Ina Smit asked:

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Stuart S. Travel asked:


There are many things to keep in mind when traveling, whether you are a budget traveler or not. You obviously want to keep what money you have for your trip rather than lose it or have it stolen. You also want to keep yourself and traveling companions safe from harm. Here are some tips to follow to ensure your trip is safe and enjoyable in a foreign country.

 

1. Have a valid passport and all visas required for your trip. Make two copies of your passport. Keep one in a separate part of your travel luggage and the other leave with someone at home.

2. Be aware of any travel warnings for the country you are visiting. Find out about security and safety conditions in your destination.

3. Secure travel insurance!

4. Ensure you have been vaccinated against any infectious diseases prominent in the area you will be traveling to.

5. To make sure you can be contacted in case of an emergency, make a copy of your itinerary and leave it with someone at home.

6. Travel light and don’t pack valuables that you wouldn’t want to lose. Leave your jewelry at home but take an extra pair of glasses if you can’t live without them.

7. Remember you are a foreigner when you travel. You are a guest in their country and therefore should abide by their laws, and to a certain extent, their customs. For example, if you are a female traveling in an Islamic state, be considerate of your dress. 

8. Try not to bring too much attention to yourself when traveling. Don’t go out looking like a tourist with a flashy camera and expensive clothes. Try to blend into the scenery.

9. Travel in a group where possible and in well known areas. There will be times you want to get off the tourist track, so make sure you always have a traveling companion with you.

10. Only carry small amounts of cash on you. Your credit card and travelers checks will pay for most things.

11. Watch out for pickpockets! Wear a money belt and keep your purse/wallet in the front of your body. Report any loss or theft immediately to the local authorities.

12. Don’t leave your luggage unattended. Apart from having it stolen or items from it taken, you could also become an unsuspecting drug courier.

13. If traveling with a partner, pack half your clothes in their luggage and vice versa. This way if one of you loses your luggage, you will still have some clothes. 

14. Lock your luggage and label everything.

15. Lock your hotel room. Keep money and valuables with you, not left unattended in your room.

16. When using public transport be aware of possible theft. If you are traveling overnight, secure your luggage and sleep on top of it if possible. It is not uncommon for tourists to be drugged while on trains and buses so don’t accept gifts of food or drink from strangers on public transport. 

 

If at any time you feel unsafe, whether it is on the streets or in your accommodation, get out. Follow your instincts. Stay safe when you travel by being aware of the dangers and obeying the laws of the country you are visiting.

 

This article is brought to you by: Stuart S. Travel – Your Online Travel Guru

www.stuartstravel.com

Travel Guy asked:


"Located in the South West of Ireland County Cork is the largest county in Ireland covering almost one sixteenth of the country. County Cork is located in Munster, one of the four provinces of Ireland and is known as Corcaigh in Gaelic. County Cork is home to such famous towns as Kinsale, Blarney, Cobh, Midelton and of course Cork City itself. The county is divided geographically into West and East Cork with West Cork in particular famed the world over for its’ spectacular scenery. Cork is known as a real gem by the hundreds of thousands of domestic and International visitors that holiday here each year. Hotels in Cork especially have built up a fine reputation for their ambience, warm friendly staff and excellent cuisine.

The local Cork people, known as Corkonians are proud of their heritage and have a passion for all things sports related especially Rugby, Gaelic football and hurling. Hurling is the fastest field game in the world and a live game is a memory any visitor will never forget. The county also boasts some of the finest golf courses in Ireland with Fota Island in particular having established an International reputation. However Cork has much more to offer visitors than just scenery and golf.

Some of our top recommendations when visiting County Cork include:

• Enjoy a relaxing day out with al the family at Fota Wildlife Park located on Fota Island. This is a great day out and the admission price is good value. Located approx. 10 miles from Cork City close to Midelton in East Cork, Fota Wildlife Park allows animals of all kinds roam free in their natural surrounds.

• Visit the town of Blarney, kiss the famous Blarney Stone and get some genuine Irish gifts at the world famous Blarney Woolen Mills

• Take a day trip to one of Europe’s foremost culinary towns, Kinsale and sample the delights of locally caught fresh seafood washed down with a pint of Murphys, Cork’s answer to Guinness.

• Relive some poignant history at the Titanic Museum exhibit in Cobh, last port of call for the ill fated Titanic. Located about 10 miles from Cork City.

• Explore the many and varied pubs in Cork City. Perhaps be lucky enough to be part of a real live traditional Irish music session that will be sure to make your holiday experience one you won’t forget!

• Unwind as you walk on any one of County Cork’s beautiful beaches and be at one with nature.

• Take a day trip to the famous Waterford Crystal factory in neighboring County Waterford and see first hand how the famous crystal is made.

• For the more adventurous why not try a bit of deep sea angling or even paint balling?

• Browse the many and varied side streets, galleries, shops and restaurants that Cork offers enjoying the local banter and “craic” Cork is famous for.

• Stay at any one of the fine Cork Hotels which can all be booked below.

For more info please visit Hotels in Cork Ireland"

Gen Wright asked:


n be extremely expensive. Whether you are travelling domestically or internationally, the costs add up with flights, hotels and car rentals. By the time everything is said and done, a simple personal or business trip can easily cost thousands of dollars. However, if you are able and willing to time your trip appropriately, you can use travel gift vouchers to cut your costs significantly.

Travel gift vouchers are certificates that entitle the holder to discounted airfare, hotel stays or other accommodations. The discounted cost is usually paid up front, at the time of voucher purchase, so the holder pays nothing when actually booking. Sometimes, these vouchers work as travel incentives, to encourage longer stays at a specific hotel when that hotel is running low on occupants; other times, they are “buy one get one” certificates for airfare.

Obviously, this option has extreme benefits. By using travel vouchers, you can save hundreds or thousands of dollars on your travel needs. The major caveat is the need to time your trip according to the voucher’s limitations. Since they are usually offered based upon slow times for hotels, airlines or resorts, you will not be able to use them during extremely busy seasons. That in and of itself can be a plus, though, as it requires you to vacation when the area will be less crowded (and less stressful).

While purchasing travel vouchers can be a great value to travelers, their real value shows when you purchase them in bulk. Most allow only one to be used per household each year, so the bulk value to consumers is quite low. But, with prices often as low as 50 cents per voucher, businesses or organizations can purchase bulk lots at a fraction of the cost that you would pay for each individual voucher. You can buy five or five hundred, and use them for many facets of your business.

If your pay for your employees’ travel expenses, you can also utilize the vouchers as a way to mitigate travel costs. One voucher per employee per year can leave thousands of dollars in your pocket.

One of the most popular ways to use vouchers is as travel incentives or rewards to your customers and clients. The vouchers can be used as a way to let a customer know how valuable they are, or to sweeten the sale for a new customer. The vouchers can be customized with your business’ name and information, so your customers won’t be able to forget that it was your company that gave them an expensive vacation just for doing business with you.

Travel gift vouchers are a great way to grow your business, attract new customers and lower your business’ travel expenses. Take a look at the deals available today to see just how well they can fill your company’s needs.

Stevie Holmes asked:


I keep getting asked for good ideas for travel gifts, having done a lot of travelling myself, and knowing a lot of people who frequently go away for long stretches, I think my friends think I’m an authority on it, and to be fair I’ve started turning my travels into my art so maybe I need to slow down!

Having myself received an abundance of mosquito nets, sun cream, soft toys and guide books, all of which have been given through love and gratefully received, I bought myself something a bit more special for our last trip to Utah!

I found this lovely little jewellery designer called Scarlett based in Brighton who has made a silver traveller charm which is designed to fit onto the drawstring of a rucksack. There’s also a bracelet version and key ring.

What’s lovely about the idea is they all have symbols of travel and good luck on them, so they become sentimental to travel, I know mine has and I won’t go anywhere long haul without it! There’s even a symbol to remind the owner to stay in touch with friends back home.

I don’t think they have an actual shop in Brighton, but they have their pieces in other jewellery shops, but you can buy online now (I bought mine over the phone). Personally I think they make a really unique gift, much more interesting than a mozzie net and not ‘climate specific’ either so you aren’t running the risk of buying it for one journey only.