Showing posts with label travel tips. Show all posts
Showing posts with label travel tips. Show all posts

UK Tourist Accommodation - Information & Advice

Author: Mark Walters

Have you thought of vacationing in the UK? It is a charming source of historical sites and culture and is home to many fun and interesting attractions. It should be no surprise therefore that so many people plan vacations in the UK each year. Should you be planning a visit, you will be please to hear that there are many different types of accommodation available. Among them are:


Chain Hotels - Are the most expensive type of accommodation in the UK, but you get what you pay for. Plan to spend at least $100 a night if this is your choice of a place to stay. They are found mainly in major cities and include most major chains such as Marriott, Hilton, Holiday Inn, etc. London actually offers several hotels from each chain.


Independent Hotels - These are one-off establishments that range from five star luxury to one star bare-bones. They can be found in most cities and towns, even relatively small ones that are not known for attracting many tourists. They can provide great value for money but they do represent a bit of a gamble as the cleanliness and service provided all comes down to the individual standards of the owners. Price-wise, they range from $40 to $100-plus.


Hostels - If you are young, adventurous, and on a tight budget, keep in mind that the UK offers hostel accommodation. They are most prevalent in London but if you research a bit you can find them in other large cities. Hostels offer a bed in a shared room and not much more. The best thing about a hostel is that you can stay in one for about $20 a night. Prices vary though so check on them before deciding to stay in a hostel.


Bed And Breakfasts - These establishments are something of a UK tradition and are very popular with UK citizens who travel within the country during their vacation. A typical bed and breakfast is basically a large house that rents out rooms to tourists. They are very personal and the owners normally do what they can do make you feel at home. As you can guess by the name, breakfast is nearly always included in the price, which ranges from $20 to $50.


Most UK accommodation have a website or can be found on one of those websites that offers a variety of accommodation. However you look, you should be able to find the perfect accommodation for your UK vacation in less than half an hour.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/hotels-articles/uk-tourist-accommodation-information-advice-2763772.html


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Important points to remember

Some important points to remember when traveling.
  • Bear in mind that Europeans very sensibly use a 24-hour clock in matters of this sort. That is: five o'clock in the afternoon becomes 1700 hours and half-past nine in the evening is 2130. Easy once you get the hang of it.

  • As you start your train journeys you need to have your Eurailpass validated, for which you will have to show your passport. Do it before you get on any train at the information window of any largish railway station. You will be given back your ticket and a validation slip.

  • Keep your validation slip separate from the ticket. It constitutes proof of ownership. (If you are a worry wart like me, make a photocopy of both straight away and remember to keep the copy in the lining of your suitcase.)

  • Make sure you go to the right station. Every city in Europe has several different railway stations. This TGV train I am riding started from Gare de Lyon in Paris. But there are six other mainline train stations in that city of light. The concierge at your hotel will advise you.

  • When you get to the station make sure you get on the right platform and into the right car. The signs are always very clear and railway staff are always most helpful. There will be a board confirming the name, number and time of departure of the train at the entrance to the platform when you get there.

  • Getting into the right car, as opposed to the right train, is essential; in modern trains it is the car that is sent by computer control to its destination. On the side of every car is an identification panel that tells you the number of the car, where the car is heading and the names of the most important stops on the way. Check the panel carefully and, if you are still in doubt, show your ticket to the conductor of the train and explain exactly where you are going.

  • Limits. An Eurail pass is for x number of journeys over a given period of time. Do not waste the pass on short trips.

Example: I was in Nice and had to go to Cannes. I went by train and bought a ticket. You do not waste your Eurail Pass on journeys on trips that take less than an hour.
  • Ubiquity. Every station seems to have a Eurail booking desk. Be organized and try and book as far ahead as you can if you want a sleeper. These trains do get fully booked, especially during the holiday season, and the earlier you book, the more certain you are of getting the right train.

  • Sleep on the train. If it is a very long journey take the evening train and sleep on board. On a first class Eurail tickets the sleeper is part of the package.

This has great advantages. It saves you the cost of one night's accommodation and it gets what could be a longish journey over in considerable comfort and style. For example, I went from Salerno in Sicily right up the leg of Italy to Genoa and did it on a night train and slept like a baby.

One has to be careful.

There is a story about a passionate young couple who used their sleeper not for sleeping. In a moment of ecstasy the young lady hung on like mad to the nearest object. Sadly, it was the emergency stop communication cord.
  • If possible, take your own snacks. There was a thought in my mind that food on European trains would be a gourmet's delight. In my experience, it is very far from that. On the other hand, almost all station restaurants serve good food at very reasonable prices provided you stay away from the fast food chains.

  • Get the right stop. As you come into a city make sure you do not get off at a suburban stop which is, typically, the stop before the central station. If in doubt, ask the ticket inspector or the guard. No need to be able to speak the language. Just show your ticket and they will tell you what to do.

  • Travel light. If you cannot easily carry your baggage you are stuffed. Porters do not exist. Not at any station I have ever seen.
  • Use all of the pass. When planning your itinerary, be bold. You can go from Greece to Oslo and pretty much everywhere else in between.
  • Not the UK. All of this applies to Europe except for Britain. A Eurail Pass does not work there. Britain is not part of Europe. Whatever made you think otherwise?

Sites which can help…

Eurail: It claims, correctly, that it is the only official Eurail site. This is true. But it is not the only site that can give you information. And it is certainly not the only site that can sell you tickets. It does, however, make a very good starting point because from here you can sort out potential timings and itineraries.

Europe: This is not the official site but it might just as well be considered as such. There is nothing about Eurail that it does not know.

Europe by Eurail: Again, this is a commercial firm selling tickets but that does not stop it having a load of useful information on the site.

Boots 'n All Travel: Would you buy a ticket from a company with a name like that? Let us not be snobbish. It has great expertise on Eurail and its site is very helpful.

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Have Complete Security With Travel Insurance Policy

Once you leave your home for traveling then it is not in your reach to stop mishaps to happen. It is considered that journey is full with uncertainties and completely out of your predictions to restrain anything bad from occurring. But you can at least take some measures on your part so that these mishaps could not cause you unbearable harms in your journey by taking a travel insurance policy.

Travel insurance policy reduces the probability of danger during travel by giving the full protection in case of any disaster. Usually travel insurance policy covers for medical cost which you might have to incur in case of any accident because health is the major concern during traveling. Due to change in weather and climate you may suffer great loss for small illness in foreign country because you are not aware about the medical treatment and expenses in foreign land. Your travel insurance policy will pacify you by giving the reimbursement of medical cost and even will cover you by giving emergency ambulance and medical repatriation facility.

Travel insurance policy will also cover for third party damage if accidentally you cause any injury to third person during traveling. Coverage for theft, burglary and loss of your passport and other important documents is also given with travel insurance policy.

There are a number of insurance companies in the insurance market as so many are forms of travel insurance policies. As per you choice you can buy any travel insurance policy like annual travel insurance policy, multi trip travel insurance policy, adventure travel insurance policy and student travel insurance policy. Generally the coverage given with different policies of travel insurance is different so when you go for buying any travel insurance policy then it becomes pertinent to check carefully the coverage with any particular travel insurance. Coverage given with travel insurance policy is the only option of getting rid of any impending danger in foreign land.

Through a proper online navigation you can collect all the current information about the policies of travel insurance. Online you can also get information about the new travel insurance policies as per your choice. So you can easily search the policy of travel insurance which suits your needs if you do the online search. In online search you are also not supposed to worry about the time wastage as online search for travel insurance policy can be done within a few seconds.

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Precautions After you travel

Travellers who have visited affected areas should monitor their health for seven days after the visit. If you develop a flu-like illness with cough, sore throat, runny nose, headache or muscle aches, within seven days you should:

  • Check your symptoms.
  • Limit contact with other people.
  • Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze and dispose of the tissue promptly.
  • Wash hands with soap and water.
  • Keep hard surfaces (e.g. door handles, countertops) clean using a normal cleaning solution.

British nationals abroad

If you live in a country affected by swine flu, you should monitor our travel advice. This might include obtaining access to anti-viral medicine. If you have any concerns over your own health, you should seek medical advice.

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Precautions During travel

Influenza is transmitted via the respiratory route and you should exercise sensible precautions:
  • Follow public health guidance at your destination.
  • Avoid crowding or mass gatherings.
  • Where possible avoid close contact with persons who are ill with an flu-like illness.
  • Wash hands with soap and water; use waterless alcohol-based hand gels when soap and water is not available.
  • Avoid touching your nose, mouth or eyes, to prevent the spread of germs.
  • Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze and dispose of the tissue promptly.
  • Keep hard surfaces (e.g. door handles, countertops) clean using a normal cleaning solution.
  • Ensure that children follow similar advice.
  • Swine flu has not been shown to be transmissible to people through eating properly handled and cooked pork and pork products.
  • There is little evidence of the effectiveness of wearing masks, However, properly fitted special grade masks can be worn in situations such as healthcare settings.
  • If you fall ill while abroad (especially with flu-like symptoms) you should seek medical assistance. Where possible the British Embassy/High Commission/Consulate should be able to provide British nationals with details of English-speaking doctors and information on the local availability of anti-virals.

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