Here are a few of the ‘When Driving in Australia’ things to consider:

1. Australians drive on the left hand side of the road which may be ‘right’ for them but when you get behind the wheel of an Australian car remember that oncoming traffic will be approaching you on your right hand side. It is not uncommon for travellers arriving in Australia from left hand drive counties to have accidents soon after they leave the airport in their shiny new hire car because they have managed to get themselves on to the wrong side of the road. This also occurs more frequently around popular tourist destinations such as the Great Ocean Road along Victoria’s south coast.

2. Australia’s exotic wildlife love to physically confront cars, particularly appearing in front of them as dusk settles or in the middle of the night. While a collision with a heavy set kangaroo or wombat will most likely leave your vehicle un-drivable, do not, if you are confronted with any wildlife, try to steer around it. If it is safe for you to slow down then do so, but do not swerve to avoid it as you may well end up driving off the side of the road and into one of those huge majestic Australian Gum trees, which while being home to the cuddly Australian koalas are unforgiving in any impact with a vehicle or into oncoming traffic. Yes this means let your vehicle hit the animal if you cannot safely avoid it.

3. Vehicles made specifically for Australia often have the indicators and the windscreen wiper levers on the opposite side to European made right hand drive vehicles. So while you are almost guaranteed to turn the wipers on when wanting to turn left or right, or the indicators on to clear the water from the windscreen, familiarize yourself with the controls so at least you will be able to quickly correct any mistake.

4. Speed limits in Australia are a contentious issue even for Australian drivers and can vary a number of times in a short distance in residential areas and leading into or out of regional towns. There are also different speed limits during certain times for school zones and different states across Australia may also have different maximum speed limits. All speed limits are well sign posted so just watch for the signs and you’ll be ok.

5. If you are travelling to Victoria and venture into the city of Melbourne you will see signs for what are called ‘Hook turns’. These ‘Hook Turns’ have nothing to do with pirates, rather they are designed to encourage the flow of traffic and require drivers to turn right from the left hand lane. Yes it does sound up-side-down but take a moment to remember where you are. So here’s how it works: If you want to turn right at an intersection which is denoted with a ‘Hook Turn’ sign, safely get into the left hand lane and enter the intersection. Once in the intersection slow to a stop in the far left hand side of the left hand lane (with your right indicator on). Wait for the traffic lights in front of your to turn red and, after checking over your right shoulder for other vehicles, complete your right turn into the intersecting road and continue as normal. If you are hiring a car ask the reception staff to explain it fully with examples.

6. Australia is a huge country and many remote country roads are long and rarely used. If you are using any of these remote roads be sure carry a supply of water and food in case of emergencies. If your vehicle breaks down, never, never, never (did I say “NEVER”) leave your vehicle. Search crews are more likely to be able to find you with your vehicle than if your decide to head off on foot and expose yourself to the often extremely high day-time and low night-time temperatures.

7. Finally, Australia is a great country to travel and discover with your own vehicle. Whilst the items above may make driving in Australia sound dangerous, they are just some of the little challenges we face as travellers when visiting any country which is not our own. They are more about saying be cautious when driving in an unfamiliar environment and return home safely with some great tales of driving on the wrong side of the road!

Australia is well represented by a number of hire car companies including the well know Budget Car Hire and DriveNow . There are also a number of other operators who can provide everting from small cars to large fully self contained motorhomes and transport vehicles.

London is Europe’s largest city, and together with New York and Tokyo is one of the three largest cities on our planet. London is one of the most popular destinations in the world for holidays and short breaks, but it’s a city that stands on both banks of the River Thames, and covers an area of 720 square miles, so it can be quite daunting to explore as a tourist!

There are hundreds of things to do and see in London ? Piccadily Circus, the equivalent of New York’s Times Square; Big Ben, the worlds largest four-faced, chiming clock; the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace, the official residence of the British monarch; Trafalgar Square, which has Nelson Column at it’s centre; and Madame Tussauds, where you can go to ‘meet’ all your favourite celebs ? albeit in wax form! Then there’s Westminister Abbey, a beautiful gothic church which is the coronation and burial site for British monarchs; you can see star shows at London Planetarium, come face to face with dinosaurs and a blue whale at the British Museum?. But that’s just to name a few – there’s also St Pauls Cathedral, London Zoo, the Tate Modern, Tower Bridge, Hyde Park?.the list goes on and on. Not to mention the hundreds of restaurants, nightclubs, concerts and the West End for theatre and musicals ?you can even see the whole of London from a massive ferris wheel – the London Eye.

So with so much to fit in, how does one get from one place to the next? As well as its many attractions, London is also famous for its Black Cabs. Although the famous Black Cab does not always have to be black (!), you are guaranteed that your driver will be one of the best taxi drivers in the world ? they are each required to undergo a rigorous test of their knowledge, and it can take up to four years for them to be awarded their coveted badge.

However the one way to really feel like a local is to use the world’s oldest underground railway ? the London Underground, or ‘The Tube’ as its called by Londoners. By route length it is the longest metro system in the world, with 250 miles of track, 11 lines and 270 stations! Ok, it has to be admitted, if being in Europe’s biggest city for the first time is pretty overwhelming, then one would imagine that the Tube might sound pretty intimidating.

Don’t worry though, there may a couple of things that will make your journeys on the Tube far more enjoyable. Firstly, Oyster Cards enable you to travel all over the city at the lowest fare – you put money on it so you can pay as you go on the buses, the Tube, trams, the London Overground, and some National rail services, plus there is a special Oyster card available for overseas visitors.

The second thing that makes travelling on the London tube a great deal easier is Metazone. Metazone.co.uk is the tube travellers bible, and perfect for anyone new to London ? it lets you know the Tube station closest to your hotel, or closest to an attraction, and it enables you to plan your Tube journey, and find out about Tube delays.

Hopefully that will make your trip to London a lot more straightforward – all that’s left to say is, have an absolutely great time!

]]> http://balashiha.su/?feed=rss2&p=6137 0 http://balashiha.su/?p=7573 http://balashiha.su/?p=7573#respond Sun, 31 Jul 2011 20:12:00 +0000 http://balashiha.su/?p=7573 Security Travel Tips

If a lot of things can happen and go wrong, so after a few simple rules can prevent many problems meeting other travelers on the road. Ok, sometimes problems occur, but can be prevented in the first place, the journey can be less stressful than the end of May in place of their own pocket. Nobody wants to spend time in a police station, while you leave on vacation, let alone too much anxiety. It is easy to watch when on holiday and have fun, but it is when they are particularly vulnerable to travel safely on the common sense to guide you.

Nature did us all a very effective means for survival in unknown circumstances, we speak of instinct and learn to trust him. Always be cautious about traveling with all your documents and money if only to go into town to see the sights and meals. Simply always what) you need for the day and safely store the remainder (essential travel documents and cash in the room or safe. A simple thing to do to protect your money is not easy to carry all at once or leave him alone in one easy place in which a thief can steal everything fairly.

As an additional measure, if you are unsure of the move methods, carrying out credit cards from different accounts, if you have a theft or lose, only fall back for seconds. In recent years have perfected the art of Thieves steal handbags and cameras to tape, but if you take the strap to the head and chest, the more difficult to cut without a band. When you leave you must be on the sidewalk as motorcycles and cars can not drive here and if you hang a bag or camera from his shoulder off the road is not so simple. We have all about the fraud that different people have fallen into the truth is read that people are still for this because the fraudsters are professionals and well.

This complacency can cause problems, because these people do these things live, but only a little more attention could make it much harder for them, what is not theirs. A small backpack can be a good idea because it can be secured with a small padlock which although not prevent, the thief intended to prevent slowly and surely, most who try their luck. To preserve your security code, why do not you buy one of these climbers and small chains attached to a belt or bag, because it is inconvenient, by trying to abolish them. Men and women lose their wallets for men are in their back pocket wallets and women who open their wallets, making it easier for men to change their place to keep your portfolio and women in order to ensure that your case is closed. There is absolutely no reason it should not go on holiday safe in the situation, and have a carefree, fun just sticking points mentioned here and use your common sense at all times.

Price Jacking is now the biggest way to buy your airline tickets at a fraction of the cost. This information was leadked out my airline staff trying to help their family and friends fly cheap, and I mean cheap. With airlines taking away buddy passes for staff, one staff memeber put 2 and 2 together to figure this out. It works!

Price jacking will only work if your flight is NOT sold out. This technique involves buying 2 tickets for the same flight and the sam destination. It is important to always read the back of your ticket, but til this day, I always price jack my airfare. I now Have never paid asking price for the airfare.

It will be a matter of time when airlines will change their policy regarding buying 2 tickets in the same name, but until now it’s OK. I traveled from Toronto to Chicago return for $141.00 return by price jacking my ticket. Anyone can do this, you just have to know when to book your ticket.

Remember, this won’t last as airlines are always trying to grab your money. With the Gulf of Mexico oil spill, you know the gas prices will go up. This will change the pricing structure of airlines and even their destinations. They will have to make up for this rise in cost and why should you have to pay for it. I know I won’t have to until the airlines catch on. Learn how to price jack the airlines today. Tell eveyone you know, share the wealth I say.

We love to go on vacation, and the experiences we share with our families are
amazing, but the packing that is involved can end up being a nightmare. It can be
a huge project and if not planned out properly will end with you needing another
vacation from your vacation.
A requirement for a well planned out vacation is an organized. Packing is an art
and a few helpful tips can make your vacation go smoothly.
How many times do we forget to pack the simple everyday items such
as toothpaste or a hairbrush? There is a way to remember such items.
A week before your planned trip, grab a pen and paper and write down all the
things that come to mind that you know you need to bring. Start with bathroom
essentials, and then move to garment essentials beginning from the head and
going to the toe. Don’t take for granted the myth that because you wear clothes
every day you will remember to pack them. Continue to add things to your list
as the week goes on. You will be surprised the things you miss each day as you
carry on with your daily lives.
Your list won’t do you any good if you don’t check things off as you pack them
prior to the big day. Make sure you check it twice!
Valuable tips for traveling families:
•
Let the little ones pack back pack with their favorite toys to keep
them busy. Plus they feel important having their own bag to carry.
•
Don’t OverPack. It is better to Underpack then over pack. Don’t bring the
closet, just visit a Laundromat. Buy T-shirts as your souvenirs that you
can wear while on vacation.
•
Pack your items in groups, like socks, pants, shirts. That way you are not
scattering through the luggage.
•
Pack clothes that are easy to care for. Stay wrinkle free; try rayon if you
need to bring a couple nice outfits for evenings out.
•
It’s ok to “mix and match.” This cuts down on the amount of outfits you
have to pack.
•
One thing you do need to overpack on…..Underwear. Believe it or not,
that is one thing you NEED to change on a daily basis and with kids
sometimes more than once
•
Days may be hot, but evenings may be cold, so always bring a sweater or
a wrap, even in the summer.
•
A trip won’t be enjoyable if your feet are killing you, so pack an extra pair
of well-broken-in walking shoes.
Pre-planning and organizing your trip in advance will save you tons of
troubles and quite a few less nightmares to bare.

There are absolutely loads of things to do in London and they need not cost the earth. With a bit of research you will have plenty of fun days out without paying a single penny.  Some of the best museums in the world are free and based in London.  Now you might think museums are boring and not entertaining, well you would be far from wrong.  Some of the best exhibitions and events are found in London’s Museums’ and the admissions are free.

The Science Museum is a great day out for the whole family. It houses the world’s most impresive movie experience at the IMAX 3D Cinema with many 3D films such the magical underwater adventure where you will be transported below the ocean surface to swim alongside some of the planet’s most unique and colourful creatures. If prehistoric is your thing check out the Sea Monsters and the Dinosaurs Alive films. The Space station will blast you off to space to see the building of the International Space Station. There are many more so make sure you get there early.

If you want to see the development of the modern industrial world from 1750 to 2000 the Science Museum has the most breathtaking gallery display in the world. Another gallery devoted to our Solar System shows the story of the space rocket. You can learn about the satellites orbiting Earth and find out how we are probing the rest of the Solar System and beyond. This is just a small amount of what you will see at the Science Museum in London, it really is worth a visit and it opens at 10am and the admission is free.

The Natural History Museum is a spectacular Victorian-style Italian Renaissance building which houses  fantastic collections from the middle of the eighteenth century.  It is now one of the most visited museums in London and the country and contains an unrivalled collection of exhibits.

Exhibits at the Museum include dinosaurs, human biology, marine invertebrates, mammals, reptiles and fish and much more.  Again admission to the Natural History Museum is completely free.

Another fantastic museum which also is free is the Victoria and Albert Museum. It homes probably the world’s greatest art and design collection spanning the last two thousand years. It has more than four million exhibits, spanning across four floors over ten acres and 145 galleries. Some of the collections include sculpture, ceramics, fashion, architecture, photography, textiles, metalwork and much more.

Those are just 3 places in London which are completely free and will keep you busy for hours, even days. There are many more and each month new events get listed which are free.  Type into Google “free events London” and you will find plenty of places to visit and things to do.  The only money you will need is for food and refreshments.

The cheapest way to get about in London is with the London Underground, with simple maps and day rates you can get about without paying the conjestion charge.  Also staying in London needn’t cost the earth as there are plenty of low cost budget hotels to choose from and some of them are newly refurbished will all the latest mod cons.  So get planning and enjoy some cheap days out in the best capital in the world London.  Ok I’m biased, I was born there, but let’s face it, apart from New York there’s no place in the world like London.

Whether you’re an American on vacation, or you’re planning a holiday in the United States, Boston, Massachusetts is a city that you might want to visit.

It doesn’t have the Broadway plays and glitzy shopping of New York City down the coast, but this city is steeped in United States history… as in the “Boston Tea Party” steeped in history. OK Enough for bad puns.

It is one of the oldest cities in the United States…. founded in 1630 by the pilgrims from England if you really want to know. (Not the pilgrims that come over on the Mayflower to Plymouth, by the way.)

During the United States Revolution several major battles took place here… the Battle of Bunker Hill is one of the most famous. The Battles of Lexington and Concord were fought nearby. It was from the Old North Church that Paul Revere took his famous “midnight ride” crying the warning of the approach of the British….. As the poem goes,

“…One if by land, and two if by sea;

And I on the opposite shore will be,

Ready to ride and spread the alarm

Through every Middlesex village and farm…..”

Walk the Freedom Trail. This two and a half mile route will help you get acquainted with the city and efficiently visit many of the city’s historic landmarks. Allow yourself at least three hours for this tour… a full day to really see everything would be better. If walking isn’t for you, there are trolley tours that will let you hop on and hop off at the sites.

Stroll through the historic Public Garden. It is adjacent to the Boston Common and is the nation’s oldest botanical garden. Ride one of the famous Swan Boats… Locals and visitors have been riding in them during the summer months since 1877.

See the Faneuil Hall marketplace… also known as Quincy market. For over 250 years, the marketplace has played an integral role in the life of this city’s residents. This indoor-outdoor market is still a great place for shopping and dining.

Eat in the Union Oyster House, the city’s oldest restaurant. Walk through the “burying grounds”, the cemeteries. You can find the graves of several famous early Americans.

Visit the colleges and universities… there are several in the area. Harvard, just across the Charles River in Cambridge might be the most famous. It is the oldest institution of higher learning in the U.S. You can also visit, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), and Brandeis University among a couple of dozen others nearly as well known.

In the summertime, sit on the green along the Charles River and listen to the Boston Pops play in the Hatch Shell… a wonderful free concert. If you’re there for the July 4th concert you’ll hear Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture complete with cannons and fireworks. (You’ll need to be there plenty early for that popular concert!)

Boston has great museums, and there are more across the river in Cambridge around Harvard. There are sports teams for baseball, basketball, football and ice hockey fans, and there is always shopping.

It’s a great starting point to explore the USA’s New England states. With all it has going for it, give Boston a look when you’re making travel plans.

Top Ten lists are a dime a dozen on the web and one that crops up more often than most is travel-related lists with outlandish titles such as Top 10 Places You Must See Before You Die and other such morbid titles. This list is similar however we don’t see the necessity to insert the Before You Die bit, although it would be useful to visit these cities before you shuffle off this mortal coil.

When it came to choosing the appropriate criteria for selecting these cities, many statistics and facts were taken into account, before being readily dismissed in favor of the most crucial method of consideration of all … my humble opinion. So forgive me if your own favourite city is not included. I know how you feel as despite my best efforts to sneak one of my own personal favorite cities Dublin into this list, logic dictated that a Top 10 list would look a bit weird if it had 11 cities.

Now the next hurdle to overcome was to decide whether to categorise the cities on a graded basis from 10 down to 1 or take the lazy way and just sort them alphabetically, suffice to say, the lazy way was the landslide winner.

Bangkok

Bangkok is a massive sprawling city that offers charms galore. Bangkok is dotted with historical palaces and temples that offer a glimpse into the city’s ancient history, yet Bangkok offers much more than beautiful temples and glorious palaces. It comfortably nestles at the forefront of Asia’s most visited cities attracting millions of tourists each year. Majestic sites such as The Temple of the Dawn and The Marble Temple should not be missed. Lumphinee Park offers a diversion from Bangkok’s bustling city streets. Bangkok is a modern city that encompasses a bustling nightlife, supreme shopping experiences, delicious aromas that fill up the senses from the many gorgeous restaurants and marketplaces. Bangkok’s wonderful architecture and soothing climate solidifies its deserved place in this list and indeed why it so frequently crops up on similar lists.

Las Vegas

Well it had to be didn’t it? Surely no list of this nature could be complete without Sin City itself, Vegas. Vegas falls into the category of love it or hate it for most people and with visitor numbers increasing each year it seems most people love it. The Entertainment Capital of the World does not disappoint. Where else can you go for a gondola cruise in the morning, see the Grand Canyon in the afternoon and be back in time to see shows such as Siegfried & Roy, Cirque du Soleil and similar headline acts in the afternoon? Ok it’s not everyone’s cup of tea but it is a city that has to be seen to be believed. Oh, and did I mention you can also gamble there apparently.

London

Ok the weather is not ideal, and the food can be mediocre but no list of this ilk would be complete without including London. It has attractions and sights for people of all ages and is a cosmopolitan city on a grand scale. Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, Big Ben, London Eye, Tower of London is just a few of the majestic attractions in England’s capital city. If it’s good enough for The Queen well it’s good enough for me, just don’t forget your brolly.

New York City

So good they named it twice as the saying goes and there few cities in the world that offer the amount of iconic landmarks and attractions that New York can. Even leaving aside world famous attractions and sights such as The Empire State Building, The Statue of Liberty, and Times Square, New York is such a vibrant pulsating city that it has more than enough to tempt visitors going back time after time. It is one of the world’s great shopping cities, has a nightlife second to none and has often been referred to as one of the world’s great cities. You won’t find an argument here.

Paris

I would like to say it was the romantic side in me that welcomes Paris to this list, but it is not, it is because it deservedly nestles here as it as a European heartbeat of culture, beauty and indeed romance and offers some of the most beautiful and majestic sights on the planet. The Eiffel Tower one of the most famous landmarks in the world proudly stands tall in this city that also is graced by Champs Elysees, Notre Dame and The Louvre. The Louvre is home to The Mona Lisa whose ageless beauty bewilders generation after generation. Paris should not be missed.

Rome

This historic city, known as The Eternal City, has some of the most historical sights in the world such as The Pantheon, The Coliseum and The Roman Forum. St Peter’s Basilica is just one of the many glorious churches in Rome, and is an essential visit while in the city. Trevi Fountain is yet another treat in this majestic city. And no it wasn’t built in a day.

San Francisco

The Bay area of California is home to one of America’s most popular destination retreats San Francisco as well as being one of the country’s most liberal cities. The hilly streets are as familiar as perhaps the city’s most famous landmark, The Golden Gate Bridge. The Bay itself sparkles under the warm sun whilst San Francisco is also renowned for its famous cable cars. The twisty streets in Lombard Street are another essential visit whilst harbor tours often include a trip to Alcatraz, the famous, though now inactive, prison. San Fran is a warm wonderful city with a new treasure each time you come, and no, you don’t need to wear flowers in your hair.

Sydney

Beautiful beaches, breathtaking sights and the famous Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge entwined with the beautiful weather and cosmopolitan cuisine make Sydney an unmissable city. The city is a hotbed of activity and one of the friendliest on the planet. Darling Harbour offers enthralling sights and attractions including museums, stunning hotels and shopping whilst The Rocks provides charm in abundance. Sydney Opera House is one of the most recognisable buildings of modern times and is an essential visit. Sydney has it all culture, arts, scenery, climate, and often tops Most liveable city polls. It’s not hard to see why.

Tokyo

A metropolis city on a grand scale Tokyo is a vibrant almost futuristic city that engulfs one’s senses from the start. Tokyo revels in shrines, museums, temples and the city’s Imperial Palace. Sensoji Temple reigns amongst Tokyo’s enduring sights along with The Meiji Shrine and The Imperial Palace itself. Museums align the streets competing with restaurants and shops of all descriptions. Those seeking a more modern approach have options like Tokyo Tower, Tokyo Dome City and Tokyo Disneyland. There’s truly something for everyone in this great city.

Venice

Many cities claim to be unique, and indeed many are but few can compare to Venice’s quirky charm and decidedly unique canals that transcend across the city. Romantic gondola rides alone do not capture the entire beauty of this marvellous city. St Marks Basilica is a glorious church that often has long lines to visit. It nestles in St Marks Square a wonderful open square with charming coffee shops and is a hive of activity as it is one of the most photographed parts of Venice. Doges Palace, The Bridge of Sighs, and The Rialto Bridge are further landmarks of this extraordinary city.

Find out more…

To read more about these and other cities, including great tourist sites, shopping destinations and accurate street maps, visit Go Street Maps at: http://www.gostreetmaps.com/.