Ultimate Vacation Spots

posted by Travel Cat on Jan 20

When in Rome – do exactly what YOU want to do!

You don’t have to stick to the tourist track when you visit the beautiful city of Rome, you can have the place to yourself and see the sites that interest you – rather than the masses.

Located in central Italy on the River Tiber and close to the country’s Mediterranean coast, Rome has more to offer than the routine tour of the Colosseum or the Pantheon.

Plan your own trip here – maybe staying in your own Rome apartments on the River – and you could find yourself caught up in the swing of things and finding history and hidden architecture right on the very streets that you are your drinking coffee in!

The City Itself:
Rome has been inhabited for over 2 and a half thousand years, through the Roman Empire, the Renaissance and the ruling Papacy – and so it’s great buildings and even common houses reflect styles from all eras.

Used as the setting for many conspiracy theories and the site of many hidden catacombs, underground waterways and even temples, you don’t always see everything in the guide book.

What you need is to wander the streets, go into and look around stores and museum buildings and get a sense of the people who lived and worked there – not just the elite.

photo credit: bensonkua

In Rome accommodation is never hard to find – and you can get a room in almost any part of the city you were hoping to explore! Whether you want to be close to the coast, the big sites, the river or just outside of the bustle – you will be sure to find it.

Vatican City:
Part of Rome that attracts as many vistors as the city itself is the Vatican – a city within a city! Home of the Papacy, the Sistine chapel, St Peter’s Basilica and a whole host of other sights worth seeing – you would be missing half of Rome if you didn’t visit here!

This self ruling walled section of Rome has a host of magnificent and imposing buildings – and book after book after book claim to know it’s secrets. However a few hours spent looking around yourself, you will soon see why it has created so much myth and mystery.

By booking yourself into some Vatican apartments overlooking the City, you can see the staff and visitors around the site throughout the day and late into the evening – maybe inspiring your very own conspiracy theory!

So however long you stay, make sure you choose the best accommodation for your trip. Don’t feel that you have to find 1 place and stay there for your entire vacation. Being able to step out of your apartment and be face to face with an amazing building is a totally different feeling from catching the bus there in the afternoon with 100 other people!

Plan your accommodation just as you would your transport – move around to suit your needs and get the most out of your city vacation.

“Abbia una grande festa” – as they say in Rome!

posted by Travel Cat on Oct 10

Paying for parking can really make a difference to a day out if you don’t plan ahead, but sometimes paying up is just the easiest thing to do!

When you need to get a particular place, or you have a family – parking as close to your destination as possible can make all the difference when planning a day out.  Otherwise, you know there will be tears!

So lets have a look at the options available to you – so you can plan your day out in advance for the best set-up for you!

Included Parking:
Many Theme Parks have parking included in the price for visitors – and these are the best ones for a simple family day out.

Yes, you are still ‘paying’ for the carpark in the sense that you ticket price will have taken this into account – but you can turn up at Theme Park A in the car – with all your family and accoutrement’s – with no worry about having the right change, queueing at a booth behind someone who hasn’t got the right change, or feeling really annoyed at the extra cost added on to your day!

However, sometimes the benefit outweigh the cost as many larger car parks include transfer buses, refreshments and quite importantly; security features!

Nearby Parking:
If the place you are visiting doesn’t include it’s own parking – then you have a choice or 2 to consider before setting out on your journey.

1) Park in their car park anyway for ease of entry – and pay whatever they ask.
2) Park offsite at the next cheapest place – but close enough to walk there.
3) Park at the closest free/cheap carpark – and pay for public transport.

It is worth considering each one not only on price – but also on ease of getting to your destination.

I would imagine if you had elderly relatives or very young children with your party – or lots of things to bring along with you like prams, lunches, extra clothes, nappies, toys, scooters, etc – then the 10 minutes walk across a freeway and past some stores might not sound too appealing – and don’t forget that there is the walk back to the car afterwards when you are all tired to consider as well!

Public Transport:
This is the perfect option for couples, or families with older children, as you have less to fuss about, and can usually arrive right on site without too much effort.  And some events offer discounted entry for those arriving by train, bus or bike!

However, the cost of this ‘easy’ option can sometimes be far more than paying for the car park anyway.  I mean each person is charged for getting on the bus – but you only pay 1 fee for the car park.  Yes, you will be crammed in with another 1000 cars and maybe have to queue up to get in and out – but you can bring more stuff with you if you want – and come back to the car to get lunch or different clothing if the weather changes.

Coming by train or bus means you have to wear all your clothes and carry all your food – something that will not appeal too much to larger families for sure!

Eco Friendly Or Just Easy!
Unfortunately, the answer to that is not as easy as you might think!

Yes, of course everyone driving to a theme park in the middle of nowhere can’t be that good for the environment – but if you only get a few days off in the year where all the family can get together – then do you want to waste it walking miles to save money, while carrying a huge amount of ‘stuff’ to make the day fun!

I mean, on your only weekend off with the folks, do you want to carry your raincoat around all day (incase it rains) along with a huge rucksack or holdall filled with food and drink as well as all the extras and take 3 times as long to get there by public transport?

I didn’t think so!  But I suppose that the more people you take with you in each car as well as making your own lunch and bringing extra stuff – the more eco friendly you become!  You won’t be driving with empty seats; buying take-out over-packaged food or buying over-priced and individually wrapped novelty rain macs or medicines and band-aids!

posted by Travel Cat on Oct 1

We only get a limited vacation time – so don’t waste it getting lost!

When you are planning a weekend get-a-way or a short road trip – make sure you know where you are going in advance otherwise you could end up eating in to your vacation time sitting in traffic or lost somewhere down a country lane or in a town with nothing to see!

All the while you are lost – your vacation time is ticking away – and if you only had an hour to see that historic landmark, amazing canyon or dinosaur sculpture, you could now be wiping that off your ‘to do’ lost while you wait for that tractor to pull over, or while you sit in a layby planning an alternative route to get back to where you were in the first place!

A Wrong Turning:
If you take something as simple as a wrong turning off a major road – you could be in for at least a 30 minute diversion.

Basically – for ease of driving and for safety – many freeway junctions flow right off into the next freeway.  They don’t have round-a-bouts or junctions in place where you could turn around.  Therefore you might need to follow this new road for a few kilometers before you get to another junction to head back to where you started.

And you need to hope that this next junction doesn’t lead straight onto another freeway – otherwise you miss that landmark you had planned!

Low On Fuel:
By allowing yourself to get low on fuel – you are just asking for trouble.  Gas stations aren’t always shown on maps – and sometimes you need to go look for 1.

Needless to say, you will end up wasting time and fuel looking for more fuel – and could end up driving through residential areas in the hope of spotting a big store with gas station attached. 

This all adds up into stopping and starting – speed restrictions and other time wasters: no doubt after fuelling up you all decide to stop at the store for a bathroom stop and for some food.  Adding on more and more time while you take it in turns to go in rather than leave the car unattended with all your belongings in it!

Now you can’t go see that amazing canyon either!

Road Block:
If you haven’t looked at a map before you leave – or haven’t checked for ongoing roadworks – then you could be about to hit trouble!

Not knowing alternate routes – or a general idea of the towns you are passing through, then a road closure can really mess up your journey.

Rather than just guess which way to go though – it will save you a whole bunch of time if you pull over as soon as you can (which may be some time if all the other 1000 cars on the same road as you are funneling off at the same junction) and check your map.

Don’t get tricked into following the general gist of all the other traffic as their destination may well be the opposite way from yours – and so you could follow them home instead of arriving at your hotel!

There goes your visit to the dinosaur sculpture too!

The Solution:
Plan ahead – and even sort of plan for diversions along the way.  Check ahead for major problems and save yourself not only a whole lot of time, but also a whole lot of stress!

posted by Travel Cat on Sep 21

Why does travelling in or out of the UK seem like such a chore that needs loads of planning?

I always watch hit movies and think; ‘they only have to travel south in their own country and they end up in Florida or California’ – but catching the train under the Channel sort of seems different.  It seems further away – when infact it is quicker for us to hop to Paris or Rome as it is for them to cross the whole of the US from coast to coast!

I don’t know why a holiday to Scotland from London seems like ‘local’ travel, when mainland Europe is only just over an hour away – Scotland can take 6-10 hours to get to depending on location – yet historic Bruges or feisty Paris could be just a short hop!

Your Next Local Vacation:
So why not drag yourself to the St Pancras Europe Platform – and choose a city break with a difference this time.

I think airport travel has put a lot of people off leaving the country – even for a short while – as we have to queue for check-in and security this and that; shoes off, shoes on, laptop in, laptop out……

However, book yourself onto the train passing through Ashford International - and it is a breeze.  You barely even notice that you are passing through a border check point!  It is all set up for busy business travellers and express holiday-makers – with laptops points and all sorts of other top class services.

There are no tiny seats, raffle ticket sales and clunky duty free trolleys on these trains, no sick bags, popped ears or £2 plastic earphones to wear either.  Just quality, spacious seating, endless carriage space and great big picture windows!

It’s Like Any Other Day:
Because the trains that travel between the UK and France as on the same network as all the other trains – you can seamlessly transfer from the train you hop on near your home to the one that takes you intercontinental!

You don’t have to arrive over 2 hours before and wander aimlessly around a departure lounge staring at endless shelves of huge perfumes and giant chocolate bars with your family and a packed lunch for ages before heading off – you simply get off your own train and walk straight onto another one.  Simple.

The main transport hubs for these trains, St Pancras, Ashford and Ebbsfleet International cater for all types of travel as well – so whether you get there by coach, bus, train, car or even plane – you can check in without a hitch and you are on your way.  It could even be your ‘green alternative’ for the year; no need to fly short-haul anymore!

You also don’t have to worry about your family either, as you can walk your kids around if they get restless, and there are larger seats anyway and tables to cater for even the most fidgety of kids (or grown-ups!).  There will be no sore ears for the babies – and no life-vests under the seats either – altogether a better mode of transport for the family!

And if you need any specific requirements – just go to one of their websites (like: stpancras-international.co.uk) for more information and some contact numbers to get things started.

posted by Travel Cat on Aug 10

Take a visit to the historic, sun-blessed and beautiful sandy-beached Hilton Head Island!

If you fancy a vacation with difference – then consider this pretty little island in the very south of South Carolina on the Atlantic coast.  Whether you want to explore the extensive sand dunes and wetlands, play on some of the internationally famous golf courses (the PGA stop of Verizon Heritage) - or to just relax in a great rental and watch the sun set over the waters – try out this location for size!

And with a nickname of ‘Sun City’ you couldn’t want for a better location to spend your well earned vacation!

The Destination:
On the Eastern Seaboard – this historic location has over 19 kms of beach and tribes on indigenous peoples and their culture.  It is also a popular tourist location and so has all the modern trappings that a vacationer needs – but still in relative peace and quiet!

This location has very ‘eco friendly’ design plans where buildings have to be built around existing trees rather than bulldozing them down!  More than 70% of the housing here is in gated communities – including the many Hilton Head vacation rentals that you may be tempted into hiring for your vacation!

With pools, security, delightful tree cover and access to beaches in all directions – this place has it all!

And there is more would you believe it?  There is a full size choral society, a symphony orchestra and a Broadway-Quality plays throughout the year!  Add this to the famous golf courses and tennis championships and the huge wine-tasting events – and what more could you ask for?

Making Plans:
This island getaway is certainly a popular location – so make sure that you plan in advance if you want a certain rental.  Some are on the beach, some facing inland and others surrounded by trees – so depending on what you want from your vacation – it wouldn’t be a bad idea to do some research into what is out there.

Also, it’s worth knowing whether you are within walking distance of certain activities or locations that you know you want to visit – like shopping centers, theatres or fishing harbours – thus helping to save on travel costs once you arrive!

It’s also worth knowing a bit about the history of the island before setting off as well – as Hilton Head certainly has a long a varied history, from it’s first discovery, through to its uses over the past few hundred years and all it’s remaining historical buildings and trees that line the streets across the city.

I found a great site that details all the information you are going to need for planning your trip here – including details about vacation rentals.  It’s easy to use and is packed full of information about costs, dates, activites, golf courses and some perfect beach front properties – you just need to filter your searches and they could help you find the ideal location for you and your family at the right price!

So, just click on one of the links in this post to take you to the best place to start in your vacation search in Hilton Head.

Hope you enjoy yourself there!