Many times, people dive into vacation plans without doing much more research than sorting through the travel brochures at their local travel agency, or browsing through a few online sources. With the instant availability of information on the internet, many people don’t even bother looking through the well-established travel guides like Frommer’s and Foder’s anymore. However, the problem you may run into with internet travel opinions is that they are just that – the opinions of people who have traveled and made mistakes before.

Looking at travel guides written by people who are trained to observe a vacation destination with a critical eye, really gives you the best overall perspective on the situation. For example, if you want to stay in a small, local hotel while in the Caribbean, but read a horrid review about it online, you probably won’t choose to stay there. However, what charms one person about a hotel – such as open windows, no television, no elevators, individualized rooms, and local décor – can often turn another person off if they’re expecting luxury. Find a travel writer who shares your personal tastes and consider investing in a travel guide written by this person.

Going through this guide book and reading the recommendations will give you a much better feel for exactly what it is you’re signing yourself up for. Some people worry that travel guides are tied to the writer’s pocket books – meaning that they only refer travelers to hotels and travel options that give them the most money – but this isn’t the case. The people writing the articles are just as human as the rest of us, but on the whole those guides are usually objective. While there’s no way to say that what they’re writing isn’t tainted a little by their personal preferences, these guides are extremely helpful and full of information you might not otherwise have to help plan your vacation.

For instance, if you want to take a tour through the Caribbean island you’re visiting, who do you trust? Do you look around for the nearest person espousing themselves as a guide and hop in their car? Most of us are cautious enough not to just hop in someone’s vehicle no matter where we are traveling; but is trusting the advertisements and pamphlets that they hand out at tourist stops and travel agencies any better? The good thing about having read up on where you’re vacationing in a reliable travel guide is that you’ll know more about what businesses are trustworthy and where to look to get the best deal on your vacation activities.

The importance of being able to have both the accommodations you want at a fair and reasonable price is something that can’t be emphasized enough. Too many times tourists who don’t do their homework get taken in by the local market and end up paying too much for nearly everything involved in their vacation package. If you’re trying to visit the Caribbean on a budget, the best thing you can do is to plan ahead with the help of a trusted travel guide.

Also, good travel guides will help you to find out when the best time of year is to travel, what your options are, and whether or not you should try to haggle the prices quoted to you. As with any good research book, a vacation guide can be your key to getting the most out of your vacation. And – even though it may seem like homework – remember that planning ahead for your Caribbean vacation will pay off.

Times Square: While it’s definitely over rated and you would never catch me dead there on New Years, I can’t help but appreciate the energy in the area:

Ellis Island And The Statue Of Liberty: As a history buff, I’m in awe of the historic importance of Ellis Island and the symbolic power of the Staue of Liberty.

The Caribbean is a great place to travel at any time of the year for a tropical island vacation. No matter where you go in the Caribbean – from St. Kitt’s to Barbados – you’re sure to enjoy every moment of your stay. The beaches are clear and warm and the water is sparkling – a perfect escape from everyday life. Regardless of which island you visit, you’ll enjoy the beaches, the great people and the amazing food. However, it can add up quickly, so here are some tips to follow to see the Caribbean on a budget: (more…)

If you’re going to travel overseas, there are lots of places where you can cut back your expenses. You can travel by bicycle instead of renting a car or taking taxis everywhere, or you can choose to stay in a hostel instead of more expensive hotels. That said, when it comes to your health and wellness, don’t skimp on purchasing overseas travel insurance. Unfortunately, many people don’t realize that their personal health insurance policy may not cover overseas expenses. Don’t risk it! Make sure that you’re adequately protected before you begin your journey.

Paying for illness while you are overseas

Even though many foreign countries have socialized medicine, you still want to make sure that you can get the best care available. While this is especially important if you have a pre-existing health condition, medical emergencies can pop up in any situation. When you go to a foreign country, you can’t always be sure that the water or local foods will be agree with your system. You may also be exposed to illnesses or poisonous plants and insects that you’ve never encountered before.

It’s also important to think about travel insurance if you’re going overseas to view historic monuments. While these things may seem exciting when you’re planning your vacation, there are also medical risks that you need to be aware of. Visiting monuments and attractions often involves climbing narrow or dangerous pathways and navigating obstacles to reach the actual site. If your vacation includes activities where you might become injured, make sure you can pay any unintended medical bills.

If you plan to take part in any kind of group activities like mountain biking or scuba diving, make sure you go through a legitimate, reputable company. Before you embark on your activity, a member of the staff should cover all safety procedures and ensure that any equipment you rent is in top condition. Most likely, these groups will have their own insurance policies that will help cover your expenses in the event of an accident. However, it’s still important to have your own policy, just in case the company’s policy doesn’t cover all of your bills.

Paying for medical transport

Being able to get to a neighboring country may be crucial if you become sick. If you’re visiting a third world country, even the best hospitals and medical staff available may not be able to properly treat your condition. In these cases, you’ll want to have the option to be taken to a better hospital – even if that means being medivaced to a neighboring country. Without a question, if you can’t pay up front for these services – or guarantee payment in some other way – you won’t be transported. To protect yourself, make sure your travel insurance policy specifically covers medical transportation in case of emergency.

Today, more people than ever are able to enjoy travel overseas. If you’ve saved up for years to travel to a particular country, don’t blow your vacation by forgetting to plan for what will happen if you get sick or injured. If your current health insurance plan doesn’t include coverage for overseas travel, purchase additional insurance that covers the area you’re traveling to and the activities you plan to engage in. After all, the last thing you want to do is to spend your dream vacation trying to negotiate for necessary medical services without the means to pay for them!

As the cost of airfare continues to skyrocket, many people are choosing to drive to their vacation destinations. However, depending on the condition of your car, you may want to consider renting a car for your vacation instead of driving your own vehicle. Weigh your travel options carefully and keep the following things in mind:

Gas Mileage

Even if you aren’t traveling a great distance by car, you’ll want to take the vehicle that gives you the best fuel economy possible – especially considering rising gas prices. If you currently drive an SUV or other large vehicle that gets low gas mileage, it may make sense for you rent a car with more reasonable fuel efficiency. Run the numbers before you leave on your trip – calculate how much you’ll spend based on current gas prices and the length of your trip in your car and in a rental car.

Breakdowns, towing and collisions

Vacations are supposed to be relaxing – you don’t want to deal with car trouble on your trip! If you drive an older vehicle – or one that is out of warranty – it’s important to think about what will happen if your car breaks down. Even if you already have roadside assistance coverage through your insurance provider, it won’t be much help if your car needs extensive repairs. Nothing ruins your vacation like trying to find an out-of-town mechanic for major auto repairs.

On other hand – if you decide to rent a car – towing and repairs will be covered by the rental agency. If you rent your car from a licensed automobile dealer, you’ll have access to mechanics at any dealership close to where your car broke down. If you’re involved in a collision with a rental car, you won’t have to deal with the stress of organizing repairs to your regular vehicle.

Base Cost

While renting a car offers a number of advantages, they also come with a fairly high price and additional fees. Aside from the basic rental fee, you’ll also have to pay for any extra miles you drive, as well as a renters insurance policy for the vehicle. Don’t put the rental car on your regular car insurance policy – it may result in higher rates the next time you renew. This can seem like a lot – especially when the only expense you incur driving your own car is for gas.

However, don’t let these extra expenses scare you away. We’ve already discussed how renting a more fuel efficient car and preventing wear and tear on your own car can save you money. It might also be worth it to rent a car if you’re near the end of the lease on your current car and don’t want to go over your mile limit. That’s why it’s so important to take all these different factors into account and choose the option that makes the most sense for you financially.

Today, the cost of gas and mechanical repairs makes it very difficult to choose whether or not to drive your own vehicle on vacation. If you can afford a rental car, you may find that the peace of mind you gain is worth the extra expense. That said, if you are confident that you can handle any automobile related emergencies that may come up, it might be to your benefit to use your own car while you are on vacation.