Tag: advice

Picking a Restaurant – Top 10 Tips for Backpackers

Picking a Restaurant – Top 10 Tips for Backpackers

People eat some interesting things around the world. Guinea pigs, snails, frogs, spiders, insects, horses and goat heads. What is considered exotic in one part of the world is daily bread for someone else. We eat a lot of cray fish (small lobsters) in Sweden in August for instance, which some people find really strange (but not as strange as the fact that during these cray fish parties grown men wear strange coloured bibs and weird looking hats, drink vodka until they can’t stand upright any more, all this while singing hedonistic songs). Sampling the local cuisine is one of the highlights of travel. Here is some advice on how to pick a place to eat:

1. Choose a place which has plenty of guests, this makes sure that there is a good throughput in the kitchen and that the food will not be waiting for hours on the stove.

2. Go to places which are frequented by locals. Sure, it may not be as fancy schmancy as the touristy places but you get to experience the locals’ food.

3. Ask locals about restaurants. Your hotel can be a good choice for information but sometimes they get a commission and only recommend places because of this.

4. Do not pick restaurant when hunger is killing you. Bring small snacks with you (such as a sandwich, biscuits, an apple or bananas) to fight the hunger. Picking a place to eat when you are really hungry usually results in you picking the closest one.

5. Bring your dictionary to the restaurant in case there is no English menu.

6. If you are on a tour your tour guide will usually take you to an expensive place where he gets commission, eats for free or a place run by someone in his family. You do not have to eat at this place.

7. Check if the bathroom is clean. If it is really dirty then cleanliness doesn’t seem a priority which is probably true about the kitchen as well.

8. If you travel alone use the time while you wait for your food to write your diary or just look around and take in the atmosphere.

9. If you want to find cheap food go to food stalls, restaurants where the locals eat or food courts in shopping malls.

10. If you are on a caf? listen to the waiters orders to the kitchen when ordering coffee, use the same terminology and you may get a lower price since you show that you are not a tourist, e.g. a cafe au lait may be called “un cr?me”.

Why it Pays to Take Care Abroad – Reducing the Risk to Yourselves

Why it Pays to Take Care Abroad – Reducing the Risk to Yourselves

Although the following tips, aimed primarily towards women travellers, should help to ensure a hassle free and safe trip abroad, many are just common sense suggestions that equally apply to male travellers and also for travelling in the UK.

When travelling around, the key is to act confidently. For women travellers, wearing dark glasses can boost confidence and think about how your clothing will fit in with local customs and attitudes. If travelling alone, you may attract unwelcome attention and you may receive unwanted propositions or remarks. It is best just to ignore them. Never accept car rides from strangers or hitchhike and if possible try and double up with someone you know when travelling by taxi. Always pack your own baggage and never leave it unattended. Never carry packages or anything else through customs for other people. In your accommodation abroad, never leave a key where someone can note your room number. Don’t leave your window open if your room is on the ground floor and use a door wedge on the inside of your hotel room door for extra security. Again women travellers need to take extra care when checking into hotels and hostels such as, don’t use a title such as Ms, Mrs or Miss, use only a first initial and be careful about opening your door to anyone – if in doubt check with reception.

Try and stay in touch. Keep your family and friends aware of your plans and leave a copy of your itinerary, passport, travel insurance documents and credit cards with someone at home. It is worthwhile taking a copy of these with you when travelling and keep separate from the originals. Once abroad, e-mail or telephone home regularly. Carry a list of British Consular offices in the countries you plan to visit.

Don’t forget to check out the latest travel advice from the FCO before you go and find out about the culture and customs of the countries you will be visiting. And why not take a look at the travel advice section on the Travel & Insure website which contains easy to read advice on the support you can expect from embassies and consulates worldwide should you get into difficulty.

Just Collect your Flight Tickets easily

Just Collect your Flight Tickets easily

There are virtually thousands of Travel Agents and an equal number of travel websites/portals offering you cheap and economical Flight Tickets. Most big time travel agents and travel portals have some sort of tie-up with certain airlines.  They get hefty discounts on bulk purchases which most pass on to the customer. If you take advice of your friends, they will suggest you to some travel portal they have recently been to.  But most people are not aware that the travel portals and travel agents that are around are mostly specialized in one way or other.  Some are specialized in Domestic Travel, some other are specialized in International Travel, and yet some other are specialized in Last Minute flight tickets.  This means that the travel agents or travel portals that are specialized in something can provide you with better fares for that category of travel.

Here are some tips and tricks to get cheap tickets

  1. Advance purchase: If you are not in a hurry it is always a good idea to book your tickets in advance. At least 21 days in advance. Airlines generally give out <a href=http://www.airtkt.com/>Flight Tickets </a> if you book your ticket in advance.
  2. Compare prices: There is a lot of competition in air travel, and most service providers who deal with flight tickets have their shops online. Which makes searching for fare on the internet a critical step towards cheap tickets. Your search should include websites of the major carriers and consolidators. When comparing the prices one should be aware of taxes and Fees applicable on the fare.
  3. Best days to travel: Try being flexible when scheduling your travel. Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursday are normally the cheapest days to travel. Also you should avoid festive seasons such as Christmas Eve and New Year.
  4. Late night or early morning flights: Try opting for odd time for travel usually late night or early morning flight which fewer people prefer. This way there isn’t much competition and hence flight tickets tend to be cheaper.
  5. Flexible Departure Airport: Search ticket prices at surrounding airports. It can be less expensive to arrive or depart from a surrounding airport or city. Crunch numbers to see if you save or spend more money with this option.
  6. Round trips Vs one way: A roundtrip happens to be cheaper than two one way trips, if you plan to return to our originating airport. It is always better to book a roundtrip.
  7. Airline Deals: Find the lowest prices through other sources but before you buy, check out the airline’s website directly. Often the airlines offer additional discounts on tickets purchased online. Plus, you will save more money by not having to pay a booking fee for the tickets.
  8. Consolidated Deals: It is a good idea to book your flight tickets through consolidators who buy in bulk and sell them on discounted rates.

10. Special category Discounts: If you are a student, senior Citizen,  a sports person or you fall under other special categories, ask the airline if they can provide special discounts for you.

11. National carriers for International Flights: If you are travelling abroad, try choosing national airlines of the destination country, there are generally less taxes involved on national airlines. However this may not be always true.

12. Nonstop Vs 1 stop and 2 stop Flights: When travelling inside US, try choosing nonstop flights, the more stops you will have the more tax you would be paying, so your tickets would get expensive. However, on international flights if you choose 1 or 2 stop flights and if the layover time is more than 4 hours the <a href=http://www.airtkt.com/>Flight Tickets </a> tend to be cheaper. This may not be true always.

13. Frequent flier programs: Research frequent flier programs available through the airlines that allow you to earn free tickets for each time you travel.

Magical Marrakech seduces the senses

Magical Marrakech seduces the senses

1) There’s never a dull moment at Djemaa el Fna

The excitement of the Marrakech night market alone will keep you going back again and again.  As the best dinner spot in the entire city, the Djemaa el Fna is where all of Marrakech congregates to finish the day and it’s non-stop entertainment at each turn.  Wisemen tell stories, magicians show you their tricks, henna tattooists are always at the ready, performers, musicians, acrobats, snake charmers, and sneaky little monkeys – there’s never a dull moment.

2) Sophisticated, stylish & sexy: La Sultana Hotel

There’s something sexy and exciting about staying inside the ancient walls of the Marrakech medina.  La Sultana Hotel is a secluded refuge from Marrakech’s busy streets, and once you step into this exotic sanctuary, you’ll never want to leave.  Hailed as a Great Hotel of the World, the impeccably designed hotel is made of five smaller uniquely designed riads.  Guests can relax on a handful of terraces, take their pick of four pools located throughout the property, stay in the exotic Elephant or Zebra themed rooms, or catch a meal on the rooftop restaurant overlooking Marrakech’s Kasbah district. For more information on La Sultana or to book, visit Great Hotels of the World

3) Get scrubbed down at a hammam

When Japan, you visit the hot springs; when in Turkey, you visit the Turkish baths; and when in Morocco, you visit the hammam.  Visit a private hammam or hotel spa for a more upscale and costlier version; or head to the public hammam where you’ll find locals.  First, you’ll get doused with warm-hot water to help open up your pores.  Next, you’ll be lathered with black Moroccan soap.  Finally, the hammam finishes with a scrubbing-down so intense and exhilarating, you’ll leave with a new skin.

4) Moroccan delicacies: Exotic or bizarre?

When it comes to exotic foods in Morocco, it doesn’t get any scarier or more bizarre than eating a lamb head.  Part brisket chunks, part tendon and bones, and part fish-like gelatinous bits, it’s a delicious delicacy that even I couldn’t help tasting – and liking.  Served at the Djemaa el Fna at night, the best lamb head stall is the first corner stall perpendicular to the snail stalls.  The chef here is as hardcore as it gets and truly passionate about his food.  Besides the lamb head, he makes a killer lamb tajine that will keep you going back.

5) Bargaining for spices and goods at the souks

If you’re looking to visit the market, be sure you brush up on our guide on How to Bargain & Haggle at the Market (go to TripAtlas.com) for the best results.  Specialties to watch out for: cactus silk scarves, cashmere scarves, little camels for your mantlepiece, dried dates/fruits, leather pillow and ottoman cases, and carpets.  For spices, be sure to pick up a bag of the Moroccan 5-spice, Moroccan curry spice, some ground cinnamon, and saffron. 

Looking to book a trip to Morocco or anywhere else in the world? Visit Great Hotels of the World for inspiration and advice!