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Avis Budget Group Inc. has been selected by American Airlines to be its preferred car rental media partner.
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November/December 2010
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Plan the Ultimate Vacation in Minutes
Whether travelers are seeking a quick weekend getaway or a luxury resort retreat that takes them to an exotic location halfway around the world, The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, L.L.C., a global leader in hotels, service and lifestyle, now offers several ways to plan the ultimate vacation.
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A cruise ship provides a great, one price, vacation, and one of the main attractions to booking a cruise ship is that just about everything is included in the price.

When many people think about a budget vacation, they picture an intrepid traveler in a roach infested hotel room eating stale sandwiches and riding around on the city bus.  However, one of the best ways to save money on a vacation is also one of the most luxurious and most thrilling – the cruise vacation.

Cheap Accommodation
In addition to a cheap place to stay, a cruise also offers unlimited food, including many amazing buffets that are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.  In addition, the food on cruise vacation ships are often better-quality to those in all but the best land locked restaurants, and once again, the food is included in the price.

Traveling Off-season
Of course, it is possible to save money by traveling in the off-season, and this can often be a great plan. For instance, even though it is the middle of the winter and most people are not thinking about vacations where you are, it may be warm and tempting in many tropical cruise ship destinations.

It is important, however to check out the local weather, and to avoid the rainy season in the destinations you are considering. Steering clear of hurricanes, tropical downpours and other weather problems can help you get the most out of your cruise ship.

Cabins
If you have never taken a cruise ship before, it is a good idea to get advice from those who have experienced cruising. These people can give valuable insight on the best balance of cost and comfort for your first cruise ship experience.

The location of the cabin is another important consideration when booking a cruise ship. The interior cabins on the lower parts of the ship are generally the least costly, while the higher, larger cabins with ocean views are the most expensive.

Discounts and Cheap Cruise ship Deals
It is not always necessary to shop early, of course. Cruise ship lines have been known to offer some fantastic discounts at the last minute in order to move unsold cabins or avoid leaving with a less than full passenger load.

There are many last minute travel newsletters that provide details on these types of cruise ship deals, and these last minute travel deals are a big hit with retirees and others with the time to see the world.

Food and Gym
After eating all that food, you will probably feel the need to work out, and the cost of the cruise vacation also typically includes unlimited use of the gym, the weight room and the sports locations. While many hotels tack on a surcharge for the use of the hotel gym, with a cruise vacation it is generally included.

Shipboard Entertainment
The cost of a cruise vacation also includes all shipboard entertainment and classes. The entertainment options of a cruise vacation are often one of the best parts of the experience, and many cruises offer such things as movie nights, theatres, spas, nightclubs, discos, and even casinos.

There are also some great classes offered by cruise lines, in everything from origami to bridge to ballroom dancing. And again, these classes and entertainment options are included in the price you pay for the cruise.

Among the only things that are not included in the typical cruise vacation are alcoholic beverages and shore excursions. Many of the higher priced cruises even include these extras. If the shore excursions and drinks are not included, be sure to get a price list for shore excursions and drinks.

It is often possible to save money on shore excursions while on a cruise vacation by booking the tours locally at portside instead of going with the cruise line. Just be sure, however that the book it yourself excursion will get you back to the ship on time.

For all these reasons, cruise vacation can be among the best, and most economical, of all vacation opportunities. The ability to enjoy a week or two week cruise vacation at one low price is one more reason to love cruising.

Taking a Mediterranean cruise is the dream of many people, especially for their honeymoon. Fortunately, if this has always been a dream of yours it is easier than ever to attain simply because there are so many yachts and cruise ships that focus on a honeymoon Mediterranean cruise and making your first vacation as husband and wife the best it can possibly be.

If you are on a budget, don’t worry either because you can take a Mediterranean cruise for a good price if you simply do a little bit of searching. Many travel websites focus on Mediterranean cruise vacations and frequently offer discounted packages. Of course, you won’t get a discount Mediterranean cruise if you simply sit back and do nothing about it. What you need to do is search all of the Internet sites that focus on cruises, even discount cruises. Then, find out what time of year is the best time for a Mediterranean cruise as well as the least expensive time of year for a Mediterranean cruise. These considerations can save you a significant amount of money on your Mediterranean cruise if you plan to travel in the off-season.

Also, different day packages as well as Mediterranean cruise destinations might affect the price of your Mediterranean cruise. Keep this in mind and don’t have your heart set on an exact list of destinations or days, but rather work with what is available and less expensive. If you are determined to take a Mediterranean cruise for your honeymoon you will be able to find something that will be pleasing to you as well as your budget. The best advice is to start searching and making plans for your Mediterranean cruise as early in advance as possible in order to get the best deals.

Cheap hotels for the budget travellers are to be found through proper research. They are present in every nook and corner in the world. If the travellers can reduce their hotel costs, they can experience a better holiday by spending more on the other aspects.

How can you find these cheap hotels? You can begin by talking to friends or colleagues who have recently travelled to that country. They may have good suggestions on the area where these cheap hotel rooms are present even though they themselves did not stay there.

Also the costs of the hotel accommodation are dependant on the time of year that you plan to travel and also whether it is during the week days or weekends. Hence it makes good sense to travel during winter to a popular summer holiday destination as it will be less costly than making it during summer season and vice versa. Also it may be less crowded and could mean a better time for you and your fellow travellers.

Wherever possible, book your vacation hotels during the week days and at the start of the season that the area is famous for. This would enable you to get better rates.

If your contacts are unable to help you with any cheap hotels review then it is worthwhile to use search engines like Google. Initiate contact with at least 2 or 3 hotels in the area and get the accommodation rates for your planned holiday period.

Some hotels even have special rates for online bookings. Also the later you book, there will be lesser rooms available in a particular region where you are planning your vacation and hence it gets more expensive. So it is a good idea to book your hotels well in advance so that you can get good offers.

The cheap hotels reviews can be found in various travel websites and portals. Compare the hotel prices and cheap hotels reviews in 2-3 websites and then make the bookings. Remember your best holidays are made up of happy memories with whom you had spent the holiday and how you had spent it as well. Staying in cheap hotels can give you happy memories as well as it will allow you to increase your budget on visiting more attractions in the area and spending more on shopping too.

Finding a good bargain on the hotels and holidays are not that difficult to locate as long as you’re doing your research correctly. You should look at all the options available so that you can be sure of getting the best accommodation possible for your trip. Also try to ensure that these reviews are done by different people and it would be better to search for these cheap hotel reviews posted with photos. Also if the reviews are very old, they may not be relevant and could be misleading.

So if the tips given for finding the cheap hotels review is followed, it would enable the traveller to check the various details so that they can have an enjoyable holiday.

The Best Way to Travel on a Budget

Well you won’t be traveling to Monaco and staying at a five star resort on a budget, will you? Maybe so!  Mostly, traveling on a budget means finding the cheapest price for the experience you want.

When traveling on a budget it’s best to keep in mind the following points:

1. Travel in the off-peak seasons. You can save up to as much as fifty per cent off air flights and accommodation costs if you plan to travel in low season times.

2. Stay away from popular tourist spots (unless they are on your ‘must-see’ list). If you can go off the beaten track with your destinations, things can be cheaper to see and do and your cultural experiences will be richer.

3. Try camping. Not only is it the cheapest form of accommodation it’s a great way to get up close and personal to nature. It’s the best way to see National Parks and Heritage listed areas. 

4. Look for special travel offers (or packages). But make sure you check everything that they include – and don’t include.

5. Invest in a travel pass where you are able. Most developed countries have a rail or bus transport system where you can obtain day, week or monthly passes that will get you around cheaply.

6. Get a work permit if you aim to gain employment while traveling overseas. Working can help subsidize places that aren’t so cheap, such as Europe and Australia.

7. Look for good exchange rates on the dollar. This may help you decide which country to travel to.

8. Think about shortening your visit to destinations that are expensive and increasing your length of stay in cheaper places.

9. Where possible use your credit card. The exchange rate is better.

10. When staying in a hotel, avoid paying for ‘extras’. Don’t touch anything from the honor bar. Don’t watch the in-house movies and don’t use the hotel phone. And try not to use room service too much!

On the world scene there are some great places to travel on a budget for under thirty dollars a day. In Asia you can try India, Laos, China, Cambodia, Mongolia, Pakistan, Thailand, Sumatra and Burma. In Central and South America you can visit El Salvador, Bolivia and Ecuador. If you are after a budget experience in the Pacific, try Fiji or New Zealand. Over in Africa there are some great budget destinations such as Kenya, Egypt, Morocco, Malawi, Tanzania, Zimbabwe and Ghana. Don’t forget the Middle East where places like Iran, Syria and Turkey provide excellent value for money and wonderful experiences for the budget traveler.

There is no ‘best place’ to travel on a budget. Just be prepared to look around, avoid the pitfalls of unwanted costs in package deals or hotel bookings. If you want to travel and your budget doesn’t meet your expectations, be flexible and see if there is somewhere cheaper you might like to experience. You could be pleasantly surprised with your stay in India or Iran, when you thought you wanted to go to Tahiti.

This article was provided by:

Stuart S. Travel / Your All World Travel Guru

http://www.stuartstravel.com

Lonely Planet author Sally O’Brien has worn out shoes walking through Copenhagen, the bridge between Europe and Scandanavia. By the way, in case you’re trying to learn Danish, they all speak English better than you do. Produced by Lonely Planet TV
Video Rating: 4 / 5

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Cruise ship vacations are one of the most affordable ways to travel almost anywhere – from the glaciers of Alaska to the tropical rainforests of Central and South America.

There are many types of cruises – from luxury cruises to the budget cruise that provides value for very little money. One advantage of going on a cruise is the variety of entertainment. It ranges from cinema, bowling alley, swimming pool, casino, volleyball, basketball, gymnasium, golf and many more.

Most advertised cruise prices are based on double occupancy. There are less cheap cruise deals for solo travelers, since the single supplements can add quite a bit to the price of the cruise. It is always a good idea to inquire about special single rates if you are traveling alone.

The location of the cabin is another important consideration when booking a cruise. The interior cabins on the lower parts of the ship are generally the least costly, while the higher, larger cabins with ocean views are the most expensive. If you have never taken a cruise before, it is a good idea to get advice from those who have experienced this sort of budget travel. They can provide valuable insights on the best balance of cost and comfort for your first cruise.

Just like its many options, the excitement and adventure on cheap cruise holidays are boundless too. Many cruise passengers love the off-ship excursions that are offered at every port. Water sports lovers will revel at the opportunity to water ski, jet-ski and scuba dive. For instance, guests on a Mediterranean cruise may enjoy a night at the opera or a day at a local soccer game, while visitors to Caribbean ports of call may enjoy diving and enjoying the local coral reefs.

These cheap cruises also offer a wide range of dining options. From buffet to fine dining, all you need to do is pick one that suits your palate. And best of all, many cruises’ buffet are open day and night. Among the only things that are not included in the typical cruise are alcoholic beverages and shore excursions. Many of the higher priced cruises may include these extras. If the shore excursions and drinks are not included, be sure to get a price list for shore excursions and drinks.

It is often possible to save money on shore excursions while on a cruise by booking the tours locally at portside instead of going with the cruise line. Just be sure that the excursion you booked will get you back to the ship on time.

And when night arrives, you can select from discos and bars to casinos and theatres. Some cruise ships even offer classes such as poker or ballroom dancing. These cruises are often popular for those who are looking for a budget travel. After all, lodging, meals and entertainment costs are included on the cruise. Check the Internet or local travel agent to get the best cheap cruise available.

Getting the best deal on a cheap cruise requires time, planning, perseverance and research. Shop as early as possible especially for popular destinations like the Caribbean or Mexico in the high season.

It is always possible to save money when you travel during the off-season. This is often a great budget travel strategy. For instance, even though it is the middle of the winter and most people are not thinking about vacations where you are, it may be warm and inviting in many tropical cruise destinations. It is important to check out the local weather and to avoid the rainy season in the destinations you are considering.

Cruise lines have been know to offer some cheap cruise deals at the last minute to move unsold cabins or avoid leaving with a less than full passenger load. There are many last minute travel newsletters with these sort of budget travel deals. So be on the lookout for it.

What is a Realistic Budget for Traveling?

One you can afford – seriously. 

Look at how much you earn. What can you put aside for a trip? What are you prepared to sacrifice to make your trip a reality? Maybe you’ve been saving for a while and have a few thousand dollars in the bank. You do? Great. Well that’s your realistic budget. If you want to fly to Europe tomorrow and you only have ten dollars in the bank then you are not being realistic. But it might be enough to get you in to the local museum for a few hours escape.

When you are setting your budget, be practical. Everyone has different needs for their travel experience and if your travel plans include overseas flights, you will need to budget accordingly. Sure you can find great deals and get there cheaper than you might have expected, but make sure you have enough money in your budget to not only get you there but to travel around, find a place to sleep, oh and have enough money to be able to eat! 

So how do you go about setting a budget? Following these steps might help:

1. Draw up a table with two columns.

2. Column A is for Expense Items. Column B is for Approximate Costs.

3. In column A write down all the things you can think of that will cost you money while traveling. These might include: air flights, car hire/fuel allowance, travel passes, sight-seeing tours, accommodation, food, insurance, immunizations, and souvenirs.

4. In column B write an estimate of how much you think these things will cost while on your trip. You can research your travel costs quite easily on the Internet. Food allowance might be a bit more difficult. If you are traveling alone, as a couple or in a family you will need to budget food costs accordingly.

5. Now add up the costs. This will give you an estimate of how much your trip will cost. Can you afford it? Yes – then this is a realistic budget for you. If not, then you may have to rethink your destination and the type of travel experience you want.

Remember that this table will only be an estimate of your travel costs. You must also budget for incidentals and prepare yourself for things to not go to plan. For example, have you got enough money in your budget to buy new clothes if your luggage goes missing? A realistic travel budget will have extra built in to it to cover emergencies. Setting yourself a budget of about sixty-five dollars a day, if traveling alone, is a reasonable amount. If you are traveling as a family or in a group, this number will be vastly different. 

Also consider if you will be traveling and working. If this is the case, then you may not need as much to start with, just enough money to get you to your destination and a place to live while you look for work. (And enough money to buy you food until you begin earning a wage.)

Start making your travel plans with your budget in mind. Don’t exceed your budget, always keep a little in reserve so you can buy that fantastic Italian leather handbag or go jet-skiing in Hawaii if the desire takes you!

This article is brought to you by: Stuart S. Travel – Your Online Travel Guru

www.stuartstravel.com

Being the IT hub of India, Bangalore is also known for its rich cultural heritage. Bangalore is quite pleasing and is known for its historical places too. Since many foreigners come to live in this city accommodation is available everywhere. Hotels in Bangalore are classy and chic offering the tourists the best of Bangalore experience. There are other attractions for which this place is popularly known.

Bangalore Palace, Lal Bagh Gardens, ISKCON are among few of its attractions. The hotel offers the perfect combination of uncompromising hospitality and amenities including comprehensive business facilities, an exciting range of food & beverage options, along with fitness centre facility complete with a salon, to cater to the needs of a discerning business clientele. You may also find a tourist guide in some hotels, who can ease your traveling. The beautiful flora, the garden also takes pride in its unique collection of botanical species. With a lovely ambience, cafes and refreshment stalls around you are sure to have a good time in this place. If you are an animal lover, there’s place for you as well.

Read hotel reviews and compare their rates before you finalise on your hotel deals. The hotels in this serene place are located in close proximity to the tourist spot and near the center of the city. Hence tourists throng this place in huge numbers for several reasons which has led to the construction of many Hotels in Bangalore. Touring in Bangalore becomes easier with the wide range of accommodation option that the tourists can choose from.

Based on your budget and preference, the tourists can choose from the wide range of accommodation that the Bangalore hotels have to offer. The hotels of Bangalore cater their service to both tourists and the business travelers. The accommodation facility provided at the hotel varies with the star credit of the hotel. Basic amenities and facilities are provided by all the hotels to its guests. Bangalore’s most significant highlight is the Bull Temple, which houses a massive stone structure of the Nandi Bull. The Ulsoor Lake in Bangalore is a popular picnic spot and has several recreation facilities. Well equipped with modern amenities and service Bangalorean hotels give the utmost pleasure of your visit to Bangalore.

The best business hotel chain and a world of exotic locations, luxurious rooms exclusive service and fun filled moments for business as well as holidays, just the way you want them to be.

Budget Rental Car is a car rental company with the budget-minded renter in mind. In 1958, it was founded in Los Angeles by Morris Mirkin. Mirkin founded the company with a $10,000 investment. In 1959, Jules Lederer, a distant relative of Mirkin, became enamored with the concept and created a leasing company to help Mirkin grow his business and increase his fleet. In 1960, Lederer and Mirkin formed the Budget Rental Car Corporation in Chicago. The company began to grow rapidly, both nationally and internationally.
As an industry leader, they offer quality vehicles and a rental experience that is rewarding. It has almost 1,900 locations throughout the world. This success is undoubtedly due to the company’s ability to deliver a quality product on a consistent basis and provide the value and friendly service that keeps customers coming back.

They strive to provide great service at a great price. The company wishes to clearly demonstrate to its customers that they have received the best car rental value available. They promise to use new innovations and ideas in order to increase customer satisfaction and enhance service. It maintains focus on service and quality. The company has a strong focus on providing dependable and consistent service, and exceeding expectations, in order to foster loyalty amongst its customers.

They announced its initial public offering of 3.2 million shares in 1987. By 1992 Budget Rental Car moved its headquarters to Lisle, IL from its long-time downtown Chicago location. In 2003, they rolled out the “Budget Business Program”. This program offers a corporate discount and provides businesses with low corporate rates, no additional driver fees and complimentary Fastbreak service. They also launched “Budget Pride” in 2003 as well. This is a comprehensive employee motivation program. The company also partnered with Mothers Against Drunk Drivers (MADD) in 2003 to help promote its “Tie One On For Safety” program.
In 2004, it completed its upgrade on the Amadeus Global Distribution Systems, an industry approved system which provides travel agents with real-time access to its reservation system.

Cendent Car Rental Group, their parent company, was named “One of America’s Elite 11 Corporations for Women’s Business Enterprises” in 2004 by the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC).
Budget Rental Car is dedicated to being a great place to work. The company strives to create a friendly and fun car rental experience for customers as well as employees. Budget Rental Car maintains a work environment that is upbeat, respectful and welcoming to all customers and employees. Budget Rental Car is committed to providing a safe, presentable and well-maintained work environment. In addition to these great qualities, Budget Rental Car shows caring for its communities by encouraging employees to become involved in civic and charitable activities. Budget Rental Cars is dedicated to assisting other people throughout the company as well as the community.get Rental Car is dedicated to being a great place to work. The company strives to create a friendly and fun car rental experience for customers as well as employees. Budget Rental Car maintains a work environment that is upbeat, respectful and welcoming to all customers and employees. Budget Rental Car is committed to providing a safe, presentable and well-maintained work environment. In addition to these great qualities, Budget Rental Car shows caring for its communities by encouraging employees to become involved in civic and charitable activities. Budget Rental Cars is dedicated to assisting other people throughout the company as well as the community.

Where to Travel With Kids on a Budget

Of course you can travel just about anywhere with your kids on a budget. Like any travel experience on a budget you need to research and plan well to make the most of your travel dollar. Many places, however, are family or kid friendly and will throw in added extras for the children. So whether you intend traveling at home or abroad, look for places that will cater to your family’s needs.

RV trips are a great way to travel on a budget. In fact, traveling with a car is almost essential for families. It is usually cheaper than buying rail passes or catching taxis everywhere. But more importantly, it gives you that ‘door to door’ freedom that is necessary when traveling with kids.

If you are traveling overseas, have you considered staying in a hostel with your family? This is a much cheaper option than staying in hotels and many hostels are family friendly and have no age limit (except in Bavaria where you can’t be older than twenty six). You can request a room with enough bunk beds to accommodate your family and you can cook your meals in the communal kitchen. Huge savings to be made!

In the USA there are many places to travel with your family on a budget. Consider these options:

1. Camping. The cheapest option around for any travel adventure. Many campsites have activities for kids and if you don’t like the idea of staying in a tent, many places have cabins to rent that are still cheaper than a hotel room. Camping gets you up close and personal with nature and gets the kids outside and running around.

2. What about spending some time at a Working Farm or Dude Ranch? Look around for reasonably priced holidays at these destinations and you will find plenty of activities and atmosphere for kids and adults alike.

3. Head to Disneyland in off peak season for big savings.

4. The same can be said for traveling to Hawaii. Check the packages available in low season and see how affordable it is.

5. You’ll also find some excellent deals in traveling to Mexico. Go for all-inclusive resorts, especially in the low season.

What about if you want to travel overseas? Where are some good places to take the kids on a budget?

* Although Australia is a long way away and can be a bit pricey to get there, it is a very child-friendly place with lots of cost saving adventures to be had for the kids. Australian off peak is different from North America so do some research. 

* Europe can be done on a budget with kids. Pick your destinations with the kids in mind. Get them involved in your itinerary. Stay in hostels and travel by car. You’ll be amazed at how much you save and how much you see.

* Some island resorts are very child friendly. In Fiji there are resorts where children under twelve stay and eat for free. Do your research!

* How about a family cruise? Cruises are great because they are all-inclusive, cater for families and you get to explore lots of places. There are some good family package deals to be found with most cruise companies.

So get planning and get packed. Plan your family vacation and check out the deals available. Going off peak is the best way to save money. If you are going to take the kids out of school buy them a journal so they can record their experiences. It’s amazing how much they’ll learn by traveling with their family.

This article is brought to you by: Stuart S. Travel – Your Online Travel Guru

www.stuartstravel.com

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