Month: August 2016

Travel Tips: Poland, Hungary, and Czech Republic

Posted on by Lloyd C

What Poland, Hungary, and the Czech Republic Have in Common

You may be wondering what possibly Poland, Hungary, and the Czech Republic have in common with one another? They are 3 of the cheapest and most fun cities to travel to within Europe in 2016 and should be on the top of traveler’s ‘To-do’ list! Here’s proof of how travelers can live like kings in these cities with a breakdown of costs and practically free things to do. Review our Travel Tips: Poland, Hungary, and the Czech Republic.

Travel Tips: Poland, Hungary, and the Czech Republic

Make sure you understand the different passport and visa requirements before you travel. For much of travel throughout Europe, you will want to know ahead if your destination is part of the Schengen Area. The Schengen Area is an agreement amongst many European nations to allow for visa-free travel for up to 90 days. American travelers will enjoy this opportunity to travel throughout much of Europe without having to deal with visa concerns.

Travel Tips: Prague, Czech Republic

Travel Tips: Poland, Hungary, and Czech Republic Travel: For a little, less than $ and a z10.00 travelers can purchase a 48-hour travel card that allows them to travel all over the city of Prague for two days.
Accommodation: In this city, the cheapest hostels run at about 7-10 euros a night for a single dorm-style room. But, of course, if travelers want to treat themselves they can stay in a three-star hotel for two nights with two adults for about 100 euros! (Yes that means it’s about 25 euros per person, per night!).
The essentials: Yes, we are talking about booze and coffee! For less than $2.00 visitors can indulge in all beer, coffee, wine, and cola throughout this city.
stay for two adults in a three-star hotel: £70 ($100.78)
Top free tourist attractions: Get the best view of the whole city of Prague from the iconic 14th-century structure called Charles Bridge which is free of cost!

Travel Tips: Poland, Hungary, and Czech Republic budapestTravel Tips: Budapest, Hungary

Travel: Here travelers can obtain a 48-hour travel card for under $13.
Accommodation: Single dorm hostels is as low as $7 a night. Or, private rooms begin anywhere from $12 a night. If the traveler’s want to shamelessly indulge in a two-night stay at a three-star hotel for two adults they can expect to pay about $62.
The essentials: Who could forget one of the most important aspects of a vacation? Coffee and wine tie for the cheapest at about $1.75 per glass. While beer is just about $2 per beer in local bars. So grab some friends and hit the city for the night!
Top free tourist attraction: Visitors need to spend time at one of Budapest’s natural hot spring baths. This is free of cost.

Travel Tips: Poland, Hungary, and Czech Republic warsawTravel Tips: Warsaw, Poland

Travel: Here, travelers can obtain a 48-hour travel card for less than $7.00. With it they can explore all the city has to offer.
Accommodation: Hostels are on average beginning as little as $10 for one night stay per person! If traveler’s want to treat themselves to a three-star hotel they can get a two-night stay for two adults for less than $80.00 at certain hotels.
The essentials: Yes we are talking about beer, coffee, and wine. Coffee can be purchased for about $2.75, beer for just around $2 in pubs, and wine can be enjoyed at under $3.50 per glass. Does it really get better than this?
Top free tourist attraction: Visit the Royal Castle which is at the best price for any budget traveler: Free!

Conclusion

In conclusion, traveling to Poland, Hungary, and the Czech Republic should be a memorable experience that you’ll never forget. With proper planning and research, you’ll be able to maximize your enjoyment of these beautiful countries. From exploring ancient castles, living in fairytale villages or tasting traditional foods and drinks on the cobblestone streets, there is something for everyone in these amazing places. Make sure that you pack appropriate clothing – it is imperative to dress appropriately if you plan to visit any religious sites or monuments.

Travel Tips for a New Traveler

Posted on by Lloyd C
Every traveler discovers their own travel tips to pass along. Today we’ve gathered some of our favorite travel tips for a new traveler. Of course there the obvious things like always make sure you have a valid passport. And always check for visa requirements in advance. You can download the Passport and Visa app to help with those requirements. But what else should know as a first-time new traveler?

Leave your prejudices at the check-in.

Whether you realize it or not what you know about the world before your travels are solely from stereotypes and prejudice whether from media or from other people’s stories shared. This, however, does not give truth to what you think about different groups of people or cities.
The best advice would be to open your ears and allow for people and cities to expose themselves to you keeping that prior knowledge in your head but not letting it fog your mind.

Do your research and ditch the travel books.

Travel books are grand for an introduction to a city or a region, but let it be the inspiration for you to dive deeper and do other research on places you want to see. Travel books act as the bones or structure, but it’s up to you as the traveler to put the meat on the bones.
Guidebooks never talk about the off-the-beaten path and local hot spots. You’ll learn your best ‘travel book’ is befriending local people or other travelers you find along the way.

Pack light but for anything.

“Pack light, but for anything” sounds like an oxymoron, huh? Well, it’s possible and you will thank yourself once you master this.
There’s no reason to have several pairs of shoes, instead pack multi-purpose items like a blanket scarf, (HELP to insert other good clothing items that you need or don’t need).
Because the truth is- when you get bit by the travel bug you don’t want to stop and you don’t want the size of your luggage to hold you back. Even if you’re only making a short trip to somewhere like Ireland you cannot predict the climate because one day you can experience all 4 seasons. Packing tips are always a must-know and must-discover for all travelers.

Travel slow.

There are a lot of worlds to see, but don’t try to squeeze the whole continent of Europe into 3 weeks! Sure you will have a lot of photos to share. But, you will be missing out on gaining genuine knowledge of the places you will travel to.
For some reason, it has become a fad to do trips like ’6 countries in 14 days, but don’t give into it. Travel like a rabbit, be as curious like a child, indulge like a local, and relax like an elderly.

Be prepared to be ripped off a few times.

You will be ripped off. Whether it’s from a professional currency exchange, a local trying to make some money or an airline you will have run run-insure you walk out with non-refundable charges but this is just a part of traveling. It’s these experiences that make you wiser and act like a reality check to be more aware.

Make friends everywhere.

You don’t travel to the other side of the world to hang out with people from your home country! Where is the fun in that? Sure it’s comfortable, but you learn so much more when you befriend other travelers and locals along your travels. Open-minded people attract other open-minded people.
Doesn’t matter if you make friends in one week, one month, or one semester… If you make friends that make goodbyes hard, you’re doing it right.

You’ll get better as you go.

Practice makes perfect in nearly everything- including traveling! Along your way, you’ll learn tips from your past experiences traveling, locals, and new friends that you’re going to wish you could do it all over again. Whether it’s traveling financial tips you learn, languages, or cultures you will grow so much as a person, far more than that could be taught in a classroom.

Conclusion

All in all, traveling can be a fun, exciting and educational adventure if you are properly prepared. Taking the time to research your destination and plan ahead will help make your journey smoother. Follow these tips, and before you know it, you’ll have experienced enough travel to write your own guidebook for future generations.

What is a Passport Fair?

Posted on by Lloyd C

A Passport Fair in your local area may make applying for your U.S. Passport even easier. Passport Fairs are becoming quite popular this summer as passport offices are receiving record numbers of passport applications. Furthermore, the U.S. Department of State expects over 47 million passports to expire this year alone.

Where are Passport Fairs Located?

These passport fairs provide quick ‘open door’ passport service so you can get the process underway without an appointment.  Many US Postal Service locations across the country are offering Passport Fairs. A Passport Fair is a basically an open event for U.S. citizens to apply for a U.S. Passport, without the need for an appointment. Many passport acceptance facilities require an appointment in advance, and many times this can be difficult for people to fit in their busy schedules.

What is a passport fair price and fees?

The Postal Service doesn’t receive tax dollars for operating expenses and relies on the sale of postage, products, and services to fund its operations. There are no additional fees when applying for your passport through the Postal Service, with the exception of shipping your documents to the Passport Agency.

What Documents Should I bring to a Passport Fair?

You will need to bring the required documents for your passport application. If you need to know what documents you need, visit the Passport Services page and select the passport type that you need. No appointment is necessary, walk-ins are welcome, and passport photo service will be available.

What is a passport fair alternative?

Routine processing through the post office can take 4-6 weeks or longer, so apply early. If you have upcoming travel plans, you have some options to expedite your passport.

Expediting Passport at a Passport Fair

Expediting your passport does come with additional service fees. The government charges an additional $60 to all expedited applications. If you choose to utilize a private registered passport service, you can get your passport processed as fast as 24 hours. Additional fees will apply. To learn more, please visit the Emergency Passport section of our site.