Amb Films|Travel & Photography Blog

Rising gas prices, air fares, hotel rates… bills, bills, bills… But none of these are keeping travelers off the roads to get their much deserved vacation. According to the triple-A, around 35 million Americans traveled during the Memorial Day weekend – A hundred thousand more than last year’s. The number only says that there’s no stopping the common American from hitting the road to take a break. But how does one cope with all the spending to make sure that there’s enough left to go back to the normal life they left off? How does one prepare for traveling and avoiding hassles during and after their vacation?

Hotel rates are up between 5 and 10 percent.; Airfares, 14 percent; a gallon of gas? More than a higher than last year. So what’s an American to do? Here are a few tips:

1. Awareness of Peak Travel Day Fees – Peak travel day fees are applied when there is a higher demand. These hidden travel fees increase the price of your flight, especially during the months of June, July, and August. During these months, every day is almost considered as a “peak” day. And the only way to avoid it? – postpone your vacation until the end of the summer, which is quite a hassle since you don’t want to ruin your kids’ summer vacation.

2. Bargains — There are lots of cheap travel packages going to the Caribbean, Cancun and Las Vegas during the summer months.

3. Travel Tips from CBP – They say that people who read fast get ahead. This might be true, except for some information that you really need to remember and digest like the tips from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). Here are some CBP tips that you should remember before you go:

a. Have all the required travel documents for the countries you’re visiting. To add, identification for re-entry to the U.S. Passports are also required for re-entry.

b. Declare everything you are bringing in from abroad. This includes items that are bought in a duty free shop as these items are also subject to U.S. duty fees and other restrictions.

c. Be cautious when buying something from a street vendor. Some merchandise can be classified as counterfeit or unsafe and you may have to surrender it to the CBP when you get home.

d. Know that things bought abroad for personal use or as gifts are eligible for duty exemptions. But if you’re going to resell them, they are not eligible.

e. Have a quick look at the list of prohibited merchandise (such as ivory, tortoise shell, absinthe, and counterfeit items) and restricted merchandise.

f. Be aware that many foreign-made meds are not FDA-approved. You cannot bring these meds into the U.S. Also remember that, when traveling abroad, bring only the amount of medication that you’re going to use during your trip.

g. Cuban-made products are a big no-no.

h. Don’t bring any food into the U.S. without checking to see if it’s permitted. To add, exotic pets like live birds, whether it’s for your personal use or for commercial use, may be restricted and/or quarantined.

i. You also have to remember that CBP officers can inspect you and your belongings without a warrant. This may include your luggage, vehicle, and personal searches. This is meant to enforce U.S. laws as well as protect legitimate travelers.

4. Maintain Your Tires – Most people would opt to go on a road trip instead of flying, so a good advice to take is to check if your tires are properly inflated. Estimates show that U.S. motorists could save up to 700 million gallons of gas each year just by maintaining their tires properly. To add, tuning-up and putting the correct motor oil in your car can improve fuel efficiency by up to 4 percent.

5. Find a Cheap Vacation Rental — Looking for a cheap vacation rental near your intended destination can save you money, especially if you’re going out with a large group. Instead of booking a hotel during peak season, try to look for a vacation rental that has all the amenities that you need.

Adventure travel developed as a segment of the tourism market during the latter half of the 20th century out of the more general traditional notion of outdoor recreation. Adventure travel differs from from earlier forms of outdoor recreation, however, in that it offers travellers greater opportunities to experience specific physical activities (eg. rock climbing, diving, snow-boarding, kayaking, abseiling) that involve greater levels of skill and, within acceptable limits, risk. With traditional outdoor recreation, the primary attraction is the specific setting: with adventure travel, however, travellers are attracted primarily by the activities offered. Adventure travel is therefore primarily associated with travel products where the primary purpose is to engage in activity and participatory experience rather than the more passive sightseeing associated with traditional outdoor tourism.

The travel industry has evolved considerably since the 1970s.

Changes include sociodemographic shifts which have seen a growth both the disposable income and available leisure time of many travellers. Travellers generally have become more discerning, have more travel experience, and have come to enjoy the benefits of cheaper, more convenient transport and other technological advances. As a result, substantial changes occurred in the demand for international travel products. The 1990s saw rapid growth in the evolution of specific segments of the tourism market including ecotourism, nature tourism and other special interest tourism which catered for the new breed of sophisticated traveller with both the means and the will to travel.

While travel costs will always remain a significant factor in decision-making for most travellers, the notion of tourist satisfaction is today of increasing importance. Increasingly, travel products must provide something other than simple value for money to attract tourists pursuing deeper, more satisfying purposes. In short, new patterns in travel choices have emerged to accommodate a much greater spectrum of travel interests, activities and experiences. Adventure travel today is increasingly the travel mode of choice for sophisticated travellers seeking to experience a holiday rather than simply sit in a tour bus passively sightseeing.

The increasing interest of many travellers in actively experiencing their holiday has also been matched with a rapid expansion in the range and quality of travel-related equipment available, extending the capability of tour operators to deliver more diversified adventure travel products. Australia has been at the forefront of these developments, and adventure travel is now one of the fastest-growing travel market segments in that country. Continuing to grow in their scope and appeal, it appears today that the variety and availability of adventure travel products for a broad spectrum of abilities and interests and abilities is almost limitless.

In Australia, the notion of adventure in travel is inextricably linked to that of the Outback. This means that true adventure travel is more likely to be found away from the comfortable, urban east coast, and in particular away from the area located south of the Brisbane-Adelaide line where over 80% of Australians live in urban and suburban settings oblivious to the geographic, climatic and cultural realities of the majority of the Australian continent. High on the list of authentic Australian outback adventure travel destinations therefore are Central Australia and the Northern Territory, far north and western Queensland, Western Australia and South Australia. The island of Tasmania also provides many exciting opportunities for adventure travel in unique wilderness areas.

Quality outback adventure tours in Australia are characterised by many factors, including the use of four-wheel-drive vehicles rather than buses, access to spectacular remote sites, provision of challenging adventure activities, and active hands-on participation in daily routines. The use of 4×4 vehicles typically allows tour operators to access more remote, difficult and spectacular country. By encouraging active participation in daily routines such as cooking, cleaning, setting camp and packing up, adventure tours engage travellers in the complete outdoor adventure experience rather than simply waiting on passive participants hand and foot.

But the real adventure element provided by the best quality tours takes the form of specific adventure activities ranging from bushwalking, rock climbing, swimming, snorkelling, fishing, sailing, through to more extreme activities such as diving, canoeing, abseiling, jet-skiing, quad riding, white water rafting and hot air ballooning.

In our commitment to being the premier source of knowledge and information regarding the freight transport industry, we are embarking on a new leg of the journey. We are going to start building a glossary of all the most important freight transport terms we’ve encountered on the road, on the rails, and everywhere in between. There are a lot of good resources out there; the U.S. Department of Transportation has put together a pretty inclusive list that we’ll be drawing from, along with our own resources and others around the industry.  We’re going to start this endeavor with our first term. Average Annual Daily Truck Traffic (AADTT) is a term used to describe the total volume of freight transport truck traffic that passes over a given portion of highway in a given year.  This number is then divided by the number of days in a year. This might seem like a menial statistic, but it is an essential measure in determining the amount of maintenance that a given portion of road might need. It can also be important in determining the amount of tax dollars needed to keep everything running smoothly through this portion of highway.

A freight transport vehicle, whether we are talking heavy haul vehicles or ltl trucking vehicles, is decidedly more wearing on a given portion of road than conventional transport vehicles. In fact, the heavy wear delivered by the heavier loads of freight is enough to restrict freight transport vehicles over a certain weight from accessing some smaller roads. Roads frequented by freight transport vehicles (those roads with higher AADTT) require a lot of extra funding from all the extra wear and tear that comes from the thousands upon thousands of tons of freight that travel across their surfaces.  By using the average annual daily truck traffic measure, the needs of a given portion of highway can be more accurately assessed and judged, keeping the roadways safe for both freight carriers and public users alike.

We are in the midst of a surge in fuel prices. There are a lot of reason, but the result is standard across the board; a push for efficiency. This is not to say that efficiency hasn’t always been a primary goal, it is just to say that its importance is being emphasized right now. As we pointed out last time, nearly every form of freight transport relies on petroleum to operate. We also discussed the push toward a cleaner and more efficient use of energy for environmental reasons.  In last week’s blog, we looked at the fact that that rail transport produces only around 5 lbs. of carbon dioxide for every 100 ton-miles traveled. Trucks produce about 20 lbs. of carbon dioxide per 100 ton-miles. This is a pretty big difference and can have a pretty big impact when it plays out on a large scale. So, why doesn’t everyone just use rail transport? Well that is what we’re here to look at today.

Living in the Hudson Valley New York area and looking for some holiday events. Here are a few West Point New York holiday events for 2009.

At the West Point Club come and join the “Thanksgiving Day Feast” on November 26, 2009. The price for Members is .95 for Adults and .50 for children ages 6 thru 12. For Non-Members the price is .95 for Adults and .95 for Children ages 6 thru 12 with Children 5 years of age and younger are free. There is a 50 percent discount for families with the FMWR deployment card and registered BOSS soldiers will receive off the menu price. Advanced reservations are required and there will be no refunds after Tuesday, November 24, 2009. The phone number for reservations is 845-938-5120.

Go to the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade via West Point on November 26, 2009. Motor Coach transportation will be provided to the parade area, leaving West Point at 6am. Motor Coach transportation will be provided to return to West Point immediately after the parade. You can register now at Leisure Travel Services, 695 Buckner Loop West Point New York. Or you can call 845-938-3601. Visa and Mastercard accepted.

The famous Christmas Spectacular Starring the Rockettes! Tickets are available for three shows. Wednesday, December 9, 2009, for the 5pm show, 3rd Mezzanine, each which includes transportation. The bus leaves at 1pm from 695 Buckner Loop West Point New York and leaves New York City directly after the show. Tuesday, December 15, 2009, for the 8pm show, 2nd Mezzanine, each which includes transportation. The bus leaves at 4pm from 695 Buckner Loop West Point New York and leaves New York City directly after the show. Thursday, December 17, 2009, for the 5pm show, 2nd Mezzanine, each which includes transportation. The bus leaves at 1pm from 695 Buckner Loop West Point New York and leaves New York City directly after the show. For more information and tickets please call Leisure travel Services at 845-938-3601. Visa and Mastecard accepted.

Can you use some extra help with your personal finances?  Or do you need advice on how to bulk up your emergency fund?  Two of today’s hottest topics on websites and blogs are personal finance and frugality.   My regular web surfing takes me to the same three sites all the time, so I thought about what it is about these sites that engages me.

Coming in at Number Three is a personal finance blog called Savvyfrugality (http://www.savvyfrugality.com).  It’s written by a man named Terry (no last name given) who lives in Oklahoma City.  As the name suggests, Terry writes about frugality but he also interjects some personal anecdotes about his wife and kids and how they affect his efforts to live within his frugal lifestyle.  Terry states in his About Me section that his “journey to frugality is one that has taken several years and many financial mistakes which cost me a lot of money over the years. Those mistakes affected my credit, my family and my sanity. I spent years living beyond my means and letting medical bills destroy my good financial name.  Savvyfrugality is a good place to find advice about how to find a cheap dentist, which U.S. cities have the lowest cost of living and where to find cheap travel deals.  The blog is maintained by Blogger and the layout is simple and easy to read. 

My Number Two personal finance / frugal website is The Dollar Stretcher (www.stretcher.com).  I have been visiting this site for years and it changes the front page stories each week and archives all of the old articles. The site started back in 1996, so you can imagine the amount of articles you can reference.  The Dollar Stretcher consists of articles on hundreds of topics which apply to personal finance, debt reduction and frugality. 

A unique feature of Stretcher is that all of the content is submitted by the readers.  Gary Foreman, a financial planner, the webmaster and editor of the site, states that over 200,000 readers receive Dollar Stretcher’s weekly newsletters and another 40,000 people visit the website each week.  I mainly use Dollar Stretcher to find new tips on how to reduce my grocery bill, find out about the latest mortgage news and to spark my brain with all around money-saving ideas. 

My favorite and Number One personal finance website is the blog titled The Simple Dollar (www.thesimpledollar.com).  Brent Hamm started the site in 2006.  In his about me page, he says his goal was to help “those of us who need both cents and sense: people fighting debt and bad spending habits while building a financially secure future and still affording a latte or two.”  Brent still works at a full time job but writing about personal finance is his true passion.  He funds the site with advertisements, affiliate links and Paypal donations.  In fact, he plans on eventually quitting his regular job and blogging full time.

Brent communicates to his readers timeless money lessons such as how much to save when you get your first job (he recommends saving 50%), ways to translate your passion into additional income and how to stop living paycheck to paycheck.  He is diverse in his topics but always sticks to the theme of frugality, personal finance and career.  I especially enjoy the book reviews by Brent because they are in depth and honest.  I won’t read a finance or personal development book without a positive endorsement from The Simple Dollar. 

I would like to research some more finance websites, but most of my surfing time is taken up with these Top 3.  I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.

Family travel plan or group travel policy- must for every individual for a safe trip

Individual or family travel plan- pick as per requirement

Nowadays along with vital documents such as tickets, passport and visa, one should be aware about choosing travel insurance as well whether a  family travel plan or group travel policy. It is a blessing when and if one requires medical assistance or given the eventuality of loss or theft of baggage, incidents of terrorism etc. Though these things happen rarely, they could financially jolt an individual whenever they occur.

When insurance companies discovered that these incidents put travelers in a huge loss while on a trip, they came up with different travel insurance packages. Most insurance plans like Indian insurance , European travel plans etc. work on the same motive with different rates and features. Most of the packages include: Medical Cover, Cashless Hospitalization, Daily allowance for Hospitalization, Dental Treatment, Passport Loss, Baggage Loss, Accident, Financial Emergency Assistance, Trip Cancellation & Interruption, medical evacuation etc.

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Indian insurance or they all protect and safeguard the travelers from unforeseen events. So if one plans an overseas trip, always remember to get a Travel Insurance before leaving. Some travel insurance companies provide coverage right from the moment one leaves their place. The claims process also tends to be very simple and quick.

Hence, with a small premium, huge benefits and a simple claims process can make individuals relax and enjoy their trip while the travel insurance company would take care of the worries and tensions related to medical and non- medical adversities.

Individual policy plans, family floaters or group insurance one can opt for any as per their requirement and need. In returns an insurance plan would definitely provide satisfaction and proves to be at most beneficial.

Insurance plans like group travel policy, or family travel plan every plan plays a vital role in itself and tends to be of great benefit.

debenhams travel insurance,family travel plan,group travel policy

Thus whether one goes for Debenhams travel insurance or an Indian health insurance plan, all one needs to do is to get the best. One can safeguard their family and group through plans like family travel plan and group travel policy.

Commuting can be difficult if your only means of transport is a bicycle or by foot. Due to this, in our modern age, it is extremely common to learn to drive when you are old enough to do so. This is traditionally kept to the world of cars or motorbikes, but you may not know that you can get trained in a whole host of other vehicle types.

Among others, class 2 training and PCV training London wide and even further afield is available if you wish to try it, or require it for a job or way of life. These training types are not as common as car driving and training, so finding a centre that provides such training can be a great feat.

Reasons for driving

As mentioned, there are many reasons that one may want to learn to drive one of these specialist vehicles, with the most common being for a job or similar use.

However, with traditional cars, the main reason for learning to drive is to provide transport for yourself or others.

Learning to drive has now become a part of life in the latter teenage years, a part that signals your ascent into being a responsible adult with the freedom to travel as you please when in control of a car.

When you pass your test to allow you to drive, you are opening up a whole new world of travel and lifestyle opportunities that were not available before. When you are a teenager and you cannot drive, if you want to go to see a film or visit a friend, you must rely on a lift from a kind parent, or even a lift from a friend that is already driving.

This is fine if you have understanding friends and family, but if you aren’t so lucky as to have either of these then driving yourself can become an essential task.

In addition to this added freedom, you can take jobs that are not easily commutable by train or other public transport method.

Improved employability

This will greatly improve your employability in the eyes of potential employers, or in some cases, will open up job opportunities where driving is essential, such as being courier, taxi driver, or racer. With all of these options available, it is easy to see why driving is such an essential skill to have.

It is said that on average only a few short months of lessons are needed for most people to learn and so be able to drive, and from there you may need a few attempts at the test if it doesn’t go well the first time, but many people pass quickly, allowing them freedom that they never had before.

For more information kindly visit: http://www.nationaldrivingcentre.co.uk/

Many jobseekers believe that the period of time between Thanksgiving and New Year is a dead zone, that hiring ceases during the holiday season and they should put their job search on the back burner until mid January. This is however a myth; the holidays can provide the jobseeker with a number of season specific opportunities, here are a few;

Holiday events are great for networking as well as catching up with friends and relatives you have perhaps not seen all year. Do not be obnoxious about your job search when speaking to people at these gatherings but do put it out there that you are looking for work. Help may come from unexpected quarters.
Send holiday cards with a “micro resume” enclosed (a newer trend, a micro resume contains the salient points of a resume and contact information printed on a business card) to all the hiring managers you may have interviewed with recently. Also send them out to any well connected friends you may have neglected to connect with recently.
Create a job search plan that contains at least one thing for you to accomplish every day in your search for employment.  It is easy for a jobseeker to become disheartened around the holidays, so maintaining focus is essential.
Consider taking seasonal employment to tide you through the financially draining holidays. Many temp agencies see an increase in the number of assignment they have available around the holidays, as employees take their annual vacations or companies struggle to close out all their yearend tasks on time.
Volunteer – Many non profits seek extra help around the holidays.  This is a great networking opportunity as well as a way to stay busy and active, not to mention the satisfaction that can be gained by doing something nice for other people.

Every parent knows planning a family vacation can be challenging. Depending on if you have a baby, toddler, tweens or teenagers they all present different obstacles to plan for. One best way to find help to plan an unforgettable family vacation that goes smoothly is from other parents. Many of these Websites are from parents so they understand the unique challenges of a family vacation. Here are a few of the best I have found full of helpful travel tips, hints and advice for families.

TravelSavvyMom.com

This Website is not the largest out there but it is primarily for reviews for hotels all over the world that is family friendly. Along with the hotel review you will find related articles about the country or state you want to visit. You will find helpful hotel reviews for the United States, Africa, Asia, Canada, Caribbean, Central America, Europe, Mexico, Middle East, South America and the South Pacific.

One example is their review of the Nick hotel in Florida near Disney. The review includes property information that includes all the features your children will love, location of hotel, how large the property is and a description of the rooms and its amenities, highlights of the hotel and a good to know section. The good to know section is full of tips on getting the best deals and insider tips. Then at the bottom of each hotel review is a link to the hotel so you can find any more vacation information you need.

Wejustgotback.com

The tagline of this website is “Travel advice you can trust from families that have been there”. This informative and easy to navigate Website has gotten great reviews from: “The New York Times”, Arthur Frommer, “Forbes” and “The Chicago Tribune”. They have many travel sections offering information on everything you could want to plan your vacation.

First you will find the section News& Deals, which is separated into the latest news, news for the United States and then news for outside the United States. This section has the information on discounts and even contests. The next section is called Tip Sheets: this section is very helpful with help for money savers, flying with kids, cruises, crowd control, artistic pursuits, great outdoors, packing and even a place to post your best family vacation tips. The next section called Insider Guides has tips on major cities in the U.S. like Boston, Seattle, New York City, Chicago and Washington D.C. The last section is a photo gallery where you can view all the wonderful pictures posted by other families vacations.

Disney family.com

My next pick for best Website to help plan a family vacation is all about children and family fun. For decades Disney and fun vacations have been synonymous. Their Website is packed with all kinds of helpful and fun travel information.

They have a section called vacation ideas where you can look for vacations by state or for ones appropriate for your children’s age. Another section called trip planner gives you the tools to map our your vacation plans and also see popular trip plans. For those looking for a great deal can get help on staying within their vacation budget in the travel deals section. In the travel tips section you can find all kinds of hints to make your family trip run more smoothly. Under the travel guides section they have some really cool features like: Holiday travel ideas, seasonal family travel, special interest travel, regional travel, where the locals travel, budget travel and even a community to talk to other parents. The video section highlights different vacations spot and the attractions in that location. And the last area vacation stories are where other families share their vacation memories and tips with everyone.

Cookiemag.com

The popular family oriented “Cookie” magazine has a very helpful section on their website devoted to planning a great family vacation. The are six main sections loaded with tips and hints for traveling with children.

In the what you need to know area some of the items you will find are: healthy travel tips, resources for stress-free travel, road trip games and kid-friendly airports. The next travel section directories has the information on: family-friendly hotels, a sustainable hotel directory, fall festivals and a Eco-friendly hotel directory. Under beach getaways you will find: top beach getaways, the best Florida beaches, Mexican getaways and Caribbean vacations. They have a section devoted to family road trips detailing trips for: Route 66, Central Oregon, Mid-Atlantic and a RV vacation in southern California. The last of their travel areas are all about family travel advice for certain cities, it is called city guides. A few of the many cities you will find highlighted are: Austin, Atlanta, Charleston, Dallas, Los Angeles, Miami, Paris, Price Edward Island, Stockholm, Toronto, Venice and Washington D.C.

Imagine earning a six figure income by marketing a travel business opportunity. If you love travelling then you probably love your free time as well. Making commissions from marketing travel packages through a business opportunity means that you do not have all the responsibilities of running a travel agency, with all the associated costs.

Marketing products and business opportunities as a small business has become extremely lucrative for an increasing number of people. Many are sick and tired of grafting away for a company, feeding someone else’s profits. They have made the decision to work for themselves, on their own terms by starting their own home business.

This is completely different to selling something. Think of recommending a product to a friend or associate, rather than trying to sell them travel packages. The interest in world travel continues to grow at an incredible rate. It only seems logical to be able to make a profit from this. Being able to take advantage of huge discounts, that are even better than a travel company discount, would give a return on your investment after a single trip.

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Similar to a franchise business, a travel business opportunity has everything set up for you. You do not need to even consider getting all the travel information, the deals and accommodation details together. This is already in place for you to take advantage of yourself, and market to others for a profit.

More and more people are starting their own home business to be able to spend their time and money on the things they want out of life. Being able to visit luxury destinations while having the ability to profit from that, by selling access to the private travel club is a winning combination.

There are many business opportunities out there. Do plenty of research when looking for a travel business opportunity. Investigate what destinations are available, how much the travel packages cost and more importantly, how much you will save. Of course, you will also want to compare different business opportunities and how much they cost to join.

The most important thing to consider is the type of business you decide to invest in. There are many network marketing companies that offer world travel as a home business. The problem here though is getting paid. A network marketing company will collect payment from new investors and pay you a commission, probably at the end of the following month.

Marketing a travel business opportunity as a direct sales business on the other hand is completely different. You take payment directly from new members. That’s right, with direct sales, you get paid first and then pass on a low percentage to the travel company. You effectively own all the travel packages and gained the rights to sell it on to others when you joined your self.