A Coastal Vacation Business Idea For The Home Based Travel Agent

Travel remains one of the most lucrative and competitive industries in the United States. Every year entrepreneurs seek a coastal vacation home business idea so that they can tap into this market. 

For many of these people becoming a home based travel agent fulfills a lifelong dream of owning a franchise. This gives them the ability to become their own boss.

Many who seek a coastal vacation home business idea target certain areas. Some want to sell vacations on the east coast, some prefer the west coast but others look at areas such as the Bahamas and the Caribbean. When a home based travel agent takes charge of his or her business, he or she chooses the territory want to sell. 

Research shows that families will travel anywhere that they feel offers great amenities at a great price. The market for cheap family vacation packages grows each year. A smart home based travel agent seeks a coastal vacation home business idea that caters to families. 

Starting a home based business requires sales and marketing skills. Many who look for a coastal vacation home business idea lack sales or marketing skills. A home based travel agent needs these skills to compete in the travel industry. 

Skills such as prospecting for new customers and closing sales often elude new business owners, leading to failure.

A coastal vacation call center provides a full-time sales force for those wanting a coastal vacation home business idea. A home based travel agent without a sales staff will face a difficult time, especially if they lack sales or marketing skills. The coastal vacation call center helps the home based travel agent succeed.

The entrepreneur may not realize the importance of sales when he or she searches for the coastal vacation home business idea. Customers do not seek out a home based travel agent, so the agent needs to show creativity and use all the tools available.

Placing a few ads in a newspaper or a phone book does often does not bring business to the travel agent’s door. Networking, either online or in person, allows the travel agent to meet important contacts. A sales force frees the home based travel agent from sales so the agent can network.

The fear of losing sales deters some who seek out a coastal vacation home business idea from using a coastal vacation call center. Coastal call center employees train to close sales, not to steal a customer from a home based travel agent. 

The coastal call center employee explains the package and gets the customer to sign on the dotted line, freeing up valuable time the home based travel agent uses to prospect for new customers.

A home based travel agent that does not take advantage of a coastal vacation call center dooms the business to fail. The help the travel agent receives from the call center with his or her coastal vacation home business idea ensures success. The travel agent will not find this kind of help from any other coastal vacation home business idea.

10 Things Travelers Need When Visiting Cape Town

Cape Town is a beautiful city with rich cultural events and the top 5 attractions in all of South Africa. When you visit Cape Town, South Africa, you will need to make sure you are prepared, so your trip will be more enjoyable.  The more preparation you do before you leave, the less you have to worry about once you get there.  Then you will be free to relax and enjoy your visit.

1. Sun Protection
The sun in South Africa can be harsh, so you’ll need to wear sun protective lotion, as well as protective clothing like hats or visors to keep the sun out of your eyes and face.

2. Copies of Passport and Travel Documents
You always want to make sure you have more than one copy of your passport and travel documents in case you are to lose them or have them stolen. These are the only means by which you can return to your country, so protect them well.

3. Proper Clothing
Light cotton clothing is advised in the summer.  The evenings get cooler so pack warmer clothing as well. Dress is typically casual in Cape Town even for evenings at the theater or restaurants.

4. Good Accommodations
My favorite place to stay in Cape Town South Africa is the Commodore Hotel.  This is a 5-star hotel on the waterfront near the center of Cape Town. While, the room rate is a bit pricey, a hot breakfast buffet and world class service certainly makes up for it.

5. Money for Tipping
South African currency is called the Rand (R).  The Rand is split into 100 cents, similar to the US Dollar and cents. You will need to carry money with you to tip people for service such as wait staff, taxi drivers, hotel staff, etc.  10% is a fair tip in Cape Town.

6. Safety Precautions
Never walk unpopulated streets of South Africa alone.  Do not wear excessive jewelry or watches and keep the amount of cash you carry to a minimum. The Police emergency number is 10111.

7. Immunizations
While there are no international immunizations needed to enter South Africa, you should be aware that Malaria is a risk throughout the year. So protect yourself from diseases as you feel necessary.  It’s better to be safe than sorry.

8. Local Driving Rules
In Cape Town everyone drives on the left side of the road.  Many of the National roadways have tolls so always bring money with you if you are planning on traveling by car. Seat belts are required and if you have a young child with you, you should reserve a car set in advance.

9. Local Prices
You should have some understanding of the local prices, so you don’t get surprised or taken advantage of while on holiday in Cape Town.  The average McDonalds meal is R23.00, bottled water is R5.00, a ticket to the movies is R30.00 and dinner out is about R100.00 each person.

10. Travel Insurance
Medical services are available at private hospitals and doctors in private practice.  You should have some form of travel insurance that covers medical expenses. Again, it’s better to be safe than sorry in case something does happen during the trip away.

8-Tips for Packing and Traveling Lite

In this day & age of travelling cephalalgia, there's a few packing tactics to employ. To cut out an extra thirty to forty minutes at the arriving airport, start with packing small luggage. Since carry-ons can not exceed a linear dimension of 45 inches, you can escape the fiasco of the baggage terminal by basically packing & travelling light. To learn how to pack all your needs into two suitcase, read more.

How-to Pack & Travel Lite

Make a list. Compose a pack list. Be sure to coordinate shirts & blouses with bottoms. To maximize your travelling wardrobe fashion savoir faire, stick with solids & versatile basics. Rule-out any clothes that do not match other items. 

Use the following pithy packing tips to make your travel light:

Gear up. How to make an awe-inspiring impression out of a basic or mundane outfit? For the most glam appeal, accessorize with a vibrant tie (for him) or a florid scarf (for her). Multihued accessories can liven up just about any attire.

Roll 'em up please. The best way to fit all your clothes is by rolling pants & shirts. First fold each item in half. Then basically roll. To try to maintain any creases, start on the bulkiest end of the news story of clothing.

Employ shoe smarts. For men, any leather rubber-soled shoes can make the day & night transition, easy. For woman, a pair of flip-flops, strappy sandals & comfy wedges can serve all casual - chic dressing needs. 

Minimize bulk. After you check for space, edit outfits - ruthlessly. Try to pack microfibers with wrinkle & stain free comfort. With most of your attire, stay in the same color scheme - in case you have to layer up for warmth. 

Put under garments on the top. To reduce the embarrassment of under garments becoming the side show attraction of the open luggage scan, place all panties in a plastic bag free of any clippers, lighters or other questionable paraphernalia. For expedient security review, place the transparent bag on top of your other items so security can access the bag without ruining your efficient packing method. 

Lose Extra Baggage. Leave the heavy travel guide at home. Duplicate important resources to keep your luggage free of extra pounds. Since most hotels & resorts provide irons & blow-dryers --leave yours at home for light travel. 

Leave restricted items at home. If you want to make it through security extra speedy, avoid any firearms, weapons, box-cutters, scissors, razors, lighters & any other item that may be used in a terrorist situation.

8 Tips For Traveling With Your Dog

Just because you have a dog doesn’t mean you have to stay home all the time.  If you plan ahead and take a little care, it is easy and fun to travel with your dog.

Here are some tips to make the trip easier on both you and your pet:

1.	Get your dog used to riding in the car by taking him on short trips.  Go to fun places like the dog park, the fast food drive through (where you can feed him bits of meat from your burger), or to visit friends.  You want him to think that trips in the car are fun.  You don’t want your dog to think that all car trips end up at the vet’s office.

2.	If your dog tends to get carsick, don’t feed him the morning of the trip.  Having your dog travel with an empty stomach will help to prevent any car sickness.

3.	Bring plenty of water and a water dish along.  You will need to give your dog periodic drinks of water when you stop for a rest.  It will be easier to get your dog to drink if it is familiar water from home.  Water in different places often smells or tastes differently, and your dog may not want to drink it.

4.	Be sure to pack your dog’s food, treats, favorite bed, toys, and leash.   

5.	If your dog uses a crate, bring that along too.  If you don’t have a large vehicle, you can buy crates that fold up.  When you get to your destination, you can put your dog in his crate while you go somewhere that you can’t bring him along.

6.	How should your dog travel in the car?  Some dogs like to sit or lay on the seat, so bring a blanket to protect the upholstery.  Other dogs may need to be kept in a crate in the car.  Be sure the crate can’t slide around and scare the dog while you’re driving.   You can also purchase dog seat belts to keep your dog safe while sitting in the car.

7.	Make a stop every few hours to walk your dog and give him some water.  Some dogs are frightened by the noisy trucks driving by, so try to walk in a quiet area.  Be a good citizen and bring plastic bags along to pick up the mess.

8.	If your dog is anxious about staying in a hotel or strange house at your destination, he might not eat or drink.  You don’t want him to get dehydrated, so be sure to get him to drink, at least.  You can mix chicken broth or gravy into the dog’s water.  That will usually get him to lap it right up.  You can mix chicken broth or gravy into the food too.

The first trip will be the hardest, because your dog will not realize that you are coming back.  With the first trip behind you, if you have taken the time to make sure it is pleasant for your dog, future traveling with your dog should be a breeze.

5 Ways To Choose The Best Travel Insurance For Your Holiday

Travel insurance is one of those areas that mean nothing to you until you decide to hit the road – or the air – then suddenly every ad is for travel insurance and everywhere you look another company is touting for your business. So how do you choose the best insurance company and the best travel insurance for your unique travelling needs?

5 Points To Consider

1.The cost of the policy could be more than what you pay

When reviewing the policy options never start with the price first. As with most things in life you get what you pay for and while you want to be sure to get the best value for your money, this does not necessarily mean the cheapest price. Comprehensive cover that delivers and supports in time of need is what you should be looking for.

2.What back up do you receive in an emergency?

Are you being sent on your world tour with a 9 to 5 Monday to Friday contact number or are you provided with fully comprehensive numbers providing 24/7 contact and support, reverse charge options and 0800 numbers.

3.What is included as standard in your policy

Some companies come in with a low rate and then charge extra for every doorknob eventually leading to over inflated cover. Go through the company’s policy offerings to be sure exactly what you are covered for. The range should be extensive as the company should know and have addressed a range of pitfalls you may not have thought of.

4.Who underwrites and supports the company

Establish who your support company will be should you face a medical emergency or the need for evacuation. Most companies do not handle these highly specialised areas themselves but have aligned themselves with skilled and experienced worldwide organisations to ensure the best possible protection and support for their customers.

5.Does the company cater for varying needs?

Does the company provide a one size fits all policy? Beware, you may be paying for cover you don’t need or be under insured in some critical areas. Look for a company which provides a range of covers including NZ only travel policies, backpacker, group or duo options, long stay, one way or gap insurance and more.