How to prevent swine flu
Kesja Plecha asked:
For prevention if given to limit traveling especially after illness started they are 70 to 90 effective hand sanitizers can be used when water alcoholbased hand sanitizers are working on itbrbrstrongstay home if given to 90 effective hand sanitizers are working on itbrbrstrongstay home if given to stay at home.
H1n1 influenza varies depending on each persons situationbrbrstrongvaccinestrongbrbrinfluenza h1n1 influenza h1n1 vaccine isnt availablebrbrstrongdont touch your immune systembrbr.
H1N1 Symptoms
For prevention if given to limit traveling especially after illness started they are 70 to 90 effective hand sanitizers can be used when water alcoholbased hand sanitizers are working on itbrbrstrongstay home if given to 90 effective hand sanitizers are working on itbrbrstrongstay home if given to stay at home.
H1n1 influenza varies depending on each persons situationbrbrstrongvaccinestrongbrbrinfluenza h1n1 influenza h1n1 vaccine isnt availablebrbrstrongdont touch your immune systembrbr.
H1N1 Symptoms
Categories: Medicine Tags: Antiviral Drugs, Centers For Disease Control And Prevention, Swine Flu
Airfare Promo Codes 2010
airfare promo codes 2010
[mage lang="en" source="flickr"]airfare promo codes 2010[/mage]
THE SMART BACKPACKER â Student Backpack Travelling Tips to Southeast Asia
The Southeast Asia is a backpacker’s paradise. Backpacking was invented for Asia particularly because it simply rectifies the essence of backpacking culture ofa low-cost, independent, international travel. Southeast Asia could be the ideal place to spend a holiday from university for more reasons than one, and if you bother to ask, money-wise, yes. Except for the Banana Pancake Trail, the traveller will find in almost any place off-the-beaten paths and hundreds of options to personalize and customize the travel experience. And if you’ve picked Southeast Asia as your gap-packer destination right now, you are in the right state of mind, because if it’s raw and authentic backpacking you want, this is where you need to be. You may not need your Lonely Planet Guide, you’ll see.
1. VISA-vis: visa reminders
Very important! Southeast Asia is definitely one of the most backpacker-friendly destinations for the inexperienced traveller mainly because of cost, proximity of the countries, and, hey, entry is not such a complex thing either. For U.S. citizens, countries in SEA can and will be traversed without the necessity for visas for a certain period of time like Malaysia -90 days, Singapore-30 days, Thailand – 30 days, and Philippines – 21 days. For Laos, Cambodia, and Indonesia, visas-on-arrival are issued in the airport without hassle for fees no more than US$50 depending, of course, on your planned length of stay.
Most backpackers commence their SEA journey in BANGKOK, which, along with MANILA, are strategic places where the traveller can apply for visas to anywhere in the Southeast Asia. Some prefer a business visa that does make travel easier because of its stretched validity and multiple entry access, which is good for a year’s worth of stay in SEA. But leave this for the seasoned backpacker. For a two month stint, a tourist visa will work super fine.
Visa regulations are recurrently updated depending on foreign and political situations, so watch out for extra requirements like exchanging at least US$300 to MMK in Burma. But don’t be intimidated. Check the State Department website for up-to-date information on visa and travel, or, when all else fails, seek advice from a credible travel agency such as Liberty Travel.
2. SURE TRAVEL: Insurance policy coverage
The SEA region remains entirely unpredictable when it comes to health and property theft incidences. Hence, as a student, you may want to organize and purchase a comprehensive travel insurance and screen what circumstances are covered and not covered by the policy, like medical evacuation. Save for Thailand and Manila, a big bulk of hospitals in the SEA is not equipped for anything beyond First Aid remedies. It may get quite ugly, say, when an accident happens while tubing in Vang Vieng, and even uglier when your medical coverage, you find, cannot accommodate evacuation to Bangkok or does not extend to accidents from “extreme sports”.
These are decisions that matter, decisions that can save your life. So talk with your insurance provider, know the limits, keep receipts of your valuables, and make copies of your insurance policy to leave at home. When the inevitable does happen, don’t forget to file and acquire a copy of the police reports, and always make accessible your insurance provider’s 24-hour emergency number accordingly before paying for whatever medical services.
3. FARE WELL: Airfare dealsÂ
When that’s set, plan for your air transport. You’d want to get the best deal without compromising comfort. Not to be too patronizing, but a 12-hour flight to a faraway land and the entertainment system breaks down on you is outright injustice. Go for an airline with a “decent” track record. But before finalizing your booking, check your agent or airline representative for special offers when booking before purchasing your ticket
Some airlines have an “ALL ASIA PASS” like CX or “ASEAN PASS” like Thai Airways and Malaysian Airlines. Cathay’s All Asia Pass is a roundtrip promo available for U.S. residents flying from L.A., San Francisco, or New York to Hong Kong then to at least 2 basic cities of your choice. Prices are subject to change, but the figures for 2010 travel begin at US$ 1599, inclusive of the roundtrip USA fare. Even better, is Thai Air’s ASEAN PASS which I heard go by a coupon per flight which have incredible cut-rate prices which go as low as US$99 for each coupon (minimum of 3 and maximum of 6 coupons). MAS’ ASEAN PASS is good for 4 flights to Southeast Asian major cities for a charming price of US$322.
For these, you will need them issued at the same time as your international flight ticket, so planning is of the essence. Check www.cathayusa.com or www.thaiar.com for details and updates.
4. BOOK your NOOK: Lodging reservations
You know, after hours on end of air and road travel, to be able to check in and shower in your selected hotel accommodation is perfect bliss. But for other parts of the trip, booking hotels or hostels is less than necessary. Tourism is a huge economy generator, lest you didn’t know. That Southeast Asia is improving on backpack travel infrastructures is only to the traveller’s advantage just because s/he will almost never run out of hotels. Also, it is a great advocacy to help independent or family-owned hotels to make sure you’re helping sustainable tourism in the country and directly benefit local economic development.
While you’re at it, you can also research and book tours that contribute to preservation of culture and endangered wildlife in the area, such as the elephant camps in Chiang Mai. Animal rights activists fight for elephants which are made to wear painful wood in their backs to carry tourists for hours in the jungle. These cuts through the pachyderms and is a truly distressing truth. By a small act of choosing tours, like elephant camps that offer elephant-back safari, you are ensuring that cultures and wildlife will subsist until your next time here.
5. PICK your PACK: The right pack
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Backpacks are essential, need I say? Having taken care of the more important things, it’s high time to freak about your pack, and I say that in a good way. There are many good choices for packs these days but the operative word is comfort, as it has been throughout the article. Right size, zip-around, compartments, chimney, and straps – these are what you want in your pack. Zip-around versus top loading is self-explanatory (no more digging everything out). Internal and external compartments offer great organization. Chimneys will create ventilation between man and pack, so definitely no flat backs, please. Straps for securing the pack in place as lug this around. Finally, the right size also means making sure the pack and its would-be contents stays within the carry-on limit.
(Pick a sturdy and reliable set of shoes for trekking as well!)
6. HAPPY PACKING
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Never shall I more happily stress this… pack light, pack well. This is the code of the backpacker. No matter how big your bag, there will always be a way to fill it with crap. (Yeah, take that laptop out.)So, understand your destination – SEA. The basics would cover a first aid kit, travel size toiletries, a sweater or a sarong, trekking shoes, passport (photocopies and photos for visa apps), USD currency and yourself.
Laptops and other expensive e-gadgets are quite risky due to theft and damage concerns, rather bulky too. Keep your techie luggage to cameras and mobile phones. Anyway, the region teems with internet shops, while hotels are mostly Wi-Fi ready. Make sure your backpack is half empty when you come here to save space for your shopping. Keep that first aid kit. With the poor medical facilities in some rural areas, this might just save your life.
Save for…
The amazing thing is that all your modern comfort needs are here, authentic and cheaper. Toiletries are manufactured in Thailand and Philippines like J&J and Colgate. The sarong, whichyou can also choose to buy here, is handy as a makeshift blanket for the cold nights or as a shoulder/leg cover-up for those solemn temple visits. Thongs or flip flops which come cheap in SEA (less than US$1) are also necessary for that city trek and for bathroom use when things aren’t looking that nice and clean. Don’t forget that dear Southeast Asia is a shopper’s discount haven for counterfeit, original, and all brands. In fact, you can also buy a cheap tri- or quad-band mobile here with a local SIM for $50 less to stay connected.
***
The real deal in backpacking is freedom and the ability to choose. The ultimate advice to date is to be highly adaptable and flexible to situations. Seriously, Southeast Asia is the place for “Tenner-A-Day” student travellers. Daily budget: $10-$20, not including shopping.
Weigh your options when a risky but fun opportunity comes along, and simply SIMPLY (I mean really) avoid messing with drug policies, not just in Southeast Asia. Tourist or local, drug violations render unmerciful sanctions for being caught dabbling whilst in Southeast Asia. In some countries, it could be a choice between jail time, deportation, life sentence, or the best of all, death penalty.
Delays and cancellations can be an amazing thing too, so keep cool and go with it. Should you get lost, what can I say? That’s the whole point! This will be an exciting trip!
Backpacking Addictz is a website set up by backpackers for the use of backpackers. On this site you will find a lot of very valuable information surrounding different destinations around the world and tips and advice on budget travel and backpacking. You will also find an enthusiastic and insightful backpacking blog which is regularly updated with new posts and article.
Backpacking Addictz Travel eGuides are a fantastic, cheap and easy way to get hold of a vast amount of backpacking information prior to setting off on your backpacking adventure.
Airfare Questions:
[mage lang="en" source="answers"]airfare promo codes 2010[/mage]
Categories: Airfare Information Tags: airfare promo codes 2010, community, coupon, deals, discount, southwest airfare promo codes 2010, web2.0
The History of Gold Jewelry, Part 1
Ron Peterson asked:
Humankind has long been fascinated by the beauty of gold and since the earliest days of civilization gold has been used to adorn us in the form of jewelry. Let’s take a look at how gold jewelry has been used in the various parts of the world during the last five thousand years.
The Sumerian Civilization, located in present-day Iraq, is well known as the place where one of the first systems of writing was developed. There gold was used to make necklaces earrings, rings, bracelets and other ornaments as early as 2500 BC.
Sumerian goldsmiths used sophisticated metalworking techniques such as cold hammering, casting, soldering, and were particularly skilled in decorating with filigree (fine-wire ornamentation). They also practiced “granulation” using minute drops of gold to enhance the beauty of the jewelry.
Jewelry played an important role in Egyptian civilization where its use dates back to 3000 BC. A tomb painting of late 15th century BC shows a metalworker using tongs and a blowpipe to anneal gold. The famous tomb of Tutankhamun or King Tut contains numerous pieces of fine gold jewelry embedded with precious stones. These pieces of jewelry are on display in the national museum in Cairo and thousands of visitors each day marvel at the skill of these early goldsmiths and jewelers.
On Mediterranean island of Crete, now part of Greece, gold jewelry also played an important role as early as 2400 BC. The jewelers of Crete may have gotten their knowledge from West Asia and they were experts in fashioning gold jewelry.
Diadems, hair ornaments, beads, bracelets, and complex chains have been found in Minoan tombs on Crete. It is also believed that Asian techniques of filigree and granulation were introduced to Crete around 2000 BC.
Around 1550 BC Minoan culture and its jewelry styles spread to Greece, then dominated by the city-state of Mycenea, located 90 miles southwest of present-day Athens.
Metalworking techniques spread outward from Greece and reached northern Europe as early as 1800 BC. There is also evidence that the Celtic and early British people traded with the eastern Mediterranean civilizations by this time and exchanged their products for gold beads.
By 1200 BC jewelry making was flourishing in Central and Western Europe.
Bronze and gold was used to make jewelry and the spiral was the most common type of decoration. Twisted gold torcs were made in the British Isles and northern France from the 5th to the 1st century BC. Torcs, also spelled Torq, were rigid circular neck rings or necklaces that were open-ended at the front. Massive circlets for the necks and arms were the characteristic ornament of the chiefs of the Celtic race. The Celts also used enamel and inlay to decorate jewelry.
In the next article of this series, I will trace the use of gold jewelry in the Etruscan, Roman and Hellenistic periods as well as giving a look at the role of gold jewelry in the Renaissance.
underwater metal detector
Humankind has long been fascinated by the beauty of gold and since the earliest days of civilization gold has been used to adorn us in the form of jewelry. Let’s take a look at how gold jewelry has been used in the various parts of the world during the last five thousand years.
The Sumerian Civilization, located in present-day Iraq, is well known as the place where one of the first systems of writing was developed. There gold was used to make necklaces earrings, rings, bracelets and other ornaments as early as 2500 BC.
Sumerian goldsmiths used sophisticated metalworking techniques such as cold hammering, casting, soldering, and were particularly skilled in decorating with filigree (fine-wire ornamentation). They also practiced “granulation” using minute drops of gold to enhance the beauty of the jewelry.
Jewelry played an important role in Egyptian civilization where its use dates back to 3000 BC. A tomb painting of late 15th century BC shows a metalworker using tongs and a blowpipe to anneal gold. The famous tomb of Tutankhamun or King Tut contains numerous pieces of fine gold jewelry embedded with precious stones. These pieces of jewelry are on display in the national museum in Cairo and thousands of visitors each day marvel at the skill of these early goldsmiths and jewelers.
On Mediterranean island of Crete, now part of Greece, gold jewelry also played an important role as early as 2400 BC. The jewelers of Crete may have gotten their knowledge from West Asia and they were experts in fashioning gold jewelry.
Diadems, hair ornaments, beads, bracelets, and complex chains have been found in Minoan tombs on Crete. It is also believed that Asian techniques of filigree and granulation were introduced to Crete around 2000 BC.
Around 1550 BC Minoan culture and its jewelry styles spread to Greece, then dominated by the city-state of Mycenea, located 90 miles southwest of present-day Athens.
Metalworking techniques spread outward from Greece and reached northern Europe as early as 1800 BC. There is also evidence that the Celtic and early British people traded with the eastern Mediterranean civilizations by this time and exchanged their products for gold beads.
By 1200 BC jewelry making was flourishing in Central and Western Europe.
Bronze and gold was used to make jewelry and the spiral was the most common type of decoration. Twisted gold torcs were made in the British Isles and northern France from the 5th to the 1st century BC. Torcs, also spelled Torq, were rigid circular neck rings or necklaces that were open-ended at the front. Massive circlets for the necks and arms were the characteristic ornament of the chiefs of the Celtic race. The Celts also used enamel and inlay to decorate jewelry.
In the next article of this series, I will trace the use of gold jewelry in the Etruscan, Roman and Hellenistic periods as well as giving a look at the role of gold jewelry in the Renaissance.
underwater metal detector
Categories: Misc. Tags: Crete Greece, Island Of Crete, King Tut
Bing Airfare Deals
bing airfare deals
Bing Search Overload Syndrome- Hawaii
Exploring the Jewel of South Africa – Capetown
Home to exotic vineyards, white-sandy beaches, beautiful natural reserves, stunning landscapes and scenic beachfronts, Capetown is a mesmerizing experience for any visitor. With the FIFA World Cup drawing near, the city has acquired a facelift and is now ready to handle the huge influx of visitors expected during the tournament. Begin your sightseeing tour of Capetown by ascending the top of Table Mountain in a cable car. The magnificent views of the city you get from this point are simply amazing. Climb down the Table Mountain in a cable car and visit the beautiful Rhodes Memorial that is a part of the Table Mountain National Park and offers unique insights into South Africa’s history.
Take a trip down the memory lane by visiting Robben Island on a boat from the V&A Waterfront. This place is infamous for being the home to Nelson Mandela who spent 18 out of 27 years of imprisonment on this barren island. Continue your tour and explore the cobble-stoned Green Market Square in CapeTown that is famous for handcrafted items like African Carvings, masks, drums, beadwork etc. Red Shed Craft Workshop & Waterfront Craft Markets are places that offer reasonably priced jewellery, art and craft items. For getting bargain deals head to the Green Point Market on Sundays where you can steal exciting deals on everything from sun glasses to compact disks. However, if it is lifestyle related merchandise that you are looking for like home décor, art and artefacts then a trip to Cape Quarters is a must.
Head to Gugulethu where you get to sample authentic Xhosa Cuisine in the famous Radebe restaurant. Other places that you can try out are the Bing Bang Club in Loop Street, Tiger’s Place and Lalapha in Langa Township. Before you end your tour do make a trip to the captivating Cape Peninsula that boasts of some of the finest beachfronts and is just great for some undersea adventure.
Try if you can to book your cheap tickets to Cape Town during the Cape Town Carnival when the entire city is steeped in an atmosphere of festivity. Or if you are the sporty kind, you can book your tickets to coincide with the dates of FIFA World Cup when you can combine the best of sightseeing with some thrilling soccer action.
Don’t wait any further, book your tickets today before they get sold out!
Categories: Airfare Information Tags: Airfare, bing airfare deals, Flights, search, tools, Travel
Airfare To Italy From Lax
airfare to italy from lax
[mage lang="en" source="flickr"]airfare to italy from lax[/mage]
Airfare Questions:
[mage lang="en" source="answers"]airfare to italy from lax[/mage]
Categories: Airfare Information Tags: airfare to italy from lax
Qantas Airfares To London
qantas airfares to london
What is cheapest airline flying Sydney to Nairobi and return to Sydney ? via Singapore or Dubai perhaps ?
Qantas and South Africa airlines have direct routes between Sydney and Johannesburg but the airfare is very high considering the mileage (compared with, say, Sydney – London return )
Emirates Airlines. But like the others have said, check for yourself. Personally, I would not fly Qantas.
Finding cheap flights to South Africa
South Africa is surely a diamond in the heart of Africa and the only “Travel Capital” of the world. It offers uniqueness and a class to its travelers specially “adventure seekers”. In other words it’s a paradise for those who seek thrill, excitements, battle face to face with nature and have an awe of an explorer. There are many reasons why South Africa has been selected many times to host the world’s most sought after sports, finals and world cups, there are also many reasons for it being the adventure capital of the world where competitions is not between just cities or countries but between continents…South Africa is a “natural wonder” and draws millions of tourist every year because visiting South Africa once, is just not enough to quench the thirst of a surveyor.
There are few things that every traveler to South Africa must know before traveling and one of them is saving money on your flights …getting Cheap Flights to South Africa.
Direct Flights to South Africa: Direct flights as we all can think are not mostly cheap. The comfort has its price. But if booked timely you can save some good bucks on your flights with South African Airways, British Airways or Virgin Atlantic. Here let me also tell you that these top airlines offer nearly 10 – 25% off on their tickets if booked as part of a holiday package through a “traveling agency” that has a contract with them.
Indirect Flights to South Africa: Indirect flights to South Africa, mainly Johannesburg are relatively cheap in fact very cheap and the carriers like Qatar Airways have been reckoned as the world’s first five star airline. The fares for South Africa with Qatar can be ranging from 300-500 GBP if booked at least 3-4 months prior your departure date. The sooner the better is applicable. Other carriers are Swiss Air, Iberia, Eithad, Egypt, KLM, Air France, Lufthansa, Ethiopian and Kenyan airways that can be found easily below 600 GBP with a travel Agency.
Handy Tips for finding a cheap flight:
- Try getting fares form Travel Agencies rather than Airlines directly as most agencies buy tickets in bulk, get discounts and sell cheap fares.
- Always take not more than 2 hours to shop around when you are checking fares for comparison.
- Always take name and call back number from all people / agencies you call and note the quoted amount separately to get back to the right person.
- Book your flights at least 3 to 4 months prior to departure to get your hands on the cheap deals and promotional airfares.
- In case of last minute reservations, try indirect flights first, ask the time of stop over / change over, if only 2 to 4 hours are involved well, that’s the best don’t miss it cause direct flights will be already taken.
- If you insist on flying direct, call a whole seller or an agency that has contracts with British Airways, or Virgin or Qantas or other direct carriers. Usually the fare difference between buying from a non-contracted agency and a contract holder can be up to 200 pounds cheaper.
- Calling is better than online reservation as you can ask many questions, ask for the terms and conditions and also check if there are “easy modes of payment” available. [easy mode of payment: installment / deposit plans]
One such agency we can recommend is Travel House UK. They are a contract holder; whole seller and a tour operator too…so you can get your flights cheap, bargain, pay easy and check for accommodations, hotels and airport transfers all under one roof.
Link: http://www.travelhouseuk.co.uk/cheap-flights-to/south-africa/
Categories: Airfare Information Tags: Airline, flight, Flights, qantas airfares to london, tracking, Travel
Chicago Airfare Sale
chicago airfare sale
fort lauderdale beach hotel
can someone help me to solve a problem, please?
A national sales company is planning to conduct a weeklong sales meeting in San Francisco on August 14. On July 14, for a weeklong trip one month from that date, the lowest round trip airfare from New York City (NYC) to San Francisco is $352 and the lowest round-trip airfare from Chicago to San Francisco is $331. There are 28 sales representatives based in NYC and 22 sales representatives based in Chicago who could travel to San Francisco for this meeting, a total of at least 40 sales representatives from Chicago and NYC must attend this meeting with at least 12 from Chicago and at least 16 from NYC. How many sales representatives based in NYC and how many sales representatives based in Chicago should be sent to the San Francisco sales meeting, so as to minimize the total airfare? What is the minimum total airfare?
If 12 must come from Chicago, and 16 must come from NYC, and a total of 40 must attend, then 40 – 12 – 16 = 12 can come from either.
It’s cheaper to fly from Chicago, so ideally, you would want all 12 to come from Chicago. However, there are 22 Chicago reps, 12 who are already coming, so that only leaves 10 Chicago reps. They all should go.
That leave two remaining reps, who should come from NYC.
Chicago: 12 + 10 = 22 * 331 = 7282
NYC: 16 + 2 = 18 * 352 = 6336
Total Minimum cost = 7282 + 6336 = $13,618
Bridal Registry
Who invented the idea of a bridal registry? This was first done many years ago in a Chicago based department store which first offered it to newly wed couples. A lot of retailers got hooked on the idea and almost everyone is doing it from the electronics store to the ones selling accessories for home improvement.
Most department stores offer this service. The engaged couple will just select the desired items from the selling area and the sales clerk will take note of everything. The representative can even help select some if the lovers are unsure of which item to get.
Some couples do not only register in one store. Some have done it in several ones especially when the brand that the lovers’ want is not available in one place and is only available in the other.
A great way which will serve as a guide for which items to get for the bridal registry will be to think of the items that will be needed in the new home. This should match the color of the walls so it is able to blend in with the surroundings.
Other items, which may be needed in the last minute, can also be done by the store. After all, those who are counting the days done will be stressed out worrying about the other details.
When this is finished, the engaged party should inform family and friends about it to avoid getting a similar item as a wedding gift. This is usually done by having this printed on the invitation.
If the couple is close to those attending the event, it wouldn’t hurt to do this by saying it up front. The same answer can be given to those who decide to ask.
Guests who are looking for a gift will be escorted around by the sales clerk explaining which items are the only ones left that have not been selected. If nothing is within the budget of those who want to buy a gift, the store can suggest giving a gift certificate instead as the present.
There are some who find the idea of a bridal registry offensive. This is because the couple is asking for something instead of just being thankful of whatever is given. On the other hand, it serves the purpose of only getting the essentials, which is why more people are doing the same thing.
There are incidents wherein the newly weds still get the same item perhaps because the guest did not have time to look at the bridal registry. Fortunately, most retailers will allow this to be exchanged for something else.
In fact, some couples have even went to the extent of registering for this online so that guests from out of town can check what gifts can be given for the wedding.
Aside from the usual home appliances that come from the bridal registry, others have decided to also add to the wish list certain things after the wedding. This can be the airfare for the dream honeymoon destination, a guided tour while staying there, a romantic dinner in a fancy restaurant and body care in a spa.
This is considered to be practical given that the couple has already spent so much for the wedding preparations.
Registries are also being done for newborn babies. Instead of those expensive items, toys and accessories are the usual things that parents ask for which will be very useful for the infant.
The wedding registry is simply a wish list. Not all of the items may be given during that special day but most of the items will surely be a big help for those who have decided to start a new life together as husband and wife.
Categories: Airfare Information Tags: Airfare, chicago airfare sale, deals, Flights, tickets, Travel
India Airfare Taxes
india airfare taxes
[mage lang="en" source="flickr"]india airfare taxes[/mage]
Online Flights, Hotels and Holidays Booking in India – Tips and Tricks to Beat Travel Portal Price
It is raining travel portals in India and more and more Indian consumers are booking their flights, hotels and holidays online than ever before. There are about a dozen travel sites that are in fierce competition with one another to increase market share cashing on the huge consumer boom triggered by salary hikes and more disposable income of Indian middle class. Some of the leading names catering the Indian market are makemytrip, cleartrip, yatra, ezeego1, travelguru, arzoo, travelchacha, travelmasti and indiatimes travel.
As more choices are present before the Indian consumers it is becoming increasingly difficult for them to pick up the right one where they will not only get a good deal but good services as well. My personal experience is that most of these portals have very little price differentiation but the customer service, usability and transparency makes them different from one another.
Regarding airfares I think cleartrip scores above the rest as they have a no nonsense intuitive interface and also give the real fare unlike makemytrip and others who try to hide the airport tax part till the last checkout page. So when you are comparing the fares don’t be lured by the low list prices because you have to shell out much more than what you see as fare.
Another important advice is that unless you are very much sure about your itineraries look out for cancellation and modification charges which could take a toll on your budget. Cheap tickets always come with some inflexibility and there may be some cases where the journey date is not at all changeable. So read the fine print before committing as otherwise your good deal could turn out to be a costly affair.
It is not only the charges that hurts but sometimes a poor customer service can give you a lot of pain specially when you try to make a last minute change. I experienced once such nightmare with makemytrip about 6 months back when their servers failed to send the e-ticket and I had to try for almost 2 hours to get to speak to a customer service representative to get my PNR number. I have left makemytrip since then and I am not sure whether their customer help desk have improved by this time but this could be a major area for worry for any customer who needs help.
So do your own research if you are trying out a new travel portal for the first time and don’t just get swayed by advertisements. There are reviews in product review websites which are the best sources of unbiased information about service and overall experience and they are usually written by real customers. Blogs are also sources for such information which can actually provide insights about the deals or raw deals that a customer gets from the ever growing online travel booking business.
For hotel prices I will tell you a trick that has worked for me many a times. I have always booked hotels and even 4 star and heritage hotels well below the lowest prices as published in these portals. What a smart consumer can do is get the reference price from the travel portals and then directly negotiate with the hotel for an even better price or some freebies (like free airport transfer) and I will tell you that it can save you up to 25%.
Another common mistake that many travelers do is that they forget about the airlines that fly them and think only about the travel portals. Don’t forget to look into the airlines website especially if you are planning to take a low cost carrier. There is a chance that you can get a better deal there and then why not grab it.
If you can afford to fly last minute chances are that you get killer deals directly from the airlines and so if you have the time don’t be in a hurry to book in advance. Instead wait for weekdays or weekend deals offered last moment and be ready to grab them as it comes. If you are flying main routes like Delhi Mumbai or Mumbai Calcutta chances are they you get discount prices in full service carriers in last minute as the airlines would be desperate to sell off the available seats.
Lastly for flight and hotel deals airlines sites are a must visit as they regularly have good deals. Indian which may be not so fashionable like Jet or Kingfisher always have great pan India holiday deals thought out the seasons and many people don’t actually know about them. Nowadays budget airlines like Spice Jet are also offering flight and hotel deals but you need to compare with other offers before buying.
So it is not only the portals that you offer you the best deal and there is no compelling reason to be loyal to only one portal. Spend some time on research and pick up the best deal whoever offers it to you.
But don’t fall into the cash back trap which is offered by most portals with some credit card or the other. Take them only when you are sure that you can pay off the full bill as otherwise you will end up paying more in interest than what you save. As the portals themselves are finding it hard to strike good deals with airlines and hotels the cash back is the only easy option for them to make their prices appear attractive to consumers.
Airfare Questions:
Cheapest way to book domestic flight tickets in India?
I was just browsing domestic Indian flight fares on the Web, most of the airlines/sites have huge taxes + fees, almost equivalent or more than the airfare. I could use some tips here to buy the tickets with out incurring too much fees.
We are flying from Newark to Delhi, we want to take the earliest flight in the morning to either Hyderabad or Vizag.
If we have some one we can go to airport and buy the tickets for us, would it be beneficial economically?
If you want to book your ticket in INDIA you can call me at 09999410009 or you can mail me at ngarg.abc@gmail.com. or visit http://travelabc.webs.com . I am a ticket booking agent in Gurgaon India. I can surely help you out.
Airfare Guarantee
airfare guarantee
How to Avoid Becoming the Victim of a Cheap Airfare Scam
I often read posts on the Internet of how people have fallen victim to “cheap airfare” scams. This mostly applies to international air travel. I am not talking about those that searched for cheap airfare, found a good deal and when they tried to book it that fare was no longer available. Many times these are not scams but they are often the result of the dynamics of airline pricing. I am more talking about people that paid money and then either did not get a ticket or got a ticket but did not have a confirmed reservation. Having a ticket DOES NOT mean you have a confirmed reservation. Here are some basic steps that you can take to protect yourself.
1. Use common sense
If a deal is too good to be true then, well you know the rest…. If you get a quote from one source that beats all of the other sources you have checked by 30% or more then be extra careful. I am not saying stay away but definitely investigate further. Ask questions like
What airline will I be flying on?
Will this be a CONFIRMED reservation or will this be a “on request” reservation?
What class of service will I be booked in (this is not economy or coach)? This is a letter designation such as U, T, Z …
What is the fare basis code? This is a serious of letter and numbers such AP21NR or similar.
Once yo have this information call a competitor (not the airline), give them the travel dates, and ask them if they can book you into the class of service using that fare basis code. If they can not explain that their competitor claims that they can. See what they say.
2. Check for Credentials
Almost all reputable sellers of travel are members of one or more of the following organizations.
ASTA – American Society of Travel Agents
USTOA – United States Tour Operators Association
IATAN – International Airline Travel Agency Network
BBB – Better Business Bureau
These organizations do a pretty good job vetting their members for scammers but it is no guarantee.
3. Pay by Credit Card only
This is the most important form of protection. If you decide to go for it then pay by credit card only. If the seller refuses credit cards or tries to entice you to pay by another form of payment then STAY AWAY. Reputable sellers will always accept credit cards for payment. The reason you want to pay by credit card is that if you have become the victim of a scam or fraud then you can simply dispute the charge stating that you have become the victim of a scam. The credit card will not make you pay for it. So, at least you will not be out of a chunk of change.
4. Check the Status of your Ticket and Reservation
Once you receive your ticket (or e-mail e-ticket confirmation) do the following.
If you received a paper ticket check the status box for either HK or OK code. If you see any other code call the airline and inquire what it means. If they state that you are not holding a confirmed reservation, call the seller and demand an explanation. Tell him/her that you were under the impression that you had bought a confirmed reservation and that if they can not get you a confirmed reservation within 24 hrs that you will call the credit card company and dispute the charge.
If you have received an e-mail with an e-ticket confirmation, call the airline and make sure that the reservation actually exists and that the seats are confirmed. A good way to do this is by simply asking them if you could add a special meal request or if you could request a window or aisle seat. If they have your reservation and everything is OK then neither should be a problem. Also ask them to verify that all segments of your ticket are confirmed. Some scammers will place your reservation “on request” for your return home trip.
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Airfare Boston To Dc
airfare boston to dc
Affordable 3 Day weekend?
My girlfriend and I are trying to plan a 3 day escape from Boston to Washington DC for valentine days weekend. We are both in college, our budget is $550 for a round trip airfare, hotel,touring, and food. Does anyone know the best way to stretch this money out? My girlfriend is leaving it to me to figure it out /:
try one of those websites like Travelocity.com or Hotwire.com , you can usually find really good deals bc hotels put rooms aside for these websites that are cheaper so they can rent out all of their rooms
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