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Holiday Travel Insurance - Save and Secure Holidays

Holiday travel insurance is the best way for save and secure holidays. As a matter of fact, it offers features such as single trip insurance, annual insurance, accidental cover, medical costs, baggage loss, theft cover and cancellation cover.

The travel and tourism industry is making a big hit worldwide. The industry is offering cheap vacation deals, theme sports and adventure holiday ideas to its users. Therefore, it can be said that it has managed to hold the attention of users for a long time now. But, the silver lining in the cloud of worry happens to be less as it goes a long way in paving the smooth holiday experience.

Well, to make your holiday safe and secure the insurance is there for you. Nowadays, the awareness about this type of insurance is gaining more and more popularity among residents of the UK. As a matter of fact, insurance offers a wide range of travel insurance options to its applicants. The travel insurances offer features such as single trip insurance, annual insurance, accidental cover, medical costs, baggage loss, theft cover and cancellation cover.

Trip cancellation or postponement: Trip cancellation or postponement can be due to a various reasons such as sudden illness, bankruptcy of airliner, terrorist activities, natural calamities, unexpected surgery and many more.

Accidents: The holiday travel insurance covers expenses on accidents or natural calamities such as earthquakes, tsunami, storms, heavy rainfall etc. Moreover, some holiday insurance policies provide vehicle accident costs.

Medical costs: The expenses incurred for doctor visits, medicines, treatment or surgery is covered in the holiday travel insurance. As a matter of fact, it provides entire coverage for cost of medical expenses.

Baggage Loss: The costs incurred for loss of baggage or any other valuable is also covered by most holiday travel insurance policies. This type of insurance is very useful especially when you are shopping for antiques, valuables, jewelry or electronics.

Apart from this, one can enjoy other benefits such as 24 hours emergency assistance, group discounts, cheap rates for special families or VIPs, airport parking assistance, car hire as well as airport transfers. Importantly, this type of insurance is applicable for those UK residents who have attained age of 18 years or above.

There are various holiday travel insurance policies available on the internet or in the traditional financial market. And, it is usual fact that one can get easily confused with so many offers. It is mandatory that one must compare and contrast the features before availing the best insurance deal.

James William is author of Holiday Travel Insurance UK. For any travel related queries like Annual Travel Insurance, Adventure Travel Insurance visit http://www.holidaytravelinsuranceuk.co.uk/

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=James_Riccy_William

Travel tips to European Countries: Bulgaria
About the county
Officially known as the Republic of Bulgaria or Bulgarian Republic, Bulgaria is a beautiful mountainous country lying in Balkan Peninsula in Southern Europe bordering the Black Sea to the east, Serbia and the Republic of Macedonia to the west, Romania to the north, Greece and Turkey to the south. Bulgaria also borders Turkey, Romania, Ukraine, Russia, and Georgia along the sea. The largest and the capital city is Sofia. The country may be very small in area but it is rich in ancient culture, picturesque locales, down to earth and friendly people who provide the warmth and hospitality of old days. Bulgaria is known as “Land of Roses” due to the largest production of roses here. Although Bulgaria is known mostly for its sea resorts much of the actual country can be explored in great mountain regions, with many ski resorts a perfect destination for skiers. With unique customs, spectacular crafts, colorful festivals, folklore and so on Bulgaria has it all to take the imagination of visitors by surprise and excitement.
Population & Languages
The population of Bulgaria is roughly 7.4 million and the official language being spoken is Bulgarian. Turkish and Roma are also spoken by considerable percentage of the population.
Electricity
The voltage is 230 V and the frequency is 50 Hz. The types of plugs used are Round pin attachment plug and "Schuko" plug and receptacle with side grounding contacts.
Geographic Location
It lies in Balkan Peninsula in Southern Europe bordering the Black Sea to the east, Serbia and the Republic of Macedonia to the west, Romania to the north, Greece and Turkey to the south. Bulgaria also borders Turkey, Romania, Ukraine, Russia, and Georgia along the sea. Bulgaria is strategically located near Turkish Straits making it the control point of key land routes connecting Europe to Middle East and Asia.
Climate
The climate of Bulgaria can be termed as temperate with hot and dry summers and cold and damp winters. Summer temperatures average around 75°F (24°C) and winter temperatures average about 32°F (0°C). The ideal time to visit Bulgaria is summer.

Local Customs
Like any other country Bulgaria has its own customs too and normal courtesies should be followed. Handshaking is customary. Dress should be conservative but can be casual. Souvenirs from home country are appreciated if invited to home. Here is Bulgaria, a nod of the head means ‘no’ and a shake of the head means ‘yes’. Tipping up to 10 to 12 percent is customary for all services including restaurants, bars, clubs, taxis etc.
Attractions
Sofia
St. Sofia Church
St. George Rotunda
Alexander Nevsky Cathedral
National Ethnographic Museum
Mountains
Village of Momchilovtsi
Pirin National Park
Rila Monastery
Travel
By Air – The national airline of Bulgaria is Bulgaria Air. Other international airlines operating from Bulgaria include Bulgaria include Aeroflot, Air France, Alitalia, Austrian Airlines, British Airways, El Al Israel Airlines, KLM, LOT Polish Airlines, Lufthansa, MALEV Hungarian Airlines, Olympic Airlines and Swiss Air. Sofia International Airport EAD (SOF) is the biggest airport which is like six miles east of Sofia. Other international airport is Varna International Airport (VAR) located in the western outskirts of the city about five miles from Varna.
Sea - The important international ports are Bourgas and Varna along the Black Sea.
River – Ferries can cross into Romania from Vidin to Calafat.
By Rail – Sofia is connected to Budapest, Belgrade, Bucharest, Thessaloniki, Paris, Vienna, Munich and Berlin through frequent services of trains.

Duty Free Items
200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 250g of tobacco
1 liter of spirits and 2 liter of wine; 50g of perfume and 100g of eau de toilette
Gifts and personal use items.
Prohibited Items
Un-canned goods, meat or dairy products, Narcotics, pornography, firearms, ammunition, weapons, eggs, plants, endangered species, fireworks and alcoholic beverages that contain more than sixty per cent alcohol.

Want a cheap trip to Bulgaria
A holiday to greece or just a cruise in the carribean, Family Holidays book here.

Cheap flights to Burgas

Fly to Sofia with Easyjet

If you do not like to fly, try out added value homes unbeatable value cheap ferry crossings.

Ancient Greek culture thrived from the 3rd millennium to the first century B.C. and its cultural accomplishments, art, architecture and philosophy deeply influenced thinkers, writers and artists in many subsequent civilizations. The concept of democracy originated in ancient Greece and became the foundation of political principles for most modern nations. Greece – truly one of the cradles of modern civilization.

Ancient Greek culture thrived from the 3rd millennium to the first century B.C. and its cultural accomplishments, art, architecture and philosophy deeply influenced thinkers, writers and artists in many subsequent civilizations. The concept of democracy originated in ancient Greece and became the foundation of political principles for most modern nations. Greece – truly one of the cradles of modern civilization.

Picture Athens in its heyday crowned by the Acropolis. The Parthenon, an ancient Greek temple dedicated to the goddess Athena Parthenos (Athena the Virgin), is located on the Acropolis. Although partly in ruins today, it remains a masterpiece of Greek architecture. Overall, Athens has much to offer: near-constant sunshine, access to sandy beaches and idyllic islands, and the sites of the 2004 Olympics.

Today you will see a thoroughly modern city with a population of around 5 million people, complete with overcrowding and pollution. Nevertheless the ancient sites are unique in the world.

History buffs will want to explore other historic places like Delphi, Olympia, Epidauros and Mycenae. Greek mythology seems to come alive here. The Greek islands are sparkling jewels in the Mediterranean and there are literally thousands of them.

Crete is the fifth largest island in the Mediterranean and a favourite tourist destination for northern Europeans. Corfu is the most northerly of the Ionian islands with a mountain chain in the north, a central hilly region and a flat southern area. Rhodes is part of the Dodecanese islands and is known for its healthful climate and fertile soil. The island of Santorini is a photographer's paradise with its white villages that are nestled into steep volcanic cliffs. Mykonos is one of the most beautiful islands of Cyclades, it is cosmopolitan and offers an intense nightlife. A ferry trip in between the various islands can be an exciting way of getting around and exploring the local lifestyle.

Macedonia, the ancient home of Alexander the Great in the north of Greece, has several well-known travel destinations: Halkidiki, Thassos, Thessaloniki. The capital of Macedonia, Thessaloniki, is the second largest city of Greece. It was first established in 316 B.C. by Kassandros and named after his wife, Thessaloniki, sister of Alexander the Great. Its unique charms comes from large avenues, parks and squares,with trees lining commercial streets with showy shop-windows.

Among the most unique sites in Greece are the Monasteries of Meteora, ancient buildings patched against a series of surrealistic-looking rocks with precipitous vertical drops. There are four monasteries and two convents that are still active today and certainly worth a visit. Greece combines stunning scenery with ancient history and near perfect weather which make it a great travel destination.

Susanne Pacher is the publisher of a website called Travel and Transitions(http://www.travelandtransitions.com). Travel and Transitions deals with unconventional travel and is chock full of advice, tips, real life travel experiences, interviews with travellers and travel experts, insights and reflections, cross-cultural issues, contests and many other features. You will also find stories about life and the transitions that we face as we go through our own personal life-long journeys.

Submit your own travel stories in our first travel story contest(http://www.travelandtransitions.com/contests.htm) and have a chance to win an amazing adventure cruise on the Amazon River.

"Life is a Journey ­ Explore New Horizons".

The interview with photos is published at Travel and Transitions - Interviews

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Susanne_Pacher

The ancient European nation of Bulgaria is becoming better known on the travel circuit and in this article we introduce for you the delights of the coastal region of the nation...

The beautiful and historically fascinating European nation of Bulgaria which became a fully fledged member of the EU in January 2007 is fast becoming a popular destination for international tourists.

Bulgaria is now easily and cheaply accessible from across Europe and the UK and therefore the long summer season from the beginning of May to the end of October becomes seaside holiday season in Bulgaria and from November to March there are plenty of winter sports to enjoy.

If you’re thinking of visiting this fascinating nation you need to know where to begin so that you get the very most out of your visit – for example, you might want a city break in which case you’d be best advised to go to the capital of Bulgaria which is Sofia and to travel there in the spring or summer. If you’re planning a winter ski trip or even a spring or summer hiking and biking adventure instead then you’d be best off visiting the mountainous interior…but the most commonly held opinion is that if you want to see the nation at its best you’ll head for Bulgaria’s beautiful Black Sea coastline in the summertime.

Bulgaria’s coastline is home to everything from private islets to package holiday resorts, from ancient port towns to breathtaking cliff-top views - and a great place to begin an exploration of the best bits of the coastline is in a small town by the name of Sozopol.

Sozopol is reputed to be one the most ancient towns in the entire nation with a settlement recorded on the same spot dating as far back as the Bronze Age. Extensive underwater exploration has revealed anchors and relics dating back as far as the second and first millennia BC and to this day some of the best highlights of Sozopol are its ancient buildings, fort and relics.

Sozopol is also a bustling summertime seaside resort because it has pristine soft sandy beaches and because the waters of the Black Sea on this part of Bulgaria’s coastline are warm and clean. There are also bars, restaurants, shops and plenty of exciting things to do and see in Sozopol making it a great location for all the family to enjoy a holiday.

Every year in September the town plays host to an international art and culture festival which showcases the very best in new talent as well as introducing famous names from the worlds of literature, film, theatre and dance for example. The Apollina Festival of Arts as it is known is taking place this year between the 31st of August and the 9th of September and the whole town of Sozopol comes to life.

If you fancy combining a trip to the festival with an exploration of Bulgaria’s national parks and nature reserves you can also do so as Sozopol is within a short distance of the world famous Strandja National Park and Nature Reserve which is well worth a visit…this means you can have a two centre holiday and get to see and experience so much of the wealth of amazing sights, sounds and flavours that Bulgaria is becoming increasingly famous for.

Rhiannon Williamson writes about living in Bulgaria and living abroad in locations as diverse as France and Belize or Australia and Canada for example. So if you’re thinking of visiting Bulgaria or you’re looking for an overseas nation that you would like to live in, her resource ShelterOffshore.com has all the information that you could possibly need.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rhiannon_Williamson

About The Country

Spain is famous world wide for its flamenco dancers and bullfights. The architecture reflects the Moroccan style. Cave paintings, renaissance cathedrals, Moorish palaces prove the diversity of the country. Spring, fall and early summer are very pleasant here, though summers are hot.

Culture

Spanish is the regional language of Spain. English is also widely spoken here. Over the period of time, Spanish people have become modern in order to gel with the changing times and are no longer conservative. But that hasn’t changed the values, traditions, manners and customs of the locals. People here have two surnames; the first surname can be used to refer to the person. To greet someone, a handshake will do the job. Take a small gift along when visiting someone’s house. Save the flowers for special occasions. Dinner is generally taken very late in the night. People wear casuals most of the time. Men are expected to wear jackets at some restaurants. Swimsuits should be confined to the pools and beaches. Recently a ban has been applied on smoking in public places.

Shopping

Shops open quite early in the morning and stay open late in the evening. In the afternoon, they are closed for lunch or siesta. Porcelain and leather goods are famous and they will be good gifts for friends and family members back home. Bills are to be paid along with the service charges, so tipping is a matter of gratitude.

Electricity

Voltage is 220 volts and frequency is 50 Hz

Getting There

IBERIA is the national airline of Spain. Many other low-cost airlines offer services in the country. There are nearly thirty international airports in Spain, out of which Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Alicante and Malaga are famous.
Madrid located at 13km away from the city has a good bus service every fifteen minutes. Underground service also works to transport passengers to their destinations. Other facilities offered at this airport are duty free shops, bank, restaurant, tourism information, and hotel reservations.

Barcelona is very close to the city, situated at a distance of 3 km only. Buses are available every 15 minutes and trains are available every 20 minutes. Taxis are available throughout the day. Duty free shops, restaurants, bank, car hire and tourism information are available here.
There is a good network of roads connecting Spain north to south. Toll booths are installed in some parts of the country. Carrying few Euros will help smooth sailing at the toll booths. If driving one’s private car, it would be better if the travel insurance covers medical costs too. Carrying a medical kit can prove to be of some help.

Duty Free Items

200 cigarettes or 100 cigarillos 50 cigars or 250g tobacco (300 cigarettes, 150 cigarillos, 70 cigars and 400g of tobacco for EU nationals)
1litre of spirits if exceeding 22 per cent volume or 2 litres of alcoholic beverage not exceeding 22 per cent volume and 2 litres of wine (1.5 litre exceeding 22 per cent and 3 litres of up to 22 per cent and 5 litres of wine for EU nationals)
250ml eau de toilette and 50g of perfume
500g of coffee or 200g of coffee extract (1000g of coffee and 4000g of coffee extract for EU nationals)
100g of tea or 40g of tea extract
Gifts up to the value of approximately €37.26.