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Travel Tips To European Countries: Albania

July 26th, 2010 1 comment
Memorial plaque dedicated to Mother Teresa by ...Image via Wikipedia

Albania is a mountainous country and the one of the smallest countries in Europe. The residents supposedly descended from ancient Illyrians.

Culture

The culture of Albania is majorly influenced by that of the mainland Greeks especially in the urban locality; nodding ones head means no where as shaking the head means yes. To greet someone, handshaking is preferred, though Shoku (Comrade) was used before, which has been long forgotten now. People dress informally here. Swim suits are meant for the beaches, otherwise women are expected not to dress in a revealing outfit. When addressing someone prefix Zoti(Mr) or Zonja(Mrs) before the name and always remember to carry some gifts when visiting someone, although flowers arent much acceptable. The guests are served with coffee, raki or sweets. Smokers dont have to worry much, but they should avoid it where they see a sign of Ndalohet Duhani or Ndalohet pirja e duhanit.

Travelling within the country

Buses with relatively cheap fares operate in the main cities of the country or taxis are another choice which provided service for some main hotels. Visit Dajti Mountain and experience Dajti Ekspres Cable car for an unforgettable 15 minute ride passing through Dajt Oark to reach Tirana. The route is about 4.2 km long and the ride costs 6.5.Alpha Yachting provides crewed yacht which is a luxury in itself. Tirana Bank is the best place for withdrawing money as it allows access to Visa cards.

Eating Out

Restaurants are not always sufficiently heated, so always wear warm clothes if out in the night during winters. Foreigners are charged more than the locals. Both the entry fees as well as any merchandise will be on a higher scale, so its better not to reveal the fact that you are a foreigner when out on the streets.

Site Seeing

If you enjoy canoeing, this is the right place to be. There are places right outside Tirana which is an amazing site for not just canoeing, but also rock climbing, hiking, and camping.

Accommodation

If you want a 5-Star ambience, try The Sheraton Tirana Hotel and Towers, which is situated in the middle of a shopping and entertainment center. There are about 151 rooms and 56 suites. So, along with the comfort, one can shop at once convenience here. Another hotel which provides all modern facilities is Hotel Mondial. It is located 1000 m away from the city and is also a good example of traditional architecture.

Getting There

One of the best and the easiest means is to go by air. Albanian Airlines is the national airline which works in collaboration with Tyrolean Airways, and provides service to almost all the big European cities. The airport, Mother Teresa, is 16 miles or 26 km away from the capital. A tourist bus is available every 3 hrs to get to the city center and takes about 30 minutes to get there. Taxis are available round the clock. While waiting for any transport service, tourists can check out the duty free shops, bank, eateries and car hire at the airport. A departure tax of $10 USD is imposed on all foreign nationals. Check out www.flyalbanian .com for flight times and offers.

If trying to get there by sea, try the ferry services which are provided by Adriatic Line and Agoudimos. The main ports are Durres (has ferry connection to Italy, Bari, Brindisi, Trieste, and Ancona), Vlora (has ferry connection to Bari, and Brindisi), Saranda (has connection to Corfu), Shen Gjini (has ferry connection to Bari). Check out www.adriatica.it and www.aqoudimos-lines.com for more information.

Bus is another option. Buses start from Istanbul, Athens and Sofia. Internal passengers have lots of options with bus services provided. If traveling by road in a private car, there is road network to the Kosovo region, but they are too dangerous to use because of the political tensions within the region. Crossings at Hani I Hotit, Bllata, Oafa e Thaes, Tushemisht, Gorica, Kapshtica, and kakavija can be taken. If tired one can take halts at hotels or other designated areas. There is a network of 18,000 km, out of which only 7450 km are main roads, for local travelers. About 2138km stretch of these roads is in poor condition and has pot holes, and utmost safety precautions should be taken when driving on such roads. Speed limit should be strictly followed on highways as well as within towns. Driving at night should be better avoided because of the absence of street lights on the road except for urban areas. Traffic should drive on the right-hand. There is a shortage of gas stations in the countryside, so filling the gas tank completely when passing through urban area is recommended and since there is lack of national recovery system; travelers should be prepared for an emergency or breakdown before hand. One should carry necessary documents like International Driving Permit and national driving license.

Duty Free Items

Following are the items that can be carried without customs duty being levied on them: 1. 1liter of spirits or 2liter of wine 2. 250ml of eau de toilette 3. 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 250g of tobacco 4. 50ml of perfume.

Prohibited Items

Things that are prohibited to carry are firearms, narcotics and ammunition. Special export permission should be taken for precious metals, books, antiques, work of art, or material of national or historic value.

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Cuba Multi Centre.

July 26th, 2010 No comments

Cuba is such a big Island that it makes it ideal for multi centre holidays. There is so much to do and see that sometimes – depending on the itinerary – 2 weeks are not enough.

The Cuban Archipelago offers a variety of tourism modalities that separates it from the rest of the islands in the Caribbean. Cuba is unique in terms of its tourist attractions. Not only you can find astonishing beach locations but also charming colonial villages and towns full of character.

Among the best beach locations in Cuba -Varadero and Guardalavaca – stand out from the crowd for its pristine white sands and turquoise waters. The Cayo islands around main land are famous for its virginity and quietness. Cayo Largo, Cayo Coco, Cayo Santa Maria and Cayo Levisa are just some of the best beach destinations in Cuba.

There is much more other than just beaches. Cuba was for many centuries the “Key to The Americas” and as a result its cultural and historic heritage is immeasurable. Its architecture is very striking. A mingle of Colonial and modern styles can be appreciated in most of the main cities in Cuba.

Its landscapes have inspired plastic artists all around the World. The beyond belief Vinales Valley – located in Pinar del Rio province in the west of Cuba – is one of the gems of the Cuban geography that today can be admired by millions of tourists.

Havana – The Capital – is a must if you go on holidays to Cuba. It certainly has the best vibe. There is music in every Caf and a Caf in every corner of the Old Quarter. Beautiful squares to rest and watch the people going bye.

Other provinces and towns worth visiting are Trinidad and Baracoa (these two are the oldest villages in Cuba that still preserve an entirely colonial architecture). Santiago de Cuba is another important location mainly from the historic point of view. It was from Santiago de Cuba where all the uprisings, independent movements and revolutions started in Cuba.

If you are thinking of visiting Cuba the best advice is to contact a tailor made specialist with in-depth knowledge about Cuba. You will be guided through the process of deciding what is best for you taking into consideration many factors such as duration, interests and budget for your holidays.

Mr JM Maurette is a reservation consultant employed by Quest World Travel Ltd . He has a great deal of experience and expertise arranging tailor made holidays to Cuba . If you need to arrange a tailor made Cuban Holiday please follow the links above.

5 Places You Must See When Visiting South Carolina

July 16th, 2010 No comments

South Carolina, also known as the Palmetto State, receives over twenty-nine million visitors per year. It lies on the east coast of the US and borders Georgia to the south and North Carolina to the north. The original colony was named in honor of King Charles I, as “Carolus” is Latin for Charles. It has a population of over four and a half million and is ranked twenty-fourth among the US states. Columbia is the capital of this state and its forty-six counties. Like most of the states in the region, the weather is quite temperate year round which provides many months of comfortable tourism. If South Carolina is one of your destinations, there are many places you might consider visiting. Here are five of them, in no particular order: Charleston, Myrtle Beach, Hilton Head, Columbia and Greenville/Spartanburg.

Charleston is the county seat of Charleston County. It is the oldest city in the state and the second largest. The city’s original name was Charles Towne in and it moved to its current location on Oyster Point in 1680. Charleston is known as The Holy City due to the prominence of churches and numerous steeples which dot the city’s skyline. It has a population of over one-hundred and twenty thousand. Marjabelle Young Stewart, an American etiquette expert recognized Charleston as the “best-mannered” city in the US in 1995.

Myrtle Beach is a coastal resort city in Horry County, South Carolina. It is the hub of both the Myrtle Beach metropolitan area and the Grand Strand, a complex of beach towns and barrier islands. The area’s attractions include its beaches and many golf courses as well as amusement parks, an aquarium, retail developments and nearly two thousand restaurants. Myrtle Beach has an estimated 460 hotels. The area also has an IMAX theatre, dinner theatre and nightclubs. Myrtle Beach welcomes Hard Rock Park, so named after the popular Hard Rock Caf chain (now called Freestyle Music Park). The Carolina Opry is another highly-acclaimed attraction as well as the Myrtle Beach Convention Centre. An interesting point, while gambling is not legal in South Carolina; visitors may access a gambling boat which sails into international waters beyond the reach of federal and state gambling laws.

Hilton Head Island or Hilton Head is resort town (located on an island of the same name) in Beaufort County, South Carolina. The island features twelve miles of beachfront on the Atlantic Ocean. In 2004, an estimated two and a quarter million visitors came to stay. The island’s population growth rate has been over thirty-two percent over the past decade. This town is known for its “eco-friendly” development and as a result enjoys an unusual amount of tree cover relative to the amount of development. Over 70% of the island is located inside gated communities; however the town maintains several public beach access points. The island offers an unusual number of cultural opportunities including Broadway-quality plays, the 120-member full chorus of the Hilton Head Choral Society, the Symphony Orchestra and the largest outdoor, tented wine tasting event on the east coast. It also hosts the Verizon Heritage, a stop on the PGA Tour.

Columbia is the state capital and largest city in the US state of South Carolina. The city’s name comes from a poetic synonym for America, derived from the name of Christopher Columbus. It is located thirteen miles northwest of South Carolina’s geographic centre and CNNMoney.com named Columbia as one of America’s 25 best places to retire. US News and World Report ranked the city 6th on its 2009 list of “America’s Best Affordable Places to Retire” List.

Greenville is the seat of Greenville County, in upstate South Carolina, US. It is the third largest city in the state and is the largest of the Greenville-Spartanburg-Anderson Combined Statistical Area (CSA) which in 2006 had an estimated population of over 1.2 million. The CSA is an eight county region of northwestern South Carolina known as the “The Upstate.” As the largest city in the Upstate, Greenville offers many activities and attractions. Greenville’s theatres and event venues regularly host major concerts and touring theatre companies. Greenville has the only golf course in the world that has each conceived by a different designer. CrossWinds Golf Club is a public Par 3 course that can be played in one hour for 9 holes or two hours for 18. Other attractions include Falls Park on the Reedy, Liberty Bridge, Greenville County Museum of Art and the Bob Jones University Museum and Gallery.

With so many amazing places to go and different places to see, the culture and history of this state are boundless to absorb. It is easy to see why so many tourists make South Carolina their destination of choice on vacation.

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The Travel Brochure Approach To Vacation Planning

June 30th, 2010 No comments

Half the actual fun of planning a vacation is getting to choose somewhere you get to go. Every time I get one of my free travel guides, I like flipping through the several pages to see which locations jump out at me personally. Everybody looks for different things within a location.

Some people would like to waste their entire time bathing in the sun. Some individuals want to waste their time visiting historical places. While other people would like to devote their time observing the locals. What ever it is you want to do you will want to have an action plan arranged before you decide to even think about packing your luggage.

When preparing a vacation you should investigation the destination or locations you are considering. If you are not necessarily positive where you would like to visit, search through the free travel guide for a few ideas. I would suggest deciding on two to three locations to pick from.

Once you have chosen a couple of destinations, you will need to make sure you research each destination. You should know the best time of the year to visit there, the weather conditions, etc It is always helpful if you can speak to someone who has been there before. They will be able to make it easier to comprehend the lay of the land before you have made your selection.

Now that you’ve done your research setting up a final selection will become easier. Once your destination is scheduled, you should start planning around it. Determine what clothes you will need. If, you need any specific medicine or shots prior to going. Also, you will need to determine whether or not you will have to exchange foreign currency prior to going.

Do not over schedule you vacation. You will want to keep a light routine. Simply because trips hardly ever go as prepared, having a tight schedule could backfire on you. Instead, think about preparing to always be spontaneous while on holiday.

You’ll be shocked how calming staying spontaneous can make your trip. You’ll be able to mark places of interests in your free travel brochure. As soon as you arrive there you may make plans to explore the various locations. I’d additionally include a wish list of extras. Just incase you’ve got the additional time, you can add in these locations.

Remember, the airlines currently have bag weight limitations. Keep in mind domestics weight restrictions aren’t the same as international weight restrictions. Therefore, you will need to travel light. For all us ladies out there, you will want to leave room for shopping. What would a vacation be without having shopping?

Free travel guides can be very beneficial when planning your next vacation. Take the stress out of coordinating your next holiday with free travel brochures. This article shows how stress free a vacation can be when utilizing travel brochures.

Plan Your Weekend Trips

June 16th, 2010 No comments

Weekend trips will be the simplest choice for people who cannot realize time to travel for long vacations. Weekend visits can save it slow, as well as free you from the strain and pressures of everyday life.

Following are some of the steps you wish to follow to plan your weekend trip effectively:

1. Draft A Set up:

Firstly, you would like to draft a plan. You will have to mend the day on which you are going, so that you’ll be able to prepare beforehand for the trip. You furthermore may would like to decide on an applicable destination, as you do not have much time. Don’t select a destination way removed from your house as you’ll waste your time in traveling.

2. Set up a Weekend Trip as per your Necessities:

You would like to arrange a weekend trip as per your requirements. You may would like to visit your relatives for a trip. Alternatively, you may need travel among the state. You would like to pick out an acceptable arrange that fits your requirements.

3. Select the Best Deal:

You would like to perform a very little analysis before you approach a native travel agent. Compare the rates of all travel agents in your city. Then, choose a deal that offers relatively cheap rates. This method, you may save money and find satisfaction from the trip.

4. Pack Properly:

As you are not going for a protracted journey, you wish to pack the baggage accordingly. First, you would like to list down all the things that you would like to carry. Build certain that you do not over pack, as there can be problem in carrying them. You’ll be able to stuff all your garments by rolling them in your bag. This can be the best technique to guard your garments from wrinkling.

5. Get Your Automotive Checked:

If you intend to drive in your car for the trip, then keep in mind to test all parts of your vehicle properly. Check the condition of the automobile and see whether it’s appropriate for a long trip.

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