Travel Reservation Software

Attention Travel Agents and Operators

Do you or your company sell or deal with any of the following: Flights (airline tickets), hotel rooms, car rentals, travel packages, tours, restaurant reservations, attraction or special event tickets, ferries, travel insurance, cruises, public transportation, train tickets, or currency exchange? If you work in the travel industry then that was a pretty redundant question, but why am I asking it? I am not trying to waste your time, in fact I am trying to save you time. I will ask you one more question, and this time it is important. How many different pieces of software do you use to offer your services to you clients? Making multiple searches to find the best deals for your customers is now a thing of the past. There is a new piece of travel reservation software which provides an end to end solution for all types of travel companies.

Currently the hottest selling travel reservation software is called Gilboa by Galor. Galor is one of the older travel agent management system producers. They have been around since 1989 and their travel reservation software is used by hundreds of clients in over 20 countries. What makes Galor’s software so special is that it can interface with all of the Global Distribution Systems like Sabre, Amadeus, WorldSpan and all of the others. It also integrates website and online bookings, comes with financial tools specific to the travel industry, and can handle wholesale, in-house and tailor made bookings.

This article is about informing you that there are other options out there for travel reservation software. There is no longer the need to rely on several systems, which waste valuable time with mulitple searches. There is now travel reservation software that works with the GDS’s, and with the private charters and specials that you have worked out directly with other travel companies. You can throw away all your binders because the records you need can be found indexed and researched on your computer. These programs are scalable so that they can work with both small and large travel companies. If you are a small company looking to expand, this is the perfect answer because the software can help in expansion and you won’t have to find new software once your client base grows. If you are a large travel network or company, reducing your travel reservation software to one program is a great way to save time and money.

One piece of travel reservation software means less training and more uniformity no matter what size your business is. A little research today can help your travel business for years to come.

Article Source: www.Content-Syndication.org

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Malta Air Show Boosts Hotel Reservations

Malta is set for her annual international air show to be the best ever this year, with tens of thousands of islanders and tourists attending the event over the weekend of September 23 and 24.

Making the event a truly international one, as well as the Armed Forces of Malta participating, the French, Italian, Dutch Swiss and Spanish will all have planes and crew in attendance, plus the British Royal Air Force and US Air Force.

Among the planes taking part are two Alpha jets from France, one of which will be doing an aerial display, six F-16's with two Dutch F-16's flying, and from the RAF two Harriers and two Tornados, with one of the Harriers expected to do an aerial demonstration.

Ticket prices for the Saturday or Sunday are low compared to many international air shows, ensuring access is available to many of the Maltese population as well as enthusiasts and veterans who travel from around Europe for the weekend. Prices this year are 4.5 Maltese (around US $12) for either day, with public transport to the show available throughout the island.

With the tourist season beginning to slow down, many of the Malta hotels see the air show as a tourist attraction and organise transport to and from the event.

An advantage of holding the show in the second half of September is that the Malta weather can almost be assured to be good, with the all important clear skies allowing viewing of the participating planes.

Malta Airport

The air show is seen by many in the Malta holidays industry as evidence that Malta can produce events which will not only prove an attraction to those tourists already on the island, but also as part of a package of other attractions to draw new tourists to the island.

The first half of the year has been a disappointing one for the holiday to Malta industry, with a drop in tourists for the first six months of the year compared to the same period last year.

Commenting on the recently released figures showing a drop in visitors, one independent travel guide for Malta http://www.yourmalta.com believes that events like the air show should be promoted more.

'Malta needs good news', they say, 'and if potential tourists could see on a Malta map of events quality displays such as the air show it would be a good reason to visit the island.

The island needs to compete against other destinations in the Mediterranean, but while most of them are seeing an increase in visitor numbers, Malta is showing a drop'.

Many hoteliers and others in the holiday industry are hoping that cheap flights to Malta might become a reality in the near future. There has been talk of low cost carriers from the UK and Ireland providing services to the island for some time now, but no deals have been struck yet.

Unemployment on the island is high at over 8 per cent, and tourism is a major employer, but many feel that the government is reluctant to see the national carrier Air Malta face potentially subsidised competiton. But by doing nothing the island faces the danger of the whole tourist industry suffering.

'Malta can be a high quality destination with low cost fares', comment the travel guide. 'We already have good accommodation like the Qawra Palace Hotel, so potentially we can do it'.

Article Source: www.Content-Syndication.org

Packing For Adventure Travel

There’s a funny scene in Romancing the Stone when Michael Douglas’ character meets Kathleen Turner’s character and agrees to take her to a phone booth hundreds of miles away. He simply refuses to help her carry her completely impractical luggage and a few scenes later goes even further by chopping the heels off her shoes so she can actually walk in them. This little fiasco encompasses the essence of packing for adventure travel. Less is most definitely more!

When in a foreign country it is usually pretty easy to spot the experienced traveler from the novice. The novice is usually dragging a giant suitcase or trying to lug a brightly coloured backpack that is even bigger than they are. They are dressed in the latest “must have” adventure gear from the most expensive adventure stores and have “trekking” shoes worth hundreds of dollars. This is not the way to do it for several reasons. The first is comfort. You will usually be doing a lot of walking whenever you go on a vacation and walking with 50 kg of luggage is both tiring and difficult. You will also, most likely, be getting extremely dirty and ruining whatever clothing you take (even if it’s expensive “adventure clothing”) and don’t forget that some of your gear may even be stolen (sometimes by other travelers). If you show up with all the best and most expensive gear you are also a walking target for hustlers and thieves. With all of this in mind here are a few tips:

Luggage – If you are going to be doing anything even remotely physical and walking any further than a few hundred meters, then a backpack is definitely the way to go. But not all packs are created equal! Think small and inconspicuous. Dark colours like brown and black will attract less attention than a bright purple or red pack. Make sure it is the type of pack that has a flap on the top that closes over the pack’s opening to keep out water (the types that zip up WILL get your stuff wet). You will also want to put your clothing in waterproof stuff bags – I use standard plastic shopping bags, but there are tougher ones that you can buy from disposals and camping stores. You also want your pack to be as small as possible. Especially if you are only touring (mountaineers may need something bigger). I use a 30 liter pack but would say 45 liters is an absolute maximum for general purpose use. You will be carrying it around a lot and if you cannot fit something in then you probably don’t really need it.

Clothing – Think light and breathable! Cotton is always good. Three shirts is usually enough because you can wear one, wash one and have a spare. Take ones with collars to keep the sun off your neck if you are going anywhere remotely sunny. For pants, I like cargoes that can zip off the legs and turn into shorts (which can also double as swimming trunks). Dark colours are always going to hide the dirt and grime so that’s also a good idea. Usually, other than underwear and socks, I don’t take much more than this. Remember that if you need something you can always buy it there and usually for a fraction of the price than at home! Don’t forget to take some type of hat as being sunburnt is a real drag when you are traveling.

Shoes – Unless you are doing some serious mountaineering then you probably won’t need those $300 Scarpa trekking boots. In many poorer countries you can buy those $300 Scarpas at the local markets for $10 anyway, because some idiot tourist left them outside his door to dry and an enterprising local stole them to sell at the markets! Think comfort – I usually go for Converse All Stars, but any type of cheap canvas shoe will probably be ok. On a trek across England my Converse shoes allowed my feet to get wet about 10 minutes before my buddy’s feet got wet – he was wearing the $300 Scarpas! Once again, if you need something better, you can probably buy it at your destination for a cheaper price.

Other stuff – There are a few things I will never travel without. Sunscreen is the main one because I REALLY hate getting sunburnt. A small multi-tool is often pretty handy too – don’t get a leatherman because you will lose it or get it stolen. You can often buy multi-tools for $5 anyway that work perfectly well. I also always take a lighter ($1 plastic kind) for anything from lighting people’s cigarettes to sealing the ends of ropes.

The trick to packing for adventure travel is to pack light, inconspicuous and cheap. This avoids you becoming a human pack-mule or a target for thieves and hustlers. You will also find that you will enjoy your traveling more because you won’t be so tired nor worrying about your gear so much.

Article Source: http://www.articlecube.com/Article/Packing-For-Adventure-Travel/122

How to Plan an Adventure Tour to India

Planning a tour, especially an adventure tour is very difficult. If you are heading towards India then it is better to know about India and its places before landing here. India has several places, which offer numerous adventure activities to adventure seekers. Planning a tour before starting provides better opportunity to know about the region and difficulties. Planning your tour before departing from your country makes it comfortable.

Everyone has the questions in his mind before starting the tour to India. Think how to prepare for a trip, what to do, what to bring and how to go. I think this article can help you out for a pleasant journey. Before you arrive in India, adjust your schedule accordingly. India is not always a place in which it is easy to travel. Nonetheless, for those who are not familiar with traveling in India, let me get you started. The first thing you need to do is to know about the adventure activities and difficulty level in which you want to participate.

India and its Adventure Places
First of all know India and its adventure places and how much difficult these places to reach. India has numerous places, which provides several types of adventure activities. First of all know which type of adventure activity, you want to join. India offers river rafting, trekking, mountaineering, skiing, paragliding, biking, jungle safaris and lots more. Planning an adventure tour, especially in India is not an easy task. India is very different country in comparison to other countries of the world. The climate and atmosphere is very different.

As everyone knows that adventure activities are the most entertaining but also risky sport. So it is better to take some tips before heading forward to your journey. Adventure in outdoors creates a certain degree of risk. So risk is the other name of adventure in outdoors.

Be Choosy
It is better to choose a knowledgeable person or better Tourism Company, if you are not aware about the country or the place. They will help you throughout your tour. Tour Company will offer you a safe travel tour with all type of tour related service which you need during your tour. They also provide all type of equipment during adventure activities like boating, kayaking, canoeing, rafting, climbing, skiing and trekking. These tour companies look after your adventure needs and desires.

What type of experience are you looking for?
Think before starting your tour whether you're looking for an easygoing adventure with a few comforts or a great expedition that will push your limits.

About your technical skills and experience?
It is better to know about your technical skills for the chosen activity. It is better to know that will you be comfortable for the activity. Some of the adventure activities demand lot of energy, which everyone can’t give. So it is better to know about your technical skills. There is one more thing, which you should keep in your mind that if you are capable then you must also have the experience.

How is your health?
You must be physically well for the adventure activity. It is very necessary to be physically fit for the adventure sports and activities. Check your overall physical fitness and also check allergies you suffer from.

Who are you dealing with?
If you are taking help from any travel agency then you should know that this agency is taking the responsibility for your safety or not. See the civil liability insurance of the company. A lack of insurance may mean the company doesn't meet the standards.

Are you prepared for emergencies?
In the event of an emergency or accident, you must be well prepared. If something wrong happens with you, transport facility up to any clinic or hospital must be available. If any minor accident happens then for that you must have the first aid kit.

Know about the conditions.
It is better to know about the weather and other difficult conditions of the area. If the climate changes then you must be ready to cancel the trip. Don’t show courage, as it may be dangerous for your life. Take the knowledge about the place from any local expert.

Luggage
Bring a carry-on bag that includes everything you might need like visa, passport, medications, spare contact lenses or glasses, and all forms of money. Take clothes that are easy to wash by hand.

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Source: http://www.articlealley.com/article_579842_29.html

Cheap Flights Target For 2008 Green Taxes

Higher oil and aviation fuel could mean tourists will notice a difference as low cost airlines head towards hitting financial turbulence in 2008 as the Conservative Party - once a campaigner and implementer of lower taxes - has called for purchase tax to be introduced to domestic flights, adding more pressure to flight costs.

The tax would add up to 17.5 per cent on to the cost of a flight from one British city to another, but while flights to the European mainland and popular holiday islands such as Menorca aren't specifically mentioned, one travel company believes the new policy will inevitably lead to higher fares for flights not just within Britain, but elsewhere too.

The Tory policy review calls for the UK to be a leader on green growth, noting that it was illogical for flights to attract less tax than cars and trains, with David Cameron, the Tory Party leader, saying that much of the report would be included in their manifesto at the next British General Election, which at the time could have been just weeks away as election speculation mounted in the UK, but is now likely to be in 2009 or 2010 following British Prime Minister Gordon Brown's decision not to hold an early poll.

'It's not so much that we're convinced the Tories will win the next election and tax domestic flights', say the travel company, 'But by proposing new taxes on flights it leads the door open to the Labour Party, who are more likely to win, to use taxes on flights as a revenue raiser with no opposition from the Tories who are traditionally seen as the tax cutting party. We have no doubt that flights will be taxed a lot more in 2008 because the Tories have now made it a soft target for the British government of any political persuasion and the Treasury when they prepare their annual budgets.'

In a pre-budget statement to the House of Commons, the first for new Chancellor Alistair Darling and the first major government statement after Prime Minister Gordon Brown opted not to call an early election, a shift was made away from taxing passengers to planes, making half full flights less financially viable, with a start date of November 2009.

Citing Menorca as an example, the company points to the holiday industry on the island being a major employer, and the map of Minorca changing over the years as new resorts have been built to accommodate additional visitors.

'One of the other aspects of the report that is a worry for the holiday industry', continues the travel company, 'Is that new runways at Stansted, Gatwick and Heathrow Airports are all ruled out - all three airports serve London and the South-East of England. Any increased demand for example for holidays in Menorca probably won't be able to be met without increased capacity, inevitably leading to a consequence of higher prices overall.'

From the environmental lobby the Green Party described the proposals as 'fiddling around the edges when what is needed is urgent and radical action', adding that the Tory eco-taxes would hit the poorest in society hardest.

Menorca Flights

Taking Menorca as typical of the areas that could be affected most by additional flight taxes, the travel company takes the view that any downturn in visitor numbers and the volume of bookings for holidays and hotels in Menorca would hit an island that relies heavily on tourism.

The Spanish island is currently served by three UK airlines that offer scheduled flights, including one low cost carrier that offers cheap flights to Menorca. But there are a high number of holiday companies who offer chartered flights in the summer months, and these companies have helped reduced prices for holidaymakers visiting the island. Neighbouring island Majorca attracted most UK tourists for 2007, beating off competition from low cost destinations in Eastern Europe, and Menorca has also benefitted from an increase in visitor numbers.

Despite their geographical closeness and being part of the same group of islands, the Balearics, Menorca and Majorca attract a different type of tourist from each other, and with Ibiza the third of the islands each has its own appeal, and each her unique selling points when compared to each other.

Ibiza is known in Europe for her clubs and nightlife, with 18 to 30's and their high disposable incomes preferring the island to quieter Majorca and Menorca. A survey by the island's tourist board sprung a surpise for many in the hotels and holidays industry with a report showing of the three islands that Ibiza's visitors spent more on their holidays than those in Majorca and on holiday in Menorca.

Majorca is a favourite holiday island for both the British and Germans, and as well as having a cosmopolitan feel to it offers both nightlife for the young with luxury hotels and villa holidays for older visitors. Plans are in place to build Spain's top luxury hotel on the island.

The island of Menorca, also known as Minorca, is regarded as the quietest of the three holiday islands, and family orientated, with tourists just as likely to be taking a villa holiday with companies like James Villas as they are staying in a hotel or holiday apartment. The island is at her best in May and September when the island's roads are quiet but everyone is geared up for the season.

The travel company who produce YourMenorca.net concludes that all three islands would be affected detrimentally by any further increases in taxes on flights, and infrastructure improvements planned for the future might have to be reconsidered if the number of tourists visiting for a holiday comes down.

Menorca will be watching the UK political scene with an unusual amount of interest from February.

Source:http://www.crixi.com/articledetail.php?artid=57367&catid=186&title=Cheap+Flights+Target+For+2008+Green+Taxes

Romantic Weekend Getaways

Romantic weekend getaways can be a second honeymoon or your first vacation together. When you don't have the time or money for a long trip, try one of the following.

Luxuriate Together

Spending time at a nice hotel is the most obvious and common romantic weekend getaway, and with good reason. It is wonderful to be waited on and relax in a hot tub together. The best hotels for this will have a pool, a hot tub (preferably in the room) and even a lounge where you might be able to go dancing.

In Michigan, this might be the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island. This is where they filmed the Christopher Reed movie, "Somewhere In Time." There are no cars, so you'll have see the island together by horse carriage.

Romantic Weekend Getaways - Outdoors

If you both enjoy getting outside, you may want to consider a camping weekend. Whether you want to really rough it, and put on the backpacks, or just rent an RV and find a beautiful park to visit, this is a great way to have some quality time together. Wherever you live, there are great outdoor destinations within a couple hours.

A great example is the Hot Well Dunes Recreation Area, near Safford Arizona. There are two hot spring pools to soak in, and millions of acres of desert to explore. My wife and I loved collecting beautiful rocks together, and sitting around the fire with fellow campers each night. We also enjoyed regular soakings in the hot springs.

Doing Something New Together

It can be very romantic to share new experiences together. Even when things don't go as planned, you are creating common memories that bring you closer together. Why not try something new this weekend?

An example of this could be mountain biking in Moab, Utah. If you live near Seattle, you might consider a guided climb up Mount Ranier together. If you are near the coasts or the Great Lakes, you could take a charter sailing or fishing trip together. Amtrak has some great scenic routes you could travel in a weekend.

Are romantic weekend getaways expensive? Sometimes, but the only requirement is that they are romantic. There is a way to get away no matter what your budget is. Why not start planning now?

Source: http://www.easyarticles.com/article-580.htm

Things To Do In Birmingham

Birmingham is one of the UK's core cities and is often referred to as the UK's second city due to its size. The population is currently over 1 million and its no surprise that there is plenty to see and do in this exciting area.

Eating out in Birmingham

Birmingham has an incredible range of cuisine available due to its ethnically diverse landscape and is particularly famous for its wide variety of quality Indian restaurants. For years the Balti Triangle which is south of the city centre, has been synonymous with curry houses. However there is a fine range of other cuisine ranging from Chinese and Italian restaurants to the more traditional fish and chips.

Places to visit

Birmingham has a lot to offer those who want to explore a little and there are many attractions both in Birmingham itself and in the West Midlands Region.

One of Britain's main tourist attractions. Alton Towers has beautiful landscaped gardens and is a massive adventure park which is popular all year round. Established in 1975, the Black Country Museum is a wonderful collection of history and heritage from the Black Country region.
Donington Park provides some fast paced action at its Grand Prix racing circuit. Both car and motorcycle racing is available. Cadbury World opened on 14th August 1990 and surprisingly (given the nations addiction to chocolate) is the UK's only purpose built visitor centre dedicated entirely to chocolate.

If your looking for events and music then as well as the many small venues across the city the National Exhibition Centre (NEC) and National Indoor Arena (NIA) provide all the excitement you should ever need. Now 25 years old the NEC is the largest exhibition centre in Europe. It was opened in 1976 by HM The Queen and the first exhibition was the Spring Fair. The NEC Arena is used for concerts and conferences and can house 12,600 people.

For those looking for some history then Warwick Castle provides an impressive and majestic building with towers and ramparts and a history going back over a 1000 years.

The National Sea Life Centre situated at Brindley Place provides an underwater wonderland with collections of sealife from around the globe. In addition the West Midlands Safari Park is a wonderful experience explorer some of the fascinating wildlife we have at the park.

Nightlife

There is a huge selection of great pubs and clubs throughout the city centre. It's youthful population has ensured the nigtclub scene has thrived. The legendary Q Club, set in the old Methodist Central Hall hosts regular events such as Cream and Raveology! If your into the more luxurious things in life, why not try Mechu, home to the ultimate private VIP luxury. The huge student population however still demand no-frills fun venues so clubs like Snobs and Sunflower Lounge are the places to visit if this is your bag. The Glee Club and Jongleurs are always a hoot where top comics raise a smile everywhere from the theatres to the pub circuit.

Article Source: http://www.theleadingarticles.com/aid150118/Things-To-Do-In-Birmingham.html

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