Adventure Luxury Travel Ideas

Travel tour packages can save you a lot of money, but that is not the only benefit of using one.  They save a lot of time in preparing the holiday, and save you the stress of having to deal with lots of different countries when trying to put together an itinerary that works for you, and that fits in with your schedule.  This is especially true when you’re traveling to another country, Asia travel, for example would work best as packaged tour. A travel tour package takes the planning out of your hands and gives you the time to do other things.  Also, should any issues arise – such as hotels being overbooked, or flights being canceled, your travel agent will deal with that for you.  Here is an overview of the many benefits of travel tour packages.

The Most Obvious Benefits
Travel tour packages save you money in a lot of ways – the agencies that offer packages are able to get discount rates on every aspect of the trip because they buy places in bulk, so you save a huge amount of money by going with a travel tour package company.
You and your family may be going on your own but the travel agency has sold a lot of vacations just like yours so that they can offer them at discount prices.  Usually important things like food and beverages and potentially even rental cars are included in travel tour packages all at one low price.  There are also usually package deals waiting for you when you get to your destination as well so take advantage of the savings.

Everything Is Planned
If you wanted to travel to a totally new country, and booked the holiday yourself, you may find that you make mistakes – end up staying in a bad area, or somewhere far from the things you want to see.  You may find that the airport you choose is difficult to get to, or that you booked a tour that takes you around attractions you do not care about.  If you booked with a travel tour agency, you would not have to worry about this, as they would plan your itinerary for you.

If you see things off the beaten path that you want to check out, or other things that you became familiar with while on your travel tour package, then you can come back with full confidence that you know exactly what to look for and exactly what to do.

Hello everyone. What do you think about travel insurance? Good? Bad? In between? I always thought I would never need trip insurance. I was in good health and I wasn’t traveling during or to hurricane prone areas. I was safe right? Wrong! What happens when an air carrier suddenly ceases operation? What happens when they are a South African carrier and you have no recourse?

This is what trip insurance is for. It is for when an air carrier out of the blue ceases operation with no refunds and you can’t cancel your credit card as it is part of a package and you didn’t use a credit card. It is for when your planes don’t connect and you arrive at the intermediate airport a day late and a dollar short. It is for when you are in Fiji and your luggage is in Bali. It is for that emergency evacuation to the States or your home country because you can’t be treated at the local hospital for whatever happened to you.

That said, you need to check your policy carefully. Many times the full policy can not be seen until you actually sign up for it. You generally, in the States anyway, have a few days to look it over and if it does not meet your needs, return it at no cost and go on to the next one. Make sure the policy is going to cover everything you need or are concerned with before you leave. If you think your credit card will cover you for trip insurance, call them and ask it they will cover whatever your priority is. If not, then purchase trip insurance. I now get it automatically. I purchase a trip, I buy trip insurance. Sometimes with the supplier, sometimes with the agent, sometimes on my own. An agent can steer you in the right direction, but you need to read that policy to make sure it works for you.

Some facts:

obtaining medical treatment and hospital care abroad can be expensive, and medical evacuation to the U.S. can cost more than $50,000. Note that U.S. medical insurance is generally not accepted outside the United States, nor do the Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid programs provide coverage for hospital or medical costs outside the United States. If an insurance policy does not cover them abroad, it is a good idea to consider purchasing a short-term policy that does.

As a further precaution, a travel agent or traveler may want to go to a special Web site set up by the Department of State - http://travel.state.gov. The State Department’s Office of American Citizens Services and Crisis Management (ACS) administers the Consular Information Program, which informs the public of conditions abroad that may affect their safety and security. Country Specific Information, Travel Alerts, and Travel Warnings are vital parts of this program.

Travelling in Asian countries is a very enriching and unforgettable.  With the culture so diverse from one another, the only thing that really binds them together is their color so every Asian country is worth the visit.  My Asia travel experience helped me to understand and appreciate their distinct culture, flavor and practices as well as the traditions that they continuously observe.

I believe that every passionate traveler should not miss stopping by in Asia not just to see but to feel the difference in the ambiance and most of all, the warmth smiles of its people.

Some soon-to- be-married couples are more excited with the day of the wedding, in my case I look forward more on the honeymoon trip because it officially signifies the ideal start of a new life for new couples. In addition, it is also a great way to unload all the stress that was acquired during wedding preparations.

With so many available choices in honeymoon destinations, from adventure travel in Africa or cruising the Pacific on a luxury ship to an island getaway in one of the Riviera Maya resorts, every newly-wed couple truly deserves to begin a wonderful life as one.

Asia isn’t all Godzilla and a Chinese food; most people tend to forget about the natural beauty that lies within the Southeast region of Asia – Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam. Southeast Asia tours are not only affordable, as the U.S. dollar is still relatively strong there, but you can also get away from the hectic life of the being in the States and really see the almost untouched splendor of the region.

If you find the right travel package, you can afford to take a 20 day trip of the Southeast Asia without having to scramble to find money for bills upon your return – that is unless you decide to buy a house down there.

These days, people are so career minded that they will often set their honeymoon aside after the wedding.  This tends to be a detriment as the honeymoon is often thought to be the start of a perfect life with your spouse; delaying your honeymoon translates as to delaying your perfect life and going down a road of disenchantment.

Honeymoons can vary in price but you can usually find inexpensive honeymoon packages that will suit your financial needs.  If you’re getting married and you want to put off your honeymoon, rethink think this decision and book a trip that you and your partner will enjoy.  Get your marriage off to the right start with the getaway that you deserve.

This is an article by by John Hawks, a writer for OSSN, I found informative because

I thnk what he has to say is important for travel to Africa and to South East Asia . The new rules are going to affect every traveler including luxury Honeymooners and Scuba Divers. Just a reminder for those honeymooners, when planning your honeymoon, remember your new name will not be on your passport in time for your honeymoon! please give your travel agent your name as it is NOW on your passport so there will be no problems with Homeland Security or the countries you are trying to enter.  Enough of that. here is John’s article:

“In late March, the U.S. government issued the final regulations for the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) — its efforts to strengthen America’s borders that will change the ID requirements for travelers entering the United States by land or sea.

This article will attempt to explain the new rules and give you links to the official U.S. sites for more information. However, there’s one golden rule of travel ID that you should share with your clients, starting immediately:

They should apply right away for an official U.S. passport. Period.

The rules governing travel ID for international trips to and from the United States have changed frequently since the 9/11 attacks. Last month alone, you may have seen news reports about a handful of states that have been fighting with the U.S. Homeland Security Dept. over whether their driver’s licenses are secure enough to allow their residents to continue boarding airplanes in the near future! That’s why recommending valid passports to your clients is the best option. No matter how the rules might change down the road, the passport will continue to be the gold standard for travel ID to and from America’s borders.

When it comes to luxury cruises, Australia is tough to beat. Featuring the most vibrant, rich and pristine coastlines in the world Australia remains a favorite travel destination for adventurers worldwide.
 
The Great Barrier Reef is the world’s largest coral reef system, composed of over 2 900 individual reefs and 900 islands stretching for 2,600 kilometres (1,616 mi) over an area of approximately 344,400 square kilometres (132,974 sq mi). The reef is located in the Coral Sea, off the coast of Queensland in northeast Australia.
 
The Great Barrier Reef can be seen from outer space and is the world’s biggest single structure made by living organisms. This reef structure is composed of and built by billions of tiny organisms, known as coral polyps. The Great Barrier Reef supports a wide diversity of life, and was selected as a World Heritage Site in 1981. CNN has labelled it one of the seven natural wonders of the world. The Queensland National Trust has named it a state icon of Queensland.
 

Honeymoon packages in Thailand are experiencing a resurgence in popularity after the disaster of several years ago. Tourism has bounced back dramatically as travelers, philanthropists and tourists worldwide help to replenish this tropical getaway.
 
Thailand at a glance:
 
The kingdom of Thailand lies in the heart of Southeast Asia, making it a natural gateway to Indochina, Myanmar and Southern China. Its shape and geography divide into four natural regions : the mountains and forests of the North; the vast rice fields of the Central Plains; the semi-arid farm lands of the Northeast plateau; and the tropical islands and long coastline of the peninsula South.
 
The country comprises 76 provinces that are further divided into districts, sub-districts and villages. Bangkok is the capital city and centre of political, commercial, industrial and cultural activities. It is also the seat of Thailand’s revered Royal Family, with His Majesty the King recognised as Head of State, Head of the Armed Forces, Upholder of the Buddhist religion and Upholder of all religions.
 
Thailand is a constitutional monarchy with His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej, or King Rama IX, the ninth king of the Chakri Dynasty, the present king. The King has reigned for more than half a century, making him the longest reigning Thai monarch. Thailand embraces a rich diversity of cultures and traditions. With its proud history, tropical climate and renowned hospitality, the Kingdom is a never-ending source of fascination and pleasure for international visitors.
 
Neighboring countries:
 
1) Myanmar - west and north,
2) Lao P.D.R. - north and northeast,
3) Cambodia - southeast and
4) Malaysia - south.
 

As a travel agent I am often asked by my clients where they can go as a gay/lesbian couple and feel comfortable. What foriegn and exciting places can they travel to? I have found South Africa to have a strong gay/lesbian community and the remainder not just tolerant but rather very accepting. He are some info on South Africa and the Gay/Lesbian community.

South Africa is a “World in one Country” and offers one of the most progressive non-discrimination policies in the world.

South Africa expressly protectsthe rights of Gays and Lesbians in its constitution. 

Cape Town has emerged as one of the top gay destinations which are attributed to its beautiful beaches, natural landscapes, and a vibrant gay nightlife.

Cape Town was recently featured in both Genre Magazine and Out Traveler as one of the top gay and lesbian destinations to visit!  

 Where and what is there to go and do for the gay/lesbian couple or single for that matter? A beautiful landscape, abundant wildlife, world-class cities, a rich diversity of people, culture and heritage - and the first Bill of Rights in the world to explicitly protect lesbians and gays from discrimination - is fast making South Africa the destination of choice for great gay holidays. Whether you take the PINK ROUTE that runs from Cape Town in the Western Cape through the striking Garden Route, up to Johannesburg and on to Kruger National Park or you want more traditional adventure like shark cage diving, paragliding, ballooning, or flying fighter jets, it is all here in South Africa.

How have you found South Africa?