StartToRun

Vienna at its finest

Will — Thu, 27 Mar 2014 11:47:29 +0000

The Austrian capital, Vienna, is a fabulous place to visit at any time of the year. Even so, at the height of the summer tourist season, it can get almost unbearably crowded at times, and you may find your temper becoming a little frayed. On top of this, the Viennese climate in midsummer is not at its best, with June and July being the two wettest months of the entire year. To really enjoy the city to the full, choosing a spring or fall break can make a lot of sense. It may not be warm, but it will still be mild enough to enjoy the huge array of sights that the city has to offer.
You’ll also find it a lot easier to find a place to stay if you go at these times of the year. Not only is there less demand for the more famous hotels, especially in the central areas of the city, but prices tend to be lower as well. A break in a city as romantic and exciting as this should not be spoiled by having to make do with lower quality rooms! There are plenty of extremely nice apartments in Vienna – some of them with long and fascinating histories of their own. It will certainly enhance your enjoyment of your vacation if you have the extra boost of being able to return each evening to a really comfortable place.

There’s a lot going on in Vienna during the spring. As you would expect of a city which has such a tremendous musical heritage, fans of new sounds as well as old still flock to Austria each March for the Sound:frame Festival, which features some of Europe’s most exciting and innovative audio-visual performers. If you prefer your entertainment to be a little more traditional in character, there’s the Vienna Spring Festival and the Vienna Fair each May; the Fair is a fantastic place to pick up gifts to take home for family and friends. Sports fans will hope to see the Vienna marathon, which takes place near Easter each year and often attracts some big names.

A fall break in Vienna is also packed with things to do and see, whatever your specific interests. The Viennale Film Festival, which is held in late October, is where to head if you’re a fan of intriguing and thought-provoking cinema. But if your attention is more often caught by what the stars are wearing than the parts they’re playing, maybe you should visit the city in September, when Vienna Fashion Week is in full swing. If ever there was a time when Vienna truly does look at its best, this festival of outrageous designs and fantastic garments must surely be that time!

Wherever you decide to stay in the Austrian capital, and whenever in the year you decide to go, your only regret is likely to be that you didn’t stay longer – there’s simply too much to choose from! Even at these quieter times of the year, it’s a good idea to make your reservations a month or so in advance of your visit – though this is only half the time you’d need in midsummer. The fact that Vienna has retained its aura of romance and class for so many centuries is no accident: this is one of Europe’s great cities, and you will never forget a stay here.

Hong Kong’s Top Wifi Cafés

Will — Sun, 23 Mar 2014 13:10:35 +0000

For those location independent entrepreneurs dwelling around South-East Asia, Hong Kong is a popular port of call when going to and from their respective home countries. Compared to its neighbouring countries Hong Kong holidays can cost you, however through this guide you’ll be able to find a quiet spot with good WiFi to earn some money while in town. Most cafes in Hong Kong operate lengthy business hours of 7am to 11pm – so theres’ not excuse for no getting the work done while you’re there.

Criteria for a Good Wifi Café

We based our selection of cafes on the following criteria:

1. Strong internet connection – The ideal scenario is a coffee shop where wifi is always reliable, and there is no need to enter a password or other login details.

2. Relaxing ambience – Although not essential, this factor separates mediocre cafes from outstanding ones. Cafe ambiance based upon: decor, furniture, layout, music, and temperature (whether it is warm, breezy or cold).

3. Availability of power outlets – Ideally, there must be at least two outlets in various areas of the cafe, so customers can easily charge their gadgets when the battery runs low. The very best cafes have universal power strips allows you to plug in without bringing your own adapter.

Top-Rated Wifi Cafes in Hong Kong

Brunch Club

This wifi cafe is a popular destination because of its good food, cozy ambience, and strong internet connection. Brunch Club is located at 70 Peel Street, Central, and nearby landmarks include The Caine Mansion Podium, Prince’s Terrace and The Fortune Gardens.

Café O

This coffee shop is a haven for freelancers or anyone who look for a decent cafe where they can go online and get unlimited access to the internet. The shop is located at 2 Arbuthnot Road, Central, and just a few miles from famous restaurants such as Tim Ho Wan, Hutong, Aqua and Lung King Heen.

The Pawn

If you are a fan of British food and drinks, The Pawn is definitely your best bet. The wifi access is consistently good, but there are only three power outlets in the entire cafe so make sure you’re fully charged before you arrive. Make sure you check out this one-of-a- kind coffee situated at 60 Johnston Road, Wan Chai, which is just nearby famous restaurants and bars such as Bo Innovation and Habitat Lounge.

Graze

Several customers love about this coffee shop for its relaxing ambience, reliable wifi access, and extensive menu. The cafe is located at the ground floor of Chao’s Building, Sheung Wan. Among the popular landmarks nearby the shop include the So Hotel, Bangkok Bank and Tai Wong Commercial Building.

Peak Bar

As mentioned before, Hong Kong can be costly so why not save money on the trip up to the city’s panoramic peak by going to The Peak Bar to do some work instead? The Peak Bar is a favorite hangout of those who look for scrumptious food and drinks, strong internet connection and snappy service. You may check out this must-see cafe at 9-13 Shelley Street, Soho , which is just beside the Central Station and nearby Union Square.

Tips for visiting casinos on holidays abroad

Will — Sat, 22 Mar 2014 10:40:56 +0000

When someone takes a holiday, they do so with thoughts of relaxation ahead. They don’t want to have any worries while away. The best way to try to prevent the worse from occurring is taking some extra time to prepare for departure. This would include studying up on the various activities in which you would like to partake. For instance, this could include casino gambling. Discover which casinos are located within your destination and learn what they have to offer.

Most casinos and their hotels offer a lot of incentives and perks to their customers. Always be on the lookout for these and take advantage of them when you can. This goes beyond getting your drinks for free. They may offer coupon books with special discounts to various amenities within the casino. Some casinos may offer free money to get you started at the tables. Casinos abroad are very catering towards their customers. Make sure you don’t miss out on all they have to offer. Some casinos may offer additional comps based upon your gambling practices. Keep in mind, that if you’re not betting much, you won’t be offered comps by the pit bosses. Be aware of this so you’re not let down.

You can often find what casino games the casino offer. Ensure that you understand the rules before playing. You could possibly practice at an online casino venue such as http://www.luckynuggetcasino.com/au/online-blackjack/ before your trip. Players often wish to do this for casino table games. If you’ve never played before, sitting face to face with more experienced players in a foreign country can be a bit intimidating. Casino games like poker, roulette, blackjack, craps and baccarat are ones that people find they want to play when offered in casinos abroad. Most of these can be found online but keep in mind some areas add their own local twist on the traditional version of the game.

3 CERTIFICATES WHICH GUARANTEE EMPLOYMENT ABROAD

Will — Sat, 15 Mar 2014 10:48:00 +0000

In this post we look at three internationally recognised qualifications you can get in skills that are in demand worldwide.

CELTA: CERTIFICATE IN ENGLISH LANGUAGE TEACHING TO ADULTS

The CELTA is a four-week intensive English language teaching course which is both internationally recognised and, short of being a fully qualified teacher, is the highest regarded of the EFL certificates. The course costs around 1500usd and can be taken in reputable language centres around the world. Many schools end up employing their recent graduates so pick your country wisely.

Where to start? Cactus TEFL is great for finding schools that run the CETLA.

OWSI: OPEN WATER SCUBA INSTRUCTOR

The Open Water Scuba Instructor (OWSI) program is one of two distinct components of PADI’s Instructor Development Course (IDC)—the core of PADI Instructor training. The OWSI program is a minimum of four days after which you will be able to conduct the entire range of PADI programs from Discover Scuba Diving up to Divemaster. You may be able to earn college credit for the PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor course. The small island of Koh Tao off the east short of Thailand’s peninsula is a popular destination for trainee instructors due to the affordable rates.

Where to start? The official PADI website has all the detail you need on working up to instructor level.

ISIA: INTERNATIONAL SKI INSTRUCTION ASSOCIATION CERTIFICATE

If you are already an intermediate level skier then picking up a level 1 instructors certificate will qualify you to teach novice and beginners. The BASI, British Association of Snowsport Instructors is one of many bodies which provide certificates. Their five-day Level 1 course allows you to teach on indoor and artificial slopes the world over – guaranteeing you employment all year round. Level 2, goes one step further allowing you to teach in mountain resorts worldwide. Level 3, is governed by ISIA and qualifies you as a full ski instructor.

Where to start? If you live in the UK check out the BASI’s site. Otherwise google to see the ski instructors governing body in your country.

Regardless of where you are planning to live and work abroad, make sure you get yourself covered with an annual-multi-trip travel insurance, that way you don’t have to worry about any last-minute changes of plan!

How to Sell Your Travel Photos as Stock Images

Will — Sun, 09 Mar 2014 12:59:13 +0000

For those with a good eye and a half-decent camera, it is possible to make some cash by selling your best travel snaps as stock images.

Selling to magazines and newspapers is next to impossible without being a professional and having connections. Stock photo sites act as middle-men to broker deals between travel photographers and media giants. Creating a profile is fairly simple and you get a commission for every photo sold.

The most professional agencies are of Getty, Corbis and JupiterMedia. However, we think most amateur photographers have a better shot at making sales on ‘micro-stock’ agencies like iStockPhoto, ShutterStock, and Big Stock Photo as they are less elite. When uploading your pictures make sure to tick ‘non-exclusive’ this means you can display them on different stock sites at the same time.

SHUTTERSTOCK

Payment on Shutterstock works on an incremental scale. So the more of a particular photo you sell, the greater the value per sale. The starting price is $0.25 per image so it can take a while to build up any decent cash.

iSTOCKPHOTO

iStockphoto offers larger commissions if you tick the ‘exclusive’ box when uploading your pictures. This gives you more cash with every sale but limits your exposure so the money might be longer in the coming. If you have a truly extraordinary photograph, iStockphoto puts it into it’s special program called Vetta which helps boost sales.

BIG STOCK PHOTO

Big Stock Photo offers the high commission rate of 50% meaning you’ll earn between $0.50 and $3 for every photo sold. Pay-outs are done electronically but you need to acculumiate at least $50 before you can cash out. They organize their images by what is in demand which gives you an indication of what photos will sell best.

STOCKXPERT

Stockxpert used to be a prominent micro-stock agency until it was bought out by stock giant Jupiter. They offer 50% commissions on all credit purchases and pay electronically through Paypal and Moneybookers, which is handy for travellers. Affiliate programs, such as links to websites and referrals, can boost your earnings.

Choosing a Good Café to Make Your Office

Will — Fri, 07 Mar 2014 08:34:20 +0000

If you’re thinking about starting to run around the world in order to pursue your travel dreams, you’re going to need a solid place to work out of. After all, focus and unbreakable concentration is key to earning the dollars you need. What better way to find that than in a cosy café? Here’s what to look for in the ideal spot.

Choosing a Good Café: A Quiet Spot to Get in the Zone

Seeing people relaxing and whiling away their time in a café while you power through important work can be a great motivator, just make sure you don’t get too distracted by what’s going on around you. Find a location with a quiet spot in a non-window facing corner and restrict your gaze to coffee-keyboard-computer.

Choosing a Good Café: Internet Capabilities

We’ve already thrown several Internet-based cash raising ideas at you, a good, speedy, connection is key to exploring all of them. Find a café with free unlimited wi-fi (not Starbucks and their sub-par 45 minute free connection), where you get on well with the staff and you’ll be well on your way.

Choosing a Good Café: Cheap Drinks

Coffee is fuel, but make sure you don’t have to spend a bomb on it just to get a solid working environment and caffeine kick. Head to a place that serves up a variety of beverages (green tea is the perfect productivity accompaniment) and mix it up for maximum results.

Choosing a Good Café: Comfort

A comfortable working environment is crucial to squeezing productivity out of yourself, find that in a café and you’re solid. A flat stable surface, clean furniture and air-conditioning (or heating) can all be great gifts to your ideal workspace. What’s more, kicking it in a café you don’t have to pay the costs of it all.

Every city around the world has cafes that suit your working needs. Do a bit of research and no doubt you’ll find an ideal space for yourself within a few short hours.

What do you think about working in cafes? Work makes good ones great and horrible ones awful? Share your thoughts below!