Tunisia uprising

Travel warnings remain in full force for the entire country of Tunisia, and particuarly the capital city Tunis. Travel companies and government agencies, as well as embassies, are strongly advising against travelling to the country. Almost 80 people have been killed since the uprising began, including reports of European tourists being assaulted in the streets. Governmental agencies are working hard to get people out of the country, and the popularity of Tunisia as a winter tourist destination means there are large numbers of (predominantly) European tourists in the country.

Three days of official mourning have now begun to honor those who have died in the protests since the overhaul of the previous government, which led to former president Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali fleeing to Saudi Arabia. Police have since killed several protesters, the government was dissolved and replaced by an instable interim regime and scenes of protest, assault and even a man setting himself on fire in protest have been seen across the nation.

If you have a vacation booked to the region, please check with your travel agent as well as your national embassy for advice. For now, travelers are generally strongly warned against visiting Tunisia until there is some resolution to the situation. Stay tuned to news channels for the latest updates on the fate of this popular destination. While Tunisia has established a reputation as a fine destination, especially in winter, travel365 urges caution and contact with official agencies.

Australia Floods

At this time of year, many travelers from the northern hemisphere head to the southern regions of the world to escape the cold and experience beautiful weather and warmth. Thanks to stunning landscapes, friendly and welcoming locals, great food and culture, Australia is one of the most visited destinations. Whether for backpackers, families or even honeymoons, people flock to the island continent for all kinds of reasons. Currently, however, flood conditions exist in certain parts of the country and caution should be exercised when visiting. You may need to consider altering your trip. While the flights should remain unaffected, your itinerary may include affected areas, so do consider the following information carefully.

The northeastern region of Queensland is affected - Image via Photobucket

The city of Rockhampton, Queesnland has been most severely effected, as the Fitzroy River continues to rise. Experts predict the water levels will peak on Wednesday. Although the city is feeling most of the impact, large areas of Queensland are affected and around 200 000 people have been affected in a region including around 20 towns and villages, according to the BBC. The water is now filled with waste and sewage, and swarms of mosquitoes are causing a major problem for locals.

Snakes have also been forced out of their natural habitat by the flooding and are seeking higher ground, including populated areas. The large number of venomous species in the region presents a health hazard. The northeastern Queensland coast is home to the coastal taipan, the third most venomous terrestrial snake on the planet, which can reach 12 feet in length. The area should be avoided for several weeks. Over 500 homes have already been evacuated, and the city’s airport has already been closed. Most highways are rapidly becoming inpassable and authorities are flying in aid by helicopter.

Most tourists head to Queensland to visit the Great Barrier Reef, off the coast.  If you are in the area or planning to visit, keep an eye on weather and travel reports, however the Rockhampton area should be avoided. The Reef is currently unaffected, however some experts are warning that pollution which has entered rivers will damage the World Heritage Site. If you have booked a trip or a dive to the area, check with the company running it.

Flights to large cities Sydney and Melbourne are currently unaffected. Even in the worst case scenario, only Brisbane could be impacted due to the geographical distance. Do check with your airline if you are concerned about flights, however all flights to Rockhampton are now impossible. Economically, the impact on the mining industry and the cost of the aid effort are likely to have an impact nationwide.

Update 10th January – The flooding is now causing significant problems in Brisbane, the 3rd largest city in Australia. Police have issued commands for certain areas of the city to be evacuated. If you are in, or traveling to the area, please read the latest news.

Happy Holidays

Everyone at travel365 wishes you all the best for your holidays, good travel weather and please stay tuned to the travel news if you are visiting family or going on vacation over the festive period. We will be back in 2011, but for now here are some resources you can use while we are away.

Last Minute Travel Deals You Won’t Believe (CBS) – These guys put together a good list of last minute holiday options.

Travel Weather (Weather Channel) – This site is a good service for North American travel weather forecasts.

If you do decide to book a last minute deal, make sure you check the conditions of the holiday you are booking and ask yourself why the holiday package or flight or hotel room has not been booked by someone else before now. A lot of deals have drawbacks which may not be initially obvious, however it is still very possible (especially in difficult financial times where people are spending less money on expensive travel) to find a bargain if you get the right sale. We recommend reading our previous post on how to find the best deals.

Wherever you may be over the holiday period, take care and travel safe.

The future is here

Monolingual travelers around the world, breathe a sigh of relief: A new iPhone app promises to instantly translate signs, menus and other printed content into your language of choice. Word Lens is a new twist on an old idea, combining OCR and online dictionary matching databases. Check their advert here on YouTube. (Their website is down a lot lately due to traffic!)

While the app is currently only available for English-Spanish or Spanish-English (the 2 “dictionaries” are available for $4.99 each), the scope of the technology provides the option for improvement and expansion. Most people can see that the advert uses signs with questionable Spanish, while the translation from English to Spanish is also grammatically inaccurate. However, for the casual traveler who simply needs to know if a road is closed, or if a dish contains nuts, this could be something very promising.

Currently, the app is only available for iPhone.

The sceptics who claim the app may not work as well as the advert implies can browse a wide range of comments and reviews online from users (including native Spanish speakers) who lament the grammatical innacuracy found here, as in all online translators such as Google Translate, however the technology remains impressive. Users have uploaded their own screenshots (here) to give a more authentic impression of how the technology works. Video evidence for simple phrases can also be watched via user-generated videos (here).

We can recommend inexperienced travelers to wait off a few months until the technology is improved and more languages are added, however we at t365 firmly encourage people to learn languages. It is the only way to truly experience a different culture and see the world, and no amount of technology can change that. Additionally, part of the fun of traveling is observing all the English fails from across the world!

Dreaming of a White Christmas?

Will you enjoy a White Christmas? - Image via Wikipedia

If you have a last-minute travel urge and really want to see a white christmas, we have unearthed the perfect online resources for you!

Wake up early to the sound of excited kids running around, look outside at beautiful alpine landscapes and enjoy the snow on the perfect Christmas morning. Sadly, due to climate change this is becoming a more and more infrequent experience for Americans. Today, many people have to travel to see the snow they so desire, and many states are simply too warm. Regardless of where you live or whether you can afford to travel or not, t365 shows you how you can try and find a white christmas. Please do check local weahter reports and forecasts, and bear in mind that snow can never be guaranteed!

Step 1) Visit about.com and read their excellent section on snowy weather for Christmas. All you have to do is select your state (or, the state you would like to travel to) and then you are presented with a list of towns & cities in the region. You can then see what the chances are of having 1, 5 or 10+ inches of snow in that area. Note that the list is static and you should always check weather reports. For instance, we can compare a few of our recent travel365 featured destinations, such as Las Vegas (0% chance of snow!), Charleston near Lewisburg (30% chance of an inch of snow) or Omaha, where About.com predicts a 44% chance of some snow.

Step 2) Book your flights! Simply enter the destination which sounds good to you, and jet away!

Step 3) Find a hotel! What could be better than a beautiful alpine lodge in the mountains or a luxurious suite in a snow-capped city?

We hope you enjoy Christmas travel as much as we do!

Food safety scare in Bangladesh

The headlines these past few weeks have made worrying reading for travelers. With the Wikileaks saga creating diplomatic unrest in several popular areas and sure to have ignited the fury of certain fringe extremists, shark attacks along the coast of popular beach resorts and weather forcing delays across much of North America and Europe, the increased security of the unpopular TSA screenings was not the only bad news travelers had to deal with.

Many travelers visit Bangladesh for the wildlife - Image via Photobucket

Today, serious questions have been raised about food safety in Bangladesh, a very popular destination for backpackers, round-the-world travelers and climbers using it as a base for mountain expeditions. BBC News reports that the excessive problem of rats in the area has led to the vermin being found in food, contaminating it and posing a health risk. A public university served curry with a rat’s head in it to a student, who was instantly reported ill. The local cuisine is famous around the world and the curries of the Indian peninsula enjoy a fantastic reputation, leading to their imitation in restaurants around the world. Many travelers are sure to be considering their plans in the light of this hygiene risk. Local businesses and hostels make a lot of money from students and gap year travelers who pass through the area, many of whom were attracted by the cuisine.

It looks delicious, but might this food contain rats? - Image via Photobucket

The problem of rats in the region is sure to deter many travelers with allergies and fears, despite the efforts of local authorities. One team alone claims to have killed 80,000 rats in a single month during 2009, however the issue is seemingly spiralling out of control. We at travel365 would not like discourage people from visiting the area, as it is a culturally fascinating region with wonderful people, unique traditions and atmosphere and wonderful scenery, landscapes and native wildlife. While caution should be exercised, popular restaurants are likely to be safe (the locals will be experts in knowing where the food is good and where can be trusted), and no traveler should miss out on the chance to enjoy traditional Indian food in the home of the curry. We recommend booking flights to Delhi and then exploring the region from there before moving on. Exercise caution in more remote areas.

Vacation resort shark attacks claim 3rd victim in week

Are these waters shark-infested? - Image via Photobucket

Over the weekend, the news broke that a third person had been killed by a shark attack in short succession in the waters of Egyptian tourist resorts. While travelers are sure to be worried, especially if they are heading to the area, the beach closures may be more of a problem for tourism and pose a threat to the enjoyment of people’s vacations. Sharm el-Sheik, along the Red Sea Coast, is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world and is a leading beach resort. The woman, a German tourist in her 70s, was attacked by the shark while swimming. Egyptian authorities have captured 2 sharks in the area, however some experts believe one of the animals responsible for the attacks is still at large. The sharks are in a feeding frenzy after a shipload of sheep were dumped into the ocean, while the lack of fishing regulations has forced the sharks to come closer to the shore. Egypt now faces a decision as to whether the tourism or fishing industry is more important to their economy. In 2009, only 5 fatal shark attacks were recorded worldwide, while this 3rd death inside a week along the Egyptian coast alone has worried travelers. We recomment checking with your travel agent regarding the local situation, and to strictly observe any beach closures.

Source: Yahoo! News article from Dec. 5.

Update: World Cup 2018 & 2022

Following on from yesterday’s post, we at t365 would like to congratulate the bidding teams from Russia and Qatar who have won the right to host the World Cup in 2018 and 2022 respectively. Morals and suspicious payments aside, the tournaments will provide the world with an insight into two fascinating countries and we are delighted at the prospect of thousands of people traveling to areas they may never have before considered.

While the 2022 event is a long way off, daytime temperatures of 45-50 degrees centigrade should be regarded as a serious health threat and any traveler considering attending the event (or visiting the area beforehand) should travel with appropriate clothing, enough fluids and try to avoid the worst of the heat.

The 2018 final is likely to be held in Moscow, attracting travelers to Russia - Image via Photobucket

The Russia 2018 bid poses a serious problem for fans of African countries (and for the players) as well as for fans of other nations who are dark skinned or of African descent. The rife footballing racism in Russia is well documented, and fans of this ethnicity may seriously want to consider avoiding the tournament to reduce the risk of violence or racist abuse. When interviewed, black players at top Russian clubs stated they hope the World Cup does not go to Russia due to the extreme levels of racist hate they experience.

In the upcoming weeks and months, t365 will run an official preview of the various cities and areas you could visit in these 2 countries. Why wait 8 or 12 years? Travel is there to be enjoyed now!

World Cup 2018 & 2022 Decision Day!

Today is D-Day for all the countries bidding to host the 2018 and the 2022 World Cup, a massive sporting event which guarantees millions of dollars in infrastructure investment (ranging from the stadia themselves to road and transport links), a huge amount of travel and countless visitors and attention from around the world. While hosting a World Cup provides a logistical headache, a well organized event is doubtlessly an excellent way to raise the profile of the sport in that country, and bring in thousands and thousands of new visitors. But from a travelers perspective, what are the advantages and disadvantages of each bid? Today we take the opportunity to provide a t365 overview of the bidding nations.

2018

Wembley Stadium, London - Image via Photobucket

England: One of the major favorites, the home of football has a good chance of winning the bid, based on the extended sporting infrastructure, the fairly limited distances between venues and the ease of reaching the country. From a travel perspective, many of the prospective host cities such as London, Bristol and Manchester are tourism hotspots and very easy to reach. Regardless of where your team may play its games, there is sure to be stunning countryside, delicious food and good transport available. Major airports across the country make it incredibly easy to reach England, accomodation of all sorts is available nationwide and for American travelers there is no language barrier. A possible drawback is the perceived association with footballing violence, not helped by clashes in the Birmingham derby on Wednesday night, however the country has taken major steps to counter the problem (which is more of an issue in rival countries) and it is largely a thing of the past. Our t365 travel rating for England – 9/10.

Barcelona, Spain - Image via Photobucket

Spain & Portugal: The Iberian joint bid presents an incredible opportunity for travelers to experience a sporting spectacle in beautiful weather. Many of the cities which could host games are stunning world renowned tourist attractions such as Lisbon, Barcelona and Madrid, while coastal cities including Valencia and the majority of the western, southern and eastern coastlines of the peninsula provide stunning landscapes and beaches. With an excellent inter-city high-speed rail network and budget airlines offering a wide range of flights, it provides an excellent travel option. While their chances may be lower, with Portugal having recently hosted the European Championships, it is a traveler’s dream. Pack your jersey for the games, then change to shorts and swimwear the next day to relax in the sun on stunning beaches. The Santiago Bernebeau in Madrid and the Camp Nou in Barcelena belong to the finest stadiums in the world and are attractions in themselves. A slight drawback for some travelers is the split bid, however with a shared currency this is largely reduced. Our t365 travel rating for Spain & Portugal – 10/10.

Holland & Belgium: Outside of Amsterdam, these countries are perceived as having limited tourism appeal. Attractive landscapes aside, they tend to lack bustling cities and the sport is well developed but not as succesful or rich as in England or Spain, meaning the stadia are smaller. Traveling distances between venues are low, however the dense road networks and congestion which are commonly found (partly due to their strategic position in Europe) could hinder fans wanting to travel to see sights or attend games. This bid is seen as an outsider, and our t365 travel rating also scores a low 6/10.

Russia: With the country seemingly in the strangehold of the mafia, racism rife at games and travel distances between venues extending to over 500 miles (a 19 hour train journey for fans), this bid would seem to be a travelers nightmare. However, the bid has a vast budget, much of which would be used to expand infrastructure and improve transport links. A drawback for travelers is the lack of budget airlines within the country, and major safety concerns exist. Moscow and St. Petersburg are fascinating places to visit, while Russia boasts some of the most rugged untouched nature in the world. Getting to it may be the problem, though, so while it is a strong contender to win the 2018 bid, security concerns and traveling distances leave Russia lagging with a t365 travel rating of 5/10.

2022

Japan: Japan recently co-hosted a World Cup with South Korea, and this may work against it. A high-speed rail network makes travel easy, although the cost of reaching the country may be prohibitive. The bid centers around technology and broadcast techniques, and the last Asian event was noted for poor atmosphere, reducing the spectacle for fans and travelers. While the country is beautiful and well worth a visit, the cost of flights drops our t365 travel rating for Japan somewhat to 7/10.

Sydney, Australia - Image via Photobucket

Australia: A massive t365 favorite. Stunning country / continent with everything to offer from coastal cities, fantastic attitude, friendly locals and landscapes from mountains to desert to jungle to the finest beaches in the world. Travel distances may be large (with the major cities situated on the coast), however the country is so stunningly beautiful and filled with amazing wildlife, that Australia scores a t365 travel rating of 10/10 despite the long flight needed to get there.

USA: Where else than home sweet home? The massive stadia exist already, the airline network is well developed, there are a huge amount of tourist attractions and the country is sports-mad, although it is still to fully embrace the world’s favorite sport. The USA hosted a World Cup in the 90s, but has to be a major favorite. Traveling distances are large, and increased security and passport regulations are likely to deter some fans, but the USA scores a t365 travel rating of 9/10.

South Korea: Co-hosted with Japan in 2002 and has to be an outsider. Region seems to be on the brink of war, and while the country undoubtedly deserves to be visited when safe, we cannot advise visiting a politically unstable area. It is impossible to say what state the country will be in by 2022, but South Korea scores a t365 travel rating of 3/10. Caution advised.

Qatar: A unique bid from a tiny country, where temperatures could reach 50 degrees centigrade during the day. They plan to build air-conditioned, solar-powered stadia which can then be re-located to developing countries after the tournament. A fascinating country in the Arab region, which is well worth a visit. Enjoy the warmth in the shade, while avoiding the midday heat. The restrictive and conservative laws of the country may impede some of the activities prefered by travelers, however. This fascinating country, combined with the unique and environmentally friendly nature of their bid, earns a t365 travel rating of 6/10.

Today’s announcement is sure to be big news for whichever country wins!

Surprise leader in “coolest town” contest

Carnegie Hall, Lewisburg, WV - Image via Wikipedia

If you are one of those travelers who is always looking for inspiration and new sites, towns or parks to visit, you are likely to cast an eye at the various competitions which are run and awards which are presented. From “Best National Park” to the lists of “Most Underrated Cities” to the popular travel365 tips for special events, there are countless ways to find new ideas. Right now, Budget Travel Magazine is running a vote to see where travelers consider to the the “Coolest Small Town”. The current leader? You may be surprised to see Lewisburg, WV leading the list.

What better opportunity to run the t365 looking glass over Lewisburg?

Key to the success and popularity of the town is the active involvement of local businesses and residents in maintaining an active downtown area, so often missing today in small down America due to out-of-town Malls and over-reliance on cars. The downtown merchants association, combined with the historic district which was formed during the 80s have helped to give a quaint, small-town feel to the town.

While the town also has a respectable arts community, it is hard to believe many visitors would be attracted by this. In the surrounding area, there are some natural attractions which draw visitors. The Green Brier Resort is a draw for a number of tourists, while The Carnegie Hall West Virginia is located in the town. An insider tip for active travelers is a visit to the Lost Caverns or Organ Cave, where you can gain an insight into geology and experience some beautiful caves. While the attraction of small towns partly relies on the lack of tourist numbers, it can make it difficult to access the towns and find accomodation. Nevertheless, a visit to West Virginia comes highly recommended, although we at t365 advise you to visit various sites and not focus on any one town. We here are planning on heading there, if only to find out if it really is “almost heaven” and if life there actually is “older than the trees”!

If you want to vote for your own favorite small town (it has to have less than 10,000 residents) then you can do so on the Budget Travel website. Why not leave a comment below this article to let us know where you voted for?

Extra tip: If you, like us, love small town America and the unique atmostphere and sites, you are sure to enjoy the work of travel author Bill Bryson. The t365 team recommends “The Lost Continent: Travels in Small Town America” – hilarious, insightful and a joy for all travelers. Enjoy!