Tips for First-Time Fliers on International Flights

Flying to a destination abroad for the first time can cause feelings of excitement and trepidation, as many travelers are concerned with flight comfort, logistics and getting through customs at their destination. With a few tips, even novice world travelers can have a restful flight, sail through customs and get on with their trip.

Sleep and Eat on Destination Time

Many airlines try to help travelers adjust to a different time zone by closing the shades and dimming the cabin lights for sleep even while the mid-afternoon sun is shining at the departure city. Taking advantage of sleep during this time helps travelers prevent extreme jet lag and exhaustion upon landing. If sleep is elusive, be courteous of other travelers by staying quiet during this time. Bring snacks or enjoy light meals about the time that the people at your destination would be settling down to a meal. This also will help with schedule adjustment while you're abroad.

Make the Seat a Comfort Zone

On long flights, a business suit or pair high heel shoes is not conducive to comfort. Change as the plane approaches your destination or at the destination's airport, but wear comfortable clothes and thick socks for most of the flight. Be sure to bring lip balm, unscented hand lotion, earphones, earplugs if necessary and any other item that will help you relax or sleep. An eye mask can block light and allow for deeper sleep, and a neck pillow will provide comfort and support.

Move Around

If the flight is a long one, make sure to get up and move around regularly. Airline staff usually expect to see passengers walking the aisles on long flights, so don't feel awkward with cruising around the cabin and stretching out of the way of other travelers; just avoid restricted areas. Stretching in yours seat also can be effective in reducing stiffness. Try small leg circles, neck rolls or arm stretches.

Prepare for Customs

Preparation for getting through the destination's customs area starts before landing. In the air, most airlines provide travelers with the necessary immigration forms. These forms usually ask for the flight number of the arriving flight, its departure city, which other countries you have recently visited and if you are carrying anything unusual, such as food items or large sums of money. As a general rule, countries try to avoid botanical infestations from foreign fruit and soil, so airline staff may ask that fruit be consumed or thrown away before landing.

Source - http://traveltips.usatoday.com/tips-first-time-fliers-international-flights-40395.html

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Basic Tips While Travelling Abroad

With the progression in the tourism industry, travelling around the world has become more affordable. As travelling has become an expression of leisure and relaxation, people dont only travel for work or business.

Following are some helpful tips to plan well if you decide to travel to a new country:

Your Identity

Only if you have a proof- identity, you can be known as a recognized citizen of your home country. While you are travelling or if you are in another country, you may be asked to present your proof- identity in an unexpected situation. Hence it is advisable to always carry your passport or driving license that can help to prove your recognition- citizenship, age, etc.

Your Suitcases

Check with relevant consulates in your home country before you leave. Know the right rules from the right source. Your flight operator can answer queries such as restriction on luggage, what to carry, etc. Every country is different in their rules and checking procedure. Some countries do not allow perishable food items on flights. Get your facts clear.

New Culture & Food

It's often useful to understand or get to know different cultures, traditions and beliefs of a foreign place. For example, some Arab countries have preferred dress codes.

A translation dictionary can always help you to learn the language around you. It's usually appreciated if you can also speak simple words like Thank you', 'Hello', etc with the locals.

When it comes to food, try to eat healthy meals and not just junk. Most places offer a variety of options such as restaurants, bars, fast food places and take-aways which cater for all budgets.

Guide books often contain information about eating out such as where to go, how much to tip etc.

Communication

Communicating while travelling or settling aboard is one of the important things that you could be doing. Today, with the advent of the latest technologies many calling services offer you cheap international call rates . Hence it's convenient to keep in touch with people. Some countries even have the benefit of free calling, discounts and offers. So it is easier to stay in contact with your family or organize a business call while you are travelling.

Places Around You

Discovering new places is exciting, relaxing and it keeps you occupied during your free time. Contact a travel agency or a travel planner to guide you. The internet is a good source to help you with information. Local newspapers and magazines often have special offers and travelling tips too.

Source - http://www.eurograduate.com/lifestyle/article.asp?id=3381&pid=5

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Tips to finding Cheap Flights in Canada

Scoring a cheap flight in Canada isn’t the easiest thing. By comparison to other countries, flying in Canada can be expensive if you don’t plan it right and use all the services at your disposal. There are several factors to take in when trying to find the best deal on a domestic or international Canadian flight.

The two most popular airlines are AirCanada and Westjet. Both of which run international and domestic flights through Canada. AirCanada Jazz and Tango are their cheapest flights, and occasionally that can be noticeable. However, since AirCanada became the official airline of the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, the flights are getting much nicer. The majority of airplanes in Canada will have a personal entertainment system built into the seat ahead of you, as well as those awesome fold down trays we all love so much.

1) Check for specials. Airlines will occasionally have specials during certain weeks of the month. If you’re trips not for another couple months, make a habit of looking twice a week for specials. Sometimes its only 15% off, but that 15% could go towards accommodation, food, or drinks.

2) Book your flights to fly during Mid week. A flight on a Tuesday or Wednesday will be cheaper than a flight on Friday or Saturday. Always! Also, try and making the initial booking on a Tuesday or Wednesday, airlines have a habit of lowering their prices mid week.

3) Search Google for Coupon Codes – apply a coupon code to your flight and save sometimes up to 40% off your flight! Check out Smart Canucks and Bargain Moose, they occasionally run coupon codes for flights. I’ve used these several times without a problem.

4) Compare costs of flights between different website – some will be cheaper than others. Once you’ve found one, don’t hesitate too long. If you think it’s a better deal than what the others are offering, it probably is, dive on it before someone else does. However, check the airlines website for the exact same date.

5) Book ahead – leaving a flight until last minute can cost you quite a bit. Try and give yourself at least 3 weeks, 4 would be preferable. But when you’re Backpacking Across Canada, sometimes schedules don’t always work.

6) If you plan on making more than a couple flights throughout Canada, The United Stated, and Mexico, you should consider buying a North American Air Pass through Star Alliance. This pass allows you to purchase coupons (3 to 10) for flights anywhere through North America. There are serious amounts of savings to be had here, definitely worth looking into it.

Warning

Flights between Labor Day and Thanksgiving tend to be the cheapest time to book flights. Should you try and grab a flight around Christmas, you’re sure to pay some holiday inflation. Same goes for just about any other holiday, as well as the time of the day. Airlines update costs up to 5 times a day. Check the flights as early as possible. Check at least once before 5am, and again at or around 5pm.
Fly safe!

Source -  http://ibackpackcanada.com/7-steps-to-finding-cheap-flights-in-canada/

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