tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-44259248249701452382011-04-23T14:15:48.594+01:00Follow my travels around the world. I bash off on 30-40 trips a year and have visited almost 100 countries. Check out my advice to get the most out of your travels. For more see www.robinmckelvie.com.Robin McKelviehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14397391132309308597noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425924824970145238.post-47336181009755193752010-10-29T19:41:00.002+01:002010-10-29T19:48:44.395+01:002010-10-29T19:48:44.395+01:00If Portugal was once known as the ‘Poor Man of Europe’ then the Alentejo must have been his even poorer long forgotten uncle. This sleepy anachronism borders on the catatonic as I discovered walking from the vast emptiness of the Barragem de Santa Clara reservoir through the vast emptiness of the Baixa Alentejo hills to the vast emptiness of the Alentejo’s sweeping beach strewn coast. My...<br/> <br/> This is a sampler only. Visit my blog at www.robintravelwriter.blogspot.com or my website at www.robinmckelvie.com for more of my travels and top travel tips. <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/sfv1HOr0LEKQuGifN3t4wjhSljE/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/sfv1HOr0LEKQuGifN3t4wjhSljE/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/sfv1HOr0LEKQuGifN3t4wjhSljE/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/sfv1HOr0LEKQuGifN3t4wjhSljE/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/RobinMckelvieTravelWriter?a=z5QD3wbzZPo:mVyT65xZ2mw:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/RobinMckelvieTravelWriter?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/RobinMckelvieTravelWriter/~4/z5QD3wbzZPo" height="1" width="1"/>Robin McKelviehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14397391132309308597noreply@blogger.com1http://robintravelwriter.blogspot.com/2010/10/weird-and-wacky-walking-in-europes.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425924824970145238.post-33276761404323355642010-10-12T08:50:00.000+01:002010-10-12T08:50:19.120+01:002010-10-12T08:50:19.120+01:00If you fear that cruising is all about trawling around on massive floating hotels taking in indistinguishable Caribbean island after indistinguishable Caribbean island then the bijou Spirit of Adventure may just make you think again. Built in Germany in 1980 this stately dame holds a maximum of 348 passengers who enjoy comfy rather than stunningly luxurious cabins. The lack of balconies...<br/> <br/> This is a sampler only. Visit my blog at www.robintravelwriter.blogspot.com or my website at www.robinmckelvie.com for more of my travels and top travel tips. <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/-ePeMTODENvaADAVOZ_N5SBQuSQ/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/-ePeMTODENvaADAVOZ_N5SBQuSQ/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/-ePeMTODENvaADAVOZ_N5SBQuSQ/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/-ePeMTODENvaADAVOZ_N5SBQuSQ/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/RobinMckelvieTravelWriter?a=Un09GkzbGjo:Wm-eebOOqXE:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/RobinMckelvieTravelWriter?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/RobinMckelvieTravelWriter/~4/Un09GkzbGjo" height="1" width="1"/>Robin McKelviehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14397391132309308597noreply@blogger.com0http://robintravelwriter.blogspot.com/2010/10/onboard-spirit-of-adventure.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425924824970145238.post-51189609088328717422010-09-08T20:13:00.000+01:002010-09-08T20:13:43.496+01:002010-09-08T20:13:43.496+01:00Sea planes swooping guests in, a trim whitewashed wooden boathouse seafood restaurant that is so New England, an outdoor infinity pool at the world class spa and a Michelin star chef in the kitchen. They don’t do many resorts like this and they certainly don’t do them in Scotland. Cameron House (www.cameronhouse.co.uk) is truly unique, a fully-fledged international resort nestling just...<br/> <br/> This is a sampler only. Visit my blog at www.robintravelwriter.blogspot.com or my website at www.robinmckelvie.com for more of my travels and top travel tips. <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/L_88JlkcOmtnxP-fwrCYG_2OWrM/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/L_88JlkcOmtnxP-fwrCYG_2OWrM/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/L_88JlkcOmtnxP-fwrCYG_2OWrM/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/L_88JlkcOmtnxP-fwrCYG_2OWrM/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/RobinMckelvieTravelWriter?a=Vo7S3TgGLdI:QxTNmcgBjoM:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/RobinMckelvieTravelWriter?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/RobinMckelvieTravelWriter/~4/Vo7S3TgGLdI" height="1" width="1"/>Robin McKelviehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14397391132309308597noreply@blogger.com1http://robintravelwriter.blogspot.com/2010/09/world-class-resort-hotel-on-bonnie.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425924824970145238.post-41798562258369298092010-06-06T18:55:00.000+01:002010-06-06T18:55:26.035+01:002010-06-06T18:55:26.035+01:00We all love a good spa don’t we? I certainly do and I jumped at the chance to hop down to Gran Canaria as I have heard great things about this wildly beautiful Canary Island’s spas. First up was the Corallium Spa at the Lopesan Costa Melonaras Resort &amp; Spa (www.lopesanhotels.com). At 3,500 square metres this is a huge oasis. The highlight is their ‘Spa Experience Circuit’, which takes you...<br/> <br/> This is a sampler only. Visit my blog at www.robintravelwriter.blogspot.com or my website at www.robinmckelvie.com for more of my travels and top travel tips. <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/URbQ3Bqfbe6qlImfZBuPT-SrnnA/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/URbQ3Bqfbe6qlImfZBuPT-SrnnA/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/URbQ3Bqfbe6qlImfZBuPT-SrnnA/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/URbQ3Bqfbe6qlImfZBuPT-SrnnA/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/RobinMckelvieTravelWriter?a=00MGUefVCIU:6mcjghk6G_k:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/RobinMckelvieTravelWriter?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/RobinMckelvieTravelWriter/~4/00MGUefVCIU" height="1" width="1"/>Robin McKelviehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14397391132309308597noreply@blogger.com0http://robintravelwriter.blogspot.com/2010/06/chilling-out-in-gran-canarias-spas.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425924824970145238.post-42514972646814847932010-05-25T17:24:00.000+01:002010-05-25T17:24:50.975+01:002010-05-25T17:24:50.975+01:001. Shop around – Don’t just compare the budget airlines against the full fare carriers, but check prices against other budget airlines on the same route or from a nearby airport to the same destination. www.whichbudget.com has most budget flights in Europe listed by destination, while www.skyscanner.co.uk compares budget and full fare airlines. 2. Book Early – Snaffling a ticket up early...<br/> <br/> This is a sampler only. Visit my blog at www.robintravelwriter.blogspot.com or my website at www.robinmckelvie.com for more of my travels and top travel tips. <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/PdUimBVKev1VWD8zQE18EzC-WTA/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/PdUimBVKev1VWD8zQE18EzC-WTA/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/PdUimBVKev1VWD8zQE18EzC-WTA/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/PdUimBVKev1VWD8zQE18EzC-WTA/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/RobinMckelvieTravelWriter?a=MN7CuqgCk00:qs9BBvy4cn8:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/RobinMckelvieTravelWriter?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/RobinMckelvieTravelWriter/~4/MN7CuqgCk00" height="1" width="1"/>Robin McKelviehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14397391132309308597noreply@blogger.com1http://robintravelwriter.blogspot.com/2010/05/top-10-ways-to-beat-budget-airlines.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425924824970145238.post-39354215534798701042010-04-28T21:13:00.000+01:002010-04-28T21:13:04.463+01:002010-04-28T21:13:04.463+01:00Just back suntanned and weather beaten from a great day deep in the Angus Glens. I’ve walked all over Scotland, but never really spent time here as it is a cul de sac that ends dramatically with the hulk of the Cairngorms. Up in the hills with some of the guides who will be leading the 24 walks that form the Angus Glens Walking Festival from June 3-6. Rummaged up through the forests in Glen...<br/> <br/> This is a sampler only. Visit my blog at www.robintravelwriter.blogspot.com or my website at www.robinmckelvie.com for more of my travels and top travel tips. <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/srLqnlpPiNLXsELv5hTdsr9IapU/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/srLqnlpPiNLXsELv5hTdsr9IapU/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/srLqnlpPiNLXsELv5hTdsr9IapU/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/srLqnlpPiNLXsELv5hTdsr9IapU/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/RobinMckelvieTravelWriter?a=4xWqklmEGJk:zRfTbkm6X-w:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/RobinMckelvieTravelWriter?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/RobinMckelvieTravelWriter/~4/4xWqklmEGJk" height="1" width="1"/>Robin McKelviehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14397391132309308597noreply@blogger.com0http://robintravelwriter.blogspot.com/2010/04/go-wild-at-this-years-angus-glens.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425924824970145238.post-55451792369141710092010-04-25T19:57:00.001+01:002010-04-25T20:24:49.104+01:002010-04-25T20:24:49.104+01:00Ashgate had me scrambling for an alternative to the Caribbean and I more than found a good substitute with a weekend wrapped in the wild charms of Mid Argyll. Stayed at Taychreggan (www.taychregganhotel.co.uk), an old drovers inn now reinvented as a cosy hotel right down on the edge of Scotland’s longest inland loch, Loch Awe. With their wee boat on hand for forays on the loch and a full size...<br/> <br/> This is a sampler only. Visit my blog at www.robintravelwriter.blogspot.com or my website at www.robinmckelvie.com for more of my travels and top travel tips. <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/EN--vT9H5m5S-v_4EJ99LvD7M40/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/EN--vT9H5m5S-v_4EJ99LvD7M40/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/EN--vT9H5m5S-v_4EJ99LvD7M40/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/EN--vT9H5m5S-v_4EJ99LvD7M40/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/RobinMckelvieTravelWriter?a=c0OmUZ2YGhM:wAn4jdq7tTY:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/RobinMckelvieTravelWriter?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/RobinMckelvieTravelWriter/~4/c0OmUZ2YGhM" height="1" width="1"/>Robin McKelviehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14397391132309308597noreply@blogger.com2http://robintravelwriter.blogspot.com/2010/04/old-sea-dogs-long-lost-celtic-kings.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425924824970145238.post-40840625251706911202010-04-19T19:58:00.003+01:002010-04-19T20:38:40.352+01:002010-04-19T20:38:40.352+01:00(Split) In no particular order here are my top ten European cities that are brilliant for a weekend break, but which don't get the tourist attention that they deserve. That is part of the appeal as visit and you get to be a bit of a pioneer and also enjoy them uncluttered by the tourist hordes. 1. Ljubljana - The bijou Slovenian capital packs a lot in with an old town replete with medieval...<br/> <br/> This is a sampler only. Visit my blog at www.robintravelwriter.blogspot.com or my website at www.robinmckelvie.com for more of my travels and top travel tips. <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/L11UiJ4l7dfV4sR6ABWx--gTdWg/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/L11UiJ4l7dfV4sR6ABWx--gTdWg/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/L11UiJ4l7dfV4sR6ABWx--gTdWg/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/L11UiJ4l7dfV4sR6ABWx--gTdWg/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/RobinMckelvieTravelWriter?a=f7EgE7nyYiQ:p8LWtOuhkik:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/RobinMckelvieTravelWriter?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/RobinMckelvieTravelWriter/~4/f7EgE7nyYiQ" height="1" width="1"/>Robin McKelviehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14397391132309308597noreply@blogger.com3http://robintravelwriter.blogspot.com/2010/04/top-10-unsung-european-cities.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425924824970145238.post-67306215627461911882010-04-19T19:27:00.003+01:002010-04-19T20:37:45.887+01:002010-04-19T20:37:45.887+01:00As a travel writer and Contributing Editor of International Railway Traveler I have been lucky enough to ride most of the world's great trains and railway journeys. Many people still harbour anachronistic images of rail travel as something by its nature downmarket, but you may quickly change your mind when you are reclining in a world of supreme luxury, being pampered to within an inch of...<br/> <br/> This is a sampler only. Visit my blog at www.robintravelwriter.blogspot.com or my website at www.robinmckelvie.com for more of my travels and top travel tips. <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/j1YTgf60wZyBe63U0l-Cm_rRYNg/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/j1YTgf60wZyBe63U0l-Cm_rRYNg/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/j1YTgf60wZyBe63U0l-Cm_rRYNg/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/j1YTgf60wZyBe63U0l-Cm_rRYNg/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/RobinMckelvieTravelWriter?a=llw6dPrVC70:DaxDeWKt-d8:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/RobinMckelvieTravelWriter?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/RobinMckelvieTravelWriter/~4/llw6dPrVC70" height="1" width="1"/>Robin McKelviehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14397391132309308597noreply@blogger.com2http://robintravelwriter.blogspot.com/2010/04/great-railway-journeys-of-world.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425924824970145238.post-60812404691629139062010-04-19T08:28:00.003+01:002010-04-20T17:19:28.059+01:002010-04-20T17:19:28.059+01:00As the global aviation industry goes into meltdown and this week's cruise around the Caribbean disappears like a plume of volcanic dust doesn't seem to the only bright side is&nbsp;that I have more time at home. I'm using it&nbsp;to finally set up my blog. So stick around for various tales from around the world, tips on how to get the most out of your own holidays and other handy features that...<br/> <br/> This is a sampler only. Visit my blog at www.robintravelwriter.blogspot.com or my website at www.robinmckelvie.com for more of my travels and top travel tips. <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/kkSp4a1XKptuIP3E7UHtftVlWvg/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/kkSp4a1XKptuIP3E7UHtftVlWvg/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/kkSp4a1XKptuIP3E7UHtftVlWvg/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/kkSp4a1XKptuIP3E7UHtftVlWvg/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/RobinMckelvieTravelWriter?a=6QpkfbA-g58:vPBtZMqjjTQ:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/RobinMckelvieTravelWriter?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/RobinMckelvieTravelWriter/~4/6QpkfbA-g58" height="1" width="1"/>Robin McKelviehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14397391132309308597noreply@blogger.com0http://robintravelwriter.blogspot.com/2010/04/ashes-to-ashes.html