A great way to lower your costs when visiting Europe or other parts of North America is to obtain free flights using a Loyalty Card for your Walking Holidays. Many people tell me they never get enough points to travel but you can if you plan the process well.
Tips to obtaining free flights using a Loyalty Card:
1. First, focus only on one card. The major reason that people do not
obtain enough points with a Loyalty Card is that they have
numerous cards and spread their regular shopping too thin. If you
focus on one card and the stores they support your points will grow.
Some Loyalty cards permit other family members to collect points on
the same card which can help. My mother faithfully went to the
merchants to collect points when shopping knowing it was providing
me with additional points. She had no interest personally in the
points.
2. Loyalty Cards may obtained for free, while others for a cost. If
paying for a card ensure the benefits truly outweigh the costs, if
will depend on your spending pattern.
3. Ensure the points are awarded at merchants where you currently
shop or can easily shop. If you do not fly often do not obtain a
airline card unless it supports other merchants.
Which card is best for you will vary depending on where you live and
your spending pattern. In Canada, Britain and the Netherlands the
Air Miles card permits everyday shopping for groceries, hardware and
credit card purchases while allowing you to redeem for flights.
4. Before you obtain a Loyalty Card check how easy it is to redeem
your points for flights? Are there blackout periods; limited seat
availability; limited airlines? How are airport taxes and fees handled?
Do they have a fee to redeem the points? Do points expire after a
period of time if not used?
5. Focus on the flight offer for your points. Although the program may
offer hotel and car rental offers as well only consider them if they
too are good value, they frequently are not. Some Loyalty Card
companies do not offer travel insurance so be sure to obtain
insurance before departing on your Walking Holiday.
And finally remember points from one card may not be equal to those from another plan.
If you carefully follow these tips you too can easily obtain a free flight using your Loylaty Card for your next walking holiday.
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Hiking with a group can be different than with a just few individuals. There are a few group trail protocols which are generally followed.
If you are the group leader always start the hike on time. Never wait more than a few minutes for anyone, it is just common courtesy for those who arrived on time.
If a change is suggested in the hiking distance or planned route from what was advertised always poll the other hikers. Generally it is never a good idea to make changes with a group as only the voices of the loudest are heard.
If this is a large group there is usually a sweep, someone hiking and the end of the group to ensure no one gets left behind
Try to have lunch at a scenic spot at least half way or more along the route.
Do stop and smell the flowers, view the scenery and take a break a least every hour to two hours.
Leave the wild flowers and plants for others to enjoy, Take nothing with you but pictures.
Close all gates behind you so the cows and/or sheep do not wander off
Should you need to leave the trail for any reason it is good practice to leave your packsack of the trail so those following behind are made aware
Leave the trail cleaner than you found it, leave no litter. This one applies to everyone.
To learn more about hiking this guide provides the how to you need, Trailside Guide: Hiking and Backpacking,
Have fun as hiking is like minded people is a social event. It is usually a good idea to stop for coffee or at a pub afterwards as well.
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Hiking (101 Essential Tips) Price: $5.00 Pages: 72, Paperback, DK ADULT
Take a walking holiday and travel the world. You will have the opportunity to enjoy great scenery, meet other hikers, and see another country. Listed below are seven walking holiday planning tips to get you started for a great holiday hiking.
Tip 1 – Good planning makes for a great holiday
The easiest way is to book with a travel company that specializes in walking holidays.
They will arrange the hikes with experienced guides, the accommodation and perhaps some meals. Some offer one hike a day, a sort of one size fits all method. Other companies offer different level hikes each day suitable for different skill levels. If you are tackling a major multi-day walking holiday check on the level of fitness and experience required.
You may decide to plan your own walking holiday and should consider a hiking guidebook of the area to assist in research the trails, accommodation and local transportation.
Tip 2 – Walking Holidays gear
If you do not already have hiking gear purchase it today as you need to do some training walks in your local area prior to your holiday. Base essential gear for a walking holiday include hiking boots, a packsack, good socks, hiking poles, water bottle, rainwear and other clothing which will depend on your destination.
Do not forget to pack such items as insect repellent, sunscreen, a first aid kit and perhaps even bear spray for some destinations. A digital camera is essential to record your walking holiday experiences to show friends and family upon your return.
Tip 3 – Warm up walk
Start a program of light walks progressively gets harder to get in shape. Break in those hiking boots and test all your equipment. Make sure you know how to use the GPS, hiking poles and other equipment.
Tip 4 –Transportation
Book your flight and/or train arrangements. It is also essential you purchase travel insurance when travelling outside your local region. If you have purchased a walking holiday from a travel company insurance is normally mandatory, check on the level of coverage required.
If travelling to Europe for your walking holiday consider a rail pass which frequently includes discounts on local buses, mountain railways and cable cars to get you to the start of the hike.
Tip 5 – Documentation
Check on the required documents such as passports, visas, vaccinations. These may take a while to obtain so make arrangements well in advance. Be sure to take photo copies of all important documents along on the trip as well.
Tip 6 – Accommodation
Where you stay is an important consideration. What about a room in a chalet with a balcony overlooking the Swiss Alps? Accommodation in popular hiking areas can fill up quickly so book well in advance. Consider taking a walking holiday off season for cheaper prices and more availability.
Tip 7 – Local Culture
Check up on local sightseeing opportunities to enjoy the local culture along with your walking holiday. Visit castles, historic sites, natural wonders, wineries, museums, etc.
If visiting a foreign country it is considered a courtesy to learn a bit of the local language.
You are now ready to hit the trails, enjoy planning your walking holiday.
Originally posted 2009-12-08 12:51:59.
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One of the most interesting hiking trails in the world, the historic Chilkoot Trail is a challenging 53 kilometer (33 mile) long hike up 3,500 feet. The Chilkoot high mountain pass is located in the Coast Mountain range between Dyea, Alaska and Lake Bennett, British Columbia.
Originally this trail was used by the Tlingit natives for trade. On August 16, 1896 a gold nugget was discovered in Bonanza Creek in the Klondike and the rush was on. To get to the gold over 100,000 prospectors sailed to Skagway, Alaska and hiked loaded up one of two routes. The White Pass trail (nicknamed dead horse trail) is today a railway line.
In hiking up the Chilkoot Trail, the prospectors were required to carry sufficient supplies to support themselves for a year, generally 900 kg of food and equipment. At the top of the Chilkoot Pass the North West Mounted Police (forerunners of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police) checked to ensure they had the required amount. It could take the prospectors over three months to move the supplies from cache to cache.
The goods carried included 350 pounds of flour, 150 lbs. of bacon and 100 lbs. each of beans and sugar, sleds, stoves, medicine, picks, shovels, etc. It was said that if you stepped out of line along the trail, it could take as long as half a day before someone would let you back in line. Along the sides of the trail, even today, are littered rusting equipment the prospectors left out of exhaustion. Of the 4,000 who actually discovered gold, only a few hundred ultimately emerged rich.
However today it is a rewarding experience for many hikers. You can plan the hike yourself and obtain the required hiking permits. There are also tour companies you can get the permits and handle the logistics.
The trail can be hiked in either direction, but almost every one chooses the west to east option, and for a good reason. Leaving from Skagway puts the steepest part of the trail, the Golden Stairs, on the uphill side. This is the quarter mile section where you climb over 1000 vertical feet. The weather on the Chilkoot can be seriously bad, by starting at the coast and working inland, most of the wind and rain rolling in off the Pacific will be at your back.
The character of the Chilkoot Trail changes along the way, first it climbs steeply from sea level at Skagway to the pass, and then descends only slightly over to 2,000 feet at Bennett Lake.
On the return you may continue your visit of Whitehorse and the Yukon or take the restored White Pass & Yukon narrow gauge railway down to Skagway. This railway was completed in 1901 and today is used mainly by cruise passengers for day trips. In fact it is the busiest tourist railroad in the world today.
People hike the Chilkoot Trail for the history and the natural beauty. Are you up for this challenging hike?
Chilkoot Trail: Heritage Route to the Klondike
Price: $18.96
Pages: 182, Paperback, Lost Moose
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Your walking holiday may be planned by yourself or purchased from a tour company specializing in this type of vacation. A common question is which company to purchase your walking holiday with.
Consider the following 7 items when purchasing a walking holiday:
1. Destination – you will not only want a destination that you personally find exciting but you will need to consider any flight or train connections to get you there. Are you looking for something exotic like the Inca Trail in Peru or a more traditional walking holiday in the English Lake District.
2. Years in business – how long has the walking holiday tour company been in business. Companies that have been in business for years have the experience to plan great routes which have been over time by other hikers. This is considered green travel and many walkers are environmentally sensitive, what is the policy of the walking holiday tour company?
3. Variety of walking – consider the level of fitness required on the walking holiday. Some companies only offer one walk each day for everyone and as long as that fits your level of fitness that is fine. Other companies offer easy, immediate and advanced walking so that you are challenged at your own ability and will be walking with other hikers of the same fitness level.
4. Walking leaders – how experiences are the walk leaders and how large is the group size. Can they point out local vegetation or historic sites? Do they know the best lunch and snack spots? Can they find their way? Are they qualified to handle any emergency that may arise during the walk?
5. Accommodation – consider the rating of the accommodation. You may prefer a more rustic type of accommodation and some companies specialize in using basic local hotels while others use 4 or 5 star properties. Which do you prefer? And how close is the accommodation to where your will be walking? How is luggage handled if you are moving from destination to destination?
Many walking holiday tour operators offer a single share program so that if you are traveling alone you can save on the price by sharing with another guest.
6. Meals – which meals and snacks are included in the base price. Food can be expensive in destinations such as Switzerland. If not included be sure to visit a grocery store on arrival to stock up. In addition some walking holiday tour companies have a welcome or farewell cocktail or wine party and other extra inclusions.
7. Local transportation is transportation from the railway station or airport to your accommodation included or can it arranged easily. Also are local buses or chartered coaches used to take you to the start of the walk each day.
In addition some most companies will have requirements regarding the insurance coverage.
The cost of walking holidays to a similar destination will vary between walking holiday companies but is usually a result of the quality and inclusions of your walking holiday.
Originally posted 2009-09-15 17:36:59.
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