1. "A lot of people making fraudulent claims on their travel insurance are first time fraudsters, and don't realise how serious it is to make a false claim," says Simon Cook, Head of Special Investigations at claims management and assistance company, CEGA. 2. "Making a false travel insurance claim can result in a criminal record, which would make it very difficult, for instance, to take out any sort of insurance policy in the future - and that includes car and household insurance," says Simon Cook. "In a worst case scenario, it could lead to a prison sentence." 3. Top of the list of fraudulent travel insurance claims? "It's common for someone who has suffered a genuine loss to add a few noughts to the value of that loss - a Sekonda watch might become a Rolex for instance," says Malcolm Tarling of the Association of British Insurers. "Exaggerated losses, false claims for lost baggage and fictitious medical treatment are among the most common fraudulent claims," adds Simon Cook. 4. "If a false travel insurance claim is submitted but withdrawn after having second thoughts, it can still lead to a prosecution for fraud," says Simon Cook. 5. "Insurers will check every detail of a dubious claim; from the authenticity of a doctor's bill handed out on the other side of the world, to the validity of a witness statement in a foreign language," says Simon Cook. "Cognitive interviewing techniques, investigation by overseas agents and medical assessments may all be used to assess the honesty of a suspicious claim." 6. "Fraudulent travel insurance claims put up the cost of everyone's insurance premiums," says Simon Cook. "In other words, innocent travellers foot the bill for fraudulent claims." Read full article

Headed overseas this season? It's easy to get hit with extra fees and expensive exchange rates when switching currencies when you travel.

Some currency exchange tables in airports and tourist areas offer bad rates, taking more of your money. And some credit cards and banks can add fees when you buy something with your card.

Your best bet is to bring a credit card that doesn't charge currency exchange fees and some cash for backup. Most purchases should be done on the credit card, said James Gambaccini, a certified financial planner at Acorn Financial Services. That's because credit cards offer fraud protection. If you lose cash, or it gets stolen, you won't get it back. Lost credit cards, or fraudulent charges, are easily replaced or fixed, said Gambaccini.

"Walking around with a money belt and a large amount of cash is not relevant anymore," he said.

Here are five tips to maximize your dollars:

1. Get an App - Before boarding the plane, download a currency-converting app on a smartphone you plan to use on vacation. You can open up the app to see if you're getting a good deal when exchanging money. With the app, you type in the amount you want to exchange and it will calculate a figure in the new currency. There are several free ones to choose from, including XE Currency and GlobeConvert.

2. Ask before you exchange - Be wary of currency exchange places that say they don't charge fees or advertise really good exchange rates. "Don't trust it," said Stan McGahey, an international tourism professor at Saint Leo University in Florida. Often, they will offer you a worse exchange rate to make up for the low fees or have caveats that they don't advertise. Instead of just handing them your money, ask how much you would get for the amount you want to exchange first, McGahey said. That way you will know exactly what you're getting.

And always do currency exchanges in the country you're visiting. You're likely to get a better rate than if you do the exchange at home, McGahey said.

3. Find the right card - Get a credit card that doesn't charge a foreign exchange fee. Some will charge a 2 percent to 3 percent fee for every purchase made with a foreign currency, said Matt Schulz, a senior analyst at credit card comparison site CreditCards.com. There are many that don't. You can find a list of them on websites such as CreditCardInsider.com, CreditCards.com or Bankrate.com.

Not sure if your card charges a fee? Call and ask.

If you don't have a fee-free card, it may be worth applying for one, said John Ganotis, founder of credit card comparison site CreditCardInsider.com. As long as you're not charging more than you can afford to pay, it could be a better deal than exchanging cash. Most credit cards designed for travelers let you earn benefits, such as miles or points to use for a future trip, Ganotis said.

Another benefit: credit cards often will offer exchange rates that are an average over the past month. That could be helpful if you are traveling to place where the currency is volatile, including some South American countries, Gambaccini said.

(Incidentally, you should call your credit card company before traveling to let it know where you are going. If the credit card company doesn't know you're traveling, it could think it is being used fraudulently and temporarily block your card from making charges.)

4. Say no to hotel exchanges - If a hotel or another business asks if you want them to convert the bill into American dollars for you, decline. The exchange rate can be bad, Gambaccini said. Instead, let the hotel bill you in the country's currency and let your credit card do the exchange.

5. Check out checking accounts - As with credit cards, make sure your bank doesn't charge foreign exchange fees if you plan to use a debit card. Some may charge a flat fee for using a foreign ATM on top of a percentage for currency exchanges. Checking accounts at online banks, such as Capital One 360 and Charles Schwab Bank, don't charge foreign transaction fees. Call your bank and ask if you're not sure if they charge fees. Personal finance website NerdWallet.com publishes a list of banks that don't charge fees. - AP

You arrive at that dream villa to find the owner's never heard of you - and you sent your cash to a chillingly plausible conman

For Chris and Annia Pegg, a two-week break in the South of France every summer is the perfect way to unwind. The couple and their two little girls take a scenic drive down through the French countryside before arriving at their rented gite.

'We choose locations with their own pool where the children can play and we can just get away from it all,' says Chris, 42, an IT manager from Tamworth, Staffs.

This January, the couple and their daughters, Jessica, nine, and Emily, seven, were more in need of a quiet break than ever.

'My father-in-law had been diagnosed with cancer, so it had been a rather stressful few months,' Chris explains.

Just after Christmas, Annia, 39, a teaching assistant, went onto the Owners Direct website to search for a property.

The family - like more than 500,000 Britons who booked their holiday through it last year - love the site for the sheer variety that it offers.

Owners Direct, which was launched in 1997, works like an online travel brochure. Thousands of properties are advertised on the site, from cheap, cheerful apartments to luxury houses costing several thousands a week.

Owners pay the site £219 a year to advertise their properties - and reach a much larger audience than if they had advertised privately in magazines and on the internet.

Holidaymakers browse through the properties to find one they like, then contact the owners 'direct' by clicking the 'Enquire Now' button.

During this process, the renters fill out an online form that asks for their email address. The villa owner then receives an email from Owners Direct to say someone wants to rent his property. He can access their details by clicking on the link and logging in to his Owners Direct account.

From then on, owner and renter deal directly to arrange contracts and payments.

Of course, there is always an element of caveat emptor - buyer beware - when buying anything online and this is no different. And now the website is at the centre of a scandal that's affected at least 12,000 property renters worldwide.

It is thought hackers may have stolen more than £25 million from holidaymakers - hundreds or even thousands believed to be British - in the past five years. And victims believe the police are doing little about it.

'We've used Owners Direct for years with no problem, so when Annia spotted a place in a pretty little town called Fiac, she emailed the property owner via the website,' says Chris.

'A man called Hamish responded and, after we'd corresponded over email, we agreed to rent out the property in the first week of August.

Hamish, emailing from a Hotmail account, asked if we could send the money to his online Barclays bank account.

'I thought it a little odd to ask for all the money at once but because we didn't want to lose it, we paid £1,650 into Hamish's bank account and that was that.'

But the Peggs' money had not been deposited into the property owner's account at all. Yes, the property owner was called Hamish. But retired solicitor Hamish Porter had no idea the family were keen to rent his holiday home, let alone that he had allegedly been 'paid' for the privilege.

Hackers had intercepted the Peggs' messages. It is believed they do this by sending owners like Hamish a fake enquiry from a potential renter - which looks just like a genuine Owners Direct enquiry.

When the owner clicks on the link, it takes him not to the genuine Owners Direct page, but to a fraudulent duplicate webpage created by the hacker.

Memorable meals can make a trip, but locating a good restaurant in an unfamiliar place can be tricky -- especially when hunger has already set in. To find the best tastes in a new town, follow these tips to know whom to ask and where to look. Bon appétit!

1. Plan ahead and book a culinary walking tour: Consider booking a culinary walking tour, becoming more popular in cities worldwide, for an early part of the trip. This is a great way to sample many dishes, get a lay of the land and then decide what places you'd want to come back to or what kind of regional foods you'd want to have again. Better yet, you'll get to know your guide along the way, and you'll be able to pick his or her brain for even more tailored recommendations. A popular stop in the Bay Area is guided excursions to Berkeley's Gourmet Ghetto, my hometown of Chicago has several pizza tours (pace yourselves!), and in Europe organized outings range from sampling the snails of France to seafood and olives in Greece. For people traveling in countries in which they don't speak or read the language, this can be a good introduction to menus -- plus proper mealtime etiquette in that locale.

2. Read local publications and posts from local food bloggers: Add some fun research to your trip planning by reading up before you go. A treasure trove of posts from local food bloggers and reporters is a quick Google search away, and the writers' bread and butter is finding the hot spots and spilling secrets on the hidden gems. It's easy to save all the addresses to a Google Map or print one out and highlight the intersections worth visiting. Some regional magazines or newspapers even have yearly dining lists that take a lot of the guesswork out of a visit.

3. Ask real people: Getting recommendations from the hotel concierge can be a decent fallback plan, but some of the best restaurant picks we've gotten are from other people we've meet along the way in our travels. Cab drivers can be a wealth of knowledge of all-night eats, and employees at popular tourist spots could have a scoop on what's good nearby for lunch (without the long lines or the high costs). And asking people you meet can be a good icebreaker for even more tips and suggestions for your visit. Before you go, you can post on Facebook and Twitter to see if anyone in your circle has must-visit spots to share as well.

4. Download essential apps: Before you get on the plane or hop in the car, make sure you've downloaded the Travelzoo app for dinner and drink deals on the go at our favorite spots. In addition, utilize user-generated-content apps like Yelp and TripAdvisor to dig deeper for specific information: when's the best time to get a table? What's the one appetizer everyone raves about? Do they take reservations (for later in the trip)? Foursquare is another app worth downloading, with tips from the people who frequent these places most.

5. Search out regional options: Deal Expert Sara Kriegel, based in London, seeks out restaurants that solely serve regional cuisine in her travels. Her reasoning: it's important to try the food of the area, not just things she could get at home in England. Also, sticking to the basics and picking a place using the foods indigenous to the area is a safe bet. If you're in Shanghai and there's one pizza place that's busy on a block full of traditional restaurants, it could only be popular because it's a novelty.

6. Avoid eating near the biggest tourist attractions in town: Restaurants near the biggest tourist attractions may rely more on location than on good, interesting cuisine. Deal Expert Kelsey Rexroat gives this advice, "Usually places in neighborhoods are a better bet than the main tourist drags. If they're harassing you to come inside or have flyers everywhere, it's likely too touristy to be good."

7. Look for lines of locals: If people are willing to wait to dine at a certain eatery, that says a lot. We're not advocating wasting precious vacation time waiting long times to be seated for every meal, but once you find a spot that looks hot, do your research to find a better time to come back, or even better, see if they take a reservation.

8. Got kids in tow? Take this tip from Deal Expert Angela Shannon: "I walk in and ask if they have a table for us, and if it's available now. If the host looks perturbed or unsure or put off by my kids, clearly it's not a place for us; or if it looks too stuffy or filled with only couples or adults, I know it would ruin the night for the other guests and I go elsewhere. Dead giveaway to me is looking for strollers out front. Clearly we'll be welcome at a restaurant like that."

For more full service and providing excellent "white glove" service, just visit The Avanti Group Inc. site. In our company, you will notice the personal touch behind meticulous planning.

There are many expenses to be met when you first arrive in your expat home. Relocation expert David Hollins offers 10 tips for keeping them in check

Buy second-hand

If you're moving to a city with a large and well organised expatriate community, for example Tokyo, Jakarta or Sao Paulo, you can often find furniture and appliances through expatriate focused websites. These online communities will have sales when other expatriate families are moving and want to leave behind fairly new items and are a great way of kitting out your home for a fraction of the price.

Check out 'the next big thing'

In most big cities there are the popular, trendy neighbourhoods and those that are tipped to be the 'next big thing'. For a better deal, consider moving into an up-and-coming neighbourhood. These areas tend to change for the better quickly - it's great to be part of that transition and to say you were there before it was on top.

Keep accommodation costs down

If you're travelling alone or as a couple, consider sharing a flat or house with other professionals. Your room cost will be significantly lower than renting a whole place, and it only has to be for the short-term while you save. For families, short-term rental agreements are a good way to downsize while hunting for a permanent home. Rental properties that come furnished are another good way of cutting costs, since you won't need to ship as much over.

Establish the best season

If you have flexibility, look into the peak seasons for moving to your new location and find a time when it is considered a better seasonal market for finding housing, for example the end of the school year. This will help ensure you get more for your money.

Pick the right moving day

Some moving companies may charge more to unload your belongings into your new home on a weekend than a weekday. Be sure to ask if rates vary depending on the day.

Consider your social life

You may think that living outside the city centre will save you money on accommodation, but keep in mind where you plan to socialise. You may spend more on taxis home after an evening out with friends in the city, which can soon add up if you're on a budget.

Find the freebies

When arriving at your new destination one of the first things you'll want to do is explore, but scoping out the area doesn't have to mean paying for expensive tour guides and activities. There'll be plenty of things to see and do without breaking the bank such as hiring a bike and taking yourself on your own tour, trialing the local gym or exercise class for free or visiting the local museum and learning about the history of your new home. Forums are also a great way of getting tips from other expats nearby, plus they'll often arrange meet-ups.

Understand taxes

Moving to a new country while you have financial ties to another can be a tax headache and costly if you end up paying tax twice by mistake. Talk to your bank before you leave to advise them of your plans and get expert financial advice. This way you'll be able to know exactly what the tax requirements are and how they affect you - saving money in the long-run.

Cut down your bills

Say goodbye to expensive phone and TV bills when you move abroad. There are many ways you can keep in touch and up-to-date with all the latest TV shows without adding to your monthly outgoings. Skype, free messenger apps and social media are all great ways of speaking to your loved ones without spending a penny. You needn't sign up to costly TV packages either because thanks to the likes of BBC and ITV iPlayer you can keep up-to-speed on your favourite dramas and chat shows.

Do your research

The more you get to know your new city, the more efficient you'll become at managing everyday expenses. It's typical to spend more during your first year in a new location because you'll go to the closest supermarket. If you make an effort, you can find the little known or less expensive options like a local market or Chinatown. Read more about Travelling Tokyo

The end of school marks the start of the summer travel season. With the cost of travel rising, consumers are susceptible to vacation travel fraud. The Better Business Bureau is warning vacationers to beware of travel clubs. Complaints to the BBB show that many travel clubs promise huge discounts on hotels, airfare and cruises, but fail to deliver these discounts to members despite the high cost of joining. "Consumers are looking for vacation bargains," said BBB President Tom Bartholomy. "Unfortunately, they are being seduced by slick presentations from high-pressure sales people who promise great deals that do not exist."

And to celebrate we are offering a Leader reader the chance to win a trip for two to New Zealand including return flights and five nights in Wellington plus $2000 spending money. The lucky winner will also get a private guided tour of the National War Memorial, Wellington, plus a digital camera to record the experience. Australia will commemorate 100 years since WWI between 2014 and 2018. Michael Zsolt, Manager Philatelic, Australia Post, said the organization helped deliver letters between WWI soldiers and home, and was intrinsically linked to the Anzacs, a connection which it hopes to honor through this commemorative stamp issue. "During the next five years of commemoration we hope to join all Australians in honouring the contribution made by our Anzacs and hope that these stamps serve as a symbol of our appreciation to those who made the ultimate sacrifice," Mr Zsolt said. Each of the five stamp issues has been developed in conjunction with the Australian War Memorial to encompass key events, battles and individuals relevant to each year of the centenary. The WWI Centenary stamp issue comprises a mini sheet, stamp pack, first day cover, maxi cards, medallion cover, booklet of 10 x 70c self-adhesive stamps and two postal and numismatic covers. The stamps and associated products are available now from Australia Post retail outlets, via mail order on 1800 331 794 or online at auspost.com.au/stamps.

The Watchdog is still in vacation mode. I just got back from a family trip to Florida. We had a blast. This is the time of year when your mind may be on vacations, too. If you're looking ahead to a lazy summer trip, don't relax too much because unfortunately, scammers will hound you while you plan and even follow you on the road, too. The state attorney general's office recently warned about travel scams, a few of which were news to me. One involves pizza deliveries, of all things. Who hasn't had a craving for pizza after checking into a hotel in an unfamiliar city where you don't want to hunt for a decent place to chow down. You pick up the menu that's conveniently been slipped under your door and order away. The scam is that the menus have a phone number that connect with an identity thief, not a pizza parlor. You won't get your large pie, and the thief will live large by running up charges on the credit card you provided for payment. The attorney general's office recommends contacting the hotel's front desk or concierge for take-out suggestions. You also can look on your smartphone or in the phone book. Speaking of phones, if your hotel room phone rings in the middle of the night and the caller identifies himself as the front desk needing to verify your credit card, hang up.

Always the perfect gift! Send someone special a travel gift certificate. Our certificates look beautiful and can be personalized with a note from you. Perfect for any occasion, here are a few of our ideas: - Birthdays - Weddings & Showers - Anniversaries - Graduations - Employee Appreciation - Thank You Gifts - Valentine's - Holidays - Teacher, Coach Appreciation Gift giving couldn't be easier. Our certificates can be purchased in amounts of $30 or more and are valid for one year from date of issue. Any unspent monies will be refunded less a service fee of 15%. For more information or to purchase your gift certificate, please email info@avantitraveladvisors.com.

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There's no question that business travel can help your company take off. But unless you take care with your credit cards while on the road, your identity could go off on its own trip. In fact, there was a new victim of identity fraud every two seconds last year, according to the 2014 Identity Fraud Report by Javelin Strategy & Research, and one in three consumers who received notice of a data breach became a victim of fraud.

One need only look at recent news reports for proof, from the massive Target hacking to one that hit a little closer for traveling 'treps, the breach at hotel operator White Lodging (which manages 168 properties for brands such as Marriott).

But there's no need to cancel that next trip. Follow this home-and-away plan to keep your identity with you, where it belongs.

Before you leave:
Keep in touch with your credit card companies. "We look for any changes in spending patterns," says Brent Reinhard, general manager of Ink from Chase. So add this to your pre-travel to-do list: Call your issuers and let them know when you'll be gone and where you're going. If you do get fraud-related inquiries from your issuer, respond promptly--either to say "no, not me" so they can shut the card down or to let them know that all those charges you racked up while wooing clients are, unfortunately, yours.

But be warned: If you receive a call from your card issuer, listen closely to make sure you're not speaking to a hacker. Phishing scams are prevalent right now. If someone asks for personal information, be suspicious. "If we call to ask you about a transaction, we don't ask for your account number or for personal information," Reinhard says.

Putting the Joy Back Into Vacation Planning

When you need some advice, let us design a wonderful tailored itinerary for you. Avanti will work fully within your budget and interests. With each consultation, you will receive by email a proposed itinerary that will include the following:

* Hotel choices for each destination
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* A recommended list of restaurants, things-to-see, shopping, cultural information, etc.
* Custom Web-Page - the custom web-page is a great tool we use to present our proposed itinerary for highly tailored trips when an email simply won't do. We will include a comprehensive package of photos, information, recommended must-do lists, and descriptions--putting all the facts at your fingertips and in one place with 24/7 access from anywhere in the world.
* The fee for this consultation service is $250. If you book your travel with Avanti, then this fee will be credited back to the cost of your trip.

The most travel for the best value and least dollars.

Avanti can significantly improve your bottom line by enhancing your corporate travel program. We will do this by not only aggressively seeking the greatest cost savings but also by managing your business travel. From the professionalism of our travel counselors who take your reservations to our white-glove service, Avanti will help your company build a successful travel management program.

Avanti offers a complete range of travel services that can save your company valuable time, money, and resources:

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Avanti also provides travel services of Added-Value:

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ABOUT US

Bob Marotta, President
ram@avantitraveladvisors.com

Bob has been involved in the travel industry for over 35 years and has traveled to every corner of the world. In the 1970's, he purchased a lone, small travel agency and developed it into one of Jacksonville's leading individual and corporate travel businesses. Since selling the agencies, Bob has continued his love of travel specializing in tailoring exclusive group travel programs and selective individual travel. He has invaluable depth in his travel industry knowledge and contacts. As President of Avanti Travel, Bob is responsible for the operational management of the company including staff management and financial reporting. Bob spent his non-travel career in senior management of major international insurance companies.

Patti O'Brien, Managing Director
pobrien@avantigroupinc.com

Patti grew up working summers and school vacations in her family's travel agencies. She spent almost 15 years living in England and has traveled extensively around Europe and other areas of the world. With the explosive growth of our sports travel division, Patti is primarily responsible for the overall strategic direction of this niche sports business sector. Through her direct interactions and highly regarded expertise with hotels, teams and tournament organizations, she leverages her experience to help athletic events and tournaments move positively towards their objectives and maximize their event profitability. Patti is a graduate of The Wharton School of Business (University of Pennsylvania) and Oxford University (England) and was an investment banker specialising in tax-driven oil & gas finance.

Angela Grieco, Senior Travel Consultant
agrieco@avantigroupinc.com

Angela has been traveling the world for over twenty years: England, Scotland, Spain, Portugal, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Belgium, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Romania, Turkey, Russia, Ukraine, Morocco Tunisia, Egypt, Kenya, Seychelles Islands, Japan, China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Korea, Cambodia, Burma, Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, Tibet, Australia, New Zealand, Tahiti, Fiji, Antarctica, Chili, Argentina, Hawaii, Bali, Mexico, Eastern & Western Caribbean Islands, Canada, and parts of the US. She has traveled extensively in Italy and France. Angela has also sailed approximately 30 cruises: Radisson, Silver Sea, Costa, Royal Caribbean, Windstar, Clipper Line, Oceania and their predecessor Renaissance.

From free performances to affordable Japanese cuisine, Karina Lim has it all covered

ISN'T Tokyo expensive? That's always the first question each time the topic of visiting the Land Of The Rising Sun is brought up. My answer is "it used to be".

The Japanese yen dropped significantly against the ringgit last year, making Japan a lot more attractive to the traveller on an average budget.

My friend and I spent time working out a good itinerary to achieve more with the yen. In the end, I spent RM4, 000 for an 8D/7N Tokyo trip, including return flight tickets, lodgings, ground transport and meals.

Tokyo is not only a vibrant, hospitable city but its also affordable.

GRUB, CHOW, FOOD!

The number of restaurants in Tokyo is mind-boggling - about 160,000! We chose wisely through research and recommendations from friends who had lived in or travelled to Tokyo.

Sushi: Our first taste of a sushi breakfast was at the original Sushi-Zanmai in Tsukiji Market. We were almost crushed by the busy morning crowd before we joined the queue to get into the packed double-storey restaurant. Though not the best, the sushi sets were fresh and reasonably cheap. Said to be one of Tokyo's best sushi restaurants, Sushi-Zanmai gained popularity when its boss, Kiyoshi Kimura, made a record bid of Y155.4 million (RM4.97 million) for a 222kg blue fin tuna at the market auction last year.

Soba noodles: While in Japan, do as the Japanese do - eat soba noodles on New Year's Eve. We chose one restaurant in a train station. The noodles were quite a different experience from those in Malaysia. Called yamaimo soba, the noodles came with a separate serving of ground yamaimo root with raw egg and rice. The root was a yam variety that tasted like gooey potato.

Set meals: The Ootoya chain of restaurants serves freshly cooked teishoku (set meals) at affordable prices. The calorie count is stated on each set. We spotted a branch in Shinjuku while shopping. I had a teriyaki chicken salad with miso soup and brown rice, which left me feeling healthy and more than satisfied.

Traditional Japanese dinner: The Japanese-style inn we stayed at in Hakone National Park served a delectable traditional Japanese multi-course dinner (kaiseki ryori) with a multitude of courses in bite-sized portions. It was a well-balanced meal prepared with fish, meat and vegetables that were steamed, boiled, fried and grilled. It was a perfectly satisfying meal before we headed for the Japanese hot springs (onsen).

HOT SPRINGS

Sitting in natural hot springs is an old Japanese tradition of public bathing. There's a set of procedures to follow and manners to abide by - most which almost put me off my first onsen experience.

The hardest was taking off my clothes to join similarly unclothed strangers in the spa pool. However, it got easier as I took each step and by the time I slipped into the pool, I thoroughly enjoyed the experience. The waters at the hot spring were from a volcanic source at Owakudani and contained chloride and sulphate.

We stayed at Fujimein in Hakone National Park. Fujimein is a popular resort town about an hour's train ride from Tokyo.

Though it was the peak New Year season, the hotel offered a package of a night stay, a traditional multi-course dinner and the use of its hot springs spa at Y10,450. The pool in the spa faced the beautiful Mount Fuji and I had a spectacular view.

My room also faced the mountain and it was a double delight to see the mountain in both the most relaxing and intimate spots in the hotel.

CULTURE VULTURE

City culture vultures will feel at home in Tokyo. There is a long list of world-class museums and charming shrines and temples. But a visit to Tokyo won't be complete without a visit to Meiji Shrine in Shibuya.

Since it was the New Year holidays, a visit to a shrine or hatsumode was timely. We shuffled along with the crowd towards the main prayer hall and spotted a few women dressed in traditional kimono, as was customary during hatsumode.

Despite the crowd, the shrine was enveloped in an atmosphere of serenity and respect.

The New Year celebration also meant a host of free events and activities such as an exhibition at Edo Tokyo Museum, a museum of the history of Tokyo located at Sumida.

We took 11/2 hours to view the exhibits of the Edo period. Elaborate architectural displays of old Tokyo and models of shoguns, merchants and craftsmen were carefully arranged into lifelike scenes.

On the first floor of the museum, we found a colourful kabuki theatre and got caught up in a lively demonstration on various wooden mechanical dolls.

A series of free cultural performances was held at Tokyo National Museum in Taito. We caught a show put on by skilled drummers. A Japanese lion dance started later in the afternoon, followed by a master paper cutter who created pictures in a matter of minutes in front of a crowd.

Tips



Transport costs on the metro vary, depending on your route. Plan your route at www.hyperdia.com to determine whether individual tickets or a day pass is more cost-effective.

For those who can't live without being connected, rent a mobile WiFi router rental. A router is handy as free WiFi is not widely available.

Grab Time Out Tokyo as the magazine features a comprehensive listing of weekly events.