How To Choose A Tour Operator
Choose a tour operator can be a difficult process. Who do you choose? What questions do you ask? How can you be sure that this tour operator will give you the right vacation at the right price with the right level of service? The answers all come from the right questions. By asking the right questions, you will find out all that you need to know in order to choose the right tour operator.
What Is Their Reputation?
This is among the first questions you should ask. Of course, being this general may not produce the information you desire, but it is the underlying goal of this line of questioning. A company’s reputation can be identified by how many years it has been in business, how it ranks in crucial areas compared to its competition, and any awards it may have won. These aspects may provide some insight into what kind of company the tour operator in question is, although there is no better review that can be given than a word-of-mouth critique.
If you have any friends, family or co-workers who have used a specific tour operator that opinion is a great place to start. If no one you know has used this company, then find out if the tour operator has any affiliations with business organizations that are held in high esteem. Any awards or similar recognition for excellence is another telltale sign of a company that could be a winner and worth looking into further.
Other important questions are: Is this company small or large? How does this affect its service on the personal level? How does this affect the choices it offers when it comes to tour packages? The answers to these questions can indicate what kind of experience you will have if you choose to make your plans with this specific tour operator. A small company may work harder to keep you satisfied with personalized service, and a large company may offer more options. Of course, a large company may work just as hard to make sure you are satisfied, and a smaller company may have just the tour package that you are looking for. You just have to do some research to find out. Rest assured, the more time that you take to become informed about the company, the more comfortable you will be when you make your final decision.
Check Their History
Another aspect you may want to consider is the company’s track record. Has the company been in business for a long period of time? The answer to this important question can be an indication of stability and reliability of the company. If everything else you have found out about the company is adding up, the length of time the company has been in business could be what finalizes your decision.
The more questions you ask, the more information you can learn. Is the company well connected? If the company is a partner with other reputable companies then it may be able to offer you special discounts on related services.
Also, does this company specifically have a long history of tours like the one you are looking for? An established tradition of tours may have led to improvements to the tour over time. You want to know what they have done, how well they have done it, and how long they have done it for.
What Is Their Relationship With Their Customers?
This is a big question and a telling aspect about the level of service the company provides. Although price is very important, customer service is important as well. How friendly is the tour operator? Are they available for questions, concerns, and anything else you may need? Can they tell you everything about the tour that you are considering, and can they send you thorough information which pertains to tours and attractions? Remember, the tour operator you choose will work for you. Providing you with all of the details and the level of customer service you require is important to your eventual happiness with the vacation itself.
Find out if the tour operator in question has a website or not. If they do have a website, how helpful is it? If you prefer to do most of your communicating online then this can be an important factor. While you want to be able to get someone from customer service on the phone at any time, a website that allows you to do everything you need to do online can be a big plus. You want the website and all other interactions with your tour operator to have a user friendly feel.
The act of choosing the right tour operator starts with asking the right questions. You will trust this company with your vacation and travelling arrangements so you want to make sure that they will go above and beyond to make this the tour of your dreams. By learning as much as possible about the company’s reputation, history, and their relationships with their customers, you can make sure that you have chosen wisely. After that you can focus completely on enjoying your tour.
Lisa Parker is a freelance writer who writes about the travel industry and vacation deals, often discussing specific tour operators such as Globus Tours at http://www.flightcentre.ca/tours/globus/.
Make The Most Of Layover Time Between Flights
For the frequent flyer and the occasional traveler alike, layover time is both an unfortunate occurrence and a fact of life. These hours can be empty and mindless or they can be used productively, or, at the very least, in a way that makes time go faster. So, how do you spend the hours while waiting for your flight? With a little creativity, this once wasted time can become time well spent.
A Time to Relax
Perhaps you are looking for a calm, relaxed way to spend your layover time. If this is the case then you have many choices. Besides sitting around watching the planes take off, you can listen to some music. Portable mp3 players and other forms of listening devices have made carrying around an entire library of music very manageable. Listening to your favorite songs is a nice relaxing way to spend your time in peace.
People watching is a great way to spend time during a layover as well. As a meeting place for individuals from various countries and regions of the world, an airport is an ideal location for people watching. This is a favorite hobby of many travelers. Watching people, wondering where they are going and for what reason can pass the time in a fun way.
You could spend your time enjoying a book or magazine. This is the perfect chance to catch up on some of your pleasure reading. Books that have either been given to you as a present or you yourself have purchased provide a great way to spend layover time between flights. If you did not pack any reading materials, you can take a stroll through the terminal and visit some of the airport’s stores. Peruse the reading materials at newsstands until you find something of interest. Layover time can be well spent by doing some window shopping. Most major airports have many great stores offering a wide range of products.
A More Technological Approach
If you are travelling, it is important to have your cell phone fully charged. If your cell phone is not charged, take the time available during a layover to charge your phone and any other electronics you are carrying with you. Time spent during a layover is an ideal time to catch up on all the conversations you have been putting off, or did not have the time to make. Take advantage of the time available during a layover by catching up with friends and family that you have not spoken with in a while.
For a more solitary, although just as entertaining approach, you could bring along a portable DVD player and enjoy your favorite movies. A portable DVD player usually costs between $100-$200 but in a situation such as a layover, it is money well spent. The television sets in the airport tend to be tuned to news shows. If that does not interest you, or cannot sustain your interest, a portable DVD player is a great solution. Plug in some headphones and escape into a great movie. Don’t be surprised if you see some other people watching along with you, envious of the entertainment options you have brought along.
If There Is Work to Be Done
For those individuals who have a laptop computer, a layover is the great time to catch up on any work-related reading or projects which can be accessed via a laptop. Nowadays, many airports offer wireless internet access, and also several outlets which can be used to either to charge or power-up a laptop computer. Any work which can be completed in the airport during a layover is work you will not have to do later. You can surf the web for business or go to any other sites you choose. You can surely find something to keep yourself occupied with for the duration of your layover.
You have time on your hands; why not make the most of it?
Layovers can be viewed as a waste of time or as an opportunity. The list of activities you could engage in during a layover is practically endless. Capitalizing on the time available is an opportunity to take care of tasks otherwise put off. Tasks for business or for your personal life can be achieved during a layover. Get ahead at work by taking the time available during a layover to complete important assignments. Buy presents for the holidays or for a birthday coming up. Of course, if you are tired or do not feel like doing any work, the time available during a layover is perfect for simply relaxing. Listening to your favorite songs or watching some great movies will no doubt speed up the time between flights. Use your imagination and take advantage of the time available in the way which pleases you most.
Lisa Parker is a freelance writer who writes about topics and tips involving the travel industry and vacation deals, often discussing specific subjects such as hotels and cheap flights at http://www.flightcentre.ca/flights/.
Atlantic City Casinos Are Now No-Smoking Areas
Atlantic City now has much cleaner air since April 15, from the day when a new smoking law went into effect and restricted smoking to no more than 25 percent of casino floors in the city. The law took effect exactly a year after New Jersey’s smoke-Free Air Act prohibited cigarette, cigar and pipe smoking in private office buildings,restaurants, bars, and other indoor places. Smoking in Casinos, however, remained unaffected.
The Most Exciting European Adventure Tours
Adventure tours offer a level of excitement and exploration quite different from an ordinary vacation. This type of vacation typically involves a well planned out tour of not just one city or vacation destination, but several. Also, an adventure tour highlights cultural and historical sites and can involve at least some level of physical exertion; everything from coping with off road exploration to rafting and climbing. There are few continents on Earth which are more fascinating and diverse than Europe. For this reason, among others, there are few locations which are better to experience an adventure tour on than in Europe. Considering the amount of history which took place between European nations, there is much to be discovered. Also, the fact that Europe is comprised of incredible landscapes which are as distinct as the peoples who occupy them, a European adventure tour is truly an unforgettable experience.
An adventure tour on the European continent allows you to walk the very lands where so many of the adventures in ancient stories took place. If you are looking for an experience that will provide you with fond memories for years to come, you might want to consider some of the following tour destinations.
Scotland
Many people have a love affair with Scottish culture and history, so Scotland can be a wonderful destination for an adventure tour. When touring Scotland you can walk the highlands and the lowlands like the Scots of old, either camping in the wild or staying at a different Scottish inn each night. For those wishing to get in touch with Scottish culture, a Scottish adventure tour can be a dream come true.
France
If you don’t want to visit Scotland, France might be a better option. You might consider hiking the Haute Route, a mountaineering route that was designed to link Chamonix and Zermatt (which are two of the most well-known and beloved mountaineering areas in all of Europe.) You might also wish to go canoeing on the rivers of southwestern France, moving along rivers bathed in history as you can see castles and other historical sites from your seat in the canoe. There are tours that will take you through the Christmas markets of France, as well as the breathtaking cities of Paris, Lyon and Nice.
Italy and the Netherlands
If canoeing and hiking is not exactly what you’re looking for, consider taking a bike tour of Italy or the Netherlands. Both of these countries have centuries of history and culture for you to take in while enjoying the freedom of biking under your own power. Adventure tours are designed to take you through beautiful and culturally-important regions of the country, and are generally arranged so that you will have luxurious lodging each night to help you relax from the rigors of riding all day. Bike tours allow you to cover more ground each day than hiking tours do, so you will generally get to see more of the country as you continue your tour.
England and Ireland
If you are planning on visiting England, you might consider taking one of the hiking tours along Hadrian’s Wall. This wall stretches across the Pennines and is considered one of the feats of Roman engineering. By taking a tour along the wall you will be able to marvel at the length of it as you consider that it was built by hand: all while enjoying the beauty of the hillsides of northern England. Similar tours can also be taken in Ireland, where you can see the old rock walls that in many places are still maintained by the descendants of those who built them.
Greece
Should you want an adventure tour that doesn’t involve quite as much hiking, head to Greece or other locations in the Mediterranean where cruises are offered to let you experience the historic coastlines that helped to shape so much of Europe’s civilization. Unlike cruise lines which have you cruising on massive luxury ships, many of the Greek and Mediterranean cruises use smaller ships built in a more classic style so that you will know the feel of those ancient ships while learning about the culture that surrounded them. Adventure tours taken in this area can include visits some of the most beautiful islands and ancient locations in the world, such as Mykonos, Kusadasi, Patmos, Rhodes, Heraklion and Santorini.
European Adventure Tours by Train
Other popular European tour options involve tours by train. Most of Europe is connected by a railway system, and with a EuroPass you can take a train easily from one country to the next so as to enjoy the cultural and historical significance of each. You can visit the vineyards of France, the castles of Germany, and the markets of Italy with nothing but a train ride in between. Tours which are centered around train transport generally include your EuroPass in the price of the tour package.
Regardless of the type of adventure tour that you want to take, make sure that you spend a little time exploring the offerings of different tour coordinators so that you can find exactly the tour package that’s right for you. In addition to getting ideas for additional things that you would like to do while in Europe, you may be able to save money on the adventure tour that you take as well.
Lisa Parker is a freelance writer who writes about the travel industry and vacation deals, often focusing on specific tour vacations such as European tours at http://www.flightcentre.ca/tours/.
Top 10 Tips For Vacationing On An Adventure Tour
Adventure tours are becoming an increasingly popular alternative to a traditional vacation. Travelers have found that adventure tours break up the monotony of visiting just one location on a trip. By visiting numerous locations, most of which are breathtaking landscapes or vibrant cities, an adventure tour can making an entire vacation an experience to remember. Many adventure tours include hiking and camping, and some even feature white water rafting or ocean kayaking. Since an adventure tour is not your ordinary vacation, there are a few things that you should keep in mind when venturing out on one. Here are the 10 most important tips to remember when setting out for your adventure tour vacation.
#1 - Be Prepared
Many of the places that an adventure tour can take you will put you out of the range of most cellular phones, so it is important that you prepare yourself ahead of time. Make sure that you travel with a fully-stocked first aid kit, complete with epinephrine and a snakebite kit. Training classes in CPR and first aid can be useful as well, and are generally offered by the local Red Cross or other civic organizations throughout the year. If you or anyone in your party requires medication, make sure that you have enough for the entire trip. Carry a list of all allergies that your party members have as well as all of the medications that everyone takes so that it can be provided to medical personnel if needed.
#2 - Don’t Forget the Sunscreen
While most people can get a sunburn and have it be a minor inconvenience, you will likely be spending most if not all of the day outside when on an adventure tour. Severe sunburns can lead to infections or other threats, and can also greatly increase your chances of getting several types of skin cancer. Make sure that you choose a waterproof or sweat proof sunscreen to keep it from getting washed off, and reapply it several times throughout the day.
#3 - Review the Tour Information Before You Set Out
Not only can reviewing the tour information help you to be more prepared for what you will face on your adventure tour, but it can also give you an idea of some of the things to be looking for. Many wonders may go unnoticed if you are not looking for them while on your tour.
#4 - Listen To Your Tour Guide
When travelling with a tour guide, make sure that you pay attention to the things that they say. This can not only enrich your tour experience but can also help you to avoid dangerous situations. A tour guide or tour coordinator is one advantage of taking an adventure tour rather than venturing to these locations on your own. The tour guide should be well versed on the locations you are visiting and has been trained to both add information and an element of safety to the vacationers on the adventure tour.
If an Adventure Tour Requires Experience, Make Sure That You Have It
Some tours are perfect for everyone, while others may require that you have a certain level of experience with hiking, rafting, or other activities. Make sure that you meet the requirements or you may be at risk of injury.
#5 - Stay Hydrated
Drink plenty of water while on your adventure tour, as it can be very easy to become dehydrated when out in the sun or doing physical activities. Make sure that you avoid caffeine and alcohol, as these can speed up dehydration.
#6 - Be Careful What You Eat and Drink
Only eat or drink from the wild when you absolutely know that it is safe to do so. There are a number of poisonous berries and plants which look perfectly harmless at first, and open water can contain a number of harmful microbes. Your best bet is to make sure that you have plenty of food and water in your pack.
#7 - Be Wary of Wildlife
Wildlife can be beautiful, but you should make sure that you give it the respect that it deserves. Not only are wild animals unused to human contact and may attack if provoked, but some animals can carry diseases which can be very dangerous. Likewise, many foods which are processed for human consumption can make wild animals very sick. Admire wildlife from afar to keep both you and the animals safe.
#8 - Be Respectful of Your Environment
Ideally, when an adventure tour group passes through there will be little or no signs that they were there. Avoid leaving litter behind or causing unnecessary damage to the environment as you pass through so that other tour groups will be able to enjoy the scenery as well.
#9 - Don’t Take Unnecessary Risks
It’s easy to get caught up in the adventure aspect of an adventure tour, especially when your days consist of activities such as rock climbing and white water rafting. Remember to keep a level head and don’t take unnecessary risks, since these risks can lead to serious injury if you aren’t careful.
#10 - Take Pictures!
An adventure tour is truly a memorable experience. Whether you are traversing a narrow path down the Grand Canyon, hiking through the French countryside, or experiencing a safari in Africa or Australia, take a camera! Send the pictures to friends and family, or keep these memories for yourself. Either way, you will ensure that the incredible sights you have witnessed will stay with you forever.
Mike Cole is a freelance writer who writes about the travel industry and vacation deals, often focusing on specific tour vacations such as adventure tours at http://www.flightcentre.ca/tours/.
