Rehearsal Dinners - Why to have one and how to throw one

Rehearsal dinners usually take place after the wedding rehearsal, normally held the day before the actual wedding ceremony. Although the rehearsal dinner is not a "required" wedding event, they're a great way to get everyone who is involved with the wedding a chance to meet one another and to relax before the wedding takes place.

Traditionally, the rehearsal dinner is hosted by the grooms parents, although anyone can play host such as the bride's parents, or a close family member or friend. Regardless of who hosts, you want to make sure that they are involved with the planning process, such as where the event will be held or what will be served for dinner.

The guest list normally includes the bride and groom, their parents and the entire wedding party. Other guests often included are the grandparents, the dates of the wedding party, the Clergy person who will be performing the ceremony and their guest, other members of the family not in the wedding party and out-of-town guests. You may need to check the size of your rehearsal dinner budget to see if these other guests can be accommodated to stay within your budget.

Many brides question if it is necessary to send out invitations to the rehearsal dinner or not. Normally a phone call is sufficient, but some brides opt to make their own invitations and send them out through the mail. If you decide to send out invitations and aren't sure what to say, try the following wording:

Please Join us for a Rehersal Dinner
in Honor of (Bride's Name) and (Groom's Name)
at (this location)
at (this time)

RSVP: (Hosts Name) at (phone number)

The next step is to figure out is where to have the rehearsal dinner. Some popular rehearsal dinner places include a private room at a restaurant, a private club, a BBQ, a small room at your reception site or a private home. Things to keep in mind; if you are having a rehearsal, choose someplace close by to hold the dinner so people won't have to drive all over to get there. Also keep in mind that if you inviting any out of town guests, that you provide them with a very good map of how to get the dinner and back to their hotel (or where ever they are staying). A good option is to carpool so they won't get lost.

Wondering what to have for dinner? That is entirely up to you and the host; you can have a formal dinner or a more relaxed meal. Many brides decide to have a more informal rehearsal dinner, to keep everyone relaxed for the wedding activities that are coming up. Right before dinner is served, the host will usually say a few words and give a toast to the bride and groom, and often a few other toasts will be given as well.

This is also the perfect time to give the wedding party and the parents their gifts. The bride and groom will usually say a few words before handing them out; they generally will thank everyone for being in the wedding party as well as say a few other heartfelt words.

The Rehearsal Dinner is a great way to have a relaxing time with your bridal party and is usually the kickoff to the wedding festivities soon to come.

Attendants Duties

Not sure what the Attendants duties are, exactly? Hopefully this list of duties will help you out. Please note that this list is not all-inclusive list and some duties can be shared amongst other attendants.

MAID/MATRON OF HONOR

* Generally responsible for own gown and accessories
* Helps arrange bridal shower and acts as host
* Keeps a record of shower and wedding gifts for the bride
* Acts as official witness
* Helps calm the bride's nerves
* Rearranges train before the processional, during the ceremony, and before the recessional
* Holds bride's bouquet (and possibly gloves) during ceremony
* Takes cares of the bride's things at the ceremony and reception
* Assists the bride when changing from her wedding gown to her going-away apparel
* Attends the rehearsal
* Attend as member of the receiving line and head table
* Assist with decorating reception room
* Assits bride with bustle of her dress after the ceremony

BRIDESMAIDS

* Generally responsible for their own gowns
* Assist with bridal shower planning
* Helps put together reception favors
* Fill cups with confetti, rice, or rose petals to throw for the getaway
* Decorate the cars
* Attends the rehearsal
* Attend as members of the receiving line and head table
* Assist with decorating reception room

BEST MAN

* Responsible for tuxedo
* Pays the officiant and other vendors
* In charge of groom arriving on time
* Gives toast at ceremony and reception
* Keeps rings, license, and honeymoon tickets in a safe place
* Plans for reception exit transportation
* Attends the rehearsal
* Attend as member of the receiving line and head table
* Assist with decorating reception room

GROOMSMEN

* Assists the Best Man with any of his duties as needed
* Attends the rehearsal
* Attend as member of the receiving line and head table
* Assist with decorating reception room

USHERS

* Responsible for their own attire
* Involved in all ceremony festivities
* Greet all guests at the ceremony, ask which family they represent and seat them accordingly. Bride's family and friends sit on the left of the aisle and the groom's on the right
* Usually two of the ushers unroll the aisle runner after the bride's mother is seated

FLOWER GIRL

* Usually a young girl under the age of 7
* Precedes the bride, tossing paper petals or fresh flower petals down the aisle

RING BEARER

* Usually a young boy under the age of 7
* Walks down the aisle carrying the ring, or a substitute secured to a satin pillow.

Advice For Travelers Afraid to Fly

A lot of people are afraid to fly on an airplane. Though the exact reasons for this can vary from fear of giving up control to claustrophobia to not having a strong understanding of how airplanes can actually remain in the air, this article will give you a few bits of advice on how you can manage a fear of flying.
In this day and age air travel is becoming incredibly common. Quick business flights to far-off cities or a welcomed vacation to romantic and thrilling locales are normal and air travel is the fastest way to get from point A to point B. However some people are scared of flying or experience a type of phobia or anxiety about air travel, much like others experience as panic attacks while they drive or sleeping panic attacks.

It is important to realize that a fear of flying (also called aerophobia) may not simply have it's root in the actual fear of flying itself, but it could be many other things. While some people might be afraid of the extreme altitude and what it would be like to fall from such a height, others might find that the claustrophobic environment is what sends them over the edge. Others might have control issues trusting the pilot to fly the plane safely, while reports of recent plane crashes might put others on edge. Someone could be afraid to fly for literally countless reasons.

What sorts of advice can a person take to heart to make flying a more enjoyable thing?

First, find out where exactly your fear of flying is coming from and what sets it off. Do you know what caused this phobia to develop? Could it be something stressful or traumatic that happened when you were a child? It helps to know as much about your fear as possible so that you can be better equipped to handling it and moving past it and overcome the anxiety you face when you fly.

If you think that knowing more about the mechanics of flight, then by all means do that. Not knowing how airplanes work and why they can even fly in the first place can cause panic to some, so learning about them can be helpful. Try to locate books or other media that can explain how it all works in plain English.

Find a support group. Maybe you can turn to your friends and family, if you feel that they will understand and offer you support. Also look into internet forums and message boards where you can connect with others, share your experiences, and learn new techniques to manage anxiety. If you have some money to spend you can also look into professional therapy in your area.

Remember that you're not alone. Others out there suffer from a fear of flying. A lot of them have mastered the problem and now enjoy fear-free flying. Flying should be a fun and rewarding experience that takes you to far off places. And it will be after you put your fear of flying behind you!

Last Minute Travel Deals

If you're looking for deals on last minute getaways, then a website designed specifically for that purpose might be just the ticket.

Online possibilities abound for taking advantage of the unexpected weekend off, the wedding you discover you can make it to after all, and other holiday opportunities that may pop up over the course of a few months or less. While planning far ahead usually turns out to be the best option, you do have resources for landing last minute deals on hotels and vacation packages.

Anyone who has ever endured the hassle of finding affordable lodgings (especially under the pressure of securing them right away) will appreciate the ease with which most search engines handle the task. At Superbreak.com, for example, you can search for hotels by city to receive an alphabetized list that provides ratings and prices suited to your comfort and budget requirements. You can then determine availability and make a reservation online. Many websites offer discounted hotel rooms as part of special package deals both within the U.S. and abroad. Restrictions may apply regarding dates, so if you spy a five day, four night trip to Maui for a phenomenally low price, go ahead and grab it.

If heading for the ski slopes appeals to you more than lounging on tropical beaches, Iglu.com specializes in winter vacations, whether last minute or planned in advance. Here fans of the fluffy white stuff will find plenty of advice for booking the best winter resorts as well as learning to improve their snow sport skills. Remember, too, to keep up with news that may affect travel plans; in addition to being aware of national situations that could postpone your trip, make sure to check the last minute travel sites themselves, which often provide commentary on travel safety within your destination.

How to get cheap flight tickets

Every time you decide to book a flight, my advice is to book it as early as possible. Business travelers usually pay high prices for their tickets because they tend to travel on short notice and airlines increase prices for last minute bookings.

In order to be sure that you buy your flight tickets as cheap as possible you should look at different websites of the airlines to compare prices, because you can come across different sales and prices change quite frequently. When you have picked your destination consult all operators so that you can find the best or even the most suitable time to travel. Many people like to pay a little more than be forced to get up at 4am for a 6am flight. Of course, everything depends on individual preferences, sometimes you only go for a short trip and you want to use as much time as you can.

There are more methods to make flight costs lower. Quite often operators provide branded credit cards which have incentives attached in order to encourage people to sign up. Savvy people may want to sign up for the incentive and cancel the credit card if it does not continue to provide any benefits. Once more, check what is available at the moment. Some travel agencies may give you free return flights or enable you to get free upgrades, business class, thank you! Remember to check the terms of each offer to be certain they are reasonable and easy to obtain.

Last Minute Travel Ideas

Making a decision to go to a distant place for a vacation without previous planning can be quite difficult. The last minute travel ideas mentioned in this article will help you to a great extent. Read on to know more.

The general perception about vacations, distant travels or picnics, is that we need to plan for them at least a few weeks in advance, for their complete success. However, there can arise a situation in which all the members of your family or all your friends have a holiday on a particular day, or simply just don't have any kind of important work. At this point, you can always consider the idea of going to a vacation spot which you all like to spend some quality time together and relax. This can help all of you to get some much needed recreation from your daily routine activities. Given below are some last minute travel ideas for weekends and other sudden occasions, which will make your journey a successful and a memorable one.

How to Plan a Trip at the Last Moment

Last Minute Travel Ideas: Decide the Location Quickly!
While planning last minute vacation ideas, it is important that your group takes the decision of 'where to go' quickly. You can ask all the members of the group to give their inputs fast and ask them to justify their thoughts. One member of your group should be the group leader who will quickly note down all the suggestions on a piece of paper and start the thinking process. Since you do not have much time, you should not keep fighting with each other. Instead, you should finalize that place which is easier for all of you to visit and the travel expense is in your budget. It is better to finalize a place which you know well because if not done so, you will have to spend a lot of time here and there searching for things. The ideal places can be your farmhouse, a famous park, a hill station etc. More on travel tips.

Last Minute Travel Ideas: Decide 'How to Go' Quickly
While you are planning for the last minute vacation ideas, you need to decide the mode of transport to reach the place where you all wish to go early. Since you are planning for your holiday late, there might not be enough time to book tickets for trains, buses or your air tickets. You may even find it difficult to get a transport car from transport companies a the last moment since there is a chance of their vehicles being pre-occupied. The best way is to go by driving the car of any of your group member. By doing this, you will not only be able to save time in reaching the spot, but you will not feel the journey to be boring.

Last Minute Travel Ideas: Decide What You Wish to Carry
Since you do not have much time, you should keep the 'things to be carried' minimum. However, you should carry essential things for your comfortable stay at the holiday destination. You should carry the basic things like your clothes and things for your personal entertainment like laptops, iPods, voice recorders, mobile phones, chess board, cards, etc. Pack all the things in a big bag and keep it in your car. Do not forget to carry your credit cards or debit cards and cash money for making purchases at the vacation place. You should also carry some eatables and cold drinks for consumption while you are driving.

Hopefully, the above mentioned last minute travel ideas will help you while you are planing a trip all of a sudden. 'Presence of mind' is the quality you require to make your last minute vacation ideas successful. Have fun!

Have you Ever Been Stuck at the Airport?

When you are stuck in the airport for a long time you aren't without options.

Have you ever found yourself at the airport with a lot of time to spare? That recently happened to me when I was flying out of the airport on the same day as my mother and the airport was two hours away from my parents home. I was flying to England to meet my wife and my mother was flying to my home in Florida to take care of it while I extended my vacation. Her flight left at 8am and my flight did not leave until 3 pm. I was wondering what I was going to do while I waited, especially since I was stuck at an airport where there was no wireless internet connection. Here is how I kept myself busy while I was there.

The first thing that I did was to pace the halls. I walked up and down the c concource for about an hour before I stumbled onto something interesting. Outside the Admirals Club I found that I could get a wireless signal so I planted myself down and did a couple hours of work. This helped the time go rather quickly and I was happy that I could spend the time being online instead of trying to sleep sitting up in an uncomfortable airport chair. Another thing that I did was to do some good old fashion people watching. This is something that is really interesting at an airport because you have hundreds of people coming in from all over the world and there are so many different types of people to look at. That kept me interested for about an hour.

So if you find yourself stuck in an airport for a long period of time do some walking and see what kind of opportunities present themselves. You may just be surprised at what you can find to get yourself into when you are stuck at such a melting pot, and what you can see, so enjoy your time and make the best of it.

Book Your Travel the Easy Way - Trust a Renowned Travel Agent

If you are looking for cheap flights for your next holiday then hire a renowned travel agent to do the job to ensure peace of mind and greater financial protection for yourself.

Every jaded traveller is likely to swear by travel agents, when it comes to flight booking. After all, there are limitless benefits in trusting travel agents to book your flights, rather than unnecessarily bothering yourself with this ticket booking hassle. The insider network of travel agents gives them access to attractive flight deals, which an outsider may never even get to hear of. Airlines sell tickets to travel agents for massive discounts and the agents pick up commissions instead of fees. Simply put, this translates as enormous savings for passengers.

In fact, to give air tickets an iron clad guarantee, it is highly recommended that one should book tickets through travel agents who are members of ABTA (Association of British Travel Agents). ABTA members have to rigidly adhere to ABTA guidelines, which are aimed at maximising passenger benefit. In other words, if anything goes awry, then the travel agent would be there to sort out matters.

Perhaps, the best part of hiring travel agents is that your flight itinerary gets planned by seasoned professionals. For instance, if you are looking for specialised services such as cheap flights to India, then wracking your brains over the Internet may or may not get you the best deal, but a professional travel agent will definitely be able to work out the most suitable option for you. An agent is best suited to help you zero down upon that perfect stopover and the shortest transit. In fact, the Internet may prove too tedious if you try to search flights with more than one halt. Travel agents have a treasure of information concerning flights and can significantly cut down your travel time by apprising you of connecting flight between different destinations.

Passengers with special needs can safely depend upon travel agents for all requirements. Be it pre-arranged wheelchairs or customized on board food options, travel agents take care of all the nitty-gritties.

In case, you book tickets on your own and then need a last minute cancellation, the airline may not be too cooperative with fare adjustment. However, if your travel agent deals with the situation, the scenario changes remarkably because airlines treat agents differently. After all, the agent brings in a high volume of business to the airline. By hiring the services of a renowned travel agent, you can even expect an automatic upgrade which may not be so convenient with the airline.

A travel agent helps keep track of expenditure. The Internet is not too feasible if multiple bookings have to be made. Quite often, credit transactions are found to lack in details. You can also be rest assured that for international travel, one of the most trustworthy sources of information on your health documents, passport, visa and any other paper work is the travel agent.

Overall, the travel agent takes care of every detail of your air travel and makes sure that everything goes smoothly. So, be it cheap flights or just some peace of mind, travel agents always come in handy for your air trip.

Staying Healthy when You Travel

Even though your bags are packed, one of the things you must take with you is proof you’ve seen your doctor.

So you’re taking an international trip. You’ve bough the appliance converters, had your passport picture taken and have your passport in hand, have your reservations, have travel tips and guides - pretty much everything is in gear for you to go. But there is one thing you may not have considered.

Each year thousands of people travel abroad and many will come back either having experienced illness or find out they’re ill when they get back to the US. It is important to talk with your doctor at least two months before you go overseas. Some countries require vaccines or prevention drugs and medications that we don’t normally give here. For example, traveling to Honduras, you need to start taking malaria drugs three-six weeks before you leave. Yellow fever vaccines may be indicated when traveling to South Africa or America.

Certainly the possibility exists for you to become ill when you travel. Therefore, it’s a good idea to take your own little medicine cabinet. For example, drugs to control diarrhea or vomiting, aspirin, antihistamine, and anti-bacterial ointment. Taking a list of your medications is important, as well. Some countries/cruise ships require that you bring the bottles your medication is in, rather than putting them in a travel pillbox. A current prescription to verify that you do, indeed, take the medication you have with you is important as well.

The Center for Disease Control recommends not only before you travel, but also in general, to make sure you are current on your vaccination schedule. Too often, adults think that they’re "finished" with vaccines because they had all of them when they were younger. That is not the case. Adults need to get boosters or another series of vaccines to make sure they are protected against disease.

There are obvious things you can do to stay healthy when you travel. Drink bottled water, soft drinks and juices. Stay away from raw fish and meat. Make sure the food you consume is cooked properly and served to you at the right temperature. If something looks or smells the least bit questionable, don’t eat it. Pay attention to your surroundings. Use insect repellant if you’re going to be doing a lot of outside walking or touring. Wear sunscreen. Exposure to the sun can really be deceiving in tropical locations.

There is an old song called "Leaving on a Jet Plane." The lyrics go something like, "all my bags are packed, I’m ready to go." With advance planning by going to your doctor, getting the necessary vaccines, obtaining copies of your prescriptions, and packing the important things - your camera, your clothes, etc. no doubt, you will have an excellent and healthy adventure. Oh…and don’t forget your passport and extra money. Bon voyage!

Thrifty Traveler’s Tip: Sleep in the Airport!

If you’re on a tight budget and want to shave a few bucks off your travel expenses, you can spend the night in the airport for free.

One of the most expensive parts of a vacation is often the hotel. And if you’re staying at an airport hotel so you can be ready for your flight the next morning, those rooms are usually more pricey than hotels away from the airport. If all you’re going to do is sleep anyway, why not save that money and spend it on your vacation instead? Airports are often deserted at night anyway, so you can get a good night’s sleep and not be late for your flight, and it won’t cost you a penny. It may sound like it might be a little humiliating, but the practice is growing in popularity - there’s even a whole travel community dedicated to airport sleeping, and it’s no longer just poor young backpackers who do it. Nowadays you can find travelers of all ages, and all income brackets, sound asleep on airport floors and benches around the world.

Some people are forced to sleep in an airport overnight anyway due to airline delays, bad weather, or unforeseen flight problems, so it isn’t a new thing at all, and the airport staff have seen it millions of times. Chances are you won’t see anyone you know anyway, so toss your pride aside, don your sense of adventure, and put away your wallet.

SleepingInAirports.net is a great website devoted to the idea of saving money by avoiding airport hotels. The site has a list of which airports have been rated best and worst by travelers who are regular airport sleepers. When it comes to friendly staff, amenities for travelers, and comfortable seating arrangements, the top-ranked airports in the world are in Singapore, Dubai, Munich, Seoul, Frankfurt, Hong Kong, Zurich, Copenhagen, Amsterdam, and Kuala Lumpur. Surprisingly, some of the worst airports in the world are located in some of the most fabulous cities - Paris, Hanoi, Rome, London, Los Angeles, and New York City.

If you find the idea of airport sleeping intriguing, you should do a little research online first to see what tips you can find about how to do it successfully. The most important tip to keep in mind is that you should always have a backup plan in case something interferes. Not all airport officials support the idea, and although you probably won’t be kicked out, you may be asked to prove that you are waiting for an actual flight the next day, and you might be grilled as to why you aren’t staying in the airport hotel. So be prepared to answer any questions you’re asked, and be polite and agreeable, and most likely they will leave you alone to sleep in peace.

Be sure to have a survival kit specially designed for airport sleeping. Believe it or not, a cheap inflatable pool raft, or even a travel mattress, will fold up nicely and help to make for a more comfortable night’s sleep on a hard airport floor. In some airports, you are forbidden to sleep on the floor, but it’s good to have a mat handy in case you can use it. There are other things you will find useful in your survival kit:

Ear plugs and eye shades to increase the chance of getting a good night’s sleep in peace.

Bottled water and something to eat because most airport restaurants and shops are closed at night.

Disinfectant wipes because cleanliness can be a problem in the airport, and they will help make sure your "bed" is less covered in grime.

Books or magazines to help you pass the time and fall asleep.

A small pillow and/or blanket preferably borrowed from an airline. Some airlines even have blankets and cots for passengers to use if they have to stay overnight unexpectedly, so it doesn’t hurt to ask!

An alarm clock to be sure you don’t miss your flight. As an alternative, you can even use a post-it note as an alarm clock - just write "Wake me up at 6 a.m." on a note, stick a few on yourself, and people will actually wake you up!

Tissues and toilet paper, especially if you might be sleeping in an airport in a third world country.

Get to the airport early so you can scope out the best place to park yourself for the night, especially during the summer or peak travel season. Really popular airports will be the most crowded, particularly in the Departures lounges. The Arrivals areas are usually more deserted because when people get there, they don’t stay. But on the other hand, there may be a lot of people in the Arrivals areas, waiting for loved ones’ flights to land. It varies from airport to airport.

If you are approached by airport personnel who question what you’re doing, don’t act like you’re sleeping there on purpose - give them the impression that you’re really disgruntled to have to spend the night in the airport. Better for them to take pity on you and treat you with empathy than for them to think you’re substituting the airport for a hotel. Be polite and pleasant, and not only to airport personnel. There are probably other airport sleepers around, so be quiet and let them rest.

Above all, have fun and make the most of the situation. The best adventures traveling are the ones you remember long after you return home, and purposely spending the night in an airport is an adventure you’ll never forget!

Travel Tips: How to plan the perfect vacation

The first step in planning any family vacation is deciding where and when you are going. It is best to decide at least six months prior to leaving.

Once you have decided where to go, the next step is how to get there. This really depends on how far from home you are going and how much time off from work you are taking.

If you are going a great distance and want more quality time at your vacation destination, you may consider flying. Although, if you enjoy the travel as much as the destination, driving is the best alternative. To drive takes only a couple of decisions more. You must route out you trip, estimate milage, and estimate gasoline expenses.

Now that you know where you are going and how you are getting there, start making all necessary reservations. If you reserve airline tickets, rental cars, and hotel/motel accomodations early, they are usually cheaper. Anything you can reserve early-Do it! It will save you hassels later. Once you have made reservations, keep all the information in a handy place.

Now you can decide how much money needs to be available for the trip and start a savings plan. Set aside a certain amount every month in preparation for the trip.

Also, decide who will take care of your pets or if they will go to a kennel to be boarded. Call your veterinarian to check on your pet's current vaccinations.

Ask a trustworthy neighbor or family member to collect your mail and newspapers or have them held while you are away. If you have houseplants that are easy to care for, you can leave them in a bathtub with an inch or two of standing water while you are away. If your plants are complicated, you may ask a neighbor or family member to plant sit.

About one or two weeks before the trip, begin reconfirming all reservations to ensure everything is in order. Now is the time to remind neighbors/family members about watering your plants or collecting your mail. If you choose to have mail and newspapers held, this would be the time to set that up.

Go to the bank and get traveler's cheques for the bulk of your spending money. Try to keep about $50.00 cash for on the road snacks and small souvenirs.

Get out your luggage to decide what you need for each family member. If traveling by car, remember to pack a bag of activities and snacks for younger trip takers. If you are traveling by plane, choose what you think will really occupy your children as the carry-on bag will have to be smaller.

Packing to make sure you don't forget anything is simple. Go into each room of your house and think about what you use on a daily basis from that room. This will ensure that you will not miss any common items such as a toothbrush.

Visualize a wardrobe for every family member taking into consideration the climate of your vacation destination. Even if you travel to a warm destination always bring at least one warm outfit and a light jacket in case the temperature drops unexpectedly.

The day before you leave, drop the pets off at their respective places for boarding. Make sure all the bags are packed and you have all necessary paperwork readily accessible. Before you leave, put plants in bathtub with one inch standing water and make sure all appliances are turned off.

6 Tips For Travel

Have you been on a vacation lately? If not, why not? Everyone needs to get away a few times a year. It doesn't matter what you do. Not taking some time off from where you work can lead to a very unhappy you. It will make you not want to be at your job. It will put you in a bad mood when you realize that you have not had a break in a very long time.

When you finally do decide to take that much needed time off, the following tips can make your vacation a lot less stressful and much more relaxing. After all, a vacation's whole purpose is for you to recharge your batteries. The less things you have to worry about during the time off you have, the more enjoyable your time away will be.

1) Make sure your reservation is intact. There is nothing more stressful than getting to where you are staying only to find out there is no reservation for you. Call the place you are staying at least a week ahead of time to make sure all is in order.

2) Decide which credit cards you will be taking with you to use. If you have many credit cards, do not take them all with you. If for some reason you lose one or they get stolen, you will only have to deal with the ones you know that you brought. By limiting the cards you bring, you limit having to remember every card that you have.

3) Get travelers checks to pay for the all inclusive fee. This will diminish the amount of cash you have to carry. IF they get stolen or you somehow lose them, you can get more. If you have cash there is no replacing that. Just be sure to keep the travelers checks separate from the the form with their serial numbers on them.

4) Book your flight so you can be at your resort in the morning. The resort will let you use all of the facilities while you wait for your room to be ready. You will get a whole day in the sun by doing this.

5) Carry a backpack or something similar. Put a swimsuit in there and a change of clothes. You never know when that airlines will lose your luggage. This way you have a day to wait if you luggage gets to the wrong destination.

6) Bring tip money. A little tipping here and there will go a long way. The staff will be very appreciative and you will be surprised at how much better the service you get will be. Remember, always be nice to the bartenders. If they don't like you, they will try and not serve you. Besides, your on vacation. Be nice and people will be nice to you.

If you follow the 6 tips you will be on your way to a stress free start to a well deserved vacation full of fun and relaxation.

Travelling Benefits and Possibilities

When we are doing something we usually desire to get some other benefits from it. The thing is that the combination of travelling while learning something else seems to be quite appealing. Thus it's not surprising that this is the case while stopping on some specific destination point.

Well, let's start with the most typical reason to travel abroad. I bet that no one would disagree with the idea that it's simply either learning a new language or mastering the learnt one.

While this is the first benefit while travelling you should pay attention to some more practical usages of the tour. One of these options is culinary tours. During this kind of tours tourists usually travel to the original countries of some specific cuisine and thus learn how to make dishes from the locals.

For those who prefer sports- gyms and fitness centers usually provide various trips during which you can exercise you body when climbing mountains and find the spiritual calmness with yoga. Another great option her is to practice the water sports. They are believed to give lots of adrenaline and impressions.

As for those who prefer to stop at the extreme ways of time leisure the offer of learning how to ride a race car or a motorcycle will seem appealing enough, if not taking into account the possibilities of riding such cars as Ferrari and Lamborghini in Italy.

If all of this is not enough for you then you can also start a new hobby and travel to Egypt to learn how to make drawings from the sand, Batik technique somewhere in Asia or simply flamenco in Spain.

The fact of tourism

The World Tourism Organization (WTO) recently released their data for the world's top tourist destinations for 1998. Below is a list of the twenty top countries that received tourists for more than one day, along with the number of visitors for 1998.

1. France - 70,000,000

2. Spain - 47,743,000

3. United States - 47,127,000

4. Italy - 34,829,000

5. United Kingdom - 25,475,000

6. China - 24,000,000

7. Mexico - 19,300,000

8. Poland - 18,820,000

9. Canada - 18,659,000

10. Austria - 17,282,000

11. Germany - 16,504,000

12. Czech Republic - 16,325,000

13. Russia - 15,810,000

14. Hungary - 14,660,000

15. Portugal - 11,800,000

16. Greece - 11,077,000

17. Switzerland - 11,025,00

18. Hong Kong* - 9,600,000

19. Turkey - 9,200,000

20. Thailand - 7,720,000

*Though Hong Kong was considered separately, it is a Special Administrative Region of China.

From the WTO's fascinating list, additional details can be discerned. For example, France receives 11.2% of the world's travelers. Spain, Portugal, and Greece each had large jumps in the number of tourists between 1997 and 1998 (10%, 16%, and 10%, respectively). Hungary suffered a drop of 15% and China's number of tourists decreased by 7.7%.

Countries that many people often associate with travel, were not on the list of the top twenty. Surprisingly, countries such as Croatia (31st) and South Africa (25th) beat Japan (32nd), Australia (33rd), and Brazil (39th). Overall, the top 20 countries account for 73.6% of all visits worldwide.