For many people, traveling to places like Italy takes years and years to save for. When you choose to travel to Italy, it is important to select an appropriate budget Italy vacation package. If you live on a budget, and must carefully guard the expenses that you incur, it is very important that you select a budget Italy vacation package. Many people feel that if they select a budget Italy vacation package that they will have less fun and will not reap all the benefits that they could with a more expense vacation package to Italy, however, this is not true. You can have just as much fun, and reap just as many benefits with a budget Italy vacation package as you could if you bought an expensive Italy vacation package.

For people who enjoy a variety of art, studying rich culture, studying history, and enjoy a variety of foods, an Italy vacation is the right choice. Budget Italy vacation packages work to ensure that the things that you are interested in are included in the package. These types of Italy vacation packages are wonderful for families, church groups, business groups, couples, or people who just wish to get away and spend some time alone. If you wish to celebrate a special occasion, such as graduation, marriage, or an anniversary, budget Italy vacation packages are the way to go.

When you decide to select a budget Italy vacation package, there are many things that you should consider. First, you should consider what cities that you wish to visit while in Italy. You should then consider the interests that you have as far as Italy is concerned. When you determine the interests and the cities that you wish to visit you can either select your budget Italy vacation package, or create your budget Italy vacation package accordingly.

There are many ways that you can select a budget Italy vacation package. One of the most common methods to purchasing a budget Italy vacation package is to research the packages that are available online. Many times, you can take advantage of some great savings when it comes to budget Italy vacation packages online. You may be able to receive additional discounts when you use a credit card to purchase your budget Italy vacation package. You can also purchase a budget Italy vacation package by visiting a travel agent in your community. They can often get you the best deals on your airfare, any type of hotel accommodations, rental cars, meals, activities, and more.

There are many advantages to receiving a budget Italy vacation package. You can save money and enjoy a luxury vacation to Italy at the same time. When shopping for a budget Italy vacation package, it is important to make sure that you understand all the features that are in the budget Italy vacation package. This way, if certain features are not available to you in the package, you can purchase them before your arrival in Italy.

Budget Italy Airplane Tickets

Most of us like to travel. Whether it just be a couple hundred miles in the  car for a weekend getaway, or clear across the globe for a summer in Italy.  Naturally when we venture far from home we must turn to air travel. So the  search begins for low-priced airplane tickets. Sometimes I can’t help but  wonder if there truly is such a thing. Even after scouring the web, I often  come up empty handed. Please tell me this is not just a dilemma exclusive  to me. No offense to the “deal sites,” but sometimes they just don’t come  through.

You have travelocity.com, orbitz.com and cheaptickets.com. I won’t even  try to name them all. The goal of these websites is to provide folks like you  and me with low-priced airplane tickets. Or is it? You know how they tell you  to name your price? Well, that routine just doesn’t seem to work for me. Oh  I name my price alright, but it never lets me purchase airplane tickets for  that desired cost. And I’m not saying that I punch in something ridiculous  like two dollars. I think I put in a fair price, but it’s always been rejected thus  far. Maybe I’ve just chosen the wrong times to look. In all honesty, I’m  surprised that airplane tickets are as high as they are these days. They  were low for a while after 911, but then the shot back up. Considering all  the hassles of flying now, I’d think airlines would cut us a few deals. I’m not  too crazy about that x-ray machine that basically strips you nude. Although I  do see the purpose behind it, I think they should work to come up with an  alternative machine. One that allows us a little dignity when flying.

There are prudent times and bad times to purchase airplane tickets.  Anyone who’s currently scrambling to get spring break airplane tickets just  might as well forget it. Well, that is unless you want to be charged an arm  and a leg. The beaches are already packed and the hotels are booked.  Trust me on this one. Purchasing airplane tickets to these hot spots should  be done far in advance. The same goes for lodging reservations. Then just  maybe one of those “deal sites” will actually have a deal for you.
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Itching for a vacation? Give some thought to the many travel business opportunities and have the best of both worlds!

Virtually everyone is keeping close tabs on their expenses and vacation travel may seem to be out of the question. Not so fast! If you love to travel, why not combine business with pleasure? It’s not so impossible as you might think. Almost everyone has a hobby about which they’re passionate, but have never given any thought to turning this into a legitimate business. Perhaps your hobby activities have, so far, been a not for profit pastime. Let’s take a look at a few hobbies which lend themselves admirably to a business venture, opening the door to travel business opportunities, allowing you to write off significant amounts of the cost of your trip.

Here are some hobbies that might easily qualify as a business. Antique collecting, textile arts, cooking, doll collecting, as well as photography, particularly when combined with travel writing pieces are all viable businesses which can turn into travel business opportunities, affording you with tax breaks, income and quenching your thirst for travel, all in one fell swoop.

You’ll first want to investigate how the IRS distinguishes a hobby from a legitimate business. One of the main determinants is whether your main objective is to generate income on a ‘for profit’ basis, or whether you’re just dabbling in order to realize tax savings. Here’s a link that can answer most of those questions:

http://www.completetax.com/taxguide/text/c60s15d060.asp

Once you’ve determined that you qualify for business status, you’re ready to start researching destinations that will be most fruitful for acquiring goods (or compiling information for services which can only be accomplished at your destination), that suit your business objectives best.

For example, let’s say that collecting hand made clothing, jewelry and artisan crafts from South America is your passion. Here in the States, you’ll pay top dollar. A trip to Peru allows you to explore little known markets, buying in local currencies. Upon your return, you can resell these premium products at a profit. This is a fine travel business opportunity. In addition, you get to do all the sightseeing your heart desires!

In the services venue of travel business opportunities, here’s another example: let’s say you’re a writer and amateur photographer. There are destinations all over the world which provide a wealth of opportunities. You’ve always wanted to visit Ireland. For you, Ireland is full of travel business opportunities! Visit the birth place of Dylan Thomas. Explore the village, interview the locals, take in a pub scene. Accompanied by photos, you write a piece to sell to any number of travel magazines, in flight magazines or newspapers. In this case, before turning from hobbyist to pro, you’ll probably want to first sell a few pieces locally in order to establish yourself as a professional before hopping off to Ireland.

Investing in a good travel destination guide is also a smart move, providing leads and food for thought.

Once you’ve chosen your destination, be it domestic or international, get in touch with a good travel agent who specializes in business travel. Such agents can give you lots of good advice, as well as finding affordable travel bargains.

Travel business opportunities are abundant. Have the time of your life as you start your new business!

When I tell people that I’ve never been on an airplane, their first reaction is usually disbelief. After all, air travel is so much a part of life in the 21st century that everyone pretty much takes it for granted. But ever since I can remember, I’ve had an intense fear of flying that has prevented me from stepping foot on a plane. This didn’t matter a whole lot when I was a kid and never really went anywhere anyway, but now that I work for a Fortune 500 company, I’m sure there will be plenty of business trips in my future. That means I have to get over my fear of flying as soon as possible.

Fortunately for me, the fear of flying is one of the most common phobias out there. As a result, there are a number of different treatment options to choose from, so all I have to do is try to discover one that will be effective for me. For instance, I’ve read a lot of positive stories about people who have overcome their fear of flying through hypnosis. I’ve actually considered seeing a hypnotist in the past, but never followed through on my plans. This could be the right time to do it, though.

Another option for those with a crippling fear of flying is to take an orientation class specifically designed to address this phobia. Many experts believe that people who are deeply afraid to fly feel that way in part because of a lack of knowledge. They might not understand just how sturdy and well-built airplanes are, nor do they know the basic physics involved in air travel. The belief is that by educating these people about the fundamentals of flight, the fear of flying can be conquered. These types of courses consist of classroom instruction and open discussions, and often conclude with a tour of a small plane — and perhaps even a short flight for those who want to give it a try.

And finally, for those who only have a mild fear of flying, there are a number of meditation and relaxation techniques that can help soothe your nerves prior to takeoff. These techniques are great for those who need just a small push to get them over the hump, and who would prefer to handle the problem themselves rather than seek outside help. Personally, I think my own phobia is severe enough that self-help techniques won’t work quite yet, so these solutions likely wouldn’t work for me.

But I’m definitely encouraged by the number of resources I’ve seen thus far, and am hopeful that I’ll be able to conquer my fear of flying very soon. Once I’m comfortable getting on a plane, I’ll have much broader career and travel prospects ahead of me.

A good travel newsletter – or several – can be the travel buff’s best industry friend!

Whether you travel for business or pleasure, travel newsletters can provide a wealth of travel information, some of which can be used now and some of which can be compiled into a gigantic reference resource that’s useful for years to come. Even the armchair traveler, who may only be able to take infrequent trips, can benefit from what can be gleaned from a good travel newsletter.

Most travel websites offer a free travel newsletter – it’s just good business for them. By providing valuable information that keeps you reading, when it comes time to take a trip, their readers are most likely to book a trip through them.

While business travelers most often book through their corporate travel agent, they’re missing out on a lot of insider information if they don’t also look to a few good travel newsletters as well. For example, these newsletters often include feature articles on boutique hotels, so much more warm and friendly than the national chains, quite often at a substantial savings and equipped with all the usual business traveler services. Other tidbits might include links to the best hot spots in a given destination. Business travelers can make a good impression on a client by entertaining them at one of of those little out-of-the-way gems unknown to his competitors.

The active pleasure traveler, booking a trip on his own, can find out about the hottest deals available this week or month, right through his email travel newsletter.

The best travel newsletters are those which deliver great feature articles in every issue. You, the subscriber, can compile these articles into categories and use them as a ready reference when you’re contemplating a trip. You can categorize them by destination, travel resources, travel gadgets, or restaurant or hotel reviews. Do remember that this is copyrighted information, so you can only use this information for your own personal use. You can share your travel newsletter with a friend, but only when you pass it on in its entirety.

These lovely newsletters make for good reading, even if you can’t make a trip right now. If you follow every link in each issue, you’ll be able to dream and learn in a single sitting.

If you’re into travel research, you can find tons of resources, ranging from historical information to tips on etiquette in foreign countries. For example, did you know that giving someone a big ‘thumbs up’ is a ghastly insult in certain Middle Eastern cultures? One traveler learned this the hard way and was hard pressed to make amends, following this particular breach of etiquette.

Most travel newsletters also regularly throw in a couple of links to traveler freebies they’ve dug up during the month.

Travel sites always keep up on the latest travel gadgets, from hand held GPS devices to photo upload gadgets with new and improved features in a smaller size. This saves you lots of time tracking them down and keeping up to date.

These newsletters are a truly terrific resource for every type of traveler.

Back when I was a kid, planning a road trip was a pretty primitive practice. The most sophisticated thing that we ever did in road trip planning was going to AAA. They would pull out a whole book of maps and plan our route out for us. Basically, they would give us a copy of a sheet for each day of our trip. It would have the route drawn out in red marker. We would drive along with their directions and pull off the highway when we get too tired to continue. When we finally got there, we would find the best motel that we could afford and park ourselves there for anywhere from half a week to a week and a half. Then we would restart the whole thing in reverse, going home again.

It is amazing how much more sophisticated road trip planning is nowadays. You don’t have to work to hard to plan things out in more detail. You can simply boot up Google maps, enter your coordinates, and get detailed instructions all the way there from the comfort of your own home. You can get listings of all of the hotels on the way, good landmarks to see, And even restaurant reviews from the towns that you pass through. Even the most primitive and lazy road trip planner still has more information at his or her fingertips when starting the trip than my parents used to have with all of their research.

Of course, with road trip planning as with anything else, occasionally the old solutions still work really well. For example, travel books are still a good idea. No one really wants to plan out every move of their trip. After all, you never know when the mood will strike you to do something unexpected and unconventional. By getting a tour book, you can see what options are available to you in the towns you pass through.

Then again, if you really want to be thorough with your road trip planning, you should try to take time to revise it as you go. One of the best ways to do this is to simply bring a laptop along. Most towns have somewhere where you can get WiFi access nowadays. If you go into a town that looks interesting, you can simply boot up the Internet and see what kinds of events are going on while you’re there. This is a great way to have fun and explore the local culture.

Finding cheap ways to travel is a tradition for students all over the world. Because of this, there is an entire discount student travel industry catering to the needs of young people taking tours around Europe, America, and pretty much everywhere else. There are many different ways to use cheap student travel, including hitchhiking, driving in a crowded care to save some money on gas, and busing it, but nowadays more and more students want to find a way to travel in style while at the same time saving money.

Fortunately, the Internet has made it easier than ever to do this.  discount student travel airfare is available to anyone who is willing to fly on a flexible schedule or keep an eye open for good prices. You see, finding cheap airline tickets more of a science than an art, and it requires quite a bit of persistence. If you want to find the cheap airline tickets, you had better check out Priceline, kayak.com, Travelocity, and any other discount airline websites you can find.

Of course, finding discount student travel to get you there is only half of it. If you really want to travel for cheap as a student, you need to find inexpensive accommodations. One of the cheapest ways to stay anywhere is to lodge in student hostels. There are hostels all over the world, and they all tend to have discounted rates compared to the hotels in the area. Sometimes they are extremely cheap, while other times they can cost upwards of 30 dollars a night, but it is almost always a cheaper alternative to staying in a hotel and a more comfortable alternative to camping out. The downside is, of course, that youth hostels do not have a lot of privacy, but this is something that most people are willing to overlook for a few nights. After all, the other side of it is that you can meet interesting people from all over the world and have unexpected adventures with your new roommates.

One of the more popular discount student travel options nowadays is to simply buy an all-in-one package. This is popular with all sorts of students, from high schoolers on class trips to college kids wanting to visit the farthest reaches of Asia. The key to this sort of traveling is to get as many details as possible. Often, cheap travel companies try to cut corners as a way to save money. Make sure that your discount student travel provider is taking you to all the sites you want to see and the accommodations fit your requirements. Above all, if you’re going to an area where you don’t speak the language, make sure that your package includes a guide to show you around.

Protect Your Family with a Travel Insurance Policy

As a frequent traveler both for business and pleasure, I’m acutely aware of all the risks I face whenever I board a plane or take an extended road trip. Anything can happen at anytime, and though I’m not an alarmist by any stretch of the imagination, I do have to be concerned about making sure my family is protected in the event of an accident. As the main breadwinner in the household, our financial outlook would be bleak indeed if I become disabled — or worse — on one of my trips. That’s why I think investing in a good travel insurance policy is a smart move.

To be honest, I didn’t even know I could get a travel insurance policy until just a few months ago when a colleague mentioned that he purchased one. I never bothered before because I thought my regular life and disability policies would cover anything that happened while traveling. This is true in many cases, but having a travel insurance policy in addition to those other policies provides an extra means of protection for my family. Who wouldn’t want that peace of mind?

Once I decided that I wanted to get this kind of coverage for myself, I started checking for travel insurance policy quotes online. There are a number of reputable companies that offer good policies for frequent travelers, so I had to spend a lot of time reading the fine print to determine what was covered and what wasn’t, and comparing rates. I even had to make a couple of follow-up phone calls to agents to ask questions about features I didn’t understand. After I had all the information I needed and felt reasonably certain that I was making the right decision, I went ahead and purchased a travel insurance policy, listing my spouse and children as beneficiaries.

During my research, I discovered that another benefit of having a comprehensive travel insurance policy is the ability to insure specific trips and vacations. For example, if I spend $10,000 to book a dream vacation to Europe and then one member of our party falls ill before departure, I would ordinarily have to cancel the trip and incur major fees for doing so. But with the right travel insurance policy, the entire vacation would be insured for the whole amount, so I’d be able to get all of my money back and reschedule for a different time.

Now that I have a rock-solid travel insurance policy in place, I no longer have to worry about my family pulling through if I’m ever involved in a catastrophic accident while on a business trip. I have the satisfaction of knowing that they’ll be provided for no matter what, and that’s what counts.

Are there any cheap travel deals left? You bet there are!

With the current economic turmoil being felt all over the world and the ‘R’ (that’s recession) word is heard on the news and on display in every newspaper, there’s no getting away from the fact that everyone is trying to save money. Does this mean you can’t afford a vacation? Not necessarily.

Words we commonly associate with travel are luxury, air fare prices, spending, extravagant and the like. However, just like any other business, hotels, restaurants and airlines can’t stay in business for long if they can’t get customers willing to part with some money. These businesses are getting hungry, so it’s not surprising that they’re putting on their marketing thinking caps and thinking hard. The result is a panoply of cheap travel deals!

Perhaps it’s a lack of publicity that’s driving prices down so radically. Most people are scratching travel right off their wish list, believing a cheap travel deal is not to be found. Au contraire! Let us give you a few clues on the current cheap travels you’ll find, if only you look!

When fuel prices were at their highest, some of the smaller airlines closed down, unable to meet the stiff costs of operation. Others were bought up by major airlines, consolidating their hold on the flying public, while whining loudly. They may have taken this story board too far and have now sustained a shot to their bread and butter customer base. Then, along came the extra baggage fees, no in-flight meals or blankets for free. The airlines apparently did an admirable job of convincing the average traveler that they could no longer afford this pricey luxury called travel vacation. Business dropped off sharply. So sharply that they are now begging for your business. Now they’re finally coming to the party, with some cheap travel deals on airfare prices, up to half off to high season destinations! The trouble is, no one’s listening. On the other hand, you, armed with the inside scoop, can find some of the best airfare deals we’ve seen in a long time!

So here’s your chance to search out the dirt cheap travel deals that are now available. In addition to the major travel sites, like Expedia and Orbitz, check out the other, lesser-known travel sites, brimming with deals on hotels, tour packages and last-minute deals. Hotels are suffering a dip in business, due to the extra baggage charges. The smart ones are offering an array of discounts, ranging from restaurant and bar credits to waivers on booking fees.

If you’re starting to feel that a vacation might not be out of the question, try this search. Google ‘air fare deals’, ‘discount airline tickets’ and ‘hotel promotions’, followed by the name of your destination. The results might get your blood circulating, dreaming of a tropical beach getaway or a drop-dead fare to Europe, as you rethink your budget.

Believe it. There are now, as we speak, some terrific cheap travel deals on the hoof. If you’ve got some extra cash, now’s the time to take a vacation!

Knowing a few travel secrets to packing light keeps you footloose and fancy-free!

Travel restrictions on baggage has reached the point where you’ve got to be really smart if you hope to whiz through all of the checkpoints and inspections with ease. At the same time, you want to pack just one carry on bag to avoid those hefty surcharges on extra bags. Your third objective is to have sufficient clothing and travel items at the ready, so you can spend your time enjoying your vacation. Sounds like a tall order. However, you can fulfill all three objectives with ease, with the right packing-light travel secrets.

Inexperienced travelers are notorious for packing too much. The thought of leaving home, traveling thousands of miles away, puts the novice traveler in a panic. Thoughts of day wear, night wear, makeup and foot wear to suit a variety of activities soon has your carry on bulging way beyond today’s strict limits, on both weight and size. How can you pare this list of essentials down to meet airline restrictions while also satisfying your travel needs? Here are a few travel secrets that will help you save money and time at customs and check-in, while maintaining a stylish appearance and practical convenience.

If you’re traveling overseas, fix this thought in your mind: you can visit several upscale restaurants in the same dress, with no one the wiser. Choose just one classic dress as your ‘party’ dress. A change of jewelry, a belt or scarf makes this single garment a fashion chameleon, making the switch from clubbing to formal dining, museum and church visits with impeccable ease. One is all you need for a month of traveling.

Many travel sites recommend a week’s worth of undies and socks. Here’s a great travel secret for packing light and loving it. Textile technology has produced wonder garments which are lightweight and wash and dry in a heartbeat. With just ten minutes of effort, you can wash these garments each night, fresh and clean for another day’s duty, with a backup always on hand, should you miss a night. All you need in this department is two pairs of each. Believe me, it works. Additional undies are just taking up space. Ten minutes is a pittance.

If you’re traveling in the off-season and anticipate cold weather, invest in a couple of pairs of silk long johns. Again, these wash and wear quickly. Two pairs will keep you clean and warm.

For hot weather trips, forget that outdated advice on shorts. “You’ll look like a tourist!” Gasp or not, but you’ll soon discover that locals enjoy comfort as much as you. They’ll be wearing shorts too. Our travel secrets are practical, intended to lighten your traveling load, while fitting right into the local landscape.

Here’s a gem of a travel secret: many a woman overloads her bag with makeup. Remember that, wherever you might travel, there are stores which sell makeup, toiletries and the like. You can buy shampoo and razors anywhere. Besides, this is your vacation! Why spend an hour applying makeup in order to meet the outside world? Excessive makeup can even doom you to looking out of place! When you arrive at your destination, take note of local customs. Lip gloss may be all you need for your face!

Travel guides are treasured traveling companions, which also take up a lot of space, and add significant weight to your suitcase. When you consider how quickly travel information changes, it’s easy to see that current info may well be outdated next year. Bite the bullet and disassemble your travel guide into neat little sections that match your travel plans. That wonderful travel guide to France may hold every last detail of every district of France, but is unnecessary baggage for this trip. When you pack, extract just those pages you’ll really use and leave the rest at home.

One of the most valuable travel secrets is this: invest in a money belt. Keep a copy of your passport and other important documentation zipped inside this handy belt, along with traveler’s checks and the bigger cash on hand. Keep your pocket money for the day in your handbag. Pickpockets abound in some countries, so minimize your potential losses with a money belt, strapped safely around your waist.

Most of the best kept travel secrets are really no more than common sense. When you’re vacationing in a foreign land, you are there for the experience and enjoyment of tasting a new culture. Don’t get bogged down with the fashion police! Think light. Every travel item you need is available at your destination, so don’t worry too much about being stranded without mascara or a nice pair of dress shoes. It won’t happen. Your dream vacation proves to be far more enjoyable when you employ the travel secrets of savvy travelers.