Archive for February, 2006
The Grand Canyon, I believe is breath taking. My sister-in-law did the trip last year and did her best to describe to me what it was like. From her experience, I will mention a few pointers that may benefit you if you decide to take the trip.
She experienced what she described as the most wonderful array of Light, Colour and shadows at the Grand Canyon, with the light and shadows being unpredictable and constantly changing. She was quite amazed to discover that most people apparently don’t make it past the visitor centre, gift shops and museums at the south rim. Thalia being the adventurous type and not one to waste time on material pleasures took the trip to the north rim. This she says was so worth while and she recommends that anyone taking the trouble to visit the Canyon is foolish not to take time to visit the north rim.
She also recommends that you book a year in advance and try and travel slightly out of the peak season which is May to August. She recons you should go either during March, April or September, November.
Our site covers a lot of information on the Grand Canyon from History to the weather so browse for as long as you like. Tell us if you want more information.
Doreen B.
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February 28th, 2006
We have a new section on our sight called Timeshare Online which is very useful for those considering buying Timeshare.
I don’t know about you but my experience with Timeshare companies has not been great. They put major pressure on you to buy and they use every trick in the book to make you sign on the dotted line. If you are considering buying Timeshare take a look at the advice we provide on our sight, under Travel Extras under the Timeshare Online section before you take the leap.
Timeshare can be a great holiday option but buying ‘right’ is important or you will not be satisfied and getting out of a timeshare deal can be tricky. Be wary of those companies that offer free travel and accommodation if you go along to their presentations. Another pit to watch for are those companies that make a point of separating partners at the presentation. This is designed to limit communication between partners. This was my personal experience and fortunately for me, I made the decision to ’sleep on it’.
People often get carried away by the stunning visions conjured up in their heads at these presentations and sign up without giving the idea due consideration. Don’t get caught out. Do your homework before attending any presentation and always give it time before taking the next step.
Let us know if you have had a bad experience?
Doreen B.
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February 28th, 2006
We have recently added a ‘Vacation Rental Guide’ for Spain. Do yourself a favour and read the section on Renting Directly from owners. It is the cheaper option but you do need to be aware of the down side.
We have a villa in Spain that you could rent. It is in Costa Calida which is still unspoiled compared to most the Costa’s along the Spanish coast line. If you are looking for a private rental let us know. We can arrange this through our property managers based in the UK and Spain.
We don’t advertise the property with any agents. We do have family living in the UK who take care of the villa for us. They also have a villa in Spain close to our property which they visit frequently during the year. We also have a property manager based near the house for convenience. We only let the place out to a select few because we view the property as a second home.
Let me know?
Doreen B.
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February 28th, 2006
Howdy everyone. We have another new section for you to feast your eyes on - the Grand Canyon.
The site has tons of information for you if you intend visiting the Grand Canyon. It covers things like travel, transport, flights, family trips, what to do beyond the Canyon as well as tours, accommodation and activities.
If you have any suggestions for us, please yell!
Doreen B.
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February 27th, 2006
I (Steve) was born in Tanganyika, Tanzania but left the country when I was two years old. I never did go back so I have never had the pleasure of visiting the brilliant game reserves or Kilimanjaro. We have just completed our section on Kilimanjaro so take a peak and then let us know if you want more information.
February 27th, 2006
Turin winter Olympics are now over but the action in Italy goes on. The World Pizza Championships are being held in Salsomaggiore (North West of Parma) in April 2006.
Actually I never gave it any thought before but have you ever wondered how much food gets consumed during an event like that? I have no idea but it must be huge. Think about it, there were roughly 2,500 athletes in Torino who came from 85 different countries. Then you have to consider all the spectators and partners or families of the athletes as well as the usual tourists visiting at the time. Also, imagine the variety of food that is needed to satisfy such a diverse crowd of visitors! At least Italy can offer two dishes that are world famous and eaten by most – Pizza and Pasta oh and chocolate.
Did you know that chocolate was being made in Torino, Italy long before Switzerland started making chocolate? If you want to know more about food in Italy check out our website Indigo Guide for some interesting facts.
Doreen B.
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February 27th, 2006
I will tell you in a minute why you should visit Marseille in France, but fist I must tell you that I find the French and English relationship strange. I have tried many times to find a French restaurant in Oxfordshire that serves snails (escargot). To date I still have not found one. If you know of one, please let me know. I grew up in South Africa where the majority of restaurants serve escargot as starters. I find it odd that South Africa is so far from France but snails are in abundance in restaurants, while the UK is on their doorstep and the restaurants, even the authentic French ones I have tried, fail to offer snails. When I moved to the UK it never occurred to me that I would not be able to continue enjoying my favourite French delicacies unless I travelled to France.
I have now tried another French delicacy, ‘frog legs’ as a starter. Not bad, but snails smothered in garlic butter and some bread fingers to dip into the garlic butter is still my favorite starter.
If you are an adventurous eater like me and want to try garlic snails and you cant find them on your home turf, then you will have to do what I did to get them. Go to France!
While you are there another recommendation is the world famous French soup from Marseille called ‘Bouillabaisse’. This is a soup made of a variety of fish and vegetables. The best place to try it is naturally in Marseilles itself. Bouillabaisse was a local fish dish made with unsold fish at the local markets and was known as the fisherman’s dish.
If you do try it, don’t be fooled by the word ‘soup’. Bouillabaisse is usually ordered as a main dish because it is very filling. The best place to find a decent seafood restaurant in Marseilles, is at the Old Port or try the small walking streets beside the Quai de Rive Neuve. A name that comes to mind is the ‘Chez Michel’ in rue des Catalans. They have been serving Bouillabaisse since 1946.
You may be wondering what on earth you would go to Marseille for if you are still harboring the old image of gangsters and plagues which was once synonymous with Marseille and highlighted in the American film ‘The French Connection’. If that is your perception, then you will be pleasantly surprised at what Marseilles has to offer you as a holiday destination. The flavor of Marseilles (and I am not talking about the delicious food here) is art, history, museums, musicians, filmmakers, theater, fashion, quaint seafood restaurants, parks, gardens, religious sites, hiking, camping, loads of beaches and year round festivals.
Have I managed to expel the old gangster and plague image from your head yet?
Oh and for those driving on their own in the South of France, particularly in the Marseille to Menton area, keep you car doors locked and windows closed when you stop at traffic lights. There have been some reports of bags been snatched off the front seat on the passenger side.
Doreen B.
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February 23rd, 2006
In my humble opinion, I believe that our site on Spain is one of the best you will find on the net! The author is an ex-pat who lives in Spain and has travelled extensively around the country collecting valuable and interesting information. This information is at your disposal if you visit our site: www.indigoguide.com.
One of the more interesting places to visit in the South of Spain is Cordoba. It is about 1.5 hours drive north of the Costa del Sol (an extremely popular holiday destination for the British) and provides holiday makers with some stunning art, culture and historical sites to visit. It’s the perfect spot for a combination holiday. You can spend your days soaking up the sun on the beach, swimming in the sea to cool off and drinking sangria at night in the wild and vivacious Costa del Sol. When you have had enough of the sun, sea, sand and sangria take a drive to Cordoba and enjoy the real Spain.
On our site we provide you with great information about Cordoba’s history. If you click on the ‘Day Trips’ button you will find a host of things to keep you occupied. One of the sites mentioned is La Mezquita. This is the Arab Mosque built between the 8th and 10th centuries and was considered to be Iberia’s Greatest Mosque. In fact it was rated as the best Muslim architectural achievement in the West. Today the Mosque remains a great sight to visit but also a bit strange because inside the Mosque you have a cathedral. Weird but wonderful.
Our site also gives you information about night life in Cordoba, car hire, fligths and accommodation. Enjoy!
Doreen B.
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February 21st, 2006
We have some great information about Travel Essentials when travelling to Greece. Take a look at our site: www.indigoguide.com.
We do have some fairly important information missing on the site, so here it is:
Greece takes a hard line on the use of drugs in their country. Possession of even small quantities can result in long term imprisonment. Also, if you buy goods in Greece, make sure you keep your proof of purchase. It is actually breaking the law to posses goods without receipts - strange but true. Driving under the influence of alcohol is a no no just like at home and lastly, make sure that you keep some form of photo identification on you at all times. This applies to a lot of other countries, so it is handy to have a certified copy of your passport (including the photo part naturally) handy at all times when you travel.
Let me know what other information you want to see on our site?
Doreen B.
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February 20th, 2006
Turkey has become an extremely popular holiday destination for the British. When we travelled to Turkey we found that the most popular tourist destinations where buzzing with Brits. The flight took us about four hours and we found pretty cheap flights because we booked a packaged holiday. Our site, IndigoGuide gives you some good information about Flying to Turkey.
While I was doing some research on flights to Turkey, I came across this sight:
bookingbuddy.com.
What I found helpful about the site is that it gives you access to all the major travel sites within one site so it was easy to compare prices and availability.
If you are travelling extensively around Turkey then you might want to investigate some of the domestic airlines as a means of getting around. Here are three alternatives to the State airline: Fly Air - www.flyair.com.tr, Onur Air - www.onurair.com.tr, and Atlas Jet - www.atlasjet.com. If you want to use the state airline then visit: www.thy.com.
For those travelling to Turkey for the first time, you should bear in mind that it is illegal to travel around the country without having photo ID. My advise to you is to keep a certified copy of your passport with you at all times and leave your passport in the safe at the hotel.
Other advice is to buy and drink bottled water. Most the locals don’t drink from the taps. Also, be really careful of the main alcoholic drink ‘Raki’. It is 45% proof but looks just like water. It is definitely advisable to take it easy on that stuff.
Obviously check out your visa requirements as this varies from country to country. When we travelled all we needed was our current passports and we got our visa’s stamped at the passport control. It is also courteous to try and learn some basic Turkish words like; please, thank you, how much, hello, goodbye, yes, no, water, toilets etc.
One last word of advice. Whenever we travel to another country we always find out what is expected with regards to tipping. In Turkey, if you are satisfied with the service then you tip between 10 and 15%.
If you think our section on Turkey needs more information please let us know?
Doreen B.
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February 20th, 2006
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