10 Things to do in San Francisco

One of the most visited cities in California is San Francisco, which is unsurprising, really, as this is a city known the world over for its fun-loving attitude, and the number of things to see and do here. For backpackers in particular, San Fran proves a winner, it’s outgoing nature and many cheap joints making it a rewarding experience even if you’re traveling on a budget.

The backpacker or budget traveler exploring San Francisco, then, a good way ‘in’ to the city is via one of the many San Francisco hostels. These hostels provide standard accommodation at cheap rates, making them the perfect haunts for those traveling while watching the purse strings.

The Adelaide Hostel and Hotel, for example, is a great San Francisco hostel located in Duncan Lane. With complimentary breakfast for the backpacker and decent services, this hostel has emerged as a hit among budget travelers. Another good hostel in San Francisco is the AAE Amsterdam.

Once you’re installed at your San Francisco hostel there will be a lot of things that demand your attention. Read on to find out about the ten things that you must do in San Francisco to make the most of your time in this beguiling American metropolis...

1. Walk around the city: San Francisco is a city that is safe for a traveler to walk around and explore. What’s more, it’s the type of place that truly reveals its beauty from the sidewalk. So grab a map and get stepping!

2. CityPass: This is an ideal way for backpackers to check out the city. It is a pass that gives you admission to the major attractions of the city, including the Aquarium of the Bay, the San Francisco Museum and the De Young Museum. The pass also includes unlimited cable car rides for seven days.

3. See the Golden Gate Bridge: A trip to San Francisco is incomplete without seeing the famous Golden Gate Bridge. This bridge is considered one of the Seven Modern Wonders of the World – it’s undoubtedly a masterpiece of human creation.

4. Visit the Presidio: After you have seen the Golden Gate Bridge, you should head to the Presidio, which is located in the same district. This military post was established way back in 1776 and is famed as being one of the oldest military posts in the nation.

5. Visit Fisherman’s Wharf: This is one of the most vibrant areas in all of the city. Check out the street entertainment, and (of course) don’t forget to try the fish in a local restuarant!

6. See Treasure Island: Take a Muni Bus and ride over to this artificial island bay. Once you reach Treasure Island, expect to be treated with a great view of the Oakland and the San Francisco skylines.

7. Take a Trip to Golden Gate Park: There are a number of things to do at the Golden Gate Park – like seeing the Conservatory of Flowers, experiencing the best of modern art in the de young Museum, visiting the Japanese Tea Garden, and spending time in the Strybing Arboretum, which houses an impressive collection of plants from the temperate regions.

8. Tour the Museums: For the backpacker who wants to know a city well, it is imperative to go and visit the museums of a city. While in San Fran, the Asian Art Museum, the California Academy of Sciences and the De Young Museum are definite must-sees.

9. See great ballet shows: Go to the War Memorial Opera House and catch a great ballet show for around only $10. San Francisco is famous for its great ballets and you can be sure that you get to see the best in the world here.

10. Get musical at the LovEvolution: For the backpacker who is a music lover, the LovEvolution is an event worth seeing. This music fest happens every year during late September or early October. With great music and love in the air, it inevitably wins the hearts and minds of those who go.

Rajasthan Heritage Tour

Affectionately dubbed “the land of raja-maharajas, Rajasthan truly lives up to its reputation. This most popular tourist destination of India has incredibly rich cultural heritage, which majestically reflects in its various attractions such as traditions, beliefs, customs, monuments, palaces, havelis, forts, dance and music, cuisine, art and architecture and fairs and festivals.

Even today one can experience the royalty and glory of the era of raja-maharajas in its opulent palaces, havelis and forts, most of which have been converted into heritage hotels. The Lake Palace, Umaid Bhawan Palace, Amar Vilas Palace, Ajit Bhawan Palace and Fort Rajwada are the most popular. You you wish to step back in time to the days of raja-maharajas, then stay at the heritage hotels of the state. Starting from the entrance to the interiors, facilities and services, everything offers royalty and luxury in abundance. In these heritage hotels you will be treated like a king! High on hospitality quotient, these hotels make evenings of their guests entertaining by organising mind blowing dance and music performances.

The Rajput rulers and Mughal Emperors were great patrons of art and architecture and the architectural marvels in Rajasthan are a great testimony to it. City Palace; Jaipur, City Palace; Udaipur, Lake Palace, Amber Palace, Meharangarh Fort, Amber Fort, Golden Fort, Patwon-ki-haveli, Jantar Mantar and Hawa Mahal are some of the richest(in terms of beauty) attractions of Rajasthan.

Apart from this, an interesting and unique way of experiencing the richness of Rajasthan is by taking a ride in its “Palace on Wheels”, one of the most luxurious trains in the world. Offering luxury and comfort in plenty, the train offers 8 days/7 nights tour. It covers several fascinating destinations like Delhi, Jaipur, Jodhpur, Jaisalmer, Ranthambore National Park, Chittaurgarh, Udaipur and Agra.

In fact, everything about Rajasthan has a “royal” touch to it. Experience it for yourself.

Rajasthan, the land synonymous with royalty is a great tourist destination to visit. Its rich cultural heritage attracts many a tourist from across the globe. Rajasthan Heritage Tourismhas a lot to awe-inspire tourists such as palaces, forts, havelis, palace on wheels(luxury train), heritage hotels, fairs and festivals and glorious cities teeming with attractions. A Heritage Rajasthan Tour is the best way of travelling back in time to the era of raja-maharajas.

Getting to Know Switzerland

About the country

Switzerland is blessed with all the bounties of nature. It is the most preferred tourist destination among all the countries in the world. The Alps region has a cold weather most of the times, where as the summers are warmer in the northern area. Visit Saas Fee to ski and snowboard. Dream of living in real life igloo can come true as many resorts, like Zermatt and St Moritz (which is a celebrity resort), had them built for their customers.

Culture

Italian, German and French are the official languages of Switzerland. Many English people can also be found here. Unwrapped flowers must be presented to the host to show appreciation. White asters and chrysanthemums flowers are reserved for funerals, so precaution must be taken when presenting flowers to others, even red roses are better avoided. One can move around in casuals but it is important to dress in warrant jackets and ties when attending social gatherings or when eating out at a fine restaurant. Swiss Franc is the currency used here.

Shopping

Switzerland is famous for its exotic chocolates, finest handmade clocks and luxury watches. Other specialties are embroidered linen, music boxes, wood carvings, Swiss cheese and Swiss army knives. Many shops remain close on Monday, so shopping should be avoided on that day. Since service charge is applied on all services, so tipping is an issue of free-will. 7.6% VAT is charged on all purchases made in Switzerland, which can be reclaimed later by asking for a global refund check, if the purchase crosses 400 CHF.

Electricity

The standard current used is 230 volts (AC) and 50 Hz.

Getting There

Swiss airline is the national airline of Switzerland, which connects to 71 destinations all over the world. Zurich is the most popular airport, located at a distance of 11km from the city. Every 15 minutes, trains shuttles passengers to their destination. Fly-Rail Luggage ticket can be bought if the passengers want to collect their luggage at the railways station rather than the airport. While leaving Switzerland, Fly-Rail Baggage service can be availed that enables passenger to check-in their luggage at the railway station itself. Other facilities provided here are duty free shops, banks, restaurants and car hire. Check out Geneva, Basle and Bern airport for offers.

Since weather conditions are worst during the winters, train is an efficient and cheaper option. They are also great if one wants to enjoy the scenic beauty of Switzerland. Swiss Pass can be purchased to visit most of the tourist attractions in Switzerland.

High quality roads are maintained here. Roads connect to Austria, Germany, Italy and France. But in winters things can get worse, so it is better to carry chains and snow tires. Cars should be kept to the right.

Duty Free Items

a) Visitors from European countries

200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 250g of tobacco
2 liter of alcohol (up to 15 per cent) and 1liter of alcohol (over 15 per cent)

(b) Visitors from non-European countries

400 cigarettes or 100 cigars or 500g of tobacco
2liter of alcohol (up to 15 per cent) and 1liter of alcohol (over 15 per cent)

Meat items, narcotics and absinthe are strictly not permitted. Other items that come under the prohibited items list are firearms and animals.

About the country

Switzerland is blessed with all the bounties of nature. It is the most preferred tourist destination among all the countries in the world. The Alps region has a cold weather most of the times, where as the summers are warmer in the northern area. Visit Saas Fee to ski and snowboard. Dream of living in real life igloo can come true as many resorts, like Zermatt and St Moritz (which is a celebrity resort), had them built for their customers.

Culture

Italian, German and French are the official languages of Switzerland. Many English people can also be found here. Unwrapped flowers must be presented to the host to show appreciation. White asters and chrysanthemums flowers are reserved for funerals, so precaution must be taken when presenting flowers to others, even red roses are better avoided. One can move around in casuals but it is important to dress in warrant jackets and ties when attending social gatherings or when eating out at a fine restaurant. Swiss Franc is the currency used here.

Shopping

Switzerland is famous for its exotic chocolates, finest handmade clocks and luxury watches. Other specialties are embroidered linen, music boxes, wood carvings, Swiss cheese and Swiss army knives. Many shops remain close on Monday, so shopping should be avoided on that day. Since service charge is applied on all services, so tipping is an issue of free-will. 7.6% VAT is charged on all purchases made in Switzerland, which can be reclaimed later by asking for a global refund check, if the purchase crosses 400 CHF.

Electricity

The standard current used is 230 volts (AC) and 50 Hz.

Getting There

Swiss airline is the national airline of Switzerland, which connects to 71 destinations all over the world. Zurich is the most popular airport, located at a distance of 11km from the city. Every 15 minutes, trains shuttles passengers to their destination. Fly-Rail Luggage ticket can be bought if the passengers want to collect their luggage at the railways station rather than the airport. While leaving Switzerland, Fly-Rail Baggage service can be availed that enables passenger to check-in their luggage at the railway station itself. Other facilities provided here are duty free shops, banks, restaurants and car hire. Check out Geneva, Basle and Bern airport for offers.

Since weather conditions are worst during the winters, train is an efficient and cheaper option. They are also great if one wants to enjoy the scenic beauty of Switzerland. Swiss Pass can be purchased to visit most of the tourist attractions in Switzerland.

High quality roads are maintained here. Roads connect to Austria, Germany, Italy and France. But in winters things can get worse, so it is better to carry chains and snow tires. Cars should be kept to the right.

Duty Free Items

a) Visitors from European countries

200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 250g of tobacco
2 liter of alcohol (up to 15 per cent) and 1liter of alcohol (over 15 per cent)

(b) Visitors from non-European countries

400 cigarettes or 100 cigars or 500g of tobacco
2liter of alcohol (up to 15 per cent) and 1liter of alcohol (over 15 per cent)

Meat items, narcotics and absinthe are strictly not permitted. Other items that come under the prohibited items list are firearms and animals.

Moving Yourself and Your Things at the Same Time

Are you worried about what will happen to your belongings when you move abroad? Have no fear. Overseas moving company is the answer to all your needs.

According to studies, over 40 million people are moving every year to the US alone. This does not count those who are moving to other countries. Just imagine the total number of people who are moving from one place to another.

Overseas moving companies are aware of the statistics. To solve the problem, they have branches all over the world to cater to this specific need. With the various companies that are now existing, all people have to do is choose the one that they think will give them the best service.

Overseas moving companies use different methods of transport in order to get their cargos to their destination. Some of these methods are by air, auto and boat transport. Some of them are making use of their own cargo methods. While others are affiliated with trusted and well-known companies that specializes in effective transportation.

1. Air and boat transport.

This is the method of transportation used if the cargo needs to be transferred from once country to another. These are the fastest method to use if the delivery is on strict schedule.

Although they can be quite expensive, owners are assured that their belongings will reach them in the best of condition and delivered right at their doorstep.

Air and boat transport have strict standards to follow depending on the rules set about by the individual destination. For once, there are taxes that need to be paid. This accounts to the expensive prices that overseas moving companies are asking for.

Furthermore, there are also inspections and check up on some ports. Certain regulations on some countries do not allow agricultural products to be shipped. This is along with other belongings that seem hazardous. Owners who want them to be brought into that destination need to have some papers signed first and presented to the proper authorities.

2. Road transport.

Road transport is a convenient way of shipping belongings. But this can only be done for short distances. For example, a certain country may be near yours and will not need air transport for you and your belongings.

So to avoid the hassle of having to bring them along with you, you get the services of overseas moving company. Getting the services of professionals can take away the worry that your belongings might get broken or destroyed in the process of transportation.

Road transports are known for their efficiency and careful maneuvers. These people know that they have important things with them. And they are always after customer satisfaction. Their main goal is to have these things brought to their destination on time and in proper condition.

Moving overseas is made easy by overseas moving companies. Try to think what it would be like without them helping you bring your stuff along.

The only thing you need to worry about is the budget that you will allot for their services. Be prepared to spend some amount of cash if you have a lot of things to bring with you. Another thing to remember is to have everything prepared and in order so that the overseas moving company of your choice can do the rest.

How to plan your gap year

So, you’ve decided to ditch school/uni/work/daytime TV for a year and venture out to see the big wide world. Awesome… but how to get it all sorted? There’s the question of where to go, how long to go for, what to do, how to get there, and that’s not even starting on the money! Don’t panic… just sit back and let a seasoned traveller walk you through the whole process…

1. Decide your budget

‘But I haven’t even decided where to go yet!’ I hear you cry. Well, that’s because you won’t be going anywhere unless you’ve got some cash stashed, or very generous parents/fairy godmothers. So, before you even open that guidebook, draw up a realistic plan of how long you’ve got to save for and how much money you can realistically earn, beg or borrow in that time. If you’re thinking about earning money while you’re away, either through TEFL or working holidays (for example in Australia), factor this in now. Once you’ve got you figure (be it £5,000 or (if you’re v. lucky) £15,000) you’ll be able to start planning in earnest.

2. How long do you want to go for?

The term ‘gap year’ is something of a misnomer, as very few people head out for their whole year – generally six months of working to earn the money, then six months out spending it on the road is a good balance, but pick whatever suits you (and your budget).

3. Where do you want to go?

All people belong to one of two schools of thought. One half of people like to fly by the seat of their pants, hopping from one place to the next, stopping off in random towns along the way, getting lost, and generally bumming around for a year. The second kind of person is the type who gets everything planned in advance, has all documents kept in triplicate and never runs out of clean underwear. I’m passing no judgement whatsoever on which is better, but if you belong to the first school of thought, planning where to go is not so much of an issue, so pick a country you’ll start on, then mosey along to step 5. For those in the second camp, start by picking 10 places you want to visit, then plot them out on a map. Work out how much (roughly) it’d cost to visit each one (budget around £1,000 for a round the world plane ticket), then if you can afford them all, great, but if you can’t, start crossing them off the list until you can afford to fit them all in.

4. What are you going to get up to?

The opportunities of things to do in your gap year are pretty endless, and you’ll want to leave yourself a good degree of room for manoeuvre when you’re out travelling: there’s nothing worse than feeling like you’re missing out as you planned everything in advance and don’t have any time/money left to do anything else. That said, it’s worth organising a few things (such as volunteer placements/teaching placements) in advance to give your gap year a bit of structure. For suggestions of what to get up to, try taking a look at i-to-i, a company who offer volunteer placements and TEFL courses, gapyear.com, a great directory of ideas and www.goabroad.com, a brilliant volunteering database. A word of warning though – if you’re using your gap year to get a leg-up in university/job applications, make sure what you’re planning will be seen as ‘constructive’ – so sitting on a beach drinking pina coladas has dubious merits when compared to helping out on a conservation project.

5. How are you going to get there?

If you’re doing a massive round-the-world trip, your first step will be negotiating a good deal on a round-the-world plane ticket. Gapyear.com has a great guide to these bad boys, which you can check out here: http://www.gapyear.com/rtw_flights. If you’re just going to one particular place and need one return ticket, make sure you shop around using sites like skyscanner.net, which searches all available flights to give you the best price. Plus, if you’re booking a volunteer placement through a company, ask if they partner with any companies/airlines to give you preferential rates. While, you’ll probably get to most of your destinations by plane, don’t ignore the extra fun and adventure (as well as green brownie points) you can get by going overland on trains and buses. Seat61.com is a great resource for planning train trips in far-flung places.

6. Get the boring stuff sorted

So you’ve decidied where you want to go, how you’re going to get there, what you’ll be doing once you’re there – surely that’s enough planning?! Well, almost. The last things you need to sort are not as sexy as all that, but are just as important: vaccinations, visas and insurance. Apply for visas as far in advance as possible – sometimes the cogs of bureaucracy move painfully slowly. For your jabs and anti-malarials (should you need them), just call your GP surgery and make an appointment at their travel clinic. They’ll be able to tell you what jabs you need depending on where you’re off to. Be warned: you may need to pay for your jabs. For insurance, as with anything else, shop around for the best deal, but keep in mind that lots of gap-year-esque activities like volunteering abroad, diving, bungee jumping etc, are not usually covered on standard travel insurance policies.

So, you’re all set! Now… all you need to do now is decide what to pack….

Holidays to Cyprus

Cyprus is located in the Mediterranean Sea and has an expansive coastline with a vast range of beaches from which to choose. These range from secluded bays, to lively resorts, sandy beaches and coves.

Perhaps the most well known beach is Phinikoudes Beach with its expanses of beach and blue sea. Two other popular venues are Pernera A Beach, a golden sand beach and Kapparis Beach. Most people associate Cyprus with Ayia Napa, a Mecca for the youth contingent with entertainment 24 hours a day. However, Cyprus offers much quieter places including small villages of the Akamas Peninsula and the golden beaches of the Karpas Peninsula.

There are also many mountain ranges amid citrus groves and a fair number of medieval castles with island views. The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) offers historic ruins and beaches.

The island is famous for its watersports, with waterparks and underwater worlds for snorkelling or diving. Because of the climate of steady winds and calm waters, windsurfing and sailing can be enjoyed all year round.

Culturally, Cyprus is diverse, dominated by Western Europe, but geographically very close to both Asia and Africa. Cypriots have a long heritage which is reflected in age-old crafts including the world famous lace industry.
As far as the climate goes, Cyprus holidays have a typical warm, dry Mediterranean climate, with rainfall mainly between November and March. Mild but wet winters and dry hot summers are the norm, and these are interspersed with short autumn and spring seasons. The mountains offer a different, cooler and moister temperature.

Five Strange Facts About Buckingham Palace

As one of Britain's most recognisable buildings, much has been written and published about Buckingham Palace. The official London residence of the British monarchy is well known the entire world over, but many small tidbits about its history remain largely unknown to the general public. If you thought you knew everything there is to know about this celebrated cultural landmark, think again: the following five strange facts about Buckingham Palace are sure to surprise you and give you a whole new appreciation for this remarkable building.

Go Round The Mulberry Bush
King James I had a rather brilliant idea: he would plant mulberry bushes in order to cultivate and encourage silk worms to grow on the land that he'd planted them on. Thereafter, Britain would become a top producer of silk and would enjoy incredible wealth through it. In the early 1600s, King James I planted these mulberry bushes on the site where Buckingham Palace would one day stand. Unfortunately, he planted the wrong variety and his dreams never came to fruition. It's safe to say, however, that Buckingham Palace has proved a longer lasting legacy after all.

A True War Survivor
Many people don't realise it, due to the many different facts about the Second World War, but Buckingham Palace was struck at least seven times by bombs. It was a natural target since it has always been a strong symbol of the British monarchy. Take advantage of London hotel deals and stop by the Palace to learn more about this fascinating chapter in its history.

When Hospitals Aren't Good Enough
In 1902, King Edward VII, suffering from a nasty bout of peritonitis, had to undergo surgery at Buckingham Palace. Incredibly, the surgery was successful and he went on to be ordained at Westminster Abbey soon after. Book a stay at cheap London hotel then use the money you save to plan an extensive visit to Buckingham Palace. There, you can regale your friends with this intriguing tidbit about King Edward VII and let them in on the news that the Palace has seen many strange occurrences, indeed.

Fighting Back Against The Enemy
n 1940, a German plane attempting to bomb Buckingham Palace was rammed by an RAF pilot named Ray Holmes. He had no ammunition left, so he rammed the plane as a last resort. The whole thing was caught on film, and can be viewed today. Watching it is a great way to put the "icing on the cake" after enjoying some great London hotel deals.