When to Choose a Travel Agency for your Vacation by Jeremy Foster

Travel agencies go beyond just finding plane tickets or booking a cruise. They often serve as the middle person between a traveler and the various services and destinations. It is a myth that booking through an agent will cost more. Travel agencies get their commissions from the various cruise lines, vacation packages, and airlines, not from the customer. This fact can actually save you money.

While it is true that if you simply need a flight from point A to point B, and back, you can probably get that on your own at a reasonable rate. Even if you need a hotel at point B for a few nights, you can negotiate that on your own and get a great rate. But, what if you need more than that? What if you don't have the time to shop the rates, negotiate, and then compare all the rates? That is where a travel agency can come in and help.

When preparing for a trip, the packing, planning at home and the destination, arranging for coverage at work, and all of the other little details can be daunting. So, if you can get a little help with the travel details, it can be a big help. A travel agency can handle all of these particulars for you.

A travel agency can often pull together the airfare, hotel accommodations, rental car, and maybe even a few meals and event tickets, and put them into a package deal that makes the entire trip much less stressful. Their immense network of connections in various locations and with various services can help make each transition in the trip easier. When it's done right you should not notice a bump anywhere, just a smooth ride from point A to point B.

The network of resources a travel agent has at their disposal pays off for you in price as well. Because a travel agency has connections with many different services they can find you the best flight, hotel, rental car, etc. for the right price. They spend the time researching all the options so you don't have to. When they are done, they can put together a package with the best price for each component of the trip. They have leeway in the pricing also, because their commission comes from the companies they sell for, so they can offer a lower cost by cutting their commission slightly. You win with a great price, the airlines and hotels win with people in their beds and seats, and the agency wins with a multi-part sale.

A travel agency can also answer many of the questions that arise before a trip. They can help with travel insurance, inoculation procedures, passport and visa applications, connections at the destination, and even transport from the airport to hotel. They can often answer destination specific questions to help you prepare for the trip, as well, such as climate conditions, crime rate, availability of certain amenities, etc.

Any time you are planning a long, multi-destination trip or specialized trip, a travel agency should be involved. The multi-destination trip can become very confusing, especially if the destinations are international. The various countries are all likely to have their own laws governing travel and a travel agent can help you navigate those laws. They can also help you book the best, most reliable flights to and from the various points.

A traveler going to a difficult country or one where Americans are unpopular should also use a travel agent. Whether the issue is obtaining a Visa or slipping into the country via a small charter service from a friendly country, a knowledgeable agent will be able to help with that. Sometimes flying to a country like Switzerland and then taking a small connecting flight on a European airline will reduce the tension upon entering some countries.

Travelers with special needs or special requests will find more success using an agency, also. If you want to get special rates for age, affiliation, or occupation, you might find it easier with a travel agent. If you need a specific room number in a particular hotel in the city of destination then you might need a travel agent to arrange that for you. If you must follow a specific diet while traveling, a travel agent might be able to recommend eating establishments or the location of specialty food stores. They can also arrange for accommodations on flights.

If you find yourself stranded your agent may be able to redirect you and get you moving again. If a snowstorm in Maine strands you at the airport, they can help to find you accommodations. If your flight out of Cleveland is mysteriously cancelled they can help you get on another plane. If the hotel you were supposed to stay at in Bangkok burned to the ground just before you got there, they can find alternate lodging. Such disasters are rare, but they do happen - and working with a travel agent means that you have an advocate and a helping hand while you are away from home.

Fraser Island

Spanning over 122 kilometers in length, Fraser Island can be found adjacent to the southern coast of Queensland, off the Hervey Bay coastline. Covering a total area of approximately 184,000 hectares and measuring 30 kilometers in width, at its widest point, this remarkably beautiful Island is recognized as the largest sand island in the world. It's also a proud member of the World Heritage List due to its magnificent natural environment.

Thought to have formed over a time frame of 800,000 years, Fraser Island was originally home to the Badtjala tribe of Indigenous Australians. With archaeological sites indicating the tribe was living on the Island over 5,000 years ago, they coincidently named the Island K'Gari, meaning paradise. European history was only thought to have begun in 1802, when Matthew Flinders explored the area. Other occupants of the Island included escaped convicts and shipwreck survivors like Eliza Fraser, who in turn had the Island named after her. Now, Fraser Island is a wonderful place to visit and a highly recommended holiday destination for travellers visiting or living in Queensland.

Fraser Island is an Australian location, exhibiting true natural beauty. It is covered by lush rainforests entwined by free flowing creeks, bordered by miles of white stained beaches and outstandingly colourful sand cliffs, encircled by cool ocean waters, and generally shrouded in a blissfully tranquil atmosphere. The diversity of native flora and fauna is astonishing, and it can be all explored in the number of protected National Parks. No place is more alluring, than the spectacular natural surroundings present on the highly acclaimed Fraser Island.

Fraser Island Accommodation

From north to south, east to west, there is a style of accommodation on Fraser Island for every visitor. Accommodation choices on Fraser Island include resorts, beach houses, cabins, apartments, rainforest retreats, bed & breakfasts, caravan parks, backpacker hostels and designated camping grounds. Alternative accommodation includes renting a houseboat or yacht and exploring the island from and ocean perspective.

One of the most traditionally popular forms of accommodation on Fraser Island is camping. With many visitors trekking over from the mainland, many of the public and private sites conveniently provide campers with toilet blocks, running water and shower facilities. Popular camping spots on Fraser Island include Lake Boomanjin, Waddy Point, Wathumba, Dundubara and Lake McKenzie, but remember a camping permit must be obtained in advance.

Accessing Fraser Island is easy, Island guests have the option of light aircrafts, passenger and vehicle ferries, tour groups and private boats. All vehicles being transported over to Fraser Island do need a permit though.

Fraser Island Activities And Attractions

Arguably the most alluring attraction of Fraser Island is its extremely invigorating, natural environment. Providing a good source of extreme adventure and exploration, guests to Fraser Island will not be disappointed with the range of land and water based activities, entertainment and attractions on offer.

Laden with scenic tracks, hiring or bringing a privately owned 4WD from the mainland to discover the hidden magic Fraser Island possesses, is one of the most popular activities experienced by guests. Exploring the multicoloured towering cliffs known as The Cathedrals is also extremely popular. Other interesting places to visit include Central Station, the landmark known as Indian Head, Eli Creek, The Champagne Pools and Happy Valley. For wildlife lovers, Fraser Island is also home to approximately 320 species of birds, the purest breed of dingos, flying foxes, echidnas, wallabies and much more. The surrounding seas are also known to host dugongs, sea turtles and friendly dolphins.

Surrounded by miles of uninterrupted sandy white beaches and the cool lapping waters of the Pacific Ocean, Fraser Island is renowned for excellent fishing. Whether leisurely throwing a line in from the beach, or taking a fishing charter out to deeper water, anglers are almost guaranteed that perfect catch. Many travellers are also brought to Fraser Island for the annual migration of Humpback Whales during the months of August and October. There is also the chance to experience some fantastic diving expeditions around the many shipwrecks, including that of the Maheno.

Listed are just a few of the magnificent range of activities, entertainment and attractions on offer to Fraser Island guests.

Article by Simon Shearer, All Right Reserved

Australia Qld Gatton and Toowoomba

Welcome to down under mate, if you’re looking to visit Australia in particular Sunny Queensland. Well this is the time. Brisbane, Gold Coast and Cairns are welcoming the summer although with the slight recent hiccups in weather, the sun is smiling down on the surfers.

For this particular article I’ll be focusing on a small town located about 2 hours drive away from Brisbane known as Gatton and a city located 3 hours away from Brisbane known as the city of flowers ‘Toowoomba’.

Gatton is a small town located east from Brisbane this with 2 hotels located in the main railway street and few motels located around the town. This hotel offer good value for money. If you’re a back packer and an adventurous soul you can hitch a night in the Caravan Park where you can stay a day or two. Here you can check the notice board of get in touch with the people staying there to find out if there are any available jobs around the local area for harvesting.

Gatton town is well known for its Agriculture College under the management of the University of Queensland and for its agricultural produces. The area is blessed with black sandy loams ideal for many crops. It is an experience of a lifetime where you can get to help the farmers to harvest their produce and earn some side cash.







Here’s another good reason to visit Gatton at these times. Yes you saw it right, petrol is at $0.95.8 per liter. As its summer during this period between November to February, its best to bring along some sun screen lotions, shades, hats and some long sleeves shirts unless u like having lines on your arms which is the “IN” thing. Amongst your items list do not forget to include umbrella though, as some showers are to be expected every now and then. All in all Gatton towns is the place to be if you want to have a short escape into the countryside with a relaxing and wonderful view.

Located further East about and hours drive from Gatton, lay in the midst of beautiful mountain range known as the flower city Toowoomba. Toowoomba is the 2nd largest city in Queensland. The city holds its annual flower festivals during spring where houses and neighborhoods compete to beautify their homes with the welcoming of spring. Visitors are welcome to tour around the city and visit the participating homes or they could board the bus to be taken around for a tour. The flower festivals also boast many unique and colorful design of flowers careful grown and laid out to fully utilize its individual flower colors, height contrast and uniqueness. Toowoomba has a picnic point where you can enjoy a quite moment with your loves ones or family while having picnic under the big shady trees overlooking a magnificent view from atop the mountain range. There’s also restaurant there for you to have a beautiful evening dinner or just a normal daily lunch to enjoy the scene.






For fellow Muslims there is also a mosque located on the premise of the University of South Queensland. There is a lively and welcoming Muslim community living in Toowoomba organizing various activities. There is also a Halal butcher where you can purchase Halal meat and poultry at cheap prices. If you intend to travel across Australia by land, visiting Brisbane then travel inwards towards the dessert heading to Darwin, Melbourne, Canberra or perhaps Perth this is one of the better alternatives you would find but yet again it is up to you to plan you route well which is dependant on time and budget. If you love the outdoor you wouldn’t want to miss the infamous Tasmanian Island.

Malaysian Hotels

So you decided to visit Malaysia for the next holidays but are unsure of your accommodations. There are various very reputable 5 * hotels in Malaysia varying from different states. I’ll try listing a few catering to singles on holiday to those newly-weds on honeymoon or if you decide on organizing group tours.

If you’re looking for Malaysian hotels offering discounts there are plenty of them on the search engines. Usually these sites will offer cheap hotel packages in Malaysia either for singles or groups tours. You have to be consistent in pre-checking some of these sites especially before the school holidays periods between November - December and June - July. Its best to book in advance due to a surge of people intending to travel during these months. Not only will you avoid disappointment of not getting a room in the hotel of your choice but you will also tend to get fairly cheap hotel deals sometimes up to 50% discounts if you’re pre-booked your rooms during the off-peak periods.

Some sites do offer package deals of flights and hotels but for those who are more adventurous there are lots of good, cheap, exclusive and luxurious hotels scattered around Malaysian states. Some popular destination aside from Kuala Lumpur includes Penang, Kuching, Malacca, Langkawi, Johor and Pangkor. These places have a wide variety of hotels, chalets and even stay in homes where you can enjoy the warmth of the local people. It would be best to visit the village are during the Hari Raya Puasa period also during the month of Ramadan where Muslims all over the world undergo their obligatory fast. There are lots of unique and delicious food to savor and the people practice “open house” where they cordially invites everyone to visit their homes to savor the delicacies that have been prepared especially for Aidil Fitri.

Some of the hotels that are available on the net for reservations include Hyatt Regency in Johor that offers excellence food at cheap prices. The Swiss-Garden Hotel in Kuala Lumpur also boasts some rooms with spectacle views and the Bayview Hotel in Georgetown Penang. If your headed for Kuching then you can consider the Crown Plaza Hotel riverside which has close locality to the city markets.

If you intend to visit Langkawi the, one of the chalet cum hotel escapade that will leave you mesmerize is the Mutiara Burau Bay resort. Over in Pangkor islands there are various beach resorts available. Golden Beach hotels, Pangkor Village Beach resort and Coral Bay Resort are just of the few available and in Malacca Hotel Equatorial Malacca are usually featured in various sites that give them good ratings and reviews due to their value for money discount packages.

Malaysia

I`ve picked this article below and it basically sums up Malaysia as how I see it in my eyes as well. If you intend to go on a holiday these time round of the year during the school holidays, why not try holidays in Malaysia. Some of the more popular tourist island being Penang Malaysia,Langkawi, Tioman Island and also Kuantan filled with friendly people,beautiful beaches and great food! If you scout the net you can fairly find cheap holidays packages to Malaysia. Here are a few links that i found:

http://www.holidaysonsale.com.au/
www.travelclearance.com.au
www.exploreholidays.com

Located in Southeast Asia, Malaysia is a hidden gem for those willing to try something new. One of the best ways to experience the culture is to attend one of the many Malaysian holiday celebrations.

Malaysia is a beautiful country made up of 13 federated states located in Southeast Asia. Originally British colonies, Malaysia is now a multicultural and multilingual country with aspects of everyday life drawn from native Malay and British customs. The official language spoken here is Bahasa Malaysia, although Chinese residing in the country speak their own dialects of the Chinese language, and other languages are spoken sporadically as well.

The capital of Malaysia is Kuala Lumpur, and the country's population, spread out among the various states, is about 25 million. Most of the country is Islamic with anyone claiming to be of Malay decent (about 65% of the country) being Muslim. Other religions are also tolerated with Buddhism, Hinduism, Sikhism and Christianity also found in Malaysia. Many of the most interesting celebrations in this country, however, are the Muslim holidays. Visiting the country during these periods can be a great experience.

One celebration in Malaysia that shouldn't be missed is the Moon Cake Festival. Ironically, it is a Chinese holiday made popular by the thousands of Chinese immigrants in residence here. This holiday, which takes place in August, September or October (there are no set dates for Muslim holidays, as they follow calculations from a lunar calendar) was started in the Mongolian dynasty of China. It is celebrated on the 15th day of the eighth moon, and it is held to celebrate the end of the harvest season. The celebration is also associated with paper lanterns. The Moon Cake Festival is celebrated with mooncakes, which are round and about the size of your palm. Flavors range from black bean paste to lotus paste to yellow bean paste, and they are traditionally given to elders to foster better relations.

Another holiday in Malaysia worth experiencing is the Hari Raya Aidilfitri, which is a Muslim holiday where you can meet the King and Queen of Malaysia personally. The line for this privilege can stretch for miles outside the palace in Kuala Lumpur, but is worth the wait. After all, how many opportunities do you get to meet a king? During this holiday, Muslims practice an “open house” where anyone can drop by whether you know the hosts or not and share a feast. The Hari Raya Aidilfitri is one of the most festive of Muslim holidays, occurring after the fasting month of Ramadan.

Witnessing a country wide holiday in Malaysia is an experience not to be missed! Contrary to what you may see in the media, people are generally very friendly.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Richard_Chapo

If you are going these time round of the year be sure to be prepared for a fair bit of wet and splashes due to the monsoon seasons.Zip locks bags are useful travel tools to keep your important documents dry as well as your electronic goods such as your handphones. Be sure to have pre-arranged accommodations. Its fairly difficult to get rooms in good Malaysian hotels such as Hyatt during the peak periods, even cheap motels and cheap hotel rooms are hard to come by. The last thing you would want is to be caught without accommodation in Kuala Lumpur Malaysia in the rain. Alternatively if you got some friends and relatives living in the rural(kampung areas) who can provide you with cheap lodgings it would be a good deal. Living amongst the local will give you an enriching and eye opening experience more over you can really feel the atmosphere with the upcoming Hari Raya Haji around the corners

Hari Raya Haji is an Islamic holiday in Malaysia where together with Muslims all over the world they perform the Qorban/ Korban in accordance to Islamic ways or slaughtering. The meat are then given out to the poor, needy and the residence.

You can travel to Malaysia via many routes on land using trains,cars or buses or by airlines. Malaysian airlines is the official airlines of Malaysia where flights to Malaysia occur almost daily in the Asian region and even in the South Pacific's such as Australia. You can have a look at their flight schedule in the link below:

http://www.malaysiaairlines.com/

Alternatively you can drop in Singapore exquisite Changi Airport Terminal and travel to Malaysia via coaches, public buses or cars if you want to rough it up a bit. Its fairly cheap by public buses having a one way ticket from Singapore to Johor Bahru Malaysia only costs you between S$1.50-S$3.00.

Amazing Backpacking Trips You Can Take!

Backpacking trips have come a long, long way. What used to be a hike through the forest has now turned into fantastic expeditions in all sorts of countries and tourist locations.

Ireland backpacker tours let you roam Celtic lands of legend, and Alaskan tours have you hiking over centuries-old glaciers. You can backpack Everest or explore fantastic European cities.

The choice of backpacking trips available are as plentiful as the places you can imagine trekking across. Here are some more great destinations to choose from:

If you like the sun and warmth, backpacking Mexico destinations can be a great alternative to heading down south to laze on a beach. There are pyramids and ruins in Mexico with tours that let you explore Aztec temples to your satisfaction.

You'll be stunned by the first-hand experience of being in a location full of legend. Other locations you'll explore on your vacation backpacking Mexico wonders will be the famous Shrine of our Lady of Guadalupe, a highly visited religious site. Other tours available include the City of Eternal Spring or the Gardens of Xochimilco.

A European backpack vacation can be another wonderful experience full of culture. The size of the countries in Europe means that in two weeks and at budget-conscious expenses, you can tour the trails of several vacation destinations and see different people and places.

Recommendations for European backpack holidays suggest careful planning, as those who hike their way through places in Europe on their own might find different countries and unfamiliar languages confusing.

One backpacking mountain tour brings you to the highest mountain of the Ukraine in the Carpathians. You can ascend to the summit of the Doboshanka!

Those backpackers who'd like to get a taste of Everest can do so by taking one of the backpacking trips to the mountain's base camps. Be forewarned that mountain-climbing trips can be arduous and require good physical fitness.

If you don't want to have a wild backpacking tour, settling for more sedate backpacking trips is just fine. You can chose a European tour that involves nothing more than a stay in the hotel and traveling through cities by day on foot.

Walking tours come in a close second to their hiking counterparts. Backpacking Italy is another wonderful way to see beautiful buildings and romantic locations without needing to exert yourself to climb mountains.

The destinations of your backpacking trips are only limited by how many places you can think of traveling to. You can find all sorts of backpacking tour companies that will help you make your travel reservations and fill you in on trip details.

You could opt for letting your feet take you where they would by booking a flight and nothing else. Once you arrive at your destination, you'll wander wherever you please. These types of trips are great on a budget, but do some pre-expedition planning and try to have some type of itinerary in mind.

Learn to love the journey of backpacking trips from Mike Selvon's backpacking portal, and leave a comment at our backpacking blog.

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10 Tips for Light Backpacking

Lightweight backpacking or the even lighter version called ultralight backpacking is about going more comfortably. The whole point of cutting the weight is to be able to enjoy the hiking more. Thus even though a tarp weighs less than a tent, if a tent is more comfortable for you, you should bring one - just look for a lighter one. Here are ten tips you can use to lighten your load. Use the ones that work for you.

1. If the rain fly on your tent weighs more than 12 ounces, consider getting a light tarp to pitch the tent under instead. You might save weight and also have a "roof" over your entrance area. You also can keep the tent drier when setting up in the rain, because you'll pitch the tarp first and then set up the tent under it.

2. On summer nights, you can wear clothes to sleep and use just a sleeping bag liner instead of a sleeping bag. I have done this and slept comfortably on cool nights with just a 5-ounce liner.

3. Trim your closed-cell pad so it covers just all the pressure points, from your hips to your shoulders. Doing this took mine down from 12 ounces to 4, without much loss in actual insulating ability (I throw my pack under my feet at night). Two of these mini-pads stacked up will keep you more comfortable than one regular, and even then save you 4 ounces.

4. Keeping the contents of your backpack waterproof with several plastic bags will save as much as five ounces over using a pack cover over the outside of the pack.

5. Ever fight with the zippers on those convertible hiking pants/shorts? Skip the convertible pants. Bringing both lightweight nylon-derivative hiking pants (8 ounces) and unlined nylon shorts (2 ounces) will give you the same flexibility for less weight and trouble.

6. The lightest sweater or insulating layer? I used a homemade insulating vest for years, even though I made it as a disposable one. It was simply poly batting, the kind that comes in a roll for making quilts or pillows. Cut a piece about 18 inches by 48 inches, then cut out a hole for your head. It is worn like a tunic, under a jacket or other layer. Lots of insulation for 4 ounces.

7. With underwear, pants, and long underwear, It is often uncomfortably crowded in there. Try cutting apart an old pair of long underwear so you can use just the legs. They need to cling sufficiently to stay up, of course. This may reduce the weight by a couple ounces and make you more comfortable.

8. You can carry less water if you know an area well, or learn beforehand where you will be able to refill your water bottles. In some areas water is so frequent that there is no need to carry more than a pint of water with you at any time.

9. The most obvious way to reduce the weight of a backpacking stove is to not bring one. This may be a problem for you or not. Personally, I rarely cook on a backpacking trip. There are many tasty foods that don't need cooking. This saves not just the weight of the stove, but also the fuel and the pot.

10. For an easy pillow at no extra weight, use your sleeping bag stuff sack. Just fill it with any extra clothes you have and fold the end over.

Copyright Steve Gillman. To get the ebook "Ultralight Backpacking Secrets (And Wilderness Survival Tips)" for FREE, as well as photos, gear recommendations, and a new wilderness survival section, visit: http://www.The-Ultralight-Site.com

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