Travel Blog

Travel Package Accidents Abroad

admin — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 10:25:52 +0000

There is never a good time for an accident to happen. But when you and your family are on holiday and an accident occurs abroad, it can be daunting.

There are international laws protecting travellers. The 1992 Package Travel, Package Holiday and Package Tour Regulation now aids victims of foreign holiday accidents to claim compensation for their injuries. Rather than the outdated policy of travellers filing claims in the country where the accident occurred, this regulation permits the claim to be filed in the UK.

Companies that provided package holiday tours have a duty of care to provide safe passage, hygienic hotels in safe locations and safe activities for those entrusted into their care. They are also responsible for your travel within the foreign countries, such as transport to and from airports abroad and transportation within the destination cities. The tour company is responsible for your overall safety. These responsibilities extend to those who would provide excursions and day trips.

Injuries could result from food poisoning, wet surfaces causing a fall, illness from ill-kept hotels or inns, water sports accidents and more. Any activity that is part and parcel of the package tour falls within the operators’ responsibility.

Should a mishap occur, it is vital to gather as much information as possible. Make the tour director aware of the incident. Call for medical assistance if needed and document any injuries. Take photos before anything is moved. Take down the information of witnesses who will be able to confirm the details of the accident. Make certain you have copies of medical reports and any other reports and statements taken by the police or the tour company personnel.

Once you arrive back in the UK, contact a solicitor such as Holiday Claims immediately. There are time limitation on compensation claims, so time is critical in these matters. Have all the information available for your solicitor and he will advise you of the necessary steps to be taken.

As you head off for your summer holiday, keep these tips in mind. You’ll rest easier if you know you are prepared for the unexpected. Be safe as you travel. Bon voyage!

Holidays in the Northern Hemisphere

admin — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 10:24:16 +0000

January in the Northern Hemisphere means that we’re in the midst of the throws of Winter, this means that there is no better time to think about planning your family holidays. Help stave off the winter blahs and make plans for a warm escape. The problem, however, is figuring out what you want to do. How can you figure out where you want to go and what you want to do? In order to do that, you have to ask yourself a series of questions. How much time can you take off for your holidays? How much money do you have set aside and how much can you save for your holidays? How are you willing to travel? Do you want to stay in country or do you want to travel out of the country? What type of holiday does your family enjoy? Can we find something to satisfy the majority? Do you want to go on guided tour somewhere or are you more interested in a Eurocamp self-catering holiday? Where do you REALLY want to go? Once you ask yourself the questions, you can do the research and figure out where you can take your family holidays.

Holiday safe: What cruise insurance can cover you for

admin — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 08:15:58 +0000

Although it’s the kind of holiday where you just want to get away from any kind of stress, it’s worth investigating cruise insurance before your luxury voyage sets sail. Like any other kind of travel, a luxury cruise can go wrong – and perhaps even more than any other kind of holiday, it can also be expensive.
Roughly speaking there are two main times of cruise insurance policy, which broadly follow the same lines as other types of holiday insurance: single trip insurance and annual travel insurance. Single trip is exactly what you might imagine; it covers you for one holiday. Annual travel is aimed at people who take more than two or more holidays a year and often policies can be extended to cover any number of visits in a year that you might want.
No matter what kind of policy you get though, there are different types of cover that can be included in either of them. Your insurance provider should be able to tailor fit these to your requirements – providing:
•   Cancellation cover if you’re unable to travel due to illness or injury
•   Cover for Loss or damage to personal possessions or money as long as you’ve secured your belongings and reported any theft to the authorities
•   Medical Emergency and Treatment cover if you’re ill or injured whilst you’re abroad
•   Curtailment cover if you need to come home early for either personal illness or injury or that of a close relative or business associate
•   Personal liability Cover in case you become legally liable to pay damages to someone else whilst on your cruise
•   Legal advice and expenses for the rare situation that you need advice about claiming compensation for something that’s happened whilst on your cruise, from someone other than the tour operator.
A cruise is supposed to be a stress free vacation. Insurance helps you make sure that no matter what happens, that still holds true.

Helpful Information About Egypt Travel

admin — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 10:42:55 +0000

Everybody knows that Egypt is a great place to visit. They have various known landmarks and the known desert. If you are one of those who wanted to have a good visit to Egypt, taking the simple tips below will surely help you have a good and safe travel experience to this wonderful and historical place.
When in Egypt, it is important for you to know that this country is using the Egyptian pounds as their currency. Major credit cards are accepted in most of the establishments, and banking days are from Sunday through Thursday and from 0830 to 1400. However, banks located at the airports and at the major entry ports are open 24 hours daily. One must keep in mind that Scottish pounds, Irish punts, and New Zealand dollars are not accepted, and changing your money in Egypt is advisable as conversion rate is better in Egypt.
When talking about transportation for you to get around Egypt, they have three main bus operators that are based in Cairo and cover the entire Egypt. Bus operators of Egypt include the Upper Egypt Bus Company that covers all points along the Nile Valley, Fayoum, Inner Oasis, and the Red Sea. The West Delta Bus Company is another bus lines that serves the Alexandria area, North Coast, Siwa Oasis, and the Nile Delta towns. The East Delta Bus on the other hand serves the Sinai Peninsula and the Canal Zone, while the El-Gouna Bus Company covers the Hurhgada, Safaga, and Marsa Alam.
Always keep in mind that Egypt is a Muslim country and thus requires you to respect their beliefs and practices. Therefore, if you are fond of displaying your affection with your partner in public, you must limit doing it in Egypt as this is against this belief. One should also keep in mind that Homosexuality is illegal in any Muslim countries.
Drinking tap water I Egypt is not advisable. They have plenty of bottled water around that are affordable.
When crossing the street, one must be very careful because Egypt uses right hand drive.

The Best Places to Eat During the 2010 Winter Olympics

admin — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 10:40:07 +0000

The 2010 winter Olympics in Vancouver Canada is already coming near. If you will be one of the spectators or athletes and has been wondering where to eat while in the place, worry no more because we have listed a few of the tops restaurants in Vancouver that will surely keep your taste bud satisfied.
Simply Thai Restaurant – located in 1211 Hamilton Street in Vancouver, British Columbia, this Thai restaurant has foods spiced with Thai basil, Keffir lime Leaf and Pandan leaf. They even allow you to chat with the chef while they are preparing for your food in front of you. If you want some Thai foods in Vancouver, then this is the place to be.

Society Dining Lounge – experience cheek and sleek dining moment with this high-class restaurant located in the previously renovated warehouse district that offers nothing but delicious and sumptuous foods. In addition, they also have a very nice interior design with their French Brasserie chairs, and warm red décor in the lounge making them the perfect place to be to fill in your empty stomach while patiently waiting for the Winter Olympics to start.
Sequoia Grill – if you love grilled foods then this one of Vancouver’s best seaside restaurant landmarks is perfect for you. Located at the Stanley Park tea House, the Sequoia Grill has an excellent Pacific Northwest cuisine. While dining, you will surely enjoy the scenic view of the overlooking English Bay. This place can also be your perfect place for a romantic dinner or sunset drinks.
Glowbal Grill and Satay Bar – be hip and trendy while waiting for your favorite Olympic sport to start by visiting and dining at the trendy Yaletown restaurant, the Glowbal Grill and Satay Bar. You will definitely enjoy their fabulous satays and delicious martini. Their tasty sauce that is served along with their delicious satays will definitely create a remarkable dining experience for you.

Using Your Laptop on a Cruise Ship

admin — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 10:34:38 +0000

Cruising is a great way of travel to spend your holiday. Nowadays, it is already a normal thing for us to be connected even when we are in travel, and so, bringing our laptop with us is always a choice. As majority of the cruise lines are now WiFi enabled, using the internet while cruising is now easier. However, one should be aware that internet access is a bit costly. As of October 2009, it has been known that internet access ranges from 30 to 75 cents per minute. That is why, it is important for you to do a little research about it. How will you use your laptop on a cruise ship are listed below.
Before you engage into cruising, calling your chosen cruise line is a useful thing to do. You must have to find out first if wireless internet access is available and if they limit personal computer access. It is also important that you inquire about the rate for wireless and regular shipboard internet access for you to have a great and useful comparison.
Purchasing a wireless internet access in larger package will cost you less as these packages has lower per minute rate. One can also join a frequent cruiser club in order to get some free or discounted internet access fee.
It is also important that you have back-up on all your files, passwords are encrypted, and attach a sticker with your contact on your laptop, just in case you laptop is lost.
While cruising, logging on and off more often is the best way to save on internet usage. One can download all the emails at the same time and read it while offline. When response is needed, type in your response first and login again when your mail is ready for sending.
Keep your laptop with your at all times when using it outside your cabin to prevent it from theft.
The above-mentioned are just a few of the important things you should keep in mind when using your laptop on a cruise ship.

Discover the Top Thailand Beaches

admin — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 06:18:54 +0000

Asian countries are known for its beautiful beaches and Thailand has many of those relaxing and white sand beaches that you should not miss when visiting Thailand. I will list some of its beautiful beaches for you to choose from when visiting Thailand.
White Sand Beach, Ko Chang – being the second largest island Thailand, Ko Chang or some called it as the Elephant Island is the most popular in Thailand. It is located near the border of Cambodia or over 180 miles east from Bangkok. If you have enough time, you explore the whole island and see some hidden bays in the place.
Hat Sai Kaeo in Ko Samet – if you like other activities other than swimming, you can go to Hat Sai Kaeo in Ko Samet. This is also called as Diamond Beach or Crystal Sand Beach. With is size of around one third mile long, you can enjoy jet skiing, windsurfing, and riding the exciting banana boat.
Ao Manao in Prachuap Khiri Khan – also called as the Lemon Beach, Ao Manao is located six miles away from the border of Myanmar. Despite of it being a battlefield for Thai and Japanese forces, Ao is now one of the quietest beaches in Thailand. When in Ao Manao, grab the chance to try on their freshest seafood offered by their restaurants.
Phranang Bay and Railay Peninsula in Krabi – professional and first time rock climbers will surely love the Railay Peninsula, because it is known for its extraordinary rock climbing opportunities, and from Railay East Beach, one can take a 15 minute walk and they will reach the Phranang Bay that is perfect for swimming, kayaking, snorkeling, and exploring.
Ao Nang Beach in Krabi – its well-developed beach, a chance to do street shopping, affordable rate, with top western and Thai restaurants are just a few of the reasons why Ao Nang is one of the most popular beaches in Thailand.
Tonsai Bay in Ko Phi Phi – Ko Phi Phi is one of the world’s famous islands. It composed of two separate islands, the larger one called the Don and the smaller one called Leh, and Tonsai Bay is located on the southern side of Ko Phi Phi Don.
Noppharat Thara in Krabi – also in Khrabi, Noppharat Thara was then a free public beach until 2008. However, today, tourists are already charged with 400 Thai baht as the entrance fee. The Noppharat Thara is located at the western part of Ao Nang also in Khrabi.
Tong Takien Bay in Ko Samui Island – another great place for snorkeling, swimming, and kayaking is the calm and secluded bay in the southeast side of Ko Samui called the Tong Takien, which is also called as the Silver Beach.
Sairee Beach in Ko Tao – Ko Tao is a remote beach in Thailand that became the choice of tourists who wanted to get away from crowded Ko Phangan and Ko Samui. It can be reach via two to three hours boat ride from Chumpon. When In Ko Tao Sairee is the popular spot because they offer massage, drinks, and all types of food and services.

Experience Fine Shopping In Thailand

admin — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 07:14:01 +0000

Of course, your visit to Thailand will not be complete without shopping from their lively shopping places. T o help you choose for the right place to go, we have listed below some of Thailand’s known shopping places.
Chatuchak Weekend Market – it is also called as Jatujak or J.J., located in Bangkok, the weekend market is the largest market in Thailand and in the world. You can buy here your favorite household items, clothing, Thai handicrafts, religious articrafts, collectibles, foods, and live animals.
China Town, Yaowarat – also known as Sumpeng, Bangkok’s China Town is one of the best place to shop in Thailand. Located in Yaowarat Road, you can see numerous stalls that sells different types of goods.
Silom Road – here is where you can find shopping and entertainment together in one place. Located in Bang Rak district, Si Lom or Silom is the shopping and entertainment district in Bangkok.
Siam Paragon – hailed to be the pride of Bangkok, the Siam Paragon holds over 250-world class and local brand names. It will also house a Department Store, Supermarket, and Edutainment center.
MBK Center – if you wanted to have a more comfortable shopping experience, you can opt to shop at MBK Center, an 8-storey mall that houses over 2,000 stores and services, over 150 eating establishments and an entertaining large cinema city.
Gaysorn Plaza – if you want high-end and luxurious products, the Gaysorn Plaza is the perfect place for you. Gaysorn is the home of high-end brand’s flagship store.
Pantip Plaza – it professionals and enthusiasts must go in this place because this is Thailand’s indoor IT shopping mall. The mall is located in New Phetchaburi Road in Ratchathewi district in Bangkok.
Emporium Department Store. – This is Thailand’s first luxurious fashion and lifestyle shopping place. Complete with leading international brands, a full-scheme department store, a five-star movie complex, kid’s playground, gourmet market, a wide selection of chic cafés and restaurants, beauty salons, jewelry shops, and more,, the Emporium Department Store is the place to be especially if you have your kids with you. You can also see some premium goods, unique and exotic Thai handicraft all in one comfortable shopping area. Known brands that can be seen in this place are Cartier, Chanel, Hermes, and Tod’s.
River City Shopping Complex – shopping in River City Complex will offer you a different satisfying experience especially if you are a lover of Thai art and Oriental art because you can see them all in this shopping center of Thailand.
Now you already have the best places to shop in Thailand, it is also important for every tourist to know the best items to buy when shopping. When visiting Thailand, one should not miss buying Thailand’s native products like clothing, cotton and batik, pewterware, Gems, Ceramics, Nielloware, Lacquer ware, Thai orchids, Furniture and Hilltribe Crafts.
When shopping, it is important to consider your safety at all times. Keep an eye to your personal belongings always.
Except in shopping malls, bargaining is very welcome to almost all market in Thailand, and do not forget to shop around first and compare prices before finally buying.

Experience the Songkran Festival or the Thai New Year

admin — Fri, 29 May 2009 12:48:58 +0000

Get the chance to experience and participate on Thai people’s traditional activities during the Songkran Festival or the Thai New Year, a four-day activity that happens in the month of April every year. Buddhists and non-Buddhists alike are welcome to go to the temple and witness various activities, eat, drink, and throw water. The four-day activity consists of the following:
April 12 – it is called as the Wan Sungkharn Lohng. Thai people on this day do the house cleaning and general preparation for the New Year. However, if you are in Chiang Mai, this is the day wherein the Songkran procession is held. The procession consists of Buddha images and attendant on beautifully floats with beautiful décors accompanied by the locals and minstrels. After the procession or parade, the water fight will follow.
April 13 is the day Wan Nao. This is the day where people cooked foods and preserved it for the Buddhist merit –making that is happening on the following day. On the other hand, activities happening at the Wat Prasingh temple continue and locals go to the banks of the Mae Ping River in the evening to gather sand and deposit it in piles topped with flowers in the temple.
April 14 is the third day of celebration and is called as the Wan Payawan. On this is day is when the grand New Year celebration begins at early in the morning with people doing some merit-making at the temples. Those preserved food that are cooked the other day are being offered. Other than preserved and cooked foods, offered items at the temples are fresh fruits, monks’ robes and other offerings. People from home on the other hand, do the final cleaning of Buddha imaged with the use of a scented water.
April 15, the fourth and final day of the festival is also called as the Wan Parg-bpee. Homage is made during this day wherein locals paid to ancestors, elders, and other person that deserves the respect because of their age of position. This is also called as the ‘Rohd Nam Songkran’, which means “The Pouring of Songkran Water”. While sprinkling water to the elderly, wishes of good luck are also uttered.
People in Chiang Mai during this day are celebrating the final day of celebration and are throwing water with each other. Residents of Chiang Mai on this day are dedicated to have some fun.
Having able to join with the Thailand local residents in celebrating the Songkran Festival will surely be a memorable experience for you. Songkran is one of the festivals in Thailand that you should not miss because of its abundant religious and fun activities, and it only happens in Thailand. Other places might have their own festivals as well but will be very different from Songkran. If you want to experience the Songkran Festival, plan ahead, reserve your accommodations and festival tour early so that when the day of the festival comes, you won’t be having any problems with hotel reservations and festival tour packages, because for sure, many of the tourists will be coming to Thailand to witness the Songkran Festival.

Exciting Things to Do In Thailand

admin — Thu, 28 May 2009 07:16:50 +0000

When visiting Thailand, your visit would not be a complete one if you fail to do some of the best and exciting things that you can do in Thailand. This includes your chance to learn to Scuba Dive. If you are a lover of water and loves to see underwater creatures, then this activity is best for you. Thailand has the most beautiful diving spots and is one of the cheapest. For only £150, you can already have your PADI Open Water certificate to various dive shops in Thailand. The package includes the kit and a four day training and bunch of diving.
Watching Muay Thai match is another great thing to experience in Thailand. You can feel the power of Muay Thai boxers at the Lumpini Stadium in Bangkok. Purchase a cheaper ticket if you want to witness the fight with any other fans or the more expensive ones if you wanted to be on the ringside and enjoy the fun more intensely.
Tigers are wild, and everybody is afraid to get closer to them. However, given the chance to stroke them is an unusual experience. If you are of those who wanted to have an unusual friendly encounter of tigers by stroking them, you rather visit the Tiger Temple in Kanchanaburi province. With just a small amount of donation, you can already stroke the tigers and strike a pose with them.
If you think, Bangkok is the best place to visit in Thailand; you have to think again because Chiang Mai also has wonderful views and experiences to offer. If you love elephant trekking and witness fine scenery at the same time, Chiang Mai is the best place for this activity. They have the green virgin forests and breathtaking mountains for you to love. Moreover, if you want to have a break from trekking, you can try to do bamboo rafting and swimming in their jungle waterfalls.
If you want to witness the busy life in Thailand and watch different type of people rushing in, you had better go to Khao San Road in Bangkok. Here is where most of the travelers go first for people watching activity. The place is packed with hotels, bars, restaurant, travel agent, stall selling everything and more.
Another great thing that one must do in Thailand is to experience shopping in their Damnoen Saduak Floating Market. As the name suggest, the floating market is composed of hundreds of little boats loaded with their items for sale like fruit, vegetables, chickens, blankets, clothes, and more.
If the floating market does not excite you, then, Chilling to Thailand’s legendary islands will surely take you to a high energy level. If you love going to the bars, you must visit Koh Samui, which is great for partying. Koh Phangan is known for its unique Full Moon Parties and Koh Tao if you love to dive.
After doing all those breathtaking activities and visiting various places in Thailand, The Grand Palace in Bangkok will complete your fine travel experience. The Grand Palace is an exotic architectural masterpiece, with fabulous ornaments and was once the home of the King and government officials of Thailand. Visiting here requires modest clothing or you won’t be allowed to come in.

Top Thai Foods That Deserves a Try

admin — Tue, 26 May 2009 05:18:23 +0000

Top Thai Foods That Deserves a Try

When visiting Thailand, do not try to leave the place without giving a try to their wonderful dishes. Because of the Thai people’s principle of giving their food the balance of five flavors including the spicy, salty, sweet, sour, and bitter. If you still do not have the idea of what food to order when visiting Thailand, you can try to take some of our suggestions below.

Gai Pad Met Mamuang or the Stir-fried Chicken with Cashew Nuts – this mouth-watering Thai food is a nice treat for your adventurous taste buds. Its slightly sweet and salty taste of chicken fried with crunchy cashew nuts, will sure make you and your kids love to get back to Thailand more often.

Por Pia Tord or the Fried Spring Roll – this is one of the most favorite and popular appetizers of Thailand’s foreign visitors like you. It is a nice tasting (not spicy) crispy pastry with a mix of fried vegetable filing and comes with a sweet and sour dip.

Panaeng or the Meat in Spicy Coconut Cream – this is another delicious dish of Thai people. You can cook have this dish in pork, chicken or beef. The Panaeng tastes like the Thai red curry plus the thicker and richer coconut milk sauce resulting it to taste sweet and mildly spicy, and is perfect with warm steamed rice.

Som Tam or the Spicy Papaya Salad – this is one of the most popular salad or side dish among Thai people. It tastes spicy and sweet. It composed of various vegetables including the shredded unripe papaya, yardlong beans and tomato. The Som Tam is perfect as side dish for grilled chicken with sticky rice.

Moo Sa-Te or the Grilled Pork Sticks with Turmeric – this dish has an appetizing sweet flavor plus you can dip it in a rich, juicy sauce that is made of turmeric and curry powder. Dips for this inviting grilled pork sticks comes in two variety, the mildly spicy thick sauce with coconut milk, ground peanuts, and curry powder, and the sweet and sour vinegar sauce.

Tom Yam Gai or the Spicy Chicken Soup – when having a sumptuous mealtime, soup never goes out of style. Thai people’s Spicy Chicken Soup is clear chicken soup blended with chili, lime and fish sauce. Simmered in lemon grass, shallot and galangal, Tom Yam Gai will let you love Thailand.

Tom Kha Kai or Chicken in Coconut Milk Soup – if you are not into spicy dishes, this is the best one for you. Another variety of Thai’s chicken soup, but this one is less spicy, but with the same great taste because it is also simmered in various Thai herbs.

Kang Keaw Wan Gai or Green Chicken Curry – with a blend of green curry chili paste, coconut milk, sugar and fish sauce, the Kang Keaw Wan Gai is perfect with steamed rice of Kanom Jeen, Thai’s spaghetti-like noodle.

Pad Thai or Fried Noodle – it is a popular dish in Thailand that is composed of stir-fried noodle with eggs, fish sauce, tamarind juice, red chili pepper plus bean sprouts, shrimp and tofu. Garnishing includes crushed peanuts and coriander.

Toom Yam Goon or Spicy Shrimp Soup – this dish has a one of a kind taste that is made possible by fragrant herbs, shallot, tamarind and chili pepper.

The above-mentioned are just a few, and you can always try those that you like most. discount car hire

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admin — Mon, 25 May 2009 07:34:06 +0000

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