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The Essential List of Accessories for Your Trip to India

When you travel to India, you must have a number of accessories to aid you during the trip. Here are some particular things you must pack while traveling… CONTINUE READING >> 

India is a country with a vast populace and a rich cultural heritage. India has a dynamic biological diversity. A trip to India is one of variation and awe. When you travel to India, you must have a number of accessories to aid you during the trip. India has a very different culture and lifestyle. Many people may take a while to settle in and hence it is essential to tag along with a few essentials that may come in handy for a trip to India. A trip to India is a mesmerizing experience, but there may be specific scarcities that you may not be used to. To help you get an excellent experience during your trip to India, there are some particular things you must pack while traveling.

Accessory List for a Trip to India

India has diversity in all its aspects from the climate and natural geographical structure to the people and the biodiversity. There are a number of beautiful places to visit in the country. However, some specific things are required for your trip to India. India experiences a tropical climate throughout most of its parts so the light layers of clothing are what you should carry. Similarly, there is an infestation of mosquitoes and small insects due to the tropical forests and the climate, hence insect repellents can come in handy. Having covo bags for short trips in the country may also be packed. The various accessories that must be packed for your trip to India are as follows:

1. Camera – a camera is an essential gadget for all tours and trips. India is a marvelous place with excellent scenic beauty and a vast range of things that can be captured on camera and taken back from the trip. These beautiful memories and aspects can be preserved for a lifetime through the photos that are clicked during the trip. The cultural elements, wildlife, geographical features to the street photography can all be captured if a camera is brought for the trip. 

2. Sunglasses – India lies partly in the below the tropic of Cancer and partly above. The sun is quite harsh and the days have scorching sunlight. To keep your eyes calm and relaxed through this climate it is advisable to bring a pair of shades. It can also add up to the style quotient that you are representing. The shades can come in handy and make you look fashionable as well. The sunglasses keep your eyes relaxed from the scorching sun rays. 

3. Light Shawl – this is another measure to keep your head and face covered from the summer times especially in the western region where lies the Thar Desert. The shawl keeps your head safe from the rays to an extent and prevents you from tanning under the tropical sun. There are also some places where the temperatures are quite low, and this shawl can be used as an overcovering to keep the chilly winds from getting in your skin. 

4. Sun Screen or Son Block – being under the scorching sun it is evident that a sunblock or sunscreen lotion is necessary when traveling to India. The sunblock lotions keep your skin moisturized in the humid and sunny climates and prevents heavy tanning of your skin. These sunscreens are quite handy in India and are predominantly used by a lot of people in India. You should carry the brand of sun lotion, which is generally used by you as your skin is well suited to it and again you never know if it may or may not be available in India. 

5. Ear Plugs – this is a necessity as an accessory that you should carry to India. India has a lot of noise pollution in the country. The truck and cars produce a tremendous amount of unwanted noise, which can often be unbearable to many. Apart from that, the religious proceedings in India have a lot of bell ringing that you may want to avoid. You may want to reduce the amount of noise getting in your ears that are not generally used to hearing so much of noise all at once. Sometimes you may even feel sick due to the excessive noise in the country. Hence, it is essential that you carry a pair of earplugs when traveling to India. 6. Natural Insect Repellent – India is a tropical country and the weather, as well as climate, gives birth to a lot of small insects that may be harmful to us humans. These insects are usually small, and the most common one among them is the mosquitoes. They are a tormenting factor in India, and some places have more of these mosquitoes than others do. Carrying some insect repellent for the trip to India is necessary. These repellents should preferably be natural and devoid of harmful chemicals as they are applied on the skin and may require to be applied for quite some time in some instances.  7. Power Adaptor for India – India is a small country with the second largest population in the world. There is a lack of electricity, and hence power cuts are a common thing from time to time here. These power cuts can harm your electronic devices, which were plugged in during the power cut occurrence. It is advisable to carry an Indian power adaptor that stabilizes the fluctuation in the electricity supply and doesn’t let the electronic appliances connected to the sockets spoilt.  

8. Valid Passport and Visa – this common one is required in all your international trips. It is not different in the case of India. You should carry your proper and valid passport with the visa. This may be asked for you to display by the concerned officials at any point when needed in the country. It is also handy to get along a couple of passport-sized photographs in case it is required for any purposes. It is best to also carry a photocopy of your passport as well as the visa and keep it in another place than your originals. In case you misplace your originals, these photocopies can get you out of the mess. 

These various essential accessories are required to pack and tag along when you go for a trip to India. India is a marvelous country, and these are essential accessories that you may require to make your trip even more flawless and relaxing. With the eight above-mentioned list of accessories, you will be ready to get on with your trip to India and have a lot of fun and unusual experiences.

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Writing Travel Articles: A Full Guide to Produce a Worthy Piece

If you travel a lot and are gifted in writing, you are most welcome to describe your events. This guide is aimed to help all the beginners in the sphere of travel writing…

CONTINUE READING >> 

Traveling is one of the best ways to learn new things about the world and the people that surround us. Another one is to read about it. We are lucky to enjoy at least the reading process because there are many travel writers who share their experience during their journeys. If you travel a lot and are gifted in writing, you are most welcome to describe your events.

This guide is aimed to help all the beginners in the sphere of travel writing. There are lots of similar guides, which describe recommendations on how to write such pieces of writing. Our guide has a bit different aim. It highlights and explains how to write different types of travel articles. Therefore, consider the next information:

• Weekend Warrior. This article type is based on the perfect day trip. Use whatever locations you want. However, make sure that you know a lot about them. You should give your readers the feeling as if they’ve been there with you. Know your audience. Your articles may be family-oriented or just the enumeration of the must-see places. You are free to choose any theme – a weekend getaway, expedition etc. It may be devoted to family trips, outdoor activities, fishing etc.

• Content and Social Media Marketing. Nowadays, many travel companies try to promote their products and services with the help of travel essays. This is a very effective strategy. If you are assigned such a job, you ought to be quick. Visit the needed places, craft your articles and try to add video clips and blog posts using social media. Therefore, take your digital devices, such as the camera with you.

• Roundups and “Best of” Lists. This is a very popular kind of articles for the recent years. This kind of articles can be compared with guides for tourists. An author should make bullet-point lists about a place he/she visited. This may look like “10 Best Places to Visit in Los-Angeles”. The descriptions ought to be brief and informative. You should write economically. Try to avoid clichés and give really effective and vivid descriptions. To do this, you should do an accurate research. Mind that such articles are most viewed online. This is an excellent opportunity to enrich your portfolio.

• Holidays and Special Events. Many travel writers adore writing about special celebrations throughout the globe. Every tourist wishes to see such festivals as Oktoberfest and the similar ones. Undoubtedly, you will have what to write about. The more popular the celebration is the more readers would like to read your story. Therefore, this is another bonus for your writer’s portfolio.

• Side Trips. This is an interesting kind of travel writings. It focuses on the locations of lesser meaning. Many magazines arrange side trips near some big cities. The objective of a writer is to spend a day investigating side locations. It’s necessary to give as many details as possible about how to get there, what to visit, what to expect etc. Side trips are similar to roundups and weekend warriors. They may be combined.

• Destinations Pieces. Such writings demand an in-depth research. These should be well-organized papers. It is necessary to provide the relevant information about a certain location. Provide facts, historical events, anecdotes and similar necessities. Your descriptions may be seasonal but always detailed and important. Make your articles catchy to ignite the desire to catch every word you write.

• Travel and Lifestyle Blogging. This is a rather freelancing type of articles. There are no deadlines and editors. You’re free to set your own tone and speed. There are only your readers and you. Therefore, write about whatever you wish. Of course, it should be related to your travels. Enjoy a variety of styles – roundups, destinations, long-form posts etc. This provides an author with the opportunity to write in the most suitable style. In order to sound vivid change the style from time to time.

• How-To Guides. This is a pretty popular kind of travel articles. You will gain many followers because such guides teach a lot of valuable information concerning different destination points. You solve lots of potential problems of your readers. A person who plans to visit a definite place wants to know what to expect. Information is a powerful weapon. Being armed with all conveniences and possible complications, your readers will be thankful for your recommendations and tips. Undoubtedly, such a piece of writing ought to be well-researched to provide dependable and effective facts.

• Travel Advice Article. This is another article type, which is similar to how-to guides. An author likewise ought to make an in-depth research on certain locations. Your audience will expect an effective piece of advice on the crucial matters. This is not a simple tip on how to bathe in aqua-park with fun. You should teach how to overcome language barriers, deal with local laws, what kinds of food to avoid, how to choose the best hotel and something of the kind. Therefore, take this matter seriously and responsibly.

These were 9 sought-after kinds of travel articles. If you wish to become a travel writer, you should consider each option. Probably, you will like to write in several styles. This is a great idea and a chance to attract more readers. However, there are some more types. Therefore, look for other variations too. Probably, you would prefer some of them.

Author bio: Lauren Bradshaw started writing in 2003. Since then she tried her hand in SEO and website copywriting, writing for blogs, and working as an academic expert at Custom Writings essay writing service. Her major interests lie in content marketing, developing communication skills, and blogging. She’s also passionate about traveling, philosophy, psychology, literature and painting.

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How to Simplify Your Travel Itinerary with a Printable Calendar

Scheduling your visits to tourist attractions and your daily activities can become a burden. Luckily, we have plenty of tools to make planning your travel itinerary a lot simpler… CONTINUE READING >> 

girl taking pictures (Source: maxpixel)

Each time you are planning to go somewhere in your free time, preparing the travel itinerary can be complicated and even daunting. It mostly happens because your trip usually involves a lot of details that need to be put in order and supervised. For example, a travel itinerary usually contains things like confirmation emails from the airline that you’ve chosen, hotel and restaurant reservations, or information on car rentals.

Apart from this, scheduling your visits to the tourist attractions in the area and your daily activities can also become a burden. Luckily, we have plenty of tools able to make planning your travel itinerary a lot simpler. The most straightforward and most practical example is a printable calendar.

It will surely help you organize your trip, will save you a lot of time and effort, and most importantly, it may even make your entire vacation a lot more relaxing and beautiful. Imagine transferring all the trip details from your head on paper and always seeing them. Today, we will show you how to simplify your travel itinerary with the help of a simple printable calendar.

Get the Printed Calendar that Best Suits Your Needs

Before diving into details, you should first make sure that you have a printable calendar at hand.

If not, the website CalendarTable.com provides you with some of the most useful and well organized such calendars, made specifically to help you in your travels. Make sure you also check their database on monthly events, holidays, and celebrations to mark some specific dates on your calendar.

You will need those dates to better plan your trip or avoid some crowded moments of the year (for example July 4 festivity tends to blow traffic out of proportion and keep all hotels or venues booked).

So, after you print the calendar that works best for you, start organizing your travel using it to its maximum potential.

view from inside an airplane (Source: pxhere)

1. Use the Printed Calendar to Organize the Main Steps of the Trip

A printable calendar is mandatory for scheduling your trip and all the activities that you are going to do.

• Use the calendar to mark departure and arrival dates and add notes about hotel names, transportation companies, car rental firms, times and even addresses, to make your itinerary clear and well-planned;

• Mark all of your trip days in your calendar and look for details. For example, circle any legal holidays when specific attractions might not be available for the public, holiday weekends, or special days with events you want to attend;

• The next step would be to find tours, shows, beautiful places for sightseeing and anything else that might keep you entertained throughout your trip. Add all of those itinerary details to your calendar;

• The calendar will also allow you to plan your journey while avoiding some incredibly crowded periods at a particular destination; for instance, plan a trip to Venice by scheduling to stay there during mid-week dates for at least three days.

2. Use the Printed Calendar to Split Your Itinerary

Splitting your itinerary into a few separate sections might be very helpful if you’re trying to be as organized as possible.

• In your calendar, you should mark certain days of your trip using different colors. For example, use the color red for sightseeing and the color blue for tours to various objectives. This way you will always know what you need to do and where you need to be next.

• Your calendar is once again your best friend here because you can also write down what exactly are you going to see and where you need to go on each separate day.

Calendars, as good time-management tools as they are, also make advantageous priority-management devices. By using color codes and short notes, you will be able to know what you must do and see, and what things you can skip making room for more spontaneous entertainment choices.

Having everything scheduled on your calendar is indeed beneficial and offers you that inner peace that you need to enjoy your trip. However, this doesn’t mean that if something breathtaking happens or an opportunity arrives, you should never change your plan. A well-structured itinerary doesn’t have to restrict you in any way, but to keep you on track with everything.

3. Use the Calendar as an Everyday Reminder

You may have planned your days, but spontaneity and unforeseen opportunities appear at every corner. In other words, just as you keep a map in your backpack, you can also carry your annotated calendar. Let us face it when you are in a new location and your mind thirsts for discovery and new experiences; you may lose track of time or schedules.

• Use the calendar throughout the day to remember what things you wanted to see and do that day;

• Use the calendar every night in your hotel room to cross the things you did/saw one day and get ready for the things the calendar says you will do the next one;

• Use the calendar to make travel adjustments and modifications; you may have scheduled a museum visit for tomorrow, but you are exhausted from the guided tour you took today. Use the calendar to reschedule the museum or switch activities.

When you use the calendar as a personal agenda, you have a clear sight of time and date, and you can best prepare for what is in front of you. Have you planned a whole day by the beach tomorrow? Take advantage of your free time this evening and set up your beach bag, snacks, water, and book to read.

Knowing what you have to do, when, with who, and for how long allows you to enjoy both the freedom of a vacation and the clear-headedness brought on by scheduling. Trips get more relaxed and more streamlined with printed calendars, as you will have time to organize things and get ready for them.

4. Use the Calendar to Plan Your Budget as Well

We all take money with us when we go on trips, but often we need to exchange currency, use our credit or debit cards, borrow from friends, or skip sightseeing only because we splurged yesterday and forgot to get extra money from the ATM. If you are short on cash and need to find a bank in a foreign country, this will mess up with your schedule and your itinerary quite severely.

When you use a printed calendar, you can plan your budget in general lines, so you can prepare for the days to come and avoid money issues.

• If your calendar says you will spend the next day on the private hotel beach, you will probably need some money, but nothing out of the ordinary. However, if you plan to spend the next day exploring a city and visiting some landmarks, you will need money for entrance fees, snacks, water, transportation, lunch, souvenirs, extra taxes, tickets, and so on.

• The printed calendar helps you manage your money best: you can write down how much money you spent on a particular day to know what to expect on another day of your trip in the same country with similar activities, for instance.

Conclusion

It seems that if you are careful to plan and use a helpful tool, such as a printable calendar, organizing your travel itinerary can become a pleasurable activity. With only a few things to take into account when doing so, scheduling what you are going to do every day of your trip and what you’re going to visit will no longer be such a burden. Also, besides time management, you will get easy money management, leaving room for the welcomed unexpected, spontaneity, and splurging as well.

Remember, sticking to your plan is beneficial and saves you time, effort and stress. Without becoming obsesses with the schedule, use the calendar as a guideline and as a reliable travel companion.

We are happy to present this collaborative post to offer valuable information to our readers.

The Most Extreme Things You Should Do in Canada in 2018

There is no doubt that you will realize that Canada is among the most exciting countries to explore. In fact, there are few places on the planet that have the awe-inspiring natural wonders… CONTINUE READING >> 

Regardless of your taste or ability, there is an adventure that you will want to explore in Canada. Essentially, this country has thrills for everyone. Whether you prefer spending time within city boundaries or at an exotic location, you will find something extreme to do in Canada. So, if you are struggling with assignments, engage E-writing service to finish schoolwork and head out there. You will have more fun exploring the diverse geography and history of this country. There is no doubt that you will realize that Canada is among the most exciting countries to explore. In fact, there are few places on the planet that have the awe-inspiring natural wonders that Canada has.

Generally, Canada is the most beautiful country in the world. Each province of this country has unique wonders. Whether you are looking for the pristine beauty of the northern lake, rugged expanse of the Rocky Mountains, beautiful red soils, rolling prairies grasslands, or Maritimes lighthouses, this country has them all. What’s more, the country has a rich architecture and history. Thus, there are endless possibilities of the things that you can do in Canada. But, there are extreme things that you should do in Canada in 2018.

They include the following:

Storm-Watching in Vancouver Island

Every winter, the west coast in Vancouver Island occupies the front-row seat for spectacular North America storms. Storm-watching is one of the most extreme things that you should do in Canada this year. You will remember your trip forever when you do this if you are visiting Canada. So, put on the right rain gear then take on the tempest on the rocky Pacific shores. Take shelter in a luxury, cozy hotel during your trip. To experience the full fury of the storms, wander along the beaches or follow the Wild Pacific Trail to enjoy a cliff-top view. You can observe the storms from a window of a hotel room or by taking a tour from Tofino town.

Skiing

Whistler-Blackcomb is perhaps the best ski resorts not just in North America, but in the world over. It was the principal 2010 Olympic Winter Games’ venue. It has almost 200 marked trails as well as the highest vertical drop of a ski field in America. You can wander around this resort to Ruby Bow and enjoy an unforgettable experience. You will find the best Whistler-Blackcomb power here, falling continuously for over 600m.

Watch the Killer Whale

Hungry creatures that include orcas pods follow the salmon along the west coast when they spawn in their full swim during August. Boats of Whale-watchers tail along to view these beautiful creatures. However, kayaking provides the best and most intimate way of watching the killer whales. Killer whales pick off salmon while cruising towards the Fraser River. Orca spends downtime rubbing their bellies against the Robson Bight pebbly beach. This is the only place world over where this happens. You might also spot sea lions, bald eagles, and Dall’s porpoises along the way before bending down to swimming orcas sound as they surface past the tent. But, you shouldn’t fear because killer whales feast on fish only.

Watch the Polar Bears

The migration route for polar bears is Churchill. They spend winters hunting in the frozen bay and their summers on land while passing via Manitoba town during October. There are purpose-built buggies where you can take a tour for a day. You can also stay in the transportable ‘tundra lodges’ hoping that you won’t see the polar bears in town. The local authorities maintain vigil 24 hours between September and November. At night, you may hear sounds of gunshot fires as they shoo away town-bound bears. Repeat offenders and nuisance makers are taken to the cinderblock cells away from the old military base, also called the Polar Bear Jail. They reside here till winter.

River Kayaking or Canoeing

Go kayaking or canoeing in the South Nahanni River in Nahanni National Park Reserve. This National Park is the first World Heritage site in Canada. It is a wild place with a pure-blooded and untamed river that tumbles over 500km via the jagged Mackenzie Mountains. It also includes a 125m of a drop over Virginia Falls that measure 200m in width. You can start your paddling trip on South Nahanni where your plane lands. The river placidly meanders for 188kms via broad valleys. Kayak through the Blackstone Territorial Park, via the steep-sided and turbulent canyons and eventually along the Liard River. Wolves, Dall sheep, mountain goats, moose and grizzly bear patrol the entire landscape.

No matter how busy you are these are the most extreme things that you should do in Canada in 2018. Even if you have a pressing task like a dissertation to write, complete it fast and head out to Canada. Engage a dissertation formatting service to complete this task and join other travelers for an adventure that you will live to remember.

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How to Protect Yourself from Food Poisoning on Holiday

Food poisoning abroad is a topic discussed frequently in the British papers these days. Here are our top tips for avoiding holiday sickness… CONTINUE READING >> 

Food poisoning abroad is a topic discussed frequently in the British papers these days, as the government looks to make changes in how much money people can claim back in compensation and holiday tour operators threaten British holiday goers with bans and price hikes for frequent complaints and claims; in the meantime, not a lot of thought is being given to hotels and resorts with unhygienic food practices, causing guests to experience food poisoning in the first place.

People don’t often think of themselves as consumers when they purchase a holiday package, not in the same way that they would if they were to purchase an expensive TV or new smartphone. However, the average British family spends £4792 for a two week break – many of whom do this every summer. Getting exactly what you have paid for, including safely prepared and stored food and drink, is paramount.

While you can claim food poisoning compensation if you do happen to fall victim to this when you’re on holiday; it is even better to avoid this completely and get the full enjoyment from your stay. Here are our top tips for avoiding holiday sickness.

Food

If you’re at the hotel buffet be cautious with cold meats, salad or seafood. These may not have been prepared properly or may have been washed with unclean water. Food should be properly cooked and maintained at an appropriate temperature. Beware foods that are left uncovered too. If you don’t realise that something is lukewarm or cold until you have actually picked it up, don’t eat it. Just put it in the bin and avoid the food poisoning!

Drink

It only takes a second to wipe down your glass at dinner before using it. Who cares what other people think of the practice, wiping down glasses and cutlery and inspecting them before use can protect you from staff that may not have washed their hands or washed their dinnerware properly.

Pool

A cloudy pool may be a sign of neglect. If the pool is not cleaned or the water is untreated, this can be a big risk germ wise, as many people do not shower before diving in. A dirty pool can also signpost neglect elsewhere when it comes to cleanliness in the hotel, so be on your guard.

What should I do if I do get sick?

Firstly, determine whether or not it is actually food poisoning. A local doctor may be able to test you for common bacteria, or you may be able to do this once you return home. Dehydration or too much booze can be responsible for sickness, with many mistaking their symptoms for food poisoning.

You should lodge a complaint with your hotel if you suspect food poisoning. If you have seen any unhygienic practices that make you suspect that it is the fault of your hotel, then document them before you make your complaint – ideally, document anything like this throughout your stay.

Get yourself treated, take relief tablets, probiotics, rehydrate yourself and possibly use the BRAT diet – bananas, rice, applesauce and toast (along with clean water) which is a temporary diet advised for ill children who cannot take relief tablets.

It is impossible to completely eliminate the risk of food poisoning abroad, but with some tactics and knowledge, it is possible to minimise the danger and avoid ruining your long awaited getaway.

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How to Avoid the Crowds in Venice, Italy

Venice is worth visiting for its beauty and culture extraordinare, and you can beat the crowds with careful planning. Here are 5 tips…

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There has been a lot of press lately in the travel media on the challenges Venice is facing with overtourism as it struggles with a high volume of daily visitors. Don’t let this discourage you from visiting Venice if it is on your bucket list.

The city is always worth visiting as its beauty and culture are extraordinary to experience. It is possible to beat the crowds with a little bit of careful planning, and discover a more serene and tranquil Venice. Here are 5 tips for how to avoid the crowds in Venice, Italy:

Plan to stay during mid-week dates for at least 3 days

Like many popular European cities, Venice receives a higher number of visitors on weekends. By planning your stay mid-week, you will be off to a good start in avoiding crowds. It also makes for a better experience to stay in Venice for at least 3 days if you can, this will allow you to strategize about the times you will be visiting sites. If you stay in Venice for a minimum of at least 3 days you can enjoy visiting other areas of the lagoon, spending a whole day seeing the islands of Murano, Burano, and Torcello, rather than dashing out to Murano for a quick visit. It’s definitely worth it to see the less visited islands as well!

Organize your arrival and departure logistics in advance

A lot of time and money can be wasted getting where you need to go on arrival, and when organizing your departure, due to the complexities of Venice’s transportation options as a city truly on the water. This can also be very stressful, and crowded! Preparing a plan in advance for how to get around Venice during your stay is important. Consider the best way to arrive to your holiday apartment or hotel from the train station or airport. For example, the Alilaguna waterbus shuttles from the airport can be crowded and this transportation option takes over an hour to reach the Grand Canal. Taking the bus or a land taxi to Piazzale Roma, and then taking a vaporetto (waterferry) or even walking to your destination can be an easier option.

This practical how-to guide to Venice transportation explains the many options for transportation in Venice and is helpful for deciding what is best for your arrival and departure, and for getting around the city during your stay. Don’t forget to consider that Venice has many bridges, big and small, and oftentimes walking is required to get where you are going.

Visit the main sites during the morning and the late afternoon to avoid the day visitor crowds

The source of a majority percentage of Venice’s crowds are day visitors who arrive to Venice from cruise ships or by train or car and visit the city from approximately 10 am to 5 pm. The main sites, such as Piazza San Marco and its museums, and the area around Rialto, are much less crowded, and more enjoyable, if you visit earlier in the morning, or after 4 or 5 pm.

Enjoy off the beaten path sites

Venice has much more to see than only the areas around Piazza San Marco and Rialto. Other neighborhoods, such as Cannaregio and Dorsoduro, are where you will find the charming views of smaller inner canals and canalside cafes. There are also important less frequented sites to visit in these areas, such as the Jewish Ghetto, or the Ca’ Pesaro museum in the neighborhood of Santa Croce, an art museum in a Renaissance palazzo on the Grand Canal. The Grand Canal view café at Ca’ Pesaro is also a hidden gem for the Grand Canal view without the crowds, and high prices!

Eat like a local

The exorbitant prices charged for low quality food in the touristy areas of Venice has also been the source of headlines lately, with one patron infamously charged 1000 euros for lunch, and tales of 20 euro coffees at the cafes in Piazza San Marco. In fact, you can eat excellent local, fresh cuisine (mostly seafood of course) throughout Venice if you seek out local options for dining. Certainly the more famous areas for local food are the “Fondamente” like a Venetian boulevard, the long stretches along inner canals in neighborhoods like Cannaregio. Venetian street food in the inner canals and off the beaten path area is a fun local way to eat as well. Venetians stop in to a few of their favorite spots in the evening for small glasses of wine and “cicchetti” – bite sized snacks of crostini or polenta topped with seafood or meats, or simple platters of meats and cheeses.

To beat the crowds in Venice, above all, take time to enjoy a little local life beyond the main tourist areas, and you will leave feeling you are a little Venetian yourself (and Venetians, indeed, know how to avoid the crowds!).

Author bio: Guest author Shannon Kenny is co-founder of Prontopia, an on-demand app for help getting around the city by foot from locals in pedestrian city centers. The first launch city was in Venice Italy, where locals on the Prontopia platform enjoy helping visitors get where they need to go easily

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Everything You Need to Prepare for Studying Abroad

It is often said that travel broadens the mind. Well, so does education! Combining these activities allows you to compound and enhance the effect, offering you the most enriching experience of your life…. CONTINUE READING >> 

It is often said that travel broadens the mind. Well, so does education! Combining both of these activities together allows you to compound and enhance the effect, offering you the most enriching experience of your life.

Here’s everything you need to know when you are preparing to study abroad, but first find the classes you want to take with this UCAS Course Finder.

Sort Out a Passport and Visa

Obvious advice, we know. However, it is exactly this kind of thing that people fail to check, resulting in them realizing far too late that their passport has in fact expired. Just make sure that the passport you have isn’t going to expire for a long time yet, and you should be fine.

You also need to research the visa requirements for the country you will be studying in and apply for the appropriate documentation. Depending on where you will be studying, the visa process can either be very simple, or frustratingly difficult. If you will be studying in the EU, you don’t currently need a visa. However, this could change.

Get a Medical Check-up

Whenever you are about to travel anywhere abroad, it is worth first speaking to your doctor. Not only can they give you a clean bill of health before you depart, they can also advise you as to any special medical precautions you need to take when travelling to your destination.

Some countries have some fairly stringent vaccination requirements, so you will need to find out about these well in advance and arrange to receive the necessary shots.

Sort Out Travel Insurance

While you are abroad, you want to have total peace of mind as far as your health and wellbeing are concerned. Having a decent travel and health insurance package in place will ensure that you are covered should anything befall you, health-wise.

Travel insurance can help you to recoup your money should a flight be delayed or cancelled, compensate you for lost luggage and stolen personal items, and cover the costs of evacuating you if you have a health emergency.

Find a Suitable Plane Ticket

There are a number of places you can look to find the best deal on air travel. In fact, an entire industry has sprung up to provide this service! Just make sure that you carefully check your options before committing to a needlessly expensive plane ticket.

Research the Destination

You might already have a fairly good idea about the culture and customs of the place you will be studying, but it is always a good idea to do some more research anyway. Being in a new place can be intimidating, even when it’s in your own country. In another country, and potentially another language, the more you know beforehand, the more at ease you will feel.

Get Accommodation Sorted

The accommodation you secure will have a considerable impact on the type of experience you have while studying. The earlier you can get this sorted out, the sooner you can stop worrying about it.

As well as contacting the university themselves, you can also find some excellent, and comprehensive, guides for students who are travelling to specific areas. This student guide to Coimbra is a perfect example; it gives plenty of information about student accommodation Coimbra as well as a host of other, useful practical advice.

With adequate preparation, studying abroad should be an absolute joy. You will not only learn more about your chosen area of study, you will also have the chance to imbibe an entirely new culture.

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