Smart Travel

Christmas season is just around the corner, but planning holiday travel is not just a wintertime matter. Holidays occur throughout the year and you will have more than one opportunity of getting your luggage ready and planning a trip. However, when it comes to holiday travel, the sooner you begin jotting down your desired destination and associated activities, the more successful your travel will be. One of the missing items in most travel plan lists is reviewing your tote bags, briefcases, and trunks; you can come across with a fact: you may need to renew your luggage. Samsonite luggage is durable and yet fashionable, with a full collection of styles matching anyone's criteria. Put on the top of your holiday travel list a visit to your local mall, or browse Samsonite's online catalogs to find its complete line of products. If your travel involves air traveling, another of the priorities in your holiday travel list is determining your travel dates. Even though you can leave any...

Ah, spring, when a young man's thoughts turn to romance, and visions of things like moonlit strolls, quiet walks in the woods and picnics in a secluded spot look even more alluring. With today's fast-food culture, though, a romantic picnic idea can be hard to come by. Let's see if we can't help you out a little bit there, Romeo (or Juliet). First off, you'll want to make sure you've got the right sort of munchies. I'm not talking about the main dish, here, I'm talking about those tasty nibbles you'll hopefully be feeding each other while looking deep into each other's eyes, or some such scenario. Depending on your partner's tastes, you've got a wide range to choose from. Fresh fruit is always a good choice, with whole strawberries dipped in sweet whipped cream (very transportable), grapes or slices of melon being decadent choices. For the carnivores, delicious deli meats and cheeses rolled in tortillas or crepes make low-mess choices. Bit...

As the largest state capital in the United States, Phoenix has always been one of the Untied States' hottest tourist destinations. Indeed, in the Navajo language, Phoenix is known as 'Hoodzo' - perhaps best translated in a modern context as 'this place is hot!' One of Phoenix's most exciting landmarks is the fantastic Biltmore Fashion Park, serving the nation's favourite sport - shopping. Located at the confluence of Scottsdale and Paradise Valley, the Biltmore Fashion Park can be found in one of Arizona's best locations. But as well as boasting more than seventy retail outlets, including designer labels like Gucci, Ralph Lauren, Cartier and Escada, the Biltmore Fashion Park is also home to a variety of interesting restaurants and cafes. Whichever type of cuisine you're craving during your shopping trip you're likely to find it: from upmarket to homely eateries, North American seafood to European fare. Sam's Cafe, for example, aims to serve f...

By Michael Russell A bed and breakfast is usually an exceptionally nice place to spend the night, as most are remodeled old homes or mansions. Some of these homes have been restored to represent the way they were originally built and contain beautiful woodwork, wood floors, spacious brick fireplaces and other designs of the era in which they were built. Most provide breakfast in the morning, which consists of a complete meal with breakfast meat, eggs, toast or biscuits, fried potatoes, pancakes and waffles, coffee, juice, etc., while others only provide a continental breakfast, consisting of coffee, juice and doughnuts. Then, some provide no breakfast at all, but still call themselves a bed and breakfast. The morning meal is normally included in the room rate. As you can see, each bed and breakfast can be different and even the Bed and Breakfast Associations have no accepted definition of what they are. When placing a reservation, be sure you understand what accommodations they offer, ...

How do you define a perfect vacation? For many it just means great climate, a nearby ocean shore and sandy beaches. We all need vacations so that our life doesn't become monotonous. There are a number of hot spots for those who love water sports like sailing, surfing and skiing. Some of them are listed below: St. Lucia is a tropical island paradise. It is 27 miles in length and 14 miles in width. It's actually a great place for sailors. It's just like a sailor's paradise. There are so many exciting adventures and anchorages along the western coastline. The explorers can indulge in various activities. You can sail till Rodney Bay (along the west coast) and have fun on the beach in Pigeon Island National park. Here, you can enjoy great dinner and cocktail as there are excellent restaurants at night to dine in. You can next visit the Volcano by sailing to Soufriere. You can also visit the Botanical Gardens, the Mineral Baths and Diamond Falls. You can then visit Ansa Cocho...

By Harish Kohli On a diving holiday to Australia in January 1998, two Americans, Tom and Eileen Lonergan, joined a group in Port Douglas, near Cairns, for a day's diving on the Great Barrier Reef, 40 miles off shore. In the evening when the boat returned, unnoticed by either the crew or any of their fellow divers, the Lonergans were not on board. Two days passed when the manager of the hotel where they were staying noticed their absence and raised the alarm. By the time the search was finally launched, it was almost certain that the Lonergans were dead. No one knows what happened to them, whether they eventually drowned or were eaten by sharks. Either way, their end is too horrible to Imagine. A few months later, one of diver's waterproof notepad was found in a mangrove swamp. In the faded writing that was still readable was a horrifying message. “To anyone who can help us… we have been abandoned… please rescue us before we die.” All adventure sports carry risks, and diving is ...

By C. Downey Since your vacation includes a few rounds at the golf course, you may want to use your own set of golf clubs. You can rent them at most resorts but they may not be as comfortable as your own set and may even hinder your game. Once you’ve decided to bring your own equipment, there are several things to consider. If you are concerned about protecting your golf clubs from damage during flight, here are a few tips and tricks which should help ensure that they arrive safely. Clean out your golf bag and get rid of any old items you won’t be using. Refresh with new towels, balls, tees, gloves and so on. If you don’t already have a golf travel bag or case, then you’ll need to invest in one. There are basically two types of golf travel bags, soft and hard. The soft golf cases are less expensive and will not adequately protect your paraphernalia against rough handling unless you pack right, and even then there’s a chance of damage to your golf clubs. If you opt for a soft travel cas...

If you're like me, you like to find a vacation spot where you can engage in some of your favorite activities. Some people pick the destination based on its beauty or the weather, but I'm not to just sit and watch the sunset every day – I want a little action with my R&R. Before you start planning a vacation, I want you to consider going to an island, but not because you can snorkel or surf – but because it's the most beautiful golf I've ever seen in my life. Playing a round of golf on an island is the most peaceful mental game I've been exposed to. Of course, if there are jagged cliffs and shattering waves looming by the green, I'll admit it can get a tad intimidating. Somehow, though, it's a little easier to accept your ball flying off over a cliff and into the big blue ocean than it is to see it sink into a stagnant pond on a mainland course. It might be the sea air or the fact that when I'm on vacation, nothing seems to matter much, but my game ac...

By Mike Pedersen Have you ever felt a bit apprehensive when you threw your clubs into your trunk and wondered if the bag was enough to keep them secure during the journey? After all, your golf bag and clubs can suffer plenty stresses and movement during a drive. A lot depends on the terrain, but even a bit of sharp braking can cause a bit of damage. Golf travel bags can be the answer to this. Golf travel bags are designed to protect your golf clubs and the rest of your golfing equipment during transit. With the right golf travel bag, there should be no chance of your clubs getting damaged in your trunk. Golf Travel Bags Protect Against the Baggage Handlers What about the airport? Do you travel the circuits? Or do you take your clubs with on vacation? Whichever, you probably rely on airport baggage handlers to be gentle with your golf bag. Think on! Do you really think baggage handlers are going to give golf clubs any more consideration than any other piece of luggage? What you need is ...

Many people have a tendency to come down with sinus infections during or after air travel. The four steps discussed in this article can help provide sinus pressure relief for those who travel by air on a regular basis. There are a number of reasons why people who are susceptible to sinus infections tend to contact them during air travel. Sharing stale air in close proximity to others is certainly one reason, and oftentimes this air contains more bacteria and viruses than the air in our normal living environments. The low humidity in plane cabins is another contributing factor. The dry air we breathe in airplanes tends to impair the normal mucous-cilia system and make people more prone to bacteria and viruses. Since airplane cabins are pressurized and the pressure is changing during climb and descent, this can also have harmful effects. Four suggestions to obtain sinus pressure relief in conjunction with air travel include: drinking lots of water before and during long flights; using a ...

Sited on the middle of Indonesian archipelago, first discovered by the European sailors, Bali becomes truly tranquil island. It is the earthy paradise for those, who are dedicated to the beauty of the tropical island. For summer holiday, honeymoon or even family perfect holiday. Not only its attractive view and exotic tourism spot but also the hospitality of the people you hardly find in a metropolitan city or highest civilization. Many travelers mesmerized by not just a part of it but almost completely all. The power of attracting people in the world has make Bali as one of the “must visit” world’s tourist destination. Over 8 regencies spread out beautiful spots to be visited through the over 3 million inhabitants. Further, each of them presents unique character of the culture itself. The selling point of this island is The Hindus culture with the temples from ancient age. There is no day without celebration toward the God. The tradition blends within the Hindus people, their daily li...

Mobile phones have taken an imperative place in everybody life today that one can wonder how a life is possible without them. People can contact you anytime even when traveling from one place to another. Especially for global travelers, mobile phones has become like oxygen giving them fantastic benefits that they can even be in touch with their dears and nears while roaming remote away from home. It also had proved to be a help tool in urgent situations. Beside the comfort and instant access they give us, mobile phones can be both cost-effective and essential for travelers who want to stay connected. In certain cases where mobile calls are cheaper than local calls made from hotel rooms, you can make use of them for economical reasons. Hotels in Europe are known for their severe phone tariffs that they certainly charge high for just making local calls. In contrast, mobile providers offer excellent plans that include liberal amount of airtime and offer very practical tariff for internati...

Swimming with dolphins in the wild is an amazing experience because you get the opportunity to interact with these incredibly friendly and intelligent animals on their own turf. Unlike captive dolphins who have no choice but to interact with human beings whether they want to or not, wild dolphins can choose whether they want to stick around and swim with you and if they don't they have the freedom to simply disappear into the deep blue sea which makes it all the more special when they do decide to stay ( which occurs on a frequent basis ). There is a huge debate raging about the ethics of swimming with captive dolphins and even though there are definite benefits for humans ( treatment for depression and disabilities ) captivity is harmful to the dolphins as they suffer from stress and illness and have a much shorter life expectancy than similar dolphins in the wild. The demand to swim with captive dolphins also encourages capture from wild populations that are already under threat ...

There are people who are fond of traveling. They like to go to places where they can recharge their souls, unwind, release the tension from work, and simply enjoy what life has to offer. And there are people who are more of the adventurous type who would rather enjoy the day exploring the forest canopy in Costa Rica or discover the beauty of the wilderness of Siberia. However, whatever adventure travel most people would like to experience, it is always best to observe safety measures and precautions so as to avoid risk or perils of traveling to unknown lands. Here�s a list of tips for adventure travelers, whether they want adventures that are more inclined to wilderness or just the typical family adventure most people would love to experience: 1. It is best that people should know what the type of travel adventure they are getting into. Adventure travel may provide the kind of adrenalin rush most adventurers long to experience every time they get out of their territory. It is t...

Are you planning to travel by air at some time in the near future? Great airline deals are out there waiting for you. But, there are also some things you can do to help bring the prices down. Here are some tips for finding cheap airfare. We live in a wonderful age for budget-minded travelers. The internet has made finding airfare deals as easy as pointing and clicking. In the days before the information superhighway, you had to call up the airlines and ask about their prices. Now, there is an enormous variety of websites that allow you to shop around and compare prices for airfare deals Before you lay down your cash, look at some of these sites and try to find a few that offer the best deals. If you can find one site that you like, you can get a membership and be eligible for more discounts and deals. One way to find a good site is to ask around. If you have a friend, relative or co-worker who flies a lot, see which websites they use to book their flights. Once you have identified a we...

By: cristi Everyone loves vacations because they allow us to escape from the real world for a few days or weeks. Planning and paying for vacations is often stressful, which is not ideal for relaxation. Many people are unaware of the many different options available to help their planning and budgeting to be a breeze. In an effort to help with the planning of your next vacation, the following tips are being provided for your consideration. - Transportation by train is much more affordable than airfare, so don’t overlook a scenic railroad trip to get you to your next destination. The most affordable ticket will be coach class, which includes a comfortable chair. For long trips, onboard suites are also available on some trains. - Make hotel reservations online where you can often get an ‘internet only’ rate. In addition, many hotels offer senior rates, AAA rates and special discounts for children. It’s very convenient to have all of this information written in front of you when making res...

Europe is the most popular destination for tourists. There are several important things to keep in mind before calling your travel agent and booking your next vacation: 1. Your Budget: Set your budget. This includes transportation cost and souvenir/s. If your budget is smaller, you should visit Eastern Europe, looking for packaged tours, or, if you're flexible, book a "last-minute" trip, which can often save you 30% or more. Check out the current exchange rate between your currency and that of the country you'll be visiting, to have a better idea of what your vacation is going to actually cost you. Whenever possible, travel during an off-peak season to save even more. 2. Time of year: You may not want to spend many days indoors, because the weather can be cold and rainy. You may miss a wonderful trip just because you have not checked with your travel agent or weather forecast first. This is what I recommend you if you're not sure of weather patterns, check with y...

Jetlag seems to be every traveler’s worst nightmare – especially if you’re going away for just a short while. What causes Jetlag? Jetlag is a condition that arises from crossing multiple time zones in a relatively short time and consequently disturbs your natural body clock or circadian rhythms. Other contributing factors include lack of exercise, dry atmosphere and alcohol. What are the symptoms of Jetlag? Arriving at your destination feeling tried, groggy and disorientated are the most common symptoms. Many people also find it difficult to concentrate and have very erratic sleep patterns. Waking up in the middle of the night or feeling a need to take nap during the day can be frequent. Because of the dry atmosphere aboard aircraft, Dehydration can also be a major problem. How long do the symptoms last for? Jetlag symptoms can last for just a few hours – all the way up to a week (for more acute cases). Generally though, travelers find on a normal flight between the US and...

If you’re going to Europe, and planning on traveling, rather than staying in the one place for the duration of your vacation, and you don’t want to spend a fortune, there’s two or three alternative ways that you can travel throughout the continent. The first option would be to take what you might call the “traditional” budget alternative, which would generally be backpacking and traveling by train. Nothing wrong with that at all, and by using a pass on the trains (known as a Eurailpass, and available in the USA from http://www.raileurope.com/eurorail/index.htm) you can certainly reduce your spending, whilst journeying widely throughout many countries. There are, however, a couple of down sides to this traditional “budget” planning. First, whilst it can often be exhilarating and exciting to meet and travel with strangers on a train, equally, sometimes, it’s nice to have your own space to enjoy the journey, on your own. Secondly, by definition, trains can only take you as far as the rai...

To make a good hotel deal is very important for travelers, tourists and travel agencies. A hotel deal is essential to get good room. If you know some tips for hotel deal, you will find hotel room to stay at lower charge. The charge for most of the hotel is generally high. First of all, you will need a directory of hotels from where you can find out the websites of the hotels. If you search information about the charges and fees of hotel rooms through their website, you could find room at a low charge. There are major hotel chains in the world, which provide better facilities for hotel deal. You can ask about the information of these hotels from travel agents of your nearby tour and travel agency. You can find hotel deals in newspaper ads also. You have to ask about the facility provided by the hotel. The mode of payment of charges is different for different hotels. Some hotels require paying the full amount as advance, while some other needs to pay on hourly basis, daily basis ...

Your good health is paramount while traveling and taking simple precautions can drastically reduce your chances of falling ill. Health Insurance An insurance package that covers your health, possessions and cancellations is imperative. Immunizations Immunizations are critical – especially if you are planning to visit 3rd world countries. Many immunizations require a specific time period to take effect or require certain follow-up shots – so plan well ahead. You should record any immunization shots received on an official health certificate as this is often a requirement of visa applications. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention can advise you on the current recommendations for your intended destination. General Food and water are one of the leading causes of illness for travelers. These simple tips can drastically reduce your chances of illness: - If the water is suspect, don’t take the risk. This includes ice, food washed and prepared in the water and swimming pools. Buy bo...