Archive for June, 2011
June 30th, 2011 | 
Author: Taxi Safety
Taking a taxi we focus on our comfort but we should be also concerned about our safety. We reduce a risk when we order taxi online or find it in Yellow Pages but if we do not do it there is a list of taxi tips you should know before getting into a cab.
1. Always use only licenced Taxis and PHVs.
The driver must have their badge and the car its plate. Identify them prior to entering the vehicle and closing the door. They should display licence number expiry date and the picture of the driver or description of the vehicle. You should never agree to travel in an unlicensed vehicle with an unlicensed driver. If they are not licensed have not been vetted for safety purposes and are not insured for your journey.
You can hail a taxi in the street or get one at a rank or prebook it. Private hire vehicles PHVs known as minicabs must always be booked through a licensed operator. If you are approached by someone in the street offering you or your friends a taxi or any other type of vehicle for hire ignore them.
2. If you prebook your taxi check that the taxi that arrives is the one you booked.
Ask the Operator for a description of the car and check these details when the vehicle arrives. It would be good practice to also ask for the name of the driver beforehand.
3. Let someone else know the details of your journey.
If you are especially cautious you might consider sending a text message to friends before entering the taxi. In your message be sure to include the license plates drivers name and identification number.
4. Do not get into the cab if there is someone else in addition to the driver
Be wary of getting into taxis that already have strangers on board or of being asked to share with strangers. Anyway splitting the bill is confusing and shared taxis are not nearly as comfortable.
5. Always sit in the back of the vehicle behind the driver and carry your mobile phone in your hand so it is easily accessible.
Know emergency contact numbers and if a taxi driver starts giving you trouble let him or her know that you know the appropriate emergency contact numbers and youre not afraid to use them.
6. Know where you are going
It is harder for taxi drivers to cheat you if you know exactly where youre going. Before you accept shortcuts detours and special stops make sure you know where you are where you were and where it is you ultimately want to go. Know the route or general direction to your destination.
7. Fares and tipping
To avoid potential disputes with taxi drivers know the local tipping customs. Ask a hotel staff member or your host for the typical price range to your destination and the amount of an appropriate tip. Try to get a firm or estimated fare from your driver before you start.
8. Pay while in the cab
Know enough about the local currency to identify the bill. Make sure you have small bills as drivers wont always be able to break large notes. Exchange money while you are still in a taxicab. That way you can have your purse or wallet properly stored once you exit the taxi.
9. Avoid travelling on your own
There is safety in numbers so traveling with a companion minimizes your risks and makes it much less likely that you will ever encounter a potential problem.
10. Ensure your safety outside the taxi.
When you get to your destination ask the driver to wait and watch until you are safely inside or ask to be let out in a welllit area where there are plenty of people.
You do not need to bother much about your safety if you place your taxi request with online booking company such as www.FairFare.co.uk. First of all you are sure that you go with fully registered taxi operator. You receive all your journey details and taxi operators contact details to your email box and you have saved a clear record of all your previous journeys. Moreover you can try your barging skills entering your price expectations and when your request is booked your price is guaranteed. These are just few benefits of online taxi booking with http://www.fairfare.co.uk
About the writer: Aged 26 professional interested in many areas of life like: history online shopping travelling leading an eco friendly life style. Currently may favourite website http://www.fairfare.co.uk
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Singapore: A Bus Ride In The Trees
Singapore may be a bit squeaky clean for some. There is a rumor that when everybodys asleep at night they dust the place. Playing the tourist may also be offputting to travelers these days who prefer to spend as much time as possible among the natives absorbing the true culture and lifestyle of their destination. But there are times when not doing the tourist thing is crazy and a good example of this is the doubledecker sightseeing bus ride around Singapore. The reason? You get to ride among the worlds most beautiful trees.
Singapore is a gloriously planned city. Everything works towards making a stay there pleasurable and there are many Singapore hotels where one can appreciate the superb engineering of the city. One of the greatest contributors to this is the street plan. There are almost no narrow congested streets in Singapore and in the downtown area the place was conceived on such a grand scale that the boulevards are truly wide open spaces. They are also very cool and temperate. Strolling around in this most strollable of tropical towns its hard to believe that one is almost exactly on the equator. The biggest single reason for this is that the city forefathers had the foresight to plant trees that would grow to such magnificence that they would spread out and cover the boulevards in many cases reaching over and making a canopy completely covering the people below in dappled balmy shade.
Whoever was in charge of choosing planting and sculpting the trees of Singapore was a creative genius. Many of the more massive trees were not native but brought from South America over a hundred years ago because of their height and span. One of the most common of these is the Rain Tree so called because it predicts rain by folding up its leaves. Nearly 200 of the biggest and most beautiful of these striding down the boulevards like giants have been nominated as Heritage Trees you can nominate one any time you like and recently someone was arrested for attempting to prune one illegally because it was dirtying his car! Thats the kind of civic pride these beauties inspire.
And the best way to enjoy them is on the top deck of a tourist bus. Theyre so aweinspiring you wont want to come down. When in Singapore ask your hotel concierge for advice. Many hotels in Singapore will know of the bus and can provide you with more information. Or if you stay in the city try to get accommodation on the second or third floor of your lodging downtown just to be among the trees. There are people who actually dont notice any of this. Imagine that! So be a tourist for once. You can experience all of this for a bus ride thats almost free.
About the writer: My name is Pete Prinyaroje. This is one of ours article. Hope it would be more or less benefit for the happytimes of your next journey. More Tips Reviews Please visit Pete’s Blog or Agoda’s Website.
Self Catering In Suffolk
When it comes to travelling in and around UK we simply can not ignore Suffolk. The county offers irresistible natural beauty that will surely take your breath away. You can best explore and enjoy them when you have lots of time in your hand and complete freedom with your time and stay. One of the best ways to stay and enjoy Suffolk is by staying in a self catering cottage or apartment.
Self catering cottages in Suffolk can be booked right from your city. You can do it through online booking. There are plenty of good sites that offer you great deals on these self catering cottages. You can check out the options and pick a cottage that suits your comfort factor in the best possible way. It is quite easy to book for self catering homes right on the internet and also you can get good deals. You have all the time to check out the details so that you do not reach the county without a clue.
You can have cottages near the hill side where breath taking views of the hill will fill up your sense like nothing else can. Or you can also choose your cottage near the coastal area where the sea would greet you every hour of the day with its arms wide open. How about a hill top self catering apartment overlooking the sea? Doesn’t it sound really interesting? You can choose to have cottages where the entire space is yours right from the front door to the courtyard at the back.
And not just the complete space and freedom to move around freely in the wide open space of your cottage now you can also save money. You can save lots of money on hiring self catering cottages especially when compared to the prices they charge in multi star hotels and guest houses.
About the writer: Terry is a globetrotter specialising in travel writing. Having toured all over Britain he has a fair idea of the best resorts self catering hotels and other places of accommodation and entertainment including cottages services in the British isles. He has been using his vast knowledge of geography and languages to guide tourists and holidaymakers to enjoy their touring time.