1. Check if car is up for the trip

   It's a rather tedious routine but worth to spend a few minutes making basic checks like tire pressure, oil and water level, and fuel. Than be hours delayed because your car broke down halfway the trip.

2. Know where you want to go

   Plan your journey well. Check if your destination has a website with a location map wherein you can print and take along. It is also a good idea to bring city or country maps.

3. Don't run late

   Create a schedule for your trip and stick with it. Running late puts pressure and more likely to take risks in driving. Always have extra time for rest stops and this give you a better chance of arriving safely.

4. Be streetwise

   If you're going on a long way, it is advisable to be comfortable at the wheel which means having the right driving position and saving cost in fuel. Controlling your speed and using the right gear is a big help.

5. Keeping young children occupied

   If traveling with children, it is best advisable to bring stuff that could help in minimize the boredom. Like having a portable DVD for them to watch movies, toys and snacks.

6. Play some music

   The radio and Cd's you listen helps to liven the long journey. It is also important to have the right kind music. Avoid restful CD's that you make you sleepy but go for something lively and upbeat.

Barbados

It is hard to start a list of the top 10 most romantic vacation spots for couples without mentioning Barbados. Pictured above, there is an allure to the white sand and sparkling blue of the water and sky combined that demands attention. It is a very popular spot for honeymoons, and vacations of all types for couples. The Caribbean holds many of the most popular stops for vacationing couples, but for the rest of this list we'll focus on some of the lesser-known vacation spots.

Stone Mountain, Colorado

Most people know Colorado for its grand mountains and as a hideout for the rich and famous. You do not have to be rich and famous to enjoy the many splendors that are available to you. There are many lodges catering to tourists and yet somehow still maintain a sense of privacy in the magnificent mountains.

Kachemak Bay, Alaska

For the active couple you can go kayaking on Kachemak Bay in the visually astounding Alaska, and then relax with a cup of steaming hot chocolate while you look out at the spectacular mountains from your lodge. If you are really the adventurous type you can go bear viewing in Katmai. All of this is in Homer, Alaska and waiting for you.

Kassiopi, Greece

Take a trip back in time while walking through the quaint village of Kassiopi, Greece. The charm is alluring and makes a great romantic getaway.

The Carpathian Mountains

Transylvania, Central Romania, holds exotic locale, and mysterious fables that create a wonderful spot for romance.

Macerata, Italy

Milan is usually the first place that pops to mind when one thinks of Italy, but take a trip to Macerata in August for their Opera festival and prepare to be delighted.

Pukoo, Hawaii

With Maui in the distant view, Pukoo is a romantic getaway spot located out of the way in one of the world's most beloved areas. Hawaii is famous as a romantic vacation spot, but Pukoo holds the appeal of seclusion while still offering all of the activities commonly found on the "Big Islands."

Bangkok, Thailand

The jungles of Thailand are fast becoming a popular attraction while maintaining its beauty and romantic charm.

Alexandria, Egypt

For a truly exotic vacation tour the Coptic Monasteries and then spend your days in the ancient city of Cairo.

Trafalgar, Switzerland

Beautiful mountain scenery makes the wintery delights of Switzerland a wonderful place to cozy up to your partner on a romantic vacation.

There is something for everyone's taste on the list, from mountain vistas to sandy beaches, and jungles to ancient cities. Take your pick and enjoy all that some of the most popular and most unusual spots in the world have waiting for you. Those are our top ten picks of romantic vacation spots for couples. Take the time to explore the world and develop your own top ten pick of wonderful and romantic places to visit.

The premier travel companion for any traveller or holiday maker in book form; the website with the same name provides valuable information about anywhere and almost anything travel. The site is extremely easy to navigate and provides information from every country on where to stay, what to do, how to get there, and what its going to cost you. The site also provides areas for writing your own travel blogs, reviews and advice.

Probably one of the best travel sites on the net today and yet surprisingly relatively unknown. Airtreks is an online travel agency specializing in round the world trips and fares. The site lets you visually plan your route and provides you with a price estimate of your planned trip. They will also provide you with an alternate route adding in cities or replacing cities they think would be more financially viable for you. Trips can be planned all by air or alternatively, you can add in destinations that suit you for travelling overland. This site is great in the fact that you don't have to move from your computer to have a whole round the world trip planned, paid for and your tickets sent.

The only place you need for finding and booking all hostels and budget hotels around the world. With over 17,000 listed, you are sure to find a place that suits your needs. The site reviews and rates each hostel and hotel according to real travellers advice and provide a forum for all users. Most hostels will require a deposit using a credit card for the booking but you only pay in full once at your accommodation. They also offer the alternative of paying using PayPal which is great.

A great site for finding affordable flights, hotels, cruises and tours. They have fantastic package deals on offer also and provide destination reviews and guides which are okay, but nothing compared to Lonely Planet's advice. Essentially whatever you are looking for, Travelocity will find you the best price for most services on the days you are looking for. Quick and easy.

Very similar site to the above mentioned Travelocity. Provides all of the same services but is worth comparing with Travelocity's prices as sometimes one or the other can give you a better deal for the same service. Also gives handy travel alerts and advice.

These guys give travellers the opportunity to try something a little different offering off-the-beaten-track tours and adventures. From Himalayan treks and hikes to a trip to one of the Polar Regions, whatever crazy trip you are looking for, World Expeditions is sure to have it. The down side to this site is that they don't provide transport to the trip starting point or from the trip end point.

The best site for independent travel insurance and advice. World Nomads provides a range of insurance options for whatever type of trip you are planning. Their packages are very affordable and coverage is for pretty much every possible insurance claim situation. They offer, like most travel sites, a forum area for travellers wanting to share experiences and also provide an online travel equipment site.

Below are my own personal tips for those who want to travel without fuzz:

Plan your trip

Check the internet / magazines / newspapers for

• Accommodations
• How you can get there fast and cheap - by land, air, sea
• Sites to see
• Where to eat

When traveling, it is best if you have a map of the place so that you will not miss any of the tourist spots along the way. Be prepared to do a lot of walking.

Book ahead of time

You get big discounts by booking ahead of time if you are to take public transportation.

Pack lightly ahead of time but bring the necessities

Other than the basic toiletries, it is wise to remember the following:

• Start packing at least a week before your planned trip

  If you pack ahead of time, you will be able to check if you have everything you need. This saves you a lot of money when you are already traveling and you won't be stressed out before you leave. Also, you will not forget anything.

• Make a checklist of what you want to bring

  Put your checklist in a place where you would see it everyday. You can get what you need as you go along your daily routine without having to go out of your way to get them. You can update your list daily until the day you have completed them and have packed them.

• Bring enough change of clothes for the duration

  Since you are just a traveler, you do not need to bring plenty of clothing. You can just have a few and wash daily. If you hate washing when traveling, you can find a laundry service in almost any hotel but this would entail additional cost. Or better, yet, buy a shirt from each place you go to which will already serve as your souvenir.
  
  As for your footwear, remember to bring soft soled shoes with good traction. It should be good for long walking and difficult trails and can be worn for both wet and dry environment. Do not wear new shoes; they usually cause blisters.

• Bring the basic medicines

  These include medicines for pain, fever, diarrhea, heartburn, stomachache, allergies and your own personal maintenance medicines if any. Likewise, it is advisable to bring hot/cold packs. Remember to bring a first aid kit. It is very difficult to get sick in a foreign country. They have different laws in the procurement of medicines. So, it is wise to bring your own supply just in case they may be needed.

• Bring enough cash and your credit card

  In foreign countries, change to local currencies the moment you arrive. Do not change more than what you have budgeted for that area because when you convert it back to your currency, the value has depreciated already.
  
  Do not keep all your money in one bag. Try to put money in different places in case your luggage or your bag gets lost or gets left behind.

  Large amount of money in big bills is not advisable. It is difficult to get change for big bills. Also, when you get money from your wallet, you are an easy prey for robbers and snatchers. Prepare small bills all the time for the things that you need to pay for. It is best to bring a credit card but make sure you take good care of them. Most places now accept credit cards.

• Bring a foldable bag

  It is advisable to always have extra bag/s with you when you travel. For those who love to shop, they end up having to buy another bag or luggage for the items that they bought. If you bring an extra bag with you, then, you will not have to spend for a bag that you really do not need after this trip.

• Bring the basic necessities

  In your research, try to find out what the weather and climate in the place you are going to. Depending on the weather, you might need to bring a jacket, hat, raincoat or umbrella.
  
  You may choose to wear the jacket and hat on your trip so that you will not have to pack them.

• Bring some food

  It is advisable to bring food with you. Sometimes the trip takes longer than expected and food on airports, ports and bus stations cost more. So, if you have biscuits, something to drink, candies and even cup noodles with you, then, you won't have to worry of being hungry during the trip. Also, some do not like to eat the food that is locally sold in that place so if you have your own supplies with you, you will not go hungry.

Everything small

When bring the above items, some of them should be removed in their original packing so that they will not be very bulky and consume so much space. Transfer your toiletries in small bottles or bring those that are in sachets so that as you travel you are making more room for the things that you might want to buy.

When you know that the hotel has towels and the basic toiletries, you may choose not to bring your own so as to save space.

A small towel is preferable since it is easier to dry - this is advisable for those who travel daily from one place to the other.

Be environment friendly

Do not leave behind the plastic packaging of the items that you bought. You may use them to pack your things or bring them home with you to re-use. They do not occupy too much space anyway.

In the end, I am hoping that your trip would be something you can always look forward to because you will enjoy your trip knowing you have everything with you. Have a safe trip always.

1.

This site compares all ticket pricing with results from practically every airline around the world. In regards to some of the features that presented Kayak as being the number one travel search engine are various ways of distribution and time schedule elements that reflect on changes made in the recommendations.

2.

Like the above site of Kayak, Farecast is also very efficient with finding tickets from all airlines, but it focuses very highly on time-scheduling. The bonus using this site is a continuous follow up after changes have been made concerning flight rates and recommendations on bookings. Approximately a third of the recommendations are accurate.

3.

Different reviews from net surfers and experts in the field concerning hundreds of airports all around the world, make this site a highly reliable one. Up to 288,000 comparisons and reviews on the site are in regards to the different scale-parameter, where you will find such topics as the quality of seats, service on the plane, among other such features that may help you decide which airline is best to fly with and what route is economically viable to take.

4.

This site offers you 75 different airline companies to order and buy tickets from, and is considered one of the more dependable sites to find cheaper tickets, especially in and around Europe. According to some magazine reviews, Wegolo has managed to become one of the more successful sites, compared to other competitive sites, when trying to find the cheapest routes. The site also offers different hotel options and comparisons as well as the preference of renting a car.

5.

This site is the main ring of the 1,001 most expensive and luxurious hotels around the world, which also includes individual villas and suites, as well as lavish rooms on-board grand cruise ships. Magazine editors recommend however to be patient when going about booking through LuxuryLink as waiting may sometimes save you up to 50% on the cost for accommodation.

The first thing I tell people is don't pay the asking price. That means, don't just walk up to a car rental counter and ask for the price. You will always get ding'd if you do that. Instead, find a computer that is connected to the internet and book it online.

If you are looking for a cheap rental, check out Dollar, Thrifty, Budget and Enterprise. Each of these companies provide pretty new vehicles at their locations for a low rate.

1. The first place when you reach the company's website to check is their Specials page. Depending on how long you need your vehicle, check if there are any dollar savings off a weekend, weekly or monthly rate. Most of these specials are in the form of a promo code or discount code. Take note of it before you leave the page.
2. If you work for a large corporation, check with your company and see if they have a preferred car rental agency and what the discount is. Most large corporations have corporate accounts with Hertz or Avis, and not any of the discount ones that I have listed. With the right corporate code, you may be able to get better rates with their companies or you may get special privileges. I would compare the prices with these discount companies just to see which one offers the better deal.
3. If you don't have a corporate code then ask your friends if they know of any. For example, if you belong to Costco, they have codes for Alamo, Budget, Avis and Hertz. And if you golf and belong to the USGA, you can use their special code for Hertz. (I believe the last time I looked, the code was printed on the USGA site under benefits.) Having a code will save you up to 25% off your total rental costs.
4. When you pick up your car, stay firm on your booking. Because their rates are substantially discounted, they will try to encourage you to upgrade the vehicle for an additional cost. Or if they ran out of the size that you had booked for, they will try to charge you for a larger size car. Either way, stay firm and demand that they honor your booking.
5. Check with your car insurance company and credit cards to see if there are any car rental coverages that are included. For instance, most gold credit cards offer comprehensive coverage on car rentals. This will save you up to $10 per day if you decline the coverage from the car rental agencies but remember to use the gold card to pay for the rental. Also, some car insurance policies allow you to take the coverage you have on your home vehicle and transfer it to the rental car. This could potentially save you another $20 per day.

I personally take no coverage when I rent because my AllState insurance allows me to take my coverage and transfer it to the car rental and my gold American Express card covers the liability. I have to stay firm at the counter, and decline their coverages and not flinch when they say I am responsible for the whole car in case something happens to it. I know AllState and American Express are behind me on it.

Give Yourself a Day or Two For Recovery

When you return from vacation, give yourself an additional day or two off the work schedule so you'll have a chance to recover and reorganize the items you took on vacation. If you return to work the next day, you'll probably feel stressed and disorganized. A day spent house cleaning before returning to work can be relaxing and satisfying and it can make the first day back feel less foreboding.

Make a Memory Album

Be sure to bring along a camera and take lots of photos on your vacation. Have them developed before you leave and buy a special album to place them in. On your first day home, secure your photos in the album with funny captions. Include any momentos you may have collected such as restaurant menus and tickets in your new album. Remind yourself that can relive the happy memories just by browsing through your memory album.

Plan Your Next Vacation

On your way back from your vacation, start planning your next vacation. This will give you something to look forward to and can make you feel less let down about your current vacation ending. Browse through travel magazines and travel books in search of your next destination. This can be quite therapeutic for post vacation blues.

Eat Out On Your First Day Back to Work

Make the transition back to the office easier by allowing yourself a small treat on the first day back. If you usually brown bag your lunch, have lunch with a co-worker at a local restaurant during your lunch hour. If you don't have time for a full lunch, go to a local coffee bar for a quick treat. Tell your friend about your vacation as you sip your lattes.

Wear A New Outfit Back to Work

Buy a flattering, new outfit on your trip and wear it on the first day back to work. Choose one that will show off the sun kissed skin you gained from frolicking on the beach. The new outfit will give you a psychological boost as you make the transition back to your normal routine.

Returning to your normal routine after a vacation doesn't have to give you the post vacation blues. Keep in mind that your next relaxing vacation is just around the corner.

Here are 4 tips that can help any photographer take unbeatable travel photos:

Subject

Pay attention to the subject of the photos that you are taking. Do your travel photos focus on the scenery, the culture or the people? In order to take a good travel photo, you need to define what the subject of the photo is.

For example, if you are on a sailing trip, do you take a photo of the nightlife with the boats moored, the sailors themselves, or the boats? Decide first, snap photos later. Your photography will be enhanced if each photo has a purpose.

Be Ready

When on vacation, the best photos sometimes tend to be the unplanned photos. Therefore, if you want to take unbeatable photos, be sure to always have your camera ready at a moment's notice. If your camera is too large to haul around with you, take a smaller camera.

Focus

Even if there is an amazing scene that you think will be out of sight in a moment, such as a flock of birds, take an extra millisecond to focus your lens. After all, the subject of your photo won't be memorable if it turns out to be a blur.

Photography can sometimes require more patience that other hobbies. However, photographers are rewarded for their patience where that favorite photo is developed and can live on their walls for decades.

Lighting

Lighting plays a key role in photographs and can often mean the difference between an okay shot and a stellar shot. Before you snap your photo, be sure that you understand some of the basics of lighting.

For example, if you have your flash on in broad daylight, your photograph may appear washed out. However, if you turn your flash off, the photo could have deeper colors. The same goes for taking photographs at night.

Take some time to learn some of the basics of photography before you head out on your next vacation. After all, when it comes to travel photography, you generally only have one chance to capture those people, places, cultures, and events as they are when you're there. Therefore, take your time, know the basics, and your unbeatable photography will be the reward.

1. What to Take

   Before you can do anything else, you need to figure out what you're going to take with you. Think about where you are going. Think about the general climate. Will it be hot or cold, dry or rainy? Think about how long you are going to stay, a day, a week, several weeks-and what you will be doing-business, vacation, or a little of both.

2. Type of Bag

   Choose an appropriate size bag to fit all your belongings, and consider the structure of the bag. Soft bags like duffle bags ad backpacks are lighter and easier to carry than suitcases and chests, but hard containers give more protection. Pick a bag that works best for the situation.

 Packing

1. First Layer

   In the bottom of the bag pack hard, unbreakable, and bulky items like shoes or toiletry cases. If possible take only one other pair of shoes besides the pair you plan to wear. To save space, pack sox, belts, scarves, small bottles or other loose items lose items in shoes. Put the shoes in a plastic bag, especially if they have dirt or shoe polish on them. Bring two more plastic bags for your dirty or wet clothes. Fill the area around the bulky items with sox and underwear to make a level space for the next layer.

2. Second Layer

   Pack shirts, pants, and sweaters here. A good technique to keep them from wrinkling is to roll them up. This prevents creases and saves space.

3. Third Layer

   Fill in the space in between clothes with more sox and underwear. This is also the space to put breakable items like glass or china, wrapped to protect your clothing if they do break. Keep valuable things in the middle of the bag, cushioned on all sides with clothing. If possible avoid packing breakable items in the luggage altogether.

4. Fourth Layer

   The last articles of clothing you should put in your bag are those most susceptible to wrinkling. Lay jackets, suits, or skirts flat on top. If you must fold these items, wrap them in plastic or tissue paper. If possible tuck the ends of jackets or skirts down the sides of the bag to avoid folding. Leave ample space so the bag can be zipped or closed with ease; overstuffing will lead to wrinkling. Try to distribute the weight of items evenly in your bag.