Paris for beginners

This is a jaw-dropping trip into the worlds of Chagall, Cezanne, Monet, Piaf, Renoir, Sartre, Voltaire, The Hot Club, the Impressionists, Van Gogh and a virtual encyclopedia of other world culture phenomena. The city itself is a huge cultural statement. This is also where the true Bohemian culture was born, and it can prove it.

Paris for fun and culture

Paris is famous for being one of the great cultural explorers of the world. Since the 19th century, Paris has actively gone looking for culture, as well as producing its own. Paris fashionable elites were the first to develop the taste for Asian culture and art. The Chinoiserie of France was the first popularization of the world outside Europe since the Middle Ages. Since then, the world’s cultures have rolled through Paris.

Paris took up jazz before it became the giant music phenomenon of the mid 20th century. Cinema, art, dance, and literature have been regularly hit by France’s giant talents. This is culture, Parisian style, and Paris likes to have fun with its culture.

Cosmopolitan Paris- Eternal cultural synthesis in progress

This is one of the world’s most cosmopolitan cities, too. Paris takes many forms, and every arrondissement is a discovery. The Parisian Melting Pot is like the New York version, but the result of the melting process is a Parisian, every time. You’ll meet most of the world in Paris, sooner or later.

The endless cultural synthesis has done a lot to broaden the cultural palette of a city which was already very well stocked with culture, and it produces a range of hybridized art forms which are on a par with the historical giants. Artists are endemic, musicians are everywhere, and the performing arts are practically unavoidable.

Don’t plan your Paris trip to death- Explore!

It doesn’t take much planning to see Paris. You already know the places you want to see. Don’t miss the Louvre, and try to organize a way of checking out the historical wonders, but don’t plan your trip to the point where you can’t do anything else. This is a city which has to be experienced, as well as seen. Paris itself is a bon vivant, and it’s worth partying with what’s happening now.

(Note: If you want to plan anything for your trip, plan on brushing up on your French. Try to get it up to a respectable conversational speed, with good idiomatic usage, because you’ll miss a lot if you don’t talk to the Parisians about their culture and their city.)

Grab your plane ticket, your full coverage online travel insurance, and enjoy one of the world’s most fantastic cities.

The Cultural Best of Paris is a post from: Travel Insurance Articles

New York picks up media and creative art at the same speed it’s made. It’s also the marketing centre of global media marketing in many ways, and the creative products get distributed around the world faster from New York than anywhere else.

That basic reality attracts a lot of musicians, artists, production people and promoters. If something’s new or emerging in any creative medium, it’ll head to New York. At any one time, you can expect to see the latest in most media, all the time.

The big name places are all worth seeing

If you’ve ever met someone who knows New York, you’ll have noticed that they sound like a street directory when they talk about it. That’s how you find your way around the city. Particular streets and areas have special features and places. It’s like a mental GPS system.

If you’ve never been before, some orientation is a good idea, and the big names in the city are all useful landmarks to help you navigate. It doesn’t get dull, either.

Greenwich Village: A must see, full of interesting things, and better still, a shopping zone. Bring money, and an encyclopedia, because you can find anything in these places.

Central Park: A navigational aid for Manhattan, and a pretty interesting place.

Chinatown: Complicated, fun, and has everything, including food, markets and lots of interesting things. Even the travel guides aren’t too sure what else is there, but it’s definitely worth a visit or several.

Picking and choosing your New York experience- You can do everything online in New York

The great thing about New York is that everything is online. If you want a pizza or a yacht, you can get it. Settle down with a good cup of coffee and search to your heart’s content. You will find whatever it is.

A trip from Damon Runyan to Woody Allen- New York cultural tones and shades

New York’s local culture is famous for its humor, pathos, and the ability to turn itself into an icon. Damon Runyan was a true New York storyteller. His successors, including the Marx Brothers, (native New Yorkers), Woody Allen and the virtual Facebook of big household names the city has produced are all part of that culture.

Just hit the links, book the ticket, grab the travel insurance and go. There’s nowhere like New York.

How To Enjoy a Cultural Tour of New York is a post from: Travel Insurance Articles

When you approach the city, you’ll see a huge modern city rising out of the horizon. San Francisco look like it’s built right in to the surrounding areas of coast and mountain like a tailored suit. From NASA satellite photos, it looks like crochet work next to San Francisco Bay, one of nature’s most spectacular harbors.

The old and new architecture, the hills and the quirky nature of getting around make San Francisco a very interesting place to visit. The famous street cars lumber up hills past elegant old style houses which were once the symbols of the future and now symbolize the past in this constantly evolving place. The big skyscrapers tower in the background, a meeting point between the desert sky and the sea.

Old San Francisco

San Francisco, like the rest of California, was originally an outpost of Spanish/Mexican culture. The original Californios brought with them some very elegant buildings, and styles of architecture that keep coming back in California. Old San Francisco was the most developed of these areas, and a lot of it has been preserved despite history and the Great Fire of 1906 which destroyed much of the new American city.

Old San Francisco was where the Gold Rush built fortunes overnight and lost them. It was where the Pacific trade began, and the Chinese laborers who built the western continental railroad came to take a “Chinaman’s chance” to make their money in America. The old city has been preserved lovingly, and is very special to the San Francisco natives. It’s something you need to see to understand.

The countryside

Outside the city is the tough country of legend, and it earned its reputation as being very difficult land to travel. It’s solid rock, it’s beautiful, and if you can imagine traveling a few hundred miles of that sort of territory on horseback or wagon, you’ll see what the early settlers had to deal with. This is fantastic country, perched on the side of a continent which is still moving, and it’s some of the most dramatic scenery you could wish to see.

The coast

The California coast doesn’t need to explain why it’s so famous. The coast people are as fond of their shores as the inlanders, and this is one of the most ecologically conscious places in the world. The coast includes the fabulous sea otters, Orcas, and giant kelp forests, as well as the surfing beaches. Grab a ticket, some good online travel insurance, and come and see for yourself.

The Best of San Francisco is a post from: Travel Insurance Articles

Hong Kong was a fishing island that was turned into one of the great cities of Asia. It soon became one of the great trading ports in the world, and everyone owned something “Made in Hong Kong” by the mid 20th century. Hong Kong is a mix of modern Western and Chinese values, with a very strong streak of the southern Chinese culture throughout.

Hong Kong is also a match for the booming Chinese culture of today. It’s a financial and trade centre, and it’s a very beautiful place, even as the “Shanghai Effect” becomes noticeable. Hong Kong’s skyscrapers stand like a stone forest, big, modern and impressive, but they also match the Chinese coast, which in this part of the world is an interesting mix of mountains, islands, and a lot of green space in the parks in the New Territories around Kowloon.

So much in one place

Hong Kong Island and its surrounding islands are like several different worlds. The island includes its own big park on Victoria Peak, a Trappist Monastery, colonial museums, a bewildering supply of local markets, a zoological park, Hong Kong Disneyland, and a lot of temples, and that’s practically next door when you’re staying there.

It’s no wonder so many writers were so fascinated, and so many movies have been made in Hong Kong. Junks and sampans still ply the harbor, next to huge bulk carriers and luxury cruise liners. It’s a mystical place by nature, as much as by design.

The Hong Kong coast and hills, tourist heaven

For tourists, Hong Kong has always been and remains a great place to go. It’s quite cheap, by world standards. You can really explore the place, and you’ll find Hong Kong lives up to its reputation as a real experience.

Anyone who’s ever seen the South China Sea coast at its best will appreciate the comfort, the modern luxuries and the deep Chinese character.Like the rest of China, the only real risk to your budget in Hong Kong is the desire to buy all the beautiful things you can find. Hong Kong is one of the major distributors of the fabulous Chinese art, cultural items and furniture around the world, and Hong Kong shopping for Sinophiles is positively addictive. The trick to a cheap trip to Hong Kong is to pay all your travel insurance, accommodation and fares for Hong Kong up front, and make sure you’ve got enough in your budget to shop carefree. You can buy everything else when you come back, anyway.

Visit Hong Kong on a Shoestring is a post from: Travel Insurance Articles

Beijing for a price you can trust

The really good news for travelers is that China is a very efficient travel destination. Everything is usually very well organized, and you can do all your costing upfront. You can literally cost a Beijing tourist package to the cent.

The other great advantage is that in Beijing, you’re well within tour range of most of northern China’s many great tourist destinations. It’s an excellent place to base yourself to see the country.

You’ve got the Great Wall practically next door, and the ancient capital Xian, another major tourist spot, in the neighboring province of Shaanxi. This is the home of the Terra Cotta Warriors, and you can see the whole saga of China’s glorious past from the comfort of a bullet train.

Travel on a budget that works

There’s no guesswork involved in your basic travel and accommodation prices. China is one of the most popular places on Earth for tourism. This is a huge country, and it’s got 4000 years of an incredible past and an equally incredible future to see.

The real risk to your budget is the need to buy everything in sight. Beijing can sell you a few container loads worth of beautiful souvenirs. It takes a while to get used to shopping in places like Beijing, because everything looks good, and you need to know where to find the things you want.

China in one place- What Beijing has to offer

Beijing itself as a place to visit is a real epic. This is one of the world’s great cities, and it can prove it. If you want to see a snapshot of modern China, this is where you’ll find it. The city has some really fascinating places to see:

The Summer Palace: The home of Kublai Khan in the hot northern summers, on a beautiful lake. This is the classic Chinese setting. If you’ve never seen the principles of Chinese gardens, architecture and landscaping, you’re in for an education.

The Forbidden City: The Imperial residence was designed to awe, and it still does. The artwork alone is astonishing, one of the few examples of this highly ornate and symbolic decorative style surviving intact. This is where the Manchu Qing Dynasty rose and fell, and where modern China looks back on hundreds of years of turmoil.

Getting around and seeing the sights

This is a place where you can roam happily for days and watch an emerging super power at work and play. It’s history in the making, and you’re right in the middle of it. China is a place nobody ever forgets. Getting full coverage travel insurance for Beijing tours is easy. All you need to do is get there.

How to See Beijing on a Shoestring is a post from: Travel Insurance Articles

Island tours

Fiji is actually a group of islands. There are two large islands, Fiji itself and Vanua Levu to the north east. Like many island groups, the islands are pretty diverse. Each has its own character and its special places. The island tours are done in the best style, plenty of comfort, good food, and luxury, the kind that makes you want to extend the trip by a few years.

Traveling around the islands is quite an experience, and the Fijians, knowing a good thing when they have one, have added on a lot of other experiences to go with it. Scuba diving, water skiing, swimming, reefs trips, bamboo rafting, jet skiing, inland exploration, there’s a seemingly never ending range of things to do and see. It’s the sort of place where you have to be conscientious and come back at least five or six times to make sure you haven’t missed anything.

Cultural tours

Fijian culture is a whole experience of itself. The old stories of South Sea paradises did less than justice to the cultures of the Pacific, and most tourists to Fiji are usually stunned by what they discover about the history of the islands.

For example, did you know that the history of Fiji goes back 3,700 years? That some traditional Fijian buildings have the same roof design as Swiss chalets? Or that the local name for Fiji is “Viti”, meaning “Sunrise”, and they call themselves Kai Viti, the People of the Sunrise? These are just the basics, wait until you hear the stories.

A beach, some peace, and a stroll around paradise. If you just want to wander around on beaches and park yourself in a nice place with your feet up, that’s fine, just make sure you have fun. If you want to see everything, and explore the islands from top to bottom, do it. Fiji is a tourist destination that knows how to be a tourist destination. Even the big expensive cruise lines have got that message. Fiji is the sort of place they like to stop for a while, too. You don’t have to rush around on schedules at all, if you don’t want to, just stroll around.

There’s one thing about Fiji which any experienced traveler will appreciate. For a world famous tourist destination, the Fijians manage to keep everything nicely out of the way and under control. This is a low-pressure, low- maintenance tourist hot spot. You can do everything at your own pace.

You can swim in real “crystal waters”, on countless beaches, go snorkeling among the shallows, or check out the nice comfortable beach houses. The best option: Grab a plane and some full coverage travel insurance, and check it all out for yourself.

The Best Ways To Enjoy a Trip to Fiji is a post from: Travel Insurance Articles

France in Autumn is like Monet’s palette, or an escaped Cézanne. The French countryside is justly famous for its charm, but in Autumn it really puts on a show. Moody Paris is a song, and the special, secret places and old cities are looking even more elegant than ever.

You can see why Impressionism started in France, in Autumn. The colours are incredible, and the light magical. The temperatures have gone down from the fierce French summers, and the venerable old stonework in the country seems to be posing for a new generation of artists and photographers.

Particularly beautiful are the Vosges, Lorraine, and Bordeaux, where the dazzling landscapes go to work on the senses with riots of colour.

Germany

The German Autumn is even a match for Canada and the north east United States. Bavaria really shows off, combining its mountains, rivers and forests in stunning shades. If you really want to get lost in beauty, wander around the Neuschwanstein Castle and Mespelbrunn Castle. These are real tableaux of Old Germany, the land of Beethoven and Gutenberg, and there are many places like this.

Swabia in particular is a particularly beautiful place, and the Black Forest lives up to its reputation. This is real Danube country, and as you head to Ulm, on the Bavarian border, you’ll see misty mountains and valleys, ancient ruins like Castle Hohenurach perched on a peak, and endless other feasts for the senses. If you head south to the Swiss border, you’ll arrive on the shores of Lake Constance, another wanderer’s paradise. These are just some of the sights. To see it all, use the train system and see Germany at its best.

England

England’s “green and pleasant land” starts outside London and Manchester, in all directions. Thanks to the UK’s “Green Belt” policy, much of England’s heritage is in good condition, and the minute you get off the main roads, you’re in it. This is the England that created so many fabulous historical images, from Sherwood Forest through the Thames

Valley and a thousand other places. Autumn frosts mix with incredible red and gold canopies, against the green land and endlessly changing skies.

The climate at this time of year is also an excuse for eating fabulous food, making yourself extremely comfortable, and avoiding the tourist season entirely. This isn’t just any tour. Europe in Autumn deserves to be appreciated as what it is, a work of natural art. Avoid the tourists, take advantage of cheap fares and online travel insurance, and have a ball.

3 Best Autumn Destinations in Europe is a post from: Travel Insurance Articles

The current list includes several countries in the midst of wars, and others with major internal issues and conflicts. Several of them are known to be particularly dangerous to foreigners. In some parts of the world insurgents, militants and terrorists specifically target foreigners.

• Afghanistan
• Burundi
• Central African Republic
• Chad
• Guinea
• Iraq
• Niger
• Somalia
• Sudan

How do countries get onto the ‘Do Not Travel’ list?

The ‘Do Not Travel’ list is compiled according to the government’s assessment of risk, known dangers, and professional threat assessments by security and intelligence agencies. The ‘Do Not Travel’ classification is an unequivocal advisory status, which has drawn complaints from foreign governments in the past. In practice, the ‘Do Not Travel’ is generally accurate, and typically applied to places where the risk level is considered unacceptably high. In many cases the ‘Do Not Travel’ advisory has been proven to be accurate.

How current is the information?

This category of travel warning has a natural requirement for currency of information. The intention of the ‘Do Not Travel’ advice is to ensure that travelers are fully informed of the risks. The information is as current as possible, and is changed as often as necessary.

Will the government help if you are in trouble in a ‘Do Not Travel’ destination?

The government will definitely try and help, but in the ‘Do Not Travel’ category, helping may be very difficult. There are several issues which impact the ability of the government to provide assistance:

• Access to people in trouble in war zones can be extremely difficult. Risks are greatly accentuated in actual combat areas, and realistically getting effective help to people is sometimes very dangerous. Although it is possible for help to be provided, there’s often a virtual obstacle course of situations to be overcome.
• In some parts of the world, terrorists, criminals and pirates target foreigners, particularly tourists and businesspeople. The ‘Do Not Travel’ warning is often based on these situations, and the level of difficulty in providing assistance is one of the factors in assessment.
• Government help usually proceeds through the diplomatic channels available, if any, in these countries. Diplomatic issues can also be a problem in some areas where governments have limited control over the situations affecting foreign nationals.

If traveling to one of the ‘Do Not Travel’ countries, check out the online travel insurance websites before booking. These sites have a lot of useful current information and give international travel insurance rates. You can check with insurance experts about travel risks, and get informed advice about any problems.

All About ‘Do Not Travel’ Destinations is a post from: Travel Insurance Articles

The countries on the current list have a range of major local issues, including many civil wars, terrorism, natural disasters, famines, and in several cases serious economic problems.

These countries include:

• Algeria
• Angola
• Democratic Republic of the Congo
• Eritrea
• Ethiopia
• Haiti
• Indonesia
• Kyrgyz Republic
• Lebanon
• Liberia
• Madagascar
• Mauritania
• Nigeria
• Pakistan
• Saudi Arabia
• Sri Lanka
• Yemen
• Zimbabwe

The risks are very real, and this list includes some places which have been proven to be extremely dangerous for foreigners. In some areas, foreigners are deliberately targeted by terrorists and suicide bombers. Other areas, notably in Africa, also include large areas which are effectively war zones.

How do countries get onto the ‘Reconsider Need to Travel’ list?

The classification ‘Reconsider Need to Travel’ is based on an assessment of risks in a particular country, region, or location. Some countries object to being placed on a travel warning list, but the classification is always based on known issues.

How current is the information?

Information is upgraded as often as required. Many of the countries on the list have been on it for years, due to long periods of unrest, Others are placed on the list as a result major incidents involving violence or natural disasters like earthquakes.

Will the government help if you are in trouble in a ‘Reconsider Need to Travel’ destination?

The government will definitely try and help if you’re in trouble. But there are several problems that need to be understood:

• These countries in some cases don’t have effective governments.
• Getting information and getting people out of dangerous situations can be extremely difficult in areas affected by terrorism and civil war.
• In the cases of civil wars, the governments also don’t have control of some areas of those countries.
• Some countries don’t have the means to help, even if the government asks for assistance.
• In countries affected by terrorism, the government can only attempt to deal with situations on the basis of what’s possible.

If you’re considering traveling to one of these places, it’s advisable to also check out the online travel insurance websites in advance. They can provide a lot of useful information, give international travel insurance rates, and you can check with expert professionals about travel risks, and any additional issues you may have.

About ‘Reconsider Need to Travel’ Destinations is a post from: Travel Insurance Articles

Before You Go:

• Check your child doesn’t have dual nationality

Dual nationality may create bureaucratic situations going through during entry into other countries. Check in advance.

• Get them their own passport

This is a must. The kids need a passport as part of a good set of documentation papers, anywhere they travel internationally. It’s a time saver, and it’s also good travel training, so they understand the rules of travel.


• Talk to older children about what to expect

Talking to your kids give them some orientation regarding the travel process. It can be a worrying experience for adults, and for kids, it can be frightening.

• Pack a first aid kit

The first aid kit has obvious practical benefits. It’s good to know it’s there, and you can also use it to pack the little essentials you know you need.

• Always arrange insurance

International travel insurance is another major issue which must be considered in advance. You can find good online travel insurance sites that can provide cheap travel insurance, holiday insurance, and a range of extras.

• Get travel insurance

Make absolutely sure you get your travel insurance and have the coverage you want before you travel.

• Know how your baby/child items might affect airport security

A baby’s formula or a kid’s toy may set off some alarm or breach some regulation. Check with your local authority regarding security requirements, and if still not sure, ask airport security in advance.

While Traveling

• Make use of your carry-on luggage space

Forward planning with carry-on luggage can really help supply the kids with the things they like and need. A bit of practice packing these things will show what’s possible.

• Bring a portable child restraint for flights and public transport

A simple child restraint can solve a lot of problems. You can avoid the nightmare of a child lost in a sea of people, and keep the child close at all times. Use a leash if necessary. Many parents object to leashes on principle, but if there are no other options, the leash will do the job.

• Seat kids away from the aisle

Seating kids away from the aisle has several practical effects. It prevents them running around the aisle, keeps them on the inside seating, and makes sure they’re where you can see them at all times.

• Arrange things specifically for the kids to do

On long trips, doing nothing isn’t any kid’s idea of fun. It’s a good idea to provide them with things to do that you know they like, which will absorb their energy and attention.

Give each of them an allowance per day

An allowance is both fun and a good chance to reduce any negative emotional effects of the travel experience.

Top 12 Tips for Traveling with Kids is a post from: Travel Insurance Articles