Where to Travel

On the face of it, air charter seems to be a luxury that high-flying corporate executives get as perks of the job. But look at it a little deeper, and turns out it’s actually a money-saver. The thing is that a top level executive’s time is very valuable, and each minute spent in an airport lounge is a lost minute for the company.

With each day and month, the situation at the airports is getting worse. Flight delays, airport security, missed connections and the exhausting experience of boarding a commercial flight all combine to wring the enthusiasm out of business travelers. An executive who turns up at an important meeting after such an experience can hardly be expected to be very effective.

The point here is that all that time spent is company time being wasted. So it’s safe to assume that it’s profitable for a company to allow the cream of its top level executives to hop around in private jets. But this doesn’t mean the company has to shell out big dollars to buy planes.

One of the more popular arrangements is called a fractional ownership system, where a person or company is one of many owners of the plane (usually between 2 to 8). The whole thing is managed by a fractional ownership company, which will have many planes of the same make and model. So when a company wants to use a plane, it just has to pay for the flight costs, including the fuel.

Other than the cost-savings of shared ownership, there are many more benefits. For example, passengers on commercial carriers can only fly to and from a limited number of big airports. An air charter, however, can fly to thousands of big and small airports, many of which are private.

This further reduces local transportation needs, and the time spent traveling. Plus, there are no delays for boarding or exiting. It is possible to drive right up to the plane and have the baggage loaded up right then and there. Pets, if any, can travel in the cabin.

Executives can travel in absolute comfort and get some good sleep. Or they can put in a few hours’ work with a laptop, wi-fi internet, videoconferencing, satellite phones and other tools. Some commercial carriers do offer some of these tools, but they cannot be used on account of a lack of privacy.

For personal use, it’s hard to justify air charter as a cost-saver, but there are situations where it can be a life-saver instead. Medical travel, for instance, is one such area where the patient might not want to ensure the agony of commercial flights. Elderly people and tourists unsure of being able to catch connecting flights may want to make their holiday experience more memorable and safe by taking a private jet instead.

It’s important to note here that prices for an air charter are not that high anymore, and it’s a lot closer to what’s considered acceptable spending while on vacation, similar to staying in a luxury hotel. Before booking a commercial flight ticket, just find out how much it would just for the same trip on a private jet. Most people are likely to end up surprised at how much cheaper it is than they thought it would be.

Every year tragedies occur on the open seas, rivers and lakes. People are injured or worse because they did not remember to keep boat safety in mind. The irony is that these problems could have been avoided by taking a few simple measures before embarking out on their boat. With this in mind, let’s explore some proactive measures that boaters, whether they are on a canoe or a yacht, can take to avoid misfortune while out on the water.

One of the biggest mistakes boaters make is misjudging weather conditions. Often they look out and see calm water and become complacent with respect to safety. Unfortunately on occasion, and without any forewarning, the weather can take a brutal turn for the worse, as you might imagine this can lead to catastrophic consequences.

It is important to remember that the United States Coast Guard prescribes that certain equipment be inventoried on every boat. The number of devices mandated is determined by the size of the boat and how it is powered. States may also have requirements that go above and beyond those of the USCG.

As mentioned earlier, weather can be a dangerous impediment to a safe trip out on the water. It is vital to get as strong a sense of conditions as you can. Storms can become manifest without a moment’s notice. This is true regardless of your geographic starting point. Oceans and lakes are littered with stories of sudden storms overturning vessels and causing tragic harm.

A good starting point, not to mention mandatory, for safety is to make sure that there are always on hand enough personal flotation devices (PFD) for everybody on board the vessel. These are more commonly known as life jackets or life preservers. They serve to assist the user, whether conscious or unconscious to stay afloat in the water maintaining their heads above the water.

You will also need to keep on hand a wide variety of safety devices. Be sure to have flotation devices that can be tossed into the water. Sound making equipment, such as horns or whistles, can be used to communicate distress. Visual distress signals are also vital. Having flares onboard can attract the attention of rescuers that sound signals might not have otherwise reached. Do not forget to equip your boat with fire extinguishers.

More than a few boating accidents have nothing to do with the weather. In fact, they are completely avoidable. I am referring to those boaters who take to the seaways under the influence, or those who steadily become inebriated during the course of their trip. Boating while drunk or under the influence of drugs is a sure recipe for disaster. Not only are you putting yourself and others in harm’s way, but you could also be arrested.

Any discussion of boat safety is not meant to throw a damper on the enjoyment of boating. Rather, it is meant to ensure that should a problem occur on the water, you will be able to effectively deal with the issue at hand. After all, the point of having a boat is to get out on those waters as often as you can.

St Petersburg is one of the most scenic cities in the world. It is also one of the most cultural with some breathtaking buildings, rich culture and amazing art to be seen in the city. It is now easier and cheaper than ever to get to St Petersburg, thanks to an increasing number of low-cost airlines flying to the city. Make sure that you explore as much of the city as possible so that you can take in the full St Petersburg experience.

There are several recognisable landmarks that St Petersburg has become known for, but none are more recognisable as the Church of Our Saviour on the Spilled Blood. This stunning church was built on the spot that Alexander II was assassinated. Admire the colourful turrets and ornate brickwork, which is unlike any other building in the world. After being closed for restorations for nearly 30 years, the Church has re-opened to the public, so you can admire the lavish interiors.

If you’re looking to get out of the city for a laid-back day of exploration, visit Peterhof. This well-preserved Imperial palace is one of the most ornate palaces in St Petersburg – and that is saying something! Also known as the Russian Versailles, it’s easy to see the parallels between these lavish palaces and manicured gardens. This Palace was built for Peter the Great between 1714-1725 in a distinctly baroque style. Peterhof is about 50 minutes away from the city centre, but can be easily and cheaply reached by catching the hydrofoil, from outside the Hermitage.

For those that want to bring souvenirs back on their cheap holidays, to Russia, then head to St Petersburg’s main shopping street – Nevsky Prospect. This is also a good place to come shopping, with some of the most exclusive designer shops and mammoth department stores found along the street. Make sure that you go to Gostiny Dvor, which is the largest department store in the city, just don’t expect a shopping trip here to be inexpensive.

Don’t catch flights home without going to The Hermitage. Also known as Winter Palace, this was the home of the Tsars, for hundreds of years. It is now the best art gallery in all of Russia. Some of the greatest artworks ever produced can be found here, including Leonardo da Vinci, Gauguin and Matisse. Consider going on one of the guided tours to get the most out of your time in this vast gallery.

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