Started in October 2006, Oasis Hong Kong Airlines pioneers a fresh approach to flying. Its raison d’?tre is simple: making frequent long-haul travel accessible to all. Oasis Hong Kong Airlines provides not only unbelievable fares but also the opportunity for passengers to customise their flight experience, in either business or economy classes. Oasis Hong Kong Airlines Limited launched with affordable daily direct long-haul flights between Hong Kong and London Gatwick. Now this innovative long-haul discount carrier has expanded its global footprint, with the launch of a new six times weekly direct service connecting Hong Kong with Vancouver, Canada.
Vancouver is the largest city in Western Canada, and the third largest city in the country. Vancouver is home to one of the world’s largest Chinese communities outside of Asia, and is a popular place of residence for many expatriate and retiree Hong Kong Chinese. Until now, many of these families were unable to travel to visit their relatives as often as they would like, due to the high costs of international air tickets. Oasis Hong Kong Airlines Limited is set to change that, bringing affordable long-haul travel to all and helping families meet up more often.
Booked online in advance, the cost of an Oasis Hong Kong economy ticket between Hong Kong and Vancouver can be significantly lower that that of competitor airlines’ two-stop services, whilst the cost of a business class ticket can be comparable to the cost of an economy ticket on other airlines. That’s good news for family members living thousands of miles apart, and also for the large Chinese business community in Vancouver that maintains strong ties with Hong Kong, Mainland China and the rest of Asia.
Raymond Lee, CEO of Oasis Hong Kong Airlines Limited, is enthusiastic about the new route, and is very happy that it will allow expatriate families who were previously put off by high travel costs to visit their relatives more frequently. He has even ensured that special provisions are made for older family members. “We have provided special fares for passengers over 55 years old to reduce their financial burden,” said Mr Lee. “We hope to encourage those who only fly once a year to fly twice, even three times a year”. Oasis Hong Kong Airlines Limited also offers special rates to pastors and students.
In its first year of operations, Oasis Hong Kong Airlines Limited has helped forge significant changes in the international travel market. Since the launch of its Hong Kong to London route last year, the market has expanded by 28 within the next year, and will collaborate with short-haul airlines in establishing flight packages from Hong Kong to many other destinations in Asia.
Oasis Hong Kong Airlines Limited has flown over 500,000 passengers since it began operations in October 2006, and its Hong Kong to London route is currently operating at above 90% capacity. Future plans for Oasis Hong Kong Airlines Limited include increased frequencies to Vancouver, with the possibility of additional flights to Toronto. Other routes to Europe and North America are also being planned, to put long-haul travel within the reach of everyone and encourage more people to fly the world
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You have quite a few different options as to where you stay in Bangkok. You just need to figure out what is best for you.
Finding a place to stay in Bangkok is easy. Finding a place to stay that suits your needs can be a different story.
This is geared primarily to the single man looking to have a bit of fun in Bangkok. And it is for the short term stay.
If all you have is a few hours to a half day in Bangkok, I recommend that you just get a room near the Suvarnabhumi airport. If you don’t know where you are going, getting from the airport to the main part of the city can take anywhere from 1 to 3 hours depending on traffic. If you are just in Bangkok on a short layover, stay near the airport.
If you have a day or two, you have many more options. It all depends on what you want to do.
For the first timer, I would recommend staying near Patpong Road, Soi Nana, or Soi Cowboy. These are three of the main night venues for the single man on the prowl. They all have advantages and disadvantages.
Patpong was the place to go during the Vietnam War and for quite a few years after. Now it is a tourist trap with a capital “T”. But, for the first time visitor, it is still worth seeing. Just don’t buy anything from the street vendors. Getting to Patpong at about 5 PM you can see how much work it is to set up this street market and how fast they get it going.
Soi Nana or Soi 4 is home to the Nana Entertainment Plaza (NEP). This is a three story, horseshoe shaped, neon lit, den of debauchery. Lots of go-go bars and some beer bars on the first floor for your drinking pleasure. Be careful of the transvestite bar on the second floor. A few years back, this was a great place for the local expats, but with the Internet, this is now a tourist destination. Hang out at the Nana Hotel parking lot across the street at closing time for a sight you will not see anywhere else in the world.
Soi Cowboy is still primarily for the expats. This is a small side street between Soi 21 and Soi 23 off of Sukhumvit Road. It is bar after bar after bar. Lots of hawkers and “hello’ girls trying to get you inside. Most of the bars are go-go’s and prices are lower than Patpong or Nana Plaza. Well worth a visit and a short cab ride from Soi 4.
There are other areas to get your hotel but I try to find a hotel near an area I plan to hang out in. I usually get a hotel near Soi 4 and this gives me easy access to NEP and also to Soi Cowboy. There is also a three-story, beer bar complex on Soi 1 where I like to hang out. I try to avoid spending time in taxis on the Bangkok streets.
If you are still undecided, get your hotel room on Sukhumvit between Sois 3 and 24 and you will be close to the action and short cab rides to anywhere else. You can walk to many of the shopping venues or catch the overhead train to get around.
Find out what you plan to do in Bangkok and pick your hotel based on where you plan to party.
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There is not much in the world that is more exciting than adventure travel. When you are taking part in adventure travel you are taking risk, you are getting out there and finally living life to the fullest. When was the last time that you actually did that? Probably a long time ago right? Well there is no time like the present to change things for the better and to experience all that life has to offer.
There are all kinds of great vacations that you can take when it comes to adventure travel and not all of them are filled with death defying stunts and danger. Sure, some of them are but if that is not your think then you don’t have to choose them. Everyone has a different comfort level and adventure travel just means taking a trip that is exciting, one that is a little out of your normal travel behavior. You don’t have to go and climb Mount Everest or anything like that to have a good time with adventure travel.
Some of the best adventure travel has barely any danger to it whatsoever. Have you ever climbed through the runs of Greece, or hiked in the Amazon, or even gone surfing in Costa Rica? If not these are great ways to get your feet wet with adventure travel. With this kind of adventure travel you will be able to have a great time and not do anything too, too dangerous. Just things that excite you and thrill you to the bone.
Can you imagine taking a trip to some exotic locale and then experiencing some of their ways of life. Have you ever heard of Zorbing? It is something that they do in New Zealand, and it is so much fun. All you do is climb into a giant ball, it is like a great big beach ball, just climb in it and they roll you down the hill. There is usually some water in it to cushion any bumps that you might hit along the way down. The water is not dangerous to you and your breathing because it is kept totally separate from you in a different compartment of the ball. This is one of the most fun things that you could ever do when you are gong to adventure travel and it is not even a little bit dangerous.
You see adventure travel is something that everyone can enjoy, no matter what they danger tolerance happens to be. If you are sick and tired of the same old same old then you need to find out some more about adventure travel today. Start planning your next trip abroad now, with a little more adventure in mind. It is always fun to try something new and exciting so go for it and have a blast!
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Are you interested in going on a camping adventure? If you are, you are definitely not alone. In the United States, camping is often referred to as a popular pastime. One of the many reasons why camping is so popular is because of all of the choices that you have. One of the many choices that you have is deciding how you would like to camp, in a motor home or in a tent.
If this is your first or even your second time going camping, you may be unsure as to whether you should camp in a motor home or in a tent. This is a decision that many people have to make. If you would like advice on what you should do, you will want to continue reading on, as the advantages and disadvantages of both tents and motor homes are outlined below.
As for camping in a traditional tent, there are a number of benefits to doing so. One of those benefits is the cost. Tents come in all different sizes, shapes, and styles, as well as prices. Tents can also be purchased from a number of different retail stores, including those that are located both on and offline. Depending on where you look, you may be able to find a camping tent for as low as twenty or thirty dollars!
Another one of the many benefits to going camping in a traditional camping tent is the experience. Camping tents, as you likely already know, are sort of like tarps. They give you protection from the outdoors, but they still leave you feeling as if you are camping in the open night. If you are an outdoor lover or if you are truly looking to get the “camping feel,” you may want to think about camping in a traditional camping tent.
Although going camping in a traditional camping tent is nice, there are a number of downsides to doing so. One of those downsides is bad weather. For your information, a large number of camping tents are strong and waterproof, but not all are. If you are unsure as to what the weather will be like for your next camping adventure, you may want to think about purchasing a camping tent that comes highly rated and recommended. Doing so may help ensure that you don’t awake to any wet surprises.
As for camping in a motor home, you will also find that there a number of advantages and disadvantages to doing so as well. Perhaps, the biggest disadvantage of camping in a motor home is the cost of doing so. Motor home are expensive to buy and if you are looking to camp on a budget, you may not be able to afford to buy your own motor home. Of course, with that in mind though, you should know that you don’t actually have to buy a motor home. There are a number of individuals and companies that have motor homes available for rent. Renting a motor home, instead of buying one, is a nice, affordable way to camp in style.
If you are able to camp in a motor home, you may enjoy doing so, as many motor homes appear as if they are small apartments or small homes. Motor homes often come equipped with working bathrooms, kitchens, and televisions! This is nice if you are looking to enjoy camping, while still being able to bask in the modern luxuries of life.
As it was previously mentioned, one of the reasons why camping is so popular is because of all the choices that you have, like the choice to camp in a traditional camping tent or a motor home. The decision as to whether you want to camp in a motor home or a traditional camping tent is your decision to make, but you may want to keep the above mentioned advantages and disadvantages in mind when making your decision.
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Feb 12
6
Goa Holidays
Goa, the smallest of the Indian states, lies on the west coast of India. It is one of India’s major tourist destinations; over a million tourists, mostly from abroad, visit Goa annually. This state with an area of a little over 3000 sq. km. enjoys a coastline of more than 100 km. Its western flank, the coastline, opens on to the Arabian Sea and on its eastern flank is a mountain range.
Visitors are attracted by the lush hills, beaches, cool turquoise blue water and coconut groves of sunny Goa. The mystique of India with its fabric of many religions, diverse languages, and above all its lively spirit and its warm, friendly people attract people the world over.
Climate
Except for the period June to August when Goa is lashed by heavy rains; for the rest of the year Goa is warm and humid with temperature ranging between 28°-33° C. (average maximum temps). The months between November and February are usually dry.
People
Open and fun loving, Goans have a passion for music and dance. Virtually every restaurant or bar boasts a live band, even if it’s no more than a single Spanish guitar! They have an enviable laid-back lifestyle. Goan cuisine is an inspired marriage of local Konkani food style and Portuguese food style; it comprises of fiery curries and stews using beef, pork and fish with generous use of cocoanut in it. Most restaurants serve local specialties as well as other Indian regional cuisines. You can get authentic international cuisines in large hotels and restaurants.
Beaches
Goa has numerous golden sand beaches along its 105 km long coastline. These golden sand beaches are free of urban pollution and provide relaxation and tranquility. Most of the beaches like Dona Paula, Caranzalem, Calangute, Candolim, Sinquerim, Baga, etc. have small restaurants that supply soft drinks, beer, and snacks. Generally accommodation near the beaches is available. At some of these beaches loungers and umbrellas as well as water scooters and other water sports facilities are available. At Baga beach Dolphin Rides are quite popular among tourists; a boat takes you into the sea to areas where you can see dolphins gliding along.
Nature and Wildlife
Goa has been very conscious of its ecology and nature. It has a number of wildlife sanctuaries and bird sanctuaries. In southern Goa, Bhagwan Mahavir Sanctuary is the largest wildlife preserve where you see herds of deer, Indian bison and black panthers. Bondla Wildlife Sanctuary lies in the northern part of Goa. This is a small preserve where you see the Indian bison, jackal, black-faced langur, wild boar and different species of deer.
Famous Dudhsagar Waterfalls are in the eastern part of Goa. Here water in large amounts falls from the height of hundreds feet; this is a picturesque sight which is very popular with nature lovers, hikers and trekkers.
Churches
Catholic religion has strong roots in India and there are many Christian churches in Goa that are famous. To name a few: the 16th century Basilica of Bom Jesus has the embalmed mortal remains of St. Francis Xavier enshrined in a silver casket here since 1553; it is famous among Catholics of the world and both Christians and Hindus come to pay homage here. Cathedral of St. Catherine, which has an 80m long aisle and 14 altars is the largest church in Asia,.
Tourist Accommodation
There are many 4 & 5 star hotels in various cities of Goa. Apart from that many modest hotels cater to the backpackers and hikers.
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Traveling during the holidays can be a lot of work. So many people travel during this time of year that it can actually be downright exhausting not to mention stressful. Here are some easy and quick packing tips to simplify your holiday travels.
Bags
Focus on getting all your things into one soft side small bag. Yes, one that fits under an airline seat in front of you and is roughly 9″ + 14″ + 22″ = 45″ total. Yes, it can work and will do for any travel better than you think. Picture this: you’ve been standing for hours in the line for you plane and it arrives 90 minutes late which means you’ll have to dash from one end of O’Hare to the other to catch you connecting flight home and be back at work Monday morning. You won’t make it if you checked you luggage and it will be slow if you have to lug more than one bag on your run. Get the picture?
Travel light and pack a single bag you can carry.
When you pack you bag roll your clothes and pack them firmly together with other articles cushioned in between them. This gives everything a good chance of arriving at you destination in pretty good shape even if you are not. Do this with fancy clothes, too. They’ll look just fine when unpacked and hung up.
What To Pack
Take basic outfits. Spread these out on your bed. Before you pack. Make sure pieces can be inter changeable to make several outfit combinations.
Coordinate shoes, stockings, undergarments, jewelry (minimal) and other accessories so that they go with all outfits. The idea here is to keep these things to a minimum.
Pack efficiently. Put socks inside of shoes. Put shoes inside of plastic bags. Put jewelry and any medications in a little pouch or ziplock bag that will slip between rolls of clothes. Put shampoo, conditioner and other toiletries in a ziploc bag, too. Take a large plastic bag for dirty laundry.
Before you leave decide that you will take your dirty laundery home. This is fine for a short 3-5 day holiday trip. In emergencies you can do it where you are staying but for the most part forget about it and take it home to do the week you return.
Returning Home
A great trick to complete a trip is return to a clean, organized home. Especially after the jostling of a holiday trip its best to put your feet up and relax. It is wonderful to return to washed laundry, a clean kitchen with counters cleared, trashcans and newspapers taken care of by neighbors or friends.
Traveling over the holdiays can actually be a fun adventure if you take time to plan ahead, so you can enjoy the actual journey. There are many nice people to meet along the way, new things to see, quiet time to read and relax. Find things you can do while traveling that you haven’t had the time to do while at home.
For example, take a book you’ve been meaning to read or pack CDs you haven’t been able to listen to yet. Fill the time with all sorts of activities you usually put off and make the most of your holiday travel experience.
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India’s tourism industry is thriving due to an increase in foreign tourists’ arrivals and greater than before travel by Indians to domestic and abroad destinations. The visitors are pouring in from all over the world: Europe, Africa, Southeast Asia and Australia. At the same time, the number of Indians traveling has also increased.
India is probably the only country that offers various categories of tourism. These include history tourism, adventure tourism, medical tourism (ayurveda and other forms of Indian medications), spiritual tourism, beach tourism (India has the longest coastline in the East) etc.
Being an ancient country, India is a country of monuments. Just like the number, the variety is also varied in every sense. All in all these monuments spell the true colours of India and carry its very essence. But some incomparable monuments that form an integral part India’s historical heritage are, the epitome of endless love – Taj Mahal, the Axis of Islam – Qutub Minar, the pride of free India – Red Fort, the Chariot temple of the Sun God – Konark, the mighty Mughal citadel – Agra Fort, the glorious island caveland of Lord Shiva – Elephanta; the cave site of numerous Chaityas and Viharas – Ajanta, the grand memorial of an Emperor – Humayun’s tomb and last but not the least, the forgotten walled city of Fatehpur Sikri.
In recent years India’s emergence as one of the most sought-after adventure destinations is a well-known fact. The country offers the variety of adventure opportunities. This diversity is remarkably amazing – from the white water rafting on the Ganga, Indus or Teesta to heli-skiing in the high Himalayas; from hang-gliding and ballooning over the Indian plains to camel-safaris in the vast Thar Desert of Rajasthan; from chasing the elusive tiger on the backs of mighty elephants to trekking in the Himalayan ranges – the choices are endless.
The distinctive feature about the Himalayan tourism is that traveler has the option of enjoying myriad adventure activities. If you travel to Kashmir you can indulge in trekking, travel on horseback, go trout fishing in its rivers or enjoy in a little bit of skiing or water sports in its transparent lakes. Of late, skiing has put India on a pedestal in Asia. As a matter of fact, skiing in India is less expensive compared to anywhere in the world. The facilities are meant for beginners as well as for seasoned skiers. The three states that boast of providing these facilities are Jammu and Kashmir, Uttar Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh. Heli-skiing has established as another prime attraction for travelers. The facility for Heli-skiing can be availed of at Manali in Himachal Pradesh. Water-rafting, kayaking and canoeing on the Ganga are becoming popular day by day.
Sailing, another adventure sport, is rapidly catching tourist’s imagination and gaining popularity in Nainital, Ramgarh and Khadakvasla in Maharshtra. Introduction of water-rafting in the Teesta River in northeastern India is beginning to attract the tourists on a large scale.
Medical Tourism in India is a developing concept whereby people from world over visit India for their medical and relaxation needs.
With yoga, meditation, ayurveda, allopathy, and other systems of medicines, India offers a unique basket of services to an individual that is difficult to match by other countries. Also, clinical outcomes in India are at par with the world’s best centres, besides having internationally qualified and experienced specialists. In addition to allopathic treatments and surgery available at hospitals like Apollo, you can also avail the benefits of Ayurvedic Medicine in India. India is the birthplace of this 5,000-year-old science. The many Ayurveda resorts in India are located in various scenic locations of the country, from Ananda in the Himalayas to the many resorts in the picturesque backwaters of Kerala. Ayurveda is the system of traditional medicine in India. It is based on many centuries of experience in medical practice, handed down through generations. Composed of two Sanskrit words, “Ayu” or life, and “Veda” or knowledge, Ayurveda is regarded as “The Science of Life” and the practice involves the care of physical, mental and spiritual health of human beings.India is also the birthplace of the concept of Yoga and Meditation, practices that are becoming increasingly relevant and popular in the context of today’s spiritual aridity.
India is a land of inherent spirituality and people have been known to travel here to find solace in its ancient wisdom since time immemorial. India is called the “yogabhoomi” and the gateway to the heavens. Innumerable saints and seers, in their quest for knowledge, have contributed largely to the development of various religious monuments viz. Temples, Mosques, Monasteries etc. built lavishly across the length and breadth of the country. The kind of cosmopolitan existence India has is best reflected in its pilgrim centres. Religion is the heartbeat of the nation and the followers of all the major religious and sects, viz., Hinduism, Islam, Buddhism, Jainism, Zororastrianism have lived here for centuries. Together has come up temples, mosques, gurudwaras, churches, synagogues and religious and spiritual centres. The spiritual tour starts from the holy city of Varanasi , the Buddhist stupa at Sanchi and the Jain temples at Ujjain . While following in the Footsteps of the Buddha you can see the holy sites of Buddhism in India and Nepal including Sarnath, Bodh Gaya, Rajgir, Nalanda, Vaishali, Kushinagar, Lumbini and Kapilvastu. On the North India you can visit Nepal , see the temple towns of Khajuraho and Varanasi in India and the temples of Pashupatinath and Bodhnath in Nepal . On the West, you can see the amazing rock cut temples of Ajanta and Ellora near Aurangabad and the Sai Baba Temple at Shirdi.
For untold centuries, the powerful triad of the sun, the sea and the sand have pooled their resources to present spectacular effects and memorable experiences to a cross section of people from all over of the globe. India has almost a 6,000 km long coastline, which is home to some of the finest beaches in the world. Both the West and East Coast of India offer verdant vistas of palm on the Arabian Sea shores or the Bay of Bengal.On the west coast there are miles of sandy beaches broken into attractive bays by rocky headlands. The most popular ones are the beaches of Goa and Kovalam at Kerala.The beaches on the eastern coast are less well developed. The best known are the beaches of Mahabalipuram and a small but exquisite beach in Orissa called Gopalpur-on-Sea.
The Travel and Tourism industry holds tremendous potential for India’s economy. It can provide impetus to other industries, create millions of new jobs and generate enough wealth to help pay off the international debt. That is why we have included Tourism amongst the Core Sectors of the Indian Economy.
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Ireland is an exotic tourist spot. It is popularly known for the myths, magical incidents and legendary stories associated with it. Numerous tourists from all round the world are magnetized to view this bewitching place. The wonderful Ireland cities with a horde of interesting activities for young as well as the old and the scenic splendor with which the country is blessed have always been inviting people from all round the world. Ireland is thus deemed to be an ideal place for vacationing.
Ireland like many other places on earth has something for everyone. You can tour the place individually or with your family, there will be no deficiency of fun and amusement. For instance there are water and other sports for kids and adults, rock climbing for the teenagers and other enthusiasts, beaches, botanical gardens, museums, castles and all other attractions that are more than enough to keep you glued to the place.
Ireland is a country that has a rich culture and heritage. The reflection of the tradition of the place can be perceived in the lifestyle of Irish people residing in different Ireland cities.
1. Dublin is an eminent Irish city. It is regarded as the heart of Ireland for more than a few reasons. Dublin is a mirror to the Irish history. It has the many historical monuments that have preserved the priceless Georgian art and architecture. The Custom House, the Gate Theater and the Garden of Remembrance parade much of Georgian architecture. There are also many worth visiting modern art galleries and museums that add to the creative ambience of the place. Apart from this the nightlife of Dublin has always entertained its tourists to best and fullest.
2. The Irish Midlands are known by way of bifurcation into various provinces or counties. These counties are individually famous for some or the other attraction. For instance County Cavan has got recognition due to the River Shanon that flows towards its south, the Killygeen forests and the fascinating activities like fishing, horseback riding and hiking etc. in there. While the County Offaly is popular for its superb science center and ravishing plant and animal life.
3. Moving on to the Northern Ireland region, what is most welcoming here is the capital city of Belfast. Belfast is seen terms of its directions i.e. north, east, west and south Belfast. All the areas have respective allures. If south Belfast has beautiful Belfast gardens and the famous Ulster Museum, the north Belfast has amazing Neolithic caves in the Cave Hill Country Park and the Belfast zoo. Besides Belfast, there are several other counties of Northern Ireland region that have always gained tourist attention.
4. South Ireland area is again a combination of different counties. County Mayo here is a land of lakes and cliffs. This county has some remarkable historical sites that are often a source of information. The County Clarke of this region has multiple lures. There is fishing, boating, mind-boggling stalamites and stalactites in the caves of cliff of Moher, dance, music and theater. The Bunratty Folk Park adds to the amusement sources of this place.
5. Similarly there are other provinces like Northwestern County, which again is subdivided in a number of other counties, Southeastern and Southwestern Counties that too are sectioned in numerous counties.
Finally, Ireland is not just a destination for the rich. Accommodation and other facilities are available for all classes of people. A holiday to Ireland with planned budget can be a dream come true for many people.
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Hello…you have been specially selected to receive our SPECTACULAR LUXURY DREAM VACATION offer!
Have you ever been tempted to sign up to win a “free” trip at a fair, trade show or restaurant? If so, you may get a phone call, letter, unsolicited fax, email or postcard telling you that you’ve won a vacation. Be careful. It may be a “trip trap.” The vacation that you’ve “won” likely isn’t free. And the “bargain-priced” travel package you’re offered over the telephone or Internet may not fit your idea of luxury.
While some travel opportunities sold over the phone or offered through the mail, Internet or by fax are legitimate, many are scams that defraud consumers out of millions of dollars each month.
The word “offer” can be a clue to hidden charges. When you get the phone call, or place the call in response to a postcard, letter, fax or Internet ad, you also get a sales pitch for a supposedly luxurious trip – one that you could pay dearly for.
The salesperson may ask for your credit card number to bill your account for the travel package. Once you pay, you receive the details of the “package,” which usually include instructions for making trip reservation requests. Your request often must be accompanied by yet another fee. In addition, many offers require you to pay upgrade costs to receive the actual destinations, accommodations, cruises or dates you were promised. Some offers may require you to pay more for port charges, hotel taxes or service fees.
See a pattern developing? New charges are being added every step of the way. You may never get your “bargain” trip because your reservations may not be confirmed or because you must comply with hard-to-meet hidden or expensive “conditions.”
Telemarketing travel scams usually originate out of “boiler rooms.” Skilled salespeople, often with years of experience selling dubious products and services over the phone, pitch travel packages that may sound legitimate, but often are not. These pitches usually include:
Oral Misrepresentations. Particular schemes vary, but all fraudulent telemarketers promise you a “deal” they can’t possibly deliver. Unfortunately, you won’t know it until your money’s gone.
High Pressure/Time Pressure Tactics. Scam operators often say they need your commitment to buy immediately or that the offer won’t be available much longer. They typically brush aside questions or concerns with vague answers or assurances.
“Affordable” Offers. Unlike fraudulent telemarketers who try to persuade people to spend thousands of dollars on an investment scheme, fraudulent travel telemarketers usually pitch club membership or vacation offers in a lower price range. The offers sound reasonable and are designed to appeal to anyone who is looking for a getaway.
Contradictory Follow-up Material. Some companies may agree to send you written confirmation of your deal. However, it usually bears little resemblance to the offer you accepted over the phone. The written materials often disclose additional terms, conditions and costs.
How To Protect Yourself
Unpleasant surprises can ruin a vacation, especially when they cost money. That’s why it pays to investigate a travel package before you buy. But it can be difficult to tell a legitimate sales pitch from a fraudulent one. Consider these travelers’ advisories:
Be wary of “great deals” and low-priced offers. Few legitimate businesses can afford to give away products and services of real value or substantially undercut other companies’ prices.
Don’t be pressured into buying. A good offer today usually will be a good offer tomorrow. Legitimate businesses don’t expect you to make snap decisions.
Ask detailed questions. Find out exactly what the price covers and what it doesn’t. Ask about additional charges. Get the names of the hotel, airports, airlines and restaurants included in your package. Consider contacting these businesses directly to verify arrangements. Ask about cancellation policies and refunds. If the salesperson can’t give you detailed answers, hang up.
If you decide to buy, find out the name of the travel provider – the company that is getting your reservations and tickets. This company usually is not the telemarketer.
Get all information in writing before you agree to buy. Once you receive the written information, make sure it reflects what you were told over the phone and the terms you agreed to.
Don’t buy part of the package – the air fare or hotel stay – separately from the rest. If the deal is not what you expected, it may be difficult to get your money back for the part of the package you purchased.
Don’t give your credit card number or bank information over the phone unless you know the company. One easy way for a scam operator to close a deal is to get your credit card number and charge your account. Sometimes fraudulent telemarketers say they need the number for verification purposes only. Don’t believe them.
Don’t send money by messenger or overnight mail. Some scam artists may ask you to send them a check or money order immediately. Others may offer to send a messenger to pick up your payment. If you pay with cash or a check, rather than a credit card, you lose your right to dispute fraudulent charges under the Fair Credit Billing Act. If you charged your trip to a credit card, you may dispute the charges by writing to your credit card issuer at the address provided for billing disputes. If possible, do this as soon as you receive your statement. In any case, the law gives you up to 60 days after the bill’s statement date to dispute the charge.
Check out the company before you buy. Contact the Attorney General in your state or where the company is located to see if any complaints have been lodged against the travel firm or the travel provider. Be aware that fraudulent businesses often change their names to avoid detection.
If in doubt, say “no.” Trust your instincts. It’s less risky to turn down the offer and hang up the phone.
Where to Complain
Several organizations can provide additional information and help you with complaints.
Your state Attorney General or the Attorney General in the state where the company is located probably has a division that deals with consumer protection issues.
The American Society of Travel Agents, Consumer Affairs, at 1101 King Street, Alexandria,VA 22314, may be able to mediate your dispute with an ASTA member.
The FTC works for the consumer to prevent fraudulent, deceptive and unfair business practices in the marketplace and to provide information to help consumers spot, stop, and avoid them. To file a complaint or to get free information on consumer issues call toll-free, 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357); TTY: 1-866-653-4261. The FTC enters Internet, telemarketing, identity theft, and other fraud-related complaints into Consumer Sentinel, a secure online database available to hundreds of civil and criminal law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and abroad.
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Knowing what kind of life insurance to get can be scary and threatening to the average person. Understanding the basic kinds of insurance products available out there can reduce some of that anxiety. How can you tell whether you should go with term life insurance or whole life insurance?
Term life insurance generally has the lower monthly premiums of the two. You can get higher coverage for a lower monthly payment. This kind of insurance is valid only for a certain period or term, hence the name. You purchase term life insurance to cover you until the kids grow up or until retirement or for another specified time range. If you don’t make any claims against the policy, you won’t receive any benefits from this type of insurance during the life of the policy. Other types of insurance are like that, examples include home insurance and auto insurance.
Whole life insurance on the other hand is viewed as a type of investment. A portion of the money you pay each month is invested into an interest bearing account or investment vehicle thereby increasing in value over the life of the individual who purchases this type of insurance. If you were to cancel a whole life insurance policy, the insurance company would return to you the value of the investment that has accrued since you began the policy minus any fees. Given enough time, the interest on this kind of policy can even grow large enough to cover the monthly premium that is due thereby potentially giving you insurance without a monthly cost.
How can you tell which type of life insurance is right for you? Know some of the basic advantages of each before deciding. Term life insurance generally results in lower monthly premiums with higher overall coverage. With the money you save on this type of life insurance versus whole life insurance, most people can still invest in other things like mutual funds, real estate or the stock market and get as good or better rate of return than the investment in a whole life policy. Many people will buy whole life insurance for specific tax or estate planning purposes.
While knowing these differences helps, I would suggest you find yourself an insurance agent you feel comfortable with and discuss which insurance plan is right for you. There is no substitute for a good adviser when navigating potentially complicated and difficult waters like life insurance.
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