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Health Insurance for Canada Travel

admin — Thu, 30 Dec 2010 17:53:00 +0000

While we as U.S. residents think often about travel insurance coverage when we’re traveling overseas we’re not so quick to worry about health insurance for Canada travel. This is especially true if our voyage to Canadian provinces is by car and not by air. We don’t expect to need health insurance for Canada travel to protect us from exotic diseases or militant uprisings.

Health insurance for Canada travel should not be ignored, however. Your medical insurance provider in the U.S. will typically only cover a medical emergency in Canada if the emergency was precipitated in the U.S. and the nearest emergency medical care is Canadian. This is especially true if you’re a senior citizen whose only form of medical insurance is Medicare. Health insurance for Canada travel is, therefore, a must.

When you’re shopping for coverage you’ll want to consider several things in your decision. They are: what is excluded from coverage (what particular incidents and situations would your trip coverage not reimburse you for); what sports you can participate in and still be covered by your health insurance for Canada travel; whether you might be excluded from coverage for a pre-existing condition? and if there is a deductible?

The coverage that is customary is for hospital stay, although the per day limitations and ceilings will vary plan to plan; medical care, in-patient and outpatient, including physician fees, as well as those for any nursing care, surgery or anesthesia; medical testing such as x-rays and laboratory work; transportation to or from medical care by ambulance; medical care provided by a private RN (registered nurse); medical equipment such as wheelchairs, walkers, splints and slings; prescription medicine; and the cost of repatriation of the remains of a deceased member of your travel group.

Probably the most crucial part of the plan your choose for health insurance for Canada travel must be good coverage in the case of an emergency evacuation back to your home for medical reasons. This is especially true if you are traveling by airline. The cost of changing travel plans, especially if you’ve purchased non-refundable tickets and must now arrange a new flight last minute can be exceedingly costly. Even from Canada, you must assume a cost of $10,000 for this coverage alone.

Planning ahead by purchasing health insurance for Canada travel will go a long way towards making your Canada vacation a serene stay.

Rail Europe for the Student Traveler

admin — Mon, 15 Nov 2010 17:41:59 +0000

It has been a time-honored tradition for the North American university grad to leave his sheltered nest and seek the unknown in a distant land.

Unfortunately, tradition also lends way to cliché.

The early twenties, book smart grad are filled with an ambition to add some life experience to his new set of professional letters. He sits in a dockside café eating hometown food with French provincial names as he writes into a leather-bound booklet some deep insights that he assumes are original. He dreams of having a torrid love affair with some local peasant girl but settles instead for swapping email addresses with some Canadians doing the exact same thing. As entertaining as this prospect seems, it was not my wish. I wanted to carve out my own adventure, and in Europe there is no better way than by train.

The European rail system has been for years second-to-none for accessibility, comfort, and, with Rail Europe, affordability. There are a variety of Rail Europe passes for different prices that can get you anywhere you wish in little time and from city center to city center. North Americans must purchase the Rail Europe tickets before departing Europe (you can’t get them in Europe) and well in advance of their trip, and in certain countries the passes are valid on ferries and riverboats. The passes are easy to use and, if taken advantage of fully, are cheaper than most other forms of transportation. Best of all is that trains can get you to remote areas that you would otherwise miss. For the budget-minded the night excursions or hotel trains save you hotel rooms so that you awake the next day in a new country!

Copenhagen —

I landed in Copenhagen and got immediately roped into the standard tourist sites — Tivoli Gardens, the Royal Palace, etc.

I saw an incredible exhibit of Danish design at the National Art (Kunst) Gallery, and I took a bike ride through an area called Christiania, an area started by a group of Danes in the 1960s looking for free love, free drugs, and free rent, and it hasn’t changed much since. I was here when I was thirteen years old, staying with a cousin. Since, the government has made an attempt to clean up Christiania by taking out most of the drugs but the general atmosphere remains. Old military buildings painted in bright colors are home to all sorts of the local free thinkers from vagrants to artists to very accomplished architects. The tour ended at the National Library, also called the “Diamond” because of its seemingly transparently beautiful aesthetics. It is a remarkable example of the old world class of a European city (half of the building is the original building of the National Library) and the clean lines and simple concepts of modern Danish design that act to seemingly tell a story with nothing but light.

Munich —

As wonderful of a city as Copenhagen is, the tourist route begins to lose its luster and the rails are calling me East. I’ve been to Germany before so I wasn’t interested in staying for too long, but the food and beer would be a shame to miss — yet another perk of train travel. Local trains can always be caught if you simply feel like ending up in a small town outside Munich, ordering a heaping lunch and a few giant steins of local brew and making your way out the same day. Needless to say, between Frankfurt and the Hungarian border I was full, comfortably brewed-up, and happy as the beautiful sites of central Europe flew by.

As can be expected, this type of life can take its toll on a person’s ability to remain conscious. By chance, when my body and mind were screaming for sleep, I happened upon a rather quiet train car. In fact, at one point a person was asked to keep the noise down behind me. I thought there was going to be some sort of movie starting that necessitated such silent attention until I realized that some of the train cars are specifically designated for the lazy kind of traveler that I felt like being. They are quiet cars and I will snore my praises of them for years to come.

Budapest —

A city full of history, incredible architecture, and beautiful women. As you walk around the city you get a definite stench of the former socialist society coupled with an obvious existence of capitalist growth. The city sits on the banks of the Danube. The Pest side is where you would find a much more built-up city center with malls and shopping areas, not to mention the late night venues. You can imagine my desire to visit the other side of the river.

The other side of the river is the Buda part of the city (are you picking up on the basis of the name yet?). A little quieter and lush, Buda contains some beautiful homes and sites. The Gelhert Hill, marked by a statue that can be reached by hiking paths, offers an incredible view of the city. I was lucky enough to meet a lovely local named Janka and I was invited to a dinner party. Hungarians are often seen as slightly less personable than some western European counterparts. This can be chalked up to a very dry sense of humor. I can attest, however, that this is not the case at all. After a great, home-cooked meal and a few cocktails in a quaint apartment in the hills filled with great people, including Zigga (who I knew for a few days and offered me a lift to the train station), and of course the beautiful Janka; I would say that kindness and generosity are staples in the social diet of Hungarians. They also have an uncanny ability to have a good time

Travel Tips To European Countries: Cyprus

admin — Mon, 25 Oct 2010 17:41:41 +0000

About the Country

Cyprus is an island located in the Mediterranean Sea. It is inhabited with mountains on the north and south and the south coast is covered with plains. The temperatures are really hot indicating Mediterranean climate. Winters are cooler. Nicosia is the capital city of Cyprus. The currency used here is Cypriot Pound.

Culture

Greek, English and Turkish are the languages spoken here. There is a mixed culture of Greek and Middle East. The locals are very friendly and welcome outsiders with an open heart and make them feel at home by offering them with something to drink. To greet someone a handshake will do. It is customary to offer the guest a small gift when invited for dinner. One can dress casually, but the swimsuits must be confined to the beaches only. Social functions call for formal dressing.

Site Seeing

The country is full of vineyards, 12th century buildings, orchards and monasteries. Be careful when photographing outside. It is forbidden in military areas and special permission must be taken for taking pictures in places like museums and art galleries. Most of them do not allow flash photography. Taxis can be hired to move around the big towns in Cyprus, which charge according the government regulated meters. Tipping the drivers is customary.

Electricity

240 V, 50 Hz

Getting There

Port of Famagusta at Ammochostos and Port of Kyrenia, and airport of Ercan, have been declared as illegal ‘ports of entry’, so check it out while planning to get there.

The national airline is Cyprus Airways. It connects most of the major cities of Europe. Other forty airlines, too, serve at the airport of Larnaca, which are 5 km away from Larnaka and 50km away from Nicosia. Taxis can be hired to reach any destination from there as there is lack of buses and trains services at the airport. The other services that are offered at this airport is duty-free shops, bank, tourism and hotels information, restaurants, car hire, post office and reservation office. The other airport, Pafos, is 15km away from the city and it takes about 35 minutes to reach the city from the airport. It provides the same facilities like the Larnaca airport.

The major ports of Cyprus are the Limassol port and Larnaca port which connect other ports of Middle East and Greek. Not only ferry services are provided here, even cruise services are provided here.

Cyprus Island is not connected by roads to other countries, but roads run across Cyprus connecting all the cities and villages. Buses run on roads except on Sunday but they run late in the mid-night during summers. Tourists can get on to rural buses to surf through the remote villages, but they are very slow. If planning to hire car, advanced booking is recommended, especially in summer as the booking is full most of the times. Do remember to carry a National driving license or International driving permit.

Duty Free Items

1. 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 250g of tobacco
2. 1l of spirits (over 22 per cent volume) or 2l of fortified wine or sparkling wine
3. 2l of still wine; 50g of perfume and 250ml of eau de toilette
4. 800 cigarettes or 200 cigars or 1kg of tobacco
5. 10l of spirits, 20l of fortified wine, 90l wine, 110l beer

Most of the food items and items relating to agriculture are prohibited. Explosives and fire arms are a strict no-no.

What you Need to Know About – Travel in Luxury

admin — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 17:41:16 +0000

Luxury travel is diametrically opposed to traveling on budget. ‘Luxury’ as the term Suggests, is to have the best of everything by paying the maximum for it. If you have money and want to make your vacations a dream come true then go for the luxuries available in the travel world.

The Hunt for a Perfect Place-

The first task to take up is to decide a lavish destination. You can go according to the season like if it is hot, it’s better to throng the beaches. There are three world’s top most destinations in this category and these are Caribbean, Europe and South Pacific or Oceania.

The Caribbean is the land of water. If you are a water lover then there is nothing like this place. Well known as the world’s fifth greatest water body, Caribbean has more than a hundred islands which turn from the bottom tip of Florida to the northwest of Venezuela.

These islands are blessed with exotic beauty of turquoise blue waters and sandy beaches. The temperature is perfect throughout the year at around 80 degrees Fahrenheit. What else one can look forward to are the bewitchingly beautiful beach villas with the best of amenities ranging from food to entertainment.

The next outstanding destination can be Europe. The place has the best of everything and foe everyone. Besides a rich historical past, this wealthy destination has all sorts of scenic splendors. There are spectacular slopes of Scandinavia, the humid Mediterranean and the peninsulas to steal your attention.

How can one forget the incredible South Pacific or Oceania as a luxury destination…the place has a bunch of marvelous islands like New Zealand, Australia, Micronesia etc. that make you a prisoner of their lust. The place has fascinating lagoons and lively beaches to enjoy all types of water sports and other activities for instance spinner dolphins, humpback whales and the like.

The Means to Commute-

After you select the ideal place for your journey, think about the way to reach there. Several options are available of which private jets and helicopters top the list. These private air modes have lots of benefits and convenience. Their services are available round the clock. All you have to do is to call up a private jet or airways company and ask for a jet or plane. These jets not only take least time to reach the desired destination but provide you with privacy, peace of mind, no hassle of booking etc., luggage safety, all in all a perfect journey.

If you desire to sail then cruise ships are the perfect option. Silver sea Cruise Ships are a good and wise choice. They offer you the best of rooms, restaurants, entertainment like casinos etc. So there is much more to enjoy along with the oceanic magnificence.

Yacht is also a favorable option for the sea admirers. Besides accommodation there is accurate planning for all other requirements. The most renowned luxury yacht so far is known to be Sea Dream II.

The accommodation, food and entertainment-

Go for the best of hotels or resorts available. Make sure they have entire set up to take care of not just your lodging but food and entertainment (casinos, bars etc.). Health spas, gyms, parlors and the like add one more feather to it.

So what are you still waiting for–Travel in Luxury- Experience the Heaven on Earth…!

Winter Sun in Australia

admin — Mon, 20 Sep 2010 17:28:07 +0000

The Wintersun Festival is an annual 10 day retro nostalgia festival featuring over 1500 pre 1974 hot rod, classic and custom cars. It has more than 100 local, national and international bands and performers, many of which are free. There 250 special interest and market stalls, displays, plus dancing and family entertainment. Almost 90000 visitors from across Australia, New Zealand and beyond converge on Coolangatta each year for this very family friendly event.

Most Brits associate Christmas with cold weather, little sunlight, snow, families cosying up indoors and traditional Christmas cuisine such as turkey and mulled wine. But if that all sounds as appealing as that knitted reindeer jumper re-gifted through the family since time memoriam, Australia can provide an alternative Christmas holiday with things to see and experience to suit anyone’s tastes – whether you’re looking to experience the cities, beaches or the many natural sights.

The most popular city among tourists visiting Australia is Sydney, and it’s not hard to see why. As one of the most iconic cities in Australia it’s most well-known attractions include the Sydney Opera House, the Sydney Harbour Bridge, the Royal Botanical Gardens, Luna Park, Sydney Tower and its many beaches. Bondi Beach in particular has proven to be popular with British and Irish tourists looking to spend the holiday in the sun and the beach has many cafes, restaurants and hotels, giving spectacular views of the beach. Other major cities in Australia offering a similar experience include Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth.

No trip to Australia would be complete without visiting the Great Barrier Reef. It is the largest coral reef system and the biggest single structure made by living organisms in the world. It composed of roughly 3,000 individual reefs and 900 islands stretching for 1615 miles over an area of approximately 132,974 sq mi. Due to its vast biodiversity, warm clear waters and its accessibility from the floating guest facilities, the reef is a very popular destination for tourists, especially scuba divers. The reef is accessible via boat tours and cruises, from single day trips to longer voyages. Glass-bottomed boats and underwater observatories are also popular, as are helicopter flights.

Ayers Rock (or Uluru) is one of Australia’s most recognisable natural icons. The sandstone formation stands 1142ft high, with a circumference of 5.8 mi. It has great cultural significance for the A?angu landowners, who lead walking tours of the area, informing visitors of the local bush foods, flora and fauna and Aboriginal dreamtime stories. The sandstone formation is notable for appearing to change colour throughout the day and year depending on the light and weather, glowing red at sunset and silver-grey when it rains.

In addition to the mainland there are several islands to check out, including Tasmania. Promoting itself as the Natural State and the Island of Inspiration, almost 37% of Tasmania is in reserves, National Parks and World Heritage Sites. Despite its small size, there are plenty of sights to see, and Tasmania attracts many tourists for its trout fishing possibilities and the iconic Overland Track bush walk.

So if you’re looking to skip the cold climes of the UK and spend Christmas in the sun, a festive holiday in Australia is an ideal destination.

Top 5 Foundamental Japan Travel Tips

admin — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 17:34:05 +0000

Top 5 fundamental Japan travel tips are:

1. Time Difference

Japan time zone as if set to GMT it is +9 hours. So it is 1 hour faster than most of the Asia countries.

2. Language

Japanese is still the main language that widely use in Japan public, private and government body. A lot of younger generation people do speak English but they are speaking in Japanese mixing English term with very strong Japanese pronunciation flavor, so it is very strange or sounds funny when you first time hearing this. No worries, helpers or workers in tourist spots, hotels and restaurant are all well trained with English speaking skill and fluency. If worst come to worst, you still can use your pen and paper to draw some pictures or direction on map that wish to go.

3. Power Source & Plug

Japan is using 100 volt, with two straight thin flat pin, it is different from some of the Asia country and different to Europe countries too. Digital appliances should be supporting 100 volt – 240 volt, just to make sure, you need to counter check your digital travel gear. Also you need to equip with universal power plug just in case.

4. Tap Water

All the while Japan tap water is drinkable, just recent years of heavy pollution, some places tap water is no longer drinkable, so before you drinking any tap water either from hotel or public places, need to make sure is there a any sign saying it is directly drinkable or not.

5. Weather

Japan has four season, each of the season really vary a lot in term of temperature and rain level. It will impact a lot if you did not pay much attention on this and bluntly plan your trip.

Spring season is from March to May, average temperature is 14.5 degree Celsius, normal rain level. Good to have umbrella bring along your trip.
Summer season is from June to August, average temperature is 27.7 degree Celsius, most heavy rain fall during this season, must bring a long umbrella.
Autumn season is from September to November, average temperature is 18.8 degree Celsius, not much rain at this season, but the temperature different a lot during day and night, need to prepare a jacket.
Winter season is from December to February, average temperature is 7.6 degree Celsius, will have snow fall sometimes in January, so need to prepare winter clothing. However inside building or public transportation there will be heater, so advice is to wear a long sleeves clothing and pair with winter cloth jacket, so you can remove the jacket and more comfortable at indoor.

Middle East Travel – Travel Tips

admin — Sat, 21 Aug 2010 17:44:23 +0000

One of the world’s most fascinating and rewarding travel destinations is the Middle East. If you are planning a visit there, you have to overcome complications that may come your way. There is spellbinding landscape scenery from seas of sand dunes and palm fringed lakes and stunning mountains of the north and the underwater world of the Red Sea. This is a land full of ancient history, vibrant cultures and unfortunately sometimes conflicts.

When you plan the trip, there are so many travel tips you have to know.

WEATHER

Autumn and spring are the best months to visit the Middle East. I.e. Visit September to November and also March to May. If you are a sun worshipper and water sports freak, the months of June to August should be definitely avoided.

COSTS

Travel in the Middle East is cheap and travelling is comfortable.

TIPPING

This is always there in the Middle East. The term given to tipping is “baksheesh” This is more than just a reward for having rendered a service.

MONEY

The larger banks have ATM’s and they are linked up to one of the international networks like Master Card, Cirrus, Visa or Global Access Systems.

NIGHT LIFE

Night life is safe and there is a wrong idea that it is insecure. Except in the conflict zone, everything is peaceful.

FORBIDDEN PLACES

Mecca and Medina are only for Muslims. Tourists should not try to enter these unless they are Muslims. Mosques are out of bounds for tourists. Never try to take either illegal or offensive for Muslims like Alcohol, books and magazines of an explicit sexual nature.

GIRLS

Girls and women are beautiful and lovely. They are a mixed race with a long history of the area. All women are really beautiful.

AFFECTION

You should not demonstrate affection for a spouse or friend of the opposite sex, when in public. Saudi’s never do this and find such behavior unacceptable. Unmarried persons should not have sexual relations and it is against the law in Saudi Arabia. During Ramadan, do not eat, drink or smoke in public. A dog should not be petted in front of a Saudi. You should dress modestly in public. Men should wear long pants and a shirt and women should wear long, loose dresses with high necklines and long sleeves. A person’s photograph should not be taken without his permissions. No theft takes place in the Kingdom.

CONCLUSION

The people of Saudi feel they are superior as all are Muslims and they look down on non Muslims. In Arabia they feel that they are more superior to non Arab Muslims and as Saudis they feel are superior to all other Arabs and this vicious circle never ends.

Tourists are not treated as they would treat a national and even the law enforcing agencies are like this.

Top North America Ski Vacations

admin — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 22:09:52 +0000

From the Canadian Rockies to the Poconos, North America is home to many outstanding ski areas, all with unique attributes. It would be difficult to narrow down the choices to just a few, but here are some of the ones that are best known:

Killington

Located on the East coast, Killington provides many options for skier. In addition to the several intermediate and advanced level mountains, there is a beginner area that sees a lot of use. With amble lodging the resort attracts large groups, which, combined with the many pubs in the area, creates a lively atmosphere, something to consider when making your reservations.

Squaw Valley

Despite its reputation as the home of extreme skiing, Squaw Valley is actually a wonderful ski resort for skiers of all levels of experience. It offers a unique experience for novice skiers in that many of the lower level ski trails are located about halfway up the mountain. While many ski resorts cluster the beginner slopes at the bottom of the mountain, Squaw Valley allows less experienced riders the thrill of skiing higher up the mountain. When you are done skiing for the day, a quick tram ride down the hill takes you back to the resort.

Of course, if you are interested in extreme skiing, Squaw Valley is a great choice. There are a variety of runs down sheer drops, and you will have plenty of company in your madness. If you have never extreme skied before, but are interested in giving it a try, this is the place for lessons.

Snowbird

Close proximity to Salt Lake City makes Snowbird an easy resort to travel to. The area is known for lake-effect snow. Lake effect snow creates huge quantities of snow in areas that are susceptible to it, leaving nearby areas with a dusting or less. The winter of 2004 and spring of 2005 for instance, saw lake effect snows totaling over 600 inches through the winter. During that year, Snowbird had enough snow for skiing through the Independence Day holiday.

Snowbird is a huge resort, at 2,500 acres, with something for the advanced skier and the beginner alike. One unique trail at Snowbird allows the less experienced skier to ski the infamous Hidden Peak, taking a gentler decent, but covering the peak from top to the bottom.

What about off the trail amenities? Snowbird offers those as well. From a high end spa that boasts a roof top Jacuzzi to more affordable, but just as convenient condo-style lodging, Snowbird has something for everyone. If you need to cut your budget still more, Salt Lake City, a mere 30 miles away, offers an abundance of lodging options.

Jackson Hole

Jackson Hole covers 2,500 acres on two peaks. Backcountry enthusiasts can take advantage of the additional thousands of acreage that are available for skiing in the neighboring national park and forest lands. The trails at Jackson Hole range from beginner to double black diamonds, which include 20 foot jumps and narrow chutes. The base lodge at Jackson Hole has been recently updated and expanded.

Snowmass

This resort, located in Aspen, has a family friendly atmosphere. It also has a vertical drop of over 4,400 feet, which makes it the second longest drop in the United States. There is plenty of room to spread out at Snowmass, the area spreads across a large area, with a wide variety of terrain. Open, gently rolling slopes and steep gullies, as well as everything in between, will be waiting for you at Snowmass.

Taos, New Mexico

Taos, for the serious skier, is a must visit. The gorgeous downhill trails offer a variety of expert and intermediate trails. If you are a beginner, Taos has limited trails. After a day of skiing, a drive into the city of Taos for outstanding food and fabulous art.

Whistler and Blackcomb

These two well-know ski destinations are two mountains that combined their efforts into one ski resort. This area has a unique weather pattern, and it is not unusual for you to enter a lift in soaking rain, only to step off of the lift into brilliant sun and snow. Whistler and Blackcomb also have a unique ski trail design. There are an abundance of beginner trails on both mountains, but continuing up the mountain will find you facing some of the most extreme trails on this side of the Atlantic. Upcoming plans for the mountains also include a gondola that will make it possible for skiers to move from one peak to the other without heading down to the base and back up.

These are just some of the many wonderful ski resorts in North America. Whether you are on the West coast, East coast or Canada, there is a resort for you. Beginner, intermediate or advanced, there are trails at each of these resorts that will be a perfect fit.

The Best Safari Travel Tips

admin — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 22:07:46 +0000

The information about travel,safari,travel tips presented here will do one of two things: either it will reinforce what you know about travel,safari,travel tips or it will teach you something new. Both are good outcomes.

Before stepping on that plane for a marvelous safari adventure, plan like there’s no tomorrow. You will thank your self for being precautious when faced with untoward incidents. Here are the important things you should consider when going on a safari travel:

1. Remember that it is one challenging endeavor.
Planning a safari can be one of the most exciting feats one can ever manage to make happen. It is not one of the generic travels, usual jetsetters indulge in. Though you are provided with a tour brochure and a tourist guide, it still is better to research on your own regarding the various itineraries.

2. Best spots for safari should be spotted. The most suggested parts of Africa to enjoy safari include East and Central Africa, Southern Africa and Indian Ocean Islands.

3. Prepare for the climate. It is a must to know the seasonal trends and how they will affect your travel. But also remember that the weather is fickle-minded so you can never really accurately predict the outcome of your travel if you will base it one the weather alone. If you are going to visit East and Central Africa, long rains start early in April to early June. Short rains abound during late November to December. Southern Africa has its rainy season from late November through mid-April for the safari areas. However, during that time, it will be summer in Southern Cape. When one prefers Indian and Ocean Islands he or she can expect the seasonal trend to be more like of that of Southern Africa. In these islands, summer rains last from November through April. Cyclones can also be experienced during those seasons. From May to October, the dry season occurs.

4. Choose your activities. Among others, safari traveling offers these fun-filled activities: a. gorilla trekking b. sailing c. birdwatching d. participatory camping e. self driving

5. Know what you can afford. When choosing a trip, budget constraints should never be overlooked. Decide on a price range that you can work on. To make your budgeting more effective consider the level of luxury of your safari travel, length of your trip, activities, accommodations preferences, meals and season. 6. Determine your travel style. Do you prefer your safari to be more luxurious, moderate or rustic? Will you let kids tag along? Are you traveling with a group or will you be one bold, independent traveler? Will you travel by air or road? What about your guide and your vehicle? Answering those questions will more or less improve your overview of your dream safari travel. Have fun!

This article’s coverage of the information is as complete as it can be today. But you should always leave open the possibility that future research could uncover new facts.