Worldwide Insure

After our fabulous guide to surviving a festival, we thought we would bring you information about some of the best festivals you can visit around the world this summer!

Benicassim Festival – Spain

This is a 4 day music festival on the east coast of Spain – and this year the fun kicks off on the 18^th July with the incredibly popular American band The Killers will be headlining. Valencia is the closest airport to the festival. Alternatively festival goers are known to fly to Barcelona for a pre-festival warm-up before heading to Benicassim Festival by train.

Burning Man 2010 by eponamusic

 Burning Man Festival – Nevada USA

Located out in the Nevada Desert, the Burning Man Festival is certainly not for the faint hearted. It is an event dedicated to ‘community, art, self-expression and self reliance’ and lasts one whole week. This year the theme is Cargo Cult, kicking off on 26^th August. This is a ‘leave no trace’ festival – so newbies need to do their research and adhere to the common cause. To get to Black Rock City you’ll need to book a flight to Reno airport then hit the two lane rural highway with around 60,000 other festival goers.

Soundwave Festival – Tisno Croatia

Held on the shores of the Adriatic coast, this music festival is perfect for sun worshippers who like a good tune. At Soundwave you can swim in the sea and sunbatheto your favourite DJs and bands, go on a boat party or head to one of the many stages if you like the volume turned up loud. It is a relaxed event and this year starts on 18^th July with performers such as Bonobo, Quantic and Doom. To get to Tisno, get on a plane to Zadar or Split and get a transfer from the airport to the Island of Murter.

FUJI ROCK FESTIVAL by Kentaro Ohno

Fuji Rock Festival – Niigata Prefecture Japan

This is the largest outdoor music event in Japan showcasing over 200 musicians from Japan and around the world in the space of 3 days. Fuji Rock takes place at the Naeba Ski Resort starting on 26^th July with an eclectic bunch of people performing, including well known names such as Skrillex, Nine Inch Nails, The Cure, Mumford and Sons and DJ Shadow. Revellers will have to fly to Tokyo and then catch a train to Yuzawa, a 1.5 hour journey, followed up by a (free) 40 to 60 minute bus ride to the festival site.

Bestival – Isle of Wight England

Late on in the festival season, Bestival is a great way to kiss the summer season goodbye in style. This year the festival starts on the 5^th September and has some great headlining acts including Sir Elton John, Franz Ferdinand and Snoop Dogg. The crowd that attends is as diverse as the range of acts, so a great option if you are only going to go to one festival this year. If you are taking a car, head to Southampton where the Red Funnel ferry service will take you to West Cowes in Just 20 minutes. Foot passengers can also catch a train to Southampton and board the ferry, alternatively ferry services run from Portsmouth harbour, right near the train station.

Bestival by Mike Mantin

Camp Bestival – Dorset England

This is a family friendly alternative to the summer festival mayhem, held in the delightful county of Dorset on the south coast of England. The fun and frolics take place over the space of 4 days starting on 1^st August with established acts such the Levellers and Billy Bragg, as well as more recent music talent like DJ Yoda. There is also a wealth of theatre, comedy, poets and talks to keep festival-goers of all ages entertained. This is a great festival to choose if taking to the skies or the open sea is not your cup of tea!

Ok so we all know that we need to drink responsibly, avoid illegal substances and watch out for strangers at festivals – but it is traditionally a time of excess and exuberance for the young at heart. So what do you really need to know to survive the festival season this year?

Let’s find out!

From the ‘Soundwave Croatia 2010’ collection by Ant Freeman

WHAT TO PACK

• Sun cream – just in case your wishful thinking pays off
• Rain mac – or a roll of bin bags, great for makeshift waterproof festival gear
• Wellies – people charge a fortune for them at a stall once the skies turn grey
• Ear plugs – essential if you want ANY sleep, also good for protecting your ears if you like dancing near speakers
• Condoms – you never know your luck (and you don’t want to catch something yuck)
• Spork – trust us, a pack of these will get you a long way in festival heaven
• Wet wipes – you aren’t going to feel fresh for a few days, but at least you’ll know your hands are clean
• Loo roll – it WILL run out at a festival, guaranteed
•  A flag – or something similar to attach to your tent so you can find your way back

DRINK

OK Water – dehydration is very dangerous and when you have been drinking it is even more of an issue. PLUS if you are lucky enough to have sun during your festival the likelihood of dehydration is even greater. Make sure you pack plenty of water and take some fruit juice to water down for a bit of variation.

From the ‘Soundwave Croatia 2010’ collection by Ant Freeman

BOOZE

Find out what you can and can’t take into the camping area and the festival arena (these are likely to be different). Most places have banned glass bottles for safety reasons, and it is unlikely you can take spirits into a main arena area IF you are even allowed to take alcohol in.

Importantly make sure you keep your drink with you to avoid any nasty spiking incidents, oh and drink responsibly!

FOOD

Liquid diets and festivals go hand in hand, but you must remember to eat – if not, your energy levels will be low, you will be less aware of any dangers around you and alcohol will have a rather nasty effect on your body; but enough of the negative side! This is the perfect opportunity to make the most of munching on the vast array of fast foods on offer to keep yourself ready to party!

From the ‘Soundwave Croatia 2010’ collection by Ant Freeman

SEX

Hmm, a muddy field amongst thousands of happy campers isn’t the most romantic place to hook up with a new flame, but if you are going to indulge, make sure you use a condom – you’ve no idea how many lucky people might have been part of that person’s pleasure fest already!

 DRUGS

They are illegal, so you could get into a lot of trouble for being in possession of them, in addition to this, there are other potentially more serious risks involved – The NHS offer this information

“”Try not to mix drugs and drink as it will make you sick,” says Dr Howes. “If you’re a regular drug user, don’t take more than you’re used to.” You can also get sick and have bad reactions to “legal high” drugs. “People think these herbal pills are like taking a vitamin pill but they’re not,” says Deborah Rees, founder of the Safeconcerts website. “With herbal highs, people can get paranoid or have other nasty side effects.”

ROCK N ROLL

Don’t try and be more rock n roll than you really are. Stage diving is best left to the pro’s and don’t go on a bender and decide to ditch your well paid day job by phoning your boss there and then announcing that you are destined to be a professional face painter.

VALUABLES

Just don’t take any. They are likely to get lost, broken or stolen. You are better off buying a cheap unlocked phone so you can keep connected – smart phones won’t last beyond the first festival day with their infamous battery life anyway.

From the ‘Soundwave Croatia 2010’ collection by Ant Freeman

 FUN

Make sure you have some. It is important to exercise caution but be open to new experiences. it’s what festival season is all about. Funnily enough, the best way to have fun is by not getting so trashed you can’t remember anything (including where your tents is), and making sure you indulge in all the lovely food available. Get a bit of sleep on top of that and you’ll have a great time!

From the ‘Soundwave Croatia 2010’ collection by Ant Freeman

All Images Courtesy of Ant Freeman of FortyThree Photography

While the winter months in Iceland is the best time to see the luscious northern lights, in the summer tourists come to see minkes and humpbacks, flocks of puffins perched on the sea cliffs and take part in extreme activities such as caving, sea kayaking, white water rafting and glacier walking. Whenever you plan to go, here is our roundup of essential travel advice for Iceland.

Iceland glacier view by MindsEye_PJ

Entry

UK visitors with a British passport do not need a visa if visiting for less than 3 months, you must make sure that your passport is valid for a minimum of 3 months from date of arrival.

Alcohol and drugs

• The drink drive laws are far stricter in Iceland, with hefty penalties
• All drugs are illegal, and even possession of small amounts of soft drugs can lead to imprisonment
• Smoking is banned in public places

Iceland: Rainbow Volcano by Victor Montol

Health

Your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) is valid for Iceland, but it is strongly advised that you obtain medical and travel insurance as medical repatriation, non-emergency treatment and ongoing treatment is not covered. You can read more about why you need travel insurance even when you have an EHIC in a previous blog post What is a European Health Insurance Card?

The emergency number in Iceland is 112

Safety

Driving conditions are hazardous in Iceland, and journeys on the loose gravel roads will take longer than you think, especially as the speed limits are slow (note  – there are hefty fines for exceeding these limits!) During winter, which is from about the start of November to mid April, winter (but not studded) tyres are mandatory.

Iceland is known for being geologically exciting, which also translates as hazardous. Visitors are advised to exercise caution when visiting the following:

• waterfalls
• barren highlands
• Europe’s largest desert
• the largest ice cap outside the poles
• volcanoes
• lava flows
• slow-flowing glaciers
• geysers
• mudpots
• thermal pools

…as well as when taking part in any of the outdoor activities Iceland is known for.

Always make a travel plan so that people know where you are going, when you are meant to be there, and importantly when you are meant to be back.

Iceland March 2013 _ image 11 by Winniepix

For more information about a safe stay in Iceland visit:

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

http://www.safetravel.is/en/

Iceland 2007 glacier lagoon Jökulsárlón by O Palsson

The Northern Lights, also known as the aurora borealis, is a common feature on many a- traveller’s bucket list, but with a Solar Maximum that runs in 11-year cycles, experiencing this natural wonder is not as straight forward as one might hope.

The good news is that 2012/13 just so happens to be the peak of the cycle, with spectacular displays predicted by experts. Don’t go packing your bags yet though – wait until autumn arrives. As well as having an 11 year cycle, the aurora borealis keeps its extravagant displays confined to coincide with the equinoctes, which occur in September and March.

Northern Lights Ilulissat (by Klaus Poulsen)

Where to go
Generally speaking, head towards the Arctic, above 60 degrees latitude.
• Iceland
• Norway
• Sweden
• Greenland
• Finland
• Canada
• Alaska
The lights can however be seen as far south as Cuba, but the probability of seeing them is understandably lower. If your prime objective is to see the lights, then it is strongly advised that you choose a location as far north as possible, and to avoid disappointment choose a place that has lots of other things to offer as a destination as seeing the lights IS NOT GUARANTEED EVEN DURING THE PEAK.

Northern Lights by Timo Newton-Syms

When to go
The Solar Maximum may be coming to an end, but that does not mean that you have to wait another 11 years to see the Northern Lights. It is all about probability.
Keep the chances of seeing the lights high by going in Autumn or Spring.
They are more spectacular when it is dark – so avoid a full moon, and go to a remote location. Light pollution from cities and such can dilute the glory of this amazing phenomenon.
Once at your destination, you also want to make sure that you don’t miss any light shows that may appear. Many hotels have an aurora alarm, so that you can run outside if nature decides to show it’s spectacle half way though dinner. If you are out and about or staying in a hostel – this is a handy aurora borealis forecast site.

Northern Lights, Greenland by Nick Russil

What to take
The best places to see the lights are in remote places and at night – so warm clothes are advised – pack as if you are off on a ski trip, layers are essential! Once again, staying in a hotel offers an advantage as most will have snow suits and the like for guests to borrow for tours and trips out to more remote places.
Hot tubs are also very popular where the Northern Lights shine, so pack your swim suit.
Finally – if you are planning to hire a snow mobile, you will also need tour driving license, and we also recommend some wintersports travel insurance to go with that too!

If you decided after our last blog that Sandboarding in Egypt is the trip for you, you’ll need to know a little more about visiting the country itself.

We have compiled some essential information as well as handy hints and tips that every traveller should to know from getting in, to staying safe and of course a few pointers on local custom.

Step Pyramid of Djoser by Dennis Jarvis

Entry

You will need a visa and a valid passport unless staying at Sharm El Sheikh, Dahab, Nuweiba and Taba resorts – visitors to these destinations will be given a free entry permission stamp on arrival. However, if you plan to leave the resort during your stay, you will need a visa. Passports must have a minimum of 6 months left from date of entry.

Etiquette

Egypt is Muslim country, and it is advised to respect their customs – so no public displays of affection, and keep yourself covered up.

On that note, displays of affection between same sex couples is in fact ILLEGAL in Egypt and can result in a conviction for breaching laws on public decency.

Alcohol and Drugs

Drinking is ONLY permitted in licensed restaurants and bars. Drinking outside these permitted areas can result in arrest.

Use, possession and trafficking drugs is illegal in Egypt and the law is upheld with lengthy sentences or the death penalty.

Nubian Stinger, Lake Nasser, Egypt by Dennis Jarvis

Transport

There are 3 main bus services running through Egypt; The Upper Egypt Bus Company, serving the Nile Valley, Inner oasis and Red Sea coast; The East Delta Bus Company operates in the Sinai Peninsula and Canal Zone; and The West Delta Bus Company serving Alexandria, North Coast and Nile Delta.

Taxis are usually cheap, and a much better way for tourists to travel around – best booked from reception wherever you are staying, they will have trusted and reputable drivers that are more likely to have a fixed price for excursions.

Money

The currency is Egyptian Pounds, shown as LE, and the exchange rates are much better in Egypt (at present) than they are in the UK. Note… they will not exchange Scottish notes.

Tipping is common, and although service providers are happy to accept Euros and GBP, it is better to tip in the local currency as the general assumption is travellers are loaded and so they will less likely to give a favourable ‘exchange rate’ in foreign currency.

Banks are open until around 2 in the afternoon, and most major cards are accepted.

Health

• Don’t drink the tap water
• Make sure you drink plenty of bottled water to avoid dehydration
• Always use sunscreen

Safety

Egypt has undergone some unrest of late, and there is a threat of terrorism. Demonstrations most often happen on a Friday, attracting attract military and police attention. If you find yourself near any kind of demonstration, it is advisable to get out of the area as swiftly as possible.

Generally speaking resorts are well protected.

For more information, check out the FCO travel advice for egypt – it has up to date information on law, health, safety, entry and political situations.

The road leading to the Tomb of Pennut. Lake Nasser, Egypt by Dennis Jarvis