Tips for Choosing a Cab Service

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06
Jan 2015

 

If you are planning a trip and have decided to hire a taxi, you must be aware of the factors to consider when choosing a cab service. Getting acquainted with these factors will help you to ensure that your journey on the cab is comfortable and completely safe.

The first factor that must be taken into account when hiring a taxi service is company license; in other words, you must first check whether the company you are dealing with is licensed. This is because only licensed cab services can be expected to meet all the operational and legal requirements. Meeting these requirements is essential for ensuring complete safety and thus one should never opt for companies that are yet to get a license.

The next factor to be considered is reputation of the service provider. Even if the taxicab service provider has the required licenses, you must find out whether it enjoys good reputation among previous customers. Licenses don’t prove whether a particular company is reliable. To know what kind of reputation the business enjoys, you can check its website and read customer feedbacks. If you are dealing with a top taxi service provider, it will surely be represented by a website.

It’s extremely important to know whether the taxi service provider you are dealing with is reliable or not as hiring cab from an unreliable company can make you spend extra money. Often we find taxi drivers taking the longest route for making more money. Hiring cabs from a trustworthy company will ensure that you don’t become victim of any such deceptive act.

Reliability of the cab service provider is also the most important factor for individuals planning to travel alone, in a strange locality or late in the night. When talking to the representative of the taxi company, don’t forget to ask whether all the drivers working for it have undergone thorough background check before being appointed.

Be ready to ask a few more questions to the service provider. Ask whether the cab they will be providing you with is mechanically sound. You can expect the taxi ride to be safe and comfortable only if the vehicle you are boarding is mechanically sound.

Also, ask whether the driver in-charge of the cab is well-trained and experienced. Remember, a driver who has not been trained properly and is not made to undergo refresher courses at regularly usually lack driving skills. This puts passengers traveling on cars driven by him/her at high risk of encountering accidents.

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Two Top Cultural Sites in London

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06
Jan 2015

 

When most people visit London, after catching a Gatwick shuttle service into the city, their itinerary will include all the main sites – like the Tower of London, the main museums, Buckingham Palace, and others. But what many risk missing are the lesser-known cultural venues (some of which can be glimpsed as you whizz by on the Gatwick shuttle service). For a city that has so much to offer, London also keep’s a fair bit hidden away – but it’s there for those who are in the know and will to explore. Why not make time to see out the world’s oldest music hall and visit the unusual Wellcome Collection?

Wilton’s Music Hall

Started as an alehouse around 1743, Wilton’s is thought to have served as the local venue for the Scandinavian sea captains who lived nearby. Around 1826, the owner installed the area’s first Mahogany Bar, which caught on as a name for the pub. Then, just over ten years later, a concert hall was added, and for a while the place was licensed as a saloon that permitted full-length plays on its stage. While you probably won’t see this place on your Gatwick shuttle service into the city, you can easily make your way to Grace’s Alley, E1, where it is tucked away.

Around 1850, John Wilton bought the place and upgraded the concert hall with all the bells and whistles. Over the next fifty years the area went downhill and was bought by a Methodist Mission and renamed. After World War II, the Methodists left and the building was scheduled to be destroyed. Thankfully, it was saved in the 1960s, and has been reopened since 1996 and has been presenting new works since 2004.

The Wellcome Collection

On your Gatwick shuttle service to the centre of the city, you may well pass by the Wellcome Collection, near Euston. Popularly known as the “free destination for the incurably curious,” the Wellcome Collection promises to delight. Founded relatively recently in 2007, the curious mix or artefacts, arts, medicine and science will give you hours of entertainment exploring.

Founded by Sir Henry Salome Wellcome, the current exhibition of Medicine Now is a multi-media show that explores aspects of modern medicine and the way the Wellcome Trust fits in. You can view works on the body, obesity, the genome and more. You can also stop by the current exhibition, ‘The Institute of Sexology’, which is a look at the most publicly discussed private acts, and runs until September 2015. While you are here, pop into the fantastic cafe and check out the artworks on the walls of the entrance too. If you’re interested in more in depth studies, you can visit the impressive Wellcome Library, which has a focus on growing the resources of medical history. If you are interested, you can join for free and explore the history of medicine.

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Top 3 Activities in Salzburg Every Tourist Must Do

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06
Jan 2015

 

Salzburg is one of the most stunning cities in the world, and its historical legacy alone is enough for any tourist to fall in love with it. Whether it is the city’s ancient cathedrals and castles (which have endured for centuries), the scenic landscapes made iconic by the movie The Sound of Music, or simply the sheer beauty of the gardens and public parks of the city, there is something for every tourist in this lovely Austrian city. Fortunately, today’s travellers can now rely on a Salzburg shuttle service to get them to their accommodation quickly and easily, and once there, the following activities should be on any itinerary.

Go on a Cycling Tour on the Set of Sound of Music

Once the Salzburg shuttle service has transported you to your accommodation, it’s time to get out and explore. Although it’s the fourth largest city in Austria, it is very accessible and easy to get around – and there is so much to see! One of the highly recommended and most popular tours is a cycling tour around several locations used as sets in the 1965 musical film, The Sound of Music. Fans of the movie will be able to channel their inner Maria as they are guided around the iconic locations where the film was shot, including the beautiful Trapp Villa and Hellbrun’s gardens. It will take around 20 minutes from the Altstadt to the Trap Villa, but the pleasant cycling and the fantastic destination will not disappoint. Moreover, those who are self-confessed fanatics of the film could elevate the experience even more by booking a room at the Trap Villa and spending the night in one of the most important icons in 20th century cinema.

Explore the City on a Historical Tour on Foot

Even without the Sound of Music tour, the city is an amazing destination that caters to many different types of tourists. For those who appreciate history, there are more than enough old cathedrals, museums, monasteries and castles in this UNESCO World Heritage Site. While many tourists prefer to explore the city on their own-arriving from the airport and getting to different destinations is easy enough with the Salzburg shuttle service -there are also guided tours that usually last for two hours and include numerous stops in the lovely Baroque city, including the famous Salzburg Dome Cathedral.

Mozart’s Geburtshaus

Any trip to the city would not be complete without a visit to Mozart’s Geburtshaus, birthplace of the world-renowned classical music composer, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Your Salzburg shuttle service may even take you past Mozart’s Geburtshaus on the way from the airport. This incredible townhouse is filled with amazing collections that allow visitors an intimate glimpse into Mozart’s earlier life. The most notable items housed in the museum include the mini violin Mozart played when he was a toddler, a number of other instruments, and many portraits.

While there are so many other attractions that are well worth visiting in this fabulous city, missing these three should not be an option.

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Wildlife Holidays in Costa Rica

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06
Jan 2015

Wildlife Holidays in Costa Rica – Piedras Blancas National Park

Some of the harder to reach locations in the southern region of Costa Rica are the most rewarding to visit in terms of wildlife. Focusing on the Corcovado National Park on a wildlife holiday in Costa Rica offers travellers numerous species of birds to sight as well as many mammals, some of which are endangered. However, for the adventurous traveller who enjoys more elusive sighting opportunities, the Piedras Blancas National Park offers a challenging terrain that is home to a dizzying array of flora, fauna and birdlife.

A Protected Preserve

The Piedras Blancas National Park was originally incorporated into the Corcovado National Park, acting as a sort of gateway for the larger preserve considered by many as the country’s crowning jewel. However, in 1993 the Piedras Blancas was formed independently to protect the last remaining lowland tropical rainforest in the area, which is also the only remaining habitat of the endangered Jaguar. A wildlife holiday in Costa Rica is always rich with exotic sighting opportunities, but many species that inhabit the Piedras Blancas National Park are still being studied and remain an exciting mystery to researchers and visitors alike.

Lush and Tropical

The Piedras Blancas National Park spans over 14000 hectares and forms a protective barrier, with its neighbour the Corcovado National Park, to safeguard the biological corridor of the Golfo Dulce region. The geographical position of the forest means that the weather conditions, including over 200 inches of rain per year, keep the forest lush and tropical all year round. Consequently, the Piedras Blancas is home to a biologically diverse variety of animal and bird life. One could easily focus a trip’s entire attention on the Piedras Blancas National Park and come away highly rewarded.

Impressive Level of Biodiversity

Studies of the preserve have revealed an impressive level of biodiversity within the forest, similar to that found in Corcovado. Scarlet Macaws and toucans have benefited from rescue and preservation efforts, as have all four of the South American big cat species – all of which have been recorded in the area. Other wildlife frequently seen includes an amazing array of reptiles, including over 37 amphibian and 42 reptile species – such as the poisonous Coral Snake, the Pit Viper, the Boa Constrictor and numerous colourful frogs and lizards. Over 330 species of birds have also been sighted in the park, making Piedras Blancas renowned one of the best areas for bird watching and wildlife holidays in Costa Rica.

For amazing wildlife holidays in Costa Rica the Piedras Blancas National Park covers all interests. From the Bottlenose Dolphins seen along its coastline, to the magnificent birds that fly over the towering canopy, as well as the exotic array of reptiles and mammals that inhabit the dense, lush forest, even the most seasoned traveller will be thrilled with all this spectacular park has to offer.

 

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Spectacular Bird watching in Ecuador

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06
Jan 2015

 

Maquipucuna is one of Ecuador’s most pristine and exciting rainforest reserves and offers numerous opportunities for birdwatching. Ecuador’s vast hummingbird population along with other exotic inhabitants can keep nature lovers entertained for days on end. Maquipucuna, in particular, displays a profusion of flora and fauna and easily warrants more than just a day trip.

Paradise on Earth

Maquipucuna is a 6000-hectare cloud forest located only 45 minutes outside of Quito, making it a popular destination for birdwatching. Ecuador’s profusion of wildlife and bird species makes it an ideal country for beginners as well as seasoned birders. The reserve itself contains four different habitats, with dramatic climate changes due to the varying altitudes that range from 900 to almost over 2800 metres above sea level. Maquipucuna is home to 4% of the world’s bird biodiversity, which has led to its status as one of the world’s top five biodiversity hotspots.

Vast Array of Birds and Wildlife

Just a few of the birds found in Maquipucuna include the Cock-of-the-rock, Toucan Barbets, Red-headed Barbets, Golden-headed Quetzal and Esmeralda’s Antbirds. Many visitors also travel to the reserve for the pleasure of abundant opportunities for hummingbird sightings while birdwatching. Ecuador is home to over 132 different hummingbird species and they are easy to spot and highly entertaining to observe. The mammals that inhabit the Maquipucuna forest are also fascinating to see, and many people make pilgrimages to catch sight of these special creatures. South America’s only bear species, the Spectacled Bear, is found in the Maquipucuna reserve during fruiting season. Other mammals that are frequently seen are armadillos, pumas, anteaters and over 19 different species of bats.

Historical Value

Maquipucuna was believed to have been inhabited by the pre-Incan Yumbo tribe. Their burial sites and relics have been found in the reserve and pre-Incan trails have been found leading to the Chachillacta, known as the “land of the salt”. Before colonial times, Maquipucuna was the primary source for salt for the country’s capital city, Quito. Many of these ancient trails can still be followed today, and usually lead to lush watering holes and waterfalls throughout the reserve.

Of all the South American countries to visit, this one offers perhaps the best wildlife sightings and opportunities for birdwatching. Ecuador’s incredibly diverse population of birds is so condensed within a small geographical area that it is a superb location for beginners to visit to guarantee a fruitful experience.

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