Complete Travel Guide

WHAT CAUSES CANCER

2016-01-19T07:43:00.003-08:00

Cancer occurs when there are changes in the genes responsible for cell growth and repair. These changes are the result of the interaction between genetic host factors and external agents which can be categorized as:

PHYSICAL CARCINOGENS such as Ultra Violet (UV) and Ionizing Radiation		CHEMICAL CARCINOGENS such as Asbestos and Tobacco smoke



BIOLOGICAL CARCINOGENS

		such as Infections by Virus (Hepatitis B Virus and Liver Cancer, Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) and Cervical Cancer) and Bacteria (Helicobater Pylori and Gastric Cancer) and Parasites Schistosomiasis and Bladder Cancer Contamination of food by Mycotoxins such as Aflatoxins (products of Aspergillus Fungi) causing Liver Cancer.

TOBACCO & ITS EFFECTS

40% of cancer can be prevented by adopting a healthy diet, engaging in physical activity and not using tobacco.

Tobacco use is the single largest preventable cause of cancer in the world. Tobacco use causes cancer of the lung, throat, mouth, pancreas, bladder, stomach, liver, kidney and other types; Passive smoking causes lung cancer too.

Tobacco use is considered one major risk factor for cancer and causes a large variety of cancers such as lung, larynx, oesophagus, stomach, bladder, oral cavity and others.

DIET & LIFESTYLE

Although there are still some open questions, there is credible evidence that dietary factors also contribute to causing cancer. This applies to obesity as a compound risk factor per se as well as to the composition of the diet such as lack of fruit and vegetables and high salt intake. Lack of physical activity is yet another risk factor for cancer. There is strong evidence about alcohol causing several cancer types such as oesophagus, pharynx, larynx, liver, breast, and other cancer types.

HOW DOES CANCER DEVELOP?

All cancers begin in cells, the body's basic unit of life. To understand cancer, it's helpful to know what happens when normal cells become cancer cells.

		The body is made up of many types of cells. These cells grow and divide in a controlled way to produce more cells as they are needed to keep the body healthy. When cells become old or damaged, they die and are replaced with new cells.

		But sometimes this orderly process goes wrong. The genetic material (DNA) of a cell can become damaged or changed, producing mutations that affect normal cell growth and division. When this happens, cells do not die when they should and new cells form when the body does not need them. The extra cells may form a mass of tissue called a tumour.

		Not all tumours are cancerous; tumours can be benign or malignant. Benign tumours aren't cancerous. They can often be removed, and, in most cases, they do not come back. Cells in benign tumors do not spread to other parts of the body. Malignant tumors are cancerous. Cells in these tumors can invade nearby tissues and spread to other parts of the body. The spread of cancer from one part of the body to another is called metastasis.

Most cancers are named for the organ or type of cell in which they begin. For example, cancer that begins in the stomach is called stomach cancer. Some cancers do not form tumors. For example, leukemia is a cancer of the bone marrow and blood.

Seeking the best advice pertaining to train travel

2015-05-19T00:40:00.001-07:00

Seeking the best advice pertaining to train travel.
When you're seeking superior information about train travel, it will be easier said than done separating superior information from misguided train travel proposals and guidance so it's prudent to know ways of moderating the information offered to you.

Find train travel
Your relevant result is a click away!

Here's a few pieces of advice which we think you should use when you are searching for information about train travel. Please understand that the guidance we give is only appropriate to internet info about train travel. Unfortunately we are unable to provide any tips or guidance for researching in 'real world' situations.

Look for train travel
Find train travel at one of the best sites the Internet has to offer!

A really good piece of advice you can follow when offered information and advice about a train travel web page is to verify the ownership of the website. This may divulge who is behind the site train travel identifications The easiest way to reveal who owns the train travel site is to find the 'about' page.

Any reputable website providing information regarding train travel, will always have contact information which will record the owner's details. The details should divulge some specifications about the site owner's capability. This permits you to make an informed assessment about the webmaster's depth of experience, to offer recommendations concerning train travel.
About the author:

Richard Jones is the webmaster for http://www.train-travel.info/

Oldsters Overseas - What Seniors Pay for Travel Insurance

2015-05-19T00:39:00.001-07:00

While travel medical insurance for senior citizens generally carries a higher premium and a lower maximum level of coverage it is still widely available. In fact, some carriers offer travel medical insurance for senior citizens no matter what their age. One carrier we found offered travel medical insurance for senior citizens over 80 years old, with no maximum age. The maximum coverage for those older than 79, however, is a low $10,000.

Another was a little more generous with its ceiling for elders through 79 years, although premiums for this travel medical insurance for senior citizens was still costlier than those for younger travelers. With this insurer a couple between the ages of 65 and 69 can still purchase up to $1 million of emergency medical coverage with their travel insurance, and as low as a $250 deductible. For this senior citizen couple travel insurance coverage for this single trip would cost $438. At age 70 the maximum drops way down to $50,000 and each policy must be purchased separately. The per-person cost for the same trip is now $219 each for only $50,000 of travel medical insurance for these senior citizens.

Now, let's assume these folks are 80 years old. What a costly difference in this travel medical insurance for these senior citizens! Now the most coverage this couple could purchase is $10,000 each, at a whopping $518 each for the same $250 deductible. The deductible can be increased to $2500, which lowers the premium to $350.70.

The best course of action for senior citizens who contemplate overseas travel and are considering travel medical insurance is to first peruse their current medical coverage. Seldom do these plans cover overseas travel but do check your policy and call your insurer if you are unsure. While your Medicare coverage will not help you outside of the United States, your Medicare supplement coverage might - or at least for some situations.

If you're wanting to save on your travel insurance premium the two best things you can do for yourself are to first book your trip with a travel agent you trust, and then choose an airline, cruise or other vacation vendor that is well known and not in financial distress.
About the Author
Steve Cogger is webmaster of http://www.1-Happy-Traveller.com Visit the site today to receive all of the information on travel insurance you could possibly need.

Japanese Overseas Travel Insurance

2015-05-19T00:38:00.004-07:00

If you are an expatriate planning on long-term residence in Japan you can, after a one-year stay, become a part of Japan's national health program. Until that time, however, you're going to need Japanese overseas travel insurance.

Some of the Japanese overseas travel insurance options include not only trip or annual medical emergency coverage for travel but also disability insurance, personal liability coverage and term life insurance. Japanese overseas travel insurance's medical coverage with some plans offers full (100 percent) reimbursement for prescription medicine, medical care for diagnostic purposes, hospital stay and even surgery. You'll also be covered in case of terrorism and an evacuation to your home residence in the event of medical or terrorist emergency.

One firm whose Japanese overseas travel plan we perused offered coverage for those over 80 years old, difficult to find. The minimum coverage time period for this plan is one week (seven days) with a one-year maximum, although it can be renewed for a total of three consecutive years of coverage. Coverage varies according to your age. You must be at least two weeks old for any coverage. If you are under 70 years of age you can choose coverage limits that range from $50,000 to $1 million. Folks between 70 and 79 are excluded from coverage that exceeds $50,000, while those 80 or older can only be covered to a maximum of $10,000.

Let's look at a couple of quotes to see the variation in cost for age, children, number of travelers, and participation in sports. We'll also look at the cost for non-U.S. citizens. The first quote is for a single U.S. resident 18-29 years of age traveling along for one year and not wanting the rider for sports coverage. A $1 million ceiling for Japanese overseas travel insurance coverage, with a $250 deductible, is $576. Reducing the ceiling doesn't seem like nearly as good a deal - the premium is $504, although increasing the deductible to $1000 reduces the cost to $403.20. That same Japanese overseas travel insurance coverage for non-U.S. citizens is several hundred dollars more.

For a couple both 30-39 years old with two children traveling with them, Japanese overseas travel insurance does not come cheap. Assuming U.S. residence and a $500,000 ceiling with $500 deductible the hefty price tag for this coverage is $1814.40. While this may seem excessive, consider the cost of medical coverage for one or more of you, or for emergency evacuation. You'll probably come to the conclusion that Japanese overseas travel insurance is inexpensive as compared to the alternative.
About the Author
Steve Cogger is an avid traveler offering a wealth of travel information. For more information on travel insurance visit http://www.1-Happy-Traveller.com

Is it Wise to Purchase Travel Insurance?

2015-05-19T00:38:00.001-07:00

The best way to determine if, for you, it is wise to purchase travel insurance, is to consider the various emergency situations that could arise during your trip, determine the best guess for the cost of each, and see whether you can afford to pay for the worst case scenarios out of your own pocket.

If the answer is no, then it is indeed wise to purchase travel insurance.

Even if the answer is yes, however, money is not the only issue in determining the wisdom of travel insurance.

Let's take a look at what can happen in your travels - the situations that travel insurance could have covered. You and your family take a delayed flight from home to another location where you are to change planes. Because of your delay, however, you have missed your connection. Your tickets are non-refundable, non-exchangeable. You are now faced with the purchase of new tickets, with a hefty last-minute price tag, as well as the feeding and housing for your whole party as the next flight is tomorrow morning. If you had been wise and purchased travel insurance you would have been reimbursed for these costs.

Your spouse is diabetic. Her purse is stolen while you are traveling. You have no travel insurance and you're in a foreign country. How do you retrieve the money lost from her wallet, replace her much-needed reading glasses and, most importantly, get her the insulin she so desperately needs? If you had been wise and purchased travel insurance you would have been reimbursed for these costs. You would have also had someone to call or see for help purchasing insulin.

You have had a wonderful vacation and you're ready to travel home. You suddenly get the word that the airline on which you are returning has gone bankrupt and all planes are grounded. How do you get home? To whom do you turn for help and advice? You are in a country where few people speak your language. Who can help you translate? If you had been wise and purchased travel insurance you could have not only been reimbursed for the loss of the price of your airline tickets but you could have been provided with a translator and someone to help you find an alternate flight or cruise home.

These are but a few of the common occurrences when traveling. Perhaps travel insurance is indeed a wise decision.
About the Author
Steve Cogger, an active traveler, has developed the http://www.1-Happy-Traveller.com website for your convenience. Visit today for all of your travel insurance needs.

Cheap International Travel Secrets

2015-05-19T00:37:00.002-07:00

What is the real secret to cheap international travel? It is the same as the secret to doing anything for less. Learn to be an opportunist. Opportunistic travelers get to travel more, see more and do more. Of course, you can ignore this advice if you have unlimited funds.

I went to Ecuador because it was cheap. Honestly, aren't there many interesting places in this world? Why not choose one you can travel to inexpensively? The other places will be there in the future, and you may have an opportunity to go to those places cheaply at some point.

Cheap Countries

Ecuador is my favorite international destination. You can still get a decent meal for two dollars. U.S. dollars, by the way, since that's conveniently the official currency of Ecuador now. From the beautiful snow-capped Andes mountains, to the Galapagos Islands, you'll never run out of places to explore in Ecuador. Travel there is safe and inexpensive.

South America in general is inexpensive, and the most affordable countries are, in my opinion, the most beautiful. These are the countries along the Andes mountains; Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia. Argentina, thanks to it's recent economic troubles, is once again a cheap place for travelers as well.

In Central America, it costs very little to travel and vacation in both Nicaragua and Guatemala. Nicaragua, in particular, has become more stable and safe for travelers in recent years. Costa Rica is a wonderful too, and though it is one of more expensive counties of Central America, that probably still leaves it cheaper than Europe.

In Asia, India is still low-cost, especially if you stay in the numerous hostels and boarding houses. Thailand and Indonesia are also very cheap. With all international destinations, the plane tickets will be your single biggest travel expense. This is especially true with the asian countries. Being there is cheap, but getting there may not be.

Cheap International Travel Tips

Wherever you go, there are things you can do to keep it cheap. Eat where locals eat, for example, instead of at the tourist restaurants. To keep it really cheap, eat fruit from street markets (wash it well) and packaged snacks from grocery stores.

Visit the free and cheap attractions first. It's possible you'll have so much fun that you'll never get around to doing the expensive things. A higher price means better quality with travel bags, but not with travel experiences.

Busses are cheaper than taxis in any country, but be careful of crowded city busses, where pickpockets hang out. Walking is even cheaper, and it's a great way to learn about a city. Just ask the locals where the dangerous parts are before you wander too far.

For cheap accommodations find out where local visitors from within the country stay. Negotiating room charges is common in some areas. In Banos, Ecuador, we negotiated our room rate down from $12 to $6 per night, by paying for several nights in advance. Consider hostels, if you don't mind sharing a room. They're much more common overseas.

Cheap international travel is often only as cheap as your plane tickets. Use the techniques outlined on our site to save big on tickets, or search the fares to several interesting countries. If one is $500 less than the others, consider going there. $500 can buy a few extra days, or an extra mini-vacation some other time.
About the Author
Steve Gillman hit the road at sixteen, and traveled the U.S. and Mexico alone at 17. Now 40, he travels with his wife Ana, whom he met in Ecuador. To read their stories, tips and travel information, visit: http://www.EverythingAboutTravel.com

Traveling to Europe with your Digital Camera?

2015-05-19T00:36:00.003-07:00

The Vacation Season is fast approaching and naturally you will be taking your digital camera along for the journey. After all your vacations are far and few between and it is nice to look back on those memories as you slave away at your job. However, when you travel with a digital camera, it is a completely different experience from that of traveling with a film camera. This is a lesson that far too many travelers seem to be learning the hard way, especially if you’re traveling to Europe. After a couples years of relying solely on digital for taking photos when I travel, there are things you should consider before you head off on your next trip.

Charging Batteries is one of the biggest stumbling blocks you'll face when you travel. Outlets can be scarce in hotels. On a recent trip to Europe, only one of the five modern hotels I stayed in had more than one outlet available for use when charging up electronics. Charging your battery can be more of a hassle if you're traveling by train: If you take an overnight train in Europe, they don't have power adapters at the seats (certain trains do, but it's not something you can count on). I suggest bringing at least two rechargeable batteries, three if you plan to travel with overnight trains, or don't think you'll be able to charge every night. If your camera uses regular AA batteries, consider yourself lucky-you'll find those everywhere. Scope out the situation in your room when you check in: You should get at least one usable outlet, but don't count on more than that.

Bring your plugs. Some digital cameras typically come with a power brick that can handle international voltages, so you won't need a voltage adapter. However, you will need a power plug adapter to convert a US outlet plug to the local plug. Most of Europe is on the same outlet now-but not all countries accept the general "Europe" plug. Be sure to research what you'll need to jack in, and try to buy it before you leave (try CompUSA, Radio Shack, Rand McNally, or your local luggage store). If you don't have a chance to get what you need Stateside, don't fret: You should have no trouble finding an outlet converter overseas.

How do I offload my images? For fellow travelers using digicams, this was the number one problem I have heard repeatedly. Many comments from folks traveling for a week or more are: "I'm taking more pictures than I expected to." "I'm not shooting at the best resolution, because I need the room on my memory card." "I'm only halfway through my trip, and I have only 50 shots left." When you travel, odds are you'll take more pictures than you expect to also. A 1 GB card is very useful, and should suffice for low-usage shooters. But for those of us, who can go through a gigabyte or more in a day, not a week? Whether it's because your a high-volume shooter, shooting in RAW format, or a combination of the two. What I discovered is many who had digital SLRs, that had 5 megapixel or more reported they were traveling with a laptop to off load their images. None of these folks were traveling on business, so they didn't need to bring a laptop along. The sad fact is, for now, a laptop remains the most efficient and usable means of off loading images. Epson and Nikon have dedicated handheld units with a hard drive, card reader, and LCD display for copying over and viewing your images. But neither has a full-blown keyboard. If you're first buying a laptop, and intend to travel with it, I suggest going for the smallest one you can. Fujitsu, Panasonic, Sharp, and Sony all have models under four pounds. A laptop provides several additional advantages. For one thing, you can see your pictures on a big screen-to view how you're doing, and if you see any problems you want to correct with your exposure, for example, or if your pictures are being affected by dirt. For another thing, you can properly label your folders, so you know which pictures were taken where. Most newer laptops have integrated memory card readers, but otherwise, you can buy a small external card reader. For the wire-free approach, use a PC Card slot adapter for your memory card; and invest in a 32-bit Cardbus adapter (Delkin and Lexar Media offer these), for speedier transfers. Nothing's worse than coming back to the hotel after a long day of sightseeing, and needing to stay awake another 40 minutes just to off -load two 1 GB cards, at about 20 minutes a pop. If you bring a laptop, I also suggest investing in a portable hard drive. A portable hard drive can serve multiple purposes: It can be a means of backing up your photos on the go; a means of giving you a way to take your photos with you if you have to leave your laptop unattended; and a means of expansion, if you somehow manage to fill up your laptop's built-in hard disk. If you don't want to bring a laptop, and already have an Apple iPod, Belkin sells an attachment for using your iPod with memory cards; or, consider the pricey units from Nikon and Epson. And if you're in a bind, remember you can always buy memory overseas. I was surprised that when I went to Europe, the prices were high, but not so outrageously so that I wouldn't buy another card if I were in a bind. Cards were more readily available, too, than they were when I last traveled through Europe three years ago. Look at it this way: Even if you overpay on the card, you can still reuse it-which beats overpaying for a single use 35mm film cartridge when you were in a bind in years' past.

Be prepared for problems. Things happen when you travel and I've had more things go awry carrying my digital SLR than I have had with my 35mm over the years. Lens paper is always useful to have on hand, but if you have a digital SLR, another supply is absolutely critical: An air blower bulb, to blast out the dust and dirt that will inevitably get trapped inside your camera. I never had problems with my 35mm SLR, but with my digital SLR, I constantly find dirt gets trapped inside, when I change lenses. And there's nothing worse than having a splotch marring your otherwise awesome shots. Finally, remember the philosophy of redundancy. Whether your battery dies and you have no way to charge it, or you run out of space on your memory card(s), and don't want to buy another at a higher-than-usual price, I suggest packing a second camera if you can. A digital point and shoot is a good option but I usually carry a point and shoot 35mm to use if I run into any problems just so I won’t lose any precious pictures.

About The Author
Doug Rogers has worked as a freelance photographer for the past 25 years in various fields of photography. In the past two years he has become an avid and devoted fan of digital and video photography and a life long lover of new technology. For tips on better digital photography and the latest reviews on the newest digital equipment that hits the market, Subscribe to his monthly Newsletter “The ViewFinder” at http://www.best-digital-cameras-review.com.

Travel Light: The How And Why

2015-05-19T00:36:00.001-07:00

I learned how to travel light from lightweight backpacking, then found it was just as useful to keep it light on trips overseas or driving across the country. The last time my wife and I went to Ecuador, I had 10 pounds of luggage, all in one carry-on bag, and Ana had just 8 pounds in her carry-on bag. This wasn't a short trip. We spent six weeks in Ecuador, at times on glacier-covered mountains, and at other times lounging on Pacific coast beaches.

Travel Simplicity

Why travel light? Travel simplicity. Everything is simpler when you travel light. With only carry-on luggage, we were on our way to a restaurant in Quito, while others were still waiting for their checked luggage. When we took busses our luggage was safely with us, not on the roof or in the hold below being cut open, like one time when I was in Mexico. While others struggled down the street with three heavy bags, we had our hands free and were walking comfortably because we use daypacks or small backpacks. We had less to lose, less to be stolen, less to wait for, less to pack and unpack in hotels, and less to worry about.

Light Travel Issues

There are a couple minor problems when you travel light. First, expect an extra question or two from the customs officials at the airport (Six weeks with only this?). Second, a small bag won't work if you plan to bring back many souvenirs. In this case, you can still go light. Just plan to buy a second bag at some point during the trip, to carry your acquisitions. As for the seemingly obvious issue of not having enough clothes and other things all in one or two small bags, I'll explain below why that isn't as big a problem as you may think.

How To Travel Light

Silk shirts weigh 3 ounces, and travel well if rolled up. Nylon dress socks weigh less than an ounce, and they are cool and comfortable. Poly-cotton blend t-shirts weigh 5 ounces. Supplex or other lightweight travel slacks weigh 9 ounces, and are sufficient for a fine restaurant or a walk in the woods. All of these weigh less than half of the typical travel choices, and take less space, yet function the same. There is no sacrifice involved here. For this exercise in travel simplicity, you even get to go shopping for new clothes.

You don't have to buy new clothes, however. You don't have to buy a scale and count ounces to travel light. Just choose the lighter alternative whenever you can. Set aside your lightest jacket, socks and pants for your next trip. Travel simplicity is the goal, not more complicated planning.

More Ways To Travel Light

Money replaces weight, especially in the form of a debit or credit card. Why carry two pounds of your favorite shampoo when you can simply buy small bottles as you travel. It really won't cost much more to buy things wherever you go, instead of carrying your bathroom and wardrobe with you. Also, you really don't know exactly what you'll need, particularly on an overseas trip. Buy what you need as you need it, and you won't have a pile of useless things in your luggage. Don't we all regularly unpack things at home that we never once used during the trip?

Take a lesson from long-trail hikers (backpackers who travel a trail for months). They send things, such as new shoes, to a post office on their route, ahead of time, so they'll be waiting for them. They also send home things they no longer need, such as a winter coat. The latter may be a useful practice for other travelers. If you buy bulky gifts for family or friends, why carry them around for weeks? Put them in the mail.

A Light Travel Example

What I Took For Six weeks in Ecuador:

8 pairs of thin nylon socks (less than an ounce per pair)
2 silk shirts for restaurants and discos (3 ounces each)
4 poly/cotton blend t-shirts (5-6 ounces each)
5 pair of light underwear (2-3 ounces each)
1 extra pair of lightweight slacks (9 ounces)
Single layer nylon shorts for hiking or swimming (2 ounces)
Thin gloves (1 ounce)
Thin hat (1 ounce - honestly)
Thin wool sweater (11 ounces)
Waterproof/breathable rainsuit (14 ounces for the set)
Light plastic camera (3 ounces)
Sunglasses (1 ounce)
Small chess set (3 ounces)
Bathroom kit (5 ounces)
Maps, notebook and various small things (3 or 4 pounds)
My pack weighed ten pounds, and my wife's weighed 8 pounds. We never felt deprived. I'm not suggesting that you start counting the ounces (that comes from my backpacking days), or that you buy all new lightweight things. Without spending money or thinking about it too much, you can just start setting aside your lightest shirts, socks, etc., so you can travel light on your next vacation.

About The Author
Steve Gillman first hit the road on his own when at sixteen, and traveled alone across the United States and Mexico at 17. Now 40, he continues to travel and backpack with his wife Ana, whom he met in Ecuador. Many of his stories, plus tips and information on travel and lightweight backpacking, can be found on his websites, http://www.EverythingAboutTravel.com, and http://www.TheUltralightBackpackingSite.com.

Save Lots By Booking Your Travel Online

2015-05-19T00:35:00.001-07:00

These days the easiest way to plan your next trip or
vacation away from home is by making an online travel
booking. Perhaps your idea of a vacation away is somewhere
balmy and exotic, where you can spend your days sipping
cocktails by a gorgeous swimming pool in the beautiful
warm sunshine. Or maybe you would prefer to spend your
next vacation skiing on the gorgeous white slopes of
Colorado. No matter what your destination, booking your
travel on the Internet can offer easy and affordable
vacation packages.

Today people live full and busy lives, packed with
stress and anxiety. Their schedules are full with family,
work and other critical responsibilities. The one thing
that they are generally missing is relaxation and fun. It
is after all, crucial to get away from it once in awhile,
and enjoy the fruits of your work. A vacation can release
built up strain that leads to health problems and even
fatique. No matter where you go, it's all about making
time for yourself, relaxing with a much needed break and
some well earned travel.

And relaxation is not the only reason people travel. There
are indeed a variety of reasons people travel. Sometimes it
is for that long desired vacation. Other times it is to
visit friends or family scattered across the globe.

Another reason why people may travel is because of their
jobs. Many various jobs will require a person to travel
to different parts of the country or even different parts
of the world. Businesses and companies may be looking for
a cheap but comfortable way for their employees to travel.

While many vacations are supposed to be relaxing,
booking all of the arrangements necessary for an entire
family can be time-consuming, costly and sometimes a
little challenging. Take advantage of online travel
resources will free up your time that can then be spent
anticipating your vacation or planning family outings.
Best yet, online travel also means you can use discount
packages and you can do a great amount of research on
these bargains before you even leave home.

Online travel booking may also help vacationers as well as
work travelers by offering a venue for making last minute
travel plans. If your suddenly need to travel due to family
illness or a last minute business trip, you can book a
travel plan online easier and quicker.

Naturally, a major selling point for a majority of things
is affordability and convenience. Online travel booking
offers both. You can find incredible deals and offers for
the vacation of your dreams or for your business needs.
Lilly B. Fortunato has created a resource site for Great Vacations . Feel free to submit an article if you would like to contribute.

How To Keep Fit While Traveling Even On A Romantic Getaway

2015-05-19T00:34:00.004-07:00

Today,Norm Goldman, editor of www.Sketchandtravel.com and www.Bookpleasures.com is pleased to have as a guest, Jim Kaese, an elite amateur triathlete, entrepreneurial businessman, and endurance sport coach.

Author of The Athletic-Minded Traveler: Where to Work Out and Stay When Fitness Is a Priority, Jim visited America’s top 78 travel destinations to find the very best hotel/fitness-venue combinations.

Welcome Jim to www.Sketchandtravel.com and www.Bookpleasures.com.

Norm:

Could you tell us something about yourself Jim and what provoked you into writing about the very best hotel and fitness venue combinations?

Jim:

Through the years, I traveled quite a bit for work and pleasure. In addition to finding places to stay that matched my budget and amenity preferences, I always tried to identify hotels that offered good fitness options. However, time and time again, I would show up at the hotel and discover that the “state of the art” fitness center was a closet-sized room with old or broken equipment. Or, the “lap” pool was a short oval without lane lines. Or, the “running routes” consisted of a map provided by the concierge that directed guests to jog around the streets of the hotel 10 times. It boggled my mind how these hotels could make such blatant misrepresentations. So, I decided to write the first cross-country guide that objectively recommends the BEST places to stay for those who enjoy healthy living and staying fit.

Norm:

Do you believe that if couples are looking for an ideal romantic getaway they should also take into account the fitness facilities, and if so, why?

Jim:

I believe everyone should take into consideration the quality of the fitness facilities—including couples on a romantic getaway. Exercise not only helps boost your immunity system, lower stress, and improve your sleeping habits; it also helps your sex life. Studies have shown that healthy people have better sex and tend to be happier. And, I believe it’s important to emphasize that when I say “exercise,” I’m not talking about an hour of hard-core running or lifting weights at the gym—20 minutes of brisk walking can do the trick.

Norm:

If you had to name 5 ideal romantic getaway hospitality properties that combine a unique romantic ambience with great fitness facilities, which ones would you choose and why?

Jim:
· San Francisco is one of my favorite romantic cities---the bridge, the fog, the rain, the restaurants, and the cultural offerings create a perfect stage for a wonderfully romantic trip. Any of the SFO hotels in my book would be great fitness/romance combinations, but the Hotel Rex is the best deal for the money. A small, intimate hotel property just steps from Union Square and China Town, Rex also provides guests with a discounted pass to a fantastic (but small) health club down the street, Club One.

· If money is no object, The Miraval Spa and Resort in Tucson is a marvelous getaway for couples looking to stay fit and be pampered. All meals are included as well as any type of exercise option you can imagine---horseback riding, lap swimming, rock climbing, etc.
· For those looking to add a little more “party” to their trip, Miami’s South Beach hotels are filled with romance. The Shore Club, Delano, Ritz and National are all in the book, bestowing lots of love and liveliness to their guests.
· Colorado Springs’ Broadmoor Hotel is a breathtaking resort beset by serene lakes and mountain landscape. Broadmoor’s Fitness Center and Spa is well-equipped with modern machines and a regulation lap pool. And, the nearby trails create fantastic jogging and mountain biking opportunities.
· New York City can never be left off the romance list. Several properties make exceptional romantic destinations, but Le Parker Meridien, across the street from Central Park, tops my list. It’s NYC, so expect small yet cozy hotel rooms. The Scandinavian flavor, tremendous views, and extensive on-site health club make it one of the best.

Norm:

Why should couples be concerned about fitness activities when they are away on a romantic getaway or on their honeymoon?

Jim:

Exercising for only 20-30 minutes each day will allow you to start the day healthy and help you make better choices throughout the rest of the day. Then, enjoying small indulgences like your favorite piece of pie or a few cocktails or sitting around by the pool for six hours will not seem like a big deal. Don’t forget about that improved sex too!

Norm:

How can we determine the quantity, quality, and brand of exercise equipment at recommended hotels if we never have been there?

Jim:

Buy The Athletic-Minded Traveler (laughs). In addition to providing a comprehensive written review covering everything you want to know (room appearance, room service, free breakfast buffets, sheet thread-count, etc.) about each property, we also specifically detail in chart form the quantity of exercise machines, their condition, the brands, weight/strength options, pool dimensions, running routes, etc. But, if you’re going to a city that’s not covered in the book, the best you can do is call up the concierge and ask him/her your specific questions. Sometimes it even helps to confirm with the maintenance workers.

Norm:

Very often when we vacation we seem to return home fully relaxed, however very much out of shape. How do we avoid this?

Jim:

Make exercise part of your daily routine, just like showering or brushing your teeth. When you think about it, 20 minutes is not that much time at all. Especially while on a vacation, when you don’t have to worry about going to work and all of the other hassles at home.

Norm:

There is always a temptation to overeat when we are on vacation. How can we fight off this temptation while at the same time still enjoy ourselves?

Jim:

Like I was saying before, exercise will allow you to not fret so much over what you’re eating and drinking. You may end up taking in more calories, but being active and exercising should help to burn those off fairly easily.

Norm:

Are there any food we should avoid when we are on vacation and if so, why?

Jim:

Vacation is supposed to be a break from all that troubles and worries you, right? When I go away, I like to eat the local food and experience the local customs without concerns about how many calories are in my dinner, etc. Knowing that I performed my daily workout reassures me that anything I take in will be worked off either that same day or the next. So, no, don’t worry about avoiding certain foods---just make sure to get in a daily sweat.

Norm:

Is there anything else you would like to add?

Jim:

Only that I’ve been really touched by the large number of people who have written us saying that they are so happy we wrote this book because they too were constantly frustrated by the travel industry’s ignorance about fitness preferences. Letters and emails have come from hard-core athletes as well as recreational exercisers who just like to put in 20 minutes on a good elliptical machine or bike. Our goal all along was simply to provide a reliable resource that would help people enjoy a healthy lifestyle while on the road. So far, it seems that we’ve succeeded.

Visit www.socalpress.com to view a sample chapter and find more information about The Athletic-Minded™ Traveler, a first-of-its-kind travel resource for those who enjoy a healthy lifestyle and working out while on the road.

About the Author: Norm Goldman is editor of the travel site, www.sketchandtravel.com and the book reviewing site, www.bookpleasures.com. Norm and his artist wife, Lily, are a unique husband and wife team who meld words with art focusing on romantic and wedding destinations. They are always open to invitations to romantic destinations in the New England states and Florida. To find out more about them click on www.sketchandtravel.com

Source: www.isnare.com

How to Become a Travel Agent in 24 Hours

2015-05-19T00:34:00.002-07:00

The travel industry has been going through some significant changes over the last few years. Mom and Pop travel agencies are quickly being replaced by online booking engines like Orbitz or Travelocity.

But there is one problem: 80% of all vacations are taken at the recommendation of a friend. Now of course this is a good thing, except that Orbitz and Travelocity don't have very many friends.

The travel industry came up with a good hybrid solution: give the consumer a chance to partner with these big booking engines and become a travel agent themselves, with all the benefits and none of the drawbacks, so they can refer their friends and family and everyone wins. This new type of travel agent is known as an Associate Travel Agent, or ATA for short.

ATA's get all the benefits of a normal travel agent, such as commissions, free upgrades and discounts, and FAM Trips (more on FAM Trips in a minute, they're fabulous!). But ATA's don't work at a traditional travel agency, don't work set hours, and don't have to go to years of expensive schooling to get their credentials. You can literally become an ATA in a single day, and you still get the same IATA and CLIA ID card that gets you all the same benefits.

There are lots of books and websites on how to become a travel agent, and they are well worth looking into. The benefits are absolutely incredible, not the least of which are lots of vacations and a good income.

I'm going to start with my favorite benefit: FAM Trips. These are "familiarization trips" that are hosted and subsidized by tour operators, government tourist boards, and private resorts at a fraction of the normal cost. They want you to come on the trip and have such a good time that you go home raving about it and send all of your friends, family, and clients back at the normal rate (remember, 80% of all travel occurs exactly that way).

In a word, FAM Trips are unbelievable. Consider this one from FAM News: 10 days in China, including all accommodations, transfers, flights, an english speaking guide, most meals, and the royal treatment, all for $666! The airfare alone costs over $1,000. And because they want you to send your friends and clients on the same trip, it isn't a stripped down, no frills excursion at rat-infested motels. They pull out all the stops to make sure you have a great time and get back home raving about it to all your friends.

There are thousands of FAM's going on at any given time, all over the world. Some are simple, like a weekend ski trip in Colorado including 2 days of skiing and rentals, a 2 hour lesson, meals, 3 nights in a nice lodge, and entertainment for only $199, and some go all out, like 11 days in Morrocco for $1,400.

FAM Trips aren't the only benefit of being a travel agent. You can also earn big commissions on travel that you book, and you're given a website to send people to so that when they order their travel you get the same commission as if you'd booked it yourself. You can also refer someone who can become an ATA themselves and you earn a $40 bonus, and can earn bonuses and commissions on what they produce, kind of like building your own virtual travel agency.

Everyone who likes to travel and could use a little more money should look into the opportunity of becoming an Associate Travel Agent provides. For many people its the ideal lifestyle, combining the perfect blend of freedom and travel with money and business.
About the Author

Brian Allen is an Associate Travel Agent living in St. George, Utah. He helps others learn about becoming a travel agent and offers consulting for maximum success as a travel agent. He can be reached at http://www.TravelAgentToday.com.

Travelers with Disabilities: The Untapped Market

2015-05-19T00:33:00.001-07:00

When most people think about accommodating people with disabilities in their business they get a scared feeling in their gut and their mind scrambles to search for that all-important date when the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) went into effect. It doesn’t have to be that way! When business owners open their eyes and start to realize that there are literally billions of dollars to be made in the accessible travel market, I believe we will start to remove the fear associated with the ADA.

There are currently more than 50 million people with disabilities in the United States and 180 million worldwide, representing the single largest untapped tourist market in the world. According to a recent Harris Poll conducted in conjunction with the Open Doors Organization and the Travel Industry Association of America, the 50 million people with disabilities in our country have a combined income of more than $175 billion. In 2002, these people took 32 million trips and spent more than $13.6 billion on travel ($4.2 billion on hotels, $3.3 billion on airfare, $2.7 billion on food and beverage, and $3.4 billion on retail, transportation, and other activities). This study suggested that these travelers would double their spending if some minor amenities were made available. Meet and greet programs at airports, preferred seating on airplanes, hotel rooms closer to amenities, and employees who go out of their way to accommodate guests with disabilities topped the list.

The current trends in adaptive travel show most of these travelers taking advantage of destinations that they know are already accessible such as cruise ships, Florida, and Las Vegas. The visitors bureaus and businesses at these destinations that have gone to great lengths to ensure their visitors that there will not be any accessibility issues during their stay. From personal experience and years of traveling in a wheelchair, I can guarantee that these locations have built and will continue to build strong relationships with travelers with disabilities. This group is a very loyal one, who will often return to the same city, hotel, or activity provider year after year if they have a good experience. If everyone were to catch on to this we would see growth in the tourism industry like we have never seen!

With this in mind, it is a wonder that more business owners have not taken steps to make their accommodations more accessible and even start marketing to these travelers. If the staggering numbers listed above aren’t proof enough, the U.S. Census Bureau recently stated that nearly 16.5% of all people with disabilities in the U.S. leave their home two days per week or less. That constitutes nearly 11 million people that are not traveling at all. Also keep in mind that there are millions of people in their golden years that are looking for accessible travel accommodations. Many of these people use canes or walkers, travel with oxygen tanks, or have other mobility impairments, and are not included in disability statistics.

With millions of people in need of accessible travel options, and with our Baby Boomers (almost 25% of our population) starting to reach retirement age as well now is the time to start thinking about improving marketing efforts to include people with disabilities and about better overall accessibility in general. By educating business owners on the benefits of marketing to people with disabilities and educating travel agents who are fighting a losing battle with the internet, we can begin to focus on this new target market.

If you want to take advantage of the rapidly growing adaptive travel market, get started now! I recommend hiring an expert to get your business rated and start removing barriers to access as soon as possible. Think about accessibility anytime you’re planning a remodel or addition. These improvements will benefit everyone, not just people with disabilities. For those of you who have already taken steps to improve accessibility, start bragging about it.

Craig P. Kennedy, Steamboat Springs, Colorado,
CK Consulting: Setting Standards for Accessibility
http://www.CKConsultingonline.com
* Please visit our Web site to take a FREE accessibility quiz to find out if you are on the right track.

About The Author
Craig Kennedy is a published adaptive travel author, accessibility consultant, and motivational speaker with almost ten years of adaptive travel experience and more than 15 years of tourism and service industry expertise. He specializes in resort business growth and customer attraction through better overall accessibility, education, and marketing, and works with businesses who wish to become leaders in accessible travel and accommodation.

Copyright Craig P. Kennedy 2010

craig@accessanything.net

Dare to Understand Travel Terms, Then Sit Back and Enjoy Tra

2015-05-19T00:32:00.002-07:00

PERMISSION TO REPUBLISH: This article may be republished in newsletters and on web sites provided attribution is provided to the author, and it appears with the included copyright, resource box and live web site link. Email notice of intent to publish is appreciated but not required.

When planning your travels or buying your airline tickets, you have probably come across definitions and terms that might have seemed strange to you. Granted, many of the definitions and terms become more understandable as you become familiar with the industry as a frequent flier. While there are many terms for hotel room types, car types, and travel amenities, the area that we shall attempt to define would be tours.

Tour operators try to make their brochures and websites as attractive, informative and understandable as possible; however, in reading this information you will undoubtedly encounter some terminology that is new and unfamiliar. To assist you, here's a glossary covering some of the terminology you will most most frequently find in brochures, fliers, and on websites.

Accommodations:

* Single Room: A room with one bed for one person.
* Twin Room: A room with two beds for two people.
* Double Room: A room for two persons with a double bed.
* Triple Room: A room for three persons, usually consisting of twin beds (or double beds, plus a rollaway bed.
* Ocean Front: A room directly facing the ocean. Usually it is on the first floor with a door that exists onto the beach.
* Ocean View: A room from which it is possible to view the ocean, whether the room is on the first floor, the 12th floor, or on a hillside.
* Service Charges/Taxes: Service charges are a fixed percentage automatically added to room and meal charges. The city, state or federal government sets taxes.

Air Transportation:

* Add-on Fare: The cost of air travel from a domestic city to another domestic city from which the tour/vacation package originates and vice versa.
* Baggage Allowance: The weight or volume of baggage that may be carried by a passenger without additional charge.
* Connecting Flight: A segment of an ongoing trip, which requires a change of aircraft, but necessarily a change of airline.
* Direct Flight: A flight on which passengers do not have to change planes, but may involve one more stops enroute.
* Non-stop Flight: Service between two points with no scheduled stop enroute.

Car Rental:

* Drop-off Charge: Fee charged by a car rental company to defray the cost of returning the vehicle to its original location.
* Value Added Tax (VAT): Tax imposed by governmental authority.

Charter Travel:

Thanks to improved Federal regulations and a new generation of operators, air charters have become the preferred way to reach many of the world's most popular vacation destinations for reasons of value and convenience. Here's how they work: The tour operator rents an airplane and sells the seats, often in combination with a hotel package and perhaps other ground components. The result is a substantial savings.

Conditions:

* Force Majeure: An event or effect that cannot be reasonably anticipated or controlled (such as storms or war).

Consular Information Sheets: Governments issue Consular Information Sheets for every country of the world. They include such information as location of the U.S. embassy or consulate in the subject country, unusual immigration practices, health conditions, minor political disturbances, unusual currency and entry regulations, crime and security information, and drug penalties. If an unstable condition exists in a country that is not severe enough to warrant a Travel Warning, a description of the condition(s) may be included under an optional section entitled Safety/Security.

Documents:

* Passport: An official government document certifying identity and citizenship and granting permission to travel abroad (overseas).
* Visa: An official authorization appended to a passport permitting travel to and within a particular country.

Escorted Tours:

The most traditional tour product is also the most misunderstood. The options are so varied that it's easiest to identify the few elements they share: Group travel, usually by motor coach but sometimes by ship, or train; a set itinerary, with lodging, activities, and most meals included and a tour director to coordinate, guide, and manage the trip. Traveling on an escorted tour provides a measure of security and peace of mind. And today, more tour operators build in free time on group tours, giving travelers the best of both worlds.

Independent Travel:

There's no group on these trips, no guide and no fixed itinerary, unless the client wants one. The sole difference between this and fully independent travel is that by booking through a tour operator from its available inventory, your clients get the advantage of group buying power, without the group.

Package Travel:

Like group tours, packages tend to have fixed itineraries, with ground transportation and hotels booked in advance. But like independent travel, there's no organized group; clients are on their own, free to do as they please at each destination, but they still have the convenience and reliability that come with booking through a tour operator.

Public Announcements:

Public announcements (PAs) are a means to disseminate information about terrorist threats and other relatively short-term and/or trans-national conditions posing significant risks to the security of American travelers. The PAs are made when there is a specific threat that cannot be countered. In the past, Public Announcements have been issued to deal with short-term coups, violence by terrorists and anniversary dates of specific terrorist events.

Tours:

A group of people traveling together who follow a pre-planned itinerary. Most tours include accommodations, a number of meals, sightseeing, land transportation, and/or other transportation, plus the services of a professional tour manager or escort who accompanies the group.

Travel Warnings:

Travel warnings are issued when the State Department decides, based on all relevant information, to recommend that Americans avoid travel to a certain country. Countries where avoidance of travel is recommended will have Travel Warnings as well as Consular Information Sheets. You may also want to review specific country Background Notes.

Vacation Packages:

Vacation packages are designed for those traveling independently. They include a combination of two or more travel services (e.g. hotel accommodations, car rental, air transportation) that are offered at a package price. Many vacation packages offer a choice of components and options, thereby enabling you to customize the package to your tastes, interests and/or budget.

Vouchers:

Documents issued by tour operators to be exchanged for accommodations, sightseeing and other services.

© MMIV, Etienne A. Gibbs, MSW

About the Author

Etienne A. Gibbs, MSW, Management Consultant and Trainer, conducts lectures, seminars, and writes articles on his theme: ... helping you maximize your potential. For more information visit www.executiveandgrouptravel.blogspot.com.

Best Buys in Your Yearly Worldwide Travel Coverage

2015-05-19T00:32:00.000-07:00

For best buys in annual travel insurance worldwide you need first only travel as far as your Internet connection. Annual travel insurance for worldwide travel is the best buy, as compared with single trip coverage, if you're going to be making more than one trip in a calendar year, or if you're stay is going to be lengthy.

Let's look at some insurers and plans that qualify as best buy annual travel insurance worldwide. One UK travel insurance carrier that dubs itself the cheapest worldwide travel insurance offers not only annual coverage but plans specific to a single trip, a business trip, backpacking adventures, and plans designed with folks over 65 in mind.

You can purchase the best buys in worldwide travel insurance for a year's worth of worldwide coverage that includes the U.S. and Canada as well as Europe, or you can choose to exclude the United States and Canada. This coverage, while noted as worldwide travel insurance does exclude from coverage several high-risk areas - the countries of Israel, Lebanon, Libya and Algeria. In fact, you would be hard pressed to find annual or single trip travel insurance coverage for these countries anywhere. Were you to do so you can count on them not being among your best buy.

Let's look at an example quote and see if it is indeed one of the best buys in annual travel insurance worldwide. These quotes are for UK residents. Assuming two adults, the oldest 64, traveling in Europe, the range of cost is indeed quite low - from a per person low of $46.43 U.S. dollars to a high of $78.18. These just might be some of the best buys in annual travel insurance worldwide. Coverage includes trip delay or cancellation protection, medical care, the cost of repatriation back to your home, hospital care, lost or delayed luggage, missed flight connection or departure, hijacking, accident, personal liability, care of injured pet, and even vacation abandonment (which means were your flight or cruise to be delayed 12 hours or more you could choose to cancel your plans and be reimbursed for doing so.) These best buys in annual worldwide travel insurance also offer additional coverage add-ons (for an additional price, of course.)

You can choose to pay an extra fee for additional travel insurance coverage for loss or theft of money you carry with you, for loss or damage to business equipment such as your laptop, blackberry or cell phone, and for injury during participation in golf or winter sports.

Best buys in travel insurance worldwide are also found on the Internet, with many sites offering an easy comparison.
About the Author
Steve Cogger, an active traveler, has developed the http://www.1-Happy-Traveller.com" target="_blank">1 Happy Traveller website for your convenience. Visit today for all of your travel insurance needs.

Become A Travel Pro In One Easy Lesson

2015-05-19T00:31:00.002-07:00

I focus a lot on helping the first time or inexperienced traveler head out prepared and confident in themselves. Starting out as a new traveler can be intimidating. How do you jump into the gigantic travel fray and survive? How can you learn to love delays and long lines?

Get prepared.

What exactly does that mean? It means being confident in what you are doing, where you are going and how you are getting there. Basically, it means being comfortable with yourself when you leave home.

OK, so what. How do you do that? Follow these quick tips:

Tip #1
Know your destination.
Do some kind of reading before you go. Know how long it’s going to take to get there, and the time zone. Understand how the currency converts and get a handle on local customs.

Tip #2
Be prepared before you leave home.
Make sure you have the essentials you will need, especially for a safe trip. This includes a hide away money belt, copies of your passport, one credit card, debit card, ATM card and traveler’s checks. Take no more than $500 cash. Make sure someone has your itinerary in case of an emergency.

Tip #3
Travel light.
Pack for only five days. Carry one bag. Your bag should be a soft sided, durable carry bag of ballistic nylon. It needs to have a padded carry strap to sling it over your shoulder.

Tip #4
Leave early.
Wherever you are headed, no matter what type of transportation, leave early for you departure terminal. It means less stress for you . . . a lot less stress for you.

Tip #5
Look like you have traveled all your life.
Appearance matters. If you do the above tips you will look and feel like a veteran traveler. Veteran travel pros DO get a higher level of treatment and service from people who work within the travel industry.

Tip #6
Expect things to go wrong.
Most things run pretty well in the travel industry. There are inevitable delays and cancellations. After all, it’s a dynamic industry and getting the mind boggling number of pieces to work all in sync is a real juggling act. If you expect delays you are better prepared to deal with them. If things go well, and they usually do, you get a nice mental lift as you travel. The more travel experience you get the better you get at knowing where delays usually occur and can either plan for them or try to avoid them.

Tip #7
Be polite.
This follows Tip #5 and #6. While it is your hard earned money that is paying for your travel you are one of thousands of travelers a day moving around the globe. Almost three-fourths of these people are inexperienced travelers. Many are stressed out, tired, cranky and rude. If you are polite you will feel better and get better treatment.

See you on the road! Joyce travels and writes extensively. Her travel tips from 30 years of traveling appear on her website: http://travel-packing-tips.com

Travel Health: Useful Medical Information For Good Health Be

2015-05-19T00:30:00.003-07:00

The diseases most commonly seen in travellers are diarrhoea, malaria (if you travel in a malaria-infested area), accidents (when travelling by car or swimming), wound infections and sexually transmitted diseases.

- Diarrhoea is caused by contaminated food and drinking-water. You must therefore be careful if your are travelling in poor hygiene conditions.

- Malaria is transmitted by mosquitoes, so the first thing to do is to protect yourself against these mosquitoes.

- In order to prevent accidents during travelling, it is wise to apply the same precautions as those taken at home. In addition, it is very important that all wounds should be thoroughly disinfected in order to avoid infection.

· TRAVELLER’S DIARRHOEA

Many intestinal infections are attributable to infections picked up by mouth or hands. With a little care most of these illnesses can be prevented. Hepatitis A, typhoid fever, polio and cholera still occur in countries with poor hygiene, but these diseases are easily prevented.

However, the chance is rather large that you will still contract a light and/or nondangerous form of traveller's diarrhoea. Traveller's diarrhoea almost always spontaneously clears up after a few days, but can nevertheless be irritating. And a risk to your overall and travel health.

In the first place measures must be taken against dehydration. Likewise, treatment of the symptoms must be considered in order to reduce the number of bowel movements and relieve other symptoms such as fever, vomiting and stomach cramps. Sometimes a more serious form of diarrhoea occurs, for which specific treatment with antibiotics is indicated or where hospitalisation or fluid replacement appears unavoidable.

It takes only a few basic preventive measures to make your trip a success : Total prevention of traveller's diarrhoea is impossible and it is obvious that preventive measures can seldom be strictly followed at all times. But following preventive measures do significantly reduce the risk of contracting serious diarrhoea: In order to maintain good travel health wash your hands before eating and avoid (if possible):

- raw vegetables and fruits that you have not peeled yourself
- uncooked or unpasteurized dairy products
- insufficiently cooked sea foods (+ Hepatitis A !) and meat
- “local meals” which do not smell fresh
- ice-cream bought from street merchants (industrial ice straight from the deep-freeze is probably safe).

Cooked meals should be served hot. The place where you eat is also important. A meal taken from a stall presents a greater risk than a meal taken in a restaurant. Avoid restaurants where there are a lot of insects.
Avoid tap water and ice-cubes. Bottled water and soft drinks are safe. Watch out for bottle caps that have already been used.

It is very important to disinfect drinking-water on adventure trips. Total sterilisation of drinking water is impossible. The following measures considerably reduce the contamination risk and safeguard your travel health:

- Boiling the water is very effective.
- A good alternative is chemical disinfection with chlorine drops (e.g. Hadex®, Drinkwell chloor®; available in sport shops specialized in outdoor activities) or chlorine tablets (Certisil Combina®; chloramine tablets; available at the pharmacy). Their effect can be improved by first filtering unclear water. Silver salts (Micropur®, Certisil Argento®) are not very suitable to disinfect water, but they keep disinfected water germ-free for a long time.

For adventurous travellers conscious to travel health it is best to buy a portable water-filter. The use of antibiotics in order to prevent diarrhoea before it occurs can be dangerous + Also the use of other preventive medications is not recommended.

. How to treat diarrhoea?

It is extremely important to consume sufficient liquid and salt in order to prevent dehydration. You can do this by taking salt solutions, but tea with lemon, broth, soft drinks and fruit juice, supplemented with salt crackers are tastier. Commercial salt products are available on the market (ORS-solution).

Taking an anti-diarrhoea preparation (loperamide, e.g. Imodium®) can greatly reduce the number of bowel movements, with a considerable reduction of the complaints as a result. Imodium® may only be used by adults and older children and only for treating ordinary watery diarrhoea: 1 capsule after every loose movement up to a maximum of 4 per day.

Antibiotics are indicated :

1. If blood, mucus or pus are present in the stools.
2. If after 24 to 48 hours, there is no sign of improvement and the diarrhoea is accompanied by fever (above 38.5 C) or severe abdominal cramps, or if there are more than six stools per 24 hours and especially when these also occur at night.
3. Or if because of travel circumstances a quicker solution is absolutely desirable . Appropriate antibiotics are only to be used on doctor’s prescription

· SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASES

Casual sexual contacts tend to be higher while on holiday abroad. Sexually transmitted diseases, particularly AIDS, form therefore an important risk for travellers. Quite often unintentional and unsafe sexual contact takes place under alcohol influence. Prevention while on holiday abroad is no different from the precautions you take at home. Adequate use of a condom, preferably bought at home, is absolutely essential. Only a water-soluble lubricant should be used, but it only offers a partial guarantee (e.g. KY gel). Vaccination against hepatitis B is advised. Always consult your doctor if you think you are at risk, even when there are no symptoms.

· MALARIA (swamp fever, malaria)

Malaria is an infectious disease caused by a parasite (called Plasmodium) transmitted by the bite of the Anopheles mosquito. There are four different types of which Malaria falciparum is the most dangerous and the most widespread. The incubation period – the time between an infecting bite and the appearance of the disease – varies from ten days to four weeks (rarely several months).

The symptoms include attacks of fever, but can initially be quite similar to influenza. If adequate treatment is not started in time, an attack may sometimes result in death within a few days.

. Where does malaria occur?

Malaria only occurs in those areas in which Anopheles mosquitoes are present : in the tropics and in a large number of subtropical areas. From a height of 1.500 to 2.500 m onwards, depending on temperature and climate, Anopheles mosquitoes are either rare or non-existent.

In most big cities there is little or no risk at all of infection, except in Africa where a real risk exists.

Risk also exists in the suburbs of the big cities in Asia (e.g. in India). In a number of areas the risk varies according to the season.

. How can malaria be prevented?

It is very important for travel health to avoid mosquito bites : the Anopheles mosquito only bites between dusk and dawn, is rather small and hardly makes any noise.

- In the evening wear light-coloured clothing which covers your arms and legs as much as possible. Apply repellent cream with a DEET basis (20 to 50%, for children and pregnant women preferably 20 to 30%) to the uncovered parts of your body. Repeat this every four to six hours (it will not protect you all night).

Non containing DEET repellents were less examined; Autan-Active. and Mosegor. are however excellent safe products.

- Sleep in rooms that leave no access to mosquitoes, (mosquito nets on the sills, electrically-warmed anti-mosquito plates, air-conditioning) or sleep under a mosquito net impregnated with permethrine or deltamethrine hung over the bed with the edges tucked under the mattress.

If these measures are carried out correctly, the risk of malaria will be reduced by 80 to 90% and travel health is maintained

. The intake of pills as prevention

There is no drug efficient enough to prevent malaria 100%, which means that quite often a combination of measures is preferable. Also the drugs used have changed over the years. Moreover, the advantages and disadvantages of drugs should be considered against the risk of malaria infection. These risks are dependent on the visited country, and on the region, the season, the duration of your stay and the kind of trip.

Some people might be troubled by the side effects while taking antimalarial drugs. These are usually mild and are not always a reason to stop taking the pills. Sometimes it may be necessary to change to another type of medication due to intestinal problems, allergic reactions or other intolerance symptoms.

Therefore it is the doctor who can best decide for each individual which drug to use. This explains why individuals from the same group may end up taking different drugs.

Finally, as no drug is 100% effective in preventing malaria, it is important that if an attack of fever occurs in the first three months after your return from the tropics, a malaria infection should be considered as a possibility despite the correct use of the drug prescribed.

However, it is reassuring to know that malaria, provided it is recognised in time, is easy to treat without any danger of recurrent attacks. The belief that "once malaria always malaria" is totally untrue.

You can find even more travel health tips in the next pages:

DISEASES FOR WHICH VACCINATIONS ARE AVAILABLE: http://www.spain-holidays-advisor.com/vaccination.html

MORE TRAVEL HEALTH TIPS : http://www.spain-holidays-advisor.com/more-travel-tips.html

CAUTION: The information provided here should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or for the treatment of any medical condition. A licensed physician should be consulted for any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies.

About the Author: Eddy De Vos is the owner of http://www.spain-holidays-advisor.com/, a website about travel and Spain. It contains usefull tips for your next trip, be it to Spain or anywhere else in the world. Of course if you are planning a trip to Spain there is no better place to start than there

Source: www.isnare.com

Insuring Your UK Travel Adventure

2015-05-19T00:29:00.001-07:00

For your UK holiday adventure travel insurance may be required. Whether you purchase standard travel insurance for your UK trip or whether adventure travel insurance is a must depends on what you're going to be doing. Some insurers even offer UK adventure travel insurance specific to your activity. You can, for instance, purchase UK backpacking travel insurance, or snowboarding UK adventure travel insurance. You can purchase travel insurance for your UK skiing, or a policy that covers winter sports in general.

Let's see what's available in the way of adventure travel insurance for snowboarding and skiing in the UK. You can purchase coverage for the UK, Channel Islands and Northern Ireland, either as an annual adventure travel insurance policy, or any number of days fewer than 365. You can receive an online quote and purchase immediately on the Internet if you are younger than 65. While UK adventure travel insurance is available to seniors it requires a conversation with a live insurance representative to complete.

You can purchase two levels of adventure travel coverage for your stay in the UK, depending on your needs and your budget. The premium for a one-week trip for 2 adults would run between $8.35 and $10.92. At this price your UK adventure travel insurance would cover lost or stolen luggage or money as well. You can also upgrade your coverage to include all your winter sports equipment, and reimbursement in case of evacuation or injury as a result of an avalanche. You can opt to include golf related injury or equipment loss, as well as business equipment coverage. The latter would reimburse, for example, if your laptop or cell phone were lost, stolen or destroyed.

Were you to make the determination that you are going to make many trips, adventure travel or otherwise, in the UK, you might be wise to choose an annual travel insurance policy. The standard annual UK adventure travel insurance policy protects you against multiple occurrences. With the annual coverage you would be protected during multiple trips throughout the year, although only for up to 45 consecutive days of each trip. Your winter sports UK adventure travel coverage would be for a maximum of 17 days during the year. Your coverage would include twenty-four hour medical care as well.

You can purchase additional UK adventure travel insurance coverage that would include luggage recovery and replacement, replacement of golf equipment and recovery from golf injury, as well as business equipment replacement.
About the Author
Steve Cogger, an active traveler, has developed the http://www.1-Happy-Traveller.com" target="_blank">1 Happy Traveller website for your convenience. Visit today for all of your travel insurance needs.

Preparing to travel

2015-05-19T00:28:00.001-07:00

The world has changed a lot in the past century. Thanks to the invention of airplanes and high-speed trains, today's world is wide open to travel. In a day's time, we can travel to the other side of the world without using our entire life's savings. We also have a number of options open to us to help us plan our travels, and choosing wisely can help save time and money.

1. Travel Agents. Many people have the misconception that using a travel agent entails paying a fee. Nonsense. In actuality, most travel agents receive commissions from the vendors (airlines, hotels, tour agencies); they are the ones paying the fee, not you. A travel agent has access to deals that often are not available anywhere else. He or she can help take the headache out of planning, allowing you to sit back and relax while the logistics are plotted out. Another bonus is that travel agents often include travel insurance in their packages, to ensure that you are getting what you paid for.

2. Internet. With the widespread use of the world wide web, travel prices have gone down considerably. Using travel sites like Orbitz, Expedia, and Travelocity, buyers can find lower rates than ever before for airfares, hotels, and package deals. The downside? Truly finding the best travel deals often requires a lot of time and patience as you compare rates with other sites and with direct booking. Another downfall is that you can't always find availability at these lower rates, but it is nice to plan right at home.

3. Guidebooks. Tried and true, travel guidebooks are a traveler's best friend. Seasoned travel writers research and compile guidebooks based on their own experiences, and who better to give advice than someone who's been there, done that? Depending on your preferred level of luxury, you are sure to find a guidebook to meet your needs. Best of all, travel guidebooks are often available at your local library-for free!

4. Booking Direct. Sometimes travel companies will offer special deals to customers who book directly. This is especially true with tour and cruise companies who advertise travel deals to repeat customers. You can often find rates as low as half-price (or lower) if you book at the last minute. If you have the flexibility and the determination, this may be the way to go.

In any case, travel opens up our eyes to worlds our forefathers never could have dreamed of visiting. Whether you travel around the globe or just a city away, a little careful planning and an open mind can allow for an experience of a lifetime. Happy travels!
Jeff Lakie is the founder of Travel Information a website providing information on Travel

Insuring Your Travel on a Shoe String

2015-05-19T00:27:00.001-07:00

Cheap travel insurance isn't necessarily about who's asking the lowest premium. Cheap travel insurance is about knowing your choices, perusing all the options and discarding the coverage you don't need. If you end up with cheap travel insurance that doesn't help you out of an overseas medical or evacuation jam, you haven't gotten a bargain. However, if you're a U.S. resident traveling within the United States you aren't going to need travel insurance that offers medical evacuation coverage. If you're touring the country by car you don't need lost luggage protection.

Travel insurance can offer much more than medical care while you're traveling. Some of the other features of some travel insurance plans are translation services, travel assistance, lost luggage, trip interruption, replacement of lost or damaged eyeglasses, repair of damaged or stolen rental vehicle, emergency medical evacuation coverage, flight cancellation due to bankruptcy of the airline, flight accident and terrorism.

For purposes of comparison there are four levels of travel insurance coverage - the most all-encompassing being total trip coverage. Some of these plans have a coverage ceiling as high as $500,000. Along with the above-mentioned travel catastrophes these plans also provide payment for return of traveler's remains to home in the event of death, as well as emergency dental coverage and reimbursement for financial default of your travel agency or any other provider of your trip, such as cruise company.

The next level down, comprehensive, can provide up to $1 million in coverage with some carriers. The range of coverage incidents and the ceilings are often a little lower than total trip coverage, however.

When it comes to cheap travel insurance there are two options. You can choose the economy level of trip coverage or, if you travel extensively, you may do better paying an annual premium. You can also end up with cheap travel insurance if you mix and match your various issues, choosing only the coverage you need. You can, for instance, choose to purchase only flight ticket protection (in case of trip interruption, for reimbursement of your non-refundable ticket). Perhaps you might want to purchase AD&D (accidental death and dismemberment) coverage in case of airline accident. Or you might want to add, or purchase alone, some cheap travel insurance for medical care, and/or medical evacuation. You may choose to add reimbursement protection for lost or delayed baggage.

Cheap travel insurance is about making good choices and buying only what you need as you need it. It's also about comparison shopping.

About the Author
Steve Cogger is an avid traveler offering a wealth of travel information. For more information on travel insurance visit thehttp://www.1-Happy-Traveller.com" target="_blank">1 Happy Traveller website.

How to Pick a Travel Agency

2015-05-19T00:26:00.003-07:00

"How To Pick A Travel Agency"
By Nathan Lynch
www.SouthBeachUncovered.com

The trip of a lifetime can take a lifetime to plan unless you know how to pick a travel agency.

A common misconception is that travel agencies add to the cost of your trip. In truth, finding and using a good travel agency to plan your trip usually saves you time, money, and frustration. So how do you pick a travel agency?

Ask around!

The best way to find a good travel agency is through word of mouth. Ask your family and friends who they’ve used and then ask them about their trip. How did they travel? Where did they stay? Was their trip enjoyable? Getting a few referrals from friends helps you to know in ahead of time what to expect from a particular travel agent and helps you weed out the good from the not-so-good as well.

Are you a member?

Many clubs and organizations offer travel services for their members and many corporations have established relationships with travel agencies that their employees can use. “Members only” travel plans frequently offer the best values.

Compare

Shop a couple of experienced firms. Travel agencies come and go like any other businesses. The ones that stay in business add experience and know-how to each trip they plan. Make your first inquiry with a travel agency a listening experience; judge how well the agent listens to you and how comfortable they make you feel.

A good travel agent will ask you to outline your trip. They’ll ask where you’re going and why, how you’d prefer to travel, how long you plan to stay, and what your travel budget is. Be open and honest with your answers. A good agent will readily put together a sample itinerary that describes availabilities in transportation, accommodations, and estimated costs.

If you feel like you’re getting the “hard sell” or the travel agency tells you there’s only package available, keep shopping. You can always go back if you find that they’re right!

In addition to finding the best rates in lodgings and transportation, an experienced travel agent can also give you some helpful tips about your destination and here’s the bonus— generally it costs nothing to use a travel agency! Because they can buy in volume, travel agencies get discounts on prices for both tickets and lodgings!

For travel made easy, use the services of a travel agency to make your outing a time to remember well!

About the Author

Nathan Lynch is an avid travel writer and the author of South Beach Uncovered. "The Ultimate, Indispensable, Insiders Guide To Saving Money and Having a BLAST in South Beach, Miami".
http://www.southbeachuncovered.com

Five Affordable World Travel Destinations

2015-05-19T00:26:00.001-07:00

Locations
That Offer More But Cost Less

So
you want to travel the world but you have a tight budget?
Are you tired of reading about everyone else’s exotic adventures and
ready to have some of your own? Have
you always wanted to take an international vacation but thought you couldn’t
afford it? There are numerous
travel destinations across the world that are both exciting and affordable.
Five of them are described here to give you ideas and get you started
planning your own getaway.

There
are two ways to approach affordable vacations to distant destinations.
Either you will save money getting there or the savings will occur once
you arrive at your selected spot. If
you want the trip there to be affordable, many travel consolidators recommend
choosing well-known destinations that are served by numerous airlines and
receive millions of travelers each year. The
competition for customers usually drives costs down for everything from lodging
to tour packages. Airfares between
major hubs tend to be more affordable and there are often plenty of discounts
and last minute travel deals.

London
In
Europe, London is a top pick for affordable vacation destinations, for these
exact reasons. Not only do you have
more flights to choose from, they are cheaper than if you flew to a more remote
location. On average, staying in
London may be a bit more expensive than other European destinations, but the
seemingly endless choices in hotels, restaurants, transportation, tours, and
other travel essentials gives travels opportunities to mold their vacation to
fit their budgets. And you can use
London as your home base to set out on day trips to other more exotic locations
or buy a Eurorail pass and see those more remote countries without the expense
of flying there.

Playa
del Carmen, Mexico
This
theory also works well for traveling in the Caribbean.
Belize is an appealing destination, with wonderful Caribbean beaches and
a lush tropic setting, but since it has only recently emerged as a popular
travel destination, it is more expensive than Cancun, Jamaica or other
well-traveled locations along the Mayan Riviera.
With fewer flights, getting there is more expensive, and there are few
moderate lodging options. Development
of larger luxury resorts have begun to boom, but the only real alternative for
those on a budget is staying in local facilities that may be hard to locate from
home and may be more rustic than most travelers are willing to try.

Although
there are many options for affordable vacations in the Caribbean, an excellent
pick is Playa del Carmen, Mexico. Accessible
via flights to Cancun, which are often some of the cheapest in the region, Playa
is just a half hour away. It is
filled with a multitude of lodging choices, from expansive luxury resorts on the
ocean to quaint but clean hotels downtown.
From Playa, travelers can branch out and visit Tulum and other locations
on the Mayan Riviera or take the ferry across to the island of Cozumel where
snorkeling is prime and the attractions are many.

For
Asian destinations, travelers often do better to focus on saving money once they
get to their destination. Depending
on your country of origin, getting to just about any spot in Asia is going to be
a sizable chunk of your travel budget. The
difference will come from the cost of lodging, food, entertainment and other
travel expenditures once you arrive. By
choosing destinations where you get the most for your money, you can save a
great deal on your international vacation.
A drink or dinner in Tokyo will cost you many times more than what it
would in Saigon. The key here is to
go where your dollars buy you more and where the local cost of living is low.

Tioman
Island
An
affordable yet exotic choice for Asia is Malaysia and specifically Tioman
Island, knows as the mythical 'Bali Hai' from the film 'South Pacific.’
Tioman Island is located at the southern end of the east coast of
Malaysia on the South China Sea. Its sandy beaches, bordered by lush jungles and
stunning mountains make it a relaxing yet intriguing destination, ideal for sun
lovers, snorkelers and divers. The
island also has many villages for exploring and shopping.
English is widely spoken and the
rates are amazingly affordable, with a two night lodging package for a suite at
a lovely oceanside resort averaging around 100 U.S. dollars.
Typically visitors reach the island via the speed ferry from the
mainland. Although the trip can
take over two hours, it is enjoyable and provides opportunities for dolphin
watching along the way.

Buenos
Aires
South
America also has many destinations that are affordable because of the savings
once you arrive. Locales like Rio
de Janeiro in Brazil, the areas top destination, are coming down in price but
are still more expensive than cities such as Buenos Aires in Argentina, where
the rates are lower and the U.S. dollar goes further.

A
huge metropolis that is more European than South American, the city has much to
offer including cultural events, thriving nightlife, shopping, local sports, and
a host of tours and excursions. La
Boca, with its street performers, shops, and unique architecture is a big
tourist draw. The large number of
choices for lodging, restaurants, and activities provides opportunities for
budget travel and savings. Airfare to the city is relatively reasonable for an
international destination, with discount fares from the U.S. averaging around
$500 round trip. Buenos Aires might
not be one of the most exotic or inspiring destinations in South America, but it
is a city that everyone should see at least once, and with some of the most
affordable rates and fares around, it makes the list as a top South American
destination.

Las
Vegas
The
list would not be complete without a North American destination, and the champ
of all affordable locales is Las Vegas. It
too is a city that should be seen at least once, and many world travelers return
again and again for the gaming, art, shows and people watching that just can’t
be found anywhere else. Close
enough to other top U.S. attractions like the Grand Canyon, Vegas provides other
options for those who have had their fill of casinos.

The
city has long been known for its cheap vacation packages with hotels and resorts
that offer discount rates for rooms, meals and entertainment in hopes of
attracting people to their gaming tables. Airfare
rates into Vegas are some of the most reasonable in the United States, no matter
the origination destination. And
with more than 100,000 hotel rooms to choose from, there is sure to be a lodging
choice that fits your budget.

The
world provides hundreds of affordable travel destinations. With all the options available, there is no excuse to put off that
life-long desire to travel to exotic places at the far ends of the earth. Destinations can be researched on the Internet or your
travel
consolidator can make
recommendations and help with locating cheap
international airfare and
lodging rates that fit your budget. So
what are you waiting for? Get out
there and explore the world.

About
the Author
C.J.
Gustafson is a freelance writer and photographer who travels extensively for
work and family
vacations.
A cheapskate by nature and necessity, she is always on the lookout for
bargain travel deals and affordable vacation destinations.

© 2004 1st-in-cheap-vacations.com

You may reprint this article on your website only if links are kept intact.

About the Author

None

Five Affordable World Travel Destinations

2015-05-19T00:25:00.001-07:00

Thinking Of Traveling To Alaska?

2015-05-19T00:24:00.001-07:00

Today Norm Goldman, Editor of www.Sketchandtravel.com and www.Bookpleasures.com is pleased to have as a guest, writer and travel book author, Nancy Thalia Reynolds.

Nancy’s principal area of expertise is Alaska, British Colombia, and the Yukon Territory. Nancy is co-author of Going Places Family Getaways In The Pacific Northwest.

Good Day Nancy and thank you for accepting our invitation to be interviewed.

Norm:

Please tell our readers something about yourself, your educational background, and the books you have written and are now in the process of writing.

Nancy:

I’m a 5th generation Pacific Northwesterner. My father had a profound wanderlust and an enthusiasm for discovering new people and places that rubbed off on me. A university professor, he held jobs around the U.S. and Brazil. I lived in California, Brazil, Washington and Oregon before moving to New York at age 17 to attend Sarah Lawrence College. My upbringing allowed me to feel at home in widely different milieus and engendered deep curiosity about other lands, and I’ve had a passion for travel since childhood. Although I did cherish dreams of writing a great novel as a kid, the passion for travel writing came later.

After college, I moved to Canada and worked a few years before attending York University Law School. On graduating, I worked at public interest law firms first in Toronto, then Vancouver where I wrote and edited legal self-help materials before moving to the US to marry. At that time I made a strategic decision to abandon law and become a full-time writer.

My first venture into authoring a book was when I wrote Adopting Your Child was published in 1993.
This opened the doors for me.
I contributed the British Columbia section to the fourth edition of Going Places: Family Getaways in the Pacific Northwest, published in 2000, and went on to write Going Places: Alaska and the Yukon for Families, which comes out in April 2010. Both titles are available from Sasquatch Books.

I just completed a new Alaska travel book, Activity Guide to the Inside Passage: Whether You Have Four Hours or Four Days. Sasquatch will publish it in January 2006.

Norm:

Where is the Yukon Territory and Alaska, and how easy is it to travel from the United States, Canada or Europe to these areas?

Nancy:

Yukon Territory is bordered to the south by British Columbia, to the east by the Northwest Territories, to the north by the Beaufort Sea in the Arctic and to the west by the state of Alaska. Most of Alaska sits to the left of Canada, but the gorgeous Alaska panhandle, a narrow coastal strip with widely separated communities, many on islands, runs several hundred miles south, bordered to the east by BC. At the top of the panhandle, the towns of Skagway and Haines offer road access to the rest of Alaska, the US and Canada.

The easiest way to get here is by air. International air carriers serve Vancouver and Anchorage. National carriers serve these destinations and Whitehorse (the Yukon capital). Alaska Airlines serves major Alaska cities and many smaller communities. Air Canada and its partners serve BC and the Yukon. Throughout the region, huge distances make plane travel essential. Smaller airline, charter and air taxi service is widely available across the north. From Seattle, a non-stop flight to Anchorage takes 3.25 hours. From Vancouver, a non-stop flight to Whitehorse takes 2.5 hours.

Highways run north through BC and Alberta, connecting to the Alaska Highway, which starts officially at Dawson Creek, BC, and runs through the Yukon into central Alaska. It is 817 miles from Seattle to mile zero of the Alaska Highway; and 548 miles from Calgary.

The Alaska Highway itself is 1,390 miles long, ending at Delta Junction, Alaska. Another 98 miles brings you to Fairbanks. The road is paved all the way, and services are rarely more than 100 miles apart--usually closer.

Once in the Yukon, motorists can drive to Dawson City, ground zero of the Klondike Gold Rush, and over the Top of the World highway to Alaska. The Dempster Highway leads north from Dawson to Inuvik, through the Northwest Territories. It’s not paved but in good summer weather can be driven comfortably.

In Alaska one can drive from Anchorage to Denali National Park, home of the continent’s highest mountain, spectacular Mount McKinley, in eight hours on good paved highway. Four more hours brings you to Fairbanks, with road access to the Yukon and points north. Many northern highways offer good driving conditions, breathtaking mountain and ocean views, and very little traffic apart from the occasional moose or bear ambling across the roadway.

Norm:

Would you consider Alaska and the Yukon Territory a good choice for a romantic getaway or wedding and honeymoon destination? Why?

Nancy:

The answer is a resounding yes--for the right couple. This region contains the world’s largest protected wilderness, spanning Alaska, British Columbia, and Yukon Territory and designated a UN World Heritage site.

The scenery is magnificent, access to wildlife unequalled, and despite its ever-increasing popularity as a tourist destination, has many all-but-undiscovered destinations to explore. Native cultures, largely eclipsed down south, are major players in the north, and are glad to share their world with visitors. However, if your idea of a holiday or honeymoon is lying on a tropical beach, you’ll want to look elsewhere.

Let’s look at weddings first.

Getting your wedding party up north can be a challenge, although it could also be a magnificent experience. Alaska has several five-star hotels in the Anchorage area; otherwise most choices can be characterized as comfortable but rustic. A large wedding party and guests--more than 100 people--could be accommodated in Anchorage, Juneau, Fairbanks or Whitehorse. The Captain Cook, in Anchorage, or the nearby Alyeska Resort in Girdwood, would be top choices. Smaller wedding parties can be comfortably accommodated in many places.

For honeymoons and romantic getaways, options are endless. Cities offer the usual urban amenities; but to experience the unique attractions of Alaska and the Yukon, try:

· An out-of-the-way spot like the Boardwalk Lodge on Prince of Wales Island, a great choice for fishing enthusiasts. In recent years, visitors have clamoured for a look at the world’s largest brown bears (AKA grizzlies).

· An August trip to Katmai National Park & Preserve, with a stay at the Brooks Lodge, a short walk from brown bears fishing for salmon, is unforgettable.

· The lovely Windsong Lodge near Seward on the Kenai Peninsula makes a great home base from which to explore Kenai Fjords National Park where you can get up close to beautiful Exit Glacier, hike some of Alaska’s loveliest trails, and kayak among glacier-carved fjords.

· The Yukon, especially Dawson City and Whitehorse, come to life in summer. A trip at the start or end of the season is recommended. Even in August, fall colours are rampant and yet temperatures can rise above 25C/77F. Take a day trip up the Yukon River to Eagle, Alaska.

Norm:

You mentioned to me that you have traveled to the north by just about every means available: plane, cruise ship, sailboat, motoring. Which one did you prefer and why?

Nancy:

I enjoyed all of them. Driving is great because it allows the most access to the region. If you have the luxury of time, the options are infinite! For visiting southeast Alaska, travel by water is my top choice. The variety of options grows every year. At the high end are small luxury cruise lines, or you can book a sailboat, complete with captain and crew, for your party and go exploring. For most visitors, especially those unfamiliar with the region, large cruise-ship travel is often the most comfortable choice. To experience Alaska as Alaskans do, I suggest taking the Alaska ferry up the Inside Passage; it combines the most access at the least cost in time and money. And to simply get north fast and start exploring, nothing beats flying.

Norm:

When is the best time to visit Alaska and the Yukon Territory from the point of view of weather, costs, crowds, and the availability of flights from the USA, Canada and Europe?

Nancy:

The most affordable time to visit is the so-called “shoulder season.” Up north, that’s May and September. Attractions are open and flights are available, but crowds are thinner. Mosquitoes, which can be a trial throughout the north, are scarce in those months, yet days are still long. Thrifty-minded visitors can find cheaper flights and often bargain for lower hotel rates at this time. Cruise fares tend to be lower as well. For a winter trip, avoid Christmas holidays and school midwinter breaks to obtain the best rates.

Norm:

How safe is it to travel to Alaska and the Yukon Territory?

Nancy:

Quite safe. The crime rate is low and human-generated risks are few. However, if you plan to get into the wilderness, you’ll need to be prepared, inform yourself and take sensible precautions. Read up on the terrain and the wildlife. Learn how to handle bear and moose encounters. If you’re visiting in January, you’ll need cold-weather clothing suitable for average low temperatures of -22C/-9F. It’s not unheard of for temperatures to reach -40C/-40F. On the other hand, it comes as a nice surprise to many summer visitors to the Alaska and Yukon interior that summer temperatures can soar to 27C/81F or even higher.

Norm:

Could you give our readers an idea of the costs involved if travel originates from the USA or Canada?

Nancy:

· Given the wide variety of travel options, it’s hard to be precise. If you can be flexible, you can often find a return flight from Seattle to Anchorage for around $250. Although it’s closer, flying to Juneau will cost more, from $50-100 usually--US dollars of course. From Vancouver to Whitehorse, return; expect to pay at least $200, Canadian.

· Drivers will find gasoline prices moderate in Canada and low to moderate in Alaska, thanks to the oil pipeline.

· Restaurant prices run higher everywhere; budget about 20% more than you’d need in urban Canada or the U.S. Motel and hotel costs are similar to those down south; don’t be afraid to bargain during the off or shoulder season.

· Cruise fares are complex and bewildering, but if you’re prepared to do the homework and cost comparison required, you can obtain remarkable deals. It’s possible to snag an inside stateroom for a seven-day cruise between Vancouver and Seward, Alaska, for under $700 per person. This includes stateroom and meals, but no alcohol or shore excursions. Still, it’s a deal that’s hard to beat. For a romantic getaway, consider traveling in the early shoulder season and apply the savings to upgrading to an outside stateroom with a veranda.

Norm:

If you had to choose 6 unequalled venues in Alaska and the Yukon Territory for a romantic getaway, honeymoon or wedding destination, which would you choose and why?

I noticed that you had mentioned to me there is some great hot springs just south of the Yukon border on the Alaska Highway and in central Alaska. Perhaps, you would like to elaborate as how this venue qualifies as a unique romantic destination?

Nancy:

Only 6? That’s not easy; I’ll have to commune with my inner travel agent! OK, here goes.

For more information, my book Going Places: Alaska and the Yukon for Families explores each of these destinations in greater detail. Government Web sites are another good resource.

· Glacier Bay National Park & Preserve, Alaska

It’s accessible (Alaska Airlines offers service to Gustavus, just outside the park) and offers a taste of just about everything the north has to offer. Although Gustavus has excellent B&Bs, for honeymooners I recommend staying at Glacier Bay Lodge, the only accommodation inside the park, which offers rustic comfort (get a room with a view of Bartlett Cove), fine dining, and activities like kayaking, fishing, biking, guided boat tours of Glacier Bay, and free guided hikes with park rangers. Go flightseeing high above the bay to get a look at the enormous icefields that generate the glaciers. If time allows, extend your trip to Juneau (a gorgeous, 3-hour ferry trip south) to visit Mendenhall Glacier, tour superb museums, shop for Tlingit art and take a boat tour to Tracy Arm-Ford’s Terror Wilderness. The lodge is open and tours are offered between late May and early September.

· Haines Junction, YT

Come again? You may never have heard of it, but this tiny town perched at the edge of Canada’s spectacular Kluane National Park has a lot to offer--location, location, location, as they say in real estate. It’s highway-accessible from Skagway (4.5 hours), Haines (3 hours) and Whitehorse (1.5 hours). The national park’s main visitor centre is in town along with a superb small European-style inn--the Raven--with 12 spacious rooms and one of Canada’s top restaurants. Also in town are several decent motels and an excellent bakery and cafe. From here, you can access excellent hiking trails for all levels of fitness, and explore the largest protected wilderness in the world. You will need a vehicle. If you don’t have one with you, rentals are available in Haines, Skagway and Whitehorse. Or book a stay with one of the area’s full-service resorts and let them take you exploring. NOTE TO CANADIANS: For reasons no one seems able to explain, Canadians are not permitted to bring a vehicle into Canada, which they have rented in the US. Luckily, Whitehorse has many rental outlets.

· Homer, Alaska

On the southwest of the Kenai Peninsula, Homer is the better part of a day’s drive from Anchorage. It’s tiny (about 4,000 residents) but with city-sized amenities--such as one of Alaska’s best bookstores, a first-rate museum, and exceptional arts and crafts galleries. Homer Spit, which extends 4.4 miles into scenic Kachemak Bay, is studded with cafes and shops. At the far end, with Homer’s best view, is Land’s End Resort, a great destination for honeymooners. Book a suite or rent a luxurious condo. The restaurant is first rate. Soak in the hot tub at the water’s edge and watch the sea otters float by.

· Denali National Park & Preserve, Alaska

First the bad news: Unless you are lucky enough to win the road lottery that allows you to drive deep into the park in mid September, you will have plenty of crowds to contend with. The good news is that it’s worth it. Not only is this closest you can easily get to Mount McKinley, wildlife viewing and spectacular scenery are among the best in Alaska, and accommodation choices are superb and varied. At the park entrance you can find many choices at all price ranges, some with views to die for. To get away from the crowds and closer to the natural world of Denali, consider a stay deep inside the park at the beautiful, rustic Kantishna Roadhouse or Denali Backcountry Lodge.

· Alyeska Resort, Girdwood, Alaska

This Japanese-owned hotel offers sheer, unabashed luxury. Plus it’s 40 miles from Anchorage and a day trip from Portage Glacier and the Kenai Peninsula. In winter come for skiing, tubing and snowboarding; in summer, for golf, hiking and wildlife. Any time of year, enjoy the first-class amenities that include a superb health club and pool and a tram up to a mountaintop restaurant This is a popular spot for weddings, well equipped to handle even lavish affairs. The high season here is winter; summer stays can be quite moderately priced. For a cheaper romantic getaway,

· Muncho Lake, BC

OK, it’s not in the Yukon, but so close! This gorgeous turquoise lake lies in the northern Rocky Mountains--a little-known but enchanted region where caribou and stone sheep wander the highways, fishing is excellent, and crowds are nonexistent. The Northern Rockies Lodge offers fine accommodation and European dining and arrange fishing and other excursions. Hiking and fishing are great here, but the number-one romantic attraction is nearby Liard Hot Springs Provincial Park, 34 miles up the Alaska Highway. A boardwalk trail leads from the park’s parking lot to two large hot springs pools. TIP: A short walk from the first, most popular pool is the second hotter and deeper pool that’s more secluded and less visited, a great destination on a drizzly day. Stopping at the springs is a tradition for just about everyone who drives the Alaska Highway. If you don’t want to bother with a vehicle, the lodge (it’s owned by bush pilots) will fly you here from the US or Canada.

Norm:

You have also mentioned to me that Asian tourists in recent years have been flocking north in winter on aurora-viewing packages. Could you elaborate as to what these entail and what can someone expect to see?

Nancy:

These are great fun and growing in popularity every year. For some years, Chena Hot Springs Resort, a rustic but delightful spot a few hours drive from Fairbanks, Alaska, has been offering such packages.

The resort has always been a favorite getaway for Alaskans for winter sports like cross-country skiing and snowmobiling. The resort has several indoor hot pools, but the favourite is its hot-springs lake outdoors. Bask in the warm waters, surrounded by snow and subzero temperatures, while you gaze up at the aurora overhead.

Winter packages include rides on a “snow catch” to view the aurora. The “aurorarium,” nicely heated, offers a comfortable vantage point to watch the light show. Yukon and Alaska tour companies now offer aurora-viewing tour packages, usually three or four nights.

Norm:

In recent years cruises to Alaska have become very popular. Could you tell our readers why and do you have any preferences as to which cruise to take?

Nancy:

· The answer is simple. Some of Alaska’s most spectacular attractions are to be found along the Inside Passage. Yet, because they are separated by water and most are inaccessible by road, the only way to reach them is by plane or boat.

· Another reason: cruise travel is a remarkably flexible way to plan a vacation. No matter your age or fitness level--honeymoon couples, large wedding or family-reunion parties, toddlers, college students, and retirees--anyone can enjoy a cruise. There is onboard entertainment (usually casino gambling, art auctions, Vegas-style shows, and gala dining), programs for kids, shore excursions to sample the principal attractions of major ports of call and whales, bald eagles and other wildlife to view, all from the comfort of the ship.

· Cruises permit access to a beautiful but remote and rugged part of the world in sheer luxury. Visiting Alaska, I often encounter visitors who are making their third or fourth trip, but whose first was by cruise ship. Considering the bargains available, it’s also one of the most cost-effective ways to visit the north.

· For those unfamiliar with Alaska, I recommend taking a one-way cruise from Vancouver, BC, that includes a visit to lovely Sitka (round trip cruises rarely stop at Sitka). Finishing at Skagway, Whittier, or Seward, visitors can make their way to Anchorage for a couple of days and even tack on a short 2-3 day train trip to Denali before flying out of Anchorage back to Vancouver or the point of origin. TIP: check out one-way airfares offered by the cruise lines. They are often cheaper than anything you can arrange on your own.

· Amenities among the biggest cruise lines tend to be similar. For a romantic getaway on a major line, I like Royal Caribbean, Radisson or Silver Sea. If you can do without a pool and gambling, try one of the smaller lines like Cruise West or, Lindblad (if your wallet can handle the strain).

NORM:

How far in advance should a couple prepare themselves for their honeymoon, romantic getaway or wedding in Alaska and the Yukon Territory?

Nancy:

· We’re trending out of my area of expertise here, but let’s take a wedding first. If you need lodging for 20 or 30 people, you’ll find a wide range of options, many of which can be booked with no more than 6 month to a year’s notice--the amount of advance planning most weddings require. If, however, your guest list includes 80 or more, you’ll find fewer suitable destinations and those you do find will need to be booked as soon as possible. A popular choice for weddings, such as the Alyeska Resort, can be booked far in advance.

· For a honeymoon, if you want the top suite at the Captain Cook in Anchorage, a remote but popular resort such as the Kantishna Roadhouse in Denali or a first-class suite on a popular cruise ship, the sooner you book the better. Otherwise, six months should be adequate.

· And for a romantic getaway, surprisingly you can often make spur of the moment plans--especially if you’re willing to travel in May or September--and find topnotch options. TIP: if you’re looking for a great place to roost during the summer high season, try towns along the Inside Passage. Because most tourists visit via cruise ship or ferry and don’t spend the night, you can often find excellent accommodation in Ketchikan (try the WestCoast Cape Fox Lodge with a spectacular view of Tongass Narrows), lovely Sitka (the Westmark Sitka is a good bet) or Haines (the historic Hotel Halsingland has several antique-studded suites). But in Juneau, the state capital, if the legislature runs a summer session the top hotels--the Goldbelt and the Baranof--are likely to be booked solid.

NORM:

What resources are available on the Internet pertaining to weddings and honeymoon vacations in?

Nancy:

Again, this is not my area of expertise. The ALYESKARESORT.COM has a wedding and reception planning page on its website. Anchorage has several wedding planners, but I’m not aware of any in Whitehorse. However, a nice thing about the north is the informality and ease of booking and planning a trip. And maybe it’s the long cold winters, but even tiny communities in the Yukon and Alaska usually have up-to-date web sites and are more than happy to help you find what you’re looking for.

NORM:

Is there anything else you would want our readers to know about Alaska and the Yukon Territory?

Nancy:

Just one more tip--for adventurous-minded couples with more taste (and wanderlust) than money, consider touring the Inside Passage via the Alaska ferry.

Ferries run north year round from Bellingham, in Washington State, 20 miles south of the Canadian border, and from Prince Rupert, BC, up to Skagway, stopping at Ketchikan (Bellingham-originating runs only), Sitka, Juneau and Haines. Their website (www.dot.state.ak.us) is handy for trip planning.

Amenities are admittedly Spartan--but private--staterooms for two or four passengers, with bath. Bring your vehicle and pet with you. Food is good and free naturalist programs are offered in summer. It’s easy to craft an itinerary allowing you to get off and stay a night or two in each destination before continuing on. If you want a stateroom and/or you’re bringing a vehicle, you’ll need to book six months in advance. Or you could do as Alaskans (even some honeymooners) do--pitch a tent on deck and enjoy the wild beauty of Alaska at a remarkably low cost.

Thanks Nancy

About the Author: Norm Goldman is editor of the book reviewing site, www.bookpleasures.com and the travel site, www.sketchandtravel.com. Bookpleasures.com comprises over 25 international book reviewers and author interviewers who come from all walks of life. Sketchandtravel.com is a travel site wherein Norm's words are melded with his wife's art work focusing on romantic and wedding destinations.

Source: www.isnare.com

Travel accessories

2015-05-19T00:23:00.003-07:00

No matter what anyone says you can’t travel without some kind of accessory. Whether it be suitcases, suit bags, brief cases or money pouches you will always carry some kind of travel accessory with you.

The travel accessories say a lot about the life and personality of the person carrying them. Depending on the style and color of their travel accessories, and indeed what particular accessories they are carrying, you can gain insight into what country they are from, whether they are happy, outgoing and energetic or rather old fashioned, whether they are well off financially or have little money to spare and a myriad of other details.
The buying team at Mori Luggage and Gifts recently returned from the Travel Goods Show in Washington, D.C. - the largest exhibition of travel accessories and leather goods in the world. For three days, buyers walked the aisles seeking the hot new trends in luggage, briefcases and travel accessories.

President of Mori Luggage and Gifts, John Mori, said the Travel Goods Show was an excellent opportunity to network with other businesses who also manufacture travel accessories.
“The Travel Goods Show allows us to meet with all of the leading manufacturers in our industry,” he said.
“With the improving economy and travel increasing, we were pleased to discover lots of new, innovative travel products for 2004. Our customers expect us to always have the newest items that make travelling easier.”

Mr Mori said manufacturers of travel accessories such as luggage, briefcases and leather goods were responding to consumer demand for bright colors - especially when it comes to women’s business cases. While black will always be popular, fashion-conscious businesswomen can now pick a different color briefcase for each season. The Lodis Audrey Capri Brief has been tipped as a hot seller for spring and summer. Available in salmon and periwinkle, this beautiful brief is constructed of fine-grade Italian leather and features a streamlined exterior, organizer pockets for cell phone and business cards, and a removable shoulder strap.

The Zuca MobileLockerTM is a super-durable, lightweight rolling case. It was designed by a mom who couldn’t stand to see her 4th grade daughter lugging 50 pounds of books each day and developing back pain so early in life. The main compartment holds books and important gear and can be used for school, picnics, or airline travel. The top is so strong you can use it as a seat and the magneto LED wheels actually light up as it rolls. It’s an excellent travel accessory that is suitable for a wide range of uses.

One of the most interesting developments in luggage and travel accessories is the 22” Transformable Upright from Briggs & Riley. Either use it as a one-piece rolling carry-on or transform it into two separate bags: a deluxe duffle with optional backpack straps and a wheeled carry-on upright. Once the duffle is zipped off, a face panel zips onto the wheeled upright creating a new carry-on. Each bag can hold 2-3 days worth of clothes.

So just what’s new in the travel accessories industry? Ever wondered if the airline pillow covers and blankets are as clean as you’d expect? After all, its one of the most commonly provided travel accessories you’ll come across! According to a new company called pb travel, recent studies have suggested that many are not changed or cleaned often enough. That’s why they have introduced the pb blanket and pb disposable pillow covers. The pb blanket is a warm polar fleece blanket that is machine washable and dries in just 10 minutes.

If you’ve ever flown overseas, you’ve probably heard of deep vein thrombosis and other circulatory problems that can occur during long flights. Compression Socks by Elastic Therapy use a graduated compression system to improve blood flow and relieve leg swelling and discomfort. They are definitely a must-have on your travel accessories list. They are also great for walking or anytime you plan to spend a lot of time on your feet.

Brushing your teeth while travelling or at work just got easier with the Travelon Toothbrush. Actually, it’s a toothbrush and toothpaste all in one making it another one of those fantastic and ingenious travel accessories. Simply twist the handle and refreshing mint toothpaste comes up through the high quality

Ever seen a sophisticated man who carries his stack of dollar bills in a rubber band? We found a way for him to do this in style with the Grand Band from Budd Leather. Each Grand Band features a durable, colorful band with two replacement bands and a stainless steel plate that can be engraved. This is a useful and essential travel accessory for the stylish and professional traveller.
Article by Phil and Kate Wiley of Travel-1st http://www.travel-1st.com
You may use this article on your website providing you include the above author bio and active link to Travel-1st.
About the author:

Phil and Kate Wiley run the populat Travel-1st web site http://www.travel-1st.com
You may use this article on your website providing you include the above author bio and active link to Travel-1st.

Online Travel Bargain

2015-05-19T00:23:00.000-07:00

Are holiday bargains for true or have catches hidden?

REMEMBER YOUR LAST CONVERSATION WITH THAT family relative who couldn’t talk enough of how much they saved on their last holiday package deal? Or that colleague bragging about his $59 round- trip flight to Las Vegas and his stay in a 5-star hotel at $89 a night? Have you found yourself staring wistfully (and suspiciously) at a $399 package deal for two for Hawaii?

Just because your email seems flooded at times with seemingly impossibly priced travel offers, and you find Internet search engines are flooded with 1000’s of sites selling internet travel besides big hotel brands and branded distribution sites don’t discount them all.

Who can you count on?
Just four or five years ago, when you looked for travel discounts you could choose between a travel agent, the airline offices and the hotels themselves, and maybe, if you were lucky, some travel guru down the street. Today, there’s a massive range of things you can do online, and a lot of them can save significant amounts of money.

The reality is:

• Nine out of 10 online travelers now have some history of shopping for travel online, and nearly 15% of all Americans purchased travel online last year - that’s five times the penetration rate of 1998. (PhoCusWright Consumer Travel Trends Survey)• Nearly one-third of online travel buyers say the Internet was responsible for their travel purchases last year.

• In 1998, six million consumers bought travel online in the U.S. Jump ahead to 2002 when 30 million Americans purchased travel online in the last year. Half of them only buy their travel online. (PhoCusWright Consumer Travel Trends Survey)

• Online travel bookings exceeded $23 billion in 2001, and are expected to reach $63 billion by 2010.

• Internet bookings in the first three quarters of 2002 accounted for over 23% of rooms sold in New York, and over 15% in Los Angeles, Chicago, and San Francisco. Anecdotally, for some properties, hotel managers are reporting Internet bookings ranging from 30% to 50% of all room nights in 2002. (Smith Travel Research and TravelClick)

What does this mean?

This means that online distribution channel is extremely successful in reaching buyers and buyers are finding it more confirmable to shop online. They are seeing a broader range of travel options and variety of products and packages. And its more likely that consumer wants to control that transaction through access to more competitive pricing. Pricing is becoming key factor to determine the sale.

Key factors: Why travelers prefer to book online

• Competitive Price
• Ability to compare product and Prices
• Ability to plan last minute
• Availability of Range of options

Online travel shoppers are not very loyal on where they shop—65 percent of online travelers do not view themselves as brand-loyal. As much as they love to shop online and spend their time researching what suits their needs, they are not loyal to the companies from which they buy.

The above scenario indicated that the travel suppliers have no choice but to participate in this online distribution channel. The suppliers are realizing that the traditional channels like GDS (Global Distribution System)/travel agent and call center/reservation office is somewhat inefficient and expensive, especially when the economy is weak. Ignoring online distribution channel and concentrating only on traditional distribution channels will result in lower occupancy, and higher distribution and operational costs for travel suppliers. As online channels become more popular among suppliers their participation is increasing.

How Pricing and Distribution Become Key

9/11 caused a dramatic shift in how consumers booked their travel. The instability caused a large drop in demand for airlines, hotels and car rentals leading to ever-lower prices. This low demand factor forced travel suppliers to introduce unprecedented discounts. Travel suppliers struggled to sell seats, rooms, car rentals to a significantly shrunk leisure and business travel market. Every air seat, room and auto not booked cost their companies money. Better to sell dirt cheap than not to sell at all. But how to get the word out?

Smart, proactive suppliers adopted the Wal-Mart business model—sell low and distribute inexpensively and efficiently. But how?

The Internet allowed them to reach consumers, sell inventory outstrip their less progressive competition. Those suppliers who had no clear Internet strategy or understanding of how the Web and online distribution works suffered.

Discount hotel sites attract millions of buyers with their special rates leading to stratospheric sales through these channels. They thrive on hoteliers selling their distressed inventory at a fraction of their normal rates. Occupancy is the lowest its been in years, hoteliers continue to work with leading online retailers to move inventory at lower price.

The $6.3 billion in online hotel sales (2002) with are split roughly evenly between discount agency sites and hotel Web sites. PhoCusWright projects that around 75% of discount agency hotel site sales are via the merchant model, where the agency typically takes a 20-30% “margin” on the hotel net rate (instead of the usual 10% commission). This approach has helped profits at Expedia and Hotels.com, who have roughly 60% of online discount agency hotel sales. Travelocity and Orbitz are instituting the same successful approach. Other notable players thriving in this arena are Hotwire.com, http://www.hotels-and-discounts.com , Lodging.com and Travelweb.com.

What is the Future?
Online travel growth will continue to grow in 2003-2010, but it will slow down year by year compared to the record gains see so far. However millions of travelers haven’t yet made their first purchase so the market is not near saturation. Technological improvements will soon make it possible to more easily dynamically package vacation deals including air, hotel and car leading to even lower prices but higher average sales. So growth is projected to come from customers buying more, higher-ticketed products online.

The growth of the online distribution channel will prove beneficial to the end user when the suppler finds it easier and more cost-effective to distribute their inventory there than over the traditional distribution channels. As technology becomes mature in the online distribution sector, it will become more effective and user friendly for the Buyers and thus will attract more Suppliers. Due to its low cost of distribution and emerging ability to package and cross sell inventory, prices will be attractive for years to come, until this channel eventually becomes a commodity.

By Yatin Patel
Published in http://www.siliconindia.com
July 2003

About the Author

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