Archives: Answers

Madagascar isn’t necessarily the safest place to visit with kids. Indeed, kidnapping cases and crime rates have been increasing in Madagascar due to a surge in unemployment caused by political unrest.

Kidnappings-for-ransom in Madagascar, have been particularly targeting wealthy tourists including business professionals and expatriates. For this reason, we often recommend travellers to sign up for an organised tour package to Madagascar or to opt for a local tour guide in Madagascar.

Most common types of crime in Madagascar – How to stay safe in Madagascar?

Crowded places in urban and tourist centres in Madagascar record several cases of pickpocketing, of which a significant amount take place at night. Therefore, it is important that you keep an eye on your belongings when in public spaces. It is also discouraged to walk alone after dark, especially on beaches. To ensure your safety, you should also avoid going out with expensive-looking belongings like jewellery, cameras or designer clothes/accessories while in Madagascar. There are also several cases of bush taxis drivers robbing foreign passengers, so make sure you’re only using reputable ones. With the increase in carjacking, we would not recommend you to drive on your own in Madagascar. Criminals have been known to block streets with big rocks or stage a breakdown, forcing you to stop and subsequently robbing you.

Places to avoid in Madagascar

● Avenue de L’independence – Persistent and aggressive panhandling
● Southern districts of Toliara and Fianarantsoa provinces – Armed robberies

So you’re looking into the best things to do in Kos on your trip. Yes, Kos Town is worth visiting. As the capital of Kos, many don’t put the town on their bucket list, but Kos Town is one of the best places to visit in Kos. With a rich history, plenty to do, fantastic cuisine, and some of Kos’ best shops, many souvenir shops burst with handmade crafts and local products. Stock up on delicious Greek herbs and olive oil, or start your Christmas shopping early. There’s a fantastic range of places to eat in Kos Town, some with amazing views of the harbour.

The drive from Atlantica Porto Bello Beach is around 35 minutes which is very doable for a day trip! The best way to get between Atlantica Porto Bello Beach and Kos Town is by taxi, which will cost you around €40 each way. There’s also the option to book an excursion with a local tour company which will pick you up at the hotel, provide return transfers and give you a set amount of time to explore Kos Town. This is the cheapest option. How ever you decide to travel to Kos Town, this excursion is a must.

So you haven’t been able to book your overseas summer holiday this year because of the Covid uncertainty and you’re thinking of visiting Cornwall in December instead. December is one of the best times to visit Cornwall, although the experience will differ from visiting Cornwall in the summer.

The weather in Cornwall averages 7-10°C, which is a lot colder than the Cornwall temperature you’ll be used to! Make sure you pack a good winter coat with gloves and a scarf.

You can still enjoy the beaches in Cornwall during the winter. Winter walks on the Cornwall beaches are some of the best in the UK, and there will be fewer tourists. The weather should still be nice enough for a quick play on the beach or a splash in the puddles. Porthmeor beach in St Ives is one of the best beaches to do this.

In December, Cornwall gears up for the festive season, with many towns and villages having amazing Christmas lights. Think about visiting the switching on of the Christmas lights in either Truro or the picturesque village of Mousehole. If you stay in Cornwall until the New Year, there are many more celebrations, the best of which are in St Ives. Locals and tourists alike get into fancy dress and walk around the town. Earlier in the evening, this is a very family-friendly affair.

Wherever you choose to visit Cornwall in December, you’re guaranteed to have a fantastic time, and you’ll be able to see Cornwall from a whole new perspective than during the summer.

 

So you’ve booked your trip to Singapore, and now you’re wondering the best way to get from Changi Airport to the city centre. There are various transport options from Changi Airport to suit all budgets, all with varying durations.

The cheapest option is to catch the MRT, the local underground network connecting the whole city through a series of lines. Sometimes the MRT might mean you have to change lines a few times. The nearest MRT station to the Fairmont Hotel is City Hall. The journey should take around 35 minutes, and you’ll have to change at Tanah Merah station.

Another efficient but slightly more expensive option is the city shuttle. The minibuses will take you to any tourist accommodation in the city for a fixed price of $9 per adult and $6 per child, but you’ll have to share the minibus with a few others and make a stop at a few hotels.

A private taxi is the best option to whisk you from the airport to your accommodation in no time, straight to the door so you don’t have to spend time searching for the entrance. A taxi from Changi Airport to the Fairmont hotel should take around 39 minutes.
Make sure you contact your hotel as many provide free or discounted shuttle services from Changi Airport. Whatever your budget, there’s plenty of options to get from Changi Airport to the city centre.

Lastly, most travel agents will be able to book a a private or shuttle airport transfer for you at a much lower price than you would pay for the same service on arrival.

While there are deadly spiders in Australia, there has been no death from a spider bite in Australia for a couple of years. Treating spider bites in Australia has become an easier task after an effective antivenom was introduced. A total count of under 15 deaths from a spider bite have been recorded in Australia, while over 30 people get bitten every year.

However, it is important that you monitor your state of health after a spider bite in Australia. A bite from the most common type of funnel-web spider in Australia can cause pain, swelling, respiratory distress, numbness, discomfort and even increasing heartbeat.

Depending on the individual, this can also develop into an infection or allergic reaction requiring hospitalisation in Australia. In the worst case scenario, a severe allergy can lead to the most dangerous reaction — anaphylactic shock, which can be fatal. We highly recommend you get medical help immediately if you have any severe or worrying symptoms after a spider bite in Australia.

How to avoid getting a spider bite in Australia?

We’ve mentioned about the funnel-web spiders that can lead to a variety of worrying symptoms; these spiders often make an appearance in the summer when days are warmer, they usually hide behind rocks and rubbish. While you might want to avoid such spaces, you should also always check for spiders hiding in your shoes and other household items especially if these have not been worn in a long time or been kept outside overnight. Wearing long sleeve clothing can also help in avoiding a spider bite in Australia.

What is the most venomous spider in Australia?

The most venomous spider in Australia is the Sydney funnel-web spider which can cause death if symptoms are severe and untreated. Of course, with over 2000 types of spiders, it can be difficult to recognise which are dangerous spiders in Australia, however it’s good to know that only a few of them are highly venomous spiders.

Besides funnel-web spiders, another type of spider you should always be careful of is the redback spider, often found in drier areas of Australia. Just like its name suggests, this type of spider is highly recognisable with its distinctive red stripe. A redback spider bite can result in severe pain that may last for a couple of days.

Although less common, these other spiders in Australia are also listed as highly dangerous:

• Northern tree funnel-web spider,
• Smaller Southern tree funnel web spider,
• Recluse spider

So you’ve found a cheap deal to Ibiza, and you’re trying to figure out the best area in Ibiza to visit? It’s essential to know a bit more about the different destinations in Ibiza before you make your decision. Ibiza IS an island of many sides and where you stay depends on your reasons for visiting Ibiza. Ibiza is well-known worldwide as a party island, but it also has a laid back side, with plenty of family-friendly resorts.

If you’re looking for a family destination in Ibiza, I recommend Es Cana and neighbouring Cala Nova on the North-Eastern coast, popular with package tourists. There is plenty to do in these areas for families. Nearby, Santa Eulalia is also a good choice with its large beach, plenty of eateries and many family-friendly hotels. Cala Llonga is also great for families with its sizeable cove-like beach and safe swimming.

San Antonio, Playa d’en Bossa and some Ibiza Town areas (Eivissa) are party orientated, popular with clubbers from around the world, so I would avoid these areas, especially if you’re worried about noise.

When you’ve found the perfect hotel, make sure you look at the reviews so you can be assured that the hotel is what you’re looking for.

Athens is an excellent choice of destination. The city is popular with tourists all year round but some times of year are better than others. Ultimately, the best time of year to visit Athens is in May, June, and September when there’s excellent weather, fewer crowds and a bearable temperature. December is a wonderful time to see Christmas in Athens and all the seasonal specialities.

Temperatures vary dramatically. Winters in Athens are mild, with temperatures being as low as 3 °C. The city is quieter, and there are fewer tourists, so you can enjoy the freedom of exploring the city without having to wait in long lines for attractions, most of which are open all year round, although many have reduced opening hours. There are also seasonal highlights like the chance to see Athens lit up with Christmas lights or the fantastic Christmas shopping options throughout the city.

In the summertime, Athens can get very hot (up to 32°C), which can be good or bad depending on what you’d like to do. The Athens Riviera is a must-visit during the summer in Athens. There’s plenty of beaches to explore, and you’d think you were on one of the Greek islands! I recommend Edem Beach – a public beach near the city centre with crystal clear waters and a lovely beach restaurant. Kavouri beach is also beautiful. Summer is the best time of year to see the Athens sunsets, a phenomenon that can’t be missed!

Unlike other touristy countries in Asia, traveling around China can get pretty tricky due to language barriers, but in short – yes, you can travel to China without speaking Chinese.

Now, will it be hard to explore China only speaking English? Yes it will be challenging but not completely impossible if you prepare and plan ahead properly. You’re also more likely to come across English-speaking people in big cities like Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou so this makes it very feasible!

It’s also important that out of respect, you do not assume that all Chinese people can’t speak English – you will come across local people who have a perfect command of the English language, while some others will just run away once you open your mouth to ask a question but that’s not out of arrogance, it is simply due to the insecurity caused by their incompetence in speaking English so don’t take it personally.

How to travel around China without speaking Chinese?

Luckily, there are many ways to get around China without speaking Chinese. Planning a successful trip to China when you only speak English begins right at home – there are multiple free translation apps for China that you can download to find your way around and to ease communication with local Chinese people.

We’d also recommend that you stay at a reputable hotel in China if you want to feel comfortable and understood by the English-speaking staff. Most of the time, the smaller hotels like guesthouses, inns and hostels do not necessarily have English-speaking staff to assist you and this can get rather frustrating at times. Another tip is also to always ask the hotel reception staff for a hotel business card, that way, you can travel around with it and just show it to taxi drivers whenever required.

Booking a travel package holiday to China is probably going to be most efficient  – all the tour operators I use ensure they have  English-speaking tour guides and destination reps across China. All the tour operators I book my clients with are able to arrange private and escorted tours with pre-planned itineraries where assistance is offered by English speaking staff at every step.

Thankfully, a lot of restaurants in China have a picture menu so you will just have to point at the image to place an order, you can also easily find reputable fast food chains across the country including KFC, McDonald’s and Burger King.

 

Whatever shape or form, Cannabis is on the list of illegal substances in the UK. Therefore, legally speaking, you are NOT allowed to bring back edibles from Amsterdam to the UK, even if baked in cookies or brownies.

If you’re doing so, then you’re taking one major risk of getting caught by the UK customs, who as a matter of fact, often target flights and other modes of transportation coming back from Amsterdam for intensive searches, even more so when traveling with a group of young friends. The search process includes lots of questioning, getting swabbed, along with all bags and pockets checked by sniffer dogs.

Airports in particular are considered as “no tolerance” zones when it comes to smuggling drugs from Amsterdam to any other country where the consumption of Marijuana is considered illegal. Take note that even if the destination you’re traveling to allows the use of cannabis, it might not necessarily be legal to bring in those substances from other countries (example: Canada)!

Drug Penalties in the UK – What happens if you get caught with weed at the airport in the UK?

Getting caught with weed at the airport in the UK will not only lead to the illegal substances being confiscated but also, you can end up with a fine or even an arrest. The penalties imposed will depend on the type, quantity you’re carrying, and whether you’re dealing.

According to UK law, you can get a fine or prison sentence if you:

1. Take drugs
2. Carry drugs
3. Make drugs
4. Sell, deal or share drugs

Although light fines and warnings are given to those in possession of cannabis in the UK, getting caught with weed at the UK airport might lead to more severe penalties. Cannabis is considered a Class B drug type in the UK. If found guilty of possessing cannabis, you could earn up to 5 years of imprisonment, an unlimited fine or both.

 

Exotic food is common in China, but it will depend on what type of market you want to eat from. For example, Beijing has some of the best food night markets and snack alleys – Wangfujing Snack Street, Qianmen Snack Street and Niu Jie Muslim Snack Street are the most popular Chinese food markets among tourists and locals alike.

However, you will need to prepare to see the most unusual items at the stalls in Chinese food markets – these range from insects, reptiles, sheep’s particular parts and much more. The Donghuamen Night Market for instance, has been on every foodie’s travel bucket list for years mainly because you could simply find all sorts of weird food items. That being said, the market closed down in 2016 due to hygiene concerns (re-used oil).

For that reason, it is important that you do some research on the market you want to visit and eat at in China. With COVID-19 being linked with the origin of a “wet-market” in Wuhan, and lots of talk coming up about food hygiene in China, most travellers often go for the safer option – avoiding eating at markets in China and sticking to established restaurants only. For the time being there has just been so much uncertainty on the origin of the virus that we suggest you take all necessary precautions when looking for local food in China.

If you really want to try Chinese food at the markets, we would recommend you to only order fried and cooked items rather than raw food due to hygiene issues – just make sure that the food is hot off the grill or wok and fresh when served. Also, always pick those vendors that are actually cooking the food in front of you rather than selling ready-made dishes. Of course, it will also depend on your stomach and ability to take in new types of foods, spices and sauces.