My Travel Backpack

On December 13th, Groupon will offer you the possibility to buy a 10 stopovers plane ticket for every destinations in the northern hemisphere on Delta Air Lines, Air France, KLM, and Alitalia for 10k$!

Here it is : http://www.groupon.com/pages/delta-air-lines

Anyone traveling internationally knows to bring their passport and good walking shoes, but there is much more to packing for an international vacation. Oftentimes, the list is things you might not think about is longer than this list of things you would…and it’s usually the less obvious things you don’t want to forget. The process of gathering all the items you need and then packing them into appropriate luggage can be daunting, which is why some travel companies like Viking River Cruises offer helpful packing tips on their website. By using those resources and following these basic packing guidelines, you can avoid a lot of the pre-travel stress.

Preparing for the Trip

Nowadays, with changes in airport security and luggage regulations, it’s wise to check with the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) for an up-to-date list of items allowed in checked and carry-on luggage and a list of luggage regulations. It’s helpful to begin gathering the items for the trip at least a week or two before your departure. This gives you time to think about what you will need and eliminated “panic packing” which, inevitably leads to things being overlooked and forgotten. Place everything in the designated packing area so you can see what you already have and what you still need to get; it’s also helpful to keep a packing check list handy to keep you organized and on track.

Choosing and Packing Luggage

It’s very important to find out how many pieces of luggage you are permitted to bring. Many airlines and cruise ships have restrictions for the number of pieces of luggage allowed per passenger. It is easiest to travel with one large rolling bag and one carry-on; however, if you prefer not to check your luggage, you need to know the size requirements for carry-on items. Try to pick a carry-on bag that can be strapped onto the large bag so your hands will be free to access documents and money in the airport without having to put down your bag. Make sure all your important travel and identification documents are on your person or in your carry-on. It’s also a good idea to pack one change of clothes and necessary toiletries (particularly medication) in your carry-on bag in case your luggage is lost by the airport.

Clothing

Based on the nature of your trip, decide how many changes of clothes are needed per day. For most international trips, you will need two changes of clothes each day, especially if you are traveling to a warm destination and/or you are planning to put on fresh (or more formal) clothes for dinner. Sometimes you will be able to wear the same evening clothes more than once which will enable you to pack fewer pieces of clothing. It’s also a good idea to pack clothing that are all the same colors or that can be worn together in a variety of combinations so that you can pack fewer items but still have many options. Make sure you have accessories that match each outfit because you don’t want to have to hunt for a certain color socks or nylons in an unfamiliar place.

Toiletries

Write down a list of all things you use in the morning and in the evening. Do this at least a month before traveling because sometimes you don’t use an item every day. When possible, purchase travel size quantities or purchase empty travel size bottles and transfer products into them. Also, it’s helpful to pack toiletries in individual plastic bag in case of leakage during your flight and one leaky bottle of shampoo doesn’t ruin the rest of your toiletries.

Odds & Ends

When traveling internationally, there are other items that are sure to come in handy. First, you might want to bring a small travel notebook. This is great for keeping track of things you’ve seen but is also good for recording the contact information for new friends you’ve met and for keeping a record of purchases for your customs form at the end of the trip. Another good tip is to fill a plastic bag with small useful items like paper clips, rubber bands and safety pins; these are things you won’t know you need until you can’t live without them.

Packing for an international vacation doesn’t need to be overwhelming. If you plan ahead and plan thoughtfully, the process will be easy and you’ll have everything you need on your vacation.

This post is sponsored by : Viking River Cruises

So it’s that time of year again, time to plan your summer holiday and give yourself something to look forward to…..but you have absolutely no idea where to go or what time of the year. Also, you may be a very disorganised or impulsive person, which can lead to problems when planning where you should go on holiday, so we have some tips for you to make sure that you have the best time possible by planning well now, not when you get there!

Tip 1: DON’T pick the first holiday you see, DO shop around
There are some people who will see a holiday online or in a brochure, decide that that they want to go there and book it immediately with no real thoughts that there might be a better holiday or deal around. Shopping around will give you inspiration if you don’t know where you want to go, or help you to find cheap holidays if you have your heart set on somewhere specific.

Tip 2: DON’T book without research, DO research thoroughly
If you have decided to go somewhere, make sure you research it thoroughly. This applies to both the place you are going to and the hotel/resort you want to stay in. Make sure you know about the local customs, any restrictions that might restrict the type of holiday you will go on and maybe most importantly the temperatures – if you are looking to go in certain month for sun, it doesn’t mean that month is warm in the place you are going to. Check out temperature charts for your proposed destination. For hotels you should read reviews online, make sure that you read a few review sites to avoid fake reviews! Use your instinct, if there are a few 1 star reviews among glowing ones, don’t go there!

So these are the best tips for when you are booking the holiday, but that isn’t where the disorganisation usually ends, it usually begins when it comes to packing before the holiday, which can be a problem in itself!

Tip 3: DON’T pack the morning you are leaving, DO pack in good time
Many people pack late for their holiday, either the morning they are leaving, which leaves you wide open to forgetting something important or missing the little things that will make your trip away that bit more comfortable. You should really make a list as you go along, from weeks before the holiday, and then pack over the days before you go, ticking off things as they go in. This will make you more organised and make it very unlikely that you will actually forget something important

This goes for your passport too, DON’T dig it out the morning of thinking it’s in a “safe place”, find it when you book the holiday, meaning if you’ve lost it you have plenty of time to find it again or get a new one. When you do find it, put it somewhere you WILL remember, and then dig it out again a week before the holiday to prevent that morning scramble!

All of this will ensure that your holiday is a smooth one, with no nasty surprises!

This post is sponsored by : icelolly.com

With so many interesting sights to see on the planet, would you find it difficult to choose only five places to visit? When you are thinking about round the world flights, it can be very difficult to narrow down the field to just a few destinations. The good news for modern-day voyagers is that it’s easier than ever to travel around the world in style.

Star Alliance, which is the largest airline alliance in the world, has entered into partnerships with other companies to provide some superb benefits to globetrotters. One way that Star Alliance benefits travelers is by offering them lower rates for a world ticket than other carriers can offer.

View Round the World Trip in a larger map

A number of people who are set to travel the world choose to start their journey in Dubai. This city, which is a gateway to Asia, is also home to luxury accommodation, a variety of top retailers and designer outlets and exquisite cuisine.

The next stop on your amazing adventure may be Bangkok. Visiting Thailand gives visitors a wonderful insight into how people live in Southeast Asia. The scenery is breathtaking, and you will want to take plenty of pictures to remind you of your visit later on.

From Thailand, move on to Australia. This island offers a number of places to see and attractions for people who are embarking on this leg of world trips, so you will want to schedule enough time to take in all that the continent has to offer.

World ticket holders may want to go to New Zealand to take in this country’s wonderful scenery next. Visitors to New Zealand can also get involved in a number of activities, including bungee jumping, white water rafting, paragliding, and skiing.

The next stop on your world travel plan could be exotic Fiji. This is a place to slow down, kick back and relax. It is a wonderful place for people who are interested in participating in water-based activities. Take a boat trip, or go snorkelling or scuba diving while you are there. Relaxing on the beach is another great option to finish your round the world trip.

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This post is Provided by : Round the World Experts
Whichever your plans for round the world flights, our Travel Experts are ready to help you make the best plans possible to get a great deal.

Although you might be saving on annual leave by booking to fly overseas at weekends, research from Travelsupermarket has revealed you may not necessarily end up saving cash. In some cases flights from the UK to popular overseas holiday destinations can increase by as much as 469%. This particular example relates to the price of a couple booking a bmibaby flight in June from Birmingham to Faro in Portugal. The combined midweek flight ticket on this route would be £58.08, whereas the same route on a Saturday would set the couple back a wallet thumping £308.08, a shocking 469% difference.

This isn’t an isolated example. Departing London Gatwick for Alicante on the Costa Blanca with Ryanair would cost you £44.99 on Thursday 15th July, yet the same trip just 48 hours later would cost you £94.74. So if you can get the time off work, you’d be saving yourself a 110% price hike as the budget Irish airline tries to capitalise on the weekend traveller.

You can see more examples of midweek versus weekend flight prices in travelsupermarket.com’s table of comparisons:

Research conducted by travelsupermarket.com, April 2010

There is a similar story for return trips too. The Easyjet route from Manchester to Dalaman, popular for people booking independent holidays to turkey, is clearly proving profitable for the airline as prices appear expensive in comparison to other flight routes within Europe. Bearing in mind holidaymakers to Turkey still have to book their hotel and airport transfers once they have paid for the flights, the cost of a DIY holiday is enough to force travellers to book through a package holiday company when you compare the two options. Flying out from Manchester on Wednesday 7th July for £92.99 and returning from Dalaman on Wednesday 14th July for £79.99 equates to a total trip price of £172.98 per person. However, should work commitments or school holidays force you travel from weekend to weekend the price rockets. Taking an outbound flight from Manchester on Sunday 18th July for £137.99 and returning exactly one week later on Sunday 25th July for £125.99 would mean a total price per person of £263.98, a frustrating 52% price increase. Fly on a Wednesday and that summer holiday in Turkey becomes £91 cheaper per person.

It’s difficult for some travellers to fly midweek for various reasons, commonly children in school or employers stipulating holidays can’t be split over two weeks. However, if you do have the luxury of booking time off midweek, then do so and you will save on your flights. The ideal period for city breaks to Europe would be Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday to give you the best chance of securing the cheapest flight tickets.

Here’s a list of 5 money saving tips to help you time your trip perfectly:

• Try to pick outbound UK flights from Monday to Thursday (especially if flying to the US)
• Try alternative airline carriers for inbound and outbound legs to explore pricing and give yourself a greater selection of flight times.
• Definitely avoid flying in peak hours i.e. morning and evening rush hours, airlines often raise prices for business travellers.
• Be as flexible as possible when planning your holiday and ask your boss for Tuesday to Thursday to get the cheapest city break flights.
• Look out for email newsletters from travel companies; they often contain tickets at rock bottom prices that airlines can’t shift.

There are a lot of pictures on mytravelbackpack.com but here is the first video. It’s generated by Youtube and AdSense but in a near future I’d like to post more videos. If you have some videos of your trips, just submit them!

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