For years you’ve dreamt of quitting your job to embark on the adventure of a lifetime and now you’ve finally decided to take the plunge - well done! Making this momentous decision is incredibly exciting, as a whole world of adventure opens up before you. Once the dust settles, you’re often left pondering the question - now what? Hundreds of other questions also start buzzing around in your head….where should I go, when should I go, which anti-malaria tablets should I buy, should I visit weird Uncle Derek in Adelaide….?

Deep breaths

My advice is to sit down, take some deep breaths and have a serious think about the following: what do you want to get out of your trip? Where in the world have you always dreamed of going? Are you a beach bum, culture vulture, adrenaline junky, all or none of the above?

Where to go…

Armed with this information, you can start deciding where you’d like to go. Write down all the places you’d most like to visit and then prioritise them into ‘must see’ places and those that ‘would be nice’. Next, with the help of a world atlas, arrange the destinations in a logical geographical order. As a general rule, the further off the beaten track places are, the more expensive your ticket will be. So, if you’ve always had a hankering to visit Guinea-Bissau, just bear in mind that that the price of your ticket will increase accordingly.

Round the World tickets

Once you’ve got your wish list of destinations, it’s time to look at which round the world ticket is going to suit you best. It’s a good idea to enlist some professional helps at this stage; a specialist travel agent will help you negotiate the minefield that is round the world tickets. It doesn’t hurt to do some initial planning of your own first though.

Flexibility

Most round the world tickets are very flexible and will allow you free date changes and a year’s travel from the date of departure. Other than that, each ticket has its own rules and regulations. Here’s a lightning quick guide to some of the major round the world tickets:

GREAT ESCAPADE

Main airlines you can use: Air New Zealand, Singapore Airlines, Virgin Atlantic & Silk Air
Where can I travel to? This ticket is excellent for stops in Asia and the South Pacific. It’s great if you want to combine South Africa with Asia and also covers Australia, New Zealand, USA and the Caribbean.
Key facts:
- Unlimited stops (Maximum of 29,000 miles)
- Ability to add extra mileage - up to a maximum of 33,500 miles
- One stop in each city
- Several booking classes available to give you a better chance of getting availability on the dates you want
- Can upgrade to premium economy on certain sectors

ONEWORLD EXPLORER

Main airlines you can use: American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Dragonair, finnair, Iberia, Japan Airlines, LAN, Malev, Qantas & Royal Jordanian
Where can I travel to? Pretty much anywhere! This is the only round the world ticket that does not have any mileage limitations which opens up some really exciting possibilities. It’s especially good for South America, as it includes flights on LAN who operate throughout the continent.

Key facts:
- Unlimited mileage
- Travel to up to six continents
- 4 different fare levels (3, 4, 5 or 6 continents) - fare rises as you add more continents
- Fly up to 4 sectors in any continent (6 in North/Central America & the Caribbean)
- Same price all year round

WORLD WALKABOUT

Main airlines you can use: British Airways, Qantas, Air Pacific
Where can I travel to?
It’s particularly good for South America in particular, with flights from Santiago to Auckland and Sydney and vice-versa, as well as lots of options on six continents.
Key facts:
- Up to 7 stops
- Must include a transit or stopover in either Australia or New Zealand
- Two fare levels, one with a maximum mileage of 25000, the other 29000
- Cheapest way to include South America in your round the world itinerary

TIKI TOUR:

Main Airlines you can use: Virgin Atlantic & Air New Zealand
Where can I travel to? This ticket is great for stops in the South Pacific in particular, including Raratonga, Fiji, Tahiti and Hawaii. It’s also good for the USA, New Zealand, Australia, Asia & South Africa.
Key facts:
- Several different fare levels to maximise availability
- You can upgrade your flights on certain sectors to premium economy
- One of the cheapest round the world tickets around

Happy planning!

Jeffrey Nevil writes on a number of subjects including round the world trip.

A quick online search will identify several tour companies that offer cheap Grand Canyon helicopter tours originating in the vicinity of Las Vegas, Nevada. Many people vacationing in the area are interested in taking an aerial tour of this spectacular natural wonder, but some of them are put off because they think it will be too expensive. Fortunately, that’s not the case, and it’s fairly easy to find Grand Canyon helicopter deals.

Shopping around is important, because different tour operators charge different rates, and some of them offer special deals. By finding a good canyon helicopter deal, you can save a pretty penny and still enjoy a spectacular aerial tour.

Many of the more expensive chopper tours take you to various other sights in addition to the Grand Canyon. Flying over these other attractions raises the price, but you might only want to see the canyon itself. If that’s the case, check out the companies offering bare-bones tours that fly straight from Las Vegas to this magnificent canyon and then back again. This type of cheap helicopter ride will be less expensive than the tours that also take you to other attractions.

You can also get a better price on air tours if you’re traveling with a group of people. When you divide up the total price, the cost per person becomes quite reasonable. Helicopters can hold several passengers, so this is an option that can save you and your fellow travelers some money while still allowing all of you to enjoy an absolutely unforgettable experience.

Some tour companies are restricted to flights over just one of the rims of the National Park, so look into which parts of the canyon you’ll be seeing with different companies. A restricted flight will be cheaper but you won’t get to see certain parts of the canyon that way. You’ll get more for your money by choosing a company that offers a cheap Grand Canyon helicopter tour over the entire area.

However, you’ll still want to make sure that you go with a company that uses choppers with large viewing windows. After all, those big windows will make it a lot easier to enjoy the natural scenery and take great pictures that will help you remember this wonderful experience.

You’ll also want to choose a flight that provides headsets and an informative narration that explains the overall history of the area and the different things you’ll be seeing. People get a lot more out of their helicopter adventure when they’re given this type of interesting information. It shouldn’t cost anything extra because the tour operators include the commentary in their price, even when you find a hot promotional offer.

As you can see, a simple online search makes it fairly easy to find cheap Grand Canyon helicopter tours. Just make sure you’re the package you get takes you over the best parts of the canyon and provides an excellent tour. You might be surprised by the special offers you can find online, and taking an aerial tour is certainly worth the cost if you’re already nearby. This is a once in a lifetime experience you shouldn’t miss.

National Park air tours have never been more affordable! Check out the cheap Grand Canyon helicopter tours at http://www.grandcanyonhelicopters.org/hot-deals.

Underwater paradises, natural wonders of the world, rainforests of the oceans…. just a few ways to describe the beautiful coral reefs that dot our planet. Like rainforests, coral reefs host an amazing biodiversity, have been around for millions of years and are now facing a serious threat to their very existence. So, if you love to dive or snorkel, strap on your mask and fins and explore these magical ecosystems before they are gone for good. Here are 5 incredible coral reefs to visit on your round the world trip:

The Great Barrier Reef, Australia
The largest coral reef ecosystem in the world, the Great Barrier Reef stretches for over 1,800 miles and comprises a staggering 2,900 or so individual reefs. It’s so immense, in fact, that it is the only living thing on earth which can be seen from space. Home to more than 1,500 species of tropical fish, it’s one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Snorkelers can enjoy the profusion of colourful marine life in the shallows of the inner reef, while divers might prefer the deeper water and dazzling reef formations of the outer reef.

Belize Barrier Reef, Belize
A UNESCO World Heritage site, this is the second largest barrier reef system in the world. Crystal clear waters play host to vivid, multi-coloured coral reef stretching for 180 miles off the coast of Belize. Here you’ll find over 300 different species of fish and some incredible reef formations. The most famous of these is the incredible Blue Hole, a perfect dark circle in a sea of turquoise. Plunging to a depth of 125 metres, it’s a popular dive site where you can share the water with black tip sharks, nurse sharks and hammerheads - if you’re brave enough!

Raja Ampats, Indonesia
Remote and relatively unexplored, the reefs off Raja Ampats are in pristine condition and the riot of colour that unravels under the surface is dazzling. The diversity of marine life found here is one of the highest on the planet, with an incredible 600 species of hard coral and 1,200 species of fish.

Namena Marine Reserve, Fiji
Sometimes referred to as the soft coral capital of the world, the Namina Marine Reserve is the ultimate underwater playground. Vertical reef walls plummet hundreds of metres below the surface and there are mangroves and grass sea beds to explore. Namena has an abundance of marine life and divers can share the warm tropical waters with bottlenosed dolphins, sperm whales, pilot whales and turtles.

Palancar Reef, Mexico
Located off the coast of Cozumel, an island in Mexico’s Yucatan region, the kaleidoscope of colours and easy access attract divers from all over the world. It’s part of the Arrecifes de Cozumel National Park and is home to all sorts of exotic marine life including barracuda, parrot fish, angel fish, nurse sharks and sea turtles.

Jeffrey Nevil writes on a number of subjects including round the world trip.

If you like to travel, then you aren’t alone. A recent survey listed traveling as the number one hobby in a majority of adults. However, when asked how often they like to travel, the answer was shocking. Those that didn’t have kids said about once a year. But those with kids simply said that they didn’t travel as often as they liked. This is tragic, because traveling with children doesn’t have to be a never ending nightmare of confusion and agony. It can actually be quite fun, if you plan it out right. And that’s exactly what you are going to learn in this article.

If you are traveling in the summer, you’ll need to keep the kids cool at all times. You don’t want them getting hot and cranky. Keeping a spray bottle handy can help them keep cool and have fun. Children love to play in sprinklers, and giving them each a spray bottle and telling them to have a water fight can be a great way to lift their spirits. Just don’t do it while you’re inside a museum or something.

Naturally, the kids are going to want something to do. So maybe taking them to that museum wasn’t such a good idea. What you should do is have plenty of activities that are entertaining, and easy to do most places. Having a sack full of toys, comic books, and video games is a great way to achieve this goal.

While the kids are off playing, make sure the grownups don’t get bored. Bring something that you and your partner will enjoy, like some snacks or a couple of cold ones. Just don’t overdo it.

One way to always keep ahead of the game is to never let on just how many games, comic books, and activities you’ve got up your sleeve. If you keep pulling out new toys, the kids will always be having a good time. Only when they get bored do they become a problem, and you start to wish you would have stayed at home. Another idea is to keep a steady supply of candy to feed them when they get grumpy. Just time it so when they finally do crash, it’s time for bed. Then just turn the TV on and let it do its magic.

When you plan it out right, you can have a blast when traveling with your kids. Just make sure to bring plenty for them to do, and lots of snacks for them to eat. Keep their brains active, and their blood sugar high. That will ensure a good time for everybody.

When you are planning your next vacation and wondering which travel insurance is the best, consider getting some mondial travel insurance. You’ll be happy you did.

One thing that more and more people have been doing lately with their free time is going on long, relaxing road trips, because they are so amazing. You can drive as fast or slow as you want, and you can pull over any time you feel like it. If a road trip is something that’s been on your mind recently, then you’ve certainly stumbled across the right web site. You’ll find some tried and true tips in this article.

The first thing you need to do is pick a decent place to point your car toward. This means someplace that is far enough away, so you can enjoy the excitement of the road, while also having an exciting draw in and of itself, so you have something to look forward to.

For example, if you live in Phoenix, you may consider driving to Salt Lake City, or perhaps San Francisco. Both places are far enough away, and give you plenty to do while you are there. There’s also neat stuff to do along the way.

One thing that would be horrible if you forgot would be to keep the car stocked with all kinds of snacks, drinks and other goodies. Even though you have a great trip planned, the kids are going to get bored. And nothing cures boredom quicker than a sugary snack. Of course, you’ll need to plan this with a little forethought. No sense in giving them sacks of rock candy an hour before bed time. Early in the morning, and early in the afternoon are the best times for an infusion of sugar into their systems.

Make sure the food you choose won’t leave any leftovers, like apple cores or anything. Having plenty of trash bags in the car is important too, for obvious reasons.

Bringing games along is also an essential idea. That way even if they are bored with the scenery, they can still have fun playing games. If they bring enough games, sometimes you won’t even notice them in the back seat. Small video games are perfect for this.

And getting a couple of DVD players is a must, especially if they have those headphone jacks. That way the kids will be able to watch their favorite movie or show without bothering the driver.

These ideas are all you need to have a fantastic trip. Just load up the car, and get going. You will create memories that will last a lifetime.

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