Monday, February 28, 2011

Tips While Traveling with Kids


Traveling, by itself, is already filled with expected hassles, especially for those who are not used to it. Traveling with kids is another thing. If you are traveling with a child or children in tow, expect to deal with tantrums, restlessness, and unexpected emergencies.  Before you buy those air tickets for your vacation, keep in mind the following tips on traveling with kids.

  • Pack the essentials

Packing for another person can be quite tricky, especially if you are doing it for a child. You have to decide which of his stuff is important enough to be included in the luggage. The best way to deal with it is to keep at least two separate bags for your kid. One should contain all the essentials, such as clothes, shoes, and medicines. The other bag (a backpack is ideal) is for your child to carry. It should contain stuff that will keep him from getting bored while you are on the plane. Put stuff in there that he really likes, such as toys, his Playstation, or his iPod.

  • Book a separate seat for your child

Your child may be small enough to be allowed to seat on your lap during the flight, but this can present more hassle than convenience. Reserving a separate seat while buying your air tickets will bring more comfort to you and your kid. To make things more convenient for you, try to book a seat near the bathroom, so your child can go in there fast when he needs to. Also, try not to get him a seat near the aisle. Kids can get unruly during the flight and might end up grabbing or hitting people walking down the aisle. You want to avoid the possibility of your kid tripping the flight attendant while she is serving meals.

  • Dress your kid in proper clothes

Depending on your destination, you should dress your kid in clothes suitable to the weather condition. So it should be light clothes for the summer and heavy ones for colder climates. Kids tend to throw tantrums when they feel uncomfortable with what they are wearing. Avoid the hassle of having to change his clothes during the flight.

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Tips for a Great Holiday Trip

Since you will be spending a lot of time and money on your holiday vacation, you have to make sure that every minute of your trip is worth all the trouble. Before you book air tickets for your trip. here are some tips to remember, which will make your trip a great one:

  • Make sure to book accommodations that will suit your needs and budget

Never underestimate the importance of good hotel rooms. They can make or break your vacation. Spend time doing research on good accommodations in your preferred destination. If you are traveling with your family, look for accommodations that specialize in groups. Make sure that their rooms are big and comfortable enough for kids. If you’re going on a romantic trip, look for hotels that specialize in honeymoon accommodations.

  • Always include the facilities and services in your choice of hotel

Aside from the rooms, a good accommodation should provide the facilities and services that you will need during your stay. If you are a businessman, you will need services such as fax machines and computer centers during your stay. Almost all types of travelers require a strong wifi connection that will let them surf the internet any time of the day. If you are bringing the kids, make sure that the hotel has daycare and babysitting services. If you are looking for outdoor activities, check if the hotel has the facilities for them. If you are looking for relaxation, check if the hotel has a spa and jacuzzi that you can use.

  • Check the weather report

Nothing spoils a vacation more than bad weather. Before you buy your cheap air tickets from your trusted online seller, make sure to check the weather conditions in that area. You may end up in the middle of the monsoon season when you are expecting the perfect beach weather. You don’t want to spend your vacation indoors.

  • Get to know the language and culture of your destination

We don’t expect you to learn Chinese overnight, but it would help if you know how to say “How much is this?” and “Thank you” in that dialect. Knowing the basic terms can prove invaluable when you deal with the locals. If you know the culture of the place, you will have lesser risks of doing the wrong thing and offending the people there.

Monday, February 21, 2011

Tips on Finding Cheap Airline Tickets

Finding cheap air tickets is a priority for travelers, especially for frequent ones. It is essential if one must keep their vacation budget under control. There are several things you can do to find lesser airfare. Here are some of them:

  • Be flexible when it comes to scheduling your date of travel

If you want to take your trip on a specific date, chances are you will be forced to take whatever’s available just to get seats on that period. This won’t leave you much room for getting cheap air tickets. Now if you are more flexible with your scheduling, you can always choose to leave when rates for air tickets online booking are at their lowest. This is true, especially for international flights. Also, make sure to book your flight ahead of time. Rates are almost always cheaper when you book in advance.

  • Book your for the middle of the week

As expected, most vacation travelers choose to fly during weekends, which makes air ticket rates more expensive on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays.

  • Always check the price of round-trip tickets

You’ll be surprised to find out that sometimes, one-way tickets are actually more expensive than round-trip tickets. In that case, it’s practical to check the price of round-trip tickets for your destination. Do this, especially for international flights. You may end up getting cheap air tickets for round-trip flights.

  • Avoid booking for the holidays

Expect to shell out more for holidays, since a lot of people travel on those dates. For instance, try booking for Thanksgiving Day itself rather than the day before Thanksgiving.

  • Choose the right website for airlines ticket booking

All of these websites provide the same service to travelers, but there are differences in their rates. There are websites that work best for those whose travel dates are flexible. Some websites specialize in giving cheap rates during last-minute bookings. This also depends if you plan to book for local or international flights. So make sure to explore all your options first; do not hesitate to compare prices before reserving seats. This way, you will be able to get cheap air tickets.

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Exploring Hong Kong's Popular Tourist Spots

There is a reason why Hong Kong remains to be one of the most favorite tourist destinations in the world. This small but dynamic country has everything that tourists could possibly want or need. There are lots of tourist spots that must be included in your itinerary, which are definitely worth your cheap air tickets to Hong Kong. Here are some of them:


• Disneyland


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Do not even think of getting out of Hong Kong without visiting the happiest place on Earth. This sprawling park near Lantau Island needs no introduction and thousands of tourists spend considerable time here with their friends and family. Disneyland Hong Kong is a perfect alternative for those living in Asia who don’t want to go all the way to Disneyland in Florida.


• Times Square

Shop till you drop here at Times Square, which holds lots of stores that offer everything from designer items to cheap thrills. Times Square is the perfect place to be if you are going to be in Hong Kong in time for the Western New Year.


• Wong Tai Sin Temple

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Those who are into religious attractions should visit Wong Tai Sin Temple, with its elaborate red pillars and golden ceilings. Here you can observe a mixture of Taoist, Confucian, and Buddhist traditions.


• Victoria Peak

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It ranks high up there with Disneyland as one of Hong Kong’s must-see destinations. Enjoy the magnificent view of the highest point in the city, which is definitely a very relaxing way to spend a day of your vacation. Make sure to buy some of those souvenirs sold in those shops to give to your friends and family.


• Star Ferry

Enjoy the views of the waterfront by taking the Star Ferry, which will take you across Victoria Harbour.


• Hong Kong Museum of History

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History buffs should not miss taking a tour of the Hong Kong Museum of History. Explore the rich variety of artifacts housed in this museum. You will get to see traditional costume displays, old photo collections, and village house replicas, among other things.


To get to know more about the other attractions in the country, visit other travel websites and check out the list of tourist spots that you would love to visit in case you will get a tour package to Hong Kong.

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

The Safest Way to Travel


Traveling is a very unpredictable activity and whether you like it or not, accidents can happen while you are aboard a plane, ship, or land transportation. Some people develop a phobia if they experience travel-related accidents, especially if the said accidents involve losing loved ones. It is true that traveling can be scary to some people, especially those who are new to it, but it doesn’t help thinking about it every time you go on a trip. It doesn’t matter whether you travel by air, water, or land – accidents can happen whenever you happen to be.

There are several measures you can do to decrease the possibility of getting involved in travel-related accidents.

    • Choose a reputable airline before reserving air tickets. This is important especially if you are looking for long, international flights. Sadly, there are airlines with a high number of flight-related incidents, so it’s better to steer clear of those. Do not think of the price of air ticket booking when it comes to safety; what’s a hundred dollars more for a reputable airline that can take you safely to your destination?

    • Follow airline policies at all times. Believe it or not, there are still people who do not understand the importance of turning off mobile phones during flight. Remember that those rules are made for the safety of passengers and crew. Bending the rules might endanger not only yourself but other people on the plane as well.

    • The same applies to traveling by ship. Although it is considered less risky than air travel, you should keep in mind that ships or boats can sink and leave you swimming in open water. There are rules that ship passengers have to follow, so don’t even think about leaning too far in the railing or going to the part of the ship that is off-limits for passengers.

    • If you are planning to travel by land, do not, by any means, drink before or during driving. Remember the number of drunk-driving accidents that happen within a year. Even if you think you have a high tolerance for alcohol, don’t do it. Long-distance driving is tiring enough and alcohol can add to your lack of concentration on the road, which can lead to accidents.

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