Sofia – Bulgaria

Sofia in Bulgaria is located inland by about 200 miles from the coastline in the centre of the Balkan Peninsula, which is surrounded by the Adriatic, Black and Aegean Seas. It is surrounded by beautiful mountains and as you would expect for the region has a climate that is a welcome change from that in the UK.

One of the main tourist attractions is the Natural History Museum which was first opened in 1973. It is now located on the edge of Vitosha Mountain. It has a vast range of visits with most recent counts estimating more than 650,000 artifacts. It’s collection contains some of the oldest gold treasures in the world with some dating back more than 6,000 years.

There are a significant number of churches and monasteries in Bulgaria, this is mainly because during the years of foreign rule these areas were used as centres of learning and culture. The most famous of these are: Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, which is easily recognisable due to it’s gold dome. This relic was built between 1882 and 1912, and is definitely one of main landmarks of downtown Sofia.

St George Church is one of the oldest buildings in Sofia, it is closely located to the Sheraton Hotel. It is estimated that the Church was built in the 4^th century, with the Chuch currently operating as a museum.

Sofia has a wide range of parks which offer a respite from the noise and the crowds. The largest of these are the South Park which is located near to the Palace of Culture and the Boris Gardens, which are located near to the Sofia university buildings.

Due to the climate of Sofia, depending on the time of year that you visit will present you with different activities to take part in. If you are looking to ski, the best time to visit is between early December and the end of April.

During the Winter and Spring the weather in Sofia is warm and comfortable, although there is a reasonable amount of rain. Generally there are cool evenings and dewy mornings.

The summer brings heat and dry weather, most Summer days are pleasant with the mountains providing cool and refreshing evenings.

Sofia provides a wide range of restaurants and bars. The most popular of these include Etno, Pod Lipite (which provides organic food), and Tambuktu (a fish restaurant). When eating out in Sofia it is recommended that you tip in cash and a usual tip is considered to be around 15-20% of the meal price.

As you would expect there are wide number of night spots, with a number providing modern dance music with more traditional venues available as well.

Due to the nature of the location it is a tourist hotspot and is definitely worth a visit!

Going to Prague

Prague is generally perceived to be one of the most beautiful of the eastern European cities. You can easily walk around the whole of the town, so it is definitely suggested that you bring some comfortable shoes. It is possible to make it round all of the major sites in around 3-4 days.

Prague is separated by a river, the Vltava River, with Jewish Quarter, the Old Town and the New Town on one side, with Lesser Town and Prague Castle on the other. Crossing the river is made possible by the Charles Bridge which is an attraction in it’s own right.

There are number of tours which you can take to help you to get your bearings, as with most major cities there is the bus tour which whisks you around in the comfort of a bus, or alternatively there are variety of walking tours that you can sign up to.

The best place to start your visit is the Old Town Square, where you will find the Astronomical Clock placed on the Old Town Hall, and also the Tyn Church and incredible spires that it boasts. I would recommend a climb up the old Town Hall tower, which has an incredible view from it’s summit.

The Jewish Quarter is located close to the Old Town Square, and has a variety of attractions including the Spanish Synagogue, the Maisel Synagogue and the Ceremonial Hall.

There are several ways to get to Prague Castle, but we have found the easiest to be taking a tram (no 22 or 23) to Pohorelec. This takes you to above the castle and you can then walk downhill to the Lesser Town area.

One of the advantages of visiting Prague is the cost, as the Czech Republic is not currently part of the Euro, which compared to visiting France, Italy or Spain makes it extremely cheap. Drinks can typically be purchased for around a couple of pounds, with a meal costing around £15-£20. This has helped to make Prague to become a destination of choice for travellers looking for a cheap weekend break! Please be wary though as there are a huge number of hen and stag parties that attend the city at weekends, so it can become quite wild as you can imagine!

It has become more commercialised due to this influx of visitors, with several large nightclubs and a variety of bars and restaurants now opening. However if you visit during the week, this will give you the opportunity to experience the culture somewhat more.

All in all Prague is beautiful old city with lots to do, if you want to visit ancient remains or old nightclubs it can accommodate your needs. Definitely worth a visit!

First time travellers – be safe not sorry!

For those of us who are used to travelling for whatever reason, maybe business, maybe pleasure, or even a mixture of both, we know the ins and outs of the procedures we go through to get where we want to go.  If it’s for the purpose of a business trip, all that’s needed is a place to meet and talk with clients and a room to sleep in for the night.  However, things are a little different when going on pleasure trips or holidays and more than a hotel room is what´s required in this case.  As an inexperienced traveller there are a few things you need to know about and here are some tips to help you make your trip a great success.

It’s always a good idea to find out a little about the culture, customs and history of the place you are visiting.  Take time to learn about their dress manners, their religious practices, their eating habits and their government.

Try to pick up a few sentences in their language, for example, how to greet them and how to say goodbye.  Yes, we all know that English is used all over the world, but the locals will really appreciate you learning a few useful phrases.  You can do this at your library or by using translation websites on the Internet prior to setting off on you travels.

Travel light if you can.  It means you will be able to get around more freely and easily.  This doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice taking things you want with you; it simply means you need only take the essentials.  You could get away with packing a few toiletries, any medicines you may need, a couple of changes of clothes and different forms of spending power like credit or debit cards, cash and travellers´ cheques. Oh, and don’t forget your camera, of course!

Making sure your travel documents are safe is very important.  You could invest in a body document bag to store your passport, travel tickets, insurance and other valuables and wear it underneath your clothing.  When you arrive at your hotel, make use of the safe facilities on offer whenever possible.

Be vigilant and remember that when you are a tourist in a new place you are likely to get special treatment, but this also makes you a target for theft.

Travel safety is necessary if you don’t want to end up being a victim of crime whilst you are on your trip.  Don’t wear expensive looking jewellery and clothing and don’t flash the latest mobile phone around.  The thieves are obviously attracted to affluence. They will spot you from a mile away and you will soon become their prey.

As far as your luggage is concerned make sure your luggage labels are covered so your details are concealed from prying eyes.

Wherever you are travelling it’s always a good idea to have the address and telephone number of your country´s consul office or embassy, just in case you find yourself in difficulties and need some help.

Whilst the above mentioned tips may initially give you cause for concern, it’s all about keeping safe whilst you are away and as long as you do this, you are sure to have a great time and hopefully not encounter any problems whatsoever.  Be safe, not sorry!

Security for your luggage while travelling

There is a great deal of information at your fingertips about which kind of luggage is the best to take when you are travelling.  There are numerous reviews put together by people giving their opinion of what they prefer as far as luggage goes.  However, throughout this article we are going to assume you have already purchased your luggage and we are going to concentrate on how to keep your luggage safe whilst you are on your travels.

It’s more or less guaranteed that if we haven’t actually lost a piece of our own luggage during our lifetime, we know someone who has.  It causes all sorts of problems whether we are just setting off on holiday or have finished our time away and are on our way back home.  Luggage getting lost is a frequent occurrence. However, there are many more instances of bags and cases getting damaged due to mishandling by airport and airline staff whilst the luggage is in transit from one point to another, or simply by accident.

The way in which you choose to use your luggage is down to you, but there are some things you can do to cut down the risk of losing or damaging it.  Here are a few tips to help you.

• Don’t over pack your cases and hold-alls. This is the most common cause of luggage being damaged and you also risk the contents getting lost or damaged when you pack your case in this way. The zip should fasten comfortably and not be bursting at the seams. The last thing you want to see when waiting at the baggage reclaim in the arrivals area of the airport is your personal belongings scattered all over the luggage carousel. If you find you have too many belongings to fit into one piece of luggage then take another one with you as well, instead of stuffing everything into the one case. Secure your case by fastening a strap around it to make it more difficult to come undone whilst it is being transferred.
• There are thieves about and they won’t think twice about stealing your luggage if you are foolish enough to leave it unattended so make sure you keep it with you at all times.
• It’s a good idea to pack your jewellery and any other items of value you want to take away with you in your hold luggage. This will reduce the risk of you becoming a victim of robbery.
• Make sure your name, address and a telephone number that you can be contacted on are displayed on both the inside and the outside of your luggage. The latter of the two is, of course, best concealed in a covered luggage tag. This could be particularly useful if your case is lost as opposed to stolen and it increases the possibility of your luggage being returned to you safe and sound.

By following these simple guidelines mentioned above you will lessen the risk of your luggage being lost, damaged or stolen and you will also have peace of mind whilst you are travelling which means you are likely to enjoy your holiday even more.

10 tips for safety when travelling

• 1. Safety starts with what you put in your case or hold-all when you are going on a trip away from home.  In order to lessen your chances of becoming a victim of theft or robbery, avoid wearing jewellery that looks like it may be valuable, and always dress in a conservative manner.  An affluent appearance sticks out like a sore thumb and indicates to criminals that there is a good chance you are a tourist.
• 2. Try to travel as light as possible as this means you will have a free hand and be able to move quicker if you need to.  You will probably be more tired if you are weighed down with luggage and might even inadvertently leave your luggage unattended.  Remember, a minute is all it takes and your bags may be gone!
• 3. As far as valuables are concerned, don’t take any that are not absolutely essential.  Find a secret place to hide them on your person and make sure you don’t keep them all in the same place.  Leave your passport, credit cards and any cash you have in the hotel´s safe.  Try not to use handbags, bum-bags and pockets on the outside of your clothing – thieves simply love these kinds of accessories and trendy clothes.  The best place to keep your valuables is in a money belt or body pouch that is worn underneath your clothing.  You could also use a sturdy bag with the strap crossed over your chest or a well hidden inside pocket.
• 4. If you wear glasses remember to take an extra pair along with you.  Pack these and any medication you may need in your hand luggage.
• 5. You can avoid all sorts of problems with Custom by making sure medicines are clearly labeled and in their original containers.   Take a photocopy of your prescription and note the generic names of any drugs you are taking accompanied by a letter from your GP if your medication contains any form of narcotic certifying that you need the drugs.  If in doubt, consult the Embassy or Consulate of the country you are visiting prior to setting off.
• 6. Take a couple of credit cards or debit cards and travellers´ cheques with you instead of large amounts of cash.
• 7. Photocopy any important documents, such as your passport, tickets and travellers´ cheques, just in case they are lost or stolen whilst you are travelling.
• 8. Use covered luggage tags and make sure your name, address and contact phone number are on both the inside and outside of all your luggage and that it is locked whenever possible.
• 9.  Think about the advantages of having a calling card.  It’s a great way of keeping in touch with folk back home.  Make sure, however, that it can be used in your destination country.
• 10. It will pay you to check up about restrictions on the carriage of liquids, lighters and matches.  These rules change from time to time and you really need to know where you stand about this before you start on your journey.

Buy a rail pass and get discount train travel offers all around Europe

With so many options open to you which way do you turn?

Will you go for consecutive or flexible travel, tickets allowing you to visit just one country or as many foreign lands as you choose, saver passes or rail and drive combinations? The possibilities are endless, not to mention quite daunting.  However, spending a little time carrying out research into this subject can, without doubt, be advantageous. When you buy a rail pass it cuts down the time you will be waiting about in queues in the train station and you don’t have to put your foreign language skills to the test to make your purchase.   There is also the fact that you can save so much money on your travel expenses, providing, of course, you select the best pass for your needs.

There are European rail passes to suit every kind of traveller, but probably the best known and most popular is the original Eurail Global Pass which affords you the luxury of going back and forth to your favour¡te places within eighteen European countries.

Eurail Select Pass previously known as the Europass allows travellers to crisscross up to five bordering countries whereas multi-country passes let the pass holder explore specific regions and some of their adjoining countries. If you are only planning to visit one country, the best option would be a single country pass.

European rail passes come in two different formats.  There are consecutive passes which are good for any period of time between two weeks and three months and allow non-stop travel for the validity of the pass.  On the other hand, the flexi pass option is great if you have an itinerary with a limited number of travel days over a long period of time say, for example, anything from three to ten days of travel within a sixty day period.  As the name would suggest, rail and drive flexi passes include car hire days as well as rail travel days.

There are different classes of travel available with each kind of pass.  Eurail Global and Select Pass are strictly first class travel without exception.  Single and Multi country rail passes usually allow first and second class travel and Scanrail and Norway Rail passes along with Youth Passes are second class travel only.

The majority of passes offer discounts.  For example the Saver pass gives groups of people travelling by train great reductions in the cost of their tickets and Youth passes are ideal for students and those taking gap year breaks around Europe.  Senior citizens can get discounted travel as can children under the age of twelve years as long as an adult is accompanying them.  Infants and babies usually travel free of charge.  Some rail passes also offer you a discount when using other modes of transport for example, buses, ferries and private trains like Eurostar, and sleeper upgrades as well as deals on accommodation and entry to local attractions are often available with the pass.

If it is your intention to take a trip through Europe, make sure you read all the fine print.  Purchase your rail pass prior to setting off on your journey – it’s so much easier than trying to do it abroad.  Remember, although a pass does not guarantee you will get to sit down on the train, as a rule it’s not necessary to book your seat in advance unless, of course, you are travelling during peak times or on trains which everyone has to book in advance for like TGV´s.  Keep your passport close to hand and make sure you get your pass validated prior to boarding the first train of your journey.

Safety Tips whilst you travel

SAFETY TRIPS FOR WHILST YOU ARE TRAVELLING

There are a few basic rules of staying safe while you are travelling.  First of all you need to know a little about the countries you are going to and the places you intend to visit.  Travelmake’s Destination Guides is a great place to start gathering this information and as well as being able to use these details to plan your trip you will also become familiar with all the local regulations and practices.  Our on line store offers you everything you need from maps to first aid kits as far as making your trip safe is concerned. Here are some of our top safety tips to help you on your way.

• Always take out travel insurance and if you can get cover that pays the medical provider direct, that’s even better.
• Prior to setting off on your travels, take a photocopy of all important paperwork, including tickets, Passport or ID card and travellers´ cheques. This will be useful if you lose anything or it gets stolen.
• Keeping a low profile is always advisable. Leave expensive or showy jewellery at home and don’t take other valuables away from the hotel´s safe. Try to blend in with the people around you and only carry as much money with you as you need. If you have to have your valuables with you then put them in a hidden inner pocket or a money belt.
• Keep your travel plans to yourself, don’t go public with them.
• Be alert at all times, especially when you are visiting high risk countries.
• When you use your credit card, never let it leave your sight and make sure the card you get back is yours.
• Don’t leave personal items unattended.
• Show respect for local customs and regulations.
• Make sure you have the telephone number of the Embassy or Consulate office on you at all times and use it if you get into trouble.
• Write down a few phrases that may help you in the local language.
• If you are unlucky enough to become the victim of theft, you will need a police report number if you intend making an insurance claim. Thefts of travellers´ cheques have to be reported within a 24 hour period of the offence taking place.

TRAVELLING BY AIR SAFETY TIPS

• Don’t hang about in the main terminal area – get checked in without delay.
• Keep your travel plans to yourself. Don’t discuss them with anyone else.
• Familiarise yourself with safe areas and exits.
• Avoid positioning yourself close to unattended baggage or luggage that doesn’t belong to you. Never leave your own baggage unattended.
• Verify baggage claim checks before as well as after your flight.
• Remain calm yet alert at all times.
• If you can, try to sit in a window seat in the coach section as it’s a position less accessible to hijackers.

SAFETY TIPS IN YOUR HOTEL

• Always get a business card from the hotel and carry it with you during your holiday. It helps if you get lost and need to get a taxi back to your accommodation.
• Stay at a hotel in a safe area of the city or town.
• Lower level floors as the safest as far as escaping from a fire is concerned but you will also need to know where the fire escape routes, alarms and emergency exits are located. Avoid first floor rooms as these are the ones burglars prefer.
• Always lock your room door and before answering a caller at your door make sure you know who it is. Keep strangers out.
• Don’t leave valuables like jewellery, cameras or documents lying around – hotel staff may be tempted to take them if they can see them. Use the hotel safe to store items of value.
• Give the impression your room is occupied by putting up a do not disturb sign when you leave for the day. When you are ready for the room to be serviced, call the maid.
• Take your room key with you and keep it on your person all the time. Don’t leave it on reception.
• Don’t answer the telephone with your name – simply say hello.
• When you return to your room in the evening or late at night use the main entrance of the hotel and be observant of what is going on around you if you are using a car park.

HOTEL SAFETY TIPS IN CASE OF FIRE

• If a fire breaks out in your hotel, remember to take your key with you as you make your way to the fire point because the door of your room will lock behind you as you leave more often than not.
• Never use the lift as your means of egress when the hotel is on fire.
• If you meet with heavy smoke on the stairs, don’t try to run through it as you may not make it. Go to the fire exit on the roof. If this is not possible you may be better off staying put in your room.
• If your room is full of smoke, open a window and turn on the vent in the bathroom.
• If your telephone is working, let reception know where you are or call the fire service to give them your location within the building.
• Use a bed sheet and hang it out of the window to signal you need assistance.
• Fill the bath with water to use to fight the fire and bail water onto any hot areas such as the walls or door of your room.
• Place wet or damp towels into cracks where smoke may enter your room from the corridor outside.
• Filter the smoke you are breathing in by placing a wet towel over your mouth and nose.
• If you are two or more floors high, it’s better to fight the fire in your room than attempt to jump to safety out of the window.

SAFETY TIPS FOR ON THE STREET

• Purchase a map and get to know the local area of your hotel.
• Ask hotel staff about unsafe or unsavoury areas of the town or city and avoid these places whenever possible.
• Don’t stay on the streets at night and if you have to be out in the dark stick to wide and well lit streets. Take a taxi rather than walk in areas you don’t know during the hours of darkness.
• When you are being served with drinks, watch the drink being poured. Never take a drink from someone you don’t know however nice they may seem.
• Ask hotel staff for recommendations of places to eat and be entertained.
• Don’t resist armed robbery – you may end up being even more hurt if things become violent.
• There is only one more thing to be said – take heed of the above tips and enjoy your holiday!

Go to Paris!

Paris is internationally known as a place of romance, whether it is the most romantic city in the world is a matter of opinion. However whenever I have visited Paris it certainly has a certain air about it! There are many things to do in Paris outside of the standard tourist attractions, being the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame Catherdral and the Louvre. Here are some tips and advice for further things that you have to check out if you considering visiting Paris, and to enable you to have the best possible trip.

Paris is very similar to London or New York, with a constant stream of busy people hurrying around on their way to important meetings. From a tourists perspective, this can be interpreted as arrogance, but Paris is a very big city and the stress of city life can drive anybody to be snappy!

Paris is an extremely polits city. Courtesy is extremely important in day to day transactions and dealings. Even if you can just use one word, this will generally demonstrate that you are making an effort and then Parisians are likely to be more considerate.

Central Paris is divvied up into 20 areas or districts which are known as arrondissements. These are arranged in a spiral shape from the centre of the city (clockwise!). Every district has it’s own attractions, in the first for example you find the Louvre, the 2^nd the Paris Stock Exchange.

Paris offers a wide variety of tourist attractions. The most famous of these are The Eiffel Tower (located on the 7^th arrondissement), The Notre Dame Cathedral (located in the 4^th), additionally the Picasso Museum containing Picasso’s own work is located in the 3^rd.

One thing worth investingating is on every Friday night and Sunday afternoon, a mass troop of roller skaters, all skate around the city on a pre-planned route for several hours. I stumbled across this by co-incidence and it was certainly an interesting spectacle!

Paris has a broad range of festivals, with each catering to a different group of the diverse make up of Paris’ population. There is a techno parade in September with DJ’s and thousands of young party goers converging on the city. The Six Nations Rugby is held in the city in Feb, Paris Fashion Week, The French Open (Roland Garros) in May.

Having travelled to Paris on a number of occasions one of the most incredible experiences is the dining! This is to be expected! There are a huge range of restaurants in Paris, with both cheap and extremely expensive. There are number that have secured the coveted Michelin stars, with several within Paris currently holding 3, these include Le Bristol, L’Astrance, Les Ambassadeurs, Guy Savoy, L’Ambroisie and a host of others. If you are looking to visit establishments of this nature it is imperative that you book well in advance as they are extremely popular.

If you are looking for something that it not quite as expensive there is a vast range of cheaper alternatives serving high quality food in many locations in the city.

Additionally there are a wide range of bars and other drinking establishments, although the Parisians traditionally will normally have food with any alcohol that they consume.

Enjoy your trip!

Travel on the cheap

Due to the economic state of the world, tourism has slowed down considerably, but looking on the positive side, this means big savings for travellers in the know.  If you are happy to carry out a little research and plan things in advance, take a look at the tips below which will ensure you get the best value for your money.

If you can be flexible as far as travel dates are concerned you will be able to pick up a really good deal.  Go for dates away from the main holiday times of the year and book your flight or other mode of transport for weekdays as opposed to the weekend.

Check out the least expensive way to travel by rail.  Night trains usually work out quite a bit cheaper than daytime trains and can be combined as your accommodation for the night too making an even further saving of money.

Forget about expensive taxi rides if, for example, you are visiting European cities such as Paris or Amsterdam – do your sightseeing on foot or by bicycle. If you prefer to travel by bus, see what multi journey passes are available from the metro or bus stations.  They work out much cheaper than paying for each individual ride.

Instead of booking yourself into a hotel, take a look at inexpensive hostel accommodation.  Agreed, some may be a little scary, but there are others that are really nice offering private rooms with bathroom facilities at only a fraction of the price you would pay in a hotel.  Although they are not likely to be described as luxurious, they are usually of a reasonable standard.  You are not going to spend loads of time in your room anyway, so making this small sacrifice to save some money shouldn’t be a problem.

If you eat in restaurants and cafes for every meal, the cost soon starts to add up. Decide on a budget before you go to avoid spending more than you can afford.  Alternate between cheap and cheerful meals and better quality ones to get the balance just right. Check out the local eateries mentioned in the guide books and make sure you discover the superb places to eat off the beaten track. Watch the locals – they will guide you to the right places to eat!  Buy snacks and drinks at the supermarket as well as a few items to make up sandwiches just in case you get a bit hungry mid way through the day while you are out and about sightseeing.

Student and AAA discounts allow you to stay at many hostels and hotels at cheaper rates.  They also cut the price of entering certain attractions such as museums and shows so make sure you take advantage of these offers.  If you want to keep down the cost of your holiday, simply ask if there is any discount available – it doesn’t hurt to inquire and you never know, you may get lucky!

Getting ready for a budget holiday

In order to be able to have a holiday for a couple of weeks every twelve months or so, the majority of us have to work really hard throughout the year.  For this reason, we want to get the best deal we can for our annual getaway.  However, did you know that there are ways to make your holiday as good as possible and still be able to do it all again before the year is out?  Well, there are!

In fact, there are quite a few ways of doing this.  You can start by minimizing each and every one of the costs connected with going on holiday and make the most of your savings. All you really need to do is work out where your priorities lie and then get on with the planning.  For example, if a facility like an indoor pool is more important to you than the cuisine on offer, choose an appropriate hotel and then either cook in the room yourself or eat out at low priced cafes and restaurants.

It may well be that you are sick and tired of the daily cooking routine at home and prefer to be waited on hand and foot and have excellent food served to you for a change.  If that’s the case, then economise on your accommodation and enjoy yourself eating out at fancy restaurants for the fortnight.

Like everything else in life, tradeoffs come into planning your holiday on a budget and as long as you prioritise and decide exactly what you want for your money, you will be able to go on the holiday of your dreams.  Things will not be so straightforward if you are going on a family holiday of course, as you will have to take into consideration the wishes of the others.  If this isn’t done it only leads to a car load of sulky kids or a partner giving you the silent treatment.

As far as obtaining the best deals goes, it’s important to make your plans in advance.  This way you will be able to get great prices on flights, car hire and accommodation.  Bargains get snapped up quickly so start looking at least two months before your holiday dates and shop around comparing your local travel agent to the deals on offer on the Internet.

It pays to sign up for special offer notifications from travel companies.  These are sent out in email and newsletter form and they give you advance notification of some really hot travel deals – a great way to make the best of your long awaited holiday.

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