Blue Life

By Jamie Jefferson

 For many teens, the idea of spending the summer cooped up with their family for a vacation is less than appealing. And that means that you could end up with a surly, snarly member of the family on your trip. But it doesn’t have to be that way. It is possible to travel with a teenager and have a good time. With a few simple steps, you’ll be able to meet your teen’s needs and have a peaceful vacation.

1. When you are planning your vacation, remember what it was like to be a teenager. Sometimes it’s easy to forget how embarrassing it is to be stuck with your parents on a road trip. Teenagers crave freedom and independence, which isn’t always possible on a family vacation. Once you understand a bit about what your teen needs, you can take steps to meet those needs within reason.

2. Let your teen help with the planning. The first step to letting your teen experience independence is to allow them to get involved with the planning process. Get his or her input on where you’ll go and what kind of travel arrangements you’ll make. Make sure your teenagers understand that this is a collaborative process and not an opportunity for them to get everything that they want. Let them choose something small, like a rest stop along the way or a specific tourist destination. They’ll feel more involved and like a part of the family this way and they’ll appreciate being treated in a mature fashion.

3. Continue the group decision-making process when you hit the road. Consult with them on restaurant choices, or get input on vacation souvenirs. Include your teen in major decisions and they’ll stay happy throughout the course of the trip.

4. Allow your teen a bit of freedom and space on the trip, especially when you are walking around in public. Allow him or her to walk a bit behind you and physically separate from the family. Nothing will embarrass a teen more than being joined at the hip to parents. You don’t need to completely let your teen loose to allow them to feel freedom.

5. Try not to embarrass your teenager while you are out and about. What may have been seen as funny behavior a few years ago is now probably mortifying to your teen. Don’t try to pull them out of their shell if they want to sit in the corner and listen to their iPod. They need this time away from the family, especially when you’re all in close quarters during a family vacation.

6. Give your teen something to be in charge of during the trip, like the photography or video equipment. Most teenagers like electronics and giving them these responsibilities will keep their minds on getting a task done and away from sulking. No matter what duties you give to your teen, make sure it’s not babysitting. This is their vacation too and they don’t want to spend the whole time taking care of younger siblings.

You can’t ensure that your teen won’t sulk and detach the entire time (he or she is a teenager after all! But with these tips, you’ll be able to enjoy your family vacation a little more this year.

Jamie Jefferson writes for Susies-Coupons.com. Visit today to find discounts on teen jeans as well as skate and surf clothing.

How To Learn The Most From A Travel Experience
By Patrick Omari

 Brits abroad have been the subject of complaint for many years now by people from foreign countries and by fellow Brits who feel many British holiday maker’s behaviour is embarrassing.

You only have to note the packed fish and chip bars in places like Spain and Greece to realise that these countries cater to our love of batter and grease. Some restaurants are set up by natives themselves who have caught on to the trade, whilst others are run by the British themselves to please their fellow men. Whilst some people enjoy this type of holiday and often argue that they are still contributing to the tourism trade of the country, others would prefer to leave their home countries behind them for a while and delve into the core of their chosen destination.

If you are one of those people who love to experience and absorb the culture of the place you are visiting, then there are several things you can do, which will enrich your travel experience.

First of all it is a good idea to learn some simple phrases, or at least have a language book you can refer to. If you make an effort with others to speak their language, they will more often than not be delighted and help you improve. Try not to just point and speak in a really slow, patronising tone, as this can appear very rude and ignorant. Purchase a map and check out the best places to go before you get there so as to save time. Get to the know the country you are visiting, so as to understand and appreciate it to the maximum.

Tourist places are usually fantastic, well worth viewing and are therefore touristy for this reason. However, try not to limit yourself to viewing only these sights. Talk to the locals if you can, or talk to other holiday makers and try to find off the beaten track treasures. The sight may not be in your guide book, but it may turn out to be the most fantastic part of your trip. Try not to be completely ruled by time, if you see something that interests you, then stop and view it. If you are part of an organised trip, they often give you options, so feel free to utilise your choices, as much as you like. Moreover, point out things you want to do if they are not made already on offer.

When considering food, I would highly recommend sampling the local cuisine. Ask the native people what their favourites are and try them yourself. Even if the menu options seem confusing or are a little out of your comfort zone, give them a try. Furthermore, if you are visiting a place where they have different methods of eating or different social practices then try to join in as much as possible. For instance, it may be normal to eat with your hands, to use chop sticks, to bless the food or even to eat whilst sat on the floor. If you take an interest and try to fit in, the reception you receive from the locals is likely to be of a positive and welcoming nature.

It is true that some people really want to eat a variety of dishes, but simply can’t stomach them. If this is the case then stick to what you can eat but be as adventurous as possible. Ordering off market side stalls is appealing to many and is often perfectly safe, yet may completely disgust others. All that is required is your own personal judgement over food safety and what you personally think will satisfy you. Be as daring as you feel comfortable.

I would also suggest using the local form of transport, as these are often far cheaper than shelling out for taxis all the time and can be good fun. Ride the sleeper trains, pack yourself onto a crowded bus, take a tuk tuk, or even jump on an elephant. All of these experiences should enrich your knowledge of and enhance your enjoyment in a particular place.

If you are feeling highly adventurous, why not do some research before you head off on your adventures, or even once you are there and try to stay with the local people. There is no better way to throw yourself into the culture. With language and dining experiences bound to be incredibly different from your own then it will be a culture shock, but one you will never forget.

I would also suggest going abroad with an open mind. Don’t expect everything to run smoothly all the time and try to find the funny side if a bus is 3 hours late or if you get caught on a trek in the middle of the countryside. All in all, take things as they come and happy travelling.

Patrick is an expert Research and Travel consultant. His current interest is in airport hotels and Edinburgh airport hotels

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Is the Era of Budget Flights Coming to an End?
By Musa Aykac

 As we all know he credit crunch is biting hard and affecting almost every business in the economical world. More so then any other business are the airlines being affected. We have for a few years now been enjoying the great luxury of budget airlines, where we have been able to travel short distances for as little as 99p. But with the increased price of oil hitting harder than ever, these budget flights are looking like they may well be coming to an end.

As we have seen some of the major airlines have gone in bankruptcy. But are the fuel prices really to blame for this? Or was it the sheer heat of the competition that has caused such a major ripple in the budget airlines and there collapse?

It has been a wonder on everybody’s mind on how these airlines have actually been making a health profit. For 99p I could not even go out and buy a bag of chips, but in fact I can instead fly to another country that was close by.

The Rise of Budget Airlines

Budget airlines first started in the 1970s with a Southwest Airline offering ticketless flights, since then it has developed at enormous speeds with the likes of Ryan air and Easy jet being one of the biggest. One of the main progressions that we have seen is via the boom of the internet, to basically book a budget flight, all you really need handy is your bank details, the booking procedure requires no man power and no maintenance as everything is automated, from booking your seat to arriving at the airport.

The Downfall of the Airlines

The internet may have also had a slight affect on the budget airlines. As price comparison sites popped up the airlines were always pushing down there prices so that they could compete with rival companies. But there is only so far that this can be taken, as when companies start offering near to free services, the outcome has to be that they will end up making a loss rather than a profit.

Although the airlines are now struggling, I hope that they can together find a way to resolve this problem, as it was great for regular travellers and business people. Instead of spending hours upon hours on the trains, they could easily and affordably catch a flight to where they wanted to go.

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