33 Travel Safety Tips
December 19, 2011 | 
Author Traveling to unfamiliar destinations can bring to you the sort of troubles you do not want to experience while on the road namely: robbery, rape, or murder. Tourists often fall prey to perpetrators because they do not prepare properly before embarking on a trip. Let’s examine some things you should do to prevent your travels from becoming a tragedy:
1. Never list your home address on the luggage tag. If on business, put the company’s address on the tag; if visiting friends you can list their address. Use covered luggage tags as well.
2. Stay with your luggage until the luggage is checked. If you must put your bag down, keep one foot on the handle.
3. Carry important papers with you; NEVER check anything that you simply cannot afford to lose. Photocopy your passport, driver’s license and credit cards.
4. Bring a small flashlight. You never know when you’ll suddenly be “in the dark” and find yourself in unfamiliar surroundings. At night, keep your flashlight by your bed.
5. Make sure that your prescription medicines are filled properly and labeled accurately. In some countries certain prescription medicines are forbidden.
6. Never wear anything that projects affluence. No gold chains, expensive watches and rings, luggage, or other paraphernalia should be in easy view. Better yet: leave your jewelry at home.
7. If possible travel with only one or two credit cards.
8. Women particularly should never accept a drink from a stranger. Keep an eye on your drink at all times.
9. Vary your schedule; try not to come and go at the same time everyday.
10. Only stay in a hotel that uses cards to open room doors and make sure your room has a peephole and a deadbolt lock. Secure the chain and secure the door by pushing a rubber stop under it.
11. Stay in a room near a stairwell. Never take the elevator if a fire or smoke is detected. Always stay in a hotel where the doors enter the hallway and not directly from the outside.
12. Do not wear name tags in public.
13. Do not use unmarked taxi cabs.
14. Sit behind the driver so you can see him, but he cannot see you.
15. Pay the driver upon arriving at your destination and while you are still sitting in the vehicle.
16. If you must rent a car, rent only from a reputable company. Any operating problems that occur could signal sabotage.
17. Be aware of ‘staged’ car accidents meant to catch you off card.
18. Back into your parking spaces to facilitate a quick exit.
19. Park only in well lit and well traveled areas.
20. If your cell phone does not work outside of the country, consider renting one that does for the duration of your trip.
21. If detained for whatever reason by an official, ask for identification. If in doubt, tell them that you want to see his superior. Keep your emotions in check.
22. If traveling with children, bring along an updated photograph of each child in the event that you become separated from them.
23. Write your child’s name and your hotel number on each card; include a close friend’s or relative’s contact information on the card. Give a card to each child which they will carry with them as long as you are away. Destroy once home.
24. Discuss with your family what they would do in event of an emergency while away from home, e.g. whom to call, how to contact emergency personnel, etc.
25. Do not discuss travel plans, your room number or any other personal information in public within earshot of strangers.
26. Bring along a basic first aid kit with bandages, iodine, mosquito repellant, sunscreen, alcohol packets, dramamine, pepto bismol, diarrhea medicine, etc.
27. Familiarize yourself with train and bus schedules before traveling. Have an alternate plan in place in the event your transportation plans change.
28. Do not flash your passport in public. Discreetly show important documents to officials only.
29. Consider purchasing portable alarms that emit a loud sound.
30. Watch for scams on the street. Children working with adults are notorious as pickpockets.
31. Never flash your money in public. Exchange funds with reputable and recognized exchangers only.
32. Have tips ready in advance for service personnel.
33. Consider renting an escort [security] service if traveling in areas where crime is high.
The key to safe traveling in any area is situational awareness. Distractions because of luggage, children, hotel personnel, strangers, etc. can put you at risk. Know your surroundings and stay in control of every situation.
How To Find Discount Car Rental At Malaga Airport
Finding a discount car rental at Malaga airport or other popular tourist destinations in southern Spain doesn’t have to be hard. All it takes is a little research. Here are some tips to get cheap car hire rates in Malaga.
Begin your search for a bargain rental car as soon as you know the dates of your holiday or stay. Sometimes the reception at your hotel or resort can be of help for finding a discounted rent a car, but normally you will find the best deals on the internet.
On the internet it takes only a little time to get prices and conditions for almost any destination in Spain. If you need a rent a car at Malaga airport start your research as early as possible because some online car rental services offer discounts for early bookings. The advantage of shopping early is that you’ll have an accurate idea of what you’re going to be spending on your car rental in Malaga which makes it easier to determine your holiday budget. That’s much better than leaving it all to the last minute and finally paying a price that you really can’t afford.
The advantage of booking your car online and in advance is that you can look for the best deal available. This is a lot more convenient than waiting in line at the car rental counter at Malaga airport after you get off the plane. Online you can choose just what vehicle you want and usually get a lower price. The reason for the lower prices is that when you book a car online, there is obviously less staff involved and less overhead for the rental company. That enables the car hire companies at Malaga airport to keep prices low and the savings can be passed on to the customer.
Occasionally you pay a price for the convenience of picking up your car from a counter at the airport, as the rental companies are usually levied heavy fees for the airport concessions by the airport authorities, but car hire on airport does not necessarily need to be more expensive. Sometimes it can be cheaper to use a car hire company with an off airport location. Off airport suppliers do offer free shuttles from the airport to the car rental location.
For American citizens it is important to know, that cars at Malaga airport are usually much smaller than American vehicles. Please bear this in mind when selecting a suitable model, as the amount of luggage you take along may not fit into the rental vehicle.
Another important difference is that most models at Malaga airport are stick-shift. If you need a vehicle with automatic gearbox the final rental price may be twice as much as for a similar model with manual shift. The minimum age for car hire at Malaga airport is 21 – 25 years old, depending on the kind of vehicle you would like to rent. Multinational companies may charge a young driver surcharge for customers between twenty-one and twenty-five years.
Holidays are meant to get us out of the rush of every day life and enjoy the simple pleasures of life. By following these tips, you can get a better rate on car rentals and you’ll be well on your way to enjoying a great. There are discount car rentals to be had just about anywhere in the world, they just have to be found. Have a great holiday in Malaga!
Gold Coast Car Rental
Known earlier as Coolangatta Airport, Gold slideAirport lies in the southern end of the greater area. The airport has expanded its operation from domestic flights to an International Terminal. In 2007 the terminal has redeveloped which an extension of the runway after Virgin Blue and Jetstar (Qantas Airlines low cost carrier) started their operation here.
New international airlines Tiger Airways and Air Asia X will also operate from Gold slide airport making its entry and exit points. Freedom Air and Virgin Pacific have been operating from here. As Gold slide airport attracted more international airlines with “budget carriers” it now boasts of more foreign visitors.
Inevitably as Gold Coast airport is seeing more traffic and tourists throughout the year demands for hotels, resorts holiday apartments and car rent companies have also increased.
Given the tourists traffic in Gold slide it is always advisable for you to do an advance booking. There are car hire companies in Gold slide who also operates online booking system to help you with all the information about your car hire its price.
Car Rent
The best known car rental companies are located opposite the check-in counters at Gold slide Airport. You can either book with your preferred company before hand or choose at the Terminal for the best deal.
But if you have fixed a meeting with an off airport car rental operator then proceeds to the Meeting Place, located opposite the Transport and Information Desk.
Some of the car rent companies are listed below for your convenience:
Airport Rent A Car Coolangatta
An efficient car rent company around Australia, established in 1989 the company boast of large repeat customer base. Its rental cars on the Gold Coast are for local metro, southern Queensland and northern New South Wales state country use.
It offers it customers’ free delivery and drop off at the Gold Coast airport without charging additional airport fees. What is amazing about this car hire company is that international travelers are met by its representative on their arrivals with a welcome sign and customer name on it. Domestic travelers are met at the baggage pick up point.
Avis Car Hire
Avis car hire promises to be as enticing as the Coolangatta itself and help you in unlocking the jewel of eastern Australia with their car hire. Book car early as Holden Astra convertibles sell out quickly in Gold Coast. Other options include the eco-friendly Toyota Prius Hybrid or sporty Ford Falcon. Going surfing or fishing in Gold Coast? Consider a 4WD rental such as the 5 door Nissan Patrol.
East Coast Car Rentals Gold slide Airport
Its branch is few minutes from the Airport. This company can assist you with car hire needs. With offices throughout South East Queensland and many years of experience it is capable to assist you for long term, short term or even one way rentals.
Europcar Australia Gold slide Airport (Car Rent)
A leading car rent brands in Australia it operates a large fleet of quality vehicles in over 200 locations including Gold slide Airport. It offers its clients a wide choice of vehicles including passenger and luxury vehicles, commercial, 4WD and minibuses.
Other car rent companies you can check in Gold Coast Airport are:
Budget Rent a Car Australia Gold slide Airport (Car Rent) (b)Hertz Australia Gold Coast Airport (Car Rental) (c) Thrifty Gold Coast Airport (Car Rental)
Rent to Own Your Next Car
Buying a car is a very big decision. If your current car has finally called it quits, then there really leaves no choice in the matter; you need a new car. If you are thinking about upgrading your current car just for the fun of it, then you should think long and hard about buying a new one. This is especially true if you have already paid off your current car and have no car payment. Make sure that you have gone through all of your financials so you know what your budget can or cannot handle. Check out some rent to own places to get an idea as to what type of incentive they can offer.
One of the best things about the rent to own method of buying a vehicle is that you simply make your monthly payments until you have paid off the vehicle. If at any time you decide you don’t want the vehicle you have picked out you can return it to the store no questions asked. All this really means is that you will be out the money that you had spent each month paying for it, but you still have the right to walk away if you need to. This is a great option if you are unexpectedly laid off or have a reduction in your income for whatever reason. Just make sure to read through the fine print of your rent to own terms so you know what to expect throughout your contract.
There are so many different types of vehicles to choose from nowadays that it takes a little bit of homework to pick the right one. From diesel pickup trucks to flexfuel cars and SUVs to minivans, there is a wide variety of styles. You most likely have a good idea what type of car you want to drive, so the only problem is narrowing down the field a bit. If you want a pickup truck but don’t know what brand you want, you should test drive several different models from each manufacturer until you find the right one.
There are lots of different awards given to cars each year for best in crash testing, fuel mileage and more. Buying a two or four door sedan is one of the hardest decisions since this is where they have the most to choose from. Once you have settled on a particular vehicle, read up on your local rent to own news so you know what to expect from the industry. You might find that there are better options out there, or you might find that renting to own is the way to go.
Getting a ticket in a rental car – There are additional costs or penalties?
When driving a rental car is a question that looms in the minds of the tenant. One of these questions is "What happens if I get a ticket?" This is a very good question, because the machine is not in the name of the tenant. The car is in the name of the car rental companies. This means that things can get a little 'complicated to use, depending on the company you are. Sure, it's easy to say do not do anything just to get a ticket. However, it is not always so simple.
Getting theTicket
So we say, you get a speeding ticket. They did not. You just have to see not only a sign or parked in a parking meter and forgot to pay him. So you go home, and mail a check to pay for your ticket to the city. However, you will find a couple of weeks after a letter from the car rental company you say the ticket was not paid to receive. You know you paid for it, then call the city, and say they have received payment. Then call the car rentalCompanies and found that they charge a fee to you, that their contact information with the city that issued the ticket has to happen. This is because then his record label, which one of their cars to get a parking ticket. The capture of this is that the release to take the ticket, down the VIN and license plates of cars that are registered with the car owner has.
Sometimes the only way a fee assessed if the carCompany pays the tax and then transfer the cost to the customer. However, in a case where you pay the ticket and car rental company contacts you, chances are you have not checked if the ticket was paid. These companies receive thousands of tickets a day and not have the manpower to make sure that every ticket was paid. If the municipality that issued the ticket contacts the car rental company for a quote, which assumes that the ticket is notpaid. Sometimes you can fax the receipt of the original payment for the car rental companies have a full refund. However, the car owner for a fee.
If you receive a speeding ticket, the penalty against you and the car is driving. Driving license staff is involved. The police checked the plates to make sure everything is under control, but it is worth to you and not pay the rental company. In reality, not the car rental companyinformed that the quotation appeared in one of their cars. The only way is that if something happens, do not pay your property. If the car owner must be involved in this case, you can expect some sort of additional costs.
Exceptions
There are no exceptions for parking tickets, but the only exception in relation to a fine not against you and the car in case of excess speed is taken the camera. When the camera catches you speeding, the authorities are using theFlag to know where to send the ticket. The car is the ticket. You can pay, but at the cost and a fee that you happen to worry about. Yes, you should be cautious, but it's also good to know, as you can in a car fines are just in case it happens.
Posted in Budget Carrent Articles | 
Tags: Additional, Getting, penalties, Rental, Ticket | 
No Comments »
Getting a Ticket in a Rental Car – Are There Additional Fees Or Fines?
When driving a rental car, there is a question that looms in the mind of the renter. One of those questions is, “What happens if I get a ticket?” That is a very good question because the car is not in the renter’s name. The car is in the name of the rental car company. This means things can get a bit complicated, depending on the company that you’re using. Sure, it is simple to say that you just shouldn’t do anything to get a ticket. However, it isn’t always that easy.
Getting the ticket
So let’s say you get a parking ticket. You didn’t mean to. You just simply didn’t see a sign or parked at a parking meter and forgot to pay it. So you go home, write a check, and mail the payment for your ticket to the city. However, you find a couple weeks later that you receive a letter from the rental car company telling you the ticket has not been paid. You know you paid it, so you call the city and they tell you that they received the payment. You then call the rental car company and you find out that they will charge a fee to you for you having to pass their contact information to the city that has issued you the ticket. This is because it is then on their record that one of their cars received a parking ticket. The catch to this is the fact that the officer issuing the ticket has to take down the VIN and license plate numbers on the car, which are registered under the rental car company.
Sometimes, the only way a fee is assessed is if the car rental company pays the fee and then they pass on the cost to the customer. However, in an instance where you pay the ticket and the car rental company contacts you, chances are they have not checked to see if the ticket was paid. These companies receive thousands of tickets per day and do not have the manpower to check if each and every ticket was paid. When the municipality that issued the ticket contacts the rental car company about a citation, they automatically assume that the ticket was not paid. Sometimes you can fax a receipt from the original payment to the car rental company to have your money refunded. However, the car rental company will charge a fee.
If you receive a speeding ticket, then the penalty is against you and not the car you are driving. Your personal driver’s license is involved. The police do check the plates to ensure everything is in check, but it is you who has to pay the penalty and not the car rental company. In fact, the car rental company may not be notified that such a citation occurred in one of their cars. The only way is if something happens you do not pay your fine. If the car rental company has to get involved in that case, then you can expect some kind of additional cost.
Exceptions
There are no exceptions to parking tickets, but the one exception regarding a speeding ticket being against you and not the car is in the case you are caught speeding on camera. If the camera catches you speeding, the authorities use the license plate number to find out where to send the ticket. The rental car company gets the ticket. They may pay it, but will pass the cost and a fee on to you for taking care of it. Yes, it is good to be careful, but it is also good to know how you can be ticketed in a rental car just in case it happens to you.
Posted in Budget Carrent Articles | Tags: Additional, Childrens, Fines, Getting, Jewelry, Rental, Ticket | No Comments »
Current Trends in Wedding Reception Photos
Wedding photographs are very important. They tell the story. There is no bridal event without photographs. Of course some weddings have photography taking a large chunk of the budget because after the wedding all you have are the pictures. This saying is very true. Nobody can tell what happened more than a photographer.
Traditionally, a single photographer would cover an event and after that produce the print out for the couple. Times have changed. More and more novelty is been introduced. We take a look at what is new with modern bridal photography.
A single photographer cannot be at two paces at the same time. Whilst the bridal rings are been exchanged, the audience would be cheering and laughing. The same photographer covering the ring cannot cover the audience at the same time. So two photographers would be covering the event now. Whilst one remains with the couple, another is in audience capturing the images that the couple need badly – who was there that they did not see.
Too much professionalism takes way the fun. Many couples are letting their family members take photographs. These photographs add a sense of fun and excitement to the event. The family members are able to take photographs that a professional would not. For example they can photograph the joy of family member upon the arrival of the couple into the wedding hall.
Nowadays many people are using disposable cameras. These are cameras that cannot be used twice. You can by as many as you want and then place them at the entrance of the reception hall. Your guests would take as many pictures as they want with it and then leave them behind as they leave the reception. You can develop the pictures and see how the guests perceived you wedding. You can also let them take it away and then load the pictures at a site you will design so everyone can share the happiness.
Posted in Budget Carrent Articles | Tags: Current, Photos, Reception, Trends, Wedding | No Comments »
Top Financial Mistakes Made by College Students
1. Blowing your student loan money!
Instead of using your financial aid for books, tuition, room & board, many students will choose to finance their extravagant lifestyle of partying, clothes, gadgets, and eating out. These school loans you’ve worked so hard to get should be paying for your education, not you social life…so use the money wisely. You’ll be paying them off for many years to come.
2. Credit Card Debt!
Even responsible adults can rack up some hefty credit card debt, but students, who have no viable income besides their school loan money, and what cash mom & dad give them, have no business getting multiple credit cards. This is a recipe for credit disaster, because now students will not only have their school loans to repay when they graduate, but large credit card balances. Nellie May, the largest student loan maker, says that most graduate students have an average of $5800 in credit card debt.
3. Not Paying Your Bills on Time!
Racking up huge credit debt and not paying your bills on time is a good way to ensure that you can’t purchase a car, rent an apartment or even get a cell phone after you graduate. Keep the credit cards to a minimum, and pay your bills on time to keep your good credit rating. You’ll thank yourself in a few years.
4. Bad Budgeting!
Being a college student generally means living on a fixed income. Weather it be your financial aid money or money from a part-time job, or even money from Mom & Dad, the cash is usually limited and setting up a budget is important. A monthly budget doesn’t mean you can’t do the things you want to do, but simply a plan so you know the “must-pays” actually get paid. Figure out exactly what bills and expenses you have every month and plan for those first. Any money after that you can budget for social / recreational items like CD’s and kegs.
5. Going to a College that’s too Pricey!
Instead of going to your local community college for your pre-req classes and spending $25 a unit, many students feel they have to go to the 4 year university straight out of high school. Many end up returning home and going to a C.C. anyway, but attending a local school first is a good way to save money, and get those required classes out of the way cheap. After you’ve completed these courses, transfer to a 4 year school to complete your undergraduate degree. This will save thousands upon thousands of dollars that you would have racked up on student loans, and been paying off well into your 30′s.
So many bad financial decisions students make is a result of poor financial education. Students haven’t been taught by their parents or high school teachers the importance of maintaining a good credit score, paying bills on time, and budgeting income. Wise spending during the college years will ensure that the money you make after graduating will be spent on things you want, not credit card payments, collection companies and school loans.
To get more information on and ways to lower your student loan payment, visit the website below.
Life on a Small Yacht
There’s an old saying in sailing – “Go small and go now.”
Too many dreamers spend all their lives thinking about going sailing when they retire, only to realise that when they get to retirement age, their bodies may not be up to the physical demands of sailing. They kid themselves while working by saying that they can’t afford a yacht. Maybe they can’t afford a yacht of their dreams, but if you wait until you can afford a 45 foot or bigger gin palace I suggest you will never get there.
So, go small, and don’t say to yourself that there won’t be enough room on a boat of 32 feet or smaller. Offset this argument by stating the pros of owning a smaller boat – they are easier to handle and the running costs are much cheaper.
For living space, resign yourself to only having enough space for two adults, and two small kids. Any more than that, and you will always be in each others’ way.
Small boats are perfectly capable of going blue water sailing, if they are sturdily built and have adequate safety gear. The main limitation on going ocean cruising in small boats is the capability and experience of the skipper and crew.
The costs of boat ownership can be horrendous, but at least with a small boat they are controllable. Make a budget of annual expenses – insurance, registration, berthing fees at marinas, slipping fees for annual maintenance, engine consumables, antifoul paint and sail repairs, to name a few. Don’t forget living expenses either – food, clothing and other shore going expenses.
I know of some cruisers who exist on $0 a year and live quite comfortably for them. They do not insure their boat, have no engine, read books instead of having electronic entertainment, and they have the ability to fix anything that may go wrong. This may sound a bit austere at first, but if you think about it, it does strip life back to the essentials, and let’s face it, you would readily swap your boring 9 to 5 commuter existence for his enjoyment of life and this freedom.
I would suggest the smallest yacht for a couple would be around 27 feet, or eight metres. This length gives you reasonable beam and headroom, and many have already been set up for long distance cruising, with lots of little extras like solar panels, self steering gear, and at least you know that these boats have proved that they are capable of making ocean crossings.
Don’t worry too much about the age of the boat – they do not age the same as cars. You will hear of lots of pre-1980 built boats that are still going strong, and will easily last another 30 years. Choose a well known design and find out who the builder was. Often the builder will turn out to have been a craftsman, and the workmanship on an old boat may be much better than on a modern, mass produced one.
So, my advice is to sell up all the unnecessary stuff lying around your house, go along to a local sailing club or join an internet Cross-site (like mine!), Sell your second car, rent your home for income, and water. In less than two months you could live your dream instead of dreaming alone.
Car Rental For People Under 21
Car rental for people under 21 is often, unfortunately, very hard to come by. Most companies will only cater for drivers who are over 21 years of age, and some for those over 23! However, there are a few car rental companies that can provide a solution if you need a car and you are under 21.
The reason why car rental companies are often hesitant to rent to those under 21 years of age is due to the risk that they pose. Often young drivers are less experienced, and are therefore more likely to be involved in an insurance claim. For this reason, if you are a young driver you will often have to budget for more expensive rental rates than those over 21.
Many people 21 years of age or under still need a cost effective means of transportation when travelling. If this is the case then the best place to start is by searching the internet. Search for those who specifically cater for young drivers and you may be surprised with the results. Once you do, always read their terms thoroughly to ensure you are entitled to rent a car from them, asking them any questions if necessary.
It is always important to be honest and upfront when it comes to car rental under 21. After all, if you have lied about your age and you do end up in an accident, you may then be liable for thousands of dollars in damages. Be honest and you should be able to find a car rental company that matches all of your needs.