Save some money by taking along the CityPass if you are traveling to: Atlanta Boston Hollywood New York Southern California Chicago Houston San Francisco Philadelphia Seattle Toronto The CityPass is a little ticket booklet that can get you VIP perks, avoid long box-office lines and upgrades at no extra charge. Skip a line or get a complimentary audio tour. The CityPass can get you up [...] [...more]
The CityPass is a little ticket booklet that can get you VIP perks, avoid long box-office lines and upgrades at no extra charge. Skip a line or get a complimentary audio tour. The CityPass can get you up to 50% off of admission to some of the best and major attractions in North America including Chicago’s Field Museum, Statue of Liberty, Disneyland and Seattle’s Space Needle. The CityPass has no blackout dates and is available at any CityPass attraction or online at Citypass.com.
It is getting increasingly more difficult for American’s to make credit card transactions overseas. American credit cards run on the standard magnetic-stripe technology while many foreign countries have made a shift toward chip-based cards commonly referred to as chip-and-PIN cards because users enter their PIN rather than sign. Some merchants and kiosks are rejecting credit [...] [...more]
It is getting increasingly more difficult for American’s to make credit card transactions overseas. American credit cards run on the standard magnetic-stripe technology while many foreign countries have made a shift toward chip-based cards commonly referred to as chip-and-PIN cards because users enter their PIN rather than sign. Some merchants and kiosks are rejecting credit cards of magnetic-strip technology because they lack the embedded microprocessor chip that processes and stores information. The reason behind this shift in credit card technologies is because the chip-and-PIN system offers extra protection against theft and fraud. More and more countries are moving toward the chip-and-PIN system, which will increase the difficulty for Americans trying to make credit card transactions overseas. Currently, twenty-two countries including much of Europe, Mexico, Japan and Brazil already adopted the technology. Another 50 countries or so are in the process of the move to the technology including India, China and most of Latin America. This past year, Canada started to offer chip-and-PIN cards and has plans to stop accepting magnetic-strip credit cards at ATM’s after 2012 and at point-of-sale terminals after 2015. Right now, most store or restaurant merchants as well as ATM’s still have credit card terminals that can read magnetic-stripe cards. Americans have experience credit card rejection at automated ticket kiosks at train stations, parking garages, gas pumps and others. The alternative, to carry around cash, is not a secure one.
The United States banking industry does not have any immediate plans to make the switch over to chip-and-PIN technology. One reason is because fraud issues are not as prevalent here as in other countries and because the conversion would be expensive (approximately $5.5 billion). The chip-and-PIN cards are different from the American credit cards that have the radio frequency chip which you can just wave in front of a scanner rather than swipe your card. Currently, Travelex is working on a chip-and-PIN card for Americans where you can load with up to 6,000 Euros or £4,500 (about $9,000). Still, that solution will not go into effect for at least another year. Until that happens, the most an American traveler can do is insist that the merchant try to swipe their credit card anyway when trying to complete credit card transactions overseas. The terminal may be able to read your card.
Traveling nowadays in this economy involves breaking the piggy bank and gathering up our pennies. Before you give up on traveling, you might want to cast your attention on new Hotel trends indicating a rise in Affordable Micro-Hotels, pod hotels, and new upscale hostels. One of the best of affordable Micro-Hotels in the world, BASE2STAY, London [...] [...more]
Traveling nowadays in this economy involves breaking the piggy bank and gathering up our pennies. Before you give up on traveling, you might want to cast your attention on new Hotel trends indicating a rise in Affordable Micro-Hotels, pod hotels, and new upscale hostels.
One of the best of affordable Micro-Hotels in the world, BASE2STAY, London has a designer touch with clean lines, white linens and even a kitchenette! Prices start from $134. Wwww.base2stay.com
Another great example, is LISBON LIVING LOUNGE HOSTEL, in Lisbon, Portugal which has comfortable room each decorated by one of 17 different artists. Lisbon lounge also serves a delicious three-course meal at night, and entertains guest on walking tours. And lastly it was voted one of the world’s cleanest hostels in 2008. Prices start from $25. www.lisbonloungehostel.com
Another hostel which will make you pay attention to these hotel trends is STAY, Los Angeles. Here you have the choice of a private room and bath. You’ll find plenty of color in the décor, as well an on-site art gallery, computer room, and soon enough a lobby bar. The amount of pennies you need to allocate to the hotel room, or your biggest expense, is not as much as you might think thanks to hotel trends such as the increase in affordable Micro-Hotels. After your stay you will have enjoyed quality lodging for a bargain price.
Tourists who embark on vacations know that they are going to be spending their money. There are some who constantly look for bargains and the most travel tips, while others care a little less about the financial aspects. Germans and Americans are the two of the biggest spenders according to the World Tourism Organization. Tourists opting [...] [...more]
Tourists who embark on vacations know that they are going to be spending their money. There are some who constantly look for bargains and the most travel tips, while others care a little less about the financial aspects.
Germans and Americans are the two of the biggest spenders according to the World Tourism Organization. Tourists opting for vacation rentals in the destinations of their choice often find the experience rewarding and the money well-spent. Here is a list of the top 10 biggest spenders by nationality, as provided by the World Tourism Organization. It should not come as a surprise that Americans are among the top 5; the number “$76.2 billion” does seem pretty high.
The World Tourism Organization is in charge of following travels around the globe. According to the WTO, a tourist is simply someone staying outside of their usual location for a period of more than 24 hours. Boundaries between countries are becoming easier to travel through. Certain countries, like France (France vacation rentals) and Spain [...] [...more]
The World Tourism Organization is in charge of following travels around the globe. According to the WTO, a tourist is simply someone staying outside of their usual location for a period of more than 24 hours. Boundaries between countries are becoming easier to travel through. Certain countries, like France (France vacation rentals) and Spain (Spain vacation rentals) , are the main beneficiaries as their cultures are very appealing to visitors.
People love travelling, staying in vacation rentals or hotels, and exploring new boundaries. The Unification of the European Union has made Europe a great continent for traveling since European citizens no longer need visas.
Countries like France, Spain, Italy (Italy vacation rentals) and Germany (Germany vacation rentals) are among the most visited in Europe and in the world. Travel tips are numerous on the internet and tourists can get as much information to find the destinations they enjoy.
Can you guess what the 10 most visited countries are?
So many developments and changes have been made in the availability of free or affordable international calls while traveling. Before, travel tips savvy travelers would buy a local SIM card for about $2 to $25 from whichever country they were visiting. They then insert the SIM card into an unlocked phone and make and receive [...] [...more]
So many developments and changes have been made in the availability of free or affordable international calls while traveling. Before, travel tips savvy travelers would buy a local SIM card for about $2 to $25 from whichever country they were visiting. They then insert the SIM card into an unlocked phone and make and receive local calls.
Popular travel tips were introduced so that travelers may reach people back home by making and receiving affordable international calls via the well-known internet phone software called Skype. Skype works like a phone making calls through the internet. Skype released Skype for the iPhone which is convenient whenever you get access to Wi-Fi abroad. It does not work with 3G or other cellular networks. The call quality is pretty good. eBay bought Skype in 2005 but apparently, it only licensed, and didn’t buy, the software code that Skype runs on. Currently, Skype’s founders, who are no longer with the company but own the code through their new company, Joltid, are trying to terminate the license. The legal battle is supposed to reach British court by June 2010, and if Joltid wins, Skype will be unlikely to continue.
In the meantime, new travel tips and increased competition for Skype is popping up in the market of affordable international calls.
Google Voice
Google recently introduced this system to new subscribers. An invitation is necessary to join but you can request one on the site. Like Skype, Google Voice allows you to make affordable international calls at a low rate but goes about it differently. Google Voice works like a virtual switchboard that connects two parties over landlines, cellular airwaves and the internet. To use this travel tips suggestion, users need to simply log into the website and dial a number.
Disadvantage:
Google Voice works great when you are calling overseas from the United States but it doesn’t work as well in reverse. Google says that changes on this are underway.
Jajah
Users can make affordable international calls through Jajah by first dialing a local access number for the country you’re visiting; then, that number will connect you to the phone number you are trying to call.
Disadvantage:
Jajah only has access numbers in 19 countries (most of which are in Europe). If you’re in a country that is not assigned an access number, you would have to make the call from a computer.
GizmoCall.com
GizmoCall.com is a Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) system that requires a computer or Web-enabled phone to work.
This travel tips suggestion is a device that allows you to turn any internet-connected computer into an Internet telephone using a U.S.B.
OneSIMCard.com
At OneSIMCard, you can purchase an international SIM card that works in over 170 countries. The card goes for $39.99 but is free if you purchase at least $200 worth of credit.
Voxox
Voxox is travel tips suggestion that is similar to Skype and lets you make VoIP calls at similar rates. The system’s best feature is the SMS Callback; the user can send a text to Voxox with a phone number that they want to call. A few seconds later, the text sender’s phone will ring and a few seconds after they pick up the phone, the other person picks up their phone. You do not need a computer, internet access or a special kind of phone to make these international calls. Since it is connecting two phones, it charges two rates but combined, it still is often cheaper than Skype. Truphone and Call2 have similar SMS Callback features
We hear a lot about all of these great airfare steals and deals but sometimes, it may be difficult to find what everyone is talking about. Is what we are looking at today, the best deals? Or is it best to hold off because the best deals are still to come? Over the past year, [...] [...more]
We hear a lot about all of these great airfare steals and deals but sometimes, it may be difficult to find what everyone is talking about. Is what we are looking at today, the best deals? Or is it best to hold off because the best deals are still to come? Over the past year, travelers who waited to purchase their tickets at the last moment generally got the best fares because that is when airlines are forced to slash prices in order to fill empty seats.
At the same time, some of today’s deals are just too good to pass up. Airfares remain at about 18 percent cheaper as compared to last year. Though summer is not normally when you will find travel deals, Southwest Airlines had one if its biggest sales after Forth of July Weekend, slashing one-way fares below $100.
In response, other carriers began to match those fares. Unfortunately, the extreme drop in passengers calls for airlines to make more service cuts. As a result, fares may shoot up again. Still, most airfare watchers urge travelers to wait because prices are expected to continue falling in the coming months.
Also, it is good to know that airlines may originally post high airfares but then they do not manage those until it gets closer to the departure date (normally 60 days before). Waiting is particularly good when looking for a flight to Europe (Europe vaction rentals) Yapta.com is a price tracking service that will alert you if the price of your plane ticket drops after you’ve purchased it. In such a situation, the traveler would call the airline to ask for a voucher for the price difference.
Overall, the commonly agreed-upon best advice, if you find a fare that is historically considered good, book it. Do not wait for a fantasy fare that may never come.
It is no convenience to have allergies. The inconveniences are magnified when you are trying to avoid foods you are allergic to while you are traveling in a place where don’t speak the local language. Selectwisely.com is a website that facilitates travel for those who suffer from allergies or other healthy concerns. Selectwisely.com offers translation cards [...] [...more]
It is no convenience to have allergies. The inconveniences are magnified when you are trying to avoid foods you are allergic to while you are traveling in a place where don’t speak the local language.
Selectwisely.com is a website that facilitates travel for those who suffer from allergies or other healthy concerns. Selectwisely.com offers translation cards in over 25 different languages to communicate your health-issue to restaurant servers or anyone else.
The card has an image and the English message on one side and the translation in whichever language on the other side.
Mont Tremblant is one of the most upscale ski resorts in North America and it attracts visitors all year long. Mont Tremblant is located in the Laurentians Region in the Province of Quebec, 125 kilometers from Montreal. The Laurentians is a region made up of thousands of lakes and breathtakingly beautiful nature. The ski resort [...] [...more]
Mont Tremblant is one of the most upscale ski resorts in North America and it attracts visitors all year long. Mont Tremblant is located in the Laurentians Region in the Province of Quebec, 125 kilometers from Montreal. The Laurentians is a region made up of thousands of lakes and breathtakingly beautiful nature. The ski resort of Mont Tremblant has the majestic Lac Tremblant and all its activities at its feet.
Mont-Tremblant vacation rental with lake views
This winter resort is also a popular summer and autumn destination. In the summer, the lake features great beach activities such as water skiing, wake boarding, sailing, windsurfing, boating and fishing. Visitors that prefer land-based sports will have the option to play golf, tennis and quad or go horseback riding, hiking, biking or rollerblading. In June 2009, Mont Tremblant just opened its grandiose Casino. Needless to say, vacationers in the city do not be bored. Whether you decide to rent a vacation apartment in Mont Tremblant ski village or to rent lakefront vacation homes in Mont Tremblant, you will fall in love with the region. Visitors can rent lavish vacation homes in Mont Tremblant featuring up to 8 bedrooms nestled within majestic, almost unreal nature.
Vacation villas, Vacation apartments The best choice between vacation villas and vacation apartments depends on many different factors including where the vacationer wants to go. Seaside resorts and countryside resorts may offer an equal amount of vacation apartments and vacation villas whereas urban areas are mainly made up of vacation apartments. Finding vacation villas in Paris, [...] [...more]
The best choice between vacation villas and vacation apartments depends on many different factors including where the vacationer wants to go. Seaside resorts and countryside resorts may offer an equal amount of vacation apartments and vacation villas whereas urban areas are mainly made up of vacation apartments. Finding vacation villas in Paris, London or New York is possible but quite difficult. When you do find them, they are usually far from the center or quite expensive.
People traveling in larger groups usually prefer to stay in vacation villas while smaller groups are perfectly comfortable in vacation apartments. Budget is another factor to consider. Vacation villas tend to be more expensive than vacation apartments. Vacation apartments vary in size from a simple studio to a 3 bedroom apartment. Vacation villas tend to be larger with a minimum of 2 bedrooms ranging all the way up to 6 bedrooms. Vacation apartments rarely have more than 3 bedrooms and are therefore not suitable for larger groups of vacationers.
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