Just watch out for smaller subway stations that might not have escalators (but should have a lift). However since the price of Japan Rail Passes rose nearly 50% in 2023, I generally do NOT recommend getting a JR pass as they do not offer good value anymore for most travellers. I generally use a combination of local subways and trains, the high-speed Shinkansen “bullet train” and buses. I’ve also caught one or two taxis in cities like Kyoto and Kanazawa that rely more on the bus network than the subway, however taxis are pretty expensive in Japan. You can rely on Japan’s efficient and relatively straightforward public transportation system to get around.
One of the remotest inhabited places on the planet, the UNESCO-listed Easter Island (known locally as Rapa Nui) lies more than 3,500km west of mainland Chile in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. This tiny speck of land was settled sometime between AD 800 and 1200 by pioneering Polynesian seafarers, who subsequently created a remarkable collection of monumental statues known as moai as a form of ancestor worship. Today, the thousand or so moai that remain on the island are a mesmerising sight. As you discover on Latin Routes’ nine-day Spirit of Chile itinerary, which includes a two-night stay in Valpo, there’s also a vibrant creative scene with plenty of exhibitions, performances and concerts to check out. And as an added bonus, some of Chile’s finest beaches are close at hand. For sublime views, catch a cable-car to the 880-metre summit of Cerro San Cristóbal, home to Santiago’s biggest park.
Latin Routes’ four-day Easter Island Add-on package enables you to visit this far-flung, bucket-list destination at the beginning or end of your trip to Chile. The best place to start your explorations is Ahu Tongariki, whose 15 giant moai are illuminated spectacularly by the rising sun each morning. This blog was created to help you make the most of your visit to the Aurlandsfjord area, and my aim is for it to be the only guide you need when visiting Flåm, Aurland, Undredal and Gudvangen. Whether you are looking for hiking guides or suggested places to stay for your fjord visit, you’ll find it here.
If by chance you can’t get any money in advance, I recommend you to withdraw some from the airport on arrival. Be aware that not all the ATM machines in Seoul accept foreign cards. We discovered that in small neighbourhoods like Seochon, ATM machines are only for Korean cards. Therefore, out of the airport you will have to withdraw in more central areas like Myeong-dong. For personal experience, I can grant you that you will return with much more stuff than you have departed. On top of that, foreigners don’t pay the VAT on any purchase above 50,000.
There are some truly spectacular towns and villages in Tuscany from medieval hilltop villages…. Nicknamed the ‘Jewel of the Pacific’ in the 19th century, Valparaíso was once one of the most important ports in South America, prospering from Chile’s silver and copper industries, as well as the California gold rush. The opening of the Panama Canal in 1914 brought the good times to an end by providing a handy short-cut between the Atlantic and the Pacific.
If you’re planning a day out to our historic sites, why not make a cycle ride there, back or between sites part of the fun? The following places have bike racks or somewhere to secure your bike while you explore. The best way to experience a city is to immerse yourself in its local culture. Their approach to life is rational, based on generations of experience on a rugged, unforgiving landscape. On many occasions, Sweden has been the conscience of the world.
It is not essential to bring yen into the country with you, thanks to the ATMs found in every 7-Eleven which allow international cards to withdraw cash. No ATM fee is charged either, making this a great option for debit cards that allow fee-free international withdrawals. Summer in Japan can be humid and sweltering, which I would find unbearable in built-up cities like Osaka and Tokyo. On the plus side, the countryside is beautiful and prices should be cheaper for things like hotels and flights.
It’s also recommended to avoid the Mosquito Gulf on the mid-northern Caribbean Coast, and while there is not a strict warning not to visit, the city and province of Colon are a bit seedy too. It was the final stop of our 6-month trip and definitely one of the highlights. There are so many reasons why you should visit Panama, whether it’s part of a broader trip through Latin America or as your primary destination. We fell in love with Panama City with its historic old town and glistening modern skyline. We found tropical heaven in Bocas del Toro and the San Blas Islands and loved hiking through the misty cloud forests of Boquete and the extinct volcanic crater of El Valle de Anton. Moving between Central France is much easier than Northern France.
It is built on 14 islands, linked by bridges and ferries, so there is always water in view. Sweden is a fascinating country with a unique nature, history and culture. To be honest, is not much in terms of exploration of the country. However, I studied Korean for the past 4 years and researched my trip in every single details for the last six months. I have a peculiar passion for this country as Korean dramas literally saved my life when I had PPD and PTSD after my very traumatic pregnancy. So, not only I learnt a lot about Korean culture in the past years, but I think I owe something to this beautiful culture and country.
Soaring cliffs, buzzing little towns and a way of life forever inspired by the sea, that’s what you’ll find on the world’s longest defined coastal touring route. Take to the roads less travelled and discover the real Ireland. 1,000 kilometres off Ecuador’s west coast lie the Galápagos Islands, which transformed our understanding of life on earth in the nineteenth century when Charles Darwin visited to research his theory of evolution. On Bartholomew Island, snorkel alongside penguins and sea lions.
For information on how to apply for accessible facilities, please visit our accessibility page. Hiring boats, like those to Tortuguero and the Nicoya Peninsula from mainland Costa Rica, offers quicker, more convenient options than slow-moving public buses. Though a bit pricier than public transport, they’re still budget-friendly and get you to your destination much faster.
Japan is very much a cash reliant society, though I’ve noticed that more places take cards after returning post pandemic. However, many smaller businesses still operate with cash, and you will need to keep some yen on you at all times. However, these times can also be some of the peak tourist season – particularly peak cherry blossom season in early to mid-April. However, it could be an advantage to have national vocational qualifications or a degree in an appropriate subject such as leisure, travel, tourism, or languages. From accommodation to activities, find out how to explore our beautiful island in a sustainable way.
Sally helps thousands of readers discover the magic of Latin America. Sharing detailed guides to inspire and equip them with the knowledge they need to plan their own epic adventures in this incredible part of the world. Our France travel guide is unlike any you’ll find online, we don’t mimic, sugar-coat or even skim over the important details. If you’re looking for the holy grail of information, then we’ve made sure you can access it all in one place. Get to grips with the do’s and don’ts in French etiquette, learn the key differences between Northern France, Central France and the South of France, discover the best times to visit and heaps more. Come on a little excursion through our mountainous range of travel books.
While there’s never really a bad time to visit the South of France, it’s a good idea to plan when you go with the weather in mind. Spring can actually be a bit unpredictable (especially with rain – those April showers even extend to the Cote d’Azur!), so if you’re after a tan-topping stay with more time in the pool, plan your trip between May and October. In light of improvements to security within the country, as of 2019, Pakistan changed its visa restrictions to encourage more tourists to visit. If exploring history and culture is what you’re after, then Guatemala has your back. With a specialist guide, treading through the ancient jungle ruins of Tikal amongst long hanging vines and grey-green stone Maya temples, is somewhat surreal.
That being said, many tourists tend to leave an additional tip anyway, so in touristy areas, it is more commonly seen. Locals generally don’t leave extra tips, and it’s culturally acceptable not to do so. However, petty theft can be common so keep an eye on belongings when at the beach, and leave valuables in a locked hotel room when not in use. When in larger cities like San Jose, keep bags visible in front of you, and avoid walking alone at night. Finally, always keep a close eye on your drink when going out, and only accept drinks directly from staff at bars or restaurants. A visit here often turns into an impromptu safari, with magical encounters with these species and many more.
Therefore anything you can buy is cheaper than what you can find in your country. We literally splurged on beauty products, souvenirs and toys for our kids. So much that we had to buy an extra luggage to take all this stuff with us. If you have the time, I recommend to do all or most of your shopping on one of the last days. This because if you have a long itinerary, you don’t want to carry around all your extra stuff. The longer days mean hours of playtime during your Easter holiday and nature is bursting into life.
Our team of experts have scoured the globe and travelled extensively in order to identify everything from the very best hotels, airlines and tour operators through to highlighting the most reputable transfer service companies. Russian Visa SupportE-visa applicants are not required to submit an invitation letter, hotel booking confirmation or any other document confirming the purpose of their travel to Russia. For a regular or paper visa you need to present a voucher and invitation document (called visa support).
With this right comes the responsibility to tread carefully and show consideration for landowners and others. They are very professional and their rental always include the full waiver in the price, so you don’t need to worry about anything. Part of the Korean culture is their love (more kinda of obsession) for their celebrities.
Check with the FCO before travelling for the latest advice about danger zones. Once you arrive in the car parks, please follow the directions from the parking stewards to ensure everyone can be safely parked and the car park is fully utilised. Please ensure your car park pass is visible in the windshield of your vehicle. Michele is a South Carolinian living in Philadelphia and an adventure enthusiast. She travels throughout the Americas with her Costa Rican husband Diego, when she’s not home snuggling her two kitties Willow and Callie. You can catch her hiking the landscape, scoping out used bookshops, and snapping pics of tiny mushrooms wherever she goes.
Potential tour guides should be fit and healthy with lots of energy and confidence, be able to work effectively without supervision, possess a calm ‘customer focused’ manner, and have excellent interpersonal skills. Work with the general public, or experience gained within the hotel, tourism or travel trades is usually beneficial. Potential tour guides should be fit and healthy with lots of energy and confidence.
Indeed, flights are still quite expensive and, on the other side, Korea just started to be more open to international tourism. Ergo, there are still many barriers, mostly linguistic, that non-Korean speakers have to face when visiting the country. Moreover, the impossibility to access basic information through western apps such as Google Maps, make this trip a little challenging for certain type of travellers.
Remember the wi-fi in most public places is unsecured, hotel and restaurant signals may be weak, and slow, but what to do ( the answer is paying your provider back home). The best time to visit is in the dry season between December and May, although it can be very hot during this time. Hurricanes are most likely in September and October and we do not recommend travelling to this region at this time. Differently from Egypt or Morocco, you can pre-order Korean Won before your trip. I would recommend having some cash with you on arrival because you will need these to buy a T-Money Card (cash only machine).
Every city, town and small village offers its own incredible cuisine, making this country a real treat for foodies. Columbus Travel Media is one of the most respected names in the global travel industry. We provide licensed destination guides, bespoke travel and lifestyle content and digital marketing services, to key brands in the Industry. Sri Lanka is a country that had been on my travel list for a long time. I once read a poem about it and instantly fell in love with the description of nature’s beauty. Due to its shape and location, it is often called the ‘Tear of India’, but it definitely is a tear of joy.
Many people become tourist guides as a second career, for example students who want to work during holidays or actors who are between acting jobs. Local visitor information centres, national parks, museums and sites of cultural and historical interest often have volunteering opportunities to work as a tourist guide. We spent four weeks travelling in Panama as part of a 6-month trip through Central America and loved every minute of it. There truly wasn’t a bad part to our time here and every destination we visited https://softfootprints.com/ was unique, offering something new and different to the last.
Jürgen Haller is the gentle giant of a guy, a genius Baumeister in Austria’s Bregenzerwald. Over the past years, he has carved a name for himself with his imposing architecture, engineering, and design narrative. Dendrophiles, or lovers of trees, will enjoy the diversity here with over 1,400 species – including rarely seen palms and ferns from across the world. From Port to Wine – a new generation of winemakers is working with old vines and native grapes on the region’s dramatic slopes to craft a new wave of wines that speak of this unique region.
