By : Bradlley Mckoy

Any form of traveling requires a certain amount of preparation – thorough or otherwise – from your end. A good preparation is one of the best ways in making your travel – be it a vacation or an official business trip – successful, and of course enjoyable.

Especially if you are a jetsetter and have been sent to other parts of the world for meetings and conventions, then you are probably a master on travel preparation already. If you’ve made so much use of your travel wallet, then packing up is no daunting task for you.

Regardless, it doesn’t hurt to have a review on some travel tips. Here are a few simple suggestions in keeping the endeavor of packing up more enjoyable:

1. Put all your essentials in one “container.”

Especially if you are travelling abroad, then your passport, your plane ticket and your travel wallet are your most important companions. Without them, you are not going anywhere. Thus, to ensure that you will not forget any or all of them, then keep them together. Also, keep them in a very accessible compartment of your hand carried bag so you don’t have to rummage among your stuff come inspection or security check time.

2. Research regarding your destination.

This is automatic but this tip means more than just knowing about your hotel, the locality’s tourist destinations and your travel itinerary. This is also about the little things: those that seem useless.

You surely will be using chargers – may they be for your iPhone, your laptop or your mp3 player. It’s quite a small thing but to be able to charge your gadgets, you need to know if your plug would work in your place of destination. Otherwise, bring an adaptor. Sometimes, the appropriate adaptor can only be bought in your place of destination. When this is the case, then you’d need to stuff up your travel wallet.

3. Bring your toiletries, but in small amounts.

Some travellers bring their 500ml lotions or 200ml shampoos when they fly. This is actually not practical as this – first and foremost – defeats the standard of travelling light. Sachets are specifically targeted for travel so use them. They are fairly priced so you don’t need to empty the contents of your travel wallet just to be able to keep your luggage light.

4. Of course, travel light.

Yes, over and over again, you’ve been advised to travel light. And this is not just practical for you (because your bags will not be heavy); this is practical for your travel wallet too (because you don’t have to pay for excess baggage).

For instance, if you will be housed in a hotel, then don’t bring towels and house slippers. If you’re not so particular with the brand of your toiletries, you can even do away with them as most hotels provide them for free.

Travel is always something fun and exciting. It is a chance for you to see the other parts of the world and to experience other cultures. Thus, to make it stress and hassle free, you need to have good preparation. Prepare for your travel and prepare to be wowed by both nature and culture! Author Resource:- Sometimes, gift-giving is about travel. So shower your friends with travel alarm clocks (http://www.executivegiftshoppe.com/travelalarmclocks.html) or world time clocks (http://www.executivegiftshoppe.com/woticl.html). You can even wrap a travel wallet (http://www.executivegiftshoppe.com/taxiwallets.html) as your birthday present for a close friend. For more gift ideas, visit us at http://ExecutiveGiftShoppe.com.

By : Patrick Chong

For most people, buying some cheap holiday insurance is just another last minute chore before you go travelling, but late bookers miss out on one of the most valuable parts of their travel insurance policy – cancellation cover. This part of the policy can refund the cost of your holiday if you have to cancel your trip at a later date.

Most people don’t think of this as a problem – after all, how often do you cancel a holiday that you’ve been looking forward to? But, more often than you’d think, cancellation comes from circumstances beyond your control. Here are five situations where buying your travel insurance early could really pay off…

Natural Disaster

The era of cheap international flights has opened up the world for travel, including a wide number of tropical and unusual destinations. People like to travel to unusual climates that take them a world away from their day to day lives, but hurricanes, avalanches, floods and volcanic eruptions all have a tendency to play havoc with your travel plans! If a natural disaster hits your destination of choice before you travel, cancellation is inevitable, but your travel insurance can cover the cost.

Pregnancy

With serious discounts available on advance booking for holidays, more and more people are booking their holidays months in advance. Perhaps even 9 months in advance…If you or your partner falls pregnant, you may well want to cancel your holiday in any case, and if you are due to fly during the later periods of a pregnancy, you might have to!

Chicken Pox

Surely a strange addition to the list? Don’t be so certain. Chicken pox is regarded by many as just another minor childhood illness, but if one of your children contracts chicken pox before you depart for your holiday, you might have to deal with more than some itchy children. There are restrictions on infected children travelling on aeroplanes, as the disease can have potentially serious consequences for pregnant women and HIV sufferers. If you child becomes infected just before you are due to fly, you may have to delay or cancel your flights. Check with your airline to see what their policy is, and make sure that you have travel insurance!

Death in the Family

An unexpected death in the family is a terrible thing to deal with, and can come at any time. While the last thing on your mind may be dealing with the cost of your cancelled holiday, with costs typically running into the thousands of pounds, you’ll be glad you’ve got holiday insurance to keep you covered.

Jury Service

If you are called up to serve on a jury, it is no use telling the judge that you’re flying out to the Canary Islands the next week! Trials can last for several weeks, and if you don’t have holiday insurance, you’ll face the cost of cancellation yourself.

These may seem like unlikely events, but the effect of one of them on your holiday (and your finances!) can be catastrophic. Make sure you book some cheap travel insurance…and make sure you book it early!

Author Resource:- Patrick Chong is the Managing Director of Journey’s Travel. Their commercial travel insurance website, Insuremore (http://insuremore.co.uk/) offers cheap travel insurance and a quick and easy online claims feature.

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Planning on going on safari?  These 6 tips should help you in choosing the right travel destination.

1. Budget – Determine how much you wish to spend while away.  Visiting a tourist destination locally or abroad will definitely vary in terms of cost just as traveling alone or with family or friends.  Having an exact estimate of what you wish to spend is the first step in narrowing down options for safari.
2. Time – Establish how long you will be away.  This will help determine how far you travel.  Safari experiences in distant lands and travel to various locations within the same time frame is best enjoyed when one has time on their hands.  However, with limited time, one can still enjoy a safari to a nearby location.
3. Safari-type – Different people enjoy different types of safaris based on personalities.  It is important to determine what you hope to achieve during your safari by
   

   Image via Wikipedia

   asking yourself various questions such as: Am I looking to relax, have a natu re-experience, enjoy lots of outdoor adventure, have a quiet break, interact with local people, go mountain-climbing, relax on white-sandy beaches, go camping or enjoy the rich wildlife or skiing?  This will determine the destination that should meet your safari objectives.  Ensure to incorporate as many features as you wish into your safari objectives that will allow you to remain within your budget.

4. Planning – Planning a safari is made much easier by using either local and online travel agents.  Read up on 5 Tips for finding a Travel Agent to find the right travel agent for you.
5. Travel Factors – Various factors should be put into consideration when planning your safari to ensure you enjoy your trip fully such as:
   1. 1. Weather – When choosing a travel destination, take into consideration the weather at that time of year as nobody would like to see their safari ruined by bad or poor weather.  If traveling with children, take into account extreme conditions that could affect their stay.
      2. Safety – A good travel destination should guarantee safety and security for both yourself and those you may be traveling with.
      3. Facilities – Good travel destinations should have various facilities to guarantee maximum comfort for you such as accommodation (hotels, lodges, camping sites), entertainment (clubs, shopping areas, theatres, various types of parks), transport (air, road, rail) and much more.
6. Recommendations – One could get a fantastic travel destination by asking friends and family where they enjoyed going on safari.  Take into account however that different people enjoy different experiences based on personalities.  Asking specific questions should help you determine whether visiting the same destination will meet your safari objectives such as: What were you hoping to achieve while on safari?  Why did you like the destination?  What specific activities did you engage in and which ones did you enjoy?

Image via Wikipedia

By : Safaripoint

Just like planning your dream safari can be confusing with the myriad of ideas available to us, choosing the right travel agent can prove to be quite a challenge, whether online or local. The below tips should assist you in choosing the right travel agent for your trip:

1. Experience  – The longer a firm has been in the industry is not necessarily an indicator of great service or knowledge of planning safaris.  A good indicator would be the number of safaris and quality of service offered in planning past safaris that the firm has done.  Quantity in terms of planning varied safaris vis-à-vis quality of the safari both count. It is also important to establish whether the agent has planned similar trips to your destination of choice and their knowledge of the area.  For the best experience, work with an agent who has had previous experience in planning a safari to your destination and has adequate knowledge about various aspects that would relate to your safari experience.
2. Recommendations -While it is important to read reviews and feedback on different travel agents, you can’t always believe what you read or hear.  Recommended agencies from friends and family are a better bet and may point you in the right direction in choosing the right agency.  Take into account though that every individual would have different ratings for different agents based on personalities.
3. Check-Out – If possible, check-out different agencies before selecting one.  It would be advisable that the travel agent you select is accredited and a member to the relevant travel bodies in their country of business.
4. Questions – It is important to ask your travel agent of choice relevant questions to ensure all elements of your safari are catered for and you get the best deals.  Your agent should be willing to address your questions and concerns to ensure all elements are covered.  Possible questions to ask include:
   1. Speciality – It is important to establish the kind of safaris, destinations, groups and products your agent specializes in to ensure you get the best deal.  For example you would not want plan a honeymoon vacation with an agent who has no experience in this area.
   2. Charges – Where possible, compare charges for different agencies to ensure you get a good deal .  It is advisable to be clear from the onset on your travel budget inclusive of the services rendered by the agency i.e. planning expertise, time and advice offered.  You also need to be clear on the agencies charges i.e. commission, flat rate or different charges for different services rendered.
   3. Contact – Establish all ways you may contact your travel agent through telephone, email and so on both locally and while abroad.  Where possible, test the contacts provided to you to ensure they work and are responded to appropriately.
   4. Accommodation for Change – Discuss with your travel agents measures that will be undertaken in the event of a change in plans e.g. flight delays/cancellations, change of travel dates, change/cancellation of reservations and so on.  It is advisable to establish if refunds or cancellation fees in such circumstances are possible and to what extent.
   5. Supplier Incentives – Establish if your travel agent has a relationship with different suppliers in the industry e.g. hotels, flight companies, car-hire companies and so on and whether there are perks associated with this relationship e.g. lower accommodation rates, complimentary tickets, upgrades and so on.  Where available, take advantage of them!!
   6. Safari Specific – Establish from your travel agent all you can about your safari e.g. which is the best time to travel (peak & off-peak)? Which are the best locations to visit? Possible ways to reduce costs? Travel documents and other requirements e.g. vaccinations? Recommended activities during the safari? Do they offer travel insurance?
   7. International Travel – If traveling abroad, establish from your travel agent the rules that will apply to you while in that country e.g. passports, visas and so on.
   8. Reliability – Let’s face it.  When it comes to receiving your cheque, many travel agents will pose as knowledgeable when advising you on your intended safari.  It is advisable to do your own research e.g. on your intended destination and use the same to test your travel agents knowledge.  Travel agents may not know everything, but honesty with the information they offer you is a good sign.
   9. Questions to You – Pay attention to the questions the travel agent will ask you.  The questions should be intended to ensure your travel needs are met rather than seeming more interested in selling you a package.
5. Contract – Finally, it is advisable to have a contract agreement signed between yoursand travel agent.  Read it carefully and ensure all aspects are clear and nothing is left out.

By: henrykahuki

Kenya Safaris Do’s and Don’ts offers a clear guideline ahead of your Safari in Kenya and Africa. Most safari seekers will arrive in Kenya without a clear guideline.   With the world full of unpredictable’s especially in Africa, it makes  a lot of sense for someone to point out what to expect especially for the independent travelers.

1. Do not exchange money in the street, it is illegal. When you take that stroll from your town hotel you will find tempting offers from street vendors offering you better rates that established institutions ignore them and walk in to foreign exchange shops remember to negotiate a shilling or two in your favor. You will be glad you tried.
2. Do keep your passport and money and valuables on you at all times. You can check valuables into security boxes at the hotels and lodges. Loss of passport of cash could easily ruin your safari holiday. When camping a small padlock comes in handy if you have to go swimming, tents always have lockable zippers.
3. Do not walk around Nairobi and other large towns/cities at night. Please take a taxi instead, find out the cost and negotiate a little bit. Always let a tour member know where you are going and when you go off to do your own thing. Please take the same care and common sense precautions that you would in any other part of the world. Club girls are a good distraction. Don’t stray too much off the group.
4. Do not get involved with the “hustlers” in Nairobi. you may hear a hard luck story, which is designed to get you to donate to some cause.
5. Do not expect all hotels and lodges to make international calls back at home. Nairobi is the best place to make these calls. Expect to pay about $10 per Minute for a long distance call. Cell phone reception is catching up well in larger towns unless a western VIP dignitary is visiting when they jam all networks, don’t expect a signal whilst in the bush. Try to set up your roaming service well in advance you might not have much time in Nairobi city before you commence your safari.
6. On a Kenya safari, be prepared for bumpy and dusty roads. These can be irritating to the contact lens wearers. Eye drops and extra pair of glasses are sensible protection.
7. Pack light. Laundry facilities are available throughout your safari. Unless on a basic camping safari where you have to do it personally at the common areas. Remember your weight limit on your return from Kenya and Africa.
8. Be on time when you meet at your mini – vans for game viewing drives. The rest of the safari group members will appreciate when not delayed by one couple three of four times a day. They might feed you to the hyenas.
9. Equatorial sun is strong. Too much can cause dehydration, nausea, dizziness and headaches. We recommend that you wear sunscreens and a hat, as well as a strong pair of dark glasses. Most of the lodges, with the exception of the tree hotel, have swimming pools, when sunbathing use common sense.
10. Do not take photographs of the locals without permission. Never take photographs of the military, policemen, communication intitutions and the president or Government officials.
11. Always keep your camera loaded and ready for action. You never know whet it is going to start.
12. Tipping is custom ally and not mandatory, Ten US dollars per person per day for a great driver guide is welcome. One dollar for an outstanding dinning staff is really nice, this should only be used as a guideline. For outstanding personal service, you may decide to give a higher tip.
13. Remember to pack flexibility and a sense of humor.

Henry Kahuki is an online Africa safaris consultant based in Kenya. The operator of Magical Africa safaris Ltd. http://www.magicalafrica.net an eco-friendly safari agency catering for family safaris, senior travels, individual safaris and camping and offers comprehensive safari arrangements in Africa, Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. Lodges and hotel bookings http://www.magicalafrica.net/africa_safaris.htm and budget camping wildlife safaris in Kenya, luxury safaris, hotel reservations in Kenya, mount Kenya hiking and self drive 4×4 car hire.