Destination Guides

For first time Australian visitors, landing in the airport is going to be your first step in enjoying your stay in the country. However, whether you’re holding an Australian visitor visa or are there for work, there are plenty of things that you need to do before you can even start your whole itinerary. Here are some things that you need to keep in mind in order to make everything much easier.

Your passport and visa (unless you are coming in from New Zealand) are two of the most important documents that you should always have in hand. Thus, you should have these literally in your hands when going through the Australia immigration counter to save you the time of having to fumble around looking for them. Also be sure to store these in an easily accessible place, preferably a dedicated pocket in your bag. Also make sure that your papers don’t get folded or crumpled, as these can easily get easily damaged. As a common reminder, always carry your travel documents with you when you go out.

As for money, make sure to go to a money changer before you leave the airport. Check out the exchange rates first before going in to ensure that you are getting the correct amount. Be aware that money changers can vary in their rates, but these usually do not deviate much from the actual value of your money in Australian dollars. Also, recount your money first before you leave to ensure that you have the right amount.

An even better way of carrying your money is by getting a card. Both a debit and a credit card are widely accepted in the country. You need to make sure though, that they pay in Australian dollars. In case they don’t, call your bank representative immediately and make arangements.

Going through the customs is also an important requirement when entering Australia, especially if you are carrying a lot of stuff. Make sure to declare everything that you are carrying. Also, take note beforehand all the restrictions that customs authorities imposed to avoid having a problem. In case you are carrying regulated items, such as guns or certain food items, you will have to make prior arrangements with customs officials before arriving.

It would also be a good idea to get a car rental service to pick you from the airport, which can be especially useful if you are carrying a lot of luggage. An alternative is getting a shuttle service to your hotel. Many hotels offer this as an added incentive for those who reserve accommodations prior to arriving. In case you do need to get a cab, the airport usually have a fleet of these roaming around, but you need to be sure that all your stuff will fit in.

Once you get to your hotel, you can finally think of the things that you will do the next day.

It’s hard to find somewhere so steeped in history as Rome. It is said that history is written by the winners (and the Roman Empire certainly left its mark on Europe) but nothing can compare to the stunning city itself.

Thought to have been founded in 753 BC the architecture shows the city’s rise and fall through the time of the Roman Empire to the Renaissance and its continued development into the thriving city we know today.

We can still see much of what was built in the times of ancient Rome. Many monuments stand in and around the city such as the Mausoleum of Augustus and the Arch of Titus. But more well known and stunning are the Pantheon, Roman Colosseum and Roman Forum. Being around the area is certainly a humbling experience, considering the length of time these marvels have stood.

Moving on to Renaissance architecture and artwork in Rome is once again just as stunning as viewing the ancient buildings. During the Renaissance in Italy, the papacy wanted to match and surpass the other cities in Italy and went on a campaign of constructing ever more impressive churches, bridges and squares. There are literally hundreds of works of art in the city, from artists including Michelangelo, Raphael and Botticelli. Works that shouldn’t be missed include St. Peter’s Basilica, the Sistine Chapel, St Peter’s Square, Piazza Navona, the Trevi Fountain and the network of galleries that make up the Vatican Museums. It is worth noting that most of the religious sites in Rome and the Vatican City won’t let you in wearing shorts or sleeveless tops so go prepared, bearing in mind at the same time that Rome can be very hot in the summer.

Bridging the gap between the ancient and modern worlds somewhat is one of the most recent tourist attractions in Rome; Angels and Demons tours. There are several tours running around the city, both private and public. You will pay extra for a private tour but if you have a fair group size already (5 seems to be the golden number) paying the group price may work out only a little bit more expensive than the larger tours. Bear in mind though that most tour prices won’t include the costs of admission. You could of course go independently and eavesdrop on some of the other groups which will be going round.

If you’re planning to go in the summer, temperatures are high, often hitting 38oC/100oF, so it’s a good idea to take refreshments regularly. The Grattachecca is worth a try; thought to date back to Quintus Fabius Maximus some 2000 years ago, it’s literally a taste of history. If you bear the heat in mind, Rome has a huge amount to offer and is definitely worth considering this summer.

Those who have their Australian travel visas would definitely want to see some of the best places in the country. However, if you are tired of the usual tourist destinations, then you might want to go out and look for more interesting sights to see. And since this is Australia you are talking about, you can expect plenty of unusual things to discover on your travels.

One of the first places that you would want to go to when looking for unusual attractions is the Cohuna Koala Park in Perth, Western Australia. The park is home to a large number of koalas. What makes a trip here more interesting is that you can get your picture with many of the park’s resident koalas. This will definitely be a good souvenir to keep.

Sydney also has its own share of unusual attractions. One place you can go to for this one is the Sydney Harbor Bridge. What’s so unusual about a bridge, you might ask. Well, try climbing on top of the bridge and you will definitely find out. The Bridge Climb is, in fact, one of the most popular attractions for those seeking some adventures in the city.

Another unusual sight to see is Uluru in in the Northern Territory. This huge slab of rock is interesting to see, even from afar, as you get to witness it change color as the day goes by. Up close, you will also find plenty of interesting features, like settlement areas made by the Aboriginal people. And the local people themselves will guide you in touring the more unusual features of the rock.

The Dingo Fence, the worlds longest fence, is also a must see sight in Australia. Though not really a designated tourist destination by the Australian government, it is still visited by many people who marvel at the sheer size of the thing. The fence stretches for more than 5,000 kilometers enclosing the southeastern part of the country and was built to prevent dingoes (Australian wild dogs) from entering the agricultural lands in the area. One interesting thing to note is that there are more kangaroos in the area enclosed by the fence than outside.

And since we’re on the topic of big things here, your tour of Australia will not be complete without hunting for Australia’s Big Things. These are a collection of large statues scattered across the country. These range from simply large replicas of objects and animals, to the weirder ones, like a kangaroo holding a soda can (previous a beer can, until the people changed it) in Border Village, Western Australia. There are countless of these Big Things in the country and more are actually being added each year.

As you have seen from the first part of the article, there are a lot of events that happen in Rio de Janeiro every month. The list of events for March is not over as for the second part we will be reviewing a couple more of events that are considered important by City Hall as well as tourists and local inhabitants.

Another major event planned for March is “Getting To Know About The Olympics” which will be held at Riocentro – GL Events Centro de Convenções – Av. Salvador Allende, 6.555 – Pavilhões 1, 2, 3 and 4 – Jacarepaguá, between 09-13 of the month. The main purpose of this event which is at its first edition is to have 15 countries from the Americas continents participating, besides the technical schools from the continent so that it will encourage the competitive culture in developing markets. This national tournament will take place along with the WorldSkills America. This event is going to be major as more than 230,000 people will participate, including participants and visitors. The event is being promoted by Senai and its objective is to encourage competitive culture of students that come from the technical schools to present their own projects and participate in exhibitions, talks as well as courses.

On the 18th of this month at Windsor Barra Hotel – Av. Lúcio Costa, 2.630 – Barra da Tijuca, the Brazil Promotion Road Show Rio de Janeiro will be held. Its main objective is to bring together professionals from novelties as well as a special seminar in which major tendencies in promotional marketing will be presented. From 22 until 26, at Cais do Porto – Av. Rodrigues Alves, s/nº – Pier Mauá – Armazéns 2 a 6 e anexos – Centro the V World Urban Forum Of The Un Urban Settlement Program will be held and it is considered to be the most important congress regarding the city administration growth. The central theme of the WUF5 will be “The Right to Life: Uniting Urban Divison”.

At Riocentro – GL Events Centro de Convenções – Av. Salvador Allende, 6.555 – Pavilhões 1, 2, 3 and 4 – Jacarepaguá, between 23 and 25 of this month, the 22nd Super Rio Expofood is being organized by Escala Eventos. Each and every year for 22nd years, professionals along with business man gather together for a major event which usually covers the following areas: restaurants, franchising, hotel, bakery, convenience stores and supermarkets. This event is considered to be one of the largest in the domain of food.

Last but not least, the Class 1 Power Boat Championship will be held on the 26, 27 and 28 of this month at Marina da Glória – Av. Infante Dom Henrique s/nº – Glória. It is considered to be a traditional show which will gather some of the fastest boats in all Brazil.

All things considered, March is no exception to the rule that Rio de Janeiro has something to offer to both its inhabitants and tourists every month, through the entire year. As you can see, there is more to Rio de Janeiro then just the Carnival; March is a great example for this.

Malta has been a sanctuary for travelers of all kinds. From those looking for a quick getaway from their lives and those on a permanent vacation, Malta has become a favored spot. With its wide range of activities and rich cultural heritage, Malta is one place where nobody will ever get bored.

Malta has a lot to offer to all kinds of people. The people who come here in search of adventure will get more than their fair share with activities like camping, rock climbing, etc on offer without any trouble. Those looking for a relaxed holiday can spend their time in one of the numerous resorts and also visit the many heritage sites in Malta.

Malta Tourist Attractions have been attracting more and more people to this small island nation for a very long time. The people who come here always depart with the intention of coming back sometime. Some others just make up their mind not to leave.

With such a rich heritage backing it up, Malta is a favorite spot for history enthusiasts. With a history that has been associated with impressive people such as Napoleon and the Knights of Malta, the island is filled with various interesting stories and folklore.

With such a rich heritage associated with it, it is no surprise that Malta has seen a huge increase in the number of tourists flocking here all year round. Whatever be the reason, the economy of Malta has surely benefited from this boom in the tourism industry.

Malta has been a retreat for travelers of all kinds. From those looking for a quick getaway from their lives and those on a permanent vacation, Malta has become a favored spot. With its extensive range of activities and rich cultural heritage, Malta is one place where nobody will ever get bored.

Malta has a lot to offer to all types of people. The people who come here in search of adventure will get more than their fair share with activities like camping, rock climbing, etc on offer without any trouble. Those looking for a relaxed holiday can spend their time in one of the numerous resorts and also visit the various heritage sites within Malta.

Malta Tourist Attractions have been attracting more and more people to this small island nation for a very long time. The people who come here always leave with the intention of coming back sometime. Some others just make up their mind not to leave.

With such a rich heritage backing it up, Malta is a favorite spot for history enthusiasts. With a history that has been associated with impressive people such as Napoleon and the Knights of Malta, the island is filled with various interesting stories and folklore.

With such a rich heritage associated with it, it is no surprise that Malta has witnessed a huge increase in the number of tourists flocking here all year round. Whatever be the reason, the economy of Malta has surely benefited from this boom in the tourism industry.