National Parking in the USA: Happy Birthday Yogi Bear!

Yo kidding: Shouldn’t it be Jellostone?

This week has been the 100th anniversary of the United States National Parks Service who oversee 58 protected wilderness areas with over 20,000 permanent staff. 

In a country that offers you A-List destinations from New York and Las Vegas to Florida and California, the national parks could easily be overlooked as destinations. They shouldn’t be. And anyway, they have their own list of celebrities who are famous already. And Jellystone Park really isn’t one of them!

Yellowstone: Dodgy Geyser

The very first national park was Yellowstone in Wyoming home to 10,000 thermal pools including hot water, bubbling mud and explosive geysers including the legendary Old Faithful which erupts approximately every 91 minutes. This volcanic region is also a vast home to forests, mountains and cold water lakes. And of course bears.

GET THERE: The park is open all year around but unless you are a fan if snow, avoid the winter.  Accommodation is available in the park but gets booked up quickly - including the campsites. The nearest international airport is Salt Lake City (320miles) whilst Bozeman, Montana has a regional airport 80 miles away.

Rocky Mountain NP: The mountains are rocky

If mountains are your thing then head over the border to Colorado, home of the imaginatively named Rocky Mountain NP. Easily accessible there is something for all levels. 

For the committed, 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!

GET THERE: 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. International flights operate into Denver which is just 75 miles from the park and be aware of the effects of staying at high altitude.

Yosemite: Where’s Sam?

California is generally associated with beaches and Hollywood bling so get away from it all to the Sierra Nevada mountains and the stunning alpine wilderness of Yosemite National Park. 

Ideal for hiking, fishing, rafting and climbing this is home to America's highest waterfall, granite monolith (El Capitan) and giant redwood trees that you can drive through. As well as bears so don’t leave any unopened jars of honey around.

GET THERE: Ideally visit in the summer when the roads are clear of snow (unless you are skiing at Mammoth Mountain). The nearest international airport is San Francisco (165 miles) and a summer only drive on to Los Angeles (280 miles) via the Highway 1 or Las Vegas (340 miles) via Death Valley is bucket list territory.

Grand Canyon? Yes it is

In nearby Arizona is probably the most famous park of all and you can visit it by air without even getting out. But where’s the fun in that? The Grand Canyon NP is a true wonder of the world. One mile deep and 18 miles wide it exceeds expectations. 

It is also very popular so get away from the coach tours and helicopters by hiking down into the basin alongside the Colorado River. It is challenging terrain but worth it to get a real feeling for the place. No bears but keep an eye out for wily Coyotes. Camp out and go rafting before ascending back to reality.

GET THERE: The closest international airport is Las Vegas although this is still 275 miles away. Fly or drive there and preferably stay overnight to avoid the day trippers. It gets very hot in the summer and cold in the winter so plan ahead. Combine with a trip to Vegas or for serious road trip fans, there’s California via Death Valley or iconic Route 66 to Amarillo, if you can find the way.  

***

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

For tailor made packages, to book a trip to any of the places featured above 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 and check out the Facebook page of the same name for current offers.

All holidays that I arrange are ABTA/ATOL protected.

david@eyelinetravel.co.uk

020 8123 2569

EyeLine Travel Facebook 
boutique thailand Facebook

Twitter (@eyelinetravel, @bouthaique)

Time for a pic-a-nic basket..

David Sutherland

EyeLine Travel 

26 August 2016

Are you feeling very Olympic? It’s time for your legacy!

Athletics: Be a cool runner

As we near the end of the Rio Olympics, all those late nights on the sofa cannot have failed to inspire us all to go out and achieve something. For inspiration and motivation why not join an activity based small group trip to get a goal of your choice? 

Granted there are not many Long Jump or Hammer throwing holidays around but there are plenty of challenges out there if you are up for it. Let’s have a look at some of these to create your own Olympic legacy.

Cycling: Beyond the Velodrome. And Bilbao.

Whether you were glued to every minute of the track cycling gold runs or don’t know the difference between Omnium and Immodium, two wheels are a great way to travel. Especially outside and in a straight line. 

Try a moderate level cycling trip following the route of the Camino de Santiago in northern Spain. Complete 283km of the important sections to get a Pilgrim’s Certificate.  

HOW: Explore! offer 8 day trips from Bilbao to Santiago de Compostela from £899 in Autumn and Spring including flights, transfers, bikes, support, guide and accommodation.  

Peru in full colour: High Inca Levels

If you prefer two feet to two wheels then there are some great trekking opportunities out there that are a bit more than a Sunday stroll via the pub. 

One of the most famous trips in the world is in Peru: The Inca Trail. By walking you will get to Machu Picchu before the day trippers and see sunrise from the Gateway to the Sun. The 4 day trek reaches an altitude of 4,200m.


HOW: Exodus offer an 11 day trip from £1,999 including flights to Cuzco, guides, porters, meals and accommodation (aka tents). April-November is the dry season. 

I am Sailing: Cross the sea

For those with nautical minds, there are plenty of places in the Caribbean where you can try sailing but to get a real sense of achievement try a two week trip from the Bahamas to Key West via Cuba. 

With a maximum group size of 8 plus crew this is an adventurous trip. Enjoy snorkelling, swimming with turtles and catching your own dinner before an extended stopover in Havana.

HOW: Intrepid offer this 13 day single hull yachting trip from £2,404 excluding flights. No sailing experience is necessary but you will need to get involved - it’s the best way to learn!

Thailand: What’s the Story, Morning Dory

Continuing aquatically, if you prefer your diving to be unsynchronised and into correctly coloured water then head to the warm Andaman sea off the coast of Thailand. Use Phuket as a base to complete a beginners, a refresher or advanced PADI diving course around Phuket and Koh Phi Phi. 

For those with experience (20+dives incl PADI Advanced) take a Liveaboard trip out to the Similian Islands far away from the crowds for some of the world’s best diving.

HOW: Stay 10 nights in 4* Phuket from £937pp with flights. PADI courses are around £250-£300pp for 3 days. A 4 day Liveaboard to the Similian Islands is around £500pp (14 dives).

***

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

For tailor made packages, to book any of the trips featured above 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 and check out the Facebook page of the same name for current offers.

All holidays that I arrange are ABTA/ATOL protected.

david@eyelinetravel.co.uk

020 8123 2569

EyeLine Travel Facebook 
boutique thailand Facebook

Twitter (@eyelinetravel, @bouthaique)





Travel broadens the mind - become a genius!

David Sutherland

EyeLine Travel 

19 August 2016

Dive into Brazil - it’s a Marathon not a Sprint

Rio: Carioca night

The Olympic Games are lighting up Rio de Janeiro. Brazil's iconic city takes the limelight with its Copacabanas, Sugar Loafs and multi coloured diving pools. Yet it is not the largest city (Sao Paolo) or the capital (Brasilia). 

There is so much more to Brazil than Rio - if you have time. It is a vast country bordering all but two countries in South America. Let’s take a quick tour of some of the wonders of Brazil.

Manaus: Amazon prime

The sprawling city of Manaus is the starting point to explore the vast natural wilderness of Amazonia. Take to the water to see the meeting of the differently coloured Solimões and Negro rivers which form the Amazon with its river dolphins and manatees. 

Go on an adventure trip for one or more nights to experience the mighty rainforest and if you fancy it, ‘sleep' out in a covered hammock to hear the unique night sounds of the jungle. 

HOW: International flights operate via Miami (5 hours) or Rio/Sao Paolo (4 hours). The only road leads into Venezuela so to stay in Brazil, it’s 2 hours by air to Belem on the Atlantic coast - or 4 days by river ferry, overnighting in your own hammock!  

Jericoacoara: iDunes

Brazil’s coastline is an astonishing 7,491km with over 2,095 beaches. After Copacabana and Ipanema, that leaves 2,093 more to explore. One of the best is at Jericoacoara, a surf and sand dune community 300km north of coastal city Fortaleza.  

Jeri (to the locals) is a place to chill out in a basic pousada (guest house) with beach bars and street food. The streets are covered in sand and after the obligatory daily climb up the largest sand dune to see the sunset, no street lights are permitted. 

HOW: Getting there is half the fun isn’t it? International flights operate to Fortaleza via Lisbon. Domestically it’s 3+ hours to Sao Paolo and Rio and under 2 hours to Belem or Salvador. Buses run from Fortaleza city and airport to Jeri. Change to 4WD for the final hour along the beach. 

 Salvador daily: drumming up rhythm

If beaches are the body of Brazil then music is the soul. Nowhere is that more so than in Salvador, further down the atlantic coast. With a Portuguese colonial centre, it is home to vibrant Afro-Brazilian culture. 

Legendary drum school Olodum is the permanent back beat to the city where festivals can spring out of nowhere. Enjoy fresh seafood and take a tour of the Bahia region if time permits. You will remember the rhythmic sounds long after you leave.



HOW: International flights operate to Salvador via Lisbon. Nationally, it’s 3 hours to Sao Paolo and 2 hours to either Rio or Fortaleza. 

Pantanal: Giant guinea pig or tiny bird?

Fans of giant animals and piranhas should head west to the world’s largest freshwater wetland, the Pantanal. 
Unlike the Amazon, wildlife is easier to see. Stay in a camp and enjoy day and night safari trips by car/boat/horse.

You will have the chance to see birds, monkeys, caimans, giant otters, piranhas and possibly anacondas and jaguars if you are very lucky. The more remote you go, the more you will see. The southern hemisphere night sky looks pretty good here too.

HOW: Gateway cities are Cuiaba for northern Pantanal and Campo Grande for south. Flights to either from Sao Paolo are around 2 hours. It’s a big area (the size of Portugal) so allow time for travel and aim for the May-October dry season if you don’t fancy swimming with the bitey fish..


***

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

For tailor made packages including any of the places featured above 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 and check out the Facebook page of the same name for current offers.

All holidays that I arrange are ABTA/ATOL protected.

david@eyelinetravel.co.uk

020 8123 2569






EyeLine Travel Facebook 
boutique thailand Facebook

Twitter (@eyelinetravel, @bouthaique)







Brasil, Prá mim! 

David Sutherland

EyeLine Travel 

12 August 2016

   

September Festivals - Raising a Glass to Local Tradition

Beer giggles at the Septemberfest

September means that summer is over. Back to work, back to school and air fares back to normal. Memories may be fading of those happy mid-summer rain soaked days but the global festival wheels keep on turning and there is still plenty happening.

If you have leftover annual leave then it’s a great month to travel with lower prices, decent weather and unused holiday bragging rights. September has some great traditional events and these ones are all free to attend.

Brooklyn: Not good enough to be named twice

If you are in New York on 25 September then head to Brooklyn for the biggest Big Apple festival you’ve never heard of, The Atlantic Antic. The oldest and largest in New York, this is a one day street festival with lots of food and music spread over 10 blocks covering 4 neighbourhoods between Hicks Street and Fourth Avenue. 

Afterwards be sure to visit Peter Luger’s Restaurant, voted by Zagat as the best steak house in New York - for the past 30 years in a row! Book ahead and take cash - no cards accepted!

HOW: Fly to New York’s JFK or Newark airports. Or sail on the elegant Queen Mary 2 from Southampton. Stay in Manhattan. Brooklyn is over the East River by Subway or Taxi.

Hermanus: Get ready for Whalenados

If the USD exchange rate is too eye watering at the moment, try South Africa which is still a currency bargain. The spectacular Cape coast is always worth a visit although not known for it’s friendly maritime inhabitants.

However, if you go to the town of Hermanus on the 30 September, it will be the start of their eco-marine Whale Festival. Watch the migration of the Southern Right Whales through the comfort of binoculars from the cliff tops accompanied by live music, local food and a cheeky Cape wine. 

HOW: Fly to Cape Town. Hermanus is 120km away. Hire a car for flexibility to explore the coastal region including the Cape of Good Hope, Stellenbosch and the Garden Route.   

Barcelona: The roof, the roof is on fire

Meanwhile back in Europe, the festival calendar continues. Regional festivals in Spain involve processions, tapas and pyrotechnics. Experience the Barcelona version at the Festes de la Merce from 22-24 September. 

Trying to see the stage at La Merce

A multi event programme celebrating the city’s Patron Saint covers music, food, Castellers - human castles or people standing on top on each other and Correfocs - fire runners who set fire to things and try to ignite the entire city with sparklers.


HOW: Fly to Barcelona from across the UK. Bring earplugs, fire retardant clothing & a good appetite. If it all gets too much, escape to the beach.

Munich: No skinny lattes or grilled halloumi here

Our final festival (and a personal favourite) is called the Oktoberfest even though it runs from 17 September to 3 October this year. So much for German precision! If you like beer then this Munich stalwart has been the go to place since 1810. 

Lederhosen clad locals fill giant beer halls run by different breweries which last year served 7.3m litres of beer brewed to Bavarian purity laws. That means it tastes very good. Chickens and sausages by the truck load are consumed to the accompaniment of Oompah bands. 

Oktoberfest: Redefining the concept of beer tents

HOW: Fly to Munich from UK airports. The festival site is at Theresienweise, close to the city centre. Access is by U-bahn lines U4,U5. 

Stay somewhere you can remember, get there early and touch glasses when somebody says ‘Proust!’ to make new friends. Before you know it you will be singing along with everybody else and having fun.

***

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

For tailor made packages including any of the places featured above 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 and check out the Facebook page of the same name for current offers.

All holidays that I arrange are ABTA/ATOL protected.

david@eyelinetravel.co.uk

020 8123 2569

EyeLine Travel Facebook 
boutique thailand Facebook


Twitter (@eyelinetravel, @bouthaique)





Ein Prosit der Gemütlichkeit! 

David Sutherland
EyeLine Travel 
5 August 2016