General Travel

Russia travel tip

abhishil — Tue, 15 May 2012 03:58:44 -0400

Hey all,this information will be useful to anyone who goes to Moscow:

We took the free tour from Moscow Greeter. It was entertaining and interesting, great way to learn about Moscow through your feet. Overall I found the Moscow Greeter service in Moscow very enjoyable. Sergey my Greeter was very polite, spoke good English and showed me a few places that most guide books would neglect. There was a good balance of using public transport (metro) and walking around Central Moscow. Perhaps we could of gone on one of the electric trams for another Russian transport experience but thinking about it they may not have been running due to the holiday.

Having been to a few galleries and most of the sights the previous 2 days Sergey still managed to show me some of the "quirkier" sights such as a prison, fake shop, one of the smaller orthodox churches and a book shop. Sergey was very affable and it was very interesting talking to him about where he came from and what he did for a living. We also enjoyed lunch in a Russian restaurant where I enjoyed some great Russian salads, borsht and lamb cutlets. However, the russian beer whilst cheap was somewhat to be desired. Mind you the Russian vodka I had been drinking all weekend was excellent!

I liked the fact I was greeted at the hotel and dropped back at the end - he even ran me from my hotel back to the Aeroexpress at Paveletskaya in his car. I think the Greeter experience is perfect as it is - there is something very natural about the experience - no big tourist groups and not a feeling of commerialism - just a real personal experience.

BEFORE YOU GO ON HOLIDAY

fcAnnie — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 02:19:59 -0500

Hi Frineds,

Here are some tips for your enjoying vacations..

When booking your holiday always make sure that you have read the brochure very carefully and be aware of such terms as "lively location" which usually means very noisy, all-night bars and discos; "close to shops and local amenities" usually means lots of traffic noise, close to a main road, restaurants, bars, etc; "childrens clubs and facilities" usually means that the hotel will be mainly catering for families with children and if you are wanting a quiet, peaceful holiday then the children may cause you unwanted noise. "Quiet, peaceful location" can mean complete isolation where the use of a car is essential. Beware of terms which describe such things as "terraced gardens", "split level", anything which describes "going down or going up" as this will give you a fairly good indication that the hotel may not be suitable with mobility problems and there may be a number of steps.

Always check to see whether there are lifts if lifts are a requirement and also how many bedrooms the hotel has which would give you an indication of the size of the establishment.

If you are going on an all-inclusive board basis then do check the small print for exactly what the all-inclusive includes and what it excludes and read the additional pages at the back of the tour operator's brochure which will explain that some facilities have to be paid for.

Always take the brochure with you on holiday as only then can you decide for yourself whether you have got exactly what you booked and paid for or whether you have got something which is essentially different. For example if your brochure shows a beautiful swimming pool which clearly is not a swimming pool in your hotel grounds you can take a photograph of the hotel swimming pool and this is evidence which you can use on your return. Without taking the brochure on holiday then you have no way of being able to make a comparison.

Backpacking Europe beginners questions!

aaronrowe — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 04:01:00 -0400

Me (23) and my partner (21) have booked a contiki tour that starts in Istanbul on the 16th of May, and finishes in Athens on the 26th of May. After this our plan was to backpack at our leisure across Europe until the 6th of August where our plane departs from London back to Australia, Melbourne where we are both from.

We went against touring all of Europe because we believed it would be hard to take in everything this beautiful place has to offer at such a fast pace. Now we find ourselves with an abundance of questions.

Our budget is 15,000 AUD so around €12,000. Contiki says to put aside between 70-100AUD aside so putting the greater side of that aside 100AUD we would have 14000AUD or 11,200€ for 73days of backpacking 153.43€ per day.

The countries we are wanting to cover are France, Spain, German, Italy, Switzerland, Croatia, Poland, UK, Ireland, Scotland, Austria, Belgium, Netherlands, Hungary and Sweden.

It's a lot to cover in a short time and with this budget, or so we are both assuming. We have spent countless hours scouring the internet trying to research ways to get around whilst there. And it's all quite daunting.

You can buy Eurail passes from Australia for $556AUS for 10 trips all inclusive. Is that a good price? Im told you pay booking fees or taxes whilst using these though and that can amount up to 50€?

Just today I did a quick search today for flights from Athens to Croatia one way and it came up with ridiculous prices around 450€. Whilst flights to Rome could be found as low as 35-40€ for the both of us.

Are these prices typical to Croatia? Is it always so expensive flying into Croatia? I did another search from Rome and it was noticeably cheaper 200€.

My number one stress and concern of the whole trip will be travel, getting to places, getting around places. Im losing sleep over it, should I be? Is it that concerning and difficult or expensive? Is this just going to be a part of the typical "backpacking experience"?

Does anyone have any advice? Any good ways to get around?

Thanks for your replies!

UK Travel With Britrail Passes

tcorbs — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 10:03:19 -0500

For anyone who is thinking about traveling to the UK you might want to check out Angela and Jen's UK Adventures. Using their Britrail passes, they enjoyed 2 weeks exploring England, Scotland and wales. After visiting 12 destinations that covered approximately 3,000 kilometers, here is there story! They hope it will inspire your next trip to the UK.

Too Old?

retired239 — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 22:46:41 -0500

I have just retired at the age of 65. Do you think I am too old to start backpacking and wild camping in the UK? I have not camped for 30 years but have done many day walks. All advice appreciated.

Want to go Thailand this Novemeber

fcAnnie — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 05:51:32 -0400

Hey Freinds,

I really want to go Thailand in this November, but the problem is, i am visting there for the first time and i've no idea about the cheap and best hotels, markets, main attractions etc in Thailand. Can anybody help me out about this, if anyone having any experience or advice about Thailand and Bangkok, please let me know. It will be really appreciated.

Thanks and Regards

Annie

Jobs

Cardonald — Sun, 17 Jul 2011 20:05:59 -0400

Hi I'm new to backpacking and I was just wondering what sort of jobs do back packers do for money to fund themselves when they are travelling from place to place?

Best cities to visit

RatherRachel — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 01:07:39 -0400

My friend and I are planning to get a 10 day travel within 22 days interrail pass and are starting in Nice and finishing in Amsterdam. Which cities would be best to visit inbetween? Many thanks.

Marrakech desert tours Camel trekking in erg chebbi Merzouga

jackmolishon — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 17:44:55 -0500

Hii every one !!!

I traveling to Morocco this year , my trip start from fes and i have Booked a Desert tour from Marrakech to Fez via Merzouga's Desert with { Morocco-Excursions . com }

My questsion is how to get to Marrakech from fez , by train ? bus or taxi ?

and how much it cost ?

Morocco desert tour from Fes to Marrakech

jackmolishon — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 17:43:25 -0500

Hii !!!

I traveling to Morocco this year , my trip start from fes , i have Booked a Desert tour from Marrakech to Fez via Merzouga's Desert with { Morocco-Excursions . com }
My questsion is how to get to Marrakech from fez , by train ? bus or taxi ?
and how much it cost ?

Budgeting and Planning?

clester3 — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 03:48:56 -0400

Im going for a month backpacking in europe this summer, I haven't booked any hostels because I want the flexibility of being able to go wherever the wind takes me. Do you think that hostels will have space in July last minute? I am budgeting around 3000 dollars for the month, does that sound about right?

Ireland And Its Magnificient Charm

dublinevents — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 03:48:58 -0500

In the world map certain places have ascertained a distinct mark for themselves. Among these one such city which grabs eyeballs is Dublin, holding the position of the capital of Ireland. Inhabiting a population of around 1.8 million, it serves to be one of the chief cities in the entire region. Derived from an Irish name which signifies ‘Black Pool’, it occupies the place as one of the prime tourist destinations and quintessential representative of Irish culture.

Proper availability of transport is the base of an enjoyable exploration. With high inflow of tourists to Dublin, adequate transport facilities is a must as it greatly aids the travellers in their trip. It is in respect of this fact that multiple car agencies have come up which cater to the oncoming tourists in the city. Dublin Events is a travel and tourism team offering car rental services at feasible prices. Understanding the importance of good conveyance while exploring, Dublin Events has services accordingly, making it the best option for Dublin airport car hires and also for cheap accommodation in dublin.

The Irish people have been found to be traditional and conservative. They stress great importance to the family life and follow a lot of traditional customs. The rich cultural heritage may seem to be quite a contrast to that of the modern world. But it is their simplicity of life which makes them stand apart.

The Irish music and dance have remained to be the major draw. With foot tapping music which mesmerises all, the Irish music’s lyrical soothing tonality give a whole dimension to the music industry. Combined with exquisite and authentic dance, the musical culture surpassed all.

Art and literature have always been the quintessential part of the Ireland culture. From James Joyce to Richard Brinsley Sheridan to Jonathan Swift, the aficionados made ever lasting impression on the literary world. From receiving awards in the literary form, the association with words both graphic and visual have been everlasting.

The cuisine never failed to surprise the palette of any tourists. From the honey-based mead to the various traditional, the cuisine evolved with the culture. In tandem with the developments of the modern world, the Irish cuisine was mostly crop-based.

The throbbing life of Ireland makes it to be one of the most popular tourist spots. But a novice would surely be lost at the sheer number of available hotels, restaurants, tourist spots etc.

Many tourists that flock to Ireland can attest to the Irish people's easygoing and friendly disposition. They are eager to connect with friends and open to chatting with strangers. Conversations with the Irish is dosed with a lot of good humor and modesty wherein the speakers are careful to play down their achievements. Now, if you are interested in interacting with a local firsthand, your best bet is to hang out at the local pub. In a pub, if you sit at a booth, they will assume that you want the service but generally wish to be left alone. If you sit at the bar, you open yourself up to socializing with other people. Feel free to engage the person seated next to you in a conversation.
Hotels in Dublin city

Explore Denmark, Sweden and Norway On Line (Video + Stills)

IntrepBerkExplorer — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 14:34:03 -0500

My film “Vikings, Tivoli and Trolls” presents the highlights of Denmark, Sweden and Norway, starring Copenhagen’s colorful Nyhavn Canal, entertainment at the Tivoli amusement park; Stockholm’s Vasa, a huge Swedish warship that sank in 1628; Norway’s scenic fjords, waterfalls, the Bergen World Heritage Site, Trolls, and the Viking Ship Museum, plus much more. With historic houses and digital effects.

“Vikings, Tivoli and Trolls” can be seen on the web, with a high speed internet connection. This is a free, non-commercial, streaming video on the Windows Media Player. No ads and no strings attached. I sell absolutely nothing.

My video site is:

http://intrepidberkeleyexplorer.com/Video.html

The still photo gallery of Scandinavia can be viewed with any modem at:

http://intrepidberkeleyexplorer.com/Page29.html

There are over 30 of my other amateur travel videos on-line covering all seven continents. Visit Italy, England, China, Antarctica, Peru, Hawaii, South East Asia, Russia, Mayan Pyramids, American National Parks, Greece, or Turkey; see buffalo, penguins, or polar bears.

The planet is yours, including my Home Page giant galaxy of still pictures at:

http://intrepidberkeleyexplorer.com/

The Intrepid Berkeley Explorer

Anyone fancy winning a Lonely Planet travel guide? Please help me with my research…

AlexanderLJ — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 11:25:39 -0500

Hi there!

I’m Alex and have done a lot of backpacking in the last couple of years. Now I am a geography
student and I am looking into the understandings of gap years and
climate change.

I am researching people’s attitudes towards the carbon footprint of gap years.

So, what do you guys think?

If your backpacking is part of a gap year, please fill out my questionnaire at:

Gap Years and Climate Change Survey

Enter your email address and you could win a Lonely Planet of your choice!

I really want to know what people think about this subject so if you have any further comments please post them here.

huge thanks!

Alex

Get entertained the 3G way

smart3g — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 01:06:16 -0500

A welcome boost is here for your mobile connectivity. It’s all within your fingertips to watch Tendulkar batting live for the
100^th ton, and at the same you can follow what SRK said in his tweet statement. While being in these all, you call make the video
call with your sweetheart, and the videoconference is also there in another window to decide the next meeting agenda in office. 3G make it all count, and so does RightShopping.in for you. Check www.rightshopping.in/g/its.asp?C=SmartPhone-Mobile-Phone&cid=1&feature=3G for more.

Have toured Bangkok? It’s time to rock in Pattaya

seovikasdubey — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 23:06:06 -0500

Needless to say, Pattaya is must-to-tour destination if you’re on Thailand trip. a superb integration of natural wonderments, alluring outdoor sports, midnight beach parties and an ever extending limit of naughtiness, your trip to Pattaya will undoubtedly rocking. Look and explore mesmerizing Thai hospitality along with mouthwatering cuisines.

Survey for my graduation thesis

neuroticabj — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 09:46:15 -0500

[I hope I'm not posting in the wrong place]

Hello everybody!

My name is Daniela and I'm Italian.

I'm about to finish university and I need to ask you something about backpacking, in order to work on my graduation thesis.

I prepared a little questionnaire, here it is: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dHpwdURFc01VZDF5MXpZY2I2cnhSeUE6MQ

Obviously, I would be glad if you could send it also to other backpacker friends of yours :)

Thanks a lot!

Daniela

דפי צביעה להדפסה

KenStone — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 09:20:00 -0500

Coloring pages are an really very enjoyable activity for kids, especially since they are very highly perceptive to color at their tender age, and would love to experiment on the topic, going further than they have been taught. It is important to encourage this interest, for it will help them to become a lot more creative and inquisitive, and learn better.