Travel and tips

Be flexible in your travel plans in order to get the lowest fare. The best deals may be limited to travel on certain days of the week (often Tuesday through Thursday, or Friday night through Sunday morning) or particular hours of the day (e.g., late-night departures). This applies to each of your flights, not just the first flight in your itinerary. After you get a fare quote, ask the reservations agent if you could save even more by flying a day earlier or later, or by taking a different flight on the same day. Or simply ask the agent what the lowest fare is, and what you need to do to qualify for it. Discount seats are usually “blacked out” during holiday periods. However, you might be able to get a discount fare if you fly on the holiday itself (e.g., New Year’s Day).
Plan as far ahead as you can. Most airlines set aside only a few seats on many desirable flights at the lower rates. The real best bargains often sell out very quickly. On the other hand, if a particular flight is not selling as well as expected, air carriers sometimes make more discount seats available for a particular flight just before the advance-purchase deadline expires. For example, if the lowest fare has a 21-day advance-purchase requirement but is sold out for most dates, and you can go any time, ask about fare availability on flights 21 or 22 days from when you call. While planning ahead is a good general rule, if you can bide your time you might encounter a “fare sale.” Many airlines put seats on sale for brief periods several times a year (although you usually can purchase tickets for flights weeks or months after the end of the sale period). It is difficult to predict when these sales will occur, although they often fall during times when people are less likely to buy airline tickets (e.g. early autumn or right immediately after New Years). In a large metropolitan area, the fare could depend on which airport you use. For example, if you are going to Southeast Florida and plan to rent a car, it might not make much difference if you fly to Miami or Ft. Lauderdale, except for ticket price. Also, a connection (change of planes) or a one-stop flight is sometimes cheaper than a nonstop. Always check on alternate airports and routings when pricing a ticket. Look into all airlines that serve the market you are interested in, including low-cost carriers that offer low fares. Many times the major carriers will match the fares of a low-cost airline between the same cities; but often this will only be for a certain limited number of seats on each flight. On a low-cost carrier, find out what you get for your money: baggage transfers from one carrier to another, meals, advance seat assignments, etc. Note that small airlines sometimes have only one flight per day in many markets, and they frequently will not reroute you on another airline if your flight is canceled or delayed. In such cases you may have to wait until the next day to fly. Ask about all restrictions on your fare. Typical requirements for discount fares include purchasing a round-trip ticket, buying the ticket a certain number of days before departure (e.g., for many fares, at least 14 or 21 days before you leave), purchasing the ticket within 24 hours of making a reservation, staying over a Saturday night, traveling during a certain time of the year, staying no more than 30 days, and, as discussed below, refund/change restrictions. Ask about your ability to change or cancel your flight if you need to. Even if you get sick, you cannot assume you will get a refund. In fact, most discount tickets now are non-refundable, but can be applied toward the purchase of other tickets on the same carrier. You must usually pay an administrative charge and any difference between the fares for the old and new flights when you do this. Consider using a travel agent. Agents usually do not charge a fee (they get a commission from the airline), and they can tell you about “consolidators” and other sources of discounted seats that are not available directly from the airline. However, consolidator seats can have even more severe restrictions than the airlines’ own deep-discount fares, particularly if the flight is delayed or canceled. A few travel agents sometimes have access to special deals with a particular airline (either discounts or extra services). If you are flying to a popular foreign destination, or to Las Vegas or Hawaii, ask the travel agent about Public Charters. These charters sometimes offer lower fares, but again with significant restrictions that are spelled out in an operator/participant contract that you should review carefully. Ask the travel agent if the city where you live or the city where you are going is an airline “hub.” If it is, fares may be higher than for flights to other nearby cities because of reduced competition. Someone who lives at a hub might save money by leaving from another nearby city, even if they end up connecting through the hub to get to their destination. A number of airlines send e-mail messages every week to receive notification of last-minute fare specials for departures within the next few days. See the airlines’ World Wide Web sites for information about these programs, or call their reservations line. (Do not assume that an airline reservation agent or travel agent will be aware of the fares offered to e-mail subscribers.)Many airlines offer a seniors discount off any fare to travelers over a certain age. In addition, some carriers offer bereavement and emergency illness fares with varying documentation requirements and discounts. If you are a member of an airline’s frequent-flyer program and you are considering buying a promotional or deep-discount fare, ask if that fare will earn frequent-flyer miles.
After you buy your ticket, you may wish to call the airline or travel agent once or twice before departure to confirm your reservations and check the fare. Fares change all the time, and if that same fare goes down before you fly, some airlines will refund the difference. But you have to ask.

When passengers comment on airline service, most airlines do listen. They analyze and keep track of the complaints and compliments they receive and use the information to determine what the public wants and to identify problem areas that need special attention. They also try to resolve individual complaints. Like other businesses, airlines have a lot of discretion in how they respond to problems. While you do have some rights as a passenger, your demands for compensation will probably be subject to negotiation and the kind of action you get depends in large part on the way you go about complaining. Start with the airline. Before you call or write to DOT or some other agency for help with an air travel problem, you should give the airline a chance to resolve it.
As a rule, airlines have trouble-shooters at the airports (they’re usually called Customer Service Representatives) who can take care of many problems on the spot. They can arrange meals and hotel rooms for stranded passengers, write checks for denied boarding compensation, arrange luggage repairs and settle other routine claims or complaints If you can’t resolve the problem at the airport and want to file a complaint, it’s best to call or write the airline’s consumer office at its corporate headquarters. Take notes at the time the incident occurs and jot down the names of the carrier employees with whom you dealt. Keep all of your travel documents (ticket receipts, baggage check stubs, boarding passes, etc.) as well as receipts for any out-of-pocket expenses that were incurred as a result of the mishandling.
Here are some helpful tips should you choose to write a letter.
* Type the letter and, if at all possible, limit it to one page in length. * Include your daytime telephone number (with area code). * No matter how angry you might be, keep your letter businesslike in tone and don’t exaggerate what happened. If the complaint sounds very vehement or sarcastic, you might wait a day and then consider rewriting it. * Describe what happened, and give dates, cities, and flight numbers or flight times. * Send copies, never the originals, of tickets and receipts or other documents that can back up your claim. * Include the names of any employees who were rude or made things worse, as well as anyone who might have been especially helpful. * Don’t clutter up your complaint with petty gripes that can obscure what you’re really angry about. * Let the airline know if you’ve suffered any special inconvenience or monetary losses. * Say just what you expect the carrier to do to make amends. An airline may offer to settle your claim with a check or some other kind of compensation, possibly free transportation. You might want a written apology from a rude employee or reimbursement for some loss you incurred-but the airline needs to know what you want before it can decide what action to take. * Be reasonable. If your demands are way out of line, your letter might earn you a polite apology and a place in the airline’s crank files. If you follow these guidelines, the airlines will probably treat your complaint seriously. Your letter will help them to determine what caused your problem, as well as to suggest actions the company can take to keep the same thing from happening to other people.

Spanish property for sale - finding YOURSSpain is medium sized country with population thinly spread out throught the entire country. There is vast streches of hilly areas which over look the sea and have become a best location to build villas. These hills have their own water supply and hence it comes a feasible location for building a township or a villa as per the requirements of the customer. The speciality of these areas are that they are a short distance away from the main city. This adds special feature to the hilly locations. They have the peace of the hills and are easily accessible from the main city. Other an the hills, most of he apartments have a own community swimming pool and independent villas of course have their own swimming pools. Finding a Spanish property for sale that fits the family wishes and requirements can be a daunting task.
First you have to ask what kind of Spanish property for sale that are you looking for. This includes searching for suitable areas, price range, property type etc. This takes some thinking and discussing over the family dinners and also researching Spanish property for sale over the Internet. You will find many a lot of Spanish properties for sale, but more importantly you will get an understanding of the Spanish market. Also, you can find other people who have already found their homes, and some of them share their experiences.
Make contact with the estate agent who has the Spanish property for sale you would like have more information about. This can be done from home, and you should also take time to speak to the agent on the phone (ask them to call you) to find out if the agent understands your wishes and requirements. There are many agents who will show you any Spanish property for sale, but take your time, and if it doesn’t work with the first agent, then just call the next one.
The real estate agent assists you in finding a Spanish property for saleTypically an agent will be escorting you on the viewing trip to see the any Spanish property for sale you have asked for and explain about the areas where they are located. The viewings are always arranged on a “one to one” basis, where you are the only client. The same agent will support you from start to finish, saving you the stress, and time, and hassle re-explaining your wishes and requirements. It is important to come to a decision with peace of mind and at your own pace. The buying procedure and how to obtain a mortgage will also be explained on the viewing tour if needed.
We found our “Dream Home” - support please!A thorough step-by-step walk through of the buying process is often required, including the legal aspects of buying a property in Spain. An agent should go through different options on how to get the mortgage in place, and should visit one or more banks with you.
After having bought the Spanish property for sale where are looking for, the agent should be your contact to the Spanish, and assist you with renting, renovation work or any other help needed with your property.

You may apply for your passport by mail if you meet the following requirements:You can submit your most recent passport. Your previous passport was issued on or after your 16th birthday and was issued within the past 12 years. You use the same name as that on your most recent passport or you have had your name changed by marriage or court order, and can submit proof of the change in nameHow to ProceedObtain Form DSP-82, Application for Passport by Mail, from one of the U.S. passport agencies, from a Federal or state court, from a U.S. post office that is authorized to accept passport applications, from your travel agent, or from the Internet.
Complete the information requested on the reverse side of the form.
(1) Sign and date the application.
(2) Include your date of departure. If no date is included, passport agents will assume that your travel plans are not immediate, and you will receive your passport within 25 working days from receipt of the application at the passport agency.
(3) Enclose your previous passport. (Your previous passport and other documents that you may have submitted will be returned to you with your new passport.)(4) Enclose two identical 2×2 photographs.
(5) Enclose the $40 passport fee. (The $15 execution fee is not required for applicants eligible to apply by mail.) Check for current fees.
(6) If your name has changed, submit the original or certified copy of the court order or marriage certificate that shows the change of name.
(7) The person that you list to be notified in case of an emergency should be someone who could act on your behalf. The person should be someone to whom you have given or could give a power of attorney.
(8) For processing, mail the completed application and attachments to the National Passport Center, listed on the application form. An incomplete or improperly prepared application will delay issuance of your passport.
(9) If requesting Expedited Service, include the expedite fee.
How to Pay the Passport FeeThe following forms of payment are acceptable when you apply by mail:A bank draft or a cashier’s check A check: either a certified check, a personal check, or a traveler’s check (The check should be made out for the exact amount.)A money order: either a U.S. postal money order, an international money order, a currency exchange money order or a bank money order Checks must be made payable to Passport Services.
When You Receive Your PassportSign it right away! Fill in page 5, the personal notification data page. (For the emergency contact, do not include the name of your traveling companion; instead, write in pencil the name, address, and telephone number of someone who is not traveling with you.) Your previous passport and other documents that you may have submitted will be returned to you with your new passport.

Gifts you bring back for your personal use must be declared, but you may include them in your personal exemption. This includes gifts people gave you while you were out of the country, such as wedding or birthday presents, and gifts you have brought back for others.
Gifts intended for business, promotional, or other commercial purposes may not be included in your duty-free exemption.
Also note that by federal law, alcoholic beverages, tobacco products, and perfume containing alcohol and worth more than $5 retail may not be included in the gift exemption.
Gifts worth up to $100 may be sent, free of duty and tax, to friends and relatives in the United States, as long as the same person does not receive more than $100 worth of gifts in a single day. If the gifts are mailed or shipped from an insular possession, this amount is increased to $200.
Unless returning to the United States from an insular possession, you don’t have to declare gifts you sent while you were on your trip, since they won’t be accompanying you.
Gifts for more than one person may be shipped in the same package, called a consolidated gift package, if they are individually wrapped and labeled with each recipient’s name. Here’s how to wrap and label a consolidated gift package.
Be sure to mark the outermost wrapper with the: * Words “UNSOLICITED GIFT” and the words “CONSOLIDATED GIFT PACKAGE;” * Total value of the consolidated package; * Recipients’ names and * Nature and value of the gifts inside. For example, tennis shoes, $50; shirt, $45; toy car, $15.
For instance:To John Jones—one belt, $20; one box of candy, $5; one tie, $20.
To Mary Smith—one skirt, $45; one belt, $15; one pair slacks, $30.
If any item is worth more than the $100 gift allowance, the entire package will be dutiable.
You, as a traveler, cannot send a gift package to yourself, and people traveling together cannot send gifts to each other. But there would be no reason to do that anyway, because the personal exemption for packages mailed from abroad is $200, which is twice as much as the gift exemption.
Your personal belongings can be sent back to the United States duty-free if they are of U.S. origin and if they have not been altered or repaired while abroad. Personal belongings like worn clothing can be mailed home and will receive duty-free entry if you write the words “American Goods Returned” on the outside of the package.
If a package is subject to duty, the United States Postal Service will collect it from the addressee along with any postage and handling charges. The sender cannot prepay duty; the recipient must pay duty when a package is received in the United States.
For more information about mailing packages to the United States, visit the page called “Sending Goods to the United States” (Sending Items Back to the United States) at the Customs and Border Protection website. Make sure you get the latest information before your travel.

The theme of modern society seems to be give me convenience or give me death. In the case of booking trips, this convenience will really cost you. Do Not Use 800 Numbers When Booking TripsToll free numbers are touted as a service offered to make our life easier. If I need to call a business, the toll free number allows me to do so without spending a dime. The real question, however, is just how much money are we saving? In fact, are we saving any when it comes to vacations? When booking a trip, there is an inherent desire to get everything done as easily as possible. This makes sense since who wants to call airlines, car rentals, hotels and so on? In each instance, however, using the toll free number can really cost you. Here is some breaking news. When you call a toll free number, you are getting a national call center who more or less has a set list of prices. In many instances, these prices are actually higher than if you just walked into the business at your destination. In exchange for the convenience of a toll free number, you are paying a premium! Let’s take a closer look. Car rentals are the most obvious area where you get killed using the national toll free line. They may give you a slight upgrade, but nothing compared to the local office. The best approach is to contact the lot the morning you are flying in to simply see if they expect to have extra cars. Don’t reserve one unless they are going to be tight. Upon arrival, just stroll over and ask for a deal. They will always give you upgrades and tremendous pricing. Even better, take a cab into town to a local car rental. You will save anywhere from thirty to fifty percent on the pricing. Hotels and toll free numbers are also a bad mix. The call centers are concerned about overall sales across the entire chain. The desk clerk of a hotel, however, is only concerned about his bookings. This gives you an opportunity to score a deal. Instead of calling the toll free national number, find the local number and see what you can score. Unless there is a convention in town, you can usually do very well. Face the facts. Using a toll free number doesn’t save you much on calls. It can, however, cost you a bundle in your travels.

Speaking Thai will get you lots of smiles and better deals while on your holiday in the Land of Smiles. But, you can get by knowing just a few words.
The traditional greeting in Thailand is Sawasdee (pronounced Sa-wat-dee) and a polite article is added to the end. For women, ka is added. For men, kharp is added. This is not required but is used 99% of the time. So the typical greeting would be Sawasdee khrap (or ka) to say Hello.
This is usually accompanied by the other traditional Thai greeting – the wai. This is done with palms together, fingers pointing upward. There are different levels of wai from lower class to higher, from worker to boss, from average person to royalty. There are also times when someone wai’s to you and you are not required to return the wai. For example, if a small child wai’s you, you are not required to return it – just acknowledge it with a smile.
Typically after saying hello, or sawasdee, you will be asked one of two things. Sabai dee mai, or geen kow mai. It is normal to be asked if you are fine or if you have eaten. You may also be asked where you have been or where you are going – bpai nai mah or bpai nai.
The Thai language is not that difficult to learn and there are many resources online. There are also paid programs like Pimseleur or Berlitz. Many sites also have downloadable mini-dictionaries in English, Thai and phonetics. This way you can try to speak the word or phrase and as a last resort, just point. You can also download files so that you can hear how words are pronounced.
I have had both bad and good experiences speaking Thai. Some people like the fact that I can speak enough to get by and can understand more. Some tell me that “I know too much” and I take this as a compliment since that means that they can’t rip me off.
Knowing the language isn’t essential but sure helps when giving a taxi directions, ordering a meal, or asking where the bathroom is. My problem is that I lose a lot of the language skills between vacations. Not being able to speak the language at home causes me to lose a lot of my vocabulary. I try to keep current online chatting with people from Thailand, but chatting using phonetics is not the same as actually speaking Thai.
The best thing to do is try to pick up a few words with some of the free sites online. Print out a dictionary or phrase book and bring it with you. Try and speak and ask for help. Everyone will help if they see you are willing to learn.
Give it a try – speak some Thai and have some fun with it. If you make a mistake, learn from it. You will find that you make a lot more friends speaking the local language.
Chok Dee Khrap (Good luck)

As a high school history teacher, I have had the privilege of bringing my senior students on tours of Europe for the past fifteen years. I never imagined that I would get so many opportunities to travel when I went into the teaching profession, but I ended up working in a great district that made room in their budget for the senior class to travel to Europe and help make history come alive for them each year. I am so blessed to be a part of a district that is so committed to giving their students real life experiences. I have learned many things during my years of leading this trips, but one of the first things I learned was that you cannot go to Europe and return home with a clean conscience unless you have taken time to visit one or many cathedrals.
Europe is so full of history, architecture and sheer beauty that there is obviously too much to do in a ten day tour. Since I get to lead this trips each year, I have gotten to see almost all of the wonders of Europe, but I must plan carefully each year to see that my students get the most out of their ten day experience. I am careful to combine adequate amounts of history, modern attractions, and time for fun on our trips. But any of my students will be quick to tell you that whether we are visiting Ireland or Italy, I will never lead a ten day trip without making my team experience at least one or two cathedralsI am not sure what attracts me to cathedrals so much except their sheer beauty. I have looked far and wide in the U.S. and have never seen any building that compares with the detailed intricacies that most European cathedrals hold. I guess because our buildings are not nearly as old as those in Europe we have a far lower standard of what is beautiful and of what is true architecture. I love dragging my students into cathedrals and seeing their jaws drop as their realize just how much history has happened in these European countries and as they see how young America truly is.
So, the next time you plan a trip to Europe for any reason, make sure that your trip includes time visiting cathedrals. You will be amazed by their size, their beauty and their architecture, not to mention the amazing amounts of history that have happened in each cathedral. I guarentee you’ll be looking for more cathedrals to visit once you begin.

They are always crowded with joggers, lovers, students and picnic fans, but also with business man in their lunch break and animals of every kind. You may be able to see baby ducks (ducklings), geese (goslings) and swans (cygnets) whilst roses are at their best. Take the time, while visiting this surprising city, to spend some time in one of the most famous parks like the central Hyde park, green park, st james park, Kew Gardens etc. at least for a picnic. There are free concerts in many of the larger parks: check your local park for information about their events. Another good point is that in June days are very long, and temperatures are often pleasantly warm. It is a good time to go out and visit places, without the crowds of July and August. Here we have listed for all pop, rock, R&B, Soul, punk whatever music lovers some of the hottest Music Festivals in London!!The Rise in Finsbury Park, London is a completely free music festival. That’s a good new! The aim of this festival is to celebrate the multiculturalism within the UK and the integration of so many diverse cultures against racism. In fact, Rise’s slogan is “London united against racism”The proposed date is Sunday 13 July but it still to be confirmed. For all information you can see the official website at risefestival.org.
For about 20 days from Fri 20 Jun until Thu 10 Jul 2008, you will be able to enjoy the many events of the City of London Festival. All venues are in central London known as “the City”. They organize music and dance events and the festival includes free lunchtime concerts in the City’s churches or squares.
You can see colf.org for all details.
For evening concerts in a very suggestive location outside the Tower of London take note of the Tower Music Festival dates: Thu 26 Jun -Sat 12 Jul 2008., although they still have to be confirmed. For all details visit the complete programme at towermusicfestival.co.ukProbably one of the greatest and internationally renown Rock Music Festivals is the annual O2 Music Wireless Festival in London’s Hyde Park Dates are: 3rd July- 6th July 2008. Now in its fourth year, this four-day intense festival, in the middle of London has established itself as a major live music event, attracting crowds of over 20,000 every day to Hyde Park! The nice thing is that you can just dip in when you want, buy a ticket for the days you like and go home to your own bed. It’s not a camping festival with all its ups and downs so you won’t be find yourself in the middle of fans in costumes, vendors and stalls, tee-pees, organic cafes and strange entertainments. There’s definitely less of a community feel, but this year programme includes Fatboy Slim, Jay-Z, Mark Ronson, Hot Chip, Roisin Murphy, Underworld, Ben Harper , Counting Crows and many more!!! Don’t miss the fabulous fashion parade on Thursday when gates open at 2pm. On Fri, Sat & Sun gates open midday. The day pass costs 40 pounds and the 4-days pass 139 pounds. See: wirelessfestival.co.ukIf you are in London but still don’t have an accommodation do not expect to find it cheap. London can be very expensive! Apart from hotels there is an unlimited numbers of Bed and breakfast (see for the B&B sign) at private homes or youth hostels!! B&B have a long tradition and London is considered to be the Capital of BandB accommodation providers! It’s a good option to get a taste of how a real Londoner lives. In order to book a B&B in London you either pop up in a tourist while in London or find online your accommodation. There are quite a lot booking and informative sites: some of them only list the London BB some others allow you to book online directly (ex. Flashbooking.com). Apart from B&B there are also youth hostels listed like the Clink youth hostel, the Smart Camden Inn, the Smart Hyde park View, very convenient for the central location, the Smart Park Inn. Prices range varies from 15 euros in a hostel to 33 euros per person in a double private room in a London B&B. The choice is up to you. Studios or apartments providing good standards and reasonable prices, try the 60 Warwik House Studio Apartments and Dylan House where rates start from only 72 euros per a double room equipped with kitchen.

Many countries have stiff penalties for drug violations and strictly enforce drug laws. If you are caught buying, selling, carrying or using any type of drug - from hashish to heroin, marijuana to mescaline, cocaine to quaaludes - you will be arrested. You are subject to foreign laws overseas, not U.S. laws, and, if arrested, you will find that:• Few countries provide a jury trial. • Trials are often long, with delays and postponements. • Most countries do not accept bail. • Pre-trial detention, often in solitary confinement, may last for months. If you are convicted, you face a possible sentence of:• 2 - 10 years in many countries • A minimum of 6 years hard labor and a stiff fine in some countries • The death penalty in a number of countries (e.g. Malaysia, Pakistan, Turkey, Thailand, Saudi Arabia)During recent years, there has been an increase in the number of women arrested abroad. These are usually women who serve as drug couriers or “mules” and who believe that they can make fast money and have a vacation at the same time, without getting caught. Instead of a vacation, they receive a permanent residence in an overseas jail.
U.S. citizens have been arrested abroad on drug charges because they possessed just one ounce or less of marijuana. The risk of being jailed for just one marijuana cigarette is simply not worth it!Once you are arrested, the U.S. consular officer CANNOT get you out of jail nor out of the country!Likewise, the U.S. consular officer CANNOT• Represent you at trial or give you legal counsel. • Pay legal fees and/or fines with U.S. Government funds. PLEASE REMEMBER!• If someone offers you a free trip and some quick and easy money, just for bringing back a suitcase…SAY NO! • Do not carry a package for anyone, no matter how small it may be. • Do not let anyone pack your suitcases for you while you are abroad. • If the drugs are in you suitcase, you will be caught.
Do not get involved with illegal drugs overseas! It can spoil more than your vacation. It can ruin your life!