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People have always traveled to foreign countries to broaden their minds, learn another language and soak up another culture. Now some tour companies are taking that thirst for knowledge to a new level. Continue reading »
Going on vacation with a group can be an excellent idea, but getting a discount based on that group is an even better idea. Before you all start booking your flights for the cheapest rate you can find, look into getting a group discount rate.
Both Northwest Airlines and Southwest Airlines offer discounts for groups of ten or more. Southwest even offers an additional bonus if you’ve got 40 or more people in your group–one free ticket. This means you can fly free yourself if you’re willing to take on the challenge of organizing travel plans.
Group travel may bring to mind an image of older folks hopping on a bus tour, or college kids flying to the south for spring break. But keep your mind open when it comes to group travel. As long as you have the same itinerary the airlines consider you a group. Groups could mean a destination family reunion, you and a few other couples taking an island retreat, a bachelor or bachelorette party in Las Vegas, church group trips, or even sporting events. So before you hop on the bandwagon, take a survey of others who will be attending and see if you have enough people to qualify for a group discount, remember the more people the better the deal.
Are you going to be traveling to your next vacation destination by car? If so, you know that this can be both fun and stressful at the same time. Here’s how to reduce the latter and increase the former.
1. Make sure that your car is ready for a long trip. Check everything from the oil to the tire pressure before leaving home. This will allow you to minimize any chance of your car breaking down or causing unwanted problems.
2. When traveling with young children you need to make sure that they have enough material to stay occupied, and that you also stop from time to time to give them a break from the monotony of the road.
3. Never try to push yourself too far. Some people think that they have to drive the entire way without stopping for rest; this is a mistake. If need be, pick a halfway point and stop for the night. This will make your trip much more enjoyable.
There are two types of groups that have seen steady growth in the last several years: travel clubs and book clubs. Innovative and active members of each might consider combining these two interests to create a book club that travels. Book clubs can select literary themes which are complimented by periodic trips to related destinations. Likewise, travel clubs can add a book list to their agenda so that everyone from the group is on the same page.
Some would argue that readers and travelers are different breeds of people. They say that bookish folks prefer to have their adventures at home. And travelers don’t want to miss exciting opportunities by putting their noses in a book. But this simply isn’t true. How many people have you seen at a beach or hotel poolside with a book in hand? Reading and experiencing are the perfect complimentary activities to one another. They each inform the other of a different perspective on the event.
Novel Passages is one example of a formal group which has combined book clubs and travel. They host literary parties with authors in foreign destinations, provide cruises to destinations based on books and offer many other ways of mingling reading with adventure. Of course, you don’t have to go with a group like this which is already established. Any book club or travel group could add a bit of the other to their agenda and be well on their way to opening up new worlds.
You don’t want to be that annoying member of a group who has twice as much baggage as anyone else, do you? I remember my first overseas holiday with a suitcase and a huge backpack, both stuffed full - for a week-long trip. Since then, these are the three big packing tips I’ve lived by: Continue reading »
Students flock to the beaches in the spring and travel agencies have figured out a way to provide some excellent discounts while making a couple bucks themselves. Unfortunately, not all the deals being offered are legitimate. Here are some pointers on what to look for when you’re choosing a travel agent. Continue reading »
Most everybody goes over the river and through the woods to grandma’s–or mom’s–house for the holidays. Why not give grandma a rest this year and take a family vacation. If everybody’s coming from a different place, it’s just as easy to meet on neutral ground. And the grown up kids can pick up the tab for Mom and Dad’s trip as their annual gift. Continue reading »
Planning a group vacation is no easy task. And planning where you will all lay your heads at the end of each night is one of the more difficult aspects of the job, although it is frequently overlooked. When people go away on vacation, they want to settle down at night in a place that feels safe and comfortable. Unfortunately, that means very different things to different people. Continue reading »
US citizens 62 and over can get a lifetime pass at America’s national parks for just $10.
The Senior Pass is also good for discounts at other areas of the parks, such as campgrounds, boat launches and swimming spots.
The pass not only gets the senior in to the park at a reduced rate, but it can get a carload of up to four people through the gate at no additional charge.
Remember to purchase your pass before you begin your travels or at the very first park you visit. And if you’re going to be canvassing one state at a time you might want to check with the state parks as many of them also offer discounts for seniors.
The Senior Pass replaced the Golden Age Passport in January of this year.
Do you love the idea of group vacations but don’t actually have a group that you want to travel with? This is a common problem. Many people find that the friends and family that might make a good group for travel just don’t have similar enough interests, time to spare or travel styles to create a cohesive travel group. It can be frustrating for the motivated planner who wants to get a travel group going. This is where travel clubs come in to play. Continue reading »
While the individual traveler can often access all of their flight, hotel and rental car information from one online site, group travelers often finds that visits to multiple sites are required in order to get the same information. Until now. Continue reading »
Traveling in a group can forge really close friendships, since you’re spending all day, every day together, and sharing new and exciting experiences. But when you get back home and the daily grind returns, it’s easy to forget about your new best friends. Here are some tips for staying in touch:
Group vacations present the perfect opportunity for creating not only memories but also scrapbooks filled with images of those memories. Here are a few tips for getting great photos on your trip: Continue reading »
Motion sickness is a catch-all phrase that refers to the uneasiness, queasiness, and nausea brought on my car, sea, train, or air travel. Extreme cases can involve sweating, dizziness, and even vomiting. According to WebMD, “Motion sickness occurs when the inner ear, the eyes, and other areas of the body that detect motion send conflicting messages to the brain.”
Travelers prone to motion sickness no longer have to suffer or stay at home; there are a wide variety of prescription and natural remedies to compact the effects. Among these are: Continue reading »
Increased security measures means you’ll have to wait longer when applying for a U.S. visa. Here’s what you have to do to get one.Procedures are different depending upon your country of residence and your reason for visiting. The US visa
Make an appointment at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate nearest you as soon as you’ve decided to take the trip as the busier facilities may have very long waiting times. Application fees will apply, they’re non-refundable and payment is required before the appointment, so come prepared with the proper amount of cash.
Then it’s time to gather all of your documentation. Each situation may be different but at the very least you’ll need to present a valid passport, the appropriate applications, documents to support your applications and that detail your specific reason for travel, and proof of application fee payment.
Once you submit this information it will be reviewed by a consular officer and quite possibly officials in Washington D.C. If all goes well you will then be issued your visa within a few weeks. But bear in mind that this is certainly no guarantee that a visa will be provided.
In some cases further reviews are necessary, as your application may have raised some red flags. You may be asked to undergo more interviews, complete more forms and provide fingerprints. This entire process may take another four to six weeks.
Be prepared to register once you arrive in the United States, this is required in almost all situations. You should also expect to complete an arrival/departure form before deplaning. At the airport, a U.S. Official will briefly interview you and review your paperwork before you are allowed to pass through customs.
Getting a U.S. passport is a fairly simple and straightforward process. You should prepare in advance, though, because the passport isn’t going to be handed to you immediately; you’ll need to wait 6-8 weeks for it to arrive. To get your U.S. passport, you need to take the following steps: Continue reading »
A travel diary is a great way to commemorate a trip. For group travel, the travel journal can be even more special. It not only reminds everyone of the fun that they had together on the trip but also gives them insight into what the others in the group got out of the experience. Years from now, you might have all gone your separate ways, but you’ll occasionally take out that old trip journal and fondly remember the times that you enjoyed together. Continue reading »
You might be planning a vacation with various family members, or a school reunion trip, or even a conference. Whatever the reason, the logistics of planning a group vacation when the group is geographically widespread - or simply don’t have much time to meet in person - can be a nightmare. TripHub can make it easier.
Planning a vacation is complicated enough, but when you add an ocean, a few time zones, and a foreign language into the mix, it can all get a bit overwhelming. But the truth is, it’s worth the extra effort. Following are some tips to make it easier. Continue reading »
Fall is a terrific season to travel with a group. You can enjoy holiday activities associated with Halloween and Thanksgiving. Alternatively, if you’re able to travel during the non-holiday autumn weeks, you can take advantage of discounted rates on air fare, accommodations and attractions. You can head specifically to places where the beautiful fall foliage is waiting to impress you or you can hang on to summer by hitting up a beach destination where the weather is still warm.
Here are just a few great fall group travel ideas that you might want to consider:
If you have the good fortune of having healthy grandparents, taking them along on family vacation can bring about many special memories that will last a lifetime. Consequently, precautions should be taken when traveling to ensure that no medical emergencies occur whether you are traveling by car or plane. A few summers ago, I had the privilege of picking up my grandmother in Chicago and driving her back home to Pittsburgh, which was about a 500-mile journey. Under normal circumstances, I would have no problem driving 500 miles in less than a day, but I decided that it wasn’t a good idea to keep Gram cooped up in my Honda Accord coupe for a full day so I split the drive over 2 days. One risk associated with elderly travelers is deep venous thrombosis (DVT). Frequent stops along the way so that the older ones can stretch their legs and walk around a bit, are essential to prevent issues with circulation. If your grandparents are flying with you, taking blood thinners and wearing elastic compression stockings are other precautions they can take. Additionally, excessive heat isn’t good for people that suffer from circulation problems. In general, it’s a good idea to keep a copy of their medical history close at hand or easily attainable in the event of an emergency. Also, if your grandparent requires medication injected with a syringe or needle, they should have a copy of a letter from a doctor stating this is medically necessary as these types of items are routinely confiscated by airport security during baggage checks. For more information on elderly travel, visit the State Department’s website at http://travel.state.gov/travel/tips/tips_1232.html#senior_travel.
Whenever you travel in any kind of group, keeping track of everybody is not always an easy task. I regularly take groups of adults on day trips and just last week I lost a bank manager who had misunderstood what time we were meant to meet back at the bus stop. But add children into the mix and keeping your group together can be really tricky. Here are some tips on how to avoid losing children on a group trip:
Spending the holidays at home with friends and family is nice, but sometimes it’s fun to gather your family and explore a new destination for the holiday season. Although many places decorate and offer special events, some destinations have become synonymous with holiday travel. Among these are:
New York City
From Thanksgiving to New Year’s Day, New York City is one big celebration. There’s the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade; the big, lighted tree at Rockefeller Center (pictured above); the timeless Rockettes at Radio City Music Hall; the animated department store windows; and the excitement that is New York in December.
Williamsburg Virginia
For a historic Christmas vacation, you can’t beat Williamsburg. This restored 18th century town adorns itself with fruit wreaths, sings traditional carols, and welcomes in the season just as our forefathers did. You can even get an 18th century Christmas dinner at one of the restored inns. Plan early and stay in one of the restored houses within the village or indulge yourselves at the formal Williamsburg Inn.
London
European captials celebrate the season with a little more subtlety than we do in the United States. The colors are a little more subdued and the focus is somewhat less commercial. The holiday season in London takes on the air of a Dickens novel. There are traditional Edwardian carols, garlands and wreaths, and Harrod’s filled with goodies for everyone on your shopping list.
(photo credit: istockphoto)
Imagine that you’re on vacation with a number of your closest friends, favorite family members or friendliest business associates. Your days are spent exploring the golf courses of a beautiful vacation destination, soaking up the sun and showing off your skills on the green. You get in plenty of quality time discussing business or family life and you get a nice tan out of the deal as well. It sounds ideal, doesn’t it? A group golf vacation can be a terrific experience for both business and pleasure.
However, a group golf vacation isn’t as easy as just getting on a plane and going. There are a number of things that you’ll need to take care of in the planning stages of the vacation to make sure that it goes smoothly once you get there. When there are a number of personalities involved in a golf vacation and a number of different interests to take into consideration, you really need to plan ahead to make sure that everyone is going to have a good time.
Here are some tips for planning a golf group vacation:
• Have an initial meeting in which you delegate responsibilities to certain people in the group. The number of people you will need to handle these responsibilities can vary form 1 – 10 depending on the size of your group. Responsibilities will include finding and booking courses and accommodations, planning other events, coordinating the travel itself, figuring out what clubs and other gear will be brought by whom and checking in with the group to be sure all needs are being discussed.
• Have everyone in the group fill out a simple form answering questions that will help you to make decisions about the trip. Things to ask will include what golf level people are at, what courses they enjoy, what destinations they have in mind, how many courses they would like to see during the trip, whether they want to stay at a resort or an off-course hotel, what other activities might be enjoyed during the golf vacation and what special accommodations need to be met. These forms can be used by the trip planning leaders during the planning.
• Create a basic itinerary including information about itinerary and courses. Bring everyone together for a second meeting to discuss the details and confirm that no one has any issues or problems with the plans. Make adjustments accordingly and then book in advance. Be sure to ask if there are discounts for groups on everything you plan.
• Assign someone to be in charge of handling problems that arise during the trip. By making it clear to everyone that someone is available to discuss any problems, you can avoid confusion and reduce problems.
• Have a back-up plan. For example, if you plan to visit three courses during a long weekend and for the entire group to go together to these, your back-up plan might be for the group to split up into three groups and for each to spend the day at one golf course.
If you plan your golf vacation in advance, taking into consideration the needs of everyone in your group, you should find that you’ll have a terrific time. It definitely takes some time and energy to make sure that you select destinations, golf courses and nearby accommodations that suit everyone. But if you take a leadership role and are proactive in discussing problems as they arise, you should find that most people really do just want to have fun and enjoy the stay!
You’ve been away for the best group vacation ever, you’ve all taken tons of photos of each other, but then you go back to different parts of the world and you never quite get around to emailing around copies of your photos. Plan ahead and avoid this scenario by setting up a group folder on a photo sharer like Flickr or Picasa, and you’ll all be able to relive the highlights of the trip and laugh at the crazy photos you took on the last night.
Photo-sharing websites are easy to use, free for a basic account and have all kinds of useful features for storing, managing and sharing your holiday photos. Here’s an overview of two of the most popular sites, Flickr and Picasa:
Flickr is a massive photo storage website that’s now owned by Yahoo. The homepage shows amazing stats that around 2000 photos are uploaded in the average minute; and in total there are hundreds of millions of photographs online. But don’t let that scare you, because Flickr also hosts groups, so you can easily create a very manageable little corner for photos from all your group trip members.
When you start a group on Flickr, you can decide if the images that are uploaded will be public, invitation-only public, or completely private. As well as having an area for a group pool of photos, Flickr groups also have a discussion group for chatting amongst yourselves.
Picasa is a similar photo storage site, and this time it now belongs to Google. The Picasa Web Albums section of the site is where you can upload and share your photos. Unlike Flickr, you’ll have to download the Picasa software first, but this is quickly done.
An important difference here between Picasa and Flickr is that Picasa doesn’t have a dedicated group sharing tool the way Flickr photo pools work. But you can still decide the privacy level of your photo albums and send the link to traveling companions who want to see your photos.
Now that giants like Google and Yahoo have taken on the majority of the photo sharing market, there are quite a few perks for users. When I signed in for Picasa Web Albums, for example, I used my Google account and that meant that Picasa automatically uploaded the photos from my blogspot.com blogs, since they’re also owned by Google. That cuts down on doing things twice, and it’s a few simple clicks to turn my private photo album now into a page my friends can see.
If your family is thinking reunion, why not create a reunion that will be memorable for those who cannot attend. It’s not uncommon for families to live thousands of miles from each other and getting everyone together for a reunion may not be possible. To get as many people as possible involved in your family reunion why not create a video that can be shared among family members and then passed on for future generations. Ask for non-attendee participation. If you have a lot of time to prepare for the reunion and a little spare time to put together a video (new computer programs make this easier than ever) you can even include people who cannot attend in the actual day. Have everyone send you a few family photos, make sure they’re clearly labeled, and then create a video montage with clear subtitles so everyone knows who they’re seeing and from what year. If you have willing family members, have them do some brief video interviews with the senior family members. Ask them to recount how they met their significant other, or what they did to build the family business, or when their children were born. Make sure the tales relate to the family and will have significant interest for everyone. Ask attendees to bring photos. While you’re playing the video let them pull out other pictures and share their memories while the interest of others is already piqued. This strengthens family bonds and gives people who may not have a strong connection something to talk about. At the end of the reunion have several copies of the video to pass out so your family can always cherish the memories. And don’t forget to send copies to the non-attendees.
It sounds so great when you’re at home. Sitting in the living room or at the computer, making plans about what you’ll see or eat or do, with some of your best friends. And how fantastic that there’s a big group of you going, so you get discounts everywhere and all get to enjoy the great experience of traveling together. And then you hit the road.
Finding somewhere to eat during a group travel vacation can often be one of the most headache-inducing parts of the trip. One reason for this is that many groups forget to plan ahead in this area and then don’t know what to do once they get to their destination and find out that no restaurant has room for them. Here are some tips for finding group-friendly restaurants no matter what city you take your travels to:
College is a time for learning and experiencing the world. What could be a better way to do both than travel?
Getting a group of like-minded college students together for a trip abroad is generally not very difficult. Getting a group discount is equally easy. There are many organizations out there that cater to students and will plan your vacation for a reasonable fee. There are also scam artists out there that will be more than happy to prey on inexperienced students. Before you decide on a travel group check with your college and see if they have a list of companies that they recommend for student travel and see if they also have a list of companies that have proven to be a problem in the past. You may want to check with local travel agencies to see if they have similar information. Continue reading »
As the years pass families grow and expand and tend to grow apart. For some families the only time they all get together is that rare family reunion. And how much fun is a family reunion anyway? You are forced to try Aunt Mildred’s rancid potato salad and smile and nod as your Uncle Phil gives you a detailed description of his recent battle with gout.
If you’re looking for a way to improve the quality of your family reunion and boost attendance, consider a destination reunion. Each family is different so no destination reunion will suit every family but there are several different routes you can take. Continue reading »
Eductional tours give students a chance to travel abroad and encounter new cultures, sights, and ideas. Several companies organize tours just for students and their teachers at affordable rates, with special learning experiences built into the program. The most established of these companies, and arguably the best, is EF Tours. Continue reading »
Group travel can be a terrific experience, giving you the chance to travel with a large number of people that you care about or to meet new people on an organized vacation. Being able to share your adventures with these people can stimulate conversation and enhance the travel experience. Plus, of course, you get the benefits of group discounts and group tour options. It’s a win-win situation. Well, almost. Continue reading »
One of the best ways to get around Europe is to get yourself a EuroRail pass. And one of the best tips to know is that, if you’re going to Europe with a group of ten or more people, you can get a discount on that pass. And the other important thing to know is that it is critical that your group designates a leader to make decisions about EuroRail travel for everyone. Continue reading »
There is nothing more fun then traveling with a group of friends or family. You always have someone to talk to- you never have to worry about having someone to have dinner with…. it’s perfect……..right??
It can be or it can be the most stressful experience of your life. There are friendships that have not survived a vacation. There are families divided! There are marriages that are still rocky! Don’t despair. With a few simple ideas you can have your vacation and still be speaking. Remember these words:
Traveling in a group can be rewarding. You have people of similar interests with whom to share your discoveries and adventures and you have the security that comes with traveling in numbers. Continue reading »
Whether you’re planning a trip to a foreign country with your foreign language class, or just an interested group of friends who want some extra intellectual stimulation on their next trip, there are a few key tips to help you organize the most worthwhile and enjoyable holiday.
I want to add a “dun, dun, dun” to this article title. Can’t you just hear the horror music chime in at the thought of traveling with the kids!
If you’ve ever planned a vacation with a spouse or best friend, you know that the travel planning in itself can be stressful on the relationship. But what if you were traveling with a group on vacation?
So you’ve got your family packed into a minivan for a group day trip. Your little ones are tired of watching the portable DVD player, and the batteries have run out on your teenagers gameboy. Grandma is sitting in the back trying to keep everyone amused. What you need right now are some road games like you used to play when you were a kid, here are some of our favorites.
Many travel/touring companies are involved in booking group travel, but it can be very difficult to tell if you are getting the best information from them. When looking into planning a group trip, it is usually easier to use a travel agent or touring company than to try to organize it yourself. If you research travel agents on the internet you will be bombarded with lists of companies. It is always best to get referrals from family members or friends that have used agents and go to them.
You can also research agencies with the local better business bureau to be sure they do not have complaints against them. When using an agency that you are not familiar with, try to find one with a local office so you can visit them in person. When you use an agency that you cannot visit you really do not know who or what type of organization you are dealing with.
Looking for a new idea when planning your next group travel excursion? The latest thing in group travel is planning “adventure” type of experiences - anything from skydiving, whitewater rafting to shark diving. These adventure travel plans can be done with groups of any size - large or small groups are usually welcomed.
Adventure travel is great for families, corporate team building, bachelor parties or any celebration type of travel. Here are some of the best ideas in adventure travel:
Tired of your male significant other having all the fun with with his buddies on a golf getaway? If you are maybe it’s time you and your girlfriends looked in to the Ladies Only Golf Advantage School at the Homestead Resort in in Virginia. The ladies only program is open only to women (we had to say that in case any men were reading) and features 15 hours of instruction over 2 days. The class is led by female instructors and there are never more than 5 students per instructor, to make sure you each get individual attention. The instruction covers everything from driving to putting, and features a state of the art computerized swing analysis.
A friend of mine called me the other day and said she was planning a trip to Italy. She and a childhood friend thought they would like to see Venice…and maybe Florence…perhaps rent a car. These are 2 women with full time jobs, busy active lives, one with growing children who are joining a burgeoning group of travelers- women on their own - The Girlfriend Getaway.
This past weekend I went on a spa vacation with my girlfriends. As we were ushered to the Tigh-Na-Mara Seaside Spa Resort in my friend Michelle’s Honda Accord I asked the girls, “So when did women start leaving their men at home when they went on vacation”?
“When we realized what a pain the ass they are!” shouted my friend Marlo from the backseat. It was giggling hysterics for the entire 3 hour road trip. Continue reading »
Before taking your next family car trip you may want to review these valuable tips:
Millions of families will be traveling this summer to their favorite vacation destinations. Travel with children (no matter the age) can add stress to any family vacation. A good idea to consider is to create custom music CD’s for your children before you begin your travel. With an investment of a portable CD player (under $12.00) you can download your child’s favorite songs on line (most downloads are .99 cents) and create CD’s that are just for them. Whether your child loves Barney songs, The Wiggles or even music for older children you will be thankful they are able to listen on their own. It is especially helpful with families with multiple children, who don’t like to listen to the same types of music. Your older child can be listening to their favorite musical groups while your smaller children are happily listening to “The Wheels on the Bus” over and over (most CD players do have a repeat feature).
You can also involve your children by allowing them to choose their favorite songs for downloading and teach them how to use the CD player. Even younger children can learn how to use the play, repeat, and volume features on the player. Whether you are traveling on an airplane, train or in a car you will really appreciate it.
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