Tag Archives: travel tips
How to Stay Entertained on a Long Trip!
Whether it’s a punishing driving path through straight scenery of little interest, a stationary 12-hour flight, or a cramped coach journey from one side of a country to another, travel can be desperate. Physical discomfort is bad enough, but a lack of mental stimulation can ruin you. So it’s worth a little preparation and packing to alleviate the pain.
Gadgetry and electronics are the easiest get-out clauses. iPods, Kindles, tablets and phablets and other devices are a faithful companion on long journeys for passengers who like films, music, books and casino games such as those that you may find at SuperCasino.
Plan ahead and download anything you need on wi-fi in preparation as data roaming will destroy your finances abroad, and invest in a portable charger. Make sure you’ve packed yourself some drinks and snacks to nip any hunger pangs or thirst in the bud. Sure you might be able to buy some food along the way but if you’re on a coach, the driver will decide when it’s time for a stop, not your stomach. Also, you won’t have to interrupt that thrilling episode of your favourite series you’re watching on your iPad.
Those passengers without such luxuries will have to rely on pen and paper or your mind. Crosswords and sudoko take up time, but if you want a real challenge download some of the fearsome variations such as Wordoku, Squiggle Sudoku, and the deadly Samurai Soduko (41 interlinked grids).
Noughts and crosses is a simplistic 90-second filler, but much better is
ultimate noughts and crosses; an advanced version with nine mini-games inside one giant grid. Each player doesn’t get to choose which of the mini-games they play on – that’s determined by the opposition’s previous go – have a go at Ultimatetictactoe and you’ll soon see the strategic potential.
For fun and giggles, build a story between two or three of you. Take a piece of paper and fold it into multiple sections. Each of you takes it in turn to write a sentence, but each writer folds over the paper before handing it sideways for the next participant to take their turn. You could leave them completely clueless about what has been written, or tell them what the last word of your sentence was. Either way, one of you will read the completed short masterpiece at the end.
Eye-spy is good, but fairly tired, and there are multiple variations – using the second letter, or last letter, for example. Take turns in asking what you would do if you won the lottery, which three famous people you would have lunch with, and other meaningful posers. This is also a great way of involving other people on a coach ride and breaking the ice on a group tour, for example.
Another word game involves taking it in turn to name a country, and the next person has to name another country that begins with the last letter of the previous country. If there’s a group of you and you’re really feeling daring why not take on the ‘hot seat’ challenge, where one person is grilled by the other five who fire questions which he or she must answer – with one veto allowed. Once the questions have been answered another person takes on the hot seat, with a fresh set of questions.
These are a few variations on games and fun to drag you through the trek, but there are two last contenders which cost nothing: conversation on life, travel, families and ambitions; and sleep!
Tips For Cheap European Travel
GET A EURAIL PASS
A Eurail pass can help you save a lot of money especially if you are travelling across vast countries. Europe boasts of some of the best railways and speed trains across the globe. However, if you buy a single ticket for every time you travel from one point to the next, it may be too expensive. According to sites like this, Eurail passes are a fantastic way to save money when travelling across several countries in Europe. All you need to do is plan your itinerary carefully, to avoid ending in one place twice and book in advance.
EAT LIKE A LOCAL
Have you ever wondered how chameleons survive in the wild? Well, they change their color to match with the environment. This concept should help you as you travel on the cheap in Europe. Avoid the touristy high-end restaurants, cater for yourself in markets, and eat in places where you see most locals, chances are, the food is great and affordable. Eating local dishes also gets a taste of authentic dishes as well as great services. You can also shop for snacks in local department stores and have picnics in any of the numerous parks across UK.
BOOK A LARGE VILLA WHEN TRAVELLING IN A GROUP
Group travelling is always fun and apart from offering safety in numbers in a strange country; it is also a fun way to save money on travel in Europe. Accommodation can really clear your travel budget, and fast, however when travelling as a group, you can enjoy all the comforts of a villa like this and split the cost. Villas are a smart way to save money for groups as they often have more rooms, kitchens to prepare your own meals and offer privacy. Some villas also allow parties on the premises, so you can always party with your friends as you explore Europe.
TRAVEL SECOND CLASS IN TRAINS
Travelling first class is tempting, with all the comforts, but it could end up leaving a huge hole in your pockets. However, travelling second class can cost about 50% off compared to first class but it will still get you to your destination same as the first class. The differences in comfort are always minimal yet the difference in cost is vast, so save money and travel second class.
TRAVEL OFF SEASON
Travelling across Europe when everybody else is on the move can really end up being costly, travel agencies, airlines and hotels are looking up to recover from the low seasons. However, in the low seasons (usually in the winter) you can travel in Europe on the cheap, you can save on flights, hotels, restaurants and avoid long queues in major attractions. During the low seasons, the attractions have fewer tourists and you can be able to visit more attractions than when they are overcrowded. Major cities in Europe such as Paris and London are always fabulous to explore any time of the year, hence travelling during low seasons does not mean missing anything, but it saves you a lot of money.
