Travel To China

divine_wind asked:


I have been invited by the Global Leaders Youth Conference to either China (includes visiting Shanghai, Hangzhou, and Hong Kong I believe) and Europe (includes Budapest, Prague, Vienna. and the additional option of Munich and Austria)

Where would you choose to go and why? I can’t decide between them
I am not from the US. I am from Trinidad,an island in the Caribbean.
I have family ties in Europe, and I’ve been to England and France before a few times….i heard that when you see one european country you’ve seen them all.

Cole

p.n asked:


Survival China Travel Tips and Tricks

The China Travel Tips, survival techniques, to help avoid and make his trip to China easier, so you will be able to experience the real China, with a little less stress.

China is a strange beast that must be respected; major cities, Beijing, Shanghai and Xian, all have their own personality.

Some complex situations which in his view would be a disaster organization to become big and then you wonder what all the fuss and worry. So the simplest of tasks can become a great calamity.

This is when you have what we call here a “China Day”.

These days come and go and are part of the experience of all-day trip to China. One has to have an open mind when traveling in China. It is a place with thousands of years of history and culture overnight that it is trying to adapt to Western lifestyles.

You need to have a very open mind when you travel in China. I have listed below a few China Travel Tips that will make life more bearable little pee in their travel experience of China.

Travel Tips - China toilet wise

• Never expect a clean toilet 100% of the time.

• Be prepared; Bring some tissues.

• You may need to use a toilet squatting, again, if you know this is not a shock. If you do not know how to use a toilet building, try the following experiment at home.

While something to keep in support with both hands, lower your body down in a low squatting position, so that the cheeks of his bottom was almost touching the heels or the back of his calf. Now, go with your hands. See if you stay in this position for at least 1 minute. If it is upside down or could not get up after a squat toilet could be a problem for you! , Has the right to be happy you did.

• If you get a clean toilet, Go… may not come again for a while.

• Many public toilets around the cities, usually those who are to pay OK (RMB, 5), the other best to stay away from if you can. You will soon notice as you walk around the cities.

• Be warned that public spaces such as bus and train stations, which tend to be the class as “hard toilets”, but if you are going gotta gotta go.

• Outside the big cities, toilet systems are old or have very close plumbing / piping and get easily blocked. In these cases, a small basket is usually the bathroom next, it is used for toilet paper.

One of the best China Travel Tips toilet I can give is the use of the hotel lobby toilets, which are everywhere and are always clean. Yet it may not always have toilet paper. It depends on the category of hotel being used.

I do not want to frighten you. However, of all of China Travel Tips to all other sites on the Web that I have read, this is an issue that is not mentioned often, but it is very important for all of us.

So outside of the big cities conditions can be tough. But most of the time everything will be fine, especially if you book a tour, all will be checked before hand. However, even the best laid plans can go wrong, so be prepared, the toilets in smaller cities, towns and villages can be scary.

China Travel Tips - food

• The food is great and the variety is overwhelming. Most of the time you get to choose what you eat, or you can recognize what you are eating, but sometimes you do not get a choice. Wearing a chocolate bar or something, which will keep you going until some foods that can recognize laps. Drink bottled or boiled water since tap water is not drinkable, that is for the whole of China. Even boiled water, while sterilized can contain a large amount of minerals and iron deposits that you probably do not want in the system. The bet is safe to drink bottled water. Tap water in most large cities is OK to brush your teeth.

• Eating habits-Most Chinese have a great habit of being very noisy and when they eat lunch and dinner times can be a wonderful celebration noisy, the food tends to go in all directions, its just part of being in China .

• People smoke cigarettes on the table while everyone is eating, so some restaurants get very loud and smoky.

• If you get stuck which so since most of the menus are in Chinese just look at the table next to you and point to the plate and ask you how much it is, this system works really well and it seems learn to mind.

• I have a basic menu that will help to food safety, (no cats or dogs), this visit will allow greater choice of restaurants, not just tourists with high prices. You can bring with you and use it on the premises where most of the restaurants could serve as what is on it. This way you will know what they are eating.

These premises are very cheap and the food is great. Contact me if you would like me to send it to you.

China Travel Tips - Taxi

• Travel Tips - China - Taxi cabs are an experience that you can have headquarters complaints and panting, but it is too early to get used to it, after the first few rides, you are a veteran.

• The taxis in Shanghai are generally quite good. Try to get the Blue, Blue’ish Turquoise, Oro Blanco and taxis, these are the best… these are the four major taxi companies and are generally recognized by its unique color painting. The others are OK, only older and a rougher ride (others may also have defective meters). No drivers speak English.

• Carry your hotel accommodation or business card with you, written in Chinese, which helps if you get lost walking around town.

• In all taxis around the country will be able to see the name of the taxi drivers and registration number in plain sight. If you have any problems, or if you think has been most pronounced, etc., just take this number down, make a big fuss about it, then the driver should wake up and solve any problem you have. Even better is to take the receipt. This has all the details on the trip and who can call the taxi company if they want to have more things or if you have something left in the taxi.

• The government takes rip-off drivers in all cities, especially Beijing and Xian, very seriously, and if they complain they will lose their license. This is their livelihood. So far I have not had a driver in 3 years that has not been withdrawn, and then we have agreed a price for the trip or solve our problem.

• In Shanghai, which is common practice taxi increases after 11pm. However, one can haggle for a 20% discount, which will return to the previous rate-11pm fee. Be strong with the taxi drivers, never the less, keep calm, smile and negotiate.

China Travel Tips - Shopping

• China Travel Tips - Shopping - China is a paradise for customers, markets, Bargains; Top labels… nothing, and if you have all the time. With clothing, the largest (Western) sizes can be hard to find, however in the big cities, where you can find a lot of tourist traffic, can find them.

• Electrical arts, DVDs, cameras, things like this are not worth buying in China, Hong Kong is still the best place for this.

• Store hours in major cities from 10am to 10pm, 7 days a week.

• Visa card remains the best card to carry, with ATMs in good supply everyone with access PLUS etc. There is usually a charge for using VISA, MasterCard and other forms of credit card.

• Wait on the purchase if they can look around to have a vision of prices. The Chinese are very experienced in the sale and we know that we are to halve the opening price when the negotiations. In markets go for 25% of what they ask first; go so low that they let you walk. This gives you an idea of the bottom price. The end result of the price will probably be around 40% to 50% of the starting point.

Whatever the market people say, which are used to push for better prices and haggling. Do not worry about being too hard, they are used to it and you do not sell an item unless profits. Do not be concerned with the body language apparently injured when going low it is all part of the game. At the time they had wrapped their first purchase, they will try to sell something else. Remember to keep smiling and having fun while negotiating.

China Travel Tips - medical treatment and records

• Most hotels have a doctor who can see. At major hotels speaks English.

• Always take a small first aid kit, repair cold, headache tablets at least. WATSONS is a large chain pharmacies. Most of the remedies, pills, etc., which you may need to be in these workshops. These shops are all over China.

• There is a large network of pharmacies in the stores type, which is indicated by a Green Cross. There will always be a 24 hr Green Cross pharmacy in the city you are in. It is useful to keep a book stage, as it is not going to speak English, but you end up with something that will help.

• INPORTANT POINT-in most mass production package type of medication, the packaging will be written in Chinese on one side, English on the other. But in the stores that only sees the Chinese side. Take a good look, in turn most of packaging, which gives you a lot more confidence knowing that you can read the package.

• If you have a medical problem, make records, most of the doctors have written OK / English reading, even if their oral English are poor.

Travel Tips - China Phone

• Using the phone is as easy as at home. However choose the person to not speak English or have very broken English… chief 4 or 5-star hotels all will be OK.

• What is being done is worthwhile to buy a SIM card from China Telecom, which are about RMB100 and thereby obtains RMB50 in the calls, the other 50 is the price of the SIM card; this SIM card will all major brands of phones and work OK.

In this way, people can get to you inside and outside China if there is an emergency. If you have a couple of phones, it can short message (txt) yes (SMS). Also you can call your tour guide, hotel, and so if you have big problems. It is a cheap way to keep in touch.

NB.Before you buy a Chinese SIM card, make sure it will work on your Cell / Mobile. There is a lot of China Telecom shops that can help.

Travel Tips in China if China does not move.

• Spring Festival, this will be the Chinese New Year time, around late January / Early February

• In early May, Labor Day Holidays

• In early October, the National Day holiday

Of all the Travel Tips China National Day is the largest. Millions of Chinese travel at this time of year holidays. Most of the trips back home towns or to visit his family. Hotels, trains, planes, cars, buses, and all the roads are the most overcrowded. Major congestion, everywhere.

Similarly, the rates for travel are at their full price. Not offering discounts! Staying in one place and will enjoy. It is better and causes less discomfort.

China Travel Tips - TV

• If you want to watch television, most of the major hotels will have cable and if you are in the smaller places, the national channel, CCTV9 is in English. Over the past two years has been greatly improved, with some major China Travel Tips programs, news and opinions about people and places around China.

China Travel Tips - Airport Tax

• There is a “rate of construction” in almost all airports.

Domestic flights RMB 50 International flights RMB 90, to be paid in local currency.

Recently, the tickets are tissued with the construction include VAT but make sure you have money in taxes just to be sure.

I hope that some of these China Travel Tips input and will make your trip to China that bit easier.

More Information at BestCityTourGuide



Braden

Alan Hawkins asked:


It’s simply not possible….not possible that a wine that is freely available on most supermarket shelves for around R25 can be the cheapest wine on a restaurants wine list at R100.00.

What happened to the wine since is was bought from the supermarket, did the restaurateur decant it, lie it on new French Oak for two years and convert it in some way into a Wine magazine five star or a Cape wine masters Choice……I don’t think so.

The real story is it was probably bought that morning, stuck away in a box behind an overworked fridge compressor, at the wrong temperature prior to being dunked in some iced water in time to be served cuddled in a starched white linen cloth to be served as the vintners choice for the evening. Good grief….but what do we do as the typical South Africa guest, we smile sympathetically at the poor and innocent under trained waiter who has not been informed of the difference between bourgeois or burgundy. Do we call for management….no we don’t want to make a scene, do we call the wine over valued crap and send it back, no we are too scared our taste will be challenged or that we might embarrass ourselves.

How often have you bought a product, perhaps at your local hardware store, to find it broken after a few uses, you toss it aside, a little angry or disappointed at being conned into another wasted purchases….the cash slip, of course absolutely essential if you hope to get reimbursed or to send the R25.00 spanner away to China for a repair or replacement. A trip to the store; a scratch for the slip; a queue at the customer counter if there is one; two or three calls to a call centre to explain your story….what the…it’s simply not worth it is it….toss it and walk away….a lot easier.

One large supermarket chain is always on our side, looking after our best interests….the other is just up the street, or is it a creek, the local fruit and vegetable store has great bargains as long as you eat that pocket of pineapples on the day you bought it otherwise forget the fresh bit…..ripped off by pharmacies for years, how much real meat is in that hamburger you bought the children, is the pork sausage really pork, how much pork MEAT does it have to have to qualify….we are apathetic consumers, we “grin and bear it” in stoic tradition.

Here are a few travel tips that might help you to prevent a rip off when you are in unusual places



When booking a hotel room of a walk-in basis, ask to see the room before committing, they’ll hardly send you to their worst room will they.

As soon as you arrive in a new country, determine a few items that you can use to compare pricing, as a benchmark when checking a window menu as an example. A beer perhaps or other tinned beverage, a hamburger; the lowest price wine….if a cold drink on a menu is twice the price of that in another menu, be warned, the rest will be as well.

Restaurants and shops around the corner from the main streets and/or main attraction often offer far more value than those on the front. Look for smallish restaurants, preferably with locals evident, they would have sought out good food and good value long ago

It is far cheaper and often more fun to grab a few food odds and ends plus a drink or two from the supermarket, find a quite place and have a little picnic. Remember to take along a small pocket knife and a few suitable sized plastic bags for storage. A bottle of wine from a supermarket is a quarter of the price, there’s nothing better than to share it with someone special at a romantic spot.

No…is an answer, even once seated at a restaurant or café, if you don’t like what you see, stand up and walk out.



 

Travel wise, street wise, call it what you like but you’ve worked hard for your money…like the old adage says “a fool and his money are soon parted”

YOUR INPUT IS CRITICAL…….. Please send any travel tip or travel idea to travelbug@staysa.co.za and help fellow travellers to enjoy safe and happy travelling.



John

Mahendra asked:


Enchantment is everywhere in Nepal; be it in the cool and invigorating shade of the high mountains, or on terraced farmlands carved like stairways out of hill ridges, or still across waterfalls, creeks, rushing mountain rivers amidst gorges, valleys and forests teeming with a cornucopia of flora and fauna. There are lakes amidst breathtaking settings, strong-current rivers for rafting, Wildlife Safaris, the tallest mountains to climb, trekking across vales and dales, and, above all, warm, friendly, welcoming people. In this respect, Nepal becomes a perfect holiday destination for tourists, trekkers, mountaineers, writers, honeymooners, lovers, retired people and people interested in research.

Nepal Geography

As Nepal is sandwiched between two economic and geographical Leviathans, it is rightfully regarded as “ A Yam between Two Boulders” as While Nepal abuts on Indian border in the east, the west and the South, Tibetan Autonomous Region of the People’s Republic of China shares the vast Himalayan frontier with Nepal. The length of the county is 885 kilometers from east to west, and its breath varies from 145 kilometers to 241 kilometers from north to south. The total area is 147,181 sq. kilometers.

 Climate 

Nepal isn’t only the home of mysterious Yeti and elusive Snow Leopard, but also a constant cause of wonder for meteorologists for her simply amazing variations in climatic conditions. Divided into three different geographical regions, Nepal houses the snow-capped Himalayas in the north, a vast stretch of plains in the south and two chains of hills, known as Mahabharata and Churiya range, acting as a geological bridge between the northern and southern region.

The most astonishing thing about the geography of Nepal is that the distance between the tropical lowlands and the snow-capped mountainous region is very less. While the distance between the tropical and alpine regions in most of the countries around the globe is more than 1000 km, it is just less than 100 km in some places in Nepal.. The temperature varies between zero in the mountains to over 30 degrees Celsius in the valleys, and to mercury plummeting up to 38 degrees during summer in the lowlands.

Population

‘Unity in diversity’ is really the mot just for a multi-ethnic, multicultural and multilingual country like Nepal. It had a population of 18,462,081 at the time of the 1991 census. The average population density at the time was 125 persons per sq km (329 per sq mi), although nearly half the people were concentrated in the narrow Terai region. In contrast, the 2003 population estimate was 26,469,569. The population has grown rapidly since 1950 when there were only 9 million people. In 2003 the population was increasing at an annual rate of 2.3 percent. Only 12 percent of the population lived in urban areas. The rate of population in the urban areas, however, has grown significantly thanks to a number of social, political and economic reasons.

Get in

You may need a tourist Visa to enter the country. A propspective visitor can apply for the visa from several embassies and consulates in most countries in the world. Nepal has diplomatic missions in

 Australia, Bangladesh, Belgium, Burma, Canada, China, Denmark, Finaland, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, Myanmar, The Netherlands, Norway, Pakistan, Phillipines, Spain , Sweeden, Switzerland, Thailand, Tibet, the United Kingdom and the United States of America that issue visas to the propective visitors.

Entrance/Egress

The following entery/exit points have been set by the government of Nepal for the foreign visitors:

1. Tribhuvan International Airport, Kathmandu

2. Kodari, Sindhupalchowk (North)

3. Karkarvitta, Jhapa (East)

4. Belahia,Bhairhawa (West)

5. Birgunj, Parsa (Central Nepal)

6. Jamunaha, Nepalgunj (Mid-East)

7. Mohana, Dhangadi (Far-West)

8. Gadda Chauki, Mahendranagar (Far-West)

 

Via Air

Since there is only one international airport, Tribhuvan International Airport, Kathmandu, in Nepal, it is the Hobson’s choice for vistors to start their Himalayan voyage from the capital city itself. The following airlines company operate their services from/to Kathmandu:

 

1. Nepal Airlines (Run by the Nepalese government, it operates its service to/from Bangkok, Banglore, Calcutta, Delhi, Dubai, Frankfurt, Hong Kong, Mumbai, Osaka, Paris, London, Shanghai, Singapore)

2. Korean Air (Seoul)

3. Biman Bangladesh Airlines (Dhaka)

4. Air China (Lhasa)

5. Condor (Munich)

6. Druk Air (Paro)

7. Gulf Air (Abu Dhabi)

8. Indian Airlines (Delhi, Calcutta, Varanasi)

9. Qatar Airways ( Doha)

10.  Thai International (Bangkok)

11. Martin Air (Amsterdam via Sharjah)

 

Via Land

Although Indo/Nepal border is a porous one, you must enter the country by road from India through one of the border crossing points ( as described under the heading Entrance/Egress). If you are coming from Tibet, the route is Kodari, Sindhupalchowk. There is no national passenger rail service in Nepal, but there is a rail service operating from Calcutta, India. A train by the name Mithila Express plies regularly between Howrah Station, Calcutta, to Birgunj, one of the chief entry points to Nepal.

 

Contact

Although the comminication infrastructure of Nepal is not to the world’s standard, still the pincipal cities across the countries entertain almost all forms of sophisticated communication systems. These include:

 

1. Telephone: The international country code for Nepal is 977. There are two to three digit area code and six-digit local phone numbers. The communication system, operated by Nepal Telecom, a quasi-governmental organization, caters its service in almost all the seventy-five district of the country. But some off-the-map villages don’t have telephone facilities. However, the East-West optical fibre project, which is on the verge of its completion, is expected to cover all the villages and hamlets of the country within two to three years time. Besides Nepal Telecom, United Tele Communication Limited (UTL), a privately owned company, is providing its services in Kathmandu Valley.

2. Cell Phones

Mobiles are widely used, but due to the geoprphical constraints , some rural areas have only analog service, or no service at all. Nepal Telecom and UTL operate operate CDMA networks; Mero Mobile, a private mobile company, operates the only GPRS network. Travellers planning to bring their GPRS phones with them might do well to check that their handset supports the appropriate frequencies.

 

3. Internet

There are cyber cafes in almost most of the tourist areas all over the country. A trekker can surf the net in Solokhumbu, the entry point of Mount Everest Region. Nomal rate is Rs 20 to 30 per hours in the main cities like Kathmandu and Pokhara. New Pokhara Lodge Lakeside Pokhara offer free internet to hotel’s customers.

 

4. Mail

The snail mail system is there but, as a rule, it is not always speedy. Also, international parcel postal services can be costly. Furthermore, internationally acclaimed courier service providers like DHL and Fedex also have their branches in most parts of the country.

http://www.visit-nepal.com



Christopher

Kieron Sellens asked:


Overseas adventure travel is all about seeing jaw dropping sights and having unforgettable experiences. It’s no wonder that more and more people are getting drawn into the exciting world. But if you’ve never done any adventure travel and want to know what you’re missing, this really is the crème de la crème: 7 Adventure holiday trips you need to take before you die…

The Antarctic Circle

Amongst the least travelled places on the planet, The Antarctic Circle is the perfect place to start your overseas adventure travel. For nature lovers, this is particularly brilliant with some beautiful and unique wildlife and some truly breathtaking sights. Penguins, seals, whales and albatrosses can all be spotted during your trip.

Galapagos Islands

The islands that inspired Darwin, unique wildlife found nowhere else on the planet makes the Galapagos Islands a must visit for the adventure travel enthusiast. Amongst the wildlife you can expect to see are giant tortoises, lava lizards, and land iguanas. The region has a fascinating history and some incredible sights and sounds - the essentials of any adventure holiday.

Great Wall of China

Walking along the Great Wall of China is an amazing experience - as man made structures go, it just constantly amazes with its sense of scale and grandeur. Adventure travellers will find visiting this most famous of Chinese icons an unforgettable experience.

The Trans-Siberian Railway

The Trans Siberian Railway may sound a less gruelling trip than some of the others because you’re not walking, but it still presents its own challenges. An epic railway trip that takes you all the way from Moscow to Siberia and on to Beijing, the real beauty here is that you get to take in sights that would normally be well off the tourist track. It’s an experience like no other, and one that anyone interested in overseas adventure travel should make sure they enjoy before they die.

Mount Kilimanjaro

Sure, this one is going to be exhausting and it only for experienced trekkers, but if you manage to reach the snow covered peak of Africa’s tallest mountain on an adventure holiday, you can actually see the curvature of the planet. That’s something that you never, ever forget.

The Grand Canyon

If you’re looking for adventure travel in America, you really cannot beat hiking along the Grand Canyon. The stunning landscapes mean that even after two day’s hiking, you’re unlikely to be bored of the sights. You may have seen pictures, but actually walking along it is the kind of unforgettable experience you will be recounting for years to come…

Machu Picchu

The lost city of the Incas, Machu Picchu is one of the most beautiful ancient sites in the world. Clinging to the steep hillside, and surrounded by jungle covered mountains, it’s no wonder this site took quite so long to find. Suffice it to say that photos, website, travel brochures, and indeed, these words cannot do the site justice - you cannot fail to feel inspired when surrounded by the beautiful ruins.

Whichever of these adventure holidays you wish to take first will not disappoint. Just remember to take your camera so you can showcase the amazing sights you saw to your friends and family!



Roy

Alex Aziz asked:


Thailand

Travelling through Thailand is a great experience public transport is great and roads are in excellent condition. A great way to see some of the countryside is to rent a motorbike. When renting a motorbike be sure to check it out thoroughly this is easy enough to say but important points like does the odometer or fuel gauge work these can come in handy later on in the trip, especially if going long distances. The motorbikes in Asia are built a little differently with two brakes a hand brake (front wheel) and the other a foot brake (back wheel). Try to use only the foot brake when travelling fast as using the hand brake will send you flying as it only applies pressure to the front wheel. Another common mistake is when going uphill shifting down gear while gassing the engine this tends to result in a front wheelie and more often than not an accident.

China

China is extremely diverse and the Chinese lead a completely different way of life to the West making it a great experience to travel too. When travelling in China, the roads are excellent as are some of the trains and tracks. As large distances are involved there is a lot of overnight travel. Sleeper trains and buses are common as the local Chinese like to wake up at their destination.

One great tip I learnt while travelling in China on sleeper transport is never to take the bottom bunk. The reason for this is that on many overnight trains and buses the people like to dispose of their rubbish on the floor of the bus or train. This means that if you are sleeping on the bottom bed you are likely to have rubbish thrown down past you during the trip. This is not that bad to deal with but another past time is eating nuts and spitting out the seed casings on the floor, this along with spitting makes the bottom bunk an interesting experience. Waking up to find a pile of rubbish and spit on the floor by your bed doesn’t exactly help either.

Laos

Laos is an extremely beautiful although still primitive country to visit and local transport from villages is normally done on converted trucks, with benches in the back for customers to sit on. Try to avoid travelling on this mode of transport when coming or passing through fishing villages heading to the more centrally located towns, especially in the mornings. The reason is because the villagers tend to take their produce which is mainly fish, including dried fish to sell in the towns. This can make for a very unpleasant experience as the truck is never really considered to be full and sitting next to baskets of fresh and dried fish which stinks for hours is enough to test the stomach of any person.

Cambodia

When travelling in Cambodia, locals like to take Taxis as they are quicker than the buses and manage to avoid the potholes better. The only problem with this is that what the West considers being a normal five door car with two seats in the front and three in the back is considered in Cambodia to hold seven or sometimes eight people. The Cambodians will fit four in the back and three or sometimes even four in the front. If a taxi holds eight people then there would be four in the back and two in the front passenger’s seat a passenger in the driver’s seat, the driver would then be squashed up to the passenger, leaning against him to hold the wheel with his feet at an angle to reach the pedals. This would be impossible in a manual car but some how it is managed in an automatic. Travelling like this is extremely dangerous and not recommended.

There is a general place where Taxis depart from and they don’t depart till they are full. A way to get around this is to buy two or even three seats, effectively meaning you travel in more comfort and safety as this means there would be less people in the Taxi.

More information on travelling and tours in South East Asia can be found at http://www.xplore-asia.com



Katlyn

Adam Singleton asked:


Being a student in the UK can be more difficult than people realise. After all, with mounting student debt, all those essays and exams, and the issue of finding a graduate job afterwards, your life can get somewhat emotionally and financially stressful. However, one of the main luxuries afforded to students - a luxury that is rarely available again in life until retirement - is the benefit of long holidays. If you’re a student, it’s important to take advantage of your holidays and take the opportunity to travel while you can.

It’s all too easy to spend those long summer holidays at home, working during the day and catching up with old friends and family at night. However, if you spend the first half of your holiday working solidly and saving up your hard-earned cash, the best reward possible will be to spend the second half of your vacation travelling abroad - and the number of opportunities available to you are endless. For instance, you could take a six week backpacking holiday in India, China or South East Asia to discover some of the world’s most exotic and historic locations.

Alternatively, take some time out to travel around the United States. While taking a holiday in the USA is guaranteed to strain your finances more than a holiday in a developing country might, there are various ways you can save money. For example, if you choose to travel by coach during your American summer vacation, you could save a lot of money and limit your carbon footprints by not taking a flight. A coach journey from New York to Chicago might seem like a long and daunting prospect, but you’ll also be able to see much more of the country than you’d otherwise be able to.

Even if you feel you can’t afford to take such long haul trips, rest assured you’ll still be able to travel. Flights and trains to Europe can be expensive, if you don’t book early enough, but many coach providers provide services to the continent for much cheaper fares. This way, you’ll be able to get to Paris, Berlin or any other top destination in Europe conveniently and easily, while giving yourself the luxury of being able to survey the European countryside while you travel.

Or why not take the coach to one of many top destinations in the UK for a weekend trip that won’t break the bank. For instance, if you’re at university in Leeds and you’re planning to visit a friend in Cornwall, you’ll be able to take the coach to the sunny south-east with no problem at all. Or, opt for overnight coach travel from London to Edinburgh on a Friday night; you’ll arrive in Scotland’s stunning capital bright and early on Saturday morning, ready for a top-class weekend before having to return to your classes on Monday morning. Moreover, many UK coach travel providers offer student or young person’s discounts.

So, wherever you’re planning to travel to, rest assured that coach travel is likely to be your cheapest option. Just don’t forget to put those long holidays to good use while they last!



Regina

John Abbot asked:


The Chinese do not take vacations in the same way that we do in the West. We each slot our own time away from work, carefully scheduling that time to not conflict with the holidays of our co-workers or colleagues. Due to school holidays of our children there are busier seasons and slower seasons, but with the exception of a few days around Christmas and New Year, overall life and business goes on as usual with little interruption. Not so in China.

In China there are 3 major holidays, and on those 3 occasions the country basically shuts down and everyone goes home (literally). Vacation time in China is family time, and the 3 holidays are:

Chinese New Year

This holiday lasts for an official period of 9 days, but in fact everything seems to come to a standstill businesswise for more like 16 days. The holiday is scheduled to begin on the first day of spring in the lunar calendar, which can fall anywhere from the middle of January to the middle of February. Don’t ask me how the first day of spring can possibly fall in the heart of the two coldest moths of the year - I don’t know and no Chinese person has been able to explain it to me. But that’s when it happens and that’s when everyone in China goes home for 2 weeks to be with their family. And that’s when most expats in China, unless they have a Chinese family by marriage, hunker down for a long, boring period of forced rest.

Labor Day (May 1st)

This holiday lasts for 1 week (although many Chinese seem to stretch it out a few days longer), and once again everyone travels home, with few exceptions.

National Day (October 1st)

This vacation recognizes the founding of the People’s Republic of China by the Communists in 1949. Again, for 1 week everyone in China goes home for the holidays.

Remember those dates, because if you accidentally find yourself traveling in China on one of these occasions you’re in for one of the most trying times of your life. It will take you days to get a train ticket and when you do you’ll be packed in so tightly with so many Chinese travelers that hell will quickly take on a whole new meaning for you. Forget plane tickets, and don’t even think about taking a bus.

If you should find yourself in China during any of these holiday periods here’s a list of things you can do to fill your time:

1. Read those 4 novels you brought with you, from cover to cover, for the 6th time since arriving in China 2 years ago.

2. Rewrite your will for the 6th time since arriving in China 2 years ago.

3. Write that long explanatory letter to your ex-wife (Father, Mother, etc.) as to why you came to China 2 years ago to escape from her and then tear it up for the 6th time since arriving.

4. Try to learn to cook on a Chinese gas burner with a Chinese wok for the 6th time since coming to China 2 years ago.

5. Become a practising Bhuddist.

6. Go sit and drink by yourself (or with the other Gui Lao losers) in the local watering hole, where even the usual Chinese ladies who work there for commissions on the drinks they persuade you to buy them while they pretend to find you handsome and entertaining are absent, having gone home for the holidays.

7. Practise your karaoke routine so you can really wow your Chinese friends when they return from their holidays.

8. Take up calligraphy as a hobby.

9. Fall into a deep 7 to 14 day trance.

10. Plan ahead and hit the beaches of Thailand 3 days before the holiday begins and don’t come back til 3 days after it’s over, for the best holiday of your life.

I’ve tried most of the above and number 10 is the one I most highly recommend.

If, on the other hand, you have acquired a regular Chinese lady companion and you’re invited to go home to meet her family, subject to the caveat below, don’t hesitate, because you’re in for a surprisingly fun and entertaining time, especially if she’s patient enough to translate for you endlessly and even more so of you’re willing to learn to play mahjong. But be sure to take lots of warm clothes if you are visiting anywhere even slightly north of the South China Sea, because the first day of spring can be damned nasty cold in most parts of China, and many Chinese folk have no heating in their homes.

CAVEAT: BE WARNED, when she takes you home to meet her family she is tacitly announcing to them that the two of you intend to marry, and your failure to later do so will be seen as a massive betrayal by all concerned.



Brenden

Priya Singh asked:


Dubai, a world business hub, is one of the seven emirates that represent the United Arab Emirates on the Persian Gulf and is one of the country’s main cities, occasionally called “Dubai City” to make a distinction it from the emirate. Dubai has the biggest population and is the second major emirate by area, after Abu Dhabi. Dubai and Abu Dhabi are the only two emirates to possess veto power over significant matters of national importance in the country’s administration.

Dubai International Airport the hub for Emirates Airline, services the city of Dubai and extra emirates in the country. Football and cricket are the most popular sports in Dubai. Five teams — Al Wasl, Al-Shabab, Al-Ahli, Al Nasr and Hatta — represent Dubai in UAE League football. Dubai is notorious for its nightlife. Clubs and bars are found typically in hotels due to the liquor laws. The New York Times listed Dubai as its travel choice for celebrations in 2008. Dubai has a glowing conventional network of print, radio, television and electronic media which service the metropolitan. Several international channels are available through cable, while satellite, radio and local channels are provided via the Arabian Radio Network system. For the duration of Dubai Shopping Festival, shops offer bottomless discounts on their goods, on a daily basis car raffles are drawn, and fireworks light Dubai’s night sky. Dubai - admired and called ‘city of gold’, the city of gold impression was coined during one of the Dubai Shopping Festival attentiveness campaigns, Dubai invited each person from all around the world to a international annual festival which came to be named as the landmark “Dubai Shopping Festival”, they came up with the narrative idea of a comprehensive village, a shopping village was conceived with all nations participating with their merchandise and styles in their conventional or literary ways, the settler ex pat inhabitants and the fly in visitors rejoiced in the carnival that took place and the assure was specified that from then on every year Dubai will host a festival for people from all around the world.

The tallest structure in Dubai is the 74-storey Almas Tower, which raises 360 meters in height. The Mall of the Emirates is a shopping mall in Dubai. It is currently owned by Majid Al Futtaim. It is currently the largest shopping mall in the Middle East. The mall will also host over 1,000 specialty shops located within the ten to fifteen distinct ‘malls-within-a-mall’. The Dubai Metro is a driverless, fully mechanized metro network currently under manufacture in the United Arab Emirates city of Dubai. The World’s biggest shopping mall, the South China Mall in Dongguan, China, Dubai Marina is a constituency in the heart of what has a moment ago become known as ‘new Dubai’, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The network will have two third rail compilation system motorized lines that will mutually run anti establishment in the city midpoint and on prominent viaducts elsewhere on double tracks. Dubai will be the boating world’s largest attraction next week, as the gates open to the 15th edition of the Dubai International Boat Show (DIBS), the foremost trade fair in the Middle East for the leisure time marine industry.



Omar

Raman Verma asked:


Mauritius is a tropical paradise. An easily accessible island in the Indian Ocean nestled up alongside Africa. Mauritius enjoys an extensively varied culture, due to its multifaceted history. It’s greatly influenced by its British and French ties and principally Indian workforce. The result is a mix of assorted cultures, religions, and languages. The residents include Hindus, Creole, Chinese, Muslims and Europeans. English, French and Creole are widely spoken, as are some other Asian languages. The variety is also evident in the food, which is a mix of Indian, Creole, Chinese, and European.

Places to Visit

The absolute must see places of Mauritius are

Port Louis– The capital of Mauritius, Port Louis, is a bustling urban center Places to see in Port Louis

Sir Seewoosagar Ramgoolan botanical garden–This is a sixty-acre garden featuring a pond of Victoria amazonica lilies and an extensive collection of palms

Cauden waterfront complex–This modern mall houses a casino, restaurants, shops etc

China town—this is a bustling neighborhood full of small shops, family traders and oriental restaurants.

Central market–A dynamic, lively open-air market selling fruit, herbs, spices and potions.

Blue penny museum– the museum houses items of national heritage including the famous stamps of the “Post Office” series printed in 1847.

Mahebourg— near Port Louis is the nearest town to the international airport and a major business center. There is an appealing bay where you can unwind and sunbathe A Naval Museum is admission free, open everyday except Thursday. Ile aux Aigrettes and the Domaine du Chasser are two beautiful nature reserves worth seeing.

Tamarin is a good public beach with great views. You can also visit Casela Bird Park,

Moka– is home to the University of Mauritius and the Mahatma Gandhi Institute. The area around Moka is very pictorial, filled with flourishing mountains of the Moka Range and waterfalls. It offers endless opportunities for quiet rambling.

Trou aux Cerfs– is an ancient crater, and the climb to the top for the view, is worth the effort. Another highlight of this area are the Tamarind Falls a group of seven falls that pour themselves into a deep, quiet pool ideal for swimming.

Black Gorges National Park— is also a must visit. The finest views of the Black River Gorge, the Riviere Noire Falls and Piton de la Petite Riviere Noire are from the Riviere Noire lookout. Near the Park is Lake Bassin, a volcanic crater and a Hindu pilgrimage site.

Things to Do

Mauritius is a stunning island with distinct scenery and striking vistas. Mauritius is primarily suited to those wanting a resort beach holiday or for those who want to avail the exotic spas, which are in abundance in Mauritius.

Deep Sea Fishing- Mauritius is a paradise for deep sea fishing. Species include the blue or black marlin, all types of sharks, yellow tuna, the Bonitos, the ‘emperor’, the ‘p?rin’, the ‘b?ne’ or the barracuda. The ocean is 70 metres deep one kilometre away from the coast. Fishing boats can be hired from almost all hotels. The most prestigious deep sea fishing competition is the Marlin World Cup which is hosted in December by La Pirogue Hotel.

Spas - Mauritius offers several world-class spas.Pay a visit to some of the spas, where you can put yourself into the capable hands of experts and allow yourself to be carried away by your senses. These spas are now regarded as a must, on the tourist itinerary. The islands most famous spas include One&Only Le Saint G?n, the Royal Palm, Hilton, Prince Maurice, Beau Rivage, Oberoi, The Residence, Sofitel Imperial, Ananda and Dinarobin hotels where holidays also mean fitness and enlightened senses.

Golf-Several hotels have excellent golf courses. There are instructors to attend to customers’ needs including private tuition. Golf balls, clubs and caddies can be hired. An 18-hole golf course also exists at the Gymkhana private club in Vacoas. Visitors have to pay an entrance fee to be able to play.

Shopping- There are a number of tourists-only duty-free shops where passports and air tickets must be shown is on the increase. Mauritius has an enviable reputation for textiles production, namely for pull-overs and knitwear. Leading brands of shirts, trousers, suits, dresses, suits for women, shorts or swimwear are sold at unbeatable prices. Basketwork, embroidery, pottery, cut stones and recycled glass are very much in demand.

Places to Stay

The various hotels packages in Mauritius offer the best of facilities. You may take your pick from a range of luxury and budget hotels and lodges in Mauritius besides the star categorized accommodation hotels around the landmarks of Mauritius offer excellent view of the landmarks through their suites. Most of the places to stay in Mauritius are strategically located in the tourist centers.

Mauritius is a tropical paradise. An easily accessible island in the Indian Ocean nestled up alongside Africa . It’s greatly influenced by its British and French ties and principally Indian workforce. The result is a mix of assorted cultures, religions, and languages.



Jesus