Travel - Best Places of Interest

January 4, 2019 Round the world, Travel

How to travel to Europe on a budget?

Are you planning a trip to Europe but have a low budget to travel?

Worry not as there are several countries which may be affordable or even dirt cheap for you.

If we talk “UN recognized states” then there are a couple to consider:

Ukraine, Eastern Europe

This country would probably be the most expensive on the list. Home to a lot of churches, villages and nice landscapes, this country was a host to a European football cup in 2012 and has won the Eurovision song contest twice.

You would be well off with 600$ for a couple of weeks including renting the apartment in the high season and other expenses.

Odessa, Theatre, Morning, Sky, East Europe

Republic of Moldova, Eastern Europe

Another former Soviet Republic is considered the poorest country in Europe as the median salary barely exceeds 180$/month.

It is well-known for home-made wine, its villages and Romanian heritage.

You could rent a nice hotel room or an Airbnb Apartment for as little as 15$/day

Moldova does, however, have an autonomous region, which de facto is a self-proclaimed republic, which leads us to…

The partially recognised territories

Pridnestrovian Moldovan Republic (Transnistria)

If you plan to travel there, cross its border via Moldovan side in order to avoid problems in Moldova. Beware of bribery on the border

The de jure Transnistrian Autonomous Unit is a self-proclaimed state which is a frozen conflict zone since 1992, filled with Russian troops.

This territory is landlocked between Moldova and Ukraine

Your travel would most likely be a time travel to the end of the USSR at the end of the ’80s. Same panel buildings, some new shops; same mentality, some new technological advances, like broadband internet and a cell phone.

A lot of its infrastructure belongs to its former presidents making it a very corrupt oligarch.

Median salary exceeds 300 $/month (in Transnistrian rubles) making it richer than (the rest of) Moldova.

Its citizens do often claim their ancestry from other countries thus having a handful of other passports (Moldovan, Russian, Romanian and Ukrainian). Amid plastic coins, you would also be able to use an ATM there, which belongs to an Abkhazian bank (partially recognised state that recognised Transnistria) to retrieve Russian Rubles to exchange them into a Transnistrian currency.

You would probably be well off with a couple of hundreds $/ 2 weeks. Do please check the immigration rules of this state (e.g. how you need to register yourself at the border and at the police station after you arrive at the hostel/ your apartment)

Tiraspol, Transnistria (Pridnestrovian Republic/Moldova)

Republic of Abkhazia

Check with Abkhazian and Georgian authorities about the rules of getting in and registering yourself. Misfollowing these may get you to a prison in Georgia

Psyrtskha railway station, Eastern Europe — Psyrtskha railway station
The Republic of Abkhazia This station is served by a daily Moscow Sukhumi train and locals to Adler and Sochi in Russia.
Image courtesy-Clay Gilliland

This is another partially recognised state (recognised by the several UN States such as Nauru and Russia) on the list. De jure, this is still considered a part of Georgia.

It is home to a cheap and nice coast and delicious food and climate.

I can however not say how cheap it is, but you would definitely be well of on a couple of hundred bucks for a week or two of travelling.

~ Gagry, Abkhazia (Georgia)

January 1, 2019 Round the world, Travel

Five European Countries That You Need to Visit in 2019

person sitting on rock formation beside body of water European

The start of a new year typically comes with a list of goals, plans, and dreams that you want to achieve. For many people, one of the things that pop up on their to-do lists is to do some travelling. If this sounds familiar and is something that you want to be able to do in 2019, then Europe may be the destination you have your eye on.

Saying you want to visit “Europe” doesn’t really narrow down the list much, so to help you out we’ve put together a list of five European countries well worth visiting

Let’s take a closer look.

Ireland

For many people, visiting Ireland isn’t just an intriguing place in Europe, it’s a bucket list kind of trip that takes you to a magical and absolutely stunning country. Known for its natural beauty and castles galore, there is plenty to do and see in Ireland. It’s for that exact reason that you may want to book a guided tour through a company such as Go Irish Tours. They offer a wide array of vacation packages and tours that will ensure that you see all the very best that Ireland has to offer. You can also tie it in with a visit to the UK and Scotland if you choose.

Italy

Of course, you can’t create a list of must-visit European countries without including Italy. The country has so many noteworthy cities and towns – in fact, one visit to Italy isn’t usually enough. Standout places to tour in Italy include Venice, Rome, Florence, Milan, and Lake Como. You can opt for a bustling metropolitan city-style vacation, or something more laid back and relaxed where the scenery and architecture is the real star of the holiday.

Austria

Here’s a country that doesn’t always get the buzz it deserves, and can prove to be a traveller’s paradise. While many are familiar with Austrian’s most popular city of Vienna, there is so much more to the country. Austria is well-known for its unbelievable ski hills, spas, architecture, palaces, churches, castles, shopping, markets, entertainment, and dining. You can easily spend an entire vacation in the city, or make it a stop on a European tour.

Croatia

Here’s another European country that doesn’t always get the attention it deserves. For anyone who has ever travelled to Croatia before, they will be the first to gush about just how spectacular it is. If you happen to be a beach-type of person, Croatia offers some of the most awe-inspiring shorelines there is. With that said, you can easily combine a classic beach-style holiday with European flair, history, and culture, making this a really unique destination.

Norway

For those who simply want to get away from it all, feel as though you have taken a step back in time, and really left all the stress and worries behind, then Norway can act as the perfect sanctuary. It’s here where you will find glaciers, rugged mountains that run the length of the coastline, massive fjords, and wildlife viewing opportunities. Because Norway is located within the Arctic Circle, you will also get to experience the Midnight Sun.

No matter which of these countries you choose to explore in 2019, one thing is for sure and that is the fact that you will be building memories that last a lifetime.

December 11, 2018 Travel

Travel hacks to make a long haul flight enjoyable

Life on the airplane is a life of its own! Do whatever you can to keep yourself busy!

During long-haul flights I recommend:

Watch 2 movies on the entertainment screen.
Read almost a whole e-book on my Kindle
Sort some pictures in my digital camera.
Play a few games on my smartphone.
Have a nap (or two).
Speak to a neighbour.
Stare at some fellow passengers 🙂 secretly, of course.
Eat a few snacks, have a few drinks.
Stretch in the toilet area, walk in the aisle.
Inspect the toilet, check how much paper there was, do a little dance, stretch again, just fool around.

It’s a good idea to do everything separately – don’t try to multitask. If you are eating, don’t watch a movie at the same time. When the meal is served, take your time and just eat, as slow as possible. It will pass 30 minutes at least. Also make sure not to drink too much, avoid alcohol (as it will dehydrate your body and make it difficult to sleep, as you will be waking up all the time with your mouth dry).

Drinking alcohol on long haul flight — Cabin attendant offers a drink

Finally, think of some story and write it down. If you don’t own a blog or a diary, just post it on your Facebook. Share your thoughts! In today’s fast-paced world we hardly get to slow down and think about our life – this could be a perfect time!

More tips: How to survive a long flight

How to avoid a jet lag

Adjust your internal clock.
Several days (at least four) before departure, gradually shift your sleeping and eating times to coincide with those at your destination. Once you arrive, adopt the local time for your daily routine.
Opt for overnight flights.
You’ll have dinner at a normal time and be much more likely to sleep than on an afternoon flight. Depending on the length of the flight and the number of time zones you cross, you’ll arrive at your destination in the morning or afternoon. This is the best way to replicate your normal schedule, and it’ll be easier for you to reset your clock.

Happy travels!

November 29, 2018 Travel

China travel visa – what you need to know

Innumerable people from various states in the USA intend to visit China for their vacation and holidays. Till few years back there were restrictions on visiting the country. However, now the Chinese government has become flexible in its policies and regulations opening up its doors to foreigners from across the globe. Interestingly, with this step, China has become a leading tourism destination and bringing in lots of revenues for the country. It is a well-known fact that China is a country which abounds in historical and cultural richness and heritage. Moreover, the country offers attractions for all kinds of travelers and tourists in all age groups. You would need a valid China travel visa for entering the country and exploring the places.

Getting a visa for China for travel and tourism has become convenient now. In this article, you will get all information required to get a valid Chinese visa intending to travel to the country for tourism.

What is actually a Chinese tourist visa?

A Chinese tourist visa, which is also known as L Visa, is the most common kind of travel paper visa issued to US citizens. The visa is affixed to the page of a passport. Usually this visa remains valid for 10 years. Even if the passport in which the visa stamp is affixed gets expired, the visa on it remains valid. You will only have to carry your old passport with the new renewed one and that will suffice. The traveler can easily visit China for travel and tourism with this kind of visa in hand.

What are the documents which are needed for obtaining Chinese travel visa?

To get your China tourist visa without any problem and hassle, it is important that the right documents are submitted so that there are no chances of visa application cancellation or rejection. The documents are as follows:

The Chinese visa application form, which should be duly filled up without any errors. It is recommended to read through the instructions in the application form and then fill it up accordingly. Do not leave any part unfilled or incomplete. Do not overwrite as well.

You will need your passport, which should have validity of at least six months from your return date. If the validity is less than that or just by the deadline, it is recommended to get the passport renewed and then apply for the visa to avert any kind of problem later. Along with the validity, it is also important to check the numbers of blank pages which are available in the passport. There should be minimum two blank pages, save the ones on which visa stamps cannot be affixed.
You will need a clear photocopy of the passport data page. Try to see that your name and photograph in the copy comes clear enough.
A recent colored passport sized photograph will be needed.
You will need to furnish the China travel itinerary, which should display information about the hotel reservations and the flight tickets (both going and returning). In case you are not staying at a hotel and have no reservation details, you will need to produce an invitation letter with various kinds of details in the same. The details will be of the person inviting you, of the planned itinerary and lastly your details.
If an US citizen applies for Chinese tourist visa from outside USA, he will need to furnish evidence of residence status or legal stay in the country from where the application is done.
Visa fee needs to be provided at the time of the application as well. Chinese tourist visa fee is $140. However, if you need express and expedite service for obtaining your visa, you will have to shell out few extra dollars for the same.

Submission of the visa application and documents

Once you have filled up the form and gathered all the important documents required for the visa application, you can proceed towards its submission. Find out a Chinese consulate which is nearest to your place and make the application in person. Visa applications via the mail are not accepted. The office hours of the consulates vary from one another and might be closed on holidays and on weekends. The payment for the application is accepted via cashier’s check, credit card or by money order. Personal checks and cash are not accepted in any way.

It takes about 4 working days for the processing of the visa. However, expedite services can be availed on paying extra charges.

Take some time in planning the trip so that you have abundant time in hand for obtaining the visa without any kind of hassle.

Dorothy Jones, an experienced content writer having 5+ years of experience in “Travel & Hotel” industry. She is also associated with some renowned travel and food blogs as a guest author.