Travel Tips
Remember:
to register your travel plans with your Government's website.
Prior to your trip register for email updates on your destination ie extreme weather, terrorist risks, political problems etc
If you are traveling to an earthquake region know what to do in the case of an earthquake.
Be diligent, don't take risks and don't spoil your perfect holiday.
to register your travel plans with your Government's website.
Prior to your trip register for email updates on your destination ie extreme weather, terrorist risks, political problems etc
If you are traveling to an earthquake region know what to do in the case of an earthquake.
Be diligent, don't take risks and don't spoil your perfect holiday.
How to get the CHEAPEST FLIGHTS
UK travel site Momondo, conducted an analysis of 12.6 billion airfares worldwide and found that travellers could save an average of 26 per cent by booking just under two months in advance.
The study also found that flight price varied widely depending on the day of the week. The most expensive day of to fly is Saturday costing up to 11.5 per cent more than flying on Tuesday, the cheapest day to fly.
Another factor was the time of day. The cheapest fares were found to be between 6pm and 12am whereas daytime flights between 10am and 3pm were six per cent more expensive.
Lasse Skole Hansen from Momondo says these findings were good guidelines for making future bookings.
We would always advise travellers to stick to these golden travel rules, to secure the cheapest fares. And in general, it pays to book flights two months in advance.
“We found these trends consistent across the board, so bargain hunters should consider flying in the evening and on Tuesdays if possible, to save the most money on their trip.”
Originally published as The magic rule of flying unveiled
The study also found that flight price varied widely depending on the day of the week. The most expensive day of to fly is Saturday costing up to 11.5 per cent more than flying on Tuesday, the cheapest day to fly.
Another factor was the time of day. The cheapest fares were found to be between 6pm and 12am whereas daytime flights between 10am and 3pm were six per cent more expensive.
Lasse Skole Hansen from Momondo says these findings were good guidelines for making future bookings.
We would always advise travellers to stick to these golden travel rules, to secure the cheapest fares. And in general, it pays to book flights two months in advance.
“We found these trends consistent across the board, so bargain hunters should consider flying in the evening and on Tuesdays if possible, to save the most money on their trip.”
Originally published as The magic rule of flying unveiled
 
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Read warning signs & check travel websites for travel tips Always make sure you have a good travel insurance... if you can't afford travel insurance - YOU CAN'T AFFORD TO TRAVEL Buy a good book to take with you on Travel Tips How to blend in with the Locals while traveling |
Why is it important to have travel insurance?
A whopping 14,000 Australian travellers fall in trouble every year.
AUSTRALIANS are being urged to take out travel insurance before they head overseas.
Foreign Minister Bob Carr in Sydney today launched a $2.6 million campaign warning travellers of the health and financial risks of travelling overseas while uninsured.
Senator Carr said 14,000 Australians found themselves in trouble every year, including being admitted to hospital, having an accident or getting ill on the road.
"(The message) goes to young Australians especially, who might be inclined to go for the more adventurous holiday - we think we can minimise risk and make a lot of difference," he told reporters.
"About 14,000 Australians get into some difficulty overseas each year, and that difficulty is going to be a whole lot less if they've got travel insurance and if they're registered with SmartTravel."
The campaign features electronic advertisements and postcards of Erin Langworthy, a young Australian who fell 110 metres into a river in Zambia in 2011 after her bungee cord broke.
Her insurance ensured treatment in a high-quality hospital and saved about $50,000 in medical bills.
Senator Carr said Australians without travel insurance risked poor local hospital care and high medical bills.
"(Travel insurance is) cheap, it's easy to obtain, and it can save your life when overseas," he said.
Read more: http://www.news.com.au/travel/news/travel-insurance-a-must-carr-says/story-e6frfq80-1226519024527#ixzz2Cqyl0hsm
AUSTRALIANS are being urged to take out travel insurance before they head overseas.
Foreign Minister Bob Carr in Sydney today launched a $2.6 million campaign warning travellers of the health and financial risks of travelling overseas while uninsured.
Senator Carr said 14,000 Australians found themselves in trouble every year, including being admitted to hospital, having an accident or getting ill on the road.
"(The message) goes to young Australians especially, who might be inclined to go for the more adventurous holiday - we think we can minimise risk and make a lot of difference," he told reporters.
"About 14,000 Australians get into some difficulty overseas each year, and that difficulty is going to be a whole lot less if they've got travel insurance and if they're registered with SmartTravel."
The campaign features electronic advertisements and postcards of Erin Langworthy, a young Australian who fell 110 metres into a river in Zambia in 2011 after her bungee cord broke.
Her insurance ensured treatment in a high-quality hospital and saved about $50,000 in medical bills.
Senator Carr said Australians without travel insurance risked poor local hospital care and high medical bills.
"(Travel insurance is) cheap, it's easy to obtain, and it can save your life when overseas," he said.
Read more: http://www.news.com.au/travel/news/travel-insurance-a-must-carr-says/story-e6frfq80-1226519024527#ixzz2Cqyl0hsm
Beware of SCAMS
DO NOT book any accommodation with www.london-holidayrental.co.uk, LH Rentals, PROPERTY ADVISER LTD or Mr Glen Leslie Prince. They are a scam and will take your money and you will not have accommodation!
(WARNING - FROM ONE OF OUR TRAVEL WRITERS)
SAFETY TIPS - The biggest single thing to do to stay safe while traveling. This is a must read.
How to get the best seats on the plane. Read more
Stay updated with all our new stories when you LIKE us on Facebook
(WARNING - FROM ONE OF OUR TRAVEL WRITERS)
SAFETY TIPS - The biggest single thing to do to stay safe while traveling. This is a must read.
How to get the best seats on the plane. Read more
Stay updated with all our new stories when you LIKE us on Facebook
Traveling for long hours - more travel tips
• If travelling for long hours on a plane, bus or train make sure you do regularly exercise to avoid blood clots. There will be exercise information available for your trip.
• Avoid too much alcohol as this will dehydrate you.
• If you are suffering from sinus or a head cold make sure you have an inhalant sachet from the cabin crew prior to landing. By inhaling this it will help avoid massive pains in your head.
• Weigh your suitcases on your bathroom scales BEFORE you leave home.
• Have clearly marked luggage tags or ties to easily identify your bags on the carousel. There are many bags that look the same and can easily be confused.
• Make sure you have locks or zip lock ties on your bags. Don’t run the risk of anyone putting something into your bags.
HOW TO BEAT JET LAG
• Avoid too much alcohol as this will dehydrate you.
• If you are suffering from sinus or a head cold make sure you have an inhalant sachet from the cabin crew prior to landing. By inhaling this it will help avoid massive pains in your head.
• Weigh your suitcases on your bathroom scales BEFORE you leave home.
• Have clearly marked luggage tags or ties to easily identify your bags on the carousel. There are many bags that look the same and can easily be confused.
• Make sure you have locks or zip lock ties on your bags. Don’t run the risk of anyone putting something into your bags.
HOW TO BEAT JET LAG
7 Airport Hacks Every Traveller Should Know About
Travel tips by Rachel Jackson
Heading out on holiday is super exciting but navigating the airport can be a complete and utter drag. The standard airport experience usually involves queueing, waiting around and paying extortionate prices for pretty much everything.
Here are seven essential hacks to improve your airport experience just a little:
Save on Parking
If you’ve ever parked your car at the airport, you’ll know that it can sometimes end up costing you almost as much as your flight. When you need to leave your car, especially if you’re looking for a long-term space, look beyond the airport website. Many local car parking spaces close to the airport can be found on sharing community sites like Spacer. This is a convenient and much cheaper option to booking with the airport direct.
Book the Best Seats
Seat Guru is a travel site that rates aircraft seats based on passenger reviews. If you want to get yourself some decent legroom or even a power outlet, search for your flight and choose the most popular seat before you book.
Stay Hydrated
We all know that liquids over 100ml are confiscated at security. This often means buying overpriced bottles of water once you’re through security checks – an expensive and environmentally unfriendly way of doing things. Take an empty plastic bottle with you and fill it up at a drinking fountain past security to save the planet and some money.
Wear Your Heaviest Clothes
If you’re worried that your bag is going to be over the limit when it comes to weight, wear your heaviest clothes. Those chunky boots and that bulky coat won’t count towards your allowance if you’re wearing them. Also try to weigh your bags at home before you leave for the airport so you’re sure you won’t be facing any extra baggage fees.
Pay For the Priority Lounge
You can often pay a fee to access the priority lounge at an airport. This gives you a quiet place to wait, free refreshments, sometimes decent food and sometimes showers. Fancier lounges even provide spa treatments and mini cinemas. All of this can be a godsend if you have a long layover between flights or your flight is experiencing delays. You can also try to talk your way into the lounge for free by befriending someone passing by. Many lounges allow travellers with membership to admit one guest. You just have to have a sob story ready and hope that someone takes pity on you.
Get Quick Answers After a Cancellation
When a plane is cancelled, a seriously long line of disgruntled passengers forms waiting to learn what has happened and what to do next. If you find yourself towards the back of this line, head online or call the airline directly. Someone from their customer service team may be able to assist you much more quickly than the staff on the ground at the airport.
Choose the Fastest Queue
When you’re waiting to check in, choose the queue next to the First Class/Business check in. When no one is waiting in line at that desk, staff will sometimes call over passengers waiting in the nearest queue. You can also use a little psychology when deciding which lane to head for through security or at passport control. Studies show that, because the majority of us are right handed, when presented with two options we tend to head for the right hand queue. Joining the left hand queue could save you some serious time.
Whilst these airport hacks won’t reduce your travel time or insure you from interminable delays, they can hopefully make your time in the airport a little cheaper and more bearable. Happy flying everyone!
Here are seven essential hacks to improve your airport experience just a little:
Save on Parking
If you’ve ever parked your car at the airport, you’ll know that it can sometimes end up costing you almost as much as your flight. When you need to leave your car, especially if you’re looking for a long-term space, look beyond the airport website. Many local car parking spaces close to the airport can be found on sharing community sites like Spacer. This is a convenient and much cheaper option to booking with the airport direct.
Book the Best Seats
Seat Guru is a travel site that rates aircraft seats based on passenger reviews. If you want to get yourself some decent legroom or even a power outlet, search for your flight and choose the most popular seat before you book.
Stay Hydrated
We all know that liquids over 100ml are confiscated at security. This often means buying overpriced bottles of water once you’re through security checks – an expensive and environmentally unfriendly way of doing things. Take an empty plastic bottle with you and fill it up at a drinking fountain past security to save the planet and some money.
Wear Your Heaviest Clothes
If you’re worried that your bag is going to be over the limit when it comes to weight, wear your heaviest clothes. Those chunky boots and that bulky coat won’t count towards your allowance if you’re wearing them. Also try to weigh your bags at home before you leave for the airport so you’re sure you won’t be facing any extra baggage fees.
Pay For the Priority Lounge
You can often pay a fee to access the priority lounge at an airport. This gives you a quiet place to wait, free refreshments, sometimes decent food and sometimes showers. Fancier lounges even provide spa treatments and mini cinemas. All of this can be a godsend if you have a long layover between flights or your flight is experiencing delays. You can also try to talk your way into the lounge for free by befriending someone passing by. Many lounges allow travellers with membership to admit one guest. You just have to have a sob story ready and hope that someone takes pity on you.
Get Quick Answers After a Cancellation
When a plane is cancelled, a seriously long line of disgruntled passengers forms waiting to learn what has happened and what to do next. If you find yourself towards the back of this line, head online or call the airline directly. Someone from their customer service team may be able to assist you much more quickly than the staff on the ground at the airport.
Choose the Fastest Queue
When you’re waiting to check in, choose the queue next to the First Class/Business check in. When no one is waiting in line at that desk, staff will sometimes call over passengers waiting in the nearest queue. You can also use a little psychology when deciding which lane to head for through security or at passport control. Studies show that, because the majority of us are right handed, when presented with two options we tend to head for the right hand queue. Joining the left hand queue could save you some serious time.
Whilst these airport hacks won’t reduce your travel time or insure you from interminable delays, they can hopefully make your time in the airport a little cheaper and more bearable. Happy flying everyone!
How to travel safely? A guide for seniors - by Rachel Jackson
Avoid too much alcohol....
• Avoid too much alcohol as this will dehydrate you.
• If you are suffering from sinus or a head cold make sure you have an inhalant sachet from the cabin crew prior to landing. By inhaling this it will help avoid massive pains in your head.
• Weigh your suitcases on your bathroom scales BEFORE you leave home.
• Have clearly marked luggage tags or ties to easily identify your bags on the carousel. There are many bags that look the same and can easily be confused.
• Make sure you have locks or zip lock ties on your bags. Don’t run the risk of anyone putting something into your bags.
• Check if visas are required for your trip and that your passport has at least 6 months validity when you arrive at your destination. Some countries such as China require 2 clear pages on your passport.
• Make sure your valuables are safe. Either a money belt or secure bag (not backpack) is necessary.
There are many places where pick pockets are everywhere, just looking for venerable tourists. Read the article on pick pockets
Make sure you only take with you what you need and leave passports & valuables in the safe in your room. ** Remember to take them when you leave
• If you are suffering from sinus or a head cold make sure you have an inhalant sachet from the cabin crew prior to landing. By inhaling this it will help avoid massive pains in your head.
• Weigh your suitcases on your bathroom scales BEFORE you leave home.
• Have clearly marked luggage tags or ties to easily identify your bags on the carousel. There are many bags that look the same and can easily be confused.
• Make sure you have locks or zip lock ties on your bags. Don’t run the risk of anyone putting something into your bags.
• Check if visas are required for your trip and that your passport has at least 6 months validity when you arrive at your destination. Some countries such as China require 2 clear pages on your passport.
• Make sure your valuables are safe. Either a money belt or secure bag (not backpack) is necessary.
There are many places where pick pockets are everywhere, just looking for venerable tourists. Read the article on pick pockets
Make sure you only take with you what you need and leave passports & valuables in the safe in your room. ** Remember to take them when you leave
Speak to your bank
- Speak to your bank before you leave to arrange a debit card and to notify them of your trip.
- If you don't do this and you use your credit card overseas they may stop your card thinking it has been stolen
- When traveling dont carry all your money in one place. ie put some in a money belt, some in a pocket. If there are two of you make sure each of you carry some money.
- • Make sure you have a good travel insurance policy. The saying is “If you can’t afford travel insurance....you can’t afford to travel” and this is so true. Don’t rely on the insurance offered by some credit cards – always check exactly what is covered....
- • Read your policy's product disclosure statement carefully and make sure that you understand exactly what it covers. You should make sure you are covered for any activities you plan to participate in and should be valid for the duration of your trip. Policies may be invalidated if injuries are sustained as a result of being under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
- • Be careful and familiarise yourself with the country protocol and culture. Some countries do not allow you to take photographs in certain places, show affection in public places, dress in a certain way. It is your responsibility to check this out before you start your holiday. There are some great apps on iphone that will give you details on country cultures. A must read....
- • Allow plenty of time between flights. Even though it is not the best to be hanging around airports for hours it is better to allow a reasonable time for late arrivals or unforseen circumstances. Missed flights can be have a disastrous effect on your holiday.
- • Check which airport you are leaving from. Many overseas cities have more than one airport, and most airports in large centres have multiple terminals
- • Check with your mobile phone provider if your phone will operate overseas. To avoid massive phone bills consider putting your phone on incoming sms only – outgoing phone & sms. If you put a message on your phone saying to sms you, you will not have to pay for incoming calls that are redirected. Global roaming can prove to be VERY expensive. With outgoing calls allowed you can still call home in an emergency.
- • Avoid taking a car that is just hanging around waiting to pick up people at the airport. You are better to take a hotel shuttle bus or a taxi from the taxi queue.
- • Make sure you have a small amount of money in the currency of the country you are visiting when you land.
Plan your trip
Check out:
10 tips on getting an airline upgrade
Bank information & tips
Getting around
packing
before you leave
contacting home
Beware using your mobile overseas
Checklist
Health & Safety tips
best seats on the plane
Bali warnings
Remember to Register your travel details with your Government website: http://www.smartraveller.gov.au
Prior to travel monitor issues and any likely problems in the area. Dont assume everything will be OK or that things never happen to you.
Check out our travel tips for New Zealand while travelling around New Zealand in a Motorhome
A good idea is to register for email updates a few months (or even weeks) prior to your departure.
http://www.smartraveller.gov.au/accounts
PIRACY WARNINGS - READ MORE
KIDNAPPING THREAT WORLDWIDE
10 tips on getting an airline upgrade
Bank information & tips
Getting around
packing
before you leave
contacting home
Beware using your mobile overseas
Checklist
Health & Safety tips
best seats on the plane
Bali warnings
Remember to Register your travel details with your Government website: http://www.smartraveller.gov.au
Prior to travel monitor issues and any likely problems in the area. Dont assume everything will be OK or that things never happen to you.
Check out our travel tips for New Zealand while travelling around New Zealand in a Motorhome
A good idea is to register for email updates a few months (or even weeks) prior to your departure.
http://www.smartraveller.gov.au/accounts
PIRACY WARNINGS - READ MORE
KIDNAPPING THREAT WORLDWIDE
Do your research before your trip
• Holiday Destinations around the world encourage you to pre plan your holiday as much as possible to give you maximum time to enjoy yourself when you reach your destination. You will find it easier, more economical and less stressful to plan your itinerary from the comfort of your own home. This will also allow you to enjoy the build up to your holiday and appreciate the excitement of the whole experience. Quite often Hotels will offer substantial discounts if booked as an “early bird” booking.
• Make sure you allow time to rest between your busy schedule. Having fun can be very tiring so if you are pre planning your activities or tours allow some recovery time and also time to do the “unexpected” You may have some last minute things you would like to do and it is important to be able to fit these in on the “spare of the moment”
Be patient with your travel companion.
• When booking accommodation check out the location and make sure it is close to transport. You may be tempted to book accommodation that is located out of the main area because it is less expensive but firstly consider the time to travel to where you want to go and the cost. You may find it is more cost effective to be in a better location.
• Make sure your family have a copy of your itinerary and register with the travel registry in your country to let them know that you will be overseas. There are many reasons why someone may want to contact you when you are away and if there is an emergency it is important that people know exactly where you are.
Check out the 10 most hated travel rip offs
Ten tips on how to get an airline upgrade
Bali claims Aussie life every 9 days
Beware of using your mobile phone overseas
Where do you think the BEST HOLIDAY DESTINATIONS are?
Get the best deal on hotels and flights
comparing prices across lots of sites
Do YOU have and useful tips? Please share with other travellers - Write on our BLOG
• Make sure you allow time to rest between your busy schedule. Having fun can be very tiring so if you are pre planning your activities or tours allow some recovery time and also time to do the “unexpected” You may have some last minute things you would like to do and it is important to be able to fit these in on the “spare of the moment”
Be patient with your travel companion.
• When booking accommodation check out the location and make sure it is close to transport. You may be tempted to book accommodation that is located out of the main area because it is less expensive but firstly consider the time to travel to where you want to go and the cost. You may find it is more cost effective to be in a better location.
• Make sure your family have a copy of your itinerary and register with the travel registry in your country to let them know that you will be overseas. There are many reasons why someone may want to contact you when you are away and if there is an emergency it is important that people know exactly where you are.
Check out the 10 most hated travel rip offs
Ten tips on how to get an airline upgrade
Bali claims Aussie life every 9 days
Beware of using your mobile phone overseas
Where do you think the BEST HOLIDAY DESTINATIONS are?
Get the best deal on hotels and flights
comparing prices across lots of sites
Do YOU have and useful tips? Please share with other travellers - Write on our BLOG
