Archive for October, 2009
Using A Hire Car To Tour Provence
Provence is a beautiful area of France that makes an ideal tour in a hire car. Located in the southeast of the country it benefits from warm Mediterranean swells and cooling mountainside rains. The lush greenery is a result of its situation near the Carmargue the largest river delta in Western Europe that will astound visitors by the vast array of wildlife it attracts.
As you traverse it there is even the possibility of spotting flamingos from your hire car a rare experience in Europe. With fascinating historical sites and picturesque villages dotted throughout the countryside it really is a worthy holiday destination.
As you trundle along in your hire car you will pass the infinite lavender fields that not only make a strikingly beautiful landscape but with warm winds the scent envelopes you in perfumed majesty. This is the lavender producing capital not just of France but of the world and this is clearly evident from the amount of purple fields you will pass while travelling.
Of course it is not just lavender that this area of France is famous for; Provence has a long heritage of producing some of the finest cuisine in the whole of France. The use of garlic is extensive and has been described by some as the truffle of Provence. Fish and seafood make up a large constituent of menus due to the close proximity to the sea of these seafood dishes Bouillabaisse is the most famed. If it is warmer a perfect local dish is the salad Nicoise; a beautiful seafood and egg salad that will refresh you after spending hours in your hire car.
With all this fine cuisine if would be a shame not to sample the thing France is most famous for; wine. Touring the various wine making regions in a hire car is truly pleasurable. The regions in this part of France consist of Chateuneuf du Pape Cotes d’Aix and the most famous Cotes du Rhone. These vineyards produce fabulous reds and sumptuous whites that will match anything you may decide to eat whilst on your journey.
Provence has a rich history and was widely inhabited during the Roman period. As a result while you tour the region in your hire car you will see many architectural sites and awesome engineering feats. The Pont du Gard aqueduct near Avignon can be seen as one of the best preserved examples of Roman engineering in the world.
Constructed without mortar it is held together purely by iron clamps this method has kept it standing for over 2000 years. After experiencing some years of neglect UNESCO and the government of France have put in place development efforts including a museum and extra parking making it a perfect destination if in a hire car.
The villages of Provence are no less striking settled in amongst some amazingly beautiful gorges the rugged terrain frames these picture perfect locations brilliantly. Driving the mountainous roads can be a challenge but if you make sure the car you make sure the car you hire is powerful enough any problems can be avoided. With waterfalls pouring over sheer cliffs the tranquility and serenity of this region is truly breathtaking. The chance to relax is at every turn in your journey.
Province can be considered one of the most attractive propositions for tourists. From the magical stretch of coast that includes the Cot dAzur to the mountainous areas that border Italy and the Alps beauty is everywhere.
Combine this beauty with a friendly native population some of the finest wine in the world and a sumptuous cuisine that is wholly unique and you have a trip that will be memorable and enjoyable. Take a car and relax while you traverse the roads and stop at small villages soaking in the local culture an enriching experience is only a short flight away.
About the writer: Travel expert Thomas Pretty has visited Provence many times and uses Budget’s car hire France services frequently. To find out more please visit http://www.budget.co.uk/carhire/carhirefrance.htm
Travel To France By Car
If you would like to discover France it is a good way to drive around the region by car.
You don’t need a visa to enter France for visits of less than three months. Naturally a valid passport is required.
You can use carpool services and find car going in your direction. It is cheaper and it can be fun. You can also book car rental in France from any country there are several car hire websites to compare. Online services are simple and fast way of car booking.
If you rent a car in France you must own a valid driver license for at least one year. Minimum age is 23 years old and 21 for credit card holders. Rates include maintenance and oil.
In the case of driving overseas you have to obtain an International Driving Permit IDP. An International Driving Permit IDP allows you to drive abroad when accompanied by a valid U.S. driver license.
IDPs are valid for 1 year from the date of issue. These licenses are not intended to replace valid U.S. state licenses you have to use them together. Keep driving license and all car paperwork with you all the time.
To apply for an international driving permit you must be at least 18 years old and you can obtain it at the American Automobile Association AAA or at the American Automobile Touring Alliance.
U.S. citizens may notice that road conditions differ significantly from those in the United States. Like all the countries the French have special driving habits. They typically drive faster and more aggressively than Americans they are also faster on foot actually they almost run.
Some rules may differ from those in the United States.
For example drivers entering intersections from the right have priority over those on the left unless specifically indicated otherwise even when entering relatively large boulevards from small side streets.
Note that all distance and speed measurements are in km. Before you start driving study the rules deeply.
Don’t forget the auto insurance. Usually your U.S. auto insurance does not cover you abroad. When renting a car abroad consider purchasing insurance coverage that is at least equivalent to that which you carry at home.
When you park in the city it is safer to park in a hotel car park or in underground parking lots. These are indicated by a blue sign with a white background marked “P.”
PayandDisplay park meters accept only special cards which can be purchased in tobacco shops. Check the information on the machines because parking is often free during lunchtimes and after 8 pm. Never leave anything of value on view in the car.
About the writer:nbsp;nbsp;Bikash Banerjee
Marketing Manager
Travel On The Hejaz Railway
If youre travelling in the middle east in particular from Jordan or Syria or visa versa theres one train journey you shouldnt miss out on. The Hejaz..
Background
Some know it as the line built by the Ottoman Turks to transport pilgrims from Damascus to Mecca while others know it as the railway bombed by TE Laurence and the united Arab tribes during world war one. Built in 1906 the Hejaz line is over a century old and what few people know is that those very same carriages still run today. Twice weekly infact between Damascus and Amman
The Hejaz line was only ever laid as far as Medina as Bedouin tribes prohibited the completion of the line to Mecca. Never the less the route became popular with pilgrims when it started operating in 1913. The journey took some fifty five hours and proved to be a winning alternative to the sixty day journey by camel.
Hejaz Today
If you plan to travel on the Hejaz line today only a small section of the railway still remains; Damascus to Amman and visa versa. The rails further south have either fallen into disrepair been destroyed altogether or have been adopted by the Jordanian government to transport potash and phosphate.
The route has remained something of an enigma to mainstream tourism and is used largely by locals military personnel and the odd solitary rail enthusiast
But rail enthusiast or not you wont be disappointed. The rusty carriages while faded and archaic maintain all the charm of the early twentieth century. The seats are hard wooden planks the steps are barely hanging on by a screw and the toilets are unthinkably bad. But if you enjoy meeting the locals have a sense of adventure and dont mind getting sand in your lunch there are few more rewarding ways to see the backyard of the Middle East.
And as you rattle through the desert at a little over jogging speed snapping away to your memory cards content youll wonder why most travellers in the region opt to do the same journey in less than half the time staring out at the countrys highways from the comfort of an air conditioned bus.
Practicalities
The train run twice weekly from Damascus to Amman and visa versa. Unfortunately the steam engine has been abandoned in favour of a diesel and just because the train is scheduled to depart at a particluar time doesnt necessarily mean it will. To buy tickets simply arrive at the station in the morning half an hour before departure it definately wont leave early take a seat on the crumbling carriage and then wait for the inspector to arrive usually after departure from who you can buy a ticket.
The Journey takes 1012 hours. Bring some lunch as none will be provided and shopping opportunities on route are limited. On arrival at the border you actually change train on to a similarly archaic locomotive. Passports are collect here too and returned again an hour or so later at the first station within Jordan/Syria
Decisions about whether the train will actually run are left usually to the very last minute and even if you confirm the day before there are no guarentees. Don’t put too much faith in what guides hotels or travel agencies tell you as very few of them actually know the train still exists let alone if and when it’s likely to leave.
However if you arrive at the station on the day to find the train is cancelled you’ll have ample time to have a leaisurely breakfast find the bus stop drive to Amman and still arrive several hours before the train will.
About the writer: Tariq El Kashef is the author and editor of www.alternativeegypt.com The Online Guide for the Independent Traveller