How to Book Train Travel From Copenhagen to Berlin

lthough Berlin began as a modest trading center, the city has left its humble beginnings behind. It grabs the spotlight as Germany's capital and delivers a creative blend of history, architecture, music and art. Berlin has a turbulent past, but has replaced historical strife with the hustle and bustle of a city full of vibrant pubs, restaurants and nightclubs, as well as museums, art galleries and theaters. Read on to learn how to book train travel from Copenhagen to Berlin.

Book a Train Trip From Copenhagen to Berlin

1

Leave from Copenhagen Central Station. Take a high-speed train to slice hours off your travel time.

2

Prepare to switch trains in Hamburg, Germany. Check out the station while you're there.

3

Purchase a rail pass for your trip from Copenhagen to Berlin. You'll save money. To book train travel from Copenhagen to Berlin, call Rail Europe at (888) 382-RAIL or visit the link below.

4

Book your seat on the train in advance. Reservations are required if you want to ensure that you'll have a seat.

5

Take your children with you. Children under four years old often ride for free. Children up to 11 years old can ride many trains at a 50 percent discount.

Get Around in Berlin

6

Continue by train once you arrive in Berlin. You'll find high-speed and classic trains here.

7

Take advantage of the subway/metro system to move about in Berlin. Some lines run 24 hours a day.

8

Use Berlin's tram service. You'll find the majority of trams available for travel in East Berlin.

9

Hop on a bus to see Berlin. Double-decker buses are available here.

10

Get on a bike and explore the city. Berlin has very few steep hills and an abundance of bike paths.

See Berlin Attractions

11

Tour the Zoologischer Garten. It is the oldest zoo in Germany.

12

Visit the many museums in Berlin. Some of the state-operated museums offer free entrance one Sunday per month. Other museums waive entrance fees for a few hours on Thursdays.

13

Check out Berlin's private art galleries. They often feature beautiful architecture to go along with the artwork.

14

See some of Berlin's historical churches. You'll find many historical treasures and some churches even offer free entrance.

How to Start a Home-Based Travel Business

The travel industry offers opportunities to start a home-based business. The best way to get started is to affiliate with a host travel agency. Independent travel agents, those not affiliated with any host agency, retain 100 percent of their travel booking commissions, but are also responsible for tracking those commissions and handling all the accounting and establishing relationships with suppliers. It is recommended that only experienced travel agents attempt to start their business fully independent of a travel host.

1 Align with a host travel agency. These agencies provide independent contractors with the support of an established business. This usually includes your initial travel agent training, back-office accounting, commission tracking, and a booking engine. A host agency, due to its sales volume, can negotiate higher commissions than an individual with little to no sales volume. Other benefits include access to the host agency's consortium, which offers great travel deals for your clients, and use of its worldwide industry-recognized travel agency credentials (CLIA, IATAN, TRUE, ARC), which allow you to book travel products and services directly with travel suppliers and receive travel supplier training (provided you meet the qualifications).

2 Find a host travel agency. Network with individuals who are working in the home-based travel agent market and obtain referrals so you can make an informed decision. Visit the host's website, find out what type of support is available and what benefits are offered, and ask about the firm's affiliations, licenses and other credentials. Contact the Better Business Bureau to check the host's credentials. For a list of host agencies from around the country, visit the Home Based Travel Agency Network online (see Resources).

3 Compare fees and benefits. Host travel agencies vary widely in terms of the benefits they offer, the percentage of commissions they pay, the type of training you receive, the support available, and whether supplemental income is paid for other activities, such as referring new business to the host agency. For example, one agency might not charge a "start-up fee," while another might charge as much as $750 (2009 prices). Some agencies charge monthly fees to pay for the cost of shipping supplies to their agents. Balance costs and revenues. Agencies that offer higher commissions often charge higher monthly fees.

4 Inquire about tracking. Some host agencies require you to submit tracking forms to verify your commission. The better agencies will track sales and commissions for you.

5 Purchase error and omissions insurance if it is not already included in the host agency's travel agent agreement. Many host agencies include this coverage as one of their benefits, but you also can purchase it through sites such as Travel Agent Protect or The Berkely Group (see Resources).

6 Ask about ongoing education. Agencies that offer free seminars give you the opportunity to learn from other agents who successfully run businesses out of their homes. Check whether the company offers online courses and interactive training.

How Does Electricity Travel to Your Home?

Spinning

In most forms of electric generation, mechanical rotating energy is turned into electricity in coal, nuclear and geothermal power plants, where water is heated into hot steam, which is then used to turn a turbine---a device like a giant fan. In hydroelectric generation, flowing water turns the turbine, and in wind power, the wind turns it. The turbine is hooked up to a generator, which actually produces the power.

The Generator

The generator has a rotating magnet surrounded by coils of wire. As the magnet turns around, the direction of its magnetic field flips from negative to positive and back again. This field permeates the wire. When wire is permeated in this way by a moving magnetic field, it creates a moving current in the wire. This current is called AC, or alternating current electricity, because it changes from positive to negative to positive continuously instead of flowing in one direction.

Step It Up

The power is then put through a device called a step-up transformer. When a wire coil with a changing current running through it is put next to a coil without current running through it, the current from the first wire produces a current in the second. If the second coil has more turns of wire than the first, it receives a higher voltage current than the first wire. A set of coils working this way constitute a step-up transformer.

Cables and Substations

Voltage needs to be stepped up because it might have miles to travel before it gets to your house. Voltage is like pressure---it controls how hard the electricity pushes. Electric wire is a pretty good conductor, but it resists the flow of electricity somewhat. Having high voltage keeps the electricity flowing efficiently without slowing down or losing power. If the electricity has very far to go, it might pass through a substation, where it is boosted again on the way to its destination.

Step It Down

When the electricity gets to your house, it is run through a step-down transformer. In the United States, this reduces it to 120 volts, but in most other countries, the electricity comes in at 210 to 240 volts. Either way, the electricity is at a much safer level then in the electric main. Even if you were to accidentally get an electric shock from it, it probably wouldn't seriously injure or kill you.The electricity runs through a power meter that records how much you use, and then into the fuse box or circuit breaker in your house. From there, it flows into all the power outlets and built-in appliances.

How to Find Out What My Travel Trailer Is Worth

Going on vacation with a travel trailer can be a lot of fun, but it can also be a big hassle. Eventually it comes time to sell it, and the first order of business is finding out what it is worth and how to price it. You don't want to price it too high because you will end up holding onto it forever. You also don't want to make it too low because you will be losing money and literally selling yourself short.

1 Clean and detail your travel trailer. This helps you see what potential it has and also raises the value of the trailer.

2 Get the name, make, model and year of the travel trailer.

3 Go online to RVTrader.com and search your criteria to see what similar models are going for. Keep an eye on the condition of them and compare them with yours.

4 Call people with similar models and ask them if they still have their trailer. If they don't, ask them nicely what they sold it for and if they got a lot of calls. This is the best way to get an idea of what your trailer is worth.

5 Put your travel trailer online for free on classified sites like craigslist. Start your price high to see if you get any nibbles.

How to Travel After Retirement

You've worked hard all your life, raised a family and now the kids are on their own. It is time for you to retire and you need to figure out what you do now. You're too young to sit in a rocking chair, so you decide to travel. After all, you have no responsibilities to anyone but yourself. Here are some tips for traveling after retirement.

1 Visit your children. This is especially good if your children are in different parts of the country. You can then see the sights in various locations as well as visit your children and grandchildren.

2 Make a list of the places you want to see. All those places that you only dreamed about seeing you can now visit. They may be spots in the US or other parts of the world. Maybe you always wanted to see Italy or Ireland, the grand canyon or Disneyland--wherever it is you can now do it.

3 See how much it will cost. You may have to take your trips in steps. Depending on how well you have planned for your retirement, will depend on how often you may be able to take those trips.

4 Buy a RV, if your budget will allow it. If your budget won't allow it, you could sell your home, which will then give you the funds to buy a RV. Living out of a RV may be a bit of an adjustment but it will definitely be a plus in the end because it will allow you to make more trips.

5 Check out the airplane schedules. If you are interested in traveling abroad, you can find out when the best rates are and take your trips then. You don't have to answer to anyone so treat yourself when the time is right.

6 Try a cruise. Cruises are great because you pay one price up front and everything is included in that price. Cruises go to places such as Hawaii, Bermuda, the Caribbean and Alaska.

7 Go to a travel agent. Sometimes it is worth what you will pay the travel agent to get the best price for your trip. You may find there is a package that includes things you never even imagined--and it doesn't cost anything to examine the possibilities.

How to Book Train Travel From Vienna to Salzburg

OBB, the Austrian national railway, makes it simple to book train travel from Vienna to Salzburg. You can choose to travel quickly and directly to Salzburg or take the long way around to enjoy train travel across Austria. You can book your ticket online or at the Westbanhof. Read on to learn how to book train travel from Vienna to Salzburg.

Make Your Way From the Schwechat Airport to Vienna

1 Save money by jumping on the S7 train. The S7 leaves Schwechat airport twice every hour. The trip from Schwechat to Vienna aboard the S7 costs under 5 euro.

2 Arrive in Vienna as quickly as possible by taking the CAT (City Transport Train). This is the fastest, but most expensive train to Vienna.

3 Check out some of the wide variety of architecture Vienna offers while you're between trains. Examples of Secessionist and Art Nouveau architecture abound.

Travel to the Westbanhof (Western Train Station) to Begin Your Train Ride to Salzburg

1 Get train travel information in English from one of the attendants at the information booths located in the Westbanhof.

2 Wander around the historic Westbanhof. The station is a national treasure remodeled after WWII.

Decide Which of the OBB Trains From Vienna to Salzburg Suits Your Needs

1 Remember that trains with no prefix in the name are not speed trains.

2 See that trains with the IC/SC prefixes are high speed trains which travel only within Austria.

3 Note that the train prefix EC denotes high speed trains that travel to other countries.

4 Understand that the trip to Salzburg from Vienna will take at least three hours, and perhaps longer depending on the type of train you choose.

Book Your Train Trip From Vienna to Salzburg

1 Visit the OBB Web site to book a train from Vienna to Salzburg online.

2 Enter Vienna and Salzburg as your departure and arrival cities.

3 Type in the date you wish to travel from Vienna to Salzburg.

4 Select from the schedule one of the Salzburg-bound trains departing.

5 Purchase your ticket to Salzburg using a credit card.

6 Purchase your ticket at the Westbanhof. Staffed and automated ticket machines are available. The national currency is the euro. You can also book train travel from Vienna to Salzburg by calling Rail Europe at (888) 382-RAIL or by visiting the link below.

How to Build a Free Travel Website

People have become accustomed to shopping for travel deals online. If you're a travel agent with an established clientele, creating a web presence is a good way to grow your business. If you're a beginner with travel tips and reviews to share, a website is a good way to get that information out. There are a lot of free web hosting companies and most of them provide site-building tools so you don't need to be an expert at creating websites. You can build a free travel website in a matter of hours.

For Travel Professionals

1 Buy your domain name and sign up with a no-charge web hosting company like Synthasite or Webs. Domain name refers to the words someone types into the address bar on his browser. Choose something that's easy for your customers to remember, like your company name.

2 Create a home page that provides the information your customers or readers need. Include your company history. Explain your qualifications as a travel expert. Include your photo and all your contact information.

3 Use lots of pictures of travel destinations, but resize them so that they don't make your pages load slowly.

4 Mention any special services you offer, such as group travel or discounts. Since most travel agents have access to the same tools, explain why you're the best choice.

5 Link to airline, cruise and hotel websites if you don't do the actual booking. Make sure these links open in another page so that your visitors don't leave your website.

6 Write a blog about current trends in travel. Include travel tips that only an insider would know. Update your blog every few days. Relate personal travel anecdotes that are amusing or useful to your visitors.

7 Post the State Department's travel warnings. These can be found at the State Department website.

8 Make your site keyword heavy by using words that will bring your site into the top rankings in search engines. Keywords are the words a person looking for a travel website would type into a search engine. Sprinkle these words throughout your site.

For the Travel Enthusiast

1 Select a domain name and choose a no-charge web hosting company like Synthasite or Webs. Choose a name that's easy to remember and reflects your site's personality.

2 Create a home page that will make visitors return by keeping the content fresh and interesting. Set the tone for your website whether it's serious, fun or simply informational. Link to appropriate websites.

3 Write a blog. Relate amusing and useful personal travel anecdotes. Note travel trends. Update your blog every few days.

4 Post travel reviews. Include restaurants, hotels and local festivals. Add everything a traveler to that location would want to know. Mention unusual and off-beat attractions.

5 Use photographs of travel destinations. Resize them so that your pages don't load slowly. Use your web host's site-building tools to create themed photo galleries. Caption your photos and include photo credits.

How to Book Travel on Air Miles

If you want to take your private group or company on a getaway through Greece, you can book your travels with the up-and-coming airline, Air Miles. Follow these steps to book a flight.

Book Travel on Air Miles

1 Contact the company's sales department to discuss your booking at 011 (+30) 21 035 36134. If you're calling from outside the United States, check the international prefix before dialing.

2 Book connecting flights with another carrier. Since Air Miles does not share the three-letter codes that are exchanged between airlines, you cannot book a connecting flight with another airline.

3 Learn what kind of lease you will need. Air Miles operates on a wet lease only. A wet lease allows a company to lease a plane with minimum operating requirements. These requirements include insurance, crew, maintenance and the aircraft itself. You will be responsible for providing the flight numbers when you travel on a wet lease.

4 Prepare to spend some time in Crete. Many flight schedules on Air Miles make an overnight stay in Heraklion mandatory.

5 Tag your bags with the airport code. The Heraklion Airport code is HER, which should be added to all your baggage claim checks.

6 Plan to fly from Crete. Air Miles will take off only from Heraklion Airport in Crete, Greece, so make sure you book passage to Crete before you book your flight.

7 Fax your request and questions. The company's fax number is 011 (+30) 21 035 37847. If faxing from outside the United States, use 00 (+30) 21 035 37847.

Fly from Heraklion Airport

1 Avoid confusion: The Heraklion Airport is also known as the Nikos Kazantzakis Airport. The names are interchangeable, so know both names to avoid mishaps.

2 Check your bags to see all of the sites in Crete in comfort. There is an automated machine in the parking lot that will check your luggage for a few hours.

3 Come back to the airport prior to midnight. If you leave your luggage at the airport to go sightseeing, retrieve your luggage before midnight or you will be charged for another 24 hours.

How to Book Travel on Air Miles

If you want to take your private group or company on a getaway through Greece, you can book your travels with the up-and-coming airline, Air Miles. Follow these steps to book a flight.

Book Travel on Air Miles

1 Contact the company's sales department to discuss your booking at 011 (+30) 21 035 36134. If you're calling from outside the United States, check the international prefix before dialing.

2 Book connecting flights with another carrier. Since Air Miles does not share the three-letter codes that are exchanged between airlines, you cannot book a connecting flight with another airline.

3 Learn what kind of lease you will need. Air Miles operates on a wet lease only. A wet lease allows a company to lease a plane with minimum operating requirements. These requirements include insurance, crew, maintenance and the aircraft itself. You will be responsible for providing the flight numbers when you travel on a wet lease.

4 Prepare to spend some time in Crete. Many flight schedules on Air Miles make an overnight stay in Heraklion mandatory.

5 Tag your bags with the airport code. The Heraklion Airport code is HER, which should be added to all your baggage claim checks.

6 Plan to fly from Crete. Air Miles will take off only from Heraklion Airport in Crete, Greece, so make sure you book passage to Crete before you book your flight.

7 Fax your request and questions. The company's fax number is 011 (+30) 21 035 37847. If faxing from outside the United States, use 00 (+30) 21 035 37847.

Fly from Heraklion Airport

1 Avoid confusion: The Heraklion Airport is also known as the Nikos Kazantzakis Airport. The names are interchangeable, so know both names to avoid mishaps.

2 Check your bags to see all of the sites in Crete in comfort. There is an automated machine in the parking lot that will check your luggage for a few hours.

3 Come back to the airport prior to midnight. If you leave your luggage at the airport to go sightseeing, retrieve your luggage before midnight or you will be charged for another 24 hours.

How to Travel on a Shoestring Budget

I've been to every state in the contiguous United States (except North Dakota), experienced magical European and Latin destinations and vacationed in some of the world's best resort areas. I did all this while on a very modest budget. Needless to say, I'm not a Trump or a Rockefeller. In fact, I'm more an agent of service to the rich, but I do always manage to have some great travel experiences, despite my shoestring budget. Here's how you can, too.

1 Don't have a dream list. The best way to travel on a shoestring budget is to not be set on any particular destination. Search for incredible deals, and when you find one, grab it and make plans to go to that place afterwards.

2 Become a good money manager. The best financial gurus tell the rich and poor alike the same thing: If you only have a dollar, manage that dollar. You'd be surprised how far it will go if you only know how to manage it. This especially applies to traveling on a budget.

3 Be prepared for less than admirable sleeping quarters. Stay in hostels or check out Couch Surfing opportunities online (see Resources below).

4 Don't sit down to eat in a restaurant. This is especially true in Europe. If there's a bar, it's cheaper to stand and eat there.

5 Know how to search for deals online. Search for flights through your My Yahoo! account. EasyJet and EasyCruise have some of the best deals you will find. Sign up for the TravelZoo.com weekly newsletter to have great deals emailed to your inbox (see Resources below).

How to Create a Travel Brochure Lesson Plan

Teaching world culture and geography to students through the lens of travel is one of the most engaging lessons a teacher can create and implement. Incorporating the hands-on element of creating an art project further heightens the student engagement level. A travel brochure is a simple and artistic activity to teach students about different cultures, different geographical areas of the world and different people. It also encourages research skills, critical thinking as students select and analyze information to include, and creative expression as they design their projects.

1Select a country or city to create a travel brochure about. This is the place that the student will need to research and find appropriate images to represent. The place may be selected based on a particular unit of study, a setting for a story or book that has been read in class, or can be left to the child's choosing.

2Use a computer and word processor to create a rubric for the project. The rubric must specify what information the students must research and include in their project. It may include information about demographics, geography, topography, attractions, history, cultural traditions or anything relevant to the unit of study. The rubric must also include age-appropriate specifications such as using proper grammar and spelling, or a certain number of images or amount of text. Print the rubric when completed so copies can be made and distributed to the students.

3Type the instructions for the project. These instructions may be broken up into three parts: researching the country or city, creating the travel brochure, and presenting the final presentation. Each section should specify the required steps for making the brochure. For example, researching the country may require the student to use two internet sources and two print sources to gather information. It may also repeat the required components designated by the rubric, such as a section about cultural history or popular attractions.

The instructions for creating the lesson plan should specify how the students make the actual product. A common method is to take a piece of printer paper and tri-fold it to look like a brochure found in a travel agency. The instructions should also state whether images may be all computer-printed, or if some or all should be cut and pasted from photographs and magazines. The final section, the presentation, should state whether students are to simply hand in their brochures by a deadline, or if they will be presenting their brochure and information to the class.

4Create an example brochure. This can be done using computer paper, magazine images that are cut and glued, or images printed from the internet. Be sure to follow all guidelines from the rubric so the students are not confused by a discrepancy between the example and the instructions. This example can be paired with examples of actual travel brochures from a travel agency to give students inspiration for creativity in their projects.

5Put all relevant materials--rubric, instructions, example brochures--in a folder to be kept together with any related materials, such as a unit about a region of the world or a novel set in another country. Use this folder to make photocopies of the rubric and instructions for the student and to keep examples of excellent student work to show future classes.

How to Pack for International Travel

Packing for travel out of the United States can be a daunting task if one is not prepared. The process of gathering personal items and then packing them into appropriate luggage can be simplified by following these basic guidelines for packing checked and carry-on bags.

1

Check with the Transportation Security Administration for an up-to-date list of items allowed in checked and carry-on luggage.

2

Consult with the tour agency for a list of suggested items and luggage regulations if traveling with a tour group. Some tour agencies limit the number of bags allowed per person.

3

Clear a large area such as a spare room or bed to place all the items you will be taking with you.

4

Begin gathering the items for the trip at least a month before your trip. Place them in the designated packing area. Refer to the "Overall Items You'll Need" list for a suggested list of items to take.

Gathering Clothing

1

Decide how many changes of clothes are needed per day based on the nature of your trip. For most trips, you will need two changes of clothes each day, especially if you are planning to put on fresh or more formal clothes for an evening meal.

2

Determine if it is appropriate to wear the same evening clothes two days in a row. This will let you pack fewer pieces of clothing. Put each outfit in the designated packing area.

3

Gather accessories, such as socks, shoes, nylons, undergarments and jewelry that match each outfit and put them in the designated packing area.

Gathering Toiletries

1

Write down a list of all things you use in the morning and in the evening. Do this at least a month before traveling.

2

Purchase travel size quantities of all possible items. Select travel size empty bottles and containers for the items that you cannot purchase in already prepared travel sizes.

3

Pack extra tissues, toilet seat covers and sanitizing hand gel if you are concerned about hygiene away from your hotel. These are usually available in travel sizes.

Choosing and Packing Luggage

1

Find out how many pieces of luggage you are permitted to bring. It is easier to travel with one large rolling bag and one carry-on. Try to pick a carry-on bag that can be strapped to the large bag. This will free your hands to fetch documents and money.

2

Choose a small folder or wallet to place important documents such as your driver's license, passport, tickets and money. Keep this on your person or in your carry-on.

3

Use gallon sized zip top bags to pack everything. Rolling a set of clothes tightly often helps prevent wrinkles better than folding them square. Place one rolled set of clothes and matching undergarments in the zip top bag, pressing out the extra air before sealing.

4

Set out one change of clothes and necessary toiletries, especially medicines, to place in your carry-on bag in case your luggage is lost by the airport. Place these items along with important documents in your carry-on.

5

After all your items are in zip top bags, place the heaviest items in first at the bottom of the luggage to be checked.

6

Gather remaining items and place them in the designated packing area. The most common items are cameras (still and video), batteries, film, memory card and electrical power adapters.

How to Write a Travel Essay

Some people love to travel, but it takes know-how to sit down and write a true travel essay that will inspire and teach others. Anyone can write down what they did on their vacation, but really intriguing travel essays are captivating stories. Read on to learn how to write a travel essay.

 1 Take a new slant. Use bold words and your own voice. Write to get your point across, whether it is the desolation that you see in the slums of a city or the clean air in the mountains. Painting vivid pictures of your surroundings will draw readers to your story.

 2 Put yourself in the essay. Use the first person and let your own personality come through the story. Show the reader how a certain view made you feel or how the people in a new community accepted you. Showing, instead of telling, can bring life to travel essays, and make them enjoyable to read.

 3 Be concise. Steer clear of lofty language. Instead of trying for largesmart-sounding phrases, use short concise words that will get your point across more effectively.

 4 Share the good and the bad. When you write a travel essay you need to be honest with your readers. Write about the lovely scenery, but also about the filth. Not every destination is paradise, and even if it is it isn't always pretty through and through.

5 Personify your world. By bringing the buildings, trees and ocean waves to life, you can bring a creative slant to the pictures in your travel essay. The wind can sing, the waves can moan and old rustic buildings can speak to the soul.

6 Quote those you meet. To write a travel essay, and actually bring the place to life, it helps to include anecdotes or quotes from the locals. This helps to show the reader your destination without you having to tell them.