Archive for the 'Travelling tips' Category

Nov 14 2008

All about Money and your Italy Vacation

Published by dpi under Travelling tips

If you are traveling to Italy for vacation, you need to be aware of some basics about the currency. Travelers are usually concerned with several questions. What is the currency conversion rate? Where can I change my dollars into Euros when I arrive? Can I use my travelers’ checks? Are ATM machines readily available? What if I need a larger amount of cash and I need a bank? Can I use my major credit card at many places? What about tax-free shopping?

These are all great questions to ask before you go on your Italy vacation and each one has an answer that will be addressed here. First of all it is important to know that Italy uses the European Euro. There is no “Italian currency.” One dollar ($1) is equivalent to approximately 0.70 euros. The currency conversion rate can fluctuate daily so it is best that you check for a more accurate figure before you leave for your vacation to Italy. You can find the most current exchange rate at The Universal Currency Converter website which is www.xe.com/ucc/

How can you get Euros once you arrive in Italy for your vacation? There will be an exchange office at the airport when you arrive. This is usually most accurate if you are arriving in a main city. Exchange offices may also be available at railway stations in the main cities. You can always also get Euros at any ATM or bank. This leads in to the next question about the availability of ATMs. There are ATMs all over Italy mainly in big cities but also in some smaller towns. But you need to know that in Italy ATMs are called “bancomats.” During your Italy vacation you will find that these bancomats work just like they do in the US and you will get the chance to select your language of preference from the screen when you begin. You can use your credit or debit card to get money (euros only) out of the bancomat as long as there is a Cirrus or BankMate symbol on that machine and your card.
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May 26 2008

How To Plan Cheap Tahiti Family Vacations

Published by dpi under Travelling tips, travel destination

Great beaches, lush surroundings, charming people, rave parties. What more can you ask from a vacation trip? When you go to Tahiti, you will have these things and so much more. Unfortunately, going there is not as cheap as it seems.

Tickets can skyrocket depending on the season. The same goes with the hotel fees and the food costs. This is especially true if the whole family is going to the trip. But with the right resources, you can actually plan cheap Tahiti family vacations. Here are some of the things that you have to do.

Book early.
Booking early will save you as much as 60 percent of your total airline ticket costs. This is already an answered prayer for families who are planning a family trip but cannot afford too much expenses. A lot of airlines right now have existing promos for people who book early. You will be given large discounts.

Just make sure that you will be taking the trip though as it is much harder to cancel or reschedule tickets that have been part of a promo. Make sure also that you know what the promo entails before purchasing the tickets.

Book off season
Another secret to cheap family vacation trips to French Polynesia is to book off season. This will not only significantly lower your airline expense, it will also lessen the prices of hotel accommodations and food costs. You see, most hotels and merchants in Bora Bora jack up their prices during peak season.

The same goes with the airlines, who do not have promos during peak seasons. One problem with this set up is the schedule of the kids. So make sure that you have the schedule all worked out before getting those tickets.

Bring your own food
If you can take with you food for the vacation, go on and do it. This is especially true if you are staying in rental houses, where you can cook your own food. Even hotels permit guests to bring in food inside their rooms. This is a cheaper alternative to eating out or buying at the grocery store in Bora Bora which is probably more expensive.

One downside for this is the bulk of the baggage that you will have to take with you to Bora Bora. But if you have the extra hand to carry it, why not? You can always have it checked in as a baggage. Besides, when you go home, you’ll not be carrying it anymore.

Research on the internet
The internet is a wonderful resource where you can find just absolutely anything that you want. So read on travel sites. For sure there is a feature there about french polynesia.

There you will find hotels, rental houses, car rentals, restaurants that are cheaper than the usual tourist spots. In fact, these places are sometimes the more authentic ones. Read their reviews. This will give you a fairly good idea on where to get cheaper deals in the island without sacrificing the experience.

So you see, when you know how to look, where to look, and what to do, it is not really that hard to plan cheap Bora Bora family vacations. You just have to make an effort and go the extra mile. Cheap is not so impossible to achieve.

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May 12 2008

Advantages and Disadvantages of All-Inclusive Cruise Ships

Published by dpi under Travelling tips

Vacationing is a pastime that is enjoyed by many. While vacations are nice, needed, and important, they can become costly. This cost is often associated with additional expenses such as food, beverages, and entertainment. If you are interested in vacationing aboard a cruise ship, but you are worried about the cost, you don’t necessarily have to be.

All-inclusive cruise ships are cruise ships where just about everything is included. The cost of your drinks, food, and entertainment are often taken care of. If you are wondering whether or not you should book reservations aboard a traditional cruise ship or an all-inclusive cruise ship, you are not alone. A large number of travels wonder the same thing.

When it comes in all-inclusive cruise ships, there are a number of advantages and disadvantages. To determine whether you could benefit from an all-inclusive cruise ship, you are encouraged to weight the advantages and disadvantages each. After you have considered each, you are encouraged to make a decision. If the advantages outweigh the disadvantages then an all-inclusive cruise ship may be just what you need and visa versa.

The biggest advantage of all-inclusive cruise ships is that most of your needs are taken care of. As previously mentioned, most all-inclusive cruises cover food, drinks, and entertainment. If you are interested in drinking a large amount of alcohol or feasting on the amazing onboard food, you may be able to do so free of charge. You may also be granted exclusive admittance into movie theatres and video arcades.

To many, having foods, drinks, and entertainment provided free of charge sounds too good to be true. In some cases, it may be. While many of your food and drinks are included in an all-inclusive package, not all are. It is possible that you may be required to pay for your alcoholic beverages. There are some cruise ships where alcohol beverages are included in the package, but on others it is not.

When it comes to food, your food at a sit-down restaurant may be provided free of charge, but your snacks are typically not covered. This often includes snacks or small meals purchased at onboard specialty shops and vending machines. If your snacks and small meals are not covered, you can prevent the extra expenses by eating a large meal. You may also be able to save money by brining your own snacks onboard, if the cruise ship allows it.

As mentioned above, entertainment is often included in an all-inclusive cruise ship package. As with food and drinks, the entertainment is often limited. It is likely that you will gain free admission into a dance or ball, but you will not be able to gamble free of charge. If you are interested in gambling aboard the ship’s casino, you will have to come up with your own funds.

When it comes to the cost of an all-inclusive cruise, there are many travelers who get confused. The cost of an all-inclusive cruise may seem high, but it is often that way to cover the cruise line’s expenses. For many individuals, the cost of an all-inclusive cruise is a great value. To determine whether or not you will save money aboard an all-inclusive cruise, you need to estimate your cost of food, drinks, and entertainment aboard a traditional cruise. Simply by comparing the two, you can easily determine which cruise package offers the better deal.

The advantages and disadvantages of all-inclusive cruise ship vacations are important. By examining each and comparing them to what you want and need out of your cruise, you can easily determine which cruise ship vacation package is right for you.

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