Stewart Palmer asked:


Europeans, especially Germans, Dutch, Scandinavians and the British tend to think of the Canary Islands as a winter sun resort. Of these, the British are probably the most likely to holiday in the Canaries during the summer.

In actual fact it makes little difference when you visit from the point of view of what weather to expect. The islands experience a fairly constant springtime climate all the year round. However, my Canary Island travel tip is to always bear in mind that all of the islands are cloudier and wetter on their north coasts or in their more northerly regions. This is where the moisture bearing trade winds make their initial contact with a land mass as they blow across the Atlantic ocean, often quite forcibly.

The best guarantee of constant sunshine and warm, dry weather is found on the south coasts of every island where even mid winter days provide plenty of sunbathing and swimming opportunities. It is also important to realise that fairly strong winds are prevalent all the year round, making what would otherwise be a sizzling African sun feel much less intense than otherwise would be the case.

One November in Gran Canaria, I experienced a dramatic variation of weather conditions. The Yahoo weather forecast predicted heavy showers, thunderstorms and lower than average temperatures for the following five days period. Official weather forecasts for Gran Canaria are based on Las Palmas, the island’s capital which right on the northern tip of the island. When I arrived, the airport area which is a few miles south of Las Palmas was certainly experiencing some gloomy weather, although it wasn’t actually raining there. Looking northwards, the sky suggested that it was indeed raining over Las Palmas itself. The wind felt chilly and I shivered in my tee shirt and shorts as I walked to the airport car park, where my hire car was waiting.

My destination was Maspalomos, on the south coast of Gran Canaria and less than 40 miles from Las Palmas. Here the weather was sunny, dry and warm, making me want to dive into the pool as soon as I had checked into my accommodation. For the full length of my ten day stay this weather pattern continued. Cooler, cloudy weather, producing several heavy showers and a chilly wind prevailed in the north, whilst I enjoyed warm, sunny days and balmy evenings in Maspalomas.

A not so positive experience occurred a couple of years later on the island of Lanzarote. It was the last week of March and we were taking a one week vacation at a Charco de Palo. This remote and very beautiful, naturist resort is situated on the east coast of Lanzarote, only ten or so miles from the northern tip of the island. The weather remained dry for the whole week, even though rain clouds frequently swirled around us in the incessantly strong wind. This meant that every time some cloud blocked the sun, we were immediately chilled to an uncomfortable level. The locals told us that they were unused to such a strong wind chill and they demonstrated this by wrapping themselves up in thick pullovers or even fleeces. Despite this, it was actually warm enough for us to sunbathe whenever the clouds kept out of the way of the sun’s rays. It was the evenings that were really chilly. Without the sun, the wind blew from the north between force five and force seven, leaving us no option but to eat dinner inside every night.

Although a constant cold, northerly wind of this strength is an unusual phenomenon in the Canary islands, February and March are often more likely to experience cooler weather than December or January. When this happens, exposed areas on or near to the northern coasts are best avoided. Throughout most of our wind blasted week in Charco De Palo, the southern Lanzarote resort of Playa Blanca was enjoying much calmer and sunnier conditions. Despite this we loved Charco De Palo and will return there one day, keeping in mind our own travel tip and going later in the year.



CARROLL
philip smith asked:


Get the most out of your exciting holiday in this fabulous city, pay attention to some sound travel tips from those in the know.

Arriving in Rio at Christmas time may sound like the holiday you have always longed for, but only adequate planning and some key bookings made really early on in the year will ensure you get to truly enjoy those main festive days, Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve. Whatever your budget, your age or the number in your travel group, your time, money and opportunity will be wasted if you have to spend hours in travel agents or tourism offices once you are in Rio, trying to get from A to B.

If this is your first time in Rio city and you want to spend only 2 or 3 days taking in the “must see” tourists sights before heading off to famed festive resorts outside the city such as Búzios, Petrópolis or south along the Costa Verde to Paraty, then forward booked accommodation in all resorts and pre arranged transport to and from is vital. Pressure is always on accommodation in resort towns at this time of year, some bookings are made a year in advance, for peace of mind; don’t even think about chancing it once you get there. Unless you have driven the motorways in Rio or Sao Paulo like a local, hiring a rental car and driving to your out-of-Rio destination any time from mid December to late January is a crazy idea. Traffic gridlock (for hours, really) in unaccustomed Rio summer heat, getting lost because you can’t read those vital road signs is just so easy to do. Depending on your budget, a tour package with transfers included, with English speaking driver, or a taxi and bus ride with dictionary in hand, will get you there safer and faster.

Dress for the heat, the sun and the crowds appropriately. Carry at least a litre of bottled water with you when out walking locally and when travelling to and from your resort destination in buses or tourist vans. Keep your carry on bags, backpacks and last minute souvenirs to a minimum size and weight. There is never enough space for both you and your bags to be comfortable on board.

Finally, a word to the wise on the state of your stomach. With all that rich festive food and the heat, now is not the time to test the spicy street stalls, those glorious snacks from Bahia or the exotic fish dishes (moquecas) from Espírito Santo. Go easy on those caipirinhas!



BOBBY
danielle:) asked:


We’re trying to save money on our flight…haha! We’re wondering if anyone could give us any tips on travel to Taiwan. We’ll be 2 going and 3 coming home. We’re adopting a baby girl and we’d love to get as much patience and workability as possible. We’ve heard DON’T travel anything CHINA. What have you heard about EVA air or Air Malaysia? Any others that I might look into?! Thanks for your help!

JOHNATHON
Lizzie Scott asked:


Cheap travels is all about getting the best travel deals around. The following 5 travel tips are a great way to get started on making your vacation dollars stretch farther.

Cheap Travel Tip 1 - Shop Around You must shop around if you want to be successful in getting the budget travel you want. Shop on the Internet or visit your local travel agents. Different travel websites, and different travel agencies often have access to various specials and sales. So be sure to shop around for these hidden travel deals. Sometimes booking accommodation directly with a hotel may be more costly than booking with a travel agent or online hotel booking agent. So be sure to check out third-party hotel booking agents for more competitive room rates!

Airlines may also offer travel packages (air tickets and accommodation). However, it is best to check the hotels and do a little research. This is because booking the air tickets and accommodation separately may actually save you some previous money. All it takes is a little of your time.

Cheap Travel Tip 2 - Picking The Right Season Consider traveling during the off-season. The hotels that are overbooked and expensive in the high season are often available at really attractive prices once the high season is over. Off-season travel also offers the advantage of smaller crowds and a more relaxed atmosphere.

Cheap Travel Tip 3 - Group Travel Many airlines and hotels offer discounts to groups. So if you are traveling with your friends and family, you may be able to save some money.

Cheap Travel Tip 4 - Last-minute Travel If you have flexible employment, you should take advantage of some fantastic last-minute deals. Cruise lines, airlines and hotels often offer discounts to avoid the expense and lost revenue of an empty cabin, airline seat or hotel bed.

Cheap Travel Tip 5 - Package Travel Deals For many destinations, especially exotic locations, airfare tends to be expensive. So package travel deals can be significantly less expensive than making your own arrangements. Many travelers also like the safety and security of traveling with a group. Opting for cheap travels doesn’t mean that you have to sacrifice fun, excitement and adventure. There are many opportunities waiting for budget travelers who are willing to put in the time and effort to seek them out.

You can learn how to travel smart, avoid getting scammed, and what to do when things go wrong. Don’t you think its time you learn how to save hundreds, perhaps even thousands, on your next trip or vacation? It’s up to you to make your cheap travel or budget travels happen.



LUKE
Kate V asked:


My family is sending our grandparents on a 2-week vacation to Ireland, Scotland, and England for their 50th anniversary and I was wondering what time of year is best.
When is the weather mild?
When are there the least tourists?
Any other tips about vacationing or visiting these places in general would be appreciated.
Thank you so much!

I know this isn’t about fashion, but this forum has international users with very useful information. :)

GARY

Gina M asked:


Hi, my boyfriend and I are planning on spending a week in Egypt followed by a week in Israel in Spring 2009. Does anyone have any ideas on the best way to cross from Egypt to Israel, logically the Taba border seems the best way but i have been told that it’s really dangerous and we’d have to do it by train or bus. As far as i can see there are no flights from Egypt to Israel either.

I have been to Israel several times but never Egypt before, if anyone has any travel tips for either country they would be most appreciated.

Ta very much

MATHEW

piyagarn asked:


Travel Tips

Golden rule

The first thing that you Must ALWAYS REMEMBER.

You must always pack your own bags and not put Anything inside that will get you in trouble, this includes Flammable Liquids, Sharp Objects and banned substances of any kind. Under No Circumstances should you ever allow anyone, not even your best friend to pack your bag. When checking Inn, nowadays in any airport you are always asked. Did you pack your own bag? A This question may sound routine to you but it is the most important question with regards to your travel.

The Second thing you must ALWAYS REMEMBER.

Never carry anything for anyone no matter how small the package or what the excuse is, your life and your freedom may depend on this. In most countries around the world trafficking Banned substances will extend your Holiday a lot longer than you want it to, maybe for the rest of your life it’s No JOKE!

Passports and visas

Every Country has a different policy on Visa’s and entry permits. It is inportant that you check with the Embassy of the Country or Countries you are going to visit,to see what their Visa or entry requirement are. If you need to get a visa it can take a couple of days so you need to plan ahead, and you would also need a passport that has at least 6 months left before it expires. This may increase if you are going to be travelling for a longer period.

Keep your passport in a safe place, since you will need it whenever you board an international flight. In some countries you will be required to leave your passport with the hotel or hostel when you check in this is to satisfy regulations requiring the hostel/hotel to register all foreign visitors. You will need to show your passport when cashing a traveller’s cheque.

Photocopy the identification page of your passport to carry with you in case your passport is lost or stolen while travelling.

Before departing make sure you are covered by insurance that will reimburse travel expenses.

What to pack

Your main objective should be to travel as lightly as possible, casual dress is acceptable in most countries around the world except for Muslim countries, where visitors can not wear short or scanty tops. In some Asian countries spiting or dropping chewing gum on the street can get you in trouble with the law which might result in a fine, always make sure to read the do’s and don’ts of the country you are visiting this will make your life much easier.

Break in your shoes before you leave home, shoes with soft substantial soles are not only deal for walking but can ease the difficulty of manoeuvring the cobbled streets that characterize many old city centres especially in European countries.

Health

Make sure you get all your vecinations from you doctor before you travel this will ensure that you stay healthy while you are travelling.

Always take sensible precautions during hot weather, wear a Hat/sunglasses and sun block, drink plenty of fluids. Tap water in Europe, America and Canada in general is safe to drink, although its high mineral content can cause Minor stomach up sets if you are not used to it. If travelling further a-field you should stick to Bottled water which is an inexpensive and widely available alternative.

A general rule to stop any stomach up sets is to stay away from salads, uncooked foods and fruits, no matter how good they look.

Language

Travelling is always exciting and enjoyable if you can converse a bit with the locals. Only the basics are needed like yes, please, no and thanks you accompanied by a pleasant smile, polite manner and using your common sense will get you very far.

If you are really stuck with Communication remember that hostel /hotel receptionists usually speak English and in most cases are helpful and friendly. So you should make use of their help and they could even teach you a couple of words. Be nice to them!

Money and valuables

Having some funds in local currency is a necessity, but only carry what you will need for a day or two if its lost or stolen your chances of getting it back are next to nothing. Travellers Cheque are reliable and safe, always keep a record of the Cheque numbers you redeem and receipts in a separate place in case you need to produce them in the event of loss. Be prepared to show your passport each time you cash a cheque or offer one in Payment

Personal safety

Common sense keep valuables passports, money, credit cards etc hidden when you are on the move a money belt or neck belt or neck purse worn inside clothing is the safest option, also put money in different places so that if one bag is lost you have another source of funds. Any bag you carry with you should have a secure fastener with strap that goes over your neck and crosses your body this ensures that bulkier items like cameras etc are safe from pick pockets.

Getting around

Find a central public transportation information centre spend some time there and obtain information on how to get around the city, including transportation maps and detailed maps. Buy valid transport tickets for multiple rides or for more than one day, they will save you money and the inconvenience of having to buy a new ticket for every journey. There are a variety of public transportation in Europe and America these include subways, trams buses etc

Each country has its own customs and regulations it is very essential to take note of these, the European Union countries are considered as one and there are no limits on goods for personal use when travelling between member countries, however restrictions do apply when travelling between EU and non EU countries.

To Know More Go To WWW.HOSTELS247.COM



CARLOS
antonius estrillo asked:


Everyone knows that travel is really cost sometimes a huge amount of dollar. This undeniable fact can be a barrier why people sometimes get rid of travel even they are in their vacation time or holidays. Some say, it is for the budget sake, avoid expenses, in the other side its true. Financial problem is really a headache nowadays. But wait; there are people in this planet that they really love travel or some because it is really important to them. I made this travel tip for everyone because I know everyone loves travel, If you are a traveler or not, I hope this tip is really a help.

This tip is from my experience and shared from the fellow traveler about travel in cheapest way.

First key to budget travel is to plan ahead. Organized the places and activities you want to experience.

Planning and spending travel dollar wisely is a priority for most families. Don’t forget to check the availability of budget, spending the budget wise make the travel more enjoyable. If not, you surely stranded.

Be simple and avoid extra things that not so important. Even if your travel budget is so tight, it doesn’t mean that you can’t enjoy the travel.

Be aware that small things can be add up with a huge amount. Hotel extras, restaurant, car rentals, gas, ticket for special attractions, drinks add-on makes your budget goes crazy.

Make sure that you always focus of the things you want to enjoy your travel. Things to learn, peoples to meet, views to see, adventure to experience is the basic thing in travel that is very important to make your travel become a real travel.

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