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Eastern Europe Traveling Tips

14 Jan 2011 - noxa
A year ago, my local freinds and i also additionally made a decision to visit Kiev. Yes, most of us visited your Ukraine. If you’ve under no circumstances frequented Asian Europe, Let me discuss some simple tips, however I will conserve the specific purchasing, ingesting, and also site-seeing information pertaining to next time.

Second
Most of us decided to vacation in earlier summer season considering that we all realized the following thunderstorm there’d become the same as the Chi town springtime ailments, that may be relating to just as the idea gets, if you do not are generally aiming an exotic will be. The same as Detroit, we all would get a few days of early spring bathrooms, however overall, it absolutely was lovely.

Thought: Be sure you keep in mind weather conditions in the area, in addition to party appropriately.

Your current Terms
Because of the fact i used to be browsing any kind of area by using a specific terms, many of us do a little doing your research on the web about the capacity to communicate, due to the fact many of us failed to have to have a translator. Since every Ukrainian and in addition Ruskies are likely to be voiced (along with created) inside Kiev, there was to be ready intended for equally. Plus circumstance you’ve not witnessed your Cyrillic alphabet, let me just say so it ended up Greek so as to methe Terminology Teacher. What exactly worked? My wife and i released a number of common phrases as well as the alphabets (with regard to both different languages) online. A number of: a great deal of companies moreover got English signs, possibilities, etc.

Idea: View the actual language barrier and earn up an agenda: utilize the translator along with get reference point product, declare for example a interpretation technique or simply a translation e-book.

Radio stations
If you are planning a vacation this way, I might moreover advise calling the device company, to search for the very best rates to make cell phone calls worldwide, or you may decide to rent a worldwide mobile phone. We all do not pick the cellphone just for this vacation, even so all of us do at all hours at the Mediterranean and beyond.

Suggestion: have an global calling card or even lease a major international cellular phone.

Accommodations
Last but not least, rather than preserving a hotel, most of us chose to rent the short-stay condominium. The pace was a lesser amount of in comparison to around the world hotels, along with our own home has been supplied with everything else otherwise you are going to call for. Usually the one advice I’d personally produce any time discovering a set: question wire, especially, can it be available in Uk, plus no matter if Dvd movie game enthusiasts can be obtained.

TIP: Investigate the different lodging as reported by your financial budget, establishments really make a difference!

Electricity: Converters plus Attaches
Original, plugs as well as converters will not be the same. A good adapter enables you to “retrofit” an electric string select in to several types of wall membrane shops. A whole new current ripper methods downgrades Two hundred and twenty (or maybe 225) gusts for you to One hundred ten, to hold through preparing our home appliances. There were to work with both all of them with your hair curly hair clothing dryer in addition to electric shaver. Make sure you remember your cellular personal computer. Ours started the actual manufacturing unit with a converter/adapter for the line, nonetheless your own house might not exactly!

Tip: If you’re remaining in pricey accommodations, do not suppose they have converters in addition to adapters, even though the most accomplish; inquire prior to making arranging.

Forex
Uncover what foreign exchange is utilized. Nearly all American regions use the two Dollar as well as their own personal currency exchange, consequently you will have alternative. Your current forex demand may impact anyone, it doesn’t matter what, also it may possibly indicate the main difference including ingesting along with searching as being a royal prince or a pauper.

Touch: Will not alter a substantial amount money because the prices alter on an hourly basis; you are able to drop money by doing this. Change as needed! Your trip to be able to Asian Europe is surely an complete excitement; our lure became! Make absolutely certain you’re planning in advance, ample basis for the following tips, you are certain to have a great time

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Tips For Your Next Europe Travel

29 Dec 2010 - noxa

When vacation season comes, we start planning our holidays and remember the places we have visited earlier. There are many good and bad experiences of our previous holidays.

When you think of travelling overseas, long air travel and waiting at airports stuck your mind. You have got to get to the airport a few hours in advance, stand in queue, customs formalities and waiting for boarding announcement can easily tire you out even before you get into the flight.

There are many options for travel to Europe on holiday. If you are travelling from London to Paris, you can choose flight, Train and Ferries. Eurostar is the best travel mode for travel from London to Paris and London to Brussels. You can enjoy a holiday trip in Paris by paying just 69 GBP for return tickets by Eurostar to Paris.

Eurostar takes you from London to Paris and Brussels on its fast speed train service and it is worth getting on board this train from St.Pancras Station in London. After its recent refurbishing and revival, traffic has increased tremendously from the station and people love this place.

You can book train tickets from one place for Eurostar to all Europe travel by Eurostar and connecting trains. All bookings are made online by using credit cards and debit cards and you will also get discount on return tickets and Group travel booking. All you need to do is to buy euro rail pass for a certain amount. It has a certain period validity and you can travel on those particular lines across several countries without having to bother about buying new ticket.

You can start anywhere in Europe and travel the entire length and breadth of the continent. For example most people take the super fast train between London to Paris and Munich to Madrid and so on, thereby cover all of the cities across Europe.

Read up complete information on Euro rail passes and check out very many options available like ferry travel service from port Copenhagen etc. With detailed planning you can zig zag across Europe and have an adventurous holiday without having to spend a lot of money.

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Bali Travel Tips For Getting The Best Out Of Your Travel

24 Dec 2010 - noxa

Bali’s varied landscape of hills and mountains, rugged coastlines and sandy beaches, lush rice terraces and barren volcanic hillsides provide a picturesque backdrop to the colorful and deeply spiritual culture of this \”Island of The Gods.\” Below are a few questions that are commonly asked plus tips on the do’s and don’ts of Bali Travel.

1/ Do you need a visa for travel to bali?
In general you don’t need to get a visa before you to Bali from most countries. A visa costs approximately US$10 for 7 days/US$25 for 30 days. If you have a Hong Kong SAR or Macau SAR passport, then you will get a free visa.
Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months from the date of entry into Indonesia, and you must have proof of onward passage (either return or through tickets). If you cannot fulfill both of these requirements, you may not be allowed to enter the country.
The Visa on Arrival is non-extendable and cannot be converted into a different visa. Once you disembark, you will come to an area where you buy your visa. (Do not miss this section).  AFTER you have paid for and received your visa you THEN to proceed to Immigration where your visa will be processed.

2/ Is it safe to travel to Bali?
On October 12, 2002, the most commercialized, southern area of Bali came under attack by terrorists. The Kuta Beach tourist area is often referred to as \”Little Australia\” by the local people because it is known to primarily cater to Australian tourists and surfers. This shocking tragedy sent the message around the world that no tourist destination is completely safe in our dangerous times. What a disappointment to all who have come to deeply appreciate the hospitable Balinese people and their culture. But the intent of the perpetrators was to strike at Western revelers and their commercialism. Since Bali as a whole is primarily unscathed by such ugly decay, the Balinese culture remains untouched. However, the impact on the tourist economy has not been minimal. In recent years, tourism has contributed significantly to the financial well-being of the island and even to Indonesia as a whole. Swift efforts by the government to ensure a speedy recover are underway. Strict security measures have been implemented. Some countries have already lifted travel warnings implemented, and tourism to Bali is again on the rise.

3/ Do I need a License to drive or Ride in Bali?
Yes. If you live in Australia, then the best way to do this is to see your NRMA branch and apply for an International Drivers License which will cost you $25 for one year. Other countries: see your roads and traffic authority to apply for an international licence.This is easy to do, will save you the headaches of police fines and problems; and will be a lot easier than applying for a temporary license once you get to Bali as this takes a full day in Denpasar filling in applications and doing the test.

More Bali Tips:
• Change money at a reputable looking location, use your own (or the hotel’s) calculator before changing!
• Drink a lot of bottled water and eat lots of fresh fruit – do your body a favor.
• Be careful with your belongings at all times. Crime is on the increase and can ruin your holiday. Cases of handbag snatching have been reported, so leave important documents in your hotel safe and wear your bag across your shoulders!
• Try not to step on offerings in the street (walk around them).
• Respect the slow pace of processions when stuck behind one, i.e. don’t honk!
• Haggle when buying (except on price-tagged goods.)
• Buy ‘Imodium AD’ to relieve bouts of Bali belly.
• Have a great holiday in Bali!

Don’t:
• Forget to take your passport (or a photocopy of your ID).
• Do drugs! It can carry the death penalty, and there are enough foreigners residing in Bali courtesy of the Govt. Prison service!
• Touch people’s heads – it is very offensive to Hindus.
• Enter a temple during menstruation. Sorry Ladies!
• Forget to put salt on your food & drink water – you will probably sweat a lot.
• Worry too much about the ice – its government-quality controlled in established bars and restaurants.
• Forget to look and listen while you cross the road. Cars may stop, motorbikes may not!
• Forget to reconfirm your flight 72 hours prior to flying.

By following these tips, you will get the most out of your holiday with the least amount of hassles. Have a great trip and enjoy!

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Bali Travel Tips

12 Dec 2010 - noxa

Fear of the unknown is rife in people who have never travelled to Bali before. An equal number of good stories and bad stories continually circulate about this magnificent island. Below is a list of travel tips for anyone who has never travelled to Bali before. They will assist you in being prepared and making sure you have a fantastic holiday on this magnificent island.

Take US$25 per person for your Visa on Arrival. You pay for this on arrival at Denpasar airport and this allows you to stay in Bali for a maximum of 30 days.

Pack lightly. Even if you are tempted to throw those extra few things in your suitcase- don’t do it. Bali’s clothing is extremely cheap and whether you like shopping or not guaranteed your suitcase will be a lot heavier coming back. Toiletries etc. can be bought at the 24 hour Mini Marts and Circle K’s for a fraction of the price. The only toiletries i would recommend taking are women’s personal items and sunscreen as these are quite expensive in Bali.

Pack a decent pair of walking shoes. The footpaths in Bali are not exactly structurally sound. Although wearing trainers can be quite warm in the humid environment your feet will be thanking you.

Don’t change money before you go. Although I’m sure you’ve all heard stories of being ripped off by money changers on the street if you follow a few simple rules this will not happen. You will get a better rate changing money in Bali than you will in your home country. Just make sure you go to an Authorised Money Changer, don’t hand over your money until you have counted the money they have given you and make sure you get a receipt. If this still doesn’t sit well with you go to a bank as they normally have even better exchange rates than you’ll get on the street.

It’s better to take cash than use your credit cards. Depending on what bank you are with, you will generally be charge a fee every time you use your credit card in Bali. This is normally a percentage of what you have spent and can add up to an awful lot over the course of your holiday. The maximum withdrawal from any ATM is IDR 1.5 million (nearly AU$200) and most banks charge around $5 in fees per withdrawal. For both credit card charges and ATM withdrawals the exchange rate is usually much worse than if you were to change money on the streets. If you really aren’t comfortable taking cash make sure you check with your bank before you leave to know how much the fees are.

Be careful of drivers. If you find a driver who offers you a too cheap price for full day transport be careful. Drivers make little money on driving you around for the day once expenses are taken out. The main income earner for them is receiving commissions from what you eat and what you buy from the places they take you. Although this is the way they make their living you may find yourself being ripped off with the places the driver takes you to. The other problem is you may not end up where you wanted to go as the driver will have his own agenda and take you to the place he gets the highest commission from. Just be wary and try and go with a driver recommend by someone else not just the one who offers you the cheapest price.

Bargain at the markets – everyone knows this but I just thought I’d mention it. If they won’t come down to the price you are willing to pay just walk away and if they follow you know your price is reasonable.  Just remember this is how the Balinese make a living so a great thing to do is bargain them down to the lowest price and once you have agreed give them a bit extra. That extra bit is nothing to us but everything to them. This will make them realise you are not a pushover and they will be extremely thankful.

If you don’t want to get hassled by people trying to sell you things I recommend you keep away from the markets and Kuta beach. The Balinese are very rarely nasty or aggressive but as they are trying to make a living can sometimes be quiet overwhelming with their pushiness.  It is not like this everywhere and if you keep away from the markets and the main tourists hotspots you shouldn’t have a problem. If you are getting hassled rather than be rude just so ‘no thank you’ and keep on walking. I find politeness like this works the best. The Balinese are excellent at remembering faces so after a few time of ‘no thankyous’ they probably won’t hassle you anymore.

Be careful of the taxes – in the majority of restaurants the taxes are not added onto the price. You will see down the bottom of the menu ‘price is subject to an additional 21% service and government tax’. This is worth mentioning to anyone who hasn’t travelled to Bali before and likes to watch their spending as an additional 21% tax can add up to a reasonable amount.

Don’t eat all your meals at your hotel restaurant. Although this can be convenient at times generally you pay a lot more eating at your hotel than you would if venturing out to the millions of restaurants available on the street. Generally a free breakfast is included with the price of your room but I would recommend eating outside of your hotel for lunch and dinner.

Don’t be afraid of Bali Belly – everyone has a story to tell on how they got Bali Belly. My husband and I have been to Bali copious amounts of times and – touch wood – have never got Bali Belly. Just don’t drink the water. When showering make sure you don’t swallow and use bottled water even when rinsing your mouth out after brushing. Also just use common sense when choosing a place to eat – make sure the kitchen and surrounding areas are clean. If you do get struck with Bali Belly red cordial is said to help and the Balinese believe the local snake fruit is also a great cure.

Shop around – even though the prices in the designer shops are already a lot lower than what we are used to it is still a good idea to shop around. Many places will be having sales of up to 50% and you can get yourself an even better bargain with a bit of looking around.

Until you become familiar with the prices taxis charge make sure you get in one with a meter. Once you are comfortable with knowing the price you should get charged catching a taxi without a meter is fine – just make sure you negotiate the price before you jump in.

When departing Bali you are required to pay IDR150 000 per person in departure tax. Many new travellers to Bali are unaware of this. Also it is worthwhile to mention that once you check in for your departure it is very difficult to get back out of the airport. Guards stand at the doors and will only allow you to exit if you need to use the ATM.

In my opinion Bali is the ultimate holiday destination. No matter what kind of holiday you would like Bali has something to offer for everyone. I hope the above tips will make you feel more comfortable in choosing Bali as your next holiday destination.

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Travel Tips: Travel Scams To Be Aware Of

20 Oct 2010 - noxa

Top 12 Travel Scams And Travel Scams

Tyres and fliers

You are driving along the motorway when a driver draws alongside you, pointing to one of your tyres and gesturing to you to pull over. You stop on the hard shoulder and the other driver kindly pulls over to help. While you inspect the tyre, he lifts all your valuables from the front seat. A new version on this is when you return to your parked car and get in, only to see a flier stuck under the rear window wiper obscuring your view. So you jump out to remove it, thieves nip in and drive off in the car – more than likely taking your bag/shopping with it.

Tip: If you fear you have a flat tyre, try to continue until the next service station. If you do have to remove the flier, ensure your valuables are hidden. In both cases, always keep the car locked.

Metal detector

You place your laptop on the airport security scanner while waiting for a couple of people to pass through the metal detector. The first passes, but the second person triggers the alarm and laboriously takes out coins, jewellery and mobile phone from his pockets. By the time you go through, the first person has long gone, as has your laptop. Most prevalent in countries where you can go in and out of the departure area, such as the United States.

Tip: Never put your belongings on the conveyor belt unless the metal detector is clear.

Currency cons

Unscrupulous cashiers in banks or bureaus de change adopt suspect counting methods when handing over money to foreigners. With irregular pauses they miss out numbers in the countback in the hope that the tourist is not concentrating or does not understand. Another scam is to give someone the wrong currency when exchanging money for example, Czech koruna (50 to 1) instead of Polish zloty (six to 1) – or confuse them with one zero too few (think Turkish lira). More often than not, the tourist will fail to notice.

Tip: Find out about the currency and exchange rate before leaving (www.xe.com), pay attention to those zeros and insist on counting back your money in front of the cashier.

Hire or liar

It’s the end of your Bali holiday, you are in a rush to catch your flights, so you hurriedly hand back the keys to the hire car representative who gives you a nod and sends you on your way. Only when you arrive back home do you find your credit card has been charged for damage you never inflicted. This is increasingly prevalent in Europe.

Tip: Make sure you mark any damage before you hire the car and ensure you get a signature for the “all clear”, a copy of the paperwork before departing.

By day:

Travelling light

Crowded streets, malls, markets and railway stations are the obvious spots. While moving through the crowds you bump into a passer-by: you apologise and move on. It is only later that you notice you are travelling light – your keys, wallet or phone has gone.

Tip: Make sure your bag is zipped up. Never leave your wallet in a back pocket. Take what you need in a money belt and leave the rest in your hotel safe.

Compensation claim

Someone will bump into you in a crowded place, drop a pair of spectacles or a precious ornament (always previously broken), feign horror and claim to the world and his wife that you have to pay up for the damage. In some African countries, this scam extends to pedestrians bumping into your car and then writhing around on the ground while a hostile crowd asks for compensation.

Tip: Ask to resolve the situation at a police station or hotel reception the crook is more likely to give up the ruse.

Mess take

You are admiring the sights when you feel the unmistakable splat of bird droppings on your shoulder or perhaps you have something spilt on you by a clumsy passer-by. As you stop to examine the damage, an amiable local helps you clean off the mess, while cleaning out your wallet.

Tip: You could chain your wallet to your belt, but a money belt is the safest option.

Unfair cop

A man approaches you to ask for directions or to offer you a currency exchange or even drugs. Then two men appear, flashing badges and claiming to be police. They demand to see your passport and check your wallet for “counterfeit money”. When you hand them over the men either disappear into the crowd or one distracts you while the other relieves you of your cash. If you have been duped into changing money they may confiscate it, claiming that it is “counterfeit”.

Tip: If approached by police, insist on checking their photographic identification and accompanying them to the police station before handing anything over.

Snooze and lose

You are waiting for a train, plane or bus, with your bags by your side, and a passer-by “accidentally” drops a wallet, money or keys from his pocket. Being honest, you grab them and run after him to return it. Your bags, meanwhile, are long gone.

Tip: If you are alone, err on the side of caution, even if this means appearing rude.

By night:

Unlicensed taxis

It is late, you have had a few drinks and it is a long walk home there are no licensed taxis at the rank and a man is offers you a lift. The fare seems reasonable but you could pay a much heavier price. The consequences can range from simple muggings to murder.

Tip: Never, however tempting, get in an unlicensed taxi in a foreign city that you don’t know well, particularly if you are alone.

Bitter pill

While enjoying a few drinks in a Bali Hotel bar, you nip to the lavatory and return to finish your drink or perhaps you have just accepted a drink from a friendly stranger. Either way, that will be the last thing you remember: your drink has been spiked. Hours later you wake up to find your wallet has gone, or far worse.

Tip: Never leave your drink unguarded or accept a drink from a stranger unless you see it served by the barman.

Unwelcome reception

You’re settling down for an early night when your hotel room phone rings. It’s the receptionist apologising for the late hour but asking you to verify your credit-card details. You read them out and drift back to sleep. The caller, of course, was not the receptionist and your credit card is taking a pounding. A variation on this is someone approaching you in what appears to be hotel uniform, saying that he needs to make a photocopy of your passport for hotel records. You hand it over and he disappears.

Tip: Only give out your card number or passport in person at reception, never over the phone.

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