The good news is that with a little bit of care and planning, it is possible to survive a ten or twenty hour bus ride without tearing your hair out. Here are seven simple tips for doing just that.

Photo by Party Lin

Choose Your Route

The first step towards a peaceful bus journey is to choose that journey wisely. Regardless of where you are going, there is likely to be more than one bus company that can take you there. Pay close attention to the following factors.

• Is there wi-fi on board? Wi-fi is now incredibly common on buses but there are still a few companies that don’t yet provide it.
• How many rest stops are made? If you are travelling for ten hours or more, regular stops are absolutely essential.
• Is it possible to travel by night? Nobody likes spending an entire day on a bus. If at all possible, travel by night. You can cut the journey in half by getting some sleep onboard. You can also save yourself the cost of a nights accommodation.

Arrive Early

Most bus companies don’t allow passengers to reserve specific seats. Getting on early is therefore essential. Window seats are not only easier to sleep in, they provide you with something to look at other than the seat in front of you.

Stay Hydrated

Never board a long distance bus without a bottle of water. Don’t underestimate how dehydrated bus travel can make you. And unlike planes and trains, buses don’t come with onboard snack carts.

Make Yourself Comfortable

If you want to maximise the chances of you getting some sleep onboard, ear plugs are essential. The constant sound of a buses engine is not exactly relaxing. Should you be worried about your ability to grab a window seat, a travel pillow is also well worth purchasing.

Keep Yourself Occupied

If you want to avoid maddening levels of boredom, it’s important to pack something to keep you occupied. A good book can go a long way but if you’ve managed to find a bus with onboard wi-fi, a device that will allow you to surf the net is a much better choice. Just don’t forget to charge it before you get on board.

Watch Out for Theft

Regardless of how friendly and innocent the other passengers seem, always keep an eye out for thieves and pickpockets. If you are going to be travelling with any carry on luggage, keep it locked. And if you want to keep any valuables in your pockets, choose the pockets that you’ll be sitting on.

Take Full Advantage of Stops

Finally, don’t forget to take full advantage of any rest stops that are made along the way. Regardless of whether or not you want to eat or smoke, it’s important to take full advantage of any chance you get to stretch your legs. It’s likely to be hours before you get another one.

Barbara Woodberry, the author of this article works as an editor for a website called magazinesubscriptions.com. They help to provide their customers with the subscription of their favorite magazine at a very cheap rate.

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Restaurant in Algarve, Portugal by Tom Godber

You may or may not leave tips as a habit in your home country, but if you visit somewhere and a tip is expected and you don’t provide it, your behaviour can be insulting to your server and make them think that they have done a poor job waiting on you. Conversely, if you do tip in a culture where it is not expected, this can also seem insulting, condescending and ignorant. Before you go anywhere on holiday it is always a good idea to do some research on the accepted behaviour and act accordingly.

To prepare you for your holiday in the Algarve, or anywhere else in Portugal for that matter, here are some guidelines to remember about tipping in this culture:

To Tip or Not to Tip

Make sure that you always have some small change on you, because Portugal is indeed a tipping culture.

Most of the wait staff, clerks and attendants earn a very low wage and they rely on tips from visitors to supplement their income. Also, many of these tourism industry workers experience unemployment in the off season when the demand is low, and then have to work very long hours in the summer. Tipping them for their service will be greatly appreciated.

In some parts of Europe, a service charge is usually automatically added to the hotel or restaurant bill which makes tipping easier. However, this does not usually happen in Portugal so take a look at your bill and add an extra 10% if you have received good service. If you have been especially pleased with your experience you could possibly leave a little bit more.

Hotel pool, Algarve, Portugal by Dan Taylor

When you arrive at the hotel and the bellhop brings your luggage to the room, it is customary to give them one or two Euros for their help. You can also leave a couple of Euros per day for the maid, especially if they provide you with extra services such as bringing breakfast to the room.

Keep it Private

In Portugal, tipping is sometimes considered an inappropriate thing to do if it is done blatantly in public with people watching. It is much preferred if you give your tip in private, such as leaving it on the table as you exit the restaurant.

Taxi Rides

If you take a taxi somewhere in the Algarve, do you need to tip the driver? Keep in mind that the driver will likely have already added in a fee when they calculate your taxi fare. However, if the driver has been especially nice to you it does not hurt to add one Euro. Some people also round the taxi fare up to the nearest multiple of five. For example, if the fare was 8 euro you could give the driver 10 euro.

When is it not Necessary?

There are some situations in Portugal where tipping would not be considered necessary. For example, when getting a haircut you do not need to tip your stylist. If you use a washroom with an attendant you don’t need to tip them, unless they have given you some sort of extra service.

Tipping can be confusing, so knowing in advance what to expect goes a long way to making sure that you are acting appropriately in a different culture. These are just a few etiquette guidelines to keep in mind when you are visiting the Algarve on your next holiday.

Are you wondering whether or not you should tip while you are in the Algarve? Here are some guidelines to remember during your holiday at Monte da Quinta Suites.

The post Tipping Etiquette for Your Holiday in the Algarve | Portugal appeared first on Europe Explored.

Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by gaudiramone

Now I assume that you have noticed that Paris is a desired tourist destination for millions of tourists all over the world. The reason for this is the fact that the city has a lot to offer to everybody. It is great during any time of the year.

Now a few words about Halloween in Paris… well, first of all you need to start with finding the proper accommodation. Of course there are literally hundreds of hotels in Paris but the question you need to ask yourself is whether is worthy to spend a small fortune on accommodation rather than spend the same amount of money for fun. This is why I can offer you to rent a Paris apartment. I know it may sound silly but believe this is the best decision. Anyway you should know that they can be a little bit more expensive than Apartment in Berlin or even apartment in Rome but the investment is worthy. After finding the best you can afford you should go and take a walk on the city.

You will see many interesting things. Even some of the buildings are decorated. It is great because the city transforms into one amazing place and even if you are currently living in Paris you will have troubles recognizing the places you walk through daily.

Anyway like every major festival in a big city there are some troubles. For example crowds. So my advice to you is, if you don’t like crowds, to avoid places like downtown because they are pretty crammed up. Plus you might become a victim of pickpockets and believe me festivals like those are the perfect time for crime. Not that the police is not doing its job but you can imagine what it is to protect thousands of people dressed in different costumes.

As a whole Halloween in Paris is one great experience and if you have a chance you should certainly go and spend a few days there. The atmosphere is really great and I’m pretty sure that you will have a great time there. Enjoy your stay!

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