Travel Trips

Made up of fifty-two islands, there are plenty of places to visit within the Ko Chang National Marine Park besides Ko Chang itself. Due to their protected status these islands offer some of the best and well preserved wildlife in all of Thailand. The area’s naturally mountainous landscapes and rainforests make for a dramatic skyline filled with a stunning array of majestic cliff-tops presiding over the many white beaches and permanently turquoise seas.

It has been agreed that any land that was planted before the assignment of the area’s national park status in 1982 can be bought and used for private development but this is only about 15% of the total land available. Development has also been carefully restricted and as such many of the islands are totally uninhabited. Only ten of the park’s islands offer overnight accommodation. On some this may be no more than a basic beach bungalow for about ten US dollars a night, whilst other islands are equipped with resorts providing an extremely high level of luxury and may cost up to 100 US dollars per night. At the cheaper establishments it is possible to just turn up and find a room whereas the more exclusive resorts tend to cater more to visitors who have pre-booked their accommodation with package tour-operators. This is a particularly good option for those who are looking for a secluded spot away from the crowds as most package deals will include boat transport directly to the resort’s private beach as well as day-trips to the surrounding attractions and smaller islands.

Following is a list of the best of the smaller islands that the Ko Chang National Park has to offer:

Ko Chang Noi / Laem Chang Noi

The closet of the smaller islands to the arrival port of Ao Sapparot, Ko Chang Noi is situated near the north-western tip of Ko Chang and the bay of Chang Noi (Laem Chang Noi). Although both the bay and the island are made up of rocks rather than sand, the appeal to this area is the stretch of water joining them which is home to a fabulous and pristine coral reef ideal for snorkelling and admiring the abundant marine life. For visitors who wish to stay in this area the Aiyapura Resort and Spa is a five star resort offering guests luxurious rooms with delightful views looking over the island.

Ko Yuak, Ko Man Nai, Ko Man Nok

Following the western coast of Ko Chang and heading south there is a cluster of small islands which can be seen from Ko Chang’s Khlong Prao and Kai Bae beaches (creating a spectacular view during sunsets). Due to their small size and close proximity to Ko Chang these islands make ideal day trips but do not offer their own accommodation.

Of these smaller islands Ko Yuak has a small sandy beach with shallow waters making it a good spot for snorkelling, whilst the neighbouring Ko Plee and Ko Suwan have rocky shores. Nonetheless snorkelling around this area is still a real treat as their is an abundance of marine life to be found amongst these rocks. Furthermore, close to Ko Suwan there is a small island known only as Ko Rom or ‘Umbrella Island’ (due to an enormous tree in the centre which takes the shape of an umbrella), and in the water surrounding this island there are a number of extremely bright corals that should not be missed.

Directly opposite the beach at Kai Bae lies the island Ko Man Nai. During low tide this island reveals its sandy beaches and it is so close that during this time it is also possible to reach it by wading through the waist-deep waters that join the island to the Sea View Resort area of Kai Bae beach. Boats and canoes are also available to make the short trip. Next to Ko Man Nai is its sister island Ko Man Nok which is again reachable by walking through shallow waters or taking a leisurely canoe ride.

Ko Khlum

Once used as a port by the Thai navy due to its sheltered location, Ko Khlum is also a place of historical importance as Thai ships clashed with the French navy here during France’s colonisation of Indochina. These days the area has become a popular site for divers who come here to explore the coral reefs submerged under about fifteen metres of clear water. Amongst these corals you will also find a variety of large fish which also makes the area a firm favourite amongst those who enjoy fishing.

Ko Sai Khao

From the southern tip of Ko Chang at Ao Salak Petch it is possible to reach the small island of Ko Sai Khao. The island’s many coconut trees gave it its original name of Ko Phrao, although more recently it has taken the name of Ko Sai Khao meaning ‘White Island’ after its beaches’ pristine white sand. During low tide this white sand forms a giant sand dune that is quite spectacular. A large concrete pier allows the island to be easily approached by boat and this pier also provides clear views over the whole area. There is also a paved path alongside the beach which makes for a pleasant seaside walk whilst admiring the beautifully clear blue waters. Limited accommodation is available on the island at the Ko Sai Khao Resort which offers beach bungalows to full board guests only.

Ko Laoya

Heading further south from Ko Sai Khao lies a cluster of three small islands known collectively as Ko Laoya and individually as Ko Laoya Nai, Ko Laoya Khlang and Ko Laoya Nok. These islands share a fertile green rainforest surrounded by long white beaches and remarkably clear blue waters filled with impressive coral reefs. The islands of Ko Laoya Nai and Ko Laoya Khlang are connected by a small wooden bridge and nearby the Laoya Resort offers accommodation to full board guests.

Ko Wai

Continuing south, Ko Wai has become famous for its collection of rare corals which are in excellent condition and can be easily admired by snorkellers and divers alike who come to these shallow waters to see the area’s huge two kilometre reefs. Fishing is also a popular activity here as the large rocks are home to a wide variety of large fish. The island is quite big in size but the northern beach is the most popular as this is where the best beaches and corals can be found. There is a choice of two places to stay with the Ko Wai Pakarang Resort offering luxurious rooms to full board guests and the Ko Wai Paradise Resort offering cheaper and more basic beach bungalows.

Ko Mai Dang

Just east of Ko Wai, Ko Mai Dang is a much smaller island but in its favour it offers a serene tranquillity that makes it a fantastic place to camp. Other attractions include a well-preserved coral reef, good fishing waters and sandy beaches.

Ko Ngam

A short distance off the southern tip of Ko Chang lies the small but very unique Ko Ngam. Almost two separate islands, Ko Ngam is held together by a thin sand dune which divides two beautiful natural lagoons filled with an abundance of corals and colourful marine life, making it an ideal spot for swimming, snorkelling and fishing. It is even possible to see dolphins swimming here.

There are a number of fresh water pools inland and during the rainy months a waterfall forms in the hills of Ko Ngam. Indeed after cooling off in the sea it is possible to make the one hundred metre climb up the hill on the south-western side of Ko Ngam. The walk is quite demanding but there are rope lines provided to guide the way and the view from the top is spectacular. From here visitors can see all over Ko Laoya, Ko Wai, Ko Krada, Ko Mak and Ko Chang itself, and naturally this is a stunning place to catch the sunset.

Accommodation on Ko Ngam is ideal for families with the Twin Island Resort offering large rooms to full board guests.

Ko Mai See

Just south-west of Ko Chang lie the islands known collectively as Ko Mai See. They comprise mostly of mountainous rainforest but are also home to a number of small fishing villages that gather around the sandy shores and coconut groves. Of these the beach on Ko Mai See Yai is perhaps the best, with a wide sandy beach stretching across its eastern coast.

The options in the Ko Chang National Marine Park are manifold and when on a trip to Thailand it can be a very enchanting experience to visit any of the above places in addition to the typical tourist destinations.

Richard Meyer is a fulltime travel writer for Excelloz which is an online travel website that specializes in hotel reservation in Asia and Oceania but soon worldwide. In addition to hotels, Excelloz provides free travel guides and independent hotel reviews.

[tags]thailand,travel,islands,ko chang,thailand travel,beach[/tags]

If you are one of the thousands of people considering medical tourism as an option for your health needs, how can you be sure that your trip will be everything that you hope it will be?

Here are some practical tips for medical travel to help make sure that your trip is smooth sailing.

The number one tip for any medical travel plan is to do your homework. A little research will go a long way to make sure that your trip does not hit any unexpected bumps along the way. Medical tourism is a growing trend, and more and more countries are jumping onto the bandwagon to get their share of this booming industry’s multi-million dollar annual revenue. With this being the case, it is important that you make sure that you will be getting the highest quality healthcare available at affordable prices, wherever your medical destination might be.

Check out the hospital that will be providing your medical care at your medical destination. Find out all you can about the hospital’s reputation, its facilities, its technology and equipment, and the procedures they provide.

With the growing trends in medical tourism in so many countries, as a wise traveler, also find out all you can about the doctor who will be providing your medical treatment while overseas. You should be able to learn a bit about the doctor’s education and training, as well as his areas of specialization, and his general reputation.

Research your travel destination. Find out about any possible language or cultural differences. Look into the local currency and the exchange rate. Check out hotels, recovery care facilities, and hostels. Check out the weather conditions at your medical destination so you can pack adequate and appropriate clothing. Be prepared for hidden costs and unexpected expenses.

Learn about the medical procedure you are having done. It will be helpful for you to fully understand all the possible risks and complications involved in your surgery abroad, as well as having a good understanding of the recovery time and necessary follow-up medical care.

Careful preparation is vital to having a positive experience in medical travel. Find out if there are medical tourism packages, special health travel deals or discounts for which you might qualify.

In terms of your preparation, in many ways, medical travel isn’t that much different from any other travel. All the arrangements you would make for any holiday would be applicable for medical travel as well.

For example, once you are certain of your medical travel plans, make your reservations, book your travel arrangements, and take care of any necessary paperwork. Make sure your passport is still valid. Find out if any visas are necessary for your destination, and apply for them. Are any vaccinations needed for travel to your destination? Get all these travel arrangements taken care of early.

Be prepared to extend your stay at your medical destination. It can be dangerous to travel without your doctor’s approval and release, so allow adequate time for your recovery, and don’t be afraid to stay a bit longer on your doctor’s orders.

Purchase some of the local currency so that you have cash on your arrival at your medical destination. Get traveler’s checks from the bank. Bring along a credit card with sufficient balance for spending. Visa and Mastercard are the most widely recognized worldwide. Make sure your credit card dates are valid, and don’t be afraid to ask for an increase if you need it. Most credit card companies are happy to give their customers a temporary increase for travel purposes.

Make at least two photocopies of your passport, as well as at least two lists of your credit card information and traveler’s check serial numbers. Leave one of the passport copies and one of the lists at home in a safe place. Bring one copy of each with you, but don’t carry it on your person. Either keep it in your luggage, or leave it with your travel companion.

Check all your medical prescriptions for necessary refills. Bring along a list of your medications, and be sure to include their generic names, as brand names may differ from place to place.

Bring along a list of important contacts, so that you, your travel companion, or your medical provider can contact your doctors back home, family members, insurance providers, employers, and other important contacts.

Careful planning and preparation are two of the key ingredients to the successful medical tourism holiday. So, do your homework. Put thoughtful consideration into all your preparation, and you too can join the growing ranks of medical tourists. Then you can sit back, relax and enjoy a delightful and memorable medical travel vacation experience.

http://www.medical-travel-asia.com is dedicated in telling the world that Asia is THE place for medical tourism and the right place to come and seek medical help. Asia has so many things to offer to the world, we simply want to tell people WHY.

On top of that, we also happen to know where are the best beaches here in Asia to recuperate after a surgery. Come to Asia if you are seeking medical treatment, get well, and take back some beautiful holiday memories at the same time.

However, http://www.medical-travel-asia.com is NOT engaged in rendering medical service or advice and the information provided on this website is not a substitute for a professional medical opinion. Our website is purely for educational and informational purposes. If you have a medical problem, please contact a qualified health professional.

[tags]medical travel,medical tourism,healthcare,surgery abroad,medicaltreatment,medicaltourist[/tags]

I think the most important thing travelling does is it broadens your outlook. You see how similar people and their feelings are across the world. From South Korea to Spain I saw people complaining of mother-in-laws We are bound by certain things I guess.

Another thing it does is it can make you more tolerant – to other people’s beliefs and their way of life as you see them in their own surroundings. So when you go back to your own country you are more understanding of other’s cultures.

Another important thing it does is – it teaches you. It teaches you a lot. It teaches you what you never learned in school. To expect the unknown. Unknown places, people. It makes travelling a fascinating experience.

Travelling teaches you to be independent. To plan. To manage your plan. It helps you in professional as well as personal life.

I certainly became more organised when I started travelling on my own.

Travelling brings out the ‘real’ person in you. If you are not sure if you want to marry your girlfriend / boyfriend, travel with them for couple of weeks – you will find out the answer.

It teaches you to compromise. Your food habits, organisation skills, likes and dislikes, flexibility will become evident. When you go out of your known surroundings, you get to know much more the other person. Well, not just before marriage, I learned a great deal more when I travelled with my wife.

I started ’serious’ travelling for professional reasons at the age of 23 (in 1994) when I went to Hong Kong/South Korea for a business visit for one month. I did not speak Korean and did not know anyone else who spoke Korean. Being a vegetarian compounded the problem as I struggled to get the message across in hotels.

But it amazes me how human mind works. On my second visit to the restaurant, I again faced the problem of what to eat. I took the paper tissue kept on the table and drew a chicken on it. Then I put a BIG cross on it. Then I drew a four legged animal and again drew a cross across it. Then it was turn of the fish and again a big cross.

Then I drew an Egg next to the chicken I drew earlier and put a BIG YES tick on it (like the Nike logo). Then something with leaves again a yes there.

The waitress could not believe what was going on, but at the end of it she was amazed and gave a huge smile that she understood.

She also called her manager to see this weired fellow’s drawings and both of them laughed and put fingers on some menu options on the menu card. I ordered one of it and found that I indeed got an egg fried rice!

However later I got better. Next day, I requested one of my colleagues who could write a bit of english to write some common things for me in Korean (including one that said ‘I’m a vegetarian – no meat or fish for me. Egg is fine’) and later on only thing I had to do was to carry that paper with me and show the message.

So, go out, meet some fascinating people, see the world. And your world will not be the same again.

Prasad Mahabal

I’m an avid traveller who wants to visit several countries before I retire.
I also want to share my experience and tips for free at: http://www.MyEnglandTravel.com

You can use this article for free for any purpose. A link to http://www.MyEnglandTravel.com would be greatly appreciated.

[tags]Travel[/tags]

1. Take along a medical professional

If your budget allows for it, and you need another chaperone on the trip, consider asking your school nurse to go along on the trip with you. Other alternatives could be the parent of a student that is a nurse or physician. This person often will get a free or at least reduced cost on the trip, but in return you will not have to worry as much about what to do if a student gets sick after you leave. Suggestion: if at all possible take the school nurse. They have liability coverage through the school just in case something goes wrong.

2. Plan ahead and make sure your chaperones are kept busy during the trip

Taking more chaperones on trip than you need is not necessarily a good thing. Sometimes adults can be even more of a pain than the students can, especially if that adult sees the trip as a vacation for themselves rather than as an educational experience for the students.

3. Ban alcohol on your trip

I’m not talking about just students, I’m also talking about adults. Our local band parent’s organization passed a resolution several years ago which forbids any adult on the trip from consuming alcohol even if no students are around. First, it sends a good message to your students. Second, it is a good safeguard against a parent calling your principal and complaining because their daughter told them that their chaperone was down drinking in the hotel bar last night.

4. Provide your chaperones with a guidebook

Make a planning packet specifically for your chaperones that spells out your expectations, their duties, and a more in-depth itinerary than the one you give to the students. Also included in this guidebook should be a roomate listing, airline flight assignments, travel agent emergency numbers, and cell phone numbers for you and your trip nurse.

5. Always have an emergency plan in place

Give each participant a wallet sized card with cell phone numbers, hotel numbers, and other important information to use on the chance that they get seperated from the group. If traveling in a country that does not speak your language, include on the card a sentence or two in the native language explaining how to contact you. Tell your participants to present this card to only to a police officer or someone they believe they can trust and only use it if needed.

About The Author

Chad Criswell is a well regarded high school music teacher. He has over a decade of experience planning and coordinating trips for school and non-profit groups of all sizes. He is a respected resource person for band, choir, and other activity groups across the country.

Mr. Criswell hosts a web site dedicated to music education topics for students, parents, and teachers located at http://www.musicedmagic.com

[tags]group, school, trip, planning, student, students[/tags]

Zimbabwe’s biggest draw is undoubtedly the majestic Victoria Falls, one of the seven natural wonders of the world. But the country also has other natural and historical advantages to captivate travellers and beckon them to return. Wildlife, fish and birds abound including a number of unique, rare and endangered species making game viewing, bird watching, fishing and hunting popular activities.

Home to four World Heritage Sites, Zimbabwe has a rich history of ancient civilisations that makes its friendly people stand proud, despite hardship. From the refreshing spray of the Falls on your face, to a Lake Kariba sunset, a lush mountain escape to a river rafting adventure on the Zambezi, Zimbabwe is sure to leave you with memories as indelible as those of Livingstone and Rhodes when they witnessed the country’s riches.

CAPITAL: Harare

CLIMATE: Subtropical. The best time to visit is Apr-Oct when weather is mild with little rain. Winter (May-Aug) is dry and sunny. Rainy weather is Nov-Mar/Apr.

CURRENCY: 1 Zimbabwe Dollar = 100 cents. You may take 15000 Zimbabwean dollars out of the country. There are no restrictions on foreign currency brought in. If you don’t declare the foreign money you bring in, you’ll only be able to take out 500 US dollars. You may be asked to account for foreign currency exchanged/spent in country. Hotel bills must be payed for with credit cards or in foreign hard currencies e.g. US dollar.

Users of credit cards are subject to a surcharge of about 3 percent on the total value of goods purchased. US dollar traveller’s cheques are recommended. Avoid street money changers who promise “no commission, best rates”, but then cheat on delivery. There are strict penalties for illegal foreign currency trading. Several of the city’s large stores don’t accept American Express cards; travellers’ cheques are the most convenient means of payment.

HEALTH: Yellow fever immunisation is essential if you arrive from an infected country or area. Visitors are also advised to take pre-arrival precautions against hepatitis A, polio, typhoid and malaria (depending on the area visited especially those outside of towns). Other health concerns include bilharzia (don’t swim in the rivers/dams or drink the water from them as it may be infected), sunburn, limited medical facilities and supplies outside of towns, AIDS and influenza (risk extends throughout the year).

LANGUAGE: English is the official language. Chishona and Sindebele are widely spoken.

PUBLIC HOLIDAYS:
1 January New Year’s Day
12 April Easter Monday
18 April Independence Day
1 May Workers’ Day
25 May Africa Day
11 August Heroes’ Day
12 August Defence Forces Day
22 December Unity Day
25-26 December Christmas

SHOPPING: Shona soft-stone carvings; woodcarvings; T-shirts; safari clothing; pottery; leather goods; basket ware; sculptures; textiles. Nail polish and old clothes can sometimes be swopped for carvings.

SOCIAL CONVENTIONS: Christianity is the main religion, but in rural areas people have traditional beliefs. Western/European courtesies are observed. Return invitations are appreciated. Handshaking is the common form of greeting. Dress is casual, but most hotels require more formal wear, e.g. tie and jacket; business meetings require suits.

TIME DIFFERENCE: GMT+2

TIPPING: Ten-fifteen percent is common.

TOP TEN ATTRACTIONS DESCRIPTION:

Victoria Falls:

Called by locals “Mosi-oa-Tunya” – the smoke that thunders, Victoria Falls is a World Heritage Site and undoubtedly the most majestic waterfall in the world; popular activities include walking through the rainforest, white water rafting, bungi jumps, flights over the falls, river cruises, and much more.

Lake Kariba Unique scenery of dead trees rising from the depths of this huge man-made lake is especially beautiful during sunset; a popular way to enjoy the lake is on a houseboat with friends viewing the large numbers of crocodile and hippo, going game viewing at the Matusadona National Park or Tiger fishing – the largest Tiger fish ever was caught here and weighed 15.5kg.

Harare:

The capital city offers sightseeing at the National Gallery; National Archives; Queen Victoria Museum; Queen Victoria National Library; National Botanic Garden; Mbare Market; Chapungu village; tobacco auction floors; Mukuvisi Woodlands; Museum of Human Sciences; Harare Gardens; Cecil House; National Handicraft Centre; Africa Unity Square and The Residency.

Kame Ruins:

22 km west of Bulawayo is Kame Ruins, one of southern Africa’s magnificent Late Iron Age ruins, now a World Heritage Site showing the area was the seat of government of earlier civilisations.

Great Zimbabwe National Monument:

Ruins of an ancient African city, believed to have flourished between the 13th and 15th centuries AD, is the only one in existence south of the Sahara and a World Heritage Site; the country has taken its name from it and the famous Zimbabwe birds found at the site has become the national bird and been incorporated in the flag; visit the museum on the site, the Kyle recreational park and do game viewing by car or horseback nearby.

Hwange National Park:

The country’s largest national park, both in size and variety of wild game and bird life; also one of the few remaining elephant sanctuaries in Africa, with herds of up to 100 strong seen; the only area in the country where gemsbok and brown hyena occur in reasonable numbers and where the population of wild dog is thought to be the largest surviving in Africa today.

Mana Pools National Park:

Part of the Middle Zambezi Valley, Mana Pools is host to some of the biggest concentrations of large mammals to be seen in Zimbabwe; it is also renowned for its varied and colourful birdlife and forms one of the last remaining strongholds of the black rhino; game viewing, hunting and canoe safaris are popular.

Bulawayo & Matobo:

Zimbabwe’s second largest city which stands on the site of the royal kraal of Lobengula, last of the Ndebele Kings; view the Natural History Museum, Railway Museum, Mzilikazi art and craft centre, Centenary park, central parks and National Art Gallery; 30 km from the city is Matobo National Park, a unique area of some 2000 square kilometres of gigantic wind-sculpted rock formations. Cecil John Rhodes’ burial site and thousands of ancient rock paintings can also be found here.

Eastern highlands:

Luxuriant natural surroundings characterise this region with mountains, grassy plains, streams, waterfalls, mountain flowers, rare birds, etc. contributing to panoramic views of exquisite beauty attracting nature lovers, hikers and other outdoor enthusiasts; visit the Nyanga National Park, Mutare, Mutarazi Falls, Bunga Botanical Reserve, Bvumba Botanical Gardens and the wilderness of the Chimanimani National Park.

Gona-re-Zhou park:

This park adjoins the Kruger National Park in South Africa and is home to some of the rarest bird and animal life in Africa. The bat-eared fox, suni, Liechtenstein’s hartebeest, nyala and roan antelope are to be found along the famous African elephants of this park, which are unlike any others in the world.

Gerald Crawford was born in South Africa, studied electronics, telecommunication, eco-travel and african travel concepts. He taught responsible tourism in South Africa. If you have any questions or comments please e-mail me on. E-mail Address: southafricantravelarticles@12234455.co.za Website Address: www.12234455.co.za

[tags]African,Travel,Tips,Zimbabwe[/tags]

We all want to travel Europe on a cheap budget these days.

Budget and discount price airlines have sprung up in almost every European country in the last few years – all of them fighting furiously with each other to offer the best value cheap airfare deals. But do we really benefit from these discount European travel prices or do the drawbacks of trying to travel Europe cheaply outweigh the advantages? Do the budget low price airfares blind us to the extra hassle that the cheap price might be hiding? Lets look at some current cheap European travel deals and see what we find.

Almost every European country now has at least one no frills budget airline. Easy Jet and Ryan Air are becoming well known and popular in Great Britain and in Ireland. Germany has four or five low cost airlines and cheap airfare specialists. Meanwhile, in Sweden, SAS have just launched their own budget offshoot called Snowflake.

At first glance the fares that these airlines charge can seem ridiculously low; Ryan Air have given their flights away almost for free in the past – although you still have to pay the airport tax of around twenty UK pounds. But where’s the catch? Is there a catch? Can you really travel Europe by air without spending a fortune?

Here’s the deal if you want to travel Europe on a cheap budget:

Firstly, the low fares airlines in Europe nearly always use out of town provincial airports – often about forty or fifty miles from the respective city centres. This can add up to two hours of travel time to your journey at each end. You also have to pay for the bus or train connection to get from your airport to the city centre. Make sure you add this price in to the cost of your ticket when comparing prices between cheap airfare deals and the prices charged by the mainstream airlines. In most cases the main airlines fly you into the city centre airport and thus cut your travel time and the cost of any extra transport.

If you’re unlucky enough to miss a flight then you could literally be stuck in a very rural airport overnight with all the food outlets closed down and no way to get back to the town or the city.

Secondly, you only get what you pay for. The European budget airlines may offer no in-flight service for food and drinks. Or, if they do, they will charge you for it at a premium rate. Coffee, sandwiches and beer may be very pricey indeed. To be fair, many of the flights are only of an hour or two’s duration so snacks and drinks may not be such a big deal.

Thirdly – figure out the total travel time and compare that to the costs. For example: it takes five hours to go from the very centre of Glasgow in Scotland to the very centre of London by train and it costs around twenty five UK pounds each way.

Now – you might pick up a cheap flight from Glasgow to London, only to find that both of your airports are forty miles from the city centre. That immediately adds three hours to your travel time, not counting the waiting around at the airports, baggage handling and all the extra hassle that goes with it. You will also have to pay separately for the bus or train journey from airport to city centre and vice versa. Unless your airfare is extremely cheap you might well spend more money in the long run for a less comfortable journey. Check it all out carefully in advance if you can.

Fourthly, the quoted cheap airfare ticket prices are only for APEX travellers. You might have to pay a lot extra if you need to change your flight time. Cheap airfare prices are also usually only available if you buy well in advance – buying the day before or on the day will add a big premium to the price. The baggage allowance is also on the mean side – often no more than 15kg or 20kg per person. Any more than that and you will face a very hefty premium on your cheap price ticket.

In summary – you can travel Europe cheaply by choosing your discount airline package carefully. But do try to weigh up all the extra hidden costs as you compare flight ticket prices. You should also factor in the extra travel time that arriving at a provincial airport may bring.

Please remember: Don’t get too hung up on it all!

Travel in Europe is fun – however you do it.

Gary Hill is a travel writer based near Edinburgh and Scotland. He travels widely in Europe and can give great advice and tips on European travel.
You can read much more about how to travel Europe cheaply on Gary’s website. You’ll find more detail about the discount airfare packages available and about the routes that the various budget airlines fly.
Travel in Europe can be great fun but it helps to get good quality advice before you go.

The website also has details of how to organise an Ireland Golf Vacation and on planning your dream wedding location.

[tags]travel Europe, travel in europe, cheap, budget, cheap europe, europe travel, budget[/tags]

Italy, owing to its great landscapes, has several golf courses all over the country. While traveling within Italy, one can play golf in the mountains, by the sea, in and around historical cities and in many of the tourist resorts.

Golfing near the lakes of Grada, Maggiore and Como is an unforgettable experience, with the gentle slopes, flat grounds and small clearings amidst trees. Miles and miles of green area dot the picturesque surroundings. One can walk for hours while playing round after round of golf without feeling tired. The golf courses around these lakes provide an experience which is different from playing golf in traditional golf courses.

There are a number of historic seaside villages which provide the opportunity of enjoying seaside golf. These villages offer a blend of traditional natural surroundings, great scenic beauty and ultramodern arrangements for great hospitality.

Mountains are an important part of every travel circuit of Italy. From the Alps to the Apennines, there are a number of golf courses dotting the slopes of these mountains. They have a wide variety of flora and fauna, making them more even more exquisite. Walking in golf courses situated in mountains can be an arduous task, but it is great fun, too. In fact, one has to treat walking as part of the game in golf courses in mountains. You can’t skip it if you are playing a real game here. So golfing in mountains gives a person the pleasure of an open-air sport as well as an excursion.

You can also play golf in any of the golf courses around the cities of Rome, Venice, Naples or Florence. There are several other ‘art’ cities also where one can easily find a golf course in or around the city. In most of the cities, golf resorts have come up in large numbers over the last few years, as a substantial number of people traveling to Italy often prefer to get rid of the travel blues by playing a round or two of golf.

Italy Travel provides detailed information on Italy Travel, Golf Travel Italy, Italy Travel Guide, Train Travel In Italy and more. Italy Travel is affiliated with Map of Italy.

[tags]Golf Travel Italy[/tags]

Thailand is a land of enchanting and exotic tastes for foreign visitors as I was to learn when I experienced the Water Festival of Loi Kathong on the island of Ko Chang.

Ko Chang

In October 2003, the travel bug seriously bit me. The symptoms led me to sell my business, pack a small backpack with necessary items and roll into Los Angeles International Airport with a major credit card and an attitude. A few days later, I was in Thailand and headed for the island of Ko Chang, located close to the border with Cambodia in the Gulf of Thailand.

Ko Chang is a heavily forested island with little towns full of beach huts. This is what I was exactly what I was after. Spending days lounging in the sun and contemplating my navel. Unfortunately, I soon experienced the local bacteria, which was not what I was after.

Since I had rented my beach hut for a week with payment in advance, the family running the place looked me upon favorably. They took pity on me and I was soon growing fat on Tom Yom Kung and other soups and curries. After four days, I had finally kicked the bug and felt halfway human. This was good news as it was the night of the full moon water festival.

I had heard of full moon festivals in Thailand. For hard partying tourists, this was apparently the night the big beach parties happened. In Ko Chang, it was a little different as the night was tailored to the actual Thais, not tourist.

The Loi Kathong Festival happens every full moon. Offerings are given to appease the water spirits. These offerings come in the form of banana leaf bowls with flowers, fruit, candles and incense. The candles and incense are lit and everyone heads down the beach and starts putting them in the water. It is one of the more amazing light shows you will ever see and beats Las Vegas hands down. Thousands, and I mean thousands, of little lights bobbing on the surface of the smooth ocean.

After the bowls comes one of the most visually amazing things I’ve ever seen. Everyone is familiar with the paper lanterns used in Asia. Typically, they come in the form of a rectangle form with a bamboo or light wire frame. Very popular with college students since they are cheap and look better than a bare light bulb.

For the festival, Thais would take these paper lanterns and close off the top. They would then affix a small this paper plate to the bottom with a candle on it. Light the candle, wait for the heat to do its work and they had an instant hot air balloon. Once the lanterns could float, you simply let go and off the slowly went over the ocean. It was a sight to see as there were thousands of them floating over the water.

As the festival wound down, the ocean had been transformed. The air was full of gracefully floating lanterns while the water itself was dotted with slowly bobbing points of light.

If you intend to travel to Thailand, make sure you schedule your trip around a full moon. It is a scene you’ll never forget.

Rick Chapo is with http://www.nomadjournals.com – makers of travel journals. Writing journals are great travel accessories and travel gifts for him or her. Visit http://www.nomadjournaltrips.com for more travel articles.

[tags]thailand, ko chang, tom yom kung, full moon festivals, water festival, loi kathong, thai, thais[/tags]

Travel can be a time and resource intensive activity. There are many things that can go wrong, and often do, but careful planning, prioritizing and goal setting can reduce the number and severity of most problems that may creep into your travel experiences. Learning how to set and prioritize your travel goals will take you a long way towards creating travel plans that will fit into your life and are more likely to bring you wonderful memories.

Treat Travel and Vacations Like Any Other Goal Driven Area of Your Life

Travel and vacations can be a major financial expenditure in anyone’s life, and should be treated as such. Therefore, goals should be set before you plan your travel. Details such as how many coutries you want to visit, the number of cities do you want to visit, which tourist attractions you would like to experience, how do you plan to travel, and in what style do you plan to travel, should be asked before making your travel plans. Typically, the longer your vacation and the more places you choose to travel to, the more important it is to set your travel goals.

How Do You Create Your Travel Plans and Goals?

If you plan on making your travel goals successful, they must be specific and measurable, action-oriented, realistic, and have a fixed time span. A specific and measurable travel goal would include the destination, method of travel, what you plan to do, and who you plan to go with. The more specific you can get with the travel planning details, the better you can successfully plan a budget for your trip. An example of making specific plans would be: “I will travel within my budget, with my girlfriend to New Zealand for a bike touring vacation lasting two weeks within the next six months.”

To make your goal action oriented, it should contain the verb of your choice of action. In the previous example the “I will travel within my budget” implies action, states intent, and indicates the type of preparation and planning required to carry out the task.

Your travel goal should also be realistic. When stating the goal, the two most important questions include, “Do I have the time and the money?” For many people, finding the money to travel, is easier than finding the time to travel. In our time-starved society today, it is a rare occasion that most people can afford to take the time off to take an extended vacation longer than 2 weeks. Other obstacles that can pose a challange include physical stamina, knowledge of the language and customs, and social/political unrest. If you have a bad heart, and don’t know any of the native languages in Afghanistan, it may not realistic to plan a winter trek through the eastern mountains of Afghanistan.

The last part of your travel goals is that they should also be time constrained. Most people may say, “I want to go to Japan some day.” However, it isn’t enough of a motivating factor to complete your goals. You should say “I will go to Japan by October of next year.”

Now You Should Prioritize Your Travel Goals

Once you have created clear goals for your vacation, it’s time to prioritize them. This process is purely personal and based upon your own life situation. You can prioritize your goals based on time, by taking shorter trips now, and longer trips when your job situation changes, or taking more expensive trips now and less expensive trips later. You may prioritize your goals based upon your current and future health, where you take your trekking trips when you are physically in shape, and take your energy isn’t as high.

Of course your life may take a turn in a completely different direction than expected, and in that case, you may need to adjust your goals. Even for huge life changing events, going through this process will give you a better chance at succeeding in your travel plans. Once you have taken the time to make them and write them down and make them clear, you can focus your time and energy into making them happen.

Careful planning and goal setting creates better focus so you know how to make your travel plans happen. Once you have set your goals and made your plans, you can begin to look for resources that will help you with your travel budget. Look online for prices, destination information, and other types of information that will help you reach your vacation goals.

Copyright 2006 B Hopkins

Learn how to travel to your favorite destinations at a fraction of the cost other people are paying. Get this information packed resource before it’s gone: http://instanttravelnews.com/resources/budgettravel1 (A http://drivetraffictomywebsite.com creation)

[tags]budget,travel,goals,prioritize,resource[/tags]

Vatican City is a sovereign city-state whose territory consists of 108 acres and is almost completely walled, and situated within the city of Rome, Italy.

It is the smallest independent nation in the world created in 1929. The Head of State is the Pope, who as the supreme executive, legislative, and judicial authority is also the Head of Government.
In 2004, there was a count of 114 Billion Catholics in the world. So it may be well worth your time to visit Rome again and revisit the nation behind the wall in Rome.

There is no doubt that the little nation within the huge city holds lots of secrets, yet, I can’t help but believe that these same secrets are in plain sight in other parts of the world! After all, the Roman Catholic Church is not the oldest religion in the world, only the largest.

To get to the truths behind the truths we may have to travel to more then one location. It has always been my belief that each destination holds a part of the truth concerning world (religion) history travel and each location will show and give you a glimpse of their piece of the puzzle if we would only visit. (Hence the Travel 360 slogan: Travel is Education at its Best)

It is also my belief that to see Vatican City more clearly, you may have to visit, the Holy Land and Egypt. When we read about world (religious) history we may forget; However, when you visit world history, you never forget! And in time, the truths that are not written, are revealed.

Because I am not a scholar, I do not feel comfortable saying more then I have said. However, if you are a world traveler, we would love to publish your thoughts on how travel has changed your life. Please, email your articles to be shared with thousands of people from all over the world who visit the www.travel360degrees.com travel site to read personal travel articles.

Article written by Cassandra Ingraham,
e-Publisher for http://www.travel360degrees.com

A web site for cost conscience travelers featuring travel articles with links to affordable Travel Suppliers.

[tags]vatican city, rome, italy, catholic church, religion, world history, travel[/tags]