A "Nice" city break : Vieux Nice, the bustling heart of the Old Nice
1 comments Posted by Marta at 9/12/2010
Nice has a stunning combination of old and new and Rebecca, our today guest blogger, is showing us the enchanting, pastel-coloured side of the Vieux Nice, as it's known in French.
With its lively markets, narrow streets and beautiful landmarks, Vieux Nice looks as it must have two centuries ago. Boutique shops, smart restaurants and art galleries coexist with homely hardware stores, small cafés, and washing hung between the tenements. On summer evenings, the Old Town resembles an extensive open-air party. During the day, Vieux Nice exhibits some remarkable buildings that reflect the eventful it’s eventful past.
One of the challenges of visiting Vieux Nice is the having to navigate around as there is a lack of street signs; local maps come in extremely handy. Vieux Nice is such a delight to explore on foot and following a day sightseeing, there are many splendid hotels to relax in. For more modern and luxurious places to stay however, it may be more appealing to consider nearby Nice hotels, the capital of the French Riviera and the 5th largest city of France.
Most days, Vieux Nice attracts tourists to its colourful markets where displays of fresh vegetables, fruit, sausages and cheeses can be purchased. Cut flowers, potted roses and other scented plants also decorate the markets. On Monday, the stalls sell bric-a-brac and second-hand clothes. A favourite with all ages is the ice-cream parlour, Fenocchio, which offers an extraordinary choice of flavours.
Place Rossetti is the central square in Vieux Nice from where you can view the beautiful Cathedral de St-Reparate between the narrow streets. Another favourite with locals and tourist alike is the Baroque Chapelle de l’Annonciation, also known as the Chapel of Saint Rita. This pretty building’s main attraction is the stunning faded white bell-tower. Other popular buildings include the museum Palais Lascaris. Built in the Genoan style in 1665, it boasts elegant interior and an amazing stairway which leads to an arcade of paintings and statues in richly ornamented rooms. The former town hall, Place St-Francois features a beautiful eighteenth-century bell tower; remains of the Franciscan monks' presence in Nice.
The Place Garibaldi, recently renovated to highlight the elegant townhouses and arcades surrounds the statue of Garibaldi. Giuseppe Garibaldi is nicknamed the "Hero of the Two Worlds" in tribute to his military expeditions in both South America and Europe. Named famously after this political figure is the garibaldi biscuit which is eaten worldwide! On the street walls of Vieux Nice, you can view several plaques commemorating other French citizens who fought in previous wars.
About the Author:
Rebecca enjoyed many holidays in France, Austria and Italy and she's always on the lookout for adventurous slopes to try. Currently, she is part of Simonseeks' team, a community of travellers, journalists and celebrities sharing travels' tips. Working here allows her to spend her days doing something she really enjoy whilst being inspired for future trips. Keep up with Rebecca on Twitter
Photos' credits: maarjaara, sokole oko, , Tony.M, cking
»» read more
With its lively markets, narrow streets and beautiful landmarks, Vieux Nice looks as it must have two centuries ago. Boutique shops, smart restaurants and art galleries coexist with homely hardware stores, small cafés, and washing hung between the tenements. On summer evenings, the Old Town resembles an extensive open-air party. During the day, Vieux Nice exhibits some remarkable buildings that reflect the eventful it’s eventful past.
One of the challenges of visiting Vieux Nice is the having to navigate around as there is a lack of street signs; local maps come in extremely handy. Vieux Nice is such a delight to explore on foot and following a day sightseeing, there are many splendid hotels to relax in. For more modern and luxurious places to stay however, it may be more appealing to consider nearby Nice hotels, the capital of the French Riviera and the 5th largest city of France.
Most days, Vieux Nice attracts tourists to its colourful markets where displays of fresh vegetables, fruit, sausages and cheeses can be purchased. Cut flowers, potted roses and other scented plants also decorate the markets. On Monday, the stalls sell bric-a-brac and second-hand clothes. A favourite with all ages is the ice-cream parlour, Fenocchio, which offers an extraordinary choice of flavours.
Place Rossetti is the central square in Vieux Nice from where you can view the beautiful Cathedral de St-Reparate between the narrow streets. Another favourite with locals and tourist alike is the Baroque Chapelle de l’Annonciation, also known as the Chapel of Saint Rita. This pretty building’s main attraction is the stunning faded white bell-tower. Other popular buildings include the museum Palais Lascaris. Built in the Genoan style in 1665, it boasts elegant interior and an amazing stairway which leads to an arcade of paintings and statues in richly ornamented rooms. The former town hall, Place St-Francois features a beautiful eighteenth-century bell tower; remains of the Franciscan monks' presence in Nice.
The Place Garibaldi, recently renovated to highlight the elegant townhouses and arcades surrounds the statue of Garibaldi. Giuseppe Garibaldi is nicknamed the "Hero of the Two Worlds" in tribute to his military expeditions in both South America and Europe. Named famously after this political figure is the garibaldi biscuit which is eaten worldwide! On the street walls of Vieux Nice, you can view several plaques commemorating other French citizens who fought in previous wars.
About the Author:
Photos' credits: maarjaara, sokole oko, , Tony.M, cking
Hostels provide a great solution to backpack around the world on a budget whilst connecting with other travelers. Christine Vaughan from LifeCover.ca, our sponsored post of today, shares some great suggestions how to book the right hostel.
Hostel versus Hotel
Travellers often find themselves confronted with several choices when seeking accommodations while traveling. Usually travellers can choose between a hostel or hotel. But what is the difference between the two?
The biggest difference between hostels and hotels is that in a hostel you usually rent out a bed instead of a room. Hostels are similar to dormitories in setup, with guests often sharing communal bathrooms, kitchens and lounges.
There is little privacy at a hostel, and theft is often a problem. Most hostels will allow you to choose whether you want to be housed in a single-sex or mixed room. Hostels tend to be cheaper than hotels, but they also tend to be much noisier as well.
Finding a Great Hostel
There are several ways to find a hostel. The easiest way is to search for hostels online as many hostels maintain websites.
You can look for hostels in a phone book, call a travel agency, or ask the locals and other travellers if they know of any in the area. However, the best way to find a great hostel is to get a recommendation from someone who stayed at a hostel and had a wonderful experience.
Narrowing Down Your Choices
Once you’ve found a list of hostels, you need to narrow down your options. The first thing to do is compare prices – which hostel is the cheapest? Either call the hostel to find out or check out their rates online.
Check to see where the hostel is located – is it in a good or bad part of town? Is the hostel near the center of town where everything is happening or is it in the quiet outskirts? Will you have to travel a long distance in order to reach the hostel? Does your hostel offer any special amenities such as airport shuttle transfers, internet cafes or swimming pools? Many hostels have programs where guests can borrow books or DVDs during their stay.
Things to Watch Out For
If possible, you should read online reviews of hostels to see what other guests have to say or ask around. There are a lot of great hosteling website such as HostelWorld that have extensive reviews so spend some time doing your research and you will be rewarded with your efforts.
Due to the fact that people are sharing rooms, things have been known to get stolen at hostels. If you are traveling alone, be especially careful of staying in hostels that have seedy reputations. Also, check to see if your hostel is clean or is known to be a filthy place.
Those are just a few ways to avoid bad hostels. As you travel more, you will learn how to spot great hostels – most of the best places you will find will be recommendations from other backpackers so pay attention when someone is raving about a recent hostel visit.
What's your best tip to pick a good hostel?
Photo credit: katjung
»» read more
Hostel versus Hotel
Travellers often find themselves confronted with several choices when seeking accommodations while traveling. Usually travellers can choose between a hostel or hotel. But what is the difference between the two?
The biggest difference between hostels and hotels is that in a hostel you usually rent out a bed instead of a room. Hostels are similar to dormitories in setup, with guests often sharing communal bathrooms, kitchens and lounges.
There is little privacy at a hostel, and theft is often a problem. Most hostels will allow you to choose whether you want to be housed in a single-sex or mixed room. Hostels tend to be cheaper than hotels, but they also tend to be much noisier as well.
Finding a Great Hostel
There are several ways to find a hostel. The easiest way is to search for hostels online as many hostels maintain websites.
You can look for hostels in a phone book, call a travel agency, or ask the locals and other travellers if they know of any in the area. However, the best way to find a great hostel is to get a recommendation from someone who stayed at a hostel and had a wonderful experience.
Narrowing Down Your Choices
Once you’ve found a list of hostels, you need to narrow down your options. The first thing to do is compare prices – which hostel is the cheapest? Either call the hostel to find out or check out their rates online.
Check to see where the hostel is located – is it in a good or bad part of town? Is the hostel near the center of town where everything is happening or is it in the quiet outskirts? Will you have to travel a long distance in order to reach the hostel? Does your hostel offer any special amenities such as airport shuttle transfers, internet cafes or swimming pools? Many hostels have programs where guests can borrow books or DVDs during their stay.
Things to Watch Out For
If possible, you should read online reviews of hostels to see what other guests have to say or ask around. There are a lot of great hosteling website such as HostelWorld that have extensive reviews so spend some time doing your research and you will be rewarded with your efforts.
Due to the fact that people are sharing rooms, things have been known to get stolen at hostels. If you are traveling alone, be especially careful of staying in hostels that have seedy reputations. Also, check to see if your hostel is clean or is known to be a filthy place.
Those are just a few ways to avoid bad hostels. As you travel more, you will learn how to spot great hostels – most of the best places you will find will be recommendations from other backpackers so pay attention when someone is raving about a recent hostel visit.
What's your best tip to pick a good hostel?
Photo credit: katjung
Today guest post is written by Rebecca Kelly sharing with us some tips, from her recent gateway to Turkey, how to break away from the usual "Brits-beach holiday experience".
On a recent European trip, I decided to example the package-holiday highlights of Marmaris, Turkey. I actually travelled there from Spain and didn’t have the whole package holiday experience, however once I arrived at my destination, I felt like one of a thousand Brits there trying to get my share of fun in the sun.
I was ready for the sun-beds, banana boats and water parks galore however, I was not expecting to see how westernised this city had actually become. From restaurant menus (roast beef dinner with REAL Bisto gravy), shops (Primarni) to locals’ names (Shaggy, Jack and Jordan) it felt like the Blackpool of afar.
My reason for being here was to sample a bargain tour of Pamukkale; beautiful cascades of travertine and mineral pools that have formed over thousands of years. I paid £35 for return transport, breakfast, lunch, and guidance, the entrance fee for Pamukkale and also for Hierapolis (ancient Greek hot springs). This was an unforgettable day and a must-do if you ever venture to Eastern Europe however funnily enough; this wasn’t the highlight of my trip to Turkey.
Walking back to my accommodation (Maltepe Pansiyon hostel), I was annoyingly stopped by a tour rep trying to make a living selling particular excursions and days-out. After making my excuses and trying to walk off, he flashed an image in front of me which I couldn’t ignore. This photograph was of ‘Jesus Beach’, the excursion – a Jeep Safari.
For 35 Turkish Lira (about £15), as agreed when I booked, the jeep arrived to pick me up from outside my accommodation at 9am. We started out journey driving up into the mountains alongside two other jeeps. Somehow, water-pistols came into the equation as they were handed out to us all, I immediately regretted agreeing to the trip. I didn’t want to be a spoil-sport, and after the first soaking there was no stopping me. As we bounced our way over the rocky tracks creating a dusty trail, it was battle of the jeeps; water-pistol style!
After a few stops to refill the pistols and to admire the beautiful scenery, we arrived at our destination; Jesus Beach (and it was as the image reflected – stunning!). The attraction of this beach, apart from the clear waters and fine golden grains is the unusual bank that runs straight through the middle. The story behind this is even more fascinating.
The legend began when an apparent fisherman and the Kings daughter fell in love. The couples love did not win the blessing of the King and so the lovers would meet secretly at night. The princess would meet the fisherman in a small bay out of town and signal him at the other end of the bay by flashing a light; he would then come and find her. The King found out about the secret meetings and sent his soldiers to follow her. They followed the princess, caught her and flashed a light to entice the fisherman. The princess managed to escape from the soldiers and ran to warn her lover. She realised though that it would not be possible to reach the fisherman if she were to run along the beach, so she swam instead.
This is where the miracle happened; wherever the princess stepped into the sea, the water turned into sand, and the sand turned back into water whenever the soldiers followed her. But, as she was reaching her lover, a soldier's arrow meant for the fisherman struck her, killing her instantly. Today, locals proclaim that when the blood of the princess got mixed with the sea water, it changed the colour of the sand. The sand that forms the bank is much darker and redder in colour than the rest of the bay.
Leaving the bay, I felt quite content. I’d experienced the unknown mountains of southern Turkey, got soaked, made some friends, learnt a little history and seen a unique sight that is off the beaten track. Following the bay, we stopped off in a traditional working Turkish village for barbecued chicken and salads then headed back to the resort of Marmaris.
For a longer day out, you can experience Jesus Beach and Turkish spring waterfalls in one day... look out for a sales-rep scouring the streets for the best price!
About the Author:
Since travelling the lengths of the UK as a child on family holidays, Rebecca has taken advantage of foreign trips, activities and jobs whenever they become available. She's a keen skier, having enjoyed many a holiday in France, Austria and Italy and she's always on the lookout for adventurous slopes to try. Currently, she is part of Simonseeks' team, a community of travellers, journalists and celebrities sharing travels' tips. Working here allows her to spend her days doing something she really enjoy whilst being inspired for future trips. Keep up with Rebecca on Twitter
Photo credits: jo fleet, miss_ohara, cannykev,
»» read more
On a recent European trip, I decided to example the package-holiday highlights of Marmaris, Turkey. I actually travelled there from Spain and didn’t have the whole package holiday experience, however once I arrived at my destination, I felt like one of a thousand Brits there trying to get my share of fun in the sun.
I was ready for the sun-beds, banana boats and water parks galore however, I was not expecting to see how westernised this city had actually become. From restaurant menus (roast beef dinner with REAL Bisto gravy), shops (Primarni) to locals’ names (Shaggy, Jack and Jordan) it felt like the Blackpool of afar.
My reason for being here was to sample a bargain tour of Pamukkale; beautiful cascades of travertine and mineral pools that have formed over thousands of years. I paid £35 for return transport, breakfast, lunch, and guidance, the entrance fee for Pamukkale and also for Hierapolis (ancient Greek hot springs). This was an unforgettable day and a must-do if you ever venture to Eastern Europe however funnily enough; this wasn’t the highlight of my trip to Turkey.
Walking back to my accommodation (Maltepe Pansiyon hostel), I was annoyingly stopped by a tour rep trying to make a living selling particular excursions and days-out. After making my excuses and trying to walk off, he flashed an image in front of me which I couldn’t ignore. This photograph was of ‘Jesus Beach’, the excursion – a Jeep Safari.
For 35 Turkish Lira (about £15), as agreed when I booked, the jeep arrived to pick me up from outside my accommodation at 9am. We started out journey driving up into the mountains alongside two other jeeps. Somehow, water-pistols came into the equation as they were handed out to us all, I immediately regretted agreeing to the trip. I didn’t want to be a spoil-sport, and after the first soaking there was no stopping me. As we bounced our way over the rocky tracks creating a dusty trail, it was battle of the jeeps; water-pistol style!
After a few stops to refill the pistols and to admire the beautiful scenery, we arrived at our destination; Jesus Beach (and it was as the image reflected – stunning!). The attraction of this beach, apart from the clear waters and fine golden grains is the unusual bank that runs straight through the middle. The story behind this is even more fascinating.
The legend began when an apparent fisherman and the Kings daughter fell in love. The couples love did not win the blessing of the King and so the lovers would meet secretly at night. The princess would meet the fisherman in a small bay out of town and signal him at the other end of the bay by flashing a light; he would then come and find her. The King found out about the secret meetings and sent his soldiers to follow her. They followed the princess, caught her and flashed a light to entice the fisherman. The princess managed to escape from the soldiers and ran to warn her lover. She realised though that it would not be possible to reach the fisherman if she were to run along the beach, so she swam instead.
This is where the miracle happened; wherever the princess stepped into the sea, the water turned into sand, and the sand turned back into water whenever the soldiers followed her. But, as she was reaching her lover, a soldier's arrow meant for the fisherman struck her, killing her instantly. Today, locals proclaim that when the blood of the princess got mixed with the sea water, it changed the colour of the sand. The sand that forms the bank is much darker and redder in colour than the rest of the bay.
Leaving the bay, I felt quite content. I’d experienced the unknown mountains of southern Turkey, got soaked, made some friends, learnt a little history and seen a unique sight that is off the beaten track. Following the bay, we stopped off in a traditional working Turkish village for barbecued chicken and salads then headed back to the resort of Marmaris.
For a longer day out, you can experience Jesus Beach and Turkish spring waterfalls in one day... look out for a sales-rep scouring the streets for the best price!
About the Author:
Photo credits: jo fleet, miss_ohara, cannykev,
Being RTW was an amazing experience but not everything turned out to be the perfect, dreamed travel scenario. We didn’t get mugged, neither lost any flight or passports, nor had to travel luggage-less, yet we had to face it certain situations that put to the test our patient, travel-enthusiasm and sometimes even manage to put our modest plan into a whirlwind.
They might appear like common situations for every-day traveler, but once you are on the road for a while, traveling to unknown places and especially on a tight budget even an awkward circumstance could be easily amplified and turn into a little drama and a bad travel memory.
We are not moaning about it, it was all part of our fantastic adventure, but it’s time to share with you our Top 10 Worst Travel Experiences around the world.
Hotel - We could say it was our stay in the stark, bungalow of John Moonlight in Koh Lipe – Thailand, where after few days we realized we were sharing our room with a resident, restless rat that wouldn’t simply stop running at night above our head with the only thing keeping us “apart” a mosquito net. Instead it has to be our sojourn at the Harlem YHCA in New York City: despite the fact that the staff was very nice and helpful, it couldn’t help to change the depressing/creepy feeling we got about the whole place which remind us of something in between a mental hospital and a rehab place, definitely our worst hotel stay ever!
Bus - The atrocious 16hours bus ride from Sydney to Melbourne, there was nothing that could cheer us up and to make the journey more comfy in that cramped little seat and with that ridiculously cold air-con. The hilarious part: we promised ourselves we would never take such a long bus trip again…a couple of months after it was our only last-minute, budget choice to get from Melbourne to Sydney by bus AGAIN, damn bus!
Meal - I believe an essential part of the travel experience is savor the local food and, while traveling through SE Asia, street food offered us a good chance to flavor some authentic, traditional and, at the same time, good cheap food. We are no fussy when it comes to eat, not nearly, but it was the way this time our meal got cooked that made lost our appetite …another rat story. While sitting outside a food stall on a sideroad of the infamous Khao San Road, Bangkok backpackers’ ghetto, we watched curiously at the preparation of our dish, a mix of scrambled eggs, fish ‘n vegetables. Rats where playing around the chef’s legs looking to grab any spilled food from the stove, but that didn’t concern us until the metal spoon used to prepare our lovely meal dropped on the street pavement. As nothing happened, the chef picked it up and carried on cooking as usual. We got our plates, left them untouched, paid and we moved on to the nearest supermarket under the astonished eyes of the locals.
Scam - We fell for it, the most classic scam in Asia, the tuk-tuk driver scam. It was so frustrating especially when we acquired the driver wouldn’t give it up on us easily. We ended up wasting almost half a day, being tossed around from shop to shop.
Toilet: squat toilets are common views among backpackers but when it comes to the grossest toilet in a busy bus station in Malaysia, flooded with water and… let’s say only something more, it was just too unpleasant to suck it up.
“Souvenir” - Months of backpacking in South-East Asia, sleeping in low-budget places and none, until our last stop in Miami. In the newly refurbished, nice motel Lombard Inn on Collins Avenue ($50 a night) the surprise came only after we left. We didn’t see any of the scary pests on our room and originally I was convinced it was only mosquito bites’ marks on my skin but as soon as we got home I realized they were nasty itchy, red bumps from bed bugs that wouldn’t simple go away… nice souvenir.
Treat - After few months on the road carrying a 12kg-backpack on our shoulders, it was time to splurge some of our travel budget for one-hour relaxing and re-invigorating Thai massage. We thought it would provide immediate benefits to our body and soul, the naked truth: I am not sure if it was because it was badly done but all that energetic pulling, stretching, pounded away and pressure on my back and legs, was a long hour of torture and it hurt for at least a week.
Snag - Buy a backpacker-alike van and tour the Land Down Under is a popular choice among budget travelers (and sometimes even convenient) but it could turn easily into one of the most feared backpacker’s nightmare: seeing a big chunk of your budget ($4350) go up in smoke. Only a week after we hit the road, our beloved “new” van gave us almost a heart attack when it broke down. 400 AUD less and few new wrinkles on Chris’ forehead at the end, luckily, it was all sorted.
Travel moment - Although I consider myself as a wise traveler, sometimes I fell for Chris’ bad influence as impulsive traveler…as result we got trapped in the mangrove forest in the Capricorn Coast of Australia at sunset and left to roam around in the dark for hours hoping to find a way back, that really frighten me.
Travel Emergency - The worst-case scenarios for any travelers is probably to be involved in an accident or get some healthy issue that require getting hospitalized and maybe have to quit their loop around the world. It wasn’t as serious for me, yet I had to go under a 2-hours long, emergency dental treatment that ruins our last days in New Zealand. On top of the pain, the sudden swelling and the high fever, I had also to worry at the time to shell out 900NZD without knowing if I would ever see it back from our travel insurance.
The Downside of our RTW trip - Coming back home! :-)
Apart this, all the rest was great fun! What has been YOUR WORST travel experience? How did you handle it?
Photo credits: reallocalcelebrity, frenquency
»» read more
They might appear like common situations for every-day traveler, but once you are on the road for a while, traveling to unknown places and especially on a tight budget even an awkward circumstance could be easily amplified and turn into a little drama and a bad travel memory.
We are not moaning about it, it was all part of our fantastic adventure, but it’s time to share with you our Top 10 Worst Travel Experiences around the world.
Hotel - We could say it was our stay in the stark, bungalow of John Moonlight in Koh Lipe – Thailand, where after few days we realized we were sharing our room with a resident, restless rat that wouldn’t simply stop running at night above our head with the only thing keeping us “apart” a mosquito net. Instead it has to be our sojourn at the Harlem YHCA in New York City: despite the fact that the staff was very nice and helpful, it couldn’t help to change the depressing/creepy feeling we got about the whole place which remind us of something in between a mental hospital and a rehab place, definitely our worst hotel stay ever!
Bus - The atrocious 16hours bus ride from Sydney to Melbourne, there was nothing that could cheer us up and to make the journey more comfy in that cramped little seat and with that ridiculously cold air-con. The hilarious part: we promised ourselves we would never take such a long bus trip again…a couple of months after it was our only last-minute, budget choice to get from Melbourne to Sydney by bus AGAIN, damn bus!
Meal - I believe an essential part of the travel experience is savor the local food and, while traveling through SE Asia, street food offered us a good chance to flavor some authentic, traditional and, at the same time, good cheap food. We are no fussy when it comes to eat, not nearly, but it was the way this time our meal got cooked that made lost our appetite …another rat story. While sitting outside a food stall on a sideroad of the infamous Khao San Road, Bangkok backpackers’ ghetto, we watched curiously at the preparation of our dish, a mix of scrambled eggs, fish ‘n vegetables. Rats where playing around the chef’s legs looking to grab any spilled food from the stove, but that didn’t concern us until the metal spoon used to prepare our lovely meal dropped on the street pavement. As nothing happened, the chef picked it up and carried on cooking as usual. We got our plates, left them untouched, paid and we moved on to the nearest supermarket under the astonished eyes of the locals.
Scam - We fell for it, the most classic scam in Asia, the tuk-tuk driver scam. It was so frustrating especially when we acquired the driver wouldn’t give it up on us easily. We ended up wasting almost half a day, being tossed around from shop to shop.
Toilet: squat toilets are common views among backpackers but when it comes to the grossest toilet in a busy bus station in Malaysia, flooded with water and… let’s say only something more, it was just too unpleasant to suck it up.
“Souvenir” - Months of backpacking in South-East Asia, sleeping in low-budget places and none, until our last stop in Miami. In the newly refurbished, nice motel Lombard Inn on Collins Avenue ($50 a night) the surprise came only after we left. We didn’t see any of the scary pests on our room and originally I was convinced it was only mosquito bites’ marks on my skin but as soon as we got home I realized they were nasty itchy, red bumps from bed bugs that wouldn’t simple go away… nice souvenir.
Treat - After few months on the road carrying a 12kg-backpack on our shoulders, it was time to splurge some of our travel budget for one-hour relaxing and re-invigorating Thai massage. We thought it would provide immediate benefits to our body and soul, the naked truth: I am not sure if it was because it was badly done but all that energetic pulling, stretching, pounded away and pressure on my back and legs, was a long hour of torture and it hurt for at least a week.
Snag - Buy a backpacker-alike van and tour the Land Down Under is a popular choice among budget travelers (and sometimes even convenient) but it could turn easily into one of the most feared backpacker’s nightmare: seeing a big chunk of your budget ($4350) go up in smoke. Only a week after we hit the road, our beloved “new” van gave us almost a heart attack when it broke down. 400 AUD less and few new wrinkles on Chris’ forehead at the end, luckily, it was all sorted.
Travel moment - Although I consider myself as a wise traveler, sometimes I fell for Chris’ bad influence as impulsive traveler…as result we got trapped in the mangrove forest in the Capricorn Coast of Australia at sunset and left to roam around in the dark for hours hoping to find a way back, that really frighten me.
Travel Emergency - The worst-case scenarios for any travelers is probably to be involved in an accident or get some healthy issue that require getting hospitalized and maybe have to quit their loop around the world. It wasn’t as serious for me, yet I had to go under a 2-hours long, emergency dental treatment that ruins our last days in New Zealand. On top of the pain, the sudden swelling and the high fever, I had also to worry at the time to shell out 900NZD without knowing if I would ever see it back from our travel insurance.
The Downside of our RTW trip - Coming back home! :-)
Apart this, all the rest was great fun! What has been YOUR WORST travel experience? How did you handle it?
Photo credits: reallocalcelebrity, frenquency
We just got back from a year-long, budget travel around the world and we now had to face another “real-life” challenge: GET A JOB! But how can a RTW trip be a professional experience worth it to be included in your CV?
It depends. If you are an electrician it probably won’t be much of a help all the time spent lazing at the beach, sightseeing or photographing all things around you, but for other “related” jobs it could be. A RTW trip could really show off some personal transferable skills. I believe that’s most relevant for jobs in the travel and tourism industry, or if you have been volunteering your way around the world or have been occasionally working in specific field like conservation, nursing or teaching and definitely for some role into the digital media, if you have been blogging your adventures it could really boost your career and open new jobs prospects.
After 15 and more interviews (I lost count at some point) within the first couple of months, I think I have enough to share with you my experience and thoughts of how is like hunting a job after being round the world.
Sell yourself at an interview.
Some employers might think you have taken a year-long holiday. First of all, it wasn’t a holiday!! I challenge anyone to think differently; it was a year of valuable life experience and tangible skills. They might sound silly skills to include in your resume but they are really worth it to show it off during your interview. Not everyone have people skills, can show responsibility, commitment, self-sufficiency, confidence, ability to planning and budgeting (stick to a budget of $50 a day sometimes it was a real challenge), adaptability (unexpectedly got stuck somewhere and had to come up quickly with a new plan?) and even negotiation skill (do you remember all that street-haggling in Asia??).
It’s not so bad.
Despite the economy is still suffering, the level of unemployment in Italy is growing (currently at 8,7% meaning more competition for me), and it seems to be lots of skepticism around, things are turning in my favor. Businesses are increasingly looking to people with flexibility, able to adapt quickly to different tasks and work environment, fast learner with international experience and with knowledge of two foreign languages, open-minded, sometimes even willing to travel frequently abroad, qualities and attitudes many travelers already have or have pick it up on their experience on the road.
Snag
Yet some companies perceive the long-term experience as an independent, fervent traveler as a form of instability and career indecision so, if you manage to get to the point to be interviewed, get ready to crucial, unfailing, tricky questions such as “why you take a career break and travel the world” and “why you are back”. Play your chances wisely accordingly to the company needs and the position on offer. They will need to get reassured you will not run away soon and waste their time.
Plus
A gap-year traveling around the world on your resume is surely a good icebreaker: at any interview they just couldn’t resist making me heap of questions about the trip.
Business blogging is fast becoming a vital part of many companies’ marketing strategy. Hence, companies are on the lookout for dynamic people with new digital skills (but not necessarily educational qualification) to lead them through the new opportunities of the Web 2.0 World. That’s exactly where my blogging adventure comes in very handy!
So what’s up?
Chris got a job almost as soon as we got back but only after being through 8 long interviews in a month (no kidding) with the same company and the very same people. Guess they just wanted to make sure he was serious about it. I had to say it wasn’t thanks to the gap year but mostly for his work experience abroad.
About me? While I got an exciting job offer too as soon as we got back home from one of my previous boss (even for a better role that my previous one) but only back in London, followed by a couple of attractive opportunities proposed to me concurrently and too promptly that I foolishly ruined both, I might have found the one... How? A totally casual contact with a fellow freelance travel writer, followed by a simple get-to-know-you coffee, might have set off a new digital adventure…
My advices?
Photo credits: a B Rosen, Arturo de Albornoz
»» read more
It depends. If you are an electrician it probably won’t be much of a help all the time spent lazing at the beach, sightseeing or photographing all things around you, but for other “related” jobs it could be. A RTW trip could really show off some personal transferable skills. I believe that’s most relevant for jobs in the travel and tourism industry, or if you have been volunteering your way around the world or have been occasionally working in specific field like conservation, nursing or teaching and definitely for some role into the digital media, if you have been blogging your adventures it could really boost your career and open new jobs prospects.
After 15 and more interviews (I lost count at some point) within the first couple of months, I think I have enough to share with you my experience and thoughts of how is like hunting a job after being round the world.
Sell yourself at an interview.
Some employers might think you have taken a year-long holiday. First of all, it wasn’t a holiday!! I challenge anyone to think differently; it was a year of valuable life experience and tangible skills. They might sound silly skills to include in your resume but they are really worth it to show it off during your interview. Not everyone have people skills, can show responsibility, commitment, self-sufficiency, confidence, ability to planning and budgeting (stick to a budget of $50 a day sometimes it was a real challenge), adaptability (unexpectedly got stuck somewhere and had to come up quickly with a new plan?) and even negotiation skill (do you remember all that street-haggling in Asia??).
It’s not so bad.
Despite the economy is still suffering, the level of unemployment in Italy is growing (currently at 8,7% meaning more competition for me), and it seems to be lots of skepticism around, things are turning in my favor. Businesses are increasingly looking to people with flexibility, able to adapt quickly to different tasks and work environment, fast learner with international experience and with knowledge of two foreign languages, open-minded, sometimes even willing to travel frequently abroad, qualities and attitudes many travelers already have or have pick it up on their experience on the road.
Snag
Yet some companies perceive the long-term experience as an independent, fervent traveler as a form of instability and career indecision so, if you manage to get to the point to be interviewed, get ready to crucial, unfailing, tricky questions such as “why you take a career break and travel the world” and “why you are back”. Play your chances wisely accordingly to the company needs and the position on offer. They will need to get reassured you will not run away soon and waste their time.
Plus
A gap-year traveling around the world on your resume is surely a good icebreaker: at any interview they just couldn’t resist making me heap of questions about the trip.
Business blogging is fast becoming a vital part of many companies’ marketing strategy. Hence, companies are on the lookout for dynamic people with new digital skills (but not necessarily educational qualification) to lead them through the new opportunities of the Web 2.0 World. That’s exactly where my blogging adventure comes in very handy!
So what’s up?
Chris got a job almost as soon as we got back but only after being through 8 long interviews in a month (no kidding) with the same company and the very same people. Guess they just wanted to make sure he was serious about it. I had to say it wasn’t thanks to the gap year but mostly for his work experience abroad.
About me? While I got an exciting job offer too as soon as we got back home from one of my previous boss (even for a better role that my previous one) but only back in London, followed by a couple of attractive opportunities proposed to me concurrently and too promptly that I foolishly ruined both, I might have found the one... How? A totally casual contact with a fellow freelance travel writer, followed by a simple get-to-know-you coffee, might have set off a new digital adventure…
My advices?
- Leave enough cash from your RTW trip for the “start up” expensive of the first few months of getting back home. It would make your life easier and less stressful and you won’t be so desperate to get the first (maybe crappie) job on offer.
- Update your CV before your return and start applying for jobs few weeks before getting back.
- While on the road try to build the “right connections”, you never know where they might take you, and keep in touch with your old colleagues and employers, see what happened?
- Pointless to tell you that if you hope to become a “professional” blogger, keeping a blog while around the world it absolutely helps! Maybe you could get a one-step closer of living locationless.
My motto after being RTW: There are better things in life than worry to build a career
Photo credits: a B Rosen, Arturo de Albornoz
How does a FFP work? It’s simple: the more you flight the more miles points you will earn. At some stage, you won’t even realize you might have enough points to redeem a free flight and, the best of it all, is that all you had to do was nothing, just enjoying your flights around the world. You might even end it up earning miles points every time you book into a hotel, rent a car, even shopping online or when using a credit card with any flying club partners.
Signing up to a Frequent Flyer Program it’s as easy as completing an online form and normally free but the choice can be bewildering especially when trying to maximize the benefits, it will definitely cost a bit of effort and time to investigate around. It will depend much on your route, airlines, class traveling (not all FFP will get you mileage-earning in economy class) and what rewards you are after, if it’s a free flight or extra benefits such as airline lounge, class upgrade, discounted nights in partner hotels or other travel services.
So, before embarking on our big loop RTW, considering we would taken a hell of a lot on international flights, we spent some times browsing around the net in search of advices to choose the right FFP. The outcome: with our Great Escape ticket we then joint the Virgin Atlantic Flying Club.
Was it the best choice and the easiest to get the most rewards?
I guess we'll figure it out when the times comes to book our award ticket but I could tell you now that, even though we won’t be able to book another RTW ticket using our air miles, it seems like we would have enough to get a free return flight London-New York..in economy, not bad?!
The good thing is that we have also two years time to spend our 27’000 air mileage (if you would buy Virgin Flying Club miles it would be the equivalent of £375) and, even if we are not flying, we could use them to splurge a bit on our next vacation.
Do you think we played it smart? Which frequent flyer program have you been using and what’s your advice?
Tips:
- remember to quote always your frequent flyer number whenever you do a booking and save your boarding passes just in case your miles are not credited to your account, is required as a proof;
- for some hacking tips to accumulate quickly and wisely air miles points or get the most out of your FFP check Flyer Talk forum, it’s really great!
- when choosing a FFP, it’s not only important to check how many points you will earn but also how many you will need when it comes to redeem them.
Happy Travel Hacking!
Roadtrip! Traveling plays a big part of anyone journey. For many roadtripper “getting there” it’s half the fun but when mentioning a road-trip you might think about the classic epic routes along the rugged and most varied landscapes of places like New Zealand, Australia or the wild west countries in the States and the endless American highway through miles and miles of empty road and wide open spaces but what about Italy?
Italy is no short of great drives; they are surely quite different, certainly shorter (most likely it could be fit on a day trip), a bit “maddening” but as thrilling as the overseas counterparts.
Be ready to get a snap of the amazing panoramas offer by these great 4 drives along the Bel Paese:
Amalfi Coast – 50km along one of the most loved coastline for an exhilarating drive twisting your way from Positano to Vietri sul Mare along the SP 163. Idyllic bays, picturesque pastel-hued, cliff-hugging villages, vistas over the turquoise water enhance the charm of this scenic stretch of coastline.
Passo dello Stelvio –at 2,758 mt high in the Alps, it's the highest paved mountain pass in the whole Italy. This legendary, rewarding, high mountain loop will put to the test your driving skill zig-zagging the dramatic 48 hairpin turns (not that fun if you suffer from motion sickness, believe me!).
Watch Top Gear’s stars having a bit of fun on the "SS38" to get a sense of this majestic road. What a road!
Tuscany Hills – zoom around in the tranquility of Tuscany countryside, through its vineyards and olive groves, rolling green hills, medieval hill towns and castles and sleepy, tiny villages. Try the Chianti Road through the SS222 and as you go along don’t hesitate to refuel in the local “trattorie” and "enoteche" for a taste of the local famous wine and mouthwatering local dishes.
Sardinia – beside the swanky, yacht-set, coastal destinations as Porto Cervo and the Costa Smeralda, Sardinia captivates travellers yet with many untouched landscapes to explore at your own pace. Just get on the car and drive along its rugged coastline, such on the road Alghero-Bosa, or through its rocky inland either way rest assure you will be enchanted by Sardinia tremendous panoramas. There aren’t many roads so don’t be afraid to lose your way. While you are there, get sunkissed on a white sandy beach fringed by crystal clear waters.
Tips:
»» read more
Italy is no short of great drives; they are surely quite different, certainly shorter (most likely it could be fit on a day trip), a bit “maddening” but as thrilling as the overseas counterparts.
Be ready to get a snap of the amazing panoramas offer by these great 4 drives along the Bel Paese:
Amalfi Coast – 50km along one of the most loved coastline for an exhilarating drive twisting your way from Positano to Vietri sul Mare along the SP 163. Idyllic bays, picturesque pastel-hued, cliff-hugging villages, vistas over the turquoise water enhance the charm of this scenic stretch of coastline.
Passo dello Stelvio –at 2,758 mt high in the Alps, it's the highest paved mountain pass in the whole Italy. This legendary, rewarding, high mountain loop will put to the test your driving skill zig-zagging the dramatic 48 hairpin turns (not that fun if you suffer from motion sickness, believe me!).
Watch Top Gear’s stars having a bit of fun on the "SS38" to get a sense of this majestic road. What a road!
Tuscany Hills – zoom around in the tranquility of Tuscany countryside, through its vineyards and olive groves, rolling green hills, medieval hill towns and castles and sleepy, tiny villages. Try the Chianti Road through the SS222 and as you go along don’t hesitate to refuel in the local “trattorie” and "enoteche" for a taste of the local famous wine and mouthwatering local dishes.
Sardinia – beside the swanky, yacht-set, coastal destinations as Porto Cervo and the Costa Smeralda, Sardinia captivates travellers yet with many untouched landscapes to explore at your own pace. Just get on the car and drive along its rugged coastline, such on the road Alghero-Bosa, or through its rocky inland either way rest assure you will be enchanted by Sardinia tremendous panoramas. There aren’t many roads so don’t be afraid to lose your way. While you are there, get sunkissed on a white sandy beach fringed by crystal clear waters.
Tips:
- Don’t go bigger: turn down a big car or a comfy motorhome for a smaller one. It would be cheaper on fuel (it’s already bloody expensive over here at an average of €1,4 per litre) and you will get around more easily through the many Italian narrow streets plus you will have less trouble to park it around.
- Don’t be shy: Italians are famous for be impatient drivers and like it to beep on the horn. Come on, give it a quick one!
- For a real Italian driving experience hop on a Ferrari, for a grand road trip, ……umm maybe not the best deal if you are traveling on a budget. Then, why don’t you opt for a low-key but as stylish drive on a "cinquecento" (Fiat 500) or, my next dreamy trip, on an old fashion Vespa?
Travel to Italy in summer - 5 things you should know before you go
4 comments Posted by Marta at 7/07/2010
Always dreamed of visiting the Bel Paese? Want to take advantage of lots of sunshine, plenty of summer festivals, more daylight hours and maybe some lazy time on the beach?
Then these summer months are perfect but here are 5 things you should be mindful before get to Italy in August.
Crowd: Italian “Citta’ d’arte” (art cities) are full of tourists year-round but the summer months coincide with the school vacation and, specially during the two mid-weeks of August (the 15th is a major bank holiday in Italy “ferragosto”), most offices and business close and the workers are at home too leaving no much leeway in choosing their holiday absence. Tourist + mass of holiday makers= hard time. Major sightseeing can get easily, terribly overcrowded in August. Thinking to retreat to the beach? Would you really fancy sunbathe with someone else feet right in front of your nose? That’s as packed as it can get.
Heat – August in Italy is boiling particularly in the cities ("average" 84°F/29°C but so is July!) where there is no chance to have some sea breeze to refresh the air or the cool temperature of the Alps. But it’s not just hot, it could get unpleasantly muggy. June and September are yet generally sunny but without being stifling.
Prices – recession or not, prices of accommodation from middle July to the end of August skyrocket. Even so, rooms fill up quickly both in the art cities such Rome, Florence and Venice than in the seaside towns.
Hassles – that’s the last thing you want when traveling but more tourists/travelers means more work for the tourism-related workers (bartender, waiters, shop assistance, hotel staff..) which moods are put to the test: the heat, lots of work, a bit of jealously (everyone else is having fun while they are stuck at work) could turn their day into a bad one and your unpleasant too.
Traveling – during the summer getting around Italy can sometimes be… not so much fun. Flights, trains, buses are packed. Opting of getting a car and exploring around at your own pace? Think twice. Italian highways are famous for endless, stillstanding traffic jams especially during the summer week-end and the bank holiday.
If money is not your issue, you are fine to be sweaty hot on a typical August sweltering day and enjoy be among a crowd of people or simple just because that’s your only choice, I don’t see a reason to forgo beautiful Italy.
Have you been to Italy during the summer or at Ferragosto? How was it like?
Photo credit: SpecialKRB, Andy Ciordia
»» read more
Then these summer months are perfect but here are 5 things you should be mindful before get to Italy in August.
Crowd: Italian “Citta’ d’arte” (art cities) are full of tourists year-round but the summer months coincide with the school vacation and, specially during the two mid-weeks of August (the 15th is a major bank holiday in Italy “ferragosto”), most offices and business close and the workers are at home too leaving no much leeway in choosing their holiday absence. Tourist + mass of holiday makers= hard time. Major sightseeing can get easily, terribly overcrowded in August. Thinking to retreat to the beach? Would you really fancy sunbathe with someone else feet right in front of your nose? That’s as packed as it can get.
Heat – August in Italy is boiling particularly in the cities ("average" 84°F/29°C but so is July!) where there is no chance to have some sea breeze to refresh the air or the cool temperature of the Alps. But it’s not just hot, it could get unpleasantly muggy. June and September are yet generally sunny but without being stifling.
Prices – recession or not, prices of accommodation from middle July to the end of August skyrocket. Even so, rooms fill up quickly both in the art cities such Rome, Florence and Venice than in the seaside towns.
Hassles – that’s the last thing you want when traveling but more tourists/travelers means more work for the tourism-related workers (bartender, waiters, shop assistance, hotel staff..) which moods are put to the test: the heat, lots of work, a bit of jealously (everyone else is having fun while they are stuck at work) could turn their day into a bad one and your unpleasant too.
Traveling – during the summer getting around Italy can sometimes be… not so much fun. Flights, trains, buses are packed. Opting of getting a car and exploring around at your own pace? Think twice. Italian highways are famous for endless, stillstanding traffic jams especially during the summer week-end and the bank holiday.
If money is not your issue, you are fine to be sweaty hot on a typical August sweltering day and enjoy be among a crowd of people or simple just because that’s your only choice, I don’t see a reason to forgo beautiful Italy.
Have you been to Italy during the summer or at Ferragosto? How was it like?
Photo credit: SpecialKRB, Andy Ciordia
Thailand (slightly) off the Beaten Track – 3 places we wish had visited!
4 comments Posted by Marta at 7/01/2010
Thailand is one of those destinations par excellence for traveling on a shoestring but, despite been a big country, nowadays is hard to go off the beaten track.
The beauty and charm of places such as Koh Tao, Koh Lipe or Chiang Mai are no longer a secrets but have you heard of Sukothai, Nong Khai, Khao Sok, Chiang Rai, Hua-Hin, Mae Hong before?
Despite have travelled throughout Thailand for 2 months I have no clue of the existence of some of those places. On top of that, we missed out on few places apparently yet to be hit by the crowd of backpackers and somehow peacefully charming that we heard of as we went along.
These are the 3 places we wish had visited during our time backpacking in Thailand.
Tarutao Island – Tarutao National Park
The first and largest marine park of Thailand in the Andaman Sea, Tarutao National Park is composed by an archipelago of 51 islands only few kilometers away by boat to the Malaysian border while almost a thousand kilometers from Bangkok. Koh Tarutao, one of the islands among this marine park, was brought first to our attention by the tales of adventurous, Man-vs-Wild-alike friend that we met on nearby Koh Lipe island. It’s a place of primitive beauty that used to be first a penal colony, then home to sea-gypsies and nowadays the place for passing fishermen. Accordingly to him, it’s a natural paradise where you could "savor the wild". He had many wild encounters with crab-eating macaques, monitor lizards, wild pigs, snakes, countless birds and fishes while sleeping under the stars, kayaking upstream while exploring the mangroves forest, trekking deep into the tropical forest and exploring the marine-gardens surrounding the island.
BTW, where are you Mr Vincet?? Kinda worry now….Perpetually roaming around Thailand trying to find your own secluded place?
Apparently in Koh Tarutato, it’s really all about getting back to basic. There is only a small restaurant next to the park headquarters where you can pitch a tent or get a bungalow. Tarutao is a 2 hour boat ride on the route from Hat Yai – Pak Bara Pier, in the Satun district, to Koh Lipe. Planning to go there? I would avoid the monsoon season (May-November).
Ang Thong National Marine Park
Another marine park with 42 tiny islands scattered in the Gulf of Thailand between the west coast of Koh Samui and the Thai mainland. Rumor has it that it’s an archipelago of such primordial beauty. However it’s a popular destination for daily island hopping tours from nearby Koh Samui (only 1,30mins away by boat). Yet you could ask to be dropped at the Park's Visitor Center and arrange to be picked up within the next days so you could camp there. You could then have the time to explore the islands at your own peace by sea kayak, exploring secrets caves, finding your deserted beach, hidden lagoons and admiring the limestone formations taking a plunge in the deep blue. Pity, that the few companies that arrange these day trips are, for obvious reasons, speculating on it. At the time I rang them to get more info how to get there, they won’t just offer a “transfer-only” option but you would have to pay for the day trip twice! Yep, for each way. This worked out to be 3000 THB pp, roughly 90 dollar each, but was a matter of principle!
Khao Sok National Park
There are probably many daily or multiple-days tours arranged to this park, the most popular being from Bankgok or Phuket, but again experiencing it independently would probably be much more exciting. The park, located in the mainland in the Surat Thani province in the south of Thailand, encompasses 739sq km of thick, lush rainforest, limestone mountains, waterfalls, deep valley, stunning lakes and untouched sceneries. It said that the forest is home to many species of birds, insects, mammals including the leopard, the mouse deer, the Malaysian sunbear, wild elephant, gibbon, tapir, tiger and many snakes such as cobra and python, so keep an eye out! It sounds like the perfect place for intrepid, solitary travelers. Khao Sok NP is also known to have some species of the rare rafflesia, the largest flower in the world that could grow up to 90 cm in diameter but which flower dies in one week from the blooming.
Have you been to any of the above destinations? Are they really untouched by the tourism of mass or do you know any other places around Thailand totally off-the-beaten-track? Maybe some quiet last beaches? You probably wouldn’t tell us, would you??
Photo credits: MyBukit , mark_schermerhorn, rene_ehrhardt
»» read more
The beauty and charm of places such as Koh Tao, Koh Lipe or Chiang Mai are no longer a secrets but have you heard of Sukothai, Nong Khai, Khao Sok, Chiang Rai, Hua-Hin, Mae Hong before?
Despite have travelled throughout Thailand for 2 months I have no clue of the existence of some of those places. On top of that, we missed out on few places apparently yet to be hit by the crowd of backpackers and somehow peacefully charming that we heard of as we went along.
These are the 3 places we wish had visited during our time backpacking in Thailand.
Tarutao Island – Tarutao National Park
The first and largest marine park of Thailand in the Andaman Sea, Tarutao National Park is composed by an archipelago of 51 islands only few kilometers away by boat to the Malaysian border while almost a thousand kilometers from Bangkok. Koh Tarutao, one of the islands among this marine park, was brought first to our attention by the tales of adventurous, Man-vs-Wild-alike friend that we met on nearby Koh Lipe island. It’s a place of primitive beauty that used to be first a penal colony, then home to sea-gypsies and nowadays the place for passing fishermen. Accordingly to him, it’s a natural paradise where you could "savor the wild". He had many wild encounters with crab-eating macaques, monitor lizards, wild pigs, snakes, countless birds and fishes while sleeping under the stars, kayaking upstream while exploring the mangroves forest, trekking deep into the tropical forest and exploring the marine-gardens surrounding the island.
BTW, where are you Mr Vincet?? Kinda worry now….Perpetually roaming around Thailand trying to find your own secluded place?
Apparently in Koh Tarutato, it’s really all about getting back to basic. There is only a small restaurant next to the park headquarters where you can pitch a tent or get a bungalow. Tarutao is a 2 hour boat ride on the route from Hat Yai – Pak Bara Pier, in the Satun district, to Koh Lipe. Planning to go there? I would avoid the monsoon season (May-November).
Ang Thong National Marine Park
Another marine park with 42 tiny islands scattered in the Gulf of Thailand between the west coast of Koh Samui and the Thai mainland. Rumor has it that it’s an archipelago of such primordial beauty. However it’s a popular destination for daily island hopping tours from nearby Koh Samui (only 1,30mins away by boat). Yet you could ask to be dropped at the Park's Visitor Center and arrange to be picked up within the next days so you could camp there. You could then have the time to explore the islands at your own peace by sea kayak, exploring secrets caves, finding your deserted beach, hidden lagoons and admiring the limestone formations taking a plunge in the deep blue. Pity, that the few companies that arrange these day trips are, for obvious reasons, speculating on it. At the time I rang them to get more info how to get there, they won’t just offer a “transfer-only” option but you would have to pay for the day trip twice! Yep, for each way. This worked out to be 3000 THB pp, roughly 90 dollar each, but was a matter of principle!
Khao Sok National Park
There are probably many daily or multiple-days tours arranged to this park, the most popular being from Bankgok or Phuket, but again experiencing it independently would probably be much more exciting. The park, located in the mainland in the Surat Thani province in the south of Thailand, encompasses 739sq km of thick, lush rainforest, limestone mountains, waterfalls, deep valley, stunning lakes and untouched sceneries. It said that the forest is home to many species of birds, insects, mammals including the leopard, the mouse deer, the Malaysian sunbear, wild elephant, gibbon, tapir, tiger and many snakes such as cobra and python, so keep an eye out! It sounds like the perfect place for intrepid, solitary travelers. Khao Sok NP is also known to have some species of the rare rafflesia, the largest flower in the world that could grow up to 90 cm in diameter but which flower dies in one week from the blooming.
Have you been to any of the above destinations? Are they really untouched by the tourism of mass or do you know any other places around Thailand totally off-the-beaten-track? Maybe some quiet last beaches? You probably wouldn’t tell us, would you??
Photo credits: MyBukit , mark_schermerhorn, rene_ehrhardt
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