Ultimate Vacation Spots

posted by Travel Cat on Jun 30

UK National Parks.

Covering 10% of Britain, our National Parks are worth a visit. Stay a few days in a farmhouse around one of these locations and see the true beauty of this country. I have personally visited 11 of these sites with recommended lodgings from recent visits to some. The dates in brackets are the best times to go for the best views, when everything is in bloom and the lambs are everywhere….

Wales:

Pembrokeshire Coast (April - May)
Stringing along the rugged coastline of this most south-westerly part of Wales, this park encompasses some truly amazing beaches and cliffs. Open to the winds off the Atlantic, this coast is a beauty, and a surfing hot-spot. And with more than 50 castles to it’s name, there will never be a dull moment here.

Brecon Beacons (March - April)
This lushly covered ridge of mountains is very green compared to those in Snowdonia and with plenty of stunning waterfalls. Just as active though, you can pony trek through valleys, go caving into some of Britain’s deepest holes, and find dinosaurs! The Welsh National Cycle Route passes north to south, and you could even hire a narrow boat to cruise down the Monmouthshire and Brecon canal.

Snowdonia (May - September)
Containing the highest mountain in Wales and taking up most of north-west Wales to boot, this national park is a favourite for tourists and serious outdoor enthusiasts. With stunning scenery, rocky crags and more activity centres than you can shake a stick at - this is certainly a place worth a visit. In also contains many small, quiet villages, peaceful streams and isolated farmhouses for you to rent.

Scotland:

The Cairngorms (February)
The largest National park in the UK, up in the north of Scotland, and one of Britain’s best mountain ranges, in scale, altitude and sheer wilderness. Chains of mountain peaks covered in snow whenever the weather allows where skiing is common throughout winter and spring.

Stunning wildlife including red squirrels, osprey and wildcats is a main attraction here, as are all types of outdoor sports including mountaineering, dog sledding and water-sports in the many lochs. If you don’t mind basic accommodation and easy access to outdoor sports (including skiing) then I recommend Glenmore Lodge, the closest site to Cairngorm mountain itself - the views at breakfast are wonderful…..

Loch Lomond & The Trossachs (September - October)
This was Scotland’s first national park in 2002, and is 2 adjoining areas that were heavily visited and close to Glasgow. The Loch is the largest single waterway in Britain but motor boats and jet-ski owners can clog it up in summer. The Trossachs on the other hand is a pristine area of beauty between the lowlands and the mountains, with some breath-taking lakes and woodland vistas.

England:

The Peak District (April - May)
This is the busiest national park in the UK and surprisingly the 2nd most visited in the world after mount Fiji!!! However, it is still possible to escape the crowds (seeing that it sprawls into 6 counties in total) and it’s not long before all you can see are the sheep and rolling hills. This area is dotted with limestone caves that you can climb down into, as well as plenty of cycling and walking routes for all abilities.

The Lake District (September - October)
Famous for it’s great lakes, this park - up in the north-west of England - is the largest national park in Britain founded in 1951. It really is a walkers heaven up here! It has a very picturesque landscape, encompassing high mountains, long healthy lakes, undulating fells and steep-sided valleys - and is the home of England’s only golden eagles - and apparently a family of coatis!!

Yorkshire Dales (April - May)
A walking and cycling wonderland awaits you here. With countryside crossed by rugged stone walls and dotted with monastic ruins, and in the north the village of Wensleydale, famous for it’s cheeses. Almost touching the Lake District in the west, this large park traverses hills and valleys (dales) and most of the way across England. It’s very popular with drivers though, so try to avoid the main routes in high season.

North York Moors (August - September)
Wedged on the North Sea coast between Scarborough, Thirsk and Middlesborough, this small park i still a gem - with heather clad moors, isolated villages and lonely farms dotted across it’s depth, it will make for some very enjoyable walks. It has some lovely beaches and sheer cliffs on the coast and a brooding mystical feeling as you cross the high roads inland.

Northumberland (April - May, and September)
This really is a bleak place, one of the last great wildernesses on the border of England and Scotland - with Hadrian’s wall running within its borders. With heather and gorse moors, black grouse and like so many other parks - sheep, you can really find yourself alone here - among the prehistoric remains and fortified houses in a place with very few roads.

Norfolk & Suffolk Broads (April - May)
With it’s vast network of navigable rivers and it’s attraction for wildfowl, this is a birdwatchers dream. Even for those who don’t go to see the birds, the broads really are a peaceful and totally different experience. Forget about trekking in the hills, and just stroll along the rivers or cruise down them in any one of the available boats and barges offered for hire.

Dartmoor (May - June)
A large area of exposed volcanic rock in Devon, south-west England - this park really is rugged. With peaty soil and sparse vegetation gorse and heather are king here - but there are a few woodlands if you know where to look. Grazed by native Dartmoor ponies and sheep this marshy moorland and wild heath is a place where you can drive for miles yet not see another living soul!

Exmoor (September)
This smaller park is perched beside the Bristol Channel in the far west of Somerset. It is famous not only for it’s miles and miles of open moorland and ancient woodlands, but for the Exmoor Ponies that graze the land - perfectly adapted for the wet, desolate hills and valleys of this region. I can recommend the beautiful little Higher Rodhuish Farm for accommodation from a recent personal visit - you can even take your own horse there with you!

New Forest (April - September)
This large national park on the south coast between Bournemouth and Southhampton is a recent addition, only joining the others in March 2005. Like Exmoor and Dartmoor, it is famous for it’s ponies roaming free - although here, they are joined by donkeys, cattle and pigs throughout the year - and you can’t fail to see them as you walk or drive through the park.

With many small villages and activities to participate in, including almost year round camping - the nice weather here can cater for all the family all the time! I can certainly recommend Pickett Hill House for accommodation and the most wonderful host, with tea and cakes on arrival and a fresh local breakfast you’d want to photograph!

More National Parks?
There are stories about possible new areas in Britain that should have or might get national park status, 2 in the running include a large area of The South Downs in Sussex, and maybe the first in Northern Ireland: The Mourne Mountains.
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posted by Travel Cat on Jun 28

Ways to Find Cheap Airline Tickets

There is nothing more annoying than finding out that someone sitting next to you on the plane to your latest vacation paid over $200 less than you for exactly the same thing - so for this reason alone I make sure I search every available avenue open to me to make sure I’m the one who paid less!

I’ve been doing it for years now, and really have shaved$100’s off of identical flights and vacation packages - somewhat to the annoyance of other holiday-makers who bother to ask me what I paid!!  The most I have known to save was $1200 on an identical vacation package to Kenya……

Option 1: 
I always used to do my research by calling all the tour operators or flight companies myself until I found the best offer, and then booked the cheapest.  Needless to say - this would take some time and a lot a repeating the departure times and dates etc. to various people. 

It works well, but you have to be prepared to speak to dozens of people in a row, and possibly have them call you back to sell the deal - even though you don’t want it now.  You also have to know your destination facts and some brochures to hand so you get to the best locations and be able to bat off their add-on sales and jargon.

I have found a new way now, and am sticking with it!

Option 2: 
Find websites that do all the searching for you!  You type in your departure dates and destinations just once, and they search all the companies for you.  No more endless phone calls and note jotting - it’s all displayed on the screen, right here in-front of you.

These comparison shopping engines for travel will save you time too, and can sometimes offer you deals you wouldn’t have thought of yourself.  One site that had this effect on me was LowFares.com.

Basically, this simple site combines other known travel and vacation specialist sites within their searches, so once you have entered your details, they will show you the sponsors that offer deals in those areas - including deals from Expedia, Travelocity and Kayak - and you get to do all your searching from just one site.

However, it also has a ‘Deals‘ page which highlights all the best deals that they have found themselves and offers them to you on one page for either flights, car rental, hotel or cruise - where you just click through and all the details are displayed. 

Alternatively you do all the searching yourself, and select flights, hotels or a combination of the 2 (which usually works out much cheaper than flights alone).

LowFares.com also have a handy ‘News‘ page with current information on airports, taxes and destinations for you to scan through, as well as offering a newsletter detailing offers and company news for free.

Conclusion: 
There are plenty of places to find cheap airline tickets, but why spend a lot of time and money searching for them.  Of course still do your research, but do it more efficiently.  And this is what comparison shopping engines can do for you.

I have just looked at some of their deals myself which helped me to write this post, as I fancy a quick trip to Mexico before the end of the summer and want to book it real soon…..

See you there????

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posted by Travel Cat on Jun 26

Best Cities in Europe?

This is based on the places I have been in Europe (or are intending to go to in the near future after recommendations from friends!). It is only a brief description of the feel of the place, just to tease you to investigate further…….

We are still quite northern to start here - but it does get warmer from number 8! Promise….

6) Prague, Czech Republic
If you love the whole fairy-tale look, then you will love it here. Perched on a huge hill, across the wide meandering dark river and over the ornately decorated bridges sits a beautiful castle!

The whole city, although with all the modern trapping, looks like a story book. Tall, colourful buildings line the streets, surrounding cobbled squares and walled gardens. Nearer the castle, there are steep steps and small shops and cafes crammed in, and in all shapes and sizes. Enter one on the street and be amazed as it then splits off into different levels, and around corners. This place warrants a second visit, and go there in winter if you can, as the castle looks great in the snow!

7) Paris, France
The rumours are true about this place - even when it’s raining; this city is romantic. You’ll find couples sheltering in little bistro’s with a steaming cup of coffee, or running hand in hand through the streets to find an obliging doorway for their cuddles!

If you love food and art you should be right at home here, and even if you don’t, you will almost certainly find a part of Paris that suits your needs! Time after time people visit this welcoming place to spend a few short days wandering the streets, as they will always be guaranteed a great vacation.

As with nearly all great cities, Paris has a wide sweeping river running through it’s centre and the peace along it’s banks are well known - and painted by many! However, don’t hire a car here if you aren’t a confident driver, or don’t like small cars!!!

Venice, Italy
Even in the cold weather, this city will please the traveller. I actually stayed on a separate island to Venice itself, so I had to catch a boat in to town everyday - more exotic than the train or bus!

From my hotel, I could see the skyline of the whole island, making it’s allure more real than being right in the town looking out your window at the wall of someone else’s hotel. The town centre is so crammed in, that some streets are little more than 3 feet wide, as are some of the lesser used canals! This makes it great for someone like me who loves the whole ‘cuteness’ of this retained character from many years before.

Get a map otherwise you could end up trapped in it’s maze of lanes and paths - don’t rely on landmarks to escape either - we ended up like a silly cartoon and kept reappearing in the same square from another entrance, leaving again only to end up back in the same place! How can that happen to grown ups!!

9) Barcelona, Spain
Not having been here myself, I can only explain the delights that await the traveller, and the very things that are calling out to me to visit.

With an intense history or invasions and defences between fellow Spaniards and invading ‘moors’, this city really has got some great architecture and culture to rival any great city.  With the walled city and plenty of ornate churches to ponder over you may not have time to visit all the museums if that is what you were hoping to squeeze in! 

Then there is the fantastic food, and the views over the Mediterranean and the amazing people you’ll meet and the fantastic weather……. 

10) Lisbon, Portugal
This country has a rich history for adventure and history, and it’s ships travelled the world collecting culture, artifacts and several other countries!

This harbour-side city is a mini reflection of that great era, where great buildings display their heritage, and main square after square in the city centre are filled with statues and monuments dedicated to various ‘heroes’.  And with an al-fresco feel throughout the day you can relax in the sun without the pressures of a normal city - and there is a lot of sun!
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posted by Travel Cat on Jun 24

Best Cities in Europe?

This is based on the places I have been in Europe (or are intending to go to in the near future after recommendations from friends!). It is only a brief description of the feel of the place, just to tease you to investigate further…….

This guide moves from north to south, and hopefully getting warmer with each hop…….. but seeing as we are starting with Iceland - still take your hat and gloves!!!!

1) Reykjavik, Iceland
If you want to see new pieces of Planet Earth growing out of the ice, then you cannot afford to miss this place. The land of Fire and Ice.

I have never made it here myself yet, as I am waiting for the great ‘northern lights’ display - but every year something gets in my way! But I will make it to this amazing and unique country while it is still that way. The history on this island is immense and the fact that most of the population of this country live in this one city has got to make it a busy but fascinating place!

2) Edinburgh, Scotland
Expect to be cold here, and in-fact, it’s probably better to go in the winter, as you will be almost guaranteed some snow to set this historic city off as it should be seen.

An ancient city, with it’s castle perched on top of a craggy volcanic outcrop, heavily defended by huge rising walls will silence any traveller who arrives here in daylight. The surrounding old town is full of old buildings, alleyways and vaults and some impressive buildings - it also houses a tiny pub, built into the hill underneath another pub!

You can’t escape the history of the place, and of all Scotland really, as well as a few ghost stories to keep you occupied. If you want to step back from it all for a while to give the city some thought of your own, then the best place is a short walk up to Arthur’s Seat and watch over the streets from this lofty natural peak.

3) Copenhagen, Denmark
This place was like a very clean little England. The style of the houses is different as they have the high facades with roofs running front to back with great colour and designs, but it just feels so normal.

The pedestrianised harbour side with it’s huge variety of little restaurants in buildings that seem to go on and on away from the streets is the place to be, and the bright colours and numbers of people just sitting around enjoying the place gives it a homely feel. There is a small amusement park right in the centre of town with some big rides, as well as some interesting museums and historical buildings.

Added to this, Sweden is only a few minutes away on the fast train, so make a day trip out there and feast on culinary delights in their huge heated ‘restaurant’ squares. Be prepared to spend some money in either location - prices are not cheap!

4) Dublin, Ireland
This beautiful city is a labyrinth of street and shops, with one shop leading into another street, or another shop even!  And the shops themselves are not always what they seem - one hardware shop I went int, had a bar down the left side with sports on TV, and a bike hire shop out the back……

The huge thundering river runs through the town, and is worth an hour of so on it’s own, just watching it and the world go by. There are bars just about everywhere, but also some gems of restaurants dotted all over as well - many al fresco in the summer.

This is a very busy area for stag and hen nights, so watch out for your weekends being overwhelmed by groups of women wearing fairy wings!

5) London, England
Only come here in the height of summer, otherwise you could be in for a miserable time! Sitting on an open-topped bus in the wind and drizzle really is as bad as it sounds!

In the sunshine though, this city will dazzle you. It has buildings that will fill you with awe at their sheer brute size and appearance; it has large open spaces right in the centre that will carry away your worries and relax your soul; and has a busy nightlife around the theatre district where people spill out of the shows into the cafes and bars to finish off the night!

There’s plenty of history for you here, with the London Dungeons and the Tower of London will certainly evoke past times, along with unbelievably modern additions almost next door, with the London Eye and the Gherkin (a giant curved glass building) dominating the ancient skyline that used to be all towers and cathedrals.

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posted by Travel Cat on Jun 22

Jersey, one of the Channel Islands in the English Channel (in contrast to Jersey, USA), is a small yet beautiful island, perfect for a short holiday.

The island itself is as far south as France (St. Malo is less than 4 miles away and visible on a clear day) and so whilst still part of the British empire it benefits from far better weather.

This weather means not only an ideal place for camping, beaches and outdoor persuits but also you will see a profusion of plants and animals not normally seen on mainland Britain. Most notable is the only British population of the Green Lizard, often nicknamed the Jersey Green Lizard for just this very reason. Reaching around a foot long, and the males possessing a bright blue throat they are certainly a wonderful (if rare) sight to behold. Red squirrels can still be seen here for the eagle-eyed and dolphins may often be seen during the summer months.

Talking of beaches, whilst the island only measures a few miles long there are beaches for all ocassions. Long, sandy beaches perfect for surfing, more protected “sun bather” beaches and wild rocky outcrops covered in breeding sea birds. There are even some caves that only appear at low tide.

You can arrive by ferry or plane as Jersey is well served by both a safe port at St. Helier or an airport on the west side of the island.

Escaping from the attractive but busy main town of St. Helier, venture to the northern half of the island for the “true” Jersey experience. Rolling fields filled with Jersey cows producing thick, delicious cream. Farmers fields green with the tops of Jersey Royals - the finest new potatos around. Greenhouses filled with flame-red tomatoes. Foxglove-strewn laybys and meadows and the deep blue sea. There are also castles and fishing-boat filled coves to enjoy.

Jersey has a low national speed limit, plenty of narrow tracks and a “no caravan” rule making it a great place to walk or cycle, and an efficient local bus service covers the entire island. Exploring this small island is therefore safe, practical and incredibly good fun.

Other things to see here are the underground tunnels used by the Nazis during the war (the Channel Islands are as far north as the invasion got) and the world-famous Durrell Wildlife Preservation Trust (or just “Jersey Zoo”!). It was here that a small boy fell into the gorilla pit many years ago much to the shock of his parents. Alive, but scared, rather than being attacked, the boy was watched over and looked after by the gorillas until keepers were able to extract him safely.

Personally, I like to camp though there are plenty of hotels around (less self catering accomodation though) of an international standard. Being a tax haven, Jersey boasts rich businessmen, private jets and Ferraris making it a more British Monaco. English is spoken, they drive on the left and they use the pound. There is, however, a lovely “French” feel in the style of the houses, many French place names and in the excellent quality of food available here - especially the seafood.

The Channel Islands also consist of Guernsey, Alderney and Sark, all of which can be reached by one of the inter-island boat services in operation over the summer months and day trips to France from here are easy to arrange.

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