Relaxing Family Holidays for the Taking at Alvor

Author: John S. Smithbr
Source: articledashboard.combr
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At HotelHippo.com, travel is our trade, and so we know how stressful planning and travelling for a trip abroad can be. To help relieve those holiday worries weve put together our top 10 travel tips, so you can make the most of your time away.

1. Make sure you have a signed, valid passport and visas, if required.

Imagine, youre at the airport, youre about to check in, and you notice your passport has expired! Your holiday is over before its even begun. Avoid this disappointment by ensuring your passport is up to date. In most cases youll find that your passport must be valid for at least 6 months beyond your intended stay. If you dont have a passport, your current passport has expired or is close to expiration, we recommend applying for one now. In the UK it is recommended that you leave at least a month between applying for your passport and arranging travel – this time period may be longer in other countries. Also bear in mind that during summer months your passport office will be inundated with applications, and this may cause a backlog. Be sure to apply for your new passport in plenty of time if you wish to travel during this period.

Also consider the length and type of your trip. Many countries require that you hold a valid visa to work or take an extended stay, and you may find that you are breaking your host countys laws without one.

2. Read the Consular Information Sheets, public announcements or travel warnings for the areas you plan to visit.

Be sure to read up on the areas you plan to visit with these resources to help ensure your personal safety and make the most of your trip.

3. Familiarize yourself with local laws and customs of the countries to which you are travelling.

The last thing any of us want while enjoying our travels is to be seen as an obnoxious tourist. We all know the type, and its not a good look. This can be easily avoided by finding out about the customs of the country you intend to visit – perhaps even learn a bit of the lingo. Some knowledge along these lines will surely be welcomed by the locals and will help you to enjoy your surroundings that little bit more. Also ensure youre aware of any differences in local law to your home country, as when you are abroad you are subject to the rules of your host country, and ignorance is rarely accepted as an excuse.

4. Make 2 copies of your passport identification page.

This will help if your passport is lost or stolen while you are away – usually a complete nightmare, but made so much easier just by following this little tip. Leave one copy at home with friends or family, and carry the other with you in a separate place to your passport. Do NOT carry it with your passport.

5. Leave contact details with friends and family so that you can be contacted in case of emergency.

Life at home doesnt stop while youre away, and you may need to be quickly contacted by friends or family should there be an emergency. Make sure they can do this by leaving your travel details (address telephone number of your accommodation, email address travel itinerary) with selected friends and family.

6. Do not leave your luggage unattended in public areas. Do not accept packages from strangers.

With all the security measures currently in place in public areas such as airports and train stations it is essential to ensure that you keep hold of your luggage at all times. If youre asked to hold an item for a stranger, politely decline.

7. Avoid being a target of crime. Avoid wearing conspicuous clothing and expensive jewellery, and carrying excessive amounts of money, credit cards or gadgets.

Travellers and tourists are obvious targets for foreign criminals – they usually stick out like a sore thumb and carry plenty of cash and gadgets such as digital cameras, camcorders iPods. Reduce your chances of being a victim by dressing appropriately and only taking what you need – travellers cheques are much safer than cash, and if you wish to take any pictures or listen to music while youre out, keep your devices out of reach and out of site!

8. To avoid violating local laws, deal only with authorized agents when exchanging money or making sizable purchases.

The old adage is right – it somethings too good to be true, it usually is. If youre offered an amazing exchange rate or investment opportunity from a stranger with no credentials, walk away. Even if they seem able to prove their identity or position, remain cautious, and trust your instincts – get out if you feel at all uneasy.

9. If you get into trouble, contact the nearest embassy for your country.

Your countys embassy is the place to turn if you find yourself a victim of crime or in trouble with the law. If you are a citizen of the EU and your country does not have an embassy, contact the nearest EU member embassy and request guidance from them. Many of them will provide some level of assistance in an emergency.

10. Above all, have fun!

With all the planning that is required for a successful holiday, it can be easy to get bogged down and forget to have fun and relax! With some simple preparation before you go, you can enjoy your holiday with minimum fuss while there. You deserve a break – make sure you get it!/pbr
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Author: Vandana Makharia
Source: ezinearticles.com

Often a great traveling experience turns into a nightmare because we neglected the planning part.

I am not saying that you need to plan every single step taken on the journey in advance, that will surely kill the spontaneity of the situation but many basic things will always remain the same. These are the things that you should plan before leaving.

So here’s a quick checklist of what all should be included in your planning:

1. Book the tickets as soon as you know for sure that you are going. No matter if its 6 months down the lane. Booking early also gives you discounts and relieves the pressure of non availability of tickets at that holiday time. The opportunity cost of not booking can be much higher then unfortunately canceling the ticket at the end moment.

2. If you are going to stay in a hotel, then quickly search online or take recommendations from friends as to which one would be the best option and try book before leaving.

3. I can’t emphasize enough the importance of traveling light. Imagine a scenario when you have to walk a mile with three giant suitcases because no taxi or bus would go inside that lane due to any reason.

4. Read about the place you are going to online, there are hundreds of websites which will definitely have information about even the remotest of places in the world.

5. Check the city’s weather before packing; you surely don’t want to land up in a cold season without your warmers.

6. Keep your medicines and emergency stuff in hand. You can’t waste time to go out looking for them outside hotel in a city unknown.

7. All the things required during transit and travel should be kept in your hand bag. Please don’t put that moisturizer by mistake in your inward luggage and repent the situation.

8. Travel documents need to be handy. Keep them in order in a different pocket of your bag. It’s a lot easier to remember if you can keep a count of your travel documents. This way you’ll know one is missing quickly.

Written by Vandana, she has keen interest in online industry, writing and traveling. Currently working on a cool website http://www.traveldaddy.com, find her on twitter at http://twitter.com/vandana_m.

Author: Innocent Chukwudi
Source: ezinearticles.com

- When traveling, make adequate enquires about the hotel, motel, restaurant, rest rooms and environmental conditions of your desired location.

- Ensure that the hotel rooms have reusable and recyclable materials to prevent land pollution.

- Do not carry too much tourist maps and brochures. Pick only the ones that are needed for your desired location.

- Contact the Health Officer if you find a deceased animal along your route. This is necessary so as to prevent an epidermic.

- Obey caution signs found in areas where there is wildlife so as to prevent accident.

- Do not throw non-organic garbage on the road when traveling because they could attract animals which can result to accident or act as threat to humans.

- If you wish to renew or obtain your passport, then link to passport offices in your preferred location. For instance, one who wishes to renew or obtain a passport in the United States should locate any of their offices for the necessary information. You can also find out if there are visa requirements for your location.

- Women in their last trimester of pregnancy are not allowed to travel by cruise. This is necessary so as to prevent miscarriage since some of them may have phobia for water bodies.

- A letter of permission is required from a single parent traveling with children from the other partner.

- Do not eat any diet you are not used to so as to avoid stomach upset.

- Have an adequate knowledge on call rates globally so that you would not be cheated unnecessarily.

- You must possess a good traveler fanny pack to keep essential documents such as passports, visa and so on.

- Do things with moderation. For instance, do not take too much alcohol so as to avoid being a victim of assault.

- Always abide by table etiquette in your chosen location. For instance, when eating rice in Japan, do not leave your chopstick standing in a vertical position. It symbolizes death in Japanese culture.

- Consult travel agents who can provide appropriate information on agencies offering discounts on holidays.

Whether you are a new travel enthusiast or old pro, you can make your holidays more interesting and fulfilling by enhancing your experience. Whatever means you choose to embark on your tour, try to get the best out of it.

Innocent Chukwudi is an infopreneur, idealist, blogger, writer, ICT expert, researcher, Copywriter, Travel agent, Entrepreneur, and Marketer. For more information, contact him on: anthony4biz@gmail.com or visit the site: http://www.getawayclubincome.blogspot.com