18Aug 2009 by admin No Comments

Six Key Items To Make Backpacking Safe And Enjoyable

There are no drugstores or grocery stores in the wilderness! A backpacking trip, no matter how long the duration, will definitely be more enjoyable if you remember to pack several essential items. (1) A first aid kit is a necessity for every backpacking trip. Include antiseptic cream, hand sanitizer, bandages, itch cream for poison ivy, scissors and pain relievers. (2) Water and beverages that restore electrolytes to your body are another backpacking essential to keep your body well hydrated while hiking. Nutrient and energy-dense foods that won't spoil, such as dried fruits and nuts, trail mix, granola bars, and energy bars. Include a small bottle of iodine tablets to purify lake or stream water. If you are doing any camp cooking, be sure to include matches or a lighter among…

13Aug 2009 by admin No Comments

Famous Eco Tourism Destinations

Travel Tips

Eco-tourism is definitely the “in thing” right now and I hope many years into the future. For those who do not know what eco-tourism is, it is visiting places where the environment is one of the main concerns. In other words, we concentrate on things that will help save or protect our environment. Japan is one of the top eco-tourism destinations because they have many eco-friendly activities. They have hot springs, abundant hiking trails, also water activities, such as snorkeling and diving. Japan also believes in public transportation which means you can leave the driving and gas problems behind. Palau is another unspoiled island. The water is clear and unspoiled, the beaches are beautiful and clean and Palau wants to keep it that way Costa Rica has long been known…

11Aug 2009 by admin No Comments

Getting Vaccinations Before You Travel

Travel Tips

If you are thinking of traveling abroad then you should consider getting vaccinations before your trip. Some countries and regions of the world have mandatory vaccination requirements in order to gain entry and failure to have taken the vaccine can mean having to take the shot then and there. The best way to find out what is required as mandatory and what is recommended is to visit the CDC website. It breaks it down by country and region. The newest and most pressing concern these days is for the H1N1 virus, formerly known as Swine Flu. This seems to be more prevalent in certain areas like Mexico and China. The major pharmaceutical companies are hard at work getting a H1N1 virus vaccine ready for the general public. Some companies, like…

07Aug 2009 by admin No Comments

Fare war means big savings for airline travelers

Travel

The recent downturn in airline traffic is a boon for frequent travelers, as airlines have slashed prices. Finding an airline travel deal has never been easier, as the major domestic airlines have dropped their rates by an average of 9.1 percent in the first quarter of 2009 alone. Airlines began cutting capacity as a result of the reduction in travelers during the global recession, but a recent reduction in fuel costs have allowed them to also reduce fares. Almost every major domestic carrier has drastic reduced costs on airline tickets. Specials started appearing after Southwest Airlines cut rates on some of the most popular short flights to as low as $29 each way. The cheapest airfares of the major 100 cities can be found in Long Beach and Oakland, while…

05Aug 2009 by admin No Comments

Managing Kids With Travel Sickness

Travel Tips

Car trips can be a challenge for parents managing kids with travel sickness. Fortunately, taking certain precautions can reduce the risk of nausea. There are also several ways to deal with carsickness if it occurs. For children who are at least two years old, giving a dose of Dramamine or Benadryl 1 ½ hours prior to travel can help prevent nausea. Kids prone to carsickness should be seated in the middle of the backseat so that they are looking directly out the front windshield rather than the side windows. Placing a cool washcloth on the forehead when a child complains of feeling queasy can sometimes ease nausea. Opening the windows to let fresh air in can also help the stomach settle. Holding an icepack on the back of the neck…

03Aug 2009 by admin No Comments

Taking A Holiday To Russia

Travel Tips

A holiday to Russia would not be complete without enjoying the sights of Moscow, the capital city and also Russia's cultural and historical center. Moscow is a combination of new buildings alongside ancient churches, monasteries, theaters, gardens, parks, and museums. An outstanding art museum is the Tretyahov Gallery with an Old Gallery housing the works of Russian painters going back to the early fifteenth century and a New Gallery containing more contemporary artists, and the Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts hosts famous paintings as well as plaster casts of ancient scuptures. The Polytechnical Museum is Russia's largest technical museum with many technological achievements and historical inventions. Moscow is also the center of Russian performing arts with 93 theatres, 132 cinemas, and 24 concert halls. You can experience everything from ballet…

07Jul 2009 by admin No Comments

While on Vacation, Tweet with Caution

Travel

Article written by Gear Up 4 Nature Most of us know what precautions to take before going on a long vacation. We ask a neighbor to collect the mail and watch the house; maybe we even leave on a light or two so as to give the appearance of being home and not tip off burglars to our absence. But when it comes to the newer world of social media, most of us would think nothing of sharing the news of an extended trip. Why, we’d just as soon tweet that we were spending a week in the Bahamas as we’d tweet the news of discount airline ticket sales. But as one Mesa, Arizona couple found out recently, the tendency to overshare on Twitter can have serious ramifications. The Dallas…

08Jun 2009 by admin No Comments

When to Book Your Airfare

Travel

Booking discount air travel can be hit-or-miss. Either you hit that one deal or you miss out on a low fare altogether. Blink at your computer screen, and the $79 special between Los Angeles and Denver might be gone. So what can you do to beat the fickle airlines and secure the best deal? According to some travel experts, the day of the week that you book your airfare is important. As with gas prices, airfare almost always goes up on weekends. Mid-week, however, after major airlines release new sales and other airlines match the lower prices, can be advantageous. Monday may be too early to capitalize on the lowest prices, and Thursday may be too late. Tuesday evenings and early Wednesday mornings are generally the best windows in which…

15May 2009 by admin No Comments

Culture Tripping

Travel Trends

The latest issue of T Magazine pegs “culture tripping” as the new trend in travel. The story goes that those who can still afford to travel are attempting to assuage their guilt by infusing their odysseys with cultural significance. Pinacoteca Founder Anna Di Stasi tells the magazine, “It’s not about luxury anymore. Everything is cyclical, and slowly we’ll come back to the point of acceptance of the ‘L word,’ but for now it’s about the experience you take away with you.” Culture tripping reportedly is popular with families especially, who want their children to gain “enlightening experiences.” Before you write off culture tripping as just another bourgeois exercise, however, be aware that it’s not just about immodest guilt. For some people, culture tripping is more about “shaking things up” and…

05May 2009 by admin No Comments

Hotels Retool In-Room Dining

Hotel Trends

Room service, or in-room dining as it is now often called, is being retooled at many hotels as a way to cut costs while struggling with lessened demand for rooms and decreased travel. In-room dining has never been profitable for hotels, even prior to the recession, but has always been de rigueur for hotels of a certain stature, Joseph McInerney, president and chief executive of American Hotel and Lodging Association, told The New York Times. Brad Barnes, founder of restaurant consulting firm GigaChef, added that the service enhances the welcoming feel of a hotel, which in turn bolsters customer loyalty and the overall perception of the establishment. So how do hotels trim their in-room dining offerings without axing the service altogether? According to the Times, some are focusing more on…