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Where to travel in 2021...

23/3/2021

With last year's pandemic ruling out international travel, when is it time to start looking to future travel? If you had to cancel or postpone a trip which was previously planned, you may start to consider when you will be able to travel again. It is the million-dollar question and the truth is, nobody knows. Where could you travel in 2021?
Travel will definitely look different once to pandemic is over, but this may not be such a bad thing. Cities that were once crowded will suddenly have a bit more room, though it is likely that many travellers will opt for more isolated escapes to avoid the crowds. Where should you travel in 2021?

Enjoy your own back yard. With borders opening up now is the time to see what Australia has to offer. There are plenty of adventures to be had in Australian towns and cities. Australia has a vast network of well-maintained roads and some of the most beautiful road trips in the world. There is beautiful coastlines such as the Great Ocean Road, driving across the desert to the Red Centre or just enjoying the lush towns and cities along the way. Train travel is also a convenient, affordable and scenic way to explore Australia.

An escape within the Southern Hemisphere is a trip to New Zealand. There appears to be a travel bubble with NZ so now may be the perfect time to finally explore Australia's neighbour. New Zealand holds plenty of appeal for its isolated escaped where crowds aren't an issue.

Travel to Botswana. Botswana is one of the African nations that has been least affected by Covid 19, thanks to a rapid response to close borders and enforce a nation-wide lockdown. Countries who have limited the spread and acted efficiently will be the popular first choice for travellers who are nervous crossing borders, but desperate for an escape. There are many great lodges in the Okavango Delta and Kalahari Desert that are isolated and offer full-board for travellers.

According to the worldofwonderlust.com, other popular places would include Montenegro, Santorini, Austria, Namidia, Alberta, Slovenia, Provence and Norfolk Island. No matter what you do or wherever you go, keep safe, wear masks if necessary and wash your hands often. COVID will be here for some time but you can mitigate any risk by taking adequate precautions and continue to enjoy your experiences.

Italy...... just gets better when you speak Italian

23/3/2021

With any country, a visitor can get by with a phrase book, some broken language and plenty of hand gestures, and for some, just speaking in their own language louder and slower hoping the person they speak to understands is the norm. But to get under the skin of a country, to see life as a native and to get a greater understanding of what is around you and what makes a country what it is, nothing beats speaking the language.

When in Rome, so they say, do as the Romans do and when visiting Italy on vacation or for business nothing could be closer to the truth. Italy is a wonderful country that comes alive by speaking the language and not just in Rome but any city, small town or rural village. Language lifts a layer off a country, a whole new country opens up and with Italian you really can do as the Romans do.

There are countless tourist attractions to see and visit in Italy and it is easy for anyone to simply visit, look and then check off the bucket list. But what would it be like visiting these attractions knowing you can converse, understand the signs, feel the emotion?

There is a place in the middle of Venice called Isola di Burano that is famous for its colourfully painted houses. It is a popular tourist attraction and many people just book their tickets, have a look around, snap a selfie and consider it as seen. But if you spoke Italian you would suddenly be able to go beyond the colourful houses and strike up a conversation with a local. Going a little beyond just good morning and very much passing the time of day, you will be a tourist who is able to experience the life and culture of one of Italian’s own.

It’s the little things that bring Italy to life when you speak Italian. Theatre trips can be taken because you understand what is being said, a small local village play can be as marvellous as a performance at La Scala in Milan. Simply because you speak Italian, you understand and what would normally be reserved for the Italians, can be enjoyed by you.

All the many works of art that Italy is famous for can be visited with a whole new confidence when you speak Italian. Leonardo Da Vinci’s painting of The Last Supper can be talked about with Italians as you gaze at the masterpiece, you might even get better ticket prices just because you speak Italian. But you can absorb works of art and question if you must in the local language, conversation can be struck up with an Italian art student and suddenly a whole new perspective on a painting or sculpture is found and appreciated.

But it is not just the leisure tourist who wants to get close to the arts of Italy who is a winner by speaking the language. As a business visitor, your host, customer or supplier will feel confident in inviting you to real Italian events and places when you can converse, this will allow you to get closer to the people and the Italian way of life that may very well be the difference between you winning your company the business.

Each and every attraction has a whole new appeal when visited with a speaking knowledge of Italian, the leaning tower of Pisa, the Sistine chapel, the Colosseum in Rome or just a stroll through the vineyards of Tuscany become places with deeper meaning and greater understanding that create a better memory allowing you to really say “L’Italia e Bella” – Italy is Beautiful as the sun sets on your visit.

Enjoy France, whether you are a city lover or not.....

16/3/2021

Whether you are a city lover, beach lover, skier or lover of the countryside France has it all, from arts and culture to fantastic food. France hits the jackpot! From the beaches of the South in Nice and Saint-Tropez to the vineyards and hop growing areas of Alsace in the North, France has something that appeals to everyone. While France has it all for many visitors, France is barely touched, let alone uncovered, because of one simple thing: French.

Fans of the hugely popular Only Fools and Horses will all know how the main character Del Boy used misplaced French phrases to make him sound impressive or to just get a point across, common phrases that really are not phrases such as “It’s Boeuf Bourguignon, as the French would say”. While people around the world, including the French, have laughed till they hurt at Del Boy’s use of French. It does nonetheless, speak volumes about the importance and even respect that the language has in getting to know France and the French people. Speaking French raises a person up in French society and shows considerable respect in a nation where respect is important.

Having more than a smattering of French makes a massive difference to any visit to the rich and diverse country. With language, a weekend in Paris becomes more than just a quick trip up the Eiffel Tower, a visit to Euro Disney and a brisk walk around Pompidou Centre or the Louvre following in the footsteps of each and every tourist. Language lifts the lid of, not just Paris, but the whole of France where small, family run restaurants can be happily visited without the worry of not being able to understand what is on the menu, or morning coffee can be shared in a pavement café, watching the world go by whilst deep in conversation with a true Parisian.

Knowing how to communicate in the French language opens up the French Culture and allows you to blend in to experience, not just a country, but a way of life. Iconic tourist attractions are seen with different eyes when you can converse in French and you can begin to understand why the people of France are so proud of what they have. Historic castles such as Le Puy-en-Velay in the South of France and the Chateau de Chenonceau, open up in a whole new way of being able to talk about and discuss the stories behind the walls in French. In their native language. Stories become more alive and you will, of course, discover little things that those without the ability to speak French would miss out on.

Even a walk in the Wine lands of France comes to life with French. Being able to discuss Red wine in Bordeaux with a local farmer and uncovering smaller wine estates that may be off the grid because you cannot speak French, turns wine tasting into a real French adventure. France has so much more to offer than just the Champs Elysees, Eiffel Tower, and Euro Disney and it can only truly be uncovered by being able to communicate in French.
For more information about learning French with VLLC contact us.

Money tips for travel...

9/2/2021

One thing everyone who travels for any reasons will always worry about is money. Life would be easy if there was just a single currency worldwide but there is not. Here are 7 money tips for travel (when we are allowed to travel) that will always be helpful.

Tell your bank you are travelling: One of the most important things to do regarding money and travel is to tell your bank you are going overseas. With increased levels of fraud and tightened security, transactions you make with your bankcard overseas may be deemed suspicious. This is especially true with bank debit cards. To avoid this let your bank know.

Get the right credit card: Check how much it costs to use your credit card for foreign currency payments. Some credit cards charge high or hidden charges for making a purchase in any currency other than your home currency. There are cards that do not charge fees and just treat any purchase as normal. Read the fine print on your credit card or speaking to the bank or card company, it could save you a small fortune.

ATMs can sometimes be cheaper than exchange offices: Many people are not aware than drawing money on your bank or ATM card overseas may actually be a great deal cheaper than using a foreign exchange office. Using an ATM is definitely a lot more convenient but check with your bank about the fees charged and you may very well be surprised.

Use local currency and understand it. Local Currency does seem obvious but many travellers today try as hard as possible to stick to plastic. Sadly, it is not always possible. While more and more places take plastic there are still many places where cash is king. Post cards, flea markets and some smaller shops may not take plastic. Also, in countries where haggling is the norm, a credit card will not help you at all. Local currency is best for small transactions such as entrance fees or even a bus ticket.
Local currency can be confusing and it is easy to be fooled into giving 1000 of something when actually it is 100 or being given the wrong change. One of the wisest money tips of all is to take half an hour somewhere quiet and safe to get to know the new cash you have in your hand. Knowing how many pennies make a pound is fairly obvious but to a foreigner it may not be so. Having a vague idea of the exchange rate helps get an idea of what things cost and it also helps you budget.

Spend the remainder of your excess cash at the airport. You usually always end up with some excess cash after any trip. It often costs money to change your cash back into your home currency so why not keep the cash you have and spend it at the airport. You may have enough for a cup of coffee while waiting or enough to buy a bottle of water. Very often airports charge less for items if you pay in local currency and in the end you save.

Have an emergency stash! Perhaps the most versatile currency in the world is the US Dollar. A really amazing money tip that could get you out of a sticky patch is to carry a handful of loose dollar bills with you on your person. If your wallet is stolen, these dollars you keep on your person can become the most valuable things in the world.

Travelling Alone? What you need know.

2/2/2021

Traveling solo has its pros and cons and it’s up to you to decide whether it will work for you. Solo travel is intensely personal. You can discover more about yourself at the same time as you’re discovering your travel destination. Traveling on your own is fun, challenging, vivid, and exhilarating. I have read that people who have never traveled alone often describing their first solo trip as an almost religious experience.

To be completely independent and to do exactly what you want to do ALL THE TIME, see exactly what you want to see - can be a blissful self-indulgence.

Of course, single travel has its perils too – you need to be aware of your safety, sometimes it can be lonely and you may sometimes need to pay more for a tour or accommodation.

Safety

While not having to negotiate which museum you want to spend time in is an advantage, one of the biggest concerns for most people travelling alone is safety. You can feel very vulnerable without another person that cares about whether you are in your hotel room at night and will watch your back when shopping in a local market. But some people say that by being alone they can blend in more easily than a couple or group, and you are treated more like a local rather than a tourist. The bottom rule is - you need to be prepared and do your research in all your destinations and the most important rule is: If it doesn’t feel right – don’t do it.

Here are a few tips I’ve used myself and also what I have found in my research. www.safetraveller.gov.au gives you some excellent advice that you can use before and while you travel:

Transport

Use reputable taxis or organize hotel transfers before you leave.
Know how long it takes and how much it costs when using taxis. Ask the driver for the cost before you leave. There are plenty of online calculators you can use. If it is different from what you know to be true, take a different taxi.
Avoid travelling on a train alone in a carriage.
Check your maps and transportation schedules before leaving your hotel/train/rental car/tourist office so that you 5. know where you are and where you are going at all times.

photo source: http://www.a-girlwhotravels.com/

Hotel Accommodation

Ask for a room above the ground floor, near the elevator, and away from emergency exits and stairwells. When a large hotel isn't available, try a bed and breakfast rather than a motel. Be organized and don't wait until you arrive to find a place to stay.
Check your hotel arrival details so if you arrive late at night, you are able to access your accommodation easily.
Take a hotel postcard from the counter with the hotel's name, address, and phone number. Keep it with you. Pack a couple of rubber doorstops and slip them underneath the outside door and any adjoining doors after you secure the room. This will prevent anyone from opening these doors from the other side. (But be aware – this tip could be a problem if you need to be rescued during a fire or natural disaster or if you panic, you might have trouble opening the door yourself).
Leave the Do Not Disturb sign on the door when you're gone. This won’t necessarily stop a burglar, but some may move on to the next room rather than take the chance. Leave the television or radio on when you're gone to give the illusion that the room is occupied.
When you arrive in your room, secure the windows and adjoining and balcony doors; check the room thoroughly before locking yourself in. Don't hesitate to ask security to accompany to your room at any time. Chat with the concierge/hotel staff about areas to avoid. They can also help you choose the safest and quickest routes for your excursions.

Loneliness

Have a good book, a magazine or your travel journal with you at all times – if you are in a restaurant or bar and feel a little lonely or exposed you can have something to read or write in. Most waiters will take the time to chat with you if you tell them you are alone and want their recommendations about what to eat or what to see.

Use Facebook and Twitter to ask for connections where you’re travelling. Offer to teach English as a swap for language practice and local knowledge. You’ll be surprised how many people take you up on it.

Learn some language – it will amaze you the different types of people you can connect to by speaking some language – no one will think you are a tourist….

Avoiding the Single Supplement

The single supplement is used by tour operators, cruise liners and hotels to add to your bill to make up for the fact that they're not making money off a second occupant. The supplement can range anywhere from 25 to 100 percent of the trip cost, meaning that you could end up paying twice as much as someone traveling with a partner.
There are several ways to get around the single supplement. You can avoid it altogether by booking with a tour operator that offers share accommodation but it means you will have to share a room with a stranger. If you're concerned, contact the tour operator and voice your concerns - see what kind of procedures they use to match roommates and again if it feels wrong – don’t do it…
If you're flexible and ready to go at a moment's notice, you could save money by booking at the last minute. Tour operators who are eager to sell out their last few places may be willing to reduce their usual single supplement. Have fun, negotiate and grab a bargain.

The most important thing is to enjoy your trip – Meet different people every day. HAVE FUN. Take lots of photographs. You have a chance to really take in your surroundings, meet locals and travellers along the way; be content to be by yourself, but confident enough to introduce yourself to people when you want to be sociable. Take care and enjoy the experience.

What are your most memorable solo travel stories? Have we missed any tips? Feel free to join in the conversation on our Facebook page or leave your comments below.
Joanne Ammerlaan
VLLC National Business Manager.

Achieving your New Year goals..

19/1/2021

In a previous blog we spoke about common New Year’s Resolutions and in the Centres I have heard a few of yours this week. Here are some ideas that may help you achieve your Resolution so that you become one of the elite 8% of people who will be celebrating success later in the year.
Some of your language goals may be: Complete a certificate; Practice your French/Russian more; Travelling; Speak to your grandparents in Greek/Italian.
All of these are great goals and one of the best ways you can achieve this is to Clearly define your goal – Make it a SMART goal (specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time bound).. e.g. I want to go to Thailand in June and talk to the locals about daily events; I want to complete my Certificate III (my goal) by the end of the year; I want to start ‘thinking’ in French by March; I want to speak to my family in Greek by Easter. Just make sure you are setting a REALISTIC goal.
1. Track your progress. Measure where you are now and where want to be. A principal of psychology is that if you can measure it, you can change it.
2. Be kind to yourself – have some patience. Progress (especially in languages is never linear). You may see rapid progress and then hit a plateau. You want your language to be natural and subconscious mind and this takes time.
3. Publicise your goal (to family or friends). You have a VLLC family that you can share your goal with. I know this takes courage, but it dramatically increases your odds of success to share your goals.
4. Diarise it. Put it on your schedule. We all choose to spend our time the way we do. Make your language goal a priority and schedule lessons and practice time onto your calendar.
5. Start again, when you slip up… As Vince Lomardi said – “It isn’t whether you get knocked down, it’s whether you get back up” Don’t turn a bad day or temporary failure into an excuse for giving up…
I love hearing students’ goals – and am always happy to give you some personal strategies to help you achieve them. Use the momentum of the New Year to become bi or multi lingual. It will change your life!!!

How VLLC says Merry Christmas around the world!

22/12/2020

Join VLLC to celebrate Christmas around the world!
Selamat Hari Natal สุขสันต์วันคริสต์มาส Merry Christmas!
¡Feliz Navidad! めりーくりすます C рождеством! عيد ميلاد مجيد Joyeux Noël
メリークリスマス Buon Natale Καλά Χριστούγεννα
圣诞快乐 Frohe Weihnachten

عيد ميلاد مجيد

Merry Christmas

Frohe Weihnachten!

Καλά Χριστούγεννα!

Selamat Hari Natal!

メリークリスマス

C рождеством!

¡Feliz Navidad!

สุขสันต์วันคริสต์มาส

5 signs you have wanderlust fever

8/12/2020

Have you ever wondered what a new city would be like or how a new country would make you feel? What about constantly dreaming of taking vacations to tropical islands? If so, I’m happy to tell you that wanderlust fever has come upon you. Below I have listed five ways you can recognize that you have wanderlust fever. Don’t be fooled, there is no antibiotic that will cure this sickness. The only cure for it is to go out and explore the world. Travel as much as you can.

1. You daydream about a destination
The first sign of wanderlust fever is constantly daydreaming about a place you’ve always wanted to visit. You go through each day and you can’t get this trip or place out of your head. No matter how busy you are during your day, you still have time to sit and daydream about that place you want to visit. Most of us have many places that we want to see. Some are big trips and some are short weekend trips. Start curing this sickness by checking these places off your list. Take the small trips first if it isn’t a convenient time to take the bigger trips. Taking the small trips will keep you satisfied until you can go on the bigger trips. Not going on any trips can affect your life in a very negative way. Don’t let it get to that point. Book a trip now.

2. You look at pictures of beautiful places
Another sign of wanderlust fever is looking at pictures of these destinations daily. It is one thing to daydream about your destinations but now you are looking at pictures of the places you want to visit every single day. I believe that looking at pictures of what you want can inspire you to eventually take that trip but it is important to actually go on the trip instead of just dreaming about it. I found that when I got to this point, it was time to book the trip. After going on this adventure, you get to come back and look through pictures again, except this time they are pictures that you are in, not just somewhere online.

3. You hear the ocean in a seashell
I’m sure everyone has heard the old saying, “If you put your ear up to the seashell you can hear the ocean.” Some people hear it and some people don’t. After some deep thinking, I realized that I could hear the ocean in the seashell because that’s what I wanted to hear and that’s where my mind was when listening into the seashell. If you hear the sound of the ocean in the seashell, that means you are seeing signs of wanderlust fever and that you need to take a trip to a beautiful beach as soon as possible.

4. You get anxious to take a trip
Getting anxious to take a trip is a very obvious sign it’s time to go somewhere. When I say you get anxious to take a trip, I don’t mean the nervousness of going somewhere you’ve never been before, I mean the eagerness of finally taking a trip and going somewhere. I find that when I don’t take a trip in a few months, I start to get anxious about getting stuck in the same scene and same routine. To avoid this feeling, take some of those smaller trips every couple of months. This allows you to keep your happiness at a high level without feeling like you will never get to see the places you want to see.

5. You constantly check for deals
Constantly checking online for deals on hotels, airline tickets, and entertainment on specific destinations is a very clear sign that you have wanderlust fever and you are well on your way to curing the sickness. If you find yourself searching for good deals weekly, even daily, that means it is time to book your trip and get your satisfaction of traveling and visiting the place that is always on your mind. Everybody wants to save as much money as possible on trips but you can constantly search for good deals for a very long time and still not find the deal you are looking for. Which puts you off from booking the trip. Don’t spend too much time looking for the right deal - if you find one that is close, book it.

Traveling and seeing the places you’ve always dreamed of can give you an incredible feeling. Being able to see the places you’ve always imagined can enhance your happiness and help you enjoy your life that much more. So if you have caught the wanderlust fever, there is no better time to book a trip than right now. Go for it. Your happiness depends on it.
What signs do you get when you catch wanderlust fever?
Images: Shutterstock
Original Blog

The 5 top places to visit in Spain.....

24/11/2020

Spain is a country with a plethora of diversities. Historic cities, art and cultural history, changeable landscapes, wildlife, full bodied wines and food to die for. Wherever you are there is always a lot to see, eat and drink!!!!

Here are some of our picks of 5 great places to visit in Spain:

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Guggenheim in Bilbao
The Guggenheim Museum, Bilbao is a museum of modern and contemporary art and was designed by Frank Gehry in 1997. It has been hailed as the most important structure of its time and is said to have changed the way people think about museums and continues to challenge people's assumptions about the connections between art, architecture and collecting.

Seville and its April Fair. The capital of Andalusia is the 4th largest city in Spain with three Heritage Sites: the Reales Alcázares palace, the Cathedral (containing the remains of Christopher Columbus) and the General Archive of the Indies. Visit in April and you'll be treated to the spectacle of the feria de abril, a week-long festival on the banks of the Guadalquivir river. Sevillanos of all ages, dressed in flamenco finery, stroll around or ride on horseback or in carriages along ‘streets' of colourful marquees. The party continues all night long: dancing the Sevillanas, drinking jerez (sherry) and manzanilla (chamomile) wine and eating tapas. Best of all: you can join in. www.expatica.com

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Madrid.
Madrid is the financial and cultural hub for Spain and much of Southern Europe. Due to the length of time this area has been inhabited, there are plenty of historical sites to explore. Madrid is a huge city with an excellent array of bars, restaurants, clubs and entertainment. If you are a sports fan you can visit the Bernabéu stadium, which is the home of Real Madrid. For art lovers there is the Prado and Reina Sofia museums which house works from Goya, Velasquez, Picasso and Rubens.

Llanes
Llanes is a coastal town which provides a constant stream of fiestas and festivals. This gives tourists the impression that Llanes is a year round celebration of food, fun and culture. For a more historical experience you may wish to visit the prehistoric caves or medieval ruins. You can also experience the sandy stretches of the traditional fishing port.

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Benidorm.
This destination will provide you with a true Spanish experience of the Costa Blanca which was originally a fishing town but has a fabulous town centre steeped in history with its blue domes 18th century church and picturesque alley ways. Enjoy the fantastic view which you can see if you are able to climb into the surrounding Cafali hills. There is something for everyone, including magnificent rocky coves to be explored by scuba enthusiasts. Restaurants include feasts of local seafood and you can complete your evening with a walk along the Benidorm promenade.

Some unusual Thai Laws ....

17/11/2020

Every country has some rather strange, out-dated laws that have failed to keep up with modernity and now just seem weird. Thailand is no different and the list of antiquated ways to stray foul of the law in Bangkok includes:

It is illegal to leave the house without wearing underwear
It is illegal to drive a motorised vehicle bare-chested
It is illegal to use a durian fruit as a weapon and a fine will be levied determined by how many thorns strike the victim

It is illegal to step on any Thai currency – either coins or notes – as they carry an image of the King