Foreign Travel Insurance Center

The city of Venice is an extravaganza of sight and sound. From the Bridge of Sighs that spans one of the many canals to the decadent architecture that hangs across the city’s skyline, it is a place where history truly comes alive for the visitor. Echoes of past lives can be found everywhere you go, and this is no more so true than at the Venice Carnival in the ten days before Lent.

The Carnival has a tradition that stretches back to Roman times in Europe, and is more traditionally associated with the final feast before fasting at Lent. In Venice, the carnival took on a new meaning at the height of Venetian oppulence in the 17th and 18th centuries. Then Venice was a world power. Living was done to excess, and so the carnival was begun on December 26th, the non-stop partying, flirting and gambling lasting through until Mardi Gras.

Carnival dress was important. Masks and costumes we worn to hide identities and to protect the reputations of those participating in the more illicit activities. By the end of the 18th century the high life in Venice was over. The carnival fell by the wayside as Venice came under the rule of Napolean.

Today a reincarnation of the Venice Carnival occurs every year in the week leading up to Lent. Events include numerous masked balls, theatrical performances, concerts and pageants in a more tempered style of the Venetian glory days. The 2006 Venice Carnival takes place from the 17th-28th February.

Getting to Venice

The Marco Polo International Airport is the main gateway into Venice for international travellers. A connecting flight from Milan or Rome may be required. Whichever route is chosen car hire can be booked in advance for pick up from these airports at http://www.your-carhire.com

Seb Jay is a freelance writer specializing in the origination of web content for http://www.your-carhire.com

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Hostels are generally fantastic places to be. The people who are there are passionate about travelling, there is lots of camaraderie and a strong sense of community between travellers. It is in the hostel, not a guidebook that you will found out the best places to go, great places to get discounts at and loads of other tips about what is worth the money and what isn’t. It is also common for groups of people to travel together for a few days after meeting at a hostel.

This relaxed, communal atmosphere does not mean, however, that you can be completely naive about leaving your stuff in plain sight. If you are going to be out for long periods of the day, it is probably best to buy a PacSafe. This is essentially a slash-proof wire net that you can lock around your pack so pesky fingers cannot explore while you’re out on the town.

Older hostels generally offer dorm style rooms separated by sex but the trend is for most modern hostels to offer single, double and four-bedded accommodation as well. Private accommodation is more expensive but having a room to yourself can be a luxurious treat, especially when the thought of having another nights sleep interrupted by selection from the Snoring Chorus is enough to bring on a nervous breakdown.

It is traditional for hostels to ask their guests to help with the some chores during their stay. Most city hostels just ask you to put your linen in the laundry but some rural hostels will expect more of a commitment. If you have completely blown your budget, it is possible to negotiate a free night’s accommodation in exchange for doing some extra housekeeping chores. Don’t count on this every night however, or you’ll end up spending your entire vacation doing dishes.

If you are planning to do a lot of hostelling, it is wise to investigate the situation from home first. The Youth Hostelling Association, for example offers a membership card that entitles you to a reduced rate whilst staying at recognised sites. Hostelling International (HI) is the largest chain of hostels in the world. All HI sites require a YHA membership card to be presented when you turn up. These cards should be purchased in your home country before you leave.

There are plenty of private hostels available as well, but tales of infantile curfews, bedbug infestations and slightly deranged owners abound so if at all possible; it is best to stick with recognised brand. If you are thinking of booking a private hostel, do Google search first so see if there is anything untoward written about it.

You may have realised that you and your friends are not the only people that are going to be backpacking through Europe in the summer. If you are travelling in July and August, it is best to try and book your hostel ahead for some places, especially popular cities like Rome, Paris, London and Venice. Although it is tempting to be completely spontaneous, you may find yourself without a place to stay, especially at the weekend.

Hostelling is where you’ll make some of the best memories of your travels!

Matt Reider is the owner of CanuckAbroad.com which provides budget travel and backpacking advice for travellers and expatriates alike.

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Traveling can be a lot of fun, but sometimes people are limited in their traveling options because of a budget. Here are some ways that you can save money when you traveling which will let you bring home more gifts for your loved ones!

1. Shop around. Different travel agencies may offer different promotions, so making a few phone calls may help uncover those hidden deals.

2. Be willing to travel in the off-season. Hotels are expensive and overbooked during the busy season, but during the off-season you’ll find great deals on rooms and car rentals when you need them, and hospitality staff who are more relaxed and attentive to you.

3. Travel in a group. Many hotels and airlines offer group discounts so if you and nine of your closest friends can arrange your schedules to travel at once, you will enjoy significant discounts.

4. Be willing to travel at the last minute. If you have a job that allows you to drop everything for a vacation, you may be able to travel at a great rate if you enjoy flying by the seat of your pants. For example, if you contact a travel agent and an airline and asked them about last-minute deals a day or two before the weekend, you may be able to find an affordable travel package that is much less than you would pay if you had booked far in advance. This is because of cancellations. For some reason, other people have not been able to go on the vacation the book, so the hotel or airline or resort wants to fill those seats with another paying customer.

5. Look for package deals. Often, companies in the travel and hospitality industry will partner together to offer great holiday packages. Look for these packages which make traveling much more affordable than simply putting together the pieces on your own. And much easier too!

Just because you’re on a budget doesn’t mean you have to stay home. Traveling is possible with a limited budget. With a little legwork and the willingness to be spontaneous, you’ll be able to find and enjoy affordable vacations.

Jeff Lakie is the founder of Travel Resources a website providing information on Travel

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