Monday, February 7, 2011

What you need to know about - senior citizens travel

Are you drained of sitting at home, doing babysitting of your grandchildren? Have your dreams to explore the world not turned to reality? Are your eyes longing to capture the grandeur of the world around you? If yes, don't detain yourself from discovering the world. Your age should not be an impediment in living your life to the fullest.


When it comes to traveling, a horde of choices are available for the senior citizens too. From opting a perfect destination that lives up to their tastes to the mode to travel and the place to cuddle, all lie at their discretion.

·The destination- For those who enjoy basking in glory of the sun at the beaches, locations like Hawaii Islands, Bahamas and the like are ideal holiday spots. The connoisseurs of art and architecture can move to the cities like Barcelona, New Orleans etc. that are swarming with the masterpieces of eminent painters and architects. Evergreen places like Switzerland, Germany and so forth are never meant to be overlooked.

·The Decisive Factor The determination of a destination is directly proportional to factors like budget, mode to transport, the climatic conditions and the food.

Most of the senior citizens prefer and desire to travel according to their pockets. Since the youth bids goodbye at this age, the potential to earn more takes a backseat. The expenditure is by and large made from the savings that mushroom a little. Keeping in mind the state of affairs of senior citizens, numerous travel agencies offer discount packages that can be availed in the peak as well as the off season.

If you propose to make a trip within the periphery of your country, the costs incurred will be significantly minimized. For instance, you can accomplish your destination by traveling via a bus, a rented car or a train. The fare will be relatively low as compared to outlay on air tickets. But bear in mind that money is not prior to life. If the distance is a bit too long and you haven't got the muscle to sit for long (in a train or bus) take a flight. Your health always precedes your wealth.


A majestic feel of heaven on earth is readily available on the deck of a cruise in a cruise voyage. There are several cruises that can serve you with the best of all amenities, all you have to do is discuss with your travel agent and search online about it.

At this age you should not excuse food as a crucial factor in determining the venue. A little search on the Internet and your travel agent can familiarize you with the cuisine, tastes of people and the luxury plus the budget restaurants at the place you propose to go. Also if you have a petite idea about the cuisine of the place, you can ask the locals the place they throng to gratify their hunger. This definitely will correspond to your pocket. Try to leave the home when the weather conditions are adverse there and positive and enjoyable. It is always prudent to make an assessment of the climatic conditions beforehand and plan your trip accordingly.

·Some crucial tips 1.The senior citizens and students should be extra vigilant in carrying cash. Avoid moving with lot of cash. Take your credit card along. This safeguards you against uninvited perils. 2.Carry a mobile phone. If that is unaffordable, leave your complete itinerary and all the contact numbers (of the hotel, villa, apartment etc.) with your children. 3.Pack the clothes with your all your essential and even not so significant medicines. 4.Last but not the least, if on the cards get all the reservations done in advance for at this age you should excuse yourself from the last minute anxiety and stress. Things can be easy in life, all one needs is a little planning and prudence.

Your Guide for Travel and Hotels in Columbia

When you hear the word vacation, what do you see in your mind? Vacations mean assorted things to assorted individuals. Some like to sight see while many others would enjoy nothing more than to spend the whole trip kicking back at the hotel pool. If you happen to be like me, you enjoy some of both options. On the one hand, because I have journeyed someplace different, I ought to visit some interesting local fare. But then again, if I use up all my time darting around from site to site, when I come home I will want another vacation to recuperate. To get the most from your vacation time, keep the following in mind when travelling to Columbia.


The first thing you ought to do is resolve as much at the start as you can. That means things like interchanging currency when necessary, glancing at maps of the area, renting a means of transportation (did someone say Harley?), booking a flight, and selecting a hotel that fulfills your needs. The good news is, all of these jobs have become much easier and cheaper through the internet, so before contacting a travel agent, you could save some money by looking up good deals on the web.

When it comes to finding the perfect hotel, remember to look at your choices cautiously. Some items to consider would be how it is ranked; is it a two star hotel or a 4 star one? Where is it's location? If you are going to Disneyland but the hotel you reserved is in San Francisco, you will waste quite a bit of your journey behind the wheel. How long are you planning on being at the hotel, and if you are going to be there, what sorts of conveniences do they furnish? I am sure that I will never forget the time I went out on vacation to relax by the pool, only to discover that the hotel I was at didn't have one. I am sure that I must've appeared strangely out of place walking around the lobby with my inflatable ducky around my waist and no pool to be found.

A good rule to stick by when packing is not to get out of control. Keep it simple, traveler. Begin by getting familiar with the temperature so that you know what you had better pack, but avoid over-packing. Remember, if you forget something, odds are that you can purchase a replacement. As a matter of fact, take as few clothes as possible. I suggest packing older clothing which can be discarded along the way. Depending on where you are, you may discover charities that would be happy to take extra clothing off of your hands. Besides, this will make additional space for souvenirs.

When it comes to entertainment, avoid getting too out-of-control. For instance, don't pack more than one book. If you are able to read an entire book, give that one away and go buy another one. It's time to get out and go to the store anyway, you bookworm. Instead, bring something to take notes with and write your own book. This does not necessarily mean the company laptop. Do not use this rule as an excuse to bring your work with you. If at all possible, leave every thought of work behind when you travel. Though it might seem awkward at first, pencil and paper work fine for taking notes.

Two valuable things to think about including in what you take are Pepto-Bismol, in case something doesn't agree with you, and hand sanitizer; the kind you don't need water for. Please remember, no matter what situation you find yourself in, don't let the sanitizer replace taking a shower.


When you are departing for your adventure to Columbia, you and your family will want to carry plenty of what you need for picture taking. If you are behind the times and still use film, consider moving up to a digital camera. With a digital camera, I can see what I am taking as I go along. The only things I need are batteries and memory space. Now that you can get a wonderful digital camera for under $200, your excuses are dwindling away. Various tourist destinations have stores that will transfer your pics from your memory card to a CD, allowing you to take even more pics to torment friends and family with upon your return home.

I just can't stress enough the value in keeping things simple. Prepare wisely by taking care of everything you can ahead of time. When it comes to travel, remember, the internet is your friend. Pack, plan, and keep entertainment basic to help make sure that your vacation to Columbia is a relaxing and memorable one. I hope that this humble advice will become beneficial to you as you prepare yourself to embark on your vacation.

Thursday, February 3, 2011

How to Pick a Travel Agency

The trip of a lifetime can take a lifetime to plan unless you know how to pick a travel agency.
A common misconception is that travel agencies add to the cost of your trip. In truth, finding and using a good travel agency to plan your trip usually saves you time, money, and frustration. So how do you pick a travel agency?


Ask around!
The best way to find a good travel agency is through word of mouth. Ask your family and friends who they’ve used and then ask them about their trip. How did they travel? Where did they stay? Was their trip enjoyable? Getting a few referrals from friends helps you to know in ahead of time what to expect from a particular travel agent and helps you weed out the good from the not-so-good as well.

Are you a member?
Many clubs and organizations offer travel services for their members and many corporations have established relationships with travel agencies that their employees can use. “Members only” travel plans frequently offer the best values.

Compare
Shop a couple of experienced firms. Travel agencies come and go like any other businesses. The ones that stay in business add experience and know-how to each trip they plan. Make your first inquiry with a travel agency a listening experience; judge how well the agent listens to you and how comfortable they make you feel.

A good travel agent will ask you to outline your trip. They’ll ask where you’re going and why, how you’d prefer to travel, how long you plan to stay, and what your travel budget is. Be open and honest with your answers. A good agent will readily put together a sample itinerary that describes availabilities in transportation, accommodations, and estimated costs.


If you feel like you’re getting the “hard sell” or the travel agency tells you there’s only package available, keep shopping. You can always go back if you find that they’re right!

In addition to finding the best rates in lodgings and transportation, an experienced travel agent can also give you some helpful tips about your destination and here’s the bonus— generally it costs nothing to use a travel agency! Because they can buy in volume, travel agencies get discounts on prices for both tickets and lodgings!

For travel made easy, use the services of a travel agency to make your outing a time to remember well!