Wednesday 11 April 2012

Carribean Travel Tip


People have been taking Caribbean travel vacations since the colonial times. Today, millions of U.S. citizens visit the islands each year to experience the tropical extravaganza that a Caribbean travel usually has in store for all its visitors.


Below are some Caribbean travel tips to help you get the most out of your tropical excursion:
Get an early start.


If there's anything you absolutely must do when you go on a Caribbean vacation that is to start early. There are a lot of things you need to take care of. Trip planning can be a tough nut to crack. Often, a passport may be required before you can enter the country you are planning to travel. One Caribbean travel tip you ought to consider is to prepare all your travel documents as early as now.


Choose an island.
Culture-shock. That is bound to happen if you don't do your research beforehand. One thing you should remember about the Caribbean is that it has a culture that is as widely diverse as its people. So take this Caribbean travel tip: read up on the culture and people for the places you will travel.
Another thing, as you travel, keep abreast of local news coverage. If you are in an area experiencing civil unrest or a natural disaster, or if you are going to a place where communications is poor, register with the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate for your own safety.
Registration at the State Department's Travel Registration.state.gov website takes only a few minutes, and certainly invaluable in case of emergency. In addition, you can also get up to date Caribbean travel tips and information on any country in the world by obtaining the Department of State's Consular Information Sheet.


Entry.
Every island in the Caribbean has its own entry requirements. That is why your first Caribbean travel tip is to prepare all your documents before you leave home. If you can show proof that you are a U.S. citizen and a return or onward ticket, most countries will allow you to visit for up to two or three months.
Take this as both a Caribbean travel tip and caution: There are countries in the Caribbean with areas infected with yellow fever. If you come from any of these areas, you may be required to have a certificate of vaccination against yellow fever. Also, some airports may require departure tax of up to $25.


Return.
There are some Caribbean countries that require only your birth certificate as an entry requirement. However, this should be reason for you to slack off on your travel documents. Remember that U.S. Immigration requires that you document both your U.S. citizenship and identity. Take this Caribbean travel tip and make sure you can return to the United States with both these documents.
But what is the best document that can prove your U.S. citizenship? The best proof is a valid U.S. passport. However, other travelers give these Caribbean travel tips as documents you can use besides that to prove U.S. citizenship:
Expired U.S. passport
Certified copy of birth certificate
Certificate of Naturalization
Certificate of Citizenship
Report of Birth Abroad of a U.S. Citizen
http://www.runurl.com/xx.php?4rn

About the Author

More information can be found at http://holidayinnexpress.blogspot.com/

Tuesday 10 April 2012

Stress Free Traveling Tips


Going on vacation or taking a business trip does not need to be a stressful experience. There are a few steps you can take to make your entire travel experience enjoyable and, most importantly, stress free.
Preparation is of utmost importance when traveling, if you are able to prepare in advance all that needs to be sorted out then you are less likely to be stressed in the event an unexpected delay or occurrence transpires. I personally do not enjoy leaving with loads of time to spare however I do find it defers anxiety on the event that there is a delay of some sort. Leaving well in advance of the time that is stipulated is a key to traveling safely and stress free.
Preparation also involves ensuring you have all that you need for the journey. There is nothing more stressful than arriving at the airport only to realize you left your passport or ticket at home as a result of rushing to leave. Giving ample time to the preparation period is tedious but rewarding as you ensure peace of mind as you travel.
Checking to make sure you have all that you need should be done the as early as possible or the night before and not at the check in line. Talking of the check in line for airborne journeys it could be wise to ensure comfortable clothing that do not constrict. Also ensure to remember to remove all metallic items so as to go the detector with ease. Being aware of the rules regarding check in items is also necessary so as not to have items that may cause issues with the security personnel.
Having arrived at the airport or station in good time is a major stress reliever and you can now relax as you await departure. Listening to calming music or reading a book may help calm the nerves. Items bought within the check in area are normally allowed onto the plane or vessel therefore you could indulge in a bottle of water or ice tea as you wait.
The actual journey may in many cases be the cause of anxiety for many travelers, fear of flying or fear of the ocean is very common and should be confronted by the fact that accidents are actually very rare in these forms of travel.
Finally take measures to ensure the actual journey is not stressful to fellow travelers, be courteous to others and helpful when you can. If all travelers were polite and helpful journeys would be a whole lot less stressful.
For more information on Travel Tips [http://travel-adventurez.com/] visit the link. Click here for information on a Cruise Vacation Deal [http://travel-adventurez.com/advice/cruise-vacation-deal/]


Monday 9 April 2012

Important Travelling Tips You Should Know


Travelling can be fun, especially if it is a worry-free trip. Thus, to ensure that your problems are minimal when you visit a foreign land, here are some important travelling tips you ought to know.
First, you should enroll yourself in a smart traveler enrollment program or anything like that (depending on where you are from), so that your State Department will be able to help you during time of emergencies. When you enroll yourself in such programs, you will be required to share with them your travel plans, and contact of relevant people to you in case of emergency. Such information will not be disclosed to anyone else unless you authorize of it. In the meantime, you should prepare copies of your travel itinerary, passport data page and visas to be kept with your family members or friends, so that they might be able to contact you if there is an emergency.
Apart from that, you should check out your medical insurance and travel insurance international. Make sure you read through their policies so that you will know what kind of situations you can turn to them for help. Check to see if your medical insurance company covers overseas bills as well. If they do not, check to see if your travel insurance international does cover the medical expenses for the places you intend to visit in case of mishaps. Having travel insurance international will be useful as they might be able to help you in case of loss of documentation or mishaps.
Apart from that, make sure to put an effort in familiarizing the local conditions and laws of the country you are planning to visit. There might be things that you are accustomed to in your own country which are unacceptable in the other country, so you will not want to get yourself into hot soup in a foreign land if possible where help is not a stone throw away. Familiarizing yourself also helps you decide on your safety, luggage and plans.
Last but not least, do not forget to find out the contact number of your country's embassy at the country you will be travelling at. Although you do not want to get into trouble, it is always useful to carry its contact in case of emergency.
Chris is the writer of this article, you can visit us for more information on travel insurance guide and surf spots.


Sunday 8 April 2012

How to Get Travel Codes and Save Money on Your Travel


Travel codes are a great way to get discount travel no matter which way you decide to move from state to state, or country to country. Travel codes are specialized codes that are set aside for specific groups of people so that they can get discount travel tickets for trains, planes, car rentals, and even ferries.
Travel codes are usually available through websites to help students, for instance, receive any additional money saving vouchers that will help them get home. In most cases, these travel codes are located on the school's website. If you are in college, the travel codes for your school are located on the school's web pages listed under travel code application, travel discount application, or something that depicts an application for discount travel. People in the military are often able to find these on their government website pages.
All you have to do is fill out the application, which takes only a few moments, and your discount travel code is then emailed directly to you. When you go online to book your mode of travel, you enter the travel code for your school or military until that was emailed to you and you will receive an instant discount.
Almost every organization offers . Churches, high schools, and even some animal rescue groups offer these handy little codes to help you get discount travel. There are some websites that offer these codes to the public so that anyone can save some money. Hotel website, train websites, and even some airline booking sites will offer a travel code voucher application right on their website so that you can receive the offers without being in school or the military.
These codes are particularly useful when gas prices are on the rise. Some gas companies even offer discount right on their site to help you spend less on the petrol you need to get back and forth. It is within everyone's power to reduce their travel costs for one or all family members by looking for these travel codes.
If you make it a habit to find the discount on the appropriate website, you can save hundreds or even thousands on travel expenses, which can ultimately save a vacation or make it possible to take the much needed business trip. The more ways that we all can find ways to save money on travel, the better, as the decline of summertime travel is part of the decline of our economic state. Being able to afford more travel is simply beneficial for everyone.
Alana is an travel with traveling all over the world. She knows from experience that it's difficult to get a travel voucher codes. but finds it an enjoyable challenge with travel. For more information, visit http://www.yootravel.co.uk


Saturday 7 April 2012

Business Travel Tips For Your Family


Business travel tips often focus on how to make the actual traveler's trip easier. But what about the family that is left behind? Often times depending on the age of the kids, it can be just as stressful for them and your spouse. While you are planning out your next trip, take some time to plan out how you are going to spend quality time with your family both before and after the trip.
One thing to plan is something to do when you return so everyone can look forward to that activity and not on the absence. Plan for a trip to the zoo or some other age appropriate activity for your children.
Help your spouse do any chores before you leave, like grocery shopping or laundry. Being a single parent for a couple of days can be challenging, especially when you are not used to going it alone.
Play with your kids before you leave as well. Before trips we are usually just focused on preparing for the trip itself and not on preparing the family.
Call often while you are gone. When on the road don't forget to check in even more often then when you are in town. This helps maintain a constant reassurance that things are okay.
Families are often the forgotten factor when talking about business travel tips. There is a whole industry focused on the traveler but not on the family. If you are a frequent flyer, take some time to focus on your family.
For more great info visit: Family Stress and Business Travel.
Also be sure to visit my blog at Business Travel Tips.


Friday 6 April 2012

Tips to Select a Coach Hire Company For a Luxurious Travel


In most businesses, it is essential to provide facilities for the transportation of staff members and clients to exhibitions or business meetings. Now, let us observe some of the advantages of corporate coach hire services. With the reduction in flight rates, the luxury of air travel may be seen as one of the cheaper modes of transport. With the advertising of discount packages from the important airports, air travel seems most appealing.
However, when you sum up the actual expenses incurred by air travel you will find that it is the most expensive mode of transport. Let's have a brief look at this. Taxis, train fares or the fuel costs should be considered while traveling to the airport. There is no doubt that the actual flight rates might be cheap but the incidental expenses like parking etc can add to the costs. On arrival at the designated airport, additional traveling to your destination would once again mean train or taxi fares.
If you want your clients to reach the venue of the business meeting in a fresh and good mood, then you should definitely consider traveling by a coach. Otherwise, the entire journey could be exhausting. Besides, booking different tickets is time consuming. An efficient way of traveling in luxury is hiring a coach, particularly if you have a group of 15 to 20 people.
You no longer have to wait due to delays in plane and train services. The entire group can travel together in style, comfort and have loads of fun. The new advanced coaches have facilities which allow you to enjoy your journey as they provide music, TV, tables, refrigerators and services of a hostess. You feel quite relaxed as there are no sit outs, transfers or queuing which is common with the other modes of transport. Hence, It is not at all astonishing that most of the business transactions are completed during this relaxed coach travel prior to the meetings, when the staff and clients bond.
So, how will you go about selecting a coach hire company for your business or family trips? Searching the internet is the best option as most companies have their websites which show you precise images of the vehicles that they are available for hire. Clean and good quality coaches create a good impression of their business. You can actually visit the company in your area of business and find out the different options available. It is always better to go for coaches that are categorized as executive ones as they house amenities and features that meet the highest standards.
It is also essential to see that the driver of your coach is well dressed and is polite when interacting with the clients and staff. These are some of the tips to select a coach hire service for luxury travel.
Momentum Coach Hire offer a fantastic range of coaches, available for everything from school trips to stag parties. View the Momentum Coach Hire site for more information.


Thursday 5 April 2012

China Travel Tips



These China Travel Tips, Survival Techniques, will help you get around and make your trip to China easier, so you will be able to experience the real China with a little less stress.
China is an odd beast that needs to be respected; the major cities, Beijing, Shanghai, and Xian, all have their own personalities.
Some complex situations that you think would be an organizational disaster turn out to be great and you wonder afterward what all the fuss and worry was about. Then the simplest of tasks can turn out to be a major calamity.
This is when you have what we call here a "China day".
These days come and go and are part of the experience of everyday travel in China. One needs to have an open mind when travelling China. It is a place with thousands of years of history and culture that is trying overnight to adapt to Western ways of living.
You need to have a very open mind when you Travel in China.
I have listed below a few China Travel Tips that will make life that wee bit more bearable on your Travel China experience.
China Travel Tips - Be Toilet Wise
o Never expect a clean toilet 100% of the time.
o Be prepared; Carry some tissue.
o You may have to use a squat toilet, again if you know this before hand it is not a shock. If you don't know how to use a squat toilet, try the following experiment at home.
While holding onto something for support with both hands, lower your body down into a low squat position, so that the cheeks of your bottom is almost touching your heels or the back of your calf. Now, let go with your hands. See if you stay in this position for at least 1 minute. If you fall backwards or you cannot get up, then a squat toilet could be a problem for you! Practice, you will be happy you did.
o If you see a clean toilet, Go... it may not come again for a while.
o There are many public toilets around the cities, usually the ones you pay for are OK, (RMB .5), the others best to stay away from if you can. You will soon notice them as you walk around the cities.
o Be warned that public areas like bus and train stations are usually what I class as "tough toilets", however if gotta go you gotta go.
o Outside of the major cities, the toilet systems are old or have very narrow plumbing /pipes and get blocked easily. In these cases a small basket is usually beside the toilet, this is for your used toilet paper.
One of the best China Travel toilet Tips I can give you, is use hotel lobby toilets; these are everywhere and are always clean. Still they may not always have toilet paper. It depends on the class of hotel that you are using.
I do not wish to scare you. However, of all the China Travel Tips in all the other web sites I have read, this is a topic not often mentioned, but it is very important to us all.
So outside of the major cities conditions can be tough. But most of the time everything will be fine, especially if you book a tour; everything will have been checked out before hand. However even the best laid plans can go wrong, so be prepared, the toilets in the smaller cities, towns and villages can be scary.
China Travel Tips - The Food
o The food is great and the variety is overwhelming. Most of the time you get to choose what you eat, or you can recognize what you're eating, however sometimes you do not get a choice. Carry a chocolate bar or something; this will keep you going until some food that you can recognize turns up. Drink bottled or boiled water, as the tap water is NOT safe to drink, this is for the whole of China. Even boiled water, while sterilised can contain a lot of minerals and iron deposits that you probably do not want in your system. The safest bet is to drink bottle water. Tap water in most big cities is OK for brushing teeth.
o Eating habits - Most Chinese people have a great habit of being very noisy when they eat and lunch and dinner times can be a wonderfully noisy celebration, food tends to go in all directions, its just part of being in China.
o People also smoke at the table while everyone is eating, so some restaurants get very loud and smoky.
o If you get stuck what to order as most of the menu's are in Chinese just look at the table next to you and point to the dish you fancy and ask how much it is, this system works really well and know seems to mind.
o I have a basic menu that will help you order safe food, (no Cats or Dog) this will enable you to visit a larger selection of restaurants, not just the tourist ones with high prices. You can carry it with you and use it in the local restaurants where most will be able to serve what is on it. This way you will know what you are eating.
These local places are very cheap and the food it great. Contact me if you would like me to send it to you.
China Travel Tips - Taxis
o China Travel Tips- Taxis - Taxis are an experience that can have you griping the seat and gasping for breath; however you soon get used to it, after the first few rides, you're an old hand.
o The taxis in Shanghai are, overall, quite good. Try to get the Blue, Blue'ish Turquoise, Gold and White taxis, these are the best... these are the four major taxi companies and are generally recognised by their single colour paintwork. The others are OK, just older and a rougher ride (the others also may have faulty metres). No drivers will speak English.
o Carry your hotel or accommodation business card with you, written in Chinese, this helps if you get lost walking around town.
o In all the taxis around the country you will see the drivers name and taxi registration number in plain sight. If you have any problem, or if you think you have been over charged etc, just take this number down, make a big fuss about it, and the driver then should wake up and fix whatever problem you have. Even better is to take the receipt. This has all the trip details on it and you can ring the taxi company if you want to take things further or if you've left something in the taxi.
o The government takes rip-off drivers in all cities, Beijing and Xian especially, very seriously and if you complain they will lose their license. This is their livelihood. So far I have had not one driver in 3 years that has not backed down and we have then agreed a price for the trip or solved our problem.
o In Shanghai, it is common practice for taxi fare increases after 11pm. However, one can usually bargain for a 20% discount, which will get the fare back to the pre-11pm rate.
Be strong with the taxi drivers, never-the-less, keep your cool, smile and negotiate.
China Travel Tips - Shopping
o China Travel Tips - Shopping - China is a shopper's paradise, Markets, Bargains; Top labels... anything and everything if you have the time. With clothes, the larger (Western) sizes can be quite hard to find, however in the major cities where you get a lot of tourist traffic, you can find them.
o Electrical gear, DVD's, Cameras, stuff like this is not worth buying in China, Hong Kong is still the best place for this.
o Store hours in the major cities are from 10am to 10pm, 7 days a week.
o Visa card is still the best card to carry, with ATM's in good supply all with PLUS access etc.
There is usually a surcharge for use of VISA, MasterCard or other forms of credit card.
o Wait on purchasing if you can, look around to get a feel for the prices. The Chinese are VERY experienced at selling and know that we halve the opening price when bargaining.
In the markets go for 25% of what they first ask; go so low that they let you walk away. This will give you an idea of the bottom price. The resulting end-price will probably be around 40% to 50% of where they started.
Whatever the market people say, they are used to pushing and haggling for best prices. Do not worry about being too hard, they are used to it and will not sell you an item unless they make a profit. Don't be concerned with the apparently hurt body language when you go low - it is all part of the game. As soon as they have wrapped up your first purchase, they will try to sell you something more. Remember to keep smiling and having fun while bargaining.
China Travel Tips - Medical Treatment and Records
o Most hotels will have a doctor that you can see. In the major hotels English will be spoken.
o Always take a small first aid kit, cold remedy, headache tablets at the very least. WATSONS is a very large chain chemist. Most of the remedies, tablets etc, that you may require should be in these shops. These shops are all over China.
o There is a great network of pharmacy type shops; these are indicated by a Green Cross. There will always be a 24 hr Green Cross pharmacy in the city you are in. It is handy to carry a Phase book, as no one will speak English, however you will end up with something that will help.
o INPORTANT POINT - for most of the mass produced packet type medicines, the packaging will be written in Chinese on one side, English on the other. However in the shops you only see the Chinese side. Have a good look, turn the packs over, it gives you a lot more confidence knowing you can read the package.
o If you have a specific medical issue, take records, most of the Doctors will have OK written / reading English, even though their oral English will be poor.
China Travel Tips - Telephone
o Using the phone is as easy as at home. However the person picking it up will not speak English or have very broken English... the Major 4- or 5-Star Hotels will all be OK.
o What is worth doing is buying a Chinese Telecom SIM card, they are about RMB100 and with this you get RMB50 in calls, the other 50 is for the price of the SIM card; this SIM card will go into all major brand phones and work OK.
By doing this, people can reach you within and out of China if there is an emergency. If you have a couple of phones, you can short (txt) message each other (SMS). Also you are able to call your tourist guide, hotel etc if you have any major problems. It is a cheap way to keep in touch.
NB.Before you buy a Chinese SIM card, check that it will work in your Cell / Mobile phone. There are plenty of China Telecom shops that can help.
China Travel Tips on when NOT to move around China.
o Spring Festival, this would be the Chinese New Year time, around the end of January / Early February
o Early May; Labour day Holidays
o Early October; National Day Holidays
Of all the China Travel Tips National Day is the biggest one. Millions of Chinese travel at these holiday times of the year. Most are travelling back to home towns or visiting family. Hotels, trains, planes, cars, buses, and roads are all crowded to the maximum. Major congestion, everywhere.
Also travel fares are at their full price. No discounts are offered!
Stay in one place and enjoy where you are. It's best and causes fewer hassles.
China Travel Tips - TV
o If you want to watch TV, most of the major hotels will have cable and if you are in the smaller places, the national channel, CCTV9 is in English. Over the last couple of years it has got a lot better, with some great China Travel Tips programs, news and views on people and places around China.
China Travel Tips - Airport Tax
o There is a "construction fee" at almost all airports.
Domestic flights RMB 50
International flights RMB 90 - which is to be paid in local currency.
Just recently, tickets are being tissued with the Construction Tax included; however make sure you have the Tax money with you just to make sure.
I hope some of these China Travel Tips will come in handy and will make your trip to China that little bit easier.
If you have been to China and wish to share your China Travel Tips, please feel free to contact me anytime.
John Mckenna
Hi I'm John Mckenna, I am from New Zealand and have lived in Shanghia China now for 3 years.
I own and operate http://www.Travel-the-Real-China.com; my site provides experienced based Travel and Tour information on the wonders of Travel in China, the Real China, Ancient China, China at its very best...