Plan for the Perfect Holiday

Holidays are those little windows of sunshine in our lives- lives that for most people consist of a pretty dreary nine to five toiling and slaving and putting the pennies away, subjected to unreasonable deadlines and the whims and fancies of cranky bosses. They are the three weeks of the year when office bodies the world over morph into the independent, free spirited person they always imagined themselves to be- a time to kick back, a time to let loose and a time to rise above the mediocrity of routine. But holidays are not always peaches and cream- travel nightmares are all too common these days and unfortunately a ruined holiday can also mean a ruined year. We look forward to a holiday so much, thinking, dreaming and speaking about it non stop for months and months. So when it does eventually roll round and everything goes to hell the anticlimax can be too much to handle. Cue serious holiday blues, severe grouchiness and a firm resolve to stay at home next time.

Its the little hiccups that can ruin a holiday. We’ve all had them before- they happen very easily, yet have catastrophic results. You forgot to check the time zones and missed the flight by an hour. The reference number for your tour has mysteriously disappeared. You didnt confirm your booking, the flight is overbooked and because you got there so late youve been bumped and placed on standby. You forgot which hotel you booked into. The hotel has no record of you… did you even book at all? Its a planning thing really- a well thought out and well planned holiday will run smoothly nine times out of ten so long as you remember the small details. To help you do this, Discovery Car Hire in Australia have created a free online Travel Planer which you can access at tplan.net. You enter all your travel details into the planner, whether it be accommodation, flights, tours and car hire, and Tplan methodically organises them and lets you print them out as a hard copy. You can also save it online, and access and change the details from anywhere in the world. Give it a go the next time you travel, it could just save your holiday.

Of course there are some things that go wrong which we have no control over. Lost luggage is the scourge of air travellers everywhere, and is bound to happen to you at least once in your lifetime. In fact there is a 1 in 150 chance that when you travel internationally your baggage is going to be lost. So try to pack anything valuable or sentimental in your hand luggage and keep it on you. Medication is a no brainer, no one wants to be seperated from that. If your luggage does get lost, let the airline know straight away, but dont be too hopeful about getting any compensation. You need receipts for everything of real value in there, and even then the airline will classify it as second hand goods and only pay out a portion of the value. Really the only option is to be positive and try not to let your holiday be ruined by the whole mess.

When visiting poorer third world countries the issue of theft rears its ugly head. It happens everywhere of course, but is more common in these places. We are all on a budget when we travel, and to have that disrupted by the loss of a wad of cash or a wallet can be fatal to the trip, as can the theft of travel documents like passports. The best way to avoid pickpockets is to try not to look like a tourist, because tourists always carry cash. Avoid those stupid ‘bum bags,’ opt instead for an inconspicuous money belt or large pockets on your trousers with zips on. Carrying cash altogether is a bad idea- this is the new millennium and ATM’s are everywhere. Travel cheques are a safe option as well, as it doesnt really matter too much if they get nicked. Just be aware of whats going on around you- keep an eye out at all times, and if an area is notoriously high risk then try and avoid it.

The fastest ticket to a wrecked holiday is you or someone in your family getting sick. Diarrhoea afflicts huge portions of travellers keen to try out foreign culinary delights, unaware that their constitution just cant handle them. Young travellers are the most prone as they are the adventurous ones, but everyone gets their share of the holiday runs. Try to avoid desperately dodgy looking restaurants, and especially in third world countries stay away from water not served in a bottle. Ask for your soft drinks to be served without ice, as ice can still harbour the germs that was in the water. Do your homework on wherever you are visiting and find out what the common illnesses there are, and what preventative medicine to take. Prevention is better than cure, especially if you are in remote regions.

Just a bit of care and caution and a lot of planning can go a long way to ensuring your holiday doesnt devolve into a complete nightmare. Lets face it, you deserve to enjoy a successful break and so should do everything in your power to make sure you get one. A gadget like the Travel Planner can help give you peace of mind when you travel, and peace of mind can go a long way to easing travel tensions. If factors out of your control ruin your holiday, dont be too despondent… chances are they wont happen twice in a row, so gear up and get ready for your next one!

Exploring Europe

Most people have a certain desire to travel the world, which is why more and more young people decide to take a gap year between finishing school and starting university. Be it a long or short term journey, the benefits are well known – undergraduates starting university more mature, confident and better prepared having experienced life away from home before. This time can be used to learn a new language, consider plans for the future and, most importantly, to have an extraordinary experience that includes getting to know not only different countries, but also cultures.

However, it is often forgotten that to have this experience you do not need to travel as far as South-East Asia or Australia, but can have the same or an even better experience right on your doorstep in Europe. The cultural richness of the countries in Europe is impressive and because the countries are relatively small you can travel across them in short periods of time while having all the advantages of experiencing a variety of cultures without having to sit on a plane for hours on end.

Especially now that the railway network has been developed to such a high standard, it is possible to travel comfortably across the whole of Europe by train. In Europe trains such as the Eurostar allow you to travel from one city centre to another (or even from one country to another!) in less time than using any other method of transport. Also, if you purchase one of the euro rail passes your journey will be cheaper than flying or travelling by car. Travelling by train also gives you the added advantage of flexibility. If you find that you are particularly interested in one city you can stay there for as long as you want; you can decide spontaneously when you want to continue your journey. There is no need to have a detailed plan of your travel dates giving you the independence you wish for whilst on your gap year whether you will be moving to the next town or the next country!

The culture Europe has to offer is often underestimated, when in reality it is the European continent that offers one of the most varied cultures in the whole world. You can experience a completely different way of life travelling as little as 100 kilometres. Even within one country there can be immense differences, for example, between the North and the South. Also, not only are you able to visit vibrant and modern cities, but also historical sites, beaches, mountains, metropolises and traditional villages. Train travel covers journeys throughout all these destination types.

Using the train Europe becomes one of the most fascinating destinations you could imagine without having to stretch your budget too much, which also means that there is plenty of money left for luxury treats, such as a shopping spree in Paris or a night out in the famous clubs of London or Berlin.

A gap year is in any case a useful and exciting experience that should be taken advantage of. Being able to spend this year in Europe, closer to family and friends and with a smaller budget, is especially an advantage for those, who have in the past hesitated to go ahead with taking a year out. It also gives you the opportunity to invite friends to come along for parts of the journey, if they are unable to undertake the whole year of travel with you, as in Europe you are never that far away from each other.

From Windmills To Diamonds: Travel To Holland

Tulips, windmills and wooden shoes might still be a draw to this Dutch region for some travelers; however, Holland is a far more versatile locale with an international and maritime history extending farther back than most of the rest of Europe, including the establishment of New Amsterdam as a major trading city, which became New York when the British took over. Holland, particularly Amsterdam, is also well known for its diamond manufacturing and polishing industry. If that tickles your fancy, make sure to visit the Amsterdam Diamond Center located in the center of the city.

Before you continue with this informative guide to Holland, make note that although the name “Holland” is used commonly in everyday language, the country is strictly called The Netherlands and internationally recognized as such.

Red Lights and Rembrandt
Besides being the capital city, Amsterdam has enough to offer to fill your entire vacation. The unavoidable multiculturalism has brought Amsterdam to the forefront of controversial equality and human rights issues. Muslims, Jews, Dutch and Surinamese all have a very active role in the life and politics of the city. The Anne Frank House is an extremely popular sight with a new exhibit at the end that discusses the modern day conflict between freedom of speech and respect for cultural and religious diversity. Amsterdam is also home to the Van Gogh Museum and the newly restored Rembrandt Museum.

The Dutch acquired an extensive collection of colonies during the 18th and 19th centuries, one of which was Suriname, located on the northern coast of South America. Suriname finally gained its independence in 1975 and through an education exchange program the Surinamese population remains predominant in Amsterdam. The cultural flair adds richness to the city in the form of contemporary music, art and exquisite cuisine. Make sure to dine in a Surinamese restaurant at least once!

Amsterdam is also notorious for its Red Light District and Coffee Shops. Stroll through the winding streets at night for an incredibly diverse experience and stop at one of the bustling pubs for delicious locally brewed beer. Also, many visitors enjoy seeing the city from the water. There are boat tours offered on an hourly schedule during the summer months that take you through the picturesque canals and past charming old façades.

Timeless and Traditional
Even though Amsterdam is a modern hub in the globalized world, there is still an incredible amount of tradition and history prevalent throughout The Netherlands. Visit the nearby town of Alkmaar in the summer to take part in the centuries-old cheese market and festival. Locals don traditional dress and haul giant rounds of cheese through the town square for weighing. After your fill of diary, wander through this seaside town’s canals and shops. Travel through central Holland to the medieval town of Utrecht, established around 47 AD. The 14th century wharves, cathedrals and Roman architecture are sure to transport any traveler to another place in time.

For international travelers, Holland exists in a class of its own. Whether you enjoy the bustling urban experience or the intimate countryside adventure, you will find what you are looking for in Holland.

How to choose Discount Lodging in Rome

In order to find discount lodging in Rome, one needs to first become familiar with the term pension. A pension is like a hotel, only it tends to be smaller. In addition, the price of the room at a pension includes the price of meals.

Some tourists who seek discount lodging have chosen to request mezza pension, which means half-pension. This means that the tourist will pay for eating at the pension for only one meal a day (in addition to breakfast). Whichever arrangement the tourist selects, she or he is guaranteed a comfortable accommodation with an informal atmosphere.

Once the visitor to Rome has located good, discount lodging, then she or he will want to take-in the City’s many sights. Plan any sightseeing with an eye to the discovery of Rome’s many churches and museums. Moreover, do not forget to include a trip to the Colosseum.

The visitor to Rome might want to spend some time within the discount lodging reading-up on one or more of the places that could be part of a sightseeing expedition. One way to get a feel for ancient Rome is by reading Emperors and Gladiators by Thomas Wiedemann. This book offers a very positive picture of early Roman civilization. Anyone who has read this book will realize that the Colesseum did more than just pandering to the masses.

Rome has so much to see that one is foolish not to obtain a map. The visitor to Rome should then study that map, most likely within the confines of some discount lodging.
The map should show where the tourist’s accommodation sits, in relation to Rome’s monuments, churches, museums and other places of interest (such as the catacombs).

Once the tourist has chosen the places of interest that she or he wants to visit during a tour of Rome, then that tourist should consult with the operators of the discount lodging regarding the best mode of transportation. A tourist can view Rome on foot, by autobus, by underground or by taxi.

As the tourist departs from his or her discount lodging, that traveler will probably be unprepared for the true wonder of Rome. That first exposure to Rome has left an impression on many travelers. Fenimore Cooper wrote that when he first saw Rome he felt like a compatriot who first visits town, perplexed with the whirl of sensations and the multiplicity of the objects.

A tour through Rome is like paying a visit to another time. It is a way to have a close-hand look at the magnificent skills of the ancient architects, sculptors, and painters. It forces the tourist to re-examine his or her perception of Rome. It will leave that tourist with the desire to return and to plan for a longer stay at some sort of discount lodging.