The Internet has no shortage of travel websites. The key when searching the numerous options is to maximize your time while digging up the best deals. To assist you in that endeavor, try the following sites as the first phase of your search.

 

SmarterTravel.com

This site is the ultimate time-saver. SmarterTravel takes your specifications and searches other sites, aggregating everything that is a match. The information that is pulled enables you to compare the different options. One click later, you are on the vendor site and ready to make your reservations. SmarterTravel is extremely simple and very effective.

AirGorilla.com

Have you ever noticed all the empty seats on some flights? AirGorilla steps in purchases many of these seats in bulk from the airlines and then offers them at steep discounts. The site follows the same formula for packages, picking up all-inclusive resort and cruise ship offers. The site is well established (it’s been around longer than Expedia), and the deals are solid.

Kayak.com

Kayak is often referred to as the Google of travel sites. The site is a search engine, picking the Internet for the deals that meet your criteria. No reservations are made on the site. After finding a deal that looks good, Kayak directs you to the site to complete the purchase.

Expedia.com

Still the gold star for travel websites, Expedia has everything you need to book a quality trip. The site layout is appealing, the deals are legitimate, the customer service is good, and you have access to a wealth of information.

Travelzoo.com

Another site that searches the Internet for the best deals. The key with Travelzoo is to sign up for their weekly Top 20 email newsletter. The newsletter points out deals that are almost impossible to pass up.

You can choose from many other sites, including Travelocity, Priceline, and Orbitz, but the five travel websites listed above will get you off to a great start.

Source: “Top Ten Review” Online Travel Sites Reviews (http://online-travel-sites-review.toptenreviews.com/index.html) Accessed December 8, 2011

Sometimes, travel is anything but relaxing. Many business trips and super-quick vacations entail a fair amount of travel after you arrive at your destination, so finding a good list of tips for traveling light is the key to a smooth travel experience. The last thing you want to do is haul around heavy luggage, so keep in mind these light tips for traveling smart:

 

Purchase toiletries when you arrive.
Thanks to strict TSA guidelines governing liquids in carry-on luggage, many travelers now opt to leave their toiletries in checked bags. But if you are traveling light, you might be limiting yourself to your one carry-on item (plus a backpack!). With that in mind, it’s often a good idea to wait until you land to pick up toiletries.

Simplify your wardrobe.
Less outfits means less stuff that needs to go into your bag. Consider packing layered clothes, like jackets or sweaters that you can wear more than once over lighter t-shirts. You’ll still get to keep your signature look, but with much less fabric to haul.

Use quality luggage.
Find a good, medium-sized suitcase on rollers. You’ll be amazed at how much easier it is to pull your luggage instead of carrying it around with you. This is especially true if you are planning on rushing through the airport to catch a connecting flight, or if you will be getting on and off trains or public buses.

Do some laundry!
While you’re at the store buying your toiletries, pick up a small bottle of laundry detergent. If you wash some of your clothes in a bathtub or sink before going to bed, you will have fresh duds to wear on the next leg of your journey. Most hotels have drying racks available; all you have to do is ask!

How do you keep your load light on your trips? Share your tips for traveling smart in the comments below!

Buying boarding passes in the digital age means scouring travel blogs for good deals and visiting major travel websites in the name of finding air travel deals to keep our trips as affordable as possible. The savvy shopper, however, knows that finding the absolute best deals on air travel means learning the market and being flexible.

Here is a list of helpful tips that will lead you to finding air travel deals:

Avoid Weekend Travel

According to Ambassadorway Travel, you can pay an additional $25-$40 for departure and arrival if your flight happens to take place on a Saturday or Sunday. This means that flying on the weekend can actually cost you $50 -$80 more if you are departing and returning during the weekends.

Travel Off Season

Often, the off season or low season deals make traveling far cheaper than traveling during the peak season. To avoid high prices, avoid travel during the peak season.

• Low season: January- the beginning of April; September- the beginning of December
• Mid season: April- the beginning of June
• Peak season: June- August; December- the beginning of January

Buy Packages

Many people use travel packages as a way of consolidating and cutting costs. Travel packages usually include airfare, hotel, and sometimes ground transportation.  These packages will not only save you money on air travel, but also accommodations, and help make your entire experience run a bit more smoothly.

Avoid Direct Flights

We all like to get to our destinations as quick as possible, but doing so could cost you extra. Direct flights tend to cost more than connecting flights. If you are willing to deal with a layover (or two depending on your destination), you will save money.

Be Flexible

The best advice for finding air travel deals is to be flexible. If you are flexible with travel dates, maybe even destinations and layovers; you will find air travel deals and the best prices possible. Buy early on when possible and use search engines like Bing or Kayak to help track the costs of your desired flight.

How do you seek out your air travel deals? Share your strategy in the comments!

Every year, local employees at HCC Medical Insurance Services are given a choice. In lieu of funds for the annual holiday party, employees select a charity to support. In 2011, that charity was Gleaners Food Bank of Indiana.

Gleaners Food Bank of Indiana is a pillar of the humanitarian community in Indianapolis, the home of HCC Medical Insurance Services. As a food bank, Gleaners is responsible for storing and distributing millions of pounds of food and grocery products to food pantries, soup kitchens, and other agencies dedicated to serving the needy. In Indiana, 12.9% of the population live in poverty. Gleaners continues to play a huge role in the fight against hunger. We, at HCCMIS, are honored to do our part to keep people fed at home as we help keep people secure around the world.

 

Our President & CEO, Mark Carney, went on a tour at Gleaners to learn more about their role in keeping the pantries full at community outreach organizations throughout Indiana. We sent a camera crew with him, and made the video below. Check it out!

On behalf of everyone at HCC Medical Insurance Services, we would like to thank Gleaners Food Bank of Indiana for all the great work they are doing to fight hunger in Indiana. To learn more about Gleaners and the people they serve, visit them on the web!

Tip #1: Pack as light as possible

There is a good chance you will be carrying or pulling your luggage more often than you think. Lots of travel sites recommend that you pack so light that you only need a 20-pound carry-on bag. This form of traveling is known as backpacking. While it is ideal for some, we recognize it isn’t for everyone. If you need to pack more than a backpack, make sure your suitcase has wheels.

Tip #2:Purchase passes ahead of time

Most of the major cities in Europe have passes that will get you into several attractions. Purchasing these passes save you money, and you can even buy them before you leave home. It is also a great idea to purchase your transportation passes in advance so you can hit the road as soon as you land overseas.

Tip #3: Keep an open mind

Your friends (or favorite travel blogs) might have tons of advice when it comes to what to see and what to skip, but you shouldn’t let that completely determine your itinerary.  Make sure you see the things you want to see and do the things you want to do. After all, it is your trip and not theirs. Make a detailed list of sights you want to see, and try to build your vacation around the most important destinations on your list.

Tip #4: Make a budget

If you set a maximum spending amount before you actually leave for your trip, you will be far less likely to spend too much. Make sure you plan on buying food, and spending money on entertainment and souvenirs. Also, be realistic with how much money you can afford to part with. Research the cities you are visiting so you know how much things cost.

You’ve just made a huge decision: You’re interested in pursuing potential mission trips to Africa. You know you want to serve, you know you want to experience what Africa has to offer, but where do you begin? There are plenty of ways to go on mission trips to Africa, but you need to stop and think about what you want out of a trip. Use this handy guide to help you get ready for mission work in Africa.

Decide where you want to go.

Like any trip you have ever taken, the first step is to decide on a destination. Obviously, you’re already planning on going to Africa. However, there are many places in Africa that you can serve. Many programs revolve around specific cities and countries. When searching for the right place for you or your group, think about what type of work you want to do.

Decide on a program you want to travel with.

After you have decided on where you want to serve, it is time to find a program or organization that fits your needs. It is important that you find one that deals with the same issues you want to address, is doing work you want to support, and has trips going to the places you want to work in. If you are having trouble finding a program, check out Experience Mission.

Raise funds to support you and your mission.

Mission trips are not free. In fact, they can cost several thousand dollars per person. Most of the time, people raise the money through donations, raffles, contests and different sales. If you are having trouble coming up with fundraising ideas check out easy-fundraising-ideas.com. Also, if you decide to write letters for donations, check out Fundraiser Help for ideas on how to write effectively in order to get the funds you need.

Pack your bags.

Chances are the place you are going in Africa is going to have significantly different weather than what you are used to. Also, since you are going on a mission trip, you need to pack appropriate clothing (and maybe even some supplies) for the work you will be doing. Going on mission trips to Africa will also mean that you want to pack very lightly. If you can get everything in one bag, you will be happier while traveling.

Do some good.

Don’t forget that you are there to help those in need. There will be time for you to experience the local culture, but above all else, keep in mind your reason for being there.

Photo courtesy of: ReSurge International

When it comes to medical missions trips, there is literally a world of opportunity out there. Surprisingly enough, you don’t necessarily need to be a doctor to travel the world and serve. Whether you’re an accomplished physician, a student in nursing school, or someone with zero medical training, there are plenty of organizations (religious and otherwise) looking for volunteers to help bring treatment to third-world nations with short and long-term medical missions trips.

If you’re ready to help out, it is simply a matter of finding an organization with a trip that’s right for you.

For Doctors and Nurses

It is fairly well known that the best place for medical professionals to start looking for mission opportunities is Doctors Without Borders. Known more commonly around the world by its French name, Médecins Sans Frontières, this humanitarian organization has volunteers in almost seventy countries, and specializes in offering medical treatment to suffering individuals. Learn more about volunteering for fieldwork with Doctors Without Borders here.

For Students

Many mission organizations offer opportunities specifically for students to go on medical missions trips while in school. For example, One Mission Society International often works with nursing students to set up triage in remote countries like Ecuador. The best place to look for opportunities is usually at your own school. Going through your nursing or medical school will give you special access to unique programs and maybe even grants to help pay your way.

For Everybody

Even if you have no medical expertise of any kind, the doctors and nurses who provide treatment abroad require tons of support. Many groups love to take photographers along for the ride. Additionally, Doctors Without Borders even accepts volunteers in their offices in New York City. Whatever your skill set, there is a place for you in the field of medical mission work.

Where have you volunteered in the past, and in what capacity? We would love to hear about the creative ways you have been involved with medical mission trips around the world!

One great opportunity in life is to be able to travel.  It gives you a chance to explore distant countries and learn about their histories and cultures. Before you hop on that next plane, consider these Atlas Travel Insurance keys to traveling abroad:

Take note of the consulate

Most countries have embassies where you can go in case of an emergency. Before embarking on your trip, take note of where the consulate is located and how to contact it, if necessary. It doesn’t hurt to have that information tucked in your back pocket.

Stay safe

As a stranger in a strange land, you run the risk of being a target of crime. Keep your money and other valuables hidden, don’t draw attention to yourself, and be aware of areas with more unsavory reputations. You’re there to enjoy and explore, not to court danger.

Leave an itinerary behind

Spontaneity is great, but a little common sense goes a long way. Make sure that family and friends know where you’re going and what you’re planning to do. Leave behind a copy of your itinerary and passport information. In the event of an emergency, it’s reassuring to know that you can be found.

Medical coverage outside home

You might not realize it, but your insurance policy probably doesn’t extend beyond our shores. Check with your provider to clarify your coverage. Atlas Travel Insurance offers benefits that can meet your jet-setting ways.

Following these Atlas Travel Insurance keys to traveling abroad will help make your trip an experience to remember.

Source: “Tips for Traveling Abroad” U.S. Department of State (http://travel.state.gov/travel/tips/tips_1232.html) Accessed October 6, 2011

Traveling is becoming a growing trend among today’s student population. Most students tend to travel to Western Europe or Australia in order to study abroad in countries that are culturally similar to their homes, but college mission trips offer an exciting alternative to the traditional college student trip.

College mission trips take place all over the world similar to study abroad programs. While many missionaries flock to a few typical destinations to work (Haiti and Mexico top many lists for good mission fields), you are only limited by your imagination when it comes to choosing a place to volunteer abroad.

If you’re looking for a unique place to lend a hand, consider our top 5 alternative destinations:

Estonia

Still recovering from the Soviet era, Estonia offers students the chance to see a unique part of Eastern Europe and the opportunity to serve. In Estonia, volunteers can expect to work in schools and orphanages.

Sierra Leone

The West African nation of Sierra Leone is increasingly becoming a popular destination for mission trips. The appeal for college students is the ongoing reconstruction of the capital city, Freetown. Much of Sierra Leone has been destroyed and is slowly being rebuilt.

Costa Rica

Some students choose this Central American location so they can work in orphanages, schools or medical clinics. However, the attraction to Costa Rica is the environment. Several programs involve trail creation/maintenance and construction work in the country’s national parks and reserves.

Romania

Many students choose to travel to Romania to work in the country’s orphanages.

Peru

Like most South American mission trips, you will most likely work in orphanages and other educational institutions. Participating in missions to Peru could also mean working in medical clinics.

Remember, no matter where you go, you are there to both help people in need, and to have some fun while experiencing a foreign culture.  You can do both while you are on a college mission trip.