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Posts tagged Travel
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 »
Traveling Single and Happy in Italy
Aug 20th
Want to travel to Italy but nobody you know wants to go? Have specific dates for your holiday in Tuscany but none of your traveling friends can get away then?
You’re not alone–you’re part of the fast growing single traveler market. As a frequent single traveler in Italy for many years, here are my tips on companionship, safety, money matters, and quality of life for traveling solo in Italy.
Companionship
1. Look for restaurants or hotels with communal tables. Sit down, relax, eat with whoever is there, smile and start a conversation. Sharing food and wine around the table opens people up and conversation flows easily. Also look for restaurants with tables close together so it’s easy to strike up a conversation with fellow diners.
For example, I’ve enjoyed staying a family-run B & B in Sorrento where I’ve happily chatted to people from all over the world around their big dining tables.
2. Offer to help other travelers as a spring board to start a conversation. For example, while traveling on the Amalfi Coast on a bus to my hotel in Praiano, I overheard a man asking about the area. Read the rest of this entry »
What To Do About Lost Luggage At Manchester Airport
Aug 18th
Standing at the carousel at Manchester Airport after a long or short haul flight hoping and praying that your luggage will appear. After what seems to be an eternity of waiting, you finally decide that your luggage has not arrived back with you and wonder what you are supposed to do next. This article describes what you can do to get your luggage back as quickly as possible.
First of all we need to understand why luggage goes missing in the first place. Missing luggage can usually be put down to human error. There are many different people who will interact with your luggage during its long journey and you are dependent such people as baggage handlers, check in personnel and security staff all getting their individual jobs absolutely right. Unfortunately we do not live in an ideal world and things will go wrong and unfortunately it could be your bag that gets lost.
Once you have realised that your bag is missing the first thing you need to do is report it missing at the lost baggage desk. At Manchester Airport these desks can usually be found in the baggage return areas but. Any member of staff will be able to direct you to the nearest desk should you have difficulty in locating them.
When reporting your lost luggage be sure to give as detailed a description as you can as it is much easier to locate a bag if they know what they are looking for. You may also be asked for a description of your luggage contents, again as much detail as possible but not totally necessary as nobody will expect you to know everything you have packed in your luggage.
Unfortunately there is no set time limit for finding lost luggage and airlines will more than likely not declare your luggage as officially lost until approximately 21 days so with any luck it will turn up naturally before then. There are various agencies that can help with lost luggage and are not difficult to find. they are off airport companies and more than likely a member of staff will give out their details. After the twenty one day period if your luggage still has not turned up you are entitled in most cases to claim compensation from your airline for your losses. I realise that this really is not what you would like but at least if you are aware of this fact you may get something back, then its not a total loss. In some cases airlines may be obliged to pay up to eight hundred pounds per person for lost luggage.
A very important note that everybody should know and not many people do, is that most airlines will try and persuade their customers to claim for any lost luggage through their own personal travel insurance. You are well within your rights to push the airline for direct compensation as under the Montreal Convention if an airline accepts any item as checked baggage it must accept liability for it. Most travel policies do not cover lost luggage but if they do they will no doubt be claiming the money back directly off the airline anyway.
The long and short of lost luggage is, that there really is no hard or fast or even guaranteed way to get your luggage back. Only ways and means to try. Armed with this information you will stand more than a fighting chance of getting your luggage back or at least some money to help ease the pain.
Planning The Return Journey With Your Luggage
Aug 12th
So, you have successfully travelled abroad, and survived the experience. Now laden with an armful or two of wonderful souvenirs for yourself and your obligatory loved ones back home, you stare in open mouthed awe at the impossibly small case you brought with you. It seems almost impossible that you really managed to cram all of your items into that bag or case, and you shake your head in wonder that you never had the foresight to imagine that you might wish to return home with trophies of your visit. Where, pray, do they go?
We have almost certainly all found ourselves in this kind of situation, and the end result is usually a combination of cramming and shoving our belongings into our bag in any way they will go, regardless of the likely condition of them at the other end. The bag is almost certainly strained as close to breaking point as you dare go, and your carry on luggage now, instead of a single convenient shoulder bag, now has grown to a shoulder bag and three wieldy, delicate and fiddly carrier bags whose handles may, or may not survive the trip. At least one handle will snap, resulting in a constant battle for survival.
So, how does one plan for this eventuality before leaving for your trip in the first place? There are several tried and tested methods, and planning ahead, giving these methods a try will save you a great deal of effort later, and be far more likely to result in fewer breakages.
The first, and perhaps most obvious suggestion is to under pack on the outward journey. By deliberately leaving space in your case, you will find that not only will your packing at the end of your holiday be much quicker and easier, but you will have room for the souvenirs you have purchased. As a side note to this, when buying souvenirs, make sure you are not carried away, and bear in mind the room you have allowed yourself. The six foot suit of armour might look fantastic, and be at a tremendous price, but exactly where will it fit in your suitcase?
The second suggestion is to purchase a suitcase with an expanding side. These are becoming quite popular, and are readily available from most luggage specialists. The case itself has two zips – the main one that opens the whole case, and then a second zip running parallel, which allows an expanding side to increase the volume of your case by as much as 50%. This will allow you to pack your items in easily, and still have room for your new items.
A third suggestion is to plan to discard certain items you took with you. Many people pack cosmetics in specially bought plastic bottles which are smaller than the original jar, and holds just enough for the period you are away. These typically cost just a few pence, and at the end of your holiday, are mostly empty. For the sake of a few pence, why not bin them? This will help to increase the space. Plenty of people do the same thing with clothes, buying a few really cheap tops which they would not wear back home, and simply discard them at the end of their trip, or donate them to a charity shop or recycling centre.
The bottom line is this: plan. If you give the second packing experience which you can look forward to at the end of your trip some thought before you go away, you are more likely to ensure an easy, successful, quick and effective escape. Your souvenirs are far more likely to survive as well.
How To Be The Smug Traveller Everyone Envies
Aug 10th
Don’t you just hate some tourists? They always seem so prepared, so cool, calm and able to float through the whole business of travel without a care in the world, and having anticipated every potential problem. It seems that some people simply have all the luck.
And yet, the truth is that it takes very little to help solve some of the most commonly experienced problems facing tourists and travellers. One of the most infuriating parts of a journey is often the problems facing luggage handling at airports. Having to check your cases in and wave them a cheery goodbye, and then sitting gloomily at the other end of your holiday watching other people’s cases journey round and round the conveyer whilst yours seems to have been deliberately held until last is another aspect of the holiday that no one looks forward to. Naturally those people that swan off the plane, straight through the lounge and off to a waiting taxi are given glances equal in measure of both envy and hate.
Is it really possible to manage to go on holiday without a suitcase? The answer is yes, perfectly, and many people are doing that every day. By having a simple over the shoulder carryon bag and by thinking carefully in advance about what you really need to take with you on your holiday, it is perfectly possible to reduce the overall volume and quantity of items that you take, helping you to keep your luggage with you at all times.
This obviously increases the security of your possessions as they are always with you; it will help speed up the process of checking in and checking out, and will save you a considerable headache. There are plenty of articles both on this website and others to help offer advice as far as achieving this is concerned.
Another aspect of a typical holiday which no one looks forward to is arriving at your destination and discovering, once you unpack your clothes, that none of them are wearable, During your travel it seems that someone had a sense of humour and unpacked your case, squashed all your clothes into a ball, ironed them into a ball ensuring the wrinkles were permanent, and then repacked your case for you.
In truth, it would not seem that there are such humorous baggage handlers, but actually poor baggage packers. Using simple techniques such as choosing suitable materials, polyester rather than cotton for example, and by rolling clothes rather than folding them, it is possible to protect your clothes from damage in transit. There is nothing quite like arriving at your hotel, opening your case and taking out an outfit, being able to put it straight on and enjoying the first few minutes of your holiday as you had always intended.
Similarly, breakages are an excellent way of ruining the start of your holiday. Arriving to find that your expensive perfume bottle broke will certainly ensure that you smell fantastic for your holiday, so fantastic in fact that the people back home will be able to detect you, but it is unlikely to put a smile on your face. Therefore, to ensure that you are one of the smug tourists, make sure that you pack your liquids and cosmetics in separate sealable bags or containers, so that in the event of a breakage, the liquid will not leak out onto other clothes.
All of these techniques, and others, are extremely simple, and very easy to put into practice. The hardest thing about them is trying to keep a straight face when you find yourself one of the envied travellers who seem to fly through the awkward parts of tour travel and get on and enjoy your holiday, whilst other people are recovering from the experience caused by poor planning.
Car Hire Terms And Terminology
Jul 24th
The world of car hire can be befuddling for the traveller. With so many terms bandied about by car hire representatives you are often left feeling confused and bemused and in the main, unclear on what you are actually paying for. While the rep may have a clear idea of what they are talking about, it is often the customer who has lost the conversation long ago and ultimately is trying to hang on to any semblance of relevancy in the hiring process. For some help to travellers wishing to hire a car, here are a number of terms used in the industry.
Additional drivers are those added to the hire package when in the process of hiring your car. Understandably, if you are hiring the car for a long period of time and driving large distances it is advisable to share the driving with another member of the party. The car hire company should be notified of this person, adding them to the contract. While there will normally be an additional charge for adding other drivers, it will be ultimately worthwhile as sharing the workload can make the trip that much more enjoyable for everyone.
Airport surcharges are usually added when using car hire from a major airport. While the consumer may be at a loss to explain why a hire car should be any more expensive whether hiring from an airport or not is relatively simple. The hire company will normally have to pay the airport authorities a payment that secures their desk in the terminal. These fees are usually passed directly onto the customer, like it or not, you will probably have to pay more if hiring from an airport.
Personal accident insurance will provide both driver and passengers with protection and coverage from personal injury. This is especially useful when in a foreign country as medical bills for holidaymakers can be exorbitant. Companies will vary on prices for this kind of package so be sure to check over the small print carefully.
A theft protection package can help you should your hire car be broken into or stolen. While this is usually included as part of the hire package, it is worth checking the contract carefully, if it is not their as standard, it may well be worth taking it as an extra.
If you are planning to use a hire car whilst abroad it is often needed to apply for an international driving permit. This does not mean it is valid as a licence however and should only be used as an additional element to your domestic license.
It is hoped this brief glossary has helped the consumer to gain a better understanding of the terminology used within the car hire industry. By decoding some of the phrases bandied around by reps it is possible to get a better deal and a further understanding of what you are paying for. For the traveller, this should be a vital and useful resource.
Work at Home Travel Agent
Jul 15th
Starting a home business is a perfect choice for those who want to work on a flexible schedule. They can be their own boss and set their own working time. Having a home business is also a choice for those who want to raise their children and see every step of their growth. These are the reasons why people tend to work at home rather than being an employee. If you also wish to make a home business, you can consider working as a home travel agent. Working as a home travel agent is a rewarding and fulfilling career for those who want to stay close to their home. Moreover, a home travel agent is one of the fast growing careers in the world.If you are interested in having a career as a home travel agent, you can follow these steps.
The first thing to work at home travel agent is to do a research in traveling and marketing. As a travel agent, you should have the knowledge about traveling and destinations as well as the skills of sales and marketing. It enables you to estimate your rate and give a great deal for the customers. You can also help customers to find a perfect vacation destination at great deal. It will be a plus point for you as a work at home travel agent.
The next thing to consider before starting a travel agent home business is to have certification as a travel agent. There are three major organizations providing the certifications including IATAN, IATA, and CLIA. Getting the certifications will help you to get a good job as a travel agent. It also gives you a better chance to build your own travel agent company. The last is to start your career as a work at home travel agent for a company. It is a good start to learn about the travel industry.