Europe Travel

True, Tripadvisor, Frommer’s and the Lonely Planet are some of the best online travel communities going, but they’re far from the only ones amongst the greats. So go on, expand your travel community horizons and check out our 7 Best Off The Radar Travel Communities:

1. Travelistic

From YouTube to Hulu to Yahoo, were a video obsessed bunch. Travelistic has cleverly taken this to head and created a travel community wholly centred around video.

Log on and you’ll find over 10,000 user submitted travel videos, to view, comment on and inspire your future travels. Want to visit the Great Wall? Journey to the top of Everest? You can do it all on Travelistic, without ever leaving home.

2. Igougo

A masterful all in one travel community, where you can plan your trip, compare flights and hotels and share your travel experiences with the world.

Just type in a destination and you’ll be instantly connected to a plethora of photos, reviews and users who have traveled or reside there. When you’re ready to go, create your very own trip journal and give back to the community by sharing your own travel experiences.

3. Trip It

Less of a travel community and more a travel service, Trip It is perfect for the organization nut in all of us. Just enter your flights, hotel stays and destinations and let trip it create an optimized travel itinerary for you in seconds. Never miss another plane or train again.

For those who truly want it all, upgrade to the pro version and Trip It will automatically alert you if there are changes or delays in your travel plans. That means less time at the airport, and more time at the beach.

4. Dopplr

Create a map with the dates and location of your travels; share it with the Dopplr community, check out other’s maps, then meet up with those whose travel plans overlap with your own. If you’d like to keep your location a secret from some (mom, dad, a raging x), don’t worry, you can control who can and can’t see where you are.

Along the way you’ll get a wealth of location specific travel information, so you’ll always know where to stay, where to eat, and what to do. Taking the thinking out of traveling, we like that.

5. Travbuddy

Travbuddy’s got all the ingredients that make for a killer online travel community; helpful forums, honest reviews, stunning travel photos and a dedicated membership 1.5 million strong.

Travbuddy ups the ante by giving you your very trip blog, allowing you to easily post your stories, pictures and reviews as you go. There’s even a built in mapping feature that builds a map of your travels as you venture across the earth.

Wherever, you’re headed, this is one buddy you don’t want to leave behind.

6.Travellers Point

Besides being a great place to plan, book and share your next trip, Travellers Point has hands down one of the best travel resources on the web; wiki travel guides.

These 100% user created and edited travel guides, give you the collective wisdom and travel experiences of over 250,000 members, right at your finger tips. From country and city guides, to travel health and safety information, you’ll find everything you need to get in the know, before you go.

7. Travel DODO

Travel DODO takes travel reviews and puts them into a fun, easily digestible format, Travel Do’s, and Travel Don’ts.

Want to find out which restaurants, hotels and attractions are best avoided in France? Just click on the location on the interactive map, and you’ll be given a list of places to cross off your list (travel don’ts), so you spend your valuable vacation time wiser.

Online travel is the new online facility of every airline for their customers, through which they can view the flight schedules, timings, destinations and place their bookings without having to visit any franchise or outlet of the particular airline they want to travel by.

Many companies provide the services of online travel for the convenience of their customers, so that they can have, while sitting in their homes, detailed information about each and every flight that takes off as well as lands and when and where. This service is so suitable for almost every customer and flyer that travel agencies are no longer needed to provide service. The idea of electronic ticketing is more reliable for clients because it saves time.

Online travel does not only suggest flying options, it also consists of reservations for hotels, supplement services, hiring cabs and even holiday packages. Along with traveling services, the online travel agencies also provide facilities to enjoy a complete holiday experience with all the reservations done before hand, so that customers do not have any trouble in finding restaurants and hiring reasonable taxis to roam around. Once they land to their destinations, they have nothing to worry about; rather they should look forward to have the perfect trip ever.

Searching online travel gives the option to every customer to review the services and amenities of the particular airline and then choose the right agency for your trip by comparing with other companies. The deals and packages available can also be compared in terms of better facilities and also in terms of money. Some airlines offer a more reasonable deal than others, while some companies have special deals for limited time. You can avail every good proposal while searching the internet for your travel needs.

Online travel is sufficient for customers because it does not require any cash money on the spot but everyone can pay online through their credit cards or debit cards, whichever is available at the moment. You don’t have to worry about paying for the ticket right then and there; you can always transact money online and pay later.

Similarly, making reservations through the internet automatically offers travel insurance along with all the other services. Once a customer purchases a ticket and books a seat for himself in a flight, the airline company instantly insures him so that if any accident takes place, his family gets his insurance money. Moreover, if the flight on which a passenger is to board has been rescheduled, the customer are given online alerts by the agency so that the flyer does not reach the airport and find at the last moment that the flight has been rescheduled. It provides a further convenience for every customer.

Online travel has proved as the most suitable and easy way to make reservations while staying at home. It proves beneficial for both the traveler as well as the company because everything is done online and without any real effort. Apart from airline companies, even other traveling agencies like the train and bus companies have websites to facilitate their online customers.

With the travel season is just around the corner, everyone is making plans to escape from their hectic work life and packing their travel bags for their long-awaited vacations. Although going for vacation is the best escape plan ever, many of us are anticipating the travel journey with a quiver of dread because the thought of carrying all the overweight baggage, queuing the endless security lines and squeezing into the small airplane seats are just not the most exciting part of traveling.

Those kinds of experiences make it hard for us not to envy how the rich travel these days. Their getaways such as taking private jet planes to Caribbean Island villas are way above the travel standard of normal tourists.

Recently, on my last night in Thailand, I met up with some friends who had just spent their vacation staying in a five-star hotel on the outskirts of the city. To my amazement, my friends who are luxury travelers quizzed me about my comical but vivid excursions, which had left me both tiring and excited by the end of every single trip.

After the meet up, I began to realize that my friends suffered their own form of travel envy. The sense of control provided by their huge spending power had deadened their travel experience. The experiences with private hosts and staying in 5 star hotels did not create the memories that they could treasure and remember forever.

As the rich is shifting towards the experience-oriented traveling, they are more willing to fork out large amounts of money to acquire the travel experience they are hoping for. As an example, by the early of next year, wealthy travelers will be able to take a commercial space flight on Virgin Galactic, including a whole five minutes of weightlessness for US$200,000. With so many rich people showing interest in the space flight since its announcement, we are certain that the rich is going to great lengths to set themselves apart from others, as traveling is getting more and more common for most people.

Another proof of the shift is that wealthy travelers these days even plan for charity driven excursions to remote villages in countries like Madagascar and take a light aircraft to such villages just to shake hands with the Amazonian shamans.

As a result of the shift from luxury travel to peak life experience travel, travel planners will be creating their travel packages with the ultimate aim of creating a memorable experience for all the travelers. In the near future, I can assure that the most highly sought after vacations by the rich and the middle class will definitely be 5 star vacations that are charity driven or vacations that are able to offer the travelers with peak life experiences.

While most of us enjoy holidays and traveling, many find the associated travel anxiety tough to bear. Travel anxiety isn’t a disease but it is rather the fear of the unknown. Fear of travel is usually caused by several factors. Some people may worry about their house and pets when they are away while others might have had unpleasant traveling experiences during their previous trips. Others are afraid of flying. Some fret that the trip will turn out to be a disaster and worry about all of the details. All of these are examples of worries related to travel that can lead to varying degrees of uneasiness. Regardless of the causes or intensity of your anxiety, it can really compromise the pleasure and excitement of your trip.

Although, travel anxiety is common in both experienced and novice travelers, most travelers have positive traveling stories to tell. Probably, they learned how to manage their anxieties and have regained the joy of travel. It is not too late; you can also overcome travel anxiety by following a little advice. The following 5 tips to stop travel anxiety could prove invaluable to you in planning your next holiday.

5 Tips to Stop Travel Anxiety

1. Spend time making Preparations Prior To Your Trip

From past experiences, to think of the details and annoyances that bothers you about traveling. For example, you think that your house will be in a mess once you step out of the door hire a house cleaner to clean your home prior to your return. If flight travels frightens you, you can equip yourself with your iPod or your favorite book to keep you busy while you’re traveling. Simply make a list of those things you think you’ll require in your trip and those things you won’t want to be left running while you are away. The time spent organizing, planning and taking care of all the details well in advance will help to stop travel anxiety.

2. Don’t Procrastinate

Some people are well aware of their travel anxieties and they’ll often avoid taking care of the details; eg. booking a ticket, packing, etc. They will make excuses, avoid and procrastinate due to previous poor experiences with traveling. Just because you have travel anxiety doesn’t mean that avoidance will eradicate your fears. If you really want to take control over travel anxiety, get yourself involved in the action by preparing early and taking care of all necessary details. Keep in mind, travel fears are just made up fears and they are never real.

3. Learn How to Cope Up With Flight Phobia

For those people who worry about flying, you may wan to dig a little deeper to find the root of this fear. Get to know exactly what frightens you. Are you are acrophobic or claustrophobic? Perhaps the mechanical sounds bother you or air turbulence puts the fright into you. All of these fears are irrational meaning you can counter them with rationality. Airlines have strict safety measures on board. Once you are aboard, try to listen to attendant instructions to calm your nerves. Also, use anything that you like such as music to disrupt your thoughts while you are traveling.

4. Meditate

To effectively manage their travel anxiety, many individuals use meditation to gain control. Meditation makes use of a kind of self-hypnosis, so you can calm your nerves and mind down. Various self-hypnosis scripts designed specifically to ease travel anxiety can be found online. Meditate on these scripts and your mind will be at ease during your time of travel. The scripts are great tools of converting people’s subconscious minds into a friend rather than a foe. Instead of having a subconscious mind that is deep-seated in travel anxiety, you’ll have a subconscious mind that is confident and not frightened of flights.

5. Get rid of the Unknowns

Illuminate your travel shadows by doing a research prior to your trip of things you’ll expect to encounter once you’re at your destination. Apart from visiting various travel blogs, you can also use travel guides to become well-informed with your destination point. Go online and checkout your accommodation so you will know what to expect. Have your looked into travel from the airport to the hotel? What about meals and special dietary requirements? The little unknowns add up and will add to your travel anxiety.

Besides the 5 tips to strop travel anxiety strategies listed above also ensure that you maintain proper communication using Facebook, MySpace, etc. Keeping the communication channels open with loved ones back home will keep you connected.

Observing the 5 tips listed above is a great way to start you on the path of happy travels. Best of luck!

My name is Clancy Davies and I am the creator and author of the website, “Alleviate the Anxiety”. I have specialized in the field of education and personal growth for nearly 30 years and enjoy helping people solve their personal issues and reach their maximum potential.

I recently did a technical presentation in Bangkok to a group of family business people. And while the material, and discussions afterwards, were enlightening, I was eager to see some of this great city.

A group of us went to the Skybar. It was incredible. The view was amazing. The people (except me of course) were dead set beautiful and the atmosphere was electric. I had one night in this city and I wanted to really experience it.

The guys with me were also present at my seminar. The conversation moved around but it inevitably came back to how our business tried to impact on families that were branching overseas – and Asia in particular.

It then became my time to buy a drink for the group.

A beer cost AUD $25. Ouch.

And there was 16 of us present.

Double ouch.

Anyway. I sucked it in and bought a round. At no stage could I have done a runner on the group. Firstly it is not cool and secondly it would have been the kiss of death for any fledgling relationship.

But the question hangs. Was it fair of me to charge this cost to my business? How do you make sure everybody is equal? How do you balance up needs of different owners? Can I get a tax deduction? And how do you keep receipts for all this stuff?

Enter the concept of a travel allowance. These things basically take away the need to keep receipts while travelling so come tax time your life managing a family business is a lot easier.

So what is a travel allowance?

It is a payment to cover the costs while an employee is travelling away from home for work. Typically a travel allowance covers the cost of meals, incidentals and accommodation in Australia but only the cost of meals and incidentals while overseas – and it does not need to be backed up tax invoices.

You can pay a travel allowance to any employee even if they do not receive a salary. This is important in a family business as family members are often working directors but do not receive a straight PAYGW salary.

How much is the travel allowance?

Each year the Tax Office issues guidelines as to how much the allowance can be for a person. The current allowance rates are at TD 2016/13 and most people find the rates relatively generous.

And the rates are staggered to allow for different levels of seniority in the family business to be recognised.

The main benefit

If you are paid a bona fide travel allowance while travelling you can claim a tax deduction for the same amount without keeping receipts to prove it.

This is important. Most often people, especially family members, will give up on the tax deduction as it is simply “too hard”. Receipts will also be lost and the receipts could be in another country so they are borderline useless in understanding what you did a while back.

The word “bona fide” is important. You have to have incurred expenditure in relation to your travel.

So if you chose to stay at a mates house for free in Sydney and you did not pay a sent for the trip you cannot claim a travel allowance.

Privacy

The other benefit of a travel allowance is that it gives a family member a level of privacy. Sometimes in a family business the families details can become quite involved. Mums might be looking at every penny and the control could become stifling. So if a family member spent a bit too much one evening – it is good to know that the allowance simply covers the cost without having to “fess up” to ones indiscretions.

An allowance is not forced upon you

Simply because the Tax Office sets a maximum rate for a travel allowance does not mean that you must pay this amount to employees in your family business. This is a maximum rate. Your family business can choose how much to pay staff while travelling.

Of course the words “bona fide” means that the payment must be realistic and not a tax fiction. Paying your staff $6 a day for accommodation, meals and taxi fares is not a bona fide allowance.

A travel allowance does not stop your legitimate tax claim

Of course there are many legitimate reasons why you have incurred more while travelling than the amount set by the Tax Office.

In this case you simply tally up the actual costs incurred while travelling and you claim these as a tax deduction – either personally or through your family business. The travel allowance is their to alleviate receipts. It does not stop you claiming legitimate costs.

Are you travelling?

Most often the concept of travelling is quite simple. However where a person is going on an extended trip it can become confusing – at what point in time is a person simply travelling through a city as opposed to living in a city?

The Tax Office have a general directive that if you are away from home for less than 21 days – you are travelling.

This is a guide of course and varies depending on the facts. So if you are say, a country sales agent in the family business you might be away from home for 6 months – but only sleeping two nights in one town at a time.

Equalisation

Importantly – the concept of travel among family members is a sensitive one. Petty jealousy can arise from family member to family member. Often travel is seen as a “perk” for working in the family business by some and a menial chore by others.

If you are in the family business – write up a policy on family members and travelling. Make it clear who can and cannot and the basis the decision is made. If it is really being done because they are family – own up to it. Likewise if the people travelling are doing so in the family business simply to make the family business great – clearly articulate that and discuss it among the family.

Using travel allowances within the family creates a level playing field for all and does so tax effectively. This can be of a value to the family business significantly more than a few extra dollars of tax deductions.

What would you say if someone told you that there may be some money out there waiting for you? The truth is that this is very possible. It is referred to as “mass money” or “unclaimed property”. It can be anything such as checks, savings, contents of a safety deposit box, refunds of utility bills, insurance policies, stocks, bonds, just to mention a few.

How is it possible to have such money without knowing about it? The answer is simple. People always move to a new home but during the hectic process of doing so, one forgets to give the new address making it difficult or even impossible to be notified . Whenever you can not be reached in order to collect the money sent to you, that money remains unclaimed until the rightful owner files a claim. So, in order to find some if any “mass money” just follow a few simple steps with the use of the internet.

STEP 1

In the search bar write “mass money” or “unclaimed property” and the state you live in at present. A search box will appear on the screen. Fill in your name, spell it as it appears on official documents, ID cards, passports, driving license etc. and your address.

STEP 2

Follow the directions on the screen to submit your claim. Fill in all the required information.

STEP 3

Attach all the necessary documents in order to prove you are the rightful owner of what is being claimed and send. This can be done online or you can have all the papers printed and send the forms by mail to the specified address.

It is advisable to repeat STEP 1 and STEP 2 for every state you have ever lived in or stayed temporarily. You can even go back and extend your search for a deceased member of your family. The progress of your claim can be followed up, as it may take about a couple of months for completion. The documents which are usually required are: proof of address, a copy of birth or marriage certificate, utility bills, tax records or other legal papers, depending on the case.

There is usually no cost but if there is one you do not need to pay until you are notified that you are the rightful owner of the claim. Furthermore, it is important to remember to collect the money within the stated time. Otherwise, it may end up unclaimed again and you will have to repeat the whole procedure.

During this highly technological age, cash is trying hard to compete with electronic money, since nowadays a lot of people choose to use their virtual wallets. Here, you will read about the pros and cons of using an electronic payment system.

It is plain to see that electronic payment systems have more advantages than traditional banking services. Let’s see:

Saves on time
Money transfer from one virtual account to another may only take a few minutes, whereas a wire or postal transfer may take a number of days. Besides, you have to spend some time to go to the bank or post office and wait in line.

Controls expenses
Even if a person is willing to control his disbursements, it can take a lot of patience to jot down all the expenses, and this takes up a huge part of the total amount. On the other hand, the virtual account comprises the history of all the transactions, including the store name and amount spent. Best of all, you can check it whenever and wherever you like. In this case, an electronic payment system works to your advantage.

Reduced loss and theft risks
You will not make the mistake of losing or leaving your virtual wallet behind, and it can never be taken by robbers.

User- friendly
All services aim to reach out to a greater number of audiences and so, their interface should be easy for users to understand. Moreover, users can always ask help from the support team since they work 24/7. You can receive an answer by means of the forums as well.

Convenient to use
As long as you have access to the Internet, you can carry out transfers anytime, anywhere.

After discussing the advantages that come with using an electronic payment system, it is essential to talk about its disadvantages as well:

Restrictions
In every payment system, there is a limit with regard to the number of transactions you can do per day and the maximum amount you can withdraw.

Risk of Getting Hacked
Risks can be reduced when you follow the security regulations. This is comparable to the risk of being robbed. The situation can get worse when the processing company’s system breaks down, since this may lead to the leaking of confidential information on the online cards, as well as its owners. Though some electronic payment systems do not launch plastic cards, they can however be involved in Identity theft scandals.

The problem of money transfer from one payment system to another
Most of the time, electronic payment systems do not cooperate with one another. If that is the case, you can use e-currency exchange services. However, it can consume a lot of time when you do not have a service you can trust for this purpose.

Lack of Anonymity
Since the database of the payment system stores all your transactions – like the name of recipient, amount and time – the intelligence agency can access all your information. Decide on whether that is good or bad.

The Need for Internet Access
When you have no Internet connection, you cannot transact on your online account.

Other than credit card machines, technology has produced many notable effects, including the credit card machine. In the 21st century, people open themselves up to technology from the very center of their being. It has the added benefit of leading to an increase in the use of credit and debit cards. Additionally, the coronavirus’ arrival has also contributed to the increased use of contactless transactions. EMV cards are replacing magistrate premium cards. EMV chip cards give you the ability to make contactless payments. The merchants must have advanced payment terminals to accept such payments.

Credit and debit cards are used almost exclusively in today’s business world. To take your business to the next level, you must associate it with a credit card machine. The processing and payment services you need for online sales include a merchant processor that provides you with an online payment gateway. There will always be online modes that people will prefer to use, regardless of the volume of transactions. As a result, you have to use an advanced piece of equipment, such as a credit card machine, in tandem with your business.

Advantages:

Just because we’re living in the 21st century, it’s impossible to conceive of life without modern technology. A large number of businessmen prefer to stick to established business models. However, sometimes you have to alter your plans according to the current situation. This means that you need to be one step ahead of everyone else in the business. You will lose customers otherwise. An establishment that gets access to a credit card machine will enjoy countless benefits. Listed the benefits; so, don’t miss the following:

Obtain Legal Recognition for Your Company:

Accepting card payments using digital payment terminals is a legitimate business practice, so it should help your company a lot. The card brand name will be printed on the POS, and thus the customers will have no problem noticing it. This logo will be featured on the same online marketplace as well. The greater the number of customers from outside the country, the more money you’ll make.

Increase Your Profitability:

To accept various forms of payment, like credit cards, Google Pay, Apple Pay, and more, use a credit card machine at your business. Creating a positive impression on your customers is quite simple, but it also keeps your customers loyal. A credit card machine, thus granting flexibility in the ecosystem of online payment, provides customers with many payment options, thus allowing them to pay bills in various ways.

How to stay ahead of the competition:

Many businessmen have not yet fully embraced digital equipment, making small-business models in the early stages of transition. To accept online payments, your business equipment must be upgraded. If customers are no longer carrying cash, you can outpace your competitors. Research has shown that when customers use their cards to make a purchase, they spend more. Additionally, because you will make a substantial profit from accepting card payments, it’s highly recommended that you do so.

Note: SV is Super Visa

What is a Canadian Super Visa?

It is a Visa for parents or grandparents. It is a temporary resident permit that allows parents and grandparents to stay for up to 2 years in Canada per visit. Issued for parents and grandparents of citizens or permanent residents in Canada. It has validity for up to 10 years. A regular multiple-entry visa is also valid for up to 10 years, but only allows stays of up to 6 months per visit.

What is the processing time of a Super Visa?

The approximate processing time of a SV is short and takes almost 8 weeks. There are also specific requirements that one must meet before applying for a SV.

What Are The Mandatory Requirements To Apply for This Visa?

The govt of Canada has laid down some mandatory rules for parents and grandparents to apply for a SV. Those rules are,
1) Proof of their relationship with the child or grandchild who must be a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident.
2) A copy of the child’s or grandchild’s birth certificate.
3) A proof of medical examination document.
4) An official document naming the applicant as the parent.
5) A satisfactory evidence of a private medical insurance from a Canadian insurance company valid for one year from the date of entry.

Can The Parents Or Grandparents Work With A Super Visa?

No, the parents or grandparents are not permitted to work as their visa has the same restrictions as a visit visa holder.

What is a SV Insurance?

With the above information provided, now we know to whom a SV is issued and who apply for a SV. Not only the parents and grandparents require a SV, but also a medical insurance before entering Canada. The medical insurance should be no less than CAD $100,000 in coverage for health care, hospitalization and repatriation. This step is mandatory for the SV applicants.

SV applicants have to submit a proof of purchasing a medical insurance from a private insurance company.

There are a lot of medical insurance companies in Canada and North York has also got the best ones. People can go for SV insurance monthly pay North York. This facility of monthly pay gives a convenience of paying insurance charges monthly. This facility of monthly pay gives a convenience of paying insurance charges monthly.

Setrega is the Global Regulatory Analytical Platform which provides a comprehensive solution to the financial institutions for complying with one or more Regulatory Authorities. Through highly customizable and end-to-end automation, Setrega helps clients to configure Reporting Data, Reporting API, Connecting/Integrating Settings, Report Generation Requirements, Report Validation Requirements, Report Submission Mode and Feedback Management. As a Global Regulatory Analytical Platform, Setrega is designed to integrate with any financial services firms to receive regulatory data and process them to regulatory reports in specific formats with minimum customization effort.

Currently, all financial institutions are facing problems with dynamic changes in regulatory requirements, implementation risks associated with regulatory reporting and managing regulatory report error handling. All financial institutions are forced to adapt to these challenges and continuously seek for solutions which are cost-effective and accurate, with real-time feedback management. Sensiple’s Setrega fits into this emerging environment by supporting multiple Regulatory Authorities with an end-to-end automated solution.

Regulation Complied Preconfigured – ESMA – MIFIR/MiFID II, Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), Superintendencia Financiera de Colombia (SFC) etc.,
Significant benefits of the Global Regulatory Analytical Platform are,

Automation Capability

Financial Institutions gets the advantage of preparing and submitting regulatory reports without manual effort.

Comply with new Regulations without risk

Setrega provides flexible data source configuration, API mapping and reporting format changes with minimum customization in product level which ensures relief from regulatory and compliance risks for the financial institutions working in various regions.

Scalability

Depending on the Institutions type like Buy Side/ Sell Side/venues, Setrega is scalable in terms of increasing number of connections, the humongous volume of data, more number of reports and formats, increased number of submission modes and regulatory authorities.

Transparency

Handling a large volume of data gives challenges in managing data to auditing; Setrega makes it more accessible by allowing the clients to have full control over data by powerful data transparency method.

Dashboard

Setrega act as a one-stop shop for all regulatory reporting for financial institutions. A vastly informative dashboard in Setrega provides all historical, current and scheduled regulatory reports and its internal & external statuses in graphical and tabular representations.

Regional Coverage

Financial firms who run their business across the globe get benefited from Setrega as one solution solves all the regulatory and compliance needs. It is successfully verified with major regulatory frameworks like MiFID II and NFA (National Futures Association) and regulatory authorities like SEC and SFC.