Budget Adventure Travel Tips: Travel Europe With Low Airfares

budget adventure travel, family adventure vacation, discount adventure travel

Europe has always been a desirable vacation destination. No matter what your interests are, Europe has something to offer. If museums are your thing, France leads that pack, although the Guggenheim in Bilbao, Spain is a must-see for art aficionados. Italy offers the culinary delights of Tuscany and the unparalleled atmosphere of the Grand Canal in Venice. Switzerland, Italy, and France provide winter sports enthusiasts with the best in Alpine skiing. To travel Europe is to travel in time, from ancient Roman ruins to the hottest nightclubs in Paris.

For many people, to travel Africa means exploring the great savannahs. Going on safari is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, filled with unimaginable beauty and the opportunity to see exotic animals in their natural habitats. Similarly, Westerners can travel Asia to immerse themselves in cultures vastly different from their own. The contrasts that Asian destinations provide - from the bustling metropolis that is Hong Kong and the high-tech Tokyo to the rural areas of Thailand and Vietnam - challenge and delight the senses.

Even as recently as twenty years ago, if you wished to travel Europe, travel Asia, or travel Africa, it would have been a pipe dream or one that required you to spend a lifetime's worth of savings. Today's global economy, however, translates into multi-city cheap tickets that can turn virtually anyone into a continent-hopping frequent flyer.

The Internet, of course, is the key to booking cheap tickets. Although individual airlines sometimes offer specials in international travel, third party companies are often the place to turn for cheap tickets. Their proprietary search technology allows them to link to dozens and dozens of airlines, and scour airfares at the lowest possible cost.

Once you've made the decision to undertake the adventure of a multi-city trip and travel Europe, travel Asia, or travel Africa, it's time to book your airfare. The best approach to securing cheap tickets is flexibility. The more flexibility you have in your travel dates and in your destinations, the more likely you are to find the cheap tickets you desire.

With enough flexibility, you can even take a trip around the world for the cost of a single round trip airfare with a traditional carrier. Why not start at a major airline hub close to home, and see where your adventure takes you? Instead of having your heart set on flying from New York City to Paris, why not go from New York to Zurich, and then book a short flight on a smaller airline from Zurich to Paris? Small airlines often offer cheap tickets without a penalty for a one-way ticket.

If you want to see the world, you should make sure to pack a sense of adventure. That, combined with excellent Internet sleuthing skills, can make your travel dreams a reality.

Chris Robertson is an author of Majon International, one of the worlds MOST popular internet marketing companies on the web. Visit this Travel Website and Majon's Travel directory.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Chris_Robertson

budget adventure travel, family adventure vacation, discount adventure travel

US Airways’ “Evil” Contract for Carriage

budget adventure travel, family adventure vacation, discount adventure travel

I don’t have permission to reprint a very important article that just appeared on Travel Plan Idea Blog at http://www.travel-plan-idea.com/archives/003123.html, so I am attaching a link to it instead.

An airline’s contract for carriage is basically its contract with its flying customers. You may never see it, you may not know how to find it, but by buy a ticket you have agreed to its terms.

US Airways has recently updated its contract of carriage to allow it to get away with some pretty despicable practices in the name of “customer service.”

Stay informed and be warned. Read this article before you buy another ticket on US Airways: http://www.travel-plan-idea.com/archives/003123.html.

COPYRIGHT © 2006, Charles Brown. All rights reserved

budget adventure travel, family adventure vacation, discount adventure travel

How To Get Airlines to Treat You Like a VIP

budget adventure travel, discount adventure travel, family adventure vacation

In recent weeks I have read at least three articles about how poorly the flying public perceives the customer service provided by the airline industry. As a frequent traveler myself, I know how frustrating (and that is an extremely mild word to use here) it is when you are stuck in an airport because a pilot has not arrived on time, or a flight was overbooked or for any other reason.

But before I go any further, I should first put things in perspective. Since September 11, the airline industry has been on the ropes, financially. In the U.S. four of the five major carriers have filed bankruptcy, and not one of them has shown a profit for a single fiscal year. The industry has also reduced its workforce by 200,000 fewer people.

So, as this industry’s customers, we cannot realistically expect to receive the same level of service as we received before 9-11.

But, and this is a very important “but,” there is still no excuse for rude or indifferent behavior. On this level I am happy to report that of the two airlines I have personal experience with, American Airlines and British Airlines, their employees seem to be trying harder to be courteous, helpful and empowered to go the extra mile.

Of course this all boils down to my own personal perception, but I have generally heard more positive feedback from other travelers on these airlines.

Given all the financial problems facing this industry, how can one still get VIP treatment from airlines? Before I answer that question, I first want to say that what I am about to write in this article is not to offer pity for the airline industry or to excuse unexcusable behavior on the part of indifferent employees, but it is to offer advice in the context of the reality of the industry’s financial woes.

Let’s think about the old expression, “the customer is always right.” Clearly this is not always the case. Customers often expect and demand much more than they are entitled to. In the real world, no business can really act as if the customer is always right when customers want something for nothing. Can a restaurant give free meals? Can a store give away free merchandise? Of course not, and neither can an airline give free airfare.

But airlines are in the unique position to know which customers to give VIP treatment to: their frequent travelers. If you are a member of an airline’s loyalty program AND you truly are a frequent flyer AND if you usually travel on first or business class tickets, your VIP status with that airline will swiftly rise.

Airlines can track the profitability of each and every one of their loyalty program members. Now, what if a customer shows up and asks for special treatment, or expects something extra from the airline? If that person is not a loyalty program member, or is a member but hasn’t flown with that airline in over a year, or if that person only flies on deep discount tickets bought through an online consolidator web site, he probably will not get an extra level of VIP treatment. (He should, however, be treated with courtesy, respect and receive the proper value for his travel dollar, but he probably won’t get the VIP treatment).

Now suppose a different customer comes up to the ticket counter and travels every month or so on tickets in the mid price range. That person should expect to receive the extra request if the request is reasonable.

What is the lesson to all this? Simple: the airline industry will not be financially able to offer a lot of extra perks to all its customers for a long time to come. But you can upgrade your status with any airline by making it your sole carrier whenever possible. There are many people who are members of five or six loyalty programs and spread their travel among those airlines, usually based on the ticket price available at the time they travel. But if those same people were to concentrate on one airline, they would probably find themselves receiving VIP treatment more often.

COPYRIGHT © 2006, Charles Brown. All rights reserved.

budget adventure travel, discount adventure travel, family adventure vacation

Traveling In Massachusetts

Budget Adventure Travel, Bargain Adventure Travel, Family Adventure Vacation

When visiting Boston, it’s fun to see the colleges in Massachusetts. The state of Massachusetts is an excellent state, offering you plenty to do and plenty to see in your spare time. Home to the well known and well respected Harvard University, Massachusetts proves that it’s no stranger to a great education. Whether you live in the state or you’re just looking for a great education, this is one state that you shouldn’t overlook.

Among the many traditional colleges in Massachusetts, you have Becker College, Assumption College, Bay Path College, Hampshire College, and of course Harvard University. These colleges offer two and four year degree programs, giving you everything from your associates to your bachelor’s degree. You can study many different fields here as well, including law and engineering. There are a lot of other career fields as well, everything you could possibly want to learn.

The colleges in Massachusetts also include technical, career, and even vocational colleges. These colleges offer degree and certificate programs that directly relate to specific careers, such as art, business, computers, and even massage therapy. With most of these colleges, you can complete your training in less than 2 years. Some examples of these schools include Gibbs College, Career Education Institute, and the Boston College Center. Boston is the highlight of Massachusetts, offering you the most colleges and curriculum to choose from.

Even though Boston has the most colleges in Massachusetts, Cambridge is home to Harvard University. Whether you live in Massachusetts or not you can still travel here to receive a great education. Harvard University is the biggest attraction for students to the area, as it offers you only the best. The school has the highest tuition rates around, yet it has the biggest reputation. Even though many call it the best of all colleges in Massachusetts, the other colleges are just as well. There’s several to choose from, including everything from public to private colleges. When the time comes to go to college, remember that Massachusetts has everything you need – including the infamous Harvard University.

Any or all of this article on Boston and Massachusetts may be used if you have the url http://www.boston-taxi.com Thanks from Boston Taxi.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tomkin_Coleman

Budget Adventure Travel, Bargain Adventure Travel, Family Adventure Vacation

Europe Vacation - A Trip For Everyone

Budget Adventure Travel, Bargain Adventure Travel, Family Adventure Vacation

Geographically, Europe can certainly seem a long way from home, particularly if you live in the Oceanic region as I do. Americans have a somewhat better opportunity to visit Europe than we do because of the relative proximity of continental Europe, but, we hear the expression "the world is getting smaller" and it is certainly true as far as more varied opportunities with air travel become available.

The days have long gone where you had to depend upon one airline to take you from one place to another. Global partnerships seem to have alleviated all those problems and with the press of a computer key, into the fascinating world of the internet, we are able to book the dream trip without having to move away from the hot coffee our travel agents provide while compiling our best and most convenient itinerary.

I suppose it is true to say that being originally from the United Kingdom, Europe vacations perhaps do not hold the mystery for me that they do for some of my neighbors and friends. As far as I was concerned then, a Europe vacation entailed a fortnight in Spain, Italy, France, Portugal etc, etc.

This does not alter the fact though that a fortnight in the sun was still a very attractive proposition after a year of saving and the length and inclement weather of the English winter. It was indeed something to look forward to.

My outlook has changed somewhat I must admit. My last trip to Europe entailed a stop off in Germany, with a wonderful five day trip through Bavaria and back to Northern Germany and Frankfurt for a Saturday morning flight to England. This was followed by a couple of weeks touring round the "Old Country" catching up with relatives and spending a week in Ireland, the birthplace of my mother.

Other people would have much more exotic designs on European vacations. Rome and Paris I guess would have to be two of the most popular destinations on the European mainland. Not surprisingly, since both these beautiful cities have so much to offer. It may be said that you could spend two weeks in either of them and not see everything in the tourist brochures.

My next European vacation is taking the form of 26 capitals in the same amount of days. Hectic it may sound, but if there's one thing to be said of a European bus tour, it's that your only requirements are to be able to get a good night's sleep, be not too deaf to listen to the tour guide's information and make sure you make the most of the wonderful scenery that Europe has to offer - oh, and have a good pair of walking shoes!

The magic of a European vacation will never wane, no matter where you live now. But attraction to it, if the truth be known, is not just linked to Europe. We all know that many places in the world have equal beauty - if only we could see them all!

Michael Russell
Your Independent guide to Europe Vacation
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Russell

Budget Adventure Travel, Bargain Adventure Travel, Family Adventure Vacation

Weekly Travel Deals Newsletter

budget adventure travel, family adventure vacation


One of the best ways to find great adventure travel deals is to have the deals come to you. I personally subscribe to several email alerts that keep me on top of the latest bargains out there.

By far the best of these alerts is the weekly email newsletter I receive from Shermans Travel called, Shermans Top 25. They do a lot of the work for me by screening some of the best airfare, hotel, cruise and travel package bargains every week.

It is free to subscribe, and I strongly recommend it to anyone interested in saving money on travel. Just click This Week's Top 25 Travel Deals!.

COPYRIGHT © 2006, Charles Brown. All rights reserved.

budget adventure travel, family adventure vacation