While driving in Europe for the first time may make most people feel uneasy, AutoEurope Australia hopes to help you incorporate a few simple ideas into your European driving holiday to avoid any frustration or unneeded stress.
- Before you start your journey make sure to have a rough idea of where you want to travel. Grab some street maps, familiarise yourself with your journey and the direction you will be travelling on the island.
- Check with hotel to see if they will provide off street parking and any additional costs associated with this service
- Always book from home, this will guarantee less stress when you are trying to read the terms and conditions of your car rental.
- Book, Rent or Buy a GPS unit – keeping your eyes on the road instead of a map will save you time and frustration.
- Most major Car Hire Company’s in Europe require you to have a credit card, which they will freeze an excess amount on in the case you damage or the vehicles stolen why in your care.
- Get yourself an international licence from your local licence provider. By having an international licence this will cut out a lot of confusion in the case you are pulled over by the police why driving. International licences provide a translation of your Australian licence.
- Know the local road rules and road signage before setting out on your journey
- Check over and familiarise yourself with the vehicle before you leave the car hire depot. A Car in Europe may have a different layout to your car back home
- Rent only what you need. Roads in Europe can sometimes be narrow therefore rent just enough to fit your luggage and your passengers [Plus it will allow you to save on fuel]
- Avoid trying to drive in any of the major cities – Many of the major cities are very hard to drive into and also some cities require special passes which will not be included on most rental cars.
Tip: When booking an Automatic vehicle you will need to book these from a larger depot such as an Airport or Major city location. Automatic vehicles are not seen as often in Europe and generally have a higher rental rate.
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Exploring Wye Valley
Located approximetly 3 hours south of Manchester , Wye Valley is home to scenice views , heritage castles and the River Wye. Drive your hire car along the main stretch and take in the rolling hills and rural residence. Along the road you will come across the village Tintern which is famous for being home to Abbey. Abbey was founded in 1131 and today still attarcts thousands of visitors which come to view its monastic ruins. Tintern Abbey is not to be missed, you will be able to caputure beautiful holiday snaps amoungst the gothic architecture.
Once you have experienced Abbey take off North East were you will uncover Puzzlewood. Puzzlewood is an enchanting land which is filled with mossy paths , ancient oak trees and naturally formed caves. For a small fee you can explore the charming area, which is great for all ages.
Perfect Snowdonia
On the west side of Wales rests Snowdonia, a coastal and mountainous region. Uncover Snowdonia with your car rental by stopping off at the FFestiniog & Welsh Highland Railway. Ride the train along the mountain side why taking in the scenic views of Snowdonia National Park. Not far from FFestiniog railway lays Sygun Copper Mine, an old mine which has been restored and maintained over the years. Take guided tours around the winding tunnels and explore the history of the land. Sygun Copper Mine also offers a museum and walking tracks.
If you are on a budget but still want to experience the rich history of the area, head north to Conwy. Conwy is a popular tourist town which provides visitors with the chance to explore is historic Town Walls and Conwy Castle for very little cost. Conwy Castle was said to be built between 1283 & 1289 and is part of the World Heritage Site.
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Are you taking off overseas? Are you looking for a new experience or maybe something to show all your friends, why not drop on by to these weird and wonderful hotels and restaurants along the way.
Poseidon Undersea Resort
Situated just north east off the island of Fiji, Poseidon is the only permanent seafloor structures held at one – atmosphere to avoid decompression sickness. Offering 22 individual rooms which are mostly made out of acrylic, guest get the opportunity to take in the 270 degree views which each room provides. The resort also contains all the luxury’s which normal resorts have to offer such as a library, bar, restaurant, spa and conference room. To access the resort guest use one of the two elevators, and to stay in the resort guests pay a minimum of US$30,000 a couple for two nights in an overhead beach villa and 4 nights in a luxury underwater suit.
ICEHOTEL
Located just 15kms from Kiruna Airport in Sweden, ICEHOTEL is built entirely of snow and ice and is made every winter alongside the Torne River. The hotel provides guest with the choice of several rooms to stay in ranging in temperatures between -5 to -8 C. The main features of the hotel are the art and design which is used to create the feature, guest are also encouraged to part take in trying their hand at sculpting ice, in the ice factory. ICEHOTEL also accommodates weddings and functions, and holds a bar, restaurant and hotel shop.
Capsule Hotel
Found throughout Japan, capsule hotels are becoming an inexpensive way for travellers to see the country without blowing the budget. The pods are built out of plastic and are approximately 2 metres long and 1.25 metres wide, they are generally constructed side by side or stacked in blocks of two and have a curtain for privacy. Most hotels pods are fitted with entertainment such as televisions and wireless internet, visitors use communal washrooms, and larger hotels will provide restaurants, pools and lockers.
Palacio De Sal – Palace of salt
Situated just south of Bolivia’s capital La Paz, Palacio De Sal is built on one of the world’s largest salt flats. The hotel structure, furniture and decorations are built from salt blocks which provide guest with the opportunity to experience the first salt hotel built in the world. The hotel contains 16 rooms, dining room, bar, recreation room, golf course, pool and spa. A behaviour the hotel prohibits is the licking of the salt walls; this is due to salts deterioration.
The Tree House Lodge
Just one hour drive south of Liberia, Tree house lodge hotel is positioned right in front of the famous Punta Uva beach. Stretching over 10 acres of land the tranquil and private location leaves visitors feeling like they have the whole place to themselves. Offering accommodation built on stilts reaching high up in the canopies of the forest, this unusual place delivers the very best of nature and simplicity. The houses are decked out with your very own bathroom and kitchen, and the resort also offer facilities such as yoga, canoeing, surfing , white water rafting and canopy tours. ]]>
Located in a National Park, this stunning Lake is said to be named after a princess. Surrounded by Mountains, world class lodges & restaurants, visitors can swim in the lake in warmer seasons or skate on the ice skating rink in the winter seasons.
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Hint: Extending across 5 countries , this land mass also contain man-made and natural lakes. It is also well known for the winter periods and skiing.
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Hint: Situaed in the Northern Hemisphere of the world this place is known today for being home to one of the most famous icons in the world.
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Hint:White in colour and representing Lord Buddha’s purity, this stunning temple recently was finished in 2008 and is known for representing both Buddhist and the Hindu religion. Also Located in one of the most popular tourist countries of the world.
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Hint: Found in Russia, this amazing palace features over 100Kgs of gold on the outside and statues on the roof. Rebuilt by Empress Elizabeth, what is the name of this stunning palace?
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As the world starts to become more tolerant of other cultures beliefs and religions we see a lot of countries around the world taking part in festivals and celebrations which would normally not be on the countries holiday lists. This could be due to travel becoming more affordable and easier to embark on, or it could also be that more and more people throughout the world now have access to the vast array of videos , media, blogs displayed on the world wide web.
One country which you would rarely hear your family or friends say their travelling to is India. Situated on the Indian Ocean and Arabian Sea, India is known as being one of the most populated countries in the world. Gradually we have seen India transform form a developing country and slowly, awareness is catching on that India is the place to travel, with a fast growing economy and great culture there’s no longer an excuse to not visit the wonderful place.
Maybe you’re the type of person that wants to experience culture? Or maybe you’re the type of traveller who is after an adrenaline rush. Either way there is a great festival held annually in Indian in the month of March, which will give any traveller an experience they will never forget. The Festival known as Holi is the religious celebration held in spring throughout the world by the Hindu religion, and lasts up to 16 days.
The exact legend behind Holi is uncertain, it is said there was once an evil king named Hiranyakasipu and he had a son named Prince Prahlad. The Prince infuriated his father as he was considered Holy and would often worship Lord Vishnu instead of worshiping his father. The king is said to have tried to kill his son several ways but failed due to Lord Vishnu always saving the prince. The king eventually ordered his evil sister Holika who was immune from fire to lure his son and take him into blazing flames. It was said that because Holika was using her powers for evil, the gods stripped her of this gift and she perished in the flames. The Prince forgave his evil aunt Holika and celebration of good triumphing over evil began annually, thus the name Holi.
We also see a legend which involved young Krishna who envied his soul mates Radha’s fair complexion, Krishna is said to have gone and coloured Radha’s face with darker colours and today this legend shows the lovable prank of applying colours to love ones faces throughout Holi. This is where we see the fun of the Holi festival; throughout the celebration people throw coloured powders, water bombs and even use pichkari’s which are somewhat similar to water guns.
Locations for Holi
Marthura & Vrindavan
If you want to experience a traditional Holi visit Mathura and Vrindavan, which are approximately 2 hours south of New Delhi. The month before Holi you will see dancers from throughout India come and interpret the story of Krishna and Radha’s legend.
Jaipur
Approximately 4 hours drive south west of New Delhi lays Jaipur. During the Holi season Jaipur offers dancing, elephant beauty contests and parades, foreigners are also regularly seen at this Holi celebration.
New Delhi
To celebrate modern Holi at its best check out the Delhi Holi Cow festival. A celebration of colour, music and people the festival is held a short distance outside of the main city of Delhi. The festival is a mixture of locals, tourist and expats making it a safe place to partake in the celebrations.
Mumbai
If you would rather not partake in the festival but still be able to see and experience the culture check out Juhu Beach or Colaba. Both these locations will be safe if you are just going to watch the as this is a tourist location.
Tips for Celebration Holi in India
•If you are driving your hire car to a destination give yourself plenty of time to get there , there will be a lot of traffic – It would be best if you arrive at the destination a day or two before to avoid missing out
•Definitely avoid driving during Holi’s peak hours
•When driving during the 16 days of Holi celebrations it is highly recommended to keep your car windows closed – to avoid any powder , or coloured water accidently entering your car
•Due to Holi being one of the messiest festivals make sure to wear old clothing, it may be hard to remove certain colours.
•If buying coloured powder try and buy shades of reds – this is because the other colours have more chemicals, better yet try and find someone who is selling natural powder
•Make sure to apply coconut oil or moisturisers to your body to avoid the colours staining your skin.
•It is also best if you wear some kind of eye protection like sunglasses to avoid any mishaps with the coloured powder.
•It is highly recommended that women do not go out and celebrate Holi alone; this is due to safety concerns.
And the best tip of all… is to have fun! The festival is about celebrating culture, history, love and freedom, embrace the traditions and make sure to take lots of photos!!
Are you planning a journey through India? If so take a look at Auto Europe’s discounted prices on car hire from all major airports and cities.
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Hint: Situated in the southern hemisphere, this extinct volcanic crater is known for shifting colours during seasons.
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