Ghana online travel

Disabled travelers listen up!

2009-12-12T06:00:00.002-08:00

When traveling and you are legally disabled, remember to get a free, lifetime AccessPass to gain free admission at all Federal Parks across the

United States

. Along with this discount individuals who are handicapped may use the AccessPass to enjoy many other discounts including camping, swimming, boat launching, and guided tours. When taking your vacation, or going on a road trip, do not leave home without your AccessPass.

Vacation With A DisabilityAccessPass

The AccessPass is a lifetime pass to enter National Parks at no charge as you travel around the

U.S.

You must be medically disabled and will need one of the following as proof.

1. Statement by a licensed physician;

2. Document issued by Federal agency such as the Veteran's Administration, Social Security Disability Income, or Supplemental Security Income; or

3. Document issued by a State agency such as a vocational rehabilitation agency.

DisabilityNationalAccessPass

Where To Obtain an Access Pass To Take On Your Vacation — You can not order an National Parks Access Pass online since you need to provide documentation about your disability and residency. Go in person to one of these offices to obtain your AccessPass, 1. National Park Service;

2. Fish & Wildlife Service;

3. Bureau of Land Management;

4. USDAForest Service; or

5. Bureau of Reclamation.

If you are already traveling purchase your Pass at the entrance of any FederalPark.

Use the AccessPass, for the Handicapped, When Vacationing

This lifetime pass, for those who are disabled, will admit one vehicle into National Parks where there is an admission fee. The disabled person must provide a picture identification to verify they are the pass owner. As you determine your travel or vacation itinerary it is suggested that you contact the site they plan to visit to see if the AccessPass is accepted.

· The Forest Service,

· The National Park Service,

· Federal Recreation lands, Fish and Wildlife Service,

· Bureau of Land Management, and

· Bureau of Reclamation honor the AccessPass.

· Be sure to inquire before you leave for your trip.

DisabledAccessPass Travel Amenities

General discounts are available at many other venues while traveling and sightseeing. They include 1.individual campsite the card owner is occupying. 2. Utility fees at campsites when that fee is included in the cost of the campsite. 3. Guided Tours: Present your AccessPass to see is they honor it and only the owner of the pass qualifies for the discount. Some local amenities include Transportation Systems and Special Use Permit Fees. Anything local needs to be inquired on locally.

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I hope this helps you enjoy your travels more! I wish you all the best!

Travel Expert Shares Cheap Hotel Sources

2009-12-11T06:00:00.000-08:00

Vacationing is more popular in recent years, thriving with tourists who love to vacation and who are vacationing more than ever. This boom in vacationers puts a burden on many holiday services important to the industry. Airplane pilots, taxi drivers, hotel management, tour conductors and more are experiencing a mass of confusion. The larger number of customers makes in difficult to manage their services as efficiently as usual.
Daily problems occur throughout the industry. All around the globe people who have booked rooms ahead show up to rooms that are not there anymore, they have been given to someone else. They also may find that there are more fees than expected attached to the rooms. As vacationers rum into these obstacles and as the obstacles mount up, it becomes more and more possible that they will tuck tail and run back home, forfeiting their vacations altogether.

Snags like this will happen often times when a person does not get professional help of some kind when booking his reservations. Airports, hotels and other commodities frequented by travelers have such a large turnover each day that it takes professional experience, like that available online through online travel booking agencies, to guide a vacationer around the bends and snags and give them a clear picture of what to expect and a smooth journey to their proposed accommodations with no rude surprises greeting them upon arrival. The booking services available online are very good at providing customers with an error free vacation package, that carries with it no snags.

What do vacationers see in these online booking services? Persons planning their vacations will find upon logging on to these sites, the professional appearance. As they proceed to investigate, they find they can choose a destination hotel and what type of room they desire easily and quickly for any destination city they like. After booking a room, they will also receive a confirmation through their email which offers them reassurance that their reservations will not be lost or confused with someone else. At the same time you are sent your confirmation email, the hotel you are going to stay at is also sent one. One more thing you will receive when you book online is a voucher to give the clerk at the hotel’s check in desk.
Another good thing for travelers booking with long standing online services is the royal treatment they may receive by doing so. A booking service builds up a positive image over the years with repeated bookings and gains the trust of hotels and others in the tourist industry. It is this good reputation that causes hotels and others in the travel industry to offer deals and star treatment to guests who book with these agencies. You can take advantage of this, even if you are a new customer, by using the long standing booking agency to arrange your trip.

One more professional advantage offered by online booking services, are the newsletters they provide to their customers. The newsletters offer hotel booking everywhere in the world at surprising discounts. Newsletters provided to travelers also provide other tips on saving money and ideas on how to vacation at these various destinations. The online companies will mail you their newsletters at your request.
Chris Linch has a website that has Great Hotel Rates. If you want to save a lot of money on your booking, follow the tips above and visit his website. They have the low price guarantee and all rooms are prepaid, save 40%!

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There! More tips on how to save money!

Growth recorded in number of people booking flights online

2009-12-10T06:00:00.000-08:00

More people are expected to book their flights using the internet this year as the online travel market continues to grow.

This is according to new research by PhoCusWright, which has predicted that online travel bookings will increase by three per cent in 2009, despite the difficulties surrounding the economy.

Almost half of Britain's travel market is now booked online, with leisure and business travel internet bookings totalling 45 per cent of the market so far this year.

Research director at PhoCusWright Carroll Rheem said "significant changes" in travel patterns have been caused by currency devaluation as well as the recession.

"For example, the blow to domestic travel has been relatively soft while the fall-off in UK visitors to the Mediterranean has been significant," she explained.

"Online channels also benefit from these trends as consumers turn to the internet to help them discover and sift through the many attractive holiday options in the marketplace."

A separate PhoCusWright survey recently revealed that corporate travel is expected to decline this year because of the recession.

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As I predicted, lots of growth in travel and entertainment. People wanted to forget about the recession. Well I have to say we still need to work hard, then that's the time to reward yourself and travel. XD

Most Popular Promotional Offers For Online Travel Websites

2009-12-09T06:00:00.000-08:00

What kind of promotional offers do customers expect from the online travel agents websites? A little study by About.com revealed the following results (based on percent of respondents)

Discount coupons on airfare : 70%
Discount coupons on hotels : 67%
All-inclusive packages : 49%
Discount coupons on activities and food : 49%
First time buyer discount programs : 40%
Repeat buyer discount programs : 28%

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Eat it up travel-hungry people!

Hunt for the Best Vacation Packages

2009-12-08T06:00:00.000-08:00

Finding the best vacation packages is challenging! It involves lot of research and investigations to find something best and feasible matching your deals and pocket. Generally travelers long to get the adventurous travel packages that are pretty feasible and budget-friendly. Prior deciding which part of the globe you desire to hang around, just make sure to check and examine the package received from the concerned travel agent of the company who is going to assist you in your trip.

Examining the vacation packages will help you to be aware of all the coverage plans and the total amount of money you should spend during your trip. Also, you can easily get to know if the tourist or travel agent is pretty generous and honest with you as well.

With the best access of top insurance mediators and representing several travel associates, there are number of travel agents and companies giving the best and stupendous assistance in discovering the best holiday destination that dearly matches your dreams under your budget. The underwriters and intermediaries are controlled and approved by the FSA (Financial Services Authority) and thereby it gives a comprehensive serenity of mind.

When researching on the internet, you can find the best service provider that grants top quality service with complete flexibility. Also, the travel agents or companies provide a sensible rate, which could really fix your budget very closer. With intent to give wide-cut service to public and the travel trade, these travel agents has specialized to cater the travel niches to the people.

Knowing the needs and demands of the people, cheap travelers or agents will dearly abet you in getting the best holiday travel insurance quote and policy. You can afford the policy that matches your price rate and budget. Basically, the holiday travel insurance quotes and policy begins from £5. Are you looking ahead to find the best service to assist you in your every travel workout? Finding the cheap travel agents is the best and wisest choice! Doing so, you can envision your desires and dreams. The outstanding benefits and quality features that cheap4travel offers is that, they take a complete responsibility in giving the utmost care in meeting the demands of their customer.

A good and capable team has been organized in order to produce an efficacious balance in financial, technical, marketing, travel expertise. Moreover, cheap travelers or agents provide the right service, what the customers expect and look for. With the right assistance of professionals, the online travel group grants a round the clock customer support in clearing out the queries of its customers. Through this stupendous assistance, people find cheap travel agents to be more reliable and flexible to meet their expectations right away.

Whatsoever may be the case, just make sure that you investigate better before finalizing the travel agent. Make sure to check through their reviews and customer ratings. All these will help you to conclude how legitimate they are! This is of course simple and easy to do, and try it you can save something good.

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Investigate, investigate and investigate some more! Now go on and travel! :D

How to avoid crowded airports this holiday season

2009-12-07T06:00:00.000-08:00

By Joe Ascanio

We have all seen the lines – wrapping around the dividers at the check-in counters, jam-packing the security queues. And the worst part? That is just on a regular day. So what happens on, say, Thanksgiving – the busiest travel day of the year?

A new post by the Orbitz Insider Index has just announced the busiest airports for Thanksgiving, with Chicago, Los Angeles and Denver taking the top three spots. Interestingly enough, New York-area airports ranked 7-9, narrowly beating Seattle which squeezed itself into the number 10 spot.

Where to expect the smallest crowds? Check out San Jose, CA, followed by Nashville and then Richmond, VA.

But, regardless of your departure site and/or destination, there are some friendly and useful tips that just may make your holiday travel a little bit easier.
Go small and flexible

You will find that planning in advance can make all the difference. One thing to think about before buying those tickets is whether or not you can fly out of smaller, alternative airports. Typically, these usually commuter-based hubs are much easier to navigate and less crowded. For example, if you are traveling in or out of New York, consider White Plains Westchester County Airport (HPN). Heading into or out of Los Angeles? Check out the scene in Burbank (BUR) or Orange County (SNA). Sure, tickets in or out of these airports tend to be in a higher price range, but you never know. Besides, sometimes time and aggravation outweigh all costs.
Save time

If at all possible, use online check-in. You will instantly bypass half the line-time. Print your boarding pass at home, and have them (and your ID) ready as you approach the security line. Most major airports now offer easy-to-use baggage check kiosks if you are traveling with luggage.
Stay informed

Check the status of your flight before you leave for the airport, as well as traffic conditions en route. There are a multitude of online and mobile tools that offer free flight status updates for your PDA or mobile phone. Also, most airlines offer real-time flight stats on their websites.

Also, staying informed means staying safe. Airport security can be a daunting endeavor - Keep anything and everything you need to show airport security such as ID, boarding passes, liquids in a zip-top bag, or medication, in a separate compartment of your carry-on bag. Digging for these items once you get to the front of the security line will cause delays and certainly not make you any friends.

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Don't leave for the airport without reading this article. It might save you from potential headaches.

How and Why You Should Pack a Single Bag

2009-12-06T06:00:00.000-08:00

This holiday season Virgin America has announced a plan to reward travelers who save the stuffing for their turkeys rather than their carry-on bags. But you'll need a few extra skills to get where you're going without breaking your budget or ditching your wardrobe.
Travelers can hardly be blamed for loading up the overhead compartments. Boarding an airplane is always a cattle call during the holiday season. Since airlines began charging for bag-check it's become more of a stampede. Baggage fees for the industry topped $670 million in the second quarter of 2009, and people are now doing all they can to avoid them. In fact, plane aisles have become so packed before takeoff that Virgin America recently began letting those without any carry-ons board first.
Enter the conundrum: Check an extra suitcase, and you'll pay for it. Stuff it all in a carry-on and you'll wait forever to board, get to your destination later, spontaneously combust, etc. The answer? The One-Bag Movement--a corps of uniquely efficient pack-rats pushing us all to "travel and even live indefinitely out of one [lightweight] bag." Coupled with Virgin's new offer, it could seriously reduce the weight of holiday travel stress.
While "bundle" packing might sound a bit hobo, it's actually quite a space saver. Check out this One-Bag diagram:

The pictures should give you the gist of it, but get a step-by-step guide at Onebagger.Squarespace.
Other helpful tips: Swap out that electric razor for a less bulky manual one. Give away books when you are done reading them, or at least use online networking sites like this one to exchange them with other One-Baggers who have left novels adrift in various towns. Most importantly, remember that you are ditching all non-essentials--including the pressure to always bring home those cheesy souvenirs.

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Plus a single pack is more convenient to tag along with you on long lines and stuff.

2009-12-05T06:00:00.000-08:00

Do you think you have what it takes to be a travel writer? Then submit a travel essay based on your personal experience and you may just get Win a Travel Writing Scholarship 2010 with travel mentor, Simon Richmond. The scholarship includes airfare, accommodations, meals and travel expense to Tokyo, Japan where you will be staying for 7 days to write for "The Rough Guide to Japan" travel guide and another 4 days to enjoy "Flavours of Tokyo" tour with Intrepid Travel. This is a great opportunity for non-professional writers!

Contest Requirements:

Open to students, emerging and non-professional writers and lovers of travel looking for a career change
High degree of proficiency in written English
Must be comfortable doing some travel on your own
Minimum age 18 with a current passport
Be available between February 15 - 26 2010 to participate in 'The Rough Guide to Japan' writing assignment and "Flavours of Tokyo" independent tour with Intrepid Travel

Contest Mechanics:

Write a 500 word (or less) travel focused essay based on a personal experience around one of the following themes:

'A Journey that Changed Lives'
'Responsible Travel'
'Adventure in an Unknown Culture'
'A Memorable Experience Involving Food in a Foreign Country'

Judging Criteria

great descriptive ability
strong eye for detail
ability to uncover and tell a compelling story
excellent spelling and grammar and a knack for avoiding clichés

Entry Guidelines

Complete an entry form which includes contact details and a 200 word (or less) essay on why you should be chosen and what the opportunity will mean for you
must be submitted in English

One entry per person
View complete contest mechanics

Contest Period: November 6 - December 21, 2009 (11.59PM AEST)

Contest Prize:

Scholarship Prize (Total prize value of scholarship is approximately AUD$7,760)

1x return economy flight to trip destination Narita Tokyo departing from the nearest international airport to the scholarship recipient's home
7 day assignment in Tokyo, Japan, reviewing and updating for The Rough Guide to Japan, including a stipend of AU$100 a day to cover meals and local transport
7 day 3-4 star accommodation in Tokyo, Japan with Hotels.com
4 day "Flavours of Tokyo" independent tour with Intrepid Travel including accommodation, activities and some meals
Mentorship with travel writer Simon Richmond of Rough Guide

Upside:

FREE to do
Online submission
Great opportunity for non-professional writers

Downside:

Open worldwide
Only 1 winner

For more information, log on to journals.worldnomads.com

Source

This is great! If you want to join then dont hesitate to look at the website shown abovc.

I wish you luck!

Cheapest Travel Destinations

2009-12-04T06:00:00.000-08:00

Cheapest Travel Destinations
By: Cheap Travel Deals

Greetings,

Actually there are two ways to look at
what constitutes the cheapest travel
destinations.

We all know that the air fare we must pay
to get to any destination is the largest single
expense of a trip….always….so cheaper
air fare to whatever destination makes
that a cheap destination even if you
are going to spend more money while you
are there.

The other thing that makes a cheap destination,
even if you must spend more on air fare getting
there, is if you are going to spend a lot less
while you are there.

More Information:

The way to decide what the cheapest
destinations really are for yourself is
to know what is the most important to
you…..where you are going or how much
you are going to pay to get there.

Really cheap airfare to a place you
never had any desire to see isn’t a
bargain. A more expensive air fare to a
place you cant wait to see where the
cost of being there will be less might
be the best bargain. It really is up to
you.

More Information:

The exchange rate is the most important
thing to look at when deciding how
expensive visiting a destination will
be. You can find online exchange rate
calculators free by typing “exchange
rate” into your favorite search engine.

You will find that the better exchange
rates are in Mexico, South America and
less developed countries….which are all
great vacation spots.

More Information:
Cheap Travel Deals
Here are my top three picks for vacation
destinations that wont break the bank:

1. Las Vegas: You can find
amazing vacation packages. Las Vegas has
long been known for its cheap vacation
packages with hotels and resorts that
offer discount rates for rooms, meals
and entertainment in hopes of attracting
people to their gaming tables.

2. Buenos Aires: South American
also has many destinations that are
affordable because of the savings once
you arrive.

3. Tioman Island: It is located
at the southern end of the east coast
of Malaysia on the South China Sea. The
rates are amazingly affordable, with a
two night lodging package for a suite
at a lovely ocean side resort averaging
around 100 U.S. dollars.

Source

Well if you're in the west, then these travel ideas are really a good option.

But!

If you're living in asia, Hongkong is the cheapest travel destination to go to. Cheap things to buy too. :D

TravelDaddy.com - For Those Who Love Traveling

2009-12-03T06:00:00.000-08:00

Travel Daddy can be defined as new online community which is aimed at travelers everywhere. Here, people from across the globe can network and share their traveling experiences and photographs. Besides (and perhaps most importantly) they will be capable of finding the best travel partner for them in order to embark on journeys together. The information which is provided on the site makes it very easy to research destinations, as the photos and reviews which are shared are illustrative enough for anybody to make up his or her mind.

By now, it is entirely obvious that the travel industry is one if the industries that has been benefited the most by the World Wide Web. That was only to be expected, in a certain sense. This particular networking site, now, fills in a gap as it lets travelers who are always looking for a fun travel partner get to know one, and also learn more about the destinations they can hit together at the very same time. If you are already a seasoned traveler, you are bound to maximize it. And if you are just taking your first steps, a site like this one will most likely guide you in the right direction.

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Another good online option for travel bookings and destinations. :D

Traveling Cheap For The Holidays

2009-12-02T06:00:00.001-08:00

Traveling Cheap For The Holidays
By Von-Anise McCoy November 11, 2009 2:28 pm

The Holiday Season is a time when family and friends get together but if you are living in another state of country away from your family, then this can prove to be difficult because no one wants to be alone for the holidays. Traveling this season has proven to be especially challenging due to the financial climate so plan ahead. Booking early is key and if you have not done so by today’s date, most of those deals are coming to an end but there is still a bit of hope.

Travel by train: Train fares do not change much based on need but the fairs will vary based on dates. Go to Amtrak.com where you can view the weekly deals sections.

Travel by bus: Bus fares do not change much based on need or time of travel like airline flights.

* If you book on-line a day, in advance on greyhound.com then the fee can be up to %50 off.
* If you look at local bus services in your area that provide deals, like Chinatown bus in the Northeast or California shuttle in California for local frequently traveled routes.

Travel by plane: Plane fares are the hardest to get a discounts on because the holiday season is when the airline industry makes most of the money. The industry has even added a $10 fee for holiday travel in addition to the $20 per bag for more than one piece of luggage therefore, make sure that you travel lite.

* If you travel early on Thanksgiving or Christmas morning then you will see a considerable discount.
* Call and speak to an actual live person on the phone, as long as you are not assessed a fee for the operator, that person can really help guide you toward the best deal that fits your needs, try sites like www.expedia.com.

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This is for people who love to go to different locations during the holidays. Yes, you could still haggle for ticket prices in this high-tech world. After all, it's still people that's behind the computers. Talking personally is top 1, then a phone call is not that bad either.

Have a happy trip!

Photo Hotel Reviews Compare Promotional Images to Reality

2009-12-01T06:00:00.000-08:00

Online hotel review service Oyster features a Photo Fakeout category in their blog that gives a reality check to hotel reviews, pitting a hotel's promotional images with actual photographs.

The only disappointing thing about Oyster's Photo Fakeouts is that there aren't more of them—and that this isn't the dedicated feature of any site we can find. Popular travel planning and review site TripAdvisor allows for user-submitted photo uploads, which are nice, and I've sometimes had good luck searching Flickr for the name of hotels, but it'd be great to see something like these Photo Fakeouts in an easily searchable database.

As weblog Of Zen and Computer points out, it's worth noting that pictures can be manipulated to look bad in much the same way as they can to look good. That said, sometimes the difference is clear and egregious, and it's nice to get a reality check before you book.

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I don't buy this much. Ever since photoshop's developed you could con any person to think that the place looks great eventhough its not. But lets see how this one turns out.

Exotissimo Travel’s latest adventure brochure

2009-11-30T06:00:00.000-08:00

Source

Check out the latest travel brochure from exotissimo:

Exotissimo Travel’s latest adventure brochure unveils Indonesia as its newest destination and showcases the company’s unique portfolio of adventure travel options across Southeast Asia.
Southeast Asia’s leading destination management company, Exotissimo Travel, has launched a new Adventure Brochure, featuring new destinations and trips as well as a redesigned layout.
Designed with adventure travel specialists and industry partners in mind, the Adventure Brochure is an all-encompassing guide to adventure travel in Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar as well as Indonesia, Exotissimo’s latest destination. Exotissimo Indonesia will officially open for business in January 2010.
The 2010 brochure highlights an exciting range of carefully crafted Exotissimo tours ranging from experiential activities- such as luxury camping excursions- to classic cycling and trekking activities.
Special emphasis was also put on the company’s range of soft-adventure options and family-friendly activities.

Brochure also includes detailed destination information and a new ‘Staff Picks’ section containing personal travel testimonials by Exotissimo’s team of adventure managers and guides.
The brochure also highlights Exotissimo’s commitment to the ethos of responsible travel with an emphasis on community-based initiatives, charity challenges and responsible tourism activities.
In addition, the brochure also features a small, discerning selection of eco-lodges and green hotels in Southeast Asia.
Hamish Keith, Director of Business Development of Exotissimo Travel Group, said, “Our new guide is a clear and reliable source of adventure travel information on Southeast Asia.
After 16 years of operation in the region, we continue to develop and operate programs for all types of adventure seekers, whether they are looking for epic journeys to challenge themselves or families seeking to add a touch of adventure during their vacations.”
The new 32-page brochure sports an attractive layout filled with stunning images to offer travel inspiration. In keeping with Exotissimo’s commitment to environmental sustainability, the guide is printed on recycled paper.
Exotissimo’s Adventure Brochure is available online for viewing here. To request for a printed copy, e-mail marketing@exotissimo.com To view in full what Exotissimo can offer, visit the company website at the links in this posting.
About Exotissimo Travel
Exotissimo Travel is a premier destination management company that specializes in tailor made tours in Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Thailand. Established in 1993, the company is now a network of 16 locally-based offices staffing over 500 travel professionals, with sales offices in San Francisco, Paris, Berlin, Barcelona and Melbourne.
For more information, please visit their links above or below.

Booking Your Summer Vacation: What Are Your Option

2009-11-29T06:00:00.000-08:00

Booking Your Summer Vacation: What Are Your Options
Posted in General by admin on November 3, 2009

This year a large number of couples and families intend to take a summer vacation. Summer vacations are popular. In fact, they are so popular that it is likely that you are interested in taking one. When it comes to booking a summer vacation, there are a number of ways that you can make your reservations.

Before making summer vacation reservations, you will have to select a summer vacation destination. Without a destination in mind, it is impossible to make reservations. When selecting a summer vacation destination, it is important that you consider a number of factors. These factors should include whether you are traveling with children, the age of your children, and the cost of travel. Keeping these factors in mind will enable you to select the summer vacation destination that will best fit your needs.

After you have selected a summer vacation destination, you can begin to make reservations. A large number of amusement parks, campgrounds, and hotels in the United States do not require reservations. Despite the fact that reservations may not be required, it is still advised that you make them. Popular summer vacation “hotspots,” quickly fill up with vacationing tourists. Without the proper reservations, you may be left without the necessary accommodations.

When it comes to booking a summer vacation, a large number of travelers use the assistance of a travel agent. Travel agents are individuals who specialize in researching and arranging vacations for their clients. Travel agents are popular because they allow clients to spend more time completing their daily activities, instead of having to research and plan a summer vacation.

If given the opportunity most families would prefer to use the services of a travel agent. Unfortunately, services of a travel agent do not come free. If you are interested in planning a summer vacation, on a budget, you may want to consider making your own reservations. In a few simple minutes, you could easily make reservations online or over the phone. Not only should your reservations include hotel accommodations, but travel accommodations as well.

Aside from car travel, air travel is one of the most preferred methods of travel for arriving at summer vacation destinations. If you are interested in booking your airline reservations online, you need to find the online website of the airline you wish to fly with. Top airlines include, but are not limited to, Delta, United Airlines, Spirit Airlines, and Northwest Airlines. Each of these airlines has an online website that should allow the online booking of reservations.

Unless you are camping outdoors, it is likely that you will need to reserve a hotel room. Unless you plan on staying at smaller resort, you should be able to make online reservations. Most of the well known hotel chains, including Holiday Inn, Hampton Inns, Super 8, and Motel 6, have online websites. Specialty resorts that are located in popular summer vacation destinations, including California or Florida, are likely to also allow online booking.

When it comes to overnight stays, most individuals would prefer to stay at a hotel, but not everyone. A large number of families enjoy vacations that are centered on the outdoors. These vacations often involve camping outdoors. Even if you plan on vacationing at a state park or a public campground, you are still urged to make a reservation. Public campgrounds and state parks are often limited on the amount of campings space they have. Making a reservation will ensure that you are guaranteed a place to set up your tent or park your RV trailer.

Source

So there you have it. Summer is still far but doesnt hurt to be prepared when it comes right?

Finding Travel Deals Online: Travel Zoo

2009-11-28T06:00:00.000-08:00

In today's Web report, we have another travel website that is sure to make every aspect of your holiday traveling much easier this year.

With over 18 million subscribers, www.travelzoo.com is the largest publisher of travel deals on the Internet.

Some travel sites offering deals try to overload you with information, but Travelzoo keeps their site simple. There are links to deals for airlines, hotels, cruises, car rentals and much more right on the home page!

More than 1,000 leading travel companies from around the world list their very best offers on Travelzoo. There are "deal experts" located in 20 offices across North America, Europe and Asia to work with these companies in order to provide you the smartest information.

One of the great features of Travelzoo is the Travel Zoo Top 20 List. This is definitive list of the week's best travel deals. The Travel Zoo team researches, evaluates and recommends hundreds of airfare, hotels, vacation packages, cruise and rental car deals. Only the most competitive make the top 20.

The "Test Booking Center" is a section that confirms the accuracy and availability of every deal before the Travel Zoo Top 20 List goes out. If there is a travel deal that has a long telephone hold time, changes in dates or prices, or has any other issue Travelzoo will let the travel company know about it. Travelzoo will then update their site to give you the most accurate information.

Source

Another site to make our vacations much easier. Cheers!

Google Offers Free Holiday Wi-Fi at Airports

2009-11-27T06:00:00.000-08:00

You're stuck in an airport terminal, desperate to check your e-mail, but your iPhone's battery is dead from having watched the entire 1980's classic Short...
Lex Friedman, Macworld.com

You're stuck in an airport terminal, desperate to check your e-mail, but your iPhone's battery is dead from having watched the entire 1980's classic Short Circuit during your flight delay. So, you crack open your MacBook and fire up your e-mail client.

Then, some jerky airport Wi-Fi provider wants you to pony up $10 for the 20 minutes you'll spend goofing off getting work done online before you join the angst-filled crowd hovering around the pre-boarding lines.

Not this year, greedy WiFi-hoarding overlords!

This holiday season, Google is offering free WiFi at 47 participating airports, from now through January 15th, 2010. According to the FAQ, Google's doing this "to make the holiday travel crush a little easier." To that end, the company is working with Boingo, Advanced Wireless Group, Time Warner Cable, Electronic Media Systems, Lilypad, and other airport Wi-Fi providers to foot the bill for airport travelers. The search giant also struck a similar deal earlier this year with airline Virgin America to provide free Wi-Fi on its flights.

And Google's holiday spirit doesn't stop with the free Wi-Fi. The company will also prompt folks using the gratis Internet connection to make donations (via Google Checkout, of course) to one of several non-profits--and will match the donations to boot (up to a maximum of $250,000). You're not required to make a donation to use the free Wi-Fi, but doing so just might help you feel a bit more jolly.

If your airport isn't on the list--like LAX, SFO, EWR, JFK, BOS, and many others--you can continue to project Grinch-like misanthropy onto the greedy purveyors of overpriced Wi-Fi.

Source

Too bad this isn't available in our country. lol.

Online travel deals network established

2009-11-26T06:00:00.000-08:00

by Phil Davies

Travelzoo is extending the reach of its deals by forging partnerships with a range of travel-related websites.
The Travelzoo Network in the UK includes AOL Travel, Fly.com, Lonely Planet, SimonSeeks, Skyscanner and VisitBritain.
Travelzoo deals are displayed on partners' websites based on user origin and destination search criteria or the theme of the partner's website.
The Travelzoo Network in the UK claims to reach an average of 50 million page views per month.
The UK launch follows the US, where the Network reaches more than 500 million page impressions per month across 150 leading US websites, according to the company.

Travel companies with deals published in the Travelzoo Network include Accor Hotels, Ambassador Tickets, Billy Chicago, bmibaby, The Co-operative Group, Destinology, DFDS Seaways, Economy Car Hire, Expedia.co.uk, Flight Centre, Hilton International, The Holiday Place, Iglu.com, KLM Air France, lastminute.com, Lufthansa, Monarch Airlines, Morgans Hotel Group, Netflights, Marriott UK & Ireland, Mark's Travel, Opodo, Qwerty Travel, STA Travel, Starwood Hotels & Resorts, and Sol Melia Hotels & Resorts, The Walt Disney Company, Zorro West End.
Vice-president Melanie Bower said: “We only publish relevant travel and entertainment deals that are authentic, checked and truly available. Our partners value our commitment to quality deals - that is why they want to be part of this network.”

Source

This is a big deal. A network of travel companies forming a web of travel spots would greatly cheapen the prices of tickets, lodging and travel-related expenses.

I hope.

Online travel rates go down

2009-11-25T06:00:00.000-08:00

Expedia's phone fee drop could make their tickets cheaper than airlines'
Relax News

Sunday, 8 November 2009

On November 5 Expedia, the world's largest online travel agency, claimed to be the first major company to eliminate its booking surcharge for any travel reservation made by phone.

The US-based company, with dedicated sites in 18 different countries, formerly charged a $20 phone reservation fee for booking flights, hotels, rental cars and cruises.

Phone bookings only comprise a minority of Expedia's bookings but it does give them an advantage over airlines, which charges a fee for phone bookings. No airline has yet announced a commensurate cessation of their phone fees.

Even though major online agencies like Expedia, Orbitz and Travelocity all operate internationally it has only been in the US where these extra fees have been abolished.

International customers must be wondering when the fruits of this year's online travel agency fee-cutting war are going to fall their way? This year Expedia, Orbitz and Travelocity have all confirmed to Relaxnews that they have no plans to extend recent surcharge cuts anywhere but the US market.

If history is any guide, other online travel agencies will soon follow Expedia's lead for the US. Last May Expedia ended change and cancellation fees on all hotel, car rental and cruise reservations as well as nearly all their online air-booking fees. With no choice but to stay competitive, by the following week competitors such as Orbitz and Travelocity had adopted the same changes.

More recently Travelocity announced that beginning October 28 any of their customers who find the same hotel room for a lower price will receive a refund for the difference plus a $50 discount on future travel. Other major online travel companies have not declared their intent to match Travelocity's new policy.

Source

Well this is good news. More travel, less hassle. :D

New Travel Site Moebii Provides Targeted Searches

2009-11-24T06:00:00.000-08:00

New Travel Site Moebii Provides Targeted Searches
New travel Web site Moebii provides targeted searches for destination content
By ANNE WALLACE ALLEN For The Associated Press
November 9, 2009 (AP)

An online search of any major North American city will yield a flood of blogs, advertisements, and diarists' musings. A Google search of "Vancouver" alone yields 87 million hits. Narrow it down to "Vancouver dining" and you still get 8.3 million responses.

To help sort through this wealth of material, a pair of New Yorkers has created Moebii, a Web site that aggregates recent travel journalism and employs a user-rating system to keep its content current and on point.

A search of Vancouver on Moebii at http://www.moebii.com/pages/index.php yields a manageable 35 stories published since 2007, from sources like the Los Angeles Times, Miami Herald, and Frommers.com.

Moebii is also a good source for content that lets you get a feel for a place. A search of Varanasi, the sacred Hindu city on the Ganges River, pulls up only 13 entries, but many of them are thoughtful meditations that explore the meaning and the feel of the place. One is a mesmerizing Boston Globe photo essay showing a solar eclipse from Varanasi and other points in Asia last summer. What you're unlikely to find on Moebii: restaurant and hotel reviews, travel directions, weather, and other nuts and bolts of seeing a new place.

"The practical stuff is done, it's out there," said Chris Danielian, a former hedge fund manager who founded Moebii with his business partner Rob Celic this fall. Moebii steers readers to Wikipedia if they want more practical information.

"We're not trying to replace the guidebook," said Danielian. "What we're trying to do is fill in the gaps with hopefully great stories that we find on the site."

To keep Moebii's content on target, stories are tagged so they pop up under the right search. The site's selection of 50 stories about Florence, Italy, includes an article about street food in Saigon, Tuscany, and Marrakesh. The article was tagged to show up in a search for Florence because Florence is in Tuscany.

Source

Online travel sites are particularly helpful when they started but due to internet congestion, finding a destination became a chore, now lets hope this new site would change the way online travel sites operates these days.

Online Family Travel Expo 2010 – Saturday 16th January

2009-11-23T06:00:00.002-08:00

In what I believe is a first for family travel, Nick Bowditch Travel – Australia’s Family Travel Expert is hosting our first Online Family Travel Expo on Saturday 16th January 2010.

All the fun, information and advice of a conventional expo but without having to leave your desk!

All you have to do is register and then log on to the webinars and topics that you are interested in for your family holiday. And even if you can’t make it, the webinars will be available for download until the end of December, but only for those who have registered prior to the event.

Best of all, the Online Family Travel Expo is totally free and will be really easy to attend any or all of the sessions from the comfort of your own home computer.

The format of the day is going to be 30 minute product presentations complete with pictures and/or video with 20 minutes of question and answers from the online audience (you!). The expo will begin at 9:00am (Australian Eastern Daylight Savings Time) and conclude at 6:00pm on Saturday 16th January 2010.

There will be exclusive expo-only specials available from each supplier and you can always email me for more independent advice on each of the suppliers and their products as well.

I am currently lining up a wide variety of great presenters and topics and to make the expo the most relevant and useful product I can put together, I would love your input.

So far, I am including suppliers of the following family travel products:

* Fiji and the South Pacific
* Asia
* Queensland, Australia
* South America
* Travel Insurance

and am finalising suppliers of:

* Disney holidays
* Ski Holidays
* China

http://nickbowditchtravel.com/online-family-travel-expo-2010-saturday-16th-january

This is rather a generous feat on the part of Nick Bowditch Travel. Giving these free and convenient webinars. More power!

Holiday travel time: Easing your way through the airport

2009-11-23T06:00:00.001-08:00

by Rosanne Coloccia, TravelationOnline.com

Posted on November 9, 2009 at 10:43 AM
Updated Monday, Nov 9 at 10:46 AM

Holiday travel time is right around the corner!

Being with family during the holidays can be a wonderful and rewarding experience - unless you're so stressed out by everything you went through to get there that you find it hard to enjoy yourself.

In some ways, airline travel has become easier over the past year - fewer passengers should mean shorter lines, right? But due to airline layoffs and flight reductions, flights are crowded and lines are as long as ever.

So what can you do to make your holiday trip through the airport a little easier? Let's take a page from the Scouts - Be Prepared!

CHECK IN ONLINE - And pay for your checked baggage, too. Even if you don't print out your boarding passes - many airlines will print them again when you get there anyway - just knowing you've completed two big steps before you even arrive at Sky Harbor gives you piece of mind.

An additional piece of advice - when the airlines say check in online "24 hours prior to your departure," take them at their word, especially if you want to change your seats. The closer to the top of the check in window you actually log on, the better chance you'll have to get that aisle or window seat - at least for most airlines.

ARRIVE EARLY - Yes, still, and especially over the holiday travel season. Fewer flights may mean fewer people, but the flights that are operating - and there are plenty out of Sky Harbor - are packed to the gills. You don't want to work your way through the long line to drop your check in bags - and the last three times I've traveled out of Terminal 4, the lines have been across the terminal lobby - only to arrive at the jammed-packed security checkpoints.

Especially if you're traveling with little ones, you'll want to arrive early - and check out the new "family friendly" security lines, which are a great time saver!

WEIGH YOUR BAGS BEFORE YOU GET TO THE AIRPORT - If it's been some time since you've flown, remember the strictly enforced checked baggage and overweight baggage fees. As many of you know, I think paying for checking even one bag really and truly stinks, but unless you're flying Southwest Airlines, it's the new world order so be ready.

And unless you're independently wealthy and don't mind paying high overweight baggage fees, you'll want to get a handle on your packing before you head out the door. I have used my handy-dandy luggage scale from Magellan's tons of times since I got it, but even if you have to weigh yourself on your bathroom scale and then weigh yourself with your bag, try to have at least have SOME idea of what your bag weighs before you put it on the airport scale.

There's nothing more frustrating than having to open up bags in the check-in line to shift things around. Just ask my mom - I had to throw two pounds worth of stuff in her suitcase when we were coming back from Honolulu last year.

PACK A LUNCH - Or breakfast. The days of the free lunch are long gone for some airlines and newly gone for others. If you don't want to buy expensive "on-board café" food, bring your own.

This is a good rule of thumb even for a shorter flight - you never know when your flight may be delayed or you could be flying at a time when airport restaurants are closed. Have something on hand to keep your hunger at bay.

PACK YOUR PATIENCE - Do everything you can do before you leave the house: Check in online, pay your checked bag fees (if any), have your government-issued photo ID handy and wear comfy clothes and shoes.

You'll still need to remove your shoes at Sky Harbor and the TSA's 3-1-1 rule regarding liquids in your carry on is still in effect. Leave early and once you're at the airport, be prepared for lines. Then take a deep breath and smile - you're going on vacation!

Source

Always remember these tips and you're on your way to a wonderful experience. Safe travels!

Your guide to the planet's best travel itinerary

2009-11-23T06:00:00.000-08:00

Your guide to the planet's best travel itinerary

BY ELLEN CREAGER
FREE PRESS TRAVEL WRITER

Think of it as the world's greatest hits.

"The list has grown and grown and grown," says Jethro Lennox, editor of the new "World Heritage Sites" guide, which describes 878 sites the United Nations has designated as culturally or environmentally important to the world (Firefly/UNESCO, $29.95).

The hefty illustrated volume has 832 pages. It is nearly 3-inches-thick. It weighs 4 pounds.

But are there really that many significant places on the planet? The list, which now includes 890 sites, doesn't have rankings, so everything from the Taj Mahal to "historic Liverpool" gets equal billing. Eclectic selections include Verona, Italy; Machu Picchu, Peru; Moscow's Red Square; the saltpeter mines of Chile, and the Varberg Radio Station in Sweden ("monument to early wireless transatlantic communication").

To avoid diminishing the value of the list, should it be capped?

"I don't think so," Lennox says. "The world is such a big place. There are nearly 200 countries in the world, and there are World Heritage sites in 148 of them. They don't always have to be the really well-known tourist sites."
List influences tourism

Since the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization began naming the sites in 1978, starting with the Galapagos Islands, travelers have used the list as a guide to what to see and relied on it as the ultimate insider recommendation.

Dutch writer Els Slots has a goal of visiting every World Heritage site. She even started a Web site for World Heritage travel fans, www.worldheritagesite.org.

Some tour companies cater to such tourists. World Heritage Tours (www.worldheritagetours.com) in Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada, promotes tours in Asia, Europe and the Middle East that focus on World Heritage sites.

"We attract world travelers who want something cultural and historical beyond regular tours," says Azmina Pirani, sales and marketing manager. "The chosen sites are recognized by UNESCO so people are curious."

Source

Wow. What a goal.

Imagine.

To be able to visit all of the heritage sites. All those breathtaking places.

Wow.

ONLINE TRAVEL SERVICES: Tax issue may spur lawsuit

2009-11-22T06:00:00.000-08:00

ONLINE SERVICES: Tax issue may spur lawsuit

Commissioners consider legal action against hotel booking sites

By SCOTT WYLAND

Clark County might sue online travel companies such as Expedia and Orbitz for unpaid room taxes that one attorney said could total $200 million to $500 million.

The agencies pay the 12 percent lodging tax on rooms they buy wholesale from hotels but not on the marked-up prices they charge customers online.

State and local officials have resisted going after them for a potentially huge sum in back taxes because they didn't want to punish businesses that bring in visitors.

But county commissioners have become open to legal action as the recession drags on and as governments throughout the nation are winning court battles against the core group of travel companies for unpaid taxes.

Commissioners will discuss on Nov. 17 whether they should hire an attorney to represent the county in a lawsuit.

"I don't know why anyone should feel uncomfortable with it," said Commissioner Chris Giunchigliani, who is bringing the issue to the board.

Online companies aren't needed to lure people to Las Vegas, she said, noting that travelers can book rooms directly with hotels.

Three years ago, two local attorneys tried to persuade the county to sue the Internet travel agents for unpaid room taxes, but county leaders passed. In August, the state tourism commission decided not to pursue the matter, saying the board lacked the authority.

Based on the current 12 percent rate, 3 cents goes to the state, 5 cents to the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, 2 cents to Clark County schools, 1 cent to transportation and 1 cent to county government.

Most local resorts oppose suing the companies for lodging taxes because they help the hotels keep an occupancy rate of more than 80 percent, said Vince Alberta, spokesman for the convention authority.

That's well above the national average of 55 percent occupancy, Alberta added.

Nevada tax law states that hotels are responsible for collecting lodging taxes when they sell the rooms and then paying the government the proper amount, said Gordon Absher, MGM Mirage spokesman.

The taxes aren't imposed directly on outside companies like Priceline, Alberta said.

State tax officials issued an opinion in 2005 that said the online companies had not acted improperly by paying no room taxes on the fees they charge patrons, Alberta said.

These agencies spend tens of millions of dollars promoting Las Vegas worldwide and should be able to recoup their costs through booking fees, said Chuck Bowling, MGM Mirage's vice president of marketing.

If the Internet companies were forced to pay more taxes, they would have less money to promote Nevada at a time when the state needs all the marketing it can get, he said.

"That's stepping over dollars to pick up pennies," Bowling said. "These companies are helping us to drive tourism ... in a way that we couldn't otherwise. We need all the faucets on."

But Commissioner Steve Sisolak said there's no way to know how much of the travel companies' fees are used to boost tourism and how much is pure profit.

"You don't know if they're buying yachts, planes and taking trips around the world," Sisolak said.

He also questioned how their actions are considered OK in Nevada if they've been found to be improper in other states.

Will Kemp, an attorney seeking to represent the county, estimates that there's $200 million to $500 million in uncollected taxes.

Kemp said the travel companies have argued in every case that they shouldn't pay room taxes because they aren't brick-and-mortar businesses like hotels.

But the Georgia Supreme Court in June found this argument lacked merit and ruled that the city of Columbus, Ga., was entitled to back taxes, Kemp said.

In February, the online travel businesses were ordered to pay $21.3 million to Anaheim, Calif. Last week, San Antonio, Texas, won a $20.6 million judgment. And on Tuesday, the state of Florida sued the companies.

If Clark County leaders decide to sue, law firms would bid on the job.

Kemp said he would suggest that Vegas.com, owned by the Greenspun family, be exempt from the room tax enforcement. The company, which also books rooms online, creates local jobs and benefits the area economy, he said.

Giunchigliani said that will be something for the commission to address.

"It's a policy decision," she said.

Source

Lots of money going around this issue. Wonder what will happen next.

Top ten things not to forget on a trip

2009-11-21T20:44:00.000-08:00

Top ten things not to forget on a trip
by Annie Scott on Oct 20th 2009 at 11:00AM

We all usually try to travel light, but when you succeed, do you feel a little nervous? I do. If I can lift my suitcase without grunting, I'm fairly certain I've forgotten something. Here's a list of the Top ten things not to forget on a trip -- hopefully both you and I can remember to check it next time we're about to head out of town!

1. Cell Phone Charger. They've started carrying universal chargers (with multiple heads) at places like Walgreens, but that's $15 to $20 you really shouldn't have to spend.

2. Program Your Phone. Do you have the airline and hotel phone numbers in your phone? You should. It's also a good idea to list your destination's number for taxis, and someone with ICE (In Case of Emergency) before their name.

3. Passport and Tickets or Itinerary. You need some form of photo ID to travel even domestically, so don't forget it. The passport is obviously important for foreign travel, but make sure it isn't about to expire; many countries won't let you in with under six months left. Also, even if you booked all your travel online, customs will sometimes ask to see your full itinerary, so bring tickets or print it all out.

4. Socks and Accessories. We can usually remember our socks and underwear, but when you're heading somewhere warm, you probably throw your athletic shoes in the bag for touristy hikes and/or exercising; don't forget the socks -- or face the stinky consequences. There are other unisex items we often miss: belts, hats and scarves, and a good pair of walking or evening shoes. Men, did you remember your tie? Your cufflinks? Women, your jewelry? Hairbands? Bobby pins? Small purse?

5. A Book. Heaven forbid you should be trapped on a long flight with nothing to read but SkyMall or the newspaper. Don't forget your book, or at least bring a laptop and a dvd.

6. Meds and Potions. Now that you have to pack your lotions and creams and such separately from the rest of your carry-on, it's easy to forget them altogether. Also, don't forget your medications -- not just prescription. I never go anywhere without Advil, just in case. For your handy reference, TSA guidelines are here.

7. Pajamas. Once you painstakingly pick out clothes for every occasion, remember that you have to sleep in something, too.

8. Converters. Going somewhere foreign? Guess where you can use your electronics: Nowhere! Most good hotels will provide you with at least one power adapter, but I like to have more than that; otherwise I'm constantly switching from charging my phone to charging my computer, and once the razor or curling/straightening iron comes into play, it just gets messy.

9. Gifts. This is a big one for the holidays. Don't forget the presents! Also, if you're heading somewhere far away, it's easy to pack a couple simple things from home to give as thank yous, just in case.

10. Camera and Accessories. Forgetting your camera can all-out ruin your fun. What good is taking a vacation without the means to document it? All right, probably some good, but don't forget your camera. Disposables aren't the same and you probably don't want to buy a whole new one out of town. What's more, don't forget the battery charger and the memory card. It can be an expensive mistake!

Source

Oh yes! Travelers everywhere read this article! Especially when you're traveling light.
The items are invaluable and the safe of mind you get that you know you have everything you need is worth a thousand dollars. Yet it is free. It's all good. :D

Book flights cheaper online

2009-11-20T18:00:00.000-08:00

When you wish to go places in anywhere in the world, you need to save thousands of dollars to do it but that was before. This is not the same case now. There are lots of cheap deals in town where you can find the best travel offer which you opt for. Having a nice vacation is really ideal for the whole family, it makes bonding strong and it will surely make your relationship stronger and tighter. If you want to find the best deals in town, you should always look for the most helpful website to accommodate your needs. There are lots of sites today that usually give out coupons for regular customers.

Ticket prices these days are very considerate to so many people who has limited budget allot for traveling. Finding the best booking agent to help you out with your concerns will help you a lot to find the things you need without spending much. Internet has its way of helping people find cheap and reliable booking agencies online. There are lots of companies today that will surely bring you remarkable and exciting treats you cannot resist.

Nowadays, there flights cheaper than what it was before, it surely invites lots of people to fly anywhere in the world without thinking about hassles and uncertainties. There are lots of cheap flights made available for you now that time is tough. There are plenty of websites available online that offer cheap airfare for everyone’s convenience. You can fly anywhere you opt as long as you know you have the best deals to hold on to so you won’t spend that much.

Source

This is the place to go if you're a cheap-ass traveler like me. I mean why waste money on something that could be bought for so much lower with so little effort. Those dollars you save here will go a lot in making the travel itself more fun without financial setbacks.

Online travel industry tweet-rate rising

2009-11-19T06:00:00.000-08:00

Travel industry tweet-rate rising

November 04, 2009

The use of micro blogging site Twitter is gaining rapid penetration within the travel industry, according to a new study. The study also suggests that travellers are starting to move beyond merely looking for information on destinations and services, and are actually making buying decisions based on their Twitter conversations.

It revealed that more than half of users (52%) tweeted between four and 10 times a day, with over a quarter sending more than 10 Twitter updates daily.

Managing directors, commercial directors, hotel owners and government officials are actively using the social media tool to forge connections with their customers and stakeholders.

The survey of 90 Twitter users who tweet on travel matters was conducted by Andy Jarosz, writer and owner of travel blog 501 Places.

It found that the majority of users surveyed had started using Twitter within the last six months.

“This is no surprise given the exponential growth of the site in 2009, and it does indicate that it is not too late for those who are still considering whether they should get to grips with using Twitter as a way of communicating with the online travel community,” Jarosz said.

Source

Everything on twitter is rising. Online travel is just a by-product of the craze and I'm loving it. More info for travelers! :D

Online travel site promotes safe travel for babies

2009-11-18T06:00:00.000-08:00

Baby Safe Travel Guide

I am planning to arrange a long trip this week with my wife and my 2 year old kid, but i don’t have much experience in travelling long. So, i decided to search in the web to get some guide, after a while i came across a site called BabySafeTravel.com, where we can book hotels all over the globe. The hotels are provided with baby proof rooms ensuring safety of our kid. This website is an online store where we can get baby travel bed, which is a bed like gadget providing safety and protection to babies during long trips. The site also contains many informative travel tips about travel with their babies and toddlers. Moreover, we can share photos and travel stories in our baby blogs, they also announce prizes for uploading our cute babies to the baby blog. Visit The site and enjoy a safe travel with your kids.

Source

Yesterday I featured igougo online travel site. Today, I discovered the safest way for couples to travel with their baby. I got the article from the source above. This site is also specialized in the way that it really cares about the safety of your little angel baggage. So for everyone who considered ditching their travel ideas because of having a baby, this site is for you.

Have safe and happy travels! :)

IgoUgo: Online travel's newest buddy

2009-11-16T06:00:00.000-08:00

IgoUgo: Plan Your Trip & Explore Travel Destinations

If you want to travel to your dream destination but don’t know where to get started, check out IgoUgo. This handy website lets you plan your trip online and includes useful information for over 9000 travel destinations worldwide. Moreover it lets you compare hotels, flights and packages from leading travel websites including Expedia, Travelocity, Orbitz and others.

Features:

* Plan your trip online.
* Information for 9000+ worldwide travel destinations.
* Includes user reviews, photos, best hotels and restaurants and things to do.
* Compare flights, hotel rates and travel deals
* Meet online community of travelers: browse user journals, read stories and tips and visit forums
* Sign up for an account to plan your trip(s) and share your travels.

Source

Ok, here's my take on igougo: It's a unique site for online travel because it has this "plan your trip" feature. Most booking sites just gets you there without concern for your activities and stuff. Not this site. And the online community is invaluable cause in them you will find tips on what's the best thing to do, general tips on traveling and much more.

Cheers to travelers everywhere!

How to find great online travel deals

2009-11-15T06:00:00.000-08:00

How to Find Great Travel Deals Today

Everyone loves to find a great travel deal, and if you’re one of the many this year that’s going to take a trip, there are some things that you should know, before you go out, and purchase your tickets, or travel package.

Use the Internet to find deals

The internet has great sites like priceline.com or hotels.com to book cheap airfare or hotels. These sites check the rates of all the hotels, and give you a rate. Hotels compete with each other on these sites to get your business, so the rates are naturally lower than if you were to walk into a hotel on a Friday night and say I need two rooms. It is much easier when you go online, way in advance, and book a room or two at that time. You enjoy piece of mind and a cheaper price.

Source

I am a total believer in the power of internet booking. Or even just searching on where to go through the internet. Traveling has never been easier and objective.

Westporter Launches Online Travel Magazine

2009-11-14T06:00:00.000-08:00

Westporter Launches Online Travel Magazine
Friday, November 06, 2009

A Westport-based travel writer has launched a new travel Web site that features high tech animation and cinematic-quality short films to provide a vivid portrayal of travel experiences.The new Web site features an animated map of the Greek island of Folegandros.

Susan Farewell said her “FarewellTravels: Select Escapes” is really an online travel magazine that seeks to use multimedia elements to showcase travel suggestions.

“My job as a travel writer is to capture the essence of what a place is like,” said Farewell, whose past travel writing mostly has been confined to glossy magazines.

“In the past, I’ve relied on prose and still photography. What we’re doing here takes travel reporting to a whole new dimension.”

The films and animations are created by a sister company, Strategic FilmWorks, which was founded by husband Tom Seligson.

The site covers a wide range of travel destinations.

“People always ask me where they should go,” said Farewell. “Now they can go to FarewellTravels and find exactly what they are looking for, whether it’s for family vacations or romantic getaway weekends.”

The site, whose “cover” was designed by fellow Westporter Miggs Burroughs, features an animated map of the Greek island of Folegandros.

Farewell said the site already has subscribers in 10 countries and 33 states.

Source

High quality cinematic animations for online traveling? I'm there!

Online travel industry claims win despite jury award to Texas cities

2009-11-13T06:00:00.000-08:00

Online travel industry claims win despite jury award to Texas cities
BY MARILYN TENNISSEN

SAN ANTONIO, Texas (Legal Newsline)--Nearly a dozen popular online hotel booking services were hit with a verdict from a Texas jury recently, but the industry is still calling it a victory.

On Oct. 30, a federal jury in the Western District of Texas found that online hotel booking services like Hotels.com and Expedia should have been collecting more hotel occupancy taxes for payment to Texas cities. The jury awarded $20 million to more than 170 municipalities in the Lone Star State.

However, the jury did not find convincing evidence that the booking services were collecting additional taxes and keeping the money for themselves, so they awarded no punitive damages.

"We see it as a glass half full," said Andrew Weinstein, spokesperson for Interactive Travel Services Association. "We are happy the jury did not award punitive damages. The cities were asking for $40 million, claiming the online services maliciously withheld taxes."

Weinstein said the claim that these companies are collecting and keeping the tax monies is a myth.

"It's a myth propagated by plaintiffs' attorneys, but we think that myth has been put to bed for good now," he said in a recent interview.

According to the lawsuit filed in May 2006, online booking companies underpaid transient occupancy taxes by paying taxes only on wholesale room rates rather than the actual retail rates charged to customers who book their hotels online.

The online wholesalers purchase rooms at discounted rates and then make a profit by reselling the rooms to consumers at a higher retail rate. For example, if a company like Expedia.com pays $70 for a hotel room but later resells it for $100 plus taxes, then the company will only remit taxes for the lesser amount.

The online companies claim they only connect consumers with good deals on rooms, the same way offline travel agents or tour operators do. Fees from traditional travel agents, tour operators and other middlemen have never been taxed.

"This entire industry has systematically withheld taxes for years, and not just in Texas," said lead plaintiff's attorney Steven Wolens of McKool Smith in a press release. "The business practices for which the defendants were found liable are the same actions that these companies engage in throughout the U.S."

But Weinstein said trial lawyers have been misleading the municipalities across the country.

"These claims are not based on law, but on the greed of plaintiffs' attorneys," he said.

In the long run, these lawsuits would not only hurt the online travel business, but the traveling public through higher rates and teh tax-collecting entities themselves if hotel rooms remain empty, the ITSA states on its Web site.

The city of San Antonio was the first Texas city to sue the hotel retailers, and eventually 172 additional Texas cities joined the class-action - including Beaumont, Port Arthur, Groves and Bridge City in Southeast Texas. The city of Houston was the only major Texas city not to join in San Antonio's suit, choosing to file its own suit instead.

The San Antonio defendants were Expedia, Hotels.com, Hotwire, Lodging.com, Orbitz, Priceline.com, Site59.com, TravelNow.com, Travelocity.com, TravelWeb and Cheaptickets.com.

The four-week trial before Judge Orlando Garcia of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas concluded following five hours of deliberations by a jury of seven men and five women.

There have been at least five other similar suits around the country, in which municipalities sought to recover unpaid occupancy taxes, but the San Antonio case is the first to reach a jury verdict, Weinstein said.

Weinstein mentioned a settlement in an Illinois suit filed by the city of Fairview Heights, in which 80 percent of money went to attorney fees.

After a four year court battle against 13 online travel companies, the city received a $315,000 settlement. But after payments to lawyers and other expenses, the city was left to collect just over $56,000.

When Fairview Heights first filed suit in 2004, it intended to act as class representative on behalf of other Illinois municipalities. But defendants had the case moved to federal court, where it failed to gain class certification.

In all the lawsuits, the main issue has been the question of whether the online companies had "control" of hotels under city ordinances.

The Texas jury said the companies did have that control.

But in a statement released after the verdict, defendant Expedia said it "strongly disagreed" with the jury's verdict that online travel companies "control hotels" in Texas.

"We believe the verdict is unsupported by the facts of the case and the law," Expedia stated. "We believe the verdict is contrary to the plain language of the ordinances at issue and the clear evidence from hotels that testified that online travel companies do not, in any way, control hotels."

Weinstein said the services don't provide specific room assignments, such as on a particular floor or with a certain view.

"We don't control that, you have to call the hotel directly," Weinstein said.

Expedia and the other defendants plan to appeal the verdict to the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals.

"We are confident that we are well positioned on appeal," Weinstein said, especially since a previous case was dismissed by the Fourth Circuit, ruling that the companies were not the same as hotels, motels and inns under the ordinances.

But just days after the Texas verdict, Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum sued Expedia and Orbitz, claiming the companies were not paying all the taxes due to the state.

"Counterproductive travel and tourism policy would be particularly self-defeating in the worst recession in the past 80 years," states the ITSA Web site. "ITSA will continue its efforts to educate policy makers all over the country to the dangers of these tax initiatives."

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I really don't think this issue will have a convincing result for both sides. It's hard to believe if the evidences aren't concrete. Still, online booking sites are a great help to travelers. I'm really torn about this.

“A Hidden Gem!” or “Lame!!!”? Online Travel Reviewers to Watch Out For

2009-11-12T06:00:00.000-08:00

“A Hidden Gem!” or “Lame!!!”? Online Travel Reviewers to Watch Out For
By Daniel Edward Craig

In 2007, a traveler wrote the following review of Opus Hotel Vancouver on TripAdvisor: “The GM who thought he was Ian Fleming was a real detriment to a great trip. Shame -- let’s hope the hotel sees sense and releases Daniel to make another movie.”

Ouch. The comment was a reference to my James Bond namesake and my secondary career as a mystery novelist, but nonetheless I was baffled by it, having no recollection of any guest encounter that would have provoked a public cry for my dismissal. Since the review was anonymous, we had no way of contacting the guest to find out what went wrong. Because it was a personal attack that offered little useful information, we asked TripAdvisor to remove it. But they refused, and it remains there today. Sometimes we hoteliers have to set aside our professionalism and say, “Whatever”.

In my last post I wrote about online travel reviews from a hotelier’s perspective. This time I take off my hotelier’s hat to poke some fun at online reviews from a traveler’s perspective.

When planning trips, I always check out amateur reviews for a refreshing, grassroots alternative to the salesy propaganda on hotel websites. Yet as these sites grow in popularity the process has become increasingly time-consuming and confusing. The playing field is now so cluttered, the reviews so contradictory and polarized, it’s hard to know who to believe anymore.

And whereas the vast majority of reviews are benevolent and seemingly authentic, a few reviewer types have emerged whose advice should be taken with a healthy dose of skepticism. In the spirit of parody, here are a few to watch out for.

The Self-Appointed Expert. This reviewer has posted scores of reviews, yet quite possibly has never left his computer room. An aspiring travel memoirist, he writes lengthy, flowery missives colored with acid-tongued remarks like, “To call this a fleabag hotel would be an insult to fleas and bags everywhere.” Although he positions himself as a martyr to the travel community, he wouldn’t object if a hotel offered him a free stay in exchange for a glowing review.

The Patron Saint of Hotels. This reviewer is so over-the-top in her praise either she’s never had a vacation before or she’s been into the sacred wine. She rates all services as excellent, including those the hotel doesn’t offer, and uses exalted phrases like “A hidden gem!”, “Glorious!” and “I thought I’d died and gone to heaven!” Because she insists on seeing the good in everyone, she often finds herself making excuses on behalf of a hotel, such as, “My niece fell down the elevator shaft, but I’m sure they’ve gotten that fixed.”

The Up-trader. Having scoured the internet for deals until he scored a five-star hotel at a two-star rate, this bargain-hunter now expects all other services to be equally discounted. He expresses moral outrage over charges for breakfast, telephone and the mini-bar, accusing the hotel of gouging. His comments are revealing: “$28 for parking!?! That’s how much I usually pay for a room! Rip OFF!”

The Down-trader. This high-flying business traveler used to spend lavishly on luxury hotels until the economic crisis forced a drastic reduction in her expense account. Now obliged to stay in budget properties, she lives in denial, complaining bitterly about the lack of a day spa, fur boutique and gourmet restaurant at her roadside motel.

The Uncle Bob. Like that dull relative who subjects you to endless vacation photos and anecdotes, this reviewer goes on and on but never manages to say anything helpful or interesting. “My room had a bed and a desk and a chair. Oh, and a painting of a landscape. Molly at the front desk—or was it Maggie? Well, whoever it was, gosh darn was she swell when we needed directions to the local IHOP…” Next.

The Extortionist. After a series of mishaps, all of which were his own fault, this traveler tried every trick in the book to weasel a comp stay from the hotel, and now resorts to posting a blistering online review. He rates everything as terrible, including things that were perfectly fine. His reviews read like ransom notes, with bad spelling and grammar, excess punctuation, and random capital letters: “This hOtel SUKCED!! RobeRto the Duty manger?%? was LaiMe…!!!!!”

The Shill. This reviewer writes in a style that sounds suspiciously like the hotel’s promo material, with phrases only marketing people use, like “nestled in the heart of vibrant old-town” and “well-appointed furnishings with dreamy Celestial Comfort™ beds”. Her review contrasts sharply with the other, not-so-generous reviews and is typically a one-off. Although she signs off with a cutesy pseudonym like “TravlinGrrrl”, she’s undoubtedly the hotel’s director of marketing.

The Forensic Examiner. This CSI enthusiast treats hotel rooms like a crime scene, posting reviews with gory photographic evidence of carpet stains, bathroom mold and bedbug bites. Even when his review is glowing, his photos make the room look cheap and squalid, particularly when personal items and family members are in the background.

The Corporate Saboteur. This reviewer is a hotel owner writing a nasty, bogus review of a competitor hotel in hopes of boosting his own property’s ratings. Telltale signs include anonymity and remarks like, “I finally checked outta that dump and went to the ABC HOTEL. Twenty bucks cheaper and free donuts! I’ll never stay anywhere else!”

As a rule I bypass extreme reviews -- unless there are a lot, in which case I take heed. I also skip reviews with the word “lame”, the online word of choice for people with a chip their shoulder. I find the hotel’s overall ranking to be helpful, but it doesn’t always tell the real story. Pull up your home city on TripAdvisor. Do you agree with the top five hotels? There’s always at least one that raises an eyebrow.

Recognizing that not every reviewer has the interests of fellow travelers in mind, Expedia, Orbitz and Priceline restrict reviews to customers only, whereas anyone can post a review on TripAdvisor, Yelp, Yahoo and Travelocity. TripAdvisor has been known to post a warning to travelers if it questions the authenticity of reviews, but this practice has attracted a flurry of criticism in the blogosphere.

There’s no question, online reviews are a great resource, providing insight, humor and tried-and-true tips from the field. Yet travelers shouldn’t forget to consult the experts in print and online guidebooks, newspapers and magazines. If I find a lump on my throat, I’m heading to a doctor for treatment, not to some online quack who claims to be able to show me how to remove the lump from home.

We can all help increase the reliability of reviews by posting our own after our trips. Just remember to stick to the facts, play fair, and go easy on the punctuation. And try not to get too personal. It might not always seem evident, but hotel managers have feelings too.

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I totally agree on this one. Though we're given the freedom of speech in the internet, it doesn't give us a right to comment unfairly. People at the back of their screens, are still people at the end of the day.

UPDATE 3-Orbitz posts profit on cost cuts, stronger bookings

2009-11-11T06:00:00.000-08:00

UPDATE 3-Orbitz posts profit on cost cuts, stronger bookings
By Kyle Peterson

* Company receives $100 mln of equity investments

* Q3 EPS 8 cents/shr vs Wall St est 12 cents per share

* Net revenue falls 22 pct

* Leisure business driving travel market recovery-CEO

* Shares rise 5 pct (Recasts; adds new CEO quotes from interview, background. Updates shares)

CHICAGO, Nov 5 (Reuters) - Online travel agency Orbitz Worldwide (OWW.N) posted a quarterly profit on Thursday, helped by lower expenses and more bookings, and said it had received equity investments amounting to $100 million.

The results fell short of Wall Street's expectations and shares dropped more than 9 percent in early trading before rebounding into positive territory.

Orbitz Chief Executive Barney Harford said fee cuts and promotions offset weak demand during the economic recession but that travel demand is starting to recover on its own.

"With regard to the market, it's clearly very weak. We do think it is gradually improving," Harford told Reuters in an interview. "But it's really the leisure market that is driving the recovery right now."

"On the other hand, it's the business market where you're still seeing that weakness," Harford said. "While business travel is getting better each quarter, that is still a challenged sector."

Orbitz reported net income of $7 million, or 8 cents a share, for the third quarter, compared with a net loss of $287 million, or $3.44 a share, a year earlier.

Analysts on average were expecting earnings of 12 cents a share, on revenue of $202 million, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S.

Net revenue for the company, which owns major travel sites Orbitz.com and Cheaptickets.com, fell 22 percent to $187 million, due mainly to the removal of most air booking fees and significant reduction of hotel booking fees on the company's domestic websites.

The total value of Orbitz's bookings fell 6 percent due to lower air fares and lower hotel room rates.

Selling, general and administrative expenses fell 13 percent to $65 million, while marketing expenses dropped 44 percent to $48 million.

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Wow. instant downfall for company.

Everlater Lands Funding for Online Travel Journals

2009-11-10T06:00:00.000-08:00

Everlater Lands Funding for Online Travel Journals
Authored by Mark Hefflinger on November 5, 2009 - 8:30am.

Boulder, Colo. - Everlater, the provider of an online travel journal service that lets users share travel experiences, announced that it has raised an undisclosed sum of first round funding, led by Highway 12 Ventures.

Boulder, Colo.-based Everlater's Web platform lets users mix text, maps, photos and video into a travel journal, which may the be shared across social networking sties.

The company, which was part of the TechStars incubation program, will use the funds to expand development, marketing and sales efforts.

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It's like a virtual map for travelers. I'm totally excited about this.

U.K. Online Travel Market Maintains Growth During Recession

2009-11-09T06:00:00.000-08:00

U.K. Online Travel Market Maintains Growth During Recession
According to PhoCusWright’s European Online Travel Overview Fifth Edition

November 6, 2009

Even as the U.K. travel market struggles under the weight of global economic pressure, online travel bookings are projected to increase by 3% in 2009 according to PhoCusWright's European Online Travel Overview Fifth Edition. With online leisure and unmanaged business sales of nearly £17.1 billion, nearly half of the U.K. travel market is booked online. U.K. online leisure and unmanaged business travel penetration grew by five percentage points to reach 45% of all bookings in 2009.

The overall U.K. travel market is expected to contract by 8.9% in 2009. Gross bookings will fall to approximately £37.6 billion for the year. Nearly all segments of the market have been affected, although traditional carriers and hotels are bearing the brunt of the slowdown. The short-term outlook remains bleak, with a return to 2007 booking levels not expected until 2012.

"British travelers have had to cope with currency devaluation on top of the recession, and both have driven significant changes in travel patterns," says Carroll Rheem, director, research at PhoCusWright. "For example, the blow to domestic travel has been relatively soft while the fall-off in U.K. visitors to the Mediterranean has been significant. Online channels also benefit from these trends as consumers turn to the Internet to help them discover and sift through the many attractive holiday options in the marketplace."

Although approaching maturity, U.K. online travel penetration continues to grow in 2009 as online channels outperform other booking methods. Airline Web sites dominate other suppliers online, representing over half of online direct sales in the U.K. Hotel company Web sites are expected to grow in line with the market, and tour operators are projected to make the greatest gains online among suppliers.

"U.K. tour operators have invested heavily in marketing efforts to drive customers online and in technology to enhance the user experience," says Peter O’Connor, PhoCusWright's market analyst, U.K. and France. "Selling a combination of pre-packaged, dynamically packaged and decoupled travel components, their share of U.K. online direct travel is expected to increase through 2011."

Despite the strides tour operators have made, online travel agencies (OTAs) will lead growth for all online channels in 2009 and help the U.K. online travel market continue to mature and retain its current position as the largest online travel market in Europe. PhoCusWright’s U.K. Online Travel Overview Fifth Edition is a comprehensive analysis of the U.K. online travel market. It reviews air, hotel, rail, OTA, car hire and tour operator sectors. Pre-order this report for US$750—the expected publication date is November 13, 2009.

A complete review of the European travel market including U.K., France, Germany, Italy, Scandinavia and Spain is provided in the full report, PhoCusWright's European Online Travel Overview Fifth Edition. The special introductory price of $1,950 (save $300) is available through November 30.

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This just shows how people value their total R&R. Who said that travel is forbidden during the crisis? I think it would just grow more cause people want to get away.

Online travel companies costing Florida millions

2009-11-05T06:00:00.000-08:00

AG: Online travel companies costing Florida millions
Posted: Nov 04, 2009 6:41 AM CST Updated: Nov 04, 2009 6:46 AM CST

COLLIER COUNTY: Florida's Attorney General says a pair of popular online travel companies is costing the sunshine state millions in uncollected tourism dollars. Now he's going after Expedia and Orbitz with a lawsuit.

The Attorney General says the companies buy hotel rooms at a discounted price, and then sell them for higher.

The problem, he says, is they only pay the state part of the taxes and then keep the rest as profit. He also says it leaves hotels with no way to track how much the room eventually sells for.

Collier County tourism leaders support the lawsuit, saying it costs them $500,000 a year.

"It helps, I think, our cause a great deal to really show that this is a statewide problem and we need to collectively go after it," said Jack Wert, Collier County Tourism Director Jack Wert.

Wert said the extra money could be used for beach improvements, museums, or marketing.

"Those kinds of additional dollars would certainly help us," he said.

Collier County Commissioner Jim Coletta says Expedia and Orbitz are ripping money right out of local taxpayer's hands.

"We have brought this up at numerous legislative delegation meetings in the past, as a great concern. It's a lost revenue stream," Coletta said.

Andrew Weinstein, a spokesperson for the companies, denied the allegations.

"These claims have been proven false time and again, so we expect they will be this time also," he said.

State leaders hope the lawsuit, announced on Tuesday, will help bring in the extra money to give the slumping tourism industry a much-needed boost.

"I really hope this goes down well for Florida. I mean laws regarding online taxes are still in infancy. Still,
in most of the cases I know, if their proof is strong enough, the judges will see through it and they would most
probably win the case. I mean, $500, 000 a year is a lot of money to pay for important state utilities."

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Florida sues Expedia, Orbitz over taxes

2009-11-04T18:00:00.000-08:00

Florida sues Expedia, Orbitz over taxes

Florida's attorney general has accused online travel bookers Expedia and Orbitz of cheating state and local governments out of millions in tax revenue.
BILL COTTERAL / TALLAHASSEE DEMOCRAT

BY STEVE BOUSQUET
Herald/Times Tallahassee Bureau

TALLAHASSEE - Attorney General Bill McCollum filed suit Tuesday against two leading Internet travel firms, accusing Expedia and Orbitz of cheating the state and local governments out of millions of dollars in sales tax revenues from online hotel bookings.

McCollum's court petition asks a state judge to rule that the taxes, already paid by hotel guests, belong to the government, and that the firms are engaging in unfair and deceptive trade practices. A Republican who is running for governor on a pro-business, low-tax platform, McCollum aligned himself with counties and cities in opposition to the online travel booking companies.

``They've collected the money,'' McCollum said of the companies. ``They're pocketing the difference as a profit. That's what's really gross about this in our judgment. The online travel companies are taking the money that's really owed to the state of Florida.''

If the state wins in court, McCollum said, he would then decide whether to seek back taxes from the companies. In tourist-friendly Florida, that could be in the hundreds of millions of dollars.

The industry criticized McCollum's action and accused him of being used by plaintiffs' lawyers who are pushing lawsuits against online travel firms. Contrary to McCollum's assertions, the industry said, online travel companies do not purchase blocks of rooms and are not withholding tax revenues owed to government.

``Every penny of taxes owed to the state and its municipalities is being remitted to them,'' said Andrew Weinstein, a spokesman for the Interactive Travel Services Association, an industry trade group. ``We're very disappointed that the attorney general would align himself with the plaintiffs' attorneys making these false claims.''

McCollum charged that the online companies pay tax only on the wholesale cost of a room rental, not the higher retail cost. He used as an example a broker paying $118 per night but charging a customer $159 a night. For a four-night stay, the net loss to the state in tax revenue would be $9.84.

McCollum's action drew praise from the Florida Association of Counties, which has been at the forefront of pushing litigation seeking to clarify whether the online booking companies are paying their share of taxes. Five more counties filed a lawsuit Tuesday on the issue: Pinellas, Polk, Leon, Flagler and Manatee. It is unclear when a court will take up the issue.

``We're very happy about it,'' said Sarah Bleakley, special tax counsel to the counties group. ``If he stops that practice, I think that would be beneficial for consumers and taxpayers as well, and the state.''

McCollum's Democratic opponent in the governor's race, Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink, also praised the attorney general's action. Sink, who initiated a discussion of the issue at last week's Cabinet meeting, said she appreciated McCollum ``pursuing this action to collect the full amount owed to the state of Florida.''

Wow. This issue opened up a whole can of worms. I wonder what will the verdict be?

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