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While not a requirement, getting additional training at a travel agency school is becoming increasingly important.  This article will show you what you need to know.

Types of Schools

Becoming a travel agent isn’t a centralized vocation, like so many others.  This leads to there being a list of different kinds of schools that run long and wide.

Many schools and training programs wrap around a given specialization (such as cruise planning). This makes it easier for the graduate to monetize their new skill in the real world. Clients want experts these days… general travel agents are falling out of favor.

The length of your training will depend on the school you choose and your area of specialization.  Some last 2 years or longer, while others can be completed in less than a month.

Depending on the school, you may have at-home correspondence (for the busy professional) or possibly have to go to a local campus (usually a state run college).

What travel agency school is most popular?

There is no definite answer for this.  However, I will fill you in on three of the most popular destinations for training and certification:

ASTA – The American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA) is renowned for their training and certification programs.  Prices vary, and they offer everything from basic courses to specialized courses (such as leisure sales) to frequent virtual seminars.

ASTA Website

The Traveler’s Institute – These guys have been around since 1964, and have built up a good reputation in the mean time.  In addition to individual training courses, they also put together conferences to keep you up to date on recent developments.

The Traveler’s Institute Website

Cruise Planners University – This is one of the specialization schools I mentioned earlier.  They recently released a two year virtual course to prepare you to be a Certified Cruise Planning Expert.  Many folks are saying good things about it.

Cruise Planners University Website

Something of note…

If you plan on running your travel agent business from your home, going to an established travel agency school isn’t necessary.  In fact, it may be a deterrent.

Reason being, traditional vocational schools are geared toward preparing you to work for somebody else.  A cog in the wheel, if you will.  Read more...

If you’re about to attend college, you going to need a lot of supplies and one of those made supplies that you’ll need is a college backpack. Without a backpack, you’re going to find that it’s going to be hired to carry around your books, folders, and other supplies. This is why a backpack is crucial when you’re attending college.

When it comes to choosing a backpack, there many things that you should consider when picking one out. Below, you’ll find a few tips that will make it easier for you to pick out a backpack. By following these tips alone, you’ll be able to find a bag that suits your needs 100%.

Size — You’re going to need a backpack that is going to be able to fit everything that you need to put in there. Think of everything that you’re going to put in your backpack. From folders to books, this will determine the size that you need. There are a lot of different sizes on the market, so be sure that you research each and every one of them to make sure that you get the right size. If you get the wrong size, you may find that you’ll be able to fit everything you need in their defeating the purpose of the bag. You don’t want to carry anything in your hands outside of your book bag. This will just make it harder on you.

Features — Believe it or not, they’re actually a lot of features that you don’t find with a backpack. From cell phone holders to pencil holders, many people think that backpacks just hold books and folders. Today, there are so many book bags on the market, many people don’t know which ones to buy simply because of the features. Make sure you look at all the features because you may find one that you could use such as the cell phone holder.

Material — Each and every book bag on the market is made of different material. It’s your job to make sure that you get a book bag that is going to be durable for a long time. Usually when it comes to buying a bag, you don’t want to be cheap because you usually get what you pay for. If you’re going to spend under $25, don’t expect the bag to last long because these bags are typically made of cheaper material. A good price range when it comes to buying is usually around $50 or up.  Read more...

While parents are nervous for their children who are just beginning in kindergarten or even pre-school, the kids are getting wound up in the purchase for their first backpack. Many people consider this a rite of passage! One that many children won’t soon forget.

Backpacks come in an extensive assortment of colors, themes and styles. It really boils down to deciding which backpack is works for child. By starting early, parents and students have more to choose from at a reasonable price. This is one way to discover the ideal backpack.

When it comes to school backpacks, the younger children have many choices to go through. Many cartoon characters are on the backpacks. For girls, there are book bags with the Disney Princess line of flower and a butterfly design. One small design flaw for these is that they are pastel in color and can get filthy pretty easily. Cleaning will need to be done quite often to keep them looking good and new.

For boys, there are skateboard versions to action figures and characters on the backpack. Cleaning these bags, is a bit easier because the colors are not as vibrant.

Should you be choosing a book bag for either genders in the littlest age group, parents will want a bag that is well done and made and very durable. Should it look as if the bag will fall a part before the child’s second semester in school, it is not a buy that should be made. This is even more true if the child’s favorite character is on the bag.

The older children, those in high school and even college, do have plenty of alternatives when it comes to school book bags.

Nowadays, these styles come equipped with a laptop carrier. They can even place other electronic devices that have become very important to high school students. One such device is a calculator. Though not used often in high school, some teachers do allow them.

For college level students who walk on a large campus and live on the campus, it is important that these backbags can carry most of their books should all their classes be held right after the other. Some of these styles include backpacks with wheels (a welcome relief to those who walk a great distance or have a bad back).  Read more...

It’s that time of the year again and millions of children are returning to school.  They have purchased their school supplies and backpacks and headed off to their new classrooms.  While the backpacks are only filled with school supplies, they are not much of an inconvenience for the students.  But, once they are filled with textbooks, notebooks and other educational materials, they become a burden and a health hazard for youngsters.

Backpacks can be an important tool for students, but only when worn properly.  However, most of the time children do not wear them properly and it results in numerous injuries. 

Backpacks were designed in such a way to be worn on the child’s back.  The wide straps on the bags should fit comfortably across the shoulders with the bulk of the bag lying evenly across the back.  The back and abdominal muscles of the body are the strongest muscles and when the backpack is positioned properly, it can safely carry a reasonable amount of weight.  Many experts state that students should carry no more than 10 to 15 percent of his or her body weight in a backpack.  An example is a 60-pound child should carry no more than 6 to 9 pounds of books and supplies in their backpack.

The truth is many students do not wear their backpacks in the correct manner.  Often times they carry too much weight and toss the bag over one shoulder which ends up causing a disproportionate amount of weight on one side of the body.  When this happens you often see the child bending over to support the extra weight or walking in a different manner to accommodate the weight.  Over time this behavior can cause poor posture and injuries to the neck, shoulder and back. 

Weight and proper wear are not the only hazards of backpacks.  Here are some points to consider:

*Straps on backpacks should be wide enough to distribute weight.  Tight, narrow straps can dig into a child’s shoulders causing problems with circulation.  Some common symptoms are tingling, numbness associated from damaged nerves to the child’s neck and shoulders.

*Heavy backpacks can cause a child to be uncoordinated and ungainly.  Students may begin to fall, stumble, or just lose their balance from the packs.  This is more often observed on stairways or other uneven surfaces.  Read more...

Not all backpacks are created equal. There are the basic backpacks that simply carry your books to and from school and then there are the backpacks that can handle the extreme, outdoor elements when camping. Some backpacks are designed to hold special gear such as laptops or mp3 players. What are some of the new backpack styles for going to school? Here are several styles to consider when choosing a new backpack.

Rolling Backpacks

While rolling backpacks are not exactly new, each year they look less and less like suitcases on wheels and more and more like sleek backpacks. With the newest rolling backpacks, the wheels and the telescoping handles are designed to be less noticeable when not in use. However, when students are walking to and from school, they are easily accessible, keeping the stress of a heavy backpack off kids’ backs.

Laptop Backpacks

As more and more students, particularly high school and college students, have begun to take their laptop computers with them to school, new styles of backpacks have emerged which are designed to securely carry a laptop. When searching for a laptop backpack, form should definitely follow function. While there are many attractive laptop backpacks on the market, a laptop backpack should first keep the computer secure, and then it should be stylish. Fortunately, it is not difficult to find one that does both.

Laptop backpacks should be well padded to absorb any shock should the backpack hit the floor while the computer is inside. Higher quality backpacks also have a separate padded sleeve to slip the laptop into before putting it into the backpack. There should also be ample storage for cables and other computer accessories as well as a student’s books. The backpack itself should be lightweight because the addition of the laptop can increase its weight significantly.

Gadget Backpacks

Gadget backpacks are often designed with specific pouches or compartments to carry small electronic devices such as mp3 players or handheld gaming systems. A backpack that is designed to carry an mp3 player usually has a specific compartment for the device and a hole in front of the compartment to allow the headphone cord to emerge from the backpack. This enables the wearer to listen to their music while it is in the backpack. Some mp3 backpacks even have speakers so others can listen to the mp3 player, too.  Read more...