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Embassies and consulates
The embassy is a diplomatic representation. Its ambassador is the representative in residence by one government or sovereign to another and is in charge of the bilateral relations from one State to another. On the other hand, the consulate has an administrative role. Its role is to defend the people 
Your money on holiday
Forget cheques. First of all because writing out a cheque is expensive: banks charge a commission fee per cheque issued abroad. It can be very high. Secondly, because shops often refuse them: they also charge a high commission on foreign cheques.
How does it work?Changing pounds into another currency
What APD tax means for you
A family of 4 could pay £220 in taxes in 2009 and £340 in 2010 for a trip to OZ.
Chancellor, Darling, announced that a harsh rise in Air Passenger Duty is due to take place this month (November 2009). This means that taxes on each fare will rise, therefore making it more expensive to travel.
APD
Insurance and assistance
There is a difference between insurance and assistance. The first will financially compensate the insured who has been subject to a risk provided for in the contract. Whereas the assistance will provide help and pay for the expenses linked to the encountered difficulty: medical expenses, repatriation,
Couchsurfing tips
Couchsurfing has become one of the latest ways of getting around without having to fork out too much cash for accommodation and it can be done through the site: www.couchsurfing.com. With the added benefit of living with a local, Couchsurfing has become extremely popular and indeed it is one of the best
Rights and claims for the holidaymaker
Delayed flights and overbookings. On a regular or a non-regular flight, "The carrier is liable for damages occasioned by delay in the transportation by air of passengers, baggage or cargo" (Warsaw Convention, Art.19). Furthermore, since the new European Legislation established on the 17th of February
Duty-free
Whilst travelling, the passenger can do some shopping in so called duty-free airport shops, located in the custom's zone. Amongst the merchandise on offer in those shops, you can usually find a large range of perfumes and other beauty products, audio material, photo and video equipment, tobacco (cigarettes,
Avoiding travel sickness
To minimise the risk of travel sickness, eat lightly before and during the journey. Avoid alcohol and stimulating drinks (tea, coffee). Choose the spots where there are less oscillations, near the wings on a plane, in the centre on board a boat or a bus. In a car, avoid reading and smoking. Stay in a
Jet-lag
Drowsiness, confusion, insomnia, jet lag affects various biological functions, hormonal, digestive and intellectual. It is felt when you cross three or more time zones. Generally, the adaptation period is estimated at a few days. To ease jet lag, here are a few precautions:
rest before leaving
Travelling with proof of ID
To travel to any of the European Union countries (25 countries), a valid ID card or a passport, even less than 5 years out of date, is sufficient. Outside the E.U, you will need to present your passport and and visa according to the country visited.To obtain a National Identity Card contact the Identity
Shopping on holiday
Travelling inside the European Union (25 countries), the entry and exit of goods and merchandise for personal needs are not subject to any form of limitation on quantity or value and happens with no formalities at the borders. A few exceptions (alcohol, tobacco...) are still subject to limitations. Additionally,
Phoning abroad
Calling home from abroad. In automatic: dial the international telephone code and the country code + the number you are requesting without the 0. Reverse charge calls: in order to reverse the charges of the phone call. To find out the specific telephone code of the country you could be calling from contact
Holiday loans
Several types of companies offer loans in order to finance your holidays:
Banks can offer personal loans (with no spending justification) or revolving credits (permanently renewable). Find out more information on the credit rates, because for small expenses it is sometimes cheaper to negotiate
Prices, the small print
You have bought your trip (tour, holidays, or flight), from a service provider (travel agency or on-line).
You must know that even once your reservation is signed and your first instalment is paid, the seller can legally rise the price of the trip if he is himself subject to a rise in cost due
Luggage allowances
Limited room and fuel economies are forcing airway companies to strictly control baggages (number and weight per passenger) and tax the excess baggage. Baggage allowances. Each company (regular, low cost or charter) has it's own regulations, but it is generally accepted that at check-in, the allowance
How to pick your holiday - top tips
Here is a list of the ten points to take into consideration to choose your next holidays and enjoy them. The destination: The further it is, the more expensive it gets, due to oil prices. But on tourist destinations, competition brings prices down. Choose by preference charter flights and low cost companies.
Passenger rights
In the Regulations of Tourism the agency is fully responsible of the good execution of all the services (transport, accommodation,etc) included in the contract. In case of failure, the seller is responsible for the return and the compensation of any prejudice suffered by the client. Therefore, all passengers
The FCO (Foreign & Commonwealth Office)
It gives lots of travel advice and support to British nationals overseas.It provides help in the event of sickness or injury abroad, arrest or detention, that you are victim of a crime, of rape or sexual assault abroad, of death abroad, forced marriage, missing persons, and parental child abduction amongst
Air taxes and fees
Nowadays, with oil prices at record highs and the security measures getting tougher, air taxes represent more than 40% of the ticket's price: a real budget! On certain flights, these various taxes and fees practically double the price of the ticket. But what do these taxes correspond to? Air taxes regroup
Airline delays, the causes
Let's take the example of our French neighbours, 42 minute delay on take-off and landing is the average delay recorded in 2006 in France by the Direction Générale de l'Aviation Civile. Quite a delay, yet it varies according to the locality and the season. Delays go up in high season departures (summer
How to enjoy your next flight
Do you dread all the petty problems that come along with a long distance flight? Here is some practical advice for you to enjoy a ten hour flight: Arrive at the airport at least 2 hours before if not 3 hours for a flight transiting via the United States: you avoid the stress of missing your plane and
Bank cards: charges abroad
To have no bank transaction fees or charges on holiday, you must travel within the Euro zone: thirteen countries since Slovenia joined the new currency club on the 1st January 2007. These destinations - which offer security and proximity - allow you to leave for the sun (Greece and its islands), with
Airports: to and from the UK's capital cities
Here is an update about the different methods of getting to and from airports in UK capital cities.
England
1. London Stanstead
Train:
Stansted Express
The train terminal is underneath the terminal building. The Stansted Express runs between London Liverpool Street and Stansted Airport with
The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC)
The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) can be used to cover any necessary medical treatment due to either an accident or illness within the European Economic Area (EEA). The EHIC entitles the holder to state-provided medical treatment within the country they are visiting and the service provided will
Compulsory online visas for USA!
The USA is changing its entry procedures from January 12th onwards, when obtaining an online visa will be compulsory. Instead of the old system, the I-94 form, which is the form given out to British tourists as well as to passengers of other nationalities who do not require a visa for the US either,
More duty free for Brits!
For the first time in 15 years, the British government has finally succeeded in getting the EU to push the duty free allowance barrier up one notch for travellers arriving in Britain from outside the European Union.
For 15 years the limit of duty-free shopping could amount to a maximum of £145. From
Ski equipment charges
Many of you might soon be off on your skiing holiday, so Easyvoyage have checked out the handling charges of some major airlines for transporting your equipment.
BA
BA will take your skiing equipment free of charge in addition to your regular check-in baggage, subject to certain conditions. Any
Avoiding travel sickness
To reduce the risk of travel sickness, eat lightly before and during your journey and avoid alcohol or stimulants such as coffee or tea. Choose a place where there is less motion for example near the wings of a plane or in the centre of a boat or a bus. In the car, try to refrain from reading and smoking.
7 reasons you should take the FCO's number on holiday!
1. If your passport is lost or stolen the FCO can issue you with a replacement one or, in some situations, an emergency travel document.
The FCO does charge a fee for this but you should be able to claim it back if you have comprehensive travel insurance. If your passport is lost or stolen they can
Energy-saving tips at home whilst you jet off on holiday
Concerned about the environment? Well there are lots of completely free things that you can do to help save energy at home, even when you're off on holiday.
ABTA, The Travel Association and the AITO (Association of Independent Tour Operators) together, have created the Reduce My Footsteps initiatives
Think green when renting a car
Renting a car is becoming more cost-effective when travelling in a group or as a family. It is definately a great way to get around as it makes things much easier and gives greater independence whilst on holiday, especially if covering long distances. However this does cause harm to the environment,
Guide to tipping abroad
"Shall we leave a tip? He was very helpful and the food was excellent." "Yes dear, but he didn't cook the food and I'm not sure his waiting deserves to be rewarded. It's his job after all!" One of the oldest holiday polemics, the question of tipping is always one that we seem to encounter while on holiday.
Flying with kids
Flying with kids
Going away with the little ones can be a little stressful, especially when the trip involves a flight. To help make the whole experience a little easier, here are ten top tips to consider if you are plan to jet off with the kiddy winks this summer.
1) Let the kids be in charge
Travel Insurance Tips
Booking you holiday and the anticipation that follows having done so is all good fun, but you should also spare a thought for the less glamorous side of getting away; travel insurance. While it may be frustrating shopping around for the best deal and sifting through the paperwork to decide whether you
Rabies: still a risk
Rabies is still a current issue when travelling and is not to be taken lightly as once the virus is contracted, it is fatal.
Rabies today
If no preventative methods have been taken, Rabies is fatal. Today there are approximately 50,000 deaths due to rabies per year worldwide. The disease is most-commonly
EU airline blacklist
In response to frequent fatal airline crashes, the EU has banned 92 airlines which we have enclosed in the list below. These airlines are declared unsafe according to international standards and are not permitted to land at European airports. Obviously upon departure from the UK you will not be given
Card fraud: pre-paid cards
Pre-paid card: the way forward.
Credit card fraud when travelling abroad is rising. Protect yourself with a prepaid currency card. Travellers are urged to adopt pre-paid cards when travelling abroad after APACS, the UK's payments association, revealed £22.5 million rise in overseas card fraud committed
Financial protection and your rights
With an uncertain financial climate gripping the climate at present, there is a higher risk than ever that either your travel company or the airline you are flying with could go bust. But the extent to which you are covered financially depends on how you booked your break in the first place. The government
Which food can you bring back from your holiday?
One of the many pleasures of traveling is the local cuisine and it is understandable that you would want to bring a slice back with you to savour your holiday long after it is over. However there are certain rules in place to prevent you accidentally bringing back food from outside the European Union
Vilnius City Card
With Vilnius being joint European Capital of Culture (along with Linz) this year, there has never been a better time to visit the Lithuanian capital. Well, that is until now. The Lithuanian National Tourist Office has just launched a new card for tourists offering free transport and free museum entry
Nationwide foreign transactions
From 6th May 2009, the UK's largest building society is to stop absorbing Visa's currency conversion fee and pass it on to their credit card customers in light of the current economic climate. The date is 1st June for debit card holders. The fee of 0.84% which Visa levies on all of its card issuers will
Using your cards abroad
The UK Cards Association, in association with ABTA, have produced a guide to using your cards abroad, aimed at keeping travellers safe from fraud. It highlights the best ways to avoid being subject scams, explains some of the typical charges you could incur and details some facts you should know when
Queenstown Winterfestival, New Zealand
For over 30 years this out-of-the-ordinary annual event has been celebrating the start of winter like nowhere else. The town of Queenstown, situated in the south-west of New Zealand's South Island, will this year be honouring the coming of the cold season between 26th June and 5th July with a plethora
Know before you go
Following last week's warning from the FCO that many Britons who travel abroad risk finding themselves in trouble with the law due to not having familiarised themselves with local laws, here is the list of tips and facts that accompanied the release. For a full guide on things to think about before heading
Driving abroad
Driving abroad
IN EUROPE
A valid UK driving licence is acceptable in all countries in the Economic European Area, which includes the EU plus Liechtenstein, Iceland and Norway. If you are in any doubt then an International Driving Permit (IDP) can accompany your UK licence (see below).
Throughout
7 tips before a long weekend
1. Currency:
Is the destination's currency the Euro? In Hungary the currency is still the Forint for example.
2. Warn your bank:
If you don't want to experience the embarrassment of your direct debit card being refused in a long supermarket queue, call your bank to let them know your plans.
3. Money:
Check
National Pandemic Flu Service
The National Pandemic Flu Service has been launched and the following is
the Association of British Insurer's (ABI) position:
As the National Pandemic Flu Service goes live, the travel insurance
industry has confirmed that, in the absence of written documentation
from a GP or other medical practitioner,
Emergency phone numbers
At a time of the year when travel is most frequent, it is important to know who to call in case of an emergency. A website has been created to help holiday makers all over the world: SOS1.tel. This site allows holiday makers to access emergency services from the country they are holidaying in. Police,
Reminder: what is the FCO's role?
British nationals are continuing to pose inappropriate questions to FCO consular staff around the world, which has prompted the government department to issue a reminder of its role. Anecdotes recounted include travellers seeking advice on how to control unruly children, big spenders asking to be bailed
Taking your pets abroad
It is only normal to want to take your pet with you on holiday, however this privilege comes with a certain responsibility on the owner's part to make sure that the transfer of rabies and other diseases is not an issue. Well, with the Pet Travel Scheme (PETS) scheme, by following some simple guidelines
Beat blood circulation problems
Staying seated for hours on end is no laughing matter, especially with bad blood circulation, which can be very painful. It can also be dangerous as long periods of immobility can lead to blood clotting. In order to help make a long-haul flight more comfortable, there are several things that you can
Hassle-free luggage service
New independent luggage service, www.carrymyluggage.com, may be the way forward. With door-to-door collection and worldwide delivery service for all types of luggage (suitcases, sports equipment, trunks, holdalls...), Carrymyluggage removes the hassle of carrying luggage through various means of transport
Turn old money into new!
We are all guilty of it. Hoarding old currency in the hope that we would again get the chance to spend the rest of it on our next trip. But then the Euro arrived and suddenly we found ourselves lumbered with wads of invalid cash and no way to spend it. Many banks offered to exchange expired currency
Souvenirs and endangered species
We all like to bring back souvenirs from our holiday, but at what price? What might look like an innocent ornament or a delicious snack may well turn out to be made from an endangered species. The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) is a world body which regulates the trade
Thumbs up: Easyvoyage's guide to hitchhiking
Hitchhiking is a divisive issue. Some will tell you that it is a dangerous method of getting from A to B that should be avoided if at all possible, whereas others claim that is it is an economic, fun and potentially trip-making way of moving around a country. Both views hold some weight. Now and again
Easy Voyage gives you the advice you need to organise your trip as best as possible, avoiding any nasty surprises.
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