Want to go to a new exciting place, but don’t have anyone to tag along? There may be times when you have to travel alone in a foreign land. Whether just for fun or on official business, you have to take safety measures. Traveling alone need not be lonely. It could be fun in more ways than one. Don’t be reluctant to travel just because your on your own. Just remember these things:

*Plan ahead
Research and read about the place you’re heading to. Know where’s the nearest hotel, restaurant, and such. Make reservations too, if possible. That way, your travel is on a good start.
 
*Take a city map
You better study how to read maps. Needless to say, these can guide you where you are going, especially if it’s the first time you’re going to that place. Relying too much on the cab driver is not a good idea.

*Learn the language
Just study the basics, and the most common things you’re likely to ask a local. Learn it before you arrive.

*Hide your valuables
Put your guard up. Don’t invite muggers to come and get you. Don’t wear too much jewelry outside the streets. Use inexpensive accessories.

*Dress appropriately
Check what the locals wear on a given time of day. You don’t want your clothes screaming you’re a tourist. The lesser attention you draw to yourself, the better.

*Don’t be afraid to ask for directions
It would be okay to ask someone for directions, but be sure you are going to choose who to ask. You can ask a waiter in restaurant, or the receptionist in your hotel. Just be sure you get all information. Asking from a complete stranger outside is not advisable.

*Bring some cash
Take just enough. Traveler’s checks and credit cards are good, and it could be your primary mode of payment, but you might want to keep a few extra dollars in your pocket with local money.

*Enjoy your self
Well, you are traveling, so make the most of it. Make friends with a local. Talk to somebody over lunch in a café. Get the addresses of the friends you make to send them a thank you card. Maybe next time, you’d be their host.

Traveling alone can be your best experience. With solo traveling, you will definitely learn more about your self and what you can do. Try it. It would be fun!

- Plan your vacations on off seasons, Hotel rates, even airline and car rental rates are lower during this time due to lower demand. You can get as much as a 50% discount if you book a room during off season, so try and call the hotel if they have off season discounts and ask them when the discounts will be effective.

- Some hotels give discounts to certain people like students, military contingents, Senior citizens, honeymooners etc. Ask for these discounts and what their details, you can save a lot with these.

- Ask if your kids can stay for free, if you’re with your family, sometimes hotels can allow up to two kids for a two bed room provided that the kids are within the age limit.

- If you’re not very particular with hotel locations, you can access name-your-price websites for car rentals and hotel reservations. They’ll do the haggling for you and you’re sure not to over-budget.

- Some hotels and even car rental companies, give “free days” if you use their services for more than a week. Ask about these certain perks if you’re planning a long stay.

- Make sure that the room fees are the only ones you’re paying for. Some hotels have surcharges and extra fees that aren’t mentioned in room rates and then suddenly pop-up on check-out. Before you reserve, ask about these, and if upon check-out you suddenly find yourself with fees that you didn’t know about, refuse to pay it.

- You can also exchange frequent Flier miles for hotel lodgings so if you have an expiring miles card, or a miles card that you’d just want to get rid of, ask the hotel if they honor these exchanges.

- Sometimes, hotels provide free airport pick-up you can use this as bargaining tool. Ask for a free pickup when haggling so you’ll get something extra even if you pay the full price.

- If you’re planning to travel during peak season, always call in advance, rates tend to get higher as the season approaches.

- Sometimes, weekend rates are lower than regular fees, or vice versa, ask your agent, or ask the hotel yourself if they have these, then you can schedule your trip during these times and be able to avail of the discount.

- Always ask for a confirmation number when you reserve a room, so that they can’t say that they didn’t receive your reservation.

Vietnam

The country’s recommended tourist spots are Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, which are both modernized. All tourists in Vietnam, except Thai and Philippine Nationals need a tourist Visa before entering the Country. Health wise, Malaria is prevalent in Vietnam, it would be best to bring with you anti-mosquito lotions to prevent being bit.

Indonesia

Aside from the usual prohibition of narcotics and deadly weapons, Radio cassette Players are banned in the Island of Bali, which is a prime tourist spot in Indonesia. Any object with Chinese characters written on it, are also prohibited in Bali.

Thailand

Thai people are very religious and very loyal to the monarchy. You would often see pictures of the king around the cities, never make fun of him. The Thai also consider the head as the highest part of the body, whether spiritual or physical. Refrain from touching anybody in the head, and try not to point at anything with your foot.

Malaysia

It’s best to bring light and cool clothing in Malaysia. You would usually find food stands in the cities selling the local delicacies, “teh tarik” a creamed tea, and “roti canai” a type of pancake, are a must try when you do encounter them. Malaysia has many religions, you would usually see, a variety of Christian churches, Muslim Mosques and Buddhist and Hindu temples may be present in each city.

Philippines

The Philippine has 7,107 islands and islets; beaches are the main tourist spots in the country. There are several museums and Historical Landmarks in Manila, the country’s capital.  Boracay Island is the boast of the country which has white sand beaches. You’ll find a “tiangge”, which is a sort of bazaar with stalls that sell almost anything, in most parts of the country, even inside malls. Tiagges are a good place to find souvenirs as well as cheap goods.

General Tips

Each country in Asia has its own currency, although up-end establishments will accept dollars, there are very few of these around. It is best to have your money changed at the local bank. Some hotels also offer money changing, but usually at a lower exchange rate.

Pickpockets are present in most tourist spots, so be careful with your valuables. Separate money from checks and credit cards, have two sets if you can so that you won’t be left dry if you fall victim to a pickpocket.
 

Aspen provides all the restaurants and bars you
could ever want or need You can take a stroll
through this luxurious city and find many boutiques
and much more. There is a lot of history in many of
the buildings that are in the downtown area. One of
these buildings is the Ute bank; this building can be
dated back to the silver area around the 1800’s.

With everything that there is to do in Aspen you
shouldn’t find yourself getting bored. Aspen is
located in Colorado, and with the various mountain
ranges, you are sure to find slopes that are suitable
for your level. Snowmass is one of the most popular
resorts in the world, so be sure to make reservations
well in advance.

With planning, foresight and a little bit of hard work, you can go ahead and have that dream vacation the economical way.  Here’s how:

*Search the internet, call airline agencies and watch the news to keep yourself up to date on discounts.  There are a lot of promotional fares offered by airline companies that are new in the industry.

*When you do travel a lot, sign up for frequent flier miles.

*Ask about student fares or senior citizen discounts.

*Keep a flexible travel schedule.  Go with the flow.  If the promo states that they only give discounts every Tuesdays, then set your departure on Tuesday.  Generally, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays are the days that have fewer reservations, so it in on these days that tickets are sold cheap.  Monday is usually the busiest day of the week. 

* Do not go ahead and make reservations to the first airline company you see with promotions.  Take the time to source out a variety of options.  Take the time to find out if the promotion is indeed the cheapest in your area.  Ask the clerk about other offers available.  When checking through the internet, make sure you check at least five sites before you decide where to buy your tickets.

*You can have the option of purchasing tickets trough consolidators.  These are people who buy a whole block of tickets and resell them at certain discounts.  This helps the airline fill up still available seats.  The travel section of the newspaper is the place to check for ticket consolidators.

*Try flying on off peak hours schedule.  Usually if you take the before seven in the morning flight or the after seven in the evening flight, tickets are at their cheapest.  This too, will be a wise decision since it is at these times that airlines are not overcrowded, thus getting more space for yourself and your luggage.

*Be sure to inquire if the airline offers travel packages.  Some airlines do offer packages such as car rental discount or a hotel room discount that comes with the travel ticket.

* When you are flying off season, be very sure to ask about certain standby fares.

*Have an early booking.  Promotions are usually offered when one reserves a ticket three weeks beforehand.  Remember that due to over crowding during the holidays, you may not use your frequent flier miles.  So book in advance if you plan to travel during the holidays.

*Staying with only one airline on your entire trip may too, give you discounts.  Airlines offer special rates to round trip tickets or connecting flights.

Have a safe trip and enjoy!

- Check detour flights other than the straight one you’re bound to get when you inquire. You can get cheaper overall prices if you choose to book two flights instead of one. Some people have been able to save as much as $2000 by doing this.

- It is always better to buy food at the grocery and cook it yourself rather than eating everyday at a restaurant. You won’t want to spend all of your pocket money on food. Restaurants tend to have cheap and sometimes unhealthy food, ensure your own health as well as your pockets health by cooking your own, that is, after all, the reason why there’s a stove in your hotel room.

- Travel to places which boast of natural beauty but have lower costs of living, prices here tend to be lower. Take the Philippines or Malaysia for example, both have great views and tourist spots but come without the hassle of overpricing, English speaking natives are also a plus for these countries.

- If you’re planning to stay for more than a week, call the hotel that you’d want to stay in and ask for week long stay discounts, these can range for percentages off your room price or even a “free day.”

- Package deals usually save a lot, airfare and lodgings combined into one are usually cheaper compared to paying for them separately. Some travel agencies even provide trio packages which include airfare, hotel and car rental, you can save a lot if you have the industriousness to canvass.

- Find web-only discounts or coupons which some hotels and airline owners provide especially for those willing to reserve online. You can save as much as 50% on your travel costs by going this way.

The list could go on and on for Tanzania is a truly magical place. The African violet, the world’s favorite flower, was discovered in the East Usambara Mountains. The explorer, Doctor David Livingstone, landed in the ancient slave port of Bagamoyo, which is now a sleepy fishing village north of Dar es Salaam.

Unlike many countries in Africa, Tanzania is politically stable despite the hot blooded people of Zanzibar. The people are always friendly, warm and welcoming. The welcoming of the people here is due to the first President of Tanzania, Julius Nyerere, who united the country under the one language of Swahili. There are over 120 different tribes in Tanzania and the situation could have been quite different. Julius Nyerere, often referred to as the ‘Father of the Nation’, and who died in 1999, protected and created many National Parks, for he was aware this was the legacy of the people.

Many visitors come and leave Tanzania without knowing that they are able to help the communities which they visit. The poverty is so great, the corruption so out of control, that the mission appears insurmountable, a task, we tend to think, that should be left to the international charities who know best. However, this is not necessarily true. It is possible for the individual to help. Make your enquiries with a tour operator that is involved in the community at grass root level – perhaps building schools or clinics, or developing infrastructures. It is not necessary to get personally involved. Just by relaxing and enjoying your safari, climbing Kilimanjaro or diving off Zanzibar Island, you can help. Choose your safari operator with care and you can enjoy your vacation even more, knowing that you are making a difference.

Tanga, situated on the tropical coast line, is surrounded by an area famed for magic and traditional healing. Also found in the town is an American research team working with traditional healers and their medicines. They are in partnership with the local people, finding plants that can provide medicine to help in the fight against HIV/AIDS. Their work is exciting and rewarding and they encourage visitors. This is a memorable place and well worth your visit. Guests are welcomed to walk the hills and forests with a traditional healer gathering herbs and plants for medical research. These plants are then propagated for research.

In Africa, a little helps so very much. Making the decision to find a company that helps communities, or better still, helps the groups within a community to help themselves, is the most affective way to create community welfare. Tanzanian’s are a proud people and do not wish to become dependant on handouts. Responsible Tourism is the perfect partner to sustainable development.

Nevertheless, be warned. Once you visit Tanzania it permeates your very soul and you will want to return. Should this happen to you and you wish to become more involved with helping the peoples of Tanzania, there are several ways to do this and with great effect. The most rewarding however, is to take time out, come to Tanzania for a month or two – maybe even six months or a year and come to work. Work directly with the communities. It will be a most unforgettable experience – a most rewarding partnership, a treasure trove of memories to keep forever.

There are several companies in Tanzania that help with communities and encourage cultural tourism. I ask that if you visit Tanzania, or indeed anywhere in Africa, you choose a company that genuinely helps the people of the country you visit. I also encourage you to spend time with the different cultures for it is an education and an experience not to be missed – should the opportunity present itself. Take time, slow down, and enjoy your time in Africa. A cultural addition to an African safari does not have to involve squatting on the floor of a mud hut and eating boiled grass – whilst watching a group of village elders [in western dress] dance and chant as they progressively get more and more intoxicated on home-brewed banana beer. It involves talking to people and spending just a little time together. The rewards are great and you will not regret it as long as you take care and use a reputable company to organize a cultural safari suited to you and your needs.

Author: Bethel Adventure cares about responsible tourism; we use tourism to improve lives. http://www.betheladventure.co.uk We believe responsible tourism should give back to the communities that tourism relies upon. see http://www.tanzania-info.co.uk for information on Tanzania

During the late 1800’s, the south shore of Lake Tahoe became a resting place for pioneers searching for gold. Upon completion of the transcontinental railroad, the site soon became a popular retreat for wealthy landowners from Virginia City and San Francisco.

The Pope Estate, built in 1894, is now open for guided tours and houses various art exhibits. Valhalla is a grand hall with beautiful wood floors, an open wood beam ceiling, a balcony of lodge pole construction and a twenty-foot high stone fireplace! It was built in 1923 and now stands as the site of many musical concerts, contains a cultural arts gift store, and even has suites available for rent. The entire Tallac Historical Site encompasses a full seventy-four acre tract of land and is listed on the National Register of Historical Places. It is located three miles north of South Lake Tahoe on Highway 89. The rustic and mainly logS built sites are nestled in the secluded woods along the beach of Lake Tahoe.

One of the highlights of my visit was the Anita Gibson Cabin. Anita was credited as one of the first women to invent and model the “slip” or “leotard” type undergarment. She was an avid designer, and also ran the resort when her father died. We actually saw a manikin dressed up as Anita, sitting in the corner of the cabin. She wore a beautiful white dress, which looked like one hundred percent cotton. It was soft, flowingly pretty, and very conservative.

Anita was always full of ideas and was actually one of the first women to run a resort (her father’s business), and kayak across the Emerald Bay. She was once even challenged to a harder boat route around Emerald Bay, and not only kayaked faster than the existing time, but also ended up setting the record.

In all of the signs and materials that we read about Anita, she came up as an intelligent, energetic, creative, but very conservative woman. What is ironic though, is that she is the one responsible for the destruction and demolition of the larger Casino that her father had built. She stated that she did it for “environmental and economic” reasons, but one has to wonder, if she did it for religious or moral reasons. The Casino at the Baldwin Estate was the biggest of its time. Not too long after her father’s death, Anita had it blown to the ground. Perhaps she may have felt guilty about the type of clientele the resort was attracting as well. The reason that I am reflecting upon this possible option does indeed go back to the signs and the manikin itself inside her old cabin.

She was a beautiful woman, with a firm jaw, and yet beautiful eyes. The monuments next to her all told of her inventiveness and conservative ways. She was known to pray and read the scriptures on the edge of the lake.

Further reflection really makes me wonder about this incredible woman named Anita Gibson, heir to the Baldwin Estate. She may have indeed made the best decision of all in blowing up her father’s casino. Perhaps she felt it was a way to redeem herself and her father for allowing the sin of Gambling. History only knows. I will never forget my visit.

Author:

Don Alexander, Published Writer & Online Business Mentor

http://www.leading-online-business.com

“Helping ALL to Succeed”