Travelling around the world | Travel Tips | Experiences

Travelling to Paris

2009-05-13T13:09:00.006+02:00

Paris is known for being one of the most romantic cities in the world! You can go there for a week or simply for a romantic weekend get-away!

However cost can always be an issue especially during these times.

Some suggestions to reduce costs -

1. There are 4 airports serving Paris - two large commercial airports (Roissy-Charles de Gaulle, and Orly) and two smaller ones for private jets and discount flights (Le Bourget, and Beauvais Tille). You will most likely be flying into or out of Roissy-Charles de Gaulle, or Orly.

Before flying into Paris check if landing in one airport is cheaper than the other. They are both nearly the same distance from central Paris and similarly easily accessible.

2. Choosing a hotel - If you are a normal tourist, visiting for a couple of days, probably you do not need to go the high end of the market. You will be using your hotel mainly to sleep and eat.

So CLICK HERE to book a cheap hotel , input dates and sort by the cheapest room or double room. Then take a look at the customer reviews - these normally give you a good overview of what to expect from your hotel.

3. You can also CLICK HERE to find a cheap car rental, however maybe it would be easier to buy day passes and go round using the Metro (underground).

Places to visit in Paris -

1. Louvre - This is a massive museum. A tip is to decide beforehand what you wish to see e.g. the Mona Lisa and maybe some masterpieces by famous Italian painters or sculptors - go see them and leave... By the time that is over, half (if not more) of your day would be gone.

2. Eiffel tower - I think the Eiffel tower is the most recognised icon of Paris. I suggest going up the Eiffel tower for a fantastic view of Paris. There are 2 methods of going up the first level - by stairs or by lift. If you are up to the challenge, take the stairs - it's cheaper and normally faster as you beat the queues for the lift. The other platforms can only be reached by lift.

From the Tower's three platforms — especially the topmost — the view of Paris is superb. It is generally agreed that one hour before sunset, the panorama is at its best; don't forget to bring your camera, to capture a dazzling sunset on the Seine. Also there is a table to check out the distance that the Eiffel tower is from your country and points you in the right direction!!

The Eiffel Tower at night is one of the great sights of Paris and shouldn't be missed. The gold lighting highlights the delicacy of the steelwork in a way that is missed in daylight. Skip the tour buses and head up to the École Militaire for a more tranquil view.

3. Boat trip - From there you can take a romantic boat trip around Paris. The city seems to be fanned out before you as you lazily drift down the Seine River or Paris' miles-long network of canals.

By taking a Paris boat tour, you can get a glimpse of some of the city's most mythical spots or just sit back and revel in the fresh air and delicious floating in a scenic setting. The best time to take a Paris boat tour is May through mid-September, when skies tend to be clearer and temperatures in Paris are generally warm.

4. Avenue des Champs-Élysées - This is the most prestigious avenue in Paris. With its cinemas, cafes and luxury specialty shops, the Avenue des Champs-Élysées is one of the most famous streets in the world. At the end of this avenue there is the Arc de Triomphe.

5. The Arc de Triomphe is a monument that stands in the centre of the Place Charles de Gaulle. It is at the western end of the Champs-Élysées. The triumphal arch honors those who fought for France, particularly during the Napoleonic Wars. On the inside and the top of the arc there are all of the names of generals and wars fought. Underneath is the tomb of the unknown soldier from World War I.

To see the Arc there is an underground pass - DO NOT TRY TO CROSS THE ROAD as this could be very dangerous!!

6. Montmarte - is a hill (the butte Montmartre) which is 130 meters high, giving its name to the surrounding district, in the north of Paris, a part of the right bank.

Montmartre is primarily known for the white-domed Basilica of the Sacré Cœur on its summit and as a nightclub district.

And nearby the Basilica there is a shop which has AWESOME nutella crepes!!

7. Notre Damme - This is arguably the most stunning gothic cathedral in the world—and is undoubtedly the most famous. Conceived in the 12th century and completed in the 14th, Notre Dame Cathedral was the very heartbeat of medieval Paris.

After a period of neglect, it recaptured the popular imagination when 19th-century writer Victor Hugo immortalized it in “The Hunchback of Notre Dame”. One can also go up in the tower bell if it is open.

7. Vincennes Zoo - The Zoo de Vincennes, near Lac Daumesnil at the west end of the Bois, was established for the Colonial Exhibition of 1931.

Laid out on a spacious scale, it fits harmoniously into the landscape of the Bois de Vincennes. Within its 17 hectares/42 acres it houses some 600 mammals and 1,200 birds in numerous large enclosures, with heated cages for winter. From the 72m/236ft high artificial (concrete) crag in the center of the Zoo there are views of the Bois de Vincennes, with the Château, and (in clear weather) eastern Paris.

8. Catacombs of Paris - These are a famous underground ossuary. Organized in a renovated section of the city's vast network of subterranean tunnels and caverns towards the end of the 18^th century, it became a tourist attraction on a small scale from the early 19^th century and has been open to the public on a regular basis from 1867. The official name for the catacombs is l'Ossuaire Municipal.

This cemetery covers a portion of Paris' former mines near the Left Bank's Place Denfert-Rochereau, in a location that was just outside the city gates before Paris expanded in 1860. Although this cemetery covers only a small section of underground tunnels comprising "les carrières de Paris" ("the quarries of Paris"), Parisians today popularly refer to the entire network as "the catacombs".

9. Château de Versailles - Versailles, is a royal château in Versailles, the Île-de-France. When the château was built, Versailles was a country village; today, however, it is a suburb of Paris, some twenty kilometers southwest of the French capital. The court of Versailles was the centre of political power in France from 1682, when Louis XIV moved from Paris, until the royal family was forced to return to the capital in October 1789. Versailles is therefore famous not only as a building, but as a symbol of the system of absolute monarchy of the Ancien Régime.

It is accessible by train from Paris. Check before going there that the palace is open. However if it is not, a walk around the massive gardens is till worth the trip!!

Other information -

Paris is a shopper's dream, of course, and you will feel quite at home in the Haute Couture shops found on Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré and Avenue Montaigne.

Top quality shoes, bags, and leather goods are the province of Rue du Cherche-Midi and rue de Grenelle. Truly trend-setting fashions may be seen in the shops on Rue Etienne Marcel and Place des Victoires.

For a pleasurable and mainstream shopping experience, shoppers should check out the plethora of colossal department stores in Paris. Two of the most famous rivals, Printemps and Galeries Lafayette, may be found side-by-side on Boulevard Haussmann.

Also to eat some good chinese food at good prices head up to the chinese quarter.

Visiting Disneyland Paris -

Disneyland Resort Paris is a holiday and recreation resort in Marne-la-Vallée, a new town in the eastern suburbs of Paris. The complex is located 32 kilometers (20 mi) from the centre of Paris and lies for the most part on the territory of the commune of Chessy.

Disneyland Resort Paris features two theme parks, an entertainment district and seven Disney-owned hotels.

It is enough to spend 2 or 3 days there. The prices for the tickets are set out below.

As for accomodation, one can stay on site, which could be a bit pricey or else choose a hotel nearby -

Hotels next to Disneyland Paris -

Cheap accomodation near Disneyland Paris

Alternatively, one could choose a hotel in Paris near Gare du Nord and travel to and from Disneyland every day.

Disneyland Prices -

1 Day / 1 Park ticket: Eur 51
2 Day / 2 Parks ticket: Adult Euro 112
3 Day / 2 Parks ticket: Adult Euro 139

Tickets can be bought in advance from the website www.disneylandparis.com.

Once in France you can buy tickets at :
1. the entrance to the Disney Parks
2. the Disney Store, Champs Elysées, Paris
3. Fnac stores in Paris
4. Virgin Megastore on the Champs Elysées, Paris
5. In the main RATP (Metro) ticket offices in Paris

Alternatively, contact the central reservation office on : 0033 1 60306053

Schengen Visa explained

2008-04-15T07:27:00.005+02:00

What countries are members of the Schengen agreement?

Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany Greece, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain and Sweden are all members of the Schengen agreement. As of August, 1 1998 travelers to these countries whose purpose of travel is tourism or business for stays up to 90 days may receive a visa for a short stay which is valid for all the above countries. A Schengen visa issued by an embassy or consulate of the above countries allows the holder to travel freely in all of these countries. However, visas for travel to Monaco and French Overseas Departments and Territories may only be issue by a French Embassy or Consulate.

How do I apply for my Schengen visa?

There are specific rules as to which country will issue your visa.·
If you will visit only one Schengen country, you must apply through the embassy or consulate of that country.

If you will visit several Schengen countries, you must apply for a visa through the embassy or consulate of the country which is your main destination·

If you will visit several countries but do not have a main destination, you must apply for a visa through the embassy or consulate of the country which is your first point of entry.

Other information:
If you do not need a visa for the Schengen country which is your main destination or first point of entry, please note that you may require a visa for other Schengen countries you visit. Apply to the embassy or consulate of the first country which does require a visa.

Each country has its own visa application form and requirements, which can vary greatly. Therefore, it is necessary to research requests on an individual basis to address the traveler’s specific documentation requirements.

For more information go to : Where to apply for a Schengen Visa

Carry-on confusion to end for air travellers

2008-04-11T10:35:00.002+02:00

AIR travellers in Europe will now be able to view the same list of items banned from carry-on luggage as airline staff after the European Union amended laws.

Previously, this list had been available only to staff for security reasons. The public were only able to see an amended list which created confusion. Some for travellers were barred from getting on flights because they had items on the secret list.

The new air travel security rules, which took effect this week, require governments to maintain a single, public list of banned carry-on items.

The issue was highlighted in the case of German traveller Gottfried Heinrich who was ordered to leave a plane in Vienna in 2005 as he was carrying tennis racquets, "allegedly prohibited items," according to the advocate general. Heinrich took the case to court in Austria which has referred it to the European Court of Justice in Luxembourg. EU Advocate-General Eleanor Sharpston had urged the European Court of Justice to annul the EU law on the carry-on items lists, saying it was illegal to maintain a list that travelers could not consult.

Air Malta marks 35 years of service

2008-04-11T10:07:00.005+02:00

Air Malta started flying operations with two wet-leased Boeing 720Bs from Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), operating its first flights to London and Rome. The first routes were London, Birmingham, Manchester, Rome, Frankfurt, Paris and Tripoli. Air Malta now serves about 50 destinations with something like 200 weekly flights to Europe, North Africa and the Eastern Mediterranean.

Air Malta was set up with the primary aim of establishing, maintaining, developing and operating air transport services to and from Malta and so, through the carriage of passengers, freight and mail, serve the national interest. Of course, it still fulfils these aims and has grown to become one of the most important Maltese organisations not only assisting the tourism sector but also providing businesses that operate in this country with a wide distribution network abroad. Studies have shown that the airline today generates about 25 per cent of the total expenditure by tourists and accounts for about seven per cent of the Gross National Product.

For the full article, follow this link: Air Malta marks 35 years of service

Cyprus and Malta adopt the euro

2008-01-02T11:23:00.000+01:00

Two Mediterranean island states, Cyprus and Malta, have begun using the euro, joining 13 other countries. The countries' leaders made symbolic withdrawals of euros from cash machines just minutes into the New Year.

Major bank branches opened for a few hours in Cyprus despite the New Year holiday. The Maltese celebrated the euro's arrival with fireworks.

Cyprus and Malta have added just 1.2 million people to the number of Europeans using the single currency. But they will have equal voting rights with the other 13 eurozone members at the European Central Bank.

Benefits in joining the Euro zone

Malta is already enjoying a tourism boom, with double-digit growth expected this year, largely due to the arrival of low-cost airlines. But it is also planning to become a magnet for hi-tech investment. Several pharmaceutical companies have established research centres in Malta to develop generic copies of patented drugs. And the German airline Lufthansa signed an agreement in 2007 for Malta to maintain and overhaul its planes.

The Finance Minister, Michalis Sarris, has said the euro will benefit consumers and businesses alike because of the eurozone's low inflation, low interest rates and large market.

For the whole article, please visit: Cyprus and Malta adopt the euro

London : Paris in 2hrs 15 mins

2007-11-14T10:25:00.000+01:00

The new St Pancras International train station has opened its doors to the public for the first time.

The first Eurostar service to Paris from the £800m station will leave at 1101 GMT.

A special carbon-neutral train will carry the new route's very first passengers during its two hour and 15 minute journey.

The first passenger train for Brussels departs at 1106 GMT, with the first arrival from the same city pulling into St Pancras at 1109.

St Pancras will house upmarket shops and what its operators say is the longest champagne bar in Europe. The elaborate gothic hotel at the front of the station, vacant since the 1980s, will open as a five-star hotel and apartments in 2009.

The new route will cut journey times to Paris by 20 minutes to two hours and 15 minutes, and to Brussels by 25 minutes to one hour and 51 minutes.

The last Eurostar train left London Waterloo at 1812 GMT on Tuesday.

For the full article visit:
St Pancras Eurostar service opens

Airline websites 'are misleading'

2007-11-14T10:20:00.000+01:00

At least 200 European airline websites are misleading the consumer, a study by the European Commission has found.

Websites are failing to show taxes and charges, and refusing to advertise the lowest fare prominently, according to the report.

The Commission has refused to name any airlines involved in order to give them time to improve their service.

Last month, a Spanish watchdog said it had found misleading information on seven websites, including Ryanair's.

In response to the Commission's findings, Ryanair called on it to widen the investigation "to cover the real scandal of unfair fuel surcharge increases being levied by British Airways, Air France, KLM and Lufthansa," it said.

For full article visit :
Airline websites 'are misleading'

Malta most recommended destination for UK singles

2007-11-14T10:00:00.000+01:00

Malta is the most recommended short-haul destination for singles in the UK, according to a poll of British travel agents carried out by leading trade magazine Short Breaks and Holidays 2007.

The result is seen as highly significant by the Malta Tourism Authority, which has been trying to promote Malta among a younger generation of traveller in the UK.

Read the full article at:
Malta most recommended destination for UK singles

What is your carbon footprint?

2007-10-04T07:42:00.000+02:00

A Carbon Footprint is a measure of the impact human activities have on the environment in terms of the amount of greenhouse gases produced, measured in units of carbon dioxide.

A Carbon Footprint is made up of the sum of two parts, the direct / primary footprint and the indirect / secondary footprint.

1. The primary footprint is a measure of our direct emissions of CO2 from the burning of fossil fuels including domestic energy consumption and transportation (e.g. car and plane).
2. The secondary footprint is a measure of the indirect CO2 emissions from the whole lifecycle of products we use - those associated with their manufacture and eventual breakdown.

Click here to find various carbon calculators (including flight calculators) to calculate your footprint and find ways to offset it.

Responsible Tourism

2007-10-02T08:33:00.000+02:00

Responsible Tourism is a tourism management strategy embracing planning, management, product development and marketing to bring about positive economic, social, cultural, and environmental impacts.

For tourism operators it is about providing more rewarding holiday experiences for guests whilst enabling local communities to enjoy a better quality of life and conserving the natural environment.

Guidelines to reach 5 key objectives:

* To protect the environment – its flora, fauna and landscapes
* To respect local cultures – traditions, religions and built heritage
* To benefit local communities – both economically and socially
* To conserve natural resources – from office to destination
* To minimise pollution – through noise, waste disposal and congestion

Converting Currencies

2007-08-22T07:37:00.000+02:00

As explained before, when travelling to a foreign country, always check the currency of your destination. Therefore you'd need a rough estimate of the exchange rate. Sometimes even when booking a hotel online,the prices may be denominated in foreign currency.

Here are 2 links which help you out:

1. The currency cheat sheet for Travelers is the most useful tool you can take with you on your next trip. Just print the FXCheatSheet for your next destination, it's small enough to fit in your Wallet and help you figure out the prices in your home currency.

2. The 164 Foreign currency converter is the Web's most popular and free currency converter.

Weather forecasts

2007-08-21T07:57:00.001+02:00

Before packing for your holiday, always make sure to check the weather forecasts. On the Internet, one can find 5 day or 10 day forecasts. These forecasts are great because one would have a rough idea some days in advance what weather to expect on the holiday and pack accordingly!!

Remember that these are just forecasts and check regularly for updates.

To find weather forcasts for your destination, just scroll down and click on the Weather... box on the right hand side.

What can you take with you on a plane?

2007-07-07T08:22:00.000+02:00

The items that TSA (Transportation Security Administration) will allow you to take onboard a plane in the U.S. are constantly changing. So, what are the prohibited and permitted items?

Consult the TSA website - Permitted and Prohibited items page commonly used by travelers before your next plane flight, but be aware that TSA is constantly changing their list of permitted and prohibited items.

Although this is not a European website, travellers in Europe can stick more or less to the same guidelines

Visiting Bratislava

2007-07-05T08:37:00.000+02:00

We went to Bratislava in February. It is the capital city of Slovakia, a city located on the river Danube, some 60 km from Vienna, Austria. Some people like to divide it in two; the old city and the new, modern part (which people seemed to suggest that it is has a cold atmosphere)…however we went to the old city, full of interesting history, and with some artifacts of communism still showing.

From the airport we caught a bus to the tram station, and then got a tram to Obchodna Street. We travelled mainly on foot, as the city is quite small.

Bratislava looked to shed the greyness of the Communist era; many buildings were repainted and even restructured. In an attempt to enliven the city centre, a few quirky statues were installed. Their popularity with tourists led to new statues, filling the centre of Bratislava.

The Paparazi is a good example of how local companies participate at the center beautification. He leans against the corner of a building, where a new restaurant, The Paparazi, has just opened.

Schöne Nazi is a legendary figue in Bratislava. Always courteous, always a gentleman, he was a welcome sign to everybody who went to the old town.

Napoleon simply leans on a bench, only a few feet away from a wall there cannon balls that his army shot at Bratislava are still stuck in the wall. This bench became a very popular place for taking pictures.

Cumil is one of the funniest statues around. He stares and laughs at everybody from a pothole on the street.

One place surely not to miss is the Bratislava Castle, looking over the historic core of the capital of the Slovak Republic, is a landmark of this town and a National Cultural Monument that attracts the looks not only the inhabitants of Bratislava, but also the large amount of visitors from all over the world.

The Castle of Bratislava, the dominant characteristic feature of the town, has a long and eventful history of its own. The history of Bratislava Castle goes back to a long bygone past.

You can also shop on Obchodna Street; one may find trade mark shops like Bershka, Gas, Zara and also bazaar like shops and even a Chinese market. We were actually staying in a hostel on this street, which makes it a perfect location for tourists to stay, as it is very central and trams are constantly passing.

The Dubliner's Irish Pub, in the heart of the old city, is very popular with tourists and serves Irish, as well as Slovak beers, along with pub food.

The New Bridge is the world's seventh largest suspension bridge and was declared the construction of the 20th century in Slovakia. It was built between 1967 and 1972 and a large part of the Bratislava Old Town had to give way to this symbol of Communist modernity.

The entry fee for the UFO sightseeing deck is SKK 100 (EUR 2.97) but is waived for guests with a reservation at the Taste Restaurant. The UFO sightseeing deck dubbed Watch is open daily from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.

The flying saucer-shape is the ‘UFO’ Taste Restaurant; a very chic and exclusive venue, located some 95 metres above ground. It serves Mediterranean fare - a fusion of Mediterranean and Asian cuisines, an extensive international selection of wines and cocktails.
UFO Groove, a stylish nightclub, is only open on selected nights, mainly for parties.

I would highly recommend the city as a destination for other travellers, especially couples. The city is clean, friendly, inexpensive & very picturesque. We only stayed for three nights, but as the city is quite small it was perfect for a weekend trip. Others use it as a base for travelling to Vienna which is only one hour away by train.

Foreign currency

2007-07-02T07:43:00.001+02:00

Before travelling to another country, ALWAYS check what currency is used there. Some countries (especially Eastern European)use currencies which are not always readily available at the bank, and so you would need to order them if you intend to exchange money before flying to your destination.

However you can go fly in the country with a common currency such as EURO, Sterling or Dollar and exchange it in the country you will be visiting. Always be a bit wary when exchanging at the airport. Normally the exchange rate used there would not be that favourable. Best thing is to exchange just enough to get you by for the first night/day, and then exchange more later.

Important to note: It is ALWAYS wise to 'shop' around for foreign exchange bureaus to always choose the most favourable rates for you. Always ask whether you are going to be charged a commission fee. Most do not...but some charge it as a hidden cost, and you'd end up with less money in you wallet than you hoped for.

Sometimes (especially if the holiday is short e.g. a weekend break) it might be easier to use a credit card and avoid the hassles of having to exchange money at the beginning of the holiday and changing them back at the end (unless you intend to return to that country in the near future). However keep in mind, that you would always need to exchange some money, as certain shops do not accept credit cards for small purchases (e.g. groceries or take-out food)

A few words on Malta...

2007-07-01T18:54:00.000+02:00

I am from Malta, so it is only fair that I spend a couple words on my country.

Malta is a small (24km x 16 km) island in the heart of the Mediterranean sea.

A tourist would be would be able to manage to see alot of places in a week.. including maybe a day in our sister island Gozo...(just a 20 min ferry crossing) and also Comino which is just a 10 minute ferry crossing.

In Malta be sure to go to Valletta - the capital city, Mdina - the old city, Hypogeum - an underground temple; Hagar Qim and Mnajdra - amongst the oldest temples in the world, dating from 3200-3500BC and 3600-3200BC respectively.

Other places of interest would be the Mosta dome - to see the 3rd largest dome in the world.

Then for the young and young at heart, there is Paceville (St. Julians) and Bugibba - to go out at night.

This is very brief and I will update more on this later on

However, one can go to www.visitmalta.com to find a bit about Malta.

You can search for hotels in Malta in the Hotel section in the right hand side.

The hunt for a (cheap) place to stay

2007-06-27T11:52:00.001+02:00

Choosing a hotel depends first and foremost on the budget you had in mind - how many stars, location, if inclusive of breakfast/dinner/supper.

Today with the internet, it is easy to look around for hotels, hostels, backpackers. It is best to plan ahead as with like most things, both availabilty and price get affected as time passes.

Take notice of the reviews done by other travellers. These will give you an indication of what to expect from your hotel, location, staff, the rooms and if applicable the meals. Go through all or most of them - don't dwell on just the negative ones or just the postive ones. Keep in mind that a holiday is a personal experience - so a person might have had a bad experience in the hotel or the holiday and it will reflect badly in the review.

Also note the distance from landmarks. You might be thinking that you are getting a good deal with taking a cheap hotel, then ending up paying alot in cab fare or having to leave clubbing early as the trains only work up till 1 a.m.. Besides this, there is also the 'cost' in lost holiday time. You might think that half an hour isn't that much... do the trip to and from your hotel a couple of times, and you'd have wasted 2 hours.

Next trip - Barcelona

2007-06-27T10:51:00.000+02:00

At the moment I am planning a week trip in Barcelona and Costa Brava (Lloret del Mar) in September. It is going to be a group of me and my friends.

The idea came when low cost flights started being offered from Malta to Barcelona. In the beginning it was just me and a couple of friends...

Up till now I booked cheap airline tickets and booked a cheap hotel.

Now I think we are going to be more than 10 people..

More on this trip in the coming weeks and after the holiday itself.

Like I said at the start of the blog, in my travel tips, I only recommend what I actually use. If you intend to travel to Spain Barcelona, you can book airline tickets and book a hotel from the right hand side

Travelling in Europe

2007-06-26T16:39:00.000+02:00

When you start to plan a holiday, the first thing you need is to choose a destination. Then you would need plane tickets. In Europe, now there are numerous 'low cost' airlines from where you can choose.

Here is a website which helps you find low cost airlines in Europe:

http://www.discountairfares.com/lcosteur.htm

On the right hand side, you can use the air travel finder to book your cheap airline tickets!!