Travelogger

We wander for distraction, but we travel for fulfillment.

Why Comparison Shopping for Travel Deals is a Must

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Shopping for one’s needs should not be done in a rush. If possible, one has to take the time to compare prices first before making a final decision.

travel-deals-online

This attitude also applies in purchasing travel packages online. Experts would tell you that comparison shopping is the key to getting the best deals available that can save you money. It is the best way of finding what you need at the most competitive price online.

Travel websites have been mushrooming in recent years and it’s hard to decipher which are the legitimate ones. But if you do some research and verify the reputation of sites you visit, you will avoid being victimized by the fly-by-night companies or groups.

Comparison Sites

Before you start checking specific travel sites, you may want to visit comparison sites that offer a directory or list of companies offering tour packages. Here you can shortlist those that are doing real business by reading the testimonials and reviews of travelers.

Some of the popular comparison shopping sites you can find on the web today are Google Base, Shopzilla, Shopping.com and NexTag. Companies are listing on these sites to be exposed to their target audience. Those who are able to offer lower rates benefit from being on these sites.

Travel Sites

Once you’ve done your research, it’s time to visit your preferred travel sites. New players have entered the scene in recent years offering better apps and strategies for booking flights and accommodations.

One of the major benefits of purchasing airline tickets as well as hotel and tour packages online is the lower cost consumers can enjoy. Online rates are normally lower than those offered by travel agencies while airline companies have a separate pricing for fares purchased at their offices.

Survey results have shown that majority of travelers today use the internet for planning their trips. Specifically, they go online to research for possible vacation destinations, read online reviews and get ideas from friends on their social networks.

A 2012 consumer travel report by PhoCusWright also revealed that 71 percent of leisure trip shoppers consider posts on social media sites such as Twitter and Facebook in planning their vacations. In addition, many would make changes to their original plans based on suggestions they get from their social media network of friends.

Never underestimate the power of comparison shopping when planning your holidays. Whether you are on a budget, prefer a personalized vacation or want to have a memorable trip, it’s the most ideal way to get value for your money.

Photo via vacation-destinations

About the author:

Gemma loves to spend her holidays with friends in new places and each time she plans her trips, Expedia Australia is always on top of her mind.

Where to Find Travel Coupons

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Traveling is always a nice and enriching experience. And with all the great deals offered by airlines, cruise lines, restaurants as well as hotels and resorts to people today, there is every opportunity to be able to visit a new place you’ve only dreamed to reach in the past.

But as always, it pays to do your homework as not every deal is what it says it is. Oftentimes, you will have to read carefully and understand the fine print or you’ll end up paying more when you get to your destination.


Being fully aware of what’s happening among the most popular coupon sites is very important. A number of these social coupon sites that have been established in recent years include Groupon, LivingSocial, Daily Candy and Eversave. Some sites, however, have been widely criticized after failing to deliver what it offered to consumers. Many travelers complained about getting fake deals and being swindled of their hard-earned money.

A standard step that you need to take is to register on coupon sites such as the CheapSally.com coupons. It would be best to sign up for deals offered at your destination. Find out some fun activities (tours, rentals, etc.) that you can do there and if possible, sign up several weeks before your trip to get the best deals.

Be wary of the expiration and blackout dates. Most of these coupons have an expiration date while some special rates are not allowed on certain dates so better check that out ahead of time.
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Little Passports: Impart The Love For Travel To Your Kids

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little-passport-sam-sophia-holidashI don’t have kids – yet. One day, I really hope to have my own (two should be enough) and I want to share with them the world. The easiest and most creative way of doing this, in my mind, is to cultivate their imagination through reading. Indeed, one can travel the world just by reading.

Of course, reading alone will not be enough if I want my kids to experience the real deal. Still, reading is a good place to start, especially if the destinations I have in mind are of a totally different nature from what the kids are (going to be) used to.

That’s where this cool web site comes into the picture. I just discovered Little Passports, a web site founded by two moms who wanted to share the world (and its diverse cultures) to their kids. Based in San Francisco, the company features different monthly “travel packages” that are designed to teach children about different countries. These packages are fun and interactive and soften the culture shock that children may experience.

They feature two main characters: Sam and Sofia. Each month, these two kids travel some place new and “send” children gifts from their destination. From letters to souvenirs to online games – it would be as if your children were actually interacting with real people.

I think it’s a great way to broaden kids’ horizons and impart the love of travel to them. What do you think?

Everything You Wanted To Know About Airline Meals

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I was actually told to visit this site some time ago by my sister (who has a knack for sniffing out extraordinary sites), but never got around to doing so until today.

Airline Meals is a site entirely dedicated to (surprise, surprise), Airline Meals. It has 8,484 images of airline meals from 534 airlines, gives you the latest news and trends on airline meals and even has a forum for those who want to discuss the meal from the skies which people (more often than not) love to hate.

Quirkiness aside, the site actually has a lot of interesting and relevant information, especially if you find yourself on airplanes a lot, or planning your next trip (which means you’re probably OC though). The creator of the site says in the FAQ, that his mission for this site is not purely for entertainment, but also to inform the Airline Industry about their own products.

And rightly so. I became even more impressed with this site, the more I explored. How could he have turned such a mundane subject into something actually…dare I say it, fascinating?

There are categories on crew meals, special meals, 70’s 80’s and 90’s meals, meals in movies, even lounge food and much, much more. Or you can just browse through the thousands of photos by airline or history.
Truly fascinating stuff and a great interactive site, which is actually so much better than most of the websites out there today.

You gotta see this one.

Pet Airways Can Solve Your Pet Travel Problems

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If you are an animal lover and you have at least one pet at home, you probably have issues when it comes to traveling. We grew up with dogs – lots of them – at the house. The thing is, we never really flew much when we were young, so we didn’t have any problems. Today, I can easily see how having a dog, a cat, or even a turtle (yep I have one) can pose a problem when you go traipsing around somewhere.

Enter Pet Airways, the airline that promises to give your pet the care and attention they deserve while up in the air. Some may think that this is excessive, but if you actually think about it, your pets probably get so scared when they fly. Humans get terrified of flying – how much more for pets? And, imagine if they are cooped up in a cage and stuck in a dim crowded cargo area…

Pet Airways was created exactly for this purpose: to make sure pets fly safely and comfortably in the cabin and not the cargo. As a matter of fact, they are exclusively for pets – no humans allowed!

Of course, it is going to cost you to fly your pet via Pet Airways. Depending on the destination, you will have to pay at least $149 to have your pet transported. Still, if you really cannot go without your pet, that can be considered a reasonable amount to ensure that he or she gets to your destination without a problem. Me, as much as I love my turtle, I would rather leave him at home and have someone look after him while I am gone.