Travel Tips for Vacation Makers

Summer is here! Where are you going this year? We all need vacations; we all need to recharge our batteries once in a while. Vacation undeniably is one of the best ways to release your stress. But before and while you are on vacation, one needs to be very careful especially if you are vacationing in a foreign country. Whether you are organizing your own trip or purchasing one of those vacation packages, right from the airport till you return home, we need to be very careful as even a slightest mistake can spoil your entire vacation.

Here are some simple and common yet very helpful tips to help you enjoy a hassle free vacation:

1. Am pretty sure, I don’t have to add this on the list but let me just do it. Decide carefully on what kind of vacation you want. If you are looking for a stress free vacation, try to avoid hip and bustling cities such as New York City, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Paris, Rome, Venice, London and Amsterdam. Because these are some of the most visited destinations and visiting any of these cities will just add more stress. Try one of the lesser known destinations. But if you want both the crowd plus relaxation, Bahamas and the Caribbean are a great option.
2. Be wise in choosing the right travel agent. But instead of a regular travel agent, why don’t you go for an online travel websites. Am sure you will find these websites much cheaper. Expedia, Orbitz and Travelocity are some really awesome sites. Don’t forget to compare the rates using websites such as FareCompare and TripMama. Please before finalizing on anything, read the terms and conditions of the website, incase, in future, if you want any changes or cancelation. Just as they offer great airfare deals and vacation packages, they are also very good in ripping customers.
3. It is always advisable to learn atleast some basic words, if you are traveling to a foreign country. It will help you greatly. If you are visiting a conservative country such as the countries in Middle East, India, Pakistan and so on, please dress as conservative as you can. Unless you enjoy unwanted attention! Don’t forget to take you vaccination as per the country. Collect your country embassy phone number, address and email in that particular city or area.
4. While shopping, try to bargain as hard as you can. But also research before you head out where bargaining is allowed or not. In countries such as India, China, Thailand, Pakistan, Bargaining is a must in almost every shopping areas and bazaars, with exceptions in malls.
5. It’s good to party really hard and get waste sometimes, but I would encourage you to do this only when you are with your closest buddies. But do you really want to spoil their night out taking care of you. Try to keep the alcohol intake to minimum or should I say in limit. Excessive alcohol use is a big NO for solo travelers, whether you are a guy or a girl. We all know that once we start drinking, it’s almost impossible to stop. For solo travelers, you have no one to take care of you. There have been many cases where travelers have been robbed while drunk and even sexually assaulted especially in India.
6. Drugs are another big NO. No matter where you are going, try to avoid drugs and drug dealers. Am sure no one would like to land in a foreign jail especially in a third world country.
7. These are some common things that you need to be careful while going on a vacation. But the most important of all is, don’t forget to have fun, after all you have worked really hard for this.

Hostels! For Youths Who Loves To Socialize

Are you young and adventurous? Well this vacation forget the conventional hotels, resorts or motels and stay in a hostel. If you have stayed in a youth hostel while traveling, am pretty sure you know why am encouraging youths to stay in a hostel. But if you haven’t, here are some reasons why you should stay in a hostel. First of all, hostels are way cheaper than hotels. No doubt hostels offers less amenities compared to hotels but if you choose your hostel carefully you will find almost everything you need such as TV, Internet Access, cafes, restaurants and even a library.

Besides saving your hard earned money, hotels are the best place where you can meet fellow young travelers from different parts of the globe. If you are single, you have very high chances of hooking up with someone. Hostels are fun but staying in a hostel also has its own share of disadvantage but I will be discussing about that in another post. For now, here are some hostels located indifferent parts of the globe, which are considered as some of the best as according to other fellow travelers. Next time if you are visiting any of these cities, you may want to check them out.

1. The Gershwin, New York, USA
2. HI Buffalo Niagara, Buffalo, USA
3. Casa Esmeralda, Buenos Aires, Argentina
4. Backpacker Hostel K’s House, Tokyo, Japan
5. Spicy Thai Backpackers, Chiang Mai, Thailand
6. Villa Saint Exupery, Nice, France
7. Cat’s Hostel, Madrid, Spain
8. Art Hostel, Sofia, Bulgaria
9. Long Street Backpackers, Cape Town, South Africa
10. Sleeping with the Enemy, Sydney, Australia

Swapping Your Home? Here Are Some Tips

Are you planning to take a vacation but worried about the hotel rates and the restaurant bills. This vacation why dont you swap your home. Started somewhere in Europe, home swapping is a very popular trend which allows vacation makers to enjoy the comfort of home while away from home. In case if you have never heard about this term, well home swapping is a way through which vacationers swap their home with other vacationers. For example: You are staying in New York City and you are planning to visit London, with home swapping, you find another vacation maker from London who wants to visit New York City. Since both of you wants to visit each other cities, instead of staying in a hotel you swap your home with that person. Simple. The best part is, there are countless of home swapping websites such as the homeexchange, homeforexchange and homeswapper, which help travelers in finding the right partner.

Home swapping is an amazing way to save money on your hotel rates plus to experience the culture and lifestyle of that particular city at its best, but unfortunately, home swapping also has its share of disadvantage. Here are some simple and common how swapping tips that will help you avoid unwanted trouble while swapping your home.

1. The most important of all is finding the right partner with common interest such as if you are travelling with toddlers, find a partner who also has a toddler. That way you dont have to spend more money on basic stuffs such as toys, story books and so on.

2. If you are using a website to find a swap partner, please stick with a reputed website. You may have to pay a little extra bucks but its worth it.

3. Before finalizing anything, spend some time corresponding with your swap partner. After all you are about to hand over your beloved home to a stranger.
4. Request your partner to leave instructions and details for operating home appliances, including television, washing machine and so on. You too do the same for your partner.

5. Dont forget to ask your partner to leave details of the nearest super market, restaurants, local parks and gardens. Plus the emergency contact numbers such as police, ambulance. You must also leave all the emergency number of your city.

6. Do clean your home before you head out and dont forget to clean up his/ hers home before you move out. Do let them know where you are keeping your house keys, where they will be keeping their keys.

Funny Laws of Nevada, USA

Top notch casinos, over the top hotels, world class restaurants, mesmerizing sights and vibrant nightlife awaits you in Nevada. Home to the gambling capital of the world, Las Vegas, Nevada is an experience of a lifetime. Besides all these sights, attractions and activities, Nevada is also the home to some of the wackiest laws in the world. Sit back and enjoy these dumb laws that are supposed to protect its citizens.

1. In Nevada, no matter how rich you are, please don’t ride you camel on the high way, unless you want to be jailed.

2. Did someone shot your dog in your property! In Nevada you can hang that person because it is 100% legal! All dog shooters beware!

3. In Nevada don't go out without your mask as it its illegal to walk the streets without wearing a mask.

4. In Nevada you can be jailed for buying drinks for more than three people.

Funny Laws of Alaska

Have you ever been to Alaska? If not, you should visit Alaska atleast once in a lifetime. Blessed with mesmerizing outdoors and natural beauty, filled with abundance of recreational and adventure sports, rich history, culture, diverse cuisine, vibrant urban life and lively nightlife, Alaska truly is an amazing place to be. Apart from all the attractions and activities, Alaska also is home to some of the funniest laws in the world. If you are visiting Alaska, watch out for these laws.

1. Hunting bear is 100% legal in Alaska. But ironically, it’s illegal to wake a bear from his or her sleep just for the sake of photo opportunities.

2. Are you a die hard moose lover? No matter what, when you are in Fairbanks, try not to give alcoholic beverages to a moose, unless you are willing to pay some fines.

3. Another law in Fairbanks also says that moose cannot have sex in the city, as it is illegal. Can anyone give me some suggestions on how to deliver this message to all those horny moose that no matter how badly they want to do it, they should do it beyond the city limit!

4. Taking one of those breathing airplane tours of Alaska! Be careful as it is illegal to view moose from an airplane.

5. Planning to give your beloved Mr. Kangaroo a haircut, well in Alaska Kangaroos are not allowed inside barber shops. By the way, who in the world would take a Kangaroo to a barber shop????

6. So you are among those who love hunting moose? Well it’s legal to hunt Moose in Alaska, but its illegal to whisper in someone’s ear while they are moose hunting.

Alaska truly is a state full of surprises. Sure these laws are weird and dumb but don’t let these stop you from visiting Alaska.

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United, Continental merger could raise airfares

Consumers probably have more to lose than gain from a merger of United Airlines and Continental Airlines.

The two airlines have already entered into code-sharing agreements and a frequent-flier alliance that provide travelers with many of the benefits of a combined airline. But if the merged airline cuts capacity, it could lead to higher fares and reduced service in some markets.

The consumer impact "is mainly bad," says Ed Perkins, a columnist with SmarterTravel.com. "If you look at what the financial people are saying, the whole purpose of the merger is to reduce competition so they can raise fares. The airlines put up a smokescreen about seamless service and more destinations, but they already do that through these worldwide alliances."

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Hints From Heloise: Tips on tipping hotel housekeepers

Dear Heloise:
I just read the comment in your article about tipping housekeepers and maids. I like to tip housekeepers, especially if I am at a hotel for several days. Sometimes they leave an envelope with their name on it. I want to be sure that the ones who do my room are the ones who get the money.

It's very confusing, and I really do care about this because my mother raised me and put me through school on her tips. If I leave a tip in the morning before I leave the room, it might not be the same housekeeper who cared for me the day before.

Rae in Texarkana, via e-mail

Rae, thanks for writing. Here's a hint just for you: Put your tip in one of the hotel envelopes, and leave it at the front desk.
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