Check travel advice before you leave

Check travel advice before you leave

Not many people will have been aware that, up until the end of February, Madagascar was the only country in the world, apart from Somalia, that the Foreign Office were advising Britions not to travel to, giving it a higher risk factor than Afghanistan, Iraq and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Although Madagascar is not on most tourist routes, the recent political turmoil on the Island does show that, whilst most holiday destinations are generally strife free, it still pays to check out where you are going before you travel. The best place to do this is by checking with the Foreign Office which has up to date advice on all countries and to log on to www.fco.gov.uk/travel is a wise precaution, particularly if you plan to travel to parts of the world off the beaten track. Should you become caught up in what is neatly termed, civil commotion or civil unrest, you need to be aware that most <a rel=”nofollow” onclick=”javascript:pageTracker._trackPageview(‘/outgoing/article_exit_link’);” href=”http://www.travelandinsure.com/”>travel insurance</a> providers include this as a general exclusion in their policies. The impact of this is that you may not be as well insured as you think you are. If in doubt, do check with your <a rel=”nofollow” onclick=”javascript:pageTracker._trackPageview(‘/outgoing/article_exit_link’);” href=”http://www.travelandinsure.com/”>travel insurance</a> company before you travel and look at your policy wording. Generally, medical expenses and medical repatriation will be included but if you want to be covered for all eventualities then you will have to pay an increased premium on your <a rel=”nofollow” onclick=”javascript:pageTracker._trackPageview(‘/outgoing/article_exit_link’);” href=”http://www.travelandinsure.com/”>travel insurance</a> policy. Thankfully the chances of being caught up in these types of incidents are still very slight, and even when they do strike, they tend to be away from the main tourist destinations. So if you do plan to travel abroad, do look at your itinerary and check with your tour operator beforehand who may be able to offer alternative destinations away from the troubled areas. For the independent traveller, be wise and avoid those areas where a heightened tension exists.

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Bargain Discount Travel Deals To Lisbon

Bargain Discount Travel Deals To Lisbon

Everybody seems to be complaining about the cold at the moment, so if you are one of those people, this could be your chance to do something about it. Finding discount travel deals to Portugal is not a difficult task at the moment, and they seem to be blessed with regular winter sunshine too. The best deals though are to Lisbon; due to it having an International airport, which always helps when cheap travel is concerned.

Lisbon is an overlooked European capital. Tourists tend to flock to Paris, Rome, London, but that little country on the edge of Europe? Portugal is not always on major tourist routes, but there is plenty to see there.

If you\’re looking for a trip to Europe, but you\’re hoping to stick to a tight travel budget, you might want to give Lisbon a look. Portugal has always cost less than other destinations in Europe.

So what is there to see in Portugal\’s capital city? Well, to start with, the city itself. It is compact and teems with everyday life. Its pleasures are its street life and setting…. Lisbon was built on seven hills, on the Tagus River where it spills into the Atlantic. It doesn\’t seem overrun with tourists.

The Portuguese shop in the Chiado and Bairro Alto districts on one of the hillsides above downtown. They party and listen to fado in the alleys of the Alfama on the opposite hillside. The Bairro Alto also has a vibrant nightlife.

The Baixa, the downtown district, runs between the two hills from Rossio Square inland to Comericio Square, the large, much loved plaza on the river. It is the main shopping and banking district that stretches from the riverfront to the Avenida da Liberdade. There are elegant squares and pedestrianized streets… and lots of cafes and shops.

Lisbon has history too. It bills itself as the City of Explorers. Prince Henry the Navigator set the course for exploration in the 15th century. Vasco da Gama sailed from the the city\’s Belem neighborhood. Her Glory days were the 15th and 16th centuries when she sent da Gama and other explorers out to \”discover the world\”.

Much of the city was rebuilt after it was flattened by an earthquake in the 18th century. The Chiado area suffered a devastating fire in the 1980s, but it has been reborn. Actually, many areas of the city have been rebuilt through the years after being flattened by earthquakes or burned by fires. Find pockets of the old grandeur in the Belem district, the Alfama, and the Bairro Alto.

Lisbon is a great city for tourists because of its compact size. Walk the downtown. Take the Santa Justa Elevator (also called the Elevator of Carmo or Carmo Lift) up to the Bairro Alto. This elevator was designed by a student of Eiffel and built in the early 1900s.

Climb back into history through the medieval alleys of the Alfama on the opposite hill. This is possibly the city\’s most emblematic quarter.

Get lost winding up narrow streets with laundry hanging over them. You will find stone staircases that open suddenly onto terraces with spectacular views over the red tile rooftops to the Tagus River. Stop in little local restaurants for a bite to eat.

At night listen to real, not-for-tourists Fado here. Admire the Azulejos de Lisboa, the blue tiles that decorate nooks and crannies at every turn…. There are strategically placed miradouros (or viewpoints) that offer breathtaking panoramas over the city. At the top of the hill is the Castle of St. George (the Castelo de Sao Jorge). All that is really left is the walls, but it has a great view out over the city.

Ride the colorful old yellow trams around the city. We haven\’t even had time to mention the museums like the Ancient Art Museum (which is Portugal\’s National Gallery) or the Calouste Gulbenkian Museum which are two of Lisbon\’s best. And since we\’ve only mentioned historic Belem in passing, we\’ll have to leave that for later.

Let\’s just say, if you\’re want a great travel experience but you\’re counting your pennies, you could be pleasantly surprised to find that there are currently many discount travel deals to Lisbon this year.

Take a look at the Globe Cheap Travel Guide and find out just how you could be bathing in that warm winter sunshine next week…

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