Do you dream about taking a trip around the world? The Chicago Tribune recently published this update from by Ed Perkins on RTW airfare, what does it cost to travel around the world? You can plan a DIY trip around the world or get the help of an expert. Either way there are some super deals and for a trip this big you might consider joining a travel club to reduce airfare and hotel costs.

What Does it Cost to Travel Around the World?

DO IT YOURSELF: For the simplest RTW trips, BootsnAll found that your best bet is just to log onto Kayak (or some other aggregator or OTA) and search individual flight segments.

I’ve done a few RTW trips and have developed some basic guidelines:

– Allow enough time — three weeks at a bare minimum, better four weeks or more. Any less and your experience will consist mainly of continuous jet lag.

– If you hate sitting up all night in an economy seat, travel westbound — you can build complete RTW itineraries without any overnight red-eye flights.

– If you like to minimize hotel costs by using overnight flights for long hauls, travel eastbound — you can arrange three or four nights on planes (feh!).

– Even if you’re frugal, consider doing RTW in business class — flying 25,000 miles confined to a sardine-can economy cabin can be daunting.

GET THE GUIDE: Obviously, RTW is impractical for many of you because of the time and the cost involved. But if you can swing it, RTW could be the trip of a lifetime. If you’re interested, be sure to download the BootsnAll guide.

(Send e-mail to Ed Perkins at eperkins(at)mind.net. Perkins’ new book for small business and independent professionals, “Business Travel When It’s Your Money,” is now available through www.mybusinesstravel.com or www.amazon.com)

See the full story here…http://www.chicagotribune.com/travel/sns-201203200000–tms–travelpkctnxf-b20120320mar20,0,4770189.story

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With so many families on the roads this week we decided to provide some road trip advice for the holidays. The good news is travel volume is expected to remain high during the holidays even as many families are on tighter travel budgets this year. AAA reported that the biggest increase for traveling is in the automobile category.

Road Trip Advice for the Holidays

Expected travel volume will be second highest in past ten years, representing nearly 30 percent of U.S. population AAA forecasts 91.9 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more from home during the 2011-12 Year-End holiday travel season, a 1.4 percent increase over the 90.7 million people who traveled one year ago.

This year’s expected Year-End holiday travel volume is the second highest in the past decade and represents 30 percent of the total U.S. population. The 11-day Year-End holiday period is the longest holiday travel season of the year, affording many more Americans time to visit family or take vacations. AAA defines the Year-End holiday travel season as Friday, December 23, 2011 to Monday, January 2, 2012.

Automobile is top transportation choice, increases 2.1 percent Approximately 83.6 million people (91 percent of holiday travelers) plan to take to the nation’s roadways this Year-End holiday travel season, a 2.1 percent increase compared to 2010-11 when the number of auto travelers totaled 81.9 million…

Train, bus, other modes of travel increases 4.2 percent Other modes of travel (bus, trains, watercraft, multi-modal travel) will make up the remaining three percent of the total person-trips, with 2.9 million people expected to travel by these modes, 4.2 percent higher than 2010-11. Economic conditions are dictating that some Americans that otherwise might travel by air or automobile are traveling by these alternative modes of transportation.

Hotel rates increase; car rental rates decrease According to AAA’s Leisure Travel Index, hotel rates for AAA Three Diamond or mid-range lodgings are expected to increase a modest one percent from last year with travelers spending an average of $126 per night compared to $125 one year ago. Travelers planning to stay at AAA Two Diamond hotels can expect to pay four percent more at an average cost of $92 per night, up from $88 last year.

Daily car rental rates are $40 on average, a 21 percent decrease from one year ago and the lowest seen in the past five years. As the demand for used cars fluctuates or car manufacturers offer fewer opportunities for buying back fleets it can become harder for car rental companies to shrink their fleet to meet demand. With a larger pool of cars in the market, car rental companies must lower pricing to match supply and demand.

Year-End Holiday Travel Tips

More Americans travel during the Year-End holiday season than during any other holiday period throughout the year. Our nation’s roadways and airports will be busier than normal, so holiday travelers should be sure to pack more patience. AAA offers these important travel tips that can help everyone have an enjoyable and safe Year-End holiday season.

Plan ahead. Use a travel planning tool like AAA’s TripTik Travel Planner available at AAA.com to help identify the best driving routes, rest stops, and shop the latest gas prices. Our nation’s highways will be crowded with both holiday travelers and day-trippers. Continuously monitor weather conditions along your route and be prepared with contingency plans. Doing your homework could save valuable time, fuel costs, and improve travel safety.

Avoid the 3 Deadly D’s of Driving: Drunk or Drugged Driving. Remember that impairment begins with the first sip of alcohol. A designated driver should be alcohol-free, not merely the person in your party who has consumed the least amount of alcohol. Many medications have side effects that cause impairment, so read medication labels thoroughly.

Drowsy Driving. Get seven to nine hours of sleep before driving. Take a break every 100 miles or two hours. Do not drive during hours when you routinely sleep. If you feel tired while driving, pull over to a safe location and take a 20-to 30-minute nap.

Distracted Driving. It is the driver’s responsibility to keep eyes, mind and body fully focused on the task of driving. Assign a passenger to be the designated texter, talker, and navigator. If traveling alone, pull over to a safe location to use your cell phone or adjust your navigation device, then proceed on your trip distraction free. Child and pet passengers can be distractions to drivers, so allow another adult passenger to interact with these family members.

Before you head off down the road make sure you’ve utilized technology to it’s fullest for planning and getting bargains. You may decide to get your information on the road but keep in mind, internet connections can be weak in certain areas and during bad weather. You may have no trouble but you should do as much research ahead of time as you can. That is my road trip advice for the holidays.

Read More on Techzone360.

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Family travel tips for packing medications may seem unusual but few things are as frustrating as not having the appropriate medication or not being prepared for minor or major illnesses while traveling. These problems can be prevented with a little preparation.  With these great tips found on Asia One.com health you can come up with a plan for treating your all kinds of personal health conditions that you know your family is likely to get while traveling.

Keep all medications sealed and keep prescriptions in their original bottles. Do not put them in weekly pill minders because authorities need to be able to tell what kind of medication you have and whether it is legal. Tummy troubles, headaches, stiff muscles, trouble sleeping, allergies, are just a few of the most common travel related ailments you might want to pack medication for. if you are going to be traveling soon pay attention to these family travel tips for packing medications.

“Whether you are travelling for a short business trip or for an extended vacation with your family, it pays to take steps to protect your health. Here are a few pointers to take note of before and during your trip.”

Be Prepared

• “Always make sure that you obtain travel insurance prior to the trip. This is not only to ensure that your baggage is taken care of, but also to ensure that medical bills which might be incurred during your trip are covered. If you are traveling for work, check if your company is providing adequate insurance coverage for you.”
• “If you need to take prescription medicine regularly, pay a trip to your doctor at least a week before your trip so that you can stock up on medication if necessary.”
• “A checklist on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website recommends getting a prescription from your doctor specifying which medications you are taking. The last thing you want at the end of a long flight is to be questioned by Customs because your unlabelled pills look like illicit drugs.”
• “Last but not least, get the necessary vaccinations, be it for influenza, malaria, yellow fever or meningitis. Seek pre-travel health advice and vaccinations before their year-end holidays, if the countries they are visiting have a high incidence of contagious diseases like flu and hepatitis.”

On Board

“Singapore’s normal humidity is about 70 percent, while that within an airplane cabin is about 5 to 20 percent. This can cause problems for people with dry skin or eyes. To keep your eyes moist, instill lubricant eye drops regularly. This is particularly important for people who already suffer from dry eyes or other eye conditions.”

“Those with dry skin may benefit from applying a body lotion before the flight. On board, a sheet mask for the face can also help to restore moisture to the skin. Cindy Cheong, a beauty consultant trainer for SK-II, says that putting on a sheet mask for ten minutes towards the end of the flight can re-hydrate and refresh parched skin.”

While You’re There

“Depending on your destination and the activities you’ll be doing, it may be wise to bring along a good pair of wraparound sunglasses. UV light is reflected by the sea as well as by snow, and can actually cause sunburn on one’s eyes.”

“To protect your eyes, use sunglasses that provide 100 per cent UV protection, are polarised, and wrap around the face so that light striking the side of the face is filtered before reaching the eyes.”

“If you intend to take part in water sports such as diving or swimming, make sure that you do not wear contact lenses but use powered goggles instead, says Dr Lee. This will greatly reduce the risk of eye infections. Contact lens wearers should also follow the instructions of their contact lens practitioner and not wear their lenses beyond their recommended duration.”

Good advice if you ask me, no matter where you are off to, tips for healthy family travel are useful but be sure you check with the specific airline to see if there are any other restrictions or requirements for medications.

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Romantic travel vacation packages in the Smoky Mountains don’t have to be at some crowded resort. Take a look at this stunning video of a private cabin rental package that could be the most romantic place I’ve ever seen. If you love the mountains like I do this is just perfect for you. I could see myself in this beautiful setting any time of year and the best part is how affordable romantic travel vacation packages in the Smoky Mountains are.

Click here to watch the video

Find more information on this beautiful romantic destination only a 2 hour drive from Atlanta at www.LakeMountainRetreat.com.  Bella Vista (Beautiful View) is the perfect destination to get away from it all. Overlooking the Great Smoky Mountains and nestled among 3.5 quiet acres, our cottage also has views of Lake Chatuge. Romantic travel vacation packages in the Smoky Mountains are affordable and can be rented by the weekend, the week or the month. Hmmm, a whole month would be awesome! http://www.vrbo.com/194520

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Tired of working a nine to five job, in a windowless cubicle, doing mindless tasks that make you wonder what you just spent the last eight hours doing?  Do you daydream about snorkeling in the Caribbean, sipping a glass of wine on the French Riviera, or basking in the sun in Rio? Does your daydream pass because you think that with a mortgage and two kids that you will never experience such luxuries?  Think again!  Resorts 360, has come up with a method for you to pilot your own gondola down the canals of Venice, while earning money.  Working from home, earning a living, and traveling the world just skim the surface of what becoming a member of Resorts 360 has to offer.

How many times have you sat at your desk, and thought longingly of what it would be like to turn your computer off, grab an ice cream cone and a novel, and spend the afternoon in the park?  By becoming a member of Resorts 360, you have the ability to do just that.  You would have the capability to set your own schedule, and work from home.  All you need is a phone, a computer, and a high-speed Internet connection.  If you are like most people, you already have that covered right?  Being a member of Resorts 360, is also very low pressure.  You will not have somebody standing over your shoulder reminding you about deadlines.  You can work as much or as little as you want at any given time, so if you need the afternoon off to go to your daughter’s dance recital, there will not be anybody there to tell you, that you can’t.

In today’s economy, few companies are bringing on new employees.  Instead they are meeting the minimum staffing requirements, doubling the workload for their existing employees, and not compensating them financially.  Does this sound familiar?  Do you need a vacation?  This is why becoming a member of Resorts 360, is a wonderful opportunity.  In a society that is all work and no play, inexpensive vacation packages have an almost limitless market.  You will earn a commission off of every membership you sell, and with so many people out there who are looking for a little rest and relaxation, the possibilities are endless.

Imagine sitting in your resort hotel room with a view of the Pacific Ocean with your laptop and your phone.  Did I mention that as a member of Resorts 360 you can work from anywhere in the world?  Did I also forget to mention that you will receive up to 80% off on your vacations?  When was the last time you got 80% off of anything?  As a member of Resorts 360, you will also get the benefits of inexpensive travel.  You can travel to an exotic location, enjoy the sights, bask in the culture, and still make money while you are there.  How many other jobs can you think of, that would allow you to do that?

Don’t let your daydreams, be just dreams.  Who is to say that you can’t be a responsible working adult, and not also enjoy your life?  Experience postcard worthy moments with your family, while you earn income.  Break free from your cubicle, and enjoy the benefits of being a member of the Resorts 360 Travel Business Opportunity.  There is a big world out there for you and your family to explore.  What are you waiting for?

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Taking a vacation is something several families can’t wait to do every year. Then there are others who wish they could just afford to go on vacation or have the time to take one. Well, the Resorts 360 Vacation Club has been providing a way for people to stay in great places at low costs for a long time.

Even when the economy is enjoying its continuous roller coaster ride, it doesn’t stop Resorts 360 from making vacations possible for their members. After all, we know you want to take a vacation and some people need them just to relieve stress. If you enjoy traveling then you should seriously consider the Resorts 360 Vacation Club.

The whole idea with this travel company is to give you more opportunities than you can handle. Best of all, there a three different entry levels making this opportunity affordable for everyone. Realize this, there are several perks that become available once you join as a member. The only thing you have to do is understand how the program works.

When you become a member of Resorts 360 there will be a real-time travel database present. This shows you all the live available weeks and destinations going on around the world and you can find the ones that are found around your particular destination. The RTTD is a monumental benefit for those who want to try something new or can’t figure out where to go.

You will also need to consider accommodations. When you use Resorts 360 you can stay in resorts or hotels that are considered 4, 5, or 6 star properties. Staying in these locations will give you some of the best experiences you’ve ever had on vacation.

We understand you want to save money, but that is the whole point to joining the Resorts 360Vacation Club . Well, you won’t be disappointed with Resorts 360 because they offer some huge discounts on cruises, beach villas, and various other parts to traveling. The money saved you can use for all the activities you will want to experience during your stay.

There is also a 24/7 concierge service. Whatever questions you have the Resorts 360 Vacation Club has highly qualified professionals to answer any questions you have, and provide you with help in several other areas. One of them deals with medical insurance that is included if you or a family member gets hurt during your vacation. Resorts 360 has a private jet that can take you anywhere in the world.

So, all this sounds great, but you’re still wondering about the cost right? One thing you don’t have to worry about is paying some monthly fee. Instead, you’re offered a choice of a one-time fee, a 5 year fee, and an annual fee and once it is paid you can enjoy all the benefits this vacation club has to offer.

Eventually you might even consider making money from Resorts 360. This is because they allow you to offer their deals to others, and when it’s complete you get paid a commission. Some travelers do this for vacation money, while others actually make it a full time job. It’s also an “easy sell,” because you offer it to families who can’t afford the normal vacation costs.

Once they get a good look at Resorts 360 and all its benefits they will only see a win-win situation. What it comes down to is they will be offering a better way of life for their family. Over time they will notice that these advantages spill over into other areas of their life.

In the end, it’s something Resorts 360 has been doing for quite some time. If you want to vacation like the wealthy, but do for a fraction of the cost then the Resorts 360 Vacation Club is the perfect choice. Soon it won’t matter what the economy looks like, because you will still get those vacations in every single year.

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Make your dreams come true by joining Ricardo Lalama’s Resorts 360 Vacation Club. Build a travel business that you always wanted. Go on vacation and still earn money with your home based travel business. Live your dream with incredible benefits of earning high commissions and affordable travel packages. Ricardo Lalama reveals his Resorts 360 Secrets on www.resorts360secrets.com

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