The Do’s and Dont’s of Traveling

Are you going on a trip soon or are currently planning one? If so, then it is important to take some things into consideration. It is easy to get excited about your trip and not take notice of important things you should and should not do. It is always better to plan ahead and be safe than sorry later. Therefore, keep reading to discover some helpful suggestions of what to do and what not to do the next time you head out to travel.

The days leading up to a vacation can be stressful and also filled with anticipation, but there are definitely things you need to do before you leave your home. Do make sure you clean out your fridge. The last thing you want is to come home to smelly or gross food in your fridge that is expired. Do make sure to take out the garbage everywhere in your home.

Tips on How to be A Successful Travel Blogger

For those who are aspiring to become a successful travel blogger, check this out;

First you have got to remember – before becoming a travel blogger or starting a travel blog, you should first become a regular and passionate traveler. In other case there is no point writing about stuff you didnt experienced yourself. Then go buy yourself a good camera and keep looking for unusual photo opportunities. Dont forget to write about everything you see and experiences in your journal. Yes,  you heard correct, cause sometimes we travel to places with no wifi (there are places with  no internet in this world). Our memory is not a computer, so its better to write it down and then upload to the blog.

Things to Consider When Planning for you Trip

There are a lot of things to consider when planning for your trip. Below are just some of the most important ones;

Budget- For those who have a lot of money, going for a vacation is always convenient and easy. For some travelers who are tight in their budget, planning ahead of time is required. If we are traveling to other countries who don't use the same monetary value like what we use in our country, we have to consider Foreign Exchange. If you are in UK for example and wish to travel to the United States, be sure to have some US dollars with you. Sometimes exchanging your money at the airport can be very expensive. There are a lot of financial companies online who offer better Exchange Rates for your money.

 Accommodation- Finding the right accommodation that will fit your needs and budget also needs to be considered. I remember our trip to Vancouver, Canada lately. My friend from Seattle, Washington booked our overnight hotel for almost $200.00. For a budget traveler like me, that is quite a high price. When I searched online, I found a hotel that only cost $70.00 per night for double room. Imagine the difference and the savings we had when I told my friend to immediately cancel the one she booked and changed it with the one I saw online. I ended up buying a lot of souvenirs for the savings we had.

The Canaries with the Kids

The Canaries are an ideal year round getaway for the whole family. Whatever your holiday style there is an isle to suit your taste. Lively Tenerife and Lanzarote holidays are great for active kids, while Fuerteventura and Gran Canaria family holidays provide a more relaxing beach break.

Gran Canaria

Gran Canaria family holidays are best spent in Playa Del Inglés and Maspalomas. Despite the flurry of tourists in peak season, these areas have some of the best sheltered beaches around. The safe shallow waters are perfect for children.

Playa Del Inglés’ main waterpark, Aqualand (with over 30 attractions) is in your immediate vicinity. The resort’s camel back rides provide another fun day out.


Tenerife

Southern Tenerife has a reputation for being the party central of the Canaries. Although resorts such as Playa Paraiso have a calmer ambience, head north of Tenerife to Puerto de la Cruz to experience an authentic taste of Canarian lifestyle.

The area is fantastic for children; the wonderful wildlife attraction, Loro Parque, is great for all ages. Spend your days bathing on Playa Jardin or at the fantastic pool complex, Lago Martiánez.

Lanzarote

Along with Tenerife, Lanzarote holidays promise lively entertainment for the clan. When travelling with children, Playa Blanca is the best base.

Nearby you will have access to Rancho Texas Park, a Wild West themed amusement park, as well as the Playa Blanca Blue Flag beach.

Fuerteventura

Fuerteventura is the smallest of the four main tourist islands of the Canaries and it is also the quietest. With its modest status comes the unspoilt beauty of its beaches.

Stretching for miles, the sands of Fuerteventura are perfect for lazy days in the sun with children who are happy to dig for treasure and build castles by the sea.

Playgrounds are scattered across Fuerteventura with free swings, slides and trampolines for the children.

From Tenerife getaways to Gran Canaria Family Holidays, the Canaries have an island to suit the style of every holiday maker.

Share a Chalet for Cheap Ski Deals

Skiing holidays lend themselves perfectly to socialising with friends, so why not gather a group together and book a chalet?

Sharing a chalet with friends or family can be a great way to lower the price of your ski holidays and allow every member of the group to benefit from cheap ski deals.

At Neilson Holidays you’ll find ski chalets to accommodate up to 18 people; as well as dedicated ski holiday specialists who will organise flights and transfers for your group, taking the hard work out of booking your holiday ski deals.

With a variety of the best ski resorts on offer, lets take a look at chalets to suit large groups, and see what you can get for your money:

Neilson Chalet Alexandre, Les Deux Alpes

This large chalet is really beautiful inside and out, and is furnished to a high standard, in a traditional rustic style. As well as a large open plan lounge with dining area, you’ll also find a sauna and a ski and boot room.

It sleeps 14 to 18 people in seven ensuite bedrooms, making it the perfect choice for groups of friends, large families, or two or more family groups holidaying together.

Be Brave and Book Late Holiday Deals

Add some excitement to your summer by vowing to book a ‘fly by the seat of your pants’ last minute holiday deal this year.

Simply wait for a window in your busy schedule and get online to browse the best late holiday deals in some of the most popular summer sun destinations.

Booking late means that you’re likely to find cheap holiday deals, so why not take advantage of getting more for your money and book a far-flung destination like Mexico?

This stunning Caribbean destination offers holidays that dreams are made of. You could make your dreams a reality when you pick up last minute, low cost holiday deals online.

At 12 hours away, Mexico really offers an experience that’s a world away from your usual European summer sun hotspots. Forget the last minute rush around town and instead pick up everything that you need at the airport – from bikinis to Mexican dollars, sun tan lotion to travel plugs and paperbacks – you’ll find it all in the airport shops allowing you to book as last minute as you dare!

Aftersun and insect repellent should also be on your list of last minute essentials, to help keep you comfortable in the strong Mexican sun.

As far as resorts go, choose Cancun for your last minute Mexico holiday and you’ll be straight from airport to hotel in no time at all.

Booking all inclusive will also mean that you don’t have to worry about a thing on arrival. All your meals, snacks and drinks will be taken care of, as well as selected entertainment and activities, so all you need to do is kick back and feel yourself slowly unwinding.

There’s no better feeling than bagging a bargain break, and snapping up a last minute deal to Mexico is sure to have your friends turning green with envy. So be brave, hold out and snap up those late availability deals in order to get the best possible price.

Cruises: The best all-inclusive holiday that money can buy?

There’s no two ways about it: when it comes to holidays on all inclusive, cruises usually win hands down. With all that sumptuous food, never-ending buffets and a new destination to wake up to every day, you’ll be hard-pressed to get better value for money on a standard package holiday. But what can you expect from a cruise holiday?

On most large-scale itineraries the cruise ship is your hotel, entertainment, restaurant and transport - whisking you from one glorious destination to another while you sleep, eat, sun-bathe or party. It’s therefore a huge part of the holiday experience, and because of this you’ll find a range of experiences set up to suit different ages and personal tastes.

For example if you cruise Thomas Cook, you’ll find everything from short taster cruises over a weekend to longer itineraries covering 14, 15 or more nights, travelling to such far-off gems as the Caribbean and South America. With these style of cruises you’ll not only get an all inclusive board basis with breakfast, lunch and dinner, you’ll also get snacks and regular treats such as afternoon tea or special gala dinners. Onboard the facilities range from cinemas and spas to heated pools and fitness centres.

At each port of call, customers will have the chance to disembark and wander around the destination in their own time, or join a specially organised excursion - providing transport to see the sights, an escorted shopping trip to the markets or even boat trips to the local beauty spot.

On a cruise holiday there is always plenty going on, and when you factor in all those wonderful new destinations and varied onboard facilities, it’s easy to see why so many people come back to enjoy all inclusive cruise holidays year after year.

Important Reminders Before Taking Your Holiday

I know there are a lot out there who are experts about this topic. I might not be, but I have enough experience to share with you. Let me begin with the basics. There are a lot of things we need to consider when planning or before going for a trip or vacation. As a frequent traveler, I have a lot of experiences to impart to those who want to travel. Things you should do and prepare before going for your holiday. Here are some travel guides and tips I wish to share to all those who are still beginners in the travel world.

What to Take

With the exploding prices of gasoline these days, most airlines are reducing their allowed baggage both check-in and hand carry. I remember during my first vacation to the Philippines where I am allowed up to 35 kilos for check-in and 12 kilos for hand carry. That was 2004. During my last vacation last 2009-2010, my check-in luggage was only 30 kilos and hand carry was 7 kilos. Imagine the difference.

This is only a reminder that we need to only take the most important things we need. I know you don't want to be left in your flight, only because of overweight in your luggage.

There is a saying that says, "Half the clothes and twice the money". This simply means that bring as little as possible. You don't know if you are still shopping for clothes and sometimes overweight luggage can give you stress. Bring only the things that you importantly need. Bring with you one medium-size suitcase, with wheels is lighter. I usually have an extra shoulder bag where I put important travel documents. I also bring a smaller bag where I put some personal items. If you follow this rule, you will surely have a comfortable trip.

I always see to it that I always bring with me an extra sweater. This is especially true if you are traveling in Europe. Sometimes there are countries that have changing weather condition. Brief cold spells in Europe are not uncommon. I also bring with me some pens and notebooks because I usually write a travel journal. Slip-in a small pocket flashlight in your shoulder bag together with collapsible umbrella. Also take with you adapter plugs and electrical converter for your electrical appliances. European voltage is 220.

I truly recommend luggage with wheels. I only have a two-wheel luggage at the moment. I want to buy a four-wheel luggage soon.

Cash, Currencies and Cards

For me these are the most important things you need to consider when travelling, cash currencies and cards. Most members of the European Union countries are now using Euro currency. Some countries in Europe like England, Switzerland, Czech Republic and Norway are using their own monetary unit. It is not a problem because you can find a lot of money or currency exchange shops at the airport, train stations and banks.

There are sites online like caxtonfx.com where you can convert one currency to another currency. You can also purchase an electronic foreign exchange rate converter. Some cellphone apps or cellphone companies are having this feature now.

Cards like Visa, Maestro, Cirrus and most debit cards are widely accepted nowadays. It is advisable not to carry more cash than you can afford to lose. There are ATMs everywhere. You can also carry a traveler check which is safer. I hope you are also aware that credit cards are safer to use that debit cards.

Before You Go

You should take steps to ensure that no break-in will happen when you are away. This is especially true if there have been any break-ins in your area. You can ask your neighbours to keep a watchful eye for suspicious people and their activities. Request you neighbour to call the police if ever there are suspicious people around.

Some people who are members of social networks like facebook, myspace, tagged, etcetera are announcing their vacation on their walls and shout-outs. Beware of these, the burglars might have an idea that you are not at home. Lastly, don't announce your forthcoming holiday plans in the newspaper or tabloids. It might cause you or your properties some harm.

I guess these reminders and tips will help you in your journey. Have a safe and enjoyable trip to all travelers out there.

Things to Help You Record Your Trip

I don't know how many of you out there who are actually recording your trip or vacation. I always do. That is the reason why I have some things with me every time I travel. I also write it in my travel blogs and also sharing images from my trips. It can be hard to remember every detail after the trip but when we recorded what had happened, it is easy for us to remember almost everything. There are several items you can bring with you on a vacation to ensure that you remember as much of it as possible, even after it is over. Thanks to our friends who are travel experts who helped us compiled this list.

1) Digital Camera

Most people have digital cameras in today's day and age, but many people don't take as many pictures on vacation as they should. Though you may not be able to quite capture that beautiful sunset as well as you saw it in real life, just having the picture of it will bring back your own memory of it. Photographs are also one of the best ways to let other people that weren't there see what you experienced.

sunset in Manila Bay, Philippines. taken during my vacation last 2010.

2) Journal and Notebook

Though you might be able to remember places you visited and what you did, one of the most important things that people tend to forget is how they felt as they visited a place or viewed a famous piece of history. Having a journal or notebook will give you a place to not only to write down what it is that you did, but how you felt about it. Looking back on it years later, you'll be able to relive the same feelings by reflecting on your memories and what you wrote.

3) Pens and Pencils

It might seem obvious, but if you don't have a pen or a pencil you won't be able to record the important things during your trip. If you have some downtime during your trip, such as a bus ride or a wait for an attraction, which can be the perfect time to write things down while they are still fresh in your mind. If you buy a pen, make sure it’s a good one that lasts–one you can keep forever, like a german-made lamy pen. However, if you don't carry a good pen or pencil with you then you may miss the opportunity to record it, and memories might fade before you can write them down.

4) Folder

Having some sort of small folder or envelope to collect important papers and scraps of your trip is a great way to record your trip. You can save pamphlets, ticket stubs, and any other small items that you acquired during your trip. These can later be used just to reflect on the good time you had, or to use in a scrapbook or journal.

Whatever trips, holiday or adventure tours and activities you may plan to do, always remember to record it for future use.

Eco-Luxury Photo Safaris

When you go hunting for intimate photos of the creatures who roam wild Africa, you certainly don't want to inflict damage on their native habitat, which is why conscientious tourists are increasingly opting for eco-luxury photo safaris. By creating an attitude of stewardship instead of exploitation, these eco-sensitive tour companies are developing ongoing relationships with the indigenous communities in the area and helping them support sustainable practices instead of having to sacrifice their natural resources to industry.

Many tour companies play a major role in setting up wildlife reserves with sustainable practices in the areas they later bring their guest. These activities quite often become a source of commerce for the indigenous communities who are encouraged to act as stewards of the land. As a member of one of their tours, you can experience the wildlife up close and personal without disturbing their natural home while ensuring their future.

But being up close to wildcats, grazing herds and solitary hunters of the savannah does not mean you have to "rough-it" by any means, these tour companies provide lovely bungalows with impressive main lodges set up throughout the regions bordering Cape Town. There you will find everything you would expect from a luxury hotel, including restaurants with wine cellars, trendy rooms decorated with local "free trade" artwork and built with sustainable materials, full rejuvenating health spas and even astronomy night dinners under the stars.

Eco-luxury photo safaris are a wonderful way to spend a honeymoon, romantic getaway or educational vacation adventure geared for the whole family. Your safari can be custom designed to include your favorite activities, whether they include mountain climbing, scuba diving or just watching from a safe, comfortable distance.

Guest post contributed by Cape Town villa company Cape Portfolios.
Photo by Euroangel

Five Helpful Travel Blogging Tips

Thinking about starting a travel blog? These tips from Graf von Faber-Castell experts The Pen Company should help you get started:

1) IT’S ALL IN THE PRESENTATION

One of the first things to note about travel blogging is that visitors to your site will stay longer and will be more likely to recommend your site to others if they find it to be visually appealing. Use a font that will allow your visitor to comfortably read the text.

2) CONTENT COUNTS

Be sure to remain focused in your writing and really pinpoint your message without allowing your thoughts and words to wander too far from the subject at hand. Again, the goal is to keep the visitor engaged in the material being presented on the site.

3) ROLL UP THOSE SLEEVES

While writing a travel blog is certainly an enjoyable experience, it is not all fun and games. The best blogs require almost constant work. Between writing, updating and making sure that your content is relevant, it is far from easy money.

4) AND SPEAKING OF MONEY...

There are several ways that you can make money with your blog. The most common way is through advertising. Most major search engines usually have a program set up that will allow you to place their ads and banners on your blog for free. You will then receive a certain amount of money each time one of the ads on your blog is clicked.

5) SPREADING THE WORD

No matter how beautiful, relevant and up to date your blog happens to be, you will need visitors to make your travel blog a success. One fast and easy way to do this is by getting your blog listed on as many blogrolls as possible. This can be done by contacting the owner of a blog that you are interested in exchanging links with. This is usually a win-win situation in that it will increase traffic for both blogs.