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Four Great Travel Destinations on a Budget
Copyright © 2009 Diana Neigeborn

With the summer on the horizon, many of us are getting excited about a long, overdue vacation. Only one problem: travel is becoming ridiculously expensive. With oil prices way up and the dollar way down, where do you go without breaking the bank? Here are four great options for the traveler on a budget:

1) Eastern Europe-Prague, Budapest, Kiev, Bucharest. So much to choose from, and at a fraction of the cost of London or Paris. The eastern european capitals are both fascinating destinations and incredible values. They offer incredible histories, unbelievable architecture and wonderful people to the open minded traveler. In recent years, eastern europe has become increasingly popular, and Prague has become a tremendous tourist destination. The other countries are attracting more visitors as well. Just get on over in the next few years before they become too Westernized. For even better pricing, try visiting in the late fall. The prices drop even further but the weather is still manageable. Forget the winter. I’ve been in Kiev in January, and you can understand how the cold could literally stop an army.

2) Take a Carribean Cruise-If you don’t mind the Carribean in the summer, the values are just fantastic. Many people wait until the colder weather to visit the islands, so prices plummet during the summer months. If you are looking for fun in the sun, just stick to fiveto seven days. For a more educational experience, check out the Panama Canal itinerary. Available ships leave out of several ports including Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Jacksonville and New Orleans. Couple of tips: book your excursions through the cruise ship. Yes, they are somewhat more expensive this way. However, in the event a tour is running late, the cruise line will hold the ship for you. If you take a tour on your own and something goes wrong, well, you’re on your own.

3) Visit a National Park-the Smokey Mountains in Tennessee offer a tremendous value. A cabin in the park that sleeps six can be had for $ 120 per night. Lots to do including Dollywood, horseback riding, hiking, helicopter tours and more. The park is one of the top tourist destinations in the U.S., and one of the least expensive. The people are friendly and the food is great. Just remember to put your garbage away at night. Don’t want any oversized critters ruining your vacation!

4) Costa Rica-I never worry what time of year it is for Costa Rica. They have two seasons, rainy and more rainy. Still, it doesn’t matter. Between the people, food, wildlife, volcanos, eco-adventures and price tag, this destination is very tough to beat. You can fly direct from the United States into either Liberia or San Jose. Rent a car and just explore. The country is amazing and fairly safe. Watch your passport and belongings, but beyond that crime is minor. Great for the more adventurous traveler. Check out the ziplines, rappeling and much more.

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For great travel deals, visit my website at http://www.ytbtravel.com/diananeigeborn

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Tips for Saving Money on Pre-cruise Purchases

It’s your first cruise and you’re dutifully reading the cruise line’s pamphlet.  Your heart skips a beat when you reach the section on clothing:  Two formal nights!  You haven’t gotten that dressed up since the prom (more years ago than you’ll even admit).

While your husband, always the bargain hunter, spent $1,200 on the one-week cruise you have visions of running up much more than that in clothing and accessories.

If you’re taking a Norwegian Cruise Line ship, there’s no need to concern yourself with formal clothes since the cruise line has a casual dress policy.  But most people do get a big dressed up at night and I recommend that men take a sports jacket.

Personally, I think it’s foolish to spend much money on items you’ll only use on a cruise ship.  At the same time, I have so many cruise clothes I could open a boutique.  But hey, I’m a New Yorker.  I swear bargain hunting is practically a full-time obsession with fellow Gotham-ites and I can’t remember the last time I spent retail on anything.  But even though I live in a city full of discount shopping, I know I’ll score a bargain more quickly and with less hassle on Ebay.

Ebay is the world’s largest bazaar and I have yet to find any item that isn’t for sale at this auction for a fraction of the price.  I’ve been an avid Ebay shopper since 1998 here are some of the deals I’ve gleaned:  A TravelPro suitcase for $49 (a savings of $100 off retail); $2,000 Issey Miayke evening dress NWT (new with tags) for $135; Eileen Fisher silk pants NWT for $30; a stunning evening bag for $7; brand new Stuart Weisman evening shoes for $40, which sell in the stores for $220.  I’m a big fan of Chico’s travel clothing and save up to 70% off store and catalogue prices.   Tommy Bahamas clothing is perfect for cruisers and I’ve collected a few of his items with a hefty discount.

I’m not taking much of a risk in buying any of these items since I’ve already tried on these designers clothes in the store,  know I like the fit and what size I take.   I’m sure you’ve discovered that sizes vary by designer.  I consider it a pre-requisite to making an Ebay clothing and shoe purchase that I’m certain it will fit and look good.

I don’t have all the time in the world to constantly check Ebay’s massive inventory.  The search tool is invaluable.  For example, if I’m searching for my favorite evening shoes, I input “Stuart Weisman 6.5″, for casual footwear, “Clarks 37″ (European size).   For clothing, I enter the designer and size, i.e., Tommy Bahamas ladies 10, Eileen Fisher M.

When I buy clothing and shoes, I only purchase items that are “NWT” or new with tags. I will make exceptions for “like new” purses or evening bags that will get limited use.  If there is a flaw, the Ebay sellers I’ve encountered go out of their way to describe it.

In some cases, however, you may not know a specific designer for all the items you need. For example “evening bag, clutch” will bring up hundreds of bags and here you must make a selection based on the photo and description provided by the seller.   The same is true for a “long black skirt 8″ and most jewelry.

For jewelry that will only be used for one or two evenings I suggest buying inexpensive costume jewelry.  If you want a crystal necklace, you can use “Austrian” or “Swarovski” in your search.   Since the Austrian company Swarovski makes most crystal you will pull up more choices by just using crystal necklace or earrings as search words.  The price of gold is sky high so I suggest waiting until it falls before purchasing gold jewelry.

Men, of course, have it much easier.  Your husband probably owns a sports jacket and suit for semi-formal evenings.  But what about a tuxedo for formal nights?  It’s true that roughly half the men aboard ships opt instead for a dark suit and this is appropriate.  I think the best deal is to rent a tuxedo for the week, a service available on many ships.  For a fee of around $65 he gets a full tuxedo that is fitted.  Men can even rent the shoes aboard the ship.  Be sure to ask your travel agent if your ship has this service.

For children, follow the same guidelines: buy name-brand items in the sizes you know will fit your children.

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Visit Cruising From New York (Click Here ) and sign up for a free newsletter to receive additional tips.  Author Anne Campbell is a journalist who has been covering the cruise industry for 15 years.

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The Role of a Holiday Representative

A holiday representative is a person that oversees most of the operations while away on vacation.  A holiday rep looks after a large group of guests during holidays at resorts.  The main priority of a holiday representative is to ensure that the guests have the time of their life while on their vacation and ensures that everything goes the right way.

A holiday representative also must create an excellent first impression and provide outstanding service to the guests throughout their holiday vacation. There are many responsibilities involved in being a holiday rep.

These responsibilities include:

- Meeting guests at the airport.

- Escorting the guests to their specific accommodations.

- Organizing and hosting welcome meetings for all guests to provide proper information regarding their trip.

- Selling services such as car rental, excursions, activities, etc.

- Answering any queries the guests may have regarding anything to do with their trip including accommodation, activities, schedules, etc.

- Dealing with guest and non-guest problems such as flight delays, loss of luggage, etc.

- Must be fully equipped with knowledge of the resort itself and the surrounding area in order to provide outstanding service to the guests.

- Must also have complete knowledge of the local activities, events, and excursions taking place that the guests may be interested in participating in.

- Act as a guide when accompanying guests on excursions.

- Keeping knowledge of the hotel, their safety guidelines, and standards.

- Write daily reports and maintaining records for basic accounts.

Therefore, as you can see, a holiday rep is a very important person when it comes to traveling to resorts on vacation.

As a holiday representative, you need to be able to offer as much information as you can regarding the surrounding area of vacation.  This is very important within your role as a holiday rep.

Within the travel and tourism industry, there are several types of holiday representatives.  The roles are not limited to just being the main holiday rep that takes care of almost everything, but the roles can be broken down into groups.

For example, when traveling, whether it is at a hotel, resort, or a cruise ship; there are usually parties to attend.  That being said, it opens up two different types of representatives.

The first one being the club rep.   The club representative mainly looks after the age group from about 18-30 or so.  This representative will ensure that you attend the parties that interest you and that you are taken care of while attending.   The second representative role that this topic brings up is the children’s rep.  The name says it all.

A children’s representative takes care of children usually from ages 2-12, give or take.  This rep will make certain that the children are taken care of while the guests are at a party or enjoying a relaxing night watching the sunset.

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To find out more about becoming a holiday rep please visit http://www.becomeaholidayrep.co.uk

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How Plan A Cruise – Your First Three Questions

So you are thinking about embarking upon your first cruise but you are overwhelmed at how much information is out there. Not only is the internet filled with conflicting information, but friends and family members all want to pitch in with their own advice. Fortunately, the best place to start is to think about the answer to three simple questions.

First, where do you want to go? Many first time cruise goers mistakenly believe that it does not matter where the ship goes, since they will spend most of their time on-board. In actuality, you will be making several stops along your way, so you will want to select an itinerary that covers a part of the world you have always wanted to see. In addition, even while on board, the weather and temperature, as well as theming and entertainment, may depend on your chosen location.

Second, what is your budget? Like any other kind of vacation, cruises are available at every price point. Often, the price is highly dependent on several factors: the type of cabin, the location, the number of days, and the cruise line. The cabin you choose is possibly the factor that will most dramatically effect the price. Many cruise lines allow you to choose between cabins ranging from a tiny room with bunks to a fully-equipped suite with balcony for six. If you are looking for a great cruise at a great price, you can often select a non-standard option, such as a “repositioning” cruise. A repositioning cruise is when the ship periodically switches between two itineraries, meaning that occasionally it will need to “reposition” itself. The cruise line usually offers these berths at a reduced rate.

Finally, what kind of atmosphere are you looking for? Do you want a formal atmosphere of luxury? Or a fun, informal atmosphere where anything goes? Another thing to think about is whether you might enjoy a theme cruise. These are great options for first-time cruise-goers because you will be assured that you will enjoy yourself. Theme and specialty cruises can be as disparate as an interactive mystery cruise, cruises for science fiction or television show fans, gay and lesbian cruises, and singles cruises.

Whatever you decide, you will be assured of having a fantastic time. Many people end up meeting lifelong friends on their first cruise, or having such a great time that they decide to cruise year after year. Cruises are a wonderful option for people of every budget who want to see the world while relaxing in a comfortable, welcoming atmosphere.

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How Plan A Cruise – A cruise is a great vacation option for travelers of every budget. But if you’ve never cruised before, you may be overwhelmed at all the information that is out there. You may not be sure exactly how to get started planning your first cruise but http://www.AmericaCruise4u.com is a great resource to start with. With any selection of cruises from http://www.cruisez.org you can be assured of having a fantastic vacation.

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Cruise Ship Vacancies: 3 Top Tips for Getting Your Application Noticed

Positions in the cruise industry are in great demand, so it’s important that you be a little bit different to other job seekers to ensure that your applications stand out from the crowd. A plain, un-interesting resume or cover letter won’t give you the advantage you need.

If you don’t take some time to make your application get noticed, then chances are yours will end up being thrown away before it’s even read.

It’s vital that your application actually gets to the right person. Unless it does, it’s very unlikely it will be passed on, as cruise ship staff are extremely busy, so make sure you address it correctly to the person who does the hiring.

Learning some simple yet effective techniques can make all the difference and ensure your application not only reaches the right person but also gets opened and read.

All these will only increase your chances of being hired for any cruise ship vacancies you apply for!

Follow these 3 top tips to ensure your application gets noticed!

1. Give your resume/CV a creative title

If you’re sending your resume by email don’t give the document a bland title like ‘yourname.doc’ or ‘resume.doc.’

This won’t capture the attention of the recruiter and certainly won’t stand out from the crowd.

Be different and use some imagination when naming your document, such as John Smith – IT Specialist.doc,’ or ‘Jane Smith – Experienced Beauty Consultant.doc.’

Alternatively, try using the cruise ship vacancy you are applying for in the title of your resume. ‘Mike Green – Gift Shop Sales Assistant.doc,’ or ‘Catherine James – Internet Café Manager.doc.’

Use your creativity, consider what words will grab attention and use these to give a title to your resume/CV document.

You will immediately stand out from the other applicants, before your resume is even read, increasing your chances of getting hired for the cruise ship vacancy!

2. Send your resume by recorded delivery

All this involves is going to the Post Office and asking for it to be sent certified or recorded delivery.

When it reaches the recipient, they must sign a form to certify they have received it, guaranteeing your application has already been noticed!

Ensure it is addressed to the cruise line hiring manager, so it is him or her personally that must sign for it.

This gives you a big advantage because all mail for this department gets screened by several gate keepers before it actually reaches the hiring manager, so your application is guaranteed to reach it’s intended destination and get opened and read before any of your competitors!

This technique will involve spending a couple of dollar but it will be a good investment!

3. Use the Post-It note technique

It’s a little bit sneaky this one but is practically guaranteed to work!

Most mail received by cruise line companies is opened by an office assistant or a secretary, who is responsible for binning junk mail and screening the applications for candidates who don’t meet the necessary requirements.

In order to grab attention, attach a Post-It note to the front of your resume saying something like ‘This one is good! – J.’

Who cares who J is – the important thing is that it will get attention! A Post-It note with a message like this attached will mean the hiring manager will immediately take note and read your resume thoroughly instead of just giving it a brief glance.

You’re not deceiving anybody, so don’t let that concern you – it’s not. It’s simply an innovative and effective method of self-promotion!

Use these tips when you apply for any cruise ship vacancies to ensure your application is noticed, giving you an advantage over the other job seekers!

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Neil Maxwell-Keys is a former crewmember, hiring expert and founder of WorkOnCruiseShips.com: a website dedicated to showing you how to realize your dream of getting cruise ship jobs. Get Neils *free* insider report by visiting =>

http://www.WorkOnCruiseShips.com

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