INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL SAFETY

  How Can I Find Out Whether I Will Be Safe in Another Country?

  One of the best ways to get the inside scoop on travel safety is to visit your own government's international travel safety information and warnings website.www. travel.state.gov        You'll find up-to-date travel information, details on potential safety issues ranging from pickpockets to terrorism, even weather warnings.

  While each country researches and maintains travel information and warnings for use by its own citizens, any traveler can read and benefit from the useful details available online.
  How to get State Dept travel warnings :
1.Call (202)-647-5225 - 24 hours a day - from a touchtone phone to listen to a recording.


2.You can also request them from the Bureau of Consular Affairs' 24-hour automated fax system at (202)-647-3000.

3.You can also find them at the 13 regional passport agencies and at U.S. embassies and consulates abroad. (See Related Features for Web links.)

4.They are also available over the Consular Affairs Bulletin Board (CABB). You may call the CABB on modem number 301-946-4400. The login is travel; the password is info.

5.They are also posted on the State Department's Web site.

  You can also get Consular Information Sheets for every country of the world. They include such information as location of the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in the subject country, unusual immigration practices, health conditions, minor political disturbances, unusual currency and entry regulations, crime and security information, and drug penalties. If an unstable condition exists in a country that is not severe enough to warrant a Travel Warning.
 

  www.usembassy.gov/

  While each country researches and maintains travel information and warnings for use by its own citizens, any traveler can read and benefit from the useful details available online. Here are some of the things you'll find on each country's foreign travel information pages:

Where in the World to go

Planning an All-Inclusive Caribbean Vacation 



Find the All-Inclusive Resort Vacation That's Right for You
 
    Caribbean all-inclusive resorts have evolved from budget properties with limited arrival dates and big buffet lines to including a broad variety of offerings -- up to and including five-star luxury -- with amenities appealing to everyone from singles to seniors.



   The Caribbean is the prime destination for all-inclusive vacations. Nearly every major resort in the Dominican Republic is all-inclusive, for example, and other top destinations for all-inclusive travel include the Mexican Caribbean, Jamaica, Antigua, and Barbados. Altogether, you can find all-inclusive resorts on more than a dozen Caribbean islands, as well as in Belize, Costa Rica, and even Venezuela. Resort choices range from high-rise hotels in hotspots like Cancun and Punta Cana to private-island hideaways in the Grenadines.

      In tough economic times, there may be no more appealing travel destination than an all-inclusive resort, where guests pay one price for accommodations, dining, drinks, entertainment, and activities. The cost-certainty of an all-inclusive vacation is something that appeals to almost every traveler, even those on the high end. Moreover, hidden charges are relatively rare at all-inclusive resorts: guests may pay extra for spa services or scuba diving, but won't get whacked with a huge bar tab like they typically do on a cruise.







   Never having to reach into your wallet once you arrive also eases fears about loss or theft of cash or credit cards; many all-inclusives -- notably the SuperClubs, Couples, and Sandals/Beaches resorts --- also forbid staff from taking tips.









All Inclusive Vacations


3 Nights Jamaica from $845 with Air Sunset Family Resort, Montego Bay




Caribbean Ads


Montego Bay Hotels






Caribbean Vacation






Jamaica Packages






Caribbean Packages






All Inclusive Packages


Caribbean all-inclusive resorts have evolved from budget properties with limited arrival dates and big buffet lines to including a broad variety of offerings -- up to and including five-star luxury -- with amenities appealing to everyone from singles to seniors.


The Caribbean is the prime destination for all-inclusive vacations. Nearly every major resort in the Dominican Republic is all-inclusive, for example, and other top destinations for all-inclusive travel include the Mexican Caribbean, Jamaica, Antigua, and Barbados. Altogether, you can find all-inclusive resorts on more than a dozen Caribbean islands, as well as in Belize, Costa Rica, and even Venezuela. Resort choices range from high-rise hotels in hotspots like Cancun and Punta Cana to private-island hideaways in the Grenadines.






In tough economic times, there may be no more appealing travel destination than an all-inclusive resort, where guests pay one price for accommodations, dining, drinks, entertainment, and activities. The cost-certainty of an all-inclusive vacation is something that appeals to almost every traveler, even those on the high end. Moreover, hidden charges are relatively rare at all-inclusive resorts: guests may pay extra for spa services or scuba diving, but won't get whacked with a huge bar tab like they typically do on a cruise.






Never having to reach into your wallet once you arrive also eases fears about loss or theft of cash or credit cards; many all-inclusives -- notably the SuperClubs, Couples, and Sandals/Beaches resorts --- also forbid staff from taking tips.






All-inclusives once appealed primarily to bargain-hunters and honeymooners, but within the last few years the big all-inclusive chains like SuperClubs and Sandals/Beaches have made a big push into the luxury market. SuperClubs' Grand Lido properties, for example, are billed as "SuperInclusives" that feature gourmet dining and golf, while resorts like Sandals Negril tout "Luxury Included" packages that feature swim-up River Suites and butler service. The Paradisus resorts in Mexico and the Dominican Republic also have a fine reputation, while guests at the Petit St. Vincent (Book Now) and Palm Island (Book Now) resorts in St. Vincent and the Grenadines are exclusive private-island resorts catering to very high-end travelers.






   While buffets haven't completely disappeared from all-inclusives, most now offer at least the option of dining at a full-service restaurant, and some resorts offer top-shelf drinks and an impressive mix of specialty and gourmet dining experiences, from classic Caribbean and Creole restaurants to English pubs, Japanese teppanyaki houses, and elegant French bistros.






   Most all-inclusive guests applaud these improvements in food quality and selection, but there also are features and benefits of all-inclusive resorts that resonate particularly well with certain types of travelers, including:

   Couples Swept Away (Book Now) has established a niche for itself as a destination for tennis lovers, with 10 lighted courts and lessons included, and a handful of resorts have even started including diving or motorized water sports in their packages.







   Spas have also become nearly standard at all-inclusives in the Caribbean. While most charge extra for services like massages and facials, the Verandah Resort & Spa (Book Now) in Antigua recently began offering an all-inclusive package that includes a pair of massages and credits toward other spa services.






   All-inclusives also have become a popular choice for all kinds of group travel, from incentive groups to family reunions and intergenerational travel. Corporations like to know the cost of incentive programs up front, and resorts like Sandals Grande Ocho Rios (Book Now) and Sandals Antigua (Book Now) allow groups free use of onsite meeting rooms and can help facilitate team-building and other events.


Who Might NOT Like an All-Inclusive Vacation







One of the strengths of an all-inclusive resort is that they provide all of your food, drinks and entertainment, so you literally never have to leave the property. To some travelers, however, that thought is anathema.






Most all-inclusives offer excursions as paid add-ons, but pay-one-price resorts remain a poor match for "Type A" personalities or independent travelers who want to immerse themselves local culture. One good option for restless travelers may be the Palace resorts in Cancun and the Riviera Maya, which include excursions in their all-inclusive packages.




   Travelers looking for a truly intimate experience may be limited to choosing from a handful of exclusive all-inclusives, while nondrinkers may not be satisfied with the perceived value of an all-inclusive vacation.






   Finally, since most all-inclusives are beachfront resorts where a majority of activities revolve around the sand, surf, and sun, they probably won't appeal to non beach-lovers.
 

 

The Jumby Bay resort sits on a 300-acre private island and can only be accessed by boat. It has just 40 suites and 11 villas, and the inclusive package includes all meals and top-shelf liquor and premium wines. Tennis, non-motorized water sports and fitness center are among the included activities, with extra fees charged for golf, shopping and scuba excursions, tennis instruction, private beach dinners, and in-room dining. A Rosewood Resorts property.

 

Registration with Embassies

                  
  Registration at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate (in the country you are visiting) makes your presence and whereabouts known, in case it is necessary for a consular officer to contact you in an emergency. During a disaster overseas, American consular officers can assist in evacuation were that to become necessary. But they cannot assist you if they do not know where you are.




  Registration is particularly important for those who plan to stay in a country longer than one month, or who will travel to:

*A country that is experiencing civil unrest, has an unstable political climate, or is undergoing a natural disaster, such as an earthquake or a hurricane.

*A country where there are no U.S. officials. In such cases, you should register at the U.S. embassy or consulate in an adjacent country, leave an itinerary with the Consular Section, ask about conditions in the country that you will visit and ask about the third country that may represent U.S. interests there.



  If you are traveling with an escorted tour to areas experiencing political uncertainty or other problems, find out if your tour operator is registering your trip through the State Department’s travel registration website. If it is not, or if you are traveling on your own, you can still register with the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate through the State Department’s travel registration website.


** Please note that online travel registration is intended for U.S. citizens  to register with a U.S. Embassy or Consulate when traveling abroad. If you are not a U.S. citizen and would like to submit your information online to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to receive travel authorization under the Visa Waiver Program for visits to the U.S.A., please visit https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/esta/esta.html . **


  In accordance with the Privacy Act, information on your welfare or whereabouts may not be released to inquirers without your expressed written authorizations. Registration through the website is not considered proof of citizenship. Remember to leave a detailed itinerary and the numbers or copies of your passport or other citizenship documents with a friend or relative in the United States.

Safe Travels

Travel Saftey


Wednesday September 23, 2009


The FBI and local authorities of major cities are warning everyone to be extra vigilant about suspicious activity right now. In light of the recently uncovered terror plot, places like stadiums, hotels, planes and subway stations are on alert. As a business travelers, we can't generally avoid those hot spots, which is why I've rounded up my best safety information:

Going to London

 http://www.flightdestinationsdirect.com/

  When you come to London you want to see a West End show but the cost of the tickets can be off-putting. Here are some tips on how to get cheap London theatre tickets
.
  Do not use one of the commercial ticket booths in Leicester Square that try to cash in on the popularity of this booth. You can check the noticeboard on the building or the official website to find out what's available today.


*London Theatre Passport


  Going to London and want to see a West End Show but not sure which one? Traveling on a budget? Enjoy considerable savings with The London Theater Passport which also gives you the flexibility to choose from a selection of shows on the day. The choice of shows is limited but you can check before you buy and then pay less that 50% of the ticket price.
.


*Tickets On The Door

  The big west end shows get booked up quickly but some theaters do keep some tickets back to release on the door on the day. Contact the theater directly to see what time the tickets are released. For example, the National Theatre releases day tickets at 9.30am on the morning of the performance. There is usually a limit of 2 tickets per person.
 
  90 minutes before a show starts returned tickets arrive back at the box office from ticket agents. Check with the individial theater directly to see if this is likely to happen when you want to go. http://www.flightdestinationsdirect.com/ We are the place to book all your trips !!

Safe Travels

                                       

                                             

                              http://www.flightdestinationsdirect.com/