Check travel advice before you leave

Check travel advice before you leave

Not many people will have been aware that, up until the end of February, Madagascar was the only country in the world, apart from Somalia, that the Foreign Office were advising Britions not to travel to, giving it a higher risk factor than Afghanistan, Iraq and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Although Madagascar is not on most tourist routes, the recent political turmoil on the Island does show that, whilst most holiday destinations are generally strife free, it still pays to check out where you are going before you travel. The best place to do this is by checking with the Foreign Office which has up to date advice on all countries and to log on to www.fco.gov.uk/travel is a wise precaution, particularly if you plan to travel to parts of the world off the beaten track. Should you become caught up in what is neatly termed, civil commotion or civil unrest, you need to be aware that most <a rel=”nofollow” onclick=”javascript:pageTracker._trackPageview(‘/outgoing/article_exit_link’);” href=”http://www.travelandinsure.com/”>travel insurance</a> providers include this as a general exclusion in their policies. The impact of this is that you may not be as well insured as you think you are. If in doubt, do check with your <a rel=”nofollow” onclick=”javascript:pageTracker._trackPageview(‘/outgoing/article_exit_link’);” href=”http://www.travelandinsure.com/”>travel insurance</a> company before you travel and look at your policy wording. Generally, medical expenses and medical repatriation will be included but if you want to be covered for all eventualities then you will have to pay an increased premium on your <a rel=”nofollow” onclick=”javascript:pageTracker._trackPageview(‘/outgoing/article_exit_link’);” href=”http://www.travelandinsure.com/”>travel insurance</a> policy. Thankfully the chances of being caught up in these types of incidents are still very slight, and even when they do strike, they tend to be away from the main tourist destinations. So if you do plan to travel abroad, do look at your itinerary and check with your tour operator beforehand who may be able to offer alternative destinations away from the troubled areas. For the independent traveller, be wise and avoid those areas where a heightened tension exists.

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Secrets of Cheap Travel

Secrets of Cheap Travel

The world is in an economic crisis and tourism has slowed down all over the world, which has travel enthusiasts guessing whether to take a vacation or not. Cheap travel is possible if you’re willing to plan ahead and do a little research. Experts give some tips for travelers on a budget.

Being prepared is the key to a great trip. You need to read about the vacation spot online and go through travel books. Find out if there are city passes that offer discounts on attractions and transportation. You can also contact local bloggers for information about where to eat and what to see.

Travelers need to control spending. You should make sure you have access to more money than you think you’ll need and keep tabs on spending by recording expenditures.

Travel enthusiasts should start looking at ticket prices two months out, checking every few days for fluctuations. When the price drops to a reasonable amount, make the reservation.

Be flexible with your travel dates and location. Traveling is always more expensive during the times when people travel the most: holidays, spring break, weekends. Certain destinations offer special deals.

Check travel site for hotel deals. Hostels are also a great inexpensive alternative to hotels. Some hostels offer private rooms with private baths just like a hotel but without the hefty price tag. Hostels may not be the most luxurious of accommodations but traveling cheap requires a few sacrifices.

Eating out for every meal can add up very quickly. Set a budget ahead of time to avoid overspending. Planning ahead and shopping at grocery stores for snacks, bottled water, and simple items for sandwiches is a great way to travel cheap, as is bringing snacks from home.