Advice and Information for the World Traveller on Many Destinations

Archive for February, 2010

Saudi Arabia has long been seen as a closed country where westerners did not go. It is still to a certain extent viewed as something of a forbidden place that does not take kindly to foreigners. Things have started to change slightly during recent years and for those who do venture into the country there are some amazing yet not widely known sites to visit.

Madain Saleh is a place where many ancient peoples came together via trading caravans, pilgrim routes, armies and explorers. Its Temples of the Nabataeans are carved from stone. These were carved by the same craftsmen that built the temples at Petra in Jordan, although they are nowhere near as spectacular.

The north of Saudi Arabia has a number of pre-Islamic sites including those at Al-Ula and the standing stones of Rajajil 25 kilometres from Sakaka, which tourists rarely get permission to visit.  Relics of the Hejaz railway and various forts stand as a reminder of times gone by when trade caravans and groups of pilgrims passed through here every day. The area around Hejaz, which means ‘barrier’ and refers to the escarpment that separates the area from the rest of the country, is the most cosmopolitan in all Saudi Arabia.  This is because of the variety of traders and travellers who have come through the area and have left their mark.

The Hejaz area is an excellent place to spend some time exploring as it is bordered by the Red Sea in the north, and mountains to the south. It also contains the old town of Jeddah which has secrets of its own to reveal and with an abundance of cheap flights available to Saudi Arabia now has never been a better time to visit.

During the past ten years Manchester has seen major changes. Prior to that it had been known as an industrial city in the north of England where it always rained. Today it still celebrates its long industrial history that is still evident in the old mill buildings and museums, but it is now a busy, vibrant city with a world wide reputation for sport and music venues, not to mention art and culture.

The modern architecture mixed in with the traditional cityscape is unique to Manchester. First impressions of the city are exciting as the whole pattern of Victorian mills and modern structures made from curved and angular steel comes into view. It somehow combines industrial heritage and state of the art modern architecture, to form an interesting skyline.

Among the places to visit are the Museum of Science and Industry and The Lowry Art and Entertainment Centre, which hosts a number of different events throughout the year, but always has a selection of L.S. Lowry paintings on view. The Lowry houses the largest collection of works by this artist to be found anywhere in the world.

Manchester Art Gallery has several permanent exhibitions and holds various events throughout the year. Among its permanent displays are items going back to the slave trade and there is also a ‘remembering slavery’ tour available.

The Hat Works houses a museum that traces the history of hat making in the city. You will find top hats, trilbies, homburgs as well as a huge collection of ladies’ hats from days gone by. At present Manchester Hat Museum is concentrating on building its collection of pre-1900 hats and adding modern designer creations to the collection.

For sporting enthusiasts, no trip to the city of Manchester would be complete without a visit to Manchester City FC Ground and of course, Manchester United FC.

Costa Cruises is a trusted provider of cruise holidays to a plethora of destinations worldwide. Choose from a number of itineraries based around such destinations as the Atlantic Ocean and Canary Islands, Canada and United States, Eastern Caribbean, Eastern Mediterranean, Far East, the Grand Orient, Indian Ocean and Mauritius, Middle East, Northern Capitals, Norwegian Fjords and Highlands, South America, Transatlantic, Western Caribbean and Western Mediterranean.

Costa Cruises offers a variety of cruises and cruise and stay holidays tailored to suit the needs of every traveller, on a fantastic fleet of well equipped and luxurious liners.

Families can enjoy a relaxing cruise holiday together safe in the knowledge that the needs of both parents and children will be well catered to.  The Costa Kids programme is open to children aged between three and 17 and offers a programme of activity and entertainment to keep youngsters occupied at sea, including arts and crafts, sports, games and parties. Run by qualified staff, the Costa Kids programme allows parents to enjoy a bit of well earned alone time safe in the knowledge that their children are well taken care of.

Costa Cruises are also a great option for couples, offering an exciting opportunity to share a wealth of experiences. As well as discovering new and interesting cruise destinations, couples will be able to bond while enjoying a variety of activities from fine dining to relaxing on deck – the stress free cruising travel style will free up time for couples to simply spend some quality time together.

Skiing is the most popular sport in Austria and professional Austrian skiers rank amongst the best in the world. Many people, when they think of Austria, think of cosy Alpine villages and snowy mountain trails. The reality does live up to the hype. For skiers Austria is a wonderful land of old-world chalet villages, lift-linked ski areas, rustic wood-panelled restaurants, mountain huts and exceptional après ski and nightlife. Skiing holidays in Austria can make for a truly memorable holiday.

Whist some might say that Switzerland is more efficient, France more sophisticated and the cuisine of Italy is hard to beat, all agree that for friendliness Austria is the best. Austria is renowned for its after skiing tea times, schnapps on the slopes and late night partying.

The Austrian Alps have three main chains; the High Alps, the Northern Limestone Alps and the Southern Limestone Alps. In the Northern Limestone Alps you will find many natural valleys and resorts such as St. Anton, Lech, Ischgl and Kitzbuhl. The High Alps starts with the Oetzal resorts of Obergurgl and Solden and runs to Innsbruck, Zell am See and Kaprun. The Southern Limestone Alps are on the border with Italy and Slovenia.

Mountain elevation is lower in Austria than in France, Switzerland or Western Italy, but as the winters get colder the further east you travel in the Alps Austria still gets plenty of snow. However, skiers are advised to check snow conditions before planning their vacation if they intend to travel in early winter or spring. High season in Austria is the Christmas to New Year period and February to March. Low season is before Christmas, January after the New Year and late March through to closing in April.

Search on the internet for Ski Holidays Austria to compare packages and prices.

Edinburgh is an extremely accessible city with some lovely architecture, tourist attractions and shopping facilities. It makes it a very popular holiday destination.

If you decide to fly, then once you have landed at Edinburgh Airport getting to the city centre is fairly easy. The airport is situated about eight miles from the city centre and there is a shuttle bus that leaves from the terminal every 10 minutes that takes you right to the heart of the city. There are two services, so depending on your arrival time will depend on which company and route you will take, but both have the same destination. Both services are reasonably priced.

Getting to Edinburgh by ferry is not so straightforward, if travelling from Ireland the ferry from Belfast will likely come into port at Stranraer or Troon and then an additional journey via bus or train is needed to get into Edinburgh. Buses run into the city from all over the country, and there is also the option of coach travel with companies such as National Express who operate from all over the UK.

Travelling from England or Wales is far more straightforward with a choice of options available. All the train routes into Edinburgh run into Waverley Station, which is off Princes Street right in the centre of the city. Of course another option is to drive, with plenty of car parking options it is a good choice, but congestion is always an issue in a major city and needs to be taken into consideration.

London Heathrow airport is the biggest in the United Kingdom.  It is located just 15 miles from central London and is easily reached via the M4 and M25 motorways.  The airport now has five terminals and offers flights to and from all four corners of the world.  It is linked to the London Underground and overland rail services so is an ideal starting point for tourists.

Tourists have a vast number of hotels to choose from at Heathrow and there are several major tourist attractions within easy travelling distance. Legoland is situated at Windsor and makes a fun day out for all the family.  There are rides, shows and Lego interactive building challenges to stretch the imagination.

Ascot Racecourse has several race meetings each year and in June each year Royal Ascot offers several days of racing, royalty and celebrity spotting.  For those who enjoy rubbing shoulders with the upper classes, Windsor Castle is another popular destination for tourists.  The castle is one of the Queen’s official residences and dates back over a thousand years.  It is home to St George’s Chapel, where a number of royal weddings have taken place. Visitors can also view the Castle’s State Apartments.

For sports enthusiasts, Sunningdale and Wentworth golf clubs are close to the airport.  There is also The Guards Polo club which is one of the largest in Europe.  A large number of members are actually non-players and matches take place most weekends during the summer months in Windsor Great Park.

If you are taking your first cruise, it is important to be aware of what will need to be organised for your trip. Cruise holidays involve a little more than simply turning up at the ship and being whisked away on your voyage; there are several arrangements that will need to be made before you set sail.

Booking flights to the departure destination is, of course, the first thing you should look at. Many cruise deals offer packages, which include the cost of return flights in the price, but if you opted to fly separately, it will be well worth your while looking for the best deals, especially if you are going on a long-haul flight. It is also vital that you give yourself plenty of time between the flight arrival and the cruise departure. You should also allow for any potential delays.

Some cruise companies provide transport from the airport to the pier, but the majority will require that you book at least 14 days in advance. They can also look after your baggage, taking it right from the airport to the ship, but it will be your responsibility to ensure that this is done. If arranging your own transport to the pier, porters are nearly always on hand to take your luggage.

Another area that requires attention is the documentation for the trip. As well as tickets it is essential that you have a valid passport that will be accepted at each port of your cruise and stay holiday. Depending on the countries being visited, you may also need to obtain one or more visas.

Group skiing holidays are great with all the fun and camaraderie that a number of like minded friends have when they get together on a skiing holiday. Whilst you may have organised a ski holiday for yourself or your family booking one for a group of perhaps 8 or more people presents a different challenge. Using a ski holiday specialist is the best place to start because you will receive friendly, efficient and helpful service from their experienced staff and you will have a dedicated point of contact for your group right from the start. There are a thousand things to plan such as rooming, equipment, lift passes, special diets, medical requirements and transport, let the ski holiday experts take everything off your hands.

A fantastic place for a group ski holiday is Sestriere which is in the heart of the fab Milky Way skiing area, one of the World’s biggest ski circuits. Purpose built and snow sure Sestriere hosted the 2006 Winter Olympics and investment is ongoing. Sestriere is a great choice for beginners because there are wide village nursery slopes and some long gentle blues which are ideal for snow plough experts. The lift system is easy for beginners as well. They will find the links to Sauze and Sansicario a bit of a struggle but there’s plenty to do locally. For keen intermediates and advanced skiers Sestriere has fantastic possibilities. There is over 400kms of great skiing featuring plenty of interesting ski journeys to Sauze, Sansicario, Cesana and eventually to Claviere and Montgenevre. Sestriere is modern, cosmopolitan, and well equipped with a big choice of après ski. It’s very much a leading part of the Italian ski resorts. Nearby Borgata is an old mountain community with some nice traditional buildings but hardly any nightlife, not quite the place for a group of skiers, stick to Sestriere guys which is large, lively, popular and well equipped.

As one of the most spectacular natural attractions in North America, tourists flock towards the Niagara Falls. Here, running along the border between Canada and the USA, the waters of the Niagara River plummet downwards forming the most powerful waterfall in North America.

The Niagara Falls can be seen from either the US or Canadian side. From the US side (in the state of New York), Prospect Point Park and Goat Island offer some of the best views. A trail leads from Goat Island to a point beneath the section known as Bridal Veil Falls, where the Cave of the Winds viewing platform takes visitors right up to the plunging water.

On the Canadian side (the province of Ontario), Queen Victoria Park provides some great views. A series of underground walkways can be accessed from here, leading to cleverly situated observation rooms that give the impression of being within the falls themselves. An observation deck at the top of the nearby Skyline Tower gives a splendid overhead view of the waterfall.

The famous Maid of the Mist boat cruise is available from both sides of the Niagara Falls. Passengers are taken to all the major points along the waterfall; prepare to get wet, as the Horseshoe Falls section takes tourists deep into the dense spray of the falling water.

The twin towns on each side of the river are both called Niagara Falls. They are connected by three bridges allowing easy access from one to the other. The nearest city on the US side is Buffalo (about 23 miles), while Hamilton is the closest in Canada (40 miles).

Unsurprisingly for a large city like Moscow, there are plenty of sights and tourist attractions, and from historical to theatrical there will be something to please everyone. Flights to Moscow have become cheap over the past few years and once you have landed at Domodedovo Airport you are only 14 miles from this fantastic city. Probably the best place to start would be Moscow’s Red Square, home to a host of sights such as the Kremlin, St Basil’s Cathedral and Lenin’s tomb.

St Basil’s Cathedral

Set in the middle of Moscow’s Red Square and arguably the most recognisable tourist attraction in the city is St Basil’s Cathedral. Although somewhat chaotic, the architecture is a true work of art. Built in 1561, it was originally called Potrovsky Cathedral but was renamed later by Tsar Ivan the Terrible, who is said to have liked the cathedral because the domes reminded him of Tartar’s heads on sticks. Rebuilt many times, the cathedral you see today is around 200 years old.

The Kremlin

The Kremlin is a fortified collection of buildings in the heart of Moscow overlooking St Basil’s Cathedral in Red Square. Contained inside the walls are three ancient cathedrals, which are all open to sightseers, together with the Kremlin Palace, which is the official residence of the Russian President. The Presidential palace is not open to visitors. Tickets to tour the Kremlin are available to buy at the ticket office located in Alexander’s Garden.

Lenin’s Mausoleum

Lenin’s tomb was built in 1930 to house the body of the Bolshevik leader.  It is rumoured that there is an underground railway hidden beneath the tomb ready to whisk away the body at any sign of hostilities.