Quirky Traveller's Tales

Thanks to the current economical climate, more and more people are finding ways to enjoy cheap holidays in the United Kingdom. With over 240,000 square miles of magnificent scenery, there’s little wonder why. Of course, a holiday can be made just that little bit extra special if it saves you money without having to pinch the towels and dressing gown from your hotel room.

Go via coach.

Not only does going on a coach holiday save you money, but it can also save you time and effort. Naturally, some people find going on an airplane quite luxurious but at the moment, aeroplane companies are far more bothered about bums on seats rather than customer service! Due to the demand and competition in the coach tour industry, companies are having to make a greater effort to ensure their customers enjoy themselves and choose their business over their competitors. Coach tours with National Holidays for example, can not only save you money, but also vastly improve the quality of your holiday.

Visit Free Attractions.

Throughout the United Kingdom, and London especially, you will find a whole variety of exciting and interesting attractions that you can visit absolutely free of charge. The Tate Modern Art Gallery, for example, is totally free and is the most visited art gallery in the world, with well over four million visitors every year. Be careful though; they make up for the free entry with some powerfully expensive sandwiches, maybe take a packed lunch.

Take a few of you.

Weekend holiday excursions can be a brilliant time to go on holiday with your friends. Of course, the more of you there is, the cheaper the price of your holiday will be. Quite often you will be able to find hotels which can cater for up to five people per room. If you can bear the queue for the bathroom in the morning and potential snoring-based sleep deprivation, then sharing your expenses is a brilliant and convenient way of saving those pennies for the pub!

Check out online forums.

Saving money is great, but if you get to your hotel and find it somewhat not quite as you expected (see The Inbetweeners Movie), you might be more than a little miffed. Searching the internet for reviews and opinions is a great way of finding out what your hotel will be like and what you can expect when you get there, ensuring that you won’t end up on Holidays From Hell. Of course, once you’ve been you can also inform other people of the delights or pitfalls of your holidaying experience. Although quite often, in contrast to popular opinion, hotels do actually monitor their reviews and will quite often make amends to their services once that they have been critiqued; it is always best to leave a note for them, whether happy or sad. Beware of hotel managers who respond to critical messages by blowing their top and savaging the poor reviewer, they’re probably not going to be masters of customer service.

Manage when you book.

Booking a few months before your holiday is a great way to save you money. Not only will you find all the best offers (with the luxury of being able to browse around), but most holiday companies have quotas that they have to fill to ensure that all their seats are filled and therefore lower their prices. On the other hand, booking late can also save you money and the later that you do it, the more money you will save as you shall be filling the last few spaces!

Steal the soap from the bathroom  A timeless classic

This article is brought to you by Dave Hellowell for National Holidays, the coach holidays company.  You can follow them on Twitter @coachtripss

Was it that unpronounceable volcanic eruption that brought Iceland into mainstream travel notice? Or maybe their spectacular banking debacle that created headline news; whatever the reason, suddenly everyone is talking about this latest must-see destination. Old Iceland hands may feel slightly put out as their secret world opens up to so many others, but for the rest of us, what is the fuss all about?  I recently visited for a few days on one of easyJet’s first flights to Iceland and got a brief glimpse of just what makes this country so extra-special.

Its scenery is starkly dramatic, with vast areas of wilderness, often ice-covered, that create time and space to relax and reconnect with what’s important in life.  There are plenty of crazy outdoor activities to satisfy even the most dedicated thrill seeker, including snowmobiling, glacial hiking, ice climbing and white-water rafting.  With thousands of sturdy horses all over the island those who fancy riding have plenty of opportunity.  The thermal pools, including the internationally renowned Blue Lagoon, provide rejuvenating spa treatments and health benefits.  The capital, Reykjavik, has got enough bars and restaurants to satisfy every taste and culture vultures should be very happy as there appear to be concert halls, museums and art galleries on every corner. Icelandic Sagas seem to permeate every inch of the country and every fibre of the quirky, friendly, intrepid people who live in this dramatic island on the edge of the world.  And, if you are really fortunate, you may get to see the luminously sinuous kaleidoscope of colour that is the Aurora Borealis …

It’s very easy for a first time visitor to get a flavour of the place by doing ‘The Golden Circle’ – a relatively short trip that takes in a trio of the most iconic sights in Iceland.  I went on a tour of this area with a charmingly bonkers guide called Villy, who told us mind-boggling stories of evil trolls, malevolent elves and people who went mad on a seemingly regular basis with hardly any provocation whatsoever …  the ancient tradition of story-telling is obviously alive and well in this fascinating land of quirky contrasts.

The first of the sights is Geysir Hot Springs at Haukadalur, a geothermal area of steaming land and bubbling mud pools.  The original ‘Geysir’, granddaddy of all other geysers, is now in retirement but its grandson, Strokkur, sends up a whooshingly spectacular plume of hot water and steam 30 meters into the air every few minutes. Watch out for the intensely blue bubble that bursts just before the jet explodes.  Take time to wander over to the colourful sulphur pools, pay homage to the old ‘Geysir’ simmering nearby and discover ‘Litl Geysi’r, merrily hissing and gurgling all but unnoticed beside the path.

A short distance on is one of the most impressive waterfalls in Europe – Gulfoss, the Golden Waterfall.  On an L-shaped bend in the Hvitá River, the falls cascade in glorious abandon 32 meters down in two stages, hurling out thunderous spray in a permanent cacophony of rainbows and mist.  Taking a bit of a scramble, it is possible to get up close and feel the power of nature as well as getting drenched in style.

Driving west through ancient landscapes with ice-capped volcanoes looming on the the horizon, you see the tiny birch trees – more like scrubby bushes – that were the only indigenous trees on this island and meant early Viking settlers had to import all their wood  for house and boat building.  The final stage of this tour is also the most significant and symbolic to Icelanders.  Þingvellir National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site close to Lake Þingvillaten.  For centuries it was the site of the Alþingi, national Parliament and said to be the oldest in the world.  The Parliament Fields are situated on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, where the continents of Europe and America are slowly but surely drifting apart, causing all that volcanic and earthquake activity.  Wander around this evocative park and take time to stand and stare at the crystal clear waters and vibrantly green moss that clings to the old lava rocks.

If you get time, have lunch at Lindin Bistro at Laugarten; it’s a Michelin starred restaurant without attitude – just excellent local produce and seasonal specialities prepared and presented with care and love.  The bread is baked in the ground by the nearby hot springs and their lobster bisque is divine.

I stayed at the lovely 4 star Hotel Borg in the heart of Reykjavik, on the main square, close by all the bars, restaurants, port and cultural sights.  Watch out for the upcoming post on this fascinating city.  Now it’s even easier and cheaper to get to Iceland from Europe as EasyJet has opened up a new route bringing in welcome visitors to experience these sights and so much more.  I flew with them from Luton to Reykjavik – they have flights 3 times a week all year round and can arrange holiday packages for all budgets.  It’s a fascinating country that truly deserves the word ‘unique’ – go and see for yourself just how very quirky and special it is!

Setting off on a journey from Carnforth Station is rather like being on a film set – the platform and Refreshment Room are very similar to how they looked on that classic 1940s movie ‘Brief Encounter’ – with an exciting journey into the unknown ahead.  This time I was going on a Railbookers holiday to Switzerland and the idea of travelling across Europe by train was most intriguing.

A few hours hours later I was comfortably settled in to The Montague, a luxuriously quirky hotel in Bloomsbury.  I had chosen to stay here as it is ideally suited for an early start from St Pancras Station and came highly recommended.  My lovely room (a mini-suite really) was delightful, with a big, comfy bed, some very good art work, a desk where I could write and some gorgeous Penhaligon toiletries – bliss.

Up early, after a quick breakfast of fresh fruit, I got a taxi to St Pancras station; highly recommend a glass of bubbly at their Champagne Bar – great way to start a holiday in my view … The station is very well laid out and there are plenty of places to shop, get something to read, buy last minute items you forgot to pack.

Boarding the Eurostar train I got the first real sense of excitement that comes when I’m off into the unknown. The check-in had been so easy and with pre-booked seats we were able to just get settled in and relax.  As well as it being my first time on Eurostar and train across France, it was my first trip to Switzerland so I spent some time reading my guide book and info provided. We were to stay in Interlaken for 2 nights with a trip on the Jungfrau train up to the highest railway station in Europe. Then we were catching the Glacier Express across the Alps to St Moritz for a couple of days of luxury at the Kempinski Grand Hotel des Bains. What a treat.

Just over 2.5 hours later we arrived into Paris where we went across the city to the elegantly belle époque Gare de Lyon station.  It’s huge, but very well laid out; we found our platform without getting lost and in a matter of a few minutes.  As we had a bit of time before departure, we splintered off to get some lunch –  a fromage et ham baguette pour moi, of course.  Look up towards the ceiling – there are some wonderful pastel murals on the walls depicting scenes from the south of France and other places the trains go to.

If you’ve travelled through the French countryside on that route you’ll know the scenery is not especially interesting; mainly flat with mostly barren fields and the occasional town to create interest.  However, with good company and a glass or two of vin rouge the hours flew by.  As we got nearer the Swiss border we saw a few more villages and even some hills.  Arriving in Basel on the Swiss-French border, the air was noticeably cooler and I was sure I could hear a cuckoo somewhere in the distance …

The last leg of our journey took us from the border south to Interlaken.  Snapshots of wooden gables, dark green firs with a dusting of snow, toy-town church steeples and hazy peaks far off, hazily outlined in the dusky light …  Switzerland was finally coming into focus.  Getting off the train at Interlaken station, high above shone a brightly-lit star – a restaurant sign on top of a mountain.    As I took the short walk to the nearby Hotel Krebs I tried to imagine what Alpine view might greet me the next morning …

For a glimpse of the following day’s Jungfrau train trip and the stunning Eiger read here.

My thanks to Railbookers – they have an excellent choice of Swiss holidays or you can design your own – and all the people from the Swiss Tourist Board, hotels and attractions who created a truly memorable trip.

FELL wandering – to give it its romantic name – has become a must-do for walkers the world over. Yes, there are magnificent locations across the globe – the Inca Trail, the Great Wall of China to name just a couple – that are known for their stunning landscapes and culture-soaked stopovers.  But it’s actually the fells, mountains and dales in the North of England that are considered among the most beautiful and serene on the planet.

Some visitors are happy to set off with a guidebook and a map to spend just a few hours among the heavenly Lakeland fell tops.  However, many are now choosing to lace up their boots and set off on a bespoke walking holiday in the area – lasting anything from a couple of days to a week and a half or more. With the lovely Dales Way, the stunning Cumbria Way and Alfred Wainwright’s famous
Coast to Coast walk – there are miles upon miles of established yet secluded trails with which to get acquainted.

With a walking tour, visitors can enjoy the enchanting scenery of the region at their own pace while the hard work of seeking out the best farmhouse B&Bs and guest houses – the hidden gems known only to those who have ventured to the area before – is done for them.  The 84 beautiful miles that make up the Dales Way wind their way from Ilkley, on the eastern edge of the Yorkshire Dales National Park, through steeply sided valleys strewn with sheep, dry stone walls and delightful hamlets, to the bustling village of Bowness-on-
Windermere, in the Lake District.

The Cumbria Way pushes northwards from the cobbled market town of Ulverston, on the edge of Morecambe Bay, through the beating heart and soaring heights of the Lake District to the country’s most northern city of Carlisle. The Coast to Coast walk – which traverses the North of England from St Bees on Cumbria’s West Coast to Robin Hood’s Bay in North Yorkshire – keeps devotees returning
to the area as they complete its 190 miles in enjoyable and relaxed stages.

It’s commonly known that walkers are always dreaming of where their next adventure on foot might take them. But it’s worth remembering that you don’t have to travel too far to feel like you’re a million miles away from everything …

 This article is brought to you by Mickledore Travel Ltd, specialists in creating bespoke walking holidays around Britain.

Skiing has long been the favoured pastime of many Brits, and this year is no different. With record snow fall in the Alps this season, conditions are perfect to throw yourself down a sumptuously covered slope and go on a ski holiday in France or anywhere else in Europe.  Although popular as a winter sport nowadays, the activity itself did not grow out of a need for exercise, as it is seen today, but was instead, an advanced method of hunting in the snow. The tradition emerged from the Alps, where locals favoured fixed bindings for their skis, compared to the Nordic method of having just your toes attached to the ski. Now skiing is popular across the world, but remains especially prevalent in the place it was born.

Europe has some of the best ski destinations including the famous St Anton, Courchevel, Chamonix and Verbier. These destinations offer, not just some of the best skiing in the world, but also the chance to taste some truly delicious alpine food. And with vin chaud, great steaks, and the best hot chocolate on offer you certainly won’t go hungry after a hard day on the slopes. .

Courchevel in particular is a great place to experience the sheer thrill of skiing, with the connected Three Valleys offering great skiing for all abilities in the largest ski area in Europe. With well-run lifts, connected regions and more five star restaurants than any other ski resort, the region certainly has a competitive edge.

www.courcheval.com

Chamonix, another French resort, offers not only amazing skiing, but intense views and the chance to ski on a glacier. This quaint resort is a favourite with many skiers, although it has a lower profile than nearby Courchevel.  St Anton is the new kid on the block, and has been gaining popularity over the last few years. The resort is well-known for its party atmosphere, and great food. It too offers excellent lift systems and challenging skiing.

So, this winter head to the birthplace of modern day skiing and practice what is, in essence a quirky sport, which was never really intended for anything else other than hunting.

This article is brought to you by Inghams.co.uk – ski holiday specialists

Opening the door of the engine driver’s cabin, the snowscape came as a complete surprise.  From the carriage behind we’d had no idea we were this close to the Eiger, nor how impressively austere it was.  To be trundling uphill towards it full on was quite simply breath-taking. You know how often superlatives, metaphors, similes and other words are used to describe the Swiss Alps – and then you see a sight like this and words can’t do it justice

I was on a railway trip to Switzerland with Railbookers and this train journey to the top of the Jungfrau was to be the highlight – in all senses of the word. We’d travelled on the Eurostar from St Pancras to Paris and on to Interlaken and were now trundling up this mountain range, conscious of the air getting thinner and the scenery becoming more impressive every metre we went up.  From the open cabin window, I could feel the cold, sharp air as it thinned and became pin-bright.  The sound of the cogs clanking rattle out across the valley, causing skiers and tobagganists to look up and wave, as people must have done since the day 100 years ago that this impressive engineering was finally opened.  The skis in front told of the skilled athletes who were planning to zoom back downhill from the Jungfraujoch – the Top of Europe, at 3454 metres Europe’s highest-altitude railway station in a world of rock, ice and snow.

Watching the mountains loom larger and glitter brighter in the winter sun, it was impossible not to be impressed by the vision that those engineers must have had to even consider attempting to conquer these peaks … I was so very glad they had.

Many thanks to Railbookers who organise magical railway trips to Switzerland and around the world and all the wonderful people I met on this wonderfully luxurious and enjoyable trip to Switzerland.  For more on the Jungfrau adventure read my article for Wandering Educators - hope you enjoyed the ride!