My travel blog

When travelling, whether it’s by bus, plane, or train, you may find yourself nodding off.  This is especially true if you’re on a long trip or travelling very early or very late and therefore won’t arrive at your hotel or lodgings for a long time after actually starting out on your journey.  There’s nothing wrong with taking a nap during travel, but sometimes, it can be difficult.  If you want to get a little shut eye, consider the following.

Take your own small travel pillow.  The pillows some travel services provide may be very lumpy or too soft.  If you find a travel pillow you like and sleep on in for a night or two before your trip, you’ll be used to it and will be able to fall asleep more easily.  You may also want to take a small travel blanket if you get cold easily.  You’ll want it to be fairly small, though, so it will fit in your carry-on bag.

Ear plugs may also be another necessity.  If you have a hard time falling asleep due to noise, you’ll have a hard time sleeping during travel.  People are often talking, the flight attendants are moving around, and the vehicle itself (no matter what kind of vehicle it is) makes a lot of noise.  Just remember that you will need to know when you need to get off, so if you’re a really heavy sleeper, ask the person next to you to wake you at the appropriate time.

Headphones are another option, although you need to remember to keep the volume low enough that your neighbour can’t hear your music.  The last thing you want to do is annoy everyone around you, especially if they’re trying to sleep as well.

Finally, if you’re going to be travelling for more than four hours or so and you get motion sickness easily, you may want to take some medication.  These medications often help you sleep.  Again, make certain someone will wake you since the sleep induced by these medications is usually very heavy.

If you’re visiting the city and staying at one of the magnificent hotels in Oslo, you’ve got to take a stroll through the Vigeland Sculpture Park.  This park contains an amazing number of sculptures—192, to be exact—that depict over 600 different historical figures.  All of them were done in full size by the artist Gustav Vigeland.  He had no help at all—he did them all.  He also designed the layout of the park and the settings.

Vigeland was born in Norway, and he first started out doing woodcarvings and drawings.  At 15, he became apprenticed to a master sculptor, although he had to take time off from his studies following the death of his father.  One of his major influences was Auguste Rodin.

Vigeland began his park layout around the piece of work known as the Fountain.  The Oslo city council approved this work based on the model Vigeland presented, but they didn’t have enough money to fully fund the project.  While waiting, Vigeland kept adding more and more sculptures to his plan, and in 1924, the city council decided he should use Frogner Park as the location of his project.  The park was renamed Vigeland Park in his honour, and up until his death, Vigeland added more and more sculptures to the project.

You’ll find a number of amazing sights in the park.  The main gate, made up of five large gates, two gate houses, and two pedestrian gates, serves as the entrance to the park.  It leads to the bridge, where you’ll find 58 different sculptures, including the popular Sinnataggen, the “Little Angry Boy.”  After you pass over the bridge, you’ll reach the Fountain, the centre of the park.  Other sections of note include the Children’s Playground, the Monolith Plateau, and the Wheel of Life.  All of these statues are incredibly impressive, and you’ll find yourself spending a whole afternoon wandering through the park. And what better way to wind down your day than by having a relaxing drink in your hotels bar and discussing the days fascinating sites.

No one enjoys cancelling their trip, but sometimes it must happen.  Whether due to a death in the family, or some other issue, you may think that you’ve lost all of the money you’ve invested in your holiday.  However, that may not always be true.

As soon as you decide to cancel your trip, you need to start making calls.  Call your airline, bus line, or train line and see if you can get a refund on your tickets.  If you cancel early enough, this should be possible.  At the very worst, you’ll get credit for a future trip.  If you’re cancelling a week or less, however, you may not get either.  Take note of the company’s cancellation policy when you make your reservations.

Next, call your lodging.  Here, you can usually get a refund if you cancel, although many hotels ask that you cancel at least 48 hours before you planned to arrive.  Again, ask about the cancellation policy when you make your reservations so you’ll know.  The same applies to rental cars.

When it comes to event tickets and other activities, you’re less like to get your money back.  Many tickets state that no refunds are available when you purchase them.  There are a couple of options here.  First, if you’re cancelling a month or so in advance, you may be able to sell your tickets to someone else or put them up on an online auction.

If you can’t get a refund on anything, you may want to give away your reservations and tickets to others.  If you were travelling with a group, this may be fairly easy.  If you know people who live in the area you were planning to visit, you can offer them your event tickets.  If neither of these is an option, you may simply have to accept the fact that you’ve lost the money you invested.

Going on a holiday can be very exciting.  However, it can also be a little nerve-wracking, too.  There is a lot to do before going on your trip, and if you don’t stay on top of it, you may find yourself suddenly rushing around the day before you leave.  Here are some things to keep in mind to make your pre-trip preparation a bit easier.

Make a to-do list.  This is one of the most helpful things you can do, even though it seems like a simple idea.  Write down everything that has to be done before you leave.  If possible, go into a lot of detail.  For example, under “packing,” you may even to a daily breakdown of your trip and list out your wardrobe.  This can help keep your packing under control, too, since you’ll have an idea of all the clothing you’ll need to pack.

Be sure to either have someone lined up to collect your mail or have the post office hold it until you return.  You don’t want your mailbox to overflow, nor do you want checks or other important items being stolen out of your mailbox while you’re gone.

You’ll also need to make arrangements for your pets and your plants while you’re gone.  For your pets, you’ll need to either have plans to board them or find someone to stop by and feed them.  You may, in fact, even want to hire a house sitter to watch your pets while you’re gone.  As far as plants go, if you’ll be gone for a week or more, you may need someone to water them.

Make certain you’ve purchased everything you need for your trip before the last minute.  You don’t want to have to make one more store run before you pack or leave on your trip, nor do you want to have to purchase items after you arrive.  This is another place where a pre-trip packing list can help.  Don’t forget things like travel soap and shampoo.

Finally, be sure you factor in plenty of time to deal with any sort of emergency the day you leave on your trip.  Give yourself plenty of time to get to the airport, for example, just in case traffic is bad.

There’s a lot to do in Dublin, Ireland, just as there’s a lot to do in just about any city in the world.  If you’re visiting Dublin and staying in Dublin hotels or other accommodation in the city centre, here are some places you may want to visit.  This list is only a few of the interesting things Dublin offers its guests.

•    The Dublin Zoo has been in operation since 1830 and is the world’s third-oldest zoo.  It is based in the city’s largest park and features a number of exotic animals.

•    Dublin Castle dates back to the early 1200s and is one of the oldest surviving buildings in Dublin.  If you’re interested in architecture or in the history of Ireland, you won’t want to pass by the castle.

•    The Dublin Writer’s Museum in Parnell Square North contains information about many of Ireland’s greatest writers, including the country’s four Nobel Prize winners.

•    Literary fans will also want to visit the James Joyce Museum.  The museum is housed in a Martello Tower that was actually built to defend Ireland against an invasion by Napoleon and his French army.

•    Malahide Castle, an old fortress built on a 250 acre park, is set on the seaside and is an example of what happens when many different architectural styles collide.  It’s a must-see for anyone interested in buildings and architecture.

•    For fans of playwright George Bernard Shaw, a visit to his birthplace is a must.  This Victorian home, his first, has been restored and gives great insight into his creative genius.

Purchasing souvenirs and gifts for others while on holiday doesn’t have to be expensive.  Instead, with a bit of planning, you can purchase gifts for everyone without spending a lot of money. Before going on holiday, make a list of those for whom you wish to purchase gifts.  This will keep you from panicking while shopping since you’ll know exactly how many gifts you need to purchase.  You can also set a budget for each person.  You may want to get something cheap for your co-workers, but you might want to spend a little more on your close friends. If you have concerns about your budget, put off purchasing souvenirs until the latter part of your trip if possible.  While buying your friends gifts may be something you really want to do, having money for eating or for your lodging is more important.  Make certain you can afford necessary things before buying souvenirs. Avoid hotel gift shops if possible.  Often, they are overpriced and sell cheap trinkets.  You can usually find more interesting (or at least cheaper) souvenirs in locally-run shops.  Even chain stores may provide cheaper or more interesting souvenirs than those sold by gift shops aimed specifically at tourists. If you know that your friends collect specific things (snow globes, pens, fridge magnets, etc.), shopping for them can be very easy.  Just include what they collect on your list of people to shop for, and you’ll find it’s very easy to find and purchase gifts for all of your friends.

Travelling by air can be a bit stressful these days with all the new security procedures and other regulations.  Many airlines have recently introduced new baggage rules, and it’s important for you to know what these rules are before you arrive at the airport.  If you don’t, you may find yourself spending a lot of extra money.

In the past, the general rule was that you were allowed two checked bags and two carry-ons with each ticket.  However, many airlines have cut that down to one checked bag, and some are even charging for all checked baggage now.  Plus, there are size and weight restrictions.  If your bag is too heavy, you may have to leave some items behind or pay to mail them home, which can be very expensive.  At the very least, you’ll have to frantically rearrange things and put heavy items into your carry-on or other bag.

Carry-ons have very strict size restrictions.  Usually, an airport will have a simple way of determining if your carry-on is regulation size or not: you simply put your bag in a box.  If it fits, your carry-on is the right size.  If it’s too big, you’ll have to count it as a checked bag.  The dimensions of each airline’s carry-on bag (some do actually have different sizes) can be found on their websites.

Most airlines allow you to have a second carry-on in the form of a laptop bag, a large purse, or a baby bag.  You can usually carry a good amount of stuff between these two bags—in fact, if you’ll just be out of town for a few days, you may not even need to check a bag.  Many people who travel for business learn to pack everything they need into a small carry-on to avoid the fees for checked bags and to make it easier to haul their luggage around.

Remember, no matter how long you’re travelling or which airline you’re flying, it’s very important to know the baggage regulations.  Always check the airline’s website or call and talk to a representative before packing, even if you’re flown with that airline before.  Knowing the restrictions can save you a lot of stress and time.

When you arrive in Hong Kong, you’ll notice something right away: few people have cars.  In fact, more than 90% of the daily travel in Hong Kong is done via public transportation.  Buses, taxis, railways, ferries, and trams all operate within the city, and almost all take the Octopus card, a card that allows users to easily pay for fairs, parking,  and even convenience store purchases and some restaurant purchases.  Getting an Octopus card will save you a lot of hassle over paying for fairs and can even be obtained from some Hong Kong hotels, making it even easier to get one.

The MTR is Hong Kong’s rapid transit system, and it has more than 150 stations spread across the city.  The MTR includes the tramway system, a network of trams that serves mostly northern Hong Kong.  It’s the only system in the world that uses only double decker buses.  In fact, few single decker buses have been used in Hong Kong since the introduction of the double decker bus in 1949.  A few single decker buses are used, but you will probably only see them in less travelled locations.  Most bus lines run until around 1 a.m.

If you’re travelling in the hilly terrain in and around Hong Kong, however, you’ll learn that buses simply can’t traverse the steep areas.  Instead, you’ll find the Peak Tram, a vertical rail transport.  It has been in operation since 1888 and connects Central and Victoria Peak.  In other areas, such as the Central district and the Western district, you’ll also find outdoor escalators.  This system includes the Mid-Levels escalator, the world’s longest outdoor covered escalator.

Finally, the Star Ferry service allows visitors to travel across Victoria Harbour.  The ferries not only give tourists a great view of the city of Hong Kong but they also provide transportation to mainland China, Macau, and other nearby islands.

Visiting Hong Kong is a great, exotic trip, but you don’t want that trip to be ruined by exhaustion.  Once you figure out the city’s public transportation system and get your Octopus card, however, you’ll see that you can easily get around the city and take in all that Hong Kong has to offer.

Travelling costs a lot of money - there’s transportation, lodging, events, and meals.  Many people look to cut as many costs as possible, but it can be difficult.  Even the cheapest hotel, for example, is usually a good amount of money.  The same goes for transportation.  One of the ways you can save money, though, is to watch how much you spend on meals while travelling. The first thing to realise is that eating out at restaurants is expensive no matter where you go.  However, this is also one of the best ways to sample the local culture, especially if you’re travelling abroad.  While you may not be able to dine out for every meal of your trip, allow yourself at least one nice meal so you can at least try the local food. However, for other meals, you’ll want to save money.  One way of doing this is to visit a local shop and purchase things like eggs and bacon.  This takes care of breakfast.  Of course, if your hotel offers a free breakfast, take full advantage of that!  You might even want to take a fruit, if some is available on the breakfast bar, and save it for a snack later.  You can also purchase cereal, bread, and other non-perishables to eat. If your hotel room has a mini-fridge, you can even buy sandwich meat, cheese, and a few other small cold items to compliment your meal.  This can also save on drinks since the fizzy drink machines in hotels tend to be expensive.  If you go out to a restaurant and order a large meal, you may even get two meals out of it providing it is something you can eat cold.  Some hotel rooms feature microwaves, which really opens up your eating options. Fast food, while not healthy, is another cheap alternative to restaurants and room service.  Fast food restaurants appear in nearly every city, so you can usually find at least one near your hotel.  Ordering delivery is another option, but you do have to include the delivery fee into your budget, and that can get expensive fairly quickly. If you’re driving to your destination, you have more options because you can pack a cooler of ice and take just about anything with you.  This knocks out going to the store when you arrive and, as long as you keep ice in your cooler, you don’t need to worry about having a refrigerator in your room, either. These tips are just a few ways you can save money on eating when travelling.  Keep them in mind next time you head out of town and you might just find that you have more money left over to spend on other things!

Sometimes, it seems impossible to pack everything you’ll need on a trip in only a few bags, especially if you’ll be out of town for over a week.  You’ve seen the cartoons of people sitting on their suitcases to get them to closed, and if that’s you, here are some ideas for saving on space.

First, purchase travel toiletries.  These small bottles of shampoo, conditioner, and other toiletries take up much less space than regular bottles.  Also, if you don’t mind using the provided shampoos and other soaps the hotel offers, you might not even need to take these toiletries.  You may also want to purchase small bottles of soap once you arrive and then throw away whatever is left over when you leave.

When packing clothing, try to select outfits that you can mix and match.  If you will be wearing jeans most of the time, remember that you can usually wear a pair of jeans for several days.  Likewise, you may find that one over shirt or dressy jacket can work with several different outfits, saving you a bit of space.

If your lodging has a laundry room, you can dramatically cut down on the amount of clothing you take.  Just be ready to do a bit of laundry about halfway through your trip.  You can usually purchase laundry soap from your lodging or nearby grocery store, so you won’t need to pack that either.

To save space in your luggage and keep it from getting wrinkled, you can wear your suit jacket while travelling.  Yes, this does open up the possibility of it getting stained while on the flight, train ride, or bus, but if you’re careful, you’ll arrive with your jacket looking great.