A selection of websites for planning gap travel

www.statravel.co.uk

As well as offering discount plane tickets for students and travellers in their twenties, STA Travel has a handy online trip planner to help you work out the best itinerary for your round-the-world ticket.

www.tefl.com

Excellent portal for TEFL and TESOL teachers, with loads of listings for English-teaching jobs overseas, and tips and advice for aspiring teachers.

www.ethicalvolunteering.org

The first website every volunteer should visit, with advice on choosing an ethical volunteer organisation to make sure you do the most good with the time you have to volunteer.

www.workingabroad.com

Loads of listings for working overseas, from volunteering to TEFL teaching. Use the search form to find jobs and volunteer placements that match your skills and ambitions.

www.vso.org.uk

Perhaps the most respected volunteering programme, VSO has been placing skilled volunteers on development projects around the world for 50 years. The Youth for Development scheme (open to volunteers aged 18 to 25) includes free flights, accommodation and visas, but you need at least one year of work experience and £900 in sponsorship.

www.wwv.org.uk

Searchable database of volunteer placements worldwide, with tips on fundraising, finding projects and staying safe overseas, plus stories from past volunteers.

www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntree

Lonely Planet’s online forum was inspired by a real thorn tree in Nairobi (backpackers used to pin messages to the thorns). Visit the Gap Year & Round the World Travel page for tips and advice from other gappers.

www.workingholidayinfo.com

A handy overview of all the working holiday visas open to gap year travellers, from Australia and New Zealand to Japan.

www.jet-uk.org

The Japan Exchange & Teaching Programme has placed 50,000 Brits in teaching and local government jobs in Japan, with a full salary and free flights. The initial programme lasts one year, but you can extend to five years at the discretion of your Japanese employer.

www.overseasjobcentre.co.uk

Extensive resources for a working year out overseas, covering everything from ski jobs to farm work. There’s a huge database of links and you can download ebooks covering top ways to work abroad.

Travel Directions – Belfast to Derry, Northern Ireland

The A2 in Northern Ireland stretches from Newry, up past the historic city of Belfast, before ending in Derry –  recently voted as the UK City of Culture for 2013

Distance: 128 miles,  Roads: A2

Useful postcodes for your satnav: BT54 6LS (Ballintoy, Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge)

BT57 8XH (Bushmills Distillery)

The winding road hugs the coastline,  northeast of the country, passing through the beautiful Glens of Antrim en route to Derry.

Ballycastle and Ballintoy

The town of Ballycastle was a favourite holidaying spot for the writer, CS Lewis, and visitors can explore the rugged coastline on their travels to the town.

If you’re feeling particularly brave, take a drive to the village of Ballintoy and take a walk across the Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge, which bridges a 20 metre-wide chasm, connecting the mainland to Carrick Island. The bridge is open all year round.

Drive 20 minutes east of Portrush and walk amongst giants at the world famous Giant’s Causeway landmark, or enjoy a sip of the local tipple on a “tour and tasting session” at the world famous Bushmills Distillery (BT57 8XH).  This distillery is open 7 days a week and runs tours every half hour, giving you the opportunity to sample some good Irish whiskey. Just remember not to drink and drive!

You might like to see our previous blog post on travelling in Ireland.

Tour Berlin

Previously we published visit Germany and here we focus on the Capital.

Visiting Berlin is exciting – it is a colourful, vibrant city with something to entertain everyone.

This city is famous for its vibrant nightlife, museums, galleries, monuments, buildings, restaurants and clubs. It is an excellent destination for anyone who loves history and culture. If you don’t have a lot of money to spare after buying your flights to Berlin, why don’t you take a free tour of the city when you get there.

Berlin Tourist Attractions

Sandemans New Europe is famous for its free tours and anyone can take part. The meeting point is Pariser Platz, which is just steps from Brandenburg Gate. Tours start at 9 a.m. 11 a.m. 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. and usually last 3.5 hours. The guide will take you on a tour of Berlin’s most renowned tourist attractions, such as Brandenburg Gate, the Reichstag, the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe, the Site of Hitler’s Former Bunker, the Berlin Wall, the Former SS Headquarters, Checkpoint Charlie, the TV Tower etc. You can tip your guide as appropriate.

Sightsee by day and then discover the nightlife when the sun goes down. Berlin has some 300 clubs and 7,000 bars and restaurants, so make sure you try them out. Book your low cost flights to Berlin and start planning your stay in the city.

Which area should we stay in on a visit to Miami?

We tend to prefer older, historic parts of cities, and somewhere not too touristy.

You should definitely make for Miami Beach, the eight-mile-long spit of land just across Biscayne Bay from Downtown. Tourists have been coming here since the 1940s, and you can’t avoid them, but they flock here for good reason —­ the beaches are outstanding and the buzz electric, especially in the two-square-mile section called South Beach.

There is plenty to explore in the South Beach region but most visitors will pick up car hire in Florida and venture further afield.

Miami Art Deco Buildings

The biggest collection of art-deco buildings in the world is here, too ­— about 1,000 of them ­— and it’s the USA’s fulcrum of glamour. There’s a huge range of hotels — from the mammoth Fontainebleau resort  fontainebleau.com; doubles from £248, B&B and the minimalist Delano delano-hotel.com; doubles from £304, room-only to smaller boutique properties such as the Shelborne Beach Resort shelborne.com; doubles from £165, room-only) and the Ocean Surf theoceansurf.com; doubles from £64, B&B).

For more inspiration, visit the excellent miamiboutiquehotels.com.

If you really do have an aversion to the beach, though, try the Design District, inland across the Julia Tuttle Causeway. It’s in the vicinity of edgy areas such as Little Haiti and Little Havana, but is a hip neighbourhood akin to New York’s Meatpacking District or London’s Shoreditch a few years back.

Go to miamidesigndistrict.net for hundreds of galleries and bars.

Tips on Moving to a New Country

It can be very exciting to  move to a new country and experience a different culture, up close and personal. Ideally, you would want that sense of excitement to stay with you, long after the move. To ensure that your relocation is successful, it is helpful  to consider all aspects of moving, before you begin to pack.   To help you on your way, below are a  few tips that will  help you to make the right move.

Cost of living

While you are busy preparing to move, remember to  plan your budget. Consider all your major and daily expenses together with any additional costs which may arise . You wil need to calculate your basic costs such as food, rent/mortgage, utilities, local traveling, petrol/gas etc.  In additional to the every-day costs that will occur, consider what other charges may need to be met.  For instance,  an unexpected illness or stay in hospital may affect your ability to generate income, or your car may need replacing. Set aside an additional sum to be used in emergencies.  If you have friend or relative who has already moved to another country, talk to them about some of the challenges they met and how theydealt with unexpected financial situations.

Luggage

Research and confirm what you can and cannot take with you.  Keep your passports, tickets and other important documents with you at all times, during the process of moving, try not to put them with your other luggage.

Shop in the locality on your arrival for electrical goods to ensure you buy items which will suit your new home.

Health

It is useful to undergo a full health check before you move abroad. It update you on your current health status,  and pick up any concerns that will benefit attention in the future. Research the area you are moving to, and make sure you have registered with a health centre as soon as possible after your arrival. It is also useful to know how to access emergency medical help should it be required.

Stay in Touch

You may be moving abroad for good,  so allow for the fact that you may be leaving some important people behind. It is now much easier to stay in touch with your family and friends  due to e-mail, skipe, mobile phones.  Today, you have companies like Rebtel offering you a trustworthy service of online phone cards – they are handy and simple to use.  Call all your friends  and let  them know of your new contact  details, so that they can keep in touch.

Culture & Language

When you arrive, give yourself a little  time to become familiar with a new culture -  the food, language, money, weather, and facilities may all be different.  Take up invitations to meet people, and attend local social events and activities, your horizons will soon broaden.    Learn the language of the country where you plan to move to, it shows that you are serious about where you want to live and want to be part of your community.   And remember, if you want to move on again – you can!

Alcudia, Majorca

Set on the north west coast of Majorca, Alcudia is about 55 kilometres from the island’s capital Palma.  Alcudia has two main areas, Puerto Alcudia on the coast, and the historic old town which lies just inland.  Most holiday makers stay in Puerto Alcudia and the area has miles of wonderful golden sands that stretch all the way down to Playa de Muro futher along the coast.

Alcudia Bay

Alcudia bay is the best known of all the beaches locally, and has shallow warm waters and a large open sandy beach that make it ideal for families.  There are many hotels, pubs and cafes around the beach which are child friendly as well, making it a great place to spend the whole day.

The El Laberinto Maze fun park is a great place aimed at kids and families both local and visitors.  It has mazes that are made from moveable panels, so that they can regularly change the layout, and there are many games to be played within the maze as well as pirates and monsters to meet.

The Hidropark is a water park.  It has six different pools including an infant pool for the really young, a wave pool and a beach pool, as well as lots of slides and chutes designed for all different age groups.  There are mini motor boats you can have a go on, and next door is a 54 hole super golf course with bar, restaurant, and picnic area.

The Bellevue hotel complex has a karting site called Racing Passion, it’s open from early in the morning, through till late at night offering carting for the whole family during the day, and then floodlight carting at night as well.

Alcudia old town

Alcudia old town is full of historical interest, and every Wednesday afternoon, a guided tour takes place.  It is a walking tour organised by the local tourist office, and takes about two hours, taking you around the town to see the many interesting buildings, while giving you information about the areas history.

Horse riding is popular locally, and there are a number of places that will take you on a horse riding trip around the area, from leisurely rides along the coast to treks into the mountains for the more experienced rider, it’s a great way to see far more than you could either on foot or by car, and there are riding trails that lead through olive groves, and lush woodland giving you a chance to experience a different side of Alcudia.

Holidays in Las Vegas

Most people think of a holiday in Las Vegas as one where you’re going to spend all your time in the huge hotel casinos on the Las Vegas strip, gambling, and of course there are indeed plenty of casinos in Las Vegas, and you could spend all your time gambling in them if you wanted to. However, most casinos have a lot more to offer guests than just gambling.

The airport in Las Vegas is very convenient and is literally a couple of miles from the strip. You can get direct flights to Las Vegas from many international airports.

Most of the hotels have shows on every night offering guests everything from dancing girls to variety shows, musicals and magic shows. You can see the Chipendales or Sin City Bad Girls, watch Penn and Teller, or the latest broadway style show.

The Mirage has an artificial volcano that ‘erupts’ every hour on the hour between 5pm and 11pm, spewing pina colada scented smoke out into the air. The Bellagio hotel and casino has fountains outside its doors which are pretty famous, and where a fantastic magical show of lights, music and water can be watched every few minutes throughout the evening.

The tallest free standing observation tower in America is right here in Las Vegas. The Stratosphere Towers, although a casino and hotel too, is best known for it’s observation tower views, and exciting activities that take place waaay up on it’s top. From the viewing platforms, you can see not just Las Vegas, but also the mountains and desert that surround it. There is a revolving restaurant here, known as ‘Top of the World’, and several thrill rides.

Thrill Rides on The Stratosphere Las Vegas

• Big Shot is a reverse bungee jump which shoots you 160 feet up into the air at a whopping 45 miles per hour.
• Insanity dangles you over the edge of the tower then, spins at about 40 miles an hour in a circle so you can see the world revolving at your feet.
• Skyjump is a controlled descent bungee jump style ride. It lets you plummet 855 feet downwards attached to a high speed descent wire before coming safely to land.

Move out, away from the casinos and there are many other attractions in Las Vegas too. The Las Vegas space flights offer people the chance to experience what the astronauts have felt when they went into outer space. It’s not cheap to do, but it’s one of the few experiences you can partake in which will give you the chance to experience true weightlessness as a Boeing 727 takes you high up into the atmosphere, and then performs various moves so that you can get a feel of what it might be like in space. It only lasts a few minutes, but it’s certainly the experience of a lifetime.

The Shark Reef Aquarium is not your typical aquarium. This is a place where you can come face to face with sharks, sawfish, giant rays, endangered green sea turtles, piranha, moon jellies and rare golden crocodiles. There are over 2,000 animals here, more than 100 different species including 15 species of sharks, and over 1.6 million gallons of seawater!

Other nearby attractions you can visit include Madame Tussaud’s where you can enjoy waxworks of many famous people, the El Dorado Canyon Mine Tour just an hour from the strip where you can see a real gold mine, and learn about the history of mining in Nevada, and Red Rock Canyon National Conservation area.

Cruise Holidays in the Mediterranean

Cruising the Mediterranean means getting to see a wide variety of cultures. You can explore ancient ruins, view magnificent works of art, savour the wonderfully varied cuisine on offer, and take in peaceful village life, as well as the hustle and bustle of modern cities.

The Brand Royal Caribbean Cruises provide a wide range of cruises around the Mediterranean. They have seven great cruise ships who between them offer all their guests the luxury you’d expect from a cruise ship, and some very innovative features. Cruise ships offer different facilities, but some that can be found on the Royal Caribbean Cruise ships which you might not expect are climbing walls, ice rinks and miniature golf courses, solariums, fitness centre, theatre and casinos.

Mediterranean Cruises

There are over 120 different cruises to the Mediterranean offered by Royal Caribbean aboard its seven great ships. For example, sailing with ‘Adventure Of The Seas’ offers a 7 night cruise around the western Mediterranean departing from Malaga, Spain, and calling at Cagliari (Sardinia) and Civitavecchia (Rome) in Italy, Ajaccio in Corsica, Palma de Mallorca in Spain, and back to Malaga once more.

Splendour of the Seas

If you sailed with the ‘Splendour Of The Seas’ you might enjoy a trip around the Greek Isles starting in Venice, and then visiting Split, Croatia; Corfu, Greece; Piraeus (Athens), Greece; Mykonos, Greece; Katakolon, Greece; and returning to Venice.

If you didn’t want to travel from the UK by another mode of transport first, you could opt for a trip that begins in Southampton, such as those with the ‘Independence Of The Seas’. These trips out from Southampton into the Mediterranean vary from 10 nights up to 18 nights, and take a variety of different routes. Some take you to the Canary Islands and Spain for a 10 night round trip, while others take you on wider routes where you get to see places like Gibraltar, Corsica, Spain, Italy, Portugal, Tenerife and Gran Canaria.

Independence of the Seas

The ultimate Mediterranean Holiday is on the cruise liner the ‘Independence Of The Seas’ with their 18 night round trip where you get to visit 11 cities in 5 countries

The ultimate Mediterranean Holiday cruise with the ‘Independence Of The Seas’ is their 18 night round trip where you get to visit 11 cities in 5 countries. Beginning from Southampton in England, you sail out to Lisbon in Portugal, on to Palma de Mallorca which is part of Spain, on again in Spain to Barcelona, then it’s Italy with Florence or Pisa, Rome, Naples, Capri and Cagliari. Then Gibraltar which is part of the United Kingdom, back to Spain, this time to Cadiz, and then home to Southampton once more. A trip like this gives you a chance to experience just how different places within the same country can be, and with many excursions onto land, returning to your floating accommodation each night, and plenty of time on the open water as well, the only thing you might find yourself wishing for is that the trip was longer so you could fit even more in.

A Ride on Tram 28 in Lisbon

Lisbon is an appealing destination located on the west coast of Portugal. Everyone talks about how relaxed this city is, which makes it a popular location for a city break, romantic weekend or last minute getaway.

Enjoying Lisbon is easy. All you need are cheap flights to Lisbon and the city is yours. Most flights arrive at Lisbon Portela Airport, which is the main gateway to Portugal and of course the capital, Lisbon. It is just 4.3 miles from Lisbon and is well connected with the city via the Aerobus.

If you are planning your holiday in Lisbon, one thing you should make a note to visit is Tram 28. This method of public transport is the best way of getting around the city, and it has become one of the most popular tourist attractions in the city. Get your ticket for a ride on Tram 28 and discover the real Lisbon. Some of the highlights along the route are Mirador de Graça, where you will see spectacular views of the city; the Royal Pantheon and the famous Ladra Market. Tram 28 ends at San Jorge Castle, which is another great tourist attraction.

Wandering around the city will give you the chance to see World Heritage Sites as famous as Jeronimos Monastery and Belem Tower. If you want to experience Portuguese culture and traditions, book low cost flights to Lisbon in June for the city’s annual festival.

Visitor Guide to Lanzarote

Part of the Canary Island chain Lanzarote is one of the most popular holiday hot spots in Spain.  Boasting weird and eerie volcanic terrain, breathtaking beaches and a clement climate that makes it possible to enjoy a break here all year round.

Lanzarote can be found just off the coast of West Africa, on the same line of latitude as the Bahamas. And as a result has a semi tropical climate that makes it an ideal destination even in winter.  Like the other six islands in the chain it has been owned by Spain ever since the 1400´s.  So it is a very familiar for anyone who has enjoyed an Iberian holiday before.

Most visitors to the island arrive on flights to Lanzarote from the UK.  As more British visitors spend their holidays here than any other nationality.  With around 900,000 UK tourists expected to pass through Arrecife airport during the course of 2010.

There are three main holiday resorts which are all located in the south, whilst the north has been left largely untouched by tourist development.  And as a result has become a growing focus for rural tourism on the island.

Around half of all visitors stay in hotels, the other half in self catering accommodation.  With the island offering thousands of tourist beds all year round.  As here, thanks to the climate the holiday season never stops.

Hotels in Playa Blanca are especially popular, as this resort has been developed more recently than the others.  So facilities and amenities here are all still virtually brand new.  Prices are reasonable here too with room rates starting at about €60 per night.  Although there are some more upmarket establishments for those seeking a little more luxury.  Such as the Gran Melia Volcan located next to the Rubicon Marina.

Exploring the islands many attractions is relatively easy.  Lanzarote is a small island and the roads are all well signposted.  Car hire in Lanzarote is also very affordable, as is petrol.  The Timanfaya Volcano Park is the most popular sight, along with the works of the local artist César Manrique.  Who designed breathtaking visitor attractions such as the Jameos del Agua – an old lava tunnel and now a concert venue.

Lanzarote is also home to wealth of pretty, traditional towns and villages.  Such as Teguise, where some of the buildings date as far back as the 1450´s.