The Airlines Don't Tell You This Secret

As we know backpackers usually cut their travelling cost at the lowest that he / she could get. Here I give Airline Secret that I found on web..

Never accept the first fare quoted. Half the time, some other airline's flight within hours of the one you booked has a special, less expensive deal.

Take advantage of "illegal" connections. These are connecting fights usually less than 45 minutes apart-too close for airlines to feel safe in making them connect. Result.- These flights usually do not even show up on the computer when your trip is being routed. Way out Have your agent write up your flight on two separate tickets. The second is for the illegal connection that originates at your transfer point. Example: You arrive at O'Hare in Chicago on the way to San Francisco. Instead of waiting three hours for the safe connecting flight, you already have a separate ticket from O'Hare to San Francisco on an illegal connection. If you miss the connection, you turn that ticket in for the next available flight. Cost for two separate tickets.- No more than one through ticket. Baggage.- Waiting for it to be unloaded can cost you valuable time on this tight schedule. Best.- Travel with carry-on luggage.

Some supersaver fares are so low that even if you can't stay as long as their requirements (some ally seven days), you will save by buying two round-trip tickets-one from your home to your destination for the day you want to leave and one from your destination to your home for the day you want to return. The total may be less than the regular round-trip fare.

If you miss your flight and there's just time to catch another, go right to the other airline's departure gate instead of to its ticket counter. If it has an empty seat, the second airline will usually honor the ticket for the flight you missed.

Best seat in the plane. After first class, the choices center on your priorities. For comfort and a smooth ride, pick a seat over the wings. For silence, sit as far forward as possible, but avoid the galley and rest rooms. For leg room, try the first row or seats beside the emergency exits.

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Luxury Travel to Spain

Warning : This entry might not for someone who love backpacking travel.

When you think of a going on holiday to Spain, it’s easy to think of overcrowded package holidays with screaming kids and acres of sunburn.

This truly is an undeserved reputation, especially when referring to Spain’s surrounding islands. They have all of the appeal of a beach paradise and cultural hub and the amazing weather is worth the journey alone.

There are a wide range of Majorca holidays on offer that might surprise you.

The island has the infamous party scene – especially party capital, Magaluf – that caters to young adults that visit the island looking to enjoy the nightlife and families looking for affordable holidays in the sun. Golden beaches with clear blue waters are in abundance, along with plenty of family waterparks, bars and restaurants.

However, this is by no means the only attractions the island has to offer. Those seeking peaceful sunset walks on the beach, culture tours or are just simply looking for some peace and quiet have a varied choice of luxury hotels attached to private beaches and secluded hideaways in the mountains.

In among the regular tourist hotspots there are some real gems, such as Bronze Age settlement Ses Païsses (the most important best-preserved prehistoric sites in the Balearic Islands), the gorgeous architecture of Palma, spectacular limestone Caves of Drach and tram rides through the island’s tranquil citrus groves. You’ll soon see why Majorca was frequented by the likes of Chopin, Miró, Churchill and Grace Kelly who were searching for inspiration and relaxation and found it on the island.

The same can be said of the nearby island of Lanzarote. The constant warm climate and plentiful five-star beach resorts has made luxury Lanzarote holidays a popular choice for Brits abroad the whole year long.

You can stay in hotels overlooking the beautiful white sand beaches and surrounded by tropical gardens or luxury villas in one of its many picturesque villages.

The small village of Yaiza was voted the prettiest village in Spain, while the neighbouring villages of Playa Blanca and Puerto del Carmen have the same rustic charm but with some of the best shops and seafood restaurants in all of the Canary Islands.

You can spend days exploring the rocky terrain and discovering secluded beaches and coves, and still find time to have fun at the island’s spectacular sites for diving, watersports and mountain biking.

Designated as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, Lanzarote is well known for its unique landscape, formed by a series of volcanic eruptions which created the breathtaking mountain range and supports numerous species of interesting flora and fauna. Over a third of the island is covered by the Timanfaya National Park, which was formed from a lava flow from the largest eruptions ever recorded between 1730 and 1736. This natural disaster created the island’s most iconic natural landmarks, such as the Montañas del Fuego (the Fire Mountains), and provide the volcanic soil for Lanzarote’s many lush vineyards.

The most weird and wonderful feature of Lanzarote’s volcanic environment is that temperatures just below the surface can reach up to 600°C, a feature that has been utilised by a truly one-of-a-kind restaurant El Diablo – a ‘volcanic grill’ that uses the geothermal heat to cook the delicious local cuisine.

Another must-see attraction that uses the landscape is the Fundación César Manrique, the one-time home of local architect César Manrique, which uses the natural formation of five volcanic bubbles for the main rooms within the house. As well as being a spectacle in 1960s modernist architecture, the house is used as an art gallery exhibiting works from famous painters Pablo Picasso and Joan Miró.

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Honeymoon Travel Tips

So you're planning your honeymoon travel? Congratulations! The honeymoon is an important part of the wedding experience, and a much-needed escape after months of exciting, yet exhausting, wedding planning.

To unlock the secrets of honeymoon bliss that will make all your friends envious, check out these tips from ASTA (American Society of Travel Agents). Some of the most travel-wise people in the world, ASTA members know that planning your honeymoon should be as relaxing as the honeymoon itself.

First Things First - Let's Define Ideal

Most people grow up with a preconceived notion of what an ideal honeymoon should involve. However, a bride's idea of tropical paradise and a groom's idea of a ski resort could conflict.

Communication and compromise are needed from the start (and preferably the duration) of the marriage, with the goal to make your honeymoon romantic, memorable and stress-free. Consider these questions as soon as honeymoon talks begin:

What is most important? Suntan lotion, sand and surf or the privacy and seclusion a cozy mountain retreat?

Are you looking to experience new cultures in distant lands or do you just want to get away from it all?

Are you more interested in going around the corner or around the world? Do you want to spend more on the wedding or the honeymoon? Niagara Falls like your parents? The Caribbean like your friends? Europe like your ancestors?

What sounds better: a cruise, a package vacation or an all-inclusive resort?

Paradise Comes in Many Guises -Types of Honeymoons

When it comes to honeymoon travel planning, most couples try to select the destination first, yet travel agents suggest a more productive way to begin. Unless your dream destination has already been set in stone, first decide what type of vacation you want and then narrow down your list of destinations accordingly.

Resorts are the most popular honeymoon destinations, for they transport you into another world for a miraculous escape from the daily grind. Often set in the most picturesque places in the world, they include pools, private beaches and golf courses, as well as culinary delights and relaxing spas.

All-inclusive resorts streamline the enjoyment process by including everything - your room, transfers, recreational facilities, meals and drinks - all in one price. Without the worries of wondering how much everything little thing will cost, you are free to live the high life and experience everything you want as often as you want it.

If an all-inclusive resort sounds tempting but too stationary, consider taking a cruise. Cruises are floating resorts that whisk you away to one exotic port after another. Whether you want a cultural cruise to the Mexican Riviera or a wildlife adventure up the Alaskan coast, your travel agent will match you and your betrothed to the perfect floating experience.

If the idea of lying on beach sounds about as exciting as a nap, then shift to a higher gear and take an adventure vacation, especially if you and your fiancé share a kindred spirit for outdoor exhilaration. Whether it's white-water rafting in Colorado, hiking through the Alps or taking an African safari, sharing the experience will become a vital bond you both will share forever.

Cultural and historical trips are fascinating and romantic ways to reconnect with the past. Visit a famous European city - Paris, London, Rome...the list goes on - and inhale the culture, soak in the sights and experience the art of living. Or dive into the rich history of the old world country from which your family originated. The unique perspective you gain will become a central root for your future family tree.

Want Stress Free? Leave it to a Professional

After "I do," your two favorite words will be "stress free," and we can't stress that enough. Planning for the most important day of your life will be a wonderfully crazy time for you, so finding someone you trust to aid in your decision making will be a welcomed relief.

Would you try and bake your wedding cake yourself or ask a professional for help? For stress-free travel plans - especially those with multiple steps like a honeymoon - seek out the expert advice of a travel agent.

A good travel agent can save you money as well as time - two enormous factors for a couple trying to plan a wedding and a honeymoon simultaneously. Through incomparable experience and valuable resources, travel agents specialize in providing personalized suggestions to suit your interests and your budget. And visiting their office for a chat is absolutely free!

From Their Lips to Your Ears - Travel Agent Tips

Begin early and share the planning. To ensure that you both enjoy the honeymoon, make all the decisions together.

Make time for yourselves. Pad your honeymoon schedule with generous amounts of free time, for a rushed and overly organized honeymoon might feel too much like your wedding. Instead, plan a few enjoyable activities and leave lots of opportunities to just enjoy each other's company.

Set a tentative budget. Talk about your expectations and priorities from the very beginning and decide what you might splurge on and where you might cut corners.

Splurge on whatever accommodations you choose. No matter what type of vacation package you choose, you will spend an enormous amount of time in your room or cabin. Make it special = make it unforgettable.

Use your maiden name. Unless you're taking a delayed honeymoon, you won't have time to change the name on your passport and driver's license. Use your maiden name on visas, airline tickets, etc., so they match as it appears on your official documents.

Tell the world you're on your honeymoon. Stand up on every chair, on every rock and shout, "We're on our honeymoon!" Everyone from strangers to airlines to hotels will take notice and cheerfully offer you such special treatment such as complimentary champagne in-flight or a gift basket in your room. Go ahead, it's your honeymoon.

Starting Your New Life

Marriages should start out on the right foot, and there's no better right foot than the perfect honeymoon that's romantic, stress free and unforgettable.

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Tips For Vegetarian And Muslim Backpackers

If you’re tired of dealing with similar confusion from servers who think that vegetarian means that if the meat’s white, it’s alright, try these tips for actually finding food you can eat on the road.This tips can be apply mostly for Vegetarian and Muslim Travelers that come to country that majority of their population non-Muslim.  

1. Find restaurants online

Creative Commons: C. G. P. Grey

Anyone who has stood on a street corner in Asia and watched a shop owner kill a live animal might seriously doubt that vegetarian cuisine is possible in all parts of the world. But it is! Sites like Happy Cow let you plug in your destination and eating preferences to find restaurants around the world.

Veggies on the Road is another resource listing eateries across the globe that offer at least three vegetarian dishes. If you have some semblance of an itinerary, look up your next destination and print out the list of vegetarian and/or vegan restaurants these sites. Don’t forget to smile as you walk away from the cleaver-wielding shop owner to your plate of mock chicken with veggies.

2. Say it right

Creative Commons: mckaysavage

Some people are unsure of what vegetarian really means. The same goes in foreign lands where definitions for the practice may differ and language barriers can make it difficult to find what you want. This resource from the International Vegetarian Union supplies key phrases in many languages to help you find veggo on the road.

You can also use the Veggie Passport iPhone app to translate your food preferences into 33 languages.

So the next time you’re in the Czech Republic, you can confidently ask “Mate take nejaka vegetarianska jidla?”

3. Get aPPetizing

Creative Commons: mujitra

Speaking of apps, you’ll never go hungry looking for vegetarian or vegan food again if you have an iPhone. Apps like VegOut and VeganSteven let you find restaurants near you and even pull up the menus.

4. Don’t eat at local restaurants

Creative Commons: HeyRocker

Weird tip, huh?

If you’re having trouble eating meatless at the local restaurants, try hotel dining areas — even if you’re not staying there — and pubs.

Many people don’t think to try and dine at accommodations they haven’t booked into, but the public is free to eat at places like Marriot. Hotel menus often have a wider variety of options than some of the local eateries, including vegetarian, depending where you are in the world.

Pubs might also have bar menus full of non-meat fare. Even if you have to build your dinner by ordering a baked potato, side salad and hummus with bread, it’s better than nothing.

5. Eat what you want, where you want

Creative Commons: CarbonNYC

Did you know that Minnesota actually has a law allowing anyone on a restricted diet to take their own food into any restaurant and eat it right there? Individuals can also ask the wait staff to heat up their food in the oven or microwave.

It’s worth checking if areas you’re traveling to have similar laws.

Even if they don’t, other vegetarian travelers have had success asking restaurants to heat up or cook their tofu, rice or veggies. Sweetness will take you a long way here, so be polite and overly thankful if you’re accommodated. Convenience store microwaves are another option for heating up your homemade or store-bought vegetarian meal if you find an obliging clerk.

Depending on where your travels lead you, you might always have to stay on your toes to find vegetarian. But a little Internet and iPhone savvy plus some local know-how should keep you up to your elbows in tofu from Tampa to Tokyo.

What are your tips for finding vegetarian on the road?

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Backpacker To China

Introduction

China is such a fascinating and diverse country! Travel here can be complex and confusing at times, however that’s what makes it such an adventure; Where else can you marvel at skyscrapers in metropolitan cities like Hong Kong and Shanghai, ride on horseback through sprawling countryside, sail on a bamboo raft through rivers flanked by mountains that appear like out of a dream sequence, cuddle a panda and stand on the spectacular Great Wall. This country really does have it all.

Travel Budget/Daily Costs

China is a relatively inexpensive country and by staying in hostels and eating in local restaurants you can get by on a budget of around £15 a day or less.

When to go

China can be visited all year round; however it is most pleasant during April-May (spring) and September-October (autumn). During these times the temperature is pleasant and comfortable and there is little rain. As a rule Southern China is far more pleasant during the winter, and at this time areas of high altitude should be avoided as it will be a little too cold!

Things to do and see

Beijing

Such a great city to visit, and in my opinion the best starting point for a trip to China. Stand in the middle of the awesome Tiananmen Square, the largest urban square in the world and background to many historical events. Go just as the sun is setting and watch the Chinese military honor guards take part in a ceremony where they march and lower the national flag.

While you are there do not miss out on sampling the famous Peking duck in of the many specialty restaurants dotted around the city. It can be a bit touristy but the experience is fun and the duck is delicious!

To travel to China and not stand on the Great Wall is a real shame, for many this is an unforgettable experience. You have a few options for seeing the wall, and this depends on how adventurous you are! The most popular place for a visit is at Badaling, 70 kilometers North West of Beijing. The scenery is beautiful and you have wonderful views of the wall snaking off into the hills in the distance. Be prepared however for the crowds, especially during the weekends! It is for this reason that many people choose to visit another part of the wall which is less busy and not so touristy! It may mean a bit more of a trek to get there, but in my opinion it’s well worth it!

Another option for the Great Wall is the section at Mutianyu, which is 90km northeast of Beijing and tends to be a less commercial experience than Badaling. Here you also have the opportunity to take a cable car ride at the end which is supposed to be quite fun!

Those that don’t mind quite a long hike can visit the Great Wall at Jinshanling, which remains relatively undeveloped. This is the starting point for the 10 kilometre hike to Simatai, The hike takes around 4 hours but you will be rewarded with spectacular view of the wall, often in an un-restored (and sometimes crumbling) state but minus the tourists!

Xian

This city has so much more to offer than the Terracotta Warriors for which it is famous. An ancient capital of China, the city is dominated by one of the oldest and best preserved Chinese City Walls, which are wide enough to cycle along, giving you great views over the city. Wander the streets in the Muslim quarter, sampling some of the great foods at the snack stalls along the way and wind your way over to one of the nightspots within the city, where you’re likely to be one of the few Westerners there, so be prepared to feel a bit like a celebrity at times!

Many travelers flock here to get a glimpse of the giant pandas. The Panda Research centre is just outside of Chengdu, and could technically be described as a zoo; the pandas live in large enclosures within a large bamboo filled park. The city of Chengdu itself is also quite nice, and here you can sample the famous Sichuan hotpot or visit the Chinese Opera which is always entertaining!

Tiger Leaping Gorge (Near Lijiang)

The most famous trekking spot in China, great for travelers looking for an adventurous Himalayan trek. At an altitude of about 2500 meters, the Tiger Leaping Gorge is a steep gorge, you’ll walk along the top of the gorge and on the trail you’ll see the Yangtze River on one side and steep mountain walls on the other, and hardly any people along the way which is great! Most people do the trek in two days, and there are cosy little guesthouses dotted along the route.

Yangshuo

A popular backpacker haunt, this city, idyllically located on a river in the Karst mountain region is probably the most well known natural environment in China and rightly so. The scenery is quite spectacular and it’s very easy to while away your days here. Hire a bike and explore, sail on a bamboo boat across the river, hike through farm land, go hot air ballooning or just relax and take in the surroundings. In the evenings you can enjoy a magical laser show or visit one of the bars on 'West Street'.

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