Russia beats Russia – Winter Vacation

Every traveler to Russia needs to have an up-to-date passport and a visa. Check Your visa for how many times and for how long you are permitted to enter Russia. Additional information about visas from Oy Russian Tours Ltd. Take copies of Your passport and visa with You. Passport, visa, their copies, customs declaration forms and all money should be packed in hand luggage. No immunizations are required, but vaccinations against tetanus, polio, diphtheria and Hepatitis A are advised for travelers to Russia.

Typical opening hours for shops are from 10am to at least 7pm. Most shops close for lunch, food shops usually between 1pm and 2pm and others between 2pm and 3pm. Shops are generally open also on Sundays. In St Petersburg from the beginning of April to the middle of November the bridges over Neva are lifted up for the night to allow free passage for ships. Make sure You are on the right side of the bridge before this!

There are 11 time zones in Russia, the nearest areas to Finland Carelia, St Petersburg, Moscow) are 1 hour ahead of Finnish time. Metro is the fastest transport in the city. Going by metro is safe and metros operate until midnight. Millions of Russians use the metro daily so especially during mornings and late afternoons they are crowded. The token is bought at the cash desk before the escalator. This token will let you in at the gate.

It is possible to use Sonera and Radiolinja mobile phone connections in Russia. The calls go through a local operator and price can vary a lot. Ask more information about prices from Your own operator. The price of receiving a call can be surprisingly large. When calling to Russia dial +358 followed by town code and telephone number. When calling from Russia to Finland dial +8 10 358 followed by country code .

To enrich the experience take a RussiaSIM Card , a local service here in US at the wholesale rates to save up-to 85% on Russia roaming. Russia SIM Card includes FREE incoming calls with service across Russia plus lowest call charges back to US. 

Don't have a Unlocked Cell , struck with your present US carrier rent a Russia- compatible cell phone from RebelFone, renting a RussiaCell Phone at $1 a day.

International Travel Tips - Before Traveling

Find out as much as possible. The more you know about a World Heritage site before arriving, the more the site will come alive. Look into the site’s history, culture, natural environment, customs, legends, advisory notices and more. UNESCO’s World Heritage Center or Wiki Travel is a great starting point.

Buy your vacation package from a business you have confidence in. Ask family and friends to recommend a company with a good track record. Think twice if you can’t get a person on the phone to answer your questions or if the ad doesn’t give the company’s street address. Contact the state Attorney General, consumer protection agency and Better Business Bureau where you live and where the company is based to see if there is a history of complaints on file.

Learn a few words in the local language. Making an effort to speak the local language allows you to interact with the people who know the site best. People appreciate your efforts and your interest in learning. Simple words like “Hello,” “Please” and “Thank you” can go a long way.

While Traveling Engage in local culture. The saying, “While in Rome do as the Romans” still applies today. Your trip provides a unique opportunity to explore a new culture and to see the world through a different perspective. Remember that eating local foods, shopping in local markets, and attending local festivals are all part of experiencing the culture. Hire local guides. Enrich your experience by choosing local guides who are knowledgeable about the destination. Ask local tour operators and hotels for good recommendations.

Get the details of your vacation in writing. Get a copy of the company’s cancellation and refund policies, and ask “What if...?” Consider whether some form of travel cancellation insurance may be appropriate. Use a credit card to make your purchase. If you don’t get what you paid for, you may be able to dispute the charges with your credit card company. However, don’t give your account number to any business until you’ve verified that it is reputable.

To enrich the experience take a International SIM Card , a local service here in US at the wholesale rates to save up-to 85% on international roaming. International SIM Card includes FREE incoming calls with service across International plus lowest call charges back to US.

Don't have a Unlocked Cell , struck with your present US carrier rent a International - compatible cell phone from RebelFone, renting a International Cell Phone at $1 a day.


World SIM Card

South Africa Travel – Tips for the First Timers

Know before you go to South Africa.

Public transportation is not recommended, except for luxury services; taxis are expensive and may not be reliable; mini-buses are generally not a safe travel option. Rental vehicles (some with drivers) are available. In South Africa (SA), it is illegal to use a hand-held cell phone while driving. Economic restraints prevent South Africa from conducting road safety studies, making it difficult to accurately identify and correct traffic black spots.

Drivers tend to travel speed, especially on thoroughfares. The speed limit has been lowered to 100 km/h (60 mph), but 69% of drivers exceed this limit. Drivers tend to be aggressive and irresponsible Tailgating at high speeds or passing on blind curves is not unusual. Many drivers maintain a following distance of less than two seconds.

Most South African travel and information portals will tell you that South Africa has a very sophisticated banking sector. It does. There are automatic teller machines all over the place. Something they don’t tell you though, is that using plastic, you can only take R1000 at a time out of an ATM. Now R1000 will pay for accommodation for two, a decent meal and a bottle of wine in a good guest house. What about spending money? Petrol? (Which you can’t pay for in South Africa with a credit card. No, I don’t know why.) The bottom line is you’re going to need to draw more than once a day. For every R1000 debit that hits your bank account bank back home, it’s accompanied by bank charges, and in the case of some banks, it’s 5 Euro a pop. That adds up.

South Africa is a big place - the size of France and Spain combined. Now while most travel and information portals will tell you that “South Africa has a well-developed road infrastructure”, that’s only kind of true. Yes, the N1 that links Johannesburg and Cape Town is as good as you’ll find in Europe, as is the N3 that links Johannesburg and Durban. And the N2 that links Cape Town and Durban is mostly good. But other than the main auto-routes, even if a road is shown as “surfaced” on the map,don’t assume that that means fast motoring. And some of the “un-surfaced” roads – well, you’ll be glad you’re in a hired car.

Detailed crime statistics are now published annually by the South African Police Services. For a while they weren’t published at all because the Great and the Good thought it would be better to suppress bad news. Now that we know what’s going on, most South African travel and information portals are going to try and put a positive spin on crime without getting into too much detail. “It’s getting better”. And so it is.

To enrich the experience take a South Africa SIM Card , a local service here in US at the wholesale rates to save up-to 85% on international roaming. South Africa SIM Card includes FREE incoming calls with service across South Africa plus lowest call charges back to US.

Don't have a Unlocked Cell , struck with your present US carrier rent a South Africa - compatible cell phone from RebelFone, renting a South Africa Cell Phone at $1 a day.

Amsterdam – The Premier Travel City

Want to give your next travel experience a little edge? Check out Amsterdam

Amsterdam is one of the coolest cities in Europe. Beautiful, hip, laid back, lots to do, lots to see, many pubs,food from all over the world and very friendly people. A visit to this very beautiful city is sometimes like taking a walk in the 17th century. The center of Amsterdam has a lot of charming architecture dating from this period. Its an excellent city to tour on foot or bicycle. However, Amsterdam may boast a lot of 17th century architecture, but that's about all that's old fashioned about the place.

Amsterdam has several excellent museums and two of the best are next to each other. The Van Gogh Museum is a must for anyone interested in the artists work. It houses some of his most famous masterpieces beginning with his time in Holland to the period of his death in France. On the same square is the 250−room Rijksmuseum, which contains among its treasures a handful of exquisite Vermeers and one of the best Rembrandt collections in the world. "The Night Watch" is exhibited in the Hall of Honor and is most definitely a "work of art". Astonishing is only a portion of the original painting which had to be cut down to fit its intended spot in the city old town hall. There is a copy of an uncut version of the painting hanging in the room just before the Hall of Honor.

After having a hearty breakfast we are ready for some serious stuff. If we jump on a tram 2 or 5, these pass through the Spui regularly, we can make our way to the Museumplein. Here you are spoiled for choice with all the different kinds of museums. Firstly, there is The Van Gogh Museum, which holds a lot of Van Gogh greatest works, and also works from various other acclaimed artists. Just next to the Van Gogh there is the Stadelijk Museum. This houses a collect of modern art and has numerous expeditions throughout the year. Leaving these museums behind us we make our way towards our last museum, The Rijks Museum. This is quite a large museum and could take some time to get around, but it is worth it. Art dates from the 12^th century and has a superb collection of Dutch masters, including the Nachtwacht, by Rembrandt.

To enrich the experience take a Netherlands SIM Card , a local service here in US at the wholesale rates to save up-to 85% on international roaming. Netherlands SIM Card on KPN Network includes FREE incoming calls with service across Netherlands plus lowest call charges back to US.

Don't have a Unlocked Cell , struck with your present US carrier rent a Netherlands - compatible cell phone from RebelFone, renting a Netherlands Cell Phone at $1 a day.

Exploring Malaysia – Truly Asia

Selamat Datang! It means "Welcome!" in Malaysia.

The country is divided into two distinct parts, namely Peninsula Malaysia and East Malaysia. Peninsula Malaysia is basically the long fringe of land that extends down from Asia and is located between the neighbouring countries of Singapore and Thailand. East Malaysia on the other hand is separated from Peninsula Malaysia by the South China Sea and is less populated. However the dense jungle of Sabah and Sarawak supports a variety of flora and fauna. Here you will be able to find the world’s largest flower as well as Mt. Kinabalu, Sabah which is the highest peak in the South East Asian region.

Kuala Lumpur is adept at reconciling the old with the new. How the city excels at striking this balance is clearly observed in how the colonial fade and structure of the Sultan Abdul Samad building blends intimately with the tall, freestanding wonder of The Petronas Twin Towers. Naturally, there’s more to the face and feature of Kuala Lumpur than these two world famous landmarks. The old railway station is one. The Masjid Jamekis another. And then, there’s the new headquarters of Telekom Malaysia that curves skyward in its design and daring.

One thing you’ll discover in Kuala Lumpur is the many priceless moments you get to sit back and reflect. Amidst the hustle and bustle of a metropolitan city, lies a calming yet serious appreciation of culture and the crafts.

If you are here for the sun and beach then do not worry as Malaysia has some of the most beautiful beaches in the world, in fact some of them are located on islands such as Pulau Redang, Pulau Pangkor and many more. For those that want to experience the lifestyles of the traditional Malays then make a stop at the northern Kelantan province where you can witness the culture and enjoy the dishes unique to that area. The point is you will not get bored no matter where you visit in Malaysia

Also make sure to take a Malaysia SIM Card as a convenient and economical calling solution while you travel to Malaysia. The Malaysia SIM card includes FREE incoming calls with service across Malaysia. Pay the local rate for local calls and use a cellular phone in Malaysia like you do at home. And unlike home, your Malaysia SIM card and cell phone service is free of a contract or minimum commitment.

Also explore the options of buying a Malaysia-compatible cell phone if you don't have a Unlocked Cell Phone, renting a Malaysia Cell Phone at just $1 a day.

Berlin Travel – Germany

The hilly and forested landscape of Germany immediately takes you to the realm of your childhood fantasies, where the naive Little Red Riding Hood made her way through the woods, where Hansel and Gretel discovered (to their misfortune) the house made of gingerbread, and Snow White forsook her father's magnificent castle to dwell with the industrious dwarfs. Venture into Schwarzwald (The Black Forest) and cap it off with a visit to the Maulbronn monastery, take a guided tour of the Neuschwanstein Castle to dream a dream of a theatrical stage designer, and do fine shopping in Rothenburg, a medieval pearl which brings to life the legends of that time amidst museums, churches and historic buildings.

There are a myriad of attractions that can be visited every time you travel to Berlin. A cost-effective way of visiting all the attractions of Berlin is of buying a Berlin welcome card.As the welcome card takes care of your expenses by entitling you to the discounts that can be availed every time you visit an attraction, the Berlin maps make sure that you reach all the attractions without facing any sort of confusion along the way.

Berlin is a tourist hot spot and has one of the best nightlife options. During the day, while sightseeing many will notice that nearly all of its landmarks come equipped with observation decks such as the Europa Centre in Zoologischer Garten and the German parliament building otherwise known as the Reichstag. The Fernsehtrum on Alexanderplatz boasts of being one of the highest points in the city with a revolving restaurant.The Berlin tourist centre has multiple operators and three official centers of information with multi-lingual aids to answer questions and provide advice on just about anything you may want to know or are curious about. Sightseeing in Berlin can be a wonderful experience for Berlin tourist attractions are many. You can always hop on to a local bus which is the ideal way to soak in the city, its culture and people.

Also do remember to take a Germany SIM Card as a convenient and economical calling solution while you travel to Germany. The Germany SIM card includes FREE incoming calls with service across Germany. Pay the local rate for local calls and use a cellular phone in Germany like you do at home. And unlike home, your Germany SIM card and cell phone service is free of a contract or minimum commitment.

Also explore the options of buying a Germany-compatible cell phone if you don't have a Unlocked Cell Phone, renting a Germany Cell Phone at just $1 a day.

Holiday in Italy

Italy holidays are enchanting. Stay in a luxurious hotel, farmhouse or castle, take a grand train journey through unforgettable scenery or book an exhilarating ski holiday.

The main town of the region is Amalfi, and while expensive, if you shop around you will get good value. Ceramic shops are well worth checking out in this town. It is a good base for exploring the region. The other tourist places that dot the region are Ravello and Positano. Ravello is renowned for the delightful gardens that are located in the mountains overlooking the sea, and Positano to the west coast is a well-established resort for the rich and famous!

European country so basically Italian people do and love the SAME things as other nations , people like a lot to travel and have fun when they can (lately the economy is not so good in Italy) they like to have dinners out and have hobbies as all other westerns people got but a difference between Italians and other nations is that Italians are more oriented in get fun traveling or going out to dinner whilst everywhere else it seems that the "food" issue is less strong but much more strong the "drink" issue so if you come to Italy.

For Lovers of extreme sports such as rock-climbing, hang-gliding and paragliding have options galore. After all, about three quarters of mainland Italy is mountainous. The Italian Alps run across the length of the northern reaches, while the Apennines, the ‘backbone’ extend from the northwest, near Genoa, to the south near Calabria. Operators can advise on the best options, including specialist climbing courses.

We love Italy and Italian culture so much that most people honeymooned and holidayed there, bought a house there, and are now living in Italy for a large part of the year. In doing all that we've absorbed huge amounts of personal knowledge about the culture of Italy - not just academic knowledge but a real, huge, genuine love of and passion for the place, the people and all the Italian culture we can soak up.

Also do remember to take a Italy SIM Card as a convenient and economical calling solution while you travel to Italy. The Italy SIM card includes FREE incoming calls with service across Italy. Pay the local rate for local calls and use a cellular phone in Italy like you do at home. And unlike home, your Italy SIM card and cell phone service is free of a contract or minimum commitment.

Also explore the options of buying a Italy-compatible cell phone if you don't have a Unlocked Cell Phone, renting a Italy Cell Phone at just $1 a day.