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There are some things that you can do that may help you have a safer and more enjoyable travel experience.

When you are traveling, or on vacation, your best protection is to understand the local culture and customs of that country. By observing how the local women behave and dress will give you valuable clues on how to avoid sexual harassment.

If the local women cover their hair, arms, and legs then you should do the same. Do not wear bikinis, swimsuits, or short shorts in towns where local women are covered up. You should dress conservatively.

Avoid direct eye contact with men as they might construe this as flirtatious. Do not talk, smile, or wave to strange men who smile or say hello to you. If a man follows you, cross the street. If this doesn’t work, find a policeman, or enter a store and ask for help.

If you have to ask for directions, always ask a woman. Also, when you are traveling by bus or train, make sure that you always sit with other women.

It is a great idea to carry a versatile head scarf in your handbag just in case you need to cover your head and arms.

You should think about wearing a fake wedding ring to help discourage and ward off any unwanted male advances if you’re not married.

Don’t forget to wear a referee’s whistle around your neck under your blouse. It might come in handy.

Consult guide books on the countries and areas that you are traveling to or through to give you a heads up on what to expect. Also, carry a foreign language phrase book with you to help you communicate with people when you get there.

It’s not a good idea to wear expensive looking jewelry, watches, carrying cases digital cameras, or even designer handbags. You don’t want to attract any muggers or robbers. Pack a conservative outfit to wear in case you need one for certain occasions.

If you are planning to travel alone, it is best to travel light. One advantage is that you will be more mobile because you aren’t loaded down with luggage. If it’s not too small for your belongings, a wheeled, carry-on bag, or a backpack may be you best bet. It’s important to have one hand free at all times. If you can have two hands free, it’s is even better. You should get a shoulder bag that has a strong, wide strap that fits over your head. Wearing a shoulder bag this way may help prevent a robber from grabbing the bag and running away with it. The shoulder bag should have secure, zippered pockets.

To quickly locate and book cheap holidays, for the best possible price, every time you feel like traveling, visit Travel Tips Guide, for more information.

If you would like to find out about some of the travel accessories that are available to make your trip more comfortable, easier, and safer, here are some great products. These items should be available at any luggage and travel accessories stores.

What are compression bags and can they save a lot of space in your travel luggage?

If you use plastic space saving compression bags when packing your clothes, you can save up to 80% more space in your luggage. They can be used over and over again for years of easy packing.

What is a non-slip security wallet and how does it work?

One accessory you should consider buying is the non-slip security travel wallet. It is about the same size as a regular wallet but it has non-slip rubber on one side which will rub against and catch on the inside of your pocket if it accidentally slips out of your pocket, or if someone tries to pick your pocket. Always put your wallet in your front pocket. Under no circumstances should you ever carry your wallet in your back pocket. Professional thieves the world over call it “the sucker pocket”.

Here’s a neat trick! You can convert your wallet into a non-slip one by putting a few wide rubber bands around it. Another solution that will help with the pickpocket problem is a chain-equipped travel wallet which you can attach to your belt.

The secret waist wallet is a wallet which can compliment a non-slip travel wallet. It fits under your shirt or blouse, but it’s still easily accessible. It is not a good idea to lift up your shirt or blouse to open this wallet in public as you can never be sure who is watching, like a possible pickpocket, or robber. It’s best to open it discretely where no one can see what your doing, like in a public washroom stall.

Leather money belts that have concealed, zippered pockets on the inner sides of them, are excellent security travel products. You can hide small foldable documents, paper money, or a key in the secure, zippered pocket.

Elastic security socks have a concealed, zippered type pocket on the inside of each one of a pair of these socks. These socks would be difficult for a pickpocket to access.

Another unique accessory is the RFID blocking passport holder. This radio frequency identification holder protects your passport, and other important documents that could be compromised by data-stealing hackers.

A unique combination and key accessible combo luggage lock makes it possible for a custom’s official to unlock your checked luggage for inspection by using a special skeleton key, then lock your luggage up again. You can then dial the combination and open your luggage when you arrive at your destination. This can save you a lot of time and money replacing regular locks that custom’s agents would usually have to break to gain entry to check your luggage. Another plus with combo locks is that you don’t have any keys to worry about replacing or losing.

You can carry a battery-operated, personal security alarm that emits a loud, shrill sound that can help scare off a mugger or robber. Another product that is less costly and will produce the same effect is a referee’s sports whistle, which you can hide under your shirt or blouse, attached to a string, and hung around your neck.

Battery-operated hotel room intruder alarms are great hotel room safety devices. One type of alarm hangs on the room’s door knob. Any movement of the door knob or door will set the alarm off. Another one is the doorstop type which you push under the door’s bottom edge. If someone tries to open the hotel room door, the alarm will be triggered.

Women travelers can get an innovative security purse that has a steel cable sewn into the strap. This will foil a thief who attempts to cut through the strap and tries to take off with their purse.

Easy to inflate, easy to carry, the pocket pillow measures approximately 6″ x 4″ x 1″. It inflates to about 19″ x 15″, and makes a comfortable pillow when you need to rest your head or sleep.

You should always make sure that you protect your eyes when on vacation in sunny climates by wearing sunglasses that carry both a UVA as well as a UVB certified protection label..

A handy little book light that clamps on to the edge of your book enables you to conveniently read in dim light or total darkness. It also allows you to read in the dark without disturbing your sleeping travel companion.

If you are backpacking you should consider wearing a steel-mesh equipped backpack. These great backpacks have a security steel mesh sewn into the bottom and sides, the most vulnerable places where a thief could slash it with a knife. When this happens, everything tumbles out, and the thief and his accomplices grab anything of valuable and run away in different directions.

Keep in mind that you will probably have to use adaptor plugs and converters if you are traveling to certain countries.

One of the largest travel accessory stores, Magellan’s, has an award-winning catalogue that has everything for travelers from connector and adaptor plugs to secret security wallets. You can order their complete line of products catalogue online, at Magellans.com

Tilley Endurables is a legendary manufacturer of sun-protective travel clothing and accessories. They created the world-famous Tilley Hat and specialize in making stylish, comfortable, and practical outdoor hats and travel clothing. Most of the fabrics that they use in manufacturing their hats and clothing carry a certified UPF 50 rating label, which is the highest rating for sun protection available. You can order their sun-protective clothing and accessories catalogue on their website, at Tilleys.com.

To quickly find and book cheap flights and luxury cruises at really great discounts, whenever you want to enjoy a well-deserved holiday, visit Travel Tips Guide for more info.

According to recent research from the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), ninety-five percent of cruisers give top marks to their cruising experience and more than seventy-five percent plan to cruise again within three years.

Contrary to what some people might think, cruises are very affordable. With most vacations you end up paying for air flights, hotels or resorts, restaurants, entertainment, and sometimes car rentals. If you add all these costs up, cruises can be a real bargain. When you book a cruise, in most cases you pay for the airfare and cruise. However, if you live close enough to your cruise ship departure port, you may be able to drive there much cheaper than you can fly.

Even if you have to fly to your departure port you can always get a flight and cruise package deal that is usually less expensive than purchasing your flight and cruise separately. You will also save even more money as your lodging, restaurant meals, and entertainment are included.

When you book luxury a cruise vacation, more than 85% of your holiday is prepaid and that’s including all meals, stage shows, night clubs, movies, and entertainment, as well as many other activities and amenities. In addition, most ships have onboard activities such as swimming, scuba diving lessons that can lead to certification, golf, rock climbing, dancing, Pilates, yoga, and fitness trainers. You can also pamper yourself with relaxing spas and body massages.

Another way to save a bundle on a cruise is to book an inside cabin. If you don’t need to have a cabin that has a balcony or ocean view, then you will save a lot of money. You have use of all the shared amenities with your fellow passengers, but it is costing you a lot less.

You can also save a bundle on repositioning cruises. A repositioning cruise is made possible at certain times of the year, usually in the spring and fall, when cruise lines relocate their ships from one part of the world to another.

There is a large variety of luxury cruise vacations to choose from, ranging from three day mini cruises to several month long cruises as well as an amazing around the world cruise odyssey.

When you cruise, you are traveling in the lap of luxury in a floating five-star hotel. You will be pampered and feel that you are living the life of a king or queen, not only for a day, but for the entire length of the cruise. Elegant surroundings, gourmet dining and impeccable service are a few of the superlatives that can be used to describe cruising.

If you like delicious food you will certainly love gourmet meals and scrumptious desserts prepared by incredible chefs and served in a variety of restaurants. There are also huge, delightful buffets available throughout the day and even midnight buffets. There are a number of themed lounges located throughout the cruise ships for your convenience.

Love to see Broadway style shows and theater performances without making reservations or paying outrageous prices for tickets? Then taking a cruise is the answer. So many things are included on a cruise that make cruising such a great value for your travel and entertainment dollar.

From children to great grandparents, there is always something to interest everyone on a cruise. You have the option to be as active as you like or you can just relax and experience magnificent sunrises and breathtaking sunsets while watching the world go by. So many wonderful, precious memories and experiences will stay with you a lifetime when you take a luxury cruise.

Want to party around the clock? Not a problem. Whether you are with a partner or single, it’s always party time. You don’t even have to plan or clean up after the party, just have a lot of fun!

Businesses from around the world book conferences and seminars, team building get-togethers, new product launches and employee reward vacations on cruise ships. Cruise lines do not charge extra for conference room facilities and use of audio and video equipment.

Group cruises aren’t only for corporations and business people. Family reunions, weddings and honeymoons, sports clubs and groups, charities and fund raisers are only some of the numerous types of groups that hold their events on cruises.

On cruises there is no hassle of having to pack and unpack again and again every time you travel to a new destination. Another bonus is that there is no limit on the amount of luggage you can bring on a cruise.

People with disabilities should not have problems getting around on a cruise ship. Cruise lines have made onboard accessibility a non-issue because their ships are equipped with ramps, elevators and easily accessible cabins and state rooms.

Modern cruise ships have drastically reduced the problem concerning seasickness. Today’s larger ships cut through the waves instead of riding on the top of them. Also, new and innovative technologies like stabilizers and counterbalancing systems have greatly reduced the pitch and roll of cruise ships, all but neutralizing problems with seasickness.

A doctor and medical staff are never more than minutes away on a cruise ship should any passenger have to see doctor. Most common passenger minor mishaps and ailments occur less on cruise ships than on shore.

Cruising is also one of the safest forms of travel. The cruise industry has an exceptional safety record. And as far as assaults and robberies are concerned, they are over a hundred times less likely to occur on a cruise ship than in your own home town.

For those that have a fear of flying or don’t enjoy being crammed like sardines into commercial airplanes when traveling to their destinations, here is some great news. The cruise lines in the United States are making terrific strides catering to cruise passengers needs. They are opening up more ports of call on both the East and West coasts so more and more people who would love to go on a cruise but don’t like flying, can easily drive or take a bus or train to most departure ports.

To quickly locate and grab cheap cruises, at the best possible price, whenever you feel like traveling, visit Travel Tips Guide, for more info.

1. If you wait until the last few days to rent a car, chances are you will find a good deal. It is important to start a few weeks before your rental date so you have enough time to thoroughly research your options and get a good rate. As well, you want to make sure that your preferred car is available for rent. Also, starting early allows you to comparison shop. The internet is a great source to research car rental companies and comparison shop.

2. Before you search for a rental company, determine how long you will be renting a car. The longer you rent a car, the better rate you will get. Companies will usually offer better rates if you rent for a week or more. There are also certain days of the week where one can get a better rate. For instance, most companies will offer special weekend rates.

3. When researching car rental companies, it is important to find out their minimum mileage for free program before they start charging for each mile driven. Mileage rates can vary and the minimum mileage for free can also vary. If you will be doing a lot of driving, make sure you go with a rental company that offers a high mileage minimum for free. Also, check to see what the mileage rates are as they can vary. If you find a bargain, book the car, and then keep searching in case you find a better deal. Make sure you understand their cancellation policy so that if you do cancel your reservation, you will not end up paying a cancellation fee.

4. Because the internet has many car rental companies competing for your business, look for companies that offer special discounts and incentives. For instance, there are companies that will offer discounts if you make your reservation online. If booking online, make sure you read all of the terms and conditions. If you have any concerns or questions, contact the company by phone for clarification. Also, look for coupon or promotion codes to put into the booking form on the company’s site.

5. Check with your credit card company to see if they have any special deals with rental companies. As well, if you are a member of AAA or AARP, you can often get a discount on your car rental. You can also check with your employer to see if they will let you reserve your car through them and get an employee rate. Your auto insurance provider may also provide discounts on car rental rates.

Before you book your rental, it is important to always read the fine print of the rental contract. There may be a number of hidden fees and taxes causing the price to drastically increase. There may be some services that you do not need. If you carefully research your options, you will likely get a great bargain on your next car rental.

Discount truck and car rental Sydney Australia provides free express pickup service from our many locations for your personal, business or holiday car hire sydney.

It’s estimated that there are more than a million bags that are lost by the airlines each year in the U.S. alone. How many get lost in the whole world is anyone’s guess. Here are a few tips that may help you recover your bags if they should they get lost.

Attach two or three tags with your name, home address, and phone number to the handle and the zipper-pulls of each bag that you are checking. There is less of a chance that all of the tags could get torn off during transit. You should make sure that you have removed any old airline tags that are still attached to the luggage you’re checking as they could confuse the baggage handlers.

Be sure to place the same contact information, including a copy of your itinerary and your destination address inside each piece luggage. That way, if they do get lost and are found in time, they could be forwarded to your hotel.

Pick luggage with preferably a bright or odd color that will stand out among all black and brown bags. Know which brand name of the luggage that you are using and attach a small colorful scarf or ribbon to the handle to make identification easier. Stick decals or a contrasting colored tape to each side of the bags so they are easier to find as it goes around the carousel. Remember these details, or better still, take a digital photo of your luggage just before you go and bring it with you. This will help the lost luggage staff at the airport locate your bags if they get lost in transit and turn up at their office. It will also help if you do have to make a claim.

It helps to make a list of what you have in your luggage and carry that list in you carry-on bag. The chance of your luggage getting lost in transit increases dramatically when you have connecting, or delayed flights. Always pack all of your valuables, including your laptop or Blackberry, travel documents, prescriptions, etc., in your carry-on bag. It makes sense to pack only the things you can afford to lose in your checked baggage. Most analysts believe that the airline industry’s problem of lost luggage is not going to be resolved anytime soon.

What should you do if the airlines lose your luggage?

Go right away to the baggage claim office and file a claim. Many airlines have a twenty-four hour window of time that starts from when your flight arrives to file and be eligible for compensation. You will get a claim receipt to check the tracking of your luggage with your airline by phone, or on the airline’s website. Make sure you keep your flight documents until the lost luggage mix up has been resolved.

How can you guarantee that the airlines will not lose your luggage?

There are some companies like FedEx, UPS or DHL, that can send your luggage in the U.S. directly to your hotel or street address for a very reasonable cost. If you’re staying at a hotel, your luggage will be taken to your room by a bellboy. When you consider that in the United States alone, over a million bags are lost by the airlines each year, this service is well worth considering. If you are planning to travel by air throughout Europe, FirstLuggage.com, provides a similar service.

To quickly latch on to cheap flights and luxury cruises at really great discounts, whenever you want to enjoy a wonderful holiday, visit Travel Tips Guide for more information.

Air travel is convenient, making London and other global destinations available to visitors. Your destination can be a major center where you can take a commuter airline to less populous locations. Alternatively, you can use ground transport from the airport. For example, you can fly into Heathrow and from there hire an automobile, or purchase bus or railway transport to get you to your final destination.

Many people fly into London for a vacation. Others leave from Heathrow to travel to any of ninety countries accessible to air travel from London. You will be able to arrange the details of the vacation from your computer with just a few mouse clicks.

Major airports in the United Kingdom include those in Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland, and of course England. In addition to the London air travel hub, you can fly into airports located in Swansea or Cardiff, Belfast or Edinburgh. Once you have arrived at a airport in these areas, you have hundreds of options for unusual vacation activities and sights.

Many travelers must go to London in order to conduct business rather than just for pleasure. London is a transportation hub and historical center as well as a financial center. There are many conference facilities and meeting rooms that can be found within a short distance from most airports.

A lucky traveler can combine business with pleasure when visiting any major UK location. Ground transportation is easily available from the airport or the nearby community at almost every airport facility. Visit some of the historical landmarks that are prevalent in the UK. If your taste runs more to scenic beauty, you can schedule visits to the ocean, hills, rivers or moors of the countries in the United Kingdom.

The price is right to schedule UK flights. If you plan ahead and schedule online, your trip will be locked in at better prices. Use of the search engines on your home or business computer allows you to get comparison prices, schedules and additional services. The information on the Internet may give you some new ideas about where you would like to spend your next holiday.

UK flights into and out of London’s Heathrow Airport go to 90 countries including Flights to Algarve . The exact same number of airlines make their base at the airport located a mere fifteen miles from the City. We’ve got the best inside scoop on United Kingdom flights.

I like Hotwire better than Priceline because you don’t have to guess on what price to set. Even though the site is “opaque” – meaning that you commit to buying your room without knowing exactly what hotel it is – I find it easier to decipher what I’m getting with Hotwire. Plus you don’t have to go through the machinations of Priceline’s bidding process, which can take a while if your original offer is rejected.

Here are some tips if you want to use Hotwire for your next trip:

1. Figure out what hotel you are getting before you buy. Unlike Priceline, Hotwire offers clues so you can figure out what hotel you are likely to get. Here’s how to do it: Check out the hotel’s amenity list – a group of icons that appear under the hotel’s location. Then open up another window in your browser to BetterBidding.com, a website forum where frequent Priceline and Hotwire users post their recent buys and lists of what the different hotels offer.

On my Tampa trip, for example, the hotel that I was considering had an airport shuttle icon on Hotwire. BetterBidding told me that of all the 4-star Tampa hotels, only the InterContinental offered shuttle service. So I was almost positive that I would end up there.

It may take a few extra minutes to do this, but if you are like me and you want to know where you are staying, it’s worth it.

2. Don’t forget tax. Both Priceline and Hotwire show prices without tax, which can easily add another $20-$30 to your per night rate. Factor this in to your budgeting.

3. Use it for car rentals too. I’ve found prices on Hotwire for as low as $15 a day. Hotwire’s car rental is more flexible than their hotel purchases, as they don’t charge you until you pick up the car. (In contract, hotel purchases are non-refundable and must be paid immediately).

4. Be realistic about the kind of hotel you are getting. Both Hotwire (and Priceline) specialize in getting rid of unused inventory – the rooms that hotels haven’t sold. These hotels are going to be the larger chains such as Marriott, Hyatt and Hilton that often appeal to business travelers (which is why weekend rates can be so low). If your goal is to stay at the hippest hotel in town, you will be unhappy with Hotwire. Five star properties such as the Ritz Carlton, Four Seasons and Mandarin Oriental are usually not listed either.

But if you are just looking for a good deal on a city hotel that has basic four-star amenities, give Hotwire a try.

Get more travel tips at Chris Gray Faust’s travel site, Chris Around The World: A Travel Journalist’s Tips from the Road

1.) Make sure that you are keen with limited-time promotional fares by airline companies or super cheap airfare from a newly formed airline company. This airfare war is can usually be found by just simply reading the newspaper or watching the news.

2.) Don’t fix yourself to just one flight schedule, be flexible. This way you can avail of discounted fares according to the day of the week or the time of the day. The cheapest days to fly are usually on a Tuesday, Wednesday, and Saturdays and in a day, usually the late nights and early morning flights are discounted. Be flexible in scheduling your flight. Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays are typically the cheapest days to fly; late-night flights (‘red-eyes’), very early morning flights and flights with at least one stop tend to be discounted as well.

3.) Inquire if the airline company has travel packages. Which means that, along with the airline ticket, are discounts available for car rent and hotel rooms? This will help you reduce cost in the other areas of your travel.

4.) Always ask for the cheapest available fare on a flight or other options that will yield a cheap airfare from the airline reservation clerk. Also compare prices from different airlines if you happen to do online booking.

5.) Should you be flying off-season, ask for standby fares. Don’t fly stand by during high season because most airlines tend to overbook their flights. Thus it would be very difficult to find an extra seat.

6.) Sometimes, consolidators help the airlines fill up all available seats by buying blocks of tickets. These consolidators then sell the tickets at a discounted price. Look for these consolidators at travel section of a newspaper. Then look under “Ticket Consolidation”.

7.) Booking earlier the better. A 21 day advance booking will often lead to discounted fares. For November and December or months where airlines tend to overbook, make sure to reserve months ahead. Take not that frequent flier miles may not be used during holiday ‘blackouts periods’

8.) Stick with the same airline for a round trip to avail of their discounts.

So there you go, cheap airline tickets, one way of traveling light heartedly. Bon Voyage.

Visit the blog of Malcolm Reed for other useful travel tips and information on how to get cheap flights Philippines

Usually when people think “Mexico” they think “sunny beaches.” That’s not surprising considering that there are almost ten thousand kilometers of coastline. There are all kinds of beaches as well, from serene sands perfect for sunbathing to crashing waves for surfing. Water sports a major attraction drawing folks to Mexico from all over the world. Avid deep sea fishermen return for a Mexican vacation year after year. Scuba diving and snorkeling provide hours of entertainment. Chartering a boat for the afternoon is a fun activity for travelers staying at one of the beautiful resorts near the coast.

Your Mexico vacation can include so much more than sunning on the beach. By visiting ancient Mayan cities you can virtually travel back in time. Among the hundreds of ruins the most famous is Chichen Itza, which was recently counted among the wonders of the modern world. The capital, Mexico City, has a vibrant nightlife with clubs and restaurants galore as well as many cultural attractions. World-wide eco-tourism is becoming a popular way to travel and Mexico has picked up on the trend. You’ll find adventure, an appreciation for nature and spot unique wildlife when you take exciting jungle tours.

No matter which part of Mexico you visit, you’ll eat delicious meals. But if you think you’ll just find greasy burritos you’re in for a big surprise. Succulent fruits and vegetables complement zesty meats and freshly-caught seafood. You’ll find that each region is known for different ingredients and dishes. You can go to any city or resort area and there will be a market of some kind there that sells the local crafts. You want to make sure that when you purchase a gift from these people that it is made locally and not a foreign knock-off. This is the way you will help support the local economy while you’re visiting.

A Mexico vacation can be as relaxing or as exciting as you wish. You can spend the whole time enjoying the beaches and coastal activities. You could also mix it up by exploring the jungle or the cities. It isn’t difficult to find real adventure in this amazing country. You’ll return talking about the delicious food and colorful markets. With so much to offer, it is no wonder people book a Mexican vacation year after year.

Looking to find the best deal on A Family Vacation , then visit our site to find the best advice on Which Vacation Is for you.