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If you travel for business, you already know the challenges that you face everyday that the average person cannot relate to. In addition to having the ever present stresses of maximizing your job performance in a very competitive business climate, you hold in the back of your mind all of the duties and responsibilities that you would face if you were home.

We are all individuals and our personalities lend themselves to handling these issues in various ways. If you have children at home while you travel, that presents special challenges. The key is to communicate with your spouse and/or children and make sure they know that they are in your thoughts all day every day while you are gone. With your children, make sure they understand exactly what you do for a living and why it is necessary to be away from them. Our kids are lot more resilient than we sometimes give them credit for, and it may be that they will even think it is kind of cool that you travel for your job. It certainly may be something that they can talk to their friends about at school etc. Make sure you stay abreast of all the activities they may be involved in, and get a daily report of what is happening in their lives. Talk to them. As simple as this sounds, sometimes in our every day lives, we take for granted all the little things our children do that are important moments to them. Make sure your kids know that you realize the importance of the little things that make up their lives.

School functions are a good example of the everyday things that you may miss. Be sure you know when they are happening. Make a big deal of them before they occur, so your children know that although you may not be there personally, you are there with them in spirit. Call them as soon as possible after an event to see how they did. It really does not matter if it is a sporting event, school play, awards ceremony etc. Let them know it is as important to you as it is to them. If you have the opportunity to attend a function when you are home, DO NOT miss this chance. It will only reinforce your support for them.

Spouses are a little different issue. While you are traveling eating in fine restaurants and/or entertaining clients or business associates, he or she will be at home dealing with “everyday life” and may feel some resentment. That is human nature. It doesn’t make it any easier but it is a fact. Again, communication is the key. Constantly enforcing your support for them and having a compassionate ear will go a long way towards calming any anxieties they may have about your absence. You may have a long day working on the road, but remember that your spouses life goes on as well without you. Anything that comes up while you are gone, they have to deal with themselves. That can be a lonely thing. If you can, call your spouse several times during the course of the day to let them know you have them in your thoughts. The smallest words of encouragement can go a long way.

When you travel for business or you have a spouse who does, there are many possible challenges you may face. Be sure to face them together, even more so than if you were there.

These are words of advise from a seasoned business traveler. Please keep an eye out for additional tidbits of information and lessons from the road( most learned the hard way).

Continue reading »]]> 1) Have obtained all the necessary visas

2) Have booked and obtained flight Tickets

3) Have obtained necessary Insurance for the required period.

4) Have your Visiting cards ready

5) Have your Laptop with all your files ready

6) Packing your Clothes and Toiletries

(Clothes have to be taken in accordance with the type of climate in the country).

7) Appropriate Formal Shoes

Appointment Diary and Scheduler

9) List of Addresses and Phone numbers of all the Existing and Prospective Customers

10) Stationary: – Pens, Pencils, Stapler etc.

11) Currency used in that country and the exchange rate

12) The amount of currency we need to take with us should be estimated and the currency like US Dollars should be arranged beforehand.

13) Travelers Cheques should be obtained beforehand.

Travelers Cheques are much safer than carrying cash because they can only be exchanged for cash through our counter signatures in presence of the person giving the cash.

(When we receive the travelers cheques, then we sign in a designated space immediately upon receipt and when we are abroad and we have to exchange them for cash, then we have to counter sign them in presence of the person encashing it. This makes them very safe for carrying around).

14) Hotel Bookings

Hotel bookings should be done and reconfirmed in advance and the confirmation number should be with you. If you are going there for the first time, then it is advisable to request the hotel for airport pick up to avoid any tension.

You must also have the hotel name, address, telephone number and the name of the person who did the booking all written down on a separate sheet of paper. This would be very helpful in case you come out of the airport and do not find the person from the hotel who has come to pick you up.

by:Rocky K. Kumar

Continue reading »]]> Tanzania is one of Africa’s top wildlife safari destinations. Wildlife lovers have a choice of two very different safari routes- referred to as the northern and southern circuits. The contrast is most obvious in the topography, habitat and climate. On the northern Tanzania safari circuit, which I have talked about in another article, you visit such renowned wildlife havens as Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Tarangire and Lake Manyara. The southern safari route is anchored on Dar es Salaam, and covers Ruaha, Mikumi, Udzungwa Mountains National Parks and the Selous Game Reserve.

The southern circuit is more discreet, less accessible and has fewer visitors. Adventure lovers and those who seek closer contact with some of Africa’s most complex ecosystems will be rewarded. Here you can view game in a variety of new ways- walking, riding and boating. If you have not had the privilege of getting up close to wild animals in their natural habitat, it is an exciting and refreshing experience. For this encounter, the park authorities require that an armed ranger escort you. It is therefore not as dangerous as it may first appear.

Mikumi National Park is the most accessible of the southern game sanctuaries. It is 283 km to the west of Dar es Salaam – Tanzania’s coastal commercial capital. Occupying 3,230 sq km, it carries a variety of wildlife including elephants, lion, giraffe, impala, warthog, zebra, buffalo, wildebeest, hartebeest and eland. Wild dogs- considered an endangered carnivore species -are found here in good numbers. Other resident animals are crocodiles, hippos, and monitor lizards. Birds are most plentiful in the wet season when up to 300 species gathers here.
Many of these are Eurasian migrants, exercising to the full, the freedom that comes with wings.

The Mikumi flood plain is the dominant feature of the park, which is bordered on one side by the Uluguru Mountains and on another by the Lumango range. Mikumi forms the northern border of the Selous Game Reserve and is part of a vast wilderness ecosystem covering 75,000 sq km. Open grasslands stretch on the plains, while the miombo woodlands cover higher ground.

The park is accessible year round- unlike some of the sanctuaries in the southern circuit. To get to Mikuni from Dar, you spend 4 hours on road or 1 hour by air. Budget travelers take a bus ride to park gate, from where game drives are organised. There is limited accommodation at a few luxury lodges and tented camps and at 3 campsites. If you find yourself in Dar on a weekend, this is where you head to see wildlife.

The 1,990 sq km Udzungwa Mountains National Park is 348 km west of Dar and 65 km southwest of Mikumi. The mountains are part of the Eastern Arc Mountains that fall southeast of Kilimanjaro. The park is unique in Tanzania, having been created primarily to conserve plant life. The pristine mountain forest habitat hosts numerous rare plants. There are six primate species, out of which two species are endemic – the Iringa red colobus monkey and the Sanje Crested Mangabey.

At the plateau area, you find elephants, lions, hunting dogs and buffalos, though not in as large numbers as in some of the other Tanzania parks. Birds also do well here, and indeed the park ranks as one of Africa’s most important bird conservation areas. Scientists have in recent times come across at least four previously unknown bird species. The best time to visit is over the dry season between June and October. The hiking trails over the wet season are slippery, which can be quite a nuisance.

The Ruaha National Park is rightly named after its lifeblood- the Great Ruaha River. Occupying 12,950 sq km, it is Tanzania’s second largest national park and its biggest elephant sanctuary. Home to numerous crocodiles and hippo, the Great Ruaha draws many thirsty waterbuck, leopard, buffalo, reedbuck, wild dogs, lion and hyena to its banks. Plain animals such as zebra, greater and lesser kudu, sable and roan antelope, impala and giraffe are found on the plains stretching from the rivers edge.

The topography is agreeable to hiking and walking safaris are allowed. In wet season months of March to April and October to November the bird population peaks and the park has over 370 bird species, including some Eurasian migrants. The flora is very diverse and over 1650 plant species flourish here. The Ruaha has the unique distinction of having plant and animal life found in both eastern and southern Africa. The climate here is hot and dry and temperatures can reach 40°C in October.

The Ruaha is located 128 km west of the central Tanzania town of Iringa. It was previously inaccessible, but there is now year round road access. From Dar, road travel is a backbreaking 10 hours while a charter flight takes 1 ½ hours. The best time for a safari is over the dry season- May to December. Then, the Ruaha River is magnetic to the animals and right at the banks, the drama of their daily life is on display- feeding, fighting, courting and mating. The accommodation is currently limited, but there is a luxury lodge, and a few self-catering chalets and campsites.

Selous Game Reserve is the star of the southern safari circuit. The reserve is named after the intrepid Fredrick Courtney Selous, a celebrated Victoria era explorer and naturalist. He met his end here in a sideshow of the First World War. The Great War had spilled over from Europe as the Germans then ruled parts of today’s Tanzania. Located 500 km to the southwest of Dar, the reserve occupies a staggering 55,000 sq km – larger than Switzerland- and is the largest of its kind in Africa.

The Selous was designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1982 due to the significance of both its flora and fauna. This immense wilderness has a diversity of habitats including savanna woodlands, swamps, open grasslands and forests. Over 2,100 species of tress and plants have been recorded. The mighty Rufiji River is the lifeblood of the reserve and its numerous tributaries and oxbow lakes are ideal for boat safaris. The wildlife to see here includes buffalo, hippo, black rhino, lion and wild dog. Elephants in particular are numerous and are estimated to number over 60,000.

Other inhabitants of Selous are bush back, waterbuck, reedbuck, impala, eland, giraffe, baboon, zebra, and greater kudu. Birders will also find a trip to Selous worthwhile – over 420 species are on record. In the very large game sanctuaries of the south – Ruaha and Selous in particular, game is scattered and a slow pace is advised, with at least 3-4 days in each. Photographic safaris can be very rewarding here. Most visitors take the time to visit to Stiegler’s Gorge, which also happens to be a spot favoured by leopards.

From Dar, you arrive after a 1-½ hour charter flight or by traveling for 7 hours by road. Travel by road is not advised, except for the most adventurous souls. Selous is near the coast and is just a few hundred feet above sea level. The climate is hot and humid, particularly between October and March. Part of the reserve is closed in the wet season between March and May. The best time to visit is over the dry season period of June to October. Then on safari you can walk, boat and ride a 4WD vehicle. Accommodation is limited to just a few luxury tented and no-frills camps.

The typical southern safari will usually combine Mikumi, Ruaha and Selous. After the safari, a stay in Zanzibar rounds off an unbeatable holiday experience. It is generally recommended you take an escorted southern Tanzania safari package that includes transport, guide, park fees and accommodation. Particularly in the large sanctuaries of the southern circuit, tour guides bring valuable useful local knowledge – where to find the animals, and how to get where you are going.

On safari, avoid bright colours as this may get you in trouble with wild animals. If you are wise you will pack brown, beige and khaki clothing. It rarely gets really cold on the southern circuit and short sleeve shirts, shorts and trouser for men are adequate. For ladies, short sleeve blouses, slacks and skirts are ideal. But carry a jacket or sweater for possible chills in the evening and early mornings. Sunglasses will shield you from the at times harsh tropical glare; and a hat can save you from sunstroke. Bring along a sensible pair of shoes that will allow you to walk comfortably in the bush. Binoculars will come in very handy for spotting animals.

Continue reading »]]> f you are a road warrior type you might try doing your business travel in a corporate command center, that’s what I did. But before you do, you need to set up a routine maintenance schedule which is not always easy considering the blistering pace of today’s entrepreneur. For instance, just changing your oil can be a time consuming experience, but you better or your office on wheels will turn into an office on the side of the road one day in the middle of Nowheresville!

Trying to get your business traveling motor coach into the shop for something like an oil change is not always easy. Worse, many oil and lube centers do not have the space to take super-large vehicles. Even if you go to a truck-stop, often they look at you funny, and they are not really interested, you see, to them, it’s not a truck, it’s just a big car with a pain in the butt owner who wants everything perfect because they think it is their home.

The reality is, a motor coach is a home or in this case a business office, and you need respect, so, if you can’t easily get that, then do-it-yourself. That’s right change your own oil, it’s not that hard. Below are some tips so you can get this done in house without outsourcing to stay on your busy business schedule;

1. Warm your motor up and run it for 10-15 minutes. You want to get the oil hot so that it easily flows out when you pull the plug.

2. Now then, get a large oil pan to put under your motor home, which has the proper capacity. Wal-Mart has nice plastic ones, which are not too expensive – get the biggest size. Place this oil pan “directly” under the motor home’s oil plug.

3. Remove the oil plug with a ratchet, I like to loosen it and then clamp a vice-grip to it for the final few turns to prevent the oil plug from dropping into the oil pan.

4. Remove the old oil filter.

5. Wait for all the oil to drain out, and then put the oil plug back in tight.

6. Put the new oil filter in place.

7. Put in the new oil in the top of the motor.

8. Start your motor home, and run it for 1-2 minutes and then turn it off.

9. Check the oil levels with the dip-stick to make sure it is at the proper level.

10. Properly dispose of the waste oil, and never pollute.

That’s about it, so you see it is actually quite easy, and why is this easier than a car oil change? Simple, there is lots of space to slide underneath, as it really makes the job uneventful, and easy. Please consider all this.

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Many people think that travel management is merely concerned with negotiating discounts and other incentives while purchasing travel related services. Wrong!

The Concept

What is then the concept behind “travel management”? It is concerned with optimizing resource allocation for business travel. This starts with identifying the need for business trips and evaluating costs and benefits of individual trips.

Travel Policies

Big and medium-sized businesses use a predetermined set of policies to evaluate and categorize proposed business trips. These rule sets are called travel policies. They speed up the decision-making process, provide transparency and a framework for effective delegation of booking decisions.

Data Collection

But every business, as small as it may be, should collect all information necessary for a meaningful cost-benefit analysis of business trips. This is only way to ensure the right resource allocation for business travel needs. The same information helps to detect waste and to plan for an increase of resources, if needed.

Cost Allocation

Another task for any travel management system is the allocation of travel expenses to projects or customer relationships. This is a must, because otherwise it would be impossible to determine with certainty customer profitability.

Purchasing Services

Only after these needs are satisfied, travel management has role in negotiating favorable terms and prices with service providers. The last step is then to book hotel rooms, air and train tickets, rental cars etc.

Day to Day Activities

Above is a very broad definition of the term “travel management”. Most travel managers will report that they neither develop corporate travel policies nor evaluate the need for business trips. In a narrow sense travel management groups trips into predetermined categories. The travel manager organizes the trip then according to the rules laid out in the policies for the respective travel category. The information for accounting and controlling departments are generated automatically and then transferred to accountants.

Controlling and Pricing of Services

Accounting alerts higher level travel management as soon as certain events occur. There may be a significant rise of costs or the danger to overrun a budget. Another reason for an alarm may a big difference of costs between departments, which should be fairly similar. A sudden rise in costs for a single service category like hotels or flights may also trigger an alert. In such cases a supervisor may analyze the reasons. He will check whether travel policies are correctly implemented and look into the need to adjust corporate rules. There is another important benefit provided by a professionally organized travel management process: Detailed and up-to-date information is always at hand if a need arises to evaluate the profitability of a project or customer relationship. The same data provide also a point of reference about travel related costs when the company prepares an offer for a new project or negotiates a new contract with a customer.

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To really understand the risk, consider certain aspects of a taxi cab driver’s profession. They typically work throughout the night in a profession that rewards efficiency. The only ways for a taxi cab driver to make more money per day is to cover more miles, or to work extra hours, or by doing both. The “per-mile” industry is simply a breeding ground for risky driving. The dangers of risky driving increase when the driver is tired or overworked from a second job.

Here we can see a problem begin to emerge, the scam of charging passengers “per-mile” leads to possible risky driving. Taxicab drivers benefit from driving fast, and can get more money by taking longer routes. Don’t fall victim to “per-mile” companies, making it impossible for you to budget your trip and putting you at risk. If you need a San Diego Taxi, make an educated decision and choose a San Diego Transportation company that charges a flat rate for your trip. Not only will you be able to budget your trip cost and your driver tip, but you will also rest assured that your driver will not rush you to your destination. A flat rate cost leads to safer driving.

Additionally, choosing a San Diego transportation company that prides itself on its safety record and thoroughly trains their drivers on etiquette, ensures that you are treated like a valuable customer, not just a passenger. Coupled with the fact that you end up paying less than a taxi for riding in a luxury vehicle makes the decision clear, Citi Airport Transportation is the best and Safest choice in Luxury Airport Transportation in San Diego.

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Business travel carries with it its own special set of needs compared to traveling, for example, on a family vacation. The business traveler is going to not need to being a pop-tent and a portable stove, if you know what I mean.

Typical gear that a business man or woman may bring with them include a nice set of clothes–comfortable enough for travel and for sitting on airplanes for hours at a time, but yet also professional enough to meet with clients at airports for pickup, etc., before being able to visit a hotel and get changed.

When it comes to packing for a stay in a hotel room, many business executives will choose to travel with some kind of workout device that they can use to help stay in shape when on the road. This might include a set of water-fillable weights that are used like dumbbells. Other options include workout tools like the ‘Perfect Pushup’ – a small device that aids in completing more strenuous push-ups, but very nicely fits into a small carry-on suitcase or duffel bag. These small workout aids can be a great encouragement to the traveler who finds it more challenging to stay in shape while on the road.

A good bathroom set for shaving and teeth-brushing and showering is always a welcomed addition to any traveler’s gear as there is no better feeling than getting in the warm shower after sitting on cramped airplanes for hours at a time. When traveling on business, first and foremost, make sure to plan with the end in mind. What are you going to be doing on your travel? How much downtime will you have and how you will occupy it? These are a couple of the most relevant questions that can be asked when preparing to travel for business. Pack and plan accordingly.

Continue reading »]]> Businessmen want to travel by the flights with cheapest business class flights. They want to avail the cheapest airfare for them. They want to make their journey comfortable and relaxing. Businessmen need to go by flight several times as they attend business meetings for the business projects. They are associated with the various business processes so they need to go to the various places quickly. They spend a lot of money due to their journey by the flights. They can make their journey comfortable in the reasonable cost.

Businessmen want to avail these flights at very lowest prices as they want to save money for their journey. They get good service. There is no doubt that they will reach safely in time and they get good service. There are a number of well trained air hostesses. They are careful about their customers. They provide help in every problem. They behave well. They can please each and every passenger. They are polite. They are well trained and nice looking. The passengers are charm on them. They are informative to their customers.

Businessmen need flights at cheapest prices as they travel by the flight frequently. They want to travel and reach their destination safely in time. They go to the different parts of the country and abroad for their business. They want to travel with the cheapest business class flights as they use flights for their business purpose. They admire about the these flights. They are provided with tea, beverages, Tiffin, lunch in due time and they have a lot of satisfaction about these flights.

There is information available about the cheapest business class flights on the internet. Anybody can book his flight ticket online and make the journey by the flights. They are helpful for the flights as they can save a lot of money. They are satisfied with the flights. Every care is taken to make the journey safe, comfortable, punctual and enjoyable for the passengers.

Nathan Brager has been primarily associated with providing the content on those websites which deal in helping the clients save 30% – 70% money on purchasing the tickets of their business class and first class flights. For More Information Please Visit, Cheapest Business Class Flights and Cheap Business Class Flights.

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Traveling, whatever the purpose is whether it’s for business or leisure, is pretty a much constant part of our life. But whatever the reason is, majority would agree that it is a very tiresome activity and a cause for stress levels to go up. And that is especially true with business trips. Sure it can be quite exciting to visit many different places but once the novelty wears off, business travels can be quite overwhelming especially to those who are new to it. And depending on the condition of the flight and the people you get to travel with, traveling on a business can really cause some serious stress. Fortunately there are steps one can do to make business trips a lot more manageable or maybe, even enjoyable.

When you are planning for a corporate trip, there is absolutely one thing you have to do, and that is to come up with a travel packing checklist. First determine which necessities do you consider that you simply cannot live without. This includes shampoo, deodorant, shaving cream, toiletries, moisturizers, toothbrush, toothpaste, hair gel and other similar items. Do your shopping several days before the trip, avoid last-minute shopping. Make sure to bring your checklist with you, so you do not waste time wandering around the department store, thinking about which items you should buy next. And while you’re at it, it is recommended that you get yourself a travel case or a carry-on bag with just the right size because in business trips the general rule of the thumb is to travel light.

After shopping for all the things you will be needing for the trip, it is time now to pack them into your bag. Again your travel packing checklist will come in handy here because you will be checking the items as you have load them into your bag. This will ensure that you will not forget anything. Of course since you are going on a business trip, you cannot afford to forget essential electronics such as smart phones and netbooks or laptops. You will be needing them to stay in touch with your office and home. When you are packing your clothes, you can roll them into cylinders. This will allow the clothes to take up less space as possible and will minimize wrinkling. When it comes to garment materials, avoid packing those garments which will easily wrinkle such as cotton or linen. Try a more wrinkle resistant clothing such as polyester, wool, silk and microfiber.

Business travels can really cause you a lot of headache. But that is only if you allow it to. The worst thing you can do if you are going on a business trip, is to come at it unprepared. If you are not ready for the trip, there are many things that can go wrong like losing or forgetting to bring a necessary item or not having a proper matching attire for events such as meetings and conferences. The bottom line is, business travels does not need to be complicated and stressful, and that is taken care of by having a plan and being prepared.

Continue reading »]]> Mastering the Money Making Opportunities in Import and Export Business:

Firstly, Import and Export Business is a business that can take place in any part of the world in as much there are no international trade restrictions. ‘Import and Export’ is one of the most profitable businesses to start but a lot of people have the feeling that you need lots of money to start.

The Aims and Objectives of this writing is to expose to you our esteemed readers one of the most possible, tested and confirmed ways to invest in import and export business without encountering much difficulty.

Import and Export business though as being in existence for a while and people have made substantial income from venturing in the various kinds we have be it finished good, semi finished goods or unfinished goods.

Import and export is one of the most profitable or lucrative business to start. People have ventured in it before and are still very much in it now.
Those interested in the business have been disturbed by the idea or feeling that you need lots of money or capital to start with. While some rather than sitting back and waiting for a miracle or a Father Christmas to dash them some money or token, they took bold steps and that step has made the difference.

Nigeria is a country that imports almost everything that we use, both finished goods, semi finished goods and unfinished goods that make up to 90% of our daily needs. All the category mentioned are all imported and it’s so bad that a lot of people make it a thing of class to use foreign products. Anyway, that’s a social cultural and economic issue for the government to tackle. As a result of these menace most people have often preferred imported goods to locally made ones.

Moreover, many companies on the internet will be ready to do business with either organizations or individuals who will help in expanding their business both locally and internationally, and that’s where the need for import and export business arises. If you really think you can make it in this business just as those venturing in it now and before then join me and lets us look at some possible ways to make it big in import and export business.

The first step I recommend is for you to search for fast moving product in the world of buying and selling. The best way to do this is by searching for fast moving product on the internet
Once the dealers of these various products are located negotiation can begin.

The most fascinating thing is that some of the dealers of these products will even be willing and ready to send samples of their products to you in order to test the market. The most important thing is for you to be honest because most of these dealers are always careful when dealing with Nigerians because of frequent or the market being over flooded with both online and offline fraudsters.

Moreover, Apart from importing products from foreign countries, Nigeria also has various agricultural products that can be exported and so on.