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Tips for Travellers to Australia

With wide open spaces, iconic scenery and a beautiful array of wildlife, Australia is one of the most popular tourist hot spots worldwide. Often very popular with young travellers and those looking to take a gap year out of education to go travelling, part of Australia’s appeal is that it is a completely unknown continent that just happens to speak the same language as we do.

spiderThis may sound like a strange thing but one reason less people travel to see the world is the fear that they will be stuck in an unfamiliar place and they won’t be able to properly communicate their distress. Australia gets rid of part of that fear, as most people speak English. You get the strange new world, without the fear of being stuck up the language river without a paddle.

However, there are a whole host of other dangers just waiting to pull you under the water and while we may be vaguely aware of them we’ve piled together a few top tips for those of you who are planning on hiking it across Australia in the near future.

Stay Clean to stay safe!

Always wash your hands before eating. It may sound like a no-brainer but you’d be surprised at how often people forget about hand sanitation. You can always take a portable hand sanitizer with you if there is nowhere near to clean your hands. When going outside always put your shoes on to prevent scrapes or possible bites and scratches. Make sure to shake your shoes before putting them on just in case little critters have tried to crawl in them overnight!

Know the Climate

SONY DSCAustralia is a hot country! Make sure to take plenty of water for hydration wherever you go and always apply a lot of sunscreen. If you happen to swim at all, make sure to apply sunscreen both before and after swimming as the sun can quickly burn skin if left unprotected. Try to wear a hat to prevent heatstroke, or at least drink water regularly.

There are a lot of insects in Australia, and while some are just a little bothersome, a lot of them like the taste of human flesh! Apply insect repellent along with your sunscreen to avoid nasty bites and scratches and if you need to sleep at night with the window open, make sure you have flyscreens or netted screens to prevent the nasties from coming inside at night!

Safe Swimming

crocorileAlways swim between the designated red and yellow flags as Australian beaches are home to strong underwater currents commonly known as rips. To avoid these make sure to swim between the red and yellow flags and never swim alone or at night. Lifeguards will patrol the beaches but it is better not to take any chances!

When travelling through or near established crocodile habitats there will often be safety and warning signs. Take heed of these and never swim in rivers, tidal rivers, mangrove shores, estuaries or deep pools nearby. If you plan to go fishing or boating, make sure to take expert advice when fishing or boating near crocodile habitats.

Between November and April, the tropical beaches of Australia may be home to marine stingers which can cause discomfort and certain species can even be lethal. Swim within the designated areas and if you are swimming, diving or snorkelling on the Great Barrier Reef make sure to wear protective clothing and to pay close attention to the warning signs. Be aware!

Travel Insurance

As with any holiday, having the proper travel insurance is essential. Australia is a little different in that there are a huge number of small critters which can deal a lot of damage in a small period of time. Having good medical insurance is essential, as with backpacking or hitch-hiking you can never be 100% certain that your holiday will be injury free. Depending on your visa type you may be entitled to certain benefits through the public healthcare system of Australia, but a lot of medical expenses will be taken out of your own pocket, so it is essential to have good medical insurance.

Take good care of yourself and make sure you are well prepared before you head out to Australia. You can never be sure of what will happen once you get there but it is better to plan for the worst and hope for the best instead of getting stuck in a foreign country with little or no back-up plan! Just remember to still have fun!

The top ten holiday destinations to propose

If you’re planning to propose (or create the right opportunity for that certain someone to think about proposing) then a trip to somewhere significant is the way to do it. Make your proposal memorable with somewhere romantic and scenic. Here are our top ten destinations for proposal opportunities.

paris1)      Paris – a perennial favourite with lovers the world over, France’s capital city has a long history of romance with plenty of spots to do the deed. If you don’t fancy scaling the Eiffel Tower, then maybe you can use the Pont des Arts over the River Seine, or aboard one of the river’s many cruise boats.

2)      Dubai – Hot, exotic, and containing some stunning modern architecture, Dubai is a shopper’s paradise. Dubai is a great choice if you want to combine a proposal with engagement ring shopping. A trip to Gold & Diamond Park and other shopping malls and souks could be on the itinerary! There are a plethora of potential proposal spots in one of Dubai’s many skyscrapers, aquarium restaurants, or fountains.

new york3)      New York – With trans-Atlantic flights faster than they used to be, a short break in New York is more than feasible. A trip to New York feels like visiting a living film set, and where better to propose than atop the Empire State Building, on a helicopter over the Statue of Liberty, or in the world famous Times Square? Shops galore with the peaceful haven of Central Park, New York offers it all.

4)      Venice – Venice is possibly Italy’s most famously romantic city, and attracts around 50,000 tourists a day. It is famous for its waterways and canals, and you can’t go to Venice without taking a gondola ride along the Grand Canal.

norway5)      Norway – if your loved one is not a fan of exotic weather, then a trip to see the Northern Lights could be a winner. There are lots of places to stay where you have a good chance of seeing the lights, and you can also take a dog-sledding tour, or a cruise around the fjords. Please see the website of Visit Norway for the best places.

6)      Dublin – for a proposal filled with fun, Dublin is a lovely place for a bit of sightseeing and bonding over beer. If you need a bit of Dutch courage and feel the ‘luck of the Irish’ would be most welcome, then making your proposal in Dublin could result in success!

7)      London – The UK’s capital and one of the world’s biggest cities provides a whole host of proposal opportunities. The London Eye is a popular choice, or maybe the scenic Trafalgar Square. If you want to add height to your proposal, then a trip up London’s tallest building The Shard is the place to do it.

propose8)      Sydney – for the trip of a lifetime, and one you will never forget, take a trip to Sydney, Australia. Often thought of as Australia’s capital (it isn’t), it’s probably the most recognisable of Oz’s cities. The harbour area with the Opera House is simply stunning, and if you want to introduce an element of peril into your proposal then you can join a climbing tour of the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

9)      Barcelona – the beautiful Spanish city of Barcelona in the region of Catalonia is a mix of green space, coast, and interesting architecture created by Gaudi. Proposal sites could include the wonderful Park Guell, or the mountainside park of Montjuic. Ride a cable car to the hillside villages, and if you’re a sports fan, the Olympic stadium and The Camp Nou are worth a tour.

10)  Las Vegas – Not keen on long engagements? Propose in Las Vegas and you can be engaged, married, and on your way home before the hangover has even kicked in. Feeling extra lucky? Try one or two of the many casinos and maybe you can stretch to an even better ring.

Wherever you propose, make it a good one. Good luck!

Strawberry Ice Cream Day; Bon Appetit

2552806737_959657e7bf_oSo today is national Strawberry Ice Cream Day. A universal snack for during the summer, often accompanied by a romantic film or used as a soothing technique when confronted by an awkward break-up. Not many people dislike this fantastic sugary treat – those who are intolerant to lactose not included – and though it’s not a spectacular culinary dish, there can be no denying the popularity of ice cream on holidays. Ice cream and holidays are synonymic in that you can’t have one without the other. So why not have a look at the best places to have one of the world’s most famous holiday snacks?

In the Persian Empire, residents would pour grape juice over snow and eat it as a treat in the hot weather. Later on it was adopted by several other civilisations, where they would use various fruit syrups over ice to make different flavours. Originally it was thought that the Arabs first used milk to make ice cream, using sugar as opposed to fruit juices to sweeten it, and then flavouring it with fruit and nuts. many people dislike this fantastic sugary treat – those who are intolerant to lactose not included – and though it’s not a spectacular culinary dish, there can be no denying the popularity of ice cream on holidays. Ice cream and holidays are synonymic in that you can’t have one without the other. So why not have a look at the best places to have one of the world’s most famous holiday snacks?

Italy first brought ice cream to Europe in the 16th century and since then its popularity has grown immensely. There are countless flavours, both predictable, and strange, such as eel and octopus ice cream made in Japan (where else?), and every country has an associated favourite flavour. So where is the best place to eat it?

Perché No! In Florence, Italy

Translated as ‘Why not!’ This ice cream shop was founded in 1939 and is one of the most iconic ice cream shops in Italy. The ice cream is all made fresh from produce daily, using carefully chosen ingredients. The fruit ice creams and sorbets are made entirely from fresh juice and are free of colouring agents. There are some more inventive flavours; such as the ‘Chesnut Honey and Sesame Seeds’, or you could try the classical ‘Whipped Cream’ flavour, ever present as a favourite.

Glacé In Sydney, Australia

Established in 1984, Glacé has quickly become famous throughout Australia for its innovative ice creams, sorbets and ice cream based desserts., Because it uses fresh ingredients, including full cream milk and fresh cream, Glacé is incredibly popular as a manufacturer of ice cream. The company itself has won over 100 awards by industry groups for their creative ice cream based desserts. Plus they do wedding cakes!

Special Mention: Ice Cream City

19Known for their eccentricity, what is Japan without dipping their toes into the market of ice cream? The ice cream city is a magical place inside the indoor theme park in Ikebukuro, Tokyo, with hundreds of flavours of ice cream, from the traditional vanilla, chocolate and story, to the more exotic crab or snake flavoured ice cream.

Located in the Sunshine City Complex, only a short drive by hired car from the Ikebukuro subway station, the theme park has a small entry fee plus an additional fee to purchase each miniature tub of ice cream, but it is certainly well worth it!

Where Will You Spend New Year’s Eve?

There are several different ways to celebrating the coming of the New Year and every family does it differently. Most of us would be contented with simply sitting at home with the family and a glass of bucks fizz, or celebrating the countdown with friends at the local pub. However some of us are more adventurous, and like to spend the New Year off celebrating in a tropical location, or simply chilling on the other side of the world while sipping a cool cocktail. In readiness for the New Year we have put together a top five places to visit that host the best New Year’s parties worldwide.

5. Sydney – Australia

A country renowned for its beauty, Sydney in Australia puts on a fireworks performance that is like no other. The capital of Australia, which is famous for its Harbour Bridge and the Sydney Opera House, offers a huge selection of parties, fair rides and nautical parades that ensures that there is something suited for every member of the family. Buy yourself a ticket to one of the Royal Botanic Gardens show, but hurry, because the spots sell out fast!

4. Cardiff – UK

Cardiff’s Flybe Winter Wonderland, the Christmas and New Year themed park, is open from the 14th November to the 5thJanuary, with an open air ice rink, a variety of different fairground rides and spectacular lights and fireworks displays on New Year’s Eve. Plus from 2013 Cardiff Winter Wonderland has opened a new traditional festive dining experience in the Alpine Village. German Beer and Bratwurst all around!

cardiff-flybe-winter-wonderland

3. Disney Theme Parks – Various

Widely known for their cheery celebrations and performances, a great place – especially for the kids – to spend New Year’s Eve is at one of Disney’s theme parks. Disney World in Orlando, Florida has a great variety of entertainment on, from Disney parades to the fantastic fireworks displays. Tokyo Disneyland is an extremely popular attraction on the 31st December, which is home to the special New Year’s Parade (Beginning at 11:30). Disneyland California is also celebrating the New Year with its “Ring in the New Year” fireworks spectacular.

2. London – UK

With the fantastic fireworks show illuminated by a backdrop that hosts spectacular sights such as Big Ben, the Tower Bridge and the London Eye, sometimes the best place to celebrate the New Year is closer to home than you think. Just be prepared to arrive early if you want a good spot seeing the festivities!

london-new-years-eve

1. Watching the Ball Drop; Times Square – New York (USA)

For over 100 years the huge disco ball has marked the final countdown into the New Year in New York, USA, and although several hundred other cities in America have adopted their own ‘ball drop’, New York still holds the prize for its significance. Arrive around lunchtime in the iconic New York taxi, or by hired car, as the streets will become extremely packed in order to follow the ball’s 70 foot journey down towards the New Year. When the moment finally arrives, confetti is released into the air, accompanied by the excited shouts and screams of attendees welcoming the New Year. An unforgettable experience!

450px-Times-Square-new-years-ball