Bicycle and Hiking Tour Blog

Mountain Biking in South of France

2008-07-02T07:28:00.000-07:00

Mountain biking in Montpellier area :

I was at our office in France last week and we hit the trails in the area around Lunel and Sommieres. Actually, the area is loaded with trails for anyone of any ability. Thomas, who runs our France office and his brother Thibaut who is the lead mechanic and a Cat 1 mountain biker ride this area all the time. Their local club just had a guy finish 11th in the World Cup! So, we went out for a little spin on Sunday to check it out. It was a mix of single track and jeep trails. The single track was great, and offered moderate to very challenging rides with some technical stuff a little beyond my level!

Nonetheless, the variety is fantastic and the nearby seaside makes it a perfect getaway. Look for some new guided mountain biking trips next year! We will also add some guided mountain biking in the Mont Ventoux area where Thomas and one of our guides Julien have done a lot of racing and training.

The best part is after the ride; we went to a nearby village on market day and picked up some fresh products and sat down at a cafe with some chilled Rose! Ah, la vie francaise!

More Scott Bikes

2008-06-25T17:11:00.000-07:00

I just spent a week in our France office and love how our new Scott Sportster P3 hybrids are performing. They have had provided very good feedback from clients and our mechanics. We are as a result going to pick up a number of high quality carbon road bikes from Scott as well to add to our Eddy Merckx fleet. Some pictures from the storefront show room and our bike shop that fronts our office are shown below.

The Sportster P3 hybrid of course has the perfect gearing for all terrain riding and is very adjustable to all sizes of riders. The component groupo, Shimano deore, is not cheap plastic either and so is durable. The stem and saddle height are easily adjusted and the front fork has a lock out to stabilize it and make pedaling more efficient.

The new Scott road bikes will be the CR1 Pro; carbon with Ultegra groupo and Mavic Ksyrium wheel sets! Through our office we are also renting mountain bikes, and with our team of certified guides we can now easily organize custom guided tours in either challenging road tours, comfortable leisure cycling tours, or mountain bike tours of any level.

Free Paris Museum Info

2008-06-09T08:26:00.000-07:00

Published on Newsweek.com late last week, some stuff to pass along:

Through June 30, you'll get in without charge at these institutions in Paris and its environs:

Musée Guimet (6 place d'Léna, 011-33/56 52 53 00, guimet.fr)
Musée de Cluny (a.k.a., Musée National du Moyen Âge) (6 place Paul Painlevé, 011-33/1 53 73 78 02, musee-moyenage.fr)
Musée des Arts et Métiers (292 rue Saint-Martin, 011-33/1 53 01 82 00, arts-et-metiers.net)
Musée d'Archeologie Nationale (place Charles de Gaulle, Saint Germain-en-Laye, 011-31/1 39 10 13 00, musee-antiquitesnationales.fr)
Musée National de la Renaissance (Château d'Ecouen, Ecouen, 011-31/ 1 34 38 38 50, www.musee-renaissance.fr)
Musée de l'Air et de 'Espace (Aéroport du Bourget, Le Bourget, 011-31/1 49 92 70 62
Other participating museums include the Musée National de la Marine in Toulon, Musée National de la Porcelaine Adrien-Dubouché in Limoges, Musée Magnin in Dijon, Palais Jacques Couer in Reims, Chateau d'Oiron, Musée National du Chateau de Pau, and Chateau de Pierrefonds.

In addition, four major museums in Paris are offering free admission to visitors aged 18 to 25 on certain days of the week, between 6 and 9pm: —Wednesdays: Centre Pompidou (place Georges Pompidou, 011-33/1 44 78 12 33, centrepompidou.fr) —Thursdays: Musée d'Orsay (62 rue de Lille, 011-33/1 40 49 48 14, musee-orsay.fr)—Fridays: The Louvre (011-33/1 40 20 57 60, louvre.fr)—Saturdays: Musée du Quai Branly (37 quai Branly, 011-31/1 56 61 70 00, quaibranly.fr)

Hotel Discounts on the Cote d'Azur

2008-06-04T06:30:00.000-07:00

The Cannes Tourist Board, with its hotel partners, has put together a promotion exclusively for US citizens with prices guaranteed in U.S. dollars.

What if you aren't a US Citizen? Ahem...well, sorry old chap! We received this because our US office participates in France tourism promotions and advertising. So, don't take offense, its a promotional effort of the US office of Maison de la France. Perhaps if you live in another country you should contact Maison de la France there and find out what they are doing to help you!

We can book this for any readers/clients. Just contact us by email or phone. 1-480-905-1235 in the USA.

The promotion includes a 3-night minimum stay with breakfast included.

Rates for a 3-night stay start at:
· 2-star hotel - $240
· 3-star hotel - $430
· 4-star hotel - $600

Reservations must be prepaid.

Sales & Conditions:

1. This offer is exclusively reserved for US citizens. Clients must show a valid US passport as proof of US citizenship.

2. All booking must be fully prepaid and are not refundable.

3. Dates of stay can be changed, based on availability by directly contacting the hotel.

For additional information on Cannes, please check http://www.cannes-groups.com/ or www.franceguide.com/visitcannes

Taking a Bike to Europe

2008-05-21T13:43:00.000-07:00

Lots of talk lately about bicycles on airplanes and excess baggage charges, etc. Its real, and it really adds up! Our cycling team recently got tagged with about $600 in round trip charges just for 3 guys to fly a short 2 hour domestic flight! Well, what are the airlines doing exactly?

Here is Delta's policy on bicycles from their website:

"Non-motorized touring or racing bicycles with single seats are accepted as checked baggage, with certain limits.
Any bicycle in a box with overall dimensions not exceeding 62" or 157.5cm (length + height + width) and checked in lieu of one bag is accepted. Bicycles exceeding 62" are subject to standard oversize baggage charges.
Your bike must be packaged in a cardboard or canvas container in one of the following ways:
Handlebars fixed sideways and pedals removed
Handlebars and pedals encased in plastic, Styrofoam, or other similar material
Some connection carriers and aircraft may not accept bicycles as checked baggage, and may have different limits. "

What is not mentioned here is a weight limit. Delta also says that you can check 2 bags FREE for travel outside the USA; but then they say that each bag has a weight limit of 50 lbs/22.5 kg. There are some higher limits for Business and First Class ticket holders.

Excess fees: Delta says it will charge a fee EACH time an allowance is exceeded. Possible fees therefore include:

If your bike box is a 3rd piece of checked luggage for international: $150
Overweight limit of 50 lbs/22.5 kg up to 70 lbs: $80
Over 70 lbs up to 100 lbs: $150
Over size fee: $150

Avoiding any fees seems pretty hard, but being assessed multiple fees seems very possible. Don't think you can pack extra gear in your bike box either - see weight limits!

Does this apply only to Americans? No. For example, Air France's Australia website had more or less the same restrictions as Delta above with very similar fees and limits. Nobody is immune, even if foreign carriers are more solvent than the American companies, the chance to make money on this is too tempting. Expect to pay.

What else should you expect in traveling with your bike box?

Train troubles: in France and most of Western Europe, high speed trains have very limited luggage space. Most trains only offer space at the end of the car or overhead racks. Bike boxes don't really fit, and you could be subject to the whims of the conductor of the moment. Smaller regional trains usually do take bikes even in built up condition. Travel in July and August when trains are packed is very likely to be difficult. Regardless, you schlep your box on and off the train by yourself, among the people who will not make room for you.

Lost luggage? Every year when we have groups that go to watch the Tour de France, at least 1 in 10 persons will have their bike box mishandled enroute. On these kinds of tours where the lodging is remote and the traffic is difficult, getting a bike redelivered and caught up is a problem!

Storage? Where will you store your bike box when you visit Paris or some other big city? Will it fit in the hotel elevator? How much will the taxi add on for an oversize bag - if the taxi will even take it!

Build that bike up - you better know how to do it and bring the tools to get it done! On our trips we do help with that of course, but if you are winging it on your own; be totally self contained wiht tools and parts and a mechanical inclination!

What's a vacation worth? A lot - advice - don't muck it up with unnecessary troubles. PLAN AHEAD!!

Women's Only Cycling in Alsace

2008-05-13T09:14:00.000-07:00

A Guided Cycling Tour for Women Only!

Come discover Alsace and its famous flowered villages and half timbered architecture while pedaling among the vineyards of this picturesque region! Sept 21-27 are the dates for this unforgettable adventure!

We are breaking tradition somewhat and have teamed up with a local guide we have known for many years to organize a guided trip. Different because we usually only offer self guided tours, but this trip certainly fits our "quality:value" emphasis. Priced at 1475 euros and offer superior quality 3 star charm hotels, it would hard to find a better deal in the guided cycling tour universe!

Your guide - expat Brit who has lived in Alsace for more than 15 years now and who has been involved in cyclo-touring for as long. We have worked with Glenn for years as he provided local logistics support for our self guided travelers. Now, he's center stage with a group of his own!

This is perfect for women who want to travel with other women and discover a bit of France that is a little less traveled. See full details at :

http://www.discoverfrance.com/regions/alsace_biking_guided.html

Luggage Storage in Europe Rail Stations

2008-05-09T15:39:00.000-07:00

This is a common question, and usually the answer is that there is almost nothing in many train stations. Well, a lot of stations have been installing x-ray machines for long term storage and upgrading their passenger services. Rail Europe finally has a useful tool on their site in this matter:

Here is a link to Rail Europe showing where the train stations are throughout Europe, with information about services at the stations. It’s a great link if you want to see if you can store your luggage.
https://agent.raileurope.com/us/train_stations/index.htm

Euro Ends Down

2008-05-09T15:38:00.000-07:00

Though it made a few gains to the $US today, the Euro has lost some important ground in the last week. Anyone wanting to pay for European travel services may want to consider locking in now if you will travel in the next 60 days. For those going in the fall, it still may be ok to wait a little longer.

Spain Cycling Tour Incentive

2008-05-01T13:46:00.000-07:00

Here it is, a nice fall savings offer for those who plan ahead! Save 50 euros per person and get a free bottle of wine upon arrival! Any of our Catalonia Spain tours booked for travel in September and October.

As mentioned previously in another post; these tours remain one of the best values we have even in high Euro times. This is a little perk that helps even more!

See www.pure-adventures.com/tours/cycling-spain.php

L

Bargain Hunting Cycling or Hiking Tours

2008-04-25T15:15:00.000-07:00

I'm a bargain shopper, love a deal! So, in addition to all the tips I've posted in this blog, I'm going to pick over the tours we offer to help any bargain hunters who stumble across this posting.

The other day, someone said to me; "So, when are you going to Europe again this summer?" I said, "I'm not!" Bad, bad, bad....not because of prices though, just because we spent the whole summer last year and my young kids don't need to do that again. BUT, if I were going, and I was looking for self guided trip to save a few Euros this summer I might look pretty hard at the following:

Ireland: still pretty good prices here. We have a 7 night trip in the Connemara region for 839 euros per person! That's a good deal!
http://www.pure-adventures.com/tours/cycling-connemara-special.php

Spain: Catalonia and farmhouses. Also, still a really good value. From 737 euros for 4 nights or add 3 more nights and only 220 euros more for 957 euros per person for a week!

http://www.pure-adventures.com/tours/cycling-catalonia.php

"Bargain" doesn't only have to mean not expensive. You can get a bargain on a deluxe package too. Loire Valley - deluxe 4 star chateaux hotels: 1645 euros/person for a week! There are some other deluxe tours out there in the same that start at $5,000/person for a week. Bargains are in the eye of the beholder! Then again, there are those who don't care about bargains - as if the word cheapens an experience. For me personally, I like a little independence, but I'm willing to pay a little extra for quality and no hassles; but hate overpaying for anything! To me, its a good combination right in the middle!

New Bikes Coming In

2008-04-16T10:08:00.000-07:00

Boxes are arriving daily in Lunel, at our shop and admin offices in the south of France. The new Scott P3 looks awesome! The guys are busy building up the bikes, adding on our gear including our personalized panniers, handlebar bags, bottle cages and bottles, computers, etc. Simple stuff, but when you have 175 bikes to build up, it adds up!

Note this 'female' frame only fits one bottle cage and bottle!

These new bikes are lighter, have superior components, and will require less maintenance over time. We are going to offer them on a bike rental only basis as well in the same spirit as our Merckx CHM bikes shown at www.cyclingclassics.com/rentalbikes.php This will be totally updated shortly with rental rates, and details.

Tour de France Route Change

2008-04-11T14:34:00.001-07:00

I pass this along for TDF followers...

The risk of falling rocks on a climb of the race's 15th stage has prompted Tour de France organisers into a late change.

PARIS, April 10, 2008 - The risk of falling rocks on a climb of the race's 15th stage has prompted Tour de France organisers into a late change of the 2008 race route, a statement said Thursday. It means the 15th stage, initially set to start in Digne-Les-Bains and finish at Prato Nevoso, Italy, will now start in Embrun because of the "fairlyimportant risk of falling rocks on the climb up the Col de Larche". The Col de Larche, whose altitude is 1948 metres, has now been replaced onstage 15 with the Col d'Agnel, whose altitude is 2744. The route change has also forced the reduction in length of the stage from 216km to 185. Tour organisers made the decision after speaking to local authorities, and after speaking to the relevant departmental authorities have now modified the race route. The statement added: "The risk of falling rocks on about four kilometres of the course was known for several months and all the parties concerned were trying to find a solution. "Unfortunately, three months before the start of the Tour, the work considered could not guarantee the necessary security for the passage of the race, and based on the time necessary for the study of a new course, it was decided to change the itinerary." Embrun will also play host to the start of the race's fifth and final day of racing in the high mountains, the 17th stage to the legendary Alpe d'Huez.

D-Day in Normandy

2008-04-09T16:22:00.000-07:00

Well, its still a little ways off yet, but here is some info for anyone planning a visit to Normandy this coming June 5th and 7th. No 6th you say? The actual D-Day is of course June 6th, but most sites are reserved for media, dignitaries, and veterans. June 6th is not a visit day, but if you go to the region, you could spend a great day in Bayeux or Caen around these other 2 days:

D-DAY FESTIVAL
FROM 5th TO 7th OF JUNE 2008
Free entrance

A PROGRAMME OF FESTIVITIES TO CELEBRATE FRANCE’S LIBERATION!

Thursday 5th of June:

Longues-sur-Mer: « The night they arrived » Tribute evening
11 pm Grand musical firework display: at the top of the cliff, dominating the landing beaches to the east and west, we fill this site with fireworks, military displays and the big band hits of 1944.
Organised by the Tourist Office of Bayeux-Bessin (0033 231 21 46 87)

Saturday 7th of June:

Bayeux: « Bayeux, first liberated city of France »
9.30 am to 12.30 pm Allies’ Camp: Next to the Musée Mémorial de la Bataille de Normandie, visit the recreation of a military camp of June 1944, including vehicles that will be presented during the Parade.
Organised by the Musée Mémorial de la Bataille de Normandie (0033 231 51 46 90)

4 pm Big parade of 1940’s vehicles: Relive the Liberation’s atmosphere with a parade in the town centre with vehicles that have participated during the landing.
Co-organised by the Musée Mémorial de la Bataille de Normandie (0033231514690) and the Tourist Office of Bayeux-Bessin (0033 231 51 28 28)

7 pm Liberation’s evening: Within the framework of the Normandy Day, take part to the Liberation’s picnic (bring your own picnic) and to a musical and dancing dinner.
Organised by the town hall of Bayeux (0033 231 92 03 30)

MulitSport Provence

2008-03-28T16:12:00.001-07:00

Cycling, hiking, canoeing, mountain biking in Provence! A new multisport trip that we are finalizing will offer a day of road cycling from Avignon to the Pont du Gard area in Provence. The next day will be a canoe trip on the Gardon River, the same river that runs under that famous Pont! We'll pick you up and transfer you to St Remy, and then the next day you hike in the Alpilles to Baux de Provence. Then, the next day we include a taxi transfer to the Luberon area near Apt where you will jump on a mountain bike with GPS to ride the Provencal 'Colorado'! The last day, the next day is a trip to an adventure park for some zip lines, climbing ropes, and more.

This trip isn't yet on our website but should be soon. Though it sounds hard core, it isn't. The Gardon river is relatively flat so the canoeing is pretty gentle and the cycling is too. No technical single track for the MTB, although there could be if someone wanted it! This trip will be a great cross section of activities as well as sites in Provence. We don't offer too many trips that cover both the Luberon and Gard areas. To pull it off we need some taxi transfers and different sorts of equipment, so that adds a little to the price, which will be 1330 euros/person based on double occupancy. Until its posted, contact us for details!

Strong Euro

2008-03-19T08:52:00.000-07:00

Here we go again; this time I put out a link to MSNBC geared mostly to Americans going abroad. We have published many of these tips over time. Here it is anyway:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23599512/

Here are my unfiltered comments on these tips:

1. Skip the UK, especially London if you want to save any money! Sorry old chaps, its a fact that the British pound is very high and London costs are out of sight!

2. Paying $US in advance and locking that rate - this is always converted from Euros, so don't think its a savings right away; it will only work out for you if you prepay in $US and the $US continues to lose value after that. If it gains value, then you will have paid too much.

3. Tip numbers 6&7 are excellent - its worth a lot of money to do your homework in advance; study your credit card fees/services.

4. Sleeping on the train - good luck! You can save a hotel night, but don't think you'll sleep unless you can sleep through noise, lights, intrusions, among strangers, etc, etc...

5. Breakfast - take it at the hotel and chow down. You will not save buying a cafe and croissant on the street - you get little for the same price outside the hotel.

6. Location of lodging - the last tip is a very dubious. You want to go to Paris, see the city of light on a once in a lifetime trip and ride the RER line with commuters out and back each day? Stay in the suburbs where nothing happens? Forget it. Go down a notch in star quality, but don't leave this city. Maybe some other capitals its ok, but I can't think of one right now.

Story about Heros

2008-03-10T13:37:00.000-07:00

I pass along a story that came to me today. This is from a local guy and group of cyclists I occassionally go out to ride with. It was passed on by a team mate from our amateur team. While I had planned to make a post about cycling in Europe this summer, this is something I want to share. I think we have all heard stories and seen lots of press about Lance Armstrong. I have voiced some opinions in this blog over the years, but here is one story that won't make the news:

****************

Please take time to read the following excerpt from Marc's blog. You can read more about Marc's own story on his web site, www.10-hours.com or www.triscottsdale.org.

What is a Hero? Some believe a Hero is one who is admired or idealized for courage or outstanding achievements. I think that definition holds true most of the time but it does not completely encompass who/what a Hero does. For example, to a child his/her mother or father is often a Hero. But there is more. How can a person who is a Hero to one become a Hero to all. In my mind's eye, a Hero has to be bigger than life. He can do things that no one else can do. Let me share a story about a Hero.

This is a sad story. As I was walking out the door and heading for Masters swim, an email popped up across my iPhone that said 'Help'. I decided to read it. It was a forward from a friend of mine. My interest was peaked as I read 'Phoenix Children’s Hospital' in the header. I then read a sad story about a seven-year-old boy who unfortunately will likely not make it through this weekend. One line caught my attention. The line stated this child’s dying wish. It read, in essence, 'There is no time for a trip to Disney World, etc. or any other exotic locale.' The letter went on to explain that the child was from a family of biking enthusiasts and that this child had one wish and that was to talk to Lance Armstrong.

Well. Lewis was waiting for me and I told him about the email and we both talked about life’s uncertainties and just how lucky we were to not be facing these problems. I thought of my kids and reflected on the hell that this child’s family must be going through. And, I thought about how impossible it would be for us to get this to happen.
I then asked Lewis if he knew of anyway to get in touch with Lance. Just a few years ago, Lance and Lewis rode together and had a few meals together. Lewis wasn't sure at the moment. Then I thought of a friend who did indeed know Lance. I called her, we discussed the email, and I sent the email to her. A few minutes later she called me crying about the child’s plight. A moment after that she asked me for the child’s home phone number. (We knew he was at home because Phoenix Children’s Hospital discussed how Hospice was staying with him at his home.) She told me, 'no promises' but that she would get this information to Lance. I thought, 'Cool we got the info out there. It is highly unlikely that anything will happen.' Anyway, the next day I received an email from the lady at Phoenix Children’s Hospital confirming that Lance did indeed call this child. The email explained that it was this type of thing that made her job. Her job was fulfilling the wishes of these unfortunate kids.

How freaking cool is that. First, that someone spends their days and nights helping children and their families in perhaps their most challenging times and second, that Lance actually called.

I was shocked that someone actually did this stuff. You hear about these stories from time to time but they never happen to you. I was overwhelmed that he actually called this child. Lance Armstrong was a Hero of mine before this but now he is a Hero for so many more reasons. I pray that this child had a happy moment talking to his Hero.
Thanks,
Marc S.Rubin

Carbon Neutral & Verifiable

2008-02-28T12:16:00.000-08:00

In 2008, LRB Flagship, which owns the brands Pure Adventures, Discover France, and Cycling Classics is continuing its commitment to the environment and to conservation. We joined Sustainable Travel International (STI) in 2006 and starting purchasing the carbon offsets to make tours carbon neutral for all tours in 2007. We are continuing again in 2008. Some may ask, "What does this mean, exactly?"

We are pleased to say that because we buying offsets through STI, we have verifiable projects that are making measurable differences. Our program in 2008 is the purchase of Green-e Certified Green Tags; they are USA Renewable Energy projects. Specifically: Bonneville Environmental Foundation (BEF) Green Tags are also known as renewable energy certificates (REC) which are market based commodities representing 1,000 kilowatt hours (1 Megawatt hour) of electicity generation from renewables such as solar, wind, hydro, and biomass. The tags meet strict criteria including Green-e certification. (http://www.green-e.org/) The following projects are receiving support from the dollars we contribute when you purchase a tour:

White Creek Wind Project - 205 MW wind farm in Roosevelt, WA. USA
Condon Wind Project - 49.8 MW wind farm near Condon, OR. USA
Foote Creek Wind Project - multi-phase wind farm in Carbon County, WY. USA
A host of other wind projects located in the USA are also recipients; for a full list and details, please visit the STI website on this link.

What else does LRB Flagship do to minimize environmental impact?

1. we eliminated brochures in 2003; all of our tour listings and details are online, among these pages, and we make every effort to be available quickly by email and phone to answer questions so as to make brochures unnecessary for booking a trip.

2. travel documentation is sent electronically cutting down on huge amounts of paper and shipping.

3. tours are mostly self-guided which means that support vehicles are not in service most of the time.

4. in the host country, we do our best to work with suppliers and properties that also adhere to ecological, low impact ways of doing business. It certainly isn't always available, but where it is, we try to reward those businesses with your patronage.

5. the staff and owners do their part to live lightly and conserve. We are not eco-warriors, just concerned citizens of the planet doing what we can to rethink how we get things done. We believe that a little contribution by everyone will make a big impact and doing so doesn't require an unreasonable sacrifice.

We are putting money behind our convictions. Certainly, carbon contributions from a cycling and hiking tour are very small by comparison to other forms of travel. Nonetheless, we are pledging $9000US worth of offsets to make our trips carbon neutral, and we don't see this as negligible and something to be considered when comparing our tours to the competition. We hope you believe in the value of this and take pride in knowing your trip isn't making the planet worse!

New Cycling Tour in Belgium

2008-02-21T08:22:00.000-08:00

Think of Belgium and 3 things come to mind: cycling, beer, chocolate! Or, if you are a war history buff, then maybe that comes in top 3 as well. So, the home country of the greatest cyclist Eddy Merckx forms the basis for a new challenging cycling tour we have designed for 2008.

In the past years we have tried under our brand Cycling Classics to get people to the actual Spring Classics in April, but that only saw limited success. So, for 2008, we open up the travel dates from April through September and offer a self guided trip any time. The routes are challenging and include the cobblestones of Tour de Flanders as well as some of the key climbs of that one day classic. We also incorporate the Eddy Merckx cycling route as well, and pack it all into a complete 4 night/ 5 day package! It is somewhat similar to our more leisure cycling trip listed on Pure Adventures, but the rides are much more challenging: longer, harder, and 'classic' - just like the pro spring races!

DL Airlines to Start NYC-LYON June 3

2008-02-20T13:19:00.000-08:00

Delta airlines will start direct service from New York to Lyon on June 3, 2008. This is apparently in response to strong demand. The new service will get people to the foot of the Alpes much quicker and with rail access available from Lyon St Exupery airport, its easy to go north or south by TGV.

This new date of June 3 is 6 weeks earlier than planned. The new space is now available for booking.

New Tour: Hiking Amalfi Coast

2008-02-13T14:51:00.000-08:00

Naples & the Amalfi Coast conjure up images of the easy life along the beautiful Mediterranean coastline of Italy where sun, sea, and easy living rule. Well, perhaps but don’t forget that famous Mediterranean cuisine an the wine! More than that though for visitors, the Amalfi Coast is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and combined with the historical center of Naples and the site of Pompei this trip offers so much to see and appreciate all the while hiking the countryside.

This is a new trip introduced for 2008 and is operated as a self guided format. Pure Adventures specializes in self guided hiking and cycling tours and has published articles delineating the differences between self guided, guided, and self contained trips. In high Euro value times, the self guided formula is a great option to visit Italy and keep costs under control.

The tour starts in Naples with an arrival transfer and orientation to a lovely 4 star hotel in central Naples. From here the first hikes include Vesuvius, Pompeii and the Isle of Capri. Participants then get a transfer to Minori on the Amalfi Coast and from there can enjoy hikes to discover Ravello and its historic Duomo. There is Positano and in between the villages are hikes among coastline and impressive sites such as the Saint Dominic Monastery perched along the mountainsides.
This weeklong experience ends with a transfer back to Naples. Priced at 1255 euros per person (approx $1800US), the trip includes deluxe 4 star lodging, transfers, ferry boats, breakfast daily, local logistical and technical support, route maps and cue sheets as well as detailed pre travel information and Italy travel services. See http://www.pure-adventures.com/tours/hiking-amalfi.php for details and booking.

####

Coincidentally, a big Canadian tour company announced a new Amalfi Coast Walking tour this week also. Their guided trip price? Over $8500 per person. !!!

Calling Canadian Cyclists - From Belgium with Love

2008-02-07T08:39:00.000-08:00

The excerpt below is from a Canadian client who points out some of the highlights on our Belgium cycling tour which can be seen at this link:
http://www.pure-adventures.com/tours/cycling-belgium.php

*************
(photo: daily ceremony at Menin Gate)

Canada and Belgium have a special relationship going back to the two great World Wars. This tour will take you to Ypres where you can pay respects at Passchendaele, Sanctuary Wood, and the monument to the formation of the Princess Patricia Light Infantry first formed in 1914 and still serving in such places as Afghanistan. The moving nightly ceremony at the Ypres Menin Gate will reveal to you the names of over 6000 Canadians whose bodies could not be found after the battles. Tyne Cot Cemetary,a Commonwealth site, shows the care Belgium has put into remembering soldiers who defended it in the Great War. In Brugge a cab driver turned off his meter and drove us to "Canada Bridge" where Canadian Soldiers defended Brugge from Nazi incursion during the 2nd War. Along the Canal from Brugge to Ghent World War Two bunkers still exist right beside the cycle path. Belgium has the best marked cycle routes in Europe, good food and lodging, and wonderful people. We also toured the Loire/ Cher in France and it should not be missed either.
My wife and I have passed mid-sixties and hope our legs hold out for at least one more tour. The question is what can we choose that can compare with our experiences in Belgium and the Loire. If you choose Belgium I challenge you two read a book about Ypres or Paschdaele first. If you choose the Loire read "Suite Francaise" by Irene Nemerosky (a 2007 best seller in Canada).
Happy riding and thank you Pure Adventures for planning great routes..

David Stallwood

Taking Your Cell (Mobile) Phone Abroad

2008-02-03T06:25:00.000-08:00

On our self guided tours we are always available by telephone for support, help with logistics, and technical matters or needed changes and service. Since it is self guided, and there is not SAG vehicle, the way to reach us is by phone. We are in the local area, but if you are in the countryside and more than a short walk to the nearest village, then you want to have your mobile phone. We offer rentals to most of our clients - depending on where you live, but many are wanting to bring their own phones. Here is some very useful info published by the Los Angeles Times written mostly for Americans, but it is certainly useful for others as well:

http://travel.latimes.com/articles/la-tr-info3feb03

Will my cellphone work abroad?
That depends on your destination and the type of phone you have. A GSM (Global Systems for Mobile communications) phone is the most widely used cellphone network. The largest service providers in the U.S. are AT&T and T-Mobile. GSM phones will work in Mexico, Canada, Europe, Australia, Africa and most of Asia and onboard some cruise ships. If you are traveling to South America, check with your provider.
What do I need to do in advance of my trip?
Once you determine that your cellphone will work at your destination, call your service provider and make sure you have turned on the option for "international roaming."
How much will it cost to use my cellphone to make and receive calls abroad?
A lot. AT&T, for instance, charges $1.29 per minute for standard international roaming to Canada, Mexico and Britain (www.wireless.att.com/travelguide). If you are planning on doing a lot of international travel, you might consider signing up for a plan with reduced rates. With AT&T, it costs $6 per month and drops to 99 cents per minute.
What about renting a cellphone with a local number for my destination?
This can be cost-efficient if you plan on making local calls or receiving a lot of calls. Many countries don't charge for receiving calls. You can rent a cellphone for delivery to your home address in the U.S. using a service such as Playa del Rey-based Cellular Abroad (www.cellularabroad.com). Many airports abroad have shops where you can rent a phone and return it on your way home. The advantage: You have a cheap way of receiving any calls and making local calls. The disadvantage: The people calling you from home incur long-distance charges.
What about SIM cards?
For the technologically unafraid international traveler, a SIM card may be a good solution. It's a small, removable chip in your cellphone that contains information about its phone number, and it can be programmed with a prepaid number of minutes of use. A SIM card will provide you with a local number for the country you're in. You install it on your personal cellphone. The caveat -- and it's a big one -- is that the cellphone must be "unlocked." Check with your cellphone provider to see whether your phone is unlocked and, if not, whether it can be.
Can I use text messaging on my cellphone abroad?
Yes, assuming your phone works in the country you are traveling to and international roaming has been enabled. But it's not cheap. AT&T, for example, charges 50 cents per text message sent.
Can I check my e-mail using a data-enabled cellphone abroad?
You can check your e-mail with your Blackberry or iPhone while abroad, but it can get expensive fast. AT&T charges about 2 cents a kilobyte of data. An e-mail of about 100 words of text only is about 4 KB, so that'll set you back only 8 cents. But adding attachments or a photo can crank the size up to 1 MB (1,000 KB) or more -- or $20 for one e-mail with a large attachment.
OTHER WAYS YOU CAN STAY IN TOUCH
What is VOIP and can I use it abroad?
Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP) is the acronym for phone services such as Skype ( www.skype.com) and Vonage ( www.vonage.com) that use computers and the Internet for making phone calls. Using VOIP while abroad is probably the cheapest way to stay in voice contact. A call on Skype to a U.S. land line anywhere in the world is only 2 1/2 cents a minute. Even better, calls between Skype members are free. Travelers can make calls using their VOIP accounts from any computer with high-speed Internet access that has the software.
Do I need a computer to make VOIP calls?
No. If you have a Smartphone or phone with Windows Mobile, you can download Skype to it and make VOIP calls whenever you are connected to a Wi-Fi network. (Apple iPhone users, unfortunately, are out of luck for now. Apple doesn't allow third-party applications on its phone.) Skype also offers Wi-Fi phones for between $100 to $150. I tried a Netgear phone on my home network, and the quality was equivalent to a cellphone. It works with any open Wi-Fi network and with secured networks to which you have access.
How can I find Wi-Fi hot spots?
JiWire ( www.jiwire.com) has a listing of more than 220,000 free and paid Wi-Fi hot spots in 135 countries.
How can I find Internet cafes while traveling?
Internet cafes are a great way to cheaply check e-mail and keep in touch. They are virtually everywhere in cities of any size in Europe. You can find them by checking at Cyber Cafes (www.cybercafes.com), which has a database of more than 4,200 Internet cafes in 141 countries, or World66 (www.world66.com).

Beware Surcharges!

2008-01-28T09:33:00.000-08:00

The Seattle Times reported that tour companies are adding surcharges to the cost of their European offers. Well, not us!

Why? The Euro has increased so much in value against the US dollar that American customers are getting dinged to cover this differential. We saw the potential for this problem several years ago and changed our pricing to Euros. Not to mention that it helps all of our international clients use a common currency and translate into their own local currency. Of course, the cost of your trip will change daily as the value of the Euro changes relative to every world currency. It goes up and it goes down! How many of the dollar priced tour operators give a reduction when the Euro loses value? Take a wild guess!!

The problem of trying to imagine what the future costs of the Euro will be are many. The safest bet a tour company can make is to artificially factor currency costs. When trips are priced in fall for the next year, and brochures have to be printed with a fixed tour price, one can only guess at how the currency can change. If in September (or even earlier) the value of the dollar to Euro is 1.35 it could easily be 1.5 by March or April of the next year - as we have seen this year. That is unprecented but it is also the modern age of world currency markets and the daily roller coaster it has become. What is a tour operator to do? If they didn't guess at 1.5 or higher, they are cutting into their profit. Voila - the surcharge! Now, if by July rates are down around 1.4 and the guess was 1.5 will there be any cutting - nope! Because by September again it could be 1.5.

We eliminated all this with tour prices in the same currency as our cost basis. Profit is calculated and preserved. Our clients get the currency valuation on the day they pay which is in the market on that day. We don't have to make money or lose money on future bets for currency which incidentally causes inflated pricing for consumers in some cases.

Italy Cycling Tours - Promotion through May

2008-01-25T08:19:00.000-08:00

Save 50 Euros per person on any Italy cycling tour we offer if travel is booked and completed by May 31, 2008. Applies only to new bookings from January 25th. If you aren't in the Euro zone then here is what you save:

$CAD: $75

$USA: $75

$AUS: $84

$NZ: $95

PER PERSON - that will buy a few bottles of wine and/or a few dinners! With a strong Euro, every little bit helps! For a couple this is more than $150 depending on your currency, and nothing to sneeze at!

4 Night Tuscany normally 1055 euros/person

6 Night Tuscany normally 1395 euros/person

6 Night Umbria normally 1395 euros/person

Each of these tours above is a self guided trip; so you can choose any dates you want. If you wonder what its like to cycle in Tuscany & Umbria; note that its not easy! We recommend this trip as a moderately challenging tour with a fair amount of hilly rides with just about all rides finishing at a hilltop village. And THAT is the reward for your work - charming perched villages filled with history and Italian 'dolce vita'.

Tuscany is still a very HOT commodity and among the most sought after destinations still in Europe. Traveling before June is actually ideal because smaller crowds and mild weather are much more pleasing.

Also, applicable in this savings offer is a Biking & Cooking Tour! This is a guided tour and takes place on the dates of May 10-17, 2008. IF this should interest anyone, please contact us by email!

Pure Adventures Rated Among Best Outfitters

2008-01-23T13:01:00.000-08:00

Pure Adventures was rated by National Geographic Adventure magazine among the best outfitters for 2008. We are a self-guided travel company offering something different than most companies, and so notable for us is the very high customer service rating we received. A link is above and on the sidebar.

Way to go team!