Posts Tagged ‘Luggage’

How to Save Money on a Cruise

June 21st, 2011 Tushar Mathur

Going on a cruise vacation is one of the most relaxing and exciting things you can do.  But many people never go on cruises because they don’t think they can afford it.  Surprisingly, the cost of this sea vacation is very much within reach for the average family, but there are also hidden fees that you need to worry about.  Here are a few tips on saving as much money as possible on your cruise ship and some sage advice on how to make sure you don’t waste your money on something you don’t really need.

I already mentioned the fees.  Most of these are mandatory so there is really not much you can do about it.  But one of the biggest money makers for cruise lines is the drinks.  And I’m not just talking about alcohol.  Drinks like sodas, smoothies, and other specialty drinks will all cost you extra.  But you don’t have to spend ANY extra money on a cruise ship if you don’t want to.

For a single bottle of water you can pay as much as $4.  Many people don’t realize that the water that comes out of your sink in your stateroom goes through a very advance filtration process and is absolutely fine to drink.  But if you are really paranoid about tap water you can just bring your own case of water or soda onto the ship itself.  Just have the staff bring it to your room as luggage.  And yes, the cruise lines allow you to do this so you are not breaking any rules here.  But always ask ahead of time anyway, in case the rules have changed.

Keeping your phone off during the cruise will also help a lot since data costs can be astronomical.  Just wait until you get to one of the islands to use your phone.  If you leave your phone on then you can still receive text messages and each one will rack up on your bill.  Some people have had cell phone bills exceed $10,000 from just one trip.  Yes, this is a little extreme, but why take the chance, right?

Unless you are feeling very lucky, then you should probably avoid the casino as well.  Some people will spend hours in this place, losing all of their money.  But if your goal is to save money, you don’t need to be flirting with this kind of temptation.  After all, there are tons of other FREE things to do on the boat.

Click to continue reading

Posted in Cruises Comments Off

Five Tips for Avoiding Airline Checked Baggage Fees

May 11th, 2011 Tushar Mathur

Airline checked baggage fees could add hundreds of dollars to your travel expenses. You can reduce the cost of checking a bag when you travel by following these tips.

Use Lighter Luggage

Most airlines charge you for checked baggage depending on the weight of the bag. A heavy piece of luggage will use up some of that weight for the bag itself. Using lighter bags will allow you to pack more of your travel items for the same amount of money. Avoid extra weight like wheels or extended handles if you can carry the bag without them. Every ounce that is not part of the bag itself can be used for the things you need to take with you on your trip.

Understand the Fee Regulations Thoroughly

Airline baggage fees can be confusing. In many cases, the airline employees do not even have a clear understanding of the regulations. Read the directions carefully before you travel and pack accordingly. You may want to print out some of the more important baggage fee regulations so that you can point them out to any airline employee who does not understand the rules. If necessary, create a bullet point list of the rules that you can use as you pack for your trip. Becoming familiar with the regulations will save you time and hassles once you get to the airport.

Distribute the Weight

If several family members are taking the same trip, make sure you distribute the luggage evenly. Spread out the heavier items so that everyone’s checked luggage weighs approximately the same. Shoes and small appliances can be some of the heaviest luggage contents. It doesn’t matter who carries the luggage to and from the airport. Once you reach your destination, you can always rearrange the luggage contents so that everyone has their own belongings once more. Checking several lighter bags will be less expensive than checking one extremely heavy bag along with a few lighter bags.

Get the Most from Your Carry-On

Take advantage of the opportunity to carry-on two bags per person. Pack the heaviest items in your carry-on to reduce the weight of your checked luggage. If you are going on a short trip, try to fit everything into your carry-on bags and eliminate the need to check any luggage at all. Remember that what you are wearing is not counted as luggage. Even if the weather is warm at your current location, put on any bulky clothes that you will need when you arrive at your destination. You can always take them off once find your seat on the plane.

Click to continue reading

Posted in Travel Tips Comments Off

Business Travel

July 5th, 2009 Tushar Mathur

Everyday, people are on the move for business. Rather it is state, nation, or world wide, travel can take a toll on anyone. Here are some tips to make business travel a bit less stressful, and a bit more bearable.
First, I would, (or your assistant), book your seats as far in advance as possible, and be sure to keep a copy of the confirmation with you for the day of travel. Computers have been known to fail. In case of a downed computer system, you can verify that you did purchase a seat for your departure day.
If you are returning to a city previously traveled to, request a certain seat. If you remember an area you would have liked to have been seated at, request that seat for the upcoming trip. Even if you are not planning on using it, always carry your laptop with you, instead of sending it with your luggage. Baggage handlers can scratch, tear, dent, and damage laptops even in the most padded of cases. Planning for the worst is a good plan. Suitcases and bags do have a tendency of getting misplaced. For this reason, it is good practice to buy a lightweight bag to store a change of clothes, cell phone and laptop chargers, paper, pen, etc. For more convenience, select a backpack style with straps for easy carry. Pack a couple of extra USB memory sticks, for those times you can’t connect your laptop. This will save the presentation.
Always carry extra cash on you, as computers don’t always work, credit card machines also have their own down times. This will keep you from an embarrassing situation. Try not to work while traveling. Use the time to relax and to prepare yourself for the work needed to be done once you have arrived.
Always carry a bottle of water with you, even in the business class, they may not provide you with enough. This will keep you from becoming slightly dehydrated.
If you are staying in the same motel for two consecutive nights, take this opportunity to do some laundry, which will allow you to pack (and carry) less. The last tip in the top ten is a safety one. Never be the first, or last, person to leave a night gathering. If possible, always exit with another person.

Click to continue reading

Posted in travel Comments Off

Tips for Lightweight Backpacking

December 3rd, 2008 Tushar Mathur

Backpacking is preferred by many travelers to make journey hassle free and comfortable. Traveling gears are arranged by the travelers for planning any trip. Backpacks are available in the market which help in carrying of luggage easily and keep hands free. Backpacking can be more enjoyable during the journey if the weight of backpack is put into consideration. Backpack is used for keeping the essential items for the journey and it gives trendy looks. Youngsters prefer backpacks for traveling but lightweight is most important thing to put into consideration before you embark on journey.

Here are few tips for lightweight backpacking:

  1. Prepare the list of items required for traveling. Include all the items in the list which are required for smooth traveling. Then it depends on you to choose the items which are lightweight and make another list to delete the items which are quite heavy for the journey. Some items are unavoidable and take lot of space so it’s better to keep the mandatory items first.
  2. Packing of backpack depends on the type of journey you are embarking. If you are traveling to the destinations for adventure like mountaineering, trekking, hiking etc then lightweight of your backpack is most important. You cannot move on your way if the weight of the backpack is heavy. Travelers have to make the weight of the backpack for walking properly without much burden.
  3. It is better to collect the information about the weather conditions prevailing in the destination place. You can plan according to the weather conditions. It is better to keep the essential items which can help you to survive in the extreme conditions. Keeping extra items without collecting the weather details is useless.
  4. It is not necessary to keep the things of your luxury. You can keep all basic essential items which cannot be left behind at home. If you have listed all the basic items then start putting extra belongings in your backpack. You should avoid heavy gadgets and laptop in your backpack. You can adjust without luxurious items during journey but heavy backpack can spoil your journey.
  5. You should not forget to keep the things for eating and water container. There is no need to keep utensils which can make your backpack heavy. Select the items which can reduce your burden. If you are aware that there is no problem of water on the way then you can avoid keeping of water.

Take the help of internet to get tips for lightweight packing for your backpack.

Posted in travel, Vacation Comments Off

Best tips for traveling alone

November 2nd, 2008 Tushar Mathur

Traveling in group is fun but have you tried to travel alone? Traveling alone can be equally adventurous and exciting if you know well that how to plan your journey and make proper arrangements keeping the safety in mind. If you haven’t tried it then it will be a new experience for you. Some people have the experience of short trips and never realized how it feels when you travel alone on long journey.

Following tips may prove fruitful for traveling alone:

  1. Pack your baggage carefully to avoid any kind of problems during the journey. List of all requirements should be made so that you don’t miss anything. Lock in luggage is necessary to avoid the thefts. Over weight of your luggage can become hurdle in your smooth traveling.
  2. Keep all your medicines and also few medicines for precaution because you cannot rely on anyone for the help during emergency. Travel insurance policy can provide a great help when you don’t have enough money to spend on the medical treatment and expenses on hospital bills.
  3. Arrange for the passport and visa in advance to avoid any kind of delay in the journey. You can also contact to the travel agents to make your trip comfortable. You can book your tickets online by visiting the websites of airlines.
  4. Lodging in hotels and resorts sometimes cost a lot for single person. You should book the room in advance which can help you in taking the proper rest when you reach the place. Online booking of accommodation is a good option for single travelers.
  5. Books are the best companion of loneliness. If you don’t like reading novels then magazines are other choice. You can carry the reading material and can keep yourself busy during the journey. It’s better to avoid relying on strangers from the safety point of view and reading habit can make your boring journey interesting. Listening music can also be a good option.
  6. No need to carry cash, alternative is to use electronic money for transaction. Credit cards and debit cards can be used for shopping purpose. Never buy heavy things which you can’t carry.
  7. To make your traveling interesting you can indulge in exciting things like trekking, mountaineering, river rafting, bungee jumping, scuba diving etc. Activities which give you pleasure should never be missed. Skiing on the snow covered landscape is usually enjoyed by the people traveling alone.

Always keep your confidence up and boost your morale before starting your journey alone.

Posted in travel, Vacation Comments Off

Travel: Annual report to the single travel insurance Travel Insurance: What is the best?

October 25th, 2008 Tushar Mathur

Travel and take vacations can be very funny, but it can also be daunting. If something goes wrong, you can find in a foreign country among people with no idea where romvesenene turn for help. Travel avoid this to help you in any unforeseen situations that occur in May a public holiday. Travel can help cover the costs if you are sick or injured, lose their luggage, had a car accident or have to change plans because of weather or disease.

There are two basic types of insurance: Annual Travel insurance and travel insurance only. Annual travel insurance is purchased annually and covers all their travel for the whole year. Single trip travel insurance is purchased at the beginning of each trip and are only good for the tour.

There are advantages and disadvantages to each type of insurance. The next two sections cover the advantages and disadvantages of each.



Pros and cons of travel insurance, annual

When you buy an annual travel insurance, you pay a flat rate. These fees cover the cost of insurance for the whole year. If you travel a lot, that price is almost always less than you pay for many single trip policies. But the price for annual travel insurance is more than what they pay for one or two single trip policies. Therefore, you must have a clear picture of how often you use the insurance before spending money on it.

Annual Travel insurance is ideal for people who travel a lot. Professionals, people with relatives who live abroad, and families with holiday homes generally benefit most from this policy. Students who travel back and forth from school can also benefit from such policies.

Advantages and disadvantages of a single trip Travel Insurance

Travel is the single most cost-effective to buy travel insurance if you need only once or twice a year. It is spontaneous. You can buy travel insurance before the trip, even if it comes to stimulating yet. It is also reasonable. Single trip travel insurance normally costs about four to seven percent of the total costs of prepayment of all travel.

If you made a number of spontaneous travel, but spend most of their negotiation, if you buy a policy every time we leave town.

Annual and single trip Travel Insurance offers the same coverage. The only real difference between them is the price.

Click to continue reading

Posted in travel, Vacation Comments Off