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Many people who fly with their pet are far more nervous about the experience than their pets are. However, traveling with a pet is commonplace and safe. US airlines transport around two million live animals every year and although you need some extra planning and additional time at the airport. Federal and state government rules apply to transporting live animals; however, airlines also have their own rules and regulations, which may vary slightly.

Most airlines allow passengers to take cats and dogs aboard their flight. Generally, you have two options; take your animal in the cabin with you, or have it transported in the cargo hold as a checked pet. Which option is most appropriate depends mainly on the size of the animal, although various airlines can have different criteria, which may include breed or weight. In addition, you can carry your pet in the cabin only if you are traveling domestically. For travel overseas (including Hawaii), your pet must be checked. In general, dogs and cats must be at least eight weeks old to travel.

If your cat or dog is small enough to fit in a container under the seat and meets all the other requirements of your airline, it can go in the cabin with you. Make sure you inform your airline that you have a cabin pet, as there is only room in the cabin for a limited number of pets; typically between two and six. Pet space is allocated on a first come, first served basis. Your airline can check for pet space availability before you buy your ticket and can suggest alternate flights if necessary.

If your pet is traveling in the cabin with you, you may be able to sit in the bulkhead (front row) seats or the roomier exit row seats, as the pet container would then block the emergency exit access. It may seem obvious, but your pet must stay in its carrier while you are on the plane or in the gate area, so make sure that the carrier is securely fastened.

Check with your airline on their rules concerning the size and material of a pet carrier. Typically, there must be enough room inside for your pet to be able to turn around and comfortably lie down. A hard-sided container is generally safer and more comfortable for your pet than a soft-sided container and most pet carriers sold at pet stores are usually adequate.

If your pet is too big to go in the cabin with you, it may have to be checked. If you are checking your pet, try to avoid connecting flights and flights that leave later in the day, as these are more prone to delays. You may not be able to check your pet depending on the season. Some airlines have a checked pet embargo during the hotter summer months, prohibiting animals from being carried in the cargo hold.

If you are checking your pet, the container should be big enough for the animal to lie down and freely move around. The outside of your container should be clearly labeled “live animal” and you should attach your name, address, and flight itinerary to the outside. You might be asked to verify that you have given food and water to the animal immediately before the flight.

If you are flying with your pet, it is a good idea to consult with your vet to make sure it is healthy enough to fly. Your vet may recommend a sedative to help keep your pet calm on the flight; and your airline may require a health certificate or proof of rabies vaccination. If you are traveling overseas with your pet, the requirements can be even more complicated, so it is important to check the regulations in your destination country.

Traveling with the family pet is not free and the charges can vary by airline and can be different for a carry on or checked pet. Typically, you can expect to pay anything from $75 and up to carry your pet in the cabin with you, and $150 or more to check your pet. These charges are one way and most airlines allow you to prepay the pet fee to save time at the airport. Seeing Eye dogs are usually exempt from these charges and are allowed to be carried on most airlines free of charge.

Traveling with your cat or dog can be a fun filled experience. Many airlines have different rules concerning traveling with a pet but with the proper research and planning you can bring your pet along on your next vacation. Two ways to travel with your pet are to check your pet or bring them with you on the plane. If you do not check your pet it has be able to fit underneath the seat. Consider these tips next time you are planning a vacation and want to bring your pet along for the ride.

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Welcome to the sunny state of Queensland, the second largest state in OZ. The following tips and information come from a born and bred Aussie, who is a seasoned traveler within Australia.

TIP NO 1 WEATHER The weather cycle in Queensland is the same throughout Australia with our summer months being December, January and February. Autumn months are March, April and May and winter months are June, July and August. Spring months are September, October and November and are very pleasant.

TIP NO 2 DAYLIGHT SAVINGS Queensland does not operate daylight saving and local time is always 10 hours in front of GMT. Other states of Australia do operate daylight saving times from the first Sunday in October to the first Sunday in April, so be aware of this if you fly into Queensland from other Australian states.

TIP NO 3 METRIC SYSTEM In Queensland the metric system is used so all distances are in kilometres (km’s), speed is in kilometres per hour and petrol/fuel is sold in litres.

TIP NO 4 DRIVING IN QUEENSLAND Driving in Queensland, Australia and hiring a vehicle - Most hire companies will ask to see a valid un-restricted driving license and if this is in English this will usually be accepted. However if you have a licence which is not in English, you should first obtain a valid International Driving Permit before you leave your home country. Australia requires a “1949 Convention IDP”. And don’t forget, drive on the left side of the road. And always ask the hire company if you are allowed to drive the hire vehicle on a dirt road or you may have your insurance cancelled.

TIP NO 5 VOLTAGE The nominal mains electrical voltage is 230 Volts in Australia. As plug sockets require the Australian Standard plug pin arrangement, travel adaptors can be purchased within Australia, usually at airports.

TIP NO 6 EMERGENCIES 000 is the National emergency number in Australia and this is used for all emergency services including Fire Service, Ambulance Service and the Police.

TIP NO 7 MOBILE PHONE USE Australia has a modern telecommunications and mobile telephone network which includes 3G services to most parts of Qld. Check with your mobile company to see if “International Roaming” is available and this service can be activated for you whilst in Australia. Phone companies operating in Qld include Telstra, Vodafone, and Optus.

INFORMATION ON QUEENSLAND Queensland is home to about 4 million people and is the second largest state in Australia. Areas of Queensland in the interior are vast and sparsely populated, while coastal areas have a denser population. Tourists love the average summer temperatures of 25 degrees celsius (77F) and the average winter temperatures of 15 degrees celsius(59F). Brisbane is the capital of Queensland with about 2 million people in residence.

Queensland starts from Coolangatta on the Gold Coast and finishes at the northern point of Cape York. The most popular holiday spots range from the Gold Coast to Cairns in North Qld, which is a driving distance of about 1760klms. However, you can fly into the Brisbane airport in South East Qld, Maroochydore airport on the Sunshine Coast, Hamilton Island airport in the Whitsundays, Townsville airport for North Qld, or Cairns international airport for a tropical vacation. There are about 40 airports throughout Queensland, large bus companies and fast trains available, so getting to your destination is easy.

Most holiday resorts offer a free courtesy coach to take you directly to their door after collecting you from the airport, railway station or bus depot. There are many online places to choose your accommodation from and in all areas of Queensland. Accommodation is divided into several classifications including hotels, apartments, resorts, motels and Boutique accommodation, resort caravan parks and Bed and Breakfasts. If you are wanting a self catered vacation, apartments and cabins usually offer this with ‘in room cooking facilities’ available.

If you want to explore a part of Outback Queensland, hop on a flight to Longreach from Brisbane using Qantas (2hrs 25mins), jump on a bus tour to Winton and visit Lark Quarry where 93million year-old fossils capture a dinosaur stampede. These dinosaur tracks are under shelter in a museum.

If you love your comfort, travel in a luxury air-conditioned tour coach or if wanting to be adventurous and drive yourself, hire an air-conditioned four wheel drive vehicle from Longreach. The 179 klm road from Longreach to Winton is sealed but from Winton to Lark Quarry it is a badly maintained dirt road. I learnt the hard way. My husband and I travelled to Lark Quarry in our old, 1985, non air-conditioned bus and the red dust consumed us. The dust was quite unpleasant which is why I suggest you travel in an air-conditioned vehicle. Still, we enjoyed the end result and would not have missed the experience of the Outback.

Winton is known for its water supply which pushes its way to the earth’s crust from three artesian bores, all around 1,200 metres deep gushing at a temperature of 83 degrees Celsius.(195F) The water comes from the Great Artesian Basin which provides water for almost all areas of Australia’s Outback.

Accommodation is available in Longreach and Winton and most of these places will book your tours. Discover attractions like the Stockman’s Hall of Fame, Qantas Founders Outback Museum, the Waltzing Matilda Centre and the School of the Air.

A visit to The Sunshine Coast will give you a never forgotten vacation and you can get to this area on an air-conditioned coach, by rail or a hired vehicle. It is only about a 1.5 hour trip from Brisbane. Or you can fly from Brisbane directly into Maroochydore airport where you will have a large choice of accommodation. Again, most resorts offer a courtesy coach pick up.

When you visit this vast state of Queensland, I hope these tips and information enable you to enjoy your vacation, in Australia, ‘down under’.

source: http://www.ApprovedArticles.com

Now that I got the holiday excitement out of the way, here are the best deals and destinations of the week!

Hawaii. Although this might sound like an automatic for most people, it must fall on any list of places to go. Comprised of hundreds of islands spread over 1500 miles, the state of Hawaii has been a sod after spot for families, honeymooners and everyone else looking to enjoy its acclimate weather and its lush beaches, not to mention their bewildering gold, red, green and black sands. With breast cancer awareness month upon us, you can battle two issues with one preverbal stone. You can visit the amazing island of Oahu for 5 nights including air for $939, while helping out a very important cause. The “Travel Pink, Travel Oahu” makes donations to the Susan G. Komen for the Cure. Travel during this time will save you close to $200; as oppose to traveling there during the high season.

Australia. Fall asleep on the plan and wake up in this beautiful and diverse English speaking country With its over 2.9 million square miles of land, this country is filled with history, underwater treasures and, for the nature lover, some of the most amazing creatures to ever roam the wild. If you’re a wine lover, or one that occasionally enjoys a nice glass, Australia, with its average temperature of 67F (19C), has some of the world’s best Chardonnay. Take a journey through the extraordinary history and architecture of the Iconic Sydney Opera House. With dimensions of 605 feet long and about 388 feet wide, this UNESCO World Heritage Site has held some of the most sought after venues in the world. Constructed in 3 stages, this structure holds 5 different venues that make up the main performance facilities; The Concert Hall, The Opera Theatre, The Drama Theatre, The Playhouse and the Studio. If Australia is your idea of a true getaway, and with all there is to experience you are not alone, then take advantage of this terrific offer. Air and a 6 night stay, with a tour of this amazing attraction is yours for $1999. This rate is for travel from Los Angeles, usually with advertising if you are traveling from any where but the place they give you the price for, the price goes way up - but in this case, the reason this deal is so amazing and much more affordable than in the past, is because there is only a $150 flight add-on regardless of where your origin in the United States!

Affordable Cruising w/ Low Deposits. With the dollar these days, a lot of our dreams of visiting exotic destinations like Europe/South America/Alaska may be put off for years later, “when things get better”. However, the cruise lines are very aware of our economic situation and are making our way around the Globe more affordable. Princess Cruises, one of the most respected names in the Cruise industry has is offering rates as low as $146/nt. Pick a place on the globe, Denmark, Italy, Mexico, Brazil, Alaska and my personal favorite St. Petersburg, Russia are all well within your reach. Princess is offering a worldwide sale including coupon booklets for the cruise that will certainly save you money on board. The best part is if you want to plan ahead and reserve the space for 2009 plus take advantage of the deep discounts now, you only have to give a $100 deposit. If you have not cruised before, I can tell you the deposits are usually much higher! Plus they guarantee these low prices - so you don’t have to think that the price may get lower later. Many of the sailings are offering cabin upgrades and other amenities. A new look at an old way of spending your vacation is what you might be looking for, and Princess Cruises makes your search a little less congested.

Jamaica. As Jack Frost is getting ready to nip on your nose, what better way to fight back then heading to the Caribbean? The need for Hot Chocolate as an anti-freeze is absolutely not needed here; and proper footwear while on the beach is no required. I have been to Jamaica six times- I guess I like it there. Lately, I hear some negative talk, fear in some cities - however these are not the places the tourists frequent and the myths should be squashed. Jamaica has some of the most beautiful beaches I have ever seen, and truly gives you that “island, I am way from it all” feeling. Jamaica is known for its all inclusives, where you never have to leave the resort except for a dip in the ocean and perhaps an excursion to hear some reggae. The deals to Jamaica - especially these all inclusive resorts are outstanding. One deal I found with Air Jamaica Vacations is with The Holiday Inn SunSpree Resort. Relax to the sounds of Calypso music for 3 magical nights at the All-Inclusive Montego Bay resort. That’s right; everything is included for your vacation. Not convinced yet of this great deal…well, how about round trip airfare, two checked bags free (can you believe that they are charging to your luggage!), transfers and use of land and water sports and entertainment. Also, flying Air Jamaica has been one of the best airline experiences I have ever had. Got kids? Bring them along with you. Not only do you save up to a whopping 60% off, your kids get to stay free! I’m sure that Mr. Frost will be waiting for you when you get back, but nothing like prolonging the inevitable!

Fiji. Yes the South Pacific has been on my table of places to go for quite some time now. I have found deals to this side of the world, I never thought could exist. Go to sleep on the plane - wake up in paradise. The Republic of the Fiji Islands is an island nation in the South Pacific. East of Vanuatu, west of Tonga and Tuvalu to the south, it occupies about 322 islands. One spot in Fiji that I have paid close attention too is Nadi. The third largest conurbation in Fiji, it is located on the western side of the main island. The scuba, snorkeling is outstanding — the color of the water is like no other, and the culture, interesting and colorful - yes, you are really on the other side of the world. You can take ferries to the Mamanuca Group of islands along with experiencing the mud-flat beaches. Other exciting sites to take in are the Waqadra Botanical Gardens and the Sleeping Giant Gardens, which house Raymond Burr’s magnificent orchid collection. If Europe and Hawaii have become the everyday talk as to where your vacation travels will lead you, this might be a nice change; and with prices starting at $999 per person including air to Nadi, you can start telling your friends “I’m finally going to the South Pacific!”

Here are some of the events you can catch and the things you can do if you decide to travel to Spain:

Run with the bulls. If you dare and tough enough to face the challenge of running with the bulls or simply want to join the fun without actually getting face to face with the bull, Pamplona should be your destination. The festival happens every July and has already attracted visitors from all parts of the world. The celebration is offered to San Fermin, the patron saint of Pamplona. This religious and unusual celebration makes Pamplona a good destination for your Spain travel.

Skiing and Mountaineering. Visit Catalunya, Aragon, and Torremolinos and Malaga in Andalucia and stay at one of the top winter resorts in Spain. Perfect time to go is during the late spring where you can have your winter sports by day and go at the beach and sunbathe in the afternoon.

Watch the Primera Liga Live. See you favorite football stars like Zidane, Raul, Roberto Carlos, Figo, Ronaldo, and David Beckham as they all play for the best football team in the UAFA Cup: Real Madrid.

Café all Day. Treat yourself in the relaxing day at one of the café in Spain. The country has lots of cafés in every village, town, and city where you can spend your whole day chatting with friends or alone savoring the Spain environment.

Go to local village fiesta. Spain travel might not be complete if you haven’t seen any local village fiestas. Since every town has their own patron saints to offer thanksgiving, you can never miss attending one. Fiestas normally have parades, religious activities, and parties during the night.

Meet the Artists. Spain travel would introduce you to several world-renowned artists. Visit Frank Gehry’s Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Barcelona beach’s giant copper fish and other Gehny’s contemporary structures. Know more about the art of Antoni Gaudi in his structures at Barcelona and get introduced with his unusual tile style and graceful organic curve.

Take a glimpse of Diego Velazquez’s art in Prado Gallery in Madrid. Diego Velazquez painted the “Old Woman Cooking Eggs” and “The Rokeby Venus”. And of course, who would not recognize Pablo Picasso? See his work Guernica at the Reina Sofia. Or visit the Picasso Foundation in Malaga.

Stay during the Holy Week. Spain travel is also ideal during holy week where the whole country commemorates that passion, death, and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. See all the plays, activities, traditions, and the celebration of the country. If you are not a Catholic, you can still witness this activity.

Eat Snails. The Snail Festival happens every snail Lleida give you a different appetite for food. Although snails are the main course, you can also drink, dance, and eat other local foods all day and all night. Costa del sol | Travel Blog
Author: Robert Thatcher