Sealand Travel Club Travel Tips, Driving In A Foreign Country
January 20, 2010
Driving Tips in Foreign Countries
There are many people willing to give you advice on travel from what to bring and when to go, to what’s going on and what to do. Travel tips and advice are everywhere. When preparing for a trip abroad it is good to check the government websites for things people may have missed. Sealand Travel Club wants you to have the best vacation possible, so here is some valuable information on travel abroad.
Though not everyone plans to drive while they are in a foreign country, some people traveling prefer the independence afforded to them by having their own car. Sealand Travel Club is here to provide you with some information on driving in countries other than the U.S. The excuse “I didn’t know that” won’t always do when you get stopped in another country. Be prepared, know what to bring, understand the rules on travel in the country you are visiting and obey all laws and you should have a safe and wonderful time on your vacation.
General Driving Laws In Foreign Countries
- Sealand Travel Club wants you to be prepared, so here is a list of general laws for driving in Europe.
- Don’t bring a radar detector, they are illegal in Europe.
- If you have GPS in your vehicle, check to make sure it does not include maps that indicate the location of fixed speed cameras as they are illegal in some countries.
- Check the rules in the area of travel to see if you are required to have and International Driving Permit (IDP). Most countries do require an IDP.
- Have some currency available to you during travel as many countries have toll roads. Check your route before you leave.
- Book your rental from the U.S. before you travel as it will generally save you money.
- Don’t go cheap, go reliable. Speed limits in many European countries is quite fast, a clunker might not work.
- Ask questions before you leave. What are the age restrictions, what is involved in your rental agreement, and are all the necessary items for the area in the car that are required by law?
Those are just the basics, Sealand Travel Club encourages you to spend time really looking into the rules and regulations in your country of travel before you leave. Many countries in Europe have laws that may seem quite odd to us. Here are some of the laws by country that you may not be aware of.
Laws For Driving By Country, Some Examples From Sealand Travel Club
Bosnia Herzegovina (South East Europe)
Use of dipped headlights during the day is mandatory
No child under 12 can be in the front seat
A person under the influence may not ride in the front seat
Green Card is mandatory
Czech Republic (Central Europe)
No alcohol may be found at all in system, it is considered a criminal offense
Use of dipped headlights during the day is mandatory
Police may confiscate your license on the spot for serious traffic offenses
Ukraine (Eastern Europe)
No alcohol may be found in your system
An IDP is compulsory
Must have a 3rd party insurance
Must carry a first aid kit, fire extinguisher and a warning triangle in your vehicle.
You must call the police in case of an accident if you are from out of country.
Sealand Travel Club would like you to enjoy your vacation, so be prepared and know the signs and rules of the road in your destination. Be aware of and follow the rules and you should have a great vacation.
Sealand Travel Tips On Travel In Vancouver, Site Of The 2010 Olympics
January 14, 2010
Welcome To Vancouver, British Columbia with Sealand Travel
2010 Olympics
Sealand Travel would like to introduce you to Vancouver, British Columbia. Although Vancouver has always been a great destination for a variety of great vacation options, the upcoming 2010 Winter Olympics have focused the spotlight on this beautiful area of British Columbia, Canada.
Vancouver is the largest metropolitan area in Western Canada and is home to a diverse population with over 50 percent of its residents having a first language other than English. The city of Vancouver dates back to the 1880′s when a logging town named Gastown was incorporated into a larger city and adopted the name Vancouver. The top two industries in the area are forestry and tourism. Interestingly, Vancouver has earned the nickname “Hollywood North” due to it’s third largest industry, film production.
Weather in Vancouver
Sealand Travel knows when traveling to any location throughout the world, one of the most important bits of information to be aware of is the weather. Vancouver is classified as an Oceanic climate, which means that the temperatures tend to be a bit cooler in the summer than many other similar climates, with cool winters and a generally smaller fluctuation in the yearly temperatures. You may also expect in climates such as that, to have precipitation not limited to one season, but more often throughout the year.
Temperatures in Vancouver range, on average, from the 30′s in the coldest winter months to the 60′s in the warmest summer months. As for precipitation, visitors can expect to see snow in winter and rain in summer, with most of the precipitation falling in the form of snow in winter.
Travel Tips Vancouver
Sealand Travel recommends you find out about your destinations before you travel. In cases such as Vancouver, site of the 2010 Winter Olympics, your travels to the area will be highly impacted because of the events. If you are traveling any other time of the year, finding a place to stay should not be difficult. Although travel to the area is popular, many establishments are available to provide you wonderful accommodations. At times such as during the 2010 Winter Olympics, accommodations should be booked far in advance of your visit. You may also choose to opt for accommodations further outside of the city. Large cities such as Vancouver have many communities called bedroom communities which help to accommodate tourists in the busier seasons of travel or during high profile events.
Logistics of travel during events such as the Olympics are also something that Sealand Travel Sealand Travel would like to remind travelers to think about. Vancouver public transportation is a wonderful way to get around. With a wide variety of public transportation options available to you including rail such as the West Coast Express, Street Cars, SkyTrain, Bus Service and even Ferries, visitors should always be able to reach their destination without having to rent a car. In fact, there is only one major highway in the area of Vancouver, making traditional travel by car a bit more difficult than in other major metropolitan areas around the world.
If you are planning on visiting Vancouver during the 2010 Winter Olympics, here are a few tips to remember. Leave early to reach your event of interest. There is no spectator parking at the Olympic Venues, so don’t expect to park nearby if you do have a vehicle, and most of all, there is an Olympic Bus network if you do have accommodations in the metro areas. Sealand Travel invites you to visit Vancouver any time of the year. As always, travel smart, pack for your environment, and be aware of the area you are going to be visiting, and all your travels should be pleasant ones.
