Booking a last minute holiday can be very exciting. One minute you are sitting at work with nothing but your regular timetable of events to look forward to, and the next you've discovered a bargain last minute break and booked the time to jet off on holiday to somewhere warm and sunny.

It's guaranteed to put the shine on any day but once the initial excitement has worn off you've also got to think about the practicalities of the situation. Where are those suitcases? What do you need to take with you? Is everything that you'll need washed and ironed? And you know you put your passport in a safe place, but can you remember where?

It's easy to get into a panic when you know you've only got a day or two to make sure everything is ready to go, but the easiest way to get around this is to make a list of all the things you need to remember. That way you'll be able to cross them off as you go along, enabling you to concentrate on the things you still have to do.

The first step is to work out how many days you will be away for, as this will allow you to ensure you have the right amount of essential items with you, such as underwear and toiletries to last the whole trip. Of course you can also buy toiletries wherever you go, but you should make sure you at least take enough for the first couple of days.

Next, do some research if necessary to see what the weather will be like wherever you are going. Depending on the type of holiday you've booked, you could be packing for tropical temperatures or sub-zero temperatures, so make sure you go prepared!

Think about the type of holiday you are taking as well, as this will influence what you need to take. If you are going on a beach holiday you will want to take plenty of beachwear and perhaps some snorkelling gear as well, whereas a city break would no doubt need comfy shoes to walk around in as you're more likely to be doing a lot of sightseeing.

Don't forget arrangements you'll need to make at home as well, such as enlisting the help of a friend, relative or neighbour to look after your cat while you are away, or simply check on your house every now and again to make sure everything is okay and perhaps remove mail away from the door, if it is visible. We quite often get so caught up in what we need to organise for taking away with us that we forget essential tasks such as these.

Finally consider taking out travel insurance to cover you during your trip. This is essential if you want to have peace of mind during your last minute holiday that any potential holiday hazards are guarded against.

Adam Singleton writes for a digital marketing agency. This article has been commissioned by a client of said agency. This article is not designed to promote, but should be considered professional content.

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Students, who wish to study in the United States, need to apply for U.S. student visa with the U.S Consulate or Embassy. You may fill up the application for your visa after receiving the I-20 form. The I-20 form is a confirmation of your acceptance as a student given by the university. The form confirms your admission too.

Three Types of U.S. Student Visas:

F-1 - This is the most common type of U.S. student visa. Students make use of this visa for academic studies in the United States. This type of visa is designed for students, who want to enroll for an educational program with a college or University in the United States. It is also used to study English language at an Institute or at a foreign language Institute to study English.

M-1- This type of visa is for people who enroll for vocational training or study or for non-academic activities at an American Institute.

J-1- This is also known as Exchange visitor visa and is useful in cultural and educational programs in the United States.

When to apply for a U.S. student visa?

You may apply for a U.S. student visa 90 days before the date of registration given on the I-20 form. If the date of registration has expired or if you are not able to arrive at the institution on the date of registration, obtain an extension form informing them the date of your arrival.

Students generally get their visa within few days or hours after they submit the application form. Sometimes, the procedure takes a long time depending on factors such as consulate and the time of the year. In denial of a specific visa, you have a right to ask to know the reason for denial from the U.S. consulate.

Fundamental Requirements:

1. It is important that the University accept your admission as a student. You need to submit the I-20 form, which is a confirmation by the institution. You need to sign the form and present it along with a visa application.

2. It is mandatory for you to know English language for undergoing a course in a particular institution in the United States. You need to provide proof of the knowledge of English language in the I-20 form. You may give the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) passing certificate as a proof.

3. The applicant has to provide a financial proof to determine that he/she has enough funds to meet the educational expenses. An applicant may show funds from his/her sponsor, who is taking care of the educational expenses.

If the financial support is obtained from a financial institution such as a scholarship, mention it on the I-20 form. If the finances are coming from the home country, applicants need to produce proofs such as bank statements. The U.S. Embassy gives maximum importance to proofs submitted in an affidavit, as they are legal and documents bound by law.

Final Step:

You need to submit proof to the consulate that your purpose of visit is solely for educational purpose. After the completion of all these above formalities, the consulate affixes visa stamp on your passport.

Tom Tessin is an author for FINDcollegecards.com that is geared toward students looking for a student credit card

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Summer Holiday Periods

Busy holiday periods may be completely booked out months in advance for the most popular motorhomes & campervans. In Australia the summer months, Christmas and New Year period, Easter and school holiday times are the most popular periods for campervan or motorhome hire. To avoid disappointment, plan and book early.

Each year campervan and motorhome rental companies see the same scenario repeated over and over; travellers who have left it too late desperately trying to get a suitable vehicle.

While the total fleet size of all the rental companies that offer campervans or motorhomes in Australia is quite large, there is a huge number of people wanting to hire these vehicles. Combine a popular destination such as Tasmania with a peak season and all vehicles will be booked out; sometimes months in advance.

While the summer is the main peak season for camper hires there are also other periods that are also extremely busy; the holiday period around the Easter weekend in one obvious example. There are other, localised busy periods that affect the availability of motorhomes.

Motor Race Meetings

Each October there are 2 major race meetings that are extremely popular for motorhome hires. The famous Bathurst car races are on in early October and racegoers from all over flock to Sydney to collect their motorhome and head west to Bathurst. Large motorhomes are the most popular as this provides accommodation and transport for a group of friends attending the race meet.

Motorhomes are moved to Sydney in large numbers to cope with the demand which affects availability in other places like Brisbane or Melbourne. Unless those wishing to hire have booked well in advance there will nothing available during this time.

The same applies to the Phillip Island motorcycle races also held in October. Motorhomes from Melbourne will be very heavily booked.

4WD and Camper Hire During the Dry Season

It is not only the summer months that are busy. The cooler, drier months of June, July and August are the peak season for those wanting to visit the tropical areas of north Australia.

This is also the peak season for 4WD hires as many of the most popular tracks are only accessible at this drier time of year and are often completely closed during the Wet season. If you want to hire a 4WD camper in July then you had better book early or you will miss out.

Discounted Rates

Another reason for booking early is that you can often get a cheaper rate for your hire. Many campervans and motorhomes are offered at cheaper rates for forward bookings under what is known as a flex rate system.

A rental company may be quite happy to offer a cheaper discounted rate for forward bookings 6 month or more in advance. As availability lessens the rate will slowly increase accordingly until the point is reached where there is no longer a discounted rate. Those that get in early get the better rates.

Vehicle Choice

Those that book early will get their preferred choice of camper. Once availability decreases you may have to settle for a vehicle that is less than ideal for your circumstances. Then it becomes a matter of taking what you can get.

Want to know more about campervan hire in Australia? Check out http://www.autorentals.com.au for all things relating to camper hire in Australia.

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