Maui Bed and Breakfasts

Breads and pastries
Yummy jams
Tropical fruits
Creamy yoghurt
Cereal, and
Coffee, etc.

If you are coming first time to visit exotic beaches of Maui, it is highly recommended that you should go for affordable Maui bed and breakfast option, as it will help you enormously settling to the new environment and allowing more times towards your leisure activities. Majority of the B&B centres of Maui have collaborations with local shuttle services; and if you inform them about your arrival well in time, you will be directly picked up from the airport to drive off at the desired Maui bed and breakfast destination. Along with excellent lodging options, all most all B&Bs now offer enhanced modern amenities such as high speed Internet access at room, soundproofed air conditioning ambiances, tiled bathrooms, and pool, etc. A typical breakfast at any one of the Maui bed and breakfast retreats may consist of:

Garden Gate
Maui What a Wonderful World Bed and Breakfast
Penny's Place Inn Paradise
Hale Ho'okipa Bed and Breakfast
Heavenly Hana Inn
Over Yonder
Aloha Cottage
Maui Eva Villa Vacation and B&B Rentals
The Hibiscus Hut
Maui Ocean Breeze Hideway Bed and Breakfast
The Plantation Inn
Blue Tile Beach House
Banyan B&B

Maui Bed and Breakfasts

Williamsburg Virginia

For a complete Williamsburg experience, tourists are invited to stay at the many bed and breakfast inns, lodges, and colonial houses that feature colonial structures and design. Most of these are included in tour packages. Check with your travel agent for the coverage of your tour package. Some of these accommodations offer free full breakfasts. And some can accommodate special arrangements for groups and families or couples.

Williamsburg Virginia

Williamsburg is located next to many equally important historic towns and cities. But if you want to take a break from the colonial historic tours, try the many restaurants and shopping centers in Williamsburg and the nearby theme parks.

The historic town began its restorations in the 1920s. To date, there are more than 500 historic buildings, parks and houses restored to their colonial glory. Most of the houses feature authentic antiques or reproductions.

Tourists are treated to various exhibits, shows, plays, musicals, and themed tours across Williamsburg. The University of Virginia offers lectures and seminars on the states colonial past.

Williamsburg can be accessed through three airports. The Richmond International Airport and the Norfolk International Airport are both less than an hour away from Williamsburg. The nearest airport is the Newport News/Williamsburg International Airport, which is less than half an hour away from the former capital of Virginia. Shuttle services from the airport to Williamsburg are available. If you are staying at a hotel or lodge in Williamsburg, check beforehand if they provide shuttle service for their guests. Buses and trains also pass through Williamsburg from Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Washington, D.C.

Not Traveling Again What's Your Excuse This Year

Have you not seen the world yet? What's your excuse this summer? If its that you cant get the time off work or you weigh half a ton and you cant fit into an airline seat, then I cant help you. However, if your excuse is, traveling is too expensive, then I have some ideas....

1) Getting rid of your cell phone will save you about $1,000 over the next 2 years. Are you really so important that you need one? (If you're an emergency surgeon, skip to #2)

2) Getting rid of that gym membership you never use will save you at least $500 over the next 2 years. (See: Jog in your neighborhood, invest in some home exercise equipment and/or walk places for a change!) If you take full advantage of your gym membership, skip to #3.

3) Getting rid of your digital television subscription (i.e. DIRECTV) will save you about $1,000 over the next 2 years. Just because you've seen an exotic destination on Survivor, doesn't mean you've been there. C'mon now TV Traveler!

That's $2,500 that you can use to take an amazing trip every other year. To stretch this amount farther you can travel during non-peak times of year and/or fly during the middle of the week.

Say goodbye to meaninglessly yakking on your cell phone about the last Desperate Housewives episode while you're waiting in line for the stair-stepper ... and say hello to a little adventure and sophistication.

Isaac Rau owns and operates several travel and destination sites including http://www.mycheapairfares.com and http://www.cheap-hawaiian-vacations.com, and enjoys administering the occasional swift kick in the arse to Procrati-travelers, TV travelers, and the like.

[tagstravel,vacation,stress relief,stress,relaxation,cruise[/tags

Driving in France Training for Le Mans

France, one of the largest countries in Europe, has a very good system of roads. However, in France, all the A roads, that is the autoroutes, are page (toll roads). Toll roads are indicated by blue signs, while the free roads are marked by green ones. There are always signs at roundabouts indicating more than one way to the same city. The blue signs at the crossroads will identify the road that is page. Page highways have some portions that are free, usually the sections that allow free access into major cities. But when there are tolls, they tend to be much pricier than the tolls in the U.S. Unfortunately, the maps don't always indicate which portions of page roads are free, but there may be signs at the intersections. Keep your eyes open.

National roads are designated with an N on the maps. There is a large network of these two- and three-lane roads that goes from town to town. While they are old, they are generally in very good condition. They are the equivalent of the old Route 66 in the US. However, they are mostly in better condition than Route 66 because Europe's roads were pummeled in two World Wars and therefore rebuilt after World War II. The N road that winds across Normandy parallel to the sea, for example, is the same route that American troops followed getting off the beaches after the D-Day landing in World War II. N roads are shown in thin red on the maps.

If you haven't driven a three lane road before (the center lane is supposed to be for passing), just remember the old joke: hey have a right lane, a left lane and a suicide lane. It'll serve you in good stead.

Which kind of road should you take? It depends on what you need at that moment. If you are in a hurry to get to a particular place, or have a long journey and a tight schedule, you may want to take the highways. If you are in Paris and need to be in the south of France at a particular time, for example, it might be worth the cost to take the highway and pay the tolls. In addition, even though you may not want to use an A road, it may be the only one going in the right direction. But those non-scenic A roads are always full of trucks and cars traveling at breakneck speed and driving on them can be quite stressful.

If you'd like a good look at the countryside, try those two-lane national (N) roads. They go through every tiny hamlet that lies in their path and lead into every city. When you find yourself entering a town, you will have to travel at city speeds. N roads will slow you down, but you'll also see a lot more. You might even see something that you want to stop and visit.

Of all the slower vehicles in France the farm tractors are the slowest and the drivers in France seemed quite content with their lack of speed. This can be humorous because the French, like nearly all Europeans, drive so fast. One theory is that they are all (1) going to a fire, (2) late for an appointment, or (3) practicing for Le Mans.

Sometimes on the main streets of little towns there are not many places that one can park in safety. Places where one can park are marked either with a P painted directly on the pavement or by a roadside sign with a big huge P on it. You always have the option of going onto one of the side roads and looking around for a parking space. And, as you drive through, there may be unexpected Roman ruins or medieval towns or open-air markets to explore.

Outside of towns, there are rotaries (traffic circles) where roads intersect. Within towns and villages there are traffic lights instead of rotaries. The traffic lights in many French towns offer a feature that is puzzling at first, but really is a great boon to driving. Traffic lights on poles at street corners have the usual large set of red/yellow/green lights at the top of the pole, but there is another set of small lights at just about eye level when you are stopped. Because these lower lights are so easy to see, you don't have to crane your neck upward.

Often, when a city lies in your path, you will reach the outskirts and you will find yourself following signs that suddenly make you change your direction. For example, you are going south and the city that you are entering is directly in your path. You continue to follow the signs that indicate the city that the map shows should be next on your route. Although this city is directly south of you, suddenly the signs for that city indicate a sharp turn, leading you in another direction. That's because you may not be able to go straight through the town. Cities are very old and the inner areas may have narrow streets or low overhangs. Traffic is therefore routed through the outskirts.

When you leave the city, you will join the original road again. This process can take quite a chunk of time and may also be very confusing. This is one place where you can get lost quite easily. The trick is knowing which towns beyond the area directly in front of you are on the road that you want and then following the signs for those towns. Eventually, you will re-enter the road to your ultimate destination, i.e., the one you were on when you first entered the city.

The traffic circles are also a bit confusing. The basic rule, which is new in many parts of France, is that cars in the circle have the right of way. But this is not always the case. The rule is in effect only where there are signs at the entrance to the circle that say either Vous n'avez pas la priorit (that is, you who are entering the circle do not have the right of way) or Cdez le passage (those entering must give way to cars in the circle). If neither of these signs is present at the entrance, the rule reverts to an old rule that gives priority to cars entering the rotary!

There is no doubt that this is both confusing and dangerous, because one has to notice the absence of a sign rather than its presence. Fortunately, not even the French drive fast in this situation. Be careful at rotaries.

Once into the circle, however, you have to take the correct exit, which hopefully will be well marked. If you miss it, or if you are not sure which exit to take, simply go around again until you are sure. No one is going very fast in the roundabout, so even if you make a mistake, it's not likely to create a problem. Sometimes your exit is marked Toutes directions meaning that you can get to any location by going that way.

Michael Russell Your Independent guide to Travel

[tagstravel[/tags

Experience the Paradise of the Caribbean

Most of us have an idyllic paradise fantasy island, we'd love to visit, and going on vacation to the Caribbean will fulfill that fantasy. There are various islands to choose from, including the well known Jamaica, Barbados the Bahamas And Trinidad, and you could concentrate on one or explore more of them and island hop by boat. You could organize the trip yourself, but it may be beneficial for first time visitors to book through a specialist Caribbean travel agent, who will have extensive knowledge of what each island has to offer.

You can expect temperatures between 75 and 85F during both summer and winter, but late night and early in the morning are often chillier. The whole year tends to be humid, with its share of bugs, and its generally advised not to visit in the fall when mosquitoes are much in evidence.

There is a variety of accommodation on the islands, including luxury hotels, private villas, and villa resorts. You can charter a yacht or book yourself on a cruise ship. If you want a more inexpensive choice, there are also apartments and guesthouses.

If you have sufficient sailing experience, you could captain your own yacht, whether a motor or by sail, or you could hire one with a crew,

With beautiful, palm fringed golden beaches and turquoise water, it's tempting just to sunbathe with a pina colade. If you want to be more active, there's plenty to do, and some hotels specialize in different activities. Most of the larger sized islands have golf courses, the superior ones run by the better hotels or villa resorts. Look out for package deals, which include golf in the price. The Caribbean is a favorite haunt for scuba divers. The majority of islands have dive shops, and it's easy to organize. If you're a novice, there is tuition available. You can even arrange to stay somewhere near to one of the dive shops. Coral reefs, caves and shipwrecks make it an unforgettable experience.

The Caribbean experience wouldn't be fulfilled, unless you've danced the calypso in a carnival, and it's a good idea to time your trip for at least one of these.

The Caribbean has worked to raise its standard of cuisine for the international tourist, and you can expect excellent food, especially the locally caught, fresh fish.

The author of this article Terrell, has now created a new website http://www.costa-ricatravel.com which is about his backpacking experience in Cloud Forest in Costa Rica.

[tagscaribbean paradise travel vacation trip[/tags

German Memory in Asia Exploring the Ancient Kingdom of Indian Ocean's Island Paradise!

The driver was used to the area and having travelled extensively in the rural areas of Sri Lanka, he chose more interior-roads than the main roads in the last hours of our journey.

He asked all of us whether we liked to visit an ancient Kingdom of the Island and the ruined fortification and the archeological interests.

Though I heard about Panduvasdevas Kingdom in Panduwasnuwara I hadnt visited it.

I thought it was a good opportunity.

There was an apparent excitement in Steffani, Yong and Romys faces as well.

He was driving through a narrow passage along the isolated rural areas.

The remaining walls of the ruined ancient Kingdom were the first sight for all of us.

Still the walls were standing so strongly, proclaiming its glorious majestic days several centuries ago.

Panduwasnuwara, the oldest of the capitals in Panduwasnuwara, which according to legend, was the capital of king Panduvasdeva, who succeeded Vijaya, the first king of Sri Lanka around 5th century B.C.

The moated tower where Princess Unmada Chitra, so beautiful that she drove men crazy, was confined because of an ominous prophecy of untimely death in the family.

A forested mound is also identified as the tomb of king Vijaya.

Panduvasnuwara's many other archeological remains date from the 12th century when it was known as 'Parakramapura' and was used by Sri Lanka's great medieval king Parakramabahu I as a stepping stone to his great capital - Polonnaruwa.

Among the many impressive ruins are the citadel walls and moat, the royal palace with carved pillars and guard stones, and a beautiful Bodhigara, the edifice round the bo-tree, sacred to Buddhists.

Street vendors were selling various flowers and ritual items for those visiting the adjoining Buddhist temple.

Everywhere around there were small shops selling various items, targeting those who were visiting the ruined kingdom.

When we visited some areas of the ancient kingdom, I saw a culvert with a Tamil inscription which was a pointer to Tamil influence in the Kingdom.

That the ancient culture of the Island of some thousand years was a blend of Sinhala and Tamil was evidenced in the culvert.

Yong was asking me, when we went inside a Buddhist temple a lot of questions to which I had no answer.

We bought some jaggery which was filled in a tiny pockets weaved either by a kind of weed or palm leaves.

My German friends were savouring to the full the culture and the way of living around there which hasnt lost its centuries old purity in that highly isolated rural area from the rest of the world.

The calm and quiet that pervaded the surroundings was enchanting.

We walked amidst the ruins of the ancient Kingdom which were under large shady trees which might have been centuries old.

The large trees and ruined remains of the kingdom was reminiscent of the scenes of Angelina Jolie casting Hollywood blockbuster Tomb Raider which was filmed around the temple of Angkor Wat in Cambodia, one of the world's most isolated and strife-torn countries.

It was such a marvellous experience to walk in the ruined palace where memories of the past glories of the Kingdom captivated my mind and took on a reality though I had never heard anything about the Kingdom in the past.

Romy was capturing the ancient wonder with her digital camera. I too went near a Buddhist ruined statue and took some photos to remember the lost kingdom and its wonders several centuries old.

We departed after reliving some of the ancient past and our passage was once again through the rural area of the Island passing many beautiful ponds with lotus flowers and paddy lands.

Rajkumar Kanagasingam is author of a fascinating book on German memories in Asia and you can explore more about the book and the author at AGSEP

[tagsGerman, Germany, Ancient, Kingdom, Angelina Jolie, Hollywood, Asia, Indian, Palace Buddhist, Temple[/tags

Your First Trip Overseas on International Business

Making Contacts

Many cultures outside of the U.S. work on the basis of relationships. People prefer to work with people they know. Therefore, a cold call is often not the best approach to meeting people and making contacts. If you know someone who is close to the firm that you desire to contact, it may be best to try to first meet your counterparts with the help of this connection. Working with an organization that can assist you with your initial contact can be ideal. Many of these third-party firms are industry-related and advertise frequently in local trade magazines. Other venues through which to meet potential contacts and clients are conferences and trade shows. Many of these shows are held in the United States and it is helpful if you do some pre-investigative work. Alternatively, it is worthwhile, and may be even more beneficial, to target a local trade conference in the region in which you desire to make contacts.

Entrepreneurs and large firms should both take advantage of the resources offered to U.S. firms by the Department of Commerce (www.ita.doc.gov). A trade mission is particularly valuable for small firms who do not already have a presence in the country of interest. A trade mission to a particular country is organized by your local department of commerce for the purpose of helping you establish business contacts there. Many trade missions have notable leaders such as the mayor of your city or the business leader of a major organization to help increase visibility for the group in the country. The cost of trade missions usually ranges from $2,000-$5,000 and includes the hotel, flight and appointments. The Department of Commerce also offers a great deal of expert help, free or for a nominal fee, to assist you in creating a business plan or developing export opportunities.

Once you have made contacts and collected business cards, follow up with a letter of thanks for these peoples time. Include a press kit, which explains your firm, its products and services, and your position in the firm. If you are planning to visit your potential business partners, request an appointment by letter or fax, if e-mail and phone are not options. Be specific in what you want to cover, who will be traveling with you, and a few suggested dates, then allow time for response to your request. Try to make these arrangements at least three weeks before you travel. You may need this much time to book hotels and flights anyway.

Researching the Firm

In order to be effective in international business it is important that you conduct a fair amount of research on the firms and the marketplace in which you desire to work. An excellent start is to pick up materials and meet distributors at a trade show. Many firms now have web sites on the Internet so it is a good idea to visit them as part of your preparation. There are credible commercial firms such as Dun and Bradstreet (www.dnb.com) that can provide various reports, such a credit report, on companies you might be interested in. If the firm is large, there is a good chance something will be in the files. If the firm has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), you can access information at www.edgar.com

If the firm is small and does not have a U.S. office, it may be more difficult to gather information. Many companies outside of the U.S. are not required to file reports as American firms must do. Accounting practices vary worldwide, so it may be difficult to get information on some companies. If you are planning to visit a specific country, an excellent web site is www.tradeport.org which offers information on various countries, their key exports, current economic situation, etc., compiled from U.S. Department of Commerce data. In addition, try to talk to people who have worked with the companies you are contacting to get an idea of how they conduct business, their positive and negative points, and their management structure and decision-making process.

Creating an Agenda

Once you have made an appointment to meet with business people in another country, it is beneficial to propose an agenda to help your contacts understand what topics you intend to cover at your meeting. Many American businesswomen suggest that if you send an agenda in advance it helps clarify your position as the leader and an important participant in the business meeting. It also helps set the direction of the meeting and what you intend to accomplish.

A good agenda usually includes a statement of purpose and some idea of what you want to achieve at the meeting, as well as a list of participants who will attend and how they will contribute to the meeting. In some cultures agendas are not adhered to, because casual discussions used to build relationships are preferred before getting down to business. Other cultures follow agendas more rigidly, and your contacts will expect a fair amount of detail. Before the initial meeting, your proposed agenda may help to initiate a dialogue on what each party expects to cover at the meeting. Give your counterparts plenty of time to review your agenda and respond back with additions or alternative suggestions.

Business Cards

Business cards are very important in many cultures of the world. The information on the card helps identify who you are and your place within your organization. For women, this can help enhance credibility by showing that you are an important member of the firm and where you are in the firms hierarchy. Make sure you use a title that is well understood cross-culturally. For example, the titles Manager and Director are usually well understood, but titles such as Specialist may cause confusion.

If you have your business cards translated into the language of the country you are visiting before you go, make sure you select a translation firm that is adept with the local language, and then have the cards proofread by someone else who speaks the local language to ensure there are no translation mistakes. Alternatively, some business people prefer to wait until they arrive in the foreign country before they have their cards translated. Many hotels overseas have a business card translation service or can recommend a local firm. Some can translate and print cards in 24 hours, while others take a few days. Be sure to check before you go. Plan to bring a lot of business cards with you, particularly if you will be meeting large groups.

Travel to Your Business Destination

Gathering Information

If you have time, call the tourist boards of the countries youll be visiting and ask for maps and information on your destination. Major automobile clubs, such as AAA, also have touring books and maps by country for their members, and most libraries have travel books. Many Internet sites offer sightseeing information too. Once youve arrived, youll find that most hotels also have an English local guide and maps of the city you are visiting. You can usually get a local newspaper on the airplane to read up on the country, events, and local happenings. Most hotels offer local TV news stations and usually one is in English.

Passports and Visas

Travel to any country outside of the U.S. will require a passport. If you do not have a passport, make sure you allow yourself plenty of time to get one. You can find a passport center in your local phone book or by searching for passport applications on the World Wide Web. If you already have a passport, make sure it will not expire during the trip. Also be aware that some countries require that your passport be valid up to six months from the start date of your trip. For current information on how to get a passport and what you need for overseas travel go to http://travel.state.gov/passportservices.html

In addition to a passport, some countries will also require a visa. Visas allow you entry into a country for a specific period of time; they usually need to be renewed for continued visits. If you are not sure of the requirements of the country youre planning to visit, check with the U.S. embassy or the foreign embassy in your area. Some agencies process passports and visas at the same time. Make sure you procure enough photos for your passport and visas, although some processing agencies will take photos for you. If you plan to have passport and visa photos taken on your own, determine in advance exactly what youll need how many photos, what size, and what angles are required. For example, a visa photo may require partial side photography to expose your ear, whereas the passport photo is usually a frontal view. Also, certain countries, such as Brazil, may have different visa applications depending on what city in the U.S. you are from, and these requirements may change frequently. If you plan to travel in and out of the country several times during the course of your visit, be sure to get a visa allowing multiple visits. For current visa information go to: http://travel.state.gov/foreignentryreqs.html

Booking Your Flights

Be sure to ascertain flight availability, flight times, and rates to international destinations well in advance of your trip. Dates that are optimal for you may be holiday times for the people in the country you are planning to visit, and holiday seasons in some countries can last for weeks. This may make it difficult to reserve a flight for a specific date or time, and airline fares tend to increase during holiday seasons. If you are planning to travel to several countries within a particular region, such as Asia, Europe or Latin America, it is usually helpful to work with a travel agent who handles that region. The agent can help you with flight alternatives, hotel alliances, travel packages, and advance notice of special rates on commonly traveled flight paths. Additional tips to keep in mind:

If you are traveling to a country in a different time zone, make sure you check the flight arrival date and time to be sure you have sufficient time to arrive at your meetings. It is easy to make mistakes when traveling across time zones.

Some travelers advise arriving the day before in order to adjust to significant time zone changes. You dont want to fall asleep in the middle of a meeting.

Make sure you reconfirm your flight 24 hours in advance. This should be done before each leg of the flight, particularly when you are outside the U.S. Flight times change frequently, and passengers are not always notified. Your hotel desk clerk or concierge a hotel staff member who assists guests with luggage, messages, and tour reservations -- will usually do this for you if you are unfamiliar with the language.

Hotels

Book your hotel in advance; do not wait until you arrive to find a hotel. Choose a hotel close to your meeting place, since many cities have heavy traffic congestion and require extra travel time. If you can, stay in a major hotel in a populated area for safety reasons. When you travel to a major city you will most likely find a hotel chain that is locally owned, as well as a European hotel chain, an Asian hotel chain and an American hotel chain. Each chain will offer a different type of setting and services. If you are accustomed to the services of American hotels, consider staying in one, at least on your first trip. Many women advise that you stay in well known hotels in populated areas, preferably with staff at the door at night for extra safety.

Luggage

For many businesswomen, international travel means a new office in a new country each day. This may require traveling by car, train or plane to the next destination each evening. Most businesswomen agree that packing light is an absolute essential for business travel. It will save you packing time at the hotel, as well as a lot of time at the baggage claim counter in airports if you can avoid checking luggage. Also, in some countries you may find that your hotel room is on the third floor and there is no elevator and no porter. Having to carry a lot of luggage up three flights of stairs is no fun at all.

Bring easy-to-carry luggage that is not too bulky; luggage on wheels is helpful. If you plan to take trains and local planes, easy-to-lift luggage will help you with overhead storage. Stick to carry-on luggage if possible, but if you have to check your bags, make sure to pack a change of clothing and some toiletries in a carry-on bag, in case your luggage gets lost. For other business executives, international travel may mean spending several weeks in one location before moving on to the next stop. To keep luggage minimal in this situation, packing considerations should include having enough variations in your wardrobe to keep your outfits fresh. Plan for some hand washing and dry cleaning during your trip.

General Packing Tips

To help lighten your travel load, consider making a list, outlining in detail what you need, what you can discard along the way, and what you do not need to carry. For example, four- and five-star hotels usually provide a hair dryer, shampoo, soap and bath gels.

Pack dark, versatile clothes that dont wrinkle and can be easily layered.

Stick to conservative color schemes, such as gray, navy, black, olive and brown. Try to have your clothes blend with each other so you can interchange them. It is best to avoid loud colors.

Clothing will wrinkle if it is loosely packed. Factor this in when you are choosing a travel bag.

Try layering your clothes with dry cleaning plastic bags, or hang them in a garment bag. This helps the clothes slide against each other and not wrinkle.

If you are flying, ask to have your garment bag hung up if there is no space lay it out in the overhead bin. If you are driving, try to hang the garment bag or lay it flat in the back seat.

If you are using a carry-on duffel bag, consider rolling your clothes, then hanging them up as soon as you arrive.

If you are flying, put your toiletries in zip-tight plastic bags to help guard against leaks caused by pressure changes.

Stick to carry-on luggage if possible. If you have to check your bags, make sure to pack a change of clothes and toiletries in your carry-on bag in case your luggage gets lost.

If you have reading to do, consider making copies so that you can discard the materials along the way so your briefcase doesnt get filled with paper, which adds extra weight. If you have magazines, rip out or copy the articles of interest, and leave the rest behind. Consider mailing home large quantities of business papers collected along the way.

Bathrooms vary worldwide, as does the toilet tissue. Bring some of that too if you are fussy.

Bring an electronic adapter kit good for several countries if you have electric items such as a hair dryer or electric razor. You can find these in most electronic and travel stores. In some hotels you may also be able to borrow them at the desk.

Bring a small travel alarm clock, as many hotels dont provide them.

If you are traveling to areas with varying seasons, wear comfortable clothes in layers. Many businesses do not have air-conditioning or central heating. The buildings can get very hot in the summer or very cold in the winter.

In cool, humid winter areas, wool suits, jackets, and dresses are best since wool soaks up moisture while keeping you warm. A light jacket or cardigan sweater is usually a good item to bring anywhere. For hot, humid areas, linen and cotton suits are most comfortable.

For rainy regions, bring a raincoat and a folding umbrella. (Some business hotels also offer umbrellas for use by their guests).

Packing for a Week

For an average business trip of one week, most women agree that one suit (a jacket and matching skirt), a coordinating skirt or slacks, and several varied blouses should suffice. If your trip extends to two weeks, then you may want to add a blazer and an additional skirt or pair of slacks. Combinations of black and white (solids and patterns) are popular among businesswomen, as they are easy to coordinate with many colors of blouses. Good walking shoes are essential to manage the cobblestones, rough construction areas and train stations, as well as inclement weather. A leather briefcase can serve as a handbag. Pack minimal makeup and jewelry.

Other considerations:

Be creative with your business attire. Use pants, skirts, blazers and suit jackets that can give you several different combinations with a minimal number of items. Change your look with blouses, scarves and other accessories.

Consider bringing washable silk blouses if you do not think you will have time for dry cleaning during the visit or between destinations.

Wear neutral-colored hosiery, limited jewelry and neutral makeup.

Bring extra undergarments for hot and humid areas where you will perspire more. Plan to wash your smalls nightly (some women bring a small plastic bottle or packets of lingerie cleaner with them).

Flying Comfortably

Depending on where you are traveling from, the airplane trip overseas can be very long. If you will have time to check in to your hotel before your first meeting, then a light sweat suit and walking shoes may be your most comfortable attire for the flight. They will also come in handy if you have time later in the trip for an evening walk around some of the local sights. If you must head directly to a meeting after landing, consider wearing comfortable attire on board, then changing clothes in the airplane bathroom or in the airport when you arrive.

When planning your flight, also consider the following:

Drink a lot of water, as flying is very dehydrating. Water will help reduce fatigue and headaches that can come with long flights.

Eat lightly on the plane, and even the night before you fly, to help you adjust to a different meal schedule.

Avoid alcohol on the plane. It is dehydrating and can throw off your sleep cycle.

Wear loose clothing and try to stretch or walk around a few times while on board to improve your circulation and avoid leg cramps.

Take off your shoes and wear a pair of socks while flying. Your feet will probably swell, and tight shoes will become uncomfortable.

Clogging of the ears during descent and landing is a common problem on long flights. Chewing gum and yawning may provide relief. Quickly drinking carbonated water may help as well. Another approach is the Valsalva maneuver: Hold your nose and keep your mouth open, while gently blowing out with a few short breaths. This causes the ears to pop. Other recommendations include taking a decongestant pill or using a decongestant nasal spray.

Using a saline nasal spray two hours before you take off and 15 minutes before you land will help you clear your breathing passages.

If you wear contact lenses, bring a spare pair or, if you wear disposable lenses, bring extras, in addition to your glasses. You may find that contacts become dry in your eyes while you are on board the plane. It is best to take them out for the flight and wear glasses. If you do wear lenses during the flight, keep lubricating drops handy and use them frequently.

Bring a neck pillow (most travel stores carry them) to help you sleep, especially if you have a center seat on the plane. Bring sleep masks (most airlines supply these) to create darkness. Keep eye drops, toothbrush and toothpaste, lip balm, eye cream (there are also re-hydrating eye patches), and a face toner in your purse to help you feel refreshed during the flight.

Currency

To avoid airport lines later, some travelers prefer to exchange enough money for the taxi ride to the hotel before they board their international flight. Others wait until they arrive and exchange money at one of the local bank stalls at the airport. Many airports have ATMs (Automatic Teller Machines) on site. Most travelers prefer to use ATMs as they offer the best currency exchange rates with the lowest administration fees.

Tracey Wilen is Author at http://www.globalwomen.biz/

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