Cultural Do’s and Don’ts

Whether you traveling abroad for business or leisure, knowing the local etiquette is crucial for every traveler. Getting to know local people and their customs is one of the greatest benefits of travel.

People greet one another with a firm handshake and a look in the eye, but in Japan, this would be considered very rude and obtrusive. Instead, professionals bow to one another. However if you visit Russia, shaking hands is accepted, but you must never shake hands across a threshold or else you run the risk of having a serious argument

Necessary personal space changes with each different culture. However, when you visiting Middle Eastern and Arab countries you would be surprised by the close physical contact between men. It is considered a sign of kinship and does not imply any sexual suggestion.

Introductions around the world vary and range from a handshake to a hug. In the Mediterranean, for instance, family, friends and even strangers customarily exchange kisses on the cheek. The Maori community of New Zealand continues with their traditional form of greeting called “hongi” where people are supposed to rub noses while meeting each other.

Well if you thought only the cuisine across the seas change you are probably in for surprise. Left hand eating is not regarded as correct in many countries especially Middle East, South Asia and even parts of Africa. In India the “Prasad,” or gift, is received only with the right hand. The left hand is reserved for sanitary purposes and should not be used while eating or taking gifts. Even Muslims prefer right hand eating. As per Islam the Satan or devil uses his left hand to eat and drink.

The royal family is held in very high regards in countries like Thailand. At the beginning of a movie a short reel is shown about the life of king and patrons are expected to pay their respect to it. Failure to do so can result in criminal charges under “lese majeste”or injury to the sovereignty. Visitors to Thailand are advised not to deface money or even lick stamps—both bear images of the King.

In Bali, touching someone on the head is taboo, as it is regarded by Hindus as the abode of the soul and is therefore sacred.

Knowing the local rules and customs is not only a way to bond with the locals but also a good way to avoid potential embarrassment.

Put Charles Darwin and Lunch in Ludlow on your list this year

Join us as guest travel blogger, Ursula, introduces us to Shrewsbury, the birthplace of Charles Darwin, and the home of the Shrewsbury Real Ale Festival.

Charles Darwin and Abraham Lincoln were both born on February 12, 1809. This means 2009 is the 200th anniversary of their births. It is also the 150th anniversary of the publication of Darwin’s famous book, The Origin of Species, which sold out on the day it was published in 1859. Dorothy Nicolle, a British Blue Badge Guide, has been promoting Darwin Day celebrations during her excellent tours of Shrewsbury, Darwin’s Shropshire birthplace on the Welsh borders.

On a morning walking tour, Dorothy, who, in addition to her professional guiding qualification, also sports an Honours Degree in British Archaeology and History, stopped at the Darwin sculpture to give me the lowdown on the Brit considered to be the emancipator of the human mind.

Darwin, whose mother died when he was eight, was a boarder (when they could keep him in school) at the Anglican Shrewsbury School near his home. His father who had planned for him to become a country parson, eventually dispatched him to Edinburgh to study medicine. Repelled by the brutality of it, he quickly abandoned medicine to develop a fascination with natural science after a botanist recommended him for an appointment as a naturalist aboard H.M.S. Beagle from 1831 to 1836. The journey took him to South America, the Galapagos, South Africa, and ultimately into the ranks of the scientific elite. It has been said that Lincoln emancipated the slaves, and Darwin emancipated the human mind.

Shrewsbury is also famous as the home of the Shrewsbury Abbey-based medieval sleuth, Brother Cadfael. The twenty Cadfael novels written by Ellis Peters have been translated into many languages, and rated a TV series. The clever monk still attracts fans to this historic city.

Among the wealth of information my guide imparted was background on the design, stories, and building of the black and white houses prevalent along the River Severn which flanks the city. These half-timbered houses consist of wooden frames with spaces filled with small sticks and wet clay called wattle and daub. Originally houses could actually be moved and restructured based on matching notches marked on the exterior. They are the main reason Shrewsbury has been referred to as England’s finest Tudor town.

Shrewsbury is an easy city for shopping and walking. My town centre hotel, the Prince Rupert, was located on Butcher Row – just across from Grope Lane. The hotel was once the home of Prince Rupert, the grandson of King James I. One hopes, however, that the prince offered his guests beds with mattresses less like planks of wood!

The Shrewsbury Real Ale Festival, one of the city’s annual highlights, takes place each September in the Old Market Hall. I was warned that: “it will be packed, and a bit ‘blokey’ (for the guys)“ so we opted to take the train to neighbouring Ludlow to sample the wares of over 120 top quality small independent food and drink producers from the Welsh Marches at the Ludlow Marches Food and Drink Festival.

It was well worth the trip.

Local sausages, cheeses, Slow Foods, ciders, breads, and much more were all available for taste testing and purchase in tents set up in the ruins of Ludlow Castle as well as throughout the town. Friday is less busy than Saturday, but the warm and friendly atmosphere offset any delays. The 2008 dates for the Ludlow Festival are September 12,13 and 14.

The following day we opted for a one hour’s drive in our rental car over the Welsh border for a day trip to Hay-on-Wye, also known as the Town of Books. Literally…devoted to books the picturesque, hilly stone village sports used bookstores galore. Even the grounds of Hay Castle have bookshelves jammed with paperbacks leaning against the exterior walls. Richard Booth, the owner of Hay Castle and self proclaimed King of Hay, opened his first bookshop in the village in 1961 dreaming of establishing the largest second-hand bookselling and antiquarian centre in the world.

Over 30 bookshops, reputed to house over a million books, now attract a steady stream of tourists. Narrow winding streets provide enough exercise to encourage readers to stop in at the Rose and Crown, or nearby teahouses. The Hay Festival takes place annually in late Spring.

On our route out of Shropshire we stopped into the Church of St.Mary Magdalene, or Battlefield Church. Guide Dorothy Nicholls was taking a turn as docent at the church located next to the site of the Battle of Shrewsbury which took place in 1403. Henry Percy (Hotspur), the Earl of Worcester and the Earl of Douglas planned to recruit enough troops to join the Welsh leader Owain Glyndwr to face-off against King Henry IV. Henry got wind of the plot and subsequently approximately 30,000 royal troops battled 20,000 rebels. The story goes that the rebels lost heart when Hotspur was killed in the fierce hand-to-hand fighting. It was the eve of the Feast of St. Mary Magdalene. Some 1,600 bodies were buried in a pit in the field in which the church stands. The ancient, dignified, stone church stands foursquare against the weather in a rather haunting setting. A figure of Henry IV stands high on the eastern gable.

Our few days in Shropshire provided quite an education, but only a small insight into the area King Arthur was reputed to have made the centre of his Kingdom.

If you go:

Ludlow Food Festival: www.foodfestival.co.uk

Shrewsbury: www.visitshrewsbury.com

Dorothy Nicolle, Guide, Writer, Lecturer: www.nicolle.me.uk

Visit Britain: www.visitbritain.ca

The Blue Badge: www.blue-badge-guides.com .Guide training includes an in-depth study of the Heart of England region, rigorous study of Britain’s history and its monarchy, architecture, art and literature, industrial heritage and the natural history of the countryside.

Ursula Maxwell-Lewis earns her living as a journalist and photographer. She is a director of the Travel Media Association of Canada and the Surrey International Writers’ Conference. Follow her travels at http://ursulamaxwell.wordpress.com or at www.CloverdaleReporter.com

CheapOair Afternoon Escape- Fiji

First, put aside the Diet Coke, and reach for a cold, fruity drink.

Next, close your eyes, picture a quiet, sandy beach, where you sit in your own private cabana. Your own private cabana boy slowly fans you with a long palm frond…

Cabana Boy #1

While your other personal cabana boy gently massages you,

Cabana Boy #2

Your third cabana boy feeds you peeled grapes…

Cabana Boy #3

The fourth cabana boy is optional. He’s there to gently strum a steel guitar at your beck and call.

Optional Cabana Boy

(In my daydream there is a fifth cabana boy who shows me high heeled shoes, but that does seem a little excessive, even for a daydream.)

Where is this perfect paradise? Fiji, naturally.

And CheapOair can you get you there for under $900.

Three Weeks in South Africa

The Three Week Loop
Johannesburg – Kruger National Park – Swaziland – Zululand – Durban – Drakensberg Mountains – Johannesburg

Join us as guest blogger Seb, from the South African travel guide site, Travel Comments, takes us on his ideal journey around South Africa.

South Africa’s busiest airport by far is OR Tambo International in Johannesburg. That is why flights to Jozi, as the locals call it, are usually much cheaper than flights to Cape Town, the 2nd busiest port of entry to South Africa. Reason enough to start and end our 3 week journey in Johannesburg, and not in shiny Cape Town.

soweto

After arriving in Johannesburg I highly recommend to take at least a day to rest (don’t forget – the altitude is 2000m above sea level) and another day to explore the city. The City? Yes, you are right. A visit to Soweto and the Apartheid Museum are giving you an introduction par excellence to South Africa, it’s culture, problems, history and future.
After 2 days in urban Johannesburg the world famous Kruger National Park is our next stop.

How to do Kruger? Well, you can either join an organized tour starting in Johannesburg, you can rent a car in Johannesburg and do the Park on your own or you can rent a car, drive to Nelspruit and join a safari starting there. My personal recommendation is to start the tour to Kruger in Johannesburg. Why? Well, because transport is included at no extra costs and you don’t have to rent a car right from the beginning of your vacation. A four day tour to Kruger is the minimum – it gives a good chance to spot the “Big 5″ (before going, be sure to check out the famous “Battle at Kruger” youtube video).

After amazing days in South Africa’s biggest National Park the journey (now you have to rent a car) is continuing to Swaziland, the only absolute Monarchy in Africa. Swaziland, bordering South Africa and Mozambique, is only covering about 17,000sq km. But it is full of culture, traditions, wild life and nature. You can easily spend about 3 days of game viewing, visiting craft centers (cheaper than South African ones) and exploring the two main cities of the country – the capital Mbabane and Manzini.

Being a week in Southern Africa it is now time for some beach and the Ocean. From Swaziland it is about a half day drive to St. Lucia at the Indian Ocean. Surrounded by the iSimangaliso Wetland Park (formerly know as the “Greater St. Lucia Wetland Park) this UNESCO World Heritage Site supports more species than Kruger National Park or the Okavango Delta in Botswana. It is also home to the largest population of hippopotami in South African parks. Two sea turtle species use the beaches for laying eggs (only in season). Four days can easily be spend in the area.

Next stop along the route is Durban, the capital of South Africa’s province “KwaZulu Natal”. Durban is South Africa’s third largest city and it’s busiest port. And it is South Africa’s most Indian City. Around 1 Mio. South Africans have Indian or Pakistani roots – and most of them are living in or around Durban. This makes Durban probably the most multicultural city in Southern Africa. Do you want to see, taste and smell it? Well, than a visit at the well-known “Queen Victoria Market is a must including a bunny chow for lunch. You haven’t heard about bunny chows? Time to go to Durban to find it out. It is super yummy!

Time is running and so next stop are the Drakensberg Mountains (Afrikaans, meaning “Dragon Mountain”). The mountains are a hikers paradise full of stunning views, amazing walks and even free climbing spots. You can also go horse-riding, visit the Battlefields of the British, Zulu and Boer clashes of the past or visit Lesotho on a daytrip. A good couple of days are passing by without you recognizing it – it is simply mind blowing in the mountains.

Sad, but true, every holiday has an end and so does this one. It is only about a four hours drive from the Drakensberg Mountains (Ladysmith area) back to the starting point of this journey, Johannesburg – also known as eGoli, the place of gold. Safe Travels!

Cheap international flights are available to Johannesburg now. Your journey to Africa begins with a single click!

CheapOair Afternoon Escape- London Calling!

In no particular order, some of the things I love about London-

London Bridge at Dusk

1. Big red tour buses.

2. The sidewalk corners that all say “LOOK RIGHT!” so that silly little tourists like me don’t get smashed by on-coming traffic.

3. Anything with “Mind the Gap” written on it.

4. Castles

5. Palaces

6. Cathedrals

7. Buildings older than the entire United States.

8. Kebab street vendors

9. Seeing places I’ve read about in literature my entire life.

10. The accents.

11. That KFC is so popular there, and that they call it KFC and not Kentucky Fried Chicken. And the KFC near the Tower of London that boasts 100 types of beer. And that KFC there serves beer.

12. Pubs

13. Ordering bangers and mash and nobody looks at me funny.

14. Red phone booths (and the overwhelming urge to make phone calls from one to my friends and saying, “LONDON CALLING!” when I do.)

15. That downtown London looks a lot like downtown New York City- Starbucks, Gap, McDonalds, Pizza Hut, etc all over the place. But somehow, they are just cooler in London!

16. Cheap summer deals to London.

17. All the songs I can sing that include London in it- London Bridges (the children’s tune), London Bridge (by Fergie), London Calling (the Clash), Werewolves of London,Foggy Day in London Town, and on and on and on!

Museums in the Movies

“Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian” is the most popular movie in the US right now. But it is far from the first movie to use a museum as a major part of its set. Here are some famous museums that have found space on the screen and created cinematic history.

Philadelphia Museum of Art, Philadelphia

The museum did not attain its popularity solely due to movies but the success and popularity can be attributed to renowned collections, acclaimed special exhibitions and enriching programs. But who doesn’t recognize the famed “Rocky Stairs?”

The San Francisco Palace of Fine Arts

The Palace of Fine Arts is located in the Marina District of San Francisco. The dome of the Palace of Fine Arts just outside the Exploratorium and the adjacent lagoon has often been used as backdrop for movies.

Movie Trivia:

• The backdrop of the museum was used in Alfred Hitchcock’s “Vertigo.”

• It is also where good guy meets bad guy in the movie “The Rock,” where FBI agent Stanley Goodspeed (Nicolas Cage) finally catches up with John Mason (Sean Connery)

• And it has served as the romantic setting in “The Bachelor” (starring Chris O’Donnell and Renee Zellweger), “The Wedding Planner” (Jennifer Lopez), and several other movies.

The Guggenheim Museum

The Guggenheim Museum is located in New York City on Manhattan’s Upper East Side. The museum designed by Frank Lloyd Wright was completed in 1959. The museum soon became an architectural landmark primarily due to its shape.
Noted for its legendary spiral architectural style fashioned from renowned architect Frank Lloyd Wright, it’s a landmark structure for a high art museum.

Movie Trivia:

• “The International,” an elaborate espionage thriller actually contains one of the best shoot-out scenes filmed at the museum.( In fact, a life-size replica of the museum was built for this scene)

• In the movie “Men In Black,” Agent J (Will Smith) encounters his first alien by Grand Central Station. A short chase later and they’re climbing up Frank Lloyd Wright’s white spiral Guggenheim Museum.

Museums are not only the place to view history but by sharing the screen space with glitz and glam of Hollywood have become a part of our History.

CheapOair Travel Dictionary

When traveling could you use a dictionary for the travel terminology just as much as you need that Spanish-English dictionary? Here’s a quick glossary of useful travel terms!

Add-on - An option, usually at extra cost, added to travel arrangements.

Adjoining rooms- Hotel rooms that are next to one another but do not have connecting doors.

Advance purchase requirement - An airfare that must be purchased a certain number of days before departure in order to receive the best rate.

Airport access fee – A fee that is paid by the car rental companies to the airport authority, for the use of shuttle vehicles, etc – usually passed on to the consumer.

Availability – The actual number of seats that are free to be sold at a particular rate.

Base fare – The price of an airline ticket before any fees, taxes or surcharges are applied to the price.

Blackout dates – Are a date or a series of dates where travel at a particular rate is not available. Can be used for airline tickets, car rentals, and/or hotels. These dates are set by the airlines, hotels, and car rental agencies.

Blocked space – Seats or rooms on airplanes or in hotels that have been held aside to be sold by consolidators, generally at a reduced rate.

Boarding pass – A receipt with a seat number, which is now issued only at check-in at the airport.

Business class- A relatively new class of airline service, located between coach and first class, that was created to appeal to the business traveler. The amenities provided in business class vary from carrier to carrier.

Cancellation penalty – A monetary penalty that a company will apply to its clients when they (the clients) decide to cancel an already confirmed and paid for booking.

CheapOair- the ONLY way to go when looking for the best travel deals!

Consolidator – A business that has contracts with airlines to sell tickets in bulk, generally at a discounted rate.

Domestic fare – A fare charged for travel within a country.

Electronic ticket or “e-ticket” – A newer system of issuing tickets to clients whereby a “paperless” ticket is issued which allows the client to check in only using proper photo identification. Electronic tickets are preferable to paper ones because they can not be lost or stolen so they are safer to use than paper tickets.

First class – The highest class of service, available on most aircraft.

Hub – An airport or city in which an airline has a major presence and many flights to other destinations. Some major hub cities include Denver, Los Angeles, Chicago, Washington, DC, Atlanta, New York City, Newark, Houston and many more.

IATAN - International Airlines Travel Agent Network – Administers the IATAN card, the only widely accepted form of legitimate travel agent identification.

Interline connection – A flight on one airline that connects to a flight on another carrier.

Land arrangements – All the details of the land portion of a trip (hotel, car, tours, sightseeing, etc.).

Layover – Refers to the period of time spent while waiting for a transportation connection.

LDW – loss damage waiver – additional insurance pertaining to car rentals, covering theft and vandalism in addition to accident damage.

Leisure travel – Travel for pleasure as opposed to business.

Limited service hotel – A hotel property without a restaurant.

Lowest available fare – The current lowest airfare that is available for purchase at that moment.

Maximum stay – The longest period of time one may stay at a particular destination and still qualify for a specific airfare.

Minimum connect time – The shortest amount of time needed to transfer between flights. It is generally best to give oneself more time as opposed to less.

Modified American plan ( MAP) – Meal plan that includes two daily meals, usually breakfast and dinner.

Net fare, net rate- Refers to the fare that is offered to a customer after the commission has been applied.

No show – A passenger who doesn’t show for a flight, hotel, or rental car booking.

Non-refundable- Generally used in reference to an airline ticket, that if canceled no money will be returned to the client.

Non-transferable – An air ticket that cannot be used by anyone else.

Nonstop – A flight that does not stop while on route to its first destination.

Occupancy rate – The percent of hotel rooms expected to be filled during a specific time period.

Offline connection – A change of aircraft also involving a change of carriers.

Off-peak - A time or season when less travel occurs. Also, fares tend to be lower during these times.

Operator - A company providing transportation or travel related services (airline, cruise line, railway, hotel, car Rental Company, etc.).

Overbooking – When an airline sells more seats than are available on a particular flight.

Passenger name record (PNR) – The official name of one’s reservation in a computer reservation system (CRS).

Personal effects coverage – Additional car rental insurance covering loss of personal property from the rented vehicle.

Published fare – A rate that is offered directly by the airlines. Generally these are the highest rates available.

Rack rate – The standard price of a hotel room before any discount has been taken.

Reconfirm – To recheck a reservation.

Record locator – The number assigned to a reservation in an airline’s computer system. No two reservations will ever have the same record locator number.

Red-eye flight – An overnight flight that leaves at night and arrives early the next morning.

Reissue – When a new ticket has to be created in exchange for another due to change of plans, dates, etc. In most cases a reissue will also involve fees and/or penalties.

Round trip – A flight to a single destination and a return.

Saturday night stay – A requirement by the airlines that your travel must involve a Saturday night stay over in order to obtain the lowest fare.

Scheduled carrier – An airline that operates on a regular, published schedule.

Special fare - Any fare other than those normally offered.

Shoulder season – The period of time between the high and low seasons when rates for a destination are between their highest and lowest.

Suite – A hotel room that is ranked by a property as a nicer class of room which also has more available amenities and space.

Supplier – Any company that supplies travel and/or related services to the traveling public

Travel agent-. Any person who sells travel products on a commission basis.

Travel agency- Usually used in the travel industry to refer to an ARC-appointed storefront retailer.

Unlimited mileage – No mileage restriction when renting a car.

Unrestricted fare – An airfare that has no special advance purchase, Saturday stay or certain days to travel requirements, and is usually refundable.

Waiver - A written acknowledgement that a passenger has declined something.

For more travel terminology and other great tips, check out the CheapOair travel resources!

Music Festivals for the Masses

From Edison’s phonographs to modern day DJ consoles, music has come a long way. Its omnipresent – almost in every form around us from the choir in the church to Muzak in elevators– music is everywhere. Music is intertwined in every aspect of our lives and enriches and inspires each listener differently. The inclusive spirit of music brings us together at music festivals where we can connect and share their feelings with a large like-minded group.

Here are some of these festivals in your neighborhood. So make sure you pack your bags, quickly get some cheap tickets and jet off to watch your favorite band playing.

80/35 Music Festival – Des Moines, Iowa, July 3-4, 2009

This festival gets its name from interstates I-80 and I-35 intersecting in the host city of Des Moines, Iowa. There in the center of the United States is a huge celebration of music and music lovers. With an audience of close to 30,000 visitors, large crowds and fun can be found at every turn. The event has hosted famous and promising bands like The Flaming Lips and The Roots.

American MusicFest – Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, July 3-5, 2009

Conducted over the Independence Day weekend along the one of the city’s most scenic and beautiful landscapes , it offers more than just music. Hosted along Riverfront Park and City Island the music festival offers street concerts, food and craft vendors, amusement rides and a large fireworks display. When it comes to what to see and do at American Fest, you would be at a want for choices.

Decibel Festival – Seattle, Washington, September 24-27, 2009

Ever since its inception in 2003, Decibel has featured over 500 artists ranging from experimental to leading-edge electronic dance music to multi-media performance. The primary focus of the event is live performance, quality sound and technology based education. Besides these performance programs, Decibel includes a professional section featuring panels and workshops. Some of the artists who have already performed at this festival are Carl Craig, Deadmau5, Modeselektor, and Flying Lotus to name a few.

CheapOair Afternoon Escape

For your daydreaming pleasure, today we bring you cheap flights to Montego Bay, Jamaica.

At fares this low, I’ll race you there!

CheapOair Celebra Cinco de Mayo

© 2006 Mexico Tourism Board

Aunque los gringos crean que el Cinco de Mayo es el día de la independencia de México pero en actualidad el 16 Septiembre.

Las personas de herencia mexicana celebran el Cinco de Mayo, que conmemora la victoria de México sobre los invasores franceses en la ciudad de Puebla, el cinco de mayo de 1862.

En los Estados Unidos, la ocasión se celebra con fiestas, música, bailes, comida y conciertos que resaltan la historia y cultura de México. Especialmente en los estados de California, Arizona, Nuevo México y Texas.

Para aprender mas sobre este día vea este video Cinco De Mayo.

One Day in Prague, Czech Republic

If you only had one day to spend in the beautiful city of Prague, CZ, what would you do? Here’s how I would spend the day.

First, start off with the traditional Czech breakfast of cold meats, rye bread, and a cup of coffee in Wenceslas Square.  Next, take some time to do some window shopping along the various stores lining the square. Famed Bohemian crystal is easy to find here (and on most shopping streets in Prague), as well as any type of jewelry you could imagine.

Wind through the city streets and cobblestone alleyways to the Old Town Square (Stare Mesto) and check out the incredible astronomical clock. When the time is right, take a romantic European lunch break at one of the outdoor restaurants along the square and enjoy the culture and atmosphere. Many of the town’s cultural events take place in the square.

From Old Town Square follow the crowds to the famed Charles Bridge. Take pictures, watch the artists, and enjoy the leisurely pedestrian pace. The Charles Bridge is one of the most iconic bridges in the world. Locals will gladly explain the statues and gargoyles on the bridge to you (but never expect the same story twice).

Cross over the bridge to go find the Frank Kafka museum. The relationship between Prague and Kafka’s life and work is well known and considered a linking of destinies by some. The museum illustrates this relationship in a unique way, appropriate to the man that was Kafka.

One of the joys of Prague is that it is so pedestrian friendly. You could take a taxi or the metro between places, but if you did you would miss out on so much of the culture that is found between the ancient buildings and winding pathways. From the Kafka Museum take a long walk up to the Prague Castle (Prazsky hrad). This beautiful castle sits high upon a hill, defending her people and keeping a close eye on her subjects down below. The winding walk up the hill offers glimpses into Prague life and history that will not soon be forgotten.

The Prague Castle walls take in the Saint Vitus Cathedral viewing towers, the Royal Gardens, museums and art galleries, a monastery, Lobkowicz Palace (and others), and St. George’s Basilica. This picturesque setting is the most popular Czech destination. Join a walking tour of the castle, palace, and gardens. When you get tired, take in a thrilling evening concert at St. George’s Basilica!

After such a long day of walking, I’ll understand if you need to take a taxi back down the hill into the heart of the city. But your day is far from over. To cap off your unforgettable experience in this beautiful city, join a dinner cruise along the River Vltava. Take in the sights in the light of the sunset, while enjoying a traditional Czech dinner.

To book your cheap flight to Prague, check out CheapOair’s Top 25 deals!

Green Travel Tips

With travel figures rising on daily basis we ought to understand the importance of human contribution towards earth’s natural and cultural treasures.

Taking a green and responsible approach to travel is an easy and essential way to protect the places you love to visit, not just for yourself but for the travelers who come after you and for the people who will continue to live there long after you’ve flown home.

Fly Green

Airplanes are the major culprits and biggest contributors to the carbon emission equation, so in a perfect world we should try to reduce the usage. But we can’t always avoid flying, can we?

So when you do fly, consider the following-

• Bring your own stuff rather than using the disposable stuff offered by airlines.

• Always offset you travel. Buy a carbon offset. This is the easiest and most convenient way to reduce the impact of carbon emission on nature.

Choose a Green Hotel

Now that you have off-set your air travel and reached your destination the next step is to find a “Green Hotel”.

Search for an Eco Hotel or green hotels in the region. Make sure that you have done the ground work and checked about the hotel and its amenities before booking. Some questions that you can ask is:

• Who runs the hotel? Is it locally owned or not? Go for hotel that is locally owned and operated, thereby contributing more to the local economy and development.

• Do they have any kind of recycling procedure in place? Many hotels will mention this on their website if it is a priority for them, e.g. the Marriott Spirit to Preserve.

• How do they contribute towards the energy consumption? Or even easier just ask how they contribute towards “Green Travel.”

Most of the hotels are aware of this terminology and more often than not will welcome your questions.

Day 5 – Caribbean Week – Costa Rica Deals

One gem of the Caribbean is Costa Rica. Some people consider it to be “Central America,” and for your 5th grade geography test, we agree. But when picking vacation spots, it’s Gulf of Mexico location can’t be ignored.

Costa Rica Tourist Board (ICT)

CheapOstay has a hotel deal for a 5 star hotel in San José starting $ 90 per day.

San Jose is the capital city of Costa Rica. It is in fact one of the youngest cities in Latin America. Though this does not hinder the city but only enhance it. It is a modern city with a luminous colonial twist.

There are various things to do in San Jose. It has a lively night life with main areas being El Pueblo, and Calle de la Amargura in San Pedro. Tip: All the action starts after 9pm.

Note it is important to be vigilant when traveling in general in particular at night. For some general safety tips check out Top 10 Travel Safety Tips by CheapOair.

Good things to know about Costa Rica.

• Banks are open from 8am – 3pm

• Costa Rica experiences a tropical climate year round, with an average temperature of 72°F

• The people of Costa Rico are known as ‘Ticos’

• Did you know? Costa Rica is the only country in the world without an army or military of any kind. They were abolished back in 1979

• 52 of the world species of Hummingbirds live in Costa Rica.

• Costa Rica translates to the Rich Coast in Spanish.

Want to learn more about Costa Rica and all of it’s treasures check out these videos.

Basic Spanish Phrases

¡Buenos días!
bway-nohs dee-ahs
Hello! / Good morning!

¡Buenas tardes!
bway-nahs tard-ays
Good afternoon!

¡Buenas noches!
bway-nahs noh-chays
Good evening! / Good night!

¡Hola!
oh-lah
Hi!

Adiós.
ah-dee-ohs
Good bye.

Por favor.
por fah-bor
Please.

Hasta la vista / Hasta luego.
ah-stah lah vees-tah / ah-stah loo-ay-go
See you / See you later.

Hasta pronto.
ah-stah prohn-toh
See you soon.

Hasta mañana.
ah-stah mahn-yahn-ah
See you tomorrow.

(Muchas) Gracias.
(moo-chahs) grah-see-ahs
Thank you (very much).

De nada.
day nah-dah
You’re welcome.

Lo siento
loh see-ehn-toh
I’m sorry

Con permiso / Perdón
kohn pehr-mee-soh / pehr-dohn
Excuse me

¿Cómo está usted?
koh-moh ay-stah oo-sted
How are you? (formal)

¿Cómo estás?
koh-moh ay-stahs
How are you? (informal)

¿Qué tal?
kay tahl
How’s it going?

Bien / Muy bien
bee-ehn / moy bee-ehn
Good / Very good

Mal / Muy mal / Más o menos
mahl / moy mahl / mahs oh may-nohs
Bad / Very bad / OK

Sí / No
see / noh
Yes / No

¿Cómo se llama usted?
koh-moh say yah-mah oo-sted
What is your name? (formal)

¿Cómo te llamas?
koh-moh tay yah-mahs
What is your name? (informal)

Me llamo…
may yah-moh
My name is…

Mucho gusto. / Encantado.
moo-choh goo-stoh / en-cahn-tah-doh
Nice to meet you.

Igualmente.
ee-guahl-mehn-tay
Same here.

¿Hablas ingles?
ah-blahs een-glehs
Do you speak English? (informal)

(No) Hablo…
noh ah-bloh
I (don’t) speak…

¿Entiende usted? / ¿Entiendes?
ehn-tyen-deh oo-sted / ehn-tyen-dehs
Do you understand? (formal / informal)

(No) Entiendo.
noh ehn-tyen-doh
I (don’t) understand.

Yo (no lo) se.
yoh noh loh seh
I (don’t) know.

¿Puede ayudarme?
pweh-deh ah-yoo-dar-meh
Can you help me?

¿Cómo se dice ____ en español?
koh-moh seh dee-ceh ___ on eh-spahn-yol
How do you say ____ in Spanish?

¿Qué es esto?
keh ehs ehs-toh
What is that?

Estoy cansado / enfermo.
eh-stoy kahn-sah-doh / ehn-fehr-moh
I’m tired / sick.

Tengo hambre / sed.
tehn-goh ahm-breh / sed
I’m hungry / thirsty.

Tengo calor / frío.
tehn-goh kah-lohr / free-oh
I’m hot / cold.

¡Salud!
sah-lood
Bless you!

¡Felicitaciones!
feh-lee-see-tah-see-oh-nehs
Congratulations!

CheapO Guide to the Bahamas

Looking for some good excuses to travel to the Bahamas? Look no further! We have all the excuses, I mean perfectly good reasons, right here.

1. Bahamians drive on the left side of the road. This is a good time to see just how ambidextrous your driving really is.

2. If math isn’t your thing, go to the Bahamas in order to avoid confusing currency exchange rates. The Bahamian dollar is equal to the U.S. dollar.

3. No passport, no problem! Nassau Paradise Island is one of the few places that will allow U.S. citizens to enter the country without a passport. There is one little catch though- the U.S. will require your passport as proof you are a citizen in order to enter back into the country.

4. Many hotels allow children under the age of 12 to stay free! And even provide activities to keep children entertained while the adults engage in more adult activities.

5. The expected high temperature for Monday, April 6, 2009 is 78 F. The low temperature is predicted to be 75F. In comparison, New York City is predicted to be a high of 60, and a low of 45. And that is just unacceptable!

6. The water temperature in the Bahamas hardly ever drops below a perfect 72 degrees F.

7. Beaches, beaches, and more beaches.

8. Your tweenage daughter will love you forever if you take her to see the Jonas Brothers live at Atlantis.

9. Snorkeling is just not something that can be done at a desk. And it must be done!

10. The captain’s hat in your closet will make a lot more sense if you take it sailing.

11. Fishing! You can finally say, “I once caught a fish this big!”

12. Cheap fares to Nassau begin at just $142 e/w.

13. You have never seen a real palm tree on a beach before. And that’s just sad.

14. You have 20 days of use or lose vacation time you are about to lose.

15. It’s the Bahamas!!

Tracing Obama’s Footsteps: CheapOair has got you the Deals!

Sanjay Hathiramani, Director of Operations for CheapOair.com, revealed a list of ‘must-sees’ for travelers interested in learning about the life of the 44th President, Mr. Barack Obama. This journey through the backdoors of time will help you get an insight into the life history of America’s newly elected President. That’s not all! Since, CheapOair is a site for today’s discerning travelers; we also have got you the lowest airfares and ideas on when to go and what to do when visiting those destinations.

Prominent Locations:

Hawaii – Obama was born in Honolulu: Sample airfare $365 RT (From NY to HI)
Kansas – Obama’s mother was born in Wichita: Sample airfare $219 RT (From NY to KA)
Kenya – Obama’s father was born in Kenya: Sample airfare $969 RT (From NY to Mambasa, Kenya)
Chicago - Obama served as Senator: Sample airfare $164 RT (From NY to Chicago)
Indonesia - Obama lived there briefly: Sample airfare $879 RT (From NY to Jakarta)

For more details, please visit here.