Why Hiring a Cheap Car is Still better for the Holidays

January 10, 2012 By
Its holiday time again and this means lots and lots of travel. Why? Well, how will you sample all the sights and sounds of your new exotic location? Furthermore, how will you carry souvenirs and snapshots of your exquisite holiday for showing those people who did not get as lucky as you? Since you need to make the most of this precious time it is very essential that you have freedom to roam at will whenever the wanderlust calls. An affordable and wonderful way to travel during the holidays is by using car hire services. Although the usual opinion of many people is that renting cars is overpriced, there are service providers available all over the world who rent out trendy cars for holiday-enjoyment budgets. From the comfort of their PC, a voyager can get to see the different prices and decide which best suits their pocket and personal baggage. There are very many pluses that may spur holiday makers to opt to hire a car and these include;

Personal comfort and privacy

Booking holidays can be done using a time share but it does not mean that a person needs to tag along with the group wherever they go. This may also be very uncomfortable because the chances of being grouped with total strangers are very high. Getting information on the more affordable local car hire services available can go along way in ensuring that holiday makers get to feel comfortable and also keep an aspect of their personal privacy as far as their individual itinerary is concerned.

Flexibility

Many car hire services allow their clients to drive themselves around. This self drive benefit is excellent because, during holidays there is a need to take advantage of all the local sights and sounds on offer. This means that, the ability to be able to change the itinerary at short notice is more enhanced by having a car which is available whenever it is required. This flexibility can be taken advantage of both day and night or at the spur of the moment.

Detours

Holidays never pan out exactly as expected. This is because, on holidays anything is possible. Detours may be required when roads or bridges have been damaged or any other reason that would require a change in the general direction of the trip. Having a hired car on hand allows for no time wasting while waiting for alternative transport to arrive. Instead, with a hired car, the occupants can carry on with their holiday program with as few hiccups as possible.

Unscheduled stops

Holiday makers usually travel in large family groups that include people of all ages and sizes including very young children or very senior citizens.  In this mix of people, emergencies can arise like sickness or other accidents that require an emergency stop along the way. Other stops can be required when calls of nature are more frequent because of the change in diet. These unscheduled stops are much less embarrassing when they are conducted from the privacy of a car hire service as opposed to the more public means of transport.

Personal control

People need to feel a certain level of control over their personal circumstances. One of the best methods of ensuring that holiday makers get to control their movements is to engage car hire services. A holiday maker chooses when, where and how to travel. Furthermore, they can also carry along any allowable luggage which they feel would make their travelling conditions more fascinating. These can include fishing rods, picnic baskets and any other sports equipment or when they need to join in the fun and games of the local residents.

Maximizing enjoyment

Every holiday deserves to be unforgettable. However, most holidays are fraught with mishaps and misadventures that could have been avoided by proper planning and going the extra mile in investing in other goods and services that would add to the overall enjoyment. When a person wishes to compare the cost of hiring a car and using public transport, they need to decide exactly how much they want to gain from their holiday experience. This extra cost provides an excellent return on investment because it creates a holiday adventure that can be recalled and repeated because the cost was definitely worth it.

Compare car rental suppliers and save check out www.cheapcarhirerates.com. By comparing hundreds of car rental suppliers in one search you can save time and money. Money you better spend actually being on holidays.

Filed Under: Car Hire

Nightlife and Belgrade

October 16, 2011 By
Belgrade is one of the oldest and most interesting cities in Eastern Europe. The name is somewhat misleading, since it means ‘White City’ – the city is mostly gray, with a mixture of old architecture clashing with socialist realism; but by all means, Belgrade is not gray and dull when it comes to partying! Known as the ‘night life capital’ of the Balkans, Belgrade offers a good time at anytime, day or night. But let us review it in some order, shall we?

If you’re into the whole bohemian thing and want to give your palate a treat, visiting Skadarlija is a must. It’s officially called Skadarska Street, open only for pedestrians (good if you want a few more drinks). It is filled with peculiar and interesting restaurants, cafes of all sizes and offers a nice experience to anyone into traditional music (tambourine, harmonica, violin). Go there at least once just to feel the mood.

In case you like fancy cafes better, there are several ones bound to catch your attention, like Insomnia, Veprov Dah, Simbol, ZuZu, as well as others. Go to StrahinjicaBana Street and visit a few while you’re enjoying your morning or afternoon coffee, and you can watch upper class Serbian society spending their time there. There are actually several cafe zones in the centre of Belgrade, where you have a bunch of little cafes and their gardens in one place (like ObilicevVenac).

A club called ‘Mr Stefan Braun’ is also a very popular destination for travelers. Located in the very centre of the city (the same street houses the government and most of the state ministries) it offers R&B and hip-hop experiences. A word to the wise – don’t mix the drinks too much since it’s near the heavily secured government area!

Travelers who want to have gastronomic experiences will be thrilled – Belgrade is a heaven when it comes to cuisine. From traditional stuff like, ‘burek’ (meat pie) and ‘cevapcici’ (little rolls of minced meat), to international restaurants like Italian, French, Lebanese, Chinese and many others. Travelers can enjoy their time out with a fine meal.

Partying is also not hard to find, since it seems that Belgrade always hosts a number of DJs, musicians, artists, festivals and events. Beer fest is a popular event, where you can get cheap but tasty beer and listen to many famous DJs mixing all night.

There are also a few great places for LGBT travelers, who can spend their time in nightclubs or daybreak cafés like Espeho, 24 or Smiley (the last one is in the very centre of the city). Nightclubs usually attract both gay and straight crowds since popular DJs play there and the entry is cheap compared to other clubs.
Belgrade is also quite safe; with cheap to moderate pricing when it comes to overnight stays (hostels are cheaper than hotels).

Another major jewel of Belgrade’s nightlife are the rafts. Since the city lies upon the confluence of two big rivers (Sava and Danube), boats posing as restaurants, restaurants on rafts, rafts serving as nightclubs are a common occurrence and a synonym for a good party night in Belgrade. During summer, there are quite a few events at Ada Ciganlija (a river peninsula serving as a beach) where you can also swim and get a nice tan.

Of course, you’re free to roam on your own and discover unknown bars, clubs and hidden night life – that is the beauty of Belgrade: exotic Eastern European charm coupled with fast-paced night life.

Mona Mangat writes for WithoutTheStress.com, a travel document expediter specializing in Same Day passports rush passports UK Visasand other time sensitive travel documents.
Filed Under: Serbia

Can you afford not to have travel insurance?

October 13, 2011 By
There’s a lot to think about when you’re planning a trip – flight bookings, accommodation, itineraries, beachwear.  You’ll be spending many happy hours poring over enticing travel brochures and checking out exciting resorts online, but spare a thought for some of the practical issues like travel shots, visas and finding affordable travel insurance.

Travel insurance may help give protection from the financial consequences of many of the things that can go wrong while you’re travelling, such as misdirected luggage, lost travel tickets, delayed flights, stolen money, broken camera, a chipped tooth and more.  Any of these mishaps are inconvenient and upsetting, and likely to put a dampener on the enjoyment of your holiday.  Imagine how the disappointment and problems would be compounded if one of these misfortunes happened on an overseas trip, when you’re in unfamiliar territory, don’t speak or read the local language, all while perhaps suffering from jetlag.  An incident or illness that might be a minor misfortune on Australian soil, where friends, relatives and quality medical care are all at hand, can quickly become a significant problem while you’re travelling overseas.

The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (ADFAT) estimates that each year more than 25,000 Australian residents encounter major difficulties when travelling overseas.  Many of these incidents are medical emergencies: in a typical year 1,200 people require hospitalisation, 50 have to be evacuated to another location for medical treatment and, sadly, 900 people die while travelling outside Australia.

Medical emergencies are costly. Hospital charges can amount to hundreds of dollars a day, and the cost of medical evacuations can be alarmingly high: as much as $60,000 to get you home from Bali, or well over $100,000 if you have to be evacuated from the United States. You are personally liable for expenses incurred while you’re overseas, so an uninsured medical emergency can have disastrous financial consequences for you and your family.

Experienced travellers recommend that you arrange comprehensive travel insurance covering interrupted flight plans, damaged luggage, and loss of personal possessions and, above all, the cost of medical treatment if you get sick or are injured while travelling.

Travel insurance policies vary, so to find the best and most reasonably priced insurance policy Australia has to offer, do some shopping around and online research.  Take particular note of each policy’s exclusions, the areas where protection is not provided: for example, if your holiday plans include partying, be aware that some policies are invalidated if you’re injured while affected by alcohol or drugs.  If you have a pre-existing medical condition, check whether a policy provides cover.  If you’re unsure about how any of the conditions of a travel insurance policy apply to your particular circumstances, check with your insurance provider before you accept a quote, sign on the dotted line (or hit the SEND button if you’re applying online).

It’s well worth taking some time to research the market and find the best comprehensive travel insurance for your trip. And like most other insurance types, a cheap travel insurance policy is only a bargain if it offers adequate protection. Also check out this article about travel insurances and drinking.

Filed Under: Travel Insurance

Two of the Best Spiritual Holiday Destinations in India

October 12, 2011 By

India is well known for offering the best spiritual getaways in the world. If you’re in search of some unusual places to rest, pray and heal your mind, body and soul then you must choose India in your next tour itinerary. In India, you get some of the popular spiritual destinations. While you get to explore both the well known and also the less known, the discovered and the undiscovered in India, here are some of the best spiritual holiday ideas and destinations to rejuvenate your soul.

Ajmer

One of the popular pilgrimage sites of India is Ajmer. The city of Ajmer allures both Muslim and Hindus alike. This place is known as the resting abode of the famous Sufi saint Chisti Silsilah, Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti. The Sufi saint is honored by people of different creed, caste and religion.

The resting place of Khwaja becomes the place of union of different communities during annual Urs celebration especially when people of different creed and faith visit this revered shrine to offer their homage and to seek a blessing or a boon or peace of mind.

The very ambiance of this place with the dervishes, the qawwals and the khadims takes you to a different world. Altogether you get a different experience enjoying the music and the ambiance that the songs and music of qawwals create.

Ajmer is sited in the center of the state of Rajasthan. This city along with its closest neighbor Pushkar brims and provides a unique spiritual fervor. Visit during the Pushkar fair or the annual Urs to see the whole city immersed in religious zeal. Located on the lower slopes of the Taragarh Hill which is in the Aravalli Range, Ajmer also offers a great sight seeing experience for the thousands of tourists that come here each year.

Without differences, people seeking spiritual insights from all walks of life visit Ajmer leaving behind the prejudices, just to achieve salvation and peace. Some of the best places to visit while in Ajmer include The Hazrat Khwaja Moin-ud-din Chisti Dargah, the Jama Al Tamish or the Adhai Din Ka Jhonpra, the Taragarh Fort, Nasiyan Temple, New and Old Rangji Temple, Khobra Behroon Temple, the Ana Saga Lake, Sola Khamba Tomb, Ajmer Museum and Jami  Masjid of Shah Jahan.

Rishikesh

The popular Yoga capital has grown extensively with several ashrams and hotels almost doubled up with the increasing numbers of the tourists that visit Rishikesh. One thing which remained unchanged is the very character of the place. Its deep association with meditation and yoga and favorite destination to recharge and relax and soul never changed. Rishikesh is also one of the most recommended destinations to enjoy rafting and the icy cold waters of Ganga.

Rishikesh is situated on the route to the Shri Badrinath Dham. It is about 24 kilometers from Haridwar. Also popular as the gateway to Char Dam located in Uttarakhand, Rishikesh serves home to several yoga ashrams.

Some of the most popular places to visit in Rishikesh include Laxman Jhoola, Laxman Temple, Triveni Ghat, Bharat Mandir, Rishikund. There are several temples in Rishikesh. Some of the most popular ones are Pushkar temple, Raghunath temple, Shatrughan temple and Bhagirath temple.

Accommodation will not be a problem in the spiritual holiday destinations in India. There are several luxury and budget hotels in India. Hotel India often ranges from budget to mid range. Therefore, you can make your spiritual holiday in India an enjoyable one.

Murray Francis writes for travelers about his experiences in visiting India. You can find tips and personal recommendations where to stay, drink, and eat within your budget.

Filed Under: Asia

Staying Safe Abroad

October 3, 2011 By
Everyone loves a good travel story, but while hair-raising twists and turns are good in films, you want your own travel stories to be relatively horror-free! You want that jet boat ride in New Zealand to finish smoothly, you want that time you got lost in the marketplace in Marrakech to result in you finding your way to a great tea store and making friends, and you want the end result to always be “in conclusion, we had a great time!” Staying safe while you’re on holiday has a lot to do with preparation and planning, so here are a few tips from people who know about keeping yourself, your money and your loved ones safe while you’re travelling:

Food

 When it comes to travelling, one of the most exciting experiences you can have is sampling the local cuisine. The difference in flavour, preparation, sensation and texture makes for a sensory explosion, and is a vital part of immersing yourself in another culture. There is, of course, a downside to eating in other countries. Because some countries have more—er—creative ways of viewing sanitation, or have different access to clean water etc, some of the food you eat abroad can make you sick. While a bit of ‘Delhi Belly’ is to be expected, you can actually become seriously ill if you ingest certain types of parasites. Water is usually the biggest problem, which means bringing water purification tablets or only drinking bottled water. You may think you’re being safe by sticking with the salad bar, but remember that most of the vegetables will have been washed in the very water you’ve been trying to avoid!

Security

 Protecting your personal safety and security while abroad can be a bit of a challenge. Humans are always more vulnerable when in an unfamiliar situation, and part of that vulnerability actually comes from the fact that you look unsure of yourself. You’re more likely to attract the wrong kind of attention looking as though you’re unsure of yourself, so attempt to do things with confidence and purpose and keep the tourist gesturing to a minimum while you’re in dodgy areas. Also, common sense is your best friend, so don’t wear obvious jewelry, don’t draw attention to yourself and make sure you have your valuables locked in a safe or on your person in a money belt.

Personal Health and Safety

 Getting injured abroad is the worst, but it can be made all the more nightmarish if you have to pay through the nose for treatment. A good travel insurance policy is key if you want to protect yourself and your money when you’re travelling overseas. Your health is the most important thing, and you can’t let budgeting or the fact that you’ve run out of money get in the way of doing what is best for your health. A comprehensive insurance policy is a huge weight off the mind of a traveller—therefore it’s something you simply can’t leave home without.

Filed Under: Travel Tips

Places to see at Hamptons

September 28, 2011 By

The location:

Hamptons is located at the towns of Southampton and East Hampton. These towns are situated at the east end of Suffolk Country ( Long Island ) in New York. The area of Hamptonsincludes some hamlets and villages in the town of East Hampton Sag Harbor ie Wainscots, East Hampton and Amagansett, Napeague etc. The Hampton is a popular seaside resort, which stands by the Atlantic Ocean.

Best time to visit:

The beaches are a prime attraction for tourists. Hampton is frequently featured, on screen and mentioned in films and television. More often Hampton is crowded with celebrities and film stars. The ideal time to visit this beautiful place is late spring and early fall that is May through mid-June and September through mid-October. Hamptons is noted as one of the Summer Colonies for the rich folks from New York City and nearby cities of the American Northeast. Villages and the hamlets of the Summer Colonies are distinguished by their significant population increase during the summers.

Things to do in Hamptons:

Hampton is flooded with high end stores where shopping is a real pleasure. Gallery browsing, antique hunting, visits to wineries, laying on the beach and walking in the woods are just a few things you can do at Hamptons. Apart from these places, other tourist spots include World Class Golf courses and beautiful gardens. Many tourists who visit this place frequently go for rides and activities at beach like Fishing in the East, boat rides, biking, horseback riding etc. Trendy resort towns in the Hampton are also a popular summer destination. You can find affordable accommodation, eating joints and countless shopping places. And that’s not all you will also find classy hotels with fine wine and dining too. Hamptons is place that has everything to offer.

Places to see:

Hither Hills State Park in Montauk, Sears Bellow Park and Shad Moor state park are good spots for hiking, fishing, cycling and skiing. If you love water sports then there can be no place better than Cedar Point County Park. SouthHamptons is also famous for its museums with beautiful antiques on display and old gardens. The cultural center managed by the Shinnecock Indian tribals is worth a visit.

To see the ethnic assets of East Hampton you can see the art exhibitions and movies at the Guild Hall.  For gourmets and party lovers the Country Club of South Hampton has great music and delicious food. Westhampton Beach Performing Arts Center is another venue for art admirers.

Hamptons is a favorite picnic spot for a lot of New Yorkers. Pristine beaches and good food make it a popular weekend getaway. To know more about Hotels in Montauk and Hamptons rentals , Please visit our website duneresorts.com

Filed Under: USA

Five Must Have Travel Gadgets

September 14, 2011 By
Whether you are traveling on business or for leisure, there are plenty of gadgets today that make life a little easier while on the road. But which gadgets are best? Are some more important than others?Here is a list of must-have travel gadgets for the savvy consumer.

Smart phones – You might be familiar with the phrase, “don’t leave home without it.” Smart phones are so indispensable these days that it’s almost mandatory to take one on your trip. There is an abundance of companies that are offering smart phones these days but the clear leaders are the Google Droid, Apple iPhone, Blackberry and the cool Motorola ATRIX where you can dock the smart phone to a laptop.

Tablets – The new must have item on consumer’s minds these days is the iPad, which is the clear-cut leader in the tablet industry. And proof of this dominance is the recent announcement of HP’s Touchpad selling off their inventory at a fire sale price of $99. The iPad does have some limitations towards the business traveler but there are current features that do enable you to make a business presentation or lecture right from the tablet.

Laptops – For the business traveler, it might not always be practical just to have a tablet so laptops are oftentimes a must-have. Although HP appears to shuttering its consumer PC division, there are plenty of great laptops still out there. Among the best are the Apple Macbook Pro, Toshiba Portege, Dell XPS 15, and the Samsung Series 9.

Wi-Fi – Another great gadget to have on your trip is a portable Wi-Fi connection. Some hotels only have a wired connection but some devices, such as the iPad aren’t compatible with a USB connection. Of the best choices in the market today are Verizon’s 4G Mobile Hotspot, Novatel’s MiFi and Apple’s Airport Express.

Hands Free Devices – If you are traveling by car and you need to connect while driving, there are several good choices for hands free devices. Among the top rated hands free devices are the Jawbone Prime, the Motorola Bluetooth, the Samsung Bluetooth and the Plantronics Voyager Pro.

This is just a small sampling of what’s out there for essential gadgets for the traveler. Technology has evolved so much now that many gadgets are quite small and light for easy transport. There is no question that any of these featured gadgets will make your trip a successful one, whether its for business or pleasure.

Heather Johnson is a writer for Honeymoon Destinations, a great honeymoon planning website. Discover some honeymoon ideas today!

Filed Under: Accessories

Low Budget Hotels For Australian Travels

August 16, 2011 By
When planning a vacation, hotels or other lodging accommodations can be expensive, eating up a large portion of your travel budget. The last thing anyone wants to do is spend his or her whole budget on somewhere to stay! Use these tips to help you get the most ‘bang for your buck’ and avoid blowing your budget on a place to lay your head.Check for hostels in the area you’re visiting! Don’t let the name scare you; hostels are an increasingly popular lodging accommodation for travelers abroad. Essentially, a hostel is a shared room, similar to a dorm. The rooms vary in size from hostel to hostel, but usually thereAustralian Travels

are between four and 20 beds in each. There are various hostels in most of the larger cities in Australia, including Sydney, Brisbane and Perth, to name a few. Many backpackers and hikers utilize this style of accommodation when exploring Australia.

Bed and breakfasts don’t have to break the bank! There are numerous beds and breakfasts or even private guest lodgings across Australia; you can find one for a good price if you search around. The bed and breakfast is becoming a well-liked choice for travelers to Australia. Meals are often included in the cost of your stay and sometimes guests are able to use the kitchen to prepare meals and snacks of their own. This type of accommodation can be especially neat since it immerses the guest in the culture of the area where they’re staying!

Use your computer! Check one of the travel search engines. There are numerous travel sites nowadays that are dedicated to providing travel deals. You can usually get better deals when you book your hotel and your flight arrangements together through these sites. These travel portals give travelers the opportunity to book cheap hotels and resorts all over Australia. The downside to this is that many times you have to wait to book until you’re close to your travel dates, which can make advance planning difficult.

Ask around! Check with friends and/or acquaintances, often you will know people that have traveled to Australia, or are just avid travelers, that can give you ideas of places to stay or sites to check out to help you save on Low Budget Hotelslodging. People who travel a lot are usually up to date on the latest travel trends and know where to find good deals so asking friends and family that do travel frequently are likely to have some good tips and tricks!

Lodging expenses can add up quickly, especially when on an extended trip, to Australia, for example. Travelers spend more time when vacationing in Australia because of its distance and due to the wide variety of things there are to do and see in Australia. These tips and travel tricks can help you save on your accommodations so you can spend money on enjoying the activities Australia has to offer.

This post was written and provided by freelance writer and consultant for Expedia, Erica Gustafson. Erica has traveled to Australia several times and is always looking for ways to save money.

Filed Under: Travel Australia

Tuscan Villas Free Spas Palio Museums Culture

July 20, 2011 By
There are plenty of free things to do in Tuscany. Indeed, you could take a holiday in Tuscany without spending more than your airfare ticket. Well, almost.First thing, let’s start with Tuscan villas. You can rent one in exchange for your hometown house. If you live in a popular area such as New York, Italians will go for your apartment in no time in exchange for an equal length stay at their villa. Another option is to exchange work for stay. You can work at the property you are renting, or in another location servicing the accommodation owners. In exchange owners will let you stay at the property for free for the length of your working period.

What would you say about free spas? Thankfully Tuscany is a very active land in terms of underground activity. Throughout the territory you will find free thermal spas beneficial to your health and relaxation that you can access without paying a dime. So after a day at your Tuscan villa you can drive to the spas and deeply relax in hot springs rejuvenating yourself while enjoying the company of your friends. The most popular spas are Petriolo near Siena, Bagni San Filippo towards Mount Amiata, Bagni Vignoni near Montalcino, and Saturnia near Grosseto. Of course they are non-equipped spots, completely immersed in nature and preserved as such, therefore you will need to be prepared to step on some dirt and walk on uneaven paths. If you can manage this small sacrifice the reward is certainly priceless, especially during summer nights.

If you are looking for free events, I will bring you to the Palio of Siena. While sitting on the bleechers that surround the square would cost you a very dear price, the ancient costume of occupying the center of the square is still totally free, and just requires some smart moves to be just as enjoiable as a bleecher seat. Remember to go early, at around 2 PM, bring an umbrella for sun or rain, plenty of water (you can also buy it on the spot), some food, and avoid bringing small children. Wherever you sit, that is going to be your spot. If you lose it, it’s gone. Remember to stay as close to the wood railings as possible to get the best visual. The emotion of seeing the horses pass you by at full speed is undescribable and cannot be felt comfortably sitting on a chair. However, if you want to buy tickets for the event, you should ask your Tuscan villa owner, as there is no official ticketing service for Palio, and accommodation providers often get some ticket allowance.

If you are looking for a more relaxed entertainment, you should visit the many museums of Tuscany that each year offer interesting exposition and permanent shows on art, history, places, culture of the territory. The nice news is that throughout the year there are many occasions to enter museums for free thanks to special events. You should be on the lookout for the Culture Week (Settimana della Cultura), The Musum NIght (Notte dei Musei), the European Cultural Heritage days, and Women’s Day. Moreover, search for the Tourism promotional office of the area you are going to visit, and ask the upcoming events involving free museum entrance.

Finally, what could be more free than the cultural heritage spectacle that displays in front of your eayes whenver you walk through Tuscany? Cities such as Siena, Florence, San Gimignano, Lucca, Pisa, Livorno, Grosseto, Pienza, just to name a few, and the areas of Valdorcia, Chianti, and Val di Chiana, among many others, are on display each day for you. Tuscany boasts 6 UNESCO world heritage sites on its territory (Florence, Siena, Valdorcia, Pienza, San Gimignano, and Pisa), and each one can be visited without paying a cent. You can depart from your Tuscany villa for daily tours and discover all these sites, a truly inspiring experience. The advice here is to visit them between May and June and September through October. Leave the crowded months to others!

Filed Under: Europe, Italy

Sydney Travel Guide

June 9, 2011 By
Sydney may be the most popular tourist destination for people visiting Australia for the first time. Visit one of the travel sites: Travelocity, Expedia or Orbitz to find great package deals that include your round-trip flight, hotel and rental car. By contacting your local travel agent you may be able to find deals with packages that include one or more of the popular tours available in Sydney. There are always cheap domestic flightsonce you arrive in Sydney to other destinations in Australia so it’s a great place to start your adventure.There are many things to see and do while in Sydney but here are the top five:

1. Manly Ferry

Taking the Manly Ferry is perhaps the best way to see the city, its harbor and the harbor bridge. Finding a seat near the front or the back of the ferry will net you the best views of the Sydney Opera House and the Sydney Harbour Bridge. The ferry ride lasts for approximately 30 minutes to Manly and about 15 minutes back to your starting point.

2. Sydney Harbour Cruise

If you head to Wharf no.6 on Circular Quay, you can find many ships offering cruises of the harbor. These cruises are often more organized than the ferry ride and offer a tour operator who will give you facts and tidbits about the city. The cruises do cost more but they also last longer so would be the choice if you like tours of this nature.

3. Ferry to Darling Harbor

Ferries to Darling Harbour travel under the Sydney Harbour Bridge and offer views of the city as well as the Opera House. Darling Harbour is home to the Sydney Aquarium, Monorail and Powerhouse Museum as well as restaurants, bars and shops. Darling Harbour also holds festivals during the year that you may be lucky enough to visit.

4. Walk to Shelly Beach from Manly Wharf

Shelly Beach offers chances to see the Manly Penguin and to look out over the sea from atop cliffs. You can do this walk on your own or take a guided tour for $28. The tour starts at 1030am daily and takes about two hours to complete. If you want to hear stories about Manly and its history the tour may be a better choice.

5. North Head

Many tourists head to North Head hoping to catch a glimpse of the migrating humpback whales. It’s best to do this on a calm day if you have any hopes of seeing the magnificent beasts. North Head is quite a hike from Manly so plan on taking a cab or bus if you haven’t rented a car for your holiday.

If you’re organized and plan your itinerary with some thought, you can do a few of these things in a day, giving yourself more time to visit other top spots in Sydney! There is so much to do in the city that it really is recommended that you either consult a guidebook or a travel agent when making your plans. You don’t want to come home and realize you missed something you would have loved to see!

Filed Under: Destinations
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