Not sure if a certain someone will make a good travel partner? Don’t make any rash decisions, ask yourself these 10 key questions and make the right choice!

Traveling with the right person is fundamental to the success of your trip.

Making the wrong choice can make you miserable and ruin a, perhaps once in a lifetime opportunity, to see a particular part of the world.

I once got stuck with a moaning minny whose whining reverberated around my ears like a dying wasp.

Luckily the trip was short. But not short enough.

Don’t make the same mistake as me. Ask yourself these 10 key questions before committing to a travel partner and go see the world in peace and harmony!

1.    Have you spent a concentrated amount of time together?

A crucial point. You never really know someone until you’ve spent at least a weekend straight in their company. This is a great test, do it!

You may be surprised what you find out about that person you thought you knew so well.

2.    Are you planning the same trip?

Have you actually sat down and scoped out the details of your trip? If not, you might be talking at cross purposes.

You don’t want to set off on your wild road trip only to find your buddy settling into the nearest yoga retreat.

3.    Do you have the same taste in people?

You’re going to meet a lot of people on your trip so it’ll help if you got similar ideas of who’s good company and who’s not. Think about the people they bring to parties.

Think long and hard.

4.    Is your relationship ‘issue free’?

All the deep-rooted grudges and resentments come out when traveling, that’s just the way it is. Ask yourself if there are any unresolved emotional issues between you and your potential travel partner?

If the answer’s yes then sort them out before you go…. Or go with someone else.

5.    Do you have the same routines?

You’re going to be doing pretty much everything together so your lifestyle’s had better be compatible. If you’re an early bird and they’re a nocturnal beast it just isn’t going to work.

6.    Are they a moaning minny?

Travel can be inconvenient, and frustrating and uncomfortable. A moaning minny WILL ruin your trip. See reverberating dying wasp anecdote above. You have been warned!

7.    Have they ever displayed violent, irrational or psychotic behavior towards you or anyone else?

This is an important one. You may love your friend dearly but if they’re a little bit cuckoo and unstable then I guarantee they’ll have sent you cuckoo too by the end of the trip.

8.    Do you like to do the same things?

Pretty obvious but it’s amazing how many people don’t think this through. Don’t go away with a bookworm if you’re a crazy raver. Figures.

9.    Can they roll with the punches?

The key to successful travel is flexibility. If your buddy can’t be spontaneous, go with the flow and muck in here and there then they will impair your enjoyment of the trip.

10.    Are they a good conversationalist?

Think long flights, train journeys, bus-rides and hikes. It helps if they’ve got something interesting to say.

Do you prefer traveling with a buddy or going solo?? Post up your comments below, we want to hear from you!

If you liked this you might also like: 10 Ways to Avoid Vacation Stress

Been somewhere amazing you’d never even heard of? You want to let your buddies in on the secret, right? Read on for my top travel gems!

What’s interesting about travel is that the places / hotels / restaurants that everyone agrees are fantastic, are often not so fantastic.

And even if they are, it can all be a bit predictable.

Now what’s really fun is when you find somewhere obscure that is truly out of this world.

You can’t believe your luck to have stumbled across this travel gem. How could you not have heard of this place before??

You want to shout it from the rooftops.

So here goes… these are My 3 Best Kept Travel Secrets

1. Koufonisia, Greece

lula1977

We all know about Mykonos, Ios and Santorini but there are 100’s of Greek islands that you won’t have even heard of.

Koufonisia, in the Cyclades group is probably one of the most relaxing places I have ever been.

There’s literally hardly anything there apart from a few guest houses, deserted coves and clear turquoise sea.

3 reasons to go to Koufonisia:

- It’s an amazingly quiet place

- You can sunbathe naked in your own private cove

- There’s only one restaurant.. a boat ride away, pretty cool!

2. Little Bay Restaurant, London

Dining out when traveling can make a big dent in your budget.

And London restaurants are notorious for serving up over-priced food of dubious quality.

So what a delight to find a restaurant that offers excellent dishes at very, very good prices.

3 reasons to eat at Little Bay:

- The food is extremely tasty

- It’s cheap

- You can sit in cool, balcony tables

3. Magnetic Island, Australia

loloeig

Magnetic Island in Queensland, Australia is a tropical paradise, a great place to come for a vacation but what struck me was that there didn’t seem to be anyone there?!

In fact, apart from a hand full of other travelers, the place was pretty empty.

Why hadn’t I heard of Magnetic Island before? Why wasn’t the place swamped by tourists?

All very mysterious but what a find!

3 reasons to go to Magnetic Island:

- The beaches are stunning

- You can drive around the island in a golf buggy, so much fun!

- There’s hardly anyone else there

So, there you have it, those are my 3 Best Kept Travel Secrets.

Want to hear some more?

I’m nominating these 5 bloggers to share their top 3 travel secrets on their blog:

Carrie, My Several Worlds Erica, Travel Blissful, Guido, Happy Hotelier Nora, The Professional Hobo Liz, Travelogged

It’s Tripbase Blog Tag!

The final list of Top Bloggers’ Best Kept Travel Secrets will be published in a special blog post and shared across the Net.

Stay tuned!

Want to join in?

Post up your Best Kept Travel Secrets below!

Secrets are most fun when shared

Jonathan Marks, a global investment banker and frequent flier has an envious track record of bagging flight upgrades. He’s agreed to share his secrets, helping us to reach that first class cabin!

Ah the elusive flight upgrade. Everyone wants one but noone knows how. Read on for my upgrade secrets, guaranteed to improve your chances of flying like a VIP.

Everyone likes getting something for nothing but it’s even sweeter when you’re surrounded by people who’ve paid full whack or haven’t quite made it as one of the chosen few.

Perhaps this seems tad mean, a little mercenary.. but let’s be honest, deep down we know it’s true.

So now that we’ve agreed we’re more than happy to leave our colleagues/friends/partners languishing behind in couch class, here are my tried and tested methods for securing that elusive flight upgrade:

1. Ask

If you don’t ask, you rarely get. Be up-front and cheeky rather than shy and apologetic. There’s no reason why it shouldn’t be you that gets the upgrade.

2.  Engage in check-in banter

Not all upgrades are confirmed at check-in. They are often allocated at the boarding gate when the airline has the full picture re. check-ins and no-shows (business travelers often fly on flexible tickets).

Working at a check-in desk is not the most thrilling of experiences. Make it more enjoyable for the airline staff and they will remember you.

There is then every chance you’ll find a nice surprise waiting for you when you go to board the plane.

3. Travel alone

There are not many seats available for upgrades and those that are tend to be given to passengers traveling alone.

If you don’t mind being separated from your travel companion, then book and check-in separately. You never know, you might both get upgraded!

4. Find out if the flight is over-booked

Often if a flight is over-booked the airline will be looking for volunteers to take a later flight.

If this is the case, and depending on where the volunteers were sitting, this may free up some seats for upgrades. Why not offer to take one of them? Just to be helpful of course!

5. Get an airline membership/loyalty card

Airlines store a lot of information on their passengers, including whether you are a loyal customer or cardholder.

Bear in mind that cardholders almost always get priority when there are seats available for upgrades.

6. Travel in August or over Christmas and New Year

Business travel is much lower at these times meaning a reduced demand for premium classes.

Airlines still want to fill flights and therefore overbook their economy cabin. This means they’ll need to bump people up to ensure everyone gets on the flight.

One sign that they have done this is if they are offering cheap upgrade deals at check-in.

7. Take advantage of special deals

The difference between Economy and Premium Economy is much smaller than Premium Economy and Business.

If you are offered a cheap upgrade to Premium Economy and take it, there is every chance you’ll get to jump another class to Business.

OK, you had to pay something extra, but the size of the leap and your odds of being chosen will be significantly improved.

8. Exploit special occasions

Honeymoons and anniversaries are great reasons to ask for an upgrade. But your chances will increase with some forward thinking.

First, let your travel agent know in advance and get them to note it in the booking. Second, take proof to present to the airline at check-in. As you would imagine, they may be skeptical otherwise!

So there you have it, 8 precious pieces of advice that have worked well for me. Go forth and enjoy the fruits of first class, good luck!

Enjoyed this post? You might also like How to Get Stuff for Free Wherever You go!

Been upgraded recently? got more tips? Post up your comments below and let us know!

Photo: Jonathan on a recent trip to Japan.

Back to work and feeling blue? Don’t be down in the dumps, check out these handy tips for beating the post-vacation blues and re-find your happy place!

Staring out of a rainy office window daydreaming of sandy beaches and far-off adventures is not fun. I’ve been there.

Coming back from vacation can be tough.

Your everyday life hits you in the face with a sharp slap and your next vacation seems a lifetime away.

But don’t be glum! Check out these 10 tips for beating the post-vacation blues and re-find your happy place!

1. Break  up Your Routine

Take a new route to work, go somewhere new for lunch, anything to break out of the monotony that’s making you miserable.

2. Do a Day Trip

Taking a road trip to someplace new can give you that same feeling of adventure and discovery as flying to the other side of the world. Brilliant!

3. Take up a New Hobby

Whether it’s language classes, painting or pottery, taking up a new hobby will inject something fresh and new into your life and distract you from your boredom.

4. Frame Your Photos

Don’t focus on how sad you are to be home, rejoice in the good times. Frame your travel photos, reminisce about your trip and take a mental trip back to vacation happiness.

5. Treat Yourself

A massage, new shoes, a big steak… Treat yourself to something nice, a sure-fire way to make you feel good.

6. Make a Grateful List

Remind yourself of all the great things in your life. Actually make a list -  it’ll leave you feeling incredibly grateful and perhaps even a little spoilt.

7. Book Another Trip

Sure you probably spent a bomb on the last vacation but have a look around for some cheap flights and book a little trip. It’ll give you a fixed date of something exciting to look forward to.

8. Write a Travel Article

Channel your love of traveling into something positive and write up an article about your trip. You might even get published, now that WOULD be cool!

9. Throw a Party

Organizing a fun party for all your friends and family will surround you with all your favorite people and remind you how great it is to be home.

10. Make a Travel Wish List

Write down all the places in the world that you’re burning to get to. Use the Web for inspiration if you need it.

Focusing your travel objectives might lead to unexpected opportunities to fulfill your dreams, you just never know!

Suffering from the post-vacation blues right now? Got more tips for bouncing back? Post up your comments below, we want to hear from you!

Coming soon, 10 sure-fire ways to get an upgrade. Fancy flying first class? Sign up for free updates and stay in the know!

Hitting the road this Labor Day? Steer clear of road-trip hell by checking out these 20 common holiday driving blunders and get it right this year!

It all sounds very nice in theory doesn’t it? Hop into the car, speed off onto the open road with the wind in your hair for a fun-filled Labor Day road trip.

Unfortunately it doesn’t always work out like this, I’ve certainly had some road trip shockers that’s for sure.

But this is the year to turn it all around! Check out these 20 sure-fire ways to screw up your Labor Day road trip and get it right this time!

hjl

1. Neglect Your Vehicle

It seems pretty obvious that you should give your car a maintenance check before you set off on a long road trip but you’d be amazed how many people don’t think of this.

Oil, water, wipers, headlamps, brakes – check it all out!

2. Drive Dirty

It’s not the nicest experience being stuck in a filthy car for 7 hours so why not give it a clean – inside and out? If not now, when?!

3. Be Spontaneous

Road trips and spontaneity are not the most comfortable of bedfellows.

Plan, plan and plan some more.

Get tips and recommendations from friends and use an road trip planner online to work out ideal destinations, distances and driving times.

4. Believe “Breakdowns Don’t Happen to Me”

Let’s hope you don’t break down but you just might.

Pay up for roadside rescue, if the unspeakable happens, you’ll be overjoyed you did.

5. Leave Your Papers at Home

License, registration, insurance – put the documents in your glove box. Now!

6. Jump in the Car with Anyone

You receive a last-minute offer to bunk in on someone else’s road trip, great!

But you need to STOP and THINK: “will I enjoy being stuck in a tin can with these people for many, many hours”?

If the answer’s no then DON”T GO!

7. Join the “Follow the Signs” School of Thought

Believe it or not the road people didn’t have you in mind when they made their signs.

Get a map.

Plan your route.

Sure, you can use GPS but take the map too. Just in case.

8. Starve Your Family/Friends

Food and drink is important. Gas station food sucks. Bring your own.

9. Put Style over Comfort

It’s not a fashion parade. You’re sitting in a car. For hours. Dress comfortably. Slip-off shoes are great for all those “in the car, out the car” stop-offs.

10. Forget that Children Get Bored

Don’t expect the kids to sit like angels in the back for hours on end. It’s just not going to happen.

Games, puzzles, crosswords, car games. Have some ammunition in your armory – you’ll need it.

11. Sentence Your Passengers to Silence

Singing along to your all-time favorite songs is one the very best things about road trips.

Sort out the tunes before you go and get ready to belt it out!

12. Be the Hare not the Tortoise

Your road trip is meant to be fun and enjoyable. And, at the risk of sounding like your mother, it’s a marathon not a sprint!

You’ll lose time along the way (possibly even hours) but don’t sweat it. It’s not worth it.

Break up with your trip with stop-offs every hour and half.

Your passengers will love you for it.

13. Assign Rigid Roles

The driver will get bored of driving and the navigator will get bored of navigating.

So swop.

Much more fun for everyone.

14. Become a Road Trip Dictator

Consult your fellow road trippers about diversions and activities otherwise your bossiness will spoil everyone’s fun.

Get the kids involved in tracking your route. It will keep them occupied. Maybe.

15. Be Slap-dash with Gas

Don’t wait until you’re running on empty until you think about filling up. You can never be sure when the next gas station will appear.

Cool widgets like this Gas Calculator helps you work out exactly how far your fuel will take you. So there’s no excuse!

16. Be Stingy with Bathroom Breaks

If someone really wants to go then let them.

Refer to Hare and the Tortoise and Road Trip Dictator points above!

17. Work Yourself up into a “Lost Frenzy”

Yes getting lost can be stressful and sometimes scary but panicking/shouting/blaming your significant other isn’t going to help the situation.

Breathe, relax, get some perspective and I guarantee you’ll find your way. Eventually.

18. Be a Traffic Fool

Tailback misery, it’s not fun. Set off early, come back late. Even better, take an extra day either side of the holiday weekend.

19. Get Arrested

A sure-fire way to screw up your trip if ever there was one.

Don’t speed, belt up and don’t get arrested.

20. Take the Whole Thing too Seriously

Let me remind you again that this whole thing is meant to be FUN. If you happen to pass a cool place to stop off, take a detour and if it works out that way (shock, horror) change your route.

What’s the worst that could happen?

Got more road trip tips or Labor Day disaster stories?? Post up your comments below, we want to hear from you!

Coming soon… How to Beat the Post-Vacation Blues. Don’t miss out, sign up for free blog updates below.