Category Archives: Travel Tips and Ideas

A-Z of Travel – N is for New Zealand

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It may be a long way to go (especially if you live in Europe!), but New Zealand is worth every single air mile, and if your idea of the perfect holiday includes breathtaking scenery, stunning vineyards, seaside dining and friendly locals – this could be your dream destination.

Self Drive Holidays New Zealand

A country so beautiful they split it into two islands, New Zealand is the perfect place for a self-drive tour, and whether you decide to rent a camper van and hit the open road with nothing more than a map and a mission to find a Kiwi, or you hire a sports car and drive from hotel to hotel, it’s all possible in NZ!

Self Drive Holidays New Zealand

We had four weeks to uncover New Zealand during our trip around the world, and while our itinerary was somewhat ‘action packed’, we managed to see quite a lot of both islands on our self-drive adventure.

Self Drive Holidays New Zealand

While I love the idea of a campervan, the thought of spending four weeks on the open road with little more than a porta-potty and pull-out bed seemed a bit daunting (perhaps I’m getting old!), and so we went for the more comfortable option, hired a car, and stayed in a mix of hotels and guest houses.

Self Drive Holidays New Zealand

Driving around New Zealand is easy, the roads are un-crowded and well signposted, and if you are worried about getting lost you just need to stick to the coastal ring roads and you will always end up back where you started!  A map, however, is recommended as the only locals you are likely to encounter when you head out of the main villages and towns are sheep… millions of them!

Self Drive Holidays New Zealand

When it comes to wining and dining, well, New Zealand has it covered! With influences from Europe, Asia and Polynesia, the NZ diet is as delicious as it is varied, and if you enjoy seafood, lamb and cervena dishes, home-cooked pies, sweet Pavlova and crisp Sauvignon Blanc wines – you will think you have arrived in heaven!

I could go on all day about how wonderful New Zealand is, but why not head on down and take a look for yourself!

A-Z of Travel – K is for Kilimanjaro, L is for Life-Changing, M is for Mountaineering

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Forgive me doubling up here, but after extending our weekend away from 2 days to 4 days, I have a lot of catching up to do if I am to finish my A-Z of travel by 31st May!

A-Z of Travel – K is for Kilimanjaro, L is for Life-Changing, M is for Mountaineering

These three letters/words go wonderfully well together, and if you dream about climbing Africa’s highest mountain one day – Mount Kilimanjaro, I can pretty much guarantee you are in for a life-changing experience.

We climbed Kilimanjaro at the end of September last year, and I still find myself daydreaming about the moment we reached Stella Point after a long, hard, cold and breathtaking (quite literally!) 7-hour hike from Barafu Base Camp to the first peak of Kilimanjaro.

IMG_0044Stella Point may not be the top of Mount Kilimanjaro, but if you reach the glistening green sign you will receive your certificate – and I can honestly say, it was the most welcoming sign I have ever seen in my life!

We had planned to take hundreds of photos, make a video, and jot down a few notes, but we simply stood still and watched the sun rise up over Africa through tear-filled eyes… before realising that it was not over yet, and we had another 45 minutes to go if we were to reach Uhuru Peak!

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From Stella Point to Uhuru Peak, the path is relatively flat but the air is filled with jubilation rather than oxygen and the going is slow!  We finally made it to the very top of Mount Kilimanjaro’s 5895-metres at around 7am, and after taking our cherished photographs (proof!), we started to make our way back down with a slight spring in our steps.

The wonderful thing about Mount Kilimanjaro is that almost anyone can climb it, the 7-Day Machame Route that we completed was not particularly steep, and if you have a good level of fitness and buckets of determination – you will make it to the top!

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Whether you climb Kilimanjaro with a group, take a private tour, climb for charity, or simply do it for yourself – this mountaineering expedition may just change your life… It most certainly changed mine!

A-Z of Travel – H is for Hotel Star Ratings

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What would we do without TripAdvisor?  A comprehensive online directory of almost every hotel in the world, TripAdvisor provides us with opinions and reviews by ‘real travellers’ who have been there, done that, and definitely have the t-shirt – but can we really trust the source?

Reviews are all well and good (my favourite to date was titled “Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmare meets a clean, safe and happy place”), and I rarely book a hotel for myself or a guest without checking to see what others have to say about it first, but the fact is, we do not know if these reviews are written by genuine guests of the hotel, a hotel employee, or the owner of the hotel next door… So can we really rely on them?

A-Z of Travel – H is for Hotel Star Ratings

Well, I believe a combination of the Hotel Star Rating and TripAdvisor reviews is a good place to start, and while there are some bargains to be had, I firmly believe that when it comes to hotels – you get what you pay for.

Five Star Hotels

I’m not going to lie, I love staying in five-star hotels, but the only reason I love staying in such properties is that you get all those little luxuries you generally don’t get at home, such as 15 pillows on the bed in pure white Egyptian cotton, bath salts, a big fluffy bathrobe, and chocolates on the pillow (lovely, but impractical if you have kids/dogs at home!).

Five star hotels should offer exceptional service, have a great location, and make you feel truly spoilt, after all isn’t that what a dream holiday is all about?

Four Star Hotels

More often than not, we stay in four-star hotels for both business and pleasure.  Most four stars offer all the amenities one is used to at home such as comfortable furnishing, a TV, hairdryer and iron, internet access, and when you combine that with a 24-hour reception – well what more could one need?

Three Star Hotels

Three star hotels generally do what they say on the tin.  A decent standard of accommodation at a decent price, three star hotels are ideal for those who want to stretch their holiday budget, and providing you don’t expect five-star amenities, there is no reason you should be disappointed.  Referring back to TripAdvisor, you will find many three star properties out-rank their five-star neighbours!

One & Two Star Hotels

Often referred to as Standard and Tourist class hotels, one and two star properties provide a basic room at a basic price.  Ideal for those who simply want a bed and somewhere to rest their head, these hotels are available in most cities around the world – and if you are looking for something ‘cheap and cheerful’ – this could be for you.

Of course, there are always exceptions to the rules, some five-star hotels are not up to standard, and you could find a cosy two star that meets all your expectations, but by combining the hotel star rating with TripAdvisor reviews – you should be able to read between the lines and get your perfect hotel at your perfect price!

A-Z of Travel – G is for Gap Year

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There was a time when a Gap Year was something only students could enjoy between college and university or schooling and work, but today, a Gap Year is something everyone can take advantage of – taking time off and time out of everyday life to go travelling, volunteering and working abroad.

A-Z of Travel – G is for Gap Year

I took my Gap Year back in 1994, when I decided I had had it with teeth (I was a dental hygienist!) and that it was time for me to get out in the big wide world and do something completely different.

Assuring my parents this would be a 6-month adventure and that I would return to a ‘sensible’ job on my return to the UK,  I packed my suitcases (hence the plural, I hadn’t learnt the art of packing light at that stage!) and headed off to the Canary Islands in search of some fun and sun.

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Well, fun in the sun I most definitely had, and those 6-months quickly turned into 16-years, a husband, a dog, eight international house moves, and more travel experiences that I ever dreamed possible!

Today, I would have to say we have the best of both worlds – travelling for work, but if you find yourself stuck in a rut or desperate to take a break from the ordinary, a Gap Year might just be the challenge you are looking for.

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If you have a generous travel budget the world is your oyster with a round-the-world flight ticket costing as little as £1600.  Accommodations in some regions of Africa, Asia and South America can cost significantly less than what you would expect to pay at home, and providing you eat local cuisine in local restaurants your food budget can be as little as $5 per day. However, if you decide to go travelling in Australia, Brazil and Europe – your budget will need to be very generous indeed!

If money is tight, you might want to consider volunteering or taking a working Gap Year.  There are numerous opportunities available in Africa, Asia, Oceania and South America, and in many instances, you can earn enough to pay for your trip or at least your food and lodgings.

Think you are too old to take a Gap Year? Think again!  We met a 78-year-old Japanese man in Rio de Janeiro who had nothing more than an English phrase book and a few items of clothing in his rucksack.  His dream was to travel the world, and he made that dream a reality with his very own Gap Year!

 

 

A-Z of Travel – F is for the Fiji Islands

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If there is one holiday destination that everyone should visit in their lifetime, it would have to be the Fiji Islands.

Beautiful beaches, friendly locals, stunning hotels, private island getaways, delicious seafood, refreshing cocktails, and all the water sports and activities one could possibly wish for… the Fiji Islands really do have it all, and whether you decide on Viti Levu, Vanua Levu, the Yasawas, the Mamanucas or any island in between –you are guaranteed the holiday of a lifetime!

A popular destination with honeymooners and round-the-world travellers, Fiji is every bit as beautiful as the postcards would have you believe, and while I could go on all day about how wonderful Fiji is, I thought I would just share a few of my favourite photos from our trip to the islands, so you can make up your own mind…

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Bula Fiji, Vinaka Vakelevu!

A-Z of Travel – E is for Escorted Tours

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If you had asked me to take an Escorted Tour some 10 years ago, I would have most probably said “no”, quite simply because the thought of sitting on a crowded coach with 30 other travellers is not my idea of a holiday!

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However, fast-forward those 10 years – and my opinion on escorted tours has most definitely changed.

Until recently, escorted holidays usually involved a busload of tourists lining up behind a tour guide with a large “follow me” sign. The itinerary was planned with military precision, meal times were a group affair, and if the tour operator didn’t manage to fill the 44-seater coach in time for the trip, your holiday would be cancelled – full stop.  Thank goodness, things have changed!

The escorted tours of today are usually limited to small groups, the schedules are planned in such a way that those travelling have plenty of time to discover each destination at their leisure, and while meals are served in the same restaurant, guests have the option to sit together, dine alone, or share a table with partner/friend.

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We were first introduced to escorted touring in South Africa, when we took a small group escorted tour along the Garden Route of the Western Cape.  Collected from our Cape Town hotel in a luxury 7-seater mini-bus with sleek leather interior, our first impressions were good, and when we were informed that just three other guests would be joining us – we knew this was going to be a wonderful trip.

Our next stop was to collect a couple from Australia and a lovely lady from China, before heading out of Cape Town and along the famous Route 62 towards our base for the night in Oudtshoorn – the “Feather Capital of the World”.

A-Z of Travel – E is for Escorted Tours

We bonded immediately with both our guide Ananda and the other guests, and by the time we reached our lunch stop in Barrydale, the ice had been firmly broken and it was just like travelling with a group of long-lost friends.

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There to ensure our escorted tour was every bit as good as we had hoped it would be, Ananda regularly asked if we would like to make photo stops and toilet breaks, and we never felt tied to a strict itinerary.

Some evenings we dined as a group, other evenings we dined at a table for two, and if we didn’t want to take part in a particular excursion or activity, we had the freedom to opt out, and do something on our own.

A-Z of Travel – E is for Escorted Tours

The beauty of a small group escorted tour is that you get to meet like-minded travellers, you have a well-planned itinerary, luxurious accommodations, insider tips in each destination, and best of all, you have a qualified tour guide and driver who takes care of everything while you sit back, relax, drink some wine, and enjoy your holiday!

 

 

A-Z of Travel – C is for Chile, Chilli and Chilly!

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It’s long, it’s lithe and it offers a whole list of things to see and do, Chile is the perfect holiday destination for those who appreciate ever-changing landscapes, secluded retreats and fine Chilean wines.

A-Z of Travel – C is for Chile, Chilli and Chilly!

An awe-inspiring example of nature’s great splendour and power, Chile sits comfortably between the Andean mountain range and the Pacific Ocean, and while it may be the slimmest country in the world, it stretches a whopping 4300km long, and has all the deserts, glaciers, volcanoes, lakes, beaches, wine regions, and national parks that you could possibly wish for.

With a vast collection of national parks such as Torres del Paine in Patagonia and Rapa Nui on Easter Island, Chile appeals to nature lovers and provides the perfect backdrop for those looking for an adventure holiday.  Trekking tours, bike rides, sailing trips and fishing holidays are all available in Chile, so it really does cater for everyone.

We approached Chile from Mendoza in Argentina, and headed down to Viña del Mar for a few days before heading north to the Atacama Desert.  Fine wines, fresh steaks and my all-time favourite food Palta (avocados) come as standard here, making it a fantastic holiday destination for foodies and wine aficionados.

Chilean food isn’t particularly spicy, but one salsa we couldn’t get enough of was Pebre, a mouth-watering condiment found in just about every restaurant in Chile.  Made from a delicious blend of tomatoes, peppers, onions, garlic, cilantro (coriander), olive oil, lemon juice and chilli, this all-purpose salsa goes with just about everything – and if you ask for extra Chilli, it can be very spicy indeed.

Fortunately, in Chile, a cool cerveza is never far away, and if you can drag yourself away from the vineyards and the delectable wine offerings, you will be pleasantly surprised at the amount of different beers on offer.

Due to the sheer length of the country, the climate in Chile varies greatly and generalisations are difficult!  Pack for all seasons, especially if you are going to be touring throughout the country, and if it starts to get chilly, ask for some extra chilli in your Pebre in Chile!

 

 

A-Z of Travel – B is for Baggage…

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It’s bulky, it’s heavy and if we have too much of it, it can cost us a fortune, but baggage is an important part of travel, and despite having travelled around the world with little more than an oversized backpack, I still struggle to pack light!

A-Z of Travel - B is for Baggage…

My first attempt at packing light was for our first 6-week trip to South America, when my other half assured me that I would need nothing more than a couple of t-shirts, shorts, flip-flops, sunglasses and a hat…Hmmm

We decided that rucksacks would be the most convenient type of luggage for our trip throughout Argentina, Chile, Bolivia and Brazil, and I therefore headed off in search of a ‘sizeable’ backpack that would accommodate the ‘necessities’.

Initially, I was very tempted to purchase a 120-litre rucksack, but the 80-litre backpack I finally decided on was more than big enough. Once it had been packed, re-packed and then packed again, I had managed to fit in two pairs of jeans, 3 pairs of shorts, 2 summer dresses, a skirt, 10 t-shirts, 2 blouses, 3 bikinis, undies, 4 pairs of shoes, toiletries and a hairdryer!

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Of course, I had never really thought about trivial things such as weight… and so spent 6-weeks carrying a rather cumbersome 17kg pack on my back, while my wiser half had a mere 9kg to contend with!

These days I do believe I am getting better at packing light, and as we like to take advantage of the cheap flight tickets offered by budget airlines such as Ryanair, I can actually manage a whole weekend away with just 10kg of hand luggage…

Long-haul trips, on the other hand, do need better planning, and I feel it would be rude not to use my allotted 23kg on a flight to Cape Town or New Zealand!  Although, when heading to the US, one should always leave space for those ‘unbelievable bargains’ found in outlet centres!

Packing for a holiday is, for me, part of the adventure, and while I have probably paid more than my fair share for excess baggage in the past, our future travels are looking a whole lot lighter – thanks mainly to our ultra-light suitcases – now that’s a clever invention!

 

 

 

A-Z of Travel – A is for Africa…

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Well, I may have missed the A-Z blogging Challenge of April 2013, but a new month brings new ideas, I as we have 26 days left in May (one for each letter of the alphabet), I thought I would challenge myself to write an A-Z on Travel!

When I first started blogging back in January 2012, I was determined to write a blog every day, but what with climbing Kilimanjaro and training for the Cape Argus Cycle Tour, I come up a little short with just 344 blogs in 466 days!

Therefore, my May resolution is to get back on track, and today is the first day of my very own blogging challenge.

A is for Africa…

If you have read any one of my previous 344 blogs, you will have probably found the word ‘Africa’ hiding somewhere amongst the text!  A continent that I am still in the midst of exploring, Africa is exciting, enchanting, and offers the most exhilarating wild animal encounters, and if you like the idea of seeing something different on your next holiday, Africa should definitely be on your bucket list.

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My first introduction to the African continent was back in 2008 when we offered the chance to work in Cape Town, South Africa on a two-year contract.  At first, I was unsure, my parents were horrified, and I had so much paperwork to sort out for our beloved Cocker Spaniel that I never thought we would actually get there.  But five blood tests (the dog, not us!), one long-haul flight, and a bottle of South African Sauvignon Blanc later, we knew that Cape Town was a very special place indeed, and that we would have no problem calling the Mother City ‘home’.

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Leaving South Africa was one of the hardest moves we have ever had to make (and we’ve lived in eight different countries so far!), so when we decided to open our own travel company, we knew that Africa was going to be one of the destinations we would promote.

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Since returning to Europe, we have visited Africa several times, and in order to grow our African portfolio (we only promote tried and tested routes!), we look forward to uncovering more of Namibia, Tanzania, Kenya, Congo, Botswana, Angola, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Mozambique and Madagascar on our future trips below the equator.

IMG_1708 A-Z of Travel - A is for Africa

A is for Africa… Let us see where B takes us!

Self Drive Holidays along the World’s Top 10 Coastal Drives

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There is nothing like a drive along the coast to blow away those cobwebs and make you appreciate life, and when you combine it with two weeks off work and the opportunity to spend some quality time with a loved one, you may just feel like a new person after your trip!

Self Drive Holidays along the World’s Top 10 Coastal Drives

Self drive holidays are far more popular (and easier) than they were some 30 years ago, and if you like the idea of spending your days in a rental car with nothing more than a map, a few CD’s and your favourite co-pilot, then driving along one of the world’s top 10 coastal drives may just be the holiday you are looking for!

Our first experience at a self-drive holiday was our honeymoon, when we decided that we would rather save on an expensive ‘church do’ for all our friends and family, and spend our wedding budget on a trip of lifetime!  Selfish I know (my mother still reminds me!), but if I had to do it all again, I wouldn’t change a thing, and our 4-week trip from Los Angeles to Key West, was every bit as amazing as it sounds!

With no fixed reservations, no deadlines and no airport stress to contend with, self-drive tours are perfect for those who want to escape the routines of everyday life, and so when VirtualTourist.com released their list of Top 10 Coastal Drives, I just knew I had to share it…

1. Pacific Coast Highway, California – A 730km stretch between Los Angeles and San Francisco

2. Kuhio Highway, Hawaii – A short route, but definitely worth your while, this 84km drive starts at Poipu Beach and ends at Haena, the start of the Kalalau Trail along the NaPali Coast.

3. Overseas Highway, Florida Keys – I can vouch for this 257km stretch of ‘highway built on bridges’ from Florida to Key West, it is absolutely stunning and you can get Key Lime Pie along the way!

4. Cabot Trail, Nova Scotia – Voted as the best coastal drive for Canada-bound travellers, the Cabot Trail on Cape Breton Island is about 274km long.

Self Drive Holidays along the World’s Top 10 Coastal Drives

5. Great Ocean Road, Australia – Another one I can highly recommend, we drove the Great Ocean Road during our tour throughout Australia, and it’s worth driving the 290km for the Twelve Apostles alone!

6. The Garden Route, South Africa – Yep, we’ve done the Garden Route too!  However, we took an escorted tour, rather than a self-drive trip, so it doesn’t really count!  The scenery, by the way, is quite breathtaking!

7. Ring Road, Iceland – Stretching 1,335km this is quite a self-drive route, but it offers “incredible views and even more landmarks to behold”.

8. The Atlantic Road, Norway – Definitely one on my bucket list, the Atlantic Road stretches through the fjord region of Norway, connecting a series of islands.

9. Northeast Loop, Thailand – A day trip more than a driving tour, the 11km Northeast Loop of Phuket will show you the pretty bays and small fishing villages one would normally miss.

10. Kotor to Sveti Stephan, Montenegro – This route starts in the Montenegro countryside and travels down along the magnificent coast of the Mediterranean Sea.

So there you have it, the Top 10 Coastal Drives in the world voted for by real travellers…! How many have you done?  Drop us a line and let us know.