By Peter Siljerud
Boats and trains are two very common modes of transport for backpackers. Here is some advice on how to get the most out of them:
Train
Trains can be quite convenient since it is easy to get up and walk around during your trip. If you do not have a specified seat you might have to be quick when the train arrives. People waiting first in line to get on the train might put clothes and handkerchiefs on multiple seats. Brute force may sometimes be the only option to get a good seat.
Personal Experience
The Japanese Journey
I was on an organized tour in Japan. We were going to take a Shinkansen bullet train to travel out in the country side. As the train rolled away from the station we started to relax and enjoyed the beautiful sights rolling by and the lush nature. After one hour the tour guide realized he had left his bag at the station. After we reached our destination and had settled into our hotel he took the train back to the station and lo and behold: 4 hours after we had left the station the bag was still where he had left it!
Boat
Check where the life jackets and life rafts are located and what to do in an emergency situation. Some ferries have first class tickets on the lowest floor, e.g. China, which may not be so attractive if you travel in an old second-hand ferry with questionable floating capabilities.
Personal Experience
The Zanzibar Storm
I was taking the ferry from Zanzibar back to the mainland. Always the wise guy I started humming the theme song from the movie Titanic (My heart will go on). I had barely ended when a storm hit us with huge waves which broke the electronic equipment and people screaming everywhere (though I am not sure if it was because of the storm or my singing). Kharma seems to have a way of getting back at you...
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By Alex Wilhelm
If you are looking for a place to go on your vacation, Italy should be considered due to the fact that this country has all the necessary requirements that will make your vacation a wonderful experience.
Many people have dreamt of visiting Italy but because the expenses are so high, their dreams have been shattered. You don't have to lose hope because if you read through these points given below, you will plan for your vacation in a more sensible manner.
The best time to go on vacation is between February to May. This is because during this season, the accommodation costs are always low unlike in the peak season.
In these off peak seasons, you will pay little money which is 50% lower than that charged during the peak season. The accommodation facilities will be there in plenty from which the hotels will decide to cut down their prices because the visitors at that time are few.
The money charged on you when you book in advance will be little hence you have to contact the hotel receptionist just in time so that you can land this free offer.
If you decide to live near the major cities of Italy which include; Naples, Milan, Rome and many more, be prepared to spend a lot of money. You will benefit a lot if you choose a place that is located in the outskirts of Italy because they will charge you little money for the accommodation and other facilities.
When you are still thinking of the best place to stay, put in mind the cost of transport. It will be good if you decide to settle in an area which has all the tourist attraction sites that you would love to visit which will help you not to spend aimlessly on gas.
In order for you not to run short of money, cook for yourself instead of ordering for room service or going to expensive restaurants. This can cut down 30% of your expenditure.
Try the Oregon health insurance and the Florida health insurance for those who live in those states.
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By David Chapple
It's that time of year again when everyone it seems is starting to plan their vacations for the coming year. Choice of destination is very often decided by the glossy photos of sun kissed shores, fine sand and turquoise waters. But everything is not always as rosy as it at first appears.
What I'm not going to do in this short article is delve into the Do's and Don'ts of overseas travel, I just want to make you aware of an outstanding travel advisory resource.
Let me tell you a story.
In July 2008, a friend of mine booked his annual holiday and for the first time decided to visit Turkey. An increasingly popular tourist destination over recent years with just over 2 million Britons visiting in that year alone. No cause for concern there then.....Right up until he was robbed at knife-point in a quiet, unlit area of Istanbul where he had been enthusiastically checking out "the real Turkey."
Goodbye cash, credit cards, passport and all other means of identification. He'd managed to hold on to his mobile phone but didn't know any emergency or police numbers to call. After eventually trudging back to his hotel, in a very shocked state, he was able to obtain contact details for the British Consulate and make arrangements to rectify the situation and get his holiday back on track.
Go To Jail - Go Directly To Jail - Do Not Pass Go!
The next day my hungry friend (he had no money for breakfast) made his way on foot (he had no money for a taxi) towards the consulate only to get caught up in the aftermath of a terrorist attack on the US Consulate a short distance away. 3 dead Police Officers and 3 Dead PKK terrorists equals utter panic and a lot of checking of identity documents - of which he had none! And that is an offence in Turkey.
Lets just say that he didn't spend that night in his hotel room. With more pressing matters on their minds that day, it was a good few hours before my friend said goodbye to his Police hosts and finally made it to the Consulate a day later. His intended 2 day short stay in Istanbul before going on to Marmaris had extended to 4 days after which time he was more than ready to return to the UK and start saving for next years holiday - to the Isle of Wight!!
And The Winner Is......
Now remember, the point of this story - it's true by the way - is not in any way to detract from Turkey (which is a fantastic vacation destination), it's to give you an indispensable travel resource that almost certainly would have helped prevent this disaster if only my friend had consulted it and followed a few very simple and readily available tips.
The travel resource I'm talking about is: The British Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO)
(In Australia: The Government 'Safe Traveller' Website)
(In USA: Department of State Website - International Travel Page)
What Do You Get?
A couple of mouse clicks takes you to the 'Travel and Living Abroad' page of the FCO Website. This is a publicly accessible site that is jammed packed full of useful information on overseas travel including topics such as:
Staying Safe and Healthy
Crime and Terrorism
What To Do If Things Go Wrong
Local Laws and Customs
Travel Restrictions
Emergency Points of Contact
Responsible Ethical and Environmentally Considerate Travel
Registering of Births, Deaths and Marriages and much much more.
Planning a trip with advice from this site in mind would have discouraged my friend from visiting certain dangerous areas, advised him to store important local numbers in his phone, prepare duplicate copies of important identity documents and to be aware of criminal and terrorist activity. In short he could have avoided the whole sorry episode.
Is It Really Necessary?
Am I being melodramatic? Well, not when you consider that last year 715 Britons required Consular assistance after having their passports stolen whilst on vacation in... Italy.
So remember. A vacation (or holiday as we Brits call them) is supposed to be a time to rest, relax, unwind and enjoy yourself. A little bit of research beforehand will help ensure a safe and happy holiday/vacation and will also equip you to deal with any problems that do arise, keeping stress to a minimum.
Here's to Safe and Happy Travelling
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By Adam Costa
The best to place to honeymoon should provide a couple the chance to grow together; it should be a challenge that will help them learn to trust and rely upon each other. As a travel agent, I've seen far too many newlyweds spend over ten grand to support a week long trip to a remote island where they can hopefully spend a few days of peace and quiet before returning home to their new life.
So what do I recommend for couples looking for the ideal honeymoon location? Well, my wife and I did things a little differently...
Rather than break the bank on a trip to Bora Bora, we decided to take the long way home: a year long trip through Southeast Asia, India, Nepal and China. Our average monthly budget was fifteen hundred dollars, and in all honesty, we could have gone for less than that. During that year we hiked in the Himalaya, laid out on pristine beaches, sailed down the Mekong River, and generally partied like rock stars.
OK, so maybe you don't have a year. If I were forced to choose one country as the best place for a honeymoon, it would be Thailand. The combination of culture, cuisine, hiking, climbing and water sports are among the best in the world, and for many newlyweds (who've broken the bank on the wedding) Thailand provides great value for your money. A couple who are budget sensitive can expect to see this beautiful country for thirty to forty dollars a day, provided they travel slow and don't drink too much (for some reason a beer costs the same amount around the world).
If there is one piece of advice I can offer you, both as a travel agent and a married man, it's that you should take your time when traveling on your honeymoon. Try your best to take as much time as you can, as your travel costs tend to decrease the longer you travel. The best place to honeymoon is the one where you and your loved one can grow together, not apart.
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By Tom Fisher
The ordinary Western tourist poking around in Asian cities is usually sorely in need of some Asia travel advice, especially as relates to local laws and customs. Apart from the language, the lack of knowledge about local culture is a big hindrance, and sometimes even a danger. Something that might be very common in New York or London may be a big crime in parts of Asia.
There's no need to get all worked up about it, and neither is there any reason to not enjoy the trip. Actually, it's a selective thing that depends mostly on the destination and country being visited. As an example, let's consider two very popular Asian destinations - Dubai and Thailand. A visitor from a Western nation might be forgiven for mistakenly assuming that the laws and customs would be about the same in both nations.
Maybe it would be better to separate it out into two sections, one for 'Dubai travel advice' and the other one for 'Thailand travel advice.' Let's start with Dubai. In terms of local customs and laws that visitors need to be aware of, the most important ones are related to alcohol, indecent exposure and displays of public affection.
One has to be very careful while drinking alcohol in Dubai, and it should be done only in restaurants which are licensed to serve alcohol. It can also be purchased from some stores, but when in public the alcohol has to be tucked away inside bags. Anyone caught driving after consuming even a little bit of alcohol faces a fine and possible imprisonment.
The second and third points about clothing (or lack thereof) and public displays of affection are interlinked. Visitors from the West can and do easily fall afoul of these laws with a kiss (or more) on the beach or in a mall, or making out in the car, and so on. Tourists have been jailed and put on trial in Dubai for offences of this nature.
As for Thailand, it is a much more progressive culture that allows visitors quite a lot of freedom to enjoy the visit and the urban pleasures of cities like Bangkok. But they do have some strict laws that can land visitors in trouble. The penalties for possession of even small amounts of drugs for personal use are harsh and can lead to lengthy jail sentences.
Another thing to remember in Thailand is never to disrespect the monarch or his likeness in any form - it is also a crime. Third, tourists are required to carry their passports or risk being arrested. It is also not a good idea to show off the soles of the feet in public or touch the back of someone's head.
It's obviously not possible here to list tips like this for every major tourist destination in Asia. But the general drift of it is that each place has its own laws and customs, so the best Asia travel advice that can be provided here is that visitors should know beforehand what is acceptable and what isn't. Most destinations are quite friendly and welcoming, but it's important to show some respect for local sensibilities.
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By John Tom Meng
Looking for a guided Beijing tour would be the best choice for a first time visitor to Beijing, and therefore, you could rely on a local travel agent based in Beijing city. You can use a search engine with the phrase of Beijing tour or Beijing travel agency, then you can find many tour agencies over the Internet. It is advised to compare with the tour itinerary and tour price, choose three to five tour providers to ask for a quote about your travel. About the Beijing tour, remember not to choose the highest and lowest price, middle priced tour would be good for you.
There are two popular types of Beijing tour, the first one is bus tour (group tour), the other is private tour. The bus tour is the most budget way to take the tour in Beijing, as you can share the tour guide service and transportation cost with other travelers, also you may get the chance to make friends with other people from the world. While, compared with a bus tour, the private tour would be much higher, but your tour could be more flexible and enjoyable.
There are too many place of interests you should visit in Beijing. As capital city of China, Beijing is rich in culture and history. One of the must see place is the Great Wall. It is an amazing man made wonder, which plays a great role during Chinese civilization. Another tourist sites should be the Forbidden city, also was called Imperial Palace Museum, where the Twenty-four emperors lived for hundreds years, you would be astonished by its grandness. If have more time, don't forget to visit some other site like Temple of heave, Summer Palace, Hutong...
After a full day Beijing tour, nighttime can hold other surprises for you. You can take the evening activities either from traditional performances such as the Beijing acrobatic show, Beijing Opera and Chinese Kungfu, or to modern ones like pubs, clubs. It is suggested to walk along the river with the music from bars in Houhai bar street.
And if you want to taste the essence of Chinese food, we advised you to put down a list. The Peking Duck as we known, is the most popular Chinese food in Beijing, other than this, you can try Sichuan Smoked Duck, Lamb Hot Pot, Beijing dumplings. If you don't know the restaurants, you can remember the Quanjude is for the Beijing Duck, the Donglaishun is for the Lamb Hot Pot, and you can find the Sichuan Smoked Duck in Prince Gong's Palace in Houhai area.
Remember all these tips up, your Beijing tour will leave you with memories to last a lifetime.
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By Adam Costa
In all honesty, free travel brochures can be informative, inspiring, and inviting. They can also be poorly disguised sales pitches that do more harm than good. As a travel agent, I've seen more than my fair share of travel brochures (our office gets several a day) and decided to share with you the best ones out there today:
Travelguidesfree.com Talk about a concise name for a website, huh? They provide you with a pdf file of the brochure itself, which is really nice if you want to look at a half dozen or so. Their brochures are professionally done, and all include recommended routes, history, and a brief synopsis of highlights along the way. One unfortunate aspect is you have to provide personal information before gaining access to the travel brochures.
Travelfish.org. If you want travel brochures for Southeast Asia, check out Travelfish, which is one of my all time favorite websites for travel in Asia. They provide up to date brochures and travel guides to Laor, Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand and Singapore.
Travelinformation.com. The Travelfish equivalent for the United States. Just scroll down the (incredibly) long homepage and select dozens of different brochures across the country. No where else can you find such a varied selection of destinations that can be downloaded at one time. Highly recommended.
The Man In Seat 61. This website (seat61.com) is the definitive website for train travel. From California to Calcutta, they've got you covered, with full descriptions of itineraries, expected ticket prices and travel times.
Use these free brochure travel guides as a way to gain a deeper understanding of your trip prior to your departure.
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