Here at Mosaic Travel, as well as planning your trip, we can help to make it as smooth as possible with solutions to some frequently asked questions.

Over a series of blogs, I’ll discuss the top travel planning questions we hear at Mosaic:

1. What is the best way to access my money while overseas?

Travellers cheques are almost useless these days but never fear – there are 3 great alternatives!

Credit Card

You can use these in ATMs to withdraw the local currency and to pay for things in shops and restaurants.

Look for a credit card that offers no ATM withdrawal fees – most are pretty good these days.

I like Citibank Visa card – no I’m not being paid! I’ve been using this card for years. Not only do they have no fees, but their currency conversion rates are seriously good.

Pros: Quick and convenient

Cons: Not all shops and restaurants accept credit cards

– Withdrawal fees can add up, so be sure to choose the card that’s right for you.

Travel Money Card

Most major banks (and even the post office) offer these travel money cards. You load up the card in advance with your selected currency, and use it like a debit card while overseas.

Pros: You can lock in a good exchange rate when the time is right.

– It’s easy to keep track of how much you’ve spent.

– You’re issued with 2 cards, so if you lose one, you can log in to your banking app, cancel it and use the other.

Cons: Although they advertise zero fees, some ATMS still charge a fee, and the currency conversion rates aren’t great – you will generally lose some $$ in transactions.

-There is a big fee to withdraw any remaining cash when you return home.

Cash

In some countries, cash can be the only option – particularly in Africa and South East Asia. In other countries, paying in cash can see a good discount!

It’s a good idea to get at least some local currency in advance, to ensure you can hit the ground running.

Obviously, it’s not a good idea to carry big amounts of cash around!

Pros: Everywhere accepts cash!

– No extra conversion fees when paying via eftpos

– You can choose the time to withdraw/exchange cash at a good exchange rate

Cons: Carrying a lot of cash can be worrisome 

– Most travel insurance companies don’t cover lost or stolen cash.

Your bank is likely to have a security feature which scans your account for any suspicious activity. For example, if your recent transactions have been $50 of petrol, $30 at the local cafe and $70 of groceries, the 100Euro dinner in Spain the next day will look very out of place!

It’s best to notify your bank of any overseas travel before you depart to prevent a “fraud lock” being placed on your account.

Stay tuned for the next post about mobile phone usage abroad!

To book your next adventure, call Rosie at Mosaic Travel on (03) 5275 4583

The post Preparation Tips for your Next Adventure – Part 1: Money appeared first on Mosaic Travel.

What began as a trading port in the 15th – 19th century has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1999 and is exceptionally well-preserved.

The prized old town is made up of markets, alleyways and lantern clad streets which are easy to walk or cycle through. The ban of cars during certain hours adds to the city’s charm and will make draw you back for a 2nd and 3rd visit.

After 2 visits (so far!), here are the top 5 reasons I LOVE Hoi An:

1. Banh Mi

Hoi an is the home of Banh Mi – a quintessentially Vietnamese dish! A warmed baguette filled with pate (thanks to the French influence), delicious pork, pickled vegetables, chilli sauce and herbs.

These sandwiches are rich, spicy and just incredible! Don’t be afraid to order a second, my record is 3.5 over 24hours.

When it comes on where you should dine, there are two front runners:

Bánh Mì Phượng. My score: 7/10

Rising to fame after being featured on television series “No Reservations” by the late Anthony Bourdain, there is always a line out the door here.

Serving the traditional banh mi along with several variations, you should expect to enjoy this tasty roll on a table shared with backpackers and other travellers.

Madam Khanh – The Banh Mi Queen. My score: 9.5/10

Being dubbed the “Queen” is a pretty good hint that these sandwiches are going to be good!

Madam Khanh has been selling street food for almost 50 years, with 30 of those at her Banh Mi store front. It’s a family affair here with her husband, daughter, granddaughter and sister in law all involved in the day to day workings of the business.

She’s a street food icon and welcomes the attention that comes with it! You’ll find the gracious Queen more than happy to pose for a photo, lovingly holding her sandwich.

Letters from previous travellers are displayed in a glass case behind her work station and help to create a much more humble feeling than the previously mentioned shop.

The menu is also a lot simpler here with only two options: traditional or vegetarian. With the addition of a fried egg standard in her sandwich, this is a great spot for brunch matched with a delicious iced coffee!

Other famous Hoi An dishes include “White Rose” (prawn dumplings) and “Cao Lau” (pork noodles).

2. Tailors

If you want any item of clothing (including shoes) made, Hoi An is your place!

With 400+ tailors it can seem quite overwhelming. They vary from high end boutiques with air conditioning, complimentary bottled water and comfortable seating to talk over your fabric choices, to an undercover market stall where you get changed behind a sheet!

Unsurprisingly, prices are charged accordingly.

Clothes are ready for their first fitting the following day, and if you’re on a tight schedule, you may even get a scooter ride back to your hotel!

3. Lanterns

Beautiful coloured lanterns are strung up high throughout the old town, zigzagging their way down the already picturesque streets.

But, it gets better!

After the sun sets, the temperate drops slightly and it’s time to prepare to be wowed by the river side! Vendors line the banks selling floating lanterns ready to join the hundreds already released – it is simply a beautiful sight.

Lantern shops come to life displaying their wares, and a simple stroll through the old town is instantly enthralling.

4. Cooking schools

With so many fantastic dishes to sample here, a visit to a cooking school to learn how to make them at home is a fantastic activity!

Classes start with a guided tour of the local market where you’re encouraged to ask questions, taste and take photos. This itself is an eye opening experience!

Once back in the classroom, traditional dishes such as rice paper rolls, papaya salad, grilled pork and prawn pancakes are created and eaten all together as a feast with your fellow chefs!

5. Bicycles

As the old town is closed to motorcycles and cars for the majority of the day, bicycles are the best way to get around! Not just practical, they’re also what create such a refreshingly relaxed feel in the town.

No hustle and bustle here!

Cycling tours are readily available and provide a great opportunity to explore the near by countryside with rice fields, farms and fishing ports.

Bikes are available for hire from most hotels in Hoi An, but if you’re not in the mood for a light work out, a cyclo taxi will is the perfect (and fun) alternative!

It was so hard to only list 5 reasons why I love Hoi An, and I’m sure that if you make the journey there yourself, it will be easy to see why!

To book a trip to Hoi An, call Rosie at Mosaic Travel on (03) 5275 4583

The post The top 5 reasons I keep coming back to Hoi An, Vietnam! appeared first on Mosaic Travel.

Here are the reasons why I think Sri Lanka should be on everyone’s holiday list for 2019.

Beautiful Beaches

Sri Lanka has beautiful, unspoilt, white sandy beaches! Unlike some neighbouring countries, Sri Lanka’s beaches are free from rubbish, and the water is clear and inviting. There are beautiful beaches in the west, near Galle, in the south around Mirissa and Tangalle, in the east near Trincomalee, and even in Negombo, 10kms from the airport!

The best beach depends on the time of year you’re visiting, so as to avoid the monsoon. Give us a call for the low-down!

Hill country 

Only a few hours’ drive inland from the coast takes you to spectacular, green hill country. With mountains as high as 2000 metres, the weather here is usually humid and wet – perfect for growing tea! The first tea plantations were planted by the British in 1824, and since then, tea has quickly become Sri Lanka’s greatest export. The central highlands region still has a distinct British flavour, with Nurawa Eliya town nicknamed ‘Little England’ for its stately homes, hedge gardens, and a colonial ‘Grand Dame-esque’ hotel serving up a very British afternoon tea.
Taking a local train through the hill country is an absolute must. It’s a chance to mix with the locals and stick your head out the window to feel the breeze in your hair, while you watch the most beautiful green, rolling tea plantations pass you by.

It’s a slow journey – timetables mean nothing – however a passing parade of food sellers will help to keep hunger at bay, offering spiced nuts, fried dhal and hot masala chai.

“Ella” is a great little town with a handful of quirky cafes and shops, and if you venture just a few kilometres out of town, you’re deep in tea-country.
There are beautiful walks you can do in this region, across the Horton Plains too. There is plenty in this region to keep you entertained for a few days!

Safari

Did you know Sri Lanka has the highest population of leopards in Asia? Arriving at Yala National Park is like being transported to a completely different destination – it’s hot and dry, with vast plains – perfect for spotting leopards in the wild. As well as leopards, you can see elephants, crocodiles, buffalo, monkeys, and plenty of birdlife in the National Park.

There’s nothing like going on a jeep safari at dawn or dusk, cameras at the ready, hoping to spot animals in their natural habitat!

In the centre of the country (near Sigiriya), a visit to either Minneriya or Kawudulla National Parks is a must, for their huge Elephant population. Where else can you visit an ancient historical site in the morning, go on safari in the afternoon, and have a cocktail by the pool at your hotel in the evening?!

Food

Sri Lankan food is fresh, spicy and full of flavour! The main spices Sri Lankans use in their foods are cinnamon, cardamom and cloves. Curry leaves are also used often, and of course, everything is flavoured with fresh coconut.
Egg hoppers are a fantastic start to the day – a type of crepe made from rice flour and coconut milk, with an egg in the middle. These are topped with a dhal curry, and fresh, grated coconut.

For other meals, curry is the order of the day, with plenty of lime and coconut milk. Coconut sambal accompanies everything – this is a mixture of fresh grated coconut, chilli, garlic and lime.
Dessert is crème caramel, or a coconut and honey mixture, either deep-fried, or rolled up in a crepe.

Travellers to Sri Lanka certainly wont go hungry!

The people

Sri Lankans are some of the friendliest people I’ve met! They’re genuinely proud to show off their beautiful country, and will go out of their way to help travellers.

In our week-long trip through the country, we were not hassled once, nor pressured to buy anything. On the road, all timings are quoted in ‘Sri-Lankan time’, ie, a 100km journey will take ‘3 hours, Sri Lankan time’ , always said with a cheeky grin, meaning it will probably take 4 hours! This however, is no cause for angst, and we didn’t encounter any erratic driving, road rage or excessive tooting.

Direct flights from Australia

If you live in Victoria like me, we’re lucky enough to have direct flights from Melbourne to Colombo, with Sri Lankan Airlines! The service encountered onboard is difficult to fault, with good food (Sri Lankan chicken curry for dinner), a decent selection of in-flight entertainment options, and comfortable seating.

With a flying time of 10 hours, Sri Lanka has never felt more accessible!
For those with frequent flyer memberships with other carriers, or those looking to fly from Australia’s other Capital cities, there are plenty of other great options, with Singapore Airlines, Thai Airways or Cathay Pacific, among others.

Sri Lanka makes for a great holiday destination combined with a stopover in Singapore, Bangkok, or perhaps even the Maldives?

An undiscovered gem, for now

Sri Lanka is distinctly un-touristy. There are very few tourist shops and restaurants, and almost zero souvenirs. Beaches are free from hawkers and you don’t see many other tourists wandering around.
However, this will almost certainly change in the near future. Lonely Planet has just named Sri Lanka the #1 destination to visit in 201 9 and it is the destination on everyone’s lips.

I think some of Sri Lanka’s pristine, beautiful charm may be lost in the next 5 – 10 years, so if you’re considering a visit to beautiful Sri Lanka, I recommend going now!

To enquire about a fabulous trip to Sri Lanka, call Rosie on (03) 5275 4583!

The post 7 reasons why you should visit Sri Lanka NOW! appeared first on Mosaic Travel.

To book an incredible tour to Iran, call Rosie at Mosaic Travel on (03) 5275 4583

The post Mystical Iran; an interview with small-group tour operator, Anoush appeared first on Mosaic Travel.

Food plays such a huge part in Thai culture, it’s more than just a meal, it’s a time for friends and families to cook, eat and spend time together.

It provides a livelihood for so many:

Village famers

Cooks

Street food vendors

The lady on the foothpath selling bags of limes and chillies!

Street food can be found anywhere at any time on food carts, motorbike BBQ’s, smoothie stands, tropical fruit carts, ice cream bicycles, foot path restaurants… the list goes on!

All the food I’ve eaten from these places has been 100% safe to eat and more delicious than the hotel restaurant! (Sorry to my Doctor back home in Geelong!)

While having so many options may seem overwhelming, a lot of stall holders are able to tell you the English name of what they’re selling. If not, point, smile and enjoy what you’re served – it’s more than likely going to be delicious!

These are my top 5 street meals:

BBQ fish

Salt crusted fresh whole fish (similar to snapper) stuffed with herbs and BBQ’d to perfection!

These fish come with noodles, lettuce and a hot pungent sauce (think lime, fresh herbs, chilli and garlic).

Take a lettuce leaf in your hand to form a cup, fill with fish, noodles and sauce then roll – it can get messy.

Expect to pay up to $10 for 1 fish with all the accompaniments (pricey for street food, but worth it).

**Don’t be put off by the look of these fish, they are my absolute favourite! Please don’t be afraid to try it!!

Pork leg on rice

Pork is king in Thailand, and this simple dish is an absolute winner.

The pork has been slowly braised in a delicious broth (soy, garlic and herbs) until juicy and tender then is served on rice with fresh herbs.

A large pile of the stewed pork can be seen at the front of the shop to help you know you’ve found the right place – it’s a great reason to stop and have a quick plate!

This costs between $2 and $4 depending if your dish comes with boiled egg or not.

Mango Sticky Rice

Street dessert! Mango’s are abundant here and enjoyed in salads, smoothies or the classic “mango sticky rice”.

Rice cooked with sweetened coconut milk is matched with fresh mango, a creamy coconut/pandan sauce and crunchy mung beans (don’t be put off by the name, they’re just like crushed peanuts!).

This simple dessert is creamy, sweet and fresh and is a reason itself for coming to Thailand!

Chicken/pork skewers

After a quick snack? BBQ skewers can be easily found in stalls or on the back of a motorbike BBQ.

Sticky grilled pork or chicken with a soy based glaze are a delicious snack for $0.50C to $1 each.

Chicken noodle soup

Similar to “pho”, this delicious soup is a staple in a Thai and expat diet!

For $2, you get a bowl of noodles, tender chicken and broth made with daikon (Asian white radish) bought to your table. Also available with duck! Yum!

At the table, you can customise your bowl with a choice of fresh ingredients:

Thai basil

Bean shoots

Boiled eggs

Lotus root

Cabbage

Snake beans (Similar to green beans)

Then add your seasonings:

Fish sauce

Sugar

Peanuts

Chilli (in 3 different varieties: dry flakes, wet flakes and chilli vinegar)

If you’re not sure what to add, just watch a local!

This lunch follows the rule of thai cooking by including something sweet (sugar), salty (fish sauce) and hot (chilli).

It’s fresh, flavoursome and a steal at $2 per bowl.

Once you’ve enjoyed your street meal, leave your empty plate and cutlery (spoon and fork) on the table and let the cook know you enjoyed it by saying“aroy mak!” (arr-roy muck)– it gets a smile every time.

The post Bangkok Street Food – By Mosaic correspondent Holly Richardson appeared first on Mosaic Travel.

For me, There isn’t anything much better than treating yourself to a meal in a foreign country. Perhaps ordering something you’ve read about in the guide books, or taking a local’s recommendation, or even just pointing to something at the menu and seeing what they bring to you!

Simple things seem to taste better as the quality of the ingredients are different to what we’re used to. I couldn’t believe how delicious a plain pesto pasta tasted in Italy! Other dishes are jam-packed full of intricate flavours that you know you’d never be able to recreate at home.

One other great thing about food overseas – you’ve (hopefully) left your diet behind because everyone knows calories don’t count while you’re overseas!

Here are my top 5 local foodie experiences I’ve had overseas:

Local pancakes, Hoi An, Vietnam

My sister and I were told about this ‘restaurant’ by our local Guide. When we sat down on our plastic chairs in a shabby courtyard, we were immediately handed food. As it turns out, they only offer one thing, a fixed menu, which is fantastic as it eliminates all decision-making! Piles and piles of food were placed in front of us – spring rolls, pork skewers, local savory pancakes, plus a mountain of crisp lettuce cups and fresh, fragrant herbs. We got through it all, washed down with a local beer, and as we finished, the waitress presented us with a chocolate ‘yogo’ each – dessert! It was daggy, cheap but absolutely delicious.

Peka, Croatia

On our Mosaic tours to Croatia, I take guests into the countryside on Hvar island for the day. After stopping to look at the picturesque vistas, the famous lavender, and wild herbs, we visit my friends the Dubocovic family, who own a small restaurant and winery in a village. Mr Dubocovic cooks the same thing each year for us, Peka. Peka in Croatian means ‘under the bell.’ It is slow-cooked lamb and potatoes cooked on a wood fire, covered with an iron ‘bell.’ We eat in their garden overlooking rolling hills, and tasting their home-made wine.
It’s so simple, but the quality of the ingredients, the surroundings and the friendliness of the Dubocovic family make it unforgettable!

Crickets, Cambodia

This one was a dare! Walking through the vibrant, colourful night markets of Siem Reap, I saw a cart selling deep-fried bugs. They offered everything, from garden-variety crickets, to cockroaches, small spiders to big, hairy tarantulas!
In order to prove myself an intrepid traveller, I bought a bag full of crickets to munch on. They were quite nice, crunchy and tasting of salt, oil and garlic. The only thing that stopped me eating more than one was the texture, and getting those long antennae stuck in your teeth!

Midye dolma, Turkey

The best ones are found by the Galata Bridge, and in ‘fish market street’ Beyoglu, both in Istanbul. They’re mussels stuffed with spiced rice. They’re plump, juicy, delicate and full of intricate flavour. The best way to eat them is straight from the shell, while standing up next to the midye dolma cart. When you’re finished, the midye dolmaci (the seller) will count your empty shells and charge you (about 50 cents per mussel) accordingly.

Portuguese Tart, Portugal

I wasn’t all that exciting about trying this custard delicacy when I visited Portugal the first time. But of course, being such a famous dessert, we were all given one by our tour guide after a morning walking tour of Lisbon. Wow! It was the smell that sucked me in first – still slightly warm, buttery, with a light hint of cinnamon. Then the first bite was magic. The pastry made a perfect ‘crunch’ sound like in the movies, and as you bit through the flakiness, you arrived the soft, sweet custard inside. Just heaven! (And remember, calories don’t count when you’re on holiday)

What’s your favourite local foodie experience?

The post My top 5 local foodie experiences overseas appeared first on Mosaic Travel.