Travel Archives - Lucrative Travels

Five things to check on Your Car before doing a Long Journey

If you are going to be driving a long journey then it is wise to make sure that you check a selection of things in your car before you go. If you spend a few minutes doing this, then you could save yourself a lot of hassle during the journey and you may even avoid a break down or an accident.

Brakes

It is so important to make sure that your brakes are working well before you set out. Even if you are not driving on steep roads, you need to make sure that they are in good order. Driving your car and testing them by using them is not really enough. It is wise to have a mechanic look at them and make sure that they are not too close to wearing out. If you have your vehicle regularly serviced then this should not be a problem, but otherwise it is good to get them checked, especially f they have not been checked for a long time. You may find that the brake discs or pads are starting to wear and that if you replace them, then you will be a lot safer than if you do not.

Tyre Tread

It is really important to make sure that your tyres have enough tread on them. If they are worn too low, then you could find that they will not get enough grip on the road. If it is icy or wet, then this could mean the car could skid out of control. Even in dry conditions, it will only take a little oil on the road to put you at risk, so it is so important that you protect yourself by making sure that your tyres have the grip that they need. [Read more…]

The Best Museums in the North of England

By Emily

There are a lot of museums that adorn the England. However, knowing which museums are worth spending your holiday can be a bit of a task if you do not know where to look. Here is a look at the best museums in the North of England what they have and where to find them.

Abbey House Museum

-Abbey Walk, Krikstall, Leeds, West Yorkshire-

The Abbey House Museum showcases the Victorian era’s lifestyle. It focuses on the everyday common man from that time. Unlike other museums which cater to the more royal and historical relics of eras, the Abbey House Museum has selections which were common to the common man. The Abbey House museum has received recognition for their child-friendly layout which allows for a hands on approach to learning the history of that time.

Walker Art Gallery

-William Brown Street, Liverpool, Merseyside-

If you want to get away from the Beetles and get a bit of the art and culture that England has to offer, consider visiting the Walker Art Gallery. The Museum has portraits including: Rembrandt’s Self-Portrait, royal portraits (such as that if Henry VIII and Elizabeth I). You can also enjoy the many sculptures which are part of the permanent exhibit. The museum also offers various special exhibitions throughout the year including Picasso on Paper, and Dante’s Dream.

Although there is a great deal of classical art on display in the walker Art Gallery, the Museum also houses a large selection of “modern” prints from artist as current as Joyn Bates and Edward Wadsworth.

The Imperial War Museum (IWM) North

Exterior View of IWMNorth

-The Quays, Trafford Wharf Road, Manchester-

The imperial war museum of North England shows various war artefacts from the Word War II era. Their current exhibition focuses on the service personnel and the ethnic mergers during that time. However, the museum has other displays as well such as the artworks by George Bultler, a historical picture show, and historical “live” performances. In the main exhibits the space timeline has shown how space and the military have advanced since the First World War.

Discovery Museum

-Blandford Square, Newcastle, Upon Tyne-

Families which are looking to visit a museum and provide your children with an engaging interactive experience should visit the Discovery Museum. The Free Admission is one of the main draws for those with several children (as a visit to a higher museum could get very costly). Yet, the museum’s free entry is not the main reason why this is one of the best museums in the North of England area. The museum has an interactive approach to many of the items which are on exhibit. This means that children are encouraged to see why things work the way that they do, be creative, and at the same time learn. One of the more popular kids exhibits is the Science Maze.

Adults will find that the Discovery Museum has several permanent displays catered to the older viewers such as the Tyneside Challenge, Working Lives (a showcase of how life has changed over 300 years), and the story of Tyne.

National Football Museum

-Cathedral Gardens, Manchester-

The National Football Museum boasts of being the largest collection of Football history and memorabilia in the world. See how your favourite teams came into existence and how they have changed over the years. With the football hall of fame showcasing all of the great football players from before the 1900s to currently, as well as collections including the world cup match ball from 1930, the football board game from 1884, and Pele Shirt of 1958 (and many others) sports enthusiasts are sure to have a good time.

Check to see when the museum will be hosing their events as you may come face to face with a football legend such as Gary Neville, John Barnes, and Faye White.

If the museum is not enough to get you excite, consider testing your own football skills at the football test interactive/ virtual exhibit. Here you can test to see if you have the passing, scoring, or just see if you are have the skills to make it to the next World Cup.

These are but five of the many museums and historical sites that you can find in the North of England. All of these areas are accessible using many forms of transport, in particular by train journey. If you are a Beatles fan visit Liverpool. If you want to experience a bit of history museums as well as have a day of adventure rides than Blackpool may be the areas for you. Of course, if you want to visit a castle museum there are a great many which you can choose from as England is known for our Castles. The point is that there are a great many places to visit in England and anyone’s style and personality can be found in one of the museums of Northern England. Which one will you visit?

Holidays in the Seychelles – Yes, They’re Worth It!

By Emily

Trying to get the most value for your money while you travel? We definitely don’t blame you there. With prices on the rise and holiday time being cut short at work, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t be a bit more particular about how you design your holiday. Yet when you’ve been saving up for a while to take that special holiday with your loved ones, you might wonder where you should go, and if the trip will be worth it.

Here’s a suggestion — why not think about some holidays in the Seychelles? Yes, you might have heard about the Seychelles and realized that it’s definitely going to be a luxurious trip where you’ll spend a little more money than in other places. However, the truth is that life sometimes needs to be lived more than just in budget mode. There are times where you really want to have the best of everything, and you can definitely have that in the Seychelles. They are truly amazing islands that hold a little something for everyone.

The way you design your trip will depend on not just what you want, but what everyone in your travel group wants. There’s no reason to think that you can’t possibly have a great time in the Seychelles because you don’t travel much, or because you’ve already done a lot of the following activities. When you travel to the Seychelles you’re actually going to be stepping into a completely different world where the activities take on a strange new dimension.

Take restaurants for example — you might think it’s a bit odd, but Creole cuisine reigns supreme. You can find great cuisine from all over the world in the Seychelles, which means that it’s a good opportunity to try new dishes that you might not have the chance to sample where you live.

The culture of the Seychelles has a rich history that should be explored with respect and curiosity. You want to be polite to the local residents that you meet, because they can show you parts of the island that get left out of the travel guides completely.

There are so many things to explore and do, you’re definitely going to have to book a car hire in order to see them all! Why not start planning your own trip to the Seychelles today — yes, it’s worth it!

How to Plan a Vacation Efficiently

By Emily

Planning a vacation efficiently certainly isn’t the easiest thing in the world, and the more things you want to see, the more expensive it is and the more people travelling, the more difficult it can become. From flights and hotels to tours and travel expenses, there are many things that you need to budget for and think about before finally setting off. Here are the steps that you should keep in mind when planning your vacation:

Talk to the people you’re travelling with

If you’re not travelling alone, you’ll need to talk with the other people who are travelling with you. Whether you’re travelling with your spouse or a huge group of friends, everybody must have a say as to how the vacation should be planned. You might find that there are disagreements regarding which country to visit, which sights to see and where to stay during the night. Since everybody is different, it’s important that you can discuss it properly and come to mutual agreements.

Plan a budget

Before you book anything, you need to understand exactly how much money you need to spend and how much money you can actually get. Your budget should be realistic, both in terms of how much you can save before you travel and how much you actually need. Many people try to underestimate how much they will actually spend while they’re away, but this is never a good idea. Everybody needs to understand the costs of a certain country or destination and what monetary sacrifice must be made.

Book flight and hotels

Once you’ve decided on a suitable budget, you can then start to search for flights and hotels which fit your price range. Remember that your budget should be flexible, since you might discover that hotels are more expensive than you initially thought. Tours, sight-seeing and daily travel should also be booked if possible and if it’s cheaper to book beforehand.

Make a list of things you need

Once all the main things are booked, you should make a list of the things that still need to be done or purchased and also a list of anything that you need to take. Make the list earlier and you won’t be as stressed about it. It also means that you’ll have more time to buy everything you need, and you can add more things to the list if necessary.

Budgeting for Your Summer Vacation

By Emily

Going away somewhere for the summer is something which many people wish they could do, but fewer people are able to budget carefully and plan out their vacation. Planning a great summer trip and budgeting properly doesn’t have to be difficult, and with a few simple tips, you’ll be well on your way to saving up, booking the trip and having the time of your life. Here are a few tips on budgeting for your summer vacation:

Budget before planning

Many people start planning the vacation and budget as they go along, which means that the budget often varies and they end up borrowing money or discovering that they can’t actually do the things that they wanted to do. You should first decide how much money you can afford to budget for your trip. You can then put this into different categories, e.g hotel, flights, spending money, sight-seeing. The trip can then be planned around the money that you do have, rather than frantically trying to get cash from somewhere at the last minute so you can enjoy yourself.

Ask a friend to travel with you

If you’re thinking of travelling alone at first, remember that you can save a lot of money by asking somebody to travel with you. The cost of hotels will be split, and it’s normally much cheaper per person to get a double or twin room rather than a single. This can make a huge difference to the overall cost of your trip, and sharing the memories with a friend or relative can make the vacation much more enjoyable.

Keep reviewing your budget

As you start planning and buying things for your trip, keep going back to your bank account and reviewing the money that you do have available. You may have gotten a raise at work or a summer bonus, meaning that you have a little extra cash to spend on your vacation.

Shop around for the best money exchange rates

If you’re travelling somewhere which uses a different currency than your home country, make sure that you shop around to find the best exchange rates. Choosing the first place you see can be a bad move, since foreign exchange rates can really take up a huge part of your budget. Look online to find which places offer the best rates of exchange, and remember to always read the small print in order to avoid paying any extra fees that you didn’t know about.

Travel Medical Insurance – Making the Best of a Bad Situation

By Emily

When traveling, it’s important to have the peace of mind that your medical expenses will be covered in the event of an emergency far from home. Many people do not factor in possible medical expenses for leisurely travels, but if medical issues arise, it’s best to have a plan in place to secure your finances. Some might believe that these insurance plans are a waste of money, especially for such brief travels. Travel medical insurance packages are inexpensive, and while they are not always needed, they can save a lot of money in the long run should a medical crisis occur away from home. To determine whether a travel medical insurance plan is right for you, it’s important to take a few ideas into consideration.

Medical History

In some cases, obtaining travel medical insurance might not even require a medical examination. The package will simply cover expenses incurred by medical crises while traveling. If you have pre-existing health conditions, purchasing a travel medical insurance package is highly recommended, since these issues can also be covered.

Types of Travel Medical Insurance Packages

A temporary medical travel plan is for people who don’t travel often – these are typically policies that cover single or infrequent trips. Permanent travel insurance programs are best for frequent travelers.

A travel agent can arrange payment for these policies through an insurance carrier, so when you sign up for one of these policies, you will actually pay your travel agent. The insurance company will then provide financial assistance if you have a medical emergency during your trip.

What the Plan Covers

Purchasing an inexpensive but effective travel insurance package is important. Many of these policies can cover medical expenses entirely, or they will cover a portion of them. Most plans will cover medical costs incurred anywhere in the world, but they limit the amount that they will pay. For example, some of these plans will pay about $100 per night for a hospital stay outside the U.S. or 50% of a doctor’s visit on a cruise ship. An appealing feature of some plans is the pre-existing condition benefit; for example, some will pay up to $15,000 for medical expenses.

An insurance plan for emergencies can ensure that a trip gone bad won’t be remembered for years to come due to staggering medical expenses. Although the need might never arise for travel medical insurance, it can definitely help to make the best of a bad situation.

Check Out the Classic Foods of Vienna

By Emily

Food is a gateway into another culture, and if you’re going to check out Vienna, you might as well start with the food! The long time residents of Vienna pride themselves on providing excellent food done in small batches with loving care. What foods should you try? As many as you can! You’ll find great deals if you step away from the more tourist-laden parts of the city and go where the locals go. That will give you the power to really see how food shapes the city as a whole.

There are so many elements to Vienna’s food scene. For example, you have the bistro, which is known for being extremely casual. It’s where you can go for a really good cup of coffee and one of the city’s famous little pastries. These pastries focus on quality ingredients and time rather than mass quantities. If you’re looking for a taste of something different, the bistro is definitely your first stop.

Then we have the sidewalk cafe, which is in the same vein as the bistro but a little different. You can expect sandwiches and soups, along with other little goodies. Many people have a bit of lunch before going home at one of these cafes, along with coffee.

Vienna is divided up into different districts, and it just depends on where you are in the city what food you’ll get. Apple strudel is a Viennese specialty, but that’s not the only dish waiting for you. You will also find a milk-cream strudel along with shredded pancakes served with fruit. There’s an interesting cake served in the city that’s got layers of chocolate cake with apricot jam right in the center of it. You’ll find these cakes on display all over the place.

Viennese dishes rely heavily on meat, although there are vegetarian dishes to check out. Dumplings are available that are stuffed with meat and vegetables, along with plenty of different soups to choose from. If you’re not used to a cuisine based heavily on meat, you might assume that you’re only getting muscle meats. That’s not the case at all. The residents of Vienna use all parts of the animal, from lungs to heart all the way down to the kidneys. Liver is also a great staple.

One favorite is the wiener schnitzel, which is pounded thin and breaded. It’s an extremely tender entree that has to be enjoyed piping hot in order to be appreciated.

There are a lot of different foods to try. Look for restaurants that give you sample plates to check out. It’s also a good chance to practice your German. While many in Vienna also speak English, it never hurts to show your temporary hosts that you are willing to learn the language that they use every single day. Check out Vienna today!

Jump to the Top of the Interview Pile with a Working Holiday

By Emily

You don’t need a news article to tell you that the job market as we know it is more competitive than ever before. In order to get your dream job, you might have to think about doing things that aren’t usually done. However, when most job seekers think about what they can do, they start feeling even more discouraged than before. The worry that they aren’t going to be able to do work they enjoy creeps in, completely destroying their hope of finding something better. They resign themselves to taking whatever job comes along, rather than going for their dreams.

Thankfully, it doesn’t have to be that way at all.

Enter the Working Holiday

A working holiday might sound like an odd proposition at first, but it makes perfect sense. You get to enjoy a “vacation” in the sense that you’re away from home, but you also get to do something fun and creative. There are plenty of short term jobs waiting for you in other locales. The trick here is to make sure that you start your search early. Instead of going back to the usual round of “anything goes”-style jobs and dreary nights inside with nothing to do, you get to take a trip to somewhere you haven’t been before. It’s up to you to build new social connections from there, along with checking into a job that really means something to you.

Working holidays combines the best of work and play in a way that will leave you refreshed. A year isn’t a very long time, but you have multiple options to make the most of it.

In the past, setting up a working holiday was absolute torture. You were often stuck trying to track down a thousand different people, while being at the mercy of all of those erratic and often unpredictable schedules. It made it extremely difficult to find a working holiday setup that flowed well with your lifestyle. You also had to try to figure out travel plans and requirements. Wouldn’t it be so much nicer to just know when your plane is leaving and where you’ll end up? [Read more…]

Car Hire

By Emily

Going on holiday to another country is wonderful as it allows you to experience something new and is a real adventure. Even if you’ve been there before, there are always plenty of other things to see and places to go. Getting out and about is essential if you really want to have a good time, and cheap hire car allows you to do just that!

Relaxing by the pool or spending all day at the beach is all well and good, but sometimes doing something different is a good idea as it’ll expand your horizons. With a car hire you’ll be able to drive around at your leisure, take in all the local culture and get away from the tourist areas.

Of course whether you need to rent a car depends on the type of holiday you’re going on. If your soul aim is to sit in the sun and top up your tan on an all inclusive holiday at a resort, there’s probably not much need for hiring a car. If however you’ve booked a private holiday villa or are taking a family holiday, a car would be ideal as you’ll be able to do much more than sit around.

These days, hiring a car can be cheap, easy and straightforward. Gone are the days of spending hours standing in queues or filling in paperwork only to be given the worst burnt out old banger in history. Booking online is a time and money saver as you simply type in your details and turn up on the day with a booking reference, your ID and driver’s licence. You can even choose what type of car you’d like.

LucrativeTravels.com is dedicated to showing you the absolute best companies, and with car hire it’s no different. There are a number of great websites out there, and almost all of them offer some kind of internet discount and you can even ask for a quote before you book. The net really is your best bet and it makes a once painful process considerably less stressful.

The fact is that hiring a car on a holiday is a great way to escape for a while and do your own thing. Whether you’re visiting markets, restaurants or simply going for a drive in the country it’s all doable and can turn a good holiday into a great one!

The Bales of BALI

By Emily

The panorama of azure skies and lush green foliage converge with the rolling Indian Ocean surf. Welcome to the idyllic Amanusa Resort on the southern tip of the island of Bali, “the peaceful isle.”

Amanusa Resort is one of 18 Amanresorts, and this one prides itself on its balance of physical beauty and spiritual roots, according to founder Adrian Zecha. At Amanusa you’ll find the art of the bale, perfected. Bales, known as cabanas or gazebos in other cultures, are a kind of traditional symbol of Bali. They’re usually made of local teak or coconut wood and topped with a thatched roof; Amanusa makes the most of its bales by creatively adapting them to the special needs of refuges from a stressful world, who start to relax just by spotting the nearest bale awaiting them on the shoreline.

A bale can be used as a private retreat, a room of one’s own just for reading, writing postcards, meditating, napping,or just plain decompressing. Private bales are each fitted with plush mattresses and thick roll cushions, according to resort personnel. Visitors can roll out a mattress, stretch out, and relax, in between dips in the safe lagoon or leisurely strolls along the white sand beach, and then return to the bale for refreshments or a light meal. (Each beach bale is outfitted with a ceramic pot of frangipani water to wash away the sand.) Visitors can also enjoy a massage in the privacy of the bale to the accompanying sound of gentle waves of the Indian Ocean. The trained Amanusa masseuses combine Swedish and traditional Balinese massage techniques.

For more active guests, the tennis center provides two all weather tennis courts, and so there’s another bale between the courts for shady breaks, complete with iced chrysanthemum tea and other refreshers.

Traditionally, each Balinese village has a larger bale which serves as a kind of community gathering center, and Amanusa resort has borrowed a bit of this authentic culture for its luncheon facilities, a larger, dining bale with its rattan-screen windbreak. After lunch, during low tide guests can walk out to the coral reef for a quick dip to look at the teeming fish; athigh tide, they can make use of the snorkeling equipment to swim out and explore.

But there’s more to Bali than its bales. And that includes the more conventional aspects of luxury vacations. At Amanusa, each of the 35 spacious suites mixes up a peaceful palette of serenity with smoothly blended crème walls, beige thatched ceilings, and mahogany furniture. The bathroom beckons to guests once they catch the hint of the scent of frangipanis evoked by the hot bath water awaiting in the marble-tiled sunken bathtub. Glass doors open up to phenomenal views of the sparkling crystal-blue waters of the Indian Ocean or the rolling glistening fairways of the Bali Golf and Country Club.

The bales of Bali and Amanusa provide the perfect setting for a tranquil holiday escape to “the peaceful isle.”