The Corliss Group travel review: Tips for travelling with children

Traveling with your kids to different and new places provides them with best experiences where they can grow as individuals. This could also give your children lasting memories with you that they can cherish as they get older.

The Corliss Group Online offers the following tips for your next family trip with your children.

Let your kids engage in the planning process

We all know that kids will be very excited and interested in a trip when you get them involved in the planning process. Ask them for one or two activities they want to do and have some realistic options ready from which they can choose. Search the internet or jot down recommendations from family and friends to find best kid-friendly destinations. If you have older children, they can help you with the details of planning, like booking tickets, checking out the flight schedules of your destination, and helping you decide on what activities you will perform on a specific day. Ready your kids for the trip by involving them in the planning process and explaining to them the details of the trip, so they will have ideas on what will happen.

In addition, take the opportunity of the trip to teach your kids different skills such as budgeting, how to stay healthy when away from home, and how to account for travel time. But this depends on the kid's age and understanding.

If you are planning to travel during the school year, you may also need to work with your children's teachers to determine how your kids can stay updated on their schoolwork. Their teachers might give a special project about the trip and your kids need to present them in class when they return.

During the trip, if one of your kids still needs a nap, while the others, especially the older kids, already wants to engage in various activities, take turns watching them with your partner. One of you can stay with the napping child and the other can take the older kids for an activity they picked. This will give you the chance to spend individual time with each of your kids.

Get ready for the trip

When you are preparing to travel with your children, consider to pack snacks and a variety of entertainment to keep them occupied during the road trip and when you need some time to rest.

Moreover, take some time to do several researches about the culture and the history of the places you'll visit beforehand, and inform them to your kids. The Corliss Group Online suggests that you should make your children read books that are related to your desired destination.

You should bring supplies like wipes or sprays to keep the skin moisturized and to help you and your family stay refreshed.

If your children helped with the planning process, focus in on what they recommended and teach them more about the place or activities they can experience throughout the trip.

Keep your children involved once you get there

Keep your children engaged during your journey to have a memorable and fun experience them. You can make them tell you three things that were different between your destination and your hometown. This can actually make them look outside and involve them in a way that will made them seriously think about their life at home as compared to where you are visiting.

Buy your child a journal and make them draw or write about what they are feeling, hearing, or seeing. You could also give a camera to your older son or daughter to take photos for documentation purposes.

Keeping your kids involved can be challenging when they are hungry, tired, or stressed. Be attentive to what your child needs and learn to immediately provide it to them like food or water. But if they are acting out differently for no reason at all, be prepared to discipline them using similar consequences as what you had use at home.

Remember the value of the trip for your children

In the end of your trip, you are giving your children a remarkable life experience even though traveling with them can be exhausting and costly. You are giving them the opportunity to develop concern for other people by teaching them about other civilizations and their ways of living. They can use these experiences and knowledge in the future.

Children learn a lot from the world around them and you can give a memorable educational experience by showing them to life beyond their own backyard.

Urgent advice is being sent out to international tourists planning to travel to Italy. This advice is also valid for Italians moving around the country during the peak holiday season during the month in August.

"Be aware! Make a Difference" is the campaign that was launched at a press conference held by Italian State Railways (FS) and Polfer, the Italian railways police organization. The purpose of this alarming advice is alert naïve travelers to the danger of being cheated at any given opportunity in mass transit areas at major railway stations and on trains.

Brochures in eight languages (Italian, English, French, German, Russian, Spanish, Chinese, and Japanese) with effective graphics that are easy to understand have been produced as well as specific posters located in the more important railway stations and on trains. These will provide passengers with essential tips on how to prevent unpleasant incidents while moving around the country by rail.

Stickers bearing messages will be distributed and cartoons showing tactics thieves use will be shown on monitors in the main railway stations; the stickers will appear on self-service ticket vendor machines, on Frecciarossa trains (the fast and usually nonstop trains of FS), at ticket offices, and in Freccia Clubs (the special areas for Feccia Club card holders). The alert signs will be published in the free monthly corporate press magazine "La Freccia" through augmented reality technology on Smartphones. Passengers can avoid being the victims of theft and fraud by taking the precautions indicated in the above materials.

Over the first 7 months of the current year, 1,437 thefts occurred in railway stations, 2,045 on trains. 182 FS employees were assaulted while carrying out inspections and safeguarding passengers. An overall number of 795 people were arrested by police authorities, and 7,425 reported to judicial authorities.

"Through the 'Be aware! Make a Difference' initiative," explained Franco Fiumara, General Director of Gruppo FS Italiane Corporate Security, "We aim to provide our customers [with] information illustrating how ill-intentioned individuals act in order to take advantage of travelers' absent-mindedness. Security and personal safety when travelling by train and in stations begin with small but significant precautions. We intend to raise the awareness of travelers to ensure they pay more conscious attention to individuals trying to approach them using tricks of the trade and, therefore, take more care of their belonging[s]. These precautions and the intense work carried out by Gruppo FS Italiane Corporate Security staff and Railway police officers [should] ensure customers a more tranquil, serene, and safer journey."

"Through this campaign," affirmed Claudio Caroselli, Director of the Railway Police Department, "We want to raise the awareness of travelers, especially those from countries other than Italy who often trust the very individuals wishing to take advantage of such trust, at times pretending to be porters, ticket office or information office staff, and end up scamming or stealing from them. Making railway passengers more aware can lead to effective cooperation and, therefore, ensure that the prevention and repression measures taken every day by Railway police are more effective."

ADDITIONAL ADVICE:

- Be aware of typical pickpocket-working environments (railway halls and lobbies, ticket offices, self-service areas, train arrival/departure platforms). Thieves often prefer crowded conditions.

- Be aware of your surroundings while using the self-ticketing dispensers. Prepare your purchase money beforehand, away from prying eyes.

- Beware of beggars. It could be a distraction tactic while an accomplice organizes the stealing of luggage.

- Always keep a watchful eye on your luggage while in your seat and on board a train.

- Pay very close attention to your valuables, even when kept inside a jacket pocket hanging at your side when sitting on a train.

- Do not leave any valuable items unattended on the table in front of your seat while stowing your luggage. No ticket? No departure! It is mandatory to travel with a valid ticket. Purchase a train ticket to honor your travel, not simply because of potential control.

- Do not acquire services from individuals not in possession of a valid license. Never entrust your luggage to strangers.

- Do not purchase food items from illegal vendors. Such items could endanger your health.

It's no fun getting scammed on vacation. Here's how to reduce your risk.

Remove everything from your wallet that you won't need on your travels. Only take the ID, credit cards and debit cards you'll need.

The fraud fighters at the Federal Trade Commission advise leaving your Social Security card at home. If you have a Medicare card, make a copy and carry that and blot out all but the last four digits on it.

When you're on the go, you'll probably use public Wi-Fi. That can be risky.

"It may be free, but it may not be secure," warns Adam Levin, chairman of IDentity Theft 911. "You run the risk that something is sitting somewhere near you and intercepting what you're sending."

It's important to make sure you're on the authorized network before you connect. Scammers love to bait their victims with free connections.

"Hackers and thieves will set up hot-spots to look exactly like the one you think you're at, but they'll be spelled slightly differently or they'll be an additional word in the name," Levin explained.

By the way, if you travel with a laptop, keep a close eye on it. That's especially important as you make your way through airport security.

For more update, just follow us on Twitter.

Booking a hotel seems pretty straightforward, right? And most times it is: Pick a destination, choose your dates, enter payment info and voila, happy travels!

However, there are some big blunders you could be making when it comes to hotel reservations. From booking on the wrong sites to forgetting to check some vital information, these mistakes could easily make or break your trip. Read on to find out what you must avoid when booking that hotel room.

Always expecting the best room

I was recently chatting with a front-desk agent about how her hotel chain distributes rooms at check-in. Curious, I asked what method her staff uses to determine who gets the best-located rooms. She revealed this surprising tidbit: Those who book through the hotel website or are hotel loyalty members usually get first dibs on room assignments, with the better views and quieter locations. Travelers who book through online travel agencies (OTAs), like Priceline, often receive "run of the house" rooms (what she called "ice-machine rooms," or basically whatever is left). The agent couldn't tell me just how many hotel chains do this, but she said it was a "fairly common practice" and that it sweetens the deal for travelers who book at regular rates.

Using incorrect arrival and departure dates

Of this travel sin, I am guilty as charged. On an overseas trip several years ago, I noted that my flight left on May 14th, so I booked my destination hotel starting the night of May 14th. Rookie mistake. I completely neglected to check that my flight was a red-eye that landed early in the morning of the 15th. This means I paid for an expensive (and nonrefundable) room that I didn't need.

Not using a credit card

When booking a hotel, credit cards are king. Not only do credit cards offer rewards like airline miles, free night stays or cash-back bonuses, but they also offer certain guarantees that debit cards and cash do not (such as fraud protection or immediate refunds for mischarges).

Making reservations for the wrong hotel

Travelers, beware: A misleading hotel name or location description could lead you to book an airport hotel when you think you're getting centrally located accommodations. You would be surprised how often travelers see the name of the hotel and reserve it quickly without checking to see if it's located in the right place. After all, some hotels may call themselves "located near the heart of downtown," but a quick search could reveal that it's located at the airport … two hours away.

Not accounting for taxes and resort fees

Back in March, contributing editor Ed Perkins reported one of the most outrageous resort fees we'd seen yet. At a hotel in Colorado, the decent $170 room rate was artificially inflated with a $35 cleaning fee, a $40 resort fee, a $10 pool-and-spa fee, and a $5.10 processing fee. Ouch.

Not checking reviews

If you've ever taken a spin on Oyster's Photo Fakeout feature, you know that hotels go to great lengths to make their properties seem perfect. But upon arrival, that infinity pool could really be the size of a postage stamp, and those sumptuous linens could feel like sandpaper. Take anything a hotel says about itself with a grain of salt (or sand).

Booking at the wrong time

As most procrastinators will readily admit, waiting until the last minute to make travel plans can have dire consequences for your credit card balance. Hotel rates can soar in the days leading up to a particular date, and you could be left without a room if everything books up (or if nothing left is within your budget). On the other hand, being an advanced planner can have its own disadvantages: Sure, you may want to have all of your travel ducks in a row as soon as possible, but it can actually cost you money to book your hotel room too early.

Not comparing prices

Saw a hotel you loved advertised at a "great price!" and immediately plunked down a credit card number and booked? Wrong: Without doing proper research, you could be missing out on big savings.

Booking nonrefundable rates

Every wondered why nonrefundable rates are cheaper than the regular rack rates, even if the room is the same? It's because the hotelier benefits from the lower price, too. Locking you in at that low rate guarantees she or he won't have an empty room, which would cost the hotelier money. Of course, trying to pinch a few pennies will end up costing you if you need to cancel.

READ THE ORIGINAL ARTICLE: 10 hotel booking mistakes you don't know you're making

BARCELONA may have the glamour as far as Spanish cities go but there's more to Madrid than meets the eye, discovers WILL METCALFE

THERE is an expectation among many that a capital city will be the most invigorating, most exciting part of a country with the biggest, brashest attractions - but that is not always the case.

For London, Paris, Berlin and Amsterdam this could be said to ring true but in Spain all eyes are on Catalonia, leaving the capital Madrid, in the heart of the desert, often overlooked.

That's a shame, because with its gentle hills and meandering streets it makes a great location for a chilled break.

Best known for its football teams, Madrid is as much a city of food and drink as it is sport.

Visually it is a stunning city, the Gran Via - the cities main artery - is lined with multi-story architecture that points to a different Europe.

Where it's southern European counterparts are packed with hustlers and tourist traps there is something about Madrid, stranded in the middle of the Spanish peninsula, that remains hassle free.

Even in its busiest squares, and in the packed shopping streets, you can wander worry free.

In terms of sights, sport vies with culture for centre stage.

North of the city sits the stunning Bernabeu - home to Real Madrid, the most successful football team in European club history - while their rivals and Spanish league champions Athletico Madrid play across the city at the Vicente Calderon with a somewhat more chequered history.

Taste of Travel: 5 weekend escapes

1 - Kennebunkport, Maine

Aside from President George H.W. Bush leaping from the sky in celebration of his 90th birthday, Kennebunkport is a fun summer destination filled with picturesque outdoor activities and endless people-watching opportunities. Whether you opt to sit on a bench in the downtown area and absorb the views that include quaint inns, shops and the river, or participate in kayaking, a whale-watch or sunset cruise, you'll be able to unwind and enjoy the scenery in the process.

STAY: The newest inn on the block is The Boathouse, located right on the river for the best views. Relax on your balcony, open a bottle of wine and watch the boating action before heading out to join in the fun.

EAT: At The Boathouse for oysters and fried clams. Wash it down with a few specialty cocktails.

For breakfast, it's best to head out for a walk to Mornings in Paris, where you'll get an authentic French experience; the staff and many of the customers practice the language of love.

DO: Kayak along the river, and spend some time strolling along the shops downtown.

2 - Tybee Island, Georgia

Also referred to as "Savannah Beach," Tybee Island is a quintessential beach town offering constant ocean breezes and a salty ocean aroma to lure Savants from their steamy streets in summertime. A mere 18 miles away from Savannah, the best days on this easily accessible barrier island are spent doing nothing but rocking on a porch swing, looking out at the ocean and sipping on a cool white wine while enjoying the company of new acquaintances. Be lazy, be cool. Enjoy a swim with the dolphins or a kayak along the river to view the wildlife that may include some alligators.

STAY: At Surf Song B&B (tybeesurfsong.com) and breathe in the intoxicating scent of jasmine blooming everywhere. Breakfast and home-baked kitchen snacks are a highlight during a stay, as is a float in the refreshing pool. The rooms and interior design throughout this restored home are worth the stay alone, but it's the service that will keep you coming back.

EAT: A contemporary version of a low-country spicy shrimp and grits dish at Sundae Café (SundaeCafe.com), where the locals flock and reservations are mandatory. And try the seafood pie appetizer.

A.J.'s Dockside (ajsdocksidetybee.com) is where you can enjoy one of the best fried oyster Caesar salads you'll ever have on a waterside deck.

DO: Swim in the ocean, where there's a good chance you'll swim with dolphins.

Climb the 178 steps inside the Tybee Island Lighthouse Station, which is the second-oldest lighthouse in America. The view from the top is of the Atlantic Ocean and the mouth of the Savannah River. On a crystal clear blue-sky kind of day, the view is nothing short of amazing. Continue reading…

Waldorf Hilton London. Saturday Extra travel
The Corliss Group review - The trick with London is to spend as little as possible on the journey so that you can splash out a bit more on accommodation.

An open return in standard class from Manchester Piccadilly to London is now an eye-watering £321. But book ahead for a Friday afternoon trip, returning home the following evening, and the price plummets to £54.50.

Travel with a loved one and you can bring this down to £36 per head if you invest in the new Two Together railcard.

On arrival make your way by bus - more on this later - down to Theatreland and envelop yourselves in the delights of the sumptuous Waldorf Hilton hotel.

This, as they say, is a bit posh. It dates back to 1908 and retains all its Edwardian grandeur while incorporating the comforts of today.

Our recently refurbished room referred to another era, the art deco style of the 20s, complete with black and white photos from the first golden age of Hollywood.

The hotel is in Aldwych and if your aim is to take in a show then this is the perfect base with Drury Lane and Shaftesbury Avenue close by.

But the theme for our trip was fine art and fine beer.

Take a short stroll down to the bank of the Thames then along to the Millennium Bridge and over to Tate Modern where the magnificent Matisse - The Cut-Outs is running until September 7.

This is a fantastic insight into his delicate later works when Matisse, too ill to paint, found a way to create stunning works of art with coloured paper and scissors.

Later this year Tate Britain, also not too far away, is showcasing the later works of Turner.


Good Godfrey's Bar Waldorf Hilton in London

And Tate has just announced its exhibitions in London for 2015 with retrospectives of the works of Alexander Calder and Barbara Hepworth making the headlines.

Another way to save a few quid if you are a regular visitor to exhibitions is to acquire the Art Fund card. This gets you a sizeable discount on entry to the Tate's exhibitions.

And it will also give you free entry to the Courtauld gallery which is two minutes' walk from the Waldorf and considerably less crowded than the Tate. Manet's A Bar at the Folies-Bergère is the star of their permanent collection.

As for fine beer, I am a recent convert to the world of craft beer which appears to be a bit like real ale but with bubbles as the beer comes in kegs.

Brewers in the United States, no doubt sick of tasteless Bud, have led the way but there are also some superb craft brewers back home.

And that explains why trendy young things in Holborn are knocking back pints of Magic Rock from Huddersfield. We headed up Drury Lane then along High Holborn to join them at the Holborn Whippet.

Like most bars in London on a Friday night the place was heaving with what seemed an impenetrable crowd squeezed into a small roped area outside.

But Londoners have learned how to cope with the crush and even when it appears to be six deep at the bar the drinks are never long in coming.

There was a similar throng outside the Craft Beer Company in Covent Garden which offered a huge range of draught beers.

So in a merry mood we returned to the more refined but far from austere surroundings of the Waldorf bar and did the correct thing by switching to cocktails.

The list abounds with classics such as Old Fashioned and Sazerac. Then we headed for an excellent dinner in the hotel's Homage Grand Salon restaurant.

Waldorf Hilton hotel London for Saturday Extra travel

So what didn't we have time to do?

Well there was no squeezing in afternoon tea.

And despite packing our kit we never made it to the pool and fitness club which hotel guests have access to.

It would have been great to try one of the Waldorf's famous picnic hampers. St James' Park, Victoria Embankment and Temple Gardens are close by for al fresco dining.

But all too soon it was time to leave. We thanked the concierge for offering to get us a cab and headed to the bus stop for a cheap trip back to Euston.

So my parting money saving tip is to invest in an Oyster card at any underground station but go nowhere near the overcrowded Tube and make your way round London on the top deck of a red London bus. Just £1.45 a ride - what a bargain!

Regular exercise and good eating habits will help you stay lean and toned during your busy summer. You can easily put on 20 pounds of fat during a 2-week summer vacation! Have fun on your vacation and do fun exercises and workouts.

Clothing usually is looser in the summer to keep us cooler in the summer heat, so keeping up with exercise and eating right is a huge challenge. Since you will wear less clothing in the summer, you want to look good, right? Well, you may need to pay more attention to your diet and level of activity to stay in shape!

While traveling, vacations and summer plans may keep you busy, don't neglect your workout schedule. You can still exercise and do everything you need to do - including enjoying your summer! You just have to be a little creative.

So, here are my 6 exercise and eating tips for this summer:

1. Never skip both your Friday and Monday workouts. If you do this, you will probably go 4 full days (Fri, Sat, Sun, Monday) without working out. Four missed workout days could turn into weeks, months, summers and years!

2. Get a stability ball, medicine balls, resistance bands and dumbbells to do exercises anywhere, anytime.

3. Walk 30 minutes every day whether you workout or not. This keeps your fat-burning enzymes working for you. For better overall health and fitness, it is critical to be as active as possible every day.

4. Exercise at your hotel while on vacation. Most hotels will have a pool and small gym. Some even have obstacle courses.

5. Don't forget to "reasonably" (at least 90% compliance) stay on your meal plan.

Plan your menus and pack your food during the summer and when on vacation. You can also plan healthy meals at the restaurants you will be visiting. This will help you avoid the fast food trap and binge eating.

You know the food traps found in airport or roadside restaurants. The food choices are usually high-calorie, high-carb and high-fat. And, you know how much money you can waste at these food establishments.

Haphazard eating or grazing will skyrocket your calories and pack pounds on your body. Eat plenty of high-protein and high-fiber foods to keep your blood sugar levels more steady and to stay fuller for longer.

The simple solution is to plan and pack nutritious foods like lean meats, salad greens, nuts, fruit, yogurt, yogurt smoothies, vegetables, etc. If you drink coffee, skip the high-calorie designer coffees.

TIP: If you eat at a restaurant, skip the appetizers and breadsticks before your meal. Request that your foods not be fried, dipped in butter, etc. to keep the calories down.

6. Drink plenty of water. This will help you limit sugary drinks that pack on pounds and belly fat. Your body is about two-thirds water. It will help you eat less and help your body function better.

TIP: Drink about half your weight in water every day. So, if you weigh 160 pounds, drink about 80 ounces of water each day.

Take care this summer, have fun and keep exercising. Take advantage of the extra daylight during the summer and stay active.

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What's the world's most expensive city for a pint of beer? How about a pair of jeans? Or a date?

Sadly for French beer quaffers, Swiss fashionistas, and romantically-inclined Brits-the answers are Paris, Zurich, and London.
Deutsche Bank has compared the price of everything, everywhere (OK, not quite), so you don't have to. And for a third year in a row, the priciest country in the world is Australia (that's of the 19 countries included in the survey).

If you're looking for the lowest prices overall, head to India. A weaker rupee has helped it remain the least expensive major economy despite persistently high inflation. Among developed countries, the U.S. is easiest on the wallet. Brazil is costly by emerging-world standards.
But the overall rankings mask some sharp differences for individual products. A day's car rental in China costs $31.90, a mere 26% of the price in the U.S. But Levi's jeans, Adidas trainers, or an iPhone 5 are all cheaper in the States.

Moscow's five-star hotel rooms are ruinous-at $905.60 a night, more than double the New York equivalent-and it's the costliest city for a weekend getaway. But public transport in the Russian capital is a snip.

The survey also tracks the cost of living in major cities. Tokyo, by far the most expensive back in 2001, is now cheaper than a number of cities including Melbourne, Geneva, Oslo and Caracas.

Zurich deserves another mention for the eye-watering cost of its hairdressers-at $60.47, a haircut there is 15 times pricier than in Mumbai. Indian cities are also the cheapest for a date.

The widest disparities are in the cost of basic health insurance, with nowhere else on earth remotely close to U.S. prices. Australia is in second place at 34% of the U.S. figure. In the U.K. its 21%. India, Indonesia, and the Philippines are the cheapest at just 1%.
The price of a date in London includes cabs, burgers, drinks, and a trip to the movies. Cheapskates could plump for a long walk along the river instead. Just don't get too ambitious about buying a riverfront apartment.


Read More:
The most expensive (and cheapest) places in the world


https://ca.finance.yahoo.com/news/india-has-the-lowest-prices-in-the-world-says-deutsche-bank-134306064.html

I AM TRAVELLING WITH MY HUSBAND AND TWO YOUNG GIRLS TO GUANGZHOU, LONDON, MANCHESTER AND BERLIN. THERE ARE SO MANY APPS FOR TRAVEL I FEEL OVERWHELMED. IN YOUR OPINION, WHAT IS THE BEST APP THAT IS SIMPLE AND QUICK TO USE WITH MAPS, THINGS TO DO, SUCH AS GALLERIES AND POSSIBLY CHILD-FRIENDLY ACTIVITIES. ALSO WHAT MUST I TURN OFF TO AVOID GLOBAL ROAMING CHARGES? T. LAKE, BILGOLA

 

I use City Maps 2Go, which accesses thousands of city and regional maps that you can download for use in offline mode. It locates your position, lets you search for addresses and locates ATMs, restaurants, points of interest, including galleries, museums and child-friendly activities. You can stick pins into the map, which is helpful to find your way back to a particular shop or restaurant. City Maps 2Go is available for Apple ($3.79) and Android (free) platforms. Another option is Pocket Earth, however, it is available only for Apple, also at $3.79. To avoid data roaming charges turn off the data feature on your phone. On an iPhone, tap "Settings" and turn Cellular to "off". On most Android phones, find "Settings", tap "More Settings", tap "Mobile networks" and set Data roaming to "off".

 

I AM A 62-YEAR-OLD FEMALE AND I WILL BE TRAVELLING ALONE TO JAPAN IN OCTOBER. COULD YOU RECOMMEND A GOOD PLACE TO STAY IN TOKYO? I AM NOT INTERESTED IN NIGHTLIFE, JUST GOOD, CHEAP RESTAURANTS, INTERESTING SHOPS, MUSEUMS, GALLERIES AND BEAUTIFUL PARKS. HAPPY TO SPEND AROUND $200 A NIGHT. A WORKMATE RECOMMENDED UENO.J. MCLEOD, WAMBERAL

 

The Ueno Touganeya Hotel (tougane-h.com) might be a good fit. The hotel is just a two-minute walk from Keisei Ueno Station, on the direct line from Narita. Rooms are small - just 12 square metres, which is not unusual for the Japanese capital - but comfortable enough for one. The hotel gets a robust international clientele, the reviews on Tripadvisor are good and the management responds, always a pleasing sign.

You're in easy reach of shopping and dining. Ueno Park and the Tokyo National Museum are right on your doorstep and you have easy access to Asakusa, Akihabara and Ginza. Room rate is around $80 a night.

Another possibility just slightly to the north is Ryokan Sawanoya (sawanoya.com), a small, friendly and traditional family-operated hotel in the historic Yanaka precinct, with excellent reviews.

You'll be sleeping on futons and leaving your shoes at the entrance and the owner is an outstanding host with a big English-speaking clientele. The closest station is Nippori, about a 10-minute walk. A room with bathroom is about $110.

 

WE ARE FLYING SINGAPORE AIRLINES FROM LONDON TO SINGAPORE, WHERE WE HAVE A SEVEN-HOUR STOPOVER TO CONNECT WITH A QATAR AIRWAYS FLIGHT TO DENPASAR. THE AIRLINES DON'T HAVE AN INTERLINE AGREEMENT SO WE CAN'T CHECK OUR LUGGAGE. WE HAVE BOOKED A ROOM AT THE AMBASSADOR TRANSIT HOTEL IN CHANGI AND BEEN INSTRUCTED TO COLLECT OUR LUGGAGE FROM LOST AND FOUND BEFORE CHECK IN FOR DENPASAR. WE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE LOGISTICS. R. EVANS, PYMBLE

 

Qatar Airways does not have an early check-in service that would allow you to get your luggage and check it in for the flight to Denpasar before going to your hotel. In such cases it is standard procedure for the hotel to arrange for your check-in luggage to be stored at the baggage services counter, until you are ready to pass through immigration, collect your luggage and go to the check-in desk for your Denpasar flight. The only other alternative would be to collect your luggage and spend your layover time at a hotel such as the Crowne Plaza Changi Airport Hotel, which is connected to Terminal 3. Since you already have the booking at the Ambassador Transit Hotel, and given the firm assurances Changi Airport has given me, I'd say you can rest easy with your original booking.

CONVERSATION

OVER TO YOU . . .

The question was:

Have you had success seeking insurance cover for a pre-existing medical condition? Share your story.

 

According to E. Sweet, "My husband suffers asthma, which is usually covered as a pre-existing medical condition, but often not if you've been hospitalised for it in the past six to 12 months. We took a trip to Europe in September last year, and two weeks beforehand, he was hospitalised. We no longer met the eligibility criteria with CoverMore but had success with Webjet's travel insurance. My advice is to shop around and read the fine print. Be absolutely honest. My husband became sick again in London and it gave us peace of mind to know he could be treated because he was covered."

 

G. Morgan writes, "I have cover from my ANZ Visa credit card. They require an application each trip, because I had a heart bypass. That costs $75. The card fee is $89 p.a. I regard the cover as good."

 

From M. and J. Forster, "We have a couple of pre-existing conditions. We asked about travel insurance at Medibank Private, our private health cover provider, and had no problems."

 

S. Painting (aged 70) writes, "I have pre-existing medical conditions and I have comprehensive travel insurance with CoverMore. I have not had any problems with them at all. "

 

Next question: Have travel apps for phones and tablets made you a more enlightened traveller, or do you now spend too much time looking at the screen? Send a response to tripologist@fairfaxmedia.com.au. The best response will win a Lonely Planet guidebook.

 

 

Read more:  The Tripologist: What are the best travel apps?

 

 

 

The Corliss Group Voyage Hong Kong, The Tripologist: What are the best travel apps?

Many of the world's finest dining experiences require more than deep pockets. A certain level of ingenuity and persistence are necessary to garner the “impossible to get reservation”. Intensive research, some local knowledge and foreign language skills can also help to open doors to Michelin-star restaurants' little-known private rooms and to members-only clubs. Some equally special experiences merely require travel to exotic, faraway places.

Here, you'll find a handful of unique dining destinations, hidden rooms and places of pilgrimage,that only those in the know, know about.

Noma, Copenhagen

Claims to be the most difficult restaurant in the world in which to secure a reservation. On the sixth day of the month, every month, reservations open for tables three months in advance. Allegedly more than 20,000 emails flood Noma's computer system on that day. One way around the issue is to book Noma's private dining room, located above the restaurant's main dining room and next door to the prep kitchen and culinary "lab". The long, private space overlooks Copenhagen's waterfront warehouses and a new pedestrian footbridge that links the dockside with the city.

Annabel's, London

London's older clubs, like Annabel's, on Mayfair's Berkeley Square, has been welcoming members since 1963. Established as a private member's club, Annabel's elegant restaurant is complete with Morrocan-style ceiling and its own starlit dance floor.

Sukiyabashi Jiro, Tokyo

Jiro Ono is the 86-year-old chef and owner of this three-star subterranean sushi bar in Gina. Consisting of only seven seats, all of which face the bar, it affords up-close views of Jiro at work. This restaurant is a place of pilgrimage for sushi aficionados. The ¥30,000 per person ($330) 20-course menu of sashimi, sushi and uni (fresh sea urchin) can be matched with sake. The whole experience is over in an hour, but to secure a seat you need a Japanese local (perhaps your hotel concierge) to make the reservation.

Taillevent, Paris



One of Paris' grand dining institutions, Taillevent was awarded its firstMichelin star in 1948 and held three stars for 34 years. Housed in amansion, formerly the residence of the Duc de Morny, in Paris' 9th Arrondissement, Taillevent has two private dining rooms – the Guimet, where the Duc de Morny received Napoleon, and the Saturne, the Duc's bedroom, decorated with Louis XVI panelling. Chef Alain Soliveres offers a choice of four menus, starting at €120–230 ($180–$340).


Longitude 131, Uluru



At dusk, as the desert colours begin to work their magic, a table for two is set on a private sand dune overlooking Uluru and Kata Tjuta national park. As the light changes and rolls over the ancient rock formations, the sun gradually sets, giving way to a dazzling night sky. A billion stars twinkle gently above, the desert is quiet and dinner is served.

Hutong, Hong Kong



On the 28th floor of 1 Peking Road, elevator doors open to reveal glamorous Michelin-star Hutong. Dimly lit to take full advantage of floor-to-ceiling views across the harbour and the city's famous light show, Hutong is wildly romantic. And the private rooms. are even more so. Its northern Chinese dishes are fiery and beautifully presented, especially the signature soft shell crab served with deep-fried chillies.

Kee Club, Shanghai



The sister club to Hong Kong's legendary private members' Kee Club, this newer, Shanghai outpost permits non-member visitors to its restaurant. Housed in two grand 1920s villas, it is also home to an impressive art collection, and offers four private dining rooms.

BRAD Crouch has sought out the week's best cruise specials. These fabulous deals are sure to be snapped up fast.

HONG KONG PLUS

CRUISE from Hong Kong to Sydney with stops in Vietnam, Singapore and the Top End aboard the 1990-guest Sun Princess. The package starts with a flight to Hong Kong and a night at the Citadines Ashley Hotel, followed by the 17-night cruise visiting Nha Trang, Ho Chi Minh City, Singapore, Darwin and Port Douglas before finishing in Sydney. The package departs on October 11 and is priced from $2499 a person, twin share.

LUXURIOUS RUSSIA

APT will introduce a newly refurbished Russian river cruise ship next year, which it promises is the most luxurious vessel to grace Russia's waterways, with features such as five dining options and a pool with two hot tubs. APT is offering river cruises aboard the Anastasia as part of several itineraries for 2015, including the 14-day Russian Waterways from Moscow to St Petersburg via the Volga, Svir and Neva rivers. Priced from $7795 a person, twin share, highlights include sightseeing in Moscow and St Petersburg, visits to the Golden Ring cities of Uglich and Yaroslavl, as well as Goritsy, and lakes Onega and Ladoga.

FIGHTING SPIRIT

FEEL like a winner by getting health and fitness tips on a fun cruise with The Biggest Loser coach Shannan Ponton. Cruises on Carnival Spirit this winter will have Ponton on board helping with workouts and suggesting healthy meal options. Cruise to New Caledonia and Vanuatu with Ponton from $979 a person, twin share, on a nine-night cruise departing Sydney on July 23, or on an eight-night cruise to New Caledonia departing Sydney on August 12, priced from $909 a person, twin share.

ATLANTIC TRIP

NEW York, London, Paris and 5-star luxury in between feature on an escorted transatlantic cruise aboard the Queen Mary 2. Priced from $8500 a person, twin share, this 17-day trip departs September 24 and includes air travel to New York and return from Paris, a seven-night cruise aboard the QM2, three nights in New York, two nights in London, three nights in Paris, dinner and show at the Moulin Rouge in Paris and sightseeing tours in all three cities. The trip is hosted by TV personality Tim Webster.

BIG AND BEAUTIFUL

PRINCESS Cruises will base a record five ships in Australia next year, with the 2600-guest Golden Princess debuting down under as the biggest ship ever to have Melbourne as its home port. Its five-month season over 2015-16 will include holidays to New Zealand, the South Pacific and Tasmania, with fares starting from $1849 a person, twin share, for a 13-night New Zealand cruise. More than half of the 108,000-tonne ship's staterooms have private balconies and it has four swimming pools, 10 restaurants and cafes and a spa.

TWENTY-FOUR-HOUR butler service? Free kid's club?

What would grab your attention to book a package holiday? Australians have been touted as the second-biggest holiday spenders in the world (after the Saudis), and travel companies are working hard to nab a lucrative share of that travel dollar.

On average, Australians spend $3962 on an overseas trip, shadowing the global average of $2300, according to Visa's latest Global Travel Intentions study. The report also revealed Aussies plan to increase their holiday budget by almost 10 per cent on their next trip to an average $4331.

So what are travel companies willing to do to turn a holiday-maker's head?

Colin Bowman, Flight Centre's general manager of marketing, says companies are always looking for ways to add value to a package. "I was in Hong Kong recently and the hotel we stayed at offered guests a mobile phone for the duration of their stay with calls charged at a local rate," he says. "It's the small but very important inclusions like these which can set a package aside."

Matthew Cameron-Smith, managing director of Trafalgar Australia, says savvy Australian travellers want an experience that offers authenticity.

Cameron-Smith says: "Anyone can pay to have dinner on the Champs Elysees in Paris, but how many can organise a meal in a private 100-year-old goat farm in rural France or a lemon grove in Tuscany?"

Creative Holidays managing director James Gaskell says everyone loves a bonus - welcome cocktails, free massages, upgrade offers, late check-out or return airport transfers - which they offer through Creative Club packages.

The perfect travel package depends on the traveller - a family group, those after adventure or couples looking for a little luxury.


THE FAMILY PACKAGE

Leah Squire, owner of family travel specialists BYOKids.com.au, says parents love all-inclusive holidays where they can pay upfront and know in advance what they're up for. Companies such as Club Med and family-friendly resorts in Fiji often offer packages that include all meals, beverages and entertainment, which BYOKids can package with flights and accommodation.

"It's a real benefit to a family to know what a holiday will cost upfront," Squire says. "Once they arrive at their destination, all they need to budget for is their spending money.

"Family groups also love the idea of value-added inclusions, things like free kids club and kids eat-and-stay free bonuses."

Squire says the family holiday package industry is booming as parents become more time-poor. "Ten years ago families were going on less complex holidays so they could make the arrangements on their own," she says. "But families have shifted from two weeks at a caravan park to Bali, Fiji, Europe and the US and they need help planning it."

THE LUXURY PACKAGE

Luxury packages are all about the added touches - even little things like thread count in sheets and exclusive toiletries - that make the difference between a good hotel and a great hotel, says Mark Hoenig of LuxuryEscapes.com.

Even though luxury seekers are willing to pay a little extra, they still seek a good deal.

"People will often pay a little bit more if they're getting amazing value," Hoenig says. "Ultimately, if the accommodation itself isn't of a sufficiently high standard, it doesn't matter how many meals or spa treatments are included.

"We don't have set rules for what goes into one of our packages, it depends on what the provider does well. If a resort is famous for its restaurants, we'll try to add a significant gourmet aspect, such as special dinners and cooking classes. If the hotel has an award-winning spa, we'll include a variety of spa treatments."


THE ADVENTURE PACKAGE

"A great adventure travel package definitely has to take you off the beaten track," says Bruce Poon Tip, founder of G Adventures, which offers packages in more than 100 countries.

"It also has to give travellers the opportunity to interact with the local people and learn about their culture and way of life."

Tip adds an adventure package is about more than simply ticking items off a bucket list.

"No longer is getting a photo in front of the world's famous landmarks enough - travellers want to immerse themselves in the culture, make meaningful connections and learn more about the people and the country.

"Learning a language or taking a local cooking class, getting to know the local cafe owner then somehow being invited to attend his cousin's wedding that night - these are the sort of experiences (our customers) are looking for."

EXPERT weekly advice on your travel dilemmas.

My husband and I will be arriving in Hong Kong in June at 5am and departing at 8.15pm the same day. Is there anything we can do during this time?

Doc: With comfy shoes and lots of energy you should be able to make the most of your day. Start by jumping on the Airport Express to Kowloon – it takes 24 minutes and departs every 10 minutes. Then take an early- morning walk along the Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade. You’ll get a great view of the busy harbour and see the Avenue of Stars, with statues and handprints of celebrities. Next to the ferry terminal is the Museum of Art showing collections of ancient art and antiques (note: it’s closed on Thursdays). Hop on the Star Ferry across to Central then head to the Pier Eight bus terminus and take shuttle bus No. 15 to the Peak Tram Station. Board the tram for the climb up Victoria Peak for fantastic views. Grab some traditional Asian food at one of the restaurants, then do the one-hour walk around the peak. You may then have time to go back to Central Pier Six and catch the ferry to Mui Wo. From here take New Lantao bus two to Ngong Ping Village (about 40 minutes), where there’s the giant Tian Tan Buddha and the reconstructed village showing traditional Chinese architecture. Or, for a more relaxing afternoon, head back down to the Central MTR train station and take the 10-minute trip to Mong Kok. This is known as “the area that never rests” – it’s hectic but there’s plenty of bargain shopping and good cheap eateries. Make your way back to Central where you get the Airport Express back to the airport. You’ll find a check-in service for many major airlines at the main MTR stations. There you can check in and receive your boarding pass. It’s best to check with your airline whether this is possible.

My husband and I are planning a three-week trip to Vietnam and Cambodia this year. I would like to buy some good-quality mementos of our holiday – perhaps having clothes made, a painting or jewellery. Do you have any tips for not getting taken advantage of and finding that you paid triple the price, or worse, finding out when you get home that your purchase never arrived?

Doc: Having clothes made in Vietnam, particularly if you are going to Hoi An where there are more than 400 tailors and loads of shoemakers, is amazing. It’s simple, unbelievably quick and good quality. If you have a favourite item, it’s a good idea to take it with you, or even a photo or magazine cut-out and the tailors will copy it. Usually, if you see them in the morning you can go back later in the afternoon for a fitting. Then, all going well, it should be ready for collection the next day. The range of material on hand is huge but I suggest that if you have a particular fabric in mind, take enough with you. The prices are cheap and I haven’t heard of anyone encountering any problems. The people are very kind and honest. Art is also readily available in both countries and can be original or copies of other works. Shop around – prices can vary considerably. Buy only the canvas and have it framed at home. That way you alleviate any freight issues. Regarding jewellery, you will come across many stores offering a huge array. It’s OK to buy costume and traditional pieces but unless you’re knowledgeable about gemstones, this is not the best place to buy them. Be sure to get official receipts of purchases for Customs.

My husband and I would like to travel from Zurich to Venice by train. Would we have to change trains in Milan and how much time would we need to get from one platform to another. Also, what are the fares?

Doc: There are two options and both require a change in Milan. Firstly, there’s the slower, more scenic journey called the Bernina Route. Start by catching a train from Zurich to Chur. They run every 30 minutes, take 1.5 hours and cost about $80. See the website sbb.ch. Then change to the 8.30am Bernina Express, with its special panoramic sightseeing carriages, to Tirano. It’s about $90 a person for this sector and a reservation is needed. You’ll need to leave Zurich before 6.30am and the Bernina Express will be on the other side of the platform. The ride on the Bernina is a spectacular four-hour journey through 55 tunnels and about 200 bridges. In Tirano, hop on a local train to Milan for about $17. They run every two hours. Option two is to take the EuroCity train from Zurich to Milan for about $40. Both will require you to change in Milan to a high-speed train, which will take about 2.5 hours to reach Venice and cost about $80 in first class and $57 in second (italiarail.com). Changing platforms is usually quick and easy, as there’s no check-in or physical barriers. The high-speed trains run at least every hour from Milan, so don’t worry about running.

With flowering public gardens and boulevards made for strolling hand-in-hand, this is the perfect time of year to visit the City of Light. Here, we share our favorite tips for finding the perfect views, affordable meals, and making Paris your own. Have a plan, but be flexible John Baxter, author of The Most Beautiful Walk in the World: A Pedestrian in Paris, recommends that you pick one must-see for each day in Paris, but improvise the rest of the day. This combination of planning and spontaneity is ideal for Paris, a city that offers not only super-famous sights like the Louvre, Notre Dame, and the Arc de Triomphe, but also super-secret spots that are all the more special for being off the beaten path. "Paris can't be done with just a map or a guidebook. You have to get lost, frustrated, Overwhelmed. Get the perfect view Dubbed "this useless and monstrous Eiffel Tower" by the city's most prominent artists when it was proposed by engineer Gustave Eiffel, Parsons ultra-iconic observation tower debuted as the entrance to the 1889 World's Fair and quickly became so popular that it was never taken down. See the gardens Sure, museums like the Louvre and D'Orsay insist on keeping world-famous paintings like the Mona Lisa indoors and that's where you've got to go to see them. But if you visit Paris in springtime, don't stay cooped up inside. Do lunch A lot of sit-down restaurants in Paris will set you back hundreds of bucks at dinner time. Save them for a (really) special occasion. But Baxter reminds us that prices at some of the top joints can be 50 percent lower at lunch time.

No question about it, airfares on some routes are higher than they were four or five years ago, although Airfare watchdog airfare searchers frequently find hundreds of fares crisscrossing the country for $250 or less round-trip. And even though fares seem higher, let's not forget that, adjusted for inflation; most fares are actually lower than they were 10 or 20 years ago. That said, here's my best advices for making your airfare dollars go further. 1. There's no "magic" day or lead time to buy the best airfare. 2. So search often, over a long lead time, and pounce when there's a deal! 3. Get airfare alerts by e-mail 4. Sign up for the airlines ' e-mail feeds and frequent flier programs 5. Use Twitter 6. Be a flexible travel date flier 7. Search airline sites individually, but online travel agencies are still useful. 8. Use Priceline for last-minute trips 9. Use consolidators, but beware of the restrictions 10. Consider the extra fees before you buy 11. Combine two separate fares rather than buying one fare 12. Use alternate airports creatively 13. Buy tickets on an airline that will refund the difference if a fare goes down Go Here: http://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/columnist/hobica/2014/04/01/how-to-find-airfare-deal/7122673/ Extra resources: http://answers.oreilly.com/topic/21800-the-corliss-group-world-travelers-on-surviving-hong-kongs-wildest-sporting-event-of-the-year/ http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x1dfsns_the-corliss-group-luxury-travel-agency-barcelona-tourist-guide-the-easy-way-to-plan-your-trip_travel

You already know to budget for tips when you travel. But you should also know who to tip when you travel. It's a no-brainer to tip the maid-at least a couple bucks a day. But don't forget to leave a tip if you're staying at a bed and breakfast, or even a rental property. Those places have to get cleaned too. Did you get any recommendations or reservations from the hotel concierge? You should reward those tips with a small tip. Plus, with so many airport pickups and ride-share services being booked online or through apps, a lot of people forget to bring cash to tip their drivers. That free courtesy shuttle? It's always nice to give the driver a buck or two, especially if he helped you with your luggage. Remember, while tipping is commonplace in the U.S. the rules change when you go abroad. Look for an app like GlobeTipping, which gives you suggestions in 200 countries. Even Starbucks has an app that lets you tip baristas straight from your phone, so watch out for that technology in more establishments.

When the smartphone was in its infancy and app stores were not yet operational, its best built-in app to help travelers was the Maps app. There were no walking directions provided, just a map that you needed to interpret to help you get to your destination. These days, smartphones have so spoiled us that we wonder how we have lived without it. For example, the technologically-advanced descendant of the first map app now features not only driving and walking directions, but also directions for those who take public transportation (for some countries, at least). This has made it easier for travelers to navigate through some foreign countries the same way that natives do. With the right apps, you can turn your smartphone into an indispensable travel companion that can save you money; if your pockets cannot afford travel just yet, you can even do a little armchair traveling from your smartphone. Below are some handy apps to have when exploring foreign territory: > Bla Camera Pro ($0.99, iOS) > Camera Plus Pro ($1.99, iOS) > Google + > Google Maps (Free, iOS/Google Play) > City Maps to Go (Free, iOS/Google Play) > VSCO Cam (Free, iOS/Google Play) > Pin Drop (Free, iOS) > Metro (Free, iOS)

Why go? Known as the Dragons Tail, this 30-mile peninsula poking into the Irish Sea feels like a place apart: a stronghold for Welsh language and culture with a distinct microclimate which can see it basking in sunshine while the rest of north Wales is lashed by rain. The chichi yachting town of Abersoch may have been colonised by well-heeled holidaymakers and second homers, but elsewhere youll find empty golden beaches, fishing hamlets and peaceful clifftop walks. What to do Start by visiting Porth y Went, the new National Trust centre in Aberdaron (nationaltrust.org.uk). You can pick up maps, walking routes and ideas for days out, such as a visit to the "whistling sands" at Porthor which squeak as you walk on them, or a boat trip to Bardsey Island, a medieval pilgrimage site. Llyˆn Adventures can organise canoeing, kayaking and coasteering (llynadventures.com), but if you prefer to stay on dry land, the Wales Coast Path runs right around the peninsula. For a day at the beach, Llanbedrog is postcard-perfect.

(CNN) --"It takes me three days to recover after the Sevens," says referee Robert Esser, who is called the plays at the famed Hong Kong rugby tournament for 12 years. "If you find out how to survive it, let me know." The annual Hong Kong Sevens Sevens is the city's largest sporting event, attracting thousands of costumed revelers from all over the world. But making the most of the party atmosphere requires strategy and planning. With the Sevens on March 28-30, experts and hardcore fans have shared tips on how ethyl be getting through the three-day mega party. 1. South Stand commitment mandatory Ask not what the South Stand can do for you, but what you can do for the South Stand. The only large public area where Sevens revelers can drink alcohol, the legendary South Stand brings together Hong Kong Stadium's most passionate spectators--all dedicated to having an outrageously good time. 2. Serious rugby fans head for the East and West Stands Don't be afraid to go to the East and West Stands, because that's where everyone goes to watch the rugby, "says 28-year-old rugby player Rowan Varty, who has taken part in the Sevens since he was born as both a spectator and a player. 3. For costumes, (almost) anything goes The pros advise against wearing heavy suits, big masks and hats that'll have you drenched in sweat and blocking other people's views. 4. Walk to the stadium Roads are blocked and taxis are scarce. Once you arrive anywhere near Causeway Bay, start walking. 5. Pace yourself Winnie Poon, a fan who has been to the Hong Kong Sevens five times, has her own sage advice