Tag: travel club

Italy is consistently in the top five luxury travel destinations for American Express Vacation clients.  Italy is full of history, beginning with the ancient Roman Empire, to the rise of the Vatican, to the Italian renaissance.  Traveling to Italy requires certain tips to make your luxury travel vacation.  

Hotel Tips

Though traveling to Italy is quite safe. However, it’s advisable and useful to gather some basic Italy travel tips.  There are hundreds of small luxury hotels of the world and the cities of Italy have plenty to choose from.  Some Italian hotels, and nearly all hotels in Rome, have at least one staff member who speaks English.  Search out this person to ask for additional tips, such as great dining spots, local sights, public transportation and shopping areas.  Staying in touch with family and friends can be expensive in Italy, especially if you call from your hotel.  Keep in mind that American cell phones will not work without special international services or devices.  And since hotels tend to overcharge for long-distance and international calls, it is best to make such calls from public phones, using international calling cards.  Staying in a luxury hotel is quite fun, but if you have already been there and done that, it’s never too late to consider booking one of the many available luxury world cruises throughout the world.

Shopping Tips

One big draw for Italian tourists on a luxury travel trip is the shopping tour.  Consider booking one of these guided tours, instead of charging off on your own.  These shopping tours offer travelers a more comfortable way to "shop ‘til you drop."  Most of these tours include transportation to several different shopping districts and stores.  Your guide will speak both English and Italian, in order to mediate your shopping experience.  Yes, your major credit cards, such as American Express, Visa and Master Card, will work.  But keep in mind that most American credit cards will charge a hefty currency fee, and use the most unattractive exchange rates.  The best way to be safe and save money would be to use a combination of Euro Travelers Checks, Euros in cash and a credit card.  Pick Pocketing can be an unfortunate reality of modern travel, so spreading the type of money you carry is the best choice. 

Most stores and shops in Italy have operating hours that can be considered different, at least in comparison to what is expected in the United States.  Normally, most Italian shops are open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Stores are usually closed between 1 and 3:30 p.m., to allow employees a chance to have a family lunch.  Stores usually reopen around 3:30 or 4 p.m., and finally close around 7:30 to 8 p.m.  In large cities and tourist areas, there is a tendency to stay open from 9.30 a.m. to 7.30 p.m., with possible variations from town to town. Keep in mind that shopping etiquette in Italy is much different than in the United States.  When shopping for clothing, take note that many stores will not allow shoppers to try on shirts and blouses.  Also, there is a size discrepancy, so make sure that an attendant measures your body before you purchase.  It is also customary to tip attendants if they are personally assisting you with fittings and selection.  Whether shopping or relaxing in a small luxury hotel, a customary tip can go a long way!

Your accommodations are often considered one of the most important parts of your http://www.amtvacations.com/american-express-vacations.html, so use these tips to make the most of your upscale hotel stay.  When you use these American Express Tour tips to experience the best of small luxury hotels and high class shopping, you can enjoy yourself with no strings attached!

https://hotelsetc.org/2022/02/10/choosing-a-travel-agency/

Your vacation is a precious commodity. You work all year in order to be able to afford that two or three week time when you can go off to a destination of your choice and shake off the hassles of the year in as relaxing a manner as is possible. If you are planning on taking a vacation that requires any sort of extensive planning, such as out of the country or even to a popular destination in a different state, it is probably going to be necessary for you to enlist the services of a travel agency.

There are several advantages when it comes to using a travel agency over planning your entire vacation yourself. As businesses, travel agencies have many contacts in various areas of travel, whether the vacation you are planning is a cruise, a resort destination, or even a school travel group. In any case, a travel agency should have the contacts to be able to get you the best prices on quality vacation items such as airfare, hotel rooms, or the best possible cruise.

The first step in choosing your travel agency is to choose the vacation that is right for you. Travel agencies will often advertise bargain vacations to certain destinations, and if you re the type who likes to fly by the seat of your pants then this kind of spur of the moment planning may be perfect for you. For many others, however, the key to the perfect vacation will be in shopping around and deciding on where you would like to go before you go out looking for an agency.

Once you have decided on your dream vacation, it is time to find a travel agency. Remember, travel agencies are not all regulated, so you will want to find an agency that has a good reputation and a great track record. Word of mouth is a great tool when it comes to any kind of service, and choosing a travel agency is no exception. Talk to friends and family members who have taken similar vacations to the one that you are planning and find out how they felt about the agency that assisted them.

Try to find out which travel agency group the agency you are considering is associated with. Agencies with more extensive (think global) affiliations are more likely to be able to get you lower prices and added favors for your vacation. Keep in mind, however, that just because they are affiliated with a large group does not mean that the agency itself has to be large. Common knowledge would suggest that the bigger the agency, the easier it is to negotiate smaller prices. This is not always the case, however, so don’t make your decision on the number of employees in the store.

Finally, ask for references from the agency of both clients and suppliers. Clients, of course, are people like yourself who have used the agency’s services to go on vacations before. Suppliers are the people with whom the agency deals in order to purchase items such as hotel rooms and airline tickets, and will often have a clearer view of how the agency operates and whether or not they can do all that they claim as far as cost cutting and favors.
https://hotelsetc.org/2022/02/08/australia-travel-for-a-nurse/

Like much of the rest of the world, Australia faces a shortage of skilled nurses. This has led to the practice of having overseas nurses travel to Australia to work for durations that can range from the short to the long-term. Australia nursing travel is quickly gaining popularity, with the methods followed here being replicated at other countries around the world.

Traveling to Australia as a nurse is one way of experiencing the country’s unique lifestyle and beauty. It gives one the chance to experience another culture, while earning a pay package at the same time. Taking up a nursing assignment in Australia provides one with the opportunity to really gain an in-depth understanding of Australian culture, an experience which often eludes a short-term tourist or visitor.

The procedure usually begins with the prospective traveling nurse contacting an Australian nursing agency. The initial communication normally consists of the agency attempting to establish one’s skills and interests. They then answer all the questions that one may have, including average work settings, typical workload, surrounding environment, entertainment, range of opportunities available, etc.

This is followed by the applicant having to fill out an application form along with handing over a resume. The agency then verifies if the credentials are true, dig a bit into one’s background and speak to the people provided as references. Once the candidate has passed this stage, a meeting is set up with the Nursing Director or Nursing Manager in the department where you’ll be likely to practice. If the ensuing conversation satisfies both, visa and registrations processes are set in motion, which can take anywhere between two to three months.

Some tips that can help speed up the “fitting in” process are – at all costs avoid criticism or negative comparisons of the Australian healthcare system with that of one’s own country, don’t try teaching Australian nurses their jobs, friendliness and honesty is essential. Combining these tips with sheer common sense can help make your Australian nursing travel a memorable one. You can find tons of information about traveling in Australia. You can hire a travel agent or simply log onto the Internet and find your own travel deals for free. You will find savings galore. Not only is a nursing career fascinating but one is able to travel around the cities and site-see on your days off. To find out further information about a nursing career in Australia, log onto to the Internet today.
https://hotelsetc.org/2022/02/04/is-a-travel-cruise-franchise-opportunity-for-you/

If your entrepreneurial mind is combined with a love of travel, you may want to consider a travel franchise. Cruise franchises can be particularly lucrative as evidenced by these data:

Last year, the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) reported that the North American cruise industry grossed $35.7 billion, and global industry revenues were $20.6 billionóa 7 percent increase over the previous year. The number of cruisers also increased 7 percent from 2005 to 2006 for a total of 12 million people who took a cruise vacation. Americans accounted for 78 percent of that number. The total number of embarkations from U.S. ports was 9 million, representing a 4 percent increase over the previous year. Embarkations from American ports accounted for 75 percent of total, worldwide embarkations.

Cruising and travel are huge industries, and their are pieces of them available for franchisees.

Why Should I Buy a Franchise?

First, letís discuss some of the benefits of franchising in general:

When you buy into a franchise, you are gaining access to an established brand and a proven business plan with an existing consumer base. When dealing with well-known brands, there is an expected level of quality and consistency to which consumers have become accustomed. For example, no one thinks of a fast food restaurant as a place to get a really great meal, but we know we like the low prices. Although the food itself is mediocre, it is consistently mediocre, so we know what to expect each time we visit a restaurant. This is one of the major factors in the frequent repeat business enjoyed by fast food brands. However, this is just one example. Established expectations of quality and consistency contribute to success in all industries.

Additionally, a franchisor offers invaluable assistance in getting your business started. For example, the franchisor may aid you in the selection of a location, oróin the case of a home-based businessóthe franchisor may provide all the necessary equipment and teach you how to use it. You may receive advice on marketing, management and personnel. Many franchisors even provide continual support in the form of newsletters, toll-free access numbers and seminars. You will also have access to a network of other franchisees to whom you can turn for guidance.

Working with your franchisorís buying cooperatives, you will likely pay less for goods than your independent competitors.

All of these advantages amount to a significantly decreased risk of business failure.

Why Buy a Travel Franchise?

If youíre interested in starting your own franchise business, travel and cruise franchises can be a wonderfully exciting way to fulfill that desire. Letís talk about a couple of specific franchise opportunities:

All About Honeymoons was recognized as one of the top new franchises for 2006 by Entrepreneur Magazine. This company has been the first to stake its claim in the niche market of honeymoons and destination weddings. If you think that niche sounds too narrow, consider this: There are nearly 2.5 billion weddings held in the United States each year, and 96 percent of newlyweds take a honeymoon trip.

All About Honeymoons provides some unique benefits to couples making their wedding or travel plans, which translate to unique selling points for franchisees. For instance, couples receive a wedding webpage where they can post news about the upcoming event as well as a travel registry where friends and relatives can contribute to the honeymoon expenses.

New business owners in this travel franchise begin by attending a comprehensive training program that covers the finer points of the wedding and travel industries.

If itís cruises you want to sell through your new business, CruiseOne was recently named the top cruise franchise by Entrepreneur Magazine. You donít need any previous experience in the travel industry to get started in this franchise, and you can choose to work full or part time from your home or office.

Cruise franchises offer tremendous growth and earning potential because cruising is the fastest growing vacation choice in America. This could be because almost everything is included in a cruise vacation packageólodging, food and fun.

CruiseOne is in the process of a major expansion, and they are actively seeking franchisees in all 50 states. CruiseOneís headquarters boasts an extensive support staff that is available to assist franchisees with sales, marketing and booking procedures. CruiseOne also operates a private Web Business Center that allows franchisees to access all the information they need to successfully run their businesses via the Internet.

Many people hear the word ìfranchiseî and automatically think of restaurants and retail outlets, but there are so many more options for todayís aspiring business owners. The myriad of choices allows entrepreneurs to find franchises for which they will truly enjoy workingówhere their personal interests and expertise can be valuable moneymaking tools. If your personal interests include exotic vacations, consider one of the exciting franchise opportunities discussed above or any of the other fantastic travel and cruise franchises now available.

https://hotelsetc.org/2022/02/03/getting-to-know-the-work-of-a-travel-agent/

For people who are fond of traveling to different places, visiting marvelous beaches, and taking a trip to the most exotic island paradise, the job of a travel agent seems to be a far better job than anything else. 

However, some people contend that the viability of a travel agent being a lucrative work has lessened due to the emergence of the Internet.

Nowadays, people can easily plan their vacation trips, acquire their tickets, and make their own plans and reservation through the Internet. 

That is why some financial analysts have concluded that as the need for travel agents fall off, their wages deteriorates as well, considering the fact that it is already low. The median yearly salary of travel agents amount to $26,630, that was in 2002. The top 10% of the travel agents in the US were reported to have a salary of $41,660 or more. While the remaining half of the travel agents is currently earning between $20,800 and $33,580. All of these were bases on the U.S. Department Labor reports.

The bottom line is that travel agents are really not earning much. The only benefits they get are the discounts and special privileges on travel. Funny thing is, with their present salaries, travel agents may not even use these benefits because they cannot even afford to travel.

However, there are still those who want to become a travel agent in spite of everything. So, for those who really insist on becoming a travel agent, here’s how to do it.

1. A second language is a must for those who want to become a travel agent. Travel agents deal with different nationalities and a second language may just be handy in the future.

2. It is a must for every would-be travel agent to undergo 6-12 week training on how to become a travel agent. This includes all the basics of the job. 

3. Computer literacy is also important because all of the transaction, invoices, and reports are done through computer utilization.

4. Knowledge on up-to-date information about the trends in the business. Also, it is a must for every travel agent to know the best places to go.

5. It would be better for those who want to become a travel agent to have their certification as a Certified Travel Counselor. This is an added value to their work.

Becoming a travel agent is entirely dependent on the person’s interest. So, whether the salary is low or high, as long as the person is happy with the job, then, there wouldn’t be any qualms for it.

https://hotelsetc.org/2022/02/02/fashion-designer-draws-inspiration-from-travels/