27 Feb 09 Passing the Time While Travelling
Travelling can be very boring, especially if you’re on a long flight, bus ride, or train ride. There are a number of different things you can do to pass the time, however, and any of them will make the hours go by much more quickly.
You can always settle into your seat and take a nap. Many flights even offer pillows and blankets, and you can take your own pillow on the bus or train. However, some people find it very difficult to sleep while travelling. Either the motion disturbs them or the noise is too much. For those who do fall asleep, though, the hours can pass by very quickly. Listening to music can often help people sleep while travelling since it blocks out a lot of the noise.
Reading is another good way to pass the time. Whether you have a novel to finish or a few magazines to get through, you will be entertained for a good hour or more. Most planes include at least one magazine for you to read during the flight.
If you’re travelling with a friend, you might want to take a deck of cards with you and play a card game. You may even be able to play with three or four others if you can all sit near each other. You can also play cards in your hotel room once you arrive.
For those who are social, chatting with other passengers can be a way to pass the time, although this isn’t for everyone. Note if people look uncomfortable or seem to want to do something else. Don’t be an annoyance—if someone doesn’t want to chat, don’t make them.
Tags: hotel, hotel room, travelling
19 Feb 09 A Few Hong Kong Travel Tips
Travelling to Hong Kong can be a completely different experience for you, especially if you’ve never been to the country before. It’s a very interesting mixture of cultures, one that is very fun to experience. Here are a few tips if you plan on travelling to Hong Kong.
During the winter months (December – February), Hong Kong can experience temperatures in the single degrees. You’ll certainly want to pack heavy coats. Even between March and May, temperatures rarely rise about 30 degrees, although the humidity is fairly high. Summer can be pretty warm, however, as can the beginning of autumn. It’s often almost too humid for a coat, especially during the warmer seasons.
If you easily get cold, however, you may want to take a long-sleeved shirt or jacket for when you’re inside your hotel or eating at a restaurant. That’s because they tend to have the air conditioning set on high, making them very cold. While this may feel good at first, by the end of your meal, you may be freezing.
When you plan your travel dates, you may want to avoid April through October if possible. This is Hong Kong’s busy tourism season, and while it is a fairly lengthy part of the year, you’ll also find a lot to during the rest of the year. Also note that hotels in Hong Kong are much more expensive on the weekends, and you’ll certainly want to book in advance, especially if you’re visiting during the peak season.
You won’t have to worry too much about the language barrier—Hong Kong’s officially has two languages, English and Chinese (Hong Kong was actually a colony of Great Britain until about 15 years ago). Note, though, that not everyone speaks English fluently, and some signs and restaurants feature Chinese characters only. If you’re uncertain how to find your destination, you may ask your hotel staff to write the address for you in Chinese just in case.
Tags: Chinese, Hong Kong, hotel, hotels, travelling
13 Feb 09 Take a Nap While Flying
If you’re flying to your destination, or even if you’re taking the bus or the train, you have the opportunity to take a short (or long, depending on how far you’re travelling) nap. However, sometimes it can be difficult to nap while travelling. Here are some tips to help you get some (perhaps very necessary) rest while on the way to your luxury holidays.
First, take your own travel pillow. While you may be able to get a pillow on a flight, you may not find it to your liking. Many people have become very accustomed to their own pillows—they’re not too firm or too soft, but they’re just perfect. Many people prefer to take their own pillow with them when they travel because they have difficulty sleeping on a hotel pillow. If you’re one of these people, see if you can take your pillow as a carry-on. If you don’t want to deal with a full-sized pillow, you can purchase a smaller travel pillow or even an inflatable pillow that flattens down when you’re not using it.
Noise is another factor for sleeping when travelling. To that end, a pair of ear plugs or headphones helps. Ear plugs will help you block out all sounds, but be aware that this means you may miss a stop on the train or bus route. The driver will usually wake you up, and on a flight, the flight attendants will make certain no one is left on the plane. If you’re using music to block out noise, be certain not to have your MP3 player or CD player up too loud. You want to block out music, but you don’t want to annoy the person next to you. He or she may be trying to sleep, as well, and will not appreciate hearing your music.
Finally, those who have anxiety while flying may want to take a sleeping pill once their flight has taken off. This will help them rest while on the flight, even with noise or flight turbulence.
Tags: hotel, travel pillow, travelling
13 Feb 09 Tips on Packing
Airlines are cutting down on the amount of baggage passengers are allowed to take. In fact, many have actually cut out all free checked baggage—you have to pay for every bag you check. Along the same lines, taking a lot of baggage with you on a train or bus can be a hassle, plus there may be some extra costs if you have a lot of luggage. To avoid these extra charges, here are some packing tips for you to keep in mind.
If you don’t need it, don’t take it. Only take those things are you know you’ll absolutely need. If you aren’t planning on going to an event that requires formalwear, don’t take anything fancy. If you don’t plan on using your hotel’s swimming pool, don’t pack your swimsuit. Try to avoid taking more than one pair of shoes since shoes can take up a good amount of space.
Take clothes that can be mixed and matched. Jeans can often be worn for a couple of days before they need to be washed, so they can be worn with several different shirts. Likewise, you may be able to wear a t-shirt twice if you wear it as an undershirt.
Buy travel-sized toiletries. Instead of taking full-sized bottles, pick up small trial or travel-sized ones. They take up far less space in your bags. You can also use the soaps and shampoos found in your hotel room’s bathroom if you don’t want to pack your own.
Combine luggage. If you’re travelling with your spouse or a friend, pack everything in one bag instead of two. Splitting the cost of one checked bag instead of paying for two can help you both save money. Another option, especially if you’re only going to be out of two for a few days, is to pack everything into a carry-on.
Tags: baggage, hotel, hotel room, luggage, packing tips, travelling
13 Feb 09 Four Family Friendly Things to do in The Algarve
If you’re visiting the area of Portugal known as the Algarve with your family, there are many different things you can do as a group. While there are some activities aimed specifically at children and some aimed at adults, these four attractions can be enjoyed by people of all ages.
Note that these four locations are not grouped together and you’ll have to travel a bit from your hotel to reach each one. If you’re the type who likes to stay at Algarve hotels in the middle of the sites you want to visit so you can walk to each one, you’ll be out of luck here.
The first attraction is the Omega Parque Zoo. The zoo is located up in the mountains of the Algarve, and it features many different endangered species. The zoo features both entertaining exhibits and educational ones, many of which focus on the work being done to save these endangered animals. Getting to the zoo is a bit of a drive, but you can catch a bus from Portimao.
The Zoo Marine water zoo focuses on dolphins, sea lions, seals, and other denizens of the sea. There are a number of different shows each day, and you can even swim with the dolphins if you call ahead and make reservations. It’s quite the experience, but again, driving there is also an experience…the road to the Zoo Marine is very windy!
If you’d rather swim without the dolphins, the Slide and Splash Aqua Park located near Lagoa is very popular. There are many different water slides and rides for those seeking some excitement, but there are also Jacuzzi tubs and other relaxing pools, too. Be sure to pack your sunscreen, however, and perhaps a lunch or some snacks as the lines for food can be quite long.
Finally, Krazy World is another fun amusement park-type attraction, although it doesn’t include roller coasters or other rides. Instead, you’ll find several miniature golf courses, a large swimming pool, a petting zoo, pony rides, and several animal shows.
Tags: hotel, Lagoa, Omega Parque Zoo, Portimao, Portugal, Slide and Splash Aqua Park, the Algarve
28 Jan 09 Taking your Pet on Holiday
Many people leave their pets behind when they go on holiday. However, if you don’t want to pay to board your pet or can’t find someone to watch your pets while you’re away, you may elect to take them on holiday with you. If you do, there are a few things to keep in mind. First, make certain your hotel allows pets. Many do not, and those that do usually charge an extra fee. Be certain you know how much this fee is and what, if any, special rules the hotel has for pets. You will also need to take food for your pet, and you may need to take a litter box, too. A pet carrier may also be necessary, especially if you are travelling by plane, train, or bus. That brings up the second point: know how your transportation system handles pets. Some may not allow pets to be transported at all. Others may have specific requirements for the type of pet carrier used. Make certain you understand all the fees and regulations for transporting your pet. Think carefully about what activities you plan on doing during your holiday. If you are primarily doing things you can’t take your pet to, it may be best to leave your pet at home. However, if you’ll be outdoors a lot, you can take your pet with you and give him some exercise. Just be aware that you’ll need to clean up any messes your pet makes!
Tags: holiday, hotel, travelling
22 Jan 09 Taking your Laptop Abroad
Many people, especially those going away on business, will take their laptop computers with them. However, this opens up a few new concerns that you have to deal with. First, if you’re travelling abroad, you need to make certain that you have a voltage adaptor. If you don’t, you may risk damaging your laptop by plugging it in to outlets that run on a different voltage. Be certain you know if you’ll need an adaptor or not, and if you do, be sure you get the correct one. It’s also a good idea to find out about internet access if you need it. Not all hotels provide internet access, and in some cases, you may have to pay for it. You may also have to go to an internet café or other location to get internet access. Always keep an eye on your laptop, especially if you’re using it in a public place and are alone. If you need to leave your table for any reason (to order or to go to the restroom, for example), take your laptop with you. It may seem like a huge hassle, but it’s better than having your laptop stolen. Be sure to write down the serial number and other important information about your laptop and your laptop accessories just in case it’s stolen. This way, you’ll be able to give the authorities all of the information they need to track down your computer. It’s also a good idea to make a copy of all of the information on your laptop and leave it in a secure place at home in case your laptop is stolen or damaged during travel.
Tags: hotels, travel, travelling abroad
12 Jan 09 Visiting Barcelona with Children
Barcelona, Spain, has a number of amazing things to do and places to see, but not all of them are meant for families with small children. However, Barcelona does have many activities that kids will enjoy. Here are a few places you may want to check out if you’re in Barcelona with your family.
The first is the zoo located in Parc Ciutadella. This is one of the larger zoos in Europe and will keep you and your family busy for an entire day. There are many different animals on display and different activities for children to enjoy. The Barcelona aquarium is another great place to take your children. It’s the largest aquarium in Europe and features a huge number of fish and other forms of sea life.
Kids may also enjoy riding the cable car from Barceloneta beach to Montjuic. The view at the top is amazing, although if you or your children are afraid of heights, you may want to pass on this.
If your children are a bit older and love sweets, a trip to the chocolate museum might be of interest to them. Here, you’ll get to see how chocolate is made and how it goes from the factory to the store. You’ll also, of course, get to try some samples and relax in the museum’s café at the end of the tour.
Whilst most Barcelona hotels are good quality, you will need to take extra care if taking children on holiday. It can be a nightmare if you pick a bad hotel when on holiday with children.
Poble Espanyol, located on Montjuic, is a fun place to explore after riding the cable car. This little village highlights many of the different architectural styles used in Spain. You’ll find many different craft shops featuring live demonstrations. There are some great kid’s activities in Poble Espanyol, many of which guide them in creating their own works of art. The Magical Fountain of Montjuic, a live show featuring water acrobatics, lights, music, and more, is also a fun activity for the entire family.
Tags: Barcelona, Europe, Parc Ciutadella, Spain
07 Jan 09 Renting a Car
For some trips, especially business trips, you may never need to leave your hotel. For other trips, especially holidays, however, you will probably want to get out and really enjoy the local sights. For this, you may actually need to rent a car. While it may not sound too difficult, there’s more to renting a car than you may think. First of all, you need to reserve your rental car as far in advance as possible. Many of the most popular cars get reserved very quickly, and if you don’t claim yours as soon as you can, you may find yourself stuck with a larger, more expensive car or with a tiny car that won’t fit everyone. You also need to shop around for rental cars. Most large cities have branches of the major rental car companies (Hertz, Enterprise, etc.), and some have better deals than others. You may also want to look at local rental companies. While they don’t always have as many selections as the bigger companies do, they may have better deals. Also look at weekly prices. Sometimes you can rent a car for a week for less than it would cost to rent it for five or six days. When booking a car, make certain you know when you can pick it up, where you can return it, and where you pick it up. Many rental car companies will allow you to pick up your rental car at or very near the airport, but if that’s not an option, you will need to arrange transportation from the airport to the car company. Also make note of the cancellation policy. If you have to cancel your trip or decide you don’t need a rental car, make certain you know what penalties, if any, you’ll have to pay for cancelling.
Tags: business trips, hotel, rent a car, rental car, rental companies
06 Jan 09 Cancelling Your Holiday
No one wants to do it, but sometimes life simply interferes with your plans and you have to cancel your holiday. It can be more than disappointing, though - cancelling your plans can actually be very frustrating, and not just because you won’t get to travel. You may, in fact, actually lose money! One of the most important things to know when booking transportation, lodging, and event tickets is the cancellation policy. Many places do allow you to cancel up to 24 or 48 hours in advance, but some, especially events, may not allow refunds at all. If that’s the case or if you’re cancelling at the last minute, there are a few things you can do. First, of course, is that you can just take the loss. However, if you were planning to travel with friends or relatives, you can ask if you can transfer the reservation or ticket to them. This way, at least someone gets to make use of it. You can also ask if you can have credit instead of your money back. Some businesses are willing to give credit for a later stay or ticket but are not willing to refund money. Because of these policies, it’s very important that if you are going to have to cancel your holiday that you cancel it as early as you can to avoid penalties. If you’re cancelling a trip, it probably means you’re already caught up in anxiety over something. There’s no need to be even more anxious about losing money. If, however, the reason you’re cancelling is because of something that does not actually conflict with the dates of your trip (such as losing your job or an unforeseen expense), you may still want to take the holiday. If you can’t get all of your money back, why lose it? Take a break, get out of town, and worry about other situations once you get back.
Tags: holiday, lodging, reservation, transportation, travel
