Travel

For those of you about to embark on your first trip to Vietnam – lucky you! It truly is an incredible country rich in history and culture. There are of course a couple of things it pays to know before you set off. Here are our top five need-to-know tips for first time visitors to Vietnam. 

1 – SECURE YOUR VISA

The vast majority of people will need to have a visa to enter Vietnam. Fortunately, the process isn’t impossible, it just requires a little forward planning. You have two options, you can either contact the Vietnamese Embassy in your country to apply, or you can get your visa upon arrival. In this instance, you will need pre-register for a visa before you fly with your travel agent. Once you’ve done this, you’ll receive an invitation letter, which you must take with you as proof, otherwise you could face being denied entry.

2 – PACK SENSIBLY

It’s important that you take a little time to consider what type of clothing you’ll need for your visit to Vietnam. This will of course depend on the time of year that you’re travelling, and the areas of the country you plan on visiting. In the north, you’re likely to experience cooler temperatures. We recommend packing layers that can be shed or added accordingly. It’s also important to pack modest clothes so that you can be dressed appropriately when visiting temples and pagodas. A money belt is a good idea for carrying your valuables.

3 – BRUSH UP ON ETIQUETTE

We recommend doing a little reading prior to your trip on what’s considered polite and impolite behaviour. The last thing you want is to accidentally offend a family you’re staying with by not knowing how to behave. For starters, it’s important never to point at Vietnamese people. You should avoid patting children on the head, as this is considered rude. When handing people money, either use both hands or your left hand, never your right. Remember that shoes are strictly outdoor attire in Vietnam. You should remove your shoes whenever you enter a home.

4 – LEARN A FEW WORDS

The Vietnamese are friendly people, and a smile goes a long way. Whether you’re haggling or arguing a point, you should always do it with a smile on your face. Learning a couple of words is a great way to show respect. You need only know a couple, most important are ‘Hello’, “Goodbye’, ‘Please’, and ‘Thank you’.

5 – BE BOLD

When you first touch down in Vietnam, chances are that you may feel a little overwhelmed. This is a bustling, frantic, colourful country, which can be a bit of an assault on the senses at first. This is all a part of its charm. Be brave, smile at people, take your time and ask questions. Don’t be afraid to haggle, and most importantly, there’s no place for fear when it comes to crossing roads. Be brave and just walk. Trust us – they’ll move around you!

This was an article by Insider Journeys. You can follow them on twitter here, or check out their Pinterest where they regularly post photos and tips on travel to Asia.

First time cruisers are always excited about the experience. With this, they often overlook some important things. It is imperative that cruisers come up with a comprehensive checklist to ensure a worry-free trip.

1. Documents

First-time cruisers are often more excited to pack than to recheck their documents. Tickets and cruise details should be checked and recheck. Cruisers should make sure that they get the right cruise date. This is especially true when they get an air-and-sea package. Many people booking cruises 2012 get confused about these promotions. They should ensure that they get the right date and the right destination. It is best to recheck a couple of weeks before departure to have enough time to make changes if necessary.

Cruisers should also take their passports with them even if they are not going outside the country. This is a very important document to be used as proof of citizenship.

2. Budget

First-timers should bear in mind that most cruises are not really all-inclusive. With this, they should anticipate extra expenses for drinks, spa treatments, shore excursions, specialty restaurants, laundry and dry cleaning, onboard video games and Internet use. They should remember that they are likely to spend more when the cruise is cheap and the ship is big.
Another item that should be included in the budget is tips. Cruisers may not be expected to hand in tips for the staff, but they should prepare for gratuities. Some ships have service charges while others request separate tips. Either way, cruisers should budget for it. Most importantly, they should take cash with them. There may be ATMs inside the ship, but they usually come with high surcharges. It might be inconvenient to wait for the ship to reach a port and look for ATMs nearby. It is always a smart idea to have some cash on hand before getting on the ship. This is essential for first-time cruisers who are looking forward to playing at the casino as the ship cruises.

3. Dress Code

Most cruise ships may no longer require a dress code. In fact, many of them allow casual wear at dinner. However, cruisers should verify the dress code before packing. This will ensure that they are taking the right clothes with them. A few cruise ships require formal wear when cruisers gather in the main dining room at night.

4. Packing

It is very beneficial to prepare a separate list of items to be packed. First-time cruisers may not have a good idea of what to expect while on the cruise ship. There are no convenience stores on board. There may be some shops, but they sell goods that cost significantly more than stores on land. The list should include necessities like insect repellent, feminine hygiene products, sunglasses, sports gear, sandals, OTC medicines, batteries, sunscreen and light windbreakers. These things are very useful but often forgotten.

In addition, first-time cruisers should not pack too much. They should only bring enough clothes for the trip and a few extras. Taking an entire closet on the cruise ship is very inconvenient considering the average cruise ship cabin is as small as half the size of a hotel room.

5. Safety Precautions

It is equally important that first-time cruisers find out the electrical specifications on the ship. Typically, major cruise ships have U.S. current and plugs. However, there are some ships that only have different electrical systems.
In addition, cruisers should be aware of the facilities and amenities in the cabin. They should ask the staff when they do not know how to operate a devices. Almost all cruise ships do not allow the use of irons as they are considered to be a fire hazard. Cruisers may use coin laundries with added iron service.

Australia is a distant country in the southern hemisphere that has a unique nature and interesting cities such as Sydney, famous for its Opera House, an image we all know. Today we will see what other sites to visit in this beautiful city.

Accommodation and Tourism

Sydney has a high quantity of hotels, lodges, and hotels to suit all budgets.

Being a relatively young city has great historical monuments in general, but it has a superb location on the Pacific coast, an interesting range of museums and cultural life pleasant.

Nature only

We can visit the Aquarium that recreates the rivers and oceans of Australia. Another visit we should not forget if the weather is good is Bondi Beach, a well known where it is possible to see whales, dolphins and even sharks and blue penguins. And if we love nothing better than visiting Taronga Zoo where you will find many native species such as koalas, one of the national symbols of Australia animals.

Art and culture in Sydney

If we look nothing like the Art Gallery of New South Wales, the Powerhouse Museum and the Art Museum of Sydney.

We can not stop going to the Opera House, the most famous of the city and is considered one of the most important architectural works of the twentieth century and is a World Heritage Site.

You can also visit houses and colonial mansions like the House or the Vaucluse Elizabeth Bay House and the Cathedral of Santa Maria, Gothic.

Parks

As for parks stands Centennial Park, where you can even take a ride. Chinese Friendship Garden is a traditional Chinese garden where you can enjoy forests, waterfalls, lakes, and pavilions. The Royal Botanic Gardens, in turn, is one of the major green spaces in the city, an ideal place for a picnic. We may also go to Sydney Observatory in operation since 1790.

Madrid is not a city, Madrid is a feeling. The city and its people are open and friendly and you feel you’ve come to a place near his house, to his heart. The visits in the capital are innumerable, its cultural life is very diverse and nightlife a compendium of possibilities.

One should not miss the cultural triangle start composing the Prado, which houses the best collection of classical painting from Velázquez, Zurbarán, and Murillo to Goya expressionism, through the Flemish masters, El Greco, Rubens, Rembrandt etc. On the other side of the Paseo del Prado, if we start from the station of Atocha, the Reina Sofia Museum plunges us into the roots of modern art with its permanent collection. Miró, Dalí, Juan Gris, Picasso, and Guernica always exciting walk through its halls. Its monographic exhibitions have received as the last genius of Cadaques or realistic Antonio Lopez.

If we move towards the Neptune Fountain pass by Caixa Forum, which always shows great retrospectives from Barceló to Melies such delicious and reach the Thyssen Museum with its impressive collections of Italian and Flemish art. A journey through the history of painting in modern surroundings and care.

But Madrid is much more than art and painting. With the most diverse possibilities Hostelworld for all tastes and budgets, our capital provides the option to explore its romantic Retiro Park and close to the famous Puerta de Alcalá, to live the passion of a game at the Santiago Bernabeu and unique approach to the more traditional part of the city ​​in the Austrias district from which to visit the Royal Palace and the Almudena Cathedral.

Shopping and nightlife

Enjoy the night of Madrid is mandatory in this city that sleeps little. From the most traditional route beginning at the Plaza Mayor, truffled traditional trattorias and listen to flamenco tables where, through his new markets full of charm, San Miguel after Plaza Mayor and San Anton in Chueca, until the always lively Latino, blend of tradition and modernity in its Canvas. He also visitors can tour the attractive Barrio de las Letras until you reach the Plaza de Huertas and enjoy shopping, art galleries, and designer bars. Or drop by the best restaurants in the vicinity of la Castellana and the Salamanca district.

Finally, the revamped Calle Serrano provides a splendid opportunity for shopping in the most exclusive shops in a calm and elegant environment. On the way between Puerta del Sol until Gran Vía options democratize and multiply, adding theater and music that will delight the whole family.

San Diego is located in the state of California, near the Mexican border, so we can enjoy a city with many cultural influences.

This city which overlooks the Pacific has important beaches where you can practice different sports activities, such as in the area of the Coronado Peninsula where the famous Hotel Coronado has hosted important characters is also located. Another highly recommended Jolla area is where we can do many activities and visits.

Moreover, in the harbor, you can take boat trips. If we go with children should go to the marina and visit eg Legoland.

In addition, the city center, the Old Town, is very nice, because it has old colonial buildings that have been restored and many places to drink and shopping. You can also see here the Junipero Serra Museum and the Mission of San Diego.

Another interesting area is Gaslamp Quarter where stands the Victorian architecture and cultural environment. Here we can enjoy art galleries, theaters, and many shops.

In Balboa Park, we can see the museums and the zoo, one of the best in the world. Also, animal lovers should not miss the Sea World for near sharks, dolphins and many more species. Another visit is different Presidio Park, a hill that is ideal to enjoy unique views.

Lovers of architecture should visit the beautiful Santa Fe Station, Spanish colonial style, to see the towers and tiles inside.

A few kilometers from San Diego is the Mexican city of Tijuana, you can also visit although many people go shopping mainly because prices are lower.