Make,the,Most,Luxury,Travel,Un travel,insurance Make the Most of Luxury Travel - Understanding Local Customs

Like any American, traveling occasionally is just what I love doing and I bet you share the same stuff with me. But traveling does not mean that you would be safe. Escaping from our job and other stressful activities is just something that w Torres del Paine is among the biggest of Chile’s national parks, occupying almost 600,000 acres (242,000 ha) of land in the south on the border with Argentina. It is also among the most important, receiving a significant proportion of domes

Until recently not many would've thought ofluxury travel as an agent of world peace and understanding. Even now thisaspect of travel hasn't quite rung a bell, generally speaking. Are touristsresponsible for more than their luggage when they travel? Yes, of course, awhole range of things from toddlers to passports.  But, world peace? Surely you can't hold themresponsible for something so intangible and more at home in the realm ofpolitical diplomacy, especially when all they want is to leave responsibilitiesbehind and have some unrestrained fun. Well, luxury travellers are certainlynot expected to transit in the Middle East and start negotiations before they continue to the warm tropics towork on a tan. The point here is that an understanding of the people and theculture you would be interacting with at your luxury travel destination is agreat way to enhance the trip.  These are the days when luxury travel toexotic foreign locales is a matter of routine for most people. Oddly enough thesearch for the exotic often takes one to far flung corners of third worldcultures totally alien to the visitor in terms of language, customs, andetiquette. Some take it in their stride and blend in effortlessly with an openmind and have the time of their lives. They are eager to learn more about thehost culture and come away enriched and enlightened in more ways than one; gonative, as it were.  There might even bean invaluable exchange where the host steps out from behind their culturalcurtain and greets you with a hand shake as you bow with a wai greeting. Worldsmeet and a relationship is born. It might not be a momentous occasion marked byclashing cymbals and trumpet calls. But from the perspective of luxury travelthis may easily be considered an achievement that bodes well for us humanbeings who sojourn in troubled times.  People are different. What makes themdifferent is not colour or creed, but customs and culture. This is indeed adifference to be celebrated. How horribly boring would it be if the whole worldhad toast for breakfast and wore black suits? It is the unique customs andculture of a people that gives them an identity and sets them apart.  It is an understanding of these mutualdifferences that bring people together. The easiest way to achieve this wouldbe to wise up on local customs and etiquette while browsing for top attractionsand things to do at your luxury travel destination. It can be quite arevelation.  Differences in culture and customs becomemore pronounced as your luxury travel presses eastwards. With the changinglandscapes come strange etiquettes which will certainly throw the first timer.For instance, in Thailand and in most Southeast Asian countries which are popular luxurytravel destinations, it is considered awfully rude to touch anyone on the topof the head. Even brushing against a head by accident entails profuseapologizing. Same applies to pointing your foot at anyone while seated. It isan insult; plain and simple. Thais shake hands as greeting, but it would be aloose, limpid clasp rather than a warm grasp. Any form of aggressive hand shakeis considered extremely rude; think arm-wrestling. So think twice before yougrab hold of a Thai hand and pump enthusiastically.  Travel broadens the mind as well as your circleof friendships. Chances are high that while on vacation at your luxury traveldestination, you might come across some individual or family who went out oftheir way to help you, befriend you, or save you from dire straits. It is onlynatural that you want to show appreciation by presenting a gift. An expensive watch,perhaps, or a bottle of wine? An exquisite leather handicraft should do nicelyto convey warm appreciation. Think again. You do not gift clocks, watches, orany time pieces to Chinese people; it's supposed to bring bad luck. You do notgift wine to Muslims; they do not imbibe. You do not gift leather to Hindus;the cow is sacred to them. Well, there's always chocolates! Often luxury travel isolates tourists fromlocal culture or presents them with a highly sanitised or anglicized versionthat might lack authenticity. This can only be considered a huge loss as far ascultural enlightenment is concerned. You have been fed a bite-sized version ofwhat could've been a delightful gourmet experience. The chance to learn andunderstand various cultures and why they do what they do is invaluable and tobe grasped with both hands when available. It is a chance to lay downprejudices and see with new eyes. For beneath the various skin tones, we're indeeddriven by the same needs, foremost among which would be the need to beunderstood.