Using credit cards while travelling is a good idea for number of reasons:

  • ·     You have a record of your expenditures for record-keeping and tax purposes (especially important if you travel for business)

  • ·   You may get a better exchange rate when obtaining foreign currency when using your credit card.

  • ·  Credit card companies can refund disputed charges and may offer extra guarantees, special deals or warranties.

  • ·        Your liability in the case of a stolen credit card is limited to $50


But, traveling these days is often a juggling t of luggage, boarding passes, identification cards, passports and a gauntlet of security measures. These identification acrobatics can leave you distracted and even a little bit addled, perhaps putting you more at risk of being targeted by an enterprising pickpocket or purse snatcher.

And, even though your liability is limited, costs can quickly add up if multiple cards are involved. Factor in the hassle and increased risk of identity theft, and it is apparent a few preemptive measures can save you from a boatload of heartache.

Consider the following tips as guidelines to traveling safely and affordably with your credit cards….

Plan Ahe
Anytime you travel you should make photocopies of all of your credit cards airline tickets and documents, both front and back.


You should leave these photocopies with a friend or family member.

Be aware that if you make copies of your cards and documents to take with you, you may be giving thieves another opportunity to rip off your personal information. Consider blacking out details such as expiration dates, verification codes and social security numbers.

If you decide not to carry photocopies of your credit cards, be sure to have the card cancellation numbers from the backs of the cards written down and stashed in your luggage.

Leave a Paper Trail
Save receipts and keep track of the places you used your card. Make sure receipts are stored in a safe place so they can be checked against your credit card statement to ensure unauthorized charges have not been made and/or gone unnoticed.

His & Hers
When traveling with other family members, even spouses, bring different credit cards that are on separate accounts. When a card is lost or stolen and must be cancelled, all cards on the account are cancelled as well. Having at least two cards from separate accounts will prevent the situation from leaving you stranded.

Lighten Up
Carry only the personal information absolutely necessary for vacation, such as a passport or driver's license. The less personal information you have, the better off you will be if your purse or wallet is stolen.

When traveling by air, always keep copies of important documents in a separate part of your luggage, such as a carry-on bag.

Keep cards on your person. Most travel stores carry small bags that you can keep cards, cash, and other items you will need to access while out and about. Consider a money belt or security wallet.

Look out for fees
When traveling abroad and using a credit card, watch out for the convrsion fee that many banks levy to convert charges in foreign currencies to dollars, generally 1% of the purchase amount. Some banks charge a fee and some don’t so, if you have several cards, it's worth checking with the issuers to see which one has the best deal. Even with the conversion charge, many times ATM machines will have the best possible exchange rates and the lowest fees.

With proper planning, credit cards are a convenient, secure and cost-effective means of payment when traveling. Just keep these tips in mind, and the next time you’re balancing on one foot at the security gate, you’ll be glad you did.

Author: Gail Corwin

Source: http://www.streetdirectory.com/travel_guide/9622/travel_and_leisure/playing_your_cards_right____tips_for_traveling_with_credit_cards.html
Do you know you can go on a 7-day cruise for the price?

Or visit Europe for 15 days for only $2,000 per person including airfare, hotels, car rental and meals?

If you follow these steps, you can save more up to 50% in travel expenses.

1. Travel during low season.
Choosing to go on vacation during low season, will you a great deal of money on airfare, hotels, cruises, car rental and more. The best dates to travel are between:

a. February May
b. September - the week before Thanksgiving
c. December 1 - 15

For example, a 7-day cruise in Caribbean can cost around $1,000 during summer and winter but it can cost $495 in November.

A ticket to Europe can cost between $800-$1,200 during high season but you can buy it at $395 roundtrip during low season.

2. Hotels
The same applies to hotel rates. When it comes to hotels, you should look for 3-star hotels that will offer most amenities you need at a lower price than 4 or more star hotels.


You should keep in mind, that 3-star hotels are smaller, but you can find very good hotels for a great price.

Keep in mind that hotels that are very near local attractions will be more expensive than hotels located 2 or 3 blocks away.

3. Attractions and Places to Visit
Make a list of the places and attractions you want to visit and do some research. Find out about the scheules, locations, special events, etc. You'll find out that there are certain dates during the year that they will have discounts and even free admission.

4. Restaurants
Don't visit tourist-oriented restaurants. Instead, ask locals to recommend family-owned or small restaurants. Not only will you pay less but the food, quality and service will be much better.

Two years ago, I visited Monaco, France and we went to a small restaurant on a side street and we only paid $100 (for 4 people) for appetizers, great pasta, drinks and dessert (including tip). Not a bad price considering that Monaco is very expensive.

5. Metro vs. Taxi

In most places, there is a metro or train system which will be a lot cheaper than traveling by taxi. All you need to do is get a map and trace the route you're going to visit and find out the train or metro numbers you need to get on to.

By planning your vacation in advance, choosing the best dates to travel (low season), doing research about places and attractions to visit, going to local restaurants versus tourist-oriented ones, and using the metro or train system instead of taxis, will save you a great deal of money and allow you to go on vacation at least twice a year.  

Author: Maria Estarellas

Travel can be one of the most stressful parts of life, but also one of the most rewarding. Being prepared and knowing what to expect on the road, at sea or in the air is essential to having a good trip. Read on to discover some knowledge that you can use to make good memories away from home.

Remember, when traveling abroad it is better to avoid drinking the local tap water. Most visitors will be unaccustomed to the local water and can get quite ill. It's much easier to go to the local supermarket or grocery store and buy bottled water instead. It cuts down your chance of sickness, as bottled water is usually produced to the highest of standards.

If you are traveling to another country brush up on that country's laws. Some foreign countries have laws that you might view as a little strange or not expect. As a precaution, it is always a good idea to familiarize yourself with the laws specific to the place you are visiting.

While they can be bulky to pack, sleeping might be more pleasant on your own pillow. Traveling can mess up your sleep pattern so having your own pillow brings a bit of comfort to a strange location. If you are driving this is easy to do. When flying, try bringing it in your carry on, as you may want to sleep on the flight as well.

In every place you visit, purchase a simple outfit of the local garb. This will help you blend in so that you will be safer and have a more authentic experience. It will also provide you with a truly interesting and useful souvenir of the places you have visited. Every time you wear your new garments when you go back home, you will have memories and stories to share.

When making travel plans, remember that in the US, the Americans With Disabilities Act gives you protection against discrimination; however, this is not true in other countries. You will want to take extra care in making provisions for your trip. Be certain the airlines and other transport services are aware of and can accommodate your special needs. Get a clear understanding of how and where your assistive devices will be transported. If you have special dietary requirements, be sure to make arrangements for them in advance.

The advice "don't drink the water" if you travel to a foreign country is, unfortunately, accurate. However, you can also have intestinal upsets any time you drink water from a place other than where you live, even in the U.S. That's because the bacterial flora that lives in your gut (intestinal tract) are very sensitive to the composition of your own water, in your own area. It takes them a while to get used to water from elsewhere, and in the meantime, they want to push that unfamiliar water right through. So until you get used to the local water, wherever you are, sip slowly or stick with bottled H20.

Ninety percent of any good trip is preparation and knowledge. Having read this article, hopefully, you are now full of ideas on getting ready for and surviving your next adventure away from home. Apply what you have learned and you are sure to come home with good memories of visited destinations.



Traveling can be a major hassle if you are unprepared or haven't shopped around for the best deal. You could end up paying out the nose for your airline tickets when you could have gotten them for half the price. This article will give you some traveling pointers.

If you are not traveling overseas, do not disregard the option of traveling by bus or train. Bus and train tickets are usually cheaper than flight tickets and can often provide excellent accommodations. If you are not traveling too far, they can also be a faster means of transportation because you do not have to deal with airport hassles such as security, and frequent flight delays.

If you become lost while traveling, ask a local to draw a map for you. Not only will it help you get to where you are going, but the directions can be a great souvenir of your trip. This tactic also allows you to engage in conversations with some of the people who are native to the area and you will often learn quite a few things that you didn't know.

Wait to share your travel photos online or through social media until you get home. Posting photographs on the internet should be considered a permanent choice. Decisions are often blurred while caught up in the moment. So, wait until you are home again and your focus for what to share or not to share will be sharper.

If you plan to travel by air, make sure to check the baggage policies on all the airlines you will use. Many now charge significant fees for luggage that is over their weight limit. This varies by airline, as well as destination. But, almost all airlines will now charge for additional checked bags.

Having a small sewing kit and an eyeglass repair kit tucked away in your luggage can save the day! Whether you rip your clothing, need to remove a splinter, replace a button, or replace the tiny screws on the back of your child's hand held video game these tools are great!

If you have a choice when booking flights for travel, select an airline that uses primarily 767 jets. These larger jets have more legroom, and offer more direct flights because they can stay in the air longer. Also, the 767s have a two-three-two seat configuration, meaning there is only one middle seat per row instead of the usual two.

Make sure you use your frequent flyer's miles. Usually, your free miles expire after a few months and there is no point in saving them. When you book your flight, make sure you use the company with which you have miles and use all of them. This could save you a lot of money.

As long as you remember the helpful tips in this article, you should be able to travel without being stressed out, which is the best way to travel. Your bank account will thank you also because you'll be saving a lot of money by getting cheaper airline and hotel deals.







As you step in to Montpellier the city bring a positive feeling to mind, the city is a vibrant, modern and make you feel good and young again. The place ill win you over.


The city is located in southern France in the Languedoc Roussillon, 10km inland from the coast of the Mediterranean Sea in the south-east of the department of Hérault whose territory is defined as an amphitheatre open to the sea, bordered by the Cevennes to the north-east and Haut-Languedoc to the northwest. The town's stately Gothic Cathédrale Saint-Pierre, distinguished by pointed towers, dates to 1364. 
The city's Antigone district is a chic, modern development inspired by neoclassical motifs. Paintings from French and European Old Masters hang at the Musée Fabre. 


Geography
Montpellier is crossed by five rivers: the Mosson, which borders the town to the west and south, one of its tributary streams, Rieu Coulon, Verdanson and, to the east, Lez and Lironde (which has its source in the Millennium district, in the Garden of the Grande Lironde)
Montpellier extends towards the sea shore with the creation of new districts in the east then south of the city center (successively Antigone, Richter then Port Marianne ), and under the impulse of Georges Frêche , who declared in 1977 want to make Montpellier "the seafront between Genoa and Barcelona  ".

Climate

The climate of Montpellier is typically Mediterranean with mild temperatures ( 15.2  ° C on average ), one of the highest sunshine in France with only 33 days without sun per year, a duration of 7 h 22 min per day on average, much higher to the French average of 4 h 46 min ; and days of little rainfall (less than 60 per year ), but sometimes violent showers, especially in autumn from September to December during the Mediterranean episodes or Cevennes, frequently causing flooding in low points of the. 

Transportation in Montpellier

The TAM is the main supplier of the public transport network in Montpellier (tramway buses, self-service bicycles) and also several parking lots.  It is very easy to get around town with the tram or by foot if you love walking.


Planning a Trip?

Flights:

Airline that flies from UK to Montpellier are:
·        Easy Jet
·        Air France
·        KLM


Get to Montpellier by Car

Use the motorway A9 and A75 to reach Montpellier. You will need to cross the channel with the ferry or by Eurotunnel to Calais, Dieppe. You can check the different routes on their websites.

Accommodation

In Montpellier will be out of choice for accommodation. You will find all type of accommodation. From one to 5 start hotels passing by villa rentals


What about food?

Like many cities in France, Montpellier offers a amazing mix of sunny and warm weather, friendly locals, and delicious gastronomy.

The best way to enjoy your trip to Montpellier is to appreciate one of so many specialities available to you.

Among those, you will find a wide range of wines, since the region is famous for its vineyards. Being a coastal town, it also offers plenty of fish, which can be found in a variety of regional dishes. Go to a farmers market to stock up on local produce. Enjoy a meal in one the several Bistro around town.

Check the Bistro Chez felix, great atmosphere. Food was delicious, mussels, steaks switch chips are among the dish you can order.




Source: Wikipedia.fr

Taking that well deserved holiday can be a treat for you and the entire family. However, before you decide to book your holiday, read some helpful hints about traveling in this informative article. Use the tips and information provided to help you have a more pleasurable experience.

Keep a group journal in your hotel room while traveling. Invest in something as inexpensive as a spiral notebook, and allow the people you are traveling with to write in it during down time. This will provide an interesting read later and will be a nice keepsake from your trip.

Buy airport carry-on sized toiletries when flying to your next travel destination. Store them in zip lock bags in your luggage and you won't need to worry about security confiscating them.

In countries that you travel to, be aware of the cultural view of how questions are answered. In some places, especially India and Asia, it can be considered very rude to tell someone that you don't know the answer to their question. Others may simply answer "yes" to any question asked in English. Pay attention to doubtful body language.

If you are traveling with a companion but you do not normally share funds, consider having a joint wallet, for expenses like meals, travel and lodging. You and your companion can add the same amount of money to the joint wallet each day. This way, you aren't constantly splitting bills or exchanging money.

Make a portable washing machine with a plastic bag. Save money by skipping expensive coin-operated washers and dryers when you travel by using a do-it-yourself tip. Find or pack a large and sturdy plastic bag, and add a little laundry soap and water. Put your clothes in the bag, and shake. Drain the soapy water and repeat the process with clean water, then hang the clothes to dry.

If you choose to purchase travel insurance before going on a trip, you would do well to buy it from an independent source. Let's say you book a cruise and are offered travel insurance from the cruise company. Since you are essentially buying protection against the cruise line's own mistakes/accidents, it makes more sense to purchase your insurance from an outside source than to rely on the potential cause of your future claim as your insurance provider.

Traveling is something that most of us love to do, and many of us travel to various locations every chance we get. But it can be expensive and dangerous at times. Make sure you're following this travel advice before you take your next trip. You'll be thankful that you did.






Whether for business or for pleasure, traveling can still be fun. There are also a few guidelines to follow and some tricks to help you. The information below can give you tips for your next trip. Each person has his own ideas with regard to travel, and the following tips are likely to be helpful.

If you're going to be travelling by air, make sure you don't put any valuables or electronics in your checked luggage. Luggage handlers aren't known to be gentle and any electronics may end up damaged during transport. Airlines are also known to lose luggage and you don't want to take a chance of losing something valuable.

Print out directions and confirmation numbers ahead of time when you are traveling. If you have a smart phone, you can save these important pieces of information in a file in your phone for easy access later. You will be much more at ease if you know ahead of time how and where to find your important information when you need it.

Dealing with airports is an unfortunate necessity of much modern travel. Pack an empty water bottle to fill after you get through security. This will save you from having to buy a £3.00 bottle of water after you get through the checkpoint. It also never hurts to pack granola bars, banana chips, or anything else to snack on between flights.

When traveling in countries with unsafe tap water, remember other ways that you might be exposed. Close your mouth when using the shower and brush your teeth only with treated water. If you make tea or coffee with the water, allow it to boil for several minutes before steeping. Even a small exposure can make you very ill.

Young women traveling alone may want to invest in a simple gold plated band or cubic zirconium ring. Wear the ring on your left ring finger which signals that you are married or engaged. This keeps potential suitor at bay and gives an excuse for unwanted attention in hotels, airports and buses. While it may seem a tad dishonest, it can keep you from getting hit on if you are alone in unfamiliar places.

If you're going on a road trip but don't have space to keep a cooler, there's a simple way to make sure you have ice cold water on you trip! The night before you leave, fill some water bottles (but not all the way to the top!) and put them in the freezer over night. Take them on the trip with you the next day and they'll slowly melt over the course of the day, leaving you with ice cold water.

Be sure to use the tips above when taking your next trip. You should try to utilize each different tip and really get the most from your trip.