Getting to Cork for a short break is easy as there are direct flights with Jet 2 Airlines who operate a regular service from Newcastle to Cork and a great fares. When you get there you have a great selection of accommodation to choose from. There are Bed and breakfast properties to five star luxury in the Hayfield Manor Hotel located a short walk from the centre of Cork.
Cork got its name from the Irish work corcach which when translated means marshy place. Cork today is very different and is now the second largest city in the Republic of Ireland. The Rive Lee flows through the city and joins the Lough Mahon and helps create one of the largest natural harbours in the world. Cork is still a major seaport and has lots of quays and docks
Originally founded by St Finbarr some time in the sixth century its charter was granted in 1185 by King John. Cork became an important trading port with the Scandinavians however this also attracted unwanted visitors such as Vikings and Norsemen who attacked Cork. The city was once fully walled and some of the wall remains today.
The climate in the Cork region is mild, moist and changeable with lots of rain however it does not usually face extreme temperatures and weather. Cork is a foggy city and has an average of around a hundred days of fog a year. Despite the fog Cork is also one of the sunniest cities in Ireland with an average of nearly four hours of sunshine every day.
Attractions to see in Cork include Blarney Castle and Charles Fort or even a visit to the Greyhound Stadium. Should you wish to explore the surrounding countryside and beautiful coastline then it would be a good idea to hire a car. One of the more famous buildings in Cork is the Church Tower of Shandon, which is in the northern part of the city. There are some great historic walks you can do in and around the city as well as some interesting ones a short drive away.
Shops ranging from market stalls to boutiques offering the latest fashion from famous designer labels. There are lots of different shopping centres and areas including the most popular St Patrick's Street, which is a pedestrian area. The restaurants range from the usual fast food restaurants as seen anywhere in the world to some of the more specialized ones offering excellent cuisine.
Filed under Travel Tips by Craig Wilson
Although Lagos, Algarve has only become a popular tourist destination in Portugal in the last few years, you will still be able to see much of the town's past as you wander its many streets. Spend time doing this admiring some of the most beautiful and oldest buildings in this part of Europe one of which dates back to 1445. The city which many people often get confused with the city of the same name in Nigeria is in the southern part of this popular tourist destination and is located at the entrance of the River Bensafrim.
But it is not only the town itself which is beautiful it has a number of wonderful beaches as well, considered to be some of the most beautiful in all of Portugal. However, be warned that they are not located close to the town itself and the nearest one is Praia de Dona Ana which if you choose to walk will take you 25 minutes to reach.
But if you don't feel like walking then there are plenty of taxis and local buses that one can use instead. Along from the beach previously mentioned you will find Praia do Comilo and Meia Praia. The second one named here is the longest of them all and covers a total of 4km so getting space to just relax should not be that difficult. Yet along with just spending time on the beach or swimming there are plenty of other water sports you may want to consider trying that are on offer here. As you look out to sea you will notice on a sand bar a fort which was built to protect Lagos Bay during the 17th and 18th Centuries.
The beaches we have already mentioned are very popular but the one place that most visitors to Lagos like to visit is the Ponta da Piedade which is situated in Lagos Bay. This is close to the town and is sheltered by the bay from the winds coming off of the sea. The water in this area is clear and so you can view much of the sea life and explore caves and rocks which surround it.
Most people when they visit Lagos spend time relaxing on the beaches and soaking up a few rays of the sun. However, there are some really wonderful sights to see and places to visit. This town has a very colorful history and throughout the 15th and 16th Centuries it was a very important naval center. Plus as you will soon discover as you wander around the town's museums and streets you will discover that from 1576 until 1756 the town was the Capital of the Algarve district.
However, many of the buildings that were erected when the Arabs came and throughout its history was badly damaged during the earthquake that hit the town in 1755. Much of the architecture you see in the town today is that built during the 18th and 19th Centuries.
As you wander around the streets of Lagos, Algarve you will come across some very interesting statutes depicting famous people from the towns past. Certainly, the most controversial of all of these is the one dedicated to Dom Sebastio and which is to be found in the town's main square directly in front of the Town Hall.
When it comes to visiting Lagos, Algarve any time of year is acceptable as the weather is generally good all year round. However, the summer months do tend to be the busiest so it is advisable to book your holiday well in advance of your dates to ensure that you get the accommodation that you want.
Filed under Travel Tips by Steve Woodward
Visitor health insurance is gaining wide popularity off late. There are mainly made available to cover the risk of accidents that a person may encounter during his visit to abroad. Plans can also be extended to provide coverage in situations like terrorist and war attacks. Nowadays many countries are on a higher risk when it comes to issuing insurance for overseas travelers.
In case of visits to such countries, your safety assumes prime importance. In such countries you need effective visitor health insurance plans. You also get certain benefits if you face any difficulties during war or a terrorist attack. Under this insurance plan, the premium you pay is combined with the premiums paid by others and thus a central pool of money is formed. This pool of money is utilized for the payment of medical bills of the beneficiaries. You remain covered as long as you are paying the premium.
The insurance company will provide you with an identification card that you need to display when you seek medical assistance from a hospital or doctor, once you purchase a visitor medical insurance. Written instructions are supplied by the insurance companies for the medical expenses that are claimed under your policy.
Once you make your claim, it will be analyzed, by the insurance company, against the visitor health insurance and accordingly it will make suitable payments to the hospital or clinic. Some companies pay these bills directly while some others reimburse the beneficiaries for making payments to the clinic or hospital.
You require visitor health insurance due to many reasons. Taking appointment from a doctor is a time consuming process, hence emergency services are provided by each and every hospital. These speedy medical services provides you with timely treatment rather than making you wait for an appointment.
These services are required if you suffer from unexpected injuries or acute illness, especially when you travel. If these services get delayed, you may probably have to face disastrous results. Delay in such cases may result in a permanent physical impairment, or in worst cases, even loss of life. For example, unexpected happenings can be poisonings, heart attacks, road accidents, inability to breathe and so on. Thus, visitors insurance can protect you from uncertainties of life.
Urgent care also is a part of visitor health insurance and it covers less serious medical conditions, like a bone fracture, requiring prompt attention. Visitor health insurance also includes some comprehensive features like assistance and personal accident plan for global travelers. Dismemberment, partial or total disability and accidental death, is typically covered under this plan.
These plans also are extended to include coverage for bodily losses arising form conditions of war and terrorism. Some travel companies may allow for such accident benefits as a part of the general travel assistance scheme, while others may expect the traveler to buy it as a supplementary option. However, most of these plans automatically include any facilities related to ordinary medical conditions or medical assistance as may be required. What needs to be accounted for is the traveler's liability in case of an accident or other such life threatening scenarios. Thus, visitor insurance is necessary for the modern day traveler.
Filed under Travel Tips by C. Ray Sondeo
Visitor health insurance is a good insurance option that has appealed the market for a particular target population. Generally, the targeted population consists of travelers. Many visitors are keen on visiting different countries for different reasons.
Some travel for the purpose of relaxation during their summer holidays which serve as a break from hectic routines. While for some the aim of traveling is meeting their relatives or friends living in a particular country. Traveling for business is very common as well. Even if any of these reasons may be accountable for traveling visitor health insurance is a must for anybody who travels to a foreign land.
Visitor health insurance plans are of several types. Annual plans are one of them. Such plans can be useful to people who have to travel more than once during the same year. Typically such people are the ones traveling for business purposes. Such an annual visitor health insurance is also called as overseas medical insurance.
It is designed to cover medical expenses, trip delays, personal accident, loss of passport and other such risks that you may encounter while traveling abroad. These policies may be available as joint policies or single policies. Such policies can be extended to include the family as well. In case of kids, the premium is varied in proportion to their ages while in case of the spouse, the premium varies from company to company.
A number of risks that a traveler might face are covered by the annual visitor health insurance. First and foremost, the risk of personal belongings being destroyed, stolen or lost. Each company decides a specified amount that it will offer per article of personal nature.
These annual visitor insurance policies are formulated in such a way that they can cover any loss of money while you undertake international travel ventures. These policies also tend to cover inadvertent delay in the belongings that causes a person some kind of discomfort or loss. Person's medical condition is also taken into account by such companies and also extend to include medical and emergency expenses in foreign country. The policy chosen by the customer largely depends on the liability of the company.
Annual visitors medical insurance policies are usually single trip in nature. It thus permits only one trip in a year. The trip period may be up to ninety days in case the traveler is less than sixty years of age. If the traveler is more than sixty years of age, then he can take a holiday for a period of forty-two days while being covered by such a policy. Many of the annual policies may cover cancellation costs that a traveler may have to suffer.
Most annual policies also cover personal accidents, delayed departures, personal liabilities, legal assistance required in foreign land, loss of passport and so on. Some companies also include some of the unique features like winter sport cover, disaster cover in light of a natural calamity and so on. Many of these insurance companies are now extending their visitors insurance policies to cover wars and acts of terrorism as well.
Filed under Travel Tips by C. Ray Sondeo
