Booked your flight?
Booked your hotel?
Arranged your transfer?
Booked the cat into the local cattery?
Arranged for your plants to be looked after?

Anything missing?

Its surprising to learn just how many people travel without travel insurance. For the price of a couple of beers you can be insured so why risk travelling without insurance?
The most common risks that are covered by travel insurance are:

Medical expenses
Emergency evacuation/repatriation
Overseas funeral expenses
Accidental death, injury or disablement benefit
Cancellation
Curtailment
Delayed departure
Loss, theft or damage to personal possessions and money (including travel documents)
Delayed baggage (and emergency replacement of essential items)
Legal assistance
Personal liability and rental car damage excess
Have you travelled without travel insurance but with that you had?

Have you travelled with travel insurance and had to use it?

Drop a comment to this Blog and between us lets help to help ensure  that every traveller understands the importance of travelling with adequate  travel insurance

Unfortunately, most places take advantage of this fact and don’t offer suitable prices for the delectable nectar, instead relying on our ignorance to foot the bill. Here I’ve outlined several different places in several different regions that produce wonderfully priced and wonderfully yummy pints, wines, coffees, and liqueurs. Instead of splurging on a glass of wine in the hills of Tuscany, take that money and put it into a transfer of hotel room from a Queen to a realizing suite. Enjoy yourself without worrying about the hassle of a budget and stick to these eccentric, culturally immersed pubs and café’s where there is no lack of fun for the price.
1) Dublin, Ireland: The Long Hall, called such because of its picturesque Victorian pining throughout the long hallway where patrons can drink and be merry. The atmosphere and ambience lends itself to the rainy, Moorish, romantic weather playing outside as you step into a play of polished wood, filigreed mirrors and excellent service. Your pint comes with not only a little slice of history, but a smile.
2) Naples, Italy: Enoteca Belledonne a friendly pub with working class clientele at the higher end of the spectrum wearing designer clothing, this spot is as laid back as can be and accepts people from all walks of life for a cold one. They also serve wine by the glass for a great price as well as delightful sangria.
3) Amsterdam, Netherlands: Café Chris serves as one of the oldest “brown cafes” in Amsterdam. Brown cafes are places to eat and drink where tobacco is so popular it has coated the walls brown. The name also comes from the dark wood furnishings and traditional cheaply priced comfort food. The tradition started in the sixteen hundreds as a place for men to get away from the hustle and bustle on the streets.
4) London, England: The Bricklayers Arms works within its deconstructionist hobo-chic vibe to create a unique and startling atmosphere of whirl wind simplicity. Don’t expect fancy or overly tailored brits in this pub where everything is eclectic and laid back including the selections. Food is classic and comforting and the bar itself offers a wide array without being too highbrow about it. Definitely a place to take your friends and chill out just taking in the sights and atmosphere of a true English pub.
5) Rome, Italy:  Trinity College pub and bar is usually for the students but anyone else is welcomed with open arms. This bar offers specialty cocktails and classic brews with an entertaining twist on service. Go for the brews, stay for the entertainment and everyone is guaranteed a good time.

We have unbeatable hotel rates for Dublin so you can have a baby Guiness or two!

http://www.gtahotels.com/cities/dublin.htm

 Hotel rates for Naples start at less than €25 per person sharing a Twin room

http://www.gtahotels.com/cities/naples.htm

Amsterdam on a budget? Check our unbeatable Amsterdam hotel rates

http://www.gtahotels.com/cities/amsterdam.htm

Cheap London hotels

http://www.gtahotels.com/cities/london.htm

Value for money hotels in Rome

http://www.gtahotels.com/cities/rome.htm

All your travel questions can be answered through our travel forum by our members.  Sign up now, its free and a great way to get impartial advise from other travellers and locals…Share your knowledge with other travellers and help them to get the most out of their trip…

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It’s always tricky trying to find something ‘different’ to bring back home as a souvenir or gift but what I can suggest if you are visiting Turkey is to bring back a decorative ‘evil eye’ These range from small to large and make for an attractive wall decoration. If you have a sweet tooth then I recommend bringing back some ‘real’ Turkish delight, certainly it bears no resemblance to Frys Turkish Delight that you can buy in the UK. Look for ‘Lokum’ and you will have the real thing unaltered for the UK palette!

One should not forget to bring back home Sarawak locals unique handicraft as a souvenir for their loved ones.Beadworks such as wristlets, headbands, collar necklaces, ear rings and decorations for walking  sticks,hats, jackets, and the list goes on. These handicrafts are easily can be found in the bazaar throughout the state. While Kuching’s Main Bazaar may pride itself as being the centre for Sarawakian arts and culture, this is very well true. At the same time, Kuching and Miri are also one of the few truly Southeast Asian cultural centres, a fact I am very proud of. The price of these handicrafts range from 3 USD to 29 USD per item, and that is quite a cheap deal!

If your holdall or suitcase is going to be put in the aircraft hold then its a good idea to stick a bright sticker or use a coloured strap around the baggage so you can spot it easily at the other end. You will be  surprised how many people are travelling with the exact same baggage as yours!

Keep your clothes wrinkle free

The best tip for helping clothes to stay wrinkle free is to roll them rather than folding. You will also find that
 you can implement the space in your holdall or suitcase much better this way.

What not to pack!

The first golden rule is dont pack too much! I am always annoyed at myself If I pack clothes that I never end up wearing.

I like to travel light. For example instead of packing a 250 ml bottle of my fav shower gel I will take instead a bar of soap!

Rather than take a large jar of my usual hair gel I will find a smaller alternate option in a tube or sometimes  you can scrounge small samples from the local cosmetic stores and fi,ll them with just enough gel to lat your holiday.

Travel toothbushes are great and worth buying. You can put these in your handbag.

If you are going on a beach holiday then After sun lotion doubles up as a body lotion so you dont need to take
both.

Travel books

My suggestion to help cut down on bulky luggage, and dont forget that every little cut back makes a big  difference.

Instead of carrying a bulky guide book I either just print the pages that I need from the internet or fotocopy the information that I want from the libary. Its much easier to pack and carry a couple of A4 pages than a complete book!

Both of these suggestions also save a little money as you dont need to go out and buy a guide book

My tip when you see a unwelcome presence comming towards you is to get a tissue and blow your nose very loudly!!
They should scarper!!

A good tip when travelling on public transport is to carry a pin or broch. If someone tries to touch you, just prod them with the pin!!

But for sure I will try this one day to travel solo for 3months or 6months or maybe 1 year. I can’t wait that one day to come…

Well, as I girl myself, it’s very important to know some essentials before starting a solo trip…  Here is some of the travel tips which I have gather from my past non-solo trips and from the news which I heard from the locals when I travel…
** Hope it helps **

Find out what the customs are before you go and take them seriously – you wouldn’t want to offend anyone when you travel alone to somewhere you go for the first time.

Dress modestly; especially when you are in conservative countries – it shows respect to the local there if you dress appropriately and it will avoid any misleading to the men there (most importantly).

Do not accept lifts from strangers – you will never know where you will be ended up.

If traveling at night, always stay in well-lit areas and be in places with many people – at least strangers will not dare to make a move in well-lit areas or crowded places.

Keep alert at all the time; make sure no-one follows you – bring along pepper-spray or pen-knife and make sure you put it in your pocket, no point putting in your bag when the stalker grab your bag first.

Don’t sit in empty train cars and if you are a woman  traveller, and if possible sit next to a woman rather than a man.

Scream as loud as possible if anyone is harassing you. Even if no-one comes to your aid, it will help in getting them to back off.

Don’t accept food or drink from anyone as it may be drugged and you could become the victim of sexual assault or robbery.

If catching taxis, use registered or metered taxis where possible. If they’re un-metered, then settle on a price before – you won’t want to pay more than you should be. If possible, share a taxi. This is common in the Middle East.

Get someone at your hotel to write down your destination in the local language in case the taxi driver doesn’t speak your language – especially if English is not common in their country.

Make sure you have embassy contact details for your country – Just in case if you lost your passport/visa, you may have some assistance from them.