Plan and book your own travel

Family-Travel-Scoop.com

2012-02-11T10:26:00.000-08:00

This family travel site, Family-Travel-Scoop.com covers all aspects of traveling with your kids, there is no focus on a particular aspect or travel destination it simply covers it all. I challenge you to think of a part of family travel which is not covered here. Can you believe there are even printable activities for kids, each month based on a different country.

Some parents don't travel with kids because there are just so many things to think of, what to take, where will kids and parents enjoy themselves, which hotels cater for kid's needs, the expense, which airlines are kid-friendly and the list goes on, But if you use Family-Travel-Scoop to plan your family vacation it should make your life a lot easier.

On Family-Travel-Scoop.com you can search for what you need from the menu on the landing page. Either search by destination of by topics under Family Travel Advice. At the moment there are almost 50 countries to choose from covering the Caribbean, America (USA), South America, Africa, South Pacific, Asia and Europe but the list is growing. Another perk is that it covers several countries which are to covered extensively on other sites like Malta, UAE and Turkey.

Some of the issues covered include health issues when traveling, hotels, flights, travel insurance, attractions which will appeal to kids, budget travel and food for kids in foreign countries. Another useful part of family travel covered on Family-Travel-Scoop.com is travel tips for traveling with teens, babies and toddlers.

Under travel advice are sections like Kid's Clubs, road trips, cruises, RV and volunteer travel. The website is written by two moms (and sisters) who have traveled extensively, lived in several countries and have experience in the travel industry. So you can be sure that the advise on Family-Travel-Scoop.com comes from people who know what they're talking about.

Abu Dhabi Expert - Abu Dhabi, UAE's One-Stop Travel Site!

2012-02-10T05:24:00.000-08:00

Abu-Dhabi is a luxurious and exotic travel destination on the Arabian Peninsula which offers a blend of an ultra-modern city along miles of beach and deep blue sea as well as a rich history of traditional Bedouin and Arabic life. There is also the desert just a short ride away which brings with it many adventurous opportunities for travelers. Western travelers are only just discovering this hot travel destination and Abu-Dhabi-Expert.com is the perfect tool to plan a trip to Abu Dhabi.

There are not a lot of travel sites about the United Arab Emirates, and even fewer about Abu Dhabi. When there are sites about Abu Dhabi they are often sponsored by hotels or companies with other interests. Here is a travel website about Abu Dhabi which presents all the information you could possibly need or want when planning a trip to Abu Dhabi.

The layout of the site is simple and straightforward making it easy to navigate and find the information you are looking for. In the sidebar of the landing page is a long list of categories like festivals, kids, exhibitions, Visas, pets, hotels, dates, diving, schools, falconry, fitness, attractions and housing. Using this you can filter your search to suit your needs. The site covers a myriad of aspects to do with visiting and even living in Abu Dhabi. You won't find a more comprehensive site about Abu Dhabi, it really is a one-stop source of everything Abu Dhabi!

Once you have gone to the page that interests you will find interesting articles on the subject but also all the important details that are often omitted from travel sites like open hours, entrance fees to attractions and addresses. There is also a site blog with current posts. What makes Abu-Dhabi-Expert.com special is the first hand knowledge of the writer; the vast aspects of travel in Abu Dhabi and expat life in Abu Dhabi.

There are plenty of photos (although there could be more) and a map for each attraction pin pointing your destination. The owner of the site lived in Abu Dhabi and knows the place thoroughly, there is no doubt this is the site to use when planning a trip to Abu Dhabi, you won't have to look anywhere else!

If you didn't want to visit Abu Dhabi before then after seeing this site you probably will!

Booking Hotels Online

2012-02-07T02:00:00.000-08:00

When you Google a hotel name withthe intent of booking it the top results in Google are usually not the actual hotel's site which is a bit irritating. It seems logical that the actual name of the place would be top of the list, but it's not! Trip Advisor gets a lot of the top of the Google search result spots. So to find the actual hotel site scroll down the search results and read the URL address until you find one that just names the hotel.

Compare the rates offered on the hotel site with those offered on HotelsCombined. HotelsCombined is the best hotel search engine I have come across, it brings you the rates offered on all the hotel booking sites for each hotel in an easy to understand list.

Only then decide where you are going to book.

Booking a cottage in the Lake District, England on LakeLovers

2012-01-27T03:39:00.000-08:00

Lakelovers are a Lake District cottage rental agency which hand picks the properties it offers and makes sure they are of high quality. They have a variety of types of cottages as well as a variety of locations.
Quality
All of the properties you will see on this site have been inspected and graded by the English Tourism Council. Each property has a VisitEngland quality rating displayed on the page next to the property information and LakeLovers have been awarded the QAA Marque by VisitEngland and LakeLovers has been thoroughly assessed and approved. You have no worries about whether the site is legitimate or whether the cottages will be what they are advertised to be.
Information
I love the fact that all the information about each property is given up front on your fists search and you don't have to go through half the booking process to find the price or other hidden details. On the first search results you can see a description of the property, a photo, how many it sleeps; how many bedrooms; the day your stay would start; whether pets are allowed; whether there is parking and most importantly the price. This is all presented in a succinct way and only then if you want to learn more are there links to very detailed descriptions of the property and area.
Searching for a Lake District Property
You can search for your ideal Lake District cottage using a number of criterion: the amount of people the cottage can sleep; only new cottages; by location (at least nine locations are offered); the type of property – new, five star, four star, with lake access, three star, dog friendly, with lake views, WIFi enabled, inclusive leisure club, romantic and special offers buy location. This will help narrow down your options to exactly what you want. If that's not enough you can also ask for specific criteria using the advanced search.
Reviews
Guests who have booked on LakeLovers say:
Buddysmum (Trip Advisor): "…our cottage was just perfect, everything we thought it would be."
NosyparkerWil: (Trip Advisor): "It was a lovely cottage, very pretty and very comfortable and we had a fabulous time."
If you want to read more reviews there are guest reviews for each property on Lake Lovers itself.

LakeLovers also offers information about what you can do in the Lake District, what attractions are in the area and where are the best places to eat out. To book through LakeLovers.co.uk there is a phone number which you can either call or click on to be called back.

10 MInute travel - A must for knowing before you go!

2012-01-10T15:21:00.000-08:00

10 Minute Travel is a great concept, it is a travel site similar to many but unique in a very special way. It is not as blasé and superficial as Trip Advisor (although I like Trip Advisor it doesn't supply in depth info) and not as fact heavy as reading a history book about a travel destination but it lies somewhere in the middle. At 10 Minute Travel you not only get exposed to unique travel destinations and attractions in those destinations but you also "stop to smell the roses".

The site offers more than the average amount of information about each element within a trip but not too much. It also beaks down the travel destinations in to small (10 minute) slices of info about each site. If you use 10 Minute Travel to plan your trip you'll arrive at your travel destination knowing more than you would have about each site and in addition to that you'll have a few hidden gems up your sleeve!

How does 10 Minute Travel work
Travelers contribute articles, travel tips and reviews about places they've been to and things they've seen and done. Not about complete cities but the individual interesting sites along the way. These travel tips, articles and reviews will take you 10 minutes to digest, and they're accompanied by traveler's photos. Then as a traveler you get to read through the site and get your dose of 10 minute info about the sites at your next travel destination. Because between you and me who can stand to spend more than 10 minutes reading about a site.

Other features on 10 Minute Travel

There is a useful links page for travelers.

Articles and tips can be searched for on a world map by destination.

The site also has a blog with longer posts than your average 10 minute blurb.

And just when I was about to say, yes but a forum would be good here; I find that 10 Minute Travel also has a forum!

I will definitely be using 10 Minute Travel to plan my next trip in the hope of knowing more before I go and even knowing about some sites others may unintentionally overlook.

Site Review: WelcomeRural.net - Portugal

2011-12-13T06:02:00.000-08:00

WelcomeRural.net is a rental booking site for properties in the rural regions of Portugal, they provide rental homes, small rural hotels and guesthouses. The site is most useful to Portuguese speakers but there is enough English for you to understand what the properties offer. Searching for your ideal rural vacation accommodation is done by region, there are not that many properties on this site but each one seems to be very special. There are rustic historic houses, homes built in the traditional regional styles and small comfortable hotels. Once you have selected the vacation accommodation you want you can then fill in a form to contact the owner of the property directly.

Don't let the fact that this site seems to have a mix of English and Portuguese put you off, WelcomeRural.net does provide English when it's needed most, when you are choosing the actually rental property you want. For rural accommodation rentals in Portugal you will find on WelcomeRural.net a select variety with descriptions of what you will be getting for your money. You probably won't find these rural properties on many other rental sites, they seem to be unique. For example the description of Casa do Foral in Santarem tells the story of where the property got its name and also details of the building itself " ...of the Ribatejo region of the late 19th century. Its architecture and rustic, highlights its wide walls whitewashed and covered with ivy…".

Who should use WelcomeRural.net

WelcomeRUral.net is primarily useful to Portuguese speakers although English, Spanish, French and German is also provided. Anyone looking for small intimate rustic hotels and guesthouses in Portugal where you can be close to nature will find this site useful. Perfect for a romantic getaway or even to hire for a company weekend, families will also find this form of accommodation economical as a house can be rented for the whole family.

About WelcomRural.net:

• There are large color photos of each hotel or guesthouse.

• Many of the properties welcome pets.

• The hotels, guesthouses and rentals are rated with a star system to help you select your accommodation.

• WelcomeRural.net covers: Acores, Alentejo, Algrave, Centro, Douro, Lisboa, Madeira, Norte and Porto.

• The style and price of rural accommodation vary from hostels for 30Euros to hotel rooms for approximately 125Euro.

• You can choose to see room rates in any of from several currencies.

There is room for improvement on this site in the English grammar and small amount of properties but it will be useful for those looking for something specific in this region. If you need good quality rural accommodation in Portugal checkout WelcomeRural.net for some really unique and special vacation rentals and rustic hotels.

Cabarete Sosua Rentals

2011-12-12T09:10:00.000-08:00

Cabarete is a sea side vacation city in the Dominican Republic in the Caribbean and is known as one of the best Caribbean locations for water sports, especially windsurfing and kite surfing. Sosua also in the Dominican Republic is best known for its wild nightlife and lazy days on the beach. Cabarete Sosua Rentals is a soon to be launched website covering info and booking for vacation accommodation in these two sunny vacation destinations.

Cabarete Sosua Rentals focuses on the smaller types of vacation accommodation – small hotels, pensions and rental apartments. With knowledge of the area and up to date data on available rentals the site will aim to supply accommodation in central locations close to amenities and all close to a beach. The site will offer plenty of detail about the rental in question including photos, facilities and prices, they also provide the contact details of the property owners so that you can then contact the owners directly. In fact you won't be doing business with Cabarete Sosua Rentals simply using the site as a rental search engine.

The site will also offer information about luxury rentals, long term rentals and condos in Cabarete and Sosua. You can also get travel tools, advice and tips on the same site to help you plan your trip to Cabarete or Sosua. The site will be available in English, Spanish, German, French, Italian and Russian so stay tuned and watch this space for the upcoming new Cabarete and Sosua Rentals Site.

Low cost accommodation in Switzerland

2011-12-12T01:48:00.000-08:00

There is no question that travel in Switzerland is pricey and most travelers on a budget have to make a quick in and out visit to avoid paying for an over night stay. Well if you're up for an adventure try sleeping in a bed of hay on a Swiss farm. Schlaf im Stroh is a Swiss organization which regulates over 200 farms which offer camping, dorm and hay stays. The prices are more than reasonable at 20-30 SF a night and breakfast is included. Check out their site for more details:
Schlaf im Stroh

Cheeky Monkey Guesthouse in Phnom Penh Cambodia

2011-12-11T00:53:00.000-08:00

The Cheeky Monkey Guesthouse Phnom Penh, Cambodia has an ideal location as well as home comforts and service from the English speaking owners. Here you get short or long term accommodation of a higher standard than you wouldn't expect for such reasonable rates.

Facilities:
All the rooms in the Cheeky Monkey have AC, T.V. and bathroom facilities (2 rooms have en-suite bathrooms). Of course there is a room cleaning service daily and clean towels and sheets available. On the top floor is an art studio open to all who feel like painting and painting materials are included in your hotel fee. There is also a book exchange, bar and communal area where you can socialize with the other guests.

Perhaps the best feature of this Phnom Penh guesthouse is the breathtaking view from the top floor. Not only is the guesthouse located next to a Buddhist temple but from the balcony you can see the Mekong River and the Royal Palace.

Continental breakfast is included in your room rate and evening meals can be ordered in from The Mad Monkey – the guesthouse's sister accommodation. All the food is free range and organic.

No need to concern yourself with safety issues here as each room can be locked and the guesthouse is locked at night with each guest having their own set of keys to get in whenever they choose.

Rates:
The room rates at the Cheeky Monkey Guesthouse in Phnom Penh range from $26 to $18 and include a continental breakfast. For this price you get a central location and friendly English speaking service in basic but comfortable accommodation.
The Cheeky Monkey Guesthouse Offers:

The Cheeky Monkey is a socially and environmentally conscious establishment, bottles and plastic are recycled and the Cheeky Monkey is eco-friendly. 10% of the profits are invested in the local community and social projects and local employees have social benefits and are paid well.

The staff also provides travel advice and services including visa processing services for Laos, Vietnam and Thailand. You can arrange boat trips and other excursions from the guesthouse.

This guesthouse offers the friendly hospitality of a traditional "homestay" where you are taken into a local home, coupled with the comforts of hotel services.

Children are not allowed at the guesthouse due to safety concerns as the guesthouse is on a high level.

There is free Wi-Fi and a computer for guest use.

Guests can use the guesthouse fridge.

Same day laundry service is also available at reasonable rates.

To book a room at the Cheeky Monkey in Phnom Penh go to the Cheeky Monkey website.

Cruisetimetables.com for all your cruise timetable info in one place!

2011-11-29T07:04:00.000-08:00

If you are planning a cruise it's often frustrating to go from cruise site to cruise site looking for the ideal cruise for you. You probably have specific dates that you want to cruise; sights you want to include; a cruise departure point in mind and cruise destinations you want to visit. You may even have a particular cruise ship or cruise company you prefer. The problem is that you can't normally find a combination of all of these factors on one site, it's either a cruise company site or a destination specific site. However there is a solution – Cruisetimetables.com.

On cruisetimetables.com you can search for your ideal cruise according to:

Ports of departure.

Cruise destinations.

Cruise ships.

Cruisetimetables.com covers cruises worldwide including the unusual destinations and the unique cruise ships like the cruise ship wind surf. The site covers every possible cruise option thoroughly in fact the landing page may be intimidating as you face the long list of search choices. However as you navigate through the site from your initial choice of port, destination or ship you will find the information provided is easy to understand and most importantly comprehensive.

If you search cruise timetables by port of departure you get:

A photo of the port.

A brief but interesting description of the port and its surroundings as well as port terminal details and a map of the cruises made from that port.

From your choice of port of departure you can then refine your search by date.

The date search will then show you a map of each cruise from that port on that day and details of price, ports of call, duration and the cruise ship name.

When you search by cruise timetables by cruise destination you get:

Several photos of the sights in that port, for example in Southampton you get photos and descriptions of the Old Town, the Aviation Museum, The Titanic Trail, the Jane Austen Walking Tour and the New Forest.

You can then extend your search by clicking on the dates cruises leave for that cruise destination. You can view all cruises visiting that port destination and see the cruise details.

When you search cruise timetables by cruise ship you get:

Picture of the cruise ship.

Cruise ship specifications – cabins, crew, year built, length, flag and tonnage.

Dates to search where that cruise ship will be on a given date. This will take you to cruise details that are available on those dates for that ship.

Find out where the cruise ship of your choice is in real time at the moment you are online!

Cruisetimetables.com is not only a comprehensive schedule of all cruises worldwide but also a great source of information about the ports of call and cruise ships. One of the best features is the fact that you can view prices, which makes it easy to compare and find the best deal. Cruise timetables.com is an invaluable tool not only for those planning a cruise and still undecided but also for those who have already booked a cruise and want to read more about the ports of call.

Cherry Tuesday!

2011-11-28T16:31:00.000-08:00

For really low cost European flights check out Air Baltic on a Tuesday. There are specials for 24 hours every Tuesday on Baltic Air.

Site Review: Beacon Hill Farm

2011-11-17T02:20:00.000-08:00

Beacon Hill Farm in Northumberland, England can be a perfect choice of vacation accommodation if you want to get out of the big cities, enjoy the British countryside and at the same time not compromise on luxury and style. These are not ordinary cottages; they are all furnished with top quality items and designed to feel like a country home including books on the bookshelves and a well equipped kitchen. There is even a washer and dryer!

The concept is that you get your own home away from home in the gorgeous Northumberland countryside where you can cater for yourself but at the same time have maid service and spa amenities usually only found in hotels.

There are 15 self-catering 4 and 5 star luxury cottages at Beacon Hill Farm each with an individual character. There are cottages suited to 6, 4 and 2 people.

The Beacon Hill Farm Spa
On the farm a short walk from the cottages is a fully equipped spa offering spa treatments and facilities such as Jacuzzi, steam room, pool and gym. All the amenities are included in the price of your stay. The spa has large glass windows facing the beautiful English countryside. This is really a top of the line spa facility and an unusual feature to get when staying in a country cottage. You get the best of both worlds, the secluded independent cottage with the luxurious and pampering spa.

Beacon Hill Awards
Beacon Hill Farm has won several awards: England's self-catering holiday of the year (twice); North-East England's self-catering holiday of the year; Green Tourism Silver Award; Pride of Northumberland (three times) and Country Landowner's Farm and Country Buildings Award.

The Beacon Hill Site
The site meets a good balance of informative text with pleasant graphics, there is a lot of information but it is not overwhelming as with some other travel sites partly because the info is sectioned off onto separate pages.

The site seems to have thought of everything, when going through the site I had no unanswered questions. Your every wish and query has been preempted: order pre-cooked meals; no pets allowed; no smoking; some cottages have wheelchair access; there is WiFi in the cottages and computers in the reception; there is a gym, beautician and spa facilities; plenty of outdoor activities in the area including fly fishing. This site will leave you fully prepared for your stay at Beacon Hill Farm.

Cancelation and Payment Methods
Their payment method and cancelation policy seem a little tough, this is normally the case when dealing with smaller companies as they can't take on the loss of a broken contract or a cottage standing empty when canceled. Full payment is due 8 weeks before arrival and if the booking is within 8 weeks of the stay you need to pay the whole amount up front. Cancellation also comes at a price. It is worth taking up the Rent Waiver of 5% which will cover fees if you cancel.
It is also not possible to book for less than a week in several of the cottages and during the peak tourist season. Rates range roughly from 255 GBP a night to 1845 GBP a week. It is hard to name an average price as the prices vary through the year and for each cottage.

Who does Beacon Hill Farm Suit
Travelers who prefer rural settings to big city life and who have rented a car can then reach the farm easily and explore the surrounding villages, national parks and coastline. This vacation location would best suit older travelers, those on an active hiking, cycling, riding or climbing holiday and couples looking for a romantic getaway, as well as families who want to self-cater. Younger travelers looking for night life and action should look else were, this is more of a sleepy hollow.

The prices could be economically viable for groups or families but for couples they may seem
steep. One also needs to consider the cancellation and payment method as discussed above.

If you've had enough of London and want to see another side of British life and enjoy the spectacular countryside as well as pamper yourself Beacon Hill Farm could be the place for you.

Site Review: Thehotelhunter.com

2011-11-07T04:42:00.000-08:00

There is no doubt that using a hotel search engine is THE best way to locate the lowest hotel rates online in the shortest possible time, thehotelhunter.com is one these hotel search engines. thehotelhunter.com scans the web searching all the booking sites and hotel sites looking for the hotel you are interested in. thehotelhunter then compiles a list of the best deals online for the hotel in question in descending order from the site offering the lowest rate to the site with the highest. It is then up to you to follow the link to the hotel booking site and complete your booking.

Searching on thehotelhunter.com
Your search for the hotel booking site with the lowest rates begins by browsing thehotelhunter.com either by country of hotel name, from there thehotelhunter.com does the rest.

Useful features
• Unlike similar sites when you give your specifications of how many rooms and for how many guests on thehotelhunter.com you have the option of adding separate number of adults and children. This is clever as there are often different prices for adults and children sharing the parent's room.
• There's a choice of which currency to see the rates, and a range of options to choose how you would like the hotels displayed (according to distance from landmarks; star rating; popularity; price).
• As thehotelhunter is only a search tool and not profiting on your choice of hotel booking site you can be sure that the reviews and any other details on the site are unbiased.
• thehotelhunter's competitors include HotelsCompared.com and Hotelsearchengine.com, each of these sites performs about the same function however thehotelhunter is the only one of the three which also provides travel guides and full length guest reviews. The other two sites also have guest reviews but they are in summary form. Although in most cases these sites present the same final results you can choose the one which best appeals to you in terms of the features, layout and search options.

Customer Service on thehotelhunter
As you are not actually booking your hotel on thehotelhunter.com only searching other sites using their service there is no great need for extensive customer service, however if you do have a query you can contact them on the "Contact Us" form. Once you have chosen your hotel and moved to the hotel booking site offering the lowest rates you can deal with the booking site for all your needs.
Saving time and money
thehotelhunter.com will find you the lowest rates online, and in a shorter time than humanly possible.

A review wouldn't be complete without a few gripes! The site could use more extensive hotel reviews and an affiliate program would also boost their visibility on line. I have found with all hotel search engines that in some non-US countries (in the Middle East and Far East) sometimes some booking sites are not shown. There could also be the addition of a FAQ section. thehotelhunter.com has improved on its competition by supplying travel guides but these could also be expanded to include more information and travel articles.

There is no doubt that using a hotel search engine like thehotelhunter is the best way to track down the lowest room rates online. You couldn't possibly search the amount of booking sites that thehotelhunter.com does, which means you would risk not finding the site with the lowest rate.

Truflavorware

2011-10-28T04:57:00.000-07:00

Checkout these eco-friendly, organic durable utensils which are portable and a great addition to your suitcase when going away. Read about their advantages to your health.

Site Review: Cruise Direct for mind boggling choice!

2011-10-14T07:33:00.000-07:00

The landing page of Cruisedirect.co.uk is a cacophony of cruise deals and specials and although I personally prefer a cleaner and simpler webpage you can understand from one look at the Cruisedirect.co.uk landing page that they offer every imaginable cruise worldwide. In fact they also offer specialty cruises (a Christmas cruise for example) including river cruises and the ultimate luxury cruise.

Value for your money
On Cruisedirect.co.uk you can also find "Value Added Cruise Deals", this means that included in your cruise price will be a bonus such as free onboard credits or a free cabin upgrade and even on some cruises you can get free flights!
If you are from the UK the advantage of booking a cruise through Cruisedirect.co.uk is that you can call the UK number for any inquiries you may have. Also the prices are all in GBP.

Service
One of the interesting features on Cruisedirect.co.uk is that you can request a personalized cruise quote to fit your need, this is as good as the service high street travel agents used to offer in the days when service was everything. As well as this personalized cruise quote you can call Cruisedirect.co.uk's customer service on a freephone number 7 days a week. The site is definitely geared towards the UK market and would be most convenient and useful to European travelers although travelers from anywhere in the world can book a cruise on Cruisedirect.co.uk with no problem.

A site with all the cruise info
If you simply want to book a cruise you can do that here but if you also want to browse the various cruise lines or check out what each ship has to offer you can do that on Cruisedirect.co.uk as well. The list of cruise liners which this site covers is really impressive it even includes the Norwegian Hurtigruten, and the Star Clipper vessels which are not cruise ships but enormous sailing ships which give you the experience of a private yacht.

Once you have selected your cruise you are given all the relevant information such as cabins, deck plans, and facilities onboard. It is also possible to read guest reviews on each ship and cruise.

This site comes out tops for the variety of cruises they cover worldwide, it's really mind boggling the choices they offer! If I were to suggest any improvement in the site it would be to offer the prices in a number of currencies (they appear only in GBP) and perhaps a live customer chat. There could also be the addition of travel articles about the various ports of call. However when all is said and done, whatever cruise you are looking for, no matter in what part of the world, and no matter what your budget you will find it on Cruisedirect.co.uk!

Site Review: Searchflightshotels.com-A travel google!

2011-10-13T15:22:00.000-07:00

The Searchflightshotels.com first page is colorful and simple and this is where you choose what you will be searching for on the site. Imagine a Google which only searches for flights or hotels leading you to the relevant hotel or flight booking sites with the lowest rates, well that's what Searchflightshotels.com does. It is a search engine for flights and hotels, Searchflightshotels.com is not a travel booking site but a search tool to find you the best place to book.

Searching for hotels on Searchflightshotels.com
This site lists 2,5000,000 hotels and highlights the most popular tourist destinations offering discounts and deals for these locations. To search for a hotel simply type in the essential details on a no-nonsense form and the search results appear. Although the hotel search results appear as on all hotel booking sites, with Searchflightshotels.com you can choose to see the prices in any currency which is not always an option on other travel sites.

Once you have selected your hotel you are shown a list of the hotel booking sites offering that hotel, on your dates. The Hotel booking sites are listed in descending order from the cheapest to the more expensive. From here you click through to the hotel booking site and make your order.
In addition to showing the hotel location on a map, the hotel's star rate and a guest rate the hotel search results give you the rate including the tax and fees so that you don't have to go through half the booking process before being told the final price.

Searching for flights on Searchflightshotels.com
I found the flight search on Searchflightshotels.com less appealing than the hotel search, from the initial entering of the country of origination to the destination which appears on a map (unnecessary) to the prices which are given in one currency. The search filter does offer you several useful options like selecting to exclude or include red-eye flights and overnight stays.

You also have the option of making multiple bookings. Still this site is useful in giving you a good overview of what is available online. In comparison with other similar sites the flight prices compare favorably, although the initial search results are not as detailed.

Save Time using Searchflightshotels.com
The alternative to using Searchflightshotels.com is to spend hours doing individual searches on all the well known hotel and flight booking sites to find the best rates. This not only would take you a lot of time, confusion and anxiety but would not always result in you finding the lowest rates or best deal.

Save Money using Searchflightshotels.com
Even if you had the time and patience to spend hours searching each booking site it doesn't mean that you would manage to cover EVERY site and so you could miss that one special deal. On Searchflightshotels.com the work is done for you in seconds so there is no chance of not "finding" the lowest or best deal.

In the site's About Us section they mention that they also travel and have experience as travelers, this is not usually mentioned on travel sites and I agree with them that it is an important asset to actually have experience as a traveler and not just a booking agent.
Check out Searchflightshotels.com

Berlin Holiday Rental Apartments

2011-10-06T14:52:00.000-07:00

CheckinBerlin.com is a vacation rental apartment site which deals only with holiday apartments in and around Berlin, Germany. Although you could search for a rental apartment in Berlin on a general rental site why not deal with a site specifically aimed at Berlin. There are several features of Checkinberlin.com which make it easy to navigate and informative:

Search for a Berlin Rental Apartment
When you use Checkinberlin.com to find a Berlin apartment you can search by the apartment room size; Berlin area or nearby areas, you can also search by using a map; only special offers or for group bookings. The group booking feature is quite a unique feature on rental apartment sites and one that could be very useful to group organizers. You can also search for a vacation apartment in Berlin by specific dates.
Customer Service
One of my favorite features on any travel site is the Live Chat and Checkinberlin.com has this feature as well as a contact email address, fax number and phone number.
Currency Conversion
To see the rental apartment price in your currency on Checkinberlin.com you simply have to hover the mouse over the Euro amount to see a list of already converted currency conversions. This is a nice feature I haven't seen before on travel sites.
Languages
On Checkinberlin.com you can choose from 5 languages!
Berlin Events
Although Checkinberlin.com has pages for car rental, flights and Berlin guide these services are not as unique as the Berlin only rental apartment part of the site. However the "Berlin Events" section listing upcoming events in Berlin and also a rundown of Berlin venues can be useful.
Guest Ratings
Checkinberlin.com has a guest rating system but I prefer to use independent guest reviews on sites like TripAdvisor.com or VirtualTourist.com.
Details
It is always important to get as much information about your vacation rental apartment as you can and Checkinberlin.com supplies you with ample photos; transport details of how to reach the apartment and distances to various Berlin landmarks as well as letting you know who the apartment is best suited to.
Booking on Checkinberlin.com
You can use checkinberlin.com with confidence; the vacation rental apartments are booked online but only paid for on arrival. You will get a great variety of Berlin apartment choices and good customer service.

Holidaygo Vacation Rental and more...

2011-09-15T00:25:00.000-07:00

Holidaygo.com has some serious advantages over it's competitors, Holidaygo offers several travel planning tools and services which the leading vacation rentals sites don't.

On Holidaygo you get:
 A choice of 9 languages to view the site in.
 A forum where you can discuss travel and rental home related issues with other customers and even the home owners themselves.
 If you are not sure where you would like to take your holiday you can use their "Trip Ideas" page and even narrow down the search results by refining your preferences in the sidebar.
 If you decide not to go for a rental home holiday Holidaygo provides a link to the reputable hotel booking site Booking.com.
 If you want to save yourself the time of wading through all of the available offers of holiday homes then you can send Holidaygo a vacation request. Let them know what you are looking for and they will send you a list of suitable options.
 Budding travel bloggers can offer ideas for trips and recommendations to those visiting the site.

The most significant difference between Holidaygo.com and other vacation rental sites is that although they are also only a portal or platform to bring together vacationers and home owners the site also takes on more of a role in the management of the information which is displayed on the site. If you take a look at this site and other vacation rental sites you will immediately notice the attention to detail and thought that has been put into not only setting up a website for users but in providing a service. The service that Holidaygo.com provides is a directory of vacation rental homes to choose from and numerous travel planning tools.

The prices on Holidaygo.com are displayed in Euros and along with the choice of languages it would have been convenient to view the prices in various currencies. For the home owners and the vacationers the use of the site is free.

If you are looking for a holiday rental home then Holidaygo.com lists all forms of accommodation from tents to palaces as they say and everything in between. Together with the useful travel information they provide, focused search tools and the clear photos of each property you are sure to find the holiday rental you are looking for.

Holidaygo.com

Where and How to Book Las Vegas Flights

2011-09-12T09:27:00.000-07:00

When you are looking for flights to Las Vegas you should begin your search at CheapOair, the site has a good reputation and provides numerous services apart from booking flights. To fly to Las Vegas you can use the services of CheapOair to get a concise list of all the rates being offered by the various airlines. This saves you time and money as you don't have to spend hours visiting all of the airline sites.

The one negative thing I have to say about CheapOair is that the initial price shown in the search results does not include the taxes and charges ($26 for domestic flights) so that you only really know how much you will need to pay when you click through to the next stage of booking. However when compared to other Las Vegas flight booking sites CheapOair frequently offers the lowest prices.
To book Las Vegas flights use CheapOair no matter where you are flying from, even if you are coming from the East coast or overseas.

Here are a few advantages to booking Las Vegas flights on CheapOair:
• You can also book your Las Vegas accommodation on CheapOair.
• CheapOair also books rental cars or you can combine all the travel purchases you need and book a Las Vegas vacation package at CheapOair. Vacation packages usually save you quite a bit of cash.
• In addition to the practical planning and booking of your Las Vegas trip CheapOair also displays travel blog posts. These can give you ideas of what to see and do in Las Vegas and sometimes even divulge a little known travel gem.
• When booking Las Vegas flights on CheapOair sign up for their newsletter and you can get discount coupons to use on your flight booking.
• CheapOair also provides many travel planning tools for your Las Vegas trip like a glossary of travel terms; a section exclusively for first class travelers; booking of airport parking in advance.
• When booking Las Vegas flights on CheapOair you also get discounts if you are in the military, a senior or a student.
• When booking Las Vegas flights on CheapOair you also have access to their excellent customer service including a 24/7 live chat.
Book Las Vegas Flights with CheapOair
• Take advantage of the list of nearby airports which CheapOair provides, sometimes you can find low cost flights landing in nearby airports.
• CheapOair also gives you an up-to-date list of air ticket prices from the most popular destinations. These prices are prominently displayed and you can also save money by maybe flying from an airport near your city of origin but not within the city.

Why fly to Las Vegas
Vegas epitomizes the stereotypical image of America, the lights, large awe inspiring buildings, low cost accommodation and endless eat-all-you-can buffets. No trip to the States is complete without a stop in Sin City. Even Americans should make an effort to visit Las Vegas at least once in their lifetime to feel the magic of this truly unique city. Even kids will enjoy the outstanding entertainment and excitement of Las Vegas. If you want to get a better idea of what to expect from the various star rated hotels in Las Vegas you can read Why a Hotel on the Strip is the Best Place to Stay in Las Vegas.

TLVSpace.com The place to book your Tel Aviv vacation rentals

2011-09-10T09:43:00.000-07:00

Tel Aviv is a vibrant large city in Israel and the hub of Israeli commerce, nightlife, culture and a popular holiday destination in Israel. Tel Aviv is also perfectly situated in the center of the country to make it a good base when exploring Israel. Israel is also small enough for you to tour the country during the day and return to your holiday accommodation in the evening. This makes Tel Aviv the perfect location for your vacation accommodation when visiting Israel. The only problem being that Tel Aviv hotels are rather expensive especially if you want to be by the beach or in the center of town. However there is a solution – Tel Aviv rentals.

Reasons to choose Tel Aviv rentals instead of hotel accommodation:
• Tel Aviv apartment rentals will normally work out cheaper than hotels, especially if you are traveling with friends or as a family as you can have more people stay in the Tel Aviv rented apartment for the same price.
• You are not limited by hotel formality, instead you can feel at home.
• In a Tel Aviv rented apartment you will be able to prepare your own food which will also save on food costs.
• When you stay in a Tel Aviv rental you are more likely to meet and mingle with the locals and get to know more about the real Tel Aviv way of life.

Who does Tel Aviv Rentals suit:
• For travelers coming to Tel Aviv for an extended period staying in your own apartment will be much more comfortable and also cheaper than a hotel.
• For families with children hotels are usually very expensive especially if you have teenagers in which case hotels will make you take two rooms, thus costing twice the price.
• For young travelers who want to hang out with friends, invite people over for the night, have access to a sound system and perhaps have a party having a Tel Aviv rented apartment will be much more comfortable.
• If you are traveling to Tel Aviv to work for a month or two or to study then it is logical to have your own "home" rather than stay in a hotel.
• If you are interested in a particular Tel Aviv neighborhood where there are no hotels, or if you are visiting friends and want to be near their house then you will find a Tel Aviv rental apartment conveniently located in one of the Tel Aviv neighborhoods.

How to find a great Tel Aviv rental apartment:
There are several Tel Aviv rental websites where you can book your vacation accommodation in Tel Aviv. For example TLV Space offers a range of furnished rental apartments in Tel Aviv. On tlvspace.com you will find:
• A large number of clear photos of each Tel Aviv apartment.
• Reasonable prices.
• Ample information on each property.
• A selection of apartments in the center of Tel Aviv, the beach area and the other residential areas of Tel Aviv.
• The information on TLVSpace.com is presented clearly and simply and the site is easy to navigate.
• You can also find rentals in Eilat and Bat Yam on TLV Space.

The rental properties on tlvspace.com require a deposit of 20% of the total rent and a returnable $100 security deposit plus $65 for cleaning at the end of your stay. Once you have made your rental booking through TLV Space you will be met at the apartment on arrival to receive the apartment keys. Consider the fact that if you book your Tel Aviv rental apartment through an estate agent you will have to pay a full month's rent to the booking agent. Also travel agents generally don't deal with apartment rentals.

Feel at home in your own Tel Aviv apartment when you come to the Holy Land.

Book tickets in advance with TicketNetwork.com

2011-09-05T05:20:00.000-07:00

WHen planing your trip it is always nice to include some kind of entertainment especially if you are going to a location where there is an important concert or sporting event. Here is a review of the ticket booking site TicketNetwork.com where you can book for all manner of events worldwide. You can also access discount coupons from this review of the site!

Review of TicketNetwork.com

How to search all hotel booking sites at once!

2011-08-29T07:34:00.000-07:00

If you search for a hotel when planning a trip and end ups spending hours searching through all the hotel booking sites and still feel that there is probably a lower rate for your hotel on some booking site that you've missed, then HotelsSmart.com is for you. HotelsSmart.com does the hotel search for you, searching the entire Internet including hotel booking sites and the individual hotel sites to find the cheapest hotel rates online.

Save time and money doing your Hotel search on HotelsSmart.com
This of course saves you time spent going from one hotel booking site to another and having to repeatedly type in your hotel requirements, but it can also save you money. Where as you may search through 2- 5 hotel booking sites, HotelsSmart.com will search over 30 hotel booking sites online which means HotelsSmart.com is bound to find you a lower rate than you would have found.

Now there are other sites which perform the same function as HotelsSmart.com but few search the amount of sites as HotelsSmart.com, for example HotelsSmart.com includes results from Agoda.com a very budget conscious hotel booking site, and other hotel search sites do not include Agoda. HotelsSmart.com also offers a wider range of hotel search options that other similar sites do not. On hotelsSmart.com firstly you can choose to do your hotel search from a list of 20 languages. Then if you don't know where exactly you want to stay in a certain country you can search for a hotel by country. On the other hand if you are searching for a specific hotel you can search hotels by name. HotelsSmart.com also includes an option for flight searches of over 600 airlines and sites.

Doing a Hotel Search and Using HotelsSmart.com
Once you have made your hotel search and have been given results you can then refine your hotel search using the sidebar on HotelsSmart.com to show only hotels of a certain star rating, location, price range or hotels with specific features. You can also view hotel rates in a number of currencies. The hotel search results show the hotel on a map as well as a detailed description and list of hotel features. Once you have chosen the rates you would like you then click on a button and are transferred to the hotel booking site. This way you are not really doing any business with HotelsSmart.com but instead with the booking site. This means that HotelsSmart.com have no vested interest in which hotel rates or hotel booking site you choose, they are just performing a service. This is an advantage as when a site is not trying to sell you something you generally get objective results.

What makes HotelsSmart.com a good choice
Two other features which make HotelsSmart.com stand out are the detailed, numerous and clear photos of the hotels and the customer reviews, which also give a rating of each hotel. Using a hotel search engine such as HotelsSmart.com is really the only logical way to search for a hotel online, saving you money, time and getting you the hotel you want.
Check out the HotelsSmart.com site!

Compare Car Rentals with Comparecarrental.com.au

2011-08-19T00:26:00.000-07:00

If when booking a car rental online you do as I do and search through the individual sites of each car rental company, first typing in your details, then selecting your car, adding car insurance, accessories and only then being told the price and being able to compare them then this is the site for you. Comparecarrental.com.au does all the work for you, here you will only have to fill in your details and requirements once in order to see the results of every car rental company with a relevant offer. Comparecarrental.com.au searches the Internet and brings you a summarized list of the best prices online from all the car rental companies so you can compare car rental prices. This is a real time saver.

Not only does using Comparecarrental.com.au save you the time of searching individual car rental companies but it also saves you money as inevitably they will find a price that you may have missed.

Comparecarrental.com.au is based in Australia but can be used when renting a car anywhere in the world. At first those booking a car rental outside of Australia may think they have come to a site only dealing with travel in Australia, as Australia features prominently on their landing page, but although the company is based in Australia the company handles car rental internationally. Comparecarrental.com.au is powered by Car Trawler a large car rental distribution system which means you are dealing with a recognized and respected company in the travel industry.

Unlike other sites which offer a similar service to compare car rentals Comparecarrental.com.au does not list the names of the car rental companies that you could use and you are not transferred from the Comparecarrental.com.au site to the car rental company's site in order to finalize the booking. All the booking is done on this one site. The whole process of comparing car rentals and booking a car rental is handled on this one site.

Another familiar experience I have had with booking a rental car is spending ages filling in forms and going through the many booking steps only to find the car is either not available or the offer is no longer valid. Well on Comparecarrental.com.au the information is continuously updates so that your time will not be wasted and you won't be disappointed. This is another factor in insuring you a good up-to-the-minute car rental rate.

The service that Comparecarrental.com.au provides is at no extra cost to you, there are no booking fees, and you just pay what the car rental company is asking.

Comparecarrental.com.au also has a blog with interesting travel updates, news and information that you may find useful in planning your trip. There are also very informative articles about each of the car rental companies although this doesn't help you much as you can't choose which car rental firm to use before you book on Comparecarrental.com.au. It may be useful if one could choose to exclude results from certain car rental firms. For example if you've had a bad experience with a particular car rental company before, and don't want to use them again. But for now on Comparecarrental.com.au it is most useful if you are mainly interested in getting the lowest rates and don't mind from which company.

It is also possible to contact Comparecarrental.com.au by phone, email or snailmail however I have always enjoyed using Live Chat customer service when booking travel, it may be an idea for Comparecarrental.com.au in the future although the site appears to be so simple to navigate that perhaps a Live Chat would be unnecessary.

I recommend using Comparecarrental.com.au to compare car rental rates as you will be sure to save time, money and frustration while using this easily to understand comparison tool.

Compare Car Rentals

Where to get discounts on trips to Disneyland-Mousemisers.com

2011-08-17T14:29:00.000-07:00

Having tried myself to research online a trip to Disneyland and found it not only confusing but also astronomically expensive I was happy to find this Disney discounts site – Mousemisers.com Although the landing page has a little too much on it (recent comments, poll, Disney categories, blogroll, and important article) luckily there is a list of the current Disney discounts at the top of the page so you can go straight to what interests you. You can also choose to see either Walt Disney World discounts; Disneyland discounts or Disney Cruise line discounts only. It is possible to search Mousemisers by category – Adventure by Disney, Aulani discounts, Disney tips etc.

Three major advantages to using Mousemisers stand out for me:

• Obviously the first one is that you can get real discounts on Disney related travel.
• You get an immediate overview of what is on offer on the landing page where there is a list of " Current Disney Discounts".
You don't want to waste your time wading through endless canceled, removed, expired and unavailable Disney discounts so straight away you can see a summary of what is available and current.
• Full details of the terms are given for each discount.
You don't get any surprises and you can tell straight away if you are eligible for the discount or if it is relevant to your trip. This detail includes current updates when deals and discounts have changed. The Disney discount details include sample prices; dates that are not available for discounts and Disney destinations that are not included in the offer. Even before you click through to the travel agent to use the discount you know the Disney discount's limitations and advantages.

Mousemisers are not travel agents so they are not pushing you to buy something. Although there is a large link on Mousemisers to the Mouseketrips travel agency which is the travel agent for Mousemisers the site is still service orientated and packed with information. The discounts on Mousemisers can be used with any travel agent.
• As Mousemisers are not travel agents they are willing to chat, ask Mousemisers questions and help you figure out what Disney trip best suits you, also read other traveler's questions and the answers they received. I can't emphasis enough how important it is that Mousemisers is not a travel agent as you will get impartial information and not a sales pitch.

Useful travel info
The important articles on Mousemisers are not just there to fill up some space they really contain useful information for visitors to Disney destinations and are worth reading. Like the discount listings the articles have very thorough details.

The truth is there are not a lot of discounts available for Disney parks and cruises no matter which site you search on. However on Mousemisers the work has been done for you and all the Current Disney Discounts are collected together on one site as well as endless helpful information and advice about getting your trip to Disneyland, Walt Disney World or Disney Cruise Line at the cheapest possible price with discounts. Mousemisers.com

Vacation Rentals

2011-08-07T14:41:00.000-07:00

Renting a home for your facation can often be cheaper than staying in a hotel and in fact the experience is completely different. If you have kids it most likely will be cheaper; if you would rather prepare your own food it is an ideal solution and if your vacation is going to be an extended one then try renting a home for your vacation. For an honest review of one of the leading vacation rental sites read this review which also has discount coupons for the site.

VacationRentals.com and discount coupons

CruiseKings - you'll be spoilt for choice!

2011-07-30T13:06:00.000-07:00

CruiseKings is a travel site for booking cruises and it is ideal for those setting off from the UK. You can book cruises which sail from the UK or combine the cruise with a flight to reach your port of embankment you can also choose to book a cruise from a foreign country without including a flight. Being able to book a combination of cruise and flight is not a service offered by most other cruise sites, and this could make your trip cheaper and easier.

CruiseKings offers cruises to destinations worldwide including: Caribbean, Pacific, Red Sea, Norwegian Fjords, Black Sea, Arctic, Central and Far East and these are just some of the cruise destinations. The Cruiseking site books cruises on the most well known cruise lines including Royal Caribbean, P&O Cruises and others.

You won't have to look far for the special offers and cheapest cruises as the landing page of CruiseKings presents you with Deals of the Week and most popular cruises. The site is easy to navigate and simple to understand. There is also an extensive FAQ section for any questions you may have.

What makes CruiseKings standout among cruise booking sites is the amount of information they manage to present without giving any feeling of being overwhelmed. By the time you set off for your holiday you will be well prepares and know exactly what to expect. The CruiseKings site covers issues such as disability access, seasickness, teenagers onboard, weather conditions, the ship amenities and facilities, how you should prepare for your trip including luggage, medical issues and what not to forget!

The CruiseKings customer service is run by a dedicated team ready to help sort out any problems and find you the ideal cruise for your holiday. You can contact CruiseKings by phone during office hours, email and by postal address.

When booking a cruise on CruiseKings you can use a comprehensive search filter to narrow down your choices. You can even search for a cruise three years in advance, and can search by cruise line, cruise ship, destination and duration of cruise. Prices are displayed in GBP, and some of the cruises include cash credits for onboard spending. When enquiring about a cruise the service is personal and the team will help to custom make your holiday cruise to suit your needs.

There are still a few improvements possible on the site, perhaps the addition of an online customer service live chat; the option of seeing the price in a different currency and the option of searching for a cruise which leaves from a specific location. However I recommend taking a look at CruiseKings if you are planning a cruise as the site is easy to navigate, offers competitive prices and an incredible range of cruise choices.

Otel.com Compared With Octopus.com: Hotel Booking Sites Reviewed

2011-06-15T15:21:00.000-07:00

To help you choose which hotel booking site to use read this review which compared 5 of the top sites. Although I would always use Hotels Combined which will direct you to the cheapest hotel booking site.
Otel.com Compared With Octopus.com: Hotel Booking Sites Reviewed

Tickets for events in the USA

2011-06-15T08:50:00.000-07:00

If you are planning a trip to a sports event or concert in the US then look no further than
aceticket

Here you can buy online tickets for most events in the US. The company also guarantees 200% money back if the tickets become invalid and they also give free tickets to charities and those in need so they deserve to be supported. Here you can read a review about their services before you decide.

aceticket for event tickets.

Viator for organized tours

2011-06-13T22:51:00.000-07:00

I have used Viator several times to book short day trips and tours, if you want to have some of your activities organized you can't go wrong with Viator. Their tours are not always large groups you may find yourself getting a private tour for the price of a group tour depending on how many people book for the same trip.
Read more about how you can get a Viator coupon.

Tips for Jewish Travel in Riga, Latvia - Riga Kosher Restaurants, Riga Mikvah and Riga Jewish Tours

2011-05-29T07:36:00.000-07:00

If you are a JEwish traveler you will find these tips useful when visiting Riga, Latvia. You wil also find the lowest prices for flights to Latvia on Baltic Air. For low rates on Riga hotels - even the 5 star Gallery Park Hotel - use Hotels Combined.
Tips for Jewish Travel in Riga, Latvia - Riga Kosher Restaurants, Riga Mikvah and Riga Jewish Tours

AlaskaAir.com: Airline Booking Site Review & Coupon

2011-03-02T01:57:00.000-08:00

AlaskaAir.com: Airline Booking Site Review & Coupon
If you are trying to get to Alaska from the lower 48 you will probably find the lowest airfares here on Alaska Airlines. This reviews tell s you the pros and cons about this Alaskain Airline.

CheapOAir.com, BookIt.com and Airfare.com compared

2011-02-15T22:22:00.000-08:00

See this honest and detailed comparison between these online travel booking sites.

Where to book travel online

BedandBreakfast.com: Bed & Breakfast Inn Booking Review & Coupon

2011-02-07T12:42:00.000-08:00

BedandBreakfast.com: Bed & Breakfast Inn Booking Review & Coupon

This is a great site for booking b&bs online worldwide. They have over 11,000 small holiday accomodations to offer (B&Bs, homestays, small inns). The site is reliable and offers all the relavent information you may need to choose your travel accomodation.

Lithuania Guide: How to Get from the Vilnius Airport to Vilnius City Center at Night?

2011-02-02T01:40:00.000-08:00

Lithuania Guide: How to Get from the Vilnius Airport to Vilnius City Center at Night?

It is a huge problem of how to get from the airport to town no matter where you are traveling and all ways has to be an issue that needs to be addressed. Here is a simple solution of how to get from the Vilnius airport to the city center even if you arrive in the middle of the night when there are no buses or trains.

Low Cost Airfares: Best Time and Day to Buy Low Cost Air Tickets and Cheapest Time and Day to Fly

2011-02-01T04:31:00.000-08:00

Low Cost Airfares: Best Time and Day to Buy Low Cost Air Tickets and Cheapest Time and Day to Fly

Lots of tips on how to get a cheaper airfare simply by buying at the right time. If you buy on specific days of the week the fare can be cheaper. Also other tips for cheaper air travel.

Travel Articles

2010-06-21T02:45:00.000-07:00

One of the best places to find interesting and unusual travel ideas on line is Factoidz. Simply go to their main page and search travel, and the destination you are going to. You can also make some money when you return from your trip by writing about your travel experiences on Factoidz. Follow this link Factoidz, to sign up to be one of their writers.

http://factoidz.com/profile/petalm/

Booking Hotels on line

2009-08-08T15:06:00.000-07:00

Once I have decided on the best flight for me, but before I book, I check if there are any relevant package deals, for flight and hotel. This can save a lot of money. Travelocity has this option, and several airline sites do as well. If no package is relevant I go on to my favorite hotel booking sites, Booking and Agoda.

I like Booking.com because of the attractive and easy to navigate graphics, but for me Agoda wins hands down. If you are missing the human touch of a travel agent, in handling small complicated details, or in handling computer glitches, or complicated cancellations, well Agoda has a live chat, where you are chatting to a real person in real time. The other advantage of Agoda is that you can accumulate points and then get discounts on your next booking within the same year. I recently got a $25 discount! But the real plus point is that their prices are unmatchable.

I also check out the hotel's web site. Sometimes these are hard to find in amongst all the booking sites, but get to the actual hotel's own site, then compare prices.

Just before I finalize my hotel reservation I read reviews about the hotel on

Trip Advisor. This has often made me change my mind about a hotel. I pay attention to reviews that refer to the physical condition and location of the hotel, more than to those that complain of grumpy staff or a broken T.V. as these are things that could be a one-off. You can also ask other travelers specific questions on the Trip Advisor forum.

Phot of the Glo Hotel in Helsinki, THE best hotel I have stayed at.

Planning and booking flights on line

2009-08-07T08:53:00.000-07:00

In this day and age there is really no need for using the local high street travel agency.

I browse around destinations, and with all the info in front of me on the web I can make a good choice. Then I look at flights. I like to check the airline of my country, and my destination's airline. Czech Airlines, for example have the best prices for flights to Prague. Then I double check at Kayak and Travelocity, I have found the other sites like Expedia not as well priced. There are always new ticket sites being established, and their names are bound to pop-up during your research.
Once I have decided on the best flight for me, but before I book, I check if there are any relevant package deals, for flight and hotel. This can save a lot of money. Travelocity has this option, and several airline sites do as well.

Picture from wikimedia

Tip

2009-07-15T02:33:00.000-07:00

Always ask for an upgrade to first class, when flying, you never know you may be lucky!
In fact in hotels and anything else as well, it's your right to ask and their right to say no!

Travel light, always. There is never any reason to take the whole house with you. They sell tooth brushes and underpants everywhere, and how drastically can weather change? Not that much.

Always keep your money in more than one place, in case some gets lost, at least you still have more stashed else where.

Always, go somewhere that is different to what you are used to. Why get more of the same. If you live in a desert, go to where it snows, that's what travel is all about.

Always use the Internet. Pre-Internet travel was a different ball game, you always heard about the really cool places you missed, once you got home. These days, you can know what not to miss.

Always read up about the place and it's history and culture. There is no point staring at a monument and not knowing why it is there. And like wise if your nose is stuck in a guide book you will miss a lot.

Tip

2009-05-03T15:55:00.000-07:00

Check local festivals and events before you finalize your travel dates. You could be missing a unuque even just by moving your dates a day or two. Try:http://www.festivals.com/ or http://www.bugbog.com/festivals/festivals.html

Photo by Worldnomads.com

Day 7, Finland, Helsinki

2009-05-01T04:55:00.000-07:00

A word about the Glo Hotel: I cannot recommend it more highly, not only is it one of the best in Helsinki it is one of the best I have stayed in anywhere in the world. It "Glows" in luxury, location and service.

Our last day in Helsinki we spent shopping, and you could also use this time for museums markets or a bus tour. Having seen all the essentials in the first day in Helsinki, you are now at your leisure. Stockmann department store is the biggest department store in Scandinavia, and although not my favorite, it is worth a look. Also along the same road is H&M, and other familiar stores. Souvenir shops you will find on the Senate Square. By now you would have been up and down the shopping streets, but here is a walking itinerary I found on the net that works well:

Turn right at the hotel Glo door, walk through Esplanade Park to the Market Place, past the Presidential Palace to the Russian Church (Uspenski), turn back walk Aleksanterinkatu to the Alexander's statue and Cathedral (Suurkirkko) and further back to the hotel.Can be done in 1 hour, and you will see all the shopping areas, and a lot of the main sights. As for museums, try the Ateneum Art Museum (2 hours) Finnish National Museum (2-3 hours) or the Cable Factory museums 2-3 hours depending on your taste. Perhaps you prefer markets, and there are a few in the city:Hietalahti Market, Hakaniemi Market (Hietsun Kirppis) or Valtteri Market. If you didn't get a chance to just wander around I always leave the last day to doing just that. Go back to places you would like to revisit, or shops you passed in a hurry. Try a cafe or two, and perhaps the Kynsilaukka Restaurant dedicated to garlic.

Then it is a late flight out or an early evening in to prepare for a morning departure.

Photo by Tomorrow Bystander

Day 6, Finland, Inari & Ivalo

2009-05-01T04:05:00.000-07:00

There is plenty to do in Inari, although at first glance it appears to be in the middle of no where, look at a few of the tourist sites for Inari and you will find plenty of sports, Lapland activities, visits to Reindeer farms, felt making businesses and an artists trail that you can follow by yourself around to various local artists studios. However Inari may be most famous for the Sami Siida Museum so that is what we went to see. The Truth is I preferred the more intimate Sami Museum in Kirona, Sweden, but this one is on a level with international museums. It is full of technical, 3D, arty displays, with a sound track of a babbling brook, and then Sami ritual singing in the background. There is also an impressive display of Sami art. You can spend about an hour here, and there is also a cafe.

After this we took the bus back to Ivalo, where we waited for the flight to Helsinki. While in Ivalo we eat in the Hotel Kultahippu, highly recommended, intimate, dark wood, pub/restaurant. Then the biggest tip I can give you for Ivalo: If you are coming from the Kultahippu Hotel, in the direction of the main road, you will see on your right a sign for Playmobile, outside a shop that sells souvenirs, toys and other odds and ends. This is a cheap shop for souvenirs,but the gems are all in the basement. Once in the shop, you will see some stairs going down, there you will find a jumble sale of items, ranging from clothes to souvenirs. The prices here are much lower than upstairs, it really is a bargain basement. So rummage around, you are sure to find something. We saw reindeer antlers for 1 Euro, compared to about 15E in other places.

There is no bus service from Ivalo to the Ivalo airport so it is necessary to take a taxi - 17km, cost approximately 17 Euro).We flew Finair at 18:25 (170.45Euro), and arrived in Helsinki at 19:55. From the Helsinki Vantaa airport we took a bus to the centre(3.5 Euro), and the Hotel Glo is walking distance from the central bus terminal.

Day 5, Finland, Inari

2009-05-01T03:17:00.000-07:00

In Lapland, weather it is Norway, Sweden or Finland, you can always find standard snow activities. These include: skiing, cross country skiing, Husky dog sledding, reindeer farm activities, snow mobiles and the less popular, horse riding and ice fishing. Well, we had done most of these activities on previous trips so we went for the ice fishing. Next to the Inari Hotel there is the tourist info which can give advise and contacts, and next to that is the office of "Inari Lake & Snow". It is a family run business, they also run the camping ground down the road. For 155 Euro per person, we were kitted out in snow gear, and went on a 4 hour excursion, riding snow mobiles over the ice covered lake. Our guide took us to two of the local sites, the wooden Pielpajärvi wilderness church and the Island Ukko which was once a Sami burial site. You get to climb the hill on the island, which is high, and open to the elements, especially the wind, but it gives you breathtaking views. After that we stopped in the middle of the lake and tried our hand at ice fishing. Only our guide caught anything. Then he took us to a hut on another island where he lite a fire in the centre and we had a light meal, including cooking the fish over the open fire. We don't eat meat, so feel free to tell them your dietary preferences.

Once back in town we looked around the souvenir shops. Make sure you shop around as although there are only about three shops, the prices vary. We found that the biggest souvenir shop had the best deals.

Over dinner that evening we heard about the Inari International Indigenous Peoples Film festival, and more importantly the after party that would be held in the Inari Hotel! The film festival is worth seeing not only to experience watching films in the outdoor ice theatre , and for seeing unusual films by various indigenous people from around the world, but more importantly, it gives you the chance to get to know these special people in the Inari Hotel pub afterwards. The place gets packed, and there are performances by Sami musicians, really an unforgettable evening.

Photo from Luontoon

Tip - how to hide your money.

2009-03-28T17:04:00.000-07:00

Thieves know that travellers like to keep their money around their waists, so that is not the place to keep it. Try taking a bandanna and folding it into a triangle, sew up the two open sides, leaving a small gap of about an inch, at one end. Stuff the money you wont be using that day inside then tie it around your neck as a scarf. The money for the day you can simply keep in your pocket. Always spread your money around a bit, so if your wallet is stolen you still have your money that's in your pocket, if that goes you have money in your bag. etc.

Photo by Lastonein

Day 4, From Rovaniemi to Inari

2009-03-27T00:52:00.000-07:00

We had a bus to catch to Inari in the North scheduled for 11:45, so the plan was to see the museum in town - Arktikum - It focuses on Arctic areas and Finnish Lapland’s history and modern day life, as well as a multimedia show about the Northern Lights, exhibitions on the Sami culture and the wild life in the area. Open Tue-Sun 10:00-18:00. Cost 12Euro for an adult. It is clearly marked on the city map that the hotel reception supplies, and is within walking distance. However, we got up slowly and instead walked up and down the pedestrian street, visited the most Northerly McDonald's, and the town mall where the Lordi restaurant is. If you remember they are a rock band that won the Eurovision a few years back, and they all dress up like some kind of fantasy monster like creatures. The restaurant is decorated accordingly. Opposite the restaurant is a supermarket, and an Aloco - the outlet where you can buy alcohol in Finland. So we stocked up and then went back to the hotel and caught a taxi to the central bus station. This I admit is a flaw in my planning - the bus to Inari leaves from the central bus station which is a walkable distance but not with luggage, so this adds extra cost - Taxi fare 10Euro.
The bus left promptly at 11:45. It is a very comfortable bus with a toilet, and one are at the back with a table and 4 chairs around it, so try and catch this space for your trip. The ride to Inari takes 5 hours, it costs 93Euro per person one way, and makes several stops. There are about 3 stops just for a cigarette and to use the toilet, and then there is a slightly longer stop(30 min) in Ivalo.
Ivalo is one of the options for staying in the North, but once I had seen it I was glad we chose Inari. Ivalo, although small, is about 3 times the size of Inari, which is very small, and the main road is very wide and long, so getting around on foot would have been more challenging. Although if your purpose is just to have a place to lay your head and then go out every day on excursions, Ivalo would be fine. There is also the cute Hotel Kultahippu which has a warm wood paneled, lobby, which features a bar, slot machines and a fireplace.
The bus delivers the post/mail to all the small villages along the way, and the bus trip gives you the opportunity to see the wide open spaces of Finland, with trees, trees, more trees and ice covered lakes and rivers. Extremely beautiful.
We arrived in Inari. Basically a one street village, where everyone is friendly, and they all know each other. The bus drops you off right outside your hotel, whether you stay at the Inari Hotel of the Kultahovi, where we stayed. There is also a camping ground with cabins a little out of town, and a relatively new Bed and Breakfast, Villa Lanca, opposite the Inari Hotel. How to choose where to stay: Inari Hotel is in the "centre" of town, and has an active bar and pub scene on weekends. The B&B is also central, clean and new, but quieter and more personal. The pro of camping is the price, the con is the distance from town, although they offer all the trips and excursions. The Kultahovi, my choice and favorite: small enough to be intimate, a 5 minute walk from the "centre", and if you get a room like ours you will be very satisfied. Ask for a room in the new wing - the river hotel I think they call it, with a sauna in your bathroom and a sliding door leading on to your own porch, which faces the river and forest. They too provide all the trips and excursions, as well as having a classy restaurant, and a small library. There is also a computer you can use paying by the time you use.

Tip - Eating for free in Greece

2009-03-25T14:29:00.000-07:00

If you are running low on cash and traveling in Greece, drop in on your local University. The University students in Greece get hot free meals. You do need to show your student card to enter, or, hang around the cafateria until a helpful student offers to get you in!

Tip - Bus Tours

2009-03-11T23:31:00.000-07:00

Save your money on those fancy bus tours, take a local bus that does a circular route, and that way you will probably get to see things a little further out of the city centre. It is always nice to see where the people really live, and not just the touristy areas in the centre. For example 3T in Helsinki, and tram 19 in Munich. It is cheaper than a tourist bus and you will be sitting with locals.

Finland, Day 3

2009-03-10T17:08:00.000-07:00

You can leave Helsinki on a SAS flight at 12:00 to Rovaniemi and arrive at 13:30. Now as I have only planned one day in Rovaniemi, maximize your time by going directly to the Santa Village by taxi (+/- 12 Euro) which is only 2km from the airport, instead of going all the way into town and then out again to Santa. Once in the Santa village you can leave your luggage at the reception, and also pick up a map of the village there. Entrance is free. An hour is enough time in the village if you are not with kids, and if it is not Christmas time. There are many souvenir shops, a few restaurants, and the attractions which are a snow park, meeting Santa( free, but no self-taken photos, photos sold starting at 30 Euro), send a letter "from"Santa to your kids (6Euro) and a museum. But of course the place is magical just to walk around, as the Christmas carols are softly played over head. Avoid the high seasons here. We were told that around Christmas you can wait 2 hours in line for Santa, when we just went straight in. You can also buy a certificate to signify that you have crossed the Arctic circle. The certificate is 12 Euro from the restaurant and 6Euro from the reception. Then it is on to Roveniemi by bus(2.90Euro). Tell the bus driver the name of your hotel and he will indicate where to get off. Stay at the City Hotel. It is warm, welcoming, reasonably priced and in the middle of town.
Take a walk up the pedestrian street, or just get some rest until the evening. Then you can do one of the evening activities on offer, like sledding, searching for the Northern Lights, or what we did, have a ski lesson.
We used the ski school at the nearby Ounasvaara Ski slops.

Finland, Day 2, part 2

2009-03-09T14:11:00.000-07:00

On arriving back in Market square you can begin a walk around the city taking in the major sites. Take a map with all of the sites marked. As you exit the Old Market on your right you will see the red-brick Uspenski Cathedral on to top of a slight hill. Walk to it, up the hill and have a look around. The church has an exquisite interior and is used by Orthodox Christian worshipers. Then down again. At the base of that hill you will see the Garlic restaurant. So keep it in mind if you are looking for an interesting place to eat at later. Continue straight up the rather narrow street opposite the restaurant, and this will bring you to Senate Square at the corner of Unioninkatu and Aleksanterinkatu streets. I maybe wrong but this is the greatest concentration of souvenir shops you will find in Helsinki, so if you have to have a mug, troll, or magnet this is the place to buy it. On the square is also the tourist info, library, Helsinki Lutheran Cathedral, the Government Palace, the main building of the University of Helsinki and a shop for sauna paraphernalia. The oldest stone building in Helsinki is the Sederholm House located on the southeast corner of the square. The main building of the City Museum can be found on the Sofiankatu museum street. Standing centre is the statue of Tsar Alexander II of Russia. Take a run up the steps of the Cathedral - great photo op - and poke around in this far let ornate Cathedral. The entrance is on the left hand side of the building, not the side where the steps are. Open Mon-Sun 9-18, during summer 9-24. Leave from the same side entrance you used to go in and go straight down the steps in front of you, not the ones on the square. Now you are walking to the shopping area of the city, and Alexander Street. On this street you can catch a 3T tram to Kauppakorkeakoulut. Get off here and follow the sign to the Rock Church or Temppeliaukio Church at Lutherinkatu 3. This unusual church is built into the granite rock that Helsinki is built on. There is also a touristy shop just by the entrance. Open basically from 10am to 8pm and closed on Tuesdays in winter between 12:45-14:15. Check out the site for the complicated open hours. Now return on 3T ending up back on the Esplanade and have a casual stroll down this attractive street. Round off your day with one of the restaurants in the area. You may enjoy the tractor decorated Zetor, or the Iguana, for a good Pizza. The Iguana also has a bar, and a sauna for rent.

Photo by Jenn

Finland, Day 2, part 1

2009-03-08T00:42:00.000-08:00

The busiest day, as I want to fit in all the "must sees" so that I am sure we don't miss anything. Make your way to the Market Square, where the ferry leaves for the Suomenlinna Maritime Fortress The ferry-boats leave from between 6am and 2.20am. at a rate of 1 or 2 per hour. There is an additional service boat from Katajanokka on weekdays between 7.25am and 3.25pm. Ferry-boats are part of Helsinki City Transportation system. The normal City Transport tickets are valid on the ferry-boat, so you can use the same ticket you used to get from the airport to town the previous day.Suomenlinna, Viapori-Sveaborg fortress is one of the biggest sea fortresses in the world, unless you are set on knowing every detail and seeing every nook and cranny of the place, I would say it is enough to take a walk from one end of the island to the other. That way you see all the major sites. Don't skip on the submarine, which is a little off the main path and may be open. Because I planned to see this first thing in the morning some of the indoor sites on the island are closed, but the main museum is open. Finish off your visit with coffee in the quaint coffee house near the ferry stop. There are guided walks but they are not really necessary.

Once back in Market Square, as you step off the ferry, look to your left and you will see the Old Food Hall-Hakaniemen kauppahalli. Take a slow stroll around the interesting and flavorsome stalls.

don't miss the chocolate stall, and their delicious mint chocolate- buy by the chunk!

Finland in a winter week - Day 1.

2009-03-01T00:48:00.001-08:00

This trip tries to see more than just Helsinki, and to see the incredible Lapland.

Arrive in Helsinki when you exit the International terminal you will see the bus stops. Go to platform 1B and take bus #615. There are other ways to get to town but this is the cheapest and just as easy and quick as the other ways. It takes 30-40 minutes and goes every 20 minutes. You can buy a one way ticket from the driver for 3.40 Euro and this will last you 80 minutes, which means that when you arrive in town you can take a connecting tram/bus/tube using the same ticket. Or you can buy a regional ticket which costs 6 Euro but lasts 24 hours and is good for all the city transport including the ferry to Suomenlinna. This is preferable to the Helsinki card unless you intend to go to a lot of museums.

Once in the city you can find your hotel easily as the bus puts you at the central train station where there are buses and trams to other parts of the city. The Scandic, Holiday Inn, Palace, Glo, Kamp and others are central. We stayed at the Palace but were not too impressed, but later stayed at the Glo and loved it, so I would go straight to the Glo which is walking distance from the station. Having arrived late in the evening we only had time to go out for dinner at the unusual Zetor restaurant which is decorated with tractors and farm paraphernalia. They also have a blackjack table and a dance floor with DJ. Interesting menu and interesting decor. And then to bed.

Summery-Sweden-a week in winter

2009-02-24T00:24:00.001-08:00

ALL PRICES ARE FOR TWO PEOPLE.
Day 1.
Flight - Depending where you are coming from.
Same day flight to Kiruna $277 - Norwegian Airhttp://www.ofelas.se/first.html
Taxi from airport to hotel $44
Hotel Ralleran, Kiruna, 3 nights $717 http://www.hotelrallaren.se/
Day 2.
Mine tour $40
Snow festivalhttp://www.snofestivalen.se/english/
Horse back riding $266 http://www.ofelas.se/first.html
Day 3.
Ice Hotel $92 http://www.icehotel.com/Winter/
Northern lights snowmobile $230, Camp Alta http://www.campalta.net/eng_snowmobile.htm
Day 4.
Cross country ski $253 Camp Rapin http://www.ripan.se/en/
Flight, Kiruna-Stockholm $189 http://www.flysas.com/Default.aspx?vst=true&epslanguage=EN
Hotel Stockholm Sheraton, 4 nights $1060 http://www.sheratonstockholm.com/
Day 5.
Stockholm card $100
Scansin Free with Stockholm card
Vasa Museum Free with Stockholm card
Food halls
Day 6.
Gamla Stat
Nobel Museum
Shopping
City Hall tour $16
Day 7. Boat trip http://www.waxholmsbolaget.se/en/default.aspx/
Casinohttp://www.casinocosmopol.se/
Shopping
Day 8.
Bus return to airport $120
Fly home

Stockholm, boat trip, day 7

2009-01-23T04:35:00.000-08:00

Our last day was devoted to a boat trip and just hanging around, shopping and doing any last things we felt we had missed or wanted to return to. There are many companies which provide boat trips of various lengths, most of them leave from opposite the Grand Hotel ( go have a peek inside, it is listed in the book "1000 things to do before you die") boats depart from Strömkajen and Strandvägen in the centre of town. Although all guide books and sites rave about the archipelago and say you have to go on an extended boat trip, we chose the shorter version, firstly because of the weather and season, and secondly because from the boat it all seemed like much of a muchness.
The tickets can be booked on the spot. You may choose to take the day and go on the hour long journey run by Waxholmsbolaget to an island like Vaxholm, where you can get off and wander around. Alternatively there are boats that allow you to "island hop", or a boat with the price of a meal included. Some trips are also free or discounted with a Stockholm card. We were on a one hour Winter Boat Tour that did not stop along the way, but which provided reindeer skins to cover ourselves with and had a kiosk that sold beer, soup, a little food and Glogg - hot muled wine - delicious! There was also a running commentary, telling of the islands and landmarks we passed along the way. Cost:180SEK.
In the evening we decided to go to the Casino Cosmopolitan. A little snooty but most casinos outside on America are. A good laugh, and pleasant way to end the trip. In the next blog I will summarize with a blow by blow itinerary and list of costs, and tips.

Stockholm, city Hall, Old Town, Shopping, Day 6

2009-01-20T22:16:00.000-08:00

CITY HALL
The only way to visit City Hall is by taking part in a guided tour. The tour ( 45 minutes) goes through the official part of the City Hall. Guided tours are available daily in Swedish and English at 10:00am and 12:00 noon for individuals with no advance reservation (max 9 participants Guided tours 14 - 31 January (subject to changes) Check out the web site as their times are random and the tours in various languages. The tour is worthwhile as the interior is stunning. This is where the Nobel Prize ceremony takes place.City Hall is entered from Stadshusshopen (the City Hall Gift Shop).60SEK. It can be reached by bus: 3, 62 or by underground: T-centralen, Rådhuset.
GAMLA STAN
The most beautiful part of Stockholm for me is the Old Town - Gamla Stan. From the train station walk towards the Sheraton and cross the bridge opposite the hotel. You will find your self walking towards the Palace and the Old town. It is a place to just amble around in, although it is always nice to have some landmarks you are aiming for. So if you start by the Palace where you entered the Old Town and then go on to Storkyrkan, Stockholm's cathedral, which you can enter and see the wooden statue of St. George killing the dragon. Then continue on to Stortorget, an open square where a massacre took place, and on the same square you can see the Nobel Prize Museum(free with Stockholm card). Down one of the nearby allies is a costume shop with beautiful period costumes, the Old Town also has it's share of good leather shops, toys and of course tourist shops. Then follow Kopmangatan down to Osterlangatan, where you will see in Kopmantorget a bronze statue of St. George. Don't miss Martin Trotzig ally. A narrow ally with a width of 35 inches in places. There are plenty of quaint coffee places and some good Italian restaurants. Also a Medieval restaurant witch can be visited in the evening for lots of atmosphere and beer. You can wander around the Old Town for hours. There is also the changing of the guard outside the Palace at 11:00 every day.
SHOPPING
Depending on where you come from and what is available in your country you may or may not find shopping in Stockholm interesting. However whether you are out to buy or just window shopping the pedestrian shopping street, Drottninggatan, which runs from Riksbron Bridge (around the corner from the Sheraton), in Norrmalm to Observatorielunden in Vasastaden is a pleasant experience. Once you reach the end you can keep going and find the regular shops that Stockholm locals use, as well as large department stores like Ahlens, which also has a spa on the top floor where you can get pamper.
EVENING ENTERTAINMENT
Still got energy?
Try skating on the outdoor ice rink in Kungstradgarden. Skating is free, just renting the skates costs 30KR. Get the metro to Kungstradgarden stop, it is a short walk from the water front.

Sweden, Stockholm, Day 5

2009-01-18T23:49:00.000-08:00

First of all get a Stockholm card. They can be picked up from the Tourist centre. For our purposes we got the 24 hour card and an Internet deal, because we paid for it on line, of 48 hours for the price of 24. 24hours costs 375SEK, and according to my calculations it pays for itself if you do the things we did in the day I am about to describe.
Take a ferry from Nybroplan to the island of Djurgarden. It leaves every 20 minutes and takes about 8 minutes. Regular price 35SEK, Stockholm card free. Alternatively you can get bus 47 or44 from the central bus station, it is also possible to walk.
On the island you have a myriad of sites including Junibacken, Vasa Museum, Skansen and Grona Lund.
SCANSEN
Scansen is an enormous park consisting of houses from different areas in Sweden that have been brought here. There are also cafes and a zoo with some unusual animals and an aquarium. Take your time as it is extremely large. The best thing about it is that in most of the houses the staff is dressed up in period costume and talk to you as if you have just entered their homes. This includes a chemist, and post office. Open 10:00 - 16:00. Cost 65SEK and free for Stockholm card, well worth it.
VASA MUSEUM
From there it is a pleasant walk to the Vasa Museum, not to be missed, as it is one of a kind. A Viking battle ship in its entirety, the museum itself is well set out. Cost 95 SEK free for Stockholm card.
From here we walked back to the city stopping at several museums along the way. There are a lot of museums in Stockholm. So because we had the card we didn't think twice about just popping in to have a look.
THE FOOD HALLS
By now we were hungry, although we had eaten at one of the Scansen cafes.
Take the metro (also free with your card) to the Hotorget stop. This is the Haymarket. A market selling fruit and veg during the week and a flee market on the weekends. But the attractions around it make it worth a visit. To the South a huge film complex - Filmstaden Sergel and the Hotorgshallen indoor food markets, and to the West is the PUB department store, North is the Kungshallen food hall. After feasting your eyes, and having a sit down, continue to another culinary delight. You can either follow a map and walk or take the metro red line to Ostermalmstorg and take the Ostermalmstorg/Nybrogatan exit. You will find yourself outside another even better food hall the Ostermalmshallen. Don't miss this as it is not only great to see, smell and taste, but mostly full of locals. On your walk from food hall to food hall of course you also pass some good shopping areas.
Back to the hotel and a good night's sleep.

Kiruna to Stockholm, Day 4

2009-01-17T22:44:00.000-08:00

FINAL ACTIVITY IN KIRUNA
On our last day in Kiruna we planned to go on a cross country ski, through the Camp Ripan. Camp Ripan has accommodation and activity services, if you choose to stay there the service is basic although the staff are very helpful, and it is at least a 10 minute walk - walking fast - to the town centre. The ski trip was for 2 hours (495SEK) including guide and coffee and cake break. At the last minute we decided not to ski and so they offered us all kinds of alternatives. The guide was a lovely Sami girl, who instead took us to a Sami museum which was closed and had it especially opened for us. There she spent the time telling us about her culture, and specifically about her own life as a Sami. Camp Ripan can be highly recommended for it's service.
At 16:00 we flew SAS for 420SEK each to Stockholm's Arlanda airport. You can definitely find cheaper tickets. This was just the price for the day and time we wanted, but check out the prices and then decide which day to fly on.
GETTING FROM AIRPORT TO STOCKHOLM
The Arlanda express runs every 20 minutes from the airport to the central station for 380SEK return. The Flyggbussarna goes every 10 minutes for 175SEK return to the train station. A taxi would cost about 400SEK.
STOCKHOLM HOTEL
We stayed at the Sheraton. The plus points for this hotel: luxury, excellent location, and if you travel a lot you might want to join their club and collect points to us for free stays in the future. The minus is simply the price. We were staying 4 nights so we got one free, otherwise the price was 1400SEK a night. Whether you stay there or at a different hotel, definitely, without question stay around the train station. It is just across the bridge from the Old Town, and a road away from the main shopping drag. It is also not a slummy area like some train station areas in other cities. In the evening, having just arrived, we went for a walk, dinner and a good nights sleep.

Sweden, Kiruna, Ice Hotel, Day 3

2009-01-16T05:06:00.000-08:00

We took bus 501 from the main bus terminal, which is opposite the city hall, to Jukkasjarvi, where the Ice Hotel is, 17km away. The buses only operate on weekdays. You can also reach the Ice Hotel directly from the Kiruna airport which is 12km. The Ice Hotel is open to visitors in the Winter from 10am to 6pm, after that it is just for those staying over night. You can go in to the hotel rooms, chapel, bar and basically look around the entire structure for 295SEK, as well as the souvenir shop of course. We decided not to sleep there because firstly the bath rooms are in another permanent building, and we didn't fancy getting wrapped up to go out to the bathroom each time. Plus the inconvenience of having to be our of your room during the day hours so that people can come a look around. And of course because we would rather be warm! But I can understand someone wanting the experience of actually sleeping there.
The village where it is located is very basic, and a long bus ride from anywhere if you wanted to do something other than be in the ice hotel, but they do provide activities, like Husky, snowmobile etc. We walked into the town, at least 15 minutes, in order to see the famous Sami church there. It really is beautiful and if you are at the Ice Hotel don't miss the church. Next to the church is a reindeer farm or Sami centre which was closed for lunch when we where there but looked interesting. On the walk to the church which is a straight line from the Ice Hotel, we came to a cozy quaint restaurant, which I think is also a hotel. It sits on the edge of a the river Torne, and serves hot meals and coffee. We had salmon soup for the first time. the bus drive to the Ice Hotel is also interesting as you get to see normal people's houses. The bus also passes the Esrange base, which is also a tourist attraction.
In the evening we took a snowmobile safari with Camp Alta to search for the northern lights 375SEK each two people sharing a snowmobile. It goes about 20kms and takes 3.5 hours, it also includes stopping in the middle of nowhere and the guide builds a camp fire and makes coffee. Wonderful experience, and we saw the lights!!

Sweden, Kiruna, Day 2

2009-01-15T05:06:00.000-08:00

Kiruna is built on top of the world's largest iron mine. The mine is slowly caving in and there are plans underway to move the entire town to another location. So you are really seeing something here that won't be here in the next twenty years(moving starts 2013). There are many activities to do in and around Kiruna, and you can choose what suites you, but I will tell you what we did.
TOUR OF MINE
A bus leaves from the tourist office, which is in the parking lot outside the Scandic Hotel, just up the road towards the town. It takes you up into the mountains to an exibition mine, and 540 meters underground. The guide takes you through the mine, multimedia show, exihbition and museum. Including coffee and cookies! Daily departures:9am, 3pm, and takes 3 hours. You can book through the tourist office. 280SEK each
SNOW FESTIVAL
The walk up the hill through a park to the main street of the town takes you through an open area where the snow festival is held once a year in the last week of January. If you are going see if your trip coincides with this. They bring huge blocks of hard snow into the park and then teams of artists carve shapes and images into the ice. There is also a reindeer race down the main street and the town is full of Sami people in traditional costume selling their wares. There are also other activities over that week.The town itself in quaint, and has some warm cozy coffee houses, try Safari Cafe where the locals go. When we were there the shoe shop on the main street was having a sale and the boots were going for about $8 a pair!
HORSE RIDING IN SEARCH OF THE NORTHERN LIGHTS
Now you could go on Husky rides, reindeer tours, snowmobile rides, but we chose horses. You are picked up from the hotel driven to the farm (which by the way also rents horse smelly very rural rooms). Then you help prepare the horses, suit up and go riding through total silence of a hundred year old forest. Hopefully you see the northern lights. On returning you have dinner - delicious in the Luvvo - around a very smokey fire and the guide - who is Sami - tells you about their life. Very friendly, casual and helpful. You don't feel like they are watching the clock. Highly recommended. 4 hours - 16:00-20:00. 425SEK each.
On this day the time in between activities is spent walking around town, relaxing and eating. We went for a long walk after we returned from the horses, in the hope of seeing the lights.

Sweden day 1 - 23/01/08

2009-01-14T12:46:00.000-08:00

FLIGHT
Flight to Sweden booked directly on KLM site, with a short stop in Frankfurt.
Arrived in Stockholm's Arlanda airport and immediately continued on to Kiruna.
Kiruna Flight on Norwegian airline 880 SEK each return from terminal 4 flight takes 1 1/2 hours. Can also check out SAS, and Barents airlink which has flights from Lulea. It is Sweden's most Northerly airport.
TAXI
The taxi's wait out side, and you can share with other travelers. You can book taxi 24 hours a day at +46(0)980-120 20 at around 350/400SEK (30Euro) taxi ($44) or when you arrive there is a phone on the wall and you can call for one, which then takes about 20 minutes. If you fly in the high season there is an airport bus which is much cheaper.
HOTEL
Stay at the Ralleran Hotel. (There is also a Scandic, but don't be tempted by the net saying it is closer to town. It is about 3 minutes closer and had NO character. It does have a lively pub, but that is something you want to visit, not sleep on to of. There are other smaller but descent places to stay, but the Ralleran combines all the best - location, excellent food, service, cleanliness, room size and style, sauna, hot tub internet, service and wonderful laid back friendly staff. It does also have a unique feature - in the garden there are one or two Luvvos(made out like the Sami people's traditional homes, but with all the mod cons, and heating) it also has a glass top so you can lie in bed and look up to the northern lights. The Luvvo has a super technical shower, including in-shower-radio, and some of the rooms in the main building have a jacuzzi. I was apprehensive when we went, so I booked one night in the Luvvo and 2 nights inside the hotel. But it was fantastic and so don't hesitate to make your whole stay there if you like. Total for 2 nights in hotel, and 1 night in Luvvo, including great breakfast -4585SEK ($717)

SWEDEN

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One week in Sweden in the winter (January/Febuary).It is based on two travellers, some where between budget and splurging. This is a trip for those who like to move around alot, do and see a lot, and see the knowen sights as well as the road less traveled. In other words to get a taste of various areas around the country. Costs have been given for 2008 and the whole trip was booked and planned online. This itinery has been tried and tested.

TIP Booking flights online

2009-01-13T02:45:00.001-08:00

Many of the rules applying to booking hotels also apply to flights.
First choose your destination. Shop around. There are many flight sites.

Make sure you check the national airline of the country you are departing from and the one you are going to.
Some sites quote the prices before tax, so look for the small print.
You can save a lot of money if you are willing to have a lay over of a few hours in the airline's home airport.
Note whether the time of arrival at your destination is not the next day. That can be a nasty surprise.
If you fly regularly it can pay to join a frequent flier club sothat you get points that can be used for discounts, and free flights (it doesn't hapen often, as you really have to fly alot). If you do join one check out it's partners, so that you can get points from hotels, and other airlines as well.
There are sites that check other sites for you. Rather do it yourself.
Prices change, so start looking as far ahead as possible and check back regularly. The earlier you book the cheaper.
Book off season.
If you are flexable fly to a city nearwhere you want to go, if it is cheaper. YOu will also get to see another city. Capital cities are of course cheaper to fly to.
Kayak have a helpful chart called "Chart view" which shows the whole month and which periods are cheaper or more expencive for your flight.

So here are some of my favorite sites in an example of price comparing:

There are many other sites, just search and search, if flying from UK try ryanair, don't forget to check the airline sites, and charter flights.

A return flight from Tel Aviv to Hamburg.

http://www.kayak.com/ Lufthansa $442

http://www.travelocity.com/ Lufthansa $446, El AL$ 476

http://www.czechairlines.com/en/portal/homepage/il_homepage.htm $422 not exact dates

http://www.edreams.com/edreams/english/ $876 Turkish air (for some destinations edream are good. The outward and inward flight prices are quoted seperately)

http://www.expedia.com/daily/home/default.asp?rfrr=-1065 Lufthansa $448

http://www.lufthansa.com/online/portal/lh/us/homepage?l=en&nodeid=1678690&cid=1000390 $585

TIP Hotel Booking

2009-01-12T02:20:00.000-08:00

First look around on any site with hotels in the city you are looking for. Once you have narrowed it down to a few hotels, then look for those hotel's web sites. Always start with the Hotel's actual site. Find the price they offer - the cheapest price they can offer is called a Rack Price. Then you can go on to look at other hotel booking sites, in order to compare prices.
Remember:

If one site says there are no rooms available, other sites could still have rooms.
The sites with "live chat" help are very useful.
Compare apples to apples -
Make sure you are comparing prices in the same currency.
Does it include breakfast.
What are the rules for cancelation.
How close is the hotel to the railway/bus station, and the sites.

To give you a few names of booking sites, and also illustrate how much the prices on the net can vary, have a look at this example, for booking 2 nights in a double room in Helsinki:
Hotel Linna 14/01/09 - 16/01/09 Double
Booking.com 340 Euro
Hoteltravel.com 286 Euro
Linna Hotel 340 Euro
Agoda.com 150 Euro

Needless to say my favorite site is Agoda. Apart from having excellent prices, they also credit you a few Dollars for your next booking, and have livechat help. Notice though, that they can quote the hotel in any currency you choose, but the final bill can then be quoted in Dollars.

Bon voyage!

2009-01-05T13:23:00.000-08:00

If you want to stuff as much as possible into a week of travel - in other words - if you work and/or have kids and other commitments but still have travel goals and an adventurous nature - this blog is for you.

If you would rather see the world than lie on a beach - this blog is for you.
If you can't stand running with the pack on organized tours, but still want the trip to go like clock-work - this blog is for you.

If you have never found a friendly travel agent who actually has time and patience to find you that perfect price or slightly off-the-beaten-track location - then watch this space!
I'll help you plan your trip, and give you tips about booking everything yourself. I'll share with you a few of my adventures, and the exciting and interesting things you can still do, even when on a budget of time and money.

You will be able to also download full itineries of trips to Norway, Sweden, Germany, Israel, England and more.

I will even correspond with you and help plan your trip.

So lets set sail.

Watch this space!