Trips and Travels

Travel Destination of the Week: Venice, Italy

admin — Thu, 10 May 2012 09:50:05 +0000

Every week I am going to feature different tourist attractions, nice scenery and views from different countries which was visited by my family and friends. Since I am just a virtual traveler this time, I asked permission from them to post their travel photos here in my travel blog. All their photos are credited from them and I’d like to thank them for being so kind and so supportive to me.

For this week I am featuring the beautiful city of Venice, Italy which was visited by my friend who works as a cabin crew of Emirates airlines. She was so blessed in having this kind of job because she got the chance to travel around the world and visit many beautiful countries and nice places just like Venice.

Venice is actually one of my dream travel destination. If I have the chance to have a Euro trip, I would definitely visit this beautiful and romantic city. Venice is one of Italy’s top travel cities and a beautiful, romantic destination with many attractions. Its small, traffic free streets along the winding canals make for great walking. You’ll find many magnificent churches and palaces, lively squares, and interesting shops. Venice has many fine attractions and museums but one of the best things to do is take some time wandering along the canals off the main tourist track.

Tourism is a big business in Venice and the city has many exceptional tourist attractions to show off, often being greatly enhanced by their waterfront locations. Boat trips around the Venetian Lagoon and gondola rides along the canals are highly recommended in Venice because it provides tourists with a relaxing and easy way to see many famous attractions.

Six Tips for Storing Travel Documents On Holiday

admin — Tue, 01 May 2012 16:07:04 +0000

You shouldn’t have to worry about losing your important travel documents while on holiday. Here are some keys steps to take to protect your documents:

1. Decide What Documents to Bring With You

There’s no reason to have to manage and protect more documents that are strictly necessary. You’ll definitely need your passport, as well as your own country’s main form of identification, whether a driver’s license or identification card.

You’ll also want printouts of travel documents that confirm critical services you’ve purchased. This includes transportation, hotel, proof of health insurance, and traveler check purchase receipts. Lastly, you’ll certainly have at least one credit card.

Don’t bring anything you don’t need. Clear out your wallet of credit cards you won’t use abroad, as well as any other cards or documents that if lost, could be used by someone else to take your identity.

2. Create Copies

You want at least two sets of copies of every document you’ve identified under as a critical document. The first set of copies should be left with a trusted family member of friend back at home. The second set of copies you’ll carry along with you as you travel.

If you’re especially conscientious, you may leave a copy of your documents with more than one person in your home country. However, do make certain these are people you trust as you are literally handing them your most important information.

3. Write Down Critical Information

In addition to having the actual documents and copies, it is also handy to have a cheat sheet with relevant information. Most people travel with some sort of journal. You can write down important numbers, like e-tickets, passport numbers, or credit card numbers, in shorthand so you have them all in one place.

This cheat sheet will be very helpful in an emergency if you’ve lost your wallet. However, do note that it will make your journal an important document that needs protecting as well. You’ll have to decide if the trade-off is worth it.

4. Use A Travel Wallet to Transport Your Documents

Ideally, you’ll have two document organizers. One you use to carry your original documents with you as you walk around each day. The other document organizer is the one holding your copies that you leave back in your hotel safe. If you’re really nice, you’ll put your document copies in an organizer for those holding copies back home.

5. Store Your Documents Safely At The Hotel

Your document copies should be locked up in your hotel room’s safe when you leave your room each day. Use a code for the safe that you don’t need to write down. Your ATM bank code can be a good choice since it’s a number you know by memory.

If your hotel room doesn’t have a safe, the hotel should offer a secure way to store your documents at reception. This might mean a safety box to which you’ll be the only one with key. In some cases, reception will put your documents into an envelope and store it in a general safe. If this the case, sign the sealed envelope along its seal. This way, you’ll know when you get it back that the envelope hasn’t been opened.

6. Carrying Your Original Documents While Touring

Any document you don’t need to carry with you, such as hotel reservations or airline tickets, leave safely back at your hotel.

The documents you do need to carry around should be in a zipped pocket or wallet that’s in the interior of your clothes or bag. Then, it’s just a matter of being aware of your surroundings and your documents.

Helping out with all toner that comes in when he’s not blogging, James has taken a breather and is now trying his hand with HP ink cartridges.

How to Lease Vacation Properties in Atlanta

admin — Tue, 01 May 2012 15:42:09 +0000

Image via Flickr

A family vacation can be a great way to bring everyone together, but it can also be a huge disaster. Teenagers and kids think that it’s terminally uncool to spend time with their parents, and unless you’re offering up an exciting European trip, they might balk at being dragged away from their video games and friends. While parents love escaping from their day-to-day lives, the kids absolutely hate it.

Create a fun, fresh, and exciting family vacation by turning to vacation properties that will give everyone exactly what they want from the trip.

Why Choose Vacation Properties

Why choose a vacation rental instead of going to a standard hotel? Because the hotel thing has been done before, and it’s going to be hard to impress the kids with basic hotel amenities like room service, laundry services, and nearby restaurants. A vacation rental, on the other hand, provides all the comforts of home they might otherwise be missing.

With a vacation rental, everyone in the family can have their own space and maybe even their own rooms, so your family won’t be piled on top of each other during the whole time of your trip. The rental property may also offer all those things, like Wi-Fi connections and multiple televisions that allow them to watch their favorite programs whenever they want.

How to Find Vacation Rentals

Leasing vacation properties is probably easier than you think. Many people rent out their homes during popular vacation seasons, and some may even put their properties up for rent during the off season. Atlanta apartments make fantastic vacation rentals because the options are practically unlimited. You’ll find apartments available for rent in a variety of locations.

Choose a rental in the heart of the city to get close to the nightlife, or look for something in a more private area to enjoy stunning surrounding scenery.

Get close to the attractions you want to visit, or choose rental apartments based on size and amenities (like a swimming pool for the kids).

Finding that property is where things can get a little tricky. Turn to local classified ads, which you can find online, to locate apartments that are available as vacation rentals. Local Atlanta papers have their own websites and integrated searches to make it easy for Internet surfers to find exactly what they want.

Look into national sites that offer classified ads which also provide Atlanta-specific information for those seeking vacation rentals for their fun family trip. Once you’ve found viable properties that look perfect for your family vacation, contact the person who placed the ad directly to learn more about the rates, various amenities, and other particulars.

Always choose several different possibilities for your vacation rental, instead of just one, to maximize your chances of getting a must-have place to stay for the duration of a fun and exciting family vacation.

Holiday Cancelled

admin — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 08:49:23 +0000

We supposed to have our family holiday this coming June 2012 in Switzerland. But due to the unforeseen circumstances, we cancelled our holiday and we move it hopefully by next year. One of the main reason why our holiday has been cancelled was because of our tourist visa.

We don’t have a visa yet and we need to apply since it is a three-month holiday. We have been informed that if we want to apply for a visa, we should prepare the necessary documents and requirements three months before our planned departure date. The processing of visa will also take 4-8 weeks so we need to stay in Manila during that period of time.

Our holiday is sponsored by my mom but I was informed that even if its an all expense paid holiday, it is not an assurance that our visa will be approved. They need a bank account statement showing our balance and cash flow transactions, income tax return and other proof of financial resources. Oh well, at least we know what are the requirements that we are going to comply so that next year we are already prepared for our visa application.

Which are the Best All Inclusive Hotels in Majorca?

admin — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 15:14:21 +0000

For those thinking of booking all inclusive holidays Majorca is a fantastic choice of destination. As the largest of the Spanish islands, it has a great variety of resorts with a fantastic choice of hotel in each, so you’re sure to find a place to stay that is exactly what you were looking for.

It’s really important to find the right hotel when you book package holidays – particularly when staying all inclusive. You’ll be spending a lot of your holiday in the hotel, and taking most of your meals and drinks there, so it needs to be just right.

If you need help choosing your perfect hotel in Majorca, here’s a guide to two of the best, to point you in the right direction:

The Bellevue Lagomonte, Alcudia

This hotel, located in family friendly Alcudia, has four star reviews on TripAdvisor, and an Airtours customer rating of 93 per cent. Very impressive for an affordable, three star hotel.

The location of this hotel – overlooking a lake and backing onto a mountain range - make for spectacular views, and are what makes this hotel a really special choice.

The Don Pedro Hotel, Cala San Vicente

This white walled hotel, in the peaceful resort of Cala San Vicente, also boasts an unspoilt location – right on the beach the beach and backing onto mountains. The reviews from TripAdvisor and Airtours customers are nothing short of excellent – with a 97 per cent rating overall. The food at the Don Pedro also rates a high score of 89 per cent, which makes it a great choice for those looking to stay all inclusive.

If neither of the above hotels get you excited, there are plenty more to choose from, across all of the main Majorca resorts from lively Palma Nova to relaxing Torrenova. Simply check out the Airtours website for the latest great deals.

The Do’s & Dont’s of Passing Through London’s King Cross

admin — Sat, 14 Apr 2012 02:34:07 +0000

London King’s Cross railway station is a hub of constant activity. Trains carrying what amounts to thousands of passengers arrive and depart at King’s Cross from all over the country at constant, steady pace all day long. It can get hectic and crowded, even with the very recently completed departures hall located directly across from St. Pancras International Station.

If you’re leaving London via King’s Cross, a good rule of thumb is to get there in time to reach your train without rushing, but don’t arrive too early. Since the station is always busy, it’s hard to find a place to sit and wait, especially if you’re carrying luggage for a long journey. While it might be tempting to get there early in order to have a meal, coffee, or other refreshments, it might be better to pick something up on the way to King’s Cross and enjoy it on your train journey. Otherwise, you may spend all of that extra free time looking for a place to sit! Don’t forget that you’ll need to pass your ticket through the barriers in order to get to your train. Wait close to the barriers and beat the rush as the platform is announced.

If you’re coming to London via King’s Cross, then be aware that you’ll need to have your ticket ready to go as you get off the train, since there are barriers in place at departures as well. Try to follow the flow of traffic and keep an eye on any luggage you might have, not only to protect yourself from thieves, but to ensure that you don’t trip up yourself or anyone else as you’re trying to leave the station!

Even with more trains and more frequent service, you may find that it’s more convenient for you to stay overnight near King’s Cross. The station shuts after the last trains arrive and depart, and doesn’t reopen until the early morning, so don’t plan on sleeping in the station! There are hotels and hostels in the area, but perhaps the best and cheapest is the King’s Cross hotel from Travelodge. Prices can be very reasonable and they offer early check-ins or late check-outs, making your entire train journey a breeze.

Travelling via King’s Cross doesn’t have to be a hassle! With planning and forethought, you’ll be sailing through the station and onto your destination with no problems at all.

The Importance of Having a Passport and a Visa

admin — Sat, 14 Apr 2012 02:26:41 +0000

For those who are first time international travelers like us, two of the very important documents which are the Passports and Visas are necessary to travel to various parts of the world, no matter how long you plan to stay. Without them, you will not be able to go abroad.

Many people understand the difference between the passport and visa confusing, but in fact these two documents serve different purposes. Visas have been issued travel documents that in some countries to allow certain persons to enter the country while a passport allows a person to go from one country to another.

If you want to work or study you need a visa. A passport allows you in and a visa allows you to stay for a specific purpose.A passport is issued by your home country and it is a proof of who you are and that you are a resident of that country. A visa is issued by the country which you are visiting with and it gives you the permission to enter and stay in that country for a certain amount of time.

Passports and visas are indeed two of the essential documents when traveling. I hope that this information has given you a better idea of what these documents and how they work so you can be ready for your trip abroad.

Staycations vs Cheap Holidays Abroad

admin — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 08:20:51 +0000

Most of us would like to take some time to relax and would love to take a holiday or vacation together with our family, right? There are several reasons why some of us will not able to take a family vacation because because of the cost. However, many adhere to the disbelief that a vacation has to be an extravagant trip. This is not true, though. Whether you travel to a nearby amusement park or travel around the globe, we can still enjoy our family summer vacation.

Check out this infographic below to find out what are the top three best value destinations and how all inclusive holidays overseas are still the cheapest options for families who are looking to spend a getaway. This infographic was “Provided by ThomasCook“.

Turkey Holiday Deals: Spotlight on Antalya

admin — Sat, 07 Apr 2012 12:46:30 +0000

Antalya is an area situated on the Mediterranean coast of Turkey, commonly known as the Turkish Riviera, and it boasts some fantastic resorts for those looking to book a cheap holiday this summer.

The resort of Antalya itself is a great place to start, and you certainly won’t have much of a transfer to worry about from Antalya airport. As well as the main Konyaalti beach, Antalya has some fantastic smaller beaches to choose from – and boat trips from the harbour are a popular excursion for holidaymakers.

You’ll also benefit from fantastically preserved history and culture in Antalya, with the 2^nd Century BC Hadrian’s Gate and the Old Town to explore. You’ll also be perfectly placed to enjoy one of the best archaeological museums in the world, the Antalya Museum.

When evening falls, the atmosphere in the Old Town is fantastic. Be sure to sample traditional Turkish cuisine in one of Antalya’s restaurants, before moving onto the bars and clubs, which come alive after dark.

If you’re looking for Turkey holiday deals to smaller, quieter resorts, then nearby Side and Lara Beach are good alternatives. Side boasts stunning white sand beaches and a laid back, traditional atmosphere, and Lara Beach is an unspoilt family friendly resort that’s growing in popularity.

Direct Holidays has some amazing hotels in Side and Lara Beach to choose from, including the 4.5 out of 5 star (TripAdvisor) rated Sentido Perissia hotel and the Hemera Resort and Spa, in Side. Also rated 4.5 on TripAdvisor are the Titanic Beach Resort and Concorde Resort and Spa in Lara Beach.

Whether you’re looking for quiet and relaxed Antalya resorts, or somewhere bustling, busy and vibrant, Direct Holidays has some amazing hotels to choose from that have been rated excellent by holidaymakers like you!

Traveling with Kids

admin — Sat, 07 Apr 2012 12:41:35 +0000

Traveling with kids is inevitable and we as parents may face quite a lot of difficulties as kids especially infants may feel any journey disturbing. No one can predict what time kids may feel uncomfortable.We need to bring something to be carried to keep our child comfortable, happy and healthy.That’s what Ive learned when I traveled with my daughter on a bus trip. Now that we are going to travel on a long trip by an airplane for our holiday in another country, at least I know what I’m going to do as I take care of few things which will make our journey a jovial excitement for us.

To my fellow parents out there, whether you are traveling in flight or bus, I advised you to find a comfortable seating positions to make your kids feeling happy and undisturbed. Carry along food and water is a must since your child needs it throughout the journey. Carrying feeding bottles and milk for infants and juice drinks for kids is also advisable.

Getting kids engage in some interesting activities while traveling will make them forget the stress of travel. Carrying books and reading for kids is a wonderful travel time activity. In my case, I bring drawing book, crayons and some of her favorite stuff toys. Diverting their attention from the travel stress is helpful to keep them active and happy. When your child cries or exhibits some discomfort, attend him or her immediately and do whatever possible to ease the situation.