Top 5 Reasons Why Venice Isn’t Great

Filed under Cruises by on April 16, 2012 at 15:46 {no comments}

In highschool, I went on a trip all over Italy. Truthfully, it’s what got me started on traveling. After all, when you’re 17 years old and wandering around a beautiful, exotic county, how could the travel bug not bite?

We spent the first three days in Rome/Vatican City (it was Easter Weekend, and I went to a Catholic high school… so you know, it was a pretty natural thing to spend the first three days in and around the Vatican, and it is honestly an amazing thing to be in the Vatican during Easter Weekend), then went to Florence, Pompeii, Assisi, Milan, Lake Como and of course… Venice.

Sure, Venice might have lots of interesting history and cool old buildings and architecture – I’ll grant you that. But you can learn all about that from books and documentaries, and you’d be better off doing so. An actual visit to the city isn’t so great, and I’ll give you five good reasons why that’s the case and its one shining star.

1) Since smells can make a bigger impact on people than almost anything else in life, let’s start there. Try to imagine what Venice smells like…. garlic and basil? Hardly. Maybe you’re thinking it smells like the sea at least, with all it’s water? Not quite. It smells like diesel and garbage. All the boat-traffic means constant diesel fumes permeating the air, and the canals are also their sewer system. So unless you think the smell of a train-depot mixed with a septic tank is appealing, you might want to take this town off the itinerary.

2) Venice is a tourist magnet. Look up “tourist trap” on Virtual Tourist’s guide to Venice and it’ll show you a picture of the whole city. And the locals are a little tired of it all. This notion of grumpy locals who are sick of tourists cemented itself in my mind when our group was standing on the Bridge of Sighs and someone came barging through, pushing girls and boys aside and blowing a whistle. We asked our guide (after she finished yelling and waving her hands at him) if he was some form of Police Officer. Nope, just another one of the locals that was so sick of tourists they actually carry whistles on them to scare and trick people into getting out of their way. Not exactly a friendly welcome.

3) Venice is essentially Alfred Hitchcock’s “The Birds” come to life! There is no escaping these things; they swarm all the piazzas and try to eat your food, wait on all the towers and tops of buildings to flock around intruders, and their is pigeon poo everywhere. Everywhere! You’ll walk in it, probably get pooped on at least once, and just when you’re far enough from the canals to stop smelling the diesel and garbage is when the smell of pigeon poo starts creeping in. I never thought of pigeons as a nuisance bird (like seagulls are) until visiting Venice. Now I know how bad they can be.

4) As noted in #2, there is no such thing as a “tourist trap” in Venice because the entire place is a tourist trap. If you’ve ever wondered what Vegas would feel like if it was built on the sea and made of buildings many hundreds of years old, then go to Venice. It might be missing the overbearing glitz of the neon signs, but there are just as many street vendors and hawkers doing everything they can to get your attention so you’ll buy their wares. If your idea of a vacation is constant pestering and people getting in your face so you’ll buy something, head to Venice. If not, move along.

5) High tides (acqua alta) are something that any coastal city has to deal with, but Venice’s have been getting worse and worse over the centuries. It sits on stone slabs that in turn sit on soil, and the soil has been sinking. To make matters even worse, the sea level around Venice has been rising as well. This combination has led to flooded streets anytime a decent storm blows up. And lets not forget that the canals are their sewer system. Not an ideal vacation when you’re walking through sewage-laden flooded streets.

Want to start budget traveling around the world? Or read a vacation guide steering you away from trip letdowns? Check out DiscoverWithAndy.. Unique version for reprint here: Top 5 Reasons Why Venice Isn’t Great.

Buy The Good France Travel Insurance

Filed under Europe Travel by on April 3, 2012 at 19:51 {no comments}

Schengen Visa Travel Insurance is mandatory for those who are planning to visit Schengen countries. Without a travel insurance coverage, you will not be able to travel to any Schengen country.

There are a total of 25 countries within Europe that require a Non US traveler to apply for Schengen Visa. These European countries are Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Greece, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.

Whenever a traveler applies for a Schengen Visa, he/she must also apply for travelers insurance simultaneously. The time period of the travel insurance must be from the time they land in the Schengen Country until the period they exit from the country.

The validity of a Schengen Visa is from 14 days to 90 days and hence even the travel insurance plan must be within the same time frame. It can be extended as and when the traveler renews their Schengen Visa after the completion of their stay. The minimum amount of travel insurance to be taken is $37,500 for any of the above mentioned 25 Schengen countries.

The insurance covers emergency medical expenses such as prescription of drugs, trip cancellation, lost baggage, trip interruption, delay in baggage and even accidental death. The travel insurance does not cover pre existing medical conditions.

While taking a travel insurance policy for the country you plan to travel, ensure that the travel insurance company has got their own representative office in that country of travel. If not, check with other travel insurance companies. Once a traveler returns back to his home country, the policy becomes void.

There is no need for visitors to undergo any pre-medical examination before taking a travel insurance policy. Here we will provide you with an example of the amount of premium to be paid. For a policy cover amount of $50,000 per couple who are both aged 25 years, will be $79 for both which is valid for 1 month. Benefits include ICU expenses, hospital expenses, drugs, surgery etc. upto the sum assured amount.

Incase you prefer traveling to France or any other Schengen Visa countries, you can find out more by clicking this link regarding travel insurance for France.

Jon Hendricks frequently writes about travel and travel insurance. To know more about Schengen Visa Travel Insurance and travel insurance for France visit the site.

Have A Relaxing Break In The Yorkshire Dales

Filed under Europe Travel by on April 1, 2012 at 22:07 {no comments}

The Yorkshire Dales are a popular destination with many tourists, with some returning year after year. It has seen many visitors over the years, with some coming for holidays and others visiting for the day. It is a fantastic place for photographers with many splendid views waiting to be photographed.

For people visiting the region on holiday, there is a wide choice of places to stay. Whether you choose to stay in a bed and breakfast, a hotel or one of the many caravan parks in and around the district, you are sure to enjoy your visit. When you are looking for a coffee or something to eat, there is a great choice of cafes and restaurants in the area.

Some towns have become known for their parts in television and films. Tourists are attracted to the area to see the places where their favourite shows have been filmed. Some of them come in the hope that they may spot their favourite actors.

The National parks should not be missed when you are in the region. Whilst in the park you will come across the wildlife who live amongst the beautiful countryside. There are many varieties of plants and animals for you to spot while out walking. The park has many varied and interesting walks around the parks. If you would like to take your dog with you, this is allowed but the animal must be kept under control.

The National Park is a wonderful place for animal habitats for the various animals that live there. Some of the animals that can be found there include birds, fish, butterflies to name but a few. You will get a chance to see many species whilst visiting the park. Waterfalls are another exciting feature of the parks.

For experienced walkers, there are many trails throughout the area. The mapped out routes give the walker the best chance to see a variety of wildlife. You will find an excellent spot if you wish to stop and have a relaxing break whilst out walking.

For people with families looking for a seaside holiday, the area has some wonderful beaches. Whitby and Scarborough are among the excellent seaside towns in the area. Children and adults alike will enjoy the clean beaches the towns offer. For people who enjoy fishing, the towns have excellent facilities for you to enjoy a spot of fishing.

The wonderful scenery in and around The Yorkshire Dales make it an excellent place for films. The picturesque villages and towns are excellent places to photograph. Many actors have been spotted in and around the area by locals and tourists.

There are some beautiful hotels in Yorkshire Dales, for example The Ripon Spa hotel in Yorkshire.

Are Travel Agents worth The Money?

Filed under Europe Travel by on March 30, 2012 at 22:21 {no comments}

Many travelers agonize about the details of prospective trips. They worry about missing out on the best prices. They fear that there may be sights or activities in their favorite cities that they don?t even know about. In many cases a travel agent can allay these fears. Travel agents can take care of every detail involved in planning a trip. For some travelers placing trust in a travel agent to manage the many choices involved in booking travel is a wise choice. But travel agents add additional costs to travel. Booking fees are one example of the added cost incurred by using a travel agent. In addition, there is no guarantee that a travel agent is going to offer the cheapest rates to a client. For those travelers who don?t minddoing the work themselves, all the information possessed by travel agents is also available for the general public.

The world has changed a lot, and with all the new technologies and to millions of online business is no longer the real needs of our service, travel agents, we can become our own. Internet Website services provided by travel agencies and similar costs will be charged a small booking process. You can choose to browse and compare a few Websites to find the best price, your package with the travel agent a few days before the Internet; you can only confirm the prices with local travel agents and are usually not many.

Travel planning sites will take care of many details for you; they will make sure that you have a place to stay, a mode of transportation, transfers to and from the airport and they can even book activities for you to do while on your trip. Most of the major travel sites will even offer discounts for last minute travel, off season travel and specials given out for reduced fares, making them carry even more value for your money. This gives you an opportunity to visit places you couldn?t afford to go before.

One fear that users of online travel sites have is the lack of personalized customer service. Many of these sites offer the choice of using a human customer service agent to handle problems or answer questions.

One aspect of international travel that typically cannot be accomplished online is the procurement of visas and passports. In the past, travel agents were often able to help with visas but this is often not practical to do online. Travel websites will certainly provide you with accurate information about what documents are necessary for your chosen destination. They will also provide you with instructions about who you need to see to obtain these important travel documents.

With this information in mind, it is up to you to decide whether you wish to use a brick-and-mortar travel agency or handle the task yourself online. Are you willing to pay the added expense in exchange for the one-on-one human interaction; or, do you prefer to save money that can be invested in a more exciting travel experience?

No matter how you decide to book your trip, the most important thing is that you are able to afford to do the things you love while there and that you have time to relax. If you are willing to spend more money and do not like to spend time browsing the internet for a deal, then a travel agent may be the best option for you. For those of us that are more value-conscious, we might be more inclined to spend a couple of hours browsing travel sites and comparing the packages of our dreams.

Graham McKenzie is the content coordinator for the leading UK Flight Comparison website, which offers detailed information on Booking a Flight from the UK.

The Adventure You Can Expect From Passover Cruises 2012

Filed under Cruises by on March 30, 2012 at 18:05 {no comments}

There is no better time to go on holiday than when the service providers are ready to offer generous discounts to clients. The festive season is full of many bargains that operators usually put forward for anybody willing to escape the monotony of daily life. Passover cruises 2012 are a good example of discount holiday packages that fun lovers can take advantage of.

The booking process normally takes place a couple of weeks before departure from sea ports. An early payment of the reservation fees gives so many advantages. The organizers are ready to give discounts when clients sign up for the adventure in advance.

The journeys to reputed world renowned tourist destinations are well organized. Clients are not only taken to various destinations but there is also the opportunity to visit locations of religious significance. The vacations even allow for the chance to see wildlife, visit big sea ports and play games.

But what exactly is the length that one will spend at sea. It largely depends on the amount of money paid to organizers. Some holiday lovers may prefer short adventure trips. For others, being out for a long while is much more exciting. It is possible to sign up for a trip that lasts only a couple of days. When one has a long break from work, they can choose to go on adventure for several weeks.

The heritage tours are traditionally known to revolve around religion. They are meant to accord the chance for people to practice their faith and enjoy fun at the same time. The money paid is for this reason usually much less that in ordinary trips. Visits to religious sites are part of the entire affair. Besides, games such as skiing and skating are provided.

Lovers can book Passover cruises 2012 and even request for activities such as engagements or weddings to be held on the ships. The arrangement is facilitated at a subsidized charge. It would be a better means to commence matrimonial life.

When you are planning out your next holiday trip, you should think about going on one of the Kosher Passover 2012 options provided by Kosherica! Not only do they travel to popular locations, such as the Mediterranean and Australia, their cruises also have kosher menu options and feature presentations by Jewish scholars and Jewish-themed music concerts and performances. Book your next great Jewish holiday trip today!

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