New Zealand Mirror Travel » France Travel Tips

Consequential Travel Tips #1

Tue, 18 May 2010 09:49:55 +0000

EXTRA LUGGAGE– It may be possible to purchase the right to check a third bag, at a cost of something like $125. In high capacity travel times however, it may no longer be possible to elect this option, at any price. Again, don’t be stymied at the gate. Check with your airline in advance.

TAG YOUR BAGS…INSIDE AND OUT — It is surprising to note how many people arrive at the airport with no identification on their luggage. Wiser travelers will have at least two external tags securely affixed to each piece of luggage, and one taped inside the cover of each bag for good measure.

WHAT TO WEAR FOR SMOOTHER CHECK-IN — Almost all clothing accessories, including shoes, belts, hats, sweaters, jackets, etc. must be removed and sent through the x-ray machine. Simplify matters for yourself by wearing such items that are relatively easy for you to remove and re-don. On another note, wear at least one garment that has secure button-down or Velcro pockets suitable to keeping your passport, wallet, pen, glasses and other critical items safely on your person. A travel shirt such as Ex Officio, safari pants with good button pockets, and/or a photo journalist style vest or jacket can be very helpful in securing important items.

CARRY-ON LUGGAGE — As of now travelers in the USA are limited to one carry-on bag, plus the equivalent of a purse, laptop bag, or small backpack. You are advised not to test the capacity limits, as your carry-on may be denied boarding, or forced to be checked. Plan and pack accordingly.

HURRY UP and WAIT — Early arrival at the airport for check-in is now more important than ever. You will avoid many problems and much distress simply by arriving at the airport check-in counter a generous two hours or more in advance of your flight departure. In fact, on some recent Singapore Airlines flights, they asked that you check in 3-1/2 hours prior to flight time.

CONNECTING FLIGHTS — When planning connecting flights, allow at least three hours for you and your luggage to change planes, especially when making an inter-airline connection and/or clearing Immigration and Customs .I know that sitting around the airports for that long is no fun but cutting this too close can ruin a great trip before it even begins.

FALL-BACK OPTION — Avoid scheduling the last flight that will connect from your home airport to the major gateway. If your flight is late or cancelled due to weather or mechanical issues, your entire vacation may be placed be in jeopardy. If at all possible, book an earlier flight for a safety cushion.

YOUR PASSPORT if you’re planning on vacationing in another country, you’re going to need a valid passport. If this is your first passport, you’ll need to apply in person at least 5 weeks before your planned departure. You can go to your local county courthouse, a U.S. Passport Agency, a probate court, or certain post offices. For more information, click on: http://www.dmttravel.com. Be sure to make two photocopies of your passport before you go on your trip. Bring one with you and leave the other with a friend.

TRAVELER’S CHECKS try to avoid carrying large sums of cash when you are traveling. Bring only the credit cards you plan on using and pick up some traveler’s checks before you go. If you need to cash a traveler’s check while you’re on vacation, be careful! Banks have been known to charge up to 20 percent of the travelers check’s face value. Try to find a bank that sells the same brand. Your fees will be lower and you can save that extra money for souvenirs.

MEDICAL PREPAREDNESS Prepare a medical kit to take along. Be sure to include any prescription medications, (take a few days extra of your prescription medication, you never know when your trip might be extended) also bring medications for stomachache, earache, pain, and diarrhea. You should also carry a copy of your eyeglass or contact lens prescription, and an extra pair of both.

RESTRICTIONS WITH CARRY-ON BAGGAGE The Transportation Security Administration (a division of US Department of Homeland Security) has recently revised its restrictions on items in carry-on luggage for flights originating in the US. Due to enhanced security measures liquids, gels, lotions and other items of similar consistency will not be permitted in carry-on baggage. These types of items must be packed in your checked baggage. These are some tips to avoid spills inside your suitcase:* Liquids and gels should be in plastic containers, stowed inside clear zippered plastic bags for ease of inspection by TSA officials .For the perfect travel container visit www.dmttravel.com/accessories.html* Squeeze all the air out of any liquid or gel containers to avoid leaks, as products expand in flight.* Pack liquids and gels near the hinge of a suitcase to minimize movement .These are some notable exceptions:* Baby formula and breast milk are allowed in your carry-on baggage or personal items. You can take these through the security checkpoints and aboard your plane. However, you must be traveling with a baby or toddler. All items including formula or breast milk will be inspected.* Liquid prescription medicine with a name that matches the passenger’s ticket, up to 5 oz. of liquid or gel low blood sugar treatment, including juice; and up to 4 oz. of non-prescription liquid medications including saline solution, eye care products and KY jelly are permitted.* Gel-filled bras and similar prosthetics* Gel-filled wheelchair cushions* Life support and life sustaining liquids such as bone marrow, blood products, and transplant organs carried for medical reasons. More details are published on the Transportation Security Administration web site. Make sure to visit http://www.tsa.gov/ for the latest restrictions before packing your carry-on luggage and reaching an airport security check point

.HEALTH INSURANCE WHILE TRAVELING when traveling overseas, check your health insurance. Many policies won’t cover you once you leave the U.S. If you need insurance, there are a number of companies that offer travel coverage plans. Please call me at 888-339-4400 or contact me at groupspecialist@hotmail.com and we can discuss which plans will meet your personal needs.

AIRLINES’ SEAT POCKETS before you stick your hand into the seat pocket in front of you, think about what the last few passengers may have left in there. They are the dumping ground for everything from rotten food to used diapers. It may surprise you to learn that aircraft are given a deep cleaning only once a month. How is still the question? Planes are lightly cleaned between flights (obvious trash picked up, crumbs brushed off) and cleaned overnight (toilets, galley, seatback pockets emptied, floors vacuumed). So before you put your hand in someone’s used Kleenex, think twice before reaching into the seat pocket – and don’t even ask me about the pillows and blankets.

GETTING THE BEST SEAT ON THE PLANE why do airlines only reserve seats for you if you remember to ask? By the time you remember, the good ones are gone. To get the better coach seats, you want to avoid the restrooms and galleys because they’re busy with lots of traffic. The seats in the last row and in front of exits often don’t recline, Middle seats are cramped. Bulkheads have more leg room, because no one reclines into your lap, Window seats have a view but less head room or aisle access. Show up when the counter opens to get the desirable exit row.

TRAVEL AGENTS VS. ONLINE BOOKING who can take care of refunds and changes when you have booked your trip online? Don’t be surprised when the answer is no one. All that time spent online is doubled when you have to get on the phone and make a change. Forget the refund, as online specials are usually non-refundable. Need help overseas? I cringe for you. Internet specials are great until you have a problem or need to make changes. That is where travel agents are lifesavers, especially if you are out of the country. Definitely go online to do research. Compare prices and look at hotel photos and airline seating charts. But for an expensive or complicated itinerary, use a travel agent. And pack their cell phone number.

YOUR CREDIT CARD IS REFUSED OVERSEAS you having dinner at the Eiffel Tower when your credit card is refused. Furious, you spend an hour calling home to discover your card was shut down due to suspicious activity- someone has been using it in France! Since no one called the credit card company back when they left you a message at your home, the account was frozen for your protection. It was not for your protection. You have limited liability. It was the credit card company covering their rear and they do it all the time. To avoid this, call your credit card companies and inform them of your travel dates & destinations, take travelers checks and travel with more than one card.

PROTECTING YOUR PASSPORT Now that you have your passport for travel to the Caribbean and Mexico you need to take steps to avoid it being lost or stolen. Immediately make several copies. Leave one copy at home, put two copies in your carry on bag, and leave one copy with someone who could fax it to you if yours is lost or stolen. In case yours disappears, a copy of your passport will significantly speed up the time it takes to get a replacement, especially overseas. I prefer hard copies but some people scan their passports to file on their laptop. In your hotel, put your passport in the hotel safe with the majority of your credit cards and carry one of the copies with you for shopping and money changing.

SHIPPING TIPS if you use a credit card for a purchase or service overseas, keep your receipts and double check your bill. There are thousands of mistakes on international credit card purchases, but unfortunately, there’s very little recourse. One common problem is receiving defective merchandise that has been shipped. The law only protects you if it was shipped within your home state or if you lived within one hundred miles of the mailing address. Therefore, don’t ship without good insurance. And what about the merchant who adds extra zeroes or moves the decimal point to increase the charge? This happens all the time. You must notify your credit card company in writing within 60 days. You’ll also need to send a copy to the appropriate federal agencies as well, and believe it or not, the Director of Tourism of the offending country. Often the promise of bad publicity from an American tourist can nudge the merchant to withdraw.

DECLARE YOUR ITEMS you are required by U.S. Law to declare all items acquired in other countries. That includes repairs to items you took with you and any gifts you may have received. You’ll fill out a customs declaration form when reentering the United States. Keep a record of what you acquire abroad and keep your receipts. Take the necessary time to register any foreign-made jewelry or electronic equipment at the customs office before you leave, to prove you didn’t buy them on the trip. Appraisals, receipts, insurance policies, and permanently affixed numbers are proof of prior ownership. If you fail to register these items, you may be required to pay a duty on them when you return home. The most important thing you can do is be informed. Believe me, this is the one situation where honesty is the best policy!

Iran Travel Guide, Travel Tips To Iran Tours

Thu, 10 Sep 2009 16:15:54 +0000

Known as Persia until 1935, Iran became an Islamic republic in 1979 after the ruling Shah was forced into exile. Conservative clerical forces subsequently crushed Americanizing, yet also liberal/left-wing, influences. Iranian student protesters seized the US Embassy in Tehran on 4 November 1979 and held it until 20 January 1981. From 1980 to 1988, Iran fought a bloody, indecisive war with Iraq over disputed territory. Key current issues affecting the country include the pace of accepting outside modernizing influences and reconciliation between clerical control of the regime and popular government participation and widespread demands for reform. Unemployment among the youth is also an issue.

People of Iran

Humans have inhabited the area that makes up modern Iran since the stone age. The ancient Persians arrived about 1500 BC, one branch of the great movement of people that also brought northern India and most of Europe their modern populations. The name Iran is from the same root as “Aryan” which, until Hitler perverted it, was just an ancient name for those invading peoples. Persian (or Farsi) is an Indo-European language; ancient Persian was related to Sanskrit, ancient Greek, and all the others in that family. Modern Farsi is closely related to Dari, one of the two main languages of Afghanistan, and to Tajik, a major language of Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. Persians are ethnically and linguistically unrelated to their neighbors on the West, the Arabs and Turks.

However, Iran has many people other than ethnic Persians. The Northwestern region, Azerbaijan, is largely populated by Azeris, who are ethnically and linguistically close to Turks. Other regions are mostly Kurds or Baluchis, two other Indo-European groups. There are also Armenians, Turkomans, Uzbeks, Tajiks, Arabs, and a small community of sephardic Jews. Afghans have come to Iran for work and education for centuries, and recently many have come as refugees,

There are also two substantial communities of people of Iranian descent in India and Pakistan — Parsis who have been there for over 1000 years, and Iranis who arrived in the 19th and 20th centuries — both Zoroastrians who fled religious persecution in Muslim Iran.

History or iran

Throughout history, Persia has generally been an empire, one whose fortunes varied enormously. In ancient times, Persia controlled most of what we now call the Middle East, and came close to conquering Greece. A few centuries later, Alexander of Macedonia conquered (among other things) the entire Persian Empire. Later, Persia was conquered by the Arabs in the wild expansion of Islam in the centuries immediately after the Prophet; Persian and other languages of the region are still written with the Arabic alphabet. About 1250, Persia was overrun by the Mongols. Marco Polo passed through just after that, learned Persian, and wrote extensively of the region.

At other times, Persia conquered many of her neighbors. Her empire often included much of what we now call Central Asia (Polo counted Bokhara and Samarkand as Persian cities), and sometimes various other areas. A few generations after the Mongols took Persia. the dynasty they founded there took all of Afghanistan and Pakistan, and most of India. The Indian term “Moghul” for some of their rulers is from “Mongol”, via Persia. Even in periods when she did not rule them, Persia has always exerted a large cultural influence on her neighbors, especially Afghanistan and Central Asia.

The Safavid dynasty re-united Persia as an independent state in 1501, established Shi’a Islam as the official religion, and ushered in a golden age of Persian culture. They were overthrown in 1736 by Nadir Shah, the last great Asian conqueror, who expanded the Empire to again include Afghanistan and much of India. His short-lived dynasty and its successor lasted until 1795. Then the Qajar dynasty ruled 1795-1925, a period of heavy pressure from foreign powers, notably Britain and Russia who jointly occupied Iran during World War I. In 1906, Qajar rule became a constitutional monarchy and the Majlis (Persian for parliament) was established.

Iran before its revolutions in 1978

In 1925, a military coup by Reza Shah established a new “Pahlavi” dynasty, named for the most ancient Persian dynasty around 500 BC. His rule was quite nationalistic; he changed the country’s name from “Persia” to “Iran” and built a strong military. It was also quite authoritarian; he built a powerful secret police and a propaganda apparatus, and did not hesitate to crush dissent. He also made considerable efforts toward modernisation, and came into conflict with conservatives over some of it. When World War II came, he refused Allied demands for guarantees that Iran would resist if German forces got that far. Iran was then invaded by Anglo-Indian forces from the South and Russians from the North, and a railway built (largely by US army engineers) to bring supplies from the Gulf across Iran to beleagured Russia. Reza Shah went off to exile in South Africa, abdicating on the steps of the airplane in favour of his son.

The son, Mohammad Shah, continued his father’s nationalistic, authoritarian and modernising tendencies. However, coming to power in 1941, he had a problem; he needed powerful friends, but who? Given the history, no sane Iranian ruler would choose Britain or Russia. Being pro-German had not worked out well for dad and, in 1941, France did not count for much. That left the Americans, and he became one of America’s most important allies in the region, seen as a “bulwark against Communism”, a constitutional monarch, in some ways a progressive ruler — modernising, sometimes comparing himself to Kemal Ataturk who led Turkey’s modernisation — and a protector of US and other Western interests. He was one of very few Middle Eastern rulers to extend diplomatic recognition to Israel and helped prevent Iranian nationalisation of the Anglo-Persian Oil Company. On the other hand, he was quite capable of putting Iranian interests before Western ones, as when he was one of the key players in creating OPEC.

While in some ways progressive, the Shah was also very much the oriental despot. When the Soviets left Northwestern Iran after the war, they left behind something that claimed to be an independent government of Azerbaijan, of course communist. The first major conflict of the Cold War came as the Shah, advised by the CIA, brought in troops who crushed that government and the communist party (Tudeh in Persian). Throughout his reign, his Savak secret police stomped hard on any opposition. His regime was also massively corrupt, with his relatives and various others getting hugely rich while much of the country was very poor. On the other hand, he did build infrastructure and start various projects to benefit the poor, including a program that sent new university graduates into the countryside as teachers.

In theory, Iran under the Shah was still a constitutional monarchy. Mohammed Mosaddeq became Prime Minister in 1951 and instituted reforms that included nationalising the oil companies and a land reform program. He was overthrown in a 1953 coup backed by the CIA, the British (who had large oil interests at stake), and the Shah. The Shah and the new Prime Minister reversed the oil nationalisation, but continued with a land reform program. However, as well as giving land to the peasants, it worked out that the Shah’s family and others with connections got a lot. The Ayatollah Khomeni went into exile at this time, originally because of his objections to land reform taking land from the mosques.

The Islamic revolution of Iran in wonter of 1978

In 1979, the Shah was overthrown and went off into exile, dying a few years later. The revolution involved many groups — Tudeh, Mosaddeq-style secular reformers, and various Islamic factions — but came to be led and dominated by a conservative Islamic faction under Ayatollah Khomeni. Partly in reaction to the Shah’s policies, they were also strongly anti-Western and in particular anti-American.

The main divisions of Islam are Shia’a and Sunni. The split goes back to a time just after the Prophet’s death; would the movement be controlled by some of his leading followers (Sunni), or by his family, in particular by his son-in-law Ali (Shia’a)? There was a long, complex and bloody struggle over this. Today, Iran is the only major country that is predominantly and officially Shia’a, though there are Shia’a minorities elsewhere and a Sunni minority in Iran. The Iranian government supports the Shia’a Hezbollah movement further West, and is therefore accused by America of fomenting terrorism.

One of the major events of Shi’a religious life is the Day of Ashura on the 10th of the month of Moharram; “ashura” means “10th”. It commemorates the death of Ali’s son Hussein at the Battle of Karbala in 61 AH (680 AD). This is not a joyful celebration, but a very sober day of atonement. Travellers should not play music or act remarkably cheerful in public at this time. Ashura is more-or-less the opposite of the Christian “Jesus died for your sins; you are forgiven”, closer to “Hussein is dead and you did not save him; you must atone.” Traditional activities include parades in which people beat themselves with whips, chains, even swords (safe if you are careful, and scalp wounds bleed beautifully). Some governments, including the Shah’s and the Khameni regime in Iran, have forbidden the more extreme variants of this. Some terrorist groups also exploit the religious fervor of the day; Hezbollah’s 1983 suicide bomber attack on the US embassy in Lebanon took place on Ashura.

Climate , weather and when to travel to iran

Iran has a diverse climate. In the northwest, winters are cold with heavy snowfall and subfreezing temperatures during December and January. Spring and fall are relatively mild, while summers are dry and hot. In the south, winters are mild and the summers are very hot, having average daily temperatures in July exceeding 38° C (100° F) and can hit 50° C in parts of the desert. On the Khuzestan plain, summer heat is accompanied by high humidity.

In general, Iran has an arid climate in which most of the relatively scant annual precipitation falls from October through April. In most of the country, yearly precipitation averages 25 centimeters or less. The major exceptions are the higher mountain valleys of the Zagros and the Caspian coastal plain, where precipitation averages at least 50 centimeters annually. In the western part of the Caspian, rainfall exceeds 100 centimeters annually and is distributed relatively evenly throughout the year.

Example Travel Itinerary and Tours to iran

Rugged, mountainous rim; high, central basin with deserts, mountains; small, discontinuous plains along both coasts. The highest point is Mount Damavand (5,671 meters). Desert: Two great deserts extend over much of central Iran: the Dasht-e Lut is covered largely with sand and rocks, and the Dasht-e Kavir is covered mainly with salt. Both deserts are inhospitable and virtually uninhabited. Mountain: The Zagros range stretches from the border with the Republic of Armenia in the north-west to the Persian Gulf, and then eastward into Baluchistan. Zagros is extremely hard, difficult to access, and populated largely by pastoral nomads. The Alborz mountain range, narrower than the Zagros, runs along the southern shore of the Caspian to meet the border ranges of Khorasan to the east. Forest: Approximately 11 percent of Iran is forested, most extensively in the Caspian region. Here one finds the broad-leafed, vigorous deciduous trees, usually oak, beech, linden, elm, walnut, ash, and hornbeam, as well as a few broad-leafed evergreens. Thorny shrubs and fern also abound.The narrow Caspian coastal plain, in contrast, is covered with rich brown forest soil.

Top Ten Travel Tips

Thu, 30 Jul 2009 16:15:53 +0000

Have you ever experienced a serious disaster whilst on holiday? If not, it’s merely a matter of time. It has been said there are two kinds of travellers, those that have experienced a problem holiday and those that are still going to.

Tasked with identifying the top ten travel tips immediately got my mind going but an idea soon took shape. Why not use the experiences of the professionals, ask them to identify the more common causes of problems when travelling. Unbeknown to me this certainly dropped the cat amongst the pigeons, largely because limiting this to only ten became a problem, thank you so much to all those who were a part of the panel.

One of the most common problems and a unanimous choice of the panel were problems surrounding logistical arrangements. Largely related to reservations; dates and ticketing, these can be problematic despite the ease and simplicity of the internet. It is imperative when planning any holiday to any destination that all bookings are made well in advance, followed up either by e-mail or telephone a few days before your departure and still in time to rectify problems if discovered. After this has been done, prevent further problems by ensuring you have proof in the form of copies of any relevant document or reference number, this could be a receipt confirmation of a deposit paid or any item depending on your personal arrangements. This is one of those suggestions where prevention is definitely far better than cure.

Our second tip is all encompassing and covers the packing of essential items. Obviously these items might vary according to your personal plans but would perhaps include items such as passports and ID documents; applicable drivers licences; money – credit cards, wallets and other financial needs; mobile phones and camera’s, (get with it, preferably digital) are essential items nowadays, together with supporting items such as chargers and memory cards. On my personal list are always sunglasses, activity equipment, a few books, a pack of cards, a multi-purpose pocket knife and other smaller items or games which always come in handy.

How are we doing so far, the bottom line is that with tip numbers one and two you can go almost anywhere in the world and if you have forgotten anything else you can purchase them en route.

Tip number three is so absolutely boring you might well stop reading at this point but it remains one of the most common causes of holidays being cancelled. Before you leave home ensure that all domestic matters are resolved and tucked in to bed. These will again vary but will certainly surround adequate locking up and security issues; paying all accounts, in particular municipal services; cancelling any deliveries; ensuring access is available to a trusted friend or relative in the event of a fire or emergency; ensuring pets are adequately cared for and that someone responsible is able to contact you in the case of emergency during your holiday. Yes…boring….but oh so often the cause of having to either come back early or returning to face a smelly deep freeze or worse.

The basics are covered and now we can move onto the fun part, tip number four surrounds choosing the right holiday for your needs and enjoyment. To haul three children under ten years old to a game reserve for ten days will stretch your patience and theirs, you might enjoy spending half an hour looking at a bird or waiting for an Elephant to come to a waterhole while sipping a Chardonnay, they certainly wouldn’t. If you have had a really stressful year and are going on holiday for a time out, a few days in London followed by a few in Rome and a low cost flight via Moscow to save a few cents would mean lots of flights; too many airports and complicated transit arrangements. Our panel suggests taking a few extra minutes to analyse the real needs of all travelling partners before selecting your holiday destination.

You have analysed your own needs and decided on let’s say a scuba diving holiday as an example. Tip number five stays with destination choice and is all about research. That’s easy I hear you saying, once you’ve decided what type of holiday you want. However, you could also end up on a scuba diving holiday in monsoon season, perhaps to a great destination at most times of the year but in the month you have chosen, it’s infested with mosquito’s and a temperature of 45 degrees, is that what you wanted.

Perhaps you might be looking for a quiet and romantic getaway and choose a week in a Spanish seaside village only to find out it clashes with a local political election and the local school holidays. Time researching local conditions is well spent, beware particularly of special offers or discounts, these are usually offered for a reason and often due to seasonality or other sub-optimal characteristics of the destination at the time the offer applies. This same principle applies to discounted flights and packages, it’s important to be fully aware of which items and costs are included and not included in the price.

How far have we gone so far, in summary we have the logistics and essential equipment under control, chosen a stunning destination to ensure our needs are covered and we have selected the dates to suit the destination characteristics.

Tip number six is about the modern day wonder of the travellers’ world. You guessed it, the internet. This modern tool enables you to ensure you are fully au fait with all and any information you might need. From disco’s to dive centres, museums to mausoleums, cathedrals to camping grounds, the information is easily available to you from the comfort of your home; office or failing which, an internet café. Referring back to our Spanish village, if you want to know the history, what to see and do while you’re there, the internet provides this service. Even once you’re there, if you want to send pics and news to someone at home, the internet has really made this simple. I read recently that in excess of 70% of all travel arrangements are now made on-line, wow, that is an awesome number and it is no doubt climbing, not without reason.

A list of top ten tips would definitely be incomplete without a reference to the importance of adequate packing. Notice we say adequate as it does vary according to destination and travel method. A car trip to Port Alfred with a trailer and roof rack is a far different scenario than a flight to London. Tip number seven is to pack early; to pack correctly and most of all to pack according to a well prepared list. One often makes the mistake of packing too much, leaving little room for error and no space to include a few souvenirs or that tee-shirt that looked so good in the market. On a personal note our family has a rule, what you pack you carry; this has a fantastic effect of ensuring no one packs without a plan.

The boring battle of the budget. We all have dream destinations we hope to get to one day; this is unfortunately not a reality for most of us. Tip number eight is to ensure you remain within your personal limits of expenditure. Interest rates are high and could get higher; credit offered by banks can be easily obtained by utilising the credit card options so often available. You don’t want to spend the year after your holiday stressed out about how you’re going to pay it back during the rest of the year. Plan adequately before and during your holiday. Whilst it’s certainly fun to spoil yourselves during a holiday, we suggest you allocate a daily allowance to each person and to the whole group; this will certainly help control costs, particularly in an international destination when one is not fully conversant, it can come back and bite quite hard.

The members of our panel are all seasoned travellers, local and overseas. In conversation we certainly learned that all had on occasion bumped their heads or made often silly mistakes. Our unanimous tip number nine is to enjoy South Africa. As residents of this beautiful country we are all absolutely blessed to live within a reasonable distance from either a beach; lake; mountain; game reserve or whatever it might be that appeals to your family. Too often we feel the need to travel far and wide when it’s all on our doorstep. We might travel to an exotic dive destination but haven’t yet experienced Aliwal Shoal; sit on a Mauritian Beach when our coast offers some of the most beautiful beaches in the world, perhaps even camping in France when you’ve never been to the Drakensberg or Clarens.

It might be a cliché but we really do have it all in one country. We certainly hope that our leaders will take every action to ensure that it stays that way. We in turn need to appreciate it and invest in local tourism and the job creation it offers. Our panel felt that we need to market ourselves as a destination a little better than we do, encouraging local travellers that Cairo is perhaps not always better than Cape Town. Local is lekker, it has its place alongside braaivleis, biltong, sunny skies and all the rest.

This might be our last tip of the ten we were confined to but it is the simplest and most important – have fun! You’ve worked hard, you deserve your holiday, please don’t forget to enjoy it. In most cases when on holiday, one is surrounded by those your love the most, those dearest and closest.

What an absolute blessing to be able to spend quality time in a holiday destination with those you love.

Travel Tips To European Countries: France

Thu, 04 Jun 2009 16:15:56 +0000

About the city

The crowd is attracted to sparkling ski slopes of the Alps, sunlit vineyards and sun-baked beaches of this beautiful country. France is a country which draws more tourists than any other country. It is easy to see why this is the case given France’s great reputation for fine wines, good food, high fashion and relaxed lifestyle. But while France is undoubtedly a place to eat and drink till your heart is content, there’s much more to this fascinating country than only cutting-edge cuisines. Spring is the best time to be here, and those interested in winter sports can drop at the Alps and Pyrenees with some polar gear. The summers are very hot and winters are moderate. An all-weather coat and pair of comfortable shoes are a must. Women, especially, should carry cocktail dresses as some of the restaurants ask for it. When visiting any religious site, refrain from wearing sleeveless shirt and shorts, as they are disliked at such places.

Culture

English is widely spoken here, although French is the official language. Handshaking is customary greeting and women should be kissed on both cheeks and should be addressed as Monsieur or Madame. French people are popularly known for their like for stylish sportswear and of course perfumes. Nudism is allowed on some beaches only. Social functions, fine restaurants, and clubs call for more formal dressing. When at a formal dinner, wait till the host gestures to start the dinner. Smoking is banned in public places.

Site Seeing

Paris, the city of love, is a massive city with many attractions in reachable distance thanks to the highly efficient public transport system. It boasts of more than 80 museums and 200 arts galleries. A trip to Disney land and the magnificent Eiffel tower will make the trip worthwhile. The attractive tourists spots are the Arc de triomphe which spans over the tomb of an unknown soldier, the forbidding gothic architecture of the Notre Dame cathedral, the picturesque Sacre Coeur, to Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa, the Moulin Rouge and boat tours along the Seine. Get the Carte Musees-Monuments pass, which gives access to 70 monuments and museums.

Shopping

Although service tax is included in the bill, a humble tip won’t cost much. An extra dollar can be given as tip to the waiter. A tip of $2 can be left for the bus drivers.
Electricity

220-volt, 50-cycle AC current.
Getting There

The national airline that operates here is Air France. Many low-cost airlines, too, provide services from UK. Paris-Charles de Gaulle also known as Roissy-Charles de Gaulle is the major airport of France, which is 23km away from the city. Coaches, taxis, limousines services are provided at the airport. The railway facility provided by the airport, claims to reach all the terminals within eight minutes. These trains run 24 hours. The other airports that offer flight services are Paris-Orly, Marseille, Bordeaux, Nice, Lyon and Toulouse.

Ferry and cruise trips can be made from ports such as Atlantic, North Sea, Mediterranean, and Havre.

Duty Free Items

1. 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 100 cigarillos or 250g of tobacco
2. 1liter of spirits over 22 per cent or 2liter of alcoholic beverage up to 22 per cent
3. 2liter of wine
4. 50g of perfume and 250ml of eau de toilette
5. 500g of coffee or 200g of coffee extract
6. 100g of tea or 40g of tea extract

Food and agricultural products should be avoided.