Ultimate Vacation Spots

posted by Travel Cat on Aug 17

Why not try a self catering vacation this year with your family and friends!

Fed up with having to find a new restaurant every night for something different; wandering around the streets in the evening trying to find the right place with the right prices?

I tried something different this year with a vacation in a villa – with it’s own kitchen! We looked at both villas in Lanzarote and Tenerife – as the Canaries always have good weather – and we also looked at villas in Ibiza (apparently it’s not all clubs and beaches).

The Decision:
However, we settled on Lanzarote – the quieter of the locations – and a place to get away from it all, but be close to the sun. We also had our own pool so didn’t need the beaches to stay cool.

Nothing to worry about on ariving on the island as the villa owner collected us from the airport and talked us through most of the basics on the drive to the location. He diverted through the main town and shops for us so that we could get our bearings on the place as we head to the villa.

We found the villa exactly as it had been described beforehand, and we also found a small food hamper to get us started and all the information on local events, tours, businesses and restaurants we could need – then without further fuss – he left us alone to get started on our vacation!

Settling In:
There was no need to squable over the bedrooms as they were all the same size, with 2 perfect bathrooms – and a shower outside as well – now let’s test out that pool……

There was so much space in the main area which was an open plan living, dining and kitchen area that it seemed totally natural to all be spread out yet still all involved with everything. Planning for 6 adult and 3 kids can seem really daunting – but when you all chip in with the little things – you really get in the spirit of it all.

Noone was left out – even if you were the one washing up after dinner! You could still hear everyone else in the room and watch the TV if so inclined – but this living space was far enough away from the bedrooms that piece an quiet could be found at any time.

There was even a little terrace out the front with a well cushioned bench overlooking the sea which was a little bonus too – as the youngster tended to go out the back!

Repeat Visitor?
We would definately opt for a villa again on a vacation with a group – and maybe even for just the 2 of us. It was so nice to all be together in the warm – and it was great to be able to change who you did things with – rather than doing everything with the same person day after day.

It helps that the villa owner was so helpful yet not intrusive. They had planned for everything – obviously having listened to previous guests – and they got it just right.

There was enough handy information dotted about the place to make sure it all went smoothly for us without the need for ‘orders’. Nobody wants a ‘do this/don’t do that’ list of instructions when they are on holiday – but we do need to know how the TV works, why the shower makes that bleeping noise and how to turn the oven on!

And the food we ate could rival any of the meals we found in the local restaurants – but you’re on holiday, you don’t want to be cooking every day, do you?
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posted by Travel Cat on Jul 18

I have been brushing up on my rainforest knowledge – and here are my top 5!

There are rainforests and cloudforests all over the tropics, but if you want an all-round ‘best ever’ ultimate rainforest vacation – then you need to narrow it down a bit!

Having been to a few myself, I can tell you that there are some real big differences between them all; depending on their age, their altitude, the land that surrounds them and their size – and of course they are sometimes ‘islands’ themselves becoming the only place you can find certain favourite species. So do your research before you go.

But here’s that Heads Up I promised, and some info on each…..

Corcovada National Park – Costa Rica:
I know I love Costa Rica – but I am not being biased with this choice – it is just jaw-dropping to stand in this part of the country. Yeah, Monte Verde is amazing but this wins hands down.

Linked up with contiguous rainforest across the mountains, you will see some of the more elusive mammals including jaguars and tapirs. But there are the more common invertebrates here too – so don’t forget your repellent!

photo credit: lizzie1326

Manu National Park – Peru:
Still in the Americas, you couldn’t do worse than to visit this lowland rainforest to be surrounded by a carcophany of wildlife so impressive that it holds some species records and has many endemic creatures found nowhere else on Earth!

If Giant Otters, Macaws, Hoatzins and Anacondas aren’t enough to get you tempted, then maybe the 1000 species of bird and the 41,000 species of invertebrates and butterflies might win you over – let alone the magnificent waterways and the 200 species of mammals including ocelets and pygmy marmosets.

Nouabale-Nooki National Park – Congo:
Travel to Africa for this piece of majestic rainforest – virtually untouched by humans. As a result the animals here have no real fear of humans as they accept them as just another species passing by.

With some of my favourites found right here – I hope you don’t crowd the place before I get there: forest buffalo and bongos gather at the water holes as well as bush pigs and sitatungas. Oh, and there are gorillas and forest elephants here too……

Danum Valley Conservation Area – Malaysian Borneo:
Well if it’s orang utans you want – there is no better place to see them. And with over 50km of trails and aerial walkways throughout this little visited wonderland – you won’t be short of stories to take home.

And you will certainly wear your guidebook out looking at some of these unusual and sometimes undocumented species!

And watch out overhead for those giant flying squirrels!

The Whole of Bhutan:
Lets not be picky here – the whole place is a pristine wonderland for rare and unusual mammals, birds and invertebrates; including takins, bharals (blue sheep), red pandas and snow leopards!

This country has a unique culture and a great attitude towards it’s people, it’s wildlife and wild places – and it’s culture; and to protect it they limit foreign tourists to a set number per year – and charge a hefty ‘entrance fee’. Well worth it though.

photo credit: bobosh_t

posted by Travel Cat on May 7

What a great way to celebrate travel, than make your own ‘been to’ or ‘want to’ map!

I have a plastic coated roll-away map of the world and I put stickers on to all the places I have visited! Not only does it feel good to see all the dots across the map everytime I open it up – it also makes me want to visit new places for my next vacations so I can see the new dot rather than cover an older dot!

I also have differnt colours to, as I like to see where my close friends have been too – and it opens up new ideas for places for me to visit.

Get Your Map!Obviously, you need to decide on the scale of the map first as this can make a lot of difference in relation to your traveling style.

One major problem with my world map is that all the places I have visited in the UK fit under 4 dots – and Europe just looks like a great big blob as well!

With the tickers on top of each other and countries like Switzerland, Wales and Belgium being so small – once you pop a sticker in place, you can’t see the country anymore!

So if you were driving across the states, inter-railing acorss Europe or catching the Dragoman through Africa – you might want to get a smaller scale map to highlight all the details!

My World Map is great for an overall perspective of everything – as I can see my friend stopped off in Japan, Australia and Chile with some single dots – but having all been to Cancun and the Maldives – it leaves little space for new dots!

photo credit: Caitlinator

Give A Map Away!
And why not give a map of where you are going to a younger relative or whoever is interested when you go away for a longer vacation – like going around the World.

That way, everytime you send them a postcard, letter or email – they can put your dot on the map and follow you around on your trip!

They will know where you are and hopefully get to know a bit about the places you are visiting – and maybe even get them inspired to travel themselves!

Go get those stickers!

posted by Travel Cat on Apr 27

There is nothing more worrying than finding an injured person – and you can’t help!

Would you know what to do if you came across an unconscious person? Or if one of your party suffered a serious injury? What if a colleague started having an asthma attack – what would you do?

If you see someone close by on the ground unconscious, is it best to go and call the emergency services straight away? Don’t know the answer or said ‘yes’ – then you could have just made the situation worse!

Being the outdoor type – and the adventurous person who likes meeting others and taking part in organised activities – why haven’t you taken a first aid course yet? Wouldn’t you like to know what to do?

photo credit: North West Air Ambulance

First Aid At Work:
Most people wait to be told to take one for work or as part of a new job or volunteering opportunity – but why wait until then?

Do you not want to be able to help your friends and family in an emergency? Do you only want to know how to save the lives of other members of staff or complete strangers who pop into your shop for 5 seconds?

Why don’t we take a first aid course because we know it will save lives rather than because someone else has offered to arrange it all or it is free!

Your Choice:
You can take a first aid course when you are still at school these days – so why are you now in your 20′s, 30′s, 40′s or 50′s and have no idea what to do?

And even if you did learn something at school – it might not apply anymore. Medical advances and the success of current techniques can change how we should react to emergency situations – so it is a great idea to take a refresher at least every 6 months to make sure your knowledge is best applied.

Anyone can join a first aid course – but make sure that it is run by an accreddited body like the Red Cross or St Johns Ambulance. They may cost more – but you know that you will be learning the correct techniques rather than someone just running their own course from personal experience.

I mean, tipping the head back for nosebleeds, laying on your back with feet raised for fainting and putting creams on burns are all out of date techniques and are not recommended anymore.

Things are always changing for the better – so make sure that you are up-to-date with your skills – as 1 thing will never change:

Emergency First Aid Saves Lives!

posted by Travel Cat on Apr 9

Would you take a holiday in a jungle that was the scene of a Hollywood thriller?

There are plenty of horror and thriller movies that take place in a named location – but would it put you off visiting? Even if it’s only for this years vacation – would you postpone it for whatever reason – or just go ahead and look at the movie set instead?

Many places like New York, Paris and London have been in such films and we don’t mind going there for a look see – but alone in the jungle or down in a cave – or maybe staying in an abandoned cabin?

Would you be so sure?

Some Films To Scare You:
A classic travellers nightmare was brought to life in the film Paradise Lost (with Josh Duhamel) where a group of random travellers happen to be on the same bus in Brazil that breaks down in a remote location and the replacement will take hours. They see a party on the beach and end up getting drugged and hacked to pieces!

Fancy a trip to Brazil on your own?

Or how about a trip to Slovakia to stay at youth hostel there? Maybe with a group of friends, you could go to a local club with some total strangers you just met and see what happens!

Stay Out Of The Water?
Many people are still too scared to go in the sea after the wonderful Jaws series of films – even though they are now looked on a quite ‘silly’ films. I don’t think they are worried about a giant human-hungry shark – just the fact that it is just a reinforcement of a natural fear.

The same way that Jaws made people stay out of the sea of go to ‘safe’ beaches; ‘helpless tourist’ films can put people off travelling to more remote places and all congregate around the all-inclusive hotels and resorts.

Plane crash movies haven’t ever put me off flying – and I fly quite a bit – however I would never ever jump off the side of a boat and swim in the open ocean. What if I was eaten alive?

photo credit: Loren Javier

But then I haven’t seen a horror film where someone evil (and human) is lurking in a cave waiting to catch people – but I certainly wouldn’t be going underground either!

Why Do We Feel Safe?
However, saying that, I woud be happy to have a tour of a house, castle or wherever in a big city or close to one at least without a care in the world – even though there are more things to be scared of in the city than in the middle of nowhere!

So, back to the question of whether a scary film would put you off going somewhere?

My answer is a big fat ‘Yes’. Unless I was already all booked up to go and would lose a lot of money by NOT going, then I would change plans for the time being and head off somewhere else instead!

There is no way I would be heading off to a remote jungle or island location just after watching a film about dodgy goings on there.

It would just be too risky in the sense of the imaginary headlines afterwards ‘couple go missing on Island X after watching scary Island X film about couple going missing’! or ‘Girl eaten alive by shark in the bay where Jaws was filmed’!

What do you think?
Is it just me being silly – or do a few of you feel the same way??