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Archive for the ‘Travel’ Category

The easiest way to shop without hassle and stress is to shop early.  Most of us use shopping as a way to get into the Christmas spirit, but it also promotes a stressful holiday season.

What types of gifts do we buy? Mostly, items that we think someone would like to have based on our tastes.  The most meaningful gift is one that meets that person’s desire or need.  If Cousin Susie is always running out of stamps or envelopes to write letters, a thoughtful gift would be a personal mail center complete with stamps, envelopes, and writing tools.
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What can I say about eating around the holidays? The main reason for Christmas may not be food but all of the good times we seem to have center around it.  Food brings people together.  It may be a wedding, funeral, reunion, or holiday and you will see families laughing and playing over some sort of vittles.

But, food can get pretty expensive at that time of the year.  If you are a holiday baker and a party host, getting the menus together ahead of time will save lots of money.  A comprehensive list of ingredients for family dinners, desserts, and party foods allows things to be marked off as they are bought.
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Decorations put us in the mood to celebrate the holidays.  When the house is filled with bright sparkling lights, scented candles, wreaths at the door, and an ornamented Christmas tree, we believe that the season has arrived.

For some, it isn’t truly Christmas without a real tree.  An artificial tree is just as good and will last for many years if it is a good quality tree.  Both are good options for the family.

When it comes to decorating a home and a Christmas tree, advertisers do their job quite well.  Already, our hands are itching to purchase every shiny bulb we see.  But, when they introduce the next big thing or an entire complement of ornaments to fully decorate the tree, we are hooked.
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• Benefit from the greater buying power of travel wholesalers by shopping among the packaged air fare and accommodation deals. A good travel agent can work wonders if you specify your budget requirements. Compromise on some tour details can mean huge savings.

• Be very wary of getting trapped in a resort where the price includes nothing more than the room and there are no alternative sources of food.

• Unless you have to, don’t go on holiday now. Wait for those of us with school children to retreat, and watch the prices plummet as we leave. I’m jealous just thinking about it.

• An essential item for any outing is some sort of cool bag or esky, especially at the beach with children. It allows you to pay supermarket prices for the inevitable soft drinks. The savings can be substantial.

• Finding the location of the nearest major supermarket is an early necessity. It might take a little more effort to get to, but one good shop at the start of your holiday can save a bundle compared with the tourist center’s corner store prices.

• Do you like to read on holiday? Visit your local library before you go – you’ll find a better range of books than at the airport, at a better price!

• An absolute necessity for overseas travel is insurance to cover the risks of sickness and injury- Hospital charges in the US really can send you broke, while some Third- and even Second-World countries are great to visit, but you wouldn’t want to be operated on there. Shop around for quotes, but it’s better to have too much insurance than not enough.

• The primary role of the phone in your hotel room is to make money for the landlord. Outrageous mark-ups on hotel phone bills can be avoided by using a pay phone.

• Leave buying mementos until the end of your stay — by then you’ll have a better idea of prices and products.

• Go native. Use local public transport rather than taxis or tours. For example, visitors to Sydney can enjoy the harbor on public ferries rather than dearer tourist cruises.

• Buy the local newspapers. The features and advertisements will be more up-to-date than the best travel books, and the best shopping specials more current, regardless of whether you’re a visitor or a local.

• Finally, remember the best things in life really can be inexpensive – the time to relax and enjoy the company of those you holiday with. Sunsets and a beach walk are still free.

Partner site: Monterrey

Tuscany Italy
This pretty Italian province is home to the Leaning Tower of Pisa, the birthplace of Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo, and where the story of Pinocchio originated.

Florence, going up the hill to the Forte di Belvedere, affords you a breathtaking view of the city. Then, visit the Boboli Gardens, an outdoor museum with labyrinths and Renaissance sculptures and drop by the Accademia, the home to David by Michelangelo. Don’t forget to check out Uffizi Gallery and its awe-inspiring paintings by such masters as Raphael, Michelangelo and Car-avaggio. Next, drop by Chianti to see how the fine Italian wine is made in Tuscany. Complete your visit to Italy by seeing the leaning tower of Pisa, in Versilia and getting some retail therapy at Villafranca or Bagnone, or the busy market town Fivizzano.
Posta is a lovely bed and breakfast in Florence that costs about $50 per person per night. Sate your hunger surrounded by old world charm in Nerbonne in Mercato Centrale.

Budget hotels don’t necessarily equal dingy rooms and stinky communal bathrooms! Most proprietors are now able to offer decent lodgings at affordable prices by carefully leaving out certain luxuries such as:

Spartan basics – No TV in rooms and no swimming pool. Some hotels try to make up for this by providing something unique like a curio shop or tanning area on the roof top. Who needs the idiot box when you’re on vacation, anyway?
Meals not included – Usually no free buffet breakfast is provided, even if the hotel has its own restaurant or cafe. Privacy – Dorm rooms are usually quite cheap, which is perfect if you are traveling with a group of friends. Granted you get less privacy, but take it as an opportunity to meet other travellers and share their stories!

When picking out a budget hotel, it’s best to check out the local hotel rating website and see the reviews on it. Alternatively, visit the country’s tourism board website for the necessary info. The best method? Ask for referrals from pals who have stayed in budget hotels before!

Most business travellers to PNG require a business visa. Unfortunately, these can be time-consuming to obtain and generally cost around A$250. Consult with the company you are visiting about this well in advance of your trip.
Getting to PNG. There are direct flights to PNG from Cairns and Brisbane with Air Niugini (Qantas codeshare), with connecting flights from Sydney. Costs are high but the service is good. A Business Class service is offered. Getting Around Port MoreSby Upon your arrival/departure, any of
the hotels listed below will provide a complimentary transfer.

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Not sure if you should plan your next vacation with a travel agent, or DIY as usual? Then consider these advantages to booking through an agent:

Big discounts; A well-informed agent will be more clued-in to the bargains available and as they book in bulk, they are privy to discounts from airlines and too.

Saves you the hassle: if you’re planning a trip to a spot that isn’t accessible via a direct flight, your agent can find the most efficient way to get there faster than you can.

Guarantee of standards; Agents usually represent only quality hotels, restaurants and overseas tour agencies, so you don’t have to worry about getting duped when you buy your holidays from them.

Lisbon capital of Portugal
Lisbon has a great seafaring tradition and was the starting point of numerous historical voyages made by Vasco da Gama, Ferdinand Magellan and Bartolomeu Dias.

The old Moorish quarter of Alfama is a mix of past and present, where Roman and Arabic influences are visible. The main attraction is Castelo Sao Jorge, a picturesque spot that also offers a sweeping view of Lisbon. Drop by the Tile Museum to see famous decorative ceramic tiles or azulejos made five centuries ago. Then, head to Belem Tower and Jeronimos Monastery for a taste of Lisbon’s adventurous past. You shouldn’t miss the beautiful futuristic Park of Nations or the Oceanarium! Said to be the world’s most amazing aquarium, it boasts of recreations of oceanic ecosystems, 25,000 fish, sea birds and mammals. Get your souvenirs at Baixa, Comercio Square and Rossio Square. The Santa Justa Elevator is a street elevator that connects Baixa to Chiado, a more upscale retail paradise.

Stay at the Hotel Anjo Azul in Bairro Alto. When hungry, visit the Cafe a Brasileira in Chiado for delicious charcoal-grilled sardines and cod fishcakes.

Don your designer shades, strap on those stilettos and step onto the catwalk that is Milan, the style capital of Italy. Besides being home to the cream of the fashion world – Donatella Versace, Dolce & Gabbana, Missoni, Salvatore Ferragamo, Max Mara to name a few-this gorgeous metropolis also boasts of world-famous art and dazzling elaborate architecture.

Start at the Piazza Del Duomo, one of the world’s largest and most beautiful cathedrals, which is within walking distance of dozens of other attractions, including palaces that are home to a host of significant works of art including da Vinci’s Last Supper. Fashionistas will want to check out the refurbished Nestle factory, which houses the Armani atelier and the Brera district, a quaint yet very fashionable area full of beautify shops.

From ristorantes (restaurants), trattorias (cheaper version of restaurants) to pizzerias, you’ll be spoil t for choice when it comes to food. Try Bagutta, a famous Milanese restaurant offering typical Milanese fare or step into the historic 600-year-old Antica Trattoria Monlue, mentioned by Manzoni in his novel The Betrothed. For truly low-budget eating, there are street markets scattered around the city where you can get fresh cheese, salami and fruit. For accommodation, you can choose from small family inns to dorm-style rooms such as Hotel Sabatino Milan.

Holidays in Hong Kong
Hong Kong is a heady mix of spanking new malls that out do one another, twisty little streets that are home to the coolest hangouts, and dessert shops at just about every comer! Why do we love Hong Kong? Let us count the ways:

Hong Kong market
Guys will so get in the way if they can’t keep up with the Hong Kong shopping pace.
Joey from the Hong Kong Tourism Board’s Singapore office, wasted no time in bringing us to the malls. If it’s hip, trendy buys you’re after, head straight for the amazing Langham Place Mall in Mongkok — it’s got 15 floors of goods and will give you a buyer’s buzz for sure! The Spiral Zone houses over 100 up-and-coming designer labels, accessories and collectibles, all laid out bazaar-style to get that shopping adrenaline pumping.

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