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A travel website that does not sell travel but enables travelers to save money on travel as long as they do their own bookings is now offering services to internet travelers. This service is a unique addition to travel options for all travelers comfortable with direct bookings using a new type of travel document called aTopTravelVoucher.

The operators of this service are addressing the issue of travel pricing which often includes a 10 to 25% mark-up to allow for the payment of travel agent commission to either wholesalers or retailers but when travelers buy directly from the provider (accommodations, tours or transportation) they can still pay the price inclusive of commission. To overcome the travel providers’ problems of showing multiple prices for the same products and services on their websites, they can now offer ‘fair fare prices’ by issuing top travel vouchers.

Travel Providers are given marketing and promotion in exchange for their own travel vouchers, equivalent to or more than, the commission that would be payable upon sale of their various travel packages and services, so they still incurr the commission cost on sales but do not have to alienate their distribution chain of wholesalers and retailers by offering a retail, wholesale or ‘direct’ price on their website. This is done by the voucher operator who sells their vouchers to travelers at deep discounts to their redemption values to be used when making direct bookings, hence a travel agent who does not sell travel, only travel vouchers and therefore is not a travel agent.

According to the website information of the voucher operator, they are able to offer the ‘Fair Fare Price’ option because they do not have the normal operating costs of travel agencies such as shops, reservation systems, brochures, advertising and high staffing levels, but can still offer the traveler and the travel provider a service that is fair to all users.

Before purchasing top travel vouchers, travelers are advised to check for quality and availability directly with the website of their travel selection and when satisfied, make a direct booking mentioning the voucher, then purchase the voucher. All vouchers come with a 100% money-back guarantee and in the event that the traveler is not happy with their travel purchase upon completion, the cost of the vouchers will be reimbursed and the matter taken up with the provider.

There are three levels of vouchers, $30, $50 and $100usd achieving various levels of savings but to give an example, at the time of this article there was a voucher valued at 1,500 euros (around $2,000usd) on sale for $100usd. If the vouchers are purchased outside of the USA the price is shown in the relevant currency. All vouchers are issued online and the provider is also sent a duplicate with the traveler details to encourage assistance in any travel itinerary planning of the traveler.

So as not to deter expert travel agents and agencies from participation in this service the site invites them to identify any destination and activity expertise and to also offer vouchers to encourage travelers to seek out expert professional agents. Many retail agents offer their own travel packages and tours and many are comfortable in dealing with new clients from anywhere in the world over the internet, telephone or skype. The site cautions travelers to be careful when selecting ’specialist’ agents who are not necessarily experts and who may have just taken a simple test operated by a tourism office or tour operator promoting their own destination or products.

The travel selections with TopTravelVouchers are limited at present but the site operators are confident in the growth potential, but if you want to see what is available, you can find them at http://www. toptravelsites. com

Can you get a job over the summer while traveling? There are plenty around and many aimed at travelers specifically. Organize your work permit and check out the local paper for jobs for travelers. You’ll be amazed at what kind of work you can find to do.
 
1. You could become an au pair or nanny. There are many opportunities to look after people’s other kids while traveling. Try England, South Africa or Australia for starters.
2. You could teach English. In a number of countries there are opportunities for English teachers. If you are bilingual you’ll have a much better chance of scoring one of these jobs in places like Japan.
3. How about working in a pub? In England there are opportunities for free board in pubs where you are prepared to pull a beer. Hospitality jobs are relatively easy to come by in Australia.
4. Have you ever considered working at children’s holiday camps in the USA or Russia as a camp counselor?
5. You could become a fruit picker! Get to work in the fields all over the world.
6. What about a winter holiday job? Can you ski? You can get jobs as ski or snowboard instructors in many ski resorts all over the globe.
7. How about becoming a Jack or Jillaroo on an outback station in Australia? Immerse yourself in the culture of the outback.
8. Is there work available at the hostel you are staying at? It won’t hurt to ask. Sometimes you can exchange work for free food and board or at least a reduction in the price.
 
Apart from paid positions, you can also get volunteer work in many places. Volunteering your services can get you free food and board. How about volunteering on a farm? Or being a hike trail or tourist guide volunteer? You’ll get to see the sights for free.
 
For those of you who may be looking for a more serious work/travel experience there are other opportunities. For example, can you get a transfer with your current job to an overseas position? Or do you want to do something worthwhile in your gap year? Programs are available for students to travel in their gap year and get involved in some amazing projects all over the world. You could work in the publishing industry in India or teach children with special needs. There are many organizations set up to help place people who want to broaden their horizons by volunteering their services in foreign countries.
 
If you think working or volunteering while you are traveling would be a possibility for you, make sure you find out if you need work permits to do so. Using your skills while traveling is a great way to save money and meet people. You’ll be rewarded in many ways.
 
This article is brought to you by: Stuart S. Travel – Your Online Travel Guru
www. stuartstravel. com

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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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

There are loads of fantastic ways to get free entertainment when traveling. All you need is a bit of research before you go and to think a bit laterally. Whether you get your entertainment from music, theatre, lectures, walks or museums there are free experiences all over the globe. Here are some ideas to consider when traveling at home or abroad:
 
1. Go for a hike or a bushwalk. Remember to pack enough food and drink and sunscreen. Enjoy the country’s scenery for free.
2. Gallery openings are a way to see local art and you might even get free wine and food thrown in!
3. Art walks and garden tours are where you visit local art galleries or homes with gardens for show. You get to meet locals and find out about the local art and garden scene.
4. Free nights at museums. Some museums are even open free all the time (for example The British Museum).
5. Visit the local churches. There is so much history and local culture to be experienced in places of worship and you’ll find a large majority of these have no entry fee, although some may ask for a donation.
6. Open mic nights at pubs where new musicians perform for free to an audience willing to listen. You never know which up-coming star you’ll get to hear.
7. Volunteer to be an usher at a concert, play or movie. Volunteer to help out at a conference or show. You’ll get to experience what’s on offer for no admission cost.
8. Visit the local library. Apart from getting to read books for free you get a different cultural experience in every library you visit. Libraries often have author visits and visiting speakers for generally free admission.
9. Find out if there are any free lunch time concerts.  
10. Visit the local television station and see if any shows have live audiences for taping. Join in!
11. Go to the beach for the day.
12. Is there a local fair or festival on where you are visiting? If so you will probably find lots of free attractions there as well as paid ones.  
13. Visit the local botanical gardens. In most countries these are free to visit and enjoy.
14. Walk around the city with your eyes open taking in all the sights. It’s amazing what sort of ‘free entertainment’ this will bring you!
15. Window shop. Some people can do this for hours! And it doesn’t cost you a cent.
16. And don’t forget, you can always purchase a local Entertain coupon book which will get you discounts on plenty of activities and entertainments, but can also offer some freebies such as “visit one day, get the second for free” or “pay for one person and the second visits for free”
 
Enjoy your free entertainment while traveling. There’s plenty of it around.
 
This article is brought to you by: Stuart S. Travel – Your Online Travel Guru
www. stuartstravel. com

Yes – and no. As with any traveling and staying in an unknown spot, there will be some dangers. Most of them you can avoid. If you know the risks before you travel, you can be prepared for any situation.

If you decide camping is the accommodation style for you, you should have a good knowledge of the area you are going to camp in. Will you be staying in a public campsite or will you be camping wherever you feel the need to pitch your ten? If it is the latter, make sure it is legal to camp in the spot you have chosen. Check whether you need to provide your own drinking water. Camp grounds in remote places may require you take in water. If you are using water from streams or creeks, boil it first to get rid of bacteria.

Animals can provide a source of danger in campsites. If you are camping in bear country you will need to take special precautions. Take care of how you store your food and where you pitch your tent. You will need to either store all your food in a bear proof box or hang it from a tree. Check the area before you camp to make sure there are no signs of recent bear activity. If there are, move on to another site. Other dangerous animals that you need to be aware of when camping are snakes and spiders. These beasts like to get in and under things so always check before you put on any clothes and shoes.

Camping is a good way to meet fellow travelers, but you can not always be sure your possessions will be safe from unscrupulous people. Ensure all valuables are locked in the car or stowed safely when you are not at your campsite.

Hostels are a good, safe way to travel, but like any public place, you still need to take precautions. Hostels that are members of a network may provide a safer option as they are well controlled. You can take safety measures by locking up your valuables in lockers if they are provided. Or ask the manager if they have a safe you can lock your valuables in. Sleep with your money and passport at night if you are sharing a room with strangers. Most hostels have bunk rooms segregated by gender. But some don’t. If you are a female traveling alone, it might be wise to stay in a hostel that has only same sex rooms.

Staying in private homes with the owners living there as well, (charging you for board), is probably the least safe option when traveling. This is because you don’t know the people you are staying with and in some countries it is actually illegal for residents to hire out their rooms to travelers. If this option is one you want to pursue, try and book your room through the local tourist office or through an agency. At least if there is a problem, you will have someone to lodge your complaint with. In some countries this is a very popular form of accommodation and a cheap one. Make sure you negotiate your price before you agree to stay. Take the same precautions as you would in other styles of accommodations and be prepared to move on if it is not satisfactory or you feel unsafe.

This article is brought to you by: Stuart S. Travel – Your Online Travel Guru

www.stuartstravel.com