Adventure Travel Tips, Deals, And Destinations

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For some people, taking city tours, visiting breweries, and lying out on the beach just isn’t enough. These tourists want a trip filled with adventure; one that’s off the beaten path. Adventure travel is a specialized type of travel that isn’t filled with the typical tour buses and bed-and-breakfasts. Adventure travel engulfs a more exploratory sense of the word “travel”. Adventure travelers would rather hike up a mountain, trek through a jungle, or ride white water rapids than sit in an air conditioned bus and be chauffeured from place to place.
However, although adventure travelers don’t partake in all-inclusive resort stays, adventure travel can still be quite expensive. That’s because the destinations adventure travelers travel to (and the activities they do) often require special guides, groups, and sometimes equipment.
If you want a change of scenery and want to experience adventure travel, here are some tips on how to make it more affordable. Follow these tips and save a few bucks for when you’re in-country.
Adventure Travel Tips and Deals
Tip #1: Find Affordable Airfare to Your Adventure Travel Destination
Regardless of what you do when you arrive at your destination, getting there can be costly. Airfare will always be a factor in your travel budget, regardless of if you’re traveling to go on a safari, hike the Himalayas, or lay on a beach. Flying is an expensive way to travel; however, thanks to the Internet, it doesn’t have to be. The Internet is filled with deals on airfare to destinations all over the world. If you’re planning an adventure travel trip, search the web for airfare and budget travel deals. The web is jam packed with travel web sites offering amazing rates on airfare to many travel destinations. So if you’re planning an adventure travel trip, find airfare deals online.
Tip #2: Book Your Adventure Travel Adventures When You Get There
Since adventure travel takes you off the beaten path, it’s fairly simple to find great deals on rooms, materials, and tours in the outskirts of town. However, if you try to book a room or find a tour guide before you leave, you’ll probably have to deal with a middleman to book your accommodations; and anytime you deal with a middleman, the more it’s going to cost you. The middleman will most likely charge you some sort of service or finders fee. By waiting until you are in-country to book your accommodations and materials, you’ll be able to cut out the middleman and save some money on your adventure travel.
However, before you jump on the plane, it’s a good idea to check out adventure travel blogs and websites online. They’ll help you get in touch with other adventure travelers who can give you advice on who you should contact when in-country to make the necessary arrangements. You don’t want to journey to a foreign land completely blind.
Tip #3: Find an Adventure Travel Group to Travel With
Believe it or not, there are travel groups out there that specialize in adventure travel. These groups are experienced in adventure travel and have the right connections to get you deals on your trip. Adventure travel groups normally travel as a group and benefit from group rates. They also have connections with people in other countries to plan the best and most affordable activities. Planning an adventure travel trip on your own can be complicated and very costly. By finding an adventure travel group and going with them on their adventures, you’ll be able to cut down the cost of your trip and also meet some new people along the way.
Top Adventure Travel Destinations
Africa
Africa is referred to as the cradle of human life as we know it, being the oldest inhabited territory in the world. Travel through Africa will reveal the modern dilemma of a region pushing forward with globalization and technology at the same time that many cultures and tribes are striving to protect their traditional way of life. In addition to human life, Africa supports the world’s most spectacular collection of rare species and biodiversity. Encountering Africa’s wilderness firsthand is not only a radically unique experience, but also a once-in-a-lifetime privilege that future generations may not have the opportunity to share. For more information on adventure travel to Africa, visit http://www. cfares. com/africa.
Thailand
Thailand offers the diversity of a society running in parallel: booming city life and leisurely beach escapes, thickly canopied jungles and white sand islands, indulgent cuisine, clubs and cocktails and the sanctuary of Buddhist lifestyle. Thailand has come of age as a traveler’s dream destination, an affordable gateway to paradise with adventure at your fingertips. For more information on adventure travel to Thailand, visit http://www. cfares. com/thailand.

Comments (0) Mar 16 2010

Top 35 Free Sites for Europe Travel Tips Everybody Ought to Know About

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When planning a trip to Europe, there are a ton of available resources for travelers. With this is mind, it is often time-consuming to wade through all of the websites to find really valuable information.
Here is a list of some of the top travel resources for planning a trip to Europe.
1) Wikitravel
This is one of the best sites for travel available. It is open source, so it is constantly updated; further, it is usually locals or people who have direct, experience with an area who contribute information. Thus you get localized information you might not have gotten elsewhere.
2) World Travel Tips
This is a huge, comprehensive resource for world travel. It includes forums, articles, links, free membership and much more for every continent. Their European section covers every European Country and offer in-depth information about each one.
3) About. com: Europe for Visitors
This is a great site dedicated to travel in Europe from About. com. Geared towards everyone from first time to experienced travelers, it is a goldmine of European travel and planning information.
4) Virtual Tourist
This is a great travel guide. Their motto is ‘real travelers – real info. ” This seems consistent with the site, which has everything from transportation reviews to the best travel deal and trip planners. The site also includes forums where you can read about other people’s adventures in Europe.
5) Travel Europe
This is an swicki (cross between a search engine and wikipedia) where community users can add, remove and improve the results. This particular swicki is geared towards travel in Europe and is a great resource fro planning a trip to or in Europe.
6) Visiteurope. com
This is the European travel commission’s guide to Europe and is packed with tons of useful information, articles, advice and much much more.
7) Europe for Visitors
This is a site that offer European news, general advice, specific country advice, hotels, links to city guides, tourist offices and much, much more.
8. ) Europecities. com
This is a comprehensive portal site that offers European city reviews and guides to hundreds of European cities and over 40 European countries.
9) Travel Library
Travel Library is an impartial resource for travelers and offers a plethora of resources that offer in-depth travel information, from hotel and hostel ideas to travelogues and most popular locations.
10) Europa: Traveling in Europe
A huge site that offers tools and information for over 30 European Countries. Each country has their own site dedicated to travel resources, information news and more from that country. Categories for visitors include: documents you will need, choosing a time to travel, getting there, staying healthy, money, shopping, communicating, pets, and if things go wrong.
11) Europa: Your Europe
While this site is geared towards European citizens, it still offers tons of great information for visitors outside of Europe. Information categories include: working in Europe, education and study, living in Europe, traveling in Europe, consumer protection, European citizenship and diplomatic protection.
12) European Union Website
This is the official website of the European Union. It offers news, educational resources and tons of links to information about what’s going on in Europe and well as youth travel portals, travel guides, transportation information and much, much more.
13) Yahoo Answers
This is a great place to ask questions and get answers about anything Europe related. You ask the question and get a number of answers, then choose the answer that fits your question best. This site is great because it gives you several points of view to read and learn from and is focused on sharing knowledge.
14) Travels Wise
This site offers tons of information about travel in Europe and countries including Belarus, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Greece, Iceland, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Poland, Russia, Spain, Switzerland, and the Ukraine.
15) Rick Steves’ Travel Tips
This site is a large portal site that offers tips and advice for exploring Europe safely, effectively and confidently. From packing tips and safety to accommodations and communications, you will find what you’re looking for.
16) Travel Punk
This site offers travel tips and advice targeted at backpackers, budget travelers and tourists. Offers tons of great information as well as travel tools and resources for finding cheap flights and accommodations.
17) TERC Europe Travel Tips
Offers tips on traveling in Europe and categories run the gamut from packing tips and staying healthy and safe to money matters, budget planning, food and accommodations and much more. It is a huge site that is well worth visiting for any Europe travel-related needs.
18) Accessible Journeys
This is an awesome travel site that offers a wealth of information, tips and travel advice about accessibility and traveling in a wheelchair. With information on everything from traveling with your wheelchair or scooter to equipment rentals, handicapped parking permits in Europe and accessible ways to travel, it is a great resource.
19) Europe Travel Tips
A large portal with tons of travel tools, articles and information about travel in 40 European countries, from Austria to the United Kingdom.
20) Independent Traveler
Great site offering lots of travel tips and advice to independent travelers.
21) Travel-and-transport. com
This is a highly useful portal that offers basic and necessary transportation information for Denmark, Finland, Germany, Norway and Sweden. New to the site is a route planner that is especially handy.
22) Travel Notes: Europe
Comprehensive travel notes and advice for traveling throughout Europe. Lots of links, resources and tools for travelers.
23) Open Travel Info
Great travel site with a large amount of travel and Europe related information. The forums and articles are especially useful.
24) Discover Europe
Another excellent portal site that offers a wealth of tools, resources and links for travelers to learn about different European countries and plan their trips effectively and efficiently.
25) World 66: Europe
This is a great wiki site that allows members (free) to change and information. It has a great travel guide, maps, and resources for getting to Europe and getting around it. Members can also post photos and there is a cool photo gallery of different places in Europe. Well worth checking out.
26) Backpacker. net
Geared towards backpackers, this is one of the better sites for information, advice and travel planning for backpackers. Users can submit and read recommendations for hostels, tours, bars, beers and much more.
27) WorldWideBackpackers. com
This site is another excellent resource for backpackers and other travelers. While it is geared towards backpackers, there is a wealth of rich information for all travelers, so you should definitely pay them a visit.
28) Gate 1 Travel
This is a travel site for Central Europe. there is a wealth of information that is super handy; they offer info from climate and clothing advice to packing, required travel documents, travel insurance, transportation, communication and much more.
29) Backpackeurope. com
This is another site that is geared towards backpackers in Europe but is highly useful for all travelers. Has Europe travel tips, advice on packing, hostels and hotels, transportation and links to other travel resources.
30) Gemut. com
This is a great travel site that offers visitors advice on everything from car rental and rail travel to hotel reservations, money matters and much more.
31) Travels With Friends: Travel Tips for Europe
Travel tips and advice from planning your trip to executing it. The site’s creators travel Europe and research sites, accommodations, destinations and much more, so there is great, first-hand information available on all aspects of travel in Europe.
32) Suite 101: Eastern Europe & Russia Travel
Travel, culture and trip planning and advice. This is an excellent resource for finding out more about Eastern Europe and its cultures.
33) Traveler’s Point
Europe advice, tips and travel help for all European countries.
34) Budget Travel Online
Great site offering ideas, how-tos, advice and tips for travelers.
35) Yahoo Travel
Yahoo’s comprehensive travel site offers a wealth of information on all European Countries and many of its countries. Another great resource to check out.

Comments (0) Feb 17 2010

Safety Tips for Budget Travelers in Foreign Countries

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There are many things to keep in mind when traveling, whether you are a budget traveler or not. You obviously want to keep what money you have for your trip rather than lose it or have it stolen. You also want to keep yourself and traveling companions safe from harm. Here are some tips to follow to ensure your trip is safe and enjoyable in a foreign country.
 
1. Have a valid passport and all visas required for your trip. Make two copies of your passport. Keep one in a separate part of your travel luggage and the other leave with someone at home.
2. Be aware of any travel warnings for the country you are visiting. Find out about security and safety conditions in your destination.
3. Secure travel insurance!
4. Ensure you have been vaccinated against any infectious diseases prominent in the area you will be traveling to.
5. To make sure you can be contacted in case of an emergency, make a copy of your itinerary and leave it with someone at home.
6. Travel light and don’t pack valuables that you wouldn’t want to lose. Leave your jewelry at home but take an extra pair of glasses if you can’t live without them.
7. Remember you are a foreigner when you travel. You are a guest in their country and therefore should abide by their laws, and to a certain extent, their customs. For example, if you are a female traveling in an Islamic state, be considerate of your dress.  
8. Try not to bring too much attention to yourself when traveling. Don’t go out looking like a tourist with a flashy camera and expensive clothes. Try to blend into the scenery.
9. Travel in a group where possible and in well known areas. There will be times you want to get off the tourist track, so make sure you always have a traveling companion with you.
10. Only carry small amounts of cash on you. Your credit card and travelers checks will pay for most things.
11. Watch out for pickpockets! Wear a money belt and keep your purse/wallet in the front of your body. Report any loss or theft immediately to the local authorities.
12. Don’t leave your luggage unattended. Apart from having it stolen or items from it taken, you could also become an unsuspecting drug courier.
13. If traveling with a partner, pack half your clothes in their luggage and vice versa. This way if one of you loses your luggage, you will still have some clothes.  
14. Lock your luggage and label everything.
15. Lock your hotel room. Keep money and valuables with you, not left unattended in your room.
16. When using public transport be aware of possible theft. If you are traveling overnight, secure your luggage and sleep on top of it if possible. It is not uncommon for tourists to be drugged while on trains and buses so don’t accept gifts of food or drink from strangers on public transport.  
 
If at any time you feel unsafe, whether it is on the streets or in your accommodation, get out. Follow your instincts. Stay safe when you travel by being aware of the dangers and obeying the laws of the country you are visiting.
 
This article is brought to you by: Stuart S. Travel – Your Online Travel Guru
www. stuartstravel. com

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Comments (0) Feb 04 2010

Tips for Saving When Traveling in a Group

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Traveling in a group? You are the holiday packagers dream! Imagine being able to offload bulk airline seats, rail passes and entertainment packages in one booking. A group traveling is a wanted commodity and because of this you can secure great deals for your group. But as always, beware of any hidden ‘extras’ such as cancellation policies and preferred partners when stepping outside the package. Be prepared to shop around for the best deal.  
 
Here are some tips for the traveling group on a budget:
1. Travel insurance can be bought through some companies where savings can be ten percent or more. A group usually consists of four or more. Contact a number of travel insurance agencies and compare quotes.
2. Pack as many people as you can into your hotel room (keeping it legal). The more heads in the room, the higher the number to divide the cost by.
3. Renting a car when traveling in a group of four is usually cheaper than buying travel passes – and more convenient.
4. Food, guidebooks, taxi fares can all be split between the group bringing costs down.
5. Rail passes for groups or pairs may find discount offers in some countries.
6. Some airlines offer discount rates to groups of ten or more traveling together.
7. Group package bookings that have everything included in the price will have all expenses covered so you won’t be surprised by any extra costs, apart from shopping!
8. Discount holiday packages for large groups of travelers are offered through a number of travel agencies. Sports fans may be able to travel to big events using one of these travel packages for much cheaper than organizing it on their own.
 
If you want to join a group tour so you don’t have to travel alone consider all the pros and cons. Will there be like-minded people? Is there any flexibility to the travel arrangements? If not, will this outweigh the savings you’ll make on joining the tour? Some travelers like the convenience of all the travel arrangements being made for them. Group tour operators will find the best fares and reputable places to stay in. This saves you the hassle but it may mean that some of the cultural experiences you want will have to be put aside for the relatively cheaper ride.
 
Traveling in a family group can also benefit from a number of offers. Inform your booking agent that it is a family and ask about any special offers or deals. Can you visit any amusement parks or tourist attractions at family discount rates?
 
When traveling in a group, never be afraid to ask for a discounted rate. Everyone involved in the tourism trade is looking to get large numbers on seats or through doors. Groups are welcomed and catered for accordingly.
 
This article is brought to you by: Stuart S. Travel – Your Online Travel Guru
www. stuartstravel. com

Comments (0) Feb 02 2010

Tips When Choosing Cheap Flights To Travel

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Even though flying to your destination is getting cheaper than it has been in the past, there are still a variety of tips you should take into consideration when attempting to find cheap flights. Finding an inexpensive plane ticket on the internet can be a daunting task, however take a deep breath and just follow some simple guidelines so your wallet does not get decimated. Whether you want to experience the traditions of the islands of Greece or see the Eiffel Tower in Paris for the very first time, you can succeed in finding cheap airfare. Yes, it is fun to be spontaneous and just pack your bags and head out tomorrow to Madrid but if you plan way in advance, the price of your flight will be significantly lower. Do not wait to the last moment to buy your plane ticket. Not only to you risk having all the flights sell out, but the prices of airfare go up exponentially in the last one to two weeks before your vacation. It may be tempting to be incredibly thorough with your vacation research but there will times when an excellent price point will appear on your computer screen. Compare that price to the ones you have already seen but if it seems much lower, jump on it because the seats may not be there when you return to that website. Do not set strict dates for your trip. Many people prefer to leave on a Friday at the end of a work week and then return on a Saturday or a Sunday so that they can be back in time for work on Monday. If you have the ability to give yourself more options in departure and return dates, your fees will be cheaper.   Air travel is much less expensive on days that have decreased amounts of traffic.   Fridays tend to be the most popular departure date so the tickets will be most expensive on those days. Since the prices of flights are not fixed, there will be occasions when the airfare will either increase or decrease day to day. If you see that the price of the ticket you purchased has gone down from the initial price you bought it at, do not feel obligated to just accept that as your final price point. Feel free to call up the airline you purchased the ticket from and inquire about the lower price. More often than not, the airline will accommodate you, and provide you with the cheaper price. By taking into consideration the day and time that you travel, you can find the best price for your trip. Make sure that you plan in advance.   When you find a price that seems lower than the others, jump on it, and if the price drops on your ticket, do not hesitate to call up the airline and inquire. Easyjet is a simple and effective website where you can find reasonable prices for your trip. Just make sure that you plan in advance and Easyjet will help to make the process simple and affordable.

Comments (0) Jan 23 2010

Buying Food at the Market and Other Daily Savings Tips for Travelers

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You’ve got to eat while traveling and most tourists will tell you that the best part of the whole trip is experiencing the food while in foreign places. If you are a fussy eater or have special dietary needs, you can still be accommodated while traveling, just plan ahead.
 
What better way to immerse yourself in the local culture than by visiting the local markets. Not only will you get to see and try the local cuisine, but you’ll probably save a lot of money. Eating in restaurants, especially those geared towards the tourist trade, can get very expensive. Try buying your food fresh from the markets and preparing it yourself. Or buy already prepared food from the market vendor.
 
In Bangkok you can visit the floating markets and buy anything from fresh fruit and vegetables, to ready prepared noodle soup. In Jerusalem the outdoor market or ‘shuk’ not only sells fruits and vegetables, but meat, poultry, fish, bread, nuts, cheese, spices and so on. As in most markets, you have to bargain at a shuk to get a good deal as prices vary markedly. African markets sell souvenirs as well as food.  
 
Bargaining is welcomed at most markets, especially for keepsakes. Knowing how to bargain will save any traveler money. Here are a few points to follow when attempting to bargain for an item:
1. Always be polite and enjoy the experience
2. Ask for the price and then halve it. Start your bargaining at that number.
3. If the price is too high, walk away. You’ll be surprised how quickly the price comes down when you are disinterested!
4. Work out how much you are paying for in your own currency. Don’t haggle over a couple of cents. Remember this is how the market vendors make a living.
5. Don’t pay more than your think the item is worth.
6. You can also barter in some places. Brand name items (jeans, hats, shoes) are sought after items in some countries so barter with what you can afford to part with.
 
Other tips for saving money on a daily basis include:
* Avoid tourist-type restaurants. Find out where the locals eat and you’ll usually find authentic (better) cuisine at a lower price.
* Take note of what the farmers in the area eat. It’ll be cheap and healthy.
* Always pack snacks and fruit when going on a day trip. You’ll save money when you don’t have to buy from the tourist stops and street vendors along the way.
* Pack a picnic and go exploring. Use produce from the local market. You’ll save a bundle and eat well.
* Shop where the locals shop, not where the tourists go.
* Book into hotels that have breakfast as part of the package.
* Avoid airport food as it is usually expensive and not particularly healthy.
* Always ask if there are any discount offers available. If you don’t ask you won’t know and you won’t save.
* Walk when you can. It’s cheaper and a good healthy alternative, as well as giving you the opportunity to immerse yourself in the culture of the country you are in.
* Avoid Laundromats. Wash your own clothes in the bathroom sink if you are able.
* Look for free entertainment.  
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This article is brought to you by: Stuart S. Travel – Your Online Travel Guru
www. stuartstravel. com

Comments (0) Jan 21 2010

Tips and Advice to Setup Your Own Travel Business at no very low cost

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Since last year, I have heard of several people making good money working in the travel industry as a home based online travel agent. The good news is that you can, too. In fact it’s easy! These people have done it honestly, legally and ethically with the proper guidance of knowing all the details in this new online career. Once you know the basic steps then you can start making real money.

There are two options to start with and those are; either to be a part timer in the first 3 months, giving you time to become more acquainted with the business flow of being an online travel agent from actual transactions and later dedicating yourself full time to your new career.

Then, there are those that start straight away as full timers and are now successfully supporting themselves and their loved ones. The fun part is that they started seeing the world together with their family, something that may have been just a dream when they were still in those clerical jobs. Their often find that their entire lifestyle has dramatically changed in just a short period of time.

In definition, a home-based online travel agent markets travel products offered by travel companies and suppliers that has a vast inventory of vacation package deals. The position is often referred to as “independent sales representatives.” “Independent” due to the fact that you are not working inside an office space of a travel company whose products you represent.

As an independent travel agent, you may deal directly with a travel supplier or through a middleman (host agency). Because you are not an employee from any of them, you are not on their payroll list or have employee benefits.

The bottom line here is that you make your own money and get paid through commissions on whatever travel products that you can sell and there is no limit to the income you want to generate from your own time table (weekly or monthly sales). These is achieved by negotiating your own commission level or get the best offered commission package from either the host agency or the travel supplier of your choice. Earning capacity is generally unlimited from commissions and it will steadily increase as you grow your network.

To gauge your success as an online travel agent is easy! When you sell more, you earn more, sell less and you earn less.

Important advice here is that when you are independent and on your own, remember that you should never be completely alone and do all of the work with no support. There are travel suppliers who offer great packages for independent travel agents that are all automated and can mean easier work for you, giving you more time to focus on expanding your client listings. Remember that you must constantly work with others who have all the resources that will help provide the best service to your clients. To have a good understanding of what I am saying here, check out this travel supplier, http://www.personaltravelgroup.com. and you will see the difference!

Personal Travel Group offer full professional support to all of their agents and their motto is “We do the work – you make the money!” You don’t need qualifications and they pay out 70% of the available commission! It’s the best one I’ve seen – check it out for yourself…

[url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cOHt3_qBmuo"]Watch this video on how to be a Travel Consultant. [/url]

Comments (0) Jan 13 2010