Excursiopedia

To witness an authentic French holiday, Calais is your way to go. You will love to relax on the golden sands and discover some of the soothing and excellent places in Calais. In this simple guide, we have shared all the details regarding the top Calais destinations that you must visit on your trip. Since it is closer to Dover, you will love how this vacation offers both endless rejuvenation and a much-needed break from your work life. So, without any further delay, let’s get started!

Top 4 Places to Visit in Calais

When you reach Calais by ferry, have a look at all the perfect places that you must enjoy in Calais for a memorable experience.

Enjoy the Calais de Dragon

The city welcomes a massive dragon made of steel and wood that is 25 meters long, 170.5 meters wide, and 12 meters high. The total weight of the whole structure is 72 tons and it moves along the coast of the city at 4km/h. The dragon can spit fire, smoke, and water. The whole structure can perform around 280 movements that are managed by 4 to 6 pilots.

You can get on the panoramic terrace that is built on the back of the dragon to enjoy a 45-minute ride while enjoying the mesmerizing views of the beach. The whole journey offers a unique experience and allows you to capture the 360-degree views of the whole landscape.

Visit the Calais Lace Museum

The Calais Lace Museum invites visitors into the exquisite realm of lace craftsmanship, unraveling the city’s rich textile history. Nestled in Calais, France, this cultural gem showcases the intricate artistry and evolution of lace production, highlighting its significance in the region.

The museum’s exhibits delve into the delicate intricacies of lace-making techniques, featuring stunning examples of lacework that reflect the city’s heritage. From historic pieces to contemporary designs, the collection unveils the meticulous skill and innovation behind this timeless craft.

Pay a Visit to Calais Lighthouse

Calais Lighthouse is one of the most impressive buildings in the city that you must visit when exploring the impressive buildings in the region. It is also known as Phare de Calais and serves as the perfect place to enjoy the panoramic views of the city and the coastline. You have to climb 271 steps to reach the top but once you climb them you will be stunned by the views. On a clear day, the views from the top stretch up to Dover. It’s a great spot for capturing memorable photos with your loved ones.

Explore Calais Old Town

Calais Old Town, or Vieux-Calais, enchants visitors with its timeless charm and historical allure. Wander through cobblestone streets lined with medieval buildings, discovering the rich architectural heritage that defines this picturesque district.

The iconic Town Hall, a symbol of Flemish Renaissance architecture, stands proudly in Place d’Armes, surrounded by quaint shops and cafes. Immerse yourself in the authentic atmosphere, where centuries-old structures house modern boutiques, creating a unique blend of the past and present. The Old Town radiates a palpable sense of history, making every corner a visual delight. Explore its hidden gems, relishing the ambiance of a bygone era.

Some Last Words

Now that you are well aware of all the amazing things to do in Calais, you should start planning your trip to Calais. It is better to avoid last-minute rush with prior bookings of hotels, flights, and other things. We are sure that you will enjoy this fun-filled vacation with your family and friends and enjoy a fantastic getaway to Calais.

The best part of traveling the world with your loved one is that you always get someone to experience new cultures, new sights, and worldly things. If you’re planning to propose to your significant others while traveling, the gesture itself is monumental. It doubles the experience and makes everything purely unforgettable. 

It’s an absolute declaration of your love and heartfelt invitation to take your relationship to the fully committed level. No matter where you pop the question, you want the day to be special and to go on without a single setback. Destination proposals are all the rage right now, but traveling can present some unexpected difficulties and curveballs. 

Fear not- we’ve sorted out a few tips to help you nail the proposal and create the most memorable vacation you can imagine. 

Pick a Destination You’ll Both Love 

A wedding proposal is one of the most unforgettable moments. You can make it even more memorable by combining your engagement plans with the holiday of a lifetime (also, engagement months are definitely a thing now!). 

Whether you’re returning to a place that means the world to you as a couple or seeking out new adventures, these stunning romantic proposal locations across the world should do the trick…

• Paris, France 

Unsurprisingly, every survey ever made on the subject points out that Paris is the most popular city on the planet for proposals. For a unique Parisian proposal, bypass busy tourist spots such as the Louvre or the Eiffel Tower and seek out hidden corners of the City of Light instead. 

• On the Royal Scotsman 

Start your journey to married life aboard the Belmond Royal Scotsman, a mahogany and tartan decorated train considered one of the most luxurious ways to travel the world. Steam past castles, forests, and lochs while enjoying a Sky Gold in the lacquered dining room. From the highlands to the west coast and even the islands, there’s an itinerary to please everyone, especially your soon-to-be wife. 

• Florence, Italy 

Less popular than Paris but equally idyllic, Florence is the perfect spot to propose to an art lover. This Renaissance city hosts works from Michelangelo and Botticelli, to name a few of its big-name, breath-taking draws, while the morning bustling café scene and food markets denote that the modern Tuscan capital is still as lively as it ever was. Make sure you head to the top of Duomo bell tower or book a boat tour down the river with a bottle of wine to nail your proposal. 

Prepare Your Speech and Try To Sound Like Yourself 

If your words are too cliched, rehearsed, or make it seem like they’re coming from someone else’s mouth, you will come off as robotic, or worse, insincere. Memorize all important points you want to make, then follow a loose crip spoken in a natural tone. 

For example, you could begin your proposal speech by telling your significant other how you felt when you two met or you realized you were in love with them. End with the famous four words, and if the answer is the want you wanted, pop out the ring!

Use Placeholder or Take the Ring Abroad 

You should decide whether you want to use a placeholder to propose with or take the engagement ring abroad with you – the idea is to choose one together when you get back. 

A placeholder can be something as simple as a Haribo ring or just a standard cheap ring – either way, the gesture remains the same. However, you should do whatever you’re most comfortable with!

When it comes to actually purchasing the engagement ring, jewelry experts from Baunat advise you to pay attention to the right size. Women’s ring sizes can be quite tricky to work out on your own. 

To make sense of it, you could ask a friend of hers or print out a ring sizing guide and measure one of her other rings against it. If you do get all wrong, fear not! Jewelers are used to this type of thing and are usually happy to resize a ring for you. 

Get Coverage for Your Ring! 

Whether you plan to buy the ring together or you’ve bought it in advance, get Insurance for it as soon as possible…especially if traveling abroad with it. 

You can add the ring to your home contents insurance to travel safely with it, however, that’s only possible if you’re the main person on the insurance policy to minimize the risk of being found out in case you already live together. 

Otherwise, you will need to consider specific Insurance for the rings, which many insurers offer. 

Find a Good Hiding Place for the Ring

A smart move would be to try time-buying the engagement rings a few weeks before your vacation. 

This provides a reasonable buffer time in case of any delays while not being so far in advance that you risk being found out as she accidentally discovered it. And in such instances, make sure you find a suitable hiding place…ideally somewhere she’s unlikely to go. And come up with a smart cover story in case she unearths your secret location. 

Propose Early on in Your Vacation 

The sooner, the better. 

Feeling nervous? 

Of course, you do. 

To avoid sweating too much (or worse, getting found out), it’s smarter to propose early on in the vacation… ideally within the first few days. Even better, the proposal will give you both the entire holiday to celebrate. 

If the unexpected happens and you can’t find the time to pop the question, come up with a Plan B. The point is – cook a Plan B, maybe even a Plan C before the holiday in case the inevitable happens and things don’t go as planned. 

 

One of the most frequently asked questions we get from winter sports enthusiasts is: “Should I choose private lessons or group lessons?”. Although there is no clear answer to this question, in this blog we will list the pros and cons of both teaching methods.

Important factors when comparing private ski and snowboard lessons with group lessons are: price, learning curve, flexibility and of course the need to make new friends in the snow!

Price

To start with price: private ski and snowboard lessons on an hourly basis are without a doubt more expensive than group lessons. However, group lessons can usually only be booked for 5 or 6 whole mornings, afternoons or days, depending on whether you want to start the course on Sunday or Monday.

The price for a week of group lessons varies from EUR 180 in smaller Austrian villages to CHF 700 (approx. EUR 630) in the most expensive destinations in Switzerland, such as Verbier.

The price for private ski lessons or snowboard lessons depends of course on the duration of the lesson. Unlike group lessons, private lessons can often be booked from a single hour to a whole day, often with a discount if you book several consecutive days of ski or snowboard lessons.

The price of private lessons varies from EUR 50/hour at affordable destinations such as Châtel (Portes du Soleil) to EUR 100/hour (!) per hour at fashionable locations such as Zermatt in Switzerland. When you choose for example Ski lessons in Kirchberg, Ski lessons in Ischgl or Ski lessons in Zell am see the prices are mostly real affordable.

To facilitate the comparison in price of private lessons with group lessons, we take a simple calculation example. Suppose you book 5 mornings of 3 hours of private ski or snowboard lessons, then you come in a price range of EUR 750 to EUR 1500 depending on destination, which is 2x to 4x the price for 5 days of 3 hours group lessons per day.

Learning curve

If we use the learning curve that you go through during a lesson as a criterion, it becomes clear that private lessons are not nearly that much more expensive than group lessons. You need much less hours of private lessons to achieve the same result as with group lessons. During a private lesson you get the full attention of the ski/snowboard instructor, while the attention of a teacher in a group lesson is greatly diluted due to the higher number of participants.

 

A teacher who leads a group lesson will not only be able to give much less attention per participant, but will give much more generic exercises, tailored to the average level of the group rather than to the individual. As soon as you have a lower level than the group average or are a lot better than the average participant, you run the risk that the technique exercises covered do not provide you an optimal learning curve. This is simply because the exercises do not match your entry level.

The number of participants in a group lesson plays a major role in this. Where many traditional ski schools in France and Austria – handle large groups (sometimes up to 12 participants!), there is a tendency for newer ski school chains (such as Evolution 2) to have smaller groups with a maximum 8 participants. We therefore advise winter sports enthusiasts who are looking for group lessons to always inform in advance about the maximum number of participants that the school uses. It goes without saying that you will learn less in a group lesson with 12 participants than in a group lesson with 6 participants.

In a private lesson, both the exercises and the terrain are chosen exactly based on your level and needs. Whether you’re looking for good basic technique as a beginner, off-piste skiing or regaining your confidence after an accident, a private instructor can focus on any goal you choose. This means that you will see progress much faster after a private lesson than after a group lesson.

Finally, there is a crucial factor: the teacher himself. Although we must be careful to generalize, it is well known that ski instructors with the highest qualifications (“Staatlicher” in Austria) are more likely to be employed in private lessons and teachers with lower qualifications (“Anwärter”). This is because lower qualified ski and snowboard instructors often only teach during holiday weeks, which are precisely the periods in which the group lessons are given. A ski school might not be inclined to put an overqualified ski instructor with a higher hourly rate in front of a group if it can also employ a cheaper worker. The ski or snowboard school will rather employ the higher qualified ski or snowboard instructor if there is a request from an experienced skier who, for example, wants to ski off-piste.

In short: when it comes to learning curve, private ski lesson or private snowboard lesson wins without a doubt over ski or snowboard lessons in a group.

Flexibility

We have already talked about the duration of a group lesson versus that of a private ski/snowboard lesson. Private lessons offer the freedom to book from a single hour to a full week of lessons, while for group lessons you are usually limited to 5 or 6 half-days. Please note that you book private lessons on time! As the holiday weeks get closer, private lessons quickly sell out. This is not only due to the high holiday pressure, but also to the fact that many ski schools prefer to use their teachers for a group rather than as a private teacher for financial reasons.

Make new friends in the snow!

Finally: if you are looking for fun in the snow, group lessons are of course recommended! Although small differences in level may exist within a group, the group will initially be composed on the basis of level. Going on an adventure in the snow with a friendly group can only increase the holiday fun, including après-ski!

Get the Ski-Pro experience

We are happiest when we can share our love with others. Whether you are new to winter sports, want to improve your technique, teach your kids or want to go on an Alpine adventure – you’ve come to the right place. Ski-Pro makes the most of your precious time – both online and on the slope – with a choice of 250+ ski schools and instructors in the Alps. Add competitive prices, personalised service and a good dose of fun, and you are guaranteed to get great value for money and, most importantly, an amazing experience.

France has also had its share of producing quality films worthy of Hollywood’s attention for decades. Here are the Top Five Films from France on the streaming sites Netflix and Prime which appeals not only to fans but also to those who use films as a way to learn the French language.

Amelie

Released: 2001

Director: Jean-Pierre Jeunet

Starring: Audrey Tautou, Mathieu Kassovitz, Serge Merlin, Jamel Debbouze, Domonique Pinon

This is probably one of the most popular French exports in the film world. A light-hearted fantasy movie, It is about the title character, Amelie who secretly creates a world of her own design by orchestrating the lives of people around her. The film earned great reviews; some say you will easily fall in love with Amelie. It grossed at over $33 million worldwide and has won many awards such as the Best Film at the European Film Awards and four Cesar (the French counterpart of the Oscars) Awards. It also placed Tautou on Hollywood’s A-List as she has received many offers in subsequent films.

Bicycling with Moliere

Released: 2014

Director: Philippe Le Guay

Starring: Fabrice Luchini, Lambert Wilson, Maya Sansa, Camille Japy

This dramatic film is about two friends working on a production of Moliere’s Le Misanthrope. Their differences would emerge as they argued on who should play which part and ended up revisiting past issues between them. The film is ideal for those who want a shortcut to understanding the famous play by Moliere without the need to watch the actual play itself though it is deconstructed as each the actors go through every part, adding tension brought about by the rivalry.

Blue Is the Warmest Color

Released: 2013

Director: Abdellatif Kechiche

Starring: Lea Seydoux, Adel Exarchopolous, Alma Jodorowsky

This coming of age film is based on the graphic novel by Julie Maroh. It is about two women Adele (Exarchopolous) and Emma (Seydoux) who are lesbians and have a relationship. But it is more than just women getting together intimately. Through this relationship, Adele gets to unlock her untapped potential and become someone better than she was before. The film received a lot of praises heaped on the director and the two lead actresses. It has received among its many accolades the Golden Palm Award at the 2013 Cannes Film Festival. It also received nominations from the Golden Globe Awards and BAFTA, a testament to its superb quality.

Suite Francaise

Released: 2015

Director: Saul Dibb

Starring: Michelle Williams, Margot Robbie, Kristin Scott Thomas

The film is based on the second part of the novel by Irene Nemirovsky set in World War II. The gist of the story is on the romantic relationship between a German soldier and a French villager during Germany’s occupation of France during the war. Having Hollywood A-Listers helped get the attention of audiences outside France with the film released in the United Kingdom in that same year and is featured in the Lifetime cable network channel two years later. The movie also garnered positive reviews from critics.

District 13

Released: 2004

Director: Pierre Morel

Starring: David Belle, Cyril Rafaelli, Dany Verissimo

The film is also produced and co-written by acclaimed director Luc Besson. Set in a chaotic period, a contained suburb of Paris called B13 is ruled by gangs. A resident of B13 works closely with an undercover cop to rescue his kidnapped sister and stop a sinister plot. The film highlights the art of parkour performed mainly by Belle who helped found the art. Hollywood later released its own version in 2014 titled Brick Mansions starring the late Paul Walker and Belle also appears here as well in the same role.

Sweden has produced a lot of good movies worthy of attention outside its borders. They are so good and popular enough to be included in the online streaming sites, most notably Netflix and Prime. Here are the five Swedish films voted the most popular and considered must-see.

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

Of course there is no way you cannot include this film series based on the novels by Stieg Larsson.  The 2009 film directed by Niels Arden Oplev and starred Michael Nyqvist and Noomi Rapace in the title role. The film is about a journalist who hires a hacker to help him find the killer of woman murdered 40 years ago. What makes this film interesting and not just like any other crime-thriller flicks is the intricate web of deceit and manipulation of the major characters, plus their issues make things even more complicated, it will be difficult to tell who is on the right side. Next to Netflix, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo is also streaming on Hulu.

The film has found its way to audiences outside Sweden and has garnered great reviews. Despite its popularity, Hollywood came up with a remake in 2011 starring Daniel Craig and Rooney Mara, and directed by David Fincher which also did well.

Force Majeure

This 2014 film is directed by Ruben Ostlund and stars Johannes Bah Kuhnke, Lisa Loven Kongsli, Kristofer Hivju, Clara Wettergren and Vicent Wettergren. The film is about a man who takes his family to a ski resort. He panicked following a controlled avalanche incident when he abandoned his family while seeking safety. This put a strain on his marriage and relationship with his children. The movie garnered good reviews, one of them underscoring the takedown of the false sense of security as it reveals the flaws in human character in the face of adversity. The film won the Jury Prize in the 2014 Cannes Film Festival. It was also screened at the 2014 Toronto Film Festival. A Hollywood remake starring Will Ferrell and Julia Dreyfus is said to be in the works.

Wallander

This 2005 film is based on the series of novels by Henning Mankell centering on a fictional Swedish police inspector who will do whatever it takes to solve crimes, even if it means resorting to unconventional tactics or breaking the rules. The movie was also released outside of Sweden and garnered sterling reviews. It enhanced the image of Mankell, putting him at par with the likes of James Patterson and Mickey Spillane. The film has led to the creation of TV adaptation in Sweden and the United Kingdom. Kenneth Branagh plays the title character in the latter version. The Swedish version is on Hulu streaming. You can also watch it on Netflix US.

Kiss Me

Also known under the title With Every Heartbeat, this 2011 film is directe by Alexandra-Therese Keining and stars Ruth Vega Fernandez, Joakim Natterqvist, Krister Henriksson and Lena Endre. The film focuses on lesbian relationship. A woman who has just gotten engaged goes on weekend getaway with her father’s live-in girlfriend and the latter’s daughter with whom she had an intimate relationship during that time spent together. The movie earned good reviews and has won the Breakthough Award at the 2011 AFI Festival.

Sound of Noise

This is a 2010 joint Swedish-French film directed by Ola Simonsson and Johannes Stjarne Nilsson. It stars Bengt Nilsson, Sanna Persson and Magnus Borjesson. It is about a group of anarchist musicians who play music using different non-musical objects they can find in several institutions in the city. One critic called the film “Bonnie and Clyde on Drums.” Other than that, blends music, crime-drama and romance. The film has received several accolades such as The Young Critics Award and Best Fantastic Film at Fantastic Fest in Austin, Texas. Next to Amazon Prime you can also watch it on Mubi.

There are a million reasons why Spain is one of the most popular travel destinations in the world. One of the best ways to discover the wonderful places this country has to offer is to leisurely tour each place.   

Tip #1: Find the best car hire company  

Looking for the best car rentals is made easy through carrentals. You can find the best Spain car hire companies here. You can check out deals, rates, car models available, and pick up and drop off locations. They highlight the package offering. You can filter choices based on your preferences too. 

Tip #2: Know what you want to do 

With numerous UNESCO World Heritage Sites and World Heritage Cities, there are many things to see. If you only have a few weeks, identify your must-visit places and plan your itinerary. Give yourself enough time to explore an area though. Talk to locals, follow their suggestions on what local cuisine to try. Don’t be afraid to try hole-in-the-wall places too.   

Tip #3: Prepare travel essential items 

When going on road trips, have water bottles, cooler for food, and snacks handy. You never know when you can stop to have a meal or grab a drink. Having a GPS and a car mount phone holder are must-haves to make it easy to navigate the roads in Spain.  

Tip #4: Know road rules in Spain 

Spanish road rules are not that hard to follow. Just drive on the right side of the road. When overtaking, look for the white broken line. Also, don’t be surprised if Spanish drivers always flash their lights at you when passing. They are just obeying the law 

Another thing you need to remember is to never drink and drive. Spanish authorities are very strict when it comes to this, unless you want to be incarcerated. The allowable blood alcohol level is 0.5 per mg (0.1 per mg for newbies).  

Be mindful where you park, especially in big cities like Madrid or Barcelona. Look for Blue Zones – pay parking areas. You might have to pay a hefty sum to claim your car if it gets towed. 

Before driving off in your rental, make sure you have the following items in the car: warning triangle, visibility vest, proper car documentation (registration, your license and/or international driving permit, and insurance), extra pair of glasses, and replacement light bulbs. A first aid kit would be good to have but not required.

Tip #5: Be ready to pay toll road fees 

A lot of highways require toll fees, especially in Catalonia. You can take smaller avoids, avoiding the highways and toll fees but may be more inconvenient and take you longer. Toll fees may range from 50 cents to 10 euro, with tunnels costing more. 

How much do you know about Qatar? Let’s start with the basics. Qatar is a tiny country located on the shores of the Persian Gulf. People from Qatar – known as Qataris – are predominantly Muslim, while Arabic is the country’s official language.

Thanks largely to its vast natural gas resources, Qatar has become one of the wealthiest countries in the world. It’s also becoming an increasingly popular destination for expats, with its world-renowned healthcare system and low taxes.

To give you a better idea of what Qatar is like, here are 5 things you might not know about the tiny Arabic country:

1. Qatar is flat…

Qatar is the third flattest country in the entire world after Singapore and the Maldives, with the average elevation being just 28 meters above sea level. In fact, Qatar is so flat that the highest points in the entire country are Doha’s dazzling skyscrapers!

2. … and rich

Qatar has the highest average per capita income in the world, at a whopping US$ 131,890, beating out Luxembourg and Macau. Qatar has used this wealth to invest in infrastructure and develop one of the world’s best healthcare systems. It’s also spending billions on nine brand-new stadiums for the 2022 Men’s Football World Cup.

3. There are practically no natural disasters

It might not be something you think about when moving abroad, but you’ll be pleased to hear that Qatar is hit by surprisingly few natural disasters. In fact, if you’re looking to avoid floods, droughts, cyclones, earthquakes and more, Qatar is considered the safest country in the world!

4. Most Qataris live in the city

A staggering 99% of Qataris live in the country’s glamorous capital, Doha. The city is also home to the vast majority of expats moving to Qatar, offering the most choice in everything from international schools to world-class restaurants.

5. Put down those forks and spoons

When eating many traditional dishes, Qataris don’t use forks or spoons. Instead, they use bread to scoop it up. Utensils aren’t the only things you’re unlikely to see on a Qatari dinner table! As a Muslim country, pork and alcohol aren’t consumed, although you can buy alcohol at some restaurants.

Find out more…

We’ve put together five interesting facts here, but if you’re thinking about moving to Qatar there are plenty more fascinating things to discover about your new home. Find out more with our expert guides to everything from rooftop bars to opening a bank account.

Whenever you take out your car, make sure you have your legal documents with you, like the car registration and driver’s license, as well as your car insurance policy. The same is true when you get a rental car.  

Renting a car is quite simple. But what makes it complicated and confusing is the car insurance policy for car rentals. Great thing that there are companies like Overstappen.nl to make it easy for the average Joe to have car insurance in the Netherlands and other places.

In-house car insurances & LDW’s

When renting a car, these rental companies usually have and offer their in-house car insurance. These companies usually strongly encourage you to get CDW (also known as collision damage waiver) or LDW (or loss damage waiver) from them but at such a high rate. They are supposed to give you a headache-free hand-off of the rental car at the end of the contract. Simply put, if you damage the car in any way, paying for a CDW or an LDW is your get-out-of-jail card. However, these waivers may start at USD 30 per day, wherein the actual actuarial cost is USD 3-4 per day, and are a lot higher than the actual car rental cost.

Alternative choices

Alternative choices are getting one from your insurance company or getting one as part of your travel package. Some car insurance companies can pay for any damage you might incur on short-term car rentals. Make sure it can cover rentals abroad. Also, credit card companies offer car rental accident insurance, especially when you use your credit card to pay for the car rental, as well.

Travel Insurance

Another option is to check if your travel package has an option to include car rental insurance coverage. They cost a lot less than the ones provided by car rental companies but these are usually the reimbursement type, i.e. you pay for it first then reimburse later; usually at USD 9-10 per day.