Winter Car Travel Safety

Know What to ExpectWeather forecasts are never 100 percent, but it is always a good idea to start watching the weather for your home and your route a few days before your trip.

Consider your entire route, because you can have gorgeous weather in your start and end cities but have a storm in a mountain range between.

Be Prepared to Change PlansIf you see that bad weather is approaching, consider leaving a day early to miss it altogether if it is on your route and expected to pass before your return home. Also, see if there is another, safer route where bad weather is not expected.

You might also consider purchasing trip cancellation insurance for an expensive trip featuring reservations that cannot be canceled (or have high fees for doing so). Be sure to read the fine print, however, and ensure whether cancellation for bad weather is covered.

Also, be sure you know the cancellation policies for all your reservations. Have print-outs in the car during your travels that are kept in the glove box, allowing you to quickly call and cancel or change them.

Be Prepared for Winter WeatherBefore you travel, you must have a winter weather kit for the car. It is best to assume you will be in your car, without heat, for a stretch of time. This is especially important with kids. You should bring:

•Blankets•Water bottles•Snacks•Fully charged cell phone (even one with a closed account is better than none. You can still dial 911).•Flares•Jumper cables•First aid kit•MedicationsAlso be sure to travel with some sort of roadside protection. AAA is an option, but not the only choice. Your car warranty might automatically include it, and many auto insurance companies offer it for just a couple bucks a month extra. Be sure you not only have it, but have the information to reach someone in your glove box.

Also, don’t let location make you complacent. Freak storms can hit in the deep south, and it takes very little snow in mild climates to make roads treacherous.

Handle Winter Weather When it HappensIf you are caught in winter weather, don’t be afraid to pull over for a nasty condition to pass or to stop en route and stay an extra night. Safety should be the top concern.

It is also a good idea to travel with tire chains. Be sure you know how to properly use them. Also, realize that chains and four-wheel drive vehicles are not crash-free and precautions are still needed.

Also, be sure you know how to drive in the bad weather. Do not slam on the brakes if you start to slide, for example.

 Get more travel related tips on camping, hiking, backpacking, air, train, cruise travel on Trip Planner

Travel Trend Research Using Google Trends â?? Part 1

The travel industry is experiencing new challenges with the increasing price of fuel, worsening airport delays and the weak US dollar. Fortunately, vacationers are getting smarter instead of giving up and staying home. They are comparing domestic and foreign currencies to help choose destinations, comparing road vs. air travel, purchasing all-inclusive travel packages and even rediscovering travel destinations close to home. But where is everyone going, and more importantly, what types of destinations are attracting them?

Google Trends is an online tool that offers insight into travel trends around the world. The tool is provided by Google Labs and shows comparisons of popularity for different search phrases. Try it for yourself: go to Google Trends (see the link at the end of this article), copy “business travel, vacation travel, holiday travel” (with commas but without quotes) into the text box and hit the Search Trends button.

Do you see a graph with a colored line for each of the three phrases you entered? Notice the years listed along the x-axis, including tick marks at each quarter year. Google Trends uses the first phrase in your list as a baseline for comparison to the remaining phrases. Can you see how interest in vacation and holiday travel is higher than interest in business travel?

Seasonal trends vary for the different travel types. For example, interest in vacation travel is highest in January and steadily declines toward December. Holiday travel follows a similar trend except for a large surge in interest during midyear (meaning summer in the northern hemisphere). Business travel has constant popularity throughout the year except for a drop in December, when weary road warriors spend more time with family for the holidays.

Now let’s look at regional interest for your search phrases. Near the bottom of the page, change the selection in the “Rank by” drop-down list, then look at the regions with the most searches for those phrases (remember, these are the places where online searches originated, not the places where people want to visit). You’ll see “vacation travel” is a popular phrase in Canada, the USA and the United Kingdom, while “holiday travel” is popular in the UK, Ireland, New Zealand and Australia. This knowledge can help you identify important keywords for target audiences in different regions.

It’s important to understand that the data in Google Trends is normalized, meaning the results are ranked in comparison to all searches for the given area. This keeps areas with high populations from overwhelming the results in comparison to other regions. The benefit is you can estimate the percent interest from a region’s population independently of the size of the population. In our example, there might be more people in New York than London searching for “business travel”, but according to Google Trends, a higher percentage of London’s than New York’s population is interested in business travel.

In Part 2 we’ll explore travel trends by destination type.

Allahabad Travel Guide

Allahabad is the English name of a city of Uttar Pradesh. The name is derived from the one given to the city by the Mughal Emperor Akbar in 1583. The name in Indian languages or in India generally is Ilahabad; ilah being Arabic for “(a) god” (in this context from Din-i-Ilahi, the religion founded by Akbar), and “-abad” is Persian for “place of”.

The ancient name of the city is Prayaga (Sanskrit for “place of sacrifice”, Prayag in modern Hindi) and is believed to be the spot where Brahma offered his first sacrifice after creating the world. It is one of four sites of the Kumbh Mela, the others being Haridwar, Ujjain and Nasik. It has a position of importance in the Hindu religion and mythology since it is situated at the confluence of the holy rivers Ganga and Yamuna, and Hindu belief says that the invisible Sarasvati River joins here also. Allahabad or Prayagraj is a historian’s paradise.

History lies embedded everywhere, in its fields, forests and settlements. Forty-eight kilometres, towards the southwest, on the placid banks of the Jamuna, the ruins of Kaushambi, at one time capital of the Vatsa kingdom and later a thriving center of Buddhism, bear silent testimony to a forgotten and bygone era. On the eastern side, across the river Ganga and connected to the city by the Shastri Bridge is Jhunsi, identified with the ancient city of Pratisthanpur, capital of the Chandra dynasty.

About 58 kilometres northwest is the medieval site of Kara with its impressive wreckage of Jayachand’s fort. Sringverpur, another ancient site discovered relatively recently, has become a major attraction for tourists and antiquarians alike. Prayag is an extremely important and integral part of the Ganga Yamuna Doab, and its history is inherently tied with that of the Doab region, right from the inception of the town. The city was known earlier as Prayaga – a name that is still commonly used. That it is an ancient town, is illustrated by supposed references in the Vedas to Prayag, where Brahma, the Hindu Creator of the Universe, is believed to have attended a sacrificial ritual.

Excavations have revealed Northern Black Polished ware objects in Prayag, further corroborating the conjecture that Prayag existed as a town as early as 600 B.C. The Puranas record that Yayati left Prayag and conquered the region of Saptha Sindhu. His five sons Yadu, Druhyu, Puru, Anu and Turvashu became the main tribes of the Rigveda. When the Aryans first settled in what they termed the Aryavarta, or Madhyadesha, Prayag or Kaushambi was an important part of their territory.

The Vatsa (a branch of the early Indo-Aryans) were rulers of Hastinapur (near present day Delhi), and they established the town of Kaushambi near present day Prayag. They shifted their capital to Kaushambi when Hastinapur was destroyed by floods. In the times of the Ramayana, Prayag was made up of a few rishis’ huts at the confluence of the sacred rivers, and much of the vats country was continuous jungle. Lord Rama, the main protagonist in the Ramayana, spent some time here, at the Ashram of Sage Bharadwaj, before proceeding to nearby Chitrakoot.

For more information please follow the link – Allahabad Travel Guide

Austria Travel Guide

Austria is a land-locked alpine country in Central Europe bordering Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the west, Germany and Czech Republic to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east and Slovenia and Italy to the south. Austria, along with neighboring Switzerland, is the winter sports capital of Europe. However, it is just as popular for summer tourists who visit its historic cities and villages and hike in the magnificent scenery of the alps.

Today’s Austria is what was once the German speaking core and center of power for the large multi-ethnic Austro-Hungarian Empire. This empire stretched eastwards from present-day Austria through much of east-central and south-central Europe. While Prussia united the German states to the north into one “Germany” in the latter part of the 19th Century, Austria remained oriented eastwards towards its empire. However, from the start of the 20th century, the political history of Austria has been closely linked to the misfortunes and disasters of modern German history, mainly the First and Second World Wars and their aftermath.

The modern republic of Austria came into being in 1918 as a result of its defeat in World War I. In its wake, the empire split into Austria’s current borders, Hungary, southern Poland (which also came from the Russian and German empires), Czechoslovakia and most of Yugoslavia. Following an unresisted invasion and annexation by Nazi Germany in 1938, Austria more or less functioned as a part of Nazi Germany during the Second World War. Thus the majority of the population initially supported Hitler and their incorporation into Germany. Austrian soldiers also fought in the Wehrmacht, cities were bombed heavily by the Allies and concentration camps existed on Austrian soil (e.g. Mauthausen near Linz). 

In 1945, Austria was divided into zones of occupation like Germany. However unlike Germany, Austria was not subject to any further territorial loses. A State Treaty signed in 1955 ended the Allied and Soviet occupation, recognized Austria’s independence, and forbade future unification with Germany. A constitutional law of that same year declared the country’s “perpetual neutrality”, which was a condition for Soviet military withdrawal, and saved Austria from Germany’s fate of a divided nation with a divided capital. This neutrality, once ingrained as part of the Austrian cultural identity, has been called into question since the Soviet Union’s collapse of 1991 and Austria’s entry into the European Union in 1995. A prosperous country, Austria entered the European Monetary Union in 1999, and the Euro currency replaced the Schilling in 2002.

For more information please follow the link – Austria Travel Guide

Ten Things You Gotta Do in Costa Rica Before Going Home!

OK, so you’re in Costa Rica. Now what? Well, I’m sure you’ve got your tours and hotels all figured out, which is great! However before you get back on that plane and tell all your friends and family about your tropical experience, you’ve gotta do this!

1. Canopy Tours – Fly through the sky! This activity is truly unique to Costa Rica. Very few countries in the world can offer forest canopy viewing like this place.

2. Volcanoes – I’ve lived here for almost six years and I have to say, seeing an active volcano or a dormant one is still an incredible wonder to me. There are 112 volcanoes in Costa Rica, you gotta check one out!

3. Local Cuisine – Sure vacations are all about indulging in great restaurants and great food. And I’m sure the fright of eating at a not so-respectable restaurant wins over the adventurous side of many travelers. But trust me, if you don’t eat at a local soda (restaurant) you really haven’t lived. They are cute, simple, full of fresh ingredients and almost always delicious. So take a risk, go LOCAL.

4. Public Transportation – I am a huge fan of local transportation. Where else can you see harried business people, women with five kids and baskets filled with live chickens and other produce, and working men with machetes all in the same spot at one time. So get on board and get a glimpse at local life from every aspect.

5. Beach Bumming – Did you know that there are over 800 miles of beautiful coastline in Costa Rica. If you don’t make it to one of the beaches either on the Pacific side or the Caribbean you are really missing out!

6. Butterflies – Butterflies have a great rep in Costa Rica. And they should! There are over 1000 different species and you can see them all first hand in any one of the numerous butterfly gardens found all over the country.

7. The Children’s Museum – I know, this doesn’t look like something that belongs on this list. But let me tell you, every time I go to this museum I am more and more impressed with it. The exhibits will entertain everyone from two years old to 102!

8. National Parks – Costa Rica has over 25% protected land. More than any other country in the world. It is filled with National Parks, Wildlife refuges, Biological Reserves and a lot more. Take a tour full of tropical flora and at-most-times friendly fauna!

9. Water Sports – With so much water flowing around and through the country it only makes sense to either hop on a surf board, jet ski, boat, kayak, raft or canoe to check out what all the hype is about. Believe me, you won’t be disappointed.

10. Shopping – Yeah sure it’s fun to hit some of the touristy shops, but how about the local ones. I bet you never thought that the coolest souvenirs can come from local supermarkets, hardware stores or shops that mainly cater to the locals. Get the full experience and see what the locals are buying.

I can help you make sure you get a taste of it all, go to MuchaCostaRica and live a little!

Travel Tips for an Incredible Journey

Travel To Your Destination in Europe

If you are booking a trip to Europe you will need a great hotel. Find a hotel that treats you well, has luxuries offered if you choose to use them such as a spa and indoor pool, a clean hotel, friendly hotel, and a hotel that will not break the bank. Or book an apartment or villa with the same top notch qualities.
Destination Europe may be the world’s second smallest continent but it contains in a whole load of several countries, each of them unique, and each one having that ’special something’ that makes them one of the best holiday destination in the world.
Europe possesses 48 countries in total; variety in Europe is almost unparalleled, with a great mix of languages, foods, climates landscapes, religion and traditions. Sun yourself on Greece’s beaches, snuggle up in a log cabin in Norway, ski the Alps in Switzerland, eat pasta in Italy, drink vodka in Russia, dance salsa in Spain or visit Santa in Lapland.
Enjoy traveling Europe. Maybe your destination is Cyprus. Cyprus is just like the postcard you envision. Crystal blue water of the Mediterranean Sea, soft sand, and lush meadows. All of this for you to sit back and just take in. You and your family may want to explore Cyprus. Or perhaps you and your spouse or significant other wants to get away for a romantic trip.
If your destination is Greece you can try many of the mouth watering Greek foods offered. Literally eat your way through Greece. Bring your camera to take photos of the rich history Greece has to offer. Your children will learn a lot by traveling with you. Or you and your loved one can walk the romantic streets of Greece together and enjoy each other’s company. Visions of brilliant sunsets reflecting off of the dark blue water and a glass of wine to relax and enjoy every single moment. Get lost in Greece’s pleasures.
Maybe you are going to the Greek Islands for your vacation. You can stay on one island or enjoy traveling from island to island to see as much as you are able. Take a sailboat or a yacht. Find out what each Greek Island has to offer. It will be educational, interesting and fun to meet the island people. Try different menus from each island. You will not find any bluer waters than on the Greek Islands.
Be treated the way you deserve to especially on your vacation travels. Create memories to last a lifetime. Escape now.

Santorini Travel – Greece

Santorini is a small archipelago of the volcanic islands situated in the southern Aegean Sea. The archipelago is circular in shape, which is located nearly 200 kilometres southeast from the mainland of Greece. It is also called Thera, which is located among the Cyclades Islands that are in the centre of the Aegean Sea. Along with Mykonos, Santorini Island is the most renowned holiday destination in Greece. The archipelago was also known as Kalisti and Strongiliand and it was the place of one of the most active and the largest volcanic eruptions; however, what remains present day is a subaqueous volcano and a caldera.
Santorini Island consists of one of the most awesome landscapes in the world. The conventional villages of this island, which are constructed on tall cliffs, provide an exciting view over the subaqueous volcano. This breathtaking view will definitely make you excited. By seeing such beautiful sites, you must not miss Oia, which is the site endowed with the most renowned and surprising sunsets.
Various excavations on Santorini Archipelago reveal human cliff dwelling dating back to 3,000 BC and they show that the cultures such as the Minoans (Cretans) lived on this island. There are two young islands situated in the centre of Santorini Island, which are called Nea Kameni and Palea Kameni. Nea Kameni is a 425-year-old island; however, Palea Kameni is a 2,000-year-old island.
Hiking is one of the most popular amusements in Greek tourism. Santorini Greece Hiking is the most time-consuming excursion tour, which may consume about 3 hours. This hiking starts in Fira, the capital of the island, and ends in Oia, the wonderful village. Sea excursions are some other popular option for tours on this island. Visiting Nea Kameni and Palea Kameni by boat is a marvellous way to cruise the caldera and seeing the beauty of the high cliffs that surround these islands will make the trip a memorable one.
The Santorini Island is esteemed as one of the loveliest islands and it has many beautiful beaches. The most popular beaches of this island are Kamari, Monolithos, Perissa, and the Red Beach. Kamari, Monilithos, and Perissa have endless and extensive black sand with deep-blue water though the renowned Greek Red Beach is comprised red and black volcanic rocks. These beaches are located on the eastern part of the island and they are some of the main attractions of Santorini Island since they are in the prime area of the island. The Red Beach is situated in a peaceful area, which attracts many tourists all over the world. This beach is the most popular beach of this island. You can find many popular bars, beach-bars, cafés, hotels, and taverns in this island.
Santorini Archipelago is also popular for its scintillating nightlife. You can find almost all kinds of popular nightlife activities in the prime touristic localities such as Fira, Kamari, Oia, and Perisa. Oia is the most reliable place for newly married couples. You can find many decent bars, cafés, and clubs during night. Some of the popular accommodation-providing hotels and apartments are Aeolos Villas, Reverie Apartments, Smaro Studios, Tamarix Del Mar Five-Star Luxury Hotel & Suites, Villa Odyssey, and Villa Rena.