Although it may be easy getting around in countries where English is understood to some degree, there are many countries where English is scarce and getting around isn’t quite as easy as it may seem. Here are some tips that might help:

1. Learn 10 basic words

You may find it surprising just how much can be accomplished from knowing a few simple words. Words such as “Hello”, “Goodbye”, “Thank you”, and “Where is” “How much…?” can show locals you have made an effort, resulting in beneficial responses.

2. Smile

Yes, it’s that simple. In almost any country smiling goes a long way. (Just be sure to know which countries are not accustomed to smiling at strangers).

3. Speak with hand gestures

Hand gestures often help get the message through to others. If you feel you have offended someone, the Namaste gesture is usually seen as a sign of peace and respectfulness in most countries.

4. Carry a notepad and pen

Drawing pictures is another way to communicate with someone. You can draw what you want, and they can respond in the same way.

5. Use a translator app

There are many apps that allow you to translate text and even speech. The Google Translate App is one of them.

6. Plan your trip from the airport to your hotel

Getting off the plane is when you are the most tired and disoriented. Airports usually have English signage which can assist you with getting to the right places. You should also consider arranging a shuttle or hotel transfer service to meet you at the airport.

7. Get directions from the right people

On the street, the most likely to speak English would be a young, professionally dressed person. You could also walk into a hotel or store and ask an employee there.

8. Carry your hotel business card in the local language

By carrying this with you, you can always show someone where you want to go and they can assist you.

9. Carry a map in the local language

These maps are usually handed out at hotels. Ask the concierge to circle your destinations to make it easier to communicate when asking people for directions.

10. Ask the hotel concierge for names and addresses

Doing this will allow you to show the addresses and names to people who will understand how to get there.

11. Record your route

This is particularly useful when you can’t read street signs. Taking a photo every now and then will help you identify where you are and where you have been when trying to find your way around the same area or back to your hotel.

12. Find people who want to practice their English

If you want to find someone who will want to speak to you in English, university campuses or bookshops are a great start.

 

Source Article: https://www.tripadvisor.com/blog/12-tips-for-traveling-in-countries-where-you-dont-speak-the-language/ 

B4i.travel simplifies your communication needs when travelling and takes the risk out of high international roaming costs. We offer a range of pre-loaded, pre-activated and pre-registered world travel SIM cards so you’ll be connected when you arrive in the country you are visiting. Tourists, students and businessmen have been talking like a local in South Africa, USA, Europe with B4I.travel since 2010. It’s time to ‘Explore your world’.

 

The patriotism in America is truly something unique. When you visit the massive continent, try to time it for the summer time, around the 4th of July. Depending on the area you are visiting, you will get an array of different opportunities to take part in events or simply watch the glory of the day’s celebrations taking place. But which area should you go to when visiting at this time of the year?

Source: FrameImage

Beach Bum

If you have a particular love for the beach and want to make sure you are situated near the sound of crashing waves, there are many spots that you can visit to be in your perfect 4th of July setting. Virginia Beach is possibly one of the most patriotic spots to be during this time; taking a walk along the promenade will give you excellent views of the fireworks display as well as many live performances. You could also visit Huntington Beach in California. As one of America’s most famous beaches, with its magnificent pier, it would certainly be a treat to see how the city transforms on the spectacular day.

Source: Pbs.org

Historical setting

If you enjoy more of a historical setting, you can visit the National Mall and, more specifically, the US Capitol Building. This is where the annual “A Capitol Fourth” concert will take place. The event is free, and tickets are available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Make sure you watch the parade, which travels along Constitution Avenue, before you go to the concert to truly experience patriotism at its finest.

Source: Love.Saschareinking

The Big Apple

Of course, we can’t leave out the Big Apple. Visiting New York during the 4th of July, you are able to start your celebrations off by watching the annual “Nathan’s Famous Hotdog Eating Contest” and finish with the famous “Macy’s 4th of July fireworks display”. You can choose to watch the display from a rooftop bar, a park, or from the side of the East River, either way you will enjoy every second.

Source: NashvilleNeighbourhoods

Musical nut

Music always seems to set the tone of events, so why not visit an area that offers some of the best musical experiences on the 4th of July? With “Music City” as its nickname, you know Nashville will be setting up some incredible musical experiences and, with multiple genres and artists, visiting Downtown Nashville is something you need to do if you are looking to dance and sing along to astonishing 4th of July live performances.

 As you can see, there are many different experiences to be had on the 4thof July, in America. Don’t miss out on what could be the best patriotic experience of your life; make sure you visit America during this time of the year so you can say that you were a part of it.

 

Sources:

https://www.application-esta.co.uk/visiting-usa-during-july-fourth

https://www.travelandleisure.com/holiday-travel/4th-of-july/americas-best-beaches-for-4th-of-july?slide=573491#573491

https://freetoursbyfoot.com/top-things-to-do-in-dc-on-fourth-of-july/

 

B4i.travel simplifies your communication needs when travelling and takes the risk out of high international roaming costs. We offer a range of pre-loaded, pre-activated and pre-registered world travel SIM cards so you’ll be connected when you arrive in the country you are visiting. Tourists, students and businessmen have been talking like a local in South Africa, USA, Europe with B4I.travel since 2010. It’s time to ‘Explore your world’.

The Wine Culture

One of the first things travelers think of when visiting Cape Town is the famous wine culture. With Cape Town’s extensive history in wine farming, taking a trip to the coveted wine farms is a must-have on your to-do list when visiting the Mother City. There are a number of wine routes and vineyards to choose from, which are considered some of the best in the world, but with such a large variety of routes just a drive away, it can be a bit difficult to choose which to visit. Below are a few things to consider before making your selection.

Wine Tasting With A View

The wine routes in Cape Town offer some of the city’s best views. Apart from the incredible wine, you get the chance to drive through beautiful scenery and sit amongst nature while drinking a glass of your favourite blend. Vineyards are typically surrounded by grand mountainscapes and the more historic farms display classic Cape Dutch architecture. The pristine white of the buildings are a juxtaposition to the lush greenery surrounding them, creating a tranquil setting where you will want to stay submerged for as long as possible.

Source: http://www.kleinhoekkloof.co.za/eye-mountain

 

Wine Tasting With A View

The wine routes in Cape Town offer some of the city’s best views. Apart from the incredible wine, you get the chance to drive through beautiful scenery and sit amongst nature while drinking a glass of your favourite blend. Vineyards are typically surrounded by grand mountainscapes and the more historic farms display classic Cape Dutch architecture. The pristine white of the buildings are a juxtaposition to the lush greenery surrounding them, creating a tranquil setting where you will want to stay submerged for as long as possible.

Vineyards with a view:

http://www.buitenverwachting.com

http://www.kleinhoekkloof.co.za

https://www.laborieestate.co.za

Source: https://www.bouchardfinlayson.co.za/the-estate/the-winery-and-cellars

 

Near the City

If your visit to Cape Town involves a lot of tourist activities and you don’t plan on venturing too far out of the city, then you may want to consider visiting vineyards in Constantia, Stellenbosch, Franschhoek and Paarl. All of these destinations are located about an hour’s drive out of Cape Town, allowing you to visit a vineyard, have a great wine-tasting experience and still have time to get back to the city for other activities. One of the great things about these wine routes is that you still feel as if you are out in the country-side, far away from the hustle and bustle of the city.

Source: https://www.benguelacove.co.za

 

Venturing Out

If you are passionate about wine and happy to venture out of the city centre, Hermanus or Robertson both offer exquisite wine routes. These routes are approximately a 2-hour drive out of Cape Town but offer a scenic road trip to your destination. Taking a trip to Robertson, for example, would give you the option of traveling through the Huguenot tunnel, which stretches 3.9km through a mountain and is followed by an incredible drive through the Hawequas mountain range. If you choose one of these destinations, it would be best to dedicate a full day to the trip or book a night’s accommodation in the area.

Source: https://esona.co.za

 

Something Different

When visiting a wine farm in the Western Cape, you might have the opportunity of additional activities other than only wine tasting. You could experience a tasting in an old wine cellar, blend your own wine, or meet the people who are behind the production of the wine. If you want to add a little something to the experience, make sure this is taken into account when making your decision on where to go. Pairing food with wine is quite a popular attraction and allows you to experience the way different food affects the flavour of the wine itself. It can be quite an interesting experience and you may find yourself tasting flavours in the wine that you have never tasted before.

Wine farms with a difference:

https://esona.co.za

https://kleinroosboom.co.za

https://www.bouchardfinlayson.co.za

Ultimately, no matter which wine route you choose, Cape Town will not disappoint. Take your time and enjoy the delicious wine Cape Town has to offer.

 

Sources:

https://businesstech.co.za/news/lifestyle/231545/the-most-popular-wine-routes-in-the-western-cape/

https://www.sa-venues.com/attractionswc/wine-estates/default.php

https://www.getaway.co.za/travel-ideas/things-to-do/wine-routes-near-cape-town/

 

B4i.travel simplifies your communication needs when travelling and takes the risk out of high international roaming costs. We offer a range of pre-loaded, pre-activated and pre-registered world travel SIM cards so you’ll be connected when you arrive in the country you are visiting. Tourists, students and businessmen have been talking like a local in South Africa, USA, Europe with B4I.travel since 2010. It’s time to ‘Explore your world’.

 

Spending in euros can be limiting especially if you’re travelling on a tight budget! Luckily there are ways to cut corners and spend judiciously. Due to the rise of the sharing economy, there has been a surge in new budget airlines and bus options. Now it looks like the new trend is to get around Europe using these efficient transport services.

Here are new 7 affordable ways to travel through the continent:

Megabus

Megabus is the ‘IT’ bus to travel through the United Kingdom as well as Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam. The ticket prices can vary from 1-20 pound sterling and is considerably cheap and efficient.

Busabout

Are you familiar with the hop on/hop off bus service? It’s a popular transport among the backpackers who get to meet other people with the same itinerary and can get on and off on any set routes while travelling with Busabout. Their unlimited passes for $1,499 for six months of travel is the best deal for a long-term period.

Flixbus

Here’s another additional bus transport that’s as user-friendly as Megabus but with even better perks (Wifi, electrical outlets, up to three free bags) at a reasonably good price. German-based FlixBus has routes in 20 European countries and thousands of cities, with prices starting as low as 5 euros.

Budget Airline

With budget airlines, you get to travel at ease with trips as cheap as 1 euro! Disclaimer: You might have to read the rules again before booking any ticket. They are known to be very strict about baggage limits or if you forget to print out your boarding pass. You will otherwise have to pay for extra fees. Skyscanner and Momondo are the go-to’s for anyone who wants to save up yet still travel through an airline!

Eurail Pass

If travelling in a plane or on a bus in Europe is not your cup of tea then you can always try the Eurail Pass out. It’s a much more comfortable option, plus the European rail system is known to be the best and most extensive rail system in the world.

If your goal is to travel around Europe across long distances for longer journeys, the Eurail Pass is the more appropriate choice of transport. Your cost per trip will be a lot more economical than if you were to buy the tickets separately.

BlaBlaCar

BlablaCar is the definition of a car-pool, except cooler! It lets you rideshare with people who have extra space in their car with the same destination as yours and who agree to give you a lift. The rides can cost as little as 5 euros. If you’re a fan of the countryside and you don’t mind the social aspect of BlablaCar, then get riding!

Source Article: https://www.nomadicmatt.com/travel-blogs/cheap-ways-to-travel-across-europe-2/

 

B4i.travel simplifies your communication needs when travelling and takes the risk out of high international roaming costs. We offer a range of pre-loaded, pre-activated and pre-registered world travel SIM cards so you’ll be connected when you arrive in the country you are visiting. Tourists, students and businessmen have been talking like a local in South Africa, USA, Europe with B4I.travel since 2010. It’s time to ‘Explore your world’.

Here are 7 pointers to keep in mind to maximise your experience when visiting America for work or that long-awaited holiday:

1. The Tipping culture

Tipping your waiter is always required whether you’re in a taxi, at a bar or in a restaurant. It’s regarded as a token of appreciation if the service you received was hospitable.

2. The price on the label is not the final price!

Most things you’ll buy will exclude sales tax which is generally 10% extra in addition to the total cost. When in doubt, just take your phone out to calculate the exact amount you need to pay.  

3. Don’t underestimate the national parks

Forget the concrete jungle that you always see on TV. Make time and go visit the national parks scattered all across America. Some of them such as Yellow Stone National Park, The Grand Canyon National Park, Yosemite National Park & Zion National Park are the ones that you cannot miss.

4. Your ESTA Application

Don’t we all love some paperwork! If you’re arriving from a country under the Visa Waiver Program, you are subject to apply for an Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA) and obtain approval before coming to the USA.

5. Not everywhere is safe!

Like every country, there are some places that are unsecured and not guarded at all times. Try and get as much advice as you can from the friendly locals and assess your situation regularly. Wander often but wander safe.

6. Make sure to have your travel and health insurance sorted before you travel.

This is pretty much a step that’s imperative before you go to any country especially where its currency is the American dollar. Invest wisely and keep a printed document of your ID, Health insurance and your plane ticket with you at all times.

7. Turning right on a red light is rule-worthy.

Across the 50 states, drivers can take a right turn on a red light when it’s safe and if there’s no sign that forbids a right turn. So watch out when you’re driving or crossing the road.

Source article: https://www.travelanddestinations.com/things-to-know-before-visiting-the-usa/

 

B4i.travel simplifies your communication needs when travelling and takes the risk out of high international roaming costs. We offer a range of pre-loaded, pre-activated and pre-registered world travel SIM cards so you’ll be connected when you arrive in the country you are visiting. Tourists, students and businessmen have been talking like a local in South Africa, USA, Europe with B4I.travel since 2010. It’s time to ‘Explore your world’.

Take a card from your Hotel in case you get lost.

If you are unfamiliar with a city or perhaps you are  a first time traveller the travel tip is to take a hotel business card from Reception when checking in, which has the address and telephone number of your hotel so in the event you should get lost or forget the name of hotel you are able to get back without too much trouble.

This tip is particularly useful in countries where English is not that widely spoken and communication is often difficult with a cab driver like in places like  Korea or Japan. Just show the hotel card to the cab driver, the card will inevitably have the hotel address printed in English and the local language.

If there are no hotel business cards record the address as a pin on Google Maps and save the hotels telephone number.

Our Top Ten Must do’s in Cape Town

1.      Go up Table Mountain on the Cableway – Table Mountain sits majestically in the heart of the city and gives a panoramic view of The City, Table bay, Clifton and Camps Bay. Bring something warm to wear, the weather can change fast at the top and it is always cooler at the top of the mountain which is just over a 1000m above sea level.

2.      Cape Point – Cape Point is located in the Cape Point Reserve (about 80km from the city)where you will find several species of antelope, Zebra and baboons.  Absolutely worth the walk to the Point with its amazing views of False Bay and the Atlantic. There is a funicular up the hill (The Flying Dutchman) if you do not feel like the short hike.

3.      Robben Island – The prison made famous by Mandela’s incarceration, Trips by boats leave from the Waterfront at the Clock Tower.

4.      Seal Island – Boats leave from Hout Bay Harbour and travel around the Sentinel to the Island which is covered in Cape fur seals.

5.      Penguins at Boulders Beach – In summer enjoy the opportunity to swim safely at Boulders just past Simonstown with a colony Jackass penguins.

6.      Kirstenbosch – The Botanical Gardens at Kirstenbosch is the best in the world and absolutely worth a visit. In summer book for one of the many open-air concerts on the lawn, it will be unforgettable.

7.      The Castle of Good Hope – located in the centre of the city, one of the oldest buildings in South Africa built by the Dutch settlers.

8.      Visit Groot Constantia wine farm – built in 1685 and the oldest wine producing estate in South Africa.

9.      The Waterfront – South Africa’s top tourist destination with all its restaurants and shops located in a working harbour and also home to Cape Town’s eye a revolving pod letting you see the city and beyond.

10.   Lions Head by night – take a walk up to the top of Lion’s head with a torch on a full moon but expect crowds of people, the reward is a unique 360-degree breathtaking view, so worth it.