Archive for the 'TRAVEL TIPS' Category

Cuba is the largest of the islands in the Caribbean and it is a gorgeous place to visit.

The pristine beaches, history that fascinates, awe-inspiring scenery and a rich culture all await you when you decide upon Cuba as your vacation getaway destination.

What to Pack as to Clothing?

It is warm and balmy on the island of Cuba. The best types of clothing to pack are light fabrics such as cotton especially for your outdoor activities.

Air conditioning can be found in most of the expected places so you should carry along a light sweater or jacket to prevent goosebumps.

The months of May through October are when the rainy season strikes so you may want to bring along rain gear if you are planning to visit during that time of year.

Casual resort wear is typically worn but if you are planning on visiting such venues as the theatre or an elegant restaurant you may want to pack formal wear for those occasions.

Getting into Cuba

You are allowed to bring your personal affects into Cuba without paying duty. You can also bring along 10 kg. of medication, 1 carton of cigarettes, 2 bottles of liquor and gifts of up to $250. Only $50 of that amount is free of duty while the remainder is 100% taxable.

One of the best parts of traveling is experiencing new cultures. Another aspect of that are the types of food that are available.

Some travelers are more than willing to try new and exotic tastes and ingredients, but others like to stick to tried and true, familiar American dishes.

Those people are missing out on a great experience. Trying old favorites in fresh ways can be one of the best experiences of your trip.

Coffee

Coffee is a staple of the American morning. It is only recently that flavored coffees are hitting mainstream America.

In the Caribbean, it is not unusual to drink coffee flavored with vanilla, mocha, cinnamon or coconut. When traveling to Italy, try their authentic espresso and cappuccino as the American counterpart cannot compete with the real thing.

The Greeks favor heavy coffee or Kafes Varys Glykos. It is made with water, coffee and sugar and it is heated in a “briki.” It is a strong and frothy after dinner beverage that will tantalize the taste buds.

South America is the Mecca of coffee as much of coffee that is consumed in America comes from the nations of South Africa.

Going on vacation [vacation planning] can be an ordeal if you suffer from a physical disability, but by checking out facilities which cater to special needs, you can make your dream holiday come true.

Make it as smooth and comfortable as possible by following these tips:

Vacation plan for disabled people:

Create a travel profile, which explains the nature of your disability, as well as special travel and accommodation requirements.

Reserve air, train and bus tickets in advance to get special discount offers and services. Always keep your disability certificate with you to ensure you get assistance.

If you use a wheelchair, have it serviced or repaired fully before you leave. If you have an artificial limb, buy an extra pair of prosthetic socks and socket liner.

Get travel insurance for safety and emergencies. Carry two medical prescriptions with you always. Keep one with you and the second one in your suitcase.

Air travel: Get to the airport at least 90 minutes before and inform the airlines staff of your needs. Airlines generally provide effective services like wheelchairs for people with disabilities and oxygen equipment is always at hand. Be assertive and let the airline staff know of your dietary needs beforehand.

Planning on a family vacation? Take extra care if you’re traveling with children, especially if you’re taking infants or toddlers. Here are a few tips:

Select destination: Help your children explore their destination by giving them travel guide books. Preferably choose a destination that has a temperate climate.

Study the environmental conditions before leaving. Make sure they have child-friendly facilities.

Transportation: Choose child-friendly transportation. If the destination is far away, fly rather than going by road. Keep a bag on you which contains all the things you need for your kids.

If your child is suffering from ear problems, consult your doctor and take precautions before traveling.

Teach your children how to sit and move in an aeroplane without hurting themselves. Pack special blankets, stuffed toys and a teething ring if you are going with infants. If you are traveling in a car, bus or train, take precautions. Book the tickets in advance to get comfortable seats.

Packing: Pack luggage in a trolley suitcase if your children are old enough to carry it. List the important items before you start packing. Carry cribs, diapers, extra dresses and baby bathing items for infants. Pack story books and lightweight toys to entertain your children.

Worried about how to pack all your luggage for a long trip? Here are a few packing tips to pack your luggage comfortable way and ensure that you don’t carry too much weight.

1. Don’t pack more than you can carry by yourself!

Porters and trolleys may not be available during your trip, so try to fit all your luggage in a baggage that you can carry. Pack the total luggage in one or two bags only.

2. Choose the right suitcase or bag

Make sure your bags are firm enough to protect your clothes. It may tear while you are carrying it. Choose a good quality bag with strong and long straps, which is not likely to tear.

To avoid shoulder and back pain, pack your bag in a rectangular shape instead of pear shape.

3. Packing clothes and other essentials

Pack clothes, shoes, underwear, hairdryers, and other essentials in one bag.  During winter, carry sweaters and woolen clothes.

In your shoulder bag, pack your cosmetic bag, camera, jewelry and a book to read while traveling. Place delicate items in the middle of the suitcase. If you want to pack a belt, place it around the edge of the bag without folding it.

Have you planned for a vacation [vacation planning] or business trip?

If you are traveling by plane, use these simple tips to make your plane ride more pleasant, comfortable and stress-free.

Tips for comfortable and easier flying:

1. Surf the net or get your travel agent to find the lowest flight prices. Make sure your airport of arrival is close to your destination. Reserve tickets in advance to get comfortable seats.
2. Book non-stop planes if traveling with kids and your family.
3. Leave home early to avoid missing the plane.
4. If it’s a business trip, fly early in the morning to ensure you complete all your tasks in time.
5. Leave phone numbers of your friends and relatives at the boarding gate. It will help the airline staff to contact them, if an emergency arises.
6. Compile a list of the entire luggage you are taking.  If you are flying internationally, make sure you don’t exceed the baggage limit, unless you are prepared to pay extra.
7. When packing, split your bank cards, credit cards, cheques and cash. Pack them in different bags and pockets.
8. If you are taking infants, pack diapers, a pad to keep your baby on while changing his/her diaper, baby food and other essentials.

If you have a newly born baby, you wonder when you can go on your first holiday with the new baby.

In the first few months after your baby’s birth, you would prefer to stay at home.

But, when your baby reaches 3 months of age, he is pretty good candidate for travel.

For newborns, full tummy, clean diaper and comfortable place to have good sleep are necessary.

If your baby is breastfed, traveling becomes much easier for you because additional preparation for food is not required.

However, there are certain important steps and safety tips that you need to consider while traveling with newborn babies.

Prefer night flights!

Flying at nights will help your kid to sleep in the flight. It will also ensure you to get some rest on flight as well. So, try to avoid day time journeys or flights to avoid stress during journey. One more thing to consider, avoid busy flights.

When taking a flight that has a lot of empty seats, you can have chance to move to seat that is more comfortable for you along with your baby. Additionally, when you have an empty seat besides you, you can strap your child in that seat at no extra charge.

No one likes a noisy traveler. You know — the guy at the gate with the cell phone glued to his head, shouting details of his personal life, or the scene-maker on the airplane, or the couple trying to break an endurance record in the hotel room next to you.

While dealing with these types of noise can be frustrating, it can also be fun and rewarding. Here are nine tips for dealing with that noisy neighbor.

1. No kidding. Children are wonderful. We were kids once, and many frequent flyers still act like babies. But after a misconnect, a long day, or just the hassles involved with air travel, the screams of young ones can put you right over the edge.

The simple answer is earplugs. And when you know that your child’s behavior is less than stellar on airplanes, buy a jug of earplugs at the local pharmacy and offer them up as a precaution. You will most certainly get a positive response from your seat neighbors.

2. Cell block. There always seems to be that one person in the boarding area who must broadcast his personal affairs to all in the vicinity. Problem is that most of these people don’t realize how loud they are.

A lot of business travelers come off as know-it-alls, moving effortlessly from their town cars to their first-class lounges to the front of the plane, where they’re served mimosas, as they recline in their ergonomic leather seats.

But these so-called “road warriors” aren’t necessarily as smart as they look. If they were, then why would they spend half their lives on the road? After all, travel — and particularly air travel — is the civilian equivalent of water boarding when you aren’t sitting in first class.

And why would they spend so much money on it? Although business travelers comprise only one-third of airline passenger traffic, they account for more than half the air carriers’ revenue.

Truth is, business travelers are often trapped in thankless jobs, and their jet-setting lifestyle only seems glamorous.

A few years ago, Microsoft released a survey that suggested two-thirds of business travelers would just as soon spend time in a dentist’s chair as go on their next business trip. Enough said.

But you can learn something from our collective misery. Here are the three biggest sins committed by business travelers.

Read more at CNN

Are you planning for a holiday to hurricane spot? Whether you are taking a cruise or visiting a spot more prone to hurricane, it is always suggested to take necessary steps to avoid disasters in your traveling during hurricane season.

Usually, hurricane season extends from early June to late November.

The east and Gulf coasts of United States, Central America, and Caribbean are most threatened areas of hurricane.

If you are planning to these particular areas or other hurricane prone areas, don’t let your dreams get blown away by bad weather.

If you take certain precautionary measures, it would be easy for you to make your travel safe and secure. Here are few safety tips for you to travel in hurricane season.

Tips to travel safe in hurricane season!

Consult good travel agent!
Purchase vacation packages through best travel agency. Your travel professionals or travel agents will certainly help you in difficult travel scenarios. This can help you to get peace of mind and you can assure safety and security in your travel to some extent.

Maintain better communication!
Always maintain better communication with your co-travelers and also travel agencies. Unfortunately, if you are stuck with any natural disaster, you can immediately contact the concerned person to get necessary help.