It’s time to get ready for school. Today we’ll make unusual and weird stationery. With such school supplies you can prank your friends, and studying will be more fun! The home improvement sector is growing fast and many homeowners are choosing to DIY their home renovations. However, there is still a large percentage of the population that feels that executing such projects is difficult. Nonetheless, the number of owners opting to renovate by themselves is increasing. The most important aspect of the DIY home renovations is to know when the work can be carried out alone by the owner and when a professional needs to be hired. DIY Projects There are some easily recognizable projects that homeowners can complete on their own. These include painting, minor repairs, or small remodeling tasks. However, projects that require technical skills must be done by professionals. Commitment An important part of DIY renovations is that the owners should be focused and committed to complete the project. It is often noted that DIY projects drag on due to the owner’s loss of focus as they become occupied with other activities. An important part of DIY renovations is that the owners should be focused and committed to complete the project. It is often noted that DIY projects drag on due to the owner’s loss of focus as they become occupied with other activities. Equipment To complete a DIY renovation, homeowners should plan the project ahead of time. In addition, you should gather all the necessary tools and equipment that are needed to complete the project. Adhering to the plan and the timeline ensures that the owners complete their project. Buy readymade structures Take help of your friends and relatives Don’t pretend they are readymade Show originality You may prefer DIY Kits Time and Skills Homeowners choosing DIY should keep in mind that the projects take time and basic skills to be successfully completed. There will be many unforeseen circumstances that may arise as the job is performed. It is thus important that owners allocate enough time and needed skills to finish the project. Protection While doing the projects, individuals should adhere to all the necessary safety requirements. DIY home remodeling requires safety gear such as protective clothes, eye protection and gloves while working on the projects. Some need ladders to work with electrical connections. Before starting, you should be sure that you can safely manage these seemingly simple activities. Cost Estimates Home improvement projects cost money though the amount depends on the type and size of the projects. Some projects require structural modifications and so owners need to ensure that the house is structurally strong to be modified. Researching the various types of materials that are available will provide owners flexibility in their DIY home renovations. Planning before commencing the actual work will save costs while completing the project. As more people opt to DIY their renovations, keeping the above guidelines in mind will benefit every owner of a household. Similar to all other areas, they can improve their remodeling skills by undertaking or practicing with smaller projects within their homes first. Using the Internet to find tricks and tips to successfully complete a remodeling project can be beneficial. It is also a good site for beginners to buy equipment. You may want to check further on these online sources. If you like this video share it, like it or comment below! Thanks
16 Travel Hacks Everyone Should Know!
Summer is a wonderful time to relax and travel. We’ve prepared for you awesome camping hacks that help you to make your trip more comfortable. Make your life easier and enjoy your journey! The home improvement sector is growing fast and many homeowners are choosing to DIY their home renovations. However, there is still a large percentage of the population that feels that executing such projects is difficult. Nonetheless, the number of owners opting to renovate by themselves is increasing. The most important aspect of the DIY home renovations is to know when the work can be carried out alone by the owner and when a professional needs to be hired. DIY Projects There are some easily recognizable projects that homeowners can complete on their own. These include painting, minor repairs, or small remodeling tasks. However, projects that require technical skills must be done by professionals. Commitment An important part of DIY renovations is that the owners should be focused and committed to complete the project. It is often noted that DIY projects drag on due to the owner’s loss of focus as they become occupied with other activities. An important part of DIY renovations is that the owners should be focused and committed to complete the project. It is often noted that DIY projects drag on due to the owner’s loss of focus as they become occupied with other activities. Equipment To complete a DIY renovation, homeowners should plan the project ahead of time. In addition, you should gather all the necessary tools and equipment that are needed to complete the project. Adhering to the plan and the timeline ensures that the owners complete their project. Buy readymade structures Take help of your friends and relatives Don’t pretend they are readymade Show originality You may prefer DIY Kits Time and Skills Homeowners choosing DIY should keep in mind that the projects take time and basic skills to be successfully completed. There will be many unforeseen circumstances that may arise as the job is performed. It is thus important that owners allocate enough time and needed skills to finish the project. Protection While doing the projects, individuals should adhere to all the necessary safety requirements. DIY home remodeling requires safety gear such as protective clothes, eye protection and gloves while working on the projects. Some need ladders to work with electrical connections. Before starting, you should be sure that you can safely manage these seemingly simple activities. Cost Estimates Home improvement projects cost money though the amount depends on the type and size of the projects. Some projects require structural modifications and so owners need to ensure that the house is structurally strong to be modified. Researching the various types of materials that are available will provide owners flexibility in their DIY home renovations. Planning before commencing the actual work will save costs while completing the project. As more people opt to DIY their renovations, keeping the above guidelines in mind will benefit every owner of a household. Similar to all other areas, they can improve their remodeling skills by undertaking or practicing with smaller projects within their homes first. Using the Internet to find tricks and tips to successfully complete a remodeling project can be beneficial. It is also a good site for beginners to buy equipment. You may want to check further on these online sources. If you like this video share it, like it or comment below! Thanks
18 Funny Pranks! Prank Wars!
Everyone loves having fun and jokes! So sit back, play our video and watch the new funny pranks collection! Prank your friends and enjoy holidays. The home improvement sector is growing fast and many homeowners are choosing to DIY their home renovations. However, there is still a large percentage of the population that feels that executing such projects is difficult. Nonetheless, the number of owners opting to renovate by themselves is increasing. The most important aspect of the DIY home renovations is to know when the work can be carried out alone by the owner and when a professional needs to be hired. DIY Projects There are some easily recognizable projects that homeowners can complete on their own. These include painting, minor repairs, or small remodeling tasks. However, projects that require technical skills must be done by professionals. Commitment An important part of DIY renovations is that the owners should be focused and committed to complete the project. It is often noted that DIY projects drag on due to the owner’s loss of focus as they become occupied with other activities. An important part of DIY renovations is that the owners should be focused and committed to complete the project. It is often noted that DIY projects drag on due to the owner’s loss of focus as they become occupied with other activities. Equipment To complete a DIY renovation, homeowners should plan the project ahead of time. In addition, you should gather all the necessary tools and equipment that are needed to complete the project. Adhering to the plan and the timeline ensures that the owners complete their project. Buy readymade structures Take help of your friends and relatives Don’t pretend they are readymade Show originality You may prefer DIY Kits Time and Skills Homeowners choosing DIY should keep in mind that the projects take time and basic skills to be successfully completed. There will be many unforeseen circumstances that may arise as the job is performed. It is thus important that owners allocate enough time and needed skills to finish the project. Protection While doing the projects, individuals should adhere to all the necessary safety requirements. DIY home remodeling requires safety gear such as protective clothes, eye protection and gloves while working on the projects. Some need ladders to work with electrical connections. Before starting, you should be sure that you can safely manage these seemingly simple activities. Cost Estimates Home improvement projects cost money though the amount depends on the type and size of the projects. Some projects require structural modifications and so owners need to ensure that the house is structurally strong to be modified. Researching the various types of materials that are available will provide owners flexibility in their DIY home renovations. Planning before commencing the actual work will save costs while completing the project. As more people opt to DIY their renovations, keeping the above guidelines in mind will benefit every owner of a household. Similar to all other areas, they can improve their remodeling skills by undertaking or practicing with smaller projects within their homes first. Using the Internet to find tricks and tips to successfully complete a remodeling project can be beneficial. It is also a good site for beginners to buy equipment. You may want to check further on these online sources. If you like this video share it, like it or comment below! Thanks
Interesting Facts About the Giraffe!
For obvious reasons, giraffes are the tallest animals in the world. With an eternal neck like that, no wonder you might say! It almost seems as if they come from another planet! Apart from its unmistakably long and unusual neck, what do you really know about the giraffe??? Any ideas? Why don’t we find out together? Its Tongue Thankfully the giraffe’s tongue is not as imposing as its neck, yet it is still worth mentioning (around 45 cm). Why that long? Well you see, the animal’s favorite food comes from the acacia tree. For most animals acacia leaves are unattainable due to the huge thorns on the tree (several cm long; trust me you wouldn’t want to get some of those anywhere near you). For the giraffe however, this is no issue whatsoever; thanks to its prehensile lip and tongue it can maneuver a way around thorns to reach its treat. Et voila! Easy, huh?! 😉 The tongue’s colour is also quite intriguing. It has a distinctive purple bluish colour, which acts as natural sunscreen! Its Neck A long neck is extremely advantageous to reach the highest leaves from trees. Do you know how many bones form a giraffe’s neck? 20? 30? 50? NOT EVEN CLOSE! Let me give you a hint: how many vertebrae do we have in our neck? If you’re still wondering the answer’s 7; exactly the same as the giraffe! Amazing, isn’t it?! Of course giraffe vertebrae are just a little larger (up to 25 cm long), and heavier than ours :). Its Unique Pattern Giraffes have a superb patterned skin that looks slightly like burnt pop corn! They are a beauty to watch, and their coat is like no other; perhaps the only animal that could rival its originality would be the leopard! Hello world The gestation period for the animal is around 15 months, and they usually breed all year round. Only one calf is born at a time (twins are extremely rare). Like most births it can be quite traumatizing for the new being. Nonetheless, for baby giraffe in particular it is a very uncharacteristic welcome; the calf makes a 1.8 m plunge onto the ground. Hard to imagine, right? While the fall does not hurt the calf, it enables it to take its first deep breath. After as little as an hour, the baby will be up and running as if nothing had just happened! Truly fascinating!!! Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/2233615
Electric Cars – Coming Soon to Los Angeles Streets?
Of course, electric cars have been driving Los Angeles streets in large numbers since 2003. The Toyota Prius is a type of electric vehicle (EV), a «hybrid.» Despite a price tag of about $36,000, Toyota says that by December 2009, it had sold over 800,000 Priuses in the U.S., many of those in L.A. The Prius engine is powered by both electricity from a battery and by burning gas in its internal combustion engine. Thus the name «hybrid.» The battery is charged whenever the driver puts a foot on the brake. Braking triggers a mechanism that generates electricity and stores it in the car’s battery. In 2009, the Toyota Prius was rated by the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as the most fuel-efficient car on the road, averaging 50 miles per gallon. The Big Leap Forward – Plug-in Electric Vehicles A plug-in electric vehicle (EV) can be plugged into a regular electrical outlet or special charger to charge the battery. It is currently not possible for drivers of a Prius to charge the battery by plugging into anything, only by stepping on the brakes. There is a big change coming in 2011 when the new plug-in electric cars, the Nissan Leaf and Chevy Volt, are fully launched. The Nissan Leaf, at about $33,000, began Los Angeles deliveries in December 2010. The Chevy Volt at about $40,000, will begin deliveries early in 2011. While these prices may seem high, they’re effectively lowered by government tax and rebate incentives. President Obama, in his 2011 State of the Union speech, set an objective of 1,000,000 EVs on the road in the U.S. by 2015, four years from now. The Administration’s goals, of course, are to reduce our dependence on oil, deal with air pollution and climate change, and create new, green jobs in car manufacturing. The federal government gives a tax credit of up to $7,500 to buyers of the Leaf and Volt. Many states are also offering incentives. For example, California, on a first-come-first-served basis, has limited funds available to give electric car buyers up to $5,000 as a rebate on purchase. These incentives can lower the effective price of electric cars so that they’re competitive with similar gas-burning cars, especially when considering the savings on fuel year in and year out. The Leaf had a waiting list of 40,000 buyers when it started delivery in late December 2010. One website that maintains an unofficial waiting list for the Chevy Volt, hit 50,000 worldwide in September 2009. Several other car companies are developing EV models. By 2012, there will likely be a dozen different EVs for sale in the U.S., including a plug-in version of the Prius. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/5853533
Is the PS4 Really the Best Gaming Console? We Review, You Choose
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5BznTGGtBgY If Sony was trying to make a statement with the release of its PlayStation 4 console – it did a good job. Unlike most of the rhetoric and over inflated pre-game smack talk, the PS4 appears to have delivered on its claims and is the most powerful console on the market. It has seen another overhaul of its exterior and some major design modifications to its Dual Shock controller. In addition, it has expanded the memory and vastly increased the performance of its processors. These upgrades are clearly apparent and the PS4 delivers stunning HD graphics that run seamless and lightning fast. With some nicely equipped exclusive game titles, streaming access, and multiplayer capabilities, PlayStation enthusiast will most likely greet the newest arrival with open arms. Not to mention the price for this console runs around $100 less than its ardent rival – the Xbox One. A it stands today, the PS4 has made quite an entrance. Performance: 5.0 / 5.0 The PS4 has a single-chip processor that combines an eight core x86-64 AMD «Jaguar» CPU with a 1.84 teraflop GPU. It’s supported with 8GB of GDDR5 RAM and has a 500GB mechanical hard drive. Sony boasts that its new hardware allows it to perform ten times better than the latter PS3. That’s quite an impressive feat. Another nice touch is the fact that the PS4 comes with a 500GB drive. This extra space helps when downloading movies and games from the PlayStation market. If you ever feel pressed for space, don’t worry, because the hard drive can also be upgraded by do-it-yourselfers without voiding the warranty. The HD graphics of the PS4 are stunning and the consoles responsiveness is presently unmatched. What’s even more impressive is the fact that this machine can perform at such a high end level without sounding like a jet on a runway or overheating. Not to mention, the entire power supply is encased inside the unit; as opposed to the Xbox One which still has it attached to the external power cord in attempt to save space inside the console. Features: 5.0 / 5.0 The PS4 comes in the same half matte black and half gloss exterior as the Xbox One. Even still, it has a completely different appearance. That’s because the PS4 sports a slim and sleek design and doesn’t look like an oversized VCR from the mid 80’s. I’m not saying the Xbox one is the ugly step-sister out of the bunch, but it probably wouldn’t get asked to the prom if the PS3 was available and willing. Now then, for all of you who just got offended by such a superficial statement, I am well aware that mother always said, «It’s what’s on the inside that counts.» And in that regard, I assure you, the PS4 would still be the first one asked to a dance. The PS4 has seen some modifications to its components, and for that reason, any of your older PlayStation peripheral devices will not work – imagine that. Although the PS4 does not have backwards capabilities to play your PS3 titles, many of the games previously owned can be purchased for a considerable discount from their online store. The only catch – you will have to insert the older PS3 disc into the console while playing the online version. Games purchased from the PlayStation Store are downloaded straight onto the hard drive and there’s no need to worry about the disc being lost or scratched. The only negative, is the fact that downloaded titles can’t be borrowed out for the weekend or traded in for credit at your local gaming store. As this form of purchasing games becomes more popular, stores like GameStop and other game trading retailers might be taking a hit – that or a seat next to Blockbuster in «Reminiscence Park.» The new PS4 Dual Shock 4 has seen some physical changes that cause it to stand out a bit from its earlier counterpart. Some of the more notable changes pertain to the analog sticks; which have been slightly spaced out a bit further to avoid thumb collisions. They have also been designed with recessed tops and covered with a rubber coating to make gripping enhanced. The Dual Shock 4 also comes with an external speaker and headphone jack for your headset, just be aware, it can only output in stereo from the controllers connection – nonetheless, a nice touch. I would say that one of the nicest design features of the Dual Shock 4 is the metallic touchpad on the face of the controller. It operates the same as a laptop touchpad and is extremely smooth and responsive. Although the Dual Shock 4 can be purchased and used on the PS3, the older Dual Shock 3 controllers are not compatible with the PS4. For those who already own a PS Vita, you can stream games from your PS4 over the Wi-Fi to the handheld unit. This creates a second viewing screen, much like the Wii U, and allows for playing games while someone else is using the TV. Although this is a nice feature, it probably wouldn’t justify buying the PS Vita in and of itself. The PlayStation Camera is a nice touch, but it takes very little interaction to realize that it is not nearly as robust as the Xbox Kinect and doesn’t seem to have enough game interaction to make it worth it. It also has a voice command feature, although very limited, and you might want to consider spending your money on another controller instead. Multimedia: 4.4 / 5.0 The PS4 seems to have taken a back seat on its earlier plans to be the all-in-one media hub. Although it can still boast of having one of the best performing Blu-Ray and DVD players on the market, unlike the PS3, it can no longer play music files, CDs, or easily stream content from your PC. Instead, it seems to function more like a Roku. Nonetheless, if you only
The Latest Logitech Game Controllers
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5BznTGGtBgY Logitech game controllers are at the cutting edge of gaming technology and they allow you to experience different games in very unique fashions. You can actually get a true to life experience while using an interactive video game controller as opposed to the standard and old fashioned video game controllers where all you can do is press buttons. Types of Logitech Video Game Controllers There are Logitech video game controllers for all sorts of games. Here are some of the most popular and most widely used for a variety of gaming systems: o Saitek X52 Flight Control System: The Saitek X52 Fight Control System comes complete with two separate pieces, the stick and the throttle. With additional buttons on each, you can completely ignore your keyboard as you play your favorite aviation game on the PC. The X52 features a progressive throttle with tension adjustment and the Flight Control System comes with Multi Function Display ability, so you can quickly check how you programmed the commands. The Saitek X52 also has illuminated lights so no matter what time it is, you can enjoy your favorite games. The Saitek X52 Flight Control System retails for approximately $100-$150 and is compatible with PC operating systems, including Windows Vista. o Saitek Cyborg Evo Wireless PC Flight Stick – PS30: This all in one joystick is wireless so you can sit in your favorite spot and still have all of the control you need to perform at your best. With just one AA battery you can enjoy 50 hours of game play, and with a 30 meter range, you can play from anywhere you want and you’ll never lose your signal in the heat of battle. The Cyborg Evo is compatible with Windows XP and Windows Vista and can be purchased in the range of $75. o Cordless Rumblepad 2 with Vibration Feedback: This is one of the best all purpose video game controllers for your computer gaming and is functional with both PCs and Macs. This wireless controller has a battery life of over 100 hours and has a duel vibration system that allows you to really feel all the jolts and bangs of the game you’re playing, whether you’re shooting a gun or snowboarding down a mountain. The Cordless Rumblepad 2 sells for about $40 and as mentioned works with both the PC and the Mac, leaving the door wide open to keep on gaming if you have different types of computers at different locations or ever decide to switch.
The Case for Flag Football As an Olympic Sport
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gGkDcAd48sk The Olympics are unlike any other sporting competition on the planet. For 16 days, over 300 events representing 35 sports and every country on the planet compete to take home their prized medals, and I have looked forward to watching the Summer Olympics every 4 years since as far back as I can remember. But there’s always been something missing. One of the United States most popular sports, and a top 10 sport throughout the world, it looks as though tackle and flag football could be Olympic sports by the year 2024, but issue obstacles still remain for that to become a reality. First we’ll walk through some reasons why the road to getting American Football included into the Olympics has not been an easy journey, followed by why we believe flag football to be the logical solution and choice as a future Olympic sport. WHY ISN’T AMERICAN FOOTBALL ALREADY AN OLYMPIC SPORT? According to an article by NFL.com, the biggest logistical problems facing the sport of American Football being included in the Olympics are very similar to that of Rugby. With the large numbers of participants on each team, the «gender equality» formats where both men and women participate in every sport, and the compressed 3 week schedule that would be tough with a more physical game like football and rugby. Furthermore for American Football, the barrier to entry is high due to it’s cost to equip all players with pads and gear, and therefor has also been slow to adopt in many foreign countries, especially of the poorer variety. Knowing all this, it’s hard to see how either sport would be a good fit for the Summer Olympics. Rugby is a lot like Soccer in that very little is needed to play the sport in terms of gear and practice at it’s base level, and has a much larger international following. This among other reasons has recently allowed Rugby to be cleared for the Olympics starting in 2016 by changing the traditional style to a less traditional «sevens» format which is faster paced with less people, which could help carve a similar path for American Football, or flag football more specifically. TACKLE SAFETY CONCERNS Even more and more high school, college and pro teams are starting to reduce the number of contact practices, still sporting the likes of soft-padded headgear and shoulder pads for added protection. But what if we could limit the contact players see before high school and middle school while also addressing some of the concerns for the sport related to it being fully accepted into the Olympics?There’s a lot of talk recently revolving around the safety of tackle football, and not just in the NFL where concussions are a major concern. Starting as far back as the youth football level, recent evidence has surfaced supporting the idea that even short of a concussion, repeated head impacts and collision can manifest in similar brain injuries later in life for kids tested between the ages of 8-13. Many researchers are suggesting kids shouldn’t be playing football at all, suggesting that kids’ heads are «a larger part of their body, and their necks are not as strong as adults’ necks. So kids may be at a greater risk of head and brain injuries than adults.» DREW BREES BELIEVES FLAG FOOTBALL CAN SAVE FOOTBALL As of 2015, studies show that flag football is the fastest growing youth sport in the United States, greatly outpacing the growth of traditional tackle football. Many individual high schools are making the switch to flag football over tackle, getting other schools in their regions to follow suit creating organized leagues and divisions. It’s even an officially recognized varsity sport in many states, and with women especially flag football is a way to allow easier participation versus the physical nature of tackle.And he’s not the only one. Recently Drew Brees was interviewed by Peter King for NBC’s pregame show and had some strong words on why he believes flag football is the answer. «I feel like flag football can save football,» Brees said. Brees coaches his son’s flag football team, and played flag football himself through junior high, never playing tackle football until high school. «I feel like (flag football) is a great introductory method for a lot of kids into football,» Brees mentioned. «Otherwise I feel it’s very easy to go in and have a bad experience early on and then not want to ever play it again. I feel like once you put the pads on there are just so many other elements to the game, and you’re at the mercy of the coach in a lot of cases too. And to be honest, I don’t think enough coaches are well-versed enough in regards to the true fundamentals of the game especially when the pads go on at the youth level.» Many other pro athletes and coaches have expressed similar sentiments as well, singing praises for the sport of flag football, and the rise in popularity of the sport echoes that. Flag football isn’t a fluke or just a recreational development tool that feeds into tackle football, it’s a full-fledged movement that has it’s own identity and purpose and it’s time we recognized that distinction. Internationally it is gaining popularity as well, much faster it seems than traditional American football where the barrier to entry is much higher with the need for full pads and gear. In Mexico for instance, flag football is booming in popularity, where most consider it to be the #2 sport to soccer and closing fast, with and estimated 2.5 million kids participating just at the elementary school level. International teams are starting to make the trip to some of the more popular American flag football tournaments, with representation from Panama, Indonesia, Bahamas, Mexico, Canada and more a common occurrence. Everywhere you look, participation and interest in the sport flag football is exploding. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/9585387
Ask Your Local Travel Guru: What’s New on the Industry
As a travel guru for many years now, I have seen the travel industry wire adapt in so many ways. As you already know, we now live in a world with instant and infinite amounts of information, right at our fingertips. Like everything else, the travel industry has adapted, grown and cultivated a new identity with our present day world of information. Until beaches start disappearing and people can be teleported across continents, there will ALWAYS be the want and need to visit our regular and new destinations. The travel industry plays a substantial role in the global economy. During 2015, the travel industry wire forecasts global GDP to grow by 3.7% and employment by 2.6%. This demonstrates the sector’s enduring ability to generate economic growth and create jobs at a faster rate than the global economy, which is due to grow by 2.9% in 2015. By the end of 2015, the Travel & Tourism sector will contribute US$7,860 billion, 10% of global GDP, once all direct, indirect and induced impacts are taken into account. The sector will account for 284 million jobs, 9.5% of total employment, or one in eleven of all jobs on the planet. By 2025, the global travel & tourism sector is projected to contribute 357 million jobs and generate $11.4 Trillion dollars. Ask your favorite travel guru and he will show you the various components all contributing to these massive amounts. Let’s check out what the travel industry wire says: Hotel Industry Among all the sub sectors of the travel & tourism industry, Hotels is one of the biggest fragments. The travel industry wire explains that hotels generated a global of $457 billion dollars in 2014. Your travel guru has most likely coordinated a recent trip within the Intercontinental Hotels Group. The company contributed the highest revenues, earning $22.8 billion dollars. In the United States alone, the total revenue within the hotel industry climbed to $163 billion dollars. The majority of tourists visiting the United States of America (65.1%) choose to stay in a hotel, where the average daily is a healthy $121.30. Aviation industry Although the major corporations, leading sector, seem to always changing names and planes, the industry cultivated a whopping $783 billion US dollars in 2014. Your travel guru may have whispered about some of the airlines not performing, but the industry continues to grow at rate of 7.4% every year. The travel industry wire indicates that Europeans, Americans, Chinese & Brazilians combine for the highest market contributors. Cruise Industry Cruises have steadily become a popular choice of travel the past few years. These are an easy sell for your local travel guru… The luxurious ocean liners, offering food, fun & music for the entire family have created a loyal gathering that continues to grow. Due to the growth rate of 6.55% every year, Cruise lines have postured their company growth strategies, by building larger capacity ships, ship diversification, more local ports and more destinations. The travel industry wire indicates that the average cruise traveler spends approximately $1728.00 every year, with over 22 million people jumping on the floating palace. The cruise industry contributes about $39.6 billion dollars in 2014, and is poised for a solid 6-7% increase. Online Travel Market Any travel guru, coupled with the travel industry wire statistics, will tell you that the online travel industry has EXPLODED over the past 5 years and will only continue to skyrocket. As more and more people use smartphones and as these smartphones continue to develop into personal super computers, the more information we have, the more we want. Online travel revenue reached $340 billion dollars back in 2011, worldwide and 39% consisted of American bookings. Obviously, the deluge of data & information has contributed to the online travel industry, but hotels and hotel broker websites have been the main proponents to this boom. As everything turns to online information, bookings, etc… the travel agencies, travel gurus and everyone associated with the industry has jumped in. Rarely do you see a corporation dependent on the travel & tourism industry, that hasn’t adapted to the online market. The Future of the Travel Industry The travel & tourism industry is an enormous portion of the global economy and will only continue absorb market share. The travel industry wire explains that the sectors and their respective technologies are developing at a rapid rate, procuring the consumer process into a much easier-and faster encounter. Just ask your favorite travel guru. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/9205820
Travel Pre And Post Internet
Travel Pre Internet: I’ve been travelling for over 40 years – by thumb in my early days, by boots in the Scouts, a Lambretta came next and then my first old banger followed by newer old bangers to the beaches of the Costa Brava. My thumb, boots, bikes and bangers took me all over Europe and the UK before finding that a charter flight to Spain on an old ‘Connie’ could get me to the beaches and bars a lot quicker and allow more time to enjoy the local travel opportunities by horse and cart and the occasional bus and train. ‘Go West and Prosper’ seemed to be a good idea so instead of taking an 8 hour flight I took an 8 day transatlantic crossing from Tilbury to Montreal on the Stephan Batory of Polish Ocean Lines ensuring that jet lag did not trouble my travel plans. Some years later I crossed the pond again on a ship but this time it was 5 times bigger and I travelled in style on the QE2 and dined in the Queen’s Grill somewhat removed from my earlier experience. I highly recommend ocean voyages but cannot see myself on one of the modern cruise ships going from port to port with constant line-ups to get on and off to buy t-shirts. However, I have done 10 Windjammers and a Star Clipper cruise in the Caribbean which were all memorable (let’s hope Windjammer Barefoot Cruises recover from their woes). But I digress. I had read that Canada is a spectacular country, from sea to shining sea, and my entrance into the St. Lawrence River to Montreal and then heading west in an old Econoline van from the Great Lakes, across the Prairies to the Rocky Mountains before ending up whale watching off of the Pacific Coast of Vancouver Island was a trip of wonder to a bloke from London. Today the scenery is still spectacular and the best way to go is still by road so rent or buy a car, motorhome or motorbike, take the train or tour bus but remember the maps, a fly rod, good boots and take your time. My favorite part of Canada / USA for adventure travel has to be Northern BC / Alaska, to hike the Chilkoot Trail in the steps of the goldseekers of 1898. The Northwest Territories to canoe the Nahannie River and the Yukon to drive from Dawson City to Chicken, Alaska. If you like the outdoors and can put up with a few bugs, cast a fly and scale a few hills or drive on endless dirt roads sharing the space with moose, caribou, elk, bears and eagles, then these are the places to put on your list. The pleasures and experiences in driving to Inuvik on the Dempster Highway or to Prudhoe Bay on the Dalton Highway or even the Canol Road can only be felt by doing them. I would have mentioned the Alaska Highway but now it is an easy drive unlike the aforementioned. Today the costs of driving these distances may mean that sharing the journey with others is required, but RVing or simply vanning and camping is a great way to see beyond the horizon. Some enroute adventures now need to be booked in advance whereas when I hiked Denali and the Chilkoot Pass it was just a case of turning up, registering with the local ranger office and heading on out. A little more forward planning is needed for today’s traveller and cost considerations of lengthy flights or drives have to somehow be countered with more careful planning. In the days of reasonable gas prices I would not even consider the driving or flying costs and have driven to Key West from the northwest coast, down the west coast to the Baja and to the west coast from New York. I once even flew my 1946 Fleet taildragger from the Pacific to the Atlantic and back using around 5 gallons an hour of avgas. Before the oil and credit crisis I drove from Rio de Janeiro to Lima, down to Tierra del Fuego and back to Rio covering over 15,000 miles of spectacular scenery and with no consideration about the cost of gas. South America should be on your itinerary too! Some other memorable drives that may now require a mortgage with the gas companies include London to The Nordkapp, Norway, Skippers Canyon in New Zealand and the loneliness of the far north of Australia and the amazing coast of Western Australia stopping by at Monkey Mia and Wave Rock. We tend to forget that the real cost of travelling is often less today than over the 40 years of my travels. In 1977 my round-trip airfare from Canada to Australia cost over $1700 in 1977 dollars so today it is far cheaper to fly, even with the airlines gouging for fuel, extra baggage, no service and no pleasure. The ‘Big Mac’ method of price comparison as developed by The Economist newspaper gives us a good gauge for most expenditures of today compared to yesterday but my $1500 cost to get a private pilots licence in the 1970’s seems cheap by comparison to today, but obviously not when using this Big Mac principle. Other travel costs are also far cheaper today but this should not mean that travellers should disregard the many methods of saving costs that can then be put to extended or improved travel experiences Travel Post-Internet: In my 40 years of travel I have had to use travel agents to make even the simplest of reservations and buy tickets, not even thinking to ask them if they had «been there, done that?» It was just a case of there being no other options to buying travel. Now we have unlimited choices and can seek out better travel agents, better prices, better selections and information about anywhere in the world for our travels – without even leaving home. The Internet now gives travellers