Rule #1. Money

In any case – whether you are going to travel abroad or thinking about a trip inside your country you should start counting your expanses – to determine in advance all of your requirements and compare them with the budget of your tour. It is understood that it’s too foolish to expect a stay in a five star hotel, if you have a modest sum.

In addition, calculate, whether you are planning to hold in the hotel all the time. It doesn’t make any sense to spend money on extra services and luxurious rooms, if you’re just sleeping in it? Anyways the choice of the hotel to needs to be discussed with a supreme seriousness, because it will save you from the rushing and will reduce the time spent at the search of a residence.

Rule #2. Hotel Brand

Remember that it’s better to consider the hotels in comparison. That is, the designation “five stars” still does not guarantee that your room will not encounter mosquitoes and ants, and cleaning will be done on a daily basis. Very often (this is especially typical for the bulk of such resorts as Egypt, Turkey, Bulgaria) we can see two five-star hotels in the neighborhood, but they differ as heaven and earth.

How not to be trapped? First of all, pay attention to the “brand” of the hotel. Of course names of Hilton, Sheraton, Marriott or the Ritz Carlton can offer something to oblige. And by the way these popular hotels are not always expensive (because they are designed for cheap resorts). On the contrary, they may have different levels in the management of hotels, but the quality of service certainly will not be non-satisfactory. Therefore, choosing the hotel through the Internet, navigating to the “global chain” still stands.

Rule #3. Friend Advice

When it’s possible guide yourself by the recommendations of friends. Especially,  if they have travelled abroad not long ago. Friends can tell everything to the smallest details and give its assessment of those hotels where they had rested. In most cases, you can go to the recommended hotel without fear and calmly book rooms via the Internet virtually blind.

But believe all the reviews on the sites of tourist travel agency is not worth it! First, the bad reviews about the hotel can keep competitors. Very often, these messages do not contain any specs, but only bad grade (sometimes in the form of obscene …). And secondly, there are people who do not like the service, even at the hotel, the permit in which costs $ 10-20 thousand. And thirdly, very often the tourists go to a three-star hotel and the service is expected to reach five stars! Then they leave on the websites of the tour operators angry reviews like “The waiter insisted to have a tip!” or “in my room there was no sea view, this is simply a nightmare !!!”. In most cases the situation is dramatized to the most extreme.

Rule #4. Hotel View

On what kind of feedback it is worth paying attention to? Compare the main characteristics of the hotel with the specific “evidence» of the seasoned travelers. Typical tricks “holiday sales”: to point out that the hotel is located on the seashore, it has a beautiful sandy beach, a set of services in the room – at the highest level. While it may be that the sea is 500 meters to go, if not more, beach entrance to the sea is not (for example, in Sharm el-Sheikh virtually you can access sea everywhere, but not from the shore, which is strewn with coral and requires special shoes), and the rooms may not be safe or dry enough, or you might need to pay an additional charge for it. All this may not mean that you have selected a bad hotel. You just need to keep in mind these nuances and to estimate how much may actually cost this holiday. Knowing the details, you will be able to not overpay for travel agency and find a more suitable option.

Rule #5. Hotel Photos

Be vigilant, watching the hotel sites yourself. All of them are presented very, very beautiful. And it is typical for sites of western hotels, and of course Russian. Now, in the age of information technologies, smart marketers realize that the site is the image of the hotel. An image which is not visual for the upcoming guest yet. In fact, it may be that the hotel has been modernized with the latest technologies only in the reception compartment, and the rooms have not seen repairs for 5-10 years. So focus on the “official” photos of the hotel makes no sense.

Rule #6. Hotel Website

Book directly! Hotel website can be used for its intended purpose – for booking rooms. If you are traveling without a specific plan of your tours this is often an ideal option. A confirmation of your reservation will come to e-mail and when settling for your book you would have to pay, and if for some reason you do not make it to this hotel no one will ask you to pay any kind of charges.

You can book both hotel rooms and hostels through the Internet! It’s true, you will be asked to give your credit card in advance. This is to ensure that the hotel will send a confirmation (the so-called voucher for settlement), which, inter alia, requires the consulate for visa.

Many of this method seems to be too strenuous, because everything can be entrusted when travelling by an agency. This is so, but in some cases, for example, when you need a hotel in a particular town, remote from the beaten tourist trail in crowds, booking through the Internet – is the most convenient way. This method is suitable for those who are able to plan for many months in advance and are used to save money and time.

For example, you now, you can book a room in some European town in the beginning of the month in advance, to celebrate here a holiday taking place mid-month. And the prices will be the most attractive ones as usually they go higher during the holiday times!

Rule #7. Travel Agency

Do not avoid travel agencies. It is believed that the travel agency “wounds” the cost of the permits, simply reselling services of tour operators. This is not so! It’s not a fact that buying directly from the tour operator will cost you less than the agency. This can be confirmed by the personal experience. In the agency it will be easier to meet your budget and needs.

However, it will cause no harm to read reviews of tour operators and compare their services: very often the tour operators sell permits in the same hotels at different prices, the cost can vary considerably! With such a “comparison of experiences” it is already possible to go to the travel agency and ask to pick up a tour to a specific hotel for a particular tour operator.

Rule #8. Relax

Relax and enjoy! Even if you’ve been reading the negative reviews of your future hotel, which has already paid for, just never mind! Some people just love to spoil the rest of themselves and for the others, focusing on small things that you probably will not even notice. Let’s just wish you a successful online diving and cloudless holiday!

Glacier Express

It will take you around eight hours to get from Zermatt to St. Moritz on the Glacier Express. Many call it the slowest “express” in the world due to the timing, although it really makes a few stops along the way. However, you would hardly endorse more high-speed travelling while paying for a trip more than 100 euros. The main charm of the route lies in the possibility to admire the splendor of the surrounding mountain scenery as the train route is traced in such a way as to show the best of the.

On their way cabins with large panoramic windows and almost transparent roof overcome nearly three hundred bridges, and nearly one hundred tunnels. For those who want to save a little time and money, it is possible to buy tickets for individual segments of the path, and then move to other types of transports on the half way. By the way, even the ordinary trains, which go from Visp to Zermatt, may be called panoramic, while the price of the trip in this train is incomparably lower. So the choice between options seems to be an article of overall decision.

Harzer Schmalspurbahnen
Harzer Schmalspurbahnen is a network of narrow gauge railways in the Harz Mountains of central Germany. Perhaps, only here you can see a mixture of different types of rolling stocks. First, on the narrow gauge railway still exploit the locomotives produced in the first half of last century.

In the heart of the largest city in the region, Nordhausen, you can see trams with a hybrid diesel engine, since the road is not electrified. In addition, you can come across quite exotic rail buses, imported here in the late 90-ies of the last century. The longest route with the length of 60 km connects Nordhausen and Wernigerode (where, by the way, “The Very Munchausen” was filmed), passes through the scenic trail, makes it possible to admire the stunning mountain scenery.

But it will be better to transfer to another branch at the station Bahnhof Drei Annen Hohne and go to the famous Mount Brocken. As the local residents believe, it is here that annually, on the night of April 30 to May 1 the Sabbath of witches and other evil spirits takes place. But even if we do not take into account the sorcery history of the mountain to climb on it is at least worth with its unique microclimate. Despite the low height, only 1,141 meters, natural phenomena are observed. For example, a curious optical effect, when on a foggy day around a man suddenly appears iridescent halo. Moreover, the camera easily captures this “miracle” and then you can bring this to friends to prove your “holiness”!

Eurostar
It is quite possible that those, who like fast driving and do not suffer from claustrophobia, will enjoy travelling at a speed of 300 km/h through the tunnel under the Channel connecting England and France. People have not yet invented a quicker way to get land from London to Paris or Brussels. In just two hours and a minimum of 59 pounds the train will help its passengers to get to major cities in Belgium and France. This is not something that offers you a panoramic views but instead this is something rather interesting if you’re not scared of getting into the dark. Well the thing that comes to mind is that while being in a tunnel you might make a wish which will come true in case you close your eyes until the end of the trip. Worth a try?

The Orient Express
There are many legends and stories about this train, initially shuttled between Istanbul and Paris. Of course, the most famous work is the book by Agatha Christie “Murder on the Orient Express”. And precisely due to the film, based on a detective, the unique train has survived, and now became a worldwide known brand, a logo of which can be found throughout Europe. It was in 1977 after the movie was shown in the theaters that the popularity of the trains had already disbanded  and his two surviving cars were bought in Monte Carlo at British entrepreneur Sotheby’s auction. He sought throughout the world and restored 35 more cars, and in 1982 launched the first train from London to Venice.

Here schooled waiters in costumes will serve breakfast to travelers directly into the compartment, and in the dining car you can taste the haute cuisine. Finishing in style of Art Deco has luxury fragrance, and honorable people go for a dinner in evening dresses here. A trip on the train is not cheap: prices start from $1000 per person for a short trip, but often the cost of travel does not fall below $2000.

The West Highland Railway
The already well-known British Railway, on which up to now go locomotives became even more famous after the film shots about Harry Potter. In fact, the train does not even go from the train station in London, and connects the largest city in Scotland, Glasgow with communities of Fort William and Malleyg. Travelers can admire the picturesque hills of Scotland, and in addition, the road passes by the very large viaduct of the XIX century called Grenfinnan. This year’s travel publication of Wanderlust has named the West Highland Railway the best historical road in the world.

1. Showing “thumb up” in Iran

In all the countries of Europe and the United States compressed fist or raised up thumb are completely innocent gesture, telling you that everything is correct, everything is going well, you are completely satisfied. But we should not express our feelings this way in Iran. It is considered a gross and obscene insult there.

Another familiar Euro-American symbol is “OK” when the thumb and index finger form a circle, it should not be used in Turkey and Brazil, because the locals will think you are comparing them with some intimate parts of the human body.

2.Touching your head in Thailand

In Buddhist countries, heads of human beings are sacred, as the soul lives there, and therefore, touching the head of even a tiny baby means to offend him. One should never refer to something with a finger. For example, in Malaysia it is considered to be very improper, and in the Philippines, local residents can allow themselves to point to objects and people only with eyes.

3. Calling Ireland, the British Isles

Each state has its own “taboos”. It is not necessary to discuss the Aborigines in Australia, dowry in India and human rights in China. Irish categorically do not like it when their land is called “one of the British Isles”. By the way, if you are not sure whether you can talk about something in a particular country, it is best to stay on neutral issues – the gastronomy and the beauty of the landscape.

4. Dressing as gauchos in Argentina

Some tourists can not resist the temptation to try on a national costume. However, before you dress like the locals, learn the laws of the country. Thus, for the wearing of batik in Indonesia you will have to pay a fine, and it is really quite improper to try on gaucho in Argentina, and go to the barbecue.

5. Entering the Japanese house in shoes

In Japan and other Eastern countries be prepared to take off your shoes before entering the temple or to any house. In the Land of the Rising Sun you will certainly be offered to replace street shoes with slippers, in which you can walk from front door to the living room. However, before you embark on the mat you will have to part with interchangeable footwear. Therefore, always wear clean socks!

6. Presenting bouquet of 12 carnations in Germany

Bouquet seems a perfect gift; however, one should be careful with them as well, because the flowers, their color and the number may have a hidden meaning. In Germany, Poland and Sweden a carnation is brought for the funeral. In Belgium, Italy, France, Spain and Turkey chrysanthemums are used for this purpose. In France and Austria, red roses mean romantic interest, and in Mexico, Chile yellow roses are a sign of grief and separation. An odd number of colors can bring misfortune in China and Indonesia, and in Germany, Turkey and India, as in Russia, by contrast, there should not be an even number of stems in the bouquet.

7. Confusing the name and the surname of the Chinese

The Chinese write their names and surnames not in the usual order, as it is customary in Europe and America: the name usually follows the surname, and therefore appealing to Lee Wong Chi “Mr. Chi” will sound just as absurd as if you call James Smith “Mr. James”.

8. Presenting alcohol to Muslim

Islam does not allow people to drink alcohol. And even if the Muslims drink, they do not do it publicly. Therefore, to give Muslims a bottle of cognac – means to show him his sin. And if the bottle is enclosed even in a luxury case made of pig skin, it will be an obvious insult, because dogs and pigs in the Islamic countries are considered unclean animals.

9. Drinking between toasts in Georgia and Azerbaijan

In Northern Europe, Russia and the former Soviet Union countries toasts are treated very seriously. In Scandinavia and Germany, when saying “Ska!” Or “Prost!” one needs to look into the eyes of those who lift their glasses. In Russia, foreigners are recommended to drink vodka in one gulp. And in Georgia and Azerbaijan, toasts can be pronounced for hours. However, little sip from the glass between the toasts is considered very impolite.

10. Inserting sticks into rice in Japan
If you have decided to take up hashi – chopsticks intended for food, you are to examine the many rituals associated with it. They should always be kept a little up; they cannot intersect or be used as a pointer. And the worst thing that can be done with hashi is to stick them upright in a bowl with rice. So, in Japan they do so only during the funeral rituals.

]]> http://www.travelvivi.com/10-fatal-mistakes-of-travelers/feed/ 0 http://www.travelvivi.com/travel-around-europe-by-train/ http://www.travelvivi.com/travel-around-europe-by-train/#comments Tue, 15 Sep 2009 11:49:42 +0000 travelgirl http://www.travelvivi.com/?p=1002 If you intend to travel around Europe by train, then you should define your plans. Which countries will you visit? How long will it take to travel? Do you want to thoroughly explore one country or wish to see many of them? Only having answers to these questions, you can choose the most appropriate ticket.

Travel tickets for everybody
Tthere are train tickets for different expiration periods (for 3, 5, 6, 7, 14 days with unlimited number of trips). They are also divided depending on how many countries you want to visit. The exact price of tickets can easily be found on different sites online.

There are also other practical offers for travelers . For example some companies offer tickets which allow you to travel by train in the 21 European countries, including Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland. You can choose from 15 or 21 consecutive days, 1, 2 or 3 month.

If will travel to only one or two countries, it is best to choose tickets, which apply for Germany and the Czech Republic, France and Italy, Denmark and Sweden, or in to other neighboring states.

Pay attention to local tickets, read the information at stations – often there are discounts for the weekend. Sometimes several people can travel with one ticket. So although such ticket is beneficial even for one tourist, it is possible to save heaving found other person at the station before the departure. For example, in Germany you can meet a young man who will come up and ask whether anyone has such a ticket. If you offer him to join, he will pay you a part of the ticket price.

Information for consideration
Always clarify if the ticket is valid for a concrete route. For example, many tickets can not be used on panoramic trains in Switzerland.

The travel ticket may not extend on very comfortable night trains, where places need to be reserved in advance.

Attentively look tickets’ validity period: it does not always start from 12 o’clock in the morning and ends at 12 o’clock the next night.

Read the terms: there can be pleasant surprises – an additional discount on some services for hotel accommodation, tours, free travel for another kind of transport.

When buying necessarily specify your age. For young people under 25 traveling is much cheaper.

Right to Choose
Now, when you got acquainted with tickets, think whether you need to buy them? Perhaps you will not travel so long in Europe, and therefore it is reasonably to buy a simple ticket from point A to point B? Take a sheet of paper and calculate: where will you go and how much does the ticket cost. Think maybe some points can be reduced, and in some places you can find a shorter route? Now sum the cost of tickets for all days of the supposed travel and compare it with the price of combined ticket. If you know in advance where you have to go you can save your money by paying the ticket 2-3 months in advance. If go to another country, look the prices of tickets on websites of national railways of both countries – often the cost can essentially differ.

1. Entertain the Crowd
If you have any talent, and even if not, it is possible to earn by starting to sing, playing an instrument, reciting poetry, dancing hip-hop, showing a pantomime to passers-by on the street. Right, perhaps, you have to deal with competitors or with the police: Make sure that you’re not someone else’s place and do not break local rules. Or learn to run fast.

2. Get a job in a bookstore
If you want an intellectual work – go to the bookstore. But do not forget that for employment in a foreign country you may be required to have a work permit. Therefore, take advantage of alternative: work for berth and meals.

3. Learn to play online poker
Some travelers are financing their trips, earning money on the network. Only do not risk large sums, control the counting so you don’t lose a lot of money.

4. Do massage
Your relatives have repeatedly asked you to massage them and admired your hands? It’s time to gain on this by launching a freelance career as a masseur. You can find clients on the beach and other places where people relax and rest. Agree about cooperation with an inexpensive spa center, buy some aromatic oils and start to work. But remember: all your actions are illegal abroad without a working visa.

5. Recollect everything you learned
Can draw henna designs on hands, cut, weave braids, or make temporary tattoos? Offer your services to others!

6. Tell fortunes with cards
Take on travel a pack of Tarot or any other cards. A little imagination, the absolute self-confidence – and money are in your pocket. Of course, you shouldn’t take it seriously; suggest for a fun to tell fortunes to the bar visitors or people on the beach. But who knows, perhaps, your intuition will help to tell the future correctly.

7. The handicraftsman
You know how to make baskets weaving beaded adornment, knit, or draw pictures? Devote a few evening hours to your hobby and then sell your creations.

8. The peasant for an hour
Agricultural work is the easiest and fastest way to earn. Gathering fruits and vegetables long since attracted hippies, idealists and masochists. For your hard work, you can get not only some money, but also an invaluable reward like a rest on the nature and interesting acquaintances.

9. What does it cost to build a house?
The work on construction is a little less pleasant, but more paid. In return you will not only learn something, but also get a slim figure and steel muscles.

10. Career in a hotel
In some guest houses and small hotels you can agree on free accommodation and some earnings in exchange for cleaning the rooms. The work is not the most pleasant, but will bring money and help make new friends.

11. Competitor of the dishwasher
Cafés and restaurants often require people for subsidiary works in the kitchen. By the way, some well-known chefs, who are nowadays generally recognized, have started their career this way.

12. A role of guinea pig
If you do not usually worry about products’ expiry dates and your health in general, you can for a good compensation sacrifice yourself to the science and participate in drugs tests or other researches.

13. Sell your blood
Donation is one more way to earn. However, you can’t donate blood often, and not everybody can do it – there are many contraindications.

14. Become a model
You can, staring out the window, stand motionless for several hours? Why not get paid for it? The newspapers often advertise sitters looking for painters or models for photographers.

15. Act in film
For almost any movie, whether it is a picture of an unknown student or the famous Hollywood director, extras are required. Probably, you will sit in a restaurant next to Tom Cruise, give a light to Scarlett Johansson or admire from afar Angelina Jolie; and you will earn money. Besides, you will have what to boast friends.

16. Help nature
In civilized countries, people care about the ecology and reasonably concern to the waste recycling. That is why they are ready to pay for empty bottles, waste paper and other raw materials. Look in the dormitories’ dustbins – a lot of money is buried there. The work is not the cleanest, but in extreme cases, will not allow dying from hunger.

17. Sports
Often temporary workers are needed during sporting events. At one place a ‘boy’ is needed, collecting golf balls, in the other – rooms cleaner after the match.

18. Family/House assistant
Stroll through the private sector and offer your services: perhaps in one yard it is required to cut bushes, in the other – to repair a bicycle.

19. Tourist-speculator
Souvenir from one country may be exotic in another. So find out what unusual things you can buy in one country and sell in neighboring state.

20. Writer-traveler
Of course, the chief editor of National Geographic has not yet knocked your door, but this does not mean that you can’t try to sell your photos and travel notes to less eminent editions. Try to start with small – perhaps a famous writer sleeps inside you? Videos of rare sights and interesting events are not in less demand. And if you are lucky to witness a rare natural phenomenon or disaster, you can count on a considerable fee.

10. Online Maps
With the help of online maps the traveler can not only understand where he is, but also learn about the shortest and the fastest way from the airport to the hotel, from the hotel to the restaurant or to the museum. Photomaps are the handiest items, as they let you see with your own eyes what is there on the other side of the planet.

9. Digital Camera
Not so long ago we used to take dozens of photos of the most wonderful places of the world during vacations. Later it turned out that half of these photos were not focused on well, and the rest were simply ruined by light. Unfortunately, the deplorable result could be seen only after developing the film. Nowadays it is possible to take thousands of pictures with the help of a digital camera, to immediately estimate their quality and get rid of photos of bad quality, saving nerves, time and money.

8. Online Check-in
Not all air companies use this innovation. However, if they want to survive in the competition they have to use online check-in. It is so convenient: no waste of time in a queue or in a crowd of other anxious and impatient travelers. You just choose lounge by your own computer and then print the boarding pass.

7. GPS navigation
It is an absolutely important item for cars. It lets you freely orientate in the mountains, where you have never been before. All you need is to bring in the exact address of the place you want to drive to. The navigator will do the rest of the action itself. It will choose the most convenient way, taking into consideration one-way streets, traffic jams and other unexpectedness. It can immediately offer other bypass, if necessary. It warns about a turn and speed exceeding.

6. ATM
In any point of the civilized world, any time of a day you may get access to your bank account and take out cash in local currency whether there are dollars, Euros or pounds in the bank. It means that you don’t need to look for an exchange station waiting for the bank to open and then explain to the lady behind the window how much money you want to change.

5. Mobile phones
You don’t have to look for a telephone in a foreign city, change coins and keep them in pocket for making calls. If you want to inform about any trouble, all you need is to take out the mobile phone out of your pocket and call emergency service. Frankly speaking, it also has its disadvantages. For example, your mom can always be aware of your affairs and health. But, nevertheless, advantages predominate.

4. Internet Access
Nowadays internet access is available from the hotel room, from the internet-café, practically from any city of the civilized world. So you can constantly be in contact with your relatives and friends, inform them about your travelling and show photos even being on the opposite side of the globe. You can also change your route, buy air tickets and reserve a hotel room in several minutes.

3. Trip- Advisor
Trip- Advisor will help those who don’t know where to go and at what hotel to stay. In this way you can learn about other people’s opinion about interesting places and events happening over the world and make your own choice. Say NO to dirty sea-coasts, rotten hotels with measurable service and awful restaurants! Nowhere else, but in Trip-Advisor you can find information about the most unpopular corners of the planet.

2. Online Travel reservation
This is a real revolution in tourism. You yourself can make the schedule of the travelling, reserve all flights and hotels and then change plans as often as you like. Travelers do not depend on the tourism agency any more. Staying in your own bedroom you can not only solve the problem of where to live, but also buy museum, exhibition, theatre and concert tickets beforehand.

1. Bags with wheels
Very unexpectedly these simple and usual wheels for bags and suitcases appeared to be the winner of this inquiry leaving behind the high-tech innovations. The truth is most travelers think that exactly this simple invention has made travelling more pleasant and convenient.

1. Wild boars in Germany.
The recent couple of years these animals have become a real disaster for the German farmers. Not only those fang creations terminate harvest, they also often break into village houses and even attack people. You don’t need to look for the boars far away, since they can be found even in the gardens and parks of Berlin. However, to hide from civilization and to find the wildest ones you should set for the Central Franconia and walk with a rucksack on the back in the plains of Maine and Danube rivers. Here they can be found everywhere, like deer, and the local beer fans sitting in the tavern and drinking beer, like to tell stories about “Suuuuuuuuch a boar”, whom they came across just yesterday. There is a chance to add their stories.

2. Killer Whales in Spain.
Not less than the boars of German farmers, aid the fishermen of Andalusia suffer the “touring” whales-killers, significantly lessening the catch of trawlers. To admire the big sea mammals is possible while travelling along the hunting road of killer whales in Gibraltar bay, which is organized by the Society on protection of whales and dolphins. It is rather a rare performance, despite the fact that any person, who dared to cross the sea, met on his way the whales- killers, whales and dolphins. For the tourists not to suffer from monotony, the organizers of the trip also suggest seeing ancient Roman cities and diving.

3. Elks and beavers in Sweden
There is no place in the world where there are so many elks as in Sweden, and in this “adventure of the day off” in the Northern woods, experienced representatives of the host country guarantee that the tourist will certainly see “the king of the forest” in the process of walking. We’ll say confidently that the guides just attract the elks by the horn, imitating their call. And afterwards, at sunset, they send the holiday-makers to the lake Scarson, in search of beavers. In the tour everything is foreseen to get back to the nature: living in a tent at the shore of the lake, swimming in a quick river, wood chopping for the fire, and berry peaking for the 100 % natural supper. But everything picked by the tourists is carefully checked, before putting into the common bowl.

4. Portuguese reptiles
Waterlogged territories and sandy beached at the mouth Sado, which is to the south from Lisbon, swarm with numerous slippery and cold-blooded inhabitants. Anything can be found here – tuberous Spanish turtles, spiked lizards, marmoreal tadpoles, spotty frogs from the Western Iberia and snakes from Montpelier. So those who like reptiles will enjoy a visit to these places. Voles, otters, bats, and polecats inhabit this place, besides – this is one of the best locations in Portugal to observe the birds and dolphins at the coast.

5. Butterflies in Croatia
Croatia is one of the locations, which has recently become quite popular among the naturalists and numerous groups, organized by the butterfly humane society and amateur entomologists. Observing those delicate creatures which live on the shores of turquoise lake and waterfalls in Plitvice‎ goes quite well with living in a comfortable hotel as well as sightseeing tours to limestone gorges of Paklenica and to the Velebit Mountains, which are rarely visited by usual tourists.

6. Biking with bisons in Poland
During a 7-day biking tour through the North-Eastern part of the country, you can see the variety of magnificent European bisons, the population of which was preserved and increased thanks to a significant contribution by the Polish Government. Tourists spend 3 days in the forests of Białowieża waiting to meet few in number bisons of the Old World. This forest is all that is left from the once large and wild woods covering the whole continent. A hike through the animal routes in bison reserve smoothly turns into travel on a flat-boat to the far Nariva swamps, known as Polish Amazon, to the natural habitat of beavers, otters, elks, and martens.

7. Taking a glance at the puffins in Iceland
Iceland is a country where a variety of sea birds lives. Try travelling to the Snaefellsnes peninsula where huge colonies of birds nest on the cliffs on the both sides of the peninsula and most of those birds are puffins. Get to the Miway Lake where geese and ducks live during the nesting season. It would also be of interest to see the Namaskard geysers and heavy coasts of the arctic Laxa River.

8. Dances with Wolves in Spain
About 3000 Spanish wolves inhabit the land with a mysterious name Sierra de Culebra. It is possible to get closer acquainted with them – while being on a safe distance from them – by being a part of the tour, which is organized by the local wild-nature specialist Julian. The travelers are accommodated in a rural hotel and are invited in the sunset and sunrise times to fancy the life of the wolf packs, which generally remains hidden from the eyes of the outsiders. Information about the current location of the pack is received from the forest-guards. The rest of the time can be spent observing wild boars, foxes and deer, which become a good dinner for the wolves if caught.

9. Turtle catching at the Azores Islands
From the seven kinds of known in the world sea turtles, 5 were found in the Azores islands. And, of course, the scientists-naturalists from all over the world come here to explore these graceful creatures. To join the exploring expeditions, and to become a real naturalist can also ordinary tourists. The scientific ship sails into the Atlantics, where the travelers guided by experienced scientists set traps for turtles and catch them. And then they measure, stick a label and let them free, as a true scientist should do. At the same time travelers study the routs of migration of turtles and contribute to the saving and keeping of the population. They can also admire the whales and dolphins, which can, also, be seen in the surrounding waters.

10. Observation of marmot in Switzerland.
In summer marmots graze grass on the flood plains of Switzerland. One stays on guard and whistles loudly if sees an eagle, after which the whole company actively gets hidden in the shelter. To watch them in the mountainous national park is rather an amusing thing. Chamois and elks also live there, and vipers live in the forests, so beware!

1. Cash
Of course, no one goes on vacation without money, but many people started to rely too much on the bank cards without realizing that they too have their shortcomings.
The card can be swallowed by an ATM, it can be lost or if a shop assistant in some indigenous shop performs an illegal operation then the card is immediately blocked. Besides, a fairly good amount of cash may be required in the airport, border control staff may ask you to show cash on the basis of approximately 50 euro for every day you plan to stay. The fact that you have already been checked for the financial sustainability by the Consulate is not considered by them and a statement from the bank will not do either – only cash. And of course, besides large notes it is sensible to have smaller change with which one can pay for WCs, buy a chocolate-bar from a machine, etc.

2. Credit Card
Yes, even though you have taken with you a significant amount of cash, credit card would not be out of place. Using it has a number of advantages: you’ll save on the currency exchange, you won’t have carry lots of coins in your pockets, which you will not be able to exchange later on. The only precaution would be to get a credit card specifically for the travel and not to pay with the one, which you generally use and get your salary to, because there is a high number of fraud cases with plastic cards in the developing countries.

3. Copies of all documents
This is something that everyone leaving abroad is told and nevertheless the Consulates constantly have to deal with tourists who have absolutely no ID. Let’s repeat this one more time: before you travel make copies of all documents and tickets and carry them with you while leaving the originals in the safe of the hotel.

4. Swiss army knife
A small pen-knife will be of use not only while hiking but also in a five-star hotel. It can be used in a number of cases – peeling fruits, opening a bottle of wine, clipping nails and even tightening the screws on your suit-case. Generally speaking – this is a very useful thing. It is much more useful than an iron or a small boiler. Only make sure you don’t put it in your carry-on luggage otherwise the security personnel at the airport may mistake you for a terrorist.

5. First-aid kit
It’s not worth putting the all the medicaments you have at home into your suit-case but some medicaments should be taken by all means. Abroad you can only buy aspirin and vitamins without prescription. A standard set of medicaments for vacation generally contains activated charcoal/carbon, No-Spa, Aspirin, stomach pills and band-aids. And of course if you have any chronic illnesses then don’t forget to take all the necessary pills as well. It is not worth taking antibiotics though, if you get sick enough to need them it is better to use your travel insurance and visit a doctor.

6. Good telephone
Many of us, beware of skilled indigenous pickpockets, leave their expensive mobile telephones home and take an old Siemens C35, which they’ve kept for a long time, so that they do not get upset if it is lost. But it is not possible to access internet from this phone while internet access even with a very expensive roaming can be very useful while travelling. Finding a free Wi-Fi abroad is generally not an issue especially in Western Europe. Thus if you have a good telecommunication tool you can find out what the weather forecast looks like, check the departure timetable, read about possible sightseeing tours and save on expensive international calls by simply sending an ICQ message to your family . There is no need to mention that the GPS navigation is also quite useful.

7. Adaptor 220V
Not everyone pays attention to the fact that there can be a different standard of electrical sockets in the country of your travel and you will not be able to plug in your mobile telephone charger into a British socket even with the help of your Swiss pen-knife. Therefore, it is important that you buy an adaptor in advance as afterwards you may be looking for hours for it in an unfamiliar city. Anyway if you have run into the problem of adapting your mobile telephone charger to the socket it is the best to start enquiring upon an adaptor at the reception of your hotel. They may have it or at least they will be able to give you a hint as to where to look for one.

8. Laptop
The necessity of a laptop in travel is an arguable question. On one hand it makes your luggage heavier and does not let your eyes, which are already tired from work, to rest. On the other hand it is extremely useful in travels. It keeps you entertained on board of the plane and in case the weather is bad you can watch a movie. Besides that, it is much more convenient to access Internet with the help of your laptop rather than mobile phone. In fact, it has only one disadvantage – its weight. But if you travel often then you can buy a compact and a cheap netbook.

9. Guidebook
To take a guidebook with you or not is also a difficult question. If you like following the standard tourist routes then by all means it makes sense to save a room in your suitcase for a thin book with the description of the places of interest. If you are a well-experience traveler and prefer getting acquainted with the city in your own way then the guidebook is an extra weight for you. In any case buying a guidebook is not an issue practically in any city of touristic significance in Europe.

10. Common sense
Mainly our compatriots leave their heads at home when travelling. Of all mentioned things above this is probably the most important one. If you have a head on your shoulders and everything is fine with your common sense then independent from what you have left at home and what you have taken with you your trip would be just great.

1. Museum of dog collars
Leeds Castle, Maidstone
People have established long ago the tradition of decorating their four-legged friends. Make sure that you can visit the museum dedicated to dog collars at Leeds Castle. More than a hundred exhibits, presented here, belong mainly to the Middle Ages. Owners of small pocket dogs, seeing the exhibition, perhaps, will die of envy, because many of the presented can be viewed as a real work of art rather than a banal collar.
By the way, the castle is interesting not only because of the museum. Of course, it is also worth to see the history of the museum with hundreds of rare and exotic birds, and, finally, walk through the labyrinth, the walls of which are formed by 2400 trees planted in a strict order.

2. Museum of antique pushchairs for children
Pailton, Rugby
The museum is dedicated to travel means for children. Its visitors will appreciate its rich collection of not just ordinary four-wheel cradles, but also complex designs for twins. And even walking wheelchairs, which can turn into a small table and chair. You can also see doll wheelchairs. The creators of the museum are confident that after watching so many expositions and listening to lectures about how real means of transport for children must be, any parent would be able to easily choose the right carriage for their offspring. And it will be equally interesting to all to see how far modern technology has stepped in children vehicles producing.

3. Museum of lawn-mowers
Southport
You can have a look at the lawn-mowers collected here, for only two pounds. Together with the ticket you will also be offered and audio guide, which tells in detail about the history of this or that mechanism and how it came to be in the museum. A separately organized exposition tells about the devices, with the help of which the lawns of the most powerful people in the world, such as Princess Diana and Prince Charles, were mowed. And on part of the museum, you can see “racing” cars, based on ordinary lawn-mowers.

4. Museum of plush bears
London
The museum, dedicated to one of the symbols of Britain – Teddy Bear, tells about the cultural importance of the Bear character. Here you can see toys that have witnessed important historical events and toys owned by historical figures and celebrities, as well as collectible plush bears, often existing in a single copy. In addition, it is the very place for buying a Teddy Bear.

5. Museum of dragonflies
Ashton Wold, Ashton, Peterborough, Cambridgeshire
The creators of the museum argued that it was created with the sole purpose to set up people on charity in relation to long-winged insects and to introduce mankind to the extraordinary information on dragonflies. It is not clear how such high ideas are combined with the need to previously killing the exhibits.

6. Museum of Magic
Boscastle, Cornwall
The museum, which all the fans of Harry Potter should necessarily visit, is in the county of Cornwall. Although it appeared long before in 1951) the popular books were published. There is an extensive collection of everything that has anything to do with witchcraft: from witch knives to beams of dried herbs. At the same time, you can see that, apart from trivial divination by the hand – palmistry, there are many other methods as well.

7. Mustard museum
Norwic
A small museum of the history of mustard in the shop of one of the world-famous companies producing spices will please its fans with posters of last century, photographs of mills, where formerly this sauce was made, and various forms of jars with the “Colman’s” labels. At the same time it will be possible to learn about the variety of mustard recipes and flavour shades of the raw material, grown in different places.

8. Pencil museum
Keswic
The museum is located in the province of lakes and hills, on the border with Scotland. It was here in the XVII – XIX centuries that the only graphite ore in England was extracted. The exhibition is devoted to just this page of history of these places. Apart from the fact that there are completely different, sometimes quite unusual, types of pencils here adults and children alike can learn how to draw. And, of course, no one can walk past the museum shop, where, perhaps, is the largest assortment of stationery in the world.

9. Museum of jute
Dunde
Once upon a time this Scottish town famous for its factories for the production of jute. Here the most modern equipment could be found and a lot of people bought local products. However, the demand for jute fell, factories were closed one after another, and only one of them, Verdant Works, rather than drop into nothingness, has turned into a museum. Most of the exhibits in the museum can be touched with hands, and you will be even offered to try to weave your personal jute rope.

10. Museum of packing
Notting Hill
The museum, now numbering over 10 thousand pieces, one way or another related to packaging and advertising, has appeared thanks to a 16-year-old boy, who 200 years ago, rather than throwing away the packaging of the eaten cookies, preserved it, and that was the beginning of the collection. Here you can see packaging, toys, posters and magazines that are relevant to the industry of sales and promotion of consumer goods.

Suitcases
The first step is to remove from the suitcase all the luggage labels remaining from the past trips, in order to avoid the dispatching of your luggage to an airport, visited six months or a year ago.
It is desirable that the suitcase is not of the standard black (grey, dark blue) colours, but of a brighter colour. Or, at least, it is worth hanging a bright tag on it. So it will be easier to find your belongings on the transporting belt, and if they get lost all the same, then a bright marking will certainly do for a distinctive feature and the loss will be easier to find.
Finally, there is no meaning at all to hang a lock on your property. It will not hinder thieves, but it may prevent the security employees from opening the suitcase in case of any suspicion when X-raying it.

What and how to pack 
First of all, try not to take too many things on the trip. Ideally, the list should include only those items which can’t be dispensed, rather than those which “may be necessary”. In addition to the ever becoming strict conditions of the airlines on baggage allowance, there is a more banal issue. The probability that an overloaded suitcase or its contents will be damaged is significantly increasing, because the loaders have greater difficulty to handle heavy objects. In addition, those bags that weigh more are usually placed at the bottom of the luggage compartment.
Shampoos, suntan oils and other fluid substances must be put necessarily in a plastic bag. Incidents, when a fluid flows out from its packaging, flooding the things around, are not so rare. The alcohol purchased as a souvenir, in addition to the polyethylene, should be preferably wrapped in a cloth or a beach towel.
When packing an electric shaver, electric toothbrushes and other humming and vibrating things, try either to disconnect them or put them in such a way that the probability of accidental switching on is reduced to a minimum. In addition to discharged batteries, there is a big chance that a suitcase producing sounds would cause suspicion among security officers.

If luggage is lost
According to SITA, in 2008, for the first time in 5 years, the number of lost baggage was reduced. At the end of last year, for a thousand passengers there were only 14 suitcases which had not reached the destination. If your luggage appears among them, a few simple preventative measures will help facilitate the search:
1. Be sure to leave your contact information outside the suitcase, as well as inside. Perhaps people, signing carefully on all labels on the bag do look prigs, but in case of loss, they will get their luggage with the least delay.
2. Be sure to make a list of packed items. But so that not to carry with you an extra piece of paper that can be lost too, just take a photograph of the list.
3. Also take a photo of the contents of the suitcase and their layout.
4. Memorize the figure, which will appear on the balance during the delivery of baggage. Among other things, weight is also a distinguishing feature of your property.

Of course, no one can guarantee that your luggage, despite all precautions, will not be lost. To be 100% sure that the property will remain intact, is possible only if you do not part with it at all, i.e., take it with you into the aircraft cabin. But this is not always possible, and often not very convenient. In order not to experience discomfort while the lost suitcase is being searched for, if the worst does happen after all, be careful when deciding what to take with you as a hand luggage.
In addition to valuable items and documents in the bag, taken into the cabin, there must be objects able to meet the basic needs of the owner within 1-2 days. This is particularly true for a change of underwear, regularly used drugs and hygiene necessities. If leaving to a resort, it will also be useful to pack in the hand luggage a swimsuit, shorts and a shirt. Otherwise, observing fellow travellers, who, having thrown their bags in the room went joyfully to the sea, could spoil your mood.
When travelling with family, it is better to choose a few small bags than one large. Otherwise, it is likely to leave without clothing the whole family at once.