Hawaian Resort goes ‘Gold Crown’ status – Waiting For You- And You can Save Money, Too
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The Best Wedding Present Is A GRN Membership!
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So, now that you have planned everything for you wedding this June, don t you think it s time that you should also plan for your honeymoon? Well, not just any kind of plan but you might like to spend your lovely honeymoon of yours in some place far away where you can t see nothing but the person you love sitting right beside you amidst of the great areas of utopia where sandy beaches,
the best sunset and the best ambience can be felt all throughout the day and into the night. If you want to give your partner the best honeymoon ever, why not try to learn more about the best destination weddings locations like the Bahamas, the Port-au-Prince, the Bermuda, Florida, Boracay Islands in the Philippines, Hawaii, Fiji Islands or somewhere where paradise is still regarded as paradise? All over the Internet, a lot of sites are now offering a lot of travel and vacation options especially designed for honeymooners. They can give you a lot of ideas on where to spend your honeymoon, how you re going to spend it and how long would you want to spend it.
If you like to go to Caribbean Islands, for instance, and you have no idea what to expect there or even how to get there, that s why, it s always best that you a destination wedding travel company. They might even give you some special discount for it, knowing that you will be spending your honeymoon for as long as you want. They can give you all the details regarding the place, what to expect and how to really enjoy it, every second of it.
So, what are you waiting for? Right now is the right time that you should find the best destination wedding packages but the problem is, what specific site can give you the ultimate honeymoon package? The first thing you need to do is to scan them out. If possible, you have to read some reviews first of every wedding package company that you can come across and once you have seen something that tickles your fancy, that s the time you can choose what you want.
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GRN members can make endless holidays!
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Everybody thinks that the seaside is the place where you can fill your lungs with good old fashioned sea air , but how good is this sea air for you? Let s start with the good points to going on a beach holiday, and why it is good for your health, then we can make a decision later
What s better than going to the beach and having a good swim? Swimming is supposed to be the best exercise form for you; it gets every muscle working together, and your heart will get pumping blood at a constant rate. Your heart will work harder when you are swimming, this is great because you get a good bit of exercise, and because your having fun you don’t even realise. Coupled with swimming in the sea is the sea water itself, sea water is very good for your skin. Permanent scars and acne can be cleared up with the high salt levels in the sea.
The sun is also good for your skin (in small doses). The sun helps us in a big way, it gives off Vitamin D in rays of light which can help fight against skin cancer and multiple sclerosis.
If anything the one thing we can all agree on (as long as you have a good holiday) is that holidays are best for reducing stress levels. Stress is a cause of all kinds of medical problems ranging from skin problems to heart disease. Stress can cause health problems, and getting this under control could really help. Being able to go on luxury holidays by the beach will relieve stress will help you to clear your head as well.
Now for the bad points, let s say you were looking at Caribbean holidays for example. There are sandy beaches everywhere, and nothing you can do to avoid them. Getting away from the sun wont be an option. The sun isnt always good for you, in high amounts it can be very bad for you. We have all been there, stayed in the sun too long and noticed we are shedding skin or glowing lobster red, the skin is just getting cooked.
In recent studies it has been shown that the sea air isn t actually that brilliant for you. Although the air is cleaner than that, say in a city, it contains some interesting substances. Try not to panic it wont kill you, its just that it isnt that great for you. DMS (dimethyl sulphide) is a substance that animals living in the sea release, it can cause irritation to the eyes and the mucous membranes. Nitryl chloride is a second substance that was found by the beach and in the sea, it is a respiratory inhibitor, which means we find it hard to breathe but it is reduced in amount by the sun.
So are beach holidays good for you? Stress can really make a difference in your life so if you do go on holiday this is what you want to remove, if you do then holidays like this are good for you. The bad points aren t really strong enough to deter anybody going to the seaside. So if you planning weddings abroad then go for it, swim in the sea and enjoy the sun.
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Greatest Savings in Luxury Resorts – Endless Holidays!
For many families and admirers of nature, the Hilton head island vacation positioned in south Carolina is the most dear retreating destination. The beautiful island has been an temptation place for millions of sightseers who love the island largely for its immeasurable natural beauty and the calmness that is expands all across the island.
The island is visited by millions of guests from around the world and thus to cater them with the finest world level amenities, the island has various beautiful resorts and lodges that are raised in the most scenic places of the island a bit away from the roads so as to provide peace of mind to all the visitors. Amongst all the Hilton Head rentals in the island, all the Sea pines rentals created right on the beaches are largely supported by all the guests. These Sea pines rentals offer high class comfort to their inmates and thus are designed realistically in that way. The sea pine rentals being on the beach are cherished by many sightseers who wish to relish their time being on the beaches all through the day.
The Sea pines oceanfront rentals and the Palmetto Dunes rentals are two of the most recognized sea pines rentals amongst the diverse others which are created in a incomparable way with thrilling beauty. These resorts have huge mansions that are designed in the various exclusive styles such as the plantation style, pool styles and the beach front style, keeping in mind the obligations of the guests. If you are looking forward for a vacation, spent in solitude away from the disturbing blare and the hush of assorted other tourists, then the Sea pines rentals can be considered the best rentals for you. They are created simply to impart the top amenities and the indulgences to all their sightseers. These huge mansions are properly equipped with all the basic necessities and other amenities that are needed to spend your time leisurely. These rentals have the huge rooms that are well furnished with the coziest furniture pieces and other equipments. The rentals also present the warmth of a fireplace, sweeping bedrooms, gourmet kitchens, private pools etc. All these amenities help you to like your vacation in utmost leisure and fun with your esteemed ones. You can enjoy the beaches and also spend your time liking water skiing, and parasailing on the beach.
You will also find the top cuisines in these rentals and thus take the best care of all your obligations. The honeymooners as well opt for these sea pines rental who wish to spend some intimate moments with each other. So, make your vacation memorable in the midst of the beauty of the nature and the pleasant weather.
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Find the very best deals for Hawai vacations at Global Resorts Network
Hawaii is an island only visited by the privileged few. It is one of those places you want to visit but probably won’t for a number of reasons. Because of this Hawaiian family vacations is something that is planned with a lot of excitement and expectation.
Although not going to be an easy task, planning for Hawaiian vacations can be made more possible. Research is needed as to which are the best places to stay, to see and the best ways to travel about in the island you wish to visit (there are six islands, each with a different sites to see), and the earlier you buy the flight ticket the better.
The expectation runs high when planning Hawaiian vacations. The dream of white sandy beaches, blue-green seas and the perfect place to unwind after the stresses of the city is just a few of the expectation visitors have. There is also the culture, the history and the much anticipated breathtaking scenery that need to be visited as well. Booking a hotel room or condo early is a good idea when planning Hawaiian vacations. For this too a little bit of research is necessary, in order to find the perfect hotel with just the right amount of everything you are looking for in your holiday.
Hawaiian vacations are ideal for honeymooners, families or business people looking for a much deserved break. There is the perfect mix of leisure, luxury and comfort. The beach is of course the biggest attraction in Hawaiian vacations but there are many other historic and cultural sites that would be great to visit as well. Finding out the special attractions in each of the six islands and ddeciding which one is the most deirable one for you will be the best way to go about planning Hawaiian vacations. For example in Big Island, there are many places that families can visit like the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, the Atlantis Submarine Kona or the Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden. Each island will be able to cater to the different tastes of each individual and will be a great experience for all.
Many sites online give some valuable information about the different islands of Hawaii and also advertise any package deals, if available. At the end of it all however, Hawaiian vacations will definitely be worth it!
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The overall holiday region in the south of Portugal is known as the Algarve region and it is the country’s most southern area and is bordered by the Atlantic on 2 parts. It extends for approximately 90 miles from the border with Spain to Cape St Vincent in the southwest.
This region is without doubt the most popular area of Portugal with holidaymakers traveling from the UK, Belgium and many other European countries.
The main airport is Faro and from there you can get to umpteen resorts all catering for the many diverse tourists the area appeals to. One of the most favourite resorts is Albufeira which, is centrally located in the Algarve and offers an outstanding base for touring from. Other resorts you should think about include Altura for family vacations, Carvoeiro for the nature lovers or Praia da Rocha for its beautiful sandy beach.
The Algarve is very popular for holidaymakers who want to rent villas with their own pools. It is relatively simple to find cheap villa deals in the Algarve if you make your booking at the right time and also make sure you are avoiding the busy vacation dates. Many villa providers provide special early booking offers that also include welcome pack for free, free holiday insurance or even no cost rental for the length of your trip. Depending on where your villa is located car hire could be an essential component of your vacation. If a villa is not something you want there are lots of choices from small bed and breakfast properties to luxury five star hotels located allo ver the area.
Numerous tourists visit the Algarve for it s quality golfing facilities and courses, which are situated all over the Algarve. There are some outstanding package deals you could get that include accommodation and reduced or free rounds of golf. Make sure you check for these before simply booking your hotel.
Travelling to Portugal is simple due to its increased popularity there are flights from all around the UK. You can get scheduled flights departing from London or even Edinburgh flights on one of the many charter airlines providing non-stop flights to the Algarve via the airport in Faro.
Portgual being certainly a worthy place to visit with all it history and culture – the cheapest places to stay there – the Endless Holiday ticket- is available at GRN.
Espuma das ondas na rebentação / Sea waves foam in Algarve …
Espuma das ondas na rebentação / Sea waves foam in Algarve, Portugal by Hélder Cotrim. Espuma das ondas na rebentação – praia da Figueira, Vila do Bispo, Algarve. Olhando para este instantâneo até parece que estamos perante pastelaria … Read more…
Algarve – Portugal on Flickr – Photo Sharing!
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Percevejo // Bug (Horistus orientalis) on Flickr – Photo Sharing!
Percevejo // Bug (Horistus orientalis). Percevejo // Bug (Horistus orientalis) by Valter Jacinto | Portugal. View Large-Sized [On Black] Location: Faro (Gambelas) > Algarve > Portugal Date Photo Taken: April 23, 2009 … Read more…
PORTUGAL INFO Travel – who what where & when in portugal – your travel guide to Algarve towns for … your source for travel in the algarve. Portugal > Algarve … Map Algarve Portugal. Algarve in Portugal … Holiday Villas in Algarve … Read more…
10% Off in Luxury Rental Apartment in Lagos Portugal Algarve …
First night of this special offers: March 05, 2009. Last night of this special offer: June 30, 2009. Minimum stay: 5 night(s). Price per night: EUR 54. Discount off regular price: 10% … Read more…
Sagres – Algarve – Portugal on Flickr – Photo Sharing!
Sagres – Algarve – Portugal. … Postais Ilustrados de Portugal (por convite/3 comentários) (Pool). 0. Additional Information. All rights reserved Anyone can see this photo. Taken with a Canon EOS 400D Digital. … Read more…
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Dumba online. Super Moderator. Join Date: Jan 2007. Location: Portugal, Algarve. Posts: 9190. BST Feedback: (5). Thanks: 2464. Thanked 1552 Times in 956 Posts. I like the idea, to get it to work. But you realize that the v3r has about … Read more…
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Walking along the algarve coast, portugal from Lagos to Praia de Luz with other backpackers. Read more…
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Check a Luxury Travel Membership For Lifelong Budget Prices
The budget hotels Melbourne are believed to be the greatest blend of the traditional and advanced elegance. In the beautiful city of Melbourne, you will find a number of lavish budget hotels available at your service.
A comforting and valued staying experience is provided to all the sightseers of the cheap hotels. In the alluring city of Melbourne, you will find numerous comfort hotels along with the budget hotels. You have a free hand to pick the type of accommodation that is required by you after considering your finances and living style. The budget hotels of Melbourne propose all their sightseers with a very extravagant and calm stay. All these hotels proffer their sightseers very congenial hospitality.
These snug hotels Melbourne are proficient in bestowing the world class respite and contentment. Mostly people visit the city of Melbourne for esteeming the appeals and visiting spots. Although, boarding oneself in these budget hotels of the Melbourne city, can be believed as a very rational decision. You can straightforwardly enjoy the beauty of the city by housing yourself in the paramount budget hotels of the city and then visiting all the lures of the city with a very relaxed mind.The city of Melbourne is one of the major lures for the visitors in Australia. Every year, outsized mobs of tourists visit Melbourne in order to value the beautiful attractions of the city. The locations at Melbourne are literally very enthralling.
Luxury Travel Membership For Lifelong Budget Prices
They would definitely make your entire trip to the land, an reassured one. Thus to compliment your visit, the Melbourne budget hotels add to your pleasure. Many people even tag the hotels of Melbourne as heavenly destinations. Most of the budget hotels of Melbourne are sited nearby the visiting spots of the city. This makes your visit to the appeals easier. Thus, while boarding at the budget hotels in Melbourne, you can travel straightforwardly without any kind of constraint. The prime attractions of Melbourne are Museum of Melbourne, Joseph Reed, National park, Elwood Beach, Emarald, Victoria Barracks, Royal Park, Royal Exhibition building, Maritime museum of Melbourne, Flinders Street, Royal Botanic Gardens, Organ Pipes National Park, Birdwood Avenue, Sandringham Beach and the Zoo of Melbourne. Budget hotels are easily obtainable at most of these places of Melbourne.
The city has numerous likable elements which thus draw the thousands of visitors from all across the world every year. The city is made the perfect destination with the marvelous beaches, elegant museums, lush green parks, gardens, etc. which makes it a compete availing enjoyment for all the visitors visiting the city. Also, for alluring the tourists from across the world, the budget hotels also have a vital role. For all the sightseers visiting the striking city, the convenience and the reasonable of staying are the main concern during their vacations which these budget hotels solve by providing a contented stay at a reasonable tariff.
Make Endless Holidays! Make Money Travelling!
Birthday Celebrations! – Melbourne, Australia Travel Blog
Birthday Celebrations!: Read the story and see 16 photos of a visit to Melbourne, Australia by TravelPod member adventurousgal. Read more…
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Pacificvoip melbourne australia user reviews and website information. Read more…
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The Sweet Escape – Melbourne, Australia! – Adz Ariff (dot) Com
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night nepal party-melbourne | NEPAL MELBOURNE
City/Town: Melbourne, Australia. DescriptionThe community is growing. Its time to have fun after the hard work and study, enjoy music and meet people you never would have met. DT Events presents. NIGHT NEPAL for this moment … Read more…
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The Skinflint’s Guide To World Travel Or How To Save Hundreds On Your Next Airline Ticket
There is a famous and often-used saying that ‘Travel broadens the mind’. Whilst this is undoubtedly true, more often than not, it also tends to empty the wallet.
A Resorts Membership allows you to save bundles on accommodation!
I cannot deny that, with the advent of no-frills, low cost airlines like Easy Jet and Ryanair in the UK, the cost of short-haul travel has plummeted. However, if you hold a dream of sunning yourself on the beach at Acapulco, communing with Buddhist monks in Thailand or Climbing Sydney Harbour Bridge in Australia, you’re talking big bucks just to buy the seat on the airline – or are you?
Yes, you could fly more cheaply by going as a standby passenger but buying that type of ticket comes at a price, and we’re not just talking money here.
The price you pay is not actually having your seat or flight confirmed. You are, instead, ‘wait listed’. This means that should a full fare paying passenger not turn up, you can have their seat. However, if the flight is full you will be turned away from check-in and told to come back for the next flight.
That’s fine if you are a student on a gap year with time to kill and no fixed itinerary but, for most of us, that luxury simply doesn’t exist. We all have jobs and only a few precious weeks in the year to really call our own. Being turned away once and losing a whole day’s precious holiday is bad enough, but to be turned away again and again if the destination is particularly popular and the flights are always full could completely ruin your long-awaited break.
So how else can you try to save some money on your air ticket? You could spend a few hours trawling through the Internet travel agents, ticket consolidators and airline web sites to compare and contrast their differing prices. In my humble opinion, the savings that can be made this way are minimal as prices tend not to vary that much between ‘traditional’ sellers.
Also, prices on the sites can be misleading. As you go through the booking process you suddenly realise they do not include taxes levied on air tickets. It’s only when you get to the final payment page you realise that a substantial amount more has been added to swell the government coffers. Then, on top of that, you have to add your travel insurance. The costs soon start mounting up!
But there is another, still surprisingly little known way you could book a confirmed seat on the world’s best airlines flying to some of the most exotic and exciting places on earth for but only pay a half, a third or even less of the price the person sitting next to you paid? Sometimes you could even fly for free!
Believe me; I’ve done it a few times so I know what I’m talking about. I’ve flown to places like Singapore and Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia using these special heavily discounted tickets and enjoyed myself all the more knowing I’ve made huge savings on the cost of the ticket, money I could then spend on decent hotels, great food and generally having fun!
With these kinds of big savings you could treat yourself to long haul holidays or long weekends in exciting foreign locations several times a year and still have lots of spending money to splash out on enjoying yourself.
There are a huge number of people all over the world who do just this on a regular basis and you could join them. So who are these people? How do they do it? More importantly, how can you do it to?
This is where I have to make a confession. I am one of them. I admit to enjoying wonderful holidays in exciting Singapore and exotic Malaysia for a fraction of the price you’d pay and continue to enjoy enormous savings every time I travel.
So what’s my secret? Do I know a particularly good travel agent who makes ‘insider deals’ for me? No.
Am I an airline employee? They usually get great staff rates and pay only about 10% of the usual price. No, although I did used to work for an airline and did enjoy that privilege.
Do I only fly on the cheapest, nastiest airlines that fly via several different airports before they deposit me, tired and irritable, after days of flying? No. I fly with on regular, scheduled flights with the world’s best airlines such as Virgin Atlantic and British Airways.
Okay, I’ll admit it. I am an air courier. Now before you start thinking that being an air courier involves swallowing condoms filled with illegal substances, smuggling diamonds through customs or some other nefarious activity, hang on while I explain what an air courier is and what they do.
Those ‘in the know’ have been flying ‘on the cheap’ as couriers all over the world for decades and yet this particular kind of travel has got to be one of the best kept secrets in the travel business. Unlike your usual high street or Internet travel company, courier companies have not and still do not advertise their bargain air fares to the general public but instead rely on a registered network of couriers to help them in the fulfill their duties to their customers. ‘What duties might that be’ I hear you ask. Let me explain.
Every day, air cargo companies such as DHL or TNT send thousands of tones of goods around the world in the holds of the same aircraft you and I use to jet off to the sun for our two-week vacation.
These companies want to get their customer’s cargo to them in the quickest possible time with no delay. The trouble is that sending cargo, even by air, can end up being a long and laborious business.
You see, if Mr. Chang from the Singapore Noodle Company gets an order from the Noodles R Us restaurant chain in London for 10,000 packets of noodles, he can have them loaded into the hold of the next 747 leaving for London in a few hours. However, once they get to London they need to clear customs, and that’s where the problems begin.
For a start, if the flight has a full cargo, his noodles have to wait for the next available flight out that has space for his product. That could mean his customer having to wait for days. Also, unaccompanied cargo has to be subject all the mountains of bureaucracy and legal documentation customs needs to clear the shipment for importation and that can take up to a week or more. Whilst all those noodles sit in a cargo shed somewhere near Heathrow or Gatwick airport, Noodles R Us customers go hungry.
Now suppose instead Mr. Chang phones up a courier company and asks for his consignment to be ‘accompanied’ by a passenger flying on the same aircraft. Suddenly that cargo transforms itself into ‘baggage’. Shipping the product as baggage insures it will be guaranteed on the flight the courier is taking because baggage cannot be ‘bumped’ or taken off a full flight.
Also, sending the cargo ‘with’ a courier means Mr. Chang can load his cargo much later, even minutes before departure, instead of having to plan hours in advance as with ordinary cargo. He also could save money on the cost of shipment. How? The courier company he uses can negotiate with the airlines to buy several hundred passenger tickets to a particular destination. In return the courier company can get special discounted rates on ‘excess baggage’, as the cargo is classed when accompanied by an on-board courier.
When the cargo gets to its destination, because it is now regarded as personal ‘excess baggage’ by customs, it gets cleared very much more quickly, usually as fast as the courier clears passenger customs, which means Noodles R Us are able to feed their customers within a day or so of placing their order, not weeks as is usually the case. Everyone wins.
The courier may not be ‘accompanying’ just one lot of cargo either. Mr. Chan’s courier firm may consolidate several small shipments from several different companies, into one big shipment but it all gets treated as priority excess baggage by customs.
Now, the courier company has to find someone to accompany their cargo so it can get to its intended destination in the quickest possible time. And that’s where you and I come in.
In exchange for making the courier company’s life easier by agreeing to ‘accompany’ their cargo, they will offer you very heavily discounted air ticket. They can afford to do this because they purchase their tickets in bulk from the airlines who in turn, give the courier firm ‘bulk discount’ on the ticket price. They need you as much as you need them. Again, it’s a win-win scenario for both parties.
Almost anyone aged from 18 to 80 can be a courier. As long as you have a valid passport and are fit to fly, generally speaking, you can be a courier. As well as enjoying huge savings on the price of the ticket, couriers have been known to enjoy many other benefits that ‘ordinary’ passengers do not enjoy.
For instance, if your flight is grounded or delayed for some reason, because you are a courier for cargo that simply has to be delivered within a specified time, the courier company and the airlines will do everything they can to get you to your destination by alternative means, whilst regular passengers are left to fend for themselves.
Some couriers have reported that passenger immigration and customs at airports, once they know you are a courier, make sure your transit through arrivals is as smooth and trouble free as possible!
So what will you have to do as an air courier? Well, not very much really. You are acting as their ‘bum on a seat’ that enables them to ship their cargo as quickly as possible. It’s almost exactly the same as if you were traveling normally.
You call the courier company (I’ll give all the details later) and ask them if they have a seat available for your chosen destination (if they fly there) on a particular date. If they do they’ll quote you a price there and then and you can pay them by credit card or whatever method of payment they accept.
Once confirmed, the courier company will send you an information pack telling you everything you need to know about traveling as a courier. It’s all very straight forward and easy and everything is spelled out for you. If you are in any doubt you can always call the courier company for clarification. I’ve included some scanned copies of courier documentation at the end of this report for your information.
On the day of your flight you must make your own way to the airport, arriving at the appointed time and make your presence know to whomever the courier company has specified. This could be the courier representative him/herself, the airline check-in desk or a ticket sales desk. Your outbound ticket will be ready and waiting for you to pick it up.
You won’t receive your ticket until you get to the airport. The reasons for this are as follows:-
Firstly, the courier company needs you to be at the airport with a few hours to spare to make sure they have a courier for the flight. If, for some reason, you are late or fail to turn up they still have some leeway to arrange for another courier to take your place at the last minute and pick up the ticket. If you had the ticket in your possession, another ticket would have to be issued which means more delay and expense for the courier company.
If you’ve only been given the outbound part of your ticket, it’s nothing to worry about. Sometimes courier companies do this to make sure you fulfill your obligations of making the return trip with their inbound cargo shipment. Your written instructions will tell you when, where, and from whom you collect your return ticket at the end of your holiday. It’s not always the case though; some courier companies will give you the outbound and inbound ticket upon departure.
If the cargo company does not have a courier for a particular flight and you are willing to travel at short notice, this can be good news. If the courier company is desperate, they’ll offer the replacement (and remember this could be you!) the ticket at a nominal price or even for free! It has been known for courier companies to be so desperate for someone to accompany their cargo; they’ve paid the courier to travel! Being paid to go away! Now that’s my kind of holiday!
Before leaving for the airport remember that most courier companies like you to be smartly dressed because a) you are a representative of their company for the duration of the flight and b) if the economy section of the aircraft is full you could be upgraded to business or even first class and its always best to look well groomed and turned out if you are flying in these premium seats.
If the flight is over-booked you will still fly because it’s imperative that a courier does not get bumped off the flight. Airlines will not bump you if they know you are a courier so it is your duty to make sure they know what you are doing. Under no circumstances can you volunteer to be bumped off a flight in return for cash inducements or other incentives sometimes offered by airlines. To do so is to violate your agreement with the courier company which causes them no end of trouble. In return for the upset and inconvenience this may cause you are likely to loose your deposit and be barred from any future flights.
Now you have your ticket you may have to wait around for a representative of the courier company to come and meet you. He or she will be the person who gives you the cargo documentation, or ‘manifest’ you will need to carry with you on the flight.
The manifest is just a large plastic envelope containing paperwork detailing what the cargo is, where it’s going, where it’s come from and other information. The representative may be waiting for you when you arrive or turn up quite late, even minutes before the flight leaves! Don’t worry, this is quite normal and the flight won’t go without you!
Don’t be annoyed if you’ve been waiting at the airport a few hours and the courier representative turns up with minutes to spare, there is good reason for this.
The person meeting you may be busy doing his job of sorting out the cargo and paperwork. Because courier companies ship time sensitive materials, it is often necessary for them to wait until the last possible minute before sorting out the documentation, just in case some last minute cargo is booked in with them on your flight.
If it is the ‘eleventh hour’ of a flight and no-one has met you yet, don’t panic! The representative will turn up and make sure you get on that plane, even if he/she has to escort you to the front of the passenger cue at the departure gate himself/herself!
It has been known for the paperwork not to turn up until you are on-board the aircraft but again, this is nothing to get stressed about. The courier company knows what its doing, after all, they’ve been doing it successfully for many years. So just sit back, relax and let it happen. It’s all part of the adventure and excitement of being an air courier.
You do not handle or clear the cargo through customs yourself. That is all done out of sight and is nothing to do with you. But by occupying a seat on the aircraft with the cargo documentation, the requirements necessary for the shipment to be clear customs at the same speed as personal baggage, have been met.
Talking of baggage, some courier companies, depending on where you are in the world, may restrict the amount of personal luggage you can take but I’ve never had much of a problem. The courier companies I have used have always allowed me one carry-on piece of luggage and one large suitcase up to the usual weight limit, which is always more than enough for me. So if you are one of those people that like to take the kitchen sink with you on holiday, I suggest planning your essential packing well in advance!
As an air courier, you will be flying on your own. Couriers companies usually only need or allow one courier per flight. If you wish to travel with a partner, they can always book a regular ticket on the same flight. Alternatively, your partner could also fly as a courier and join you at your destination a day ahead or after you. In some cases, where there are several flights leaving for the same destination on any given day, your partner can simply book a courier seat on the next flight and arrive just a few hours before or after you do. It can take a bit of planning but the substantial savings you make on the ticket price will more than make up for this slight inconvenience.
So you’ve got your paperwork and are sitting comfortably on board. Enjoy the flight and try not to look too smug! Once you’ve landed and disembark the aircraft, collect your personal luggage and clear customs as normal. In your instructions you will have been told the procedure to follow when you get to your destination. Sometimes a courier company representative will be waiting to meet you at the airport, you may be required to drop off the paperwork at an airport office or wait at a specified place in the building with your paperwork. Then you just hand over the paperwork to the representative and when he is satisfied that all is in order, you are free to go and enjoy your holiday.
If your journey requires a stop-over on your way to your final destination, you would keep hold of your documents, clear customs and immigration in the normal way and meet a courier representative who will drive you to a business class hotel for your brief stay. The courier company pays for your rooms and, if you are lucky, meals too! Then, when your onward flight is due to depart, the courier company will pick you up from the hotel and make sure you get to the airport in good time to continue your journey.
So you’ve had a very nice holiday and are ready to return to your home country. The courier company will have included in your instructions everything you need to know regarding when to report back to the foreign airport for your return journey. Usually you will be required to re-confirm your intention to return on your booked flight with the courier company. In some instances there won’t be any cargo to accompany on the return leg of your journey and you will already have your return ticket. If this is the case you simply confirm your return flight with the airline as normal and turn up for your flight as Joe Public would.
If you are accompanying cargo back to your home country, the process at the airport is exactly the same. Your courier information pack will explain everything you need to know as regards where and when to check in and who will be meeting you at the airport. Once you arrive back at your home airport you will, as before, either be met by a representative of the courier company (if you have accompanied cargo back) or need to meet someone at a designated place in order to hand over your paperwork. Once that is completed you are free go and, having caught the courier travel bug, start planning your next dirt cheap flight!
In just a moment I’ll show you the current list of courier companies around the world that offer discount tickets but to get the very latest information on which courier companies serve which destinations, plus much more information about the world of courier travel, let me pause to tell you about The International Association of Air Travel Couriers (www.courier.org). The IAATC was founded in 1989 and its mission is to provide courier companies with a knowledgeable and dependable courier resource. Shipping firms continue to count on the association to provide them with last minute couriers in time of need as well as an information and support resource for couriers themselves. Courier companies often tell the IAATC about last minute bargain offers which are then posted on the IAATC web site.
As a member of IAATC you have a unique password which allows you access to this up-to-the-minute online information 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Couriers can also call the association office during regular business hours and get the same information read to them over the telephone.
Members also receive regular bi-monthly editions of the associations magazine The Shoestring Traveler and Travel Guide International. Each edition is packed full of the latest courier and regular bargain travel information as well as fascinating travel stories from couriers around the world. I recommend checking out their website.xx
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By: Simon Goodall
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Eye to Eye With A Sumatran Tiger
called Panthera Tigris Sumatrae, the Sumatran Tiger weighs in the range of two hundred and fifty to three hundred pounds for males and one hundred and sixty to two hundred pounds for adult females. Length is about seven and a half feet for males and six and a half feet for females. Body color is darker than other tiger variants and stripes are narrower. Face and neck is characterized by marked growth of hair, giving the appearance of a mane. Paws have webbing between toes that enables the big cat to swim at quite a rapid pace.
An inhabitant of dense lowland and mountain forests, swamps and peat moss forests, the Sumatran Tiger is a solitary and nocturnal feline that takes a variety of prey animals for food. These include wild boar, tapir and deer typically but also fowl and fish at times. Even orang-utans are hunted when they come down from trees.
Our guide was taking us up Bukit Lawang in the North of Sumatra so that we could meet one of Sumatra’s last orang-utans. Walking in front of us with his long bush-knife in an atmosphere that reminded me very much to my last sauna-visit back home, we hassled to keep up with him when he suddently disappeared. We heard him crying out loud "Ouhouhouhouhou!" After a while he came back with a bit of anger on his face – "I’ll bring him into your sight – I promise!" But the orang-utan keeps in hiding.
Meanwhile, we are allowed to taste from a huge Chinin-tree, it tastes really bitter; I make a mental note to drink a Gin and Tonic tonight, which also contains chinin.
After an hour we sit down on an old tree-trunk fully exhaused, scratching our thorn-wounds and moskito-bites. Then we hear a growling far away, I feel a chill crawl over my spine and forearms, we exchange looks while the guide makes a sign for us to hush-up. Then we can take a glimpse of him through the shrubbery – a tiger! I’m so scared and elated at the same time, I can hardly breath. Luckily, he takes no notice of us but, after pausing a while, he proceeds in the other direction.
So we got to see one of the last Sumatran tigers; other animals included in the cat’s diet are porcupines, crocodiles, snakes and young rhinos. Our guide tells us, the tiger has been seen forcing some of its prey to take to water in a chase, where it swims over and kills them.
Early in the twentieth century, tigers occupied nearly the entire island of Sumatra. They are now only found in some scattered and segregated reserves. Many tigers live outside the protected areas and are shot by poachers or come into conflict with locals. They are among the many species on the once serene island of Sumatra that are losing the battle of survival to human encroachment.
Mating season for Sumatran Tigers is in the times of Winter and Spring though they have been known to mate year round. Pregnancy lasts three and a half months following which a litter of up to six cubs is born, with two to three being the norm. The young begin to venture outside their den at two weeks of age and start hunting at around six months. Independence is gained at two years of age. Lifespan is known to be fifteen years in the wild and twenty years in captive programs.
If you also want to take a chance to see a tiger, you should fly via Singapore to Medan in Indonesia, from where it is not too far into Gunung Leuser National Park.
You can enjoy a luxury holiday, and take half-day trekking tours into the jungle – be sure to hire a professional guide. To really see the best, you should book 2 days and stay overnight in a camp. It’s eerie, yes -; but actually, in 2 days you do stand a good chance to meet up with an organg utan. Calculate Euro 50/person/day for such an adventure.
The author, Brigitta J. Vetter, is a member of Global Resorts Network and can as such travel extensively. If you are interested to check out the incredible club-memberships, check Global Resorts Network
B. Vetter
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The silence of the Grootberg-Plateau is magic an endless view into the Clip River Valley with table-mountains left and right. In the warm light of the morning sun the slops are shimmering once reddish, once yellow, then ocre coloured or white like snow. It is really breathtaking at first.
This is Damaraland, 1700m above sea level, an area where you will find almost no literature about, located around the Brandberg, Namibia s highest mountain with 2573m high, leading down to the Huab-River and towards the West, bordering on the Skeleton Coast.
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Whoever is travelling here, needs both: a reliable vehicle and guide. The guides (mostly of German origin) will show you the scarced Welwitschia mirabilis plant, or the typical African wildlife. Damaras are one of the oldest ethnias of Namibia. They mostly still live in intact villages, as they have nearly no chance to find jobs. Would it not be for the pilot-project Grootberg-Lodge
Namibia Government has realized, that eco-friendly tourism is a success and can help not only wildlife, but also people. It can create jobs which enable the locals to actually stay within their environment, and the money helps the families.
Dominic from South Africa and Simonetta from Rome have established the first Luxury but Eco friendly Lodge consisting of 11 pretty chalets on this plateau, 7 further to follow in the surrounding landscape. Investment came not only from their own pockets, but also from the European Community.
Men and women from the region helped with construction and were trained to become guides, cooks, drivers and waiters. We are proud of our jobs says Crosley. As soon as I have saved enough money, I can marry at last! Some of the communitiy’s money has already flowed into infrastructure school was renovated And books bought; in 10 years time, so the plan right now the Lodge should be managed complety by Damaras.
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The employees have a happy attitude if it was a good day they will sing in the kitchen, dance with the guest in the Lounge, they tell about the tribal culture. The Lodge is led as environmental-protective as possible, just the design is not exactly eco! It is exclusive, inviting and warm. Food is mostly served on the veranda, where also the discussions and chats after dinner take place, with a free view on the watering-place where you ll see Onyx, Kudus, antilopes and zebras. During the rainy season you ll even see some lone elephant coming up the the plateau.
It is so beautiful, there is only the food to be mentioned: a true boorish Curry (Boboti) and a addictive making Rock-Shandy red like the earth of Africa, just to mention a few. The guide Chris is adamant to show you the little five of Africa rather than the big five . Like the beatle Tok-Tokki, making a handstand. The White Lady the dancing spider. The cheeky desert-chameleon, and the sneaky Sidewinder-snake and the coloured gecko.
If you have childred (or remained a child yourself) you ll enjoy taking a ride down the sand-dunes on sledges . Passing the salt-piste of Swakop we ride towards the largest seal-colony in Africa Cape Cross, at mile 108, where you ll have action pure: around 100 000 seals are fighting for space on the tight and rocky peaks showing out of the boiling Atlanctic white foamed ocean tide, pushing the babies around, biting each other in open fight or is it just play who knows – something for nature film-lovers.
After this you ll have a lovely candle-light dinner on a lonely Lodge on the sea-shore watching the Namibian sky with its millions of stars one of the most stunning features of Africa those clear night skies, you think you can actually pick your stars.
The tour goes on to see a morbid ships-graveyard along the Skeleton-Coast , the 500km long stretch of coast reaching up to Angola around 400 wrecked ships can be seen here the waves licking on them golden sand dunes visible ashore.
Some decades ago I was camping there with a group from Windhoek and we celebrated New Years Eve there. We lit a magnesium-firework and the landscape looked exactly delighting like Kitzbuehel in new fallen virgin snow just as white. Howling jackals later at night who feasted on the scraps of our braii-vleis (grilled meat) brought us quickly back to African shores and reality, but I ve spent many years in Namibia and never heard of a human actually being hurt by jackals. And on this trip we met a couple of geologists in their lonesome tent somewhere in Kaokoland, which we crossed when we came to Skeleton-coast from inland (Outjo), and we invited them to our Silvester-party. To supplement our dwindling meat-supply, we had cought around 150 catfish by night using a flahslight and handlines not very sportive, we knew, but we were in a hurry. We smoked them in an old barrel which we filled with oakwood sawdust (we had brought a few kilos of that along for smoking fish, along with a bag full of lemon), for around 2 days and it was absolutely delicious.
And one of them told us the best kept secret of the Damaras and please note – while he was still completely sober: the geologists working for one of the big mining companies in Canada, were prospecting in Namibia then still called Southwest-Africa with little success. They found traces of this and that mineral, but nothing spectacular and they actually felt put under pressure by their bosses.
Then, one of their Damara-guides told them the story of the valley of the women . Women expecting babies they did not really want for whatever reason went into this valley all alone, to perform some rituals, and after 3-10 weeks they came back to the village and the pregnancy had always ended by then. And of course, their guide contributed this to witchcraft in connection with a certain location etc.
But our two geologists knew better than to believe in witchcraft: equipped with Geiger-counters they visited the valley of the women which was absolutely empty just the usual sand dunes of the desert but they measured radio-active presence on their instruments which explained why those women had lost their embryos – and shortly afterwards our friends – they could claim their success to their bosses: locating the greatest uranium-mining area in Southern Africa.
They did not mention if they shared their bonus with their guide (actually I m quite sure they did) but fact is: besides the DeBeers diamond mining, uranium mining is today one of the few income streams of Namibia until there is a substantial degree of growth in Eco-tourism.
However, if you plan your Wildlife Tour Package you can do so without peril even when pregnant because if there were truly another radio-active area in Damaraland, our keen geologists would have found and exploited it by now! The best kept secrets of African travel I let on above happened some 50 years ago, and for Africa this is antique history indeed as there is little documented of their older culture.
If you d like to read more untold historical vacation stories, eco tours and secret travel adventures, check back here regularly.
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