Make copies of important documents

 Before you leave, photocopy your passport, drivers license and credit cards you will be taking on your trip and leave them with a trusted friend. Keep a list of important numbers to call hidden in a separate location, such as your luggage or with travel itineraries. In the event your wallet is lost or stolen you'll have the information you need readily available.

Clean out your wallet or purse

Take out all unnecessary documents that can possibly compromise your identity. Your Social Security, library and business cards won't be much help on vacation, leave them safely tucked away at home.

Don't put all you eggs in one basket

Good advice for investing and traveling. Don't keep all your cash in the same place. Keep what you'll immediately need for food, souvenirs, etc., in one pocket and larger amounts in another. Or consider getting a money belt. It keeps your credit cards and large amounts of cash close to you and safe. When you anticipate the need for more cash or a card, go to a discrete location, such a bathroom stall or lobby alcove to retrieve it out of view from prying eyes.

Leave debit cards at home

While convenient, debit cards present a special problem if lost or stolen. By the time you discover your card is missing an opportunistic thief may have already wiped out your account. Resolving the situation can take weeks, effectively ruining your vacation. Instead of debit cards, travel with credit cards. If lost or stolen the account holder is usually not liable for fraudulent charges over a certain amount. Plus some credit card companies can get a replacement card to you in days in some emergency situations and even offer travel protection. Check with your card company for specifics and travel benefits available.

Use traveler's checks

It's never a good idea to carry large amounts of cash with you. Traveler's checks offer flexibility and security. Simply cash what you need for the day and securely stash away the rest. If lost or stolen, they can easily be cancelled and replaced. Many banks offer special rates for account holders, check with your bank for reduced or no-fee offers on traveler's checks.

Take advantage of the hotel safe

Before leaving your room for the day, put extra credit cards, return trip tickets and other valuables in the hotel safe. There's usually no charge for this service and some locations offer individual safes in guest rooms. If still uncertain about the room safe, ask to use to hotel front desk safe or safety deposit box if available.

Be vigilant, not paranoid. While thieves are always looking for an opportunity to take advantage of an unsuspecting tourist, don't let the constant fear of an incident keep you from enjoying yourself. Always be aware of your surroundings and keep valuables such as your digital camera or iPod close to you at all times. Plan ahead and be prepared for the worse if it happens, but don't let worry spoil your fun. After all, the point of a vacation is to leave your worries at home.

Cruising and the Single Father

We all want to spend time with our children on vacation, but the idea of a vacation is to relax and have some fun, and this includes old Dad, too. Divorced fathers, who usually spend less time with their children per capita through the year, are especially sensitive to showing the kids a good time. Disney World, a trip to the beach or mountains, or state or national parks are all popular destinations, but all have significant drawbacks.

A day at the beach watching your children swim, especially if they are small, is about as relaxing as driving in rush hour traffic; the magic of Mickey & Company has worn perilously thin after the third or fourth time winding through a serpentine line for an hour and a half, waiting to see robotic animals dance to bad music for three minutes. But there is an option available where you can spend quality time with your children and still feel like you had a vacation yourself.

A cruise is one of the best vacation options available to the single father. Most family oriented cruises are rife with entertainment options for the children, from about four or five years of age up to the upper teens. Treasure hunts, tours of the ship, ice cream buffets, group activities by age, play rooms, teen clubs, all serve to occupy your little tax deductions, giving you a chance at some well-deserved personal time and fun of your own. It is, after all, your vacation, too.

The single father who is likely to be reading this will do well to remember his demographic, and his TV history. By my admittedly biased accounting (but based on the experiences of five cruises with my daughter from age seven to fourteen), for every single male on a cruise ship, there are at least two single women, most of whom were raised watching The Love Boat. For single fathers, the number of single mothers per capita is greater still, and you already have something in common to laugh, commiserate, and compare notes about. Like yourself, the single moms want to generate a few fond memories of their own.

If I had a son, there are only two pieces of advice I would give him concerning women. The first is to never be coerced into guessing age or weight (you are lying if you fall shy, and dead in the water if you guess high), and the second is to learn to dance. If you are willing to smile, say hello, and provide a warm body on the dance floor (optional, but very helpful), you almost cannot help but meet someone on a cruise. For whatever vain reason, many men will not get out on the dance floor for fear of the world's discovering that they are not John Travolta. Get over it. You don't have to be a good dancer, although it doesn't hurt; you just have to be willing to get out there. This is not American Bandstand; no one is keeping score.

Cruise lines are very aware that one of the main reasons single people take cruises is that they want a chance to meet other single people in a romantic setting. They promote the idea of new love on the high seas in their advertising, and do all that they reasonably can to perpetuate this image. Therefore, making this easier for you is good business. Sitters are available up into the wee hours, with well-trained supervision and so many activities, games, and movies that the biggest problem is getting junior to leave to go with you at bedtime.

For both you and the kids, this is the time to try new things, have some adventure, and expand your base of experience. For the older kids, a cruise is like a learner's permit for adulthood; they can be given a bit more rein than usual because of the subtle supervision of the ship's staff, and can make friends with people of very different backgrounds. You can kick up your heels a bit, secure in the knowledge that you are very unlikely to see any of these people again unless you want to. You can have the chance of a romantic fling with a nice lady, have something to lie about to your friends, and when the lady in question tells the story back home in Omaha, you are six feet-four and good looking.

Romance aside, there is virtually always something to do on the ship, or on the shore. Depending upon your destination, you can visit exotic beaches, go snorkeling, visit historical ruins, shop, tour the islands, or just kick back and enjoy the amazing service. I was reticent to get up in the middle of the night and use the bathroom on my first cruise, afraid that the bed would be made when I returned. They will cheerfully bring your children a turkey sandwich and soft drink at two in the afternoon or morning, and smile as they watch you track sand onto the ship from the beach. Remember that they work for tips. It is a poor man's chance to be rich for a week.

Prices vary with accommodations and season, but compare very favorably with equal time in Orlando or Myrtle Beach, and you are much more likely to still be speaking to your children after the week is over. You can do as much or little as you like, eat some great food, see a bit of the world, and maybe squeeze in a little adventure and/or romance for yourself. Take a chance; take a cruise. Did you really want to ride that bike with ET again?

Some of the best places to visit in London are the London Bridge to start. I took photographs near the bridge by a park and up on the bridge. There is even a tour that will take you up into the bridge itself where you can look out into the ocean and the city.

Buckingham Palace is a must-see. The beautiful architecture is a sight to behold. The black and gold gates are striking especially when the bobbies stand next to them. I had a picture taken with one. The guards are also switched out every couple of hours and it is intriguing. Many people will stand outside the gates to try to get a glimpse of royalty.

Abbey Road Studios is located off St. John's Wood and isn't open to the public but you can take photos there. You can check out the place where the Beatles crossed the street for their album cover Abbey Road.

St. Paul's Cathedral is an amazing Catholic Cathedral to take a tour in. It has several sections. The first section reaches a walkway called Whispering Gallery. The next section is an outdoor walk. These sections continue to go into higher levels and eventually you will get a spectacular view of London.

Portobello Road is opened daily and it is a type of flea market that sells antiques. It is a cool place to visit when you are looking for a bargain.

The National Gallery in Trafalgo Square is a good museum for those that enjoy going to museums on vacations. They display works of Leonardo De Vinci and have several Egyptian artifacts and antiques as well as Ancient Greek sculptures. It is one of the better museums in London.

Finally, there are a few more places to visit while in London. Take a walk to the West End where you can catch a show. It is considered the Theatre District. Go to the Tower of London which is best seen at night. If you have a chance to do so go visit the Big Ben and take a bus tour around the city.

How Much to Bring

I recently traveled to The Netherlands with my school's study abroad program. The first thing they told us? Save. We would be abroad for four months and although room and board were provided to us by our school during the week, on weekends we'd be on our own. When I arrived in The Netherlands in fall 2007, the exchange rate was about $1.50 American dollars to one Euro and $2.00 American dollars to the British pound. This means you should expect to lose at least a third of your money just in exchange rates.

They suggested to us to use credit cards, as this will give you the best exchange rate. I found that doing this often led to high fees for overseas use. It's a good resource if you're buying in bulk, but for small purchases keep cash on hand. Get foreign money at your bank beforehand, they will give you the best exchange rate. Use ATM's when you need cash abroad, and avoid cash exchange booths that can rip you off.

I found that $5,000 was sufficient for me for four months, but even if you're just going for a week I would suggest having at least $1,000. You never know what expenses will come up, and with the exchange rate constantly fluctuating, it's a good idea to have extra cash on hand.

Getting Around

My program encouraged us to travel on the weekends and gave us each a Eurail pass that would enable us to travel most of Europe. You can obtain these passes via the Eurail website for anywhere from 10 days to three months. Though they're a bit pricy, it's a good investment if you'll be traveling to three or more countries. Otherwise you'll have to pick up tickets as you go, which can lead to complications and a general hassle. Also, a two hour train ride can cost as much as $50.

If you need to use an airline, Ryanair is Europe's leading bargain flight. The airports are a bit out of the way, but with the price of a ticket starting at $30 American dollars, it's definitely worth the extra bus ride. It's a flight devoid of luxury, but it gets you to your destination for cheap.

Where to Stay

Forget the horror movies, Hostels are the backpacker's best friend. Websites like Hostelworld list hostels in particular cities that cost as little as $10 per night. Some even include breakfast and discounts on tours. You'll probably have to share a room with other guests, but for the most part hostels are safe and reliable. Just make sure to book in advance, because of their cheap price they fill up quickly.

Eating

I found that in each city I visited, there were certain foods that were necessary to sample. However, most foods that are popular to a particular place (think: Belgian waffles in Brussels, Gyros in Athens) have multiple restaurants that serve the dish. Don't just go to the first place you see, shop around to get the best price. A four star restaurant may serve a Welsh Rabbit (grilled ham and cheese) that is just as delicious as the pub down the street.

Also, limit yourself to one special dinner per place you visit, or even just per week. It will save you money and there's no shame in eating fast food every now and then. Also, grocery stores can be a cheap way to get a good meal. What's more romantic than wine, bread, and cheese in a French park? The atmosphere is free, and the food is a fraction of what you'd pay elsewhere!

Following these tips you'll be able to have a fun and exciting European vacation on a budget. Make sure to take as many pictures as possible and keep your valuables and passport on you at all times. Happy travels!

The concept of low cost airfares is not surprising, and it has become a new trend and phenomenon in the world of traveling. This concept has been well received by low and medium income families who can now also fly to their desired destinations. The foremost aim of the low cost airfare concept is to enable even more people to travel a great deal more often.

How Can Airlines Offer Such Low Cost Airfares?

The low-cost airline's main mission is to offer a more inexpensive, convenient and simpler form of transportation to its travelers. To achieve this mission, the airlines have to cut their costs to a minimum by eliminating some unnecessary expenditure.

The main feature of low cost carriers is that their airfares are extremely lower than other big-scale airline companies. In Europe, for example, their airfares are half or less than that the larger airline company's airfares. Many of these airfares are often lower than train tickets. Despite lower airfares, the profits of these airlines are often higher than larger airlines, with their sales profits going as high as 20 to 30%.

Low cost carriers do not use the major airports, instead they fly to and from secondary airports that are not necessarily the busiest. These secondary airports usually have lower operating costs than bigger major airports. Furthermore, the secondary airports are less congested and their “turnaround times” are shorter for the flights. Many European cities have more than one airport and for many small cities that are adjacent to the major cities, they often have their own airports. Because Europe's railways and highways use a very developed network, the passengers do not usually feel any inconvenience if the airports are located a little farther away from the major cities.

Low-cost carriers maintain lower labor costs because they mainly engage in short-distance business trips, and the pilots and crews do not stay overnight. Their wages are much lower than larger airline companies, and yet the average flying time is much longer. As the routes are allocated for only 2 to 3 hours for the short-haul flights, passengers are not usually provided with free meals. All foods and drinks sold are an addition.

No seats are reserved or allocated for passengers and so they will have to take any seats available, but luggage is allowed to be checked-in and taken on board.

The seating space in the plane is usually narrowed to allow more space for accommodating more passengers on board the flight. In this manner, their revenue can help in boosting their profits by at least 10%. Because flights are generally shorter, the passengers can easily accept the narrow distance between the seats.

These low cost airlines usually sell their air tickets via travel agents, travel-based search engines, and the internet, and do not need to rent a huge office space which may incur higher costs. By booking flights via internet or through an airline's call center, you do not have to pay a travel agent any commission, which would otherwise increase the airfares. You will end up saving even more money by not using travel agents to book a reservation.

Most low cost carriers cut their costs because no arrangements are made with any airline companies on flight transfers or connecting flights which would otherwise be reflected in the airfares. They employ pilots, flight attendants, operations personnel and mechanics who are specialized in a single type of aircraft, which saves the expenditure of re-training the staff, instead of maintaining a stock with parts for different types of aircraft. These are some of the reasons why the pricing is more affordable, economic and extremely low.

7 Essential Tips To Getting Low Cost Airfares

1. The low cost airline companies will catch your attention with extremely low airfares banners or advertisements that require you to book the tickets 6 or 9 months ahead of the traveling date. You have to grab these opportunities by making a reservation from their respective websites. These airfares get sold very fast.
2. Once the tickets are sold out, the low-cost seats will not be available anymore and you will have to pay more if you purchase the ticket later. You have to book the ticket immediately as it will last only 24 hours. In other words, you have to plan your trip earlier and book the ticket in advance. By doing this, you may be able to get the best deal that is worth every penny.
3. Now, you need to get a list of low cost airlines. You may use the suggested list attached in this article to choose your desired traveling destinations. E-mail the airlines to obtain some details on when their companies offer a promotional trip package, when the low cost airfares are on sale, and when to look for seasonal or discounted airfares. Once you get a list from them, you can familiarize yourself with the low cost airlines that fly from your local or nearby airport to your desired destination. This information may also be included on your local airports website.
4. With these e-mail lists at hand you will be one step closer to getting to know which new destinations are launched that can generally offer discounted or low airfares as an added promotion to attract tourists to visit those places. They also offer numerous packages which can include car rentals and hotels. This way, you can save money instead of paying for each particular aspect of the flight individually.
5. Browse through the dates on low airfare searches in order to find out how much you can save. You will be surprised to find out that the rates for weekdays, weekends, school holidays, public holidays and seasonal holidays all have different rates. You should try to travel during the off-peak seasons in order to get the discounted or low cost airfare packages.
6. Because flights are usually not fully occupied during the off season, you will receive better discounts. The airfare in general, is also less for morning flights than for evening flights because the airlines want to make sure the flight will be fully occupied before the plane takes off.
7. In some cases, you will have to be patient while you wait for the release of cheap airfares. Some big airlines buy tickets in bulk and resell them at lower rates through the internet. This is because they want to sell as many tickets as they can to make sure that their flights are fully occupied.

It is important to do some research trying various sources while looking for cheap airfares. The information is usually available at sites set up by airlines, travel agencies, or travel-based search engine sites. Internet is by far the best option to let you to search through as many sources in the fastest and most most effective way to let you obtain all the information you want. Search engines like Kayak, Expedia, Travelocity or Mobissimo enable you to search travel sites for the cheapest fares by simply entering the date of travel and the destination. After you hit the Search button, all related flights information will be displayed on the screen. If you are happy with the airfare, you can book your ticket immediately.

Remember, do not make a quick decision. You should always check on multiple search engines like Kayak, Cheapflights, Iwantthatflight, Attitudetravel, Qixo, Whichbudge, Cheapair, SKYSCANNER, Wikipedia or Bookingbuddy to compare the airfares. The travel agencies can have prices much higher or much lower than another. Make sure that you check with the airlines about whether the airfare includes routes (direct flights, stopovers or connecting flights), refunds or extra charges, and if their rules for cancellations before buying the tickets suits you.

A hotel plus air package is often worth buying because the prices are offered at a rate lower than the airfare without the hotel accommodations. Lastminute.com has been found to have some of the the best deals in this field. The Travelocity who owns Lastminute is one of the best options for you to book your last minute travel reservations while still helping you save money.

Always make sure that you keep abreast of the different airfares offered by various airlines companies. The prices fluctuate like the stock market and the airlines may update their domestic fares up to two or three times a day. If you are serious about saving your money, you should really check them out regularly.

Try to combine two separate fares rather than buying an individual airfare which will probably cost you more. Travelocity or another travel-based search engine may provide you with even more information regarding combining fares.

Where to Get an Affordable, Economic and Low Cost Airfare?

The links below offer some of the lowest operating costs for airlines in Africa, Asia, Europe, America, Middle East and Oceania regions and were compiled from various resources.

AFRICA REGION

Morocco

• Atlas Blue
• Jet4you

Nigeria

• Chanchangi Airlines
• IRS Airlines
• Kabo Air
• Sosoliso Airlines

South Africa

• Kulula.com
• Mango

AMERICA REGION

Argentina

• LAPA

Brazil

• BRA Transportes Aéreos
• Gol Transportes Aéreos
• OceanAir
• WebJet Linhas Aéreas

Columbia

• AeroRepύblica
• EasyFly

Canada

• Air North
• Air Transat
• Porter Airlines
• Skyservice
• WestJet
• Zoom Airlines

Mexico

• Aladia
• ALMA de Mexico
• Avolar
• Click
• Interjet

United States

• AirTran Airways
• Allegiant Air
• ATA Airlines
• ExpressJet
• Frontier Airlines
• JetBlue Airways
• Mesa Airlines' brand Go!
• Primaris Airlines
• Skybus Airlines
• Southwest Airlines
• Spirit Airlines
• Sun Country Airlines
• US Airways
• USA3000 Airlines
• Virgin America

Uruguay

• Aeromas
• Air Class Lineas Aereas
• Lapsa

ASIA REGION

Bangladesh

• GMG Airlines
• Royal Bengal Airline

China

• Oasis Hong Kong Airlines
• Spring Airlines
• Viva Macau

Indonesia

• Adam Air
• Batavia Air
• Lion Air
• Mandala Airlines

Japan

• Skymark Airlines
• Skynet Asia Airways
• StarFlyer

South Korea

• Hansung Airlines
• Incheon Tiger Airways
• Jeju Air
• Yeongnam Air

Malaysia

• AirAsia
• AirAsia X
• Firefly

Pakistan

• Aero Asia International
• Air Blue
• Shaheen Air International

Philippines

• Air Philippines
• Cebu Pacific

Singapore

• Jetstar Asia Airways
• Tiger Airways
• Valuair

Sri Lanka

• Mihin Lanka

Thailand

• Nok Air
• One-Two-GO Airlines
• Thai AirAsia

Vietnam

• Pacific Airlines

EUROPE REGION

Austria

• Niki
• InterSky

Belgium

• Brussels Airlines

Bulgaria

• Hemus Air
• Viaggio Air

Czech Republic

• Smart Wings

Denmark

• Sterling Airlines

Germany

• Condor Airlines
• Germanwings
• LTU International
• Germania Express

Greece

• Aegean Airlines
• Southeast Airlines
• Vanguard Airlines
• Pearl Air
• Safe Air

Hungary

• Wizz Air

Iceland

• Iceland Express
• JetX Airlines

Italy

• Air Italy
• Air One
• Alpi Eagles
• Blue Panorama Airlines
• Evolavia
• Meridiana
• MyAir
• On Air
• Volare Airlines
• Windjet

Latvia

• AirBaltic

Netherlands

• Martinair
• Transavia.com

Norway

• Norwegian Air Shuttle

Poland

• Centralwings
• Direct Fly

Romania

• Blue Air

Russia

• KD Avia
• SkyExpress

Slovakia

• SkyEurope

Spain

• Air Comet
• Clickair
• LagunAir
• Vueling Airlines

Sweden

• FlyNordic
• Scandjet
• Sverigeflyg

Switzerland

• Flybaboo

Turkey

• Corendon Airlines
• Free Bird Airlines
• Inter Airlines
• Izair
• Onur Air
• Pengasus Airlines
• Sky Airlines
• World Focus Airlines

United Kingdom

• Air Southwest
• Easy Jet
• First Choice Airways
• Flyglobespan
• Jet2.com
• Monarch Airlines
• Thomsonfly
• XL Airways

MIDDLE EAST REGION

Kuwait

• Jazeera Airways

Saudi Arabia

• Sama Airlines
• Nas Air

United Arab Emirates

• Air Arabia
• Jupiter Airlines

OCEANIA REGION

Australia

• Jetstar Airways
• Tiger Airways Australia
• Virgin Blue

New Zealand

• Freedom Air
• Pacific Blue

I hope this article will be useful and helpful for those who wish to find the cheapest airfare available. Bon Voyage!

1. Hotel

   The most important tip for both children, and parents to enjoy a trip, is the Hotel. For the kids, pools mean more than anything. The bigger the pool, the better the stay. Parents as well should find a hotel that fits there needs (ex. Spa, Restaurant, etc.)

2. Activities

   Believe it or not, kids do not enjoy going on a 5 hour bird watching tour. In order to let your kids enjoy the trip the most, include some fun adventures for them. (ex. Riding horse up a mountain, surfing lessons, waterskiing, and more)

3. Food

   Exotic does not mean better. Your children will not enjoying eating sushi and lamb for every meal on vacation. Let them enjoy the basic burger and fries every once and a while.

4. Location

   Pick something you know your children will like. If you notice they like bugs, plants, and other wildlife things, take them camping. If your child loves a game such as "Rollercoaster Tycoon" take them to Disney World. If your child loves surfing, take them to the beach. Fit your Childs wants, and the trip will be more important for the entire family.

5. Have Fun

   And probably most important, have fun. A parent yelling at a kid the entire trip for whatever he might have done can kill the entire trip. A vacation is a time to enjoy each other's company and strengthen as a family unit. So do the most you can do to have fun.

I hope these tips have helped you, and enjoy your next family vacation

Many famous hotel chains provide the finest first class and deluxe hotel living. English speaking staff and gourmet restaurants are all part of the package. And most major hotels would provide limousine buses to connect the guest from hotel to airport.

Many businessmen find solace in the wide range of business hotels across the country. Less expensive with less amenities, and no room service. Food and drinks vending machines are available on the guest floors with a restaurant on the ground level. Located closest to train stations for convenience, few would have staffs whom can speak or understand English. Catering to traveling businessmen, room types are usually confined to singles with individual bathrooms.

Pod hotels is a unique feature of Tokyo City. Catering to people who need no more than a bed for one night, usually used by people who missed the last train home, a few do have small rooms to cater to traveling businessmen. Guests are provided with a bathrobe and towel, rooms are spaces only as wide as a lain adult body. , piled onto one another and lined, much like small cavities in cave walls. Facilities include a small TV, radio and lights. Baths and toilets are shared, necessary toiletries are available from vending machines. This is, however, not for the claustrophobic.

Ryokans (Traditional Inns)

These establishments are quite small with a limited number of rooms and usually built surrounding a well kept Zen garden. Room rates normally include 2 meals, dinner and breakfast.

Ryokans are one of the unique aspects of traveling in Japan. Generally associated with a hot spring on their premises, so live in guests may enjoy the onsen. Baths are communal, and very few would have western style rooms. Typical ryokan wear, a blue and white patterned cotton yukata would be provided for use.

To fully appreciate the experience, it is advised that travelers choose a quiet district to stay in.

Youth Hostels

A backpacker's haven, these are quite the cheapest lodgings available. Not many are open to public, as membership of the Japan Youth Hostels, Inc., or the International Youth Hostel Federation is usually required. There aren't any age limits although an older guest may be bypassed for a young one in need of lodging and there will be an evening curfew imposed.

Guest Houses (Minshuku) and Pension Houses

Generally family-run, the lodgings are part of the owners' own homes. Amenities are hardly available and in more suburban areas, guests may be expected to fold and stow away their beddings just like any family members. Meals are provided in most of these cases too.

Pension houses are similar in running styles of the minshuku, but guests can expect more amenities in comparison. You may find the standard toiletries in the bathroom, free internet, pay to use washer and dryer and usage of common rooms like the kitchen and living area.

It is not uncommon to find both run by immigrants or young Japanese couples who can speak relatively good English. In any case, it would be a relief to travelers who cannot speak the local language and a good way to penetrate the surface of Japanese daily life, at lower room costs.

Does this sound like your family trip? If so, here are a few solutions to turn your bored and fighting children into entertained and peaceful little blessings.

Proper Planning

During the initial planning, be sure to consider the length of time you will be on the road and allot for frequent stops. Anyone locked up in a closed space is bound to become grouchy, so route your trip (if possible) to pass scenic resting areas or public rest stops.

Activities

There are many activities to do while taking a long road trip. If room permits, allow each family member to bring one backpack of their favorite toys, books, or video games. This will ensure that they will have a sufficient way of occupying a majority of their time.

If space is a problem, consider traveling games such as, the “License Plate” game, where each person spells out their entire name. On the other hand, perhaps, counting a particular color of vehicle (this is especially entertaining for younger children) and rewarding the winning child with a treat at the end of the trip.

Food

Another way to make traveling fun is by scheduling a special place to stop for lunch along the way. Ideas to consider are favorite restaurants, picnics at a national park, touristy orchards or historical landmarks. This will add new excitement to what would usually be a dull trip.

Mobile Electronics

Today's electronic age offers many solutions for traveling. DVD players offer a peaceful and fun solution for all ages of passengers in the rear seats. Hand-held video games allow for individual entertainment. With the wireless modem dominating the world of communication, bring along the mobile laptop to stay connected to the online world.

Finally, you look at the speedometer and see that the last few miles remain of your road trip; you look in the rear-view mirror and joyously find smiles and laughter in the eyes of your loving children. With a sigh, you continue driving, knowing that the vacation began only 300 miles ago.

My sentiment is that Dr. King's dream is becoming a reality. For example, look at the current variety of Presidential candidates. We are experiencing history in the making, and we are showing the world our American color blind community. The ability to look past color differences and see human beings instead will enable travel to be more pleasurable for everyone.

About seven years ago, my personal experience was different from the average traveler because I'm a young minority, and traveled with my family. Those characteristics alone made my travel experience somewhat unique. I was surprised on the trip to Europe during the summer of 2001. I didn't realize how rare it would be to see African Americans in popular cities, like London and Paris. I have traveled across the country and to neighboring countries where I saw Black, Asian, and Hispanic minorities. Therefore, I assumed that African Americans would be more represented visually in Europe.

The trip to Europe was educational in history and a great experience for me culturally. However, the trip did have a disappointing side that only people who look different usually face. It was heartrending because some people had stereotypes about minorities, and it was evident with their behavior. I felt like I was under a microscope, when some stared. I have surmised that one logical reason for the stares my family received is the lack of African Americans traveling there with teens. The Black populations there leave from the Caribbean and Africa basically for work opportunities, not leisure.

I realize that Blacks have made some progress, but even abroad they still can face racism. As a world, we have a lot work to do to avoid "micro-aggressions." According to the University of Dayton School of Law, "micro-aggressions are unconscious stereotypes of Black people by White people at every level of the human experience." In England, a customs employee was simply checking the authenticity of passports. However, when it was my family's turn, the employee decided to ask us some questions after checking our passports.

For example, "Why are you here, how long will you be staying, etc. The other employees didn't do that and they probably should have because Europe has been experiencing terrorism. The interesting aspect of the trip was it happened to be exactly one month before 9/11. Ironically, the Arab populations were not treated with suspicion, but they faced other minority hostility. Many Arabs freely traveled because they are geographically near and migrate to Europe in large numbers for economic opportunity.

Another isolated case includes a White man at a perfumery in Paris. He made a statement that was unnecessary, while my family was standing directly next to him. He said, "Nowadays you see more people traveling and you know why, credit cards!" I guess he simply refused to believe that we could afford to take a trip. The entertaining part was before we left the perfumery; I spotted him using a credit card. Hopefully, he learned to avoid holding others to a standard that he can't reach himself.

My journeys in London and Paris didn't end there. My family and I did meet nice people there, but the few that had stereotypes need to be educated about other cultures. Today that should be our goal, especially during Black History Month in February. Then, everyone can benefit and start to erase the "micro-aggressions" that people have. Possibly, the subtle racism in the world will disappear someday. But in order for that to happen, we all must pull together to share experiences, culture, and friendship.

Dr. King's dream may have to wait a little longer, but eventually it may become a full reality everywhere. I proud to say that America is taking a leading role in making sure Dr. King's dream is a reality. After all, the best part about traveling is that you get to see for yourself what reality is. Entertainers, heads of state, and other high profile individuals can't honestly tell what the experience is like. The high profilers all have status and usually no matter the color they have a different experience from the average. I am glad, when I see places on TV that I have visited. Now, I have the ability to say, "I've been there. I know what it's like to see the sights, while being one of those with different look."

An interesting side note is that London and Paris have the same temperatures constantly. The weather is usually bad, so the majority of stores don't have air conditioning. Usually, if a sign says air conditioning it means an electric fan. In 2001, the two cities were experiencing a heat wave. Beware of buses and cars because they won't stop when pedestrians cross the street. Beware of beverages because they don't believe in keeping drinks too cold. For example, Beer is usually served with no ice and warm.

1. The British Museum

   The British Museum in London is one of the world's top museums that houses more than 13 million displays. The museum is a human history and cultural museum that displays a collection of artifacts from vases, clocks, bronzes and Egyptian mummies. The museum magnificent architecture building will certainly amaze anyone. Besides being only a museum, it also houses more than 350,000 reading material in its library and archive. It is a one-stop place to learn about the world's history. Tube: Tottenham Court Road

2. Piccadilly Circus

   Piccadilly Circus isn't a circus. Instead, it is actually a road junction in the central heart of London that link to other major roads in London. Piccadilly Circus is close to major shopping malls and entertainment outlets. Among the major attraction in Piccadilly is the memorial fountain. The fountain is one of the world's first statues to be cast in aluminum. Any artist would fall into the beauty of this statue. Tube: Piccadilly

3. British Library

   The library building might look odd but it is a must-visit library for anyone. The research library holds 150 million reading and audio materials from books, manuscripts and papers some dating back in 300BC. It is one of the world's biggest libraries that many famous personalities and authors do their research. Tube: Euston Station

4. The Natural History Museum

   This spectacular museum contains over 70 million items in display that is categorized under botany, entomology, mineralogy, paleontology and zoology. The museum architecture is truly complex and amazing. Among the famous exhibits, you can see here are dinosaur skeletons and other animal specimens. It will take up to days to visit all the galleries in this museum. Everything in the museum certainly will make you go wow. Tube: South Kensington

5. Bank of England Museum

   What's interesting visiting a bank, you might wonder? The bank of England Museum is located in the bank itself. It displays everything that is link to the history of banking in England. Among the items on display includes documents bank notes and gold bars! Tube: Bank