All About Traveling in The World

Whenever You Travel, Go for a Green Hotel

One can help to reduce the negative impact that hotels have on environment by staying at a green hotel.

Green hotels use energy and resources efficiently thereby implementing recycling of products. Using nonrenewable resources efficiently and utilizing renewable resources is what Green hotels concentrate on.

The staggering figure of guests in the hotels, the meals prepared for them, water consumption, and energy required for lighting, cooling and heating all indicate that there is an enormous need to implement green hotel practices.

While you are at a green hotel, you are sure to receive quality service. Apart from the service quality, you will also be helping the environment.

Adopting green hotel practices helps hotels to realize cost savings which can be used for enhancing services provided to the guests.

Finding a Green Hotel

Finding a green hotel that suits your style, needs and pocket is not easy. But, with little effort one can easily find a hotel that makes you feel at home or in the lap of nature.

Choosing a Green Hotel

The key component of green travel is to book an eco-lodge. Many hotels are now making their ambience and implementing practices which make hotels- green homes away from homes for the guests.

Being a Green Hotel guest

When staying in a hotel, the following steps help you to become a green hotel guest:

· Ask the hotel staff not to change the sheets and towels on a daily basis.

· Switch off the lights and electrical appliances if any like television, air conditioner and close the drapes when leaving the room.

· Participate in the recycling efforts which the hotel promotes.

· Pass the newspaper provided by the hotel to someone else after you have read and encourage the hotel management to implement recycling.

· Take short showers

· While brushing teeth, don’t let the water run

· Turn off the exercise machines when done

· Place the brochures and other tourist information back in the racks after reading rather than throwing

· If disposable utensils are used in the hotel, bring your own disposable cups etc.

· When having food, if you don’t drink water along, ask the staff not to pour in your glass

· Thank the staff and management- managers and employees for embracing green hotel practices and appreciate their effort

Be a nice guest to encourage the hotel become ‘Green’

What if you stay in a hotel that is not green i.e. not following green practices?

Being a guest a positive effort in this case would be to encourage the hotel to become Green.

Following the steps given below will encourage the staff at the hotel:

· Asking the hotel managers and staff to follow green practices and tell them the importance for guests

· If you know some tips that will help hotels to be environmentally friendly, discuss them with managers

· Try to contact hotel’s president or CEO or send him a letter that will say the importance of following green hotel practices and how will it make a difference.

Thus, Implementing Green Hotel Practices is a challenge that hotels should face and help in conserving our resources and environment.

So, the next time you travel, make a difference for the environment by Going Green.

For more information visit: www.ecogreenhotel.com

American Express Air Miles Credit Card Offers Worry-free Travel

In addition to the rewards miles that you will earn on your American Express AIR MILES credit card, you are also entitled to the extensive travel benefits normally associated with other American Express cards. The travel benefits incorporated in your American Express AIR MILES credit card include, amongst others, guaranteed or assured reservations and travel accident insurance.

Guaranteed Reservations

When you use your American Express AIR MILES credit card to make hotel room reservations, you get an assurance that you will still have your room, regardless of how late you may arrive. This American Express Assured Reservation benefit is very helpful – especially if you encounter frustrating and unexpected travel delays. To take advantage of this American Express AIR MILES credit card feature, you must make your reservations with American Express’ partner hotels or motels. You should also specify your intention to use the American Express Assured Reservation option and get a confirmation number.

The hotel or motel will hold your reserved room until the regular check-out time of the day after your planned arrival. In case your reserved room has been given to another guest, or is no longer available by the time you arrive at the hotel, the latter has the duty to provide you a room of equal or better amenities at another hotel without charge on the first night. Transportation from the hotel to the other hotel will also be provided free of charge.

If for any reason you need to cancel the Assured Reservation you have arranged, check the specified cut-off time for canceling reservations and ring up the hotel or motel before that time. If you fail to cancel in time, you will have to pay the bill for a one-night stay. If you call in time, be sure to get the cancellation number so that you have the necessary proof of cancellation. This is handy if for some reason you still get billed on your American Express AIR MILES credit card for a canceled hotel accommodation.

Travel Accident Insurance

Your American Express AIR MILES credit card comes with a maximum travel accident cover of a hundred thousand dollars. This travel accident insurance is applicable only to accidental death and dismemberment while on the trip. To avail yourself of this automatic travel accident insurance, you must use your American Express AIR MILES credit card to purchase tickets from a common carrier.

If you want your spouse, children who have not attained the age of twenty-three, and a supplementary American Express AIR MILES credit card holder to be covered by the travel accident insurance, then you must also purchase their tickets with your American Express AIR MILES credit card. The coverage is not only limited to the above-mentioned persons; It can be extended to cover the spouse and children of minor age of your supplementary cardholder, provided that their tickets too were charged to your American Express AIR MILES credit card age.

With an American Express AIR MILES credit card, you get those travel benefits that eliminates those kinds of worries from any trip.

Safe Travel in Mexico

When talking to people about going to Tijuana for dental work, more and more the question arises, “Is it really safe to go to Mexico?” My answer is always YES! I feel quite at home in Tijuana, but like anywhere, you have to use common sense while traveling in Mexico.

I can understand the apprehension that some people have as they contemplate going into another country, where everything is strange and unknown. Then when you hear bad things on the news, it can make it even more frightening. While the decision of whether or not to cross South of the border into Tijuana is the responsibility of each individual, I would like to answer a few questions to try to put things into perspective, as well as give a few tips on how to travel more safely in Mexico, or any foreign country, or even into any Metropolitan down town area of the USA.

Click here to see a youtube testimony about safety in Tijuana

To answer the question, “Is it dangerous in Mexico?” Not if you use common sense! The folks at Sam Dental Tijuana were very helpful to me. Here is what I have learned from them, and after several trips, I can say that yes, I feel safe!

 Don’t be fearful when you hear negative reports on the news. Keep in perspective that the news agencies look for any incident that will grab headlines. The problem is that news reports often give an exaggerated view and can distort reality. Not to dismiss out of hand the reports one hears, because we always need to be careful and vigilant, but the truth is there are a lot of incidents that happen everyday in certain parts of every large US city that never gets reported because they are so common. Everyday in San Diego and Los Angeles, or New York, or Miami, or Denver, or Dallas, or in Washington D.C., it is common for someone to get mugged or robbed, or found dumped in an alley, so common that it doesn’t grab the attention of the news hounds anymore. So what I am trying to say is that yes, you need to be careful while traveling in Mexico, or Tijuana, but also you need to be careful walking in downtown L.A., or San Diego. Don’t let rumors or news reports, that are attempting to grab headlines by focusing attention on bad things, exaggerate the dangers and frighten you. Just be cautious, and you’ll be alright. Remember, literally 100’s of thousands of people cross over into Tijuana from the USA every month without incident.

I have traveled into Mexico dozens and dozens of times. I have been very often to Tijuana, Juarez, Reynosa, and other border towns. I have also been in many Latin American countries, and have lived for several years in South America. I have NEVER had an incident where I felt in danger. However, I used to live in Denver working for the cable company, and have been threatened with bodily injury and have felt very intimidated on several occasions. I even had to call the police in order to complete my work in someone’s back yard because they had threatened to shoot me when I went to shut their cable off!! I feel safer in Mexico, than in certain areas of Denver. And what is Denver compared to L.A.? Or Washington D.C., or Miami?

Tips for Safe Travel.

1. Be discrete. Never flash a lot of money. Keep the majority of your cash hidden in a front pocket that you can zip or button down. Just keep a limited amount of cash in your wallet. Also keep your passport, drivers license, and credit card hidden in another front pocket. It would be good to keep those documents together with a rubber band or a money clip. Also, don’t bring all your credit cards with you, just bring one or two, that way if you loose it, you will know which one to report lost.

2. Walk over and take a Taxi rather than drive over. Unless you are planning to stay for several days, and would like to site see, it takes a lot of stress off to not to have to keep an eye on your car, or to have to maneuver in Mexico traffic. I always hate been stuck in the long line to cross back into the USA. It is liberating to just leave the car parked in the USA and let a taxi take you to your dental appointment. If you do drive over, NEVER leave valuables, like your camera or purse, in plain site in the car seat. If you do, you might be inviting a break in. That is not just true in Mexico! Also, if you drive in, make sure you keep your vehicle locked, and ALWAYS put a manual locking device, like the “Club”, on your steering wheel. At Sam Dental in Tijuana, they have off street parking that is secure, but it is still a good idea to use a locking device.

3. Keep your night life to a minimum If you are concerned about safety, remember that not only in Tijuana, but in L.A. as well, most crimes are committed late at night. Common sense is a must!

I enjoy traveling in Mexico, and I love the atmosphere and culture. Aside from the tremendous savings I have experienced getting dental and medical procedures done, I have love it in Mexico, and I plan on retiring there in a few years. I feel that it is safe to go to Tijuana. But, the truth is, just like in any large metropolis in the USA, it pays to be cautious and vigilant. You will have a good experience, just like the 10’s of thousands of people who cross the border every day without incident. Don’t be fearful, just keep your eyes open, and you’ll be fine.

Here is the website again: www.GoodSamDental.org   

Serenity Travel

Contact Destination Vacations International
In Continental Europe, early resorts included: Ostend, popularized by the people of Brussels; Boulogne-sur-Mer (Pas-de-Calais) and Deauville (Calvados) for the Parisians; and Heiligendamm, founded in 1797, as the first seaside resort on the Baltic Sea.

History
Wealthy people have always travelled to distant parts of the world, to see great buildings, works of art, learn new languages, experience new cultures and to taste different cuisines. Long ago, at the time of the Roman Republic, places such as Baiae were popular coastal resorts for the rich. The word tourism was used by 1811 and tourist by 1840. In 1936, the League of Nations defined foreign tourist as “someone traveling abroad for at least twenty-four hours”. Its successor, the United Nations, amended this definition in 1945, by including a maximum stay of six months.

About Destination Vacations International :Sustainable tourism
“Sustainable tourism is envisaged as leading to management of all resources in such a way that economic, social and aesthetic needs can be fulfilled while maintaining cultural integrity, essential ecological processes, biological diversity and life support systems.” (World Tourism Organization)

Destination Vacations International
In the United States, there are four different types of agencies: Mega, Regional, Consortium and Independent Agencies. American Express and the American Automobile Association (AAA) are examples of mega travel agencies.

Travel agencies became more commonplace with the development of commercial aviation, starting in the 1920s. Originally, travel agencies largely catered to middle and upper class customers, but the post-war boom in mass-market package holidays resulted in travel agencies on the main streets of most British towns, catering to a working class clientèle, looking for a convenient way to book overseas beach holidays.

About Serenity Travel :They not only sold their own tours to the public, but in addition, represented other tour companies. Other British pioneer travel agencies were Dean and Dawson, the Polytechnic Touring Association and the Co-operative Wholesale Society. The oldest travel agency in North America is Brownell Travel; on July 4, 1887, Walter T. Brownell led ten travelers on a European tour, setting sail from New York on the SS Devonia.

Serenity Travel Home Tourism is vital for many countries, such as Australia, Egypt, Greece and Thailand, and many island nations, such as The Bahamas, Fiji, Maldives and the Seychelles, due to the large intake of money for businesses with their goods and services and the opportunity for employment in the service industries associated with tourism. These service industries include transportation services, such as airlines, cruise ships and taxis, hospitality services, such as accommodations, including hotels and resorts, and entertainment venues, such as amusement parks, casinos, shopping malls, various music venues and the theatre.

Destination Vacations International Management In the United States, there are four different types of agencies: Mega, Regional, Consortium and Independent Agencies. American Express and the American Automobile Association (AAA) are examples of mega travel agencies.

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Contact Del Rey Travel Agency About Del Rey Travel Agency About Destination Vacations International

Travel To South America – The Three Faces of South America

There it is, plenty of mountains, beaches, adventures and history, all at an affordable price. What are you waiting for your next trip to South America?

As a matter of fact, if you are reading this, you have already decided to go there or, at least ,you are thinking about it. But, where to? I will show you my three favorite locations in South America, you choose by your own.

Peru: Macchu Picchu and The Inca’s Road

Are you the kind of person interested in history and archeological marvels or you would rather go looking for adventure, and a little (or more) fun within it? Whatever option you chose, Peru is the right place for you to go.

Five hundred years ago, the Spaniards ransacked and destroyed most of the legacy of the Inca Civilization. They could not, however, reach the sacred city of Macchu Picchu. These almost intact ruins where found in the twentieth century, and access to the city is believed to have been reserved for the emperor (the Inca) and the nobility (Hiran Bingham, founder of the remains, held that priestesses were raised and prepared here, but this is refused by current scientists)

Macchu Picchu is also some kind of world spiritual centre, people of all credos consider it an incredible point of contact with the spirit. But reaching the Macchu Picchu without walking the Inca’s Road, one of the most spectacular walking roads of the world, would be a sin. The Incas had built a road system only comparable to the one that the Ancient Romans built. The best kept part of the Inca’s road is the one that goes from Aguas Calientes to Macchu Picchu. After paying a USD 50 rate (USD 25 for students with international card), you will be able to start three unforgettable days in which you will walk 60 miles of mountains, with incredible vegetation and landscape.

The contact with the local people is one of the most attractive sides of traveling to South America, and this is particularly noticeable on the Inca’s Road.. You will find several “postas” all along the way (the antique places where Incas messengers got rest), and the natives hired for carrying the heavy luggage (the “portadores”) still resemble those antique messengers: they run at an incredibly rhythm; when you arrive to the “posta” they will have already set up your tent. However, not only rest is to be expected at the end of the day: depending on which “posta” you choose to stop, you can be received but one of the parties enjoyed by the innumerable youngsters that visit Macchu Picchu from all around the world.

The Inca’s Road is usually preceded by a visit to Cusco, the capital of the Inca Empire, and one of the greatest urban monuments from Colonial times in Latin America.

Yet, if I were you, I would start from the Argentine city of Salta, visit Bolivia, the Titicaca Lake, and just then go to Cusco. It is a bit longer, yes, but you will never forget it.

Brazil, always Brazil

What else can be said of Brazil that you have not heard about? Brazil is not a place to be visited once, it is a place to fall in love with. Brazil is also one of the largest countries of the globe, so my first advice is to get a travel guide book, and also one of those promotional plane tickets including 5 destinations for a reduced price.

Brazilians are worldwide known for their eternal smile and happiness; they tend to have less prejudices regarding human relations. That may be the reason why you will find a party almost wherever you find a Brazilian. Although Rio is “the” place for nightclubs, discos, and related events, the entire coast of Brazil is a permanent party.

If you are planning a trip for two, let me recommend you Trindage, an almost unnoticed place between Rio and Sao Paulo. The road ends at Parati, a beautiful beach town known for its Colonial architecture. After Parati, you will have to walk 8 kms. (around 3 miles). Renting a car is an option too, but I prefer hitchhiking. Every night there are reggae parties on the beach, and the sky is so clean that you will see several falling stars. You can a take a bath in of the rivers of the zone, but please remember not using soap in order to keep the environment unpolluted.

For those who enjoy adventures, the Amazon is a huge challenge. If you want to visit the jungle but without taking big risks, it is always nice to visit the mythic city of Manaos, with its Opera and its glorious past. Manaos is today a tax-free zone, so you may also find very cheap electronic devices.

Buenos Aires: the most pretentious city in South America

I was not surprised when I read that a London magazine has chosen Buenos Aires as the ‘sexiest city in the world’. With most of its population of European origins, and the frenzy proper of a big city, Buenos Aires has an incredible night life. Fancy nightclubs and pubs (accessible to the tourist, because of the low local currency, the Argentine Peso) are concurred by both young and mature people.

I would recommend going to one of the exclusive restaurants located in Puerto Madero, eat some Argentine meat, and then start the night at the Recoleta, the fanciest zone in Buenos Aires. You will ask yourself whether you are in Milan or Paris (do not dear to remind an Argentine they are from South America, they will get mad at you!).

Culturally, Buenos Aires is the most active city in South America. Writers, film directors, philosophers and artists of all kind are usually in the city giving performances or conferences.

If you like Theater, Corrientes Av. is some sort of local Broadway, all along which you will find uncountable spectacles. Of course, you cannot leave Buenos Aires without visiting the Colon Theatre, the most refined of its kind in South America.

During the day, you can visit San Telmo square, place of bohemians and artists, home of Tango, the Argentine typical dance. You can always go to a “tangueria” (tango bar) and get some lessons or just enjoy the sensual movements of the dancers.

For the weekend, going to a soccer match is a must. If you want to go to the biggest stadium in Argentina, go to the River Plate Stadium. However, if you prefer something slightly smaller but much more intense, go to the antagonist Boca Juniors Stadium, where 60,000 souls tight in a reduced space make literally vibrate the concrete. Soccer is not just a sport for the Argentines, it is a passion. Although Argentine beaches are not famous, you can enjoy several near Buenos Aires.

The most crowded is Mar del Plata, but the most beautiful is perhaps Necochea. If you are thinking on going a little more to the south, you can visit Las Grutas, the most southern beach where you can take a bath (below that, it is freezing cold). As a matter of fact, this would be an excellent excuse for visiting the entire Patagonia, with the lakes, the mountains and the Pampa, but this is subject for another article on traveling to South America…

Additional resources and information can be found by going to: http://www.TravelToSouthAmerica.com

Could You Work in a Foreign Country to Pay for Travel?

Of course you could! There are plenty of opportunities for travelers who want to work overseas especially if you speak English or better yet, are bilingual. But to work abroad there are some things to consider before you go.

1. Find out if Americans can work in the country you intend to travel to. Not all countries allow foreigners to work there while they are visiting.

2. Get a work permit. This documentation is different from your passport or visa. You can organize a work permit before you leave home or once you arrive in the country you want to work in. This will depend on where you intend to work. 

3. If you are a traveling student, it may be easier to get work through a student work exchange plan. Or you may even be able to organize a transfer through your company to work abroad. If so, all the leg work will be done for you.

4. If you have a particular job in mind, in a particular country, then you will need to do some research and contact potential employers before you go. If you do find someone wishing to employ you before you leave on your travels, get them to send you a letter stating the employment offer with a copy to their respective government. You will then be issued with a work permit for that country.

5. Consider working as a volunteer on your travels. Volunteer organizations are looking for helpers to assist with programs all over the world. You will be paid by the organization (usually just transport, food and board expenses), not the country you are going to. You do not need a work visa to be a volunteer in these programs.

If you are going to work overseas while traveling, register with the nearest embassy in the country you are visiting. Make sure you find out about the country you will be working in. Know if there are any travel warnings, political unrest and cultural conditions you should be aware of before you go. What immunizations do you need? Find out about the local laws, including employment legislations. And don’t forget that while earning an income overseas, you will be subject to that country’s tax laws.

Will you need to drive for your job overseas? If so, you will have to arrange an international driver’s permit. You must also take with you your valid American driver’s permit. All countries handle driving a little differently so check out what rules you’ll need to abide by to drive in your country of choice. 

Working while traveling is a great way to immerse yourself in the culture of the country you are visiting. Be organized if you want to subsidize your travel budget dollar in this way. Don’t forget you can always offer to work in hostels in exchange for cheaper (or even free) board as a way to supplement your traveling costs.

This article is brought to you by: Stuart S. Travel – Your Online Travel Guru

www.stuartstravel.com

Holiday Island Malta In Top Safe Travel Locations

European holiday destination Malta ranks as one of the top five locations for safety in the world, according to an American travel writer, Laura McKenzie.

In her report Ms. McKenzie says of the Mediterranean holiday island ‘In Malta there is no such thing as a dark and uninviting alley, while the police force is one of the oldest in the world’.

The report also praises New Zealand, Switzerland and Singapore as safe destinations.

Top was Monaco, with one police officer for every one hundred residents, and 24 hour cctv coverage of the entire principality.

Commenting on the report, a local travel guide were not surprised that Malta reached Ms Mckenzie’s top five safest locations, nor that Monaco was top.

‘Malta has her problems with the state of the roads and some other infrastructure, but when it comes to the people it’s doubtful if you will find a friendlier more helpful island in the Mediterranean. This report from Ms McKenzie has come at around the same time as another survey showing that Malta is one of the best places in the world for retiring to. The Malta people and weather make for a great combination’.

Commenting on Monaco, who just beat Malta to top spot for safe destinations, YourMalta say that the reasons for moving to Malta and Monaco are very different.

‘Monaco is for millionaires and billionaires, who often choose to live there because of the zero income tax. Malta is a low tax island and has her share of millionaires, but Monaco needs the security and does it well because it’s what the wealthy expect – and they get it’.

Malta Holidays

The two surveys with positive news about Malta comes at a worrying time for the Malta holiday industry.

The number of tourists visiting Malta this year is down on previous years, and some predictions are that it could be 100,000 less than 2005 – while the Malta Tourist Authority had hoped to see a similar figure in the opposite direction.

But recent news of low cost airlines gaining permission to fly to the island has given some hope in the Malta hotel and holiday industry that next year will see the decline reversed.

Hotel and resort owners have seen the Maltese government drag the negotiations out with the low cost airlines for some time, with delays in agreements losing Malta the potential of having extra tourists for this summer season.

Statements from Ryanair, the first low cost carrier to be flying to Malta, indicate that at one stage they were taking a booking a minute for their new Malta route.

‘If the Malta government had the agreement in place six months ago, the tourist industry would be in a much better position today, after a good summer’, add the Malta holiday guide.

Some of the anticipation of an increase in hotel and holiday bookings for Malta has been tempered recently after a survey in the UK – Malta’s largest market – showed that package holidays in 2007 would be more expensive than comparable holidays in Spain and her islands.