Travel News & Blog

Pacsafe travel safe 100

2011-02-01T14:36:00.000-08:00

Travel safe 100

A lightweight, fold-able and portable anti-theft safe. You can secure your valuables in the safe storage. The Safe consists of strong nylon bag containing a laminated steel net. You put your stuff in the safe and shut off by tightening the steel cable. The safe can be supplied with steel cable and padlock (with 3 keys) are fixed to a permanent item. You can do this in your hotel room, dorm or bamboo hut! riveting so your camera, passport and other valuables are well protected from overzealous cleaners, malicious fellow travellers or other passengers in your train compartment.
It is an item with many advantages: you can leave it behind the reception desk or in the hotel safe without unseen grabbing can be done, you can on the beach or snorkel trip fixed it to a pole / tree / boot as you want you can go swimming in the evening enjoy a beer without carrying around all your valuables

   Material 840 denier ballistic nylon, stainless steel wire
   Weight 370 grams
   Size in cm 32x22x0, 5 (LxWxH)
   22x11x6 Packing size (LxWxH)

Pattaya Beach (Thailand) disappear within 5 years

2011-01-29T19:55:00.000-08:00

Pattaya

The world famous beach resort of Pattaya likely within five years no longer exist unless measures are taken to stop the continuous erosion process. This claims professor Thanawat Jaruponsakul of the renowned Chula long korn University.

The beach of Pattaya turned out at the last investigation only between 13 and 16 feet wide. In 1952 it was 117 feet and 61 feet in 2002. The “master plan” is to spray 7,062,933,334 cubic feet of sand. This takes about a year but then the level of 1952 is reached again.

Monster roller coasters: the highest in the world

2011-01-25T08:40:00.000-08:00

Everyone knows the images of sky-high roller coasters at amusement parks. They can be seen from far and adorn the skyline of the park like no other. Take a look at the world's highest roller coasters.

Kinda Ka at Six Flags

Kingda Ka at Six Flags Great Adventure - the highest roller coaster in the world.

Under the guise of 'bigger & better " the American parks fight for years for the biggest and best roller coasters. This has led us to some real beauties of these steel monsters, but also to a few hopeless cases only wasted effort to counteract the competition. But change is in sight. In recent years we see the 'bigger & better' thinking increasingly return to the 'new park lands, think of the UAE and many countries in Asia.

The world's top builder

The top 10 steel roller coasters in the top is dominated by a Swiss power. Namely Intamin AG, they are on the top of the list with 8 roller coasters, the secret to these guys is probably the lift hill. While others use the classic chain, Intamin AG makes use of a steel cable which is much stronger and so the train can get much faster to the top of the hill because of this therefore higher altitudes can be reached. With launched coasters lies Intamin's success in the fact that they mastered this technology the best.

Colossos Heide Park

Colossos in Heide Park - the highest wooden roller coaster in the world

Even wth the wooden roller coasters Intamin AG does well. Although the company still has only build ten wooden roller coasters five of their jobs are in the top 10 highest wooden roller coasters. The rest of the list is completed by several other U.S. manufacturers. The success of high Intamin AG roller coasters wooden building is in the building process. While all other manufacturers build a wooden roller coaster complete at the site itself, builds Intamin AG 'prefab'-coasters. They build large portions of the roller coaster in their factory and build the big pieces at the site together. This not only provides a flexible ride gradient it also makes it easier to work into height.

The theme parks

Wooden roller coasters seem less "burden" to face the competition between the theme park chains for the highest roller coaster. Especially the steel versions are high on the wish list of Cedar Fair and Six Flags group. Meanwhile it seems the battle for the record is over it stands now for nearly six years. But nothing is impossible nowadays, nobody will be surprised that tomorrow the world record will be broken again.

Top 10 Best China Tours

2011-01-20T12:22:00.000-08:00

Top 10 China Tours

China Odyssey Tours offer you top 10 China tour packages. You may enjoy the historic and cultural splendor at Beijing and Xian; appreciate the unsurpassed beauty of Guilin; go into the mysterious fairyland Tibet; feel the exotic atmosphere at Shanghai and Hong Kong; get in touch with cute giant pandas in Chengdu; and enjoy the amazing minority culture in Yunnan, etc. All the China tours are private tour, designed exclusively for you. You may also design it by yourself, and we will do it!

Shanghai - Yangtze Cruises - Guilin - Xian (Terracotta Warriors) - Beijing

With a focus on historic and cultural splendors of Beijing, Xian, and Shanghai; and the most breathtaking natural sceneries in Guilin, including 3 days YangtzeRiver cruising to enjoy numerous historic and cultural relics and modern man-made marvels along its way, this China tour is going to be a life-time memory for you.

Beijing (China's Capital) - Xian (Terracotta Warriors) - Guilin - Shanghai - Hong Kong

This is a quintessential China tour taking you to the most visit-worthy cities of China. The ancient capitalsBeijing and Xian will amaze you with China's splendid history and imperial culture. The unpatrolled Karst landscape in Guilin, has never failed to inspire visitors for its natural glamour. Shanghai and Hong Kong's colonial past and brilliant present make them a seamless blending of western and eastern culture.

Beijing (China's Capital) - Xian (Home of the Terracotta Warriors) - Shanghai (Cosmopolitan Metropolis)

This is a classic tour route with a fresh new experience of China. Except for experiencing the ancient splendors and amazing cultures of China in Beijing and Xian, you are bound to explore the World Expo 2010 in Shanghai to find out what "better city, better life" means to you, and amaze at this metropolis that attracts the world's attention.

Beijing (China's Capital) - Xian (Home of the Terracotta Warriors)

This 6-day China Ancient Capital Discovery Tour is recommended for first time visitors to China. This tour is filled with all the best of China's historical treasures including: the Great Wall, the Forbidden City, the Sacred Road, the Terracotta Warriors, Xian ancient City Wall, and the Bell Tower, etc. The experience must leave you a memory worth cherishing forever.

Shanghai - Guilin - Xian - Beijing

It is an ideal tour for first time visitors to China. It will show visitors a full picture of China in one go. Dynamic cosmopolitan Shanghai shows the modern face of China. The Great Wall, the Forbidden City, and the terracotta warriors in Xian show you the splendid culture in ancient China. In Guilin, the dramatic Karst landscape, beautiful Li River and idyllic minority villages never fail to amaze its visitors.

Shanghai (Cosmopolitan Metropolis) - Beijing (China's Capital)

This tour will take you to Beijing and Shanghai, two of the most popular destinations in China. Beijing is a seamless blend of ancient imperial wonders and a modern capital city. The significant Great Wall and the awesome Forbidden City must bring you to appreciate the splendid culture in ancient China. Shanghai is blending the best of the eastern and western cultures. You will experience crazy shopping inNanjing Road and amaze at Shanghai architectures of different styles.

Beijing - Xian - Guilin - Kunming - Lijiang (Preserved Ancient Town) - Chengdu - Yangtze Cruises -Suzhou (Classical Gardens) - Shanghai

If you want to catch the best of China in just one go, if you want to know China in depth with its culture andhistory, this tour is ideal for you. Relax at tea houses of Chengdu to enjoy the operas and folk music sung for hundreds of years, and meet local folks at old-fashioned Hutongs in Beijing and ancient villages inYunnan where traditions passed on generation by generation, etc, this is what we mean the experience of real China.

Beijing - Xian - Lhasa (Holy Tibetan City) - Chengdu - Yangtze Cruises - Shanghai

Besides the most visited China Golden Triangle (Beijing, Xian, and Shanghai), this in-depth China tour will also take you to a cruise on the Yangtze River with spectacular natural sceneries and abundant historic and cultural relics, have a chance to hug the cute giantpanda babies in Chengdu, and go into the mysterious Tibet "the roof of the world" to experience its outstanding culture and landscapes.

Beijing (China's Capital) - Xian (Home of the Terracotta Warriors) - Chengdu (Home of the Giant Panda) - Guilin (Li River & Yangshuo) - Shanghai (Cosmopolitan Metropolis)

This classic China tour will take you into China's imperial past in Beijing and Xian, enchanting rivers and mountains in Guilin, and the home of supper adorable Giant Pandas - Chengdu. With abundant exciting activities, shows, and delicacies along the way, this is a trip designed for your value, and you will definitely love it.

Beijing - Xian - Lhasa (Holy Tibetan City) - Gyantse - Shigatse - Yangtze Cruises - Shanghai - Suzhou (Classical Gardens) - Hangzhou - Guilin - Hong Kong

This is an ideal China tour that takes you to appreciate China's beautiful nature, rich culture, and legendary history by seeing all these in real in Beijing, Xian, Shanghai, Guilin, Tibet, Suzhou, Hangzhou, Hong Kong, etc. Through in-depth discovery from the eastern coastal cosmopolitan cities to the far western Himalayas, from classic garden cities to the unparalleled heavenly natural beauties, it is going to be a dream fulfilling China memory never fades away.

You can visitChina Odyssey Tours to get more details.

Health tips for long haul holidays

2011-01-14T18:49:00.000-08:00

health tips

As no tablet provides complete protection, you have to use other means of reducing the risk as well. Malaria is transmitted by the bite of the anopheles mosquito (females only, the males are vegetarian!). The female bites between dusk and dawn so that is the most important time to protect yourself against getting bitten. One way is to put on cover up clothes' before dusk, that is, wear long sleeves and long trousers or a long skirt. Of course this won't be completely effective. Small mosquitoes may manage to get inside loose clothes and larger ones may bite through the material, but it should reduce the frequency. When there are mosquitoes about apply insect repellent to exposed skin.

There has been a lot of discussion about types of repellent, but the most widely used and effective ingredient is diethyltoluamide (DEEr). It has been used on the skin of such massive numbers of people world wide, it would be surprising if there had not been rare reports of toxicity possibly associated with it. As a result of this you must take care not to exceed the manufacturers' instructions about applying it, especially for children.

Naturally care should be taken to avoid the eyes. A skin patch test may be a wise precaution for people with sensitive skins. Spray or roll on formulations avoid spills of repellents which can mark plastics, including cameras, and reduces the chance of a child trying to drink them. For those who cannot use DEET, there is a range of other repellent products containing various essential oils. In most cases they do not have quite the same effect. People often ask about the use of vitamin B or garlic pills as insect repellents. They may be effective for some individuals, but when tested, no consistent protection is demonstrated. There is no doubt that differences in skin excretions make some people more attractive to mosquitoes than others.

Some repellents can be sprayed on to clothing, although some may make a slight Marie This can be useful around collars and trouser legs, and can reduce the amount applied directly on to the skin. You also need to prevent bites while you are in bed at night. Most international hotels have modern air conditioning systems which discourage mosquitoes.

However, they could fly in if someone leaves the window open and then you would need to use knockdown insect (fly) killer to spray the room after closing the door and windows. Where you need to sleep with the windows open (because there is no air conditioning) there should be screens on the windows and, in high risk areas, a mosquito net provided over the beds. Nets are more effective when they are dipped in an insecticide called permethrin. Anyone who has to carry their own net, for example, backpacking off the beaten track, should be aware of this.

Smoke coils are burnt to discourage insects in many tropical countries and may be useful when sitting on a veranda. However, they will not burn reliably all night so there is a better alternative to use if there are electrical sockets in your room: a small plug-in device which vaporizes a tablet of insecticide placed on it. You will need to remember to carry an international adapter as well.

Besides malaria mosquitoes, there are other insects that transmit disease: sand flies, ticks and other mosquitoes, for example, those that carry Dengue fever (not usually as serious as malaria, but certainly very unpleasant). Mosquitoes can also be a real nuisance, but not usually dangerous, in many northern holiday destinations such as Canada, Alaska and Scandinavia. The same information on repellents and coverup clothes applies, but it should be remembered that a lot of insects are daytime biters so the precautions do not only apply to after dark.

Different people and destinations have different requirements, so treat the lists on pages 301 as a guideline. You'll only need a basic selection for a short holiday to a major destination. It's worth discussing any queries with your doctor or pharmacist and make sure you read the packet information supplied with all medications. Consult your doctor about the suitability of antibiotics for travel away from medical help. You may also want to have a dental checkup, especially before holidays in developing areas.

Article Source: http://www.travelarticlelibrary.com

By: Adrian Vultur

Adrian vultur writes for holiday illness claim

Work Your Way Around the World Through Round the World Tickets

2011-01-13T11:15:00.000-08:00

round the world tickets

Round the world tickets, also know as Multi-Continent Fares, are perhaps the best option that is available for travelers planning a worldwide trip. Tourists opting for such options generally land up with cheaper fares even on first and business class

A long holiday encompassing a number of destinations in different countries over the world! This might be something that most people dream about and hope to realize. With the popularity of multi-stop round the world flights increasing, a number of airline alliances promoting the concept, travellers perhaps have the most realistic chance of realizing their dream.

Worldwide travel through round the world flights is much cheaper as compared to buying tickets on separate flights from one destination to another. Round the world pass allows travelers to tour the globe, making different stops at different destinations.

Round the World Tickets: Brief Overview

Round the world tickets cost far less than the sum of the airfares between each destination. So it is quite logical and advantageous that travelers on cheap holidays book RTW flights in just one go rather the separately booking point to point tickets for different destinations. The money saved can be used by the travellers to upgrade to a business class or first class instead of going for economy class on low-cost airlines.

Who offers round-the-world tickets?

Every major airline alliance offers its own version of round the world flights. Such airline alliances connect routes of its different member airlines to craft one single global trip for its travelers. Generally, airlines permit a maximum of 15 stopovers in a long trip, out of which travelers are needed to advance book only for the first leg of their journey.

Specialist Travel Agencies also offer round the world tickets for travelers on a global trip. Most of these specialist agencies are consolidators who merge point-to-point one-way tickets into one continuous worldwide tour for the passengers.

Multi-Continent Fares

While SkyTeam offers Round the World Pass, one world features Multi-Continent Fares for the travellers. Multi-continent Fares offered by this major airline alliance make intercontinental journeys convenient as well as affordable for passengers. Circle Atlantic, Circle Pacific, Circle Trip Explorer, and Circle Asia & South West Pacific are several multi-continent passes offered by one world. one world member airlines like British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Qantas and American Airlines feature wonderful amenities for its business, first and premium economy class passengers.

While British Airways is UK’s national airline, American Airline is one of the world’s largest airlines. Cathay Pacific is a five-star airline that is renowned world over for its incredible on-board service whereas Qantas is Australia’s national carrier.

Single Continent Pass

For those travelers who intent to concentrate their journeys to a specific continent, a single continent pass might prove to be a better option. Such air passes are offered mostly by national carriers and airline alliances, and facilitate travel to different countries in a particular region at much cheaper rates.

By Katsoulis William

Alcohol Drinking Ages Around the World

2011-01-04T19:54:00.000-08:00

As a student traveler, you may be under 21, which is the legal drinking age in the US. Guess what? Drinking ages around the world are far more reasonable -- most drinking ages worldwide are at maximum 18, if not less, which makes sense for legal drinking ages. And provided you act like a grown up, you can probably be served a cerveza with that fish taco anywhere, regardless of age.

drinking age

Following is a brief rundown of legal drinking ages around the world (see a more complete list of legal drinking ages worldwide at International Center for Alcohol Policy). Remember that if you're old enough to fight wars, drive cars and vote, you're old enough to buy alcohol in most countries -- there's a reason you'll be treated like an adult with adult smarts and privileges elsewhere in the world. The joys of a pint of ale in London or a glass of vino in Italy are well worth exercising the self control 21-and-unders are assumed to possess and expected to demonstrate elsewhere on the planet.

Exceptions to legal drinking ages exist in many places (including the US) -- you can drink alcohol when for travel to that piece of the Caribbean), but the legal drinking age you're with your parents in some countries, for instance. And the island of Puerto Rico is a US territory (meaning no passport is neededis 18.

Drinking Ages Worldwide

Drinking Age
Country	16-18	18	18-19
	Belgium	Australia	Canada
	China	Bahamas
	Denmark	Brazil
	France	Czech Republic
	Germany	Ireland
	Italy	Mexico
	Netherlands	New Zealand
	Spain	Puerto Rico
	Thailand	Romania
		Singapore
		South Africa
		Sweden
		United Kingdom

Holiday Air Travel Checklist

2011-01-04T19:40:00.000-08:00

travel

So, you're watching the clock and ready to escape for your end-of-year vacation. Frequent flyers don't need a reminder of the boring basics (prescription meds and a change of clothes in carry-on: check!) from their regular travel checklist. Here are four more timely tips for this peak travel season from the Fodor's community. Safe and happy travels!

1. Unwrap your gifts.
You read that right: don't wrap your gifts if you're flying. They may look pretty, but If TSA personnel need to inspect your packages, they will unwrap them. (Advance planners know to ship gifts ahead to avoid shopping at the last minute and lugging stuff all over.)
Community Tip: On our Forums, boojis_mom suggested "using those handy gift bags where you can cover over the present with colored crepe paper and simply lift off the paper to show the bag's contents."

2. Prepare your entertainment and electronics for delays.
In addition to packing extra patience, all plugged-in travelers should be ready for times when electronics aren't allowed: bring assorted reading material like a magazine, book, sodoku or crossword book (and pen), for times when you have to turn off your e-reader, like taking off and landing.
Community Tip: Fodor's editor Salwa_J also has a reminder for energy boosts en route: "Keep a cell phone charger in a carry-on bag—you can plug in your phone as you talk if there's a long delay and you never know when you'll lose luggage."

3. Consider a car service to and from the airport.
Finding a cab in peak travel seasons can be hard. To avoid being stranded at such times, book a car service. Unless you splurge on a stretch limo, it probably won’t cost that much more than a regular cab.
Community Tip: On the Forums, hawksbill summarizes how to avoid confusion when booking: "One might say to one's friend 'I'm going to call the limo company now,' but when you actually call the place, you had better tell them 'please send a car,' not 'please send a limo.'"

4. Get insider info about potential delays.
Who could possibly know more about avoiding flight delays and airport congestion than The National Association of Air Traffic Controllers? Their easy-to-use Web site for travelers, Avoid Delays, has information on everything from the best time of day to fly out of a specific airport to the best airports to connect through, plus up-to-the-minute flight delay data.
Community Tip: Fodorite Kay2 also knows that "Gate assignments do change and sometimes the gate agents are making announcements about delays, etc. that are not posted. So I usually check out the situation before I start my exercise of walking all the concourses end to end or hitting the stores or a restaurant."

Where on Earth will you find yourself in 2011?

2011-01-04T19:32:00.000-08:00

best in travel 2011

Here's wishing it's somewhere unforgettable -- and the time to plan your journey is now, as the New Year brings the customary yearning for a fresh start and the promise of new people and places.

To set your itinerary in motion, we sought out recommendations from three travel experts: Robert Reid, U.S. travel editor for Lonely Planet; Pauline Frommer, creator of Pauline Frommer's guidebooks; and Martin Rapp, senior vice president of leisure sales at Altour.

Here are nine of their top destinations for 2011:

1. New York

A huge tourist destination in any year, the city will be especially unforgettable as it marks the 10th anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks next year.

Visitors who have been flocking to ground zero are finally expected to get a chance to pay their respects to the victims at the National September 11 Memorial, which is scheduled to open in time for the anniversary.

"It's going to be a massive moment for New York," Reid said. "It feels like the healing begins."

Visitors also shouldn't miss the High Line, once an abandoned elevated railway track that's been turned into a popular park. It expands in the spring, to the delight of New Yorkers.

"It was like a secret garden in the middle of New York," Frommer said. "It's become a park that other urban centers are studying because it's brought new life, a new vitality into the area below it."

No wonder the Big Apple tops Lonely Planet's list of top 10 cities for 2011.

2. New Zealand

The Rugby World Cup will be held next fall in New Zealand, adding excitement to an already popular destination.

Wellington, which brands itself as the "coolest little capital in the world," will host some of the activities and hopes to attract fans who want to explore other parts of the country.

"It's a great kind of springboard," said Reid, who is planning a visit and is determined to learn the haka, the fierce Maori dance used to unsettle opponents before matches.

Wellington is known as "Wellywood," thanks to a thriving film industry and director Peter Jackson, who is now working on "The Hobbit." Indeed, fans of the "Lord of the Rings" films already know New Zealand for some of the stunning sites used in the trilogy.

Rapp also recommended the country for its "most fantastically luxurious lodges," including The Farm at Cape Kidnappers, Huka Lodge and Otahuna Lodge.

3. Peruvian Amazon

When many people think of the Amazon, they think of Brazil, but Peru offers a great base for exploring the region: Iquitos, a metropolis of almost half a million people in the heart of the Peruvian jungle.

Iquitos is a fitting destination for 2011, which has been declared by the United Nations as the International Year of Forests.

"You can create your own adventures when you're there," Reid said.

It's the biggest city you can't drive to in the world, he added. You have to fly in or take a boat.

To experience the region in a unique way, Rapp recommended taking an Amazon River cruise from Iquitos on Delfin or Aqua Expeditions.

4. Barcelona, Spain

Visitors can get a chance to see La Sagrada Familia, the stunning but still unfinished Catholic basilica, like never before after a visit by Pope Benedict XVI in November spurred progress on the interior of the site, Frommer said.

"For the first time in years, most of the scaffolding there is gone," she said.

"Everybody knows how astounding it is on the outside. The inside is just as glorious."

Foodies have their own reasons to visit Barcelona and the surrounding region. El Bulli, chef Ferran Adria's famous restaurant, closes for good next year.

But even if you can't snag a reservation at the notoriously hard-to-get-into eatery, Barcelona is dotted with restaurants inspired by Adria's cutting-edge cuisine, like Moo, which Frommer called "astounding."

5. Norway

For lovers of the outdoors, Norway offers an especially outstanding experience, Rapp said. Adventurous travelers can go heli-skiing, paragliding and bungee jumping. (Rapp was considering a bungee jump himself during an upcoming summer trip to Norway.)

For a more mellow experience, hire a private boat on the fjords and go to little hotels that you can't get to by road, or stay at the Amot Opera Farm for an unusual combination of accommodations and music.

"All of Scandinavia is really underestimated," Rapp said.

"People [usually] go to the major cities, Copenhagen, Stockholm or Oslo, but the countryside is extraordinary. Truly majestic mountains, and the fjords are just unbelievable -- they seem endless when you're there."

6. Albania

The top pick on Lonely Planet's list of top 10 countries for 2011 may be a surprise for many people, but Albania gives travelers a taste of the Mediterranean without the crowds and the prices, Reid said.

The real rising destination is Gjirokastra, a city whose historic center is a UNESCO World Heritage site, he added.

"It's this cobbled town with Ottoman-era mansions," Reid said. "It's a very atmospheric place that has a lot of history."

With picturesque beaches, good food and a number of heritage sites, Albania won't be off the beaten track for much longer, Lonely Planet says in its review.

7. Japan

Many people still have the misconception that Japan is too expensive to visit, but once you get there, it can be more affordable than a vacation in New York, Reid said.

Why go in 2011? The country is ramping up its tourism marketing efforts after some recent disappointing years, so the number of visitors is expected to rise soon.

"We think that the crowds are going to get worse. Maybe it's time to think about it now," Reid said.

For help with booking an affordable stay, he recommended visiting the International Tourism Center of Japan and looking intominshuku, traditional guest houses that offer very simple but clean and inexpensive accommodations. You might pay $40 a night in Tokyo, for example.

8. Guatemala

More than 10 years after the end of its civil war, Guatemala is coming into its own as a tourist destination, Frommer said.

The country is an appealing alternative for people looking to travel south of the border and trying to branch out beyond popular places like Costa Rica, she added. Once there, you'll be amazed by the sites -- and the low prices.

"Lake Atitlan is one of the most beautiful places in the world. In fact, Aldous Huxley said it was more beautiful than Lake Como. I was there in March, and I would agree," Frommer said.

She called the destination "a bargain wonderland." A round-trip flight from New York cost Frommer $350, "decent hotels" charged as little as $35 a night, and a meal at a sit-down restaurant might set you back just $3, she said.

9. Bulgaria

Next year marks the 20th anniversary of the collapse of the Soviet Union, sparking interest in former Soviet bloc countries.

Reid's favorite choice on that list is Bulgaria, which has the best Black Sea coastline for beach enthusiasts and offers great skiing in the mountains in the winter, he said.

"I love doing road trips in Bulgaria. It begs for it. It's beautiful, and there's not much traffic. It feels very safe," said Reid, who rode around the country last year in a Soviet-era 1972 Moskovich, which he bought for $500.

Reid recommended visiting Veliko Târnovo, an ancient capital, and the picturesque city of Plovdiv, home to Roman ruins.