Things to Consider in a Hotel Reservation

September 6th, 2009 | Posted by ridgway in Hotels - (0 Comments)

When planning a vacation, especially if it is an out of town or out of the country, doing the proper hotel reservation is as important as your luggage. It is very important, of course, to have a place where you can stay. Well, hotels are not just places that you can stay; they offer a home away from home – unless you have relatives where you can stay. Let us just assume that you do not have relatives or friends in the city or country that you are going, so you really needed a hotel.

The question on hand is, “What do you need to consider in hotel reservations?” Here are some tips that may be helpful for your next trip.

Primarily, decide on where to go. This is just plain common sense. You will not need a hotel if you do not have a place to go. If you have decided where in the world you will bring yourself, your work or your family and friends, consider if you have a relative or friend that lives there. If you are sure that you have someone, at least with a close relationship, lives in your destination of choice then consider asking him or her if you can stay on their place. If not, then opt for a hotel reservation.

Contact a travel agent for easier transactions. They have the knowledge on hotel reservations. This is recommended for first time travelers. Having a travel agent care about your hotel reservations and other travelling needs will eliminate the hassle for you. They can suggest great deals and packages for you.

On the other hand, if you want to have a personal touch on your vacation planning then it is better that you call the hotel of your choice for hotel reservations. What is good about doing it yourself is you can explain to the hotel management your preferences in a room and additional requirements like for example a view of the river or the city skyline. Another advantage is that you can already create rapport between the hotel management and yourself for a better service when you arrive at the hotel of your choice.

Another way of doing a hotel reservation is through the internet. Most hotels are using the internet for online transactions including room reservations. This will be the easiest for you to do when doing hotel reservations.

One very important factor to consider in doing hotel reservations is the annual events or festivities in the destination you chose. This may affect your reservation. Rooms may not be available at those points in time. A recommendation for this instance is that to know what’s going on in the place you want to have your vacation and do your hotel reservation in advance for like a week before your vacation. This will assure you that you will surely have a place to stay and relax.

Whether you will be staying in a five-star luxury hotel or a more affordable and minor inn, doing a hotel reservation in advance can make your vacation hassle-free. You do not have to worry about so much and your vacation will be the vacation of your life.

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Adventure Travel: It’s Not Just For The Young

July 30th, 2009 | Posted by ridgway in Travel - (0 Comments)

adventure-travelIt used to be true that a vacation meant getting away from one’s day-to-day surroundings for the promise of leisure and relaxation. While that’s still true, today’s travelers expect more from the promise.

For previous generations, leisure and relaxation often meant being idle. When the World War II generation wanted to get away, some could afford to be pampered, but most did not do much more than eat, drink, and be merry. It was a generation that was content to spend a weekend camping at a local lake, gamble in Las Vegas or Lake Tahoe, or take a cruise in the Caribbean. Leisure activity was to them, essentially, an unheard-of oxymoron.

Not so anymore. According to the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP), baby boomers have, in recent years, embraced greater willingness to travel, and have the resources to do it. But while that much is true, adventure has become a big part of their travel plans.

A recent AARP survey of 1,594 respondents ages 41 to 59 shows that about 55% of boomers consider themselves adventurous, and a whopping 77% feel they are more adventurous than their parents. The survey suggests that huge numbers of seniors are traveling, and that they want to participate in healthy activities when traveling. The baby boomer generation, unlike their parents, is not content to lie around on the beach or get their only exercise playing one-armed bandits.

You can bet that the travel industry is capitalizing on this trend. In fact, a recent relationship between AARP and Travelocity has resulted in Passport, a travel service site aimed at the baby boomer market. There are over 81 million people in the United States 50 or older, which equates to roughly 28% of the U.S. population. It’s a segment that controls 67% of the nation’s wealth, has more than 750 million dollars in discretionary income, and owns more than 28 trillion dollars in assets. Baby boomers also want to spend that hard-earned money wisely, knowing that self-gratification means eating well, drinking moderately, getting in a good hike or a few good ski runs, and earning a good night’s sleep while away from home.

Boomers know how to use the Internet, too, with nearly 40% of them booking their travel on the worldwide web. And, like much of the younger generation, they are looking for ways to streamline their lives, favoring e-commerce sites that allow them to quickly and easily pay for their vacations instantly via credit card, without writing checks or hassling with follow-up phone calls to book tours.

While good diet and exercise is uppermost in the travel plans of baby boomers, they also want intellectual or cultural stimulation, many having identified community heritage, artisan crafts, local theatre, naturalist-led hikes, and wine education as motivations for booking vacations in a given region.

Today’s mature travelers, then, are not content to while away their leisure hours idly. They want to learn, feel, see, and do. And they have the desire, tools, and discretionary income to do it.

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Air Travel Guidelines for Pregnant Women

July 25th, 2009 | Posted by ridgway in Travel - (0 Comments)

pregnant-women-air-travel

Unlike what many people think, air travel is not dangerous for a healthy pregnant woman or her baby. Of course, pregnant women need to take special precautions and they need to check with their health care provider before they fly. The reason is the increased risk for certain conditions such as severe anemia, placental insufficiency or clotting disorders.

If you are pregnant 14 to 28 weeks and you are flexible in your travel plans, this is the best period to fly. In midpregnancy, the risks of miscarriage and premature labor are low and you still feel active and in good shape. Before 12 weeks you probably suffer from morning sickness and the risk for miscarriage is increased. After 28 weeks, most carriers typically require a certification from your doctor that can guarantee that you are fit to travel by plane while pregnant and confirm your estimated due date. After 36 weeks of pregnancy, normally you are not allowed to fly as the risk of delivering onboard is increased or if you are at risk of preterm delivery.

In general, here are some important guidelines to consider if you are pregnant and you plan to fly:

a)      Check the pregnancy policies with the airline

Each carrier has its own pregnancy policies. If you’re booking your flights with a travel agent, let them know you are pregnant and make sure you are allowed to fly. If you’re booking your flights online, make sure you check the carrier’s website about pregnancy policies. Pregnancy policies may vary by airline, so it makes sense to give them a phone and tell them you are pregnant to make sure you get a special service and you make your flight more comfortable.

b)      Make sure you choose a comfortable seat

During pregnancy, reserving the right seat can make you feel very differently. First of all, you will need to get up several times and move around the plane. Therefore, make sure you book an aisle seat, especially if you are travelling long-distance. Also, try to book a spacious seat. If you’re booking online, you will see that many carriers provide information about the different legroom they offer in their seats. A travel agent can also give you information about how different carriers size up their legroom. If you cannot book in advance, try to make it to the airport earlier and ask for a bulkhead seat, which is located between business class and economy class. Bear in mind though that, typically, spacious seats are a bit more expensive. However, it’s worth spending extra money for a bit more room.

c)       Make sure you promote blood circulation during the flight

Every half an hour, particularly during long flights, make sure you stand and walk in the plane. This goes for all passengers, but particularly pregnant women need to move their legs periodically. If you must remain seated, make sure you extend your ankles often. Also, you should wear support stockings and avoid restrictive clothing to minimize the risk of blood clots.

Besides, you should be buckled up during the flight to prevent the risk of traumatizing your body in case of severe air turbulence. Also, make sure you drink a lot of fluids to keep your body hydrated because low humidity in the cabin causes the air to dehydrate. If you are concerned about air pressure in the cabin, in fact, it may reduce the oxygen in your blood, but your body will adjust naturally. However, by drinking many natural fluids’ you will help your body to adjust quicker. Finally, avoid gassy foods and carbonated drinks before the flight because as the altitude increases the stomach expands and the gas trapped in your stomach may cause discomfort.

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