The thrills and spills of a motorcycle racing holiday
For something a little different this year, why not visit a sporting event whilst on your holidays? There are so many different sports to choose from and some take place in very exotic locations, so you won’t miss out if you are looking for sun, sea and sand! Some sporting events, such as MotoGP and Formula 1 run a series of racing events which take place all over the world, so you could book your holiday to coincide with the race you want to see and travel to watch it live in between all that relaxation. Every sport has it’s heroes and no doubt you will have your own favourite, so just think how fun it would be to actually see them excelling in their sport. Read more »
Turkey remains one of the most unique and beautiful countries you can spend your holidays in. This amazing country has a rich ancient history of ancient civilization, with records of human interaction with the wild country being over twenty thousand years old. Many early examples of ancient civilization include the Hittites, Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, and of course the crusaders they have all left their mark on this amazing country in the form of art, and culture in what is now considered to be modern Turkey. With all this history, the technological advancements, and modernization can be easily overlooked. This country is one of the most popular places to visit for cheap holiday deals, and is also on the worlds top ten holiday destination lists across the world with over twenty three million visitors each year from all over the world. With fantastic fun, food, and atmosphere, you will not be disappointed when making the journey from your simple everyday life, to the mystery and magic that is modern Turkey. Holidays to Turkey are a less expensive option then many may think travellers can find hotels close to beaches for as little as $5 a night.
The first thing you will want to do when planning a trip to Turkey is to determine a few of the more simple things on your trip. A good preview of the areas to be visited is a must, and can be found very easily using your home computer. There are many good websites available focused on the tourism in modern Turkey, and they can give you great insight into things such as local culture, food selections, crime rates, monetary exchange rates, and the many options of things to do while you are there. Read more »
In the high Dolomites villages of Alta Badia you can go walking in Summer or skiing and snowshoeing in Winter. At altitudes of around 1500m, these villages get good snowfalls and plenty of sunshine making them a great destination for summer walkers and winter skiers alike. The area is also known as Südtirol, due to its history when it was part of Austria.
We visited Corvara at the end of August to sample an organised walking holiday. Once we arrived we heard about the attractions of Via Ferrata (also known as Klettersteig), a range of protected scrambling routes that have existed in this area since World War I.
Views from the protected paths are breathtaking
A Via Ferrata usually has a series of fixed cables, ladders and gorge-spanning bridges to which you hook up to climb and scramble your way to the end, and they culminate in breathtaking views over the valleys surrounding Arabba, Corvara & Pedraces. The Via Ferrata are clearly marked by the local mountain guides – you can follow them independently or with an organised group. It is best to wear a safety helmet, harness and specialist kit to hook yourself on to the cables. This kit can be hired in your resort for around €10 per day. Read more »
Tags: adventure holidays, Italy, walking holidays
It is no wonder that a road trip through the Canadian Rockies is one of the best things to do for a summer vacation. Located at the easternmost part of the mountains of Western Canada called the Canadian Cordillera, the Rockies promise amazing sceneries of glaciated mountains, rivers, waterfalls, gorges and lakes.
Within the Canadian Rockies are five national parks that each offer impeccable sights and activities for everyone taking the road trip this summer. Four of the five national parks interlock with each other, forming the Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks World Heritage Site. These are Jasper, Banff, Kootenay and Yoho. Waterton, the national park that does not interlock with the other four, is located along the international USA border.
It is best to make your way through your Rockies summer road trip with Jasper as your starting point. Being the largest among the five national parks in the Canadian Rockies, Jasper National Park is abundant of things to see and do. The Maligne Canyon, the Pyramid and Patricia Lakes, and the Athabasca Falls are some of Jasper’s most spectacular gifts. Guided sightseeing tours are available. Between May and October, Pyramid Lake offers an extraordinary Canoe Experience that will give you a chance to witness the mesmerizing beauty of nature. There are lots of lodging options in Jasper such as the Lobstick Lodge, that have kid-friendly facilities which is perfect if you have children in tow. Read more »
The attractions of Turkey for anyone who enjoys walking or trekking holidays are huge. This is a country enjoying a Mediterranean climate and possessing historic sites and archaeological heritage that are easily the equal of the Greek destinations. Tourism in Turkey is relatively young, and you can still find traditional hospitality in family-run hotels and pensions (Pansiyons).
The Aegean and Mediterranean coasts have sadly fallen victim in many parts to uncontrolled hotel development, but walking holidays in Turkey pass through some beautiful beachside villages, such as Adrasan and Çirali, that remain unaffected by package holiday hordes. Cirali and Adrasan are close to the Roman ruins at Olympos, about two hours’ drive west of Antalya. They are also close to the Lycian Way, the famously stunning long distance coastal footpath that is gaining in popularity with walkers and trekkers following the publication of the ‘Lycian Way Guide’ by Kate Clow.
It is unusual to find a really good walking route close to the coast and I have been checking out the tour operators offering vacations to explore the Lycian Way. Because the route is well marked there are plenty of self guided walking holidays in Turkey on offer. This is a good idea if you prefer not to be in a group of fellow walkers for the entire vacation! The arrangements for a self guided walking holiday usually include transport to the first night’s hotel or pension, luggage transfers and all meals. Some itineraries take you to a different location every night, others stay at certain hotels for two nights during the week.
Walking Holiday on the Lycian Way can be self guided
At the end of your week trekking, you will usually spend the final night in the Old Town of Antalya, where you are a short ride from the airport.
The route snakes along a dramatic coastline to the limestone peaks of Mount Olympos, now known as Mt Tahtali. For more energetic trekkers the highlight of the trip is the chance to climb Mount Tahtali (2388m), with superb views along the coast from the summit ridge. After your success in conquering the mountain The descent is through shady, wooded valleys, with the opportunity to visit the ruins of Olympos. At Cirali you will find one of the most beautiful sandy beaches on this coast. Cirali beach consists of two miles of soft sand where the azure ocean water laps at your feet. This is definitely worth taking time to rest and sunbathe.
The Lighthouse at Cape Gelidonia on the Lycian Way
The next day the Lycian Way route takes you to Adrasan, followed by the culmination of the trip – the walk from the coastal resort and farming village of Adrasan along the cliffs and coves to Cape Gelidonia. There are small pensions and hotels along the route that are benefiting from the increase in visitors. For the moment a self guided walking holiday on the Lycian way meets almost all the requirements of an eco holiday, as you are a part of the local landscape supporting the local economy. The upside is that you should be able to spend a week on the Lycian Way without seeing any huge package tour hotels.
Walksworldwide (01524 242000, walksworldwide.com) offer walking holidays covering the best of the Lycian Way from Camyuva to Cape Gelidonia. From £425 FB excluding flights
On Foot Holidays (01722 322652, onfootholidays.co.uk ) A fairly challenging seven-night itinerary along the Lycian Way.From £620 HB excluding flights
World Walks (01242 254353, worldwalks.com ) Walks in the Lycian Way. From £378 HB excluding flights
If you like a reasonable level of home comforts on your walking holiday, the companies above offer luggage transfers so you only need to carry your lunch, drinks and camera during the walks. You stay in Hotels or Guest Houses with ensuite facilities. NOT ALL companies offer this! Many trekking holidays to the Lycian Way involve use of sleeping bags (!), carrying all your luggage with you, and extra payments for transport. I travelled on a Ramblers Walking Holiday once, and they charged for “local transport costs” – an extra £45 per week. The hotel was dismal and cold! Ramblers do not charge any less than the other operators reviewed here so if you do not want to rough it on your walking holiday, start with the companies reviewed here.
If you are a single person a walking holiday is one of your best vacation options. The best singles holiday operators charge no single room supplement, which could otherwise cost you more than £20 a night. I have been on two walking holidays with Solos (solosholidays.co.uk) and their itineraries are excellent for single travellers. Solos do not offer a walking trip to the Lycian Way, but they do have a Turkey multi activity holiday. Solitair (solitairhols.co.uk) have a programme featuring the Lycian Way. Prices start from £699 Full Board – flights included.
Competition for your travel dollar has never been so keen, so make sure you shop around for the very best deals available whenever you are staying away from home. Last weekend we had the chance to takes a short break and we discovered that the difference between the best and worst rates offered was more than a hundred per cent!
Finally this year we are planning a trip down under and the CheaperthanHotels website is required reading. It does not matter whether you are looking for a two star hotel or deluxe, you will save money on your accommodation. In New South Wales, there are some beautiful Coffs Harbour Hotels overlooking the bay and the beautiful Coffs coastline – and they will not cost you a fortune to get this amazing view. Close to Coffs Harbour are some World Heritage Rainforest areas that are totally unmissable.
Further down the coast from Coffs Harbour, Port Macquarie makes an excellent base for visiting attractions like the nature reserve at Sea Acres as well as the John Downes park, which are both situated on the east coast with a view across to the beautiful Lord Howe Island. Here, you can find Port Macquarie Hotels ranging from as little as £40 a night.
Closer to Brisbane, Byron Bay Hotels are a tad more luxurious and still give you great value for your holiday spend. Check out the East on Byron Bay resort with its tropical swimming pools and relaxing ambience. Never pay top price again, and you can travel further and better for less.
Adventure holidays or Activity vacations are becoming hugely popular.
Many travellers are bored with spending their days lying on a beach, and they want a program of activities for their trip. Hiking, walking, tennis, canoeing, even cookery – all can become the focus of your activity vacation. But it can be hard to find budget deals for travel, activities and accommodation when you want an Adventure Holiday. So many people are looking for an adventure when they go on holiday, and these tend to be affluent, slightly older travellers who can spend more. So if your travel budget is tight you need to shop around to get your dream holiday activity. The key to an adventure or activity holiday that does not break the bank is to book direct with the holiday operator.
If you go via travel agents, international tour operators and guides they all want their slice on top.
Booking your budget adventure holiday direct benefits you in many ways – you will meet more local people and see more of the culture. The best way to build your adventure holiday package is to start with a low cost air ticket to the closest airport, then go into town by bus – not taxi.
When you arrive at your destination, start asking around about the best adventure guides. Local tour operators know the area, they want to please their customers, and they are much cheaper. The reps from big tour operators in popular resorts often put out a lot of scare stories to frighten tourists into using their excursions – from which they earn a big commission. But you can use your common sense. I almost bought that line once in Turkey: fortunately some other holidaymakers were raving about their amazing trip with local guides and I booked with them. The tour was far better than the official version, and around half the price.
If you are a new budget traveler or you have always taken package deals this can seem daunting – you are a long way from home and there may be a language barrier. You must remember that the people providing this service know where to find their customers and will be easy to locate. They will also know the essential terms in a number of languages, otherwise they could not earn a living.
Do some research on your planned trip while you are still at home. Talk to anyone who has been to your planned destination and find out about their experiences and recommendations. Read a guidebook – before buying one, check out your local public library as they may have a recent edition that you can borrow.
When you are at your destination make sure you get a clear agreement with your tour guide. You need to confirm the cost, duration of the trip and what is included. Ask about the guide’s previous experience on this kind of trip, the food that is served and any accommodation – if that is part of the deal. It is best to agree all this before the trip begins. You do not want the negotiations (or any misunderstandings) to spoil your enjoyment.
Play fair with your tour guide. If you add anything to the trip itinerary after it starts then you must expect to pay something extra. If you are open and honest with your guides, they are more likely to play fair with you. At the end of the trip, make sure you tip a little extra for good service. It is easy to forget the real price when dealing in local currency. Back home, you would think it a cheap shot to haggle over a couple of cents
Posted October 26, 2009 
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Competition for your travel dollar has never been so keen, so make sure you shop around for the very best deals available whenever you are staying away from home. Last weekend we had the chance to takes a short break and we discovered that the difference between the best and worst rates offered was more than a hundred per cent!
Closer to Brisbane,
Adventure holidays or Activity vacations are becoming hugely popular.
