Tag Archives: money
May 21, 2013

So You Have Decided to Take A Big Trip …

Getting ready for a trip can be both exciting and tiring. You’re ready to go to all the places you’ve wanted to see, but being ready for another country can be a bit stressful if you take everything too seriously. All you need is a pen, a piece of paper and a little time in front of your computer.

 

First things first, where are you going? Make a list of places you want to see and don’t just rely on one site. Think outside the box, do you have to visit the places you see on a postcard or would you like to go to more exotic, unknown (but of course safe) places? Look at sites where people share travel experiences and se wht they share. There are many travel agencies that have guides or tours that you can join, just inquire and then make some plans.  Decide whether you want to be on your own or just with your companion to have your own adventure, walk around shops and bazaars and just discover things by yourself.

 

Now that you know where you’re going, you’ll know what you’ll need. Aside from the usual papers you need from the embassy or from your ticketing agency, research on what people have had to do once they land in the country. Is there something you’ll need in the airport? Aside from that you’ll need a camera (traveling without one is simply not an option anymore), your laptop, laptop and cellphone charger and maybe an adaptor. Look into roaming charges for your cell phone.

 

Then necessities such as a toothbrush, toiletries (that are allowed on the plane) and other small items – are you going to bring some along or just buy them form a store somewhere? Make a list either way. Are you traveling to a country that’s experiencing hot or cold weather? Bring suitable clothing. I love Under Armour cold weather gear. You can get some Under Armour promo codes from PromoCoder.com .

 

Take note on what cards are accepted, whether it’s better to exchange your money in your country or where you’re traveling to and if you run out, will you be able to withdraw without any problems with your card? In case you have trouble, also find out what money sending services you can use (Western Union is the best choice) and where you can find one.

 

Lastly, always have a backup plan and contact information of where you’re staying, your embassy in that country or police information and always keep it on you at all times! You never know when you may need it. You wouldn’t want to be lost and not remember the name of the hotel you’re staying in!

May 18, 2013

Don’t Be Fooled By Fake Vacation Photos!

Buyer Beware!  Some sellers use fake photographs. For instance it is not at all that unusual for a photograph of a resort or hotel to be doctored in some way (as in the inlaying of a beach scene) or for a very old photograph to be posted (as in a photograph that was taken before the hurricane!)

 

To make things even more complicated not all sellers with bad photographs are out to get you. Sometimes you are just dealing with someone who cannot take a good photograph or who does not have access to a good photograph. The photo may be too dark or even altered in some way.

 

If you encounter a poor quality photograph, your best course of action is to try and find another photograph of the destination online. This is easily done by going to Google’s search engine and typing a search into its image database.

 

If the photo seems deliberately altered you can also read up on the latest news about the destination online. Almost always an altered photograph exists in a location where there has been bad weather or a natural disaster. In some extreme cases, it can also mean that the hotel has not even been built yet or that the photo of a better hotel has been substituted for the one you are looking at.

 

In any event if you suspect for one second that there is something false about the photograph you can email the seller and ask for a better photograph or more photographs. You can also email or phone the site and complain and ask to have better pictures forwarded to you by email and then make your evaluation of the whole deal from how the seller and the site responds to your request.

 

Of course one of the problems with buying anything online is the inability for you to inspect the product and this is especially true of vacations. One way for you to protect yourself if you do find yourself winning a bid from a seller with a bad vacation is to print out a copy of the photograph. If it does not at all resemble your destination then you have some hard evidence for your case when you ask the site for your money back for being duped.

 

So what to do? Before bidding on an item, be wary. First, look at the picture carefully and print a copy for future records in case you get something that doesn’t look like the picture at all. Second, read the description very carefully and try to objectively interpret what is being described as opposed to what you think the seller is trying to describe.  If the description doesn’t match the picture or vice versa then you might be bidding on a dud destination.

May 3, 2013

Think of Travelling to Peru

When people think about going on a vacation they rarely think about going to Peru.  It is understandable since its geographical location is not that suitable for a vacation get away. It is located on the far western side of the South American continent which is rather far from where most of the population on that continent lives The remote aspect of the country is why Peru is not visited as often as Brazil and Argentina.

 

Peru is also sometimes seen as a poor country, too poor to have the kind of amenities that might have hotels with great amenities. The truth is they do have these luxury hotels. However, like many places in South America there is a huge divide between the rich and the poor.  However it is true that a third of the population lives before the poverty line.

 

One of the greatest reasons to visit is to explore the country’s rich ancient culture known as the Inca. Although this can be a troubled country, the citizens themselves are helpful, peaceful and very friendly.  There will always be a Peruvian hand to help you for free or very, very cheaply as most people there are desperate for money or just simply kind.

 

This natural beauty and indigenous healthy food in the area makes this a wonderful place to chill out and relax.  It can be very hot so do not expect life to be too demanding during the day. The slack lifestyle shouldn’t be a problem if you just want to relax.

 

The best time to go to Peru is during a time when it is not busy. The June to August months are the busiest months because that is when there are a lot of festivals held. It would be very nice if you go to Peru during the cold month of December

 

Even thought the country is small, its places are diverse because of the many influences by other neighboring countries.  The weather can be a bit fickle.  Be sure to pack both light and very warm clothes, as it is hot during the day and cold at night.

 

If you love nature and want a “green vacation” Peru is a good place to go.  There are guides called  ‘pagos a ala tierra’ who spend most of their time advocating for the preservation of Mother Earth. So, if want to do a good deed, pay to go onto one of the many celebrated nature walks in the country.