Do you ever find yourself daydreaming of booking some flights, packing a bag and swapping the mundane for something rather more exciting? If the answer is yes, here are a few reasons why now is the perfect time to head off on a round the world trip:

1) Economic uncertainty - everything in the news at the moment seems to be doom and gloom. If you’re tired of hearing about double dip recessions, euro zone collapses, economic stagnation and rising inflation, then why not take some time away from it all? With any luck, by the time you get back the outlook will be a bit brighter.

2) Increase in the cost of living - with winter approaching and fuel bills going through the roof, the prospect of spending your hard earned cash on staving off the cold is quite depressing. With the cost of living (and the need for heating!) much lower in other countries around the world, now is the perfect time to head off to sunnier climes.

3) Help others - millions of people in developing countries around the world are in desperate need of support. By incorporating some voluntary work as part of your round the world trip, you could use your time to help others less unfortunate while enjoying the experience of a lifetime. So whether you fancy teaching at a school in Malawi, working on a conservation project in Ecuador or volunteering at an orphanage in India, now could be the perfect time to do something really rewarding with your life.

4) You’ll never regret the decision to go travelling - making the decision to swap the safety of the familiar for the excitement of the unknown can be a daunting one. Yet once you’ve done it, you’ll never look back. Travelling the world is a life enriching and often life changing experience; you’re far more likely to regret the decision not to travel.

5) If not now, when? There will always be reasons keeping you from travelling, but the chances are that those or similar reasons will always be there. Once you make the decision to take the plunge, it’s amazing how easily obstacles that seemed insurmountable can be overcome. Just remember, putting your day to day life and career on hold is only temporary - the memories of a round the world trip will stay with you forever.

Surely those reasons have convinced you that now is the time to embark on your around the world trip…?

Jeffrey Nevil writes on a number of subjects including round the world trips and round the world flights.

Most parents would agree that sometimes just getting the kids up, dressed and out of the house is a mission. So the idea of taking a family round the world trip is surely mission impossible? Well, it doesn’t have to be. With careful planning and some expert advice taking a gap year with your family to travel around the world can be an exciting and fulfilling reality. Having kids needn’t mean shelving all opportunities for adventure until they have flown the nest. Travelling together is an incredibly enriching experience for the whole family which leaves you with memories and shared experiences that will stay with you forever.

It’s not so long ago that the suggestion of taking a gap year conjured up images of fresh-faced adolescents heading off into the big wide world for a great adventure before university. Well, the days are long gone when taking time out to travel was the preserve of a lucky few. More and more families are making the decision to switch off their TV, pack away the play station and embark on the adventure of a lifetime. Of course, everyone’s circumstances are different, but even if you have just a few weeks to spare, travelling the world together is still an achievable ambition.
There will always be countless reasons why now isn’t the right time for your family to take the plunge, but here are just a few compelling reasons that might persuade you that now is the best time:

1) Educational value - what better way for your kids to learn about other cultures, languages, wildlife and natural phenomena than by experiencing these for themselves? If your children are of school age, many schools are very understanding and can appreciate the educational benefits of experiencing new places and different ways of life.

2) Timing - Travelling when kids are young is a unique opportunity to take some time out together before the pressures of exams and coursework become a reality. Not only will it will be an amazing experience for the kids but this kind of trip also adds another dimension to your experience; you’ll see some incredible sights through your child’s eyes.

3) Cost - It’s cheaper to travel with kids when they’re young as you’ll get discounts on their travel. As a guide to round the world tickets, if your child is under two they’ll get up to a 90% discount on the adult price, although bear in mind that they won’t get a seat at that price. If they are aged 2-11 they’ll normally get a discount of around 25% on the adult fare.

4) Quality time and shared experiences - travelling can be an unbeatable way to bond as a family. It certainly won’t come without inevitable stress like airport delays, long car journeys and sibling squabbles; but there’s no better way to really get to know your family and see your kids develop and grow. Breaking away from the day to day routine of home life can help you relax and enjoy each other’s company, and you’ll share some experiences you’ll happily reminisce about for the rest of your lives.

5) Time to take stock - especially at a time when the economic situation can seem bleak, taking time out to reflect on your career and your lifestyle away from home can in itself be invaluable.

So you can see it’s definitely worth considering your options and looking into the reality of family travel. For more advice, contact a reputable travel agency who can select the best family-friendly flights and tours for your round the world trip.

Jeffrey Nevil writes on a number of subjects including around the world trips and round the world flights.

If you’re considering taking the family on a round the world trip or for an extended adventure abroad during the summer holidays, here is some tried and tested advice to help you enjoy your family trip even more.

One of the most exciting things you can do is plan the trip together as a family. Get your kids involved in the planning so they really feel part of it and let them have a say in where you decide to go (within reason, you might not want to spend a year at Disneyland!). When it comes to the packing stage, get them involved there too - let the kids take their own bag as it will help them feel part of the travelling experience.

Always make sure you have the appropriate level of travel insurance to cover you as a family - on longer trips people will get sick, but the peace of mind afforded by ample insurance will be invaluable. If your trip will involve going off the beaten track or any kind of adventure sport - ensure each activity is covered by your premium.

Make a visit your GP surgery 6-8 weeks before your trip so your doctor can advise on any inoculations you will need. If you bring a list of destinations you plan to visit, he or she can also check whether you require anti-malarial tablets and can advise on the most suitable medication for younger children.

If you own your home, consider renting it out to give you some extra income whilst you’re away. If you don’t let your property, always ask a trustworthy friend or family member to keep an eye on it and pop by from time to time to check everything is OK and to pick up the post. This is especially important in the UK winter when colder temperatures are more likely to cause drama like cracked water pipes and flooding, which you would otherwise be unaware of.

Ensure you book your first few nights’ accommodation in each new destination. There’s nothing worse than arriving off a long haul flight and having to trek about with the tired kids trying to find somewhere to stay. A good travel agency can recommend family friendly hotels, including those with swimming pools wherever possible - a great way to occupy the kids!

Plan into your trip one or two organised, family-friendly adventure tours. A tour will allow you to relax and let someone else take over the arrangements for a while and gives you an opportunity to see and do a huge variety of things in a short space of time that would be almost impossible if you were travelling independently (especially in non-English speaking destinations). Most tours are deliberately designed to leave plenty of time for you to explore as a family. A tour will also give you priceless local knowledge from your guide when you need it and family-friendly accommodation along the way. In addition, you’ll be travelling with like-minded families so your kids will make new friends along the way.

One great tip is to get wristbands for the children to wear with your mobile phone number written on them, it in the unlikely and frightening event that they do get lost. It’s simple and cost effective and is even more effective in non-English speaking countries in the unlikely event that you get separated from your child.

Whilst you’re away, factor in some time on your trip in English speaking countries. Whilst you’re away at times everything can seem unfamiliar, so hearing people around you speak your native language and being able to communicate easily can feel like a breath of fresh air and takes the pressure off.

From time to time, make sure you base yourselves in one place for a while. This will slow the trip pace down a little and help you relax and get a feel for the place you’re staying. It will also give you the chance to explore an area in more depth and get to know local people and customs.
Finally, relax and enjoy it! Travelling with kids means an element of careful planning and expert advice is essential but it’s important not to over plan. Part of the fun is having the freedom to go where the mood takes you. This will be a trip of a lifetime for your whole family!

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

If you’re planning a round the world trip and love to party, it’s worth thinking about where you’d like to be for New Year’s Eve. A little careful planning at this stage will help to ensure that you’re not missing out when the New Year celebrations begin. Here’s our guide to 5 fantastic party destinations that are guaranteed to help you see in the New Year in style!

You’ve probably seen the incredible spectacle of fireworks exploding into the sky from Sydney Harbour Bridge, but how amazing would it be to actually be there! Planning your round the world flights so that you’re in Sydney for New Year would give you the chance to see no less than 80,000 fireworks being set off from the Harbour Bridge and several other firing points along Sydney Harbour. The entertainment starts at around 5pm and includes the harbour of light parade, which involves cruise boats covered in fairy lights cruising around the harbour all night.
It’s incredibly well organised with hundreds of potential vantage points dotted around the harbour side, which is just as well with 1.5 millions partygoers descending on the city. In true Aussie style, many of these spectating areas allow you to bring your own booze and barbie! The warm weather and natural amphitheatre of the harbour make this the perfect place to see in the New Year!

New Year is Japan’s most important holiday so Tokyo is a great place to experience the celebration. The best part is that festivities last for a whole week so you’ll encounter fireworks, singing and dancing in the streets from 29th December until 4th January. The traditional way to see in the New Year in Japan is by eating ‘Toshikosi Soba’ (New Year’s Eve Noodle) and listening to Juya No Kane (The Watch-Night Bell). You’ll also get the chance to join the swarms of locals doing ‘hatsumode’, the year’s first visit to a temple or shrine. These festivities are held at practically every temple and shrine in Japan.

It’s difficult to think of any more iconic New Year’s Eve venue than Times Square in New York. Around one million people flock to this part of the city for New Year and they are joined by millions more all over the world watching the festivities on TV. There’s more to New Year in New York than the famous ball drop in Time Square - you can witness fireworks lighting up the sky from Central Park, Brooklyn, Staten Island & New Jersey as well as the spectacular Empire State Building light show. If you fancy something a bit more energetic, why not get involved in the New York Midnight Run? 4000 people run through the streets of New York, many in fancy dress, just after the clock turns 12. This is a road run with a difference - there are fireworks and a laser show, as well as a costume parade and dancing.

Rio can proudly lay claim to being the biggest New Year party anywhere in the world. A mind boggling 3 million people gather on Copacabana beach for a party that no doubt takes the rest of the year to recover from! The main event on Copacabana is the massive fireworks display at midnight, with fireworks being launched from an array of barges in the ocean. If the crowds at Copacabana are a bit much, there are smaller gatherings at the nearby Ipanema, Barra and Flamengo beaches where you can enjoy the samba celebrations in a bit a more space. If you want to do it in style, a great option is to rent an ocean view room at one of the beachfront hotels and see the show from above. Be warned though, this kind of luxury doesn’t come cheap!

In Las Vegas, everything seems to be a bit bigger and brighter than anywhere else, and the New Year’s Eve celebrations are no different. The famous Las Vegas Strip is closed to traffic and instead filled with thousands of revellers partying in the street. Las Vegas is the place to see and be seen at New Year, with no shortage of star studded parties and headlining shows. The hundreds of casinos, bars and nightclubs get packed out so it’s advisable to plan your evening as many stop letting people in quite early in the evening.

Jeffrey Nevil writes on a number of subjects including round the world trips and round the world flights.

The Grand Canyon is considered one of the great natural wonders of the world. People flock to Arizona in order to experience a natural phenomenon that has been shaped over several hundred thousand years. Grand Canyon helicopter tours are an exciting and unique way of exploring an area and seeing parts of the area that would be impossible by foot.

There are a number of tours that start from Las Vegas airport and tour the majestic West Rim. It is possible to see the tribal lands of the Hualapai and gaze in amazement at the fast flowing Colorado River. There are a number of options that can add a little luxury to a flight over this truly stunning wonder of the natural world.

It is a good idea to book a package that includes several added extras that make a great day a very special one. These package flights are ideal for giving as gifts. From the basic flight package, there is the option to upgrade to a champagne flight. It is also often an option to include limo hire to the airport from a chosen hotel in Las Vegas.

Some flight packages land inside the area and include a romantic picnic lunch with champagne. Many choose to include a cruise down the Colorado River in a beautiful pontoon boat as part of a package. These packages can usually be upgraded to include a Skywalk pass, giving the visitor every possible aspect of the area.

A very popular spot for photos is Eagle Point which is an included stop-off on many tours. It should also be possible to order a boxed lunch. Many tours schedule a stop to the stunning Guano Point where tourists can sit back and eat their lunch while taking in the view.

There are excursion options that depart from the National Park airport and fly over the South Rim. There are many options which include transportation from Las Vegas by luxury coach. The coach journey takes in several towns along the way and some include tour guides that give fascinating insights into the local points of interest. The Grand Canyon National Park also features a stunning IMAX movie about the area which is included in the price of several tours.

A popular excursion involves a visit the Hoover Dam as well. Tourists are taken by luxury coach to the dam before embarking on a flight over the area. There are a number of packages that include hotel accommodation in Las Vegas and refreshments and dining for the duration of the visit. For the more adventurous, there may be the option to add white water rafting along the Colorado River to the package.

Grand Canyon helicopter tours can cater for all tastes. Whether it’s a simple flight, a romantic picnic inside the canyon or enjoying rafting down the Colorado River, there are a selection of packages that meet all requirements and budget. For those who want to enjoy an authentically Native American stay, it is possible to book a tipi or cabin at the Grand Canyon Ranch.

Las Vegas is the perfect destination to explore by air! You can find more information about Grand Canyon helicopter tours at http://www.grandcanyonhelicopters.org/compare-grand-canyon-helicopter-landing-tours now.