Friday, 30 December 2016

Eye On 2016: What did this year ever do for us?

So that’s just about a wrap for the Year of the Monkey, 2016. What then have we learnt from the world of travel this year? Some places have become a little scarier to visit and most places have become more expensive to visit. 

However, there are still plenty of wonderful, exciting and slightly weird places on this planet to satisfy our travel curiosity. Let’s have a look at some of our favourites and if you missed out this year, there’s always 2017 (it’s the Rooster, in case you were wondering)



The Jumps:  No sign of Davina & Channel 4
Ski jumping: The Austrian town of Saalfelden specialises in jumping. It has four jumps at 15m, 30m, 60m and 85m height. There is an age limit for lessons - you must be at least 6! So not only can you wallow in your own terror, you can be out jumped by small Austrian children.

The specialist Skisprungschule offers two day courses for 240 Euros. Courses run throughout the winter and somehow in the summer as well - that could be more painful I suspect. How high do you Jump in your lesson? I guess that's up to you. 



Alluring: Turn left and it's 3 miles to the bar

Big Cruise Ships: Royal Caribbean have some of the most innovative Ships afloat including the mega sized Allure of the Seas which can carry an astonishing 6,296 passengers and 2,384 crew, weighing in at 225,000 tonnes (that’s 31,000 double decker buses - and probably the size of Wales). 

If that sounds like the dinner party from hell then perhaps the novelty items on the various new Ships will make up for that. These include a robotic bar, indoor sky diving, surfing simulators, observation capsules, water slides and climbing walls.


Tuscany: Not all Ravioli comes in tins
Cookery Schools: Any self respecting chef would include France or Italy in their destinations. France is probably on strike so head to Florence for an introduction to the food of Tuscany. 

Villa Pandolfini in the Tuscan countryside will sate your appetite with local speciality dishes. Enjoy with a few glasses of Chianti before being driven back to Florence. Half Day introductory courses start at €140 and run year round. Transport to/from central Florence is an extra €10pp.


South Island : Jumpers and minty sweets

Outdoor Pursuits in New Zealand: The South Island is for exploring the great outdoors and offers adventure tourism unparalleled anywhere in the world. Self drive to see the most and bear in mind it will take much longer than it looks - there are a lot of very windy roads. Take the west coast to see the Fox Glacier (named after the mint) or the east coast to Kaikoura for an invigorating swim with dolphins and then onwards to the island’s largest city, Christchurch.

Further south is the adrenaline capital Queenstown. Here you will find imaginative ways to scare yourself from jet boating and white water rafting to bungee jumping and canyon swinging (sideways bungee, before you ask). All surrounded by Lake Wakatipu and the remarkable Remarkables mountain range.




Rocky Mountain NP: the mountains are rocky

Parking in the USA: If mountains are your thing then head to Colorado, home of the imaginatively named Rocky Mountain NP. Easily accessible, there is something for all levels. This is also serious hiking country with 72 peaks over 12,000 feet covered by over 350 miles of trails. 

Wildlife includes bears, mountain lions and non singing chipmunks so don’t forget to zip the tent up properly if you are camping! Open all year round, the altitude means that the high roads are only clear of snow from May-October. Bring warm clothes at all times - make it ski gear in mid winter as some of the best US skiing is in Colorado. 

Private Flying: Gourmet Chicken or Fish
Around the World in 25 days: If you get bored staying in one place, how about a 25 day trip around the world on a private jet? Abercrombie & Kent have a specially chartered 50 guest Boeing 757 departing on 1 May17 for a 'Tropics to the Arctic' trip which costs USD 129,000 per person although it is Business Class.

With flights you cannot miss as the same aircraft stays with your group throughout, you will visit places such as Easter Island, French Polynesia, Mongolia, Uzbekistan, Russia and Iceland (the country not the shop). There are numerous regular, cheaper Round the World air tickets that will allow you to visit many different places on one trip - you just can’t keep the plane.

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Far, auld lang syne my dear

David Sutherland
EyeLine Travel 
Crawley

30 December 2016

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Friday, 23 December 2016

The Twelve Days of Travel: Merry Christmas



On the twelfth day of Christmas Island 
my travel love sent to me:
















Twelve Summers Sunning














Eleven Hikers Hiking















Ten Boards a Leaping














Nine Parisian Ladies Dancing














Eight Malays a Malaysiaing












Seven Seas a Exploring

















Six Greece a Bathing













Five Golden Mings















Four Nepaling Birds
















Three French Valleys
















Two Turtle Beaches














and a Bar Fridge in a Banyan Tree


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Remember, a Holiday is not just for Christmas...

David Sutherland
EyeLine Travel 
Crawley

23 December 2016

***

Standard low cost packages are bookable through my multi destination EyeLine Travel website. 


For tailor made packages or just for some information, please Contact me and I will do the hard work for you. 


For holidays to Thailand, please visit: http://boutiquethailand.co.uk

For Ski and Snowboard Short Breaks, visit http://alpineweekender.co.uk








Friday, 16 December 2016

On the Rails - but not with Southern

Delayed: the 7.32 Brighton to Victoria
If you are a regular user of Southern trains that occasionally run between London and the South coast then the idea of involving a train in any part of your holiday is likely to induce a serious sense of humour failure. However, not all train journeys are the same. 

Of course there are luxurious trains that cater to an elite clientele - at elite prices but we’re going to look at regular scheduled trains that can enhance the holiday travel experience. All you have to do is get to an airport first. Or not.



Eurostar: The right kind of snow
The first train doesn’t even involve any flying. It is the still impressive Eurostar service from London to mainland Europe via the Channel Tunnel. If you ever get fed up of the 100ml liquids rule at airports, try the train instead.

Look beyond Brussels and Paris and you can travel to the French Alps in the winter stopping near the biggest ski resorts. Travel overnight and you can ski for 8 full days. During the summer you can speed down to Provence and the Mediterranean city of Marseille. Even more enjoyable during an air traffic controller’s strike.

ALL ABOARD: Eurostar serves Avignon and Marseille up to 5 times per week (6h-6h30) April-October. Ski trains run twice weekly December-April to Bourg St Maurice (8h-9h30) 


The Southern Line: Thailand not Sussex
Train travel in Asia avoids bad roads and budget airlines. The journey from Bangkok to Singapore has a luxury option but the regular trains are a fraction of the cost and get better as you head south. 

Combine Thai beaches with Malaysian jungles and futuristic Singapore. Sleeper trains at least offer you the concept of sleep but the scenery is good and the on board meals are freshly prepared (and generous with the chilli)

ALL ABOARD: Fly to Bangkok and return from Singapore. The full train journey takes 48 hours so plan stops across all three countries visited to break it up.


Vietnam: Rocking it from the Delta to the DMZ
Staying in Asia, one of the great and symbolic journeys by train is through Vietnam. The optimistically named Reunification Express travels slowly between Ho Chi Minh City and capital Hanoi. The scenery is well worth it.

Aside from the main cities, stop at coastal Nha Trang for the beach, Da Nang for colourful Hoi An and historic Hue. Allow time to visit Halong Bay from Hanoi and the Cu Chi tunnels from Ho Chi Minh, aka Saigon.

ALL ABOARD: Fly into either Ho Chi Minh City or Hanoi and return from the other. The full train journey takes over 30 hours to cover the 1,726km. Caution is advised with the local wine.


Walkabout by train? Yes you Ghan
Finally, if these look too short, then head to Australia where everything is just bigger. The Ghan train runs in mostly a straight line between Adelaide and Darwin through the spectacular and remote red centre. 

Stopover opportunities include Opal town Coober Pedy, Uluru & the Olgas base Alice Springs and natural wonder Katherine. No sharks to worry about on this trip-the crocs have eaten them all. 



ALL ABOARD: Fly to Adelaide with domestic flights from Darwin. The Ghan takes 54 hours to cover the 2,979km. Still too short? Try the Perth to Sydney India Pacific at 4,346km.

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Santa Claus is delayed coming to town...


David Sutherland
EyeLine Travel 
Crawley

16 December 2016

***

Standard low cost packages are bookable through my multi destination EyeLine Travel website. 


For tailor made packages or just for some information, please Contact me and I will do the hard work for you. 


For holidays to Thailand, please visit: http://boutiquethailand.co.uk

For Ski and Snowboard Short Breaks, visit http://alpineweekender.co.uk