China route

China is on the cards again but this time for only 8 weeks, starting in very early April and finishing early June.

We want to see Xian on the way and finish the trip in Beijing but don't know the start point. Guilin or Chongqing?

This is all assuming we'll get a 2 month visa in Perth come January.

8 weeks is a tight squeeze but am thinking of a bus/train ride into Beijing for the last 400-600km. We're looking at doing about 3500-4000 km with 1 day off per week.
The hills are many and long, and think the weather should be on our side by heading north.
Is it too much?

Thoughts?

American family looking for trip recommendation, have toddler and pregnant

Sorry for the broad question, but we are hoping to travel this November with our 15 month old and I am pregnant.
We're hoping to choose a location that is:
1) reachable by a reasonably short flight, we live in the east
2) mostly non malarial
3) safe (relative, I know)
4) has some culture
5) and some nature
6) and is pretty quiet
We're open to beaches, cities, mountains, hot, cold, really anything. We've traveled in the past but mostly very far away and never abroad with kids. Does anyone have any ideas? I'd be so grateful for your opinions. Thanks much!!

Teaching English Abroad

I am a recently college graduate with a BA in English Creative Writing and am wanting to teach English abroad, but I am curious about a few items.

First, do I need any certification outside of my English Degree, if not, will additional certification be redundant, or act as resume padding, allowing me to find better jobs?

Second, I have a felony drug conviction on my record. I was arrested 5 years ago, convicted 4 years ago, and finished my supervision and drug classes 3 years ago. Since I was arrested, I have gone back to school and graduated with honors. I have not been convicted of a crime, not event a parking ticket, since that time. How will this effect my employment opportunities? Are there ways to mitigate the stigma that comes along with this conviction? Will gaining more certification help my cause?

Third, my girlfriend recently bought a groupon for an online accredi... more »

Collins moves towards an Urban Dictionary approach to the English language

At least in the online version of the Collins Dictionary anyway.

'Totes', 'amazeballs' and 84 other new words have been added this month.

http://www.collinsdictionary.com/blog/whats-your-word,40,HCB.html

Part of the evolution of the English language? Or just a stunt?

Single mum & 2 children want to see the world!

Hello,

I'm a single parent to 5 and 6 year old children. I am selling my house, and will have about £25,000 (and an income of £400 a month on top of this) and want to take my children travelling for about 6 months.

I have travelled around the UK with the children, and from the UK into France/Belgium using trains/buses and planes. I am new to travelling, but not new to being a single parent, so managing on my own with two children doesn't worry me from a practical point of view. We often travel around the UK for time away, with a few changes of clothes and some colouring books

I'm looking for some advice from other people who have travelled with their children. Where have you been? Did you have much experience of travelling before you went?

I am planning on a train/ferry trip over to Germany with backpacks and the bare minimum to see how we get on, before I set off. I am a... more »

Absolute last second flights from the uk?

I've been lead to believe that several major airports are always trying to sell the last couple of seats on flights all over the world for absolute rock-bottom prices. I can't find anything on Google so can anyone confirm, please?

I'm planning a six month trip and am toying with the idea of just turning up up at LHR/LGW with a backpack and buying a last-minute ticket to a tropical destination... Is this feasible?

Travelling around the world

Hi everyone, this is my 1st time using this forum so bear with me.

I'm 24 years old type 1 diabetic scottish male and looking to go to about 22 countries around the world in a year and a half, I'm thinking of leaving in november 2013/14, moistly to have a good time but i also want to see a lot of each countries history and wildlife.

I'm looking at starting in Mexico and working my way down South America and into Brazil, looking at staying Brazil the longest out of all the south american countries.

Flying from Brazil to hopefully Turkey and visiting Jordan and Egypt, moistly for the ancient sites and pyramids etc.

Then i'm thinking of flying from Egypt to India and working my way through Myanmar,Laos, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia and Indonsia.

Then finishing off in Japan and then China.

I was wandering if theres any good rail journeys from China to europe?

Also wh... more »

Travel to Punta Cana with 8 month old

Hello just looking for advice on traveling to the Domincan with my 8 month old. Will she need bug repellant? Will the water at the resort be safe to bathe her in? Are the kiddie pools safe for her to swim in as far as the chlorine content? Any advice will be helpful! She is eating few solids and drinking breast milk only. Not sure how or if I'm going to continue to make her food while I'm there or take some ready-made jar food.

Thanks!