Travel agencies are among the major players in the travel industry. Generally, they offer a wide range of services to enable you to plan and execute the best adventure. A man I once spoke with on a airplane flight shared with me his travel agency tips from back in the day before he got into his current business called Southwest Appliance Repair, that travel agencies can provide you with information about various travel destinations, flights, accommodation among other aspects. But, how does a travel agency works? Here, we discuss how travel agencies operate, including their roles in the industry.

Services

As hinted above, there are many services that you can acquire from travel agencies whenever you are planning an excursion.  You can hire a travel agency to plan your itinerary. After choosing the destination of your trip, the agencies can handle the bookings for flights, car rentals, hotels and even make arrangements for you to visit different attractions. Whenever you hire a travel agency for your trip, they will also handle all the necessary paperwork for travel on your behalf.

The work of the travel agent is to scout for the best travel deals on your behalf so you do not have to go through the hassles. In other words, they seek to make the process of planning and executing your travel plans easier and convenient. After sharing with them the kind of experience that you need and your budget, they will find the best travel destinations, attractions, activities and deals that compliment those needs.

Travel agencies have a better understanding of the travel industry and, will make sure that you get the best adventure at your convenience. Even after the trip, the agent will do a follow up to find out about your experience.

Fees and Commissions

Travel agents charge no fee for inquiries. But, if you want them to handle any of the tasks discussed above on your behalf, there is a price to pay. The fees and commissions vary depending on the particular tasks that you hire them to undertake. Besides charging clients, travel agents also get paid airlines, car rental companies, hotels and resorts. In cases whereby they are given commissions by the companies, you will not have to pay them.

Overall, a travel agency is like your advocate, making sure that your trip is smooth and fun from start to finish.

When your wife or husband is constantly traveling, you can be the only adult responsible for handling kids and doing domestic stuff. And this can make your life difficult if you don’t know the best way to survive a traveling spouse. Feeding kids, taking them to school or daycare on time and ensuring their comfort while still keeping your job is not easy. At the same time, you have to shop for groceries and keep the house neat. Doing all these things alone is undoubtedly a challenge. Here are things you can do to survive your traveling wife or husband.

Wake Up Early

Morning hours can be the most stressful part of your day if your spouse is constantly on the road. That’s because you have to wake up the kids and prepare them for school. You also want to leave the house neat before heading for work. An excellent way to do all this without losing your mind is waking up early. That way, you can do most things before your children wake up.

Plan with Friends

You could have a relative or a friend that can help you do some of the things while your husband or wife is away. For instance, if your kids and your neighbor’s children attend the same school, he or she can pick them together to and from school. You can also plan to have dinner with your friends. And this can relieve your stress because you will have some quality moments together.

Treat Yourself

Every day doesn’t have to be busy because your spouse is constantly traveling. By planning your day well, you can still get time to treat yourself. For instance, you can go for lunch with a friend or traveling out of town. Ideally, do whatever makes you relax as you wait for your traveling spouse.

You can feel like it’s a significant drag when your spouse travels and leaves you at home for days. Nevertheless, these tricks can make your life better if you take the time to plan nicely.

You have many travel destinations to consider once you decide to travel. However, you most likely want to know the top family holiday destinations when planning a major family getaway. Here are the top 5 family holiday destinations that are worth considering. 

 Spanish Mainland 

This travel destination ticks almost all boxes for a great family holiday destination. It’s an inexpensive, fun-filled travel destination. Regardless of what you consider a perfect family break, you will enjoy what this destination has to offer. Whether you’re looking for a destination with nature parks and water parks that will entertain your little ones or an awesome nightlife for you and your spouse, this destination offers you the best. 

Algarve 

Algarve is a sun-soaked travel destination in Portugal. This place is a great retreat for any family. It offers fresh, tasty foods, water sports, and beautiful beaches. What’s more, you will have a wide range of accommodation to choose from whether you need a luxury hotel or a self-catering villa. And you can also engage in simpler holiday pleasures like rock pooling and building sandcastles. 

Balearic Islands 

Maybe you’ve traveled to one of these islands before. However, you have a lot more to explore in this travel destination. For instance, you can go to Majorca if you want to enjoy the amazing view of the sea, sun, and sand. Menorca provides a great place to relax on white, beautiful sands. If you want to enjoy the best nightlife on these islands, go to Ibiza. 

Greece 

This has always been an awesome travel destination for most people. And you can make it your travel destination when planning a family getaway. Go to Crete, the largest island in Greece to explore the amazing family attractions like historical sites, water parks, and long sandy stretches. 

France 

France is another great option when it comes to family holiday destinations. Whether you need a break from the city or a fun-filled holiday in a holiday park, you will get it all in France. Just plan your trip to France well and you will enjoy the experience. 

There are many family holiday destinations around the world. However, these are the top 5 family holiday destinations that you should consider.

Traveling for pleasure or business can be stressful. But, flying has subtle tensions. Nevertheless, you can enjoy the flight by following these guidelines. 

Prepare for Unanticipated Changes 

Your itinerary can change at any time when traveling. If you don’t prepare for the unanticipated changes, you will end up being stressed. For instance, the weather is a major factor to consider when it comes to air travel. Even a mild thunderstorm can cause flight delays and lead to missed connections. If you don’t have options for missed connections, you can end up stressed and frustrated. You can even be stuck in a terminal away from your destination. 

To mitigate this, book direct flights. These are cheap and they can reduce air travel stress. Essentially, take your time to research the flights. Also, relax during the flight even when faced with unanticipated interruptions. 

Pack Light 

Airlines have charges for the luggage they allow passengers to carry. Therefore, check with the airline that you intend to use to know the baggage instructions to adhere to. In some cases, your carry-on will also be inspected. Therefore, take minimal carry-on luggage to reduce tension. If you have items that can fit in your checked luggage, fit it there. 

When flying in a group or with inexperienced travel companions, increase the pre-flight time. Your trip will be more stressful if you arrive at the airport with five individuals and start running to catch a flight. Baggage check-in, parking, security inspections, ticket counter, and pre-flight boarding take time. Keeping your group together requires time. 

When traveling with inform passengers or small children, you might be granted special considerations to facilitate aircraft boarding. Therefore, feel free to ask for help because flight crews know how to handle such scenarios. 

Passengers should be confident after preparing for a flight. Ensuring time allowance, proper planning, and booking in advance combined with light packing will reduce your air travel stress significantly.

You probably want to start traveling but some things are preventing you from doing it. Perhaps, you desire traveling but feel like it’s something you can’t afford. Maybe your commitments are hindering you from traveling. Well, you have to stop doing certain things if you intend to start traveling. Here are some of the things to stop doing if you desire to start traveling. 

Buying Unnecessary Stuff

You need to stop purchasing things you might not use and save the money for your trips. For instance, you don’t have to buy any nice dress or trousers you come across. You might wear the clothes you buy only once a year because your wardrobe is probably full. So, if you feel that you don’t need something, don’t buy it. Instead, save that money for your travels. 

Sticking to What Society Says 

Some people consider traveling a waste of money. Most members of society want you to graduate from college, get a job, start a family, have kids, and work until retirement. They believe that you should travel after retirement. But, traveling at this time means you might not have the energy to have some fun. So, don’t wait until you don’t have expectations or commitments to travel. Instead, stop listening to the dictates of society and travel when you feel the urge to and can afford it. 

Dreaming About It 

Stop dreaming about travel and start planning your trips. You can read guidebooks, travel blogs, and dream about traveling for years. However, this won’t get you out there. So, instead of dreaming about your trips, start planning and actualize your plans. 

Additionally, you should stop being afraid of traveling. Some people don’t travel because they fear the unknown. They are worried about things going wrong away from home. Nevertheless, this shouldn’t be a reason for you to avoid traveling. Instead, get a good travel insurance policy and plan your trip properly. 

Whether you are a beginner or an experienced traveler who has been around the world, there are always endless attractions to indulge in. Every new place that you visit has something unique to offer. But, there are many facts about travel that you may still not discover despite the number of trips taken. Nevertheless, the following are some of the most unusual facts about travel that you should know. 

More Than 30 Million Chinese People Live in Caves 

As the world continues to edge the civilization scale, you may not expect to find many people still living in caves today. However, that is quite different in China, which is also one of the world’s oldest civilizations. In Northwest China, over 30 million people live in caves without any indoor plumbing. The caves are available for rent at about 30 USD a month and offered in three options including underground, independent and cliff caves. 

Canada is Home to 60% of the World’s Lakes 

Considered to be the second largest country in the world, Canada boasts over 3 million lakes. It has fresh water lakes as well as lakes with minerals estimated to be about three times saltier than oceans. The lakes vary in sizes and, also include seasonal water bodies that come and go with the seasons. 

It is Offensive to Add Salt to Food in Egypt 

Egyptians believe that seasoning your food after it has been served is an insult to the people that prepared the food. According to them, adding salt implies that you did not like the food as served. 

Science Has Proven Traveling Makes You a Happier Person 

Scientific research has shown that 89% of travelers report significant decrease in their stress levels after the first few days of travel. Couples also report increased feelings of intimacy within the first couple of days on the road. That is one of the reasons why traveling is highly recommended for people suffering from depression and other related conditions. 

The above crazy facts about travel not only help with learning but, could also serve as inspirations when choosing travel destinations. Overall, traveling is an opportunity for you to discover new things, boost your creativity and experience fun in unique ways that interest you. 

The travel bag that you choose and buy will play a significant role in influencing your travel experience. From TSA checkpoints to traffic jams, your travel bag will play a crucial role in determining how you travel. Here are 3 tips to guide you when choosing your travel bag.

1. Consider Size and Type

There are different sizes and types of travel bags to choose from. Your choice of the size and type of the travel bag to buy should depend on the kind of items that you intend to pack in it. The items you will pack in the bag will also depend on the kind of a trip you intend to take. For instance, when going on a weekend getaway you need a smaller travel bag than when going on a month’s long vacation. That’s because a month’s long vacation requires you to pack more items than a weekend getaway.

2. Consider Tech Specs of the Travel Bag

An ideal travel bag should have the right tech specs. Some of the specs to consider include duffel-backpack adjustability, laptop and phone chargers, water-resistant coatings, and GPS app tracking among others. However, every traveler is different and their needs are unique. Therefore, look for a travel bag with tech specs that suit your needs.

3. Choose a Travel Bag with a Strong Warranty or a Heritage Brand

You will get great leads when you look to the attics and shoulders of your grandparents and parents. You will find heirloom-quality bags and luggage. This is the best way to find travel bags that have a reputation of strength and durability. A little research is enough to help you find classic travel bags that last for years while still looking amazing.

However, there are newer travel bags that look great and last longer. In addition to their high qualities, some of them have strong warranties too. Therefore, check out different travel bags in the market to make a more informed choice.

Follow these tips to choose the right travel bag. Most importantly, choose a bag that is comfortable and easy to move around with.

Gone are the days when travelers used to move around with heavy and bulky luggage. Today, most people prefer traveling lightly. With a few packing tricks, you can now enjoy remarkable long trips with just one suitcase. In case you are wondering if it is even possible, below are tips on how a traveler can live out of a suitcase for half a year.

Think About the Weather

When packing, it is important t to consider the prevailing weather conditions at the travel destination. Instead of packing different clothes for unique weather conditions, go for dual purpose garments that are comfortable in most conditions. For hot weather, handful cotton and linen garments are just enough. When visiting cold landscapes, a few woolen layers are great. Nevertheless, get outfits that can work in different weather conditions.

Focus on Comfort, Not Looks

When you want to live out of a suitcase for six months, pack just a few items that you will feel comfortable in. By focusing on the looks, you will only end up carrying many clothes and items exceeding the required limits. Avoid packing many unnecessary beauty products like mascara that you may not even use during the trip. Instead, just pack a few clothes that can be mixed and matched and, basic products like sunscreen lotions and foundation.

Avoid Delicate Items that Can Be Easily Ruined

Traveling is only for a limited period of time and should not leave you with huge costs for fixing broken items thereafter. So, only pack items that are easy to handle and fix in case of damage. Leave behind those fancy dresses, suits, jewelry and devices that can be easily ruined, especially when crammed in a suitcase.

While living out of a suitcase for half a year might seem like a punishment to many travelers, it can save you significant amount of money and time too. Besides, it can also reduce chances of losing stuff when traveling.