Posted by libertees on February 27th, 2010 | No Comments »
The Cruise vacation you have been planning for a year is now a reality. You’ve packed your bags with the appropriate clothes for cruise travel. You have filled out all of the cruise documentation, do this at home, don’t wait to get to your cruise ship, and now you are ready for this highly anticipated cruise. There are a few cruises tips about embarkation day that you should know before you head for your cruise vacation.
Keep all of your documents with you, that includes tickets for the cruise, any vouchers, passport and any immigration forms that the cruise line has sent you. That includes bus vouchers from the cruise line that will deliver you to the ship from the airport. In is wise to pack a change of clothes in your carry on in case your baggage gets delayed. If you have purchased the vouchers from the cruise line, a cruise line representative will meet you at baggage claim and take you to the bus or van that will transport you to your cruise ship.
If you decided to handle the transfer on your own, check ahead of time to find out how much a taxi will cost from the airport to the pier. It is good to know how long it will take to make the transfer so you have timed your flights accordingly. Make sure you have attached your cruise line tags with ship name, cruising date, and stateroom number. When you arrive at the pier a porter will relieve of your bags. He will expect to be tipped. The going fare is one dollar per bag.
Cruise tips are always helpful so pay attention to this one. Let the cruise line make your airline reservations. The reason for this is that if your flight is delayed the cruise line will handle it. If there are several other passengers on the same flight the cruise line will delay the departure of the ship. If it’s just you and your traveling companion they will probably put you up in a hotel in the town of your embarkation and get you on the ship at the next port of call. If you opted to do it on your own, you will have to make all those arrangements. So, for safety and peace of mind let the cruise lines do it.
If you have decided to go to the town of embarkation a few days before the cruise, that will not be a problem, so make your own reservations. Some travel insurance companies will pick up these expenses but make sure you read the fine print on the policy BEFORE your cruise vacation.
When you get to your cruise ship, embarkation could be a little chaotic. There will be lines, especially early in the check in process. There will be a lot of stressed out people so just relax and take it in stride. After you have gone through the check in process you will be aboard and your cruise vacations begins. Here is where it pays to have all of your documentation completely filled out. Many of the cruise lines have loyalty programs so if you are a repeat cruiser many times they have preferred check in areas. Many of the cruise lines will have preferred check in for cruisers who have booked suites or mini suites. Check this out with your cruise travel agent.
This is a little off topic but it’s one of the best cruise tips you will hear. Use a cruise travel agent for all of your cruise travel. It is important to deal with an agent that has sailed on many different cruise lines so they can give you an honest opinion on the difference between cruise lines. Check and see if they are CLIA certified cruise lines organization. Be careful they don’t push you onto cruise ships where they have preferred status which means they get a higher commission. Scour the internet for cruise reviews on cruise travel to back up what your travel agent is telling you.
Now back to the pier. While you are checking in you will have to give the cruise line a credit card for any on board charges. Most times your room card is also your credit card and identification for getting on and off at ports while on the cruise ship. If you can get on the ship early in the process you get two benefits. One you get to have lunch and two you get the first shot at spa and beauty appointments. It will also give you time to peruse your cruise ship and then head for the pool. Having been a savvy cruise traveler you knew to bag a bathing suit into your carry on luggage.
Just before you get to the gangway you will be stopped by the ships photographer and a picture will be taken to commemorate your cruise vacation. It will be on display in the ships photo gallery but you are under no obligation to purchase it. Check in procedures will be different from ship to ship even within the same cruise lines. It depends on the experience of the staff and the cooperation of the passengers. Remember that these folks that are checking you in have been working since seven o’clock in the morning off loading the people from last weeks cruise vacation. Then they turn around and start putting on a whole new set of passengers for the next cruise.
The most important advice is to try to keep a cool head. You are headed for the best thing you can imagine, a cruise vacation.
Happy Cruising!
Mary Hanna has traveled the world by Air and Ship. Visit her websites at: and
Posted by libertees on February 25th, 2010 | No Comments »
There are many things to keep in mind when traveling, whether you are a budget traveler or not. You obviously want to keep what money you have for your trip rather than lose it or have it stolen. You also want to keep yourself and traveling companions safe from harm. Here are some tips to follow to ensure your trip is safe and enjoyable in a foreign country.
1. Have a valid passport and all visas required for your trip. Make two copies of your passport. Keep one in a separate part of your travel luggage and the other leave with someone at home.
2. Be aware of any travel warnings for the country you are visiting. Find out about security and safety conditions in your destination.
3. Secure travel insurance!
4. Ensure you have been vaccinated against any infectious diseases prominent in the area you will be traveling to.
5. To make sure you can be contacted in case of an emergency, make a copy of your itinerary and leave it with someone at home.
6. Travel light and don’t pack valuables that you wouldn’t want to lose. Leave your jewelry at home but take an extra pair of glasses if you can’t live without them.
7. Remember you are a foreigner when you travel. You are a guest in their country and therefore should abide by their laws, and to a certain extent, their customs. For example, if you are a female traveling in an Islamic state, be considerate of your dress.
8. Try not to bring too much attention to yourself when traveling. Don’t go out looking like a tourist with a flashy camera and expensive clothes. Try to blend into the scenery.
9. Travel in a group where possible and in well known areas. There will be times you want to get off the tourist track, so make sure you always have a traveling companion with you.
10. Only carry small amounts of cash on you. Your credit card and travelers checks will pay for most things.
11. Watch out for pickpockets! Wear a money belt and keep your purse/wallet in the front of your body. Report any loss or theft immediately to the local authorities.
12. Don’t leave your luggage unattended. Apart from having it stolen or items from it taken, you could also become an unsuspecting drug courier.
13. If traveling with a partner, pack half your clothes in their luggage and vice versa. This way if one of you loses your luggage, you will still have some clothes.
14. Lock your luggage and label everything.
15. Lock your hotel room. Keep money and valuables with you, not left unattended in your room.
16. When using public transport be aware of possible theft. If you are traveling overnight, secure your luggage and sleep on top of it if possible. It is not uncommon for tourists to be drugged while on trains and buses so don’t accept gifts of food or drink from strangers on public transport.
If at any time you feel unsafe, whether it is on the streets or in your accommodation, get out. Follow your instincts. Stay safe when you travel by being aware of the dangers and obeying the laws of the country you are visiting.
This article is brought to you by: Stuart S. Travel – Your Online Travel Guru
Stuart S. Travel / Your All World Online Travel Guru:
Sherry Hardesty has been a professional flight attendant for over 15 years. Her experience is extensive and she provides professional travel consulting and booking services at http://www.stuartstravel.com
Posted by libertees on February 23rd, 2010 | No Comments »
So you’re going on a trip. Fantastic! Exciting! But what sort of trip are you planning to take? Is it for business or pleasure? Where are you headed? Who are you going with? Just what kind of travel experience do you want?
Traveling on a budget can give you all sorts of experiences, depending on a) your budget, b) where you want to go, and c) what you want to do. Everyone’s budget will be different, and traveling on a budget means knowing how much money you can afford to spend and sticking to that amount. So if you have a budget of two thousand dollars, your travel experience will be different from someone who has a budget of ten thousand dollars. It’s all relative to the dollar amount, but knowing some tricks to help you save money while traveling will make your dollars stretch further therefore increasing your travel experience.
Do you want to travel overseas? Do you want to travel around your home country? Do you want to stay in luxury accommodation or are you going to back- pack? Are you traveling with children or are you honeymooning? Are you traveling with a bunch of friends or are you keen to experience a group tour with strangers? Do you want to go to popular tourist sites or do you want to experience a destination’s way of living in remote areas?
All these questions are things you need to ask yourself before you begin to plan your trip. You can either plan your trip with your budget in mind, or plan your trip, work out how much money you’ll need and save until you can get there. The first is probably a little easier to do because when the travel bug hits, you generally want to take off as soon as possible. Knowing your budget can guide you in making your decision of how and where you will be traveling. But if you have your heart set on a trip of a lifetime to an exotic island in the Pacific then you will need to save accordingly. It’s your choice.
Once you know what type of experience you are after, it’s time to work out the best way to get it on your available funds. Traveling on a budget is easier than you think these days. No longer does it mean living on stale food and sleeping in questionable accommodation. If you are wise and spend some time investigating deals to your chosen destination you could be able to enhance your traveling experience more than you thought possible. A bit of research will get you a long way when traveling on a budget.
This article is brought to you by: Stuart S. Travel – Your Online Travel Guru
Stuart S. Travel / Your All World Online Travel Guru:
Sherry Hardesty has been a professional flight attendant for over 15 years. Her experience is extensive and she provides professional travel consulting and booking services at http://www.stuartstravel.com
Posted by libertees on February 23rd, 2010 | No Comments »
As great as taking a vacation on cruise ships may seem, you still need to know how to plan a cruise ship vacation properly so you have the perfect cruise experience. You need to know about the different types of packages the cruise lines offer.
When planning a cruise ship vacation you need to know how to choose one that will meet your expectation or tailor to your needs. Here are some guidelines that you can follow to plan your cruise travel and enjoy the perfect cruise experience:
Think of who you want to take with you on your cruise vacation. There are many different packages offered by cruise lines. There are packages for the whole family and there are packages for single travelers.
Will you be taking the cruise vacation with children? Maybe you will take your significant other for a romantic getaway. There are cruise ships that are tailored for children and there are cruise lines that cater to single cruisers and honeymooners. There are even some ships that offer wedding services. What could be better than to get married on the ship and have your honeymoon built in?
Decide how long you want to cruise. If you just want to try it out, opt for a three day cruise. Normally, cruises start at three nights and can go anywhere from seven to fourteen days. But there are also world cruises that can last as long as three months. My advice is if you are going to cruise in Europe you should pick a fourteen day cruise because of the expense and long plane rides to get to your port of embarkation. If you live near a port and you just want to take a long weekend choose of three or four day cruise. Decide what cruise travel is best for you.
Choose the perfect destination for you and your family. Alaska is beautiful but can only be cruised in the summer months. If you live in the colder climes you may want to take a mid winter cruise to the Caribbean or even South America. If you want your cruise travel to be in the Caribbean and you want to spend two weeks on your cruise vacation, choose a line that alternates between the Eastern and Western Caribbean. This cruise vacation takes you to many different islands.
The cruise lines have a variety of destinations to choose from. Visit your cruise travel agent to go over the different itineraries or check out the individual websites of the cruise lines.
Consider the port of departure. Since 9/11 cruises have been emphasizing home port cruising. Now there are many cruises that depart from Bayonne, New Jersey, Galveston, Texas, or Seattle, Washington, not just Miami and Fort Lauderdale.. Depart from the one closest to you and you will save money on expensive airfare.
Speak to a knowledgeable cruise travel agent. Make sure they have personally sailed on many different cruise ships so they can give you an honest opinion on what each cruise line has to offer and which would give you the perfect cruise experience.
A cruise travel agent will also be able to supply you with cruise tips. Scour the cruise reviews for additional cruise tips.
Large cruise lines have a variety of activities and facilities that you can use on the ship. If you like to gamble then choosing a cruise ship with casinos is probably right for you. Or if you are taking your kids with you, a cruise ship that offers activities and facilities for children would be the best choice for your cruise travel. For instance, Disney is, of course, geared toward children but they do not have casinos. So if you are taking the family but you want to gamble steer away from Disney and choose one of the other major cruise lines. Almost all of them have children’s programs. If you don’t want to be on a ship with children sail on one of the fancier lines that don’t cater to children. Here, again, it pays to read as many cruise reviews as you can to pick up additional cruise tips.
Cruise vacations do not necessarily mean that you have to spend all your vacation time onboard. All the cruise ships offer land and shore excursions. The cruise lines offer pre and post cruise land vacations usually for two or three days.
Posted by libertees on February 21st, 2010 | No Comments »
Paris prides itself at being the capital as well as the largest city in France. It is the worldâ??s fashion hub and attracts tourists and travelers from across the world because of its world-class monuments, museums, and historic centers. It is because of the endless flow of tourists into this city that Paris hotels constantly strive to provide the best and lucrative deals. Paris boasts itself at having some of the best . These luxury hotels provide the best in accommodation, delicious and mouth-watering cuisine, excellent service, and amazing recreational events. Before choosing a hotel in Paris, make sure you check for the best Paris hotels deals. These deals may include airport shuttles, sightseeing options, and travel options as part of their package. You can also read guide reviews and travel plans to choose for the best luxury hotels Paris France.
While choosing the best Paris hotel deals, you need to keep a few things in mind. First of all, you should choose the right time of the year to go to Paris. This will significantly impact your travel cost and your accommodation cost. Most of the tourists visit Paris during the spring, which means that travel and accommodation cost is at its peak during this season. Therefore, if you are looking for an incredible Paris vacation in a budget, choose any time of the year except spring. You can choose to go to Paris during the months of July and August or the winter season with the exception of Christmas time. This is the off-season time when you can expect to find the best Paris hotel deals. Also, make sure you do proper homework like checking for promotional deals on hotels so that you get to benefit in the bargain. While choosing the best Paris hotel deals, check out the Web site of hotels that you like. This will help you get reviews from guests who stayed at the hotel and assist you in selecting the best hotel. Also, find out if the accommodation charge covers for breakfast. If it does, make sure that the breakfast is good enough otherwise you will end up paying for the breakfast and not eating it too.
Another tip while selecting one of the best Europe luxury hotels is to check for its location. Normally, hotels that are near to traditional monuments and landmarks turn out to be expensive. You may not be interested in getting a view of these monuments and landmarks from your hotel balcony; therefore, you can opt for luxury hotels Paris France that are not too near these monuments and landmarks for the best deals. However, if money is not a concern for you finding the best luxury hotels Paris France is no big deal. These hotels, which have a reputation of being the best Europe luxury hotels, will provide you with amazingly big and luxurious rooms along with unparalleled service! So, go for your dream vacation to Paris and enjoy a memorable stay in one of the best hotels in the City of Lights.
Mike Greaves is a self-made entrepreneur, a well known travel consultant and internet marketer. Over the years he has traveled across the world and has numerous writings credited to his name in many renowned publications. His areas of writing include travel experiences including reviews of , Luxury Hotels New York and .
Posted by libertees on February 21st, 2010 | No Comments »
Jhansi houses best hotels like Hotel Chanda, Hotel Sita and Hotel Yatrik perfect lodging places for every purpose, be it a leisure or business trip. These Jhansi Hotels provide all the essential facilities required for the comfortable, enjoyable & memorable stay of their guests like beautiful neat rooms, fabulous array of cuisines, enjoyable activities and modern business facilities and many more.
Jhansi is a beautiful tourist destination in Uttar Pradesh. It has rich historical and cultural heritage. It also has important tourist attractions like the Jhansi fort, Rani Mahal Museum and Maha Lakshmi Temple. These landmarks of the city provide an insight into the reign of the Chandelas and the life of Rani Lakshmi Bai.
There are best hotels located in this beautiful city. These are in convenient locations to major modes of transportation. They come with basic modern facilities and offer great range of cuisines.
A few suggestions are Hotel Chanda, Hotel Sita and Hotel Yatrikare best hotels in Jhansi ideal for comfortable stay of travelers on leisure or business trip.
Hotel Chanda is located in front of Rani Laxmi Bai Park. Apart from being at close proximity to beautiful landscapes garden and parks, the hotel is conveniently accessible in the heart of Jhansi. Jhansi Junction Railway Station and Jhansi Bus Station are near to the hotel as well.
It has 28 well-furnished clean and comfortable rooms to offer. The necessary facilities and services featured in each room include a cable television, telephone, hot and cold running water, attached bathroom, safe deposit, tea/coffee maker, channel music and room service.
The in-house restaurant in Hotel Chanda is the ideal destination for a wonderful dining experience. This multi-cuisine restaurant features and serves the best of Continental, Italian and Chinese delicacies. It also offers excellent vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes to the guests. The coffee shop provides the guests with great tasting coffee, sumptuous snacks and refreshments.
Hotel Chanda addresses the needs of business guests. It has well-organized conference and banquet rooms ideal for business meetings, seminars and other corporate events. Business facilities would include fax and internet access.
It offers fitness and relaxing activities through its health club, saloon, pool and gym. There is also horse riding available on premises.
It also offers other facilities to make its guests’ stay hassle free and these include business center, banquet facilities, bar, credit cards accepted, money changer, doctor on call, car rental, parking and laundry. Hotel Chanda also provides the privilege of its guests’ pets to stay in the hotel.
And Hotel Sita is in 84 Shivpuri Road Civil Lines. The hotel is at a distance of less than 1 kilometer from Jhansi Railway Station and 3 kilometers from Jhansi Bus Terminus. Gwalior Airport is 98 kilometers away to Hotel Sita.
The hotel has 30 well-maintained beautifully decorated rooms. All these rooms are enabled of basic facilities featuring air-condition, telephone, Multi-channel color television, running Hot & Cold Water, wall to wall carpet with attached bath and 24-hour room service.
It also offers a fabulous dining experience the moment they step into its multi-cuisine air-conditioned restaurant. Various culinary delights such as Indian, Chinese, Tandoori, Continental, vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes are on offered. The restaurant has also operational hours provided for the guests such as: breakfast is from 7am to 10.30am, lunch is from 12.00pm to 10.30pm and dinner is from 7.00pm to 10.30pm.While hotel’s own Coffee Shop serves the guests with variety of beverages as well as lip smacking snacks.
There are leisure shopping areas nearby. You will find there some interesting items to buy like antiques, artic rafts, books, magazines and comics.
The commendable amenities are elevator for all floors, travel counter, business center, Air conditioned banquet hall, Internet facility, fax, bar, safe lockers, credit card acceptance, foreign currency exchange, laundry, doctor on call, car rental desk, parking space and free newspaper.
Finally, Hotel Yatrik is conveniently positioned in Elite Allahabad Bank Road, opposite of Police Hospital Civil Lines. The hotel is located at a traveling distance of 2 kilometers from both the Railway and Bus Stand Terminus of Jhansi. The Gwalior Airport is at a distance of 99 kilometers to the hotel.
It is a 3-floor hotel boasting of 30 spacious and elegantly decorated rooms. Every room in the hotel has common amenities like Cable Television with remote, telephone, cold and hot running water, attached bathrooms and 24-hour room service.
Hotel Yatrik has a restaurant, which serves mouth watering Chinese, Tandoori, Continental and Indian delicacies. It also offers choices of delicious vegetable and non-vegetable dishes.
Aside from this, the hotel provides internet access, copier service and fax facility to the business guests. Hotel Yatrik has also other amenities which include coffee shop, bar, business center, travel desk, doctor on call, car rental, credit cards accepted, laundry and valet.
For more information on and .Please visit our website.
Posted by libertees on February 21st, 2010 | 25 Comments »
To watch the whole documentary in High Quality go to: www.youtube.com Here is a little clip about how time travel can occur. The clip was taken from: The World’s First Time Machine (Discovery Channel). Dr Ronald Mallett
Posted by libertees on February 21st, 2010 | No Comments »
CRUISE BOOKING â?? HOW TO BOOK A CRUISE Discount cruise vacations continue to be an excellent option for a relaxing and worry-free vacation. More and more people book a cruise online or take advantage of the numerous cruise vacation packages available. People of all ages enjoy visits to beautiful and exotic destinations, meet great new people, and participate in a wide variety of activities while they enjoy cheap cruise vacations. You need to determine which type of cruise is best for you in order to fully enjoy the benefits of cruising. You should analyze what aspects of a cruise interest you most. Once you identify your interests, you can search for cruise vacation packages that will meet your criteria. Many people become confused when it comes to cruise booking because there are so many cheap cruise vacations available. However, you can follow a few simple steps to ensure that you choose a cruise booking that is just right for you!
Step One: The first step of cruise booking involves deciding on your desired holiday destination. Search the internet and read reviews about the various cruise vacation packages and discount cruise vacations. The internet remains one of the most helpful resources when determining which cruise booking to choose. You can visit many sites that will provide detailed information on all aspects of cruise vacation packages. Many sites feature cruise reviews, cruise pictures, and additional information about particular destinations. You also have the option of contacting an online travel agent or cruise booking agent to gather as many cruise brochures as possible. Once you have found several suitable cruise ships, compare them and select the cruise line and destination best for you.
Step Two: Once you decide on the cruise ship, you can now determine the duration of your cruise vacation. Many cruise vacation packages last only a weekend and you may enjoy other vacation packages for two luxurious, fun-filled weeks or more. If you have a little more money and time to spend, you can even pick a cruise package that will last for nearly three full months!
Step Three: You need to analyze the budget of your cruise vacation. The price of discount cruise vacations can really vary depending on the particular cruise company, time of year, and your preferred destination. Many cruise packages allow you to pick the features you want to include. By choosing not to participate in some of the available activities or excursions, you can experience substantial savings during discount cruise vacations. Your vacation budget has a profound influence on your cruise booking. The amount you are willing to spend will determine the activities, duration, and destination for your particular cruise vacation.
Step Four: Once you decide on a cruise vacation package, you need to complete the actual cruise booking. However, before you actually book a cruise online, you should contact the cruise booking agents or cruise travel agent and obtain all the necessary information you require. You need to decide on several factors before you complete the final cruise booking. These include the availability of the cruise package, point of departure, size and location of your preferred cabin, cancellation fees, and any activities you wish to include with your cruise vacation package.
Step Five: Once you have gathered all the relevant information, you feel you need regarding the cruise package; you can complete the final step. This involves the actual cruise booking for the date, company and destination you choose. You have the option of using cruise booking agents or you can complete an online cruise booking from the convenience of your own home. If you are able to travel any time of the year, the best option is to book a cruise online or choose cruise vacation packages that occur during the off-peak season. Most cruise liners sail year round. You can often find amazing deals by performing a cruise booking during the off-peak season. Many more discount cruise vacations and inexpensive cruise vacation packages are available during off-peak season. The peak season for cruise booking occurs during the summer months and during school holidays. You will find that it is more expensive to take a cruise during these busy times. If you plan your cruise, you are certain to find a cheap cruise vacation package that fits within your budget.