Bargain prices can be found now for package holidays as the January sales for holidays are now on full throttle. You do have to do your homework before booking as prices fluctuate throughout the year so it’s difficult to determine if a holiday is really a bargain and whether it is a good holiday at that.The package holidays with the biggest discounts will be locations which have changeable weather conditions, poor facilities and underwhelming hotels and beaches as well as for the periods during school term time. To get a great value package holiday you need to be flexible with your travel dates as well as willing to negotiate. Since competition is high, travel agents will be willing to offer discounts so arm yourself with as much information as possible in order to get the best deal.Many have price matching policies so if you have a preferred provider then doing your homework will pay off and allow you to enjoy extra benefits that agents offer to differentiate themselves from competitors.The top holiday destinations for 2010 for Britons have been predicted by many to be Turkey and Egypt because they are outside the Euro zone therefore our money goes that that bit further since we get a better exchange rate than against the strong Euro.The internet offers us a wealth of information, not only can we compare deals but look at reviews. There are many websites dedicated to reviewing holiday destinations, recommending places to visit when on one of the main package holidays and of course places to avoid. Travel agents will organise travel and sleeping arrangements for your package holiday and the hotel will offer tours however you can make the most of your holiday by researching what the best things to do are when you are there.
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Adventure Holiday Travel Insurance – Are You Really Indiana Jones?
Wherever your lust for travel and adventure may lead, it is smart to book with an established tour company. Going it alone can be an exciting fantasy, but in practice may not be so easy to pull off and you can’t learn everything from a book. Tour companies hire experienced guides to make the experience easier and more enjoyable – and bonuses like keeping you away from pretty but potentially unfriendly plants and bugs!Much as you might fancy yourself as Indiana Jones, donning the same outfit will not turn you into a super hero overnight. The average traveller, spending most of the year desk-bound, is unlikely to have the stamina or savvy to survive an adventure holiday unscathed without the benefit of an experienced guide. Potential hazards could include nasty stomach bugs, stings and bites, altitude sickness, heatstroke, or worse. Be honest, how well would you cope on the other side of the world, away from your mobile phone, PC, email, and all the gadgets you rely on in your comfort zone? An adventure sports holiday exists for just about any place on earth and any activity.Trekking holidays come in various levels of difficulty, so choose the one that suits your ability. Be brutally honest with yourself about your level of fitness and schedule a health check with your GP before booking. How well you do will depend largely on the terrain and grades, as well as the altitude, temperature and weather. For instance, would you want to carry your own backpack up a steep grade? Would you prefer an easier tour, with some tea and sympathy – and a Sherpa? Perhaps trekking in a tropical rainforest, Hawaiian volcano, or the Iguaçu Falls of Latin America is your dream? Maybe scuba diving in Belize, horse riding in Costa Rica, or glacier trekking in Patagonia is more your style. Are you terrified of spiders and snakes? Your fears are not going to dissolve when you come face to face with them! Do you dream of a mountain bike tour through U.S. National Parks, or scuba diving the Great Barrier Reef? Wildlife and bird-watching tours are very popular, whether you choose an overland safari, trek through the mountains, or bird-watching tour in Panama.Choosing the best time of year to travel will obviously depend on which hemisphere you are heading for, and what you hope to see and experience. Another vital part of planning an adventure sports holiday is taking out adequate travel insurance to cover all the activities you intend to participate in. Insurance policies vary and the activities you have planned may only be covered on an incidental or casual basis (i.e. not the main purpose of the holiday, such as a safari or sailing holiday). Check the policy wording carefully, and make sure the levels of cover are suitable – especially the medical cover. If in doubt, call and ask. Tropical destinations may mean exposure to extreme heat and humidity.Horse trekking could leave you feeling as sore and bandy as John Wayne. An inshore sailing trip of the Mediterranean coast may look idyllic – as you picture yourself lounging glamorously on the foredeck in your bikini – but what if you get sea-sick and end up with serious dehydration? Chances are that nothing negative will ruin your trip, but if the worst should happen you will be glad to have the peace of mind of travel insurance – and a 24-hour emergency number to call for help. If your trip might include winter sports like skiing, boarding, dog-sledding or snowshoeing, always check whether winter sports cover is included in your travel insurance policy. It doesn’t cost much to add, and the benefits are well worth it – considering a broken leg while skiing in Colorado could set you back £20,000+.A Backpacker policy may be the cheapest choice – as long as you understand the limits on luggage and valuables. So, do you still think you’re Indiana Jones or Bear Grylls? Take a reality check of your abilities and physical and mental shape, then take steps to plan your adventure holiday accordingly. Find the best Travel Insurance policy to cover all the activities you plan to participate in, then forget your worries and go for it!
Tips to Choose Travel Destinations
A holiday refreshes your mind and also loads you with memories that would help you to carry on with your job. The resultant effect of holiday on your mind, is in direct proportion to the pleasant experiences you undergo during your holiday.WHAT YOU LIKE?The happiness of a person depends on what his heart feels rather than what his eye sees, while selecting a travel destination, give a thought to what you like to do and how perfectly the destination matches your requirements. There are places which are frequented by people for their inherent or exhibited natural or cultural value, spiritual sanctity, historical significance, natural and built beauty and those offering leisure, adventure and amusement.TICKETS AND VISASOnce you shortlist your destinations,you need to decide when you are going on a holiday and check out for the availability of tickets and the early bird offers available. If the destination of your choice is International you need to find the formalities regarding the visa for the destination. Some countries provide visa at the point of entry while others require applications for visas prior to the date of travel and there is also a time frame for its validity.BUDGETFrom the places you have shortlisted and obtained information regarding tickets and visas, group the ones that is within your budget,that is little more than you expect to spend,but could be managed and those way beyond your budget. Categorising the destinations as must see and like to see, will give you an idea.HEALTH CONDITIONS,TIME OF VISIT AND VACCINATIONSCheck, if the destination you have chosen, the climate or season prevailing at the time of your visit and the activities you will be doing there are in line with your health condition. An asthma patient cannot dream of an early morning walk in a hillstation. It would be wise to check with the centre for disease website CDC to see, if there is any epidemic in the destination you wish to go and take necessary vaccines, which may be a single dose or 2-3 doses spread over a few months.DURATION OF VISITThe destination tends to vary depending on the length of stay. An ideal holiday would be one with moderate level of travelling and activity and enough time to rest. If you pack in too much of activity and places to visit in a short holiday, it creates stress.TRAVELLING COMPANIONS AND THEIR COMFORTIf you plan to travel with your family, ensure that there are places of interest for your children in the chosen destination.Choosing an ideal tourist destination and proper planning helps to avoid stress and gives you an idea of what you can expect at the chosen destination. Conversely, you might also enjoy a fabulous holiday without such meticulous planning. Either way, if the place of your choice helps you to tide over the stress you have undergone and unwind,that is bliss!