You’re planning to go to Tokyo but you have been told that it’s pretty expensive place. You don’t want to spend an excessive amount of money. Follow these tips to help you keep within your budget and have a great vacation!

Well this is not a bible to look for hotel booking tips but these are some quick tips about hotel booking which many of us don’t even bother to look at due to lack of knowledge.

I could generate these ideas on my own while planning for a vacation to Bangkok, Thailand next month. The major part of planning is hotel bookings.

There are some ways to make a successful hotel booking:

1. Search the internet: This is the basic and foremost way to make the best of available opportunity and search for the best available option online.

2. Check out travel guides: The best source to find out more information about the hotel and price is travel guides. Many people use travel guides to write reviews on hotels after their vacation and you can use these reviews as an aid in helping you find the perfect hotel for your stay in Thailand.

3. Check Hotel websites: Browse websites of each and every hotel before making up your mind. The best part about a hotel’s website is that you can book your room online using the reservation form provided on the site. The good part about checking out hotel websites is that you will get the lowest possible room rate which travel agents may not be able to match. For example, check out the ongoing offers at Sharaton hotel in Bangkok or deals at JW Marriott hotel in Bangkok

4. Compare Hotels: Comparing hotels is not easy without robust travel search engine and my favorite hotel search engine to compare hotel prices is hotelscombined.com. There is lot to say about this search tool. First thing is it’s absolutely free. Secondly, the options they provide at the end of search results seem well researched and valid results. You can categorize and choose your options to narrow down the search as well.

These are few of the ways that would save you from being charged exorbitantly by hotels and you would be in good position to do your bargain hunt for your upcoming vacation.

We have boarded on our first ever cruise trip of Royal Caribbean and it was a great experience to share with you. There are tips to share with you if you are going for first time on cruise.

First and foremost thing is you have to decide the cruise you would like to take. There are few very popular cruises like the one we went for and couple of more like Norwegian Cruise Line  or Celebrity Cruises.

I know this selection would have so many reasons behind and many of them can be personal, so I won’t go into details of which one to select but yes, I can suggest you to go for the cruise lines that are reliable like directlinecruises.com

We have had pleasant experience dealing with them for bookings and selection. Now let’s head to what you need to know if you are cruising first time in life. I know you’re certainly excited about setting off on to the open seas. Life on board a ship can be intimidating for a first-timer. Here are some things to remember and tips on what to expect.

1. Cruise ships are nothing but floating cities.

They are large and complex with several levels and many public spaces. They include many facilities such as gyms, swimming pools, bowling alleys, restaurants and shopping facilities. So what you guess would be a problem for you, it can be easy to get lost.

2. Study the map of ship

First thing you do is, figure out where your cabin is located and mark it on the map. We were lost many times while finding out our own cabin. Make a mental note of large structures that will help you get your orientation if you get lost such as pools and restaurants.

3. Wonder around the ship

Discover the facilities that are available to the guests. This may encourage you to participate in activities that you wouldn’t normally get involved. Afterall, you might have come to the cruise to enjoy. Check out the various restaurants; there is usually a 24 hour buffet so you can fill your craving for food no matter what time of day. Locate the pubic restrooms and convenience stores.

4. Don’t hazitate to contact helpdesks

There are several information desks so don’t worry if you get lost. In fact, crew members are very familiar with the ship so don’t be afraid to ask if you get lost. They’ll be happy to suggest activities and tell you how to find them.

5. Read the cruise ship’s newsletter

It will be full of suggestions for activities while you’re on the ship. There are suggestions for activities for children and things to keep the adults occupied while the kids are at the pool.

6. Don’t miss the lifeboat drill, whatever can be the reason

There will be a mandatory lifeboat drill. With all of the advanced technology on ships, the chances of abandoning ship are almost zero. Even though boat travel is very safe, make sure you pay attention.

7. Make a checklist of things to see

Make a list of the things you’d like to see and do while you’re on the ship. If you like to see shows then make sure you plan for them. Arrive in plenty of time to get a good seat.

8. Watch for the price tag

Almost everything on the ship is included in the price of the cruise but a few things are not. One of the biggest expenses on the cruise is the alcohol. Make sure you know how much something costs before you order it. Remember that you are not one a Alicante discount flight, so make a budget for yourself and stick to it.

Enjoy the cruise and let me know how it went.

You might have heard about the strange Giraffe and Manor hotel in Kenya before on this blog. Now there is one more to add to the list.

Artist Andreas Strauss designed Das Park Hotel to be an elegant exercise in simplicity and recycling. His work consists of three unadorned, 10-ton segments of drainage pipe, each 6.5 feet in diameter and barely long enough to accommodate a double bed.

Strauss punched the pipes with skylights, added doors with electronic locks, and then laid the trio artfully in the grass by the Danube River, in Ottensheim, Austria. Amenities are skimpy, as you might expect: You get a lamp, a mattress, and a few sleeping bags.

On the positive side, the hotel has no fixed rates. You leave whatever amount you think is fair.

Before you read these health advices for International travel, be sure to read drinking water tips while you travel.

• As we suggested, drink only bottled water and if it’s not possible, drink boiled water or carbonated drinks. Avoid tap water, fountain drinks, and ice cubes.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water. If soap and water are not available, use alcohol-based hand gel (with good amount of alcohol in it) to clean your hands.
• Eat only fully cooked food or fruits and vegetables peeled by yourself. Remember to boil it, cook it, peel it.
• If visiting an area where there is risk for malaria, take malaria prevention medication before, during, and after your trip, as directed.
• To avoid biting by insects like mosquitoes or ticks, use insect repellent in the closed places you sit or stay.

There are some good very tips Andy passed on to me that I want to share for your comfortable traveling

• Smile and be open and honest with everyone, they will be your next solution -
• Come from a good family, this will make number one easy.
• Be the first to visit a place.
• Fear is your friend.
• Money is everywhere on the planet, you will have money.
• Change all the time, adapt.
• Common sense
• Do not try to change people, do not feel sorry for people.
• Share your knowledge with everyone that ask, however offer prudently.
• Recognize angry people and walk away fast, no regrets.
• Do what you like and not the guidebook or other people

These tips makes complete sense to me and this would help you too.

In continuation to our drive to save money on hotel reservations, there are few more tips to save the cost on hotel reservations before you travel.

• A number of hotels have additional prices and surcharges that are not declared in room tariffs and afterwards, these rates suddenly come up during departure. Confirm with the hotel that the room charges are the only thing you are paying for. Prior to your booking, do make it clear, and if at the time of checking-out you suddenly find the final cash memo with prices that you were not informed of, refuse to pay them.
• If you possess an expiring frequent Fliers miles card, or you would just want to dispose of one, request the hotel if they can exchange the miles with any of their booking schemes. It is a wise idea to redeem frequent Flier miles for hotel accommodation.
• Every so often, hotels offer free airport pick-up which you can use as haggling device. request for a free pickup when bargaining so you will get a little more even though you pay the full charge.
• Charges have a tendency to get high as the best time of the year approaches. So if you are thinking of traveling during the peak season, every time call in early.
• At times, regular fees are lower than weekend rates, or the contrary. Inquire the hotel by hand or ask a travel agent, if they offer these, accordingly you can plan your tour during these periods and will be able to benefit from these concessions.
• All the time ask for an authentication number when you book a room, so that the hotel cannot say that they did not get your booking.

I know you always wanted to go to your favorite destination in holidays but the expensive traveling break you down. There are still ways to save money on traveling cost, specially reservation and I would like to share few of them with you.

• On slack seasons due to lesser demand, airline fares, hotel tariff, even car hire charges are comparatively lower during this time; chalk out your vacations at this time. It is possible for you to get almost 50% discount if you reserve a room during slag season, hence call and ask the hotel if they provide off season concessions and inquire when will the reduction be in force.
• A number of hotels offer discounts to specific individuals like honeymooners students, Senior citizens, military officials, etc. To save you money do inquire about these special cut rates and their particulars.
• On occasions hotels and resorts permit up to 2 children for a double-bed room given that the children are inside the age limit allowed by the hotel. If you are holidaying with your folks do not forget to ask whether your children can live in free of cost.
• You can browse budget holiday websites for hotel bookings and car hire if you are not very finicky with hotel settings. They will do the bargain on your behalf and it is quite certain that you wont over-spend.
• If one make use of certain facilities for more than a week several inns and guest houses and also car-at-call companies offer free days. Inquire about this kind of extra services if you are preparing for a long holiday.

We will soon publish few more ways to save money while you travel and enjoy your holidays.

These foreign travel tips are from my own experience.

While you go on foreign travel, you should always drink bottled water to be on safer side. The simple reason is water contains different sets of microbes and mineral deposits that your body might not be used to. Even if the water is normal filtered but tap water, you should better avoid it.

The local residents are used to the water quality whether it’s pure or impure, but foreign travelers most of the times fall prey due to change in water. Rather than investigating the reason later, it’s important to take the precaution.

Don’t buy bottled water at hotels or airports if it’s not necessary and if you are buying it for extra storage. After reaching to your destination, buy it from the local super market, and you would get 2 bottles in the prize of 1 bottle almost.

When in the foreign country, check with someone about the best brand in bottled water in that particular country. I have experience of bottled water not being good quality if the brand is not known.

Make sure that the bottled water is completely sealed and the seal is not tampered with at all.

Use bottled water for anything you would do that gets the water in your mouth. For ex: Rinsing the tooth brush shall be done by bottled water too.

Do not use Ice in hotels in soft drinks or liquor. Rather order for a chilled drink without ice. Most of the hotels, would pour the soft drink in a glass and add couple of ice cubes. If that happens, change the soft drink right in front of you.

Be safe, and drink bottled water in your foreign tours.

Researching before traveling is vital. Go online, visit travel websites and consult more than one travel agent to get good deals. Pick up travel magazines and books like Lonely Planet that give you an extensive idea on the place, budget stays and attractions.

Here are some tips for your convenient travel.

• If you’re sure of your traveling dates, book your tickets and accommodation in advance.
• Explore options during off-season since discounts are higher.
• Most advertisers quote air fare without the taxes. So while a discounted ticket to London may seem very attractive, remember that you also have to pay taxes above and beyond the ticket price.
• Check what your accommodation package entails — breakfast and airport transfers are not always included.
• Sight-seeing costs more than what people expect. For instance, the entry into Centosa Island in Singapore might be paid for, but you might have to pay for the attractions like the 4D cinema.
• Avoid stopover expenses because you might end up spending more. Try to look for relatives’ or friends’ places to stay, as hotel charges are usually higher than you expect.
• Your routine medicines should be a part of your kit, otherwise you might end up paying huge sums on doctor’s consultation fee. Even for your regular medication, particularly for drugs which are sedative in nature, carry a valid prescription with the seal and registration number of the doctor to avoid legal hassles.
• If you’re holidaying with your family, consider teaming up with other friends or relatives to get attractive bulk deals.
• Some European countries offer home-stays, which work out cheaper than hotels and offer a more enriching experience.

Above all this, never forget the benefits of traveling light - that will save you from lot of hassles.