essentialtravelguides.net

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If you are fond of diving and you love to see different species, with a beach so awesome, Palawan is the place to be! With over 1,700 islands and islets, Palawan is known as having one of the most beautiful seascapes in the world. You may see the exotic marine life such as the giant clams, the whale sharks and the sea cows when you’re out exploring the sea.

One of the beaches that you can visit at Palawan is El Nido. El Nido is not a certain resort. It is a town found in Palawan that offers a quiet commune with nature. A place that still has the diverse ecosystems and the rainforests and mangroves are still lush.
It has a great white sand beach and magnificent coral reefs to dive.

The only difference in the beaches in Palawan is that they are less commercialized. You won’t be able to notice the time when you stay their and relax. They are the perfect get-away from the noisy urban life.

Image source: www.eikongraphia.com

Barcelona is studded with the unmistakable modernism of Antoni Gaudi, who single handedly landed the city on the architectural map. A stroll down the grand avenue Passeig de Gracia will take you directly in front of both Casa Batllo and Casa Mila, which are incredible feats of art and design and fully accessible to the public. Make reservations to have cocktails and watch the sun set on the Alice In Wonderland like rooftop of Casa Mila only available for the summer season. Wind your way through the narrow passages of the Gothic Quarter, the oldest part of town, until you find the overwhelming and unmistakable Gothic Cathedral just remember to watch your pockets.

Just an hour north of Barcelona in the town of Figueres is Northern Spain most interesting and unique museum. The Dali museum is so extraordinary because it was designed and constructed by the artist himself and the collection of his works is unsurpassed anywhere else in the world. The coastline north of Barcelona, extending to the French border, is known as the Costa Brava and is one of the Mediterranean most exclusive and beautiful vacation destinations. Additionally, Catalonia countryside is spotted with superb Spanish wine vineyards and olive groves. Once you fall in love with Barcelona, it will be extremely difficult to leave; however, there are a few other gems in the north to explore in order to have really traveled Spain.

So you’re about to travel to another country or state, but don’t know what to do next. Don’t worry, it’s normal for first-time travelers. First thing you have to do is relax and focus on the very first task at hand: your backpack or luggage.

Here’s the list of Must-Haves in your pack when traveling abroad:

• Valid passport
• Tickets and itinerary
• Visa
• Address list of important contacts
• Cellphone
• Clothing

The bulk of your luggage or pack will be your clothing. So make sure you just pack the right amount. Too few and you’ll most likely be buying clothes when you arrive from the airport, too many and you’ll be too tired of carrying your bag around–it’s a balancing act.

So how do you pack them all in? We’ll deal with that on the next post.

With the high airfare prices, it’s much more practical to go by land, if it’s a possible. But before jumping on your SUV’s here are some guides for road safety

1. Have a maintenance condition check of your SUV/car before traveling
2. Have an emergency kit which includes flashlight, medicines, spare battery and other essentials tools
3. Have a road map, if traveling to a new place, it will avoid getting lost
4. Have your cell fully charged, this is a great help when calling for someone incase of emergency
5. And lastly, check your car fuel, it is best to have it full tank to lessen the stop-over.

Good thing now a day is that eating out need not to be expensive. There are ways and tips to help expand our meal allowance for the duration of our travel. Just follow these guides;
1. Before traveling, always bring snacks that have a substantial shelf life and can be jam in
your backpack – crackers, nuts, juices, canned foods.
2. When traveling with a group, don’t forget to share everything….food & during payment
3. Stay in a hotel with free breakfast
4. If a free fruit bowl is given, consume it as a snack, its already paid
5. Get a take-out from resto outside the hotel, it’s less expensive

(image source : npsp.sa.gov.au)

There are lot of safety tips and guides when traveling and the most important thing to consider is our own personal safety. The most basic personal guide that we can do is letting our family / trusted friend know where we are going. And when we reach our destination, it is best to give them a call and let them know our hotel details. Also, when traveling abroad it is best to have a safety deposit box in your hotel, this is a safe way to keep your passport or important papers and avoid getting it stolen. And lastly, ask for the local police station number, it is of great value. All of this is a great help when emergency arises.

(imager source : medinfo2go.com)

This is a part two of our road trip. But this time it focuses more on giving out tips on packing or what to bring. So here are some to help us…

1. For long travels, bring inflatable neck pillows for your companion
2. Have an ample supplies of snacks and drinks, which can be placed on a coolers
3. Bring small toys or books when traveling with kids, this will lessen their boredom in the road
4. Have a handy spare clothes, this will lessen rummaging through your whole luggage
5. And have a small toilet bag which includes toilet paper, alcogel, small toothbrush and other handy essentials

(image source : ccah.org)

Family pets are often a regarded as already a part of the family. Leaving them behind when you are traveling out of town is really hard. Here are some tips that can make your pet travel fun and safe.

- Check in with your veterinarian. Get a clean bill of health if your pet is fit to travel. Most airline and travel destinations require a clean bill of health (pet’s health certificate dated within 10 days prior to travel before your pet can fly with you). Also check with your travel agent if your destination state requires pets to have an automatic quarantine upon arrival for your pet whether or not there is an outbreak of a disease.
- Have your pets wear ID tags – with your name and phone no. (in case it is unfortunate that he got lost)
- Make your pet comfortable – ensure that the pet is cool, comfortable and travel-worthy.
- Plan ahead for all travel accommodations – Many accommodations do not accept pets and some that do have only a limited number of rooms available to pet owners. If traveling through air, ensure that reservations are made at least 3 months prior to your journey since many airlines limit the number of pets flying on each plane.

Travel is not recommended for smaller animals and birds because of the stress it causes them. Reptiles are especially discouraged because of their specialized requirements.

(image source : nydailynews.com)

Being pregnant does not mean you have to stay at home all the time. Of course they can travel, but much care and caution should be given because of their condition.

The American Pregnancy Association has given several tips to keep the pregnant woman safe and comfortable during travel.

How to make the best of your travels during pregnancy?

* Dress comfortably in loose cotton clothing and wear comfortable shoes
* Take your favorite pillow
* Plan for plenty of rest stops, bathroom breaks and stretches
* Carry snack foods with you
* If you are traveling any distance, make sure to carry a copy of your prenatal records
* Wear your seatbelt and take other safety measures
* Enjoy the trip

(image source : ivillage.com)

Buckle Up Your Kids

Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death and disability among children.

Children who are not properly buckled up may be seriously hurt not only in crashes, but also from sudden stops.

To keep children safe, EVERYBODY needs a safety belt or safety seat.

The violent forces of a crash can cause anyone who rides loose to be thrown out of the vehicle and seriously hurt. People riding without belts or safety seats can also hurt others who are buckled up by being thrown against them.

Seven out of 10 child safety seats are not used the right way. Vehicle seats and safety belts are built to fit adults, not children, which can make it hard to properly buckle up. Buckling your child in the appropriate restraint — the right way, can protect them during a crash or sudden stop.

The facts above are all the very reason why the Minnesota Office of Traffic Safety created the Buckle Up Kids Brochure.

This information can save your child’s life, read and put it into practice.

(image source : http://www.buckleupkids.state.mn.us/)