Before I reveal the 7 keys to the PERFECT home based business, let’s set the stage:Imagine yourself earning a comfortable living of $60,000 or $100,000 per year, or even more from home doing things you love. Or maybe you would rather just earn an extra $500 or $1,000 a month to help with the bills or to buy a few toys.Imagine being able to stop being a wage slave forever and going up to your boss with a big smile on your face as you say “take this job and shove it”, in a friendly way, of course:-).Imagine yourself in a beautiful new home, a new car, or a new boat.Or how about being able to spend more quality time with your family?Think of the freedom you’ll have when you can take lots of great vacations without having to get an OK from a boss for the time off.If you’re nearing retirement age like me, imagine being able to retire with money to spare. No more worries about Social Security going bankrupt.OK. So, enough already about all that. Right? Who doesn’t imagine or want at least some of these things, if not all of them?There are a lot of so-called home based business “opportunities” that promise all of the above and more. But, as you probably already know, not all of these opportunities are real opportunities. If you’ve ever tried to make money from home with multi-level marketing or envelope stuffing or any of a hundred other “opportunities”, you know what I mean.Many of these so-called “opportunities” will have you spending so much time and effort just to earn a little extra money that you could end up earning less than the minimum wage. Sometimes there are so many demands on your time and money that the business ends up owning you, instead of you owning the business.I know that’s not the kind of opportunity you’re looking for. Don’t waste any more of your precious time and money trying out the “next great opportunity” and then the next, and then one more, until you feel like quitting altogether. Isn’t it time to stop spending money on every new opportunity, and to finally start earning some money?Well, what’s the solution then? How can you finally discover the one opportunity that is really the best?Here’s the solution.Every home based business opportunity that you consider needs to be checked out first to make sure it fits the definition of The PERFECT (TM) home business before you invest your time and money in it.Then, once you’re convinced you have found the perfect home business, you can focus on that one alone and make it a success.No more wasted time and money chasing after every opportunity that comes along. Wouldn’t that be refreshing?Yes, you can discover and start the successful home business you’ve always wanted.Here’s how:The 7 Keys
Each letter in the word “PERFECT” stands for one of the 7 keys of a successful PERFECT (TM) home based business. Each key is something your home based business opportunity MUST have in order for you to enjoy the financial freedom and lifestyle you desire. Does the home business opportunity you are considering meet the requirements in each of these 7 keys?The PERFECT (TM) Home Based Business must be:P: Profitable
E: Easy
R: Real
F: Fits With Your Desired Lifestyle
E: E-Friendly
C: Competitive
T: Testable At Low RiskThis article is an introduction to the PERFECT (TM) Home Based Business concept.There are seven more articles is this series. Each article shows you what each of the above 7 keys means and why it is so important. Stick with me now and read each of the 7 additional articles. You’ll be glad you did.If you’re really to ready start making some money in a home based business without working 60 hours per week and without throwing your money down the “home business opportunity rat hole”, make sure the opportunity you grab now is the PERFECT (TM) home based business opportunity.

Today I was researching travel costs to Japan for a client and found that the Japanese Yen is now trading at approximately JPY 80 to the US Dollar. I remember in April 1995 when the Yen hit its all-time high against the Dollar at 80.43…OUCH. I started to wonder where the currency might be in the coming weeks and months as more and more travelers visit Japan during the peak cherry blossom season. When you do the simple math, it hurts. Japan can be very expensive, but like many aspects of this great nation, what is not said is often the most important.

One theme that continues to be on the minds of people today is the cost of travel. Given the current economic malaise in the USA and around the globe, many individuals have been forced to postpone or even cancel travel due to financial hardship or uncertainty. Travel is one of the first things to be eliminated when one has to make spending cuts due to new budgetary realities, but it is also one of the first areas on the rebound when individuals feel that it is time to take a long overdue vacation.

Over the past month I have received hundreds of requests indicating that they want to travel to Japan, but that it is just too expensive. This is one of the biggest hurdles when promoting travel to Japan. There is this mindset that Japan is just too expensive and when you add the language and cultural differences it all just seems too much and you sense that when you return from Japan, you will need to take another trip just to get over it. Well that simply is just not the case and in more cases than not, at the end of many journeys to Japan travelers are anxious to return again in the future.

So with that in mind I have dedicated this article to debunking the myths and explaining how to find affordable Japan today. I will identify what I consider to be the most helpful tools when planning a journey to Japan. You will find valuable websites to get the best value in air, accommodations, transportation and cuisine which are the building blocks to any successful trip to Japan.

GETTING TO JAPAN
Air travel is the most common way to get to Japan, but each year more cruise lines are offering Japanese cities as ports of call in their regional and/or global itineraries. The biggest story in air travel to Japan is the recent (Oct 2010) opening of the new International Terminal at Haneda International Airport for flights from around the world. Four slots from the USA were awarded to American Airlines (JFK), Delta Air Lines (LAX & DTW) and Hawaiian Airlines (HNL). Haneda is located in downtown Tokyo and just a short 30 minute ride to the center of the city.

I tell all of my clients that redeeming mileage for international travel, especially for upgrades to business or first class, is one of the best ways to maximize the value of your hard earned miles. Keep in mind that with fewer flight departures today, it is even more difficult to secure award space as the airlines continue to try to increase their revenues. You must plan ahead in order to fly on your preferred travel dates, but do not lose faith if you cannot get a free ticket or confirm an upgrade. Recently United Airlines launched their Premium Seating program which enables you to confirm an upgrade on international travel at the time of ticketing even when an upgrade award is not available. If seats are available in the upgraded cabin, the airline will make them available for a premium fee instead of mileage. For example I recently found a flight to Japan and when I was advised that an upgrade was not available from San Francisco to Tokyo using mileage, I was able to secure a confirmed Premium Seating upgrade for an additional $775 USD one way.

If two people are traveling together on the same qualifying international itinerary, the American Express International Airline Program is still one of the best values in travel today. One person pays full fare and the second pays for taxes only. If your budget permits and you need to travel in business class, this is definitely worth the card’s annual fee. If you are traveling solo or not an American Express card holder, you can still find incredible values in air travel directly from the airlines or your travel agent if you plan and book well in advance (50+ days) and secure what are known as “Z” fares. These confirmed business class seats offer considerable savings over full fare business. Please check with your preferred airline as they are subject to availability and may be identified by another fare code depending on the airline. Please note that these fares do carry restrictions and are not fully refundable like regular business class fares and have hefty change fees in the range of $400.

If you are just looking for the best fares to Japan, I always recommend the online booking site KAYAK.COM. Here you will see fares from all major carriers in real time.

TRANSPORTATION UPON ARRIVAL AND WITHIN JAPAN
Once you arrive in Japan you will find that all transportation runs like clockwork. If you are arriving at Tokyo Narita or Haneda the Airport Limousine Bus is the most convenient and economical door-to-door transfer option. If you are traveling to Asakusa or Ueno from Narita, you might want to consider the new Airport Super Shuttle at an incredible one way fare of only JPY 1,000 ($13 USD).

If you are arriving at Kansai International Airport and traveling to Kyoto you might want to consider the Yasaka Kansai Airport Shuttle which offers door-to-door airport transfer service for JPY 3,500 ($44 USD). The other service available in the Kansai region is the MK Skygateshuttle with similar fares and services.

The best value in travel in Japan continues to be the Japan Rail Pass. This pass must be purchased outside of Japan before you arrive and you can select from Regular or Green “First” Class and durations of 7, 14 or 21 days.

WHERE TO STAY? A WIDE VARIETY OF VALUE ACCOMMODATIONS AVAILABLE
Japan prides itself on its extraordinary hospitality and you will find this service excellence across all levels of accommodations from 5-star deluxe hotels and inns to small family owned and operated minshuku or pensions. If you are looking for rock bottom prices from a wide range of hotels, I recommend RAKUTEN.COM. The website is available in English and very simple and user friendly. I recently found and stayed at hotels in Tokyo for just $50 USD per night…yes it is possible! If you do not find your preferred hotel at RAKUTEN.COM and want something more upscale, I highly recommend IKYU.COM. Here you will find most of the major hotels in Japan at discounted prices.

Another wonderful resource for maximizing your hard earned travel dollars is JAPANiCAN.COM. This online travel site is powered by JTB which is Japan’s largest travel company. Here you can search, plan and bundle travel components to meet your specific needs. Recently I was able to book the Shinkansen Bullet Train from Tokyo to Kyoto along with hotel accommodations and saved 52% off the regular published tariff.

Something different…and with incredible value…
If you are yearning for alternative, unique accommodations like a loft, home or simple guest room, one of my favorite new travel sites is AIRBNB.COM. This wonderful travel site from creative minds in San Francisco is not exclusive to travel to Japan, but rather provides alternative accommodations around the globe. When you visit the site you will find amazing places of discovery, so be sure to set some time aside to really enjoy their offerings.

When traveling to the ancient capital of Kyoto, I always encourage my clients to try traditional accommodations like a ryokan or Japanese inn which are so unique to Japan. They offer an intimate glimpse of Japan’s great tradition of hospitality, but often at a significant cost. Another option is to stay in one of Kyoto’s beautiful traditional machiya or townhouse. IORI KYOTO MACHIYA STAY is an excellent source for a wide variety of traditional residence-style accommodations located around the ancient capital. Kyoto is also home to one of the most extraordinary designer capsule hotels – 9HOURS. I recently spent several nights at this amazing showplace of great design where your room rate is based on the total number of hours you stay. The concept is 1 hour to prepare for bed, 7 hours to sleep, and 1 hour to rise and shine = 9Hours. When I arrived at the sliding glass doors at the establishment in Teramachi, I felt as though I was about to walk into their homepage – check it out!

If you want to experience the most unique loft living in the world, you might want to consider the REVERSIBLE DESTINY LOFTS in Tokyo designed by the international design team of Arakawa + Gins. Words do not even begin to adequately describe the residences, so I will just encourage you to check them out for yourself. They have dedicated two units for rental for visitors to Tokyo.

CUISINE – TOKYO HAS MORE MICHELIN STARRED RESTAURANTS THAN ANY OTHER CITY IN THE WORLD

2011 Michelin Guide: Tokyo, Kamakura & Yokohama
Finding a good value in food in Japan can sometimes be a daunting task given the current exchange rate. I have advised my clients over the years that the best deals are the set lunches offered at hotels, restaurants and cafes throughout Japan. So have your big meal in the middle of the day and eat light for dinner – the healthier alternative that will stretch your yen. One major enhancement to the 2011 MICHELIN guide for Tokyo, Yokohama, and Kamakura is the new pictogram. It indicates a starred restaurant offering a menu under 5,000 yen ($60 USD) for lunch and/or dinner. Diners can enjoy gourmet meals for as little as 5,000 yen maximum per person. “Value for money” is one of five criteria to select star restaurants, and the new pictogram serves readers to find local eateries at affordable prices. There are 95 restaurants (81 in Tokyo, 7 in Yokohama and 7 in Kamakura) with a pictogram in the guide. This is more than a third of the restaurant selection.

As a backpacker, you will need a few travel accessories that will make your life so much easier and pleasant while on the road. Read our tips and advice on the Top 5 Travel Accessories that backpackers need!

5. Sleep Sheet
When staying in dorm rooms at hostels sometimes the bedding (linen, mattress and pillow) can be too disgusting to sleep on. What you need is a sleep sheet to keep you clean.

A sleep sheet is also known as a travel sheet, sleeping bag liner or silk liner. They can be made from silk or cotton and their main purpose is to keep you clean from dirty linen or keep you from making your sleeping bag dirty. Some may include a pillow case section for your pillow or a folded up jumper.

A sleep sheet is perfect for staying in dorm rooms, camping, or even to cover yourself when sleeping out in an airport or train station. Once you have used one, you will never go back.

4. Travel Towel
Who wants to use a towel that has been used by hundreds of other backpackers before you? Most hostels will make you hire towels when you arrive if you do not have your own travel towel.

Travel towels come in all different shapes and sizes, but remember the smaller the towel the tougher the backpacker you are! They are basically made from a quick dry material that will wick moisture away from your skin. Remember to let it dry before putting it back into your backpack, otherwise they will start to stink and or grow mould.

Travel towels are perfect for use at hostels, camping or even as towels for the beach.

3. Backpack Cover
A backpack rain cover is what all backpackers will wish they had when it starts to rain while you are lost trying to find your hostel. A backpack cover will protect your backpack and belongings from the elements. Some backpackers even use them to protect their backpacks when they are own public transport.

Most backpacks should come with their own backpack cover, or you can buy them from most outdoor shops. Make sure you get the right size to match the size of your backpack. If your backpack is made from canvas, you won’t need a cover, as your pack should be waterproof.

2. Travel Cutlery and Bowl
The easiest way to save money when you are backpacking is to self-cater. Sure, it is good to try the local cuisine and culture, but not every meal should be eaten at a restaurant.

You should use a bowl, preferably a collapsible bowl, and lightweight travel cutlery when you are on the road. They are perfect for having a picnic in a park or just to use something clean when eating in a hostel kitchen. Make sure you pack your cutlery into your checked-in luggage when catching a plane, otherwise you may lose it when you go through customs.

Ask at the hostel where the local supermarket or a local produce market is and make sure you buy food for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

1. International Travel Adapter
Last but not least is the travel adapter. It is the most important travel accessory for any backpacker or any traveller. Backpackers are taking more and more electronics with them when they go overseas, we have even seen backpackers with power-boards!

Make sure you buy the right adapter for the countries you will be travelling to, otherwise you will find yourself with a flat battery. You could always purchase a universal travel adapter, which has a number of connections on the one adapter.

There are many other travel accessories that will help you along the way, but these are the ones that the team at Trusty Travel Tips have found the most helpful!

A team of four dedicated and experienced travellers have together to form Trusty Travel Tips [http://www.trusty-travel-tips.com]. We provide great travel tips and advice on planning your adventure, what to pack, how to pack and what to expect when travelling on the road.

You may be interested in our tips and advice on travel security accessories that will keep your belongings safe or the best travel accessories to pack. Also we have great information on backpacking for beginners, how to fit your backpack, and a extensive backpacking checklist.