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Travel Moments Adventure and Luxury Travel (2023)

One can ask what is adventure travel?  Adventure travel is a type of travel or tourism that involves exploration or travel to exotic, remote areas, and often dangerous destinations.

Adventure travelers who are different from other types of travelers most of the time participate in different activities such as climbing, backpacking, kayaking, rafting, paragliding, and many more .

Adventure travel mostly includes a sense of exploration,  interacting with local cultures, and an appreciation for nature and outdoor activities. If you feel like you want to start adventure travels here are some ways that you  can get started; 

Find Where You Want To Go

photo of woman climbing mountain

With adventure travel, you can go to any corner of the world as long as you can get there.  The first step is to find or decide where you want to go, think about what type of environment or culture you want to explore, and from there do your research on different countries that interest you.

Planning Travel Moments Adventure

person in blue denim jeans and yellow shirt sitting on yellow chair

After finding and deciding on where you want to go the next step is to plan your trip. You can start researching how you will get there and the best way to do it.

Next, the most important thing you need to plan and research is your accommodation. Do your research into what types of accommodations are available, safety, and how you can get around, and if you can read reviews from people who stayed there before so you can get an idea of the place.

Some people are extremely adventurous so they get their accommodation when they reach their destination. We do not recommend this because you might be stranded in a foreign place. 

Then you can decide what type of activities you want to do, it will be good if you know in advance how much it costs, your schedules and how far are from each other and your accommodation. 

Getting Ready For Your Travel Adventures

woman sitting on cliff overlooking body of water near mountains during daytime

Now you know where you are heading and what type of environment you will be, it’s time to prepare for your trip. Make sure to pack all the necessary items you’ll need for your adventure travel. 

Depending on where you are going, make sure you carry clothes that accommodate the weather. You don’t wanna end up with summer clothes in winter weather.

This will force you to add additional expenses of buying clothes that can accommodate the weather.  Also,  consider bringing a first-aid kit, painkiller, insect repellent, sunscreen, flashlight, etc.

The most important thing is don’t forget to carry your ID. If you are going out of the country carrying your passport is a must and if it’s a domestic trip your state ID or driver’s license will be okay.

Also, make sure your passport or ID is not expired.

Ready, Set, Go 

man standing on rock mountain

Once you put your plan in motion you are set to go.  Make sure you enjoy the experience as much as you can. Try different activities and don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone.

Don’t forget to document your experience, take photos or videos, and write in a journal about everything you experience. This will help you to keep the memories of your trip for years to come.

Conclusion

Remember, adventure travel would differ for different people. What you consider an adventure is completely on what I consider an adventure. You get to define your adventures which may consist of backpacking, hostel stays, or luxury glamping on the foothills of The Alps. You get to decide!

Business, Culture, Gateway, Lifestyle, Travel, Travel Adventures, Vacation,

7 Ways on How To Travel On A Budget (2023)

Do you want to travel but are always afraid that you can’t afford it? Have you tried to figure out how most people do it? Well it is simple, many people have discovered they can afford to go on their dream vacations, and the best way to do it is to travel on a budget.  

Traveling on a budget can be a great way for you to go on a dream vacation that you always want or a bucket list that you always keep adding.

Not only that, you will get a chance to see the world and have new experiences, without breaking the bank. Here are some tips to help you plan a budget-friendly trip:

 

Plan ahead

Always give yourself time and plan ahead. This can help you to do some research on your destination.  Planning ahead means booking your flights, accommodation, and activities in advance.

This can help you save money.  You can compare prices and find deals on google travel or use the hopper app. If you can’t find the prices you want you can put an alert so they can notify you when prices go down.

Be flexible

This can be a little bit tricky because of daily life. Being flexible means you are open to any dates, not just only specific dates. Most people have full-time jobs which makes it hard to be open to any dates.

Being flexible with your travel dates and destination can also save you money especially when you are considering traveling during the off-season or to destinations that are less popular at the time you want to travel.

If you can do this, check websites like Skyscanner where you can search for different dates and different destinations. 

All you need to do is just put in your airport and the month you want to travel and for the destination, you will choose any there is a big chance one of the destinations that pops up will be the one you want.

Travel rewards: 

white and blue magnetic card

If you like to travel,  consider signing up for a travel rewards program or credit card. These programs can save you a lot of money because they often provide discounts on flights, accommodation, and activities.

Choose the program you want and stay loyal to it, you can choose one for hotels and one for flights and be loyal to them. Let’s say you decided to enroll on Delta airlines, make sure when you fly you are flying Delta not other flights.

This will be easier for you to collect points and lead to getting your rewards such as discounts, free flights, or airport lounge access.

The same goes for hotels and rental cars, you can enroll in Hilton Honors and book Hilton hotels or enroll in enterprise car rental and do the same thing. These programs are beneficial if you are using these services many times.

Pack light

clothing items and pair of shoes in luggage

Packing light can save you money especially when you are taking a flight.  A packing list will help you avoid checking  in baggage fees and also make your trip more comfortable and convenient.

Try to bring the essential items you need, this will give you a room when you want to buy some souvenirs on your way back.

Public transportation

people walking on pedestrian lane near white and red train during daytime

Instead of using ride-sharing services, taxis, or renting a car, consider using public transportation or walking to get around. 

In big cities like New York City, Tokyo and many in Europe, public transportation works well. This can be a cost-effective and environmentally friendly way to explore your destination and also be safe.

In some cities, you can buy a weekly pass, or hours pass that you can use depending on how long you are staying.

Budget accommodation

tidy room filled with furnitures

Staying in budget accommodation can help you save money but you have to be careful about this.  Some will say instead of staying in a hotel, you can book a budget hostel, Airbnb, or a motel. 

The experience I had with hostels was when I was in college.  This makes me feel most of them are for college students etc and I don’t feel they will be comfortable or accommodating for families.

However, I saw some videos on social media about hostels that adults can stay in.  Airbnb can be affordable when you book early because nowadays the prices are the same as hotels.

However, hostels and Airbnb can often be more affordable and provide a unique local experience. The main thing you need to consider is safety, yes you might find an affordable Airbnb but is it in a safe neighborhood? etc. 

You can always find some hotel deals if you book early or by searching on apps like Hotwire where they have hot rate specials or Priceline where they have express deals, name your price, and many more.

Avoid touristy  locations

 

We all know when we visit our dream destination we want to do all the touristy things. Yes, you can do all this in a smart way.

For instance,  instead of eating at touristy restaurants, you can eat local street food or local restaurants meaning nonfancy restaurants that charge you high prices for the same thing you can eat in local restaurants.

This can also be a great way to save money and also experience the local culture. If you want to experience the fancy restaurant that you saw on social media that is not in your hometown, you can make a budget for it so you can get your experience. 

Another thing if you like to shop, avoid touristy locations. Those places tend to have prices because they know most people around the area are not from there so they don’t know their surroundings.

 

Business, Lifestyle, Travel, Travel Adventures,

How to Choose Best Travel Rewards Program

Travel rewards are the programs used by airlines, credit cards, and some hotels to cultivate a sense of loyalty among their customers.  

Customers can earn points or miles that are redeemable for free flights, upgrades, hotel stays, car rentals, or shopping sprees.

Some popular travel rewards programs include those offered by credit cards such as  American Express, Capital One, and Chase bank.

Some are offered by airlines, such as Delta SkyMiles and United MileagePlus, and those offered by hotel chains, such as Marriott Bonvoy and Hilton Honors. 

It’s a good idea to compare the features and benefits of several programs before making a decision on what program you want to join.

There are many travel rewards programs available, however, finding the best one for you will depend on your specific travel needs and preferences. Below are some 5  things to consider  when choosing a travel rewards program:

 

Travel rewards earnings potential

person holding credit card

You should consider the earning potential,  how much you will be able to earn in the program, and how long it will take because most of the time is based on your travel and spending habits.

For instance, if you want to earn rewards through credit cards, you want to know what is the better credit card, how much you will need to spend, and if it’s worth it.

For most credit cards the more you spend the more rewards you get.   Some programs offer higher earning potential on certain types of purchases, such as airfare, car rentals, or hotel stays.

However, some rewards programs offer rewards for other purchases. than airfare or hotel stays. For instance, Delta Skymiles do offer rewards when you make purchases at Starbucks and Lyft.

 

Travel rewards program redemption options

person in swimming pool during daytime

Look at how you can redeem the points or miles you earn. Can you use them to book travel with any airline or hotel, or are you limited to certain partners?

Can you use them for other types of redemptions, such as cashback or merchandise? Do the points or miles you earn expire? meaning do you have a deadline to use them?

Knowing all these questions will make you determine if you are choosing the right program.

 

Is there an Elite status in the travel reward program? 

white and brown living room

Some programs offer elite status tiers that provide additional benefits, such as free checked bags, priority boarding, and room upgrades. Programs such as  Delta Skymiles provide elite-status silver,  diamond, and platinum medallion.

The elite Medallion status provides benefits such as flight benefits, fee waivers, access to Delta lounges, and many more. Consider whether achieving elite status is a priority for you and whether the program you are considering offers a feasible path to achieving it.

Are there partner benefits associated with the reward program?

When we join these programs most of us are in for the benefits. With that being, having those programs that have partnerships will be a way to go.

Many travel rewards programs have partnerships with other companies, such as car rental agencies or credit card issuers. Consider whether these partnerships provide any additional benefits that could be useful to you.

For instance, again  Delta Skymiles this program has partnerships with different companies such as Starbucks, Instacart, Lyft, and also American Express credit cards. 

So if Delta Skymiles rewards programs you can earn some benefits when you use their partner companies.

What are the annual fees associated with the reward program? 

Some travel rewards programs charge an annual fee for membership. Make sure to consider this fee when deciding which program is right for you. The reward you need to check for annual fees is credit card annual fees.

Credit cards such as Chase Sapphire and Capital One Venture has an annual fee of $95-99, however, some other credit cards their annual fee are higher than $200, some of them are Capital One Venture X has an annual fee of $395 and American Express Platinum card has an annual fee of $695,  and Chase Sapphire Reserve has an annual fee of $550.

 

Business, Culture, Gateway, Lifestyle, Travel, Travel Adventures, Vacation,

Weekend Getaway to Atlanta: 4 Days In Atlanta Itinerary For Two

Atlanta is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Georgia. It is the eighth most populous city in the Southeast and 38th most populous city in the United States according to the 2020 U.S. census.

Atlanta is home to major attractions in the U.S such as the Georgia Aquarium, World of Coca-Cola, Atlanta botanical garden, and many more.

Every place you go there are the goods and bad so we will try to analyze our experience, and we are sure everybody has a different experience. 

We will go over our experience with attractions, transportation, restaurants, etc. We spend  4 days it was labor day weekend from Saturday to Tuesday.  We did have time to explore the city and have some opinions, without further due let’s start.

So How can you spend 3 or 4 days in Atlanta?

Traveling to Atlanta For Two

We flew to Atlanta on Saturday, as usual, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International airport is always busy no surprise this airport has been ranked as the world’s busiest airport by passenger traffic since 1998, briefly losing its title in 2020 due to the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States and regaining it in 2021.

After we landed it took us about one hour to get out of the airport, yes from our gate to pick up our checked-in luggage and to the parking lot.  Well, we didn’t have any issues at the airport but it was a long walk. 

We didn’t do rental reservations, so we used uber to get around which was kind of expensive, according to our hotel receptionist he said its because there was a lot going on in the city, there was a baseball game, college football, concerts, and pride parade all this on one weekend.

 

The Best Attractions and Sightseeing In Atlanta

Atlanta has a lot to offer when comes to attractions and sightseeing. There are a lot of things to do around the city. For us, this was the best part of the trip because we were able to enjoy it even though was crowded.

We were able to visit the Georgia Aquarium, The World of Coca-Cola, the Atlanta botanical garden, Centennial Olympic Park, Martin Luther King Jr National Park, Ponce city market, and the College Football Hall of fame (we were lucky because it was free that weekend).

Another thing we did was a hoop in Skyview Atlanta. Everything was great in these places the only issue was the crowd was big. 

Georgia Aquarium

The Georgia Aquarium is one of the largest aquariums in the world and it houses more than 20,000 marine creatures. It is located in Atlanta and it is open daily from 9am to 5pm.

How Many Whale Sharks Are In The Georgia Aquarium?

There are currently four spotted whale sharks in the Georgia Aquarium, in the aquarium’s Ocean Voyager gallery. The whale sharks at the Georgia Aquarium were all born in captivity. The aquarium also houses other types of sharks like sandbar sharks, pacific blacktip reef sharks, and more.

The World of Coca-Cola

The World of Coca-Cola

The World of Coca-Cola is an interactive museum that offers visitors the opportunity to explore the history of Coca-Cola and its impact on global culture.

Visitors can learn about the company’s history through interactive exhibits and see how it has evolved over time. They can also sample different types of Coke from around the world or enjoy a meal at one of the restaurants inside the building.

The Atlanta Botanical Garden

atlanta botanical garden

The Atlanta Botanical Garden is a botanical garden in the city of Atlanta, Georgia. It is located on 13 acres in Midtown, adjacent to Piedmont Park. It would take you about 2 hours to walk through Atlanta Botanical Garden.

When is the best time to visit Atlanta Botanical Garden?

The best time to visit the Atlanta Botanical Garden is in the springtime when the flowers are in bloom. The gardens are also open during the summer and fall, but the heat can be oppressive and the crowds can be larger.

If you do visit during the summer, try to go early in the morning or late in the evening, when it is cooler.

Winter is a beautiful time to visit the Garden as well, although some of the outdoor areas may be closed. The indoor conservatory is always open and is a great place to escape the cold.

Keep in mind that parking can be difficult, especially on weekends, so plan accordingly.

How many lights are at Atlanta Botanical Garden?

The Garden’s Holiday Lights display is one of the most anticipated events of the year. Visitors can stroll through gardens transformed by more than 2 billion lights. The Lights display runs from mid-November through January.

Martin Luther King Jr National Park

The World of Coca-Cola

The Martin Luther King Jr National Park is a national park in the United States that commemorates the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

CNN In Atlanta

CNN building atlanta

 

The College Football Hall of Fame

The College Football Hall of Fame

What is the best place to eat in Atlanta?

This is where we had a major issue. Usually, when we travel in different cities we like to try new restaurants that are not in our city or not chain restaurants that are a  no, no.

So we usually take recommendations from yelp, TikTok, or Instagram, and we go from there. But recently most of our recommendations come from TikTok.   TikTok never failed us(lol)  but this time we were surprised at how things turned out. 

Southern Fire Kitchen In Atlanta, GA

Our first restaurant was  Southern Fire Kitchen. We saw this restaurant on TikTok. The food looks really good so we thought why not give it a try? According to the restaurant website, it shows it opens at 4 -11:30 pm no reservations are required.

So we decided to go around 8 pm it was a little bit far from downtown.  We arrived there the restaurant was at the strip mall and was giving a nightclub vibe, we did not expect that.

Then we saw a long line outside and we proceed to the staff/receptionist who was outside and asked if we can get in or what are the procedures to get in. To our surprise, the lady told us the waiting list is full and they are closed.

We didn’t get that because the restaurant website showed it closes at 11:30 pm and we didn’t need any reservations. So we didn’t really know what is going on. 

As I mentioned the restaurant was at the strip mall so people were waiting outside some in their cars so is kind of uncomfortable if you are from out of town or not used to the area. We did not get a chance to get in and we think that was misleading and poor customer service on their part.

Lily’s Restaurant & Lounge

Well, we still wanted to eat, so we take a look at our list and see if we can find something close to that area.  Then we found a restaurant calls Lily’s,  the picture, environment, and food look good, but we decided to call before going so we don’t waste our time.

We called and the lady say we can’t make a reservation we can get there and wait to be seated we asked how long is the wait. She said she can’t tell but usually is 30 minutes, we are like okay since there is a place to sit, and maybe we can have a drink while we are waiting.

Well, we got there was crowded and again it gave us nightclub vibes. There was a bouncer outside who asked us if we have a reservation, and we explain what we have been told over the phone.

The bouncer told us to wait so he can check with the receptionist, then he came back and say the wait is 1-2 hours and there is nowhere to sit if we want we can try the nightclub upstairs. 

My question is why the lady who spoke to us did not tell us all this over the phone when we call? We were more than disappointed. At this time we were so tired from all this and went back to the hotel.

Atlanta Breakfast Club

Well the next day, still on our tour we said let’s go for brunch since we have plans to visit the Georgia Aquarium we decide to search for restaurants around that area that’s when we saw Atlanta Breakfast Club.

The food looks good but the place was parked and we arrived at  10:30  we were  #137 on the waiting list at around 2:17 pm we received a text that our table now is ready, and we were long gone.  We couldn’t wait that long because we had some other things to do and places to be. 

So next door to Atlanta Breakfast Club there is a restaurant that has brunch too its called Suite Food Lounge, so we decided to take a shot.  Well, we went there and we encounter two bouncers who asked for our IDs and search our purses.

We were kind of shocked most of the restaurants we visit they have to strip-search us and show our IDs, which was new to us we never experience that in any other cities we traveled to.

We get in and ordered our food which was okay not wow.  Another thing we experience is that in every restaurant there is shisha. This is new to us because we midwesterners have not seen shisha in a regular restaurant. 

We did not say there is no shisha in the midwest, is just not regular at the restaurants, the restaurant might have shisha but they have a designated section for that.  Another thing we experience is that when a bill comes they already add tip/gratuity on your total bill so if you add tip you will be paying twice.

BQE Restaurant

On another day we want to have dinner at a fancy bbq/ soul food restaurant so we did our search then we came up with BQE Restaurant, we browsed the website, and the restaurant had a reservation policy that we read and follow. Then there is the dress code etc. We were so excited now we are going to some decent place. 

So we made our reservation and then we went. When we get close by according to GPS the environment was not giving like we are going somewhere fancy, the place look off and we checked the address it was correct.

We got there were homeless people sleeping or sitting around, they didn’t have parking if they did was maybe behind the building which we didn’t even want to get there.

We were curious to see inside because what we saw on the website was totally different from what was in front of us. We walked to the door here we go there is a bouncer ready to check our IDs and search our purses by this time we know the routine. 

So we got in omg it was totally different nothing looks like their website it took more than 10 minutes for a waitress to come and take care of us, we were hungry so we said let’s order we ordered some food which looked like was not cooked there,  the food came before drinks not only that the food was served with disposable silverware/utensils that were enough for us, we feel like we got robbed.

Conclusion

Usually, when we travel we like to visit some places we saw on social media, tv shows, etc. Most of the time they have been exactly like what we saw or imagined but Atlanta was the opposite we feel like scammed, and what you see on a website or social media is not real life.

But we did enjoy the attractions and we were able to go to  Atlanta Breakfast Club which we really like the brunch was worth waiting for. Atlanta Breakfast Club is the only place we did not see on social media we just found it while we were there.

They have good customer service and there was some entertainment while we were waiting outside. And for our last dinner, we didn’t t wanna encounter another situation so we ended up at Fogo de Chao, and was nice. 

 

Business, Lifestyle, Travel, Vacation,

Airline Changes That You Should Know In 2021

Recently there has been a lot of changes in the travel industry especially when it comes to airlines. The airlines have made some changes due to the COVID 19 outbreak and some of the changes are due to lawsuits the airline companies have experience etc.

Before you book a ticket make sure you check some policy changes that may affect you. There are a lot of airlines domestic and international but we tried to cover as much as we can.

1. No Change/Cancellation Fees Policies

Many airlines have changed their cancellations/change reservations due to the pandemic.  However, it’s important to see the rules and regulations when you want to change or cancel your airline ticket so you won’t be surprised. 

For instance, Delta Airlines is waiving change fees and award redepositing,  issuing e-credit that can be used through December 31st, 2022. This applies to customers who purchased their tickets before April 17th, 2020 and scheduled to travel through March 31st, 2021.

Those who purchased their ticket between  March 1st, 2020, and March 30th, 2021 can change their reservations without a fee or award deposit fees for a year from the date you purchased a ticket.  With Emirates airlines for tickets issued on or before September 30th, 2020, and on or before  October 1st, 2020 can be used later, you have 24 months or two years from the date you originally booked the ticket with no extra fees.

Qatar Airways is offering unlimited date changes, no fee refunds for tickets purchased before  April 30th, 2021 for travel completed before December 31st, 2021.

Another option  Qatar Airlines offers is exchanging tickets to travel vouchers with an additional 10% if you book a flight with them again, that can be good let’s say you were in economy class you can upgrade to business or first class.

 

2. Rules For Emotional Support Animals

Recently the use of emotional support animals has been a controversial issue among travelers. According to industry trade group Airlines for America report, it shows the number of emotional support animals traveling aboard commercial flights increased from 481,000 in 2016 to 751,000 in 2017.

This brought conflicts between passengers to passengers or cabin crews to passengers.  There have been several incidents of emotional support animals misbehaving attacking other passengers or cabin crews. 

Some of the many incidents that led to the rules of traveling with emotional support animals to change are,  a man who was traveling from Atlanta to San Diego filed a lawsuit alleging he was attacked by an emotional support dog and mauled his face on a flight the incident happened in 2017.

Another incident happened last summer when an American Airlines flight attendant received five stitches after she was bitten by an emotional support dog on a flight out.  According to the Department of Transportation, they said they have received reports of biting incidents that led to children being scared and a lot of lawsuits.  

In December 2020, the Department of Transportation announced it will revise rules around flying with emotional support animals and will no longer consider them to be service animals.

There is a difference between service animals and emotional support animals. On the revised Air Carrier Access Act rules (the new rule) the U.S Department of Transportation defines a service animal as  “any guide dog, signal dog, or other animals individually trained to work or perform tasks for an individual with a disability, including, but not limited to, guiding individuals with impaired vision, alerting individuals with impaired hearing to intruders or sounds, providing minimal protection or rescue work, pulling a wheelchair, or fetching dropped items.”  

With that being said the Department of Transportation no longer considers an emotional support animal to be a service animal, this allows the airlines to ban the animals if they don’t fit established rules.  

After the Department of Transportation announcement, Alaskan Airlines was the first one to ban the emotional support animals in their flight, and the most recent one was SouthWest airlines. Here is the list of airlines that already ban emotional support  animals in their flights

  • Alaskan Airlines-  As of  January 11, 2021, Alaskan Airlines only accepts service dogs that are trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of a qualified individual with a disability. Emotional support animals will no longer be accepted. The airline will continue to accept emotional support animals for reservations booked before  January 11, 2021, for flights that are on or before February 28, 2021. No emotional support animals will be transported after February 28, 2021.

 

  • American Airlines-  Starting February 1st, 2021 the airline will only allow trained service animals to fly in the cabin and customers will need to complete and submit the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Service Animal Air Transportation form before their trip. If a customer is traveling with an animal that doesn’t qualify as a trained service animal, it may be transported as a pet.

 

  • Delta Airlines–  As of  January 11th, Delta airlines no longer recognize emotional support animals as service animals. The airline will honor reservations submitted and confirmed by Delta before January 11, 2021, but will not accept new emotional support animal reservations for upcoming travel.  With that note starting January 11, 2021, Delta will only accept trained service animals that are dogs. Customers traveling with a trained service dog(s), regardless of breed, must complete the required DOT forms 

 

  • Frontier- As of February 1st, 2021, Frontier will no longer accept emotional support animals onboard. The animal may be eligible to travel in accordance with their  Pet Policy for a fee.

 

  • Jet Blue- The Airline will only allow service animals with restrictions, the customer must notify them that they are traveling with a service animal and receive the U.S. Department of Transportation Service Animal Air Transportation Form no later than 48 hours prior to departure.  The airline only accepts fully-trained service animals not the ones in training.

 

  • Southwest Airline – The airlines allows trained service and emotional support animals that comply with certain safety and documentation requirements. Be aware that trained service and emotional support animals may be subject to additional governmental laws and regulations at the destination, including but not limited to, health certificates, permits, and vaccinations required by the country, state, or territory from and/or to which the animal is being transported.

 

  • Spirit Airlines- As of January 11th, 2021 the emotional support animals can travel onboard as pets if they meet airline pet requirements. Those customers who have a return flight on or after January 11, 2021, will be allowed to travel back with their animal per the previous policy.

You can visit the airline websites and find out more information

3. Other Revised Airline Policies from the Department of Transportation.

These are revised airline policies done by the Department of Transportation-Aviation Consumer Protection after several incidents that happened to consumers.

Most of these policies are really beneficial for consumer perspectives. One of the revised policies is Involuntarily Giving Up Your Seat (Bumping) which they are working on increasing the compensation known as Denied Boarding Compensation (DBC).  A ticketed passenger who boards an airplane cannot be involuntarily bumped from an overbooked flight.

This rule applies to flights originating in the United States. For the passengers who involuntarily bumped from a flight, the maximum required compensation that they will be paid is  200% of the one-way fare but no more than $ 675 for arrival delays of up to two hours. 

For over 2 hours arrival delay the compensation will be 400% of one-way fare but no more than $1,350. For international flights, the compensation will be 200% no more than $675 of one-way fare for arrival delay of 1-4 hours. For over 4 hours of arrival delay, the compensation will be 400% and no more than $1350. 

There is no compensation for both domestic and international flights for a 0-1hour arrival delay.  The airline must offer passengers compensation at the airport on the same day.

If they provide substitute transportation that leaves the airport before they compensate the passenger, the airline must pay the passenger within 24 hours of the bumping incident.

For more about  Aviation consumer protection  changes and  policies you can check here

 

Business, Gift Guide, Lifestyle,

13 Best Valentine’s Day Gift Ideas Your Loved Ones Will Love (2023)

Valentine’s Day is almost here, which means you have less than a week to find the perfect Valentine’s Day gifts. If you’re still struggling to come up with a perfect idea, consider one of these thirteen gifts that your sweetheart will love! These meaningful, memorable, fun, lovely affordable valentine’s day gifts are meant to wow your loved ones.

1. Picture Frame Set of Love Heart

Buy at amazon.com

 A perfect way to showcase your love with this picture a frame. Tell your love story in a beautiful way without talking. With this photo frame, you can put pictures from different events with your loved one.

2. INFMETRY Capsule Letters Message in a Bottle

Buy at amazon

A great way to show your feeling to others if you do not have the courage to speak out. It’s a fun, romantic old fashion way to express your feelings, all you do is write a secret love note to cure her/him broken heart every meal, every day. 

You can tell him/her every day how you adore and miss them, affirmation, wishing them a good day, some small but potent that will make him/her day better and give them the experience they never had before.

3. Drive Safe Keychain Handsome

Drive Safe Keychain Handsome I Love You Trucker Husband Gift for Husband Dad Gift Valentines Day Stocking Stuffer

Buy at amazon

This keychain speaks volumes, a little kitchen but shows how much you care it does make an elegant and sentimental gift for your boyfriend/husband.

4. Tactical Pen Engraved

Buy at amazon

This tactical pen is the best choice for a surprise gift for your loved ones.   It is engraved “I LOVE YOU”, which presents your love to your beloved. With this tactical pen by his/her side, he/she would feel your deep love at any time.

5. Personalized Watercolor Poster from Photo, Custom Couple Portrait.

Buy at amazon

Personalize YOUR photo as a watercolor portrait and give it to that special someone in your life this will be a gift that they will cherish forever. This is also an ideal gift for an Engagement, Anniversary, Bridal, Groom, or any occasion.

6. Creative Kissing Mugs Set.

Buy at amazon

These mugs are a fun and lovely way of showing and saying I love you, we belong together, we got each other. Just place these cute kissing mugs together face to face to form the perfect kiss and that’s it you just show your love for that special someone.

7. Personalized Custom ID Name Bracelets

Buy at amazon

Give something meaningful, engrave your personalized jewelry with a name, date, or thoughtful message to add an extra special touch to your personalized jewelry for Valentine’s day or any other occasion.

8. Chocolate Covered Strawberries, 12 Dark/Milk/White Delight

Buy at Amazon

Perfect gift for chocolate lovers, these strawberries are delicately hand dipped and decorated in culinary artistry and exquisitely decadent taste.

Freshness is 100 % guaranteed because they are made to order and shipped overnight with ice to ensure freshness and perfect arrival.

9. Lamare Affirmation Cards

Buy at Amazon

These inspiring quote cards make an excellent gift idea. Perfect for sticking on the planner, adding to inspiration boards and word collages, they will show off your great taste.

These are more than cards and it’s also a memorable gift that gives full of positive energy to make the most of the day. Also, its vibrant colors will help your special one to immerse in relaxation and get energized to meet their full potential every single day.

It will also help to get rid of negative thinking that holds him/her back from enjoying life, reprogram their thinking, change the mindset and attract positivity in their life.

10. Spa Gift Basket-Bath and Body Gift Set

Spa Gift Basket-Bath and Body Gift Set,Coconut For Women-Spa Bath Kit & Bath Gift Basket Birthday Gift Includes Bath Bombs, Message Oil, Body Scrub, Bath Salt, Body Lotion, Shower Gel and Scrub Brush

Buy at amazon

This Coconut For Women-Spa Bath Kit & Bath Gift includes bath bombs, massage oil, body scrub, bath salt, body lotion, shower gel, and scrub brush. It a perfect gift especially on this pandemic where we don’t have the luxury of going to visit the spa salon.

11. What I Love About You Fill in the Love Book 

Buy at amazon

This little book contains fill-in-the-blank lines describing some aspect of your affection for your loved one. It has simple prompts that make it easy to express yourself all you need is to complete each line and voila: you have a uniquely personal gift your loved one will read again and again.

12. CDE Forever Love Heart Women Necklace

CDE Forever Love Heart Women Necklace 925 Sterling Silver Rose Gold Plated January Birthstone Pendant Necklaces for Women with 5A Cubic Zirconia Valentine‘s Jewelry Gift Birthday Gift for Mom Women Wife Girls Her

Buy at amazon

This unique heart-shaped pendant necklace is a meaningful gift for someone special because of its design. The pendant adopts a unique double heart-shaped structure symbolizing love for each other. 

More than that, the details of the pendant are also full of love. In one of the hearts, it is engraved with “I love you always and forever” to express the love.

It comes in 12 colors of gemstones, corresponding to the birthstone of each month. You can choose the color according to the birth month.

13. Valentine’s Day Love Themed Waterproof Wine Bottle Sticker Wrappers

Buy at amazon

These cute wine bottle wrappers feature messages that are perfect for anyone who wants to celebrate love on Valentine’s Day. 

These stickers are little things that will add a festive touch to the bottle of the special wine you bought for your loved one and make it more special.

 

Business, Lifestyle, Travel,

The Best Stylish Backpacks for Women for Different Occasions (2023)

The backpack has become a trend for women nowadays, we can see women carry them around everywhere some carry them at the gym, traveling, hiking, and some even at work or out the places where we never use seeing women carrying backpacks.

I found the backpack to be very convenient and according to some research they said, backpacks are better than shoulder bags or messenger bags because the weight is distributed across your body. Unlike a shoulder bag or a messenger bag, the weight will be distributed on one side of the body.

There are several factors you need to consider when choosing the right backpack for you, such as you want it to be stylish, anti-theft if possible, The construction of the backpack, is very important you don’t want to carry a backpack that will cause you pain, or have some metals or some objects that will make you uncomfortable.

Choose a backpack based on your needs, meaning when or where will you be carrying this backpack. Is it for work? school? Traveling? Casual?  and what will you be carrying on that backpack? Size does matter when comes to backpacks.

Here are some  stylish backpacks we think might be helpful  to choose for different occasions and what you are going to carry:

1. The Best Backpack for Business, Work, and Travel 

These are the best backpacks for business, work, and traveling this is due to their sizes and what they can do such as having special space for electronic gadgets like laptops, tablets, cellphone, etc.

Samson Classic Leather Backpack

Samsonite Classic Leather Backpack

Check it out at amazon

YTONET  Laptop Backpack with RFID Pocket

check it out at amazon

 

2. Best Backpack for Hiking & Backpacking

These are the best backpack for hiking and backpacking, they are lightweight and you can a lot of things at once and other functions.

Venture Pal  40L  Lightweight Backpack

 

Check it out at amazon

MIRACOL Hydration  Backpack

MIRACOL Hydration Backpack with 2L Water Bladder, Thermal Insulation Pack Keeps Liquid Cool up to 4 Hours, Perfect Outdoor Gear for Skiing, Running, Hiking, Cycling

Check out at amazon

 

3. The Best Carry-On Backpack

These are the best carry-on backpack not only they are stylish, they have space and also anti-theft, so you don’t have to worry about safety when you are traveling and you have to put them under the seat or overhead compartment.

Nomatic Backpack

Check out at amazon

Inateck 40L  Anti-Theft Backpack

Inateck 40L Travel Backpack, Flight Approved Carry on Backpack Hand Luggage, Anti-Theft Business Laptop Rucksack Large Daypack Weekender Bag for 17'' Laptop - Black

Check it out at amazon

 

4. The Best Backpack Purses

These are the best backpack to carry around whether is work, outing, or running errands. They are like everyday purses or handbags.

Baggalini Anti-Theft Backpack

Baggallini Anti Theft Convertible Backpack

Check it out at amazon

JeHouze Anti-Theft Leather Backpack

JeHouze Fashion Women Anti-Theft Shoulder Handbag Genuine Leather Backpack Casual Bag

Check it out at amazon

 

5. The Best Diaper Backpack

These are the best diaper backpack because of its functions, you can organize your things based on your needs.  They are not only stylish but also easy to carry around and even travel with them. Some of these backpacks have multi-functions, they come with stroller straps, changing pads, anti-water materials, etc.

Bag Nation Diaper Backpack

Check it out at amazon

HapTim Multi-Function Diaper Backpack

HapTim Multi-Function Large Baby Diaper Bag Backpack W/Stroller Straps-Insulated Pockets-Changing Pad, Stylish & Durable with Anti-Water Material(Gray-5284)

Check it out at amazon

Bamomby Multi-Function Water Proof Diaper Backpack

Diaper Bag Backpack, Bamomby Multi-Function Waterproof Large Travel Backpack Nappy Bags for Mom,Dad with Changing Pad, Newborn Diapers Registry Baby Shower Gifts-Black

Check it out at amazon

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Business, Gateway, Travel, Travel Adventures, Vacation,

Qatar vs Etihad vs Turkish Airlines

Traveling is not everyone’s cup of tea. But sometimes one does not have a choice. When it comes to long routes and long flights, traveling with an airline that provides comfort and safety is a must.

Especially when we talk about the business class of different airlines.

In this article, we will have a comparison amongst Etihad vs Qatar vs Turkish airlines. And we will discuss which one has the best business class.

 

GOING BUSINESS CLASS; THINGS TO CONSIDER

A ticket for the business class can get a lot of perks and benefits. From entering the airport to leaving it, the whole procedure of traveling becomes very smooth and easy.

But, not every airline offers the same comfort nor the same benefits as others.

So, if you are traveling from a different airline for the first time, you must do your complete homework.

And know how the business class is of that particular airline.

 When choosing a business class, here are a few things that you should consider before buying the ticket:

 

THE SEATS

interior photography of airline seats

 

Having a long flight is torture itself, and not having proper and comfortable seating will only make the route longer and more torturous.

Especially when you paid a hefty amount for it. Different airlines have different seating for their business class.

Some have seats that can be in a lie-down position while others have seats like the economy class but with much more leg space. You should choose the airline that provides the first one, lie down seats.

If we compare all three airlines, Qatar, Turkish, and Etihad. Qatar Airways checks this point as it provides lie down seats to its travelers in the business class.

 

THE ONBOARDING SERVICE

woman in black button up long sleeve shirt

 

While this point is not a complete deal-breaker, when you are paying twice the economic price, you should enjoy all the perks too.

When it comes to the onboarding service, customer service, food, the entertainment, it covers everything. When choosing an airline, make sure you research well on their onboarding service.

CONVENIENCE

This completely depends on you and what you want. Do you want a connecting flight or do you want a direct flight?

What matters here is no matter which option you go for; you want a hustle free flight. So, go for the one which does not have a complicated route.

 

WHAT ARE THE ADVANTAGES OF traveling IN QATAR, ETIHAD OR TURKISH AIRLINES?

 Now, let us discuss some advantages of traveling with these airlines:

QATAR AIRWAY

White and Red Air Plane in Mid Air

Comfort and luxury! If these are the two things you are looking for when it comes to traveling in business class, then Qatar Airways is your airline to go with.

Unlike other airlines, the perks of traveling in Qatar Airways start way before entering the plane. The airport experience is a lot better and the hospitality is something to always remember.

From check-ins to stepping on the plane, the whole process before the flight is hassle-free and very smooth. The food and drinks offered during this time are complimentary too.

 

Qatar Airways

ONBOARDING

Those who hold a business class ticket have priority, hence they are the first ones to settle into the plane too. In Qatar Airways, a business class traveler gets a steward/stewardess designated only for him or her alone for the entire flight.

 CABIN SPACE

The business class cabin provided by Qatar Airways is very spacious. The ceilings are high, and the cabins have a design that gives them direct access to the aisle. This makes it very convenient for passengers.

ETIHAD AIRWAYS

The business class of Etihad, or should we say the business studio, is an artistic experience of its own. A blend of simplicity and art is the core part of its design.

It looks gorgeous and it works fine for all. Etihad Airways, like all other airlines, also had business class, but very recently they have changed it to the business studio.

Which is much more stylish and offers more privacy than the previous design.

 THE SEATING

The seats present in the business studio of Etihad airlines have leather seats, which are Italian designed. These seats come with a massage option, warm and cozy blankets along soft pillows.

Each studio has direct access to the aisle. Moreover, the seats can be in a lie-down position as well to provide comfort and good rest for the passengers.

ENTERTAINMENT

Each cabin has a screen of its own where passengers can enjoy unlimited entertainment. Along with that, this airline also provides Wi-Fi but for selected flights only. Other than that, newspapers and magazines and headphones are also present in each cabin.

TURKISH AIRLINES

white airliner

 

When it comes to long flights, you need an airline that makes the route less torturous. This is what Turkish airline is all about and their business class is commendable.

From onboarding to food, and even the seats, everything makes the entire traveling experience a whole lot better.

ENTERTAINMENT

Turkish Airways also offers passengers an amenity kit. Basic things like a cream, toothbrush, and toothpaste are what you get with this kit. Other than that, Turkish Airways provides free Wi-Fi, which might work slow at times. Each cabin has a screen in front of the seat.

UNPRECEDENTED MEAL SERVICE

Meal service is a very important part of a flight, especially when you are traveling in a business class. The meal service provided by the Turkish airlines for the business class passengers is amazing. The chefs put a lot of time and effort into preparing the meals, and it shows.

EMIRATE AIRLINES

man walking down the aisle of airplane

 

When it comes to Emirates, the whole traveling experience while it is good, s not world-class. Here is a list of the pros and cons of traveling with Emirates:

PROS:

  • The seating provided by Emirates to its business class passengers is very comfortable.

  • Customer service, as well as the service provided on the flight, is incredible.

CONS:

  • The boarding process of Emirate airlines is very complicated.

  • The food offered during the flight is not good.

TURKISH AIRLINES

Turkish airline also provides an experience worth remembering. Let us discuss some pros as well as some cons when it comes to traveling in business class with Turkish airlines:

PROS:

  • The seating and cabin provided to the business class owners are very comfortable and also keeps the privacy intact.

  • The crew is very kind and courteous on every flight.

CONS:

  • Wi-fi connection is free but very slow.

  • The entertainment options are very limited.

KLM AIRLINES

white and blue air liner

 

KLM airlines have a smooth plane, and their operations are running pretty too. But the business class experience of traveling in this airline is not up to the mark. Here are a few cons and pros:

PROS:

  • Very friendly staff, and very attentive to passenger needs.

 CONS:

  • The food served is very disappointing.
  • The business class seats are very old.

SWISS AIRLINES

white and red Swiss airplane during daytime

 

A pleasant experience makes customers really happy when they aboard Swiss Airlines. This is because the whole process of traveling, which includes everything and anything, is very smoothly done.

Let us now see some cons and pros of Swiss Airlines: 

PROS:

  • The food served on the flight is very tasty. Not only tasty, but it is also in a lot of quantity.

  • The sky crew is very friendly. 

CONS:

  • The plane does not have enough leg space for the passengers to relax and rest. 

LUFTHANSA AIRLINE

White and Blue Lufthansa Airplane

 

Lufthansa airline is a German airline and is one of the largest airlines in Europe. It is immensely popular with a high customer satisfaction rate. Let us now discuss some pros as well as some cons of the airline to get a clearer picture of how the airline is:

PROS

  • Excellent customer services. From onboarding till the end, the whole experience is very amazing.

  • The staff especially is very sweet. They go the extra mile to make their customers happy. 

CONS:

  • The prices are very costly for this airline. It is not convenient for everyone to travel on this flight. 

BRITISH AIRWAYS

white and red air plane on airport during daytime

 

British Airways are one of the largest airlines in the United Kingdom. This is true when it comes to the size of the fleet, and the number of passengers it carries every day.

All in all, the flight experience of traveling with this airline is pretty average. Let us discuss the cons and pros of the airlines so we can get a better idea of the airline and its function:

 PROS: 

  • The routes of this airline are very good.

  • The customer service is also remarkable.

CONS:

  • There have been many cases of lost luggage when it comes to British Airways.

  • Their mileage program is torture in itself. It is very complicated.

ETIHAD AIRWAYS

 

etihad airways

Credit: Etihad Airways

Etihad Airways is one of the best airlines and one of the biggest too after emirates. After emirates, it is a UAE flag carrier airline.

It is in Abu Dhabi and offers business, economy as well as first-class options to its passengers. Let us discuss some pros and cons of traveling with Etihad Airlines:

PROS:

  • They offer a lot of entertainment options, and the extra WI-FI is a cherry on the top.

  • They offer a variety of food items on the flight.

CONS:

  • Their loyalty programs offer little to no perks or benefits. 

CATHAY PACIFIC AIRWAYS

gray airplane

 

Cathay Airways is also known as Cathay pacific; it is a flag carrier of Hong Kong and one of the most popular flights in Hong Kong.

Let us now discuss some pros and cons to get a better look at what to expect when traveling in Cathay Pacific Airways:

PROS:

  • Very suitable when traveling with children as the staff takes extra care of the children.

 CONS:

  • Slow service, and not too attentive with the elderly.

SINGAPORE AIRLINES

white and blue airplane under white clouds during daytime

 

Singapore airlines, as the name suggests is the flag carrier airline of Singapore. The traveling experience of many has been very great with this airline, let us see some cons and pros to know how the airline actually is:

PROS:

  • The flight attendants are very sweet and very attentive.

  • The customer service is very amazing.

CONS:

  • The food served on the flight is very average.

  • The bag of amenities is very boring too.

 QANTAS AIRWAYS

White and Red Qantas Airplane Fly High Under Blue and White Clouds

 

Qantas Airways is the flag carrier of Australia and is one of the oldest airlines in the world. Let us now discuss the pros and cons of Qantas airways:

PROS:

  • The food was excellent and the serving was hot and fresh.

  • The crew was very attentive as well as helping to passenger needs.

 CONS:

  • The business class of the airline has very little privacy.

  • There is not enough leg space between the seats, which makes long flights very hectic and restless.

ALL NIPPON AIRWAYS

white and blue Ana airplane during daytime

 

All Nippon Airways is also known as Zenniku. Few airlines have a 5-star rating but this airline is one of them. It has a five-star rating and as well as a five-star level of service.

Let us now discuss the cons and pros of All Nippon Airways so that we can get a clearer picture of the airline and the experience it provides:

 PROS:

  • It has many destinations as it flies to many places.

  • The food and the customer service of this airline are excellent.

 CONS:

  • The economy class of the airline is very average.

JAPAN AIRLINES

white passenger plane on airport during daytime

 

Japan airline is an international airline and the flag carrier of Japan.

It gives you the option of choosing from four classes, economy class, business class, premium economy class, and last but not the least, first class.

Let us now discuss some pros and cons of Japan airlines:

PROS:

  • The crew and the services provided by them are excellent.

  • The food served is also up to the mark.

 CONS:

  • The entertainment provided on the flight is boring.

EVA AIRLINE

flying gray airplane

 

The EVA from the EVA airline stands for evergreen airlines, and it is a Taiwanese international airline.

Let us now discuss the pros and cons of traveling in EVA airlines and shed some light on how the traveling experience is with this airline:

PROS:

  • The food served in this airline is very amazing.

  • The crew does a great job of making everyone feel safe as well as comfortable.

CONS:

  • They keep on increasing prices, which has now made it very costly.

AIR FRANCE

white Airfrance airplane

 

Having a hub in Paris, this airline is the flag carrier of France. It flies to more than 65 countries across the world. This airline offers its passengers to choose from two options.

First is flying in economy class and the second is business class. Let’s discuss some pros and cons of the airline to get a clearer picture of the traveling experience it offers:

PROS:

  • Very friendly crew and friendly service as well.

  • The food offered is amazing on the flight.

CONS:

  • The seats of the business class are not that comfortable.

ETHIOPIAN AIRLINES

Ethiopian-Airlines best Airline in Africa

Credit: Ethiopian Airlines

 

As the name suggests, this airline is in Ethiopia. It has flights that go to more than a hundred destinations. It travels to Europe and Asia. It allows its passengers to choose from the two options.

To either travel in economy or CloudNine. CloudNine is their version of a business class. Let us now discuss some pros and cons of the airline:

PROS:

  • The business class seats are very relaxing.

  • A lot of privacy is offered to passengers traveling in business class.

CONS: 

  • The food is not up to the mark.

All in all, Qatar Airlines is one of the best airlines and has one of the business class to travel in.

Here are a few reasons why Qatar Airlines is one of the best airlines:

IT OFFERS COMPLETE PRIVACY

One of the greatest advantages of traveling in this airline’s business class is that it offers you complete and total privacy.

COMFORTABLE SEATS

 The business class seats are very comfortable and allow us to lie down. The mattress and the pillows provided are also very comfortable and cozy.

ONBOARDING

The entire onboarding experience of traveling with Qatar airlines is amazing. From the point we enter the airport to the time we leave, their services for the business class passengers are up to mark.

The customer service and the comfort provided to the passengers enhances the experience of the travel.

 EXCELLENT ENTERTAINMENT OPTIONS

The entertainment options provided by Qatar Airlines to its passengers are a lot. From screens to many movie options, to magazines, everything adds value to the traveling experience.

In short, Qatar airlines provides a complete package to its passengers. From customer service to food to comfort, everything is well taken care of. The passengers traveling feel prioritized by the crew members. 

 

Qatar Airways

As their comfort and safety are taken well care of. The crew is not only friendly but also very attentive to the passenger’s needs.

From small to big, everything is well taken care of when traveling from Qatar Airways, especially in business class.

Business, Lifestyle, Travel,

How to sustain a healthy lifestyle even during business trips.

Business travel can be a productive, enjoyable, and even exciting experience. The time

you spend doing business in other locations expands your business reach and scope and

broadens you as a person as well.

 

Getting skilled at business travel is a solid business

goal because there are skills related to business travel and being productive on the road

that is impossible to learn if you don’t get out there and travel.

 

Many of the skills associated with business travel have to do with how to live

productively on the road. This is especially important if you find yourself on a lengthy

business trip.

 

The life of moving in and out of hotels, traveling by car or airplane, and the

stresses of the work can wear down even the most robust and experienced business

traveler.  Maintaining a healthy diet while traveling for business is a serious challenge and one that really can only be accomplished with some serious planning.

You will inevitably find yourself eating in a lot of restaurants on the road and that kind of food does not lend itself

to a diet that is designed for weight loss or for a diet, you must maintain for Health

Reasons. Here are the simple steps you can sustain a healthy lifestyle

Communicate your desires

people seated on table in room

The first but biggest step forward to achieving diet goals while traveling is to

communicate your desires to your traveling companions. In a business setting, there is

often a lot of encouragement to eat and drink well.

 

Everybody is on the expense account so it is easy to overdo it. But if you let your coworkers and clients know you

have compelling reasons to maintain a disciplined diet, most of the time they will respect that and find ways to help

you be successful.

Don’t depend on restaurants for your meal

people sitting on chair during daytime

Another trick of business travel is not to depend on restaurants for your meals entirely. If

you can get out to a market early in the trip and purchase some fresh fruit and vegetables,

you can prepare some healthy food in your room to fill you up and keep you on track.

 

Then if you find that you must eat in a restaurant to discuss business with coworkers or

build relationships with the client, your appetite will be low so you can get by on much

less.

 

You can also be a voice for moderation in the selection of eating establishments for your

meals. Obviously, fast food is not going to be a good choice for you. So if there is

A discussion about where to stop, you can vote for a place that serves a good variety of

meal choices including some healthy choice menu options. In that way, if you must eat in

a restaurant, you can find items to order that can be prepared in accordance with your diet

needs.

By doing this, you will be surprised how many allies you will find both in your travel associates and with those you

are doing business with at your destination who have diet goals but have not been successful because of the

temptations of life on the road.

Your open statement of intent to stick to your diet in spite of the rigors of business travel can be a

tremendous inspiration to them. Moreover, by building partnerships in your intent to live healthy, it is entirely

possible to take your business to a healthy restaurant or deli and allow the rest of the party to go to a place of their

liking. As long as this is done without animosity, everybody wins.

Avoid Alcohol and Snacks

people toasting wine glasses

Avoiding alcohol and snacks can be a huge challenge on the road as well. Very often in a

seminar setting or during a long day of discussions, the host company or office will

provide cookies or other snacks to help the meeting go well by keeping everybody’s

blood sugar up.

These snacks are going to be hard to resist. One way to help yourself in

that situation is to be prepared with your own snacks in your handbag to bring out to

substitute for the unhealthy food being provided.

 

Be Active

man running during daytime

While on a business trip you don’t want to go to your business meeting, eat, sleep. You can do some moderate

exercise like walking, yoga, etc. Nowadays most hotels have fitness facilities/gym, swimming pool, etc. You can

spend  15-30 minutes doing some exercise. If you are not a gym person you can swim or take a little walk to keep you

active and fit.

By thinking ahead about your diet needs and how you will provide for yourself while traveling, it is possible to

sustain a healthy lifestyle even during business trips.

By supplementing these steps with exercise and rest, you may find that your weather the trip much better than those

who abuse their bodies and find yourself more productive as a business person as well because you made the effort to

eat well on the road.

 

Business, Lifestyle,

What to Consider Before You Book Your Next Flight or Hotel

As things are trying to get back to normal, many people are considering to resume the plans they have for  2020.  Before the COVI-19 Pandemic, people had vacation plans, wedding plans, honeymoons, etc all have been postponed. Not only that we have seen the been seen the cancellation of big events such as the Summer Olympics in Tokyo, UEFA finals in Istanbul, Essence Festival in New Orleans, and many more. Everybody is looking forward to returning to their normal life. 

travel is good for the soul

Businesses have been eager to get back to business, finally, some businesses have are starting to operate with some restrictions hopefully everything will go back to normal and we will not have to worry about the pandemic any more.

Since businesses are starting to reopen, the questions travelers ask themselves is this the right time to make vacation plans, or is it the right time to book flights, hotels, or cruises. As we can see right now, flight fares are at an all-time low. There have been several good deals on flights which are very tempting.

But one can still ask themselves will I be able to travel this is due to safety reasons and people are expecting the second wave of COVID-19. Another question is if I buy my ticket and I can’t go will I get a full refund, partial or I will lose my money.  Here are some precautions you need to take before you make any travel arrangements.

Read Cancellation Policy.

Before you start booking that flight or hotel you need to look at airline and hotel websites to check out their current change and cancellation policies.

The good thing is many airlines have created temporary policies that allow you to book new flights now through certain dates, with the ability to change and cancel them for a full refund for the next year or even more.

Also, some of them introduced new cancellation and rebooking policies to accommodate customers at this time. Keep in mind these policies are different depends on the airline.

For instance, Delta airlines are now waiving change fees and providing greater flexibility to travel using eCredits through September 30, 2022, and If you’re uncertain of future travel plans, they are recommending canceling and then rebooking once your new travel plans are confirmed.

The value of your ticket will become an eCredit for future use. This means the refund will be in terms of eCredits that you can use on Delta airlines.  

Emirates airlines will give cancellation refunds or waive rebooking fees only in these circumstances such as flight cancellation, this is when  Emirates flight is canceled for a specific date or route is suspended for a continuous period.

There is a travel ban, where there is an explicit government notification that prohibits travel from either point of journey origin or destination. The travel advisory, this is a general government advisory against non-essential travel but no travel ban.

Visa process which required visiting an embassy/consulate or mandatory quarantine at origin or destination. A situation where a  passenger is unable to reach the airport, for those countries which have a government lockdown and passengers are unable to reach the airport.

With that being said, it very important to read the policy before you jump into that deal.  As you can see each airline has a different policy one might be good to you and one may not. 

Another thing you need to consider is where are you going to buy your ticket. Are you buying straight from the airline or through a travel agency?  This makes a difference when it comes to changes and cancellation because they both have different policies when it comes to cancellation and refunds.

Airlines will not issue refunds if you bought your ticket through a travel agency, this means the airline policies will not apply to you.

young woman with traveling documents

These also apply when you want to do hotel reservations, it’s important to check their refund and cancellation policies. There have been many cases where people are not to get their full refund when they cancel the hotels or pay fees for changing dates.

For instance, Marriott will allow full changes and cancellations without charges for existing reservations for any future arrival date as long as the change or cancellation is made by June 30, 2020.

For new reservations and any future arrival date,  between now and June 30, 2020, they will allow the reservation to be changed or canceled at no charge up to 24 hours before your scheduled arrival date.

Make sure you check airlines and hotel websites before you jump into their deals so you can make the right decision and also be in control.

Be sure  about the dates

After seeing the deals floating all over the internet it’s still uncertain when can we travel again. Some people think it is not a good idea to jump on those deals or planning a trip.

But many experts are suggesting it will be good your trip dates to around June and up not below that.  According to Scott Keys of  Scott’s Cheap Flights, he advised that you should choose the deals that are at least three months in advance. 

You can still get good deals on later dates, for instance, right now there are good deals which are available until November for both domestic and international flights. 

You can choose later dates that will make you comfortable that things will be back to normal and you will be able to go on your trip, instead of early dates which your trip may not happen and then you will be forced to deal with cancellation and rebooking issues.