The other day I overheard a conversation between two women discussing their summer holiday plans. One was telling the other that she had gone to her local travel agent and asked for a cheap package holiday in Spain. The agent had quickly managed to find a holiday that suited and the lady booked it immediately.
The other woman said that she wished she could do the same but had been unable to find a travel agent who could help. Apparently, someone she knew recommended Northern Cyprus to her. The description of its climate, fabulous beaches, beautiful scenery and welcoming local people deeply appealed to her but she had been unable to find any travel agent offering package holidays there. The person who recommended Northern Cyprus to her explained how it was possible to book flights and accommodation online but she felt apprehensive about not going through a travel agent.
I was quite taken aback at hearing this admission of total dependency on travel agents and ignorance of Internet travel sites. After all, this was 2008 in the U.K. where traditional travel agents have long since been marginalised by online travel sites. Yet, as the conversation developed it became apparent that neither woman knew anything about what resources the Internet offers in this respect.
It got me thinking about how many other people there were around who need tips on organising travel online and when I got home I decided to write down the following seven steps for them.
Step 1: Finding out about the travel destination
Open Google and type into the search box, the name of whatever country or general area you want to holiday in, followed by the words “travel information” or “travel guide”. For example; “Spain travel information”. Browse several of the sites your search throws up and then decide which ones give you the best travel tips relevant to your holiday needs.
Step 2: Deciding on the actual resort
Use the best sites you find from step 1 to decide which resort or locality offers you most of what you want for your vacation. For example, localities with secluded beaches or beaches with lots of facilities, resorts that have plenty to keep the children occupied or quiet villages in scenic locations, etc.
Having familiarised yourself with all that you want to know about the resort or locality, ascertain the nearest airports (or other relevant transportation centres).
Step 3: Finding suitable accommodation
When you have found some resorts that satisfy your criteria, look for suitable accommodation in them. This may require typing a new search term into Google because the sites you have looked at so far may not have sufficient detailed information about specific accommodation in a given locality. They may however have some links to other sites that do. If so, check the links out before starting a new search. If you do need to do a new search, the best search term to use would be something like; Name of resort or locality followed by the word “accommodation”. For example if after researching southern Spain, you had decided you liked what you had read about Mojacar as a holiday resort, you would type; “Mojacar accommodation”. Here’s a tip worth remembering: you may need to refer back to the other website pages that you have already opened so keep them open by doing your accommodation search in a new tab. In case you don’t know about using tabs, take a look at your browser tools options and learn how to set your browser up so that you can open new pages in new tabs.
Step 4: Checking cheapest flight availability
When you have ascertained that accommodation exists in your chosen locality, the next step is check out what flights (or other transportation) is available to get you to the resort.
Open another tab on your browser and this time type in the search term, “cheapest flights” followed by the name of nearest airport. If there are other, more distant airports that you would be prepared to consider, you might want to run separate searches for each airport.
Spend time on checking for flights because quite considerable variations in ticket prices exits, not only from flight operator to flight operator but also from one airport to another even when they are more or less the same distance from your departure airport and operated by the same company. Very significant price variations will also be found by trying different departure and arrival dates.
Step 5: Provisionally book accommodation
Assuming that you establish the availability of flights (or other transportation) at the time you want and within your budget, you will be in a position to provisionally book accommodation. Return to the browser tab you left open with the websites providing accommodation details and follow the instructions for contacting the person or organisation offering the accommodation. Sometimes this will be an automatic online process and sometimes you will need to send an email. Submit the dates you have decided upon from the flight availability research. You will not normally be asked for a deposit at this stage but if you are, inform the accommodation owner that you want them to provisionally hold the dates until after you have booked your flight.
Step 6: Booking your flight
Having received confirmation that the accommodation is available for you between the selected dates, return to the website where you found the cheapest flight deal and book your outgoing and return flights. Very occasionally you might be unlucky and the flights on the selected dates are no longer available. If so you will need to select new dates and redo step 5.
Step 7: Confirm Accommodation
Once you have your flight has been booked you are in a safe position to confirm your accommodation booking. Usually, this will require that a deposit is paid, either online or by bank transfer. Either way, the balance is usually paid upon arrival at the accommodation.
Survival China Travel Tips and Tricks
The China Travel Tips, survival techniques, to help avoid and make his trip to China easier, so you will be able to experience the real China, with a little less stress.
China is a strange beast that must be respected; major cities, Beijing, Shanghai and Xian, all have their own personality.
Some complex situations which in his view would be a disaster organization to become big and then you wonder what all the fuss and worry. So the simplest of tasks can become a great calamity.
This is when you have what we call here a “China Day”.
These days come and go and are part of the experience of all-day trip to China. One has to have an open mind when traveling in China. It is a place with thousands of years of history and culture overnight that it is trying to adapt to Western lifestyles.
You need to have a very open mind when you travel in China. I have listed below a few China Travel Tips that will make life more bearable little pee in their travel experience of China.
Travel Tips – China toilet wise
• Never expect a clean toilet 100% of the time.
• Be prepared; Bring some tissues.
• You may need to use a toilet squatting, again, if you know this is not a shock. If you do not know how to use a toilet building, try the following experiment at home.
While something to keep in support with both hands, lower your body down in a low squatting position, so that the cheeks of his bottom was almost touching the heels or the back of his calf. Now, go with your hands. See if you stay in this position for at least 1 minute. If it is upside down or could not get up after a squat toilet could be a problem for you! , Has the right to be happy you did.
• If you get a clean toilet, Go… may not come again for a while.
• Many public toilets around the cities, usually those who are to pay OK (RMB, 5), the other best to stay away from if you can. You will soon notice as you walk around the cities.
• Be warned that public spaces such as bus and train stations, which tend to be the class as “hard toilets”, but if you are going gotta gotta go.
• Outside the big cities, toilet systems are old or have very close plumbing / piping and get easily blocked. In these cases, a small basket is usually the bathroom next, it is used for toilet paper.
One of the best China Travel Tips toilet I can give is the use of the hotel lobby toilets, which are everywhere and are always clean. Yet it may not always have toilet paper. It depends on the category of hotel being used.
I do not want to frighten you. However, of all of China Travel Tips to all other sites on the Web that I have read, this is an issue that is not mentioned often, but it is very important for all of us.
So outside of the big cities conditions can be tough. But most of the time everything will be fine, especially if you book a tour, all will be checked before hand. However, even the best laid plans can go wrong, so be prepared, the toilets in smaller cities, towns and villages can be scary.
China Travel Tips – food
• The food is great and the variety is overwhelming. Most of the time you get to choose what you eat, or you can recognize what you are eating, but sometimes you do not get a choice. Wearing a chocolate bar or something, which will keep you going until some foods that can recognize laps. Drink bottled or boiled water since tap water is not drinkable, that is for the whole of China. Even boiled water, while sterilized can contain a large amount of minerals and iron deposits that you probably do not want in the system. The bet is safe to drink bottled water. Tap water in most large cities is OK to brush your teeth.
• Eating habits-Most Chinese have a great habit of being very noisy and when they eat lunch and dinner times can be a wonderful celebration noisy, the food tends to go in all directions, its just part of being in China .
• People smoke cigarettes on the table while everyone is eating, so some restaurants get very loud and smoky.
• If you get stuck which so since most of the menus are in Chinese just look at the table next to you and point to the plate and ask you how much it is, this system works really well and it seems learn to mind.
• I have a basic menu that will help to food safety, (no cats or dogs), this visit will allow greater choice of restaurants, not just tourists with high prices. You can bring with you and use it on the premises where most of the restaurants could serve as what is on it. This way you will know what they are eating.
These premises are very cheap and the food is great. Contact me if you would like me to send it to you.
China Travel Tips – Taxi
• Travel Tips – China – Taxi cabs are an experience that you can have headquarters complaints and panting, but it is too early to get used to it, after the first few rides, you are a veteran.
• The taxis in Shanghai are generally quite good. Try to get the Blue, Blue’ish Turquoise, Oro Blanco and taxis, these are the best… these are the four major taxi companies and are generally recognized by its unique color painting. The others are OK, only older and a rougher ride (others may also have defective meters). No drivers speak English.
• Carry your hotel accommodation or business card with you, written in Chinese, which helps if you get lost walking around town.
• In all taxis around the country will be able to see the name of the taxi drivers and registration number in plain sight. If you have any problems, or if you think has been most pronounced, etc., just take this number down, make a big fuss about it, then the driver should wake up and solve any problem you have. Even better is to take the receipt. This has all the details on the trip and who can call the taxi company if they want to have more things or if you have something left in the taxi.
• The government takes rip-off drivers in all cities, especially Beijing and Xian, very seriously, and if they complain they will lose their license. This is their livelihood. So far I have not had a driver in 3 years that has not been withdrawn, and then we have agreed a price for the trip or solve our problem.
• In Shanghai, which is common practice taxi increases after 11pm. However, one can haggle for a 20% discount, which will return to the previous rate-11pm fee. Be strong with the taxi drivers, never the less, keep calm, smile and negotiate.
China Travel Tips – Shopping
• China Travel Tips – Shopping – China is a paradise for customers, markets, Bargains; Top labels… nothing, and if you have all the time. With clothing, the largest (Western) sizes can be hard to find, however in the big cities, where you can find a lot of tourist traffic, can find them.
• Electrical arts, DVDs, cameras, things like this are not worth buying in China, Hong Kong is still the best place for this.
• Store hours in major cities from 10am to 10pm, 7 days a week.
• Visa card remains the best card to carry, with ATMs in good supply everyone with access PLUS etc. There is usually a charge for using VISA, MasterCard and other forms of credit card.
• Wait on the purchase if they can look around to have a vision of prices. The Chinese are very experienced in the sale and we know that we are to halve the opening price when the negotiations. In markets go for 25% of what they ask first; go so low that they let you walk. This gives you an idea of the bottom price. The end result of the price will probably be around 40% to 50% of the starting point.
Whatever the market people say, which are used to push for better prices and haggling. Do not worry about being too hard, they are used to it and you do not sell an item unless profits. Do not be concerned with the body language apparently injured when going low it is all part of the game. At the time
they had wrapped their first purchase, they will try to sell something else. Remember to keep smiling and having fun while negotiating.
China Travel Tips – medical treatment and records
• Most hotels have a doctor who can see. At major hotels speaks English.
• Always take a small first aid kit, repair cold, headache tablets at least. WATSONS is a large chain pharmacies. Most of the remedies, pills, etc., which you may need to be in these workshops. These shops are all over China.
• There is a large network of pharmacies in the stores type, which is indicated by a Green Cross. There will always be a 24 hr Green Cross pharmacy in the city you are in. It is useful to keep a book stage, as it is not going to speak English, but you end up with something that will help.
• INPORTANT POINT-in most mass production package type of medication, the packaging will be written in Chinese on one side, English on the other. But in the stores that only sees the Chinese side. Take a good look, in turn most of packaging, which gives you a lot more confidence knowing that you can read the package.
• If you have a medical problem, make records, most of the doctors have written OK / English reading, even if their oral English are poor.
Travel Tips – China Phone
• Using the phone is as easy as at home. However choose the person to not speak English or have very broken English… chief 4 or 5-star hotels all will be OK.
• What is being done is worthwhile to buy a SIM card from China Telecom, which are about RMB100 and thereby obtains RMB50 in the calls, the other 50 is the price of the SIM card; this SIM card will all major brands of phones and work OK.
In this way, people can get to you inside and outside China if there is an emergency. If you have a couple of phones, it can short message (txt) yes (SMS). Also you can call your tour guide, hotel, and so if you have big problems. It is a cheap way to keep in touch.
NB.Before you buy a Chinese SIM card, make sure it will work on your Cell / Mobile. There is a lot of China Telecom shops that can help.
Travel Tips in China if China does not move.
• Spring Festival, this will be the Chinese New Year time, around late January / Early February
• In early May, Labor Day Holidays
• In early October, the National Day holiday
Of all the Travel Tips China National Day is the largest. Millions of Chinese travel at this time of year holidays. Most of the trips back home towns or to visit his family. Hotels, trains, planes, cars, buses, and all the roads are the most overcrowded. Major congestion, everywhere.
Similarly, the rates for travel are at their full price. Not offering discounts! Staying in one place and will enjoy. It is better and causes less discomfort.
China Travel Tips – TV
• If you want to watch television, most of the major hotels will have cable and if you are in the smaller places, the national channel, CCTV9 is in English. Over the past two years has been greatly improved, with some major China Travel Tips programs, news and opinions about people and places around China.
China Travel Tips – Airport Tax
• There is a “rate of construction” in almost all airports.
Domestic flights RMB 50 International flights RMB 90, to be paid in local currency.
Recently, the tickets are tissued with the construction include VAT but make sure you have money in taxes just to be sure.
I hope that some of these China Travel Tips input and will make your trip to China that bit easier.
More Information at BestCityTourGuide
Have you ever experienced a serious disaster whilst on holiday? If not, it’s merely a matter of time. It has been said there are two kinds of travellers, those that have experienced a problem holiday and those that are still going to.
Tasked with identifying the top ten travel tips immediately got my mind going but an idea soon took shape. Why not use the experiences of the professionals, ask them to identify the more common causes of problems when travelling. Unbeknown to me this certainly dropped the cat amongst the pigeons, largely because limiting this to only ten became a problem, thank you so much to all those who were a part of the panel.
One of the most common problems and a unanimous choice of the panel were problems surrounding logistical arrangements. Largely related to reservations; dates and ticketing, these can be problematic despite the ease and simplicity of the internet. It is imperative when planning any holiday to any destination that all bookings are made well in advance, followed up either by e-mail or telephone a few days before your departure and still in time to rectify problems if discovered. After this has been done, prevent further problems by ensuring you have proof in the form of copies of any relevant document or reference number, this could be a receipt confirmation of a deposit paid or any item depending on your personal arrangements. This is one of those suggestions where prevention is definitely far better than cure.
Our second tip is all encompassing and covers the packing of essential items. Obviously these items might vary according to your personal plans but would perhaps include items such as passports and ID documents; applicable drivers licences; money – credit cards, wallets and other financial needs; mobile phones and camera’s, (get with it, preferably digital) are essential items nowadays, together with supporting items such as chargers and memory cards. On my personal list are always sunglasses, activity equipment, a few books, a pack of cards, a multi-purpose pocket knife and other smaller items or games which always come in handy.
How are we doing so far, the bottom line is that with tip numbers one and two you can go almost anywhere in the world and if you have forgotten anything else you can purchase them en route.
Tip number three is so absolutely boring you might well stop reading at this point but it remains one of the most common causes of holidays being cancelled. Before you leave home ensure that all domestic matters are resolved and tucked in to bed. These will again vary but will certainly surround adequate locking up and security issues; paying all accounts, in particular municipal services; cancelling any deliveries; ensuring access is available to a trusted friend or relative in the event of a fire or emergency; ensuring pets are adequately cared for and that someone responsible is able to contact you in the case of emergency during your holiday. Yes…boring….but oh so often the cause of having to either come back early or returning to face a smelly deep freeze or worse.
The basics are covered and now we can move onto the fun part, tip number four surrounds choosing the right holiday for your needs and enjoyment. To haul three children under ten years old to a game reserve for ten days will stretch your patience and theirs, you might enjoy spending half an hour looking at a bird or waiting for an Elephant to come to a waterhole while sipping a Chardonnay, they certainly wouldn’t. If you have had a really stressful year and are going on holiday for a time out, a few days in London followed by a few in Rome and a low cost flight via Moscow to save a few cents would mean lots of flights; too many airports and complicated transit arrangements. Our panel suggests taking a few extra minutes to analyse the real needs of all travelling partners before selecting your holiday destination.
You have analysed your own needs and decided on let’s say a scuba diving holiday as an example. Tip number five stays with destination choice and is all about research. That’s easy I hear you saying, once you’ve decided what type of holiday you want. However, you could also end up on a scuba diving holiday in monsoon season, perhaps to a great destination at most times of the year but in the month you have chosen, it’s infested with mosquito’s and a temperature of 45 degrees, is that what you wanted.
Perhaps you might be looking for a quiet and romantic getaway and choose a week in a Spanish seaside village only to find out it clashes with a local political election and the local school holidays. Time researching local conditions is well spent, beware particularly of special offers or discounts, these are usually offered for a reason and often due to seasonality or other sub-optimal characteristics of the destination at the time the offer applies. This same principle applies to discounted flights and packages, it’s important to be fully aware of which items and costs are included and not included in the price.
How far have we gone so far, in summary we have the logistics and essential equipment under control, chosen a stunning destination to ensure our needs are covered and we have selected the dates to suit the destination characteristics.
Tip number six is about the modern day wonder of the travellers’ world. You guessed it, the internet. This modern tool enables you to ensure you are fully au fait with all and any information you might need. From disco’s to dive centres, museums to mausoleums, cathedrals to camping grounds, the information is easily available to you from the comfort of your home; office or failing which, an internet café. Referring back to our Spanish village, if you want to know the history, what to see and do while you’re there, the internet provides this service. Even once you’re there, if you want to send pics and news to someone at home, the internet has really made this simple. I read recently that in excess of 70% of all travel arrangements are now made on-line, wow, that is an awesome number and it is no doubt climbing, not without reason.
A list of top ten tips would definitely be incomplete without a reference to the importance of adequate packing. Notice we say adequate as it does vary according to destination and travel method. A car trip to Port Alfred with a trailer and roof rack is a far different scenario than a flight to London. Tip number seven is to pack early; to pack correctly and most of all to pack according to a well prepared list. One often makes the mistake of packing too much, leaving little room for error and no space to include a few souvenirs or that tee-shirt that looked so good in the market. On a personal note our family has a rule, what you pack you carry; this has a fantastic effect of ensuring no one packs without a plan.
The boring battle of the budget. We all have dream destinations we hope to get to one day; this is unfortunately not a reality for most of us. Tip number eight is to ensure you remain within your personal limits of expenditure. Interest rates are high and could get higher; credit offered by banks can be easily obtained by utilising the credit card options so often available. You don’t want to spend the year after your holiday stressed out about how you’re going to pay it back during the rest of the year. Plan adequately before and during your holiday. Whilst it’s certainly fun to spoil yourselves during a holiday, we suggest you allocate a daily allowance to each person and to the whole group; this will certainly help control costs, particularly in an international destination when one is not fully conversant, it can come back and bite quite hard.
The members of our panel are all seasoned travellers, local and overseas. In conversation we certainly learned that all had on occasion bumped their heads or made often silly mistakes. Our unanimous tip number nine is to enjoy South Africa. As residents of this beautiful country we are all absolutely blessed to
live within a reasonable distance from either a beach; lake; mountain; game reserve or whatever it might be that appeals to your family. Too often we feel the need to travel far and wide when it’s all on our doorstep. We might travel to an exotic dive destination but haven’t yet experienced Aliwal Shoal; sit on a Mauritian Beach when our coast offers some of the most beautiful beaches in the world, perhaps even camping in France when you’ve never been to the Drakensberg or Clarens.
It might be a cliché but we really do have it all in one country. We certainly hope that our leaders will take every action to ensure that it stays that way. We in turn need to appreciate it and invest in local tourism and the job creation it offers. Our panel felt that we need to market ourselves as a destination a little better than we do, encouraging local travellers that Cairo is perhaps not always better than Cape Town. Local is lekker, it has its place alongside braaivleis, biltong, sunny skies and all the rest.
This might be our last tip of the ten we were confined to but it is the simplest and most important – have fun! You’ve worked hard, you deserve your holiday, please don’t forget to enjoy it. In most cases when on holiday, one is surrounded by those your love the most, those dearest and closest.
What an absolute blessing to be able to spend quality time in a holiday destination with those you love.