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Archive for the ‘Travel’ Category

26
Jan

Finding Work In Belgium From India

Posted in Destinations  by bobcastro on January 26th, 2012

Finding work and immigrating to Belgium from India is a simple straightforward process requiring application and submission of documentation. The following are the steps to be taken for an Indian national to be able to work in Belgium:

1. The grant of permission, through the issuance of a work permit or professional card from the relevant authorities;

2. The delivery of the visa from the Belgian consulate or embassy where the worker is located in India;

3. The registration by the local municipality in Belgium and the subsequent grant of residence permits to Indians to continue their stay in the country;

The process starts as soon as an Indian national is able to obtain a work permit to work as an employee in Belgium. The employer in Belgium must also obtain an authorization to employ for the purpose of employing the Indian national in Belgium. The request for authorization must be addressed to the proper regional Employment Office where the employer is located.

Current legislation in Belgium has existing restrictions on the grant of authority to employ and the issuance of work permits. These include the required search by employers in the Belgian market as well as prioritizing nationals from countries where Belgium has a standing agreement regarding labor and manpower employment.

Because there is no existing agreement of this kind between India and Belgium, Indian workers do not enjoy the favored position in the job employment market in the country. There are specific categories though that employees from India can be exempt and find employment in Belgium. These are as follows:

1. Highly Qualified Employees. This category of employees earns an annual gross salary of 34.261 Euros as of 2008. The qualifications for this class includes university degrees and work experience which would be assessed to determine if the employee is considered as highly qualified for the work at hand;

2. Managerial Employees. This category of employees earns an annual gross salary of 57.162 Euros as of 2008 and is currently employed as one of the top executives within the company;

3. Other Employees. This category of employees are specialized technicians who through an employment agreement was able to come to Belgium for a maximum of six months to install/activate/repair a machine of the employer. This is the most commonly issued work permit and has a duration of just twelve months renewable until the maximum period is obtained, either four or eight years depending on the occupation;

After the application for employment has been filed together with all the requisite documents, the processing of the work permit takes about two to three weeks.

Bobby Castro is the online editor at the NRI community, where he has published a number of articles about NRI Indians living in Belgium and many other topics.

26
Jan

Things to Do on Sicily Vacations

Posted in Destinations  by anoton1 on January 26th, 2012

One of the places that many people like to visit on an Italian vacation is Sicily. Sicily has some of the most popular ancient sites you’ll ever find, and the island itself is the largest in the Mediterranean. Medieval towns, museums and classic architecture make Sicily a haven for people who enjoy history and a slower paced way of life. Many people who visit Sicily find that one or two days isn’t quite enough to see all of the important sights, so if you plan to go, try to budget up to a week to get the full experience.

The highest active volcano in Europe, called Mount Etna, is located in Sicily. Any Sicily vacation packages or Sicily tours will include a trip to Mount Etna. The town of Syracuse should be on the lists of stops for Sicily tours, as it boasts the Greek Theatre and an ancient quarry called the ‘Ear of Dionysius.’ Many of the stones that built a lot of the ancient Greek structures came from the ‘Ear of Dionysius’ quarry. The largest group of classical Greek ruins is situated in the Valley of the Temples on the southern coast. Many of the temples and monuments in this area are well-preserved, and it’s a must-see for Sicily vacation packages.

Most Sicily vacations will also include a trip to Erice, which is a medieval town that sits 755 meters above sea level. Erice has narrow streets made of cobblestone and small courtyards that are reminiscent of the Middle Ages. A temple at the top of Erice is dedicated to Aphrodite and used to act as a lighthouse for sailors. For those who like the darker side, underground crypts known as Catacombe dei Cappucini just outside Palermo may be a good addition to your Sicily tours. Over 8,000 mummies line the narrow corridors, so it certainly isn’t for the faint of heart. Ortygia Island in Syracuse is filled with dozens of ancient ruins that played a role in Greek mythology and date back as far as the 6th century BC. The Temple of Apollo and Doric Temple are two of the main features of the ruins.

If you’re a movie buff, be sure to include the cities of Forza D’Argo and Savoca in your Sicily tours. These cities are where scenes from the movie ‘The Godfather’ were filmed, and visiting the sites would make a wonderful stop for anyone who loved the movie.

There are so many historical and cultural areas to visit while in Sicily, it really does pay to set up Italy vacation packages to ensure you won’t miss any. Set up a meeting with your travel agent to go over all of the different Sicily vacations, so you can choose one that appeals to your interests. You may not get to see all of the sights that Sicily has to offer, but you can see the ones that appeal to your personality and tastes the most.

With incredible Italy vacations for every budget, book your trip today.

26
Jan

Things to Do on Tuscany Vacations

Posted in Destinations  by anoton1 on January 26th, 2012

Tuscany is a popular destination for people traveling to Italy, as Tuscany vacations have much to offer in the way of culture and history. Tuscany is located near the center of the country, with access to several sites that you might not be able to get to if you were in another location. Tuscany is also home to many olive groves and other natural sights that help give it old world charm. Tuscany vacation packages and organized Tuscany tours are probably available through your travel agency if you really want to see everything and not miss any of the important places.

Museums are one of the attractions you’ll want to see with Tuscany vacation packages. The Uffizi Gallery is a museum that houses hundreds of paintings from Renaissance art masters. Famous artists like da Vinci, Michaelangelo and Botticelli all has works of art inside the walls. If you go to Academia, you’ll see the statue of David, by Michaelangelo, which is among the most famous in the world. Art lovers will definitely relish visiting the museums on Tuscany vacations. The region of Chianti is also in Tuscany, where you can sample the famous wine at its roots. Some Tuscany tours will include wine tasting as a main component, so you can sample wines and explore the vineyards.

If you want to add a little medieval history to your Tuscany vacation packages, a visit to Siena may be a good idea. You can sit and relax in the Piazza del Campo and just watch the world go by. There is also a bell tower that you can climb, if you’re so inclined, to get a good view of the surrounding area. The town of Lucca was founded by the Romans in 180 BC, and has an ancient amphitheater and brick wall that encloses the city center. The wall is four kilometers long and is a popular tourist attraction. San Gimignano is a 1,000 year old town that is home to several tower houses, which were a symbol of wealth in ancient times. The Fortress of Montestaffoli is also in San Gimignano and the whole town is a great place to visit on Tuscany tours.

One of the most famous and desirable destinations for Tuscany vacation packages is the leaning tower of Pisa. Pisa is a town that’s roughly 50 miles outside of Florence and can be reached by train, if necessary. Some Tuscany vacations will include a trip to an authentic Tuscan cooking school to learn how to make real Tuscan dishes. You can either choose a quick, one day kind of course, or a longer program if you really want to bring the flavors of the region back home with you. As with many places in Italy, Tuscany has its share of history and culture.

Sit down with a travel agent to go over all your options for Sicily vacations, so you’re sure to see everything that matches your interests.

With incredible Sicily tours for every budget, book your trip today.

25
Jan

Travel Insurance - Don’t Leave Home Without It

Posted in Travel  by gwglass on January 25th, 2012

Many people enjoy traveling. It’s the one thing that we can look forward to throughout the year. Even if it’s a long ways off, and you are only going somewhere for a week, the thought of going on vacation can get you through even the toughest of times. However, sometimes going on vacation can bring with it troubles all on it’s own. Waiting around in the airport, the chance of your flight being canceled or your luggage being lost, all these can have a negative impact on your holiday. That’s why it’s more important than ever to get travel insurance. In this article, you’ll find out exactly why.

First of all, travel insurance is incredibly cheap. You shouldn’t expect to spend any more than two or three percent of your flight costs for comprehensive travel insurance. This should be enough to cover you in case of flight cancellations, lost luggage, and hotel cancellations. Of course, for more coverage, you are going to have to pay more. If you want to add accident and illness coverage, this will only cost a few extra dollars. The reason why it’s so important to get travel insurance is because you can get so much coverage for such a small amount.

If your flight gets canceled, your travel insurance may cover you for the entire cost, or the replacement cost. However, if the airline decides to reimburse you, or reschedule you on another flight, then this will be deducted from any insurance payments you may receive. You’ll have to work this out before you figure out what kind of coverage you need, because there are different amounts for different situations.

Baggage is another thing that’s covered by travel insurance. Since this is considered property, you’ll have to document everything in your bags. Otherwise, you’ll only get a standard about, regardless of what kind of stuff you had in your bag. If you want additional payments above the standard, then you’ve got to make a list, and document the worth of everything you’d like to have covered.

Travel insurance is relatively easy to claim. All you’ve got to do is provide the documentation, and that should be enough. In most cases, this might be a canceled ticket, or simply a letter from the airline stating what happened. If you want extra coverage for things in your bag, you’ll have to provide an itemized list, complete with an estimation of the worth of everything.

So you see, getting travel insurance is certainly important. Because it’s so cheap, you can get a great deal for a small price. There’s really no reason not to get it.

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25
Jan

The Under Appreciated Importance Of Travel Insurance

Posted in Travel  by gwglass on January 25th, 2012

If you’ve ever traveled anywhere, then you know that a lot can go wrong. Planes can be late, hotel rooms can be canceled, and your luggage can be lost. Of course, nobody wants these things to happen, most especially the airlines and the hotels. But when there are so many people traveling, it’s bound to happen. Since you only get a couple weeks off per year, you’ll need to make sure you make the most of your holiday. This means planning ahead, and getting ready for all contingencies. Of course, one of the great ways to defend against unknown events is by getting travel insurance. This can come in handy in many ways, and you’ll be surprised how cheap it is. In this article, you’ll learn all about travelers insurance, and why you should get it.

First of all, many people are absolutely flabbergasted with how cheap you can get travel insurance. Of course, like all other insurance policies, the more you cover the more it’s going to cost. But with travel insurance, it doesn’t matter how old you are or what your history is. Most people get coverage for their plane tickets and hotels, but you can get it for a lot more than that.

If your trip is canceled, and you’ve incurred any costs that aren’t going to be refunded, then you can get paid back by the insurance company. Of course, it has to have been due to something beyond your control. If you just decide not to go at the last minute, you won’t get any money back.

One of the biggest reasons people get this kind of thing is to protect against lost luggage. Sure, the airline will give you something, but it’s nowhere near what the true value of your luggage and their contents. Whatever coverage you get will pay for the difference. Of course, you’ll need to take a good record, including photos, of everything in there, so you can get a proper refund.

If you decide to get some kind of accident coverage, then you can be covered for certain medical emergencies. It’s best to check with your health insurance company, because there might be some overlap. They can help you decide if their are any gaps in your normal coverage that won’t pay for any injuries or emergencies when traveling, especially abroad.

Making a claim is just like making a claim for any other kind of coverage. You’ll need to fill out a bunch of forms, provide a bunch of proof and documentation, and then wait for the company to issue you a check.

If you are going to get some coverage for your holiday, then getting some at a local travel agent is likely the best place. Or you could simply shop online, as there are many large companies which specialize in this kind of thing, and can definitely help you to figure out what you need.

So you see, getting holiday coverage is definitely something that’s worth while. You’ll be safer, and you will know you’ll get paid back if anything goes wrong. Happy traveling.

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