February is Carnival month in many parts of the world – including Nice and Venice. The famous New Orleans Mardi Gras takes place on February 16 (Fat Tuesday).
Perhaps the best known and most famous, however, is the Carnival in Rio de Janeiro – also known as the Carnival Capital of the world. (Portuguese: Carnaval)
The fun in Rio begins on Saturday 13 February and runs for four days, ending on Fat Tuesday (which is followed by Ash Wednesday and the beginning of Lent).
However, many events occur before, during, and after the Carnival dates. Carnival kicks off with the crowning of the Fat King, when the mayor presents him with gold and silver keys.
Carnival completely takes over the streets of Rio with the incredible, colourful, Samba Parade. Sunday and Monday are the main event days, and if you haven’t already booked tickets it may be too late. If you can find accommodation there is plenty of free entertainment though, with street bands and street parties.
Visit our Travel Guide for Brazil and follow the link for the Foreign office (FCO) for updated and very important travel advice. We advise making a note of embassy and other emergency contact numbers and registering with the LOCATE service, just in case.
Brazil has a high level of crime, especially during Carnival, so be on your guard! Mobile phone cloning and credit card fraud are common problems, along with the usual street crimes and pickpocketing.
Hang onto your immigration landing card because you will be fined (cash) for losing it. Also, carry enough cash to pay the airport tax when leaving the country. For more important information of this type, including passport validity, visit the FCO page - as detailed above.
Although foreign nationals may be entitled to some emergency medical treatment in Brazil, you will not be entitled to non-urgent treatment or care in a private hospital unless you have evidence of sufficient funds, or insurance. Don’t take a chance and ruin all the fun – get a quote for travel insurancehere. If you are travelling light, our Backpacker travel insurance starts from just 20p per day - click here.
The Foreign Office (FCO) has issued a renewed warning about the hazards of getting involved with drugs overseas.
They report that a large number of Britons being held in prisons abroad are there for drug-related offences.
Of the numbers reported, the largest groups detained were in Spain, the U.S., Thailand, Australia and France. They are mostly males.
The TV series ‘Banged up Abroad’ showed real life stories of the horrific conditions that Britons have endured in jails and prisons in foreign countries. Those who watched it should have been scared straight!
The FCO urges travellers and holidaymakers to avoid any contact with drugs, as they can result in serious jail time - often in very unpleasant conditions. Once detained in custody it can also take a very long time in custody before sentence is passed and ‘time’ begins.
In Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, and China drug smuggling can mean a death sentence. Countries such as India, Venezuela, Cyprus, United Arab Emirates and Ireland often hand down lengthy sentences – even for possession of very minimal amounts of drugs.
According to the FCO, a survey showed that many Britons believe diplomatic staff have the power to secure their from jail or prison. Others believe they will be able to transfer home to serve their sentence. The reality is that the best consular staff can do in most cases is provide names of lawyers, help with contacting family, and other supportive issues. Even with this minimal contact, the staff spend a lot of time on Britons who get themselves in trouble abroad. Obtaining permission to be transferred home to serve a sentence can take ages, if it is possible at all.
Getting in trouble with the law in many parts of South America and third world countries is not something to be experienced! The conditions can be horrendous, overcrowded, dirty, with awful food, substandard medical treatment, and often little control or discipline, meaning that the inmates rule - often with violence. It is also not unheard of that prison guards themselves are corrupt.
No matter how much someone tries to influence you – or how much money you are offered – or any other reason – don’t do it! Think of the damage it will cause to you, your health, your life prospects, and the effect on your family and loved ones - to name just a few of the issues. It simply is not worth the risk!
For more information about the FCO and their role in assisting Britons detained abroad click here. In case you are wondering… If you get yourself arrested abroad Travel Insurance will not be of any help either!
Posted on
February 3rd, 2010,
Jean. Filed under
Europe, Travel News,
The National Pandemic Flu Service was opened in July of 2009 in response to the growing number of cases being reported at that time. The service provided flu assessments and treatment.
However, due to the dwindling number of cases the service for England will close down at 1 am on 11 February 2010.
The Swine Flu Information Line will remain live at: 0800 1 513 513.
After 11 February, if you have symptoms and suspect Swine Flu you are advised to stay at home and contact your GP. Your GP will assess the symptoms and prescribe Tamiflu if needed. They will also continue to advise regarding flu vaccinations.
For Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland the advice has not changed and those who think they may have Swine Flu should contact their GP or NHS or other published helpline. Visit the Directgov website for more Swine Flu information, links and contact numbers.
Reminder: Before travelling abroad UK residents should apply for the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) or check the expiry date if you already have one - but be aware that the EHIC is not a substitute for travel insurance. (It is important to carry the EHIC but also purchase travel insurance).
The EHIC provides free emergency medical care in EU state-run facilities (but not if you should be taken to a private hospital). It also does not cover emergency medical repatriation and many other important and potentially expensive travel mishaps! For an instant Travel Insurance quote click here.
We are eagerly anticipating the 2010 Winter Olympic Games and all the fantastic sporting events.
The Opening Ceremony for the Winter Olympics is now just 10 days away! Visit the official website for event schedules and information for the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
On the website you can also follow the progress of the Olympic Torch Relay - which began on 31 October and is now on day 96 as it progresses along the route to Vancouver for the Opening Ceremony on Friday, 12 February.
As a reminder of some of the treats in store, the events include: Alpine skiing, snowboarding, bobsleigh, freestyle skiing, skeleton, ski jumping, luge, cross-country, curling, figure skating, ice hockey and speed skating. The first scheduled event is ski jumping which (for those not lucky enough to be there in person) always guarantees exciting armchair viewing. The Closing Ceremony will take place on 28 February.
Venues for the events include the Vancouver Olympic Centre and Pacific Coliseum, Whistler Olympic Park, the Olympic Oval in Richmond, and Cypress Mountain in West Vancouver
The 2010 Paralympic Winter Games (Jeux Paralympiques) opens on 12 March and events are scheduled to run from 12-21 March at venues in Vancouver and Whistler.
If you are heading off to watch any of the Games, or planning to go skiing or boarding elsewhere – don’t forget to take out Ski Insurance before leaving home! For a winning quote click here.
Why not visit our Travel Guide and then follow the links on the relevant country or ski resort pages for important and updated travel advice from the Foreign Office (FCO) as part of their excellent ‘Know Before You Go Campaign’.
Chinese New Year (also known as Spring Festival and Lunar New Year) occurs this year on February 14 in the lunar calendar (coinciding with St. Valentine’s Day).
The date varies each year, depending on the phases of the moon, but always falls between late January and mid-February.
This year signifies the Year of the Tiger in Chinese astrology, associated with bravery – which is appropriate considering the challenges many of us face!
Although 14 February is the main day, the event is also celebrated on dates before and after. In London the main celebration takes place on 21 February in and around Chinatown, Leicester Square and Trafalgar Square. Events include: Parades, Chinese dragons and dragon dances, lions, acrobats, food and music - ending with a fireworks display in Leicester Square.
Watch for other events in London, including Chinese New Year celebrations at the National Maritime Museum, a photographic exhibition featuring tigers at the National Geographic Store, and a live Chinese classical music concert. Check the internet and your local media for events near you.
This is the time of year when many people travel to reunite and celebrate with their families. It is also a tradition to wear new clothes - to signify a new start in the new year, and as a sign of prosperity. The colour red is dominant as it is believed to scare away bad spirits and bad luck.
Fireworks and firecrackers are part of the celebrations but, due to the number of accidents as well as safety concerns, they are banned in many parts of the world other than in controlled displays.
Visit our Country Guide for travel information and click on the link for updated travel advice provided by the Foreign Office (FCO) as part of their ‘Know Before You Go’ campaign).
If you are travelling to be with family during the celebrations, don’t invite bad luck by neglecting to take out travel insurance! Our Backpacker travel insurance policy starts from just 20p per day.
Wishing you good health, good fortune, peace, and prosperity for the upcoming year!
Chinese New Year celebrations traditionally end with the Lantern Festival - where colourful lanterns are lit and released into the air. This year the event lands on Sunday, 28 February 2010, to correspond with the next full moon.
This delightful spectacle has also become popular around the world in celebration of many other events, including weddings.
The laws of yin and yang inevitably expose the upside and downside associated with most things.… Although they are beautiful to behold, the BBC recently reported some problems associated with the lanterns – and a growing number of people who would like to see them banned. Read the report here.
According to some farmers in the UK, the lanterns are causing injury and death to livestock. Paper lanterns, once lit and released, can travel many miles - and what goes up must come down… Many of the lanterns are landing in fields full of dry crops - creating a potential fire hazard (as well as to thatched roofs and other vulnerable buildings).
Complaints from farmers have also highlighted the problems when lanterns land in fields where livestock seem to find them irresistible and chew or eat them, causing illness and sometimes a prolonged death. Many of the lanterns contain wire frames and bamboo, both of which are obviously harmful if ingested. There is also a risk of the lanterns, especially the wire parts, being chopped into silage – again resulting in harm to livestock. One farmer is reported to have found more than 50 lanterns scattered on her land.
The lanterns are certainly a very pretty sight, and a delightful tradition. There appear to be many magical legends and versions of the origin of the lanterns, dating back to the Han Dynasty and the Jade Emperor. In many Asian countries releasing the lanterns is believed to bring good fortune and prosperity. In Taiwan people write their wishes on paper and insert them into the lanterns before releasing them to fly up to heaven for their wishes to be granted. In some places candles are lit outside homes to help guide lost spirits home.
Until a solution is found to keep farmers and the coastguard and maritime agencies happy (or there is a total ban!) people should take care where they release lanterns, and avoid releasing them near coasts – or give the coastguard advance warning.
The other side of the argument is that the paper lanterns (without the metal frame) are biodegradable, and more evironmentally friendly than latex or helium filled foil balloons. Some lanterns also contain bamboo (which is very brittle). It seems likely that the lanterns will, in future, be manufactured without the metal frames. For those who like to make their own lanterns, please be mindful of the harm the lanterns could cause when they land.
If you are setting off on a holiday or adventure abroad, we would advise against lighting and releasing a lantern containing your wishes for good luck and safe travels – it would be much wiser to take out travel insurance!
Everton FC travels out to Portugal to play Sporting Lisbon in a UEFA Champions League football match on 25 February. The venue is the Estadio Jose Alvalade in Lisbon.
Travellers planning to visit Lisbon may wish to avoid the match date if they are not there for the football.
The Foreign Office (FCO) has posted some useful information for Everton fans travelling out to support their team, including directions to the stadium - Click here.
It is the law in Portugal to show identification if requested by the authorities. The FCO also advises fans to be careful with drinking, as Portuguese beer tends to be stronger than many brews we are used to at home. Be warned that the authorities may breathalyse fans on entry to the stadium, and those over the limit are likely to be refused entry.
Blues fans should expect to be held back for approximately thirty minutes after the game ends, to allow home supporters to leave first.
Take your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) with you to Portugal, but remember that it is not a substitute for proper travel insurance! The EHIC only covers emergency medical treatment in a state run facility. It does not cover many other important matters, such as ongoing medical treatment, medical repatriation, non-urgent treatment, scheduled airline failure, lost luggage, and a load of other potential headaches and expenses!
Visit our Travel Guide for Portugal and follow the link for the Foreign Office (FCO) ‘Know Before You Go’ campaign for the latest, important, travel advice and information.
Have you measured your derriere lately? The way things are going, it may become necessary before booking a flight!
The news is full of the latest skinny on charging extra for overweight passengers. It is obviously a very delicate and sensitive matter for all concerned, including the airline, flight attendants, and airline personnel – as well as oversize passengers.
Airlines have seatbelt extenders available, but some airlines now require large passengers to purchase an additional seat.
From February 1, 2010 Air France-KLM will implement a new policy for passengers with ‘a high body mass’ (as it is described on their website).
Air France-KLM passengers will, if needed, be required to reserve and pay for an additional adjoining seat - or risk being denied boarding if the flight is full. (Second seats will be offered at a discount). However, if the flight is not full the airline has promised to reimburse the cost of the second seat. The airline cites safety concerns where passengers do not comfortably fit into a single seat and the backrest cannot be moved up and down easily.
According to the Air-France-KLM website, the aisle width on Air France-KLM planes is 43 cm (17 inches). Seat widths on their planes range from:
40-45 cm (16-17”) ‘Voyageur’ and ‘Alizé’ cabins, waist up to 135 cm (53”)
47 cm (18.5”) ‘Affaires’ med-haul cabins, waist up to 149 cm (59”)
47 cm (19”) ‘Premium Voyageur’ long-haul cabins, waist up to 149 cm (59”)
50-53 cm (20-21”) ‘La Première 1st class’ & ‘Affaires LH Business Class’, waist 200 cm (79”)
Once an airline makes a move like this, the chances are it won’t be long before others follow suit. Some airlines have already adopted policies regarding ‘customers of size’. In the U.S. United Airline requires passengers who do not fit safely into a single seat to purchase an additional seat (if the flight attendants can arrange it) or pay for an upgrade to business class. The U.S. budget airline, Southwest requires that passengers must be able to lower both armrests, or buy a second seat. Jet Blue and American Airlines have similar policies.
The new policy may also be due to the growing number of complaints from passengers who have suffered uncomfortable flights because of an overweight seat companion. It also makes the airlines vulnerable to lawsuits. A woman who claimed her overweight seat companion crushed her on a flight successfully sued Virgin Atlantic several years ago. Even more important, perhaps, is the fear that an overweight person would hamper evacuation in an emergency.
Travellers of size may soon be advised to get the measuring tape out, do a height and weight check, and plan their flights and travels accordingly. It would be preferable to do this at home at the booking stage rather than risk an embarrassing episode at the airport or on the plane. What is your opinion? Please feel free to comment.
Obtain a quote for your travel insurance here - our prices are still streamlined!
The annual Carnivale di Venezia takes place this year from 6-16 February, kicking off with an opening concert (classical) on the evening of 5 February at Ca’Rezzonico.
Get into the Venice Carnival spirit, and the spirit of Vivaldi, with these fine examples of masks while listening to a beautiful rendition of Vivaldi’s ‘Rain’:
The main theme of this year’s event will be centred around ‘Fire’ - The Carnival of Fire and Colours (Carnevale di Fuoco e Colori). The peviously successful format, ‘Sensation: 6 Senses for 6 Districts’ (6 sensi per 6 sestieri) will continue. The six main sestiere (districts) of Venice each have their own spin on the events, focusing on one of the six senses.
Events will continue every day during Carnival (with the exception of Monday, 8 February). They include: Masked balls (including Casanova’s Ball), elegant dinner dances, cocktail parties, gondola tours and serenades, candle-lit palazzos, the angel flight, parades, street performers, costume contests, and much more. The flight of the angel of the carnival (Vollo dell’Angelo) is always a big attraction on the first Sunday at noon, as a guest star in angel costume descends from the Bell Tower into St. Mark’s Square, followed by the Doge and Dogaressa’s historic parade.
If you are worried about the cost, St. Mark’s Square will be the focal point - with plenty of free events for those unable to spring for entrance fees to many grand events. Tango nights in St. Mark’s Square sound like fun, and are free (including St. Valentine’s Day, 14 February). The Carnival winds down with an array of glamourous events and a free bash in St. Mark’s Square on Shrove Tuesday, February16.
Why not grab your own mask and Bellini and join in the fun as masked revellers take over the City of Light (be sensitive to the fact that masks are not permitted in many churches). As with all carnivals, Venice Carnival is a major attraction for those who love to dress up and pose - so don’t forget your camera. The mask-phobic may not find the event quite so attractive, but the upside is you never know who you might be rubbing shoulders with!
Prices for the events range from free to pretty pricey. Some events are already showing as sold out, so start planning your trip and book your tickets soon. Don’t forget to purchase travel insurance – for an instant quote click here. For more information about Venice Carnival click here.
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February is Carnival month in many parts of the world – including Nice and Venice. The famous New Orleans Mardi Gras takes place on February 16 (Fat Tuesday). 
