Month: March 2023

Cheap Travel Deals – You’re Looking in the Wrong Places

How many hours do you think consumers spend online looking for cheap travel deals so they can save a few bucks? Just about everyone I’ve talked to will go to all the major online booking engines and compare prices, going back a forth, trying to find the best possible deal. What their doing is wasting valuable time when there is a much better way.

Many people today are becoming work at home travel agents so they can save money on their next vacation. Now we’re not talking just a few dollars, we are talking thousands. So just how do these work at home travel agents get such cheap travel deals?

Here’s how it works. Those who are in the travel profession are offered ultra discounted trips to just about anywhere you can think of as a way of building a relationship with the agent. These trips, also known as “FAM Trips” are a great way for the travel professional to learn about new destinations and get a fantastic deal at the same time.

The provider of the discounted fair knows that if the agent likes the trip, he or she will recommend it to all of there clients. This process of providing cheap travel deals to those in the travel industry have been around for years, but it is just now that people are finding out how it works.

I have personally gotten free upgrades on flights, hotel rentals at half price and have been on cruises that were only $25 a day because I was in the travel industry. Becoming a work at home travel agent has become extremely easy and offers a great way to find cheap travel deals and make some money in the process.…

Universal Studios Amusement Parks

Universal studios amusement parks, powered by the Universal Studios, an NBC Universal division are based on films the company has produced through the years. At present, open parks involve Universal Studios Hollywood, Universal Studios Orlando and Universal Studios Japan theme parks. The idea of this company’s amusement parks started out back in 1981. Although Universal had a Studio Tour which was pretty famous back in the days, they desired something a little larger. They preferred a functional studio that could also become a theme park and thus the concept of this amusement parks came to be.

The first theme park from Universal Studios was launched in 1990. The early times of the theme park wasn’t remarkable. The points of interest didn’t show to be as successful as it had been expected. Long line delays caused lots of people to vow never to come back. In truth the 2 theme parks, Earthquake and Kongfrontation, the most famous attractions during the time of their opening hit a brick wall. JAWS similarly suffered a related fate. Because of these failures, the company triggered presenting free passes as apologies for the unhappy enthusiasts. Nonetheless, damage had previously been done and it would take a period of time before Universal could endure these disastrous failures.

By 1996, an enormous development was happening with all the launch of a 2nd theme park, a new hotel and an entertainment district that were launched almost simultaneously in 1999. The brand new amusement park which was entitled “Islands of Adventure” made all conscious that Universal Studios was effective at providing the same degree of excitement to a recreation area as Disney. In fact, a number of the imaginative skill behind the highly flourishing Disney-MGM studios was responsible for Universal’s Islands of Adventure. The theme park wasn’t any “kiddie park” because it was capable to supply high energy coasters and thrill rides which were directed at a mature audience.

Within the same year 1999, their team created the City Walk, an entertainment district similar to Disney’s Pleasure Island and luxury hotel Portofino Bay. Today, the district has 3 hotel properties, 2 amusement parks as well as an entertainment district that generally seems to rival Disney. Having an additional 2000 acres, Universal is definitely not done. They want to build a couple of additional theme parks and more accommodations. If you are searching to experience the field of the spine-tingling excitement of films like Jaws, Twister and out-of-this-world adventure with movies like E.T., Men In Black and Back to the Future, this is the place to revive those fantasies.…

Travel Agent and Internet Marketing – Impact, Benefits, and Planning

The internet is a part of a wide majority of lives today and it is something irrevocable and unstoppable. Even traditional brick and mortar businesses with a physical presence in the city or town have come to realize the value of an online presence and the importance of internet marketing.

Gone are the days when people were relaxed and visited the stores to shop and talk a while. Today it’s all about cramming as much as possible into one day because of the immensely fast paced world we live in. People no longer go to stores so much to shop and home shopping has become a huge industry. Internet searches for products and services have replaced the Yellow pages!

Any business that does not have a web presence is bound to lose out big time because people turn to the internet for their information. When we consider the travel agent and internet marketing it is interesting to study the impact that online marketing has on a travel agent.

In terms of money, the travel agent will benefit. Advertising in the phone directory, newspapers, magazines and other media is an expensive affair; most online advertising is very cheap and advertisements in internet directories are free. Another advantage is the links to your website you can put in the advertisement, which will help direct visitors to your site.

You can upgrade your website by adding superior quality content to it; it is not very expensive to get professional content written by a ghost writer, if you cannot do the writing yourself. This will attract customers because people turn to the internet every single time for information. Once your customers figure out that you are a travel agent who knows his stuff you have a potential customer to hand. You don’t even need a website to register with the online directories; however, internet marking has more of a positive impact when you have your own site.

The name you choose for your domain is a very useful internet marketing tool. Choose a name that will also be your URL; make sure it is relevant to the travel services you provide. Customers will find it easy to remember the name and will soon stop bothering to do a search to find travel agents, coming instead directly to your site. Remember your domain name will be your online identify for the foreseeable future.

Competition in every industry is extremely fierce and the travel industry is no different. For a travel agent to become successful online, a very well thought out internet marketing plan is essential. A good internet marketing plan includes the following:

– Getting your site registered with the online directories

– Optimize your website for the search engines

– Make correct use of keywords and keyword phrases to get a high ranking in the search engine results; you aim should be to get your website listed in the first 5 results on every major search engine. This will greatly increase web traffic to your site, giving you increased numbers of potential customers.

– Obtaining an email database of customers who visit your site

– Sending emails to potential customers

– Providing informative and useful content for customers

– Setting up linkbacks to your site…

Air Travel

Most of us travel by airplane frequently and are used to the procedures and expectations of the airport. First time fliers, however, may become quite nervous because they are unaware of what to expect when they arrive at the airport. If you are a first time flier and are wondering what to expect when you arrive at the airport, this article can help. Throughout this article we will discuss everything you need to know about taking your first flight!

Before even arriving at the airport, you will want to dress appropriately. Depending on your destination, it is often suggested that you dress in layers. When you are flying, temperatures can change quickly based on elevation and location. You will want to bring something warm to wear, as well as something cool, for any unexpected changes in temperature. You will also want to wear comfortable shoes. High heels don’t cut it in an airport. Airports can often be very large in size, sometimes taking 20 minutes to walk from one end to the other. Thus, you will want to make sure that your feet are comfortable for any amount of walking that you may have to endure. Also, when it comes to flying, avoid wearing metal or jewelery. The more metal or jewelery that you wear, the more things you will have to remove during security check, making your check in a much longer process than it has to be.

So now you know what to wear, but what all do you need to bring to the airport with you? When traveling via airplane you will need to bring your airline ticket, your passport, and of course, your luggage. It is important that when packing your luggage you follow the airline’s luggage requirements. Most airlines allow you to bring along two check in bags and one carry on bag. With most airlines, you will be charged a fee of $20-$30 for each checked bag under 40 pounds. If the bag is over 40 pounds, you will be charged an additional fee. Carry on luggage is usually free, but is very limited in size. All carry on luggage must be small enough to fit in the overhead compartments on the airplane. Carry on luggage is also subject to other restrictions regarding weapons, gels, and liquids. For more information about luggage restrictions, refer to your airlines website.

What should you expect when you arrive at the airport? Firstly, you will want to arrive at the airport at least 2 hours in advance. This will give you ample time to check your bags, get through security, and grab a bite to eat before takeoff. If you cannot make it 2 hours in advance, make sure to arrive at least one hour before takeoff. If you are not checked in thirty minutes before your flight is scheduled to leave, your seat may be given to someone else.

Since the terrorist attacks on 9/11, airport security has become increasingly tight. First, your bags will be passed through an x-ray machine to check for any breaches of security and then you, yourself, will be instructed to walk through a metal detector. To pass through security quickly, ensure that you have followed all carry on guidelines and that you have your boarding pass and passport ready.

Also, when traveling, make sure to bring a good amount of money aboard the plane with you. If you get hungry while waiting for, or during, your flight, food can be quite expensive. Always have extra money available to you in case you become hungry.

Aboard the plane, expect small, tight spaces. Airplane seats are very small and crowded, so be prepared! Always make sure to bring something that you can entertain yourself with in case you are unable to sleep in such a confined space.

For first time fliers, airport procedures can be quite confusing. To survive your first airport experience, follow the tips above and be sure to ask airport staff if you have any additional questions.…

Tips to Travel Easily With a Disability

Are you having a physical disability or are you traveling with anyone who is having any sort of physical disability? Nowadays, with the availability of so many facilities, you can easily plan your trip that will not create any problem. Approach agents or trip companies to get the best deal that match your needs. Planning an independent trip has become so easy with a convenient wheelchair. Following tips may help you to enjoy a convenient journey:

Before You Go:

Make your plans clearly. You should do what would be your next step as possibly as you can. Many airline companies allow patients to carry one wheelchair per plane. Also, you may get accessible wheelchair facility in hotels as well.

Learn about your destination:

In order to learn more on accessibility, it would be easier to check the Web sites of concerned hotels and guidebooks for details. Learn if the location has buildings or streets without elevator facility, then it is best not to visit such places.

Research your hotel:

Thanks to internet technology, you can look inside your booked hotel. You can enquire about your room and its facility. Ask them in detail what additional facility they provide to their guests. Do not trust any unreliable information source but cross check with the hotel only. It will help you to get the real picture of your hired accommodation.

Pack carefully:

While packing up your stuffs, it becomes important for you to pack all the important medication that you will need. In addition, you will have to cross check everything that you may require during your trip to your chosen destination.…

The Zambezi River – Zambia’s Finest Safari Feature

The Zambezi is Africa’s fourth largest river; flowing for about 3000km across central Africa. The river hails from a small brook at the upper Northwest corner of Zambia and it then flows through Angola and borders Namibia, Botswana, Zambia and Zimbabwe before finally cutting through Mozambique where it empties its waters into the Indian Ocean through a Delta. 

The Zambezi River ebbs and flows depending on season. If there is prolonged rain, the river swells up and bursts its banks in particular areas displacing thousands of people. On the other hand if there is no rain, the waters recede. The river is divided into three sections; the upper Zambezi, middle Zambezi and lower Zambezi.

Though the river, has a lot to offer with every square kilometer it passes through, it has the best of its features in Zambia and Zimbabwe. Perhaps the most spectacular feature along the Zambezi is the magnificent Victoria Falls. Known locally as “Mosi-oa-Tunya” (the smoke that thunders), the Victoria Falls is one of the Seven Wonders of the World. The deafening roar of the falls as millions of liters of water cascade down its rocky cliff can be heard from metres away. From the falling water rises a glistening blanket of mist which makes the sight all the more enchanting.

The best time to tour the falls is during the dry winter season which runs from July to August. Around the rainy season, the blanket of mist gets so thick that it makes it impossible to catch a glimpse of the falls. The peak of the dry season is also not best because the falls are at their dullest during this time. If you wish to, you can catch a helicopter ride and get a bird’s eye view of the falls. However, most people prefer the experience from the ground where they can feel the spray of the falls on their faces. If you plan to view the falls from the ground, carry a raincoat as you are bound to get soaked, most people get a kick out of this though.

Not far from the falls stands the grand Victoria Falls Bridge. The bridge is a prized piece of fine architecture that joins Zambia and Zimbabwe while also providing an expansive view of the Zambezi and the adjacent rain forests. The most popular activity at the bridge is bungee jumping. The fall is 111 metres long making it the second longest bungee distance in the world. Other notable sights along the Zambezi include the expansive Kariba and Cahora Bassa dams.

The Kariba dam in Zambia, boasts a vast 300km. The Cahora Bassa dam lies in Mozambique and is 20km smaller than the Kariba making it 280km wide. Both dams are deep and quite popular for their sport fishing activities. You can choose whether to fish from the banks or go out into the water in a canoe. The most common fish in these areas are Tiger fish which can grow to as much as 10kg, the yellow-belly bream, and the red-breasted bream among others.

Besides fishing, the dams also provide the local community with enough water for irrigation for those who practice farming along the river. The dams are also a source of hydropower. The Kariba dam supplies power to Zambia and Zimbabwe while the Cahora Bassa dam supplies power to both Mozambique and South Africa.   

There are a number of game parks and reserves dotted all along the Zambezi and offering some of the best Africa safaris. The most popular of these include the Zambezi National Park, the Victoria Falls national park, the Mana pools park, and the Wide horizons elephant camp. Here, visitors can watch a wide array of wild animals along game drives or in fenced and controlled reserves. The activity that the Zambezi is world famous for is its eventful white water rafting expeditions. The rocky riverbeds of the Zambezi and the steep, gorged terrain as well as pressure pools provide an excellent flowing strip for the exciting rapids.

The Zambezi rapids have been classified as grade five, meaning that they are very difficult to negotiate, very fast, violent and unpredictable as they have no clear pattern that a negotiator can get used to therefore making each trip different from the next. The rapids are also popular because they have little bare rock allaying fears of injury therefore allowing kayakers to make the most of the experience.

There is a wide array of hotels and lodges to choose from along the Zambezi. They range from outdoor tent and mattress camping lodges to luxury five star hotels. Whichever you choose, they all promise different adventures that are bound to make your stay memorable. A couple of the most popular hotel and lodges include; the Royal …