That’s a question credit users are asking themselves these days with increasing frequency. We’ve all heard the buzz about airline miles credit cards. After all, who wouldn’t be talking about a way to use credit to manage their everyday expenses while being rewarded for it with free airline miles? However, we all know that a program’s being beneficial doesn’t necessarily mean it’s right for us. The following are a few guidelines to help you determine whether or not you stand to benefit in a big way by applying for a frequent flyer credit card.

You travel at least occasionally.

Do you have family that lives far enough away to necessitate the occasional airline ticket purchase? Do you ever travel by plane on vacation or for business purposes? Do you tend to spend money on hotel accommodations and car rentals when away from home? If so, then you could be saving a bundle on your travel expenses by trading in your traditional credit card for an airline mileage credit card, as you’ll be earning points to help you with all of the above.

Just imagine the possibilities! Let’s say your monthly expenses total $3,000 each month and you typically use your credit card to manage and consolidate them. What if your credit company were willing to match that $3,000 with a minimum of 3,000 free airline miles to use toward your next ticket? Could you find a use for them? Then you can benefit from an airline miles credit card.

You need a credit provider that really takes care of you.

Airline miles credit providers have what is considered to be some of the best customer service in the entire credit business. To start with, you’ll have access to knowledgeable, efficient customer service representatives 24 hours a day. If you have questions or concerns regarding your account, they’ll put your mind at ease in a flash. Many frequent flyer creditors also provide 24-hour fraud protection. You can’t police your account all the time, and when you can’t? Your credit provider is there making sure all is as it should be. Many accounts even offer 24 hour concierge service to help you find events tickets and make reservations while you’re away from home… all just to make your vacation a little bit more special. How can you beat that?

You pay your balance off in full each month.

If you’re the type of person who pays their credit balance off in full at the end of each month, then you are among those that actually stand to make money by applying for one of these cards. Credit providers glean an income through the interest they charge on existing balances. If you never allow your balance to accumulate interest, then your benefits are truly free. The best way to use credit – especially rewards-oriented credit – is to utilize it to manage necessary expenses and consolidate bills and pay off everything owed at the end of each billing cycle. Then the creditor is basically paying you in airline miles to use their service. You win!

So if you have great spending habits, want to get the most out of your credit program, and could find a use for the occasional free airline ticket, you really can’t afford to be without an airline miles credit card. Compare programs online, fill out an application online afterward, and you could be making more of your credit within seconds! What are you waiting for?

VAT refund for tourists

All Non-Thai nationals who travel to Thailand and departy from an international airport are able to submit a VAT refund application. Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Hat –Yai, Phuket and U-Tapao are all participating international airports.

After filling out the short application, witch can be found at the airport, your purchased goods must be presented to the airport’s Custom officers for inspection. Original tax invoice (receipts) must also be presented at this time. VAT refunds process is to be done before flight check-in.

While in Phuket you have probably seen stores displaying a ‘’ VAT REFUND FOR TOURISTS’’ sign.

There are thousands of shops and businesses throughout Thailand where you can receive VAT refund for your purchases. Phuket alone has over 136 stores. An extensive list of these shops can be viewed at the Revenue Department of Thailand website.   

On the purchasing day, present your passport and ask the sales assistant at the store to complete the VAT refund Application for tourists form (P.P10) and attached the original tax invoices to the form. Each application form (P.P10) must show a value goods of 2,000 bath or more. Purchased goods must be taken out of Thailand within 60 days from the date of purchase to be eligible for a VAT refund.

There is a small fee of about 100 Bath applied to refund requests. Airline crew members departing Thailand on duty or those who carry a diplomatic passport and reside in Thailand are not entitled to VAT refund.

 Sponsord by : www.allphuketrealestate.com

Standing in line at immigration be it at the airport or on the road can be frustrating. I remember once waiting for 3 hours at Ambassador Bridge at the Detroit border crossing; I had two bored kids in the car and a screaming baby. Nowadays there is no need to wait in line for long periods. The NEXUS card offers expedited travel by road, air and sea. NEXUS cardholders can cross the border much faster by using designated NEXUS lanes; there is also less intrusion from customs and immigration officers.

Qualifying as a NEXUS Card Holder

NEXUS cards are given to low risk travellers who are permanent residents or citizens of either the US or Canada who have lived in one or both countries on a continuous basis for at least the last three years. Low risk means that you have no criminal record or previous border violations. Even the simplest of offences will count against you no matter how many years have passed since the crime or violation was committed. Border officials security check every applicant to make sure that their immigration and citizenship details are correct and legal. Criminal history is checked with the US FBI, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, CSIS and Interpol. No-fly lists and databases tracking known terrorists are also checked – for every applicant.

Applying for a NEXUS Card

Getting the card is simple. You can fill out an application online at the Global Online Enrollment System or print off a paper application from the Canadian Border Services website and mail it to the NEXUS offices in either Niagara Falls or Montreal.  Filling out the form online takes around one hour providing you are computer literate, but the benefit is that you don’t have to scan in documents for submission with your application. Some of the jargon is technical and you must check your application thoroughly before you certify that the contents are accurate – incomplete or inaccurate information will result in your application being delayed and in some instances denied. The paper application contains a lot of detailed notes but they are not laid out in a user friendly manner. Nevertheless, there are fewer questions to answer with the paper application – but nothing to significantly reduce the form filling time from an hour. A point to note for those who despise filling in forms is that every person in your family or party must be a NEXUS card holder if you are to fast track the border together; even young children have to have their own NEXUS card. This can mean a lot of work to those applying with family, friends or loved ones. The cost for each application is $50 payable in US or Canadian dollars.  Once your application is conditionally approved you attend an interview for an iris scan, fingerprinting and a chat with a border official about the NEXUS program. After this your card is issued and you can use it immediately. The best news is that the NEXUS card is also accepted in place of your passport when travelling between Canada and the States.

Apply now for your Nexus card !

There are four steps that you should follow if you are interested in getting a China visa for work. A number of tragic events in the past have made it more difficult to gather all the required paperwork to get a China work visa. China has recently stiffened their security making it more difficult to get a China work visa. There are also stricter limits that determine what type of people is allowed to work in China. However, it is still possible to get a China work visa as along as you follow the proper procedures.
You will need to obtain an Alien Employment License before you can be issued a China employment visa. There are a number of requirements you need to meet in order to obtain this. You will need to submit an Application for Employment Permit for Foreigners. You will also need to posses a valid password and have copies of your health certificate that was issued by the Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Authority. You will need to be able to explain the reasons of employ and provide copies of a government instrument of ratification. You will also need to prove that you have the adequate credentials to perform the job.
You will also need to obtain a Notification of Application for Employment Visa and Residence Permit. You will need to get a few pieces of information from your future employer in order to obtain this. You will need to posses an employment license and a valid passport as well as a valid business visa. You will also need to obtain an Application for Residence Qualifications for Working Foreigners in China. You employer will need to provide you with copies of their Industrial and Commercial Business License.
You will also need to obtain an Alien Employment Permit which will require your employer to provide their Employment License. You will also need to provide the Notification of Application for Employment Visa and Residence Permit. You will need to have an appointment for a Labor Contract or a valid one. After you have received your Alien Employment Permit it should remain valid for one year. After one year it will need to be renewed.
The fourth and final document that you will need is a Residence Permit. In order to obtain a Residence Permit you will need a valid passport and an Alien Employment Permit. You will also need to provide your Certificate of Verification for Physical Examination record for China as well as the Notification of Application for Employment Visa and Residence permit. You will to be able to prove that you had an interview for the Resident Qualification Application for Foreigners. You will also need to provide a China visa or a Residence Application Form.
After you have collected these four documents you will qualify to be issues a valid work and residence permit that will allow you to work and live in China. Normally, you will be able to live and work in China after receiving your credentials for one year before you have to renew your credentials.
It can take a long time to get all the documents required to receive a class z visa for China. The process is extremely difficult. Not only will the person who is wanting to work in China have to put forth a lot of effort but the company that they are going to be working for will have to forth a great deal of effort too. The Chinese consulate can reject your application if you fail to provide them with the necessary documents. This is why it is so important to take your time and make sure that you provide them with all of the proper documents.

I admit it – I AM LIKE A KID… I love everything about Disney. Especially Disney World. There’s so much to see and do and experience – you could spend a month at each park and still not get to it all! So….what about taking your kids there…and cheap? Sounds like a dream…right? After all – it’s got to be expensive. WRONG!

I can teach you ways in whivh you can take a full blown DISNEY WORLD TRIP AT A FRACTION OF WHAT OTHER FAMILIES PAY.

There are ways to track the Best Bargains On and Off Line – You’re going to find the best places and sites to buy your advance tickets. (You’ll probably be surprised at the answers!). One way, for example, is by using unique E-bay Bargains – Think those “discounted” Disney Pass Ticket Prices are a great deal? Many times they’re not the bargain you think! I’ll tell you exactly what you have to know –before you make that bid!

If you’re reading this article, you’re at the same position I had been a few months ago. I was really looking forward to take my whole family on the vacation of their dreams, at Disney world vacation resort, but the high prices deterred me. I could not afford to spend that much money on one vacation….know the feeling, right?

Needless to say, my kids were really sad, they cried that I was not being fair. I knew, there had to be a better way to get the, on that trip at a much cheaper cost.

Start recognizing this saying  – “You Don’t Have To Be Rich To Have An Extravagant Disney World Vacation”.    No….you really don’t!

In fact, You can have a Disney World vacation every bit as enjoyable and rewarding as the family who spends 2, 3, or even 4 times as much money!

First and foremost, Disney World Tickets can be acquired at a much cheaper rate, including meals and trinlets! Given the right tools, you can very easily find all the different ticket types and the best buys – with tips that’ll literally save you hundreds of dollars. This tip alone may make enough money to pay for all your meals in the park for the entire week.

What about airlines, lodging, resorts etc? no problem! I won’t leave you hangin’.

I don’t have to tell you – it sometimes seems finding great airlines prices is more of a lottery than a science. Well … I can’t affect what the airlines charge – but I can fill you in on what to look for! My Guide includes my insider’s tips for getting to Disney World, staying at Disney World, dining at Disney World, and more.

There are ways to learn how to find the cheapest deals ever, which I’m afraid I cannot cover in just one article.

For more information on getting A Disney World Vacation For A 
Fraction Of What Others Pay – click here!

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One of the biggest challenge, when traveling anywhere in the world, is to locate a car rental company that will provide reliable car hiring services. The problem is there is just too many of them. This is especially true in countries like Germany, Spain or Canada. When there are too many service providers, you are spoilt for choice. You certainly want to avoid being in a situation where you rent a car for a day, only to find out the next day that you could have gotten the same car for thirty percent less rental fees. You also do not want to be in a position where your car breaks down and the car rental supplier is unable to provide you with adequate support services. These are undesirable situations you want to avoid. And renting from countries in Canada just doesn’t make it easier.
Fortunately, technology comes to the rescue. Many car rental suppliers now belong to a network where their services are listed on Internet websites. These websites are actually advanced web applications, where there is a comprehensive database at the back-end for that contains the most updated information from all the major car rental companies. Such information is provided free of charge, and with a few simple clicks, anyone can access important data such as pricing, availability and so on from some of the largest car retailers in the country. Here is how the simple process usually works.
Simply select a pick-up and a drop-off point. Then choose the day when you need the car, and choose the date when you will return the car. Then click on the web button to submit the data. And that’s it. The website will use the information that you have supplied and retrieve all the information you need. In table form, you will be presented with the brand, model and type of cars available, and the pricing. You will then be able to proceed with the booking if you like. You may also email the car rental companies for more information or to request special services such as baby seats, back up drivers and so on. All in all, it’s a very simple and convenient process to hire a car in Canada. If you place your booking early, you can have a car waiting for you at the airport upon your arrival. And at the end of your trip, you can drop off your car at the airport as well.
There are many benefits of renting a car and it is beyond the scope of this article to cover them here. So the next time you are planning a trip, whether to Canada, Spain, or to anywhere else in the world, remember that car rental in this modern age is highly simplified and made affordable by price comparison websites. With their presence, your car rental search worries are certainly over.

If you’ve never applied for a passport before, you may have no idea where to start. Where is your nearest passport office? Where do you go to submit a passport application?

There are two different types of passport offices that citizens should be aware of. The type of passport office you will visit depends on the type of passport services you require.

Most US citizens applying in person for a new passport can go to a passport acceptance facility. These passport offices are located inside other government offices, such as post offices, libraries and county court clerk’s offices. You can find the closest one to you by searching on the Department of State’s website. Passport acceptance facilities will accept applications for new passports and offer two different types of services: regular and expedited service.

Regular service usually takes at least 6 weeks, while expedited service usually takes at least 3. Processing times for each can vary, depending on how many applications the Department of State is dealing with at the time, so check the Department of State’s website for the most up-to-date information.

What if you need your passport sooner than that? If you are traveling within the next 2 weeks and you still need a passport, you can make an appointment at a Regional Passport Agency office to have a same day passport issued. These offices operate by appointment only. You must bring all necessary documents with you, along with your itinerary. To make an appointment, call 1 (877) 487-2778. Regional passport agency offices are closed on weekends and for all federal holidays.

There are currently only 19 regional passport agency offices in the entire US. If you don’t have a regional passport agency office nearby, you have two options: make an appointment and travel to whichever office is closest, or use a private passport expediting company instead. With an expediting company, you mail your application materials to the company and they will submit it the passport agency on your behalf.

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Most countries throughout Asia require a passport for entry and exiting, but they also require you to apply for an entry visa which should be done around the same time you apply or renew your passport because you have to have entry visas issued for the length of time you’re staying in the country that you plan to visit. Japan, China, and various countries in Southeast Asia require entry visas for at least 30-60 days since many people who work and go to school overseas usually need these documents. People who travel seldom stay more than a month unless they’re touring or visiting someone, but the average stay is 10-14 days. You have to pay out the same amount of money for a visa like you would a passport so you’re looking at a stellar cost for these things just over a $100. You have to apply for visas in advance like you would your passport to ensure you have them when you travel to the country of your destination.

You can apply for visas to enter a specific country from the consulate office since they handle the paperwork for visas. You can contact the State department for them to refer you to the appropriate consulate office to contact for the appropriate forms to fill out for a visa. Most offices have their own time frame to when you should apply and expect to receive your entry visa. For an experienced traveler it’s ideal to apply at their earliest convenience because at certain times of the year or whenever there’s a rise in travel to specific countries it can get backlogged with other travelers requesting visas which can make the turn around time longer so the sooner the better is ideal to get your visa ahead of your tentative travel date. Too many people think they can get visas in 30 days when an experienced traveler who goes to countries that require visa entry usually request them 90 days or longer to ensure a faster turn around time and to give some leeway in case of a backlog so that there’s time in the interim between the application and receiving period.

Just about every asian country has a US Consulate office and it’s ideal to contact that one or the consulate of that country to request any documentation or getting your questions answered. Most visas are not difficult to apply for you just have to indicate how long you plan on staying in the country and what the protocol is if you plan to extend it for however much time you’re permitted to do so. In traveling to a foreign country it’s practical to have any and all documentation needed for entry to be requested, processed and sent back to you within a certain amount of time because you don’t want to get close to your travel date and you don’t have these things with you because you can’t get past customs and security check without this important piece of documentation.

Have you ever stopped to wonder how gages and sensors in rocket engines work? Man, those engines and everything in them must get hot! So why doesn’t the whole system go haywire when all of the finite mechanisms such as speed sensors that gage the rotation rate of all the different spinning motors get hot enough to melt common metals.

High Tech Materials

Well it would be easy to guess that they make everything out of high temperature alloys. Hey! What about electrical components that contain finite moving parts? Won’t everything short out and what about metal expansion in high temperatures? The fact is, that all of these problems have been solved with the use of new high tech materials.

Magnetic Sensors

First of all, high temperature sensors use magnets or silicon strips impregnated with magnetic material to actually gage how fast something is spinning, so that eliminates any type of cable that would foul up in high temperatures. So, this eliminates one problem but what about thew others?

Ceramics Replaces Metal in High Temperatures

Ceramics are now used extensively in high tech, high temperature speed sensors and if fact ceramics are finding their way into many high temperature mechanical applications. Its hard, expands minimally, can be shaped and milled and doesn’t conduct electricity and withstands extremely high temperatures, so ceramics works great in high temperatures.

High Tech Alloys Resist High Temperatures

For wiring, copper which melts at around 2,000 degrees is replaced by new high tech alloys that stand up to much higher temperatures. Instead of plastic coating, like regular wire, other high tech heat resistant materials such as asbestos are used to insulate the wiring in todays high temperature speed sensor.

• Stereotypical tourist
• What it means to backpack
• Homework
• Local currencies
• Surroundings
• Language
• Clothing & accessories
• Manner
• Off season travel

Being a backpacker is not about having a holiday and succumbing to the lures of the in your face tourist traps that are ever present in most destinations in which you may wish to visit.

No, no, no backpacking is generally considered more about experiencing the real culture of a destination, the real people and the real way in which a visiting destination operate from day to day. Backpacking is for independent traveler, adventurer and explorer who wants to experience all of the ‘off the beaten track’ types of travel and destinations all on the smell of an oil rag.

On the other hand your stereotypical image of an annoying tourist is that of a group of snapshot taking outsiders who often seem to appear at every major landmark or tour stop off. You can easily pick out the tourist since they are the ones who are loud, sun burnt and are dragging along a bunch of screaming kids.

Well these are the images that pop into my mind when I think about tourists and I literally cringe at the thought of traveling in that manner. I think it would by now have become evident that I am pro-backpacker and anti-tourist. Not that tourists are bad people, everyone has their place in this world and on their travel route – however it is just not my cup of tea and I imagine not for many of the frequent readers of Backpacking Addictz.

So I have decided to write the blog article solely for the purpose of informing the newbie backpacker of how to avoid the traps of becoming just another annoying tourist.

Homework:

It is advisable and usually a given procedure for the diligent backpacker to do their homework and research on the destinations in which they intend to visit. A basic understanding of the local culture, customs and history of the particular destination will put you in good stead for not sticking out like a sore thumb or even worse offending some of the locals.

Local currencies:

Familiarize yourself with the local money and the exchange rate. It is highly advisable to be well aware of the exchange rate to avoid having to do lengthy and mind boggling calculations every time you want to make a simple transaction. This will hopefully prevent you from constantly asking some local trader “how much is that is pounds” or US dollars, or euros or whatever your home currency might be.

The local trader will probably not have any more of an idea than you do and if they do by some chance then you possibly open yourself up to being ripped off. The best thing to do is prior to leaving – work out the exchange rate and apply it to $10 or 10 of what ever your home currency is and then use this scale to gain a better understanding of how the cost of a transaction relates to your home currency.

For example if you are aware that $10 is 400BHT in Thailand then you would know that $25 is worth approximately 1000 BHT.

Surroundings:

Research and get familiar with your surroundings and orientation of the destination you are visiting. This will prevent you from looking lost and wandering aimlessly. It will also reduce the risk from you being targeted by local con artists and scammers.

My suggestion, and I have always made this a priority before I leave for a backpacking adventure, is to purchase a travel guide and map for the particular destination/s you plan to visit. Travel guides are an essential and valuable asset for every serious traveler or backpacker.

We consider travel guides so important that we are currently in the process of launching the highly anticipated Backpacking Addictz Travel eGuides. These perfect travel companions will be cheap, informative and easy to take with you anywhere you decide to go. They will be available for purchase very shortly once finishing touches have been finalized.

We are so excited about the launch of the Backpacking Addictz Travel eGuides have been written by the backpacker for the backpacker and will be the perfect tool for preparing your journey, familiarizing yourself with the culture, customs, eating and drinking venue and quality advice on how to enjoy the backpacking journey to its fullest extent.

By studying a guide and doing your homework prior to arriving to your intended countries you are less likely to be caught out looking like a silly tourist or worse being scammed by a local con artist.

If you need to ask for directions then try and do so discreetly. You can always pick the tourist who is the one standing in the middle of a large open area looking completely bewilded by the large map opened up before them whilst asking random locals for directions. Its not a good look and generally puts a tourist target smack bang on your forehead.

If you need to ask for directions you can discreetly do so by asking a local shop or business owner this is the preferred way to seek some directions or local advice as opposed to asking random passers by.

Language

It is definately worth becoming slightly au fait will some of the local languages. We you dont have to become a language professor in a particular language however it would be advisable to at learn learn a few of the basics. Even some common slang will help to show the locals that you know a thing or two about the area.

Pocket dictionaries are the most obvious choices for the hesitant language learner and you can either purchase a hard copy from your local book store or better yet there is a vast array of websites on the internet where you should be able to find enough information for free to get you by. Also, if you are up to date with the latest mobile phone trends such as the iPhone there are many applications in which you can download foreign dictionaries straight to your mobile phone.

Clothing and accessories

Try to blend in with the locals to some degree. I remember when I was travelling through Cambodia and took the time to head to Siem Reap to see the Angkor Wat there were plenty of big loud hawaiian t-shirt wearing tourists visiting and they seriously looked right out of place. At least try to fit in with the local trends or looks rather than trying to make a statement.

Souvenir clothing clearly says to any local that they are tourists, its like holding a picket sign up saying come rip me off i’m a tourist. By all means purchase the odd tourist clothing but save it for wear when you get back home.

Carrying huge big bags and bulky accessories around with you everywhere you go is certainly not advisable since you simply have more to lose, get stolen or damaged. Just take what you need and nothing unneccessary, you are best of leaving this stuff at the guesthouse or secured in the hostel with your big backpack. Especially in poorer countries you are best to keep expensive camera, mobile phones or iPods kept in your pocket or hidden from the publics view, these are expensive products and will quickly gain a thieves eye.

Manner

Always be polite and considerate and treat people the way you would like to be treated. Tried to avoid confrontations at all costs, remember you are in unchartered waters so to speak and always remember the saying “when in Rome”. Losing your cool and having an argument with someone is generally not only rude but it will get you nowhere especially if you speak a different language to the locals.

The Backpacker never travels in large groups rather they tend to either run solo or in pairs of sometimes 3?s or 4?s. The bigger the group you are in the more you are going to look like a tourist.

I prefer to run solo when backpacking as it allows you the complete freedom to not have to take other peoples issues into consideration. Perhaps a selfish attitude some might say but if you want to do something the way YOU want to do it then travelling on a solo mission I think is the best way. However, if you have a partner who is in the same mind set as you – this can also be a fantastic way to share all your experiences and travels with someone special.

Off season travel

Travelling during the off season certainly seems to have many more perks for the backpacker than travelling during the high season. First, you do not have to worry about as many painstaking tourists bumping into you left right and centre and secondly, you can generally get cheaper airfares and accommodation during these periods.

At the end of the day you need to travel the way you want to travel, everone is different and wants different things. However, if you are aiming to set youself aside from all the usual tourist traps and scams, and if you really want to enjoy your independent travels as a backpacker we strongly suggest that you take on board a number of the abovementioned issues.

Get out there and get amongst it!

Backpacking Addictz is a website set up by backpackers for the use of backpackers. On this site you will find a lot of very valuable information surrounding different destinations around the world and tips and advice on budget travel and backpacking. You will also find an enthusiastic and insightful backpacking blog which is regularly updated with new posts and article.

Backpacking Addictz Travel eGuides are a fantastic, cheap and easy way to get hold of a vast amount of backpacking information prior to setting off on your backpacking adventure.