Winter Festivals Around the World: Europe

The second installment of our Winter Festivals Around the World blog posts!

Click here to check out Asia.

Fete des Lumieres

December 7th to 10th

While Christmas is a celebration of the birth of Jesus, Fete des Lumieres or The Festival of Lights in Lyon, France is a celebration of the Virgin Mary, Jesus’ mother.The festival originated in the 1600s, when the black plague swept over the town. The citizens promised to honor the Virgin Mary if she spared them and on December 8th, 1643 they lit candles and made offerings in her name. Although this is how the holiday started, it wouldn’t become the Festival of Lights until some time later, in 1852 when the city had a statue of the Virgin Mary erected next to the Basilica. The statue’s inauguration was planned to take place during Fete des Lumieres and a large celebration was planned around it. Sadly, due to an unprecedented storm the festivities had to be canceled last minute. This didn’t stop the revelers and after the rain subsided, the citizens lit candles in their windows and gathered around the new statue illuminating it with flares and singing songs. Today, lit candles in stained glass containers illuminate windows all over Lyon and the festival has expanded into a three day event that features amazing light shows that draw in revelers from all over the world!

Hogmanay

December 30th to January 1st

Hogmanay is the traditional Scottish New Year’s celebration.Customs vary throughout Scotland, although they usually include gift-giving and visiting the homes of friends and neighbors. The first guest, or “first-foot” of the New Year is particularly important. After midnight, the first guest to cross a friend or neighbor’s threshold with a symbolic gift such as fruitcake or whiskey is supposed to set the luck for the homeowner for the new year. Tall, dark men are traditionally the preferred “first foot”. Different regions of Scotland also have their own local traditions. In Stonehaven, Aberdeenshire, for example, swinging fireballs made of chicken wire and flammable material down the main street is a Hogmanay tradition. In St. Andrews, Hogmanay is also known as “Cake Day” and bakers prepare special cakes for the local children. Large cities hold all-night celebrations and Edinburgh’s Hogmanay celebration is one of the largest. In 1996/1997, it was actually documented by the Guinness Book of World Records as being the largest New Year’s celebration in the world! It is still a popular venue for locals and tourists alike and now consists of a three day long celebration full of fireworks, concerts, a parade, and a street party.

Winter Solstice at Stonehenge

Winter Solstice (between December 21st to 23rd)

Stonehenge is a prehistoric landmark in England that has long been a source of wonder and awe. It is still up for debate how it was built and for what purpose, as it was built by a peoples that kept no written records. During the winter solstice people flock to the site, which is temporarily open to the public, to see the stones up close and celebrate the beginning of the shortest day of the year. Neo-pagans and curious tourists alike wait to watch the sun rise above the ancient stones, cheering and singing. The revelers will be free to celebrate on site, playing music, dancing, and even kissing and hugging the monument, until about 10 a.m., after which the site is cleared out. The reason Stonehenge is such a popular site for this celebration actually comes at the end of the day, however, when the sun casts a line of sunlight that will align the ancient stones. This phenomenon only happens during the winter and summer solstice and, although you may watch this from a distance, the English Historical Society has deemed it unsafe for crowds to be amongst the stones while it is so dark.

Carnival

4th Saturday of January to Ash Wednesday (February)

Carnival is an annual festival celebrated just before the catholic holiday Lent. Lent is a solemn event lasting until Easter Sunday meant to be for prayer and personal reflection. Parties are off-limits, and traditionally so is fat, sugar, and meat. Therefore, Carnival is essentially a large party full of these things just before the party-goers have to give them all up. It is one of the largest celebrations in Italy, starting on January 27th and lasting until Fat Tuesday in February (followed by Ash Wednesday, the start of Lent). Italy’s Carnival is known for its intricate Venetian masks, traditionally worn by performance artists or people trying to hide their identities (like those that were playing pranks or being particularly rowdy during the festivities). Today, masks are still worn by many revelers for fun as they take to the streets in the large celebration to watch parades, live music, and partake in some of the many parties and events around the country.

If visiting any of these festivals are of interest, contact us ! We’d love to help you find your destination.

Image Sources

Summer Solstice Sunrise over Stonehenge 2005.jpg : https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Summer_Solstice_Sunrise_over_Stonehenge_2005.jpg

EdinburghNYE.jpg: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:EdinburghNYE.jpg

Venice.jpg- https://pxhere.com/en/photo/1363301

Fete del lumineres.jpg- htrtps://pixabay.com/en/festival-fun-fair-lights-fun-joy-1696329/

Winter Festivals Around the World: Asia

Depending on where you reside, you’ve probably noticed a pleasant crispness in the air, a new presence looming and constantly nipping at your nose whenever you step outside. Leaves may be falling off trees, you find yourself pulling out the thicker coats and sweaters you haven’t worn in months, and everything in the store is switching from pumpkin spice to peppermint. Winter is here.

Whether or not you particularly enjoy winter, it is hard not to call it the “holiday season”. Thanksgiving and Christmas are almost upon us and although Christmas can be seen as one of the more popular winter holidays, countries all over the world have their own winter celebrations. Over the next few weeks we’ll be highlighting some of these interesting holidays around the world.

Diwali

15th day of Kartik on the Hindu lunar calendar

Diwali, the festival of lights in India, is celebrated over the course of five days. It has many different connotations; it celebrates the autumn harvest and the blessings various gods and goddesses, who bring and help us to maintain both physical and spiritual wealth. It also coincides with the last day of Lord Rama’s 14 year exile from his home in the North Indian kingdom Avadha. Its citizens, who had long awaited their prince’s arrival, lit thousands of lamps to help guide him back to his ancestral home. The main rituals of the festival include lighting oil lamps and candles around one’s home, worshiping Lord Ganesha and the goddess Laxmi to summon health and wealth, and lighting firecrackers. However, exchanging gifts with loved ones and having large feasts are also becoming customary.

Dongzhi Festival

Winter Solstice (between December 21st to 23rd)

The Dongzhi Festival, or Winter Solstice Festival, in China literally translates to “the extreme of winter” and is a celebration of the return of longer days and a consequential increase of positive energy. Based on the philosophy of Yin and Yang, the day of the Dongzhi Festival is when Yin (negative energy) has hit its peak and will slowly decrease while Yang (positive energy) will now begin to increase. Families traditionally get together for a large meal where dumplings or tangyuan (rice balls with different fillings) are served. Dumplings are supposed to drive away frostbite while the tangyuan drive away ghosts and evil spirits!

New Year (in Japan)

January 1st

New Year is the most important holiday in Japan. As well as being a time to relax and spend time with family, each year is seen as being completely separate from each other, providing a fresh start. This also means that tasks meant to be completed by the end of the year shouldn’t be extended into the next and people even throw bonenkai parties (“year forgetting parties”) to leave the worries and troubles of last year in the past where they belong. Houses are cleaned, businesses shut down, and families get together to celebrate. Traditionally, front entrances are decorated with pine and bamboo and on New Year’s Eve toshikoshi soba (buckwheat noodles), symbolizing longevity, are served. January 1st is said to set the mood for the rest of the year, so people typically relax and have a cheerful day devoid of anger and stress (hence the cleaning beforehand). It is also traditional to visit a temple within the first few days of the new year, where bells are being rung until midnight.

Loi Krathong

Held on the full moon of the 12fth lunar month (Varying Dates in November)

Loi Krathong is a festival in Thailand that is held on the full moon of a year’s twelfth lunar month. The main tradition of the festival can be found in its name, literally translated as “to float a basket” or “to float a krathong”. Traditional Krathong are made from slices of banana tree trunk and decorated with banana leaves, incense, and a candle, although bread and styrofoam are also becoming popular options. The small vessel is meant to carry your bad luck into the distance and ensure a better start to the new year. If you want to really ensure your good luck, you can put something personal on the krathong, like a few strands of hair. Loi Krathong has become so popular, businesses create large elaborate krathongs and the festival features krathong-making contests, a beauty pageant, local games, and performances. The city Chiang Mai is a popular place to celebrate Loi Krathong, as it mixed with/preceded by the city’s own festival of Yi Peng, where people launch lanterns into the sky to let go of their bad luck and make wishes (though they will only come true if you do good deeds in the following year).

If visiting any of these festivals are of interest, contact us ! We’d love to help you find your destination.

Image Sources

Diwali Festival by  Khokarahman

Dōngzhì Festival Image by Reedz Malik

Kimono by themonnie

Thai Lanterns by Mark Fischer

 

 

Travel Experiences Part 2

This blog post will actually be consisting of two separate posts; Part 1 being about my first travel experience and Part 2 being about my younger brother Kanoa’s.

Part 1 available here.

I believe many people wish to travel, to see the world, and experience new things. After all, its why we’re in business. However, not all travelers are looking for the same type of experience. My brother, Kanoa, and I are a very good example of this. Our “future travel plans” were a popular childhood discussion and it was never a question of if we would travel it was simply a matter of where and when. What we dreamed of as kids was very very different. Kanoa wanted to go to Asia to see the mountains, the forests, the foods, different cultures, and explore out of the way places that couldn’t be found anywhere else. I wanted to go to Europe to see the museums, architecture, and more established cities. Each time the subject came up, we would each question each other’s line of reasoning. To him, I could google pictures and save the airfare and to me he could do the same and be safer.
Our thoughts on travel haven’t really seemed to change much over the years, although we both quickly realized when we were older that our dreams had been bigger then our wallets. Although both of us still have a checklist of more exotic (and expensive) places we wish to travel, our first adventures have remained a bit tamer and closer to home. My brother went on a group tour of South America when he was 18 with G Adventures (formerly Gap). It was a real walking in the jungle and jumping off of cliffs into hot springs kind of deal and he loved it! He didn’t know anyone and had never been to any of the countries he visited. I didn’t try vacationing without my family until I was 21. I went on a cruise with my boyfriend, James, that traveled to Mexico and Central America. Very different, albeit pleasant, experiences overall.

Travel with Kanoa

When asked about booking and planning a trip, Kanoa assured me that it was a fairly quick process as it wasn’t exactly rocket science to find a tour company online. From there it was a matter of packing and booking flights. He wasn’t worried about what might go wrong and “didn’t care” that he wouldn’t know anyone he was traveling with. If he didn’t hit it off with anyone, he was fine doing things by himself. For Kanoa, this trip was about the adventure.

Land Tours: Adventure Awaits You!

Kanoa was able to work with our agency and find a company that sold group tours online and selected one within his budget that was leaving in a few weeks. He assured me that he wasn’t nervous leading up to the trip, though he did get a bit concerned after his flight was delayed and he arrived a full day later than everyone else. He wasn’t sure how to find his group or even his ride from the airport would be there. Luckily, his ride was there and knew where to take him.
Kanoa, as it turned out, wasn’t the only one traveling alone and everyone in his tour group was really sociable. He ended up meeting people from all over the world as some in the group were from New Zealand, Australia, Norway, Canada, and the UK. The younger people in particular hit it off. Throughout their tour of South America, the group went on a fair amount of interesting outings. They visited a town named Panajachel which Kanoa described as having a real “hippie” vibe. It had a tunnel covered in artwork that lead to a meditation garden! They went hiking through a jungle, tubing through a cave system in Guatemala (where each person was treated to their own personal swarm of mosquitoes apparently), and relaxed in a swimming hole with a hot water fall. A local boy offered to show them where the waterfall starts and led them to a pool of water forming from a hole in the mountain. At the base of the pool was mud that the boy explained was very mineral rich and used to make expensive mud masks. He said they could try and put some on their faces if they’d like, and Kanoa did, though he still has the sneaking suspicion that the boy was playing a prank on them. The tour also took them through a few Mayan sites, which were “beautiful”. Kanoa particularly enjoyed the ones they could scale and walk through themselves. However, his favorite part of the trip (and the one that inspired the tattoo he got when he came home) was the group’s day at Caye Caulker; a small island off the coast of Belize. He explained that what made the experience so pleasant was the fact that they got to spend an entire day on a boat. They ate, sailed, and swam with manta rays and “nice” sharks.
When asked about his experience as a whole, Kanoa said that it was a good trip that he thoroughly enjoyed. He has done a few other trips since then with family and friends but plans to go on another solo adventure when he saves up the money. Asia is next on his list; particularly Cambodia or Thailand. If this describes you then maybe land tours or a group trip may be the ideal for you. It is interesting, active, and adventurous! Life is an adventure. Let us help you find yours! http://www.mydestinationclub.com/

Travel Experiences Part 1

The new website is up and running and we’re back!

This blog post will actually be consisting of two separate posts; Part 1 being about my first travel experience and Part 2 being about my younger brother Kanoa’s.

I believe many people wish to travel, to see the world, and experience new things. After all, its why we’re in business. However, not all travelers are looking for the same type of experience. My brother, Kanoa, and I are a very good example of this. Our “future travel plans” was a popular childhood discussion and it was never a question of if we would travel it was simply a matter of where and when. What we dreamed of as kids was very very different. Kanoa wanted to go to Asia to see the mountains, the forests, the foods, different cultures, and explore out of the way places that couldn’t be found anywhere else. I wanted to go to Europe to see the museums, architecture, and more established cities. Each time the subject came up, we would each question each other’s line of reasoning. To him, I could google pictures and save the airfare and to me he could do the same and be safer.

Our thoughts on travel haven’t really seemed to change much over the years, although we both quickly realized when we were older that our dreams had been bigger then our wallets. Although both of us still have a checklist of more exotic (and expensive) places we wish to travel, our first adventures have remained a bit tamer and closer to home. My brother went on a group tour of South America when he was 18 with G Adventures (formerly Gap). It was a real walking in the jungle and jumping off of cliffs into hot springs kind of deal and he loved it! He didn’t know anyone and had never been to any of the countries he visited. I didn’t try vacationing without my family until I was 21. I went on a cruise with my boyfriend, James, that traveled to Mexico and Central America. Very different, albeit pleasant, experiences overall.

Travel to Me

I’ve always liked the idea of visiting different places and exploring the world. The idea. When I actually start to think about cost, packing, airline travel, and being alone in a strange country trying to find my way to places I’ve never been I become rather anxious. This didn’t stop me from wanting to see the world by any means, but was I ever going to hop on a plane and go backpack around Europe? Certainly not. I eventually decided that in order for me to travel I would have to:

 

• bring a friend
• ease myself into it
• go to safer destinations
• LARGE group with amenities

Cruising: Eat, Drink, Be Merry

In my opinion, cruising is a great way to ease yourself into travel. You don’t have to budget much for food or hotels, the ship has shops in case you forget something small like aspirin or a bathing suit, and physical activity is extremely optional. You get on the boat, get off the boat at each stop, and when its time to leave you just have to make sure you’re on the boat again. Even group tours are reassuring if it is something booked with the cruise company, as the boat will not leave without them. For a nervous first time traveler this was perfect.

Caribbean and Mexico cruises leave from a port near our city so it was only a drive away. We were both fairly nervous. I may never have traveled without my family but James had never even left his home state during a time he could remember! He was mostly worried about seasickness. While we stood in an insanely long line to board the ship (though for the record it was the fastest moving line I had ever been in with security at the end), James and I chatted while I constantly checked my backpack. My passport was inside and I felt as though I had to continually keep an eye on it so that it didn’t somehow magically disappear and reappear back on my desk at home. Our tickets, too, were a source of worry for me and I must have asked James at least twice if he still had them. (I don’t trust any important documentation not to disappear when I need it.) I wouldn’t be at ease until we had checked in properly and were officially on the boat.

Once on board, we quickly found cruising to be a relaxing experience for the both of us. The staff was kind and there were massive arrays of free food open almost all the time, a large pool, workout area, stage shows, and comfy living quarters. You could have honestly just stayed on the boat and enjoy the amenities and fresh open air. However, we had come to explore. The ports were packed with shops and restaurants in what you may describe as a “typical tourist destination”. Many of the shop keepers spoke English and most of the shops sold mementos for those visiting the country. There was even a demonstration of Danza de los Voladores, a ceremony were a group of men swing by their feet on top of a very high pole, being performed. We were always provided with a map of everything in the area before we stepped off the boat so I didn’t have to worry as much about getting lost or missing anything I may want to see. We stuck to the ports for the most part, which still made for a long and interesting day.

We did book one tour of Mayan ruins in Belize. We actually got to walk through the site while the tour guide explained what each building was likely for and what sort of ceremonies took place. Although it was a great experience, I don’t think we would have gone if we had known about the 6 hour bus trip back and forth. Word to the wise; Mayan ruins tours in Belize almost always mean a lengthy bus ride since the ports are located so far away from the actual ruins.

This was, all in all, a great experience. My anxieties about traveling were lessened and I got to spend a week relaxing and seeing new places.  I am a pretty structured person and I like to know what is coming. Few surprises. If this describes you then maybe cruising or a resort destination may be the ideal for you. It is safe, inclusive, mostly structured and relaxing! Maybe we will do 2 weeks next time!!

Keep an eye out for the details on my Brother’s adventures down in the jungles!

New Name!

Once again, sorry for the hiatus, it will be over soon. Our travel company has switched names recently and I have been put in charge of making a new website to go with it. Of course, our booking engine still works but you will notice that we are now My Destination Club instead of Onsite Travel.

See you again soon!

photo from: https://www.flickr.com/photos/libookperson/5152423193

Party Pooper: How to Avoid Getting Sick When You Travel

We at Onsite Travel would like to start this post by reminding our readers that most travel honestly go off perfectly fine. However, some advanced planning is always a good idea and can allow your odds of never having an issue while traveling increase dramatically if one of your party does get sick (knock on wood).

Everyone hates getting sick but getting sick when you are on vacation can be particularly unpleasant. People can become ill when they travel for a number of reasons. When you relax, your body’s immunity lowers because you are under less stress, making you more susceptible to everyday viruses. As crazy as this seems, stress will stimulate your immune system so when you relax you can open yourself to illnesses There is actually a term called “leisure sickness”.

New places you travel to can also contain unfamiliar pathogens and unfamiliar bugs in the environment that can affect you negatively. You may be excited to see Bejing, but your asthma certainly won’t be and cruising can be a killer for food born illness and/or seasickness. Below are some tips and tricks to help prevent and/or lessen different travel ailments so that, if they happen to you, it’ll just be a small bump in an otherwise great vacation.

Tips for Planning Ahead

Pack a Medical Kit

Be ready for the worst before it happens. Important things to consider are:

·         Cold Medicine

·         Bottled water

·         Insect repellent, try to make sure it has DEET

·         Sunblock, at least SPF 15 although SPF 5O is better

·         lip balm

·         antibiotic ointment

·         tweezers

·         bandages/gauze, adhesive tape, and scissors (if you bring one, bring the rest)

·         foot care products such as for blisters and athlete’s foot

·         diarrhea remedy

·         for women: feminine products

If you are traveling with a group in a land tour or on a cruise line these products may be available to purchase as you need them. However, they may not have what you need or they may be in short supply so it is best to be prepared and they can be amazingly expensive on board a ship.

*A Note on Packing Prescription Medication of Any kind

Keep prescription medication in their original containers while traveling. Remember to pack them in your carry-on, not your luggage and always bring a physical copy of your prescription in case you loose the medicine on your trip. Particularly when traveling out of the country, get a written note from your doctor explaining why you may be taking any narcotics and sedatives to prevent problems at border crossings. This too, should be packed in your carry-on.

Vaccines

It doesn’t happen often nowadays, but there are still a few countries that require vaccinations to enter the country. Particularly when visiting South America, be sure you are up to date on your vaccinations and talk to your doctor about different preventative measures you may want to take depending on where you are traveling.

Jet Lag: Disruption of the Body’s Internal Clock

Although it is called “jet lag”, this can affect anyone traveling across too many time zones when they’re on vacation. Prepare yourself for traveling across time zones by shifting your body’s clock slowly while your still at home. Do this by manipulating your light exposure, activity patterns, and so on so that it is not as jarring of a transition when you are in a new place. There are several thoughts on solving jet lag but the best way is to try and get on your new schedule a.s.a.p. once you arrive.

Tips for When You’re Traveling

Exercise

As I mentioned before, when you relax, your body’s immunity lowers because you are under less stress. One way to prevent this is to exercise lightly while on vacation. This could be something as simple as taking a brisk walk or swimming. If you stay active your body’s immune system will stay boosted.

Wear Mosquito Repellent

This is mostly in regards to the tropics. Mosquito’s can carry a number of different diseases, some of which you cannot get vaccinated against ahead of time like Dengue fever. Propellant can go a long way.

Avoid Under-cooked Food and Drink Only Bottled Water

This is mostly in regards to less developed countries to avoid stomach sickness, where traveler’s diarrhea is more prevalent. Do you enjoy spicy food? Cayenne peppers increase the intestine’s resistance to microbes that cause stomach pain and diarrhea. If you sprinkle enough on one meal a day to make it extra spicy, it will help keep the diarrhea  away. If you do get stomach sickness, no matter where you travel, calcium is thought to help increase growth of diarrhea-fighting bacterium, making it last for a shorter period of time.

Luck favors the prepared and as always, travel safe and have fun out there!!

image by James Diedrick: https://www.flickr.com/photos/jkdatlanta/3497413025

Travel Insurance

Note from the blogger:
Aaaand we’re back! After a long hiatus I have finally graduated and am able to devote my time to getting this blog up and running again and keeping it running. A lot will hopefully be happening in the next little bit including a spread into more social media and more tips and destinations to poke at your wanderlust. This week we will be looking at an important subject to consider while traveling, because knocking on wood will only get you so far.

It’s a popular saying; Better to have it and not need it then need it and not have it. Travel insurance is something to consider when planning a vacation and just like regular insurance, it’s important to know your options.

There are 3 basic types of Travel Insurance:

• Cancellation For Any Reason Insurance: insurance that insures you get all or most of your money back on a trip that you cancel prior to travel.
• Cancellation for Medical Reasons Insurance: insurance that insures you get all or most of your money back on a trip that you cancel for documentable medical reasons
• Medical Only Insurance: insurance for medical costs that may arise while traveling in the event of an accident. This would not entail compensation on the cost of the trip.

Cancellation Insurance: Why have it?

Most tours and cruises require a deposit before the cruise/tour is to be paid in full and about half of them are not refundable. Several cruise lines like Royal Caribbean and Celebrity are still refundable until final payment but the trend in the industry is less and less fully refundable deposits. This deposit will not be returned to you, or not returned in full, if you cancel within a certain time period, usually up until final payment when the regular cancellation schedules kick in. Cancellation insurance is to help get all or more of that deposit back that you normally would not be allowed. This insurance may not be a priority early on, but once you are within the ‘penalty’ window of paying for your vacation, our agents strongly suggest looking at insurance.

Cancellation For Any Reason Insurance or CFAR

This type of insurance assures you get all of your money back on a trip that you cancel prior to sailing except the insurance cost. It literally is “Cancel for any reason”. Ocean cruises do not offer this type of insurance and this is only an option if you are looking to book a land tour or river cruise. The cost of cancellation insurance is based on the cost of the trip itself, usually 7-9% of the trip’s cost in comparison, and is NOT based on age. It is a really nice option if available as you don’t have forms and such if you have to cancel. However, this one usually has to be purchased at the time of booking.

Cancellation for Medical Reasons Insurance

This insurance assures you get all or part of your money back on a trip that you have to cancel specifically for medical reasons. In order to invoke the insurance, you will need to have a doctor sign off on the fact that you or someone listed in your party is too sick or injured to travel. Most of these policies also include immediate family members that get sick or pass away. Any type of trip can be covered by medical cancellation insurance, including ocean cruises. Unlike CFAR, cancellation-for-any-reason insurance, cancellation for medical is based on age as well as trip cost. It is usually less cost then CFAR but can get pricey if you are over 70 years of age.

Medical Only Insurance

This is insurance to cover medical costs that may arise while traveling if someone gets sick or injured. Both types of cancellation insurances listed above also include medical insurance component, but you can purchase medical insurance by itself if you so choose. Medical insurance without cancellation insurance is the cheapest type of travel insurance by a surprisingly high margin. Despite this, it will cover all medical costs that you may have while on vacation, including emergency evacuation which can be well over $75,000 to get you home! Make sure that you look at the small print on these to make sure on the emergency medical evacuation. An important note about emergency evacuation, 99% of these companies that coordinate these evacuations WILL require that you show that you are able to pay for this and it is very pricey. If you have the medical only coverage, the company will coordinate all of this and get you the help that you need. Medical only insurance is a no brainer and you should have it as most of the insurance companies in the US do not cover you outside of the country and it is literally $20-$30 pre person for a trip.

Some cruises do sell their own insurance but it usually isn’t as comprehensive and not much cheaper than going with a 3rd party insurance agency. CSA Travel Protection is a well respected travel insurance provider and some credit card companies do offer cancellation insurance (with no medical coverage though). Again, no matter who you go with, read the fine print or call for details. Insurance companies are in business to make money so know what you are buying and if you are not sure ask for it in writing.
If you would like to search for yourself, www.insuremytrip.com allows you to compare different travel insurance based on your specific needs and the trip perimeters.

No matter what the case, we at Onsite Travel do recommend you look into travel insurance because life happens, even on vacation, and it’s good to be prepared.

Picture provided by: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Airplane_Flight_Wing_flying_to_Travel_on_Vacation.jpg

Money Saving Tips While Traveling

When it comes to most things, you get what you pay for and a vacation is definitely an example of that. In fact, that is what we at Onsite Travel are all about! Therefore this post will not be about “crazy cheap rates” and other ways to buy downmarket, but instead getting the best bang for your buck.

Of course, saving money on vacation will always depend on where you’re traveling but here are a few general tips when traveling abroad:

• Finding the right card
  • As mentioned in the previous article, Pre-Vacation Planning: Getting Your Affairs in Order, some credit card companies charge fees for foreign transactions, usually ranging between 2-5%, depending on the company. See which company has the lowest fees (or, better yet, none at all) for using their card in the country you are traveling to.
• Get local currency ahead of time
  • Transferring money over to local currency at airports and hotels often has a larger transaction fee than if you were to do the transfer back home. Make a list of all the countries you plan to visit as well as an estimated spending budget for each place to transfer to local currency to save on transactions. Remember, even if you plan to use a card for most of your transactions, having cash on you can always come in handy.

Image from: https://www.flickr.com/photos/rodeime/13991031669

In reference to Thanksgiving there is no Adventure of the Month as here in the U.S. November is very much a time to be with family. We spend the day eating and bonding with relations both as a celebration of thankfulness and preparation for elbowing our way through Black Friday sales. Winter is coming….

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy October: Sorry for the long absence

Once again, school has gotten the best of me and this blog has sadly been neglected. I will return November with a new Adventure and Travel Tip. In the meantime, I have prepared a list of spooky travel destinations to tickle your fancy.

1. Chapel of Bones: Evora, Portugal
   • A 16th century chapel decorated with human bones. At the time, 43 cemeteries were taking up valuable land. Wanting the land but not wanting to condemn the dead, the Catholic church decided to build a chapel to house the bodies. The monks, who were concerned by society’s values at the time, saw the bones as an opportunity to remind everyone that death (and final judgement) comes to us all. Therefore, instead of putting the bodies in closed caskets they decorated the chapel with them as a message. This is further amplified by the message engraved on teh chapel door: “Nós ossos que aqui estamos, pelos vossos esperamos,” or “We bones, are here, waiting for yours.”
2. Beechworth Asylum: Victoria, Australia
   • Lunatic Asylums from the 1800s tend to give off a sinister tone when you know their shared history. Ghosts of patients, nurses, and children have been sighted here and, although some had met grisly ends, do not seem to be violent towards visitors.
3. The Poison Garden: Alnwick, Northumberland, England
   • A subsection of the famous Alnwick Garden added in 2005. It contains many different species of poisonous plants as well as a few intoxicants such as cannabis and opium poppies as part of a drug education mission.
4. Salem, Massachusetts
   • Known for the Salem Witch Trials in the 1600s, the city has very much embraced its image, with tourism as a large source of the city’s income. Gallow’s Hill , the hill where many accused of witchcraft were said to be hanged, is a popular tourist attraction.
5. Snagov Monastery: Bucharest, Romania
   1. This monastery is said to hold the secretly buried remains of Vlad the Impaler, though the legend has not been substantiated. A mixture of horse and human bones were found buried upon excavation, but the identity of the person has yet to be confirmed.

See you in November and Happy Hauntings!

Pre-Vacation Planning: Getting Your Affairs in Order

No one ever wants to be rushing around a week before a vacation to find a housesitter or, when trying to purchase something on vacation, find their credit cards have been frozen. As important as it is to plan the details of a vacation, it is perhaps even more important to plan for what you leave behind. This can be broken down into two categories: telling people you are going on vacation and caring for the things you leave behind.

• Telling People You are Going on Vacation
  • No, this does not mean sending a tweet or making a facebook post. Think of things that you do day to day like going to work, perhaps participating in extracurricular activities, even using a credit card. The people associated with these things need to be alerted that you will be gone.
    • Do not post on social media. Although this may seem like the first and easiest way for you to start alerting people, posting on social media greatly increases your risk of a break in. Post after not before.
    • Alert your neighbors so that they aren’t surprised when the house seems empty or when a housesitter comes by to check in. This may even prompt them to keep an eye on the place and report any suspicious activity while you’re away.
    • If you are not on vacation at the time already, give notice at work that you will be going on holiday. The earlier you notify your boss the better, particularly if you plan to go during a busy season or a time when many people are planning to take time off. Although it isn’t usually required, the same goes for alerting extracurricular activities you or your child might be in.
    • Always be sure to alert your credit card companies when you are traveling, particularly out of the country. Many card companies will freeze people’s cards automatically if a purchase is made overseas since it is one of the more obvious signs of identity theft. Also be sure to confirm with them what countries their cards will work in, as this can be another issue that you will want to take care of before your vacation if they don’t. Some companies charge fees for foreign transactions as well and usually range between 2-5%, depending on the company. Be sure to discuss this with them to better keep track of your finances on vacation.
• • Like with packing, when trying to think about the things you will need cared for it is best to make a list.
    • There will likely be your home and perhaps pets if you have them at the top, but also remember to think about different things that you do that might influence others. For example, if you volunteer coach a children’s sports team or are perhaps part of a carpool system be sure to let those involved know and try to set up a new arrangement while you’re gone if necessary.
    • Housesitters can be important to avoid mishaps and break ins while you’re away and put your mind at ease. In fact, some insurance policies will not cover a break in if the house was not checked on for a certain amount of time. Be sure to look at your insurance policy before deciding not to get one. Often a house sitters main job is to make sure that the house is safe and not make it too obvious that you are away by doing small things like picking up the newspaper and taking the garbage in and out on the appropriate days. If you hire a housesitter, make a list for them of various things to do, garbage days, and emergency numbers. If you have decided against a house sitter, light timers can be used to simulate people at home.
    • Petsitters can be important and, especially during holiday seasons, should be found in advance. Depending on how often they come and much care your pet needs, housesitters can sometimes double as petsitters. If a housesitter plans to come by once a day, I highly suggest this arrangement with animals such as cats and fish who don’t require a lot of attention or exercise. For an animal like a dog or one that has to take medication, I suggest leaving it with a trusted friend or at a kennel. Particularly for dogs, kennels can actually be good petsitting solutions as they often have scheduled times for pets to play and get exercise. If your pet does require medication, make a list of their medication schedule and be sure to give their temporary caretaker extra just in case.

image by Austin Kirk: https://www.flickr.com/photos/aukirk/16816818235

China Interesting Fact
The Terra Cotta Warriors were built for the tomb of Emperor Qin, the first emperor of a unified China. These soldiers have become world famous because of their size, numbers, and amazing detail. There are over 6,000 life sized soldiers, no two being identical and all have different facial features. The army comes complete with horses, chariots, and weaponry but as the excavation continues, not just military statues but also acrobats, strongmen, and musicians are being excavated. The tomb has still not been opened since the site’s discovery in the 1970s out of fear of destroying the artifacts inside.