Advice and Information for the World Traveller on Many Destinations

Archive for the ‘Air Travel’ Category

You have the perfect holiday getaway in a popular tourist spot and would rather rent it out to make some money during peak season than use it yourself at this time. Renting your villa could very well be an ideal option for you. However, it is not necessarily an ‘easy’ way to make money. There are a number of things that you should consider, just in case something goes wrong.

First, you need to make sure that valuable items are not left in the villa during the time you want to rent it. Accidents happen and things get broken. If you really care about something put it away – don’t trust strangers to treat your valuables with respect.

Secondly, you are going to need to clear out your clothes, toiletries and other personal items. If this is just your holiday villa then chances are it will be much easier to clear these items out. However, if you live in this villa you will need to consider where all these items are going to be stored.

Additionally, you will need to make a list of all contents to ensure both you and your tenants are aware of all facilities and fixtures provided. This list is verified at the end of the tenant’s stay and any breakages or damaged items are compensated for accordingly.

In addition, you will have to make sure everything is in working order and that there are support staff available to solve any problems that may occur during your tenant’s stay.

There are quite a few things to consider before you decide to rent your villa.

One of the things that skiers and boarders want the most is guaranteed snow and whilst it is not possible to predict Mother Nature, some resorts can virtually guarantee that you will have snow when you hit the slopes. Les Deux Alpes is warm and lively, with low-rise buildings and lots of hotels providing the atmosphere often lacking in an apartment resort. The resort occupies a high, wide and sunny valley with excellent skiing on both sides.

Take a ski holiday in Les Deux Alpes and you’ll soon find that the runs you see from the resort are only half the picture! Invisible from the valley are miles of piste on the biggest skiable glacier in the Alps where skiing is possible 365 days a year. This enormous and high plateau is one of the best things about Les Deux Alpes ski holidays, offering crisp snow, bright sunshine and easy runs well above the tree line.

Skiing is great for all abilities, beginners, benefit from the gradual progression and wonderful conditions. Les Deux Alpes ski holidays offer intermediates endless cruising runs and some amazing powder on not-too-steep slopes at altitude. The runs back to resort are great to challenge the intermediate skiers and beginners can either take the long looping green or a gondola. Advanced skiers are not forgotten, some of the best black runs are situated immediately above the village, including the fearsome offsite run to La Grave.

There is certainly something quaint and special about the colourful capital city of the Netherlands. With around three-quarters of Amsterdam’s annual 3.7 million visitors being European, it holds a particular appeal for students and young couples who want to enjoy the laidback culture and fascinating history that Amsterdam has to offer. There are four campsites located around the city, which attract the cash-strapped backpacker and are a good option for any traveller on a budget.

Perhaps best known for its controversial Sex Museum, red light district and mellow coffee shops, Amsterdam has much more to offer than pornography, peep shows and pot. Top tourist attractions include the Anne Frank House, Dam Square, Oude Kerk, the Van Gogh Museum, the Stedelijk Museum (modern art) and the Tropenmuseum (anthropology). There are also numerous windmills and parks. Two of its prominent top-end hotels are the Krasnapolsky and the Okura.

Amsterdam has good shopping facilities, from luxury department stores (e.g., Maison de Bonneterie) to speciality and curiosity shops arranged along most of the cobbled side streets. A plethora of cafes generally stay open at all hours; if you work up an appetite, you are never far away from a decent restaurant. At night, the atmosphere in Amsterdam becomes noticeably more intimate, and certainly during the summer months, the outside terraces will be filled with wine-drinkers getting acquainted by candlelight, and chilled-out couples relaxing in the moonlight. Nightlife centres around the Leidseplein and the Rembrandtplein, where tourists who want to dance and socialise can find a good choice of discos, bars and clubs.

Amsterdam is characterised by its numerous canals, intersected by pathways, side streets and bridges. Cycling is the most popular and encouraged mode of transport. Trains, buses and trams also operate on a regular basis – and additionally there are even water taxis to take travellers across the canals. Amsterdam loves music and parties, and plays host to over 100 festivals a year, including Gay Pride and the Holland Festival. The main airport serving Amsterdam is Schiphol, around 10km from the city centre.

South Africa is a country rich with natural wonders, from the diverse wildlife to the natural heritage sites and wild parklands and expansive gardens. For example, Kruger National Park in South Africa has two million hectares of land, and here you can spot lions, leopards, elephants, zebras, rhinos and buffalos. Family lodgings, self-catering camping options and even luxury honeymoon accommodation are available all year round, with guided or self-drive jeep tours. You can even trek on horse or take in the majestic landscape from a hot air balloon!

There are hundreds of stunning nature reserves all over this beautiful country. South Africa is also home to the largest baobab tree in the world – at six thousand years old, it is 22 metres high and 47 metres in circumference! With both mountainous and desert landscapes to thrill and inspire visitors, South Africa has the Drakensberg Mountains of KwaZulu-Natal, the magnificent Palace of the Lost City at Rustenburg, the bustling port of Durban, the Table Mountain backdrop of eclectic Cape Town (the most popular international tourist destination) and the buzzing vibe of Johannesburg (the largest and wealthiest city, but not the country’s capital).

South Africa is also home to some of the oldest and most significant archaeological sites in the world. Cape Town has numerous attractions, from the Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens, the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront, Two Oceans Aquarium and more than 25 beaches across False Bay, the West Coast and Atlantic Seaboard. Accommodation is plentiful across a range of regions and resorts, from rustic B&Bs and rental apartments to deluxe hotels.

Australia is the perfect holiday destination for those who love the great outdoors of course, but it is also a country that offers plenty for visitors interested in history, art and culture. With numerous museums and galleries, Australia provides its visitors with the opportunity to explore the country’s history. Melbourne, the country’s capital city, offers a great deal in the world of culture and is a popular tourist destination.

Australia is home to the Sydney Opera House, which is one of the most popular performing art centres in the world. The centre consists of several theatres, a studio, playhouse, a concert hall and rooms that are suitable for small and large events. The centre is worth a visit for those looking for an attraction that offers a variety of entertainment. Visitors can also enjoy a light snack or main meal in one of the centre’s cafes or restaurants. Those who are unable to attend one of the performances at the Sydney Opera House may wish to catch a glimpse of the centre’s stunning architecture, which looks particularly impressive at night.

For those looking for a place to relax, it is worth visiting Western Australia, which has wonderful sandy beaches. The area also offers stunning scenery and is home to Karijini National Park, which is known for its beautiful waterfalls. There are also a variety of restaurants and cafes located in the area.

Australia is also the perfect holiday destination for those who love wildlife. There are many opportunities to see the local wildlife in Western Australia, particularly in Albany. Albany is a popular tourist destination and is known for its stunning coastline, which has a variety of beautiful beaches that are ideal for those looking for a relaxing location in the area.

Berlin is a city with an interesting history; it is well worth a visit either for a short break or for a longer holiday. Flights to Berlin are easily booked online or through a travel agent. Cheap flights to Berlin can be found via a quick search of the internet. Online bookings often have added discounts, which can make an already cheap flight even kinder to the wallet.

Of all the things to do in Berlin, some are very touristy and some are slightly off the beaten track.  When you do visit the city there are several sites that are not to be missed. The Berlin Wall was famously demolished in 1990, a symbol of the end of the Cold War. The wall itself separated East from West Berlin, the East side being under communist control. A small portion of the wall still exists and there are various segments that have been restored for historical purposes. There is now a museum where the infamous Checkpoint Charlie once stood.

Panoramic views of the city can be found in several places, including Panoramapunkt in Potsdamer Platz where Europe’s fastest elevator will whisk you to the viewing platform above. Cross Hill in Victoriapark will also reveal the city sights and the architecture of both East and West Berlin, and is worth a leisurely stroll.

Make time for coffee and cake at one of Berlin’s many cafes, as this is one of the best-loved traditions in the city. Fresh pastries can be enjoyed on terraces and at street tables that allow you to watch the world go by in a lovely relaxing environment.

Tignes and Val d’Isère share a huge area of slopes known as L’espace Killy. Locally, Tignes’ biggest asset is the Grande Motte – and the runs from, as well as on, the glacier. The underground funicular from Val Claret whizzes you up to over 3000m in seven minutes. Fast chairs and gondolas get you up the mountain from most parts of the ski resort. Recent investment has added more fast chairs higher up too, but a few key slow ones remain that could do with being upgraded.

The main lifts towards Val d’Isère are efficient: a high-capacity gondola from Le Lac to Tovière, and a fast chair with covers from Val Claret to Col de Fresse. You can head back to Tignes from either: the return from Tovière to Tignes-le-Lac is via a steep black run but there are easier blue runs to Val Claret.

There are some serious challenges for the expert skier, Tignes has converted six of its black runs into ‘naturides’, which means they are never groomed, but they are marked, patrolled and avalanche protected. The intermediate skier is well catered for and for keen intermediate piste-bashers the Espace Killy is one of the top three or four areas in the world. For the inexperienced skier there are suitable areas, but for a beginner you would be better off in the Val d’Isere resort.

Holiday travel to Syria requires a few more steps in obtaining proper visas and paperwork. If you have a flight to Damascus in your itinerary, here is what you need to know to have a safe and enjoyable trip.

Flights to Damascus land at the Damascus International Airport, which is located 35 km south east of the capital city. The airports are served by Syrian Arab Airlines, with British Airways and bmi being the two major airlines from European countries.

Citizens of Arab countries are not required to have visas; however, almost every other traveller must have an entry visa. The process of obtaining a visa can be expensive and time-consuming. The most efficient way is to visit the Syrian embassy in your home country. Some individuals may wait and hope that they can get a valid visa by travelling first to Turkey and applying for one there.

To enter Syria, you will need a letter from your consulate stating that your home country has no objection to your travel to Syria. This correspondence is referred to as a “letter of recommendation”. Your visa must have a signature and two stamps, or else it will be declared invalid and the traveller will not be allowed to disembark.  It must also be in its original blue arrival form.

There can be no evidence of travel to Israel, whether it is a passport stamp, packaging with Hebrew labelling, or if the flight to Damascus comes from any country bordering Israel. These travellers are denied entry into Syria.

Prague’s airport, Ruzyne, is situated about 17 km north-west of Prague (about a 30-minute car journey), and is the Czech Republic’s only international airport, serving 11 million passengers every year.

The centre of Prague is relatively easy navigate, and most sight-seeing can be done in a day, either by foot or using the trams. There is also a funicular railway, and river cruises are available, as many of the sights are located along the banks of the Vlatva River. The city has become increasingly and consistently popular over recent years, and is the perfect destination for a weekend break. In 1992, the centre of Prague (which totals over 2,000 acres) was listed in the UNESCO World Cultural and Natural Heritage Register. Charles Bridge (Karluv Most) connects the two opposite banks of Vltava River, and the city centre is spread over five areas on both sides. On one side is the Stare Mesto and Old Town Square and the Nove Mesto (New Town, known as Wenceslas Square). Across the bridge is the Mala Strana and Castle District, where you will find the famous Prague Castle (Prazsky Hrad). Prague has a selection of low-cost holiday apartments and reasonably-priced hotels situated on both sides of the river. Staying in local accommodation means you only need a weekend to take in all the major sights that the Prague experience has to offer. Although the charm of the region, the delectable local beer and the welcoming atmosphere may make you want to stay much longer!

Apart from the stunning castle, situated on top of a hill overlooking the city below, there are numerous other attractions, including the two impressive Bridge Towers, the Old Town Hall Tower and the magnificent Klementinum with its astronomical clock tower. Art-noveau-style Municipal House is the largest concert hall in Prague – and this unique Eastern European country certainly loves its music concerts and theatre performances.

Offering visitors a unique insight in to Eastern European life and its history, with quirky architecture (Baroque, Gothic and Rococo), quaint churches, winding cobblestone streets and a friendly ambience, Prague is justifiably one of Europe’s top city destinations with couples and families alike.

The ski resorts of Italy are perhaps not as famous as those in Austria, Switzerland or Germany but Alpine skiing in Italy definitely has a charm all its own. Should you choose the South Tyrol region, there is a definite German flavour to the resorts, while over in Aosta Valley the slopes have a French feel to them. The skiing meanwhile still remains very Italian.

There are apartments to rent that offer the option of summer skiing, all year round snowboarding and border free, snowshoe trails into duty free zones high in the mountains. The one thing you are always assured of at northern Italian apartment resorts is the usual high quality food, full-bodied wines and a friendly welcome.

Turin, the host for the 2006 Winter Olympics, is an excellent starting point; it is in close proximity to the mountains, the Italian-French border, and the Susa Valley which has resorts like Bardonecchia and the very popular Sestiere skiing destinations. At 2035 metres Sistiere has an ice rink, cross-country skiing and slopes supported by ski lifts.

Further north and into the Aosta Valley you are heading into traditional mountain ski terrain; here you will find the breathtaking splendour of the Monte Rosa, the Gran Paradiso and the Matterhorn all towering above you. Nestling in to the foothills of Monte Blanc is the elegant Courmayeur resort with its ice rink, cable cars and ski lifts to the slopes.

The Dolomites in the northeast also offer excellent slopes for the winter sport enthusiast and the resorts of Madonna di Campiglio and Cortona d’Amprezzo are superb locations worth considering.