If you’re wondering what kind of trip you want to take, you might want t consider a cruise.  Planning a cruise is actually a lot less stressful than planning any other kind of trip because there are fewer things to deal with.  For example, your travel and your lodging are one and the same, so need need for worrying about hotel rooms. There are plenty of cruise guides available.

Well, mostly.  One of the issues of taking a cruise is that you have to get to the dock.  Sometimes, they can involve extra travel.  Some people live so far away that they actually have to fly to catch their cruise, which adds in another very large cost.  However, if you live near the area from which the boat leaves, it’s a cost you don’t have to worry about.

Food is another non-concern on a cruise.  All of your meals are actually included in the cost of the cruise with the exception of alcohol (and sometimes limited alcohol is actually included).  Huge dining rooms providing all the food you’d ever want.

Some entertainment is provided, too, such as magic shows, musical performances, and games.  Many cruise ships feature casinos for those who like to gamble.  On-ship pools, shuffleboard, and more give plenty of entertainment options for adults and children.

There are also various shore excursions you can do.  These excursions are handled through the cruise company, but they cost extra.  Some examples include touring ancient ruins, swimming with the dolphins, and going para-sailing.  However, while booking these events through your cruise is convenient, you may actually be able to find a local tourist company that provides the same experiences for less, so do some research.

There are a few things to consider if you’re trying to save money on your cruise.  First, interior rooms with no windows are much cheaper but provide no view of the ocean.  The time of year makes a huge difference, too.  You may find it cheaper to cruise during the winter months, but be aware that many cruises run holiday specials that fill up quickly.

Going on a trip can be a lot of fun, but in some ways, it can also be stressful.  One of these stressful areas is your travel budget.  Unless you have a lot of money set aside or are independently wealthy, chances are, you’re not going to be able to throw money around.  Instead, you’ll have to pick and choose what you purchase.  However, there are some ways you can save some money and stay within your travel budget.

Purchasing non-perishables (donuts, bagels, bread, cereal, etc.) from a local supermarket can save you from spending money on breakfast and maybe even lunch.  You can also pick up snacks and drinks so you don’t buy things out of vending machines—they’re always more expensive than stores.  Even if your room doesn’t include a mini-refrigerator, some hotels do feature ice machines so you can cool down your drinks this way.  Always avoid room service if it’s an option because it’s always expensive.  You can usually eat out for less.

Another tip is to make a list of people you wish to buy souvenirs for and set a certain amount for each.  You may want to spend more on your sister, for example, than on a work associate, but if you don’t plan this out, you may end up impulse buying.  This can quickly lead to spending a lot of money and filling up any extra space in your luggage.

Speaking of luggage, some airlines now charge for checked baggage.  To avoid paying too much in fees, try to fit as much of your clothing as possible into one bag.  Also remember that you may be able to put your toiletries and other small items in a carry-on bag.  If you expect to purchase a good amount of stuff on your trip, you may want to fit a smaller bag inside your larger one.  On your way back, you can use the second bag to carry your purchases.  This way, you only pay for one checked bag on the way there instead of two.

Look for multi-admission passes or transportation passes.  Many public transportation systems feature weekly passes, and these usually come out cheaper than paying each time unless you aren’t going to use transportation very often.  Some city tourism departments also offer a multi-admission pass that lets you in to a number of different attractions for one price.  Again, if you’re going to visit three or four of these attractions, buying the pass instead of paying individually may be cheaper.

You may have it all planned out.  You’ve got your transportation books, your tickets purchased, your hotel room reserved, and you’re ready to go!  Then something happens—there’s a sudden illness in the family, a natural disaster strikes your home town, or some other uncontrollable event happens, and you realise there’s no way you can go on your trip.  When that happens, you have no choice but to cancel your trip.

You need to cancel your reservations as soon as you know you won’t be able to go on your trip.  Many hotels and forms of transportation have cancellation deadlines.  If you cancel after these deadlines, you may not be able to get all or even most of your payment back.  This may mean you end up paying for airline tickets or a hotel room that you don’t get to use.  If that ends up being the case, see if you can get credit for another time.  If you can’t, you may want to transfer your reservations and such to someone who can go out of town.  It’s better that one of your family members or friends make use of your tickets and reservations rather than spending money on something that no one gets to use.

Event tickets are often non-refundable no matter what.  In this case, you can either give them to someone else or attempt to re-sell them.  Some people put their tickets up on eBay or other online auction sites.  If you don’t have time for that and don’t have a friend to give them to, you may be out of luck and will have to accept the loss of your money.

Cancelling your holiday is very disappointing, but losing all of your investment is even worse.  While you may be dealing with some horrible event during the time, but try to find a few minutes to deal with cancellations so you can save as much as you can.

Going on a road trip can be a lot of fun.  You have the option of stopping at any place between home and your destination, and you’ll get to see a lot of different sights.  However, travelling by car for long distances can present some interesting challenges that other forms of travel don’t. First, you’ll have to make certain you never run out of petrol.  This means keeping an eye out for that last station before you reach unpopulated areas.  You’ll also want to watch the prices of petrol.  Stations along main roads are often more expensive than those on less-used city streets.  The last thing you want is to spend too much money or to find yourself stranded with an empty petrol tank. Second, you’ll want to schedule regular breaks in your trip.  You’ll need to stop for meals, to stretch, and to go to the bathroom.  However, you don’t want to stop too often for incidental things or you may end up behind schedule.  Also, if you plan on stopping anywhere for sightseeing, try to take care of several things at once.  For example, you should be able to do some sightseeing, eat, refill your car, and stock up on snacks all at the same time. Third, if you’re travelling somewhere you haven’t been before, it’s a good idea to either get maps off the internet or have a GPS.  While it is possible to navigate using an atlas, sometimes they aren’t as reliable as they should be, especially if you’re using older atlases.  Internet maps are often more updated.  If you have a GPS, you’ll be able to quickly and easily change your route without worrying about getting lost. Finally, take turns driving if possible.  While it may not seem like it, driving for several hours in a row can be very exhausting.  By rotating drivers, you’ll keep fresh and alert.

Travelling to a foreign city by yourself can be very exciting.  If you’re there on holiday, you can set your entire schedule.  You can get up when you want, go out when you want, and see whatever you want.  However, travelling alone can also be a bit scary since you won’t have anyone to turn to if an emergency occurs. For that reason, you want to be sure to do a couple of things.  First, you need to know your hotel’s contact information.  Program the front desk number into your mobile phone if you have one, and be certain to grab one of the hotel’s business cards (most have one) and carry it in your wallet or purse.  This way, you know the exact address and phone number in case you get lost or need to contact the hotel for any reason. Likewise, ask the hotel staff for the number of a cab company or for information regarding buses or trains.  If you get lost or find yourself sick or otherwise unable to get back to the hotel on your own, you will need to have some way of calling for assistance.  It’s also a good idea to know how to contact emergency services if you are travelling abroad since it is not always the same number. As a solo traveller, it’s also important that you be even more aware of your surroundings.  Don’t walk with your head down, and take note of anything that looks suspicious, especially if it is someone who appears to be following you. Of course, some safety tips are the same whether you’re travelling alone or with someone else.  Never carry a lot of cash in your purse or wallet, and don’t give out your room number.

When you go on a trip, even if it’s for business, you often feel compelled to purchase souvenirs both for yourself and for others.  This is especially true if you’re on holiday or if you’re going to a really nice location or travelling abroad for the first time.  However, you can get too caught up in souvenir shopping and blow both your budget and your luggage space.  Here are some tips for souvenir shopping to make sure it doesn’t get out of hand. First, make a list of people for whom you should buy souvenirs.  Check this list over and make certain everyone on it really does need a memento of your trip of a gift.  If not, consider marking them off the list.  Even though it’s tempting to do birthday or holiday shopping while on your trip, it may simply not be practical. Look for small gifts that are meaningful.  If you know someone who has their whole refrigerator covered in magnets, think about getting them a magnet or two.  These types of gifts are inexpensive and don’t take up too much room in your baggage.  Pencils, pens, and key chains are other small gifts that don’t take up much space. T-shirts are also good gifts that are both practical and can be rolled up fairly small.  However, size becomes an issue here.  If you aren’t certain of which size to buy someone, you may think of getting them something else so they won’t be disappointed and you won’t spend money on something that won’t be worn. If you do see something large that you absolutely must have, ask the store if they can ship it for you or if they can hold it while you inquire about shipping options.  If you’re shipping something, especially if you’re shipping it from abroad, you may find that the shipping fees are exorbitant.   Don’t buy it before you know if you can afford to send it home. Also try to avoid buying fragile items.  If you do, attempt to keep your fragile purchases small enough that you can fit them in your carry-on bag.  Putting fragile items in a checked bag is always a gamble.  No matter what, try to wrap up the item as much as you can.  Use t-shirts or other garments if you don’t have any other type of wrapping. Finally, think about replacing souvenirs with something else.  Postcards can be a great little way of saying “I’m thinking of you” without taking up much space or money.  You don’t have to send them, either—when you get back, purchase a picture frame for them and present the framed postcard as a picture.  This works really well for postcards that have full colour, vibrant images on the front.

When heading out of town for a long trip, you may need to rent a car once you reach your destination.  While this might sound like an easy task, it actually isn’t as simple as it may seem.  There are several things you need to keep in mind when booking your rental car. First, you need to book your rental car early.  In fact, you should book it as soon as you can, ideally while you’re making your lodging and travel arrangements.  Many of the smaller, cheaper cars are booked months in advance, and if you wait until you arrive to make your rental car arrangements, you may find that all the company has left are the more expensive luxury cars. When you’re looking at various rental cars, watch for those that do not have unlimited mileage.  If you select a car that has a limit on it, you may have to pay extra fees once you turn the car in.  On the other hand, cars with unlimited mileage are usually a little more expensive.  If you’re not going to be driving very far, you may want to select a car without unlimited mileage to save a little money. Often, you can get a better deal on a rental car if you rent it for a full week instead of five or six days.  This is actually good for you as well since it gives you a little more freedom in picking up and dropping off your rental car.  If you’re on a business trip, you may also be able to get the business rate, which is often cheaper. Finally, make certain the car you’re renting has enough room for everything and has all the extra features you need.  Check the space in the boot, the number of passengers you can carry, and what amenities the car comes with such as a GPS system or keyless entry.

Some people simply do not do well with flights.  There are several different types of issues you may have with an airplane.  It may be that the entire concept of flight seems unnatural to you, causing you to stress over crashing or experiencing some form of disaster.  Still others are bothered by the claustrophobic cabins.  However, there are some things you can do to help you get over your airplane anxiety.

First, you have to work through your fear of flying.  If you look up statistics, you’ll see that flying is actually almost 20 times safer than driving somewhere by car.  Think about it this way: nearly every plane crash is mentioned on the news.  They’re that rare that every crash is mentioned.  Thousands of people fly every day without getting hurt.

Security is also incredibly tight now.  In fact, there is more security in airports than at train or bus stations.  There is very, very little chance that someone is going to be able to smuggle any sort of weapon on board a plane.

For your first flight, it may be helpful to fly with someone else.  This way, you have someone to talk to during takeoff, which is typically the most stressful time.  Your friend can help remind you that flying is perfectly safe and that nothing horrible is going to happen.  You may also want to take some anti-anxiety medication to help you through take off.

Generally, the first time you fly is going to be the worst since you don’t know what to expect.  Before the plane takes off, you can chat with both the airline attendants inside the airport and with your flight attendants about what to expect.  They meet people who are flying for the first time nearly every day, and they will have a lot of advice for you.  Once you have a successful flight under your belt, the next time will be a little easier since you know exactly what will happen.

Many airlines, especially those flying in and out of the United States, have passed new regulations regarding baggage.  These regulations aren’t popular, but they have helped many airlines avoid bankruptcy.  The most unpopular new regulation is that checked bags are no longer free—the price depends on the airline, but it’s usually between $15 and $25 to check the first and second bag.  After that, the price jumps to $50 or more.

However, there are some ways to get around paying extra fees.  One of these is to use collapsible bags like a duffle bag that can be folded up and put inside another bag.  Most rolling suitcases that come in a set are designed to fit inside each other for storage, but you can take two suitcases stacked inside each other as a way of having an extra bag on the trip home.  This way, you only pay for one bag going to your destination and then you can pull out the folded up bag and use it for your souvenirs and other purchases.  This saves you a few dollars.

Another way of saving money is to take advantage of carry-ons.  Many don’t realise that some airlines allow you to have two carry-on bags—one that goes in the overhead compartment and a small backpack or laptop bag that goes under your seat.  Of course, there are strict size limits to these bags, and if your carry-ons don’t meet them, you will not be allowed to take them on the plane.  Check with your airlines to see how many carry-ons they allow and the maximum sizes.

Carry-ons can often be used to carry a good number of items.  You may find that you can use your overhead carry-on for your underclothes, shirts, toiletries, and more.  That gives you a lot more space in your checked bag.  For women, hand bags often do not count as a carry-on at all.  Large hand bags will most likely be flagged as a carry-on, but small hand bags are fine.  You can often use a hand bag for your toiletries or other small items, giving you more space in your bags.

Finally, if you’re traveling with someone else, you may want to consider combining your luggage.  Instead of the two of you taking individual bags and each paying a checked-bag fee, think about taking one larger bag for the two of you.

These ideas are just a few ways you can get around the new costs associated with flying yet still have plenty of bag space.

Travelling with children is very enjoyable but any parent knows it can also be a challenge. Here are some tips to help you get to your destination.

1. Look for the right airline. Some airlines work to make travelling with children a lot easier: Children and their adult companions can board first and the airline may even offer children’s meals. When making your reservations, make it clear that you are travelling with children and ask what amenities are offered. Also notify the flight crew upon check-in that you may need some extra help.

2. Follow all safety regulations. Safety seat requirements change regularly. Make sure your child has the right safety seat for his or her age and weight. Be sure you know how to use it correctly.

3. Pack wisely. Your carry-on luggage should have everything you need for travelling with children: snacks (especially fluids), moist towelettes, diapers or training pants, at least one change of clothing and soft toys. Bring more than you think you need – you never know when a flight may be delayed.

4. If possible, nurse infants during takeoff and landing or let them suck on a pacifier or a bottle at those times. Doing so will help them during the changes in air pressure.

5. Be courteous – leave the annoying noisemaking toys in your checked luggage or at home. The other passengers will greatly appreciate it.

6. If you’re travelling by car, take frequent rest breaks so the children can run around and use the bathroom if needed.

7. When sightseeing, a good rule of thumb when travelling with children is to keep the trip under three hours. Be sure to bring a stroller or wagon

8. If your children are prone to motion sickness, make frequent stops and only pack non-greasy snacks. Your doctor may be able to advise you about motion sickness medicines for children.

9. At your accommodation, remove all safety hazards such as electric cords and medicines. Use safety caps or tape over all electrical outlets and door locks. Never leave a young child unattended.

10. Be patient. Travelling with children requires a little extra planning and some extra time to get to your destination but it’s worth it for the chance to see the world through their eyes.