IMBROADWAY.COM – TRAVEL GUIDE

How many people do you know that would like to go for a holiday right now? How many people do you think would benefit from some of the cheap holiday packages that are currently available on holidaypackages.com.au? I have just booked my next holiday and hopefully everything goes really well over there. I have been working really hard and I need to take a break as soon as possible . I have not taken any time out for myself in the past few months and hopefully the break away from work will allow me to refresh my mind and to really regain some focus again. I think my clients would really appreciate the fact that I can actually think clearly and that I am able to give the best that I possibly can to their accounts. I actually believe that I won’t ever leave it this long in between taking a holiday ever again and I will probably be checking out as many Thailand holiday packages as I can. I actually get a headache when I think about the amount of work I have had to do in recent times. I work more than 12 hour days every single day of the week.

Aside from booking airfare tickets, packing up is one of the most challenging tasks that savvy travelers have to endure. Well, this applies to almost everyone, except for those who squeeze a year’s worth of stuff in their bags for a weeklong holiday vacation. On the other hand, some travelers pack too lightly, so much so that they forget to bring the most essential things like medicines and even passport! Listed here are some suggestions on how to pack wisely.

• Pack only the clothes that you will really use. Stuffing all your wardrobe in your bag is never a wise way to pack even if you are traveling for more than a month. For longer travels, you can just bring just a reasonable number of items to wear and wash them right after using.
• Roll your clothes. Instead of folding your outfits individually, you can maximize the space of your travel bag by rolling them. This packing technique works best with skirts, pants, and shirts. Another recommended method is folding clothes together to prevent wrinkles or creases in the folds.
• Keep a digital copy of your important documents. Misfortunes such as lost passport and stolen credit cards can happen even to the most careful travelers. You will never know when they will strike, so it always pays to be prepared. Scan your passport, tickets, and other travel documents and send the digital copies to your email. You must also keep a copy of the emergency hotlines of your credit card or ATM card, which will come in handy in case it gets lost or stolen.
• If you’re using a backpack, put all the stuff you use most often on top. That way, you won’t have to rummage through all the contents of your bag just to get a single item. You can make your bag feel lighter by putting the heavier items on top and the lighter ones at the bottom, as this makes the pack rest on your lower back.
• Use airtight plastic bags. Doings so helps eliminate the mess that comes from the toiletries and dirty clothes. Plastic bags are handy because they can keep the contents of your bag organized and neat. Sort the items according to type (e.g. toiletries, underwear, shorts, etc.) and put them into different plastic bags. This makes accessing a particular item a lot easier.
• Put all your valuables in a carry-on bag. It helps to bring a bag that you can take with you all the time so that you can easily access important items like medicines, cash, and mobile phone. Your carry-on bag should be small enough to keep under the seat and large enough to accommodate larger items like laptop and gadgets.
• Bring only a few toiletries. Don’t stack up on toiletries in your baggage as if tomorrow’s the end of the world. Also, store items such as shampoo and toothpaste in small containers. You will be surprised at the amount of space you are going to save.

All these tips on how to pack wisely boil down to one important point: do not overpack your baggage for the sake your safety and convenience

Adventure tourism is now one of the fastest growing trends in travel business. It started with Leo Le Bon who co-founded the world’s first adventure travel company—Mountain Tours with other eight travel mates. Le Bon and others made the first commercial journey to the Annapurna region of Nepal. Since then, the travel business grew rapidly resulting to a plethora of travel companies that offer adventure vacations.

Classifying an adventure travel however pose a little difficulty in defining what exactly it means. Adventure travel depends on the level of strenuousness of activities involved. Adventure may involve leisure biking and hiking for some travelers or it may entail base jumping into an underground cave in Mexico.

Nevertheless, a travel involves some fundamental aspects to be classified as adventure. Adventure travel typically includes going to far-flung areas, intermingling with various cultures, and doing a physical activity.

Two categories of adventure travel are hard and soft adventures. Hard adventures fall under extreme and mostly dangerous sporting activity. Examples of hard adventures are rock climbing, surfing, paragliding, and scuba diving in remote locations. Soft adventures, on the other hand, are leisure activities that are often educational. It does not involve strenuous activity unlike hard adventures. Bird watching, religious pilgrimages and architectural tours fall under soft adventures.

But you might wonder who usually embark on an adventure travel? Travel Industry Association of America’s (TIA) study indicated an estimated 20 percent of adult travelers are adventure tourists. It is also parallel to The Wall Street Journal reporting in 2003 that revenues from adventure tourism has skyrocketed topping the adventure market with $245 million dollars.

While many studies say college-educated males in their 20s typically embark on hard adventures, it is harder to categorize people who go for soft adventures. They say baby boomers and seniors significantly affect the rise of number of soft travelers. However, adventure-seeking women have also substantially caused the continuous growing of the industry. For example, divorcees ages 40 and 60 usually turn to adventure travel as a shift into new lives.

In addition, adventure travels are physically and psychologically beneficial both men and women. Physical challenges like mountain climbing require both physical fitness and focus. It develops muscles as well as serves as an excellent mental workout. Achieving difficult tasks also help build self-esteem especially for people in midlife crisis.

There are several options to what kind of adventure travel fits a specific type of person. But you should determine first how adventurous you would like to be. A travel agency may actually help steer you through the multitude choices that you will face.

Sports-themed vacations are well-liked for athletes. Examples of these are baseball fantasy camps and NASCAR driving schools. Safari is one example of soft adventures popular to many of varying ages. This may involve driving and walking through the African plains and come into close contact with lion, leopard, elephant, rhino and buffalo.

Longtime popular destinations are the Seven Wonders of World that include biking and hiking to these locales. Some of the world wonders include pyramids of Egypt, expedition to Antarctica, cultural tour in Japan and Ethiopia, the Great Wall of China, and Taj Mahal in India.

If you opt to have an adventure travel however, be sure to be safe as much as possible. Take note that adventure travel has inherent danger involved.

Selecting the best travel books is not as easy as it may seem due to a wide array of available literature since travel writing has been invented. Coming up with a list should not be easy as well. The following books are the ones most cited while some are bestsellers.

Let us start with “The Road to Oxianai. Modern travel writers deem this book the first model of great travel writing. It is an account of Byron’s ten-month journey to Persia and Afghanistan in 1933-34.

Another classic of travel literature is “A Time of Gifts” written by Patrick Leigh Fermor. It was published in 1977 when he was 62. The book is an account complete seo packages of Fermor’s first part journey on foot across Europe in 1933-34. His journey began at Hook of Holland and ended in Constantinople. The second volume is titled Between the Woods and the Water and published in 1986. It covered Fermor’s journey through Maria Valeria Bridge, Hungary, and Iron Gate.

Meanwhile, “In Patagonia” is an English travel book authored by Bruce Chatwin and published in 1977. The book, which established Chatwin’s reputation as a travel writer, was awarded the Hawthornden Prize and E.M. Forster Award.

Chatwin went to Patagonia both to fulfill a promise made to a 93-year-old architect and designer Eileen Gray and out of his own curiosity. Chatwin spent six months in Patagonia and wrote the book.

Another outstandingly written travel book is authored by Eric Newby. Titled “A Short Walk in the Hindu Kush,” it is an autobiographical account of Newby’s journey in the Hindu Kush, which is around the Nuristan Mountains of Afghanistan.

“The Great Railway Bazaar” is a notable 1975 travelogue by American novelist Paul Theroux. Many consider this book a classic in travel writing. It tells about Theroux four-month journey across Asia by train. Theroux travelled through Europe, Middle East, Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia. In his return, he passed via the Trans-Siberian Railway.

Theroux retraced the trails of his original journey and found out that places had changed. He authored a book titled “Ghost Train to the Eastern Star” that recounts such journey.

“Travels with Charley: In Search of America” is also a travelogue written by John Steinbeck. The book recounts the road trip Steinbeck took with his poodle Charley around the United States. He traveled throughout the country in a specially-made camper. His travel began in Long Island, New York, then to Maine, Pacific Northwest, Salinas Valley in California, and across to Texas, up through Deep South, and back to New York.

In 1978, “The Snow Leopard” is published and written by Peter Matthiessen. It won the 1980 National Book Award for Nonfiction. The book recounts Matthiessen’s two-month journey to Crystal Mountain, in the Dolpo region on the Tibetan Plateau in the Himalayas.

More recently, the “In a Sunburned Country” is a 2000 travelogue book about Australia. Best-selling travel writer Bill Bryson wrote the book. The original title of the book was Down Under, but it was also published as Walk About. The latter included Down Under and another Bryson’s books in one volume.

One witty person had once declared that there are two kinds of travelers in the world – those who packed light and those who wished they had. If you plan to travel and it is your first time, check out the following list of packing tips and guidelines.

This list of time-tested advice on packing had been compiled and consolidated by people who know the best about travels. In fact, they are considered the most-traveled individuals in the whole world.

Packing list

First, make a packing list. This is to eliminate panic on last-minute packing. It can also serve as a guide when repacking your things after your trip. In an extreme case of your luggage getting lost, you can use for claims or additional identity papers.

When doing the list, check on the events you are going to and list down possible clothes for each occasion you intend to attend. Choose outfits that go together well based on complimentary colors. Or go back to the old reliable blacks and other dark-colored clothes.

After doing the packing list, lay out the things you intend to bring and check them again against your list. Segregate those you will bring and make sure they are all clean and ready to go.

Personal items

An all-purpose lotion is better than a different bottle each for hands, face and body. Bringing disposables (razors, toothbrush) is better than bringing the electric models.

Leave behind all those jewelry items you don’t want to lose, including those flashy ones that attract thieves.

Toiletries

Leave behind the perfume. Scented lotions are good substitutes. Bring those personal items that are available in small travel sizes. (Many airports are now restricting the amount of liquids to bring inside airplanes. Check those in your destinations.)

Bring a small first aid kit with aspirins and other emergency medicines, sunscreen, and the amazing Swiss army knife. Pack this in your checked luggage because it is banned to bring inside the plane.

The art of packing

Iron everything before folding them into the suitcase. Button all buttons and zip all zippers. T-shirts, jeans, skirts and sports coats may be rolled up and carefully stuffed inside duffel bags.

Always pack tightly. The insides of shoes are perfect for socks and underwear.

Label with your name and phone number (NOT your address) all the pieces of your luggage. If an address is required, use your office address. Remove old claims slips to avoid confused.

Travel documents and other papers

Always carry travel documents, medication, jewelry, traveler’s checks, keys and other valuables in your carry-on luggage. Items such as these should never be packed in checked luggage.

Unpack your luggage right away as soon as you arrive at your hotel. This will prevent further wrinkles.

In going home, repacking your clothes the way you packed them in ensures that you will still have the same space as before. Balled and dirty clothing cannot fit.

All in all, remember that packing is one very important aspect of travel and it pays to listen to the experiences of others.

With over six million foreigners touring this country every year, it’s no wonder that South Korea is one of the most visited countries in the world. What does Korea have that makes it such an international charmer? Here are the reasons that explain why travel to Korea is a pleasant and memorable experience.

• Cheju Island – Cheju is the biggest island in Korea and known as the place of mystery or fantasy. Everything in this resort island is sure to rekindle your love of the beach with its breathtaking waterfalls clear blue water, black sand, and other natural attractions. It is also perfect for honeymoons, watersports, and hiking.

• Climate – The climate in Korea is temperate, which is divided into four distinct seasons. The most tourist-friendly seasons in the country are spring (April and May) when the cherry blossoms bloom as well as autumn (from September to November) when the skies are clear and sunny and the weather is warm. Winter months in Korea, which starts in December until February, are perfect for skiing.

• Korean DMZ – A Korean tour is never complete without dropping by the Korean Demilitarized Zone, more popularly known as DMZ. It is where you can find some of the endangered creatures in Asia such as wildcats, river otter, and musk deer.

• Festivals and Special Events – Korea has a rich culture and long history, and you can be a part of celebrating them by joining various religious festivals and special events such as Buddha’s birthday.

• Historical and cultural tours – Foreign visitors can take a tour of the Buddhist monasteries and temples to be able to witness the Buddhist heritage in Korea.

• Nature tours – Are you a nature lover? Then grab the opportunity to take a nature tour in Korea. Among the most famous itineraries are the flower villages, birdwatching, mountain trips, and cherry blossom trails in various parts of Korea.

• Seoul – This Korean capital, which is essentially a lively commercial district, is the top tourist destination in the country. Among the must-visit landmarks in Seoul are the royal residences, which are UNESCO World Heritage sites.

• Pusan – For beachgoers, Pusan is nothing but a paradise. It is popular as a beach town resort, with many beautiful beaches to choose from. The Song Jung beach, for example, is a peaceful swimming spot with clear blue waters.

• Watersports – If watersports is the name of your game, then you will be delighted with the numerous facilities that island and coasts in Korea offer to its millions of tourists. You have plenty of choices: paragliding, whitewater rafting, scuba diving, deep-sea fishing, swimming, boating, windsurfing, and water skiing, among others.

To sum it up, Korea caters to practically every type of tourist—adventure seekers, sports buffs, arts and culture lovers, sightseers, and others. So, if you want to escape the stressful city life for a while, then one of things to consider for your much-deserved holiday vacation is, of course, a travel to Korea.

Where would you go if you had money to spare and all the time in the world to take a tour of the most beautiful cities in the world? Many cities in different parts of the world are hailed for their natural landscapes and seascapes, stunning structures, design, and interesting culture. If you’re listing the most attractive city destinations in the world that you would like to visit, then these places should make the cut.

Paris

There’s more to Paris than just the world-famous Eiffel Tower and its reputation as the most romantic city. Paris is also well known for its street life and wide roads that are lined with trees. Aside from the Eiffel Tower, Paris also boasts of other iconic buildings like the Grand Palais and the Louvre Museum, which caught the attention of the world as the setting of the novel and film “Da Vinci Code.” And the best reason for spending your holidays in this French capital? Ah, the French cuisine! Feel the French passion for gourmet food with the many restaurants that serve wine and cheese. With everything that Paris has to offer, it is no wonder that this city is the dream destination of every traveler.

Hong Kong

Hong Kong is one of the busiest shopping districts in Asia, which is why it is always frequented by many shopaholics from across the globe. A favorite destination of tourists from East and West, Hong Kong is popular for its post-modern skyline and skyscrapers. This city in China is home to four of the 15 tallest structures in the world. Isn’t that amazing? The city’s night lighting and reflection are simply captivating.

Tokyo

Even if this Japanese capital is densely populated, a lot of reasons still make it one of cities in the world that are worth visiting. Its modern architecture and spectacular cityscapes are reminiscent of that irresistible New York charm, with the exception of towering skyscrapers that are distinctly a Tokyo trademark. Also, the changing colors of the Tokyo Tower every night make for a unique and memorable sightseeing.

Florence

Thousands of visitors frequent this Italian city for one great reason: Florence is the art capital of Italy. It is considered the last preserved cradle of Renaissance, particularly in terms of architecture. So if you are an enthusiast of art, architecture, and anything that has to do with Renaissance, Florence is surely a must-visit destination.

Singapore

This Asian city holds the distinction of being the one of the cleanest cities in the world, having undergone an impression transformation from being a swampy mass of land four decades ago. Once you set foot in Singapore, a modern, fast-paced city life will welcome you, complete with subways, skyscrapers, and bustling streets.

New York City

No city in the world probably enjoys immense popularity better than New York. Fondly called The Big Apple, New York City has a lot to be proud of such as its attractions and cultural legacy. There are so many places to visit like the Broadway, Central Park, and Times Square. No wonder, New York is one of the most attractive city destinations in the world.

Your passport is only one of the few essential things you must remember to bring along with you when you travel. Yes, there’s sunscreen, guidebooks, your camera, and mobile phone. Also there are other important travel documents that you must have handy if you plan on crossing several borders on your trip. You don’t want to be the only one of your friends to have to trudge back home from the airport, not having been admitted entry to another country because you were missing some identification.

There’s also the first aid. Fun’s no fun if you have the sniffles plaguing you all throughout. There’s nothing like a fever that’s coming down on you like a ton of bricks to take the cool factor off of the trip. It pays to be healthy when you’re tromping along the fields and gawking around the sights of another country.

But these are the basics. While we don’t forget our MP3s, our guidebooks, our extra shirts or lucky hat, we forget the most basic of all: respect.

Sometimes we judge without thinking, comparing things with how they are back home. They’re supposed to be different. Learn to deal with the difference. Respect it. Observe the locals’ traditions, their ways. Watch without passing judgment. Don’t blunder about, thinking what you do at home is acceptable. See if it is. If it’s not, adjust.

Also, don’t forget to bring along a sense of humor. There are plenty of surprises that chance could spring on you when you’re on the road. Having the wit to laugh off even the most awful slip-ups or mishaps could keep your trip from turning into a disastrous jaunt, keeping it on a fun and thrilling keel.

So you have respect. And humor. If it’s not too much of a stretch for you, you could also try for a little kindness.

Most of the tourist-friendly places in the world aren’t first-world countries. They’re mostly the poor nations, where good-paying jobs are hard to come by and the majority of people survive on their wit and skills rather than their wealth or trust funds. Residents of these countries often work in the tourism industry to earn a few extra bucks everyday to help out in their families. They offer to drive you around, serve as your guide, provide you with transportation and basically try to make your stay a lovely and pleasant one.

When it’s time to go, don’t stiff them. Don’t pay them through the nose. They’ve worked hard to earn a living. While not all guides are hard-working or likable or charming, there are really the remarkable ones, the ones who stand out, who were kind to you, who did try to make your stay as fun as possible. Hand over an extra dollar or two if you think their service has been worth it. So long as they’ve earned it.

We’re not saying give them money because they don’t have a lot of it. We’re saying learn to appreciate the efforts that other people have put into making your stay a great one, in whatever country you are. People who made you respect them with their hard work and kindness.

It’s important to pay them back in kind, in travel and life.

We see them walking either singly or in tandem, sometimes in small groups of threes and fours dodging cars in city streets, sometimes stopping and browsing cards and things in some souvenir shops. They travel with that ubiquitous backpacks with them everywhere they go.

They have been called several names, some flattering, some funny, and some downright insulting tags. The most fitting of all is probably extreme budget travelers.

Travel fever

Why travel at all if you only have such meager resources in places halfway around the world all on your own?

The extreme situation is actually exciting for them and is part of the bunch of reasons why they traveled at all. They get the satisfaction knowing that they are seeing the world and they are spending only pennies to do it.

The most experienced backpackers (their other nickname) actually recommend this kind of travel. They usually tell their messages to young people. (Of course, one can see several sixty-something guys in shorts and undershirts huffing around famous tourist places.)

The best things in life

Aside from being the most economical way to travel (to make your budget and your travel days last longer), backpackers insist everything they do is part of a learning experience. They stress blending in and learning the people’s culture as much as possible.

On their part, they learn to be flexible and be able to change plans as much as they like, moving slowly across each unbeaten track. (This could mean staying for a few weeks or months or years even, if they like the place so much.)

They learn and they enjoy taking things in stride because there are no responsibilities and no deadlines to make. They also stress this is one way to grow and it is necessary to be open to all possibilities at all times.

Amenities

For the layman, there are some questions to be answered, though. What does extreme budget travel means? How do they live? What things do they leave out?

All of them already learned how to forget private rooms or baths or kitchens. For around five dollars, most of what you get is shared rooms, dormitory-style in any part of the world. (Some invest on ear plugs or some sleeping pills as a last resort to noisy snorers and talkers in their sleep.)

They also learn to forget favorite foods from home. They must learn to eat cheap local foods rich in carbohydrates. The downside is that one will likely be repeating those meals all throughout. Bananas (and other recognizable fruits) might be expensive but there could be other cheap discoveries around.

Turning local

Living on a budget and with the locals requires them to learn to integrate themselves with the culture. This means that aside from enjoying the food, they must learn to dance the music and speak the language (or be intelligible at least).

Best of all, they must learn how to commune with nature in those local parts of the world since that is what they travel for in the first place. The fun part is that all of it is free.

Are you travelling to someplace special over the Christmas holiday period? If you are you really should ensure that you stay in touch with your loved ones and ensure that you are able to take a good break and rest for a while so that you are not just working the whole time. I have been known to work a little bit too much and sometimes I really just do not know when to stop. I would like for you all to make sure that you get a good break and are nice and refreshed so that you are ready for all of the new challenges that the new year will bring for you. Don’t get too drunk though and make sure that you do contact your family!