overlander asked:

Travel Videos and dvd’s at www.overlander.tv Airlie Beach (pop. 3029) Airlie Beach, gateway to the Whitsunday islands has a reputation for being a great place to party, in between sailing trips to the islands. Another must stop location on the backpacker migration up north. Had a ball in Airlie, went out on a boat yesterday to snorkel the reef. The colours of the coral and the diversity of the fish life just blew me away. Thanks to Jetstream for the trip. Also checked out the Barefoot Bushmans Wildlife Park where you can see a variety of Aussie wildlife including a great crocodile show. Tomorrow I go out on a 54 foot Classic Schooner, the Atlanta , for a morning cruise before heading off to Magnetic Island. It’s a hard life….. In Airlie I decided that given it is such a big location for back packers, instead of interviewing an Aussie local, I would interview a back packer working at Airlie. A young Irish Lass, Jenni Higgins, working at the local Irish Pub.

amit p asked:


I want to travel from Surat to hydrabad in shortest possible time. However I don’t want to travel in flight from Surat. Though trains are an option. I’m ok if someone points out a good VOLVO bus etc too. Waiting for reply.

Jenny Schweyer asked:




Travel rules, regulations and restrictions have changed considerably in the last decade, particularly since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.  US passports are in high demand since they are currently a requirement for certain types of travel.  Other types of travel do not require a US passport, though the rules will be changing again in the coming months and years.  If you are planning air travel in the near future, you’re probably wondering what rules apply to you.

 

The changes that have occurred in land, sea and air travel regulations have come about as the result of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative.  This program was launched in 2004 in response to the drafting of Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004.  It was enacted to strengthen the security of US borders without making it prohibitive for US citizens and legitimate foreign visitors to cross American borders.  The Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative is a joint effort between the United States, Canada, Mexico, Bermuda and the Caribbean region.  The Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative dictates a uniform standard of documentation which is required by every person wishing to enter and leave the areas which are covered by this agreement. 

 

The Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative has been implemented in several stages in order to give the public time to prepare for the changes.  The first stage to affect air travel was enacted in January of 2007.  The standard of required documentation for air travel has not changed since, though changes to land and sea travel have occurred in that time.  According to the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, all foreign air travel (i.e. airplanes leaving the United States) requires a US passport both to leave and re-enter the US. 

 

It is important to note that travelers are not required to carry a US passport for domestic flights.  There is no stipulation regarding domestic air travel in the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative.  However, there is speculation by travel experts and government groups that one day a US passport may be required even for domestic flights.  This policy would fall into line with a number of other countries, particularly in Europe and the UK. These countries currently require locals and foreigners alike to present a passport for everything travel related, including domestic air travel and hotel stays.

 

It is also important to note that the documentation required for air travel is stricter than the rules for travel by land and sea.  As of January 31, 2008 land and sea travel can be undertaken without a US passport.  In lieu of a US passport, travelers must present a legal form of government photo identification AND a proof of citizenship document (birth certificate or naturalization certificate.)  Air travelers have been caught in the confusion in the past few years and some have unfortunately found themselves stranded in airports because they were unaware that air travel requirements differ from other types of travel.

 

The final stage of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative will take effect in June, 2009.  In anticipation of this, travel agents and US government officials are urging that all American citizens apply for a US passport.  A US passport is the only worldwide, universally-accepted form of travel identification.  While Americans will still be able to cross land borders without one after June of 2009, a US passport will speed up the process considerably and make for fewer delays at border crossing stations.  

Khairul F asked:


I’m planning to travel to Switzerland, Austria and Czech Rep this summer via train from UK. One of the cheapest options is to buy the Global Pass, which is only for European residents. However I’m not a European resident, which means that I need to find another cheap options to travel. Can anyone give any suggestions?

Midnight Rose asked:


i want to travel somewhere with my mom sometime soon. where should we go? i have no clue where to start. we need some place thats not going to cost alot, but is alot of fun!

LonelyPlanet asked:

In the jungle-clad mountains of the Sierra Nevada, Colombia, we visited a cocaine lab run by a coca farmer. How do you make cocaine? Take some coca leaves, a number of nasty substances, add some bullets, some scary para-military soldiers, a dash of guerrillas, some corrupt cops and a pinch of coca farmer, and you’ve got one of the world’s deadliest drug cocktails. Produced by Wanderlusts for LonelyPlanet.tv.

Lance R asked:


I want to travel around the world for a few months during my gap year, but all the gap year and travel companies cost a fortune! I’ve been told doing it solo is a lot cheaper. So how do I get the price right down and still be safe?

TravelChannelTV asked:

Kate visits futuristic EPCOT.

Gaizka Pujana asked:




In fact, organized tours offer trips to wheelchair friendly hotels, museums and other places of interest so that disabled travelers can enjoy their destination just as much as the next traveler. Rome, the grand capital of Italy, is no exception and has joined this trend in a big way.

Admittedly, in previous years, Rome seemed to be oblivious to the daily trials of wheelchair bound locals and visitors as they tried to maneuver their way around the city and enter buildings that were not easily accessible. However, it is heartening to see that many new building projects have taken the disabled into account and are now providing ramps and lifts features that would not have been in place perhaps a decade ago.

There are many things to take into account when planning a trip to Rome, especially when you need to consider the use of a wheelchair as well. The first thing to think about is where you are going to stay. The logical choice, of course, is to pick hotels that are as centrally located as possible so that you don’t have to travel great distances to sightsee. Simply being in the heart of the city, near wonderful old buildings or plazas, is great in itself and it is definitely worth compromising on grandeur and opulence by downgrading to a slightly less expensive hotel that is well placed.

When making a hotel reservation, be sure to check whether they have wheelchair accessible rooms and check the height of the beds, the size of the room and other important features such as grab bars in the bathtub, and wall mounted flush buttons for the toilets. Also ensure that the elevator door will open up to a size that will accommodate you and your traveling companion, and that there are no unforeseen stumbling blocks such as front stairs instead of ramps.

Rome is a city like no other and you will definitely want to get in as many sites as you can. The first floors of many of the major museums are wheelchair accessible and you can therefore take in a lot of the important exhibitions in these locations. Unfortunately, many of the second floors are only reached by a stairwell. It may be worth contacting the museums in advance to see what kind of facilities they have (including accessible bathrooms) and ask them to make special arrangements (such as opening side doors, etc.).

Take the Vatican Museums as an example. For starters, wheelchair bound visitors are allowed to jump the long lines and are allowed to enter ahead of other tourists. Thereafter, most of these magnificent buildings are reasonably accessible. The Sistine Chapel is accessed by a lift and then a steep ramp, while a separate elevator enters other areas of the museum. In general, it is advisable to visit all the museums as early on in the day as possible in order to avoid the bustle of the crowds and to have the full attention of museum personnel.

Traveling around Rome is easiest done by hailing one of the many cabs, although it is possible to do so by bus. Walking/rolling around the city may be a bit of a challenge due to the heavy congestion, cars parked on the kerbs and uneven cobbled roads. However, a little determination, forethought and innovation will ensure that you and your traveling companion enjoy a remarkable and truly unforgettable visit to this grand old city.

Luke Arthur asked:




Travel Ventures International has exploded onto the scene in recent months to become a force in the direct sales industry. Thousands of distributors have signed on with a one-time investment of $250 for the promise of cheap travel and a lucrative income opportunity. While this is a relatively new company, many claim that it is the best in the industry. Is the praise warranted or is this just another company in a long line of failures?

The first thing you should know about Travel Ventures International is the value that you receive for the investment. With TVI you pay a one-time fee of $250 and there is nothing else to buy ever. With most companies, you pay more than that to join and a monthly subscription fee. There are no products to buy or fees to pay once you’re in.

What exactly do you get for the investment? First of all, you get a 7-day/6-night vacation to the 5-star resort of your choice. That’s right…a week at a beautiful resort included in the $250 price. That alone is well worth the price of admission. In addition to this trip, you get access to thousands of travel deals including flights, cruises, and hotels at a deep discount. You get all of this before you even get to the money-making aspect of the business.

The business side of Travel Ventures International is even more amazing than the travel deals. Once you pay the entry fee, you’re set up as a distributor with TVI and you’re ready to roll. All it takes for you to qualify for all of the bonuses and incentives is two personal sign-ups. Once you sign up two people, you’re qualified to move on to the next stage.

The unique thing about Travel Ventures International is that your whole team works together. You’re not out there building a business by yourself. Every new person that comes into the business goes into place in order. This means that if you sign up and someone else on your team gets 50 people, they all come in under you. This makes it truly possible for anyone to make a lot of money, even if they’re not a promoter.

Once you get your two people and move onto the second board, that’s when the real money starts to come in. When you move up to the top of this board you will receive $15,000 in cash and travel. You also do this stage of the business with the help of a team. It truly is a team game from start to finish. People have come into this business and made $15,000 within the first two weeks of being on board. The money-making possibilities are unbelievable in this business. With the emergence of the travel industry, the power of the internet, and home-based business, this looks like a company with some staying power.