Volunteer in India to Make a Difference

In an earlier post, I'd talked to you guys about traveling the world to make a difference. Today, I want to show you a great organization that is looking for volunteers to travel to India.

There are year round programs that range from 1 week up to 6 months. If you've ever considered India for your travels, why not volunteer your time?

The programs range from teaching, to working in an orphanage, to healthcare or taking a 4 week cultural tour in south India that involes volunteering, visits to cultural sites, and immersion in Indian culture.

As a participant, you would live with a host family who are english speaking. You'll have your own room and be provided with meals, laundry and also be included in family activities.

This is such a fantastic opportunity to really learn and experience Indian culture while making a difference to that country! You'll have an experience unlike any other because you will have made lifelong friendships and contributed a piece of yourself to do a world of good.

To learn more please visit Volunteer in India. This is a non-profit charity organization that specializes in placing international volunteers in humanitarian projects in non-western countries.

Happy travels!

Shopping Online = Frequent Flyer Miles?

Shopping online to earn frequent flyer miles? Now that's how you earn a free trip!

Today I learned about a brand new website that just recently launched...and seriously, it's going to change the way you shop because that's definitely how I personally feel about it and here's why.

First off...for each and every item that you purchase, you earn frequent flyer miles! Now how cool is that? Not only that, you can literally buy anything and everything that you can think of...there are Millions of products to choose from! Basically, it's a shopping engine.

Now secondly...it compares prices for you! You'll be able to find exactly what you're looking for and you'll also be able to find it at the lowest price online because you can just cycle through the listed prices from the various retailers selling it and pick the lowest price for you! Or the one with the Most frequent flyer miles!!

Seriously...is that not the best idea you have heard in a long time?! I am so excited because if all I have to do is start shopping for the things that I'm already looking for online...get it for the lowest price...have it delievered to my door AND earn a ton of frequent flyer miles?? I am SOLD. To me, this is going to be a really quick and easy way to get that next free vacation!

Now, the only draw back to Shop4Miles right now and I'm sure that this is due to the fact that it has literally just launched is that not all the frequent flyer programs are available right now. It's launched with the participation of mileage programs for Alaska Airlines, Delta Airlines and US Airways, though I'm sure that will change as it expands. BUT...

Having said that, first, you don't need to be a frequent flyer member to shop there, so if you're not a member of the Delta program, then you can use this site for your comparisons OR you can just sign up to be a Delta member. I mean that's quick and easy and you may as well be getting air miles from anywhere you can get them! In my opinion anyway!

So go on and check this site out!

Earn Miles

You can find anything that you're looking for, compare it, buy it and earn miles to fly! Trust me on this one, I know you're going to be as enthused about it as I am!

Happy travels!

Tips For Travel During the Holidays

Travelling during the holidays? Now doesn't that add to the stress you're already going through! Don't we know it...we'll be travelling this season too and have been for the last month.

We want you to have the best tips for travel during the holidays but what we want to do is answer your questions personally!

What would you like to know about travel during this holiday season?

Don't have a question? Well that's fine...got any comments, holiday travel frustrations, thoughts, tips of your own...whatever it may be! Post those questions and comments here and Jason and I are going to sit down and personally help you to make your holiday travel go as smoothly as possible!

You can also have a look at a couple of my previous posts that will also help you out when it comes to flying this holiday season.

Cheap Holiday Flights - Do They Exist?

and

Tips For Air Travel During the Holiday Season

For more tips for travel during the holidays, here's an article that you might like as well: http://www.travelsense.org/tips/holidaytravel.asp

Hopefully these will get you started and let's bring the questions on!

Happy Holiday Travels!

Online Travel Guides - What You Don't Want to Miss!

The great thing about writing about travel, is that I get to spend a lot of time surfing the net and researching great travel sites, not just for me but for you guys too! I love that I get to help out and simplify the process for you because there are just so many places to go for information that many times, you just don't know where you should be, or if the site you're on is the right place for you...

Well I've got a site that could be a one-stop shop for you. It's a travel directory that's got a list of 50 travel sites but not just any travel sites...no, they're 50 that you've probably never heard of and guess what? I hadn't either! And I've got to say that I like what they're doing.

Getting people off the beaten track.

In my opinion, that's always the best way to travel...who needs a text book vacation?? Make one that's totally out of this world!

The 50 sites are broken down by these categories:

Social-Travel Networks
Travel Booking
Flying & Airlines
Travel Videos & Images
Specialty Travel - Interest - Lifestyle
Budget Travel
Luxury Travel
Miscellaneous Travel Advice
Travel Blogs

You can find it here at 50 Travel Sites - courtesy of Luggage Online and after you've visited, I would love to hear your comments about some of the sites! We want to hear your experiences!

Happy travels!

Hawaii Vacation Tours - 3 Ways You've never Thought of to Explore Hawaii

Hawaii offers a multitude of islands to explore, each one with it's own unique flavour with no shortage of things to do and see. Visiting Hawaii is a dream come true for many people and if you're going to be one of those fortunate people, why not make it a truly uncomparable experience?

There are a TON of Hawaii vacation tours that are available for you to experience but here, I'm going to introduce you to 3 different ones, each for a different island and I bet that you've never thought of doing them before!

1) When in Maui...

How about cruising down a volcano on a bicycle for a magical sunrise experience?
www.bikemaui.com

2) When in Lanai...

Why not rent a jeep and go off-roading to visit remote beaches that are inhabited by sea turtles and explore the cool rock formations for a day?

3) When in Molokai...

How about seeing some awe inspiring views on the back of a Mule? Yep, you read that right...you can saddle up a mule and visit this tiny island treasure.
www.muleride.com

These Hawaii vacation tours will defintely leave with something to talk about and some really unforgettable memories...go on, do Hawaii off the beaten track!

Happy travels!

A Recommended Travel Blog

Recently while surfing the net, I came across a travel blog that caught my attention and thought you guys might enjoy reading too. It covers a wide variety of topics and details many different vacation ideas and places. You can find detailed travel itineraries as well as honest reviews for destinations, hotels and airlines.

Travel Idea Blog is laid out very well and I really like the way the posts are linked together. There is also a search button feature that you can use if you don't see what you're looking for at first glance and it will bring up all of their posts that contain what you're looking for.

This is actually something that I think that I would like to start featuring on this blog! LOL! It's really useful and as I've discovered, something that I like a lot!!

Travel Idea Blog focuses on travel plans, itineraries, fun vacation ideas and planning, and of course; the reviews you need to put those ideas into motion!

This is a very popular travel blog that has a great travel community. I like that there are so many different categories that you can search through such as...pet travel, weddings and honeymoon travel, insurance and vacation experiences just to name a few! It's something that I think you will enjoy and recommend that you take a visit to!

Happy travels!

Worried About Your Checked Baggage?

Well worry no more with the new TSA approved luggage locks. I myself never used to be one to worry about locking my luggage...I never worried that my things could get stolen but Jason on the other hand, is as paranoid as they come about it *LOL* and always makes sure that everything of ours is locked up!

I really did think that he was a little bit crazy about it until recently when a friend of ours who was travelling back from the US into Europe had some items stolen from his checked baggage. This has taught me that it's Always better to be safe than sorry and your checked luggage really should be locked.

The problem with most locks is that if your bag needs to be searched, the lock then has to be broken and your protected luggage is no longer being protected. This is where the TSA approved luggage locks come in.

These locks are designed so that if screeners do have to go through your bag, they can open it without breaking the lock and just relock it when they're done. These new TSA approved luggage locks are called Liberty Locks and you can purchase them through Safe Skies.

www.safeskieslocks.com

They are less than $5 and come in different shapes, sizes, designs and colours. You can also look for these TSA approved luggage locks at various travel stores that sell travel accessories such as the ones that I have posted for you in yesterday's blog.

Now, even though your luggage can be safely locked...you still shouldn't put anything really valuable inside your checked luggage!

Happy Travels!