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Posts tagged Tips
Advice On Locks And Locking Systems For Luggage
Aug 22nd
If you have ever had the misfortune of having your bag stolen, or an item removed from your bag, you will know how horrible this is, and how much it can ruin a holiday very quickly. Whether it involved something really drastic such as the loss of your passport, your credit cards, keys or money, or whether it was easily replaceable, doesn’t always matter. The sense of personal intrusion can make you feel miserable for a long while afterwards.
There are ways in which it is possible to increase the level of security of your possessions, although it is always best to use a wide range of methods rather than relying simply on one alone.
Of course, the most effective method of making sure your possessions stay safe is to keep them with you at all times. If you are travelling by plane, this is not always possible because of your luggage being handed over to the baggage handlers. However, as many people have discovered, it is very possible, with enough planning and honest effort, to reduce your luggage requirements to a single carryon. If you can achieve this, then your luggage is far safer, and you will also be able to move through the airport much faster.
A word of warning about locks and locking mechanisms for cases. If your case has a lock on it, and you are sending this via the luggage handlers, you need to make sure it is unlocked. This seems strange, but most airlines these days require your bags to be unlocked. If they have reason to check your bag, and they find it locked, then they will force it open. This could mean damage to an otherwise good and possibly expensive bag, for which the airline will not compensate you, or the damage to your bag could mean it won’t close effectively. This is another reason to consider reducing your needs down to a single carryon.
Of course, even carryon bags that are with you at all times can prove subject to theft or tampering. There are travel bags with a number of security measures built in to them, Read the rest of this entry »
Fully Prepared For Your Cruise
Jun 21st
Booking a cruise and counting the days down until you depart is a tremendously exciting experience, but there are common, every day issues that still need to be sorted out well in advance of your leaving. So here are a few tips on things to consider before you leave your familiar surroundings.
It is always a good idea to start your packing at least a week or two in advance of your departure date. This gives you plenty of time to not only reduce the initial pile of essentials to a more reasonable amount, but also for you to identify things that either no longer fit, or have been damaged or lost since your last holiday. Trying to find last minute replacements is no fun at all, so plan for your packing in plenty of time.
If you have a home burglar or intrusion alarm system you will need to talk to a trusted neighbor or friend and provide them with a house key, and explain how the alarm system works. A good tip for security is to change the code on your alarm, so that your friend or neighbor has their own code for that week, and then afterwards you can change it back to your own regular, secret code. It is important to let your security firm know, if it is the kind that’s linked by phone to an office. They will need to know you’re away, and who the contact is in the meantime. If your alarm goes off in your absence, it will still need dealing with.
Always make sure that you have collected together more than enough film, media cards and video tape for your holiday. It is always remarkable how quickly this is used up, and if you try buying film or media cards either on the ship or at ports you can expect to pay two to three times what you normally would. The general rule of thumb is to think carefully about how much you expect to use, then add another 50% to it, and buy it all in well in advance. Don’t forget to make sure you put this in your carryon bag, since media cards and high speed film can be damaged by the scanning that is carried out on other luggage.
Finally, another important thing to think about is how you can be contacted in any emergency. Obviously we all hope this doesn’t need to happen, but it is important to have a backup plan just in case. The ship’s phone will be very expensive to use – sometimes $12 per minute, so it is a good idea to nominate one member of the family to be your direct contact, then if anybody needs you, they can go through this person who can be the single point of contact, to reduce the risk of repetition. You may well find that your mobile will work, and be even cheaper once you stop at a port and are back on land, although you’ll need to check with your network operator that your phone is compatible in the countries you’ll be visiting.
How To Halve Your Luggage Easily
Jun 18th
It isn’t too difficult to put this into practice, but it does need a little more planning than the average holidaymaker tends to carry out. There are three simple stages that are required in order to achieve this considerable reduction.
The first step is to consider the actual case or bag you are planning on using. If you automatically head straight for your largest suitcase, then mentally you will be collecting together and packing the quantity of items which will fill it. You will allow yourself all the extra luxuries that you wouldn’t take if you didn’t have such a monumental volume of space. So, instead, try to limit yourself to a small suitcase, a holdall or carryon bag. Once you start to plan to use a smaller bag, you will find yourself thinking along much tighter lines, and as a result, your luggage will immediately begin being reduced in your head.
The second stage is to think about clothing, since this is what tends to take up most of the space in the average tourist’s luggage. People often think about combinations of clothes they usually wear, yet this may require you packing items which can only really go with one or two other items of clothing, or requiring you to take a very bulky or easily damaged item of clothing. Instead, think about clothing that won’t damage by being rolled up tightly, and think about the weight and size of each item. For example, woollen clothes are very bulky, whereas cotton is much less so. Rather than a big bulky woollen jumper, a couple of layered cotton tops with a light jacket will prove just as warm, more flexible with use, and far smaller and lighter to carry. In fact, you are taking more clothes, with more possible combinations, yet taking up less space and weighing far less!
The third thing to consider is your toiletries. Very often people just hurl the cans and bottles they use each day into their case. These bottles are usually very large, and sometimes much of their volume is empty space! Instead, buy a set of small, tester sized bottles with screw caps, and transfer your toiletries into these, not forgetting to label them all. By doing this, you will find that most of your toiletries will fit into the space in your shoes, thereby saving you a tremendous amount of space. The liquids and gels in toiletries are very heavy, and by reducing the number and volume of these you will save considerably.
These are the three top tips to reducing your luggage, and put into honest practice it really is possible to halve the amount you take. But, it does require planning and preparation. The further in advance you plan to be more economical, the more successful you are likely to be.
Short Notice Travel Deals
May 29th
Many people have flexible schedules at work that will accommodate short notice travel deals. Every business traveler can benefit from travel deals, but those that are short notice deals will offer travel to destinations that are not usually for business but with internet connections, any type of business can be transacted while enjoying the marvelous amenities of a resort in the mountains. The opening for these travel deals probably occurred because travelers got sick and were unable to travel and the savings on traveling to these destinations will be marvelous.
Short notice travel deals might apply to vacation package deals that give travelers a week in Hawaii for one low price. With airfare, hotel accommodations, and a rental car included in the short notice travel deal, it is quite probable that no traveler would be able to resist such an offer. With hours, the traveler will be on their way to a luxury resort that will make many dreams come true during that week. The pampering practices at hotel resorts are commonplace, the dining possibilities might make some guests quite happy.
Others amenities enjoyed at luxurious resorts might make a vacation never want to leave, or be the cause of rebooking a vacation for the next year. Some of the short notice vacation deals will utilize timeshare properties where all stops are pulled on things that vacationers want. Private suites with an ocean view will make vacationers stay indoors for days, especially if the suite is equipped with an in-room sauna, private indoor pool and the benefits of a heart shaped Jacuzzi.
Do You Think And Look Like A Tourist?
May 19th
When you to travel to a destination are you a tourist or a visitor? Do you assimilate into the culture or do you instantly brand yourself as a tourist. Unfortunately Americans have the international reputation for not blending into the local culture and sticking out in the crowd.
If you travel with a fanny back, you can rest assure that you will instantly be branded as a tourist. I have yet to see a non-American tourist sporting the fanny. Get rid of the fanny pack, it is aging, cheesy and worse of all just plain ugly.
I know this sounds obvious but I have no idea why so many people open an oversize map in the middle of the street. Study the map before leaving the hotel or even better leaving your home. That way, a quick glance while walking around is all you need to re-orient yourself.
If this is impossible, how about taking a break at a local restaurant or even pulling into a store to regroup. If you must travel with a map, try to get a small discreet one. Anything is better than pulling out the map with the fanny pack around your waist in the middle of lots of foot traffic.
When you visit glorious culinary cities such as Rome or Paris, do not eat at KFC, McDonalds or any other predictable American chain. Eat the way the locals do, grab the street food, do not assume that it is dangerous it will most likely be delicious.
Leave the flashy jewelry at home. We expensive draped around your neck and the expensive ring adorning your finger, you are asking for trouble. You will be an easy target for local thieves or a tourist who just does not know any better.
If you are staying in a hotel, utilize concierge service. With their help, you will know exactly where you are going. If you have opted to rent a vacation apartment, prior to arrival find out if you can hire a guide to orient you to city so that you do not have to wander around aimlessly.
Please make an attempt to learn the basics of the language. Do not assume that everyone speaks English. The French especially Parisians appreciate the effort and will encourage your learning. A few keywords in the local language will open many doors. No one is expecting you to be fluent but you will be surprised at how the service improves when you memorize a few key phrases in the local language.
For some reason, tourists love to look up so if you want to look like you belong do not look up. This simple unconscious act is a dead giveaway that you do not belong here and are on borrowed time.
How you dress speaks volumes to who you are. If you witnessed someone dressed in shorts, a t-shirt with a logo, baseball cap, back pack and athletic shoes, would you not think they were an American tourist? The universal color for chic attire is black. The population of Paris, London, New York and other sophisticated cities tend to wear lots of black.
I recommend packing few clothes, then immediately shop the local stores, and buy what you find there, buy the clothes the locals wear. You will instantly blend.
How Private Guides Can Improve Your Vacation Tours
May 15th
For those on vacation it is often difficult to find enough time to visit all of the attractions on your itinerary. Tours of churches, historical sites and even tours of countryside regions are hard to plan; hence a private guide can be an invaluable resource. The local knowledge possessed by a private guide can ensure your tours go smoothly and you visit all of the things you want to see.
Naturally, while you’re on your tours you will have an extensive list of attractions to see. This is where a private guide comes in very handy. Depending on the service you select you will either have a personal private guide or a guide that will lead a tour group. It is irrelevant which you have, but for those with a little more money, the option of private tours will be appealing.
That is not to say the group tours are not advisable, these can be both affordable and worthwhile. Jumping on a tour bus and heading out to various attractions while on your vacation can be a great way to see sites. That is if you can put up with the other people present on your tour. While it may not be your own personal guide, it can still give a brilliant educational element to your trip, ensuring you come back more informed about the area than when you left.
Knowledge is the greatest resource that a private tour guide offers. Whenever visiting attractions whilst on your tours having somebody there who is knowledgeable about the history and development of a site is valuable. For instance, if your tours are likely to include many historical attractions, having a guide that can inform you and teach you about the site is ultimately rewarding. There is only so much you can learn from a guide book, the human element cannot be underestimated.
A private guide can also ensure that your tours are filled to bursting with attractions, the result being that no time in your vacation is wasted. If you really want to sample and understand the culture of the place you are visiting a local guide can help you get close to the people who live in that place. They are also useful in understanding any cultural restraints that may affect your tours; for example, some attractions require certain dress codes and rituals that without a private guide would be difficult to understand.
Top Three Mistakes When Booking A Vacation Apartment
May 13th
Paris vacation rentals can be tricky to navigate, but the payoff is huge. Whether you are on a budget traveler who cannot afford the double-whammy cost of hotels and restaurants, or a luxury traveler who wants seclusion and over-the-top grandeur, you’ll get more space and privacy for your money by booking a rental property.
Convenience is probably the biggest advantage of a Paris vacation rental, you can come and go as you please and do what you like, when you like. An apartment rental is one of the most comfortable lodging options that can be availed for enjoying your vacation.
Besides more space and privacy, vacation rentals offer you a wide range of amenities without attacking your wallet. It’s you and your family enjoying a Paris pied-a-terre, your favorite snack from the refrigerator when you want it. You can impress family and friends with your culinary talent when restaurants and dining out becomes mundane, not to mention less nutritious and way more costly!
Fatal Mistake #1 Reserving last minute
Paris is the #1 visited destination in the world. It is safe to assume that premium vacation apartments are booked months and sometimes even a year in advance during peak season. The saying, “The early bird gets the worm” is especially applicable here.
The longer you postpone your vacation rental booking, the tighter the selection and higher the risk of losing prime vacation rental apartments since there are a limited number of top notch vacation apartments in select Paris neighborhoods.