Travelling Reports

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Traveling In Italy – Be Train Smart

February 8, 2024

Think about traveling in Italy and the mind immediately begins to reach for the airline timetables. Think again. Traveling to and around Italy by train is kinder to your bank account and kinder to the environment. The journey time from London Kings Cross on Eurostar takes just over two hours and costs around forty quid. When you take into account the time spent lolling around the airport, suddenly the train doesn’t seem like such a bad idea. Considering, also, the train has one tenth the impact on your carbon footprint compared to flying, everybody wins.

Once on the continent, there are three options for reaching your destination in Italy by train. The Artesia TGV arrives in Milan or Turin from Paris by late evening; the cost is GBP 30.30.

If you have a little extra time to spare and want to treat yourself to some stunning scenery at stunning speeds, the Lyria TGV will transport you to Zurich at 198 mph. The letters ‘TGV’ stand for ‘Trains a Grande Vitesse’, meaning, somewhat less grandly, ‘high speed train.’ The EuroCity pendolino train takes you in the morning through the Swiss Alps to Milan and from there make a connection to Florence, Venice, Naples or Rome. Alternatively, the Artesia sleeper train will carry you direct to Rome, Florence or Venice.

Want to see more of Italy? Milan to Turin or Genoa are short journeys. You can train from Venice or Verona to Siena or Pisa via Bologna. Further down the coast, zip across the country to Rome from Pescara or Naples. Curl around the west coast from Naples right down to the tip of the toe of Italy’s boot and cross the straits to Sicily on the boat train.

Hopping across the Straits of Messina to Sicily is an experience in itself. All trains get shunted onto the ferry for the half-hour crossing.

Sleeper trains have a range of carriages at a price to suit everyone. The couchettes are the cheapest, albeit less private. First Class couchettes have four berths and Second Class, six. They are mixed gender, although women traveling unaccompanied are allowed to book spaces in female-only accommodation. One does not undress at bedtime, but remains in regular clothing. There is one attendant for each pair of cars to convert the coach into it’s bedtime shape, provide pillows, sheets and blankets and to serve drinks and continental breakfast in the morning.

The more comfortable compartments in T25 and Standard Sleeper cars are carpeted and convert to a private sitting room for early evening and morning use. Each room has a washbasin and a bed fully made up. There is one attendant per car. Some of the longer routes, for instance from Milan to Naples, have luxury ‘Excelsior’ cars with one and two-bed compartments with en suite toilet and shower.

There are, of course, highways in Italy if that’s what you prefer. The minimum age for driving a car is 18, insurance is mandatory and traffic fines are on the spot and fierce. You may also be required to convince the authorities that you have written permission to drive the car if you cannot prove that you own it outright.

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Travelling Holidays Why Bhutan

February 8, 2024

For those kinds of people travelling holidays or holidays that involve physical activities are what they prefer and this is where Bhutan may soon become their destination of choice. Now many people may not have heard of Bhutan let alone be able to find it on a map but there is an increase in tourists as word of mouth spreads between traveler to traveler. Activity holidays are something that Bhutan is becoming famous for thanks to it offering superb locations and trails for those who enjoy walking or hiking. Because Bhutan is situated around The Himalayas the peaks and troughs that the landscape is known to provide plays host to some superb trails that are on offer should you decide to embark on one of many available Bhutan tours. There may not be many operators who travel to Bhutan but it really is one of those places that you need to see to believe and is definitely a treasure, you just have to know how to find it like all good treasure.

If you are thinking that the weather may not be suitable to hiking then you would be mistaken. The weather in Bhutan is not too dissimilar at times to the likes of California so you can expect warm and occasionally rainy summers to cold winters. The weather plays a unique role in the Bhutan tours on offer also as they can make the hikes and treks that more challenging and also that much more enjoyable too and so if you are looking for a holiday where you can really stretch your legs then take a look at the Bhutan tours on offer at your local travel operator. Bhutan is culturally growing and is becoming more and more westernised but it does this without losing its roots and you can see the rich culture and history that its people are proud of all around you. You still get a distinct feeling that the natives are proud of their heritage too.

Hiking is a serious hobby in Bhutan and some of trails really are rather challenging so you have to make sure that you are fit for the challenge as Bhutan can be quite steep and mountainous and many hiking tours in Bhutan last several days at least as you traverse the country and its many provinces. Along the way this allows you to get a real first-hand view of this small but magnificent country and for you to interact with the natives also as they are also pleased to accustom themselves to foreigners and you will see a melting pot of cultures together and this is what makes Bhutan so vibrant and allows it to become more and more appealing as a holiday destination and for Bhutan tours to become more and more popular so take a look in to a tour of Bhutan. You will not be disappointed.

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Holidays In Cornwall And Devon – Travelling The English Rivera

February 8, 2024

On the very south-western tip of England lies the beautiful county of Cornwall. With a delightful mix of superb beaches (among the best in Britain), outstanding scenery and charming towns, villages and cities, Cornwall has something to offer every traveller.

Despite the wealth of attractions & scenic beauty on offer, Cornwall has many affordable hotels, B&Bs & guesthouses to suit the budgets of all holidaymakers.

Cornwall is also Britain’s premier surfing capital not surprising given that it enjoys the best weather anywhere in the country. It also has some of the cleanest beaches and attracts visitors by the millions every year.

Whether it’s lazing on lovely white beaches, ambling along wonderful sub-tropical gardens or exploring quiet, picture-perfect fishing villages you’re after, you’ll find it all when you visit Cornwall.

The famous King Arthur is also believed to have come from Cornwall, in a small town called Tintagel. Cornish history is mystical, ancient and highly fascinating. The many delightful towns and villages are often named after the Christian missionaries that have influenced them.

Like your food and drink? Cornish pubs are known for offering good hearty foods and your choice of flavoursome ales. And let’s not forget the Cornish pasty a tasty must-have meat pie that must be experienced when visiting Cornwall.

Holidays In Devon

Devon is famously known to offer the traveller a feast of splendid scenery, lovely beaches and pretty harbour towns. Popular destinations within Devon include Plymouth, Torbay and Dartmoor National Park.

Devon is also a walkers paradise, and like neighbouring Cornwall is one of the most popular holiday destinations within the United Kingdom. And it’s very easy to see why lush pastures break out into spectacular coastlines, making Devon a Mecca for those hunting for a taste of quaint old England.

While enjoying a holiday in Devon, be sure to experience the wonderfully rugged coastline scenery. Devon is also blessed with some stunning countryside charming narrow little roads amble on for miles with nothing but lush greenery and flora that offers a myriad of explosive colours during the summertime. Driving through these single-lane roads is an experience like no other arrive in a Devon town that’s dotted with charming thatched cottages and enjoy a cream tea and scone in one of the many tea-shops.

Devon offers the traveller a classic English village experience and there are many great hotels, B&Bs and many more types of accommodation to cater to the needs of both the luxury traveller and budget conscious back-packer.

Devon also offers some of the best year-round weather to be found anywhere in the UK. Temperatures in January (when the rest of the country is shivering) average a maximum of 9 degrees.

If you enjoy coasts & estuaries then a holiday in Devon will delight you the estuaries (such as the Teign) also attract many species of migratory birds.

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Planning On Traveling Soon Use These Tips!

February 5, 2024

It’s fun to get out and see and do new things; however, planning a trip can be sheer drudgery. Use these tips to travel and have a great time.

Keep a group journal in your hotel room while traveling. Invest in something as inexpensive as a spiral notebook, and allow the people you are traveling with to write in it during down time. This will provide an interesting read later and will be a nice keepsake from your trip.

When you arrive in a new hotel room, let the hot water run in the shower for a little while. Even the nicest of hotels can be somewhat dirty. Letting the hot water run will help kill spores that the regular cleaning might have missed. You aren’t paying for the water bill in the room anyway.

If you are staying in a country with a high crime rate, treat even your hotel room as suspect. Place a piece of furniture in front of the door to prevent midnight break-ins. Also check that that windows lock securely. You never know which hotel owners might get a kickback from local crime gangs.

When planning an overseas trip or any kind of dangerous outing, check with your health insurer to see what you’re covered for. Most health insurance companies will not cover injuries incurred during a wide variety of dangerous activities, and many will not cover health costs incurred overseas. You might need to purchase special traveler’s insurance for your health.

Make sure to choose a type of vacation that suits your personality. If you hate being outdoors, you shouldn’t go to the beach! Personality styled vacations are becoming increasingly popular these days, with everything from adults-only cruises to geek-friendly trips. Search for a vacation that you will truly enjoy.

When traveling overseas to other countries it can be very critical to know the culture of the area one is going to. This knowledge can prevent situations that may be akward, embarrassing, or even downright dangerous. Potential disasters can be avoided and one will have a better experience with the people in the area they are traveling in.

The logistics involved in planning and executing a vacation can make you question why you wanted to take the vacation in the first place; but once you are there and experiencing the fun of your vacation getaway, you will be glad that you read and implemented these tips for putting together a great vacation.

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Thinking Of Taking A European Road Trip

January 24, 2024

It could be easier and cheaper than you think to enjoy a tour throughout Europe if you take to the road! A road trip also provides a lot more freedom than travelling by plane or train because it enables you to get to many locales that are not easily accessible by any other means or that you may not consider seeing normally.

There are a few practicalities that should be taken care of before the trip however:

Make sure passports are in hand, as they will be needed at every border.
All European rental companies require a valid drivers license (and some countries require an international driving permit if you hold a US licence. Permits are available through the American Auto Association.)
Also, check that the your health insurance will continue to provide coverage overseas (as well as completing your EHIC European Health Insurance Card )
Contact your credit card companies, and establish a budget.

Following through with each of these preparatory steps will make the entire experience much more enjoyable.

Now, it is time to plan the trip. In this brief example, the road trip will take a tour through the United Kingdom, to France, Switzerland, Northern Italy, Austria, Germany, and Holland, the lesson here being be sure to have a loose itinerary and book a few hostels before leaving.

The trip begins in the United Kingdom, which makes it necessary to take a ferry to the mainland. There are many ports along the coast of England and France, (plus a boat ride across the English Channel is an added adventure in and of itself).

Once in France, you might like to take the time to drive to a few sites. One such destination is Mont Saint Michel, an impressive fortress just off the coast of Normandy and Brittany. There are many other attractions that might be of interest, such as wine tasting and castle tours in the Loire Valley (for some incredible WW2 history) or exploring the quaint medieval town of Strasbourg.

While exiting France youll find yourself cruising through Switzerland, and there are many breathtaking natural sights to take in; luxurious chocolates to sample, historical sites to explore and fine beers to drink!. The gorgeous Lake Lucerne offers stunning views of limestone peaks and the reflective beauty of the pristine lake.

Next, you can wind down through Northern Italy, with its rustic food and rolling golden hills. While Venice may not be the most automobile friendly city in Europe, there is still plenty of scenery and history that can be enjoyed during the trip through Northern Italy.

After traversing Italy, you can come up through Europe once more by arriving in Austria. This small German-speaking country is steeped in history and its countryside is truly magnificent, but modern culture is also flourishing in the cities. From Austria, the road takes you up to Germany where a trek down the Rhine will offer fairy-tale castles and internationally renowned wine tasting.

Finally, the adventure ends in Holland. There are ferries along the coast that will take the weary road traveller back to UK, officially ending the tour of Western Europe.

There are many reasons to take to the road when travelling through Europe and many adventures to be had, whether going by yourself or taking escorted holidays. It can be accomplished much more cheaply than taking a plane or train, but this form of travel also enables you to experience much more.

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