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
