San Jaun Snow Treks

Pre-Trip Planning

ajc — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 11:57:24 +0000

Everyone wants their trips to be stress-free, but that’s not always the case. One of the things that can cause a lot of stress is preparing for the trip. If you don’t pack the right clothing, take everything you need, and know your travel information, you can end up being stressed out before you even start your luxury holiday. When it comes to pre-trip planning, here are some things to keep in mind.

Don’t just open your suitcases and start throwing cloths in. Instead, make a list of outfits you’ll need. If you don’t plan on doing anything that requires fancy dress, leave the suits and evening gowns at home. If you don’t plan on swimming, don’t pack a bathing suit. If you only need three pairs of pants, don’t pack five. Packing too much doesn’t leave you much luggage space, but on the other hand, packing too little can cause problems as well. Know how much clothing you need so you end up with just the right amount.

Make a list of everything you need to take with you. This can include the standard items like shampoo, a hair brush, and clothing, but it should also include anything specific to the trip. For business trips, this might mean brochures, business cards, or your presentation. For holidays, it may include event tickets, a guide book, and your camera.

You also need to know everything about your flight (or bus/train trip), hotel booking, and rental car, if you have one. Be sure to take copies of any receipts and booking confirmation numbers, and leave a copy of this information with a friend or family member, too. You should also know how to get from the airport or bus station to your hotel. Does the hotel offer a shuttle? Does the airport provide transportation? Don’t wait until you arrive to ask.

Finally, plan out your itinerary. Start by filling in everything that has a set time and day, and then add in other events. Don’t plan out every single moment—you may arrive and find something really interesting that you didn’t know about. However, it is helpful to have a plan so you don’t waste time trying to decide what to do.

Visit the Home of Emperors

ajc — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 10:34:44 +0000

When in Vienna, one of the sights any history buff must see is the Schonbrunn Palace. It’s one of the top cultural locations in Austria, and it’s an incredible sight. The palace was actually built to be Austria’s answer to the French palace of Versailes, so you know it’s going to be massive and opulent. However, because the Austrian rulers lacked the funds that the French had, Schonbrunn isn’t quite as large as Versailes. That doesn’t mean it’s not impressive, though. Schonbrunn was the home of Emperor Franz Joseph, one of the most important historical figures. He was born at the palace in 1830 and lived most of his later life there. While the palace was privately owned for quite some time, it eventually became the property of the government in 1918. While the building was used for official business for some time, today, the palace and its gardens are mainly a tourist attraction and historical sight. You can take a tour of the palace and see amazing bedrooms, huge ballrooms, and more. In Empress Maria Theresia’s apartment, you’ll see the room in which Mozart, age six, played for the Empress and her ladies in waiting. While wandering amid the crystal chandeliers, paintings, and other artwork, you may want to pace yourself—Schonbrunn Palace has 1441 different rooms! Outside, you’ll find the Tirolian garden, an orchard and farm that surround Schonbrunn and its park. The palm house, a tropical greenhouse, features plants from rain forests from around the world, and it’s one of the few places in the world that you can see certain plants together. The Schonbrunn Palace can take up an entire day of sightseeing, so when you head out from your hotel in the morning, plan to spend the whole day at the palace exploring its many rooms and the surrounding gardens.

Passing the Time While Travelling

ajc — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 14:25:38 +0000

Travelling can be boring—you’re basically stuck in a chair for hours at a time. How can you pass the time? There are several different things you can do, but you’ll need to pack certain items to enjoy some of these pastimes. You can always sleep. Taking a nap while flying or travelling by bus, especially if you’re travelling early in the morning or late at night, is certainly a great way to pass the time. However, there are some issues to this. Some people find the seats on a plane or bus too uncomfortable, even when leaned all the way back. Others find the motion of the vehicle too disruptive, especially if an airplane hits turbulence. Another issue when trying to sleep is noise, and to combat that, some people take along a CD or MP3 player. While playing music loudly can irritate other passengers, keeping the noise level down so only you can hear it can help block out other noises. Most people listen to music while reading (another way to pass the time), sleeping, or just looking out the window. If you don’t want to talk to your neighbour or other passengers (some people don’t enjoy this), you can also put your headphones on as a way of saying that you don’t want to be disturbed. Many long flights feature movies as a way of passing the time. Some newer planes even feature small built-in televisions on the back of the seat in front of you, and you can select what movie you watch. Others have large televisions for everyone to watch. Flights also include two or three magazines you can read. Many people like to take other magazines or books to entertain themselves on long flights. Once your flight is in the air, you’re allowed to use electronic devices like laptops, portable DVD players, and hand-held video games. These are also great ways of passing the time, although again, be sure your volume is not loud enough to bother others. On long flights, your device may not have enough battery power to last the entire time, so have some other forms of entertainment prepared.

Visiting the Empire State Building

ajc — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 12:55:20 +0000

If you’re in New York, you may want to check out the Empire State Building, one of the tallest buildings in the world. It rises 1,453 feet into the air and features 102 floors. From the top, it’s possible to see over 70 miles of New York. The building is located at 350 5th Avenue, but you don’t need to book New York hotels near the Empire State Building to visit it—a number of subway lines have stops near the building. If you plan to visit the Empire State Building, there are a few things you should consider. First, there is the weather. Obviously, you’re going to want to visit the building on a clear day so you can see for miles around. Check the weather before you head to the building. Also, remember that the best views from the building are from the outdoor balcony. Be sure to dress warmly—it tends to be colder on top of the building than on the ground because there’s no protection from the winds. Likewise, it’s usually warmer in the summer. The Empire State Building offers an amazing view of the harbour, the Statue of Liberty, and more. During the day, you can see many different buildings and ships. However, if you visit the building during the night, you’ll be treated to a view of New York City all aglow with thousands of lights. Both views are amazing. In fact, you may want to visit the building near sunset so you can see both. Finally, you may actually want to avoid the Empire State Building on holidays. On the Fourth of July, for example, there are so many people who want to see the fireworks show from the top of the tower that unless you get there really early, you’ll find the building is sold out. Likewise, Valentine’s Day is the only day of the year that weddings are allowed at the top of the Empire State Building, and it tends to be booked.

Handling Jet Lag

ajc — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 12:50:58 +0000

If you go on a long flight, you’re likely to experience jet lag upon landing. Jet lag is caused by the fact that the world is divided into time zones. Travelling through those time zones throws off your body’s internal clock. If you travel from Europe to the United States, you may end up in a time zone that is eight hours behind your normal time. This means when its 3 am at home, it may be only 6 pm where you are. Dealing with jet lag can be difficult. After all, your body says it should be asleep at about the time you’re eating dinner. If you’re travelling the other way, you may need to be up for breakfast about the time you’re usually going to bed. To deal with this, try to arrange your trip so that you arrive about a day or so before you have to do anything. If that’s not possible (and it often isn’t, especially if you’re on a business trip and your company is making all of the arrangements), try to at least give yourself a few hours between the time you arrive at your hotel and the time you have to be somewhere. This will let you take a short nap or at least rest for a bit. Another way of dealing with jet lag is to change your sleep cycle the day before you leave. If you know it will be later in the evening when you arrive, try staying up later than you normally would the day before you travel. This way, you’ll arrive fairly tired so you should be able to sleep even if it’s usually afternoon your time. On the other hand, you can try sleeping later in the day before you leave so you’ll be fresh when you arrive. If none of those options are possible, you can always take some sleeping medication to help you sleep and drink a lot of coffee and other caffeinated beverages. While this obviously isn’t the healthiest way of dealing with jet lag, it may be the only option if you don’t have time to nap.

Travelling with your Computer

ajc — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 17:14:10 +0000

Nearly everyone uses a computer in their line of work or for pleasure, and many people who own laptop computers take them everywhere, even on holiday. While you may love the idea of checking your email and browsing the internet from your hotel, there are a few things you should remember when you take your laptop with you on holiday.

The first is that you should backup all of your data before you leave. This is a good idea for two reasons. First, you never know when a thief may strike. Second, your laptop could be damaged while travelling. Additionally, you need to write down all of the serial numbers on your laptop and your laptop accessories. Having these numbers makes it much easier to recover your laptop in the event that it is stolen.

Of course no one wants their property to be taken, and there are several things you can do to protect your laptop. First, even though your hotel room should be secure, if you leave, always put your laptop back in its bag and put that bag in the closet or in a drawer. Don’t leave your laptop out in plain sight.

If you’re taking your laptop out with you, use a shoulder strap with your bag and wear it over your neck so someone can’t just pull it off your shoulder and run off with it. Also, never leave your laptop unattended. If you’re using it in a restaurant or café and need to use the restroom, pack it up and take it with you. Don’t assume the café staff will watch it.

Travelling by Bus

ajc — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 15:43:14 +0000

Travelling by bus is different from travelling by plane and even by going by car or train. There are, in fact, some specific things you need to take into account when travelling by bus.

First, safety is of more concern when you’re travelling by bus. Unlike on a plane, people get on and off the bus between your starting point and your final destination. In fact, it’s possible you’ll get on and off the bus multiple times before your journey is done. Every time you get off the bus, take all of your carry-on luggage with you. Otherwise, you run the risk of someone taking your things. This is especially important if you have a laptop with you. Also, be certain to always have your bus ticket on hand. You may need to present it when you re-board the bus.

Keep in mind that others on the bus may be trying to sleep or otherwise relax, so you need to keep your noise to a minimum. This includes keeping your CD or MP3 player turned down so only you can hear it. Likewise, keep your mobile phone calls to a minimum or, when you must use the phone, don’t speak loudly.

You also need to plan your meals around bus stop breaks. Your ticket should list all of the stops the bus will make. You may want to have an early lunch or at least get a snack if you see that the bus won’t be stopping around lunch or dinner time. Be sure to pack a few snacks as well so you’ll have something to eat during long periods of travel.

Visiting Edinburgh Castle

ajc — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 15:09:08 +0000

One of the most famous and interesting sites to visit while in Edinburgh is Edinburgh Castle, the old stronghold that can be seen from just about anywhere in the city because of its location on Castle Rock. People have lived at the site since the 9th century BC, although most of the castle that currently stands only dates back to the 16th century. One of the oldest structures is St. Margaret’s Chapel, a building that has been dated to the 12th century.

While the castle has served as the political and military centre of Edinburgh over the years, today Edinburgh Castle is run by Historical Scotland, an agency under the Scottish government. The agency is tasked with both maintaining the site and operating it as a tourist attraction. While the castle is mostly maintained as it was when built, some changes have been made. The castle now includes shops, some displays, an educational section that details the history of the castle to school tours, and two restaurants. Actors in historical costumes are also positioned throughout the castle to explain the various rooms and provide interactive history lessons.

Edinburgh Castle is also home to the Edinburgh Military Tattoo, a musical parade featuring drums and pipes and performed with military precision. They perform during August of each year, and while originally all performers were Scottish, the group now often invites international performers to join them. Over 200,000 people attend the performance each year, plus it is broadcast on television, so you’ll want to a hotel in Edinburgh early to make sure you have somewhere to stay.

Staying Safe While Travelling Alone

ajc — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 14:35:27 +0000

Travelling by yourself can be a lot of fun—you can set your own schedule, do what you want to do, and make your own plans. However, travelling by yourself can also be somewhat dangerous, especially if you find yourself in any sort of trouble. When travelling alone, be certain you always know how to get back to your hotel when you go out. If you get lost in a strange city, you may find yourself wandering through a less than safe neighbourhood. If this does happen to you, try to stick to the streets that are well-lit and ask for help from shop assistants or other reputable-looking people. Keep an eye on your surroundings, too. Don’t walk with your head down, and watch for others. If you have a mobile phone, program in the number for your hotel so you can call them if you get lost. Likewise, you might ask the hotel staff for the number of a good taxi firms so you can call and get a ride in case you end up too far from your hotel. If you’re going out, watch your handbag or other bag. Never leave your personal items unattended. If you’re in a restaurant and need to use the restroom, be certain to always take your bags with you. It can be inconvenient, yes, but it’s better than coming back only to find that someone has walked away with your stuff. Don’t be afraid to go out and have a good time while travelling alone, but do be careful. Keep aware of your surroundings, know how to get back to your hotel, and don’t be afraid to ask for help if you need it. If you keep your safety in mind, you’ll be just fine.

Tips on Sleeping while Travelling

ajc — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 12:54:31 +0000

Travelling for a long distance can be tiring, especially if you’re on a long international flight or have a bus or train trip that’s going to take several days. However, it can be difficult to sleep while travelling. Some people simply can’t do it. If you have issues resting while in transit, here are some tips that might help you. Take along a CD player or MP3 player to block out the noise. One of the main reasons some people can’t sleep is because of others talking or the sound of the vehicle. Just remember to keep the volume down to a reasonable level so those around you don’t complain. The last thing you want is to disturb someone else while you’re trying to rest. If the motion of the vehicle bothers you or you have anxiety while flying, look into medication to help with your upset stomach or nerves. Don’t simply buy something over the counter, either - ask your doctor for a recommendation or even a prescription so you know that what you purchase will actually help you relax and rest during your trip. Reading a book or a magazine can help some people relax enough to sleep, as can working crossword puzzles or other brain teasers. The first several hours of your trip are likely to be exciting just because you’re finally off, but after that, expect some boredom to sit in. If you’re simply not tired, you’ll want something to entertain yourself with. If you do want to sleep, be sure to avoid any sort of stimulant - either decline the in-flight beverage or ask for something with no caffeine in it. Likewise, avoid snack foods that might keep you from sleeping.