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Mounting fuel costs have made travel more expensive than it used to be. A few cost-saving measures can help you to have a great vacation - even on a limited budget.

* Hydration Economics

If you have done any research, you know that you shouldn’t drink local water when you travel. However, bottled water can take a significant chunk out of your wallet. Stock up on water at a discount department store before you leave. If you travel frequently, you might want to invest in reusable water bottles. Fill them at home, and take as much store-bought water as you can as well - while remaining within baggage weight restrictions.

* Local Currency Exchange

You will always get the best exchange rates if you use a credit card or ATM machine. Alternatively, you can exchange money in a bank. Local stores and money changers are not likely to give you a good exchange rate. Sometimes their charges are exorbitant. An added plus for credit card purchases is the neatly organized statement you will have when you get back home.

* Never Fly with Overweight Luggage

Always - always - always - be aware of airline weight restrictions. Sometimes they are very limiting. You can check the internet for specific regulations. Use a good scale to weigh your baggage (then reweigh) before you leave for the airport. Overweight luggage can be very expensive.

* The Best Time to Travel

Avoid travel on weekends or during peak tourism season. The definition of ‘peak season’ will vary by country and hemisphere. Accommodations and tickets will be more expensive when everyone else wants to travel. Look for off season deals and discounts. If you’re not sure when off season is, find a bed and breakfast in your destination city and look at their website. They will probably have a range of rates that changes according to season.

* Food is Expensive

Save money on meals by staying at a bed and breakfast. Free breakfast fare can range from continental to a full, hot-cooked meal with a multi-choice menu. (Some inns also have packages that include lunch and supper.) Conserve further by picking up lunch supplies at a local grocery store. Inexpensive suppers are available at McDonalds (with branches in over 100 countries).

* Kids have Big Appetites

If you have kids, try to find a hotel with a ‘kids stay and eat free’ program. Some bed and breakfasts have packages for kids. However, many do not allow young children.

* Barter with the Airlines

Use the internet to research airfares. Find the best deals and make printouts. Purchase your tickets through the cheapest website, or contact the airline’s toll-free number. If they don’t offer a matching fare, ask them to meet or beat the internet price. You may have to fax a printout or two - but it will be well worth the savings.

* Cash, Student, and Corporate Discount Rates

Be sure to carry student or corporate ID with you. You may be eligible for a discount. (10% to 15% discounts are common.) Present your ID or business card at check-in and ask for a rate reduction. Small inns and hotels may be willing to offer a discount if you pay via cash instead of credit card. Credit card processing fees for a small company may run around 5%.

* You are in Control

Seize the opportunity, research your options, and have a great worry-free vacation!

* More cost-saving vacation tips are available at 111 Travel Directory.

* Over 1000 travel tips from fellow travel enthusiasts are online at 1000Tips4Trips.com.

* Try this internet search page for your research.

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Some of us simply expect Canada to be a blander version of the USA, However nothing could be further from the truth! Canada is completely different from its close neighbour. Outdoor enthusiasts can enjoy in a wide variety of sports such as skiing, fishing, hiking, white water rafting and cycling, and many others. Nature lovers can enjoy the 38 national parks plus hundreds of regional parks. And culture seekers can enjoy the cuisine, arts and traditions that give Canada its unique french/English character. In Canada, tourism is big business and they have catered for this with massive investment in supporting infrastructure, the rail, road and train networks are clean and efficient. This beautiful country offers top-class adventures, and unparalleled outdoor experiences and entertaining activities for both young and old. History lovers can even explore 836 recognised historical sites.

Niagara
The famous Niagara is lot more than just the waterfalls, the Niagara Region stands as one of The most desirable destinations for international travellers. A wide range of popular attractions (including amusement parks, golf and wine trails) set against the beautiful natural settings of the Great Lakes, the Niagara Escarpment and of course the natural wonder; Niagara Falls. This incredible destination is a must see for all Canada visitors.

Top Activities and visitor attractions for Canada visitors include:

• Water sports: white water rafting, canoeing, skiing and kayaking.
• Skiing: Especially in British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario and Quebec.
• Walks/hikes: Champion walks and tours of all types with spectacular views, from 30 minutes to many days, to suit all levels of vitality, walks are to be found all over Canada, but more so in BC, Quebec, Ontario, Nova Scotia.
• Whale watching: good trips off both the east and west coasts.
• Caving and climbing: the Rocky Mountains!
• Mountain biking: hire easily available and reasonably priced.
• Seals: Quebec’s Magdalen Islands [Iles-de-la-Madeleine].

Jasper National Park:The jewel in the Rockies
Jasper national park is the largest of the Rockies national parks, less visited than Banff national park, but with equally spectacular vistas of mountain, lakes, and forest. Jasper Park was founded (originally as a forest park) in 1907.

The cultural wonder of Quebec
Quebec’s provincial capital has long outgrown its walls. Residential and commercial areas sprawl over the surrounding countryside. The Assembl

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The huge monolith known as Uluru - formerly Ayer’s Rock - remains one of Australia’s most mysterious and beautiful natural features. Rising more than 1,000 feet above the flat red center of the continent, “The Rock” is eight miles in circumference and honeycombed with caves, displaying Aboriginal wall art. Uluru once stood at the bottom of an inland ocean, and is a spectacular sight as it changes color through the day. The sandstone it is composed of contains many minerals like feldspar which reflect shades from deep red to violet, according to the angle of the sun.

However, while Uluru is probably the most famous Australian geological wonder, it is certainly not the only one. The amazing Bungle Bungles in Western Australia are huge pillars of sandstone that look like ancient ziggurats. But nature, not man, made these orange and black striped monoliths, situated in Purnululu National Park. The black stripes are caused by lichens growing on the orange sandstone. Known to Aborigines for centuries, it remained a secret to the rest of the world until the 1980s, when the stunning rock formation was spotted from the air.

The Devil’s Marbles in the Northern territory are another example of Australia’s geological diversity. The “marbles” are huge roughly hewn ovoid boulders piled on top of one another, some seemingly defying gravity, poised like eggs balancing on end. Made of coarse granite, the marbles have gained their shape by constant weathering.

The Great Barrier Reef is one of the few geological wonders that can be seen from space. A spectacular 161 square miles of coral reef, it stretches from New Guinea down the Queensland Coast. Dotted with coral islands, the reef is the largest structure ever built by living creatures. These tiny polyps leave their skeletal remains behind, forming stretches of coral reef.

Nullabor means, literally, no trees, and the Nullabor Plain between Adelaide in South Australia and Perth in Western Australia lives up to its name. It is a vast 155,000 mile flat desert that drops with frightening suddenness into the Great Southern Ocean. There are no towns or permanent habitations on the Nullabor Plain - and definitely no trees.

Wave Rock is a stunning formation in Western Australia that looks like a breaking wave on land. The smooth curve of the rock was believed to be caused by water erosion. Around 500 million years old, the wave shape was formed by granite flowing in molten form.

For more information about travel (airfares, hotels, car rentals, vacations, cruises, etc) to Australia, including Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Cairns and Brisbane, please visit http://www.icheapairfares.com/Australia-Airfares.htm

For more information about travel (airfares, hotels, car rentals, vacations, cruises, etc) to Australia, including Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Cairns and Brisbane, please visit http://www.icheapairfares.com/Australia-Airfares.htm

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