As a first timer to the capital of Portugal, Lisbon, you are most likely thirsting to see the charm and beauty of nature all around you; the charming cobbled streets, friendly atmosphere, and lovely quaint buildings. For those who are interested in exploring the historical past of the city of Lisbon will benefit greatly from a “Lisboa Card’. This offers you low prices on tickets to many different famous museums, ancient buildings, art galleries and other lovely attractions Lisbon has to offer. In addition, getting around on all public transport facilities regardless of the location is absolutely free. With a ‘Lisbon Shopping Card’, you have the opportunity of shopping in over 200 stores and shops at discounted rates.

Lisbon is home to a lot of must see sites. To start off with, you can visit the ‘Armazéns do Chiado’ shopping mall where you can buy several items including jewelry, bags, clothes, souvenirs and much more. The top floor of the building offers stunning views of the city of Lisbon. Here you’ll find plenty of restaurants and cafes serving great tasting meals and exotic drinks. It is a perfect place to also relax and unwind. Take a boat trip along the wide mouth of the River Tagus, which divides the metropolitan area in two. There are two lovely bridges to see here. The first amongst the bridges which links Lisbon with the Setubal peninsula is the Ponte de Abril, formerly known as Salazar Bridge. The second is the Ponte Vasco da Gama, renowned for being the longest in Europe and ninth in the world, spanning over 11 miles.

Other incredible landmarks that makes Lisbon a favorite among tourists from different parts of the world include the Alfama, where you can feel the vibrant atmosphere of the ancient Moorish buildings and narrow streets. Visitors shouldn’t miss out on exploring the ancient district of Mouraria, which once served as a refuge got the Moorish citizens shortly after the city was taken over by the Portuguese crusaders. The area was severely damaged but renovations have been ongoing to restore its charm and beauty. The magnificent Torre de Belem is also a place not to miss out on visiting as it stands out as a unique symbol of the city of Lisbon.

Other places worth visiting include the Aqueduct, Campo Pequeno, Mosteiro dos Jerónimos, Parque das Nações and many more. Your trip to Lisbon promises to be worthwhile and remarkable. If you a want to enjoy your vacation in Lisbon, you should make arrangement for an accommodation ahead of time in one of the best hotels in the city.

Australia is a one of the most visited tourist destination in the world because it’s filled with lots of natural wonders and has something for everyone regardless of the season. Australia is located in the southern hemisphere, making it the perfect place to visit when planning a vacation especially during winter season. There are loads of lovely places to visit and things to do while vacationing here. The weather is warm, friendly and wonderful for a road trip during winter. If you are planning a trip to Australia this winter, here is a list of places you must visit.

Warrumbungle National Park

Located in central NSW, Warrumbungle National Park is a beautiful mountain range and national park that attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors every year. Warrumbungle National Park can be cold in winter but ideal for great walks. Here visitors have the opportunity of climbing dramatic volcanic pinnacles.

Byron Bay

Located in the eastern part of the country, Byron Bay is a beautiful coastal hamlet that attracts tourists from different parts of the world. Crystal clear waters, magnificent rainforest and spectacular beaches make Byron Bay one of the most visited tourist destination in Australia during winter. Some of the things to do here include kayaking with dolphins, whale watching, surfing, and following the walk to Cape Byron. There can never be a dull moment here.

Whitsundays

Whitsundays is a place to find amazingly beautiful group of over 74 tropical islands. About 66 out of the 74 islands are untouched, making Whitsundays the ideal place to relax and get soaked up in the winter sun. Snorkeling, sunbathing and swimming opportunities awaits you when you visit Whitehaven Beach, one of Australia’s whitest sand beaches. You can also decide to go on a cruise by chartering a luxury yacht. This is most definitely one of the best places in Australia where you can enjoy peaceful and memorable vacation experience with friends and family.

The Daintree

Renowned for being the oldest rainforest in the world, the Daintree is over 130 million years old. Here you will find rare tropical birds and animals. Covering a massive space of over 76,000 hectares, the Daintree is the only place in the world where you can find you can two UNESCO World Heritage Sites existing side-by-side. Visitors can catch amazing views of fresh-water crocodiles coming out to have a feel of the winter sun on the mangrove-line river banks or marvel at the sights of the Ulysses butterflies flying around .

As soon as you reach Australia, you’ll find that its serpentine roads start beckoning you from the word get-go. Enticing, mysterious and adventurous, their long and winding paths allure you with the promise of sights and pleasures yet undiscovered.

But hold your horses! Before you embark on your driving journey, you need to be well prepared for it. The first thing you need to do is hire a reliable and affordable car that meets your requirements. Right Car Hire is the perfect company to help you go about this.

After you get your car, you need to make sure you have packed everything you need. Here are the very basics you should have on hand:

• Driver’s license.
• Money and your ATM card.
• Online map and directions for the route you plan to go on.
• Prescriptions medicines.
• First-aid kit for the car.
• Road-side emergency kit.
• Sunglasses, especially for the driver(s).
• Games and your favorite music.
• Battery chargers for all of your electronic items, as well as regular batteries if you need them for anything.
• Flashlight with new batteries.
• EZ Pass or any other electronic toll-collection system, and some change for the occasional toll/bridge as well.
• Sufficient clothes for each day of your trip. For longer trips, a small bottle of soap for washing clothes, as well as a makeshift clothesline.
• If very cold, extra jackets/sweaters, gloves, hats, boots, and scarves.
• Personal grooming items.
• Enough snacks and beverages.
• Napkins and plastic utensils for any meals on the road or in rest areas.
• Rolls of paper towels and toilet paper for emergencies.
• Cameras.
• Books and other reading material.
• Glasses, contact lenses, and other required items for the eyes.
• A good sun block and wide-brimmed hats.
• Hand sanitizer and hand moisturizer.
• Ice scraper for the car windows (if you’re driving in a cold location).
• Scissors, corkscrew/bottle opener, a small knife, tweezers, and a compass.
• A large, warm blanket.
• A big towel.
• Umbrellas and rain gear.
• Swimsuits (if you plan to swim or visit a beach).
• Travel alarm clock with fresh batteries.

Once you’re done packing, you’ll be pretty well prepared for any eventuality. Now, all you need to do is rev up your engine and take off for the adventure ahead!