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On-line Booking - Is It A Possibility For Disabled Travelers?

Nobody is ambivalent about the internet. Some folks claim it's the greatest thing since sliced bread, while others blame it for the downfall of modern society. Regardless of your feelings about the internet, it's a great tool for travel junkies. But is on-line booking a realistic option for wheelchair-users? Is it really the best way to get a good deal? The answer is a conditional yes. In reality there isn't a one-click method; but you can use the internet to save money and to ensure appropriate access.

Let's start with airfares. Airline websites and travel portals are the best places to book air tickets on-line if you have access needs. Shop around, find the best fare, then book on-line. Most of the major websites even have places on their booking forms to specify your access needs, such as wheelchair-assistance, accessible seating or an on-board wheelchair. After you've made your reservation, call the airline to make sure your access requests are noted.

It's a pretty easy process, however there is one type of website you need to avoid - the auction or name-your-price website. These websites go by many different names and are promoted by scads of celebrities, but collectively I call them pig-in-a-poke dot coms.

At pig-in-the-poke dot coms you enter your departure city and your destination along with your credit card number. Then you state how much you are willing to pay for the ticket. Finally, you receive a response indicating if you bid has been accepted. Once your bid is accepted, your credit card is immediately charged.

The catch is, you can't chose the carrier, routing, aircraft or even the time of day you travel. In fact, you don't find out these details until after your bid is accepted and your credit card is charged. Although this process may be acceptable for travelers who don't have access needs, it's a big gamble for anybody who does, as these factors can determine the accessibility of the flight. So just say no when it comes to pig-in-the-poke dot coms

Of course, there's a lot more to travel than just booking an airline ticket. It's also possible to book an accessible room on-line, but only if you know what websites to avoid. Hotel consolidators top the bad boys list. Why?

Well, first off hotel consolidators only treat reservations for accessible rooms as requests for accessible rooms; however more importantly the reservations are held in the consolidator's name (not the traveler's name) until approximately 24 to 48 hours prior to the traveler's arrival.

In other words if you were to call the hotel directly to confirm your reservation (and to make sure an accessible room is blocked for you) in most cases your name would not even be on file. Consolidators book blocks of accessible rooms, and specific rooms are not assigned to travelers until the last minute. In most cases travelers get pot luck.

Worse yet, when you discover this fact and realize that in all likelihood you won't end up with an accessible room, you can't cancel without paying a substantial cancellation fee (which of course is automatically charged to your credit card). So basically, you pay in advance but you aren't guaranteed anything. Not exactly a fair deal, is it?

How do you spot a hotel consolidator? It's pretty easy. They all require prepayment with a credit card and most have pretty stiff cancellation fees.

On the other hand, many travel portals offer a professional interface that enables users to book accessible rooms on-line. The major advantage of using a professional interface on a travel portal is that you deal directly with the hotel. You request a reservation, the request goes to the hotel, and you get a confirmation number back; all within a matter of seconds.

The downside to all this is that sometimes it's hard to tell a travel portal with a professional interface from a hotel consolidator just by looking at the on-line booking form. Both forms ask you for the same information. There are however two big differences. One is that, aside from a no-show fee, you won't encounter a cancellation fee when using a professional interface. And two, when you use a professional interface, you don't have to pay the hotel charges in advance.

The best way to book an accessible room on-line is to make a reservation directly on the hotel's website. Why? Because you can be assured you are dealing directly with the property. After you make your reservation on-line, call the hotel and confirm the access details of your reservation.

In the end if you shop around, watch for sales and stay away from travel consolidators and pig-in-the-poke dot coms, you'll probably find some good deals on-line. But remember, you need to follow up every on-line reservation with a call to the hotel or airline to confirm you access requests. Yes, it takes a little longer, but it's the only way to make sure your access needs are met. In reality, the internet is great tool for travelers; but remember, it's not the only tool.

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How Can We Prevent Road Accidents

There is no doubt about it; there are far too many accidents on the road today. Even if you are the most careful and contentious driver on the road there is still a chance that someone will slam into your car causing you, at the very least, some property damage and maybe something far worse. There is nothing you can do that will guarantee you a constantly safe and totally accident free driving experience, but there are several things that travelers can do to help minimize the amount of accidents that occur on the road every day.

Obey the Traffic Laws
The state makes prospective drivers pass a test before they get behind the wheel for a reason, automobiles can be very dangerous if they aren't operated properly and according to the laws of the road. Speed limits, traffic signs and all other traffic signals should be closely adhered to every single time someone gets behind the wheel, traffic laws are put in place to protect all of the travelers who are sharing space on the road. Following traffic signals isn't an option, those drivers that treat it as such are usually the ones you see pulled over to the side of the road being handed a violation by officers or off the side of the road due to being involved in an accident.

Pay Attention to the Road and Your Surroundings at all times
There can be plenty of things going on in traffic all around you, so it's crucial that you pay attention to everything going on around you. Driving should be your only focus while behind the wheel. Too many travelers use there commute to eat their breakfasts, drink their coffees, apply their make up and change their outfits and these are often the drivers that are involved in accidents. If you don't have time to eat, change or apply your make up before you get in the car, it's probably a good idea to start getting up earlier. Those five extra minutes of sleep won't help you replace your totaled automobile or help with your rehabilitation following an accident.

Put Down the Cell Phone
Our cell phones now are a huge survival tool, they let us make calls, receive and send text messages and e-mails, surf the internet and get directions, watch videos, take pictures and listen to music, among other things, but one place they don't belong is in your hand while you're behind the wheel. You simply can't concentrate on the road and the things going on around you while you're typing a text message or reading an e-mail. There are laws against using your cell phone while driving in many states now, and those laws are just as important to follow as all of the other laws on the road, you can read your e-mails and send your texts when you get to your destination, but doing so while your driving may not let you get to your destination at all.

Don't Drive under the Influence
Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol is a major cause of accidents and automobile related deaths. An easy way to prevent this is to not drive while you are under the influence, if you have to drink, and then find another way to get home. Have a sober friend drive you, take a cab or spend the night where you are, but never get behind the wheel after you've been drinking.

Many of the accidents that occur are preventable, if people would just pay attention and abide by the laws of the road. By staying aware of your surroundings you can help to minimize the chances that you'll be involved in an accident, but if you choose to drink and drive or play with your cell phone while you're driving then you are setting yourself up to become a statistic.

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Airline Consolidators The Best Source For Travelers

Airline consolidators are a source for travelers to find airline tickets at huge discounts. This is because these consolidators buy tickets from different airlines in bulk and sell them to passengers at discounted rates after taking out their commission and other charges. The airlines hire consolidators to find customers who will be willing to buy tickets at low rates in order to make a full flight and leave no empty seats. There are offline as well as online consolidators available for travelers.

Online consolidators are the easier way to go around since they are just a click away. There are many websites that offer comparison of different flight prices across a range of airlines. You will be able to find the cheapest of flights at any time of year you wish to fly. Since the market has grown considerably in the last decade, competitors have entered the consolidator market to increase the number of online and offline consolidators and therefore more and more services are being offered to the customers to succeed in the race. The websites list all the benefits and features they have to offer to their customers in order to get more attention. But you need to be careful because sometimes there are fake consolidators as well. It is recommended that you check several options before picking one.

There are three kinds of air travel consolidators: wholesale consolidators, online travel consolidators and destination specialists. You may want to pick one of these for the kind of flight you are planning. If you hire a travel agent, he or she may get in touch with one of the wholesale consolidators to get you a possibly cheaper flight. These consolidators do not sell tickets directly to passengers. Online consolidators are available at websites such as Travelocity, Expedia, Skyscanner, Cheap Flights and many others. You just need to search on the Internet to find these websites. They will, in turn provide you with search options to find the best possible deals in your area. Destination specialists target only some popular destinations and bring discounted packages to their customers.

When you buy airline tickets through a consolidator you have to check a few things. First of all check the price of your package. See if it includes taxes and other hidden charges. Some sites list only the price of the ticket and do not explicitly state the hidden charges that are associated with it.

Consolidator airfares are sometimes as low as 70% of the original price fixed by a particular airline. In order to get the best consolidator package, tell your consolidator how flexible your timings are. If you can afford to wait, then they will come up with a very inexpensive flight on one of the off-peak days or seasons. Also tell your consolidator if you are enrolled into some frequent flier programs to benefit from a special offer if one is available.

Since there are many options available on the net, do not limit your search to a few sites only. Try to spend some time comparing different sites and reading their reviews and other details to get an idea of how popular they are. Last, but not the least, after receiving your tickets from the consolidator, check your details on them, especially the date of your departure. You do not want to get into trouble when the departure time comes and you are at the airport waiting for your flight. So it is better to check all things beforehand.

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How Luggage Tag Important To Travelers

Using luggage tag is one of the best ways that you will get difference and uniqueness for your luggage. There are some problems with many people, especially frequent travelers is difficult to find the way to have personalized travel luggage. This is because luggage tag will help you to find your bag easier, particularly when they are in the airport. Moreover, having luggage tag helps in case you lost your luggage but you have contact details on the tag, so other will find the owner of the luggage easily. The benefit of having luggage tag is not only making your luggage easier to be found but also preventing someone else to steal your luggage. Apart from the there are some more benefits of using luggage tags, which can be summarized below.

a) It is very easy to identify your luggage in case there is a similar design that belong to other person, so you can find yours easily.

b) Luggage could also prevent someone to pick up our luggage, especially during the airport transit, which there is a chance during airline check-in process.

c) Luggage tag could help to reduce chance for your luggage to be stolen, this is because thief prefers to steal luggage that has no identification so they can claim that they have picked the wrong luggage. The case like this often found with small suitcase which people generally do not have tag on their small suitcase.

d) This is probably the most important one. If you are the frequent travel person, you will realize that there is a great chance to lost luggage during when the luggage managed by airport or airline staffs.

e) Also, if you have suitable luggage tag, in case if your luggage is misdirect to other flight, it will be quickly found and return to you without worry.

However, it seems that these advantages above only benefit to the person who travel by air, but in fact it also benefits to you even you travel in groups by bus, coach or any kind of transportation as misdirected luggage always happen in all situation so it is also compulsory to have one. There are variety of color and design of luggage to choose from. Some providers have more alternatives for customers such as leather luggage tags. As we all know that leather is more durable, look neat and luxurious than any other material so this kind of luggage is becoming popular today. Meanwhile many provides have categorized their product by the material that luggage made from but some other function, such as air plane luggage, business luggage tag, briefcase tag and so on.

As mentioned above that luggage tag can be purchased individually and in bulk, for people who already got a set of luggage, you may have to buy them in bulk for all of your luggage, because it is even more easy to identified for a set of luggage that has same color and style of luggage tags. As far as safety is concerned by parents that they always choose luggage tag that has no sharp edge which will harm to children, so if you have little kids so this is also one factor that you have to consider.

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How Can Vacationers Avoid Street Scams, Cons, And Thefts?

Airports, train and bus stations, and any other place where travelers congregate in close quarters are where pickpockets love to operate.  There are many dos and don'ts to avoid becoming a victim when you travel on vacation, most of which are common sense.  Here are some of them.  Do not wear expensive jewelry, even expensive looking costume jewelry or an expensive looking watch as that is just an invitation to be robbed.

Wear a money belt under you shirt or blouse to help foil pickpockets or muggers.  It is a good idea to put your things in a Ziploc bag and then put the bag in your money belt.  The reason for this is that the money belt and the items in it will get soaked from your perspiration, especially in hot climates, and this will keep them dry.  Do not open up your money belt in public to take out cash, travelers checks, or credit cards. 

Before you leave on vacation, it might be worth it to sew a few pockets on the inside of your slacks, skirts, or underclothing where you can carry some spare cash when you are out and about for the day.  If you are carrying cash, travelers checks, or credit cards on your person, you should divide them up and put them in different pockets.  That way if a pickpocket is successful, he or she won't get everything.  It also makes sense to use a safety pin to make each pocket opening smaller so that a pickpocket will have difficulty pulling anything out of your pockets without you being aware of it.

If a number of children gather around you in the street and cause a commotion, you are likely being targeted by pickpockets who are using the children to distract you.  If a couple of locals start a yelling and shoving match near you, they could be a distraction for pickpockets.  Another method of distraction is to have someone collapse and fall down in front of you.  When you bend over to help them, the pickpocket goes into action.  A variation involves two thieves working together, one gently dropping some ice cream, ketchup or mustard on one of your shoulders and then distracting you by pointing to the mess and helping to wipe it off.  The other pickpocket will then go into action.

Pickpockets prefer to target men with their wallets invitingly exposed in their back pockets, and obese people because they are less likely to feel their pockets being picked.  You must be especially vigilant in airports, bus and train stations and watch your luggage, camera, and laptop like a hawk as they can disappear in an instant.  Keep in mind that pickpockets love tourists, especially when they are in crowds. Be vigilant when you are wearing a backpack.  Thieves may slash the bottom of it, spilling all the contents onto the street where he and his accomplices grab your possessions and run away in different directions.

Usually muggings occur at night and not in a busy, bustling part of the city.  If you are accosted by an armed robber, do not argue or resist.  Give them what they want and be thankful that you don't get hurt.  Whatever they take from you can be replaced and is not worth risking your life over. After we read Bob Arno's book on how people can avoid cons, thefts, and street scams, we felt that it would be a valuable book for anyone who goes on vacation, or travels for business, to also read.  It is chuck full of information and photos that show you how many scams work.  There is no limit as to what criminals can conspire to think of to rip-off and steal from unsuspecting tourists.

Bob is one of the world's foremost experts on street crime, scams, and identity theft.  If you are interested in learning how to protect yourself when on holidays as well as at home, you may want to read his book, "Travel Advisory! How to Avoid Thefts, Cons, and  Street  Scams  While Traveling".  It may be available at your local library.  If not, it is available through his website,  BobArno.com, or Amazon.com.

He has been interviewed on CNN, MSNBC, ABC's 20/20, The Travel Channel, The Learning Channel, Discovery Channel, and has had articles written about him in USA Today, National Geographic Traveler, Fortune Magazine, The New York Times, and Time Magazine. His book is full of humor, true stories, as well as many photos of pickpockets and street scam artists in action.  In our opinion, his book is worth its weight in gold, and is a must-read for anyone who wants to learn how to protect themselves and their family when traveling, and even in their own home town.

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Travelling On A Private Jet Charter

For many travelers, life is busier and schedules are packed tighter than they used to be, leading to the rise in popularity of private jet charter travel. You can leave when you need to and completely avoid the stress of having to deal with commercial flights, including the delays and packed seating. Several things can help you get even more from your trips on a private plane.

Save Money

One of the easiest ways to save money on a private jet charter flight is to ask about 'empty legs'. These flights would be normally empty because the plane needs to travel to another city to pick up their next set of customers. The companies frequently offer discounted prices on these flights because it eases the cost of having to fly the plane that distance. For frequent flyers, some places offer a form of fractional ownership together with leaseback options. This means you can fly at a portion of the regular cost without the large responsibility and cost of owning your own private plane. When you aren't using it, the company uses it to fly other customers in order to help offset your costs.

With private flight, you should ask for additional fees that airports and flight companies charge. Some airports have higher take off, landing, and security charges that might be higher than others might. Some flight companies also give frequent flyers a reward program or opportunities from time to time that can add up to a significant amount of savings when you do a lot of flying. You also might want to inquire about a difference in price between a round trip and two one ways or consider booking your fights through a broker to save additional money.

Save Time

With a private jet charter, you have the option of flying where and when you want to, but keep in mind that the style of plane you choose and your destination may change the amount of time a private flight company needs in terms of notice. To make things more convenient for travelers, some companies provide the option of booking any time, day or night. This way, travelers do not need to wait for a weekday or for business hours to book their next flight.

Even when it may be extremely important for you to reach your destination, remember to be patient if there are problems that delay or cancel your flight. The crew will only do this when they feel it is necessary and pushing them to fly when they feel it isn't safe only puts everyone in the plane and on the ground in danger. When you phone to book your trip, ask the company what its policy is for dealing with cancellations. This is particularly important when it comes to dealing with mechanical problems. Also, be sure to ask about additional costs associated with cancellations and finding an alternative flight.

Other Services Offered By Flight Companies

Many travelers fail to take advantage of concierge services offered by private flight companies. When it comes to planning a complete trip, these are a huge convenience. The company can arrange lodgings for you, event tickets, and even dinner reservations. This eliminates a large amount of the stress, particularly if you are pressed for time.

A private jet charter can haul more than just people. One good example is if you are traveling to a convention from Indianapolis to Chicago. Jet charter companies can send you on one plane and ship all of your equipment and supplies on a private freight flight. Both you and your freight can arrive in the city at the same time and some of the companies will even make arrangements to deliver your materials to its destination. Famous people aren't the only ones who can take advantage of a private jet charter. Individuals and small companies are using this travel option more and more to help ease the strain on their time. These hints will allow you to use charter flight companies to the fullest so you enjoy the wonderful experience the rich have enjoyed for so long.

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Certain Situations and Particular Travel Insurance Provisions

Travel insurance can easily protect the investment people make when they travel especially when there is a need to pay travel providers a sum of money in advance or even if they are simply engaging in trips which come to cost a lot of money. It is possible that a person already has existing coverage that he or she might be able to use. There are times when these insurance policies already cover possible losses for the plan holder. There are different options that travel insurance policies can provide clients and this article will be talking about categories pertaining to broad or comprehensive coverage and travel accident or airport flight insurance policies.

It is under the discretion of the insurance providers if they will offer comprehensive policies or have clients buy each coverage plan at different premiums. When it comes to the broad coverage option all possible losses are covered may the causes be accidents, illnesses, death, theft, as well as trip interruptions. Travel insurance can also be adjusted to cover possible needs like emergency evacuation services, flight insurance, financial reimbursements for lost belongings, personal liability insurance, and flight delay allowances. Most of the time leisure travelers only need basic coverage when they travel. Here are other possible coverage plans a traveler may be interested in.

When there are possible penalties that can be incurred when travel plans are changed then it makes considering getting insurance for trip cancellations and interruptions that can amount to about five percent of a hundred dollar coverage plan. A cancelled trip can result to expenses on the side of a traveler and this policy will allow the traveler to have these expenses reimbursed. It is possible for a travel buddy to suddenly become ill and therefore not make the trip and when this happens this policy will deal with extra charges that may result from changes in the original itinerary.

A person is covered for possible forfeiture of prior reservations even when deposits have already been made. A person has two options where he or she is either given the means to catch up or given the means to go back home. When travelers incur financial obligations when trips do not go as planned the company will only pay if they are able to present a valid reason for cancelling or changing their itinerary.

A policy will only be applicable should trips be cancelled by the air lines or cruise lines themselves especially when they declare bankruptcy. Separately purchasing baggage insurance will result to a price determined by the dollar limit and length of time. Anything not checked in will not be covered by insurance should a traveler lose these items while on a trip.

It is possible for a traveler to apply to lost belongings a personal insurance policy like a homeowner's or renter's policy as well as possible floaters that exist for the protection of valuables against fire and theft. There is always baggage insurance for any possible material losses. Annual coverage is possible for most medical insurance policies.

Travelers will need to pay for medical expenses on foreign trips but most insurance policies allow claims for reimbursements to be filed when travelers return. When it comes to Medicare its full extent in terms of coverage can be used within the United States only with limited coverage allowed in Canada and Mexico. Regular Medicare coverage might be more useful in some situations.

How high can the cost for this kind of insurance be? Say you're a family of four planning a 14 day vacation and you buy a comprehensive travel package with the following coverage limits for the whole family, $100,000 accidental death and dismemberment, $20,000 emergency assistance, $10,000 medical expenses, $2,000 baggage, and $2,000 trip cancellation and interruption.

The premium for this kind of coverage will cost about two hundred dollars or a little over that amount depending on the insurance broker.

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Customize India Travel To Suit

Some travel agencies are going high tech and allow tourists to customize India travel to suit their cultural and exploration needs. People can identify what parts of travel peak their interest and clarify how much interest they have in doing various things while they are vacationing in India. There are many things to see while in the country of India, and these travel agencies are intent on providing people with an Indian holiday that will be a thrill of a lifetime. Every visitor has a unique way that they like to travel and it is a true comfort for some to know that they will not be bothered with something that they are simply not interested in.
  • With this type of personalized service, what traveler could say no when traveling abroad to foreign countries such as India, where mystic and magic is keen. People go on holiday for various reasons and people come to India to sight see and explore ruins. Visitors also come to India to taste the cuisine and to have a good time seeing the sights that they have always heard about or read about in books. People can identify whether they have an interest in visiting temples, and monuments, where in India that would translate to forts and palaces. Some people have health problems and might have to select a low interest in that type of activity.
  • There are plenty of shopping opportunities to be found in India, and travel agencies want to know if people would like to see festivals and traditional events or whether they would be more interested in attending shows that feature local arts and crafts. Fine tuning a vacation holiday in this manner will definitely ensure that travelers have the time of their life. There are plenty of markets and bazaars throughout India, but some visitors might express high interest in getting a taste of village life. Others might profess to other extremes and want to grab hold of a big hunk of what big city life is like in India.
  • Some travel opportunities might require vacationers to travel by boat, car, SUV, or train. Some visitors to India might never imagine that they could fit in a tour by houseboat cruises in a country that is surrounded by desert. Other travelers might have a yen for some yoga and meditation, and others might want to attend a religious event, especially during religious holidays where people offer a pilgrimage to a shrine or tomb each year. The travel agencies try to cover all areas on the design a India holiday list by asking travelers whether they would like to go white water rafting while in India, or would they like to do some hard trekking and ride a camel or an elephant at some point during the day.

There are certainly plenty of ways to customize India travel to suit everyone's taste. People might like to see famous sights like the Taj Mahal one day, and then go horse riding in the desert with a friend or two. There are plenty of opportunities for golf when people vacation in India, but some visitors might enjoy going fishing more. Travel agents need to define just how people enjoy their holidays because travel to India takes a while, and these travel agents want to make sure that people have fun when they get there.

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What A Travel Agency Provides For The Vacationer

Just as you have many different options when selecting where to travel and what to do when you get there, you also have a variety of choices when selecting the travel agency that will help you to design your perfect vacation. When you are looking for the perfect travel agency to help you with all of your travel needs, it is first important that you understand the basic types of travel agencies from which to choose and significant differences in terms of the services they provide to a vacationer.

Before looking at different niches of travel agencies, one large distinction exists. Do you want to work with an online-based travel agency, or a locally-based travel agency? Depending on how either type of travel agency is run, you can have a vastly different experience. With an online-based travel agency, you can often receive service 24/7 and book your travel at any time that is most convenient to you. You will be able to retrieve information from many online-based travel agencies "on demand," or exactly when you request it.

With a locally-based travel agency, you can often form relationships with particular travel agents who will also be your main point of contact for any future travel that you plan. In addition, the agents in your locally-based agency will be able to maintain information specific to your desires to help them to provide suggestions for future vacations. These are only a few of the distinctions between online and local travel agencies.

One recent innovation great for the customer is the emergence of travel agencies who provide both of the above - the personal service of a local, walk-in office with the 24/7 and technological convenience of online access to all your itineraries, account information and options for self-service booking when you want it. Look for a national brand with a history of providing reliable service and customer satisfaction; these companies are most likely to provide you with the best of both worlds in travel agency services.

Once you have determined whether you will use an online or a local travel agency, there are additional options from which to choose. The first option to consider is the level of service an agency will provide. Travel agencies can run the gamut from full service to self service. Especially with online travel agencies, information may simply be provided to aid in your travel decisions while leaving much of the leg work to you. If you prefer a travel planning experience that allows you to seek out all of your own information and make all of your decisions and reservations independently, a self service travel agency will be your best bet.

Full service travel agencies, whether online-based or locally-based, offer the exact opposite scenario. They pair an agent with you to provide all of the information you need, when you need it, and to be on hand to help you with all of the travel decisions that you make. In addition, they will handle all of your bookings and payments and logistics, sparing you the need to do so on your own. In between self service and full service agencies are other options that offer a combination of do-it-yourself plans and planning that involves the step-by-step guidance of a travel professional.

The second option is the type of travel an agency may designate as their specialty. Some travel agencies work only with domestic travel planning. They can assist you with any need you may have related to travel within the United States and its possessions. Other travel agencies work specifically to aid travelers in planning overseas travel. A further narrowing of this niche can occur when a travel agency focuses only on one particular area of the world for the travel services they provide, such as Europe or the Caribbean. You can also choose travel agencies that focus only on one particular type of travel, such as cruises or multi-segmented trips. It can be very important for you to decide whether you would like to partner with a niche travel agency, or a travel agency that is more broad-based.

The third option is the type of traveler an agency may specialize in assisting. Some travel agencies only work with a specific demographic of travel. For instance, you may choose a travel agency that caters to single travelers. This type of agency may work to put together travel packages and tours specifically geared towards singles instead of couples or families. Other travel agencies may work with just that - couples or families. Whether they focus on providing romantic destination options for two, or kid-friendly destinations for the whole family, this can be a popular niche for travel agencies. Finally, a travel agency may choose to focus exclusively on business travelers instead of leisure travelers. They may have options available to offer that are particularly suited to travelers who need different amenities and more flexibility in scheduling.

In conclusion there are many services a travel agency provides to make your life easier when planning a vacation or business travel. Most importantly, the agent offers years of expertise and knowledge of other travelers’ experiences from which you can benefit.

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Fees and Travel Insurance

A cruise liner went out of business last September while passengers were mid cruise and so these people were left in Canada and the Bahamas when ships were seized. When a cruise liner goes belly up, not only are passengers out of luck they are also out of money. 1.5 million dollars was the amount of insurance settlements that resulted from this occurrence as recalled by a third party to the insurance brokers.

Settlements were not guaranteed when people bought insurance straight from the cruise liner and so passengers are left to wait in line. There are other mishaps that can lead to the changing of travel arrangements like sudden illness or even simply missing flights and the like. A ski vacation for example can be cut short due to weather changes and when this happens travelers can lose the money that they placed in making travel arrangements.

This is primarily the reason why travel insurance can be obtained to cover accidents, sickness, flights, and money when trips do not go as planned. Medical evacuation and insurance for bags will also be covered by the policy. A traveler can specify what goes in and what is removed from a travel insurance policy. Travel agencies and some operators are examples of other parties which can issue travel insurance if not directly obtained from travel companies. The source of the insurance policy matters. Policies can be extended to cover supplier default when these are issued by the third parties.

Policies will almost always fail to include this coverage when obtained directly from cruise liners. One should never get an insurance policy directly from a travel company like a cruise liner. Most of the time travelers go overboard when it comes to thinking about ridiculous occurrences happening on a trip but even if most mishaps are not as spectacular they too can be just as costly. The most common mishap is usually flight cancellations. Something happens before you go and causes you to cancel. Possible scenarios can include trouble in the family, poor weather conditions, accidents, or even an illness.

Situations can also lead to trip interruptions for which claims can also be filed with the insurance companies. Insurance can also cover expensive services such as that of medical evacuation should the need arise during any time within a trip. Based on the extent of one's injuries or the location he or she may be in expenses can amount to hundreds of thousands of dollars. The services under a medical evacuation claim can be plain and simple where a traveler gets tickets to the next flight out and a medical escort.

Evacuation services only comprise a fraction of the benefits people can gain from medical insurance. There is an official of an insurance company who says that even the younger people are getting medical coverage because they want to be prepared for any accidents occurring. Coverage like this one is ideal for those traveling with children as children more often than not need some kind of medical assistance. The absence of a 24 hour hotline makes a travel insurance policy incomplete. Will a policy like this have full utility?

Travelers need to get this if they have lingering medical or health conditions. It is always valuable to have insurance should there be any restrictions with regard to one's travel arrangements. Losing money encourages people to get insurance of all kinds. The cruise liner will be paying passengers a total of a million dollars in damages said that only ten percent of travelers get travel insurance. It is possible for people to ignore re-ticketing fees. Insurance can make a trip virtually problem free. How much will people pay for a worry free trip? It can range from 4 to 8 percent but insurance prices are determined by how much the trip costs in total. In short, travel insurance is not cheap, but proponents claim that it can save a bundle when the going gets rough.

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