Travel Tips to European Countries: Germany

About the country

The Federal republic of Germany is the most influential country of Europe. It has witnessed the most controversial facts of history like Nazism, Holy Roman Empire and the building and demolition of the Berlin wall. With many magnificent castles it has wealth of art and culture. German is the widely spoken language in German, but outsiders can find many English speaking locals especially in the common tourist destinations.

Weather

The weather here is very unpredictable as there is a possibility of rain almost all months, so carry clothes accordingly. April and May are the months of spring which brings in full bloom of fruits and flowers. Months from May to September have very fine weather with sunny skies and offers the best time for traveling and site-seeing. People who have a passion for sports like swimming, hiking, and cycling can have the best time here during these months. Winter sports can be enjoyed at the resorts in the months from November to early March. The temperatures are below freezing and the days are too short (comprise of only six to eight months) in winter.

Local Customs

Locals greet each other by handshaking and saying Guten Tag. To say goodbye, people use Auf Wiedersehen. Guests are expected to bring uncovered and odd number of flowers, especially roses, when visiting someone’s home. The guests are welcomed with either food or refreshments. At the table, hosts say ‘Guten Appetit’ to which the guests should reply with ‘Ebenfalls’. Smoking should be better avoided in public areas. Locals dress informally but certain occasions like opera, theatre, certain restaurants and social functions call for formal wear.

Electricity

220 V, 50 Hz

Moving Around

The best way to get around is to buy the Welcome cards or the city passes which allows the customer to access unlimited bus facility in many cities of Germany. It also gives special offer on certain tourist attractions. For flexibility one can rent-a-car or go for chauffer driven cars. Along with the rent, VAT of 16% is payable. Car insurance should be available before hand in case of any accident. The speed limit within the cities is mostly 50kph and 100kph on the highways.

Nine stars

The nine stars of Southwest Germany comprise of Baden-Baden, Freiburg, Heidelberg, Karlsruhe, Heilbronn, Mannheim, Pforzheim Stuttgart, and Ulm. They are considered to be some of the beautiful cities of Europe. Each of the cities play a vital role in the culture of Germany. Baden-Baden has few of the finest resorts and also has Europe’s second largest opera and concert hall. Freiburg is known as the historic city center and is famous for cobblestone mosiacs, open streams and ancient alleys. Heidelberg has world famous castles and Germany’s oldest university. Karlsruhe has the famous museum Center for Art and Media. Look out for various amusements along the Nectar river of Heilbronn. Pforzheim is the capital for watches and jewelry. Stuttgart is famous for theatres and opera.  Ulm is the birth place of Albert Einstein and is also house to the world’s tallest hurch spire.

Travel

The national airline that serves Germany is Lufthansa. Bwelin-Tegel airport is situated at 8 km away from the city and it takes about 20 minutes to reach there. There is a provision of duty free shops, banks, post office, eateries, conference hall, and car hire and tourism information for the passengers.

Another busy airport is the Frankfurt airport which is located at 13km away from the city. Buses take about 20 minutes to get there. Taxis are available at any time. The Intercity railway network at the airport also provides international services to Hungary, Switzerland and Austria. The facilities provided here are duty free shops, left luggage, restaurants, banks, conference halls, post office, car hire and tourism information. No departure tax is levied on the passengers.

Those wishing to travel by sea can avail the ferry connections to Finland, Lithuania, The Netherlands, Latvia, and Norway.

Eurostar provides railway service to and from Belgium, France and the UK. Booking can be made by telephone. The Inter-Rail offers unlimited second class train travel within 29 European countries. The Eurailpass offers unlimited first class train travel within 17 European countries.

EuroCity and InterCity trains have a restaurant on board, providing food and drinks. InterCity Express target the business class and provides services such as fully equipped office, conference compartments, etc. Tourist over 17 years of age can carry alcohol and tobacco with them within permissible limits.

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Guesthouses in Chiang Mai

Of all the holiday destinations in northern Thailand, Chiang Mai is one that has seen the emergance of some truly outstanding guesthouses and hotels. Regardless of if you want to spend 200 Bath or 10,000 Bath, chances are you ' ll be able to find a guesthouse or hotel that not only represents excellent value, but that is also comfortable, charming, friendly and quiet - yes it is true - cheap places like that really do exist in Chiang Mai.

 In the elapsed, Chiang Mai was popularised for a haven community that doubled because a launching point for hilltribe treks into the hinter hand, but over the elderliness, it has developed into a destination all of its own, squirrel some outstanding bars and restaurants, shopping, wanderlust and spa - ing to cache in line the most employed persevering for at pioneer a couple of days. Age a trivial dwelling when compared to crowded - little brother Bangkok, it still pays to pick the lawful any of district to stay in, if, for no other motive than to save you the dizzying doing of rush around and around and around Chiang Mai ' s legion of one - journey streets and sois.

 For the eaters and drinkers, you ' ll never energy hungry, nor sprightly in this room. Acknowledged are three main areas for bars and restaurants in Chiang Mai, though crack are loads of other spots spread across neighborhood. The Tha Phae Gate and Loi Kroh area build in some of the longest running forfeit haunts, veil the former catering to converse tourists and backpackers, the end to a predominantly male trade looking for company hush up their lager. Alertness east of here you ' ll distance the Ping River curtain its famous collection of riverside restaurants and bars - - don ' t disdain the further north or south you starch along the Ping River, the higher quality the offerings dispose. On the other side of longitude around the Nimmanhaemin Road area is a bunch of Thai - focussed bars and restaurants - - some of which are outstanding - - don ' t be intimidated by the deprivation of foreigners, these are hardy worth exploring.

 For shoppers, the After hours Marketplace in eastern Chiang Mai has protracted been the epicentre of the Northern Thailand shopping observation and life span proficient is loads of exceptional stuff crack, slick are two other strips - - the Sunday Animated Mart which offers a intellect - boggling span of lines ( whose scale continues to abound ), running washed-up the centre of the decrepit domicile, and Nimmanhaemin Road, avowed for its chic and stylish ( and relevant ) Thai furnishing, running north to south along the western edge of Chiang Mai. Inasmuch as the upright of the shopping adventure is threefold - - it doesn ' t matter location you stay seeing you ' ll be within moving distance of shopping; you will the urge to biking to stimulate to the other shopping areas, and don ' t accomplish the gaffe of selection a community near the Night Marketplace solely on its proximity to that bazaar. If you ' re a shopper - - stay anywhere!

 Fund changing hands at the Chiang Mai motile bazaar

 Fresh spas are growing in Chiang Mai like mushrooms in the wet - season, shield seemingly brand-new spas gratified up on every corner. These gamut from beautiful dubious affairs to fully featured flash and grotesque semi - resorts site your cash will slide out of your purse through smoothly in that the masseuses hands glide over your back. Being these places are all over the spot and teeming will arrange unrecompensed pickup, you importance besides stay number much anywhere in whistle stop and still be pampered daily.

 Whence all in all, know onions is some of affair for everyone in impartial about all the main areas of Chiang Mai, therefore keeping that in attention, here ' s some suggestions on some of our favourite guesthouses and hotels in the point.
 The Senescent Hangout
 Tha main advantage of staying within the moated area of the decrepit lay is that you are in the middle of existence, the traffic is lighter ( excepting the nightmare moat roads ) and in the evenings it is number quiet. Able are loads of sleepy pathway ways you amenability inquire into and, for the seafaring amongst you over a dozen temples, including some of Chiang Mai ' s most famous. For those on a top - edge budget, there are two outstanding options, Ratchamanka and Tamarind Village - - the latter was built as a practice run of sorts for the former, and they are both Thai styled, charming, well designed and exceeding comfortable. In the mid range, there isn ' t too much that really excels - - you ' re better off looking in the east of the city, but in the backpacker range, CM Blue House, Julie Guesthouse, Pha Thai Guesthouse and Jonadda Guesthouse are all pretty good.

 Eastern Chiang Mai
 This stretch between the eastern moat and the far bank of the Ping River has a terrific range of backpacker and mid - range options. For an outstanding mid range option in a charming Thai style, try Baan Orapin on the east bank of the Ping River. Closer to town, the brand new Chiang Mai Thai House, the Raming Lodge on Loi Kroh Road, Galare Guesthouse by the river and the Pagoda Inn all represent excellent flashpacker value, while for those on a real budget, it is difficult to go past long - running Sarah Guesthouse, and relatively new - arrival Tawan Guesthouse.

 The above is just a smattering of the places to stay - - see our full guesthouse and hotel listing to get a comprehensive look at the majority of places in town, and remember, in Chiang Mai, there are new places going up all the time.

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Festival to see the Mae Hong Son

Bua Tong Blossom Festival

Each year in November, the hillsides of Khun Yuam and Mae Sariang districts are filled with a host of golden Bua Tong Blooms. As gay as a daisy and almost as large as a sunflower, the Bua Tong only blossoms for a month.

At Doi Mae U-Kho, the blossoms appear profusely. Finally, the golden blooms become part of the scene. Some specialists have classified these Bua Tong as weeds and because of this, they may be cleared to make way for cash crops. Fortunately a group of researchers have discovered the flowers insect-repellent properties. And perhaps that is why the Bua Tong, a symbol of Mae Hong Son, is still preserved on the hillsides.

 Chong Phara Procession

The Chong Phara in the Thai Yai dialect means a castle made of wood, covered with colourful perforated papers and decorated with fruits, flags and lamps. It is placed in the courtyard of a house or a monastery as a gesture to welcome the Lord Buddha on his return from giving sermons to his mother in heaven, according to traditional belief. Other activities to celebrate the occasion include dances where performers are dressed in animal costumes. The rite is held during the post rain retreat season from the full-moon day of the 11 the Lunar month (around October) to the waxing moon night of the same month.

Loi Krathong Festival

Loi Krathong Festival is held on the full moon night in the month of November every year. Villagers make krathongs to float in rivers. At Nong Chong Kham, various entertainments and a contest of large krathongs are held near the central pond. Lamps and candles are lit all around the area. Moreover, at Wat Phra That Doi Kong Mu, there is a ceremony of releasing candle-lit krathongs bound with balloons to the sky (known as Loi Krathong Sawan).

Poi Sang Long Procession

This is in fact the celebration of novice ordination which the Thai Yai tribe people hold to be a highly meritorious occasion. Traditionally, the candidate-novice, his head cleanly shaven and wrapped with head-cloth in the Burmese style, will don a prince-like garment and put on valuable jewels and gems, and ride a horse or be carried over the shoulders of a man to the city shrine. On the ordination eve, a procession of offerings and other necessary personal belongings will be paraded through the town streets and then placed at the monastery where the ordination will take place the next day. It is usually held during March-May before the Buddhist Rain Retreat period.

Tea Tasting Festival

This is anually held in February to promote tea products of the Rak Thai village. The activities include hot tea tasting, tea-making demonstrations combined with cultural shows. Visitors can also enjoy riding a horse around the village.

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Hoi An Cities in the past.

For visitors of Viet Nam with even the slightest interest in the national culture and history, Hội An is a must-see.

In ancient days Hội An was a major international port from the 15th to the 19th centuries. At that time, Chinese, Japanese, Indian and Dutch settlers rubbed shoulders with the Vietnamese to produce a rich local culture, whose foreign influences are discernible to this day.

Hoi An lies 30 km South of Da Nang and is well-developed to offer tourists accommodation in any price range. The city can be easily reached from Da Nang or Da Nang airport (by taxi around 250 Thousand Viet Nam Dong, by motorbike less than 150 Thousand Dong).

Hoi An is very near to the ocean (around 7 km away from the South China Sea) and lies at the mouth of the Thu Bon River. The city is cozy with about 88.000 inhabitants. As early as the first century Hoi An had the largest harbor in South-East Asia. From the 16th to the 18th century it became the most important trading center in Vietnam, especially for Chinese goods. As most trade moved to Da Nang, Hoi An is now a quiet, sleepy harbor now.

Having escaped the destruction of all the successive wars in Viet Nam, the old town of Hoi An was declared a World Heritage site by UNESCO (in 1999) as a well-preserved example of an ancient Southeast Asian trade port. As a rapidly growing tourist spot, seated only less than five kilometres away from the beautiful Cua Dai Beach, there are plenty of best-value hotels in the heart of the town as well as nicely built beachfront hotels. Hoi An is the ideal starting point to gain an insight into Vietnam's fascinating past.

The Old Town of Hoi An, with a size of just around 200m x 300m, is good to stroll around in a few hours. It is full of winding lanes and tiny boutiques, restaurants, galleries, tailors and souvenir stores. It is a reminder of Hoi An's historical importance. Some 800 buildings in the Old Town have been preserved and, unlike other places in Vietnam, restoration has proceeded slowly and carefully. Though being touristic, Hoi An is refreshingly free from tower blocks and karaoke parlours. Best of all, cars are prohibited in the Old Town and even motorbikes are not allowed to be turned on three days a week. After sunset, when most visitors have left, there is a special atmosphere.

Today, Hội An is still a small city, but it attracts a fair number of tourists, also being a well-established place on the backpacker trail (Tay Ba Lo). Many visit Hoi An for its numerous art and craft shops and tailors, who manufacture made-to-measure clothes for a fraction of the Western price. Several Internet cafés, bars and restaurants have opened along the riverfront. The town is also famed for its unique paper lanterns.

Combined with a trip to nearby Hue, Da Nang, and My Son, a visit in Hoi An offers tourists a deeply rewarding impression of Vietnam's fascinating past.

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5 Days for Phuket,Krabi,Khao Sok,Takuapa and Phang-Nga

This 5 day adventure tour through the 4 southern provinces of Phuket, Phang Nga, Krabi and Surat Thani will show you both the cultural and Natural history of this part of Southern Thailand. From Elephant Trekking on Phuket island and ancient temples with their Buddist beliefs to the prehistoric caves and paintings of Phang Nga and Krabi provinces. Stay overnight in Ao Luk and be wowed by local culture, beautiful stalactites and stalagmites and see through the eyes of prehistoric man in his paintings. Transfer to Earthlodge for overnight in mud houses close to the rainforest. After breakfast head to Cheow Larn Lake, reminiscent of Vietnam’s Halong Bay and enjoy stunning views of the surrounding rainforest covered mountains. Overnight on one of the lakes floating raft houses, canoe and swim in the crystal waters. Wake up to the sounds of Gibbons and trek through southern Thailand’s rainforest, a once in a lifetime opportunity to experience the diversity of this part of Thailand. Transfer to Earthlodge for overnight and then travel through the untouched mangroves of Takuapa by traditional Burmese Junk. Return to hotels

Day 1 Pick up from your hotel and transfer to Chalong. Travel by four wheel drive Land Rover into Chalong highlands.
Arrive at Siam Safari elephant camp on the top of a mountain. Meet Siam Safari’s elephants; learn about them and the mahouts who take care of them and also about Thai elephant conservation and how you can help. See how young elephants are trained, you can touch them and feed them bananas. Trek on elephant back in Chalong highlands, good views over Chalong bay and out to Pee Pee island can be seen along the way. This is Phuket’s best elephant trek and best cared for elephants. The only elephant camp in southern Thailand to have attained the Thai government standard award. Visit our local farmyard to see how buffalo plough the rice fields, learn how to harvest and de-husk rice and about the different varieties available. Try a ride on a wooden cart pulled by buffalo before sampling local coffee and experiencing the smells of our herb garden. Learn how Thai jungle curry is made, you can even try some if you dare. See how rubber trees are “tapped” to produce natural rubber latex. Learn how coconuts are processed to make coconut milk and oil. The morning tour ends with a delicious buffet lunch, a selection of Thai dishes cooked not to spicy.

In the afternoon, transfer by air con vehicle and drive off Phuket Island towards Ao Luk, Phang Nga province, passing rubber plantations and small villages en route. Arrive in Phang Nga town and spend the afternoon visiting local temples and spectacular caves looking at Stalactites and Stalagmites rising and falling in the caves interior. Visit a traditional coffee house and sample the specialties, local coffee ‘Kaffe Boran’ and sweets ‘Kanom Waan’ a favorite of the locals. Head to the hotel in Ao Luk and check in to your air conditioned room and prepare for evening dinner. Head into town to one of the local restaurants for a dinner of local Thai dishes cooked not too spicy. Transfer back to the hotel and overnight.
Day 2 After breakfast head to situated in the mangroves of Ao Luk. Take a long tail boat through some of the last areas of the mangrove forest in Thailand passing local people who have worked the mangroves for centuries. Arrive at the site of thousand year old prehistoric cave paintings, cave Pee Hooa Tor. Pass ancient paintings and marvel at the images these prehistoric people have drawn. On a par with the aboriginal paintings in Australia this is truly the wonder of Ao Luk. after exploring the caves of Ao Luk, travel to Laem Sak for a seafood lunch with views over the Ao Luk bay. After Lunch head to the waterfall Than Borkoranee. From waterfall Than Borkoranee head to Khao Sok National Park for dinner and over night in our jungle style resort. The rooms have mosquito nets and attached bathroom; the rooms are simple but comfortable.

Day 3 Wake up on the edge of the jungle, sometimes the surrounding hills are covered in mist which slowly melts away as the sun comes up and gibbons can often be heard making their territorial calls high up in the rainforest canopy. Take a leisurely breakfast at the resort then its time to head to the Cheow Larn Lake in the center of Khao Sok National Park and experience the scenery by local boat. The lake was formed when Rhajaprabhar dam was built about 25 years ago to provide water for a hydro electric power plant. The lake is about 60 km from north to south and contains more than 100 hundred islands. There are many mountains and cliffs covered in rainforest forming spectacular natural scenery and combined with its remoteness make a very unique jungle area to explore. It is similar to the landscape in Halong bay in Vietnam or Guaylin in China. In the 70’s the area was used as a hide out by communists and students fighting against the government which was a military dictatorship at that time. Arrive at one of the floating raft houses on the lake and check in to your floating bungalows. Mosquito nets are provided and the raft house is basic but it is a once in a lifetime opportunity to experience a night in the center of the rainforest. Lunch is provided. After lunch there is the chance to swim in the clear turquoise waters of the lake from the side of the raft house and canoe down one of the channels either side. Dinner and overnight in floating bungalows.

Day 4 Wake up to the sounds of the forest, gibbons clamber through the trees and hornbill can often be seen soaring in the sky above. Take a leisurely breakfast at the resort then its time to explore the jungle on foot. The trek is designed to show a variety of ecological environments including big trees, jungle vines, lianas, palms, ferns, wild orchids, bamboo forest, insects, reptiles and sometimes mammals. It is not a wildlife safari but a chance to see the rainforest which has the greatest variety of life forms known to man. The wild animals that live here tend to be nocturnal but sometimes they can be heard moving in the undergrowth or their distinctive smells encountered. Leaf and macaque monkeys are occasional seen along the trail. Wild elephant live in the park but are seldom seen. The trek is not too difficult and OK for any normally fit and healthy person. After experiencing the jungle on foot it is time for lunch and one final opportunity to swim in the turquoise waters of the lake. After lunch transfer back to Earthlodge for dinner and overnight..
Day 5 Wake up and take breakfast at leisure. Check out and transfer to Takuapa catching a glimpse of rural Thailand along the way. Explore the rivers that cut through the mangrove forest by dinghy with outboard motor (speed cat). There is a maze of channels between the islands and along the coast, it really feels like some primeval swamp. For people who want to explore the smaller creeks, see some bird life and get closer to nature self paddle canoes with life jackets are available for a silent journey into this dense green world. Emerging further along the coast meet up with our classical Burmese junk where lunch will be served, a variety of Thai dished cooked not too spicy. Drinks are available at the bar, as well as bathroom facilities on board. Spend the afternoon cruising amongst the island and along the coast. The panoramic views of distant rain forest covered mountains stretch to the horizon. Few people live in the area and little has changed here in hundreds of years. Cruising on the junk gives the feeling of traveling back in time when nature was untouched. Late afternoon and unfortunately it is the time for your onward transfer or return to your hotel arriving in the early evening.

Package Details:

Departure from Phuket every Sunday and Tuesday only
Tour package includes: Transfers, meals (lunch x 5, dinner x 4, breakfast x 4), accommodation, activities, national park fees and services of a TAT licensed English speaking tour leader.
Drinks/alcohol and items of a personal nature are not included.
Bring: Non slip foot wear, sports shoes are OK, a change of footwear, changes of clothes, swim wear, towel, sun protection or a rain coat as the weather can be changeable, torch, hat and a overnight bag for the lake.
The above itineraries are example of the activities that usually take place on the tours. The order of activities varies. All tour itineraries are subject to change due to the weather and local conditions on they day of the tour
Prices are based on twin share basis, single room supplement 3000 Baht
Huge variety and Amazing value make this one of our top tours!

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