Travel To Travel

2008-8-13 3:15pm

2008-8-13 3:04pm

2008-7-31 2:41pm

Not all of it. Smart moves can help curb cancellation costs, although you usually can't avoid them altogether. In any case, the earlier you start, the better.

Here's your top 10 list to help see to it that if you have to cancel, the only thing you're losing is the trip:

1. Read cancellation policies before you book reservations.

Many times airlines and travel sites will have more than one set of change/cancellation policies. Travel consolidators sometimes get special rates on certain blocks of rooms, so not all their offerings will fall under the same cancellation/rescheduling policies.

Buy an unrestricted ticket and you can usually exchange it without any penalties, says David Lytle, editorial director for Frommers.com. But, he says, "If you're like most people, you're buying a low-fare, restricted ticket."

Rescheduling fees run the gamut, frequently between $10 and $100, depending on the airline, the time/day/route and how you cancel, says Brice Gosnell, regional publisher for the Americas with the Lonely Planet, a leading travel publishing company.

Want phone help? Many times, that's extra, says Lytle.

There is one instance where you can change reservations for free: If it's the airline's fault (i.e., mechanical problems), the carrier has to reschedule at no charge.

Booking online? Before you reserve a specific flight or room night, look for a button with cancellation or rescheduling information. Click it, read it, then print it out.

To check airfare rules before you buy, look at the "conditions of carriage" section on the airline Web site.

"It's a couple of extra clicks, but it's worth it," says Jennifer Paull, senior editor for Fodor's Travel.

If you're booking by phone, "the key on this is: Just ask," says Gosnell. Hotels get this question all the time, he says. "Some people think, 'It means I'm being cheap.' No, it means you're being savvy."
You want to ask two questions, says Lytle: If I have to change or cancel, when do I have to notify you? Second, what's the penalty if I don't?

Throw your notes or print-out into a folder or notebook with your other trip information. That way, if a question comes up, it's handy.

2. Make friendly cancellation policies a consideration.

If you're laying out a large amount of money for something like a cruise or tour, you should compare the cancellation policies just as you'd compare the quality of the meals or accommodations, says John Stachnik, president and co-owner of Mayflower Tours and board member of the U.S. Tour Operators Association.

"It's just as important as the level of hotels or level of meals if you're spending your hard-earned money," he says.

One option: Many tour operators offer a cancellation waiver, says Stachnik. This is not travel insurance, and it will apply only to the money you paid for the tour itself, not travel arrangements to the departure destination.

You need to know what circumstances are covered. While some waivers will cover cancellation for a limited list of occurrences like sickness or job loss, others will refund your money minus the cost of the waiver for any reason at all, he says.

What you get back if you cancel will almost always depend on how far ahead you cancel. Your tour operator will give you a schedule for the return policy (and you can often find one on the company's Web site).

Often, with tours, if you cancel during the last month before departure, you forfeit a significant amount of your total, Stachnik says. With his company, there is no fee if travelers cancel up to 45 days before a domestic trip or 60 days before an international excursion.

But that schedule "is fairly liberal" in the industry, Stachnik says. Some operators will want cancellation notices earlier. And many times there is a sliding scale: the closer to the departure date, the more money is forfeited.

While most companies don't have a rain-check policy, it's a good thing to ask for if you do want to reschedule and end up out a large amount of money, says Stachnik. Operators are going to want to help you out even more if they know you're going to be traveling with them soon, he says.

3. Cancel as early as possible.

Time is money. The sooner you cancel your plans, the more likely you are to recoup the maximum of whatever you've paid for the trip.

If the hotel, resort, cruise line or tour company has time to resell your spot to someone else, everybody wins.

With smaller, independent establishments, like inns and bed-and-breakfasts, cancellation requirements vary widely.
"In our industry, with B&Bs and inns, they all have their own policies," says Karen Hudgeons, director of membership and member services for the Professional Association of Innkeepers International. Establishments will often post policies online and almost all will e-mail or fax a copy after you register.

For some, a week's notice might be enough, she says. But for anything in a hot area during high season, you could need a month's notice.

With hotels and motels, it also pays to read the cancellation policy. Many allow you to cancel without penalty as long as you contact them at least 24 hours before check- in. Some resorts, boutique hotels or seasonal lodges will require 48 or 72 hours' notice, or you could forfeit the equivalent of your room cost for a night or two.

But there is no one-size-fits-all, Lytle says. One five-star Hawaiian resort requires 15 days advance notice of changes or cancellations, says Lytle. The penalty: the equivalent of a two-night stay, (at a minimum of $850 per night).

"And that's sort of a standard for high-end resorts," he says.

4. Talk to the right people.

When you have a problem, sometimes it can't be solved through discussions of "company policy" with a low-grade employee. "Sometimes it helps if you get the right person on the phone," says Lytle.

Have to cancel hotel or resort reservations? Call the front desk and ask for the general manager, says Banks Brown, general counsel for the American Hotel & Lodging Association.

It can also be an argument for making arrangements through a travel agent. "A good agent will often work with you as an ombudsperson," says Linda Kundell, spokeswoman for the U.S. Tour Operators Association.

If you book through a third-party Web site, in most cases you're required to reschedule through its customer service department. The fees will vary with the packager and the purchase.

However, if the site takes you to the hotel or airline site to actually make the purchase, then you would deal directly with them to cancel or change reservations.

This is another case where you really need to read that fine print before you buy.

5. Call rather than going online.

Many airlines will charge extra if you want to make your changes by phone rather than online. But some situations require human intervention.

So if you're having problems making a change or are floored by the potential fees, "that's when it's a good time to talk to a phone agent," says Lytle.

6. Know the code.

If you cancel lodging by phone, ask for a cancellation code and hang onto it, says Brown. It will act as a receipt and guarantee you a refund if your card gets charged in error. If you cancel online, just print out a copy of your cancellation confirmation and save it.

7. Be polite.

Canceling is rough. But venting won't get you what you want. In fact, anger and attitude will likely have just the opposite effect.

"Once you start getting rude or angry, forget it," says Gosnell.
So hold it together, keep negotiating and politely work your way up the chain of command.

If you have a true emergency, tell your story. "The only thing you can do is try," says Gosnell. But if you're polite and honest, many times people will respond, he says.

Bottom line: Unless you're dealing with a call center, you're probably talking with someone who likes being in the hospitality business.

"And most travel professionals want to help people have a good trip," says Gosnell.

8. Purchase travel insurance.

A travel insurance policy averages 4 percent to 8 percent of the cost of your trip, according to Ed Walker, president of the U.S. Travel Insurance Association.

If you're spending four or five figures for that dream vacation or booking many months in advance, it can be a great investment. Of the travelers who buy it, one in six will file a claim, according to the association.

9. Look for alternatives other than money.

Ask for a rain check. If you just need to postpone, find out if you can switch your reservations to a later date.

If you missed a connecting flight, rather than ask for a new ticket, see if you can fly standby, says Gosnell. While there are no hard-and-fast rules, "most of the time, they will say, 'Let's see what we can do to accommodate you on a different flight,'" he says.

If you don't have a specific date in mind, airlines will often trade your ticket for a voucher that you can use within a year, but there is frequently a fee. You can ask a rep to waive the fee, but that's the exception rather than the rule.

With a cruise or a tour, it will depend on the company and its policies. Even though it may not be part of the company's policy, tour operators are more likely to accommodate you if they know you'll be traveling with them soon, says Stachnik.

10. It helps to be a club member.

If you rack up so many hotel stays or airline miles that you belong to an affinity club, that could come in handy when you need to rearrange plans.

As a frequent repeat customer, "you have a lot more bargaining power," says Lytle. Especially with hotels, you may find they are "much more willing to work with you," he says.

2008-7-27 3:49pm

2008-7-18 10:57am

"A day in Chiang Mai is long enough" affirms the travel agent, and the client nods, alas, knowing no better.

"Enough to see the main sights, and do the Night Bazaar" he adds confidently, as the computer screen confirms a one night hotel booking in Thailand's oldest continually inhabited city, thus depriving the tourist of some of the most interesting travelling experiences in Asia.

For years, the travel industry has mistakenly considered Thailand's northern capital to be a side excursion, or an overnight stop on a seven day "See All Of Thailand" coach trip. The truth is that like Venice or Vienna, this centuries-old city is a prime destination in its own right.

If Bangkok is to Thailand as London is to England, then Chiang Mai is to Northern Thailand as Edinburgh is to Scotland. Indeed, it is almost similar in size and population to the Scottish capital, and with a past equally as turbulent, and customs as distinctively different, a week here might not be long enough for the serious traveller.

Without delving into linguistics or history, it is interesting to know that the Thai word for twelve is Sib-song. A thousand is Pan and a million is Lan. A paddy field translates as Na, and by joining these words, we form two names that are fundamental to understanding Northern Thai history, ie. Sib-Song Pan-Na and Lan-Na. Respectively, they mean twelve thousand, and one million rice fields. For those who have thrilled to the irreproducible iridescent green of ripening paddy, this is a wonderful image to consider before we even start.

Much like Australia or America, modern-day Thailand is composed mainly of migrant races. Various ethnic peoples of the Mon-Khmer group, such as the Lawa tribe, which is still in evidence today, originally inhabited Northern Thailand. The majority of today's northern "Thais" are in fact are descended from "Tai" or "Dai" immigrants, mainly from Northern Burma, China and Laos, who displaced the indigenous races, and over centuries were eventually, and very often painfully, united.

Evidence of this clearly exists in archaeological and linguistic studies, but nothing is more compelling than a visit to Sib Song Panna (Xishuangbanna) in China's Yunnan province. This might be called China's Mini-Thailand, for it is indeed more Thai than Chinese, with the Buddhist "Dai" people in the majority, said to number over 800,000. They celebrate distinctly Thai customs, and worship in Thai-style temples. Familiar sights such as saffron-robbed monks are also common, and although it is clear that there are Tai origins elsewhere in Asia, many older Thai people look on Sib Song Panna as their ancestral home.

Exploring the forests and tribal settlements on foot with a local guide has become immensely popular over the last decade, particularly with Chiang Mai's influx of young travellers. Travel shops advertise a range of trekking options, from a basic overnight hike to arduous week-long safaris. The recipe is usually the same - basic accommodation in consenting hill tribe villages, mixed with varying degrees of soft adventure such as sectors on elephant back or exciting stretches of white water rafting. These itineraries vary from the memorable to the mundane, and some routes have suffered from tourism overkill, with a foreseeable negative effect on both authenticity and hospitality. There are still however a number of dedicated and eco-friendly operators who operate less-frequented routes, and a well-chosen trek can be a hugely rewarding experience.

Chiang Mai's tribal settlements are a separate fascinating study, with their origins in different parts of Asia, and correspondingly very different beliefs, languages, customs, laws, dress and traditions. Individual descriptions are well beyond the scope of this web site, but Chiang Mai's larger bookshops stock some excellent coffee-table publications with stunning photography enhancing the thoroughly absorbing text.

2008-7-18 8:15am

Unlike Bangkok, Pattaya has no magical mystery hidden in aesthetic corners, and it makes no pretence of being anything more than what it is: - an unbeatable combination of essential, thoroughly satisfying holiday ingredients.

To illustrate this, some years ago a leading travel trade magazine conducted a poll of several hundred clients of different nationalities staying at a first class hotel, where the guests were predominantly couples or families. The results showed just how extraordinarily successful Pattaya is. Over 97% of respondents said they were "very satisfied", would return again, and would recommend Pattaya to friends.

Probably more has been written about Pattaya's nightlife than any other place on the planet. For years, television crews and eager journalists have scoured the back streets in search of sensational, often exaggerated stories. Not surprisingly, the destination has acquired a mixed image of both bouquets and brickbats, a fact that may indeed discourage prospective visitors, who, uncertain of Pattaya's merits, may choose to go elsewhere.

What hoteliers know and most others don't realise, is that Pattaya receives a large number of repeat visitors - professional people, families, and retired couples - many of whom have made it their preferred choice after spending holidays in various other resorts around the globe. If you ask them why Pattaya wins over other more exotic or fashionable places, they point to its long list of assets: climate, accessibility, location, affordability, top class accommodation, fine restaurants, plus the huge choice of sporting, leisure and entertainment choices - arguably far and away the best in any Asian beach destination.

They will also tell you that Pattaya's main night spots are contained within a downtown area, which like London's Soho, you can either choose to visit or ignore. Those who choose the former out of curiosity will inevitably confirm with a smile that most of the girls are charming and polite, a far cry from the dubious personalities of their counterparts in the West, and a just being a spectator in one of the downtown bars can be a lot of fun.

Before even dipping a toe in the briny, there a number of interesting and worthwhile places to visit, many of which feature on organised tours.

Some of the most popular choices include Suan Nong Nooch, a Thai village style theme park with superb gardens, an orchid nursery, and entertaining cultural performances including an elephant show. Pattaya's most important temple is Wat Yansangwararam, a modern building under His Majesty the King's patronage. It incorporates buildings of different architectural styles, including Japanese, Chinese, and Indian influences, and is a centre for meditation. Wat Khao Cheejan is located nearby Wat Yansangwararam where the biggest Buddha is carved with gold on a stone mountain.

Khao Kheaw Open Zoo with 1,200 acres of forest and natural beauty is one of the largest zoos in Asia, offers the basic open zoo excursion and night safari and Asia's Largest Butterfly Garden - Saithip Butterfly Garden which occupies 15.22 acres of beautiful landscape in Khao Kheaw area, experience floral garden with over one hundred species of thousand of butterflies. Sriracha Tiger Farm , is a mini-zoo with crocodiles, tigers, camels and many birds, and although hardly Thai in content.

The Million Years Stone Park & Crocodile Farm, houses over 1,000 crocodiles, plus a zoo and a bonsai garden set amongst some interesting rock formations and fossils. Pattaya Elephant Village, features well performed demonstrations of elephantine skills such as logging, and re-enactment of their role in historic battles, plus the enduring favourite, the elephant football match. The Siriporn Orchid Farm has some splendid displays of orchids including catteleyas, daedrovium, pompadours and vandas. Cut flowers and plants are on sale here.

The Bottle Art Museum comprises a collection of more than 300 glass bottles containing miniature replicas of churches, temples, palaces, and much more, the clever handiwork of a resident Dutch sculptor. Mini Siam & Mini Europe, puts on a daily cultural show, and features an interesting selection of beautifully crafted scale models of major buildings both in Thailand and elsewhere, on a scale of 1:25 and Ripley's Believe It or Not Museum , is an entertaining retreat on the odd rainy day.

Pattaya Park Tower rises some 240 metres and provides a revolving restaurant as well as spectacular views and Pattaya Water Park , which provides thrilling water slides, whirlpools, and swimming pools for family fun.

Source: http://travelintotravel.blogspot.com/

2008-7-18 6:32am

On ancient charts, Phuket is referred to as Jang Si Lang, appearing on later maps, not too appealingly perhaps, as Junk Ceylon . Some maintain the current name derives from the Malay word 'Bukit' meaning hill, which seems the most likely, particularly since the transliteration from Thai was spelled Bhuket for many years. Others say it has origins in the Tamil word, 'Manikram' or Crystal Mountain, although any phonetical association here is unclear. Until it became recognised internationally, Phuket (correctly pronounced Poo-Ged) was mistakenly and mischievously included on the lists of the world's "naughtiest-sounding" destinations.

Located just under 900 kilometres Southwest of Bangkok, it is similar in area to Singapore, measuring 54 kilometers north to south, and 21 kilometers east to west at its most distant points. About 70 percent of the land area is mountainous, with the highest elevation at 529 meters. The terrain is richly varied, with rocky headlands, numerous beaches of differing sizes and character, limestone cliffs, jungle-clad hills, small estuaries, lagoons, and tropical vegetation of all kinds. It is surrounded by over thirty smaller islands of similar topography, many of them prime tourist attractions in their own right. The permanent population is estimated at roughly a quarter of a million, and Phuket is the only island in Thailand to have full provincial status. The Sarasin Bridge connecting it to the mainland was constructed in the mid-1970's, and a second one parallel to it, the 660-metre Thao Thep Krasatri Bridge, opened more recently. Phuket airport saw its first aircraft land in 1976.

Unlike tucked-away Samui off the opposing Southeast coast of Thailand, Phuket's strategic position as a trading post on coastal sea routes gives it a recorded history going back a millennium or more. This has nurtured an interesting blend of cultures and influences, including Burmese, Malay, Chinese, Indian, Portuguese and Dutch, mixed with the indigenous 'Chao Ley' or sea gypsies, dark-skinned peoples thought to have originated in India's Nicobar Islands. Although predominantly Buddhist, Muslims make up more than one third of the population. As a result, Phuket is a pleasantly strange mix of ancestry and ambience, a kaleidoscope of stunning tropical seascapes and forested hills, and a fascinating combination of tin mining, rubber, and tourism.

One event in its history might have dramatically changed the island's future. In the late 1700's the British seriously considered establishing Phuket as a strategic base for their imperialistic presence in the Far East. As it happened, they finally opted for the island of Penang further south, a decision they doubtless regretted when large deposits of tin were discovered on Phuket, an asset which led to a huge presence of immigrant Chinese. These industrious people dominated the tin industry, and their subsequent generations still form much of the island's population today.

If Phuket's history provides the traveller with a rich choice of pleasurable discoveries in edifices and customs, its size and varying altitudes endows it with a variety of meteorological variations. Weather conditions can thus change unexpectedly, often refreshingly, as you travel from one part of the island to another, particularly during the monsoon. Nearly a third of the flora consists of rubber plantations, which were first introduced in 1903, but the remainder of the vegetation is richly varied, and home to interesting wildlife, which in the past included tigers, rhino and wild elephants; reported by travellers as little as a century ago.

Tourism awareness remained at almost zero until the mid 1980's when the combined presence of the newly opened Amari Coral Beach Resort and Club Med gave Phuket sudden and significant international exposure. Delighted holidaymakers from Japan, Australia and Europe spread the word, and the emerging regional "Tiger" economies saw newly-affluent Asians begin to experience Phuket's delights. The so-called 'rainy season' from May to October proved to be no obstacle to enjoyment, and by 1987 - "Visit Thailand Year" Phuket was on everybody's lips. More top class hotels followed, and the airport was expanded to take wide-bodied jets. Direct scheduled and chartered flights began to arrive from Australia, Hong Kong, Japan, and Europe, and tourism soon became the main source of income, eclipsing the coconuts, cashews, pineapples, fishing, prawn farming and pearl cultivation which had been the island's economical mainstays in the past. Most land-based tin mines have closed down due to the fall in global prices. Marine mining still continues on a small scale.

If Phuket is many people's dream of paradise, increasing numbers of foreigners are turning dreams into reality by settling here permanently, either for business or retirement, and enjoying the unbeatable blend of exotic tropical ingredients, excellent infrastructure, good educational facilities, and the reasonable cost of living. Phuket indeed, has always enjoyed high standards; by 1910, it already had paved roads and motorcars, long before other provinces in the Kingdom.

2008-7-17 8:28am

Lake Balaton

Lake Balaton is located in the wine-growing region of Hungary. It just so happens the Lake is also populated with a number of thermal mineral springs. Hmm…wine and hot tubs! On top of this, the lake is relatively shallow resulting in water temperatures in the seventies in the summer. All and all, it is nearly impossible to get stressed out at Lake Balaton.

Lake Balaton is located about an hour an half to the west of Budapest by minivan. While minivan travel can be aggravating, this trip is definitely worth it. There are plenty of hotels and resorts in the area, although summer weekends can get packed.

Visegrad

Visegrad is a tower castle that has seen better days. In its heyday, Visegrad was a major outpost for the Roman Empire. The history of Visegrad is interesting, but you will want to visit for a different reason. Visegrad is a great place to parasail. Located approximately 1,000 feet above a river, the terrain and air currents are ideal if you’re interested in flying like a bird. In fact, you can literally float for hours.

Szentendre

Szentendre is a little town located about 20 minutes north of Budapest. The town has an old feel with cobblestone streets and outdoor cafes. Perhaps the biggest reason to go, however, is the vibe of the town. Szentendre is the artist center of Hungary. Walk down the streets and you will start seeing art you recognize from shops in Budapest. There are literally hundreds of galleries and artist sketching in the sun. If art is your thing, Szentendre is worth a visit.

Budapest is definitely the must see location of Hungary, but Lake Balaton, Visegrad and Szentendre are definitely worth a look.

2008-7-15 3:27pm

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2008-7-13 6:09pm

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2008-7-06 3:16am

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2008-7-02 7:35am