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The easiest way to shop without hassle and stress is to shop early.  Most of us use shopping as a way to get into the Christmas spirit, but it also promotes a stressful holiday season.

What types of gifts do we buy? Mostly, items that we think someone would like to have based on our tastes.  The most meaningful gift is one that meets that person’s desire or need.  If Cousin Susie is always running out of stamps or envelopes to write letters, a thoughtful gift would be a personal mail center complete with stamps, envelopes, and writing tools.

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What can I say about eating around the holidays? The main reason for Christmas may not be food but all of the good times we seem to have center around it.  Food brings people together.  It may be a wedding, funeral, reunion, or holiday and you will see families laughing and playing over some sort of vittles.

But, food can get pretty expensive at that time of the year.  If you are a holiday baker and a party host, getting the menus together ahead of time will save lots of money.  A comprehensive list of ingredients for family dinners, desserts, and party foods allows things to be marked off as they are bought.

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Decorations put us in the mood to celebrate the holidays.  When the house is filled with bright sparkling lights, scented candles, wreaths at the door, and an ornamented Christmas tree, we believe that the season has arrived.

For some, it isn’t truly Christmas without a real tree.  An artificial tree is just as good and will last for many years if it is a good quality tree.  Both are good options for the family.

When it comes to decorating a home and a Christmas tree, advertisers do their job quite well.  Already, our hands are itching to purchase every shiny bulb we see.  But, when they introduce the next big thing or an entire complement of ornaments to fully decorate the tree, we are hooked.

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• Benefit from the greater buying power of travel wholesalers by shopping among the packaged air fare and accommodation deals. A good travel agent can work wonders if you specify your budget requirements. Compromise on some tour details can mean huge savings.

• Be very wary of getting trapped in a resort where the price includes nothing more than the room and there are no alternative sources of food. A couple of Australia’s best-  known islands come to mind.
They offer attractive packages, but there is no alternative to eating in restaurants which charge resort prices (yes, expensive).

• Unless you have to, don’t go on holiday now. Wait for those of us with school children to retreat, and watch the prices plummet as we leave. I’m jealous just thinking about it.

• An essential item for any outing is some sort of cool bag or esky, especially at the beach with children. It allows you to pay supermarket prices for the inevitable soft drinks. The savings can be substantial.

• Finding the location of the nearest major supermarket is an early necessity. It might take a little more effort to get to, but one good shop at the start of your holiday can save a bundle compared with the tourist centre’s corner store prices.

• Do you like to read on holiday? Visit your local library before you
go - you’ll find a better range of books than at the airport, at a better price!

• An absolute necessity for overseas travel is insurance to cover the risks of sickness and injury- Hospital charges in the US really can send you broke, while some Third- and even Second-World countries are great to visit, but you wouldn’t want to be operated on there. Shop around for quotes, but it’s better to have too much insurance than not enough.

• The primary role of the phone in your hotel room is to make money for the landlord. Outrageous mark-ups on hotel phone bills can be avoided by using a pay phone. A Telstra Telecard allows you to bill calls back to your home phone account.

• Leave buying mementos until the end of your stay — by then you’ll have a better idea of prices and products.

• Go native. Use local public transport rather than taxis or tours. For example, visitors to Sydney can enjoy the harbour on public ferries rather than dearer tourist cruises.

• Buy the local newspapers. The features and advertisements will be more up-to-date than the best travel books, and the best shopping specials more current, regardless of whether you’re a visitor or a local.

• Finally, remember the best things in life really can be inexpensive - the time to relax and enjoy the company of those you holiday with. Sunsets and a beach walk are still free.

Tuscany Italy
This pretty Italian province is home to the Leaning Tower of Pisa, the birthplace of Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo, and where the story of Pinocchio originated.

Florence, going up the hill to the Forte di Belvedere, affords you a breathtaking view of the city. Then, visit the Boboli Gardens, an outdoor museum with labyrinths and Renaissance sculptures and drop by the Accademia, the home to David by Michelangelo. Don’t forget to check out Uffizi Gallery and its awe-inspiring paintings by such masters as Raphael, Michelangelo and Car-avaggio. Next, drop by Chianti to see how the fine Italian wine is made in Tuscany. Complete your visit to Italy by seeing the leaning tower of Pisa, in Versilia and getting some retail therapy at Villafranca or Bagnone, or the busy market town Fivizzano.
Posta is a lovely bed and breakfast in Florence that costs about $50 per person per night. Sate your hunger surrounded by old world charm in Nerbonne in Mercato Centrale.

Budget hotels don’t necessarily equal dingy rooms and stinky communal bathrooms! Most proprietors are now able to offer decent lodgings at affordable prices by carefully leaving out certain luxuries such as:

Spartan basics - No TV in rooms and no swimming pool. Some hotels try to make up for this by providing something unique like a curio shop or tanning area on the roof top. Who needs the idiot box when you’re on vacation, anyway?
Meals not included - Usually no free buffet breakfast is provided, even if the hotel has its own restaurant or cafe. Privacy - Dorm rooms are usually quite cheap, which is perfect if you are traveling with a group of friends. Granted you get less privacy, but take it as an opportunity to meet other travellers and share their stories!

When picking out a budget hotel, it’s best to check out the local hotel rating website and see the reviews on it. Alternatively, visit the country’s tourism board website for the necessary info. The best method? Ask for referrals from pals who have stayed in budget hotels before!

Most business travellers to PNG require a business visa. Unfortunately, these can be time-consuming to obtain and generally cost around A$250. Consult with the company you are visiting about this well in advance of your trip.
Getting to PNG There are direct flights to PNG from Cairns and Brisbane with Air Niugini (Qantas codeshare), with connecting flights from Sydney. Costs are high but the service is good. A Business Class service is offered. Getting Around Port MoreSby Upon your arrival/departure, any of
the hotels listed below will provide a complimentary transfer.

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Not sure if you should plan your next vacation with a travel agent, or DIY as usual? Then consider these advantages to booking through an agent:

Big discounts; A well-informed agent will be more clued-in to the bargains available and as they book in bulk, they are privy to discounts from airlines and hotels too.

Saves you the hassle: if you’re planning a trip to a spot that isn’t accessible via a direct flight, your agent can find the most efficient way to get there faster than you can.

Guarantee of standards; Agents usually represent only quality hotels, restaurants and overseas tour agencies, so you don’t have to worry about getting duped when you buy your holidays from them.