Indie Places

No matter where you travel to, chances are you’re going to buy some sort of souvenir or gift.  Much of the time, you’ll be able to fit these purchases into your luggage, but sometimes, you may find that you’ve either purchased too much or have been given too many items (such as from a business meeting) to fit in your baggage.  In this case, you may have to ship some items home.

Now you have to decide what you want shipped.  If you’ve attended a business meeting and have items that will be needed right away when you return, you may actually have to ship some of your personal items home.  This could actually include some of the clothing you took on the trip.  In that case, select the items you won’t need right away.  This might include formal clothing, or it might include things like shoes.  You may also want to ship any souvenirs you purchased.

On the other hand, if you were on holiday and bought some rather large items or bought a lot of stuff, you might need to ship these things home.  Make certain none of them are items you’ll need within a couple of weeks—shipping can take a long time unless you pay extra.  Generally, your hotel can tell you where to go to ship things.  Some hotels on luxury holidays can even ship packages for you.

If you’ve travelled overseas, be ready to pay.  Shipping across an ocean is not cheap, and it takes longer.  If you’re shipping breakables, you may need to pay extra for insurance, plus you’ll want to make certain they are packaged well.

Occasionally, you may need to ship items to your destination, especially at business events.  In this case, contact your hotel first and make certain you know where to send it and how to properly address the package.  Make certain you mail the package in plenty of time so that it will arrive before you do.  You don’t want to get there only to find that the important items you needed are stuck in the mail.

Venice’s Canale Grande, or the Grand Canal, is the main “street” of central Venice.  This canal forms an S as it follows an old riverbed.  The Grand Canal begins at the Tronchetto parking garage, a huge parking garage.  One thing you should know about Venice: there are no streets in the city.  If you’re driving a car, be ready to haul your luggage to your hotel—there’s no on-site parking unless you’re staying in one of the hotels in Venice is on the outskirts of the city.  Within Venice, it’s all walkways and canals.

The Piazzale Roma transportation centre is located at Tronchetto, and from there, you can grab a boat on the canal.  It’s around 4 kilometres long, and there are a number of different routes on the canal.  If you’re looking to see the entire canal, take the No. 1 from the Piazzale Roma and ride to San Marco.  This is an especially beautiful trip at night when everything is lit up.   This boat trip is a great way to relax after dinner, plus it makes frequent stops along its 40-minute trip from one end of the canal to the other.

While riding down the Grand Canal, you’ll find a number of sights to see.  You’ll actually go under three different bridges.  If you want, you can always journey along the side of the canal yourself and walk over these different bridges.  You can cross the Ponte di Scalzi, the Rialto Bridge, and the Accademia Bridge as you wander along the waterway.

If you want something a bit more private, gondolas also traverse the Grand Canal.  They’re a bit expensive, of course, but they’re also incredible romantic.

Going on holiday with young children can be stressful, especially if your children start to misbehave.  However, there are several things you can keep in mind when planning your trip and during your trip that can make this stress disappear. Before you book your transportation or your lodging, check on the prices for young children.  Some allow those under five to travel or stay for free.  Others have a reduced rate.  You’ll want to take this into account when figuring your budget and when making your reservations.  Be certain to always mention your children and their age when asking about rates. When you pack for your children, you may think giving them their own little pieces of luggage will make them feel more grown up.  However, it may cost you a bit more.  You may have to pay for each of these checked bags, no matter what their size.  If you’re on a budget, consider packing your children’s clothing with your own if possible.  Sometimes, you can use one larger bag instead of two smaller ones and actually pay less. Once you arrive at your destination, you should make certain that you’ve got some activities planned that your children will enjoy.  This doesn’t mean you have to go to theme parks, but it does mean you should sit aside some things that your kids want to do.  This might include going to a children’s museum, visiting a zoo, or going to a shopping centre.  To decide on these activities, talk to your kids when planning your trip.  You never know—they may really enjoy going to a concert or play with you, but they might not.  They may really not want to spend the day at the zoo, however, so you should get their opinion before deciding on what to do.

Going on a road trip can be a lot of fun, but it can also be stressful if you’re not prepared.  When going on a road trip, here are some tips to keep in mind to make the entire adventure less stressful.

First, know where you’re going.  Getting lost is one of the worst things that can happen on a road trip.  If you don’t have a GPS navigation system, be certain to print out maps from the internet and have a road atlas along.  Be sure your atlas is current, too - older atlases may not show new roads.  If you do get lost, don’t be afraid to stop and ask for directions.

Second, have an idea of how far you’ll stop driving each day.  This way, you’ll know about where you’ll stop so you can plan which city you’ll stay in.  You can also plan out petrol and food breaks.  You might also look at sites and attractions along the way to your destination.  You may want to take the time to stop at these attractions if you have time.

Third, driving instead of flying or taking another form of transportation, driving means you can pack your own snacks and drinks.  You can also take food along with you so you don’t have to eat out as often.  If you have a small cooler, you might even take lunch meat, cheese, and other perishable items with you.

Finally, even if you have your trip all planned out take advantage of the ability to change your plans.  If you see a sight or attraction you’d like to visit, you can always stop and see it.  True, you may have to make up time later, but that’s one of the best things about a road trip - the flexibility.

Milan is known for many different sights and attractions, but one of the most unique and historical is the Duomo, a huge cathedral.  The Duomo is the world’s second largest Catholic cathedral; the only larger cathedral is the cathedral of Seville.  The Duomo can easily hold 40,000 people without feeling crowded!

The Duomo Cathedral is located on the Piazza del Duomo, and if you’re planning on spending a day at the cathedral, you may want to book one of the hotels in Milan near it so you can walk.  Walking through Milan is a joy, anyway, so even if your hotel is a dozen or more blocks away, you should take the time to stroll through this historic city.

The first thing you’ll see is the Duomo’s amazing exterior.  The entire building is made of brick with a marble face.  Its main spire stretches 109 meters into the air.  The architectural style is an interesting blend between the classical Gothic and the neo-Gothic look.  This is because construction on the western section of the Guomo started in 1616 and wasn’t finished until after 1800.  Some Baroque and Neo-Classical influences can also be seen.  Since 1900, parts of the cathedral that were less Gothic in style were replaced with Gothic designs by Giuseppe Brentano.

Once you step inside the Duomo, you’ll find a lofty roof, wide aisles and hallways, and strong round pillars.  There are a number of interesting stained glass windows, statues, and paintings within the Duomo.  It is a bit dark, as most older cathedrals tend to be.

No one wants to cancel their holiday, but sometimes it must be done.  If you have to cancel, there are some important things you need to consider.  Before you decide anything, you need to look at how much money you’ve invested in your trip and if you can get it back.  Sometimes, you won’t be able to get refunds.  In this case, you may actually want to try to go ahead and take your holiday if it’s at all possible.  If it’s not, you may want to try to find others who can go in your place.  True, you’ll still be out the money, but at least someone will get to enjoy the trip.

You should check the cancellation policies for your transportation, your lodging, and any events you’ve pre-booked.  Generally, transportation and lodging have a 24-hour cancellation policy, although some are 48 hours.  For some, you may be able to get a credit on your account, but you may not get all of your money back.  Be certain you know when you have to notify them of any cancellations.

For events, it may be more difficult.  Some tickets may specifically state that they are non-refundable.  Others may need to be cancelled a week or more in advance.  It can be very difficult to return tickets at the last minute.  If you know in advance that you may need to cancel your holiday, you may want to put off purchasing tickets to events or at the very least have someone in mind to give the tickets to if you can’t attend.

When it comes to travelling, perhaps the most important thing to take into consideration is not how you’ll get there but where you’ll stay.  Annoyances that occur during transportation may only last a few hours, but if you get stuck with a bad hotel room, you’ll be annoyed for the entire duration of your trip.  To that end, here are some tips for selecting the perfect hotel room.

Is the hotel near places you need to go?  If you’re going to a conference, can you easily walk from your hotel to the conference location?  If not, is it near a bus or subway station?  If you have to get up a half hour or more just to get across town, you may want to look for a different hotel.  If you’re in town on holiday, location may not be as important.  Check to see if your hotel offers free shuttle services to the airport as well.

When arriving at your lodging, if you see signs of construction, you may have a cause to be concerned.  You should ask if the construction will be near your room and, if it is, what time it will start each day.  You don’t want to be woken up to the noise of sawing and drilling.  Ask the hotel staff to give you a different room if the noise is going to be a problem.

Take a look at what amenities are offered by the hotel and take them in mind when you’re reserving a room.  Some hotels may offer microwaves, mini-refrigerators, and more, while some offer only a bed and television.  Decide what you need in a hotel room before making your reservations.

Boston, Massachusetts, is home to many different historical sites.  As one of the oldest states in the United States, Massachusetts was the setting for many major events, especially during the American Revolution.  If you’re planning on visiting Boston soon, you may want to see some of these interesting sites.

The Old North Church, built in 1723 by the Episcopalian Church, is the oldest church is Boston.  It is the church described in the poem “Paul Revere’s Ride” as the church where one lantern would be hung if the British were coming by land and two if by sea.  History buffs visiting the church won’t have to spend too much—no admission is required although the historical society does ask that each person donate a couple of dollars towards the preservation of the church.

The USS Constitution, the oldest ship in the US Navy still in existence, is docked in Boston.  It was actually built in Boston’s North End in 1797 as one of the first six frigates in the US navy.  During the War of 1812, the Constitution gained the nickname of Old Ironsides after cannon balls actually bounced off the ship’s thick sides.  While it has served as a museum for many years, it is still seaworthy.  Every Fourth of July, the Constitution is taken out for a tour around the harbour.  Visitors can tour the vessel and visit the museum located near the dock.

The Old South Meeting House was first used by the Old South Society in the early 1670s.  It is the most famous meeting house in the state.  In 1770, many people stayed at the house following the Boston Massacre.  In 1773, over 5,000 people met at the house and made plans for the Boston Tea Party.

The final historic place on this short list of Boston historical sites (there are many others that aren’t listed here) is the Granary Burying Ground.  This graveyard features the tombs of Paul Revere, Samuel Adams, John Hancock, and many others.  This graveyard is located almost in the centre of Boston, and it’s completely free to visit.

If you really wanted to make your trip a historic one, you could stay in one of the historic Boston hotels like the Boston Park Plaza and Towers.

If you fly regularly, you know just how annoying it can be to lug several heavy bags through airports and hotels.  How many times have you found yourself pulling several heavy rolling bags or having two or more bags over your shoulders?  To avoid the potential aches and pains that come with heavy luggage, here are some ways you can cut down on your packing. Don’t over-pack.  If you’re not going to need a really nice outfit for anything, don’t take one.  Avoid any clothing that you’re only taking “just in case.”  If it’s not necessary, it should stay at home.  Likewise, women should only take a small amount of makeup and jewellery. Purchase small travel-sized toiletries.  You don’t need to take a large bottle of shampoo for only several days or a week.  If you can’t find your brand in travel size, you can buy small bottles and fill them from your larger bottles. Think of the various ways you can mix and match your outfits.  You can often wear several different shirts with one pair of trousers.  One nice jacket can also go with different outfits, as can an over shirt.  You can also wear your jacket on the plane so it doesn’t take up room in your luggage. If you don’t mind spending a bit of money, you can always purchase toiletries at your destination and then throw them away when you leave.  Your hotel may supply soap, shampoo, and conditioner for you to use so you can leave that behind if you like. While these tips may not save you much space individually, if you combine them all, you’ll notice that your bags weigh significantly less.

After a long flight, the only thing most people want to do is get to their hotel (or wherever they’re staying) and rest.  However, before they can do that, they have to pick up their luggage.  This means standing around with many other people while the various bags move around on the conveyor belts.  Finding your luggage can be like finding a needle in a haystack, though.  To make this task easier, here are a few tips. Buy baggage that isn’t a standard, solid colour like blue, brown, or black.  While these are the most common colours for suitcases and other bags, buying bags with a print design or brightly coloured bags can make them easier to spot.  Of course, there’s always the chance that another traveller will own a leopard print suitcase, but at least you’ll be able to narrow down the bags to only a few. Another way of recognising your luggage is to tie a brightly coloured shoelace or other piece of material to the handle.  While this generally works, however, there’s always the chance that your identifying marker will come lose in transit and fall off.  Some airlines, too, do not like long, dangling strings or streamers hanging off of bags.  You may have to remove the item before you can even check your bag. A simpler way of doing this is to add stickers or use fabric paint on your luggage to add an identifying mark.  You can take some coloured electrical tape and wrap it around the handle to add a unique mark to your bag, or you can use fabric paint and make a design or other decoration.  Just don’t paint your name on your bag—it’s never a good idea to advertise your name for safety reasons.