So you’ve always been a lover of literature and like to pass the evening with a good book. But now the time has come for you to get out of the armchair and actually see the world for yourself. Well, you’re in a good position for getting plenty out of an overseas holiday – and I don’t just mean that you’ll be able to pass the time in a transit lounge in between flights quite happily thanks to that book you’ve popped into your hand luggage.

If you’ve got a bit of a literary background, you can probably get a lot more out of visiting certain places than others would. If you’ve never heard of Homer (meaning the writer of the Illiad and the Odyssey, not Mr Simpson), then you won’t find poking around the ruins of Troy in Turkey as fascinating as someone who has. And a literary traveller can probably find more sites of interest than a less well-read person… and a lot of the other tourists you find at the literary destinations are likely to share your interests.

So where are some good spots to visit if you are a bit of a literary buff? Of course, this will depend on what you enjoy reading, really. But here are a few of the most popular places around the world to consider:

Greece: “The Isles of Greece, the isles of Greece, where burning Sappho loved and sung,” to quote Byron. Yes, Greece is a popular tourist destination thanks to glorious sunshine, good wine, great food and lovely beaches, but it’s the cradle of Western civilisation. Take your pick – from the hot springs of Thermopylae to hiking up Mt Olympus to relaxing on a beach at Ithaca.

Italy: Not only do you have Rome, the other key city in the history of Western civilisation, you’ve also got all those places that were important in the Renaissance. Verona  is a bit of a must-see for the literary buff, what with it being the birthplace of Dante and the setting for Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet (with one house boasting what is claimed to be Juliet’s famous balcony).

The UK: Pick your favourite author and visit all the key locations. You could go on a tour of the lake district and find all the places described by the Romantic poet Wordsworth. You can go on a Beatrix Potter tour, including Hill Top Farm near Sawrey. Or head north to Scotland and find all the locations mentioned in Macbeth or in Sir Walter Scott. Or head to Wales to find all the sites mentioned in the Arthurian cycle.

Romania: In the Carpathian mountains, you’ll find Transylvania, complete with the Bran Castle, also known as Dracula’s Castle. There’s also plenty of medieval architecture to keep anyone with Gothic tastes happy, plus some great cave systems.

Germany: Here, the must-see town for the bookworm would have to be Wittenberg, site of a famous medieval university and home to the fictional Dr Faustus. It’s also the place where Martin Luther nailed his 95 theses to the church door and started the Reformation. Also look out for Weimar and other areas in the Rhine valley beloved by the poet Goethe.

Switzerland: Whether you’re into William Tell, Celtic history, Rousseau or Heidi, there’s plenty on offer for the literary traveller.
The list could, of course, go on and on, depending on who your favourite authors are!

Airlines always warn passengers about the different ways in which they could be removed from a flight, but there are never really a complete set of rules all the way across the board. Whether you are flying domestically or internationally, there are a few set of common courtesy guidelines to ensure you and your fellow passengers have a pleasant flying experience. There are a few ways in which you can be asked to not go on a flight, due to poor hygiene or obnoxious behaviour, so here are some common guidelines set forth by major airlines, many of which you can purchase tickets through Flights Australia, to keep passengers from dealing with unfortunate situations:

• Stay clean – Not to say that you will board the flight intentionally being a bit odorous, but rinse off with wet napkins or paper towels if you feel a bit malodorous. Long travel days, connecting flights and sitting in the same clothes for hours at a time can build up with odor or sweat, whether you realize it or not. In the same vein, don’t overdo it with cologne or perfume – that can be just as offensive to the noses of surrounding passengers!
• Don’t fly when sick – Being in closed, tight quarters is already a breeding ground for germs and illness, but if you are obviously sick – especially with something contagious – the airline might not allow you to board. Be courteous to your fellow passengers! No one wants to sit next to someone who’s coughing or sneezing the entire flight – so don’t be that passenger. In some cases, an airline will ask to see a doctor’s note if you have a clearance to fly, and if you can’t produce it, you might be out of luck until the illness subsides.
• Wear offensive clothing – Despite having the freedom to wear whatever you want, wearing revealing clothing or shirts with lewd or offensive images or words is enough to have the airline employees to ask you to change. Dress appropriately when flying – you don’t want to offend those around you with your clothing choices.

Finally, the easiest way to be asked not to get on a flight is to show up inebriated. Drinking too much is a sure way to be denied a flight, and while it’s understandable to have a drink before a flight to relive travel stress, if an airline employee does not like your conduct you will not be allowed on.

Most travel advice involves blending in so you don’t stick out in a foreign country, and while you don’t want to look like you don’t belong in a certain city and be a target for thieves or other undesirable people, it is important to embrace the concept of being a tourist. If you are going to a particular city, don’t be afraid to try traditional foods, partake in certain customs or meet new people. Always be cautious when meeting new people, but striking up a conversation with a local is a great way to learn more about your destination or even learn of new restaurants or shops to visit.

After purchasing airline tickets on Flights Australia, spend some time researching the destination so you can blend in and get acquainted with your new city while visiting. Here are some other tips for being a good tourist while on holiday:

• Dress appropriately – There’s a difference between being a tourist and being a tourist that stands out to the locals. As a tourist, you don’t want to be the center of attention in your destination, so be sure to research clothing advice – if you are going to Europe and they don’t wear shorts often, don’t pack flip-flops and board shorts when leaving the United States or Australia.
• Learn about the culture – The whole idea of traveling is to expand your knowledge of a certain location, so spend time learning about the destination and culture before you arrive. Aside from learning common courtesy for the locals, you should also learn how to pronounce street names, learn words for basic commands or salutations and even understand the currency exchange rate. Doing so will make you blend in more with the city and make it easier to get around.
• Be friendly – In most countries, people are good. Speaking with the locals is a fun and interesting way to get to know the customs and culture of your destination. Going to a new city and getting to know how other people live is an exciting way to feel like you are truly traveling around the world!

Being safe is the number one safety issue when it comes to traveling, but being a tourist who soaks up the culture and customs of a city will get a more fulfilling experience over someone who does not make the effort.

For most travellers, a trip abroad is a chance to get away from their routine and experience somewhere different. Most of us want a bit of an adventure on our holiday, even if we don’t really want to go horse trekking with the nomads in Mongolia or explore the Amazon jungle of Brazil.

But we don’t want too much adventure. Nobody wants to end up sick, robbed or in jail in some country that’s a long, long way from Australia. However, a few basic precautions should help avoid some of the most common dangers likely to encounter tourists, especially in developing nations… and even in a few of the world’s most advanced nations.

• Don’t keep all your cards in one wallet. If you wallet gets grabbed by a pickpocket, you’re in the poo. Maybe you could try keeping cash (in the local currency) in your wallet, one credit card in the breast pocket of your shirt (it’s harder to pick this pocket) and some emergency traveller’s cheques elsewhere about your person, such as in your shoes or (women only) in your bra.
• Get copies of all your documents. These can be virtual copies, scanned and emailed to yourself or stored in a cloud where you can access it at an internet café, or old-fashioned paper photocopies that you keep folded into an obscure part of your luggage or in your travel clothing.
• Get your shots. I know you hate needles, but being stuck with some horrible disease for most of your long-awaited overseas trip is a lot worse. No excuses. Depending on who you book with, some travel insurers may require you to have certain vaccinations before they’ll cover you fully – do your homework… and get the shots.
• Beware of street food. Yes, it smells so appetising as that little old lady in traditional clothing offers up something with a smile on her lovely wrinkly face. But unless you actually can see the food being cooked and you’re 100% certain it’s been cooked for long and hot enough to kill any nasties, stay well away!
• Don’t take extra bags or items onto the plane with you as a favour for a stranger or even for someone you’ve met a couple of times before. They might be genuine, but they might be involved in a drug ring and be on the lookout for some muggins to take the wretched stuff from A to B – which carries the death penalty in some countries.
• Don’t pet stray animals. That cat or dog might seem friendly, but they could carry rabies. It’s not worth the risk. Be equally cautious of other roaming creatures, including monkeys, pigs, parrots and water buffaloes.
• Don’t give money to beggars. Yes, you are likely to be horrified and overwhelmed by the level of poverty in countries like India. Giving money to a beggar will make you feel better. However, getting out your wallet in this sort of setting just shows everyone where you keep your money. You also have no guarantee that the beggar in question will use the money to feed themselves – they could use it to buy cigarettes or worse. If you feel like you just have to give something to a beggar, be prepared and give them food – carry a bag of hand-sized fruits or bread rolls to be prepared.

There seems to be a considerable difference between business and leisure travel – one is required and the other is fun! If you don’t like leaving home to go on business trips, count yourself as one of the thousands that do it each year. If you want to keep your business travel trip headache free, there are plenty of tips and helpful insights that will hopefully keep the stress to a minimum. Here are some of the top tips to avoid business travel nightmares:

Pack smart – How many times do you sit in your seat, watching boarding passengers smush and smash their overhead luggage into the bins just so they don’t have to check the baggage? Most airlines allow two carry-on bags, and you will usually see passengers with the roller bags and a backpack or briefcase. If you happen to have a ticket at the back of the plane, you know there is going to be limited space in the overhead bins. One way to keep the boarding process stress free is to pack a smaller bag that will fit under the seat and a flexible bag that easily fits between other bags in the limited space overhead. Avoid carrying on the roller bag if you can help it. If you need a tablet or computer, don’t store it in the overhead bin! It makes things more difficult for you and the surrounding passengers when you want to get it out mid-flight.

Bring electric adapters – If you are traveling internationally, be sure to remember electrical plug adapters so you can charge your phones and computer while you are traveling. Before you even leave the house, do a little research to see which adapter you will need in your destination – this will surely keep your stress to a minimum.

Purchase ample Internet access – Hotel Internet access can be pricy, so one way to save this money is to make sure you have an international data plan on your smartphone or tablet. By using the gadget as a hotspot, you can then use your laptop or tablets without needing to buy the hotel’s Internet access.

Business travel is often overwhelming and tedious, simply because you aren’t traveling the world at your leisure and soaking in the sights. Try to implement these tips into your next business trip to save time and hassle! That way, instead of stressing before your flight, you can enjoy a soothing cocktail in the airport lounge.

For new moms just leaving the house can be a struggle, let alone hopping on an airplane and traveling the world. While having children shouldn’t stop people from traveling, there are some occasions where new moms need to get somewhere and an airplane is the only logical mode of transportation. Whether your baby is two months old or one year, there is going to come a time when you will need to take to travel or take a family trip. Here are a few tips, straight from new moms, that will hopefully help you on your next excursion:

Travel during naptime – One way to keep baby as happy as possible is to travel when they are sleeping. Taking an overnight flight means the baby will sleep throughout most of the journey and there will be limited fussing. One experienced mom suggests choosing seats near the wings, as the white noise from the engine soothes the baby and keeps them feeling sleepy.

Feed during takeoff and landing – Whether you are a baby or an adult, air pressure on the ears is not a pleasant sensation, especially for a baby’s sensitive ears. Feeding them with a bottle or offering them a pacifier will encourage them to suck on the bottle or pacifier and alleviate the pressure in the ears.

Always pack snacks – While there are travel restrictions on liquids, the restrictions aren’t as strict for baby milk or formula. Pack plenty of baby snacks, crackers or other baby friendly goods so they can quickly have something to eat if they feel hungry or get fussy. Pack their favorite blanket or stuffed animal – try to recreate their sleeping arrangements as best as possible when traveling. If that means bringing a favourite stuffed animal or nightgown, bring it! Having something familiar when new, imposing objects surround them or attention will keep them feeling safe.

Pack what you need – As a new mom, it can feel overwhelming to know what to pack or experience anxiety because you think you are forgetting something. On your first trip with baby, pack anything you want – even if you are over packing, you will be more relaxed knowing you are prepared for something. On your next trip, you will know exactly what you need and won’t need to pack as much!

After purchasing airplane tickets for you and your new baby, try to relax and have a great time! Chances are your baby will be better behaved on your first flight than you might think.

The era of modern air travel has made it easier for us to whip from one side of the world to the other in a matter of days, if not hours. No longer does a trip from Sydney to London take three weeks like it did in the days of sail. However, one of the downsides of modern air travel that didn’t plague people who travelled by sea is jet lag.

Jet lag is caused by the world being round and rotating on its axis once every 24 hours. This means that the time – as measured by the sun – is different at different places in the world. The discovery of time zones isn’t new – way back in the Renaissance, Dante was using this method to mark the passage of time during his fictional journey to the Inferno – things along the lines of “The sun was setting over the Ganges, it was midday in Jerusalem and the sun was rising in Spain.” Slower methods of travel take us gradually from time zone to time zone, and making the adjustments in our body clocks is comparatively easy. But when we fly from, say, Melbourne to Johannesburg, we throw our bodies out eight hours or so. It might be the nearest that we can get to time travel but it feels blimmin’ weird.

So how do you get over it and feel normal so you can start enjoying your trip and don’t wander around like a zombie? Try these tips:

• Set your watch, phone and other devices to the local time as soon as possible so you start thinking about the new real time – the power of suggestion does help a lot. Do this on the plane at the start of your flight if possible.
• Force yourself to eat and sleep at the same time the locals do even if you don’t feel like it. In particular, get up at the right time in the morning according to the local clock.
• Be careful about when you drink coffee. Don’t have it after 5:00 p.m. local time or you will find it even harder to get to sleep than you would have.
• Go without sleep and get extra tired before going to be early. Then sleep the jet lag off.
• Expose yourself to natural sunlight. This sends messages to your pineal gland, which is responsible for your sleep/wake cycles and the hormones involved in this, and puts it into synch.
• Try aromatherapy – lavender to soothe you and help you get to sleep; citrus to stimulate and wake you.
• If you simply have to sleep during the day, keep this to short naps so it doesn’t mess you up for the evening.
• Before you set out on your trip, start setting your body clock forward (or backward) by an hour. However, this isn’t always practical in a world where sleeping in an extra two hours will make you late for work.
• Some people swear by supplements containing melatonin that will help them go to sleep at the right time. If you’re dubious, you could always try eating bananas and having a drink of warm milk before bed to stimulate your body to produce its own.

Planning for a holiday is exciting, but when you start adding the numbers up it can begin to get a bit frustrating. One of the most expensive factors of a holiday getaway is the airfare, but the good news is you can find some great deals when planning your next trip. Flights Australia offers an endless number of travel destinations – so whether you want to hop over to Sydney for a short weekend trip or want to fly to Paris for the trip of a lifetime, Flights Australia has plenty of options. Here are some addition money saving tips for airfare so you don’t blow through your budget before you even arrive at your destination:

Stay Flexible – There are plenty of amazing deals a month out from your travel date and if you stay flexible with departing or arriving times, you might notice leaving on a Tuesday will save you hundreds over leaving on Friday. Flying to your destination at night is also another way to save money. Taking the red-eye or early morning flight is a simple way to save money – and try not to worry about red-eye flights. Your body will take a few days to adjust to the new time zone, so try not to let that be a factor in departure or arriving times.

Look for alternate airports – If you are traveling to a region that has multiple airports, check the different options to see which ones offer better discounts or more flexibility. For example, if you are flying from Sydney to New York City, compare the options between JFK Airport, La Guardia or even Newark – there might be a reasonable price difference and they are both close to Manhattan.

Track Airfare – Flights Australia offers exceptional deals on tickets throughout the world, but you can still track different days to ensure you are getting the lowest deal possible. Some travel experts suggest looking for tickets during the middle of the week, when flight costs are down. Keeping an eye on ticket prices will help you notice when prices are the least expensive, saving you hundreds of dollars!

Flights are expensive, but there is no reason why you can’t save as much as possible when you are going on holiday. Instead of spending top dollar on airfare, use websites like Flights Australia to save money and use it toward accommodations or excursions!

Do you love traveling in the off season when the weather is cooling off in Australia or warming up in the Northern Hemisphere? If you plan on staying close to home, there are plenty of great deals on flights through websites like Flights Australia, or plenty of empty hotel rooms at amazing discounts throughout the country. As summer approaches the Northern Hemisphere, start planning your trip to Paris or New York City now and capture some wonderful deals on excursions or accommodations. Does planning a holiday take its toll on your stress levels? Be sure to implement some of these holiday planning tips as you think about where you would like to go:

Start the Planning Process – Unless you like to live life by the seat of your pants, begin planning the holiday at least a few months in advance. Think about the different destinations you’d like to visit – six months prior to the holiday is a great time to score some amazing deals on airfare or hotel accommodations. When planning a holiday, be sure to know what the weather will be like during the time of your travel! It will help you know what to pack.

Get Organized – After you decide where you want to go, start creating a list of things you would like to see and do during your visit. Going to London during July? Keep an eye out for special events or festivals that take place while you’re there – it’s a fabulous way to see a country or city doing something special and out of the ordinary.  As soon as you decide where you want to go, sign up for airfare alerts or check websites like Flights Australia for the best deals. Traveling in the off-season will save money in Australia, but traveling to other parts of the country might be a high travel time!

Further travel, earlier planning – A great rule of thumb to observe when traveling on holiday is to start planning as early as possible the further you plan to go. Many hotels or airfare don’t provide rates earlier than six months in advance, but get an idea of where you want to stay or fly to so you can narrow in on certain rates when they do become available.

Traveling is supposed to be fun, so don’t spend more than you have to because you waited too long for airfare or accommodations!

We’ve just come through the Easter season, hopefully without too much chocolate-induced damage to our waistlines. This makes talking about Easter Island – the most remote island on earth – very appropriate and timely. Maybe it’s going to be a destination to add to your must-see list, or a place you want to include as a stopover as you plan a longer flight overseas.

Easter Island is also called Isla de Pascua and its original name of Rapanui. It was originally a Polynesian settlement, similar to New Zealand  or Samoa, and this is reflected in the local language. However, these days, it is considered part of Spanish-speaking Chile . It is located smack in the middle of the South Pacific Ocean, 2000 km or so away from its nearest neighbour, the equally tiny and fascinating Pitcairn Island. The nearest major landmass is South America, with Concepcion  in Chile being about 3500 km to the east. There are a few tiny islands nearby, which are considered part of Easter Island.

So why visit Easter Island?

The first reason why many tourists and travellers visit Easter Island is simply because of its location. Its remoteness is rather strategic, even in these days of long-haul flights. Mataveri International Airport is the most remote airport in the world, and it is a vital link for the commercial operator Lan Chile as it flies from Santiago  to Tahiti, and it is also used by the Chilean Air Force and Qantas (flights to Peru are also available). The runway goes almost from one side of the island to the other, which can be a little alarming at first, but it’s all very standard for the pilots, so passengers can relax and look forward to their Easter Island adventure.

But there is much, much more to Easter Island than just providing a handy place for travellers to and from South America to stretch their legs. Easter Island has become a UNESCO World Heritage Site because of its mysterious moai statues – huge elongated human figures standing on stone platforms known as ahu as they gaze out across the seemingly endless ocean. Archaeologists and anthropologists are fascinated by the indigenous Easter Island culture and are constantly making new discoveries as they piece new findings together in the evidence. Some of their finds are further tourist attractions, such as the stone carvings (Easter Island culture went in for stone carvings more than any other Pacific Island nation) and the cave drawings that may be an example of writing. Some of the caves on the nearby islet Motu Nui have intriguing signs of having been used as fortifications as well as being sacred sites for the Birdman cult.

The very fascinating heritage keeps visitors to Easter Island intrigued. But if you don’t feel like going on the bus tours to the moai or walking to discover the island, you can relax and soak up the sun and the warm weather. Easter Island is a tropical island, after all, with the warm weather and warm seas you’d expect… so enjoy. After dark, the capital city (Hanga Roa) has discos and a chance to experience their musical tradition, which is a blend of South American and Polynesian. Don’t forget to enjoy the local seafood as well!