Travel Team Travel Secrets

Big Ben is Leaning

noreply@blogger.com (The Travel Team) — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 20:42:00 +0000

Surveyors have found that the British Parliament's Clock Tower, located in the Palace of Westminster and better known as Big Ben, is leaning.

The 96-meter tall clock tower, which houses the bell originally nicknamed Big Ben, leans about 46 cm to the left of its peak. The House of Commons Commission is meeting today to discuss the matter and will conduct an investigation on how repairs could be made. Renovation work on the Palace of Westminster is not scheduled to begin until 2020.

The commission said the Palace remained structurally sound. The clock tower was completed in 1859. In 1976 pendulum weights fell down a shaft and the clock mechanism exploded, putting it out of action for almost nine months. Although the tilt is nothing as pronounced as that of the famous Leaning Tower of Pisa in Italy, it can still be spotted by the naked eye.

Contact a Professional Travel Agent to book your next Europe trip!

Planning a Trip to Europe? How About a European Cruise?

noreply@blogger.com (The Travel Team) — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 20:32:00 +0000

If you're planning to travel to Europe anytime soon, you should consider taking a cruise! There are so many European Cruise options available these days, whether you're interested in seeing the Norwegian fjords, or the Mediterranean coastline, there are cruises for every interest and price range!

Imagine seeing Holland’s windmill-studded tulip fields or Germany’s fairy-tale castles, from the engineering marvel of the Main-Danube Canal to the picturesque vineyards of Austria’s Wachau Valley, all via a cruise!

Or sail through the Greek Isles, where white-washed churches point tilted Greek crosses heavenward in skies of brilliant blue, while sun worshippers bask on the powdery beaches.

There are some great Spring & Summer rates on European Cruises this year, seven-night cruises through Italy, Tunisia, Spain and Morocco start at just $799 per person! Fifteen-day cruises along the Rhine, Danube and Main rivers start at just $3,400 per person!

Contact a Cruise Specialist today for more information!

Non-Stop Atlantic Flights Stopping for Fuel

noreply@blogger.com (The Travel Team) — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 19:05:00 +0000

According in an article in the Wall St. Journal, dozens of Continental Airlines flights from Europe to the United States East Coast are being forced to make unexpected stops in Canada, and elsewhere, to take re fuel after running into unusually strong headwinds over the Atlantic Ocean.

The winds from the west have been exceptionally strong in the past few months, causing delays and inconvenience for thousands of passengers in recent weeks. Another part of the problem is the decision by United Continental to use smaller jets on a growing number of long, trans-Atlantic routes. It works fine when the winds are calm.

The smaller jets, Boeing 757s, use less fuel and fewer crew members, though they have fewer seats as well, but they are pretty much at their limit of a 4,000 nautical-mile range. This leaves little room for error when the winds are strong and increase the fuel burn for the two engine planes.

In December, United reported the 757s had to stop 43 times out of nearly 1,100 flights headed to the US. The resulting delays can cause passengers to miss connections, have forced overnight stays in hotels and involves passenger compensation. Most of the stops have been in Iceland, Ireland, and Albany and Steward have also received some of the flights. The headwinds are the strongest in at least 10 years, and are caused by El Nina.

Tips For Traveling With Kids

noreply@blogger.com (The Travel Team) — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 21:50:00 +0000

Traveling with kids can be a very stressful experience, but it doesn’t have to be. With these simple tips, your family trip can be a fun and enjoyable experience for the entire family, creating wonderful memories for life!

Allow plenty of time. With kids in tow, it will take longer to get through airports, get checked in, bathroom stops, etc, so make sure to plan for it.

Travel during off-peak days and times. If possible, try to travel during the slower times, when the airports are less crowded and planes are not completely full. These are typically Monday-Thursday mornings, and not over major holidays such as Thanksgiving, Christmas or spring break.

Use the bathroom. Make sure to have little ones use the bathroom before boarding the plane. Sometimes it can be a while before you are allowed to get out of your seat in a plane, or before the next rest area, so try to plan in advance.

Something to chew on. Bring something for kids to chew on or drink during take-off and landing, to help avoid their little ears from popping. Bring gum or hard candies for older kids, chewy candies or juice boxes for younger kids, and either breastfeed or give a bottle to babies during take-off and landing.

Keep kids on a schedule. Everyone knows that kids are happiest when kept on a regular schedule. This also goes for vacations, the better you do with keeping the regular meal times and bedtimes, chances are the happier your kids will be too!

Comfy clothes. Whether you will be travelling by car or plane, it is always wise to wear layers of comfy clothes. Layers are helpful in case of temperature changes in the plane. Also make sure to bring a change of clothes for children and at least a spare top for adults, because you just never know what might be spilled or spit up on you!

Burn off steam. It can be tough for anyone to remain seated for hours at a time in a confined space, especially for kids! Make sure to give your children opportunities to run around, whether it’s at airports, rest stops, or even walking up and down the aisle on the airplane.

Keep them busy. Since the attention span of most young children is about 20-30 minutes, make sure to bring a variety of things for kids to do on a plane, or in a car, such as: books, coloring books and crayons, music CD’s and player, portable DVD player. Sometimes packing a few new “travel toys” can be a fun idea too!

Bring healthy snacks. It is important not to load kids up on sugar during long trips, as it just makes it harder for them to remain seated. Some ideas for healthy snacks that travel well are: fresh fruit (bananas, apples or grapes), veggie sticks, cheese sticks, crackers, dried fruit or cheerios.

Don’t over pack. Sure you want to be comfortable and have all the necessities for your family while on vacation. However, try to distinguish what is actually a necessity and what is not. You don’t want to be stuck lugging ten suitcases through busy airports.

Contact a Professional Travel Agent today to start planning your next Family Vacation!

Tibet Building World's Highest Altitude Airport

noreply@blogger.com (The Travel Team) — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 19:04:00 +0000

Tibet will start construction on the world's highest-altitude airport next year. The airport will be built at an altitude of 4,436 meters above sea level.

It is going to be in Nagqu prefecture, and will be 102 meters higher than Bamda Airport in Tibet's Qamdo prefecture, which is currently the worlds’ highest. The airport will cover an area of up to 267 hectares. The airport is expected to cost $285 million with a three-year construction period.

Regional aviation authorities will add more flights next year to connect major cities in Tibet and also link the plateau region with other major cities nationwide.

Contact a Professional Travel Agent to book your next trip to China.

FAA's New Rules to Help With Pilot Fatigue

noreply@blogger.com (The Travel Team) — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 20:41:00 +0000

The FAA has updated airline pilots work rules, some of which go back to the 1960's. The new rules came out after a crash at Buffalo nearly three years ago, and an investigation that found the two pilots were exhausted and shouldn't have been flying.

The new rules reflect the need for rest and how night shifts and traveling through time zones can increase errors. Carriers have two years to adapt to the new rules.

The new rules limit the maximum time a pilot can be scheduled to be on duty, including wait time before flights and administrative duties, to between nine and 14 hours. The total depends on the time of day pilots begin their first flight and the number of time zones crossed. The maximum amount of time pilots can be scheduled to fly is limited to eight or nine hours, and pilots would get a minimum of 10 hours to rest between duty periods, a two-hour increase over the old rules. The minimum amount of time off between work weeks will be increased 25 percent, and there will be new limits on how many hours per month pilots can fly. Pilots flying overnight would be allowed fewer hours than pilots flying during the day.

It is interesting that cargo pilots are not included in the new rulings. The FAA said forcing cargo carriers to reduce the number of hours their pilots can fly would be too costly when compared with the safety benefits. Those companies that contract for military charters are included in the new rules. The rule will require pilots to sign a statement before each flight stating that they are rested and fit for duty.

Italy's New High-Speed Train Coming Next Year

noreply@blogger.com (The Travel Team) — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 21:45:00 +0000

Europe's first privately owned high-speed rail operator has introduced its Italo AGV train, which will compete early next year against the Italian state-owned network.

Nuovo Trasporto Viaggiatori(NTV)has ordered 25 trains from France's Alstom of the latest AGV generation, which has set a speed record of 575 kph and will run at up to 300 kph between Rome and Milan. Services will later be extended to take in Naples and Salerno in the south, as well as Turin and Venice in the north.

The 11-carriage trains offer three classes, with constant Wi-Fi throughout provided by satellite transmission. One carriage is a dedicated 39-seat cinema. All carriages also offer satellite TV through Internet provided by 21 Net, an Anglo-Belgian company.

“This is the most modern train in Europe. We are the first to use this train,” said Luca di Montezemolo, chairman of NTV, at the unveiling ceremony at Nola.

Contact a Professional Travel Agent today to book your next Europe vacation!

World's Oldest Commissioned Warship to Get $25M Restoration

noreply@blogger.com (The Travel Team) — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 18:48:00 +0000

HMS Victory, the world's oldest commissioned warship will undergo a restoration to restore the iconic battleship. It will be the most extensive restoration to HMS Victory in more than 200 years, when she underwent repairs following the Battle of Trafalgar.

BAE Systems has been contracted to carry out the works for five years with an option to extend the work for a further five years. HMS Victory was commissioned in 1778 and during three decades of service she saw some of the most legendary clashes. She's the only surviving warship from the American War of Independence, the French Revolutionary War and the Napoleonic wars. But it’s the Battle of Trafalgar in the Napoleonic Wars for which she is most well-known. As Lord Nelson's flagship, HMS Victory served at the front of the battle on the Spanish coast.

Only 20% remains of the original ship that is currently located in Portsmouth, England. The structure of the 246-year-old warship still marvels modern day experts. The outside of the hull will be re-planked, repairs will be made to the masts and work will be carried out on the interior. Much of the restoration will be done by hand using traditional specialist skills, particularly when it comes to carving and shaping the wood. They hope to be able to train new apprentices so that the art of repairing these types of ships is not lost.

This historic beauty can be seen at the Portsmouth Historic Dockyard,open everyday throughout the year, except on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day.

Australia to Create World's Largest Marine Reserve

noreply@blogger.com (The Travel Team) — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 18:56:00 +0000

Australia's Environment Ministry says it will create the world's largest marine reserve in the Coral Sea. The Ministry says the area has shallow reefs that support tropical ecosystems with sharks, coral, sponges and many fish species.

The proposal includes seas beyond the already protected Great Barrier Reef Marine Park off northeast Australia. The reserve would cover almost 400,000 square miles. Fishing would be allowed in parts of the reserve. The proposal announced in a ministry statement last Friday is now open for a 90-day comment period.

The protected zone would cover an area more than one-and-a-half times the size of France. New fishing limits would be imposed and exploration for oil and gas banned. The sea off the Queensland coast in north-east Australia is also the resting place of three US navy ships that sunk in the Battle of the Coral Sea in 1942.

Currently the world's largest marine reserve is a 545,000-sq-km area established by the UK around the Chagos Islands in the Indian Ocean. The Coral Sea reserve, if approved, would be approximately 989,842 sq km.

New Technology for Hotel Check-Ins

noreply@blogger.com (The Travel Team) — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 19:17:00 +0000

Holiday Inn has been testing its Mobile Room Key program at it's properties in Houston and Chicago, and plans to expand it at other locations soon.

The program allows guests to bypass the front desk entirely and use their mobile phones as keys. Guests get an email or text prior to arrival that provides them with a room number and a toll-free number. Dialing the number produces an audio chirp that unlocks the door via an audio reader on the lock. Because it's audio and not visual, any phone, smartphone or otherwise, works.

There are other companies working of new ways to streamline the check-in process. One company has developed a registration process where front desk personnel can scan a guest's ID that can will fill in forms and minimize manual entry. The company is working with Accor to implement the technology in Motel 6 and Studio 6 properties across North America.

Visiting The Great Barrier Reef

noreply@blogger.com (The Travel Team) — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 16:00:00 +0000

If you’re planning a trip to the land down under, the Great Barrier Reef is a must-see! The Great Barrier Reef is the world’s single largest coral system. With the broad, shallow continental shelf of tropical northeastern Australia providing an ideal pedestal for growth, this coral complex reaches as far as 160 miles offshore and more than 1,250 miles from north to south. The Great Barrier Reef covers 135,000 square miles and is home to more than 400 types of coral reef, colorful fish and sea life. It can be viewed by boat, plane, helicopter, or underwater observatories.

There are hundreds of tour options available for viewing and experiencing the Great Barrier Reef, something for everyone!

These are some of the Great Barrier Reef Tour options to available:

·Diving. There are several different tours available daily for divers, departing from Cairns and Port Douglas. Tours are typically between 6 – 9 hours, include lunch and the vessels range from small high speed luxury catamarans, to large catamarans that have their own platforms on the outer reef.

·Snorkeling. These tours are very similar to the dive tours, except that you don’t have to know how to dive. They also depart from Cairns and Port Douglas, are usually between 6-9 hours, and have a variety of vessel types to choose from. Many of the snorkel tours can be combined with the dive tours.

·Fishing. While one-third of the Great Barrier Reef park is a no-fishing zone, there are many tours available daily for the other 2-thirds.

·Sightseeing. If you prefer to just relax and stay dry, there are plenty of sightseeing tours available, including semi-submersible boats to platforms featuring underwater observatories.

·Helicopter Tours. Experience a bird’s eye view of the reef with a flight tour! These tours are usually between 30-60 minutes long, and operate year round, subject to weather conditions.

·Great Barrier Reef Cruises. If you want to spend more than just one day on the reef, there are cruise options ranging from 2-7 nights, on sail boats that only hold 10 passengers, or small cruise ships that hold up to 50 passengers.

Contact an Australia Specialist to start planning your dream vacation to Australia today!

New Zealand Deconsecrated Christchurch Cathedral

noreply@blogger.com (The Travel Team) — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 20:44:00 +0000

New Zealanders attended an emotional ceremony yesterday deconsecrating Christchurch
Cathedral, which was destroyed in February's earthquake.

The ceremony paves the way for the building to be partially demolished, and for a new cathedral to be built. The city's shattered cathedral with its broken spire became one of the most striking images after the quake struck.

The city has been sectioned off into color-coded zones, with the red zone, including the cathedral, still being largely off-limits. Officials say it is likely to cost NZ$4m to demolish the parts of the cathedral that cannot be saved, and another NZ$30m to build a new structure. Church leaders said they hoped to have a temporary cathedral in place in time for next Easter.

Even with the devastating earthquake in February, New Zealand is still an amazing place to visit, as most of the country was not affected. Contact a Professional Travel Agent to book your New Zealand vacation today!

Dutch Ban Tourists from Cannabis-Selling Coffee Shops

noreply@blogger.com (The Travel Team) — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 20:20:00 +0000

A new policy by the Dutch government will ban tourists from coffee shops selling cannabis. Only residents will be allowed to get a "cannabis card" to be used when visiting one of the country's 670 licensed coffee shops. Non-Dutch residents will be banned from cannabis-selling coffee shops in southern Netherlands beginning January 1to "spare locals from the nuisance of drug tourism", the justice ministry said Tuesday.

The measure will come into force for the (southern) provinces of Limburg, North-Brabant and Zeeland, the provinces most affected by drug tourism. Under the new policy licensed coffee shops will be considered private clubs with a maximum of 2,000 members limited to Dutch residents who are older than 18. The measures will come into force in the rest of the country in January 2013.

The policy aims to cut down traffic jams, nocturnal disturbances, and the abundance of drug pushers catering to the millions of foreign tourists drawn to the Netherlands by its relaxed marijuana laws. The Dutch government also plans to introduce a policy, coming into force in January 2014, requiring coffee shops to be at least 350 meters away from schools, to keep drug consumption away from children.

10 Luxury Islands You Probably Haven't Heard Of

noreply@blogger.com (The Travel Team) — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 18:23:00 +0000

Original article by By Suzanne Weinstock, Departures.com

Tried-and-true island favorites such as St. Barths and Capri have long been wooing fashionable travelers. But these days, the new prestige in globetrotting lies in exploring far-flung destinations the masses have yet to invade. Even better: a vacation spot so exotic that no one has even heard of it.

"We've been seeing strong interest in remote, off-the-beaten-path destinations," says Scott Wiseman, president of luxury travel company Abercrombie & Kent USA.

Enter a new set of islands in the Indian Ocean, Mediterranean, Caribbean and beyond.

"Private and reassuringly hard-to-get, these islands entice diehard fans to get off the grid," says James Lohan, CEO and co-founder of the boutique hotel website Mr. & Mrs. Smith.

They let vacationers "be the ruler of their own domain and feel like they have discovered someplace unique."

So transition into being a trendsetter by picking a destination that bears some similarities to a familiar favorite. Then prepare to tack on extra travel time, since being an early adopter usually means adding an extra leg of travel. It's the moderate difficulty in getting there that keeps these places exclusive. Are you ready for an island less ordinary?

The entire article can be found here.

Floating Golf Course to be Built in Maldives

noreply@blogger.com (The Travel Team) — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 17:26:00 +0000

A Dutch company has announced plans to build a $500 million floating golf course in the Maldives. The course will feature 18 holes connected by underwater tunnels. The course will be made up of several islands floating in the Indian Ocean, which will
contain two or three holes each.

The floating islands will also be linked to a series of hotels by more underwater tunnels, which will overlook the golf course and surrounding coral reefs. The project will be powered by solar energy with sustainable desalination and water cooling techniques, and will work in co-operation with the Maldives' rising sea levels.

The project is expected to be completed by 2015. The course will be located five minutes from the airport to attract stop-over golfers. There is no word yet on how much a round of golf will cost.

Contact a Professional Travel Agent today to book your Maldives vacation!

Halloween Around the World

noreply@blogger.com (The Travel Team) — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 16:30:00 +0000

Last weekend I took the annual trip out to the Pumpkin Patch with my daughter, to pick some pumpkins that we’ll be carving into jack-o-lanterns. It got me thinking about Halloween. Of course here in the states that means trick-or-treating, lots of candy, costume parties, jack-o-lanterns and spooky movies. But I got curious about what people do in other parts of the world for this holiday, and what other countries even celebrate Halloween. Here’s what I found out.

Halloween is celebrated in North America, Canada and Ireland more than anywhere else in the world.

Ireland is believed to have been the birth place of Halloween. During the eighth century the Catholic Church designated the first day of November as 'All Saints Day’, a day of commemoration for those Saints that did not have a specific day of remembrance. The night before became known as 'All Hallows Eve' which, over time, became known as Halloween.

Carving Pumpkins dates back to the eighteenth century and to an Irish blacksmith named Jack who colluded with the Devil and was denied entry to Heaven. He was condemned to wander the earth but asked the Devil for some light. He was given a burning coal ember which he placed inside a turnip that he had gouged out. The tradition of Jack O'Lanterns was born - the bearer being the wandering blacksmith - a damned soul. Villagers in Ireland hoped that the lantern in their window would keep the wanderer away. When the Irish emigrated in millions to America there was not a great supply of turnips so pumpkins were used instead.

Today the Irish celebrate Halloween very similarly to Americans, with trick-or-treating, parties, and many also have bonfires.

In Mexico, Latin America and Spain, they celebrate “El Dia de los Muertos”, meaning Day of the Dead. Family & friends gather to pray for and remember loved ones who have passed away, and build private altars honoring them. The altars are decorated with candy sculls, flowers, water and other food. This celebration occurs on Nov. 1st and 2nd.

In Belgium, many light candles on Halloween night in memory of deceased relatives.

In Austria some people leave out bread and water on a table at night, as it was once believed it would welcome dead souls back to earth.

Germans put away their knives on Halloween night, as they do not want to risk harm on the returning spirits.

In England, many of the children have recently started trick-or-treating. Although, since it is so new here, many adults, especially older generations, aren’t familiar with it and usually don’t have candy ready to hand out on Halloween.

In China the holiday is called “Teng Chieh”, the Chinese people place food & water in front of photographs of the deceased, and burn bonfires & lanterns as a way to guide the spirits as they travel back to earth on Halloween night.

In Hong Kong it is known as “Yue Lan”, the Festival of the Hungry Ghosts. They believe that spirits roam the world for 24 hours.

If you are interested in celebrating Halloween somewhere else this year, or just want to plan a Fall Vacation, contact a Travel Professional for some great Fall specials today!

Some of the World's Creepiest Places

noreply@blogger.com (The Travel Team) — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 22:03:00 +0000

The world is full of places where the restless spirits of the night linger. Paranormal activity knows no borders and they manifest as eerie voices and creep out of the shadows as apparitions. We have omitted the more familiar sights, like the Tower of London, the Catacombs in Paris and various places throughout New Orleans and Edinburgh, not because their tales of strange and terrifying experiences with the phantom world are any less spooky, but because we simply wanted to share some lesser known places that have a truly unnerving reputation.

Read entire article here.

Contact a Professional Travel Agent to book your next vacation!

New Online Baggage Fee Calculator

noreply@blogger.com (The Travel Team) — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 18:59:00 +0000

Farelogix has unveiled iflybags.com, a new interactive, online baggage calculator.

This new baggage calculator provides travelers with instant access to up-to-date airline checked baggage allowances and fees based on the specific traveler, number and weight of planned checked bags/items, and airline-itinerary specific information.

Users simply enter a basic itinerary and bag details into the iflybags web site and it instantly calculates baggage allowances and fees for travelers. It will also evaluate, optimize and present the best combination of checked bags for multiple travelers on a single itinerary, taking into account traveler frequent flyer status.

The goal with iflybags is to ensure that no traveler arrives at an airport without knowing what their checked baggage allowance and fees will be. The new baggage calculator accesses baggage data from over 300 of the world's airlines, with new carriers being added all the time. To ensure travelers have access to the most up-to-date baggage allowance and fee information, iflybags is updated every hour. Iflybags uses industry-standard data from the Airline Tariff Publishing Company to calculate baggage allowances and fees.

Contact a Professional Travel Agent today to book your next vacation!

Americans Traveling to Europe Might Consider Getting "Smart Card"

noreply@blogger.com (The Travel Team) — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 21:33:00 +0000

It may come as a surprise to many Americans that many businesses in Western Europe are no longer accepting traditional magnetic strip credit cards. They have moved on to the more secure "chip cards", or "smart cards".

These computer-chip-embedded cards transmit encrypted data stored in the card's chip to an electronic processing device. In addition, the cards typically require a PIN code to complete a transaction. Such features make the chip cards much less vulnerable to credit card fraud, which is the main reason they were developed in Western Europe in the first place.

Many automatic machines including train ticket machines and even some restaurants will now only accept the new chip cards. A Travel Team agent found out the hard way during her recent trip to Nice, France, when she tried purchasing a train ticket in the morning before the ticket windows were open, and she was unable to with her magnetic strip card.

If you are planning on traveling to Europe, you might want to consider getting one of these cards before you go. Currently US Bank, Wells Fargo and Chase are offering cards with a smart chip option. Other banks will hopefully folllow soon.

Contact a Professional Travel Agent today to book your next European vacation!

Virgin America Voted Best US Airline Again

noreply@blogger.com (The Travel Team) — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 18:14:00 +0000

Virgin America, took top honors as "Best U.S. Airline" in the prestigious Conde Nast Traveler's 2011 Readers' Choice Awards. The airline has won the award for the fourth consecutive year for its innovative low-fare service. The results of this year's Readers' Choice Awards will be reported in the November issue of Conde Nast Traveler.

The survey is unique for both its size and unfiltered results and reflects the opinions of nearly 30,000 Conde Nast Traveler readers. To thank guests for voting the airline best in America for the fourth year in a row, Virgin America today launches the "You Win Some, You Win Some More" fare sale.

The best foreign airline was Singapore Airlines and the best small airline was OpenSkies. From 1 to 10 here, these are the best US Airlines: Virgin America, JetBlue, Hawaiian, Continental, Delta, Frontier, Southwest, United, Alaska and American.

The best foreign carriers from 1 to 10 are: Singapore, Virgin Atlantic, Emirates, Cathay Pacific, Air New Zealand, Etihad, Korean, Asiana and All Nippon Airways. The est small carriers from 1 to 10 are; Open Skies, Porter Airlines, Air Tahiti Nui, Volaris, SilkAir, WestJet and Air Pacific.

Contact a Professional Travel Agent today to book your next vacation!

A Travel Team Agent Recounts Her Recent Trip to New Zealand

noreply@blogger.com (The Travel Team) — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 16:44:00 +0000

New Zealand Highlights

Queenstown part I

BROWNS BOUTIQUE B&B. Hotel is perched a couple blocks from the center – about a 7 minute walk to town. Front facing rooms have a great view of the town, back rooms look up to the Gondola/ Bob’s Peak. Very friendly staff provides cozy evening fire in the lounge (also with a great view of the city).
Restaurant recommendation: Solera Vino French restaurant – really good

Doubtful Sound

This isn’t as far from Queenstown as one might think, and connections are seamless. Absolutely stunning snow-capped fjords – fewer people visit Doubtful Sound than Milford –50,000 visitors per year to Doubtful Sound versus 500,000 per year to Milford. Also included on the Doubtful Sound tour is a visit to Manapouri Power Station, where you travel down a 2km spiral tunnel to view the underground machine hall. The Power Station utilizes the difference in lake altitude between Lake Manapouri and Doubtful sound (approx. 170 meters) to generate hydro power for the country, and it is considered one of the country’s greatest engineering achievements.

Te Anau

DISTINCTION LUXMORE HOTEL – decent property and location with a terrific full breakfast, and friendly staff. Te Anau is a good stopover point for folks who wish to visit both Doubtful Sound and Milford Sound (i.e. one day for each tour). My purpose in visiting Te Anau was to see the Glowworm Caves. The boat trip to the caves is beautiful, however, when you enter the caves, the walkway slopes down to 4’ of clearance at times (like to do the limbo anyone?) and there is a giant gushing river adjacent to the walkway. It is cold and wet. Not for the faint of heart! Although the venue is quite family friendly and there were a lot of kids present that day.

The Caves tour is from 2:00pm to 4:15pm, and the InterCity coach departs Te Anau at 5:00pm, and arrives Queenstown about 7:45pm

Queenstown part II

Coronet Ski Park (my equipment was rented from Kiwi Discovery Shop in Queenstown). This is a good ski area for both beginner and advanced levels, only a 45 minute drive from Queenstown, and subsequently quite popular. Other ski areas include Remarkables, Treble Cone and Cardrona, which are apparently less crowded than Coronet, where I dodged snow board kamikazes and advanced-level kiddies on school holiday. Frequent buses serve all four ski areas from Queenstown, they are quite convenient.

Queenstown – Wanaka – Haast – Franz Josef

The InterCity Coach driver from Queenstown was friendly and professional, and he made stops about once an hour en route. Wanaka is sort of a Queenstown “light” – a popular resort amongst New Zealanders without the glitterati and glamour of Queentown.

When you reach the town of Haast about 3 hours later, you can see the Tasman Sea, and the road climbs precipitously up the hill with panoramic views.

Our driver stopped at a lovely fish farm near Paringa (one hour north of Haast), and it was like being in a rainforest. The West Coast is truly remote – and driving distances are longer than elsewhere in NZ because of the winding roads. Still it is well worth the trip if clients have the time to explore.

In Franz Josef it is possible to walk to the glacier independently to view it. If you wish to climb the glacier, however, it is necessary to go with a tour guide. I stayed at PUNGA GROVE Lodge – friendly property, close to restaurants and the Glacier Hot Pools.

Franz Josef – Greymouth - Christchurch

The coach trip from Franz Josef to Greymouth is through more rainforest country. The stop in Hokitika is well worth it – you can dip your toes in the Tasman Sea or visit the New World grocery story to stock up on goodies. And in March Hokitika hosts the Wild Foods festival – with such delights as jellied grasshopper and pigs eyes, alongside traditional New Zealand specialties (not mentioned above)!

Arrival in Greymouth and the transfer to the TranzAlpine train is straightforward and easy. Leaving the coastal area of Greymouth, you ascend through the Otira Tunnel (8.5 kilometers rising at a 3% grade – climbing 250 meters from one end of the tunnel to the other) finally reaching Arthurs Pass at 737 meters above sea level. Commentary on board the TranzAlpine is informative and entertaining.

Christchurch

TERRA VIVE MOTOR LODGE – Only stayed one night, served as a good stopover point from the TranzAlpine train. Spacious room with washer/ dryer in the unit. Proximity to good restaurants as well as the InterCity bus departure to Picton - 5 minute walk. The continental breakfast was exceptional, and the staff at reception were most welcoming.

The central area of Christchurch is unfortunately not open at this time. The city has an eerie quietness to it, and there wasn’t a soul out the evening I was there. Many houses have red notices taped to the front door, meaning the premises are uninhabitable. Walking along I happened to come across the house below, half of which is still standing.

Christchurch – Kaikoura – Picton

Early departure from Christchurch at 7:00 to catch the InterCity bus to Picton. We stopped in Kaikoura for 30 minutes. Kaikoura is a lovely little coastal town.

Inter-Islander Ferry

I splurged and bought the Kaitaki Plus class on the Inter-Islander Fery. Totally worth it – a quiet lounge with comfortable sitting room furniture. Complementary lunch and refreshments, it’s an ideal reprieve in which to relax. The ferry crossing was lovely as we cruised through the Queen Charlotte Sound from Picton. However - the open sea of the Cook Strait is a different story! The stabilizers were working overtime, so the voyage was still pleasant, but I went up on the top deck to get a better view, and heard a fierce howl such that I’ve never heard on a boat before. I didn’t have the courage to stay up top for long!

Wellington

NOVOTEL WELLINGTON on the Terrace, with elevator access to Lambton Quay - the main shopping and dining area. Seventh floor room, it was nice to get a view of the city. Wellington is, in my opinion, the most interesting city in New Zealand. The topography is not unlike San Francisco or Monte Carlo. Due to an earthquake in 1855, half of the waterfront territory that was previously underwater surfaced above ground and become the new waterfront line at Lambton Quay.

Also met with management at Carter Observatory – this is on the Cable Car line near the botanical gardens. Anyone who is interested in the southern night sky would find this fascinating. They also had displays on black holes and expanding universes.

Restaurant recommendation: Great India – authentic and elegant

Contact a New Zealand Specialist today to start planning your next vacation!

The Queen Mary Now a Historical Hotel

noreply@blogger.com (The Travel Team) — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 22:23:00 +0000

The Queen Mary ship, a former ocean liner, has become a member of the Historical Hotels of America. The liner operated from 1936 to 1967, and is now a dockside attraction and historical hotel in Long Beach, California.

To become a member of the Historical Hotels of America, a hotel must be at least 50 years old and listed in or eligible for the National Register of Historic Places or recognized locally as having historic significance.

She is a grand old ship and if you haven't had the pleasure of an overnight stay on her, you should consider it. The hotel has 314 guest rooms, which includes 9 suites. All rooms include modern amenities, such as iPod clock radios and flat-panel televisions.

Contact a Professional Travel Agent to book your next vacation!

Best Places for Fall Foliage in the U.S.

noreply@blogger.com (The Travel Team) — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 21:50:00 +0000

Summer is winding down once again, the days are getting shorter, and the nights a little colder. In most areas of the country, leaves start turning in mid September; however the first two weeks of October is typically the peak for viewing foliage at its best, when leaves are their most brilliant. However, the amount of rain fall in a year also determines when leaves change and are their most intense.

These are some of the most beautiful places for fall foliage in the country.

Massachusetts features some of the best places for fall foliage; Cape Cod, the Berkshires, and the Mohawk trail are also some of the most popular. Visit a small historic village, small seaside town or beautiful rolling countryside.

Vermont enjoys a longer foliage season than most places, which runs from early September through late October. Vermont features some of New England’s most scenic golf courses, and also offers many fall festivals.

New Hampshire has 14 officially designated scenic drives covering over 900 miles. Drive over one of the states’ 50 covered bridges, or enjoy fall activities such as fall fairs or llama trekking.

Wisconsin offers prime fall color from mid-September through mid-October, and a variety of fall activities such as several fall festivals, corn mazes, resort destinations and beautiful fall drives along the Lake Michigan shoreline or through Kettle Moraine State forest.

Michigan offers many opportunities to view changing scenery and colors. Tahquamenon Falls, one of the largest water falls west of the Mississippi, or Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore are just a few. There are also a lot of farmers markets and U-pick fruit and vegetable stands throughout the state in the fall.

10 Helpful Tips for Packing Light

noreply@blogger.com (The Travel Team) — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 17:31:00 +0000

With practically every airline charging fees for checked bags these days, many travelers are trying to find ways to avoid checking bags all together.

Packing light has many advantages besides just avoiding airline fees. For example, you don't have to stand around for an hour waiting for your bags to show up on the baggage carrousel upon arrival at your destination and there's no chance that your bags will be lost or damaged en route. It's also easier to get through busy airports and train stations with fewer and smaller bags, and it makes it simple to take public transportation, rather than relying on high cost taxis and limos.

Here are some tips and suggestions for packing light, and fitting all your travel luxuries into one easy, carry-on bag.

1. Make a Packing List base on items and clothing that you know you'll need on your trip and stick to it! Try to avoid bringing items that you think you might need.

2. Wear layered clothing when you travel, that stretches and breathes giving you more room in your bag.

3. Pack wrinkle-free clothing as much as possible.

4. Rolling your clothes instead of laying them flat in the bag will provide more space.

5. Select one or two color scheme. Sometimes it's a good idea to add a few items with dark patterns, such as plaids as they help hide wrinkles, stains and dirt.

6. Reversible clothing, especially tops, are great choices since they effectively double your clothing choices.

7. Pack clothing that will dry quickly as you may need to wash some items during your trip.

8. Consider using a dual-purpose bag (suitcase/backpack combined) if you're going to be doing a lot of walking.

9. To simplify things for yourself, consider buying toiletries such as shampoo and toothpaste during your trip.

10. Make sure to follow the TSA 3-1-1 Liquid Rules;

Any liquid or gel packed in your carry-on bag must fit in a container that is a maximum of 3 ounces.

1 Quart: Containers carrying your liquids and gels must be packed in a clear, plastic bag that is no larger than 1 quart and has to be able to close completely.

1 Person: Every person is allowed to bring one clear, quart-size bag of properly sized containers noted above. Many stores have increase their supply of toiletries that meet the TSA guidelines.

Contact a Professional Travel Agent today to get started booking your next vacation!

Chocolate Dream Park Opens December 16

noreply@blogger.com (The Travel Team) — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 18:07:00 +0000

The World Chocolate Wonderland opens in Shanghai December 16 through February 19. This is the second location for the Chocolate Wonderland.

It first opened in Beijing in 2010. It will be located on the 3rd floor of Himalayan Center in Pudong District and consists of four areas: World Chocolate Pavilion, Dream Park Theme Pavilion, Pavilion of Chocolate Life and Square of Chocolate and Happiness. Visitors can browse the famous architectural complex, made entirely of chocolate, in Pudong District and Puxi District following the Huangpu River made of chocolate. There will be many chocolate art works referring to Old Shanghai in early 20 century that will be exhibited.