Beyond Know How

Many budget travelers and free travel aficionados end up traveling in 3^rd world countries because of the unique experiences that are possible in those locations and the low costs that are involved. There are several things that should be taken into consideration when setting out for poorer countries in order to make the experience as enjoyable as possible for both yourself and your hosts.

First of all, don’t try to spend the least amount of money everywhere you go. This can only aggravate you over the long run and can be degrading for the local people. Just think about what the price difference really represents in your own currency. It is also not a good idea to show off your possessions. Chances are, even your less than best clothes will make you look rich – and you will most likely be rich compared to most people you will encounter. Don’t rub it into everyone’s face and it will be easier for you to meet people and relax about the items you carry with you.

If you want to be a good customer service representative there are a few tricks you can use to really make an impact on those customers and get them to return to your business all the time. One of the tricks I’ve picked up from working in the hospitality industry for so long is personalization. The hotel should try to make every guest of the hotel feel like they are the only ones staying there. It is the hotel’s job to do everything in their power to personalize a hotel guest’s experience and build a memory of the hotel in their heads.

The more memories a guest has of a particular hotel, whether it be of the friendly staff, the bouquet of flowers left in the room, the towel monkey wearing sunglasses, or whatever else, the more likely the will be to come back to the same place. Those with good customer service skills know different ways to personalize a guest’s experience.

photo credit: gwydionwilliams

If you’re currently mulling over holiday options for next year and have a yearning for something a bit different, then a visit to China could be the answer you are looking for.

Anyone who witnessed the stunning Beijing Olympic games in 2008 will recognise that this is a country which does things on a massive scale. Indeed with a population of one and a half billion people (roughly a quarter of the entire world’s population), an escorted tour to China is the ideal way to see this fascinating country.

With experts guiding the way you won’t miss a thing. Whether it’s the fascinating capital city Beijing, which offers the visitor the world famous Raffles Hotel, Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City or you may prefer to explore further, perhaps to the Yangtze River or the  Terracotta Warriors & Chongqing. Whatever you do, a visit to China will remain with you for many years.

Nothing sets off that spark of wander lust in your brain quite like a tough day in a cubicle followed by a long evening stuck in traffic and rounded off with a nice one course dinner consisting entirely of a lukewarm bowl of ramen noodles in front of a couple travel movies. I can’t think of a better way to force yourself into a reevaluation of your current life path than by wallowing in your own routine while watching Ewan MacGregor and Charlie Boorman ride a couple BMW motorcycles around the world on the adventure of a lifetime. Or maybe it just takes a simple road trip comedy about a couple of college students trying to get from point A to point B to shake you up. Either way the result is the same, whether your mouth is agape in awe of the scenery or guffawing at a sex joke you’re going to end up dripping those sodium infused noodles on your tie unless you’re willing to get off the couch and go have you’re own adventure.

Cayo Coco hotels and resorts offer the finest beaches anywhere in the world. Most also have incredible restaurants, dancing and shows. Another popular tourist activity is the local shopping. Everyday local artists will display their goods in open air markets. These handmade items are lovely and quite affordable. If you like cigars, there are many different cigar lounges in close proximity to Cayo Coco hotels. You can sit back, relax and enjoy an authentic cuban cigar and a cocktail. Most cigar lounges also have music and billiards also. Cayo Coco is a beautiful place with may things to see and do.

Even if you are not a cigar smoke it is facinating to take the tour of cigar makers and see how they still make cigars the way they have for hundreds of years.

If you are the type of person who values their privacy then you might want to consider getting one of the many different Gatlinburg vacation cabin rentals while you stay in this beautiful city. When compared to standard hotels this type of vacation accommodation is far and away superior. It can even hold a candle to some of the more exclusive hotels and resorts in Gatlinburg.

While not all Gatlinburg cabin rentals are going to offer an exclusive vacation experience, there are many that do. So as you search for them on the Internet or through the recommendations of your friends be sure to do some checking out before you make your final reservation. Take a look at the location on Google Maps – does it look close to neighbors? How far away is it from the main road? The answer to these questions will help you understand if this is a private Gatlinburg vacation cabin rental or if it is just a cabin rental.

If you find yourself in the position of looking to book some serious travel, I recommend you consider the large continent known affectionately over the year by several different monikers. Whether you call it the Great East, the land of enchantment, or just simply the continent of Asia, if you are planning a trip to this great land you are going to want to be prepared in advance. A visit to any travel site, be it a generic one or a growing site like Pete’s wicked travels, will no doubt help you not only in planning your trip but also once you arrive there. Travel sites can offer a range of services from planning and booking travel to recommendations for hotels, restaurants, even night clubs and other venues. Wherever you decide to travel to, be it Asia or anywhere else for that matter, it’s important to always prepare in advance. Many times, being prepared will make all the difference between a good trip or a poor one and, with so many things beyond your control while traveling, it’s important to take control of what you can.

photo credit: rjime31

Te Puke, named humbly ‘the hill’ by the Maori, this fertile site in the Bay of Plenty now calls itself the ‘Kiwifruit Capital of the World’ – with some justification.

Pioneered by Ulstermen in the 19^th century, and a market gardening centre since, the town now has over 7000 busy inhabitants. The population has more than doubled in two decades. Kiwifruit Country, an educational and recreational centre, offers guided tours through an extensive kiwifruit and horticultural theme park.

Only a 20 minute drive from down town Tauranga, Te Puke is growing larger every year since house prices are cheaper than buying in Tauranga, Mount Maunganui or Papamoa. Te Puke is also only a 30 minute drive from Rotorua which makes it the perfect small town to live and commute from.

The internet has quickly emerged over the past decade as the number one spot for travel aficionados across the planet and this trend is only growing as the 21st century progresses. Whether you are seeking the cheapest tickets possible for a flight to Amsterdam or in need of some last minute Asia travel tips, the internet is your one source stop for all these services and points of interest. In fact, several websites out there offer all these services in one simple site that allows you to not only research and read about various destinations, but it also allows you purchase and book flights, hotels, and car rentals all in one spot. Most importantly, the increased competition the internet has created has also served to drop prices on travel across the board and once unheard of exotic trips can now be afforded on just about any budget. If you have a few minutes to kill and the tiniest amount of computer skills I suggest you explore the travel industry via the web: you won’t be disappointed.

Well its that time of year again where the wife and I are deciding where to take our anniversary getaway vacation.  This year we’ve decided upon the great city of Las Vegas to celebrate our 22nd wedding anniversary.  Usually we try to pick an inexpensive out of the way vacation destination that will allow us both the opportunity to relax and enjoy each others company.  This year our romantic las vegas vacation

photo credit: IvyMike

 is going to be a bit different.  Neither of us have ever been there and really don’t know what to expect.  Oh, you can spend hours reading all the travel reviews and suggestions on where to take your vacation but it just doesnt give you enough of an idea as to what to expect.  My wife and I plan on writing an extensive las vegas for couples review when we get back.