How to Book Train Travel From Los Angeles To Santa Barbara

Only two hours from Los Angeles, Santa Barbara offers mild weather and good shopping, as well as a balanced assortment of classy, upscale restaurants and college bars. The day trip of choice for Hollywood stars in the 1920s, Santa Barbara is an even more appealing getaway if you travel by train.

Find Rail Service in Los Angeles

1 Find convenient train service. The choice for traveling the Southern California coastline is Amtrak's Coast Starlight or Surfliner trains. They offer daily service as well as amazing views of the Pacific Ocean.

2 Locate the nearest Amtrak station. Leave from Union Station in downtown Los Angeles or from stations closer to your residence or hotel.

Select an Itinerary for Your Trip to Santa Barbara

1 Choose your time and date of departure. Use a schedule and timetable from an Amtrak station or download one from Amtrak Web site to select a train that satisfies your travel needs.

2 Select your traveling preferences. Amtrak's Coast Starlight service offers only one train to Santa Barbara per day but offers seating options that include sleeping accommodations. The Pacific Surfliner offers unreserved coach or reserved business class seats approximately seven times daily.

Purchase Tickets from Los Angeles to Santa Barbara

1 Find out whether you are eligible for discounts before you book tickets. Amtrak offers discounts for children and seniors, as well as for students, veterans, and active military personnel.

2 Reserve your tickets. Use credit cards to book tickets on the phone (1-800-USA RAIL) or online. Go to the Amtrak station to reserve tickets in person or use a travel agent to reserve tickets for you.

Get On Board Your Train to Santa Barbara

1 Pick up your tickets at the train station from an agent or use your credit card at a ticket kiosk. Tickets purchased in advance can also be mailed to you.

2 Arrive early for departure. Coach seats are first-come, first-served seating.

How to Travel by Car While Pregnant

Traveling comfortably while pregnant can be a challenge, but being pregnant shouldn't mean placing your life on hold. Here are some simple ways to stay comfortable while taking a road trip while pregnant. Travel in car while pregnant. Pregnant travel

1 Pack healthy, portable snacks and beverages for the road.

2 Wear comfortable clothes and shoes that let you stretch and move. If possible, remove or loosen your shoes.

3 Bring a pillow and plan to rest when not driving.

4 Use the restroom right before you leave.

5 Remind your traveling companion that you will need to make frequent stops, probably every 90 minutes to 2 hours, if not more often.

6 While at a rest area, walk around, stretch and use the restroom.

7 Keep your feet elevated when not driving. It will help to reduce leg cramps and swelling.

8 While seated, stretch your arms and legs every 30 minutes to keep your blood flowing.

How to Become a Travel Agent in BC

If you know where popular tourist spots are located and how to find bargains, then you have a good chance at being a successful travel agent in British Columbia. No formal education or training is required to be a travel agent in British Columbia, but if you aspire to be successful, earn special credentials and learn how to make your clients' travel plans a positive experience.

1 Take a Canadian Institute of Travel Counsellors (CITC) training course. Such courses are frequently offered in British Columbia, including day and distance courses at Canadian Tourism College, CDI College and Westminster College. A day course lasts about 23 weeks, and includes instruction in the two main computer systems used in the travel industry, as well as customer service and marketing courses.

2 Enroll for Travel Counsellor Certification through CITC. The certification involves a written examination that you can take before you are hired. When you get a job, you will undergo a performance evaluation that will further qualify you as a Certified Travel Counsellor. Since working in British Columbia, especially in the Vancouver area can be competitive, obtaining this certification gives you an added edge to get a job and find clients. Going through the training will test your skills and help you determine your strengths and weaknesses, so you know what type of travel bookings -- such as cruises, local travel or adventure travel -- which could be your expertise.

3 Apply for a travel insurance license through the Insurance Council of British Columbia. You will need this license if you plan to run your own travel agency. If you plan to work for someone else, you don't need your own travel insurance license. (see reference 2) This license allows a travel agency to issue travel insurance to clients.

How to Book Train Travel From Paris to Strasbourg

Both French and German cultures combine in Strasbourg, France. This city is located on the Germany/France border, catering to travelers who would enjoy the unique experience of the two countries on one place. Both languages are spoken here and you will find some of the world's finest and popular Christmas markets.

Learn About Train Travel From Paris to Strasbourg

1 Book a ticket online through any French rail network outlet. Keep in mind, though, that you must buy tickets before travel, as these prices are only available to tourists.

2 Know that trains from Paris traveling into Strasbourg feature French and German cuisine. It is not usual to find German food in French terms (sauerkraut is "choucroute" in French).

3 Know when to book your train travel. The earlier you can book, the better for some lines. "Prem" or premium discounts can be found 14 days to 3 months prior to the date of travel.

4 Take advantage of last minute booking prices of up to 50 percent off a full fare the Tuesday before the desired week of travel. These tickets, though, are not guaranteed to always be available and sometimes seat or sleeper car reservations are also limited or unavailable.

5 Buy pre-purchased train travel cards to save money on your train tickets. Simply present one of these as you're buying your ticket and you will receive guaranteed savings of 25 to 50 percent off regular fares.

Book a Ticket on the Train of Your Choice Between Paris and Strasbourg

1 Ride the modern Eurostar trains from Paris directly into Strasbourg.

2 Choose to book a ticket on a Corail day or overnight train to Strasbourg for a more traditional train experience.

3 Know that a TGV high speed train from Paris will reduce train travel time to Strasbourg down to 2 hours and 20 minutes. The line is set to begin service in 2007. This line will also run through Germany, Luxembourg and Switzerland, allowing passengers to extend travel throughout this region.

How to Travel to Cuba Legally

Despite decades-old US travel restriction to Cuba, the Caribbean island nation is still one of the hottest tourist destinations for Americans. More than 60,000 Americans travel to the island illegally, while 80,000 go legally. Follow these steps to get to America's southern island neighbor without breaking the law.

1 Get a good official reason. The US allows professional journalists and researchers to travel to Cuba without a special license. The reason for travel must be serious and officially condoned by your newspaper and research organization. If you think you qualify for research or journalistic travel to Cuba, check with your company and with the US Treasury Department and State Department.

2 Go to Cuba on the cheap. Actually, to travel legally to Cuba without a license from the government you have to go to Cuba without spending any money at all. Because the US law that forbids Cuban travel is an embargo, the real issue is about money transactions or trade. If you can figure out a way to get to Cuba and stay there without buying or selling anything, then you are free to go.

3 Travel to the island on a "fully hosted" trip. A fully trip is a trip for which all funds originate from within Cuba or from a different foreign country. For example, many Canadian companies organize trips for Americans that pay all expenses from Canada. This allows Americans to travel to Cuba legally because no American money directly reaches Cuban shores.

4 Go to Cuba as part of an educational activity. Many accredited American universities hold specific long-term licenses allowing them to send students and faculty to Cuba for educational purposes. Find a university that holds such a license to travel to Cuba legally.

5 Apply for a government license. The State Department issues a limited number of travel licenses to US citizens for legal travel to Cuba. Similarly, the government licenses a number of American travel agencies to conduct fully-guided tours to the island. While these licensed American tours are more expensive, they originate in the US and will free you from future scrutiny about the legality of your trip.

How to Become an Independent Travel Agent in UK

An independent travel agent can make a good living. The rise in average spending of families and increased awareness about destinations worldwide has increased the number of people interested in this career opportunity. Travel agents mostly earn from the commissions and discounts that they get from the various entities like airlines and hotels on the card rate. In addition, an independent travel agent himself gets an opportunity to travel places at discounted rates for the purpose of evaluating the destinations that he may recommend to his clients.

Education

1Enroll in a course for travel agents at a vocational school or a university in your area. You can contact your nearest university office to find out what courses are available.

2Opt for online courses if your local university does not offer any courses related to travel agents. One such place is Online Travel Training (see Resources). It offers training on various products used by travel agents. In addition it also provides training on popular destinations for travelers.

3Take a training on computer reservations systems and global distribution systems which is also available at Online Travel Training (see Resources).

Setting up Your Business

1Register your business name with HM Revenue and Customs.

2Set up your website, as most of the tourism business these days is conducted online. The site should give up-to-date information about the most popular destinations. In addition, offer pre-built travel packages on your website along with the option to customize them. Ensure your website offers your visitors the ability to book their trip online.

3Keep your contact information up-to-date on the website, and make it easy to find. Ideally, visitors should be able to contact your from any page on your site. This can be done by listing your contact information or including contact forms.

4Work together with other travel agents who provide services to the destinations where you do not have a direct contact. Such arrangements can be done on a commission basis.

Advertising

1Offer a discount to the customers who come from a referral. Most travelers rely on the information from friends to decide on the travel destinations and the travel agent.

2Place an advertisement in the national newspaper once every week or two and a few weeks before any bank holiday or a long weekend.

3Join travel-related social networks. Be active and contribute. Include links to your site in your profiles or signatures when possible. This is one of the best ways to get exposure and it is usually free, only costing you time.

Memberships

1Apply for the membership of Airline Reporting Corporation (ARC) (see Resources). As a member of ARC you will be entitled to ticket distribution, reporting, and settlement services for more than 145 air and rail carriers.

2Apply for the membership of ABTA The travel association (see Resources), once you have been in business for a while. ABTA members are required to meet certain financial and operational criteria.

3Join other associations and memberships that may be helpful, or help you succeed as an independent travel agent in the UK:
Association of Independent Tour Operators: http://www.aito.co.uk/
Travel Trust Association: http://www.traveltrust.co.uk/
Pacific Asia Travel Association: http://www.pata.org.uk/

How to Be a Work at Home Travel Agent

Working as a travel agent can be both personally fulfilling and financially rewarding, which is why many choose to work in the field. But with internet travel sales and discounted traveling sites dominating the industry, it can be difficult to find work as a travel agent in a traditional office. Many travel agents are instead looking online for an opportunity to be a work at home agent - and with good cause. Not only do you have the comfort of working from your own home office as a work at home travel agent, with the use of the internet, you can rake in far more in commissions than in a traditional travel agency. And with experience, you can even start your own work at home travel agent company, instead of working on behalf of another company. Add in the many perks that a work at home travel agent receives, from free swag to free airplane tickets or even vacations, and it almost sounds too good to be true! Interested? Then read on to learn how you can be a work at home travel agent:

1

Do Some Research in Traveling AND Marketing

If you don't already have experience in the industry, as a work at home travel agent or otherwise, then there is a great deal you need to learn before you can be a successful work at home travel agent. Travel agents traditional work solely on commission - although if you work for another company, you may receive a base salary - that they earn from selling and booking vacations and packages. That means that as a work at home travel agent, you not only need to have a great deal of knowledge about traveling and destinations, you also need to have sales and marketing skills. And with the online competition for discounted vacation packages growing at an insane rate, you will have a great deal of competition as a work at home travel agent. Being able to match your customers with the perfect vacation, offering excellent customer service, providing additional service that consumers can't find elsewhere, and possessing outstanding sales and marketing skills are all essential to your success as a work at home travel agent.

If you don't already understand both customer service and marketing completely, then you need to spend some time learning about both before you consider starting as a work at home travel agent. The good news is, all of the information you need to teach yourself about the industry is widely available to you online - you can even take classes at your local community college or trade school that are specifically tailored to help you excel as a work at home travel agent. If you're coming up short on information online, then consider enrolling in a few marketing classes and travel agency classes. A few months of learning about the trade can make all the difference in your eventual success as a work at home travel agent.

2

Get Certified as a Work at Home Travel Agent

There are three major organizations that certify a qualified travel agent - including a work at home travel agent - and these certifications are considered an industry standard. The IATAN, IATA (sister organizations) and the CLIA offer certification to you as a work at home travel agent, if you meet the requirements. These certifications can not only help you land a good job as a work at home travel agent, but can help you later on if you decide to build your own company as a work at home travel agent. To learn more about the certifications they offer and the credentials you must possess to apply for the certifications, check out each respective organization's website below:

International Association of Travel Agents Network (IATAN)
http://www.iatan.org/

International Air Transport Association (IATA)
http://www.iata.com

Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA)
http://www.cruising.org/

3

Start as a Work at Home Travel Agent for a Company

Even if your eventual goal is to become an independent work at home travel agent, starting your career as a work at home travel agent for an online travel agency is still the best place to start. Those who already have worked in the field offline should still consider starting as a work at home travel agent for someone else. Working for a larger company will teach you the skills you need to make it as an independent work at home travel agent, while allowing you to make money at you learn. Companies also give you access to a wide array of tools that you may otherwise never discover, and the customer base is obviously larger - something you'll definitely need if you want to make good money as a work at home travel agent. If you have absolutely no experience in the industry, applying as a work at home travel agent with a smaller company will give you a better shot at being hired. You can find open positions for work at home travel agents by checking out some of the websites listed below. Start by browsing through Craigslist or other job seeking websites to see if there are any positions available as a work at home travel agent in your city; if not, you can move on to the internet-based companies that have positions open for a work at home travel agent. You will need a resume to apply for most of the work at home travel agent positions, so taking a class or two in advance on traveling and marketing will definitely look good on your application and significantly increase your chances of being hired as a work at hoe travel agent if you have no previous experience in the field.

Work at Home Travel Agent - Job Search Sites:

Monster.com
http://jobsearch.monster.com/Travel-Agent/get-jobs-5.aspx

Indeed.com
http://www.indeed.com/q-Travel-Agent-jobs.html

Jobs Online
http://www.jobsonline.net/travel-agent-jobs/

Work at Home Travel Agent - Direct Employment:

World Travel Holdings
http://www.worldtravelholdings.com/virtualCareers.html

Liberty Travel
http://libertytravel.jobs/

Expedia
http://www.expediajobs.com/

4

Buy into a Work at Home Travel Franchise Opportunity

If becoming a work at home travel agent for a corporation doesn't sound appeasing, you can also start your own work at home travel agent company by buying into a franchise. Obviously, this will cost you some start-up money, but the benefit here is that you will have support and access to the tools you need to become an independent work at home travel agent. A franchise also allows you to use a brand name for your work at home travel agent business, which gives you access to a larger pool of customers without requiring you to answer to someone else. The downfall is, there is absolutely no base commission with a franchise - your income completely depends on how well you do as a work at home travel agent. For those with minimal experience as a work at home travel agent, this is definitely not the route to go in the beginning, unless you are completely confident in your marketing skills. If you'd rather buy into a franchise, you can find some work at home travel agent franchise opportunities at the websites listed below:

FareConnect
http://www.fareconnect.com/

PTS Travel
http://www.ptstravel.com/

Franchising.com (Database of Work at Home Travel Agent Franchise Opportunities)
http://www.franchising.com/travel_agent_franchises/

5

Try a Work at Home Travel Agent Affiliate Program

A work at home travel agent affiliate program is exactly what it sounds like: an opportunity for affiliates to sign up and work on behalf of another company as a work at home travel agent. The affiliate program gives you access to the tools and the support that you need, but again, you only earn commission on the packages you sell as a work at home travel agent - there is no base salary. The benefit to a work at home travel agent affiliate program is that there is no buy-in costs, and the only expenses on your part are the expenses you incur through advertising and running a website as a work at home travel agent. This route is a good choice for those who want to become a work at home travel agent without answering to a company, but don't have the money or the will to run their own independent work at home travel agent company as a franchise. You can find a few work at home travel agent affiliate programs by searching online, or check out some of the links below to get started:

Travel Spot
http://www.travelspot.us/

Travel Affiliate Pro
http://www.travelaffiliatepro.com/

PlanetFone
http://www.planetfone.com/affiliate_agents/default.htm

Agent Sky (offers full website packages for work at home travel agent affiliates for a fee)
http://www.agentsky.com/

6

Invest in Your Own Work at Home Travel Agent Company

If affiliate programs and franchises are not for you, you can always start your own work at home travel agent business without a company backing you up. This is by far the most risky way to become a work at home travel agent, so this option should be reserved for those who already have extensive experience as a work at home travel agent and in marketing and sales. To start a work at home travel agent business, you will need to build your own client pool, market your company yourself, build your brand name, and connect with airlines, cruise lines, car rental agencies, hotels, and other companies in the travel industry so that you can market and sell their products and services. Working directly with these companies as a work at home travel agent will give you the highest level of commissions, as you have no other company to pay first before you receive your earnings as an independent work at home travel agent. You can also enjoy the benefits and kick backs that work at home travel agents receive for working exclusively with the companies they select, or work with a broader range of companies to offer your customers more options - the choice is yours. Starting a work at home travel agent business entails much more than can be detailed here, so if you are looking to begin your own work at home travel business independently, check out the link below for an article on how to start your own travel agency home business:

How to Travel Cheaply in Europe

When planning a trip to Europe, the costs can add up quickly. Taking into consideration the high price of airfare just to arrive, it is easy to be overwhelmed with the budget of the vacation. Don't let this put you off, however, since there are many ways you can reduce the cost of your trip before you go, and especially once you arrive. Almost everything you need to know about your destination can be found in guide books and online. A little bit of research can save you lots of money when you arrive.

1 Pack lightly. Although trans-Atlantic flights have recently reduced the amount of luggage you can check, 50 pounds is still a considerable amount if you are only going to Europe for a holiday. When packing, keep in mind that your trans-Atlantic flight won't be the only means of transportation you will use and many other services also have weight limits, such as long distance buses and inter-country flights. By packing lightly, you are potentially saving yourself quite a lot of money (and your back will thank you, too).

2 Research all means of transportation. If you trip includes many different cities and/or countries, be sure to research all possible ways to travel between destinations. Most travelers think only about traveling by train, and while it may be more picturesque, it is often much more expensive. Check and see if there are bus routes in addition to train routes, and if your destinations are very popular and significant distances apart, check for flights. One of the best new things about traveling in Europe are the low-cost airlines that have been springing up left and right, such as ryanair, easyjet, or many others that are country specific. If you have packed lightly, flying between Seville and Barcelona, for example, will be significantly cheaper (and faster) than going by train or by bus.

3 Watch what you eat. You went to Europe to discover the charm of the locals, and that includes all the local eating habits. Eating out three times a day can incur lots of extra costs, although when traveling, it's not easily avoided. There are things to do to make enjoying the culinary customs a little less painful for your wallet. First, enjoy the culinary customs! Don't buy the hotel breakfast. More often than not, you will be served the same food, or worse, than you can get at the local bar or restaurant for less. Observe what the locals eat for breakfast, and try to eat the same thing. Second, find a supermarket and buy fruit or granola bars to snack on later. While stopping by a cafe for an afternoon coffee can be the best part of the day, you can save lots if you only buy the coffee. Third, save the American specialties for America. A Starbucks coffee might seem like a godsend after two weeks on the go, but keep in mind that for your same particular blend that is 4 dollars in the US, in Europe you are going to pay 4 euros.

4 Stay slightly out of town. If you're traveling by car, you have many more options when choosing a hotel. If you're going to a big city, research the hotels in the suburbs that surround the city. By staying slightly out of town you can save quite a lot of money, both on your room and on parking (don't assume your hotel in the city has free parking). Be sure to research that there is a train, bus or metro service near your out of town hotel and that the service is convenient for you in the morning and at night.

5 Buy combination tickets. Most European cities have incredible public transportation systems and you should, and probably will, use them extensively. Instead of buying single tickets every time you use the service, buy any combination tickets that are offered. For example, most underground services offer a 10-ticket pack or a week-long ticket. Buying one of these will be much less than buying each ticket individually. Also see if any tourist tickets are offered. Many cities sell a week long underground ticket that includes tickets to some museums or other sites.