We are currently adding tutorials on Google applications. We have started with basic search, advanced search and preferences. We are currently researching a tutorial for GMAIL (GOOGLEMAIL for the UK). Watch this space.
Steve
Add comment July 19th, 2007
I am glad that the Ryder Cup is over because the TV at home has been owned by golf for a while now. Actually it was really exciting wasn’t it?
Well done to Europe for achieving their fifth win out of six matches! I recon if you are either in Ireland now or are planning to travel there soon, you should get caught up in the after celebrations. After all, what are pubs in Ireland for if not to celebrate great victories? Why not take advantage and do the Ultimate Irish Pub Crawl? There is certainly no shortage of them in Dublin.
Cheers everyone 
Doreen B.
Add comment September 24th, 2006
I have heard that Pisa is a boring place to visit because it does not have much to offer tourists. I cant really comment because I have not been there. However, I would love to visit Pisa because this is where they found a fleet of Ancient Roman ships buried in the mud and experts now believe that Pisa was once like Venice. They believe that this find is a good indication as to what may eventually happen to Venice.
They found about 21 ships which where all very well preserved and they date from 200BC-AD500. In 2009 the ships will have a new home. They will be housed in a new museum in Pisa’s old shipyards. The Museum of the Ancient Ships of Pisa is considered to be one of the most important in the world. This is because there is no other remains found to date, from the 1st century B.C to the 4th Century A.C that is so well preserved. Another reason for the importance of this find, is that the cargo of the ships was also found and was also well preserved. This makes it a very important Archaeological find in terms of historical facts.
I think that’s a worth while reason to visit Pisa. If you are interested in seeing the continual work at the excavation site, then you should reserve a space ahead of time. Address: Medici Arsenale, Ponte della Cittadella Pisa PI Italy. The exhibition is currently closed due to restructuring work on the arsenals and the restoration of the ships but will be open again by the end of 2006.
If you are going on a cultural holiday and want a large injection of history, Rome is the city to start off in. You could base yourself in Rome, take in the beauty of the Cathedrals and Colosseum’s and just visit Pisa for a day or two. The trains run regularly and the journey takes about 2 hours.
Sounds good to me. What do you think? Maybe you have been there and done that?? Share you story or tell us what you want to see on this blog.
Doreen B.
Add comment September 22nd, 2006
My daughter is planning her wedding for May 2007. She is having a really difficult time deciding where to go on honeymoon. My personal choice would be France.
France is a really beautiful country and has been associated with romance for centuries. The French language is considered the language of love and how much more romantic can you get than staying in a beautiful Chateaux, sipping champagne and being serenaded in French.
The Loire Valley is a good place to start your honeymoon in my opinion. There must be a reason why all the kings and gentry of France spent so much money on building their fortresses, mansions, palaces and castles in the Loire Valley.
The Loire Valley is only a short train ride away from Paris, so you won’t have to miss out on the irresistible charm of gay Paris. Just think of the food, the culture, the grand boulevards, the Eiffel Tower, the art, the Seine River, the romantic bridges and naturally the shopping. What more could you ask for on your honeymoon?
If anyone has some input, let us know. It would be good to get feedback from recent honeymooners!
By Doreen B.
Add comment September 10th, 2006
Cancelled and delayed flights are sure to have cost airlines millions of £ and $ but I wonder what the long term effect will be on travellers in Europe? The low cost airlines with their cheap air fairs have become such a normal part of travelers lives between London and Spain, Greece and France that it will be a Hugh blow to tourism should that change.
I recon that all low cost airlines like easyjet and bmibaby are going to have to increase their prices simply to cover the extra cost of security since these latest terror threats at Heathrow last week. Budget airlines depend on things like quick turnaround time to keep their costs down and that is not going to be easy anymore. I wonder when we will start to see the impact of last weeks events?
I recon we should start looking at taking the ferry to Spain or France. Make the holiday about the total journey not just about bums on beaches. You could take a ferry from Plymouth to Santander (Plymouth also services France) or Portsmouth to Bilbao. Bilbao is a great option if you want to see Northern Spain, south western France and Portugal. It may take longer to get to your destination but it beats being blown out of the sky or held up at the airport for hours on end or having your flight cancelled all together.
My daughter just happened to be travelling on ‘the’ day of the heightened security at Heathrow and two things she observed of interest was: As busy as the airport was with queues going for miles and miles and waiting times well over 3 hours in some instances to check in and board a plane, she says that people were amazingly calm and even become more human and friendly towards one another. The other observation was that it was such a pleasure to board without hand luggage. There was no congestion in the Ilse and all the passengers found it pleasant and stress free to get on the plane and be seated in record time. I recon the airlines can learn something from this. Get rid of the whole hand luggage thing. In most cases hand luggage is not necessary at all! I am personally in favour of less stress, hand luggage free flying!!
What do you think?
by Doreen B.
Add comment August 15th, 2006
With the compliments of google’s travel news - Check out the following:
For all the gay and lesbian travellers wanting to visit South Africa either on Safari or just to see the beautiful country, there is a new Travel Agency for you to deal with. They are called the South African Gay and Lesbian Travel Alliance (SAGLTA). They specialise in finding and representing hotels, guest-houses, bed and breakfasts, and game lodges who are gay friendly. They also attend to various other travel-related products. They aim to serve the international gay and lesbian community.
What a great idea. I think niche markets work brilliantly.
Do you have an opinion?
by Doreen B.
Add comment August 3rd, 2006
If you are bored with Spain, Turkey, Italy, France or the USA why not try the latest adventure to hit planet earth? Space Travel – No really, space travel is now a reality! On July 24th the first spaceflight was arranged for a paying tourist by an agency that prides themselves as specialists in Space Adventures. You can zoom off to space and meander around in space for a mere $15 million dollars. Well that’s the latest and apparently much cheaper than the $35 million quoted earlier this year. (source = BBC)
Now it looks like Russia is considering the possibility of people walking around the international space station, as long as they have a months training prior to the trip and they have the psychological and physical ability.
Well I know I won’t be spacing out! I don’t have the cash, the guts and the inclination.
How about you?
by Doreen B.
Add comment August 3rd, 2006
In November 2006 Air New Zealand will be flying directly from London to New Zealand via Hong Kong. I can’t tell you how relieved I am to hear that! I travel between the two countries frequently and I really don’t enjoy going via the USA simply because since 9/11 passengers in transit are not allowed to leave the transit lounge and walk around the airport building while they are waiting for the flight to continue.
It may only be a two hour wait but to have to spend most of those two hours standing in a cue waiting to have your finger prints and photo taken is incredibly painful. If you consider that you have just completed over 11 hours of flying, you are dead tired and just want to shower, stretch out, walk around or pass out on a chair standing for most of those two hours is not acceptable. Hong Kong here I come!
The other route I have flown is via Canada and then to Hawaii. Honolulu International Airport is a fair size and at least you are able to leave the airport building and do some exploring. I stayed one night in a Waikiki Hotel and enjoyed spreading out in the hotel bed for the night. I had a great meal at one of the many glorious restaurants Waikiki has to offer. I tried the cheese cake shop. The name is deceptive so don’t get put off. They have a massive selection of fantastic food at great prices and naturally they have the biggest selection of cheese cake I have laid eyes on.
I hired a car (car hire) to get from the airport to the hotel and because I had time in my day and a half stopover, I drove around the island and visited Pearl Harbour. The people were great and I also did a little shopping before continuing my journey the next evening. Now that sure beats sitting in a transit lounge!
By Doreen B.
Add comment July 27th, 2006
I recently read an article about web based travel tools not being as popular as it was two years ago (according to The Conference Board). I find that hard to believe.
I personally use online travel information all the time. I do sometimes use an agent but more often than not, I am able to find a cheaper flight by researching and booking online. Even hotel bookings and car rentals I find cheaper if I book online. I actually cant remember when last I held an airplane ticket in my hand that was not an eticket.
Please give me your comments on this matter. I really would be interested to see if anyone out there agrees with me or with the report I read. Thanks for taking time to read this blog.
by Doreen B.
Add comment July 26th, 2006
Take a trip to Iceland and save yourself some hard earned cash. With the escalating fuel prices, travel is becoming more challenging so my advice is to still go away but be more creative. Try visiting places you have not been to before, like Iceland and look specifically at booking your flights with airlines that are offering specials.
With this in mind, I thought you might want to know that Icelandair are offering some great summer deals. If you are planning a weekend away, why not check out the flights and shoot off to Iceland for a great time at great prices?
For our American readers you will have to visit for more than a weekend because your flying time is 5.5 hours whereas the British only have a 3 hour flight to endure. I just checked the Icelandair website and if you are flying from the States, you can get a flight for $999 that includes 3 nights accommodation at a smart Nordic Hotel. That’s great value for money. I say: Wow, go for it!
By Doreen B.
Add comment July 19th, 2006