TRAVEL BLOG

I came across this guide to car rental today and felt I should set the record straight on some of the issues raised as it was misleading (just like my title, no *** here I’m afraid).

RUMOUR: You probably won’t get the car you booked.

TRUTH: Rental companies do not guarantee specific models - we cannot guarantee you will get a Hyundai Getz 1.5L for example, but if you pay for an economy car, manual transmission with air conditioning - you will get an economy car, manual with air conditioning (unless of course you get an upgrade!). Our reservations are based on car SIPP codes, vehicles are given as examples only.

TIP: Book based on SIPP code, not actual vehicle. Peugeot Leasing is an exception - models ARE guaranteed.

RUMOUR: It’s likely you’ve paid too much.

TRUTH: Walking off the street to pick up a car in a foreign country, you probably will pay more. Book before you go to ensure the best possible price and remember to compare like with like when researching prices. Look closely at what the price includes, what is extra and how much the extras will cost. Often, an all inclusive rate may appear more expensive but can save you money as there is no more to pay when you pick up the car.

RUMOUR: Your “fully-inclusive deal” won’t be as comprehensive as it sounds.

TRUTH: An Insurance Excess is applicable in the event of any accident or theft to the rental vehicle, regardless of fault. The Excess amount varies between countries and car group. The additional insurance offered by the car rental company is optional and is charged per day on top of an inclusive rate. Read more about insurance excess here.

TIP: You may be covered through your own insurance so double check before you book.

RUMOUR: You may face hefty add-ons.

TRUTH: There are some extras that will be added on to your bill e.g. children’s seats, additional drivers, young driver surcharges and GPS units may be charged separately and on a daily basis, which can add up, especially if it is a long trip. You should be made aware of these charges before you agree to anything, so be aware of how much exactly you have to pay.

TIP: Always ask what the extra charges will be before you agree to them.

RUMOUR: Breaking down could be a disaster.

TRUTH: Not when you book with DriveAway! Our rates all include 24 hour roadside assistance. We also have 24/7 customer service with a toll free number from across the globe so you can speak to someone (in English) no matter where you are.

TIP: Book with a reputable company who have a number you can call in the case of an emergency.

RUMOUR: You could be stung by cancellation penalties.

TRUTH: Not at DriveAway! We do not charge amendment or cancellation fees on car hire.

TIP: Always check at the time of booking if there are cancellation fees in case of an emergency. Sometimes it can be as much as the price of the rental if it is within a short time frame.

Always read your inclusions very carefully when you book a rental car (DriveAway list the inclusions with each vehicle during the booking process online and our reservations consultants will inform you of these if you book over the phone). Terms, conditions and costs all vary depending on the supplier and location. Remember to read your rental agreement carefully before signing it.

Holidays are precious. Researching and organising your car rental before you go can save you headaches and money.

Some people are adventurous and outgoing; too adventurous, in fact that they tend to find someone to share the adventures with. More than sharing their adventures, they want to educate people on the places that they have been to. This is the usual last frontier that traveling people face. By offering their services as travel guides, they are not only able to repeatedly travel to places that they have fallen in love to but they can also share their experiences and adventures to other people.

People also resort to travel guide occupations not only to be able to share their adventure but also to meet people. Meeting all sorts of people is always an exhilarating experience, especially to foreigners with an eye for curiosity. These people are like children that never tire to look the beauty and know the history of the places and monuments that they encounter in their travels. In fact, travel guide professionals must have a good deal of knowledge in history to be able to answer the inquiries. He must also be ready to do animations, improvisations and representations in topics or subjects that are very hard to understand for the foreigners.

Aside from this, it is also a sort of nationalistic pride that fires the travel guide professionals to their work. They do their best to promote the tourism and beauty of their country. In doing so, they feel contented that they are able to do service to their country in their own little way as travel guide professionals.

Common Tasks Of Travel Guide Professionals

Travel guide professionals plan and organize expeditions, tours and cruises that are usually long distance travels. They usually book the tour or cruise details such as accommodation, transportation, equipment and even availability of medical aid. The arrangement usually takes place after he is able to reach a specific required quota in the number of customers.

If necessary, the travel guide professional is responsible for securing the visa, passport and health certificate needs of his tour participants. These permits and important; they are necessary to afford convenience in travel for tour participants. Usually, assistance from the travel guide professional is enough for the tour participants. But nowadays, because of the seemingly never-ending travel requirements, travel guides form partnerships with agencies for securing such important documents.

Throughout the tour, the travel guide professional must attend to the needs of his tour participants, while also giving advice and tips on the best sightseeing or shopping areas available. Some travel guide professionals usually have pre-formed partnerships with shopping establishments or sightseeing areas regarding his tour participants.

In each stop of the travel, he will have to discuss the significance of the area, why they have traveled on those parts and what part in history took place there. Throughout the tour, the travel guide professional already did a research on the best possible travel routes and the destination sites. Also, while on tour, he will evaluate the services received during the duration of the tour, the results of which will be reported to the organizers of the tour beside him.

Tours are usually not free from problems. The travel guide professional must be ready to resolve any problem in accommodation, service or itineraries, and to verify the amounts or fees as well as quality of the equipment to be used prior to the expedition and tour. These types of problems, nonetheless, are manageable for a professional travel guide. More alarming and pressing problems are usually in the form of mishaps or accidents during the tour that can do harm on the health or may even cost the lives of the travelers. In this case, the tour guide must be ready to administer first aid to injured patrons and be able to get medical aid or ambulance for the seriously hurt, immediately.

The travel guide professional must also be adept in various skills. He must be knowledgeable of existing hunting or fishing laws enforced in the area and capable of explaining it to his tour participants. When required, he must be ready to instruct his tour participants in climbing and mountaineering techniques, wilderness survival and be able to demonstrate the use of equipment used in fishing, hunting and climbing.

Characteristics Common To Travel Guide Professionals.

Travel guide professionals must be realistic since his occupation usually includes practicality and ability to manage hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with real-time situations that need fast decision-making attitudes. Since the occupation requires one to work continuously outside, the travel guide professional must be street smart and knowledgeable in current issues and trends. He does not do a lot of paperwork and usually exposes himself or herself to the outside world.

A travel guide professional must be artistic as he is realistic. Artistic in a way as to allow self-expression and does his work without a clear set of rules to follow. He needs to be creative in presenting the various tour stops to his participants. He must try different strategies to avoid letting his participants to be bored with the tour.

A travel guide professional must also be sociable and willing to interact with all sorts of people, of various race and nationalities. Primarily, the occupation of travel guide professionals aims to share interests and experiences to other people and so great people skills are required.

Although it is not necessary, travel guide professionals will be at the advantage compared to other individuals if they are knowledgeable in one or two foreign languages. The English language, although being universal is not very helpful in times of explaining the significance of a particular event in history to a foreigner with a different tongue. Speaking to foreigners in their native language will make them at ease and comfortable throughout the trip.

Travel guide professionals must also have thorough knowledge in geography and also in public safety and security. Knowledge in these areas will make the travel guide professional more effective in ensuring the safety of his tour participants. Knowledge in geography will also arm him with better decisions especially in times of weather change. The comfort of the tour participants is the prime objective of the travel guide professional.

Airline Ticket Booking Service

Vietnam Airline (airline in Vietnam) is recommended as the first choice for all domestic flights within Vietnam. Currently, with operation of fleet of 49 aircraft including Boeing 777-200, Airbus 330, 320, 321, Fokker 70 and ATR72, Vietnam Airline carries more than 6.8 million people annually. That figure includes over 3.1 million passengers on international flights, and 3.7 million on domestic flights, more than one billion USD revenue. Internationally Vietnam Airline operates and codeshared co-operates to 38 destinations around the world, in Europe, Asia, Australia and the Middle East and domestically flies to 18 destinations.

Pacific Airline, founded in 1991 as the second largest airline in Vietnam. They are primarily focused on the domestic flight operation. From Feb 2007, Pacific Airline announces its transition into budgeted airlines, then now becomes the first airline in Vietnam can offer the very low cost for main domestic destinations (cheap airline in Vietnam, Vietnam cheap airline). Currently, Pacific Airlines is working hard in extend flights to regional and international destinations

http://www.salutevietnam.com/?module=ticket&GroupIDCountries=21&ID=2&kind_menu=1

Airport Tax :

Yes, an international departure tax is payable by all travellers leaving Vietnam. It is not included in the price of your flight ticket and must be purchased at the airport before departure.

In Ho Chi Minh City, the International departure tax is USD 12.

In Hanoi, the International departure tax is USD 14.

In Danang, the International departure tax is USD 12.

Domestic flights are not subject to airport tax. It is already included in the price of your ticket.

NOTE: You can purchase your international departure tax in US$ or in Vietnamese Dong.  Airport tax is subject to change without prior notice. Check with your Salute Vietnam Travel consultant before your departure

Long term car rentals mean bigger savings. For rentals of 30 days to 11 months, Car Rental Singapore By The Month offers tremendous value. The longer you rent, the more you save!

No matter where you are traveling to or for however long, Car Rental Singapore can provide you with a great selection of rental cars to make driving a memorable part of your trip! Many drivers choose a long term rental over other methods of transportation such as buses, trains, and taxi cabs, because of the added convenience of your own personal car and the high costs associated with significant use of public transportation. With the great selection of rental cars from Car Rental Singapore, you can choose a car similar to your own or try out something completely new. It’s totally up to you when you reserve a car rental from Car Rental Singapore! Long Term Renters Here at Car Rental Singapore, we usually refer to Long Term Renters as those drivers requiring a rental car for approximately two weeks or more. The specific need for the car rental does not matter, however, long term renters usually need car rentals for everything from extended family vacations to business trips to internships to moving needs. For example, many people who move to a different state or province often like to reserve a long term car rental to ensure great transportation after moving, as it often takes time before getting a new local driver’s license and getting things in order in the new home. Moving is stressful on its own and we want to make driving a pleasurable experience for you.

A long term rental is also very convenient for students who are relocating to another area for internship purposes or who require a car rental for some period during the school year. It is often not plausible to purchase a vehicle when moving away to a different place for a few months, whether it be for internship, business, academic, or family purposes. Renting a car from Car Rental Singapore is a great way to ensure personal and comfortable driving without significant cost. If you require a long term car rental for any purpose, contact the individual office closest to your destination to discuss a suitable plan for your car rental experience with Car Rental Singapore.

Why Choose Long Term Rentals? Reserving a long term rental from Car Rental Singapore is a great idea for anyone that desires personal transportation for any period longer than two weeks. You save money by not having to pay for individual public transportation methods every time you need to go somewhere, you save time by being able to pick up and go when you want to, and you gain added special memories by being able to explore new places and travel off the traditional beaten path! Consider a long term car rental from Car Rental Singapore for any vehicle, for any amount of time, and for any budget! Different agencies have different specials and payment plans for your long term rental, so make sure you discuss your needs with the Car Rental Singapore agency before making your reservation. Here at Car Rental Singapore, we strive to make you happy! The Benefits of a Long Term Rental from Car Rental Singapore Not only is a long term rental from Car Rental Singapore an economical choice, it also adds value and enjoyment to your daily activities during your stay! A long term rental allows you to: Choose your favorite rental car, whether it be a style you have driven before or something you want to try out for the first time. Get to know the area you are in by traveling at your own pace on your own time. Take advantage of the personal time that you have, whether it be after a long business day or before a busy outing.

Airline Ticket Booking Service

Vietnam Airline (airline in Vietnam) is recommended as the first choice for all domestic flights within Vietnam. Currently, with operation of fleet of 49 aircraft including Boeing 777-200, Airbus 330, 320, 321, Fokker 70 and ATR72, Vietnam Airline carries more than 6.8 million people annually. That figure includes over 3.1 million passengers on international flights, and 3.7 million on domestic flights, more than one billion USD revenue. Internationally Vietnam Airline operates and codeshared co-operates to 38 destinations around the world, in Europe, Asia, Australia and the Middle East and domestically flies to 18 destinations.

Pacific Airline, founded in 1991 as the second largest airline in Vietnam. They are primarily focused on the domestic flight operation. From Feb 2007, Pacific Airline announces its transition into budgeted airlines, then now becomes the first airline in Vietnam can offer the very low cost for main domestic destinations (cheap airline in Vietnam, Vietnam cheap airline). Currently, Pacific Airlines is working hard in extend flights to regional and international destinations

Airport Tax :

Yes, an international departure tax is payable by all travellers leaving Vietnam. It is not included in the price of your flight ticket and must be purchased at the airport before departure.

In Ho Chi Minh City, the International departure tax is USD 12.

In Hanoi, the International departure tax is USD 14.

In Danang, the International departure tax is USD 12.

Domestic flights are not subject to airport tax. It is already included in the price of your ticket.

NOTE: You can purchase your international departure tax in US$ or in Vietnamese Dong.  Airport tax is subject to change without prior notice. Check with your Salute Vietnam Travel consultant before your departure

With bigger and better offers on holiday packages and airline tickets are offered to the public, it is not surprising that many sites have placed on their journeys to faraway places to see what the rest of the world has to offer. Traveling in a foreign country can be exciting for the dauntless adventurer or something needs to be approached with caution for the cautious. Travel experts can guide you on your way to make the most of your holidays, while avoiding the tourist traps are specific to the region.

Before starting on a new adventure, it is always useful to do some research in advance. There is a wide variety of sites India Travel Guide hosted by the experts that serve to educate and keep custody of all the things that must be taken into account before your trip. Travel Guide Experts May be useful in providing information on visa requirements on how to obtain and how long it will last. Depending on the nature of your trip, whether for business, pleasure or solitude, you’ll find your destination in the areas that serve your needs.

India Travel guide experts can assist businessmen in the heart of the business and find a hotel that matches the requirement of the budget, without skimping on quality. With unlimited information available on the best sites for staging a variety of events such as conferences, meetings, team building events, training courses, sales presentations, PR events, product launches, general meetings, exhibitions, seminars, conferences and award ceremonies, organizations can select the options that best suit their needs.

Applicants for approval could be guided to the beach or lake, the camping areas or districts based on their adventure of choice. Travel guide experts can be most useful to the defining places of interest and the cost of your vacation to each of them.

Advice and comments on where to go, what to eat and where, where to stay and what to do can be easily found on the Internet through the Travel Guide experts websites where consumers post their personal experiences Voyage. Given that these comments are not paid, the potential of these travelers could find reliable sources of unbiased information from fellow travelers.

Those seeking a taste of culture May be interested to attend cultural events that take place once in a while. A number of travel guides list and the date on which they traditionally occur. Online travel guides are particularly useful for what they offer the opportunity to look at similar events in other countries around the world and make comparisons of prices and dates. This is also beneficial for people interested in a cruise vacation that docks at several different areas or a world tour.

Travel guides often provide a list of hot tourist spots, buyer beware information and many photos. This can be useful to carry since you probably have no access to the Internet during the holidays. Even if a travel guide in hand can be a gift death of a tourist and make you stand out from the crowd is certainly better than losing and having to ask for directions.

For those who seek to blend into the local population, some experts in May to provide advice on what to wear and where people prefer to spend time, eat, drink or throw parties. Many tourists feel less vulnerable to tourist traps and insistent hawkers and unfair pricing practices when they are able to blend in. Some guides provide a list of standard phrases in the local language to help you get through situations. The best advice is to simply do research and prepare in advance and enjoy your trip for what it is.

Budget travelers are served with information on the most low-cost, low-cost attractions, discounts, free services, free entry events, flea markets and accommodation, and their recommendations. If you do not have a trusted friend or relative to you personally and almost show the best points of their city, town or island, or if you plan to cover several cities or countries, on a trip A Travel Guide of Experts is the best choice.

What is free or zero down security system for you? For me, there is no such thing as free lunch. In terms of alarm system in your house, free means more expensive. You pay more money for maintenance, your total cost of ownership is higher, upgrades come at high price and the level of protection is low.

I will start with the most important - the level of security. Free security systems come with one to two door contacts and one motion detector. Such security system is designed to cover the most common points of entry in an average house. Most common break in points are front door, rear door and main floor windows. The rate of entry through these points constitutes 79%. That is exactly what zero down security systems intend to cover. That means that 21% of homes with “free” security systems stay unprotected. Burglars are smart. They enter where the chance of having a security system coverage is lowest - second floor, garage doors, side doors, basement, etc. That means, with a zero down security system, your house is almost completely unprotected. Here you can find burglary entry point statistics.

What if you want to upgrade your security system to provide you with complete coverage? Complete coverage for me is protecting all points of entry, protecting rooms with the most valuables in and having cellular backup communication. The price of such upgrade with an average $0 down alarm company will be relatively high. Providing you with such upgrade, the alarm company will cover their free security system installation costs. They will also make profit on an installation. Yet, your monthly monitoring rate will stay the same.

The total cost of ownership - the cost of having and maintaining your security system - also comes in expensive with $0 down. When you think of a security system, do you also think about maintenance? One hour of a technician on residential site could cost you $120? Do you also consider that you pay at least 8% interest rate on your “free alarm system”?

According to statistics, the rate of false alarms is almost 50% of all registered alarms. One false alarm with police dispatch costs from $100 to $150. Around 30% of residences will get a false alarm in a given year. To simplify, your total cost of having a free alarm system will equal to: (monitoring rate per month x 36 months) + $150 false alarm charge + $100 technician on site fee.

Now does Alfa Security install “free security systems”? We can but we do not - nobody buys free lunch from us. Are you still interested in a $0 down security system? Consider the following:

• your house stays unprotected for just $25 a month for consecutive 36 months

• your total cost of having free security system will be higher than having a custom designed security system from us

• you pay high 8% to 12% interest on a free security system

If you really want to protect your house, do not buy a “free alarm system”. Make a wise investment - protect your home with a custom designed solution from Alfa Security.

See more detailed burglary statistics from an FBI website. Also see tips on enhancing your house security apart from having a security system at home.

There is something I would like to get off my chest: why is it that when someone, anyone, utters the words “clothing-optional beach” a good number of men get this grin on their faces? You know the one that I mean. It’s the one filled with so much smarm and innuendo, as if they were saying “Oh yeah, that’ll be a blast”. Have they not been keeping up with the times? Have they not watched “Eurotrip”? I suppose my issue here would be the fact that some men are still under the impression that if they go to a **** beach, they will see hot ***** *****. Allow me to tell you this now: you are sadly mistaken.

First and foremost, you have to understand that clothing-optional beaches are CLOTHING-OPTIONAL; this means that there is a chance that the folk there are clothed, and that there may be no **** people there at all. Secondly, you cannot honestly expect that only hot women would take off their clothes in a beach; to be sure, it is more likely that you will find out-of-shape individuals of a certain age ***** in these types of beaches. And these individuals? Not necessarily females either. Thirdly, clothing-optional beaches aren’t there for you to have an ogle at some bare flesh. They are like any other beaches that you may have heard of – only, you can choose to wear or not wear any clothing at all.

I would also like to point out that most clothing-optional beaches have separate areas for people who are ***** and people who are not. Often, the two groups do not necessarily meet each other, and considering the type of misconceptions non-nudists have, then I will have to say that it is most definitely all for the best. Clothing optional folk like being left alone as much as any other client of the beach, and as such, they deserve respect and their own space. They let us do their own thing; let them do theirs without harassment. It is only polite.

There are many other things to do in a clothing optional beach anyway, things that are far more fun and productive than wandering around looking for ***** people. For example, Scott Creek Beach is just as well-known for surfing as it is for being clothing optional. You can hike there, play with your pets there, have a picnic there. It has beautiful scenery connected to its name, and exploring it promises to be fruitful.

I would like to say that it is also unfair of people to focus on the “clothing optional” part of the description of the beaches, when they hold in themselves some merit that goes way beyond being a place where people are comfortable in their own skin and not much else. I suppose my point is this: please think about who and what you are disrespecting with your misconceptions. By being so shallow you will likely miss out on something better.

Virtually everyone who depends on public transportation to get from point A to point B (especially in major cities, where the traffic is generally very intense even outside rush hours) on a regular basis agrees that waiting for the bus or any other means of transportation can at times become a very frustrating, if not truly annoying experience.

Knowing that it is very difficult to synchronize your personal schedule with your bus’s schedule (this problem grows in proportions when your bus regularly runs late or, on the contrary, tends to leave the station earlier than mentioned in its daily schedule), you may find yourself waiting precious minutes in the bus stop every day, hoping that the bus will finally come and that you will be able to get to work or arrive at home on time. If waiting long minutes for the bus or other means of public transportation every day is a bad experience, waiting in bad weather can be exasperating! Fortunately, nowadays there are efficient ways to take care of this problem and you can now finally say good bye to those frustrating minutes of waiting for public transportation!

Whether you are a regular or occasional bus traveler and regardless of the distance you need to travel by bus every day, nowadays you can avoid wasting your time at the bus station by employing a very efficient and easy to use service called “Text Bus”. Text Bus is a very useful and increasingly popular service which has been primarily designed to help you save valuable time by eliminating the guess work from public transportation. With Text Bus (Txt Bus), you receive Real Time GPS arrival estimates on your mobile phone whenever you need precise information regarding bus arrival times. With Text Bus, you will never find yourself losing time at the bus station again, and the best thing about this great service is that it is absolutely free!

In fact, Txt Bus is not only free, but it can also save you thousands of dollars every year! Corroborated with the use of Txt Bus service, public transportation can nowadays bring you considerable financial benefits, as Txt Bus offers service users discounts for restaurants, coffee shops and many more. In addition, by using Text Bus you will encourage the use of Public Transit, thus reducing the number of cars on the road and consequently, reducing pollution. Therefore, Text Bus is also aimed at determining people to take a proactive approach against the pollution characteristic to major, overcrowded cities.

Text Bus is extremely easy to use; you can either choose the “on-the-go” feature of Txt Bus (suitable for occasional bus travelers) or the “my schedule” feature (especially designed for individuals who ride the bus on a regular basis). If you ride the bus on a daily basis, you should opt for the “my schedule” Txt Bus feature, which allows you to setup scheduled and completely customizable alerts. For instance, if you ride the bus every day at 8am, you can have Text Bus send you a daily alert at 7:55am and provide you with information on the exact time that your 8am bus will arrive at the bus station. Writing and reading Txt Bus messages is simple and intuitive: the text message responds with the name of the bus, the location of the bus stop and up to five of the next bus arrival times at that stop. The format is the following: “Route, Stop Location, NextBus.Com arrival time (minutes from now).”

Considering the fact that the use of Text Bus service brings many benefits and that the service is absolutely free, you should definitely give it a try and see how it works for you!

For more information about Text Bus or even about Txt Bus plaese review this web site http://www.txtbus.net

In Seattle, two charter buses full of students were left hanging over the edge of an elevated section of Interstate 5 near Capitol Hill. The buses slid down an icy hill near Melrose Avenue East and hit each other before crashing through a barrier. A third bus in the caravan escaped the accident.

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All the passengers have been evacuated, and no serious injuries wre reported, the Seattle Post-Intelligencer is reporting. The buses were headed to Seattle’s Greyhound bus station with dozens of students from the Columbia Basin Job Corps who were heading home for Christmas. Officials said the buses were stable and not in danger of falling onto the interstate. Northbound lanes were closed.

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The cause of the accident was not immediately known, but winter weather left many city streets coated with ice. Nicole Maxie, a passenger, told KING-TV that the buses were carrying students with the Columbia Basin Job Corps home from Moses Lake for Christmas break. She said they were part of a three-bus caravan bound for downtown Seattle’s bus station. The third bus was not involved in the accident. Reco Collins, a 16-year-old passenger, told the Seattle Post-Intelligencer that one bus crashed into the railing and was then struck by the second bus, pushing it farther over the side.