There are an abundance of ticket websites out there to help you find best deal for a flight there are also additional things that you can do to leverage these tools more than the average traveler.

Here some insider secrets:

*** Try to find cheap flights 21 - 45 days in advance, Other than last minute deals you will pay more as your date to leave approaches. Sometimes buying too soon months in advance also makes for higher prices.

*** Sometimes unsold seats are drastically discounted 2 days before departure.

*** Ever fly on weekends Try to fly on a Monday or in the midlle of the week.

*** Try not to fly within 7 days before or after a holiday, Check your destination’s local holidays and festivals as well.

*** If you are buying a round trip ticket, staying longer than 90 days usually results in a higher fare. Check on just buying two 1-way tickets instead for the extra flexibility. You can also set a fictional return date and pay the change fee later. Caution: deliberately skipping your return flight will get you blacklisted on some airlines.

*** You may find cheap flights after midnight EST in the middle of the week. This is when airline databases are updated and sometimes you can grab a cheap ticket that has been returned back to the system.

*** Search for flights at all times throughout the day, you never know when a cheap ticket has been released to the system.

*** Take a bus or hitch a ride to closest major airport hub.

*** Make sure your luggage is not over sized or overweight. Check individual airline sites for rules, some charge for a carry-on now.

*** Flights with longer layovers usually have lower price tags.

*** Early morning redeye flights are more painful bur are usually cheaper.

*** Fly into the largest city on the continent you are visiting. Take budget airline hops or travel overland from there to reach your destination.

*** Always use frequent flier programs. It may take years, but the miles DO add up and may come in handy in the future.

*** Being as flexible as possible can help you find a cheap flight. Do not specify flight times, number of stops, etc.

*** Never buy refundable tickets if they cost more - your backpacking travel insurance may have trip cancellation coverage anyway.

Try these websites first:

• Kayak.com - Kayak is a site that searches lots of other ticketing sites, one of my personal favorites

• Priceline.com - bid your own price on airfare for cheap deals or you can do regular flight searches. Flights must originate in the US, but sometimes you can grab tickets on clearance through the auctions.

Other options for booking discount tickets:

• Airfareplanet.com - A lesser known new site that has turned up some good trans-Atlantic fares for me. (Unfortunately, flights must originate in the US to qualify).

• Expedia.com - Great all around travel booking site

• Orbitz.com - A good website for basic flight searches

• CheapoAir.com - Great airfare to Asia and Europe.

• Travelocity.com - use the “flexible ticket” option to get deals on domestic flights.

• Hotwire.com - Good deals on flights, hotels, and rental cars.

• Cheaptickets.com - a long time favorite of budget travelers.

• Skyscanner.net - very interesting twist.

• Sidestep.com - much like kayak.com.

• Cheapoair.com - good deals on international flights here.

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Europe was the most favorite international vacation destination for Americans and all people in the world receiving over 12 million tourist in the last year, Most American tourists take a tour to the Old World for its many historical building and cultural attractions and its cuisine. No matter what country you are visiting in Europe its architecture, gastronomy, fashion arts, and overall antiquity make your European vacation an memorable experience . there are some favourite in Europe

--# Tivoli Gardens

Tivoli Gardens is world renowned to be one of prime amusement parks, You should visit the park at nighttime. the garden is located at the center of Copenhagen, the capital of the Kingdom of Denmark.

--# The Eiffel Tower

this tower was constructed in 1889 for the International Exposition of Paris and named after Gustav Eiffel At the time of its opening with its 317 meters Eiffel Tower was the tallest building in the world from three observation platforms opened to the public you can get breathtaking views of beautifull city, Paris.

--# The Tower of London

The building now home of England's Crown Jewels in the past was also the location where former members of the Royal Family were arrested or put to death, not a surprise, that there are a lot of stories out there about the headless ghosts of Sir Walter Raleigh and Anne Boleyn one of wive from king Henry VIII.

--# Acropolis

Situated at the center of Athens, Acropolis is reachable within a walking distance or through any form of transportation. That is the place where Grecian culture once thrived. the ruins of four constructions the Erectheion, the Parthenon, the Propylaea, and the Temple of Nike feature equally stunning glances into the past of Greece.



No vacation to Europe will be complete without a visit to Leeds Castle. Viewed as "the most adorable castle in the world,"Now Leeds Castle is a venue for weddings, conferences, and other social gathers. Leeds Castle was built up in the year 1119 on a lake in the center of lush green parkland The Castle has been home to several of British Royalty's most notable names, especially Henry VIII whose portrait hangs on the wall of the Banqueting Room which is named after him. One unusual place of interest is the Dog Collar Museum with just about a hundred antique collars dating as far back as the 15th century.

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Step 1

Check general the guidebooks, for recommendations on where to purchase cheap and actual maps. Some countries have central map agencies that you can write or mail others have the maps available through private agencies or tourist bureaus and information.

Step 2

Consider how traversed trails are that you will be using how frequented the area is by tourists, and whether or not you will be accompanied by a profesional local guide. If trails are marked well you can get away with a smaller scale map, but if you will be navigating on your own, you'll need something with more detail and completed information (legend)

Step 3

Consult a bookstore that specializes in international travelling and maps, two major sources of international maps in the United States are Map Link in Santa Barbara, California (adventure store), and Omni Resources in Burlington, North Carolina.

Step 4

Check with your local library or the map room of the university or the large public library Many carry maps, ranging from trail maps to geological maps, and a reference librarian can help you locate the maps.

Step 5

Search the Internet for complete library map collections that have been scanned and are available online.

Step 6

Visit a local English-language bookstore, tourist information or backpacking store after arriving in the area where you will be backpacking, Even if you already purchased a map before your arrival, you may find a more updated the map or a map of a more appropriate scale than the one you brought along. have nice travel !

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New York


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London


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Dubai


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Tokyo


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Be Sure to Check the Date

Before you take any map into wilderness be sure to check the publication date. Road, trail and land information can go out of date over time, make sure you have the latest maps available for the area you want to go and explore.

First Step: Consider the Kinds of Trips You Have Planned

The map or maps you bring with you on a backpacking trip should match with route you have planned before, The longer and more complex that route is more detail you will need to keep track of where you are.

On the short trips over popular well-marked trails, you will need a map that helps you find basic features like campsites, water supplies and points of your interest. you will need details about the lay of the land so that you can make it from point 1 to point 2 even if you lose the trail.

Second Step: Consider Your Options

- Planimetric maps: Planimetric maps describe the world as if it were a flat surface, They typically show basic details like main trails, lakes, jungle and campsites. they do not provide any elevation information. Use a planimetric map only when traveling short distances along well established trails.
- Topographic maps: Topographic maps describe the physical features of the land. They show elevation gains and losses , steepness of hills and valleys, and the location of natural features. This topographic information is essential for navigating using a map and compass or gps. Some topographic maps (but not all) combine topographic information with basic information about trails, campsites and natural attractions. Authorized main supplier of the topographic maps in the US is the United States Geological Survey (USGS).
- Special interest maps: These one special topographic maps cater specifically to outdoor enthusiasts. They combine basic topographic information with detailed information about the backpacking trails, established campsites, interesting side trips, and recreational opportunities most are produced by private companies rather than the US government. the special interest maps covering popular backpacking spots (state parks, national parks, national forests) all over the country.

Between Quadrangles and specialty maps

Topographic maps sold by the USGS cover rectangular areas of land called quadrangles A borders of these maps are determined by latitude lines, longitude lines and the smaller divisions between them (minutes and seconds), The benefit of this system is that every square inch of the United States is covered by a USGS quadrangle map, and that each map lines up exactly flush with the ones around it. The down-side is that backpacking trails often wander across these predetermined border you may have to carry more than one map.

Some private map companies address this situation by offering topographic maps that are drawn specifically to cover popular backpacking trails these maps offer the same basic information as USGS maps. But they have irregularly shaped borders so they cover the entire route or area with a single map.

Third Step: Choose the Right Scale

The scale of a topographic map determines how much land the map covers and how much detail can provides, Scales are described in ratios 1:24,000, for example, means that one inch on the map is equal to 24,000 inches or 2,000 feet on the ground. The scale of a map is usually displayed along the bottom of the map.

# Small scale maps, maps with scales smaller than 1:62,500 cover a lot of area, but they can not provide detail as a result. They tend to be a poor choice for beginning backpackers and travellers.
# Large scale maps 1:62,500 or larger focus on more specific areas and can provide more detail lands. You may have to carry more than one to cover your route and your destination But they provide much more useful information for basic traveling.

The most popular map scale choice for basic backpacking trips is 1:24,000 (also known as 7.5 minutes of longitude wide). 1:62,500 scale maps (also known as 15 minutes maps) , though they are no longer produced by the USGS and are becoming more difficult to find.

Fourth Step: Learn How to Navigate

Simply having the right map in your backpack won't protect you from getting lost. You still have to learn how to use a map and compass to navigate in the wilderness area. pick up an introductory book on map and compass navigation or take a class from an experienced guider. It is never too early to learn the basics of navigating in the backcountry and the sooner you understand the basics, the safer you will be.

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