Eye On Travel: Found in Translation: When the alternative is better

Alternatives: See the World differently

We are now living in the era of Alternative Facts. Which used to be known as being economical with the truth. Look at the world and not everything is as it seems.

However, sometimes that is a good thing. I have been looking through the EyeLine Travel dictionary and have found a few places that are much better than they sound and well worth a visit. Let’s look at some places with alternative meanings to help with your holiday planning.

Silly: having or showing a lack of common sense or judgement; absurd and foolish.

Some Scilly people on the beach

There are many places that could be considered ‘silly’ to go on holiday. War zones, disaster zones and Skegness spring to mind. But the winner quite literally has to be the Isles of Scilly, off the southern Cornish coast.

There are 5 inhabited islands that enjoy the warmest climate in the UK. A place to relax, enjoy quiet beaches and a slower pace of life. A place to revive - without the risk of any late nights!

GET THERE: Fly in a small plane to St Marys from Exeter (60mins), Newquay (30mins) or Lands End (15mins). Ferries operate from Penzance (2h45). Take a camera. And a sick bag.

Bad: not such as to be hoped for or desired; unpleasant or unwelcome.

My Bad. Or is it yours?

Things that are bad are usually the opposite of good. Unless it is in ironic street language which means they are quite good. Or sick. One Bad that is very good is Austria’s Bad Kleinkircham which is a Carinthian spa town where bad means thermal baths (in German).

In the Winter, BKK (as it is it known) is a ski area favoured by Austrian Olympic legend Franz Klammer. In the Summer it is an outdoors area for hiking & biking. All of which is followed by a serious spell in the hot tub. Whatever the weather.

GET THERE: Fly to Klagenfurt or Ljubljana in next door Slovenia and transfer from there. By train aim for Villach or the delightful Spittal from Munich or Salzburg.

Moron: a very stupid or foolish person.

Morons: Going about their daily business

There are many people in the world - some of whom in positions of power - that could be described as morons. This includes 65,000 residents of the Cuban town of Morón who prefer Morónista. Or probably Cuban.

Located in Ciego de Ávila province, to visit here you would not be as stupid as they sound given that the town is just 30mins away from international beach resort Cayo Coco. Given the soon to be large influx of US visitors, it’s worth going there sooner rather than later.

GET THERE: Package flights operate from the UK to Cayo Coco. Alternatively fly to Havana and it’s about 8 hours by a more reliable train service than Southern Rail

Crabby: unhappy and tending to complain a lot

Krabi: perfect for de-crabbificaton

Crabby is a derivative of Grumpiness and this has no place in your holidays (unless you book through a non-ABTA agent!). The area associated with this name will remove all traces of its namesake. How can it not?

Change the spelling to Krabi and you have stunning west coast Thailand lapped by the warm and clear Andaman sea, powder white beaches and soaring limestone cliffs. In fact the only time you’ll get an attack of grouchiness is when you leave.

GET THERE: One stop flights from the UK to Krabi operate via Doha with Qatar Airways or via Bangkok with Thai Airways. Connections are available from 10 UK airports.

***
I have been to Austria, Cuba and Thailand. The Scillies are the missing link.

***