SAFETY AND SECURITY FOR THE BUSINESS PROFESSIONAL - Corporate espionage is an increasingly serious threat for a business traveler. The perpetrator may be a competitor, opportunist, or foreign intelligence officer. In many countries, domestic corporations collect competitive intelligence with the help and support of their government. To mitigate this risk, your organization’s critical information and technologies should not reside on any hard copy or electronic device you take unless it is absolutely necessary, and if so, then you must safeguard the physical access to the information by using encryption and keeping the material on your person at all times. Hotel safes are not adequate protection. Learn more...

DRUGS AND TRAVEL - Don't be tempted to smuggle drugs to earn fast, easy cash. Any deal that sounds too good to be true is too good to be true. Chances are it won't work. If you're caught with drugs in a foreign country, you'll end up paying a stiff fine, spending time in jail or possibly even facing the death penalty. It's not worth it! Learn more...

CAR RENTALS - You probably don't think twice about what car you'll get when you rent in the States or Canada, because agencies almost always offer automatics. If you're going to Europe, it is another story and it pays to drive a stick, because an automatic transmission can cost much more. There's only a small market for automatics. Ask your car-rental agent about price before you rent.

Note: When renting a vehicle in a foreign country, always ask for an extra set of keys - or have a set made.

TRAVEL INSURANCE - The unexpected can happen to anyone, even before you start your travel or while traveling. You could be faced with a last minute travel cancellation, illness of family member or an illness abroad. Emergencies are never in the plans, and if you experience a problem out of the country (or even out of province), always purchase supplementary medical insurance. Find out more... >>>

CHEAP TRAVEL INSURANCE - When you plan to travel abroad nowadays, you might be totally surprised how abundant cheap travel deals are being offered both online and offline. That is, if you haven't contacted your travel agents lately or if you have been hibernating in your own country for years or simply don't feel the need for traveling. Anyway, the bottom line is that traveling abroad today is not very expensive as it was before. Find out how...

GERMANY - Learn About German Culture - One of the best ways to learn about German culture is to travel in Germany. Travel is a good way of learning about the cultural traditions of cities as diverse as Frankfurt, Munich, Stuttgart, Berlin and many others. These cities showcase aspects of German culture such as museums, beer, wine and food festivals, theatre and music, and so on. Find out more... >>>

MONEY AND MONEY SAVING TIPS - When you are traveling, be sure to have several ways to access your money. If your travelers checks get stolen, then an ATM card would come in handy until you get replacements. Find out more... >>>

TRAVEL GUIDES - Travel guides date quickly: hotel prices rise, visa rules are revised, new attractions open, restaurants close. To help cost-conscious travelers stay abreast of such changes, Lonely Planet, publisher of a well-known series of backpacker travel guides, is issuing updates to some of its most popular titles on the Web. The addendums summarize important changes that have taken place since the most recent guide to a given country appeared. Would-be adventurers to check that on their web site: www.lonelyplanet.com and print out the update you need and stick it in the back of your personal guidebook.

IMPORTANT MANNERS IN ASIA:

When doing business in Asia, never put someone else's business card away without reading it first. It's as rude as smacking your gum on a conference call, rummaging through your briefcase during a presentation or applying lipstick at the dinner table in the States.

Use your right hand at all times for accepting and passing articles and eating/drinking. As is with many cultures, the left hand is considered unclean or inappropriate.

Never ever exchange business cards at social events! Instead, offer your business cards with your phone number at your hotel.

Footwear and head coverings (hats, etc.) should be removed before entering Buddhist shrines. Do not attempt to shake hands with yellow-robed Buddhist monks. Do not pose with Buddhist statues for photographs.

Asia's Extraordinary Explorations - From awe-inspiring architecture to stunning UNESCO World Heritage Sites, Asia claim some of the world's oldest cultures and most enthralling cities and places to visit. Travel in Asia offers authentic experiences and global adventures for every type of explorer. For culture cravers seeking the ultimate immersive vacation, Asia is a great continent to provide unique cultural entertainment, ancient countries, fascinating history, villages that time has forgotten, specific regional cuisine, exotic voyages, interesting landscapes and wildlife, breathtaking destinations, and much more.