Germany: Wine trail is a grape place to get away from it all

AS A keen gardener and the owner of a couple of grapevines that have yielded many pounds of delicious fruit during the past few years I jumped at the chance to see how professional growers cultivate their crops and turn their bounty into wine.

The launch of Ryanair’s budget service from Birmingham to Germany’s low-cost Frankfurt-Hahn airport, in the West Central region in Rhineland-Palatinate, has opened a convenient gateway to the Moselle Valley, one of Europe’s leading wine producing areas, particularly the white Riesling.

I hired a car from Hertz at the airport and leisurely drove the 41km to my base at the picturesque town of Cochem. En route I passed countless vineyards which clothed the slopes of the valley like a patchwork quilt. I passed through the village of Bremm which boasts Europe’s steepest vineyard, perched at a gravity-defying gradient of 65 per cent.

Motoring alongside the Mosel River I soon arrived at Cochem, which is overlooked by the fairytale-style Reichsburg castle.

My hotel, the Karl-Muller, was easily located as it stands near the town centre, overlooking the river.

At dinner that night I took advantage of the local specialities, choosing from a menu that included onion soup with Riesling wine, vegetables with Riesling sauce and a dessert of Zaboyone of Riesling wine with vanilla ice cream. Did I mention that a lot of Riesling grapes are grown in this region?

Oh, and there was also Riesling in a glass, as well as a red Dornfelder from the neighbouring village of Klotten.

I was looking forward to learning more about the wine but the next morning I had the opportunity of a guided tour of Cochem with Anja Fortier from the city’s tourist office.

We strolled around the narrow winding streets, calling in at St Martin’s Church and the Town Hall.

Anja also pointed out the entrance to the Kaiser Wilhelm railway tunnel, the longest in Germany. The four and a half kilometre feat of engineering took eight years to build and was opened in 1877.

A climb to 180m above sea level brought us to the castle, a Gothic-style building restored in 1877 to its 16th century splendour.

Marvellous views from an observation platform outside one of the castle’s rooms across the town and valley is the reward for the effort.

A conducted tour revealed collections of furniture, suits of armour and quirky items like a stuffed badger collected by the driving force behind the restoration, Louis Ravene, who bought the dilapidated castle from the Prussian state property administration for 300 gold marks.

It was time to have a close look at the vineyards. I met Andreas Zenz who has launched vineyard walking tours, Wein & Weg, to show where the grapes are grown for the area’s superior Breva wine.

To get from the road to the vines, however, we had to endure something akin to a slow motion rollercoaster; a Monorack which also transports the grape pickers to the top of the slopes.

This mini train travels, on a track, among the vines but the gradient is so steep it feels like you’re on a white knuckle ride.

Fortunately, it only went uphill to the start of our hike! During the walk Andreas explained that a number of winegrowers in the region had joined together as a co-operative to launch Breva which uses the best grapes for the wine. It’s more expensive to buy, around £10 a bottle, but the aim is to show that the Moselle Valley can produce high quality vino.

Stout walking shoes are advisable for the hike as the steep slope and shale underfoot can be treacherous! But at the end, I had the chance to find out how good the wine is.

Among the wines on offer was one made with the grape variety Regent, which is the type I grow. So now I know what it’s supposed to taste like when made into a first class wine!

Travel Facts

AIRLINE details: Ryanair flies four times a week from Birmingham to Frankfurt-Hahn. See www.ryanair.com or you can also book a Hertz car via the website at www.ryanair.hertz.com

Hotel: Prices at the Karl-Müller at Cochem start at 44 euros per person in a double room, including breakfast. You can stay seven nights for the price of six. Go to www.hotel-karl-mueller.de

Guided tour of Cochem: English tours organised by request at the tourist information office, +49 (0)2671 60040. You can also book tours along the Breva walking path. From April-October a four hour guided tour (in German) takes place every Friday, including a wine-grower’s meal and a wine tasting. It costs 25.80 euros.

Volunteering holidays – do good, have a blast

Which would you prefer?

Option A – beach, beer, beach and more beer. Surfing in the morning and lying in the hammock into the evening and then, off to the bars.

Option B – devoting all of your time to good causes. Spending your days – and some nights – giving yourself to a volunteer project, scientific pursuits or conservation.

It doesn’t have to be one or the other. You want to do something good for the world around you but you have no intention of waging a heroic one person war on all the injustices of the world. Your free time is for enjoyment as well as for good deeds.

If you chose option A exclusively, you’re not going to be interested in the rest of this article. You might want to switch to a website about rave drug safety or about vacation destinations with cheap booze.

Good deeds on vacation

A holiday in a far flung place can be tantalising, whether it’s sitting on a hammock reading a book or taking part in active sports. Imagine days spent boating on the high seas, maybe diving then spending evenings having cold beers underneath a thatched roof. AND it’s possible to have a trip where you can do good.

Helping the ocean

Conservation, research, cleanups. Examples include taking surveys of coral reefs in the South Pacific and surveying a turtle population in Central America.

You’ll be surrounded by marine life. If you don’t scuba dive already, this may be the opportunity to learn. Gain watermanship skills, meet people and have some very interesting experiences.

Helping communities

You may be supporting people on long-term projects or in helping out in times of trouble such as natural disasters (earthquakes, hurricanes etc) or civil insurrections and wars. You may be asked with building projects, teaching English. If you have specialist knowledge or training in fields such as nursing/medicine or IT, your skills may be called for in a health clinic or in connecting computers for the village school

.

You might be able to complement your academic studies or add valuable work experience to your curriculum vitae/resume.

Quality valuable time will be spent and the environment will benefit. You can contribute existing skills or learn new ones on a volunteer stint.

Where to go? What to do?

Proceed with caution and some skepticism. There is a plethora of organisations and companies – both private and not-for-profit – that will place you in a project or good cause holiday (usually for a fee). Make sure you find a reputable organiser for your volunteer projects.

What field are you interested in? Is it international development, scientific research or crisis assistance? What are you good at doing, what field would like to try or gain new skills in? Make sure you feel something is a good match before embarking.

Place Holidays Abroad

Budva is the biggest resort in Montenegro, Its ancient town with its fortified walls is considered one of the oldest settlements on the Balkan Peninsula. It is a fascinating maze of cobbled streets and small squares, bursting with colourful markets, open-air concert halls and a wide variety of local shops. There is an abundance of excellent restaurants and taverns, serving tempting local specialities. At night the place really comes alive with dozens of bars and clubs which attract visitors from every corner of the Riviera.

The private apartments of Budva and Becici are situated 900 metres from the beach. This selection of private apartments is an ideal way to sample the coastline during a holiday to Montenegro. Discover the old town of Budva that is encircled by the medieval city walls make a harmonious entity of old and the new. Wander through its narrow streets and squares with churches, galleries, cafes, bars, restaurants, shops and boutiques.

Prices are based on 2 people sharing a studio or 4 people sharing one bedroom apartment, all equipped with shower, WC, balcony, TV and kitchenette.

PETROVAC - MONTENEGRO

On a long, sheltered bay enveloped by hillsides of fragrant flowers, shrubbery and woodland, the resort of Petrovac is charming and is great for all guests of all ages. There are two stunning, small-pebble-and-sand beaches and within the Petrovac, a colourful array of shops, restaurants and cafes.

Situated about 800 metres from Petrovac beach, this selection of private apartments is an ideal choice for a relaxing holiday.

ACCOMMODATION: Prices are based on 2 people sharing a studio or 4 people sharing one bedroom apartment and 6 people sharing a two bedroom apartment, all equipped with shower or bath, WC, balcony, fridge, kitchenette, cable TV and air-conditioning.

Board basis: Self-Catering

Distance from beach: max 800 metres

Christmas Abroad, our lack of Holiday Tradition

Christmas Tree on Display in Beijing, China

It has been many a year since Dave and I celebrated Christmas on Christmas day with our families. We always tend to be traveling during the winter months and have yet to put down any roots to start a regular holiday tradition.

Our holiday tradition has been to run away from Christmas at home and go somewhere else. Anywhere else.

We have been feeling a little blue this year. We are missing our Christmas at home with our families more than ever.

Maybe it is because we were too busy and working too hard this past summer . We had many goals that we wanted to fulfill during our three months in Canada and we neglected the people that matter most in our lives. Instead we had our noses in our computers and the summer months flew by. Before we knew it, we were leaving again and had only seen our family and friends a handful of times.

So here we are celebrating another Christmas by ourselves in yet another country. This year it is Thailand and we will be kickboxing through the entire holidays. That will definitely help to take our minds off of not being at home.

To cheer ourselves up, we reminded ourselves just how much we enjoy our Christmases abroad. We have always chosen to go away and our families now have their own traditions without us. We will just have to make our own Christmas traditions and it looks like our tradition is going to be to travel through Christmas. It is what we have done for the past 10 years, no sense changing things now. By revisiting our past Christmases, we are reminded just how natural it is for us to be away.

Holidays Abroad (groups) Greece

Top 10 reasons to travel to Greece with Nacel

1. Our program will allow you to see in few days many of the most famous Greek cultural sites

2. Discover the diversity and the beauty of Greek landscapes

3. Fill you mind with magical memories

4. Enjoy sunny beaches

5. Taste the famous Greek cooking

6. Immerse yourself in the Greek cultural richness

7. Your itinerary is already planned, no bad surprises

8. Don’t worry about the meals and the accommodation, everything’s taking care of

9. All excursions are already paid, you only have to enjoy your trip in Greece with Nacel

10. You will only want one thing: come back!


Greece in short

Country: Greece
Inhabitants: 10.749.943
Climate: Temperate; mild, wet winters; hot, dry summers
Capital: Athens
Government’s type: Parliamentary republic
Currency: Euro
Main religions: Greek Orthodox 98%, Muslim 1.3%, other 0.7%
Language: Greek
National holiday: Independence Day, 25 March
GDP per capita: 30 200 $ (2010)


Since 1957, Nacel offers a wide range of cultural and linguistic travel. Our collaborators will make of your trip in Greece an exceptional and unforgettable experience

Historical sites used to draw many tourists to Greece. However, if this country is so popular, it is because it has a lot to offer to its visitors. Of course, if you travel to Greece, you have to visit the Olympia, the Acropolis, and Delphi… But you also have to enjoy the beaches, have a drink in a tavern in a little village, taste the delicious local food, relax yourself…. Greece is much more than a tourist destination… It is a place where you can recharge your batteries, and you surely will enjoy being there!

We offer you a Trip in Greece which will allow you to discover the most beautiful Greek monuments, but also to relax! Come and travel to Greece with us, and take the opportunity to live a matchless experience!

Travel: The sunshine state of Florida has left me beaming

NOTHING beats leaving England on a cold, drizzly weekday knowing you are heading to a place nicknamed the Sunshine State.

And Florida did not disappoint us.

Before we jetted off on a nine-hour flight we enjoyed breakfast and drinks at the Virgin Atlantic V room at Gatwick Airport. That was followed by hearty meals on board the plane, leaving our stomachs well and truly satisfied by the time we arrived in Orlando.

Thousands of families are lured to Orlando for its variety of entertainment spots and affordable package deals.

We had come to sample some of the treats on offer in the form of SeaWorld, Busch Gardens, Discovery Cove and Aquatica.

A brisk 20-minute transfer from the airport brought up to the exquisite Renaissance Hotel, located opposite the famous SeaWorld centre.

The hotel was deceivingly average looking from the outside but once inside we were transported into a rather sublime experience. Large trees and plants dotted around the ground level atrium and dining areas made it feel like the gardens were brought to life indoors.

After a good night’s kip to shake off the remains of jet lag, we headed over to Discovery Cove.

A mixture of man-made beaches, heated pools, a lazy river that whisks you along with the tide and even an aviary provide hours of pleasurable activities for visitors.

One of the highlights at Discovery Cove is a chance to swim with a trained dolphin. Our allocated companion was a 40-something alpha male, called Akai. Prior to coming to Orlando I’d had no close contact with the gracious creatures. Watching Akai perform tricks and even tagging along for a ride on his dorsal fin, did make me wonder if he would rather be out fending for himself in the deep blue sea. But, he seemed to be keen on human interaction and the attention he got from his harem of female dolphins.

Trainer Brian explained to the sceptics among us, that dolphins have a choice to take part in the sessions or not. “They won’t perform if they don’t want to, we can’t force them to do anything,” he assured us.

Besides Akai plenty of other wildlife lives at the park. The aviary is home to all kinds of squawking, colourful feathery delights like parrots, pelicans and flamingos. For an up close view of the birds, visitors can hold a small bowl of tasty grub and some of the birds will swoop down for a feed.

Another smaller pool has around a dozen or so rays, some bigger than coffee tables, swimming around for guests to pet or watch.

Dinnertime was a momentous occasion at shark grill, SeaWorld. Large sharks and dozens of colourful fish swim in a large tank right next to restaurant’s dinning area.

An American-sized portion of brownies with ice cream for dessert meant I started day three with an early morning session at the hotel’s gym. There was also a heated pool and spa area, for those after a more relaxed break – or with no hang-ups about wearing a wetsuit and bikini for hours on end.

At SeaWorld acres of land have been transformed into a mixture of thrilling rollercoasters, sea-life shows and general family-friendly entertainment.

The show everyone loves to see is Believe, performed by the killer whales.

When we arrived for a performance, it was exactly a month to the day since Dawn Brancheau, one of the animal’s trainers, was tragically killed by a whale that had dragged her into the pool by her hair.

The whale in question, Tilikum or Tilly as his fans know him, was in a tank backstage and not taking part in the show.

The whales leapt, dived and waved on cue, it really was a mesmerising sight. The crowd was so passionate about the show and we were informed it regularly sold out three times a day. The unfortunate incident with Dawn has meant trainers are no longer permitted to enter the pool with the whales, but judging from the audiences reactions it would remain a firm favourite in their eyes.

Over the four-day trip, there were plenty of opportunities to get personal with all kinds of fish and animals. Be it feeding stingrays, meeting penguins or watching polar bear Johnny learn new behavioural skills – which his trainer said were different to just teaching him tricks as it aided their communication with him.

Our group was divided into two to experience some of the more unusual activities offered at the park. I opted to join in the beluga interaction. The underrated blubbery mammals can be taught to perform in ways similar to dolphins. We were half-submerged into a sub-zero temperature tank with an energetic youth called Klondike and helped feed, pet and train him.

The other group were plunged into a pool for a deep shark cage dive wearing an oxygen helmet, with just a few metres separating them from the one of the sea’s most daunting beings.

Part of SeaWorld that is rarely spoken of outside the US is the conservation of manatees that goes on behind the scenes. Staff are called out to rescue injured or distressed manatees – usually from drifting into cold water and they are cared for in specially-built tanks until well enough to be returned to sea.

Of course, the park’s many rides are among the biggest attraction, and can be seen looping high above the grounds.

A much-anticipated visit to Busch Gardens, in Tampa Bay, was next on the itinerary. The attraction is set in 335 acres of land and features over 2,700 animals as diverse as elephants and Bengal tigers.

It combines play areas for young members of the family with bigger, scarier rides like Sheikira and Montu.

Our arrival on the opening of the Sesame Street Safari at Busch Gardens was quite exciting as I’d grown up with the characters who made an appearance at the park. Getting snapped with The Count, Elmo, Big Bird and Burt and Ernie was my inner five-year-old’s dream.

Later that day, we were invited to prepare an elephants party – a daily ritual for the Indian elephants where their carers put out fruit and vegetables and sweets for them to find and eat.

Our last day was spent at the water theme park Aquatica, lazing in another shaded cabana and slipping down slides of all shapes and sizes.

A quick visit to a shopping mall containing bargain-filled factory outlet stores helped us part with our remaining dollars before we headed home.

Orlando contains many theme parks and entertainment venues that have kept millions of people returning year after year. The fascinating thing about SeaWorld and its sister parks is its ability to offer a family-friendly break but at the same time, a fantastically diverse experience that can be enjoyed by people of all ages.

Italy holidays and health concerns

When traveling abroad for your Italian vacation there are some tips that you should be sensible of. First you must familiarize yourself with all the locations you will be seeing. Read as much as possible about the locations and towns you plan on visiting. If you are getting a holiday off the well-known way in Italy it is better to seek to limit yourself to places that friends or families have advised especially if this is your first time out of the state.

For example the US Department of State strongly proposes that you register your journey earlier you go away. This holds to your vacation to Italy. Registering your trip will grant you to be contacted by family members and friends in the event of an emergency. This is also specially significant in case of a crisis in the country that you may be seeing. The Office of Overseas Citizens Services preserves a database of recorded Americans out of the state so that you can be reached if indispensable. It is as well strongly recommended that you leave a copy of your travel itinerary and copy of your passport photo page with a relative in the US before you depart for your holiday in Italy.

Many countries have regulations as to what can be taken in or got out of the area with regards to food, pets, medications and other items. You will necessitate to verify the internet site of the Italian embassy for an updated listing before you leave for your holiday to Italy.

Many people designing a vacation to Italy may be concerned about what they can do if they get sick. Remember your US health insurance will be useless abroad and if you resolve to have yourself evacuated back for medical examination it could cost you much of money. It is good to know that there are diverse insurers that offer policy for short term trip abroad. This will in all probability serve for your Italy holiday and will provide you with the peace of mind you necessitate to enjoy your traveling.

Such insurance policies are ordinarily provided through travel agents so that may be a good place to start if you are concerned in this type of coverage. At the very least you should be able to receive data on what to do at the US embassy in Italy if you ask to during a health emergency. They keep updated listings of physicians and hospitals in Italy. If you have a prior condition be positive to carry a letter from your physician depicting your status and history as well as any advice he may be able to provide Italian doctors if you should find yourself in such a situation. Your doctor’s letter should as well include a description of any medications you are on as well as the generic names of your medicines.

Many people going on a visit to Italy will be glad to recognize that there are no specific vaccinations involved for your Italy holiday but be sure to verify on the embassy’s web site just in case anything has changed before you leave.

Holidays abroad 'still cheaper than the UK

Despite the falling pound and the credit crunch many foreign destinations are still cheaper than holidaying in Britain, according to a new study by travel firm Thomas Cook.

That holiday in the sun might not cost as much as you think.

The Holiday Cost of Living study, which compares prices in 16 popular holiday destinations, has shown that a cup of coffee in Goa will cost you ten times less than in the UK while other holiday hotspots such as Cuba also enjoy bargain prices.

Many other destinations are also ‘significantly cheaper’ with a three-course meal costing around £11.50 in Spain, while a beer in Bulgaria will set you back as little as £1.20.

Tropical sky- the hub of luxury holidays

Are you planning to spend pleasurable time with your beloved wife somewhere on the beaches, under the shinny starts, and in the luxury holidays? You have mapped out the things but now need to sort out things like expenses, hotel bookings, travel expenses, ticket bookings, and good destinations, if so why not take a guide from the experts_ Tropical Sky specializes in arranging and managing family tour, wedding tour, simple tour, and luxury holidays tours. If you wish to have gained enjoyable experience together with your kids and families there is a lot to see in the tropical areas, however you should have proper pieces of advice to follow in order to keep everything organized in the trip, from monetary matters to expenses, and from residential tours to travel expenses everything is being offered by the tropical sky.

To start off, what is more indispensable for any tour plan that’s cost of the tour and especially the hotel expenses, this is what Tropical sky is doing for their clients. Offering all kind of information right on their desk including the exact cost of the Barbados holidays and luxury holidays, if you are seeking for all inclusive holidays in Caribbean that’s also very plausible with the help of the Tropical Sky.

The cost differs from one region to another depending on your travel needs, but for sure you will all services provided by Tropical Sky exceeding your expectations in many ways. All hotels and resorts included in the package of the company are approved and high-class engaged in offering top-notch services to their customers. Here is what you can get from Tropical Sky- luxury holidays hubs:

All-inclusive holidays in Caribbean on the budget

Honeymoon packages, discounts, and destination advice

Purely workable schedule and plan for the Barbados holidays and summer vacation.

24/7 customer service

Personal travel advisor

Well-acknowledged and highly qualified staff to contact with

You can contact the representative of Tropical Sky right now using the toll free number given on the website. Happy holidays abroad!!

Will Cubans Be Able to Holiday Abroad / Iván García

Photo: Terminal 2F, Charles de Gualle airport, Paris.

In tune with the new airs of delayed economic reforms that General Raul Castro aims to promote, under one of the measures made ​​public on Monday 9th May, Cubans on the island can take holidays abroad.

On the street it has been the story of the year. It displaced the Brazilian soap opera, the gossip about the neighbour’s infidelities, even the constant criticism of government mismanagement.

But it’s not that easy. It’s not like we can take money from the bank and go to shoot some photos in Plaza de Cibeles in Madrid or on the Champs Elysees in Paris. Many prefer the Big Apple, Miami Beach or Los Angeles. But Cubans governed by the Castro brothers are unable to travel as tourists to the United States due to the embargo in place since 1962.

Initial reactions in Havana were of acceptance. In a butcher’s in La Vibora a discussion formed on the subject. “I can never go travelling. Where would I get the money? I do not even know Varadero. But it’s okay for those who can to travel”, said Alfonso, an old retiree.

There are also doubts and suspicions. “Who can travel? Would destination countries grant visas? Could everyone leave, including dissidents?”, asks Maritza, a lawyer.

There are a lot of things to talk about. We would have to see, for example, if the blogger Yoani Sánchez was allowed to leave Cuba. A week ago, for the fifteenth time, she was denied permission to leave, on this occasion to go to Spain and Denmark.

I do not believe prominent opponents such as Elizardo Sanchez, Martha Beatriz Roque, Oscar Elias Biscet and Oswaldo Paya Sardinas, among others, can travel without restrictions or controls to conferences and symposia.

Hardly anyone in Cuba with savings can afford the pleasure of spending two weeks in Cancún or Marbella. It is true that more than 72 thousand Cubans, from 2008 to date, have been guests in hard currency hotels across the island. Which are not cheap. For a family of four, the three-day stay could cost more than $1,200. Seven years of a worker’s salary.

And to cross the Atlantic is another matter. In low season, a one way ticket, at minimum, costs 400 euros to Spain or Italy. If you add up the costs of accommodation and food, you will see that they must carry in their saddlebags between 4,000 and 5,000 euros to see Barcelona play with their magic touch at Nou Camp or visit Venice with its canals, gondolas and palaces.

I presume that only an elite could go travelling. They know of whom I speak. High-level managers, trusted ministers or ‘olive green’ businessmen. It is rumored that plans are under consideration for affordable tourist packages among nations belonging to the ALBA, the group of partners consisting of Cuba, Venezuela, Bolivia, Nicaragua and Ecuador.

To ordinary Cubans, these destinations are the same. “Hey, socio, the problem is getting the chance to hop on a plane and take a breather. It’s all the same if it’s Quito, La Paz or Caracas. If it’s all true, I will save money. Who would have said it, an ‘asere‘ (marginal) going on holidays”, says a mulatto while waiting for the bus.

Now, the worry will be shifted to the immigration authorities of the countries where the Cubans decide to spend a vacation. It is already known that to emigrate has become one of the favorite passions of the Cubans.

In Paris, Rome or Madrid they will be using a magnifying glass to ensure that all tourists from Cuba take the return flight. The ability to travel could facilitate defections to the USA. Because of the Cuban Adjustment Act, in force since 1966 in the United States, all Cubans who set foot on U.S. soil are automatically granted residency.

The sightseeing tours could become a new incentive for legal entry to the northern neighbour. Countless are the Cuban families that are divided for 50 years. The process of emigrating to the United States, from the parentage of the third generation are complicated and lengthy. José Ortiz is one of them. He spent 12 years wishing to leave.

He has tried everything. From jumping into the sea in a rickety boat and marrying a foreigner, to paying under the table for an Ecuadorian visa to allow him to jump to Miami. Without success. Maybe now the government of Raul Castro will put it in his hand. “It would be a long way and cost lots of money. But a safe way, without the danger of becoming a snack for the sharks”, says Ortiz.

We must wait to see if the new regulations do not become a way to abandon the country. If currently across the pond there are relatives to pay up to 10 thousand dollars to bring over relatives in an illegal and dangerous manner, it is conceivable that they will take advantage of this opportunity to get their family members away from the unpredictable Castro regime.

The new measures are likely to have restrictions. The regime will ensure that the dissidents continue to shout from home and not abroad.

Your Contract is with: The Holiday Place PLC, a member of the Association of British Travel Agents

When you make a booking you guarantee that you have the authority to accept these booking conditions on behalf of yourself and your party.

You will have been alerted to the conditions of this booking at the time of booking and as soon as we issue our confirmation invoice, a contract will exist between you and The Holiday Place PLC. Please check your confirmation invoice carefully and contact us immediately if any details are not correct.

This contract is made on the terms of these booking conditions, which are governed by English Law, and the jurisdiction of the English Courts. You may however, choose the law and jurisdiction of Scotland or Northern Ireland.

Holidays

Recently i was on Holiday to Scarborough in the north East of England. Its about four to five hour drive to there. Scarborough is still a very busy place to go in the summer time. There are two good beach's to go on. There are many shops to go in to as well. There are many place's to visit round about Scarborough like Whitby, Filey. The weather i had there to not to bad. Because the weather in Britain go be bad at times. There are many place to at night. I know most people go abroad but i still like going to places like Scarborough, Blackpool, Seahouses which is a seaside place in northumberland. I had a great time there. So if any of the forum members have be on holiday this year or have still to go on holiday post where you have been.

The north beac

The Harbour on the South side of the town.

It looks and sounds lovely, Ironside.

I too went "local" this year. (Though my local and yours are quite different).

Along with the beautiful beaches of Nassau County, Long Island (New York, USA) I went to beach and amusement park at Coney Island in Brooklyn , New York.

Language Tips for your Holiday Trips

Imagen via sxc.hu

Few months from now and summer will soon take place! Do you know what’s the first thing that comes to mind when I think of summer? You’re right! It’s vacation and holidays! And usually, if there is one thing we could ever suggest it to someone who wants a remarkable vacation, it would be travelling abroad! Everybody wants to go to a foreign country, and most avid travellers would love to go to countries they have never gone before.

But usually, language barriers are often the problem when you travel abroad. Though most travellers speak English, you can’t expect everyone to understand immediately especially when you travel to non-speaking English countries. And if you are currently unfamiliar with other foreign languages prior to English, I would suggest that you would take heed of the following concerns enlisted below.

Where to stay

If you are not very fluent with other foreign languages, the best suggestion you could consider as to where you would like to stay is to inquire to a travel agency. Usually, you can book your travel beforehand. These agencies are helpful in guiding you from the airport and assist you to go to some hotels or hostels to which you can have a more convenient time. Besides, if you’re a first timer in a foreign country, you will avoid bad experiences when you are assisted with someone reliable.

Means of Transportation

From the airport to the place you want to go to, language barriers usually take place when you ride in a taxi or bus. It’s good if you have someone like a friend or a relative that would accommodate you; but if you are all by yourself, you could inquire in advance some tourist services. Bringing of maps as you ride on buses will also help you a lot.

Learn Basic Foreign Words

Learn language in its basics is highly essential. When you get to a foreign country, you should at least learn main phrases like “hello”, “thank you”, and the country’s terms on food, hospital, bus, airport, embassy, and more. It’s not that you are obliged to learn these terms, but since you would be in that foreign country already, wouldn’t it be nice if we could also learn some of its basics?

Have you noted these tips already? These are very helpful for those who would travel without language preparations. But, if given the opportunity, you could take foreign language courses if you wish to really prepare yourself with the lingual side of your travel. It’s better to be ready right?

Great Destinations for Cheap Sun Holidays

• Photo:
• A sandy beach

Summer in the UK has always been horribly unpredictable. Much of the rest of the year is infamously cloudy and rainy. It's no wonder that many people want to get out of the country for cheap sun holidays abroad. Fortunately, there are many places to go and it does not have to be an expensive holiday either. In fact, it is quite likely that you will spend less than on a weekend away within the UK.

Last minute deals can often be found at your local travel agent. The cheap airlines often have bargains and you can be fairly sure that you will find one if you are fairly flexible with regards to where you want to go. What's more is that many destinations themselves are fairly cheap too.

Many countries, especially those on the Mediterranean, have a fairly reliable climate with hot summers and warm springs and autumns. Spain, Portugal, France, Italy and Greece have long been some of the favourites, however, they are rarely particularly cheap desintations these days.

Some of the best places to go for relatively cheap sun holidays include the Black Sea coast of Bulgaria and Romania as well as the Mediterranean coast of the Balkan countries, especially Croatia and Montenegro. What's more is that a lot of these places haven't been completely overdeveloped yet, so there is plenty to see for the more adventurous.

The Internet is, as always, the best place to start looking for bargains. Holidayhypermarket.co.uk and mytravel.com are just some of many good places to start looking for bargains.

Sky Tower – A Scintillating Place To Visit For Your Holidays

We all love to travel abroad along with our loved ones. It is always a great experience for us. I must tell you that there are a lot of hot travel attractions worldwide. You can

Sky Tower

certainly visit any one of these exclusive places to make your holiday experience a great one. Further in this article we are going to talk about a great attraction in the country of New Zealand. Well, I am talking about the Sky Tower located in Auckland. It is a mind blowing place to visit for the tourists from all over the world.

Before delving further in to the topic, let us first have a brief knowledge regarding Auckland. Well, Auckland is a huge metropolitan region in New Zealand. This area is regarded as an urbanized one in every single aspect. This place is an absolute bliss for the distant travelers. Now, let us talk about Sky Tower in detail. Sky Tower is a huge telecommunications tower located in the Auckland City. It is an exquisite entertainment center featuring just about everything for the visitors.

I must tell you that standing on the topmost floor of the Sky Tower, is really a fascinating experience for everyone. This mammoth structure is about 328 meters tall. It is pretty essential to note that the Sky Tower is the tallest structure in New Zealand. It even offers you magnificent views of the city. If you want to enjoy, then you can try Sky Walking around the pergola at a mind boggling height of 192 meters. Sky Walking and Jumping are two of the most exciting activities that one can enjoy here.

If you think that this is it then you are highly mistaken. This place offers you more than this. Well, you can relive your senses with a cup of coffee and some snacks at Sky Lounge. You can even take pleasure in a seafood banquet at The Observatory Restaurant at Orbit. You would be amazed to know that this tower even features a revolving restaurant. I can assure you one thing that once you come here you would never want to go back. You can get everything in the Sky Tower under one roof.

This wonderful structure is open all seven days a week. So, come here and party all night with your family and friends! So, this was all about The Sky Tower in Auckland. You must consider visiting this place in your next vacations. Don’t forget to read this article once. It could definitely offer you some help. Have fun!

Hello everybody

It has been a very long time since my last blog post and though my daughter Magali has been after me since a long time to write a blog post, I have been very very lazy.

After my husband arrived on 11th April from Brazil we packed our bags and left for Goa the same afternoon.

The time we spent in Goa really flew fast and we enjoyed our stay there especially at Haathi mahal at Mobor.

After coming back to Mumbai we spent 5 days at a resort here and I was in no mood to blog even though the internet was not disconnected at home.The little time I was at the computer was spent reading the newspapers and doing other things like checking mail and replying back.

We left for Kovalam Kerala with high hopes, because until this holiday we were lucky to have really great holidays in India and abroad. But I was really sorry that I had booked into a resort where the people as well as place was not really to our liking. Everyone in Kerala was out to take us for a ride and to add to it was the weather with Thunderstorms and heavy rain which forced us to spend our time in our room . We did not even have cable TV for 10 out of 14 days we were there at Kovalam. The only saving grace of the place was the scenic beauty.

Life is busy now as my husband is at home and is hungry all the while.So I spend time making some different things for him to eat. Even Magali has cooked a lot of food for him and he jokingly tells me not to get her married soon as she has to cook for him when he comes home. And sometimes when he is angry with her he tells her now that she is 18 years she can get married and go live separately.

Will try to take a tag a few days later.

Take care,

Cheap Holidays – Making Your Dream Holiday Abroad Possible

A cheap holidays vacation from time to time is a necessity in today’s world as a means of relief from the work stress and other pressures that life inflicts on us. The number of options in terms of destinations seems to be increasing everyday with the world coming closer, greater mobility and the tourism sector getting better and advanced in all places around the world. However, a good vacation still means spending a sizable amount of money taking into account the flight charges, accommodation and food costs and several other additional costs that are often not taken into consideration earlier. Thus, often we curb the desire within us to visit a place that we really want to visit after considering the expenditures attached with a luxurious holiday.

cheap holidays

There are however, many opportunities to save money on a holiday as we often pay for things that we don’t really need which end up adding to our expenses. If the additional expenses can be controlled, we can be given more flexibility in choosing everything as we want on our vacation; we can cut a considerable part of the costs and enjoy a great holiday without digging too deep into our pockets. It is the lack in flexibility, high costs and unnecessary charges in standard travel packages that

Cheap Holidays – Making Your Dream Holiday Abroad Possible

A cheap holidays vacation from time to time is a necessity in today’s world as a means of relief from the work stress and other pressures that life inflicts on us. The number of options in terms of destinations seems to be increasing everyday with the world coming closer, greater mobility and the tourism sector getting better and advanced in all places around the world. However, a good vacation still means spending a sizable amount of money taking into account the flight charges, accommodation and food costs and several other additional costs that are often not taken into consideration earlier. Thus, often we curb the desire within us to visit a place that we really want to visit after considering the expenditures attached with a luxurious holiday.

cheap holidays

There are however, many opportunities to save money on a holiday as we often pay for things that we don’t really need which end up adding to our expenses. If the additional expenses can be controlled, we can be given more flexibility in choosing everything as we want on our vacation; we can cut a considerable part of the costs and enjoy a great holiday without digging too deep into our pockets. It is the lack in flexibility, high costs and unnecessary charges in standard travel packages that

cheap holidays

have come up as an alternative for people who want to enjoy good holidays economically.

The very purpose of many companies providing

cheap holidays

is to cut any unnecessary costs and provide the best possible services to customers at the lowest possible costs. These agencies try to reap economies of booking on a large scale and pass on the savings to the customers in the form of lower costs. They are all inclusive holidays that include flight and accommodation facilities and may include other facilities as well like car hiring services depending on the travel planner. Whenever there are a large number of bookings, the companies are often entitled to big discounts and savings in many other ways, which reduce per head cost of the vacationers and hence, the vacationers can enjoy lower prices. Thus, in this way the travel company offering

cheap holidays

tries to bring down the costs as much as possible.

However, there is hardly a lack of choice in cheap holidays. The companies may give you great flexibility in deciding how you wish to distribute your expenses. From the flight you want to take, the timings of your flight to the resort you prefer, you have all kinds of options to choose from. They often offer a comprehensive set of facilities, including many activities on a holiday that would be perfect for complete family entertainment.

Cheap holidays

are particularly good for travel abroad as vacations abroad are often the most expensive ones and yet the most longed-for. A visit to a country located on the other end of the globe earlier meant that you had to put down half of your life’s savings. With cheap holidays abroad, you can now fulfill your wish to visit faraway countries without putting too much burden on your finances. Start planning your visit to the place you always wanted to go to.

Mauritius Holidays

MAURITIUS is a beautiful tropical island which is 500 miles (804.7 km) from the coast of Madagascar. Its area has natural beaches, tropical forests and mountains are awesome.

Sea conditions are very calm, com

fort beach and the weather combined with the friendliness of the locals, make this island as a place that is often sought by visitors from all over the world.

Mauritius beach is one of the most beautiful beaches in the world. Many coral reefs around the island and turquoise water. Some areas of sea have a pretty big waves, andsome parts of which have still water conditions so it could be a place to swim.

Not only used as a place for relaxation, you can also enjoy water activities such as adrenaline challenging sailing, scuba diving, wind surfing, water skiing, and diving. All are offered free of charge by residence-inn on the island. Here you can also rent camping equipment and spends several days in the hills.

If you want to find a suitable place

for a honeymoon, Mauritius is the right place. Everyexisting hotel island offer packages for weddings and honeymoons.

They can also help you plan every detail of the wedding. In addition, Mauritius is also aparadise for those who like fishing for species of fish in the sea is quite diverse.

Do not miss the opportunity to visit a Hindu temple called Maheswarnath built in 1819 as a tribute to Lord Shiva, Krishna, Vishnu, Muruga, Brahma and Ganesha.

Alloys of the friendliness of its people, the food is delicious, as well as sandy beaches in Mauritius, providing the exact composition to be used as a place to escape from all the tiredness

Vancouver's 'seamless forested coast' could suit adventure holidays abroad

People looking for adventure holidays abroad could turn to Vancouver's 'seamless forested coast'.

Vancouver could be ideal for people looking for adventure holidays abroad as it has a "seamless forested coast".

That is according to John Owrid, writing on the Daily Telegraph's travel website, who described his experience of kayaking around the edge of the world's largest ocean.

He mentioned the "breathtaking inlets and gullies" that awaited him as he made his way Spring Island, while exploring "enchanted temperate rainforests and glassy waters teaming with sea otters".

While the excursion was a tiresome one, it was the memory of what he has seen that will stay with him.

"While our limbs felt thoroughly exercised at the end of each day, the abiding memory wasn't the effort of getting about, but the shapes, sounds and colours of the world seen from our flotation tanks," he told the news provider.

Vancouver hosted the 21st Olympic Winter Games last February after being announced as the host city in 2003.

Cruising the Mediterranean

Cruising the Mediterranean should conjure up imagines of deep turquoise and blue waters, yachts, drinks at sunset and fresh grilled fish. Add in a few Italians, a cadre of Australians, some itsy bitsy man bikini’s and lots and lots of ice cream and you’ve got our cruise along the Med.

Needless to say the four days on the cruise weren’t exactly the hardest days on the “road.” Joined by our friend Baris, we sailed from Fethiye to Olympos, stopping at nearly ever beautiful blue, turquoise lagoon along the way. Our boat was crowded, the temperature was hot and no matter how many times we swam in a single day, usually around four, we couldn’t get enough. We lingered in the water until the meal bell rang, ate traditional Turkish food, and jumped right back in.

From blue lagoon to blue lagoon we went, exploring little inlets along the way, cold spring fed lagoons, a sunken city, small fishing villages and finally arriving like refugees at the treehouse village of Olympos. We slept under the stars, the waves rocking us in to a blissful sleep.

It’s hard to describe the pure relaxation on the cruise. The only concerns we had were to apply sufficient sunscreen, swim back to the boat before the Australian water polo team finished our lunch and whether the Italian in his little white calvin klein’s would catch a fish. For the record our Turkish friend Baris caught the biggest tuna on the boat.

Despite all the rest and relaxation, four days was about all I could take of bobbing in the Mediterranean. Although we looked somewhat like an overcrowded refugee boat with all our luggage piled on the dingy, we were glad to be back onshore.

If You Go: Turkish “blue cruises” go from Fethiye to Olympos or in reverse. Go prepared for a lot of sun, even with the sunshades there isn’t much shade on deck. We went with V-Go Cruises. Our boat was slightly overcrowded with little room to sleep on deck, but overall it was a good experience. Check with your company to see if beverages are included in your package price- usually they are not. After four days even water adds up, so ask if you can bring your own on board. The practice was discouraged on our boat but some people did anyway.

Climb every mountain - Ford every Stream

Heaving as I reached the top of the pass,

I was glad the hard part was over. At 4750m (about 15,500 feet) doing anything can be a challenge, let alone hiking uphill.

Resting at Punto Union pass early Friday morning I could hardly believe my eyes. What had taken us less than 24 hours to climb, despite the altitude, had given us the most spectacular views of the Cordillera Blanca. Surounding mountain peaks covered with snow, blue lagoons too icy to even put a toe in, the surrounding wilderness was incredible and well worth the effort of the climb.

But how did I find myself on the top of a very cold (I wore every piece of warm clothing I have with me!), very high mountain Friday morning? After obtaining our

very necessary, but only slightly pain in the butt Bolivian visas, we left Lima for a “vacation” from our travel. Busing to the mountain city of Huaraz on Wednesday night, I expected to be mountain biking all weekend. Unfortunately the only place in town that would arrange a decent mountain bike tour wanted $300 per person for three days and well, that was not happening. Since we could not bike the mountains we decided to do the next best thing, and booked a group trek through the moutains. There I was at 4750m Friday before lunch…

Early Thursday morning we piled into a van on a dark street corning in Huaraz. Not yet dawn, we shook hands with the rest of the group and

stared out the window. As the van climbed the valley into the mountains, the clay hut villages became fewer and fewer until finally we reached the park entrance. A steep 65 sole ($22) entrance fee later, we were all awake, with our eras popping, as the van climbed slowly up and over the mountains. Arriving at the trail head, we scarfed down a packed lunch and headed down the path with the mules in quick pursuit. Thats right, this was no ordinary backpacking trip- we had the luxury of mules to carry our things, a helper to cook for us, and arrived at camp every night to tents already set up! Now I know some of you are jealous…

Although it sounds plush, and granted

not having to actually “backpack” was a luxury, the trek was anything but a walk in the park. Crossing through valleys and small villages on the first day, we saw the snow covered mountains in the distance. Not yet used to my humor, the group stared at me in shock when I jokingly pointed to the highest mountain in sight and proclaimed it to be the pass we would climb through the following day. If only we knew…

Arriving at our first campsite just before dark we were greeted with hot tea, mate (cocoa leaves), instant coffee and cookies. This was really my kind of camping! After dinner of rice and

chicken we proclaimed it bedtime and scurried out of the dining tent. Before us however, looming in the dark, were enormous snow covered mountains, which in the moonlight appeared to float in the sky. With the temperature dropping (supposedly it was -5 degrees Celsius), we admired the illusion as long as we could before hopping into our down sleeping bags. (Seriously, the alpaca hat was necessary, don’t laugh!) I slept with four layers on my top, two pairs of pants, the alpaca hat, an alpaca scarf, a pair of hiking socks and a pair of knee high alpaca socks. Trust me, it was cold.

Waking up the next morning, we exchanged cold night miseries and hit the

trail. Although the first day was relatively easy, the second day was much more of a challenge. I felt like the Von Trap family, climbing through the Alps to escape the Nazi’s. Ok so no one was chasing us, but believe me it felt like we were going to “climb every mountain.” Hiking 1000m in altitude the first five hours, we summited Punto Union pass around lunch time, collapsing in a heaving pile at the top. As we caught our breath (some of us taking longer than others) we took in the scenery around us. Undoubtably it was what brought all of us on the trek, and as we admired in silence our guide Eric began to play his flute. Like the Andean music sold around the world on busy street corners, the native tunes Eric played symbolized the time and place. Before we could get too sentimental though, he changed to a medly of Beatles tunes and we were off down the mountain.

Settling into our somewhat warmer dinner

tent that night, I felt lucky that we had climbed the mountain without serious incident. Cases of altitude sickness are very common on these treks, in fact almost everyone we passed offered cocoa leaves to anyone looking slightly ill. One group of British teens we passed on the way down had two girls suffering from altitude sickness, one of whom our guide thought had high altitude pulmonary edema, a life threatening condition where your lungs fill with fluid. Lacking serious altitude aliments, just a few minor headaches solved with a little tylenol, our group thawed over hot tea, mate and instant coffee before dinner.

With the hard part over, the next morning we took it easy and left camp around 9am. Splintering in three directions, part of our group climbed to a viewpoint overlooking Alpamayo glaciar, while others,

either because of the cold or a flight home, headed for a long hike to end the trek early. With no where to be, Danny and I lounged in the sun waiting for the others to come down from Alpamayo. Spotting them at the top of the mountain, at the beginning of their decent, the guide sent us ahead with his nephew. With only one snow capped mountain in site, we easily followed a stream through the valley to our third campsite. On the edge of a small river, the spot was incredible, and again over hot tea and instant coffee we marveled at the landscape with the rest of the group.

Managing our way out of the valley the next day I was sad that the trek was over.

Easily feasible in fewer days, I enjoyed our slow pace which for once allowed me to really enjoy the landscape around me. Although Llanganuco to Santa Cruz is the most popular trek from Huaraz the trail was not overly crowded and we were able to really stop, enjoy and soak in the mountains around us. It was freezing at night and the second day it was tough to breathe, but the trek was enjoyable and even shall we say relaxing. Well, for some of us. Wait until you hear Danny’s side of the story…