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Five Air Travel Tips

Paulineh — Sun, 07 Aug 2011 07:41:42 +0000

Here are five of my air travel tips that you might find helpful for your business or vacation travel. Some of these will save you money and others will just save you time or inconvenience.

It all starts when you book your flights. Be sure to allow enough time if you have connecting flights as schedules change or the flight may be running late. Also check to see if you have to go through security again and allow for that also. Take into account the weather as bad weather or snow may delay you to getting to your destination on time. This is very important if you have to be somewhere on the day you planned eg to take a cruise.

Before leaving for the airport check that your flight is on time as this may save you some time at the airport waiting. Also only carry travel size liquids such as perfumes and toiletries and keep them in a clear plastic zipped bag. When packing your full size liquids make sure you pack them securely and in a plastic bag in case they spill. Shampoo covered clothes aren't comfortable or attractive.

Also pack any valuable or important items in your carry on bag. Things like cameras, laptops and iPads should go with you at all times. Never leave your carry on luggage unattended at any time at the airport either. I also make sure a take a travel pillow on long flights in my carry on bag. This has the be the most important air travel tips I can give you as it will help you to get some sleep on the flight and ready to start your vacation.

Arrive early for your flight. The check in and security procedures can take time especially at busy airports and on weekends or during holiday periods. I also like to get to the airport around 2 hours for internal flights and 3 hours for international flights. You might think this is too much but its better to be there early than to be worried about making a flight because of the congestion at the airport.

If you are on a budget don't buy your food at the airport as they inflate the prices quite outrageously. I must admit though I love to buy a coffee and a snack and watch the people go by and this is my compromise on buying a full meal. Its part of the traveling experience but you can stock up on dry snacks and candy for the flight before you get there.

I hope these air travel tips have been a help to you when planning your next flight to your vacation travel.

Secrets of the best airfare deals

Paulineh — Sat, 16 Jul 2011 06:22:00 +0000

How can you get the best airfare deals? There are plenty of ways to travel without emptying your savings, especially when you are looking for the best airfare deals for your travel plans. Let's face it; the best travel experience is the ones that don't empty your wallet and here are some closely-guarded secrets to help you find the best deals in the market today.

The key is research

If you want to get the best airline deals on airfare then you better do your research. Don't pick out the first offer you see is not a great way to get good savings for your travel plans.
Starting your travel planning with a little research ensures that you will get a lot of selections of airfare deals for you to choose from.

The secret here is not to rush and compare them all out until you find the right one that fits your budget. Make sure that you have as much details on your travel before starting with the research -- such as the date and time of the travel, destination, your actual budget for it, and of course, seating choices etc.

Book online

The Internet offers quite a lot of discount airfare rates you might to check out before proceeding with your travel plans. You can use search engines to look them up and make sure that you exhaust all the possibilities of your search to get the best airfare deals available for your vacation money.

In most cases, airline companies and travel agencies on the Internet offer discounts on airfares. Due to the rising competition in the industry, you can be sure that most of them are outdoing each other on offering discounts on travel and other transportation expenses.

You might want take advantage of travel packages; such as airfare, hotel accommodation, transportation, tours, and more. In most cases, these airlines companies or travel agencies will try to get as many customers as possible by offering the lowest possible rates in the market.

Flight sales and deals

Another secret to getting a good airfare deal is to look for seat sales on the Internet. Keep in mind that there are always last minute cancellations by those who booked for the travel in advance. Airlines companies are always ready to get as much profit from this problem by offering the seat at a lower price. Note that these are discounted seat and will usually range from 30 to 40 percent below the market price.

Book for a group

One of the most common secrets to getting the best airfare deals is to travel with a large group in your entourage. Travel as a family group and save. Point out to the agency that you are helping them fill seats and making use of their services. Many airlines companies offer quite a big discount for bulk bookings -- which is to say that there are more than 10 people in the group who will be traveling with you in a specific destination. If you have the time, call the customer representative of these airlines companies and ask for their bulk rates on airfare deals.

You can get the best airfare deals for the vacation money you have. You just need to follow some of the tips above and then enjoy the money you save.

How to fly for free or get great bonuses

Paulineh — Sat, 07 May 2011 13:02:13 +0000

Wouldn't it be nice to know how to fly for free? If I could get accommodation or cash back wouldn't that be great too? There are ways you can take advantages of these offers but you have to be flexible with your vacation travel arrangements.

Airlines will often overbook their flights reasoning that not everyone will turn up for their flight. Most airlines aim to fly at capacity. I have and you probably have too experienced first hand when an airline rep has asked for people to give up their seat for another flight later in the day or the next. I have had it happen even when we were on the flight seated and ready to go. Of course these come with compensation, often giving you free flights, overnight accommodation or cash.

If you don't need to meet a connecting flight or have a rigid schedule then flying this way can be very beneficial to you and your hip pocket. Many retired people take advantage of deals like these when they are offered. I would suggest if you want a change at taking one of these offers then leave time before and after your flights so a later flight or one the next day wont affect your vacation plans.

You can often tell by observing the check in representatives but I often ask if the flight is fully booked. You can then volunteer to get bumped. With many airlines now you can even check online for available seats on flights. Using this method though, I must add, is also a bit of a gamble if they don't overbook that particular flight.

Another good way on how to fly for free is to use frequent flyer programs. If you vacation travel often then you will find you will accumulate enough points to take flights especially if you travel long distances as they normally go on the miles traveled. I have used these points in the past to take my son free on an Australia to US return flight. All it cost me was for food and incidentals.

Upgrading using your points is another good way to use them to your benefit. Frequent flyer points can also be used to buy goods and this is a good way to use them to buy your luggage or other travel accessories especially if you don't travel as often enough to build up points for a whole flight. Airlines often will combine your points with a payment to make up a balance amount for a ticket or you can transfer points to another family member. Check your program though for all the details.

To use frequent flyer points you need to book in advance so planning your vacation travel is important well ahead of time as they only offer so many seats per flight. I suggest you check the airline for availability and book it before any other parts of your vacation itinerary like accommodation and tours.

Knowing how to fly for free is possible but may not be available on all flights using either of these two methods above but it is worth trying. Wouldn't it great to get your free flight and make your vacation dollar go a lot further. Another great resource I came across lately is a called Insider Secrets to Cheap Flights which has some more methods you can try. It is written by an ex Airline official and give you those tips that only an insider would know.

Are you going on summer vacation this year?

Paulineh — Sun, 17 Apr 2011 13:31:37 +0000

Are you thinking about going on summer vacation this year? Is this because you plan your vacation travel around the school schedules? I have heard many tell me they take their vacation in the summer because of the weather but the weather is good around the world at other times of the year as well. Even when children grow up and finish school, many families continue taking a summer vacation possibly because they have always done so.

Some folks may choose a summer vacation so they have time to work around their house, performing many projects that cannot be done in winter weather. Working vacations are often taken by those whose children are no longer attending school during the winter months or those that have no desire or financial means of taking the time away from work. Taking summer vacation can give them the uninterrupted time they need to perform major work around the house, inside and out.

Some professions encourage staff to take vacations during the summer months, when the type of business there is a decline in customers. Other companies or service providers though do all their business in the summer so this is not a good time for them.

I love going on summer vacation no matter where that may be and usually it is during my fall or winter time of year so I can experience a brief but wonderful relief from the cold for at least a little while. See the picture of my holiday in Hawaii during December.

Depending on the destination, planning on summer vacation times can take anywhere from a few days to a few weeks, and the long nights of winter are the ideal time to make plans and reservations for a vacation once the weather breaks.

Possibly the best time to take a vacation in the warmer parts of the country are during the winter months as the prices are generally lower ad the crowds are thinner. Although many of the nearby attractions may not be open, there will not be as many people to contend with, providing more privacy. For example I like to go to Hawaii in November when it is out of season and less expensive and the weather is not as hot.

If you are going on summer vacation this year why not think of next year now. Go on your summer vacation in off season for your destination, still enjoy the sun but have less crowds and less expense. Take advantage of cheaper flights as well and a good place to compare these are at Cheapflights.com. Look at different dates and see the difference it can make on your vacation money.

My Rarotonga Cook Islands observations

Paulineh — Sun, 28 Mar 2010 07:40:34 +0000

Here are a few tips and observations for vacation travel at Rarotonga in the Cook Islands.

I hope you like roosters waking you up in the morning as they are everywhere.
This is a great place to get married or have your honeymoon.
You can catch the local bus around Rarotonga which is $4 one way or $7 return.
If you want flexibility then hire a motor bike or car. We hired a small convertible which was a lot of fun.
All the dogs are medium to large size and not on leads. This is probably due to interbreeding.
It has the best weather, not too hot or cold and is the perfect beach vacation.
You have to get a driver's license from the police station which costs $20 if you want to drive.When riding a bike you don't have to helmet if you go less than 25 kms.
Buy fresh local fruit like bananas and pawpaw (papaya) from roadside stalls.
Take an underwater camera. You can get disposable ones. The fish and coral are worth capturing.
Make sure you credit card will work in the automatic teller machines. Banks on the island are ANZ and Westpac.
Take plenty of sunscreen and a hat. This applies really to all summer vacation travel destinations but its summer all year round here.
Do a cultural dinner and show. Most resorts hold them.
Sunday a lot of the shops are closed so don't wait for Sunday to buy those souvenirs.
Take your own snorkel gear. You can snorkel anytime and anywhere you want then. Most resorts have them but they won't allow you take them off their property.
Visit the Cultural Markets on a Saturday morning in town. A lot of the same stuff but it is a good atmosphere with native dances and music as well.

These are my own observations but I encourage you to research the internet for others as well as this will give you a better idea of what to expect and what to do and not do at Rarotonga. Whatever you do this has to be the best vacation travel destination I have been to.

Choosing the best hotel in Paris

Paulineh — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 23:48:48 +0000

If you are looking at choosing the best hotel in Paris then I hope I can help you with your choice.

Here are five pointers to consider:

Where do you want to be near? Do you want to be near the Eiffel Tower, The Seine, Montmartre, The Louvre? I wanted to be fairly central and near the Champs Elysee so I looked at an area near the Arc de Triomphe.

Look at hotel ratings and reviews and decide if you want an economy or luxury hotel. Please be aware that most hotel rooms will be smaller than you are used to. The best hotel in Paris will be one you really will one that has enough room for you, the family and your luggage.

Research these hotels on the internet. check their actual locations on a map as near a landmark could still be a mile away.

Decide how you are going to get around the city. The hop-on-hop-off buses or the subway may also have a bearing in where you stay. If you are renting a car or planning on taking taxis this may not affect you so much.

Look at hotel facilities and inclusions. Does the hotel include breakfast? Does it have a restaurant, tour desk or parking nearby?

Paris is a beautiful city so wherever you stay you will enjoy the experience. Remember a hotel room is only a place to put your head while discovering the treasures and excitement Paris has to offer. The best hotel in Paris is really is the one that suits your needs and one you can afford.

Compare hundreds of hotels on one site to find the deal that's right for you at KAYAK.COM.

Helpful tips for solo travel

Paulineh — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 09:20:12 +0000

These are my tips for solo travel so you enjoy the experience while also staying safe. I just recently looked at them again and they are still as relevant as the day I first wrote them out for myself.

Do your homework and plan ahead

Book your hotels in safe areas of town

Ask the hotel for their business card in case you get lost

Write your room number down somewhere but not on the hotel’s card

Check that there are restaurants near your hotel

Dress down and don’t wear a lot of jewelery or expensive clothes

Talk to people, especially other solo travelers, you may be able to meet up to eat or do some excursion together

Pay attention to what’s going on around you

Keep your packing light because when you solo travel you will be the one carrying it

Try not to walk around at night if possible

Keep a diary so you can remember what you did and how you felt at the time

Carry your passport and other important documents in a concealed neck pouch or put them in the hotel room safe

Participate in activities – this especially applies to singles cruises

If you get lonely, go and do something for yourself, like retail therapy or get your hair or nails done

Book an excursion that includes a meal preferably at night so that is one less meal you have to arrange

Don’t be afraid to ask for help

There are advantages to solo travel so remember these tips for solo travel and enjoy the freedom it gives you.

Start using these 8 hotel visitor travel tips

Paulineh — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 11:55:36 +0000

These are 8 important hotel visitor travel tips you can use for your next trip away. I am sure there are many more but these are the ones that I always use.

Take a small travel clock so that you can set an alarm you know will go off when it should. If you have ever missed a flight or a day trip because you didn't wake up early enough or you didn't get the hotel 'wake up call' then you will see this tip as very important indeed.
Take plug adapters if necessary. This can be important when traveling overseas but these days they are getting better at supplying these. When in doubt though, take one.
Rolling clothes is a good way to stop clothes wrinkling in your suitcase.
Have a copy of your hotel reservations ready when checking in. There have been times that they couldn't initially find my booking until I produced the confirmation or receipt. Funny how easily they find it then

Lock your suitcase when leaving it in the room. You can use the room safe but there are limits to what you can fit in there. As a general rule I find it easier to just lock the suitcase anyway.
Put a collapsed overnight bag/cabin bag in the bottom of your suitcase so you have an extra bag for purchases on your way home. This has saved me many a time and is useful if you find one of your suitcases is overweight.
Always keep receipts of purchases when paying by credit card. This includes the hotel bill and any purchases at the restaurant or gift shop.
Take a travel clothesline to dry clothes in the bathroom. You can then take less clothes and more room for souvenirs

Follow these hotel visitor travel tips for a stress free time away. Check the eBay listings for deals on travel accessories.