Day 1My recent holiday to Germany in the Bavarian region began in the early hours of Saturday, 24th July. My two teenage sons and I travelled by car to Gatwick South Terminal at the delightful time of 3.20am for our flight to Munich departing at 6:50 am.To our horror, when we arrived at the checking in area (slightly late I must add) the queue’s for the Easy Jet flights were astonishingly long as only 2 desks were open and every Easy Jet customer was in the queue whatever flight they were on! At the sight of this I thought we would definately miss our flight but, luckily they called all passengers for Munich ahead of everyone else.
However, I’m not so sure for the family in front of us as they suddenly realised they should have been at the North Terminal for their Easy Jet flight!Once we were painlessly through security we headed to our gate as it was time to board. So it wasn’t too bad after that first initial shock of seeing that huge queue and I also managed to get a seat near my two sons on the plane, which was a bonus.On arrival at Munich airport at 9.30am we were told it was raining heavily. We made our way to the car rental area where we collected our pre-paid car and as I had directions of which route to take it was fairly straight forward. However, as I was not used to driving a left hand drive on a different side of the road especially in torrential rain I was feelling rather nervous. I couldn’t believe we had such bad luck with this continuous downpour of rain the whole hour and a half of travelling to our destination.When we arrived at Mitterfels it took around 20 mins to find our ‘Mondi’ apartment complex. As expected our self-catering apartment was spacious enough for 3, clean and adequate for our needs. After unpacking we bought milk and juice from the local Edeker Supermarket and although it was close enough to walk we decide to drive as it was still raining heavily and I hadn’t packed my brolly! Later that evening we enjoyed a delicious meal at the resort Restaurant, Zirbelstub’ n. The Restaurant offered Breakfast, Lunch and Evening Meal, though we chose to eat breakfast at our apartment. We were advised that the ‘welcome meeting’ would be the following morning (Sunday 25th July) at 11.45am.A lovely place to relaxOne thing to take note of in Germany is not to expect to find shops and supermarkets open on Sundays. Restaurants, Bars etc. yes, but not shops. I also found it unusual that the games room for the complex was closed by 8pm, so my 2 teenagers were disappointed that they couldn’t play table tennis after our evening meals past 8pm. Nor could we find anywhere to eat as late as 9:30pm in Mitterfels as we found out one evening from being back late from a day out! We were told the next village ‘Bogan’ was 15 mins away and the Pizzeria Restaurant ‘La Molisana’ is open till 10pm! Well as we weren’t that hungry we didn’t make a dash for it!Day 2After our ‘Welcome Meeting’ I discussed with my boy’s what we should do for the week, then we took a leisurely stroll to the local Mitterfels Historic Museum, where we were enchanted by the history of the Middle Ages. After that we ate a typical Bavarian lunch at a local restaurant, and very nice it was too! There were at least 3 Restaurants and 1 cafe in this delightfully quiet little street in Mitterfels. Everywhere was so clean and quiet and there weren’t as many cars on the roads as in the UK, or so it seemed.Mitterfels Village ChurchSeves Traditional Bavarian Food & BeveragesThe evening brought us back to the Restaurant Zirbelstub ‘n at our complex where we tantalised our tastebuds with the delightful Bavarian cuisine. Unfortunately, there was no evening entertainment so a walk before turning in was the next best thing. We looked forward to the following day as we were going on a guided tour through the old historic town of Regensburg…..to be continued.Continued on 25th November, 2010.To our disappointment it was forecast for showers for the day. Our trip to Regensburg began at 10.00am and as the tour bus was already full I followed behind in our new and very comfortable hired BMW car with my two boy’s. We parked up next to the tour bus and enjoyed the tour around the town with the tour guide. Lunch was arranged for us at the Historical Restaurant Wurstkuchl of Regensburg (the oldest sausage tavern of the world!!). We all enjoyed a lunch of sauerkraut and home made famous sausages, which I thought were extremely tasty! 'Very tasty'The Famous Small Sausage Tavern - 'Wurstkutchl'This historical sausage tavern of over 500 years old is situated alongside the River Danube. It is noted that, fortunately little has changed since the days where in the Middle Ages Regensburger stonemasons and dockers treated themselves to refreshment at this tavern: with its charcoal grill, homemade sausages purely from ham of pork, sauerkraut fermented in their own celler and of course the Wurstkutchl mustard following the original historical recipe of Elsa Schricker. After the meal everyone (except me that is), including my two boys, made their way down to the quayside for the river cruise to the famous Walhalla. I had to follow in my BMW behind the Tour Guide van as we had to drive back from Walhalla and sure enough….I got left behind at the traffic lights. So, there I was, not knowing the way to Walhalla, in a country where I didn’t speak the language, driving on the other side of the road, worrying about my kids who were with strangers on a boat somewhere! Thankfully, the Tour Guide noticed that I wasn’t behind her so she waited a bit further on until I caught up. Needless to say….I was a little stressed for a while.The weather wasn’t quite right for a cruise (or anything else for that matter) as it was pouring with rain. Once everyone was off the boat and into the Tour Bus and my kids were in our car we travelled to Walhalla, which was only a short distance away. The view from the Temple was amazing! The Walhalla temple is a hall of fame that honors laudable and distinguished Germans, famous personalities in German history — politicians, sovereigns, scientists and artists of the German “tongue”. The hall is housed in a neo-classical building above the Danube River, east of Regensburg, in Bavaria, Germany.The Walhalla temple is named for Valhalla of Norse mythology. It was conceived in 1807 by Crown Prince Ludwig, who built it upon ascending the throne of Bavaria as King Ludwig I. Construction took place between 1830 and 1842, under the supervision of architect Leo von Klenze.The temple displays some 65 plaques and 130 busts of persons, covering 2,000 years of history — the earliest person honored is Arminius, victor at the Battle of the Teutoburg Forest (9 AD).
There are many travelers who have been hit by flights being canceled recently. For many it meant holidays and their chances of going away for Christmas were ruined. However
it’s times like these where you appreciated the traditional package holiday.At
Not Just Travel we pride ourselves on giving our customers the full facts about their holidays. One thing to consider is that it’s not always the best idea to purchase the cheapest holiday.Not
all holiday companies will tell you exactly what you are buying and how they have managed to book that holiday so much cheaper than another holiday company.
Here is a story of 2 customers effected
by the snow today:Customer
1: Booked a Caribbean Cruise for Christmas worth £2500pp, purchased a package from us at a great price. Arrived at the airport today to find out all flights where canceled. Although devastated that they wouldn’t be going away, the customer took delight in finding out we were able to give them a full refund on their holiday.Customer
2: Booked a Caribbean Cruise for Christmas with an internet based holiday company. They saved £150pp because the holiday company booked the cruise and the flights separately. The customer arrived at the airport to find their flight was canceled because of the snow. The customer was horrified to find out that because the flights were not part of the package, they could only get a refund on the flights and not the cruise. Therefore the customer only received a refund of £500, meaning they lost nearly £2000pp.What
do you need to find out before you book?Are
you booking a package? For full protection
you need to ensure you book a package which is covered by ATOL.If
flights and accommodation are booked separately, make sure you have insurance that will cover you in the event of such a problem. Check the small print about cancellation due to the weather.We
are pleased to say that although we have had customers effected
by the bad weather today, everyone single customer has received a full refund or been able to rebook alternative flights / holidays.If
you’re looking to book your next holiday why not give us a try. Find the link in the box to the right of this
It’s not just the kid’s who’ll enjoy this fantastic experience, most adults will agree that they also thoroughly enjoyed the theme parks, shows and everything that goes on during a Disney World Vacation.Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando Florida opened in 1971 and is now reported to be the most popular tourist destination on Earth. Would you believe, it is twice the size of Manhattan in New York! It boasts 4 fantastic Theme Parks, 2 exciting Water Parks, a Shopping and Entertainment Complex, 20 resort Hotels and no less than eight Golf Courses.Barb Hopkins writes:Nobody wants stress during a vacation, especially when visiting Walt Disney World, the “happiest place on Earth.” When Disney World is your vacation destination, it can be easy to become overwhelmed and over-excited. To make your Disney trip go more smoothly consider five basic but important tips.* PlanObvious, isn’t it? Walt Disney World is a huge place.
With four theme parks, two water parks and tons of activities, tours and special events, it is impossible to do it all in one trip. To make your Disney trip go more smoothly you need a plan. Planning begins before you set your reservation. If possible, choose dates when the parks are at their lightest capacity.With dates set, visit Disney.com and create your own Vacation Plan with “My Disney Vacation” on the website. This great tool allows you to create an itinerary, bookmark your favorites, customize maps and record all your reservation numbers including dining reservations. You do not have to plan every day by the hour but even a little planning definitely can reduce stress.* Make dining reservationsIf you are staying on the Disney property, it is recommended to (a) use the Disney Dining Plan and (b) make your dining reservations before you arrive at Walt Disney World. The Disney Dining Plan (DDP) is extremely user-friendly and removes the stress of having to worry about meal prices. Different tiers of the DDP are available to fit different budgets.Many favorite Disney restaurants have long wait-times if you do not have an advanced reservation. Le Cellier in the Canadian pavilion in EPCOT is one where a reservation is usually needed due to the restaurant’s popularity. Character meals require reservations also. If you wait until you arrive at Walt Disney World to make these reservations, you may miss out. Dining reservations can be made online at Disney.com or by calling (407) WDW – DINE or (407) 439 – 3463. It is not impossible to walk-in to many of Disney’s amazing restaurants, but to guarantee a meal at your favorite, make a reservation.* Be prepared for crowdsWhen visiting a place like Walt Disney World, remind yourself that you will not be the only guest. Disney draws crowds. Christmas, Easter and the summer holidays are some of the busiest times for the parks. Mentally prepare yourself for the crowds and lines, especially during high-traffic times. Use the FASTPASS® option for quick entrance into your favorite rides and attractions.When travelling with children, prepare them. Discuss safety and the importance of staying with a trusted grown-up at all times. Make a family plan for each park; a place to meet should you become separated. Some families choose to wear the same colored shirt in the crowded parks so they can identify each other easily.* Take advantage of Disney’s Guest ServicesWhy make things more difficult than they have to be? When flying into Orlando, take advantage of Disney’s free airport to resort Shuttle Service, known as Disney’s Magical Express Service. Arriving by car but before check-in time? No worries. Leaving your luggage in your car, you can still check-in, receive your park Guest Passes and go visit one of the parks. Check the ready-status of your room from any Park Guest Service phone. Visit the Guest Services page at Disney.com for all the helpful services and amenities the resort and parks have to offer. From Baby Care Centers to First Aid stations to kennels for your four-legged family members, Disney Guest Services is designed to make your vacation go more smoothly.* Relax!Remember, it is a vacation. Not everything may go exactly as planned or expected, but how you deal with it can affect your mood and vacation vibe. Let little annoyances float by and focus on the magic and memories you are creating. A Walt Disney World vacation is a great opportunity to leave behind the stress of daily life. Enjoy, relax and if you encounter a bump simply stop, breathe deeply and have a Mickey Ears ice cream bar. It is hard to remain frustrated when enjoying a delectable Disney treat. author, Barb Hopkins.While Walt Disney World is one of the most visited vacation spots in the world, it can also be one of the most expensive. Even a seasoned pro can spend upwards of two thousand dollars for a family of four on transportation, lodging, park tickets, and food, not to mention souvenirs! However, you don’t have to break the bank to have a great vacation in the Happiest Place on Earth. The following money saving tips are so good, even Scrooge McDuck would be proud.Lodging:Part of keeping the price of the vacation down is knowing when to go. Not everyone can vacation in the dead of winter, right after New Year’s and right before President’s Day when rates are their lowest, but there are other times of the year when lodging is not at a premium. Specifically, the end of August through early October, and the time between Thanksgiving and Christmas are good times to stay. Disney also has value properties, where rooms can cost as little as $79 a night. A great reason to stay on Disney property is their transportation network.Transportation:One of the perks of staying on Disney property is the Disney Magical Express. This complimentary transfer to/from your hotel can save you $100 or more (for a family of four) on transfer costs. Disney also has its internal transportation system which includes the Disney buses, water taxis, and monorail. If you’re staying at the Magic Kingdom resorts, the monorail can take you to the Magic Kingdom or Epcot. If you’re staying at Epcot resorts such as the Yacht/Beach Clubs, Boardwalk or Swan/Dolphin, the water taxis can get you quickly to Epcot or Hollywood Studios. Everywhere else in the world, you can rely on the Disney bus to get you there, and the best thing about all of these Disney transportation options, they are all free to Disney property guests.Food:Food can be very expensive at any tourist attraction, but with a little know how, anyone can save a good deal of money on food. Unless you are going for a special breakfast like a character breakfast, try to skip breakfast at the parks, or even at the resort. One really great way to do this is to shop before you leave home for travel cereal boxes, or doughnuts, and pack them in your luggage. Not only will you save a bundle on breakfast, but when the food comes out, you’ve left yourself room to pack all those extra souvenirs!Disney restaurants can provide fantastic dining experiences, but can put a big dent in your wallet. Before going, check out the menu online. One great website that provides updated menus and prices is AllEars.net. Once you’ve checked out the menu, you may notice that some of the pricier restaurants have some of the same offerings for both lunch and dinner, but at an added savings. You may want to go to these restaurants for lunch instead of dinner. Disney parks and resorts also have “quick serve” locations that have affordable breakfast, lunch and dinner options. For example, a family of four could eat at El Pirata y El Perico, a “quick serve” taco location adjacent to the Pirates of the Caribbean for under $40.Another option is the Disney Dining plan. Although the plan fluctuates in both price and what it includes from year to year, the idea stays virtually the same. There are several types of plan, even one with an add-on wine option, but the basic plan includes a “quick serve”, a sit down dinner, and a snack. This plan can save you a great deal of money, if you are planning on trying a few different restaurants or if you are planning on a character dining experience. Buyer beware: Any unused food credits, including snacks, must be used by the end of your stay or they will be forfeited. Also, some upscale dining and character dining may require two full service meals.Park Tickets:Disney runs special promotions several times a year which include lodging, park tickets, and sometimes a meal plan. These packages can sometimes save you a good deal of money. That aside, there are other ways to get discount park tickets. Disney is currently running a promotion called “Give A Day, Get A Day” where you volunteer for a qualifying organization for one day, and you will receive a one day park ticket for free. Go for one day, or combine that with a multi-day ticket. Unless you’re a Disney Weekend Warrior, you may want to skip the Park Hopper option on the multi-day tickets. That can be an added cost of $26.00 a day for a two day ticket. Granted, the more days you stay, the less it costs per day, for both base tickets and add on options. You may also be able to save money on park tickets by purchasing them ahead of time online.Two ways to save if you plan on visiting two or more times in a year would be a season pass. If you want to come back again but don’t think it will be within that year, opt for purchasing a 10-day ticket and get the no expiration option. It’s $20 a day extra, but may save you from purchasing a new ticket with fewer days.Free Stuff & Everything Else in the World:Two great (and free) areas of Walt Disney World are Downtown Disney and the Boardwalk. Downtown Disney offers lots of shopping, dining, and activities such as the Characters in Flight hot air balloon ride, Disney Quest Indoor Interactive Theme Park, and AMC Theater Pleasure Island. Throughout Downtown Disney there is free entertainment during the day and evening, and it can be a great place to unwind after a long day at the parks. Similarly, the Boardwalk at Disney’s Boardwalk Resort features strolling entertainers, a Wyland Gallery, and two clubs: Jellyrolls and the Atlantic Dance Hall.There may be free activities at your resort as well, especially if you are staying at one of the Disney Vacation Club resorts. These resorts have daily activities, many of them free, such as make and take crafts, outdoor movies, bingo, and much more. Don’t forget your resort may also have free activities such as tennis, ping pong, and shuffleboard!Another great freebie is the pool. Disney’s resort pools are themed pools, some are so amazing, you don’t even have to go to the waterparks to have a great time. Many resorts encourage pool hopping, where you can stay at one resort and play in another resort’s pool. Some highlight pools include the Boardwalk’s clown-roller coaster themed waterslide, and the Yacht/Beach Club’s Stormalong Bay. Stormalong Bay is a sand-bottom, massive pool that features a shipwreck waterslide, multiple lagoons and waterfalls, and even a lazy river. Although Stormalong Bay is this author’s favorite Disney pool, there is no pool-hopping allowed; it is also only available to guests staying at the Yacht/Beach Clubs.Souvenirs can be costly, but you can get discounts in certain shops (and dining) if you are a DVC member or if you have a season pass. Be sure to check the literature for either of these in regards to participating shops. Disney also has an Under $10 shop in Downtown Disney. This can be a great place to let the kids find good, affordable souvenirs. One souvenir of note is the grab bag. It’s inexpensive and contains a few souvenirs, rather than just one, and can be exciting for children to discover what’s inside. It can be a pleasure, or a drawback, because you never know just what is inside the grab bag.Walt Disney World vacations can be exciting and expensive, but they certainly don’t have to bust your budget. Keep these tips in mind the next time you’re planning your Disney vacation and you may find at the end of your trip that you have extra cash in your McDuck vault!Special Offer….must not miss this!Another suggestion would be to take advantage of this special offer in the link below for a Walt Disney World Orlando Savings Guide: Click Here!
Madeira is another holiday Island well worth a visit, through the Interval World 3 year leisure package. There are a number of fine hotels through the passport breaks option in Madeira.I visited Madeira a number of years ago. It is different from many of the other Islands insofar that if you are looking for Golden beaches for bathing you may struggle a bit. The few beaches it does have are more of the pebbly type, particularly at the seafront in Funchal, the Island’s capital. Alternatives however
are to swim in the natural pools created by the lava formations at Carnico and Porto Moniz and a number of the hotels also have natural type lidos.There
is so much more to see and do on Madeira. A visit wouldn’t be complete without a ride on the basket sleds from Monte down the hill to Funchal.
Those of a nervous disposition should think carefully about the ride, although it is very safe!! The ride from Monte is a very special experience, notwithstanding the fact that it is quite expensive. The sleds are steered by 2 men who run alongside downhill on the asphalt road. I will not spoil the experience by saying anymore
, but if you go to Madeira get on the sled ride!!Madeira
is a Portuguese island and, like the Canary Islands, is mountainous and volcanic. The weather can change quite dramatically once you travel north into and up into the hills, but the trip is worth it for the magnificent scenery and wonderfully luxuriant flowers that bloom all year round. The colours
of the flowers are fantastic and it’s no wonder that Madeira is called the ‘Island of Flowers in the Atlantic Ocean’.Madeira is also famous for its wine (Madeira fortified wine) and the famous Madeira cake. Pop into any coffee shop or bar on the island to sample the local delights.Madeira
, due to its location, can boast year round
temperatures of over 20ºc. The south of the Island, because of the prevailing winds from the North that hit the mountain range, can have much higher temperatures than in the North of the Island. Most of the rain falls to the North.Famous
people to have visited Madeira include Christopher Columbus; Henry the Navigator, and Elizabeth 1st, but of course
its most famous current son is footballer Christiano Ronaldo, who was born and bred here.To
summarise, Madeira merits worthy consideration for a holiday trip as part of your 3 year luxury holiday vacation package.
The Atlantic Garden resort is located in Corralejo in the north of Fuerteventura, within the municipality of La Oliva, which also includes the Lobos Isle.Covering just over a fifth of the total island La Oliva has some beautiful towns and villages including Tindaya, Vallebrón, La Caldereta, Toston or El Cotillo, El Roque, Los Lajares, Villaverde, La Capellania and Parque Holandes, as well as the capital, La Oliva.Among
the numerous attractions in and around La Oliva are some of the natural areas such as the Tindaya Mountain. Tindaya village sits at the foot of the 401m mountain of the same name and was once regarded as a very religious place with the mountain being considered sacred. This can still be seen today in more than 100 carvings of ‘feet’ (podomorphs
) in the smooth rock. These strange carvings which sit at the very top of the mountain were only discovered in 1978 and are said to be there to ward off evil spirits.On
a clear day
it’s possible to see Mount Teide the highest mountain/volcano on Tenerife from the top of Tindaya.
The old inhabitants apparently used to view Mount Teide as the devil’s home and all the carvings face in that direction.Don’t
forget the Corralejo Natural Park, with its spectacular dunes just to the south – this large open space is dedicating to preserving the large, almost desert like
dunes that hug the coastline. Feel free to walk up
them, get a dune buggy ride, or just go and get that “walking in the desert” feel! When you are done and get too hot, the ocean is right there.The
470 hectare Lobos Park is also worthy of interest and is home to around 130 animal and vegetable species that inhabit a landscape practically untouched by man!Malpais
de la Arena, declared a Natural Monument, has its origins in volcanic eruptions that occurred around ten thousand years ago, producing a landscape of great beauty.Finally, the Protected Area of Vallebrón includes man-made structures designed for farming the land located in the midst of a fertile valley. The water-rich source of Vallebrón, which never dries up even during a drought, has even been walled round and revered as a healing source.
The Atlantic Garden resort is located in Corralejo in the north of Fuerteventura, within the municipality of La Oliva, which also includes the Lobos Isle.Covering just over a fifth of the total island La Oliva has some beautiful towns and villages including Tindaya, Vallebrón, La Caldereta, Toston or El Cotillo, El Roque, Los Lajares, Villaverde, La Capellania and Parque Holandes, as well as the capital, La Oliva.Among the numerous attractions in and around La Oliva are some of the natural areas such as the Tindaya Mountain. Tindaya village sits at the foot of the 401m mountain of the same name and was once regarded as a very religious place with the mountain being considered sacred. This can still be seen today in more than 100 carvings of ‘feet’ (podomorphs
) in the smooth rock. These strange carvings which sit at the very top of the mountain were only discovered in 1978 and are said to be there to ward off evil spirits.On
a clear day
it’s possible to see Mount Teide the highest mountain/volcano on Tenerife from the top of Tindaya. The old inhabitants apparently used to view Mount Teide as the devil’s home and all the carvings face in that direction.Don’t
forget the Corralejo Natural Park, with its spectacular dunes just to the south – this large open space is dedicating to preserving the large, almost desert like
dunes that hug the coastline.
Feel free to walk up
them, get a dune buggy ride, or just go and get that “walking in the desert” feel! When you are done and get too hot, the ocean is right there.The
470 hectare Lobos Park is also worthy of interest and is home to around 130 animal and vegetable species that inhabit a landscape practically untouched by man!Malpais
de la Arena, declared a Natural Monument, has its origins in volcanic eruptions that occurred around ten thousand years ago, producing a landscape of great beauty.Finally
, the Protected Area of Vallebrón includes man-made structures designed for farming the land located in the midst of a fertile valley. The water-rich source of Vallebrón, which never dries up even during a drought, has even been walled round and revered as a healing source.La
Oliva | Luxury HolidaysThe Atlantic Garden resort is located in Corralejo in the north of Fuerteventura, within the municipality of La Oliva, which also includes the Lobos Isle.Covering
just over a fifth of the total island La Oliva has some beautiful towns and villages including Tindaya, Vallebrón, La Caldereta, Toston or El Cotillo, El Roque, Los Lajares, Villaverde, La Capellania and Parque Holandes, as well as the capital, La Oliva.Among
the numerous attractions in and around La Oliva are some of the natural areas such as the Tindaya Mountain. Tindaya village sits at the foot of the 401m mountain of the same name and was once regarded as a very religious place with the mountain being considered sacred. This can still be seen today in more than 100 carvings of ‘feet’ (podomorphs
) in the smooth rock. These strange carvings which sit at the very top of the mountain were only discovered in 1978 and are said to be there to ward off evil spirits.On
a clear day
it’s possible to see Mount Teide the highest mountain/volcano on Tenerife from the top of Tindaya. The old inhabitants apparently used to view Mount Teide as the devil’s home and all the carvings face in that direction.Don’t
forget the Corralejo Natural Park, with its spectacular dunes just to the south – this large open space is dedicating to preserving the large, almost desert like
dunes that hug the coastline. Feel free to walk up
them, get a dune buggy ride, or just go and get that “walking in the desert” feel! When you are done and get too hot, the ocean is right there.The
470 hectare Lobos Park is also worthy of interest and is home to around 130 animal and vegetable species that inhabit a landscape practically untouched by man!Malpais
de la Arena, declared a Natural Monument, has its origins in volcanic eruptions that occurred around ten thousand years ago, producing a landscape of great beauty.Finally
, the Protected Area of Vallebrón includes man-made structures designed for farming the land located in the midst of a fertile valley. The water-rich source of Vallebrón, which never dries up even during a drought, has even been walled round and revered as a healing source.
