Differences of Tour Operators and Travel Agents

Tour Operators & travel Agents are different in Malaysia! And the public have had the wrong perception for long time. In Malaysia, Tour Operators and Travel Agents are different and play different roles. In a factory scenario, a Tour Operator is like the production department and the Travel Agent is like the Sales Department...

A Tour Operator is the organizer and provider of package holidays. It is often referred as the Ground Handler. The Tour Company will make contracts with hotels and resorts, airlines and ground transport companies like private cars, buses, vans, ferries and trains & etc. With all the necessary pricing and information compiled, the Tour Operator will draft detailed tour packages and distribute to Travel Agents in Travel Agent Directory in Malaysia and even overseas.

The roles & responsibilities of a Tour Operator are booking and arranging:

- Transportation: Chaffered Car, Chartered Bus & Van, Air Ticket, Train Ticket, Ferry Ticket, Cruise Ticket, other transit modes and even special vehicles like trishaw.
- Tour Guide: All Tour Guides must be licensed by the Ministry of Tourism Malaysia after attending and examined in a professional Tourist Guide Courses.
- Sight Seeing: Entrance for tourist destinations, eco-tour, adventures tour, jungle trekking, snorkeling & scuba diving, island hopping and even handicraft or cultural & living experiences.
- Food & Beverage: Breakfast, Tea Time or Tea Break, Lunch & Dinner, whether by set, buffet or packed food.
- Accommodation: Hotels, Resorts, Service Apartments, Camping Sites, Dormitories, Training Camps, Chalets, Tree Houses or traditional houses & habitats that accommodating travelers.
- Activities: Tele-match, treasure hunt, paint ball, team building, outside office meeting...
- Special Events: Company dinner, karaoke contest.

On the other hand, Travel Agents do not operate tours. Travel agencies gives traveling advices to travelers, promote and sell the tour packages that they have from various Tour Operators, then administer the tour bookings. Travel Agents usually are set up in prime locations with heavy traffic such as beside the main roads, inside crowed shopping malls or at the ground floor of a landmark building.

The roles & responsibilities of a Travel Agent are:

- Selling ells travel related products and services, particularly package tours to end-user customers on behalf of third party travel suppliers, such as airlines, hotels, tour operator and tour companies, and cruise lines & etc.
- Most travel agents have a special department devoted to travel arrangements for business travelers, while some agencies specialize in commercial and business travelers.
- Some also serve as general service agents for foreign travel companies in different countries.
- Act as an agent for tour packages:
- Buy tour packages or tour services at discounts & sell with profits.
- Get commissions from suppliers & other tour companies.
- Act as a ticketing agent for transportation (e.g. airlines, ferry, bus, train & etc).
- Other commercial operations are undertaken: insurance, travel guides, car rental, Bureau de change, private tour guide & etc.
- Offer impartial travel advice to the customer.

Next time, if you traveling in small group less than 10 travelers, it is advisable to engage a Travel Agent. Do not try to find the best travel agent in Malaysia. There is no such myth! Just go with the travel agent that suit your traveling needs and budgets or the tour agent that you trusted the most. However, if you are organizing a group tour like company tour, a Tour Operator will be able to provide you a more suitable tailor-made service.

The above information are guidelines and advices that 88Holidays provided to its Corporate Clients in organizing group tour. It is simple but useful information to help organizing a successful company tour with many years experiences.

Differences of Tour Operators and Travel Agents

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What Are the Rules concerning Bringing Liquids on Flights?

Ever since the tragic events of 9-11, airlines have stepped up safety in order to protect their passengers and give them comfort and ease when flying. If you have not flown recently, you should be aware of the rules with regard to bringing liquids on flights.

The 3-1-1 Rule

Tsa has established accurate policies about the quantity of toothpaste, bottled water, and other liquid and gel items permitted in carry-on luggage. Travelers boarding cheap flights are allowed to bring on board liquids with a capacity of 100ml / 100 grams or less, which can fit into one clear re-sealable plastic bag with a capacity of no more than 1 liter. One bag per passenger is permitted. Ditch the drink if there is more than 100ml in the container.

Liquids and Gels in Carry-Ons

Liquids and Gels can be carried on but only in petite quantities. Liquids and gels must be in personel packaging of three ounces or less and settled inside a clear plastic bag. The Tsa stresses that "containers should fit conveniently into your bag, and that only one bag is permitted per passenger." If you are bringing more than three ounces of any liquid or gel such as shampoo, it should go into your checked luggage. The Tsa does not want that liquids and gels be kept in their customary labeled containers, although doing so may help speed up the screening procedure.

Prescription Medications, Baby Formula, and Milk

You have to maintain prescription medications, baby formula, and milk at the safety checkpoint. You can carry more than three ounces without being settled in a plastic bag. The Tsa recommends but does not want that prescription medications be in their customary labeled containers. The Tsa can also make exceptions for other medicines such as eye drops, touch lens solution, and insulin. The Tsa recommends holding vitamins in their customary labeled containers, but does not mandate doing so. You are allowed to bring more than 100ml of the following: baby formula, baby food, milk or juice (as long as you have an infant less than two years of age with you!), prescription and needful non-prescription medicines. You must maintain all such items at safety screening and additional screening may be required.

Makeup

Makeup such as liquid mascara, lip gels, or other liquid makeup items, has to be settled in a plastic bag in three-ounce or smaller containers. Lipstick, powders, and solid lip balms are not branch to the rules and can be transported in carry-on bags.

Taking Food for the Flight?

Solid food is permitted in both checked and carry-on baggage. All liquid food in your carry-on (for example, yogurt, pudding or jam) must be in packaging of 100ml or less. All packaging must fit in the same clear, closed, re-sealable 1 liter plastic bag as all other packaging of liquids, aerosols or gels you are carrying. Any packaging over 100ml should be settled in checked baggage.

Can I bring dry ice? A Snow Globe? Or, Piñatas? The Canadian Air transport safety Authority website has an comprehensive list of what is allowed and what is not. Dry ice and snow globes get a yes. Piñatas, sadly, are a no.

At the Screening Checkpoint, take your plastic bag out of your carry-on luggage and place it in one of the provided trays.

It is more foremost than ever to supervene airline guidelines. Savvy travelers know that the fastest way to get straight through airport safety is to trip light and to remember the rules on carrying liquids.

What Are the Rules concerning Bringing Liquids on Flights?

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Best and Worst Times to Travel to Europe

When planning your European trip, check your arrival and departures dates and see if they take into account peak, off-peak and shoulder travel periods.

Peak periods are the times when majority of travelers fly in and out of countries and these periods usually coincide with school holidays, Christmas, Easter and New Year. The country you are flying into will also have peak periods unique to that country, so expect flights and accommodation to be heavily booked and tickets to be more expensive. This peak period generally covers late December to January (because of the Christmas season) and late June to the end of August (summer break). Travel during the Christmas holidays can be difficult as plane ticket prices soar and ski resorts start overcharging. Public transport is also reduced in most areas since only a few trains will leave on Christmas day. The "shoulder period" is in spring and autumn and the low or "off-peak" periods are usually in the remaining months and in the winter.

If you have only a limited time to see Europe, your best bet is to fly in and out during a shoulder period. Prices are almost at their lowest and travel conditions are great because you can avoid the crowds and the overpricing. If you have a lot of time to spare in Europe, try flying in the low season when fares are cheapest so you have more money to spread over your stay. It's always a good idea to start checking airfares 3-4 months before you leave. Airlines are starting to discount in order to reward early bookers and there's a lot time to wait if you think they're too high. The cheapest ticket prices might turn up on the net or at your ticket office at anytime. And while you're at it, make sure you've already reserved your accommodation 6 weeks to 2 months before you leave. It's a good idea to reserve a hotel for your arrival and departure days. The rest can be reserved afterwards. Also, remember to check for travel dangers and updates. Your government and insurance company might draw the line if you visit a certain territory they've warned you about. Be informed about the dangers and uprisings in the country you are visiting and do last-minute updates to check conditions right before you leave.

For most seasoned travelers, the best time to see Europe is from April to June and September to October when the weather is still warm, the holiday crowds have left and accommodation and transport are regularly priced.

In contrast, the single worst time to visit most parts of Europe (especially the western and southern countries) is the month of August. This is when many Europeans leave and take their holidays in nearby countries as well. The cities can be deserted and as a result, accommodation prices shoot up and finding a bed can be very difficult. Buses and trains will often be packed and it can be a struggle to get a seat while you cross countries. Even most tourist shops and sites can be closed because the proprietors have gone on holiday as well! There's little doubt that July and August are the busiest tourist months in Europe (mainly because of Americans on vacation) and it will require a lot of patience and money. Avoid these months as much as you can. If you really must travel in the high season, your best course of action is to stay away from the major cities and choose the off-track towns and villages and indulge in the local culture.

Best and Worst Times to Travel to Europe

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Air Transportation

The carrying of paying passengers or freight by air is called air transportation. In present times, this business is done solely by airplanes. Giant dirigibles, or airships, tried to compete with the airplanes as recently as fifteen or twenty years ago, but airplanes proved to be faster and in the long run cheaper. Most of the business of companies engaged in air transportation is the carrying of passengers. Light freight and express is carried when it has to get to its destination in the least possible time, but most of the heavy freight is still carried by ships or railroads. Air transportation is probably the fastest-growing business in the world. Since the railroad was invented, about 125 years ago, it has carried most of the passengers and freight overland throughout the world. It still does.

However in 1954 airlines in the United States alone carried passengers more than 12 billion passenger miles, as compared to 32 billion passenger miles for the railroads, more than a third as much, and the number of air passengers was growing every year. Since passengers take airplanes only for fairly long distances, while the bulk of the railroad business is done over short distances, the airlines had at least equaled the railroad companies in the number of passengers they carried over the same route. The great advantage of airplane travel is the speed with which the journey is completed. Airliners, the giant luxury planes used for passenger travel, were going more than 350 miles an hour (and jet planes, in which the British were pioneers, were approaching 500 miles an hour).

While a fast train might reach 100 miles an hour or even a bit more on a long, straight, level stretch, they had trouble averaging more than 60 miles an hour for a complete trip. The airline passenger could save anywhere from four-fifths to nine-tenths of the travel time if he went by air. On short trips, airlines were not yet able to compete with railroads, because it took so long for a passenger to get to the airport in the city he left and from the airport to the city he was traveling to. The aviation world thought this might eventually be overcome by having helicopters land in the very centers of cities.

Air Transportation

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Cheap Flights For College Students - Easy Ways To Get Them

Privilege is always given to student travelers and the internet has a wide list of air fares at a discounted rate for traveling. There are even websites that solely cater information to address this need for the best air tour deals. There are also sites that supply traveler guarnatee alongside domestic and international destinations. It is not hard to find cheap flights for college students in these websites.

Statravel is one of the many websites that offer cheap flights for college students. They also include cut-rate promotions of flights with some airlines packaged with hotels. Other tour methods such as car rentals are also offered in this website. Anything you can think of that is student and tour connected services like tour loans, international identification cards and cheap tour insurance, are in statravel.

Check out studentuniverse and you will be amazed with cheapest prices they offer for student travels. The website is a smorgasbord of traveling options aside from the cheaper airway tickets. They have train deals, tour guarnatee plans, great value in hotels, and the best part is they can help coordinate to tour in groups for educational purposes. Even vacation packages for students they also cater for booking.

Another stand out tour dedicated website to check out is Travelosophy. Its crusade engine is marvelous helping with tips specifically get the best potential deal for their vacation and home trip. Of course, discount airline tickets are abound here to book.

Hints to Save on Airfares

College students are priority for standby tickets. Bearers of this ticket can get on board the plane at a cut-price fare had there is an unclaimed seat. This makes the student trips at less the cost of the normal rates, which makes it inexpensive for students who live it off in their allowances. Standby tickets might give the perks of travelling first class to students even their tickets are discounted since wherever the unclaimed seat is, first class or cheaper class, the student has the privilege to take that. However, college students can be worn down by being stuck while in the long wait given all seats are claimed in their chosen flights. Worst, it will take them days stranded in the airport due unavailability of flights.

Cheap flights for college students can also take the form of an overnight flight. This is a very early morning flight that you must catch to get a few bucks off the rates. Showing student I.D's also help to slash a few dollars with the airfare.

Cheap Flights For College Students - Easy Ways To Get Them

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Cheap Disney Tickets - Buy Your Tickets Before You trip to Euro Disney

Visits to Disney are a treat for the whole family but unfortunately can work out to be expensive. It is possible to save a lot of money by planning you trip well in advance, this includes booking your entry tickets before you go.

We have been to Euro Disney several times and are picking up more tips every time we travel. What never ceases to amaze me however is just how high-priced the entrance tickets are if you buy them on the day at the turnstiles. This time when we went a day Hopper mark would cost you €62.00 yet it was possible to pre plan and get the same mark for €42.00 this is an improbable salvage especially if you are travelling in a large party.

Great places to start in hunt of those discount tickets is on forums that discuss Disneyland Paris. These forums give great guidance which is usually up to date. For example I discovered that Eurorail were giving away free tickets if you booked a train journey with them. I booked my journey from Paris to Marne La Valee for €14.50 and voila I managed to get into Euro Disney free of charge.

The legal Disneyland Paris website also often has some perfect deals that can save you money on the entrance fees if you buy in advance. Most deals are flexible and you can tailor nearby your families needs.

It is therefore possible to get discount tickets which can help with the cost of your visit. The key is in the planning and booking well in progress of your trip and as the saying goes "a stitch in time saves nine" In this case it save Euros!

Cheap Disney Tickets - Buy Your Tickets Before You trip to Euro Disney

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Mango Airlines

Mango airlines was the third and final low cost airline to enter the South African market. Like all the other airlines in the country, it has its headquarters at Johannesburg International Airport (OR Tambo). The first airline to launch in SA with the budget structure was Kulula, and it was very successful in quickly taking market share away from SAA. So SAA decided to strike back and launch their own low cost airline. Initially it had the terrible name of TULCA (the ultimate low cost airline), but was since named Mango Airlines.

It has been reported that Mango airlines, being owned by SAA, and thus getting tax payer money, creates an unfair advantage for them as they can undercut their prices further than the other low cost airlines. The other budget airlines, namely Kulula and 1Time have reported Mango (and by association SAA) for this, but little to nothing has been done. Mango airlines flies to and from: cape town, Johannesburg, Durban and Bloemfontein. This is not as extensive as the other airlines. One thing they may have thought about though was registering the domain name mango.co.za, as this is owned by the South Africa mango growers association. The domain name they now have is flymango.com, which not only is confusing to people, but also does not have the co.za - which is the South African country ltd.

Although there is this bad press about Mango airways, and their association with SAA. Unlike their parent airline, they have actually turned a profit and it is said that they are now being run as a completely autonomous company. This all means that south Africans have more choice in the market and it keeps the other airlines on their toes to ensure that prices stay competitive.

Mango Airlines

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