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Culture, Lifestyle, Travel, Travel Adventures,

Travel Tips to European Countries: Spain

by travzdlaJanuary 31, 2020

Spain is famous worldwide for its flamenco dancers and bullfights and the architecture style. Cave paintings, renaissance cathedrals, Moorish palaces prove the diversity of the country. Spring, fall and early summer are very pleasant here, though summers are hot. Spain’s capital and largest city are Madrid.

Culture

Spanish is the regional language of Spain. English is spoken there. Over a period of time, Spanish people have become modern in order to gel with the changing times and are no longer conservative. But that hasn’t changed the values, traditions, manners, and customs of the locals. People here have two surnames(last names). The first surname/last name can be used to refer to the person. To greet someone, a handshake will do the job. It’s normal to take a small gift along when visiting someone’s house. Dinner is generally taken very late at the night most restaurants in Spain open late for dinner. People wear casual but not too casual compared to the U.S. most of the time. Men are expected to wear jackets at some restaurants. Swimsuits should be confined to the pools and beaches. Recently a ban has been applied to smoking in public places.

Shopping

Shops open quite early in the morning and stay open late in the evening. In the afternoon, they are closed for lunch or siesta. Porcelain and leather goods are famous and they will be good gifts for friends and family members back home. Bills are to be paid along with the service charges, so tipping is a matter of gratitude.

Electricity

Voltage is 220 volts and the frequency is 50 Hz

Transportation

IBERIA airline is the national airline of Spain. Many other low-cost airlines offer services in the country such as Air Europa, Wamos Air, Vueling Airlines, and Binter Canarias. There are nearly thirty international airports in Spain, out of which Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Alicante, and Malaga are famous. Duty-free shops, restaurants, banks, car hire, and tourism information are available at the airports. There is also railway transportation between Spain cities and nearby countries or Europe in general. Cities that you can get metro/rail system are Alicante, Barcelona, Bilbao, Granada, Madrid, Malaga, Murcia, Palma, Parla, Santa Cruz, Seville, Valencia, Velez Malaga, Vitoria-Gasteiz, and Zaragoza. Underground service also works to transport passengers to their destinations. Buses are available every 15 minutes and trains are available every 20 minutes. Bus fare and schedule and operations depend on the city you are. Taxis are available throughout the day. There is a good network of roads connecting Spain north to south. Toll booths are installed in some parts of the country. Carrying a few Euros will help smooth sailing at the toll booths. If driving one’s private car, it would be better if the travel insurance covers medical costs too. Carrying a medical kit can prove to be of some help.

Duty-Free Items

200 cigarettes or 100 cigarillos 50 cigars or 250g tobacco (300 cigarettes, 150 cigarillos, 70 cigars and 400g of tobacco for EU nationals)
1litre of spirits if exceeding 22 percent volume or 2 liters of alcoholic beverage not exceeding 22 percent volume and 2 liters of wine (1.5 liters exceeding 22 percent and 3 liters of up to 22 percent and 5 liters of wine for EU nationals)
250ml eau de toilette and 50g of perfume
500g of coffee or 200g of coffee extract (1000g of coffee and 4000g of coffee extract for EU nationals)
100g of tea or 40g of tea extract
Gifts up to the value of approximately €37.26. (the U.S $ 41.58).

Places to Visit in Spain.

1: Barcelona.

Barcelona is my favorite city in Spain. There are a lot of things to do and a lot to experience in this magnificent city. You can do a lot of things from sightseeing to cooking classes. My must-see /visit or do while you are in Barca(as I like to call it, and yes I’m a soccer fan) are;

La Sagrada Familia
Park Guell
Las Ramblas
Camp Nou Stadium(again soccer fan)
La Boqueria (Boqueria Market)

There is a lot to do, and for beach lovers, there are tons and tons of beaches in Barcelona.

2:Madrid

Madrid is the largest and capital city of Spain. If you like the sound of Spanish guitar, the swish of flamenco this is your place to be. A lot of food, dancing and partying all day and all night in this beautiful city. My pick for must-do/see or visit while in Madrid are ;

Prado Museum
Plaza Mayor
The Palacio Real
El Rastro flea market
Puerta del Sol

There is a lot to do in this city, you can hop on bus tours which they provide a lot of activities to do from wine tasting to cooking classes.

3: Valencia.

If you like to be outdoor or on the beaches, Valencia is your place. You can visit the beach with golden sand and have a very wonderful view of the Mediterranean. My pick for Valencia are :

Mercado Central
Plaza Ayuntamiento
City of Art and Science
Valencia beaches

There are tons of things to see and do in Valencia. In general, Spain is a very beautiful country there are a lot of places to visit such as Seville, Granada, Ibiza, San Sebastian, Canary Islands, etc.

Lifestyle, Travel, Travel Adventures,

3 Adventure Travel Safety Tips

by travzdlaJanuary 1, 2020

3 Adventure Travel Safety Tips

Thousands of people throughout the world today are considering adventure travel for several good reasons. Most of them want to simply discover the hidden secrets of a certain place, while others want to experience a new taste of culture and beliefs. They want to meet new people, learn a new language, or simply see the exotic flora and fauna of a certain place. There are others also who engage in adventure travel to discover themselves, their capabilities, and their limitations.

Although the reasons for considering adventure travel are good, we can deny the fact that tours and trips to mountains, rainforests, rivers, and even on-air are dangerous to some extent. Yes, they are exciting, but they can be dangerous as you have no control as to what will happen while on travel. Because of such fact, some sorts of safety preparations must be considered before the traveler departs from home. Doing some kind of homework before you leave can be a great move to take as it can help lessen the chances of mishaps to occur.

So when considering adventure travel with your peers, make sure that you are prepared enough for whatever is involved. Know the destination, the guides, and what you are about to do. Most of all, make sure that you know yourself.

Consider the Safety of Your Trip

When choosing adventure travel, one of the most important things that every traveler can to do to avoid dangers along the way is to research the destination and the trip. Know the level of your adventure, whether it is extreme or unusual, and think about the possible dangers associated with this kind of activity. Also, consider the tour guides but don’t think that because you have a tour guide, you’re safe. Well, that doesn’t apply all the time. Having a guide doesn’t eliminate the risk.

Understand that there several unexpected situations that your guides can’t control, no matter how powerful and strong they are don’t easily think that because you will be part of a group, you will be safe. Again, that’s not always true. So the best thing you can do now is to carefully research the company you will be dealing with, including their tour guides. Make sure that the company is responsible enough to handle every adventure. If you are not planning to use a tour guide or company make sure you do your research and be careful with your surroundings.

Know What to Do and What to Expect from Your Travel

Adventure travel is very demanding investment. So before you leave, be sure to know what to expect and what to do on your trip. You can ask about the foods and accommodations, the gender, age and interests of your fellow adventurers. Also, assess your skills. Also, make sure that you are physically and mentally ready for your adventure travel.

Know Yourself

Knowing oneself is by far the best thing that every person can do when considering adventure travel. So ask yourself if the activity you are considering is what you want. Also know your condition, whether you are fit enough or unfit for the adventure travel. Well, the best way to know your condition is to get medical advice from your doctor. Simply find out if adventure travel is best for you or not. If not, then look for an alternative, something that your health can tolerate.

Lifestyle, Travel, Travel Adventures,

How to Plan for Adventure Travel Tours

by travzdlaDecember 30, 2019

Planning is the first major step to take when considering adventure travel tours. Its importance basically lies in the fact that the way you plan determines the outcome of your experience. So if you plan your adventure travel tours properly and ahead of time, the result would be great and truly memorable. So, how to plan properly for adventure travel tours?

There are a lot of basic ideas to note when planning for your adventure travel tours. A few steps are mentioned below. If you want to know how you can obtain an ultimate adventure experience, then take note of the following:

Know what you want

Deciding on adventure travel tours can be one of the biggest decisions you can ever make in your whole life. So it is better to be sure and certain as to what you want or desire for your adventure travel tours. The key here is to know your desires. Ask yourself some questions. Think about your dreams, and how to make them happen. You might think of visiting Aspen and engage in its world-class skiing, or you might just want to stand in a line for a couple of hours just to see the Mona Lisa in Paris. The idea of a cruise to the Caribbean might also appeal to you, or you might want to whale watch in Maui, Hawaii or sightseeing in Barcelona. Indeed there are a lot of options available for your adventure travel tours and what you really desire is what will basically determine the outcome of your adventure. So simply know what you want and base your decision on that.

Do a Research

If a trip to the Caribbean is the fulfillment of your dream, then there’s a possibility that you’ve been thinking about the place for a long time. Well, now is the right time to make it happen. But before you go for your adventure travel tours, try to do research about your trip first. This will surely prepare you and give you ideas ahead of time of what adventure travel tours can offer. Ask for recommendations, read magazines and books, or go online and ask the Chamber of Commerce of the place you are considering. Those basically are the right moves to take.

Think About the Budget

Your adventure travel tours can be expensive. So, before you engage in one, make sure that your pocket is big enough for the money challenge. Budget your adventure travel tours in advance and balance everything that is involved. Don’t forget to include travel insurance, gasoline costs, auto repairs, and other possible expenses to your budget.

Avoid Over Planning

Over planning means doing things that are not included in your original plan. Well, for some, this just imposes additional efforts and additional budget, which may ruin your entire adventure travel tours. So, before you go for your adventure travel tours, think about some possible extra activities that you might encounter in the way, like having a drinking spree with a couple you just met.

Enjoy and Relax

Adventure travel tours are designed for people to enjoy. So once you are on your way to an adventurous undertaking, then just enjoy the moment. Don’t pressure yourself. Do what you can only do and have a good time.

Business, Travel,

Travel to Foreign Shores

by travzdlaDecember 24, 2019

International business travel is rapidly becoming common to work out deals and to organize international partnerships. The economy is becoming more global as the world becomes “flat” due to increased communications and the rise of the economies around the world. No longer are businesses deals assumed to occur only on a national scale. To look at the business community as an international neighborhood is in step with the markets of this century. And that means that you could easily find yourself flying overseas to conduct the business of your company. And international travel takes some preparation.

Long before you book your flights to travel overseas, you will need to get your documentation in order so you can pass through customs and get on your way. Due to increased security, and up to date passport has become essential to even travel to adjacent countries. Due to the increased requirement of passports, it takes longer to get that documentation together so plan early to secure your passport so you don’t come up short when it is time to conduct your overseas business.

Also, keep in mind that a visa is required to travel to some countries. So when you set up the business meetings, find out from your contact at your destination country what is required. To get a visa, you will need to have had your passport for at least six months. In addition, you will need an original copy of an invitation from your host in the destination country. Those documents will be taken to the local embassy of your destination country to get your visa issued to you. So plan these steps if a visa is necessary for your trip.

Next to the legal documents, health issues are second in priority to attend to for a successful business trip. You may need to get your vaccinations up to date for certain destinations of your trip. Consult your doctor so you are ready. Do some preparation for the unlikely chance that you will have a health emergency overseas. This is a place where travel insurance is a good idea. If you are hurt or have a severe illness overseas, you will need that kind of assistance to get medical care and to get moved back home for long-term care.

Also, be sure your medical documents are available and copied in several places should you become separated from them. You want to be able to access insurance information, emergency contacts, information about the medication you need and emergency contacts even if you lose everything overseas. One way to do that is to scan critical documents and store them on the internet in a folder that you can get to from anywhere in the world.

Use much of the same travel-savvy that keeps you safe traveling domestically when preparing to go to a foreign country. You probably do not have knowledge of the town you are going to and where the safe places are to stay and dine and what neighborhoods to avoid. You can use very current travel books and internet information to learn that kind of “street knowledge” before you leave. But nothing replaces a local contact. Use your business contacts on the other end of your travel plans to advise you on not only where to go but where to avoid when coming into town.

Your contact in the foreign country you are traveling to can also give you insights about how to handle transportation and security in his or her country. Hailing a taxi may not work the same over there as it does here. And you want to avoid getting into a vehicle that is not a legitimate carrier who may not take you where you want to go or should go once they pick you up at the airport.

Also, spend some time learning local customs and methods of communication. This is very important when it comes to doing business in a foreign country. Be aware of how you act, how you dress, stand and use your hands as you could without knowing set off a dangerous situation. For example, the thumbs-up sign in western cultures means affirmation and success. But in the Middle East, a thumbs up is the same as showing the middle finger is to us. In Japan, try to avoid black attire because the color black is rare and regarded as bad luck. You don’t want to flip off a policeman in Saudi Arabia just because you didn’t know that.

Business, Lifestyle, Travel, Uncategorized,

Your First Business Trip

by travzdlaDecember 20, 2019

The odd thing about business travel is to some extent, it is a mixture of what you know the very strange. The business you are going out to do you know how to do. Whether discussing a new business project, developing a software product or attending a seminar or conference, the business part of your business trip is probably not the hardest.

But if you are new to business travel, some aspects to it are very different from travel for leisure and ways to prepare for the trip that will make or break whether it goes well or you come home frustrated in your efforts. Just like any business venture, the keyword for success in this venture is preparation. Above all, have your business program well organized and ready to use when you get there. If you are giving a presentation, have it finished, the PowerPoint slides prepared and tested and all of your equipment ready to go when you set out. The sheer fact that you are prepared for the work you are going to this new city to do will relieve your tension tremendously. But preparation doesn’t stop just in planning for a successful business effort. Do your homework about the place you are going and how you will handle the trip once you get there. Here are some key things you should think well in advance to assure your trip goes well.

Your flight. As soon as you know your destination, book that flight. The earlier you nail that down, the more you know you will have a flight and that your choice of seats is assured. This can make business travel by air much less stressful.

Driving in a new town. If you are going to drive to a new town, be sure you have maps and know how to negotiate the roads. It’s a whole different world to drive in Boston compared to driving in Kansas City or Beijing to Milwaukee. If you can avoid driving, make sure your ground transportation is arranged ahead of time. In some cities is better to use a taxi or public transportation.

Book your hotel well in advance to assure you will have a room when you get there. Only in situations where you are not sure where you will end up should you put this off. The last thing you want would be to need a room at 11 p.m. and everything in town is booked up.

Extraordinary needs. If you have medicines or other needs that are going to require special planning, get out ahead of that too. If there are business needs you will require upon your arrival, you can ship things ahead for yourself so that equipment is waiting in your destination office when you arrive.

Dealing with security. Remember that homeland security at airports is tight and the rules change from time to time. You can usually find the current restrictions and ways the airlines will allow you to travel on the internet. By knowing this in advance, you can avoid a lot of heartaches when you get to the airport.

You don’t want to have wads of cash with you when you travel but think ahead about how much cash and other monetary needs you should have. Travel with plenty of credit at your disposal. Emergencies on the road can be defrayed with good credit or you can find yourself in a real jam without it. If you are traveling overseas, become familiar with the monetary system you will be using there.

Things you take for granted. Little things mean a lot. If you have creature comforts you need in the hotel room, think about them and pack such things so you can feel as at home as possible. Something as small as your favorite pillow or a scented candle to relax you can make all the difference in your ability to rest and be ready for business the next day.

By doing plenty of good planning, you can assure yourself that you have what you need on the trip and nothing more. This will become more natural as you travel more. But take the time to prepare well and prepare early so as you venture forth on this big adventure, you know you have covered every base before you left home.

Lifestyle, Travel,

Travel tips to European Countries: Norway

by travzdlaDecember 14, 2019

Norway, a Nordic country lying on the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula is located in Northern Europe. It also borders Sweden, Finland, Denmark, and Russia. Norway is an outstandingly beautiful country with a long coastline, snowy mountains, and breathtaking fjords. Oslo is the capital of Norway and also the largest city. The other largest cities are Bergen and Trondheim. Norway is bestowed with lots of natural beauty encompassing wild forests, historic towns, and beautiful fishing villages. The country is very hospitable to tourists and people are very friendly too. Many tourists are attracted by the famous midnight sun of the Arctic and northern lights in Northern Norway. All three big cities of Norway offer different experiences to visitors. Norway is a place to be for nature lovers and for cultural enthusiasts. Norway is truly one of the greatest tourist destinations in Europe.

Population & Languages

The population of Norway is only 4.6 million and the official languages being spoken are Bokmal Norwegian and Nynorsk Norwegian. Other languages that are also spoken in Norway include Sámi and Finnish. Electricity The voltage is 230 V and the frequency is 50 Hz. The types of plugs used are Round pin attachment plug and “Schuko” plug and receptacle with side grounding contacts.

Geographic Location

It is a Nordic country lying on the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula and located in Northern Europe. It also borders Sweden, Finland, Denmark, and Russia. About two-third area of Norway is mountains, has around fifty thousand small islands along its coast. It also has one of the longest coastlines in the world.

Climate

The climate of Norway can be termed as Temperate with hot summers and cold overcast winters. The highlands of interior Norway have an arctic-like climate with snow, severe wind chill and frost. Most of the rain is along with the coastal areas and comes down in winter quite heavily and frequently. Winters are mild too along with the coastal areas.

Local Customs

Like any other country, Norway has its own customs too. It is customary not to drink until the host makes a toast. It is customary for guests to offer gifts to the host of a meal. Smoking is prohibited in most public areas. Casual dress is acceptable for everyday wear. Tipping taxi drivers is not customary. Tipping up to five percent is customary for service in restaurants. Porters at railway stations and airports charge per piece, while porters at hotels generally charge around NOK5-10 depending on the number of pieces of luggage. The Norwegian currency is Kroner, most stores and restaurants do not accept Euro.

Attractions

Oslo – Old medieval buildings, churches, modern architecture, museums. Oslo Opera House, the Norwegian Folk Museum, art galleries, Vigeland Park, and Akershus Fortress.

Bergen – Numerous museums, galleries, aquarium, medieval age buildings, cable car to the top of Bergen’s hills and boat trips to fjords.

Fjordland – Geirangerfjorden is known for tiny S-shaped fjord, Sognefjord – the longest and the deepest fjord, beautiful villages such as Balestrand and Flam, old stave churches, Nærøyfjord – Narrowest branch of the Sognefjord and Plateau of Jostedalsbreen glacier Tromsø – Arctic cathedral, Polaria, and Tromsø Museum

Travel

By Air – Many airlines operate to Norway like Braathens SAFE (BU) and SAS Scandinavian Airlines (SK), a Scandinavian airline, Air France, British Airways, Finnair, Iceland Air, KLM, Lufthansa, Northwest Airlines, Norwegian Air Shuttle, Ryan air, and Swiss Airlines. Oslo International Airport (OSL) (Gardermoen) (website: www.osl.no) is the biggest airport in Norway which is located 30 miles north of Oslo.

Sea –The important passenger ports are Bergen, Kristiansand, Larvik, Oslo, and Stavanger. The main sea routes from the UK, operated by Fjord Line and DFDS Seaways respectively, are from Newcastle to Bergen and to Kristiansand.

By Rail – The country is part of the extensive network of trains connecting the European cities. If you are coming from the UK, the connections are from London via Dover/Ostend (via Denmark, Germany, The Netherlands, and Sweden) or Harwich/Hook of Holland, or from Newcastle to Bergen via Stavanger. It is also connected to Sweden through two routes, with daytime and overnight trains from Copenhagen, Malmö, and Stockholm.

Duty-Free Items

200 cigarettes or 250g of tobacco products and 200 leaves of cigarette paper for EU countries.
400 cigarettes or 500g of tobacco products and 200 leaves of cigarette paper for Non-EU countries.
1liter of spirits and 1liter of wine or 2liter of wine and 2liter of beer for EU countries. 4. 1liter of spirits and 1liter of wine or 2liter of wine and 2liter of beer for Non-EU countries.
50g perfume or 500 ml eau de toilette
Gifts, Food, fruits, medications and flowers for the personal use of value up to 3,500 kroner

Prohibited Items

Un-canned goods, meat or dairy products, Narcotics, firearms, ammunition, weapons, eggs, plants, endangered species, fireworks and alcoholic beverages that contain more than sixty percent alcohol.

Travel,

My Trip to Vigeland Sculpture Park in Oslo Norway

by travzdlaDecember 6, 2019

Vigelandsparken: The Naked Statue

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