Brazil – From Hedonistic Rio Carnival, to the Steamy Amazon Jungles and Beyond

Brazil, on the Eastern side of South America, is a huge, expansive country that encompasses many different natural wonders.  Whether you want to enjoy the unique atmosphere of the intriguing city of Rio de Janeiro at Carnival time in one of the luxurious, top end beach hotels, or back pack up the coast on a shoe string budget, Brazil really does have something for everyone.

Although the capital city of Brazil is Brasilia, which sits inland, the beating heart and most memorable city of this country for many travellers is Rio de Janeiro.  With its vast expanse of white sand beaches, green mountains rising up behind the city, and deep blue seas with rolling waves, it provides both a beautiful setting and many activities and attractions.  The most famous is one of the largest Art Deco statues in the world, Christ the Redeemer, which overlooks the city from its vantage point high above.

Rio has a stunningly active nightlife, particularly at carnival time, and when you have recovered and finished lounging on the sands, buying handicrafts from passing traders at Copacabana Beach, there are plenty of more active experiences.  Surfing, trekking through nearby rain forests and rock climbing are available, along with the ultimate thrill of hang gliding.  Experience Rio’s unique culture, markets and culinary delights at your leisure, before moving away from the bright lights to more natural wonders.

For many travellers, a trip to Brazil would not be complete without experiencing the most famous of its natural wonders, the Amazon.  Once you have arrived in Manuas, the jumping off point for the majority of jungle trips into the Amazon, you will need to find a trip that suits both your budget and requirements.  Many are available, always ensure you book through a reputable, recommended travel agent, and allow a minimum of two days, longer if possible.  Visit in the high water period, generally between March and July, to get the most out of your trip.

Experience canoeing through picturesque channels and flooded forests, keeping a close eye on the flora and fauna for your chance to spot pink and grey river dolphins, sloths, beautifully coloured exotic birds, monkeys and more.  Take a longer trip into the very heart of the Amazon for your chance to look for rarer animals including the beautiful jaguars who inhabit this area.  Try piranha fishing, many trips let you eat your catch for dinner!  You can also discover the sights and sounds of the jungle at night, with walks to spot the many crocodiles and jungle camping, just don’t forget the insect repellent!

With Rio, the Amazon, the wondrous Iguazu Falls, the amazing Pantanal region and so much more, there is so much to discover about Brazil that however long your visit, there will always be more for next time.  Whatever you choose to do, and whether you spend a few weeks or a year in Brazil, you will take away memories that will last a lifetime.

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Duolingo – July Travel App of the Month

duolingo logoOver 38,000 android users have given this app a top score of 5 stars compared to a very small minority of under 500 just 1 star, review ratios that are pretty much mirrored in iTunes too. As such Duolingo has been hailed the top app for travellers to download to get their head around a new language with fun, in fact addictively fun lessons.

 

What does the Duolingo app do?

Duolingo is a free and fun way of learning a new language. In a series of bite sized lessons where you can win and lose lives you can pick up a little or as much as you want whenever you like. It is great because it uses voice recognition to help improve accent as well as using written ‘tests’ to help grammar and spelling.

The updated dashboard clearly shows your progress in points earned and words learned making it easy to monitor progress. At the moment Duolingo is available for learning Spanish, French, German, Portuguese, Italian, and English.

Additional features

The new leader board option makes it even more addictive than it was before. Not only can you win and lose ‘lives’ you can also beat fellow Duolingos! However what makes this the app of choice for would-be multi-linguists is the fact it is:

  • Free
  • Accurate
  • Ad-free
  • Tablet optimised

duolingo screenshot

Duolingo app reviews

It is a massive thumbs up – a fun, free way to pass the time on the move and learn something new. Most people have hailed it as better than any other language learning app, many have said that it is as good as getting college level tuition and most agree that that it is completely addictive. Oh, and it is super easy to use.

duolingo google play review

duolingo itunes reviews

Downloa Duolingo on Goolge Play or iTunes

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We Are Listed As Cheapest Car Hire Excess Insurance Providers!

In a recent article published online by the Daily Mail, we have been named as one of the cheapest providers of Car Hire Excess Insurance.

In Seven Holiday Sins That Could Spoil Your Break and Cost You Dear, finance expert Victoria Bischoff advises readers to beware of rental insurance offered by car hire companies, advising that travellers instead opt for cover from an insurance provider before going on holiday when she goes on to say “Price comparison website Moneymaxim lists the cheapest providers and deals. Worldwide Insure, for example, offers cover starting at £12.95 for a week in Europe — just £1.85 a day.”

What is Car Hire Excess Insurance?

Very simply, it is insurance to cover the excess you would be expected to pay should your hire car become damaged or if it gets stolen.

What is wrong with the insurance provided by car hire companies?

In case you are wondering what all the fuss is about, maybe you are not aware of the excess fees car hire companies will charge should you become involved in an accident or are the victim of theft. They are often well over £500, often as much as £1,000.

The excess insurance offered by the hire companies often called Collision Damage Waiver or Super insurance can be as much as £150 a week. A world apart from our European Car Hire Excess Insurance which starts at just £12.95 per week!

Also, if you are hiring a car in the USA you are required by law to have third party liability cover of $1million. The cover supplied by car hire companies often falls short of this figure which can leave those who have been found to be at fault in an accident with huge bills.

Our USA and Canada Car Hire Excess Insurance includes the third party liability cover, with daily rates starting at £6 – another great deal that we are proud to shout about too!

 For more information about our travel insurance policies visit www.worldwideinsure.com or call us on 01892 628567.

Read the original news story on Mail Online.

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How to Beat Jet Lag

I sometimes like to think that suffering from jetlag somehow means I am suffering from life as a time traveller.  However, I have to accept that I am not a Time Lord, a flight of fancy too far that does nothing for the jet lag anyway. Here’s how to cut your chances of getting jet lag and how to cope if it gets you!

The Moon by Dr Wendy Longo

What is jet lag anyway?

Jet lag is a disturbance in your sleep patterns, and it is generally worse when travelling from west to east because it is easier for your body to adjust to a longer day than a shorter one! Our bodies are primed to respond to regular cycles of night and day, so if it is light when we are expecting darkness, the body can take a day or two to adjust.

Before you travel

Sleep well before you go, and on the plane if possible. By cramming in as much asleep as you can, you stand a better chance of staying awake until night in your next destination.

Change your sleep pattern a few days before you travel. Get up and go to bed earlier if you are travelling east, later if you are travelling west.

During your journey

Drink plenty of water to keep hydrated. Dehydration can make the effects of jet lag worse, especially if you have been consuming alcohol.

Use an eye mask and earplugs to get some rest while you travel. You stand a better chance of getting some rest if you shut out unwanted light and noise!

When you arrive

Get out in the daylight as this will help your body to adjust to the new tie zone quicker.

Get your normal resting hours in on the first night. Even if you only manage a short chunk of time, napping during the next day to top this time up will help alleviate the effects of jetlag.

Need more help? Read our Jet Lag Genie review – a handy smartphone app that helps users adjust their sleeping pattern to avoid jetlag.

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Festivals App Review – June Travel App of the Month

festivals_app_logoFollowing on with our festival theme this month, we decided that our travel app of the month should be Festival from whichfestival.com.

This clever app collates the festival information you’d find on the likes of Lonely Planted, Whats on When, Joobli, 2camels and Festival Pig – to give you the lowdown on all the festivals (from cheese rolling to rock ‘n’ roll) around the world.

What does the Festival app do?

The Festival app tells you what festivals are on complete with photos, festival information and videos. It covers all types of festival, such as:

  • Music festivals
  • Beer festivals
  • Food and drink festivals
  • Film festivals
  • Comedy festivals
  • Literature festivals

The list also includes carnivals and special celebrations and appears to cover THE ENTIRE WORLD, which means you could probably use it as a journey planner too!

You can search for events near you for a chronological list of what’s happening where and when, by date or by place if you are planning to go travelling.

festival_app_screenshot_1

 Additional Features

What does the app do that the website can’t? Well, you can search by keyword (great if you have a vague idea of the type of festival you are looking for but can’t remember where or when it is meant to be happening, um, or what it is called). You can also tag that you are going or have been and you can share the festival information too – a great way to rally up a group of like minded people to go with.

The app includes a map so you can see what is nearest wherever you are!

Following on with our festival theme this month, we decided that our travel app of the month should be Festival from whichfestival.com.

This clever app collates the festival information you’d find on the likes of Lonely Planted, Whats on When, Joobli, 2camels and Festival Pig – to give you the lowdown on all the festivals (from cheese rolling to rock ‘n’ roll) around the world.

 

festival_app_screenshot

 

Festivals App – The Reviews

The app hasn’t had much feedback in reviews probably because it hasn’t been around for long. Android users rate it 4.5 out of 5 but Apple users have not given enough feedback to give the app a rating.

festival_app_ratings

festival_app_reviews

 

Download Festival for Android or Apple

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Best Festival Destinations for Summer 2013

After our fabulous guide to surviving a festival, we thought we would bring you information about some of the best festivals you can visit around the world this summer!

Benicassim Festival – Spain

This is a 4 day music festival on the east coast of Spain – and this year the fun kicks off on the 18th July with the incredibly popular American band The Killers will be headlining. Valencia is the closest airport to the festival. Alternatively festival goers are known to fly to Barcelona for a pre-festival warm-up before heading to Benicassim Festival by train.

Burning Man 2010  by eponamusic

Burning Man 2010 by eponamusic

 Burning Man Festival – Nevada USA

Located out in the Nevada Desert, the Burning Man Festival is certainly not for the faint hearted. It is an event dedicated to ‘community, art, self-expression and self reliance’ and lasts one whole week. This year the theme is Cargo Cult, kicking off on 26th August. This is a ‘leave no trace’ festival – so newbies need to do their research and adhere to the common cause. To get to Black Rock City you’ll need to book a flight to Reno airport then hit the two lane rural highway with around 60,000 other festival goers.

Soundwave Festival – Tisno Croatia

Held on the shores of the Adriatic coast, this music festival is perfect for sun worshippers who like a good tune. At Soundwave you can swim in the sea and sunbatheto your favourite DJs and bands, go on a boat party or head to one of the many stages if you like the volume turned up loud. It is a relaxed event and this year starts on 18th July with performers such as Bonobo, Quantic and Doom. To get to Tisno, get on a plane to Zadar or Split and get a transfer from the airport to the Island of Murter.

FUJI ROCK FESTIVAL '10 by Kentaro Ohno

FUJI ROCK FESTIVAL by Kentaro Ohno

Fuji Rock Festival – Niigata Prefecture Japan

This is the largest outdoor music event in Japan showcasing over 200 musicians from Japan and around the world in the space of 3 days. Fuji Rock takes place at the Naeba Ski Resort starting on 26th July with an eclectic bunch of people performing, including well known names such as Skrillex, Nine Inch Nails, The Cure, Mumford and Sons and DJ Shadow. Revellers will have to fly to Tokyo and then catch a train to Yuzawa, a 1.5 hour journey, followed up by a (free) 40 to 60 minute bus ride to the festival site.

Bestival – Isle of Wight England

Late on in the festival season, Bestival is a great way to kiss the summer season goodbye in style. This year the festival starts on the 5th September and has some great headlining acts including Sir Elton John, Franz Ferdinand and Snoop Dogg. The crowd that attends is as diverse as the range of acts, so a great option if you are only going to go to one festival this year. If you are taking a car, head to Southampton where the Red Funnel ferry service will take you to West Cowes in Just 20 minutes. Foot passengers can also catch a train to Southampton and board the ferry, alternatively ferry services run from Portsmouth harbour, right near the train station.

Bestival by Mike Mantin

Bestival by Mike Mantin

Camp Bestival – Dorset England

This is a family friendly alternative to the summer festival mayhem, held in the delightful county of Dorset on the south coast of England. The fun and frolics take place over the space of 4 days starting on 1st August with established acts such the Levellers and Billy Bragg, as well as more recent music talent like DJ Yoda. There is also a wealth of theatre, comedy, poets and talks to keep festival-goers of all ages entertained. This is a great festival to choose if taking to the skies or the open sea is not your cup of tea!

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Eat Drink and Be Merry – Our Festival Survival Guide

Ok so we all know that we need to drink responsibly, avoid illegal substances and watch out for strangers at festivals – but it is traditionally a time of excess and exuberance for the young at heart. So what do you really need to know to survive the festival season this year?

Let’s find out!

Ant Freeman Soundwave Croatia 2010

From the ‘Soundwave Croatia 2010’ collection by Ant Freeman

WHAT TO PACK

  • Sun cream – just in case your wishful thinking pays off
  • Rain mac – or a roll of bin bags, great for makeshift waterproof festival gear
  • Wellies – people charge a fortune for them at a stall once the skies turn grey
  • Ear plugs – essential if you want ANY sleep, also good for protecting your ears if you like dancing near speakers
  • Condoms – you never know your luck (and you don’t want to catch something yuck)
  • Spork – trust us, a pack of these will get you a long way in festival heaven
  • Wet wipes – you aren’t going to feel fresh for a few days, but at least you’ll know your hands are clean
  • Loo roll – it WILL run out at a festival, guaranteed
  •  A flag – or something similar to attach to your tent so you can find your way back

DRINK

OK Water – dehydration is very dangerous and when you have been drinking it is even more of an issue. PLUS if you are lucky enough to have sun during your festival the likelihood of dehydration is even greater. Make sure you pack plenty of water and take some fruit juice to water down for a bit of variation.

Ant Freeman Soundwave Croatia 2010

From the ‘Soundwave Croatia 2010’ collection by Ant Freeman

 

BOOZE

Find out what you can and can’t take into the camping area and the festival arena (these are likely to be different). Most places have banned glass bottles for safety reasons, and it is unlikely you can take spirits into a main arena area IF you are even allowed to take alcohol in.

Importantly make sure you keep your drink with you to avoid any nasty spiking incidents, oh and drink responsibly!

FOOD

Liquid diets and festivals go hand in hand, but you must remember to eat – if not, your energy levels will be low, you will be less aware of any dangers around you and alcohol will have a rather nasty effect on your body; but enough of the negative side! This is the perfect opportunity to make the most of munching on the vast array of fast foods on offer to keep yourself ready to party!

Ant Freeman Soundwave Croatia 2010

From the ‘Soundwave Croatia 2010’ collection by Ant Freeman

SEX

Hmm, a muddy field amongst thousands of happy campers isn’t the most romantic place to hook up with a new flame, but if you are going to indulge, make sure you use a condom – you’ve no idea how many lucky people might have been part of that person’s pleasure fest already!

 DRUGS

They are illegal, so you could get into a lot of trouble for being in possession of them, in addition to this, there are other potentially more serious risks involved – The NHS offer this information

“”Try not to mix drugs and drink as it will make you sick,” says Dr Howes. “If you’re a regular drug user, don’t take more than you’re used to.” You can also get sick and have bad reactions to “legal high” drugs. “People think these herbal pills are like taking a vitamin pill but they’re not,” says Deborah Rees, founder of the Safeconcerts website. “With herbal highs, people can get paranoid or have other nasty side effects.”

ROCK N ROLL

Don’t try and be more rock n roll than you really are. Stage diving is best left to the pro’s and don’t go on a bender and decide to ditch your well paid day job by phoning your boss there and then announcing that you are destined to be a professional face painter.

VALUABLES

Just don’t take any. They are likely to get lost, broken or stolen. You are better off buying a cheap unlocked phone so you can keep connected – smart phones won’t last beyond the first festival day with their infamous battery life anyway.

Ant Freeman Soundwave Croatia 2010

From the ‘Soundwave Croatia 2010’ collection by Ant Freeman

 FUN

Make sure you have some. It is important to exercise caution but be open to new experiences. it’s what festival season is all about. Funnily enough, the best way to have fun is by not getting so trashed you can’t remember anything (including where your tents is), and making sure you indulge in all the lovely food available. Get a bit of sleep on top of that and you’ll have a great time!

Ant Freeman Soundwave Croatia 2010

From the ‘Soundwave Croatia 2010’ collection by Ant Freeman

All Images Courtesy of Ant Freeman of FortyThree Photography

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10% Off Car Hire Excess Insurance!

We are offering an impressive 10% off one of our most popular policies – Car Hire Excess Insurance – all you need to do to get your hands on this brilliant deal is quote our promotional discount code.

The offer is open to existing Facebook followers, so if you aren’t already part of our community, like us on our Facebook page to make the most of this opportunity.

The Worldwide Insure Car Hire Insurance discount code is valid from Friday 7th June to Friday 5th July 2013. 

Don’t forget to tell your family and friends about this great offer – we are already known for offering one of the most competitive prices available for this policy – with an extra 10% off, that is an amazing deal indeed!

What is Car Hire Excess Insurance?

Did you know that if your hire car is damaged or stolen while in your possession the car hire company can charge you an excess fee to cover the damage – even if it is not your fault?

Well, they can, and in some cases this can run into THOUSANDS of pounds! Our Car Hire Excess Insurance is a simple policy which covers you in this eventuality, which means that if your hire car is damaged or stolen, the insurance will pay out so you don’t have to.

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Couchsurfing App Review – May’s Travel App of the Month

couchsurfing_logoWhat could be more useful to travellers and adventure seekers, backpackers and budget conscious globetrotters than a mobile app that helps them to find the next place to stay for free, and meet like minded people? Well those good ole eggs at Couchsurfing made it a reality, and are about to celebrate a year of uniting a network of over 6 million travellers in over 100,000 cities in every country around the world on mobile.

 What does the Couchsurfing app do?

It works just the same as the Couchsurfing site, which means that you can connect with new people around the world to find a place to stay, or provide a place to stay for travellers in your area. Members can also join in events, meet someone local for a meal or to explore a new place. In a nutshell you can:

  • Search for people to connect with
  • Respond to and send CouchRequests
  • Have conversations with upcoming hosts and surfers
  • Easily view people’s profiles

 Additional Features

The app is an easy to use platform, and as the organisation says “is as on the go as you are”. The value comes from not being limited to browsing on a computer rather than having additional features. Invaluable – as any smart-phone wielding traveller would agree.

couchsurfer_screenshot_1

What the reviews say

To be fair, this app is in its infancy, so there is bound to be a lot of room for improvement. Common complaints vary from ‘could be more streamlined’ to ‘more features’, some people have mentioned the need for notifications, or messages to be pushed and others have said that the notification pushing is a plus point and that it makes communication faster. We reckon that the Couchsurfing community should have all the support it can get – so get the app!

itunes_couchsurfing_app_reviews

 

google_play_cuchsurfing_app_reviews

Get the couchsurfing app on iTunes

Get the couchsurfing app on Google Play

If thrifty travelling is high on your agenda, check out our post about Backpacking on a Budget and lasts month’s app review about BlaBla Car, which quite litrally picks up where Couchsurfing stops!

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Iceland Travel Advice

While the winter months in Iceland is the best time to see the luscious northern lights, in the summer tourists come to see minkes and humpbacks, flocks of puffins perched on the sea cliffs and take part in extreme activities such as caving, sea kayaking, white water rafting and glacier walking. Whenever you plan to go, here is our roundup of essential travel advice for Iceland.

Iceland glacier view by MindsEye_PJ

Iceland glacier view by MindsEye_PJ

Entry

UK visitors with a British passport do not need a visa if visiting for less than 3 months, you must make sure that your passport is valid for a minimum of 3 months from date of arrival.

Alcohol and drugs

  • The drink drive laws are far stricter in Iceland, with hefty penalties
  • All drugs are illegal, and even possession of small amounts of soft drugs can lead to imprisonment
  • Smoking is banned in public places
Iceland: Rainbow Volcano by Victor Montol

Iceland: Rainbow Volcano by Victor Montol

Health

Your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) is valid for Iceland, but it is strongly advised that you obtain medical and travel insurance as medical repatriation, non-emergency treatment and ongoing treatment is not covered. You can read more about why you need travel insurance even when you have an EHIC in a previous blog post What is a European Health Insurance Card?

The emergency number in Iceland is 112

Safety

Driving conditions are hazardous in Iceland, and journeys on the loose gravel roads will take longer than you think, especially as the speed limits are slow (note  – there are hefty fines for exceeding these limits!) During winter, which is from about the start of November to mid April, winter (but not studded) tyres are mandatory.

Iceland is known for being geologically exciting, which also translates as hazardous. Visitors are advised to exercise caution when visiting the following:

  • waterfalls
  • barren highlands
  • Europe’s largest desert
  • the largest ice cap outside the poles
  • volcanoes
  • lava flows
  • slow-flowing glaciers
  • geysers
  • mudpots
  • thermal pools

…as well as when taking part in any of the outdoor activities Iceland is known for.

Always make a travel plan so that people know where you are going, when you are meant to be there, and importantly when you are meant to be back.

Iceland March 2013 _ image 11 by Winniepix

Iceland March 2013 _ image 11 by Winniepix

For more information about a safe stay in Iceland visit:

https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/iceland

http://www.safetravel.is/en/

Iceland 2007 glacier lagoon Jökulsárlón by O Palsson

Iceland 2007 glacier lagoon Jökulsárlón by O Palsson

 

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