Europe Travel Planning - For a Blissful Holiday Experience

Want to spend you holidays in Europe this time? Looking for a blissful and great holiday trip? For a successful trip planning is the most important and basic step. It is very important to plan you trip beforehand. To plan your trips in an effective and efficient manner collate as much information as possible about your holiday destination.

Books and maps are the most reliable source of information that one can depend on. Europe Travel Planning books and guides are also available in the market that helps you in accessing important information. With the help of maps and route planners you can navigate through places while being on trip without having the fear of being lost. Remember the festive season is the best time to explore a country its rich culture so plan accordingly.

You can easily locate different places with the help of guides. Routes to various places, to stay and eat, tourist spots, shopping centers etc. are listed in a guide book. You can also find information about communication modes and those used for traveling purposes like exploring the sites by riding bicycle, walking, taxi, boating or boarding trains. For sighting seeing a map is the best guide. You can know about the lifestyle of people, food habits, dialect and culture conveniently through informative books. These help you to understand taste of people and tradition in a better way.

Carry lesser personal belongings with you when planning a trip. You can take help of an itinerary and get one planned for you. You can plan your itinerary according to your convenience and choice. You have full freedom to choose the places that interest you and you wish to visit in Europe. Accordingly then you can get an itinerary for yourself that will help you throughout your trip.

Online gives you a better and wider coverage of information over the books. Anywhere, anyplace at anytime you can access the desired information. Online medium is less expensive and user friendly.

Travel Guides for Proper Travel Planning

There are two kinds of travelers that are commonly seen. One kind of travelers loves to go out on trips and expeditions without any kind of planning. Again there are other travelers who love to plan their trip in a proper manner so that there are no problems in the entire trip. The best way to plan properly for a trip is by following the guidelines that are there in various travel guides. For that, the most important thing required is to select the right kind of guide that will assist you in various kinds of things while traveling or on a trip. You can also note down the important things from the guide and make a checklist from the same so that nothing is missed out and all the important things and points are covered.

Apart from guides in booklet format, nowadays travel guides are also available online. The greatest advantage of having the guides in the online format is that they can be accessed at any time of the day and from any place. You just need to have a laptop with you along with some internet connectivity. Nowadays internet can be accessed from mobiles as well. Using smartphones can help you in a great way as you can refer to the maps and other things online. In fact, if you are not prepared for the next day of traveling, you can prepare for the same with the help of online guides at the end of the day from any place. The best thing is that you will not miss out on any place if you have a proper guide.

On gathering information from a reliable guide, it is possible to have complete knowledge about a place. When you are planning a trip, there are certain things that you must know about the place. The first thing that is important is to know about the location and the geographical features of the place. The location of the place will determine many factors. For instance, the weather and climate of the place, the lifestyle, the food habit, and the kinds of clothes that need to be carried etc will all depend on the location and the geographical features of the place. It will be a great help for you as you can prepare accordingly for the trip.

Apart from this information, travel guides will also provide comprehensive data on the various places of attractions. A brief history of the place of attraction, along with the charges of entry fee, the timings of the visit and several other data is provided in the guides. You will also get information regarding the various hotels and resorts in the place. Data related to hotels, restaurants, pubs and local eateries are also available in the guides so that you can enjoy a good stay at the place.

How to Make Travel Planning Wardrobe Decisions - Are You Traveling for Business or Pleasure?

Is there anything as stressful as travel planning and wardrobe planning for your travels? You have to worry about airport traffic, security checkpoints, and if adding a string bikini to your already overstuffed luggage will trigger an overweight luggage fee that even loan sharks call excessive. But, there is an upside! Because of a more thorough TSA, you can get your baggage scanned and a gynecological exam at the same time. Here are some travel and packing tips to help you navigate travel planning and wardrobe decision making.

Is your trip for business or pleasure? If your trip is for business, then you have to be extra careful packing because as a woman business trips mean that you cannot repeat outfits during your trip, particularly if it is a conference or anything that there are going to be many pictures. It will require extra careful prep planning for your wardrobe. Celebrities have wardrobe stylists who prepare their outfits for press tours and trips since their photos end up everywhere. If you are a guest speaker at a conference or trade show, you will also need to pay maniacal attention to your wardrobe to ensure that you are chic in every picture snapped.

Your wardrobe for a business trip does require more items and it might even require you to check a bag. However, you do have options. You can ship your clothing ahead of time to make sure it arrives in one piece and on time. That is another task that is performed by wardrobe stylists for photo shoots in exotic locales or if you are dressing other VIPs for exclusive events.

If this trip is for pleasure then wardrobe is a whole differently animal. While you still can't show up to the first class lounge in six year old Juicy sweats and mismatched flip-flops, you can be more efficient in your wardrobe planning. A travel tip revealed by Kelly Ripa is to wear the same outfit to and from your travel location. It is your travel outfit and it will prevent this outfit from taking up valuable real estate in your suitcase.

There are two schools of thought concerning preparation for emergencies in travel planning and wardrobe. Some fashion experts say don't bother planning for contingencies as you can purchase anything you missed once you arrive at your destination. The other fashion experts (some of these experts may also answer to a nickname of neurotic) say to always plan for contingencies. This means throwing in an extra pair of underwear and socks into your suitcase and maybe even an additional outfit. This depends on your own personal comfort level with uncertainty and how jam packed your schedule is. If there is no time on your itinerary to run errands then pack for contingencies.

There is one contingency that should always be accounted for when considering travel planning and your wardrobe. Derek Blasberg, author of the book Classy, reiterates this point in his book. Plan for an unexpected dressy event, throw in a dress you can wear to a really swank dinner party. You never know who you are going to meet and you don't want to say you turned down a dinner invitation to meet some awesome people because you failed in your travel planning and made poor wardrobe decisions and now you missed your chance to have organic split pea soup Gwyneth Paltrow.

Antarctica Travel: Planning Your Antarctica Cruise

With 98% of its surface covered in ice, Antarctica has few inhabitants and exploration has mostly been done by researchers, though a few adventurous travelers have cruised south to this icy wonderland. Take a once in a lifetime vacation to the beautiful Antarctica. Accessible to travelers via cruise ship, Antarctica is the perfect destination for people with a sense of adventure who appreciates the beauty of the diverse landscapes Mother Nature provides.

Thorough planning for an Antarctica trip is important as weather can be harsh and affect the availability of activities. When arranging an Antarctica cruise, weather is a major factor, the winter months in Antarctica are harsh and trips should be concentrated in the summer months, November through March. In November and December the sun will glisten off the seemingly endless glaciers and snow melt will fill the crystalline lakes. December and January are the perfect months for penguin spotting; penguin chicks are hatched in these months. February provides continual sunshine; some days in February the sun will fill the sky for 20 hours. March is the perfect time for travelers interested in whale watching, as whales will emerge from the deep waters.

After deciding when you will be traveling to Antarctica the next step is picking the cruise ship right for you. All cruises offer a variety of activities, though all activities are dependent on the weather. The most typical activities include wildlife spotting, exploring the icy lands, and enjoying the peace the Antarctic waters bring, from the comfort of your cruise ship. For those interested in wildlife spotting Antarctica, despite its harsh conditions, supports a wide array of animals; keep a look out for penguins, seals and whales during your Antarctica cruise. Many cruise ships will also stop and allow passengers to debark to explore the Antarctic terrain, from rocky beaches to icy paths, there is plenty to explore on this untouched land. The unexpected thermal hot spring is a pleasant find for any traveler, a great way to relax and truly experience the tranquility of these ice landscapes. Cruises also offer kayaking tours to explore the waters and glaciers.

Pick the cruise line that fits best for your style and budget and enter the final stages of planning your Antarctica vacation. Before you can set off in the icy blue waters on your cruise you have to pack! Packing is extremely important as temperatures during the summer months can range from 20 to 50F, with nights becoming bitterly cold.

Finally you can set off for your vacation, start your journey by flying to Argentina, upon arrival to the southernmost city in the world, Ushuaia, you can depart for the trip of a lifetime. Antarctica cruises can be a week or a month, no matter how long, enjoy the peace and isolation this cruise provides while discovering one of the most unexplored terrains in the world.

Internet and Travel Planning

Internet has made travel planning so easier these days, if not travelling. Planning for a travel couldn't be so much easier and convenient as in case with help of Internet. A virtual tour to the prospective destination places can be decisive factor in choosing the right holiday destination. Even travel planning becomes so much easier and interesting with inclusion of internet.

Wide Reach of Internet in Tourism Industry

The reach of Internet in Travel and Tourism is like never before, and it's increasing day by day. You can find several websites competing with each other for any of the popular tourist destinations around the world. Even, any respectable airlines, hotel and tour companies must have a website loaded with information and different packages. Then there are enormous blogs and personal websites owned and managed by tour enthusiasts fully loaded with their personal encounters to the places visited by them. These blogs and personal websites can be the best guide in planning for a vacation.

Need for Travel Agencies and Tour Planners

However, need for travel agencies and tour planners are always there. You need services of these experienced Online Travel Agents to handle your international travel needs. They become more important in case of planning a complex, multi-modal and multi location trips, especially when in groups. You can have added benefit of reduced fares or additional services with Airlines and Hotels after booking a package with their associate Travel Agents.

Benefits of Tour Planning with Online Travel Agents

Online travel agents offer best deal for you suited for every budget according to the occasion. They offer several seasonal packages for popular occasions like New Year, Christmas, summer holidays or winter vacations. Most of them also offer exclusively planned wedding tour packages for newlywed couples. When you are planning your honeymoon trip, it's impossible to ignore several attractive packages offered by top travel agents. Because none other than these experienced travel agents can suggest you better places to go for a lonely and much private place for vacation full of romance, love and ecstasy.

The trend of online travel planning is being popular evenly in all parts of Globe. The best example is United States, where half of the travel planning (both inbound and outbound) and bookings are done online via various travel planning websites. Even in developing countries like India online travel portals are doing good business and competing with international online travel Giants.

Efficient Sales Travel Planning - Increase Sales and Reduce Costs

There's no getting around it...for most of us in sales, times are tough. Sales managers everywhere are faced with shrinking travel budgets and getting pressure to reduce their cost of sales. One way to go is simply to stop traveling. This cuts costs, but is death to new business, and ultimately leads to a failed sales plan...and a failed business. In tough times, you need your sales force on the streets more than ever, knocking on doors and bringing in the new business that is still out there. Yet companies have significantly curtailed business travel.

A new survey by the Association of Corporate Travel Executives found that 71 percent of travel managers foresee spending less money on corporate travel and events in 2009. "Business travel is down in the range of 20 to 25 percent on a global basis," according to, Sam Gilliland, Sabre Holdings chairman and CEO, speaking at a recent business travel News symposium. "Even with large corporations, and in particular financial services, you see travel down in the 30 percent range" according to Gilliland.

So as corporate belts get tightened we continue to cut travel budgets, and end up seeing fewer prospects in the bargain. Seeing fewer prospects results in less sales, leading to tighter travel budgets...and a downward spiral that's tough to pull out of.

You don't want to stop traveling, but you still need to cut costs. Here's how you can reduce your travel costs, while at the same time, increasing your sales. The solution is to help your sales force plan smarter sales travel - maximizing the amount of sales calls they make, while expending the least amount of travel effort and dollars.

As the old saying goes, 'prior planning prevents poor performance'. So drill it into your sales reps that when planning sales travel, they need to think ahead. Make sure that whenever possible, they schedule sales calls with companies that are geographically close together. Ensure they create an efficient route that moves logically from account to account, taking the quickest routes that cover the least miles. When looking for hotels, restaurants and other business services required on the road, make sure your team makes every effort to choose locations that are on their route of travel so that they save time and fuel.

So how do you help your sales force work their territory more effectively, intelligently planning out a sales strategy that maximizes time in front of prospects while minimizing travel expenses? First, make sure they have the right tools. Tell them to purchase a laptop travel planning software. There are several products to choose from, including Microsoft Streets and Trips, MapPoint, Garmin Mobile PC, Delorme StreetAtlas, ESRI Business map and more. Most laptop software packages are in the $30 to $50 range, and most offer a bundled GPS receiver, with several of the combined packages running under $80.

With a laptop mapping solution, your team can import their prospect lists into the map, so that they see each account plotted right down to their street address. They'll assign unique identity pushpins to groups of prospects and customers to instantly identify the type of accounts in an area. Seeing the 'big picture' will help your sales people to spot opportunities they might have missed.

Laptop mapping programs incorporate planning tools that help sales people easily plan the most efficient and practical way to get in front of the account with the least amount of effort and expense. They are much more powerful than a Personal Navigation Device (PND) because they allow reps to find prospects and generate 'what if' routing scenarios based on their calls. PND's are great for helping you get to where you already know you want to go - but for sales people, it's more important to decide where you need to go to in the first place.

Choosing a combination package with a GPS Receiver helps your sales force travel more confidently, receiving turn by turn directions right to the prospect's door. Since they need to carry a laptop anyway, using a GPS receiver with planning software will save you a couple hundred dollars per rep as compared to buying them a Personal Navigation Device . And, it's more convenient for them, since all of their accounts are right there on the map, ready for them to route to.

You may be asking yourself - why should I have my team purchase software to run on their laptop when there are free online mapping services...I'm trying to cut costs - right? The answer is - when it comes to comparing online mapping versus laptop mapping solutions, it's best to remember - you get what you pay for.

The features and functionally of the laptop packages far outweigh their online cousins. Laptop trip planning software allows you to load thousands of prospect and customer locations into your map quickly and easily. Your reps can have the map with them at all times, without being dependent on an internet connection.

They'll update their maps with information that is critical to them while traveling their territory, and be able to respond to changes quickly and efficiently. A new prospect just called in? Plot them on the map and see if they fit into the current trip plan. Have a meeting canceled while on the road? Use the search tools to find a new prospect that's within a specified drive time. Need a restaurant with free Wi-Fi on the way to the next client? Quickly search the map and add it to the route.

Planning more efficient sales trips that maximize time in front of prospects, and reduce wasted travel time and dollars will increase sales and reduce costs. Sure - times are tough for those of us in sales. But when the going gets tough, the tough look for new ways to get the job done. Laptop mapping software will help your sales team get it done.

Trip Planning Timeline for Friends and Family Travel

The following represents the minimum amount of advance time in planning your group's next trip. Follow this simple timeline and save yourself and your travel group some serious trip planning headaches.

3 to 6 Months Prior to Departure
Establish the leader, main trip planner (point person) for the trip
Determine the type of trip - possible destinations, themes, budget
Determine timing and duration of the trip
Find quality travel providers who can help plan but also book the trip for you
Start building a rough itinerary

~ 3 Months Prior to Departure
Submit Visa applications (if applicable)
Book travel protection insurance (if desired)
Secure required health documentation forms
Purchase trip (deposit or full pay, depending on travel provider)

2 Months Prior to Departure
Finalize the group's itinerary and any optional activities, tours, etc. (best to not have any major changes beyond this point)
Load mobile apps to your device and get familiar with them
Share relevant YouTube videos and Pinterest boards about the destination

1 to 2 Months Prior to Departure
Compile a list of necessary gear/equipment to purchase
Review complete itinerary (last chance to make changes)
Determine meeting point for the start of the trip
Reserve upgrades and optional activities

2 to 4 Weeks Prior to Departure
Pay balance due to travel provider
Ensure all group members are paid up too and have necessary forms and documents
Provide updates regarding destination and activities
If desired, confirm reservations directly with appropriate vendors
Distribute emergency contact info
Provide copies of passports to travel provider and emergency contacts
Put together a pack list, purchase remaining items, secure cash, etc.

Departure Day
Have fun together and experience incredible new places and things
Start dreaming, as a group, of your next trip

Sometimes groups have a tough time getting on the same page and planning a trip together that actually departs - lot's of great ideas have been "left on the table," and never completed. Remember, ideas are cheap, execution of those ideas are what's valuable. So, don't give up. If you are able to take on the planning and get your favorite group of people to a fantastic destination where you do lots of amazing things together you will forever be the group's hero.

If you have the right disposition and personality to handle being your group's trip planner, you will be remembered fondly and recognized as a hero and leader for years to come. You can, of course, use Triporama's free trip planner to make planning fun and easy.

Asia Travel Planning

Asia stretches the imagination and your reflexes as you pass from ultra-modern cities like Tokyo and Singapore through to tiny isolated villages in forests or mountains. Drop south from gargantuan China into the Indian subcontinent or venture through South East Asia's beautiful countryside and beaches instead.

Considering more than half the world's population lives in Asia, you're likely to be blown away by the sheer number of people, and the terrifying differences between the rich and poor. There's plenty of space though - Asia isn't so much a destination as a container to hold an amazingly diverse set of cultures and places.

With some of the richest archeological remains in the world, Asia is a culture-lover's dream destination; at the same time, the cheapest beers on the planet make it a party-goers paradise. Whatever your reason for travelling to Asia, you're going to love it!

There are numerous countries throughout Asia and these include Japan, Laos and Cambodia among others that are highly exotic and will attract many people every year that are seeking adventure and relaxation, this region definitely has much to offer for everybody. For anyone arriving from a western country it's a long journey which requires considerable Asia travel planning.

Many people will fly to such locations and there are numerous linked international airports having recurrent routes making travel simple. The best way for locating a flight that is inexpensive would be to search for deals online because there are numerous budget air carriers offering discounts each week.

When someone has arrived in a location of their choosing, travel choices generally incorporate shuttle or train. It is an easy way to view the countryside along with submerging yourself inside the local community plus understanding a little regarding the traditions.

Lodging within Asia is usually highly affordable unless you will be residing in a sizable brand name hotel. Oftentimes a few bucks can get visitors a pleasant clean room particularly on the outskirts of the town or possibly a local village that usually offer the better rates.

You will find great food offered from street vendors, it is where many locals will eat. Apart from being extremely reasonably priced its often as good as what can be found in a restaurant, therefore it's not only affordable but it's also highly delicious.

An often overlooked precaution would be guarding against theft, however it's necessary regardless of whatever country the tourist visits. This could be avoided easily from having a watchful eye plus being extra careful. It's a great region which is visited by folks all around the world and most are bound to find the area a great place for visiting.

Air Travel Planning and Packing

Plan your trip in advance as much as possible and take into account any possible issues that you might encounter along the way. Purchase your ticket as early as you can if you are more serious about spending. Make sure that your ticket(s) are registered with your proper given name as it appears on government issued identification such as driving licenses, PAN cards, social security etc. Certain airlines offer an option that allows the customer to books seats right away without the need for checking-in and taking a seat that is based on the first-come-first-serve concept. If you have specific needs, such as disability etc. It would be a wise decision to book a seat as soon as you can, whether through the aforementioned option or by online/self check-in before you board the plane. If flying international, do read up on the regulations regarding visa, traveler's regulations for entrance, tourism etc.

Packing

Ensure that your packing is done within the limits of baggage allowance stipulated by the airline. Carrying sharp objects is highly controversial and may be asked to be discarded from your carry-on luggage. When packing, if for a short journey or a short duration journey, remember to pack light on various things such as toiletries, which can be purchased from any supermarket for the purposes of travel. If using medications, look up regulations for what medication can be carried, such as diabetics who require insulin shots, and other kinds of medications. Ensure that you have some mild wet wipes which are essential to hygiene on a plane as not everything can be sanitized when the staffs cleans up the aircraft before the next flight. If you really want to carry a pillow, do look for small ones or an inflatable pillow. Usually air crafts do have stock of pillows for passengers who require additional support for various reasons.

At the Airport

For a domestic flight, try to reach the airport at least an hour in advance so that check-in would be relatively speedy. For international flights, you need to be at the airport at least 3 hours in advance, to check-in and have baggage screened. It may seem a long and tedious process, but it is standard protocol in most airports in most parts of the world. Ensure that your luggage has been tagged properly and weighs the right amount that does not exceed baggage allowance. Ensure that you are not accidentally carrying sharp objects, as when you are screened before the departure gate, there might be problems encountered with security staff.

Arrival Gate

To ensure that baggage collection is easy, the first thing to do is to get yourself a cart, if you luggage is big and heavy. If not, wait for your luggage to come around on the tray. Have your luggage marked or your suitcase in a specific color that you can remember easily. There is no harm in waiting for your baggage, as the tray will go on for a long time long after you have disembarked from your flight.