Benefits of backpacking

Posted on by
Reply

Backpacking offers a number of benefits and is a popular way for young tourists to travel the world.  Backpackers have to do without the usual comforts associated with leisure travel, but the benefits include low cost and a flexible travel schedule.  

Lower budget

Backpacking means staying in hostels, finding economical means of travel and making do with the bare necessities.  Travellers don’t require a big budget, and the budget they do have stretches further than when used for conventional travelling.

Meeting people

Backpackers share space with others, whether it is in a train compartment or a common area in a hostel, resulting in the easy formation of an impromptu community.  This support is particularly useful if travelling alone, as fellow backpackers share knowledge and experiences they’ve had during their travels.  

Experiencing more than just tourist attractions

Backpackers experience the local life of the destinations they travel to rather than just the usual tourist spots.  They become immersed in the cultures and traditions of the local people by frequenting places that are popular with the area’s residents. 

Flexible travel

Backpackers, unless travelling as part of a tour, have more freedom to alter their schedules and travel plans at a whim.  Little forward planning is necessary, and more options become available to backpackers when there is no strict itinerary to follow. 

Advancing social skills

Backpackers need to communicate with various people in order to travel – sometimes they will need to learn the basics of a new language or a new skill in order to make their way around.  Learning to communicate and adapt in a new environment will advance a backpacker’s social skills.

Picture: chantal forster

Welcome to Singapore

Posted on by
Reply

Singapore, also known as the Lion City, is one of the most beautiful city-states in Asia.  Combining local culture with Indian, Malay and Chinese influences in a modern city, Singapore delivers an amazing holiday destination full of contradictions, with a vast selection of tasty foods, vibrant nightlife and good shopping.

Climate

Here you can experience an equatorial-tropical climate with hot and humid weather throughout the year, and daily rain showers.  Since Singapore does not have clear-cut seasons, you can visit at any time of the year. 

Things to do and see

This city-state, which is divided into 15 districts, offers a plethora of things to do and see.  For instance, you can practice nearly any sport, including scuba diving, surfing, golfing and even snow skiing and ice skating.  Additionally, you will find a rich collection of museums, restaurants, parks, beaches and tourist resorts.  Some landmarks any tourist should visit are the Helix, Merlion Park, Esplanade-Theatres, Singapore Flyer and Marina Bay Sands-Sky Park.
 
Lodging information

Singapore offers a variety of short-term lodging options.  A great feature is that there are no restrictions on non-citizens renting out apartments or villas.  Most holiday lodging alternatives are equipped with everything a tourist needs for a perfect holiday. However, if you prefer luxury amenities, Singapore boasts numerous five-star hotels with pools, spas, fitness facilities and business services.  

Getting there and around

Singapore has excellent connections to all major cities around the world.  A regular flight from London to Singapore takes about 13 hours.  Since this wonderful holiday spot has a reliable terrestrial and marine transport network, getting in and around it should not be a problem.

Picture: Small

Holidaying in Wales

Posted on by
Reply

With a vibrant and rich Celtic history, Wales is a popular holiday destination, especially with visitors travelling from other parts of the UK.

As Wales has a significantly important landscape, much of the country is made up of national parks and designated ‘Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty’. There are three vastly different major national parks to choose from. The Brecon Beacons, in Mid Wales, has castles and spectacular mountain views; Snowdonia, in the north, has the principality’s highest mountain peaks, while the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, in the south, offers stunning coastal scenery.

In addition to the national parks there are the stunning castles of North Wales, many of which date from the thirteenth century, to explore. They were built to repel the English invaders. There are also many galleries and museums to see, such as the National Museum in Cardiff, the Big Pit, The National Roman Legionary Museum in Caerleon and the National Waterfront Museum in Swansea, which explores Wales’ industrial and maritime past.

As a country with great tourist attractions you should have no problems finding somewhere to stay. However, it is advisable to book ahead when planning a summer holiday in the popular areas of Anglesey, Llandudno, Llangollen, Lleyn, Rhyl, Tenby and Swansea.

Thanks to its maritime climate, Wales experiences mild temperatures and is often wet and windy. In the summer months the average temperature is between 14.9°C and 15.4°C.

Only two hours from London and with less than a third of the population, Wales offers a truly distinctive cultural experience.

Picture: ukskies

Seeing London: the options

Posted on by
Reply

Many people opt to take a red open top bus tour of London. Giving visitors an enhanced view of the sights as the bus moves along the streets. An open-top bus is great from the point of view of taking photographs and for those new to London, a guided bus tour is a nice introduction to the city and its many sights and sounds. There are stops all-round the city, probably one close to your hotel. They are a great option for get on, get off at stops that take your interest as they cover major London City sights.

London is a massive city, with hundreds of sights to see. First time visitors to London, benefit from staying in a central location, there are many Kings Cross hotels, which place you ideally for trains around the UK and St Pancreas, which will lead you onto Europe. You can benefit from being close to underground stop as it’s a quick and easy way to make your way around the city.

Great views of London are also possible from the River Thames, which courses through the city.  Thames River cruises are widely available, and tours of London’s canals are another option for holidaymakers. 

To see London from above, visitors can take a helicopter ride or maybe even a hot air balloon ride.   Another option is to visit some of the high-rise buildings that are accessible to the public.  The recently opened Shard is London’s tallest building and offers spectacular views of the city from a viewing gallery as well as an open-air observation deck.  Another popular amenity is the London Eye Ferris wheel on the South Bank of the Thames. 

For those visitors who prefer to take in their surroundings at a slower pace, there are many different walking tours to choose from whilst staying in London.  Many walks are aimed at particular niches, from those interested in London’s general history to those who want to see the city based on a particular theme.  A guided tour offers the chance to see London and learn some things from an experienced guide that a visitor might not have previously been aware of.

First time cruising tips

Posted on by
Reply

First time cruisers are easily confused with the information overload surrounding cruises.  It is difficult to choose cruise lines and itineraries given that more than 1800 ports are covered by the various cruises on offer.  Consider these tips to find the right cruise.

Type of holiday

The type of holiday required, determines the cruise.  Choose island based cruises if you are looking for a holiday by the beach.  Other cruisers may base their decision on shore activities such as exploration, shopping or adventure.

Cruise length

Cruise lengths range from one to five days, weekly cruises or global cruises that last for a few months.  First timer cruisers can opt for shorter weekly cruises to nearby destinations before embarking on longer cruises.

Embarkation ports

Boarding port access is important for first timers.  Some ports are accessible by road whereas others require a flight. Consider home port options and embark from your current location or a port city that is easily accessible.

Ship size and cruise line

The ship type– mega or small is an important factor for first timers.  Choose a reliable, popular cruise line for the first cruising trip.

Picture: Jacrews7

Cancellations and travel insurance

Posted on by
Reply

Increasingly the travel insurance industry is sympathetic to claims for holiday travel cancellations as long as this aspect of cover is detailed in the policy document and the reasons given are genuine.  For example, an accident or an unforeseen geographical event such as the Japanese tsunami would count as an unavoidable incident.

Unfortunately, there are those who think that the flimsiest of excuses suffice as a reason to cancel their holiday and are then surprised that their insurer doesn’t view their excuses as reasonable.  Recently, a major UK insurer listed some of these strange thought processes and these included the couple who felt that they had the right to cancel as they didn’t want to miss an episode of the UK reality TV show ‘Big Brother’.  Another bizarre excuse that was actually given as a reason for cancellation was when a policy holder decided that her holiday was no longer necessary as she had applied a fake tan and this had been her sole reason for venturing abroad.

Insurers exist to cover genuine problems and mishaps but they can hardly be expected to provide cover for the gentleman who claimed that going to Spain would make him “too Spanish” and he therefore tried to claim back the cost of his holiday on his travel insurance.  Conversely, there are many stories about the travel insurance industry coming to the rescue of their clients in highly unusual circumstances, not least of which is the gentleman who spent too long in the sun and consequently had to spend the rest of his holiday in hospital. Needless to say, his insurer did protect him.

Planning a skiing holiday

Posted on by
Reply

Once you have decided to go on a skiing holiday you need to plan well to ensure you have an enjoyable time.

The following are some of the things to consider:

•    The people going.  This is among the first things to take into account.  Is this a trip for the whole family and are children going along?  This is important in order to factor in everyone’s needs for the trip.
•    The destination.  There are numerous skiing locations around the world each offering something unique. T he choice of destination is also dependant on the people going on the trip.   Do enough research and read reviews to find a location that best suits the needs of the entire travelling group.  When choosing your destination, remember that the skiing season varies according to the location.
•    Accommodation.  Decide early on where you want to stay.  There are many options to choose from including hotels, ski lodges, chalets, condos and self-catered apartments.  If you have children, try to get accommodation as close to the skiing resort as possible.  You also need to decide on what else a ski resort has to offer such as spas, shopping complexes, movie theatres and clubs.
•    Budget.  Decide how much money you are willing to spend on the trip.  Some ski resorts, especially those found in France and Switzerland, are usually more expensive than other destinations.  Remember to make your travel arrangements and booking for ski classes in advance as some places offer discounts during the off peak season.   Get a family pass to save some money.
•    Buy appropriate clothing.  Visit a winter sports clothing shop to buy ski clothing, goggles, gloves and hats.  Skiing equipments such as snowboards and skis can be hired at the resort.
•    Train and exercise your body.  Begin training your body at least three months in advance to ensure your muscles are strong and flexible enough for skiing.

Picture: ines saraiva

ITC – the name for luxury travel

Posted on by
Reply

Way back in 1974, ITC, a tour operator specialising in packages to the Caribbean, pioneered the idea of luxury travel.  Now, almost 40 years after bringing the concept onto the British market, ITC, which has remained in private hands, is the only independent luxury tour operator in the UK.

ITC has expanded over the years and now includes ITC Classics, ITC Sports and Deva Travel, to name but a few of the brands under the ITC name.

The newest is ITC Giving, a luxury travel first.  This combines first-class travel experiences with the values of voluntourism.

Luxury holidays from ITC run the full gamut – from family holidays to honeymoon and wedding packages, from cruises and beach holidays to ski tours.  There are health and well-being packages and even luxury holidays that offer the opportunity to travel solo.

ITC’s destinations span the globe.  From the classic ‘Out of Africa’ safari in Kenya to a holiday in an exclusive beach resort, such as in Bali, Thailand or Bora Bora, a remote island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.  From the unspoilt beaches and majestically quiet red dunes of Namibia to the clamour of the busy designer stores of Abu Dhabi, luxury holidays from ITC are offered in every continent.

However, luxury holidays from ITC don’t have to mean either a long-haul flight or a long, exhausting journey and, with top-notch and exclusive hotels in, say, Madeira, Cyprus and the Algarve in Portugal, ITC provides luxury holidays to many first-class resorts located closer to the UK.

It all started in the Caribbean for ITC and, with a portfolio that runs the spectrum from the Caymans to Jamaica and four decades of experience to draw upon, the travel operator continues to manage many Caribbean resorts and considers the Caribbean to be the jewel in its crown.

Picture: thew…g

San Juan city guide

Posted on by
Reply

San Juan is not only a wonderful Caribbean destination; it is also a cultural capital.  The city is famous for its deserted beaches, elegant restaurants, exciting nightlife, picturesque sites, state-of-the-art galleries and last, but not least, incredible historic buildings with unusual architectural forms, ranging from Spanish-colonial style to modern Art Deco.

Things to do and see

Citadels and museums that you can visit include El Castillo del Morro, El Castillo de San Cristóbal, Cuartel de Ballaja, Casa del Libro, La Princesa and Museo El Niño.   For the more physically active tourists, this city offers water sports and city tours, including the Central Park, La Marquesa Forest Reserve, Munoz Rivera Park and Parque de las Palomas.

You can also enjoy an assortment of restaurants where people can order almost any dish, including appetisers, tapas, and traditional home-cooked Mexican and Spanish food.  Or you can sample the food and drink from the wide range of cafes, bars and pubs which complement the elegant restaurants that serve this beautiful city.

Climate

The tropical climate of San Juan provides an average temperature of 32 degrees Celsius during the summer and 22 degrees during the winter. The best time to visit this location is between May and October. 

Travel and lodging information

This city has a large airport that connects to major cities around the world, including London.  The average flight time from London to San Juan is 11 hours.  In San Juan, you will find a variety of lodging alternatives including hotels, beach resorts, inns, villas and apartments.

Picture: Jorge Rodriguez

The Maldives – heaven on earth

Posted on by
Reply

The Maldives lie about 420 miles to the south-west of Sri Lanka, and the 1,192 islands grouped in 26 atolls are an ideal holiday destination for anyone wishing to escape the hustle and bustle of modern life and do some serious scuba diving in pristine, aquamarine water.

Accommodation

The Maldives is the lowest country in the world with an average ground level only of 1.5 metres above sea level.  Many of the islands are small and it is possible to travel round most in under an hour.  Some islands cater to the more luxurious end of the market and have hotels with beds that rotate a full 360 degrees to enable guests to see the sun rise and set.  There are also bungalows with transparent floors, which give the effect of being at one with the fish as they swim underfoot.  Other islands, however, contain more basic accommodation which does little more than provide shelter from the elements.

Costs

The Maldives isn’t a cheap place to visit.  As everything has to be imported, prices tend to be much higher than those on more conventional holidays.  Visitors usually sign for food and drinks in their hotels and are met with a large bill at the end of their stay.  In order to keep tabs on how much you are spending, it is worthwhile checking the ledger on a daily basis.  Alternatively, all-inclusive stays can be the solution and are the preferential choice of many as you can eat and drink at your leisure without having to worry about having to wash the dishes at the end of your holiday. 

As sea levels rise, The Maldives will be one the first places to disappear, so if you want to visit this heaven on Earth before it vanishes, book your next holiday to The Maldives.

Picture courtesy of Mal B