Every international budget traveler, and many domestic budget travelers as well, will eventually be introduced to the idea of using chartered flights. Using charter flights has important advantages and some drawbacks to be aware of.
There is no doubt that airfare is one of the biggest expenses of any vacation. Airfare costs can easily represent at leas half of the total cost of a vacation, and if you do not get the best possible deal on airfare it is easy to go over budget.
One advantage of charter flights is that they can often allow a traveler to fly to a popular destination, like Europe, in the high season for a much lower cost than comparable commercial flights.
That is because commercial airlines generally greatly increase their airfares during the popular high season, due to the effects of supply and demand. During the high season, charter flights can often be much less expensive than those ion traditional airlines.
Another advantage of charter flights that many people are unaware of is that it is sometimes possible to upgrade to first class for very low prices.
Many travelers do not realize it, but charter planes do have first class sections. Since few people who can afford first class transatlantic flights fly on charter airlines, the first class section is often almost empty. Due to this disparity, it is often possible to upgrade to first class for very low prices.
When you check in for your charter flight, always be sure to ask if an upgrade to first class is available. These upgrades are almost always available, and the price can be as low as $50. This is an unheard of deal for a long transatlantic flight.
These price advantages, of course, often come with some associated drawbacks. One of the most significant disadvantages of many charter flight operators is that their level of customer service can be much worse than the major commercial air carriers.
From late opening ticket windows, to flight delays to luggage problem, many charter airlines have a bad reputation for customer service.
Fortunately, the internet has made the process of finding reliable charter airlines, and avoiding the bad ones, much easier.The many travel related web sites and newsgroups are great ways to learn about the various charter airlines that operate international flights, swap stories and tips with those who have been there, and of course to compare prices.
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Budget Travel With Charter Flights
Friday, April 22nd, 2011International Travel Tips For The Best Family Vacations – Part 2
Wednesday, March 9th, 2011Traveling abroad has it’s own rewards and challenges and it’s good to think and plan ahead for any trip outside the boundaries of your own country if you don’t want unpleasant surprises to crop up. In Part 1 of this article series we covered several tips on what paperwork may be needed as you travel, how to prepare for driving an auto in a foreign country, medical insurance concerns and much more. Now here are more international travel tips that can help you have the best family vacations while you are abroad:
* Most major credit cards are often accepted in foreign countries, but just be sure that the ones you have can be used successfully everywhere you intend to go. It may also be a good idea to notify your credit card companies in advance that you are leaving the country and how long you plan to be gone just so they do not flag your account and deny charges due to suspicion of fraudulent activity.
* Credit cards are also beneficial to use in many cases since the credit card companies will handle all conversion rates for you, which can save you a lot of money because of not having to make those kind of complicated money conversion calculations on your own whenever you buy anything.
* Try to drink bottled water as much as you can to avoid sickness while on the trip. Water quality can vary considerably from one country or even one area to another, so protect yourself by drinking as much bottled water as you can while on the trip. And avoid putting ice cubes in your drinks as they are usually made with local water and will melt in your drink.
* If you have some health concerns that require treatment, be sure to carry a copy of your medical history along with you in case it may be necessary to get treatment while you are away.
* If you have food allergies, find out how you pronounce the words to describe that food in that country’s language so you can be sure to avoid those foods while you are on your trip.
* Remember that Medicare and Medicaid do not pay for any treatment given outside the US, so determine in advance if additional coverage is needed and purchase trip insurance before you leave in that case.
* If you carry cash while away, it’s often a good idea to keep it in a security belt rather than a wallet that is in your pocket. There are many pickpockets in foreign countries that are tremendously skilled in separating you from your money if it isn’t well guarded.
Be sure to read Part 3 of this article series to get even more valuable international travel tips that can help you have the best family vacations.
International Travel Tips For The Best Family Vacations – Part 3
Tuesday, March 1st, 2011Traveling in foreign countries can be a wonderful, uplifting experience that will never be forgotten, but there are also perils and difficulties that can arise on any trip, especially those that are outside your own country. In part 2 of this article series we discussed how to prevent sickness from local foods and water while away, how to carry cash with you safely and how to use credit cards while abroad and much more. Now here are even more international travel tips that can help you have the best family vacations while you are abroad:
* As with any plane trip you take, airlines can lose the luggage that is checked in as baggage on the flight. So to counteract that possibility, be sure to take all important papers that will be needed for the trip including visa, passports, medical and insurance documents, trip schedule, lodging information, driver’s licenses and so forth in your carry-on luggage just in case. That way it never leaves you as you make the trip.
* It is also a good idea to include a few clothing items in your carry-on bags that can get you through a couple of days in case your luggage is lost.
* To cut down on the amount of luggage that you have to carry, consider shipping the larger, more bulky items instead so that you can retrieve them at your first lodging destination and nor risk having them lost or misplaced on the flight.
* It’s always a good idea to have a small first-aid kit along with you on the trip that can be retrieved handily in the case of an emergency.
* White sneakers often brand you as a tourist in foreign countries, so try to use medium brown to black shoes that are also comfortable for the trip as they tend to blend in with almost any kind of foreign attire.
* Be sure that you know what the local taxes are that apply to any purchase made as they vary widely in foreign countries and can sometimes be more expensive than the item itself.
* Become familiar with all customs requirements regarding foods, plants and so on before you travel so you aren’t denied entry for any item that you have purchased while on your trip.
All trips require some advance thought and preparation but vacations outside your own country call for even more diligent research beforehand. By using the international travel tips and suggestions made in this article series, you should be able to be better prepared and have the perfect family vacation.