Travel Tips And Advice - Travelling With A Disability

A disability should not stop you from travelling, but a chance to try different travel options. The three key challenges to travel with a disability are - transport, toilets and accommodation. We will provide you with Trusty Travel Tips and advice that will assist you on your next travel adventure.

Don't get hung up on how accessible a place is, focus on all the activities you can do!

Planning Your Adventure

When you are travelling with a disability or travelling with someone with a disability, the most important thing for a smooth vacation is correct planning. Don't go overboard and plan your holiday down to the last minute, but all your accommodation and transport should be booked before you leave home.

You should research the accessibility of your transport and accommodation options, and also for the activities you are planning. Ask questions about access to buildings, the number of steps, how wide are the doorways and lifts and is there easy access from the car park. And for your accommodation, off course ask whether there are disabled toilets and showers, and if there is enough space in your room for a wheelchair.

When contacting places, you need to be specific about your own limitations, so that different options can be put in place to cater for you. The best place to get information is from other travellers who have done it before. Otherwise you should try local tourist information centres.

Make sure you pack all essential and necessary medications, and bring with you any necessary prescriptions. Also make sure you pack extras of any medical or personal equipment that you might require.

Choosing The Right Transport

One of the biggest difficulties when travelling with a limitation is choosing the right transport and especially getting on and off public transport. Once you have planned your itinerary, you need to research your options between locations or cities. The best way to find accessible transport is to talk to "customer relations" or the person in charge of 'specific needs customers'. They will be able to provide exact information on the transport options.

Catching a plane can be a daunting experience! When you book your ticket, let the airline know your limitations and specific consideration should be provided. Be sure to check with your airline to make sure it has accessible toilets before booking a long haul flight.

Many people with a disability will forget figuring out the best transport all together, and will take a cruise holiday - either a river cruise or a large cruise liner. This way all of your luggage will stay in the one place, you don't need to find an accessible restaurant or toilet, and many of the activities are brought to you.

Other good options are:

• Hiring a camper van that is wheelchair accessible
• Take a train holiday in Western Europe - most trains are ideal with easy access and accessible toilets.

Finding An Accessible Toilet

Research is essential to finding accessible toilets. Many toilets say that they are accessible, when they are clearly are not. Don't find out the hard way! Asking at the tourist information centres for up to date information.

Places to look for an accessible toilet is at museums or art galleries, fast food restaurants or at modern train stations. Some travellers will plan what activities they do or attractions they see each day by where they can find an accessible toilet.

What is The Best Accommodation

It will be hard to find the perfect accommodation when you're travelling, except if you are willing to pay for it. Research is essential before you go to find a place that is accessible.

A good hotel will have accessible car parks that have easy access to the hotel. They will normally have a lift and even a porter service. Most will have a restaurant or food service on-site for easy access. Make sure you tell your accommodation when you are booking about your limitations, what equipment you might have and what assistance you may require.

A good idea is to stay in accommodation in a central location. It will be easier to visit local attractions and these attractions will be close-by. You might even be able to do day trips away from the city. This way you avoid the need to move all your luggage again.

Other Great Tips And Advice

• If you are in a wheelchair and have someone to push you, take a manual chair. It will take up less space then an electric chair and it doesn't require recharging.
• Allow your family or carers to have a holiday too. Let them do activities that they choose. This way they will want to travel with you again and it might give everyone some needed time apart.
• Have your wheelchair cleaned and serviced before you leave. Make sure you have checked the batteries and all moving parts are in working order. Also research who you could contact if you have a major breakdown on the road.
• If you have an electric wheelchair, take spare travel adapters so that you don't get caught out.

The most important tips and advice is for you and your family / carer to enjoy your holiday. Enjoy each day and its new adventures, new sights, new culture and the new things to be learnt.

Budget Travel Advice - 5 Useful Tips For the Budget Traveler

Traveling is a wonderful thing. Unfortunately, our finances do not always allow it, and especially during a downturn in the economy, it can be almost impossible to get away from it all and take a break.

However, with some careful planning and a good firm eye on your budget, you can indeed travel even if your budget is not too big.

Here are five useful budget travel tips and advice that may come in handy when you are traveling on a budget.

- Do not underestimate the so-called "extras". Tips, tickets for museums, drinks at the hotel bar and lots of other "hidden" costs will all add up and may prove to be a shocking discovery for you when you go home and see your credit card bill!

- Information, information, information! This is perhaps the most important budget travel advice that one can get. Do your research about the country you are visiting before you get there. For some, this is half the fun of traveling but for travelers who may be more "adventurous" this may be perceived as taking away the spontaneity of travel. Some travelers love to just go to a place and figure out everything on the spot. While this can be fun too, if you are traveling on a budget it is best if you know enough information on the best cheap eats in the location, smartest way to travel, etc. This tip alone has the potential to save you lots and lots of money.

- Always remember to budget some additional funds just in case you need them. There is nothing scarier than being stranded in a foreign country without any money!

- Use your common sense. If you are on a tight budget, do not succumb to the temptation of buying that "must have" pair of shoes and do not go crazy with souvenir buying either. A nice practical souvenir that you can use when you are back home is much better then some tacky souvenir that you are just going to put in a drawer and never use.

- Look out for the free places of interest that the country you are visiting has. Every destination has its own list of free things to do. If you plan ahead, you can integrate as many "free things" as you wish in your travel itinerary. These will keep your spending down and you will still have a great time!

Happy Traveling!

15 Traveling Tips You Must Know Before Traveling Overseas

Traveling could be exciting or frustrating depending on traveling journey you've experienced. However, if you are fully prepared for your traveling, then everything should be more enjoyable than miserable. Here are 15 useful traveling tips you must know before traveling overseas. I advise you to go over all of them before you plan your traveling journey. You'll be surprised how easy to neglect some of these traveling tips, and how important they are for ensuring a successful and enjoyable journey.

1. Avoid wearing anything that contains metal when traveling through the security checkpoint. Things such as clothing, jewelry, or other accessories that contain metal should be avoided.
 
2. A valid passport is recognized internationally as a travel document. Some countries requires a visa to access. If you need a visa, apply two months ahead of time to avoid paying high-fees for emergency situation.
 
3. If you travel with a child who has your custody, make sure you have a passport for that child as well. If the child is not yours, make sure you bring along a signed, notarized document from the parent(s).
 
4. Be familiarized yourself with the destination. Find out its culture, food, laws, and mostly avoid known dangers.
 
5. Take precautions to avoid being a target of crime. If you become a victim of crime, contact consular officer to solve the problem.
 
6. Avoid to travel to the country that your own country has no diplomatic relation with.
 
7. Be familiarized yourself with conditions at destination that might affect your health. Make sure you check your overseas medical insurance coverage. It may not cover you overseas. If you plan to stay long, you may consider to buy a short-term policy to cover you there.
 
8. Consult your doctor before you bring medications or fill prescriptions. Carry a letter from your physician if necessary. Always put your medications in your carry-on bag for easy access.
 
9. For people who wear glasses/contact lens, it is advice to take an extra pair of glasses or take disposable contact lens with you. Always put your glasses or contact lens in your easy-access bag.
 
10. Make sure you have a photocopy of your passport, credit cards, or any other import items with you while traveling. Keep one set of these copies at home.
 
11. If you travel with your pet, find out ahead of time to see whether you are allowed to take your pet with you. If you are allowed, get some tips of traveling with your pet from your vet.
 
12. Disabled travelers have to find out the standards of accessibility in certain countries. When making reservations, inform the travel agent about your disability and may request a wheelchair be brought to the gate upon your arrival.
 
13. For people who adopt a child oversea, you need to obtain an immigration visa for that child in the country of adoption.
 
14. Don't carry too much cash with you for your trip, but make sure you have enough money in case of an emergency. Avoid putting all your money in one place.
 
15. Find out what items you can or cannot bring back with you upon returning to your home country.

In short, one must plan well for traveling overseas. Knowing the above 15 traveling tips before traveling overseas may have saved you tons of headaches. Your traveling journey may bring you more memorial joys than unpleasing experience.

Travel Tips and Advice for Savvy French Travelers

Sometimes when traveling we forget that we are the visitors in the foreign country and we are the ones that should adjust to the differences around us. Traveling in a foreign country is a learning experience - that's why we travel, right?

Remember, being polite in any situation will take you a long way. Not knowing some basic French etiquette means that you might not be perceived as being polite! The following tips will help you avoid the culture shock that can occur when traveling.

The Basics

• When you greet people say 'Bonjour, madame/mademoiselle' or 'Bonjour monsieur'. This basic premise of French etiquette is drilled into French children from day 1. You should add madame, mademoiselle, or monsieur after all greetings.
• When entering a shop, be sure to greet the shop keeper! To not do so is considered rude. Do not forget to say 'au revoir' when you leave.
• When paying at a counter there will be a small dish or rubber mat on which to place your money. Do not place your cash in the cashier's hand. This is to ensure that there is no error in what is being given or received.
• If asking for travel advice such as directions, etc, it is polite to start your request with 'pardon' (excuse me) and end it with 's'il vous plat' (please). When a response is given do not forget to say 'merci'! (thank you!).
• Keep your voice low whether in a public area, shop, church or restaurant. Americans are known for being loud!

Meals/Restaurant etiquette also varies in France from the US.

• If the restaurant menu is in English or if you can get an English menu you are likely to pay more because they cater to tourists.
• To avoid pricey bottled water with your meal, request 'une carafe d'eau, s'il vous plat' (a carafe of water, please). If you want bottled water be sure to specify 'san gaz' if you want still water instead of carbonated.
• If ordering a steak, you will be asked how you would like it cooked: 'saignant' (just sealed on each side and thus very rare), ' point' (pink inside) or 'bien cuit' (well cooked, no pink). Of course, I would love to see your vocabulary increase but my best travel tip is to remember the specific word for the way YOU like your steak to begin with!
• Bread is eaten by breaking off small bites with your fingers, not by biting from the whole piece. Refrain from nibbling on the bread before the meal starts.
• There are no side plates for bread. Do not worry! The server will brush the tablecloth before the next course.
• Keep your hands visible on the table but do not place your elbows on the table. This piece of French etiquette has its origins in history when people kept both hands visible on the table so that everyone would know what they were up to!
• If you are a guest at someone's house it is customary to bring a box of chocolates for the hostess or flowers. Do not bring chrysanthemums as they are associated with funerals! Do not bring a bottle of wine! The implication is that you would not be happy with your host's choice of wine or that you do not feel they are capable of choosing an appropriate wine for the meal.
• Tip etiquette requires that you place the tip on the table, if you leave one. Do not hand it to the server. Tipping etiquette - to tip or not to tip. In France, the tip is built in to the price of your meal. However, if the server has been particularly helpful (maybe he gave you directions to that museum you have been trying to locate) then you might want to leave a bit of your extra change on the table for him.
• It is so nice to sit on the squares and have a drink or a meal as part of your France travels. Be aware, though, that it may be a bit pricier than at an establishment on a side street away from the square.
• The experience is part of the trip! Build your budget to accommodate a bit extra for meals as you will want to sit and enjoy the two hour lunches like the French do!! With all the little details you still want your best travel advice to be "enjoy the ride".

I hope this will help prepare you for the differences between your country and France so that your trip to France will be enjoyable and you will want to return time after time. Bonne vacance!

Cheap Travel Ideas and Tips

The first thing that you can do to save some money on the trip that you are taking is plan the time of the year that you will travel. Every area that you will visit in the world will most likely have a season where more tourism is expected. If you plan to travel to these areas in the off season, you will get a nice bargain for your trip. Do some research on the parts of the world that you wish to travel to and find out what months constitute the off season. In many cases, this time of the year is still a lovely time to visit.

The Internet is a fabulous resource for finding great prices on many things including your travel. With the Internet you can comparison shop and get the best prices on your airfare, hotels, locate budget restaurants and find inexpensive things to do and see while you are on your trip. All you have to do is a little bit of research and you will have all the information that you need to have a fabulous vacation for the price that you can afford.

While you are on your trip, choose to stay in a hotel or motel that has a small kitchenette. This will give you the opportunity to make some of your own meals on your vacation and save on your food budget. Simply find a local market while you are on vacation and stock up with some food to make many of your meals in your room. Search for coupon books as well that offer discounts on the local restaurants. Many hotels and motels will offer these books to their customers and they can be a tremendous saving.

Many of the areas that you can travel to will offer discount books in the travel centers. Here you may find discounts on the local hotels and motels, restaurants and even your car rental. Buying airfare, hotel and car rental in one package may save you a great deal as well. You may run into Internet Specials by various airlines that have vacation packages that are not ordinarily offered elsewhere. Keep checking online everyday and you may find the deal you want.

Watching your spending will allow you to travel to more locations and be able to afford traveling every year. It isn't necessary to take a luxury vacation and can even be more fun to try and find the best deals on your vacation. Take some time and plan your next budget holiday. Find out how much you can really save when you put your mind to it. It might be a lot of fun if you spend the time researching the area and getting organized about your travel plans. There are bargains out there for you to use, you just have to search for them and take advantage of them. You will have to be willing to do a little research and shopping around online. Be sure to network with friends and acquaintances that travel frequently as they may offer you some tips and advice to save some money on your next trip.