Angeltraveler

Foreign Currency Conversion for Travelers

When traveling overseas it is a good idea to carry some local currency for taxis, telephone calls, tipping etc for when you arrive at the airport as often flights arrive at night with very limited facilities open. I prefer to get this foreign currency at home, before I leave, well a certain amount anyway, usually to last me a couple of days, but most international airports will have a currency exchange facilities there on the spot. This wont be much use to you though if they are not open when you arrive so if you are going get currency at the airport check the opening and closing times.

I know it was easier for me to get Chinese Yuen at the airport than trying to get it back home before I left. Other popular currencies are easier to obtain in your own country but sometimes you can getter better rates as well when you arrive at your destination than in transit. Check it out well in advance as it may cost you more from your travel budget than you had planned. I must admit though that I like to be prepared so usually I get foreign currency at the airport or from a bank or agency before I leave.

You may also like to estimate how much foreign currency you will get for your own money so you can make sure your budget is on track before you go. You can try the Currency Converter below to do a rough check. Currency rates change from day to day, and from buying and selling, but this will give you a good idea and I suggest you check again before you leave home for your travels.

Hilton Long Beach and Executive Meeting Center

We stayed two nights at the Hilton Long Beach and Executive Meeting Center located at 701 W Ocean Boulevarde before our cruise out of the Port of Long Beach. We got a shuttle from the airport to the hotel and a taxi to the port which is close by.

The room was nice and overlooked the pool, roomy enough for two and we paid a good price of under $100 per night. Have a look at the deals and Compare Data From 100s Of Travel Sites At Once. Search One And Done.

There are not a lot of restaurants nearby although we did have dinner one night at the Daily Grill which was just on the outside of the hotel and we did enjoy that. We did not have breakfasts at the hotel at all so I can’t comment. The hotel has a nice Lobby Bar on the ground floor and which has lovely comfy chairs for a quiet drink after sightseeing all day.

I don’t think I would want to stay in Long Beach more than a few days as there were only limited things to see and do compared with Los Angeles. This is my opinion as a international visitor though. There were a lot of banks on that part of the street so the hotel probably caters to business clientele during the week more than tourists.

Overall we had a good experience here but it probably would be better to choose a hotel closer to the main attractions of the Pike, Shoreline Village, Market Place and the Marina especially if you were only staying the night before a cruise. The free passport buses though make it easy to get around as they even go to the Port of Long Beach and the RMS Queen Mary and stop outside the hotel. You can walk to the pike though from the hotel. We did this and caught the bus back.

Note: The hotel has been renovated since we stayed and so I have not included an image of the room as hey have changed.

Liked: Nice room
Disliked: It was a bit out of the way for restaurants
Tip: Have dinners at The Pike

Are you cruising for love?

My Singles Cruise group

Cruising is a good holiday for singles and solo travelers. You have an opportunity to meet people at on-board activities and when dining. People are usually in party mode and looking to have a good time so are more friendly than they may normally be.

There are many singles cruises usually comprising of groups of people, organized by single cruise travel groups, which are on regular cruises. This may fit for what you are looking for as a solo traveler as you have company for activities and sometimes you might meet someone special. Many companies have cruises are aimed at different age groups and are now sailing from many ports.

The most popular singles cruises would be for the destination of the Caribbean and I have been on one myself and it was for the Western Caribbean and I have also been on a cruise with a group of solo travelers to Alaska. It is up to you how much or how little time you spend with the group, but these cruises usually have a coordinator who will arrange activities for you as well as the ship's ones you can participate in if you want.

There are many companies now online who offer cruises for solo travelers. The price of the cruises are reasonable and you get the opportunity to share a cabin so you don't have to pay the single supplement. Not everyone is cruising for love but many are so it is an opportunity to meet people who are also singles.

For me, the benefit of a singles cruise was that I never felt alone and there was always something to do in the group and I had company for dinner as well. My favorite activity being the dance lessons. I also made friends with a few people and have continued to have contact after the cruise.

Who knows who will be on your next cruise? You may even meet your perfect love match or a friend for life.

Finally revealing my perfect travel handbag

While planning a trip to France I was looking for a new travel handbag as the one I used on the previous trip was too big, and the one from before was too small, and it was then that I came across the perfect one for me. Security features were my main priority with so many reports of bag snatching in Europe.

The travel handbag I chose has slash proof panels on the bottom and the front. The best feature though is that it has separate compartments for the digital camera with a Velcro strap to secure it, another for my cell phone, and a separate outside side pocket for an umbrella and water bottle as well as other zippered compartments. I also like the feature of a clip that can secure the main zipper.

The other ‘must have’ for that trip was to take one handbag that would go from day use, traveling around all day, to be smart enough to take it out with me in the evening. This travel handbag also fulfilled that need. I chose a dark color (dark taupe) so that it coordinated with my outfits but there are 4 colors available. The lining on that one is blue so that I can see more easily what I am looking for in the bag.

my travel handbag

What was it? Well it is a handbag from Pacsafe. Have a look at it yourself at the link below from Magellan's which have a great range.

Pacsafe Citysafe 200 Shoulder Bag

This is the best travel handbag I have every traveled with and so I took it on subsequent trips to Asia and New Zealand and I am still using it since I came home as it is a good size for all the extra stuff I carry on a day to basis as well. If you need a smaller version they have the Citysafe Handbag or the larger Totesafe so you should find one that is right for you.

This is my own experience with choosing the perfect travel handbag, but remember the points I mentioned in my last post and I am sure you will find one just perfect for your travel needs and just think of it as the best travel insurance you can have.

Choosing the perfect travel handbag

Over the last few years while I have been traveling both locally and internationally I have tried out many travel handbags but only in the last year have I discovered what I have been looking for from the start. Yes I must be a slow learner. There was always something that wasn't quite right and I never really was happy with any of them. I think I learn best by experience. I have found the perfect handbag and I will share with you my method for choosing one.

What I need in a travel handbag are the following:

Security features- anti theft features such as an anti slash strap or at least one that was strong

The right size - big enough to carry what I needed for the day including a small digital camera and an umbrella or water bottle without being too bulky

Separate inner compartments for a small wallet, room key/card, lipstick, tissues, digital camera and cell phone etc

Adjustable shoulder strap - to expand to be worn across the body during the day and can shorten again for evening to be worn over the shoulder. Also the strap should be wide enough for comfort so that it doesn’t dig into your shoulder after a long day exploring

Serviceable color - black, navy or dark brown in colour to go with everything, to look good enough to take out of an evening and wont show a mark or two

Water repellent - in case of rain to protect the contents and everything else you have on you that you can fit in it

This method works for me and now I have the perfect travel handbag. Next post I will talk about what my handbag is and where I bought it.

Choosing the best hotel in Paris

If you are looking at choosing the best hotel in Paris then I hope I can help you with your choice.

Here are five pointers to consider:

Where do you want to be near? Do you want to be near the Eiffel Tower, The Seine, Montmartre, The Louvre? I wanted to be fairly central and near the Champs Elysee so I looked at an area near the Arc de Triomphe.

Look at hotel ratings and reviews and decide if you want an economy or luxury hotel. Please be aware that most hotel rooms will be smaller than you are used to. The best hotel in Paris will be one you really will one that has enough room for you, the family and your luggage.

Research these hotels on the internet. check their actual locations on a map as near a landmark could still be a mile away.

Decide how you are going to get around the city. The hop-on-hop-off buses or the subway may also have a bearing in where you stay. If you are renting a car or planning on taking taxis this may not affect you so much.

Look at hotel facilities and inclusions. Does the hotel include breakfast? Does it have a restaurant, tour desk or parking nearby?

Paris is a beautiful city so wherever you stay you will enjoy the experience. Remember a hotel room is only a place to put your head while discovering the treasures and excitement Paris has to offer. The best hotel in Paris is really is the one that suits your needs and one you can afford.

Compare hundreds of hotels on one site to find the deal that's right for you at KAYAK.COM.

The Victorian Hotel Travel Review

This hotel travel review is for The Victorian Hotel, which is in Homer Street, Vancouver in Canada. I stayed at this hotel after my cruise to Alaska. I caught a cab to the hotel from the Port, which is fairly close, and got my bags up the steps into the hotel. I stayed in this hotel before and so I booked a room with ensuite this time as I had a shared bathroom the time before (used the women's bathroom) on the third floor and decided to upgrade on this occasion. I was placed on the second floor and my suitcase was taken up for me.

This hotel built in 1989 is very quaint with lovely furnishings, polished floors and lovely rugs. I liked it so much the first time that I decided to stay there again. I left something in the room on my first trip and they posted it to me in Australia. What great customer service is that! The room rates are reasonable with an ensuite room under $100 Canadian and if you want to share a bathroom then it would be about $70 per night.

The breakfast included toast, spread, coffee and juice which was sufficient for me, as I don’t eat big breakfasts anyway. If you like a larger breakfast then there are places nearby. The hotel is located in a great position, in walking distance to Gas Town and Robson Street shopping in the other direction.

In conclusion to this hotel travel review of The Victorian I must add that I would recommend this hotel to anyone who can manage the stairs as it is a great deal for being so central.

Liked: Clean room with lovely furnishings for a very good price
Disliked: Stairs but they were only an small inconvenience
Tip: Walk everywhere - don't miss out on Gastown which is close by

Mercure Roma Delta Colosseo Review

This is my hotel travel review of the Mercure Roma Delta Colosseo is on Via Labicana in Rome, Italy. The hotel has a great location close to the Colosseum but the room I had (a single) was the smallest I encountered on my trip around Italy, and in fact it was even smaller than the star hotel I once stayed in at New York. If you dropped the soap you had to step out and pick it up and step back in. Washing my hair was difficult.

I was there 4 nights so it did matter more to me than if I had been only staying overnight. I had breakfast included in the charge which was a buffet and this was quite sufficient but I didn't eat in the restaurant at other times. I did go to a small restaurant nearby, about a street away, though which was pleasant. There is a food mart a few blocks away but this is walkable.

The sullen Manager added to the overall dissatisfaction with the hotel so I hope he has moved on by now. I must admit though the other staff though, besides the Manager, were polite and tried to be helpful. The experience was not all bad and the hotel had the bonus of the view of the Colosseum from the roof. I hope you found this hotel travel review to be useful to you and know that is my own unbiased opinion of the hotel as I experienced it.

Likes: Location

Dislikes: Tiny room

Tips: Check out the size of rooms before booking

Helpful tips for solo travel

These are my tips for solo travel so you enjoy the experience while also staying safe. I just recently looked at them again and they are still as relevant as the day I first wrote them out for myself.

Do your homework and plan ahead

Book your hotels in safe areas of town

Ask the hotel for their business card in case you get lost

Write your room number down somewhere but not on the hotel’s card

Check that there are restaurants near your hotel

Dress down and don’t wear a lot of jewelery or expensive clothes

Talk to people, especially other solo travelers, you may be able to meet up to eat or do some excursion together

Pay attention to what’s going on around you

Keep your packing light because when you solo travel you will be the one carrying it

Try not to walk around at night if possible

Keep a diary so you can remember what you did and how you felt at the time

Carry your passport and other important documents in a concealed neck pouch or put them in the hotel room safe

Participate in activities – this especially applies to singles cruises

If you get lonely, go and do something for yourself, like retail therapy or get your hair or nails done

Book an excursion that includes a meal preferably at night so that is one less meal you have to arrange

Don’t be afraid to ask for help

There are advantages to solo travel so remember these tips for solo travel and enjoy the freedom it gives you.

Preventing the dreaded seasickness

Now this article is close to my heart. I have always suffered with motion sickness all my life but when I first cruised the Inside Passage of Alaska I didn't think we were going to the open sea so I thought I was going to be OK. Well that wasn't the case and for about 24 hours I was seasick. Luckily that was the only time we were in, or passed the open sea but it did remind me that seasickness feels like hell. It can ruin your vacation.

On my second cruise to the Caribbean I researched a lot on the internet and came up with a product called Meclizine Hydrochloride (brand name I used was BONINE). This works wonders but I did experience a bit of diarrhea on that trip when on sea days although it was not rough seas at all. The third trip was to the Mexican Riviera and this time I only felt lightheaded on sea days but I was still overall OK.

Well on the fourth time on the Far East Asian cruise I think I got it all worked out. On this trip the seas were rough and many people were sick, but not me. I took the Bonine and also ginger tablets and I was fine with no other symptoms. The ginger settles the stomach. I could eat and walk around the ship and the only trouble was keeping my balance, but that was the ship and not my problem. I will now take both the Bonine and Ginger Extract for future cruises.

This has been my experience and a friend of mine uses the sea sick bands but I haven't wanted to chance that. She doesn't suffer from motion sickness at other times so I will stick to my tried and true method. You will need to see what works for you. Please read the label first though for any medication you take as it may interfere with your other medications or conditions.