Advice and Information for the World Traveller on Many Destinations

Archive for January, 2010

Getting around Dublin is fairly easy, as long as you don’t try to drive a car. Severe congestion in the city makes driving difficult, but there are plenty of public transport options available. Flights to Dublin are relatively cheap nowadays bringing more tourists to this ever popular city.

As Dublin is a fairly small and compact city just walking around is a good option, there are a variety of sights to see, and this is one way to make sure you don’t miss any of them.

For those that do decide to drive around the city centre there are many parking facilities available, although some can be fairly expensive. Pay and display parking meters for on-street parking is a good option but maximum parking is usually three hours; be aware that there is a keen wheel clamping system in place for those cars illegally parked.

Regular bus services run through the city courtesy of Dublin Bus, with services starting at 6am running all through the day until 11.30pm.  Also, after midnight on weekends there is a nightly bus service run by Nightlink. Having the correct money to pay for your journey on all bus routes is recommended, as often change is not given.

There are numerous taxi companies operating around Dublin city, fares are reasonable, but for longer journeys it is always best to agree a price beforehand. Recognisable by the yellow sign on the roof, flag one down, or call to arrange a pick up. It’s as easy as that.

There is a new tram system operating in Dublin called Luas, these run on a couple of routes and offer a speedy service. Another option is to cycle around the city, but again congestion can be a major problem.  Bicycle hire is available at several Dublin city outlets.

Glasgow is considered to be one of the best cities for shopping in the UK.  The three pedestrianised thoroughfares of Argyle Street, Buchanan Street and Sauchiehall Street form the heart of the shopping area of the city. 

Argyll Street is a Victorian built covered arcade and houses over 30 jewellery shops; those who like designer labels should visit Princes Square.  There are several areas of the city where one can find the usual high street retailers including Buchanan Galleries and Sauchiehall Street. 

The area known as Merchant City is perhaps the best for those who see shopping as a treasure hunt.  It is home to specialist booksellers, antique shops and a large number of vintage clothing stores.  One can also find a market at the Barras that also has antique sellers and bric-a-brac stalls.  Souvenir hunters will also find items such as tartan garments, Celtic style jewellery and very good whisky. 

Another favourite with shoppers is the antique craft centre named De Courcy’s.  This is situated in the West End of the city and is a good place to hunt for collectable items such as vintage LP records.

Visitors from abroad should be aware that many items on sale in the UK are subject to Value Added Tax (VAT).  They may be eligible for tax relief if they are taking the goods outside the European Union and forms to apply for this can be obtained from retailers when the goods are purchased.  These should be given to the customs authorities to avoid the tax.

Cruising is the ultimate holiday for the indecisive traveller. The format of a cruise means that guests do not have to commit to any one destination and can, instead, explore the delights of a plethora of places without the stress and strain of constantly changing hotels and organising travel between destinations.

But how does the indecisive traveller choose which cruise is the right one for them? The answer is simply that every potential cruise passenger must carry out their research before booking.

Passengers who want to experience a greater variety of culture along their cruise route might want to opt for an itinerary in European waters, where contrasting countries sit side by side offering travellers a chance to sample something of each in every port.

Passengers with a penchant for nature and natural phenomena may enjoy cruising the stunning shorelines and seascapes of such destinations as Scandinavia and Alaska on a Baltic Cruise or Arctic Cruise – neither of which is recommended for beach bunnies who might prefer to opt for a more traditional Caribbean cruise. For the adventurous traveller Far East cruises are becoming more and more popular.

Those who have a fascination for the past might enjoy a Red Sea cruise, offering opportunities to explore such historic sites as the Valley of the Kings in Egypt.

For those whose interests lie firmly in pursuing the pleasures of the present there is even the option of a “go nowhere cruise” allowing them to take full advantage of the onboard atmosphere without interruption.

For a bargain way to enjoy a ski holiday and to have fun and relaxation as well, why not ask your ski deals specialist about the great self catering apartments in fabulous Austria? For skiing, Austria is one of the favourites with the “Brits” for a variety of reasons, the skiing is good yes, but the après ski is something that has to be experienced. In certain regions of Austria the snow is virtually guaranteed for many months of the year, your ski holiday provider will tell you the ones which usually have plenty of snow.

Accommodation in Austria falls into three main categories, hotels, pensions and self catering; chalets are rare, more usually found in Switzerland and France. Austrian self catering apartments vary according to price but are usually well appointed. Normally they comprise one or two bedrooms catering for 4 to 6 people. The kitchen and lounge is open plan and the bathroom is shared, just like your flat at home. Normally the kitchen is well equipped but dishwashers are not the norm, so check again with your ski holidays agent.

Self catering may not be to everyone’s taste but in Austrian ski resorts there are plenty of good restaurants serving mouth watering meals, after you have enjoyed the après ski of course.

For many years, Aberdeen was simply a stopover location for London and other hubs like Amsterdam and Paris.  Now it is the home of the fastest-growing airport in Scotland, Aberdeen boasts an impressive roster of both domestic and international flights.

More than three million passengers make their way through Aberdeen International Airport each year.  Fifteen different carriers convey travellers to nearly 40 destinations throughout the UK and Europe.  Aberdeen International is also a busy heliport, providing three terminals for helicopter operators.  This is a main transit point to and from the North Sea oil rigs.

Flights from Aberdeen depart regularly throughout the day.  The airport and helipads are located approximately 11 kilometres outside the city limits.  Taxis are readily available for airport transport; you can book online in advance or simply hail a cab downtown.  You can also catch a bus at the city centre that will deliver you straight to the airport in time for your departing flights from Aberdeen.

Aberdeen International is fully accessible for the disabled passenger with amenities that include special toilets, lifts, ramps, reserve seating, designated parking, wheelchair conveyance, and baggage assistance.  If you need to make arrangements for accommodation before your flights from Aberdeen, it’s best to contact the airport or your airline in advance to request the proper services.

Aberdeen airport is also in close proximity to several hotels, many of which provide complimentary shuttle service to and from the terminals.  There are also business facilities and business meeting spaces close by.

If you require assistance of any kind before departing on flights from Aberdeen, the staff at the airport information kiosk (terminal ground floor, near check-in) will be happy to help.

With so much ancient history and rich culture packed into one place, travellers to Egypt may soon be overwhelmed as they try to plan the perfect holiday. The following are some destinations you might want to consider to help make the most of your flight to Egypt.

The Great Pyramids are probably the highlight of any trip to Egypt, along with the Sphinx at Giza. Plan to arrive early in the day, ideally around 8am, when tickets are still widely available and the desert heat has yet to really set in.

Marsa Alam is located on the shores of the Red Sea. This one-time fishing village is one of the absolute best places to swim or snorkel anywhere in the country. Cheap flights to Egypt are bringing more and more tourists to this quiet corner of the country every year, but it is still far less crowded than the commercial resorts further north.

The coastal region of Wadi el Gamal is a national park and a perfect destination for eco-travellers. Beautiful natural landscapes including palm trees, mangroves and coral reefs, while the dolphins and other wildlife that live in the area are protected. There are plenty of eco-lodges and campgrounds where conscientious travellers can rest after arriving on their flights to Egypt.

Lake Nasser, the largest man-made lake in the world, is located in the middle of the vast desert between two interesting towns. Abu Simbel and Aswan are a day trip away from one another, either by plane or early morning bus.

For anyone considering a cruise for their honeymoon or romantic break, you can be certain to be spoilt for choice. All the major cruise lines organise holidays aimed towards newlyweds and couples.

You should first look at the destinations offered by each cruise company; the Mediterranean and Caribbean are easily the most sought after for honeymoons. Carnival cruises offer their ship, the stunning Carnival Miracle, which has been a huge hit with couples, regularly scoring high in customer reviews and forums. The famous, Nick & Nora’s Supper Club, is said to be one of the most romantic locations at sea. This medium-size vessel has recently undergone a major refit and comes with a ‘fictional’ theme. It is also highly praised for its spa and fitness centres.

It is even possible to tie the knot at sea, something that is becoming increasingly popular with young couples. Princess cruises and Royal Caribbean are known for their wedding parties and if you are booking a large group, you would be surprised at the money you could save. Remember, if you plan to have your wedding at sea, it will be important to take note of the legal circumstances, as they aren’t as straight forward as when getting married on land.

Last minute cruise deals will always be offered to couples and many of the cruises come with special perks to suit your needs. If you are trying to impress your loved one, there could hardly be a better way than to book a luxury cruise holiday or honeymoon.

Flumet near the Italian border is a great place for ski holidays for beginner and intermediate skiers, and snowboarders. It has 42 ski lifts giving access to 32 green runs, 58 blue, 47 red, and nine black. The resort is part of the Espace Diamant Ski Region and you can get to 196 different pistes. Some of the runs are above 2000 metres, so snow cover is very reliable; they use snowmakers to insure good coverage.

Six airports service the area, with Grenoble, Geneva and Chambery airports being only one hour from the region. There are four hotels in the main area of the town, and more than a dozen restaurants. Some of the hotels have saunas and swimming pools (the outdoor ones are only available in the summer). Food consists of local, French and Italian cuisine.

The town of La Giettaz is a medium size resort for ski holidays; the slopes have eight ski lifts and 18 pistes. You can also snowboard and there is a national park to visit.

This is a real mountain village with bars, restaurants and several hotels.  Holidaymakers can also rent furnished apartments.  There are ski hire shops only a few minutes walk from most of the hotels.  A free bus accesses the main ski area, a journey of only ten minutes.

There are three airports within two hours driving distance: at Geneva, Chambery and Lyon. There is also a railway station in Albertville with a bus service that takes passengers directly to the town.

If you have children in your party there is childcare provision available for those aged one to six years.

Millions of enthusiastic travellers book flights to Palma each year. Many of them spend as little time as possible in Mallorca’s capital city, as they’re anxious to get to the island’s famous beaches and luxury resorts. However, visitors who by-pass Palma miss the beauty, history and unique personality of this lovely city curved around the Bay of Palma. This is is a vibrant, cosmopolitan city, full of palaces, museums, cathedrals, galleries, restaurants, clubs, shops and parks.

Palma’s historic old town district is home to most of the city’s significant attractions. The La Seu Cathedral is a breathtaking structure built in the French Gothic style, with candelabras and an altarpiece designed by Gaudi. The cathedral was built on the ruins of an ancient mosque, like so many other churches throughout Spain. Construction on La Seu began more than half a millennia ago and continues even today.

The Almudaina Palace is another architectural gem located in Palma’s old town.  Located right next to La Seu, the building was once at the centre of a Moorish fortress.  During the Christian conquest of the island, the site was converted into a royal palace.

Yet another stunning edifice is the Es Baluard. It was built by adding concrete walls to the ruins of Palma’s historic city walls. The collection at the March Foundation is also worth seeing. This gallery features more than 70 permanent works as well as a rotating collection of temporary exhibits.

Flights to Palma are usually just a means to a sunny end on Mallorca’s coast, but if you have some time to spend, it’s well worth discovering this beautiful city.

The Republic of Ireland is the southern part of a small island in the North West of Europe and shares a border with Northern Ireland that is constitutionally a part of the United Kingdom.

Many residents of the Republic of Ireland simply refer to the country as Ireland because of the history that now separates the North from the South.

Roman Catholics drove many protestant believers up to the north during the civil war and hence Northern Ireland was formed. The country has a combined population of around 4.5 million people and the capital city is Dublin, which accounts for around a million of those residents.

Transport links into the country can be through either Dublin Airport, the biggest airport in Ireland, through rail links, on a ferry or along the M50 motorway, which is the biggest road in the country. This makes getting in and around very easy, so travelling is fast and efficient on major routes.

Ireland enjoys a very positive reputation around the world and is seen as one of the most romantic and desirable places to live. The country has been home to some of the world’s most famous architects including Edward Pearce and also has one of the best rugby teams in the world.

The country is also the birthplace and current residency of the world famous Guinness beer, and it is because of this beer and Irish whisky that the country enjoys a fun reputation as being a country of big drinkers.