Economies and Expenses to Budget For When Travelling

Hiking - cheap or expensive?

Is hiking a cheap holiday? It can be. 

But, to be safe, you might need outdoor clothing, food, drink, maps, phone and charger. 

Plus the climbing or hiking clothes, and gear such as poles, ropes, boots, torches, maps, GPS devices.

The big cost can be flights and connecting flights. Within Europe you have Ryanair. For example, from Stansted.

Also, budget for the cost of taking a car into a National Park (not a car park, but a tree and wildlife park).

Sticks - cost, design and check-in 

A stick for climbing rough grounds has a tip, which must be covered on aircraft. 

A walking stick for city walking has a flat rubber base, which may be allowed on some planes, or can be packed if it folds. You may need to buy a stick with points, or a pair of sticks, at the destination.

UK costs: driving

Toll on the bridge into Wales.

Parking costs at hotels, and visiting museums.

If no parking in city centre restaurant areas, you may need to budget for taxis. 

If drinking or wine tasting, you may need a taxi back to your hotel.

Europe - driving

Toll roads in France.

USA Parks and vehicles

In the USA and many countries, entry costs at entrances of national parks for pedestrians and vehicles.

ASIA - costs

India required my family, who were holders of British passports, to buy visas. 

Nepal cost cutters

A cheap country such as Nepal has cheap food. 

However, you may have to pay a hefty fee for the permit to climb e.g. Everest. Also the cost of a guide. And porters to take tents and cooking equipment and food for the entire trip. Allow not only the time of the climb but any hike to base camp, and time to acclimatize. 

Camping Costs - Research, Money, Time, Planning, Experience

 Our son practised camping by putting up a tent in our garden. 

Some people run in their shoes or boots. 

My husband spent more than the cost of a night in a hotel, and a taxi to a hotel, on buying a tent, and a  on a sleeping bag, bag liner, hiking boots, torch and most of the contents of the camping shop website.

Home Swap Advantages

We did a home swap with a family in the Channel Islands. We saved on accommodation.

Home Swap Challenges

We had to pay our fare to get there and back, plus our foods and entertainment at the destination. But we saved on accommodation.

Packing for a holiday takes time. But clearing your house for a family of four to move in takes longer.  You must clear space.

You need to pack away valuables. We had to leave new matching crockery in sets of four.

Hotel Extra Charges

Parking

You might have to pay for car parking outside the hotel, Or pay for use of the hotel's garage. Or pay for valet parking.

Some airports have introduced drop-off charges.

Extras At Hotels & Restaurants

A five star hotel might also charge for service, taxes.

Incidental extras might be phone calls. 

Watch out for cover charges. Service charges. tourist taxes. State taxes vary around the USA, and are added when items are posted from one state to another.

Drinks - Extras

Also drinks, water. Also watch out for the mini bar contents. 

Drinks Included

Many buffets have free sparkling wine, Italian Prosecco, Spanish Cava, or French Champagne, at either breakfast, or evening dinner, or both. But they might not tell you. Have a look or ask if it is included.

Find out the cost of an upgrade to a room whose cost entitles you to use of a Club Lounge or private breakfast room with a fancy name. If they run all day or intermittent food and drink, this could save you paying extra for water and wine with meals. Or for coffee and tea and cakes mid-morning and tea time. Apart from the cost, it is a time saver.

Spas, Saunas - Time and Money

The indoor pool might be within a spa which charges residents as well as outside non-resident guests.

Hotel Extras Included

Some hotels have free swimming pools with spar baths, or complete spa centres with saunas, and steam rooms.

In the Canary Islands we had a free indoor pool at the Parador in Tenerife. They closed early, 6 pm. The same applied to the outdoor pool at the Parador hotel on La Palma, which closed at 5 pm in their off-season June 2026, although later the next month.

On Tenerife the outdoor pool was free, included in our room and breakfast package. We were given one free session in the indoor spa which had lovely massaging pools and water jets. We were there two days, but did not get a free session for each day, just one free session to tempt us to make further bookings.

Some ask payment per hour rather than the whole stay free, or paying for one day.

Souvenirs and Supplementary Bags

You may buy souvenir clothing, books or bulky items, or bring back leaflets. You might need to buy another suitcase, and to pay the airline for extra bags or bulky or heavy luggage.

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Preview Of A Hiking Holiday In Switzerland

 

My hiking holiday friends are considering a holiday next year to German speaking Switzerland. A German speaking member of the group recommended the region.

One of the main areas to visit will be his favourite, Pontresina, which has cheap or free transport. At least it did last time he was there.

I have had a quick look at it. The area is on the Eastern side of Switzerland, nearer to Germany, hence the language. 

The Countryside in Pontresina, Switzerland

The countryside offers: 

summer hiking, 

winter skiing, 

a cable car. 

If you want to venture further, trips to: 

St Moritz, and 

trips on a red train. 

The Culture in Pontresina, Switzerland

For those interested in food and culture: 

the Museum Alpin, and 

the Alpine Dairy of Morteratsch which makes cheese.  

Useful Websites about Pontresina and Switzerland

Not be confused with the Alpine museum in Bern, Switzerland:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swiss_Alpine_Museum

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_museums_in_Switzerland

https://www.morteratsch.ch/en/activities/summer/alpschaukaeserei/

Also see my posts on Swiss-German language.

Please share links to your favourite, amusing and useful posts.

Safety Rules and Suggestions For Zoos and Hiking, Pets, Farms, and In the Wild

London's Soft Play and zoos for all ages include Belmont Farm.

Belmont Farm, Mill Hill, N W London. England. UK. Photo by Angela Lansbury. Copyright.

If you are taking children out, there are many opportunities. We visited this London location where you have the opportunity to visit either a soft play centre with two areas, one for the under threes and another for older children, plus an animal watching and petting area. 

You can see the animals on the slopes beside the car park. You have to pay to get up close and alow your children to feed them with the animal feed which you buy.

You can buy a combined ticket for both the farm and the soft play but must visit the animals area second not first, for health reasons. Indoors, beyond the pay desk, between the soft play areas for different ages is a cafe seating area where the parents sit and chat or look at their phones. 

Maybe you should think about that when visiting both kinds of attraction in the same day, at different venues.

That is a regulated situation. 

Hiking and Backpacking Worldwide

With summer coming, many families, with and without children, go hiking. I go with a hiking group to a different country every year. I was astonished to see a child from the age of three happily running up and down slopes which were challenging for the elderly, middle aged and less fit adults.

Warnings I have seen about behaviour hiking in the wild include not to go hiking when menstruating. Nor if you have diarrhea.

Not to leave open sandwiches and litter. To cover bleeding wounds.

I read that bears can smell humans, food and blood from six miles away, some say as far as twenty miles, depending on wind and other conditions. Animals with young will react to anybody getting too near, or moving suddenly.

Bears can be attracted by sandwiches in cars, or food left behind at camp sites.

Planned Pooping In The Woods

Some areas allow you to dig a 'cat hole' with a trowel and bury toilet paper or wipes. Other national USA park and other places require you do gather both animal and human waste in a poop bag, which you would double wrap on a longer journey than a four minute walk away from home, and take it home or back to base in a city to dispose of it appropriately where permitted.

Pets and Precautions

Worldwide customs and regulations and reactions vary. For example, dogs on leads, or off leads, and breeds allowed. In vehicles, different cities, countries, ski slopes, avalanche regions.

The reactions from dog owners and forensics seem to be that even good-natured dogs can turn bite or jump when alarmed, especially if they are sick or are protecting their newborns. After an attacking dog is put down sometimes it is discovered that they have brain tumours. Evidently strong dogs can kill adults. Precautions suggested are that is safer for both the humans and the dogs, not to allow dogs alone with babies, and children, nor in beds? And to keep your human heads and necks away from the animals' teeth?

Useful Websites on Animals, and Safety

Belmont Farm

https://www.belmontfarm.co.uk/

Zoo Safety

https://eu.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2026/04/06/zooamerica-pennsylvania-wolf-enclosure-toddler-parents-charged/89491970007/

Hiking and Backpacking

The classic book which has been reprinted and updated many times is available from Amaxon and many camping gear shops.

https://www.amazon.com/How-Shit-Woods-4th-Environmentally/dp/1984857134

There are numerous videos entitled how to poop in the woods

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZaOKKzpCjgA

Pets & Precautions

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-15728483/Pictured-dog-mauled-teenage-owner-death-father.html

Hiking & Bears Smelling You

https://scienceinsights.org/how-far-can-a-black-bear-smell/

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Safety for hikers

Don't hike solo. But what if one of you wants to turn back from the group?

Upload maps onto your phone so you can use them when you have no wifi reception.

 Satellite communication devices.

Remember, safety in numbers.

Useful Websites

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13951799/missing-yellowstone-hiker-austin-king-dad-note.html

See the comments.

All's well that ends well, as Shakespeare's play title remindes us.

Learning languages on Duolingo for your holiday hiking in Spain

The Spanish Flag. From Wikipedia.

I am learning Spanish for a hiking holiday in Spain. Last time I went away with the same group, which meets every year in Europe for a week of hiking, 

German

I learned German which was the language of the man organizing the group. Despite finsihing the entire German course, I could not follow his instrucitions to the group in German and had to wait for the translation into English. Since the germans spoke fluent English, I felt a bit behind them in my efforts to learn a froeign language.\

Why Learn Spanish? -  Is It Essential?

It turned out that my main problem in understanding hiders' conversation was technical (hiking) vocabulary. I had not learned specialised words for a hiking trip. 

Solution So Specialised Languge in Spain

This time I have given up on the German and tried to learn Spanish, so that if I get left behind, or turn back, on a hike, I can read the local signs. 

Print Words & Maps

I shall print out my words, and maps, so that if my phone has no conncection, or the battery fails, or it needs charging, I have a printed backup of maps and words.

Word List

For my own benefit I have made a list which I am sharing with you.  

Popular Pilgrimage

The most popular hike, the msot well known, is the old pilgrimage route, Camino to Santiago.

Wikipedia map of the route across northern Spain.

Camino translates as path or way or road. Sant is Saint. Iago is Jacob or James. (John is Juan, pronounced Who-Ann or Who won?) 

Other trails include the Picos de Europa.

 I have made a list of useful words, using Translate Google and other sources.

ENGLISH (alphabetically) - SPANISH 

DRIVING DIRECTIONS

north - norte

south-  sur

East - este

West  - Oeste

centro de la ciudad - city centre

A-D

and - y

Bar - bar

blocked / obstructed - obstruido

bridge - puente

car park / parking lot -  estacionamiento

church - iglesia

closed - cerrado

coffee - café 

cul de sac - callejón sin salida

danger - peligro

detour - desvio

do not drink - no bebas

drinking water - agua potable

E-K

easy - facil

fire danger - peligro de incendio

free - gratis

free parking - estacionamiento gratis

gate - puerta

green - verde

hard - duro

harbour - puerto

help - ayuda

hiking - senderismo (my memory aid is sending someobdy hiking!)\

hill - colina

hike - la caminata

hiking - senderismo

hostel - refugio (might be dormitory accommodation, booked, or priority given to those registered on the route)

house - casa

I need - necesito

L-R

local trails - senderos locales

mountain - montaña

no smoking - no fumar

no entry - no hay entrada

no exit - sin salida

no left turn - sin giro a la izquierda - (like French gauche for left)

no right turn - sin giro a la derecha

no swimming - no nadar

one way - un camino

open - abierto

over here - por aqui

path - camino

peak - cima

port / harbour - puerto

railway - ferrocarril

residents only - solo residentes

restaurant - restaurante

river - rio

road - camino

roundabout - rotonda

S-Z

sandwiches - bocadillos

sea - mar (like the French mer)

shop - tienda

short - corto

snacks - snacks

toilet - baño 

trail - camino

watch out! - cuidado!

waterfall - cascada

where - donde

..........

COLORS

black - negro

green - verde

red - rojo

......................

SPANISH - ENGLISH

A-D

abierto - open

aqui - here

agua potable - drinking water

aperitivos - appetizers

ayuda - help

baño - toilet

bar - bar

barra de café - coffee bar

café - coffee

callejón sin salida - no exit

camino - path, road, route, way

casa - house

cascada - waterfall

cerrado - closed

cima - peak

comercio - shop

corto - short

senderismo

Ciudad - city

cuidado - watch out

Desvio - detour

dónde - where

Duro - hard

E- K

empinado -

estacionamiento -  car park/parking lot

estacionamiento gratis - free parking

fácil - easy

ferrocarril - railway

gratis - free

hostal - hostel

iglesia  church

inundable - floodable

COLORS

negro - black

rojo - red

verde - green

L-R

mar - sea

montaña - mountain

Necesito - I need

no bebas - not drinking water / do not drink

no fumar - no smoking

No hay entrada - no entry

no nadar - no swimming

obstruido - blocked (obstructed)

peligro - danger

peligro de incendio - fire danger

por aqui! - over here!

pueblo - town

puente - bridge

puerta (feminine) - gate

puerto (masculine) - port / harbour

refugio / hostal - hostel

restaurante - restaurant

río - river

rotonda - roundabout

S-Z

sándwich - sandwich

senderismo - hiking

sin giro a la derecha - no right turn

sin giro a la izquierda - no left turn (like French gauche for left)

Sin salida - no exit

solo residentes - residents only

tienda - shop

tienda de comestibles - grocery shop

un camino - one way

y - and

Useful Websites

Duolingo.com

Translate Google

https://translate.google.com/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Camino_de_Santiago

https://www.walksinspain.org/wordpress/guidance/

Please share links to your favourite posts.

Portable Toilets for camping, hiking, and travelling with kids who are toilet training

 I have needed help in these situations

1 In a high street when toilets were only for customers.

2 In a public toilet in China when the toilets had no doors and the toilet was a hole in the ground and all the Chinese girls called each other to see the blonde westerner.

3 A remote mountain hiking trail. I did not want to leave the path far. Tree roots, potholes, insects. Bears. If I fell out of sight nobody would find me.

4 A four year old who is toilet training, out of nappies, can demand a wee wee, which means, now - in the next ten seconds.

I have used 

1 An umbrella behind a bush.

2 A scarf over a car door window when parking. 

I was unable to leave the car because the doors and boot doors were open. It was not my car and the driver had the key.  

Amazon has assorted styles. There are small ones like bottles with wide spouts and scoops.

A folding privacy cover seems a good idea. Brand name Pankay.

How you fold it. it has a figure of eight folding system.

That reminds me of those hats which spring open of their own accord. You have to stick them inside a cover to contain the startling Jack in box effect.

Useful resources

Book How to shit in the woods

A toilet which fits into a backpack?

Twenty eight pounds sterling for a toilet.

Kiddie travel toilet

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Mountain Dangers In Switzerland & Safety Precautions in the UK

An alpine tragedy. Three young men and their uncle died. Wearing Alpine clothing, light clothing, usually worn for a contest over the mountains later in the year. But that is supported by organizers officials along the route.

they ignored weather warnings, apparently. They day looked bright and sunny at the start. But weather can change quickly.

To travel faster, they did not carry equipment to dig themselves a good shelter.

What else could people on mountains do? Are such tragedies preventable. In the midst of a blizzard a flare is no good because nobody can see it and it's too dangerous for the rescuers to risk themselves and their colleagues.

Flares are for earlier or later.

Apparently, according to one comment from the UK, from somebody who used safety devices successfully, a protectiv bag is the answer.

Ccarry a pocket sized survival bag, which is basically a huge, orange plastic bag that you climb inside. It protects you from the wind and elements and helps to preserve your body heat. You can even get them large enough for group use,

Instead of using the word tent,I found using the search word survival bag, orange bags on Amazon and cheaper on TEMU, alhtough whether you have free delivery on Amazon prime could make a difference in price.

Useful Websites

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13188999/family-died-Swiss-ski-trip-pictured.html#comments

https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/warnings-and-advice/seasonal-advice/travel/out-and-about/camping-in-wind-and-rain#:~:text=Choose%20your%20equipment%20carefully.,30%20mph%20can%20cause%20damage.

https://www.ukcampsite.co.uk/chatter/display_topic_threads.asp?ForumID=3&TopicID=230335&SearchPagePosition=1

https://www.ukcampsite.co.uk/chatter/display_topic_threads.asp?ForumID=3&TopicID=248707&PagePosition=1

https://www.temu.com/ul/kuiper/un9.html?subj=goods-un&_

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Lifesystems-Mountain-Survival-Bag-Orange/dp/B000P9CSGU

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Survival_kit

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poncho_tent

Where Is It? Packing, Unpacking And Storing Clothes and Accessories

The airport had lots of smart suitcases for sale. We didn't need them. We could buy cheaper.

SUITCASES
Damaged?
Hard-sided suitcases offer protection. You can balance a handbag on top. You can even sit on some of them. On the other hand, they won't give, and they could dent.

On the other hand, you get home and find your luggage stained and holed, with handles which won't push down, zip pulls pulled off. Even the carry on luggage which is places on racks and buses, dragged along by helpers.

You can probably buy cheaper online - if you spend all year looking.

But what size do you need? One bag per person on the cheapo airlines? How will we get our larger items in this? Weight your luggage. Allow extra time to Check-in Oversize items.

But first we must find items to pack.

Problem
Does any of this sound like your family?

Now it's summer, put away the clutter of your winter items, or prepare for your skiing holiday in New Zealand. Think about where you will be looking next time you need the items. Write notes to yourself and everybody else in the family. Two heads, brains, memories, are better than one. Just writing a note, or telling somebody, helps you remember.

Do you have outsize items? Do your suitcases need repairing or replacing?

Photo of snow shoe walking with poles and hats, hooded jacket, and gloves, courtesy of Elves Village, Finland.

FAQ 1 SKIERS AND NON-SKIERS
We go on ski holidays.
CLOTHES & EQUIPMENT
We cannot find the skis - where are they?

We find the skis but no boots. We find the boots but no socks. We find the socks but no hats. We find the hats but no goggles.

MAPS & STATIONERY
Where are the ski trail maps and road maps from last year?
In case we break a leg, we need a book. Where's that book we never had time to read?

We are exhausted - we need a holiday.

FAQ 2 HIKING HOLIDAYS
We go on hiking holidays.
We cannot find the trainers and waterproof boots. We found the trainers and washed them off. But no matching socks. When we try on the socks, we cannot lace up the boots.

We cannot find the zip-off trousers (USA convertible pants) which convert from shorts to trousers and back.

We cannot find the lightweight jacket with the zip-off hood. We find it but it doesn't match the trousers. We had another one somewhere.

We want to get away from it all, all this stress.

FAQ 3 SWIM & GYM
BEACHES: BEACHWEAR & ACTIVITIES
We go on any holiday with beaches and pools - or might have a pool.
Where is the surfboard? The life jackets for the boats? The swimming rings?

Where are the swimsuit, swim hat, beach shoes, sunglasses, snorkels, baseball cap? We have three caps, matching our jackets, but none of them match the colours of our swimsuit.

The hotel has a gym, free or cheap aqua-aerobics classes. To use the pool, you need beachwear. Some Asian hotels don't allow bikinis but want one-piece costumes. Most pools require swim hat, so you don't spread hairs and hair grease, or get your hair caught int he sucking jets.  For a gym, you need trainers and a tank top and shorts or tracksuit.

FAQ 4
Where are the missing items, in the loft/attic, spare room/basement?

Answers
FREQUENT ANSWERS
1a SUITCASES
Wash down or wipe down the outside of suitcases to removed stains. Wipe or change luggage tags. Wipe wheels. Vacuum clean the dust and dirt from the outside and crumbs from inside.  Allow time to dry.
Hide stains and scratches and dents and prevent new stains and scratches with suitcase cover protectors.
You can also change the appearance of your suitcase from plain black to red or yellow or wavy colours or splodges multi-colour pattern so it is easier to identify.

1 b SKIS ETC
Big items could be:
Standing upright in the corner of the room.
Lying flat behind or under a sofa.
Moved to the attic, basement, spare bedroom, store room, outdoor shed, garage, in a relative's larger home, loaned to student son or daughter.

Allow time to sell off the old ones. Use the money for the new ones.
Buy second hand - it's only for a few days.
Hire, because the latest skis and boots with the latest colour and style and the latest technology.

MAPS
Find old maps and brochures. Sort all old maps and brochures by country. Store in box files alphabetically, or piles on shelves, alphabetically, with a label on the shelf or a printed A5 sheet on side of the bookshelf. Keep a copy on your laptop or computer. Email it to yourself under the country name in emails.
Photograph all maps and store in photos. Email it to yourself with the country name in the subject. Store emails in a file called PHOTOS.

2 HIKING
FAQ 2 Answers
Boots.
We need thinner socks.
Picnic box for car or pocket.
Water bottle.
Insulated picnic carrier.
Kendal mint cake.

Food for the journey, enough to share.

Dates. Photo by Angela Lansbury.

3 Answer SWIM & GYM
Allow time to book swimming lessons, diving and lifesaving lessons for everybody before a holiday near a beach. Lessons are available for all ages, from babies upwards. You can buy floatsuits for children.

Wear an old swimsuit and see what others are wearing. Find out suppliers from fellow swimmers and the instructor.

FAQ Answer 4
Ask.
Were they given away to the mountain guides, loaned to somebody on the trip who never gave it back? Are they in the home of a parent, child or another relative. Was the ski or glove lost on a foreign mountain or a beach? Is it still in the suitcase, at the back of the wardrobe.
Maybe it is already packed by somebody else who swears / thinks it is their socks / gloves / whatever.

Pack a week earlier to allow time to hunt through the house. If no luck, order from Amazon or eBay.

USEFUL WEBSITES

SUITCASES Luggage (UK); Baggage (USA)

Weighing Luggage
https://www.epictraveller.co/product/portable-travel-luggage-scales/

Suitcase cover /protector
Look for the words, dustproof, washable, stretch.
Measure your luggage.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Periea-Elasticated-Suitcase-Luggage-Cover/dp
Huge range of designs including mixed animals, amusing big brown scowling bear on yellow background for kids.
Designs with Winter and Summer for storing your winter and summer clothes.

Smaller range of covers in assorted sizes cheaper on eBay.

Repairs
Amazon sells wheels, leather thread, sets of five colours of patches, handles, zipper pulls.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Seattle-Sports-Built-U-S-Repair/dp/B001OPM8T6/ref=sr_1_30?ie=UTF8&qid=1532707974&sr=8-30&keywords=luggage+repair

Swimming AIDS
Amazon sells swim fins for children, flotation rings, noodles, float boards, armbands,

Swimsuits
Amazon
https://www.amazon.co.uk/s/?ie=UTF8&keywords=swimming+aids

Trousers
Search for convertible trousers, cargo pants, hiking trousers
https://www.sportsdirect.com/karrimor-aspen-zip-off-trousers-ladies

eBay
I have ordered a suitcase cover. I can upload a photo later when I receive it and give you my verdict.

Author
Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, author and speaker.

Maps of Slovenia, Slovakia, Serbia, which is which and where to go

Slovenia's capital is Ljubljana. I remember the pronunciation by saying, "Lana loves Lyublyana. See my posts on I love Slovenia and speaking the language.

Triple arch bridge in Slovenia's capital, Ljublyana.

Slovenia also has an island in a lake, a castle against a cliff, and a cave tour by underground train. And poppyseed cake.

Photo by Angela Lansbury at the World Travel Market in London, England.

Novo Mesto - new town.

If you can recall the days of Czechoslovakia, you will easily remember that the Czech Republic is to the west and Slovakia is the south-west. 

The capital is Bratislava on the west. You can see from the map that it has an airport and you can fly in on Ryanair and other airlines. However, you have a second choice; Vienna, capital of Austria, to the west has more flights and a train to Bratislava. (Other borders are with Poland, Ukraine and Hungary - south to Budapest.

The Czech Republic and Slovakia split one January 1st in a velvet revolution. The Czechs who were under the Communist regime for several years are predominantly atheist. The Slovaks, like the Poles to the North are devoutly Catholic. This affects national holidays.

Places To visit

Bratislava

Bratislava Castle

Bratislava Castle. Entry is free. The restaurant is open after the castle closes.

Equestrian statue of Moravian King Svatopluk 1, in Bratislava Castle, Slovakia.

In the grounds (free to enter) is the statue of Moravian King Svatopluk 1, riding a horse and waving a sword. He spent most of his life fighting and nobody is sure where he died. 

Legend says that on his deathbed he divided his lands between his three sons, who he summoned to his bedside. He told them to stay united on good terms with each other. 

To demonstrate the point, he showed them three sticks, bound together, which he asked them to break. None of them could do it. 

King Svatopluk, showing his three sons the strength of sticking together. Photo by Michal Mañas in Wikipedia article.

He separated the three sticks giving one to each lad, and told them to break their stick. Each of them broke the single stick. (This story is illustrated over in the Czech Replubic.)

Castles

Bojnice Castle 19c (1800s!)

Photo by Civertan from Wikipedia.

Levice

Hiking Trails 

Copious, useful signposts show four levels of walking trails, easy to difficult and times to allow. 

Forest lodges with accommodation and toilets, busy in high season, must be booked.

Watch out for bears - make a noise. I've been in bear country in Canada and Romania. I'm not happy about big, potentially dangerous, animals. Anything larger than a rat alarms me. On the other hand, I'm that that keen on ticks, either.

Serbia's capital, Belgrade, has an airport. Another is at Nis.

Unlike Slovakia, with its velvet revolution, Serbs and Kosovan have experienced serious fighting as well as political differences. This will affect the conversation you have, or don't have!, as well as the direction of travel. This affects border. You might be allowed out at one crossing point to Kosova, but not be allowed back into Serbia. Check the latest conditions locally, as well as with your own government.

Novi Sad

As you might expect, this means a new or newly built city, usually over one which was destroyed.

So which countries do I want to visit? Slovenia first, Slovakia second, Serbia third.

Useful Websites

Slovenia

http://travelwithangelalansbury.blogspot.com/2018/07/slovenia-love-slovenia-they-say.html

https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Slovakia

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bratislava_Castle

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

Author

Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, author and speaker. Please follow me and share your favourite posts.

Hiking Safety? Madeira and Scotland and Safety Tips

Problem
Is it safe or is it dangerous? I was reading about a woman who complained about being rushed on a tour. The organizers answered that areas were cut off and the tour was re-routed because of a fatality. I then started investigating falls.

In Madeira, one person said that there were several fatalities in a year. Another commentator said that there are about 30-40 fatalalities in Scotland every year.

Safety Tips
You are told, warned, not to walk alone. But if the faster walkers charge ahead, the slower people are left behind.

Having a phone with you is a help if you are alone and fall. No help if you are in front or behind and slip and are killed instantly.

Insurance
Does your insurance cover you for the activity you planned? In the USA I found that the insurance I had would not cover the snowmobile activities.

Does your insurance cover for:
1 Medical bills and hospitals
2 Repatriation of an injured person
3 Repatriation of a dead body.

An additional cost might be accommodation for a companion if your return home is delayed.  As the saying goes, better safe than sorry.

Despite this, hiking and even bungy jumping attract tourists every year. Why climb mountains? For the fresh air. For the views. Because the exercise makes you feel fit and feel good. Because of the challenge.

As famous climber Mallory reputedly once said when asked why he climbed Everest, 'Because it's there'.

Useful Websites

Cautions and Mishaps News
https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/ShowTopic-g189167-i435-k2035201-Levadas_claim_yet_another_life-Funchal_Madeira_Madeira_Islands.html
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/a-new-record-for-scotlands-misleading-mountains-this-year-they-claimed-54-lives-the-freedom-to-climb-1468487.html
https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/travel/article/2104750/dodging-death-cristiano-ronaldos-birthplace-madeira

Safety Advice
http://www.scotland.police.uk/keep-safe/mountain-and-outdoor-safety
https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/portugal
https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories/portugal-travel-advisory.html

Travel
visitmadeira.com
http://www.visitmadeira.pt/en-gb/useful-info/walks/notice-to-walkers-and-listof-walks 
(Ends with safety tips)
madeira-tourist.com
visitscotland.com

Author
Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, atuhro and speaker.

Timing A Seasonal Holiday Walking Or Sightseeing: Snow, Transport and Taxi Warnings

Problem
When should I book a holiday, or register my time off work, for an individual or family or group holiday?

Answer
First, it depends on the country, continent and area. If you have children, or parents or teachers in your group, your holiday must be in school holidays.

To get summer weather for walking - or avoid over-hot weather - change continents. For example, Australians visit the UK at cool Xmas which is the Australians' long summer holiday. But you have to be sure to check when the outdoor ice skating in London and other activities are available.

Conversely, from the UK my family would take skiing holidays in New Zealand during our UK summer holiday.

For a hiking group holiday in Europe, we chose not to go too early because of the risk of snow. Snow is great for skiing holidays, but not for walking holidays.

Late July and August will be high season. That means prices go up.

If your budget allows you to travel then, you might find more activities. You may have to book in advance. Less risk of sitting alone in empty restaurants. You will have more chances of meeting people for friendship or even a holiday romance.

Our walkers dislike crowds. They walk to get fresh air. (Waiting for a bus back uphill in Madeira this June 2018, I sat in the queue, downwind from a heavy smoker. In Singapore signs tell you not to stand within so meny metres of a doorway or bus stop.)

Crowds
Crowds spoil the get away from it all atmosphere for those who want to commune with nature.

However, I like crowds. I like restaurants with toilets and staff too busy to wonder whether or not you are a paying customer. I like souvenir shops. I like to be on a bus route if the car breaks down. Or the car leaves without you. 

How To Limit Your Coffee At Home Or When Travelling

Problem
I was having trouble sleeping. When I told my doctor I was having trouble sleeping at night, he asked me if I drank coffee. How many coffees do I drink in a day? No idea. I just drink coffee when I want to drink feel tired, tired, see somebody else have a coffee, get offered a coffee, sit in a restaurant, get free coffee with a hotel breakfast, have dinner out with friends or family or on business and want to prolong the meal.

Answer
Never mind counting how many coffees I had in the past. That can't be changed. He wanted me to limit my coffee drinking in the future.

He recommended that I should have no more than two cups of full strength coffee in a day, and have them in the morning. He suggested one cup of coffee at breakfast, one for elevenses, a decaffeinated coffee at lunch time. Then no more.

This works well if you have regular meal times.

If you are travelling on different time zones, it can be harder.

I find it easier to steer to a food than to resist one. Instead of planning to not have a coffee, I plan to have a glass of water. Before I am offered a coffee, I ask for a glass of water. That way, I am already full and not thirsty.

I have completed the transaction of giving and receiving.


Coded Cups
At home, or in a holiday home or rental home when away on business, you can code your cups. If you want to have no more than two or three cups of coffee in a day, or a 24 hour hotel stay, set out your two or three cups with the coffee capsules or teaspoons ready.

When you have drunk your coffee, wash the cup and put it aside.

Alternatively, keep the used cup upright and the unused cups upside down. (If you prefer, do it the other way. The cups waiting to be used are upright, the cups you have finished with are upside down.)

If you are at home or staying or working in a building with a kitchen with assorted cups and mugs, use a cup style system. You could have a large cup in a bright red or busy pattern for first thing in the morning, a cooler colour, plainer pattern, smaller cup for elevenses, a smaller espresso cup for after lunch (or for a decaffeinated coffee after dinner).

Cutting Coffee When Travelling
I don't drink coffee on airplanes. Not in economy class. I don't want to be kept awake when I need sleep. Nor do I find the coffee appetising.

If you are working, travelling or living alone, you can easily set up the system you prefer for yourself.  If you are living with or working with or travelling with a group of regimented scientific, orderly types, they will soon get used to your system and remember it.

If not, simply write your preferences down, type them and print them and stick them on a pin board or fix them with a magnet on the communal fridge door for whoever makes the coffee.

Failing all else, make yourself a tee-shirt. For example: 

I drink one caffeinated coffee for breakfast 

and 

one decaff at lunch time.

The easiest way to control your coffee intake is to make your own coffee in your hotel room - or car, or even in a tent on a hike.

Wake-up Coffee When Travelling
You can buy compact travel coffee makers which take capsules from Amazon. This month a member of my family took a travel coffee maker on several hikes up volcanoes in Indonesia and motorbike trips to Malaysia. We had bought a compact coffee maker as a birthday present. Apparently it was a great success.

Author
Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer.

 I have several more posts on drinks, foods learning languages, and travelling and around the world. Please bookmark and share links to your favourite posts.

What the news teachers travellers, builders and planners

Even on a sunny day, hiking in Romania, after a day of rain, an 'easy' level path had a pond.
Photo by Angela Lansbury. Copyright.

Problems
What can the news teach us about safety, before and after major events?

Answers
Do you work or deal with people who work in hotels, restaurants, construction or insurance? Most of us do every year, every month, every week, every day.

This year I have read news items about the fire in the Grenfell skyscraper in London, terrorist attacks worldwide, crocodile, lion, dog and animal attacks, earthquakes in Turkey and Greece and floods and Tsunamis. Today I looked at photos and videos of people hiding under desks to avoid flying objects in an earthquake in Turkey, and Kos island in Greece, and a toppled minaret, and a chair and pushchair delaying people rushing out of a restaurant.

My first thought on seeing the toppled minaret was, haven't we learned anything from the Leaning Tower of Pisa? Towers are an example of seeking attention, rather than thinking of health and safety.

Why do we need towers? Church towers with bells and minarets can be used to summon people to prayers. Clock towers can be used to signal time to all. Flag masts atop towers can be used to signal welcome, royals in residence, danger, or at half mast to signal mourning. High towers in Italy were used by rich, rival families to advertise their importance. The highest tower in the world nowadays gets into the Guinness book of records. Tallest, like biggest, is a sales attraction for tourists, status seekers, investors.

But just as cars are nowadays required by law to fit seat belts, and other safety devices, which began as novelties and rarities, in some new models, in all new models, in older ones adapted at great cost, prices come down, in all or most, in some or all countries, so with building regulations.

What can the tourist do?

DOCUMENTS / INFO /FINANCE IN POCKETS
What should you do? If you are ultra cautious, in an ideal world you have copies of all vital documents including credit card, phone and phone numbers in pockets so you don't delay yourself and others taking luggage.

Luggage Delays
Imagine the plane is filling with smoke, like it did in a plane this month (July 2017). You don't want delay getting luggage out from overhead. Nor do you want people obstructing the aisle with wheelie bags. Sometimes your luggage is at the other end of the place because the locker was full.

Chutes
You can't or shouldn't take your carry on luggage when exiting from an aeroplane via a chute. The luggage falls to the bottom. You hurl into it, fall over it, obstruct your quick exit. Don't delay yourself and everybody. Duty free drinks bottles break and cut your feet which are without shoes if you were on the plane without shoes or had to removed high heeled shoes.,

This is the path on day one, the easiest day, on a hiking holiday in Romania. Two toads are clearly seen in the middle. Several more camouflaged until they move and swim. The mud on the side is slippery. I fell once and covered my clothes in mud. The mud sucks your shoes. Better to wade through the water. Try not to wet your shoes, slip in the mud, kill the toads. This is good weather on a good day. Photo by Angela Lansbury. Copyright.

Waterproof Boots
I looked at people in a tsunami flood in Greece and Turkey. Only the emergency services and park rangers and nearby residents had access to their waterproof above the ankle boots. When going by car, I am thinking about packing waterproof boots or Wellingtons in the car boot (called car trunk in America).

Even in a minor flood and puddles boots mean your feet stay dry. In deeper water, they can protect your lower legs from wet, and dirty, flood water, as well as surface and hidden underfoot debris.  Plus wildlife. Toads in shallow puddles.

Waterproof kniee-length boots, used for gardening, wet and snowy weather, known as Wellingtons, or the style of Wellington boots. Bought by mail order from shop advertising on Ebay. Photo by Angela Lansbury. Copyright.

Tips
News updates from news sources found on Google and from travel agents who have their own bulletins
https://www.ttgmedia.com/news/news/tourists-killed-as-aegean-sea-earthquake-strikes-greece-and-turkey-10979?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Midday%20Bulletin

The UK Foreign office has guides for travellers from Britain on British passports but the safety advice may be applicable to others going to specific countries. Here's just one example of the safety and security webpage for Japan.

https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/japan/safety-and-security
Author, Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, author and speaker. Please share links to your favourite posts.

Espresso coffee on a mountain or trek, and trying out goods in advance

A minipresso machine which we saw advertised many times suddenly struck us as a good idea, after we went on holiday to a hotel which served stewed coffee. When you unpack the device, it looks rather like a large, fat black sausage. It reminds me of a Thermos flask. What's inside? Take it apart and this is what you get.

First of all, there's a built in cup at one end. The other end is another cup to filter. A smaller mini-cup with a horizontal handle is where you put your ground coffee. Follow the instruction leaflet. Look at each part. Pour in hot water. Out pops the pumping plunger creating the pressure. Push, push, push to increase the pressure.

Why Buy A Mini Machine
In a previous year, we once drove off from a conference hotel in Wales and went off to Argos and bought the smallest cheapest expresso coffee machine. (Ours at home was collapsing anyway, from a button which had to be pressed ten times - probably because we used it many times a day, also one user pressed very hard on a button which we later realised only needed a light touch.) That time we needed a larger machine for the kitchen.

On a trip this year, I wished I had a machine smaller enough to pack in a wheelie bag for a train or plane. So we bought a mini coffee machine and tried it out, not only because of impatience and glee. If it needed returning, better to do that in the country where we bought it. Better to return it immediately (more protection in consumer law and shows the item was faulty and not just worn out from months of use). Also you have the packaging handy, and you remember where you bought it and the website.

Learning
We learn from our mistakes. We had the frothy coffee with a croissant and burned the croissant on the toaster. If you burn a croissant, scrape it to get off the burned part which tastes horrid and causes cancer. Who says so? According to several cancer sites. I first learned this from a friend of mine who worked in a hospital in Singapore. She treated  - she grabbed a burned pizza whicihand tap it afterwards.

Coffee Making
Scoop out the coffee. Tamp it down with the back of the scoop. The filter fits on top, invert it and eh coffee makes a little sandcastle, then use the base of the measure / scoop to press it down. Wipe the edge off the holder of the coffee because you want a tight seal for the next step

When To Drink It?
We made a second cup. Espresso coffee is always made small. The Italians drink coffee to revive after evening dinner. A longer weaker coffee with milk is mor suitable at breakfast time. The Brits have no such tradition and some people like a strong coffee to wake up in the morning or keep going all day.

Top Tip
Pre-heat the machine

Late Coffee And Waking At Night
I went to my doctor and said I was waking at night. He asked how many coffees I drank in a day. I said about five. Breakfast, elevenses, (British term for the eleven a.m. coffee break), lunch, tea time and after dinner.

He told me to try having only one after breakfast, a second cup for elevenses, decaffeinated coffee after lunch, none at afternoon tea time and none after dinner. I tried what he suggested and it worked.

When I have been out to a dinner party and forgotten or decided to be sociable and drink coffee after dinner with everybody else, I found I woke at night. I at first attributed waking at night to eating too much, or the late night, the excitement of the friends, the stress of the journey. But when I went through the entire history of the evening, I realised that coffee late at night was the crucial factor.

Price?
Finally, the price of the mini espresso machine. £50 for the small machine. Cheaper than £80 for the cheapest and smallest proper machine. (A lovely red Krups.) Over £20 on Amazon delivery is free.

Do Try This At Home
I ask the family trekker's opinion on the coffee maker.  (I have two sports enthusiasts in my family - I'm the couch potato sitting typing, needing a coffee to get the energy to stand up and fetch a glass of water.) He comments, "Yes, it's so clever. I like to try everything at home before going on a trip."

Trying everything includes mending the old boots with superglue and seeing if they survive a puddle day. Then ordering and wearing the new hiking boots for a day, in dry and wet weather.

Next ordering a tent. Putting up the one man tent in the garden. Finding out the tent user wants to order an elastic rope to tie open the flap. The rope, from Cotswold store in Watford, costs only 40p, with free postage. If a store uses Amazon as a storefront and sends goods direct, they can set their own price. With UK post and packing costing about 50p,  we don't see how they can make a profit. But they have our regular business, in person and online.

So even if they are not making a profit on this item, the goodwill is invaluable to them, because earlier this year we have dashed in and bought other goods at what we knew was a high price (I dashed in and phoned home - "this is costing twice the price you wrote down it would cost you online, dear," "Just to get it!" He wanted it the  same day because he was keen to try out on the tent before a trip.  either Trying out the coffee maker.)

User's Problems and Solutions
After making the coffee, how do you take it apart again? You are liable to burn yourself on hot water if you take it apart immediately. You could add cold water, empty it over a sink at home. Outdoors, you could empty it over a bit of flat earth away from plants and people, or onto paper so you don't risk dropping it in dirt.  Or wear gloves. Or wait until you've drunk your coffee and the machine is cool. Or just be very careful!

How do you get the piston back inside and flat again? The machine's semi automatic piston turns and locks in.

What about the top? We thought the thread was weak then found there was no thread. It just pushes on.

Verdict: "Most pleasing that it arrived so quickly, first thing in the morning the weekend before a trip."

Free Fast Delivery
If you are a prime member of Amazon in effect you have paid in advance with your membership fee for a delivery or two so you benefit from being sure to get everything free delivery next day in a hurry if you are going on a trip. And if you are in business the cost is a business expense and offset against tax.

Lavazza Ground Coffee
Our experiment was a great success. We liked the coffee maker and used some free ground coffee which had been sitting around unused for weeks because in our home office kitchen we were using a Krups pod machine.

The Lavazza coffee was a free gift. Not to me personally but in a goodie bag picked up by somebody else and given to me. The goodie bags were for the people who attended a trade presentation at a food and drink show in the Business Centre in Islington. (Not enough to go round - my business partner spotted one but I wasn't given one.)

(If I/we had not liked the coffee I would have damned it with faint praise, such as: 'strong/weak coffee is not my taste but you might like it if you ...' etc etc. I try to give a clear outline of the pros and cons of the item I review, and my own budget - which is for the best amiable at the best bargain price - and my preference, for bright colours, strong aromas, flavoured, slightly sweet taste, not too acid nor over strong nor acidic nor spicy, bearing in mind that the reader may well have a different view.)

I was surprised that I really liked the Lavazza ground coffee. I immediately said, "I love this coffee!" The first half was drunk without milk, proper espresso style. I drank the second half cold with added milk.

We then made a second cup. Normally I don't like strong coffee. Others in the family are keen on the strongest coffee pods from Nespresso and Cafe Pod but I have always gone for the weaker coffees (alas discontinued by top of the range Nespresso and cheaper Cafe Pod this year).

The mini espresso we bought with our own money.

If anybody wants to send me free gifts of anything I would not say no! In my blog I would just explain it was a free gift and give an honest account of which readers might like or dislike about the product.

For more information see:
www.wacao.com minipresso

Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, author and speaker.
For more information on Angela Lansbury see previous posts, other blogs by Angela on blogger.com, Angela Lansbury author on Facebook, Twitter, and Angela Lansbury, author,  on restaurant etiquette on YouTube. Books by Angela Lansbury from libraries and Amazon and second hand bookstores include ten by mainstream publishers on wedding etiquette and general etiquette, plus ten more recently published paperbacks on poetry for adults and children, Quick Quotations, Who Said What When, and a novel inspired by filling in the blanks in family history called The Tailor And The Spy. See Amazon author profile and books and Lulu.com