Minggu, 01 Oktober 2017

Visiting Cuba - Tips on Planning Your Holiday Or Vacation

While I always think Planning a Holiday is as much fun as the holiday itself. Cuba may be more of a challenge, than usual, if you are planning an independent itinerary.Planning your holiday or vacation in this fascinating country could well become an exercise in compromise and decision making , as you decide what you will do and what you must leave out.

Finding out the information you need is not always easy for Cuba, especially if you are planning your holiday independently. The criteria for visas and best currency to take, does change. Do not reply on an old Lonely Planet. The questions below are important - be sure to answer each, and then decide the best travel plan for you.

o How do you get there?

o Where should you stay?

o How can you best get around ?

o What currency should you take ?

o Do you need a visa?

o Do you need to worry about the weather?

o Is Cuba a safe country for travelling?

o What sort of food will they have?

All these questions may seem daunting, when you review the options.But they are overcome by working through them one by one. Cuba is a little different to other countries, with more restrictions and limitations.It does depend on which country you are from, what the criteria for visas, and travel to Cuba will be. e.g.Getting there is not as simple as just getting on a plane, as you cannot fly directly from USA.

Firstly decide how long you will be in the country. You will almost certainly have nowhere near enough time to fit everything on your list into the time frame you have for your holiday. So decide what is most important to you.

Cuba is not a cheap destination! Take a reasonable amount of cash.Credit cards are limited in use to large hotels.Be sure you check your card will be accepted . They do not take many credit cards. The cost of each transaction is also very expensive, so cards are best used only for large amounts.

Cuba may be a relatively small country, but their variety of geographic areas, gives you many choices in activities and places to visit. Historic towns, beautiful beaches and interesting sights mean you will find your activities and attractions list will offer a vast selection of both outdoor excitement, wonderful music and indoor culture.

Here are some tips for planning your Cuban itinerary:

o Accommodation - Hotels or Casa Particulares - You will need to decide what level of comfort you require! A Casa is a good way to see Cubans in their own homes.

o Negotiation - If you are travelling with another person, or your family, the art of compromise will no doubt have to come into play. Each choose several activities you want to do, and then negotiate if time means some cannot be included! The beach at Varadero or the historic town of Trinidad - they re very different places to spend your time.

o Travelling Solo - Deciding how you travel will be a little easier if you travel on your own. Although you will still be limited to what you have time for, and what suits your budget. Travelling solo will perhaps send you in a different direction. Maybe a tour, or semi independent tour will work best. Or are you just going to take local transport or share a rental car or taxi with others you meet along the way.

o Package Deals - Some activities are fun, but expensive. Look out for package deals if you want to go to a resort. You can get "all inclusive deals ", for often quite a considerable saving.

o Independent Travel or a Tour - A tour might work better for you, rather than travelling independently. Perhaps a bicycle tour, or Intrepid tour where you still have plenty of independent time. stay in a mix of hotels and Casa's so have the best of both worlds.For some of you the full hotel tour will be your chosen option.

o Culture or Beaches -Do you want to see the historic and cultural Cuba, or are you going for the beach, sun and sand?

o Getting Around - Will it be by bus, mini bus, taxi - perhaps shared, rental car or bicycle.

Ensure you allow enough travelling time between places. Travel in Cuba is slower than you might expect, with limited transport options, and connections that may not always be timed for a smooth transition. E.g. Buses from Vinales get to Havana too late to connect the same day for Trinidad.

If you decide to hire a car, the distances invariably take longer than they look on a map. So do use a distance calculator, and check the road conditions. Travel could be slow on the less than perfect roads!


Senin, 18 September 2017

Top 3 Costs Travelers Leave Out When Making Their Travel Budget

In spite of world events, travel is still an activity that continues to be extremely popular. People will still have the desire to see new places and experience new things in the way that only travel can give them. Because of the importance of travel, an affordable and relatively pain free experience is high on the traveler's adjenda. A successful trip starts off with proper planning, but many beginner travelers don't realize that planning your travel budget, is just as important as planning your travel itinerary. The more successful you are with creating a budget that will work for your itinerary, the happier you will be about your travel experience.

Outside of major mishaps that can occur during travel, such as bad weather, theft, and mechanical breakdown, there are some costs that many travelers forget to take into account when budgeting for their trip. These are costs that can't usually be avoided, but can be easily planned for.

1. Extra Hotel Charges

When most people book hotels online, most times they don't see the extra taxes and fees included in the prices that are quoted. Sometimes when the quote is given, it will include estimated taxes, but the quote may not list the exact cost. Therefore, you should plan your budget to include unexpected taxes.

Other costs could be movies charged to the hotel room, tipping the concierge, and room service. These charges can vary greatly depending upon how often they are used. Movies charged to a hotel room can be as much as $10 per movie, and room service is usually more expensive than eating out at a restaurant.

The key is to determine before hand, a daily budget for extra hotel charges and stay within that budget. If you choose one day to go over your budget, use it from any leftover balance you may have from the previous days. If you use any of your daily alotment designated for the future days, you run the risk of spending all of your budget for extra hotel charges before your stay is up. Some self control is obviously required, however, it can also lead to having enough to do something really extravagant on your last day.

2. Transportation Costs

Transportation costs include expenses such as cab, bus, or train fares, any rentals of cars, bikes or motorcycles, and also gasoline and parking costs for rented vehicles. Many travelers will take into account the major costs such as car rentals, and even some occasional fares, but may leave out other required costs such as parking, and gas which can add up.

If you plan to travel to a destination where you will need to rent a car, it is a good idea to plan for at least $30 per day for every day you have the car, for parking expenses and gasoline. This amount can vary depending upon the destination, but if you are planning on being in a metropolitan area, you will find out that your $30 daily budget can be eaten away quite easily.

If you are driving to your destination, you should calculate the milage you get per gallon of your vehicle and then calculate the distance you need to drive to your destination and determine how many gallons of gasoline it will take you to get to your destination. Take the national average of the price of a gallon of gasoline, and add an extra 15% on top of that. Then you can determine how much it would cost to get to your destination by car. You should also add the cost of at least two tankfulls of gas once you are at your destination if you plan on using the vehicle after you arrive.

If you plan to use the public transportation system, you can look in any number of the latest guide books to find the expected costs of bus and train fares at your destination. Once you know these, and know your itinerary, you can make a reasonable guess on what your daily budget would be for public transportation. Always add an additional 10-15% for contingencies.

3. Special Attractions and Events

Costs for special attractions and events can really creep into your expenses when you are either traveling to your destination or are at your destination. Occasionally, featured attractions, or other events will pop up on your radar as you go through your itinerary.

When making travel plans, make sure you consider the trip in addition to your hotel stays along the way, food, and gasoline. Most travelers don't take into account how they will feel as they are traveling. It could be that at some point along the way, everyone in the car is really getting on everyone's last nerve, and a movie, or a half day at the amusement park will put everyone in a better mood to complete the trip without it resembling a Jerry Springer episode. Or it could be that your favorite band is performing in the city you will be driving though, and you just can't pass up that opportunity.

It is usually difficult to know of every last thing before you start your trip, but you should still budget for unexpected activities you may want to do on your way to your destination. It will make traveling much more fun and spontaneous.

Planning your travel budget is something that can be a bit of an art, but there are decisions you can make that will make it less likely you will run out of money before your trip ends. Just take into account your everyday costs and will greatly increase your chances in establishing a budget that will give you enough money to complety your trip with minimal drama. You can easily find information and tips online to help you with your travel plans when setting your budget limits. Go online today to find these resources.


Selasa, 29 Agustus 2017

Recommendation For Student Traveling

Getting Ready for Your Trip Overseas

The government can move slowly so apply early for your passport and, if necessary, any visas: Passports are obligated to enter and/or depart most countries around the world. It's your position to determine the entry requirements for any country that you visit. Apply for a passport as soon as possible. Some countries also need U.S. citizens to obtain visas before entering. Most countries call for visitors who are intending to study or work abroad to acquire visas before entering. Discuss with the embassy of the foreign country that you may be going to visit for up-to-the-minute visa and various entry requirements. Don't get caught overstaying your visa. Check the renewal requirements prior to departure and periodically for any changes.

Do your homework before you depart. Discover about the lands that you plan to visit. With the coming of the world wide web, this is incredibly straightforward. Just do search and go to legitimate pages for straight info. Before departing, spend a while to do some study about the individuals and their culture, and any problems that the country is experiencing that could impact your travel plans. The Department of State publishes Background Notes on about 170 countries. These brief, factual pamphlets contain information on each country's culture, history, geography, economy, government, and current political scenario.

While you are visiting the embassy web site ensure to read the Consular Data Sheet. Consular Info Sheets offer up-to-the-minute travel particulars on any country within the world that you plan to visit. They cover topics like entry regulations, the criminal offense and security situation, drug penalties, road conditions, as well as the location of the U.S. embassy, consulates, and consular agencies. It is possible to also see if there are any online forums for the area you'll be visiting. Remember that forums may or might not provide accurate info.

Watch the news and check online for any updates. Ensure that your check for Travel Warnings and Public Announcements. Travel Warnings suggest U.S. citizens defer travel to a country because of harmful conditions. Public Announcements provide fast-breaking particulars about relatively short-run conditions that might pose risks to the security of travelers. The State Department will err on the side of caution. Bear in mind, too, that just simply since there are troubles in 1 part of a country doesn't mean that the entire country has troubles.

Make sure that you register your vacation with the State Department on the internet - it'll take about 10 minutes at travel.state.gov. Come across out the positioning of the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate. You can also register upon arrival directly at the embassy but this will take significantly longer. If your traveling to a remote region or 1 which is experiencing civil unrest, come across out the position of the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate. If your family needs to reach you simply because of a disastrous situation, they can pass a message to you through the Office of Overseas Citizens Services at 202-647-5225. This workplace will contact the embassy or consulate in the country where you can be traveling and pass a message from your family to you. Remember consular officers can't cash checks, lend money or serve as your attorney. They can, even so, if the need arises, help you in obtaining emergency funds from your loved ones, help you come upon an attorney, aid you come upon medical assistance, and replace your lost or stolen passport.

If you plan on teaching overseas, find out what information your house school provides. Find out if your school provides additional info for students who are intending to study, travel, or work abroad. Quite a couple of pupil advisors can provide you with info about studying or working abroad. They may also be able to supply you with points on any travel benefits for students (e.g. how to save cash on transportation and accommodations, along with other resources.) You can also encounter a whole lot of info on-line about scams and rip-offs. Do your due diligence.

Find out about the organization and what it offers before committing your self or your finances,. Most of private programs for vacation, study or work abroad are respectable and financially sound. Nonetheless, some charge exorbitant fees, use purposely false educational claims, and offer working conditions far unusual from those advertised. Even programs of legitimate organizations may be poorly administered.

Become knowledgeable about the basic laws and customs of the country you plan to go to prior to you travel.


Kamis, 10 Agustus 2017

The Biggest Mistake Made When Buying Travel Insurance

People buy travel insurance to protect their travel investment dollar. This is a smart decision. But unfortunately many opt for the lowest priced policy they can find. This is not a smart decision. But this isn't the biggest mistake almost everyone makes.

The biggest mistake made is not knowing what the policy covers and doesn't cover. This probably sounds pretty stupid. People do it all the time. Sometimes they're lucky and they never need to file a claim. But unfortunately many find out to late, they don't have the protection they thought they had.

How do you avoid this? You actually have to do a little work. Before you buy and travel insurance plan you need to read the detail statement of coverage or policy details. If you're comparing policies online most carriers will provide a downloadable version of the policy coverages. Get it and read it.

There are specific things I recommend you look for depending on what you plan to do on your trip, your own particular health situation, whether or not you will be traveling with children, etc. Also don't be afraid to pick up the phone and ask questions. Most companies will have a customer assistance number where further policy information can gotten.

When you have the plans stamen of coverage here are some things you certainly want to know and understand. First, what kind activities are you likely to engage in on your trip? The accident insurance in a typical travel plan excludes what they call high risk or adventure activities.

What's important is knowing what each plan defines as high risk. Certainly they would include rock climbing, hang gliding, piloting a private airplane, scuba diving, etc. But there might be others like renting a motor scooter in Thailand or renting a jet ski. Read the policy carefully and if there is anything not specifically covered that you might plan on doing don't automatically assume it is covered.

Emergency medical evacuation insurance is always important no matter what your current health situation or age may be. Understand what is covered. Do you have the option of determining your choice of medical facilities if something happens and you need to be evacuated? If children are involved is their coverage to take of them adequately if you are in a hospital? Take some time and think about what could happen. It may not be the most pleasant task in planning your trip but it is a necessary one.

Another very important area to clearly understand is the process for submitting a claim. Most policies will state specific requirements of coverage such as needing in writing a doctor's order for medication or hospitalization. Some carriers will have a 24-hour assistance number where you may need to get prior approval for certain procedures before they will be covered.

If you rent a car and have an accident you may need a copy of the repair bill and police report when submitting a claim. Remember, you can never have too much documentation when it comes to settling a claim with an insurance company. Find out what might be needed ahead of time or at least use the assistance number to find out if something does happen. The bottom line - be informed and be prepared.


Minggu, 23 Juli 2017

Travel Tips - Preparation For Your Travel in Any Country

When travelling overseas, I usually get the brochures which are distributed from travel agents. There is lots of information that you can find inside. Some have full color images to promote the specific country major insight. The best thing is that it is free.

As you know little about the country that you are going to visit, you are recommended to approach travel agencies, where the travel consultants have lots of travelling experience that they are willing to share and give the advice if you travel overseas.

Some countries have tourist offices in local areas and they can provide valuable information for your travel plan, including the map, domestic tour operators and destination information. If there is no tourist offices, one method that you can do is to write an email to its national tourist office, asking for brochures, the date of events, hotel accommodation list, etc. If they have website, you can do a research and scratch your travel plan.

Another way to get information is from bookstores or libraries. There are lots of travel books written by famous writers that they share their experience and recommendations when visiting a country. Meanwhile, some may write a brief introduction of a country history, tips on equipment and clothing, accommodation and cuisine. Also, recommendations on hiking, fishing or bird watching activities are available to cater different needs of travelers.

I usually add all the travel websites related to a specific country into my favorites of internet browser, managing them into different folders. It is very handy when you start to plan your traveling. Some may have RSS subscription. Using RSS reader that is free, you can get the most updated information without accessing the websites each time to check the updates.


Selasa, 11 Juli 2017

Pregnant & Traveling? Safe Travel Tips During Pregnancy

Many first time mothers are likely to have qualms when traveling during pregnancy. While taking extra precautions and proper planning, going on a road trip or boarding an airplane is a completely safe activity. You just need to prepare and plan for any unexpected occurrences that may pop up. Whether it's a planned or an emergency trip, take note of these few pointers to help you travel safely and with less stress.

1. Check with your doctor - You need to inform your doctor of your travel plans so that he or she can tell you if you are safe or unsafe for travel. High-risk pregnancies need extra care. Your doctor can also inform you if you have any upcoming tests which you need to work around if you plan on going on a trip.

2. Schedule your trip - If you are going on a planned trip, it's better to have it during your second trimester. The most common pregnancy-related emergencies usually occur in the first and third trimester. Air travel is safe up to 34 weeks of pregnancy but airline rules may vary so check it out.

3. Gather your medical records - Prepare all your vital health information, medical records and your doctor's contact information. Bring along a copy of your prenatal chart. Have these with you at all times during the trip.

4. Prepare your medications - Make sure that you have an adequate supply of any prescription medicines, prenatal vitamins, and other medications that you need. Also, locate the nearest hospital closest to your destination. One more thing, it's generally safe to take anti-nausea pills if you have travel sickness but it's safer to check with your doctor first.

5. Stick to less physically stressing activities - Pregnancy can affect your balance and coordination so that it is not recommended to try out new physical activities when you are pregnant. Pass up on a swim in the ocean since it can increase the risk of contacting vaginal or womb infections.

Being pregnant does not limit your capacity to travel except in the last week or month wherein you will be recommended not to travel and this period in your pregnancy is one of the most high-risk. Nonetheless, while you are still willing and able to take a short break, remember these safe travel tips during pregnancy as these tips will help to keep you and your baby safe.