Pete's Wicked Travels

Travelling has changed dramatically in the last 50 years; we now travel the world by air, road and sea. There are many differences between the way we travelled in the past and the way we travel now.

Flying was a luxury, saved for only the richest most important people. It was a classy event that people dressed up for, there was no Airport Parking or shuttle buses, nor was there hundreds of daily flights, there may have been one or two daily.

Heathrow Airport Parkingwas only open grassland and Leeds Bradford Airport Parkingwas non-existent, as was the airport. A flight was almost as anticipated as the actual holiday or business trip (this certainly is not the case now) very rarely was there children on board, and an Airline hostess was a coveted position.

The same goes for cars, now there are so many styles and brands on the road it is hard to know which one to buy. When once it was only a select few, and again these cars were only driven by the wealthiest families, and a car ride was a special trip. The glory days of cars long gone, we all dread the thought of a long tiring road trip, even though we now have CD players and air conditioning!

Trains were actually used much more frequently than they are today, this was the main way to travel long distances. While now we have the tube, subway and freeway (and still cannot seem to arrive fast enough) a train was comfortable and easy, you could have lunch or dinner, and it was also possible to get a sleeping car, in order to get a good night’s sleep. Ahhh… the days of old!

Travelling has seen such major growth it is impossible to set the clock back in time (and would you want to) We can now see the beauty of the world like never before, we can taste other cultures as if they are our own and change our destiny with a simple flight. But the next time you are standing in Gatwick Airport Parking think about how only a short while ago there was a farm field and a farmer working the very land on which you stand!

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If you are planning your next holidays to a distant land, you should never go without a travel or holiday insurance policy in place. It is so because you never know when things might turn against you. Since holidays don’t always work the way you have perceived, it is always a good idea to have something in place to deal with the financial blow.

Although it is important to purchase a travel or holiday insurance coverage, you need to select the best one. This is the reason why it is important to select a policy only after you have considered the following points.

• Before opting for an insurance policy, see if you are already covered by your regular health plan or not. Sometimes, your regular health plan or homeowner’s policy offer coverage for lost baggage and medical care around the world. Similarly, you may find your credit card issuer offering some perks for nominal or no charge, such as help getting a replacement for a lost passport or finding a doctor while you’re on holidays.  That’s not always the case, but it is possible. If your existing plan doesn’t cover you overseas, consider getting a new holiday insurance policy. Moreover, your regular health plan may cover you partially overseas, so it becomes crucial to get a new plan as soon as possible.
• Before you select a holiday insurance plan, you need to pay attention to the availability of different package policies. The good thing about holiday insurance is that it now comes with a variety of new, smaller options: buying coverage just for trip delays, or just for medical concerns, or even just for baggage. What it means is that you no longer need to go with one standard plan; you can customize it to make it fit the bill. Today, it is possible to find plans exclusively designed for outdoors fanatics or for student travelers, or even for kids under the age of 17. It suggests that if you don’t want all the bells and whistles, you don’t need to.
• Consider getting evacuation insurance even if you are not all that interested in buying travel insurance That way, you won’t have issues getting back to the hospital in your home country rather than having your injury repaired overseas where medical facilities may not be the best. It is true that traditional insurance sometimes already include evacuation insurance, but that’s not always the case. Therefore, you need to check the fine print before making a purchase.
• Before finalizing your purchase, it is advisable to have a closer look at the restrictions on blanket policies. For instance, new policies now come with a feature like “cancel for any reason”. If you are going to a particular country for holidays where there is an outbreak of H1N1, you can cancel your trip just for this reason. But do keep in mind that these types of policies cost more. Therefore, it’s important to consider all these points before you opt for a holiday insurance coverage.

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Of all the major European cities I’ve visited over the last few years, Munich stands out amongst the best.

Sure, London nights out or the sights and sounds of somewhere like Amsterdam are as vivid as ever – and anyone who has been to either of these capitals will know exactly what I mean – and Barcelona, Paris, Madrid, Milan and Venice are all pleasant enough. In none of these places, though, was I made to feel as welcome or at ease as I was in my few days in Munich last February.

When an old university housemate started working in Ulm at the start of this year, another friend and I wasted little time in formulating a plan to go over and see him as soon as possible and explore Germany. What a masterstroke of a decision that turned out to be.

With cheap flights from Manchester to Stuttgart secured, we turned our attentions to getting discounted cover, as I’ve learnt the hard way about the importance of travel insurance after losing my luggage during a golfing holiday in Austria a couple of years back. Luckily cheap travel insurance gave us a quick solution and we were protected. That was that. Next stop: Germany.

The journey in itself, which was less than 90 minutes, was unlike anything I’ve ever experienced as the in-flight service was exceptional and the food was edible for once. Following an overnight stay in Ulm, we caught a ‘slow’ train – as it was described to us by one helpful train conductor – to Munich that cost €25 between the three of us. We were staggered by how cheap this was. Granted, it took roughly 80 minutes to complete the 160km journey and the train itself seemed to stop at every station under the German sun, but we were quite happy to sit back, relax and soak up the scenery.

Our city base apartment, which set us back less than €20 each for the night, was conveniently located just a few streets away from Munich train station, meaning we could dump our bags in our room and see the city centre by foot straight away. It was more by good fortune than anything else that we stumbled across the Viktualienmarkt, a daily food market that gave us a real flavour of German cuisine and of Bavarian culture in general. We washed down a dish of piping-hot currywurst, sauerkraut and kartoffelsalat from one of the stalls with a few glasses of weird and wonderful wine being sampled by a cluster of locals nearby who took great delight in telling us where to go and what to see. It was a relief to hear one of them recommend that we popped into the Hofbrauhaus, as this was pretty much what we’d built the whole trip around.

It’s believed that the Hofbrauhaus is the biggest pub in the world and it more than lived up to its billing. It was everything we expected a traditional German ale house would be – and more. Within minutes of passing through the giant doors, we were sat on a huge table getting acquainted with people from all over Germany and further afield with a two-pint stein glass in our hands swaying from side to side and singing along with the live oompah band. The locally-brewed beer was quite unlike anything I’ve ever sampled. So crisp, so quaffable. The atmosphere and noise generated by young and old inside the Hofbrauhaus was incredible and we found the German hospitality to be exemplary.

Before heading back to Ulm in our hire car and then on to Stuttgart and home, we took in a Bayern Munich game the following day at the futuristic Allianz Arena. Rather naively, we thought we could just rock up and buy tickets on the day, only to be told by a club official when we tried that the fixture against Hoffenheim had been sold out for months. So we had to find a tout selling spares. Well, I use the word tout in the loosest form as the man we actually bought tickets off was about as far removed from the stereotypical image of a tout as you could get. We paid face value for the €40 tickets and ended up sitting next to our ticket saviour and his family, who celebrated each of Bayern’s four goals by embracing the three of us and spent a sizable chunk of the afternoon teaching us a few terrace anthems.

It was a very surreal 90 minutes or so and put the seal on Munich moments that will live long in the memory.

admin Europe Europe, germany, munich

Mexico provides the ultimate in adrenaline-racing holidays with unrivalled watersports opportunities. From bobbing around on a banana-boat as a break from sunbathing on the golden beaches, to exploring some of the world’s deepest underwater caves and making friends with new marine life, there is a watersport in Mexico to entice any kind of holiday maker. Possibly our favourite watersport is to just cruise around the coast on the back of a jet-ski. But we’ve picked out a selection of other Mexico Watersport Holiday essentials.

Scuba Diving
Mexico is an international Holy Grail for divers and is unique in that even the wonders of coral reefs in Cozumel are accessible to all, thanks to tropical waters and excellent training schools. While experienced divers will enjoy the challenges of the Cenote caves, diving becomes fun for all the family in Cancun. For those who prefer to experience being underwater without the complexities of an oxygen pack, snorkelling is also a fantastic way to enjoy Mexico’s blue waters.

Surfing
Much like scuba diving, Mexico is a haven for experienced surfers – where unspoilt waves and quiet beaches will reward highly. However, surfing is still a great option for the less experienced or first-time wave riders and Mexico has great surf down the length of its Pacific coast, including Baja California, Los Cabos, Mazatlan, Acapulco and Pueto Escondido, which are all notable surfing beaches.

Kayaking and Rafting
This is a great option if you want to get wet and wild away from the coastline, although sea rafting is also an option in Mexico in places like La paz, Cabo San Lucas, Cancun and Acapulco. Those with a real taste of adventure and who are looking for a more exciting way to enjoy Mexico’s scenery will want to head to Veracruz, where they can follow the rivers flowing down from the mountains. Trips often start from the town of Jalcomulco, although rafting in the Chiapas lets you go through the Lacandona Jungle.

Speedboat Trips
Another great way to enjoy the Jungle is with a speedboat tour – which you can even man yourself if you wish! Enjoy the beauty of the Nichupte Lagoon and travel through mangroves until you reach the Pacific Ocean – where there’s even time to hop out of your boat for some snorkelling amongst the world’s second largest coral reef. This is the perfect activity for couples or families on a holiday in Mexico.

Parasailing
Not technically one of the wettest of watersports available in Mexico, but certainly one of the wildest! Those with a fear of heights may not be the greatest fans of parasailing, but it offers a holiday experience to remember for a lifetime as you admire birds-eye views over fantastic Mexican scenery from the safety of a harness and a parachute as you are pulled through the air by a speedboat.

Similar to Parasailing, we recommend trying the trickier art of Water-skiing. Hold tight to the ropes as you are jetted along the coast armed with only a pair of skis! Whether you can master this or not, you’ll have an amazing time trying.

If you’re a total water baby, then Mexico’s 6000 miles of gorgeous coastline, spanning the Caribbean Sea, the Pacific Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico, will be a complete dream. You’ll be surrounded by azure blue waters, the coral reefs and caves which lie beneath them, just waiting to be explored. Enjoy!

admin Travel Tips diving, mexico, Travel Tips, watersports

For those planning that longed for ‘trip of a lifetime’, one of Fred.Olsen Cruise Lines’ ‘Grand Voyages’ could well be the ideal solution.

Fred. Olsen has just released details of two Grand Voyages planned for 2013, and both trips look to be epic in duration and itinerary. Balmoral sails on 5 January 2013 and Black Watch follows a few days later on 10 January 2013. Both ships will be sailing directly from Southampton – a great way to start as it alleviates any worries about flight delays or luggage allowances.

Balmoral’s voyage will be 112 nights’ duration, and highlights include transits of both the Suez and Panama Canals, and a cruise traversing Australia’s Great Barrier Reef. Encompassing a wealth of different land and sea-scapes, the elegant vessel will work her way round the world, visiting key ports such as Acapulco (Mexico), Papeete (Tahiti), Sydney and Brisbane (Australia), Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam), Bangkok (Thailand), Singapore, Muscat (Oman), Aqaba (Jordan) and Alexandria (Egypt).

Black Watch’s journey will be 80 nights in duration, and is a first in terms of itinerary for Fred.Olsen, exploring some really fascinating locations around the Indian Ocean. One of the highlights will be a rounding of the legendary Cape of Good Hope.

Black Watch’s route takes in the exotic locations of Mauritius and the Maldives, en route to India. The cruise then travels to Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Oman and Egypt, with a transit of the Suez Canal, returning via Turkey, Greece, Tunisia, and Libya. Key ports of call include Banjul (The Gambia), Walvis Bay (Namibia), Cape Town (South Africa), Port Louis (Mauritius), Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Muscat (Oman), Alexandria (Egypt), Piraeus, for Athens (Greece) and Valletta (Malta).

Fred.Olsen have factored in some overnight stays in some ports, to allow guests to experience the night-time ambience of cities such as Cape Town and Dubai.

Such comprehensive world cruise itineraries are bound to be the focus of conversation for a long time to come once intrepid travellers return home. Anyone who doesn’t want to alienate the neighbours should heed some advice, however: don’t try to show friends and loved ones your holiday snaps all in one sitting!

admin Travel Tips bali, cruises, Travel Tips