Family Holiday Reps

Holiday reps are one of those phrases that either makes you feel safe knowing that there is always someone onsite to help you when you have a problem or it's one of the phrases that sends shivers down your suntanned spine.

Why do we need holiday reps, what's the purpose of a holiday rep?

Well, let's have a deeper look

The Pro's and Con's of holiday reps.

They certainly can be extremely useful to holiday-makers when on site, the main function of a holiday rep is to greet you upon your arrival, make sure you had a safe and enjoyable journey, show you to your accommodation, go over any functions that you make like to know like how to light the gas burners on a cooker or how to start the gas BBQ, they should have already cleaned your accommodation to a high standard.

After letting you settle in they will then make a rendezvous with you so that you can ask any questions about the parks facilities or information on the surrounding area.

Problems do arise on holiday, the most common problem is that customers expectations of the accommodation, these expectation sometimes aren't met and the customer is unhappy, "it wasn't like that on the website" or "it's smaller than you said on the web" now this is where the holiday rep could get into difficulty, he only has a limit of accommodation units to offer and these are generally taken, so offering the customer a different accommodation can be a difficult task, unhappy customers on holidays normally stay unhappy because the complaint is rarely sorted by the holiday rep because of his limit of authority, his superior will definitely be unavailable.

Holiday reps are paid for by YOU, there wages, rental of their tent on the park is all accounted for in the cost of your holiday - and they are not cheap.

Holiday companies without holiday reps,

There are holiday companies that operate on high quality holiday parks without holiday reps, so how do these fair?

What happens if any of the above problems occur whilst on holiday without a rep?

If a holiday company operate without a rep, then this can be beneficial to the holiday-maker and the company. Firstly the park direct will greet and welcome you to their park, they will have first hand knowledge of the park and surrounding area, usually far more knowledge than a rep would have. If you are unhappy with the accommodation then the park will have at its disposal hundreds of accommodation units so it will be likely that they can swap the unit or upgrade you, something that a holiday rep will struggle to do.

Cost - well, no rep wages to pay or pitch rent for the holiday season, so this will be reflected in the price of your holiday.

Overall opinion.

In my opinion holiday reps are an old fashioned traditional expense that you can live without, but being British it's the thing to ask, very much like asking for a brochure - it's the thing of the past, but you just have to start to get used to doing without one.

Iain Williams is the managing Director of Williams Holidays, he plays a very active role within the call centre of Williams Holidays as well as expanding the business . Iain is a moderator on many business and travel forums. His threads and thoughts can be found even on the BBC's travel blogs.

A great advocate of high quality customer service from the beginning of the holiday to the final day.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Iam Williams

Air Travel Finder

If you are planning or attending a conference, convention, or ceremony that is not in your immediate vicinity you could save a lot of money and time if you use an air travel finder.

Through this type of service you can easily locate many different airfare options that are available to you, allowing you to choose the most affordable flight as well as the flight or flights that are more convenient for you and those that will be traveling. Before the age of the Internet if someone was attending training courses or PR events or anything of the sort that they had to travel for, they were simply at the mercy of the airline that they contacted. Today, air travel finder resources allow for the consumer to input all of the data that relates to their needs and then select the best flights for themselves.
An air travel finder is especially practical for those that are traveling in groups. The reason for this is that when you are purchasing several tickets, it is best to see when you can all fly together and when you can fly for the most affordable price. If you are attending seminars and the like for work, you also want to choose flights that will get you out to the training courses and back home again in the most efficient way. Being able to use an air travel finder will allow you to do this in a very short amount of time.

Using an air travel finder that can also help you with other services can be very convenient. For instance, perhaps you need to find a venue for team building events, training courses, sales presentations, or product launches, wouldn't it be nice if you could also get all of your travel needs taken care of at the same place? When you get everything in one place it is easier to plan your convention because all of the other details will simply fall into place. Using an air travel finder that offers other services simply makes more sense for most people and most companies that are planning events.

Using an air travel finder works well for individuals who are booking flights for themselves as well as for companies or corporations that are planning training courses or other corporate events as well as booking many flights. Travel can be tedious, but you can take a lot of the stress out of it when you use the resources that are at your disposal. Why not make the booking and reservation process easier with an air travel finder?
Many have tried to use these resources in the past but have found them far too difficult to use. If you haven't tried to use an air travel finder in the last couple years you should definitely try again. It is known now that consumers want things to be simple and straightforward, and now you can find travel finders that are very easy to use. These air travel finders will literally allow you to input all of the data that you want such as when you will depart and when you will return and what time of the day you would like to travel.

In addition to being able to book other services such as convention and meeting spaces, you will also find that it is very simple to book other services that you may need when you are not in your local area. Such services may include lodging and even car rental and travel insurance. These are nice benefits to add onto the same purchase so that you do not have to waste your time buying all of the services from different resources.

Instead, you can use the one air travel finder to reserve all of the services that you need and be done with it.
Traveling over the last few years has been thought to be more complicated with the extra security that can be found at most airports around the world. The safety considerations are a good thing, but they can also slow down travel and make it more tedious than we would like. You can at least book all of your travel arrangements and even your meeting space online, taking the stress and the tediousness out of the planning processes. When you haven't spent a ton of time in the planning stages of your travel you will find that when you have to wait in lines at the airport you aren't nearly as stressed or irritated by it. Air travel finders simply make sense for most of us, not only because it is easier, but because it will also eliminate a lot of the stress that is associated with traveling today. If you haven't tried one of these great resources to plan your travel or event, now is the time to give it a shot!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mandy Chagger

 

Travel Network

In this article, we will explain how anyone can travel at a fraction of the regular price, enjoy perks, benefits and upgrades like you've never experienced before, travel tax-deductible anywhere in the world, and even get paid when you travel.

What does it mean to travel as an "insider?" Well, for decades, the travel industry has depended on travel agents to book all travel. Then, in the mid-1990s, two things happened that forever changed the way people book travel. Number one, the airlines stopped paying commissions to agencies. This impacted them greatly since airline commissions were very important to their income stream. At about the same time, the first Internet booking engines like Travelocity came into existence. Over the years as the Internet sites got more user-friendly and offered better prices, less people went to the full service agency, instead booking their own travel online. In a way, the online booking websites trained millions of people to be their own travel agent. Of course, you don't make a commission, but you do get a great Internet rate.

It's important to keep in mind that for decades, the travel vendors (cruises, hotels, resorts, etc.) have depended upon the word-of-mouth advertising of travel industry professionals. It's called free advertising. The travel properties routinely invite travel agents at a deeply reduced rate in exchange for the agents going home to promote their hotel or cruise line. The properties are not going to kick someone out of a hotel room so you can stay there cheaper, but if the room is going to go unused anyway in an off-season or shoulder season, then they will still benefit by having you stay there at a reduced rate and then help to promote their facility. It's a win-win situation. If the hotel doesn't rent that room tonight, it's loss revenue forever.

Tax Benefits

It's very important to understand the difference between traveling with after-tax dollars as opposed to traveling with pre-tax dollars as a business owner. Let's look at taxes for a minute: if you are not a business owner, you are missing out on one of the advantages of tax-deductibility. Let's take a simple example of the difference between an employee and a business owner. Let's say the average American spends about $3,000 per year on travel and vacations. You may spend more. If you are an employee, you will have to earn about $4,500 down at the job and then net out $3,000 after taxes. You then spend the $3,000 on the vacations. At the end of the vacation, you have great memories, but no money in your pocket.

Contrast this with the travel business owner who also makes $4,500 (maybe even at the same job), but then buys the travel as a business expense. As a business owner, you don't pay taxes until all business expenses are deducted. In addition, because you are a travel professional, you will probably get the same vacation at a reduced rate, say $1,500. Subtract this from $4,500 and you are left with $3,000. Now you must pay the same rate of taxes (let's say about 33% or $1,000). You are left with $2,000 in your pocket and the good memories. Which way would you rather travel, as an employee or a travel business owner?

In addition to the travel being tax deductible (consult with your tax advisor), you may have other business expenses such as cell phones, internet connection, car expenses, cameras, etc. As long as you treat your travel business as a real business by documenting your business activities and expenses, you may have additional tax benefits (check with your tax advisor).

Once you learn how to become an insider in the travel insider and travel like the pros, you will not want to travel any other way.

 

 

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Joe Jacobson

 

The New Face of Modern India in Travel & Tour

Today, India has the potential to become the Global Super Power. Now, India is the 2nd fastest growing economy in the world after China with the growth rate 8.5%, and by 2013 we will beat China and will be on the 1st Position. India is territorially a large country, geographically a peninsula with a strategically dominating view of three major seas which could potentially provide a basis to control ship traffic from the Indian Ocean to Pacific Ocean by putting toll gates at the Malacca Straits, a long continuing civilization (over ten thousand years), a large and young population(average age of 29 years as compared to of China of 38 years, and Japan of 47 years)- which is termed as Demographic Dividend, and as proven inventors of cutting edge scientific discoveries in mathematics, astronomy, surgery and recently in high quality IT software. At present India has demonstrated innovative capacity in Chip design, Thorium reactors, Biotech, and pharmaceuticals.

Travel & Tour is also the fastest growing industry in India. India tourism is gradually increasing every ending year. Nowadays, Indian people are traveling all around the world. The way of traveling by Indians is slightly different, preferring the luxury travel & tour.

Organizers of the recent Travel and Tourism Fair (TTF) in Ahmedabad conducted a survey among Gujarat attendees, and results showed a significant number of Indian tourists prefer luxury travel and accommodations.

TTF found that one-third of those surveyed had an average travel budget of Rs 80,000 as reported by the Times of India. Foreign tourism departments in attendance have taken notice of this trend and are offering more options for Indian travelers seeking upscale opportunities.

"Switzerland provides tourists an option of staying together in fully furnished homes or chalet with a kitchen where one can cook one's own meals," Swiss travel agent Puneet Sehgal told the news source. Sehgal also noted that at least 400 Indians choose Switzerland for group vacations each year.

Japan has been focusing promotions towards Indian tourists, specifically for theme parks. One Japanese travel agent at the fair told the Times of India that Osaka's Universal Studios is a major attraction for Gujarati.

More than 15,000 people attended this year's fair, including exhibitors from Egypt, China, Dubai, Malaysia, Sri Lanka and many other nations.

Celebrations times for Travel Industry...

Travel Magazine has been informed there has been an increase in Package Holiday bookings this year compared to last year even though we are still in a trick economic climate. High Street Travel agents such as First Choice and Thomas Cook are celebrating after people looking for Holiday Deals in September helped increase bookings this year by 75% compared to booking for holidays last September.

Some of the leading travel agents like Lets Travel India have been offering value deal holidays to help increase trade after the industry predicted early this year that the travel industry could suffer due to the unstable economic growth in the UK.

Some of the top selling destinations which have helped increase trade for travel agents have been Canary Islands, India Tour and Spain with people looking for cheap package holidays as a large number of families could not afford holidays last year.

Wise holiday makers have been keeping an eye on travel agents such as Lets Travel India to search for cheap package holidays after the company announced they were slashing prices on a large number of their holidays, while other holiday makers have been booking their own cheap flights and booking hotels abroad via the internet reducing the cost of their holidays.

It was feared that a large number of travel agents would see themselves left with thousands of unsold holidays but with holiday makers looking for cheap deals after leading travel agents were forced to reduce their package holiday prices, this fear has now been reduced and travel agents are now claiming most of their unwanted holidays for September have been sold.

The Indian travel industry is doing well with Indian flights. After having suffered from a somewhat slow season in 2008-2009, once again India is leading travel industry to the front, taken lime light and is seeing a growth in its travel industry of what is expected to be between 5-6% & 1-1.5% higher than the global average.

There are two reasons behind this boom: one is the upcoming Commonwealth Games being hosted in Delhi in October & 2nd one is the Indian government efforts to boost the travel industry through improvements to international travel services and accommodation. This includes the completion of Terminal 3 of Delhi's International Airport. The terminal is now the sixth largest in the world with a capacity for 37 million passengers per year. For the tourist and business travelers, this means shorter queues, more comfortable lounge areas, plenty of shops and increased flight offerings from UK airports including Birmingham, Belfast International and direct from London Heathrow as airlines bolster the number of Delhi-bound flights.
In anticipation for the Commonwealth Games, the Indian government has also been giving the city of Delhi itself a major facelift; to such a point that professionals within the travel industry are anticipating that Delhi is quickly becoming a top contender as a one of the major travel destinations for world tourists.

Of course, with all of this attention focused on India, destination-bound airlines and hotels are offering tempting fares and fabulous budget accommodation prices for Delhi bound tourists and business travelers - both in October during the Commonwealth Games 2010 in Delhi and beyond.

So, travelers pack up your luggage and ready as soon as possible for travel to India for India tour & Commonwealth Games 2010 in Delhi with Lets Travel India. Lets Travel India is offering services for Travel India Tour Hotel Bookings cover Hotels at almost all the important tourist destinations including Delhi, Agra, Jaipur, Kullu-Manali, Shimla, Varanasi, Bikaner, Pushkar, Ajmer, Jaisalmer, Jodhpur, Udaipur, Khajuraho, Mount Abu etc.

The Indian travel industry is doing well with Indian flights. After having suffered from a somewhat slow season in 2008-2009, once again India is leading travel industry to the front, is seeing a growth in its travel industry between 5-6% & 1-1.5% higher than the global average. Travel has become the major part of our life today. When we talk about the travel India tour, we think about places full of adventure, rich in heritage and dotted with great beaches. Go to India tour with Lets Travel India. Lets Travel India is presenting vast range of travel India package for travel India tour and a huge number of hotels in India, more then 2500 hotels in India at the very budget price!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Aryan Pradhan

Bus Travel Service - On the Rise After Decades of Decline

 Brief History

After World War 2 the middle classes deserted bus travel in favor of travel by private automobile, and later by airliner. Just 10 years ago, affluent travelers saw buses as the last resort, a sign of desperation.

Rising Bus Travel  

Today most Americans travel by bus or plane when undertaking long distance travels. High gas prices have boosted bus travel after decades of decline. There are more, and more of briefcase carrying travelers venturing back to the bus, as other forms of travel are slumping. What does that tell us, traveling by bus is on the rise again .

Travel Planning

The Bus systems often run on a schedule of some sort, which allow you to plan your travel agenda and book your tickets in advance. Popular routes have buses leaving every couple of hours, generally all day long plus at least two or three buses traveling overnight. Buses in route on long travel tend to make stops primarily in major cities and are very pleasant to travel in. If you're traveling on weekends or during busy holiday times on popular routes, it is sensible to reserve tickets in advance .

Contribution Factors

The development of traveling by bus corresponds to increasing package tours that evolve every year. In 1983 the number of holiday travelers that participated in package tours was roughly 8.4 million, and has increased each year since then.

A bus requires less energy to operate per passenger mile than air travel, which allows very reasonable fares. No matter what bus route you end up on provides a mode of travel that allows you to view the countryside at leisure, not to mention many small towns between destinations you would otherwise not know existed.
Cities are now involved around the world to improve the benefits of bus travel while they address the issues that have traditionally set back buses effectiveness. For example adding dedicated bus lanes on highways among other plans cities are involved in. This has been great for bus travel systems both locally, and long travel, as they have been able to modify to better promote & serve customers. It allows travel agency's to offer fewer stops, and take additional efficiency measures to add time saving technologies that make bus travel reliable, fast, and effective.

Other factors mostly influencing tourists' preferences for bus travel are the good opportunity's it provides for social interaction and its entertainment value. While traveling by bus you will be surrounded by all different types of people .

There is also a new awareness of our carbon footprint, which has just about affected every industry, in fact if it has not affected a specific industry yet, it will very soon. To that end fuel costs, combined with interest in traveling "Green" have played a big role in the increased interest in bus travel. It is clear the bus is a much greener form of transportation, and as riders return to buses, the old stigma of bus travel is evaporating .

Bus Budget Travel

For a nation that really enjoys there private automobile, they are seeing bus ticket prices that are to attractive to pass up. If you're traveling independently on a budget, the bus will certainly be a lower cost choice. Don't worry cheap tickets can still mean high quality bus travel .

A growing number of budget travelers are taking a close look, and noticing buses are an viable alternatives to flying. There are several bus passes available that give you unlimited travel within a given area. Seems they are so cheap, busing around specific regions should be a serious consideration for the budget traveler .

Bus Travel Training

Did you know there are even self-paced bus travel training programs for people who are interested to learn to travel independently using the regular bus system .

As you can see there is a lot of value in traveling by bus both financially, and for the quality of a trip .

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jeremiah R Johnson

Selecting Your Holiday Cottage Destination on the Internet

Visitors will be provided with a good standard of accommodation and are able to choose what type of holiday cottage that they want to stay in on the internet.

The main aim of holiday rentals is to provide good food and accommodation for the visitors and gaining their satisfaction. A holiday will be a good time for a person to relax and unwind and get rid of all of the stresses associated with modern day living.

The holiday rentals should be located in an attractive landscape and this will help to get more customers for the holiday home. Usually holiday homes are built on the shore of lakes, by the sea or in the county side. The holiday accommodation should be attractive buildings and well decorated and furnished inside. Many are full of interesting works of art and ornaments.

One of the fun things about staying in a holiday rental is that you can have it as modern or as sparse as you want. If you want a relaxing holiday you can stay in a country cottage full of all sorts of modern appliances. Many have flat screen televisions, superb kitchens and amazing power showers. If however, you want a more basic type of holiday and want to get away from televisions and phones you can stay in a more sparsely furnished cottage in the middle of no where.

Some holiday homes have central heating and others come with log fires. During the winter months it can be quite romantic staying in a holiday rental with a roaring log fire. Then in the morning you can go for a romantic walk in the country side before breakfast and then return to your country accommodation with log fire and warm up again.

Many people on fishing holidays stay in cottages as they find them an ideal way of being able to have their independence. They can store all of their fishing gear in the rental home and use it as a base to fish many different lakes and rivers in its vicinity. An added bonus is the fact that they are able to take the fish that they have caught back to their holiday cottage at night and cook them and eat it for their evening meal.

Lovers of the great outdoors also like to stay in holiday homes. There are many cottages around the world that are in the country side or on or near mountains. They then use the rentals as a base to explore the surrounding area.

Some holiday makers will take their bikes with them to their holiday cottages and go on bike rides during their vacations. Others will walk around the surrounding area and others may go climbing. The handy thing about staying in a holiday rental is the fact that they then have the freedom to return to the cottage at any time they like.

Holiday cottages in the country are also loved by families on their vacations. They are an idea base for families to use during their stay in the cottage. Families staying in a holiday home may go shopping in local towns on some days and other days go on a trip to the sea or explore the local area.

It can now be seen that there are holiday cottages available in most countries in the world. These holiday rentals can suite all budgets enabling holiday makers to have a cheap holiday cottage vacation.

For those holiday makers with deeper pockets, they can stay in an expensive holiday cottage full of all mod cons. No matter what your tastes or budgets you can find a holiday cottage to suite your requirements.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Andy Gibson

Buy Your Holiday With Direct Holiday Bookings on the Internet

It is so easy nowadays to book a holiday on the internet. Long gone are the days when you had to go into a city and book with a travel agent. All you have to do now is sit at a computer and choose the holiday that you want to book. Simply select your holiday site and choose which country that you want to visit.

By clicking on a particular region will bring up properties specific to that region. It will also show a new map of the area that you are interested in. This enables you to work out where exactly the property that you are considering booking for your holidays is located.

If you are happy with the general location of the property, you can then start to search for the type of property that you want to book for your holidays.

When booking your holidays you have to consider what type of property that you want to stay in. You must take into consideration the budget that you have allocated to spend to book your holiday.

Other important factors to consider when booking your holidays are how many bedrooms that you require and what sort of property that you want. By using Direct holiday bookings you can click on any property and it will bring up a detailed account of each property.

In effect you are able to view thousands of individual property web sites when booking your holidays with direct holiday bookings. Each property that you consider booking will have pictures of what it looks like and a full description of what the property has to offer. It will describe what the local area is like and what there is to do once you have booked your holiday there.

If you are considering booking a particular property for your holidays, you can then add it to your wish list. This means that you can come back to the same property when you have looked at other properties on the web site. Then when you are getting ready to book your holiday you can go directly back to that page and compare it with other properties before booking your holiday.

One of the fun things about booking holidays on line is that you can send details of the holiday that you are considering booking to friends for them to have a look at. Direct holiday bookings on line have a facility that you can simply email the holiday that you may book directly to a friend. If they are coming on holiday with you, this will enable them to be part of the booking holidays process. They can then look at the holiday property and email back to you their thoughts on whether you should book it or not.

It is also a useful function when booking a holiday even if your friends are not going to book a holiday with you. It can be reassuring to get a friends thoughts and views of the holiday before you book it. That way when you do book your holiday you can do it with the confidence that a close friend agrees with your choice of holiday booking.

The next step is then to contact the owner to see if the holiday is available to book on the dates that you were considering booking your holidays. You can first of all check the availability calendar to see that nobody else has considered booking their holidays on the dates that you required. If it looks as those the dates for booking your family holiday are free, you can then email the owner to confirm.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Andy Gibson

Cottage Holiday

Introduction

The term "cottage holiday" is used somewhat freely, but in essence it means a holiday taken in a self catering accommodation where you have the sole use of the accommodation. Holiday cottages are marvellous for escaping from the stresses and strains of everyday life.

There are properties available to suit most people, including: families with children, pets, or elderly parents wanting to go away together; small groups of people wishing to celebrate on a holiday; or couples  wanting some alone time.

Finding Properties

There are two primary methods for finding holiday cottages, via a travel consultant and via the Internet. The method you use will most likely be determined by the degree of detail and amount of effort you are prepared to be involved with during the process of selection process:

1 - Travel Consultants - A travel consultant should have good access to agents dealing in properties for self catering holidays. Should you already be using a travel agent for your holiday transport, it may be of benefit to also get them to find you appropriate accommodation as well. As long as you accurately define what you are looking for, using a travel consultant to do all the hard work of searching for and booking a holiday cottage could be a great advantage. On top of that, you would only need to make one payment to the travel consultant for both your accommodation and travel costs.

If the travel consultant provides it, an additional benefit may be that you could obtain a payment option so that your costs could be spread over a number of months.

2 - Internet - As for many things, the Internet and search engines are super tools to help you search for and find suitable holiday cottage accommodation. The advantages of searching online include:

• Choice - With a wide selection of search results, searching online enable you to choose on the basis of your own criteria or preferences.


• Viewing - Many websites provide photographs of properties so that you can view them and get a sense of how suitable they are for you. Some websites may even provide virtual tours of properties which let you do a virtual walk through of the property.


• Tourist Information - Many websites will provide additional tourist information. This can help you make a decision on which property to book by identifying sights to see and activities of interest to you.

You can make use of search engines such as Google or any other and you will be presented with various options for finding holiday cottages. There are quite a few websites run by either agents or tour operators where you can find a holiday cottage. A number of them also enable owners of homes to place their properties on lists and hence offer them as available for hire. You can search the Internet for a holiday cottage in several ways as outlined here:

• Nationally - You can search on a national basis for holiday cottages. If you want to find a cottage in the UK you could use terms "UK Cottage Holidays" or "UK self catering accommodation" or something similar. This should provide search results for a number of agents and tour operators that have a national property database. It may be that they also handle properties in a number of countries, including overseas.


• Regionally - You can search on a regional basis for a holiday cottage if you use a county term like "Devon Cottage Holidays" or a popular holiday area such as "Gower Self Catering Cottage". You can also try a term that covers a broad sub region of a country such as "North East Holiday Cottages".


• Locally - If you already know the name of a local agent or owner of holiday cottage, you may go direct to the website or search based that name. However, if you do not know of a local agent or owner you can search on a local basis for a holiday cottage using either: a city, town or village term like "Whitby Holiday Cottages"; or an area such as "South Devon Self Catering Cottage".

Whichever method you use, it is highly likely that you will receive a large number of search results from which to start your search for a holiday cottage. It ma be that each search you make will provide results which include national, regional and local providers of accommodation. This happens as the bigger national providers also market to the smaller local areas.

When I want to go on a cottage holiday I initially go to a bigger national holiday cottage provider with a good reputation. My favourite is Cottages4You. If I do not find an appropriate cottage with them that matches my criteria, I try other big providers or even smaller agents, depending on what is available for the area I want to visit.

Summary

A holiday cottage is self catering holiday accommodation where you are the only user of the property for the duration of your stay. Holiday cottages are great for escaping your hectic everyday routine. There are properties to suit everyone and they are especially suitable for families with young children, pets, or aged parents; small groups; or couples.

You can find a cottage for your holiday either via a travel consultant or via the Internet. When searching the Internet you can use search terms on a local, regional or national basis. Whichever type of term you use you will probably get a large set of results from which to continue your search. Over time you will probably develop your own preferred search method.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Richard T Griffin

Travel Clubs

Are Travel Clubs worth the investment?

My traveling days have slowed down since I've become a new mom, my priorities have changed, but my husband and I still try and take a vacation at least once or twice a year. My boss travels several times a year and was telling me about the opportunities that come along with them and suggested that I check things out. Well, my curiosity got the best of me and I started searching different sites for information on the pros and cons. I hope my findings help you with your decision on whether or not to purchase a membership.

Wondering what a travel club is? Members a charged a membership fee in return for providing travel at cost or an extremely discounted rate. There are several different types of clubs, ranging from luxury leisure travel to affordable adventure travel and a whole slew of others.

My boss chose to go with "Travel RCI", which guaranteed the lowest prices for flights, hotels and other forms of travel. He has been very happy with the services and said he wished he would have joined earlier. The savings have truly added up for him, and they might for you as well.

Benefits

Becoming a member can be extremely beneficial if you travel more than just once a year. Most memberships come with several free trip offers each year. Travel club memberships offer cheap trip options that are not available to the general public. Investing in a membership can range anywhere from unlimited flexibility in travel options, trip packages in thousands of destinations. You can save on all the extras that go hand in hand with planning a trip, like car rental, hotel reservations, airline tickets and discounts on food and drinks. Travel club membership also works like airline mile rewards programs, giving you additional benefits for traveling more.

Types

There are a handful of different types, ranging from women's only clubs, sport-specific like ski or golf travel to clubs for traveling singles. Most memberships require a one-time nominal fee, while other may require annual or monthly membership fees. There are also several companies that coordinate for the professionals, like teachers and dentists, with professional services related travel opportunities.

With the vast array of options and types, just about every traveler can find a club that is unique to their individual tastes. An important factor is convenience. A travel club allows members to maintain up-to-date profiles based on their travel interests that help the club to weed out potential offers and trip options for them. With a vast array of traveling tools, a travel club can simplify your travel planning process for you by keeping everything you need on an easily accessible site.

Advisory

Like any other special offers and discounts you may find on the Internet today, travel club options should be thoroughly researched for legitimacy. There are many travel-related Internet scams on the Internet and they prey off vulnerable trusting individuals. Be sure to check out the company's reputation by conducting a basic Internet search. Like contacting the Better Business Bureau, or simply calling the company in question to ask for more information.

Also, remember that the benefit of a travel clubs really ramps up once you travel twice in a given year. If you do not travel at least twice a year you will likely not save enough money to justify the cost of your membership. If you travel more than twice a year your travel club should be a great investment.

Conclusion

Travel clubs can be a great investment for the avid traveler. If you plan on traveling several times a year I would highly recommend that you research the different travel clubs and see which one will best suite you and your family and/or business needs. Please take the time so you too can get the best out of your future travels.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7095777

Solo Female Travel in Latin America - Safety Tips For Women

A common question seen on many travel forums is "how safe is it to travel to X (one on the Latin American countries) as a solo female traveller?" It is fully understandable why travelling alone to Latin America can seem an intimidating prospect, particularly if you are a woman. However, women who have already been to this region of the world know there is no need to post this type of question. All of the countries in Central and South America are generally safe to visit as a solo female traveller. There are, however, some areas that pose a risk and these should be avoided.

Many of the large cities in Latin America have areas that aren't particularly desirable and you should stick to the main tourist or modern parts of these cities if you visit them. This includes all of the major cities in Central America (i.e. Belize City, Guatemala City, Managua, Mexico City, Panama City, San Jose, San Salvador and Tegucigalpa). There are also certain parts of South American cities that should be avoided such as Rio de Janeiro, Salvador, and Sao Paulo in Brazil, and Caracas in Venezuela. As with the large cities in Central America, stick to the touristy areas and you'll be fine. You should also take care when visiting particular areas of certain countries such as in Colombia and Venezuela. For example, it isn't a good idea to hang around the border regions of Colombia or travel to obscure, off the beaten track destinations. Although Colombia and Venezuela get some bad press they are both relatively safe to visit if you stick to the top tourist destinations mentioned in reputable travel guides. If somewhere is mentioned in a reputable guidebook, it is almost certainly safe to visit.

This leads to an important point in the discussion. It is very easy to get paranoid about visiting certain countries and cities but this is totally unwarranted. Remember, it's only certain parts of these countries and cities that are best avoided, just as certain parts of cities in Europe or North America are best avoided. In fact, travelling around most of Latin America is far safer, and more pleasant, than travelling around many parts of Europe or North America. Additionally, as Susan Griffith rightly points out in 'Travelling Solo as a Woman in Asia' "there is a pernicious mythology surrounding the lone female traveller, whether it be as a hitchhiker around Britain or a traveller in Southeast Asia. Many people instantly exaggerate the perils and dwell on a single woman's vulnerability. Often this doom-ridden response is just an excuse for their own timidity of spirit." Don't get paranoid: the countries of Latin America are no more dangerous than many other countries in this world, and in reality you are more likely to encounter problems in some European countries or North American states.

Referring back to the classic question seen on travel forums (i.e. how safe is it to travel to X as a solo female traveller) it is worth mentioning the responsibilities and abilities of the individual. Safety is inherently linked to knowledge and experience. Whenever planning a trip to Latin America or anywhere else in the world, it is absolutely essential you do your research. Try and find out as much information as you can about the country or countries you wish to visit. Travel guides such as those produced by Lonely Planet and Footprint will help you decide which places you want to visit and those you might want or should avoid. The internet is also an invaluable source of information and there are many websites dedicated to the concerns of solo female travellers. We often hear people described as being 'streetwise;' if the definition was applied to travel rather than the urban environment, some travellers could be easily be labelled as 'travelwise' (i.e. having the shrewd awareness, experience, and resourcefulness needed for survival in a difficult, often dangerous overseas environment). Travel experience (particularly in the third world) goes a long way in ensuring safety. This is because people with extensive travel experience evaluate risk more effectively and size up situations more successfully. Thus, it's fair to say that overall safety is partly dependent on the qualifications (age, knowledge and experience) of the person posing the question.

To a large degree safety is simply a case of being sensible and staying alert. For example, flaunting items such as expensive cameras, jewellery, or mobile phones is likely to attract opportunist thieves. Similarly, putting your day pack on the luggage rack of a public bus rather than keeping it on your lap or by your feet is asking for trouble. The key message here is don't take any unnecessary risks. You might fancy a late paddle on Copacabana beach (Rio de Janeiro) but any guidebook will tell you not to visit this area after dark. You might want to hit the bars and clubs in Quito but leave your valuables in your hotel. You might want to get drunk in the nearest disco but don't try walking back to your hotel late at night. It's all a matter of common sense really.

The main issue for solo female travellers is the threat of sexual harassment from local men and even male travellers. While male travellers might be a problem on occasions, you need to be aware of the culture differences between Latin American men and those from your own country. Machismo attitudes are fairly widespread among Latin American men and it is advisable to follow local practice and take your cues (i.e. how do local women deal with prolonged eye contact, etc) from local woman if you don't want to be the object of curiosity. Appropriate dress and conduct will attract less unwanted attention from the local men. It is a sad fact that many local men view Western women as promiscuous. This impression is largely due to how some women dress. Acting drunk and a bit wild is also bound to create the sort of interest you are trying to avoid. You need to balance your sense of adventure with an awareness of cultural differences. It is also important that you listen to and trust your instincts. If you are in a situation that makes you feel uncomfortable as a woman, you need to follow your instincts and leave.

Most countries in Latin America are well established on the 'gringo trail,' hence, there will always be opportunities to hook up with other travellers. This will greatly reduce any hassle you might get. This should not deter any woman from travelling alone as this can be a rewarding and empowering experience. There is probably nothing more satisfying to a solo female traveller than knowing she forged her own path.
While it's true that there are specific concerns for female travellers, the risks that are out there shouldn't stop you from hitting the road. There are thousands of solo female travellers currently exploring Latin America and you could be one of them.

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Adventure Travel In Australia

Adventure travel developed as a segment of the tourism market during the latter half of the 20th century out of the more general traditional notion of outdoor recreation. Adventure travel differs from from earlier forms of outdoor recreation, however, in that it offers travelers greater opportunities to experience specific physical activities (eg. rock climbing, diving, snow-boarding, kayaking, abseiling) that involve greater levels of skill and, within acceptable limits, risk. With traditional outdoor recreation, the primary attraction is the specific setting: with adventure travel, however, travelers are attracted primarily by the activities offered. Adventure travel is therefore primarily associated with travel products where the primary purpose is to engage in activity and participatory experience rather than the more passive sightseeing associated with traditional outdoor tourism.

The travel industry has evolved considerably since the 1970s. Changes include sociodemographic shifts which have seen a growth both the disposable income and available leisure time of many travelers. Travelers generally have become more discerning, have more travel experience, and have come to enjoy the benefits of cheaper, more convenient transport and other technological advances. As a result, substantial changes occurred in the demand for international travel products. The 1990s saw rapid growth in the evolution of specific segments of the tourism market including ecotourism, nature tourism and other special interest tourism which catered for the new breed of sophisticated traveler with both the means and the will to travel.
While travel costs will always remain a significant factor in decision-making for most travelers, the notion of tourist satisfaction is today of increasing importance. Increasingly, travel products must provide something other than simple value for money to attract tourists pursuing deeper, more satisfying purposes. In short, new patterns in travel choices have emerged to accommodate a much greater spectrum of travel interests, activities and experiences. Adventure travel today is increasingly the travel mode of choice for sophisticated travellers seeking to experience a holiday rather than simply sit in a tour bus passively sightseeing.

The increasing interest of many travellers in actively experiencing their holiday has also been matched with a rapid expansion in the range and quality of travel-related equipment available, extending the capability of tour operators to deliver more diversified adventure travel products. Australia has been at the forefront of these developments, and adventure travel is now one of the fastest-growing travel market segments in that country. Continuing to grow in their scope and appeal, it appears today that the variety and availability of adventure travel products for a broad spectrum of abilities and interests and abilities is almost limitless.

In Australia, the notion of adventure in travel is inextricably linked to that of the Outback. This means that true adventure travel is more likely to be found away from the comfortable, urban east coast, and in particular away from the area located south of the Brisbane-Adelaide line where over 80% of Australians live in urban and suburban settings oblivious to the geographic, climatic and cultural realities of the majority of the Australian continent. High on the list of authentic Australian outback adventure travel destinations therefore are Central Australia and the Northern Territory, far north and western Queensland, Western Australia and South Australia. The island of Tasmania also provides many exciting opportunities for adventure travel in unique wilderness areas.

Quality outback adventure tours in Australia are characterized by many factors, including the use of four-wheel-drive vehicles rather than buses, access to spectacular remote sites, provision of challenging adventure activities, and active hands-on participation in daily routines. The use of 4x4 vehicles typically allows tour operators to access more remote, difficult and spectacular country. By encouraging active participation in daily routines such as cooking, cleaning, setting camp and packing up, adventure tours engage travelers in the complete outdoor adventure experience rather than simply waiting on passive participants hand and foot.

But the real adventure element provided by the best quality tours takes the form of specific adventure activities ranging from bushwalking, rock climbing, swimming, snorkeling, fishing, sailing, through to more extreme activities such as diving, canoing, abseiling, jet-skiing, quad riding, white water rafting and hot air ballooning.

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Travel Trailers

Vacation travels are exciting, and that is especially true if one's destination is the countryside or some other country. Not everybody, however, shares this excitement. People who have grown too comfortable with their homes, for example, may find traveling very depressing .

But traveling need not always mean leaving one's beloved home behind. And that is possible by traveling in a travel trailer.

Travel trailers, also often called caravans in many places outside the U.S., are small trailers that can be used as living quarters while traveling. Travel trailers are actually a part of a large family of vehicles having the same characteristics. Also belonging to this group of vehicles are the pop-up trailers, teardrop trailers, motor homes, and truck campers. Collectively, these vehicles are called recreational vehicles, or RVs.

The different kinds of recreational vehicles share several characteristics, so how can one differentiate a travel trailer from the others? Unlike motor homes that are vehicles in themselves, travel trailers are not. Instead, travel trailers are designed to be towed by other vehicles by means of a bumper or trailer hitch. One wouldn't mistake a travel trailer for other towable RVs because of their style and their size.

Travel trailer lengths usually range from twelve feet to about forty feet. Those that are below eighteen feet in length are often called small travel trailers. These travel trailers are usually the simplest and can accommodate about four people at most. Small travel trailers would not weigh more than 3,000 pounds and thus can be towed by a family car or a small pickup truck.

Travel trailers of eighteen to twenty-five feet in length are classified as mid-range travel trailers. These travel trailers usually weigh 5,000 pounds or more and are designed to be towed by V8-powered trucks and SUVs.

Those travel trailers that measure more than twenty-five feet in length are called large travel trailers. These are often the most luxurious, equipped with amenities that make them look like moving condominiums. Large travel trailers can measure up to 12,000 feet and usually need a heavy-duty SUV or a large truck to haul them. These RVs can also carry the greatest number of persons, ranging from eight to ten .




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Elements of a Strong Corporate Travel Program

 In order to make the most of your corporate travel budget, it is critical to plan for leveraging your program for all it is worth. Telling travelers to select the lowest logical airfare is just not enough. Here are the elements that should be considered when planning or evaluating your travel program.

1. Travel policy

A well written and disseminated travel policy is the foundation of any good travel program, and I am consistently amazed that so many corporations have such an outdated and poorly conceived travel policy, if they have one at all. It is not difficult to find a well written policy. One can be found online quite easily. All that remains is that it is edited to reflect corporate culture, and disseminated within the company so that everyone understands and agrees to follow it. For this reason, it is a good idea to have everyone sign a copy of the travel policy to ensure that it is read, understood and owned by all company staff. I suggest that everyone in the company signs a copy of the travel policy, whether they travel or not. They may change positions in the company later and be required to travel. A travel policy need not be long or complex. Some of the best travel policies I have ever seen were only a few pages long.

2. Centralized travel internally and externally

Many companies do not centralize their travel program, and they pay a price in terms of a loss of expense reduction opportunities and internal efficiencies. Many companies that do not centralize travel have a fear of requiring travelers to do something they may not want to do, along with the idea that centralizing travel will require hiring a Travel Manager. Both of these may be legitimate concerns but they do not have to be in most cases. By requiring travelers to book centrally, you are not necessarily causing them to lose flexibility. You can centralize travel while still allowing travelers to book on their own, either with a travel agency of your choice, or online through a provider that you have partnered with and have confidence in. By assigning someone with the responsibility of overseeing travel, you are getting a single point of contact both internally and externally for travel issues. If your company spends less than $1 million in air travel, you probably do not need a full time travel manager. In these cases, travel oversight can be given to the finance department, human resources, or even an executive level assistant. Here is a look at the advantages to be gained by centralizing travel.

When you centralize travel with a single agency, you gain in a number of important ways. You will have a single point of contact for problems while travelers are on the road, and you will have one entity to go to for all your travel needs. This eliminates the problem of consolidating a travel report from among several sources. By bringing travel together, you will gain significantly from economies of scale. If you can measure total travel among various divisions or locations, you can get more for your money from travel suppliers. This will allow you to gain more from airline soft dollar programs, which means more free tickets and upgrades, get a higher percentage discount from our preferred airline, and get better negotiated rates from your hotel and car contracts. Your fulfillment costs will decrease as well, as your travel agency will often discount their fees for a higher overall volume of travel.

3. Mix of online booking and personal service

This is an addendum to the previous element, which calls for centralizing travel with one travel agency. This is important, but in doing so, you need not require travelers to use an online booking system, and you need not require travelers to call the agency directly. By offering travelers the option of doing either, you are accomplishing several goals. You will reduce your fulfillment costs, as online booking is cheaper in terms of a service fee. By giving travelers the option, you are giving them a sense of control, thereby increasing morale and standing a better chance of a high adoption rate. Thirdly, you leave open a best practice of using your online booking engine for less complex itineraries, and allowing senior executives, frequent travelers, and complex itineraries to be booked directly with a travel agent that can offer a higher level of service and a better overall travel experience where it is most warranted.

4. Look under every stone

While the bulk of most travel programs revolve around the air budget, there are several other areas one can investigate to find savings opportunities. There are a couple of more obvious areas to look, such as negotiated hotel rates at your favorite hotels, or car rental discounts with a favored supplier. Often your travel agency will already have discounted rates through consortia affiliations and agency car contracts. There are also some less common areas that should be investigated. For example, if ground transportation is a concern, most suppliers will offer discounted rates and a direct billing option. Direct billing arrangements with hotels and car rental agencies are also a great way to increase efficiencies and make the job of the accounting department easier.

5. Leverage hard dollar and soft dollar contracts

Most major airlines today offer hard dollar discounts as well as soft dollar incentives in exchange for company loyalty to their product. If your travel program is over $1 million in air spend, you can secure a discount off of the lowest fares of your carrier of choice in return for a market share commitment. For your secondary carriers, or if your volume is less than the minimum required by the airline, you can enter in to soft dollar programs for free tickets and free upgrades, as well as traveler status enhancements or airport club passes. These programs require little in the way of volume, but they are not well publicized so you may need to hunt for them or ask Baker Travel or your current agency to point you in the right direction.
6. Do not neglect hotel volume
Hotel volume is sometimes overlooked but it should not be. Negotiated rates can be had through your travel agency or directly with the hotel properties of your choice. Individual hotels near corporate locations will negotiate discounted rates for you in exchange for a minimum room/night commitment. By utilizing a travel agency, you are likely to receive discounts of 5% to 50% on thousands of hotels worldwide.

7. Have at least one car rental contract

Rental car contracts are easy to enter into and require little in the way of commitment from the corporation. Choose a partner that has airport locations and a reputation for excellent customer service. You can save 5-10% very easily and can also negotiate frequent renter membership for all your employees. This will make them more efficient and enhance morale. You can also enter in to direct billing agreements at the same time that can make the jobs of your travelers and accounting staff much less stressful.

8. Understand group and meeting contracts

Airlines and hotels will discount your fares and rates when you have groups traveling together or meeting at a single destination from multiple points of origin. These meeting contracts can bring you airfare discounts of 2-10%, and if you have enough travelers on a single airline, you may be able to negotiate for free tickets to be awarded at contract completion. The minimum requirement is usually 10 travelers going to the same place at the same time. Some airlines have higher minimums so be sure to ask before a contract is generated. Hotels will discount their rates in a similar way with a minimum of 10 room nights. These discounts can range from 10% to a much higher discount depending upon occupancy rate and seasonal variances.

9. Use reporting to consistently improve metrics

Well managed travel programs require constant monitoring and financial controls to be properly leveraged. Insist on timely and customized reports that can be designed to bring you the information you need most. By receiving regular reporting on traveler behavior and provider contract performance, you will be in a better position to fulfill contract obligations, achieve cost reduction objectives and see where opportunities for future savings may lie.

10. Use all avenues to enhance traveler comfort and efficiency

Lastly, any well managed travel program will take in to account the comfort and productivity of their travelers. When travelers are comfortable, they can focus on their main priorities that help propel your business forward. If travelers are happy, they perform at a higher level. Ask if your travel agency can upgrade traveler status on a preferred airline. Look in to purchasing blocks of airport club passes so they can be used strategically during long and complex itineraries. There are many ways to reward travelers for the difficult and often grueling chore of travel. These kinds of rewards generate feelings of loyalty and increased productivity and efficiency.

If you would like to learn more about how your company can better leverage their travel program to benefit your bottom line and the satisfaction of your executive level, feel free to contact me. I am delighted to point you in the right direction.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/4096747

Taking the Stress Out of Travel

The trick to successful and stress-free travel is planning ahead. Challenging, though it might seem, your goal is to think of every possible contingency that might come up, and take action before it happens. What will you do if your luggage is lost? If you get sick? If you forget your blue pumps? Being PROACTIVE will reduce the possibility of a serious crisis occurring during your trip.



BUDGETING FOR YOUR TRIP

Travel doesn't have to break the bank -- not if you are willing to plan ahead for your vacation spending. Decide first how much you can AFFORD, then make your travel plans. Start searching early for travel deals -- talk to your travel agent, look for internet specials, and check with travel clubs for discounts. You can find some great bargains in package deals that combine hotel and airfare at a discounted rate.

If vacations tend to get you in trouble on your credit cards, consider starting a savings account just for travel -- where you put away a small amount each month toward your next trip. You should also plan to use traveler's checks instead of credit cards to stay within your budget. It's amazing how easy it is to go overboard when start handing out the plastic! And be sure to keep track of how much you actually spend -- as compared to your budget -- throughout the trip. You might keep a small pad of paper with you for recording expenses and tallying up your total for each day.

If you can't seem to make it happen on your budget, consider COMPROMISING on lower priority expenses in exchange for the higher priority ones. When my husband and I travel, we are always willing to stay in a budget hotel so we can afford to eat out and attend cultural events. We decided that expensive hotels are wasted on us because we spend very little time in our room, and we would rather spend our money elsewhere. Where are you willing to trade off?

PACKING MADE EASY

Have you ever been away from home and suddenly realized that you forgot your toothbrush, your shoes, or your bathing suit? Having to rush around replacing items that you left behind not only wastes time and money, it also reduces your enjoyment of the trip. And sometimes, you might forget an item that isn't so easily replaced -- like your checkbook or the report you were supposed to present at tomorrow's meeting. But you can save yourself a lot of heartache by taking the guesswork out of packing.

Start by developing PACKING LISTS for both short-term travel (from one to three days) and longer trips. You can even create different lists for different kinds of travel -- camping, business, foreign travel, trips to the beach, cold-weather travel, etc. Try to include any and all generic items that you might need -- clothes, toiletries, alarm clock, night light, whatever you like to take with you. Then use these lists as memory-joggers as you are packing for each trip. You can also cut down on the time you spend preparing for travel by keeping a "pre-packed" toiletry bag with duplicates of the items you use in your home. Fill your kit with samples of shampoo, soap, lotion, cosmetics, toothpaste, and shaving cream -- even miniature toothbrushes and razors. These travel-sized items take up less room in your suitcase, and you will be less likely to leave something important behind.

And don't forget your important documents - especially if you are travelling overseas. You should plan to bring proof of citizenship, an official government photo identification (driver's license or military ID is fine), a state-issued birth certificate with a raised seal, and a passport. Remember that children and infants are also required to have a state-issued birth certificate for travel.

LESS IS MORE

If you can get away with it, try not to check your luggage. I purchased a very roomy pullman carry on that will accommodate up to a week's worth of clothes -- that way, I never have to be concerned about losing my bags. If you pack "mix-and-match" outfits and plan to do some washing along the way, you don't need 15 different outfits for a one-week trip. And if you have to check a piece, be sure to keep those items you couldn't live without in your carry on -- toiletries, a change of clothes, clean underwear, medications, maps, travel confirmations, and any materials you might need for an upcoming business meeting. But try to take no more than one medium-sized and one carry on bag per person. Remember, you can always remedy underpacking, but not OVERPACKING! However heavy your suitcase is when you start out, it will be twice as heavy when you come home.

If you plan to do any shopping while on your trip, you may decide to bring along an extra bag for carrying your purchases home. Put your filled suitcase inside a slightly larger empty one -- or, get a collapsible tote that will take up very little space in your bag. But the easiest option (although perhaps not the cheapest) is to have each store ship your treasures directly to your home. This is an especially good policy if you are bringing home anything large or bulky on a plane, as the airlines often charge extra for oversized parcels. And each bag you have to lug around limits your transportation options. Heavy suitcases mean cabs and porters and inconvenience and fatigue -- while a light suitcase equals travel freedom.

PROTECT YOURSELF AND YOUR BELONGINGS

While no one wants to be paranoid about their safety when travelling, it's a good idea to err on the side of caution when planning your trip. So let's start with your "stuff" -- list the contents of each piece of luggage and keep your list close at hand anytime your bags are out of your sight. This will save you a great deal of frustration if your bags are lost and you have to file a claim or replace your belongings. And don't forget to mark your luggage for easy retrieval -- all those black pullmans are starting to look alike, and it's easy for someone else to pick up your bag.

While you are making lists, create a WRITTEN RECORD of your credit card numbers, traveler's checks, medical insurance, emergency phone numbers, and other important information to take with you when you travel. And always keep this information hidden away someplace secure -- a hotel safe deposit box is a good choice -- where you can easily access it if you need it. Do not -- I repeat do not -- keep this record in your purse or wallet. Think about it. Those are the first things a thief will take -- if you keep your list with the credit cards and traveler's checks, it doesn't help much when they are stolen. You are better off sticking it in your shoe (as long as your feet don't sweat a lot!)

Finally, be sure to have a POINT OF CONTACT at home -- someone who knows where you are and how to reach you. Make sure to give this person any information that could be important in the event of an emergency -- the phone number and address where you are staying, the code to your alarm system, your doctor's name, etc. It will ease your mind to know that you can be contacted if something goes wrong at home -- and that you have someone who can act on your behalf if something goes awry on your end.

KEEPING YOUR HOUSE SAFE

Nothing can ruin a fabulous vacation more than worrying about your home while you are gone. But a few simple precautions can help ease your mind and keep your domicile safe. Before you leave, let the police or a very trusted neighbor know you will be gone -- especially if you are planning a lengthy trip. Nothing says "not home" more than a pile of newspapers in your driveway or magazines pouring out of your mailbox -- so stop your mail and newspaper delivery or have neighbor collect them. Investing in timers for your lights, radios, etc, -- and setting them to go on and off at random times during the day - will make your home look lived in and keep burglars away. And if you still aren't comfortable abandoning your home, hire a housesitter.

INSURE YOUR TRIP

One thing that very few people remember to do before leaving home is review their insurance policies. This is particularly important if you are travelling overseas. First, make sure that you have the proper personal liability coverage. This is meant to insure the loss or theft of your personal possessions, injury (to yourself or someone else), your legal defense (other countries don't operate like the US -- remember that kid in Singapore who was caned?), and the repatriation of your remains should you die overseas (not a nice thought, but it does happen). Check with your insurance carriers -- your homeowner's policy may include coverage for your possessions while away from home, and your credit card company probably offers inexpensive life insurance.

If you plan to operate a vehicle while on your trip, check to see what your automobile insurance covers. If you are in an accident in a rented car, what is paid for? Are you covered if you are in an accident overseas? Are there any hidden costs that you will be expected to pay? You should also familiarize yourself with your MEDICAL insurance. What actions does your insurance company require if you become ill or injured while out of state? Out of the country?

If you are taking a package tour or an expensive trip, if you will be visiting a dangerous or unpredictable parts of the world, or if you have a personal or medical situation that might disrupt your travels, you should also consider trip cancellation and interruption insurance. This type of coverage can protect you in case of bad weather (ie: a cruise cancelled because of a hurricane), illness, family emergency, and even the default or bankruptcy of your travel suppliers. But remember that certain situations -- like pre-existing medical conditions, terrorism, hijacking, and war -- can void your trip cancellation coverage. Make sure that you clearly understand all of the terms, requirements, and EXCLUSIONS before you purchase your insurance.

Does it only cover situations when someone in your party gets sick, or if someone at home gets sick as well? When does your coverage start and end? Does "medical evacuation" mean that you are evacuated to the nearest medical facility or back home? You might want to contact the insurance company yourself, as many travel agents may not understand all the terms of your policy. Don't assume that anything is covered until you check it out for yourself.

SCHEDULING AS A SCIENCE

Some of the biggest frustrations people face when travelling are disruptions to their SCHEDULE -- flight delays, traffic jams, getting lost, long lines, you name it. But you can take a number of precautions to make sure you are able to stick to your itinerary while travelling. Don't wait until you arrive at your destination to learn the lay of the land. Take the time to research your trip before leaving -- develop at least a cursory knowledge of the routes, directions, tourist attractions, transportation systems, and weather. Look at your options and pick a few major sights that you really want to see while on your trip -- just remember that you can't do everything! Then make as many advance reservations as possible once your itinerary is set, remembering to build the travel time from sight to sight into your itinerary. Be sure to confirm any appointments and reservations before leaving -- and then reconfirm everything when you arrive. There is no such thing as double-checking too much!

We've talked a lot about physical preparations for your vacation -- but preparing yourself mentally is just as important. Determine ahead of time what your EXPECTATIONS are for your trip. What must happen to make this a successful trip? Which activities or sights you it would disappoint you to miss? Which activities or sights you it wouldn't bother you to miss? And what problems that you have had on other trips that you would like to avoid this time? Try to admit to yourself that things may not go perfectly throughout the entire trip. Be FLEXIBLE and have other options ready (reading, other activities) if your schedule gets off track. Understand that you can not control every (or any!) aspect of travel. The more willing you are to accept difficulties and delays, the less disruptive they will be if they do occur. Happy travels!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/10690

Travel Risk Management: Are You Ready for a Crisis?

Introduction 

If you know that business travel is not without its risk and the potential for crisis, then you need to read this article. In this article we are going to talk about the management and containment of crisis as it relates to travellers and travel managers. The objective of this article is to share with you the collective knowledge on managing crisis and significantly improve your ability to identify and manage a crisis but also improve your business travel efficiency.
During this article I am going to discuss travel risk myths, crisis management, plans and options so you can immediately compare or improve your own travel risk management system for your travellers or travel management department.
Crisis by definition is something you didn't have a plan for or something in which you are unprepared. Additionally, it can be a series of events that in concert create a crisis. Events or issues that occur, to which you have a plan and strategy, is merely an incident.

Crisis Management/Leadership 

The first thing is to clarify what is the difference between crisis management and leadership. More importantly, which one is the more important?
Crisis management relates to the response to event/s that threaten your business, travellers or travel activity. The event leads and you follow with plans, decisions and actions.
Crisis leadership, on the other hand, is more about getting ahead of the events and issues to prevent, management and even contain the impact to your business or business travel activities. While management is a portion of the leadership demand, your actions and involvement lead the outcomes rather than a more passive wait and act approach with pure crisis management.
Crisis leadership is the less practiced of the two, but the most significant in terms of results and reduction in risk and impact. If you take nothing else away from this session, it should be that your focus should always be on Crisis Leadership, not crisis management.

Myths 

There are many myths and half-truths about crisis, disruption and threats within the travel management sector. Much of this misinformation has originated from travellers themselves, media, travel managers, friends and family or so called "experts".

For example, many travellers and planners are focused on terrorism. The reality is, you have a very, very small chance of being exposed or affected directly by a terrorist act. It doesn't mean you should discount it as a threat altogether but it shouldn't dominate your plans or processes if not a proportional threat to you and your travellers. Conversely, almost everyone overlooks motor vehicle accidents. Yet, they happen far more frequently, can have devastating affect on travellers and are the least common plan contained within company travel management departments.

Travellers and travel managers must be prepared, educated and have supporting plans for any event that has the potential to delay, disrupt or harm the traveller or the business.
The most common events include:

• Motor vehicle accidents
• Airline delays or cancellations
• Airport closures or disruptions
• Transport delays
• Bad weather
• Sickness and illness
• Petty crimes
• Hotel fires
• Political disputes
• Demonstrations and gatherings

Motor vehicle accidents within your own country can be stressful and dangerous but on an overseas business trip they can be 100 times more challenging and dangerous. Consider language, local authorities, first responder, standard of healthcare, families and support in your plans and initial response.

Airline delays and cancelations. They happen all the time but they are not just an administrative response. You may need to consider safety, transport, quarantines, security threats, government response and wide spread suspension of services to overcome the issue and maintain safety of your travellers.

Airport closures or disruptions. Failed systems, electrical problems, threats, weather, construction and so on can prevent you even getting to your flight. Consider the impact this has on your plans and how your traveller will need to possibly extend stay, move to alternate airport or find accommodation.

All other transport delays and disruptions can create crisis when everyone no longer has access to trains, buses, key roads or even water transport. Have a plan and add it to your immediate decision making process.

2010 and the commencement of 2011 has seen travel of all kind affected by natural disasters and weather. Weather and natural forces have and always will impact travellers. It does and will continue to occur. It is highly concerning how unprepared travellers and companies are for volcanic eruptions, typhoons, floods, earthquakes and general bad weather.

People get sick or feel unwell all the time. This is compounded significantly when travelling. Standard of care, language, access, cost, complications, choice and numerous other location based concerns will determine just how at risk your traveller will be. A single, "one-size-fits-all" plan or solution will fail and you need to be aware of these issues immediately with the onset of an affected traveller.

Crimes are a reality of any city in the world. However, travellers seldom know the risks and may be preyed upon by thieves and criminals. The loss of phones, money, and other items may seem less likely to constitute a crisis but when overseas, injured or not able to speak the local language, all these simple events can create a major concern for your business travellers. This can be amplified if you have a senior executive or a group of executives affected.

Hotel fires and emergencies are more common than most people think. The immediate threat to an individual is fairly obvious but the impact that the lack of accommodation choices can create from the temporary or permanent closure of a hotel is a much bigger concern. This was graphically displayed during the Mumbai terror attacks (as extra ordinary as the event was) when most of the best/preferred hotels were now unavailable in a key part of the city. This removed thousands of rooms for business travellers and forced many to cancel or significantly alter travel plans just because there were a lack of suitable accommodation options, whether affected by the events or not.

Any event that alters the political stability of a location or region or results in thousands of people out on the streets constitutes a risk to your business travel plans and travellers. They can happen spontaneously or take time to develop. The immediate dangers and the ongoing disruption can have a major impact on your business or traveller.

Again, plans, preparation and thought to these issues will greatly reduce the impact and improve your business too.

Now that we have removed the most common misconceptions, let's focus on the management and containment of a crisis.

Crisis management 

The key to successful crisis management is planning, training, plans, decision-making and adaptability.

Planning 

Given the issues previously covered, you now have a better insight into how and why planning is important to remove the more emotive issues from the realities of real business threats and events.

Planning needs to include multiple departments and perspectives to be truly effective. One of the greatest weaknesses I see regularly is that departments continue to manage the risk of travel through multiple departments with multiple plans. The input and plan needs to be unified. Depending on the company, it may include travel managers, security, HR, finance, marketing, C-suite and operations.

All plans need to be continuously updated, location specific, aide in the decision-making process and modular enough have elements extracted quickly and effectively. Modern, effective plans embrace technology. Rapid, efficient access to information, along with running updates is the hallmarks of a modern sustainable plan, regardless of the size of the issue or the company.

Training 

No plan is effective without training and rehearsal. Training, whether through simulations, drills or live, full-scale exercises are vital to the success of any crisis situation. Such sessions don't need to be boring or overly complicated but must include travel managers and planners along with the more common crisis and emergency managers.

Increasingly, training is becoming a mandatory requirement for key positions and roles. It can be linked to internal HR processes but must support the business objectives and measurable on how it reduces the risk to people, business, brand and travel demands.

While the plan creates the framework for crisis decision-making, teams can learn a lot from training on how and when to adapt their plans. How the team interacts, strength, weakness, leaders, followers, limitations, tools and many more planned and surprise outcomes are possible with effective training.

Adaptations 

No plan will completely script all the events, issues and options available for every plausible travel delay, disruption or crisis. You need to be able to adapt and evolve from the original plan and intention. This can only be achieved with planning, plans and training.
Solutions So what do I need in my plan?

Here is the best travel risk management content for your plan:

• Objective(the single most important part of any travel policy)
• References
• Scope
• Legal
• Insurance
• Finance
• Reimbursements
• Limits
• Priority/precedence
• Management Authority/ies
• Situations

Procedure will likely cover:

• Planning
• Resources
• Tools
• Authority
• Executive Decision making
• Limits
• Budgets
• Training
• Compliance
• Pre-trip admin
• Providers
• Booking
• Accommodation
• Airlines
• Ground Transport
• Safety and Security
• Health and wellness
• Emergency
• SOP/Actions on
• Insurance
• Travel Monitoring /tracking
• Reporting
• HR
• Entitlements
• Threat/risk levels
• Shelter in Place
• Relocations/evacuations
• Management Authority
• Review

Don't forget your risk assessment will need to include the key elements:

• Traveller
• Location
• Activity
• Support/Resources
• Response

Conclusion

There you have it. Now you know what is required, how do you rate your current plans and preparedness?
You now have the most relevant issues and areas to focus upon that will reduce or contain the majority of incidents you may face your travellers will be safer, your business more profitable and your costs will be contained by reducing your exposure to expensive crisis events.
We have debunked popular travel threat myths, identified the difference between crisis management and leadership, outlined plans and options so you can immediately compare or improve your own travel risk management system for your travellers or travel management department. Review your plans and make the immediate improvements.
You will know when you have an effective crisis management system for your travel risk management strategy when you have little to no crisis.
You may have numerous events or incidents but you have a plan, you're prepared and your decision making is fast and consistent. If not, you have failed and you will run from crisis to crisis on a regular basis.

Article source : http://EzineArticle.com/?expert=Tony J Ridley