ASTA's Congress Highlights Theme of "Women in Travel:
by: Lynn Bode
Hong Kong, April 21, 2004 -The American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA) announced today that the theme of its World Travel Congress in Hong Kong, Sept. 28-Oct. 3, will be "Women in Travel: Influencing, Leading, Empowering." ASTA also announced other exciting developments occurring at this year's annual conference.
"There are so many wonderful, influential women in the travel industry and I am thrilled that ASTA is recognizing them through this important Congress theme," said ASTA 2004 World Congress Chair-Hong Kong Bev Zukow, CTC. "Additionally, ASTA has been working hard to enhance Congress with some great new features this year."
In keeping with the theme of this year's Congress, Women in Travel: Influencing, Leading, Empowering, each general session will feature a woman leader from a different segment of the travel industry.
Also new this year, the opening general session will be combined with the host night dinner. The event will be taking place on Sept. 28. The Hong Kong Tourism Board also is hosting a second all-delegate function. The second event will be held on Sept. 29 and will feature the Sunset Harbor Cruise.
The Congress also will include business appointments that are being scheduled during the trade show on Oct. 1. These meetings, during which time agents will meet with pre-selected vendors and vendors will meet with pre-selected attendees, will give both buyers and sellers the chance to meet one-on-one and make long-lasting business connections.
ASTA also will be featuring seminar tracks grouped according to their subject matter, rather than by their target audience. This year's tracks are: Luxury, National Tourism Organizations (NTO), Family, Exhibitor, Business/Technology and Honeymoon.
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Armenia: Great Destination for travelers by: Armine Hareyan Armenia prides itself on being the first nation to formally adopt Christianity (early 4t
Armenia: Great Destination for travelers
by: Armine Hareyan
Armenia prides itself on being the first nation to formally adopt Christianity (early 4th century). Despite periods of autonomy, over the centuries Armenia came under the sway of various empires including the Roman, Byzantine, Arab, Persian, and Ottoman. It was incorporated into Russia in 1828 and the USSR in 1920.
Armenian leaders remain preoccupied by the long conflict with Muslim Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh, a primarily Armenian-populated region, assigned to Soviet Azerbaijan in the 1920s by Moscow. Armenia and Azerbaijan began fighting over the area in 1988; the struggle escalated after both countries attained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991.
By May 1994, when a cease-fire took hold, Armenian forces held not only Nagorno-Karabakh but also a significant portion of Azerbaijan proper. The economies of both sides have been hurt by their inability to make substantial progress toward a peaceful resolution. Turkey imposed an economic blockade on Armenia and closed the common border because of the Armenian occupation of Nagorno-Karabakh and surrounding areas.
Geography
Armenia is located in the southern Caucasus and is the smallest of the former Soviet republics. It is bounded by Georgia on the north, Azerbaijan on the east, Iran on the south, and Turkey on the west. Contemporary Armenia is a fraction of the size of ancient Armenia. A land of rugged mountains and extinct volcanoes, its highest point is Mount Aragats, 13,435 ft (4,095 m).
Government: Republic
President: Robert Kocharian (1998)
Prime Minister: Andranik Markarian (2000)
Area: 11,506 sq mi (29,800 sq km)
Population (2004 est.): 2,991,360 (growth rate: -0.3%); (Armenian, 93%; others, Kurds, Ukrainians, and Russians); birth rate: 11.4/1000; infant mortality rate: 24.2/1000; life expectancy: 71.2; density per sq mi: 260
Capital and largest city: Yerevan, 1,462,700 (metro. area), 1,267,600 (city proper)
Other large cities: Vanadzor, 147,400; Gyumri (Leninakan), 125,300; Abovian, 59,300
Monetary unit: Dram
Language: Armenian 96%, Russian 2%, other 2%
Ethnicity/race: Armenian 93%, Russian 2%, Azeri 1%, other (mostly Yezidi Kurds) 4% (2002).
Note: as of the end of 1993, virtually all Azeris had emigrated from Armenia
Religion: Armenian Apostolic 94%, other Christian 4%, Yezidi 2%
by: Armine Hareyan
Armenia prides itself on being the first nation to formally adopt Christianity (early 4th century). Despite periods of autonomy, over the centuries Armenia came under the sway of various empires including the Roman, Byzantine, Arab, Persian, and Ottoman. It was incorporated into Russia in 1828 and the USSR in 1920.
Armenian leaders remain preoccupied by the long conflict with Muslim Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh, a primarily Armenian-populated region, assigned to Soviet Azerbaijan in the 1920s by Moscow. Armenia and Azerbaijan began fighting over the area in 1988; the struggle escalated after both countries attained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991.
By May 1994, when a cease-fire took hold, Armenian forces held not only Nagorno-Karabakh but also a significant portion of Azerbaijan proper. The economies of both sides have been hurt by their inability to make substantial progress toward a peaceful resolution. Turkey imposed an economic blockade on Armenia and closed the common border because of the Armenian occupation of Nagorno-Karabakh and surrounding areas.
Geography
Armenia is located in the southern Caucasus and is the smallest of the former Soviet republics. It is bounded by Georgia on the north, Azerbaijan on the east, Iran on the south, and Turkey on the west. Contemporary Armenia is a fraction of the size of ancient Armenia. A land of rugged mountains and extinct volcanoes, its highest point is Mount Aragats, 13,435 ft (4,095 m).
Government: Republic
President: Robert Kocharian (1998)
Prime Minister: Andranik Markarian (2000)
Area: 11,506 sq mi (29,800 sq km)
Population (2004 est.): 2,991,360 (growth rate: -0.3%); (Armenian, 93%; others, Kurds, Ukrainians, and Russians); birth rate: 11.4/1000; infant mortality rate: 24.2/1000; life expectancy: 71.2; density per sq mi: 260
Capital and largest city: Yerevan, 1,462,700 (metro. area), 1,267,600 (city proper)
Other large cities: Vanadzor, 147,400; Gyumri (Leninakan), 125,300; Abovian, 59,300
Monetary unit: Dram
Language: Armenian 96%, Russian 2%, other 2%
Ethnicity/race: Armenian 93%, Russian 2%, Azeri 1%, other (mostly Yezidi Kurds) 4% (2002).
Note: as of the end of 1993, virtually all Azeris had emigrated from Armenia
Religion: Armenian Apostolic 94%, other Christian 4%, Yezidi 2%
Argentina Travel - Buenos Aires, Mar del Plata, Iguazú Falls by: Rick Chapo Argentina is on the way back from the economic crisis of the last few yea
Argentina Travel - Buenos Aires, Mar del Plata, Iguazú Falls
by: Rick Chapo
Argentina is on the way back from the economic crisis of the last few years. If you are looking for a travel destination, Argentina is amazing and cheap.
Economic Woes
While Argentina has unlimited beauty, it also has unlimited corruption. The massive corruption finally lead to an economic crisis at the turn of the century. With the currency devalued and jobs hard to find, Argentina was a decidedly dangerous place for travelers. At one point, the country was going through Presidents faster than I go through coffee. At one point, the country went through five of them in a month! Wait, that might not be such a bad idea. Regardless, things appear to have stabilized and the country is back on the travel map. So, what's to see?
Buenos Aires
Prior to landing in Buenos Aires, you are strongly encouraged to glue your jaw shut. Buenos Aires is a city of jaw-dropping beauty. In many ways, you will feel as though you have magically been transported to Vienna. The European impression is overwhelming. The city is elegance itself. If you're a meat eater, make sure you experience one of the steak houses. You won't be disappointed.
Mar del Plata
You've been doing sit ups, right? The Mar de Plata is the hot beach area. Literally. Damn hot, sometimes. If you wish to pursue a little melanoma research, this is the place. If you prefer to pass on the cancer research, you can hit the Mar de Plata Aquarium, play golf on five different courses. The area is also rife with discos. Try the ones on the "Noisy Avenue", but don't mention my name. There were.problems last time I was there.
Iguazú Falls
If you like waterfalls, this is the place for you. The Iquaza Falls are twice as wide and taller than Niagara Falls. The Falls actually consist of over 250 cascades that came into existence due to a volcanic eruption. If you can, try to visit the falls in the spring or fall as it is ungodly hot and humid in the summer.
Tierra del Fuego
Welcome to the end of the world. At least, that's the hook for Tierra del Fuego. Ushuaia, the capital of Tierra del Fuego, is the southernmost city in the world. From the city, you can take the "end of the world" train to see incredible snow covered mountain ranges in the Tierra del Fuego National Park. Words fail me, but the area is definitely worth visiting. Come on, you rode the elephants in Thailand, didn't you? Patagonia
No, we are not talking about the clothing line. Patagonia is located in a vast area below Buenos Aires and is famous for uncompromised beauty. Greater Patagonia is actually split between Chile and Argentina. The section in Argentina is filled with glaciers, national parks and so on. I can't possibly describe it, so I'm not even going to try. Just know that you will not be disappointed.
by: Rick Chapo
Argentina is on the way back from the economic crisis of the last few years. If you are looking for a travel destination, Argentina is amazing and cheap.
Economic Woes
While Argentina has unlimited beauty, it also has unlimited corruption. The massive corruption finally lead to an economic crisis at the turn of the century. With the currency devalued and jobs hard to find, Argentina was a decidedly dangerous place for travelers. At one point, the country was going through Presidents faster than I go through coffee. At one point, the country went through five of them in a month! Wait, that might not be such a bad idea. Regardless, things appear to have stabilized and the country is back on the travel map. So, what's to see?
Buenos Aires
Prior to landing in Buenos Aires, you are strongly encouraged to glue your jaw shut. Buenos Aires is a city of jaw-dropping beauty. In many ways, you will feel as though you have magically been transported to Vienna. The European impression is overwhelming. The city is elegance itself. If you're a meat eater, make sure you experience one of the steak houses. You won't be disappointed.
Mar del Plata
You've been doing sit ups, right? The Mar de Plata is the hot beach area. Literally. Damn hot, sometimes. If you wish to pursue a little melanoma research, this is the place. If you prefer to pass on the cancer research, you can hit the Mar de Plata Aquarium, play golf on five different courses. The area is also rife with discos. Try the ones on the "Noisy Avenue", but don't mention my name. There were.problems last time I was there.
Iguazú Falls
If you like waterfalls, this is the place for you. The Iquaza Falls are twice as wide and taller than Niagara Falls. The Falls actually consist of over 250 cascades that came into existence due to a volcanic eruption. If you can, try to visit the falls in the spring or fall as it is ungodly hot and humid in the summer.
Tierra del Fuego
Welcome to the end of the world. At least, that's the hook for Tierra del Fuego. Ushuaia, the capital of Tierra del Fuego, is the southernmost city in the world. From the city, you can take the "end of the world" train to see incredible snow covered mountain ranges in the Tierra del Fuego National Park. Words fail me, but the area is definitely worth visiting. Come on, you rode the elephants in Thailand, didn't you? Patagonia
No, we are not talking about the clothing line. Patagonia is located in a vast area below Buenos Aires and is famous for uncompromised beauty. Greater Patagonia is actually split between Chile and Argentina. The section in Argentina is filled with glaciers, national parks and so on. I can't possibly describe it, so I'm not even going to try. Just know that you will not be disappointed.
Are you a Traveler? by: Ryan Fyfe I'm making an assumption that at want point in your life you've been a tourist. You've carried a map, a camera, may
Are you a Traveler?
by: Ryan Fyfe
I'm making an assumption that at want point in your life you've been a tourist. You've carried a map, a camera, maybe even had a tour guide. You've traveled to different destinations, relaxed on remote beaches, climbed stairs in buildings you see on television. You've done all of these things but some how when you get arrive home, all your left with is a short memory, and a few photographs.
Vacations are nice every once in a while, but it doesn't make sense to me why we will travel thousands of miles to sit in hotel rooms and watch movies, or lie on a pool deck and catch some rays. These are all things that we can do where we are from, I want you to think about being a traveler not a tourist. You want to soak in as much of the new country and culture that you can rather than bring as much of your culture to them. It's really quite simple. In one step you need to forget about your way of live, and adopt theirs.
It's simple things like the mindset that we have when we go abroad, and what we bring. Don't bring all of the things that we depend on in America. Bring what it is that you are going to need to survive and stay healthy during your visit. The more comforts you have, the more you will depend on them, and the less you will step out to become the traveler you ought to be!
Put yourself out there. Locals are always interested to interact with foreigners, and it's best to take advantage of this. Meet people that you can share life with while you are in their country. Immerse into their culture and be open to new idea's. A lot of times we are closed to new idea's and we miss out on opportunities for better things to come along. Be open, willing and accepting.
If you want to be changed, and to experience you need to leave the tourist at home. Bring out the inner traveler in you and see the world in the way that it was meant to be seen.
by: Ryan Fyfe
I'm making an assumption that at want point in your life you've been a tourist. You've carried a map, a camera, maybe even had a tour guide. You've traveled to different destinations, relaxed on remote beaches, climbed stairs in buildings you see on television. You've done all of these things but some how when you get arrive home, all your left with is a short memory, and a few photographs.
Vacations are nice every once in a while, but it doesn't make sense to me why we will travel thousands of miles to sit in hotel rooms and watch movies, or lie on a pool deck and catch some rays. These are all things that we can do where we are from, I want you to think about being a traveler not a tourist. You want to soak in as much of the new country and culture that you can rather than bring as much of your culture to them. It's really quite simple. In one step you need to forget about your way of live, and adopt theirs.
It's simple things like the mindset that we have when we go abroad, and what we bring. Don't bring all of the things that we depend on in America. Bring what it is that you are going to need to survive and stay healthy during your visit. The more comforts you have, the more you will depend on them, and the less you will step out to become the traveler you ought to be!
Put yourself out there. Locals are always interested to interact with foreigners, and it's best to take advantage of this. Meet people that you can share life with while you are in their country. Immerse into their culture and be open to new idea's. A lot of times we are closed to new idea's and we miss out on opportunities for better things to come along. Be open, willing and accepting.
If you want to be changed, and to experience you need to leave the tourist at home. Bring out the inner traveler in you and see the world in the way that it was meant to be seen.
All You Need to Know About Travel Humidors by: Dave Lavinsky When humidors where first created by Zino Davidoff in the early 20th century, they were
All You Need to Know About Travel Humidors
by: Dave Lavinsky
When humidors where first created by Zino Davidoff in the early 20th century, they were large cellar humidors which certainly made for restricted travel. One now had the ability to strive for the perfect cigar, but only from home. Most people would agree that the feasibility of traveling with a large room did not exist, and still does not, even today. A dilemma arose as to how to preserve a moist cigar while traveling.
Early models of travel humidors were patterned after air-tight cases in which the cigar aficionado placed cigars already maintained in a cellar humidor. This worked well except that when one opened the travel humidor, since the maintained humidity existed as a result of already moist cigars, each time the humidor was opened, humidity would escape and the ambient humidity of the room replaced the humidity that had been inside the travel humidor.
Today humidors can be found that are battery-powered or can be plugged into any available AC outlet or a combination of both. While these types of humidors are more functional than ostentatious, they can be made of any materials in varying shapes and designs, suited to please the taste of even the most discriminating smoker.
Most travel humidors are made of extremely durable plastic, designed to withstand the rigors of being moved about and for its lightweight portability.
Travel humidors now meant that a society that is becoming increasingly more mobile as a result of the prevalence of automobiles and air is no longer demanded to choose between having a perfect cigar and being tied to home or having to leave behind one's favorite pastime to travel.
by: Dave Lavinsky
When humidors where first created by Zino Davidoff in the early 20th century, they were large cellar humidors which certainly made for restricted travel. One now had the ability to strive for the perfect cigar, but only from home. Most people would agree that the feasibility of traveling with a large room did not exist, and still does not, even today. A dilemma arose as to how to preserve a moist cigar while traveling.
Early models of travel humidors were patterned after air-tight cases in which the cigar aficionado placed cigars already maintained in a cellar humidor. This worked well except that when one opened the travel humidor, since the maintained humidity existed as a result of already moist cigars, each time the humidor was opened, humidity would escape and the ambient humidity of the room replaced the humidity that had been inside the travel humidor.
Today humidors can be found that are battery-powered or can be plugged into any available AC outlet or a combination of both. While these types of humidors are more functional than ostentatious, they can be made of any materials in varying shapes and designs, suited to please the taste of even the most discriminating smoker.
Most travel humidors are made of extremely durable plastic, designed to withstand the rigors of being moved about and for its lightweight portability.
Travel humidors now meant that a society that is becoming increasingly more mobile as a result of the prevalence of automobiles and air is no longer demanded to choose between having a perfect cigar and being tied to home or having to leave behind one's favorite pastime to travel.
All inclusive travel planning
All inclusive travel planning
by: Dakota Caudilla
Ever tried to cram all your travel plans into one small budget and short schedule? If you have, you will know the true meaning of a frugal and haphazard vacation. Some people think that all-inclusive vacation packages leave very little space for them to have fun and there's no flexibility. But they are wrong.
You can save money with an all-inclusive vacation package
If you're really tight on the budget, booking an all-inclusive vacation package can save you quite a big chunk of cash. Because these all-inclusive package vacation companies have close ties with hotels and popular tourist spots in the country, they can get a better rate than you can! Hence, normally, the discounts and savings will be passed on to you - the all-inclusive vacation customers, tourists and visitors!
All-inclusive vacations are hassle-free
Planning a vacation can give you headaches! When you book an all-inclusive vacation package, you're actually giving yourself the chance to COMPLETELY enjoy the vacation without having to worry about the nitty-gritty details. Your accommodation, food, entertainment and traveling are all taken care of. The only thing that you and your family members have to worry about is how much fun you're going to have during the vacation. Some tourists and vacationers like to get an all-inclusive vacation package because there's lack of time. Some people have to contend with last minute plans. The all-inclusive vacation packages can be real life savers in this instance. Even honeymooners love all-inclusive packages because they don't want to have to worry about meals, entertainment, activities, transportation and accommodation when they should be focused on each other!
Mealtime fun with all-inclusive vacation packages
One of the most worrisome things for tourists is WHERE to eat. Because we are not familiar with the country and the booklets that we can get from airports are hardly accurate (most of the time), meal times are worrying. When we're visiting another country, we want to try another delicacy, something new..and cheap. Who better to tell you where to find it than an all-inclusive vacation planner? They have all the ropes, hang on to them and enjoy the meal!
All-inclusive packages - tells you the cultural differences between races and religions
You can read all you want from the Internet or from books on the different cultures and religions in the country that you're visiting.and yet, whenever you're on an all-inclusive vacation package, the tourist guide will STILL tell you things that surprises you! and this is an important point because you don't really want to step on someone's toes when you're in THEIR country.
Besides all of that, with all-inclusive vacation packages, you don't have to worry about where to have fun because they plan everything for you. All-inclusive vacation packages are definitely worth it!
Dakota Caudilla, journalist, and website builder Dakota Caudilla lives in Texas. He is the owner and co-editor of http://www.vacation-source.com on which you will find a longer, more detailed version of this article.
by: Dakota Caudilla
Ever tried to cram all your travel plans into one small budget and short schedule? If you have, you will know the true meaning of a frugal and haphazard vacation. Some people think that all-inclusive vacation packages leave very little space for them to have fun and there's no flexibility. But they are wrong.
You can save money with an all-inclusive vacation package
If you're really tight on the budget, booking an all-inclusive vacation package can save you quite a big chunk of cash. Because these all-inclusive package vacation companies have close ties with hotels and popular tourist spots in the country, they can get a better rate than you can! Hence, normally, the discounts and savings will be passed on to you - the all-inclusive vacation customers, tourists and visitors!
All-inclusive vacations are hassle-free
Planning a vacation can give you headaches! When you book an all-inclusive vacation package, you're actually giving yourself the chance to COMPLETELY enjoy the vacation without having to worry about the nitty-gritty details. Your accommodation, food, entertainment and traveling are all taken care of. The only thing that you and your family members have to worry about is how much fun you're going to have during the vacation. Some tourists and vacationers like to get an all-inclusive vacation package because there's lack of time. Some people have to contend with last minute plans. The all-inclusive vacation packages can be real life savers in this instance. Even honeymooners love all-inclusive packages because they don't want to have to worry about meals, entertainment, activities, transportation and accommodation when they should be focused on each other!
Mealtime fun with all-inclusive vacation packages
One of the most worrisome things for tourists is WHERE to eat. Because we are not familiar with the country and the booklets that we can get from airports are hardly accurate (most of the time), meal times are worrying. When we're visiting another country, we want to try another delicacy, something new..and cheap. Who better to tell you where to find it than an all-inclusive vacation planner? They have all the ropes, hang on to them and enjoy the meal!
All-inclusive packages - tells you the cultural differences between races and religions
You can read all you want from the Internet or from books on the different cultures and religions in the country that you're visiting.and yet, whenever you're on an all-inclusive vacation package, the tourist guide will STILL tell you things that surprises you! and this is an important point because you don't really want to step on someone's toes when you're in THEIR country.
Besides all of that, with all-inclusive vacation packages, you don't have to worry about where to have fun because they plan everything for you. All-inclusive vacation packages are definitely worth it!
Dakota Caudilla, journalist, and website builder Dakota Caudilla lives in Texas. He is the owner and co-editor of http://www.vacation-source.com on which you will find a longer, more detailed version of this article.
Airport Travel Tips: Reducing Waiting Times by: Marisol Boatwright Key Travel Tips Following these tips will help you reduce your wait time at the se
Airport Travel Tips: Reducing Waiting Times
by: Marisol Boatwright
Key Travel Tips Following these tips will help you reduce your wait time at the security checkpoint. Before you go to the Airport .Do not pack or bring Prohibited Items to the airport. .Place valuables such as jewelry, cash and laptop computers in carry-on baggage only. .Tape your business card to the bottom of your laptop. .Avoid wearing clothing, jewelry and accessories that contain metal. Metal items may set off the alarm on the metal detector. .Avoid wearing shoes that contain metal or have thick soles or heels. Many types of footwear will require additional screening even if the metal detector does not alarm. .Put all undeveloped film and cameras with film in your carry-on baggage. Checked baggage screening equipment will damage undeveloped film. .Declare firearms & ammunition to your airline and place them in your checked baggage. .If you wish to lock your baggage, use a TSA-recognized lock. .Do not bring lighters or prohibited matches to the airport. .Do not pack wrapped gifts and do not bring wrapped gifts to the checkpoint. Wrap on arrival or ship your gifts prior to your departure. TSA may have to unwrap packages for security reasons. While at the Airport Each adult traveler needs to keep available his/her airline boarding pass and government-issued photo ID until exiting the security checkpoint. Due to different airport configurations, at many airports you will be required to display these documents more than once. .Place the following items IN your carry-on baggage or in a plastic bag prior to entering the screening checkpoint: oMobile phones oKeys oLoose change oMoney clips oPDA's (personal data assistants) oLarge amounts of jewelry oMetal hair decorations oLarge belt buckles .Take your laptop and video cameras with cassettes OUT of their cases and place them in a bin provided at the checkpoint. .Take OFF all outer coats, suit coats, jackets and blazers.
by: Marisol Boatwright
Key Travel Tips Following these tips will help you reduce your wait time at the security checkpoint. Before you go to the Airport .Do not pack or bring Prohibited Items to the airport. .Place valuables such as jewelry, cash and laptop computers in carry-on baggage only. .Tape your business card to the bottom of your laptop. .Avoid wearing clothing, jewelry and accessories that contain metal. Metal items may set off the alarm on the metal detector. .Avoid wearing shoes that contain metal or have thick soles or heels. Many types of footwear will require additional screening even if the metal detector does not alarm. .Put all undeveloped film and cameras with film in your carry-on baggage. Checked baggage screening equipment will damage undeveloped film. .Declare firearms & ammunition to your airline and place them in your checked baggage. .If you wish to lock your baggage, use a TSA-recognized lock. .Do not bring lighters or prohibited matches to the airport. .Do not pack wrapped gifts and do not bring wrapped gifts to the checkpoint. Wrap on arrival or ship your gifts prior to your departure. TSA may have to unwrap packages for security reasons. While at the Airport Each adult traveler needs to keep available his/her airline boarding pass and government-issued photo ID until exiting the security checkpoint. Due to different airport configurations, at many airports you will be required to display these documents more than once. .Place the following items IN your carry-on baggage or in a plastic bag prior to entering the screening checkpoint: oMobile phones oKeys oLoose change oMoney clips oPDA's (personal data assistants) oLarge amounts of jewelry oMetal hair decorations oLarge belt buckles .Take your laptop and video cameras with cassettes OUT of their cases and place them in a bin provided at the checkpoint. .Take OFF all outer coats, suit coats, jackets and blazers.
Air Travel around the world and let your cares fall by the ws, to get on a plane and go somewhere, can be on
Air Travel around the world and let your cares fall by the w
Air Travel and vacations, to get on a plane and go somewhere, can be one of life's most rewarding experiences. It's so exciting to contemplate an exotic or relaxing destination, for no other reason than to just get away. Half the fun of air travel and vacations, or any trip for that matter, is the anticipation of waiting for the day of departure to arrive.
You know how it is; you're busy with your work and career, deadlines, meetings etc. One afternoon you look over at the calendar and realize that in only 6 weeks, a mere 42 days, you'll be taking off for 10 days of fun, sun and excitement. You get a good, warm feeling knowing that your air travel vacation is just around the corner. Sometimes just knowing that your going on a vacation is all it takes to brighten your day.
Find the best air travel deals on the internet for your next vacation.
Because of the power of the internet, it is now possible to find wonderful air travel bargains and vacations right from your own home. It doesn't matter if you're looking for cruises, cheap airline tickets or Las Vegas vacations, you'll find them all on the internet.
Air Travel and vacations, to get on a plane and go somewhere, can be one of life's most rewarding experiences. It's so exciting to contemplate an exotic or relaxing destination, for no other reason than to just get away. Half the fun of air travel and vacations, or any trip for that matter, is the anticipation of waiting for the day of departure to arrive.
You know how it is; you're busy with your work and career, deadlines, meetings etc. One afternoon you look over at the calendar and realize that in only 6 weeks, a mere 42 days, you'll be taking off for 10 days of fun, sun and excitement. You get a good, warm feeling knowing that your air travel vacation is just around the corner. Sometimes just knowing that your going on a vacation is all it takes to brighten your day.
Find the best air travel deals on the internet for your next vacation.
Because of the power of the internet, it is now possible to find wonderful air travel bargains and vacations right from your own home. It doesn't matter if you're looking for cruises, cheap airline tickets or Las Vegas vacations, you'll find them all on the internet.
A TIME-TRAVEL POSTCARD...
by: Theolonius McTavish
(c) Theolonius McTavish 2004. All rights reserved.
Seeking a spot of serenity somewhere in the universe, I recently booked a deep-discount dodgy berth on the 'White Elephant Express Space Shuttle', to a little known place in a galaxy far, far away.
"IT" (otherwise known as HD 36405.b) is not your average "oddball" exo-solar planet made of rock that wobbles on its end and zips around a nearby star in less than 2.46 days.
Most linear thinkers have a great deal of difficulty even comprehending why on earth anyone in their "right mind" would be interested in visiting a planet called "IT". Not being a linear thinker with an investment in the "right" answer, I didn't give a hoot. After all, what does one (who walks on water and listens to miffed mortals all day long) do for a frigging night off, now I ask you?
If truth be told, (after reading random excerpts from "The Itty Bitty Bunkum Book About Life, the Universe and Practically Everything Under the Sun Not To Mention Stuff Going On In Remote Galaxies), I was simply delirious. According to its noted author, Dr. Jarn Leffer, "IT is a 'must-see' for those with little time on their hands and a passionate interest in Innocuous Things."
As planets go, "IT" is a pretty ho-hum celestial pit-stop with perhaps one exception. the welcome notice that reads, "Cosmic Cowboys - Welcome to the furthest unexplored outreaches of the Galaxy . Home to the Flop Fairy and Oodles of Gadflies!"
"IT" is populated by colonies of giggling, green grasshoppers . What else would you expect to inhabit a far-flung, fantasy-challenged hellhole like this? But, what made "IT" strictly speaking a strange place was the fact that the inhabitants munch on green, biodegradable garbage bags just for fun. Lacking masticating capabilities, the gadflies process their food by vigorously jumping up and down on it. No wonder they have no need for fast-food franchises, strip malls or landfills!
Anyway, I picked up this picturesque postcard of the blessed ballyhooing buglugs. They look perfectly happy but don't be deceived. In reality, they're just a gang of glad-handing grasshoppers. They don't play golf, eat burgers, or drink beer -- and none can frost a rock! Come to think of it, apart from the company of bugs and the elusive flop fairy, this pathetic planet has precious little going for IT!!
To put "IT" bluntly, life on "IT" is just shy of a tittynope*. The jolly green grasshoppers and the carefully manicured green fairways with sand traps as far as the eye can see certainly make for an utterly harmless world. Regrettably, without a pair of golf clubs, a dimpled white ball, and the notion that 19th hole even exists on this planet -- "IT" is about as fun as bag of toads!
Life Lesson 42: Remember to talk to your travel agent before ever embarking on a flight of fancy to a planet called "IT" in a galaxy named "Have-a-Nice-Day"!!
__________
*"Tittynope" for you whiffling word-peckers means "a small quantity of anything left over".
If you want to know what those green, glad-handing grasshoppers from "IT" look like -- ask any four-year old, or failing that request some help from a Flying Saucer Club member.
(c) Theolonius McTavish 2004. All rights reserved.
Seeking a spot of serenity somewhere in the universe, I recently booked a deep-discount dodgy berth on the 'White Elephant Express Space Shuttle', to a little known place in a galaxy far, far away.
"IT" (otherwise known as HD 36405.b) is not your average "oddball" exo-solar planet made of rock that wobbles on its end and zips around a nearby star in less than 2.46 days.
Most linear thinkers have a great deal of difficulty even comprehending why on earth anyone in their "right mind" would be interested in visiting a planet called "IT". Not being a linear thinker with an investment in the "right" answer, I didn't give a hoot. After all, what does one (who walks on water and listens to miffed mortals all day long) do for a frigging night off, now I ask you?
If truth be told, (after reading random excerpts from "The Itty Bitty Bunkum Book About Life, the Universe and Practically Everything Under the Sun Not To Mention Stuff Going On In Remote Galaxies), I was simply delirious. According to its noted author, Dr. Jarn Leffer, "IT is a 'must-see' for those with little time on their hands and a passionate interest in Innocuous Things."
As planets go, "IT" is a pretty ho-hum celestial pit-stop with perhaps one exception. the welcome notice that reads, "Cosmic Cowboys - Welcome to the furthest unexplored outreaches of the Galaxy . Home to the Flop Fairy and Oodles of Gadflies!"
"IT" is populated by colonies of giggling, green grasshoppers . What else would you expect to inhabit a far-flung, fantasy-challenged hellhole like this? But, what made "IT" strictly speaking a strange place was the fact that the inhabitants munch on green, biodegradable garbage bags just for fun. Lacking masticating capabilities, the gadflies process their food by vigorously jumping up and down on it. No wonder they have no need for fast-food franchises, strip malls or landfills!
Anyway, I picked up this picturesque postcard of the blessed ballyhooing buglugs. They look perfectly happy but don't be deceived. In reality, they're just a gang of glad-handing grasshoppers. They don't play golf, eat burgers, or drink beer -- and none can frost a rock! Come to think of it, apart from the company of bugs and the elusive flop fairy, this pathetic planet has precious little going for IT!!
To put "IT" bluntly, life on "IT" is just shy of a tittynope*. The jolly green grasshoppers and the carefully manicured green fairways with sand traps as far as the eye can see certainly make for an utterly harmless world. Regrettably, without a pair of golf clubs, a dimpled white ball, and the notion that 19th hole even exists on this planet -- "IT" is about as fun as bag of toads!
Life Lesson 42: Remember to talk to your travel agent before ever embarking on a flight of fancy to a planet called "IT" in a galaxy named "Have-a-Nice-Day"!!
__________
*"Tittynope" for you whiffling word-peckers means "a small quantity of anything left over".
If you want to know what those green, glad-handing grasshoppers from "IT" look like -- ask any four-year old, or failing that request some help from a Flying Saucer Club member.
A Photocopied Travel Letter To Home
As we drove from Traverse City, Michigan to Tucson, Arizona, I wrote a series of letters, and photocopied them to send to family and friends. This was the first of the three.
Travel Letter #1
Saturday, 12/13/03 - Good morning. Welcome to our vacation form letter. We're in Arizona now. The sun is shining and it will be in the sixties today, which should melt the ice on the windows soon. Ana's foot doesn't seem to be broken, as we thought, so we took a long walk in the desert last night. We saw a coyote, probably the same one I chased the other day, and there were javelina tracks everywhere.
The library in Safford has books in Spanish, so Ana is enjoying reading now that her eye-patch is off. The doctor promised that the "divet" left by his golf-club-like blade will heal soon. We learned that eyeballs have many nerve endings, and we think the object in her eye may have been a fiber from a yucca plant.
Our uncontrollable coughs are under control now, and we aren't among the ten people in Arizona that died from the flu this week. Oh, and the antibiotics from the Safford clinic seem to have helped with Ana's abcessed tooth.
I should start at the beginning. The first day, after dealing with the usual rudeness of the INS employees in Detroit, we made it to Kansas. We hit a traffic cone there at high speed, and heard a horrible sound coming from under the van. The cone, I discovered, had been dragging along underneath. Nothing was broken, but later the bright light switch stopped working.
Fortunately, we drove during daylight after that. In the Colorado mountains we went from 16 to 20 miles-per-gallon, confusing the sensors and causing the "check engine" light to turn on. We successfully ignored it until it changed it's mind.
In Farmington, New Mexico, we spent a few days resting and coughing. We were about an hour away from buying a house when we discovered it needed new wiring, had a garden hose attached to the natural gas line, and other problems we missed on our first visit. The old man begged me to buy it, called our motel room to tell me he needed money for open-heart surgery in three days, and called again to lower the price, but we moved on. By the way, the house was to be a winter project, not a new home.
Monument Valley was beautiful, the Christmas parade in Holbrook was cute, and despite various problems and illnesses, we're having a great time. You see, I didn't want to make you all jealous, so I left out a lot - the constant sun, the beautiful sculptures in Grand Junction, and the nine times we've been in hot springs in Colorado, New Mexico, and Arizona. Next week we're going to Mexico for lunch. Hope all is well in Michigan. Adios,
Travel Letter #1
Saturday, 12/13/03 - Good morning. Welcome to our vacation form letter. We're in Arizona now. The sun is shining and it will be in the sixties today, which should melt the ice on the windows soon. Ana's foot doesn't seem to be broken, as we thought, so we took a long walk in the desert last night. We saw a coyote, probably the same one I chased the other day, and there were javelina tracks everywhere.
The library in Safford has books in Spanish, so Ana is enjoying reading now that her eye-patch is off. The doctor promised that the "divet" left by his golf-club-like blade will heal soon. We learned that eyeballs have many nerve endings, and we think the object in her eye may have been a fiber from a yucca plant.
Our uncontrollable coughs are under control now, and we aren't among the ten people in Arizona that died from the flu this week. Oh, and the antibiotics from the Safford clinic seem to have helped with Ana's abcessed tooth.
I should start at the beginning. The first day, after dealing with the usual rudeness of the INS employees in Detroit, we made it to Kansas. We hit a traffic cone there at high speed, and heard a horrible sound coming from under the van. The cone, I discovered, had been dragging along underneath. Nothing was broken, but later the bright light switch stopped working.
Fortunately, we drove during daylight after that. In the Colorado mountains we went from 16 to 20 miles-per-gallon, confusing the sensors and causing the "check engine" light to turn on. We successfully ignored it until it changed it's mind.
In Farmington, New Mexico, we spent a few days resting and coughing. We were about an hour away from buying a house when we discovered it needed new wiring, had a garden hose attached to the natural gas line, and other problems we missed on our first visit. The old man begged me to buy it, called our motel room to tell me he needed money for open-heart surgery in three days, and called again to lower the price, but we moved on. By the way, the house was to be a winter project, not a new home.
Monument Valley was beautiful, the Christmas parade in Holbrook was cute, and despite various problems and illnesses, we're having a great time. You see, I didn't want to make you all jealous, so I left out a lot - the constant sun, the beautiful sculptures in Grand Junction, and the nine times we've been in hot springs in Colorado, New Mexico, and Arizona. Next week we're going to Mexico for lunch. Hope all is well in Michigan. Adios,
A Complete India Travel Guide Launched
A Complete India Travel Guide Launched
Your wait is finally over. A complete Travel Guide, www.travelgoindia.com that focuses completely on India has been launched. The days of scratching about for information on India before you embark on a tour of this beautiful country is passé. Learn more about the beauty of this enchanting land from this exhaustively informative website www.travelgoindia.com. This travel guide has quite a few useful tools that enable it to become a traveler's best friend.
Are you ready to pack your bag but not very sure about your destination? At TravelGoIndia.com you will get to know about some tourist locations, whose existence you were never aware of. No wonder, this is by far the best India Travel Guide that you will find in the Internet. Rich in information, this exclusively India centric travel guide is surely destined to become a tourist's best pal.
TravelGoIndia.com is conceived to provide travelers with enough information on travel so that it becomes easier for them to take decisions. The website enables you to book hotels in more than 150 Indian cities. You also have the choice to book a luxury hotel or a budget hotel. One added advantage that this complete India Travel Guide has is its ability to book hotels real time through partners and give instant confirmation facility. It has more than 500 hotels of all categories throughout India in its database. You can, therefore, be pretty sure of getting a hotel room anywhere in the country.
This extremely informative guide on Indian tourism will help you plan you tour without getting sand between your toes. Tourists who love to stay off the beaten track will find this website to their liking. There are plenty of exotic tour packages like safari tours, golf tours, beach holidays and adventure tours. If you want to re-live history, you will have plenty of information on historic places like Delhi, Jaipur and Agra. Enjoy life in throbbing metropolitan cities like Mumbai. The website aims to provide you will all the travel resources that you may need. Here you will find popular tourist destinations as well as lesser known paradises on earth.
Knowledge is power. Your tour can be safe and delightful if you have all the information about the place where you wish to go. At TravelGoIndia.com, you will have more than enough information on tourist attractions. Small things often make big difference. TravelGoIndia.com has an eye for detail. Here you will get the direction of tourist hot spots from different transit points like airport, railway station and even bus stop. You will also get to know about the hotels near that attraction. TravelGoIndia.com has the ability to book a flight or car too.
This complete India Travel Guide is the only one of its kind. It has more information than a typical travel search engine. At the same time it enables you to book hotels, flights, cars and packages online. These entire things combine together to make www.travelgoindia.com a unique India oriented travel guide.
Your wait is finally over. A complete Travel Guide, www.travelgoindia.com that focuses completely on India has been launched. The days of scratching about for information on India before you embark on a tour of this beautiful country is passé. Learn more about the beauty of this enchanting land from this exhaustively informative website www.travelgoindia.com. This travel guide has quite a few useful tools that enable it to become a traveler's best friend.
Are you ready to pack your bag but not very sure about your destination? At TravelGoIndia.com you will get to know about some tourist locations, whose existence you were never aware of. No wonder, this is by far the best India Travel Guide that you will find in the Internet. Rich in information, this exclusively India centric travel guide is surely destined to become a tourist's best pal.
TravelGoIndia.com is conceived to provide travelers with enough information on travel so that it becomes easier for them to take decisions. The website enables you to book hotels in more than 150 Indian cities. You also have the choice to book a luxury hotel or a budget hotel. One added advantage that this complete India Travel Guide has is its ability to book hotels real time through partners and give instant confirmation facility. It has more than 500 hotels of all categories throughout India in its database. You can, therefore, be pretty sure of getting a hotel room anywhere in the country.
This extremely informative guide on Indian tourism will help you plan you tour without getting sand between your toes. Tourists who love to stay off the beaten track will find this website to their liking. There are plenty of exotic tour packages like safari tours, golf tours, beach holidays and adventure tours. If you want to re-live history, you will have plenty of information on historic places like Delhi, Jaipur and Agra. Enjoy life in throbbing metropolitan cities like Mumbai. The website aims to provide you will all the travel resources that you may need. Here you will find popular tourist destinations as well as lesser known paradises on earth.
Knowledge is power. Your tour can be safe and delightful if you have all the information about the place where you wish to go. At TravelGoIndia.com, you will have more than enough information on tourist attractions. Small things often make big difference. TravelGoIndia.com has an eye for detail. Here you will get the direction of tourist hot spots from different transit points like airport, railway station and even bus stop. You will also get to know about the hotels near that attraction. TravelGoIndia.com has the ability to book a flight or car too.
This complete India Travel Guide is the only one of its kind. It has more information than a typical travel search engine. At the same time it enables you to book hotels, flights, cars and packages online. These entire things combine together to make www.travelgoindia.com a unique India oriented travel guide.
8-Tips for Packing and Traveling Lite
8-Tips for Packing and Traveling Lite
by: Holly Bentz
How-to Pack and Travel Lite
In this day and age of traveling cephalalgia, there are a few packing tactics to employ. To cut out an extra thirty to forty minutes at the arriving airport, start with packing small luggage. Since carry-ons can not exceed a linear dimension of 45 inches, you can escape the fiasco of the baggage terminal by simply packing and traveling light. To learn how to pack all your needs into one suitcase, read more.
Use the following pithy packing tips to make your travel light:
Make a list. Compose a pack list. Be sure to coordinate shirts and blouses with bottoms. To maximize your traveling wardrobe fashion savoir faire, stick with solids and versatile basics. Rule-out any clothes that do not match other items.
Roll 'em up please. The best way to fit all your clothes is by rolling pants and shirts. First fold each item in half. Then simply roll. To try to maintain any creases, start on the bulkiest end of the article of clothing.
Gear up. How to make an awe-inspiring impression out of a basic or mundane outfit? For the most glam appeal, accessorize with a vibrant tie (for him) or a florid scarf (for her). Multihued accessories can liven up just about any attire.
Minimize bulk. After you check for space, edit outfits - ruthlessly. Try to pack microfibers with wrinkle and stain free comfort. With most of your attire, stay in the same color scheme - in case you have to layer up for warmth.
Employ shoe smarts. For men, any leather rubber-soled shoes can make the day and night transition, easy. For woman, a pair of flip-flops, strappy sandals and comfy wedges can serve all casual - chic dressing needs.
Put under garments on the top. To reduce the embarrassment of under garments becoming the side show attraction of the open luggage scan, place all panties in a plastic bag free of any clippers, lighters or other questionable paraphernalia. For expedient security review, place the transparent bag on top of your other items so security can access the bag without ruining your efficient packing method.
Lose Extra Baggage. Leave the heavy travel guide at home. Duplicate important resources to keep your luggage free of extra pounds. Since most hotels and resorts provide irons and blow-dryers --leave yours at home for light travel.
Leave restricted items at home. If you want to make it through security extra fast, avoid any firearms, weapons, box-cutters, scissors, razors, lighters and any other item that may be used in a terrorist situation..
by: Holly Bentz
How-to Pack and Travel Lite
In this day and age of traveling cephalalgia, there are a few packing tactics to employ. To cut out an extra thirty to forty minutes at the arriving airport, start with packing small luggage. Since carry-ons can not exceed a linear dimension of 45 inches, you can escape the fiasco of the baggage terminal by simply packing and traveling light. To learn how to pack all your needs into one suitcase, read more.
Use the following pithy packing tips to make your travel light:
Make a list. Compose a pack list. Be sure to coordinate shirts and blouses with bottoms. To maximize your traveling wardrobe fashion savoir faire, stick with solids and versatile basics. Rule-out any clothes that do not match other items.
Roll 'em up please. The best way to fit all your clothes is by rolling pants and shirts. First fold each item in half. Then simply roll. To try to maintain any creases, start on the bulkiest end of the article of clothing.
Gear up. How to make an awe-inspiring impression out of a basic or mundane outfit? For the most glam appeal, accessorize with a vibrant tie (for him) or a florid scarf (for her). Multihued accessories can liven up just about any attire.
Minimize bulk. After you check for space, edit outfits - ruthlessly. Try to pack microfibers with wrinkle and stain free comfort. With most of your attire, stay in the same color scheme - in case you have to layer up for warmth.
Employ shoe smarts. For men, any leather rubber-soled shoes can make the day and night transition, easy. For woman, a pair of flip-flops, strappy sandals and comfy wedges can serve all casual - chic dressing needs.
Put under garments on the top. To reduce the embarrassment of under garments becoming the side show attraction of the open luggage scan, place all panties in a plastic bag free of any clippers, lighters or other questionable paraphernalia. For expedient security review, place the transparent bag on top of your other items so security can access the bag without ruining your efficient packing method.
Lose Extra Baggage. Leave the heavy travel guide at home. Duplicate important resources to keep your luggage free of extra pounds. Since most hotels and resorts provide irons and blow-dryers --leave yours at home for light travel.
Leave restricted items at home. If you want to make it through security extra fast, avoid any firearms, weapons, box-cutters, scissors, razors, lighters and any other item that may be used in a terrorist situation..
5 Romantic Travel Resolutions
5 Romantic Travel Resolutions
by: Paris Permenter & John Bigley
A new year always means a chance for a new start. You and yours can begin this new year by making some travel resolutions together, regardless of your time and budget restraints. Put aside those old travel habits and make some new ones! Let this be the year that your travel plans focus on fun, fantasy, and festivities!
(1) We're going to plan a real vacation. No, it doesn't have to be an around the world cruise or first class getaway (but if you can afford it, what are you waiting for?) It does have to be an honest-to-goodness vacation, though. No cell phones, no laptops. Mark the dates on the calendar and keep it just like you'd keep any business appointment. The business of romantic travel, though, is a fun one and an activity that the two of you can plan for months.
(2) We're going to involve each other in the trip planning. All too often, one partner gets the job for planning a trip...and that task quickly becomes a bore. Plan your trips together! Anticipation is half the fun. Visit a travel agent. Collect brochures. Buy a guidebook. Rent a video about your destination. Search the internet for information.
(3) We're going to do something we've never done. Here you can be as mild -- or as wild -- as you dare. Go whitewater rafting. Rent a houseboat. Take a hot air balloon ride. Spend the night in a local bed and breakfast. Learn to scuba dive. Dance the whole night away under the stars. The choice is yours.
(4) We're going to take one mini-vacation every month. Whether it's for the night or just for the night out, plan one tiny slice of a vacation every single month. The only rule: you must pretend you're on vacation. Book a night at a local bed and breakfast. Call your local hotel and find out their non-peak nights (in business-oriented cities, it's usually Friday and Saturday) then plan a short romantic getaway.
(5) We're going to go to at least one festival. Special events take place at just about every community around the world. Whatever your interests -- from square dancing to sandcastle building -- you'll find a festival celebrating with a day or two of fun and food. If you don't have the time or budget to go far, contact area chamber of commerce or tourism offices within a day's drive of your home for their calendar of events. If you can, extend your trip into a long weekend. If you've got the time and resources, check out some of the major fun festivals: Carnival, Mardi Gras, Rio's Carnivale. Don't forget your costume!
by: Paris Permenter & John Bigley
A new year always means a chance for a new start. You and yours can begin this new year by making some travel resolutions together, regardless of your time and budget restraints. Put aside those old travel habits and make some new ones! Let this be the year that your travel plans focus on fun, fantasy, and festivities!
(1) We're going to plan a real vacation. No, it doesn't have to be an around the world cruise or first class getaway (but if you can afford it, what are you waiting for?) It does have to be an honest-to-goodness vacation, though. No cell phones, no laptops. Mark the dates on the calendar and keep it just like you'd keep any business appointment. The business of romantic travel, though, is a fun one and an activity that the two of you can plan for months.
(2) We're going to involve each other in the trip planning. All too often, one partner gets the job for planning a trip...and that task quickly becomes a bore. Plan your trips together! Anticipation is half the fun. Visit a travel agent. Collect brochures. Buy a guidebook. Rent a video about your destination. Search the internet for information.
(3) We're going to do something we've never done. Here you can be as mild -- or as wild -- as you dare. Go whitewater rafting. Rent a houseboat. Take a hot air balloon ride. Spend the night in a local bed and breakfast. Learn to scuba dive. Dance the whole night away under the stars. The choice is yours.
(4) We're going to take one mini-vacation every month. Whether it's for the night or just for the night out, plan one tiny slice of a vacation every single month. The only rule: you must pretend you're on vacation. Book a night at a local bed and breakfast. Call your local hotel and find out their non-peak nights (in business-oriented cities, it's usually Friday and Saturday) then plan a short romantic getaway.
(5) We're going to go to at least one festival. Special events take place at just about every community around the world. Whatever your interests -- from square dancing to sandcastle building -- you'll find a festival celebrating with a day or two of fun and food. If you don't have the time or budget to go far, contact area chamber of commerce or tourism offices within a day's drive of your home for their calendar of events. If you can, extend your trip into a long weekend. If you've got the time and resources, check out some of the major fun festivals: Carnival, Mardi Gras, Rio's Carnivale. Don't forget your costume!
Airline Travel Lingo! Does The Language Need An Interpret by: William Lezubski With airline travel increasing in record numbers, more people are exper
Airline Travel Lingo! Does The Language Need An Interpret
by: William Lezubski
With airline travel increasing in record numbers, more people are experiencing the frustration of understanding the airlines industry language, and leaving them feeling that they need an interpreter for the travel information they're receiving from the airline industry! It seems that air companies think that every individual that flies should have to understand all that travel Jargon they place on their flight reservations, and maybe it's about time we figure out what they're talking about, because it's costing you money and valuable time!
Once you learn all the airlines travel terms, you won't be dependent on your local travel agent anymore, and he/she won't be able to collect all the wonderful service fees from you for being your traveling interpreter.
The price of your travel flight is based on many intricate components that the airlines reservations department implement, not to purposely confuse you, but to formulate their airfares and determine what they need to charge each passenger for all flights taken.
Now if you already know most of these airlines flight terms, then that's ok. However, there are many people that are new to traveling, and are now beginning to use online air suppliers to capitalize on the great deals they offer. But when you're making that reservation, you want to understand why the flight you selected is so cheap, and what are the reasons for the low pricing.
Misunderstanding in Airline Terms can cost you more money!
Most of the airlines service terms you will come across will play a big factor on whether you pay an expensive price for you ticket, or getting the discounted travel deals you're looking for in the first place. I will explain the most common industry terms that many people get confused about:
Nonstop versus Direct or Through Service: Don't get this one confused, because many airline companies don't explain this properly. Nonstop means exactly that, and most travelers want these flights, so they book-up quickly. You fly from your origin and land at your desired destination without any stops in between.
Direct or Through Service: This can get a little confusing to many individuals. The aircraft even though is en route directly to your destination, it may be making some routine stops on the way, and all passengers must remain on the plane at that time. There are many times when you print your ticket that it will not list the cities that it will be landing in, so it is always wise to investigate a little further, and see how long the stop is going to be in each individual city.
Connecting Flight: When you're on this type of service flight, now this is treated differently than the other services above. With this type of flight the plane travels from one city to another, however, the passengers must change aircrafts at some point between the origin city and the destination city.
On-line Connections: This is when you change an aircraft but continue to fly with the same carrier. So if you're flying form Los Angeles to New York on American Airlines. If you make a stop for example in Denver, you will change planes at that airport, but with the same American Airline carrier.
Interline Connection: This is when you as a passenger changes airplanes, but instead of boarding the same company plane you will be on a different airline. For this example, you're flying from Seattle, Washington en route to San Antonio, Texas. If you were on a United flight, you will have a stop in a city in-between your origin and destination, and let say you have to get on an American carrier to continue your journey. The main reason for this is that the particular airline company may not be flying into certain cities due to particular business reasons, so then they share with competing airline business companies.
Open Jaw: No it's not when you see the price of your ticket and your jaw drops. This trip is one in which you depart out of one city, and later return from another city. For example: you fly from San Diego, California to New York City, and then return back home from the city of Boston back to San Diego. This can dramatically increase your airline ticket, so if you're looking to visit a family member in another city that you arrived in, and then depart out of another city where your families live, then carefully check and make sure you understand this term.
Consolidators: A consolidator can be your friend if you understand how they work. Simply put, they purchase tickets from an airline at a rate less than the tariff, with the intention of reselling the tickets to either you the public or travel agencies. They buy tickets in bulk from air carrier companies, and therefore offer substantial savings. If you happen to be wondering what a tariff is, it's basically set pricing, rules, and regulations all put in place by authorized organizations in the airline industry.
Lets talk types of Fares! If you're searching for fares online, you will come across a list of different terminologies for your ticket, and it will reflect on the price you end up paying. The airlines distinguish certain fare prices by the terms normal or restricted.
Normal Fares: A normal fare is first class, business class, and economy. These have no restrictions such as advanced reservation requirements or minimum stay stipulations. Such flights are valid for one year from the date of the first flight and can be extended if not used within that period.
Restricted Excursion and Discounted Fares: These have certain restrictions, and that is why they are cheaper to purchase. They're sold with a number of conditions attached, which most require advanced reservations, and there is normally a minimum and sometimes a maximum stay requirement. Travel dates are pre-determined, and any changes in most cases are subject to a penalty, or at times you can't make any changes at all! Airlines limit the number of seats at these fares to encourage travelers to book early.
With an understanding how the air travel industry communicates, and how they determine a flight schedule and pricing, you will eventually be able to speak their language, prevent air lingo confusion, and obtain the best flight itinerary and price with this new knowledge!
by: William Lezubski
With airline travel increasing in record numbers, more people are experiencing the frustration of understanding the airlines industry language, and leaving them feeling that they need an interpreter for the travel information they're receiving from the airline industry! It seems that air companies think that every individual that flies should have to understand all that travel Jargon they place on their flight reservations, and maybe it's about time we figure out what they're talking about, because it's costing you money and valuable time!
Once you learn all the airlines travel terms, you won't be dependent on your local travel agent anymore, and he/she won't be able to collect all the wonderful service fees from you for being your traveling interpreter.
The price of your travel flight is based on many intricate components that the airlines reservations department implement, not to purposely confuse you, but to formulate their airfares and determine what they need to charge each passenger for all flights taken.
Now if you already know most of these airlines flight terms, then that's ok. However, there are many people that are new to traveling, and are now beginning to use online air suppliers to capitalize on the great deals they offer. But when you're making that reservation, you want to understand why the flight you selected is so cheap, and what are the reasons for the low pricing.
Misunderstanding in Airline Terms can cost you more money!
Most of the airlines service terms you will come across will play a big factor on whether you pay an expensive price for you ticket, or getting the discounted travel deals you're looking for in the first place. I will explain the most common industry terms that many people get confused about:
Nonstop versus Direct or Through Service: Don't get this one confused, because many airline companies don't explain this properly. Nonstop means exactly that, and most travelers want these flights, so they book-up quickly. You fly from your origin and land at your desired destination without any stops in between.
Direct or Through Service: This can get a little confusing to many individuals. The aircraft even though is en route directly to your destination, it may be making some routine stops on the way, and all passengers must remain on the plane at that time. There are many times when you print your ticket that it will not list the cities that it will be landing in, so it is always wise to investigate a little further, and see how long the stop is going to be in each individual city.
Connecting Flight: When you're on this type of service flight, now this is treated differently than the other services above. With this type of flight the plane travels from one city to another, however, the passengers must change aircrafts at some point between the origin city and the destination city.
On-line Connections: This is when you change an aircraft but continue to fly with the same carrier. So if you're flying form Los Angeles to New York on American Airlines. If you make a stop for example in Denver, you will change planes at that airport, but with the same American Airline carrier.
Interline Connection: This is when you as a passenger changes airplanes, but instead of boarding the same company plane you will be on a different airline. For this example, you're flying from Seattle, Washington en route to San Antonio, Texas. If you were on a United flight, you will have a stop in a city in-between your origin and destination, and let say you have to get on an American carrier to continue your journey. The main reason for this is that the particular airline company may not be flying into certain cities due to particular business reasons, so then they share with competing airline business companies.
Open Jaw: No it's not when you see the price of your ticket and your jaw drops. This trip is one in which you depart out of one city, and later return from another city. For example: you fly from San Diego, California to New York City, and then return back home from the city of Boston back to San Diego. This can dramatically increase your airline ticket, so if you're looking to visit a family member in another city that you arrived in, and then depart out of another city where your families live, then carefully check and make sure you understand this term.
Consolidators: A consolidator can be your friend if you understand how they work. Simply put, they purchase tickets from an airline at a rate less than the tariff, with the intention of reselling the tickets to either you the public or travel agencies. They buy tickets in bulk from air carrier companies, and therefore offer substantial savings. If you happen to be wondering what a tariff is, it's basically set pricing, rules, and regulations all put in place by authorized organizations in the airline industry.
Lets talk types of Fares! If you're searching for fares online, you will come across a list of different terminologies for your ticket, and it will reflect on the price you end up paying. The airlines distinguish certain fare prices by the terms normal or restricted.
Normal Fares: A normal fare is first class, business class, and economy. These have no restrictions such as advanced reservation requirements or minimum stay stipulations. Such flights are valid for one year from the date of the first flight and can be extended if not used within that period.
Restricted Excursion and Discounted Fares: These have certain restrictions, and that is why they are cheaper to purchase. They're sold with a number of conditions attached, which most require advanced reservations, and there is normally a minimum and sometimes a maximum stay requirement. Travel dates are pre-determined, and any changes in most cases are subject to a penalty, or at times you can't make any changes at all! Airlines limit the number of seats at these fares to encourage travelers to book early.
With an understanding how the air travel industry communicates, and how they determine a flight schedule and pricing, you will eventually be able to speak their language, prevent air lingo confusion, and obtain the best flight itinerary and price with this new knowledge!
Yes, You Too Can Take A Vacation
by: Kerri Salls
Surveys are interesting. I took note of this one done recently by American Express because it backed up some data I learned at the (National Association of Female Executives) NAFE National Conference in May. According to the survey, 40% of the smallest business owners - those with less than $200,000 in annual revenues - are planning no vacation whatsoever this summer. But even business owners with higher revenues aren't doing much better - only 75% of them expect to get away from the business this summer.
As we were told at the NAFE Conference, even those business owners who do get away from the office, won't truly get away. Rather, one in three will link their vacation time to a business trip and 50% will still check in with the office at least once a day.
Why can't business owners let go? What are the concerns that keep them tied to the business? According to the survey:
* An important client or customer will not receive appropriate service
* The business will miss out on a new opportunity
* There is no other competent person to leave in charge
* The individuals left in charge will make the wrong decisions
* An operational or equipment breakdown will occur without anyone to solve the problem
Such concerns are not surprising. It is hard for a business owner to take any type of vacation worry-free. But with planning, preparation and good leadership you can boost the enjoyment level of your time off to come back refreshed and ready to tackle new challenges and opportunities. Here are 8 steps to prevent vacation angst.
1. Make a plan - To avoid surprises, create a list of scenarios on your current projects and brief your staff on the possibilities and your major concerns about each client. Assign specific staff to each client/account so there is someone that clients can speak to who understands their concerns when you aren't there.
2. Brief your key clients or customers - Offer them advance notice of any extended absence you are planning. There's no reason to keep your vacation schedule a secret. Introduce them to your deputy and convey your confidence in their ability to handle any issues that may arise. If appropriate, consider letting them know how to reach you should a true emergency arise - not that one will because of all your pre-planning.
3. Leadership is being a delegator not a dictator - If you never delegate important tasks to others, you can't expect them to be ready to fill your shoes when you want to take time off. To create a saner situation and build confidence that good things will happen when you aren't there, learn to delegate responsibilities - divvy up those pieces that must still happen in your absence and postpone those that can wait for your return.
4. Strategically schedule your vacation time - Most businesses have a slow season or times of the year when the pace is slower, or at least a bit less crazy. Plan your vacations to coincide with those lulls.
5. Mini-Vacations - If you just can't let go of the business for a whole week or two, or you can't bear to be too far away from the office, try taking a few days out of town, or extend a weekend somewhere else. Even a brief escape from routine with a change of scenery can do wonders for your perspective and re-energize you.
6. Disconnect entirely - When you do take a vacation: turn off your cell phone, don't bring the laptop, don't check your email, don't bring work with you and avoid the temptation to call or visit the office to "check up" on what's happening. If there's an emergency they can't handle, they will find you.
7. Take time off to sharpen skills - If you just can't justify taking time off to kick back and relax, then take time off to learn something new - business or personal. Taking continuing education courses at a local college or business school is a low-cost and effective way to break from your office routine, be with new people and try new things. Some programs are 3-5 days off-site if that fits your schedule better.
8. Keep your priorities straight - When you go through the exercise of listing the things you really care about, is your business really #1, 2, and 3? Outside of work, your priorities might be connecting with family and friends, spending time with kids, cultivating personal interests, staying healthy or pursuing an avocation. To regain balance in your life, you need to keep work, family and personal time in perspective. Those other priorities help you find more enjoyment in your time away from the business.
Let me know if these tips help you take a well-deserved vacation (or two) this summer.
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