional 90 days through a travel agent or within the country through immigration.
Vaccinations are not required for malaria and other diseases to visit Costa Rica.
The water in most areas is safe to drink. Some coastal areas are exceptions however. Bottled water is recommended simply due to taste considerations. If you are at the Multiplaza mall in Escazu for instance the water is perfectly fine to drink. Smaller communities on the coast can be problematic however.
Costa Rica has the best fruit in the world in my opinion. Eat anything and everything in sight!
Driving in Costa Rica is an adventure! A stop sign in Costa Rica is treated like a yield sign in North America. Potholes in certain areas are HUGE. If renting a car consider the following:

Do not leave valuables in the car.
Rental agencies look for any trace of dents and dings
Roads are narrow and guard rails are usually not present
Did I mention POTHOLES

Electricity is standard 110v like in the USA but generally not grounded. This means that any device requiring a three prong plug will not work without an adapter to two prongs. So, bring an adapter for anything requiring three prongs.
English is widely spoken in tourist areas and major metropolitan areas. Driving a rental car all over the country with no knowledge of Spanish might be problematic. It is generally easy to find someone to help you in English in tourist areas and big cities however.
Medical facilities are available throughout the country. Remote areas, however, only have clinics for minor issues and often have few English speaking staff members. San Jose has excellent medical facilities and English speaking doctors are quite common. Ask the proprietor of the hotel you chose about medical facilities in the area if you have health concerns.
Emergency service in Costa Rica is available by dialing 911.
Holidays are taken seriously in this country. Visit around Easter or Christmas and it will seem that the entire country is shut down. The Easter and Christmas holiday’s are celebrated for more than a week!
Traveler Safety
Violent crime exists in every society. Costa Rica is a safe place to bring your family or to travel alone. Most crime is property theft and pick-pocket oriented theft.
Make sure that you leave your Rolex at home.
Do not keep your wallet in your back pocket. Keep it in your front pocket.
Do not place valuables in backpacks slung over your shoulder.
Many places are perfectly safe to walk at night. Others are not. Ask a local.
Beaches have rip tides.
A riptide is narrow. If caught in a riptide swim parallel to the shore for a short distance until you no longer feel it pulling you away from shore. Salt water is easy to float in. Don’t freak out!
Sharks are prevalent in certain areas of both the Pacific and Caribbean.
Sharks are of concern for fishermen and surfers primarily. If you are not a pro ask about the area you plan to visit. Some of the island’s around Costa Rica have huge populations of sharks.
Costa Rica is just north of the Equator. Use sunscreen liberally and drink plenty of non-alcoholic fluids while in the elements. I know, now I sound like your mother!
Taxi’s have meters. Many unofficial taxi’s ply their services in the country. Prior to any trip anywhere, agree on the price before you get in the taxi unless they are using the meter. Many taxi’s do not use their meters.
Most hotels, resorts, and bed and breakfast’s provide transportation from the airport and are valuable resources to identify the fair cost from one place to another when using taxi services.
Beaches
Beaches in Costa Rica are not all the same. Some beaches are great for surfing and poor choices for children. Many beaches include amenities close by and plenty of tanned bodies to admire. Others offer secluded splendor and less amenities. Careful planning is necessary to find the right area for a successful vacation here.
The beach options are too numerous to even mention here. Please consider looking at our beaches page for information about some of the best beaches. For surfing we have a surfing page highlighting the best spots to catch a wave.
Volcanoes
Some parts of Costa Rica look more like the moon than Central America!
Arenal is an active volcano that offers excellent potential for all the elements of an active volcano. The Tabacon hot springs is a beautiful area offering relaxation, romance, and wonderful atmosphere.
Poas volcano is close to San Jose in the Central Valley and provides eerie views of one of the world’s largest volcanic lakes in its crater. Poas is easy to hike compared to other places and has no facility for food and drinks in the park area.
Rincon de la Vieja is in northwestern Costa Rica (Guanacaste province) and is actually a compound volcano meaning that there are more than one composite volcanoes aligned on a ridge. Rincon has 9 eruptive craters, includes bubbling mud pits, and volcanic geysers. Hikes to the summit are controlled by park rangers to keep people from getting lost. Obviously this is more challenging hiking compared to Poas!
Rain Forests
Rain forests and animals of the rain forest are one of the big attractions of Costa Rica. Birdwatching, flora and fauna, monkey’s, sloths, and many other creatures abound in the rain forests of Costa Rica. Each region has slightly different plant life and animals populating the forests. The lodge and hotel accommodations range from primitive to exotic. Take your time and choose an area that combines activities that you and your family have interests in.
Manuel Antonio is one of the most popular parks in Costa Rica. The park is located in the Central Pacific area and provides great accommodations, rain forest, waterfalls, and beach vacations.
Monteverde Cloud Forest is a wonderland of nature. Located near the Arenal volcano about 3 1/2 hours from San Jose this misty forest is a great place to see birds, monkey’s and other wildlife in a well tended easily hiked park.
Corcovado National Park is lowland rain forest and is home to a large population of scarlet macaws. The park features well designed trails, camping, and plenty of ranger stations. The hiking is strenuous, pack your own food and get back to nature in the southern Pacific portion of Costa Rica.
Cahuita National Park provides flat easily hiked trails, and plenty of wildlife in thick lowland forest. White face and howler monkey’s are your companions here. Generally rustic accommodations and less amenities are characteristic on the Caribbean coastal areas.
Final Thoughts
Fun Costa Rica Vacations hopes this visitors guide has been helpful to you. Our goal is to provide useful information to travelers and specifically first time visitors to Costa Rica.
For this reason, if you did not find the answer to a pressing question you have about Costa Rica please contact us at our website about it. We want to provide the most accurate up to date information available to visitors to ensure a fun vacation for all!
Best Regards,
Staff at fun-costa-rica-vacations.com

About The Author

Roger Dalton
Publisher for fun-costa-rica-vacations.com a destination guide for fun vacations in Costa Rica.

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: Sandy Baker

Many times, when we plan a vacation, we know where we want to go. But, perhaps you don?t have a specific place in mind and are looking for some vacation destinations to choose from. The first order of business is to decide your budget. Yes, you?ll have to number crunch and find out how much you want to spend. From there, finding vacation destinations is simple.
Perhaps you are looking for information on some of the big name vacation destinations such as Disney World, Las Vegas, or the Bahamas? Finding information on these vacation destinations is simple as it is everywhere you look. Or, perhaps you want a specific kind of vacation like a tropical island, a beach, or a ski resort? There are exotic vacation destinations and family oriented vacation destinations. The sky is the limit.
To find information regarding different vacation destinations, it is no longer necessary to visit the travel agent or even the library. There is a wealth of information right on the internet that you can get right from your home. It?s as simple as doing a web search for one of the many vacation planning websites. One great example is http://www.e-travelpromos.com where you can find many choices in vacation destinations.
Now, back to the budget we go. While we can look at all kinds of vacation destinations and set our dreams high, remember to realize that all vacation destinations will cost you something. Remember to consider hotel accommodations, airfare or transportation to the location, car rentals, meals, drinks, taxes, tips, and spending money. You may choose to visit a vacation destination where there are a lot of sites to see. Realize that most likely you will need to pay a per person fee to see attractions or to rent equipment. There are many items to include in your budget. Once you have done this you can consider which vacation destination will be right for you.

About The Author

Sandy Baker is staff writer at http://www.e-travelpromos.com sbaker@e-travelpromos.com.

WestAccom.net - Western Australia - Your Holiday Destination For All The Family

by: steve wall

Western Australia means adventure, romance, beauty, ruggedness, vastness, remarkable, breathtaking and these are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to describing the state of Western Australia. W.A is home to activities such as surfing, swimming, crabbing, dolphin watching, boating, fishing, hiking, abseiling, rock climbing, snorkelling, diving, cruises, charters, world class reefs, whales, natural landmarks, stunning national parks & waterways, world-class golfing, and that’s just scratching the surface!
The Western Australian towns of Albany, Bridgetown, Broome, Bunbury, Busselton, Collie, Denmark, Derby, Esperance, Exmouth, Geraldton, Kalgoorlie, Karratha, Kununurra, Mandurah, Margaret River, Pemberton, Perth, Port Headland, Rockingham, Walpole are just a few of the great towns and cities that show off what Western Australia (W.A) has to offer. In our site you will find Western Australia (W.A) accommodations, attractions & restaurant information to help you decide your destinations.
From the Kimberley, the most rugged, remote and remarkable region of the north, home of the Bungle Bungle Rages to the Gascoyne region where you can swim with Whale Sharks at the spectacular Ningaloo Reef to the Goldfields region where you can see the Gold history come alive to the vibrant city of Perth with its cosmopolitan appeal to the Central South Region with its gentle, undulating hills which are thickly wooded with gums and a host of other native trees, to the Cape area with its sandy beaches, secluded bays, pounding surf, rocky cliffs sloping fields and vineyards of the world renowned Margaret River region to the Great Southern Region where the ancient Tuart trees of the Valley of the Giants reside, you will
Our accommodation pages will offer the bulk of the information you need to make a decision on accommodation and the accompanying attraction information will show what is offer in and around the area. There is so much to do in and around Western Australia that even the locals don’t know what they are missing. At WestAccom.net we intend to make as much information available to visitors and locals alike so that we all get to enjoy the variety of attractions that this beautiful State has to offer.

About The Author

Steve Wall is the webmaster of several Western Australian Tourism sites such westaccom.net & myalbany.net & mymandurah.com & mybunbury.com. These sites supply information on accommodation and tourism.
Re-print rights
Need content? You may use this article on your website, or in your newsletter. The only requirement is inclusion of the following sentence: Article by Steve Wall of www.westaccom.net with the link to our web site active.
steve@mymandurah.com

by: Ramnish Gupta

New Zealand is one of the ultimate travel destinations in the Southern Hemisphere, with something for just about anyone. New Zealand has everything, right from ski fields to volcanoes, from big cities to small towns and from beaches to mountains.
New Zealand currently has a population of just over 4 million people. Auckland is the biggest city with over 1.2 million people and the capital city Wellington has a population of around 400,000. Most of the country’s resident population is based in North Island and so, South Island offers the opportunity to get away from the busy cities and get up close and personal with the elements.
New Zealand offers a lot of activities, especially for the adventurous kind. You can bungee jump, ski and snow board, relax on the beach, go for a bike ride, take a 4 wheel drive adventure, ski dive, surf or simply, shop! Most adventurous activities are available in the South Island, whereas North Island offers the charm of the big cities, some great shopping as well as some uniquely New Zealand attractions, like the Maori village in Rotorua.
The best way to travel around New Zealand would be in a rental car. Most New Zealand cities are very well connected with the main motorways and traffic is usually not a problem. There are information centres in most tourist areas, providing useful travel information, maps etc.

About The Author

Ramnish Gupta is based in New Zealand and has a keen interest in travel and photography. His website http://www.newzealandphotography.co.nz has travel information and photographs from all over New Zealand.
ram@newzealandphotography.co.nz

by: John Gall

For those considering an all inclusive resort vacation the need for information, pictures and trip reports is urgent. All inclusive resort vacations typically run $4000-$7000 for a weeks stay at an all inclusive resort. Because of the higher upfront cost travelers needing information would prefer to get it from people who have been to the resorts vs. the resort themselves. Resort websites and brochures usually contain staged photos which have been airbrushed to perfection. Maps are not always to scale and the facts about features and quality of the resort are usually subjective. Below are links and descriptions for bulletin boards that discuss all inclusive resorts. The members are always willing to answer questions and provide pictures and information.
Pictures From Sandals Resorts Bulletin Board

http://www.sandalspictures.com/discus/messages/board-topics.html

This bulletin board contains discussion about Sandals Resorts with a focus on Sandals Resorts in Jamaica. The board is a section of its primary website http://www.sandalspictures.com that contains pictures and information on Sandals Negril , Sandals Whitehouse , Sandals Dunn’s River , and Sandals Ocho Rios

Tropic Travel Online

http://www.tropictravelonline.com

This bulletin board is run by a travel agent named Debbie. This is a full featured bulletin board featuring discussion on all Sandals Resorts and also other all inclusive resorts around the world. This site features trip reports and pictures from all inclusive resorts around the world.

Travel Talk Online

http://www.traveltalkonline.com

This is a bulletin board that features travel discussion from around the world. This bulletin board is not specific to all inclusive travel but contains a good amount of information on all inclusive resorts

DennyP’s Hedonism Bulletin Board

http://www.dennyp.com

Denny P is a travel agent and Hedonism vacationer who runs this bulletin board which is geared for discussion related to Hedonism resorts in Jamaica. There is one section for “Other Resorts” but not much non-Hedonism information is featured here. If you want information on Hedonism II or III in Jamaica this is a great resource.

Bulletin boards are a great resource when looking for information on all inclusive travel. The bulletin boards above are recognized for their quality of information and helpful members. Please consider joining one and asking any questions you might have about your all inclusive vacation.

About The Author

John Gall is a full time IT Manager and IT Consultant in Minnesota. He runs several websites as a hobby featuring content similar to that in this article.

http://www.napavalleypictures.com

http://www.gallconsulting.com

http://www.sandalspictures.com

http://www.minnesotamotorcyclist.com

by: Annette Gisby

We couldn’t very well visit New Zealand without seeing some of the Lord of the Rings locations and our first stop was the small town of Matamata on the North Island, which became famous as Hobbiton was filmed around there.
All either of us knew was that it was filmed somewhere on a sheep farm near there, but that was about it. My husband John was driving and I was navigating with a map we’d just bought a few days before in Auckland. The map had Lord of the Rings locations marked on it, but places still seemed to take a little bit of finding.
“What does the map say?” asked John.
“It just says ‘Matamata’ for ‘Hobbiton’,” I replied, which wasn’t much help to us as we both knew that the film location was not in the town but somewhere outside of it. We decided to go into Matamata and see if they had a tourist information centre who would know where the location was.
As we drove into town, there was an information centre sign three hundred metres ahead. Three hundred metres ahead of us was a car park and a small building that looked as if it was in the process of being built or being demolished. There was no information sign anywhere and we wondered if we’d taken a wrong turn somewhere.
We parked the car and decided to have a look around the town, which took about ten minutes. Coming back to the car from a slightly different direction, we finally came across the information centre, which was at the other side of the dilapidated building we saw. And in big golden letters plastered across the window was ‘Hobbiton Tours’.
At last! You could only go on a guided tour as the land was privately owned, we just made it in time for the second to last tour of the day. There were about 15-20 people in our tour, although the bus could probably seat about forty.
It was about a twenty minute drive outside of Matamata to get to the Alexander sheep farm, where the movie was filmed. Of course, most of it has returned to its natural state of rolling hills and lots of sheep, but there are a few Hobbit holes left, including Bag End, Frodo and Bilbo’s house in the Shire.
The day we went, it drizzled constantly, but it didn’t seem to dampen anyone’s spirit, everyone was smiling and excited that they actually got to see the Shire. John and I decided that yes, we could quite happily live there. There was just something so peaceful about the area, you could see why they decided to film the Shire there.
Our guide Theresa pointed out the various places where some of the structures had been which were no longer there. There weren’t meant to be any structures left at all, but before all of them could be taken down, there was a very bad rainstorm and it was deemed to dangerous to remove the rest, so there are about eighteen Hobbit holes left altogether.
You really do feel that you are walking through the village of Hobbiton, not a film set, despite the Hobbit holes just having a wooden facade now, not gardens and brightly painted doors like in the films. It’s just the sense of the place. I
Once we arrived at the steps to Bag End the guide mentioned that she had a tour once where a girl kissed the top step because Elijah Wood had once stood on there!
“I wouldn’t recommend it,” she said. “There’ve been a lot of sheep walking around here since then!”
Despite her warning, there were a few people who seemed to be considering it!
Of course as you may know, Hobbits are very shy of the Big Folk, so don’t expect to see any on your trip, but if you look closely and are very quiet, you might just get lucky.
For more information, you can visit the Hobbiton Tours website: http://www.hobbitontours.com/

About The Author

Annette Gisby is the author of the novels “Drowning Rapunzel” and “Silent Screams” as well as the short story collection “Shadows of the Rose.” She enjoys travelling and seeing new places, despite getting travel sick and hopes to visit New Zealand again in the future.
For more information on Annette and her books please visit her website at http://www.annettegisby.n3.net
Article may be reprinted with bio information still attached.

Avoid Information Overload When Searching For Airline Tickets

by: Auckland Alvin Semper Jr

No more information overload on travel!
The importance of avoiding information overload when searching for the cheapest airline tickets online cannot be stressed enough theses days. This article will explain how you should take your time and do your research to be able to cherry pick your way through.
What we Internet surfers don’t seem to understand is that there are millions of travel sites out there claiming they have access to the lowest airfares. When its time to book your travel plans the first thing we think about is our budget (for those of us who have a budget). Most travelers don’t want to pay more than they have to because they still need money when they get to where ever the destination is and the more the better..right!
We all want the cheap flights that are enjoyable, not too many stops, with food and entertainment, frequent flyer miles, plenty of leg and elbow room…all for the lowest and cheapest price you can afford….now that would be perfect dude! Well dream on, unless youre rich.
To avoid information overload and your bottom sticking to the chair, you start with online sites that not only give their prices but also let you compare with others. Narrow these sites down to sites that don’t waste your time by having access to just a few special airfares only when the airlines say they have deals. Everybody has a search engine for available published airfares, but the best sites consistently offer specially worked out deals available only to their customers….now thats what I am talking about maan…..
You have to find a small group of sites that can be searched on a regular basis…be persistent and start checking for deals at least a month in advance to be able to take advantage of 7-21 day advanced purchase requirements. How about sites that have done the research for you and also provide all the information you need for traveling….I call these sites “travel portals” and boy do they save you time, not to mention stress.
Some travel portals list too many sites and its like your starting all over again. They list any site that would pay commissions instead of researching and listing those that actually have low airfares consistently, so try and avoid these kinds of cluttered travel portals at all costs…they are still wasting your time.
Searching for cheap airfares does not have to be an adventure. Finding and using travel portals should get you what you need without the sales pitch. Most of us have a budget and don’t want to feel like we could have paid much less…if an airfare is out there, travel portals will help you find it……Happy Traveling!

About The Author

Auckland Semper is a syndicated travel expert and former travel agent. Visit his travel portal at http://www.thelowestpricelist.com/cheap-airfares.html –Free travel tips, advise and information on cheap airline tickets and vacations.