Travel Tips

Though routinely ignored, travel insurance is and should be a vital part of any trip or cruise that you are (or are planning on) undertaking. This applies whether your trip is for personal, business or just leisurely reasons. But the type of policy will also depend on numerous factors, too. But even as obvious as it may seem, a lot of people still wont budget for it.

So, why should you undertake a travel insurance policy for your next trip? There are more reasons than could be included in this article, but let’s take a look at a few.

Replacement of Lost Items: While you may not wish that you should lose some very valuable items of yours during your business trip or adventurous tours, the reality is that it does actually happen. You may have your valuables stolen, lost or even damaged. Now, if you have ever been stuck in a far-off place with limited access to money, you know that this is an ugly situation to be in. But if you happen to have a travel insurance policy, your provider will cover you for these losses and replace or reimburse you for the items accordingly. [Read more…] about Three reasons to have Travel insurance

Travel companies of all types abound-from the local one specializing in some local tourist spot to the multinational corporation that regularly organizes and manages African safaris. But not all of them are created equal; some are more reliable than others.

But how do you know which is which? Here are three invaluable tips to help you avoid putting your next trip in jeopardy.

What to look out for in Travel Companies

Local Experience: In this day and age of the “everyman,” there are just so many Jacks of all trade, who think that they know and can handle anything and everything. So, the first thing that you could do to check is how much local experience this travel company has. This is not just about knowing where to visit around there. They should be able to advise you on local traffic and transportation options and systems, local laws that may be applicable to you, the best places offering the best deals and a whole lot more. But you get the idea: they should be your travel go-to company.
Past Records: Another thing you should try and find out before you hire any one of the tons of travel companies that may be clamoring for your bucks should be how well they have lived up to customer expectations in the past. Are their clients happy and raving about them? Have they had any major customer service issues that could potentially put you and your family or other co-travelers at risk? Their own local version of the “Better Business Bureau” and the Internet should be able to give you a clear idea of how well they service customers.

Bonded and Insured: A critical thing to also consider is whether or not it is insured. Most travel companies have (or are supposed to have) an insurance coverage, but there are always a few that you may run into which may not have one. But considering the amount of uncertainty that may be involved in your trip, especially if you are traveling internationally, you would want to be sure that any such risks are covered by the company. You should spend your time enjoying your trip instead of worrying possible unpleasant issues that may happen.

There are a bunch of travel companies out there, but they are not all worth trusting, especially if you are visiting very unfamiliar territory.

There are also so much more you should be considering with travel companies in addition to the tips already mentioned here.

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Travel booking can sometimes be a very tricky thing to work with. This is also the reason why some travelers end up paying higher fares than others.
However, there are a few golden tips that may help you avoid this. Some of these are presented below.

Time it Right: The time of your travel booking is just as important as the time of your trip. The reason being that a lot of times making your flight reservations at the right time could save you a lot of money that you may otherwise use to buy antiques and other souvenirs on your trip. Most times, you can get a good deal on air fare if you book your flight about three weeks earlier. [Read more…] about Tips to avoid a travel booking nightmare

Student travel is becoming more and more common every year. Every year, students from all over the world take trips to other parts of the globe that they had so far only dreamed of. Some go during regular semester sessions, others during school breaks and a whole lot more during the summer vacation. It is an exciting way of exploring our world.

However, sometimes these trips can turn out to be a little nightmare for them, especially if they are journeying to places with totally different cultures as them. But here are five tips to help you get the best out of your student study abroad programs.

Student Travel Tips

Choosing the Right Program: Your school’s study abroad or exchange office will have a list of a wide range of programs that you can take up. Some programs are mainly cultural exchanges; others are more like intensive studies of certain subjects like languages, while others are a combination of some of these. There are however, some differences in how they may benefit you as a student. Depending on your preferences, you may want to opt for one that will also give you some degree credits, whether or not taking classes is the main part of the program.

Destination Research: It is always a good idea to do some personal research of the geography, politics, economics and social system of the host country. These will help reduce the extreme “strangeness” of the local way of life. You will also be better equipped to easily ‘fit in’ and be less of a naïve tourist.

Follow Health Procedures: Student travel to certain places may require them to be immunized against certain diseases. Where this is the case, it is advisable to do it in order to avoid the possible backlash in the form of falling sick, etc during your trip.

Get Health Coverage: Some health plans that you already have may cover your health insurance during your student travels; others may not. It would be best to confirm these withavailable health insurance providers and choose the one that best suits your needs. It is not a good experience to be stuck in a foreign country with no health insurance of any sort, when you need it the most.

Learn the Local Language: Another fun way of making your trip very enjoyable is to try and learn the language of the natives that you will be visiting before you even take your trip. You don’t have to be very fluent in it, just understand the most basic words and phrases and you are good to go. You may also make some time to study the language during your stay if that is not already included as part of the study abroad program requirements. This gives you an edge over everyone else. Nothing beats the fun of being able to converse with the locals in their own language.

Student travel could be as enjoyable and memorable as it could be if only certain pitfalls can be avoided, some tips taken into consideration and acted upon and some pre-departure preparations done properly and early enough.