Archive for Travel Tips
(by Roy Jacobsen*, with kind permission from Elaine Swift’s Word Alchemy blog)
One of best travel tips I can give anyone is to make an effort with the local language; you’ll be amazed at how much it’s appreciated.
As you will see, the US is no exception. This post first appeared in copywriter Elaine Swift’s Word Alchemy blog and looks at the differences in our common language.
As well as bringing a smile to your face this Monday morning, it may help you avoid a potentially embarrassing conversation during your travels to the US!
The first time I ended up on Elaine’s blog, I found myself giggling about her article “A few little words - why straplines matter.” I knew immediately from the context what she was talking about, but for this American reader, straplines are what show up on a woman’s sun-tanned shoulders. So straplines matter here, as well; just not for the same reasons.
England and America are indeed “separated by a common language.”
My first work-related exposure to the differences between American and British English came when I was a technical writer for an accounting software company. Because our product was sold in English-speaking countries worldwide, we had to accommodate spelling differences, such as check vs. cheque, and the -ize vs. -ise words (economize/economise, recognize/recognise).
Those differences can be jarring at first. But, like a pianist, you can learn to “transpose.”
The real fun comes when you encounter concepts that have entirely different words, or words that mean entirely different things, depending on which side of the pond you’re on. I’ve known for years that a car’s hood is a bonnet in England, and our wrenches are your spanners. And thanks to the Harry Potter books I know all about jumpers (sweaters), skiving off (playing hooky), and that delightful verb, snog, which sounds like more fun than making out.
Some of the differences are just confusing, like talking about that scrappy player on the football team. In the U.S., that’s a compliment; in the U.K., not so much. Asking for a sherbet will get you two different things, and suggesting that something be tabled in a meeting has the opposite result, depending on where you say it.
Then there are the words that can lead to embarrassment. We Americans shouldn’t ask for help with our bangs from a British hair stylist (they’re fringes, if you please) just as you shouldn’t tell your American friends that you’ll knock them up in the morning, or ask if you can borrow a rubber.
But despite the potential for confusion, unintentional humor, and downright embarrassment, I wouldn’t want to see our two “languages” become homogenized. Eliminating the differences would make things as dull as dishwater.
Sorry. Make that ditchwater.
* Roy Jacobsen says that everyone can learn to write clearly and powerfully. He’s a freelance writer, editor, and writing coach, and the dictionary is his toy box. Roy blogs at Writing, Clear and Simple
Filed under: Destinations, North America, Travel Tips | Language, USA|No Comments
I was recently reminded of how impressive the transit facilities are at Hong Kong airport and thought that Your Travel Planner readers might like some ideas for things to do in transit at the world’s best airports.
First up, the ever popular Singapore Changi:
Singapore Changi was voted third best airport in the Skytrax World Airport Awards 2009. So, if you have 5 hours to kill, what can Singapore Changi offer passengers in transit?
- Head to the Free Singapore Tour Booths and join a 2-hour FREE sightseeing tour of Singapore. Registration is based on first-come-first-serve basis and you can choose between the Colonial or Cultural Tour.
- Take a refreshing dip at the rooftop open air swimming pool, or a leisurely stroll in the Cactus, Heliconia and Sunflower gardens
- Catch up on sleep in a choice of sleeping lounges or in the transit hotel. Rates from S$10 per person per hour
- Visit the Entertainment Deck for free gaming (PC, Xbox and Playstation) or relax in the music area, MTV booth or cinema
- If you have the energy, work your way through more than 300 shops and places to eat
More transit facilities in Hong Kong and Seoul Incheon airports soon. Meanwhile, do you have any transit experiences or recommendations at these or other airports?
Filed under: Travel Tips, Uncategorized | Singapore Changi Airport|No Comments
Looking for ideas for what to do in London this Christmas has only one problem; there’s so much to choose from! Here are Your Travel Planner’s Top 3 Picks to help you plan a visit to London:
Carol Singing in Trafalgar Square
Seeing the Christmas tree and carol singing in Trafalgar Square is a favourite thing to do for many. Each year since 1947, a Christmas tree has been given to the people of London from the people of Norway in gratitude for Britain’s support for Norway during World War II. It’s lovely to be in Trafalgar Square to listen to and join in the programme of traditional carol singing.
This free event takes place in the evenings, generally from 5pm to 9pm, from Monday 7 to Tuesday 22 December 2009.
See a Show
London really excels in adding to the already fantastic list of shows at Christmas time. A classic family favourite is is The Snowman at Holborn’s Peacock Theatre (to 10 Jan). Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake at Sadler’s Wells (10 Dec to 24 Jan) and Annie Get Your Gun at the Young Vic (to 9 Jan) have also been recommended by YTP friends.
Catch a FREE event at the Southbank Centre
The Southbank Centre regularly hosts free events, performances and exhibitions and this Christmas is no exception. Highlights from their free events programme include:
- World Press Photo 2009 (to 13 Dec), with 196 award-winning photographs from across the globe capturing the most powerful, moving and at times disturbing images of the year
- Christmas Slow Food Market (19-22 Dec), the perfect place to browse and buy delicious Christmas fare; 40 specially selected traders tempt you with produce from known and sustainable sources
- The Magnets (23 Dec); who needs instruments when you’ve got a six-man a cappella group creating infectious tunes and rhythms just with their voices? (I saw this group in the Summer and they’re fantastic!)
Have your own favourites? Add them by posting a comment for YTP readers to enjoy.
For more ideas, travel tips, reviews and personal travel recommendations, subscribe to our Email Club. Our email updates are short and quick to read. They won’t fill up your Inbox.
Filed under: Destinations, Travel Tips, UK & Ireland | Christmas in London, What's on in London|1 Comment
As someone who helps people to research and plan their holidays, I use a variety of resources to keep up with what’s going on in travel. In the last 6 months, Twitter has become a main part of the mix.
The growth in the number of travel companies using Twitter has been rapid and a few months ago, I started sending a round up of the travel offers that appeared on Twitter to the YTP Email Club members.
What’s interesting is how both large and small companies alike are using this social networking and micro-blogging site to get their news out quickly. There’s everything from offers and late availability to latest news and announcements. Here’s a taste of the travel tweets this morning:
@British_Airways: For our team up with Qantas at the Ashes, we have 425 tickets at £215 inc taxes, LHR to SYD! Available to book from 10am UK time on 21 July!
@holidaypad: RT @Yurthotel: One yurt left for rest of July, offering 25% discount. Also some slots available in Aug http://www.yurthotel.com/ Andalucia, Spain
@thehideaway: Just had a cancellation 2 weeks in Apartment 1 at thehideaway from 23rd Aug 2009 so get in touch if you fancy a trip to LeMarche, Italy
@Smithhotels: Introducing our thrilling new blog feature: Hotel of the Week. This week, we’ve got a gorgeous farmhouse in Portugal: http://bit.ly/14OnXT
So if you’re planning a holiday, Twitter is definitely a resource worth considering.
Alternatively, sign up to the Your Travel Planner Email Club for regular round-ups of Twitter travel tweets. You can also follow me on Twitter here: @HolidayPlanner
Filed under: Travel Tips | Late Holiday Bargains, Twitter|No Comments
Visiting London with your family this summer? Plan your visit and read Your Travel Planner’s guide to great family days out in London, Surrey and Hampshire this August:
July/August; Kids go free in July and August at the British Music Experience (BME) at the O2. Immerse yourself in this interactive museum dedicated to the history and influence of pop music. See David Bowie’s Ashes to Ashes clown suit, develop your skills on guitar, bass, drums and in the vocal booth and use your Smarticket to select favourite content and media recordings to keep.
July/August; Plenty of free events at the Southbank Centre this summer. Collaborate in a large-scale outdoor drawing with artist Sally Booth at different locations or play the Youth Music Box, an electrifying interactive musical experience where you create your own unique track and video, all in under ten minutes. Jeppe Hein’s interactive fountain returns as a refreshing addition to summer; walls of water rise and fall randomly to create a series of constantly changing ‘rooms’ (hint: take spare clothes!).
August, various dates; The Alice Holt Forest in Hampshire has lots of events for all ages during August, including Float your Boat!, Bat Watch and Bike Fun.
1-9 August; Bushcamps, storytelling and trails feature in the Wild Child Week at Claremont Landscape Garden (National Trust)
4,11,18,25 August; There’s summer holiday fun and activities to be had at Games in the Garden, every Tuesday at Clandon Park (National Trust).
6,13,20 August; Join the Warden at Polesden Lacey (National Trust) on Thursday evenings on a Bat Walk, searching out these wonderful creatures as they flit and flap across the night sky.
15-16 August; In Richmond, the riverside comes alive for another year. The On the Edge World Music Festival celebrates music drawn from countries and cultures all over the world, from 12pm - 8pm.
22-23 & 29-30 August; For motorsport enthusiasts, watch the European Grand Prix on a large screen at Mercedes-Benz World Presentations on the history and present day world of F1TM take place throughout the weekend.
Filed under: Destinations, Travel Tips, UK & Ireland | Family Days Out, Hampshire, London, Surrey|1 Comment
Are Low-Cost Flights really cheaper than Scheduled Flights? British Airways say ‘not always’.
British Airways are highlighting that no-frills can mean bigger bills, when all the added extras are taken into account.
This week, a ‘value calculator’ was launched on ba.com. It allows customers to check the true cost of Ryanair and EasyJet’s added charges versus the value of BA’s full service.
Richard Tams, head of UK & Ireland sales at British Airways, said: “With BA, the price you see is the price you pay. It’s been well documented that some of the no-frills carriers charge for a range of ‘extras’ that we consider to be part of our core service, from checking in a bag to food and drinks on board. We’re just making these transparent for customers.”
“On a round trip customers can be paying up to £375 on Ryanair and £79 on EasyJet for these ‘extras’ in addition to their fare. The no frills carriers claim they’re always cheaper. Our calculator shows they are not.”
The ‘value calculator’ enables customers to select how they’re choosing to travel eg. checking in at the airport or online, selecting a seat 24-hours before they fly, taking a bag, or opting for food and drink on board. It will then calculate what Ryanair, EasyJet and BA will charge in total for those options.
Want to compare for yourself? View the BA value calculator at http://www.ba.com/valuecalculator
Filed under: Travel News, Travel Tips | British Airways, Compare flights, Low-cost flights, Scheduled Flights|No Comments
Your Travel Planner says: Check out car hire excess insurance from standalone providers and save some money.
Comparing car hire quotes for your holiday isn’t always as straightforward as you may think.
In the UK and most other countries apart from the USA, car rental companies include Collision Damage Waiver, Theft and Third Party insurance cover in their rental price. However, amount of excess you’d have to pay if your hire car got damaged, can be surprisingly high.
For example, a quick check today shows the excess for a medium compact car in Italy this summer with Avis is 850 EUR for Vehicle Damage and 1000 EUR for Vehicle Theft.
Car rental companies always offer an opportunity to cover your excess when you pick up your car, but this can sometimes cost a hefty £9 per day, which is a huge proportion of the cost of the hire itself.
So here’s a travel tip from Your Travel Planner: look into getting this additional insurance from separate standalone providers and save some money.
You can get additional excess cover from as little as £1.90 per day (for Europe) from insurers such as insurance4carhire, Car Hire Excess and Worldwide Insure. Check out the terms and conditions to see which policy suits your requirements.
For longer trips or if you book car hire more than once in a year, annual policies are available from £39 per year for Europe. Again, check the terms and conditions for suitability, but the same insurers mentioned above also offer these annual policies.
These policies also cover you for damage to the vehicle’s windows, tyres, the under-carriage and the roof, which are often not covered by insurance bought through the car hire company.
Filed under: Saving Money on 2009 Holidays, Travel Tips | Car Hire Excess Insurance|1 Comment
Keeping the family entertained doesn’t have to break the bank. There are loads of FREE Things to Do in London for families during the May Half Term. Your Travel Planner shares some suggestions.
South Bank Centre
The South Bank Centre has plenty of free events on for children and families during the May half-term, with most taking place in the Clore Ballroom. Below is a selection, but see the South Bank website for more information:
West End Family Fun; Tuesday, 26 May 2009
To celebrate National Family week, Southbank Centre teams up with the West End to bring you a day of workshops, singalongs, dancealongs and the opportunity to see a live extract from one of the best musicals currently running in the West End.
Half Term Family Workshops; Wednesday 27 - Friday 29 May 2009
Families can drop in for workshops that will get all the family working and playing together.
Gluemouth; Wednesday 27 - Friday 29 May 2009
Gluemouth is a new show that will inspire young poets. Laura Dockrill will perform some of her new poems for children in this unique family event.
The Magnets; Wednesday 27 - Friday 29 May 2009
The UK’s leading ‘all vocal’ band lead a singing workshop in which groups of children and their families learn different parts of well known songs.
Free Swimming
As part of a scheme supported by central government to encourage people to adopt more healthy lifestyles, many local authorities now offer free swimming for under 16 year olds (and over 60s). So if grandparents take their grandchildren, you can all go for free!
You can check here for a list of local authorities in London where you can swim for free.
Free Tennis
It’s not just swimming. Tennis for Free is an initiative to allow the public to play tennis for free. You can search the list of local authorities by area to see where there are free courts and free coaching.
Mercedes-Benz World
Mercedes-Benz World at Brooklands in Weybridge is a great day out if you’re a motoring fan. Free May Half Term activities include spectacular shows from the Silver Arrows Display Team, passenger laps and F1 presentations.
Free London Museums
Visiting London means that you have access to world class and lesser known museums, with most offering free admission. All have special activities for the May Half Term. Your Travel Planner favourites include the Science Museum, Natural History Museum and the British Museum.
Know of any other FREE things to do in the May Half Term? Please share it with Your Travel Planner readers by posting it as a comment. Thank you.
Filed under: Destinations, Europe, Travel Tips | Half Term ideas London, Things to Do|No Comments
A beach holiday, in a hot destination, with good snorkelling. It’s many people’s idea of a dream holiday.
Seeing the wonders of the underwater world is breathtaking and it’s something that we would want our children and future generations to be able to experience.
However, scientists estimate that 20 percent of the world’s coral reefs have already been lost. Those that remain are threatened by climate change and human-induced damage, including tourism-related activities, such as harvesting for jewellery and souvenirs.
SeaWeb’s Too Precious to Wear campaign highlights 5 coral saving tips to consider when on holiday:
- Avoid purchases of products made from real coral. Instead, choose jewellery or decorative items that are made of alternative materials. For products that are coral-inspired, not coral-derived, please visit www.tooprecioustowear.org.
- When snorkelling or diving, refrain from collecting pieces of coral or other reef creatures as souvenirs or from even touching them. Corals are slow-growing animals and can take decades to recover from impacts, sometimes never recuperating from the damage.
- Choose hotels and recreation vendors that are committed to reducing their carbon footprint and make the same commitment for your own home. Carbon dioxide emissions are warming the ocean and making it increasingly acidic, negatively affecting the health of reef corals and other marine organisms.
- Do your homework. Visit beach resorts that receive a high green rating, particularly for their pollution control and conservation policies. Do your part at home by refraining from putting chemicals and other toxic wastes into your sewer system. All treated sewage can eventually end up in the ocean and other important water systems.
- Whether you are going on holiday or staying at home this summer, make a pledge and take action to help preserve corals by signing Too Precious to Wear’s coral pledge at http://www.seaweb.org/TPTW/pledge.php.
For the full story, see the Yahoo! News website or the article on the TravelMole website.
Too Precious to Wear is a SeaWeb campaign to create a demand for coral conservation. Too Precious to Wear is made possible with support from The Tiffany & Co. Foundation, Kingfisher Foundation, National Marine Sanctuary Foundation and The Ocean Foundation. www.tooprecioustowear.org.
SeaWeb is a communications-based nonprofit organization that utilizes social marketing techniques to advance ocean conservation. www.seaweb.org
Filed under: Responsible Tourism, Travel Tips | Beach holiday, coral reef, snorkelling|No Comments
Today is Earth Day. And when it comes to travel and holidays, there are many sources of information if you’re a traveller or holidaymaker who wants to ensure your holiday has a positive impact on the rest of the world.
Choosing a place that uses solar-powered electricity, or serves local, seasonal and organic produce or one that supports local community projects could be your way of making sure that you travel green.
Here are some suggestions from Your Travel Planner for researching a greener holiday:
Set up in 2001, responsibletravel.com is a good place to start researching holidays that make a real difference to local people and the environment. The site covers over 270 operators and 100s of villas, lodges, B&Bs and small hotels around the world. Each holiday has personal reviews as well as an explanation of how it makes a difference.
This site is a great way to search and make an online booking for destinations, accommodation, tours and activities from local providers and operators, mainly from the developing world.
A unique feature of the WHL network is that each destination booking site is owned and operated by locals. You deal directly with local people in the destination you are travelling to and they say that “unlike other global booking sites, the people you book with will be there when you get there.”
- Green Places to Stay, Alastair Sawday
If you prefer a guide book, Alistair Sawday’s “Green Places to Stay” gives the very best of eco-tourism accommodation around the world. The Alastair Sawday team have sought out and visited people with a passion for the local culture and environment, from the heart of Borneo to the African savannah. The aim is that each place featured provides tangible benefits to local communities and minimizes the impact of holidays on the environment. See www.sawdays.co.uk or Amazon.
If you would like help planning a greener holiday, please contact me at Go2 Holiday Research. As a member of the Fringe RT Networking group, I can help put you in contact with other members who provide responsible, sustainable or eco-friendly travel.
Filed under: Responsible Tourism, Travel Tips | Responsible Tourism|No Comments
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