Backpacking Tips

Packing for backpacking can be a tricky task dependant on a variety of variables. Where are you going? What is the climate like? How long are you going for? Three factors which will shape the way your backpack is stuffed.

What follows are a few pointers to help you make sure you pack the right amount of the right stuff.

• The right gear – However long you may be travelling for, good, durable, quality clothing is a must. Even for shorter trips, you will be getting a lot of wear out of your clothes as you make a host of journeys. It is worth paying that little bit more for comfort and longevity. Common sense prevails in the fact dark coloured thick shirts will show less dirt and last longer, respectively.

 In terms of trousers, try and opt for some with rip-away knees which turn into shorts.

Again, no matter how long your trip is, footwear is an important item of clothing to get right. There is a great range of footwear on offer from a number of high-end brands. Regatta shoes and Keen sandals are popular choices and are suitable for all climates and destinations

• Where possible, try and find lighter equivalents of heavier gear. Swap metal for plastic, and ensure your wet clothes are fully dry before travelling. If you must pack heavy gear, ensure the items are packed on top and closest to the top of your back, just below your neck. Adjust the backpack where you need to so most of the weight is carried on your hips as opposed to your shoulders. Try and develop a system for packing things in the same or similar place every-time too, so you become accustomed to where to lay your hands on items quickly.

• If camping, place your sleeping bags and even your tent in position for direct sunlight. Hanging them up also will air them out quicker and prevent the dreaded damp-camp smell.

Essentials which need no explanation include a torch, lighter, plastic bags, and duct tape!

Happy Backpacking!!

The Cheap Guide to Europe: Greek Edition

When looking for budget holidays, the tourist filled beaches and islands of Greece won’t necessarily strike you as one of the cheapest options. However, there are many options to spend cheap Greek holidays in style, and we’ll try to help you find them.

There are two main principles when it comes to looking for cheap holidays in Greece: timing and patience.

Timing because booking early will get you discount prices, and because booking smart will get you huge price reductions. By booking smart we mean choosing the time of your holidays carefully. In most European countries, and in the whole World, you’ll only really find good weather around August. In Greece, however, good weather is practically found all year around, with the “beach season” being somewhere between May and an unbelievable November. So booking your trip to those low season months will save you a lot of money.

Another principle, like we said, is patience. To find the best deals you’ll need to shop around a lot, going to several travel agencies – and possible doing a lot of hassling and haggling too, especially if they’re Greek – and looking around online every chance you get. But when fou find that amazing deal, it’ll all be worth it.

Ayia Napa: rags to riches

From its humble beginnings as a fishing village in the south east corner of the stunningly beautiful island of Cyprus, Ayia Napa has cemented its position as one of Europe’s best holiday resorts.

Those of you worried about safety and the overall cleanliness of the water will be happy to know that all beaches in Ayia Napa have been awarded the European Blue Flag, as they have passed all quality control in terms of purity of the water, safety and quality of the facilities around the beach.

If your objective is to go and spend cheap holidays to Ayia Napa, you’re in luck. As a resort in a country that’s already cheaper than the European average, Ayia Napa focuses on family entertainment and on young tourism. And of course, families and young people can’t be spending too much money on their holidays.

It may seem an unusual combination, as usually families spend their holidays in different places than young party goers. But Ayia Napa caters to the best of both worlds, with fun-filled and active daytime activities, focusing mainly on beach related activities like beach sports and the obvious sun tanning, and water sports like jet skiing, scuba diving, speed boating, among others.

The Finer Things

Anyone can find a hotel, and everyone knows how to book a hostel. But if you’re looking for luxury hotels, you will want to know how to find the best of the best. Knowing what to compare, and where to look, will ensure you find the hotels with the most pampering environment possible.

When comparing luxury hotels, make sure you know exactly what you want. Knowing which facilities you expect is a quick way to rule out the unworthy. Many hotels boast a large selection of facilities, but it doesn’t mean they’ll all have exactly what you’re looking for. For example, if you’re looking for the use of both an indoor and outdoor pool, make sure they specify the location of the pool in the description. Spas, gyms, and other facilities will also be listed, but as for what they offer, you should be sure it includes what you’re looking for. Although they have a gym, doesn’t mean it will be full equipped like you may be expecting.

As for the location of the hotel, there are a few things you should watch out for. Sea side does not mean direct access to the beach. If you are looking for a hotel with a beach, make sure they specify their location as being “beach front”. Although some hotels have a view of the ocean, this could mean located on the top of a cliff.

Winter Cruises

Being cold and with snow around you isn’t most people’s idea of a cruise, but it can be as fun as a summer cruise in the Caribbean. The one I went to was in Alaska, but I’ve heard great things about cruises in the Northern Sea – Denmark, Sweden, Norway, etc. and cruises around Russia’s northern coastal line.

Modern cruise ships have all the commodities you can expect, and you’ll never be so cold as not to enjoy your holiday. Honestly, the greatest problem in packing, since you need something warm as well as your bathing suit, because you’ll want to spend time in the ship’s pool and spa.

The fact that so many people would turn their noses at the prospect of going on a winter cruise makes the travel agencies and the cruise agencies go that extra mile in preparing activities for your holidays – and it’ll also affect the price range of these cruises. The one I went to included activities that went from relaxed high seas fishing or ice-skating, to more uncommon sports like shooting and para-sailing. There was even a hunting package at a very moderate price, unfortunately, I was a little too tired to go on a hunting trip.

Vienna Hotspots: City hall and the University

Vienna is arguably the most beautiful capital of central Europe. And with prices of flights to Vienna plummeting, there’s really no excuse not to visit. You’ll be amazed with just how much there is to see and even if you’re on a budget, its intricate and excellently organized transportation system will make it possible for you to find a cheap hostel outside town and be in the center in less than 30 minutes.

Two of the most emblematic structures in Vienna, placed on the Ringstrasse – one of the most beautiful streets in the World, full of amazing buildings – are right next to each other: the Town Hall (Rathaus) and the Vienna University.

With different architectural styles, the Rathaus is a Gothic building while the University is in the Classical style, the buildings strangely complement each other. The beautiful garden right in front of the Rauthaus serves as a resting spot for University students who have their classes right next to it. It’s common to see people either reading classical literature or having heated debates about Philosophy, although you’ll probably not understand a word of it. Don’t miss out on these important hotspots, they’re part of the history and soul of Vienna.

Belfast – Paris

Flights to Belfast from Paris, and vice-versa, are somewhat recent – direct flights, mind you. But when the route opened, it left airline officials thinking why nobody had thought of it before. The booming population of Northern Ireland’s capital was dying for some extra glamour, since visiting London for a short trip just doesn’t have the style it used to.

The City of Lights has a lot to offer to any visitor. Long were the days where you went there for the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre, and you left because of the people. There is a whole new generation of French people that are open to an international culture and dying to have new experiences. Just a slight incursion onto a side street outside the main tourist places and you will find a cozy café with lots of personality, friendly people and prices that won’t drive you crazy.

And the Parisians are now finding that there is more to Ireland than Dublin and Guinness. The number of tourist passengers to Belfast International Airport has been on the rise, mainly because of Belfast’s reputation as a quiet capital, where you see the best of the Western World in a comfortable and natural atmosphere.

My Dream Vacation

I never thought that it would be possible for me to be able to go to Hawaii. I had dreamed of going there every since I was a small child. One year I decided that I was going to start a savings account and put back fifty dollars a week. This would be my Hawaii vacation fund, and as quick as I had enough money I would go. After one year of saving, I had a little over two thousand dollars in my account. I decided that it was time for me to seriously start planning and get some idea of how much it would cost me.

One afternoon after work I stopped by at the local travel agency just to see what kind of money I would need. When I begin explaining my plans to the nice young lady at the desk, she smiled at me. Just as I was beginning to wonder if she thought that I was crazy, she told me that she had some great news for me and I was not going to believe it. They had just got several holiday packages to Hawaii that were offering to sell. Someone had bought them and then canceled. She told me that I could go there for just a little over eight hundred dollars and stay the entire week.
The next week to my surprise I was laying on the beach, living in the moment of my dream vacation.

Have a Heineken Experience

Are you a lover of beer?  And is your choice of beer happen to be Heineken? Then you cannot miss the Heineken Experience in Amsterdam. Built in 1867, the original brewery still stands today and is now a museum and chock full of many interesting facts and stories about beer. Similar to a theme park, but only for adults, this museum offers rides, two bars and exhibits that are interactive and all relating to beer.
Included with the price of your admission is three glasses of beer, your favorite Heineken. While you are here site seeing and staying at one of the Amsterdam hotels, you will be withing easy walking distance to be able to explore the Heineken Experience.
You will leave knowing more about the brewing process and the Heineken history and you will return one day to once again experience the fun and complimentary beer you enjoyed while here.
The closest hotel to the Heineken experience is the Hotel Kap which is a friendly two star rated hotel located on a residential street. Everything is within walking distance with public transportation to everywhere close by.

Windsor Plaza Hotel

You will find many Saigon hotels in the city of Ho Chi Minh. This city is known for its attraction which reach from totally modern to historic.  It is predicted that by the year 2020, this metropolis previously knows as Saigon, will include a population of twenty million.
The Windsor Plaza Hotel Saigon accommodates both the leisure traveler as well as those on business. It sits in the very center of District 5 Ho Chi Minh City which is situated between the historic Chinatown and the Saigon business district. This is a five star hotel that offers on site restaurants with Vietnamese, Thar and western foods. This hotel have 405 room, a cocktail bar and room service that can make your stay the most comfortable you can imagine.
If you are a business man in need of a conference room or a location for a future seminar or banquet, this hotel can supply you will all you need. For those who like to workout on their vacation, there is a gym, a spa and a sauna offered as well. The rooms offer air conditioning, cable and satellite TV, a safe and of course high speed Internet access.