Asia occupies a quarter of the earth’s land mass, it spans a lot of time zones. Having a single travel guide for all of Asia is virtually impossible. Asia like any other continent, has its certain hot spots, here are basic travel tips for a few of the most happening countries in Asia.
Vietnam The country’s recommended tourist spots are Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, which are both modernized. All tourists in Vietnam, except Thai and Philippine Nationals need a tourist Visa before entering the Country. Health wise, Malaria is prevalent in Vietnam, it would be best to bring with you anti-mosquito lotions to prevent being bit.
Indonesia Aside from the usual prohibition of narcotics and deadly weapons, Radio cassette Players are banned in the Island of Bali, which is a prime tourist spot in Indonesia. Any object with Chinese characters written on it, are also prohibited in Bali.
Thailand Thai people are very religious and very loyal to the monarchy. You would often see pictures of the king around the cities, never make fun of him. The Thai also consider the head as the highest part of the body, whether spiritual or physical. Refrain from touching anybody in the head, and try not to point at anything with your foot.
Malaysia It’s best to bring light and cool clothing in Malaysia. You would usually find food stands in the cities selling the local delicacies, “teh tarik” a creamed tea, and “roti canai” a type of pancake, are a must try when you do encounter them. Malaysia has many religions, you would usually see, a variety of Christian churches, Muslim Mosques and Buddhist and Hindu temples may be present in each city.
Philippines The Philippine has 7,107 islands and islets; beaches are the main tourist spots in the country. There are several museums and Historical Landmarks in Manila, the country’s capital. Boracay Island is the boast of the country which has white sand beaches. You’ll find a “tiangge”, which is a sort of bazaar with stalls that sell almost anything, in most parts of the country, even inside malls. Tiagges are a good place to find souvenirs as well as cheap goods.
General Tips
Each country in Asia has its own currency, although up-end establishments will accept dollars, there are very few of these around. It is best to have your money changed at the local bank. Some hotels also offer money changing, but usually at a lower exchange rate.
Pickpockets are present in most tourist spots, so be careful with your valuables. Separate money from checks and credit cards, have two sets if you can so that you won’t be left dry if you fall victim to a pickpocket.
Buy tickets 3-5 months before your departure date. Some airlines offer discounts for early buyers. It’s also best to buy your tickets at least 20 days in advance to ensure the best seating possible, most discounted tickets sell out fast. You should also know that Airline Tickets are subject to price increase, especially during Christmas season, buying early avoids further ticket increase.
Never fly on weekends If you’re planning a trip, plan to leave on weekdays, preferable Monday to Wednesday. Weekends are high traffic times, for travelers and would probably cost you an additional $25-$40 increase.
Don’t travel During Peak season Airlines tend to increase ticket prices during Peak travel season due to the increase in demand. Traveling during low season is also advantageous if you want to avoid airport and tourist spot crowds. If you really have to travel during peak season, consider leaving home early and going home late to avoid the rush.
How long to Stay Yes your travel stay also affects airline ticket prices. Airlines give discounts if you stay at least a week at your destination and return within 90 days.
Consider a Connecting Flight Contrary to popular belief, direct flights aren’t always the cheapest. Some people have saved up to $1000 dollars on booking connecting instead of Direct flights. If you don’t have a lot of luggage, and aren’t very particular with time, it is best, and a lot cheaper to book a connecting flight instead of direct.
Use the senior citizen discount Some Airlines offer the same senior Citizen discount for the companions of the Senior Citizen. Ask if it’s available.
The Early Bird gets the Airline Ticket Call Airlines at 12:01 am on Wednesday mornings. This is when airlines release all the new fares and seat plans. You can be first and choose the best and cheapest tickets at this time.
Shop in the Internet The best feature of the internet is that you see all available Prices at a very convenient place, your home. You won’t have to canvass travel agencies. Some internet sites even offer internet only discounts that you can benefit from if you avail of their services.
When you do shop on the internet Check first with travel agents regarding prices, Internet prices aren’t always cheap, it’s best to ask a good old travel agent. It won’t hurt to look at news papers too, as some airlines publish discounts on print. If you’re planning to buy more than 6 months in advance, it’s probably best to ask a travel guide as internet sites don’t usually have schedules for longer than six months.
Traveling through Europe is definitely an exciting experience. To ensure a smooth and enjoyably safe tour, here are some tips for your Europe vacation.
1. Documents
All of the people in Europe, including tourists, are obliged to own documentation for personal identification.
Since the increasing number of terrorists that try to enter Europe, the checkpoints on all borders have been strictly controlled. All tourists, depending on which country in Europe they intend to visit, should always have their passport and visa wherever they go.
When you are unable to surrender your valid visa or passport when authorities ask for it, you would be deported or even jailed.
2. Languages. There are 320 mixed spoken languages used in Europe today.
Out of the 320, the most used and important are the Baltic, Celtic, Romance, Germanic and Slavonic languages.
Majority of the people in European countries speak multiple languages besides their mother tongue. English is used daily for politics and business.
Learn to speak the native tongue for important questions and courtesy you would need in your tour.
3. Electricity
Majority of the European countries make use of 230 volts that operate in 50 Hertz.
Prevent plugging a device intended for 60 Hertz into a 50 Hertz outlet.
4. Cars and driving
To be able to drive a car in all the countries in Europe, you should be 18 years old and have a valid driver’s license.
It is illegal for a driver not to wear a seatbelt. This is also applicable to everyone inside the car.
Majority of the countries in mainland Europe have right-hand traffic. Left-hand traffic is used only in Ireland, Cyprus, Malt and the islands of England.
The insurance of all cars is obligatory. If your car has been pulled over, the insurance certificate is always asked for.
5. Planning your necessities is important. This includes transportation, food, and hotel accommodations
Food in Europe may come expensive. But if you plan ahead and check your travel guide, you could always search for a reasonably priced meal around your area. There are hundreds of local markets and groceries for your food supply.
If you are planning to take the train, call the station for a reservation.
Always arrive at least 30 minutes before the train schedule to ensure that you will not miss the train if ever you get lost on the way to the European station.
Traveling in a foreign European country should not be a hassle. Plan ahead. Know the native tongue and have the best time of your life.
Getting travel insurance before traveling is a smart idea. All-inclusive travel policies cover trip cancellation and even medical and theft circumstances. Check out the following tips to land you on a better bargain.
Some credit card companies have their own policies regarding travel insurances if you use the card to purchase the ticket. So better check on it first.
There are airline and cruise line companies that offer travel insurance policies. However, they may go bankrupt and the insurance might lose its value. It’s better if you buy a policy from an insurance company.
There are different policies attached to certain travel insurance. Some companies even offer different types of travel polices. Be sure to get a good grasp on the contents of the policy before actually buying it.
Be sure that the medical coverage of the travel insurance is well stipulated in the policy. Be sure to understand them well so that you know what are included. If you are getting a policy for the entire family, see to it that all the members are included. This is because some insurance policies limit to a number of persons only.
Know how much the company is paying for in case something happens. For example in case of theft, how much would they be paying for the lost items. Will the company be paying in full for the lost items? Also be sure that the valuable things that you will be bringing with you on the trip are covered. And in case the trip is called off or cut short, will the company be giving you a full refund?
Make sure you know the term that goes with it. In case of a medical emergency while traveling, will you have to pay for the medical bills yourself and get a reimbursement afterwards or will the insurance policy take care of them immediately?
There is more than one way of getting travel insurance. Check out the internet. This way you get to look around and get a better deal. You never even have to leave the comfort of your own home or take a time off from work.
Most travel insurance policies include trip cancellation insurance and medical insurance that ranges between five and seven percent of the price of your trip. The price of such is based on the age of the traveler and the cost of the trip while traveling.
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