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.

Nairobi more than lives up to its name of ‘Safari Capital of the World’ with scores and scores of exotic safari options. The city will definitely satiate the ones bitten by the nature bug.  After all, it is an unthinkable but nonetheless welcome break to play one of those daredevil Discovery Channel hosts by coming across a pride of lions in the desert of wilderness after the monotonous routine of city life in London. This destination is the gateway to different wildlife reserves of Kenya.

Your once in a lifetime will more than make up for the cost of those air tickets to Nairobi. Start your itinerary with a visit to the Nairobi Safari Walk facility for unforgettable memories of the wild. This walk takes one through forest, savannah, and wetland landscapes. The wetland serves as the entrance and its terraced layout accommodates a bewildering array of flora life. As one moves to the ground floor level, a captivating sight of exotic fauna life greets the onlooker. Right from the relatively tamer varieties like antelopes, zebras, and wilbeests, one can come up close to cheetahs, leopards, lions, rhinos, and hyenas. Rigid standards of safety are maintained but the experience leaves nothing to the imagination as one gets to behold animals roaming in simulated but absolutely natural habitats.

Further ahead is a release boma serving as a rhino enclosure. As one proceeds to the tropical dry forest, a melody of sounds from a colourful variety of bird life treats the ear. Here, it is a good idea to spend serene idyllic moments on one of the benches. The walking route opens into a look out zone offering mesmerising views of a water hole in the Nairobi National Park. Here, the lucky ones can spy on every type of animal. A board walk at tree top level finally caps the walk. There is a leopard blind here and you can behold the animal without the constraint of a glass barrier. The entire 1.5 km stretch of walk safari spells sheer natural bliss.

Though every wildlife reserve is a jewel in the crown for Kenya, the most widely known ones are Nairobi National Park, Tsavo National Park, Samburu and Shaba National Parks, and Maasai Mara National Park. As you take a safari through these wonderful gifts of nature, it appears that you have entered an overpopulated thriving city. The only difference is that these are green cities, where towering trees replace skyscrapers and exotic animals, both tame and aggressive, replace human beings.  Watching these animals from the confines of your vehicle gives an unparalleled high.

To make the most of your cheap air tickets to Nairobi, try to stay in one of the theme accommodations. One place that immediately comes to mind is the The Giraffe Manor. In this 120 acre property, you can feed giraffes right from the dining table of your second floor room. A safari in Nairobi cannot be described. It has to be experienced to be felt.

Snow-capped Kilimanjaro, floating above the clouds is no doubt one of the most beautiful and impressive sights in the natural world. Even hard-boiled non-believers, in their unguarded moments, empathise with the Maasai who call it the “House of God”. The mountain is one of the Seven Top Summits of the world –it has the highest point on the African continent.

Though there are higher mountains, they form part of mountain ranges, Everest for example. But Kili, as it is popularly known, is the highest freestanding mountain in the world. It rises gently from 3,000 feet, reaches for the heavens and only halts after a 16,000 feet ascent. The diameter at the base is an amazing 64 kilometres.

Kilimanjaro is located to the northeast of Tanzania, on the border with Kenya. There is a popular myth of how the mountain came to be part of Tanzania, which was at one time part of the German Empire.

Queen Victoria is supposed to have granted the mountain to her German grandson Wilhelm (later Kaiser Wilhelm II) as a birthday gift. It is also said that the Germans had been grumbling at the blatant unfairness of missing a snowcapped mountain within their empire while the Queen has two – the second being Mount Kenya.

Though historians have discredited the myth, it has refused to die and it is still a source of amusement for many. Unwilling to allow the truth to stand in the way, some anti-colonial historians fume with indignation, citing how the boundaries of Eastern Africa were arbitrarily decided in the capitals of the imperial powers.

To most people in the west, Kilimanjaro has long been associated with Ernest Hemingway on account of his 1936 short story “The Snows of Kilimanjaro”.

In 1952, Hollywood fascinated by the magic of Kili the book evokes, turned it into a movie with Gregory Peck and Ava Gardner in leading roles.

Kilimanjaro is young as far as mountains go, and geologists allow it only 750,000 years. The mountain is made up of three dormant volcanoes -Kibo (19,340 feet), Shira (13,000 feet) and Mawenzi (16,896 feet). Kibo occasionally belches some steam and sulfur.

The highest point on Kibo is Uhuru Peak, where you see some awesome glaciers and fantastic views of the country below. Though Kili is only three degrees south of the equator, the peaks of Kibo and Mawenzi are covered in ice and snow year round.

Many learned people in Europe hotly disputed that a snow-capped

mountain could be found at the equator when the German missionary Johann Rebmann reported it in 1849.

Going up the mountain, you move from tropical to artic conditions. There are five distinct climatic zones, with each zone taking approximately 3,300 feet.

The zones are- the lower slopes, then forest, then moorland, alpine desert and the summit. The lower slopes are cultivated and agriculture flourishes. The forest region is dry in the north and wet towards the southern slopes. The forest carries many tree species including podocarpus, camphor, fig and olive trees and bamboo.

The only animals to be found here are blue and Colobus monkeys and a variety of birds including hornbill and turaco. At the moorland region, you find the giant groundsels and lobelias common in the high altitude mountain regions of eastern Africa. Further up, vegetation and animal life are sparse.

Kili is the worlds’ most accessible summit. Any reasonably strong and ambitious person, without using any special mountaineering equipment can conquer this giant. It is however hard work. Altitude and the resulting thin air will be the main challenge and not your failing strength. To avoid succumbing to high altitude sickness, you guides will constantly advise, you take the mountain slowly, slowly or “pole pole” as they say in Swahili.

You should therefore avoid a quick ascent and take time to acclimatise to the mountains’ oxygen challenged air. By ignoring such good advice many young males fail to reach the summit, when older more deliberate climbers make it.

To enjoy the natural beauty and majesty of Kili, you do not even have to climb it. By using a four-wheel drive vehicle, you can ascend to the Shira Plateau, which is perched at 12,000 feet. The first person recorded to have reached the summit is the German climber Hans Meyer in 1889. Unlike today’s climber, he did not have the benefit a route map and he only made it on the second attempt.

Having been taught a lesson in humility, for the second try, he brought along an Alpine expert and a local guide. Meyer named the summit after the Kaiser Wilhelm II, but this was years later revised to Uhuru or freedom in Swahili.

Since the days of Meyer, the icecap has receded and scientists worry that it will vanish altogether in 20 to 50 years. So, hurry up and climb Kili while it is still such a pretty sight.

Today, few climbers few use the difficult route pioneered by Meyer. The climb normally takes five to six days and involves four to five overnight stays in comfortable mountain huts.

The Marangu route, which was established way back in 1909 is the easiest and most popular and is used by over 90% of climbers. Experienced climbers prefer the more scenic and difficult Machame route.

Climbers are not entirely without a sense of humour and they refer to Marangu as the coca cola route, and Machame as the whiskey route. Other routes are Shira, Mweka and Umbwe.

Shira is a scenic route that takes you through the Shira Plateau,which you reach by four-wheel drive vehicle. The route gives you great views of the Rift valley and Mount Meru. Using Mweka, you reach the summit and return to base in 4 days. But as you may suspect, it is quite steep and therefore not easy at all.

The Umbwe route is even steeper and quicker and you take only three days up and down. The route is spectacular, but it is for the fit and experienced and not casual climbers. In addition, there are technical routes such as the Western Breach and Lemosho routes.

Regardless of the route you pick, all Kili climbs start at Marangu Gate. This is where you get your permit and pay entry fees. On the typical Marangu route climb, spend four nights up the mountain. The route is clearly marked right to the summit. You start by trekking through the forest zone to Mandara Hut (9,000 ft) for the first night. Onward through moorland, you halt for a second night at Horombo Hut (12,450 ft).

Then through the alpine desert, your third night finds you at Kibo Hut (15,450 ft). But you really do not sleep there as you go for the summit just after midnight.

You then descend back to Horombo Hut for your last night after an overall trek of about 77 kilometres. If you want to spend more time up high to acclimatise, you can overnight twice at Horombo Hut.

On the Machame route, you spend one night more on the mountain.You overnight at Machame Hut, Shira Hut and Barranco Hut. You connect to the Mweka route and continue to Barafu Hut.

After tackling the summit, you descend for your last night at Mweka Hut. On the next day, you rejoin other mortals at the base of the mountain. You are advised to pick the route that best fits your experience.

Most aspire to reach Uhuru Peak – the highest point on Kibo -and indeed all Kili. Others are satisfied with Gillman’s Point, the slightly lower peak on Kibo. But Mawenzi, actually lower than the Kibo peaks, is more jagged and requires mountaineering experience. Many climbers find scaling Kili, whatever height they reach, a very satisfying experience.

But do not be too disappointed if you do not reach the summit.Different estimates indicate that only 15-30% of climbers get to the top. Climbing Kilimanjaro is for those who are physically fit and mentally prepared.

It is your ability to muster that extra dose of determination that will count when the going gets tough. In terms of physical preparation, start by taking hikes uphill with a pack strapped on your back. This rehearses the climb, minus the altitude of course.

Think also of putting in some aerobic training at the gym and by jogging. If you are having heart or lung problems, better not risk the climb. In all cases, it is a good idea to talk to your personal physician to ensure that you do not bite more than you can chew.

It is best you buy a climbing tour package to take advantage of those with local knowledge. The typical package will bundle together: return transfers – Moshi or Arusha to Marangu Gate, park and rescue fees, services of guides, porters and cooks, accommodation in mountain huts and all meals on the mountain.

In addition, you need to hire locally or bring along equipment and sleeping bags. Some useful stuff to gather include – waterproof hiking boots, rain suit, flashlights, sunglasses, prophylactics for high-altitude sickness, hand gloves and night shoes.

You need a daypack to carry a few essentials, as the porters carrying your equipment will usually hike their own way. Some items to carry on your back include bottled water, extra clothes, camera and sunscreen. Besure to review and book our very good value Kilimanjaro Climbing offers.

You can climb Kili, any time throughout the year. But it is obviously less fun during the March to June period when it rains the most. The second and lighter rains come from late October to early December. The best time is when it is warm and dry – January, February and September.

July, August, November and December also good, though cooler. Due to the variation of conditions along the route- from tropic to arctic – it is convenient to dress in layers you can either shed or add on. Generally, in the northern Tanzania region, you can expect temperatures to average from 15°C in May to August and 22°C over December to March.

At the mountain, temperatures drop by roughly 1 degree Celsius for every 650 feet ascended.

Many climbing enthusiasts want Christmas and the New Year to find them up the mountain, and unless you book early, it is difficult to get a slot.

The best way of relaxing after the trek is by taking a safari in the unrivalled wildlife sanctuaries of northern Tanzania or heading to the beaches of Zanzibar. We have covered these attractions in earlier editions of this newsletter here.

You can book your safari or Zanzibar stay and Kili climb together – have a look at our Tanzania Safari and Zanzibar Hotel offers. If you want to put together your own safari, then visit the Tanzania Car Rental and Tanzania Hotels and Lodges pages of our website.

Kilimanjaro is 475 km to the northwest of Dar es Salaam. The base for climbing Kili is nearby northern Tanzania towns of Moshi or Arusha. Kilimanjaro International Airport services the region. But it is usually cheaper to disembark at Nairobi in Kenya and then to take a shuttle bus to Arusha. http://www.gotomountkenya.com

It has been quite some time now that the virgin beaches and lush mountains and backwaters of Kerala in India have caught tourist attention. Kerala is now a hot potato in the tourism map of India and the international tourists- backpackers, honeymooners, as well as those traveling with families are increasingly opting for tours to Kerala with Kerala tour operators.

Now this is one more very important aspect of tours to Kerala – the tour operators. To begin with, it is always advisable to visit Kerala under some tour operator since much of the major beaches or sanctuaries in Kerala are located in regions with very less habitation and for a person without any knowledge of the local norms or language the situation might get slippery on occasions. Tour operators in Kerala are available in plenty, including the government owned machinery of Kerala Tourism. You can contact these travel agents over the internet which provides all details like telephone numbers and address.

However, whenever you are getting in touch with Kerala tour operators you should and must ask him a few questions. To begin with, the best time to travel to Kerala. The best time to travel to Kerala might vary according to your specific interests. If you are interested in the country boat race, you must visit the place in July-August. It is the time when the Nehru Trophy takes place in the Punnamada Lake in Alappuzha. On the other hand, if you are interested in the Nilgiri Tahr that can be seen in the forests of the Nilgiri Mountains, you must not visit in February. February is the breeding season for this goat and the Eravikulam National Park which is a shelter for the tahr, remains closed for 45 days beginning from the 1st of February.

The backwater cruises in Kerala are most popular with the tourists. Now backwater cruises come in different types of packages. Some offer daylong trips, some offer night stays while others offer several days long trips. You must ask your agent what kind of a trip he has in mind for you and also remember to ask your agent before jumping into the water whether that is a swimming zone or not.

To come to clothing; Kerala is located in the southern parts of India and remains quite hot in summer (April to September). Winter brings mild climate and the hill stations like Munnar demand light woolens during winter. The beaches and backwaters can be best enjoyed in soft cotton clothing.

Temple entry norms in Kerala are also very strict in Kerala and if you are not of Hindu origin, you would not be allowed to enter most of the Kerala temples. Adhere very closely to your travel agent’s advice regarding temples, else you might face trouble.

Since you would be traveling with your agent, you would not have to bother about the booking formalities to the hotels in Kerala, but you must not forget to make yourself clear on the kind of accommodation you want in terms of budget, hotel type, and more. There are various types of hotels in Kerala like beach resorts, eco tourism resorts, treetop cottages and much more.

Last but not the least, while you are free to sport bikinis on the beaches, avoid getting too cozy with your partner. Kissing and necking in public is considered bad behavior in India and Kerala is no exception.

If you are planning to reach your domestic destination through domestic flights, then you don’t have to rush here and there for low cost domestic flights in India. Gone are the days when you have to line up to get cheap domestic flights booking or pay huge some amount to agents to get you good deal. Now you can select yourself without leaving your comfort zone of house; the only thing you need is internet and just few right clicks. You might be thinking that these online travel portals are expensive and unreliable for domestic flights, it is not like that on the contrary they are inexpensive and most reliable source to grab you the low cost domestic flights ticket. And again if you are thinking only about inexpensive tickets then on these online travel portals you will find much better deals which come with discounts and offerings which you won’t have even expected.

So, you might have made up mind to opt for online ticketing services for domestic flights, you will have been searching through long list of sites for domestic flights in India. You should understand this that there are only few portals that offer you comprehensive and reliable services and support, Cleartravel agency has been one of those few online portals. Cleartravel agency is a leading service provider which has most returning customers than any other site or online portal for domestic flights anywhere in India. Cleartravel offer you best of the deals for domestic flights in India at unbelievable and most affordable prices.

At Cleartravel first you have sign up then sign in and you have enter destination and few other details, then you will be provided with long list of domestic flights in India from various airline which comes at much cheaper rates. If you are planning for budget holiday or luxury holiday or business trip or academic trip, it doesn’t matter for what you are planning, Cleartravel provides you every travel solution and packages and plans and domestic flights tickets for you at most affordable prices and offers that you won’t get anywhere for sure.

Domestic flights in India are always available at lower prices but most comfortable and a convenient and reliable service of Cleartravel is incomparable. It’s your choice, you have to choose the best and leave the rest then eventually you will be able to travel in style and luxury without emptying your pockets for domestic flights in India.

Yacht charter in Croatia is a popular means of enjoying the sailing holiday. There are more than 4,500 boats to choose from. The options available include both crew charters and bare boat charters. When on sailing Croatia holidays, you can navigate the entire length and breadth of the Adriatic Sea. 

There are more than 1,000 islands off the coast of Croatia. This means that the distance is short and there are no high tides, making the navigation easy. 

Destinations For Sailing Holidays Croatia 

The Croatian coastline spreads more than 1,700 km. The main destinations that you would visit on different islands include the Susak which is an island created naturally from sand. Apart from this, there are the beautiful Krk and Cres Islands. The Kornati and Brijuni Islands have both been developed as national parks. 

You can visit different towns when you take a yacht charter in Croatia and catch the natural heritage because most of these towns are more than 3,000 years old. There are amazing towns which allow you to shop and indulge in fun and relaxing activities. These include the towns of Split, Pula, Dubrovnik, and Zadar, among others. 

Yacht Charter In Croatia – Options

The crew charter is for those who have no skills in running a boat. You can just relax on a wooden motor sailor which is known as the gullet. You can also go for bareboat sailing or the luxury sailing holidays in Croatia that is popular among tourists visiting in groups.

The bareboat is for those who already have sailing skills and hold the license to sail across in the region. Experienced sailors will surely enjoy one of the most popular sailing holidays in Croatia.
 
Here, it is also crucial to point out that you can enjoy visiting the different islands in this area and move into the catamarans sailing, or motor boats to get from one spot to the other in a safe manner. The natural beauty of Croatia coast is unparalleled, and whether you take a motor boat or a sailing yacht the experience in terms of visuals would be breathtaking. 

There are larger numbers of sailboats as well as motor boats in Croatia, but you would find a small number of catamarans. Therefore, if you’re looking at a yacht charter in Croatia in a catamaran then you must book early and select the charter boat well in advance.

The basic requirements of booking the charter holiday is the date of travel that you intend to be there. Apart from this, the total number of people on the sailboat and the requirement of cabins are requested by the booking agency. You can also provide them the type of boat that you require along with the preferred zone of departure.

When it comes to sailing holidays in Croatia, you can get a super luxury yacht charter in Croatia or a basic crew charter boat. There are more than 1,000 boats to choose from and you can always find a boat fitting in your budget.

Camping is one of the best ways to become one with nature and basically have a good time. With the right camping, one can find out more about nature and even oneself. It is a great way to bond between friends and family. However, one should take some precautions before opting for a camping holiday – and of the first aspects is looking for the best camping site. Without a good camping site with all the amenities and services that one would need, your camping holiday can turn out to be a nightmare! If you are planning to camp in and around Kent. Here are some of the best places for Kent Camping: Alberta Holiday Park: Alberta Holiday Park is situated near the town of Seasalter in North Kent. The seaside setting of Alberta in Kent, which is known as the garden or England has much to offer in terms of scenic beauty and solitude. It offers a complete camping experience and takes into account the entertainment requirements of a general family today. For example, it offers features like an outdoor pool, a play area especially for children and even a family entertainment clubs. The Holiday Park has several amenities, which will make sure that the holidaying people will never have a moment of boredom. There are amusements, a bar serving every exotic drink as well as the more commonly available ones, a food bar that is plied with the most thoughtful of dishes, and also a onsite convenience store, so one never has to step away from the lap of luxury. Of course, that does not mean that one cannot go out of the park, as the scenic beauty that the Howletts Wild Animal Park, the Romney Hythe and Dymchurch Railway, the Canterbury Cathedral and Bewl Water offer are just too much to be ignored. Alhallows Holiday Park: The Alhallows Holiday Park is another excellent addition to the Kent Camping sites, it offers a few of the most enticing and entertaining times to camping enthusiasts. Campers can peruse the golf course or fish in the lakes, or go through the endless water activities in the Park. For the nature inclined, the Holiday Park offers horse riding, walking and cycling opportunities. The Alhallows Holiday Park also offers several other amenities like an indoor and outdoor heated pool, a children’s padded pool for safe swimming and also a learn to swim area. There are several water rides like the Aqua Gliders, the Fun Inflatables, and the Aqua Jets etc. Apart from the water rides and games, one can make fence, play tennis, play gold, make use of the sports court and the mini archery course and even play some football with the Coke FC football coaching. The club has several amenities for everyone, right from the elderly to the toddlers. Toddlers can have fun with Character Breakfasts, the Funzone Play area, while teens can have fun in the Indoor play area and the T Co zone. These are two of the best camping sites in Kent. There are several others Kent Camping Sites that offer great features and services.

Whether you want to spend your holidays in Prague, sample the Prague nightlife or hold your stag or hen party, you really could not go wrong with a Prague weekend break.

Prague in Czech Republic is a beautiful city filled with culture & diversity and the Prague nightlife is legendary with music and movie stars frequenting for the fun and lifestyle. There are many nightclubs and bars around and some recommended places are Club Mecca, Karlovy Lazne, Duplex, Stonx, Zlaty Strom Bar & Club, Roxy Dance Club and Radost FX in Wenceslas Square, at the city’s centre.

Party the night away to Funky House, RnB, Hip Hop and whatever else takes your fancy, but be prepared to have fun and party the night away with people from across the world and enjoy the nightlife and party vibe of this wonderful city.

Eating out in Prague is a great experience and the standards are high with prices very good compared with the UK. Recommended are Club Mecca Restaurant, Radost FX’s vegetarian restaurant and for something special try Palffy Palace Restaurant

Hotels in Prague can cater for all styles, taste and budget and amongst all the options available is the Hotel Duo Prague which is a large four star hotel with several bars and restaurants that will satisfy most tastes.

Prague entertainment really is second to none. Whether you want to shopping, sightseeing, party the night away, go to a shooting range or even take a trip on the river, you will be guaranteed an amazing experience in this popular destination.

Getting there is easy and if you book early you can easily get a cheap flight to Prague. You can fly to Prague with British Airways, Easyjet, Expedia, Opodo and many more travel companies and you’ll discover why so many people come to this great European city.

Prague is also Europe’s strip-capital and if your into lap dancing and strip clubs there are some very classy clubs that have a strict no-touch policy which is great for stag or hen parties which are a common occurrence in Prague all year round.

The currency in Prague is the Czech Crown (czk). The Czech Republic should be joining the Euro zone in 2010.

The Euro is accepted in some hotels and restaurants, along with certain international shops. However, we recommend holding Czech Crowns, as the majority of establishments will only accept the local currency.

All in all Prague is a fantastic destination and no matter if you are on a stag party, a romantic trip or on a leisure holiday, there is something for everyone on a weekend break in Prague. Prague is a city that remains beautiful and breathtaking not only during the summer, but throughout all the year long.

Due to Brazil’s size, there is a lot of regional variation in the climate but 90% of the territory is within the tropical zone so for this reason it rarely gets very cold. Due to the fact that Brazil is in the southern hemisphere, the seasons are opposite to those in the northern hemisphere, as follows: from December to March, in Brazil is the summer season; from June until August, they have the winter season. Summer is the best time to travel to the southernmost states (Rio Grande do Sul and Santa Catarina) because parts of the region do get frost and occasional snow during the winter.

The coastal cities of So Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, and Salvador are consistently warm all year round, and get downright hot and humid during the summer. However, if you are looking to really have an exceptional vacation, Carnival celebrations are held throughout the country in February, although prices skyrocket during this period of the year. The northeast has beautiful stretches of seashore; during the region’s dry season – May until November the heat is tempered by constant breezes on the coast. This is of course a less expensive season in which to visit in comparison with the Carnival period; many establishments all across Brazil’s territory offer reduced rates from April until June and August to November. Travel in the Amazon should be done when much of the region floods from January to June. While this means that the humidity is higher and the rainfall more substantial, the rivers become navigable thus allowing visitors to see more wildlife than during the dry season. Most of the travelers visit the Pantanal toward the end of its wet season in April, when the area is flooded and fauna are stranded on the remaining spots of dry land, making them easier to spot.

We recommend that you avoid visiting Brazil in the following periods: New Year – December 31st and January 1st – finding accommodation during this period is almost impossible as every New Year, 2 million people gather to celebrate. Carnival Rio – during the end of February and the beginning of March it is very difficult to find accommodations. Independence Day – September 7th also very hard to find a room in a hotel.

If you are visiting Brazil with the main intention of seeing some of Brazil’s exquisite beaches, keep in mind that Brazil’s fabulous beaches are on the Atlantic coast and so you should try to avoid travelling during the months of June right up until August, when the sea can be notoriously rough and cold. Moving on, Ninety percent of Brazil’s landmass falls within the tropical zone, as the country is crossed by the equator in the north and the Tropic of Capricorn in the south. However, the nation’s climate is far from homogenous and ranges from equatorial to semiarid to subtropical.

All things considered, due to the friendly climate, Brazil can be a very good travel idea almost all the time of the year with few exceptions. A living proof of why Brazil is a wise travel solution is given by the fact that millions of tourists visit it every year and some of them visit the country more than one time.

By far, the best way I have found to explore any new city is to hop on some public transport, pick a random station or stop, get off and just walk around. Don’t worry about getting lost, you can always find your way back. Make sure you have some cash on you for food. I always carry a survival kit just in case, but have only ever needed to use the button compass as my personal navigation system has never worked properly. This activity does have the potential of going horribly wrong so here are a few tips;

Take trains when you can. They are much easier to navigate and the ticket machines are usually easy to figure out. I was once in Guanzhou (China) and a bus driver just started yelling at me. As it turned out, what I thought was a $5 note was in fact a 50c note. To make thins worse, my father was Chinese so by looking at me he probably thought I was just a local trying to rip him off.

Look back when walking. This will help you remember where you came from. In Shenzhen I just kept walking. By the time I wanted to go back I couldn’t remember where I had come from and was way out of the train zones. I walked for 5 hours before finding someone that could speak English and point me to a bus back to the city (the same bus I got yelled at on).

Write the address of your hotel down in native characters. This way you can just point at them to a taxi driver. Do the same with airport and other useful places.

Know where the ‘dodgy’ areas are and avoid them. The first time I went to New York I caught the subway in the wrong direction and ended up in the Bronx. Luckily it was in the middle of the day. I walked around for a little bit but I’m pretty sure I saw a gang of Crypts at the bus station. I decided not to catch that bus and headed back to the subway.

Start off in the morning and give yourself the whole day. You may just get lunch and go back to the city (or wherever you’re staying), or you may get stuck for a while. My short trip once lasted 36 hours in Malaysia due to infrequent buses. One every other day apparently, and when the driver felt like it. (A local family took me in for the night, it was by far one of the best experiences Ive had in Malaysia

So for those that aren’t so inclined you can stick to taxis to the museum, but for everyone else I highly recommend the ‘bus to nowhere’ method. The minor mishaps you may have on the way are definitely worth what you may encounter.

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