It is that time of year again to be planning the family vacation. Perhaps you are more interested in taking a couple’s vacation and leaving the children behind. It can be tough trying to decide what to do and where to go. Have you ever considered cooking vacations? It is a great way to see the world and learn regional dishes from the places you visit. One website to take a look at is www.cooking-vacations.com.
Do not expect cooking vacations to be the same thing as attending the best culinary schools in the country. You will not earn a diploma and you will not learn every type of cuisine. Sure, you may take an Italian or French tour but you will not be enrolled in French or Italian cooking schools. You need to think in simpler terms when it comes to what you will learn. You will not come out of the tour as a executive chef, but you will come out with a more appreciative view of preparing food that you love.
Now for what these vacations are and what they mean to you as the vacationer. You can expect several different programs and options when booking one of these vacations. They include: Italian tours, women only tours, Todd English tours, kids programs, corporate tours, couples and French tours.
The website has a listing of each different location that is offered on each particular tour. You may want to visit Southern Italy and feast in the open air kitchens that offer far more than just a scenic view. The one thing in common with all of the programs is that each locale features an organic garden so that you will be cooking seasonal foods and foods indigenous to that particular region.
The website also offers recipes from the different regions, as well as travel tips and much, much more. If you are a fan of Italian and French cooking, then this may be the vacation that you have dreamed of taking. It is a great opportunity to learn more about the regions and to have the chance to cook in the kitchens of such places as rustic farmhouses or luxurious estates.
Lauren Scruncio Birmingham is the creator of the cooking vacations at www.cooking-vacations.com. Her goal was to share her own and her family’s love of cooking with others. She started the cooking vacation idea as a way to pay homage to her grandmother Donna and has since made quite a big impact on the culinary community. People love the idea of learning simple yet outstanding dishes created by the people who eat them every day. It is that love of cooking that has people returning year after year to take the different tours. You can embrace the love of cooking as well by booking one of her tours. As her website says, “la dolce vita is not just a special vacation it is a way of life.”
You read some odd things about France and in particular Paris from time to time. For example, France is the most visited country in the world by tourists. Another unusual one is that the most disappointing tourist attraction in the world in the Eiffel Tower. Who came up with these so called facts is not exactly clear but the truth is that there is plenty to see and do in France and Paris that you won’t be left twiddling your thumbs next time you plan a visit. Here is some must see things while you are there.
Ok, lets start off with the Eiffel tower. Just to be a contrarian or have your own opinion, visiting the Eiffel tower has to be ticked off your must see list. It’s probably the most recognizable location in Paris and a pretty spectacular view can be had at the top. The view is made better if you know what you are looking at so get a guide or map beforehand. Depending on when you go to Paris, the downside of the tower is the waiting. It can take a long time to get up to the top because of the queues. Winter is probably a better time if getting up quickly is a must, it may be colder but generally the view is just as good.
The Louvre is possibly one of the most famous museums and art galleries in the world (and that was even before the Da Vinci code). Of course the must see picture is the Mona Lisa, which is a little bit disappointing to be honest, but there are thousands of other paintings and exhibits that you could spend days wandering round.
There are many other museums and monuments to see in Paris. One that you might not think of but is thoroughly worthwhile is the Rodin museum. Rodin was the famous sculptor of the late 19th to early 20 th century, that created many famous monuments including the Thinker and the Kiss. The museum is actually set in a venue where he lived for a time. Many of the sculptors and statues are in the garden of the home, including the Thinker.
Montmartre is the quirky district in the 18th arrondissment. It became a focal point for many for artists during the 19th century who went on to create art that is now identified as impressionism and surrealism. After that it has become a must see location for tourists and popular location for many films, both French and foreign. There are plenty of restaurants in the square and many nightclubs to visit at night. The dominating building of the district is the Basilica of the Sacre Coeur. From the metro stop, you can walk up the sweeping steps or take the funicular railway to get to the Basilica and the square.
The metro is all you need to get around Paris and see all the sites and more. Although there are countless other things to see, you should definitely put these on your list if it is your first time in Paris.
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Summer vacation with a family, especially if it is a large one, can be quite expensive. Good planning and hard work can pay off in the form of big savings for all your travel expenses. There are many strategies for saving. This article will focus on three.
Save on Airfare: Trust a Travel Agent
A lot of families discard flying because they think that the cost is way out of their price range. Airfare is one of the expensive travel services of most vacation packages. It is possible to find big discounts if you know what to search for. Who know better where to look than a travel agent?
More and more people are searching and booking their own travel arrangements on the internet. A seasoned travel agent can be a big help when it comes to locating discounted tickets. Most experienced travel agents understand the industry and how it operates. They know not only the best places to look but also the best day of the week and hour of the day to get the best deals.
It is amazing how a person will spend several hours searching for a good deal and get excited about saving $50 to $100. What value would you give for your time? The amount of savings a travel agent can get you usually far exceeds any fee you might pay. Take advantage of such a knowledgeable resource and reap the reward of flying cheap.
Save on Lodging: Check Out Alternative Accommodations
What types of accommodations come to your mind when you think of lodging? For most people, it is hotels and resorts. There are many other places to stay. Some are even free. Yes, there are places you can stay for free. Ok. It may cost you but it won't be in currency.
Have a friend or relative who lives in a destination you want to visit. Ask to stay in their home. Give preference to those with whom you maintain some kind of contact even if irregular. Ask a simple question to find out what your friend or relative thinks of the idea. Say something like "What would you think about us coming to visit for a few days?" You want to verify that your future host is aware that you plan to stay in his or her home. You can add, "When you get tired of us, you can ask us to leave.”
Another “free” accommodation is a home exchange. You stay in home located in the destination of your choice. That homeowner stays in your home. This industry has grown tremendously in the last several years. Some websites that specialize in this field have a database of tens of thousands of homes worldwide.
Campgrounds, hostels and dorm rooms are three additional types of accommodations that are cheap. Some universities rent dorm rooms to travelers during the summer months when they have few students on campus. Keep your mind open and you can find some excellent alternatives for inexpensive lodging.
Save on Food: Pack Your Own Meals
Extreme methods might include fasting a few days during vacation or deciding to do a juice diet during this time. Of course, your family might not find this too enjoyable. It is not necessary to get your family to forego a few meals in order to save money.
One of the best ways to save money on food expenses during a vacation is to not eat out. Eating every meal at restaurants can really add up. Decide to make and take your own meals and food items. Make a meal plan that includes simple, inexpensive foods that are easy to make and store.
Follow the tips above and you are likely to discover that you can plan a memorable summer vacation with your family for much less than you thought.
It can be a frightening experience visiting a doctor in another country. You’re not feeling good, you’re worried about the language and you’re worried about the cost.
Don’t get too worried about the language. Most doctors can at the very least read English quite well. So many medical reviews are written in English that they have to. That’s not to say that you shouldn’t make an effort to speak French. If you can, the experience of living in France will go much better. (If you can’t, look in the top right hand corner of this page and click on the link there.)
The biggest difference you’ll find compared to NHS doctors is in the length and thoroughness of the medical examination. You’ll probably be asked to strip down to your underwear, have your body examined for any obvious problems and have your blood pressure taken.
Once the examination is completed, you’ll be given a prescription for any medicine and will then be asked to pay. Normally this payment will be between 20 and 30 euros. If you have a Carte Vitale, the doctor will put this into his terminal and this starts the process to have your reimbursement of your payment made directly into your bank account. If you don’t yet have a Carte Vitale, the doctor will fill out some papers that you sign and date and send off to the CPAM.
Note that you are only reimbursed about 70% of what you pay the doctor (unless you have a long-term serious illness such as diabetes when you are reimbursed 100%.) If you want to be fully reimbursed, you need to take out additional medical insurance - what is called a ‘mutuelle’.
Visiting a doctor in France need not be a frightening experience.
The French health system is one of the best in the world. Massive pay-roll deductions both from workers and, especially, employers has resulted in a system which is well-funded and full of resources. The care tends to be excellent and waiting lists for treatment are virtually unknown.
However, the system in contribution based. For all but real emergencies, you have to show your Carte Vitale. This card contains a chip showing that you have paid contributions and are entitled to received treatment.
If you are a British resident visiting France for a short period of time, you need a European Health Insurance Card. You can get one here :
If you are newly resident in France and have found a job, once you have worked 60 hours a month for more than 3 months, you qualify for free medical treatment. You don’t have to wait until you receive your Carte Vitale (which can take a while to arrive.) In the short term, the doctor will give you a paper that you have to sign and return to the CPAM.
All this is organised by the CPAM - and you should register with them as soon as you become resident in France.
People receiving a British pension are entitled to free medical treatment if they move to France. All you have to do is to get an E121 from the NHS in the UK and present that to your local CPAM in France.
