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Julien Van Loye asked:


Since July 2006 after the opening route of the Qingzang Railway between Golmud to Lhasa in Tibet, the Peruvian Orient Express is not the highest passenger train in the world anymore. The railway line to the Lake Titicaca in Peru crosses a pass at 4,330 meters at its highest point, La Raya. The new Tibetan train crosses the Tangula Pass at 5,072 meters above sea level and thus has become the world’s highest rail track.

The train, also known as “Sky Train”, connects Lhasa with major Chinese cities such as Beijing, Shangai, Guangzhou, Chengdu, Xining, Xian and Lanzhou. The journey from Beijing to Lhasa lasts 48 hours and runs every day.

On the 1st of July 2006, The Republic People of China President, Hu Jintao, inaugurated the section between Golmud and Lhasa. The main purpose of this railway is to accelerate the economic growth of the autonomous region of Tibet. Transportation of goods is expected to grow significantly over the 10 years and will lead Tibet to a new era. Tourism is a crucial aspect for the development of Tibet. It is now possible to travel through Tibet without facing the long overland journeys.

Statistics speak by themselves concerning this luxury train traveling through the rooftop of the world. With an average of 4000 meters high, the 1,142 km railway from Golmud to Lhasa is an exceptional accomplishment of Chinese engineers. It required hundreds of thousands of workers to lay the track across the Tibetan plateau under harsh conditions. The railway includes 44 stations, 675 bridges and the highest rail tunnel in the world located at 4,905m (Fenghuoshan tunnel). In 2001, an earthquake of 8.2 Richter scale warned engineers of possible risks and challenges. Nevertheless, engineers stuck to their missions and eventually five years of great work and $3.68 billion triumphed over this great challenge.

Building the railway through the Tibetan Kunkun range of mountains was a huge challenge due to the presence of permafrost at such altitude. About 600km of the railway was built on this unstable ground and implied to the Chinese engineers to come up with a long lasting and safe solutions. It was thought to be impossible…

The skepticism of the international geological community didn’t slow down the Chinese expectations to come up with a long term solution. They developed a technique that elevates the track with strong foundations sunk into the ground and that injects liquid nitrogen into pipes in order to keep the rail bed constantly frozen. Nevertheless, the international community remains frightened due to global warming and many fear to see the railway collapse within 10 years.

Tibet is a land of extraordinary environmental diversity and the impact of the train is a tremendous concern for the Chinese authority. More than $192 million have been granted for environment protection. Many endangered species such as the Tibetan antelopes are vulnerable to the brutal modification of their habitat. In order to avoid such trouble and to let them cross the railway, 33 overpasses were constructed at various locations along the route.

The train is specially built to face the difficult environment of high altitude and provide oxygen supply for each passenger to prevent the altitude sickness. UV-protection systems make the journey even more pleasant. There are a couple of options to be accommodated on the train. You can choose to stay in soft sleeper beds cabin which are designed for business men from commercial cities of China and tourists from all over the world or to experience the hard sleeper beds and thus travel with Chinese and Tibetan locals. The last option is a complete immersion into the Chinese customs and way of life. On the last section from Golmud to Lhasa, you can expect to travel with yak herdsmen on hard sleeper cabins.

A restaurant is available on board and provides wider selections of delicious Chinese cuisine. It is a real delight to discover and taste the local food while enjoying the Tibetan landscapes. It is highly recommended to bring a Chinese phrasebook as the train crews don’t speak English.

It is a captivating journey which gives you a glimpse of Chinese countryside composed essentially of flat cultivated land, brown hill and riverside valleys. You can witness extraordinary scenes of rural life as you cross Mainland China. The scenery changes completely as you get closer to Tibet. The train goes up on the Tibetan plateau and reaches its average altitude of 4000 meters high after passing Golmud. The green hills are replaced by huge mountain range with 7000 meters peaks dominating the entire landscape. The polluted industrial Chinese cities disappear to let you discover the purity of Tibet. Nomadic settlements, ancient monasteries, high mountain passes, turquoise Lakes and deserts will fascinate and conquer your imagination. You will encounter Yaks herds, itinerant Tibetans, wild donkeys and horses while going through the Tibetan grassland.

After 48 hours of a fantastic trip, you arrive at the train station of Lhasa which is located 45 minutes away of the town itself. Your next adventure will be to discover the highlights of the Tibetan capital including the Potala Palace, home of the Dalai Lamas, the Norbulingka monastery, the Jokhang temple and the Barkhor Market.

Traveling on the Sky train is the most enjoyable way to reach Lhasa from mainland China. But the visit of Tibet is not complete until you get a bit more adventurous and drive through the Tibetan plateau by 4WD land cruiser. Exploring typical Tibetan cities such as Shigatse, Gyantse and Lhatse while driving towards Nepal are a must-do experience. Tibet has a lot to offer and a trip on the roof of the world will convince you that Tibet is the most accessible land despite of its location.

Julien Van Loye

Explore Himalaya Travel & Adventure

www.explorehimalaya.com

julien@explorehimalaya.com

sales@explorehimalaya.com

When to go

The best time to go on this tour is from April to November in order to avoid the cold winter season.

Despite the high altitude of the Tibetan Plateau, the daytime temperatures are actually quite mild. Between April and November the average temperature ranges form 15-25 degrees Celsius and the skies are generally clear and blue. From July to August though there can be the odd shower during the day, the nights, however, can be very cold and temperatures can drop below 0 degrees Celsius.

Tour

Explore Himalaya organizes an 18 day tour from Beijing to Lhasa which includes a full immersion into the Chinese, Tibetan and Nepali cultures.

David Patullo asked:


National rental car has a long line of record when it comes to affordable car rentals. Today, they are on their 56th year of providing car rental service to almost any place. And because they have been in the business for so long now, they are also considered as the pioneer in renting cars. Furthermore, as they have many outlets, many customers find it very convenient to rent a car in one branch and then return it at a branch in their destination.

The National rental car is also the first car rental establishment that uses the computerized booking systems, and the “Telemax” computers that let the customers to experience a trouble-free car rental service.

In the year 1976, when the airline travel industry was liberalized, it resulted to the raise in airfares, and so the National car rental began offering flat rates for the rentals. This made the flyers to opt for car renting than travel through air.

In addition, this car rental company was also the first firm to offer corporate accounts to different companies in the70′s. And then they started to concentrate on corporate travelers, where the frequent traveler program was born. This is a program where they reward their frequent customers with discounts or special offers.

Through the years, the National car rental got tied-up with several companies like airlines, prestigious hotels, popular credit cards, and many others. Moreover, the rental also offers clients a wide array of affordable vehicles for rent. The fleet of vehicles range from small cars, full-size vans, SUV’s, luxury, sports cars, and convertible vehicles.

Jim Brown asked:


Some families will choose to travel by automobile to save money because groups of people traveling on a vacation by air would seem impossible to fit into the family travel budget. At times there may be more people than space in the family car and they will turn to rental car companies to rent a car during a holiday period. These automobile rental dealers offer various sizes in the automobiles that they rent.

A family of twelve could fit quite nicely into a rental van and be afforded the opportunity to travel in stylish comfort to any location that they care to go. The stress of driving on long trips will be lessen by the number of drivers that are in the group because car rental companies allow people to add extra drivers onto the rental agreement and only charge nominal rates for them to be able to do so.

Some travelers will make rental car reservations several months ahead because they know they are traveling during the holiday season. There will be many people on the road during these joyful times of the year and there never seems to be enough rental cars available for everyone to get one that meets their needs. If they reserve one ahead of time, they are assured of getting the best choices in cars in the rental car fleet.

Younger drivers prefer to make reservations for sports cars. These rental cars are generally priced very competitively but the rental cost charges per day will be substantially higher than those charged for a compact car which is visibly plainer in its exterior features. The one feature that people want in a sports car is the convertible top and they are willing to pay the price to enjoy that feature during the holiday season.

There are many ways that people save on rental charges during the holiday season. They might take advantage of a rental car discount that came with their membership in a group formed specifically to cater to the retirement community. These older drivers will generally select a luxury sedan because these rental vehicles offer comfort and style and all of the amenities that they have grown used to having in the vehicles that they drive everyday.

Some people travel to locations that they have never been to before during a holiday period. They might be going to meet future in-laws and realize that they do not want to get lost along the way. These travelers will select a rental car company that offers mapping machines in the interior of the car that will clearly define which way they need to go in the rental car that they selected.

Michael J Lee asked:


Classic Car Hire is for that special occasion such as a wedding or a celebration of all kinds. Classic cars are truly at the top of the market with luxury and sophistication as standard. Classic cars were first manufactured before world war two. Many of the post war models are now collector’s items, not only as show pieces but also investments.

Classic cars became more popular after 1945, in that year the launch of the MG TB which was the classic sports car which everybody wanted. It was in America that this car had its biggest impact. It started a craze for British sports cars this craze lasted for around 35 years.

Classic cars also include the great classic Porsche introduced in 1948 and was still in production until 1965 with many different manufacturers over the years. Classic cars were mainly manufactured in Italy by Enzo Farraiti, they had a V 12 engines with a five speed gearbox, and these cars could reach 120 mph easily, it was the ultimate racing car of the time. Classic cars and sports car took the world by storm with the British Jaguar Mark V11.

One of the cars which could surpass the Jaguar in terms of performance and comfort was the Bentley Continental which costs four times much as the Jaguar.

Classic cars were manufactured by two rival firms, these were Austin Healy and Triumph, these made the smaller and cheaper classic cars.

Classic Cars were very popular in the sixties, the Silver Shadow and the Rolls Royce. In the seventies they introduced the elegant Corniche convertible which was based on the Silver Shadow.

Classic Cars soon followed with Jaguars X J 12 saloon, this car was voted best car in the world by a panel of judges appointed by a car magazine. The only problem with the X J 12 was its thirst for fuel, it became more serious with the worlds first fuel crisis in 1973.

Classic cars continued to improve with Lamborghini bringing out it’s greatest car; the fantastic Countach, an equally stunning car is the Lagonda which is made by Aston Martin, which is one of today’s most attractive classic cars. Lagondas could not be produced in large numbers as they are very expensive to buy and make.

Classic cars are avalible to hire in a variety of models, colours and types.

Classic Cars were also being made in America. Chevrolet introduced a corvette in 1953, Ford then built the Thunderbird, which was more like a convertible than a classic car it could reach 113 mph.

The Ford Mustang made a big impact on the car industry by selling half a million cars in the first 18 months when it was launched in 1964, because of its high performance and low price.

Classic cars were also built by the Japanese who in 1970 launched the Daston 240 Z which sold very well in America, because of their high performance, cheap price and reliability. It is extremely easy to hire a classic car.

Amy Nutt asked:


Rental car companies vary drastically in the type of service they provide. Some are out to scam you from the very beginning, while others are more interested in providing quality service. Obviously, you want to go with the rental car company that will offer you good service at a decent price.

1. Look for a rental car company that have a club you can join to get discounts. Some will offer discounts if you have AMEX Gold or Platinum and it’s worth checking out if there is a particular club for a chain rental company. This can allow you to get better discounts and make car rental more affordable for you.

2. A rental car company that offers you the option of using your own vehicle insurance is another thing to watch for. This can save you a lot of money and hassle, if your own insurance company covers rental cars. Check ahead of time to make sure it does. If not, your credit card may do so.

3. Rent your car at a non-airport location to get a break in taxes. Taxes are rising quickly on car rentals, thanks to local politicians who don’t have to worry about out of towners voting. The taxes can be up to 45% higher at the airport, so take a taxi or shuttle downtown, instead.

4. Look for special offers. Many companies offer special rates during slow seasons, so take advantage of this and save some cash.

5. An established brand is probably the best way to ensure that you aren’t gyped. Hertz or another big brand name in car rentals will be more responsive to your complaints because their reputation depends on it. Going with a smaller company could cause problems later on, so try to avoid it unless you can get several recommendations and know that the company is reputable.

6. Get a car from a rental company that lets you buy your own gas off-site. They will overcharge you for providing a full tank of gas. While nice and convenient, this is not the best option finance-wise.

7. Online rental options are even better. This way you can reserve your car ahead of time online. Many websites even allow you to do this in conjunction with a hotel rental. Combining the two could be easier on your wallet. Also, booking online allows you to find the best deals possible.

8. Get a rental company that allows you to drop the car off at a different location. This is very handy if you are catching a plane or heading somewhere and leaving from another location. You can rent in town, and then drop the car at the airport when you leave, very useful.

9. Look for unlimited free mileage. Not every car rental company offers this, so you will need to check before booking. Otherwise, you’ll end up with just a few free miles and then you will have to pay extra for any mileage you put on the vehicle after the limit.

10. If you are a younger driver, you will need to find a car rental company that will rent to you. Most have a limit of 21 years, but some go as high as 25 and require that you have your license for a minimum of 5 years.

Knowing how to find the right car rental company can really save you quite a bit of money and you will find that you can drastically drop the stress of renting a car, too.

Bryce Stone asked:


The term classic car is frequently used to describe an older car. However, the exact meaning of the term classic car varies. Some may define a classic car as any car made before 1948. Other people define it as an antique car registration that was made over 15 years ago and can still function well and maintained in a condition that is adequately comfortable according to the manufacturer’s specifications. Whichever way one may define it, the agreement in all cases is that it is a car that is over 15 or more years old since the date of manufacture. 

Classic cars are prestigious and many people want an opportunity to ride in one. This is why many manufacturers have decided to put up businesses on maintaining these cars in good condition. The classic cars may be very expensive to buy as they carry some sort of memory and history to them. However, many companies have come up with a way in which one can easily use the classic car for special occasions at a much lower cost. Renting classic cars has become a booming business in many countries because of the luxury and prestige the classic cars hold.  

Make that special day memorable by using the car one has been dreaming of, classic car rentals will make the dream come true at least for a short period of time. The problem that one may encounter is finding the company that deals with the car rentals. One can locate the companies online and choose the nearest location. Some of the advantages of finding the classic car rentals online are that websites have displayed the directories of all the companies dealing with classic car rentals. On the websites, one will find over 120 classic car rental companies to choose from in more than twelve countries with over 1200 cars to choose from, which are updated each week.  

For special occasions like weddings, one would like to know the process of renting a classic car. The answer to this is simple since there are very many classy cars available especially for weddings, one can select from the various categories. Most available cars are Ford Model T or Ford Model A, Essex Super Six, Rolls-Royces Silver Clouds, Bentleys Pontiac Bonneville and Mustangs. These cars are normally on high demand and the best way to secure one is to book early in advance, possibly the moment one has set a wedding date.

When renting a classic car one needs to know that not all classic cars are limos hence they do not have too much space between the driver and the bride and groom making the issue of privacy challenging. Before renting the classic car, it should be clear of grease on the doors, windows or even the floor of the car as this could stain the brides dress. The classic cars are rare and elegant when driven around. One should not miss the opportunity to use the prestigious classic cars for a special event.

Car Hire asked:


The capital of Cyprus used to be in Paphos until the enlargement of other cities on the Island. Paphos has continued to have its share of the developments in Cyprus, and thus an International Airport was erected to turn the small region into a tourism hub.

Paphos has a population of less than 100,000; but its collection of Antiquities as well as historical places has caused it to become a bustling region in Cyprus.

Paphos is divided into two main regions, the residential district of Ktima and the Kato region which consist of the seaside and the medieval ports. The Kato Paphos region is where the hotels and most of the other tourist destinations are situated.

The best time to travel to Paphos is the summer time; as this ensures that you take the advantage of the weather and the beaches. The hottest month in Paphos is August when the temperature can be more than 35 degrees, and the humidity is very low along with the water relatively warm all throughout the day.

The winter months are usually rainy. December and January are the coldest winter months in Paphos. The summer time is the busiest season in Paphos, because of the relatively high inflow of tourists from all over the world. The spring and early fall seasons are also some of the best times to visit Paphos.

The Paphos international airport is the main route if you wish to get to the region. Cyprus airways and Air Holland are some of the few airlines that fly the route. Travelers coming from major European countries will have to have a stop over before boarding a flight to Paphos international Airport.

Travelling to Paphos by boat is not allowed, as there are no legal ports in the region to transport international travelers. Travelling by bus can only start after reaching the airport, while renting a car is the most viable option from the Airport. There are several hotels and accommodation options available in Paphos.

Booking a car rental Paphos service is very easy. You can make reservations with a trusted rental company, which would be on a stand-by at the airport for your arrival. Cars should be rented at no extra costs, and the rental company should contain fleet of cars that you can choose from to satisfy your needs.

Most of these are visible right from departure from the Paphos international airport. While driving through the seaside, one can also see a collection of different hotels of low/medium class as well as more classy ones.

One should know that car rental Paphos services are not standardized; hence prices may vary from a company to another. You will need to find out the average costs of the entire car rentals company available and with this you will know the actual amount of money that you will pay. Car rental Paphos services include your direct transportation from the airport to some tourist attraction sites.

The rental company can supply you with information on where exactly you are going to and how you can enjoy the best of your stay within such sites. You can feel free to ask questions about the city of Paphos from owners of the car rental company. They should be willing to give you rules and guidelines that tourists

Michael J Lee asked:


Car hire does not have to be expensive as you can quite easily find low cost car hire. Low cost car hire can be researched on the internet on your computer at home or work. You can even go to the local library and research low cost car hire. This is probably the most up to date, modern and easy way in life today to find your low cost car hire.

Remember when looking for low car hire on the internet you will need to select your vehicle and put in some additional information such as the dates you would like to pick the car and a preferred destination in Spain. You will need to make some comparisons with lots of other low cost car hire companies who are advertising their low cost cars that are available in Spain. When you have found a company which offers low cost car hire that looks attractive and is highly competitive do not forget to put it in your favourites on your computer. This is for reference purposes as you may wish to go back to it again at a later stage to either confirm the booking or to book low cost car hire again at another time.

Low cost car hire is subject to availability and as such availability and prices will be changing constantly so it is very important that you can find this information again easily on your computer. It may take some time initially to research to find the best deal but it will be worth it when you are satisfied that you have found the lowest cost car hire in Spain around.

Ask family and friends if they can recommend a particular company which they made have used to obtain low cost car hire as personal recommendations are always good to have. They will be able to confirm that the company are efficient and professional and that there prices are low cost.

Low cost car hire does not mean you have to compromise on the type of vehicle. Many companies can offer many models at low cost simply because they have a large fleet of them and they can afford to be very competitive. Do not be suspicious if the price seems to be too good to be true for low cost car hire.

Low cost car hire does not mean cheap and nasty. You may be lucky and find that a certain vehicle is on offer at a special discounted price just at the moment when you make your request for a quotation.

Many low cost car hire companies will offer to upgrade your booking after you have initially booked. Customer satisfaction is of paramount importance to all low cost car hire companies and if a vehicle is sitting idle they will gladly offer this to you at your original low cost price.

So remember that the most important point to remember is to shop around on the internet under the heading low cost car hire in Spain or if you are heading to a specific destination then just type in low cost car hire in Madrid for example and you will find some great deals at great low cost car hire prices.

Car Guru asked:


I came across this guide to car rental today and felt I should set the record straight on some of the issues raised as it was misleading (just like my title, no *** here I’m afraid).

RUMOUR: You probably won’t get the car you booked.

TRUTH: Rental companies do not guarantee specific models – we cannot guarantee you will get a Hyundai Getz 1.5L for example, but if you pay for an economy car, manual transmission with air conditioning – you will get an economy car, manual with air conditioning (unless of course you get an upgrade!). Our reservations are based on car SIPP codes, vehicles are given as examples only.

TIP: Book based on SIPP code, not actual vehicle. Peugeot Leasing is an exception – models ARE guaranteed.

RUMOUR: It’s likely you’ve paid too much.

TRUTH: Walking off the street to pick up a car in a foreign country, you probably will pay more. Book before you go to ensure the best possible price and remember to compare like with like when researching prices. Look closely at what the price includes, what is extra and how much the extras will cost. Often, an all inclusive rate may appear more expensive but can save you money as there is no more to pay when you pick up the car.

RUMOUR: Your “fully-inclusive deal” won’t be as comprehensive as it sounds.

TRUTH: An Insurance Excess is applicable in the event of any accident or theft to the rental vehicle, regardless of fault. The Excess amount varies between countries and car group. The additional insurance offered by the car rental company is optional and is charged per day on top of an inclusive rate. Read more about insurance excess here.



TIP: You may be covered through your own insurance so double check before you book.

RUMOUR: You may face hefty add-ons.

TRUTH: There are some extras that will be added on to your bill e.g. children’s seats, additional drivers, young driver surcharges and GPS units may be charged separately and on a daily basis, which can add up, especially if it is a long trip. You should be made aware of these charges before you agree to anything, so be aware of how much exactly you have to pay.

TIP: Always ask what the extra charges will be before you agree to them.

RUMOUR: Breaking down could be a disaster.



TRUTH: Not when you book with DriveAway! Our rates all include 24 hour roadside assistance. We also have 24/7 customer service with a toll free number from across the globe so you can speak to someone (in English) no matter where you are.

TIP: Book with a reputable company who have a number you can call in the case of an emergency.

RUMOUR: You could be stung by cancellation penalties.



TRUTH: Not at DriveAway! We do not charge amendment or cancellation fees on car hire.

TIP: Always check at the time of booking if there are cancellation fees in case of an emergency. Sometimes it can be as much as the price of the rental if it is within a short time frame.

Always read your inclusions very carefully when you book a rental car (DriveAway list the inclusions with each vehicle during the booking process online and our reservations consultants will inform you of these if you book over the phone). Terms, conditions and costs all vary depending on the supplier and location. Remember to read your rental agreement carefully before signing it.

Holidays are precious. Researching and organising your car rental before you go can save you headaches and money.

Berkan Ocal asked:


The third largest Mediterranean island, ‘Cyprus’ is one of the best tourist attractions which gets over 2.4 million tourists per year. When it comes to a holiday trip to the Cyprus, the car hire is indispensable. Though it may seem easy to book a car hire in Cyprus, there are several things to be noted to save your money and precious time. Just keep reading on the article to see the 3 most important things to know about the car hire in Cyprus.

1. Book a Car hire Online to save your time and money

There is a misconception among people booking a car hire in advance is a complete waste of time. The true fact is that if you miss to book car hire prior to your holiday trip, you will end up in waiting in long queues for hours to get a car hire in Cyprus. Moreover, the car hire service providers in Cyprus will take advantage of the demand and will collect more cash from you. Hence to avoid all these hassles, it’s wise to book a car hire before starting the trip. With the introduction of the Internet, booking car hires in Cyprus is just a breeze. There are many car hire directories where you can find thousands of car hire service providers in the Cyprus. The added advantage of using these car hire directories is that you can compare many car hires that are available in Cyprus and pick the right one of your choice. You will be able to compare the types of cars offered, mileage of the cars available, pick up and delivery points, driver age and so on.

2. Plan the trip to avoid hassles

Any holiday trip will be tiresome without proper planning. A trip can become more tiresome if you fail to plan the car hire. Without proper car hire planning, you will end up stranded in the airports of Cyprus. Though care hire facilities are available in the popular airports of Cyprus, due to the huge tourist population you cannot get a car hire in time. With car hire facilities available at Larnaca Airport, Paphos Airport and the Ercan Airport (North Cyprus), you can easily plan the trip to Cyprus. Make sure that you book the Car hire in Cyprus with a renowned company. This will prevent you from paying the extra hidden costs. 

3. Watch out the time

Most of the car hire service providers of Cyprus rent the cars on the daily basis. You will have to return the car on the date and time specified by the car hire service provider. You will be charged for an additional day even if you are few minutes late than the actual scheduled time of return. So it is very important to keep an eye on time and return the car before the scheduled return time.

Bottom line

With the introduction of the Car hire directories, things have changed a lot these days. Now anyone can book a car hire in Cyprus with just a few mouse clicks, relaxing in their home. By following the above mentioned tips for car hire in Cyprus, anyone can enjoy a pleasant vacation in the unique Mediterranean island.