Posts by : Izy Berry

When traveling, dealing with money overseas can be one of the most challenging things. If you walk around with large amounts of foreign currency, you can make yourself a target for being robbed. You can also run the risk of simply losing it yourself. However, using your credit card or EFTPOS card from home can be really expensive, with bank fees adding up quickly. Finding a method of overseas payment that works best for you can be a hassle, but there are lots of options available to you. Here are the most popular ways of dealing with money overseas. 

Getting a Travel Money Card:
Travel Money Cards have popped up in recent years, becoming the electronic version of traveler’s checks. There are a number of banks and companies that offer them, with a variety of great rates and deals making this an appealing option for those who travel regularly. You can choose to exchange foreign currency in advance and preload it onto your card, which allows you to get a better exchange rate. Often Travel Money Cards do not have large fees for international withdrawals, meaning that you can take smaller amounts of money at a time, which is safer. 

Using your Credit Card:
Depending on your relationship with your bank, you can sometimes find good value credit cards that are great for using overseas. This depends heavily on the company and some credit cards might not be accepted overseas, so it pays to book in a meeting with your bank to check. Also, often credit cards do not have as good exchange rates as Travel Money Cards, so this is something you should compare to ensure you are getting a good deal. While might seem like a marginal difference in currency conversion rates can make a considerable difference over the course of your trip, so do your research. 

Taking Cash:
Some people like to withdraw all the money for the trip in the foreign currency and take it along with them. Sometimes, banks at home can give you a pretty good rate, especially if you order in advance, which will save you money down the line. Personally, I don’t trust myself with large amounts of cash. I think this option would suit someone who was just going away for a short trip or had exceptional money handling skills. 

Withdrawing from International ATMS:
This is the method I’ve used along my travels, just because I haven’t taken the time to look into a Travel Money Card. Over the past two years of travel I probably could have saved a few hundred dollars in ATM fees if I’d opted for a Travel Money Card instead. I love the convenience of using my bank card and I’m lucky enough to have two linked to the same account, so if I was to lose one overseas then I have an easy backup. 

How do you deal with money when you are overseas? Do you carry cash, use your bank card or have a specialised Travel Money Card? Let me know in the comments below. 

After so many trips overseas, I’ve got my travel essentials down to the bare essentials and a few creature comforts. As my sister and I are off to Asia in just over three weeks, I’m going through the motions of mentally making sure I have everything I really need. I like to travel light and that means taking only the things that I’ll really use. On my first trip I boarded the plane with lots of useless things that I never bothered to use, leaving things along the way or gifting them to others. Here are my favourite travel essentials:

My iPhone:
I was against buying an iPhone for ages because they’re quite expensive and everyone who owned them seemed to fall immediately in love with them and become almost obsessed. But my camera was stolen when I was in America and I needed an affordable replacement so I bought an iPhone. I find it so useful for using with maps, taking photos, checking emails on the run and so on. I literally could not travel as comfortably without it and suggest that a smartphone is a great idea for anyone who is retarded with maps, like I am. There are heaps of great iphone deals available to help reduce the cost of buying a smartphone, ensuring they are a good investment even for a budget traveler. 

Zip Lock Bags:
Whatever brand you choose, buying some clear plastic bags that you can zip closed will make your life a lot easier. This allows you to keep your dirty and clean clothes separate and also allows you to cram more stuff into your bag while you’re away. I have found that the roll and zip method works best, roll your clothes into a cylinder shape and then place them in your ziplock bag to keep them nice and tidy in your suitcase or bag. I always worry that my bags are going to be searched at the airport and I’ll have underwear being flung around, so this method of packing keeps my worries at bay, too!

 
Carry some PawPaw:
PawPaw is quite a trendy product in New Zealand and Australia, but I haven’t seen it in too many other places around the world. You can use it to do everything – it’s great for chapped lips, any sores or burns, cracked heals, baby rash or any rash in general and the list goes on. Vaseline is a great substitute if you can’t find PawPaw in your country. 

Take a good book:
Even though I travel with both a laptop and iPhone, there are times where I’m not near a charging port and everything’s gone flat. There’s nothing quite like peering out the window of a train, plane or even bus while in the middle of a great book. I also love taking books to swap with people or in book exchanges in hostels during my travels. If you’re traveling with friends and you each take a book, then you can swap when you’re both finished, doubling your reading library on the road. 

Everyone has different travel essentials. What items do you have to carry with you whenever you travel? Leave your top picks in the comments below. 

Visiting the largest city in Canada can be an expensive trip. There are so many things to see and do, but most of them come with a hefty price. If you can save on your flight with cheap companies like Air Transat and find an affordable accommodation, you’ll be able to indulge guilt-free in all the activities you want. Here are my top picks of things to do in Toronto.

Niagara Falls

It’s an obvious, but unavoidable sight to see. Swarmed with tourists, getting splashed by the Niagara Falls is a breathtaking moment that you won’t soon forget. Watching more than six million cubic feet of water fall over the crest line every minute in high flow is spectacular. With a variety of packages and viewpoints, you can choose the one that is most convenient for your situation. From a journey behind the falls to a boat ride or observing them from afar, they are a must-see!

Canada’s Wonderland

To satisfy the little kid in your heart, you can go visit Canada’s Wonderland, the first and largest theme park in Canada. With over 60 rides to enjoy, you are guaranteed a great day filled with fun at this amusement park. You can even ride Canada’s largest roller coaster, the Leviathan. Here is a video of what it feels like to be in the first row on this adventurous ride.

There are also special events and live entertainment depending on when you plan your visit.

CN Tower

Another popular attraction that is not to be missed is the CN Tower. It is Toronto’s trademark and main place to visit. Riding in the glass elevators to the top is going to offer a whole different view of Toronto. Enjoying a decadent meal at the revolving 360° restaurant could make for a fantastic dinner and a memorable night. If you’re the adventurous kind, they offer edgewalking. EdgeWalk is basically walking hands free around the top of the tower while attached to an overhead safety rail via a trolley and harness system. Leaning back will give you an incredible rush and remarkable view of the city.

Distillery District

Once you are done hitting up the major sights to see, it’s time for a break. One of the areas that is in downtown Toronto and that could give you a rest from the typical tourist activities is the Distillery District. It is a pedestrian only zone and consists of a variety of unique boutiques, galleries, cafes, shops and renowned restaurants. The District describes itself as an area with a relaxing European atmosphere with a cool New York City vibe. It is a great place to relax, shop, eat and take in some history about Toronto.

Toronto is a fun and vibrant city, with events happening year-round. Make sure that you do as much as you can and take in all that it has to offer. Also, Canadians are some of the friendliest people that you will meet and it will help make your visit that much more memorable. Happy visiting!

One of the most noticeable aspects of life in Spain is the sheer variety of rich and remarkably diverse cultures which together make up the nation’s identity. Each region has its own distinct traditions and ways of life, which reflect on everything from industry and agriculture to music, leisure activities, and eating habits. From the arid plains of inland La Mancha to the coastal south of Andalusia, or to the northernmost reaches of the Basque country, there is no single experience which can fully encapsulate the Spanish way of life.

This celebration of diversity is reflected best in Spanish food. Because, for all of its variety, there is a food which brings Spanish culture together more than any other: and that is tapas.

Tapas has become synonymous with Spain, and it is this unique dining experience which visitors remember fondly, long after their time in Spain has come to an end. Whilst each region has created its own speciality dishes and ingredients, the tradition of tapas is largely the same across the whole of the country. So, when you visit Madrid, you will find not only the foods of the surrounding region, but also the most popular dishes from every part of the nation.

Visiting the capital is perhaps one of the best ways to experience Spain’s wide range of traditions anyway, and this is for a number of reasons. Being in the geographical centre of the country, the capital allows for quick and easy access by road or rail to every other of Spain’s autonomous communities. Train travel is very affordable in Spain and services such as Avis car hire in Madrid are readily available. However, as Spain’s largest city, Madrid can also boast residents and businesses from every other part of the country, meaning that tourists will not have far to travel in order to experience a taste of the vibrant diversity of the nation’s cuisine.

One of the most memorable locations within the city is the historic Barrio de La Latina neighbourhood. La Latina is situated in the oldest part of Madrid, and is characterised by its lively bazaars, its Muslim architecture, and its many open plazas and squares, which are connected by narrow streets and alleyways. For this reason, navigating La Latina is perhaps best conducted on foot. But walking through the historic streets will also give visitors the best opportunity to soak in the local atmosphere. On the street and in amongst the activity, tourists will find some of Madrid’s premier tapas bars and restaurants at every turn.

There is an art to eating the tapas of Madrid. With so many eating establishments, and each serving a wide selection of dishes, finding the best that the city has to offer has become something of a cultural pass-time for the locals. It is not an uncommon sight to see the residents of Madrid moving from bar to restaurant within a single mealtime, in order to experience the most celebrated morsels from each establishment. The tapas experience contributes to the relaxed way of life, and lunchtimes can comfortably extend from 2pm into the early evening, and diners may visit upwards of five or six different eateries in that time.

For this reason, local knowledge is invaluable when it comes to finding the highlights in a small space of time. When visiting one of La Latina’s many restaurants, feel free to ask for recommendations from the owners or – better yet – from a fellow diner. Locals love to pass on their personal favourites, and the lively, friendly atmosphere of La Latina is instantly welcoming for new visitors. Whether yours is a long stay, or a brief stopover, a meal of tapas in La Latina is the true taste of Spain.

If there’s one thing that Orlando is synonymous with, it’s water parks. This city in Florida, a hub for tourists, partygoers and fun-seekers, simply can’t get enough of them. Not that you can cast blame – as the mercury rises in the summer, water parks are a great way to stay cool and invigorated. They’re also one of the best ways to have fun, whether you’re with your family or friends, and the combination of water and themed attractions is the perfect recipe for summer time success.

Water parks are not just for summer of course. One of the beautiful things about Orlando is that it is a year round destination. Temperatures in the winter months are a little cooler, but they’re still pleasant, and the winter tends to have less rain too. Orlando’s water parks have a great series of fun-packed events throughout the year, especially at key times like Christmas, so what are you waiting for?

Wet’n Wild, opened in 1977, is Orlando’s original water park and it continues to be voted the best, appealing to all age groups from young kids to adults and open year-round with seasonally heated pools. With a fantastic range of tube rides, flumes, rafts, cascading waterfalls and kids’ rides, Wet’n Wild has a crazy mix of themed adventures. Top rides for thrill-seekers include Brain Wash, an extreme tube ride with a 16 metre vertical drop; The Blast, an exhilarating ride down a ruptured pipeline; The Storm, which spins you in dizzying circles; and speed slide Der Stuka, with its heart-stopping 76 metre free fall. Then there are the amazing flumes of Mach 5, the twisting multi-passenger tube ride The Surge, disco-themed Disco H2O and space-themed Black Hole. Kids will love the Kids’ Park and the bouncy Bubble Up. For more sedate rides, head to the Lazy River, with its nostalgic Florida docks and fading billboards.

SeaWorld, of course, is a major attraction for its fantastic animal shows, experiences and exhibits. Visitors can get up close to penguins, marvel at sea lions, dolphins, beluga whales and manatees, learn about animal care and conservation issues, and be enthralled by sharks in one of the largest underwater tunnels in the world. SeaWorld has ten aquariums and more than 3000 marine animals. Shows include A’Lure, with incredible siren aerialists, and One Show, featuring majestic killer whales. There are plenty of rides at SeaWorld, from the spinning and gliding Manta and monstrous Kraken to the Journey to Atlantis, where you can explore the watery depths of this sunken mythical city. Shamu’s Happy Harbor has some great rides for kids, including jellyfish-themed Jazzy Jellies, the Sea Carousel and teacup ride Swishy Fishies.

At Walt Disney World there are thrills and spills galore. Blizzard Beach is a frosty ski resort, formed –so the story goes – after a freak snowstorm in Orlando. Slalom, toboggan or sled down the face of Mt. Gushmore and experience the dizzying rush of free-falling 36 metres down the Summit Plummet slide. Other rides include the white water raft ride Teamboat Springs, the flume ride Snow Stormers and the Chair Lift, ferrying visitors to the top of Mt. Gushmore. There’s also a wave pool and kids’ play area.

Also at Walt Disney World is Typhoon Lagoon, a ship-wrecked island with a saltwater pool, lazy river and plenty of tropical rides, such as the slides of Humunga Kowabunga and Storm Slides and the meandering Castaway Creek. At Shark Reef you can snorkel amongst exotic sea life including nurse sharks.

Aquatica, a SeaWorld park, has a South Seas theme, with colourful birds and fish, together with lagoons, waterfalls and wave pools. Rides include the fantastic Dolphin Plunge, leisurely Loggerhead Lane, thrilling Omaka Rocka and racing Roa’s Rapids.

With car hire Orlando, all the region’s water parks are easily accessible and you can plan your own itinerary to ensure you make the most of your holiday.

If you love wine and you love holidays, why not combine the two? There is no better feeling than drinking a glass of local wine whilst gazing over the best views that the country which produced it has to offer and learning a bit more about your favourite tipple into the bargain.

France

France is, of course, one of the world’s most prolific producers of wines and trying to taste the numerous varieties from the many regions could take weeks. From the soft reds of Burgundy to the crisp whites produced in the Loire Valley, from Provencal’s famous rosés to the authentic bubbles of Champagne, France offers everything a wine lover could dream of.

Spain

The wine industry in Spain is booming and it’s not hard to see (and taste) why. It’s impossible to choose one region over another, but wine hot spots include Rioja, Ribera and Navarra. They are blessed both with a fascinating culture, beautiful architecture and great places to stay. You will also find a huge variety of wines to try in the cities, as well as enough culture to satisfy the most ardent history lover.

Italy

Wine has been produced in Italy for centuries. You will find experts at every location you care to mention offering in-depth advice and fascinating historical details. Famous for its wine production, its delicious food, its friendly people and scenery to die for, Italy may just be the perfect holiday location for a wine connoisseur. From Tuscany to Emilia-Romagna and from Veneto to Rome, you can’t help but find a beautiful spot to sit and enjoy some local wine under the trailing bougainvillea.

The Americas

Travelling further afield, why not consider a trip to California? The climate supports masses of vineyards which produce a variety of delicious wines to try. With terrain including the tallest mountains and the valleys and the plains in between, a contrasting assortment of wines are produced by the individual micro-climates that make up this great state. You are guaranteed sunshine and the welcoming atmosphere of this tourist-friendly destination will ensure you have a holiday that you will remember for years to come. If you’re feeling more adventurous, head for Chile. Try visiting the world-famous city of Casablanca for a taste of the fine sauvignon blancs, chardonnays and pinot noirs that are so characteristic of that area. Chile is now rightly regarded as a leading producer of quality wines and is a destination not to be missed.

South Africa

South Africa might not be first country that springs to mind when thinking of combining wine with travel, but think again. South African wines continue to grow in popularity and South Africa is a uniquely beautiful country with a great climate and an abundance of attractive destinations. You could consider a trip to the famous Winelands that nestle among the mountains east of Cape Town and produce some of Africa’s finest wines.

Never before have the world’s best wine-producing areas been so accessible. You can visit www.coachholidays.com to book a trip to a destination where you will find a warm welcome and, of course, a freshly poured glass of fine wine waiting for you.