The Most Out of Your Travel Agent

1. First of all, when contacting a travel agent, whether in person or online, don't hesitate to give them your name - don't worry, most agents won't spam you back. Without your name when you're asking for a valuable travel advice most agents won't take your request too seriously. Call if you wish but most agents prefer not to take notes, email is a way to go and for an agent to look up a fare often a time means he has to plug in a name, so might as well that name will be your real name. If you decide not to accept the booking the reservation will expire and no harm done. If you decide later to purchase the reservation the agent does not have to rekey it into the system all over again.

2. If you're trying to be you own travel agent, even in part, say you plan to book your own hotels online, disclose it to the agent your are contacting for assistance, he/she may still be interested to help you with the rest of your travel arrangements. Don't hide your intentions from the agent as agents don't like to be used for information gathering purposes only.

3. If at all possible, always contact your travel agent or destination specialist as soon as you know when and where you wish to travel, not last minute before your intended departure. That is even more important when you're planning a trip to a lesser frequented destination.

4. Don't book your flights and hotels online and ask a travel agent to do the rest, namely the difficult parts, such as complex transportation connections, travel arrangements in remote locations or to book segments that you just feel are not safe for you to book online yourself. Give your agent to design and book your entire trip for you. The worst you can do is design your own vacation package, then copy and email the same request to dozen different agents to see who may be the lowest bidder. Yes, the internet is perfect for that kind of information gathering but look at this from a perspective of a travel agent. If he/she knows you are sending the same request to dozen agents many of them will not be too interested in dealing with you. Then again, telling them the truth they will appreciate knowing what you are doing and approach the whole thing quite differently and in the end they just might offer you a deal.

5. If you're after booking shoe-string cost of travel, for example wishing to book the lowest type of accommodations, best be your own travel agent. Do realize that agents can't book services that are simply too cheap to begin with, not to mention that that kind of suppliers do not pay agent s any kind of commission. The agent may still help you but keep in mind he will be doing you a favor and will be working for you at no charge. If so, appreciate it, email your thank you.

Do realize that to ask an agent million questions, get all the answers, including time consuming quotes, only for you to never replay again is definitely rude and turns agents off completely. If you are polite and respectful many will often work without any commitment on your part, providing you with information you need, working for free. But because of those that just siphon info out of agents so they could possibly book travel on their own leaves not only a sour taste in agent's mouth but certainly induces the decision to charge au upfront planning fees when a next inquiry comes.

6. On another hand, when it comes to upper end accommodations keep in mind these hotels routinely offer discounts to agents that agents can markup and still offer you room costs below hotel rack rates. Genuine agent is not interested in selling you a higher end hotel in order to make a higher commission but to tailor in a better trip experience for you where he deems it desirable.

7. Keep in mind that there is a difference between a travel agent and a so called Destination Specialist. Most travel agents use online reservation systems to book transportation, hotel and vacation packages. They essentially book or resell ready-to-sell travel offers from a variety of suppliers that do not require more than filling in your name and dates of travel. When it comes to you needing customized arrangements, they will need to contact tour operators and destination specialists that are either part of their consortium or a network they belong to. Depending on the connections they have they will or will not be able to help you.

8. Destination Specialists pride themselves in really knowing their destinations. Many of them have indeed not only traveled extensively but know a particular destination inside-out so they can arrange travel logistics for you based on knowing, rather than looking it up in a brochure or some kind of data base. Many Destination Specialists specialize in difficult, custom designed itineraries and do not sell travel packages. Often a time though not always that kind of service reflects higher markup.

9. Last, please note that many destination specialists as well as travel agents work 110 or more hours per week because especially custom-design travel is indeed very time consuming. Being good at travel logistics does take experience and while with the internet it seems second nature to be able to arrange travel on your own, many travel professional are indeed very good at what they do! They do know more about travel than you, give them a chance, they can save you not only money but also many headaches and above all, they can assure not only that you'll travel worry-free but that you may have a trip of your life! Keep in mind, a good agent is not after selling you a single ticket or a package tour, they want you to become a repeat client, their go-to-travel processional for rest of your life.

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Money Saving Travel Tips

When changing money you should avoid doing so at the airport or at your hotel, these tend to offer worse exchange rates than if changing elsewhere. It's usually cheapest and safest to change money at a bank.

Don't change money on the black market, it's first of all illegal as well as it makes you very vulnerable to fraudsters.

It's always cheaper to use debit (cash) card rather than credit card, when withdrawing cash from ATM machines. Because withdrawing cash on your credit card is a borrowing which you must pay interest on. Withdrawing cash from your debit card is taking out your own money and therefore no interests are charged.

There can be fee involved withdrawing cash whether you use debit or credit card. Money saving travel tips recommends always checking the price structure prior to travelling. You might want to get a card that does not charge you any fees for withdrawing cash, especially if you travel frequently.

Use a bank based ATM machine rather than cash machine in any other location, e.g. in a shopping mall or petrol station. Because if the ATM machine happens to "eat" your card for some reason, you will have much more difficulties sorting it out if you haven't used a bank based machine.

You pay a fee every time you buy or sell foreign currency so if you don't spend all your foreign currency it might be best to keep it until next time you travel... unless it's lot of money or you know for sure that you will not be travelling again for a while. However, some foreign exchange companies do offer to exchange your leftover foreign money without a fee if you bought the money from them and have the receipt.

The currency rate can genuinely affect how much your total travel cost will be. Currency exchange rates fluctuate on regular basis so it makes good sense to time your visit when your own currency is strong against the local currency... that could save you some serious hard earned cash.

You can find more money saving travel tips at Top Travel Tips.

Ways to Make Traveling with a Disability Easier

The following travel tips, resources and information for the disabled will help make trips, tours, holidays and vacations a lot easier for you, or for a child with a disability, whether short-term or long-term

1. Plan your trip well in advance! Do you need to order extra supplements, medications or renew prescriptions, fix eyeglasses or change prescriptions, get a physical, have dental work done, have your wheelchair fixed or tuned up, etc.?

2. If possible, always book your travel through an agency that specializes in helping people with disabilities. This is important because specialized travel agents and tour operators for the disabled are experienced and can save you some awful headaches.

They offer a lot of good tips and a wide range of services for the handicapped traveler. Among other things, they can arrange for a: wheelchair at the airport, wheelchair accessible hotel room, wheelchair rental, lift-equipped accessible van, full van, minivan, RV, handicap scooter, or any other handicap vehicle.

Travel agents for the disabled can help arrange accessible transportation, help plan the best accessible cruise, give cruise line and cruising tips, arrange travel insurance and take care of special needs.

Agents can check with hotels for: inner and outer door widths to accommodate your wheelchair, ADA-approved handicap bath tubs, grab bars, or for roll-in showers. Just tell them your needs.

Travel agents can help you find cheap airfare, cheap tickets, cheap flights, cheap travel auto insurance, cheap hotels, cheap car rentals, cheap cruises, cheap vacations and cheap travel of all kinds.

3. Besides taking along your travel agent's phone number, you'll also want to take with you the phone numbers for the travel agencies that specialize in disabled travel at your destination, in the event you can't reach your own agent.

These travel agents may know how to solve problems that come up regarding your hotel, car or van rentals, etc., even if you didn't order your tickets through them.

4. When traveling to another city, check out the local health and medical associations before you go. For example, get the phone numbers for the local MS chapter if you have MS. These organizations can be great resources.

They usually know what museums, restaurants, theaters & other local facilities are wheelchair accessible and where you can get oxygen, emergency supplies or medical assistance. They may be able to help you with any problems that arise.

5. If you plan to rent a handicap scooter, wheelchair, electric wheelchair, handicap van, full van, mini-van, RV or other vehicle in another city, don't wait until you get there. Make all the arrangements before you leave on your trip.

Make sure you ask any specifics like, are there tie-downs, ramps, or hoists, etc. Check on what van, RV, car or auto insurance you'll need before you go.

6. Don't leave anything to chance. If you can, double-check all the arrangements your travel agent makes. Call the airlines, hotels, scooter, wheelchair, car, RV or van rental companies, medical equipment rental companies, etc., and verify the specifics, especially if you're traveling in a wheelchair or have any other special needs like oxygen.

This is important if you haven't used the agent before.

7. If you need oxygen or any other special medical equipment, call airlines and suppliers well in advance of your trip. Don't wait until the last minute. Start calling them as soon as you know you're going to be traveling or taking a trip.

Then double-check with your travel agent and the airline at least three to four days before your flight.

8. Arrive early at the airport. It's better to wait around there than miss your plane. This will eliminate some of the pre-trip anxiety you might feel and make for more leisurely travel. This seems like common knowledge but many people still arrive at the gate just in the nick of time.

With all that's going on in the world today there are many reasons why you want to allow for more time at the airport.

9. In your airplane carry-on bag keep copies of the prescriptions for your medications and eyeglasses, extra eyeglasses, sunglasses, all your medications and supplements, and a list of your doctor, dentist and other health professionals with their addresses, and phone numbers.

Include your doctor's fax number for prescriptions in case you lose your medications. Keep duplicate copies of these in your luggage and at home by the telephone. Know where your medical records are kept.

10. When you travel, and for any other time too, if you take medications, learn their names and exactly what they're for if you don't know. People come into the emergency room all the time and don't know what medications they're taking. You might be surprised to find out that most people say 'a little yellow pill' or 'a white capsule', etc.

Emergency workers need to know what you're taking so they don't give you medication that would interact adversely with it, overdose you or somehow interfere with their treatment and your recovery.

11. If you're traveling by air, tell the flight attendants when you board, of any medical problem you might encounter on your flight. Note the location of the closest restroom before getting seated. Tell the flight attendant if you think you'll need assistance getting to it during the flight.

You may need or want an aisle seat for easy access to the restrooms. Discuss seating with your travel agent.

12. If you need someone to travel with you, ask your travel agent for ideas or suggestions. Call the local chapters of medical associations and ask if they can recommend a travel assistant or travel companion to help or accompany you.

There are national companies who offer traveling nurses, traveling companions or travel assistants to accompany disabled travelers or people with serious medical issues.

13. Make sure to take with you: any medical cards, Medicare cards, discount cards, car or auto rental discount cards, auto insurance policy numbers and agent's phone number, passport, airline tickets, etickets, American Express Travelers Cheques, debit cards, credit cards, and drivers license. Photocopy everything.

Keep photocopies in your luggage and at home by the telephone or someplace where someone has access to it in case you need it.

14. Read everything you can about traveling with a disability. Read disabled travel books, access guides, accessible guidebooks, disability travel articles and travel publications for the disabled traveler. Read the personal travel experiences of wheelchair users and others who have traveled with disabilities. Be informed.

Top 5 Travel Tips

Travel Tips #1 - Be open and don't plan everything out:

"Do it with the locals." This is a huge travel tip to follow when traveling. You can never beat the knowledge of a local and I would highly suggest to avoid sitting at your computer and trying to figure everything out.

The KEY is to get a few travel tips about the area. The next step is to myspace or facebook some locals down there and ask them what's cool and if you could meet up for a day or two to have some local fun with them. Most locals will love this opportunity and the experiences you have from that are priceless. I still remember a time in the Brazil where I did this and ended up in some tribe in the Amazon being taught Capawara by a Capawara Master. I could have never planned that from a desktop.

Travel Tips #2 - Immerse yourself in the culture:

Everyday you should be trying something new but more importantly you should constantly be stepping out of your comfort zone.

One of the best travel tips I can give you is this "Give yourself all the experiences you can h." Experiences are directly relate to your personality and ultimately the quality of life you are going to have.

Here's some interesting information. When you're out of your comfort zone you fall into what's called the state of dissonance. The body and minds goal is to become comfortable again so as it starts to eliminate the state of dissonance and creates comfort again. When this process happens the body mind and expands, personality grows, lessons are learned and you can now handle more situations in life. Next time you travel try not to create a home away from home and instead let whereever you are at impact you.

Travel Tips #3 - Chose your travel companions wisely:

This travel tip is an all encompassing principle in life. It has become apparent in these last few years of traveling that the quality of life and our fulfillment and happiness is greatly effect by the support and relationships around us.

I have seen to many travelers take off on a journey with someone that shares the same dream to travel but completely different lifestyle and it ruining the trip for them. The sad part is you find these people in amazing place completely involved in this drama scene instead of being involved in the beauty and culture.

The moment this became apparent was 3 years ago in Costa Rica. I was sitting on the beach in a surf town named Montezuma. The sun was beginning to set and it was one of those perfect conditions for a beautiful one.

While sitting there a hostel roommate sat down next to me and after a few questions about his travel he began to release all of this built up baggage he was holding in about his travel companion. While sitting there watching this beautiful sun set I realized he had no clue it was happening. The truth is not everyone is a good travel companion for you but when you do travel with the right one your traveling and experiences are going to be 100 times better.

Travel Tips #4 - Tie up any loss ends and disconnect from your life at home:

Technology was supposed to give us freedom and instead it has started to control us. Most people can't go more then three days with out checking email or their personal site, 5 minutes with out responding to a text message and a few days with out checking in with their peeps.

The point to catch here is where ever you are physically at in life is REALITY. Anything that's in not present such as home, old friends, family, old lifestyles is a memory and more importantly only a thought. There is a famous quote I love to reflect on:

"You can clutch the past so tightly to your chest that it leaves your arms too full to embrace the present." ~Jan Glidewell

This is a very important principle in life and travel. You have a certain amount of energy a day, you can either place that energy on a thought in your head or you can place it on the experiences in the present. Where you consistently place your energy will determine who you are and how much fulfillment you get out of life.

Travel Tips #5 - Focus more on the experience then a trophy picture to show your friends:

This travel tip ties into travel tip #4. What I always find fascinating is the amount of people that go out traveling just to take pictures and show them off to their friends back home. Pictures are great for reflection and to keep your memory bank full of good moments and they are not good when it turns into competition and distractions from the moment.