My Travelling Companion: Travel

Showing posts with label Travel. Show all posts

Sunday, July 11, 2010

Greek back-up: it doesn't sound Greek, does it?

The strikes and natural disasters have all come and gone, but the chance to go and have a Greek holiday isn't over yet.

Take that chance!
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Greek back-up

Government promises free room and board for travellers affected by strikes, natural disasters

Greece has offered to cover the costs of tourists who are stranded as a result of industrial action or natural disaster in what is effectively a free "insurance policy".

The move is designed to repair the damage done to its important tourism industry as a result of industrial action and the ash cloud caused by Iceland's volcano.

Athens issued the undertaking as the country faced a wave of protests called by unions against government austerity cuts.

Pavlos Geroulanos, the Culture Minister, announced that the government would "guarantee" extra room and board payments if return flights are cancelled or postponed.

"We are certain that it will be a calm summer, and that there will be no major strike disruptions," an official said. "But just in case something happens, the Greek state is prepared to cover these costs."

Tourism generates almost one-fifth of the Greek gross domestic product but bookings have collapsed by 10 per cent since the onset of the financial crisis.

Budget cuts have provoked stoppages and strikes among public sector workers. Unions have called a general strike, the fifth since the start of the year, on June 29.

Public life has been met with continual disruption since the Greek government hit the financial buffers last year.

But Mr Geroulanos said there were indications that visitor numbers would be better than forecast.

"The numbers are not really as gloomy as they were with the first cancellations," he said. "Some destinations have suffered greatly due to the crisis, but others are doing better than before."

Greece has moved to ensure that the cost of visiting is reduced. It has suspended landing fees at all regional airports and relaxed visa rules for Russians and Ukrainians. The Daily Telegraph

From TODAY, Travel - Thursday, 24-June-2010
Greek back-up
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Thursday, June 24, 2010

One, single flight: SG to Melbourne or Auckland

This is one news that I would say I'm looking forward to. I missed it back then, 2 weeks ago, so I'm posting it now. This is good. No need to do connecting flights. Never mind the longer flight - it wouldn't hurt much. And, there's no danger of getting tempted to shop while walking to your next flight. Huh!

Read on...
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Budget business to Melbourne, Auckland

Jetstar yesterday announced that it will fly direct to Melbourne and Auckland (photo) from Singapore, making it the first low-cost carrier to fly long haul from Changi Airport.

The cities are about seven hours and 10 hours from Singapore, respectively, but passengers on the A330-200 aircrafts have a choice of flying either Economy or StarClass - Jetstar's international business class cabin. The latter has leather seats with a seat pitch of 38 inches - the equivalent of premium economy seats in full-service airlines British Airways and ANA - and full inflight service including meals and entertainment. Economy seats, meanwhile, have a pitch of 31 inches compared to 31 to 34 inches of those in full-service airlines. Food and amenities are still pay as you go.

Flights to Melbourne will start on Dec 16. Book a flight before 3pm today to buy a one-way JetSaver Light ticket starting from $248 for travel between Jan 18 to March 23 next year. The Auckland route starts on March 17 next year. Both are subject to regulatory approval. Details at jetstar.com.

From TODAY, Travel - Thursday, 10-June-2010
Budget business to Melbourne, Auckland
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A taxi ride on a holiday

Image via Wikipedia

This is a very simple story, but enough to make you realize that even for a ride on a holiday, it can be enjoyable with things at their simplest.

Read on!
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Taxi ride most memorable

One cabbie, two passengers, six days in Western Australia

GOING on a road trip doesn't make one a celebrity, but the Singaporean winners of Tourism Western Australia's Extraordinary Taxi Ride contest, 33-year-old Ong Jing Yi and her brother Jason, 35, got a taste of stardom when a film crew followed them around during their road trip in Western Australia. They even got to meet the mayor and attend a radio interview at Geraldton town.

"No matter where we went, people waved and talked to us. I was really happy. I felt like a VIP," said Jing Yi.

In April, the siblings embarked on an all-expense paid road trip in a taxi driven by gregarious Australian taxi driver Doug Slater, a mini-celebrity himself after he was selected via a nationwide voting contest.

During the six-day tour, they visited destinations including Lancelin, Geraldton, Kalbarri, Monkey Mia and Shark Bay. At the end of each day, they blogged about their experiences and uploaded photos. A highlights video was also posted on the Extraordinary Taxi Ride website, www.extraordinarytaxiride.com.au, at the end of the trip. The siblings talk to Today about their experiences. Terence Lee

What were some of the most interesting places you visited?

Jing Yi: The town of Geraldton is actually the lobster capital of Western Australia. There, I got a chance to go down to the dinghy to collect lobsters.

Jason: The Pinnacles is a very special place. The vast landscape consists of piles of limestone, and over time, the wind will change the surface. A couple of years from now, it might not look the same.

Jing Yi: We even took out a Singapore flag and took a photo with it. The landscape is like the moon!

Was the taxi driver helpful?

Jing Yi: He's like a walking encyclopedia! He knows the country well, having travelled all around Western Australia for more than 20 years. He's wary of kangaroos jumping onto the road because knocking into one could destroy the car's engine. He told us to keep our eyes on the side of the road and look out for places where bushes are sparse, since kangaroos are more likely to jump out of those.

What did you learn about Australia on this trip?

Jason: We try not to drive around at night, especially in the rural areas. Many wild animals come out to roam then, so it's dangerous.

From TODAY, Travel - Thursday, 10-June-2010
Taxi ride most memorable
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Thursday, June 3, 2010

Being right: The Wright travel plans

Image by Smaku via Flickr

This talks about an upcoming TV show where they'd feature travel destinations. (Since I am posting late, this is already on air this time).

Pardon me, but I do agree with Ian when he said that "... they're free... they're not nailed down... " Take 'em with you when you leave...

Read on...
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The Wright travel plans

It's out with boundaries, and in with Ian Wright

by Michelle Ann Kwara
michelleann@mediacorp.com.sg

AN ENTIRE room of eager journalists watched as Ian Wright slowly unbuttoned his shirt. Don't worry, the children can stay - he was just showing off his gleaming sunburn from his most recent escapade.

"Eighteen years of travel, and I realised that I haven't learnt one thing," sighed the globe-trekker, who popped into town last month to promote his latest TV travel programme, Ian Wright: Out of Bounds.

As the name suggests, the 45-year-old Englishman's latest offering features destinations that are, well, out of bounds. The world's most remote or least visited locations - Cuba, Syria, Venezuela and Siberia are a handful of the cities explored.

It may not sound like a leisurely spa getaway. And it isn't - Wright was quick to say that he wasn't always as calm and smiley as what you see on TV. "You've got to be mad to not be scared of nothing," he said. "Or dead, I suppose."

The much-loved host of Lonely Planet, also known as Globe Trekker, Wright has also hosted shows like America The Wright Way and VIP Weekends With Ian Wright. The shows are a lovechild of travelogue and comedy, with Wright providing his trademark wit and screwball antics.

As a professional traveller, he is no stranger to exotic foods. While Singaporeans feast on shark's fin, Wright dines on mouldy sharks in Iceland.

"It's an old Viking dish, it's like cured meat. If you're on a boat, you got to have something to nibble on. No wonder the Vikings aren't here anymore," he quipped.

We cosied up with the award-winning host as he shared tips on stealing hotel toiletries and why we should all go to Siberia.

Where's the one place you think everyone should visit?

There's isn't anywhere, really. Some people say Auschwitz is one place you must go, just to remind yourself of what's going on. Like in Cambodia, the school that was the death camp. It's always worth going to one of them places, just as a reminder of what a bunch of a**holes we are. You don't necessarily need to visit those places. Everyone's got their own little mecca. And while you're in Cambodia, get yourself some noodles and go off to Angkor Wat, you know? It's only round the corner, innit?

What's the best advice you can give travellers who want to travel the way you do?

Well, just buy a ticket, really. The thought of going on your own, or with someone, to the other end of the world, it's like, "Oh my god!" and you can dwell and think about it too much. And it can stop you going. What you need to do is, when you get the idea, go and buy a ticket. Buying that ticket is the first step, and probably the hardest.

What are your travel essentials?

Now, it's my DVD player. I love films, especially for long plane journeys. But make sure you've got a bloody good battery.

Why should we visit Siberia?

Because it's unlike any other place. People want to travel to experience new experiences, to see different perspectives of the world, different landscapes in the world. And it doesn't get more different, or more extreme, than in places like Siberia.

Have you ever nicked hotel soaps and toiletries?

I don't use the word nick - they're free anyway. If it's not nailed down, put it in your bag. That's my motto.

Ian Wright: Out of Bounds premieres today and airs every Thursday at 9pm on Discovery Travel and Living.

From TODAY, Travel - Thursday, 20-May-2010
The Wright travel plans
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Thursday, April 29, 2010

Travel Tips - including Being Safe

NEW YORK - MAY 20: In this photo illustration...

Image by Getty Images via Daylife

This will be my last post for the day, and it is one that concerns travellers and tourists, since the coming months are holiday months.

With little introduction needed, here's to say that let us all be safe, at home, or abroad.

Enjoy your vacation, but equally important, too, is to be safe at all times.

Read on!

33 Travel Safety Tips

Traveling to unfamiliar destinations can bring to you the sort of troubles you do not want to experience while on the road namely: robbery, rape, or murder. Tourists often fall prey to perpetrators because they do not prepare properly before embarking on a trip. Let's examine some things you should do to prevent your travels from becoming a tragedy.

1. Never list your home address on the luggage tag. If on business, put the company's address on the tag; if visiting friends you can list their address. Use covered luggage tags as well.

2. Stay with your luggage until the luggage is checked. If you must put your bag down, keep one foot on the handle.

3. Carry important papers with you; NEVER check anything that you simply cannot afford to lose. Photocopy your passport, driver's license and credit cards.

4. Bring a small flashlight. You never know when you'll suddenly be "in the dark" and find yourself in unfamiliar surroundings. At night, keep your flashlight by your bed.

5. Make sure that your prescription medicines are filled properly and labeled accurately. In some countries certain prescription medicines are forbidden.

6. Never wear anything that projects affluence. No gold chains, expensive watches and rings, luggage, or other paraphernalia should be in easy view. Better yet: leave your jewelry at home.

7. If possible travel with only one or two credit cards.

Travel Wise: How to Be Safe, Savvy and Secure Abroad

8. Women particularly should never accept a drink from a stranger. Keep an eye on your drink at all times.

9. Vary your schedule; try not to come and go at the same time everyday.

10. Only stay in a hotel that uses cards to open room doors and make sure your room has a peephole and a deadbolt lock. Secure the chain and secure the door by pushing a rubber stop under it.

11. Stay in a room near a stairwell. Never take the elevator if a fire or smoke is detected. Always stay in a hotel where the doors enter the hallway and not directly from the outside.

12. Do not wear name tags in public.

13. Do not use unmarked taxi cabs.

Genuine Leather Double Edge Safety Razor Protective/Travel Case

14. Sit behind the driver so you can see him, but he cannot see you.

15. Pay the driver upon arriving at your destination and while you are still sitting in the vehicle.

16. If you must rent a car, rent only from a reputable company. Any operating problems that occur could signal sabotage.

17. Be aware of 'staged' car accidents meant to catch you off card.

18. Back into your parking spaces to facilitate a quick exit.

19. Park only in well lit and well traveled areas.

20. If your cell phone does not work outside of the country, consider renting one that does for the duration of your trip.

Safety 1st Travel Ease Elite Play Yard, Orion

21. If detained for whatever reason by an official, ask for identification. If in doubt, tell them that you want to see his superior. Keep your emotions in check.

22. If traveling with children, bring along an updated photograph of each child in the event that you become separated from them.

23. Write your child's name and your hotel number on each card; include a close friend's or relative's contact information on the card. Give a card to each child which they will carry with them as long as you are away. Destroy once home.

24. Discuss with your family what they would do in event of an emergency while away from home, e.g. whom to call, how to contact emergency personnel, etc.

25. Do not discuss travel plans, your room number or any other personal information in public within earshot of strangers.

KidCo PeaPod Portable Travel Bed with Air Pump - Red

26. Bring along a basic first aid kit with bandages, iodine, mosquito repellant, sunscreen, alcohol packets, dramamine, pepto bismol, diarrhea medicine, etc.

27. Familiarize yourself with train and bus schedules before traveling. Have an alternate plan in place in the event your transportation plans change.

28. Do not flash your passport in public. Discreetly show important documents to officials only.

29. Consider purchasing portable alarms that emit a loud sound.

30. Watch for scams on the street. Children working with adults are notorious as pickpockets.

31. Never flash your money in public. Exchange funds with reputable and recognized exchangers only.

Safety and Security for Women Who Travel (Travelers' Tales)

32. Have tips ready in advance for service personnel.

33. Consider renting an escort [security] service if traveling in areas where crime is high.

The key to safe traveling in any area is situational awareness. Distractions because of luggage, children, hotel personnel, strangers, etc. can put you at risk. Know your surroundings and stay in control of every situation.

Matt manages the Corporate Flight Attendant Community a comprehensive resource center for business flight attendants who travel throughout the world. You can visit the community at http://www.corporateflyer.net or http://www.cabinmanagers.com

AAA 73 Piece Adventurer Road Assistance Kit

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Taken from Ezine article directory:
33 Travel Safety Tips
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Tuesday, April 13, 2010

Stay ahead of the game

One of the worries when going on a travel is usually accommodation, a place to stay while in that place of your dreams - lest your vacation turns into a nightmare!

Here's a tip on how to settle all that - before flying off to that distant land of wonders that mesmerizes, an ethereal place of beauty beyond wonders.

Read on...

LUXE ACCOMMODATIONS

It is easier than you think with a number of websites now offering exclusive sales

A WATER villa at the Six Senses' Soneva Gili resort in the Maldives, usually US$1,040 ($1,460) a night, reduced to US$840. An ocean-view room at the Gansevoort Turks & Caicos, usually US$460 a night, slashed to US$285.

Luxury hotels have long aimed for an image of exclusivity - setting prices beyond the reach of most travellers, allowing wait lists to build for restaurant reservations and carefully generating buzz with a well-placed celebrity guest in the gossip magazines.

Now, a growing number of websites are offering "private sales" of 20 to 60 per cent off luxury accommodations to select travellers on an invitation-only basis.

In October, the Gilt Groupe, an invitation-only retail site that has been a hit with fashion devotees, spun off Jetsetter.com, which offers discounts several times a week on yachts, villas and hotels. Soon after, TabletHotels.com, a booking site for fashionable hotels, started its private sale from Tuesdays to Thursdays or until inventory sells out. So did Kayak.com, the popular meta-search site. Ruelala.com, another fashion-focused invitation-only site, also has begun to offer hotel sales.

Sale specs

Unlike last-minute sales, which offer deep discounts to travellers who can take off at the spur of the moment, the members-only deals generally offer a longer travel window.

For example, the Gansevoort Turks & Caicos, on the island of Providenciales, was recently offered for US$285 a night (nearly 40 per cent off) on Jetsetter. A booking calendar highlighted the dates for which that rate was available, with options through December, more than 10 months out.

Travellers have only a limited time to book, however, and that creates a sense of urgency and spontaneity around the offers. Members, generally invited to join the group by a current user, can sign up for weekly email alerts about when the bargains will go live. And all sales are upfront and non-refundable.

Fans of private sales say such caveats are a small price to pay for access to exclusive luxury bargains. "There are plenty of discount hotel booking options online, but rarely do they include any true luxury accommodations," said Jason Klein, 31, a Jetsetter member who said he saved an estimated $2,000 on a weekend getaway in February to the Banyan Tree Mayakoba in Mexico.

"It's not as though the prices were cheap by any means," he added, "but relative to standard rates I had seen for these hotels in the past, the discounts were significant."

Hotels like the private sales, too. Because of the membership requirement, such sales generally don't appear in online searches or aggregator sites. This helps maintain the idea of a velvet rope around the deals. The nature of the sales allows hotels to maintain control over inventory, listing only dates for sale when they have empty rooms for a limited booking window.

The sites also do a good job of curating popular hotels, which makes hotels feel like they are part of an elite group and keeps members checking back to see what new hot spot is on sale. Tablet Hotels and Jetsetter hand-select properties featured in their private sales.

"We only want to run sales with things you're going to brag about to your friends when you come home," said Jetsetter chief executive Drew Patterson, reciting some of its recent sales, which included the Hotel Plaza Athé*ée in New York and the Four Seasons Costa Rica. "It's got to be exceptional."

How do you become a member?

It's easier than the sites make it sound. Tablet Hotels, for example, says there are three ways to access the special discounts - book your next stay on the site, be invited by a member or pay US$195 for a Plus Membership, which includes 24-hour advance access to the private sales and other perks such as free room upgrades, airport transfers or breakfast, depending on the hotel. But a Google search for "Tablet Hotels + private sale + invite" in March led me to the site's Facebook page, which offered a limited-time invitation with the code FBNOMAD.

Travellers who want to be invited to Rue La La's private sales can go to the homepage, click on the link "Not a member?" and enter an email address to be notified when space is available. With Kayak, it's as easy as registering an email address.

How good are the deals?

In a far-from-scientific check of several private sales, the sites beat the hotel's website and other travel booking sites such as Expedia.com and Orbitz.com nearly every time, often by a significant discount.

Still, travellers should make their own comparisons before they buy to be sure the deal is their best option.

For example, a king room at the Sunset Tower Hotel, popular with the Hollywood crowd, was recently offered in a private sale on Kayak for US$221 a night (non-refundable), down from US$295. But a queen room could be had for US$245 on the hotel's site without the strict cancellation policy. The New York Times

From TODAY, Travel - Thursday, 25-March-2010
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SOUTHER PORTUGAL: Ambling through the Algarve

Southern Portugal offers an abundance of sunshine, storks, and ... human skulls

by Mark Malby
traveller@mediacorp.com.sg

Even from the airport at Faro, the Algarve region of Portugal's south unfolds like a visual poem, sitting at the base of the Iberian Peninsula as complete and austere as a Hemingway short story. Imagine a pastoral land of rolling hills, olive and orange groves, quiet coastlines and ancient towns - and that's the Algarve.

The blue-green waters of the mid-Atlantic nuzzle its shores. Africa, incidentally, is just a stone's throw away, and the clear waters between them teem with seafood. Long beaches stretch, nearly empty in winter, and the region is backwater enough to have missed the unsightly building boom (and subsequent bust) that characterised southern Spain during the last decade.

The Algarve, in short, has plenty of space to sit back with a glass of wine, or retreat into nature.

A region steeped in history

A short walk through Faro's Old Town makes you quickly aware that this is a timeworn place, full of picturesque churches and narrow, cobblestone streets that would challenge even a mid-sized Mercedes. Visitors have been coming here since before Plato's time.

The Phoenicians built their trading outposts around 1000BC, followed by waves of Carthaginians, Romans, Moors, until it joined the Kingdom of Portugal in the 13th century.

Most of the buildings standing today, however, date from the 1750s, following an earthquake that ransacked the region. Still, it's picturesque and romantic, and pleasant to lose yourself for hours in the winding streets.

Never mind that the ground floors of some venerable buildings now house Mango, Zara, or McDonald's.

One of the more startling elements of Faro's religious past is Capela dos Ossos, which literally means "Chapel of Bones". This sits behind the venerable Igreja do Carmo church in the central town. It's not easy to find, but the price of admission - ?1 ($1.90) per soul - more than covers the effort.

Standing in the twilight of that room, layered wall-to-ceiling with human bones and skulls, it's hard not to feel solemn.

Apparently, it was built with the remains of more that 1,200 monks from the church's cemetery. And yet, there's a gruesome beauty to its symmetry as well. Not without reason does the inscription above the wall translate as "Stop here and think of the fate that will befall you."

Desert Islands and bird-life galore

Another selling point of the Algarve is its proximity to nature, though in Faro you don't have to wade into the wilderness to find it.

Nature comes right to your doorstep, or at least to the local roof-top. Massive stork nests crown the top of every church, lamp post, and tiled rooftop. It's like something straight from a child's story-book.

Nesting storks are just the precursor to what you find on the wetlands of Ria Formosa just south of town. In winter, these tidal flats which swathe the coastline all the way to Spain become a haven for migratory birds. Many come to escape the cold of northern Europe and Asia, while others fly north from Africa, attracted by the rich marine life and safe nesting grounds.

Similarly, bird-watchers make their way to Faro to spot scarce or first-time species. Birds are "big business" here, from vast flocks of African flamingoes and egrets, to exotic white spoonbills and shorebirds.

Many boating companies will take you through the wetlands, though Animaris offers the best package. For ?20, you'll get a three-hour guided boat trip through the wetlands, and the option of an afternoon stroll on the dunes and scrublands of Ilha Deserta - an uninhabited island which also contains the southernmost point of Portugal.

Eating and drinking under the Algarve sun

In most major cities, Portuguese restaurants tend to get eclipsed by the sexier nuances of French, Italian, or Spanish fare. That's a pity, because it's a hearty, piquant cuisine - specialising in seafood. In the Algarve, most is caught in the clear local waters. Roasted sardines and monkfish are specialities, and don't miss the bacalhau - salted codfish usually mixed with cabbage, potatoes, and olive oil. The region is also known for its sheep cheese, its olives, and those inimitable, crispy bread-rolls.

Then there's the wine. Port wines (named for Portugal, of course) are a must-try. Ports tend to be sweet and heady, designed to be sipped as an after-dinner drink. For something lighter with your meal, try the Vinho Verde (literally "green wine") from the north of Portugal, or rosé wines in their distinctive round bottles.

For escaping workaday life or the chill of winter, there are few better remedies than southern Portugal. Sitting out under the warm Algarve sun, dining al fresco in some ancient city square and washing down your meal with sweet Portuguese rosé wine - it's just what the doctor ordered.

From TODAY, Travel - Thursday, 25-March-2010; find the source article here.
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Blogged with the Flock Browser

Wednesday, April 7, 2010

Packing Travel Tips For the World Traveler

This is an Ezine article original. I've been putting in some travel destinations, but not articles like this, so hopefully, this will help as much as it can to get the world traveller prepared to go - anywhere in the world!
Read on...

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The Traveler's Handbook, 9th: The Insider's Guide to World Travel

One of the worst problems that a world traveler can experience is to arrive at your destination only to find that you are missing several key items that you need for your trip. To avoid these problems you should consider these packing travel tips for the person that travels around the globe.

You need to ensure you have your passport and other travel documents with you. Keep a copy of these records in case something happens to your originals. Pack a first aid kit to ensure that you do not have to deal with unexpected problems. Do not carry all your credit cards, debit cards, traveler checks, or cash in one location. Divide it up in case something happens.

Vagabonding: An Uncommon Guide to the Art of Long-Term World Travel

Make sure you pack enough clothes to allow for at least two changes of clothing for each day. You do not have to pack a great deal of clothes, but you should make plans to pick items that can be worn with different outfits to give you extra choices. Accessories such as scarves, sweaters, or jackets can provide you with more options. When choosing your clothes, try to pick wrinkle-free clothes to avoid having to worry about ironing the clothes each day. Choosing darker colors can help you to avoid showing dirt and stains if they should happen.

Learn what the weather is expected to be like when you make plans to visit a certain area or country. This will allow you to pack the right clothes to cover your needs. You can always pack a couple of extra outfits that can deal with unusual or unexpected weather. One of the most important travel tips is to pack good comfortable shoes that you will be able to walk in. Create a travel checklist to make sure you have everything you need. Plan for the unexpected and you will be able to enjoy your trip no matter where you choose to go.

Aren Williams
Site Representative
10minutetravel.com

World travel tips? we offer an interesting collection of travel articles, travel Tips & hotel reviews; share your favorite travel experiences now!.

Article Directory: EzineArticles

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My Travelling Companion

Sunday, July 11, 2010

Greek back-up: it doesn't sound Greek, does it?

Thursday, June 24, 2010

One, single flight: SG to Melbourne or Auckland

A taxi ride on a holiday

Thursday, June 3, 2010

Being right: The Wright travel plans

Thursday, April 29, 2010

Travel Tips - including Being Safe

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

Stay ahead of the game

SOUTHER PORTUGAL: Ambling through the Algarve

Wednesday, April 7, 2010

Packing Travel Tips For the World Traveler

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