How to Get to Downtown Washington, D.C., from Dulles International Airport

The majority of international travelers to Washington arrive at Dulles International Airport. The airport is 28 miles from downtown D.C.

1 Take the bus. Metrobus runs a D.C.-Dulles bus (5A) that originates at the airport and takes you to the L'Enfant Plaza Metro station in downtown D.C. It makes three other stops along the way. Proceed outside the airport at the departures level to the bus stop area. Look for signs for the 5A bus. Buses depart Dulles about every 40 to 50 minutes from 5:50 a.m. to 11:40 p.m. weekdays and about hourly from 6:32 a.m. to 11:40 p.m. weekends. The trip to or from L'Enfant Plaza takes about 50 minutes and costs $3.10, as of 2008. Cash only, exact change only. Once you arrive outside the Metro station, you can take the Metro or take a bus to your hotel or other destination.

2 Take the Metro. To get to the Metro, you must first take a Washington Flyer express bus. The Washington Flyer buses depart Dulles every 30 minutes starting at 5:45 a.m. weekdays and 7:45 a.m. weekends and holidays until 10:15 p.m. daily. The trip is 20 to 30 minutes and costs $9 one way, $16 round trip. Buses depart Dulles at Door 4 on the arrivals level of the main terminal.

3 Take a taxi. Fares will run approximately $60 to downtown Washington. Follow the signs inside the terminal on the arrivals level. The taxi line originates inside the terminal, not outside.

4 Take a shuttle service. SuperShuttle and other shuttle services can ferry you into the city for less than the cost of a taxi. Make a reservation in advance.

5 Hire a private car service. Arrangements should be made in advance. Confirm your reservation before boarding your flight to Washington.

How to Book Train Travel From Budapest to Zagreb

Zagreb, Croatia, is located 342 kilometers (about 210 miles) from Budapest, making it one of the closest European capitals to Hungary. Train travel between the 2 cities is easy to book, and Zagreb is well worth a visit.

Prepare to Travel From Budapest to Zagreb

1 Know the entry requirements for Croatia. U.S. citizens will need a passport and a pre-booked return or onward ticket to enter the country. However, U.S. citizens may stay up to 90 days without a visa.

2 Bring at least 4,000 Hungarian forints per first-class ticket you intend to buy. Second-class tickets usually cost about 2/3 the first-class price.

3 Decide when you'd like to leave. Most days, 4 trains connect Budapest and Zagreb via Siofok on Lake Balaton. Most trains make the trip in about 6 hours, but some routes make additional stops. Timetables can be found online at the Hungarian railway Web site (see Resources).

Book Your Ticket From Budapest to Zagreb

1 Go to a Budapest train station. The Budapest-Keleti train station ticketing agents will have probably more experience with westbound international travel. The central ticket office for the Hungarian state railway in Budapest will probably have more experience dealing with foreigners.

2 Order your ticket or tickets as clearly as you can and don't leave out any information. Say when you'd like to leave, where you are going, what class you will be traveling and how many tickets you would like.

3 Call mom once you've arrived safely: there are many public phones and many kiosks that sell calling cards in Glavni kolodvor.

How to Travel With a Cat on an Airplane

Cats and planes do not mix. But there are times when it is necessary to take your cat on an airplane. One of these times would be because of relocation. If you absolutely have to take a cat on the airplane read ahead and good luck.

1 Look into airline rules on traveling with your cat.

2 Purchase the proper carrier that meets all of the airline specifications and will be comfortable for the cat.

3 Take the cat to the veterinarian and be sure the cat is healthy enough to travel.

4 Invest in the cat tranquilizers that the veterinarian offers. Your cat (and the other passengers) will be happier sleeping the whole time he/she is traveling.

5 If your cat is older than 8 weeks, smaller than 15 pounds, and in good health you can buy him a seat on the plane.

6 Clearly mark the cat carrier with your name, address, phone number and destination address. Also, print the words "LIVE ANIMALS" on all sides and the top of the carrier.

7 Cover the bottom of the carrier with several layers of soft paper towels. Place something familiar smelling to the cat inside the carrier to help comfort her during the trip.

8 Give your cat lots of positive encouragement and petting as you travel.

How to Book Train Travel From England to Ireland

Until they build another underground tunnel from England to Ireland like the one that crosses the English Channel, train travel between the two countries must involve some sort of sea travel. Fortunately, most British rail companies offer comprehensive travel packages that combine train and ferries in a convenient, almost seamless manner. Read on to learn how to book train travel from England to Ireland.

Book Train Travel From England to Ireland

1 Visit the official Web sites of one of Britain's major rail carriers, such as BritRail, National Rail or ScotRail, to explore the many types of travel packages for Ireland. You can also book train travel from England to Ireland by calling Rail Europe at (888) 382-RAIL or by visiting the link below.

2 Book travel from England to Ireland with your credit card online once you have decided on your crossing point and railway.

3 Consider such alternatives such as high-speed catamarans for your ocean crossing.

4 Employ the services of a travel agent in England to take care of everything for you if you're worried about missing an important detail.

Relax on Your Voyage to Ireland

1 Consider first-class passage for just a bit more money if you need space to relax, or if you're bringing a lot of luggage to Ireland.

2 Take advantage of special packages the rail carriers offer to extend your passage to certain points within Ireland.

3 Alternate your crossing point for your return to England so that your journey is always fresh and new.

How to Book Train Travel From Zurich to Basel

As the third-largest city in Switzerland and a major hub of the European pharmaceutical industry, Basel is a popular destination for both tourists as well as business travelers. Only about an hour away by train from Zurich, the trip between the two cities is quick, comfortable. It's also quite scenic. Follow these steps to start planning your trip.

1 Research your route to determine if you'd like to travel directly to Basel or if you'd like to squeeze in a couple of side trips along the way. Because the distance between Zurich and Basel is so small, you should have plenty of time to stop and check another city off your list. If you happen to be traveling on the first of August, stop in Olten for the annual fireworks display on the river.

2 Decide on the time of day you'd like to travel. The first train leaves the Zurich main station at 5:34 a.m. The last train leaves the station at just past midnight. Between these hours, you'll find trains leaving on average every 10 minutes.

3 Consider grabbing a bite to eat on the train if you'd like to maximize your time. The Swiss Railways Web site (see Resources below) informs the traveler as to which amenities each train features. If you'd like to eat or have a drink, make sure you choose a train that has a restaurant car.

Book Your Ticket from Zurich to Basel

1 Access the English-language version of the Swiss Railways Web site (click on the link in Resources below) for the latest timetables for the trip from Zurich to Basel. You'll notice that there is no shortage of possibilities for travel. There are as many as 12 trains per hour during peak travel times.

2 Book your ticket on the Swiss Railways Web site if you have planned far enough ahead to allow it. The Web site allows you to buy the ticket and then print it up on your own printer if you have one. You can also pick the ticket up at the train station.

3 Book your ticket at the train station if you'd prefer. The main ticket window in the Zurich station opens at 5:30 a.m. and remains open until 11:15 p.m. Don't worry if a train is full; there will be another one in a few minutes.

4 Call Rail Europe at 877-257-2887 to book train tickets from Zurich to Basel if you'd prefer not to book online.

How to Keep a Pet Calm During Travel

Many people love to travel with their pets. It's not hard to see why. Pets are parts of the family in most cases, and people are loathe to leave them behind. For the most part, pets love to travel with their humans. They enjoy the togetherness, the bonding and the adventure of something new, especially dogs. Most of all, though, they love being included on a family trip and not relegated to a pet sitter. However, pets sometimes get a little nervous and jumpy during the actual travel phase of a vacation, especially if they're not used to riding in cars or on planes. Fortunately, there are steps to take to keep a pet calm during travel.

1 Bring along all the regular products your pet uses. Keeping the same cat litter, the same brand of food and the same brand of treats will hep your pet feel more secure when traveling.

2 Keep familiar toys within reach of your pet. If your pet is in a carrier or crate, put a favorite toy or two in there with him, and pack the others for when you get to your hotel.

3 Talk softly to your pet during travel. Even if your pet is in a carrier and can't cuddle with you, hearing your familiar voice will help your pet to stay calm and feel comforted.

4 Go to the pet or health food store before you leave on your trip to buy homeopathic calming drops for your animal companion. Calming drops, such as Dr. Goodpet's Calm Stress formula, can be added to your pet's food or water or placed directly on the tongue and will help keep your pet calm.

5 Eliminate loud noises as much as possible during travel and try to avoid taking sharp turns or going over bumps at a fast speed if you're driving.

6 Reach in through small openings in your pet's crate or carrier to pet him. Petting will soothe your pet and make the trip more pleasant for him.

7 Stay calm yourself. Pets take their cues from their humans. If you're stressed out on a trip, your pet will be, too. However, if you're relaxed, your pet will pick up on that and relax himself.

How Does a Travel Agency Make Money?

Commissions

When a customer approaches a travel agency to schedule and book travel, she expects to get excellent travel prices with little or no planning and preparation. The travel agency accepts the customer's business and begins researching travel rates and booking appropriate offers. For each offer booked with partner airlines, cruise lines and rental car agencies, the agency providing the service offers a commission to the agent in exchange for the customer's business. At the height of travel competition, these commissions reach as high as 30 percent of the rate paid by the customer, or $30 on a $100 fare. Poor economic conditions can largely restrict the commissions to a flat 10 percent, however, and reduce the amount of profit received by the travel agency.

Rebates

Some larger travel agencies that agree to work exclusively with certain travel partners also receive income in the form of travel rebates. When a customer books travel though the agency--and the agency, in turn, books the fare with the travel provider--the agency charges the customer the lowest travel fare available at the time of booking. If the rate should drop later, however, the airline forwards a rebate to the travel agency--which may or may not be passed on to the end user. If the agency agrees to pass on the rebate savings, the customer receives a rebate check from the agency itself; if the agency doesn't pass along the savings, it pockets the rebate as additional profit.

Fees

Though most agencies continue to work entirely off travel commissions, economic conditions can force some agencies to charge customers for their services. Marked as "booking" or "convenience" fees, these fees are designed to compensate the travel agent for the time spent researching and booking travel.

How to Keep a Travel Journal

A travel journey can be a wonderful resource for keeping in touch with your feelings, recording your activities, storing photos and mementos, and collecting information to share with others about your trip.

1 Consider purchasing a guide to journaling to carry with you on your trip; these books are filled with exercises and reflections from others who have kept a journal. This may inspire your writing along the way. If it becomes a burden, you can always pass it on to another traveler.

2 Remember that there are no set rules for keeping a journal, and give yourself permission to use your journal as you see fit. Don't let expectations about what a journal "should be" keep you from writing with spontaneity and freedom.

3 Consider numbering your entries, recording the name of the location where you are writing or making a sketch of your surroundings before each entry. This may ease the pressure of feeling you need to write every day.

4 Carry pencils, colored pens, crayons, glue stick, tape and watercolors, even if you don't consider yourself the "artistic type." Anticipate that your traveling may inspire you in ways you hadn't imagined.

5 Let locals, children you meet or new friends make entries or sketches in your journal (another good reason to bring those crayons along!).

6 Make lists of things that are part of your day-to-day travel experience. Some ideas might include: "what people eat on trains"; "what I'm carrying in my fanny pack"; "the kinds of pets people have here"; "what I wish I could steal from my hotel room."

7 Contemplate keeping a journal that is a collection of letters to a beloved friend or family member back home.