More Value In Your Travel With Charter Flights

Ideally, travel is something everyone would like to do more of. Who wouldn’t enjoy the adventure of learning more about different cultures and places? But isn’t it true, you really don’t realize what you’ve got at home, until you see first hand how other people live.

Unfortunately, travel does not fit into everyone’s budget. Over time, airfare has become more affordable, however extensive air travel is still pricey enough that most people don’t fly nearly as much as they drive. The sad truth is, it’s likely to remain this way. Instead of relying on winning the lotto to pay for your desire to travel more frequently, why not consider a more budget friendly alternative like Charter Flights.

Charter Flights are unique to typical airline travel because their operating system is different. Airlines, like the ones you would normally fly out of large cities, will have a specific route between two cities. The airline flies this route from point A to point B a set number of times per week regardless of how many passengers they carry. This is why airfare is so pricey. Airlines will fly their planes at less than half full and charge you the difference on your next ticket. It's costly to operate those machines, and you, the consumer pays the price whether you're on the plane or not.

Here's the beauty of Charter Companies; by chartering an airplane from reliable airline for specific time slots and dates, they will get the benefit of a large discount on the overall cost, that you could not get on your own. This discount, for a much reduced rate at the per seat price, is passed on to you by the charter company. You can expect most charter companies to offer similar destinations and routes dependant upon the season you're interested in traveling in. Commonly, winter flights will bring you to a warmer vacation spot.

Reliability is much better with charter flights, as opposed to other discount airfare methods. Airfare prices will decrease as the departure date approaches as well. When considering charter flights, it's important to note that charter companies can cancel any scheduled flight if they haven't sold enough tickets, and contrary to airlines, may be unable to seat you on another flight going to your planned destination, in a timely manner. If this is the case, you should expect a refund or a wait of several days for another charter. This could definitely put a damper on anyone's vacation.

With that in mind, there are a variety of dependable charter companies and flights that are a reliable alternative to typical airfare, though the discounts may not be as substantial. The bottom line is; if you're able to purchase a ticket without much notice and your flexible on dates and times, flying with a charter company may be much better suited to your budget.

Cheap International Travel Secrets

What is the real secret to cheap international travel? it's the same as the secret to doing anything for less. Learn to be an opportunist. Opportunistic travelers get to travel more, see more & do more. Of coursework, you can ignore this advice if you have unlimited currency.

I went to Ecuador because it was cheap. Honestly, are not there plenty of interesting places in this world? Why not choose eight you can travel to inexpensively? The other places will be there in the future, & you may have an opportunity to go to those places cheaply at some point.

Ecuador is my favorite international location. You can still get a decent meal for eight dollars. U.S. dollars, by the way, since that is conveniently the official currency of Ecuador now. From the beautiful snow-capped Andes mountains, to the Galapagos Islands, you'll seldom run out of places to explore in Ecuador. Travel there is safe & inexpensive.

Cheap Countries

South America in general is inexpensive, & the most affordable countries are, in my opinion, the most beautiful. These are the countries along the Andes mountains; Ecuador, Peru, & Bolivia. Argentina, thanks to it's recent economic troubles, is once again a cheap place for travelers as well.

In Central America, it costs  little to travel & holiday in both Nicaragua & Guatemala. Nicaragua, in particular, has become more stable & safe for travelers in recent years. Costa Rica is a wonderful , & though it's eight of more expensive counties of Central America, that probably still leaves it cheaper than Europe.

In Asia, India is still low-cost,  if you stay in the numerous hostels & boarding houses. Thailand & Indonesia are also  cheap. With all international destinations, the plane tickets will be your single biggest travel expense. This is  true with the asian countries. Being there is cheap, but getting there may not be.

Cheap International Travel Tips

Wherever you go, there are things you can do to keep it cheap. Eat where locals eat, for example, instead of at the tourist restaurants. To keep it  cheap, eat fruit from street markets (wash it well) & packaged snacks from grocery stores.

Visit the free & cheap attractions first. It's possible you'll have so much fun that you'll seldom get around to doing the expensive things. A higher price means better quality with travel bags, but not with travel experiences.

For cheap accommodations find out where local visitors from within the country stay. Negotiating room charges is common in some areas. In Banos, Ecuador, we negotiated our room rate down from $12 to $6 per night, by paying for several nights in advance. Consider hostels, if you don't mind sharing a room. they are much more common overseas.

Busses are cheaper than taxis in any country, but be careful of crowded city busses, where pickpockets hang out. jogging is even cheaper, & it's a great way to learn about a city.  ask the locals where the dangerous parts are before you wander  far.

Cheap international travel is often only as cheap as your plane tickets. Use the techniques outlined on our site to save big on tickets, or search the fares to several interesting countries. If eight is $500 less than the others, consider going there. $500 can buy a few extra days, or an extra mini-vacation some other time.

Holiday Travel With Family Fun

Family holidays can be fun and exciting for all ages.  Here are some pointers for finding the best holiday for your family.

First you need to determine the common interests of the family.  Ask your children what they would like to see and what they’re studying in school.  If you have very young children then usually you will know better than them but try to get them involved.  Think of you and your spouse as well; what may be great fun for the kids may be boring and annoying for the adults.  Pick somewhere that all of you will enjoy or a destination that gives you the opportunity for quiet time.  While kids tend to be unrealistic, you can usually accommodate their interest.  For example, if they want to take an African safari you could visit the immense animal park in San Diego, California.

Theme parks are fun for the kids and offer entertainment for adults as well.  Disneyworld in Orlando, Florida includes the Magic Kingdom, Epcot Center, Universal Studios and MGM Studios.  There are luxury hotels located right inside the park and a monorail takes visitors to different parts of the park so there’s no need to drive.  The park is not the only attraction; there are other nearby attractions including the Kennedy Space Center, Coco Beach and Sea World.   

A trip through the historic east coast is another fun holiday that the kids and adults are sure to enjoy.  The east coast has beautiful mountains and beaches and contains most of the United States’ history.  Attractions are close to each other compared to the rest of the U.S. so a road trip is the best way to travel with the family to this part of the country.  Historic sights include George Washington’s home in Virginia and the Arlington Cemetery.  The Smithsonian Museums in Washington, D.C. are free and there is something to interest everyone.  There is the Space and Aeronautics Museum that children really enjoy with life size replicas and actual aircraft showing the history of flight. Washington also contains the U.S. political buildings such as the White House and the Pentagon.  

Southern California offers many sights and is especially warm and pleasant in the late fall and early spring when most of the country is cold.  Los Angeles is the film industry capitol of the world. You can visit Universal Studios theme park and Disneyland.  You may even be able to catch the taping of a television show.  San Diego which is just about two hours south of Los Angeles is a beautiful mid size city and has many tourist options.  The San Diego Zoo is world renowned and Sea World is a must see for wildlife enthusiast.  If you have young children then be sure to visit Legoland which has rides and even replicas of famous sights made entirely out of Legos.    
Family holidays can be fun for the entire family.  It’s important to find a holiday that will interest the kids as well as the adults.

Learn Basic French Phrases Before You Travel To France

Before you think to travel to Paris, Switzerland, Bordeaux or Quebec, you absolutely need to learn basic French phrases. Without these common sentences and words, you will be lost and frustrated.

There are sentences and words that you will use every single day. Let's start to learn them, because life will be extremely hard if you chose to ignore this lesson and travel to a French speaking country.

We will start with the most common words because it's easier, and then, we will learn basic French phrases...

1. Most common words in French (and any other foreign language)

Note: I will write the English word first, and then, translate it in French.

1 - Yes = Oui
2 - No = Non
3 – Ok = D'accord (Note that French say OK as well!)
4 – Why = Pourquoi
5 – Where = Ou
6 – How = Comment
7 – Thanks = Merci
8 – How much = Combien
9 – Hotel = Hotel
10 – Room = Chambre

2. Three Must Know French Phrases

Note: I will write the English word first, and then, translate it in French.

These are four sentences that you will use every single day.

1 - Good Morning! How are you? = Bonjour! Comment allez – vous?

2 - I'm fine thank you = Je vais bien, merci.

3 – Do you speak French? = Parlez-vous Français?

4 – Where are you from? = De quel pays venez vous?

As you can see, these French words and sentences are essential if you want to travel to France or any other French speaking country. No need to say that you will not be able to live in France without those...

To learn basic French phrases with a French native speaker is your best option. However, there is no harm to learn with a Canadian or even a English native if he is fluent.

Learning from home is another option, and after all, you can quickly learn these essential sentences before you decide to travel to Paris!