Travel Editor

Aspects of InfoHub Specialty Travel Guide



As I was surfing the net I found an intriguing site named InfoHub. InfoHub is a multifaceted travel site that offers the travel consumer many inspiring vacation planning ideas. Their home page offers a map of the world which allows you to click on each of their major regions of the world as North America, Central America, South America, Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Asia, and Australia and Oceania that have countries displaying an array of destinations to choose from.

Before I lose you in all of the aspects of InfoHub, I must inform you that all of the destinations offered on their site are themed to help narrow down your search. Destinations are offered by many unique travel agencies from across the globe to themed sites in countries who are in the specific region you have chosen from the map on their home page or from clicking on a tag in the sidebar menu to the country or region of choice.

Destinations are offered in many different themes. Their themed destinations range from outdoor activities and sports such as hiking and trekking, scuba diving, and boating and sailing to only name a few to themes in the arts and crafts, culture and history, eco and wildlife, golf and spa, gourmet and cooking, and naturist categories. In addition, they list spiritual vacations, railway trips, and bicycle tours as well.

To help the undecided traveler pick which theme could possibly be the right vacation for them, InfoHub offers several options to help in the decision process. These options include travel stories, quizzes, travel articles, and forums.

The travel story section can be found on their home page. This section has stories written or posted by those who have traveled to the story's location(s) or members who eagerly support InfoHub. Each story gives an account of each leg of their journey including photographs and informative content which may inspire a similar vacation in your coming plans.

Quizzes on Infohub are designed to educate the average person with travel related information. There are a wide range of quizzes to choose from and I find them helpful in travel planning.

It's neat because this site is actually very similar to the new and improved Trip2Earth.com. Visitors to Trip2Earth however, may find it a tad more user-friendly in its organization than InfoHub. Trip2Earth also offers INCREDIBLE vacation packages at some of the lowest costs i've seen. They also have all the information that InfoHub offers, but with a few extra highlights and money-savers.

All-in-all, both sites are a tremendous help for all of your travel needs!

Posted by nordn8 at 3:20 PM | Permalink | Comments

Have you ever wondered when the very best time to travel was? Time and time again you find yourself waiting in long lines and dealing with mass crowds in airports and on the roads. Could it really be possible that there is a time when the holidays are actually suitable for travel? You better believe it! December actually has a "Dead Week." Apparently it produces some of the best prices and opportunities you will find all year. So when is this glorious span of days? Sooner than you think! As soon as you finish your last bite of Thanksgiving turkey, you better run to your room to go pack! The two weekends following Thanksgiving holiday are the best time to travel. After that you are headed for some holiday stress and chaos.

Availability will have you in chains, prices will shoot into outer space, airports will be flooded with tourists, and attractions will be making their money, all this going on through the new year. In 2006, "Dead Week" will actually be about three weekends long. Thanksgiving was on 11/23 which is one day away from the earliest possible date. Also, Christmas falls on a Monday so people won't be taking off of their jobs until the Friday before. This will give some of the longest and best travel time of the year.

Less amounts of people isn't the only benefit of pre-holiday travel. December is usually temperate as far as weather goes. Granted you won't be tanning in San Francisco but you won't be stranded by blizzards either. The ambiance that comes along with the cooler temperatures is breathtaking too.

"Favorable weather, low volume and superb deals make these three weeks a favorite of many frequent and seasoned travelers. By traveling in early and mid-December, you can skip the tourist hordes and high prices and still enjoy all the trappings of holiday travel: lights, decorated trees, candles and menorahs, the most dramatic storefront and household displays of the year, extraordinary civic and commercial exhibits, and, not least, enough good cheer to last all year." says Ed Hewitt of MSNBC, and it couldn't be more true.

Labels: Christmas, Dead Week, holiday, pre-holiday travel, Thanksgiving, time, Travel, weekend

Posted by Sparkling at 3:59 PM | Permalink | Comments

Besides the possible unknown factor of the food quality during your trip, what is the worst thing about trans-time-zone travel? The Jet Lag. Let's face it, no one likes feeling all groggy and gross after a long plane ride, and have to sleep at odd hours for a few days of a vacation because of a need to adjust to the whole hour difference situation. It stinks and it's probably one of the worst parts of a vacation.

But what actually is jet lag? In order to find out how to deal with it, we need to know what it is. According to Miriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, jet lag is

"a condition that is characterized by various psychological and physiological effects (as fatigue and irritability), occurs following long flight through several time zones, and prob. results from disruption of circadian rhythms in the human body called also jet fatigue."

The next question is what causes jet lag?

Jet lag is often caused by inter-time-zone travel, and generally going East is the worse than going West. Those who are used to change in their daily schedules, as well as children, are less susceptible to jet lag caused by this phenomenon.

Believe it or not, your condition before you fly is also a contributor to jet lag. If you are stressed, excited, sleepy, or even hungover before your flight, you are more likely to get jet lag as well. The best way to avoid that: Get plenty of rest and sleep before you travel. Your body will thank you for it.

For those who live in humid areas, another cause of jet lag is dry atmosphere. Dry atmosphere can also be irritating, period, not just a cause for jet lag. However, dry atmosphere in airplane cabins are a factor when it comes to jet lag. It can cause coughs, sore throat, or even the flu. The key to avoiding this is drinking plenty of water, or keeping water with you. This is tough what with the regulations for carry on fluids in the airline industry at the moment, but bring a few bottles of water on long flights to ensure that you're properly hydrated.

Alcohol and caffeine are a major source of jet lag! It's true! The effect of one glass of wine during flight at say... 30,000 feet has the same effect on your body as 2-3 glasses on the ground. Not only that, but alcohol and caffeine both dehydrate the body, which may lead to water retention swelling and whatnot. It's uncomfortable and it will be a sour start to your vacation.

Lack of exercise is another factor in jet lag. It's also one of the worst aspects of flying, especially on loooooong flights. If you have the opportunity and there's not a whole lot of turbulence, take a walk up and down the aisle, or stretch. It feels good, gets blood flowing, and eases some of your jet lag in the long run.

How can we deal with jet lag?

Firstly, make sure everything is all set before your trip. This way no bad surprises will make you all stressed out, and are not overly excited or tired. It is also a good idea to not go out drinking the night before, so you are not stuck with a hangover. If you must drink something, drink water and plenty of it. It's also alright to drink juice, but water is much more hydrating and preferable to your body's needs.

If it's an overnight flight you're going on, bring a blindfold or neckrests, and kick off your shoes to ease pressure on your feet so you can get a little rest during your flight. Some airlines provide sock like slippers, too. Another way to ease up on pressure on your legs and feet in a cramped space is exercise! If it's possible (i.e. no turbulence or something like that) take a walk up and down the aisle a few times. It will help with bloodflow and ease pressure in your legs.


Keep all this in mind the next time you do a trans-zone flight, and hopefully you'll find that your jet lag will diminish, letting you enjoy your trip more.

Happy times and clear skies!

Labels: airplane, fatigue, jet lag, Travel

Posted by Anonymous at 3:03 PM | Permalink | Comments