Tips

It’s human nature to try and cut corners and to take the best deal whenever and whereever possible. I’m sure you’ve heard the expression: “If it’s too good to be true, then it probably is”. I don’t want to take that expressions directly in context and relate it to travelling because it doesn’t directly apply! What I do want to do though is point out that being super budget when you travel doesn’t really add up.

Your about to book a trip to your favorite holiday destination. Let’s say it’s Cancun, Mexico. You’re online, or with a travel agent, finding cheap tickets, and looking at all of your different options for accomodations. You’re looking at things like star ratings and facilities, and most importantly prices. At any major travel spot their is a huge array of differences in accomodations, which equivalates to a huge difference in pricing across the spectrum. Unless you’re swimming in money, you’re probably going to think: I want to get the most from the hotel and amount of stars for my money.

You take middle of the road: three. Your eyes are dazzled by the stars, and now you’re quickly going throught he list looking for the cheapest hotel rated three stars. Why? Maybe it’s because you’re cheap, but most likely it’s just because you’re human. You want more, for less.

You’ve found it. You wait for the time to pass until you embark on your journey. Flights, airports and taxis later and you arrive at your hotel. I’m going to pick on all inclusive because it’s in those where the greatest differerence I feel lies within the star rating. When you’re staying at a hotel for a night, and eating out,etc there really isn’t that much of a difference (at least to me), between having marble floors, and carpet. But when you’re at a resort for a week, and the food is barely edible, the service is non-existant, and you’re worried about leaving you’re room in fear of you’re contents going missing – the difference all of a sudden becomes of the richter. The first day is tolerable, the second and third are working there way steadily down hill, and by the end of the week it’s miserable and you’re ready to go home. You’ve save yourself probably a few hundred dollars, but instead of having the vacation of your life and not being able to wait to get back, you’re at the end of your stay longing to be home. Home, the place you couldn’t wait to get out of just a week before.

There isn’t many circumstances when a little price difference isn’t justified. If you’re going to spend $2000, spend $2500, and a few extra days when you get back or before you leave. It’s worth it; you’re worth it!

Traveling: The Little Things You Need To Pack Before Leaving

So, you’re finally going away for your well-deserved vacation. Don’t let careless packing spoil a great holiday. Airport security systems have changed and has become much tighter. You might want to think about leaving some items at home and there are also some items that you might want to think about taking along. Here are some items to think about taking with you for a smoother trip and holiday:

Bottled water: many people are afraid of causing delays at the security checkpoint and some may insist that you finish it in front of the guards. Sipping water regularly while you fly can alleviate much of the discomfort that flying can cause. Also, depending on your destination – it can be very useful to have a bottle to fill with drinking water.

If you are diabetic it goes without saying; but even non-diabetic travelers will benefit from having some small food items on hand. Food wouldn’t usually bother security guards. Keep some small sugary and high protein snacks on hand to curb low blood sugar levels.

Baby Wipes will most likely be needed as well even if you don’t have a baby. If you eat something sticky and can’t get up to go to the bathroom these will help.

No matter where you are going you will need to find some secure way to carry your money and valuables. Your passports and credit cards will cause a vacation ruining mess for you and your family. If you travel often then it might be worth your while to invest a bit in something special and practical. Money belts are one way to carry around your valuables but they sometimes look bulky and obvious. A fanny pack is another idea. It depends on where you are going. You don’t want to draw attention to yourself or to your nerdy lime green fanny pack. Depending on where you are going you may want to leave jewelry at home. Foreign criminals are just looking for unsuspecting Americans.

Some kind of portable entertainment system is essential if you are traveling alone for long periods of time. It isn’t only techno junkies that can benefit from one of the many portable entertainment systems. Delays can be expected if you fly and you will be glad for something to keep you amused. Load an iPod with some of your favorite music and you have an instant mood lift wherever you are.

Another item that could be useful is a first aid kit. Even if you dont need one – it will be reassuring that you are equipped for any emergency. Include headache tablets, some Mylanta is a must and anti-inflammatory. There are some excellent small travel first aid kits available nowadays.

Packing a plastic bag or two into your bag is a good idea. It will be a handy at some stage of your trip. Plastic bags have an uncanny way of being both useful and hard to find when you need one. Roll it up – won’t take any space and you will find a use for it at some stage of your trip. Otherwise you might land up having to pack your wet shoes in with your clothes.These are just a few tips to ease your trip stress. Since 9/11 air travel has changed and it’s important to keep this in mind when traveling. Plan ahead, be prepared and most importantly – have a great trip!

Travel literature is a coherent narrative of people, events, sights, feelings, adventure and exploration by an author touring a foreign locale. Travel writings related to essay, guidebook, travelogue or itinerary have overlapping boundaries, so are grouped together as travel literature. This article focuses on travel literature that is more of interest to a tourist.

History of Travel Writing
Petrarch ascended Mount Ventoux in 1336 and wrote about this pleasant travel to see the top of the mountain. He made an allegorical comparison between climbing the mountain and his own moral progress in life. After him many travelers noted their travel impressions. In 1589 Richard Hakluyt published his travel voyages, which remain the foundational text of the travel literature. Robert Louis Stevenson is pioneer of tourism literature.

Types of Travelogues
Some great travel specialists, travel worldwide and make their living by writing about it. Paul Theroux, Jan Morris (travel historian), Eric Newby and William LH Moon are a few of them. Some authors travel writing intersects essay writing e.g. V.S. Naipauls India, A wounded civilization and Rebecca Wests Black lamb and grey falcon. Travel and nature writing tends to merge in many works. Gerald Durrell and Ivan Sanderson are such naturalist authors. Charles Darwins famous account of journey on HMS Beagle intersects science, natural history and travel.

Literary travel writings based on authors experiences are also very popular. Some authors are Samuel Johnson, Charles Dickens, Robert L Stevenson, D.H.Lawrence, John Steinbeck and Evelyn Waugh.

Homers Odyssey, allegorical journeys of Dantes Divine Comedy, Voltaires Candide or Jonathan Swifts Gullivers Travels are the fictional travelogues of the mythical journeys.

Unpublished literary writings are available as online travel journals or travelogues written on the move while being constantly updated.

Travel Guides
These are a series of publishings dealing with a particular country, city or region. They provide useful information on hotels, restaurants, sight seeing and other travel tips. These are particularly handy for first time travelers and are mostly compiled by specialists.

Travel Writing
The two basic objectives of travel writing are to inform readers of facts and create an interest in them by way of impressions. The travel writer should do preliminary research of the place, make actual notes and be perceptive of people, customs and atmosphere along with landmarks and scenery. Photographs are an essential part to create visual impact of the article. A sophisticated writing style that includes imagery and has narrative dialogues or other fictive technique makes for interesting reading.

A travel article written in a pleasing style will attract the reader and arouse his curiosity about the places described in the piece.