Travel Tales from Asia

When you are on holiday you want to take away as much hassle away from your trip as you can. What you don’t want to be doing is worrying about what is happening back home, and you especially do not want to have to worry about what is happening to your car whilst you are away. This is why many people choose to use a secure airport parking service which means that their car is kept in a secure and reliable environment whilst they are off enjoying themselves in sunnier climbs.

Airport parking services know how important it is to their customers to know that their cars are kept well looked after when they are away and this is why many airport parking services now go out of their way to make sure that your vehicle is in safe hands when you are travelling.

However, there are things that you can look out for when you are booking your airport parking service to make sure that your car is a safe as possible. When you book make sure that you look for a car park that has 24 hour CCTV surveillance and is manned by security staff 24 hours a day. Flood lights and a gated secure car park are also good things to look out for.

Many car park services offer pretty slick operations now and you can be sure that most will offer you a professional and efficient service to make sure that you are not hassled about your car at the start or at the end of your holiday.

You don’t have to go away for a long period of time to use a car park service at an airport, you can choose from short stays, mid length stays or long term stays. When you contact your car park service they will advise you on which service is best for you (all depending on how long you expect to be away for).

All of the major airports up and down the UK will offer a wide range of airport parking services and often many are run by independent companies who are all after your business, so if you shop around you will be sure to find some very good deals. One of the best things that you can do is to go online and search for airport parking near to the airport that you are flying from. A good site that you can use is www.parkbcp.co.uk which offers a comprehensive range of car parks that are all brought together in one place so that you can search out the best deal for you. You will be able to find Gatwick Parking, Heathrow Parking and Manchester Airport Parking all in one place at www.parkbcp.co.uk and at heavily discounted rates.

Its impossible to give tips for travel to Asia in one single article, so if required we will continue this article in several series. Today Asia is one of the fastest growing continent and hence traveling from Europe & America all the way down to Asia is not a problem as all major airlines do cover this region extensively. In this particular article we will cover countries within the Indian Sub-continent viz – India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Maldives & Myanmar and discuss about which of these countries is tourist friendly and what to expect and what not to expect.

Starting with India, the largest country in the Indian Sub-continent is a popular tourist destination due to its rich and varied culture. They say that you can’t finish exploring India in one life, and that’s indeed true. India has about 32 states and each of those states has its own state language apart from the national language Hindi. Every state has its own cuisine and different style of dressing. Major tourist attracting destinations in India are dessert palaces in Rajasthan specifically those of Udaipur, Jodhpur and Jaipur. Places like Leh, Ladakh, Kullu, Manali, Shimla, Haridwar & Rishikesh are well known destinations which lie around the Himalayan ranges. Goa & Mumbai are equally interesting destinations on the west coast. State of Kerala, Tamilnadu & Karnataka are full of natural and architectural wonders.

On the other hand countries like Bhutan, Sri Lanka & Nepal are geographically small but in terms of natural beauty, there is no limit. SriLanka is abundant with Tea Estates & Coffee Plantations. There are multiple virgin beaches on the coast of SriLanka and there is much more to explore in Sri Lanka than just visiting Candy and Colombo. Similarly, Bhutan is an untouched paradise and thanks to its rulers and citizens they have well preserved green regions. Modernization has not hampered the natural beauty of this country and the citizens themselves are proud of their natural beauty. In the same region, Nepal is well know to all mountaineers as access to Mt. Everest is through Nepal. Nepali culture, cuisine & rituals have a lot of influence from those in India. These days all major European airlines do reach Kathmandu in Nepal and Colombo in Sri Lanka. If you are not able to find the right connection to these destinations then try reaching India as several Indian private airlines fly to these countries.

Most of the countries in the Indian subcontinent have good internet connectivity and telecommunication infrastructure. These days making international phone calls to and from these countries is not expensive. As a traveler you can also buy a local SIM card, but that’s going to be a little expensive. Most hotels have internet connectivity and have desktops with popular voice over internet applications pre-installed.

Before traveling to Asia, make sure you read about the popular dishes in regions you plan to visit. For example, if you are flying down to Sri Lanka then be prepared to enjoy various rice preparations. While traveling to India, make sure you enjoy spicy Indian curries and bread. Not all regions in India serve spicy food, but if this is your first time to India then tell the hotel attendant to serve you less spicy food.

This article is first from our Travel to Asia series, and in the next article will focus on major tourist attractions and not to miss places in this region.

It doesn’t really matter if you are living abroad for an extended stay or you’re trotting the globe looking for some adventure, you always need some protection that comes with travel insurance policies. Provided that you select a right insurance coverage, you can free your mind from worries of what you will do if your trip doesn’t proceed the way you have perceived. Luckily, you can find a variety of insurance packages, but when it is about an extended stay in another country, you will be better off taking out backpacker’s travel insurance.

It is always a great idea to opt for such insurance because it comes with several benefits. For instance:

• This is one fine way of getting extended coverage for a period of 18 months or even more.
• When you pick this particular insurance, you get yourself covered for all medical expenses as well as cancellation, interruption or delay of travel schedules.
• You may want to consider getting such an insurance plan if you are an exchange student because this also helps you get repayment for your student loan.
• Since there are several insurance providers, it is possible to find such backpacker’s travel insurance policies that charge you nothing as additional fees for several sports and activities, such as white water rafting, jet skiing, bungee jumping and more.
• Provided that you do some research, you can also get coverage for winter sports equipment.

Do You Really Need Backpacker’s Travel Insurance Policies?

Although the benefits of purchasing such policies are many, some people still doubt whether they should choose it or not. However, it is a fact that these policies are in your best interest because you never know when you need some medical attention while on a backpacking trip. Another reason why you should seriously think of buying this coverage is that it doesn’t cost you a lot. Compared to other types of travel insurance, this one is quite cheap and you can have it even if you are on a tight budget.

Picking the Best Backpacker’s Travel Insurance Policies:

If you understand the important of such coverage and are on the lookout for the best deal, you should consider shopping around. It is possible to find some deals too tempting to leave, but you should be willing to make a comparison using a comparison site. Just make sure the site you choose offers insurance plans from a number of carriers. Some sites are affiliated with a few carriers and they often keep you from finding the best deal. You need to keep this in mind and compare insurance policies not only for their overall cost but also for the benefits they offer. Not only do you need to know what a policy covers, but you also need to know what is not covered under a plan. So, keep all these points in mind and be ready to conduct some research to be able to pick the best backpacker’s travel insurance.

The activity level of an airport can be measured in one of 2 ways, by aircraft operations or passenger traffic. Aircraft operations are defined by the FFA by a takeoff or landing, and passenger traffic is simply defined as the number of total passengers. A single passenger is described as someone who arrives in, departs from, or transfers through the airport on a given day. The top three busiest airports listed below are based on passenger traffic. It is paramount that airports as busy as these three offer more than just a mode of transportation. In order to satisfy that many impatient travelers these airports must also offer easy access to concessions, an easy way to commute between gates, and much more.

1) Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport
The Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is located at 6000 North Terminal Parkway in Atlanta Georgia. This is the largest airport in the world in terms of passenger traffic with 89,331,622 passengers during the entire 2010 year. It is on pace to maintain this status with 6,348,118 passengers for just the month of January 2011. The airport is 4,700 acres in size and has five runways. It offers an automated underground people mover in order to help travelers maneuver through the 199 gates. It connects all concourses within the terminal and consists of nine, four-car trains that operate on a 3.5 mile track. Also, while you’re there waiting for your flight there are plenty of concessions to keep your mind occupied. The airport contains 263 total outlets. 114 of those are food and beverage outlets, 90 are retail and convenience outlets, 3 duty free stores, and 56 service outlets, which consist of postal service, a banking center, a lottery outlet, a shoe shine parlor, ATMs, and spas. The concessions spaces cover roughly 230,000 square feet of the airport.

2) Beijing Capital International Airport
The Beijing Capital International airport has quickly grown over the past decade to be the world’s second largest airport with 73,891,801 passengers during 2010. As of the end of January 2011 it is maintain its status as the 2nd busiest airport in the world. It is located about 20 miles northeast of Beijing’s city center. The airport is owned and operated by a state controlled company, the Beijing Capital International Airport Company Limited. It is also the main hub for Air China which is the flag carrier of the People’s Republic of China. The airport contains 3 terminals:

• Terminal 1 – Currently houses the domestic routes of Hainan Airlines and its subsidiaries.
• Terminal 2 – Serves China Southern Airlines, China Eastern Airlines, SkyTeam members and other domestic and international flights.
• Terminal 3 – Serves Air China, Star Alliance, OneWorld Members, and some domestic and international flights that do not operate from the other 2 terminals. Also the newest of the 3 terminals.

The airport also houses a food service area that is commonly called the “global kitchen.” The name derives from the 72 stores that offer a wide variety of food. The dishes vary from formal entrées, fast food joints, Chinese food, Western style cuisine, baked goods, ice cream, and more. In addition to the “global kitchen,” there is also a 12,600 square meter retail area, a 10,600 duty-free store area, and a 7,000 square meter convenience area.

3) O’Hare International Airport
In 2010, the O’Hare International Airport was the world’s third largest airport in terms of passenger traffic with 66,665,390 passengers. However, as of the end of January 2011 it has dropped to #5. In order to maintain its status as the world’s third busiest airport it must exceed passenger traffic of both the London Heathrow Airport and the Tokyo International Airport for the remaining months of 2011.

The O’Hare International Airport is located in the northwestern corner of Chicago Illinois. It serves as the primary hub for United Airlines. The airport was voted the “Best Airport in North America” for 10 years by two separate sources: Readers of the U.S. Edition of Business Traveler Magazine (1998–2003) and Global Traveler Magazine (2004–2007). It contains 5 terminals; however, only 4 of the 5 are operational. Terminal 4 was taken out of operation in 1993 and now serves as the airport’s facility for CTA buses, hotel shuttles, and other transportation. The airport also contains multiple shops and activities for long layovers, including, the Chicago History Museum Gift Shop, the BackRub Hub, a full service medical clinic, and an interfaith chapel just to name a few.

Erica Gustafson is a freelance writer and consultant for Expedia. She writes about her travel experiences as well as other travel related posts sparked from her journeys.

South Korea is a beautiful country and a hugely popular tourist resort. Over 8 million people each year visit the country, with the majority of travellers arriving from Japan, China, Taiwan and Hong Kong. From the ultra-modern, fast-moving lifestyle of capital city Seoul to the ancient grandeur of cities like Gyeongju, South Korea offers something for everyone and the positive, hospitable atmosphere created by South Koreans makes the country an ideal resort for adventurous holiday makers.

However, there are a number of precautions travellers are strongly advised to take before packing their bags and setting for this Asian jewel.

Since the exchange of artillery fire between North and South Korean forces in November 2010, relations between the two countries have been tense. Visitors to South Korea are warned not to travel to the Northern Limit Line Islands and not to attend protests and demonstrations, as the risk of violence flaring up again remains. The tensions between North and South Korea have eased in 2011 and tourists are being actively welcomed to South Korea but all visitors are being encouraged to inform themselves of the political situation with the North and to act with care.

To protect against the risk of trouble flaring in the country, tourists are being encouraged to purchase the very best travel insurance they can find, so as to minimise the risk of financial loss caused by disruptions to travelling plans.

There are a number of vaccinations that travellers to South Korea are advised to take. Visits of less than one month require vaccinations against Diptheria, Hepatitis A, Tetanus and Malaria, while visitors staying for more than a month also require vaccinations against Hepatitis B and Japanese encephalitis, as well as the diseases listed above. Anyone staying for six months or longer should also receive Tuberculosis and Typhoid jabs.

The authorities in South Korea keep the population prepared for emergencies by running civil exercises on the 15th day of the month, eight times a year. If you are in the country on the 15th of the month in any month other than January, February, July or December, expect to hear sirens, see transport stopped and see people taking shelter. Local people and announcements will inform you of what to do during these civil exercises.

Care should be taken in South Korea to respect local laws and customs. The penalties for breaking the law in Korea are strict and a zero tolerance approach is used on the issue of drugs. Jail sentences and deportation have been handed out to tourists in the past, with numerous people banned from returning to the country. Visitors to the country are advised to carry their passport with them at all times as a form of identification.

However, with a reasonable amount of care, a vacation in South Korea will most likely be a wonderful, memorable trip with no problems.

A holiday with the whole family is one of life’s little joys but we all know kids need entertaining. If possible you want their every minute to be filled while you’re away; after all it’s your holiday too. Keep them busy and you just might get some quiet time on the beach to lay back, enjoy the sun and get lost in a good book. So how do you achieve the holiday holy grail of happily entertained children? Games are the answer and below are a few of the best. The kids will love them and so might the inside of you.

1. The Bat and Ball – It’s a classic and for good reason. No complicated rules to explain and you can play it anywhere – although knee-deep in the sea is the most fun. All you need is a bat and ball set that you can buy from pretty much any shop near a beach and it’s game on. It’s great fun and you could even argue it teaches the kids teamwork since you have to work together to keep the ball up.

2. Hide and Seek – Most definitely invented by a parent on holiday this genius game not only gets the kids out of your way for a while but they try their hardest to make as little noise as possible – perfect for any parent wanting to enjoy some poolside peace and quiet. You don’t need any equipment but you might want to set boundaries for how far they can go, you don’t want them crossing national borders or anything like that, we all know how competitive kids can be!

3. Cards – Not a game per se but a whole world of games perfect for a calm evening sitting byb the sea, sun burn glowing in the light of the Mosquito coil. With a deck of cards you get and endless supply of games that are as simple as snap, or as elaborate as bridge so they can suit kids of any age and adults can play too. Perfect for some quality time together. Get some practice in before you fly by playing at a Heathrow airport hotel and you’ll be the holiday champion.

4. Wave riding – Whether they try and catch a wave and ride it onto the beach or just spend a few hours jumping them like hurdles, kids love waves, in fact everybody loves waves. The best thing about games involving waves is not even that grown-up kids love them too, it’s that playing in waves is really tiring so you’re guaranteed to have worn out the kids by the time they’re finished.

5. I-spy -– Another game that can be played anywhere by anyone, and that’s what makes it great. You can play I-spy at home and it’s great fun, but throw in the all-new and amazing surroundings of a holiday and you’ve got a real winner. Just think about what you can spy at the beach, the possibilities are endless.

Bangkok is an increasingly popular tourist destination and it has reason for this. Not only is it referred to as Venice of the East, but it has lots of different scents and smells and it is completely different from any country you will ever visit. Bangkok is big, bold and beautiful.

Last year I reluctantly decided to travel to Bangkok. It had never been a destination which appealed to me, but I ended up going with a friend. Yes, there is a lot of noise, pollution and I did feel a bit unsafe at times. However, there is a magical side to Bangkok that I fell in love with. I had never been to Asia and now that I have tried it, I want to travel more.

Bangkok has all the great tourist attractions you would expect to see…..lush gardens, temples, shrines and all in the middle of an urban jungle. All I can say is go. But here are some of my dos and don’ts.

Do……….

• book your flights in advance

Bangkok is a popular destination so make sure you get your airline tickets in advance to avoid paying high fares. Airlines such as British Airways and Delta Air Lines operate to the main airport serving the city – Suvarnabhumi Airport.

• travel between November and March

If you want to experience the best weather for sightseeing, travel to Bangkok between November and March. However, this is the high-season, so hotels may be more expensive.

• get vaccinations before you go

Make sure you visit your doctor (I would recommend at least 3 months before you travel) just in case you need to get a vaccination before you travel. I got the Hepatitis A jab.

Don’t……….

• travel alone

Perhaps not many people will agree with me. But I would recommend that females don’t travel alone in Bangkok, especially at night. They say that Bangkok is a safe city. Keep your wits about you and be careful…remember that tourists are easy targets.

• show public affection

Make sure you respect customs in this country…for example, it is offensive to show affection to your loved one or even a friend in public in Thailand. You should also have respect for sacred places and don’t be too noisy.

Capital, largest city and one of the most popular tourist destinations in South Korea = Seoul.

Asia fascinates me….the culture, food, the people, the tourist attractions…every country in Asia is unique and that is why you have to travel to a couple of destinations on this continent in order to get a feel for it. Having visited Japan, China and India, my next destination was to be Seoul in South Korea.

I would recommend booking flights to Incheon International Airport, which is the largest hub in South Korea and the main gateway to Seoul. I travelled with Delta Air Lines, but there are many other companies which operate flights to Seoul, such as Korean Air and Asiana Airlines.

So what is there to see? As I mentioned before, I decided to visit Seoul because I had never been to South Korea and where better to start than in the capital city. When I arrived in Seoul, I was taken aback by the number of palaces in the city. There are five and many of them are definitely worth visiting. Gyeongbok-gung is perhaps the most famous and apart from being a personal favourite, this palace has historical importance being the first one used by the Joseon Dynasty. Other important palaces to look out for are Changdeok-gung and Deoksu-gung. Like me, you will probably love wandering around this city because the architecture is so different and you will get to see shrines and temples you just don’t find in the western world.

After exploring the city, you should do what I did and head for the mountains…especially if you like hiking. The mountains in Seoul are accessible and especially designed for tourists as they have trails marked out. Bukhansan is perhaps one of the best mountains to visit and here you can take a tour of Bukhansan National Park. Not only can you enjoy hiking but you can get great pictures of South Korea’s landscape, birds and there are also lovely views of Seoul from the mountain.

I loved sightseeing by day, going on day trips and then by night trying South Korean food in a traditional restaurant. Don’t forget to buy some souvenirs before returning home. I would recommend going to Namdaemun, which is a market located in the centre of Seoul….here you will get lots of presents.

They say that the best time of the year to visit Asia is during the autumn or the winter. Why? Well, autumn marks the end of the monsoon season and the weather is much dryer. Temperatures are lower and more pleasant for sightseeing. The only catch is that autumn is the start of the high season so you will probably have more difficulties finding cheap flights to Asia. As winter arrives, the tourists flock to some of the most popular destinations in Asia, such as Thailand, India, China and Japan. This is because the temperatures are low and just perfect for sightseeing.

Spring is also a popular time to visit destinations such as Vietnam, Cambodia, Japan, the Philippines, Bali and some areas of China. However, other areas may be experiencing intense heat and humidity which makes sightseeing rather unpleasant. I would not advise visiting Asia during the summer because this is when the temperatures are at their highest and the monsoon season is in full swing.

So it would appear that although the best time of the year to visit Asia is during the autumn or the winter, this is when airline tickets are most expensive, because it is the high season. I personally would recommend organising to go during the spring, the start of the low season, as this is when you are likely to get cheap flights, as well as cheap accommodation and there will be fewer tourists. The weather should be okay too.

This is a general overview. If you want to find out what the weather is like in a particular Asian country, you should do further research on the internet. By doing this you will know exactly where to go or avoid during the spring and summer.

Tips for finding flights to Asia

To find flights, I would recommend spending quite a bit of time doing various searches online until you find the best deal. Try searching different dates, days and months (if you are flexible about travelling of course) until you find the right deal. Some of the airlines you should consider booking with are British Airways, Thai Airways and Virgin Atlantic.

India is a country of contrasts. On the one hand you have a country which is home to some of the world’s most beautiful monuments: the Taj Mahal, Red Fort, Aga Khan Palace and Gandhi National Memorial, and the Gateway of India. On the other hand it features in the news for all the wrong reasons: armed robbery, kidnapping, extortion and terrorism-related incidents. I was never very keen on visiting India, but seeing the tourist attractions appealed to me.

I did overcome my fears and eventually I organised my holidays in Delhi. My conclusion is that you will either love it or hate it. I loved it….and so I have compiled some tips to help you enjoy your stay in India.

1. Book your flights early. Long-haul flights are expensive if you leave it to the last minute. I flew direct with Continental Airlines – it was the only company I could find which didn’t have stopovers. Flight time New York – Delhi was about 14 hours.
2. Take photocopies of all your documentation: passport, airline tickets and Indian visa.
3. Organise vaccinations which you may need before going on holiday. Bear in mind that you may need to get them 6 months before travelling. Check with your GP.
4. Don’t accept drinks or food in the street or when taking public transport as it may be drugged.
5. It is not a good idea to travel alone, especially if you are a female traveller.
6. Carry cash or travellers cheques in case your card gets swallowed by the ATM or the machine itself doesn’t work.
7. Never set off without a good travel insurance.
8. Beware of scammers. Many locals will try to get you to buy something which looks expensive, but isn’t.
9. If you are paying by debit or credit card, make sure you insist that the transaction is carried out at the shop counter.