TRAVEL

TRAVEL-
The first installment of the Student Travel Spotlight is focused around Berlin, Germany. Berlin is the capital city of Germany and one of the 16 states of the Federal Republic of Germany. Berlin is Germany’s largest city with a population of 4.5 million within its metropolitan area and 3.4 million within the city limits. The city of Berlin is best known for its historical associations as the German capital, for its lively nightlife, for its many cafes, clubs, and bars and for its numerous museums, palaces, and other sites of historic interest.Most cities naturally have their own districts which are not government regulated, rather they are dictated by the people and culture of the surrounding area. Take New York City for example. NYC has the Meat Packing District, Soho, Greenwich Village etc… Berlin has five main districts you should know about before you plan your trip.Mitte District (Mitte, Tiergarten, Wedding)The historical center of Berlin, the nucleus of the former East Berlin, and the emerging city center. Many cafes, restaurants, museums, galleries and clubs are abundant throughout the district, along with many sites of historic interest.Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg (Friedrichshain, Kreuzberg)Associated with the left wing youth culture, artists and Turkish immigrants, this borough is somewhat noisier than most, packed with lots of cafes, bars and clubs, but also with some museums in Kreuzberg near the border to Mitte.Pankow (Prenzlauer Berg, Weißensee, Pankow)Prenzlauer Berg is a trendy district in the former East Berlin which is undergoing gentrification and is located north of the city center. Popular with students, artists and media professionals, it is made up of lots of cafes and bars.Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf (Charlottenburg, Wilmersdorf, Ku’Damm)This borough is the heart of City West and centered around the Schloss Charlottenburg. Ku’Damm (short for Kurfürstendamm) — One of the main shopping streets in former West Berlin, especially for luxury goods. Many great restaurants and hotels are here and also on the side roads.Steglitz-Zehlendorf (Steglitz, Zehlendorf)Zehlendorf is one of the greenest and wealthiest districts in Berlin and the biggest university in town (Freie Universität) is located here, but often ignored are the great museums and some important historical buildings.The most popular district of student travel trips is the Pankow district. This is the nightlife hotspot in Berlin. During the day most student travelers will head over to districts rich in history and populated with multiple museums and historic architecture. Check out these pictures and start planning your student travels to Berlin today!
As a single person and an avid world traveller with a website dedicated to bringing together single travellers, I got to thinking the other day about destinations for solo travellers.Many younger single travellers find it easy to travel alone. They often backpack around Asia and / or Australia, staying in hostels and meeting heaps of new friends. Sometimes lifelong friends who they can spend some time travelling with, learning from and maybe teach them some backpacking tricks etc..However, what about the older traveller? Someone who is lifelong single or widowed and wants to meet some new friends or just share some time with? Where do they go?I know there are a shed load of travel companies out there who cater for single travellers, but are there any real solo traveller focused destinations or hotels? Well, I guess there are a few, but not too many I wager and I wonder why the travel industry doesn't cater more for solo travellers.Travelling alone is becoming more and more popular nowadays. Even married couples sometimes travel alone to different destinations and look for a travel companion.Three of the more common destinations for solo travellers have to be Thailand, Australia and New Zealand which all offer the ease and safety of travelling alone and the benefits of meeting many other likeminded travellers.The accommodation is often cheap and you can pick up some cash in hand work to help pay for your travel.However, more preparation should be considered if travelling to places like South America and Africa where travelling alone can be dangerous if you are not street wise. This is when finding solo travellers to travel with becomes important. They will offer companionship, knowledge and safety.I believe that in the next few years, we will see more and more destinations in the lesser solo traveller friendly countries, produce many singles hotels / resorts to encourage the tourism within their country. These hotels will be closed to couples and families and offer a chance to meet with other singles in the safety of a resort. I don’t think they will be a dating destination as such as I think that could be awkward. I do think they will offer activities that cater for the solo traveller that help build their confidence, offer some fun and friendship and if something else happens - well that’s the bonus.
FAMILY HOLIDAY TIPS -Pack your bags for your trip and then carry them around the block. It will inspire you to rethink what you packed, and no doubt motivate you to unpack, a bit. Make his and her travel CDs with copies of your favorite songs. Take turns playing them on the car trip and you may just be surprised by which songs the other has come up with. Now's your time to show him what Michael Jackson can really do. Order fresh flowers or fruit to be delivered to the home you're visiting on the day you arrive. It's a lovely welcome gift that you don't have to carry. If you want to try a certain restaurant but think your kids won't like the food, feed them first and then, in the restaurant, let them order a dessert while you have your own meal. Rather than lugging the house with you, hire what you need for baby and kids once you arrive.
Whether it's your first getaway or baby has already been around the world and back again, you can always do with some friendly advice.Start a a few weeks before you travel, taking note of what you regularly use during the day.Switch to a baby bag that either has a shoulder strap or works as a back pack to leave your arms free if you don't already use one. Ensure it has a waterproof lining.Include an extra top for yourself in the baby bag in case you find yourself in a messy situation.Pack all medicines and toiletries in a re-sealable plastic bag to prevent leaks.If you will be sleeping in the same room as your baby pack a small clip on reading light.
Planning a family holiday-Have a plan-Planning a family holiday can be a lot like planning dinner. You may think it is quicker and easier if you make all the decisions, but including the kids in the planning process helps avoid sulks, and will buy you an afternoon to indulge in window shopping or an afternoon nap.Let each person choose one thing they want to do on the holiday and make it a rule that everyone joins in. Freddy may well decide he wants to go out for a breakfast of icecream, but then you can always suggest a walk along the beach in the afternoonWhere to go-Lying around a pool that forbids bombies is never going to work if you've got boys. Neither is remote camping if you've a girl who likes to dress up for breakfast. Pick a place that incorporates at least one aspect of your child's interest. It could be a city with an awesome dinosaur exhibition, or a dolphin sanctuary.You may not be up for a day that begins with a hike, moves on to snorkeling, horseriding, golf, tennis, archery and finishes with water aerobics, but you can bet your kids will be. An active holiday will sustain a child's interest, and resorts such as Club Med have plenty of the above on offer. Check the age requirements for each activity before you book. One holiday, one destinationKids may seem like they are always on the move but when it comes to a holiday they are homebodies. Pick a place and make it your home for the whole holiday. Whether it's camping or travelling to Paris, moving the kids around will take dim the sparkle of being on holiday. Get to know your destination and enjoy the discoveries that come with spending more than a couple of days in a new town.Hotel Happiness-If your getaway requires a hotel room, invest in two rooms with interconnecting doors. It's your home away from home and you'll find you spend more time in there than planned. Sharing one room with more than a partner and portable cot will never be a holiday. It also gives you and your partner time alone, where you can pretend you don't know that the kids are watching pay-per-view movies till midnight, dropping biscuit crumbs through their bed and falling asleep with their shoes on. That's called a holiday