How to Enjoy Your Holiday Without Breaking the Bank

Save money this summer

Temperatures soar gradually, students tasks come to an end, individuals feel the magic of the upcoming summer holiday and everybody is under pressure to consider and organize an unforgettable summer vacation. No matter where you will go for your summer escape-at the beach or high in the mountain, many of the deals are likely to be more expensive this year as compared to 2009, commented travel experts. Fortunately, the economic has recovered and therefore US residents have arranged their travels. As we know, this is a sign for one thing-hotel owners and air carriers are not likely to offer advantageous offers as they used to last year. Should it happen that you come across a great holiday deal, you should consider its expiration first and then grab it as soon as possible, because prices may run high very soon. Indeed if you shop online, you will find many tempting and rather Hot travel deals, however, you should either book well in advance or keep an eye on the latest discounts and last minute offers. ABCNews offers a couple of practical tips on how to save some cash from our summer holiday.

Although these tip were written by travel experts for US holidaymakers, all of us who love holidays should take some advice into consideration in order to experience a great vacation this summer and save some bucks.

Tip 1: Book your holiday in advance

Perhaps the global financial crisis influenced the choice of people last year and therefore travellers organized their vacations in the last minute. There are many Hot Deals for the summer, but they are not everyday occurrence. Constantly increasing prices are not a clear indication that there are no Hot Deals. Therefore, you should look up regularly and plan well in advance. The important thing is to start searching instead of waiting the last minute. The vice president of Marketing and Sales department at Best Western commented that if tourists have some specific preferences and they choose popular destinations, then they should book early in advance in order to manage to reserve a room instead of catching the best deal. All we know that we will be disappointed provided that we would like to book a room at a leading summer destination in the peak season and we find out that the hotel is even overbooked.

Tip 2: Pay your booking in advance

Believe or not, this is also an option to reduce your costs. For instance, if you notice a great deal and it fits into your needs, you should book it at this unbeatable price in order to save some cash. Basically, you compensate the flexibility of the offer for its relatively lower price. Here comes the huge difference between big travel platforms that offer hotels all over the world and local travel agents; it's the value that all we are looking for! Surely, a travel platform has the ability to offer discount prices, however, you do not have an agent to rely on, you are unable to gather authentic information for the accommodation and the holiday destination etc.

Tip 3: Participation in Advantageous promotions

Don't neglect offers such as 'Pay 3 overnights and get 4 this summer', they can save a fortune if you plan a family holiday this summer! Very often a travel agent may make a special quotation if you are a regular client or they may propose additional services for free. For instance, you may require a late check out, free newspaper, free access to Internet and many others, and it's the good travel agent who appreciates clients and make their holiday truly special by providing some of these small extras that can make us happier. Indeed some hotels also show their special attention by providing welcome drinks and fruits. The lift is not only chance to win; it's all about that small things which make us happy.

Tip 4:Pay attention to free complementary extras in the offer

All we know that booking a cheap flight does not mean that we have grabbed the best deal. Why? Have you forgotten the service tax which may reach the airfare? Similarly, some 5-star hotels may make you pay additional service tax for using the fitness centre, swimming pool and other facilities in the hotel. Moreover, no matter whether you use the service or not, you are obliged to pay for it. Some hotels require a fee for the parking lot, so you should stay pay attention to this 'tiny detail' as well. Would you take the dog with you? This may turn up a big mistake if the hotel is not a pet-friendly or requires additional payment for your dog. It is true that the travel industry has changed a lot and many hotels do not torture guests with extra charges and even they offer free breakfast or Internet. What is important, however, is to calculate carefully the total amount payable and check whether extra charges may occur.

Tip 5:Read comments, reviews and articles

Travel experts emphasize that if we are satisfied with a travel agency for a holiday destination, we should not miss to rely on it in the future in order to ensure great value. As it comes to hotels, you should remember to make a small research in order to determine what to expect and why you should book or not.

Tip 6:Group Discounts

Many hotels, amusement parks and other attraction centres offer discount for groups. If you are a member of a group, don't be shy to ask for a discount. Be tricky! If you plan a long journey and you are about to pay a huge sum for it, you may consider joining a group in order to receive a discount. Simply check all offers and calculate whether the membership fee will reduce or increase your expenses.

Travel tips will never end, however, there is one tip that you should never forget: Smile and Enjoy your holidays in full!

Annie Valentine is a travel enthusiast, expert and content writer. She is dedicated to tourism in Bulgaria and travelling. If you wish to find out more for Bulgaria, then check bulgaria-hotels.com or don't miss to have a look at Live webcams.

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How to Make Family Road Trips Unforgettable (in a Good Way)

If money is tight this summer but you still want to have a few nice family outings, maybe it's time to rediscover an American classic getaway: road trips.

Imagine the endless possibilities presented by all those roads stretching out in every direction from your home; scenic drives so beautiful they rekindle your love of the land; cute little towns and oddball road side attractions; missed exit ramps; spilled drinks on the cloth seats; cranky young'uns who just want to go home to their computer.

Is it possible to take the whole family on a car trip without tears or tantrums?

After many hundreds of road trips across this great land, I'd like to share with you some tips for increasing the fun and reducing the frazzle on family trips.

Tips for Better Road Trips

Keep it short and sweet. Make a list of destinations within 100 miles of home where your family has never been. Get the kids involved in whittling it down to their favorites and plan to tackle one or two every weekend. If you run out of ideas, pick up some brochures at the local tourist information center. Maybe you'll discover there's a river offering tubing adventures just a few towns over. Or a pioneer fort that lets visitors participate in "olden days" activities. Perhaps a scenic drive through a state park you've been meaning to show the kids for years. Family outings close to home can be fresh and fun if you experience them with your favorite people. The upside to these short jaunts is you won't be stuck in the car together long enough to pick fights.

Leave the mobile media at home. Yes, this will spark World War III but if the kids drive you crazy with their video games and obsessive texting at home, imagine how annoying it will be in the back seat of the car. And if you haven't been observing your kids lately, just check out the headlines:

"Tech Use Up In Kids, Parents Losing Ground"

"More Teens Obsessed with Texting"

"Kids Spend 8 Hours a Day on TV, Internet, Texting"

Yes, going cold turkey will cause withdrawal symptoms (pouting, whining, unconscious twitching of the thumbs). But as compensation...

Give them a low-tech challenge. Get a small digital voice recorder and turn the kids into reporters. Invite them to ask things about their parents and each other that your family has never talked about. Assign them a "story" to cover about each person during the drive. Spin some ancient family yarns that your parents told you. You'll all learn something about each other and have a great souvenir to share with grandparents and friends back home.

Spark their creativity. Hold a photography contest on family trips. Create enough categories so everyone can be a winner. Categories like: Tackiest Roadside Attraction. Best Morning Bed Head. Ugliest Bug Splat on the Windshield. If your kids have to be rivals, the friendly rivalry of competition may help keep the peace.

Eat al fresco. Ah, the lingering smell of fried onions... it just seems to cling to car upholstery, doesn't it? So why not drive past those drive-throughs and have picnics along the way. Pack a cooler and top it up at a local grocery store with enough fixings for a simple but yummy lunch. Even if you have to resort to fast food, take it somewhere nice, spread out a blanket, and pretend you're the smiling all-American family in one of those postcards from the '50s. Sure it's sappy. But fun. Plus your gang will eat better and experience a quaint old tradition: having family meals together. And that may be one of the best memories you bring home from your family outings on the open road.

Bill Belei is a seasoned road trip enthusiast and the founder of BestRoadTripPlanner.com, an information sharing site where members report on their favorite road trip adventures. You'll find honest, unbiased travel plans, maps and photos of scenic drives, attractions, urban highlights, points of interest, and even warnings on where not to go. Use BestRoadTripPlanner.com as your next road trip planner or to share your latest adventure. You can earn points for your best trips and may win a prize!

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10 Things to Do in Glasgow

Glasgow is an amazing city to visit and it's easy to travel around thanks to its integrated transport system throughout the city. You're really spoilt for choice when it comes to the variety of attractions including museums, shops, galleries, festivals and concerts all of which can be enjoyed throughout the year.

There are many guided tours that travel around the city to give you a greater understanding of the city and its history. Tours can take you via foot around the city or by bus. Glasgow is placed in the ideal location to discover some of Scotland's finest great outdoors. You can use the train links which travel through Glasgow's two main stations Central and Queen Street.

In this article we'll look at some must-see attraction for if you're visiting Glasgow. Make sure your accommodation is situated either within walking distance of the city centre, or within a good distance of the many transport networks. That way you won't need to trek for hours to reach your ideal location.

The Willow Tea Rooms

Designed by Charles Mackintosh in 1904 the Glasgow Willow Team Rooms allow visitors to enjoy tea just as they did in the same rooms 100 years ago.

Waverley

The last seagoing Paddle Steamer in the world; the Waverley welcomes visors to enjoy the day, afternoon or evening aboard the world famous ship.

The Tall Ship

The Tall Ship at Glasgow Harbour is one of Glasgow's leading tourist attractions. Open 7 days a week all year round it proves a great way to re-live the history of tall ships.

Comedy Festival

Magners Glasgow International Comedy Festival is in its eighth year with 379 events over 19 days it's perfect for a good time and a great festival. It's a good idea to check the comedy festivals website for dates and times.

Film Festival

Glasgow's film festival celebrates the passion the people of Glasgow have for films and also how much the city is loved by the film industry. If you love your films or even if you just feel like relaxing and watching a good movie, check out the film festival.

Jazz Festival

Featuring performances from well known and up-coming jazz artists around the world; Glasgow's jazz festival is a musically thriving event guaranteed to get you dancing. The festival usually lasts for around a week.

Theatre Royal

Every year the King's Theatre and the Theatre Royal showcase some of the best West End and touring productions in the UK each year. It's a good idea to checkout their website for what's on when you visit Glasgow. Be sure to book ahead to avoid disappointment.

Royal Concert Hall

Glasgow's Royal Concert Hall features a range of music from classical folk, country, world music, rock and pop. There's something to keep everyone's music tastes moving.

Kelvingrove Park

Take time out to enjoy the 85 Acres on offer in Kelvingrove Park. It offers a variety of wildlife and habitats and a beautiful green oasis.

West highland Way

The West highland Way has been popular by walkers for many years. It passes through many picturesque and beautifully stunning locations.

If you're looking for somewhere to stay in Glasgow, see our fantastic apartments - cheaper than a hotel and much more convenient!

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What to Look For When Hiring Transportation

Are you planning to go on a vacation to one of the dream locations like Key West or Florida Keys? Then take a moment and read this write-up for all you wanted to know about this beautiful place.

Key West is a small island and quite easy to get around the place. While on a vacation one should have the flexibility to travel to any destination at any time. Though most of the locals prefer to commute with bicycles, it is not advised that you venture out with it as the exposure to the mild tropical sun can be unhealthy for your skin. Apart from this you may also be ticketed for running a stop light or biking at night without the mandatory lights on your bike. Despite this it may still be acceptable to set out may be once or twice on the bicycle by following all the traffic rules set in that place. Instead to give the best times to you vacation, it is advised that you hire a Key West Limo and enjoy your tour through the beautiful place Florida Keys.

It is important that as a visitor you make use of a good transportation service company to make the best of your vacation. When hiring a Key West Limo service it is required that you keep all the below mentioned points in mind:-

-You need to look for a reliable chauffeured limousine service from the available Key West Limo services.

-In order to enjoy the most of the Limo experience it is essential that you choose a company that provides exclusive door to door non-stop with no shared rides and no shuttling services.

-The transport company should be capable of serving routes from Miami, Fort Lauderdale and Palm Beach as well.

-They must be able to provide the desired transportation service at any point of time within a short time frame to provide the ultimate travel experience for the visitors.

-The Limo service must offer quality, on time and dependable transportation service.

-It is important that you hire a Limo service that can fulfill your travel plans without any delays.

-Be careful that the car you have hired has Monroe country plate or a city issued residential sticker in order to avoid being ticketed.

So go ahead and hire a transportation limo to make your vacation the most splendid one you have ever had.

Author is a travel specialist and writes on topics like key west limo and miami limo service.

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Staying Safe When Travelling Abroad

Although crime is prevalent all over the world, international travelers are more vulnerable abroad than at home, simply because they are not necessarily aware of all the risks that may affect their travels. They don't know the cities they may visit as well as they do their home environment, so may simply be unaware of unsafe areas to visit. There are a couple of simple precautions you can take to ensure that your international travels are safe and fun as far as it is in your control to ensure that that is the case.

Do your research in order to have a good idea of what to expect from the country you are visiting. Cultural issues, legislation, impact that the country's politics may have - all of these can impact on the enjoyment of your trip as well as your safety. Knowing what you are letting yourself in for helps you prepare.

While you are traveling you are subject to the laws of your host country. Therefore ensure that you familiarize yourself with customs and laws that may have an impact on you. An example is clothing in Arab countries: the wearing of shorts by females may be construed as disrespectful at best. It is sensible to dress to fit in with the locals.

Anything can happen... if you have medical insurance, check what your medical insurance covers. If it doesn't cover medical evacuation and treatment internationally, it might be prudent to take out an additional medical insurance policy. Also ensure that your life insurance is up to date and correct. Take out a travel insurance policy - just in case!

Use common sense to ensure that you are not targeted by criminals. Don't wear conspicuous jewelry or carry large amounts of money. Don't accept packages from strangers... you never know what these contain. Drug traffickers have been known to smuggle drugs by passing packages on to unsuspecting travelers. Know where and how to identify and contact local law enforcement agencies.

Travel in groups, rather than alone if at all possible. There is certainly safety in numbers when you are traveling. Simply belonging to a group of people, who will be aware of where you are supposed to be, increases your safety. This is true for men and women. Although women are smaller and therefore more likely targets, a man on his own can also be targeted more easily than a group. In most of the big cities of the world you are probably also safer if you stick to the known tourist routes and attractions. When you go off to do some exploring of your own, it is again safer and better to do it with a guide or in the company of a group of people.

Lastly, check your country's travel warnings and be sensible. Do not assume that travel warnings are overzealous - if things look too risky, they probably are.

Francis has been writing articles and reviews on various products for some time. View more articles and reviews written by Francis at bamboobedding.org including then newest on Bamboo Bedding

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Good Things to Remember When You Travel

When you travel simply arriving at your intended destination with luggage in tow is often considered a success. So we thought we'd share with you the benefit of some of what we have learned in several years of dive travel.

Things You'd Rather Not Forget

Passport and / or visa - all other necessary documents, booking receipts (i.e. current immunisations/inoculations).

Tickets - Seems obvious, but with all the running around you're doing before you leave, hey, it has happened. Be sure you have them before you leave for the airport.

Money belt / wallet - Something to keep identification/funds secure.

Cash - There's nothing else like it when you get hungry and the food stall doesn't accept pebbles.

Traveller's cheques - A safe form of money and replaceable if lost or stolen, assuming you keep separate records.

Credit cards - Keep one with you and another hidden in a separate location in case the magnetic strip warps in the tropical heat, is mysteriously denied or the card is lost or stolen.

ATM card - Use these for quick and easy access to local currency, often you get a better exchange rate when you use your ATM card.

Certification cards / logbook - I've forgotten mine before and I'm a dive instructor! Make sure you pack these with your most important pieces of ID to ensure you have proof of dive certification and experience.

Insurance info - Makes a cancellation, a dose of SARS or natural disaster more palatable if you know you aren't all out on time and money. Dive Insurance is also a highly recommended precautionary measure, and might make a world of difference for you (see our separate article in this newsletter).

Photocopies of all documents - Put copies of your most important documents in your baggage for emergency reference and leave copies with someone you can call should you need help.

Toothbrush and toothpaste - Your prospects of a holiday romance will improve considerably. Even the girls of Patong might turn their noses up if you forget this one...then again.

Shampoo and conditioner - Bring more conditioner than you think you'll need for added protection. The seas can be a great leveller when your bleached hair turns green.

Soap and deodorant - Do unto others as they would have done unto you.

Razors - You may have to pack these in your hand luggage.

Medicine and toiletries - Keep medicines and toiletries in your hand luggage. They won't do much good in the hold of the plane, or if your luggage ends up somewhere else by mistake.

Prescription medicines - No need to spend time in jail for something for which you have a prescription and, on the off-chance you need a refill, having prescription information handy can save a lot of time and heartache.

Glasses or contact lens spares - Nice to be able to see on holiday.

Sun cream - to avoid that lobster look, don't forget that the sun will get you when you're in the water on the surface waiting for the boat to pick you up.

First aid kit - You'll probably be happy to have one if it can help someone out and be even happier if that someone is you. Don't forget decongestants, just in case.

Contraceptives and feminine hygiene products - Well you never know what you might meet night diving in Phuket. Try asking the locals who don't know any English except "Taxi? Tuk Tuk?"

Sunglasses - come in handy when you're explaining that no you don't want a taxi.

Phone card - If you don't want to haul your cell phone around, bring a phone card. You can use them to pass the time while you're waiting in and airport, to take care of last minute travel arrangements or to clean your finger nails whilst you're waiting for the delayed final boarding call.

Gavin Macaulay is Marketing Director of Dive The World which aims to help divers find the perfect scuba diving holiday in some of the world's most exciting dive destinations. He offers opinions and advice on diving related topics based on his own experiences.

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How to Prepare For Your First Road Trip

Getting ready for your first driving adventure is very exciting, and very intimidating. A basic overview for how to prepare for your first road trip will give you a nice checklist of things to consider before you go, making you feel safer and more prepared before you take off.

Make sure you have a small box of safety supplies in case of any emergencies. This should include a first aid kit, flashlight, important phone numbers, water, some non perishable food, and maybe an extra battery for your cell phone.

Unless you're fairly mechanical, have your car looked over before you go. Let them know you'll be putting a lot of miles on the vehicle soon and have them check your fluids, your tires, and your spare tire for you. This can save you a lot of headaches later.

Consider signing up for roadside assistance, possibly with your current insurance carrier. If you get a flat tire or your car breaks down they'll come out to where you are and give you a tow. The fee you pay for this service will be much less than what you're likely to pay for a tow, especially if you're stranded out in a rural area.

Make sure you have plenty of music. The stuff you listen to on a regular basis will get old fairly quickly, so bring lots of new things, too. To mix things up I also like to bring some CDs with stand up comedy, or maybe a book on tape.

Getting lost can be a fun way to find new things (if you want to look on the positive side) but so can finding new things on the maps on your GPS. A good system will make finding where you want to go easier--even when you don't know exactly where that is. For instance, if you're low on gas, you can just put in "gas station", or "hospital", or other important locations you'll need to get to quickly. Say while you're on your trip you want to avoid highways? You can put that in as well. A good system can come in very handy and take the frustration out of navigating unfamiliar areas.

With all this in check you should be ready to go, prepared for your first road trip.

GPS navigation systems are both practical, and fun. Learn more about choosing a GPS, what these systems can do for you, and check out stylish pink GPS devices.

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