Eyeflare Travel Articles and Tips

St. Magnus Festival, Orkney

Jodi J — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 09:00:00 +0000

The annual St. Magnus Festival held in the Orkney Islands of northern Scotland and is known primary in the United Kingdom as one of the top venues, primarily for it music, but does include other art forms including drama, dance, and literature. As the festival has grown it has drawn the attention of people from around the world and is on track to become a major destination spot for lovers of the arts.

Held in and around the town of Kirkwall, the entire community pitches in to make the festival a success. This includes showcases of children’s productions in addition to the invited performers from around the United Kingdom and the world. The town itself has not changed much to accommodate the festival and the main acts are still held at the town’s cathedral. While not designed for this specifically, it does add a special charm to the performances and gives festival goers a more intimate sense of participation.

Another unique feature of this festival is the offering of master conducting and composing courses. The highly sought after slots are quickly filled and sometimes take years before a potential conductor or composer can take advantage of them. The courses are taught by different masters each year so those interested should check well in advance to see if the head of the course is someone of personal interest to them.

The heart of the festival is the music, and acts such as the royal Scottish orchestra, the Royal string quartet, popular classical music groups and several solo artists perform each year. If you are interested in attending the festival it is important to book your reservations early and plan to do a bit of traveling to and from your lodging as the town’s guesthouses and inns fill quickly. Call +44 (0) 1856 871445 for more information.

This is originally posted at http://www.eyeflare.com/article/st-magnus-festival-orkney/

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The Colosseum in Rome

Marie — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 09:00:00 +0000

A must-see when you're in Rome is the Colosseum. It's right near the Forum, so you can get a real feel for ancient Rome by staying right in this area. The Colosseum was originally called the Flavian Ampitheater and was build around the year 70 CE.

Yes, it was used for those gory gladiator battles in which often unwilling slaves were thrust into the ring with others on the odd chance that their freedom would be won. And, yes, it was used by the powers that be to make those who professed Christian allegiance face wild animals. But throughout the years it was also used by private families for entertainments and shows.

The Colosseum is enormous and much of it is in ruins today. The huge round building has been eaten away by weather over the last 2,000 years, and people have also done damage by stealing pieces of stone from it. You can still enter for about 8 Euros (seniors and young people 16 and under are free because the entrance fees are subsidized by the Italian government), though many parts of the Colosseum are restricted.

There are many layers to the place, and you can see where the subterrenean passageways were as well as the tiers for the audience that reached to the sky. At one time it held 50,000 spectators though now shows and even certain religious events are only held outside the walls.

This is originally posted at http://www.eyeflare.com/article/colosseum-rome/

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Cambridge Folk Festival

Jodi J — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 09:00:00 +0000

Folk music is not rigidly defined, but a commonly accepted definition is that it is the music of the people, much of it not attributable to any one artist. So it is that folk music in all its forms is celebrated at the Cambridge Folk Festival, an annual gathering of musicians and followers alike, it is one of the largest folk music venues in the world.

The festival started humbly enough in 1964 when the Cambridge city council decided they needed a festival of some sort to attract people to the area. From the every beginning the festival was a success and it has continued to grow year after year.

Today the festival is held in summer on a permanent site that offers both convenience and safety for festival goers. Most participants camp at the festival site in one of four designated areas. This is highly recommended as travel to and from the area is slow due to the number of participants. The concerts are held on a number of stages, many with covered seating in case of rain.

With regard to the acts performing, you can expect to see the best folk singers from around the world. It is also common for artists not on the schedule, but who came just to listen, get on stage and do an impromptu song or two. If you are interested in attending be sure to get your tickets well in advance as the festival sells out every year. The festival is also known for being very accessible for persons with disabilities.

Photo credit: Bob & Jane @ flickr

This is originally posted at http://www.eyeflare.com/article/cambridge-folk-festival/

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Gamla Stan, Stockholm

Jodi J — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 09:00:00 +0000

A favorite with travelers the world over, Sweden's capital Stockholm is a blend of old and new. At over 700 years old the city prides itself on maintaining its history. In that regard "Gamla Stan" or the old city stands as a proud monument to Stockholm's past. Most of the buildings here date back to the 1700-1800s. They have been well maintained and now house a number of hotels, shops, restaurants, and other tourist attractions that make it a hotspot day and night.

While visiting Gamla Stan be sure to see the Royal Palace including the changing of the guard ceremony. Two exceptional museums include Livrustkammaren (the Royal Armoury) and Skattkammaren (the Royal Treasury). Both feature the prized artifacts of Sweden's royal families. Once you've had enough of the historical elements of Gamla Stan, move over to Västerlånggatan and Österlånggatan streets to take advantage of the unique shops, cafés and restaurants. Still have some energy left? You can go all night at clubs in old town with music to suit almost every taste. Gamla Stan is truly a destination worth visiting on your next trip to Europe.

Photo credit: Nenyaki @ flickr

This is originally posted at http://www.eyeflare.com/article/gamla-stan-stockholm/

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King's Cross and St. Pancras stations, London

Jodi J — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 09:00:00 +0000

King's Cross and St. Pancras train stations sit across the street from each other and serve as the major hub for rail travel throughout England and beyond. The two stations share a common underground terminal making it convenient for travelers to move between rail lines. King's Cross rail service goes to York, Newcastle, and onto Scotland.

The more famous St. Pancras station is home to the Eurostar trains that go under the English Channel (lovingly known as the 'Chunnel') into Europe, most notably to Paris. For many people the experience of visiting the two stations is akin to visiting a major airport terminal. This includes clearing customs if you are travelling back from Europe on the Eurostar. The terminal also is a hub for the London Underground subway system and Capital train system allowing for convenient transport to and from all major airports.

The area is much more than just a center for transportation; it is a destination in and of itself. The St Pancras station hosts a major shopping and dining complex. Visitors can take advantage of the 23 shops offering everything from clothing to jewelry. There is even a pharmacy should you need one.

The dining and drinking scene is one of the best in London. There are five full service restaurants offering both traditional English fair and exotic food choices such as sushi. If you're in a rush to catch one of the many trains the terminal also has 11 grab and go vendors.

A must do while you are at St. Pancras is to stop by Champagne bar, said to be the longest one in all of Europe, it stretches more than 100 yards long. Need to get some sleep before your trip? There are a number of fine hotels on the streets above the stations.

Photo credit: nick.garrod @ flickr

This is originally posted at http://www.eyeflare.com/article/kings-cross-and-st-pancras-stations-london/

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More expensive airfare for Brits from this Sunday

Jack — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 09:00:00 +0000

Air Passenger Duty (APD) is the UK's tax on flights leaving UK airports and it's set to increase by 10-50% from Sunday 1 November 2009. This is a quite unwelcome event for the travel industry as travel companies are already reeling from the recession and lower passenger numbers.

This increase is only the first phase of two, however, as APD will increase again next November, when the cost for travelers will become quite noticeable.

From Sunday, the new taxes are:

Flights over 6,000 miles: �60, up from �40. This would cover flights, for example, from London to Tokyo
Flights up to 6,000 miles: �50, up from �40. Flights would include London to India or Los Angeles
Flights up to 4,000 miles: �45, up from �40. This covers flights from London to New York City or Kenya
Flights within Europe: �11, up from �10. This is the lowest increase and the least controversial because of it

Most airlines have called for the APD increases to be scrapped, or preferrably lowered. This increased tax will hurt tourism when it's at its most vulnerable, and you're likely to see fewer English tourists in far-flung corners of the world as a result of it. Naturally, the increase hits those least able to afford it the most:

Families going for distant destinations like Australia will now have to pay �240 in APD alone for 4 tickets, up from �160 today. If you're planning on flying in the near future, best buy those air tickets before Sunday.

This is originally posted at http://www.eyeflare.com/article/more-expensive-airfare-brits-this-sunday/

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Thermae Bath Spa in Bath

Ian Farquharson — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 09:00:00 +0000

Bath in England is a beautiful city, which was built in an area where hot springs were common. As such Bath has been famous for its spas for many years. They were popularized during Roman times, when some incredible spa complexes were constructed in the Bath area and Thermae Bath Spa brings this ancient tradition into the modern world.

There are two main spas, these being the New Royal Bath and the Cross Bath, both of which can be booked in advance for spa sessions or you can also turn up for the day to take advantage of the facilities. There are a number of spa treatments available and these include massage, hot stone therapies, deep cleansing body wraps and thermal treatments which utilize the mineral rich waters. The spa sessions and treatments are relaxing for body and mind and are an excellent way to get away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Or rejuvenating yourself in the middle of a hectic trip.

For those interested in the history of the spa in Bath, the visitor centre provides an excellent opportunity to educate yourself about this tradition. Exhibits show the development of the spa in Bath, from the founding of the city through to the modern day. The Spa also has a café and restaurant and a visit to these can be added to spa sessions. If you wish to carry on the spa treatments after your visit, a shop is available where many of the products used in the spa are available for sale.

A visit to Bath would not be complete without taking advantage of the spas for which the city is famous. You will be following in the footsteps of the Romans and Thermae Bath Spa provides a modern version of this tradition, with a visit making for a relaxing day out.

Photo credit: wallyg

This is originally posted at http://www.eyeflare.com/article/thermae-bath-spa-bath/

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Travel Promotion Act will reduce travel to America

Jack — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 09:00:00 +0000

Congress is soon set to approve the Travel 'Promotion' Act (inverted commas very much added and intentional), which sets out to promote the U.S. as a travel destination. Apparently, the U.S. Government and private travel companies are thinking that there aren't enough visitors to the country, and that there are 'misperceptions' about the costly and complicated visa process and over the top security regulations visitors have to endure.

There will be a not for profit corporation founded that will:

provide useful information to foreign tourists, business people, students, scholars, scientists, and others interested in traveling to the United States, including the distribution of material provided by the Federal government concerning entry requirements, required documentation, fees, processes, and information concerning declared public health emergencies, to prospective travelers, travel agents, tour operators, meeting planners, foreign governments, travel media and other international stakeholders
identify, counter, and correct misperceptions regarding United States entry policies around the world
maximize the economic and diplomatic benefits of travel to the United States by promoting the United States of America to world travelers through the use of, but not limited to, all forms of advertising, outreach to trade shows, and other appropriate promotional activities
ensure that international travel benefits all States and the District of Columbia and to identify opportunities and strategies to promote tourism to rural and urban areas equally, including areas not traditionally visited by international travelers
give priority to the Corporation�s efforts with respect to countries and populations most likely to travel to the United States

So that reads like the normal bureaucracy speak we've all come to know and loathe. In short: We think more people should come and see our great country and the only thing stopping them is that the entry and security rules just aren't well enough understood.

In real life, however, those rules and regulations are only too well understood, and tourists from non Visa Waiver Program countries are staying away in droves. Having to get an expensive ($100) visa and also for the most part travel to an in-person interview at an American Consulate or Embassy successfully keeps away all but the most determined travelers.

The issue at stake likely isn't that people don't want to visit the United States, but that they simply can't. Either because of cost, or because visas just aren't granted. It's much easier to visit most other countries in the world for citizens of states such as Brazil, Mozambique, Indonesia, Vietname, and so on. And that's exactly what they chose to do.

To add insult to injury, this not for profit organization will be funded by adding a fee for visitors coming from those countries that actually can travel to the U.S. easily: The citizens of Visa Waiver Program participant countries!

From next year, anyone who applies for ESTA clearance (a requirement for visitors using the Visa Waiver Program), will be hit up for $10 every 2 years when applying for clearance. So, to pay for promoting American travel to those who aren't likely to visit, we're making those who are visiting pay more money? How does this make any sense?

What do you think, will this new initiative help or hinder American tourism?

This is originally posted at http://www.eyeflare.com/article/travel-promotion-act-will-reduce-travel-america/

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Eating Okonomiyaki (Japanese pancakes)

Marie — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 09:00:00 +0000

When you find yourself in any big city or town in Japan, you may not find many pizza parlors but you will find Okonomiyaki cafés. Okonomiyaki is comparable to a pancake or a pizza made of flour with other ingredients of your choice such as yams, egg, shredded cabbage or other veggies, meat, or fish mixed in along with water. Once it's fried up it can be topped with a special sauce, fish flakes, or homemade mayo.

It uses elements of native Japanese cooking, but is a relatively new invention created during the war years when people had to make use of whatever bits of food they had.

Try this dish at least once while you're in Japan, because it's a very social experience as well as a quite delicious one and one of the least expensive meals you can have in Japan. Young people gather at these places like they do in the coffee bars of the United States. Often the fry pan is right at your table and sometimes you can make your own. An okonomiyaki café is an affordable stop when you want to taste something wonderful and experience the local culture in a Japanese city.

Photo credit: Hollerotron @ Flickr

This is originally posted at http://www.eyeflare.com/article/eating-okonomiyaki-japanese-pancakes/

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The Winchester Mystery House, San Jose, California

Ian Farquharson — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 09:00:00 +0000

A visit to San Jose, California would be incomplete without a visit to the Winchester Mystery House. It is so named after the owner who had it constructed, Sarah L. Winchester. It is an absolutely magnificent mansion comprising a staggering 160 rooms. Building work started in 1884 and unbelievably carried on for another 38 years until the death of its owner. These days it hosts tours and events and is a definite must visit in San Jose.

The building was extremely advanced for it time and contains many amazing features including working elevators and modern heating systems amongst other marvels. There are various guided tours available on a daily basis to view and admire the property. The mansion tour takes you on a trip through many of the 160 rooms and on this you can view the many oddities and mysteries which were built into the property. These include strange features such as stairways that lead to nowhere, a window built into a floor and doors that when opened reveal only blank wall.

The gardens of the mansion are also stunning and a tour of these is available. There is also a behind the scenes tour which takes you into relatively unexplored areas of the mansion and also allows you to view the working guts of the property. For good measure there are also a couple of museums, one of which displays Winchester firearms and another which displays antique products which were manufactured by the Winchester Products Company.

The Winchester Mystery House is an architectural marvel and one of the strangest buildings that has ever been built. It makes for a great day out and many of the hotels in the surrounding area offer package deals which include a visit to the mansion.If the chance arises this is an opportunity that really should be taken.

Photo credit: bella731

This is originally posted at http://www.eyeflare.com/article/winchester-mystery-house/

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The Bridge of Sighs, Venice

Tracy Huddlestun — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 09:00:00 +0000

“I stood in Venice on the Bridge of Sighs,
A palace and a prison on each hand;
I saw from out the wave her structures rise
As from the stroke of the enchanter's wand:
A thousand years their cloudy wings expand
Around me, and a dying Glory smiles
O'er the far times, when many a subject land
Look’d to the winged Lion's marble piles,
Where Venice sat in state, throned on her hundred isles!”
- Lord Byron: Childe Harold's Pilgrimage, Canto IV. Stanza 1

The Bridge of Sighs, in Venice, so named by Lord Byron who believed Venice so lovely that convicts, upon their last view of the city, on the bridge, would sigh with awe and regret. It doesn’t matter that there were probably no inquisition convicts on that bridge sighing, the name, first penned in the 19th century, sticks. The Bridge of Sighs was designed by Antoni Contino and actually built in 1602.

Now the Ponte dei Sospiri as it is called in Italian is traveled more by the waters of the Rio di Palazzo than by over the actual bridge. Travel over the bridge is usually limited to a secret tour of the Doge’s Palace or to those lucky few who visit Venice in the off-season. The tour fills up quickly in the spring and summer, so if you want to follow Casanova’s fabled footsteps and cross the bridge, book early.

Following the example of lovers past, and riding a gondola through the Rio di Palazzo is the best way to see the bridge. As sunset turns the white limestone bridge into a sparkling wonder, many lovers are found embracing underneath its arches. The legend says that all lovers who kiss beneath the bridge at sunset are assured of eternal love. So grab your lover, or maybe a stranger for those traveling solo, and see what can come of a trip under the Ponte dei Sospiri.

Photo credit: gerry balding

This is originally posted at http://www.eyeflare.com/article/bridge-sighs-venice/

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McCormick Tribune Ice Rink, Millennium Park, Chicago

Marie — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 09:00:00 +0000

If you're looking for a marvelous open space to visit while you're in Chicago, check out the 24 1/2 acre Millennium Park, amid features such as fountains, sculptures, gardens, and one of the most important outdoor concert venues in the United States, you'll find the McCormick Tribute Plaza. From the middle of November through March, this Plaza is home to a beautiful ice skating rink, the McCormick Tribune Ice Rink.

Right on Michigan Avenue (a must-see location in Chicago anyway) between Madison and Washington Streets you'll find the rink open for long hours every weekend from Friday through Monday during the late fall and winter season.

There are extended hours during the holiday season. Don't worry if you haven't brought skates because you can rent them for $10.

The rink itself is clean and beautiful and the ice is kept smooth and shiny in between ice skating sessions. It's a great place to get the feel of Chicago and the feel of the season. But the amazing part is the setting within the Millennium Park itself. Grab a hot drink, bundle up, and walk the paths to mingle with the locals. This is a great destination spot for a date, a family, or just to be alone with your thoughts and yet not feel lonely.

Address:

Visitors are encouraged to make the Millennium Park Welcome Center their first stop at the Park where specialists are available to help plan their Park visit. The Welcome Center is located at 201 E. Randolph Street in the Northwest Exelon Pavilion.

Phone: +1 312 742 1168

Photo credit: World Wide Ice Professionals (WWIP)

This is originally posted at http://www.eyeflare.com/article/mccormick-tribune-ice-rink-millennium-park-chicago/

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The Pyramids at Giza, Egypt

Patty — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 09:00:00 +0000

Probably one of the awe inspiring sights one can have is your first glimpse or the Pyramids at Giza, Cairo Egypt. The last remaining seven wonders of the world The Great Pyramid or Khufu's pyramid which towers nearly 40 stories high is at the site. That being said the pyramids are not the only thing on the Giza Plateau to see. Who can forget the Sphinx and all the mystery that this ancient statue has brought?

There also is the solar boat museum, various mastabas(which are burial crypts), and the tombs of the workers and a light show.

When you visit the site and want to go into a pyramid, you need to know that only one pyramid at a time is open for preservation reasons. Depending on when you go will determine which pyramid you can enter. In addition, only a limited number of people are allowed to go in each day. If you decide to go in one it is an interesting experience and most people don't say this that the pyramid smells because of all the tourists who go in. Aside from that you might get a chance to see interesting graffiti from various centuries scrawled on the walls. It's definitely something to be missed if you are there.

There are plenty of hawkers around offering everything from postcards, souvenirs and camel rides. Just keep your wits about you when dealing with some of them because you can very easily be ripped off.

As far as the time the day to go ,early morning can be quite serene depending the season. You'll beat the heat and the crowds. Though anytime is still an amazing experience to see these ancient wonders.

Photo credit: wuji9981

This is originally posted at http://www.eyeflare.com/article/pyramids-giza-egypt/

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Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum, Chicago

Ian Farquharson — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 09:00:00 +0000

The Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum is an ideal place to take children for an interesting and educational day out in Chicago, although adults will certainly enjoy the experience as well. The museum has an amazing quarter of a million specimens covering plants and animals as well as fossilized remains, which can be used by scientists, students and others studying the history of life on the planet.

There are a number of permanent exhibitions which can be viewed during your visit to the museum and they can provide you with an insight into life on the planet, with many of them featuring the flora, fauna and natural surroundings of Chicago and Illinois. Some of the more popular exhibits include the Extreme Greenhouse where kids can use hands-on kiosks and interaction with live animals to learn about the environment. River Works is a fun water play experience which teaches about Chicago's waterways and the wildlife that inhabits them, and the Butterfly Haven brings you up close and personal with spectacular exotic butterfly and bird species.

The museum also holds a number of current exhibitions which change on a regular basis and these can include, amongst others, wildlife painting shows by prominent artist and also nature videos detailing the life of animals. The museum also provides educational resources including adult and children programs and also programs aimed specifically at families. These provide a fun and entertaining way for people of all ages to learn about the natural world.

The Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum is an excellent facility and provides an interesting and fun day out for you and your family to learn about the natural world. It is definitely worth a visit if you are in Chicago.

The museum is open 9 am to 4.30 pm Monday to Friday, and 10 am to 5 pm Saturdays and Sundays. Closed on New Year's Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.

Admission is $9 for adults, and $6 for children. Thursdays are suggested donation days.

Address:

Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum
2430 N. Cannon Dr.
Chicago, IL 60614

The Nature Museum is located just off Lake Shore Drive at Fullerton, Avenue, across from the Lincoln Park Zoo.

This is originally posted at http://www.eyeflare.com/article/peggy-notebaert-nature-museum-chicago/

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Lincoln Park Zoo, Chicago

Ian Farquharson — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 09:00:00 +0000

For residents of Chicago and people visiting the city who enjoy the attractions of nature and wildlife, Lincoln Park Zoo provides an excellent day out. The zoo is located just to the north of downtown Chicago, can be easily be accessed by car or public transport and is free to visit. The zoo is a relaxing oasis of green in a city landscape and provides the opportunity to view many different types of animals in a natural setting.

The zoo is open 365 days a year generally from around 10am to 5pm, but before visiting it makes sense to check the schedule for yourself, as special events are held on a regular basis and this can make your visit even better. The zoo spread over a huge area with a number of different habitats dedicated to various animals. These areas include the Pritzker Family Children zoo where you can walk through a beautiful wooded setting and view bears, otters and beavers. For the more adventurous, this area also provides a treetop canopy climbing adventure.

A popular feature at the zoo is the Regenstein Center for African Apes, where a number of different groups of gorillas and chimpanzees can be viewed, as they go about their daily business. City children can experience a little bit of country life at the farm-in-the zoo area, where they can see and interact with farm animals such as chickens, cows and pigs. Many other animals can also be seen at the zoo and this includes birds, reptiles, fish and mammals and there are a number of exhibits and animal houses dedicated to these. When you enter be sure to get a visitor guide which provides you with details of the zoo and a map of the layout.

As well as the animals, there are also other attractions which are worth seeing when you visit and these include a carousel on which the 48 wooden animals are made up of rare and endangered species. For younger children there is also a miniature train which provides rides.

There are a number of restaurants and shops which can be visited to make your day more enjoyable and with all the attractions available it is easy to see why millions of people visit the zoo every year. If the chance permits Lincoln Park Zoo is well worth a visit and will provide a relaxing and enjoyable day out for children and adults alike.

Photo credits: Karl Heubaum and smussyolay

This is originally posted at http://www.eyeflare.com/article/lincoln-park-zoo-chicago/

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Travel between Venice and Treviso

Jack — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 09:00:00 +0000

Almost 2 million travel from Treviso to Venice each year after taking a flight with Ryanair, Germanwings, Transavia, or Wizz Air. Here's how you get from Treviso if your final destination is Venice.

Bus travel from Treviso to Venice

For travelers to Venice arriving at Treviso airport, there are two bus services connecting to Mestre and Venice operated by ATVO. These services are scheduled to depart and arrive at Treviso airport for flights operated by Ryanair and Transavia. About Euro 5 each way or Euro 9 return. About 1 hour 10 minutes travel time.

ACTT, the local public bus company, operates a local service connecting with the Treviso city center. This arrives at the Treviso train station. Euro 1 in the terminal, Euro 2 if you buy your ticket from the driver. This bus service runs every 20 minutes during the day and takes 20 minutes.

SITA runs a bus service between Treviso and Padova for those traveling elsewhere in the Veneto. This service departs every half hour.

Train travel from Venice to Treviso

If you take the bus from the airport to the Treviso train station, you can connect from here to Venice and many other locations in Veneto and the rest of Italy. A train ticket to Venice is cheap, circa Euro 2, and the ride takes about 30 minutes including a stop in Mestre. Trains are very frequent during the day.

The Venice train station, Stazione Ferroviaria Santa Lucia, is right next to the historic center of Venice and there's a Grand Canal vaporetto stop nearby.

Other travel options between Venice and Treviso

As it's only 20 kilometers (12 miles) between Treviso and Venice, cycling is a definite option. Although if you do, be advised that getting around Venice on a bike is nearly impossible, so your best option is choosing a bike touring friendly hotel or hostel in Mestre instead.

Unless you're planning on seeing areas of the Veneto outside of Venice, don't rent a car. In Venice, you'll have to park at the massive (and expensive, for non-residents) Tronchetto parking garage. If you're doing this, just take the causeway to Venice and follow the signs. Parking costs Euro 20 per day or so. During high season, park in Mestre instead, as the causeway will back up for miles.

Photo credit: Seb Ulysses

This is originally posted at http://www.eyeflare.com/article/travel-venice-treviso/

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Visit Britain - 'Be a part of it' - video

Jack — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 09:00:00 +0000

Visit Britain, the national tourism agency, has launched a new video that highlights the different events, sights, cultural heritage, food, nature, etc that a visitor to Britain can experience. There's really something for everyone in a visit here, see for yourself:

I'm looking forward to seeing more videos coming out from Visit Britain. The one above is quite slick and engaging, and managed to get me more interested in seeing more of England, Wales, Scotland, the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man, and Northern Ireland, the countries that make up Britain. I'll highlight more of the videos as they're created here at eyeflare.com.

If you know of other cool tourist videos from around the world, either go ahead and leave a comment below or email me at jack@eyeflare.com with the details.

This is originally posted at http://www.eyeflare.com/article/visit-britain-be-part-it-video/

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Great reads #24

Jack — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 09:00:00 +0000

United (hearts) luggage

Or rather, frequent travelers who need to check luggage. United Airlines just launched a service called the Premier Baggage program, which allows you to pre-pay $249 for the privilege of bringing bags for free. Normally, United charges $40 per round trip for this.

The Premier Baggage program allows “… up to eight (8) traveling companions to check up to two (2) bags or checked bag equivalents each at no additional charge on domestic and international United and United Express operated flights. Traveling companions must be on the same confirmation number as the Premier Baggage subscriber.”

Seems like you'll need to either be a family traveling together a couple of times a year, or a somewhat frequent business traveler who takes samples or similar to benefit. Of course, true frequent fliers are already exempt from checked luggage fees thanks to their Elite status.

As a final kick in the travelers' backside: The fee is auto-renewing, so you'll have to be very aware of cancelling it unless you need it for the following year/s as well!

Hotels are closing

While the credit crunch means that when we do travel, there are cheap hotel deals everywhere, it also means that once times improve, there will be fewer hotels to book. The latest figures show that hotel foreclosures in California have tripled in the last year. It's due to both leisure and business travel being lower than previous years. Occupancy rates are only 65% right now (Jan to Aug 2009), down 10% on last year's period, which is really bad news for hoteliers as they're losing money hand over fist by staying open.

Mickey D's in the Louvre

To celebrate the 30th anniversary of McDonald's restaurants operating in France, the company is opening a branch in the Louvre. I wonder whether they'll have a Mona Lisa theme? Not everyone's amused:

"This is the last straw," said one art historian working at the Louvre. "This is the pinnacle of exhausting consumerism, deficient gastronomy and very unpleasant odours in the context of a museum." The head of the Art Tribune website, Didier Rykner, thought this was the beginning of a downwards spiral: "Today McDonald's, tomorrow low-cost clothes shops," he exclaimed.

Website review: Travelgrove

Jack — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 09:00:00 +0000

In my ongoing quest to find the best travel search engine, it's now time to review new-ish meta travel search engine Travelgrove.com. Working like Orbitz.com or CheapTickets.com, the site collects enormous numbers of prices and deals and presents them to prospective travelers in an easy-to-use interfact. Thankfully, the site has a few extras to offer, so as not to be completely anonymous. More on that later.

The deals

Travelgrove states that their primary purpose is to find deals. From the site:

"You're often left with the feeling that there may have been a cheaper way to get from point A to point B. Well, we've been there ourselves and we had our own troublesome experiences with choosing the right travel deal, so we decided to make things a bit easier for ourselves and for you: we developed a meta search engine which sole purpose is to find the best, cheapest deals around!"

There's both a part on the bottom of the homepage listing recently unearthed deals, and a deals section. For a quick comparison, I looked at two package searches: A 3 day break in Las Vegas, and a cruise in the Caribbean. I think those are pretty representative of how to find good value, if there is any.

Las Vegas 3 nights incl flights

The cheapest deal found was from $228 for flights and 3 nights in a hotel, per person of course. This was from LAX to Las Vegas (LAS), based on 2 people, and traveling 23 Nov. 2009 to 26 Nov. 2009. After going through a splash screen asking for my email address (you can skip it), I end up at Orbitz for the actual package. Strangely enough, I can actually book the trip for $203 once I get the package at Orbitz. Accommodation is with Harrah's Casino, so a pretty good deal.

But... going to a different booking engine, I can find the same dates at Luxor (3.5 vs 3 stars) for $170 per person. Not a great start.

Caribbean cruise

The best 7 night deal I get is with Western Caribbean, departing from Miami. Grabbing an oceanview room the cost per person is $620 (interior is $510, but I like looking out at the sea). This would depart on 15 November 2009, for comparison reasons. No splash screen this time, good to see it's a once-per-visit thing. Note that the package includes:

"Your package includes shipboard accommodations, ocean transportation, fabulous entertainment and daily activities, on-board meals and some beverages, port charges and more. It does not include shore excursions, personal expenses, gratuities, or alcoholic beverages. Government fees and taxes are not included and can be as much as $300 per person, depending on the length of your cruise."

Once I've given all the booking information, I get a price for 2 traveling, including taxes etc, of $1,420.50 together. Pretty reasonable.

Another engine gets me a 14 November departure from Miami, with Norwegian Cruise Line, for $449 per person for an ocean view. Once all added up, I'm at $965.88 including taxes. Problem is, nowhere can I find what is actually included in this cruise, and the promotional rate may have some surprises there for the unwary. Still, the other site beat Travelgrove.

Deals summary

It seems like I can find better deals elsewhere, which gives me the impression that the site doesn't have access to the latest or best deals as provided by the Online Travel Agencies (OTAs).

Vacation themes

Now we're into the added stuff that Travelgrove has, and that sets the site apart from other meta engines. There's a 'themes' section, which handily collates vacations such as Fall Bargains in one spot. This is really quite useful, as I can quickly get an overview of where it's cheap to visit: Las Vegas, Fort Lauderdale, and Mexico in this case.

The Top 10 Budget Destinations likewise pulls up the best 10 places in the United States to have a cheap vacation right now. This I like. A lot.

Travel guides

The site's travel guides are quite in-depth, with general information, local sights, nightlife ideas, picture sections, travel tips, and in the case of Las Vegas, gambling tips too!

These are good, and well worth reading.

Community

Travelgrove has a lively travel community on the site. People upload travel stories, tips, photos, and notes on their vacations.

There's also a forum full of useful tips. The forum is split out into useful themes such as cruises, car rentals, and also by destination. Not as big as some, but the participants share some really good information here. Worth a visit.

Summary

Overall, I'm disappointed to have walked away with 0-2 for Travelgrove when it came to vacation deals. As it's the site's main purpose, it's unfortunate. It's not that the deals are bad, and in fact by digging a bit deeper I'm sure I could unearth some real gems, but they should be highly competitive for the two types of vacations I tried. After all, those destinations and vacation types are really hurting for business, and there are loads of deals available.

On the upside, the other aspects of the site are great. Solid travel guides, a lively community, and themed vacations are going to bring me back to the site.

It should be noted that I didn't try the flight searches or hotel booking searches in detail. There aren't any notes above, but what I did find was quite competitive with the other meta search engines. This is as you'd expect, since in the main all the sites draw upon the same inventory.

Recommended. Both for getting vacation ideas and the added features.

This is originally posted at http://www.eyeflare.com/article/website-review-travelgrove/

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Early warning: Tube strikes likely over Christmas 2009

Jack — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 09:00:00 +0000

The Rail, Maritime and Transport Union (RMT) has rejected a pay increase of 1.5% and will be voting on striking over Christmas 2009. If the strikes happen, London is likely to be crippled over the holiday season this year.

RMT's Bob Crowe said: "We are looking for a pay offer that matches up to deals elsewhere in our industry and which reflects the real costs of living and working in an expensive city like London."

The union striked back in June because of the same pay deal, which hasn't been resolved yet.

If you're headed to London, keep in mind that getting around could prove quite difficult.

Photo credit: chiefmoamba

This is originally posted at http://www.eyeflare.com/article/early-warning-tube-strikes-likely-christmas-2009/

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