Whether you are traveling for business or vacation, you want to be able to relax and enjoy the trip and even take in some sights. When it comes time to do the packing for your trip, there’s always the question of what do I need?
Of course, you’ll need to pack the right kind of clothes for the climate you’re visiting, but when it comes to travel accessories, you want to take some essential items, without packing too much. A travel accessory store is a good place to get ideas for items you can bring on a trip.
Here are four travel accessories that you’ll want to take on your trip:
Passport Holder – in today’s cautious environment, everyone needs to have a passport, even children. You’ll want to keep your passport in something that will give you easy access to it, so you don’t have to go fishing around for it in your pockets or handbag.
The best kind of passport holder are ones that hang around your neck where you are not in danger of losing it. They are usually made out of leather or nylon and come in several colors.
Money Belt/Fanny Pack – when it comes to your money, you don’t want to take any chances that thieves will be able to easily steal from you on the road. Pickpockets and purse snatchers are always on the lookout for unwary travelers. A money belt or fanny pack keeps your money close to your body where it would be hard for somebody to quickly open and steal from you without your noticing.
A money belt is thin and has secure pockets. Money belts can be worn over or underneath clothing. They usually are not waterproof so you may want to put your cash in a plastic baggie to keep it from getting wet.
Fanny packs are bulkier and usually made out of leather or nylon. These are great to carry instead of a purse or wallet. It’s best to have the pockets facing the front of your body, or wear it on the side of your hip, where you can clearly see it at all times.
Travel First Aid Kit – nobody likes to think about it, but bumps, bruises and more can happen when you’re traveling. Because you are away from home and may not know the system of medical care of the city/country you’re traveling to, you should always carry a first aid kit with you.
Keep your first aid kit in your personal travel accessory bag so you’ll have easy access to it, if necessary. The kit should have bandages, gauze, cotton swabs, mild pain relief medication, antiseptic, scissors, insect repellent, etc. Some kits contain a lot more. It’s cheaper to buy a kit than to purchase first aid items individually.
Also, if you have any kind of medical condition, make sure you take along enough medication and supplies to last the entire trip.
Travel Alarm Clock – you’ve got important things to do on your trip and you don’t want to have to rely on a wake up call from the hotel front desk - what if they forget?
When you want to make sure you get up on time, purchase a simple travel alarm clock. These are portable, very accurate, and best of all inexpensive.
By: Nikki LeRoi
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Cheap Vacation Travel Packages Versus Independent Budget Travel
When traveling on a budget, one of the most often asked questions is whether it is best to travel independently, reserving your own airfare, hotel stay and sightseeing reservations, or choose a package tour where everything is set up for you in advance.
Unfortunately, there is no easy answer to this question. It is largely dependent on the location you have selected and dates of travel. For instance, travel to European destinations are often less costly to book on your own, especially when the airlines are running specials of European airfares in the off-season.
On the other hand, travel to many exotic locations, like Egypt, Morocco, Kenya, South Africa, Thailand, and India, are often much less expensive when booked through a vacation package company or travel agent. That is because these tour operators often have special deals with the national airlines of these companies, and with very nice resort hotels, to provide considerable discounts in exchange for a steady flow of business.
For instance, with a little bit of shopping, you can book a vacation package from New York to Egypt for a grand total of $1,100, including airfare, an excellent hotel, daily breakfast, airport transfers, and daily sightseeing tours, including guided tours of the pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx. This is far less than you would have paid if you had booked this trip independently.
Similar deals exist for other locations, notably India, China, and Taiwan. So be sure to check on the availability of these package deals when shopping for a budget travel deal.
Of course, some great deals can be had on your own as well, and this is often a great way to go, especially if you are a solo traveler. Solo travelers often have difficulty getting those great deals on package deals, since the required single supplement can often ruin the deal.
It is also important to find out exactly what is, and what is not included, in any package you are considering. Many package deals have optional excursions built in, and these extras can add considerable cost. Be sure to ask for a detailed daily itinerary to determine if you will be left on your own if you fail to take these optional. Also ask for a detailed list of these optional excursions, including full descriptions and prices, and then carefully compare the total price to what you could find on your own.
If you are traveling on your own, be sure to start shopping early, especially if you are traveling by air. The important thing to remember is that airlines allocate only so many seats for those advertised low fares, and if you fail to act quickly, you may be out of luck. It is important to book the airfare, and the hotel, as early as possible to ensure the lowest possible prices.
Ultimately, the decision of whether to choose a vacation package deal or independent travel is up to each individual traveler. It is important to carefully compare package prices with those for independent travel to the same location. It is also important to consider your own personal travel style. Some people are more comfortable with a packaged tour, particularly to an unfamiliar location, while others relish the freedom from schedules that independent travel provides.
By: David Chandler
Unfortunately, there is no easy answer to this question. It is largely dependent on the location you have selected and dates of travel. For instance, travel to European destinations are often less costly to book on your own, especially when the airlines are running specials of European airfares in the off-season.
On the other hand, travel to many exotic locations, like Egypt, Morocco, Kenya, South Africa, Thailand, and India, are often much less expensive when booked through a vacation package company or travel agent. That is because these tour operators often have special deals with the national airlines of these companies, and with very nice resort hotels, to provide considerable discounts in exchange for a steady flow of business.
For instance, with a little bit of shopping, you can book a vacation package from New York to Egypt for a grand total of $1,100, including airfare, an excellent hotel, daily breakfast, airport transfers, and daily sightseeing tours, including guided tours of the pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx. This is far less than you would have paid if you had booked this trip independently.
Similar deals exist for other locations, notably India, China, and Taiwan. So be sure to check on the availability of these package deals when shopping for a budget travel deal.
Of course, some great deals can be had on your own as well, and this is often a great way to go, especially if you are a solo traveler. Solo travelers often have difficulty getting those great deals on package deals, since the required single supplement can often ruin the deal.
It is also important to find out exactly what is, and what is not included, in any package you are considering. Many package deals have optional excursions built in, and these extras can add considerable cost. Be sure to ask for a detailed daily itinerary to determine if you will be left on your own if you fail to take these optional. Also ask for a detailed list of these optional excursions, including full descriptions and prices, and then carefully compare the total price to what you could find on your own.
If you are traveling on your own, be sure to start shopping early, especially if you are traveling by air. The important thing to remember is that airlines allocate only so many seats for those advertised low fares, and if you fail to act quickly, you may be out of luck. It is important to book the airfare, and the hotel, as early as possible to ensure the lowest possible prices.
Ultimately, the decision of whether to choose a vacation package deal or independent travel is up to each individual traveler. It is important to carefully compare package prices with those for independent travel to the same location. It is also important to consider your own personal travel style. Some people are more comfortable with a packaged tour, particularly to an unfamiliar location, while others relish the freedom from schedules that independent travel provides.
By: David Chandler
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